Search Results (3,713)

Habitat quality is critical for spatial planning strategies and ecological conservation initiative, evaluating the health of the natural environment that supports human survival. However, current approaches pay insufficient attention to revealing the evolution and spatial heterogeneity of the habitat quality simultaneously. In this study, a comprehensive and practical framework was therefore developed for mechanistic habitat quality analysis, which incorporates an adaptable evolutionary model alongside multiple spatial statistical methods. Ningxia, located in Northwest China, was selected as a case study area due to its fragile ecosystem. The proposed framework was then applied to characterize the evolutionary process and spatial heterogeneity of habitat quality in Ningxia. Key factors driving spatial heterogeneity were also found at the same time. From 2000 to 2024, habitat quality in Ningxia is characterized by good habitat and shows significant improvement, following a progressive trajectory. The proportion of poor habitat has been significantly reduced from 29.26% to 24.63%, while that of excellent habitat has been increased from 1.68% to 2.33% over the past two decades. Variation in habitat quality is more pronounced in northern and southern regions, while remaining relatively stable in the central Yellow River ecological corridor. Both natural and socioeconomic factors have an impact on the habitat change in this region, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Net Primary Productivity (NPP), and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Vegetation factors play vital roles in spatial variation in habitat quality, while the influences of socioeconomic factors are relatively small. The spatial heterogeneity is driven by nonlinear synergistic effects among numerous factors. This paper developed a feasible framework to retrieve the evolution and spatial heterogeneity pattern of habitat quality, which provides a robust methodology for further habitat assessment at the ecologically fragile regions worldwide. Full article

Cultural heritage, with its humanistic values, is seen as a tool for preserving historical memory and reinforcing cultural identity, while its socio-economic values have a significant impact on the tourism industry. However, the contemporary global context, characterized by rapid and often unsustainable development, has intensified challenges such as tourism massification, urbanization, and climate change. To address these challenges, the authors assume that contemporary society should find a balanced development model in which heritage management becomes an integrated part of sustainable tourism practices. Although the relationship between heritage, tourism, and sustainability has been extensively explored for more than four decades, existing research remains fragmented and lacks an integrated conceptual framework that systematically explains the interconnections between sustainable tourism and heritage management. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework and conduct a comprehensive literature review that synthesizes these processes, contributing to the existing body of knowledge and addressing identified research gaps. The conducted research indicates that contemporary approaches should enhance integrated heritage management plans, effective visitor management strategies, carrying capacity assessments, and continuous monitoring of tourism impacts. In this context, sustainable tourism and heritage management represent a coordinated process of planning and governance aimed at ensuring the long-term conservation of cultural and natural heritage resources while enabling responsible tourism development. By reviewing and synthesizing existing literature, this paper contributes to the theoretical advancement of sustainable tourism and heritage management studies through the development of an integrated conceptual framework that addresses existing research gaps and incorporates contemporary academic insights. Full article

Outdoor ecological practice is essential for cultivating ecological literacy; however, there is currently a relative lack of comprehensive outdoor practical teaching case designs for class-based teaching. This study describes the design of an experimental teaching case for ecological education involving UAV-based field data collection. For the scheme, we selected the Xinhui Tangerine Peel Germplasm Resources Conservation Center in Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province as the study area, utilizing the DJI Phantom 4 RTK drone, which serves as the equipment for experimental teaching. The experiment is structured into three phases: indoor preparation, field execution, and data processing. Students from four groups collaboratively conducted aerial surveys across 24 partitioned plots, with flight altitudes stratified between groups to ensure safety and data integrity. (1) In the indoor preparation phase, appropriate single-flight operational units were defined. QGIS software (version 3.26.2) was employed for zonal mission planning, and suitable flight altitudes were estimated using contour data. (2) Field experiment phase. This involved conducting a comprehensive survey of the on-site environment, selecting suitable takeoff and landing points, dividing students into teams to carry out UAV-image-acquisition tasks, and assigning different altitudes for flight routes among the teams. (3) After the fieldwork, students processed imagery using Agisoft Metashape (version 2.0.1) to generate orthomosaics and digital surface models, and engaged in ecological interpretation of the results. The experimental design ensured orderly execution, complete data coverage, and active student participation. The results indicate the approach effectively enhanced students’ UAV operational skills, outdoor problem-solving abilities, and teamwork capabilities, while deepening their ecological understanding through real-world inquiry. This case provides a replicable model for integrating UAV technology into ecological education, contributing to the transformation of ecological awareness into actionable practice. Full article

