Diverse Resources Research Articles

Sanctuary for migrating and wintering waterfowl: Synthesis and insights for waterfowl management and conservation planning

AbstractWaterfowl use a diversity of resources (e.g., food, structure, sanctuary) to meet energetic, social, and other life‐history demands during the non‐breeding period. Waterfowl often seek areas with limited human disturbance (i.e., sanctuary) during autumn and winter when hunting seasons are open perhaps to reduce exposure to mortality risks, minimize energy expenditure, and increase foraging efficiency, all of which should enhance survival and subsequent fitness. Prior studies of sanctuary use by waterfowl have mostly focused on patterns of abundance and behavior, with many documenting differential diel movements of marked birds in and around sanctuaries. Although reduced mortality risk is likely associated with sanctuary use, much less is known about the potential effects on energy expenditure, body condition, reproductive consequences at the individual level, and seasonal distribution with respect to viewing and harvest potential. We consider these aforementioned factors among the most significant gaps in our understanding of the function of sanctuary in waterfowl management. As waterfowl hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation have become a major initiative of many natural resource agencies and a core principle of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, we discuss the potential role of sanctuary relative to these efforts. Herein, we review historical aspects of waterfowl sanctuary, introduce hypotheses about its potential role in habitat resource management and conservation planning during autumn and winter, discuss our knowledge of the effects of sanctuary on waterfowl, and share insights to inform decisions about the role of sanctuary in waterfowl management given currently available evidence and remaining uncertainties. Our review describes the existing evidence for the biological and social outcomes of sanctuary, draws some conclusions about the role of sanctuary in natural resource management given the available evidence, and outlines potential research opportunities to help us make informed decisions regarding sanctuary implementation for waterfowl.

Enterprise Annuity and Firm Innovation: Evidence from China

ABSTRACT This paper examines the relationship between enterprise annuity and innovation. This research assesses innovation using the metric of patent applications and discovers a significant decline in innovation after establishing an annuity system. This effect is profoundly pronounced in high-tech corporations. Our findings suggest that funding obligations for the annuity system potentially divert resources from research and development (R&D), consequently leading to diminished innovation. Furthermore, we also find that establishing the enterprise annuity system negatively affects the number of invention and non-invention patent applications. Enterprise annuity increases the minimum wage standard and encourages companies to hire more highly skilled employees. Our study also identifies potential mitigating factors: external cash inflow and good corporate governance appear to alleviate the inhibitory effect of corporate annuities on firm innovation. These findings contribute valuable insights to the discourse on corporate innovation and present empirical evidence on the role of corporate annuities.

College student engagement and success through inclusive learning environment and experiential learning in courses about Israel and Palestine

IntroductionThis study examines the impact of pedagogical redesign on two courses about Israel and Palestine, focusing on fostering an inclusive learning environment. The project aimed to address challenges such as student retention, attendance, participation, and academic performance by implementing innovative teaching strategies tailored to diverse student backgrounds.MethodsThe redesign incorporated several key interventions: an experiential learning-based final assignment, scaffolded into multiple steps with opportunities for feedback; group discussions to promote active learning and cooperation; and the integration of optional multimedia resources, such as YouTube videos and podcasts, to enhance engagement and time on task. Additionally, students were involved in the evaluation process by providing feedback and were offered the opportunity to publish their final projects on a public website, further incentivizing their work. To examine the effectiveness of these changes, the study employed a mixed-methods approach. This approach involved the collection and analysis of both quantitative data (such as surveys and performance metrics) and qualitative data (such as student feedback and one-way ANOVA analysis) across six undergraduate course offerings between 2019 and 2024.ResultsThe interventions were tested with students from varied backgrounds engaging in complex discussions. The initial findings revealed significant improvements in critical metrics, including reduced drop/fail/withdraw rates, increased time on task, and higher grades. Students demonstrated enhanced engagement and a more positive overall learning experience, indicating the potential for further positive outcomes.DiscussionThe preliminary results suggest that the implemented pedagogical changes effectively created a more inclusive and engaging learning environment. By integrating experiential learning, providing timely feedback, and utilizing diverse resources, the project demonstrated the potential for scalable improvements in student outcomes.

