Ecological Level Research Articles

Landscape Pattern Vulnerability and Its Driving Forces in Different Geomorphological Divisions in the Middle Yellow River

The ecological environment of the middle Yellow River is highly vulnerable. Conducting a scientific assessment of landscape pattern vulnerability holds great significance, as it serves as the basis for the rational construction of the ecological environment in this area. Based on five periods of land use data from the middle Yellow River from 1990 to 2018, the landscape pattern vulnerability index was employed to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of the landscape pattern vulnerability. Furthermore, the influencing factors for landscape pattern vulnerability in different natural geomorphological divisions were explored using an optimal parameters-based geographical detector model. The results showed that:① From 1990 to 2018, cultivated land (which accounted for 36.96 % to 39.97 % of the area) remained the predominant landscape in the middle Yellow River. Among all landscape types, cultivated land and construction land exhibited the most significant changes. The area of cultivated land decreased by 10 185.00 km2, whereas the area of construction land increased by 7 678.46 km2. ② From 1990 to 2018, the landscape pattern was dominated by low and medium vulnerability and accounted for 70 %-80 % of the total area. The high and higher vulnerability areas were concentrated in the loess hilly and gully region, whereas the lower vulnerability area was concentrated in the valley plain and the earth-rock mountain regions. During this period, landscape pattern vulnerability underwent an incipient decrease, followed by a subsequent increase. From 1990 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2005, the changes in the level of landscape pattern vulnerability were dominated by a "reduction in the degree of vulnerability". However, from 2005 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2018, it was mainly an "increase in the degree of vulnerability". ③ Annual precipitation and NDVI were the main factors influencing the vulnerability of landscape patterns, whereas the influencing factors varied across different natural geomorphological divisions:the loess hilly and gully region and the earth-rock mountain region were dominated by natural factors, with annual precipitation and DEM being the dominant factors, respectively; the loess plateau tableland-gully region, valley plain region, and sandy land and desert region were dominated by human factors, with population density, degree of land use, and distance from roads being the dominant factors, respectively. The interaction results of any two influencing factors were manifested as two-factor enhancement or nonlinear enhancement. Risk detection revealed that high vulnerability areas of landscape patterns in different natural geomorphological divisions were distributed over distinct ranges of their corresponding dominant factors. Therefore, in the practices of ecological management in the middle Yellow River, appropriate management strategies should be implemented based on the vulnerability characteristics of different natural landforms, to further improve the ecological management level of the watershed.

Evaluation of mine ecological environment based on fuzzy hierarchical analysis and grey relational degree

In order to improve the level of mine ecological environment management and restoration, and to improve and enhance the overall environmental quality of mines. This study takes coal mine as the perspective, and constructs evaluation indexes in two steps, i.e., social network analysis method and relevant policy documents are combined to construct evaluation indexes. The indicator system contains 5 first-level indicators and 23 s-level indicators, and the triangular fuzzy number hierarchical analysis method is introduced to determine the comprehensive weight of each evaluation indicator, which overcomes the inadequacy of the objective empowerment method or the subjective empowerment method of single empowerment. The grey correlation analysis theory is used to establish a grey correlation evaluation model of mine ecological environment, which is applied to the evaluation of ecological environmental protection level of four coal mines in a province of China, making full use of the information of each index for quantitative evaluation, and finally obtaining the evaluated value of ecological environmental protection level of each coal mine. It is demonstrated that the evaluation model can make scientific and effective evaluation of the level of ecological environmental protection in mines. The study concludes that coal mines should pay attention to improving the comprehensive utilization rate of coal gangue in the next mine ecological environment management and restoration, and at the same time, reduce the ton of coal power consumption, ton of coal water consumption, and Increase in vegetation cover. This study provides a useful evaluation method for ecological environment management in mining areas, which is helpful to improve the quality of ecological management in mining areas.