Coral reefs in the South China Sea (SCS) are critical for regional marine biodiversity and ecosystem services but face escalating threats from climate change and anthropogenic stressors. However, a holistic evaluation of habitat suitability spanning the distinct environmental gradients from low-latitude deep-water atolls to high-latitude marginal reefs remains limited. This study utilized high-resolution remote sensing data and the MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy) model combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to systematically map potential habitat suitability and elucidate the multi-scale environmental drivers shaping the realized niche of SCS corals. The results revealed significant spatial heterogeneity characterized by a distinct “High South, Low North” latitudinal gradient, with Unsuitable areas dominating 85.5% of the study region, followed by Marginally Suitable habitats at 5.0%, while the northern Nansha Islands were identified as the core distribution area with the highest suitability and continuity. Minimum Phosphate (Min. Phos.) concentration and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) were identified as the core environmental factors determining the spatial distribution of coral reefs in the South China Sea. The optimal environmental ranges were identified as: SST between 28.52 °C and 29.41 °C, water depth shallower than 34 m, extremely low phosphate (0–0.005 mmol/m³), and low cumulative thermal stress (DHW < 0.83 °C-weeks). Crucially, PCA further quantified two potential climate refugia: low-latitude thermal refugia in the southern Nansha Islands, characterized by high environmental stability, and high-latitude marginal refugia in the Beibu Gulf, which offer physical buffering against warming, while necessitating targeted efforts to mitigate the risks of habitat degradation and eutrophication driven by intensifying anthropogenic activities These findings challenge the traditional conservation view relying solely on high-latitude migration, advocating for a climate-resilient spatial planning strategy that prioritizes strict protection of southern biodiversity source banks while enhancing the connectivity of northern marginal stepping stones. Full article

This study examines the dynamics of aridity in Mexico in relation to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases (El Niño, La Niña and neutral conditions) between 1999 and 2024. The aim is to identify ecosystems that are exposed to emerging aridification. Aridity was estimated using the Lang index at a resolution of 1 km across nearly two million grid cells. Aridity intensity and long-term trends were calculated and analysed by ENSO phase to identify areas of double exposure. Over 60% of Mexico is classified as arid or semi-arid. During El Niño, up to 100% of the central and southern regions exhibit increased aridity, affecting an area of 290,852 km² (14.7%), where both the intensity and the trend are high. Although La Niña typically brings wetter conditions, 150,022 km² (7.6%) still exhibit increasing aridity. Areas exposed to aridity under both ENSO phases cover 16,224 km² (0.8%), particularly affecting cloud forests, secondary vegetation and agricultural landscapes. This suggests a process of persistent aridification. The average arid area was 64% ± 7.51% during El Niño, 67% ± 1.44% during La Niña and 64% ± 8.14% during neutral years, indicating substantial variability beyond phase dependence. These findings reveal a complex, non-linear ENSO influence and suggest chronic hydroclimatic stress in some regions. Understanding which ecosystems experience recurrent aridity is crucial for effective water management, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation planning. Full article

Background/Objectives: Older adults frequently present with emergency ventral hernias, a situation that carries significant physiological risks and often requires challenging clinical decisions. Despite the prevalence of these cases, there is a lack of robust evidence to inform emergency care in this demographic, as most existing research centres on short-term mortality rates and operative variables. Key aspects such as the impact of frailty and the course of recovery following surgery are insufficiently addressed in the literature. This study aimed to describe management strategies, frailty burden and postoperative outcomes in older adults presenting with emergency ventral hernias. Methods: This study retrospectively examined patients aged 65 and older who were admitted to a UK tertiary centre with emergency ventral hernias from February 2016 to July 2024. Data, including patient demographics, comorbid conditions, frailty status (as measured by the Clinical Frailty Scale), management approach, healthcare resource use, and clinical outcomes, were analysed descriptively. Additionally, a structured literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to identify research on emergency ventral hernia treatment outcomes in adults aged 60 years and older. Results: A total of 67 patients met the inclusion criteria for the cohort. High rates of frailty and multiple coexisting health conditions were observed. While surgical intervention was the predominant management strategy, a subset of patients received conservative or palliative care. Greater degrees of frailty correlated with longer hospital stays and an increased need for critical care, even though six-month mortality remained comparatively low. Traditional risk assessment tools tended to overpredict mortality risk and failed to reflect the true postoperative burden or the recovery process. The systematic review yielded 7 studies, most of which documented mortality and complication rates, but few addressed frailty or provided detailed postoperative recovery data. Conclusions: The management of emergency ventral hernias in older adults is highly variable, with a significant postoperative impact that extends beyond mortality statistics. Assessing frailty appears to provide additional information that may support clinical decision-making and help anticipate recovery after surgery. Integrating frailty evaluation into emergency hernia care could enhance multidisciplinary collaboration and help ensure that treatment plans are better tailored to patient vulnerability and individual care goals. Full article

