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Urban lagoons, which provide diverse ecosystem services, exhibit variations between urban and peri-urban settings. Surveys in Tabasco evaluated public perceptions of the “La Encantada” (LE) and “Luis Gil Pérez” (LGP) lagoons, focusing on cultural and economic services. Statistical analyses of 168 respondents revealed differences based on age, gender, and education, though no significant gender or age disparities were found between the areas. Education, especially high school (75%), played a key role in shaping perceptions and influencing property ownership patterns. Despite differences in knowledge and property modifications, overall perceptions of ecosystem services remained similar. However, disparities emerged in specific landscape units, age groups, and education levels. Environmental education and recreation were highly valued, with preferences varying by age and education. Gender had no significant impact, aligning with regional trends. Education differences, influenced by cultural beliefs, shaped wetland understandings. Inconsistencies in property modifications and wetland perceptions, influenced by location, highlighted biodiversity’s importance. The perceived significance of ecosystem services aligned with folk knowledge, particularly oxygen provision. Generational differences revealed age-related perspectives on ecosystem services. The study challenged regional norms, exposing unexpected disparities in education and ecosystem service perceptions between LGP and LE. Knowledge gaps about wetlands raise conservation concerns, underscoring the need for further research. Recommendations include targeted environmental education, collaboration, and community-specific interventions. Cross-cultural exchange between LGP and LE is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of local dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Landscape features (LF—i.e., the natural and semi-natural areas in agricultural landscapes) positively contribute to soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and storage among farmlands. LF-related SOC partitioning still needs context-specific investigation to properly address climate change mitigation goals. Not many studies address LF phytocoenoses traits relation with SOC partitioning. Our study investigates SOC partitioning (total organic carbon [TOC]; labile dissolved organic carbon [DOC]; stable recalcitrant organic carbon [ROC]) between arable fields (AGR) and semi-natural/natural components (NAT: herbaceous field margins, young/mature hedgerows, young/mature woods) in a temperate alluvial pedoclimatic context (Po Plain, Northwestern Italy). Methods: We compared topsoil SOC and its fractions (0–20 cm depth) between: AGR-NAT sites; hedgerows (HED)-AGR sites; and different ecological quality degrees (phytocoenoses were classified by Biological Territorial Capacity [BTC] values and Index of Vegetation Naturalness categories [IVN]--). Results: Our results confirmed a significantly different SOC partitioning behaviour between AGR and NAT sites (NAT: +79% TOC; +409% ROC); AGR sites were negatively correlated with ROC. TOC was a robust ROC predictor. HED had significantly higher TOC (+71%) and ROC (+395%) compared to arable fields, with the highest values in mature hedgerows. DOC showed contrasted behaviours. A linear regression model on BTC and IVN (predictors) and TOC and ROC showed significant positive relationships, especially for ROC. Conclusions: Our study confirmed the LF role in long-term SOC storage among farmlands, which should be coupled with AGR management (with prevalent short-term SOC fractions). LF ecological quality was a determining factor in total and long-term SOC. Proper LF management is pivotal to aligning climate change mitigation goals with other ecological benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bats provide important ecosystem services as natural predators of, for example, lepidopteran pests. Thus, it is crucial to identify ways to enhance bat populations in agricultural landscapes. It has been shown that high landscape heterogeneity can benefit bat communities in arable fields. However, to date, the relationship between bats and the surrounding landscape within a viticultural matrix has received little attention, despite moths being major pests in viticulture. Here, we investigated how bats respond to different landscape elements in three European regions: Rhineland‐Palatinate (Germany), Burgenland (Austria), and Andalusia (Spain). We recorded bat activity using passive acoustic monitoring for four nights in 94 vineyards in total. Additionally, in Germany, we recorded bat activity along transects from hedgerows up to 120 m into the vineyards to describe the change in activity with hedgerow distance. We found that bat activity decreased with distance from the hedgerow, and the strength of the response was guild‐specific. Bat species adapted to foraging in the open space decreased their activity by half at a distance of 120 m from the hedgerow into the center of the vineyard, while bats adapted to foraging along vegetation (edge‐space bats) and those adapted to feeding within and close to vegetation (narrow‐space bats) decreased their mean flight activity by more than 80% at the same distance. Moreover, the presence of hedgerows between vineyards was positively related to a higher bat activity and feeding rate in all three countries, although this effect varied by functional guild and country. For edge‐space foraging bats, hedgerows had a positive impact in all three countries, while open‐space bats only showed a significant response in Spain. Hedgerows had consistent positive effects on bat activity in vineyards across the three study regions. Our study suggests that hedgerows should be conserved and restored as key elements to support a higher bat activity. This would also benefit other important groups of animals such as bees and birds along with the ecosystem services they provide.

Background Tick-borne pathogens pose a major threat to human health worldwide. Understanding the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases to reduce their impact on human health requires models covering large geographic areas and considering both the abiotic traits that affect tick presence, as well as the vertebrates used as hosts, vegetation, and land use. Herein, we integrated the public information available for Europe regarding the variables that may affect habitat suitability for ticks and hosts and tested five machine learning algorithms (MLA) for predicting the distribution of four prominent tick species across Europe.Materials and methods A grid of cells 20 km in diameter was prepared to cover the entire territory, containing data on vegetation, points of water, habitat fragmentation, forest density, grass extension, or imperviousness, with information on temperature and water deficit. The distribution of the hosts (162 species) was modelled and included in the dataset. We used five MLA, namely, Random Forest, Neural Networks, Naive Bayes, Gradient Boosting, and AdaBoost, trained with reliable coordinates for Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Dermacentor marginatus, and Hyalomma marginatum in Europe.Results Both Random Forest and Gradient Boosting best predicted ticks and host environmental niches. Our results demonstrate that MLA can identify trait-matching combinations of environmental niches. The inclusion of land cover and land use variables has a superior capacity for predicting areas suitable for ticks, compared to classic methods based on the use of climate data alone.Conclusions Flexible MLA-driven models may offer several advantages over traditional models. We anticipate that these results may be extrapolated to other regions and combinations of tick-vertebrates. These results highlight the potential of MLA for inference in ecology and provide a background for the evolution of a completely automatized tool to calculate the seasonality of ticks for early warning systems aimed at preventing tick-borne diseases.

