Ecosystems In Countries Research Articles

LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY AND FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA

Nigeria is rich in biodiversity, boasting of diverse ecosystems and numerous species. The country's ecosystems range from semi-arid savannas to montane forests, floodplains, rainforests, freshwater swamps, and coastal vegetation. However, Nigeria's rich biodiversity, essential for agriculture and food security, is under severe threat, impacting adversely on food security. This study investigates the impact of oil pollution, deforestation, and desert encroachment on biodiversity loss within Nigeria's agricultural ecosystems. This study employed a comprehensive review of existing literature on the assessment of biodiversity loss in Nigeria's agricultural ecosystems due to pollution from oil spill, deforestation and desert encroachment. By analyzing the correlation between these environmental stressors and food security challenges, this study highlight the critical need for integrated conservation and agricultural strategies. The findings indicate that the loss of biodiversity has far-reaching implications, including malnutrition, food price volatility, and the erosion of rural livelihoods. The study emphasizes the pressing necessity of tackling these challenges in order to guarantee sustainable food security and ecological equilibrium in Nigeria. To address these interconnected issues, the study recommends a holistic approach that prioritizes sustainable practices, robust policies, and community engagement. By safeguarding Nigeria's biodiversity, we can ensure a sustainable food future for generations to come.

FORMATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPETENCE OF THE FUTURE BACHELOR OF NAVIGATION: THEORETICAL ASPECT

The relevance is driven by the fact that the ecological crisis both globally and in Ukraine particularly, is characterized by a trend of increase. The war with the Russian Federation, which severely destroys the country's ecosystems, has become a challenge for domestic ecology. We now face significant losses of hundreds of species of animals and plants. This requires replenishment of organizations and institutions, including maritime and water transport, with specialists who have a thorough professional-ecological training. Meanwhile, maritime higher education institutions are still insufficiently focused on activating ecological education for students, on fostering ecologically aware seafarers with developed ecological thinking. The problem of targeted formation of ecological knowledge, skills, and consciousness among future navigation specialists is further actualized by the fact that pedagogical science has not yet substantiated detailed methodological approaches, effective principles, specific conditions, and rules for productive ecological training of future specialists in maritime and inland water transport, nor has it developed effective technologies and methodologies for systemic acquisition of professionally oriented ecological knowledge, skills, and abilities by marine education seekers. Objective: To substantiate the pedagogical system of targeted formation of ecological competence in future navigation bachelors and to develop its conceptual model. Methods: To achieve the objective, the study utilized theoretical methods (theoretical analysis of scientific works, study of the requirements of environmental legal documents to clarify the level of problem development and identify directions of scientific exploration; comparison to study scientific approaches to solving the problem; analysis and synthesis to clarify the features of ecological-professional training of navigation bachelors, substantiating the content of their ecological competence formation; modeling to develop the structural-content model of the pedagogical system) and empirical methods (pedagogical observation, discussions, surveys to identify directions, stages, forms, technologies of forming ecological competence in future navigation bachelors). Results: Based on the analysis of pedagogical theory and educational practice, the peculiarities of professional-ecological training of future navigation bachelors in higher education institutions were clarified; it was determined that ecological competence of future navigation bachelors is a complex scientific object and requires a systemic approach in its research, and the process of its targeted formation should be considered as a pedagogical system; a conceptual model of the system has been developed that combines the conceptual positions of the studied process into a single ideal construct, illustrating the sequence of "movement" from the goal to the expected result. Conclusions: The substantiated model is a theoretical construct that reflects the conceptual foundations of the systemic formation of ecological competence in future navigation bachelors; the positions embedded in this ideal object regarding the formation of this integrative property of the personality combine the possibilities of intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary directions of ecological education for students with the acquisition of experience by future seafarers in environmental protection, research, ecological-enlightenment, and other activities; the implementation of the developed pedagogical system in a higher education institution will significantly enhance the level of formation of ecological knowledge, ecological thinking, ecological consciousness, and eco-safe behavior among future navigation bachelors.

