Countryside Landscape Research Articles

Grass-Fed Cattle as an Option to Improve the Sustainability of Cattle Industry in Croatia

In Croatia, as well as in many neighboring countries, neither the cattle farmers nor the general public (i.e., the consumers) are familiar with the meaning of the grass- fed cattle farming. This paper’s objective is to present what environmental and consumer-health benefits might arise from this way of cattle farming, along with the expected constrains regarding a lower productivity per animal and per the used land resources. The presented literature review has demonstrated that, when compared to the conventional TMR-fed cattle, the grass-fed feeding manner produces the cattle-derived foods with the greater consumer-related health benefits, has a potential to restore biodiversity in agricultural countryside, causes a lesser environmental pollution due to a lesser pesticide use, improves animal welfare and the beauty of a countryside landscape, decreases the farmers’ operating costs, consumes less fossil fuel per hectare of the utilized land, which is appreciated in climate policies, and has a potential to improve the cattle farmers’ resilience and independence from distant fossil fuels. The grass-fed foods are appreciated by the end-consumers who are willing to pay a price premium for such products. The projected feed and forage consumptions, along with the data on a grass-fed cattle productivity, have indicated a poorer conversion rate of feed DM to milk (1.433 vs. 0.756) and bodyweight gain (12.168 vs. 7.526) in the grass-fed cattle when compared to the TMR-fed, which implies that the grass-fed cattle would require much more land resources per product unit than the TMR-fed cattle. Further research is required to test the productivity of grass-fed cattle (per head and per hectare) in Croatian conditions, as well as to investigate the productivity of Croatian grassland resources.

Multiple dimensions of phyllostomid bat biodiversity across ecosystems of the Orinoco Llanos

AbstractUnderstanding the impacts of habitat conversion on species assemblages across multiple biodiversity dimensions (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic) and spatial scales is pivotal for implementing effective conservation strategies. Here, we surveyed phyllostomid bats using mist nets in riparian and unflooded forests, flooded savannahs, and conventional rice fields to investigate how changes in habitat quality affect multifaceted diversity from two Colombian farming systems in the Orinoco Llanos: traditional farmlands with high‐intensity agriculture (mainly rice production) and Civil Society Nature Reserves with greater ecosystem protection. We used a unified framework based on Hill numbers for quantifying bat taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity and modeled the relationship of these diversity facets with landscape variables (habitat cover and patch density) across three spatial scales (0.5, 1.5, 3 km) using Bayesian generalized linear mixed‐effect models. Our results indicate that increasing human activity toward rice monocultures representative of traditional farmlands negatively affected all diversity facets. In contrast, forested habitats associated mainly with riparian forests within private reserves contained higher taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity than savannahs and rice fields. However, the differences between riparian forests and rice crops were significant only for phylogenetic diversity, indicating loss of evolutionary history after habitat conversion. At the landscape scale, forest cover was a significant predictor for functional (0.5‐ and 3‐km scale) and phylogenetic diversity (0.5 km), and bats responded negatively at the 3‐km scale to rice patch density from a functional diversity perspective. Increasing habitat quality through preserving forest cover and patches should minimize the harmful effects of habitat conversion on multidimensional bat biodiversity. Furthermore, the conservation of riparian forests and the creation of more wildlife‐friendly farming, as practiced in the reserves, should be prioritized to ensure high levels of bat taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity across Orinoco countryside landscapes.

Learning from the countryside: Designing in Chinese rural-urban areas

The current transformation of the countryside in the rural hinterland of Chinese city regions faces challenges in conserving an extensive architectural and landscape heritage. The villages situated in these regions represent the historical core of metropolitan areas. By examining the hinterland territories, we can readily recognize the features of the Chinese urban-rural continuum that G. W. Skinners has defined in his studies spanning from the 1940s to the 1970s on rural marketing networks, cities, and the hierarchy of the local system. These local systems present a morphology that continually adapts to geographical and cultural contexts, offering rich architectural and rural urbanism solutions that seamlessly harmonize the urban and rural functions. Today, this part of the settlement is extremely vulnerable to the pressure of urban expansion as towns evolve into cities and cities transform into metropolitan regions. The conventional top-down planning practice in these areas lacks innovative tools capable of integrating both “urban” and “rural” features simultaneously. Scholars such as M. Davis and G. Guldin have recognized the Chinese hybrid rural-urban settlement as a potentially “new form of settlement for humanity” (Guldin, 1997). In this article, we present a holistic design approach aimed at shaping this hybrid settlement into a “green city,” applying the model we first used in 2010 – 2013 in Huiyang in the Pearl River Delta, a region characterized by Hakka villages territorial system, to two other cases in city regions: Pidu in the Chengdu metropolitan area and Kandun in the Ningbo metropolitan area. These regions are characterized by their respective Lin Pan and Seawalls territorial systems, which we have more recently studied. The aim of the paper is to illustrate how drawing inspiration from local countryside architecture and rural urbanism enables the development of individual planning solutions as an alternative to the current planning practice in peri-urban rural areas, which tends to homogenize countryside landscapes to urban blocks.