Spatio-temporal heterogeneity of urban ecological resilience in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China

Urban ecology is continuously suffering from risky impacts, and the enhancement of urban ecological resilience has become the basis of practice for addressing environmental challenges and responding to green development. The entropy weight method was used to measure the ecological resilience level of 28 cities in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China from 2008 to 2018, the Theil index decomposition method was used to measure the differences in resilience, the exploratory spatial data analysis method revealed its evolution law, and the obstacle model was used for the identification of influencing factors. The findings suggest that: (1) The level of ecological resilience of Chinese cities is generally on a fluctuating upward trend, and the gap between different provinces is gradually decreasing. (2) The spatial distribution of urban ecological resilience is characterized by a “central” feature, with provincial capitals generally higher than other regions, Hubei as a whole being characterized by “high in the east and low in the west” and “eccentricity”, while Hunan and Jiangxi have a “diffusion effect”. The spatial evolution stage can be divided into the period of ecological resilience impact and the overall enhancement period. (3) The area of green space in parks, the level of greening in built-up areas and the level of comprehensive utilization of industrial solid waste in general have always been the most important barriers to the level of ecological resilience of cities. In addition, factors such as the sound treatment of domestic waste, the treatment of respirable fine particulate matter, sewage treatment and the control of industrial smoke and dust in the city should not be overlooked. Based on this, policy recommendations such as promoting regional collaboration to reduce inter-provincial differences and implementing precise policies to address the main obstacles are proposed.

Analysis of ecological literacy level and creative thinking skills of college students

Higher education institution is one of educational institutions that serve as a place of cultural values, and norms expected to become a foundation to foster caring attitudes toward the environment. These attitudes are accordingly meant to develop ecological literacy in order to overcome environmental problems which are likely to be minimized by combining ecological literacy and creative thinking skills. A quantitative descriptive with correlational study was employed in this research. There were 275 college students from three areas in Indonesia, namely Jakarta, Sumatera, and Gorontalo involved as respondents of the research. Data was collected by means of Google Forms consisting of tests and opinions. The ecological literacy was analyzed using dimensions of caring, practical competence, and knowledge while the creative thinking skills were analyzed using dimensions of fluency, originality, flexibility, and elaboration. This research is limited to students in the Department of Science and Non-Science. Findings of the research indicates that the ecological literacy level is in the medium category, whereas the creative thinking skills are good. Female students have a higher average score in ecological literacy and creative thinking skills compared to that of male students. Thus, there is a positive relationship between ecological literacy and creative thinking skills.

Characterising different artisanal fishing gears catches that operate in distinct habitats to assess ichthyofauna assemblages in Bons Sinais estuary, Mozambique

Monitoring the ichthyofauna is crucial to detect changes in aquatic communities for fisheries management and conservation. This study aimed to identify the most effective gear for ichthyofauna studies in the estuary. Thus, the performance of the beach seine (active gear) and chicocota (fixed gear), common fishing gears used by artisanal fishers in the Bons Sinais estuary (BSE), were used to characterise fish assemblage structure. Monthly surveys were conducted at two fixed sample points of the BSE to assess the composition of the fish assemblage. The analysis revealed statistical differences in abundance, biomass, and the presence/absence of different species between gears regardless sampling months. At ecological level, differences among gears were explained by different modus operandi, technological features and also different sampling habitats where gears operate; beach seine is catching bottom-bound and littoral fish while Chicocota is sampling the pelagic assemblage of the mid-channels. The frequency of occurrence of the 13 most abundant species differed between gears. Both gears showed little size-selectivity, with the mean total length and mean body height of these species statistically differing between gears. A total of 92 fish species were identified. No statistical differences were observed among gears for species richness, diversity and evenness. Both fishing gears captured several local socio-economically important species in the BSE. In particular, 13 of the most important species accounted for more than 54% and 60% of the total abundance and biomass in beach seine and chicocota, respectively. The complementary use of fixed and active fishing gears for studying fish community structure in estuaries is recommended. This multi-gear sampling approach enhances the capacity to detect changes in fish communities and provides valuable data for fisheries management and conservation efforts.

