Ecological Approach Research Articles

Where Are We Going Now? The Current and Future Distributions of the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) in a Megalopolis

The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) and the Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) are two of the most prevalent invasive species globally due to their high dispersal ability. Since these birds were first recorded (1999 for the monk parakeet and 2013 for Eurasian collared dove) in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA), both species have spread rapidly throughout the area. However, the impacts of global climate changes on the distribution patterns of these species remain poorly studied across the MCMA. Therefore, based on an ecological niche modeling approach, we assessed the expansion and potential invasion of both species in this megalopolis using current and future climate projections (year 2050). Our results estimated that the current suitable areas are 5564 km2 for the monk parakeet and 5489 km2 for the Eurasian collared dove, covering ~70% of the study area, suggesting a rapidly invading species, as expected. We observed a slight decrease (up to 24%) in both species in future climate scenarios, but our models estimated that the sizes of the suitable areas would remain stable. We found that the range expansion of these species in the megalopolis may be largely attributed to their propensity for jump dispersion and short-time niche expansion ability. Our findings allow for a better understanding of the factors contributing to the range expansion of the monk parakeet and the Eurasian collared dove in Mexico and can better inform the monitoring guidelines for and assessments of these invasive species.

Natural selection and recombination at host-interacting lipoprotein loci drive genome diversification of Lyme disease and related bacteria.

Lyme disease (also called Lyme borreliosis in Europe), a condition caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Borrelia, transmitted by hard-bodied Ixodes ticks, is currently the most prevalent and rapidly expanding tick-borne disease in the United States and Europe. Borrelia interspecies and intraspecies genome comparisons of Lyme disease-related bacteria are essential to reconstruct their evolutionary origins, track epidemiological spread, identify molecular mechanisms of human pathogenicity, and design molecular and ecological approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. These Lyme disease-associated bacteria harbor complex genomes that encode many genes that do not have homologs in other organisms and are distributed across multiple linear and circular plasmids. The functional significance of most of the plasmid-borne genes and the multipartite genome organization itself remains unknown. Here we sequenced, assembled, and analyzed whole genomes of 47 Borrelia isolates from around the world, including multiple isolates of the human pathogenic species. Our analysis elucidates the evolutionary origins, historical migration, and sources of genomic variability of these clinically important pathogens. We have developed web-based software tools (BorreliaBase.org) to facilitate dissemination and continued comparative analysis of Borrelia genomes to identify determinants of human pathogenicity.

Investigating bacterial diversity involved in the production of vegetable-based ethnic fermented food of North Bengal and their metabolic pathways with reverse ecology approach

Endemic fermented vegetables play a crucial role in local cuisine and culture, with traditionally fermented raw green vegetables such as gundruk being a popular practice in North Bengal and Sikkim, India. However, there is a gap in the microbial profiling of these vegetables. This study aimed to explore the diversity of dominant bacterial populations in fermented leafy vegetables using both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. In addition to isolating bacteria using conventional methods, we conducted phenotypic and biochemical characterization, community DNA isolation, and amplicon sequencing. We also introduced a new approach in bioinformatics analysis: reverse ecology, which analyzes complementation and competition among participant microbes. In conventional culture-dependent techniques, LAB genera such as Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Leuconostoc, and Pediococcus have been identified as predominant consortia, whereas metagenomic analysis revealed that the microbiome of fermented dried leafy vegetables was mainly composed of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroides, and Planctomycetes at the phylum level. Within the Lactobacillaceae family, predominant types included Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, Enterococcus, Vagococcus, Weissella, and Carnobacterium. The microbial metabolism revealed key pathways, such as carbon metabolism, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and glyoxylate. Aromatic amino acid degradation, fatty acid metabolism, amino sugar metabolism, nucleotide sugar metabolism, and biosynthesis of nucleotide sugar pathways were also active. The competition index among microbes and human metabolic data was low (0.32–0.44), indicating minimal competition for nutrition. Complementation indices between bacteria and humans were high (0.76–0.88), suggesting a beneficial impact of gundruk microbial populations on human health.

