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Carcass scavenging by vertebrates is a critical ecosystem service that is influenced by environmental factors such as season and habitat. However, there is limited understanding of the role that these factors play in shaping scavenging patterns across different bioregions. We used camera traps to monitor vertebrate scavengers at 120 kangaroo (Family: Macropodidae) carcasses that were positioned across different seasons (warm/cool) and habitats (open/closed canopy) in three disparate desert, subalpine and temperate bioregions in Australia. Our survey identified 27 species that scavenged carcasses and revealed clear differences in scavenging patterns across the three bioregions. Carcass use was highest for feral cats, birds of prey, corvids and red foxes in the desert bioregion; for reptiles and dingoes in the temperate bioregion and for feral pigs, possums and dingoes in the subalpine bioregion. Bioregional differences in scavenger guild composition explained >4.6 times more variation in scavenger guild dissimilarity than season and >9.8 times more variation than habitat. Further, habitat had few effects on scavenger communities or carcass detection and use, whereas season was a strong predictor of these responses. Across bioregions, there were some general seasonal and habitat scavenging trends, with mammals and birds often using carcasses more frequently in cooler seasons and birds detecting carcasses faster in open habitat. However, there was also extensive within‐bioregion seasonal variation. For example, depending on bioregion, some animals scavenged more frequently or detected carcasses faster in warmer seasons (i.e. birds and reptiles). Our results show that vertebrate scavenging is mediated by a complex interplay of environmental variables, especially seasonality, which may operate differently across bioregions. These findings have implications for understanding variability in vertebrate scavenging patterns and, in turn, functionally redundant or complementary scavenging processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tracce Urbane: Rivista Italiana Transdisciplinare di Studi Urbani is the property of Sapienza University Press 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.)

The objective determination of boundaries of bioregions is a nontrivial problem. Here we present a new method family, HespDiv, and an algorithm for its implementation in a new R package: hespdiv. The hespdiv algorithm performs iterative hierarchical nonlinear spatial subdivisions of taxic data into topologically contiguous geographic regions. Bioregions obtained in this way can be viewed as realistic and causally important entities belonging to eco‐genealogical Bretskyan hierarchy. The possibilities of the hespdiv algorithm are successfully demonstrated on the Miocene mammal data from the contiguous United States, where a hierarchical set of bioregions was determined. The algorithm works in a decision‐tree‐like manner by generating multiple split‐lines, that each subdivide a study area and data into two parts per iteration per region. The performance of each split‐line is measured using a combination of data generalization and comparison functions that can be custom made or selected from pre‐set subdivision methods. In each iteration, the best split‐line is used to produce a subdivision, until no more adequate split‐lines are found. The process results in a hierarchy of subdivisions of distribution of taxonomic occurrences in space. Benefits of hespdiv include the delineation of spatially contiguous clusters, flexibility, and unique representations of spatial hierarchy tree. The package is shown to be effective in determining significant contiguous spatial structures of biota, so called geobiomes, in sufficiently sampled time intervals and regions. The flexibility and ease to use of the approach allows its application to the whole range of palaeo‐variables and environmental proxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, small and medium-sized cities (SMSCs) face significant challenges related to climate change and environmental degradation. In France, recent governmental measures have sought to accelerate the ecological transition (ET) across its national territory, aiming to meet carbon reduction targets and preserve biodiversity. Since the pandemic, SMSCs have been at the forefront of this ET policy, benefiting from support programmes designed to revitalise neglected city centres. However, several studies have already highlighted that, despite being “tailored” to the specificities of each beneficiary city, these programmes are largely inspired by metropolitan models focused on economic growth and territorial competitiveness. This article aims to highlight that the ET directives applied to SMSCs also derive from practices in larger cities, embodying an “institutionalised” conception of ecology as part of broader attractiveness strategies. An investigation conducted in 2021 in Rochefort (France) demonstrates that ET policies are often utilised as tools for enhancing territorial attractiveness, akin to promoting city tourism and industrial development. Using a mixed-method approach that includes semi-structured interviews and mapping workshops, we will analyse the representations and aspirations of inhabitants regarding the future of their living environment. This will help them envision an ecologically sustainable and socially viable trajectory for their city and ascertain whether it differs from ET policies. The objective of this research is to identify alternative action levers beyond national directives for SMSCs concerning ET, distinguishing them by their unique trajectories, thus revealing other comparative advantages, notably their size and scale as primary ecological indicators.

