Census Period Research Articles

Spatiotemporal Patterns for Agroforestry Tree Crops in the U.S. Corn Belt for USDA Census of Agriculture Periods 2012–2022

Within the U.S., there is a growing need to integrate environmentally friendly practices into conventional agriculture. Agroforestry enhances environmental and resource stewardship in agricultural landscapes while offering potential economic benefits to farmers. Despite rising interest, limited information on its application in the U.S. hinders development efforts. A spatiotemporal analysis of current farm operations can provide crucial insights. This study examined patterns of agroforestry and tree crop adoption in the U.S. Corn Belt using USDA Census data (2012, 2017, and 2022) and spatial tools (Global Moran’s I, Local Moran’s I, and Moran scatterplots). The tree crops included in the analysis were chestnut (Castanea spp.), hazelnut (Corylus spp.), improved northern pecan (Carya illinoinensis), elderberry (Sambucus spp.), and pawpaw (Asimina triloba). The results showed increasing farm operations with agroforestry and tree crops over time for all census periods. Agroforestry had the strongest spatial cluster patterns, with Local Moran’s I revealing R2 values rising from 0.30 to 0.35 between 2017 and 2022. Chestnut, hazelnut, and improved pecan had clustered spatial patterns, but had decreasing spatial autocorrelations from 2012 to 2022, while elderberry clustered in 2017 but not 2022. This study reveals an upward trend in agroforestry adoption and the spatial expansion of certain tree crops in the U.S. Corn Belt, highlighting potential for region-specific agroforestry development. The findings offer insights to guide strategies and programs supporting sustainable agricultural practices.

Effect of police expenditure on crime rate in India

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between law enforcement expenditures, economic indicators and various crime rates in India using data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) spanning from 2001 to 2021. Design/methodology/approach The study uses data sourced from the NCRB covering violent crimes, property crimes, economic crimes and total crimes under the Indian Penal Code across 27 states and 2 union territories in India. Crime rates per 100,000 people are calculated using projected population figures from the 2001 and 2011 censuses, adjusting for census periods and growth rates. Economic variables such as per capita real gross state domestic product (GSDP) and total police expenditure are obtained from state government sources, adjusted to constant prices. Pooled ordinary least squares analysis is conducted to explore the relationships between crime rates, conviction rate, economic factors and police expenditure over the three-time points: 2001, 2011 and 2021. Findings The study reveals a complex relationship between police expenditure and crime rates across different categories in India. Increased police expenditure is positively associated with higher reporting rates for violent and economic crimes, suggesting that enhanced law enforcement resources may improve crime detection and reporting. However, contrary to some expectations, higher police spending does not necessarily lead to a reduction in overall crime rates. Economic prosperity, measured by per capita GSDP, is found to reduce violent crime rates but is associated with an increase in property and economic crimes, likely due to the greater opportunities for such crimes in wealthier regions. Research limitations/implications The study’s reliance on state-level aggregate data and NCRB crime statistics, which are based on reported incidents, might not fully capture the true extent of criminal activity, particularly in regions with underreporting issues. In addition, the use of projected population data beyond 2001 and 2011 introduces some uncertainty into the analysis. Future research should explore district-level data to better understand regional variations in crime and incorporate social, cultural and innovative policing strategies to provide a more comprehensive analysis. Practical implications Policymakers should recognize the nuanced impacts of police expenditure and economic prosperity on crime rates. While increased law enforcement resources may enhance crime reporting, they do not guarantee a reduction in overall crime rates. Economic growth, while beneficial in reducing violent crimes, may inadvertently increase property and economic crimes due to greater opportunities for criminal activity. These insights suggest the need for targeted interventions that consider both economic factors and law enforcement strategies in crime prevention efforts. Originality/value This study contributes to the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of police expenditure in reducing crime by highlighting its limited impact on overall crime rates in India. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the diverse effects of economic prosperity on different crime types, offering valuable insights for policymakers aiming to design evidence-based crime prevention strategies that account for socioeconomic disparities and regional contexts.

