Ample Food Research Articles

Numbers, neighbors, and hungry predators: What makes chemically defended aposematic prey susceptible to predation?

Many chemically defended aposematic species are characterized by relatively low toxin levels, which enables predators to include them in their diets under certain circumstances. Knowledge of the conditions governing the survival of such prey animals—especially in the context of the co‐occurrence of similar but undefended prey, which may result in mimicry‐like interactions—is crucial for understanding the initial evolution of aposematism. In a one‐month outdoor experiment using fish (the common carp Cyprinus carpio) as predators, we examined the survival of moderately defended aposematic tadpole prey (the European common toad Bufo bufo) with varying absolute densities in single‐species prey systems or varying relative densities in two‐species prey systems containing morphologically similar but undefended prey (the European common frog Rana temporaria). The density effects were investigated in conjunction with the hunger levels of the predator, which were manipulated by means of the addition of alternative (nontadpole) food. The survival of the B. bufo tadpoles was promoted by increasing their absolute density in the single‐species prey systems, increasing their relative density in the two‐species prey systems, and providing ample alternative food for the predator. Hungry predators eliminated all R. temporaria individuals regardless of their proportion in the prey community; in treatments with ample alternative food, high relative B. bufo density supported R. temporaria survival. The results demonstrated that moderately defended prey did benefit from high population densities (both absolute and relative), even under long‐term predation pressure. However, the physiological state of the predator was a crucial factor in the survival of moderately defended prey. While the availability of alternative prey in general should promote the spread and maintenance of aposematism, the results indicated that the resemblance between the co‐occurring defended and undefended prey may impose mortality costs on the defended model species, even in the absence of actual mimicry.

Effect of tillage system on soil CO2 flux, soil microbial community and maize (Zea mays L.) yield

Selecting appropriate soil management practices (e.g. tillage treatments) provides an opportunity to sequester soil carbon (C), improve soil health, and achieve ample food production in an agricultural system. The responses of soil CO2 emission, soil microbial community, and crop yield to precipitation are crucial for assessing sustainability of conservation tillage. Soil CO2 flux, soil microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) contents and crop yield were measured in a long-term (15 years) tillage study in the Northeast of China under a normal year in 2013 and natural drought year in 2015. The results showed in a normal year with precipitation similar to the 30-year mean, soil temperatures at 5, 10 and 20 cm in June under mouldboard plough (MP) were higher by 0.9, 1.0 and 1.1 °C, respectively, than under no-tillage (NT); soil water content in the top 22 cm under MP was significantly lower than that under NT in 04 June and 31 July; and MP significantly increased maize (Zea mays L.) yield and C emission efficiency (the ratio of yield to annual soil CO2 emission) by 22% and 25%, respectively. In a dry year (2015), soil temperatures at 5, 10, and 20 cm in June and July under MP were higher by 2.0, 1.8 and 1.7 °C than under NT, respectively; soil water content in the top 22 cm under MP was significantly lower than under NT by 28% in July; moreover, MP significantly decreased maize yield and C emission efficiency by 47% and 63%, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in annual soil CO2 emission between NT and MP in the normal and dry years. Compared with MP, NT significantly increased soil microbial PLFA contents in pre-planting (April) and late segments of the growing season (August-September) of a normal year, but significantly increased soil microbial PLFAs content in pre-planting and all of early, mid and late segments of the growing season in a dry year. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that soil water content, temperature, bacteria and fungi directly contributed to C emission efficiency. Tillage was indirectly associated with C emission efficiency through soil water content, temperature, soil fungi and bacteria. These results suggested that the higher maize yield and C emission efficiency under NT compared to CT were related to improved soil water content and soil microbial PLFA contents and the lower soil temperature in a dry year. Our results suggested that NT (a subset of conservation tillage) might be a positive adaptation strategy to cope with drought under monoculture maize in northeast China.