The ecology of aquatic birds in Central and Eastern Europe is still barely studied and there are few research papers that prove the connection between the landscape factors and the presence of certain aquatic bird species in wetlands. In this context our goal was to identify those factors that influence the existence of aquatic birds in their breeding period. Ten wetlands with different characteristics from Eastern Romania were chosen, all being representative areas in terms of nesting and shelter places for breeding waterfowls. We analyzed the link between the presence of the bird species and the degree of sinuosity, the surface and the fragmentation of the area and the edges of the wetlands. Bird census was made during two years, 2011 and 2012. The variables that had a negative influence on the analyzed birds were represented by the sinuosity of lakes and the number of habitat patches, whereas the number of water bodies and marshes surface had a positive effect. The management measures must be correlated to the necessity of preserving a higher number of water bodies instead of larger ones. In same order preserve of marshes is essential in vicinity of water bodies.

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Agricultural landscapes are currently suffering and generating severe ecological issues. This is especially true in intensively managed alluvial contexts, where biodiversity is declining and ecosystem services (ES) delivery capacity is being depleted. The aim of our study is to set up and test a synthetic analytical methodology that allows us to: understand current agricultural landscape ecological quality drivers (structural and functional traits); identify context-specific strategies to correct current negative trends (landscape ecology design approach); and assess the changes in the landscape ecological behavior provided by design scenarios. The applied methodology is low-cost and low-time-demanding and is based on multi-scale landscape ecology and land-use-based ES assessment; it implements a pattern-process-design approach. Analyses are applied to four northern Italian alluvial agricultural landscape systems. We specifically address landscape biodiversity support functions (landscape ecology indicators) and landscape multifunctionality (ES spatial assessment). We test the agroforestry approach (landscape feature insertions and crop diversification) as a key strategy to enhance ecological quality and ES, and we account for its contributions to context-specific design scenarios. This analytical toolkit might serve for future applications on similar case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is a feature perception study of traditional village landscapes, refines the research method of traditional village landscape features using tourists online comment data, combs the landscape perception features of Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village from tourists perspectives, digs out the managers' problems in landscape planning, protection, utilisation, and puts forward the corresponding improvement strategies. In this paper, the Octopus data collector was used to collect online evaluation data from nine target platforms, and ROST CM6 was used to analyse the data for word frequency analysis, semantic network analysis, and sentiment analysis. Finally, using Nvivo12, the data was coded and a multidimensional model of landscape perception was constructed: natural landscapes, cultural and social landscapes, perceived landscapes, seasonal landscapes, and services and infrastructures. The results show that in the landscape perception model, the cultural and social landscape modules are the core factors affecting tourists' psychological perceptions, with most tourists holding positive emotions towards the scenic spots and a few negative emotions mainly focusing on the relatively weak natural landscape, the unsatisfactory road system and charging system, and the over-commercialised development. In response to these problems, this study proposes corresponding planning recommendations. The results of the study reflect the trend of deep integration of culture and tourism in traditional villages in China, respond to the policy guidance of China's rural revitalisation policy, and provide useful references and insights for the landscape construction and development of the Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village and even similar tourist-oriented traditional villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urban parks play a crucial role in providing social services and promoting the health and well-being of residents. They serve not only as primary aesthetic spaces for urban residents but also as crucial venues for recreational activities. Exploring strategies for constructing urban parks that integrate landscape aesthetics and recreational value is essential. This approach will contribute to enhancing the quality of urban parks to meet the genuine needs of urban residents. However, there is currently limited attention given to related research. Based on this, the study focuses on Jinshan Park in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China, to investigate the relationship between landscape features and the coexistence of landscape aesthetics and recreation values of urban parks. The research employed field observations and questionnaire surveys to assess the landscape aesthetic and recreational values of urban parks and explore their coexistence. Additionally, semantic segmentation and other methods were introduced to quantify landscape features. Linear regression analysis was then applied to further examine the impact of landscape features on the landscape aesthetic and recreational values in urban parks, as well as their coexistence. The results revealed: (1) The landscape aesthetics of Jinshan Park is moderate, and the pattern of recreational activities in the park follows a sequence of passing‐by behaviors > static behaviors > dynamic behaviors, with the primary user demographic being middle-aged and elderly individuals. The coexistence of landscape aesthetics and recreational values in Jinshan Park needs to be improved. In comparison, the degree of coexistence between aesthetics and passing‐by behavior is relatively high. (2) The landscape aesthetics of urban parks are influenced by natural elements, with green view index playing a more crucial role. Recreational behaviors are jointly influenced by spatial, natural, construction, and facility elements. Concerning different types of behaviors, spatial elements have a significant impact on public static and dynamic behaviors, followed by natural elements and facility elements. Passing‐by behaviors are most influenced by construction elements, followed by spatial elements and facility elements. (3) The coexistence of landscape aesthetics and static behavior is facilitated by the presence of more water, an appropriately green view index, and a diverse plant community structure. Improving sky openness and green view index can effectively promote the coexistence of aesthetics with dynamic behavior. The coexistence of aesthetics and passing‐by behaviors is influenced by sky openness, garden architecture, and service facilities. This study provides a scientific theoretical foundation and a model reference to guide the construction of urban parks that integrate both aesthetic and recreational values.