Research on the Temporal and Spatial Evolution Characteristics of the Ecological Level of Urban Production Space: A Case Study of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, China

Research on the Temporal and Spatial Evolution Characteristics of the Ecological Level of Urban Production Space: A Case Study of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, China

An ecological inquiry into the identity formation of a novice TESOL research mentor: Critical autoethnographic narratives in focus

This study reports on the identity formation of the author as a novice research mentor of an independent research course for TESOL teachers over six months (from the course design to the first research submission). The data is collected from four critical autoethnographic narratives written by the author before, during, and after this period. The narratives were analysed thematically with an eye on the theoretical underpinning of the study, i.e. ecological perspective, in three ecological layers namely micro-, meso-, and macrosystem. The results revealed that the author’s identity construction was influenced by different factors such as ‘autonomy in mentoring’, ‘mediating mentorship’, or ‘academic recognition’ in three levels of educational ecology. The results of this study can motivate research mentors and teacher educators, specifically novice ones, to find some similarities with the ideas discussed in this research and to record their lived experiences as a tool for reflection.

Toxic element characterization against a typical high geology background: Pollution enrichment, source tracking, spatial distribution, and ecological risk assessment

The geological environment determines the initial content of various elements in soil, while the late input of toxic elements produced through weathering and leaching is a persistent threat to food security and human health. In this study, we selected the Lou Shao Basin, a black rock system background, and combined geostatistical analysis and multivariate statistics to quantify the specific contribution of weathering of the black rock system, and to analyze the source traces, spatial distributions, and ecological risks of the soil toxicity of elements. The results show that the soils in the study area are acidic, which is related to the weathering of sulfides in the black rock system. The concentrations of most elements in the soil were determined to exceed the soil background values, and the Cd, Se and N contents, exceeded more than five times, especially Se, Mo nearly as high as 13 times. Strong positive correlation between Se, Cu, V and P, low correlation between N and Se, Cu, V, P, Ni and Cd.72.52%, 43%, 77.79%, 82%, 77%, and 44.1% of Cd, Se, Ni, Cu, B, and Mo came from the black rock system, respectively, which were greatly affected by geogenic weathering; V, Zn, Pb, and As are mainly from biomass burning sources; N and P are mainly from agricultural surface sources. Comparison found that the Cd and Se elements in the rocks in the study area were 16.78 times and 1.36 times higher than the world shale average, respectively, and need to pay attention to the weathering process of the two, and the spatial distribution of the 12 elements in soils showed a striped and centralized block distribution pattern, specifically around the distribution of carbonate and metamorphic rocks and other high-geology blocks. The ecological risk results showed that Cd was the main element causing high ecological risk, followed by Se and N, which were at moderate to high ecological risk levels, and Se and N showed similar ecological risk patterns, which may be related to the fact that selenium can promote the uptake and transformation of nitrogen. The present results add to the endogenous sources of toxic elements, quantify the source contributions of toxic elements in soils with high geologic backgrounds, fill this knowledge gap, and provide new insights for pollution control and ecological protection in areas with high geochemical backgrounds.

Assessing the ecological security of the Three Gorges reservoir complex ecosystem based on the improved three-dimensional emergy ecological footprint model

The ecological security (ES) of the reservoir complex ecosystem (RCE) is one of the critical components of watershed water security and sustainable development. Hence, accurately assessing the ES of the RCE is of utmost importance. This study proposed a novel ecological security assessment model based on the improved three-dimensional emergy ecological footprint (ESM-IEEF3D), which integrated various emergy flows during the RCE's construction and operation into a three-dimensional emergy ecological footprint (EEF3D) calculation account. The Three Gorges Project (TGP) is selected as a case study to evaluate the ES from 1993 to 2022 comprehensively. The results showed that the Three Gorges RCE mainly showed an ecological remainder state, and the inflow runoff enormously promoted the TGP's sustainability. The EEF3D indicated a fluctuation decrease trend with a mean value of 7.18 × 102 ha, illustrating that TGP's ecological security and sustainability levels are gradually improving. Regarding the ES evaluation indicators, the TGP's resource dependency and ecological pressure on the natural ecosystem and the external socio-economic system are steadily relieved. Furthermore, the Three Gorges RCE's resource utilization condition is safe, the structural characteristics are healthy, and the eco-economic coordination degree is continuously enlightening. Finally, applicable policy implications for improving the ecological security of Three Gorges RCE were provided. This study helps to understand the complex relationship between humans and ecosystems. It provides a novel framework to be used as an evaluation index and policy insights for hydropower ecological security and sustainable development.