Extractive capitalism threatens biocultural diversity through the erosion of identity in the Anthropocene. The coastal community of Ketchikan, Alaska, while remote, contends with overtourism and economic dependence on the multinational conglomerate mass cruise industry. Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 lockdown temporarily removed 'the company' from the company town identity of Ketchikan. This provided unique research insights into social-ecological impacts and bioregional resilience. Residents of Ketchikan's greater bioregion provided empirical insights into the industrialization of identity and perceived biocultural impacts through qualitative, semi-structured interviews. This research extends place identity by applying critical ecofeminist-posthumanistic epistemologies that analyze the structural power components of biocultural identities. The findings offer a critical biocultural identity framework comprising nine indicators that serve to substantiate emotions, affect, and sensoryscapes as subjugated knowledges while critiquing the capitalistic colonization of materialisms and the psyche. Future interventions incorporating this framework may inform social science strategies for the conservation of biocultural identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concepts of green infrastructures, nature-based solutions and ecosystem services are today considered an integral part of the broader theme of the urban bioregion, with an intrinsic character of complexity. It is certainly difficult to structure bioregional processes in a balanced and sustainable way, able to keep local energy production and consumption cycles closed. It is a complex issue of knowledge bases, and problems are increased by the participatory dimension of environmental planning. In fact, when rational planning models have failed in the face of prominent individual needs and environmental complexity, a path has emerged towards the inclusion of multiple citizens' and stakeholders' knowledge. The cognitive structure of the plans has thus changed from systems of exclusively expert, formal knowledge to systems of diffused, multi-agent knowledge. This has involved richness but also significant problems in understanding and managing knowledge bases. In this complexity, there are some common peculiarities when it comes to socio-environmental systems. A common feature of the reference domains of ecosystem services, nature-based solutions and green infrastructures is the water resource. A management model of hydrological data, which are structurally relevant and cross-sectoral in environmental planning actions, could represent a flagship initiative. The used approach could be conveyed to more complex and extensive areas of the environmental domain in a perspective of sustainable planning. The present paper is part of a research work oriented toward handling complex environmental subjects, such as green infrastructures, nature-based solutions or ecosystem services, with a knowledge modelling approach. This approach is based on semantic extensions, elaborated form the concept of semantic web, to allow shared interpretations of knowledge coming from different languages and scientific domains. It is also based on using applied ontologies, elaborated from the concept of ontology-based classification, to support a structured organization of knowledge contents. The main research objective is therefore to investigate about a knowledge management system with semantic extensions, populated with hydrological knowledge contents, as well as to propose a preliminary functional architecture. A simple ontology of data is extracted, aiming at clarifying and improving inter-domain communication, so as to enhance a common semantic understanding in a complex environmental system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves Bioregion, located on the glaciated continental shelf and adjacent continental slope of eastern Canada, is classified into units that reflect its great physiographic diversity. There are ten shelf units: bedrock zone, fjord systems, major inlet, shelf-crossing troughs, four types of offshore banks, basin, and disturbed (glaciotectonic) terrain. There are three units on the continental slope: channelized areas, trough-mouth areas, and large sedimentary drifts. A series of vignettes illustrates both the distinguishing characteristics of the principal geomorphic units and the morphologic diversity within them. A sediment mobility analysis reveals that wave- and current-generated disturbances are dominant and largely depth-controlled within the shelf units, while the south-flowing Labrador Current impacts sediment transport and mobility along the continental slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Zealand is introducing new legislation aimed at improving both developmental and environmental outcomes. Objectives include protecting and where required restoring ecological integrity, using environmental limits and targets, as well as improving long-term planning processes. This will contribute to protecting and enhancing biodiversity values, and offers greater opportunities to identify and potentially achieve long-term environmental goals. However, reliance on the mitigation hierarchy and a lack of clarity over what ecological integrity means in practice is likely to result in continuing net decline in natural environment values. The proposed legislation could be improved by distinguishing between ecological health and integrity as