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) trajectory planning in complex three-dimensional environments with threats remains a challenging optimization problem requiring efficient algorithms and threat detection capabilities. This study proposes the Conservative Enhanced Dwarf Mongoose Optimization Algorithm (CEDMOA), which introduces four key innovations to the original DMOA: hybrid population initialization, adaptive vocalization parameters, elite-guided learning strategy, and intelligent restart mechanisms. This work proposed the integration of CEDMOA with a novel vision-based threat detection system using YOLO object detection technology, enabling the identification and incorporation of threats into the optimization process. CEDMOA was comprehensively evaluated on the CEC2022 benchmark test suite, demonstrating superior performance compared to other state-of-the-art algorithms in solution quality and convergence stability. The results show the approach successfully generates an optimal collision-free flight trajectory in complex environments in UAV trajectory planning with both static and dynamic threats. Combining metaheuristic optimization with computer vision technology provides a robust framework for autonomous navigation that adapts to changing threat conditions. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of both the enhanced algorithm and the vision-based threat integration approach for practical UAV operations. Full article

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) spans most of Eurasia, yet southern and mountainous populations may retain distinctive genetic components shaped by long-term isolation and complex postglacial dynamics. We genotyped 186 trees from four Scots pine stands in Armenia (AM1-AM4) and reference stands from Germany, Russia and Montenegro with the PiSy50k SNP array and integrated these data with published European array datasets from Finland, Poland and the Baltic region. After quality checks and conservative SNP filtering, 627 individuals from 47 populations and 3659 SNP loci were retained. Within-population diversity was generally high; Armenian stands AM2–AM4 were among the most diverse, whereas AM1 showed reduced diversity and the highest differentiation relative to the remainder of the dataset (FST vs. rest = 0.0047). Direct pairwise F_ST and hierarchical AMOVA confirmed pronounced heterogeneity among Armenian stands, with AM1 the most differentiated stand, AM2 and AM4 closest to the broader Eurasian background, and AM3 intermediate. Principal component analysis (PC1 = 1.42%, PC2 = 0.76%) again separated AM1 strongly from all non-Armenian samples, while AM2 overlapped with the central/eastern European cluster and AM3 and AM4 combined continental-like and AM1-like individuals. Structure-like inference with LEA/sNMF showed a broad cross-entropy plateau from approximately K = 4 to K = 6; we therefore use K = 5 as a practical summary, which highlighted a dominant AM1-associated ancestry component and variable continental admixture in AM2–AM4. KING kinship estimates provided little evidence for within-stand family clustering in Armenian stands; no second-degree-or-closer pairs were observed in AM1–AM4. Together, the results reveal pronounced heterogeneity among Armenian Scots pine stands and identify AM1 as a highly differentiated but unresolved genomic component, providing a genomic baseline to support conservation planning, provenance evaluation and the management of forest reproductive material in the Lesser Caucasus. Full article