Research on the Reconstruction of Aquatic Vegetation Landscape in Coal Mining Subsidence Wetlands Based on Ecological Water Level

The eastern region of the Huang-Huai area is vital for China’s coal production, with high water table mining causing significant surface subsidence and the formation of interconnected coal mining subsidence wetlands. Restoring these wetlands is crucial for biodiversity, environmental quality, and sustainable development. Aquatic vegetation plays a crucial role in wetland ecosystems, underscoring its importance in restoration efforts. Understanding and managing water level fluctuations is essential due to their impact on vegetation. This study examines the Qianshiliying coal mining subsidence wetland in the Yanzhou Mining Area, China, with the goal of devising a water level regulation plan based on the minimum ecological water level to improve the growth and recovery of aquatic vegetation. The research delves into landscape ecological restoration techniques for aquatic vegetation in coal mining subsidence wetlands in the eastern Huang-Huai region, emphasizing the importance of water level management. The results reveal that the minimum ecological water level in the Qianshiliying coal mining subsidence wetland is 32.50 m, and an area of 78.09 hectares is suitable for the reconstruction of aquatic vegetation. This paper utilizes lake morphology, minimum biological space, and water level demand methods for aquatic plants in the landscape to promote restoration of coal mining subsidence wetlands. A notable strength of this approach is its ability to quantitatively predict the survival range and area of aquatic vegetation in these wetlands, enabling a more scientifically informed restoration of ecological balance and promoting landscape ecological restoration in the eastern Huang-Huai region.

Calling for eco-peace: reimagining interconnected peace education

ABSTRACT In this critical co-constructed auto-ethnographic article we draw on research from two contexts, exploring how critical peace education can be more than palliative care in times of ecological collapse and profound crises across ecosystems. Examining the current crises of learning, living and being, we call for eco-peace-based education: grounded in interconnectedness and interdependence, as a way to transgress unsustainable violences on personal, interpersonal, and ecological levels. We focus on three main arguments that extend learning about nature, to learning with and in nature, towards regenerative approaches of learning, living, and being. Firstly, to move beyond the self-centered (ego) towards interconnected and Earth-centered (eco) epistemologies. Secondly, we explore concrete examples of alternative schools that learn from, in and with nature through fostering innate care between students and Earth (in our own contexts, India and Germany). Thirdly, we reimagine possible futures of eco-peace-based approaches, and argue for a shift towards more peaceful and interconnected futures by integrating eco-peace principles, content and pedagogies into current education systems.

Dynamic Changes in Ecosystem Service Value and Ecological Compensation in Original Continuous Poverty-Stricken Areas of China

The original contiguous poverty-stricken areas of China (OCPSAC) are a regional complex with natural and human attributes. Their ecosystem services are highly complex in their contribution to human well-being. The region’s ecosystem is unstable and socio-economic development is unbalanced, making it a key area for research and the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, it has become the focus of social attention. This study obtained satellite remote sensing images of the Landsat8 based on the Google Earth Engine. The dynamic characteristics of the spatial and temporal distribution of the OCPSAC’s land use changes in 2015 and 2022 were analyzed. The characteristics of the changes in ecosystem service value (ESV) were quantitatively evaluated through the revised ESV equivalent scale, and the ecological compensation (EC) standards and EC priority level suitable for the region were explored. The research results showed that: (1) the OCPSAC land use types were mainly grassland, forests, and deserts, accounting for more than 80% of the research area; (2) the OCPSAC’s ESV reached CNY 115.578 billion, and the Tibet Region (TR) and Tibetan Region of Four Provinces (TRFP) had the highest ESVs, accounting for 32.28% and 19.64%, respectively. Among individual ESVs, hydrological regulation (HR) and climate regulation (CR) had the highest values, accounting for 55.23% of the research area; (3) the ESV of the research area presented the characteristics of being high in the middle and low at both ends. From the terrain perspective, the areas with a higher ESV per unit area were distributed in the second altitude gradient, followed by China’s third altitude gradient, and the first altitude gradient was the lowest; (4) in the period of 2015–2022, the ESV increased by CNY 21.39 billion, of which TR’s ESV increased by CNY 17.44 billion. From the perspective of a single ESV, the value of waste treatment (WT), HR, nutrient cycle (NC), and provide aesthetic landscape (PAL) increased by CNY 24.38 billion; and (5) in 2022, the EC standard of the OCPSAC was CNY 917.14 billion. High-EC-value areas were mainly distributed in TR and TRFP, accounting for 72.79% of the total compensation amount, of which only TR’s EC amount exceeded a GDP of 2022, accounting for 4.77% of the total compensation. The purpose of this study was to provide a reference for ecosystem sustainability and EC.