Interconnectivity can be as important as habitat type in explaining carbon stocks in the coastal lagoons of arid regions

Coastal blue carbon ecosystems, typically comprising interconnected habitat mosaics, are globally important pathways of carbon sequestration and play a significant role in climate change regulation and mitigation. Current coastal management strategies often rely on simplified regional carbon stock estimates, that overlook the geographical variability and intricate ecological dynamics within these ecosystems. This study adopts a seascape ecology approach to evaluate the role of multiple seascape characteristics on carbon storage in two arid region coastal lagoons. We show that seascape location is the most influential driver of carbon stocks. Additionally, carbon isotopic variability, a proxy for connectivity, can be as influential as habitat type, particularly in the UAQ lagoon. This challenges the conventional reliance on data from individual habitat types (e.g., seagrass, mangrove, or tidal marsh) and highlights the context-dependency of carbon stocks. Moreover, the specific characteristics driving carbon stocks vary between seascapes: in Khor Faridah, connectivity to seagrass and mangrove habitats is crucial, while in the UAQ lagoon, sheltered and elevated areas are more influential. Our findings suggest that the interconnectivity between different habitat types, such as mangroves and saltmarshes, significantly enhances carbon storage. This is especially pronounced in large, sheltered mangrove habitat types within upper intertidal zones. Notably, small patches of mangroves, up to 10 ha, are associated with an approximate 10 % increase in carbon stocks. These results underscore the need for a more holistic, context-specific approach to designing nature-based solutions for coastal management and ecosystem restoration. By considering the specific characteristics and connectivity of seascape mosaics, we can more effectively enhance carbon stock potential in coastal ecosystems. This study contributes to a deeper spatially explicit understanding of the complex factors influencing carbon stocks in blue carbon ecosystems, highlighting the importance of tailored management strategies that reflect the unique ecological patterns of each seascape.

Research-by-design for nature-based riverfronts in socially complex urban areas: rethinking Liffey Boardwalk in Dublin

ABSTRACT Integrating nature-based and ecological approaches in urban design is called for in the literature, while there is a considerable gap between academic research and practice on the applicability and effectiveness of related strategies. We define a research-by-design process and discuss relevant approaches for riverfronts in dense urban fabric, taking Liffey Boardwalk in Dublin, Ireland, as a case study. The methods employed include a desk study of academic literature and urban policies, site analyses (site observations, footfall counting, photographic documentation), and urban design scenario development. Biophilic urbanism was determined as the most pliable vision for addressing socio-ecological issues in a complex and problematic area, from which implications are further derived.

The Impact of Cognitive Distortions on Decision Making in Agile Project Management Frameworks: Current Positions and Perspectives in the Academic Community

The purpose of the study is to review the current positions and views of the scientific community regarding the influence of cognitive distortions (both individual and group) on decision-making within such an approach to project management as agile framework. The article defines the concepts of “project”, “project management”, “agile project management framework”, “heuristics”, “cognitive distortions”; it describes what kind of decisions (according to the hierarchical structure) can be made when using agile project management frameworks. On the basis of analysis of a number of scientific works, the existence of the problem of success (efficiency) of implemented (including IT) projects even if modern flexible frameworks of project management are used is fixed. The author of the study considers the concept of heuristics and cognitive distortions (both individual and group), describes the manifestation of individual and group cognitive biases, gives examples of individual and group cognitive biases’ impact to decisions taken in Agile project management. As a result, the author proposes a classification of likely to manifest individual and group cognitive biases at each of the three levels of decision-making in Agile (according to the hierarchical structure): operational decisions, tactical decisions, strategic decisions. The author also provides an overview of the development of decision-making theory and describes three main approaches to the consideration of the empirical decision-making process: according to D. Kahneman and A. Tversky (heuristic approach; behavioral economics), according to G. Gigerenzer (ecological rationality approach), according to G. Klein (naturalistic approach). The author also identifies a possible further vector for the development of research in this direction. The result of the work was the classification of probable individual and group cognitive distortions at each of the three levels of decision-making in flexible project management frameworks (according to the hierarchical structure): operational, tactical, and strategic.

Rethinking External Environmental Analysis for Sustainable Development: The Case of a Beverage Manufacturing Industry in a Southern African Country

The advent of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda 2030 ushered in a new way of thinking about the forces that drive change in the business environment. Literature suggests that sustainable development is a megaforce driving change globally and envelops the traditional political, economic, social, technological, and ecological (PESTE) forces approach. This article reframes the external environmental analysis to integrate SDGs into the business strategy of a beverage manufacturing industry. A qualitative design using snowball sampling resulted in semi-structured, face-to-face interviews that were audio recorded. Interviews were held with eight executives, one former executive, and three non-executive staff from four companies of a southern African country’s beverage manufacturing industry. The data exposed some ignorance on sustainable development. Many executives understood the importance of sustainable development without consensus on its exact nature and implementation in the organisational context. Thematic data analysis confirmed the relevance of sustainable development and the need to incorporate it in external environmental analysis. Categorising SDGs into a 5-P framework (people, prosperity, planet, peace, partnerships) and integrating it with the PESTE framework, the study provides a new approach/tool for external environmental analysis. This approach facilitates identification of SDGs that are relevant to business during strategic planning.

