Greater Population Growth Research Articles

Non-linear effects on the population performance of Bighead Carp under different maturation schedules

Bighead Carp currently threatens to invade the Laurentian Great Lakes from the Mississippi River, but the novel climatic conditions it will encounter by expanding northwards could affect its population performance. Bighead Carp in colder climates exhibits slower growth and matures later, with later maturation typically leading to larger adult size and increased fecundity and survival. Accordingly, the life-history strategies of Bighead Carp at its northern range limits could differ from those observed in its current invaded range. To explore how population performance could differ across changing environmental conditions, we used a stage- and age-based matrix population model parameterized with values reported for Bighead Carp populations around the world. The model was used to evaluate how different ages of maturity and their resulting impacts to body size, survival, and fecundity could impact rates of population growth and establishment. Age of maturity had a non-linear effect on population growth, with maturation at intermediate ages (4–6 years) resulting in better performance. However, performance differed less between maturation ages when fecundity was allowed to increase disproportionately with body size. Greater population growth at younger ages of maturity suggest that invasion at lower latitudes could enable establishment in fewer years due to faster rates of development in warmer temperatures. Across all maturation schedules, population growth was most sensitive to the recruitment of age-1 individuals and least sensitive to adult survival, and vital rates overall varied more in their contribution to population growth at younger ages of maturity. Thus, understanding the factors that control age-1 recruitment would inform projections of population performance for Bighead Carp in the Laurentian Great Lakes.

Fertility Life Table, Thermal Requirements, and Ecological Zoning of Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Brazil.

The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boh., is the most important cotton pest in Central and South America. The biological characteristics and thermal requirements of boll weevils reared on an artificial diet were assessed at seven constant temperatures (18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, and 32 ± 1 °C) under laboratory conditions. These data were used to determine the ecological zoning for the pest in Brazil. The development time; oviposition period; the number of eggs produced; survival of eggs, larvae, and pupae; adult longevity; and sex ratio were recorded, and additional life table parameters were calculated. The total development duration ranged from 16.1 (32 °C) to 46.2 (18 °C) days. Temperature significantly affected the number of eggs laid per female (fecundity), with the highest number of eggs observed at 25 °C (251 ± 15.8). The parameters from the fertility life table indicated the greatest population growth at 25 °C and 28 °C. The net reproductive rate (R0) at these temperatures was 22.25 times higher than at 18 °C. Based on R0 and temperature, an ecological zoning of the pest was developed for Brazil. Brazilian regions with mean temperatures above 20 °C and below 30 °C are most favorable for the population growth of the boll weevil. The most suitable crop areas were found to be the north, midwest, and part of the northeast region, although the weevil can occur throughout Brazil if the host plants are available.

Rethinking How City Dwellers Get Their Food

Do you perhaps live in a city, or have you visited one? Cities are exciting places where there is often a lot going on. They offer a variety of job opportunities and many leisure activities, like movie theaters, shopping malls, parks, and museums. Currently, Earth’s greatest population growth is happening within cities. Even though cities cover only 2–3% of the land, they consume approximately 75% of the world’s energy and they produce 80% of the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere. Until now, cities have not needed to grow their own food, but this makes them dependent on food sources that can be quite far away. This article will describe how urban agriculture can help cities to better deal with climate change and other environmental problems, and how this food-growing method can improve the living environments for the people in cities at the same time.

The effect of habitat transformation on a twig epiphytic orchid: Evidence from population dynamics

The tropical Andean landscape has been dramatically transformed over the last century with remaining native forest limited to small fragments within a heterogeneous matrix of crops, cattle pastures, and urban environments. We aimed to explore the impact of habitat transformation on the population dynamics in an endemic twig epiphytic orchid located within the undisturbed forest and within modified matrix habitat in two regions with contrasting landscape structures: with a dominant shade coffee matrix and a dominant grassland matrix. Over 2 years, we surveyed 4,650 individuals of the Colombian endemic orchid, Rodriguezia granadensis. We undertook four post-breeding censuses in three sites in each region in both native forest and pasture sub-sites (12 sub-sites; 48 censuses in total), and constructed demographic transition matrices (n = 36). The transition probabilities were calculated using a Bayesian approach and population grow rates were evaluated using asymptotic models and elasticities using transient dynamics. Between regions, higher population growth rate and inertia (defined as the largest or smallest long-term population density with the same initial density distribution) was seen in the shade coffee-dominated landscape. Additionally, population growth rate and damping ratio was higher in forest compared with pasture, with lower convergence time for the forest subsites. These demographic patterns reveal the contrasting levels of population resilience of this orchid in different landscape structures with the more connected shade-coffee dominated landscape permitting some healthier populations with greater population growth and survival in forest than pasture. This study highlights that twig epiphyte colonization of isolated phorophytes in pastures should not be interpreted as a sign of a healthy population but as a temporal transitory period.