The ecology of aquatic birds in Central and Eastern Europe is still barely studied and there are few research papers that prove the connection between the landscape factors and the presence of certain aquatic bird species in wetlands. In this context our goal was to identify those factors that influence the existence of aquatic birds in their breeding period. Ten wetlands with different characteristics from Eastern Romania were chosen, all being representative areas in terms of nesting and shelter places for breeding waterfowls. We analyzed the link between the presence of the bird species and the degree of sinuosity, the surface and the fragmentation of the area and the edges of the wetlands. Bird census was made during two years, 2011 and 2012. The variables that had a negative influence on the analyzed birds were represented by the sinuosity of lakes and the number of habitat patches, whereas the number of water bodies and marshes surface had a positive effect. The management measures must be correlated to the necessity of preserving a higher number of water bodies instead of larger ones. In same order preserve of marshes is essential in vicinity of water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialized gardens, as integral components of botanical gardens, bear multiple functions, encompassing plant collection and conservation, scientific research, and public education, as well as serving aesthetic and recreational purposes. Their quality profoundly reflects the landscape artistry of botanical gardens, directly influencing the quality of visitors' enjoyment and the overall experience within the botanical garden. This study aims to investigate the spatial vitality of specialized garden plant landscapes, effectively assessing the usage patterns of plant landscape spaces and promoting the optimal utilization of underutilized spaces. Taking Hangzhou Botanical Garden as a case study, considering the warming climate and suitable temperatures in spring, when most plants enter the flowering period and outdoor visitor frequency increases, the primary observational period focuses on spring to measure the spatial vitality of specialized garden plant landscapes. We obtained data through field measurements and on-site observations. Specifically, We measured and recorded information on plant species, quantity, height, crown width, and growth conditions within the plots. Additionally, we employed ground observations and fixed-point photography to document visitor numbers and activity types. We quantified spatial vitality through four indicators: visitor density, space usage intensity, diversity of age group, and richness of activity type. We explored the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of spatial vitality and investigated the relationship between plant landscape characteristics and spatial vitality using variance analysis and correlation analysis. The results indicate that, in spring, the average spatial vitality index of specialized gardens ranks from highest to lowest as follows: Lingfeng Tanmei (1.403), Rosaceae Garden (1.245), Acer and Rhododendron Garden (0.449), and Osmanthus and Crape Myrtle Garden (0.437). Additionally, the spatial vitality of specialized garden plant landscapes in spring is significantly positively correlated with the ornamental period of specialized plants, characteristics of plant viewing, accessible lawn area, spatial accessibility, and spatial enclosure. Therefore, to create vibrant specialized plant landscapes, managers and planners, when engaging in the planning and design of specialized garden plant landscapes, need to fully consider and respect the visual aesthetics and functional needs of visitors. This study will serve as a theoretical reference for subsequent research on the vitality of plant landscape spaces and other small-scale spaces. It will also provide practical guidance for the construction of plant landscapes in specialized gardens within botanical gardens and other urban green spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrated the potential utility of crowdsource photographs to investigate users' (residents and visitors) preferences for landscape features in the proposed Appalachian Geopark Project in southern West Virginia, United States, assuming that a photographic choice implies a preference. The study used photographs from Flickr crowdsource. Our method combined existing technologies of crowdsourcing, geographic information system (GIS), machine learning (ML) and added a new metrics generation capability to provide a novel approach to classifying users' preferences. First, spatial distribution of the photographs was assessed. Second, the amount of area in pixels covered by each feature was calculated to quantify the different landscape features contained in the photographs. The results revealed that the photographs were congregated in specific locations of the study region showing clustered patterns of distribution. The content analysis revealed that the forest was the predominant landscape feature, followed by rock, antrhopogenic (anthro), sky, water, grass and road that were captured in the photographs. This approach is an indirect approach that help understand what landscape features are captured in the photographs by the users. The ability to provide statistics for pixel-by-pixel classification in the ML output represents a new functionality that can be useful in other studies such as in a single landscape type (e.g., urban, agriculture, etc.) and temporal data (e.g., date taken).

Zoonotic disease vectors, their wildlife hosts, and the surrounding landscape interact in complex ways that vary spatially, temporally and with anthropogenic change. Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are one of the most important vectors of human disease globally but managing the risk of tick bites in urban areas requires a detailed understanding of these complex vector-host-environment relationships at multiple spatial scales. Extensive knowledge gaps of these interactions in Australia limits options for managing ticks and exacerbates human-wildlife conflict. To address this, we used an online survey to determine the potential drivers of human-tick encounters operating at the local, yard scale and at the broader, landscape scale in a peri-urban area of Australia. We explored the relationships between reported tick encounters in yards and yard traits, host sightings (yard-scale) and broader landscape traits (landscape-scale). We found that sightings of potential hosts such as long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta) and brush-turkeys (Alectura lathami), and broader landscape traits such as distance to wet sclerophyll forest, were important predictors of reported tick encounters. Yard traits such as garden mulching and leaf litter cover showed no relationships with tick encounters. However, garden mulching and the absence of pets were predictors of frequent bandicoot sightings in yards. Mulching over 20m2, moderate to dense leaf litter cover on lawns, and living adjacent to bush were predictors of frequent brush-turkey sightings in yards. Our results suggest that residents may be able to reduce tick encounter risk by making yards less attractive to potential hosts. The observed relationships provide a critical foundation for field studies that can determine underlying mechanisms and inform appropriate tick management in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban parks are the main place for physical activities, generating numerous benefits to enhance human well-being. Many studies have investigated the impacts of landscape features on park visitation but ignored their seasonal and diurnal variations. Taking the Hunan Martyr Park in China as an example, this study aims to assess the seasonal and diurnal variations in the impacts of landscape features on visitation density. We quantified visitation density for 109 activity zones for both daytime and nighttime in summer and winter and investigated the impacts of landscape features of the activity zone and the surrounding environments on visitation density based on 16 quantitative indicators. The results show that: (1) The impacts of ground condition, connection to water, distance to park entrances, and distance to stores were consistent in different periods. Paved activity zones, zones close to water, zones further away from the park entrances, and zones closer to the stores had significantly higher visitation density. (2) Shading degree, connected pathway, and distance to toilets had contrasting impacts between summer and winter. Zones with a higher shading degree attracted more visitors in summer and deterred visitors in winter. Zones with fewer pathways connected and zones farther away from toilets had higher visitation density in summer but not in winter. (3) Shading degree, number of trees, presence of facilities (e.g., benches, tables, pavilion, and light devices), and connected pathway had contrasting impacts between daytime and nighttime. Zones with a high shading degree, zones with benches and pavilions, and zones without trees had higher visitation density in the daytime. Zones with light devices, zones with more connected pathways, and zones without tables had higher visitation density at nighttime. These findings highlighted the seasonal and diurnal variation of the impacts of landscape features on park visitation and can help to improve urban park design, especially for cities with hot summers and cold winters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gansu Anxi Extreme-arid Desert National Nature Reserve is one of the important members of Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus) reintroduction project in China. Habitat suitability assessment is the prerequisite and basis for formulating conservation planning of the species. In this study, three groups of parameters including biological factors (vegetation type, coverage, edible plant resources), non-biological factors (slope, distance from water), and the human interference factors (distance from the road, distance to pasture, distance to mining area) were considered comprehensively for habitat suitability assessment of Przewalski’s horse. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to determine the weight of each evaluation factor and a criterion for Przewalski’s horse habitat suitability was established. With help of geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS), habitat suitability index (HSI) was used to evaluate habitat suitability and a comprehensive distribution map of Przewalski’s horse. At the same time, at patch level, the landscape pattern and the characteristics of the landscape index were analyzed by the Fragstats 4. 2. The results showed that if not considering human activities, the potential suitable habitat areas within the reserve was 283, 082. 76 hm², accounting for 59. 99% of the total assessment area. However, in the presence of impacts of human activities such as national highway, mine exploration and grazing livestock, the actual suitable habitat decreased by 27, 405. 90 hm² . Among them, road was the most severe human interference leading to the loss of suitable habitat, accounting for 55. 92%. The landscape analysis showed that there were a few highly suitable habitat patches with large area and high connectivity in both potential habitat and actual habitats. The landscape metrics consistently showed that the landscape and patch connectivity became poorer and fragmentation increased under human interference. In combination with effective conservation measures, we suggest controlling the number of livestock, as well as establishing artificial water source to improve habitat quality of Przewalski’s horses. In addition, it is also necessary to establish and restore ecological corridors to bridge the Przewalski’s horse suitable habitats, so as to ensure the long-term survival of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we analyzed the differences in bird diversity in townships with different levels of development to identify the key factors that affect local bird diversity. The results showed that bird diversity increased in moderate urbanization in the mountainous area. At the township scale, bird diversity was determined by the combined effects of landscape diversity and landscape fragmentation. Under the premise of maintaining a high forest coverage rate, increasing landscape diversity and landscape fragmentation is conducive to improving the number, richness, and diversity of bird species. The effect of landscape diversity on bird species numbers, bird richness, and bird diversity is stronger than that of landscape fragmentation. In future urban development planning, heterogeneity and diversity of the landscape pattern can be increased by constructing an urban biological habitat in order to maintain and improve biodiversity. The results obtained in this study provide a practicable reference for formulating biodiversity conservation strategies and constructing reasonable and safe biodiversity patterns. The rapid development of urbanization has changed landscape patterns and biological habitats severely and, therefore, affected biodiversity. In this study, we selected 75 townships in Lishui, a mountainous area in eastern China, to conduct bird surveys for two years. We analyzed the birds' composition characters in townships with different levels of development in order to identify the effects on bird diversity of the urban development level, land cover pattern, landscape pattern, and other factors. In total, 296 bird species from 18 orders and 67 families were recorded between December 2019 and January 2021. A total of 166 species of birds belonged to Passeriformes (56.08%). The seventy-five townships were divided into three grades by K-means cluster analysis. The average number of bird species, richness index, and diversity index were higher in G-H (highest urban development level) compared with the other grades. At the township level, landscape diversity and landscape fragmentation were the key factors that positively affected the bird species number, diversity index, and richness index. Landscape diversity had a greater effect than landscape fragmentation, particularly on the Shannon–Weiner diversity index. The diversity and heterogeneity of urban landscapes could be improved by constructing biological habitats in future urban development planning to maintain and increase biodiversity. The results obtained in this study provide a theoretical basis for urban planning in mountainous areas, and a reference for policymakers to formulate biodiversity conservation strategies, construct reasonable biodiversity patterns, and solve practical biodiversity conservation problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the background of urban renewal, the landscape transformation of urban public space into urban parks has become an effective way of improving environmental quality and creating an emotional attachment for people. Meanwhile, existing studies have seldom adopted experimental methods to scientifically reveal the effect of different landscape features on emotional experience. Using a portable eye movement tracker, wearable wireless physiological sensor, and emotional attachment scale, this study collects participants' ergonomics data, and their degree and dimension of emotional attachment while experiencing different landscape features in Wudaokou Park in Beijing, China. The data were analyzed with the help of ErgoLab platform and IBM SPSS software. The results indicate that the artificial and natural landscape features and their specific characteristics have different effects on eye movement index, heart rate variability, skin conductance level, and attachment degree and dimension. The design of Wudaokou Park was proven to significantly promote emotional attachment. Natural features play an important role, among which the use of wild plants and gazebos—showing the texture and structural logic of bamboo materials—stand out. The research not only expands the practical scope of ergonomics instruments and improves the rationality of the emotional attachment scale, but also provides emotion-oriented design methods for urban researchers and designers to improve the emotional experience in urban parks in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal and gene flow within an animal population are influenced by the composition and configuration of the landscape. In this study, we characterized the population genetic structures of three coexistent forest duiker species (Cephalophinae) in an approximately 250 km2 area of Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon. We obtained genotypes of 11 autosomal microsatellite loci and sequenced a portion of the mitochondrial DNA control region (~ 600 bp). Individual identification analyses using microsatellites showed that we obtained 82 blue, 6 bay, and 15 yellow-backed duiker individuals. In each species, mitochondrial and microsatellite results showed that there were two genetically different subpopulations. A mountainous area was suggested to cause the observed genetic differentiation in the blue duiker, while a river might act as a genetic barrier for yellow-backed duiker. The difference in genetic barriers between the two species might also be explained by the difference in body size. In the blue duiker population, two genetically different subpopulations were suggested to have recently come into contact. This suggests that the population history of blue duiker in Moukalaba may be complex, although duikers were continuously distributed. In this study, using both mitochondrial and microsatellite data, we described the genetic structure of coexistent duikers, suggesting that different landscape features limited gene flow in different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is aimed at the variability of historical landscape elements on the territory of the selected extinct settlements, to classify and to evaluate their development in the context of changes in anthropic pressure between the years 1945 and 2022, focusing on the Moravian-Silesian Region. The article presents a methodology for identifying physically extinct settlements and historical landscape elements by using statistical data, historical and current maps and field verification. Territorial