Grow or die: A 49‐year growth history of a Japanese warm‐temperate tree species

AbstractThe growth trajectories of trees are not fully understood due to their long life span. We characterized the population dynamics of the canopy tree Castanopsis cuspidata (Thunb.) Schottky in a Japanese warm‐temperate forest over 49 years (1966–2015). Our study was initiated approximately 50 years after our study site was clear‐cut. The forest had a closed canopy for the first 23 years of the study. Strong typhoons in 1991 and 1993 seriously damaged the forest, and since then the forest has been recovering from these disturbances. The diameter distribution of this species was bell‐shaped in 1966, suggesting that the trees emerged simultaneously after the clear‐cut in the 1910s, and the recruitment of trees has remained unchanged since then. The lack of recruitment of C. cuspidata before the typhoon disturbance supports this conclusion. Assuming that the C. cuspidata trees in 1966 were cohorts that were established soon after the clear‐cut, the size differences reflect differences in growth rate, with small trees corresponding to slow growers and large trees corresponding to fast growers. Before the typhoon, slow growers had low survival, and the mortality rate of fast growers was low. Many fast growers were uprooted or snapped by strong winds by the typhoons. However, their mortality rate did not differ from that of slow growers because many slow growers were killed by large fallen trees. The growth of some slow‐growing survivors increased after the typhoon, which allowed them to rapidly reach the canopy. Therefore, the typhoon altered the distribution of canopy trees among slow and fast growers. Survivors experienced faster growth than trees that died during the census period, suggesting that growth rate provides a robust indicator of future survival. Before the typhoon, the survival of fast growers was higher than that of slow growers. This suggests that fast growers disproportionally contribute to reproduction compared with slow growers. However, no recruited tree was observed in this subperiod, suggesting that fast growers made no contribution to reproduction. Fast growers might not play a more significant demographic role than slow growers in this species.

Nationwide occurrence and discharge mass load of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in effluent and biosolids: A snapshot from 75 wastewater treatment plants across Australia

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been recognized as secondary sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) released into the environment. In this study, PFAS concentrations were measured in effluent and biosolids samples collected from 75 WWTPs across Australia during the 2016 Census period, which covers more than half of the Australian population. Twelve PFAS compounds, including six C5-C10 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), four perfluoro sulfonic acids (PFSAs) such as perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfuorohexane sulfonic (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (PFDS), and one fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS), were detected in the effluent, with concentrations up to 504 ng/L (PFHxS). Among these, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and perfluoropentanic acid (PFPeA) exhibited the highest median concentrations. In the biosolids, a total of 21 PFAS compounds were detected, encompassing ten C4-C14 PFCAs, four PFSAs, two FTS (6:2 and 8:2 FTS), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA), two perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (NMethyl FOSAA and NEthyl FOSAA), and two perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol (FOSE), with dry weight (dw) concentrations approaching 235 ng/g (PFOS). The highest median and mean concentrations were observed for perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and PFOS. An annual discharge of approximately 250 kg of the total 21 PFAS compounds was estimated through the effluent and biosolids of the participating WWTPs. Notably, PFOS and 6:2 FTS constituted the largest proportion of total PFAS in the WWTPs' output. While PFCAs were higher in effluent concentrations compared to influent levels across most WWTPs (92% of WWTPs for ∑8PFCAs), the concentrations of PFSAs either decreased or remained relatively stable (in 80% of WWTPs for ∑4PFSAs) throughout the wastewater treatment process.

Dynamics of livestock and poultry population in India and Himachal Pradesh:A comparative temporal analysis

The present study on livestock population dynamics can provide useful insights about growth trends of various species and overall livestock population. Such type of analysis is useful for making sound policy and programme planning in livestock sector. The study is based on the secondary data (1977 to 2019) collected from sources such as different livestock census, basic animal husbandry statistics, statistical outlines of India and Himachal Pradesh. The results revealed that India’s cattle population after attaining a peak of 204.5 million in 1992 remained in the range of 190-200 million during majority of census period. Cattle population in Himachal after attaining peak in 2007 has shown sharp decline in last two censuses. During last two census (2007-19) period, buffalo population’s growth has slowed down in India whereas it showed negative growth rate in Himachal Pradesh. Goat population in India showed promising positive trend in majority of census period but in Himachal Pradesh, growth has slowed down. Sheep population also showed steady growth in majority of census period in India whereas in Himachal Pradesh it has declined in every census. Therefore, growth rate of cattle and buffalo population has either stagnated or slowed down in India. On the contrary, cattle, buffalo, sheep population declined in Himachal Pradesh and goat population witnessed slower growth rate in comparison to entire India. The poultry population in the India and Himachal Pradesh increased at impressive and consistent growth rate.

