Demographic Equilibrium Research Articles

Female‐biased population sex ratios caused by genetic rather than ecological mechanisms in dwarf willow (Salix herbacea L.)

Abstract Biased sex ratios among reproductive individuals are common in plants, but the underlying mechanisms, as well as the evolutionary consequences, are not well understood. The classical theory of Düsing and Fisher predicts an equal primary sex ratio at seed production, based on the selective advantage of the rare sex. Biased sex ratios among reproductive plants can arise from sexual dimorphism in survival and flowering. Sex ratio biases can also be present from the seed stage; in these cases, assumptions of Düsing's and Fisher's theory, for example, random mating or demographic equilibrium, are thought to be violated. We investigated mechanisms leading to female‐biased sex ratios in the arctic‐alpine dwarf willow Salix herbacea L. We studied sex ratios in three natural populations over 3 years as well as in 29 crosses (full‐sib families) under controlled conditions over four growth periods. We tested whether sex ratio was associated with habitat parameters (elevation and snowmelt time), or with germination, survival or flowering, and whether females and males differed in size or flowering that may cause observation bias. We detected a strong and consistent female bias, both in natural populations (sex ratio [proportion of females]: 0.71–0.82) and in our controlled experiment (overall sex ratio: 0.70–0‐72). Female bias became more pronounced with increasing elevation. Our data did not support sexual dimorphism in size or flowering. Family sex ratios varied largely (from 0.25 to 1), including many female‐biased families, unbiased families and two male‐biased families. Families with lower germination, seedling establishment, survival or flowering did not have stronger female bias, indicating that intrinsically higher survival or flowering in females does not explain overall female bias. Synthesis. Our results suggest that sex ratio bias in S. herbacea is already present in seeds and does not arise through intrinsic differences between sexes. Candidate mechanisms that can lead to both overall female bias and variation in sex ratio among families are meiotic drive or cyto‐nuclear interactions. The pioneer habit of Salix may lead to non‐equilibrium population dynamics that allow for the long‐term persistence of variable genetic sex ratio distortion systems that arise from genetic conflict.

A theory of demographic optimality in forests

Carbon uptake by the land is a key determinant of future climate change. Unfortunately, Dynamic Global Vegetation Models have many unknown internal parameters which leads to significant uncertainty in projections of the future land carbon sink. By contrast, observed forest inventories in both Amazonia and the USA show strikingly common tree-size distributions, pointing to a simpler modelling paradigm. The curvature of these size-distributions is related to the ratio of mortality to growth in Demographic Equilibrium Theory (DET). We extend DET to include recruitment limited by competitive exclusion from existing trees. From this, we find simultaneous maxima of tree density and biomass in terms of respectively the ratio of mortality to growth and the proportion of primary productivity allocated to reproduction, an idea we call Demographic Optimality (DO). Combining DO with the ratio of mortality to growth common to the US and Amazon forests, results in the prediction that about an eighth of productivity should be allocated to reproduction, which is broadly consistent with observations. Another prediction of the model is that seed mortality should decrease with increasing seed size, such that the advantage of having many small seeds is nullified by the higher seed mortality. Demographic Optimality is therefore consistent with the common shape of tree-size distributions seen in very different forests, and an allocation to reproduction that is independent of seed size.

Геодемографические и миграционные процессы в Астраханской области – тенденции первой четверти XXI века

The article analyzes the main geodemographic trends of the Astrakhan region in the first quarter of the 21st century. In the quantitative and spatial dynamics of the population in the region, three major periods with significant differences in indicators of natural reproduction and migration activity (early – mid 2000s; late 2000 – mid 2010s; the second half of the 2010s – early 2020s) were identified. The features of the demographic dynamics of various districts of the region are shown, due to the national structure and the dominant vector of migration circulation in the local population. Throughout the post-Soviet period, there was a stable inverse correlation between the share of Russians in specific territorial communities and the level of their natural decline. The scale and vector of migration dynamics in the population of cities and districts were determined by the distance to the regional capital and the general standard of living in the region. It was found that a long period of demographic equilibrium (fluctuations from 980 thousand to 1,020 thousand people) was replaced by a steady depopulation of regional territory. This process is associated with the gradual shift of the Astrakhan region in the 2000s–2010s to the group of demographically disadvantaged regions of southern Russia. The central role in this trend is played by a combination of growing natural losses and large-scale migration outflows outside the region due to the reduced standard of living and social and economic development of the Astrakhan region. Accelerated rates of depopulation in the region are likely to continue in the near and medium term. By 2035, its demographic potential may be reduced to 860–875 thousand people. This negative trend implies a significant increase in the measures taken by regional authorities to mitigate the demographic problem.