Empowering migrant women's entrepreneurship: stakeholder perspectives from the entrepreneurial ecosystem

PurposeEntrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) research has focused on high-growth scale-up entrepreneurship, whereas the role of EEs in nurturing the ventures of marginalised groups like migrant women entrepreneurs (MWEs) has often been elided from extant discussions. This research explores how the EE's structure, policies and programmes advance diversity, equity and inclusion to foster MWEs, and MWEs' contribution to the dynamics and sustainability of the host country's EE based on EE actors' perspectives. We contribute to EEs' diversity, equity and inclusion, which are important but neglected social aspects of sustainable EEs.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative data was collected through thematic interviews with EE actors, including NGOs and entrepreneurial support-providing organizations based in Finland. The collected data was complemented by interviews with MWEs, archival data and published supplementary materials on ecosystem actors.FindingsEE structure, policies, programmes and individual agency, coupled with MWEs' proactivity in lobbying the necessary actors in the required places for their interests, enhance their businesses' development. There were both impeding and fostering dynamics, which may have idiographic and contextual features. Evidently, by being occupied in various sectors, from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to socially beneficial niche service sectors, MWEs contribute to the host country's EE dynamics not only through their productive entrepreneurship but by enriching the ecosystem's resource endowments and institutional arrangements.Originality/valueWe argue that exploring the gender and inclusivity aspects of EEs as the accommodating context is particularly relevant, given that the United Nation's sustainable development goals 5, 8 and 10 aim to improve women's empowerment at all levels, promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and ensuring equal opportunities and reduced inequalities within the population. Inclusion and embeddedness in EEs positively affect diversity and sustainability in the host country. Theoretically, our contribution is twofold. First, by exploring female migrants' entrepreneurial experiences within the EE based on EE actors' perspectives, we broaden the research on inclusivity in EEs and gender aspects and enrich the research on their societal impact, which has received scant attention from scholars. More specifically, we contribute to EE research with (1) a novel understanding of MWEs and EE elements, their interconnections and dynamism, (2) identifying previously ignored elements shaping MWE and (3) providing EE actor insights into the co-creation of EE for MWE. Second, by analysing the impact of MWEs' businesses on the host country's EE, we contribute to calls for research on MWE contributions to its economic environment.

BİYOKAPASİTE VERİMLİLİĞİ VE EKONOMİK BÜYÜME ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİ: AVRUPA İÇİN SUR MODEL ANALİZİ

To investigate the relationship between biocapacity efficiency and economic growth, data from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands were used, which are the European countries with the largest deficits in the biocapacity-ecological footprint balance between 1970 and 2014. Biocapacity measures the biosphere's ability to renew itself and supply the resources and services required to sustain life. It expresses overall human demand for natural resources, waste management, and fertile land for urban activities. The phrase "ecological footprint" refers to the quantity of biologically productive land and water that a population must utilize to maintain the urban infrastructure that it inhabits, create all the resources that it consumes, and remove all the garbage that it generates. An ecological deficit exists when a country's ecological footprint exceeds its biocapacity as measured by its population. An ecological deficit suggests that a country's ecosystems are unable to absorb extra carbon dioxide discharged into the atmosphere. When calculating national biocapacity productivity, the relative productivity of an average hectare of a specific land-use type is considered. The biocapacity efficiency factor was used as the dependent variable in this study, which evaluated the eight European nations with the greatest ecological deficit. GDP, the fraction of the total population residing in urban agglomerations with populations greater than one million, and electric energy consumption were the independent variables. Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) model's overall findings reveal that the biocapacity productivity factor and GDP are adversely connected. The biocapacity productivity factor decreased by 0.75% for every 1% rise in GDP. Austria and Belgium had the highest influence on the biocapacity productivity factor, according to country-specific information.

