Search Results (140)

To address knowledge gaps in urban wetlands’ role in sustaining avian diversity along migration corridors, this study systematically surveyed three Yancheng wetland parks with a distinct habitat gradient. Monthly surveys were conducted from January to December 2024 using fixed-width line transects and point counts, with three 300 m transects set in each park and all birds within 50 m of the transect line recorded, and Shannon–Wiener, Simpson, Pielou’s Evenness, and Margalef Richness indices were employed for quantitative analysis. A total of 83 bird species across 16 orders and 41 families were documented, including the National Class I Protected and Endangered Oriental Stork and three Class II nationally protected species (Black-winged Kite, Crested Goshawk, Common Kestrel). Fengyi Lake Park, with 71 species, served as a critical migratory waterbird hub. Yandu Wetland Park sustained community stability through high habitat heterogeneity, supporting specialized breeders, and Dongfang Wetland Park, with 34 urban adaptor-dominated species, provided key autumn pulsed resources for frugivores and granivores. This study identifies habitat heterogeneity as the primary driver of avian community differentiation and highlights that the ecological functions of urban wetlands are contingent on multi-habitat complementarity. We, therefore, advocate for prioritizing the construction of heterogeneous habitat structures in urban wetland planning, enhancing functional complementarity and connectivity among distinct wetland types, and preserving the continuity of migratory bird habitat corridors along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. These findings furnish robust scientific evidence and actionable guidance for regional green space planning and biodiversity conservation. Full article

Given that Acer sutchuenense Franch., an endangered maple endemic to China, severely threatened by habitat degradation and climate fluctuations, understanding its spatiotemporal dynamics is crucial for formulating conservation strategies. Herein, climatic, topographic and soil variables were employed to simulate historical, present, and future distribution patterns of A. sutchuenense using the optimized MaxEnt model. Our results indicated that Mean Temperature of Driest Quarter (Bio9) and Temperature Seasonality (Bio4) were the key environmental drivers. Since the Last Interglacial, A. sutchuenense had experienced a continuously reduction in its suitable area, though the mountains surrounding the Sichuan Basin functioned as vital glacial shelters. Although the potential suitable habitat was distributed in a ring shape, A. sutchuenense occurs only on the east and west sides of the Sichuan Basin, probably due to the terrain complexity and limited dispersal ability. In the future, A. sutchuenense faces a westward contraction and a migration lag behind climate velocity due to dispersal constraints. Overall, we recommend a multi-dimensional conservation framework that prioritizes in situ conservation in core refugia, urgently establishes ecological corridors to facilitate eastward migration under climate change, implements ex situ conservation through germplasm collection for vulnerable southwestern populations, and enhances long-term monitoring to ensure species persistence. Full article

Introduction: Humanitarian corridors were first established in Italy in 2015 as part of the Protected Entry Procedures (PEPs). These corridors provide a safe and legal route to Europe for migrants in need of protection, offering an alternative to perilous and illegal routes. As the first filter at entry with regard to health needs, the National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP) ensures an overall individual health assessment, the primary aim of which is to identify potential infectious diseases and disorders that may require management and medical inquiry. This study aims to analyze the health data related to the humanitarian corridors that Italy has implemented and in which the NIHMP has taken part between 2018 and 2024. Materials and Methods: Health information and organizational records were gathered for every corridor. The analysis focused on health outcomes and on the sample’s sociodemographic characteristics. If the p-value was less than 0.01 it was considered statistically significant. Cramer’s V was calculated to assess the strength of each statistically significant result. Results: A total of 1250 refugees have been able to enter Italy thanks to the 14 NIHMP-verified humanitarian corridors. In the majority of the corridors, infectious conditions are present in less than 15% of the total number of refugees, and in only one corridor are they higher than 50%. There are statistically significant differences in nationality in the inferential analysis based on all health findings and in corridor and nationality according to the inferential analysis conducted for infectious conditions. The analysis relating to the differences by other health findings show statistically significant results in corridor, number of reports of vulnerability, and nationality. Lastly, considering the analysis done for all refugees < 18 years of age, there were statistically significant results in the number of reports of vulnerability, gender, and nationality, but there were not for any kind of health data. Conclusions: This study is one of the first attempts at reporting and analyzing vulnerable flags and health data concerning refugees who arrived through NIHMP-verified humanitarian corridors. Certain characteristics of our sample have few or no counterparts in the literature due to the limited availability of scientific literature on the subject. Despite this, our findings have statistical significance and scientific value, highlighting the need for further research on this subject. Full article