dispersion and classification according to cases of the extinction, and according to individual landscape elements are elaborated. Research has confirmed a link between the cause of the settlement's demise: the expulsion of German residents and proximity to the state border, a military training area, the construction of water reservoirs, mining and development projects, and surviving groups of historical landscape elements. The results can serve as a methodology for research in other areas. On a practical level, they can be used for landscape planning, territorial dispersion of tourism, and educational purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Humans acquire tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) from infected ticks contacted during outdoor activities. Outdoor activity is at its highest in urban green spaces, where the presence of tick populations has increasingly been observed. Consequently, more insight into factors influencing the presence of ticks therein is needed. Here, we assess the occurrence of ticks and several TBPs in urban green spaces in Finland, estimate related human hazard and assess how landscape features influence tick and TBP occurrence therein., Methods: Ticks collected from five cities during 2019-2020 were utilised. Borrelia, Rickettsia, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia and TBEV were screened from ticks using qPCR. Various landscape features were calculated and utilised in generalised linear mixed models to assess their contribution towards tick and TBP occurrence in green spaces. Finally, human population density proximate to each study site was calculated and used to create population-weighted risk indices., Results: Borrelia were the most common pathogens detected, with 22% of nymphs and 43% of adults infected. Increasing forest cover had a positive effect on the densities of nymphs and adults, whereas forest size had a negative effect. Middling percentages of artificial surfaces predicted higher nymph densities than low or high values. Human population-weighted risk estimates were highly varied, even within cities. A positive correlation was observed between total city population and risk indices., Conclusions: Ticks and TBPs are commonplace in urban green spaces in Finland. Enzootic cycles for Borrelia and Rickettsia appear to be well maintained within cities, leading to widespread risk of infection therein. Our results suggest that nymph densities are highest in urban forests of medium size, whereas small or large forests show reduced densities. Green spaces of roughly similar risk can be found in cities of different sizes, emphasising that the identification of areas of particularly high hazard is important for effective mitigation actions., (© 2025 The Author(s). Zoonoses and Public Health published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

On-water sightseeing plays a key role in the tourism of traditional Chinese landscapes. The on-water landscape affects tourism potential and the quality of urban landscapes. Current research on river landscape is mainly based on remote sensing images or on-land approaches, while studies of on-water perspective landscapes at different river scales is lacking. In this paper, with Guilin city rivers taken as an example, we adopt image semantic segmentation technology to evaluate the visual landscape characteristics under different river scales, and subsequently employ automatic linear modeling to screen important factors affecting aesthetic quality. The results reveal the obvious differences between the on-water landscape characteristics of different scale rivers. The on-water landscape quality of large- and small-scale rivers is mainly affected by seven and four factors, respectively. The Karst landform of Guilin is observed to significantly improve the on-water landscape quality of large-scale rivers. By considering the impact mechanism of landscape composition on the aesthetic quality and the different scale rivers, we propose several aesthetic quality improvement strategies based on low-cost methods, including the planting of vegetation and the micro renewal of artificial constructions. This study contributes to the intelligent evaluation of urban on-water landscape and provides reference for on-water route selection and urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paraguayan Chaco is one of the most rapidly deforested areas in Latin America, mainly due to cattle ranching. Continuously forested windbreaks between agricultural areas and forest patches within these areas are mandatory to minimise the impact that the legally permitted logging has on the ecosystem. Due to the large area of the Paraguayan Chaco, comprehensive in situ monitoring of the integrity of these landscape elements is almost impossible. Satellite-based remote sensing offers excellent prerequisites for large-scale land cover analyses. However, traditional methods mostly focus on spectral and texture information while dismissing the geometric context of landscape features. Since the contextual information is very important for the identification of windbreak gaps and central forests, a deep learning-based detection of relevant landscape features in satellite imagery could solve the problem. However, deep learning methods require a large amount of labelled training data, which cannot be collected in sufficient quantity in the investigated area. This study presents a methodology to automatically classify gaps in windbreaks and central forest patches using a convolutional neural network (CNN) entirely trained on synthetic imagery. In a two-step approach, we first used a random forest (RF) classifier to derive a binary forest mask from Sentinel-1 and -2 images for the Paraguayan Chaco in 2020 with a spatial resolution of 10 m. We then trained a CNN on a synthetic data set consisting of purely artificial binary images to classify central forest patches and gaps in windbreaks in the forest mask. For both classes, the CNN achieved an F1 value of over 70%. The presented method is among the first to use synthetically generated training images and class labels to classify natural landscape elements in remote sensing imagery and therewith particularly contributes to the research on the detection of natural objects such as windbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human perception of environments is a complex mechanism, influenced not only by visual and auditory stimuli and their perceptual outcomes, but also by personal characteristics, site types, and other factors that affect people's restorative experiences. However, there is little research that treats it as a complete systemic phenomenon to reveal its integrated impact. We surveyed 1161 visitors in seven urban parks in Hangzhou, China, and collected information on audio-visual stimuli. Using structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis, we initially examined the comprehensive impact of acoustic factors, non-acoustic factors, and individual characteristic variables on perceived restorativeness. Subsequently, we studied the effects of different park types on the constructed multivariate comprehensive model. The results confirm that the presence of different types of sound sources within landscape features can impact the auditory affective quality dimension, which in turn affects visitors' perceived restorative experiences. In addition, the reported mediating pathways revealed that visual elements related to nature, by providing high-quality visual landscapes, enhance the pleasantness of soundscapes and yield greater restorative benefits in park environments. A new finding of the study was that, although the eventfulness of the soundscape negatively affects perceived restorativeness, the presence of high-quality visual landscapes in the environment can compensate for this deficiency. Further multi-group analysis results show that landscape features and visual perceptual quality indirectly influence perceived restorativeness through the auditory affective quality dimension, resulting in varied correlations across two types of park. Moreover, the pleasantness of soundscapes consistently has a significant effect on perceived restorativeness in both types of parks; however, in parks oriented towards activity, the eventfulness dimension of soundscapes does not significantly affect perceived restorativeness. Lastly, the influence of landscape features on perceived restorativeness, mediated by types of sound sources, is both direct and indirect, leading to diverse correlations across different park environments. These detailed findings and guidelines for audio-visual interaction design will aid in the planning and development of urban soundscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal, the movement of individuals from their natal population to their breeding population, has important ecological and evolutionary consequences. In lotic freshwater systems, landscape features such as barriers or connectors, can affect dispersal and thus gene flow. It is of special interest to characterize population genetic structure in the presence of impassable barriers because they