The Thursina Creative Islamic Boarding School Landscape Design with an Ecological Approach

Abstract The Thursina Sukamakmur Creative Islamic Boarding School is a boarding school under the State Electricity Company Baitul Mal Foundation (YBM-PLN) ’s management in Sukamakmur Village, Bogor Regency. Education at this Islamic boarding school has the theme of agriculture, where students learn about rice farming and goat and chicken farming. This Islamic boarding school has an area of 16,610 m2 with sloping to steep terrain (more than 25%) and consists of Islamic boarding school buildings, livestock areas, and rain-fed rice fields. The pesantren is surrounded by rain-fed rice fields and is located on a hillside, so it has problems in hydrology when it rains, and strong winds blow from the hill towards the valley. Therefore, a master plan was prepared using an ecological approach, in which the solutions offered minimize artificial landscape elements and optimize the function of vegetation as a wind barrier. The wind barrier is made of pine trees with three layers of thickness. With this ecological approach, it is hoped that the management of the building and environment of the Thursina Creative Islamic Boarding School can be sustainable.

Modeling the current and future habitat suitability of Neltuma pallida in the dry forest of northern Peru under climate change scenarios to 2100.

The development of anthropic activities and climate change effects impact worldwide species' ecosystems and habitats. Habitats' adequate prediction can be an important tool to assess current and future trends. In addition, it allows strategies development for their conservation. The Neltuma pallida of the forest region in northern Peru, although very significant, has experienced a decline in recent years. The objective of this research is to evaluate the current and future distribution and conservation status of N. pallida in the Peruvian dry forest under climate change (Location: Republic of Peru). A total of 132 forest presence records and 10 variables (bioclimatic, topographic, and soil) were processed and selected to obtain the current and future distribution for 2100, using Google Earth Engine (GEE), RStudio, and MaxEnt. The area under the curve values fell within the range of 0.93-0.95, demonstrating a strong predictive capability for both present and future potential habitats. The findings indicated that the likely range of habitats for N. pallida was shaped by factors such as the average temperature of wettest quarter, maximum temperature of warmest month, elevation, rainfall, and precipitation of driest month. The main suitable areas were in the central regions of the geographical departments of Tumbes, Piura, and Lambayeque, as well as in the northern part of La Libertad. It is critical to determine the habitat suitability of plant species for conservation managers since this information stimulates the development of policies that favor sustainable use programs. In addition, these results can contribute significantly to identify new areas for designing strategies for populations conserving and recovering with an ecological restoration approach.

Relevance of Natural Farming in Present Scenario of Bihar, India: A Review

Agriculture is holistic approach of science. It is convergence of field crops, horticultural crops, forestry, animal science, poultry, microbiology, soil science etc. If we pick one subject it will be injustice to the science of cultivation. The Father of modern-day natural farming is Masanobu Fukuoka. This is also known as Fukuoka Method. Do-nothing farming or Natural way of farming is an ecological farming approach established by Masanobu Fukuoka (1913-2008). Natural farming, also known as ‘Prakritic Kheti’ is a climate resilient tool that can save humans and Agro-ecological system, Asha Rani et al. [1] advocated the natural farming in India. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sabour Bhagalpur, Bihar has started natural farming practices from 2018. We have organised awareness programme in 12 villages among 2000 farmers. KVK Sabour adopted a Village in Raipura, Goradih, where we have made a benchmark survey animal particularly Deshi cow. Bihar is an Agriculture based state. Focus of this survey was how many Deshi cow was existing their and what was the utility of cow dung and cow urine. Most of them are using cow-dung as fuel for making food and cow urine was drained out. We have organised off campus and on campus training programme for Raipura villagers, demonstrated the technology to make ‘Jivamrit, Bijamrit, Ghanjivamrit etc.’ The result of this awareness is that they have started the collection of cow urine and using cow dung to make ‘Ghanjivamrit, Jivamrit’ and different products. The purpose of this work was to conduct a simple survey and review the relevance of natural farming in the present day when the cattle number is in decline. Findings indicated natural farming to be impossible without desi cow, as every component is related to the species.

