Ecological Research Research Articles

Proximity to freshwater and seagrass availability mediate the impacts of climate change on the distribution of the West Indian manatee

How climate change alters persistence and distribution of endangered species is an urgent question in current ecological research. However, many species distribution models do not consider consumers in the context of their resources. The distribution and survival of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), listed as a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, critically depend on seagrass resources and freshwater sources for drinking. We parameterized Maxent models with Bio-ORACLE environmental layers, freshwater proximity data, and modelled seagrass distance layers, to determine manatee and seagrass distributions under future climate change scenarios. We used two plausible IPCC Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP45 and RCP26, respectively) for the year 2050. The model fits had high accuracies and predicted a marked decline in seagrass coverage (RCP26: -1.9%, RCP45: -6%), coinciding with declines in manatee ranges (RCP26: -9%, RCP45: -11.8%). We also found that over 94% of the projected manatee distribution for all scenarios fell within the seagrass distribution. The analysis showed a decline in seagrass coverage to significantly impact manatee distributions, since the distance to seagrass ecological layer contributed significantly to manatee distributions, along with distance to freshwater sources. Our findings suggest that manatees will lose substantial range due to future climate change, but the extent and direction of this change will be mediated by the degree of warming and its impact on the resources manatees depend on.

Quantitative Changes in the Surface Frozen Days and Potential Driving Factors in Northern Northeastern China

Surface freezing and thawing processes pose significant influences on surface water and energy balances, which, in turn, affect vegetation growth, soil moisture, carbon cycling, and terrestrial ecosystems. At present, the changes in surface freezing and thawing states are hotspots of ecological research, but the variations of surface frozen days (SFDs) are less studied, especially in the permafrost areas covered with boreal forest, and the influence of the environmental factors on the SFDs is not clear. Utilizing the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSRE) and Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) brightness temperature data, this study applies the Freeze–Thaw Discriminant Function Algorithm (DFA) to explore the spatiotemporal variability features of SFDs in the Northeast China Permafrost Zone (NCPZ) and the relationship between the permafrost distribution and the spatial variability characteristics of SFDs; additionally, the Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector is employed to determine the factors that affect SFDs. The results showed that the SFDs in the NCPZ decreased with a rate of −0.43 d/a from 2002 to 2021 and significantly decreased on the eastern and western slopes of the Greater Khingan Mountains. Meanwhile, the degree of spatial fluctuation of SFDs increased gradually with a decreasing continuity of permafrost. Snow cover and air temperature were the two most important factors influencing SFD variability in the NCPZ, accounting for 83.9% and 74.8% of the spatial variation, respectively, and SFDs increased gradually with increasing snow cover and decreasing air temperature. The strongest explanatory power of SFD spatial variability was found to be the combination of air temperature and precipitation, which had a coefficient of 94.2%. Moreover, the combination of any two environmental factors increased this power. The findings of this study can be used to design ecological environmental conservation and engineer construction policies in high-latitude permafrost zones with forest cover.

Integrated assessment and prediction of ecological security in typical ecologically fragile areas.

In order to safeguard and restore ecological security in ecologically fragile regions, a regionally appropriate land use structure and ecological security pattern should be constructed. Previous ecological security research models for ecologically fragile areas are relatively homogenous, and it is necessary to establish a multi-modeling framework to consider integrated ecological issues. This study proposes a coupled "PLUS-ESI-Circuit Theory" framework for multi-scenario ecological security assessment of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR). Firstly, the PLUS model was used to complete the simulation of four future development scenarios. Secondly, a new ecological security index (ESI) is constructed by synthesizing ecological service function, ecological health, and ecological risk. Finally, the Circuit Theory is applied to construct the ecological security pattern under multiple scenarios, and the optimization strategy of ecological security zoning is proposed. The results show that (1) from 2000 to 2030, the NHAR has about 80% of grassland and farmland. The built-up area is consistently growing. (2) Between 2000 and 2030, high ecological security areas are primarily located in Helan Mountain, Liupan Mountain, and the central part of NHAR, while the low ecological security areas are dominated by Shapotou District and Yinchuan City. (3) After 2010, the aggregation of high-security areas decreases, and the fragmentation of patches is obvious. Landscape fragmentation would increase under the economic development (ED) scenario and would be somewhat ameliorated by the ecological protection (EP) and balanced development (BD) scenarios. (4) The number of sources increases but the area decreases from 2000 to 2020. The quantity of ecological elements is on the rise. Ecological restoration and protection of this part of the country will improve its ecological security.