The recent recognition of the Neotropical otter (Lontra annectens) as a distinct species highlights the need to evaluate its genetic status and connectivity across fragmented tropical habitats. We analyzed genetic diversity, population structure, and recent demographic patterns of L. annectens from two contrasting regions in northern Costa Rica—Tortuguero National Park (TNP) and the Sarapiquí River Basin (SRB). Non-invasive fecal and anal-gland secretion samples collected during 2021–2022 were genotyped at ten nuclear DNA microsatellite loci. Genetic diversity was moderate across regions (mean allelic richness [AR] = 3.98–4.03, observed heterozygosity [Ho] = 0.52–0.58), expected heterozygosity [He] = 0.62–0.65) with no significant inter-regional differences. Bayesian clustering, principal component analysis, and pairwise F_ST (0.002) supported a near-panmictic population. Kinship analyses detected localized clusters of related individuals, suggesting weak but non-random structuring, while contemporary migration estimates indicated low-frequency, asymmetric gene flow from SRB to TNP. Bottleneck tests revealed signatures of recent demographic contraction in both regions, particularly in TNP. These findings demonstrate limited yet ongoing connectivity among riverine subpopulations and emphasize that increasing habitat fragmentation could erode this exchange. Maintaining hydrological corridors and monitoring genetically vulnerable subpopulations should be conservation priorities to preserve gene flow and long-term viability of L. annectens in northern Costa Rica. Full article

This study examines the social, economic and cultural impacts that Latin American women face due to climate-induced displacement, considering these impacts as arenas of conflict and negotiation. Using an intersectional framework, the study analyses how climate disasters exacerbate structural inequalities rooted in patriarchal systems, thereby constraining women’s adaptive capacity while simultaneously catalysing resistance strategies. Through a comparative analysis of Bangladesh and the Dry Corridor in Central America using a Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI), the study reveals that displaced women navigate contested spaces, disputing access to resources, legal recognition and territorial belonging, while constructing transnational solidarity networks and cooperative economies. The emergence of women climate refugees challenges international legal frameworks, exposing critical gaps in protection regimes. The findings emphasise the need for gender-responsive policies that recognise women as transformative agents who negotiate power asymmetries in contexts of environmental crisis, not merely as vulnerable populations. This research contributes to our understanding of the nexus between climate change, gender and migration by foregrounding the dialectic of domination and agency in Latin American displacement processes. Full article

Urbanization in mountainous regions alters hydrologic systems, yet the spatial patterning of residential (RA) and non-residential (NRA) areas in response to hydrologic constraints remains poorly quantified. In this study, we analyzed how such constraints shaped the distinct locational logic of RA and NRA expansion in the mountainous Kunming Core Region (KCR), Southwest China, from 1975 to 2020. Using the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHS-BUILT-S) built-up fraction data and its functionally classified RA and NRA layers at 100 m resolution, we quantified multi-decadal urban land changes via regression and centroid migration analyses. Six hydrologic factors, namely altitude, slope, surface roughness, distance to river (DTR), depth to water table (DTWT) and vegetation root depth (VRD), were derived from global terrain, groundwater, and rooting depth datasets, and harmonized to a common grid. Results show a two-phase urbanization pattern: moderate, compact growth before 1995 followed by rapid, near-exponential expansion, dominated by RA. RA consistently clustered in hydrologically favorable zones (low–moderate roughness, mid-altitudes, lower slopes, proximal rivers, shallow–moderate DTWT, moderate VRD), whereas NRA expanded into more hydrologically variable terrain (higher roughness, intermediate DTR, deeper DTWT, higher altitudes, deeper VRD). Contribution-weighting analysis revealed a temporal shift in dominant drivers: for RA, from river proximity and slope in 1975 to terrain roughness in 2020; for NRA, from vegetation root depth and moderate topography to root depth plus altitude. Geographic centroids of both RA and NRA migrated northeastward, indicating coordinated yet functionally distinct peri-urban and corridor-oriented growth. These findings provide a hierarchical, factor-based framework for integrating hydrologic constraints into risk-informed land-use planning in topographically complex basins. Full article