Repeated long-term population growth overshoots and recessions among hunter-gatherers

We propose a model that may explain long-term population growth and decline events among human populations: The intensification of production generates a tradeoff between the adaptive capacity of individuals to generate a surplus of energy to maximize their fitness in the short-run and the long-term capacity of a population as a whole to experience a smooth transition into a demographic equilibrium. The model reconciles the conflicting insights of dynamic systems models of human population change, and we conduct a preliminary test of this model’s implications in Central Texas by developing time-series that estimate changes in human population density, modeled ecosystem productivity, human diet, and labor over the last 12,500 years. Our analysis indicates that Texas hunter-gatherers experienced three long-term population growth overshoots and recessions into quasi equilibria. Evidence indicates that each of these overshoots and recessions associate with changes in diet and labor devoted to processing high density, lower quality resources to unlock calories and nutrients. Over the long-term, population recessions may be necessary for populations to experiment with social and physical infrastructure changes that raise the carrying capacity of their environment.

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) selection forests at Siljansfors in Central Sweden

Continuous cover forestry (CCF) is a type of forest management which is based on ecological principles and avoids clearfelling as much as possible. A specialised form of CCF is the selection system which relies on inhomogeneous size structures in mixed-species forests and on the harvesting of individual dominant trees. The selection system was originally invented by upland farmers in Central Europe some 500 years ago and is fairly uncommon in Northern Europe. In our research, we studied two more or less mono-species Picea abies selection forests at Siljansfors in Central Sweden that have a comparatively low final stem diameter of 50 cm. We involved dynamic demographic equilibrium modelling to identify an ideal size structure as a reference that ensures sustainability. We compared this reference with the observed empirical stem-diameter distributions and found that both stands are indeed advancing towards the structure typical of single-tree selection systems. One stand is particularly close to this ideal, sustainable structure whilst the other requires more goal-orientated management in the future. Our research confirmed that selection forests with largely only one conifer species and a fairly small final diameter are possible at this latitude. We could also show that the dynamic demographic model can be converted to a simpler static model that is easier to apply in forest practice. Since selection stands are rare in Fennoscandia, the two stands studied at Siljansfors have been and will continue to be important research and management demonstration sites in the future.

Abstract 860: The dynamics of LINE-1 retrotransposition in cellular populations

Abstract Retrotransposons are genetic elements that have the ability to copy and paste themselves in the genome via the proteins they encode. Since the rapid growth of a retrotransposon can be highly deleterious at the organismal level, many of these genetic parasites are suppressed or have been inactivated over evolutionary time. However, the human genome still hosts the active retrotransposon LINE-1, whose aberrant expression is associated with various diseases, especially epithelial cancers. Despite these associations, a quantitative understanding of the dynamics and diversity of LINE-1 insertions in somatic tissue is lacking. In order to address this gap, we present a population dynamic model of LINE-1 retrotransposition in individual cells. Using the model, we show that at demographic equilibrium, the LINE-1 copy number distribution is broader than would be expected from classical population genetic models. We demonstrate how this broadening distorts the frequency spectrum of insertions. We compare the model's predictions to data from whole genome sequencing of individual tumor cells. Citation Format: Stephen Martis, Alexander Solovyov, Jayon Lihm, Hao Li, Benjamin Greenbaum. The dynamics of LINE-1 retrotransposition in cellular populations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 860.