Analysis on Concept of AI Literacy According and Future Education to the Result of Systematic Review

Introduction: AI is booming, and AI literacy has become a core competency necessary for exceptional talent. Therefore, how to promote national AI literacy in future education has become a global focus. Thus, this study uses a systematic review method to explore the definition and needs of AI literacy, frameworks, and literature on future education to summarize and analyze. The results show that the definition of AI literacy has not been standardized, AI literacy is a necessary skill for people, the scope of the application still needs to be further subdivided, as well as the education model in the future needs to be reformed as well. The results of the study not only contribute to the in-depth development of AI literacy theories but also provide insights and guidance to relevant organizations, as well as contribute to the establishment of sustainable development, which is of value and contribution. Finally, it is suggested that future research should explore more about the definition and scope of AI literacy, to fully promote the development of the theory and thus enhance the core skills that citizens must possess. Objective: The purpose of this study is to use a systematic review method to sort out the relevant literature from 3 aspects: concept, scope, and future education to clarify the research lineage and reflect the current status of AI literacy research. Theoretical Framework: This study uses a systematic review approach to explore the current state of AI literacy research. Method: This study adopts the systematic review method to collect research results systematically and comprehensively, evaluates the literature according to the principles and methods set in advance, and analyses the literature that meets the criteria after screening it, so as to obtain comprehensive conclusions. Results and Discussion: AI technology offers a whole new range of possibilities for education, changing the traditional teaching mode and learning experience, including providing personalized learning, instructional support and aids, teaching Management and Decision Support, distance education and online learning, language learning and special education, enrichment and diversity of educational resources, and coping with the future. Research Implications: By comprehensively and systematically analyzing the concept, scope, and three aspects of future education of AI literacy, this study not only contributes to the in-depth development of this theory but, at the same time, has certain practical implications and also provides practical insights and guidance for relevant organizations. Originality/Value: This study uses the systematic review method to comprehensively and systematically analyze the concept, scope, and future education of AI literacy in three aspects, which systematically illustrate the current status and dilemma of AI literacy and effectively promote the development of AI literacy with great contribution.

Epigenetic Resources: Gaps in Aquatic Animal Germplasm Research

ABSTRACTAquatic animal germplasm research plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation and sustainable aquaculture. The traditional view is that diversity of germplasm resources is commonly attributed to genetic variation. However, recent studies in transgenerational epigenetics have shown that epigenetic information can also be passed down to offspring, which is consistent with the definition of germplasm. Therefore, it is necessary to define epigenetic information, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and ncRNAs, which can be passed down through generations, as epigenetic resources and incorporate them into the concept of germplasm. Germplasm resources should include not only genetic resources but also epigenetic resources. Epigenetic variation can arise from genetic, environmental, or stochastic factors. Genetic and epigenetic variation co‐determine phenotypic traits. It has been demonstrated that epigenetic information can be inherited across generations in aquatic animals. DNA methylation, histone modification, and ncRNAs are involved in addressing environmental challenges, maintaining genetic diversity, improving breeding strategies, combating inbreeding decline, and age determination. Therefore, future research on epigenetic resources is important for germplasm conservation, development, and utilization. This review proposes a new theoretical framework to elucidate the place of epigenetic resources in germplasm research and collects articles from the past 8 years that explore the inheritance of epigenetic information in aquatic animals. Integrating epigenetic research into germplasm studies enhances our understanding of population dynamics, adaptation, and evolutionary processes, thereby informing conservation strategies and enhancing aquaculture practices. By considering both genetic and epigenetic resources, we can address the challenges facing germplasm diversity and sustainable aquaculture more comprehensively.

Assessment of climate change impact on meteorological variables of Indravati River Basin using SDSM and CMIP6 models.

Climate change, one of the most pressing issues of the twenty-first century, threatens the long-term stability and short-term variability of water resources. Variations in precipitation and temperature will influence runoff and water availability, creating significant challenges as demand for potable water increases. This study addresses a critical literature gap by employing the Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM) to downscale Global Climate Model (GCM) outputs for the Indravati River Basin, India. Maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), and precipitation (PCP) were statistically downscaled, improving the spatial resolution of coarse GCM data. The model established strong predictor-predictand relationships, offering enhanced local-scale climate projections for the basin. This work provides critical insights into regional climate change impacts in a previously underexplored area. The study projected the meteorological variables (Tmax, Tmin, and PCP) for Chindnar, Jagdalpur, and Pathagudem stations using four GCMs, namely CanESM5, MPI-ESM1-2-HR, EC-Earth3, and NorESM2-LM for the baseline period (1990-2014). The Correlation Coefficient-values (R-values) range from 0.75 to 0.91 for maximum temperature, 0.85 to 0.96 for minimum temperature, and 0.71 to 0.83 for precipitation were achieved using SDSM. The best-performed MPI-ESM1-2-HR model was used to project maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and precipitation for 2024-2054 (2040s) and 2055-2085 (2070s) under SSP4.5 and SSP8.5 scenarios using SDSM. The downscaled results revealed significant shifts in meteorological patterns, highlighting the basin's sensitivity to different socio-economic pathways and future climate conditions. The percentage monthly, seasonal, and annual variations of Tmax, Tmin, and PCP were analysed based on each scenario and time period to suggest remedial measures for future floods and droughts.