Intercity population flows are playing an increasingly pivotal role in shaping the spatial evolution and structural dynamics of urban networks. Drawing upon Amap Migration Data (2018–2023), this study maps China’s urban networks using social network analysis and identifies their key drivers using a temporal exponential random graph model. The findings reveal three primary insights: First, the overall network exhibits “high connectivity and strong clustering” traits. Enhanced efficiency in intercity resource allocation fosters cross-regional factor flows, resulting in multi-tiered connectivity corridors. Industrial linkages and policy interventions drive the development of a polycentric and clustered configuration. Second, the individual city network exhibits a core–periphery dynamic structure. A diamond-shaped framework dominated by hub cities in the national strategic regions directs factor flows. Development of strategic corridors enables peripheral cities to evolve into secondary hubs by leveraging structural hole advantages, reflecting the continuous interplay between network structure and geo-economic factors. Third, driving factors involve nonlinear interactions within a multi-layered system. Path dependence in topology, gradient potential from nodal attributes, spatial counterbalance between geographic decay laws and multidimensional proximity, and adaptive self-organization are collectively associated with the transition of the urban network toward a multi-tiered synergistic pattern. By revealing the dynamic interplay between network topology and multidimensional driving factors, this study deepens and advances the theoretical connotations of the “Space of Flows” theory, providing an empirical foundation for optimizing regional governance strategies and promoting high-quality coordinated development of Chinese cities. Full article

Investigating plant responses to climate change is critical for understanding phylogeography and devising conservation strategies. This study focuses on the Lycoris aurea (L’Hér.) Herb. complex in East Asia, a system characterized by high cytotype diversity (2n = 12–16), to test whether ecological niche differentiation drives its spatio-temporal evolution. We integrated dynamic niche modeling to reconstruct distribution dynamics from the Last Interglacial (LIG) to the future (2100). Results indicate that mainland China populations have expanded northward since the LIG, establishing their current patterns, while island populations (Taiwan, Ryukyu) remained relatively stable due to geographic constraints. Under future warming scenarios, the complex is projected to further expand northward. We identified key migration corridors, with high inter-cytotype connectivity in the Sichuan-Hubei region and intra-cytotype migration in the Yunnan Plateau and Nanling region. Although the two dominant cytotypes currently exhibit niche equivalency, they show distinct climatic sensitivities—Cytotype II is driven by precipitation and Cytotype IV by temperature—and are projected to diverge spatially in the future. These findings elucidate the evolutionary history of L. aurea and provide a reference for the conservation and utilization of Lycoris germplasm. Full article

The Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) is a migratory game bird of ecological, cultural, and hunting importance in Europe. While globally listed as Least Concern, concerns remain over hunting pressure and limited ecological data. In Hungary, the species occurs regularly during spring and autumn migration and breeds in low numbers. To provide evidence-based management, the Hungarian Woodcock Monitoring Program was launched in 2009. This study evaluates spatial and temporal patterns of woodcock presence in Hungary using standardized roding surveys conducted between 2009 and 2024. Observations were assigned to 10 × 10 km grid cells, with 180 cells consistently sampled over the 16-year period. Detection rates were analyzed, defining “high-abundance” as five or more individuals recorded per session. Interannual dynamics were tested using correlation analyses, and spatial clustering was assessed with spatial autocorrelation. Woodcocks were detected in an average of 94.38% of surveyed cells annually (±3.88% SD), indicating a stable and widespread presence. High-abundance detections were lower ($\overline{x}$ = 50.56%) and more variable (±10.71% SD) but consistently concentrated in specific areas, highlighting the importance of regional stopover habitats. No significant long-term trend was observed, suggesting population stability. These results confirm Hungary’s key role in the spring migration corridor and underline the value of long-term monitoring for reconciling traditional hunting with conservation objectives. Full article

