Landscape Area Research Articles

Interfaces do Método de Leitura da Paisagem e Sistemas de Informações Geográficas (SIG): contribuições do estudo das Unidades de Paisagem para o ensino-aprendizagem no Ateliê de Projeto Urbano

The interdisciplinary and multiscale methodological approach presented here seeks to understand the biogeophysical support in repeated interactions with society, highlighting the process of socio-spatial production. It outlines the structuring and adaptation of the Landscape Reading method for didactic workshops in Geographic Information Systems, as a result of the GIS research project applied to Landscape Planning developed in (omitted for blind reading). Structuring such method adapted to geotechnology tools and environmental modeling in a GIS environment proved to be of great value for application in Architecture and Urbanism undegraduate courses, which is undergoing an important process of teaching-learning design methodological adaptation, especially in the areas of landscape, urbanism, and urban and regional planning.

Colonial management drives ecological change following the exclusion of Indigenous stewardship in a Stoney Iyethka montane grassland, Canadian Rocky Mountains

Abstract For millennia, Indigenous Peoples and their ecological stewardship have kept culturally important landscapes open, diverse and productive. Under colonization which suppresses stewardship activities, landscape vegetation patterns shift and areas previously stewarded by Indigenous Peoples are now undergoing successional change. As a case study, we document ecological change on the homelands of the Stoney Iyethka Nations in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where landscapes have changed dramatically over the past century of colonial management. On the Stoney Iyethka traditional montane Egnuck Wida grasslands, we analysed vegetation change on both the landscape and plot level. Using oblique photographs taken in 1924 paired with 2021 satellite imagery, we compared past and present landscape vegetation cover and assessed drivers of succession. We also examined differences in vegetation class cover and plant community structure between surveys conducted in 1981, 1995 and 2020. Nearly half (47%) of the landscape surveyed showed seral progression in vegetation class, which was not explained by topography, geology or climate warming. Grassland area decreased four‐fold between 1924 and 2021. Grassland retention was strongly related to management zoning, with greater losses in the crown‐managed ecological reserve than on lands that remain under Stoney Iyethka stewardship. Vegetation plots surveyed reveal changes to plant community composition and shifts in dominant vegetation class. In plots previously composed primarily of forbs and graminoids, shrubs have become the dominant groundcover. Declines in historic vegetation include a loss of culturally important food, medicine and ceremonial plants to the Stoney Iyethka Nations. The most likely explanation for these results is the displacement of Indigenous Peoples and their stewardship from the landscape. We demonstrate that the past century of colonial environmental management has altered ecological processes maintained on this landscape for millennia by Indigenous Peoples. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

High carnivore richness despite human pressure and prey depletion in the south-west of the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area

Abstract Transfrontier conservation landscapes, such as the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TCA) in southern Africa, play a crucial role in preserving global biodiversity and promoting the sustainable development of local communities. However, resources to facilitate management could become scarce across large areas, leading to difficulties in obtaining baseline ecological information. Consequently, in the absence of sustainable management vast landscapes may experience loss of wildlife species, which could destabilize ecosystems. This effect is particularly significant if the loss involves top predators. Hence, understanding carnivore distributions is critical to informing management. We conducted a mammal survey in the Ondjou Conservancy in Namibia, an 8,729 km2 understudied area in the south-west of the KAZA TCA. We analysed camera-trapping data from a 2,304 km2 grid and identified high carnivore richness (18 species) despite widespread human activity and prey depletion. Using a multi-species occupancy framework we found that carnivore occurrence increased with increasing distance from the main village and with closer proximity to the Nyae Nyae Conservancy neighbouring the KAZA TCA, which has large and diverse carnivore populations. Carnivore occurrence was higher when local prey richness was high. The Ondjou Conservancy could function as an important buffer for the larger conservation network, yet rural communities in this area require support for fostering human–wildlife coexistence. Additionally, restoring the natural prey base will be critical to ensuring the long-term viability of carnivore populations in this and other human-impacted landscapes. With many remote areas of transfrontier conservation landscapes being understudied, our findings illustrate the conservation potential of such areas within large-scale conservation networks.