Hedging at the rear edge: Intraspecific trait variability drives the trajectory of marginal populations in a widespread boreal tree species

Abstract Rear‐edge populations at the warm margin of species distribution are small, isolated and face environmental conditions at the limit of species bioclimatic envelope. Intraspecific phenotypic variation contributing to the persistence of peripheral populations is expected to become increasingly important under future climate conditions to avoid local extirpation where range shifts lag behind climate change velocity. We investigated the putative role of intraspecific phenotypic variation for the maintenance of rear‐edge populations of fire‐prone jack pine (Pinus banksiana), an obligate pyriscent boreal species. We assessed whether variation in cone serotiny is associated with the population trajectory of marginal stands located south of the boreal biome, in the temperate forest where natural wildfires are infrequent and unpredictable. To this end, we estimated stand‐scale serotiny, minimal age and tree size structure in 26 jack pine stands from the rear edge (n = 17 sites) and the core (n = 9 sites) of the species' range in eastern Canada. On average, rear‐edge jack pine populations are less serotinous albeit more variably compared with range‐core populations where serotiny is more uniformly high. Rear‐edge stands are generally older and display reverse J‐shape tree size structure indicative of a multi‐aged demographic equilibrium, whereas range‐core stands are younger and show a unimodal stand structure depicting a single ageing cohort generally lacking interfire recruitment. Eco‐evolutionary dynamics shifts from a dependency on wildfires in range‐core populations to stands that can regenerate and persist without recurrent fires at the rear edge, where stand‐scale serotiny reaches values below 85%. Synthesis. Unlike range‐core populations, rear‐edge jack pine populations can locally rely on a dual life‐history strategy to ensure both steady recruitment during fire‐free intervals and successful postfire regeneration. This capacity to cope with infrequent and unpredictable fire regime should increase the resilience and resistance of jack pine populations as global changes alter fire dynamics of the boreal forest. More generally, unique intraspecific phenotypic variation in rear‐edge populations contributes to long‐term species persistence in marginal environmental conditions that might scale up with global changes. The conservation of rear‐edge populations and their genetic legacy appears crucial for the resilience of species.

Dynamic Global Vegetation Models: Searching for the balance between demographic process representation and computational tractability

Vegetation is subject to multiple pressures in the 21st century, including changes in climate, atmospheric composition and human land-use. Changes in vegetation type, structure, and function also feed back to the climate through their impact on the surface-atmosphere fluxes of carbon and water. Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs), are therefore key component of the latest Earth System Models (ESMs). Model projections for the future land carbon sink still span a wide range, in part due to the difficulty of representing complex ecosystem and biogeochemical processes at large scales (i.e. grid lengths ≈ 100km). The challenge for developers of DGVMs is therefore to find an optimal balance between detailed process representation and the ability to scale-up. We categorise DGVMs into four groups; Individual, Average Area, Two Dimensional Cohort and One Dimensional Cohort models. From this we review popular methods used to represent dynamic vegetation within the context of Earth System modelling. We argue that the minimum level of complexity required to effectively model changes in carbon storage under changing climate and disturbance regimes, requires a representation of tree size distributions within forests. Furthermore, we find that observed size distributions are consistent with Demographic Equilibrium Theory, suggesting that One Dimensional Cohort models with a focus on tree size, offer the best balance between computational tractability and realism for ESM applications.

Evidence of Genetic Connectivity among Lyle’s Flying Fox Populations in Thailand for Wildlife Management and One Health Framework

Bats are important reservoir hosts of emerging viruses. Recent viral outbreaks and pandemics have resulted in an increased research focus on the genetic diversity, population structure, and distribution of bat species. Lyle’s flying fox (Pteropus lylei) is widely distributed throughout central Thailand, with most colonies congregating in temples within proximity to humans. A lack of knowledge regarding the genetic connectivity among different colonies hinders the investigation of zoonotic disease epidemiology and wildlife management. In this study, we hypothesized that genetic material may be exchanged between Lyle’s flying fox colonies that live in proximity. We assessed the mitochondrial displacement loop and cytochrome b nucleotide sequences of samples collected from 94 individuals from ten colonies across different roosting sites and detected limited genetic differentiation but increased nucleotide divergence within colonies. This suggests that genetic connectivity among Lyle’s flying fox colonies has experienced frequent and recent gene flow. These findings indicate that this species has maintained demographic equilibrium in a stable population, with a slight expansion event in certain populations. These data provide insights into the dynamics of bat populations, and the genetic knowledge gained presents opportunities for the improved monitoring of bat population structure.

Joint estimation of selection intensity and mutation rate under balancing selection with applications to HLA.

