Changing World Research Articles

The impact of adverse weather events on cockroaches and flies, and the possible effects on disease.

Climate change is associated with an increase in adverse weather events such as heatwaves, drought, hurricanes and typhoons, floods and wildfires. These extreme weather events can disrupt public health infrastructure and can be detrimental to hygiene and sanitation practices, leading to knock-on effects on populations of vectors associated with disease transmission. Both the frequency and intensity of climate-related adverse weather events are predicted to increase, likely resulting in changes to vector dynamics and vector-human interactions, leading to an increased risk of disease transmission. Yet, a gap exists in our knowledge of the impact of these events on hygiene and associated pest-borne diseases. A growing body of research connects two groups of pests (domestic flies and cockroaches) that are linked with poor hygiene and sanitary conditions to mechanical disease transmission. We present a review of these specific vectors' population biology and behaviour, links with hygiene and sanitation and how pest populations and public health could be affected by adverse weather events. There is evidence that increased temperatures, extreme rainfall and flooding events are most likely to be associated with increased fly and cockroach populations and changes in the behaviour or activity of these insects, which could exacerbate the risks of disease transmission. Warmer temperatures accelerate their rates of reproduction, while heavy rainfall and flooding disrupt their habitats, driving them indoors. Other factors like habitat destruction, breakdown in healthcare system infrastructure, population displacement and altered pesticide use following an extreme weather event are predicted to influence insect populations and provide opportunities for increased human -pest contact. We highlight research gaps and provide recommendations for the improvement of current domestic and professional pest control products and strategies that might be employed to mitigate the impacts of adverse weather events on hygiene-related pests in a changing world.

Changing Food in a Changing World: Assessing Compliance to Insects, Cultivated Meat, and Soil-Less Products Among Italian Undergraduates

Background/Objectives: In recent decades, the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional foods for the global population has become urgent. To this aim, edible insects, cultivated meat, and vegetables produced through soil-less farming have been proposed. This cross-sectional study was aimed at exploring willingness to eat these novel foods and its possible correlates in young Italian adults. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was administered to the student populations of 13 universities throughout the Italian territory. Results: The results show that insects and cultivated meat were widely acknowledged as possible food, while soil-free cultivation seems to be less known. Indeed, the percentage of participants who have heard of insects, cultivated meat, and soil-free cultivation was respectively equal to 91.5%, 84.7%, and 32.9%. However, the majority of respondents were uncertain about the sustainability of all the proposed products (52.6% for insects, 39.5% for cultivated meat, and 58.0% for soil-free cultivation, respectively), and the propensity to try and eat insects (9.5%) was lower than that declared for synthetic meat (22.8%) and products from soil-free cultivation (19.2%). However, the regression analysis showed that the propensity to eat these foods regularly is positively related to the confidence in their sustainability (p < 0.001). Willingness to try each of the proposed foods positively correlated with that declared for the others (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need to implement interventions aimed at increasing awareness about the use of these products as alternatives to less sustainable foods and the importance of identifying consumer groups to which these interventions should be addressed.

Genetic Architecture of the Thermal Tolerance Landscape in Drosophila melanogaster.

Increased environmental temperatures associated with global warming strongly impact natural populations of ectothermic species. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the genetic basis and evolutionary potential of heat tolerance. However, heat tolerance and its genetic components depend on the methodology, making it difficult to predict the adaptive responses to global warming. Here, we measured the knockdown time for 100 lines from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) at four different static temperatures, and we estimated their thermal-death-time (TDT) curves, which incorporate the magnitude and the time of exposure to thermal stress, to determine the genetic basis of the thermal tolerance landscape. Through quantitative genetic analyses, the knockdown time showed a significant heritability at different temperatures and that its genetic correlations decreased as temperatures differences increased. Significant genotype-by-sex and genotype-by-environment interactions were noted for heat tolerance. We also discovered genetic variability for the two parameters of TDT: CTmax and thermal sensitivity. Taking advantage of the DGRP, we performed a GWAS and identified multiple variants associated with the TDT parameters, which mapped to genes related to signalling and developmental functions. We performed functional validations for some candidate genes using RNAi, which revealed that genes such as mam, KNCQ, or robo3 affect the knockdown time at a specific temperature but are not associated with the TDT parameters. In conlusion, the thermal tolerance landscape display genetic variation and plastic responses, which may facilitate the adaptation of Drosophila populations to a changing world.