Economic Growth and Carbon Emission Nexus: the Function of Tourism in Brazil

<p style="text-align: justify;">The impact of international tourism on emerging markets has been overwhelmingly beneficial. Despite the obvious benefits of tourism, it comes at a high price for the environment in the form of pollution. Brazil's annual tourist influx has the potential to boost economic development and damage the country's ecosystems. The objective of this investigation is to analyze, using time series data ranging from 1990 to 2019, the effects of tourism and economic growth (GDP) on carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions in Brazil. The stationarity of the data was examined by employing unit root tests, and an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique was used to investigate the link between the factors, taking both the long- and the short-run into consideration. This research shows that there are long-term and short-term ties between Brazil's tourism industry, GDP, and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Yet, both tourism and economic expansion have had serious negative effects on Brazil's ecology. These results indicate that in order to maintain environmental quality in Brazil, policymakers need to pursue more eco-friendly economic expansion as well as environmentally conscious tourist regulations.</p>

THE MODELING OF STARTUP ECOSYSTEMS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE BASED ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS

The article is devoted to solving the problem of the development of startup ecosystems in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (including Ukrainian entrepreneurship since Ukraine gained independence) by reorienting their economy to a market economy and conducting it based on sustainable development, ethics, and social responsibility. It has been found that in the countries a large number of mechanisms and procedures are not fully adapted to the implementation of entrepreneurial activity based on systematicity, complexity, and interaction; only point elements are present, and the effectiveness of their interaction in the process of entrepreneurial activity is quite low. At the same time, the rapid development of startup ecosystems is observed. The definition of this concept in the article is considered from the point of view of scientists as “a combination of localized cultural views, social networks, investment capital, universities, and active economic policies that create an environment that supports innovative business” and Startup Genome. This allows for the interpreting of a startup ecosystem as “a set of resources (policies, accelerators, incubators, co-working spaces, educational institutions, and funding groups) that are mostly located within a radius of 100 kilometers around a central point in a given region, with a few exceptions based on local realities”. It has been established that at the moment the theoretical concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems is insufficiently developed, which does not allow unambiguously interpreting its composition, as well as determining the impact on the development of startup. It has been revealed that the central driver of start-up ecosystems is most often considered by universities as centers of education and driving forces of innovative growth. It is innovations that are determined as a source of entrepreneurship development. The above was the basis for consideration and a possible solution to the problem of building a model that would describe the development of the startup ecosystem of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe based on the analysis of a set of indicators that characterize the startup ecosystem according to the Dealroom.co methodology, where the most popular and those that Ecosystem value is the most complete description of the development of the startup ecosystem. The European experience in the development of startup ecosystems has been analyzed. The structural components of the startup ecosystem have been reflected, and their role in the functioning of the system and their interrelationships has been defined. The functioning of startup ecosystems in European countries has been described. Possible directions of application of the European experience in the development of startup ecosystems in Ukraine have been studied. At the same time, the government of Ukraine considers the IT industry and military tech (high-tech weapons) as priorities in further development, which is especially relevant during military operations. The study was tested on the Greek startup ecosystem and found that the most significant issues affecting the successful development of startups are issues at the state level, which are related to tax incentives and acceleration of start-up procedures, the availability of financing opportunities, communication between interested parties, entrepreneurial education, previous startup experience, incubator support, and mentoring. A regression-correlation analysis of a set of five indicators (Number of unicorns, Future unicorns, VC funding, Number of exits, Employees, New funds, Number of startups, Number of funding rounds), which have the greatest significance for the Ecosystem value of the country, has been carried out. A model has been built that determines the dependence of Ecosystem value on the action of a set of significant factors: Number of unicorns, Future unicorns, VC funding, Number of exits, and Employees, which allows predicting the development of the startup ecosystem of the countries of the world.

Toxicity of Difenoconazole and Atrazine and Their Photodegradation Products on Aquatic Biota: Environmental Implications in Countries Lacking Good Agricultural Practices.

