Search Results (916)

Heritage tourism has become an important driver of tourism development, particularly in Asia, where countries actively promote national and cultural identities to attract visitors. Although individual studies have examined heritage identity in relation to tourism, existing reviews have not systematically synthesised the theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, and empirical evidence on how tangible and intangible heritage identities are utilised as tourism development resources across South and Southeast Asia. Accordingly, this systematic review addresses three questions: (i) how research on heritage identity in heritage tourism has evolved in South and Southeast Asia, including its publication trends, theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches; (ii) which forms of tangible and intangible heritage identity are most utilised in South and Southeast Asia; and (iii) what conceptual and practical challenges and future research directions emerge from the literature. This study presents a systematic literature review with narrative synthesis of 44 publications to analyze how tangible and intangible heritage identities are used to promote heritage tourism in the region. The findings indicate that most studies focus on tangible heritage such as monuments, archaeological sites and colonial architecture, while intangible heritage, including cultural festivals and living traditions, remains comparatively underrepresented. The review further shows that heritage identity plays a significant role in strengthening national identity, enhancing visitor experiences and supporting local economic development across South and Southeast Asia. At the same time, several challenges remain, including the underutilisation of heritage resources, limited recognition of intangible heritage and the need to improve visitor management and sustainable tourism practices. The study concludes that Asian countries have significant untapped potential to further integrate heritage identity into tourism strategies, particularly through more innovative uses of intangible cultural heritage and improved heritage governance and management. Full article

Varroa destructor is the leading cause of honey bee colony losses globally and is increasingly implicated in winter colony mortality in New Zealand. This study used data from the New Zealand Colony Loss Survey to evaluate the relationship between specific varroa management practices and over-winter colony losses among 5203 hobbyist beekeepers surveyed between 2023 and 2025. We find that beekeepers who did not treat for varroa experienced loss rates of 49.4% compared with 30.7% among beekeepers who treated. Conditional on treatment, colony losses declined as the diversity of products used increased and as treatment applications were spread throughout the year. For example, beekeepers using four or more products experienced losses of 21.2%, while those treating in three or more seasons of the year experienced losses of 24.8%. Multiple autumn treatments were also associated with lower loss rates. No statistically significant differences were observed among major treatment types when hobbyist beekeepers used a single treatment type in a single season of the year. While apiary size is negatively associated with loss rates, beekeeper experience is not. The results demonstrate that treating for varroa, product rotation, treatment throughout the year, and intensified autumn control are associated with substantially improved over-winter colony survival among hobbyist beekeepers. Full article

While climate change is a significant pressure point for pollinators and honeybees, its long-term relationship with managed honeybee colonies and honey production remains unclear and context sensitive. This study, using FAOSTAT data from 1961 to 2024, examined the relationships between land surface temperature anomalies and the number of registered beehives, the constant-price honey production value, and the normalized honey production value per colony, both globally and specifically for 18 Mediterranean countries. To differentiate between long-term structural trends and short-term temperature relationships, correlation, regression, bootstrap confidence interval, temperature series sensitivity analysis, cross-correlation function, and normalized index analyses were used together. The study results show strong long-term co-movement between temperature anomalies and recorded beekeeping indicators at the global and Mediterranean scale in the level series; however, first-differenced (year-to-year) analyses show this association weakens substantially and, for Mediterranean honey production value, reverses sign, indicating that the level-series correlations are driven largely by common long-term trends. The relationship between temperature anomalies and beekeeping indicators shows a context-dependent structure among Mediterranean countries. The findings show that the increase in colony size does not always coincide with the increase in the constant-price honey production value per colony; in some cases, these two indicators can move in different directions. This indicates the need for an analytical decomposition of the dynamics of quantitative growth and economic production value per colony in the beekeeping sector. Full article

Severe decline and death of young table grapevines (1 to 2 years old) have been observed recurrently in commercial vineyards in Peru since 2022. Affected plants developed rapid shoot wilting associated with extensive necrotic lesions at the rootstock collar below the graft union, leading to plant death within days of symptom onset. A Cylindrocarpon-like fungus was consistently isolated from symptomatic collar tissues. Morphological characterization, cardinal temperature assays, and phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and histone H3 (his3) gene identified the pathogen as a member of the genus Pleiocarpon. Bayesian inference of concatenated sequences resolved the Peruvian isolates as a lineage sister to P. strelitziae (posterior probability = 1.00). Greenhouse pathogenicity tests with two representative isolates on cv. Red Globe grafted onto Salt Creek rootstock reproduced collar lesions and shoot wilting, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Optimal mycelial growth was estimated at 28.7–29.3 °C, with maximum colony growth recorded at 30 °C, consistent with the warm conditions that prevail during vineyard establishment in coastal Peru. Designated here as collar rot, the syndrome represents an atypically severe form of black foot disease, characterized by extensive belowground collar necrosis and rapid vine collapse soon after planting. Its recurrence across regions and seasons, together with the near-exclusive deployment of a single rootstock (Salt Creek), indicates that Pleiocarpon-associated collar rot is an emerging threat to young table grape plantings in Peru, underscoring the need for early diagnosis, pathogen-free nursery material, and preventive management during vineyard establishment. Full article