can restrict dispersal and thus isolate populations. On the other hand, connectors such as man-made canals connect watersheds that would otherwise be isolated, thereby enhancing gene flow and potentially genetically homogenizing populations. Freshwater mussels (Order: Unionida), many of which are highly threatened, have a unique life history involving parasitism on host fish species for larval development and dispersal. Landscape features that affect fish passage will consequently affect mussel dispersal and the maintenance of populations and metapopulations. This manuscript explores how landscape features affect the population genetic structure and genetic diversity of the freshwater mussel species Lampsilis siliquoidea, Fatmucket, in the southwestern Lake Ontario drainage. Data from seven microsatellite loci revealed that 1) waterfalls act as barriers for gene flow between freshwater mussel populations within the same river, 2) populations above the barrier had lower genetic diversity, 3) there was no detectable effect of man-made canals on genetic diversity and, 4) populations that were not hydrologically connected by a canal were marginally more differentiated than the populations connected by a canal. Landscape features can alter the connectivity within and between drainages thus changing the scale at which management will be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Landscape simplification is a main driver of insect decline, threatening crop pollination services. Changes in functional features in simplified agroecosystems may impact the abundance of wild pollinators. Objectives: Here, we studied whether different pollinator groups based on life-history are differentially associated to landscape features, and how this affects crop pollination service delivery. Methods: Using window traps in a highly simplified agroecosystem, we surveyed pollinator abundances and diversity associated with: (1) bare fence-lines separating pastures (control), (2) conifer hedgerows (3) farm gardens of diverse exotic plant species (4) effluent-ponds, (5) newly established native-plantings, (6) gorse (Ulex europaeus) hedgerows and (7) open water channels across six to twelve dairy farms. We also measured pollination service delivery to potted pak choi (Brassica rapa) plots near features 1–5 on six farms. Results: Pollinators at gardens, native-plantings, and effluent-ponds delivered significantly more pollination service than at bare fence-lines, with flies being more effective pollinators than bees at all features assessed. Taxa delivering the service also differed across features. The native bee Lasioglossum sordidum delivered more pollination at garden and native-planting features than at other features, drone flies (Eristalis tenax) contributed the majority of pollination service at effluent-ponds and bare fence-lines, while calliphorid flies contributed most pollination at conifer hedgerows. Conclusions: Conversion of functional features to bare fence-lines negatively affects on-farm pollinator diversity and its service to crop plants. However, farmers can benefit from enhancing features containing diverse plant species that support non-bee and bee species proven to deliver measurable crop pollination services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) are widely distributed throughout the Americas, being dependent on forested areas to survive. Although ocelot ecology is broadly studied throughout the species range distribution, studies concerning factors that may affect ocelot occupancy in the Atlantic Forest are still scarce. We used camera traps to evaluate factors influencing the probabilities of detection and occupancy of ocelots in a protected area of the Atlantic Forest, the Rio Doce State Park (RDSP), southeastern Brazil. To assess ocelot occupancy and detection probabilities, we measured the distances between sampling stations and rivers, lakes, cities, pasture, and Eucalyptus plantations. In addition, we recorded the mean rainfall levels for each sampling occasion, and native grassland areas within a 500 m‐buffer around each sampling station. We found a strong and positive association between ocelot detection and the dry season, which might be due to a higher number of individuals moving through the Park during this season. Moreover, we found a strong and positive association of ocelot detection with native grassland areas around lakes, which may be related to the ocelot behavior of searching for prey in these areas. Conversely, the ocelot occupancy probability was intermediate (Ψ^ = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36–0.69) and was not strongly associated with the evaluated covariates, which may be explained by the high‐quality of forest habitats and water resources that are homogeneously distributed within the Park. Our study indicates that the RDSP still provides a structurally suitable forest habitat for ocelots, but because of the current worrying scenario of over fragmentation, reduction of forest cover, and weakness of the protective legislation of this biome, the long‐term persistence of the species in RDSP is uncertain.

With growing urbanization, it is becoming increasingly important to design cities in a manner that sustains and enhances biodiversity and ecosystem services. Native bees are critical pollinators that have experienced substantive declines over the past several decades. These declines have captured the attention of the public, particularly urbanites, prompting a large interest in protecting pollinators and their habitats in cities across North America and Europe. Unfortunately, we currently lack research about specific features of urban environments that can enhance the fitness of pollinators. We carried out an intensive study of Bombus impatiens, the Common Eastern Bumblebee, in the city of Toronto (Canada's largest city), to better understand landscape parameters that provide high‐quality habitat for this species and likely other generalist bees. We divided the city into 270 grid cells and sampled a large number of worker bees, which were then genotyped at twelve hypervariable microsatellite loci. The genetic data allowed us to quantify the effective number of colonies and foraging distance for bumblebees in our study area. We then asked how the city's landscape and human population demography and income are associated with the availability of high‐quality habitat for B. impatiens. Several aspects of Toronto's landscape influenced colony density and foraging range. Urbanization had a clear effect on both colony density and foraging distance of workers. On the other hand, functional (i.e., not cosmetic) green space was often associated with higher quality habitats for bumblebees. Our study suggests several planning strategies to enhance habitat quality for bumblebees and other pollinators in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safety is an indispensable condition of livable cities. Increasing fine-scaled understanding of the relationship between physical characteristics and perceived safety can provide reliable evidence to guide safety design, which in turn contributes to the livability of cities. To reach this goal, 30 sample sites were selected to represent the diversity of urban green spaces in Xuzhou, eastern China. The environment-related and crime-related perceived safety of these sites during the daytime and evening were evaluated by 717 participants who were invited through a snowballing method. The value of overall perceived safety was decided by the mean score of the two types of perceived safety. The main results include: (1) good maintenance of vegetation, open view, low locomotive accessibility of water, and more aquatic plants can predict a higher overall perceived safety during the daytime; (2) higher illumination and lighting sources in the distance of vision indicate a higher overall perceived safety during the evening; (3) females are more worried about the crime-related perceived safety than males during the daytime or evening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is aimed at the variability of historical landscape elements on the territory of the selected extinct settlements, to classify and to evaluate their development in the context of changes in anthropic pressure between the years 1945 and 2022, focusing on the Moravian-Silesian Region. The article presents a methodology for identifying physically extinct settlements and historical landscape elements by using statistical data, historical and current maps and field verification. Territorial dispersion and classification according to cases of the extinction, and according to individual landscape elements are elaborated. Research has confirmed a link between the cause of the settlement’s demise: the expulsion of German residents and proximity to the state border, a military training area, the construction of water reservoirs, mining and development projects, and surviving groups of historical landscape elements. The results can serve as a methodology for research in other areas. On a practical level, they can be used for landscape planning, territorial dispersion of tourism, and educational purposes.