Floristic and Macroinvertebrate Responses to Different Wetland Restoration Techniques in Southeastern Wisconsin

Assessments of wetland restoration quality, especially comparisons among restoration techniques, are essential to adaptive management, but are rarely reported. We evaluated wetlands in southeastern Wisconsin that were restored using different hydrological techniques along with wetlands in two reference groups: wetlands without hydrological modification and Waterfowl Production Areas. Our objectives were 1) to compare condition of wetlands using indices for plant communities and macroinvertebrates and 2) evaluate provisioning of macroinvertebrates for waterfowl broods as a measure of habitat quality. Overall, floristic quality of sedge meadows and emergent marshes was poor in restored wetlands (weighted mean C-values were 1.55 ± 0.13 (SE) and 1.47 ± 0.25, respectively); however, sedge meadow quality was greater in wetlands without surface modification (weighted mean C-value = 3.43 ± 0.82). On a scale from “excellent” to “very poor”, we classified condition of open water communities as “good” based on the macroinvertebrate index across all restoration categories. Density and abundance of macroinvertebrate taxa preferred by waterfowl broods were similar across restoration categories and indicated that wetland basins provide ample food resources. We recommend that conservation planners and wetland managers state quantifiable, appropriate objectives for restoration ahead of implementation and address conflicting objectives with stakeholders.

Land Sparing Can Maintain Bird Diversity in Northeastern Bangladesh

One of humanity’s most significant challenges in the process of attaining the established sustainability goals is balancing the growing human demand for food and the need to conserve biodiversity. This challenge requires appropriate land uses that are able to conserve biodiversity while ensuring ample food supply. This study compares bird species diversity and abundance in areas undergoing land sharing and land sparing in northeastern Bangladesh (West Bhanugach Reserved Forest). Birds serve as useful biologic indicators because of their presence within different trophic levels and their well-studied ecology. To survey birds, we selected a total of 66 sampling sites within land-sharing (33) and land-sparing (33) land-use areas. Between May and June 2017, we observed and recorded bird calls within a 50-m radius around each sampling site. We counted 541 individuals from 46 species of birds. The Shannon bird diversity was higher in the land-sparing sites (1.52) than in the land-sharing sites (1.23). We found approximately 30% more bird species (39 vs. 30) and 40% more individuals (318 vs. 223) in the land-sparing areas than land-sharing areas. Three bird species, Arachnothera longirostra, Micropternus brachyurus and Copsychus malabaricus, were significantly associated with the land-sparing sites. This study shows that land sharing negatively affects bird diversity, richness and abundance compared to land-sparing. The use of chemical fertilizers and the lack of food, such as insects, for birds can explain the lower diversity, richness and abundance of birds in the land-sharing areas. Although land sharing is an effective means of producing food, land sparing is the most effective land-use practice for preserving bird diversity in northeastern Bangladesh.

On the modeling of wild reindeer Rangifer tarandus sibiricus Murrey, 1886 migration processes using the example of the Taimyr-Evenki population

The work focuses on the developing further methods for assessing the state of species during migration using satellite observation methods for monitoring the displacement of selected individuals in populations. The characteristics of the movement mode are used as an indicator of the state of a single species. The situation with deer can be considered by analogy with the assessment of the quality of the car and its movement mode. The speed of movement depends, on the one hand, on the design of the car, on the other hand, on the quality of the road surface, the availability and quality of fuel, the driver’s condition, etc. Similarly, the migration mode of a deer is determined by the physiological condition and physical capabilities of the individuals, landscape characteristics, feeding availability and quality. All these indicators are expressed through the deer displacement strategy: in the absence of resources on a certain area of the migration path in a satisfactory physiological condition, it is advisable for the individuals to increase the speed of movement in order to quickly get to the area with ample food. The characteristics of a possible stop-go strategy, determined by the alternating periods of fast running, resting and eating, can also depend on the state of a single species. It is also possible that there is a connection between the state of a single species, speed of movement and current weather conditions. The question arises whether it is possible to identify the type of migration strategy and the condition of individuals during their “marathon” run by time series of average daily speeds.