The potential of historical spy-satellite imagery to support research in ecology and conservation.

Remote sensing data are important for assessing ecological change, but their value is often restricted by their limited temporal coverage. Major historical events that affected the environment, such as those associated with colonial history, World War II, or the Green Revolution are not captured by modern remote sensing. In the present article, we highlight the potential of globally available black-and-white satellite photographs to expand ecological and conservation assessments back to the 1960s and to illuminate ecological concepts such as shifting baselines, time-lag responses, and legacy effects. This historical satellite photography can be used to monitor ecosystem extent and structure, species' populations and habitats, and human pressures on the environment. Even though the data were declassified decades ago, their use in ecology and conservation remains limited. But recent advances in image processing and analysis can now unlock this research resource. We encourage the use of this opportunity to address important ecological and conservation questions.

Evolution and Optimization of an Ecological Network in an Arid Region Based on MSPA-MCR: A Case Study of the Hexi Corridor

Under the background of climate change, the problems of water resource allocation and desertification in arid areas are becoming increasingly prominent, which seriously threatens the sustainable development of society. Constructing an ecological network is an important measure to improve the ecological environment and maintain ecological service function. This study takes the Hexi Corridor as an example and relies on land use data from 2000 to 2020, and comprehensively applies methods, such as morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA), the minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR), and the network evaluation index to construct and optimize the ecological network of the Hexi Corridor. Our results show: (1) the spatial distribution of the landscape elements in the Hexi Corridor was not uniform and that the ecological foundation in the north was poor; (2) the resistance surface was “low in the south and high in the north”, with low-value areas mainly located to the south of Jiuquan City, Zhangye City, and Wuwei City, and the high-value areas were mainly located in the middle and to the north of Jiuquan City and Wuwei City; (3) the ecological source areas, corridors, and nodes showed a fluctuating upward trend, and they were mainly located to the southwest of Zhangye City, Jiuquan City, and Wuwei City; (4) the network closure (α), line point rate (β), and network connectivity (γ) showed a W-shaped change trend; (5) after the ecological network optimization, 22 new ecological source areas, 78 new corridors, and 61 new nodes were added, as a result, the α, β, and γ indices all increased. Our results provide a reference for ecological environment restoration research and serve as a regionally balanced means of sustainably developing the Hexi Corridor.

Increased signal of fishing pressure on community life‐history traits at larger spatial scales

AbstractAimHuman pressure in the oceans is pervasive and affects marine life. Understanding species' differing responses to human pressure, and how human pressure compares to other environmental variables in shaping marine communities is needed to facilitate the sustainable management of the seas. Despite theory and empirical evidence that fishing pressure affects marine life‐history strategies, several recent large‐scale studies have not shown strong relationships between fishing pressure and community composition. We aim to reconcile theory with data and explain these variable findings, testing the hypothesis that the signal of the effect of fishing pressure on marine communities depends on the scale at which the community is defined.LocationNorth East Atlantic.Time Period2009 to 2021.Major Taxa StudiedMarine vertebrates (Teleostei, Elasmobranchii, Petromyzonti, Holocephali).MethodsWe collate extensive scientific marine biodiversity surveys, published life‐history traits and high‐resolution annual fishing pressure data. Using frequentist Generalized Linear Mixed Models, we assess whether community mean weighted life‐history traits correlate with fishing pressure, sea surface temperature and depth and whether the strength of these relationships are scale dependant.ResultsWe show fish community life‐history strategy correlates with fishing pressure, and the relative importance of fishing pressure compared to environmental variables increases with the scale at which a community is defined.Main ConclusionsWe suggest this scale dependence relates to the spatial extent over which covariates vary, and how fish movement moderates communities' experience of this variability. Our findings highlight the importance of explicit consideration of scale in ecological research, supporting the idea that studying systems at ecologically relevant scales is necessary to detect and appropriately interpret the effects of global change.