The ribosome profiling landscape of yeast reveals a high diversity in pervasive translation

BackgroundPervasive translation is a widespread phenomenon that plays a critical role in the emergence of novel microproteins, but the diversity of translation patterns contributing to their generation remains unclear. Based on 54 ribosome profiling (Ribo-Seq) datasets, we investigated the yeast Ribo-Seq landscape using a representation framework that allows the comprehensive inventory and classification of the entire diversity of Ribo-Seq signals, including non-canonical ones.ResultsWe show that if coding regions occupy specific areas of the Ribo-Seq landscape, noncoding regions encompass a wide diversity of Ribo-Seq signals and, conversely, populate the entire landscape. Our results show that pervasive translation can, nevertheless, be associated with high specificity, with 1055 noncoding ORFs exhibiting canonical Ribo-Seq signals. Using mass spectrometry under standard conditions or proteasome inhibition with an in-house analysis protocol, we report 239 microproteins originating from noncoding ORFs that display canonical but also non-canonical Ribo-Seq signals. Each condition yields dozens of additional microprotein candidates with comparable translation properties, suggesting a larger population of volatile microproteins that are challenging to detect. Our findings suggest that non-canonical translation signals may harbor valuable information and underscore the significance of considering them in proteogenomic studies. Finally, we show that the translation outcome of a noncoding ORF is primarily determined by the initiating codon and the codon distribution in its two alternative frames, rather than features indicative of functionality.ConclusionOur results enable us to propose a topology of a species’ Ribo-Seq landscape, opening the way to comparative analyses of this translation landscape under different conditions.

Geoparticipation as a tool for mapping calamities mosquito hotspots: A case study from Litovelské Pomoraví, Czechia

The coexistence of humans and nature has been a recurring theme throughout history, gaining particular importance in the context of climate change and the sustainability of our planet for future generations. However, the delicate balance between humans and nature is often disrupted, as exemplified by the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area in Czechia, where close interaction between humans and mosquitoes is a persistent issue. In this area, when environmental conditions are favorable for mosquito outbreaks, the local population living near the floodplain forests experiences significant discomfort for extended periods. The risk of mosquito overpopulation has intensified in recent years, largely attributed to climate change. Rising water temperatures in breeding habitats accelerate the developmental cycles of certain mosquito species, shortening the time required for maturation. This study aims to utilize modern geoinformation techniques to assess mosquito activity within the Litovelské Pomoraví region and evaluate the perceived impact on human populations. The methodological approach integrates the development of a representative population distribution layer and participatory mapping. These efforts culminate in the identification of active mosquito zones and the quantification of the at-risk population. While long-term data indicate that the situation is not deteriorating significantly, the study confirms that elevated mosquito activity continues to disrupt the daily lives of residents and visitors. Notably, summer mosquito outbreaks exert a broader impact than spring outbreaks, affecting both a larger geographic area and a greater proportion of the population.The study’s primary output, the spatial delineation of active mosquito zones and the identification of continuously populated areas at risk, holds significant value for the integrated management of the region. These findings can help mitigate the annual occurrence of mosquito outbreaks, improve the health of the floodplain forest ecosystem, and promote biodiversity conservation.

Development characteristics, problems and countermeasures of major scientific and technological infrastructures in the field of life sciences

The major science and technology infrastructure in the field of life science is an indispensable and important content in the large-science facility landscape. It encompasses cutting-edge, strategic, and fundamental aspects. This field differs from traditional facilities such as particle physics, astronomy and nuclear energy. Moreover, it represents a relatively underdeveloped area in China's facility landscape. Unique characteristics are observed in terms of capital investment, physical form, facility lifespan, digitization degree, organizational structure, project risk, and development effect when compared to traditional facilities. Despite its importance, challenges persist in project establishment, investment, management, and construction. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the condensing mechanism for addressing major scientific issues in the life science field, improve the strategic investment layout, facilitate the localization of technical equipment based on original scientific ideas, and strengthen the differentiated management capacity of life science facilities.

Ecological and faunistic features of fleas in the Transcaucasian mounthill natural plague foci in Azerbaijan

