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This study examines the evolution of the coupling relationship among the tourism industry, urbanization, and human settlements of the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River from 2005 to 2019. By employing a constructed evaluation index system and a quantitative analysis model, the study aims to characterize and analyze this relationship. The key findings are as follows: (1) The coupling coordination level of the three major systems exhibits a continuous upward trend over the study period, albeit with a gradually slowing growth rate. The Changsha -Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration shows the highest average growth rate, followed by the Wuhan metropolitan area and the Poyang Lake urban agglomeration. (2) The variation coefficient and Taylor index of the coupling coordination degree demonstrate a fluctuating downward trend, indicating a convergence in spatial differences in interregional coupling coordination levels. Internal differences between city clusters within urban agglomerations are identified as the main source of overall differences in coupling coordination levels. (3) The coupling coordination levels of the three major systems follow an evolutionary trajectory characterized by "serious imbalance, moderate imbalance, mild imbalance". Clear features of level transitions are observed among various cities. (4) The endowment of tourism resources emerges as the primary factor driving the evolution of the coupling relationship among the tourism industry, urbanization, and human settlements. The study highlights the increasing diversification of driving forces and significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity in interregional driving forces for coupling relationship evolution factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change is leading to an increase in compound hot-dry events, significantly impacting human habitats. Analysing the causes and effects of these events requires precise data, yet most meteorological data focus on variables rather than extremes, which hinders relevant research. A daily compound hot-dry events (CHDEs) dataset was developed from 1980 to 2100 under various socioeconomic scenarios, using the latest NASA Earth Exchange Global Daily Downscaled Projections (NEX-GDDP-CMIP6) dataset to address this. The dataset has a spatial resolution of 0.25 degrees (approximately 30 kilometres), including three indicators, namely D (the yearly sum of hot-dry extreme days), prI (the intensity of daily precipitation), and tasI (the intensity of daily temperature). To validate the accuracy of the dataset, we compared observational data from China (National Meteorological Information Center, NMIC), Europe (ERA5), and North America (ERA5). Results show close alignment with estimated values from the observational daily dataset, both temporally and spatially. The predictive interval (PI) pass rates for the CHDEs dataset exhibit notably high values. For a 90% PI, D has a pass rate exceeding 85%, whilst prI and tasI respectively show a pass rate above 70% and 95%. These results underscore its suitability for conducting global and regional studies about compound hot-dry events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red deer populations, once extirpated in large parts of Europe, have recovered over the last century in many regions. In Switzerland, primarily inhabiting mountain forests, they have recently started to expand into human-dominated lowland landscapes. To study their habitat selection, we analyzed day- and nighttime positions of 15 GPS-collared red deer. Our results show that during daytime, all animals generally preferred forests; open land was mainly used at night. In summer and fall, some lowland individuals deviated from this pattern and used agricultural crops as daytime retreats. Human settlements were often avoided in the lowlands. Day-site selection in the lowlands occurred irrespective of the distance to trails and the probability of being accessed by humans, in contrast to the pattern observed in the mountains. At night, red deer preferred forest edges and open land. In the lowlands, human settlements were avoided. Trails and transport infrastructures had a marginal influence at night. Our study confirmed a high behavioral plasticity of red deer. The use of daytime retreats close to trails and in high-standing crops represent major extensions of their behavior. Our habitat models indicate that there is ample suitable habitat in the lowlands, which is of major relevance for their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Asian elephant populations inhabit fragmented human‐dominated landscapes. Human–elephant conflict (HEC) has intensified in such regions, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people and elephants each year. Controversy between stakeholders then arises as people debate the merits of HEC mitigation approaches, stifling progress. We conducted a survey to evaluate the opinions of experts, farmers and others who have and have not experienced HEC (n = 611), on the causes of HEC, the importance of, conservation of and co‐existence with elephants, and on the acceptability and effectiveness of potential HEC mitigation methods. Analysis of variance and the Potential for Conflict Index showed that all groups agreed with nine of the 10 causes of HEC assessed, on average. All respondent groups had mostly positive attitudes towards the importance and conservation of elephants. However, farmers exposed to HEC disagreed that people should co‐exist with elephants and supported the view that elephants should be removed from human habitats. All groups agreed on the acceptability and effectiveness of electric fencing, early warning systems with infrasonic call detectors, Global Positioning System collars and geophones. However, there was disparity in views between the experts and other stakeholder groups on the acceptability and effectiveness of restricting elephants to protected areas, and translocation of problem elephants to protected areas away from their capture site or to wild elephant holding grounds. While similar views between stakeholders on many subjects are encouraging for elephant conservation, the disparities identified should be given greater attention when planning HEC management programs to minimize conflict between stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing a sustainable life-support system for space exploration is a formidable challenge due to the vast distances, high costs, and environmental differences from Earth. Building upon the lessons from the Biosphere 2 experiment, we introduce the novel "Ecosphere" and "Biosealed" systems, self-sustaining ecosystems within customizable, enclosed containers. These systems incorporate terrestrial ecosystems and groundwater layers, offering a potential model for transplanting Earth-like biomes to extraterrestrial environments. Over 4 years, we conducted rigorous experiments and analyses to understand the dynamics of these enclosed ecosystems. We successfully mitigated moisture deficiency, a major obstacle to plant growth, by incorporating groundwater layers. Additionally, we quantified microbial communities proliferating in specific soils, including simulated lunar and Ryugu asteroid regolith, enhance plant cultivation in space environments. Metagenomic analysis of these simulated space soils revealed diverse microbial populations and their crucial role in plant growth and ecosystem stability. Notably, we identified symbiotic relationships between plants and Cyanobacteria, enhancing oxygen production, and demonstrated the potential of LED lighting as an alternative light source for plant cultivation in sun-limited space missions. We also confirmed the survival of fruit flies within these systems, relying on plant-produced oxygen and photosynthetic bacteria. Our research provides a comprehensive framework for developing future space life-support systems. The novelty of our work lies in the unique design of our enclosed ecosystems, incorporating groundwater layers and simulated extraterrestrial soils, and the detailed analysis of microbial communities within these systems. These findings offer valuable insights into the challenges and potential solutions for establishing sustainable human habitats in space, including the importance of microbial management and potential health concerns related to microbial exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study reviews critical social science and policy literature on human settlement research. It examines how the gender of household heads determines housing location preferences in Sub-Saharan African cities. Five themes are obtained from the review: circumstances under which household headships emerge, household fundamental gender roles, interaction with the local property market, power relations and gender in social networks, as well as differing gendered residential location choices. Uncovering how varied gender-influenced household location choices are made underscores the differing significance of the unique gendered preferences in selecting urban housing in rapidly urbanising cities of Sub-Saharan Africa. Engendering the differing preferences and their effect on housing location choices is critical in tracking the housing location journeys of respective household heads and guiding policy action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to understand the debris flow characteristics in view of frequent extreme rainfall events, expansion of road networks, tourist influx, and population pressure in the NW & Central Himalaya. Notably, majority of the human settlements, roads, bridges, buildings, and even protection measures in the NW & Central Himalaya do not take into consideration such debris flow impact scenario despite a history of debris flow disasters. The Voellmy-Salm rheology dependent dynamic runout simulation method was used to determine the debris flow pressure and velocity regime in 9 debris flow locations belonging to different litho-tectonic conditions. Results revealed that the debris flow pressure and velocity in these 9 studied debris flows might reach up to 3000 kPa and 20 m/s, respectively. The debris flow pressure and velocity of these orders have the