Influencing Factors and Evaluation of Groundwater Ecological Function in Arid/Semiarid Regions of China: A Review

In arid and semi-arid areas, due to drought climate and shortage of water resources, groundwater is crucial for natural ecological protection and economic development. It serves a dual role as a resource function and an ecological function. However, with the continuous improvement of the exploitation and utilization of groundwater by human activities during rapid economic development, the phenomenon of groundwater overexploitation is becoming more and more serious, which has destroyed the natural balance of groundwater recharge and discharge. As a result, natural vegetation has lost the maintenance of the ecological function of groundwater, and a series of ecological and environmental problems have occurred, such as natural vegetation degradation, land desertification, sandstorms, and so on. In recent years, scholars have carried out research on groundwater resource management and optimization of water resource allocation, trying to solve the problem of water balance in arid regions. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding and systematization regarding influencing factors and degeneration mechanisms related to groundwater’s ecological function. By summarizing and analyzing the previous research results, this paper summarizes the influencing factors, evaluation methods, existing problems and future directions of groundwater ecological function research in China to provide a reference for rational exploitation and utilization of groundwater and ecological protection. This paper is divided into four main contents. The first part introduces the definition of groundwater ecological function (GEF); the second part summarizes the research status of influencing factors of GEF, including the groundwater table depth, vegetation root system and lithologic structure of vadose zone, etc.; the third part analyzes the evaluation of groundwater ecological function; the fourth part discusses the existing problems in the study of groundwater ecological functions, and based on the above research the evaluation framework of GEF is proposed with the Shiyang River basin as a case study; and finally, it highlights the future research directions about GEF.

Diversity and Chorotype Analysis of the Pteridophytes of Zimbabwe

In the current investigation, an attempt has been made to document the floristic diversity and chorotype analysis of Pteridophytes growing in Zimbabwe. Previously published literature and online sources were consulted to confirm the nomenclature, precise locations, chorotype, stages of invasion, and conservation status of the Pteridophytes in Zimbabwe. The updated list of Pteridophyte taxa confirms that there are 297 taxa belonging to 83 genera and 19 families. The largest family is Aspleniaceae, with 78 taxa (26.26%), followed by Polypodiaceae and Pteridaceace with 67 taxa (22.56%) and 54 taxa (18.18%), respectively. The largest genus is Asplenium L., with 46 taxa (15.49%), followed by Hemionitis L. with 22 taxa (7.41%), Ophioglossum L. (16 taxa, 5.39%), Thelypteris Schmidel (14 taxa, 4.71%), and Elaphoglossum Schott ex J.Sm. (12 taxa, 4.04%). A total of 20 taxa (6.73%) are threatened with extinction, emphasizing the need for detailed knowledge of the nomenclature, conservation status, and distribution of Pteridophytes taxa in Zimbabwe. Research focusing on the diversity, ecology, and conservation status of Pteridophytes is imperative for biodiversity conservation, as they are an important component of natural ecosystems adapted to different habitats. Therefore, future studies on Pteridophytes in Zimbabwe should explore how the lack of floristic data on the plant group can hinder ecological research.

Meeting Report of the Second Symposium of the Belgian Society for Viruses of Microbes and Launch of the Phage Valley.

The second symposium of the Belgian Society for Viruses of Microbes (BSVoM) took place on 8 September 2023 at the University of Liège with 141 participants from 10 countries. The meeting program covered three thematic sessions opened by international keynote speakers: two sessions were devoted to "Fundamental research in phage ecology and biology" and the third one to the "Present and future applications of phages". During this one day symposium, four invited keynote lectures, nine selected talks and eight student pitches were given along with thirty presented posters. The president of the Belgian Society for Viruses of Microbes, Prof. Yves Briers, took advantage of this symposium to launch the Phage Valley concept that will put the spotlight on the exceptionally high density of researchers investigating viruses of microbes as well as the successful triple helix approach between academia, industry and government in Belgium.

The role of theory in mitigating the ‘reproducibility crisis’

The lack of reproducibility of scientific results is jeopardizing the trust in science. An effort to inform the dynamic, but non-arbitrary, nature of scientific evidence is required along with strengthening the reliability of published results. Concerns and actions aimed at testing and increasing the reproducibility of scientific conclusions are usually directed at increasing data validation through careful management of the data-curation process, paying attention to the empirical aspects of hypotheses testing. But important as they are, these aspects may be vulnerable to the perils of radical empiricism and therefore should be combined with more theoretical and conceptual tools. Pattern consistency and an understanding of the physiological, behavioral, or ecological mechanisms that cause patterns make scientific assertions more robust. Testing a priori hypotheses (e.g., about functional biological traits) with fresh (and redundant) evidence offers theoretical as well as empirical support for ecological research and may help strengthen the reliability of published results.