Spatial association of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle and badgers at the pasture interface in an endemic area in France.

Despite control and surveillance programmes, Mycobacterium bovis, the main aetiologic agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), is still detected on cattle farms and in wildlife populations in France, especially in badgers in the French Côte-d'Or département. The aim of our study was to find out if infected badgers were trapped significantly closer to pastures of infected farms than non-infected badgers and, if so, to determine the most efficient distance around those pastures for badger trapping, particularly for surveillance purposes. We studied two subareas (southern and northern), chosen based on natural barriers to badger movements and according to the presence of pastures belonging to infected farms (POIFs) and infected or non-infected badgers. In each subarea, we computed the shortest distances D0 and D between badgers trapped a given year n between 2015 and 2019 (n=59 infected and n=1535 non-infected badgers for D0; n=53 infected and n=1476 non-infected badgers for D) and POIFs designated as infected between the year n - 4 and n+1 (respectively n=373 and n=388 POIFs). D0 was calculated without considering spoligotypes, while D was calculated considering the possible epidemiological link between infected badgers and POIFs by using bTB spoligotype information. Then, we computed the observed mean and median of the D0 and D distances and used a bootstrap analysis to test if infected badgers were found significantly closer to POIFs than non-infected badgers. We observed that infection of badgers was not independent of distance from POIF in both subareas but distances (D0 or D) were different between the northern and southern subarea. In the northern subarea, which displays a mosaic landscape (mean and median D distances were respectively 612m and 303m for infected badgers), infected badgers indeed were trapped closer to POIFs, considering D0 and D. In the southern subarea, predominantly forested, infected badgers were significantly closer to POIFs than non-infected badgers when considering D0 but not for D (mean and median D distances were respectively 7148m and 4831m for infected badgers). These results will help to determine the most efficient distance from POIFs to trap badgers to determine their infection status in countryside landscapes. They also highlight the need to better understand the epidemiological systems at play in more forested landscapes where badgers may behave differently or other susceptible sympatric wild species might play a more important role in the circulation of M. bovis, both phenomena contributing to badger infection at greater distances from POIFs.

Déclin et célébration du vivant dans l’écriture d’Émile Verhaeren

This article is an ecopoetic reading of a selection of works (poetry and theatre) of the Belgian symbolist Émile Verhaeren. Its aim is to highlight the critical discourse and the constructive discourse of the author about the environmental question and the relationship between culture and nature. We will start with his “social trilogy”, Les Campagnes hallucinées, Les Villes tentaculaires and Les Aubes, and analyze the representation of the pollution and the transformation of the countryside landscape which was triggered by unbridled industrialization in the late nineteenth century, while focusing on the materialist writing and the decadent imaginary.We will then examine his vitalist collections, Les Visages de la vie, Les Forces tumultueuses and La Multiple splendeur, and analyze how the poet imagines the return of harmony between humans and nature and also see how his thinking was close to his contemporaries’ utopian projections. We will lastly demonstrate that his poetic art celebrates the living world from an internal and sensitive vision.

The aftermath of the Emilia 2012 earthquake damages and the safeguard of the rural anthropized landscape

In seismic-prone areas with spontaneous built heritage, extensive measures are needed to protect critical tangible features and intangible values made of vernacular construction techniques. Operating strategies should be continuously improved, starting with the damage survey and moving through the provisional safety measures to the final intervention. An example of the methodology used to preserve the distinctive values of the anthropized countryside landscape in the Emilia lowland is illustrated in this paper by identifying spontaneous evidence derived from the practical knowledge of rural cultures. Through an analysis of historic construction methods, it is possible to comprehend informal architecture by exploring brick masonry constructions, as well as their variances. Although their vulnerability is attributed to the lack of materials and modest construction methods, spontaneous architecture, far from being endangered as the result of seismic sequences, contributes to the distinctive nature of the anthropized rural landscape. In addition, preserving spontaneity increases collective memory and the image of a time.