Agriculture is fundamental for human development, but it may also have a range of unwanted effects on ecosystems when pesticides inadvertently enter the environment. We determined the toxicity of difenoconazole and atrazine, as well as their photodegradation products, on the bioindicators Lemna minor and Daphnia magna. For L. minor, we assessed the number of leaves, biomass, and chlorophyll content exposed to different concentrations of difenoconazole (0-8 mg/L) and atrazine (0-3.84 mg/L). For D. magna, we assessed the mortality to difenoconazole (0-1.6 mg/L) and atrazine (0-80 mg/L). We found that the higher the concentrations of the pesticides, the higher the toxicity for both bioindicators. In L. minor, the highest toxicity for atrazine was 0.96 mg/L, whereas for difenoconazole, it was 8 mg/L. For D. magna, the 48 h LC50 for difenoconazole was 0.97 mg/L, while for atrazine, it was 86.19 mg/L. For L. minor, the toxicity of difenoconazole and atrazine was not different compared to that of their photodegradation products. In contrast, for D. magna, difenoconazole, but not atrazine, was more toxic compared to its respective photodegradation products. Pesticides are a serious threat to aquatic biota, and their photodegradation products remain toxic in the environment. Additionally, the use of bioindicators can help monitor these pollutants in aquatic ecosystems in countries where the application of pesticides is imperative for agricultural production.

Социальная политика и экосистемы государственного управления

The article examines the transformation of social policy in countries that prioritize the use of digital technologies in public administration. State integrated platforms – ecosystems –that emerge in these countries serve as a basis for social interaction, using data on organizations and citizens of one or more countries interactively, which leads to changes in social policy. The main changes of this kind include convergence of state and corporate structures for managing social processes and individualization of the state’s interaction with people. The article identifies the social imbalances that have limited the creation of a global ecosystem of social management and become the driver for the emergence of several types of such ecosystems. The analysis demonstrates that implementation of business models of digital transformation of public administration in some countries retains the historical continuity of the principles that underpinned their social policy earlier. The author concludes that the partnership role of the corporate sector in setting goals for social development leads to formation of cross-border horizontally oriented ecosystems in countries with social-democratic and liberal traditions. In countries with etatist and paternalistic value orientations the striving to achieve digital sovereignty leads to the introduction of an hierarchical principle of ecosystem formation. Meanwhile, countries with similar historical continuity and value orientations develop various digital forms of realization of public goods – monetary or in the form of socially valued services. As a result, the study proposes a typology of public administration ecosystems built on two bases. The first is the institutional basis of digital transformation, which implies the consolidation of the leading role of the state or public-private partnership, and the second is the one concentrating on social policy supported by digital technologies.

Adaptability capacity framework for sustainable practices in the Ghanaian construction industry

PurposeThe urgent need to preserve the ecosystem, which faces a threat from non-environmentally-friendly anthropogenic activities, has led to the study of adaptive capacity implementation. There is an indication that the construction industries in developed countries are relatively better equipped to pursue sustainable construction than those in the developing world. Despite this, sustainable construction is yet to be established in developing countries. This research aims to develop a framework to drive and enable small and medium-sized (SME) firms in Ghana to implement adaptive capacity.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a quantitative approach, and 400 responses were retrieved as a sample size for which a six-factor adaptive capacity implementation framework was arrived at for SMEs in the Ghanaian construction industry. The data gathered from the respondents were analysed using IBM SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24, and a structural equation modelling was also used to determine the work's validity based on the AMOS software.FindingsThe findings revealed that education and training, government support and a centralised information hub significantly influence adaptive capacity outcomes in Ghana.Practical implicationsIt is recommended that the government, corporate and professional institutions that desire to preserve the country's ecosystem be guided by this study's adaptive capacity implementation framework.Originality/valueThis study's novelty also lies in the integrated framework for adaptive capacity implementation developed to aid small- and medium- sized enterprises in Ghana's construction industry to ensure environmentally-friendly construction activities.

Configural analysis of GII’s internal structure

The Global Innovation Index (GII) measures various aspects of the innovation ecosystem in countries and is widely used as the data source to analyze national innovation competence. While various studies work on different perspectives of GII, this study fills the research gap to focus on the elements of Innovation Input and Innovation Output. Through fuzzy sets/Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) analysis of multiple years of data, it identifies two types of solutions: a combination of all the antecedents except MS, and a combination of all antecedents for both outcomes, i.e., Knowledge and technology outputs (KTO) and Creative outputs (CO), respectively. The findings provide GII insights to justify the selection of the variables.