Among all vectors of natural focal infections, fleas are the most active. In this respect, entomological and epizootological monitoring has always been of great importance. This article, based on the material collected from the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus, presents the results of a study of flea species diversity, the landscape and geographical area of their distribution. The goal of this work was to determine the diversity of flea species, their distribution and abundance based on the results of epizootological studies conducted in areas with different landscapes in the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus of Azerbaijan. The material for the study was obtained during epizootological studies and observations conducted in the spring and autumn seasons of 2020–2023. in the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus of Azerbaijan (Bozchol, Mil-Mugan, Eastern and Western Jeyranchel, Gobustan, Absheron, semi-deserts of Kilazi, Sitalchay). Collection, packaging, transportation, and marketing of the material were carried out on the basis of relevant biosafety rules and delivered for further study to the Special Dangerous İnfections Control Center. In total, 61,087 nest tracks were examined, and 7,939 fleas were collected and delivered. The material was processed and identified in the laboratory in accordance with the current regulatory and methodological document on the safety of working with pathogenic biological agents (PBA) of pathogenicity groups I–IV. As a result of sample identification, the species composition of fleas was determined and grouped by geographical areas and landscapes. Research was also carried out (using the PCR method) for the presence of the plague causative agent - Yersinia pestis. According to the results of the study, it was found that, regardless of the biocenotic and climatic characteristics of individual sectors of the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus of Azerbaijan, there may be enough carriers of infectious diseases and their growth increases over the years. The frequency of occurrence of the prevailing genera of fleas - Xenopsylla and Nosopsyllus- depends on the natural and climatic conditions of the focus being studied. The analysis for the presence of the plague causative agent among all fleas caught and studied did not give positive results. For the timely detection of epizootics among wild rodents and bloodsuckers, it is important to conduct regular epizootic surveys in enzootic areas for plague.

Pollution trends in a protected fluvial landscape located in a highly industrialized Ostrava urban agglomeration; Rezavka Nature Reserve, Czech Republic

Abandoned meanders and former river channels represent important depositional units of fluvial river systems, making them suitable sedimentary archives for assessing pollution trends. The objective of this study is to provide insight into temporal trends and spatial variability in pollution levels in the selected fluvial elements (an abandoned meander, a former river channel, and a semi-open meander) within the Rezavka Nature Reserve (part of the Poodří protected landscape area) along the Odra River and Mlýnka stream, located in the heavily polluted Ostrava urban agglomeration (Czech Republic). Initial stages of the abandoned meander evolution were characterised by high sediment accumulation rates and decelerated over time, while more regular sediment supply continued in sites close to the semi-open meander of the Mlýnka stream. Pollutants were effectively captured by abandoned meanders with fine-grained infill, while the coarser-grained infill of the former channel was less effective pollutant scavenger. A time frame for deposition was assigned using vertical trends in 137Cs mass activity and selected organic pollutants. The sedimentary record, covering the last ~ 70 years, reveals a distinct vertical pollution trend that reflects industrial development. Pollution levels have increased since the 1950s and will remain high at the end of the 20th century. The depth pattern of heavy metals, as well as their enrichment factors, shows an upward increase. Levels of persistent organic pollutants are typically low or under the limit of detection in the deepest strata, gradually or sharply rising upward.

The Ideal Strategy of Carbon-Neutral for Park Landscape Design: A Proposal for a Rapid Detection Method

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the carbon footprint, resilience levels, and optimal landscape area ratios of various parks. Additionally, it explores the relationships between landscape element proportions (LEP), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), resilience indicators (RI), and the carbon reduction benefits associated with carbon neutrality (CN). Six parks were assessed for resilience, NDVI, LEP, and CN values, with Pearson correlation analysis conducted. The results revealed that parks with or without waterbodies exhibited ideal LEP area ratios of 6.5:2:1.5 (Softscape:Waterbody:Hardscape) and 8.3:1.7 (Softscape:Hardscape), respectively. Enhanced Softscape and reduced Hardscape proportions in parks correlated with increased NDVI and CN. NDVI exhibited a positive correlation with Softscape percentage and a negative correlation with Hardscape percentage. Conversely, CN demonstrated a negative correlation with Hardscape percentage and a positive correlation with Softscape percentage. Suggesting Softscape should constitute over 65%, and Hardscape should be under 15% in parks with water bodies. Waterless parks are advised to maintain a Softscape ratio exceeding 83% and a Hardscape ratio below 17%. Finally, the study extended to assess the LEP of 22 additional parks, validating the suitability of the ideal LEP area ratio.