Neonatal antipredator tactics shape female movement patterns in large herbivores.

Caring for newborn offspring hampers resource acquisition of mammalian females, curbing their ability to meet the high energy expenditure of early lactation. Newborns are particularly vulnerable, and, among the large herbivores, ungulates have evolved a continuum of neonatal antipredator tactics, ranging from immobile hider (such as roe deer fawns or impala calves) to highly mobile follower offspring (such as reindeer calves or chamois kids). How these tactics constrain female movements around parturition is unknown, particularly within the current context of increasing habitat fragmentation and earlier plant phenology caused by global warming. Here, using a comparative analysis across 54 populations of 23 species of large herbivores from 5 ungulate families (Bovidae, Cervidae, Equidae, Antilocapridae and Giraffidae), we show that mothers adjust their movements to variation in resource productivity and heterogeneity according to their offspring's neonatal tactic. Mothers with hider offspring are unable to exploit environments where the variability of resources occurs at a broad scale, which might alter resource allocation compared with mothers with follower offspring. Our findings reveal that the overlooked neonatal tactic plays a key role for predicting how species are coping with environmental variation.

Japanese Occupation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Impact on Common Islanders

The focus of this research is on the effects of Japanese occupation (1942-1945) on the common islanders of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands who suffered due to the oppression, forced labour, violence and terrible conditions of that time. The Japanese occupation led to the diversion of agricultural resources for military deployment resulting in food deficits and famine on the Islands. Repressive measures, forced resettlement and economic oppression were the lot of both the local tribes and settlers. Whole ethnic groups, especially indigenous people, were recruited for labour, broke their way of life and were exiled from their homes. Furthermore, Japanese forces declared martial law and ruled the territory through terror, people’s executions, and collective punishments. Even though Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA) officially gained control of the islands in 1943, it was the Japanese who continued to exercise the real power and the position of the INA was mostly decorational. The suffering experienced by the islanders was too deep and it affected their lives both physically and mentally, even the reconstruction numb post-war period saw no development in the social status of these people. This paper shall attempt to place the hitherto neglected pain of the islanders within the broader framework of the World War II and its repercussions on Asia.

COVID-19 policies and tuberculosis services in private health sectors of India, Indonesia, and Nigeria

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges in the field of global health. Nigeria, Indonesia and India are three high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries with large private health sectors. Both TB and the private health sector faced challenges in these countries because of COVID-19. This study aimed to compare the COVID-19 control measures and policies in the provision of TB care services and gain insights from policymakers on how the pandemic affected the provision of TB services in the private healthcare sector, how each country adapted, and identify lessons learned for health system preparedness MethodsQualitative, in-depth interviews were conducted among a purposive sample of 11 national and sub-national policymakers in each country. Thematic content analysis was conducted on the data collected using an adapted WHO Health Equity Policy Framework. ResultsResults revealed three policy dimensions under costs, access, and quality. Under healthcare costs, policymakers highlighted resource allocation and diversion of TB resources to COVID response, and increased operational costs for private provider. Under healthcare access, key themes included key themes included reduced TB case detection due to fear of COVID-19, disrupted diagnostic services, and adaptations such as extended medicine supplies and virtual consultations. Under healthcare quality, themes included compromised TB diagnostic accuracy due to similar respiratory symptoms with COVID-19, and strain on laboratory infrastructure due to competing demands from both diseases. Policymakers across the three countries pointed to the need for strengthening private–public partnerships (PPP) for healthcare service delivery and continued private sector investment to facilitate the continuity of TB care within a pandemic context. ConclusionThe results of this study provide an overview of the impact of the pandemic from the perspective of private facilities and policymakers in Nigeria, Indonesia and India, which can inform future policy and ways forward in strengthening PPP for healthcare service delivery in high TB burden countries.

