Harvesting Patterns Research Articles

Limited Immediate Effects of Wildfire on Alaska Moose Harvest

Qualitative studies have suggested that forest changes following a wildfire can challenge a hunter's ability to harvest big game, such as moose (<i>Alces alces</i>). Quantitative effects have not been estimated. Given the increasing prevalence of wildfires, the strong linkages between wildfire and moose habitat, and the importance of moose to the people of the boreal region of North America, our goal was to assess if and how moose harvest patterns changed immediately following a wildfire. To address that goal, we used 36 years (1984-2019) of spatially-explicit wildfire and moose harvest data in Alaska to compare moose harvest variables the year before and year after a wildfire occurred. With a few exceptions, the number of hunters, kills, and success rates were similar (p > 0.05, Effect size < 0.3) between pre- and post-wildfire years. We estimated a weak to moderate effect on change in moose hunter numbers, kills, and success rate in only a small percentage (1.5%) of wildfires that burned a very large proportion (>38%) of a moose harvest reporting unit. Our findings suggest that wildfire has not caused a clear and functional quantitative effect on hunters’ ability to harvest moose in Alaska.

Ichthyofaunal Diversity and Seasonal Harvest Patterns in Dudhawa Reservoir, Chhattisgarh, India

This study seeks to examine the status and biodiversity of fishes in medium reservoir known as Dudhawa of Chhattisgarh. The major objectives were to collect the primary data on fisheries of Dudhawa reservoir, collection, preservation and identification of fish species, to enlist the fish fauna and to study the seasonal variations in fish harvest of Dudhawa reservoir. For this study, fish specimens were collected during August 2022 to February 2024 from the reservoir and primary data pertaining to species abundance, yield and production of the reservoir were collected from the Matsya Mahasangh Raipur. The results of empirical study revealed that the list of 43 species were classified under 5 orders, 13 families and 28 genera. Analysis of different species reveals that 69.76% of them belong to a single order, Cypriniformes. The analysis of the fishes listed show that 6.97 % species belong to order Mastacembeliformes, 11.62% belong to order Perciformes, 4.65% belong to order Channiformes and 2.32% species belong to order Cluipeiformes. Statistical analysis of data reveals no correlation between stocking and yield of the reservoir. Fish species in the Dudhawa reservoir were broadly categorized into four group i.e. major carps, catfishes, minor fish and minnow’s fish. Critical observation of data shows that major carp’s fishery dominated the catch during August, 2022 to February, 2024. A high yield of major carp’s fishery (26728 kg) was obtained in November. However, catfish fishery fluctuated between 2400.5 kg in August to 9063 kg in March. Bulk of minnows fishes (23.33%-56.6%) were recorded in drag netting may be due to reduced water level during summer (February to May, 2023). This data will definitely help the fishermen and as well as fisheries officials for better stock and harvest management of this type of small reservoir of Chhattisgarh.

Resource pulses drive spatio‐temporal dynamics of non‐native bark beetles and wood borers

Abstract Clear‐fell harvesting of non‐native plantation forests in the southern hemisphere creates large amounts of woody debris that is used for breeding by non‐native bark beetles and wood borers. Limited competition and a shortage of natural enemies allow some invasive pine bark beetles and wood borers to become highly abundant and cause phytosanitary issues. Replicated transects (550–750 m long) of funnel traps baited with alpha‐pinene and ethanol spanning even‐aged Pinus radiata stands were established in New Zealand's largest plantation forest and monitored from pre‐harvest until up to 5 years post‐harvesting to test the effects of harvesting residue resource pulses on the spatio‐temporal population dynamics of Hylurgus ligniperda, Hylastes ater and Arhopalus ferus. Generalised additive mixed model analyses of trap captures of >687,000 H. ligniperda, >7600 H. ater and >5000 A. ferus individuals showed greatly elevated populations for the first 2–3 years post‐harvest. Subsequently, populations returned to very low levels once the resource pulse was exhausted. Spatial patterns of captures reflecting beetle dispersal from breeding material showed a curvilinear decline along the breeding resource gradient by up to 95% from the interior of a recently harvested stand into an adjacent, previously harvested stand with exploited resources. Synthesis and applications. The results show that forest management characterised by ongoing harvesting of neighbouring stands facilitates the build‐up of large populations of bark beetles and wood borers of phytosanitary concern. This is due to recurrent resource pulses caused by the supply of substantial amounts of breeding material from tree felling. Our findings can inform forest planning aimed at avoiding such harvesting patterns, by assisting with the development and implementation of strategies for the management of beetle populations across the landscape. Most beetles dispersed <400 m beyond the source stand edge, although some beetles are likely to have dispersed further. Keeping a distance of 1–2 km between recently felled stands and those scheduled for felling would be expected to reduce rapid population growth. This knowledge can also be used to reduce seedling attack, minimise infestation of logs, and ultimately, mitigate pathway and biosecurity risks, with important implications for forest product exports and quarantine measures.

