Change detection of land-cover to recommend the future directions of land-use is indispensable for sustainable development and the proper utilization of land resources. In this research, unsupervised classification ma...Change detection of land-cover to recommend the future directions of land-use is indispensable for sustainable development and the proper utilization of land resources. In this research, unsupervised classification maps produced using images of Landsat 8 OLI from 2013 until 2021 (with a 4-year interval) reveal important land-cover changes, along with their drivers, in Kapasia, Bangladesh. Overall, a substantial increase in paddy (24.7% to 27.2%) and urban (3.5% to 10.1%) and a decrease in homestead (67.5% to 59.3%) and forest (4.2% to 3.4%) were observed within the time interval. To direct the land-use towards long-term biodiversity and sustainability of the region, it is important to implement types of agroforestry systems as the observed decrease in homestead and forest areas are alarming. Agroforestry practices will not only have a positive environmental impact but can help diversify food systems, increase economic return and optimize natural resource use.展开更多
Globally,habitat degradation is accelerating,especially in the tropics.Changes to interface habitats can increase environmental overlap among nonhuman primates,people,and domestic animals and change stress levels in w...Globally,habitat degradation is accelerating,especially in the tropics.Changes to interface habitats can increase environmental overlap among nonhuman primates,people,and domestic animals and change stress levels in wildlife,leading to changes in their risk of parasite infections.However,the direction and consequences of these changes are unclear,since animals may benefit by exploiting human resources(e.g.,improving nutritional health by eating nutritious crops)and decreasing susceptibility to infection,or interactions with humans may lead to chronic stress and increased susceptibility to infection.Vervet monkeys are an excellent model to understand parasitic disease transmission because of their tolerance to anthropogenic disturbance.Here we quantify the gastrointestinal parasites of a group of vervet monkeys(Chlorocebus aethiops)near Lake Nabugabo,Uganda,that frequently overlaps with people in their use of a highly modified environment.We compare the parasites found in this population to seven other sites where vervet monkey gastrointestinal parasites have been identified.The vervets of Lake Nabugabo have the greatest richness of parasites documented to date.We discuss how this may reflect differences in sampling intensity or differences in the types of habitat where vervet parasites have been sampled.展开更多
Hydropower production is one of the greatest threats to fluvial ecosystems and freshwater biodiversity.Now that we have entered the Anthropocene,there is an opportunity to reflect on what might constitute a‘sustaina...Hydropower production is one of the greatest threats to fluvial ecosystems and freshwater biodiversity.Now that we have entered the Anthropocene,there is an opportunity to reflect on what might constitute a‘sustainable’Anthropocene in the context of hydropower and riverine fish populations.Considering elements of existing practices that promote favorable social-ecological outcomes(i.e.,‘bright spots’)is timely given that there are plans to expand hydropower capacity in previously undammed rivers,intensify dam development in some of the world's largest river systems,and re-license existing facilities.We approach this from a pragmatic perspective:for the foreseeable future,hydropower will likely remain an important source of renewable electricity.To offer support for moving toward a more‘sustainable’Anthropocene,we provide syntheses of best practices during the siting,design,construction,operation,and compensation phases of hydropower development to minimize impacts on inland fish.For each phase,we offer positive examples(or what might be considered‘bright spots’)pertaining to some of the approaches described within our syntheses,acknowledging that these projects may not be viewed as without ecological and(or)societal detriment by all stakeholders.Our findings underscore the importance of protecting critical habitat and free-flowing river reaches through careful site selection and basinscale planning,infrastructure designs that minimize reservoir effects and facilitate safe passage of fish,construction of hydropower plants using best practices that minimize long-term damage,operating guidelines that mimic natural flow conditions,and compensation that is lasting,effective,inclusive,and locally relevant.Learning from these‘bright spots’may require engagement of diverse stakeholders,professionals,and governments at scales that extend well beyond a given site,river,or even basin.Indeed,environmental planning that integrates hydropower development into broader discussions of conserving regional biodiversity and ecosystem services will be of utmost importance.展开更多
文摘Change detection of land-cover to recommend the future directions of land-use is indispensable for sustainable development and the proper utilization of land resources. In this research, unsupervised classification maps produced using images of Landsat 8 OLI from 2013 until 2021 (with a 4-year interval) reveal important land-cover changes, along with their drivers, in Kapasia, Bangladesh. Overall, a substantial increase in paddy (24.7% to 27.2%) and urban (3.5% to 10.1%) and a decrease in homestead (67.5% to 59.3%) and forest (4.2% to 3.4%) were observed within the time interval. To direct the land-use towards long-term biodiversity and sustainability of the region, it is important to implement types of agroforestry systems as the observed decrease in homestead and forest areas are alarming. Agroforestry practices will not only have a positive environmental impact but can help diversify food systems, increase economic return and optimize natural resource use.