Landscape connectivity for African elephants in the world's largest transfrontier conservation area: A collaborative, multi‐scalar assessment

Abstract Landscape connectivity operates at a variety of scales, depending on the geography of the area in question and the focal species or ecological process under consideration. Most connectivity studies, however, are typically focused on a single scale, which in the case of resistance‐based connectivity modelling, is often the entire landscape or protected area (PA) network. This large, single‐scale focus may miss areas that are important for connectivity at smaller scales and that can be documented via observed animal movements without resorting to landscape‐wide statistical modelling and extrapolation approaches. Here, we characterize landscape connectivity at three different scales (local/micro, inter‐PA, and landscape‐wide/macro), using observed animal movements rather than conventional resistance surface models, to produce a connectivity conservation blueprint for African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Kavango‐Zambezi transfrontier conservation area (KAZA) in southern Africa. This analysis is based on an extensive, high‐resolution GPS tracking database comprising approximately 4 million GPS locations from nearly 300 tagged elephants and their associated herds. Our results show that high‐fidelity elephant use of micro‐corridors is typically—though not exclusively—related to directed movements towards water, often amidst heavy anthropogenic presence. Movement pathways that connected KAZA's core protected areas were longer and variable, with some channelled into narrow areas of use and others more dispersed across larger sub‐landscapes. At the largest scale, a network analysis incorporating all used landscape grid cells revealed several clusters of large‐scale movement corridors that connected distant parts of KAZA. Synthesis and applications: Our three scales of analyses reveal disparate geographical priorities for connectivity conservation that collectively could help ensure the functional connectivity of KAZA for its largest inhabitants. Each scale will require its own set of inter‐related conservation interventions, while further research into areas with sparse data collection, and other species of conservation concern, could reveal additional connectivity priorities at each scale.

Evaluasi pemeliharaan lanskap terhadap kapasitas tenaga kerja di trans studio mall bandung

Landscape maintenance work is part of landscape work that focuses on daily activities to maintain the quality of beauty, environment, health, and plant growth in a landscape. Landscape maintenance at Trans Studio Mall Bandung is included in operational work that aims to increase the selling value of the mall landscape area, if the work is carried out in accordance with the capacity and work program that has been determined. Trans Studio Mall Bandung is an international standard shopping center that has green open space in its area. The green open space is managed by the Landscape Maintenance Unit (UPL) of Trans Studio Mall. To evaluate the landscape maintenance at Trans Studio Mall, a study will be conducted on the capacity of each type of maintenance work throughout the landscape area. The evaluation of maintenance work that will be discussed includes daily routine work carried out by the gardener. The studies start from preparation, data collection, analysis, and synthesis. Data was collected through observation, interviews, and literature studies, then analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The results obtained show that the number of workers still does not meet the minimum capacity for landscape maintenance at Trans Studio Mall.

The Contribution of the Management of Landscape Features to Soil Organic Carbon Turnover among Farmlands

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

Landscape changes in Czech large protected areas 1950–2020: Two different landscapes types on the same path

Landscape and its development is crucial for viability and management of protected areas, therefore, we focused on Czech large protected areas and analysed their land cover and landscape structure changes from the 1950s to recent times. Based on four milestones (1950, 1990, 2004 and 2020), data from topographic maps and aerial imagery were vectorized and use for following steps as analysing main trends of changes: an increase in forest in all areas and extensification of agriculture; the latter was expressed by permanent grassland growth in almost all areas and by arable land decrease. Urbanisation was reflected in the growth of built-up areas. However, these changes did not take place equally across all protected areas. Therefore, we distinguished two groups: 1) more stable (in terms of land cover change) and forested areas; 2) protected landscape areas which were also established for conservation of cultural landscape with open land cover categories, which showed larger changes. Moreover, landscape structure shows its simplification during the study period across almost all protected areas. Therefore, our results indicate that, in some protected areas, landscape stability and in some others landscape diversity are their values.

Observatory of Town and Biomimetics For Urban Modeling and Architectural Design of Scientific Space in Landscaped Site.

Some modern architectural designs face difficulties in completion ,andthe dificult and complexe shapes lead to an increase in the cost of the project. The irregular urban planning of town creates an imbalance in the urban fabric and causes the functional problems. In this searches using biomimetics , we practice the urban planning of scientific space through projects of scientific use in several branches in a pivotal urban area whose scientific space extends to the eastern suburb of Ouzera Town. After a brief presentation of an urban observatory from Ouzera Town that enhances the scientifc project, the scientific spaces are disgnated for the rapid exucution in scientific space. The architectural design derived from the plants and biological structures facilitates the urban realization insuring easy practices and achieving and urban form through landscape architecture that is consistent in ecologicaland landscaped area of Ouzera Terriory.