Przemiany przestrzenne łańcuchówek na Podhalu

Spatial transformations in layout of forest-field villages in the Podhale The article presents the results of research on spatial changes of the forest-field villages in the Podhale. The main goals of the work were: to show the initial character of forest-field villages and to examine the spatial changes that took place in the analysed settlements in the Podhale. Based on the collected literature and cartographic sources, a hypothesis was made: the layout of the old chain systems in the Podhale remains legible today in the countryside landscape. According to the research carried out, some characteristic features were shown in the forest-field villages of the Podhale. At the initial stage, all the systems analysed had a habitat, delimited in one or two-sided built-up or alternating manner, the shape of the habitat lowland was influenced by the natural conditions. The transformations of the planning forms and the changes in rural systems were the result of many factors, the most important of which was the development of tourism. One of the most important morphological changes is the transformation of one-sidedly built-up villages into two-sided built-up villages. The changes that took place within the examined villages clearly contributed to the internal density of the houses as a result of land parcelling. Due to the development in some of the analysed rural settlements, the original spatial arrangement is disturbed by delimiting new habitats within the former runners, entering the extension on the other side of the road, and creating new buildings along the old dirt roads. In some cases, the boundaries of the former habitat are blurred due to the adherence to the neighbouring settlement as a result of the spread of buildings.

A Secret Princess by Margaret Stohl

Reviewed by: A Secret Princess by Margaret Stohl Danica Ronquillo Stohl, Margaret A Secret Princess; by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz. Putnam, 2022 [400p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781984812049 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781984812056 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr 7-10 Fifteen-year-old Mary Lennox from India attends the Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Gentlemen, a boarding school in Manchester, England, where children [End Page 366] are under the reign of the strict headmistress Minerva Minchin. Adventurous and full of wit, Mary is not afraid to speak her mind as she witnesses the injustices at the school, especially Minchin's cruel treatment towards Mary's first ever friend Sara Crewe, known as a bright little princess from the Philippines. Minchin takes away all of Sara's possessions and forces her to become a servant to pay for her school debt, while Mary's troublemaking earns her a transfer to America where her uncle lives. Not willing to be separated, Mary, Sara, and Cedric Errol, a disabled and mysterious boy who they befriended at the school, run away to Paris but end up getting sidetracked to discover a secret garden that will change their lives forever. This is a charming mash-up of Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved classics A Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy, and all three protagonists benefit from one another's differences. The lavish descriptions of wealthy countryside landscapes and estates contrast with the accurately dreary portrayal of the 1860s, which doesn't shy away from the realities of wartime poverty and child labor. Emotionally-driven dialogue, repetition, and sophisticated language will keep readers, especially fans of Burnett's work, turning pages to see just how these distinct characters can define their futures. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Migrant images: aesthetic imagination in experiences of displacement

AbstractThis paper addresses the migration theme as an embodied experience performed by myself in two installation pieces, which serve as examples to explore the notions of displacement and territory in phenomenology and semiotic of culture points of view. A mode of performed narrative within moving images attempts to imagine other existences, through cognition and body studies. Presence and politics in ageless aesthetic forms amplify a performativity experience in body and image, related to Greek Hellenic sites and Brazilian countryside landscapes. How do the visual arts act as both a reenactment of a continuous present through affected sites and a dramaturgy of the moving image, through a migrant body in continuous creation of belonging in unknown lands and seas?