Study on the Correlation between Ecological Service Value and Ecological Risk of Typical Mountain-Oasis-Desert Ecosystems: A Case Study of Aksu City in Northwest China

Aksu City, located in the southern region of Xinjiang, China, holds the position of being the fifth largest city in Xinjiang. It holds significant ecological importance as a vital functional region for the management of desertification in China. To safeguard the ecological security of Xinjiang and preserve the ecological stability of Aksu City, it is crucial to examine the relationship between ecological service value and ecological risk, as well as the geographical and temporal changes in land use characteristics in Aksu City. This study examines the evolutionary characteristics and spatial correlation between ecological service value and ecological risk in Aksu City, using Aksu City as a case study. The analysis is based on five periods of land use data from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. The study revealed the spatial and temporal patterns of landscape ecological risk and ecosystem service value in Aksu City from 2000 to 2020 using the landscape pattern index, ecological service value estimation, and ecological risk index. In addition, the study explored the interrelationship between ecological service value and ecological risk. The findings indicated that: (1) Bare land constituted the predominant land use category in Aksu City, accounting for over 81% of the total land use transfer over a 20-year period, encompassing a total area of 459.83 km2. (2) The total ecological service value (ESV) in the area experienced a decline of CNY 3.41 × 108 within the study’s time frame, exhibiting a decrease rate of 6.73%. Notably, grass and shrubland emerged as the primary contributor to the ESV, accounting for 33.25% of the total. (3) The ecological risk index (ERI) in Aksu City, within the period of 2000–2020, showed an increase in the interval from 0.2686 to 0.2877. The results indicated a decline in the overall ecological condition. The ecological risk level in Aksu City from 2000 to 2020 was dominated by lower and medium ecological risks. (4) Moran’s I values in Aksu City between 2000 and 2020 ranged from 0.428 to 0.443, which suggested a positive spatial correlation between ESV and ERI in the study area. The primary factor contributing to the heightened ecological risk in the study region was predominantly attributed to human activities such as urban expansion, agricultural production, and overgrazing.

Environmental Quality Monitoring Using Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) in Can Tho City, Vietnam.

The significance of green spaces and ecological priorities in urban areas–two major concepts and advancements in Vietnam's recent urban growth, particularly in Can Tho City–is addressed by urban planning. An ecological assessment necessitates participating in urban planning and the eco-environment protection system. This study evaluated the change in the ecological quality of Can Tho City in the period 2015 - 2020 by approaching remote sensing indicators and statistical methods. Using Landsat 8 OLI satellite data from 2015 to 2020, four indicators were calculated in this study: heat (LST), dryness (NDBSI), wetness (WET), and greenness (NDVI). These indices were then applied using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method to estimate the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI). According to the data, the RSEI mean was 3.66 in 2015 and 3.60 in 2020. In 2015, areas with good and very good ecological quality (EQ) accounted for 88.78% of the total natural area; by 2020, it was 84.75%. The areas with low quality increased from 1.97% in 2015 to 3.49% in 2020. This indicates a decreasing trend in ecological quality within the area. The declining trend in urban ecological quality (UEQ) at Can Tho City between 2015 and 2020 can be objectively reflected by the RSEI and the shifting proportions of the ecological level. The results of RSEI provide fundamental data on the ecological quality of the urban environment to support policymakers, managers, and authorities in implementing and developing sustainable approaches to urban ecological conservation and environmental quality preservation.