potential to damage the protection measures and infrastructures, which have also been observed in other hilly terrains. The sensitivity analysis was carried out at a range of input parameters by considering 729 possible simulations and debris flow pressure and velocity are found to follow relatively better corelation until ~ 250 kPa flow pressure and ~ 15 m/s velocity thresholds. The influence of slope topography on the debris flow characteristics is also observed in the form of amplification of flow pressure and velocity at concave portions. The rapid development of road network in the NW & Central Himalayan region and its subjectivity to potential debris flow risk is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of complementary techniques in this paper contributes to a better understanding of the long-term evolution of the riparian landscape on the southern banks of the lacus Ligustinus (current Guadalquivir marshlands) through the knowledge of related human settlements. The techniques used included field-transect surveys, malacology, anthracology, radiocarbon dating, and magnetometry. Deep plowing at the archaeological site of Haza de Santa Catalina revealed vestiges of different time periods. Comprehensive datasets based on best archaeological practices were collected to explore holistic ecological perspectives and changes over time. Here, we focus specifically on the transition between the 4th and 3rd millennia (Neolithic) and the 1st millennium b.c. (Iron Age–Early Roman period) in western Andalusia. In addition, the theoretical frameworks related to the concepts of riparia and emptyscape are expanded with the knowledge gained in the archaeological fieldwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research in the later Bronze Age of the southern Carpathian Basin has revealed an extensive network of large, often-enclosed settlements. Within this network, a particularly dense group of sites has recently been characterized: the Tisza Site Group (TSG). Building on advances in inter-site relations in recent research, we explore social organization within settlements using five case studies from different parts of this network. Using a multi-proxy approach of satellite imagery, systematic surface survey, and geophysical prospection, we studied the distribution of archaeological features and surface traces of activity within the enclosed space. Results indicate that sites in the TSG shared a common ethos regarding the use of space and the role of the built environment that was specific to LBA occupation of this landscape. Activity areas with domestic assemblages distributed in low-density relative to the enclosed space indicates settlement and specialist subsistence activities took place in parallel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The archaeological microregion in Bruszczewo located along the middle course of the Samica River, was inhabited during the Bronze and Iron Ages by Únětice and Lusatian Urnfields culture people. Earlier literature emphasised that the valley floor was an extensive lake during the Bronze Age. Our research aimed to reconstruct the Bronze and Early Iron Age development of the lake and its transition into peatland. Using environmental archaeology methods, we marked the significant turning points in the lakes history. During the Early Bronze Age, a deep eutrophic lake was present on the valley floor, which supported the defensive nature of the nearby Únětice culture settlement. Around ca. 1880–1690 cal. BC, the lake underwent transgression, forcing people to create a fascine in the shoreline zone of the settlement. Terrestrialization of the lake began ca. 790–540 cal. BC with a gradual overgrowing that ended around the threshold of the eras. When compared to the results from other sites, it seems that these turning points were probably instigated by local triggers rather than global climatic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers a newly developed model of Holocene shoreline displacement in the southern part of the former Ventspils Lagoon of the Baltic Sea basin (present-day western Latvia) in relation to data from previous and new archaeological research in the area, assessing the changing pattern of Stone Age settlement and resource utilisation during the Mesolithic and Neolithic. An extensive lagoon was formed at the time of the maximum level of the Ancylus Lake and once again during the Littorina Sea maximum. In the south of the lagoon, the former shores from the two separate phases of the lagoon's existence lie at similar elevations, providing the conditions for site re-occupation. There were river mouth sites on the continental shore of the lagoon and island sites on the seaward side, whereas in the periods with a low water level, human settlement focused on the relict waterbodies and watercourses within the exposed low-lying terrain of the former lagoon bed. The water-level fluctuations and resulting landscape changes were much more rapid during the Ancylus stage, the loci of settlement and resource exploitation necessarily shifting at fairly short intervals. The two lagoon phases also represent rather different aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau holds a significant position in the global ecosystem, with its unique high altitude and complex geographical features fostering rich biodiversity. The plateau's high-altitude environment and distinctive climate system significantly influence the Asian monsoon and regional hydrological cycles. Its vast glaciers and snow reserves are crucial in regulating the Asian climate. While previous studies have analyzed the habitat quality of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, significant variations exist across different vegetation ecoregions, warranting further investigation into these variations and their influencing factors. Methods: This study conducted a comprehensive assessment of habitat quality on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by analyzing the impacts of human activities, climate change, and grazing intensity. Using the InVEST Model and Geodetector Model, we evaluated habitat quality across the plateau's six vegetation ecoregions from 2000 to 2020. The efficacy of ecological red-line policies in actual conservation efforts was also examined. Results: The results indicate that habitat quality among vegetation ecoregions is shaped by a complex interaction of geographical and human-induced factors, leading to notable spatiotemporal variations. From 2000 to 2020, the quality of habitats was significantly impacted by human activities, climate change, grazing intensity, and land-use changes. These effects were especially prominent during the period from 2005 to 2010. Discussion: The changes in habitat quality on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are influenced by multiple driving factors, with significant differences in the drivers across various vegetation ecoregions. The ecological redline policy has played an important role in protecting the ecological environment in key areas, particularly in regions with high human intervention, where its effectiveness is more pronounced. In future ecological management, it is essential to strengthen conservation measures based on regional specificity. By comprehensively considering the impact of human activities and natural factors, developing more targeted management strategies is crucial for improving habitat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Parashorea chinensis is a rare monodominant species in southwest China known for its production of high-quality timber, is facing decline due to its narrow distribution, human interference and habitat destruction. However, there are no reports on genetic diversity and geographical variation of phenotypic traits of P. chinensis. Methods: In this study, phenotypic characters and genetic diversity of 15 germplasms resources from five provenances in southwest China were investigated, and their relationships with geographical and environmental factors was discussed. Results: Our results revealed a rich phenotypic diversity among the germplasms, with variation coefficients ranging from 3.63% to 45.49%. Among the studied germplasms, NP03 from Napo and ML02 from Mengla region exhibited superior phenotypic traits. Notably, NP03 also demonstrated the highest genetic diversity. Genetic differentiation analyses including genetic differentiation coefficient (0.6264) and gene flow (0.3736) illustrated that genetic variation was most prevalent among populations. Furthermore, redundancy analysis showed that temperature related factors (maximum air temperature, annual mean temperature and minimum air temperature) significantly affected phenotypic variation. Similarly, altitude, longitude, latitude, annual mean precipitation and the minimum air temperature significantly impacted the level of genetic diversity. The molecular variation of the natural population of P. chinensis followed a certain geographical pattern. Discussion: Our finding indicated abundant phenotypic variation among P. chinensis germplasms. However, populations exhibited low levels of genetic diversity alongside high genetic differentiation, potentially contributing to the species' rarity. Based on our results, NP03 and ML02 germplasm could be used as the parents for breeding superior germplasm of P. chinensis. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into germplasm diversity and conservation, genetic improvement, and utilization of P. chinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Urban landscape is directly perceived by residents and is a significant symbol of urbanization development. A comprehensive assessment of urban landscapes is crucial for guiding the development of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements. Previous studies have primarily analyzed two-dimensional landscape indicators derived from satellite remote sensing, potentially overlooking the valuable insights provided by the three-dimensional configuration of landscapes. This limitation arises from the high cost of acquiring large-area three-dimensional data and the lack of effective assessment indicators. Here, we propose four urban landscapes indicators in three dimensions (UL3D): greenness, grayness, openness, and crowding. We construct the UL3D using 4.03 million street view images from 303 major cities in China, employing a deep learning approach. We combine urban background and two-dimensional urban landscape indicators with UL3D to predict the socioeconomic profiles of cities. The results show that UL3D indicators differs from two-dimensional landscape indicators, with a low average correlation coefficient of 0.31 between them. Urban landscapes had a changing point in 2018–2019 due to new urbanization initiatives, with grayness and crowding rates slowing, while openness increased. The incorporation of UL3D indicators significantly enhances the explanatory power of the regression model for predicting socioeconomic profiles. Specifically, GDP per capita, urban population rate, built-up area per capita, and hospital count correspond to improvements of 25.0%, 19.8%, 35.5%, and 19.2%, respectively. These findings indicate that UL3D indicators have the potential to reflect the socioeconomic profiles of cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilms in cooling towers represent a common habitat for the human pathogen Legionella pneumophila. Within the biofilm consortium, frequent interactions with protozoa, i.e. amoebae and ciliates, were reported, while nematodes have only recently been considered as potential environmental reservoir for the pathogenic bacteria. This study is the first approach to investigate the biotic interactions between L. pneumophila and bacterial-feeding nematodes in a semi-natural biofilm model. The species were Diploscapter coronatus, Diploscapter pachys, Plectus similis and Plectus sp., which all co-occur with L. pneumophila in the environment. Biofilms derived from cooling towers were either inoculated with mCherry-labeled L. pneumophila solely or in combination with GFP-labeled Escherichia coli. All experiments were conducted in single-species set-ups and multi-species (D. coronatus and P. similis) set-ups, to account for interspecific competition. Bacterial ingestion was assessed after 24 and 96 h as fluorescence patterns in the digestive tract of the nematodes using confocal laser scanning microscopy. L. pneumophila cells were ingested by all nematode species, with D. coronatus having the highest pathogen load. The fluorescence intensity (i.e. bacterial load) varied between compartments within the digestive tract and was independent of incubation time. Bacterial cells accumulated mostly around the cardia and in the intestine, while less cells were found within stoma and pharynx. Interspecific competition changed the pattern, i.e. with incubation of D. coronatus and P. similis in the same biofilm a significantly higher pathogen load occurred in the intestine of D. coronatus than P. similis after 24 h and 96 h. Remarkably, when given a choice between L. pneumophila and E. coli, P. similis was the only nematode species containing both bacteria after incubation for 24 h. None of the other nematode species contained E. coli after 24 h and 96 h incubation, while L. pneumophila was present. This study thus provides the first evidence, that under environmental conditions L. pneumophila is a frequent diet of bacterial-feeding nematodes, highlighting their potential as pathogen vectors or even host in cooling tower habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By employing descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression models, the paper investigates factors that affect the travel mode choice behavior of a college community for both commuting to the campus from their residences and commuting on campus from one facility to another. Results show that car ownership, travel distance, age, gender, academic status, income, perception of safety, number of weekly trips, and weather conditions affect people's mode choice decisions significantly. The study finds that increasing travel distance, age, and being a staff member positively impact car mode choice, faculty members are more likely to bike and walk compared to undergraduate students, and unlike the authors' predictions, the higher-income people are more likely to walk on campus. Results also reveal that car users change travel modes more often than active transport mode users based on semesters and that although women are less likely to bike to the campus, they are more likely to walk and bike on campus. If the number of trips increases, people prefer cars to walk, bike, and ride a bus to commute to the campus while they prefer walking to driving a car on campus. The study contributes to help create pollution-free and healthy urban college campuses that, on larger scales, will further contribute to developing sustainable cities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals as described by the United Nations, particularly goal number 11, "to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable," and thereby contribute to improving urban living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 3 million years, humans have expanded their ecological niche and adapted to more diverse environments. The temporal evolution and underlying drivers behind this niche expansion remain largely unknown. By combining archeological findings with landscape topographic data and model simulations of the climate and biomes, we show that human sites clustered in areas with increased terrain roughness, corresponding to higher levels of biodiversity. We find a gradual increase in human habitat preferences toward rough terrains until about 1.1 million years ago (Ma), followed by a 300 thousand-year-long contraction of the ecological niche. This period coincided with the Mid-Pleistocene Transition and previously hypothesized ancestral population bottlenecks. Our statistical analysis further reveals that from 0.8 Ma onward, the human niche expanded again, with human species (e.g., H. heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensis, and H. sapiens) adapting to rougher terrain, colder and drier conditions, and toward regions of higher ecological diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigmentation anomalies and lesions are aspects of wild bat populations that have been rarely addressed and scarcely documented. We captured a total of 4,118 bats belonging to 30 species during 2020, 2021, and 2022 in the municipalities of Santa Maria Huatulco and San Miguel Lachiguiri, Oaxaca, southeastern Mexico. Of these, 9 individuals (0.21 %) showed piebaldism (6 females and 3 males), and 11 individuals (0.26 %) had skin and hair lesions (7 females and 4 males). The highest number of piebaldism and lesions was observed in Natalus mexicanus (6 of the 20 individuals), followed by Mormoops megalophylla (n = 4), Pteronotus mesoamericanus (n = 3), Pteronotus fulvus (n = 3), Glossophaga mutica (n = 2), and Artibeus lituratus (n = 2). The months with the highest number of bats with piebaldism and lesions were October (n = 6) and July 2021. Seventeen records occurred in caves, two in the medium sub-evergreen forest, and one in a human settlement. To date, it has not been confirmed that skin depigmentation in bats affects the social life and reproductive activity of bats, but they could be more susceptible to predation events. Furthermore, lesions could negatively affect flight performance and, consequently, foraging efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudo human settlements in the information age is an important part of human settlements geography, which has a comprehensive and profound impact on urban production, life and ecology in China and even the world, but the existing research on pseudo human settlements is still unclear, and cannot meet the requirements of China's "digital-realistic fusion", "network power" and the construction of a beautiful China. Therefore, this paper starts from the perspective of pseudo, based on the theory of the coupling system of human settlements, and applies the entropy weight method, coupling coordination model, geodetector and other methods and spatial technologies to deeply analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of the pseudo human settlements and the driving mechanism of the 14 cities in Liaoning Province from 2011 to 2020. The results show that: 1) Liaoning Province's pseudo human settlements in the time evolution of the overall quality of the main theme of the rise, with the "Internet festival" node effect and significant stage. 2) The spatial distribution is characterized by the geographical layout of "1?-type high-quality development centers and concentric-circle spatial distribution; and the trend surface shows a low uniformity pattern of "high in the south-central part and low in the surrounding area". 3) The degree of system coupling and the degree of coupling coordination both show a fluctuating upward trend, with the spatial heterogeneity characteristic of "high in the central part and low in the surrounding area". 4) Tool system has become the emerging driving force, communication and social chat has become the basic driving force, and life service is the invisible driving force; communication class and community class are the important leading driving factors. The study aims to enrich the research system of human settlements, promote the development of the discipline of human settlements geography, provide a new basis for the construction of human settlements in the new era, and respond to the demand for decision-making in the strategy of network power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudo human settlements in the information age is an important part of human settlements geography, which has a comprehensive and profound impact on urban production, life and ecology in China and even the world, but the existing research on pseudo human settlements is still unclear, and cannot meet the requirements of China's "digital-realistic fusion", "network power" and the construction of a beautiful China. Therefore, this paper starts from the perspective of pseudo, based on the theory of the coupling system of human settlements, and applies the entropy weight method, coupling coordination model, geodetector and other methods and spatial technologies to deeply analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of the pseudo human settlements and the driving mechanism of the 14 cities in Liaoning Province from 2011 to 2020. The results show that: 1) Liaoning Province's pseudo human settlements in the time evolution of the overall quality of the main theme of the rise, with the "Internet festival" node effect and significant stage. 