In recent years, wild bee decline has emerged as a major conservation challenge driven by interacting ecological, health-related, and socio-environmental pressures. Although Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) have long documented bee ecology, environmental change, and sustainable stewardship practices, their contribution remains insufficiently integrated into contemporary conservation and veterinary frameworks. This review evaluates the current evidence on how IKS can contribute to wild bee conservation and examines how these knowledge systems can be integrated with ecological and veterinary approaches within a One Health and One Welfare perspective. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature published primarily between 2020 and 2026, together with selected foundational studies where necessary, we synthesised evidence from ecology, ethnobiology, conservation science, and veterinary population health. Particular attention was given to studies documenting Indigenous observations of bee health, habitat quality, landscape management, nutritional ecology, disease ecology, and conservation governance. The reviewed literature indicates that IKS provide long-term ecological observations and adaptive management practices that complement scientific monitoring by identifying early indicators of environmental degradation and colony stress. Indigenous-managed landscapes frequently support greater habitat heterogeneity and more stable floral resources, highlighting nutritional ecology as a key pathway linking land-use practices with immune competence, stress tolerance, and population resilience. Disease ecology emerged as a second critical dimension, demonstrating that pathogen spillover at the managed–wild bee interface is primarily shaped by management intensity, colony density, and landscape characteristics rather than species boundaries alone. Across these domains, IKS and veterinary population-health approaches converge in emphasizing prevention, early detection of cumulative stress, and ecosystem-based management. These findings support the integration of Indigenous and scientific knowledge through collaborative governance and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)-based research partnerships. Recognising Indigenous-managed territories as valuable biocultural landscapes and extending health surveillance beyond managed Apis mellifera to include wild and stingless bees may strengthen evidence-based conservation strategies under integrated One Health and One Welfare frameworks. Full article

Conservation governance frameworks assess equity through recognition, procedure, and distribution. These dimensions give limited attention to Indigenous authority over land and conservation decisions in settler-colonial contexts, including the relationships, responsibilities, and governance conditions that shape equitable conservation. This study develops and pilots the Conservation with Equity framework across three UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserves in Canada: Clayoquot Sound, Mount Arrowsmith, and Redberry Lake. Using document analysis of UNESCO governance documents, complemented by semi-structured interviews with Biosphere Reserve managers, we examined how equity is reflected in conservation governance practices. The pilot application identified ecological reconciliation as a fourth and foundational dimension of equitable conservation governance, extending existing equity frameworks. Results show that the Biosphere Reserves incorporate Indigenous knowledge into conservation activities, involve communities in decision-making through governance processes, and support local livelihoods and restoration initiatives. However, these practices improve participation and benefit sharing without consistently shifting decision-making authority over land and conservation. Indigenous-led initiatives, including Tribal Parks, land-based education, healing initiatives, and food production systems, demonstrate pathways where Indigenous communities direct land use and conservation decisions. The Conservation with Equity framework provides a basis for assessing conservation governance with greater attention to Indigenous authority, governance, and relationships with land. Full article

The green peach aphid, M. persicae (Sulzer), is one of the most important pests of horticultural crops worldwide. In Chile, M. persicae causes severe losses in peach and herbaceous crops. Understanding aphid population dynamics across its primary (peach) and secondary (weed) hosts is fundamental to developing a more effective pest control strategy. To investigate the spatial genetic connectivity of M. persicae populations between cultivated and non-cultivated hosts, we conducted a longitudinal survey in three commercial peach orchards in central Chile. Apterous aphid colonies were repeatedly sampled from peach trees and weed hosts located both within and outside orchards, and population genetic structure and clonal diversity were characterized using six polymorphic microsatellite loci. Genetic differentiation was low between weed populations inside and outside orchards, whereas greater differentiation was observed between peach trees and weeds outside orchards. Three recurrent multilocus genotypes persisted across multiple seasons, orchards, and host plants, indicating substantial spatiotemporal persistence of particular clonal lineages. Comparison with insecticide-resistance profiles further showed that neutral population structure and resistance-associated variation were not necessarily concordant. These findings support an important role for non-cultivated hosts in maintaining recurrent M. persicae lineages within peach agroecosystems and highlight the value of considering surrounding vegetation in integrated pest management. Full article