Eco-Efficiency Evaluation of Integrated Transportation Hub Using Super-Efficiency EBM Model and Tobit Regressive Analysis – Case Study in China

The transportation industry is a key area for ecological civilisation construction and low-carbon development. As the core support of the national integrated transportation system, the ecological development level of integrated transportation hub (ITH) is crucial for enhancing the sustainable development capacity of the national integrated transportation. An eco-efficiency evaluation index system of ITH is established in this study and the eco-efficiencies of twenty international ITHs in China are comprehensively evaluated based on the super-efficient epsilon-based measure (EBM) model. Then the panel Tobit regression model is adopted to analyse the influencing factors of eco-efficiency. The results show that the average eco-efficiency of ITHs in China during 2011–2021 declines first and then rises, with a relatively high level overall but not efficient yet, and there is an obvious gradient distribution characteristic in all eco-efficiencies. Among them, Guangzhou ranks first, followed by Haikou, and Harbin ranks last. It is found that integrated transportation efficiency, urban green coverage, level of opening-up and economic development improve eco-efficiency significantly, while urbanisation rate, industrial structure and technology input have a negative impact. The results are consistent with the actual situation, verifying the practicality of models, and can be used to promote the sustainable development of integrated transportation.

Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow security based on a new framework

AbstractClimate change and human activities combine to alter river hydrology, thereby threatening the health of river ecosystems. Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow assurance is essential for water resource management and river ecological protection. However, fewer studies quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow assurance based on a complete set of frameworks. The present study introduces an integrated assessment framework designed to quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow security. The framework includes the following steps: (1) natural river runoff reconstruction utilizing a semi‐distributed hydrological model (SWAT), (2) calculation of the most suitable ecological stream flow of the watershed ecosystem by using the non‐parametric kernel density estimation method, (3) calculation of the safety and security levels under minimum ecological flow and appropriate ecological flow conditions in the watershed and (4) quantification of the influences of climate change and human activities on the security of ecological flow in the watershed through the application of a quantitative attribution method. The impact of climate change and human activities on the ecological flow assurance level was analysed using three hydrological stations in Xiangtan, Hengyang and Laobutou, which are the main tributaries of the Xiangjiang River Basin, as a case study. The findings indicated a substantial decrease in ecological flow assurance levels across the basin during the period of human impact (1991–2019). The quantitative assessment results suggest that human activities predominantly drive the degradation of ecological flow assurance throughout the period of human impact, accounting for 57.05% of the total impact. Extensive gradient reservoir scheduling and anthropogenic water withdrawals were the main factors contributing to the degradation of ecological flow assurance in the study basin. The methodology and findings presented in this study offer insights into the evolutionary characteristics and driving forces behind ecological flow security in a dynamic environment. Furthermore, they establish a scientific foundation for local water resource management and river ecosystem protection.

Ecological Risk Assessment of Land Use Change in the Tarim River Basin, Xinjiang, China

In recent years, global climate change and human alterations to land use have led to a decrease in ecosystem services, making ecosystems more vulnerable. However, unlike the well-established risk assessment frameworks used in natural disaster research, the concept of ecological risks arising from changes in land use is still in its early stages, with its nuances and assessment methodologies yet to be clearly defined. This study proposes a new framework for assessing ecological risks resulting from changes in land use in the Tarim River Basin. The framework employs a coupled PLUS and Invest model to evaluate the ecological risks of land use change under three development scenarios projected for the Tarim River Basin in Xinjiang by 2035. The findings indicate that: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, the predominant land use types in the Tarim River Basin in Xinjiang were primarily unused land, followed by grassland and cropland. Conversely, grassland, water, and construction land were relatively less prevalent. During this period, the area of unused land and cultivated land increased, while grassland, forest land, and water exhibited a declining trend. Moving forward, under the three scenarios from 2020 to 2035, land use changes in the study area are characterized by the expansion of cropland and unused land, coupled with a significant decrease in grassland area, while other land categories demonstrate minor fluctuations. (2) From 2020 to 2035, across various scenarios, the total ecosystem service within the study area demonstrates an overall increasing trend in both the northern and southern marginal zones. Specifically, under the baseline scenario, the total amount of ecosystem services in the study area decreased by 15.247% compared to 2020. Similarly, under the economic development scenario, this decrease amounted to 13.358% compared to 2020. Conversely, under the ecological protection scenario, the decrease reached 19.852% compared to 2020. (3) The structure of ecological risk levels from 2020 to 2035, across multiple scenarios, demonstrates a consistent pattern, characterized by a predominant proportion of moderate risk. Conversely, other risk levels occupy relatively smaller proportions of the area.