Enabling the scale up of green hydrogen in Ireland by decarbonising the haulage sector

The current research on green hydrogen can focus from the perspective of production but understanding the demand side is equally important to the initial creation of a hydrogen ecosystem in countries with low industrial activities that can utilise large amounts of hydrogen in the short term. Early movers in these countries must create a demand market in parallel with the green hydrogen plant commissioning. This paper presents research that explores the heavy-duty transport sector as a market-of-interest for early deployment of green hydrogen in Ireland. Conducting a survey-based market research amongst this sector indicate significant interest in hydrogen on the island of Ireland, and the barriers the participants presented have been overcome in other jurisdictions. The study develops a model to estimate 1.) the annual hydrogen demand and 2.) the corresponding delivery cost to potential hydrogen consumers, either directly or to central hydrogen fuelling hubs.

An Introduction to the Fourth Decadal Review of Biological Control of Invasive Alien Plants in South Africa (2011–2020)

This special issue is the fourth decadal review of biological control of invasive alien plants (biocontrol of weeds) in South Africa, following those published in 1991, 1999 and 2011. Including this introduction, there are 24 papers covering the weed biocontrol programmes, or important developments in the science and practice, from the period 2011-2020. Seventy-two target weed species are covered, including 25 species on which projects were initiated during the past decade. Developments in regulations, mass-rearing and implementation, and community engagement are also reviewed. An updated catalogue of agents released, rejected and under consideration is presented and reflects the most recent methods of quantifying success in weed biocontrol. Key events over the last decade include the hosting of the XIV International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds to celebrate 100 years of weed biocontrol in South Africa, as well as the establishment of the Centre for Biological Control at Rhodes University. The science and practice of weed biocontrol has expanded significantly in the past decade, with growth in the number of researchers and practitioners, increased funding, and an increased number of scholarly outputs. Unlike many other countries in the world, South Africa has largely avoided constraints due to restrictive and risk averse legislation and bureaucracy, and has continued to release new biocontrol agents at a similar rate to that in previous years. Much of the success of weed biocontrol in South Africa is due to the sustained and increasing support of the Natural Resource Management Programme of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (Working for Water Programme). However, gaps in funding, where no funds are available for months at a time, are a major concern as the weed biocontrol community loses human capital in these periods, and research programmes suffer significant set-backs. Weed biocontrol is an essential component of South Africa's strategy to reduce the negative impacts of invasive alien plants and has contributed significantly towards the protection of the country's ecosystems, indigenous biodiversity, water security, agricultural productivity, and society in general. If the trend of increasing support for weed biocontrol in South Africa continues, we can expect that the benefits for the country at large will increase substantially in the future.

THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN DEVELOPING ENTREPRENERUAIL ECOSYSTEM AROUND UNIVERSITIES IN THE UK

Research relevance: During the last few decades universities have changed strategies expanding their main mission. They also shift their strategies towards generating third stream income and providing economic effect at regional and national levels as well as impacting society. Within the framework of this research authors showed how the UK government impacted universities to change their mission synchronising it with the needs of economy in order to translate the successful experience for building entrepreneurial ecosystem. To the best of our knowledge similar research have not been done before.
 Research subject: the UK policy on developing entrepreneurial ecosystem via supporting research commercialisation.
 Research object: role of the UK government in building entrepreneurial ecosystem around universities via supporting research commercialisation.
 Research aim: systematisation and analysis of all the initiatives undertaken by UK government to encourage the development of entrepreneurship at the UK universities what might become a basis to develop recommendations for building entrepreneurial ecosystem in countries where it still underdeveloped.
 Research methodology: description, analysis and synthesis, in-depth interviews, thematic analysis.
 Research results: authors have systematised the initiatives undertaken by UK government to encourage the development of entrepreneurship at British universities on the stages of the emergence of entrepreneurial ecosystem. This research has analysed all the initial initiatives taken to encourage developing entrepreneurial universities. This allowed authors to develop recommendations to develop entrepreneurial ecosystem in countries where it still underdeveloped.
 Research results application: research results can be utilised for the elaboration of government policy in education as well as for developing strategic documents for improving the mechanisms for research commercialisation. This research could help countries at the nascent stage of ecosystem development to leverage effectively the UK experience.