In Kampinoski National Park (KNP), located in central Poland near the Warsaw agglomeration, the ASF epidemic lasted five years (2017–2021). The virus likely entered the park via wild boar migrating along a natural ecological corridor or through unintentional transmission by residents and tourists. Between 2014 and 2021, intensive monitoring and wild boar population reduction were implemented. The wild boar population, estimated at 11 individuals/km² in 2013, began to be reduced from 2014 onward, when ASF was first detected in Poland. In 2018, at the peak of the epidemic, the density of wild boar dropped to about 0.51 individuals/km²—the lowest in the park’s history. Between 2017 and 2021, 408 ASF cases were recorded, mainly in dead wild boar, although age and sex structure analysis suggests that the actual mortality rate could have been up to about 50% higher. The early intervention—culling—which was controversial from the National Park’s perspective, appears to have played a key role in controlling the situation and likely in limiting the epidemic. At the same time, the limited organizational resources of KNP highlighted the need for proactive management and close institutional cooperation in protected areas subject to high anthropogenic pressure. Full article

Climate change significantly impacts the survival and distribution of alpine vegetation on the Tibetan Plateau. Endangered Rhodiola species, represented by Rhodiola crenulata (Hook. f. & Thomson) H. Ohba and Rhodiola tangutica (Maxim.) S.H. Fu. are highly sensitive to climate change. Modeling their adaptive distribution and identifying ecological corridors are crucial for developing conservation strategies. Using the biomod2 platform and the MCR model, this study projects the potential geographical distribution of the two Rhodiola species under current and future climate scenarios and further identifies key ecological corridors. The results indicate that under current climate conditions, Rhodiola crenulata is mainly distributed in the southern part of the Tibetan Plateau, while Rhodiola tangutica is primarily concentrated in the northeastern region. Temperature, precipitation, and elevation are identified as key environmental drivers influencing their distribution. Under future climate scenarios, the total adaptive area of Rhodiola crenulata is projected to expand. The most significant expansion, reaching 22%, is projected under the SSP585 scenario in the 2090s. In contrast, the total adaptive area of Rhodiola tangutica is expected to contract, with a reduction of 2.99% under the SSP585 scenario in the 2070s. Based on the migration trends of the two species, ecological corridors suitable for development, such as primary corridors and secondary corridors, were established to support species migration and biodiversity conservation. By integrating species distribution models with the MCR model, this study provides a scientific basis for the conservation of endangered Rhodiola species under climate change. Full article

Since the reform and opening-up, China’s urbanization has progressed rapidly, leading to a continuous migration of rural populations to urban areas. This population outflow is particularly pronounced in the economically less developed Northwest China, triggering a series of issues such as rural vacancy and the idling of residential resources. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need for scientific methods to guide the renewal design of rural residences, aiming to enhance living comfort, optimize spatial utilization efficiency, and curb rural decline. Although existing research often explores resource utilization strategies at the village level, systematic studies focusing on the individual building scale remain relatively scarce. This study targets rural residences in the Hexi Corridor region. It systematically identifies the “Seasonal Room Rotation” living pattern formed under the context of population contraction and analyzes the “conflict between solar gain and overheating” phenomenon caused by the extreme climate. By integrating architectural characteristics and psychrometric chart analysis, suitable passive design strategies are summarized. Furthermore, based on objectives for indoor light environment and thermal comfort, a genetic algorithm is employed to conduct multi-objective optimization of various building parameters. The results indicate an inherent contradiction in achieving both “warm in winter and cool in summer” within a single room. However, by functionally differentiating building spaces according to their season of use—designating separate “Winter Rooms” and “Summer Rooms”—both winter thermal insulation and summer cooling performance can be systematically enhanced. The research further proposes key design parameters applicable to this new “Seasonal Room Rotation” living pattern, including courtyard form, building height, window-to-wall ratio, and shading component dimensions. This elevates the seasonal adaptation strategy from an internal room-level compromise to a holistic building-level allocation of spatial resources. This study constructs a design methodology for enhancing the green performance of rural residences amidst population contraction. It simultaneously optimizes indoor comfort and spatial utilization efficiency, offering a highly operable new design paradigm for the green renewal of rural homes in complex climatic conditions. Full article