A composite likelihood method is introduced for jointly estimating the intensity of selection and the rate of mutation, both scaled by the effective population size, when there is balancing selection at a single multi-allelic locus in an isolated population at demographic equilibrium. The performance of the method is tested using simulated data. Average estimated mutation rates and selection intensities are close to the true values but there is considerable variation about the averages. Allowing for both population growth and population subdivision does not result in qualitative differences but the estimated mutation rates and selection intensities do not in general reflect the current effective population size. The method is applied to 3 class I (HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C) and 2 class II loci (HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQA1) in the 1000 Genomes populations. Allowing for asymmetric balancing selection has only a slight effect on the results from the symmetric model. Mutations that restore symmetry of the selection model are preferentially retained because of the tendency of natural selection to maximize average fitness. However, slight differences in selective effects result in much longer persistence time of some alleles. Trans-species polymorphism, which is characteristic of major-histocompatibility loci in vertebrates, is more likely when there are small differences in allelic fitness than when complete symmetry is assumed. Therefore, variation in allelic fitness expands the range of parameter values consistent with observations of trans-species polymorphism.

Миграционная угроза безопасности ЕС: предрассудки и реальности

The article analyzes the complex interface between the phenomenon of migration and the security of the European Union and its member-states. The migration crisis in Europe, which began with the Arab Spring in 2015 and continues to this day, is truly one of the most important existential challenges for the EU. This crisis is overlapped with other fundamental problems facing the European Union, contributing to the securitization of migration and asylum issues. In the absence of an effective EU strategy in this direction, there remains the danger of radicalization of European societies and, therefore, a threat to the entire integrationist project. The process of globalization has supplemented some of the traditional functions of the state, first of all, such as protection of its territory and political independence, with new functions that are associated with the obligation to ensure economic independence, cultural identity and social stability. Securitization of migration usually has several dimensions: socio-economic problems (unemployment, the growth of the black economy, the crisis of the welfare state and the deterioration of the urban environment); the growth of securitarism in the EU member-states (when migrants are viewed as a threat to the national identity and demographic equilibrium of the host society); and political challenges as a result of the nexus between external and internal security caused by the terrorist threat. In addition to traditional challenges, there emerged a fairly new phenomenon – instrumentalization of the migration problem, namely the use of migrants by the third countries as a means of pressure on the EU member states in order to achieve certain political or economic goals. The new Pact on Migration and Asylum introduces a number of undeniably positive provisions for the European Union. Nevertheless, the document has been criticized by the EU individual countries, as well as by public and human rights organizations. This situation can be explained by the fact that in modern Europe, security interests and values are in a moral conflict with each other, which presents the main challenge to the future of the European project.

Assessing signals of selection and historical demography to develop conservation strategies in the Chilean emblematic Araucaria araucana

Loss of genetic diversity reduces the ability of species to evolve and respond to environmental change. Araucaria araucana is an emblematic conifer species from southern South America, with important ethnic value for the Mapuche people (Pehuenche); the Chilean Government has catalogued its conservation status as vulnerable. Climatic fluctuations were potentially a major impact in the genetic variation within many tree species. In this context, the restricted geographic distribution of A. araucana in Chile appears to be a consequence of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). During the past two centuries, strong human intervention has also affected the geographical distribution and population sizes of A. araucana. Reduction of population size may cause loss of genetic diversity, which could affect frequency of adaptive loci. The aims of this study were to know the existence of potential loci under selection and populations with genetic, demographic disequilibrium in the Chilean distribution of A. araucana. Based on 268 polymorphic AFLP loci, we have investigated potential loci under selection and genetic, demographic disequilibrium within seven Chilean populations of Araucaria araucana. Correlation of 41 outlier loci with the environmental variables of precipitation and temperature reveals signatures of selection, whereas 227 neutral loci provide estimates of demographic equilibrium and genetic population structure. Three populations are recommended as priorities for conservation.

The role of spatial competitive interactions between trees in shaping forest patterns

General patterns that are observed in forests irrespective of their ecological biome or species composition are indicators of general biological processes that drive forest dynamics. Modelling can be used to infer these processes by identifying the minimum set of rules that generate the observed patterns. The regular spatial pattern of the largest trees, the decreasing skewness of the tree diameter distribution in young developing stands, and the size bimodality that may result from the tail of dominated trees are three general patterns observed in natural forests. Using a simple individual-based space-dependent growth model based on asymmetric competition between trees and space-independent approximations of this model, the objectives were (1) to identify a single mechanism that may explain these three patterns, and (2) to clarify the role of space in the emergence of these patterns. The space-dependent model was able to qualitatively generate the three patterns. Through cascading spatial interactions, competition resulted in the establishment of a spatially structured competitive hierarchy among trees. A second-order approximation of the space-dependent model was derived by structuring the population of trees according to diameter and competitive status. This second-order approximation succeeded in predicting left-skewed diameter distributions but did not predict diameter bimodality. Asymmetric competition thus seems to be an important driver of tree growth and the cause rather than the consequence of bimodality. The second-order approximation of the space-dependent model may be useful to generalize the stationary diameter distributions developed in the demographic equilibrium theory.