The U.S. Workforce From 1960 to 2020: A RIASEC View

This paper analyzes civilian occupations and employment data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau over seven decades (1960–2020) with respect to six kinds of work (Holland’s RIASEC classification). The focus is on (a) occupational titles used, (b) civilian employment, and (c) income. This study is a continuation and extension of eight articles published earlier by 11 different scholars, and it represents a 10th contribution to career development and vocational psychology literature with respect to the environmental aspects of Holland’s theory. In each census period, the Artistic area was the smallest area of employment at 1% or 2%. At the other extreme, the Realistic area was a large area of employment, ranging from 55% in 1960 to 26% in 2020. The principal findings of the current study are examined in terms of three research questions followed by a discussion of the implications for career counseling practice.

Phoretic behavior of the pseudoscorpion Megachernes ryugadensis on the Japanese wood mouse Apodemus speciosus.

Phoresy is a passive transportation behavior where one organism (phoront) disperses to a new location by attaching to another organism. Pseudoscorpions are arthropod predators that mainly live in soil, subterranean habitats, and under tree bark. Some species also live in animal nests and engage in phoresy on small mammals, suggesting close associations with these animals. However, the relationship between phoretic pseudoscorpions and hosts as well as the ecological significance of phoresy remain largely unexplored. Here, to understand the function of phoresy of Megachernes ryugadensis, phoretic on small mammals, their phoretic behavior was investigated in a deciduous forest in northern Japan; individual-level dynamics of phoresy were examined by over 3-year mark-recapture surveys that concurrently marked the host and phoront; and host characteristics, such as sex and age class, were analyzed based on a 2-year small mammal trapping survey. The primary host species was the abundant Japanese wood mouse Apodemus speciosus. Out of 132 pseudoscorpions marked, 5 were recaptured approximately 1month later. No pseudoscorpions were recaptured within the same census period (3-4days) when they were marked, indicating that phoresy events last less than one night, and pseudoscorpions are unlikely to engage in phoresy again within a few weeks of their initial engagement. Furthermore, analysis of host characteristics revealed a tendency for female mice and adult individuals to have a higher probability of being hosts compared with males and subadults, respectively. Based on the findings in this and previous studies, the function of phoresy in this species is discussed.

Sapling recruitment does not compensate for increased tree mortality under climate change

Sapling recruitment within established stands plays an important role in the long-term functionality of forest ecosystems. However, the specific impacts of climate change on sapling recruitment and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that sapling recruitment is directly affected by climate change and indirectly through the responses of tree mortality and growth to climate change as well as their induced modification of neighbourhood conditions. We employed a dataset of 173 permanent sample plots with individual stems that were spatially mapped and monitored at 5-year intervals from 1986 to 2010 in the central boreal forests of North America. By constructing structural equation models (SEMs), we examined how sapling recruitment probability may, directly and indirectly, respond to climate change through the mortality and growth of established trees, neighbourhood crowding, and functional and phylogenetic dissimilarities. We used the middle calendar year of a 5-year census period to represent recent systematic temporal trends in climate change. Our SEMs revealed that sapling recruitment probability did not respond significantly directly to temporal climate change in the studied forests, where atmospheric CO2 concentration, air temperature, and climatic water availability simultaneously increased temporally. However, the temporally increased mortality and growth of neighbourhood established trees (all stems except for new recruits) exerted indirect negative effects on sapling recruitment probability. Furthermore, temporally increased neighbourhood crowding had an indirect adverse effect, while temporally increased neighbourhood shade tolerance and phylogenetic dissimilarities had weak indirect positive effects on sapling recruitment probability. Collectively, temporal climate change had a significant total negative effect on sapling recruitment probability. Our analysis demonstrated multiple mechanisms that simultaneously regulated the effect of temporal climate change on sapling recruitment. Our results emphasized that sapling recruitment does not compensate for increased tree mortality. We suggest that even so-called favourable climate change could threaten the long-term functionality of boreal forest ecosystems.