Multiple Stressors Simplify Freshwater Food Webs.

Globally, freshwater ecosystems are threatened by multiple stressors, yet our knowledge of how they interact to affect food web structure remains scant. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a large-scale mesocosm experiment to quantify the single and combined effects of three common anthropogenic stressors: warming, increased nutrient loading, and insecticide pollution, on the network structure of shallow lake food webs. We identified both antagonistic and synergistic interactive effects depending on whether the stressors affected negative or positive feedback loops, respectively. Overall, multiple stressors simplified the food web, elongated energy transfer pathways, and shifted biomass distribution from benthic to more pelagic pathways. This increased the risk of a regime shift from a clear-water state dominated by submerged macrophytes to a turbid state dominated by phytoplankton. Our novel results highlight how multiple anthropogenic stressors can interactively disrupt food webs, with implications for understanding and managing aquatic ecosystems in a changing world.

Climate change and multiple sclerosis: Clinical challenges and strategies.

Climate change poses significant challenges for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), exacerbating symptoms such as heat sensitivity. Increasing levels of air pollution contribute to neuroinflammation and has been associated with symptom flares, and mobility impairments complicate resource access for PwMS during climate-related weather emergencies. This paper explores the broad implications of climate change on multiple sclerosis (MS) and offers strategies for clinicians to address these emerging challenges, as understanding the broad impacts of climate change on MS is crucial to provide effective care in a changing world.

Editorial: Academic integrity and Academic Writing: Education and Research in a Changing World

Editorial: Academic integrity and Academic Writing: Education and Research in a Changing World

Integrating adaptation pathways and Ostrom's framework for sustainable governance of social-ecological systems in a changing world.

Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathway (DAPP) maps are used to plan management decisions in contexts of high uncertainty, such as those driven by environmental changes affecting critical assets. Recent discussions emphasize their relevance for addressing complex common-pool resource challenges, where diverse species, actors, and ecosystem services are intricately connected. However, designing DAPPs for such multifaceted social-ecological systems (SES) is challenging due to the extensive range of potential adaptation options. This study presents a general method to address these challenges by leveraging Ostrom's theoretical frameworks for the governance of common pool resources-the Institutional Analysis & Development framework (IADF), the social-ecological systems framework (SESF), and the coupled infrastructure systems framework (CISF). These frameworks were used to design nested DAPP maps that structure a large number of adaptation actions across multiple levels of institutional arrangement (operational, collective-choice, constitutional), and then develop a mathematical model to analyze the dynamic robustness of a SES across all potential pathways. The method was applied to predict and understand DAPP maps for supporting the collective management of hedgerow networks delivering diverse ecosystem services. DAPP maps for two SES were compared-one rural and one peri-urban-in France's agro-ecological landscapes of the Auvergne region. We further modeled the impact of climate change on hedgerows characterized by different size and species richness, revealing the sensitivity of these DAPP maps to transit between nine nested institutional arrangements. We discuss the methodological and practical implications of this approach for managing SES characterized by greater diversities of interconnected species, actors, and ecosystem services, highlighting its strengths and challenges in guiding adaptation under deep uncertainty.