American Abolitionism: Its Direct Political Impact from Colonial Times into Reconstruction by Stanley Harrold

Reviewed by: American Abolitionism: Its Direct Political Impact from Colonial Times into Reconstruction by Stanley Harrold Craig Hollander (bio) American Abolitionism: Its Direct Political Impact from Colonial Times into Reconstruction. By Stanley Harrold. (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2019. Pp. 296. Cloth, $39.50.) There is no shortage of books about abolitionism. But we are short on short books about abolitionism. Stanley Harrold's latest book, American Abolitionism: Its Direct Political Impact from Colonial Times into Reconstruction, appears to be a more concise option than some of the other recent works covering antislavery and abolitionism during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. (I'm glancing warily at Manisha Sinha's masterful, but near 800-page behemoth, The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition [New Haven, CT, 2016], on my shelf.) Despite its lofty title, though, American Abolitionism is not a comprehensive overview of "American Abolitionism." Instead, the book's subtitle provides a far more accurate description of its contents. Indeed, Harrold focuses almost exclusively on how private citizens attempted to promote various antislavery initiatives through petitioning, lobbying, and correspondence with interested statesmen. Obviously, historians have long known that some abolitionists engaged directly in politics. However, historical studies have tended to concentrate on those who employed moral suasion, [End Page 600] publishing, and oratory more than, say, petitioning. Harrold's book is therefore a welcome addition to the scholarship of antislavery. Perhaps the most impressive attribute of American Abolitionism is its range. To wit, it seems as though Harrold managed to chronicle every interaction that abolitionists had with their representatives between the colonial period and Reconstruction. Scholars of the field will already be familiar with a few of those interactions, such as when the Pennsylvania Abolition Society famously presented a petition signed by Benjamin Franklin to Congress in 1790. That said, the book mostly details more obscure attempts that abolitionists made to sway legislative or executive action. In his chapters on the early national period, Harrold meticulously documents how abolitionists in the North effectively steered their elected representatives to take antislavery positions. Such work was pivotal in some cases. In particular, Harrold shows that "in Illinois, abolitionists played an important role in defeating a proslavery effort that, if successful, could have changed the sectional balance of power" (51). The book then moves on to the antebellum period. Throughout that section, Harrold stresses that the Civil War (along with the abolition of slavery) would never have happened if abolitionists had not participated directly in politics. To be sure, this book provides a lot of information, not to mention ample food for thought. Through repetition alone, Harrold makes it clear that only a handful of politicians were ever truly receptive to the abolitionist agenda. That handful includes a few recognizable names, such as John Quincy Adams, Joshua Giddings, and Abraham Lincoln. Yet Harrold wisely focuses on second-tier politicians who might be new to readers, such as Charles Miner, William Hiester, William Slade, and Thomas Morris. Similarly, he spotlights the work of those abolitionists who sought to pull the strings of government. Such abolitionists—John Whittier, Joshua Leavitt, and David Lee Child among them—usually receive much less attention from historians than the likes of William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimké, and Frederick Douglass, who often voiced their misgivings about working through political channels. As a result, American Abolitionism could serve as a very helpful resource for those who would like to know how abolitionists influenced (or sought to influence) politicians during sectional crises. Just be advised that Harrold rarely strays from his topic. He therefore centers his narrative on politicians and those who felt at liberty to correspond and interact with politicians on a relatively equal footing (meaning white men). Put another way, [End Page 601] Harrold rarely addresses abolitionist actions outside the realm of electoral politics. This book is not without its problems, though. I would not characterize it as a page-turner, for instance. Most scholars of the period will be quite familiar with the various sectional disputes, after all. In addition, Harrold seems so eager to get to the next controversy in his long chronology that he fails to incorporate enough anecdotes, context, and source material to adequately color his...

Species recovery and recolonization of past habitats: lessons for science and conservation from sea otters in estuaries.