Identification and characterization of Capsicum mutants using, biochemical, physiological, and single sequence repeat (SSR) markers

Identification and characterization of crop mutants through molecular marker analysis are imperious to develop desirable traits in mutation breeding programs. In the present study, macromolecular variations with altered morphological, quantitative, and biochemical traits were generated through chemically induced mutagenesis via alkylating agents and heavy metals. Statistical analysis based on quantitative traits indicating enhanced mean value in mutant lines selected from the M4 generation as compared to previous generations. Identification and characterization of morphology in selected mutant lines are based on altered phenotypes (e.g. tall and dwarf mutant with high yield, fruits with thick texture and bold seeds, etc.) in comparison to control populations. The useful mutations were recorded in phytochemicals (e.g. capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin) and macro and micro nutrients profile (e.g. protein, iron, copper, cadmium and zinc) in selected mutant lines of Capsicum annuum L. Single Sequence Repeats (SSRs) markers analysis in selected mutant lines revealed genetic diversity in Capsicum. annuum L. The total of 44 alleles were observed with average number of allele 4.00. The Unweighted Pair Group Arithmetic Mean Method (UPGMA) showed maximum dissimilarity was recorded between mutant A-III and F-III followed by mutant G-III and C-III, while mutant B-III and G-III showed the lowest dissimilarity to each other followed by mutant L-III and mutant J-III. Correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed genetic diversity among mutant lines indicating their prioritization over other traits in indirect selection and also revealed that mutants treated with lower and medium concentrations were divergent. These mutant lines could be suitable in crop improvement programs for the broadening the genetic base of C. annuum L. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) grouped the mutants into two clusters with variable euclidean distance indicated heterogeneous mutant lines developed from induced mutagenic treatments. Thus beneficial mutations could be induced in chilli genotypes via mutation breeding to enhance genetic variability in limited resources, period, and efforts.

Managing the Curriculum in Small Schools and Multi-Grade Classrooms

Abstract The research examines the teaching challenges faced by rural, small multi-grade schools, which include logistical obstacles, insufficient resources, and a variety of learner requirements. Curriculum management in small multi-grade classrooms is the subject of this literature review research methodology paper. In these situations, educators are confronted with the necessity of developing novel educational approaches to address diverse learner requirements and resource constraints. The literature reviewed emphasizes the importance of curriculum management in ensuring the efficacy of teaching and the success of learners. The research endeavours to identify community support and participation in ensuring professional development methods in multi-grade schools. The literature results indicated that effective curriculum management enhances small and multi-grade education, as well as presents unique challenges and opportunities for educators. To optimise curriculum delivery in multi-grade classes, it is necessary to implement effective strategies and methodologies. Rural multi-grade classrooms can succeed with appropriate teaching practices and teacher professional development. The study concentrated on prior research on small multi-grade institutions. Curriculum management necessitates community support, differentiated instruction, and flexible planning. Schools may benefit from engagement with their communities and the adaptation of multi-grade teaching practices to meet local needs through the research initiative. The Ecological Systems Theory was employed as a prism to emphasise the numerous influences on multi-grade teaching and suggests that policymakers and educational leaders allocate professional development, curriculum adaptation, and collaborative planning time for small schools. Educator collaboration, resource funding, and specialised training programs for multi-grade teachers are all recommended. The research indicates that institutional reforms are necessary to guarantee that all learners have access to quality education, irrespective of their location, and to enhance the sustainability and success of rural and multi-grade education.

Navigating the oncology drug discovery and development process with programmes supported by the National Institutes of Health.

The translation of basic drug discoveries from laboratories to clinical use presents substantial challenges. Factors such as insufficient funding, misdirected project focus, and inability to understand a drug's limitations or strengths contribute to the difficulty of this process. To address these issues, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has established various resources dedicated to streamlining drug development. The NIH offers access to regularly curated databases encompassing categories like drug discovery, target discovery, genomics, proteomics, and clinical datasets. The NIH also provides access to key resources through various programmes, such as the Developmental Therapeutics Program, focusing on preclinical drug discovery and the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, which oversees clinical trial efforts for investigational agents. These resources might include funding opportunities, access to a network of scientific experts, and services to address gaps in scientific work. This Review explores the diverse platforms and resources available at the NIH and outlines how researchers can leverage them to expedite the drug development process.

Harbour Porpoises Are Flexible Predators Displaying Context-Dependent Foraging Behaviours.