AN ANALYSIS OF ECOPEDAGOGICAL APPROACH IN SOCIAL STUDIES LEARNING TOWARDS STUDENTS' ECOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE

Environmental issues are the center attention to ensure the sustainable development. Ecological intelligence is one of the important abilities that students have to maintain sustainable development. The important way to intervene students' ecological intelligence can be done through learning based on ecopedagogical approach. This research aims to determine the effect of the ecopedagogical approach in social studies learning on students' ecological intelligence. This research uses a quantitative using a quasi-experimental method. The sampling in this study used a purposive sampling technique, with a total sample of 60 students at MTs Negeri 1 Pamekasan who were divided into 2 (two) classes, namely class VII A as the control class, and class VII C as the experimental class. Based on the results of the research that has been carried out, the following conclusions can be drawn; In the experimental class the average N-Gain was 71.26. Meanwhile, the control class had an average N-Gain of 48.11. Then the t-test shows that the sig value. (2-tailed) of 0.000<0.05 which can be concluded that there is a significant (real) difference in effectiveness between the effect of using an ecological approach in social studies learning on students' ecological intelligence compared to conventional learning. Finally, an ecopedagogical approach in social studies learning needs to be developed to foster sensitivity regarding the complexity of environmental problems in order to contribute to environmental issues.

On finding one’s way: a comment on Bock et al. (2024)

In a recent issue of Psychological Research, Bock, O., Huang, J-Y., Onur, O. A., & Memmert, D. (2024). The structure of cognitive strategies for wayfinding decisions. Psychological Research Psychologische Forschung, 88, 476–486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-023-01863-3.) investigated cognitive strategies purported to guide wayfinding decisions at intersections. Following experimentation in a virtualised maze, it was concluded that intersectional wayfinding decisions were based on a ‘generalized cognitive process’, in addition to ‘strategy-specific’ processes. The aim of our comment is not to challenge these findings or their methodological rigour. Rather, we note how the study of human wayfinding has been undertaken from entirely different metatheoretical perspectives in psychological science. Leaning on the seminal work of James Gibson and Harry Heft, we consider wayfinding as a continuous, integrated perception-action process, distributed across the entire organism-environment system. Such a systems-oriented, ecological approach to wayfinding remediates the organismic asymmetry pervasive to extant theories of human behaviours, foregrounding the possibility for empirical investigation that takes seriously the socio-cultural contexts in which inhabitants dwell.

Efficient CO2 capture using a novel Zn-doped activated carbon developed from agricultural liquid biomass: Adsorption study, mechanism and transition state

A Zn-doped carbon was prepared and used as an effective CO2 adsorbent. This carbonaceous material was developed from olive mill wastewater (OMWW) by an innovative process using thermal shock flash pyrolysis followed by zinc chloride impregnation at ambient temperature. The developed Zn-doped carbon is highly porous (1406.56 m2.g−1), thermally stable and rich in active sites. The Temkin isotherm and the pseudo-second order kinetic model best describe the adsorption of CO2 on the developed material, and the storage capacity is of 370.41 mg g−1 (293 K). Thermodynamic parameters showed favorable, exothermic, and orderly adsorption. Two new isotherms, based on the number of layers formed at the surface, developed by advanced statistical modelling, were adapted and used to understand the mechanism in depth. The analysis of the results showed that CO2 adsorption occurs through the appearance of double layers on the adsorbent surface. Adapted models showed: only one molecule was adsorbed per surface active site, a very low degree of aggregation of CO2 molecules before adsorption and the molecules were adsorbed in a parallel orientation. The activation parameters showed a rapid and physical adsorption with a drop in entropy at the transition state. The mechanisms involved were governed by thermodynamic control with the possibility of easy desorption at high temperature. Zn-doped carbon is an ecological approach to reduce CO2 emissions on the globe.