Long-term patterns of post-fire harvest diverge among ownerships in the Pacific West, U.S.A.

Abstract Post-fire harvest (PFH) is a forest management practice designed to salvage value from burned timber, mitigate safety hazards from dead trees, reduce long-term fuels, and prepare sites for replanting. Despite public controversy and extensive ecological research, little is known about how much PFH occurs on private and public lands in the U.S. Pacific West, or how practices changed with shifting forest policy and increasing area burned over the last three decades. We mapped PFH across 2.2M burned hectares in California, Oregon, and Washington between 1986-2017 and used time series intervention analysis to compare trends in area, rate (% of burned area harvested), and mean patch size between private (0.5M ha) and federal (1.6M ha) forest land and across a gradient of burn severity. Harvest rates varied by ownership (4.9% federal, 18.6% private, 8.0% overall), and practices evolved and diverged over the study period. PFH area and rate declined across all ownerships in the mid-1990s during a period of reduced fire activity. As area burned increased between the early 2000s and late 2010s, PFH area rebounded and surpassed late-1980s levels, while rates remained relatively low. On federal lands, PFH practices shifted in the early-to-mid 1990s towards lower rates (10.3% to 3.8%) and smaller patches (6.0 to 3.3 ha), following policy changes and increased litigation. PFH rates on federal lands decreased at all levels of burn severity, with the largest decreases (6.2% to 1.2%) in forests with low tree mortality (i.e. fire refugia). Conversely, private PFH rates and mean patch sizes more than doubled in forests burned at very low-to-moderate severity. Our results highlight how PFH practices have shifted with policy, socio-economic pressure, and increasing area burned over 31 years in the Pacific West. A similar area of post-fire harvest is now dispersed over larger fires, with practices diverging substantially between ownerships.

Weekend warriors: contrasting temporal patterns in the harvest of three species of boreal ungulates

Understanding the drivers that shape hunter behaviour and success can help guide management decisions regarding hunting. Although there has been work on the socioeconomic and environmental drivers of hunter effort, less quantitative analysis of the temporal patterns of wildlife harvest has been available. Yet, knowing when hunters are most active may be useful for distributing the spatiotemporal allotment of hunting opportunities where real or perceived issues of hunt quality (e.g. hunter congestion) or negative impacts to local people or target and non‐target wildlife species are of concern. As a case study, we used generalized linear models to examine the effect of season, day of week (i.e. weekday versus weekends), and holidays on 26–28 years of harvest data for bison Bison bison, thinhorn sheep Ovis dalli, and moose Alces americanus in Yukon, Canada. These species are important in regional socioecological systems and highly prized by local hunters. For all three species, harvest was significantly greater on weekends than weekdays. Most of the harvest for thinhorn sheep occurred early in the season, consistent with an ‘opening day' phenomenon, whereas that for moose and bison started slowly and increased throughout the season. For all three species harvest was not significantly influenced by holidays. Bison harvest, however, was influenced in relation to public school holidays, with harvest decreasing over the winter (Christmas) break and increasing over spring break in March. Differences between these three species are likely due to species‐specific hunting strategies, the behaviour of each species, hunter competition, and seasonal climate. Identifying patterns in hunter effort and harvest can inform wildlife management decisions on permit allocation. However, our data indicate that species‐specific patterns vary substantially, even in the same region, and need to be understood for proposed changes to the timing of hunting opportunities to be effective.