Coptotermes formosanus is an economically significant termite species with a highly organised caste system, in which division of labour underpins colony function. Although gut microbiota is widely recognised for its roles in host nutrition and adaptation, much less is known about how these microbial communities are structured across castes. To explore caste-related gut bacterial variation in C. formosanus, we analysed the community structure of both workers and soldiers using high-throughput amplicon sequencing targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Although both castes were dominated by Bacteroidota and Spirochaetota, which together accounted for 78.87% to 85.78% in workers and 63.31% to 84.38% in soldiers, significant caste-associated differences were evident. Workers showed significantly higher bacterial richness, as indicated by observed ASVs, Chao1 indices, and Faith’s PD. Further clear caste-associated bacterial community was revealed by beta-diversity analysis. Differential taxonomic analysis revealed distinct caste-associated enrichment patterns. In addition, co-occurrence network analysis indicated a caste-associated interaction structure, with soldier-biased taxa forming a dense, highly connected module while worker-biased taxa contributed to local structure and bridging positions. Furthermore, chemoheterotrophy and fermentation were predicted to be enriched in workers, whereas nitrate reduction, aerobic chemoheterotrophy, aromatic compound degradation, and phenotypes related to biofilm formation, stress tolerance, and mobile elements were predicted to be relatively enriched in soldiers. Moreover, qPCR analysis further showed caste-associated differences in dominant gut protists, with Pseudotrichonympha in workers significantly higher than in soldiers and positively correlated with Azobacteroides. These results provide clear evidence of caste-associated differentiation in gut microbial composition and offer a foundation for identifying novel microbial targets for termite pest management. Full article

As LEDs are increasingly used in mushroom production, understanding the blue-light response characteristics of the pathogenic fungus Trichoderma harzianum is important for mushroom cultivation management. In this study, T. harzianum was cultured under blue LED conditions (460 nm), with darkness as the control, and its growth, morphology, and transcriptomic responses were compared. Blue LED exposure reduced colony diameter by 21.6% and 25.2% on days 1 and 2 of cultivation, respectively, and induced sporulation on day 3. RNA-seq Trinity gene-level features were quantified, and 23,086 and 34,839 genes showed higher and lower expression under blue LED illumination, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of candidates selected using the criteria TPM ≥ 15 and |log2FC| ≥ 1 showed that the candidates with increased expression blue LED illumination were associated with transport and xenobiotic transport, whereas the candidates with decreased expression were associated with filamentous growth, cell wall polysaccharide biosynthetic process, and UDP-glucosyltransferase activity. Among the highly responsive candidates selected using the criteria TPM ≥ 15 and |log2FC| ≥ 3, carbohydrate-active enzyme (CA-Zyme)-related genes were identified, including glycosyltransferase family (GT) 8, GT35, glycoside hydrolase family (GH) 16, GH18, GH76, and multicopper oxidase. In contrast, the candidates with decreased expression included GT2, GT20, GT35, carbohydrate esterase family 5, and GMC oxidoreductase. RT-qPCR analysis of the selected candidate genes supported the RNA-seq-based expression trends. In addition, in the RNA-seq dataset, the expression levels of the blue light response-related genes BLR-1, BLR-2, and ENV1 increased by 2.8-, 1.9-, and 4.2-fold, respectively. These findings provide phenotypic and molecular candidates for future functional studies of the blue-light response in T. harzianum. Full article