Extraction of Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Jiangnan Urban Landscape under the Influence of Geomorphology

This paper presents an in-depth study and analysis of the spatial distribution of urban landscapes in Jiangnan cities under the influence of geomorphology and extracts the characteristics to explore the construction mechanism from the perspective of spatial functionality based on the analysis of the process and content of landscape construction. The construction of cities and ponds originated from political influence, environmental constraints, and architectural techniques; the landscape pattern of the combined shape and complementary potential originated from the creation of various types of gardens in various dynasties; the complementary planning of landscape, the traffic creation of the plain and water network, and the production factors of agriculture and sanitation influenced the construction of the countryside landscape; the traditional view of feng shui, poetry and painting, the eight scenes of the city and countryside, and other humanistic intentions influenced the overall situation of the town and the landscape. This paper extracts and analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics of Jiangnan city landscape from several perspectives, and the results can clearly show the distribution of landscape features under the influence of geomorphology and can give the best layout suggestions. From the perspective of spatial variability, the main features of traditional landscape construction in Jiangnan are analyzed through three levels: the characteristics of the process of humanized landscapes evolving into natural landscapes, the comparative analysis of similarities and differences in the construction of cities and towns, and the characteristics of the system of regional landscape construction. Finally, the changes in the landscape pattern of the region under the influence of globalization are analyzed through the changing characteristics of landscape architecture.

Role of the countryside landscapes for sustaining biodiversity in karst areas at a semi centennial scale

Large-scale anthropic conversion of natural ecosystems into human-dominated countryside ecosystems has led to biodiversity loss worldwide. However, how countryside landscapes affect biodiversity is still controversial, especially in karst regions lack of relevant studies. To answer this question, we analyzed the impact of countryside landscapes on biodiversity changes in the South China Karst, featured as a World Natural Heritage site of subtropical karst landscape and rich biodiversity. We presented a new framework to examine the impact of countryside landscapes on biodiversity change at a semi centennial-scale using three indicators: biodiversity cluster characteristics, the barrier of villages to biodiversity, and the barrier of arable land to biodiversity. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images, satellite remote sensing data, and field survey data were combined during the process. Results revealed that plant biodiversity was positively correlated to vegetation restoration, and vegetation took approximately 80 years to recover to a stable state. Plant biodiversity spatial points are densely distributed at karst peaks, with an average distance of only 420 m–480 m. Small villages create no apparent barriers to biodiversity, with an average barrier distance of about 450 m–530 m. Arable land intersecting with forest patches connects biodiversity spatial points. Hence, the expansion of countryside landscapes in karst depressions was restricted by karst peaks, and patches of artificial arable land and forest connect the natural reserved forest at karst peaks, which both promote local spatial heterogeneity and sustain local biodiversity. This study enriches the application of countryside biogeography theory in karst regions and provides evidence for integrating biodiversity conservation into sustainable planning in broader areas. We strongly recommend that a heterogeneous landscape pattern similar to karst peak forests, such as the distance between biodiversity spatial points and the barrier distance to villages both around 450–500 m, would be conducive to biodiversity preservation.

Das Warten und die tote Zeit. Annäherung an Herta Müllers Kurzprosa Der Mensch ist ein großer Fasan auf der Welt.

Abstract The paperdealswiththe rural environment in Herta Müller’s Der Mensch ist ein großer Fasan auf der Welt. In the analysis the stress falls on the semantisation of the walkable space, like the countryside landscape and the built environment. This study also includes the presentation of interpersonal relationships of the village people and thematises the metaphorical spaces of oppression and fear, the metaphorical space of waiting.

Stability Analysis of St Barbara Church in Otovice

Broumov Region and its group of churches represent a perfect example of symbiosis between Baroque architecture and countryside landscape. This peculiar heritage site requires specialized analysis to preserve its uniqueness. St. Barbara Church in Otovice, the one investigated in this thesis, was built by Christoph and Kilian Dientzenhofer. Nowadays, concerns about its stability and degradation process led to the necessity to investigate more deeply its current condition. Therefore, the main objective of the article consists in the FEM modeling and the evaluation of the bearing capacity of enclosure walls, with particular attention on the influence of the soil deterioration. In conclusion, technical advices are recommended.