2) The spatial distribution is characterized by the geographical layout of "1"-type high-quality development centers and concentric-circle spatial distribution; and the trend surface shows a low uniformity pattern of "high in the south-central part and low in the surrounding area". 3) The degree of system coupling and the degree of coupling coordination both show a fluctuating upward trend, with the spatial heterogeneity characteristic of "high in the central part and low in the surrounding area". 4) Tool system has become the emerging driving force, communication and social chat has become the basic driving force, and life service is the invisible driving force; communication class and community class are the important leading driving factors. The study aims to enrich the research system of human settlements, promote the development of the discipline of human settlements geography, provide a new basis for the construction of human settlements in the new era, and respond to the demand for decision-making in the strategy of network power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent decades have witnessed substantial changes in freshwater biodiversity worldwide. Although research has shown that freshwater biodiversity can be shaped by changes in habitat diversity and human‐induced pressure, the potentials for interaction between these drivers and freshwater biodiversity at large spatial extents remain unclear. To address these issues, we employed a spatially extensive multitrophic fish and insect database from 3323 stream sites across the United States, to investigate the ability of habitat diversity to modulate the effect of human pressure on the richness and abundance of fish and insects. We found evidence that high levels of habitat diversity were associated with increased richness and abundance of fish and insects (including whole‐assemblage and individual trophic guilds). We also show that the effects of human pressure on the richness and abundance of fish and insects tend to become positive at high levels of habitat diversity. Where habitat diversity is low, human pressure strongly reduces insect richness and abundance, whereas these reductions are attenuated at high levels of habitat diversity. Structural equation modeling revealed that human pressure reduced habitat diversity, indirectly negatively affecting the richness and abundance of fish and insects. These findings illustrate that, in addition to promoting greater fish and insect biodiversity, habitat diversity may mitigate the deleterious effects of human pressures on these two stream assemblages. Overall, our study suggests that maintaining high levels of habitat diversity is a useful way to protect freshwater biodiversity from ongoing increases in human pressure. However, if human pressures continue to increase, this will reduce habitat diversity, further threatening stream assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reconstructs the recent history of Therasia by examining the interplay between traditional settlements and the island's natural and agricultural landscape. Through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates spatial and architectural analysis, historical records, and NDVI-based vegetation mapping, this research highlights the significant impact of agrarian structures like dry-stone walls and terraces on the environment. The unique dry-stone wall and terrace system is shown to have been crucial for both spatial organization and the survival of Therasia's inhabitants. This study also addresses the challenges of dating these structures, employing a relative dating methodology to establish a timeline of habitation from the late medieval period to the present. This research reconstructs the island's recent history, from early seasonal settlements to the eventual decline of rural architecture in the 20th century. The findings indicate that settlement patterns were closely linked to environmental and geomorphological factors, with the evolution of these sites driven by agricultural practices and broader socio-economic changes. This research not only reconstructs Therasia's past, but also proposes a novel methodological framework combining remote sensing with traditional historical analysis, offering new insights into the relationship between human settlements and the environment in the Aegean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Paravani, located on the volcanic Javakheti Plateau in the central part of the Lesser Caucasus at 2073 m a.s.l., forms a unique geo‐bio‐archive for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions in this remote region. Based on sediment cores from the southwestern part of the lake we expand the existing palynological and sedimentological records beyond the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). For the first time, it is possible to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment in this part of the Lesser Caucasus back to c. 28 cal. ka BP. Our study shows that until 16 cal. ka BP glacial conditions dominated (Phase I) in the region; there is, however, proof that the lake already existed during the LGM. In the following transitional Phase II from 16 until 6 cal. ka BP, cold and arid conditions with sparse steppe vegetation and a lowered lake level prevailed. Around 10 cal. ka BP, tree pollen started to expand while herbaceous pollen, especially Chenopodiaceae, declined. In Phase III, since 6 cal. ka BP, mixed forest probably represented the Holocene climatic optimum. Fluctuating lake levels indicate shifting climatic conditions. The minor changes of arboreal pollen hin the uppermost part of Phase II may be an indication of human activity. The more humid, vegetation‐rich environment and mild climate around 4.5–2 cal. ka BP correlate with the expansion of the Late Bronze Age settlements in this area (from ~3.5 cal. ka BP/~1.5 ka BC). The proliferation of sites on the plateau, along with even higher‐altitude sites possibly dating to the same period, may indicate that this climate amelioration played an important role in enabling more sustained human occupation. The results extend the record on Lake Paravani by several millennia beyond the LGM and complement the palaeo‐lake reconstructions of the wider region, e.g. at Lake Van (Türkiye) or Lake Sevan (Armenia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many communities in southwestern Madagascar rely on a mix of foraging, fishing, farming, and herding, with cattle central to local cultures, rituals, and intergenerational wealth transfer. Today these livelihoods are critically threatened by the intensifying effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. Improved understanding of ancient community-environment dynamics can help identify pathways to livelihood sustainability. Multidisciplinary approaches have great potential to improve our understanding of human-environment interactions across spatio-temporal scales. We combine archaeological survey data, oral history interviews, and high-resolution multispectral PlanetScope imagery to explore 400 years of human-environment interaction in the Namonte Basin. Our analysis reveals that settlement and land-use led to significant changes in the region's ecology, both during periods of occupation and after settlement abandonment. Human activity over this period may have stabilized vegetative systems, whereby seasonal changes in vegetative health were reduced compared to surrounding locations. These ecological legacies may have buffered communities against unpredictable climate challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During floods, updated and accurate information on affected human settlements helps save lives and reduces time to rescue. Therefore, approaches that can provide reliable information during floods via the use of all-weather and real-time functional technology is highly needful. The study presented here attempts to efficiently and precisely map villages in the Indian sub-continent during floods via a three-stage approach which uses PolSAR data. However, an accurate segregation of villages in India even with PolSAR data is challenging because the built-up structures in the villages of rural India are closely placed and are randomly oriented w.r.t. each other. This condition either hinders their segregation or otherwise induces false alarms during extraction. More descriptive land cover characterization features and powerful feature classifiers may address this challenge. The study in this paper proposes a novel approach to efficiently detect and map flood affected villages which utilize polarization signatures from PolSAR imagery, ensemble-of -dilated-convolutions based CNNs, apriori knowledge and image morphology. The approach broadly involves three stages: first, built-up area extraction from a PolSAR image: second, detection of villages in a built-up area image and third, identification and mapping of villages that are affected by the flood. In the first stage, an ensemble of varying dilated-convolutions based novel CNN classifier which directly utilizes PolSAR-2 polarization signatures (PSs) in window-mode as features are developed to extract built-up areas. The second stage provides a novel village detection filter based on apriori knowledge and image morphology to detect actual villages and mask out the false objects. Finally, in the third stage, flood affected villages are mapped via a series of morphological operations based degree-of-intersection measure. Experiments are conducted on both simulated and natural flooded area datasets. Experimental results show 81% detection accuracy and 100% mapping performance of the proposed approach which indicates its potential as an effective flood affected village mapping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, immigration has been an urban phenomenon in Canada. Over the last two decades, however, more and more immigrants have begun to settle in smaller cities and even in rural areas. Given this shift, there is a need to know more about how federal and provincial settlement and integration policies and programs