Assessment of coastal landscape fragmentation and its driving factors based on optimal scale: A case study of the Yellow River Delta, China

Since the large-scale oil exploration and development in the 1960 s, the Yellow River Delta (YRD) has undergone rapid industrialization and urbanization. Concurrently, the regional landscape ecological structure has experienced significant changes, and the degree of landscape fragmentation has increased. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of the spatiotemporal dynamics and formation mechanisms of landscape fragmentation is crucial for the protection and restoration of natural ecosystem in the YRD. This study constructs an evaluation index system for landscape fragmentation in the YRD from three perspectives: quantitative characteristics, shape features, and spatial distribution. By combining inflection point analysis, landscape area loss index, and geostatistical models, the optimal spatial scale of landscape fragmentation from 2000 to 2020 is determined. Additionally, the study analyzes the spatiotemporal changes in landscape fragmentation and employs the optimal parameters-based geographical detector (OPGD) model to reveal the formation mechanisms of spatial heterogeneity in landscape fragmentation. The study findings are as follows: (1) The optimal spatial resolution for analyzing landscape fragmentation in the YRD was 80 m, and the extent was 880 m. (2) Between 2000 and 2020, landscape fragmentation in the YRD increased, with the highest level recorded in 2020. Highly fragmented areas, particularly inland regions, expanded remarkably, whereas coastal areas experienced lower fragmentation levels. (3) Distance to rivers and ditch density were the primary factors affecting landscape fragmentation, followed by land-use type and average land gross domestic product. The influence of natural factors was relatively minimal. The interaction between factors had a greater influence on landscape fragmentation compared to individual factors. The distance to rivers and land-use type exhibited the most substantial enhancement effects following interaction with other factors. This study provides valuable insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics and mechanisms of landscape fragmentation in the YRD, providing valuable guidance for the sustainable management and ecological restoration of the region and other similar ecologically sensitive areas.

ASSESSING the POTENTIAL of RAINWATER HARVESTING and REUSE for SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Water resource management, one of the paradigms for creating sustainable universities, ensures that universities both manage the quantity of water used and maintain the quality of water. Water resource management models that begin with campus priority create input for cities at a higher scale. Water resource management encompasses a variety of sustainable practices. One of the most applicable is the reuse of rainwater. Based on these findings, the main objective of the study is to re-evaluate the rainwater harvested with proposed solutions on site and contribute to nature and the water cycle. In the study, the “Rational Method” was used as the method for calculating the amount of rainwater. Hardscape (roads, parking lots), landscaped areas (landscaped and wooded areas) and roofing materials within the campus were determined. The efficiency coefficients of the materials were determined. The area occupied by each material was calculated. The total amount of rainwater was calculated by multiplying by the rainfall data. Studies on rainwater harvesting usually only calculate the amount harvested from roof surfaces. This study calculated the amount of rainwater harvested from hardscape, landscape and rooftop areas. In one year, an average of 243,000 liters of water is needed to use the reservoir and 54,530,000 liters of water for plant irrigation. The total water consumption was calculated at 54,773,000 liters. The annual rainwater volume is 494,000,000 liters and the useful volume is 296,400,000 liters. It can be seen that a volume is achieved that is approximately 5 times the amount of water required.

Source Apportionment and Response to Landscape Pattern of Health Risk of Cultivated Soil Heavy Metals

Heavy metal pollution mainly caused by human activities is becoming increasingly prominent and threatening human health and ecosystem safety in soil, which is a non-renewable natural resource that humans rely on for survival and development. Assessment and analysis of soil heavy metal health risk is significant for protecting human health, preventing soil pollution, and maintaining ecosystem security. Based on the investigation of heavy metals, including Cr, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg, in cultivated soil in Liuhe District, the health risk assessment model was used to identify the health risk characteristics of heavy metals, and the spatial distribution, main sources, and responses to landscape patterns were explored by using inverse distance weight interpolation, positive definite matrix factorization, landscape pattern index, and redundancy analysis. The results showed that the coefficients of variation corresponding to Cr, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg in the study area were 0.19, 0.36, 0.23, 0.52, and 1.16, respectively, all of which belonged to moderate or high variability, indicating that they had high spatial heterogeneity and were susceptible to human factors. Cr, Pb, and As were the main health risk characteristic factors in the study area, with the carcinogenic risks to children ranging from 13.307×10-6 to 38.400×10-6, 0.839×10-6 to 3.250×10-6, and 4.548×10-6 to 16.680×10-6, respectively, which were higher than those in adults. Agricultural production activities, industrial production, and transportation activities were the main sources of heavy metals, with carcinogenic risks to children of 17.946×10-6 and 12.941×10-6, respectively. Furthermore, high-risk areas caused by agricultural production activities were mainly concentrated in the northern area of Liuhe District and showed an increasing trend from south to north and from the center to the periphery. The surrounding areas caused by industrial production activities and transportation were mainly concentrated in the chemical industry park and economic development zone of Liuhe District and showed a spatial agglomeration feature of decreasing from south to north and from the core to the periphery. The cumulative explanatory value of the landscape pattern index for the comprehensive carcinogenic risk to children was 0.463, and patch density, patch proportion in landscape area, patch aggregation degree, and maximum patch index had significant effects on the comprehensive carcinogenic risk in children, and the corresponding explanatory values were 0.422, 0.274, 0.351, and 0.232, respectively. This study had important theoretical and practical significance for expanding the perspective of environmental health research, promoting the transformation of soil heavy metal management methods and safeguarding regional population health.