Rural landscapes in Latvia: a comparative analysis of representations and perceptions

As a reflection of Latvian identity, the country’s rural landscapes are a living embodiment of both natural and cultural heritage, contributing to quality of life for local communities and serving as a magnetic pulling factor for international tourists. Traditional farmsteads (viensētas) are perceived as symbolic spaces which have developed gradually, especially since the 19th Century, through annual cycles of farm work alongside extensive farming. Yet their existence is threatened by the impact of transitional changes such as depopulation, globalisation, the non-competitive nature of traditional farming models, and changes in society and the lifestyle of young people. Many abandoned farmsteads are disappearing under large areas of cropland or forest, and some newly built private houses do not have a connection with the traditional rural landscape. The aim of this study is to explore the way that perceptions of farmsteads and rural landscapes have changed over time within local communities. This is done by comparing representations of countryside landscape ideals in the media from 1920 to 1940 and perceptions of farmsteads as an element of countryside landscapes within local rural communities today (<12 % of the population of Latvia lived on a farmstead in 2019). The findings show that in the period when most people lived in the countryside, a particular kind of idealised rural landscape was often visually represented in the mainstream media, strengthening stereotypes about symbolic landscapes. These concepts are still strongly rooted in the perceptions of current rural inhabitants and there was consensus among respondents about the elements which are associated with high-quality rural landscapes. Although the daily routines of the traditional farmstead today have been changed by a number of factors and many elements of the rural landscape have lost their functionality, symbolism — including the iconic image of separate family farmsteads — helps to maintain a continuing metanarrative of national identity, creating nostalgic ties which lead many to have a preference for living in the countryside, holding perceptions about the availability of various ecosystem services next door which will improve their quality of life.

Heritage Tourism Trail Development in Kampung Luat, Perak: A Case Study

Kampung Luat situated in Lenggong Valley, Perak, is a well-known tourist destination due to its natural attraction, archaeological elements, promotion of rural agroindustry and home-based products, as well as unwavering and strong local community commitment. Distinct local characteristics, such as traditional culture, agricultural setup, countryside landscape, and simple lifestyles, offer a different experience for its visitors. The combination of these aspects provides a huge opportunity for tourism heritage trail development. As such, this study discusses the development of a heritage trail in Kampung Luat. The initiative was taken by a group of USM researchers, along with the cooperation from the local community. Observation and focus group discussion (FGD) techniques were adopted in this study. Several meetings were conducted and the development of Kampung Luat heritage trail was proposed, which covered seven stops in four hours, which involved 20-30 residents with different roles. This heritage trail was tested by 20 respondents. The findings showed that the visitors had placed a high value in the experience and enjoyed the different rural activities, apart from proposing several suggestions for trail improvement. Low level of community readiness, lack of facilities, and communication issues were their main concerns for trail improvement. These findings suggest the implementation of stringent and effective action taken by the federal and state governments, apart from including stakeholders to both coordinate and realise the heritage trail in future to increase the competitiveness at the Lenggong Valley as a tourism destination. Keywords: Heritage trail, trail development, case study, Kampung Luat, Lenggong Valley

Flight responses of eastern gray kangaroos to benign or harmful human behavior.

Globally, wilderness is being converted for rural and agricultural land use. In countryside landscapes, many habitat structures remain intact, providing suitable habitat for wildlife species that can accurately assess novel risks and develop tolerance to benign disturbances. Associative learning that promotes avoidance and also facilitates desensitization to benign disturbance is key to persisting in these landscapes. Conversely, learning to distinguish and avoid negative interactions with humans, like hunting, is vital. To determine if eastern gray kangaroos are capable of learning from previous interactions with humans, we tested the flight responses of wild kangaroos which have previously experienced either low or high frequencies of harmful and benign encounters with humans. We found that eastern gray kangaroos rapidly habituated to benign disturbance as there was no significant difference in assessment distance between groups that previously experienced low or high frequencies of disturbance. The threat of harmful disturbances was not as quickly learnt, as groups that experienced low frequencies of harmful disturbance delayed flight longer than those experiencing frequent harm. We found that the influence of environmental and group parameters on a kangaroo's decision to flee depended on the intent and frequency of previous interactions with humans. Our study indicates that kangaroos are learning from previous encounters with humans, correctly assessing novel risks which may be contributing to their persistence in countryside landscapes.

Land-use change has host-specific influences on avian gut microbiomes.

Human modification of the environment, particularly through land-use change, often reduces animal species diversity. However, the effect of land-use change on the gut microbiome of wildlife in human-dominated landscapes is not well understood despite its potential consequences for host health. We sought to quantify the effect of land-use change on wild bird gut microbiomes in a countryside landscape in Costa Rica, comprising a range of habitat types, ranging from primary and secondary forests to diversified and monoculture farms. We collected 280 fresh fecal samples from individuals belonging to six common species of saltator, thrushes, and warblers at 24 sites across this land-use gradient. Through 16S rRNA community profiling, we found that bacterial species composition responded to host species identity more strongly than to habitat type. In addition, we found evidence that habitat type affected microbial composition only for two of the six bird species. Our findings indicate that some host species and their microbiota may be more vulnerable to human disturbances than others.