Life histories and extraction impacts models in two untapped Geonoma palms

The sustainable management of wild useful palms is crucial for their long-term survival. To understand how populations respond to extraction, it is necessary to examine the impacts of extraction in relation to their life histories in their habitat. A suitable genus for studying extraction responses and understanding life histories is Geonoma, as it exhibits a variety of demographic strategies, has a high potential for use, and some species are considered as untapped sources. Two species, Geonoma orbignyana and G. undata, are used as ornamentals for domestic purposes and commercialized in small-scale markets. They differ in their habitats, with G. orbignyana found in the understory and G. undata in more open spaces, suggesting different life histories. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to simulate the impacts of extraction for ornamental purposes in G. orbignyana and G. undata and identify the relationship with their life histories. The research was conducted in the Andean Forest of Chicaque Natural Park, Colombia in 2019–2021. We determined the demography of the two species, using Integral Projection Models (IPMs), and simulated the extraction of juveniles, leaves, and fruits. We found that both species exhibited typical understory palm patterns in terms of survival and growth rates. However, G. orbignyana had lower maximum individual size and onset of fecundity, indicating understory strategies, while G. undata displayed mixed strategies. The population of G. undata declined during both census periods due to high elasticities on juveniles, and extracting of juveniles is unsustainable, contrary of extraction of fruits and leaves, that seems to be sustainable under certain scenarios. Similarly, the extraction of leaves and fruits in G. orbignyana is potentially sustainable if occurring on specific sizes and rates, but the extraction of juveniles depletes the population. These findings suggest that sustainable extraction practices can be implemented to untapped palm populations while ensuring their conservation. To achieve this, it is crucial to protect the sizes and processes related to the growth and survival of acaulescent juveniles. Only after ensuring their growth should any extraction activities be considered. By adopting these practices, we can promote the responsible use of palm resources and safeguard their long-term viability.

The changing virology and trends in resource utilization for bronchiolitis since COVID-19.

Bronchiolitis is a viral respiratory illness most commonly caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). COVID-19 disrupted typical patterns of viral transmission. Our study aimed to compare low value care for bronchiolitis in a tertiary emergency department (ED) in the United States from March 2017 to March 2022. This was a descriptive cohort study through a retrospective chart review from 2017 to 2022 analyzing ED visits for bronchiolitis including disposition, disease severity, chest radiographs, albuterol, and high flow nasal cannula usage. A year was a 12-month period from March to February. From 2017 to 2020, there were over 2000 ED visits for bronchiolitis per year (3.1% of all ED visits), which decreased to 450 visits for bronchiolitis (1%) in 2020-2021. Human rhino/enterovirus was the most common virus detected (92%) at that time, and admission rates, albuterol, high flow nasal cannula, and chest radiographs were all higher. The summer of 2021 had the highest visits across the 5-study years with a return to previous rates of resource utilization. Bronchiolitis ED visits due to RSV dramatically reduced during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with over 80% reduction in bronchiolitis visits from 2018 to 2019. While all ED visits fell in 2020, the proportion of visits due to bronchiolitis also decreased. There was an increase in lower value care during the rhinovirus dominant, low census period. As restrictions lifted in 2021, there was a large resurgence of RSV in the atypical summer months with a return of previous rates of resource utilization.

Occurrence of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Kwatisore Waters within the Cenderawasih Bay National Park as a basis for carrying capacity estimations and assessments for ecotourism suitability

Kwatisore waters in the Cenderawasih Bay National Park area is one of the whale sharks’ habitats in Indonesia. As shark sightings seem to occur daily there is the opportunity for ecotourism development in the area. This study aims to quantify the occurrence of whale sharks at Kwatisore, and estimate the carrying capacity of the area, together with its suitability for ecotourism based on whale shark aggregations. Primary data collection on the appearance of whale sharks was carried out every day through a census technique on 7 designated areas (Apr to Aug, 2022). Every whale shark that appears on the surface of the water is photographed and identified by an ID number based on the I3Sv2.0 and its sex determined. During the census period, 709 whale sharks’ sightings were recorded mostly in the morning. There were 15 individuals in total, all males with a total length ranging from 3-7 m. The carrying capacity of the area for whale shark ecotourism in Kwatisore waters is a maximum of 252 people per day who are allowed to interact with whale sharks, while the tourism suitability index is included in the very appropriate category for whale shark tourism.