Superior geographical location and profound cultural accumulation create a unique natural and humanistic environment for administrative place names, which is of great significance to explore the relationship between place names and geographical environment, and the role of place names and the relationship between people and land. In this paper, from the perspective of geography, the etymological types of administrative place names are sorted out and analysed, and the natural environment elements such as climate, topography, hydrology, biology and soil constitute the entirety of the geographical environment. The landscape pattern classification system is established according to the dominant factors, combining the topographical and human factors and the relationship between topographical and landform. The geographical environment factors of administrative place names are mainly divided into natural geographical factors and human geographical factors. Based on the scale principle of landscape ecological classification theory, combined with qualitative and quantitative analysis of information entropy, decomposition classification and aggregation classification are adopted. Finally, the digital information processing technology was used to integrate and process the data, and the spatial analysis module of Arc GIS was used to classify the quantitative value of the index of place name density and analyse the landscape features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Agricultural intensification causes a generalized land use pattern. • The new (2023–2027) CAP and the EU Green Deal support biodiversity preservation. • Small woody landscape feature (SWLF) restoration can improve biodiversity. • Suitable SWLF preservation/restoration areas were detected with GIS-based modelling. • A SDSS can help bypass existing gaps in SWLF-targeted CAP measure implementation. Years of agricultural intensification across Europe's plains, valleys and hills had left behind a more or less generalized land use pattern dominated by profitable land cover types. Small landscape features with no direct (financial) benefit to the farmer, have been, in many cases, removed and converted to arable land. This study investigates the possibilities to integrate small woody landscape features (SWLF) into the new (2023–2027) CAP measures, which are in conjunction with the EU Green Deal ambitions and support biodiversity preservation in agroecosystems. A spatial SWLF preservation/restoration algorithm, based on the most recent European (SWF2018) and improved national level (SWLF2015) status databases, was developed and then applied to identify priority SWLF management regions and areas in Slovenia. In addition, a self-standing (LPIS independent) information, monitoring and decision support system has been designed for a target priority area (Goričko) in different spatial scales (from regional, 1 km, 300 m, AH to parcel level) to bypass existing gaps in SWLF-targeted CAP measure implementation strategies in Slovenia. Such results are urgently needed across all European countries to easier, faster and better realize CAP national strategic plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerobic biodegradation of biomass can release considerable heat, reaching temperatures of up to 65 °C. This heat can be recovered and used for domestic purposes through the implementation of Compost Heat Recovery System (CHRS). In this study, data were collected from a full-scale CHRS, fed with tree-pruning residues, installed in a farmhouse located in Northern Italy. The CHRS (2.75 kW average heating power) worked in conjunction with a pellet combustor for one year.Energy and carbon balances were analyzed and compared (over a 15-year life-time) with combinations of alternative heating systems (both traditional and green ones). The real case study provided a heat supply at a competitive cost (0.087 € kWh−1). A scenario with two CHRSs would further decrease costs (0.074 € kWh−1). In terms of the carbon balance, a CHRS can save up to 0.252 kgCO2-eq kWh−1 of energy produced, compared to a fossil-fuel alternative (natural-gas), while promoting carbon storage for around 0.05 kgCO2-eq kWh−1 in agricultural soils by compost amendment. Over a 15-year period, each module can potentially substitute fossil-derived heat for around 264 MgCO2-eq, while increasing soil carbon pool by around 20 MgCO2-eq, as C-stock calculated on a medium-term scenario (100-years).CHRSs have great potential to furnish renewable heat at competitive prices, while providing other ecosystem services, such as carbon storage and nutrients cycling to soil. Economic valorization of tree-pruning residues could also be an incentive for the implementation of agroforestry practices and landscape features. Further studies are needed in this relatively unexplored field, which might be of interest in the context of EU regulatory frameworks such as the EU Directive 2018/2001 and the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2021 – 2027.

Protohistoric place names, created before written history and related to extinct languages, are analysed in this article. Our case study deals with place names of current towns (over 20,000 inhabitants) in the Spanish region of València. Linguistics is needed when dealing with the origin of an opaque protohistoric place name, but observation of landscape features is crucial when finding or choosing the most plausible origin of a place name if there is more than one theory. Protohistoric names are thus interpreted in this article from two perspectives: landscape feature observation and philology. This multimethod analysis produces more reliable results. The main results reveal that protohistoric town names in our case study derive from natural features of landscape, while historic town names refer mainly to cultural features of landscape. Place names are one of the most valuable sources available to explain the concerns of protohistoric peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While groundwater recharge is considered fundamental to hydrogeological insights and basin management, only relatively little attention has been paid to its spatial distribution. And in ungauged catchments it has rarely been quantified, especially on the catchment scale. For the first time, this study attempts such analysis, in a previously ungauged basin. Our work based on field data of several soil moisture stations, which represent five geological formations of karst rock in Wadi Natuf, a semiarid to sub-humid Mediterranean catchment in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. For that purpose, recharge was conceptualized as deep percolation from soil moisture under saturation excess conditions, which had been modelled parsimoniously and separately with different formation-specific recharge rates. For the regionalisation, inductive methods of empirical field-measurements and observations were combined with deductive approaches of extrapolation, following the recommendations for hydrological Prediction in Ungauged Basins (PUB), by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS). Our results show an average annual recharge estimation in Wadi Natuf Catchment (103 km2), ranging from 24 to 28 Mm3/yr, equivalent to recharge coefficients (RC) of 39-46% of average annual precipitation. Thus, for the first time, formation-specific RC-values could be derived, assessed and quantified in their spatial distribution, and by creating a schematic conceptual basin classification framework for regionalisation that is also applicable in many comparable sedimentary basins in the Mediterranean and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmia caerulescens is a generalist solitary bee well‐adapted to altered anthropogenic environments, and the kleptoparasitic wasp Sapyga quinquepunctata has been cited among its natural enemies.We analysed offspring characteristics of O. caerulescens and S. quinquepunctata, at population and individual levels, and compared these characteristics between sunny and shady aspects and between two zones within the valley that differed in landscape complexity (simple and complex zones).The offspring production of O. caerulescens was higher in sunny aspect at population and individual levels while S. quinquepunctata was positively associated with the zone with a lower proportion of agricultural land (complex zone). We did not detect a relationship between number of brood cells parasitised and number of brood cells established by host. Despite the parasitism being higher in the area with favourable characteristics for both species, the reproductive success of O. caerulescens did not show signs of reduction. At the individual level, nests with fewer brood cells were more likely to be parasitised.Studying the relationship of environmental factors and landscape features at population and individual levels provides a better understanding of how these characteristics could be driving the offspring production of the solitary bee and their ecological interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, pocket green spaces (PGS), i.e., small green spaces, have attracted growing attention for their various ecological and social services. As a crucial part of urban green spaces in high-density urban areas, PGS facilitates recreation and relaxation for neighborhoods and thus improves the livability of cities at the local scale. However, whether and how the PGS cools the urban heat island effect is still unclear. This research was performed in the highly developed areas of the city of Shanghai during hot summer daytime. We applied a set of cooling effect indicators to estimate the cooling extent, cooling intensity, and cooling efficiency of PGS. We further examined whether and how landscape features within and surrounding the PGS influence its cooling effects. The results showed that 90% of PGS are cooler than their surroundings. Among the landscape features, the land surface temperature of PGS logarithmically decreased with its area, and the maximum local cool island intensity and maximum cooling area logarithmically increased with the area of PGS. The vegetation types and their composition within the PGS also influenced their surface temperature and the cooling effect. The PGS dominated by tree-shrub-grass showed the highest cooling efficiency. The surrounding landscape patterns, especially the patch density and the landscape shape index, influence the cooling effect of PGS at both class and landscape levels. These findings add new knowledge on factors influencing the cooling effect of PGS, and provide the biophysical theoretical basis for developing nature-based cooling strategies for urban landscape designers and planners.

Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) are widely distributed throughout the Americas, being dependent on forested areas to survive. Although ocelot ecology is broadly studied throughout the species range distribution, studies concerning factors that may affect ocelot occupancy in the Atlantic Forest are still scarce. We used camera traps to evaluate factors influencing the probabilities of detection and occupancy of ocelots in a protected area of the Atlantic Forest, the Rio Doce State Park (RDSP), southeastern Brazil. To assess ocelot occupancy and detection probabilities, we measured the distances between sampling stations and rivers, lakes, cities, pasture, and Eucalyptus plantations. In addition, we recorded the mean rainfall levels for each sampling occasion, and native grassland areas within a 500 m‐buffer around each sampling station. We found a strong and positive association between ocelot detection and the dry season, which might be due to a higher number of individuals moving through the Park during this season. Moreover, we found a strong and positive association of ocelot detection with native grassland areas around lakes, which may be related to the ocelot behavior of searching for prey in these areas. Conversely, the ocelot occupancy probability was intermediate (Ψ^ = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36–0.69) and was not strongly associated with the evaluated covariates, which may be explained by the high‐quality of forest habitats and water resources that are homogeneously distributed within the Park. Our study indicates that the RDSP still provides a structurally suitable forest habitat for ocelots, but because of the current worrying scenario of over fragmentation, reduction of forest cover, and weakness of the protective legislation of this biome, the long‐term persistence of the species in RDSP is uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In hyperspectral image classification, the foremost task is that: how can we apply limited labeled samples to achieve good classification results? Spatial-spectral classification methods, which assign a label to each pixel regarding both spatial and spectral information, are effective to improve classification performance. Moreover, semisupervised learning (SSL) focuses on the scenario that the number of labeled data is rather small while a large number of unlabeled data are available. To complement spatial-spectral classification methods and semisupervised learning for each other, we propose a novel learning landscape features semisupervised framework (LLFSF) based on M-training algorithm and weighted spatial-spectral double layer SVM classifiers module (WSS-DSVM). In this novel framework, we first propose a SLIC (simple linear iterative clustering) based non-local superpixel segmentation algorithm to initially learn landscape feature and spatial composition. Then, we apply WSS-DSVM module to obtain initial classification maps. To better characterize complex scenes of hyperspectral images, we quantizes both the landscape diversity and separability from the initial classification map, which increase availability of spatial details and structural information of objects. Finally, we put some patches with lower accuracy into Multiple-training algorithm for further classification. In order to achieve an unbiased evaluation, we have evaluated the performance of LLFSF on three different scene hyperspectral data sets and compare it with that of three state-of-the-art hyperspectral image classification methods. The experimental results confirm the efficacy of the proposed framework.

By taking a small-scale perspective, Bedouin pastoral space in the Israeli Negev in the modern period has been misinterpreted as chaotic by various Israeli institutions. In critiquing this ontology we suggest that a knowledge gap with regard to an appropriate scale of understanding Bedouin settlement patterns and mechanisms of sedentarisation is at its root, and that a larger-scale analysis indicates that their space is in fact highly ordered. Field surveys and interviews with the local Bedouin showed that household cultivation plots in the Negev Highland during the period of the British Mandate were organised at a large scale through natural and man-made landscape features reflecting their structure, development and deployment in a highly ordered space. This analysis carries significant implications for understanding pastoral spaces at the local scale, particularly offering better comprehension of various sedentary forms and suggesting new approaches to sustainable planning and development for the Bedouin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat use by cervids can have large effects on vegetation. Therefore, factors influencing habitat use are pertinent to ecology, nature conservation as well as management of forests and hunting. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing habitat use by red and roe deer, Cervus elaphus and Capreolus capreolus, in the Lüneburger Heide, Germany. We used faecal pellet counts as an indicator of habitat use and applied generalized linear models to conclude that habitat use by both cervids was largely explained by the availability of food plants. In particular, the occurrence of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and deciduous trees such as beeches Fagus sylvatica were of major importance. Nonetheless, red and roe deer showed preferences for different plant species, but for both deer, the presence of large trees and conifers, with exception of young Norway spruce Picea abies providing shelter for roe deer, was less attractive. Furthermore, the proximity of mineral licks was important for both cervids. Relative to roe deer, red deer showed a stronger avoidance of well-used paths. Surprisingly, landscape features such as distance to settlements and elevated hunting standshad no significant effect. Our study demonstrates similarities and differences in habitat use of two important herbivores of the Northern temperate forests. We propose that managers establish 'decoy' sites for deer: areas with a high proportion of ground vegetation and young trees of lower forestry value. This will serve to divert deer from valuable trees and thereby enhance biodiversity. These open stands could be interspersed with dense islands of young coniferous trees to offer shelter and should be distant to frequently used pathways. Mineral licks may help enhance use of these sites. Providing an attractive resource for both species of cervids is the best way to manage large herbivores in economically valuable forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]