Bank management in a changing world: An empirical examination from an emerging economy

This research examines bank management in a changing world based on an emerging economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global economies, highlighting the need for effective monitoring of inputs and costs in the banking sector, crucial for economic stability. In Vietnam, the government has prioritized oversight and implemented strategic policies to restructure the banking system, addressing issues like nonperforming loans and the inefficiency of bank management. This study employed Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess the technical efficiency of 29 Vietnamese banks in 2023 and, more importantly, focused on the input-saving solution for bank management. We found that the average efficiency score of the banks was moderate at 73.24%, with CTG emerging as the best state-owned commercial bank and SHB being considered the top joint-stock commercial bank. Importantly, the study suggested big cuts in inputs, like letting go of 97,625 employees (30.6% of original value) and closing 2,233 branches (24.1%). This could save 48 trillion Vietnamese Dong (VND) in operating costs. Input savings are crucial for improving banking efficiency in the post-pandemic landscape in Vietnam and for other emerging economies.

Կուսակցությունները և ժամանակակից իրողությունները / Parties and modern realities

In today's changing world, the role of political parties is constantly growing. Compared to the size of the population, the Republic of Armenia ranks among the first in the world in terms of the number of parties. Therefore, it is no coincidence that they have become the most important factors in the country. And people often get confused about this diversity. The most politicized structures of any country's political system inclusive groups of active people united around the same ideology, whose main goal is to become masters of power. In the Armenian reality, there are a number of features related to parties. First of all, Armenians were among the first in the world to create political parties in the absence of statehood. Despite the fact that in their programs they paid tribute to the Social Democratic ideology, in practice they pursued a just solution to the Armenian issue, 3-4 parties play a crucial role in the political life of Armenia.Nowadays, when the issue of preserving the Armenian identity and statehood is under threat in the context of the globalization of the world and the changing world order.

The Impact of Geopolitical Risks on Global Supply Chains

Introduction: In today's changing world, understanding the impact of geopolitical risks on global supply chains is key to ensuring their efficiency and sustainability. Geopolitical events of recent years in the form of international conflicts, political changes, European economic sanctions and even natural disasters have a significant impact on global transport networks, causing various challenges and obstacles. Objectives: The purpose of the article is to analyze the impact of such geopolitical risks on global supply chains, identify the main problems faced by companies, and develop strategies to overcome them. Methods: The basis of the research was academic works, official reports of governmental and international organizations, as well as analytical publications from leading economic institutes. Results: The article highlights the results of a complex study, which includes the analysis of academic sources, international reports, economic indicators, technological trends and regional features. It found that disruptions in supply chains due to geopolitical risks can have serious consequences, from increased costs and delivery delays to production shutdowns. The study points to the need to implement flexible and adaptive management strategies for intercontinental logistics systems that allow a quick response to changes in the geopolitical space. The key area of research is effective management of global supply chains in conditions of geopolitical uncertainty, which requires the integration of various approaches and technologies. Conclusions: The obtained results provide a valuable tool for strategic planning and decision-making in the field of transnational logistics restructuring, helping commercial companies to prepare and adapt to potential geopolitical changes.

Parasites in a Changing World: Troublesome or in Trouble?

There are plenty of reasons to believe that parasite populations will respond to biodiversity loss, warming, pollution, and other forms of global change. But will global change enhance transmission, increasing the incidence of troublesome parasites that put people, livestock, and wildlife at risk? Or will parasite species decline in abundance-or even become extinct-suggesting trouble on the horizon for parasite biodiversity? Here, I explain why answers have thus far eluded us and suggest new lines of research that would advance the field. Data collected to date suggest that parasites can respond to global change with increases or decreases in abundance, depending on the driver and the parasite. The future will certainly bring outbreaks of some parasites, and these should be addressed to protect human and ecosystem health. But troublesome parasites should not consume all of our research effort, because this changing world contains many parasite species that are in trouble.