Recovering species are often limited to much smaller areas than they historically occupied. Conservation planning for the recovering species is often based on this limited range, which may simply be an artifact of where the surviving population persisted. Southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) were hunted nearly to extinction but recovered from a small remnant population on a remote stretch of the California outer coast, where most of their recovery has occurred. However, studies of recently-recolonized estuaries have revealed that estuaries can provide southern sea otters with high quality habitats featuring shallow waters, high production and ample food, limited predators, and protected haul-out opportunities. Moreover, sea otters can have strong effects on estuarine ecosystems, fostering seagrass resilience through their consumption of invertebrate prey. Using a combination of literature reviews, population modeling, and prey surveys we explored the former estuarine habitats outside the current southern sea otter range to determine if these estuarine habitats can support healthy sea otter populations. We found the majority of studies and conservation efforts have focused on populations in exposed, rocky coastal habitats. Yet historical evidence indicates that sea otters were also formerly ubiquitous in estuaries. Our habitat-specific population growth model for California’s largest estuary—San Francisco Bay—determined that it alone can support about 6,600 sea otters, more than double the 2018 California population. Prey surveys in estuaries currently with (Elkhorn Slough and Morro Bay) and without (San Francisco Bay and Drakes Estero) sea otters indicated that the availability of prey, especially crabs, is sufficient to support healthy sea otter populations. Combining historical evidence with our results, we show that conservation practitioners could consider former estuarine habitats as targets for sea otter and ecosystem restoration. This study reveals the importance of understanding how recovering species interact with all the ecosystems they historically occupied, both for improved conservation of the recovering species and for successful restoration of ecosystem functions and processes.

The Criminal and the Corrupt

Abstract The commentaries in this Kitabkhana on Milan Vaishnav's When Crime Pays and Steven Pierce's Moral Economies of Corruption provide ample food for thought about the social-scientific study of crime and corruption. All agree on the importance of focusing on actual practice and not forcing non-Western societies into Eurocentric heuristics. They also pose urgent questions about what might constitute grounded theories of governance and productive avenues for pushing for reform and change.

Hedgehog-related genes regulate reactivation of quiescent neural progenitors in Caenorhabditis elegans

The animal body contains various types of stem and progenitor cells. These undifferentiated cells coordinate the balance between quiescence and proliferation with dynamics of various physiological conditions such as the developmental stage, food availability, and injury. Although regulation of such coordination plays a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, controlling the growth rate and regeneration, much of its mechanism remains elusive. Newly hatched Caenorhabditis elegans larvae possess quiescent stem and progenitor cells in several tissues, and these cells are reactivated by the insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling (IIS) pathway only when sufficient food is supplied.Maintenance of the quiescence of neuronal and mesodermal progenitor cells requires microRNA (miRNA), miR-235, which is upregulated under the starvation. On the other hand, feeding ample food downregulates the miRNA via the activity of the IIS pathway. As miR-235 in the hypodermis can non-autonomously regulate quiescence of neuronal and mesodermal progenitor cells, a cell-cell signaling pathway has been hypothesized to act downstream of the miRNA.Here, we provide evidence that two hedgehog-related (hh-r) genes, grl-5 and grl-7, are targets of miR-235 that promote reactivation of quiescent neuroblasts. These grl genes possess an miR-235 binding site on 3ʹUTRs of their transcripts, and are upregulated in starved mir-235 mutant larvae. grl-5 and grl-7 promoters can continuously drive the expression of GFP-pest reporter protein in the hypodermis under the fed condition. However, expression of these reporters is strikingly downregulated under the starvation condition after hatching. We found that miR-235 can repress expression of reporter genes via the predicted miR-235 binding sites on the grl-5 and grl-7 3ʹUTRs. Furthermore, activity of grl-5 and grl-7 genes are required for reactivation of neural progenitor cells in starved mir-235 mutant larvae. These findings suggest that the IIS pathway-miR-235 signaling in the hypodermis non-autonomously regulates quiescence of neural progenitor cells, partly via grl-5 and grl-7.