文摘Globally,habitat degradation is accelerating,especially in the tropics.Changes to interface habitats can increase environmental overlap among nonhuman primates,people,and domestic animals and change stress levels in wildlife,leading to changes in their risk of parasite infections.However,the direction and consequences of these changes are unclear,since animals may benefit by exploiting human resources(e.g.,improving nutritional health by eating nutritious crops)and decreasing susceptibility to infection,or interactions with humans may lead to chronic stress and increased susceptibility to infection.Vervet monkeys are an excellent model to understand parasitic disease transmission because of their tolerance to anthropogenic disturbance.Here we quantify the gastrointestinal parasites of a group of vervet monkeys(Chlorocebus aethiops)near Lake Nabugabo,Uganda,that frequently overlaps with people in their use of a highly modified environment.We compare the parasites found in this population to seven other sites where vervet monkey gastrointestinal parasites have been identified.The vervets of Lake Nabugabo have the greatest richness of parasites documented to date.We discuss how this may reflect differences in sampling intensity or differences in the types of habitat where vervet parasites have been sampled.
基金WMT was funded by an NSERC-CGS-D,The W.Garfield Weston Foundation,and Polar Knowledge CanadaPBM was supported by the Packard Fellowship.SJC was supported by NSERC and the Canada Research Chairs Program.
文摘Hydropower production is one of the greatest threats to fluvial ecosystems and freshwater biodiversity.Now that we have entered the Anthropocene,there is an opportunity to reflect on what might constitute a‘sustainable’Anthropocene in the context of hydropower and riverine fish populations.Considering elements of existing practices that promote favorable social-ecological outcomes(i.e.,‘bright spots’)is timely given that there are plans to expand hydropower capacity in previously undammed rivers,intensify dam development in some of the world's largest river systems,and re-license existing facilities.We approach this from a pragmatic perspective:for the foreseeable future,hydropower will likely remain an important source of renewable electricity.To offer support for moving toward a more‘sustainable’Anthropocene,we provide syntheses of best practices during the siting,design,construction,operation,and compensation phases of hydropower development to minimize impacts on inland fish.For each phase,we offer positive examples(or what might be considered‘bright spots’)pertaining to some of the approaches described within our syntheses,acknowledging that these projects may not be viewed as without ecological and(or)societal detriment by all stakeholders.Our findings underscore the importance of protecting critical habitat and free-flowing river reaches through careful site selection and basinscale planning,infrastructure designs that minimize reservoir effects and facilitate safe passage of fish,construction of hydropower plants using best practices that minimize long-term damage,operating guidelines that mimic natural flow conditions,and compensation that is lasting,effective,inclusive,and locally relevant.Learning from these‘bright spots’may require engagement of diverse stakeholders,professionals,and governments at scales that extend well beyond a given site,river,or even basin.Indeed,environmental planning that integrates hydropower development into broader discussions of conserving regional biodiversity and ecosystem services will be of utmost importance.