Dissecting the rising tide of inflammatory bowel disease among youth in a changing world: insights from GBD 2021

ObjectivesThis study investigates the alarming epidemiological trends of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among children and young adults, highlighting the associated disease burden on global health.Materials and methodsUtilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC). Future trends were forecasted using the Bayesian age-period-cohort model.ResultsFrom 1990 to 2021, IBD incidence and DALY rates remained persistently high, with a concerning upward trend noted among children and young adults. While men experienced a decline in DALY rates, women faced increasing burdens. In 2021, high-income regions, particularly North America, reported the highest incidence and DALY rates, contrasting sharply with Central Latin America, which exhibited the lowest ASIR. Southeast Asia presented the most favorable DALY rates. A notable negative correlation was identified between DALY rates and socio-demographic index (SDI) at the national level, with high and high-middle SDI countries continuing to bear a substantial burden, while low and middle SDI nations faced rising challenges.ConclusionsThe persistent high burden of IBD in children and young adults signifies a critical public health concern. The marked geographical and gender disparities underscore the urgent need for tailored regional and population-based strategies aimed at primary prevention and effective management. This study illuminates the pressing necessity for policy interventions to address the growing epidemic of IBD among vulnerable populations.

Butterfly and moth conservation: results from a global synopsis of evidence

Butterflies and moths face a range of anthropogenic threats with many of the best-studied populations in decline. In response, butterfly and moth conservation programmes are implementing a diverse set of actions, but to date no study has synthesised evidence for their effectiveness. We present an overview of the recently published Conservation Evidence synopsis of butterfly and moth conservation, describe patterns and biases in the available evidence, and compare these to similar synopses on other taxa. We find that most evidence covers butterfly conservation, focuses on community-level responses, originates from the UK and the USA, comes from studies using the least robust designs, and assesses actions addressing the threat posed by agriculture. Far less evidence is available for moth conservation, for individual species’ responses, originates from Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America, comes from studies using the most robust designs, or tests actions designed to mitigate the impacts of pollution or climate change. While the geographic and study design biases reflect those found in evidence for the conservation of other taxa, the focus on community-level responses is higher than in any of the other synopses we examined. We suggest this may leave Lepidoptera conservation vulnerable to missing important, species-specific responses. We call for testing of conservation actions to be built into conservation projects for butterflies and moths, to build a robust evidence base for conserving Lepidoptera in a changing world.

Beyond ‘musicking’: the linguistic significance of the Atumpan of the Akan of Ghana

ABSTRACT The Atumpan, a talking drum central to Akan culture in Ghana, has historically functioned as a musical instrument and a speech surrogate for communicating messages, honouring dignitaries, and preserving oral traditions. In this article, I explore the evolution of the Atumpan’s communicative role in contemporary Akan society, particularly as it intersects with digital communication and globalisation. Using an autoethnographic approach and drawing on musico-linguistic theory, I analyse how the Atumpan’s significance has shifted from a functional speech tool to one more centred on symbolic, ceremonial, and performative meanings. This shift reflects a broader trend in which traditional instruments retain cultural authority but are reshaped by modern technological practices. The article offers insights into the enduring power of the Atumpan in a changing world, and explore ways in which they continue to shape cultural identity, while acknowledging the limitations posed by its diminished role in direct communication in the digital age.

Integrating animal tracking and trait data to facilitate global ecological discoveries.

Understanding animal movement is at the core of ecology, evolution and conservation science. Big data approaches for animal tracking have facilitated impactful synthesis research on spatial biology and behavior in ecologically important and human-impacted regions. Similarly, databases of animal traits (e.g. body size, limb length, locomotion method, lifespan) have been used for a wide range of comparative questions, with emerging data being shared at the level of individuals and populations. Here, we argue that the proliferation of both types of publicly available data creates exciting opportunities to unlock new avenues of research, such as spatial planning and ecological forecasting. We assessed the feasibility of combining animal tracking and trait databases to develop and test hypotheses across geographic, temporal and biological allometric scales. We identified multiple research questions addressing performance and distribution constraints that could be answered by integrating trait and tracking data. For example, how do physiological (e.g. metabolic rates) and biomechanical traits (e.g. limb length, locomotion form) influence migration distances? We illustrate the potential of our framework with three case studies that effectively integrate trait and tracking data for comparative research. An important challenge ahead is the lack of taxonomic and spatial overlap in trait and tracking databases. We identify critical next steps for future integration of tracking and trait databases, with the most impactful being open and interlinked individual-level data. Coordinated efforts to combine trait and tracking databases will accelerate global ecological and evolutionary insights and inform conservation and management decisions in our changing world.