Airborne LiDAR Reveals a Vast Archaeological Landscape at the Nan Madol World Heritage Site

An airborne LiDAR survey of the Nan Madol World Heritage Site and adjacent Temwen Island revealed a complex, irrigated cultivation system, the first found in the Central and Eastern Caroline Islands. This informs the goals of the sustainable conservation project, funded by the U.S. Department of State Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, that inspired the survey, and expands understanding of Nan Madol and its place in the network of Pacific island interaction and trade. Fieldwork verified the presence, across Temwen, of low, wet, cultivable areas, many of which are connected by water channels or separated by earthen berms. The berms themselves may also have been cultivated. In complexity, labor investment, and organization, the system is comparable to Nan Madol itself, the largest archaeological site in Micronesia, with structures on about 100 artificial islets built of stone and coral on a reef flat. Constructed over a millennium, Nan Madol was the seat of the Saudeleur Dynasty, which persisted from about 1200 to 1600 CE. The cultivation system appears to have been able to provide ample food for consumption, feasting, and redistribution or trade. If the landscape alteration described here proves to date to the time of the Saudeleur Dynasty, it will offer many avenues of research into the economic basis of Nan Madol’s regional dominance.

Response of carabid and arachnid assemblages on plant invasion in woodlots within an agricultural landscape

Landscape simplification and the spread of invasive species are considered the main threats to global biodiversity. It is well recognized that non-crop habitats bring complexity to farmland and provide refuge for arthropods. However, knowledge about the effects of invasive trees on arthropods in non-crop habitats in intensive agricultural landscapes is still weak. Therefore, we examined differences in the carabid and arachnid assemblages between woodlots formed by the invasive black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and by native deciduous tree species in the intensive agricultural landscape in the Czech Republic, Central Europe. We sampled carabids, harvestmen and spiders by using pitfall traps, sweeping the vegetation and light trapping. Effects of woodlot’s habitat structure, land cover composition in the surroundings and the area of woodlots were included to the analyses. The abundance of carabids was lower in R. pseudoacacia woodlots. Carabid individuals could benefit from the more favourable microclimate in the native woodlots, in which relatively greater humidity may support more ample food resources. On the contrary, species richness of carabids did not differ between the woodlot types. The abundance and species richness of arachnids did not differ between the woodlot types. Number of individuals increased with increasing woodlot’s area and the species richness increased with the more open woodlot’s habitat structure. The forest specialists of both groups were associated with the native woodlots with more developed canopy and shrub layers. The diversity losses of the arachnid forest specialists in the R. pseudoacacia woodlots were replaced by the species exploiting well-developed herb layer, and open-habitat specialists, including threatened species. Conversely, carabids of open habitats had no affinity to woodlot types. Native woodlots and those formed by R. pseudoacacia differed in vegetation structure and hosted different arachnid and carabid assemblages. Therefore, parallel presence of both types of woodlots supports arthropod diversity in otherwise simplified agricultural landscapes through creating more complex mosaic of habitats.

Research and policy priorities for edible insects

Global communities increasingly struggle to provide ample healthful food for growing populations in the face of social and environmental pressures. Insect agriculture is one underexplored and innovative approach. Sustainable cultivation of nutrient-dense edible insects could help boost food access, support human nutrition, and mitigate key drivers of climate change. The edible insects industry is in its nascent stages, as relatively few entities have committed resources towards optimizing farming methods. Nevertheless, insect farming is poised to benefit food insecure populations, and the planet as a whole if more targeted research and conducive policies are implemented. The purpose of this paper is to outline the state of the science regarding edible insects, define a research agenda, and recommend policy action to support the growing industry. Edible insects are not a panacea for current challenges, but they have the potential to confer numerous benefits to people and the environment. Rigorous research is needed to establish optimal farming methods, strengthen food safety, understand health impacts of consumption, explore consumer acceptance, tackle ethical considerations, and investigate economic viability. A clear definition for insects as food, industry guidance support for obtaining generally regarded as safe designation, and collaboration by industry stakeholders to develop production standards will also help move the industry forward. Generating and galvanizing knowledge sharing networks, investing in critical interdisciplinary research, and advocating for conducive policies that support emerging entrepreneurs will be necessary to capitalize on the benefits of edible insects in the future.