Census counts of Common Murres adjusted for timing of breeding are more accurate than counts based on calendar dates

Abstract Climate change has resulted in a marked advancement in the breeding phenology of many bird species. Since the timing of many monitoring programs is based on calendar dates, changes in the timing of birds’ breeding seasons may result in a mismatch with the census period. Using data from a long-term population study of Common Murres (Uria aalge; Common Guillemots in Europe) on Skomer Island, Wales, together with simulations, we show that the 2-week advance in the timing of breeding in Common Murres between 1973 and 2020 has serious implications for the timing of census counts. We show that because censuses have traditionally been conducted during the same fixed calendar period each year, the size of the breeding population has been underestimated. We recommend that censuses of breeding seabirds be made relative to the median egg-laying date rather than on specific calendar dates. Since climate change has resulted in a widespread advance in the timing of birds’ breeding seasons in the northern hemisphere, our results may be relevant to Common Murres at other colonies, and to other bird species worldwide.

Occurrence of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Kwatisore Waters within the Cenderawasih Bay National Park as a basis for carrying capacity estimations and assessments for ecotourism suitability

Kwatisore waters in the Cenderawasih Bay National Park area is one of the whale sharks’ habitats in Indonesia. As shark sightings seem to occur daily there is the opportunity for ecotourism development in the area. This study aims to quantify the occurrence of whale sharks at Kwatisore, and estimate the carrying capacity of the area, together with its suitability for ecotourism based on whale shark aggregations. Primary data collection on the appearance of whale sharks was carried out every day through a census technique on 7 designated areas (Apr to Aug, 2022). Every whale shark that appears on the surface of the water is photographed and identified by an ID number based on the I3Sv2.0 and its sex determined. During the census period, 709 whale sharks’ sightings were recorded mostly in the morning. There were 15 individuals in total, all males with a total length ranging from 3-7 m. The carrying capacity of the area for whale shark ecotourism in Kwatisore waters is a maximum of 252 people per day who are allowed to interact with whale sharks, while the tourism suitability index is included in the very appropriate category for whale shark tourism.

The trait‐mediated trade‐off between growth and survival depends on tree sizes and environmental conditions

Abstract Interspecific relationships between growth and survival are critical determinants of tree species diversity maintenance in forests. The trade‐offs between growth and survival in co‐occurring tree species are believed to arise along a continuum of life‐history strategies. For example, co‐occurring species range from those that grow slowly and survive well in resource‐poor environments to those that grow quickly but have low survival rates in resource‐rich environments. However, uncertainties remain regarding how growth–survival trade‐offs are related to species traits, tree sizes or environmental conditions. We examined how the relationships between species traits and growth–survival relationships shift in response to changes in stem sizes and across census periods with different climate conditions (frequency of strong winds, drought intensity) across 45 co‐occurring tree species based on 23 years of growth and survival records in a warm temperate rainforest on Yakushima Island, Japan. We developed hierarchical Bayesian models of relative growth and survival rates, including leaf traits, wood density and 95‐percentile maximum stem diameter as explanatory variables. We tested the relationships between estimated trait‐mediated growth–survival relationships and the indices of climate events during five census periods. Each trait's effects on growth–survival relationships differed across the five census periods in response to climate conditions. Interspecific growth–survival relationships affected by a single trait axis for leaves or wood tended to be negative. In contrast, those affected by the maximum stem diameter tended to be positive. Such trends increased with more frequent strong winds or more intense droughts. The single‐trait effects on growth–survival relationships were stronger for smaller sizes than for larger sizes. For all traits combined, we found a significant growth–survival trade‐off only for small‐sized stems in three of five census periods. Synthesis. Our results indicate that the effect of species traits on the growth–survival relationships depended on tree sizes, the census periods or both in response to the frequency or intensity of climate events. We argue the importance of incorporating spatial and temporal variations in environmental conditions into long‐term data from tree census to predict forest dynamics.