Antisocial Personality Disorder as a Form of Adaptive Strategy

Background: in contemporary domestic psychiatry the evolutionary explanations of antisocial personality disorder are practically lacking. The aim of study: the analysis of the significant concepts of the evolutionary approach to understanding the origins and typology of antisocial, or dissocial, personality disorder. Material and methods: a narrative review of contemporary English-language psychiatric and psychological literature using all available search engines using the keywords “antisocial psychopathy” and “evolutionary psychiatry and psychology”. Discussion and conclusion: in English-language psychiatric and psychological literature the affective component of antisocial traits, emphasized only in ICD-10, is called “primary psychopathy,” while the behavioral component of antisocial traits, associated with “sensation seeking” and “hyperactivation,” is called “secondary” psychopathy. Evolutionary and ecological approaches emphasize the adaptive role of aggressive and antisocial behavior, viewing such behavior as a “high-risk strategy” in social and sexual competition, as “costly” but potentially adaptive (rather than as “behavioral dysfunctions”). The understanding of persistent antisocial behavior as a social “trickster” strategy exploiting the trust and cooperative behavior of others is based on the R. Axelrod-W. Hamilton “iterated” prisoner’s dilemma. In the Prisoner’s Dilemma evolutionary model, the player’s payoff is determined by the effects on “fitness”: survival and fertility. Participating in several interactions with individuals, an antisocial “deceiver” with high mobility is able to exist, manifesting itself with a fairly low frequency in the population. Non-cooperative behavior in both animals and humans reduces the fitness of others and includes aggressive behavior, deception, betrayal, predation and social parasitism. From the point of view of the concept of “economic games,” people with subclinically expressed primary psychopathic traits (emotional coldness, manipulativeness, Machiavellianism) are represented as “strategists” with cooperation partners: they give with reciprocity to those partners whom they consider “highly valuable” (with the potential for great benefits in future), and only “take”, manipulating and deceiving, from those of “low value”. In a broad sense, evolutionary psychologists and psychiatrists find in the characteristics of antisocial individuals a predominance of a set of properties of “fast” life strategies, while the concept of “fast strategies” is also used to explain geographical differences in the prevalence of aggressive behavior.

LANGUAGE TEACHER AGENCY IN FACING FREEDOM-TO-LEARN CURRICULUM IN TWO TOWNS IN JAVA

Teacher agency in facing new national curriculum shifts has been a topic discussed widely around the world, as many nations implement curriculum shifts and transitions. Indonesia has also in its early years implemented the new national curriculum called Freedom-to-Learn Curriculum. This study is aimed at exploring the agency of language teachers of public junior high schools in two different towns in Java Island, Indonesia. Employing the ecological approach by Priestley, Biesta, and Robinson (2015) which supported the interplay and dynamics of iterative, practical-evaluative, and projective dimensions, this qualitative study brings into play the semi-structured and focus group discussion data-gathering techniques. Six teachers participated in this study. The finding showed that the level of agency was diverse ranging from high (demonstrated by three research participants), emerging (demonstrated by one participant), and low (participated by two participants). Future researchers might examine the teacher agency by involving more participants as well as capture the robust study of language teacher agencies from other parts of Indonesia.

The perception of affordances; towards an ecological-enactive model of teacher noticing, expertise and development

ABSTRACT This article builds on nascent ecological approaches to teacher noticing by drawing on the ecological psychology and enactivist concept of ‘affordance’ – meaning opportunity for action – and offers a new definition of teacher noticing; the perception of affordances. This perspective provides a deeper understanding of what noticing is, particularly why it is so fundamentally situated, and moreover provides a mechanism by which expert noticing is acquired and thereby points to concrete ways in which noticing can be developed. I argue that an ecological-enactive approach offers a productive, and more comprehensive model of teacher noticing.

The governance architecture of transnational labor regulation

ABSTRACT Working conditions in a global context reveal a dramatic reality for workers in the Global South. In conjunction with the prevailing process of capital accumulation and economic growth and the new forms of poverty that accompany it, some contributions generate the image of an unregulated world of labor relations and a powerless workforce. Either the weaknesses and gaps in cross-border labor regulation are used to outline an almost insoluble problem, or a return to the salvation of the nation state is called for. The reaction to this view often leads to an exchange of blows and results in a dichotomous debate. Instead, this article sheds light on the historical complexities of national to transnational labor regulation, from the establishment of the first international trade union secretariats to modern multi-stakeholder agreements. Based on a historical analysis, this article argues that a gradual institutionalization can be observed over 130 years, while revealing a complex transnational regime-like governance architecture. Drawing on the Ecology approach, a framework is developed to capture this complex structure. It is shown that, despite the expansion of governance structures, there is a lack of legitimized control, sanction and enforcement mechanisms to comprehensively counteract labor rights violations.