Consensus in factors affecting landscape preference: A case study based on a cross-cultural comparison

Consensus in preference is a central issue in landscape perception research. Several studies have highlighted the relationships between landscape preference and demographic variables; however, consensus among different countries' observers remains poorly understood. This study was primarily conducted to examine the consensus in factors affecting landscape preferences between potential Chinese and English rural tourists. A questionnaire survey and experimental eye-tracking methods were used. The results showed that, regarding preference for their home countries' rural landscapes, the importance of vegetation is significantly greater for Chinese than for English tourists. Generally, the dominant factors affecting Chinese landscape preference involved progressive enhancement with tranquillity, diversity, traditional characteristics, and maintenance of buildings and human constructions, while English preferences focused on multifaceted maintenance and avoiding the intrusion of building and human constructions. Regarding preferences in favour of Chinese rural landscapes, higher consensus was likely to occur for the most and least preferred landscapes when landscape types were combined, which was even more obvious for the Chinese than the English individuals. When landscape types were separated, there were significant correlations between Chinese and English preferences for natural landscape types, while the considerable difference regarding manmade landscape types could be greater depending on the effects of different factors affecting the preferences for their home countries' landscapes. In addition, a significant effect of observers’ attention pattern was presented, suggesting that landscapes providing an easy way to concentrate on smaller interest areas could significantly increase tranquillity and thus increase landscape preference. The present study provides evidence for previous judgement consensus studies and reference for the management or design of countryside landscapes with perceived restorative and visiting potential.

“Off the beaten map”: Navigating with digital maps on moorland

Resources made available through the digital map app change, but do not replace, the skills of “ordinary wayfinding.” Looking at the challenges of wayfinding with new mobile devices helps inform the development of digital mapping tools for navigating through difficult terrain. With this background in mind, in this paper we consider how the contemporary navigational resources of mobile devices with GPS, and the resources of countryside landscape features, are brought together in visiting a tourist site. We analyse video data from groups walking across unfamiliar moorland terrain, following a guide and map app which takes them on a tour of a remote Roman marching camp in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. Following an ethnomethodological and conversation analytic approach, we examine three instances of navigational work for paired walkers as they traverse the moorland. The three fragments are of: an orientational struggle to establish where to go next; a routine check to select a path; and the discovery of a feature mentioned in the guide. Across the three episodes we explicate how our walkers make sense of the guide and map in relation to investigating the moorland surface. We examine how their ambulatory and undulatory practices on the moorland are tied to their wayfinding practices. While we analyse wayfinding talk, we also attend to the mobile practices of stopping and pausing as part of practical navigational reasoning.

Countryside Biogeography: the Controls of Species Distributions in Human-Dominated Landscapes

Countryside biogeography seeks to explain the distribution of wildlife in human-dominated landscapes. We review the theoretical and empirical progress towards this goal, assessing what forces control the presence, abundance, and richness of species in anthropogenic and natural habitats, based on characteristics of the landscape and the species themselves. Recent modifications of species-area relationships that incorporate multiple habitat types have improved understanding of species diversity in countryside landscapes. Attempts to understand why species affiliate with human-modified habitats have been met with only partial success. Though traits frequently explain associations with human-modified habitats within studies, explanatory traits are only rarely shared between studies, regions, or taxa. Nonetheless, greater attention to the regional and climatological context of countryside landscapes has uncovered that (i) species that associate with human-modified habitats within landscapes tend to occur primarily in warm and/or dry biomes at regional scales and (ii) species that rely exclusively on human-modified habitats in cool or wet regions may be restricted to natural habitats in warm or dry regions. There remains a pressing need to determine how biodiversity can best be supported within landscapes to preserve nature and maximize ecosystem service benefits for humans. Future work in countryside biogeography must identify how land-use change interacts with other global stressors (e.g., climate change), determine how extinction debt and population sinks influence diversity, quantify the cascading effects of community changes on ecosystem services, and elucidate the evolutionary history and origins of species that today dwell in the countryside.