The Conservation Management of Engenho Uchôa Wildlife Refuge as a Natural Heritage

From the perspective of United Statian preservationism, where the presence of human beings in areas understood as natural was opposed, the first protected areas in Brazil appear at the threshold of the discussion on the protection of the country's ecosystems, where the dichotomy between man and nature is admitted, and through which instruments for the management of Brazilian biomes and ecosystems are developed. This article discusses the nature management model in Brazil, contrasting traditional management (through the provisions of the National System of Conservation Units / SNUC and which reverberates to State and Municipal Systems) and the conservation management, understood as the modality of management that acts on the patrimonial dimension of nature. This discussion permeates the definitions of Natural Significance, Conservation and Natural Heritage in the Australian Natural Heritage Charter (IUCN, 2002), and through the example of the Mata do Engenho Uchôa Wildlife Refuge (RVSMEU), a state conservation unit by the State System of Conservation Units of Pernambuco / SEUC, it is discussed how the current ecosystem management plan approaches and distances itself from the conservation management of its heritage values.

Hydropolitics versus Human Security: Implications of South Africa's Appropriation of Lesotho's Highlands Water

Abstract The Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which exports water to South Africa, has enhanced the unequal structural relationship that exists between both states. Lesotho, one of the few countries in the world that exports water, has transformed from one of the largest sources of labor for South Africa to a water reservoir for South Africa. Though the project provides mutual strategic economic and political benefits to both riparian states, its construction has negatively affected environmental and human security in Lesotho. Due to hydropolitics, environmental threats in Lesotho caused by the project's construction are overlooked. These threats, which have devastating effects on resettled communities and the country's ecosystem, also constitute a threat to domestic and international security. The desire to prevent interstate conflict and maintain cooperation between the two riparian states further enhances the lopsided interstate relationship.

Political and Historical Determinants of the Differentiation of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems of Agritourism in Poland and Kazakhstan

(1) Background: In the context of differences among countries developing pre-entrepreneurship ecosystems in relation to agritourism, the need to define the specific challenges and facilitators in the group of post-communist countries is recognised. Given that, we aim to examine the differences between the countries belonging to the former USSR and the satellite countries of the former USSR. (2) Methods: For the realisation of the intended objective, we analysed studies of the literature on the subject, in terms of the theoretical treatment of the entrepreneurial eco-system in the field of agritourism, and current legal acts. Our own observations from stays in the regions in question were also used, along with statistical methods concerning the density of the transport network, comparative analysis of historical and political conditions, and SWOT analysis. (3) Results: Substantial differences were found between the components of the agritourism entrepreneurship ecosystem in Poland and Kazakhstan, primarily related to the level of transport infrastructure density (satisfactory in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, insufficient in North Kazakhstan), tradition of individual farming (well established in Poland, poorly present in Kazakhstan), support for agritourism development by central and local authorities (relatively high in Poland, incidental and with a short history in Kazakhstan), and finally, differences in the target group of agritourism service recipients (stable in Poland, undefined in Kazakhstan). (4) Conclusions: The research leads to the conclusion of the heterogeneity of the determinants of the development of the agritourism entrepreneurship ecosystem in countries collectively defined as post-communist. There are clearly different challenges and facilitations resulting not so much from the past political system as from the ethnic-historical considerations, the position of agriculture in the economy, and the degree and effectiveness of the involvement of administrative authorities in the development of agritourism. The study leads to a recommendation on the need for more efficient targeting of agritourism consumers abroad.