Assessment of Fisheries and Management in Rihand Reservoir, Uttar Pradesh

The study assesses the present status of fisheries in Rihand reservoir in relation to past status in terms of fish species diversity, trophic metrics of fish community, trends in fish catch and the physico-chemical properties of the waterbody. Species-wise monthly catch data collected from annual fish catch records ofDepartment of Fisheries, Rihand office helped the analyse present status. Shannon-Wiener Index showed an appreciable decline in species diversity between 1971-72 (H=2.94) and 2015-16 (H=2.59). There was significant loss in species richness during the same period as it has declined from 40 species, 28 genera and 11 families (1971-72)to 22 species,16 genera and 8 families (2015-16). Seasonally, the species diversity was found to be at its peak during monsoon season (H=2.2), coinciding with favourable conditions such as sufficient water and ample food resources. Species richness was at its best in the month of May-June while species evenness (J=0.85) was highest in post monsoon indicating an evenly distributed and rich fauna in the monsoon and post monsoon periods. The review of literature on water quality status indicated the reservoir is meso-eutrophic in nature. The trophic metrics analysis has shown that the water body is dominated by herbivores, detritivores and omnivores (72.3%) followed by mid-level carnivores (26.7%) indicating gaps at the top level predators. The total fish catch of the reservoir has increased marginally from 152 tons in 1971 to 262 tons in 2016. The corresponding unit catch was 5.06 kg/ha/year and 8.68 kg/ha/year respectively, which is still very low. The CAGR of fish landings for the recent period (2000-01 to 2015-16) was found to be a modest 1.8% with several inter-year fluctuations. Given the conducive aquatic environment and moderate productivity levels of the reservoir, fish catch can be increased significantly only through sustained stocking program alongside effective governance.

Response of arthropod communities to plant-community rehabilitation efforts after strip mining on the semi-arid west coast of South Africa

Strip mining in arid ecosystems causes extreme ecological destruction that may take decades to recover. The present study examined the effect of different plant-community rehabilitation treatments on arthropods after strip mining in the arid Namaqualand region of South Africa. Vegetation cover and plant species richness were significantly lower at all rehabilitated sites compared with those at a reference site. Arthropod species richness did not differ amongst the different treatments and the reference site. Except for the most recently rehabilitated site, arthropod abundance in all guilds was higher at all treatments compared with that of the reference site. Overall arthropod abundance was positively correlated to plant cover and negatively correlated to plant species richness, but these vegetation characteristics had no effect on arthropod species richness. This may be explained by a high cover of pioneer plants at the rehabilitated sites, which offer ample food for generalist arthropod taxa. Arthropod community composition differed significantly between treatments. We demonstrate that rehabilitation of ecosystem function after mining in arid systems is a lengthy process, even after implementation of intensive rehabilitation protocols. We also show that arthropod communities provide additional insights into the level of ecosystem recovery otherwise obscured when only considering plant community data.

A closer look at food allergy and intolerance.

Food allergy is a condition prevalent in over 2 percent of the world's population. The topic has been subject to research from ancient Greek times and continues to attract modern scientific and medical communities. In susceptible individuals certain foods produce a wide spectrum of unwanted effects like eczema, asthma, and urticaria. The management of food allergy and intolerance chiefly involves elimination diets, accurate diagnosis and detecting the causative mechanism providing us with ample food for thought. In this article, we have attempted to summarize and simplify the research on the various aspects of food allergy and intolerance, and discuss the natural history, manifestations, mechanisms, diagnosis, and management of this condition affecting countless worldwide.