part of bioregional and ecoregional planning, and requiring net gains in health and integrity to be primary legislative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In European countries many measures are carried out to improve the disadvantaged conditions and socio-economic marginality of rural areas in comparison with central places. These conditions also affect the quality of travel for visitors and tourists. Therefore, in response to a 'new' tourist demand, motivated also by the restrictions following the spread of the COVID-19 virus in recent years, the institutions and the different local actors are working more incisively to improve rural areas. The rural tourism services offer, combined with the Green Infrastructure (GI) project, at different scales—from local to regional—interesting territorial development strategies to achieve the Agenda 2030 objectives. This contribution considers the Sulcis-Iglesiente-Guspinese area, in the Sardinia Region (IT), as a case study. In this area, the landscape context is marked by past mining activity, and the project of a path of historical, cultural, and religious values has proven to be an activator of regenerative processes, in environmental, social, and economic terms. The present study proposes a methodological approach to develop an index (FI—feasibility index) to assess the feasibility of the Stop Places (SPs) project along a horse trail to integrate the current slow mobility of bicycles and pedestrians in the bioregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Polcevera Valley historically represents a fundamental link between the central Ligurian Sea and the Po Valley. In the short century of the economic-industrial transition, this area experienced one of the most intense industrialization and urbanization processes at the national level, becoming the site of wide productive compounds linked to newly formed workers’ quarters. After the tragic collapse of the Morandi Bridge (2018), and as a consequence of a de-industrialisation process underway for at least three decades, the unsustainability of the industrial and urban-centric settlement model and the need to rethink its urban structure according to new resilient approaches became evident. The paper explores the potential deriving from a reconsideration of the Valley settlement model based on bioregional principles. Rethinking the valley territory, starting from its historically resilient and metabolic connotation, allows us to build an interpretation of the urban area focused on the common governance of resources, where hilly areas, green/blue networks and brownfield spaces could acquire a key role in supplying ecosystem services and urban welfare and foster a new urban economy. Bioregional transformation scenarios could at the same time be the basis for reformulating hypotheses of reuse and regeneration of long-term territorial heritage which tend to be ignored today.

In the transition from sustainability to self-sustainability, which corresponds to the revision of the notion of environment in the direction of the concept of territory, it is possible to highlight the epistemological turning point of eco-territorial proposal. The environmental and ecological issue requires a holistic consideration, in the synthesis between theory and practice, capable of reaffirming a new subjectivity of the territory within the framework of an 'other' development compared to the dominant neoliberal model. 'Return to the territory' and 'place awareness' are welded together for a territorial ecology, not simply defensive, which questions in depth the generative rules of the relationship between man and territory in order to restore place-based social, cultural and economic forms of life.

Hydro-geological and climatic emergencies highlight the crisis of the environmental system by marking reactions so deferred in time that the man in the street cannot perceive their social convenience. Starting from an ecological interpretation of history, the paper addresses the problem of redefining ethical content of environmental conservation and development strategies following each other in response to emergencies, suggesting a reflection on which utopian visions and real territories are those where the preconditions of environmental balance could still be re-established. If spatial policies affect the environment and the quality of life, as well as land use conditions are crucial in reducing or accentuating intensity, frequency and duration of extreme events, it is equally important to develop a land ethic of the earth making everyone capable to perceive themselves as part of the biota, the ensemble of organisms that occupy a given area in an ecosystem. Rediscovering the importance of roots and cooperating with our biotic community is the crucial step to transform a merely utopian planning into a new eco-territorialist vision, starting at the local scale what is so hard to achieve at the global one.

Copyright of Scienze del Territorio is the property of Firenze University Press 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 Scienze del Territorio is the property of Firenze University Press 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 Scienze del Territorio is the property of Firenze University Press 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 Eutopía: Revista de Desarrollo Económico Territorial is the property of Eutopia: Revista de Desarrollo Economico Territorial 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.)