Variance in tree growth rates provides a key link for completing the theory of forest size structure formation

In natural forests at a demographic equilibrium state, the size frequency distribution (SFD) of trees is linked with their size-dependent growth and mortality rates. While the mean growth rate (MGR) of each size class is generally used for determining the SFD, the variance in the growth rate (VGR) has always been ignored. Here, based on the analyses with Kolmogorov forward equation, we show that in general, the VGR can flatten the slope of the SFD and, in particular, can address the contradiction between the size-dependent MGR and the −2 power-law SFD in the metabolic scaling theory. We traced the origin of the VGR to the intrinsic stochasticity in the allometric growth coefficients of trees and deduced its functional form based on variance propagation. Using the forest censuses data from Barro Colorado Island, we verified the prediction of the VGR and indicated its indispensability in the theory of forest size-structure formation.

Spatial Genetic Structure and Demographic History of the Wild Boar in the Qinling Mountains, China.

Simple SummaryThe wild boar is native to the temperate region of Eurasia, which is now one of the most widely distributed mammals worldwide. The recent expansion in the wild boar population has attracted a lot of attention, which may cause great damage to ecosystems. Elucidating the patterns of the population structure, genetic diversity, population origin, and colonization route of wild boar is very helpful in the conservation and management of wild populations. Phylogeographic analysis has proven to be a powerful tool. Here, 82 samples of wild boars in 16 sampling locations were collected in Qinling Mountains (QM). Genetic analysis was conducted based on the mitochondrial control region and nuclear genes. The level of genetic diversity of wild boars in QM was lower than the total population in East Asia, but higher than European population. No obvious phylogeographic pattern were found. The effective population size was under demographic equilibrium in the past.Species dispersal patterns and population genetic structure can be influenced by geographical features. Qinling Mountains (QM) provide an excellent area for phylogeographic study. The phylogeography of Asian-wide wild boars revealed the colonization route. However, the impact of the QM on genetic diversity, genetic structure and population origin is still poorly understood. In this study, genetic analysis of wild boar in the QM was conducted based on the mitochondrial control region (943 bp) and twelve microsatellite loci of 82 individuals in 16 sampling locations. Overall genetic haplotype diversity was 0.86, and the nucleotide diversity was 0.0079. A total of 17 new haplotypes were detected. The level of genetic diversity of wild boars in QM was lower than in East Asia, but higher than in Europe. Phylogenetic analysis showed the weak genetic divergence in QM. Mismatch analysis, neutrality tests, and Bayesian Skyline Plot (BSP) results revealed that the estimates of effective population size were under demographic equilibrium in the past. Spatial analysis of molecular variance indicated no obvious phylogeographic structure.

Geological and Pleistocene glaciations explain the demography and disjunct distribution of red panda (A. fulgens) in eastern Himalayas

Pleistocene glaciations facilitated climatic oscillations that caused for enormous heterogeneity in landscapes, and consequently affected demography and distribution patterns of the mountain endemic species. In this context, we investigated demographic history and population genetic structure of red panda, distributed along the geographical proximity in the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Bayesian based phylogeny demonstrated that red panda diverged about 0.30 million years ago (CI 0.23–0.39) into two phylogenetic (sub) species, that correspond to the middle-late Pleistocene transition. The observed intraspecific clades with respect to Himalayan and Chinese red panda indicated restricted gene flow resulting from the Pleistocene glaciations in the eastern and southern Tibetan Plateau. We found Himalayan red panda population at least in KL-India declined abruptly in last 5–10 thousand years after being under demographic equilibrium. We suggest revisiting the ongoing conservation activities through cross border collaboration by developing multi-nationals, and multi-lateral species-oriented conservation action plans to support the red panda populations in transboundary landscapes.

Signatures of Post-Glacial Genetic Isolation and Human-Driven Migration in the Dothistroma Needle Blight Pathogen in Western Canada.