Optimization of truss structures using multi-objective cheetah optimizer

In this study, a multi-objective version of the recently proposed cheetah optimizer called multi-objective cheetah optimizer (MOCO) has been proposed. MOCO draws inspiration from the targeted hunting strategy employed by cheetahs, which involves a sequence of actions: searching for prey, patiently waiting for the right moment to attack, swiftly launching the attack, and then retreating from the prey and returning to their habitat. MOCO is the result of modification and enhancement from its single-objective counterpart, utilizing a Pareto dominance-based approach. This adaptation allows MOCO to efficiently handle multiple objectives, explores and exploits promising areas in the optimization landscape, and identifies non-dominated solutions, offering valuable tradeoff choices for decision-makers. To demonstrate its practical applications, the MOCO method has been employed to address five intricate structural design problems. These problems involve a pair of competing objectives: the minimization of structural weight and the reduction of maximum nodal displacement. To gauge the efficacy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm, a comparative analysis is conducted against three alternative state-of-the-art multi-objective algorithms. Furthermore, a rigorous evaluation is carried out utilizing hypervolume testing. The findings reveal that the MOCO algorithm surpasses the performance of the other algorithms, underscored by its capacity to uncover a diverse array of non-dominated solutions. To delve deeper into the experimental results, statistical analysis employing Friedman’s rank test is employed. The solutions generated and the convergence patterns exhibited by the MOCO approach underscore its exceptional proficiency in resolving intricate design problems.

Feathers and faith: Sacred groves of semi-arid landscapes hold distinct avian richness and composition in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India

Sacred groves have long been recognised for their critical role in biodiversity conservation, but research on their importance in avian conservation is limited. We conducted a comprehensive assessment of bird diversity, richness, and abundance within sacred groves and their surrounding areas in the semi-arid landscape of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. We made 120 point counts (60 sacred groves and 60 random points) to record birds from March 2023 to July 2023. Our results revealed a greater number of bird species (n = 114) within sacred groves than random points (n = 100), including several species of global conservation concern. The species diversity remained consistent, while variations in species richness and abundance was observed. Moreover, we found that the overall composition of birds’ feeding guilds was similar in both groups. We observed noteworthy differences in the abundance of frugivores, granivores, insectivores, and omnivores. Species and guild-level abundance exhibited an even distribution. Species richness in both type of sites predominantly attributed to species turnover. Feeding guilds and bird species had varying associations to environmental variables. Our findings recommend the immediate protection of these sacred areas for bird conservation.

Multifactor evaluation of architectural value in historical and cultural heritage area——the case of Dingzi Street, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China

Historical and cultural heritage areas gradually disappear due to rapid urbanization, urban renewal, and transformation. With China's urban development shifting from incremental planning to stock optimization, protecting historical and cultural landscape areas has gained considerable attention. The development and preservation of these areas have become pivotal research issues. A multi-value-oriented evaluation index system has been established to recognize the haphazard and scientifically unfounded updating and reforming of buildings within historical and cultural landscape areas. This system draws upon and organizes evaluation indices for historical buildings from domestic and international contexts. An empirical test assessed the protection efforts in the Dingzi Street Historical and Cultural Landscape Area in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province. The results emphasize that the protection of buildings in historical landscape areas should consider the potential for development and construction, the enhancement of residents' living environments, and the economic impact on neighboring areas. In the renewal construction of historical landscape areas, the evaluation of most buildings focuses on economic value, utility, and the feasibility of renovation implementation. The study's conclusions are essential for enhancing the scientific and practical aspects of renewal and renovation methods for buildings in historical and cultural landscape areas. This research provides valuable insights into balancing development and preservation in the evolving urban landscape of China