Sodium lignosulfonate improve the flame retardancy of carboxymethyl chitosan @ melamine polyphosphate‐containing silicone acrylic emulsion‐based coatings

AbstractTo address the flammability concerns of silicone acrylate emulsion (SAE), it is of utmost importance to develop composite coatings that excel in flame retardancy and smoke suppression. In this research, we have utilized carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) bonded‐melamine polyphosphate (MPP)/sodium lignosulfonate (LS) to create SAE composite SiPC coatings through the sol–gel method for flame‐retarding plywood. The results obtained that CMCS pretreatment of MPP (CMPP) facilitates the filling of P‐containing components in the SAE composite SiPC coating to further form a continuous and dense cross‐linked structure. Appropriate dosage of LS (2 wt.%) improve the flame retardancy of the coatings, which is manifested the peak heat release rate drops from 237.4 to 142.4 kW m−2, total smoke production (TSP) is also significantly reduces by 55%. Notably, the coating undergoes a transformation into a nonflammable vitreous polyphosphate barrier layer while burning, effectively preventing the transfer of heat or mass. According to the calculation results of adsorption kinetics, the formaldehyde adsorption rate of the SiPC coating increased by 76.6%. Furthermore, the pyrolysis kinetics identify that the 3D Z.‐L.‐T model governs the coatings' pyrolysis, and the appropriate LS makes the pyrolysis Eα rise from 300.98 to 326.50 kJ mol−1 at 358 – 439°C, indicating enhanced thermal stability. In conclusion, our research has introduced a novel design strategy for developing the SiPC coating with exceptional properties, studies the flame‐retardant mechanisms of SAE composite SiPC coating, promotes the advancement of sustainable urban building materials, and explores a green, clean, and low‐cost ecological technology approach.

Socialscape Ecology: Integrating Social Features and Processes into Spatially Explicit Marine Conservation Planning

Conservation planning is the process of locating, implementing, and maintaining areas that are managed to promote the persistence of biodiversity, ecosystem function, and human use. In this review, we analyze the ways in which social processes have been integrated into Marxan, a spatially explicit conservation planning tool used as one step in a broader process to select the location and size of protected areas. Drawing on 89 peer-reviewed articles published between 2005 and 2020, we analyzed the ways in which human activity, values, and processes are spatialized in the environment, something we call socialscape ecology. A socialscape ecology approach to conservation planning considers not only the spatial configuration of human activity in a land or seascape but also the underlying drivers of these activities, how resource use rights and access operate in an area, and how resource users contribute to data collection and decision making. Our results show that there has been a small but statistically significant increase in the total number of cost variables into Marxan analysis over time, with uneven performance across seven of the nine categories assessed. One notable area of improvement has been the increase over time in number of studies integrating socio-environmental change (e.g., climate change) in their analysis. Including accurate, context-specific, and detailed accounts of social features and processes within land and seascapes is essential for developing conservation plans that are cost-effective, ecologically sound, socially desirable, and just.

Assessment of domestic pig–bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus) interactions through local knowledge in rural areas of Madagascar

In many parts of the world, domestic and wild animal populations interact at the interface between natural and agricultural ecosystems. Introduced with the first inhabitants arriving from eastern Africa, the bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus) is the largest living terrestrial mammal in Madagascar. Bushpigs are regularly reported close to human settlements where they damage crops and gardens. As domestic pigs are often raised in free-ranging conditions around the villages, bushpigs and domestic pigs can interact leading to the transmission and circulation of shared swine pathogens that impact both animal and human health. In this study, we characterized the socio-ecological context of bushpig–domestic pig interactions in two different regions of western Madagascar. We conducted participatory mapping sessions and focus group interviews with 65 hunters, 80 pig farmers and 96 crop farmers in 20 fokontany, the smallest administrative unit in Madagascar. After discussing with participants, we gathered information about the spatialization of interactions and their potential geographical drivers. We explored data by performing multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal components. Based on the reported occurrence or absence of bushpig-domestic pig interactions we were able to classify areas with high or intermediate levels of interactions or no interactions at all. Interactions between the two pig species were reported in only 25% of the fokontany assessed. Even though both suid species were attracted to fruit trees, crops, and water sources, only indirect interactions in those spots were reported. Direct interactions were reported in 10% of cases and referred to interspecific sexual and/or agonistic behavior. The participatory methods used to acquire local knowledge about natural events were confirmed as valuable, low-cost exploratory methods to characterize areas with wild-domestic animal interactions. The results of this study will help plan future studies to characterize the interface between the two species from an ecological or epidemiological perspective using more sensitive and sophisticated ecological approaches.