The Yellow River Basin serves as a critical ecological barrier and economic corridor in China, playing a pivotal role in national ecological security and sustainable development. This study develops a comprehensive evaluation framework grounded in the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus, employing 25 indicators across nine provinces and autonomous regions over the period 2000–2023. Utilizing a multi-method approach—including the entropy weight method, coupling coordination degree model, center of gravity migration analysis, principal component analysis, and obstacle factor diagnosis—the research investigates the coordinated development and dynamic interactions among the WEFE subsystems. Key findings include: (1) the calculated weights of the water, energy, food, and ecological subsystems were 0.3126, 0.1957, 0.1692, and 0.3225, respectively, indicating that ecological and water subsystems exert the greatest influence; (2) distinct growth patterns among subsystems, with the energy subsystem exhibiting the fastest growth rate (212%) and the water subsystem the slowest (4%); (3) a steady improvement in the overall coordination degree of the WEFE system, rising from 0.417 in 2000 to 0.583 in 2023—a 39.8% increase—with Henan (0.739) and Inner Mongolia (0.715) achieving the highest coordination levels in 2023, while Qinghai (0.434) and Ningxia (0.417) remained near imbalance thresholds; (4) complex spatial dynamics reflected by cumulative center of gravity migration distances of 678.2 km (water), 204.9 km (energy), 143.3 km (food), and 310.9 km (ecology) over the study period; and (5) identification of per capita water resources as the principal limiting factor to coordinated WEFE development, with an obstacle degree of 0.1205 in 2023, underscoring persistent water scarcity challenges. This integrated framework advances WEFE nexus analysis and provides robust, evidence-based insights to inform regional policy and resource management strategies. Full article

The systematic regulation of Polish gravel-bed watercourses, notably intensified in the latter half of the 20th century, coupled with extensive gravel extraction, have become one of the main factors leading to severe channel incision and degradation of hydromorphological features. This paper investigates river renaturalization as a pivotal strategy to restore channel-riparian water connectivity in incised gravel-bed streams of Southern Poland. The river restoration projects were categorized into passive and active techniques. Passive methods, though less common, involve cost-effective methods like the restoration of erodible corridors, island-braided channel patterns, and woody debris presence, while active methods include mainly fish passes, check dam lowering, and artificial riffles. A total of 27 major activities carried out on rivers of Southern Poland were assessed, revealing a trend towards comprehensive renaturalization in collaboration with scientists, pro-environment organizations, and local authorities and communities. Despite the lack of long-term data for most projects, results demonstrated sustained improvements in hydromorphological features, including the shallowing and stabilization of deeply incised channels. Using a natural section of the Czarny Dunajec river, a brief case study was presented to explain the mechanism of spontaneous river renaturalization. It was also shown that a good restoration project should take into account the views of all river stakeholders, anticipate possible development trajectories of a freely migrating river, and assess the potential benefits for both nature and people. Increased deposition of macroplastics together with woody debris in naturally widened river sections, as well as the possible remobilization of pollutants previously trapped in bank sediments, presents an additional challenge for future projects. Full article

Beavers are classified as ecosystem engineers because their activities can significantly alter environmental conditions. Vegetation and landscape changes, based on a series of vegetation maps and satellite images between 1994 and 2022, were studied in a mountain valley of a protected area in the Polish part of the Eastern Carpathians. Eighteen plant communities were identified before the beavers were released, with moist and wet communities covering 76.8% of the area. After 25 years of beaver presence, the vegetation changed: fresh communities decreased from 23% to 10%, and communities with grey alder disappeared. At the same time, the moist and wet communities expanded and new ones developed. Overall, the share of these communities increased to 89% of the area, with the dominant tall herb Filipendulo-Geranietum and Menyanthes trifoliata community. A distinctive feature was an increase in vegetation patchiness with a corresponding decrease in the evenness index. Landscape analysis revealed a 9.5% increase in the length of the streambed and fluctuations in the number of beaver ponds (11–25) and migration corridors (4–20). The number of corridors increased as the availability of grey alder decreased. The total area of the ponds exceeded 2200 m², indicating their significant role in water retention and modifying microclimatic conditions. Full article