A Review on the Ecology, Conservation and Current Research Priorities of Indian Pangolins Manis crassicaudata in South Asia with Special Emphasis to India

Airborne imagery does not preclude detectability issues in estimating bird colony size

Aerial images obtained by drones are increasingly used for ecological research such as wildlife monitoring. Yet detectability issues resulting from animal activity or visibility are rarely considered, although these may lead to biased population size and trend estimates. In this study, we investigated detectability in a census of Malagasy pond heron Ardeola idae colonies on the island of Mayotte. We conducted repeated drone flights over breeding colonies in mangrove habitats during two breeding seasons. We then identified individuals and nests in the images and fitted closed capture-recapture models on nest-detection histories. We observed seasonal variation in the relative abundance of individuals, and intra-daily variation in the relative abundance of individuals—especially immature birds—affecting the availability of nests for detection. The detection probability of nests estimated by capture–recapture varied between 0.58 and 0.74 depending on flyover days and decreased 25% from early to late morning. A simulation showed that three flyovers are necessary to detect a 5–6% decline in colonies of 50 to 200 nests. These results indicate that the detectability of nests of forest-canopy breeding species from airborne imagery can vary over space and time; we recommend the use of capture-recapture methods to control for this bias.

The Photoprotective Behavior of a Motile Benthic Diatom as Elucidated from the Interplay Between Cell Motility and Physiological Responses to a Light Microgradient Using a Novel Experimental Setup

It has long been hypothesized that benthic motile pennate diatoms use phototaxis to optimize photosynthesis and minimize photoinhibitory damage by adjusting their position within vertical light gradients in coastal benthic sediments. However, experimental evidence to test this hypothesis remains inconclusive, mainly due to methodological difficulties in studying cell behavior and photosynthesis over realistic spatial microscale gradients of irradiance and cell position. In this study, a novel experimental approach was developed and used to test the hypothesis of photosynthesis optimization through motility, based on the combination of single-cell in vivo chlorophyll fluorometry and microfluidic chips. The approach allows the concurrent study of behavior and photosynthetic activity of individual cells of the epipelic diatom species Craspedostauros britannicus exposed to a light microgradient of realistic dimensions, simulating the irradiance and distance scales of light microgradients in benthic sediments. Following exposure to light, (i) cells explored their light environment before initiating light-directed motility; (ii) cells used motility to lower their light dose, when exposed to the highest light intensities; and (iii) motility was combined with reversible non-photochemical quenching, to allow cells to avoid photoinhibition. The results of this proof-of-concept study not only strongly support the photoprotective nature of photobehavior in the studied species but also revealed considerable variability in how individual cells reacted to a light microgradient. The experimental setup can be readily applied to study motility and photosynthetic light responses of other diatom species or natural assemblages, as well as other photoautotrophic motile microorganisms, broadening the toolset for experimental microbial ecology research.

Individual approach in the treatment of occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction. Occupational COPD (PCODD) is characterized by partially irreversible airflow limitation, the phenomenon of "air traps" and the formation of emphysema, has a steadily progressive character. In the work of a practitioner, an individual approach to the patient with targeted pharmacotherapy using new combinations in the treatment of occupational COPD is important, taking into account the evaluation of the effectiveness of previous therapy.
 The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy with combined bronchodilators in PCOPD with an analysis of the dynamics of functional parameters, exercise tolerance, using additional criteria for differential diagnosis.
 Material and methods. The effectiveness of bronchodilator therapy was analyzed in 45 men, diagnosed with occupational COPD (PCODD). Additional differential diagnostics included the following informative indicators: instantaneous volumetric velocity after exhalation 75 FVC (MOS75); cough intensity according to the CAT questionnaire (1 point); ratio of forced vital capacity to forced expiratory volume in 1 minute (FVC/FEV1); 6MWT data, % predicted; 6MWT, m; overall score on the mMRС questionnaire; the severity of shortness of breath according to the CAT questionnaire (point 4); instantaneous volumetric velocity after exhalation 25 FVC (MOS25). The discriminant equation is represented by the formula: F=–9,76+0,75×a1–2,00×a2–0,19×a3+0,27×a4–0,11×a5+1,22×a6+3,62×a7+2,22×a8.
 Results. Two clinical trials were retrospectively analyzed using combined bronchodilator therapy with long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists (LAA) and β2-agonists (LAA) in patients with PCOD. A group of patients was identified where a statistically significant improvement in clinical and functional parameters was not achieved against the background of the therapy. When to the group of occupational bronchial asthma (OBA). When conducting an individual analysis of indicators, it was found that for patients with PCOD during bronchodilator therapy, an improvement in spirometric parameters is characteristic, in particular, an increase in FEV1 and FVC; Significant reduction in symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, sputum. Whereas, the PBA group was characterized only by an improvement in the distance traveled in 6MWT.
 Conclusion. Our earlier clinical studies on the effectiveness of treatment of patients with PCOD with combined bronchodilator therapy showed the effectiveness of this therapy in 70–75% of the patients examined. An individual analysis of the clinical and functional parameters of the examined patients made it possible to identify the features of the course of occupational bronchopulmonary pathology, with the identification of individuals who need the use of a triple combination of LABA, LAAA with the addition of topical glucocorticosteroids. In this regard, all patients, as part of diagnostic measures, in addition to the standard examination, it is necessary to include 6MWT, BPG, questionnaires using mMRС and CAT questionnaires. Calculation of discriminant equations using data from spirometry, questionnaires, 6MWT and BPG will allow at the first stage of differential diagnosis to identify a group of patients for whom "triple" therapy is the means of choice.
 Ethics. The study was carried out in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The Clinical Study Protocol was reviewed at a meeting of the local Ethics Committee East-Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research.