Adolescent birth rates and the urban social environment in 363 Latin American cities

IntroductionLatin America has the second-highest adolescent birth rate (ABR) worldwide. Variation between urban and rural areas and evidence linking country development to ABR points towards upstream factors in the causal...

Future unbalanced-trends of grain supply and demand on the Tibetan Plateau

Forecasting the relation between grain supply and demand can help prevent potential food risk and realize sustainable agriculture development on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), which is an ecological security barrier for China. However, the patterns of future grain self-sufficiency at the county scale on the TP under different scenarios have been little analyzed. Using combining forecasts, production function, and scenario analysis, we evaluated the grain self-sufficiency ratios (SSRs) (i.e., the ratio of grain production to demand) of the staple, total, and balanced dietary grains on the TP at the county scale in 2030 and 2050. Our results showed that the staple grain on the TP will be sufficient with more than 150% SSR on average, but the supply will not meet the demands of both total grain (including staple and feed grain) and balanced dietary grain. Extreme disasters will increase the proportion of non-self-sufficient counties by 11%–16% compared with the base scenario, especially in southern Tibet. The positive effects of climate change will be low, but they can slow down the decline of SSRs in some counties in Sichuan Province and southern Tibet. In the future, the counties with better self-sufficiency will be mainly distributed in agricultural areas with high grain production, such as the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin in southern Tibet. Moreover, most counties in pastoral regions in the central TP and counties with greater population growth will not be self-sufficient. Our results provide important policy implications for agricultural layout and ecological security on the TP, such as the integrated development of agriculture and animal husbandry, increased concern about food risks in urban cities and agroecology, and the establishment of agricultural monitoring networks.

Blood Pressure and Stroke: A Review of Sex- and Ethnic/Racial-Specific Attributes to the Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Management of Raised Blood Pressure.

Raised blood pressure (BP) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and its particular strong association with stroke is well established. Although systolic BP increases with age in both sexes, raised BP is more prevalent in males in early adulthood, overtaken by females at middle age, consistently across all ethnicities/races. However, there are clear regional differences on when females overtake males. Higher BP among males is observed until the seventh decade of life in high-income countries, compared with almost 3 decades earlier in low- and middle-income countries. Females and males tend to have different cardiovascular disease risk profiles, and many lifestyles also influence BP and cardiovascular disease in a sex-specific manner. Although no hypertension guidelines distinguish between sexes in BP thresholds to define or treat hypertension, observational evidence suggests that in terms of stroke risk, females would benefit from lower BP thresholds to the magnitude of 10 to 20 mm Hg. More randomized evidence is needed to determine if females have greater cardiovascular benefits from lowering BP and whether optimal BP is lower in females. Since 1990, the number of people with hypertension worldwide has doubled, with most of the increase occurring in low- and-middle-income countries where the greatest population growth was also seen. Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, and South Asia have the lowest detection, treatment, and control rates. High BP has a more significant effect on the burden of stroke among Black and Asian individuals than Whites, possibly attributable to differences in lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and health system resources. Although pharmacological therapy is recommended differently in local guidelines, recommendations on lifestyle modification are often very similar (salt restriction, increased potassium intake, reducing weight and alcohol, smoking cessation). This overall enhanced understanding of the sex- and ethnic/racial-specific attributes to BP motivates further scientific discovery to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies to prevent stroke in high-risk populations.