In order to understand mammalian evolution and compute a wide range of biodiversity indices, we commonly use the 'bioregion', a spatial division adapted to ecological and evolutionary constraints. While commonly conducted by neontologists, the establishment of bioregions in palaeontology is generally a secondary analysis, shaped on subjective time scales and areas specific to the investigated questions and groups. This heterogeneity, coupled with the scale‐dependency of biodiversity indices, prevents the clear identification of macroecological and macroevolutionary trends for large taxonomic groups like extinct mammals. Here we tackle this issue by providing a coherent framework for Neogene and Pleistocene mammals of the Old World following two steps: (1) a temporal scale adapted to mammalian evolutionary history (i.e. evolutionary fauna) is defined by poly‐cohort analysis; (2) bioregions are then computed for each evolutionary fauna by clustering, ordination and intermediate approaches at multiples spatial scales (i.e. continental to regional) for Eurasia and Africa. Additionally, providing a coherent framework for a wide range of mammalian datasets, our results show: (1) the synchronous emergence and fall of five mammalian evolutionary faunas identified at chronological scales varying from the epoch to the geological stage; (2) a transition from a longitudinal to a latitudinal biogeographical structuring between the Miocene and Pliocene, especially in Europe; (3) the long‐term affinity of southern Asian with African faunas, in sharp contrast with the modern Palaearctic bioregion extension; and (4) the establishment of a vast Mediterranean bioregion from fragmented areas in the Late Miocene to its full extent in the Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global-scale conservation initiatives and policy instruments rely on ecosystem indicators to track progress towards targets and objectives. A deeper understanding of indicator interrelationships would benefit these efforts and help characterize ecosystem status. We study interrelationships among 34 indicators for mangroves, saltmarsh, and seagrass ecosystems, and develop data-driven, spatially explicit typologies of coastal wetland status at a global scale. After accounting for environmental covariates and gap-filling missing data, we obtained two levels of clustering at 5 and 18 typologies, providing outputs at different scales for different end users. We generated 2,845 cells (1° (lat) × 1° (long)) globally, of which 29.7% were characterized by high land- and marine-based impacts and a high proportion of threatened species, 13.5% by high climate-based impacts, and 9.6% were refuges with lower impacts, high fish density and a low proportion of threatened species. We identify instances where specific actions could have positive outcomes for coastal wetlands across regions facing similar issues. For example, land- and marine-based threats to coastal wetlands were associated with ecological structure and function indicators, suggesting that reducing these threats may reduce habitat degradation and threats to species persistence. However, several interdimensional relationships might be affected by temporal or spatial mismatches in data. Weak relationships mean that global biodiversity maps that categorize areas by single indicators (such as threats or trends in habitat size) may not be representative of changes in other indicators (e.g., ecosystem function). By simplifying the complex global mosaic of coastal wetland status and identifying regions with similar issues that could benefit from knowledge exchange across national boundaries, we help set the scene for globally and regionally coordinated conservation.

Malaysia is recognized as a megadiverse country and biodiversity hotspot which necessitates sufficient levels of habitat protection and effective conservation management. However, conservation planning in Malaysia has hitherto relied largely on species distribution data without taking into account the rich evolutionary history of taxa. This represents the first study that integrates spatial and evolutionary approaches to identify important centers of diversity, endemism, and bioregionalization that can be earmarked for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia. Using georeferenced species occurrences, comprehensive phylogenies, and threat assessments of frogs and lizards, we employed a spatial phylogenetics framework that incorporates various diversity metrics including weighted endemism, phylogenetic diversity, phylogenetic endemism, and evolutionary distinctiveness and global endangerment. Ten areas of high conservation value were identified via the intersection of these metrics—northern Perlis, Langkawi Geopark, southern Bintang range, Cameron Highlands, Fraser’s Hill, Benom-Krau complex, Selangor-Genting complex, Endau-Rompin National Park, Seribuat Archipelago (Tioman and Pemanggil Islands), and southern Johor. Of these, Cameron Highlands requires the highest conservation priority based on the high numbers of endangered and evolutionary distinct species coupled with severe environmental degradation and inadequately protected areas. Other areas, especially in the northwestern (states of Kedah and Penang) and northeastern regions (state of Kelantan) were not only identified as areas of high conservation value but also areas of biogeographic importance. Taken together, frogs and lizards demonstrate distinct east-west and north-south patterns of bioregionalization that are largely modulated by mountain ranges.