Dispersed archaeological landscapes are often rich in heritage value but weakly integrated into regional tourism systems. This creates difficulties in visitor orientation, interpretive continuity, and conservation-sensitive tourism planning. In response to this problem, this study examines the Adana–Kozan–Anavarza axis in southern Türkiye and proposes a spatial corridor framework for organising tourism development within a dispersed archaeological landscape. The research integrates spatial accessibility assessment, service-capacity evaluation, field observation, and sequential route design in order to establish a hierarchical gateway–transition–anchor configuration. Anavarza, one of the largest archaeological complexes of Cilicia, represents a monumental urban heritage site and a biocultural landscape situated within a Mediterranean ecological zone historically associated with Pedanius Dioscorides. Although current visitor volumes remain moderate, official statistics indicate a substantial increase in annual entries between 2022 and 2024, reflecting rising destination visibility. This emerging growth trajectory underscores the need for proactive spatial governance mechanisms prior to the onset of congestion and environmental degradation pressures. The findings suggest that Adana can function as a metropolitan gateway, Kozan as an intermediate staging node, and Anavarza as the archaeological anchor within a realistic multi-day visitor sequence. In this configuration, visitor functions are distributed across multiple nodes, while the ecological and archaeological sensitivity of the anchor landscape is more cautiously managed through spatial sequencing. Rather than proposing a predictive model, the study develops and assesses a context-responsive spatial planning framework grounded in accessibility, infrastructural feasibility, and conservation-sensitive visitor distribution. Beyond the local case, the study offers a transferable hierarchical staging logic for corridor-based heritage planning. Full article

This study uses Shenyang as a case to integrate multi-source dynamic data with spatial modeling. A comprehensive resistance surface was planned using 12 indicators across the natural, built, and socio-economic dimensions, with objective weighting via the CRITIC method. A hierarchical corridor network was generated based on the MCR model and circuit theory, validated by chi-square goodness-of-fit tests and network structural analysis. The results indicate that socio-economic factors, particularly path activity frequency, dominate the spatial patterns of the corridors, confirming that the network captures connectivity rooted in human activity rather than simply replicating transportation infrastructure. The distribution of national, provincial, and municipal heritage sites across the three higher-importance tiers (L1–L3) shows no significant deviation from the regional baseline, validating the network’s inherent de-hierarchization capacity. Network structure analysis further confirms that this equitable network simultaneously exhibits robust connectivity. The resultant network displays a distinct core–periphery structure with a monocentric-multinuclear radial pattern, forming a four-tier corridor system (core, primary, secondary, and local) that provides an actionable framework for graded protection and targeted interventions. This study advances cultural heritage conservation from passive isolation towards proactive systemic network governance, offering a transferable pathway for the sustainable preservation of heritage in high-density urban environments. Full article

Desertification is one of the main threats to high Andean ecosystems, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions subject to increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures. This study evaluated the spatial-temporal dynamics of desertification in the province of Candarave (Tacna, Peru) by integrating the Remote Sensing-based Desertification Index (RSDI), constructed from a principal component analysis incorporating four biophysical indicators: vegetation greenness, surface moisture, soil grain size, and fraction of solar radiation reflected (albedo), derived from Landsat 5 and 8 satellite images processed in Google Earth Engine. Temporal trends were analyzed using the Mann–Kendall test, while system stability was evaluated using the coefficient of variation, allowing different degrees of stability and environmental degradation to be characterized during the period 2010–2025. The results show that moderate and severe desertification classes predominate in higher altitude areas, covering approximately 92% of the study area, and are characterized by insignificant to weakly significant negative trends associated with high to relatively high temporal volatility. In contrast, stable areas with no significant changes represent 5.3% of the territory, while restoration processes occupy a small proportion, close to 2.7%. The high variability observed in the high Andean sectors is mainly linked to the interaction between reduced water availability, climate variability, and extreme events, as well as anthropogenic pressures, particularly overgrazing and aquifer exploitation. This multitemporal analysis allows us to anticipate the evolution of desertification and highlights the need to strengthen conservation planning in order to reduce the degradation of strategic high Andean ecosystems in the Tacna region. Full article

Argali (Ovis ammon), the largest wild sheep in Asia, are of high conservation concern and remain taxonomically and genetically debated across parts of their range. We investigated population structure, relatedness, and inbreeding within Argali sampled in Kyrgyzstan using the Illumina Ovine High-Density SNP array, with an emphasis on dense within-population sampling rather than range-wide comparisons. After quality control, 72 individuals and 135,242 markers were retained for analysis. Principal component analysis revealed subtle genetic variation within the sampled population, but no clustering consistent with discrete subspecies. In particular, we found no genomic support for separating O. a. polii and O. a. karelini within Kyrgyzstan, suggesting that they represent a single genetic unit in this region. Estimates of identity by descent indicated a high average relatedness (0.35), consistent with harem-based breeding systems typical of wild sheep, while individual inbreeding coefficients averaged near zero, with some evidence of moderate inbreeding in a subset of animals. Together, these results characterize fine-scale genetic structure and kinship within Tian Shan Argali and provide a regional genomic baseline for conservation planning in Kyrgyzstan. Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining connectivity within and among managed populations while acknowledging that broader inference will require sampling across the core Pamir range and other parts of the species’ distribution. Full article