Emerging trend and pattern of urbanization and its contribution from migration in Gujarat: Evidence from district level analysis

Gujarat has been one of the leading states in India as far as the levels of urbanization are concerned. This is due to its pull factors attracting migrations from outside the state. However, the urban population is concentrated in a few districts dominated by large urban centers such as Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar. The levels of urbanization in Gujarat have been higher than the national average throughout independent India. It has also experienced rapid urban growth of population during the same period, but the recently emerging concentration and pattern of urbanization have been lopsided, meaning that a few districts contributes more than half of the total urban population of the state. Literature in the thematic areas of urbanization particularly in Gujarat are few and limited. The studies so far have discussed about the impact of globalization and urbanizations, trends and patters of urbanization, dynamics of urban development and migration in Gujarat. This study particularly focuses on establishing a link between migration and urbanization using district level data on urbanization. This study is unique in the sense that previous studies have failed to capture the interstate migration and levels of urbanization in the state of Gujarat in India. Recent census data show a substantial increase in the census towns in Gujarat in the vicinity of the developed corridor and within the influence areas of large metropolitan cities. This paper aims to analyze the trends and emerging patterns in the levels of urbanization at the district level. It attempts to understand the inequalities in the distribution of urban population using the GINI coefficient of different size-class towns during the 2001 and 2011 censuses. It also tries to map the distribution of the urban population at the district level to show the emerging pattern. Emerging trends and the existing network of the census towns of 2011 have also been mapped to provide the idea of regional distribution. The existing urbanization pattern in Gujarat matches with the industrial development. It reminds colonial experiences of induced industrialization, attracting colossal in-migration and higher urbanization. The migration pattern during the last two census periods shows that respective districts of the above-mentioned cities are attracting in-migration due to the early post-independence industrialization period. We have calculated the net contribution from migration to the levels of urbanization using D-2 Series migration data from the census of India for the years 2001 and 2011. It shows that Central Gujarat, Saurashtra and South Gujarat have gained more due to migrations from other states to sustain their industrial development, leading to rapid and higher levels of urbanization in these regions. However, the future of urbanization in the state will depend on carefully selecting industrial activities that are sustainable in the long run.

‘Believers in Biology’: A Co-ordinated Effort to Disrupt the 2022 Census

This article investigates the attempt by some gender-critical Scots, led by organisations such as For Women Scotland, to disrupt the administration of the 2022 census in Scotland. They used their census returns to register a protest around guidance relating to the Sex question and around the wider issue of the Scottish Government’s plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act. Protestors used social media to share images of their protest on the census forms over the whole census period, meaning that potential protesters were more likely to choose to protest because they saw a growing number of others sharing what they had done. It is suggested that this protest has contributed, and will continue to contribute, to costs relating to the administration of the census and the processing of census data, including the production and administration of paper census forms; the extension of the deadline for completion of the census; and the ability to use machines to read and process the data. Their action was linked by many protesters to the actions of the suffragettes in relation to the 1911 census, with the expectation that their protests would be visible in 100 years’ time. However, data-protection policies mean many of their actions will not be recorded.

Hydraulic determinants of drought-induced tree mortality and changes in tree abundance between two tropical forests with different water availability

Because of climate change, extreme droughts have become more frequent and caused widespread tree mortality, and thus significant shifts in community structure and function in many forests. Hydraulic failure is a major cause of drought-induced tree mortality. However, its effects on tree dynamics during repeated extreme droughts in tropical forests with different soil water availability are poorly understood. In this study, we surveyed the mortality rate and change in abundance (basal area) for 29 tree species from a humid tropical ravine rainforest (TRF) and an adjacent dry tropical karst forest (TKF) between 2004 and 2015. During this period, two extreme droughts occurred. We measured leaf and stem hydraulic-related traits and analyzed the trait–demography relationships. Our results showed that repeated extreme droughts induced an increase in tree mortality, and thus significantly affected the change of species abundance in the two forest communities. In both forests, the tree species with higher stem embolism resistance were more likely to survive extreme droughts, and increased in basal area during the census period. Moreover, the tree species in the two forests exhibited contrasting hydraulic strategies to deal with extreme drought. The lower mortality rate was associated with larger leaf and stem hydraulic safety margins in the TRF, but with more negative leaf hydraulic safety margin and stronger vulnerability segmentation (larger difference in embolism resistance between leaf and stem) in the TKF. This study expands our understanding of the hydraulic mechanisms to cope with extreme droughts in tropical tree species grown in different substrates under the present and future climatic conditions.