Aim: Worldwide distribution patterns of living animals are structured in multiple zoogeographical regions, characterized by faunas with homogeneous composition that are separated by sharp boundaries. These zoogeographical regions can differ depending on the considered animal group, probably because they have distinct characteristics such as dispersal, metabolism, or evolutionary history, and thus divergent responses to major biogeographical drivers, such as tectonic movements, abrupt climate transitions and orographic barriers. Here, we tested if the drivers of biogeographical boundaries are different between vertebrate classes with strongly divergent traits and evolutionary history. Location: Global. Time period: Present. Major taxa studied: Amphibians, birds and mammals. Methods: We focused on terrestrial biogeographical boundaries, considering multiple potential drivers: spatial heterogeneity of present‐day climate, altitudinal variation, long‐term tectonic movements and past climate change (temperature). We used spatially explicit regression models and geographically weighted regressions to select and quantify the factors explaining the position of the biogeographical boundaries between vertebrate classes. Results: For mammals, tectonic movements, abrupt climatic transitions and orographic barriers jointly determined extant biogeographical boundaries, with tectonic movements being the most important. For birds, abrupt climatic transitions played the strongest role, while the effect of orographic barriers was weak. For amphibians, biogeographical boundaries mostly corresponded to areas with abrupt climatic transitions. The strongest transitions of amphibian faunas occur in areas with abrupt shifts of temperature and precipitation regimes. Main conclusions: Our analyses confirmed that different drivers have jointly shaped the global vertebrate biogeographical regions, and highlight that taxa with different features show heterogeneous responses across the globe. Eco‐physiological constraints likely increase the importance of spatial heterogeneity of climate, while dispersal limitations magnify the relevance of physical barriers (mountain chains and long‐term tectonic instability). Integrating among‐taxa heterogeneity into analyses thus provides a more complete view of how different processes determine biodiversity variation across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately assessing community diversity patterns across distributional ranges is critically important for informed and effective management of ecological communities. Yet, for many wide‐ranging communities diversity patterns across broad ranges are poorly known. We apply a range of analytical approaches to an extensively studied ecological community to determine the relative utility and complementarity of these analytical approaches and their applicability for improved management. White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland (herein abbreviated to BGW) occurs across seven bioregions in New South Wales, eastern Australia. Previous work has suggested either small levels of regional variation in floristic patterns or, contrastingly, up to ~80 variants determined by expert‐driven assessment. We undertook floristic survey and analysed floristic patterns using multivariate dispersion, diversity metrics (alpha (α) diversity, beta (β) diversity, gamma (γ) diversity and zeta (ζ) diversity; including assessments of β turnover and nestedness and higher order ζ diversity). Expert‐derived BGW variants were not clearly related to patterns of floristic variation. In this study, multivariate interactions were critical to identifying patterns of floristic variation. ζ diversity provided insights into bioregional variation not detected via other analytics and was more robust to unbalanced data than β diversity. However, β diversity provided important insights, detecting changing community patterns within a bioregion that would otherwise not be detected and allowing for some comparison of our results with other studies. This study highlights the value of applying multiple analytical approaches to the understanding of floristic patterns. Conservation of floristic diversity in BGW requires protection and management across its range, something which has not previously been adequately addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass meadows rank among the most significant organic carbon (Corg) sinks on earth. We examined the variability in seagrass soil Corg stocks and composition across Australia and