How might turbulence affect animal flight in a changing world?

The influence of wind on animal flight costs and flight decisions is well established. Far less is known about the effects of turbulence. Indeed, a mechanistic framework allowing researchers to predict the costs and consequences of turbulence for flapping flight is lacking. This is a notable knowledge gap, as turbulence is ubiquitous within the natural flight environment, and its characteristics and distribution are changing across the spectrum of animal flight heights as a result of, for example, land use change and increasing atmospheric instability. Here, I briefly assess naturally occurring and anthropogenic drivers of turbulence before considering how turbulence affects the metabolic costs of flight and how animals might respond in the wild. Turbulence has a measurable effect on flight costs when eddy diameter is comparable to the wingspan. The few metabolic data on this suggest that turbulence can increase flight power by 25-100%. The ability to meet the costs of turbulence should decrease with increasing body mass, because of the negative relationship between available power and mass. Larger flapping fliers may therefore show stronger behavioural responses to turbulence. Consistent with this, waterbirds and large seabirds show marked avoidance of offshore wind farms, but this has yet to be analysed in relation to turbulence. Overall, the integration of laboratory and field approaches should provide new insight into the conditions animals avoid, the associated costs (according to eddy size, velocity and flight morphology) and the implications for flight in changing airscapes.

New Challenges in a Changing World

New Challenges in a Changing World

Living in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods: Experiential Narratives of Residents Facing Daily, Economic, Environmental, and Social Challenges

Being both a driver and a manifestation of the current ecological, climate, and social crises, urban sustainability has become a major contemporary issue. Rather than framing the challenges that populations are confronted to as external factors, especially in deprived and segregated neighborhoods, we collected narratives about their experience of their living environments. Our work assumed an innovative interdisciplinary perspective in response to the complex interconnexions of the issues at stake. We aimed to highlight the significance of a situated perspective and an experience-based approach to fully embrace the idea of a research engaged with and for the communities, especially those suffering from marginalization and social deprivation. Our empirical results, rooted in expressions of place attachment (or not), in four disadvantaged neighborhoods in France, are presented in the form of a heuristic device, a non-normative framework that iteratively produced a representation with six dimensions that we called feelings. Together, they can be used to explore the manifestations of well-being, through place attachment related to one’s living environment, in a relational and open way, as people make sense of their place and possibly engage in its defense. We suggest further attention should be directed to concepts such as agency, freedom, and social recognition, as major conditions of the possibility of well-being or leading a good life. These dimensions could be major targets for policies trying to respond to the current sustainability challenges, such as social and environmental justice in the face of an unequal and changing world.

Karst Water Resources in a Changing World: Review of Solute Transport Modeling Approaches

Karst Water Resources in a Changing World: Review of Solute Transport Modeling Approaches

Soil Multitrophic Interactions in a Changing World

ABSTRACTMultitrophic interactions in the soil food web represent an important factor in shaping the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions (BEF) under the changing environmental conditions. Despite some recent advancements, the relative contribution, and mechanisms by which multitrophic interactions affect ecosystem functions and stability, however, remain poorly understood. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the role of multitrophic interactions in BEF and explore mechanistic pathways that may underpin their role in ecosystem functions and stability. We also discuss potential approaches to quantify the contribution of the multitrophic interactions in the soil food web. Specifically, we highlight the need for improvements in empirical frameworks and analytical tools for quantifying the strength of these interactions in the soil food web. We argue that addressing the key knowledge gaps in current understanding, BEF research requires integration of multitrophic interactions as a key factor when predicting the rate and stability of ecosystem multifunctionality under changing climatic conditions.