Los procesos de mixturación socioespacial y su evolución en la ciudad de Temuco, 1992-2017

La producción actual del espacio urbano chileno está fuertemente condicionada por el actuar del mercado inmobiliario y la flexibilización que el Estado hace de las normativas de edificación. A partir de este escenario, en las últimas décadas es posible observar importantes problemas de segregación residencial en las principales ciudades chilenas, lo que agrava las posibilidades de encuentro entre distintos grupos. Si bien el tema de las relaciones sociales en las ciudades ha sido abordado por muchos estudios, lo cierto es que la gran mayoría utiliza los indicadores tradicionales de segregación residencial, obviando con ello los determinantes que configuran la posición de clase en los espacios urbanos. El presente trabajo describe los procesos de mixturación socioespacial en Temuco, una de las ciudades intermedias de Chile con mayor crecimiento poblacional en el último tiempo. Considerando las dimensiones ocupacionales de las personas en el mercado laboral, que teóricamente están a la base de la noción de clase social, se comparan el nivel y tipo de relaciones sociales en distintas zonas de la ciudad durante el periodo intercensal 1992-2017. Combinando análisis estadísticos descriptivos y exploratorios, y utilizando la zona y entidad censal como unidad territorial, los resultados indican una ampliación de la mixturación social en extensas áreas, y una consolidación de las clases más altas al poniente de la ciudad. Finalmente, y como constata este artículo, los grupos más favorecidos se han distanciado con el tiempo de las clases medias y bajas.

Invasão de ligustro no sub-bosque de um remanescente de floresta com araucária: uma abordagem demográfica

Espécies invasoras têm ocasionado a perda de biodiversidade no mundo todo por ocuparem o lugar de nativas. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a regeneração natural ao longo do tempo em um fragmento florestal invadido por Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton e Ligustrum sinense Lour. no sul do Brasil, a fim de quantificar essa invasão. Para isso, foram alocadas cinco transecções em um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista em Lages (SC), sendo cada transecção dividida em parcelas com diferentes setores de distâncias da borda e em subparcelas para avaliação do componente regenerativo. Em 2012, os regenerantes de espécies arbóreas que se encontravam nas subparcelas foram identificados, plaqueteados e divididos nas seguintes classes: classe 1 _ plantas com altura entre 10 cm e 1 m; classe 2 _ plantas com altura entre 1 e 3 m; classe 3 _ plantas com altura maior que 3 m e diâmetro medido à altura do peito (DAP) menor que 5 cm. Em 2014, esses indivíduos foram reavaliados, contabilizando os indivíduos mortos e recrutas e enquadrando os sobreviventes e recrutas nas atuais classes. Foram calculadas as taxas de mortalidade, recrutamento, mudanças de classe e mudança líquida. Os dados foram analisados por meio de uma análise de componentes principais (ACP) e tabela de contingência. Conclui-se que as espécies superaram a fase inicial do processo de invasão, demonstrando elevado incremento populacional na área estudada. Ainda, ficou evidenciado o particionamento espacial entre as espécies nativas e as exóticas, o que sugere a existência de competição interespecífica, cuja consequência pode ser a extinção local de representantes do grupo autóctone.

Urban regeneration of "SoorMagra AL Oyoon" district

Egypt is considered one of the most historically rich countries around the world, not only for its famous ancient Egyptian monuments but also for its rich Coptic and Islamic heritage sites. Among which is the medieval Mamluk aqueduct of Sultan AL-Nasser Mohammadknown as " SoorMagra AL". However, despite its ionic location and great historic value, SoorMagra ALdistrict has been severely neglected and affected by the great population growth and urban sprawl leaving it urbanely deteriorated, poorly designed, and aching with slums, pollution, and destructive land uses.The research aims to propose a revitalization and urban development strategy forALdistrict through a number of urban interventions including the removal of slums and inappropriate land uses, reallocating suitable land uses, redesigning streets, pedestrian and bike lanes, green areas, and public spaces that respect the context and urban fabric of such a valuable heritage site.The proposed project is mainly a commercial promenade combining urban, social, economic, and touristic activities. The research follows an analytical methodology through which the basic urban design theories and standards of infill projects in heritage sites would be reviewed, as well as undergoing a comparative analysis of successful commercialinfill projects in different heritage sites around the world. Moreover, the research would offer an urban assessment of the current urban state of SoorMagra ALthrough cooperating with various governmental entities for acquiring statistical data, maps, and information, as well as a series of fstudies to cover all design criteria. The proposed project aims to integrate a number of different functions including commercial, touristic, and community services through a comprehensive urban design project that acts as a catalyst regenerating project not only in the urban aspect but also socially and economically.