identified the main drivers of variability, applying a spatially hierarchical approach that incorporates bioregions and geomorphic settings. Top 30 cm soil Corg stocks were similar across bioregions and geomorphic settings (min‐max: 20–26 Mg Corg ha−1), but meadows formed by large species (i.e., Amphibolis spp. and Posidonia spp.) showed higher stocks (24–29 Mg Corg ha−1) than those formed by smaller species (e.g., Halodule, Halophila, Ruppia, Zostera, Cymodocea, and Syringodium; 12–21 Mg Corg ha−1). In temperate coastal meadows dominated by large species, soil Corg stocks mainly derived from seagrass Corg (72 ± 2%), while allochthonous Corg dominated soil Corg stocks in meadows formed by small species in temperate and tropical estuarine meadows (64 ± 5%). In temperate coastal meadows, soil Corg stocks were enhanced by low hydrodynamic exposure associated with high mud and seagrass Corg contents. In temperate estuarine meadows, soil Corg stocks were enhanced by high contributions of seagrass Corg, low to moderate solar radiation, and low human pressure. In tropical estuarine meadows formed by small species, large soil Corg stocks were mainly associated with low hydrodynamic energy, low rainfall, and high solar radiation. These results showcase that bioregion and geomorphic setting are not necessarily good predictors of soil Corg stocks and that site‐specific estimates based on local environmental factors are needed for Blue Carbon projects and greenhouse gases accounting purposes. Key Points: Australian seagrasses contain higher soil organic carbon stocks than adjacent unvegetated areas due to higher seagrass inputsSeagrass soil carbon stocks are similar over bioregions and geomorphic settings but higher in larger species compared to smaller speciesFactors determining seagrass soil carbon stocks differ across bioregions and coastal geomorphic settings within bioregions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different assemblages of intertidal biota may be associated with the hardness of the rock type that comprises the seashore. However, very few published studies have investigated mobile and sessile assemblage differences between hardness classes. To remedy this, we investigated the physical attributes and biotic assemblages of 12 rock platforms across two bioregions, encompassing seven rock types categorised into either the soft (≤4 using Moh's scale of scratch hardness) or hard (>4 on Moh's scale) classes. Rock types from the soft versus hard classes differed physically, but the biotic assemblages showed few general differences between hardness classes. Instead, most biotic differences associated with rock hardness were specific to just one of the marine bioregions sampled, not both. Hardness‐related assemblage differences were only weakly‐to‐moderately correlated with hardness differences in mineralogy or microhabitat density. The detection of bioregion‐specific hardness differences for intertidal assemblages, rather than general hardness class trends, indicate that the type of rock comprising the seashore in each bioregion may be more strongly associated with the biotic patterns identified than hardness per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is aimed at researching the European experience of institutional support for the development of knowledge-based bioeconomy, as well as identifying the factors contributing to formation of bioclusters and bioregions. The knowledge-based bioeconomy is a transformation of the knowledge of life sciences into new, stable, ecological and competitive products. In terms of efficiency, the knowledge-based bioeconomy represents the stable management, production, and use of renewable biological resources, based on knowledge of life sciences and biotechnology. The following activities are proposed to support the development of knowledge-based bioeconomy: improvement of cluster policy; development of the transnational cluster cooperation; support for existing clusters; facilitating the integration of innovative small and medium-sized firms into clusters. Criteria of formation of the structure of biocluster have been defined as follows: quality of research and advanced development, which will be carried out within cluster; quality of education in the relevant industries; dynamics of creation of new and innovative firms in region; attraction of regional innovation potential, internationally known scientists, and also foreign investments; availability of regional tools to support innovation; demand on the part of public sector.