Many current tree improvement programs are incorporating assisted gene flow strategies to match reforestation efforts with future climates. This is the case for the lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia), the most extensively planted tree in western Canada. Knowledge of the structure and origin of pathogen populations associated with this tree would help improve the breeding effort. Recent outbreaks of the Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) pathogen Dothistroma septosporum on lodgepole pine in British Columbia and its discovery in Alberta plantations raised questions about the diversity and population structure of this pathogen in western Canada. Using genotyping-by-sequencing on 119 D. septosporum isolates from 16 natural pine populations and plantations from this area, we identified four genetic lineages, all distinct from the other DNB lineages from outside of North America. Modeling of the population history indicated that these lineages diverged between 31.4 and 7.2 thousand years ago, coinciding with the last glacial maximum and the postglacial recolonization of lodgepole pine in western North America. The lineage found in the Kispiox Valley from British Columbia, where an unprecedented DNB epidemic occurred in the 1990s, was close to demographic equilibrium and displayed a high level of haplotypic diversity. Two lineages found in Alberta and Prince George (British Columbia) showed departure from random mating and contemporary gene flow, likely resulting from pine breeding activities and material exchanges in these areas. The increased movement of planting material could have some major consequences by facilitating secondary contact between genetically isolated DNB lineages, possibly resulting in new epidemics.

A demographic equilibrium approach to stocking control in mixed, multiaged stands in Bialowieża Forest, northeast Poland

Manifold benefits and advantages of mixed tree stands have been known for many decades. However, while developing and maintaining multiaged and mixed-species forests with complex stand structures has often been advocated and has recently become a worldwide priority, it is not a simple task. One important reason for this is a lack of appropriate methods for controlling long-term development of such stands. Here, we present a possible solution for this problem by applying the demographic equilibrium approach to guide stocking and structure regulation in mixed stands. We tested the practical usefulness of this approach using permanent-plot inventories from 2002, 2011 and 2018, in mixed tree stands in the Experimental Sustainability Unit (ESU) Browsk 28C, in the managed part of Białowieża Forest (NE Poland). For our analysis, ESU Browsk 28C (about 30 ha) was treated as a silvicultural planning unit. First, on the basis of target stand types defined in Polish Silvicultural Guidelines (2012) and forest sites occurring at the study site, desirable tree species composition was determined. Eleven tree species of varying life histories and ecological attributes were included: aspen, birch, alder, pine, oak, maple, ash, elm, spruce, lime, and hornbeam. In the second step equilibrium diameter distributions were constructed for each species, taking into account species-specific growth and mortality rates, as well as targeted proportional representation. Next, theoretical species-specific equilibrium diameter distributions were visually and quantitatively compared with empirical distributions from permanent sample plots. Finally, departures of empirical from theoretical distributions served as a basis for silvicultural recommendations and prescriptions. We prioritized silvicultural measures (such as patch cuts opening larger gaps in forest canopy, proper site treatment, planting, protection against browsing by large herbivores), promoting compositionally diverse forest reproduction and recruitment as essential to long-term maintenance of demographic sustainability in mixed forest stands. We conclude that the demographic equilibrium approach is particularly valuable for creating and maintaining complex forest structures in multi-species stands.

Issues of biopolitics of reproduction in post-war Greece

The Greek biopolitics of reproduction during the post-war period was determined by the demographic figures. Instead of a rise in births, Greece experienced a constant downward trajectory of the birth rate throughout the second half of the twentieth century. The country also witnessed population instability due to the massive immigration in the 1960s and the wave of repatriation in the next decade. The article explores the state's biopolitics in order to achieve demographic equilibrium by adopting a pronatalist perspective. The construction of biopolitics was influenced by the consecutive wars of the first half of the century resulting in the denial of any means suspected of reducing the birth rate, such as contraception and abortion. In parallel, the article investigates the attempts of a group of eugenicists to impose to the state authorities their own views on reproduction control. The key debates were birth control and abortion because these issues of reproduction were entangled with major social fermentations caused by urbanization, modernization, eugenics, and feminism. The Constitution of 1974 was instrumental in changing the biopolitics of reproduction by introducing equal rights to men and women. It provoked a series of legal transformations with regard to marriage, family, and reproduction.

Anti-Pathos

Anti-Pathos