Cities as Coral Reefs: Using Rugosity to Measure Metabolism across the Urban Interface

Drawing from ecology, this research translates the metric of rugosity to urban and agricultural studies. Typically used to estimate the topography of complex ecosystems, rugosity is an important edge proxy and provides simple correlates for total ecosystem metabolism, growth, and resilience. This research uses the perimeter of urban areas to estimate urban rugosity. The relationship between urban rugosity and vitality of both urban and periurban agricultural land uses is empirically explored through spatial multivariate analysis. Findings show that longer urban interfaces are associated with greater population growth and higher agricultural sales. The resulting county-level model predicts that for every kilometer of urban interface, the annual agricultural sales increase by ∼$230,000. Urban areas with interfaces less than 65 km in length tended to lose population, and every kilometer of urban interface corresponded to a county population gain of roughly 250 people over the 2000 to 2010 time period. By showing a statistically significant positive relationship between the urban interface length and both population gain and agricultural productivity, this research lays the groundwork for future studies investigating how longer, less concentric urban interfaces might support the long-term vitality of both urban and agricultural areas alike. Key Words: edge effects, multifunctional agriculture, urban growth, urban morphology, urban planning.

Water Resources Carrying Capacity Analysis of YarLung Tsangpo River Basin (I)

Water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) analysis is critically important in providing guidance to the sustainable development strategies of the YarLung Tsangpo River Basin (YTRB) due to the conflicts among the ample water resources, low development level of society, and the fragile ecological environment. This study evaluated the scheduled developing mode of YTRB in the planning years from 2016 to 2030 with a WRCC system containing three components: a hydrological informatics modeling system (HIMS), water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) model, and an index evaluation system. The averaged WRCC index is 4.29, 1.19, and 0.06 for the planning years, and 2.61, 0.98, 0.05 for the baseline years for the three sub-basins. The water deficiency problem becomes more severe in the upper sub-basin and appears in the middle sub-basin with the WRCC index greater than 1, while the water resources are not fully utilized in the lower sub-basin in the planning years, with the WRCC index far less than 1. The GDP of the three sub-basins is greater in the planning years, with 2.25 × 108, 54.60 × 108, and 3.94 × 108 dollars year−1 than those in the baseline years with 1.97 × 108, 47.71 × 108, 3.43 × 108 dollars year−1. However, GDP per capita/cubic meter keeps decreasing due to the great population growth rate and non-enhanced water use efficiency. The sustainability index is 0.04, 0.23, and 0.47 in the planning years, which is lower than the 0.04, 0.31, and 0.50 in the baseline years. Therefore, the scheduled growth rates of the population, urbanization, and GDP are a developing mode with low sustainability and are not appropriate to be continued in the planning years. Further work is needed to identify a sustainable developing mode with a decreased population growth rate, enhanced water use efficiency in the economic system, and the optimized allocation of water resources distribution in the three sub-basins with hydraulic facilities.

Status and trends of the Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) in the lower Fox River and Green Bay

Abstract In the upper Great Lakes region, survival and population growth of the non-indigenous Asian clam Corbicula fluminea has been limited by cold climates that cause severe overwinter mortality. At these northern latitudes, Asian clam populations are often limited to thermal refugia – particularly warmwater discharges from industrial facilities. Several such facilities exist in the lower Fox River in Green Bay. Asian clams were first documented in the lower Fox River in 1999 and were extensively surveyed near the river mouth in 2011, but the few individuals found were restricted to the warmwater discharge from the Pulliam Power Plant. We performed a follow-up survey during 2017 to re-assess the population status of Asian clams in the lower Fox River at four industrial discharges, including the Pulliam Power Plant. We found more widespread evidence of Asian clams throughout the lower Fox River than previous surveys, but only one live individual was captured. We suspect that the back-to-back severe winters of 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 caused widespread overwinter mortality. Our investigation highlights the significant challenges for establishment of Asian clam populations in the upper Great Lakes region, and provides an example of a potential invasive species struggling to establish a viable population in a hostile climate.