Sound claws are essential for beef cattle, given the marked influence they have on functional longevity and subsequent performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate morphological and physiological claw characteristics of Bonsmara SA beef cattle in the major bioregions of South Africa. Normal claws of 89 Bonsmara stud animals were collected from three bioregions in which Bonsmara cattle are farmed, namely Mesic Highveld Grassland, Eastern Kalahari Bushveld and Central Bushveld bioregions. Most of these claws were from Bonsmara bulls that were slaughtered after completion of a standardized intensive feeding test and a few were from older cows. Lateral toe length (LL), medial toe length (ML), claw circumference, colour coding and tensile strength (TS) were determined on the fore and hind claws and mineral composition only on the fore claws. Multifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) models indicated that bioregion, moisture content, calcium (Ca), selenium (Se) and claw position (fore versus hind claws) had a significant effect (P <0.05) on TS. It is clear that environmental factors need to be considered in the evaluation of claw quality. This research serves as a benchmark for claw traits in the Bonsmara breed. Recording of claw and conformation traits is essential for genetic improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant shortfall in global marine protection targets is likely to continue to drive rapid growth in marine protected areas (MPAs). Systematic conservation planning to fill gaps in marine protection requires sufficient knowledge of both the distribution of biodiversity and the threats to species and ecosystems. Yet such data are lacking for much of the marine environment, creating significant challenges for planning effective marine protection.In the absence of habitat mapping data, critical environmental variables associated with species' distributions can be used to model the spatial distribution of different environments. Although this approach has been used in some jurisdictions to assist MPA planners, the increased availability and resolution of spatial data now provide an opportunity to improve assessments of MPA representation.Capitalizing on advances in spatial data, this study uses a range of biological and physical environmental attributes to model the distribution of Australian marine environments. Given many Australian MPAs were implemented without knowledge of the distribution of species and benthic habitats, this Bio‐physical model is used to assess MPA coverage and equality of protection for Australian marine environments.Results of the Bio‐physical model revealed that Australian MPAs overrepresent warm, offshore waters (such as the Coral Sea) and underrepresent temperate environments. Furthermore, the distribution of protection in Australian MPAs is heavily skewed, with no‐take protection disproportionately targeting tropical environments, leaving major gaps in the protection of both temperate and nearshore habitats.Without comprehensive habitat mapping, the representativeness and adequacy of an MPA system cannot be accurately evaluated, nor can the required expansion of MPAs be planned effectively. In the interim, the biological and physical attributes chosen for this model provide useful proxies to assist in efforts to better target current and future protection based on the most up‐to‐date knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined bacterioplankton abundance and metabolic characteristics in northern San Francisco Bay, California during spring and summer 1996 at three sites: Central Bay, Suisun Bay and the Sacramento River. These sites spanned a salinity gradient from marine to freshwater, and sampling occurred during a period of seasonally declining river flow. The microbial measures included radio-labeled amino acid uptake (L-leucine, L-proline, L-serine), ectoenzyme activity (aminopeptidase and 13-D-glucosidase), and bacterial abundance using lum filters to separate free from particle-associated bacteria. We observed a seasonal decline in all bacterial metabolic measures at all stations, suggesting that a system-wide variable may be important in controlling bacterial activity. One such variable is freshwater flow into the Bay (as a proxy for organic matter flux), which positively covaried with all metabolic measures. We also observed a sharp decline in particle-associated bacteria in Suisun Bay and the Sacramento River between July and August. This may be due to combined effects of declining nutritive value of the aging particles, and increasing grazing pressure by benthic filter feeders. Aminopeptidase activity was positively related to increasing salinity and 13-D-glucosidase was negatively related to increasing salinity, indicating a gradient in the relative quality of organic matter from carbohydrate-rich riverine to protein-rich oceanic materiaL Overall, Suisun Bay had the highest proportion of particle-associated bacteria (avg. 49%), followed by Sacramento River (avg, 36%) and Central Bay (avg. 11%), Particles were the sites of enhanced ectoenzyme activity, but not amino acid incorporation. Therefore bacteria may be actively dissolving the particulate organic matter but their growth rates are not significantly enhanced on particles.