Global Stability with Lyapunov Function and Dynamics of SEIR-Modified Lassa Fever Model in Sight Power Law Kernel

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease that affects humans and is endemic in various West African nations. In this study, a fractional-order model is constructed using the Caputo operator for SEIR-type Lassa fever transmission, including the control strategy. The proposed model examines the dynamics of Lassa fever transmission from rodents to humans and from person to person and in territories with infection in society. The model is analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. We examine the positively invariant area and demonstrate positive, bounded solutions to the model. We also show the equilibrium states for the occurrence and extinction of infection. The proposed nonlinear system is verified to be present, and a unique solution is shown to exist using fixed point theorems. Using the Volterra-type Lyapunov function, we investigate the global stability of the suggested system with a fractional Caputo derivative. To study the impact of the fractional operator through computational simulations, results are generated employing a two-step Lagrange polynomial in the generalized version of the power law kernel. A graphical evaluation is provided to show the simplicity and dependability of the model, and all rodents that could be source viruses are important in ecological research. The findings with a value equal to 1 are stronger, according to the comparison of outcomes with different fractional orders. The adverse effect of Lassa fever increases when all modes of transmission are taken into account, according to the study, with fractional-order findings indicating less detrimental effects on specific transmission routes.

Microbiome composition and function within the Kellet's whelk perivitelline fluid.

Microbiomes have gained significant attention in ecological research, owing to their diverse interactions and essential roles within different organismal ecosystems. Microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and viruses, have profound impact on host health, influencing digestion, metabolism, immune function, tissue development, and behavior. This study investigates the microbiome diversity and function of Kellet's whelk (Kelletia kelletii) perivitelline fluid (PVF), which sustains thousands of developing K. kelletii embryos within a polysaccharide and protein matrix. Our core microbiome analysis reveals a diverse range of bacteria, with the Roseobacter genus being the most abundant. Additionally, genes related to host-microbe interactions, symbiosis, and quorum sensing were detected, indicating a potential symbiotic relationship between the microbiome and Kellet's whelk embryos. Furthermore, the microbiome exhibits gene expression related to antibiotic biosynthesis, suggesting a defensive role against pathogenic bacteria and potential discovery of novel antibiotics. Overall, this study sheds light on the microbiome's role in Kellet's whelk development, emphasizing the significance of host-microbe interactions in vulnerable life history stages. To our knowledge, ours is the first study to use 16S sequencing coupled with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to profile the microbiome of an invertebrate PVF.IMPORTANCEThis study provides novel insight to an encapsulated system with strong evidence of symbiosis between the microbial inhabitants and developing host embryos. The Kellet's whelk perivitelline fluid (PVF) contains microbial organisms of interest that may be providing symbiotic functions and potential antimicrobial properties during this vulnerable life history stage. This study, the first to utilize a comprehensive approach to investigating Kellet's whelk PVF microbiome, couples 16S rRNA gene long-read sequencing with RNA-seq. This research contributes to and expands our knowledge on the roles of beneficial host-associated microbes.