Background: Bacterial biofilms play a key role in causing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Current PJI management strategies commonly combine systemic antibiotic therapy with localized delivery such as antibiotic-loaded cement or beads to achieve effective tissue penetration and high antimicrobial concentrations at the implant site. We hypothesized that antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate beads would effectively eradicate early Staphylococcus aureus biofilms but exhibit reduced efficacy against mature biofilms formed in synovial fluid (SF). This study evaluated the efficacy of vancomycin combined with gentamicin (V+G) or tobramycin (V+T) against GFP-expressing S. aureus biofilms grown in the presence of SF. Methods: Biofilms were established on clinically relevant orthopedic implant materials such as titanium (Ti), stainless steel (316L), and polyethylene (PE). Early (1-day) and mature (3-day) biofilms were treated with calcium sulfate beads loaded with V+G or V+T. Antimicrobial efficacy was quantified by colony-forming unit (CFU) enumeration. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing was performed on surviving populations to assess potential development of antibiotic resistance. Results: Both antibiotic combinations resulted in no detectable viable bacteria in the 1-day biofilm across all tested materials following treatment, demonstrating strong reduction in early biofilm burden below the detection limit. Treatment of mature biofilms resulted in a 4–5 log reduction. MIC analysis of representative bacteria surviving post-treatment indicated no substantial increase in resistance. Conclusions: These findings show that while locally delivered antibiotic combinations eliminate early biofilms, mature biofilms demonstrate significant tolerance. MIC analysis showed little or no change in vancomycin, gentamicin, and tobramycin susceptibility after treatment, indicating no evident increase in planktonic antibiotic resistance among the surviving isolates. Together, these results highlight the importance of early intervention and the need for strategies that disrupt biofilm structure or improve antibiotic penetration to enhance PJI treatment outcomes. Full article

Brassicaceae-based bio-disinfestation is a promising non-chemical option to manage lettuce Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (FOLac), but evidence integrating pathogen suppression, residue chemistry, and soil microbiome response remains limited. We conducted a greenhouse mesocosm assay with naturally infested soil to compare biofumigation (uncovered soil) and biosolarization (plastic-covered soil for 40 days) using five Brassicaceae residues (Brassica carinata, B. juncea, B. napus, Sinapis alba and Raphanus sativus) applied at two field-equivalent doses. Biosolarization created a distinct disinfestation environment, increasing soil temperature by an average of 2.74 °C and shifting oxidation–reduction potential toward reducing conditions. This strategy consistently reduced culturable Fusarium populations, F. oxysporum-assigned colony-forming units (CFU) and lettuce wilt severity compared with uncovered biofumigation. The strongest disease suppression was observed under plastic-covered conditions, including the soil-only control, indicating that the covered microenvironment was a major driver of suppressiveness, while Brassicaceae residues modulated the magnitude and consistency of the response. Glucosinolate profiling revealed contrasting residue chemistries among species, providing a biochemical context for interpreting species-dependent effects. Shotgun metagenomics further showed that biosolarization and biofumigation produced distinct genus-level microbial community structures, with significant effects of strategy, timepoint and their interaction, and higher Shannon diversity under biosolarization. Overall, the integration of disease severity, culture-based inoculum quantification, physicochemical indicators, residue chemistry and metagenomics supports Brassicaceae-based biosolarization as a promising pre-plant approach for suppressing FOLac wilt in naturally infested soils, with the plastic-covered disinfestation environment emerging as the main driver of suppression and Brassicaceae residues modulating the response. Full article

As the primary component of harmful algal blooms, cyanobacteria exhibit unique adaptation strategies under environmental stress. The impact of erythromycin (ETM), a common macrolide antibiotic in aquatic environments, on colonial cyanobacteria remains unclear. This study examined the chronic toxic effects of different ETM concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 20 and 100 μg/L) on colonial Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) under varying nutrient conditions. Results showed that at 0.01–1 μg/L, ETM could promote the growth of M. aeruginosa, while high concentrations of ETM (≥10 μg/L) significantly inhibited growth (p < 0.05). Low-level ETM exposure accelerates M. aeruginosa growth by boosting PSII efficiency, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Metatranscriptomic and metabolomic analyses further reveal that this stimulation is underpinned by enhanced trace-element uptake, reinforced carbon cycling, and increased biosynthesis of proteins, polysaccharides, and chlorophyll precursors. High-level ETM exposure inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa, as evidenced by decreased photosynthesis, damaged membranes and suppressed metabolic activity. Metatranscriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed the upregulation of photosynthesis andpathways, metabolic pathways, and the accumulation of potent allelochemicals in P-limited cells exposed to 10 µg/L ETM relative to 10 µg/L ETM in nutrient-replete BG11 medium. Furthermore, phosphorus deficiency may enhance the potential of net methane formation. These findings underscore the complex interactions between antibiotic exposure and nutrient stress in cyanobacteria, with significant implications for environmental management of antibiotic contamination. Full article