Opportunistic mobile predators can adapt their behaviour to specific foraging scenarios, allowing them to target diverse prey resources. An interesting example is the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), a marine mammal with a huge energy demand feeding on a large variety of fish, squid and shrimps. Little is known about the foraging behaviour of harbour porpoises, as observations of wild specimens are notoriously difficult to obtain. In this study, foraging was identified in almost 60% of videos from UAV recordings in Danish coastal waters during daylight hours. Observations reveal them to be flexible predators, foraging on both single fish and schools of fish, as well as individually and in groups of varying sizes. We argue that some of the observed behavioural adaptations and context-dependent strategies for prey capture are based on information transfer and social learning. Our results provide unprecedented insights into the foraging behaviour of an opportunistic mammalian predator. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of porpoises having access to coastal areas for energy acquisition, where they are in conflict with anthropogenic disturbances such as fisheries with the risk of bycatch.

Flexible and adjustable resource backup capacity planning method for port areas with a high percentage of new energy access

In view of the problem of insufficient flexibility in grid regulation caused by the large-scale integration of new energy sources, this paper proposes an interactive regulation method for flexible resources to participate in wind and solar energy consumption and establishes a two-layer optimization model of planning and operation. The planning layer considers the planned capacity of flexible adjustable resources, and the operation layer comprehensively considers economic costs. Flexible resources are coordinated and regulated to achieve multi-objective optimization using a hybrid swarm migration algorithm based on indicators such as the operating costs of each standby unit and the cost of standby resources. The optimization results are then fed back to the planning layer to obtain the optimal regulation scheme. Meanwhile, this paper expands the source of backup resources to include the source-load-storage. It proposes a strategy for coordinating the participation of diversified resources from the source-load-storage in the backup capacity planning. Finally, a simulation analysis is carried out based on the actual power grid of a port. The results show that the reasonable allocation of diversified flexible resources can improve the economy of the power grid, the wind and solar energy consumption capacity, the flexibility of regulation, and the reliable operation capacity, which verifies the rationality and effectiveness of the proposed method.

A unified VCF data set from nearly 1,500 diverse maize accessions and resources to explore the genomic landscape of maize.

Efforts to capture and analyze maize nucleotide diversity have ranged widely in scope, but differences in reference genome version and software algorithms used in these efforts inhibit comparison, and these data are generally not available in an easy-to-use visualization platform for quick access and analysis. To address these issues, The Maize Genetics and Genomics Database has collaborated with maize researchers to offer variant data from a diverse set of 1,498 inbred lines, traditional varieties, and teosintes through a standardized variant-calling pipeline against version 5 of the B73 reference genome. The output was filtered for mapping quality, completeness, and linkage disequilibrium, and annotated based on variant effects relative to the B73 RefGen_v5 gene annotations. MaizeGDB has also updated a web tool, SNPversity 2.0, to filter, visualize, and download genotype sets based on genomic locations and accessions of interest, and added external data sets to demonstrate SNPversity 2.0's broad usage. MaizeGDB plans to host annual updates of these resources as additional resequencing data become available, with plans to expand to all publicly available sequence data.

Understanding residents' motivation, psychological involvement, and psychological well-being in urban parks

Residents frequently engage in leisure activities in urban parks to alleviate psychological stress, which makes their well-being a key concern for urban planners and policymakers. This study examines the relationships among urban park motivations (push and pull factors), psychological involvement, and psychological well-being through a survey of 331 residents in Dongguan city via structural equation modeling and principal component analysis. The results indicate that motivations positively influence residents' involvement and well-being, with involvement serving as a partial mediator. Theoretically, this study enhances the understanding of the psychological mechanisms driving park use and well-being, contributing to an explanatory model for resident well-being in urban contexts. Practically, the findings suggest that local authorities can increase urban park appeal by investing in diverse leisure resources and accessible facilities. Specific recommendations include developing scenic, accessible landscapes, family-friendly areas, sports facilities, and cultural exhibits to collectively support residents' psychological health and foster community involvement. This study provides both theoretical insights and actionable strategies for promoting psychological well-being through urban park design.

Metal-organic framework-based materials for solar-driven interfacial evaporation

As a sustainable and green approach, solar-driven interfacial water evaporation (SIE) can recover clean water from diverse water resources such as seawater and wastewater by converting solar energy into heat energy, paving the way to addressing the increasingly severe water shortage. In recent years, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been applied for constructing the evaporator for SIE, considering their merits such as large specific surface area, tunable component and structure, and high porosity. More importantly, MOFs materials have expanded their application in the synthesis of porous carbon, metal oxides/sulfides/carbides, and MOFs composites, which not only may preserve the merits of MOFs but also possess other functions. In this review, the latest developments regarding the solar evaporators designed by MOFs-based materials (including MOFs, MOFs-derivatives, and MOFs composites) is summarized and systematically discussed. The roles of MOFs-based materials in evaporation systems and the emerging applications of the evaporation systems are also highlighted. Ultimately, the challenges and perspectives of the MOFs-based materials used for designing of SIE systems are also presented.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Suminoe oyster Crassostrea ariakensis in south China