Are we there yet?' Distance to definitive care for Irish patients in the Better Data, Better Planning (BDBP) study.

Residing long distances from definitive care compromises patient safety and, in rural Ireland, travel distance to health care can be substantial, particularly in light of national General Practitioner (GP) shortages and hospital reconfigurations. The aim of this research is to describe the profile of patients attending Irish Emergency Departments (EDs) in terms of distance from GP care and definitive care in the ED. The 'Better Data, Better Planning' (BDBP) census was a multi-centre, cross-sectional study of n=5 urban and rural EDs in Ireland throughout 2020. At each site, all adults presenting over a 24-h census period were eligible for inclusion. Data were collected on demographics, healthcare utilisation, service awareness and factors influencing the decision to attend the ED, with analysis in SPSS. For n=306 participants, median distance to a GP was 3 km (range 1-100 km) and median distance to the ED was 15 km (range 1-160km). Most participants (n=167, 58%) lived within 5 km of their GP and within 10 km of the ED (n=114, 38%). However, 8% of patients lived ≥15 km from their GP and 9% of patients lived ≥50 km from their nearest ED. Patients living >50 km from the ED were more likely to be transported by Ambulance (p<0.05). Proximity to health services, by geographical location, is poorer in rural regions, so it's important that these patients have equity of access to definitive care. Therefore, expansion of alternative care pathways in the community and additional resourcing of the National Ambulance Service with enhanced aeromedical support is essential in the future.

Results of the eighteenth winter waterbird census in Libya in 2022.

Libyan wetlands are diverse; the coastline of Libya, in particular, has different kinds of wetlands, such as salt marshes, bays, lakes, lagoons, and islands. These varieties in habitats provide good shelters and foraging sites for migratory birds during their journeys between Eurasia and Africa. Since the beginning of the Libyan winter census of waterbirds International waterbirds census (Libya IWC) in 2005, which continued regularly until 2012, it has had relatively the same performance in the number of covered sites. However, since 2013, due to the security situation that Libya has experienced due to wars and conflict, which negatively affected the quality of the IWC in Libya, the number of sites has dramatically decreased, reaching only six locations during the middle of the previous decade. The IWC 2022 aimed to count the birds along the Libyan coast from January 10 to 29. The census activities were conducted from dawn to dusk during the study period by using high-quality Telescopes, binoculars, and digital cameras for the documentation. Point transects method was used to cover the sites. The results of this year showed that a total of 64 sites were covered, and 68 species of waterbirds were counted, with an abundance of 61,850 individuals. During the census period, a total of 52 non-waterbird species found in Wetlands were recorded, and the number of individuals was 14,836 birds. A total of 18 threatened species were observed during this survey, 12 of them are mentioned in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and nine species are mentioned in the regional activities center of specially protected areas annex II as threatened in the Mediterranean, where the species; Larus audouinii (Payraudeau, 1826), Larus genei (Breme, 1839), and Puffinus yelkouan (Acerbi, 1827) are mentioned in both of them. The lack of the number of ornithologists and bird watchers is still one of the factors affecting the quality of the IWC in Libya, as well as lack of funding remains an important factor that plays a major role in the success of the waterbirds census.

Harmonizing income classes from 2000 and 2010 Brazilian censuses

Income variables from the Brazilian population census (IBGE) are often used as proxies for the population’s socioeconomic level in spatial analyses of urban segregation, inequality and social exclusion. However, income variables are dependent on reference values (minimum wage) that change over time, which can be challenging for multitemporal analysis. This paper discusses this issue and proposes a methodology to adjust income data that allows a meaningful comparison between the datasets of two Census periods. The methodology was applied to five medium-sized cities of the state of São Paulo by adjusting income data from Census 2000 and 2010 according to the period’s inflation rates. The analysis shows that the methodology mitigates the comparability issues. Results better reflect the changes in population composition and in residential patterns of different income groups that took place over the 2000s in Brazil in medium-sized cities.