Landscape ecological risk evaluation and prediction under a wetland conservation scenario in the Sanjiang Plain based on land use/cover change

Landscape ecological risk is the term used to describe potential negative effects of the relationship between environmental processes and landscape structure as a result of both natural and human interactions. The scientific assessment of past and prediction future ecological risks to landscapes is the basis for achieving sustainable regional development. In this study, we built an ecological risk measurement system characterized by variability in landscape composition to reflect the components of landscape ecological risk. In particular, the CA-Markov model was used to simulate the spatial pattern of land use in the Sanjiang Plain, China, under a wetland protection scenario. The evolution of the spatiotemporal land use trend in the study area was then analyzed for past (2011–2021) and future (2021–2036) periods. The results identified that construction land, farmland, water, and grassland areas exhibited an increasing trend from 2011 to 2021, while forest and wetland areas decreased each year. From 2021 to 2036, the grassland areas exhibited a downward trend, while the other land use types maintained the same previous trend, and all land use types experienced a slowdown in the degree of change. The major landscape ecological risk levels in the research region changed from medium-risk and low-risk levels (2011–2021) to low-risk and lower-risk levels (2021–2036). An evident decrease in risk is observed for farmland and construction land in the mid-region of the research district and forests in the south. In contrast, high-risk and higher-risk levels regions were smaller and distributed in the Songhua River basin in the northeast of the research region, wetland nature reserves, and the Xingkai Lake area, with an overall reduction of 59%. Based on the results, we propose several risk prevention and control management strategies. This research acts as a basis for determining Sanjiang Plain's future rational distribution of land resources and provides an example for the reduction of ecological risks in similar regions.

Latent classes of early childhood development and their predictors in Low- and middle-income countries: Results from multiple indicator cluster surveys 2010 - 2020

Investing in early childhood development (ECD) is critical for individual and societal development. Variable-centered research on ECD has shown that family wealth, maternal education, and parenting practices predict childhood outcomes overall. However, little is known about differences in the ECD patterns and their predictors. This study examined the latent classes of ECD using data from three waves of the Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys (MICS) conducted in 29 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) between 2010 and 2020 (MICS 4, 5, and 6) and identified their predictors at different ecological levels. The total sample size for analyses was 226,374 (nMICS4 = 70,082, nMICS5 = 91,652, nMICS6 = 64,640; Mage = 47.23(months), SDage = 6.87). Three classes, Learning Challenged but On Track for Physical and Social-emotional Development, Academically Challenged but Approaches-to-Learning Competent, On Track for Physical and Social-emotional Development, and Competent across All Domains, were consistently identified across MICS 4–6 using latent class analysis. Three variables, all at the microsystem level, predicted class membership with acceptable effect sizes in one or more waves of the MICS data: preschool attendance, number of books at home, and maternal education. The study has implications for future research and the development of policies aimed at monitoring and supporting ECD in LMICs.

Government environmental attention, credit supply and firms' green investment

This study employs textual analysis to construct a dataset reflecting the level of environmental attention by local governments and utilizes data from Chinese A-share listed companies between 2003 and 2020 as a sample to investigate the impact of local government's environmental attention on firms' green investment. The findings demonstrate that local government's environmental attention positively influences companies' green investment. Mechanism analyses reveal that local government's environmental attention primarily stimulates enterprise green investment by expanding the scale of green credit supply and reinforcing local environmental regulations. The effect of local government's environmental attention is more pronounced for state-owned enterprises, heavily polluting firms, large-scale firms, and firms with higher cash reserves and low financing constraint. Moreover, the influence is particularly significant in eastern China as well as regions characterized by lower ecological levels and stronger enforcement of environmental regulations.