IoT with Animal Ecology- Next Smart Farming Evaluation

Web of things for creatures allude to the numerous such gadgets like biochips transponders on cultivate creatures, heart checking inserts, cameras gushing live bolsters of wild creatures in coastal waters, DNA investigation gadgets for natural or pathogen checking. The fast development for IOT for creatures has made a difference in creating huge sum of valuable information required to gather and dissecting from the conduct of these creatures. The current hypothetical limits of IoT in creature biology are too talked about. In spite of the fact that IoT offers a unused course in creature ecological research, it still has to be assist investigated and created as a hypothetical framework and connected to the fitting logical systems for understanding creature environment. Key words: Animal detecting, Environmental monitoring, Internet of Things.

Less variability when growing faster? Experimental assessment of the relationship of growth rate with functional traits of the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Diversity and its drivers and consequences are at the heart of ecological research. Mostly, studies have focused on different species, but if the causes for increases or decreases in diversity are general, the observed patterns should also be observable within genotypes. As previous research shows that there is higher variability in nitrogen to phosphorus ratios (N/P) between slow-growing unicellular algal populations, compared to fast-growing ones, we expected to observe similar patterns within genetically identical strains growing at different rates. We tested this hypothesis in a laboratory experiment performed with a monoculture of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Using a growth rate gradient obtained with 10 chemostats, we were able to determine the effect of growth rate on the diatom’s elemental stoichiometry as well as on selected traits, such as cell size and shape. Our results showed indeed less intercellular variability (in the selected traits assessed on single-cell level) in the faster-growing populations, which was accompanied by a downward trend in bulk N/P ratios. We pose that this higher variability at lower growth rates potentially results in higher variability of the food sources available for higher trophic levels with potential consequences for the transfer efficiency of energy and matter in marine food webs.

Large-scale cultural heritage conservation and utilization based on cultural ecology corridors: a case study of the Dongjiang-Hanjiang River Basin in Guangdong, China

In the field of world heritage conservation, there has been broad consensus on carrying out heritage conservation research on the basis of spatial integration and interregional and international cooperation. However, there are still many deficiencies in the integration of culture with the environment, regional economic and social development, and the regional, holistic and multimodal conservation and utilization of cultural heritage sites. In China, the Dongjiang-Hanjiang River Basin is a representative area of substantial cultural and ecological value for both Guangdong Province and the whole country. This paper uses the morphological spatial pattern analysis and the minimum cumulative resistance model to integrate cultural ecology sources and establish a cross-regional and large-scale cultural ecology network system that includes 1 main corridor, 22 important corridors and 17 secondary corridors. In addition, based on identified cultural landscape nodes and cultural ecology services, the economy of the cultural ecology corridor could be developed with large-scale co-construction, co-governance and shared working mechanisms to overcome administrative limits and realize the conservation and utilization of multimodal and large-scale heritage sites. This approach has strong theoretical and practical significance for innovative methods in cultural ecology research, as well as for new content in the research of Lingnan culture, ecosystem restoration, and the economic and social development of towns and villages. This article supplements unilateral studies of regional culture and ecology and demonstrates an in-depth application of cultural ecology theory.

The Lawn as a Social and Cultural Phenomenon in Perth, Western Australia

Lawns, introduced in Australia through English colonial heritage, dominate public spaces in cities, serving various ecosystem functions. Australian lawns consist of non-native grasses that differ from native original vegetation and require intensive management and maintenance. This study explores public perspectives on urban lawns in Perth, Western Australia, an area largely overlooked in ecological and social research in the context of Australia compared to Europe and North America. This paper presents empirical research on public perceptions of urban lawns and alternatives in Perth, Western Australia. The study explores social values and preferences regarding traditional lawns and new options, considering visual appearance, uses, and maintenance. Findings from an online questionnaire, involving 171 respondents, identified seven categories based on a content analysis of lawn definitions: flat area; ground covered by grass; maintained; non-native vegetation; open space; recreational space; and turf grass. The results revealed that respondents most value lawns for aesthetics, cooling and recreation (exercises, walking pets, as a transit area, passive recreation, and social gatherings). At the same time, participants demonstrated an environmental awareness of lawns and the necessity of revisiting the existing planning and maintenance routine based on irrigation and intensive mowing by considering several alternative solutions. While valuing new solutions such as Scaevola patches in dedicated areas and “weedy lawns”, participants still preferred alternatives closest in appearance to a conventional lawn (e.g., lawn grass with Dichondra and lawn grass with clover). The study emphasizes the need for a ‘blended model’ of urban lawns, combining durability with heat-resistant, biodiverse vegetation to address social values and environmental concerns.