Effects of Several Chemicals on the Migration Behavior of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle

The pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, that causes pine wilt disease (PWD), has severely damaged forests and ecosystems in countries of East Asia and Europe. Since the high propagation rate of PWD is the main cause of the devastating disease, it is very important to interfere with the spread of PWN mediated by its insect vector (Monochamus alternatus). In order to explore new methods and approaches for the prevention and control of pine wood nematode disease, chemicals with attraction or repellency to pine wood nematode and stable diffusion or volatilization in infected wood were screened out to interfere and hinder the pupa chamber effect, the aggregation behavior of PWN to pupa chamber in M. alternatus. In the present study, 22 chemicals were inoculated on water agar medium and infected wood to verify the tropism of PWN toward the chemicals from the aspects of attraction and repellency. The results indicate that linoleic acid, oleic acid, diacetyl and β-myrcene have attractive effects on PWN, while kerosene and β-humulene have repellent effects on PWN and are able to stably permeate and volatilize within pine trees. This research shows that some chemicals can affect the movement behavior of PWN and interfere with its migration to the pupal chamber in M. alternatus, thus reducing the dispersal efficiency of PWNs carried by insect vectors. This chemically based strategy would provide novel approaches for effective controlling of pine wilt disease.

Unicorn Exits as a Trigger for the Development of Small Countries’ Startup Ecosystems

The success of startups largely depends on the level of development of the startup ecosystem. Therefore, this article examines a previously unconsidered issue: what is the impact of large exits in countries with a small economy on the development of the startup ecosystem? To answer this question, we used the method of comparative analysis for a variety of static and dynamic indicators: the number of business angels, startups, investments in startups, large investment rounds, and exits in four relatively homogeneous countries. In the study, we presented empirical evidence that the exit of founders and investors from unicorn startups is one of the main – and possibly the most important – external driver of the growth of qualitative and quantitative indicators of the startup ecosystem in countries with a small population and a small economy.

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

The article states that the promotion of resource efficiency will be facilitated by the development of a detailed action plan for the implementation of the green economy, in line with the National Strategy for Sustainable Development. Sustainable development is ensured by the balance of three components: economic, social and environmental. The modern state policy on the subject of development of the concept of "green" economy in Ukraine is analyzed. the condition for further economic development is a significant change in the current economic system, the transition to a new economic model and the implementation of the basic principles of sustainable development. One of the best options for such changes, according to many scientists around the world, is the concept of "green economy". Compliance with environmental legislation by domestic companies will have a positive impact on the economic performance of their activities. Thus, the "green economy" will accelerate the process of transition to sustainable development. The level of ecological situation and development of the national ecological system of Ukraine, its place on these indicators among other countries of the world can be estimated by means of the international index of ecological dimension. The higher this figure, the worse the results of pollution of the country's ecosystem. This index and its indicators determine a country's ability to protect its environment in the short and long term. In addition, this index can be used as a powerful tool for decision-making on an analytical basis, taking into account the social and economic dimensions of sustainable development. The transition of Ukraine's economy to market principles is impossible without reforming the economy and improving economic levers in the field of natural resources management. Thus, the study of the tools and differences of the "green" economy allowed us to draw the following conclusions: under the current model of production, world economic growth can create a state where the damage from pollution and environmental degradation will significantly outweigh the income. Thus, in order to prevent this situation, it will be necessary to introduce innovations to reproduce natural resources.

Revisiting the concept of longitudinal gradients in reservoirs

Abstract: Aim Reservoirs are an increasingly common type of aquatic ecosystem in countries where hydropower is a dominant energy source. Understanding the functioning of these systems is essential to establish monitoring strategies or priorities for their use. The main goal of this study was to test for the presence of longitudinal gradients in reservoirs. Methods We gathered data along the main axes of 17 tropical reservoirs to test the relationship between different ecological indicators (e.g., turbidity, nutrient concentrations, and phytoplankton abundance) and distance to the dam. After, we tested whether the strengths of longitudinal gradients were related to a set of explanatory variables (occurrence in a reservoir cascade, presence of tributaries near the dam, land-use, morphology and reservoir age). Results We did not find significant relationships between our set of ecological indicators and distance to the dam and the strengths of these relationships were not consistently predicted by the explanatory variables. However, different indicators suggested patterns consistent with expectations. Conclusion The distance to the dam is not a consistent predictor of the spatial variation of different limnological variables in tropical reservoirs, highlighting a high degree of context-dependency.