In Senegal, scaling up vector control has significantly reduced malaria, but coastal transmission remains a challenge due to secondary vectors like Anopheles melas. This exophilic and zoophilic species evades conventional indoor interventions, yet its bionomics and insecticide resistance profiles remain poorly characterized due to difficulties in laboratory colonization. Anopheles melas larvae were collected from brackish breeding sites in Mbine Coly (Mbour District). A laboratory colony was established from 26 PCR-confirmed founder females and stabilized up to the F17 generation by optimizing water salinity (10 g/L) and transitioning to communal oviposition. Standardized WHO tube bioassays were conducted on generations F2 to F9 to evaluate susceptibility to pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates, alongside synergist tests using 4% piperonyl butoxide (PBO). The colony showed confirmed resistance to alpha-cypermethrin (81.7% mortality) and suspected resistance to deltamethrin (91.3%) and permethrin (94.3%). Pre-exposure to PBO fully restored susceptibility to deltamethrin and permethrin (100%), and significantly increased alpha-cypermethrin mortality to 96.3% (p < 0.001). While metabolic resistance typically involves multiple enzyme families including cytochrome P450s, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and esterases, these synergist results demonstrate a predominant role of cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification pathways in this population. Moderate-intensity resistance was confirmed for alpha-cypermethrin at 5× diagnostic doses. Conversely, the population was 100% susceptible to pirimiphos-methyl and bendiocarb. This study reports the successful long-term colonization of a wild An. melas strain for the first time and provides the first comprehensive evidence of multi-insecticide resistance in this population. The presence of high-intensity, metabolic pyrethroid resistance strongly justifies the immediate deployment of next-generation PBO-LLINs and the integration of organophosphates or carbamates in indoor residual spraying rotations to manage resistance in coastal Senegal. Full article

To address ecological security challenges in karst urban agglomerations, this study proposes a green infrastructure network (GIN) optimization framework that integrates geological characteristics with complex network theory. A fracture-modified minimum cumulative resistance (FM-MCR) model, coupled with an ant colony algorithm, was developed to enhance GIN extraction accuracy. Using a cascade failure model, the structural response of the GIN under simulated attack scenarios was systematically evaluated across four edge enhancement strategies, enabling spatial layout optimization. Network clustering and node centrality assessments were further applied to identify critical corridors and strategic nodes. Results identified 108 ecological sources, with Qiannan contributing the largest area (3141.97 km², 23.96% of the total), and 162 corridors in the original GIN. Among the four edge enhancement strategies, the low-degree-first (LDF) strategy significantly improved network robustness, decreasing percolation thresholds by 20.9%, 22.98%, and 16.99% under random, degree, and betweenness attacks, respectively. Network cluster analysis further delineated 45 GIN clusters, 19 critical corridors, and 11 strategic nodes, revealing cross-scale ecological hubs linking the Wumengshan–Daloushan corridor with Guiyang’s urban green wedge. This framework, characterized by geological correction, dynamic edge enhancement, and cluster-based management, offers a scientific basis for improving GIN resilience in karst regions. Full article

The rapid development and expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem require managing increasing computational demands with the aid of advanced hierarchical architectures. The integration of a complete four-tier hierarchy—including Mobile, Edge, Fog, and Cloud layers—and the priority requirements are being overlooked in the literature despite the effort of existing studies. The goal of this study is to fill these gaps by proposing a novel, context-aware task-offloading framework designed for multi-dimensional ecosystems involving multi-server and multi-application environments. A targeted biomimetic approach is utilized at the core of this research. The decentralized foraging behavior of biological swarms is translated into a concrete engineering solution. This solution is designed specifically for computational offloading and resource management. To achieve this, a “Learning-guided Meta-heuristic” hybrid model is developed. Within this framework, bio-inspired Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is directly integrated with an Upper Confidence Bound (UCB)-inspired exploration mechanism. Natural, pheromone-based imitation is solely relied upon by traditional biomimetic algorithms. In contrast, higher-order cognitive learning is fully incorporated by this hybrid synergy. Consequently, underlying system dynamics are adaptively learned. Local minima traps are also successfully avoided. This avoidance is achieved by dynamically selecting the optimal layer for each individual task. Both energy consumption and latency are optimized simultaneously. Meanwhile, strict operational feasibility is ensured through a dynamic penalty-based mechanism. Battery and deadline constraints are explicitly handled by this mechanism. Extensive simulations demonstrate the superiority of the proposed UCB-ACO model over state-of-the-art meta-heuristics, including Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO), ACO, Artificial Bee Colony Optimization (ABO), and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II). The findings reveal that the proposed framework outperforms the methods compared by achieving 22.5% lower latency and 23% lower energy consumption. This study effectively maps the current literature and then introduces a pioneering solution for next-generation resource management in distributed computing. Full article