The bioregionalization of the Devonian fauna in southwest Gondwana has been extensively studied, focusing on the occurrences of brachiopods and trilobites, however, little attention has been given to Conulariids. The main goal of this paper is to propose a bioregionalization for the Conulariids (Conularia albertensis , C. quichua , C. sp., Paraconularia africana , P. ulrichana , and Reticulaconularia baini) from the Lower-Middle Devonian in southwest Gondwana. After a clustering analysis and diversity tests we have identified two distinct bioregions for Conulariids: the Amazon and southwest Gondwana, in the Amazon region the diversity is low, and can be attributed to scarcity of palaeontological data on the area. On the other hand, in the southwest Gondwana bioregion, diversity ranges from moderate to relatively high, which helps define a second-order bioregion, the Andeo-South Africa and Interior Gondwana. The first includes areas where diversity has higher values bordering southwest Gondwana (Bolivian Chaco-Peru, Zorritas-NOA-South Bolivia, South Africa and Malvinas areas). Further, in the Interior Gondwana bioregion are the Parnaíba (Parnaíba Basin), Alto Garças (north and northwest of Paraná Basin), Paraná (south of Paraná Basin, Uruguay and Paraguay) areas, where the diversity is slightly lower when compared to the Andeo-South Africa bioregion. • Paleobiogeography of Devonian Conulariids from southwest Gondwana. • During the Devonian, the inland seas of Gondwana hosted similar fauna of Conulariids. • The seas bordering Gondwana had a high diversity of Conulariids during the Devonian. • Cluster analyzes show different bioregions in Gondwana during the Devonian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an area full of resources not fully enhanced, due to an economic model strongly dominated by marble quarrying (unsustainable both for its magnitude and modalities), it is possible to build an alternative if we focus on local heritage. A new development model based on the systematisation, integration and enhancement of heritage resources is now pushed through by the sensibility, vision and initiative of local socioeconomic actors, steadfast in their sense of belonging to the Apuan territory, conscious of the unsustainability of the current economic model and capable of cooperating to make the best use of their territorial capital. The conception of an integrated sustainable development project for the Apuan bioregion is developed along strategic axes and multi-sector actions addressing the issue of local economy reconversion through an integrated perspective, taking also into consideration the necessity of reabsorbing the workforce currently employed in quarrying industry.

The history of organizations and collectives is something alive. It is a network of memories, actions, collaborations, dreams, encounters, and disconnections that live within each of its members. The EcoDialogue Center is an academic space of the University of Veracruz for promoting dialogue between disciplines. In this article we are presenting the stories, both personal and collective, and the values and ideals that create our Center. We are using this opportunity to reflect on the cultural, geographical, emotional, intellectual, and societal conditions that have allowed this innovative process within the rules and customs of a university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Despite progress in recent decades, the conservation management of insects and allied invertebrates in Australia is challenging and remains a formidable task against a background of poor taxonomic and biological knowledge, limited resources (funds and scientific expertise) and a relatively low level of community engagement, education and awareness. In this review, we propose a new, strategic national approach for the conservation of insects and allied invertebrates in Australia to complement and build on existing actions and increase awareness with the general public and government. A review of all species listed under relevant State and Territory Acts, national legislation (EPBC Act) and on international lists (IUCN Red List) indicated that of the 285 species currently listed under these conservation schedules, 10 (3%) are considered extinct, 204 (72%) threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) and 71 (25%) are classified as other (Threatened, Near Threatened, Rare or Least Concern). Comparison of the geographic ranges of listed species in relation to bioregions (IBRA regions) shows a striking discordance in spatial representation across the Australian landscape, reflecting an ad hoc approach to threatened species conservation and the concentration of invertebrate biologists in urban centres of temperate coastal Australia. There is a positive relationship between the number of threatened species and extent of protection according to the National Reserve System within each IBRA region, exemplifying the anomaly in spatial representativeness of listed species. To overcome these shortfalls, we propose a novel educational, regional approach based on selecting, for each of the 89 IBRA regions, a relatively small set of ‘flagship taxa’ (threatened species and/or ‘iconic’ species of high scientific/social value), which are then promoted and/or nominated for listing by the scientific community. Such species could be adopted by local community groups whereby a community‐based regional approach would ensure spatial representativeness of insect conservation across the entire Australian continent. This novel approach may ultimately provide a better strategy for the conservation management of habitats and threatened ecological communities, reducing extinction risk of threatened species and addressing key threatening processes. Members of the Australian entomological community are strongly encouraged to nominate candidate taxa as flagship species for wider promotion and/or listing nationally under the EPBC Act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]