Water and Sustainable Development in Misratah

Water is one of the essential elements in the environment and it is the corner stone to life development and prosperity, as well as establishing constructional development and eventually achieving sustainable development.Looking at the great population growth besides constructional development that the world witnessed, the need for water grew in a wide pace all over the world, and in desert countries in particular. Since Libya is among the countries of dry desert weather, most of its cities are in dire need of water, among of which the city of Misratah, which is considered the 3rd biggest city in Libya.It has witnessed a remarkable progress since the middle of last centuryHere is where we started to highlight the problem the city suffers from currently, which is shortage of water, and the question is: Does the city really suffer shortage of water?!How can it be avoided side by side with preserving the mineral stock?!As we aim to; make sure that there is future true shortage of water in the city in comparison to the progress and development the city witnesses, knowing the most important water resources in the city, its produced amounts, future needs for water according to the global rate consumption in light of population growth and knowing the ideal alternative to provide water and to achieve sustainable developmentWe have depended in our methodology on two approaches, first of which is the Descriptive Analytical Approach: that is used address the research problem through gathering the needful data, information, and available resources to take and looking at themThe second approach is used to study and analyze population statistics and reports, and scientific data that addressed the topicWe reached a set of results, the most important of which is that the city witnesses a great constructional and population growth through the phases it has been throughIn addition to the presence of fresh mineral water shortage, lack of surface water and the dependence on mineral water in the cityThat was the result of comparing the water potential to the future population growth and the possibility of exploiting the city's ingredients to desalinate sea waterWe concluded our research papers in a set of recommendations in order to solve this problem

Bumble bee colony growth and reproduction depend on local flower dominance and natural habitat area in the surrounding landscape

Conservation measures for bees often focus on increasing the diversity and abundance of floral resources. But it has not been clear if observed benefits of floral enhancements result from greater population growth, which is critical for the long-term success of conservation, or from mobile foragers aggregating in high-resource locations. Experimental evidence is only beginning to emerge in favor of the former mechanism and it is not well-established how different aspects of floral resources affect population growth. For example, bumble bee colonies may benefit from greater overall floral abundance, richness, or relative dominance of resource species. Because bumble bees are highly mobile, resource variability in the surrounding landscape is also important for colonies and may mediate local-scale effects. We experimentally assessed the growth and reproduction of bumble bee colonies (Bombus impatiens) deployed in grasslands in different local- and landscape-scale resource environments. We found that floral dominance, rather than the overall abundance or richness of floral resources, was the most important local factor for colony growth and reproduction. This may reflect more efficient foraging on a few numerically dominant and abundant resource species. Local- and landscape-scale predictor variables had interacting effects on colony growth and reproduction, suggesting that foraging distance depends on where in the landscape efficiently used resources are located. Our results provide further evidence that conservation strategies aimed at enhancing floral resources can increase bumble bee population growth. However, the most effective form of floral enhancement may vary among bee species.

Empty spaces in the crowd. Residential vacancy in São Paulo’s city centre

In the past decades, when São Paulo became the national manufacturing centre, it has experienced great population growth. Since then, many housing problems have emerged. In addition, the difficulties that inner cities face in attracting jobs and maintaining economic activities are particularly challenging. Indeed, even if many cities have successfully regenerated their central areas, the so-called inner city problem is still very much alive in the case of São Paulo. As a result although the city centre has abundant urban infrastructure it still has plenty of vacant spaces, including residential buildings. One could say that São Paulo’s city centre is characterised by a large number of empty spaces in an area that is simultaneously crowded with buildings and urban facilities. This paper intends to contribute to the empirical analysis of the determinants of vacancy rates, with a particular focus on historical city centres, using São Paulo Metropolitan Area as our case study. Our empirical analysis relies on district-level data for the years 2000 and 2010, and combines standard spatial econometric methods with hedonic modelling. Our results suggest that there are three main groups of determinants: individual buildings characteristics, mobility of households and neighbourhood quality. We find evidence that the historic central city is a distinctive submarket, needing special urban policies. Its determinants work differently when compared with the housing markets of other areas across the city.

Entre la integridad y la segregación. La violencia y la conflictividad socioeconómica en la judería de Inca (Mallorca, siglo XIV)

En el texto se analiza la presencia de judíos en el Reino de Mallorca, especialmente en la población de Inca. A lo largo de la Edad Media, la minoría hebrea se instalará con diferente suerte en el interior de Mallorca, conociendo una etapa de gran crecimiento económico y demográfico. En el tránsito del siglo XIII al XIV, la minoría judía poco a poco pasará de una etapa de convivencia y tolerancia a otra de gran conflictividad entre cristianos y judíos. Los problemas se irán generalizando hasta la ruptura final de esa ‘convivencia’ con el asalto y el saqueo del barrio judío de Inca en el año 1391.