The Suminoe oyster Crassostrea ariakensis (Fujita, 1913) is one of the most important ecological and fishery bivalve mollusks with a worldwide distribution. Here, we reported an improved high-quality chromosomal-level genome assembly of C. ariakensis inhabiting the South China Sea, using Nanopore technology, Illumina sequencing, and high-throughput chromosomal conformation capture analysis. The assembled genome size is 631.73 Mb, with contig N50 length of 5.36 Mb and scaffold N50 length of 61.15 Mb, and is assigned to 10 chromosomes. A total of 29,357 protein-coding genes are predicted, 96.68% of which are functionally annotated. The genome contains 347.11 Mb (54.94%) of repetitive elements and 1130 noncoding RNAs. This improved genome assembly of south C. ariakensis is an important resource for understanding oyster diversity and evolution, and provides insights into genetic improvement, protection and management of oyster resource.

ETNOBOTÁNICA DE ÁRBOLES ÚTILES EN SISTEMAS AGROFORESTALES DE LA SIERRA DE ZONGOLICA, VERACRUZ, MÉXICO

<p><strong>Background:</strong> traditional ecological knowledge generated by different human groups is manifested in the various forms of appropriation of nature, particularly by intervening in the growth processes of plant species to take advantage of them and maintain them in the long term. The sierra of Zongolica is one of the most important indigenous areas in Mexico, where the use of forest resources is part of their livelihoods. There is evidence that in this region trees are used as raw material for furniture, construction, food, charcoal and firewood. <strong>Objective:</strong> to learn about the diversity, main uses and importance of multipurpose trees within agroforestry systems in the Sierra de Zongolica, Veracruz. <strong>Methodology:</strong> 74 semi-structured interviews and direct observations were conducted on the land of the interviewees and analyzed using a mixed approach, through a social network analysis to determine the main uses of the trees. <strong>Results:</strong> A total of 79 species of useful trees were recorded, belonging to 41 taxonomic families, of which the Fabaceae family was the most abundant with 4 species recorded. Sixty-two genera were found, of which the most abundant was the <em>Quercus </em>genus. Ninety-five percent of the informants were men around 50 years of age, demonstrating that they are the ones in charge of the productive activities and that they are the ones with the knowledge about the use and management of the trees. The household is made up of an average of 4 people, which makes it difficult to work in the fields due to the scarcity of family labor, which could jeopardize productive activities because people outside the family must be employed to use and manage the trees. <strong>Implications:</strong> since wood energy, construction, medicinal and food uses are of vital importance in this work, sustainable management practices should be implemented, such as selective harvesting, replanting and local tree management, so that firewood collection and trade benefit both rural areas and the environment. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> about 79 useful tree species were identified in Zongolica's agroforestry systems, demonstrating the diversity of natural resources in the region. These species are fundamental to the local economy and environmental conservation, providing firewood, food, medicines and construction materials for local communities. It is crucial to value and protect these forest resources to ensure their continuity and contribute to the sustainability of agroforestry systems in Zongolica.</p>

Avian abundance and diversity in three urbanized university campuses at different elevations in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of urbanization and elevation on avian diversity across three university campuses in the Philippines. Urbanization, a significant driver of global environmental change, negatively affects biodiversity by altering natural habitats. Birds, frequently used as bioindicators, are vital subjects for studying urban impacts due to their visibility and sensitivity to environmental changes. This research compares the abundance of bird families across campuses at different elevations, revealing significant variations influenced by urban structure, vegetation, and resource availability. Line transect, point count, and mist-netting methods were employed to survey the birds in the study area following established methods. The family Pycnonotidae is most abundant in the low-elevation urban campus (University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines - Cagayan de Oro), while families like Nectariniidae and Cuculidae are more prevalent in the high-elevation campus (USTPClaveria). These findings underscore the importance of habitat diversity and resource availability in supporting avian communities. The study highlights the potential of urbanized university campuses to serve as refuges for biodiversity if managed appropriately. Enhancing habitat complexity, maintaining green spaces, and ensuring diverse food resources are crucial for sustaining bird populations. The results emphasize the need for targeted conservation efforts within urban campuses to preserve and promote avian diversity in increasingly urbanized landscapes.