Impact of polystyrene microplastics on Daphnia magna mortality and reproduction in relation to food availability.

Microplastics (MPs) in the environment continue to be a growing area of concern in terms of acute and chronic impacts on aquatic life. Whilst increasing numbers of studies are providing important insights into microparticle behaviour and impacts in the marine environment, a paucity of information exists regarding the freshwater environment. This study focusses on the uptake, retention and the impact of 2 µm polystyrene MPs in the freshwater cladoceran Daphnia magna in relation to food intake (algae Chlorella vulgaris), with MP size chosen to approximately match the cell size of the algae. Daphnia were exposed to varied concentrations of MPs and algae. When exposed to a single concentration of MPs Daphnia almost immediately ate them in large quantities. However, the presence of algae, even at low concentrations, had a significant negative impact on MP uptake that was not in proportion to relative availability. As MP concentrations increased, intake did not if algae were present, even at higher concentrations of MPs. This suggests that Daphnia are selectively avoiding eating plastics. Adult Daphnia exposed to MPs for 21 days showed mortality after seven days of exposure in all treatments compared to the control. However significant differences were all related to algal concentration rather than to MP concentration. This suggests that where ample food is present, MPs have little effect on adults. There was also no impact on their reproduction. The neonate toxicity test confirmed previous results that mortality and reproduction was linked to availability of food rather than MP concentrations. This would make sense in light of our suggestion that Daphnia are selectively avoiding eating microplastics.

Letter From the Editor

Letter From the Editor Christopher Gaffney 親愛的同事們, A few years ago I was wandering through the Saara region of Rio de Janeiro in the late afternoon and stopped to have an esfiha in a traditional Syrian eatery. The young girl behind the counter was clearly Han Chinese and spoke just enough Portuguese to facilitate our transaction. As I was happily munching away, I looked down a row of stores selling the myriad shimmering and feathery things necessary for Carnaval. The stores were closing and each metal curtain was pulled down by a young Chinese person. From the parking garages emerged a series of rather expensive cars driven by Chinese patresfamilias, the new dons of the Carnaval trade in Rio. This insignificant moment in Rio's vibrant commercial district got me thinking about the ways in which Latin America and China are interconnected beyond the production and consumption of consumer goods. The retreat of the United States fro the region has opened opportunities for Chinese investment in infrastructure, technology, and political interaction. A number of academic journals have produced special issues that explore the relationships between Latin America and China but none have taken the explicitly geographic perspective that we offer in this Special Issue on China and Latin American Relations. Our guest editors Julie Klinger and Tom Narins have worked closely with Associate Editor Jorn Seemann to bring together a wonderful array of stories, perspectives, and ideas that give us ample food for thought about this enduring and dynamic interchange. As part of our ongoing efforts to modernize and expand the reach of JLAG, we have included Chinese abstracts for the first time. We hope that this will allow the journal to reach new audiences and stimulate interchange between Latin American and Chinese geographers. Additionally, we continue to direct ever more resources to editing and production and continue to seek avenues for innovation and engagement with geographers throughout the Americas and beyond. It is fitting, therefore, that this is the first issue of JLAG that will be published under the aegis of the "new CLAG." The removal of the "ista" nomenclature from CLAG was an overdue recognition that the organization is not only a home for North American geographers who study Latin America, but rather a place of encounter and exchange between and for all Latin American Geographers regardless of origin or residence. As the Conference of Latin American Geography approaches its 50th year, the editorial team at JLAG would like to renew our call to all of our Latin American colleagues to contribute to the growth of the journal through which we can foster debate, promote change, and develop lasting relationships. 好利潤! [End Page 5] Christopher Gaffney Editor-in-Chief Copyright © 2018 Distributed by the University of Texas Press

China should not massively reclaim new farmland

To protect farmland and ensure national food security and social stability, China implemented the Dynamic Balance of Total Farmland Area (DBTFA) policy in 1998. From 2000–2013, the amount of newly reclaimed land reached 2.47 million hectares. This massive reclaiming of farmland appeared to effectively halt the rapid loss of farmland in China. However, four aspects suggest that the DBTFA policy has become outdated and economically ineffective. First, bumper grain harvests and imports have provided China with an ample domestic food supply, which means it is no longer threatened by grain shortages; second, China does not have much land left suitable for farmland reclamation; third, the cost of land reclamation is very high; fourth, land abandonment is common in China. The massive amounts of newly reclaimed farmland have not been utilized effectively. Therefore, the key goal of the current farmland protection policy should be to protect high-quality farmland instead of reclaiming new farmland.