Habitat and microsite influence demography of two herbs in intact and degraded scrub

AbstractIdentifying environmental factors associated with vital rate variation is critical to predict population consequences of environmental perturbation. We used matrix models to explore effects of habitat and microsite on demography of two widespread herbs, Chamaecrista fasciculata (partridge pea) and Balduina angustifolia (yellow buttons). We evaluated models simulating population dynamics in common microsites (shrub, litter, bare sand) within two habitats (intact, degraded Florida scrub) using data on experimental populations initiated by sowing seeds, and natural seed production. Models included four stages (seed bank, small vegetative, large vegetative, reproductive) and three vital rates (survival, growth, fecundity), summarized in sixteen transitions. We conducted life table response experiments to assess contributions of each habitat and microsite to population growth rates. We found that (1) C. fasciculata had greatest population growth in degraded habitat and litter microsites, (2) B. angustifolia had similar population growth between habitats and greatest in bare sand microsites, (3) advancing growth transitions of C. fasciculata had greatest elasticity on population growth in degraded habitat, shrub, and litter, as did seed survival in intact habitat and bare sand, (4) seed survival and advancing growth transitions of B. angustifolia had greatest elasticity on population growth in both habitats, as did seed survival in shrub and litter, and advancing growth in bare sand. Greater population growth of C. fasciculata in degraded scrub is probably explained by release from belowground competition; B. angustifolia may be most affected by competition with shrubs. Microsites in intact scrub were not ecologically equivalent to those in degraded scrub emphasizing that intact scrub is ecologically complex and critical to preserve.

Evaluation of seven plant species/cultivars for their suitability as banker plants for Orius insidiosus (Say)

Marigold (cv. Lemon Gem), castor bean, ornamental pepper (cv. Black Pearl and Purple Flash), gerbera daisy (cv. Festival), feverfew, and sunflower (cv. Choco Sun) were evaluated for their suitability as banker plants (BP) for Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in commercial greenhouses. Oviposition, egg hatch, nymphal development to adulthood, and population increase were quantified in laboratory trials. Assessments of oviposition and egg hatch indicated that all plants tested were equally accepted by O. insidiosus. Nymphal development to adulthood and survival tests indicated that gerbera may be a suitable BP as survival was the highest (58.1 %), whereas marigold would not be an acceptable BP as only 10.7 % of nymphs survived to adulthood. Nymphal development time differed by only one day among all plants. In greenhouse cage experiments, Purple Flash pepper supported the greatest population growth over a ten week period. Based on the combined results from all tests, Purple Flash pepper appears to have the greatest potential as a BP species for O. insidiosus.

Population dynamics of Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) in the Netherlands: interaction effects of winter weather and habitat fragmentation

The increased variability in weather as a manifestation of climate change is expected to have negative impacts on population survival in wildlife species, because it will likely lead to increased variation in vital demographic rates (mortality and reproduction) in these populations. For the effective protection of biodiversity, adaptation measures are needed to compensate for the expected increase in weather variability and the negative interaction with habitat fragmentation. As a case study, we studied the fluctuations in Great Bittern numbers (Botaurus stellaris) from 28 monitoring plots scattered over the Netherlands to explore the interaction between the effect of weather and possible remediating effects of the landscape structure. Great Bittern habitat surrounding these plots differs with respect to area, quality, and degree of isolation of this habitat. In western Europe, Great Bitterns are found to be susceptible to continuous loss of suitable habitat due to vegetation succession and fragmentation. Moreover, year-to-year fluctuations in local Great Bittern populations can be caused by severe winter weather or other weather extremes. Our results show that severe winter weather has indeed a significant negative impact on Great Bittern population growth rates. Furthermore, we found that an increased carrying capacity and spatial cohesion (i.e. inverse of habitat fragmentation) contribute to an increase in mean growth rates over the years. As growth rates are higher in large, well-connected habitats, we argue that recovery from negative effects of, e.g. severe winters on Great Bittern population numbers is enhanced in these less-fragmented habitats. We derived generic adaptation measures for enhancing the recovery rate of populations of species in general: one should invest in more large, well-connected nature areas, not only to diminish the negative effects of habitat fragmentation on wildlife populations, but additionally to reduce the impacts of climatic variability.