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a highly lethal viral disease of cattle that poses a persistent threat to livestock production in wildlife–livestock interface areas of Southern Africa. Despite its recognized clinical severity, the economic burden of the disease remains poorly quantified in South African production systems. This study assessed the long-term economic impact of malignant catarrhal fever on cattle production in Lephalale Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa, using a retrospective analysis covering the period from 2001 to 2021. The study combined confirmed case records, estimated mortalities, and region-specific production parameters to quantify both direct and indirect economic losses. Direct losses included mortality-related financial costs and the expenditure on treatment, while indirect losses encompassed reduced productivity, diminished milk yields, and associated declines in overall herd performance. The results show that MCF imposed substantial financial burdens on cattle producers, with mortality contributing to more than ninety percent of total losses. The total economic losses over the study period were substantial, amounting to approximately R 1.55 million, driven primarily by high mortality-related costs. Annual losses displayed considerable variability, reflecting the sporadic nature of the outbreaks and the fluctuations in the wildlife–livestock interactions. The spatial analysis revealed that most cases occur in wards situated adjacent to wildlife conservation areas, where cattle are exposed to virus-carrying wildebeest populations. Seasonal patterns indicated a higher disease occurrence during the spring and winter, aligning with established transmission dynamics. Although a gradual decline in both cases and associated losses was observed over the study period, episodic outbreaks continued to exert significant economic shocks on affected farming households. The findings reaffirm MCF as a persistent and high-impact constraint to cattle production in interface zones and highlight the need for improved surveillance, integrated land-use planning, and sustained investment in targeted disease control measures. Full article

Scientists estimate that humanity has exceeded seven of nine planetary boundaries, threatening the entire planet with potentially catastrophic consequences for all species. We therefore have a moral imperative for future generations and other species to return to the safe side of those boundaries. Threats to these boundaries take the form of social dilemmas, defined as situations in which individuals acting in their own interest undermine collective welfare, which can only be solved through cooperation. Western economic theory has conditioned us to believe that humans are inherently selfish. This assumption has led economists, scientists, and policymakers to increasingly pursue market-based solutions to conservation approaches, which have yielded limited success. In contrast, this article argues that humans are inherently cooperative. We employ Multi-Level Selection Theory (MLS) to depict the evolutionary advantages of cooperation and to define morality as putting the group ahead of the individual. We examine two examples of MLS in action: Territories of Life (TOL) and Ubuntu. The paper provides guidance for pathways of Ecozoic governance, planning, and restoration. Applied in a Western context in Burlington, Vermont, the philosophies hold true, showing that social norms and group identity already shape ecological behavior in Burlington residents’ lawn care practices. Ultimately, providing an alternative economic model built on these ethical foundations, we introduce the Neighbor’s Goodwill that reframes social dilemmas in a game theory context. The Neighbor’s Goodwill demonstrates how loyalty, reciprocity, and social belonging alter payoff structures. This research is founded on the fact that humans are inherently social and tend to make decisions in the interest of the whole group over their own. Full article

Background: Partial ceramic veneers in the esthetic zone are a novel, conservative alternative to traditional veneer preparations intended to preserve maximum tooth structure. This narrative review summarizes the available clinical case reports on partial ceramic veneers and includes a case illustration demonstrating a step-by-step approach to closing a space between the maxillary left lateral incisor and canine. Methods: The review synthesizes the limited case-report evidence, focusing on patient selection, treatment planning, and clinical execution. The case illustration details each step, including a diagnostic digital wax-up to preview the proposed outcome and a minimally invasive preparation limited to rounding sharp areas and optimizing the path of insertion. Results: Published reports emphasize that careful case selection and a well-executed plan are essential. In the case illustration, hand-crafted partial veneers achieved a natural appearance, with a high esthetic outcome confirmed using the White Esthetic Score (WES) system. Conclusions: Although evidence remains limited, partial ceramic veneers can be predictable in appropriately selected cases. More long-term clinical data are needed, and the case illustration may help guide early-career clinicians. The case illustration is limited in that it does not provide quantifiable outcomes like in vitro studies; however, qualitatively, it fulfilled the patient’s esthetic and functional demands. Full article