function beyond the metropolis. This paper takes a place-based qualitative case study approach to shed light on how the settlement and integration sector works in rural Saskatchewan. The research is based on interviews with individuals working within or adjacent to the settlement and integration sector, as well as a focus group carried out with immigrants themselves. The findings of the study reveal that there are many challenges that make it difficult to meet the needs of immigrants in rural Saskatchewan by way of formalized supports. Nevertheless, those working in the sector have drawn on local strengths and resources to devise innovative solutions to meet the needs of the growing immigrant population. The paper concludes by arguing that local communities should be given more flexibility and a bigger role to play in the development of settlement and integration policies and programs. Settlement and integration works differently across geographical space, and a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to service provision is not enough to meet the current needs of all communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diminishing wild space and population fragmentation are key drivers of large carnivore declines worldwide. The persistence of large carnivores in fragmented landscapes often depends on the ability of individuals to move between separated subpopulations for genetic exchange and recovery from stochastic events. Where separated by anthropogenic landscapes, subpopulations' connectivity hinges on the area's socio-ecological conditions for coexistence and dispersing individuals' behavioral choices. Using GPS-collars and resource- and step-selection functions, we explored African lion (Panthera leo) habitat selection and movement patterns to better understand lions' behavioral adjustments in a landscape shared with pastoralists. We conducted our study in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania, a multiuse rangeland, that connects the small, high density lion subpopulation of the Ngorongoro Crater with the extensive Serengeti lion population. Landscape use by pastoralists and their livestock in the NCA varies seasonally, driven by the availability of pasture, water, and disease avoidance. The most important factor for lion habitat selection was the amount of vegetation cover, but its importance varied with the distance to human settlements, season and time of day. Although we noted high levels of individual variation in tolerance for humans, in general lions avoided humans on the landscape and used more cover when closer to humans. Females showed more consistent avoidance of humans and stronger use of cover when near humans than did males. Connectivity of lion subpopulations does not appear to be blocked by sparse pastoralist settlements, and nomadic males, key to subpopulation connectivity, significantly avoided humans during the day, suggesting a behavioral strategy for conflict mitigation. These results are consistent with lions balancing risk from humans with exploitation of livestock by altering their behaviors to reduce potential conflict. Our study lends some optimism for the adaptive capacity of lions to promote coexistence with humans in shared landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the immediate aftermath of the devastation and frustration of the Second World war, several architects and planners in Europe and North America took on the task of expanding their disciplinary boundaries and providing accounts of 'others'. As they investigated various understandings of human life and the social dimension of the built environment, the interest shifted from the paradigms of modern design to the complexity of distant cultures and the variety beyond the Western tradition. Among those who challenged narrow perspectives was Erwin Anton Gutkind, a planner, architect, and theorist of German origin. Examining his unpublished manuscript, entitled The Human Settlement, and its long chapter on Africa, this article demonstrates how Gutkind pushed the theoretical and geographical limits of the historical research on architecture of his time to develop a project that offered a strong critique of modernist attitudes, internationalist models, and nation-state narratives. The essay also reflects on both Gutkind's exposure of colonial and neocolonial strategies of modernization and westernization on the continent and his problematic representation of local and non-colonial architecture in Africa. The manuscript's merits and limits reveal the significant friction that arose between Gutkind's strategies for including underrepresented voices and his reliance on biased perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service providers' crucial roles in securing housing for refugees in Canada is a topic scantly addressed in the broader literature. A focus on frontline workers in the housing and settlement sectors offers a productive analytic lens to map the critical link between service provision and housing access for refugees. Based on thirteen semi-structured interviews with service providers across nine organizations in Toronto, Canada, this study illuminates housing access barriers, such as lack of affordable housing and perceived housing discrimination. Furthermore, this paper unearths the intersectional praxis of frontline workers. Broadening the analytical frame to include an intersectional lens centring race, class, immigration status, and gender, this paper enriches current scholarship on 1) housing inequality, 2) refugee settlement, and 3) intersectionality. This paper also makes an epistemic intervention in the evolving field of housing studies at critical junctures. While this research was conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this study reflects on the added complexity of the pandemic to refugees' housing access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Environment & Urbanization is a journal that aims to promote social justice and environmental sustainability in urban areas, particularly in the global South. The journal encourages contributions from diverse voices, including those of disadvantaged and marginalized groups, to advance understanding of urban challenges and solutions. Future issues will focus on topics such as urban reform coalitions and socio-technical assistance for socially and environmentally just cities. The journal also offers discounted prices and electronic access to its content, as well as opportunities for engagement through blogs, social media, email newsletters, and book notes. [Extracted from the article]

To identify and mitigate biodiversity decline, it is necessary to develop and implement appropriate ecological assessment methods. This particularly relevant in ecosystems under strong human pressure, such as riverine environments, in which ecological assessment requires several standardized methods useful in a wide range of riverine characteristics and habitats. In this work, we related otter diet composition with a set of environmental variables in representative river reaches of two contiguous river basins with a high diversity of habitats and varying degrees of human alteration. Our goal was to determine to what extent otter prey communities were sensitive to habitat characteristics and human pressures. Our results suggest that otter prey community in heavily anthropized rivers vary significantly across three gradients: habitat productivity, habitat structure and habitat stability. We also compared the results obtained from the otter diet with those obtained from electrofishing. Overall, the otter diet changed spatially in a similar way to the fish community sampled by electrofishing, but both methods showed disagreements that suggest different biases in some habitats and for some species. We conclude that otter diet analysis is a potential supplementary method for assessing river ecological status and that human alterations related to habitat structural simplification and water extraction can prevent freshwater biodiversity recovery in human‐dominated landscapes despite improvements in biochemical water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to control soil erosion has received increasing attention, but quantitative data on the sources of suspended sediment in many river–reservoir systems is still lacking. The goal of this research was to compare the application of spectroscopic [mid‐infrared (MIR)] and mineralogical [X‐ray diffraction (XRD)] fingerprints for assessing relative sediment source contributions from different land use groups (agricultural lands, forests and human settlements) in the Konar–Damodar river–reservoir system in India. Source apportionment was estimated using partial least square (PLS) regression for spectroscopic tracers (MIR) and the Bayesian MixSIAR model for mineralogical tracers. Both methods identified differences between the pre‐ and post‐monsoon sediment contributions of forests (overall contribution bounds of ~35–43%). During monsoon seasons, both fingerprinting methods indicated agricultural land use as the primary source of suspended sediment. Although there were some temporal variations in the predicted contributions of the land use sources, the MIR‐PLS and mineralogical–MixSIAR methods produced comparable ranges. The respective variations in contributions, using MIR‐PLS and mineralogical–MixSIAR, were ~31 to 66% compared with ~36 to 61% for agricultural lands, ~21 to 43% compared with ~15 to 39% for forests and ~16 to 37% compared with ~19 to 32% for human settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encouraging sustainable mobility through sidewalk condition improvement is a critical concern for urban transportation. Sidewalk condition affects pedestrian safety, satisfaction, and mobility inclusiveness. Early sidewalk defect detection and repair ensure transport justice by addressing pedestrian inequality caused by walkability issues. This study presents novel Sidewalk Defect Detection Models (SDDMs) using computer vision to identify and delineate sidewalk defect boundaries accurately. The SDDMs provide a cost‐effective and efficient sidewalk inspection method, achieving high accuracy in recognizing defects for concrete and brick materials (mIoU of 0.91 and mAP of 0.99 for concrete, mIoU of 0.90, and mAP