Neighbourhood typologies and associations with body mass index and obesity: A cross-sectional study

Little research has investigated associations between a combined measure of the food and physical activity (PA) environment, BMI (body-mass-index) and obesity. Cross-sectional data (n=22,889, age 18–86years) from the Yorkshire Health Study were used [2010−2013]. BMI was calculated using self-reported height and weight; obesity=BMI≥30. Neighbourhood was defined as a 2km radial buffer. Food outlets and PA facilities were sourced from Ordnance Survey Points of Interest (PoI) and categorised into ‘fast-food’, ‘large supermarkets’, ‘convenience and other food retail outlets’ and ‘physical activity facilities’. Parks were sourced from Open Street Map. Latent class analysis was conducted on these five environmental variables and availability was defined by quartiles of exposure. Linear and logistic regressions were then conducted for BMI and obesity respectively for different neighbourhood types. Models adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, area-level deprivation, and rural/urban classification. A five-class solution demonstrated best fit and was interpretable. Neighbourhood typologies were defined as; ‘low availability’, ‘moderate availability’, ‘moderate PA, limited food’, ‘saturated’ and ‘moderate PA, ample food’. Compared to low availability, one typology demonstrated lower BMI (saturated, b=−0.50, [95% CI=−0.76, −0.23]), while three showed higher BMI (moderate availability, b=0.49 [0.27, 0.72]; moderate PA, limited food, b=0.30 [0.01, 0.59]; moderate PA, ample food, b=0.32 [0.08, 0.57]). Furthermore, compared to the low availability, saturated neighbourhoods showed lower odds of obesity (OR=0.86 [0.75, 0.99]) while moderate availability showed greater odds of obesity (OR=1.18 [1.05, 1.32]). This study supports population-level approaches to tackling obesity however neighbourhoods contained features that were health-promoting and -constraining.

Crowding as a primary source of stress in an endangered fragment‐dwelling strepsirrhine primate

AbstractNutritional and social challenges arising from habitat fragmentation can be significant sources of stress for animals. If prolonged, such stressors can pose a threat to the longevity of a species within a fragmented landscape. While each may elicit a physiological response, the coupled and often additive nature of these stressors can make it difficult to determine their relative impact on an individual or population. We measured fecal glucocorticoids (fGC) in two populations of Lemur catta, an endangered strepsirrhine primate, inhabiting forest fragments that vary markedly in resource structure and population density. We also examined the relative importance of behavioral variables indicative of feeding environment, intergroup territoriality, and intragroup social interactions in predicting fGC levels in these populations. Lemur catta living with ample food resources but at high population density exhibited higher fGC concentrations throughout the study period, independent of sex or reproductive state. At both sites, fGC levels reflected consistent seasonal variation, with lowest levels occurring during the resource‐rich pre‐mating period. Foraging effort was positively associated with fGC levels at each site, yet the population exhibiting the highest foraging effort had consistently lower levels of fGC. Intergroup territoriality was a positive predictor and intragroup agonism a negative predictor of fGC levels; however, trends in these variables were inconsistent when examining the two sites separately. Within‐site group differences highlighted the additive nature of nutritional and social stressors in predicting fGC levels. Our results suggest that the intense or unpredictable impact of crowding and, correspondingly, heightened intergroup resource defense may be an important consideration when addressing long‐term conservation initiatives for fragment‐dwelling L. catta.