of 0.97 for brick). Integrated with Google Street View for data acquisition, it offers a rapid solution for monitoring sidewalk conditions remotely, promoting sustainability through timely repairs. This research provides significant advancements in urban planning and transport research, ultimately improving pedestrian safety and satisfaction. Thus, it makes human settlements more inclusive, safe, and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Guanabara Bay hydrographic region (GBHR) has served as a central hub for human settlement and resource utilization throughout Brazil's history. However, the region's high population density and intense industrial activity have come at a cost, leading to a significant decline in water quality. This work aimed to identify homogeneous regions in GBHR according to water quality parameters in dry and rainy periods. The following water quality monitoring variables were monitored at 49 gauge stations: total phosphorus (TP), nitrate (NO3−), dissolved oxygen (DO), hydrogenionic potential (pH), turbidity (Turb), thermotolerant coliforms (TCol), total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), water temperature (Tw), and air temperature (Ta). The statistical analysis consisted of determining principal components, cluster analysis, seasonal differences, and Spearman's correlation. The water quality parameter correlations were not expressively influenced by seasonality, but there are differences in the concentrations of these parameters in the dry and rainy periods. In the dry period, urban pressure on water quality is mainly due to fecal coliforms. The resulting clusters delimited areas under urban, agricultural, and forestry influence. Clusters located in areas with high demographic density showed high concentrations of TCol and TP, while clusters influenced by forestry and agriculture had better water quality. In the rainy season, clusters with urban influence showed problems with TCol and TP, in addition to some characteristics in each group, such as high TDS, NO3−, and BOD. Forested areas showed high DO, and clusters under agricultural influence had higher concentrations of TCol, BOD, and NO3− concerning forested regions. The troubling state of sanitation in GBHR occurs in metropolitan regions due to lack of a formal sanitation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of their host's energetic exhaustion, parasites are among the first species to be influenced by environmental changes. The change in habitats caused by human activities can negatively influence ecosystems, reducing the resistance of host species to parasite attacks. There is little information on the role of urban disturbance in altering diversity and parasitic interactions in aquatic snakes. In this study, the diversity and structure of the parasite community in the water snake Helicops angulatus were investigated. The snakes were collected in three habitat areas (urban, periurban, and forest) in three municipalities on the north coast of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Forty of the 158 watersnakes analyzed (25.3%) were infected. In total, 137 helminths were collected, representing an overall mean infection intensity of 3.58 ± 2.0. Considering both habitats environments (urban, peri-urban and forest), six Nematoda taxa (Oswaldocruzia mazzai, Brevimulticaecum sp., Eustrongylides sp., Physaloptera sp., Filariidae larva, and an unidentified Nematoda larva), four trematodes (Infidum aff. similis, Travtrema aff. stenocotyle, Heterodiplostomum helicopsis, and encysted metacercariae), two Acanthocephala (Centrorhynchidae gen. sp. and Oligacanthorhynchidae gen. sp.), and one Pentastomida (Sebekia oxycephala) were found, all of which represent the first record for H. angulatus with the exception of S. oxycephala.. The species diversity of endoparasites in H. angulatus was greater in urbanized habitats. Regarding interaction networks, there was low modularity and no nesting. This result may be linked to anthropization, indicating changes in the parasite-host relationship due to urbanization. In the forest areas there was a significant difference in the number of individuals, which was due to a single species of parasite (Physaloptera sp., 21 individuals) where it infected a single female. Physaloptera was the most abundant endoparasite present in the three areas. There were no significant differences in the size and sex of the snakes with parasite infection. This study provides important information about the relationships between parasites, hosts, and the habitat. It also shows that the increase in parasite diversity and new records are linked to habitat degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are prevalent in diverse environments, representing various genera and species with different pathogenicity. FLA-induced infections, such as the highly fatal amoebic encephalitis, with a mortality rate of 99%, primarily affect immunocompromised individuals while others such as Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and cutaneous amebiasis may affect immunocompetent individuals. Despite the prevalence of FLA, there is a lack of standardized guidelines for their detection near human habitats. To date, no studies on the isolation and identification of FLA in environmental soil samples in Warsaw have been published. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of amoebae in soil samples collected from Warsaw parks and squares frequented by humans. The isolated protozoa were genotyped. Additionally, their pathogenic potential was determined through thermophilicity tests. A total of 23 soil samples were seeded on non-nutrient agar plates (NNA) at 26 °C and monitored daily for FLA presence. From the total of 23 samples, 18 were positive for FLA growth in NNA and PCR (78.2%). Acanthamoeba spp. was the most frequently isolated genus, with a total of 13 positive samples (13/18; 72.2%), and the T4 genotype being the most common. Moreover, Platyamoeba placida (3/18; 16.7%), Stenamoeba berchidia (1/18; 5.6%) and Allovahlkampfia sp. (1/18; 5.6%), also potentially pathogenic amoebae, were isolated. To our knowledge, this is the first report of FLA presence and characterization in the Warsaw area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the information age, digital information technology has gradually become a new quality of productivity to improve international competitiveness, and the status and importance of the pseudo human settlements(PHS) constructed by digital and information has been increasing in the human settlements(HS) system. In this context, exploring the coupling coordination of the internal systems of the PHS provides a theoretical basis for promoting the comprehensive improvement of the quality of the HS in the urban agglomerations, provides a theoretical reference for rationally interpreting the new type of human-land relationship in the information age, and provide a new perspective for the study of the human settlements geography. Currently, research on PHS is in its nascent stages, therefore, we construct a theoretical framework for the coupling coordination of the "three states" of the HS, takes the internal system of PHS as the entry point, empirically analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of the PHS coupling coordination degree within urban agglomerations in eastern China and the driving factors by using the coupling coordination degree, spatial autocorrelation, the center of gravity and the ellipse of the standard deviation, and geo-detector models. Research shows: (1) Time course: exhibits an upward "inverted L" trend. (2) Spatial pattern: exhibits a general spatial pattern of "high in the north and low in the south". (3) Spatial correlation: shows a spatially positively correlated clustering trend. (4) Spatial evolution: demonstrates a decentralized pattern of migration from the northeast to the southwest, indicating that the coupling coordination grows faster in the southwest than in the northeast. (5) Driving factor: the development of coupling coordination degree of PHS results from multiple factors and systems. This research provides theoretical support for promoting the comprehensive improvement of the quality of PHS in the urban agglomerations in eastern China, and offers scientific reference for the construction of PHS in other regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urogenital schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma haematobium is a major public health problem in Mauritania, but little is known about its epidemiology in many areas of the country, particularly in the lake zones. The objectives of the present parasitological and malacological study were to assess the prevalence and intensity of urogenital schistosomiasis among school children in Kankossa and Oued Rawdha lakes, southern Mauritania, and determine the species of intermediate host snails and the prevalence of snails with schistosome. Methods: A school-based epidemiological survey was conducted in two villages in the lake areas of Kankossa and Oued Rawdha. Urine samples were collected from 450 state primary school children and Koranic school children and examined for the presence of S. haematobium eggs using filtration technique. Water bodies adjacent to human settlement were surveyed for Bulinus and Biomphalaria snails that may potentially be intermediate hosts of S. haematobium. Morphological, molecular, and proteomic (i.e. matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry [MALDI-TOF MS]) identification of collected snails were conducted, and their infection status was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using the highly repetitive DraI gene. Results: The prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis was 35.6% and 15.8% in Kankossa and Oued Rawdha villages, respectively, corresponding to 'moderate' prevalence (i.e., 10–49% infected schoolchildren). Urogenital schistosomiasis prevalence was higher in boys (30.0%) than in girls (21.2%; P < 0.05), and in Koranic schools pupils (37.1%) than in state schools (20.5%; P < 0.05) pupils. Multiple regression analysis showed that sex (odds ratio [OR]: 1.64; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.06–2.57; P = 0.03) and Koranic school level (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.06–3.04; P = 0.03) were independently and significantly associated with urogenital schistosomiasis. Based on molecular and proteomic identification, both B. senegalensis and B. umbilicatus colonized the water bodies of Oued Rawdha, whereas both B. forskalii and B. truncatus colonized those of Kankossa. The DraI RT-PCR detected S. haematobium complex DNA in 8 of 66 (12.1%) analysed snails: one B. truncatus and one B. forskalii in Kankossa and five B. senegalensis and one B. umbilicatus in Oued Rawdha. Conclusion: Urogenital schistosomiasis is moderately prevalent in the lake zones of Kankossa and, to a lesser extent, Oued Rawdha, located in southern Mauritania. Mass drug administration campaigns with praziquantel should be conducted to reduce the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis among school-aged children in the lake zone of Kankossa and Oued Rawdha village. Further parasitological and malacological studies should be conducted in other villages located in the Mauritanian lakes in the southern Sahelian zones and the northern oasis areas to strengthen our knowledge of the current epidemiological situation and implement appropriate urogenital schistosomiasis control strategies. Author summary: Urogenital schistosomiasis or bilharzia is caused by blood flukes transmitted in the urine. These parasites require compatible freshwater snails to develop and infect humans who come in contact with contaminated water. The adult females release thousands of eggs into the urinary tract, which may cause bloody urine, obstruction of urine flow, and many other urinary tract diseases. As in other developing countries, urogenital schistosomiasis is an important issue in Mauritania, where most previous studies on this disease have been concentrated along the Senegal River, the only permanent river in the country. In this work, we chose two places where schistosomiasis has never been studied before: Kankossa, where there is a permanent lake, and Oued Rawdha, where temporary ponds are present during part of the year. We found that 26% of school children had Schistosoma eggs in their urine, more in boys than girls, and more in younger children (6–8 years old) than in older children. We also identified the snail species responsible for disease transmission in these two sites. These data would be useful to organize mass treatment with appropriate medicines, kill the snails, disseminate the information to prevent community members from urinating in water bodies, and improve sanitary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of the fact that Roger Barker's groundbreaking research was acclaimed sixty years ago by his contemporaries, it has all been but forgotten among recent generations of psychologists. However, in the wake of developments in dynamical systems and complexity theory, its value for understanding psychological processes in everyday life should be recognized anew. Barker's naturalistic studies of children's daily behaviours in their community revealed that their actions which initially seemed only marginally predictable at the level of individual interaction were, in fact, reliably context-dependent. These results led to the discovery that there are nested structures operating in human habitats as there are throughout the natural world. Barker's discovery of emergent eco-psychological structures, behaviour settings, that are generated from interdependent actions among individuals in the course of everyday life has yet to be fully appreciated because of the continuing dominance of linear, mechanistic models. His recognition of nested systems operating in human habitats is finally coming into its own with the current metatheoretical shift in psychology embracing dynamical models. Additionally, new understanding arises from the consideration of convergent individual developmental histories of situated action and their role in maintaining the historical dimensions of behaviour settings. This article is part of the theme issue 'People, places, things and communities: expanding behaviour settings theory in the twenty-first century'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In prey, patterns of individual habitat selection and movement can be a consequence of an individuals' anti-predator behavior. Adjustments of anti-predator behavior are important for prey to increase their survival. Hunters may alter the anti-predator behavior of prey. In long-lived animals, experience may cause behavioral changes during individuals' lifetime, which may result in altered habitat selection and movement. Our knowledge of which specific events related to hunting activity induce behavioral changes in solitary living species is still limited. Methods: We used offspring loss in a solitary and long-lived ungulate species, moose (Alces alces), as our model system. We investigated whether offspring loss to hunters induces behavioral changes in a species subjected to heavy human harvest but free from natural predation. To test for behavioral change in relation to two proxies for experience (calf fate and age), we combined movement data from 51 adult female moose with data on their offspring survival and female age. We tested for adjustments in females' habitat selection and movement following calf harvest using Hidden Markov Models and integrated Step Selection Analysis to obtain behavioral state specific habitat selection coefficients. Results: We found that females with a harvested calf modified habitat selection and movement during the following hunting season. Female moose selected for shorter distance to roads during the night, selected for shorter distance to forests and greater distance to human settlements following calf harvest than females who had not lost a calf. The survival of twins in a given hunting season was related to female age. Older females we more likely to have twins survive the hunting season. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that losing offspring to human harvest imposes behavioral changes in a long-lived ungulate species, leading to adjustments in females' habitat selection and movement behavior, which may lower the risk of encountering hunters. In our study, female moose that experienced calf loss selected for lower distance to forest and selected for greater distance to human settlements during periods of high hunting pressure compared to females without the experience of calf loss during the previous hunting season. We interpret this as potential learning effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothesized main drivers of megafauna extinctions in the late Quaternary have wavered between over-exploitation by humans and environmental change, with recent investigations demonstrating more nuanced synergies between these drivers depending on taxon, spatial scale, and region. However, most studies still rely on comparing archaeologically based chronologies of timing of initial human arrival into naïve ecosystems and palaeontologically inferred dates of megafauna extinctions. Conclusions arising from comparing chronologies also depend on the reliability of dated evidence, dating uncertainties, and correcting for the low probability of preservation (Signor–Lipps effect). While some models have been developed to test the susceptibility of megafauna to theoretical offtake rates, none has explicitly linked human energetic needs, prey choice, and hunting efficiency to examine the plausibility of human-driven extinctions. Using the island of Cyprus in the terminal Pleistocene as an ideal test case because of its late human settlement (~14.2–13.2 ka), small area (~11 000 km2), and low megafauna diversity (2 species), we developed stochastic models of megafauna population dynamics, with offtake dictated by human energetic requirements, prey choice, and hunting-efficiency functions to test whether the human population at the end of the Pleistocene could have caused the extinction of dwarf hippopotamus (Phanourios minor) and dwarf elephants (Palaeoloxodon cypriotes). Our models reveal not only that the estimated human population sizes (n = 3000–7000) in Late Pleistocene Cyprus could have easily driven both species to extinction within < 1000 years, the model predictions match the observed, Signor–Lipps-corrected chronological sequence of megafauna extinctions inferred from the palaeontological record (P. minor at ~12–11.1 ka, followed by P. cypriotes at ~10.3–9.1 ka). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents are ubiquitous and typically unwelcome dwellers in human habitats worldwide, infesting homes, farm fields, and agricultural stores and potentially shedding disease-causing microbes into the most human-occupied of spaces. Of the vertebrate animal taxa that share pathogens with us, rodents are the most abundant and diverse, with hundreds of species of confirmed zoonotic hosts, some of which have nearly global distributions. However, only 12% of rodent species are known to be sources of pathogens that also infect people, and those rodents that do are now recognized as tending to share a suite of predictable traits. Here, we characterize those traits and explore them in the context of three emerging or reemerging rodent-borne zoonotic diseases of people: Lassa fever, Lyme disease, and plague. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) occupies nearly every terrestrial habitat with a human presence and is one of our most important model organisms. Despite this prevalence, gaps remain in understanding the evolution of brown rat commensalism, their global dispersal, and mechanisms underlying contemporary adaptations to diverse environments. In this Review, we explore recent advances in the evolutionary history of brown rats and discuss key challenges, including finding and accurately dating historical specimens, disentangling histories of multiple domestication events, and synthesizing functional variation in wild rat populations with the development of laboratory strains. Advances in zooarchaeology and population genomics will usher in a new golden age of research on the evolutionary biology of brown rats, with positive feedbacks on their use as biomedical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat quality (HQ) serves as a pivotal metric for assessing biodiversity and ecosystem health, with alterations in land use driven by human activities posing direct implications on HQ and ecological sustainability within river basins. Prior research on HQ has predominantly centered on historical land use changes, neglecting the comprehensive consideration of future land use transformations and ecological zoning strategies' influence on HQ. Consequently, this investigation simulates potential land use shifts in the Min River Basin across various future scenarios, leveraging the integration of PLUS and InVEST models, quantitatively dissects HQ's responsiveness to these changes and delves into the spatial differentiation dynamics underlying these responses, while also exploring the drivers behind such differentiation. Synergizing with the Human Footprint Index (HFI), the study devises a rational ecological zoning plan tailored to the region and outlines targeted control measures for each zone. The results of the study showed that: 1) the east-central part of the Min River Basin was subject to a greater degree of human interference, and the trend of interconversion between grassland, forest land, and cropland was relatively significant, with construction land mainly originating from the transfer of cropland; 2) from 2000 to 2020, average HQ scores for priority protected zones, priority recovery zones, and appropriate development zones stood at 0.9372, 0.2697, and 0.6098, respectively, accompanied by a rise in the proportion of low and moderate HQ areas to 15% and 17%; (3) DEM and Slope were the main drivers affecting HQ, and their explanatory power reached 0.519 and 0.426, respectively; (4) in comparison to a natural development scenario (ND), the planning protection scenario (PP) offers greater promise for ecological preservation and sustainable development within the Min River Basin. The research results can provide technical support for the ecological restoration of land resources and the development and protection of national land space in watershed areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Human activities have led to significant global habitat degradation and fragmentation. However, some carnivores have adapted to these conditions and are expanding, leading to closer coexistence with humans and potential conflicts. This study analysed over 350 sightings of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) in NW Spain over 17 years to develop suitability models based on environmental, topographic, climatic, and human impact factors. Using MaxEnt, the study predicted the species' potential regional distribution. The results revealed that less than a third of the suitable areas for wildcats had confirmed their presence. Elevation, forested area percentage, and footpath density were key factors influencing wildcat presence, with the first two having positive effects and footpath density having a negative impact. The wildcats' preference for high and forested areas likely relates to food availability, while avoiding footpaths is linked to human-related mortality. These findings provide insights for conservation strategies to protect the species. Human activities have resulted in severe habitat degradation and fragmentation at a global scale. Despite this scenario, some carnivore species that adapted to the new conditions are expanding, leading to close coexistence with humans and the emergence of potential conflicts. In this work, we used a European wildcat (Felis silvestris) observations database of more than 350 sightings over 17 years in NW Spain to build suitability models based on environmental, topographic, climatic, and human impact variables. MaxEnt was used to analyse the availability of suitable habitats for the species at a regional scale. Our results showed that less than one third of the suitable area for the species had confirmed wildcat presence. Elevation, the percentage of forested area, and footpath density were the three main variables conditioning wildcat presence, with the first two variables having positive effects and footpath density negatively affecting wildcat presence. The selection of high areas and forest areas by the species seems to be related to food availability, while the avoidance of footpaths seems to be related to the fact that main mortality causes are linked to human disturbances. The results enhance the understanding of the European wildcat ecology and provide insight into potential management plans to ensure the conservation of one of the main populations of the species throughout its range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human settlement areas significantly impact the environment, leading to changes in both natural and built environments. Comprehensive information on human settlements, particularly in urban areas, is crucial for effective sustainable development planning. However, urban land use investigations are often limited to two-dimensional building footprint maps, neglecting the three-dimensional aspect of building structures. This paper addresses this issue to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on making human settlements inclusive, safe, and sustainable. In this study, Sentinel-1 data are used as the primary source to estimate building heights. One challenge addressed is the issue of multiple backscattering in Sentinel-1's signal, particularly in densely populated areas with high-rise buildings. To mitigate this, firstly, Sentinel-1 data from different directions, orbit paths, and polarizations are utilized. Combining ascending and descending orbits significantly improves estimation accuracy, and incorporating a higher number of paths provides additional information. However, Sentinel-1 data alone are not sufficiently rich at a global scale across different orbits and polarizations. Secondly, to enhance the accuracy further, Sentinel-1 data are corrected using nighttime light data as additional information, which shows promising results in addressing multiple backscattering issues. Finally, a deep learning model is trained to generate building height maps using these features, achieving a mean absolute error of around 2 m and a mean square error of approximately 13. The generalizability of this method is demonstrated in several cities with diverse built-up structures, including London, Berlin, and others. Finally, a building height map of Iran is generated and evaluated against surveyed buildings, showcasing its large-scale mapping capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Buildings that collapse or are damaged by earthquakes are responsible for the majority of earthquake-related casualties. High-precision building data are the key to improving the accuracy of risk assessments of earthquake disaster loss. Many countries and regions have also proposed varying regional building exposure models, but most of these models are still based on administrative-level (city or county) statistical data; furthermore, they cannot accurately reflect the differences among buildings in different towns or villages. Methods: Although field investigation-based "township to township" methods can obtain more accurate building inventory data, considering costs and timeliness, remote sensing and other diverse data should be combined to acquire building data. Based on the field survey data of three cities in shanxi Province, combined with Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) data, this study is conducted on building inventory data. Data regarding the proportion of each building type and corresponding lethality level in each township are obtained based on the classification of building height, and the overall lethality level at the building level and township level is calculated on this basis. Results: The fitting results between the calculated results and the field survey results are good, the error is within 0.15, and the fitting R2 values of Xian, Baoji and Ankang are 0.6552, 0.5788 and 0.5937, respectively. Therefore, an earthquake disaster loss risk assessment is conducted based on the building level. Discussion: The findings indicate that the risk of casualties caused by the same building type can vary by city. Generally, the areas with high disaster loss risk in the three cities are distributed mainly in urban areas; the disaster loss risk in the newly built areas of each city is relatively low. According to the quantitative assessment results for each city, Xi'an has the highest loss risk, while Baoji and Ankang have the same loss risk. Based on the method constructed in this paper, we can realize the quantitative assessment of earthquake disaster loss risk at the building level to better target pre-earthquake emergency preparation and post-earthquake auxiliary decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies presented in this paper constitute the first scientific attempt to interpret the manner whereby notched implements made of scapulae were made and used. These implements have been found at numerous European and non-European sites, usually dated to the Neolithic–Early Iron Age (predominantly the Early Bronze Age). Research has examined these products since the beginning of the 20th century, resulting in the development of several hypotheses regarding their functions. This paper presents the analysis results of 41 such artefacts from the early Bronze Age defensive settlement in Bruszczewo (central Poland). This is the largest collection of these products from a single site worldwide. The artefacts were subjected to multi-aspect traceological tests (both technological and functional) using optical, metallographic, and scanning electron microscopes. The residues identified on their surfaces were analysed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-rays spectroscopy. Moreover, the studies reported herein involved extensive experimental research. Consequently, the chain of operations followed in producing these tools was reconstructed and the use-wear traces present on their surfaces were classified; it was determined that these tools were most likely used for threshing cereals but might also have been used for threshing legumes. This is the first proof of threshing in central Europe in the Early Bronze Age and the first scientifically substantiated hypothesis regarding the function of these important artefacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]