Biomass consumption, foraging activity and harvesting patterns in two sympatric leaf‐cutting ant species in a Salicaceae plantation in Argentina

Biomass consumption, foraging activity and harvesting patterns in two sympatric leaf‐cutting ant species in a Salicaceae plantation in Argentina

THE WATER CRISIS LOOMS LARGE IN PAKISTAN WHICH MAY FACE ABSOLUTE SCARCITY

Pakistan has the fourth-highest rate of water use in the world, as reported by the IMF (International Monetary Fund), and is the 3rd greatest water-stress country in the world.Water can be scarce for many reasons: water supply is very low compared to demand, infrastructure is inadequate, and institutions fail to balance every person’s daily needs. Water scarcity is a global problem, with the most badly and worse affected communities. In this thesis we can measure Pakistan’s water scarcity with the four main indicators. The four main indicators can be measured in a country’s water scarcity: The Water Poverty Index, Water Resources Vulnerability Index, the Falkenmark indicator, and Physical and Economic Water Scarcity Indicators. Currently, Pakistan is one of the countries where demand of water exceeds over available water supply with the giving of these 4 indicators. There are many reasons for Pakistan’s water scarcity, being increased populace, citified and computerization, climate change, unsatisfactory warehouse, residues in the existing tank, corrupt system efficiency, irrigational problem and traditional methods of farming, and insufficient finance. The possible alternatives to overcome these issues are the construction of small and large dams where possible, the construction proper irrigation system, improving the surface water governance with suitable pricing, controlling the increase in population, improving transportation, changing the existing harvesting patterns by accepting low delta crops and using saline groundwater, in conjunction with independently with salt accepting crops. Nevertheless, a unified approach is required to optimally use water resources.

Impact of climate, land management and harvesting patterns on the ecological traits and the population structure of Pterocarpus lucens in West African semi-arid areas

Multipurpose woody plant species experience severe pressure owing to human overexploitation, land management and climate change. In response to their inability to cope with environmental disturbances in their natural range, some species such as Pterocarpus lucens migrate to more suitable areas. To better conserve P. lucens, this study examined the impacts of climate, land management and harvesting practices on its natural populations.This study was conducted in Burkina Faso using a combined gradient approach involving two climatic zones and two land management types. Data on the biological age classes, structural traits and intensities of harvesting were collected on each individual of the species. Linear models were used to assess the effects of the investigated gradients on structural traits of the species. The diameter and height class size distributions were evaluated using the least squares method.The results showed that the species’ pre-reproductive individuals increased significantly (p < 0.05) with climatic and the protection gradient, resulting in an invasive trend of P. lucens in the Sudano-Sahelian protected areas. The species is overexploited in unprotected areas, with the majority of individuals undergoing all pruning intensities. However, while in the Sahelian climatic zone, decreasing pruning rates were observed according to the severity gradient (low intensity 36.02 %, moderate intensity 27.47 %, and severe intensity 19.73 %), an increasing pruning rate was observed in the Sudan-Sahelian climatic zone (low intensity 16.49 %, moderate intensity 17.38 %, severe intensity 24.48 %, and very severe intensity 35.79 %). Linear regression analysis showed a significant effect (p < 0.05) of climate, land management, pruning, and debarking on the structural traits of the species. The diameter class structure revealed unstable populations of the adult stratum in the Sahelian climatic zone, regardless of the land management types. The juvenile stratum of this species exhibited an unstable structure in unprotected areas, regardless of climatic zone.This study highlights the urgent need to implement effective management strategies to mitigate the decline of P. lucens populations in the Sahelian climatic zone and in unprotected areas through its integration in reforestation programmes.

Spatial scale of stand-replacing forest disturbance influences the amplitude of snowshoe hare population fluctuations in boreal forests of northwest Canada

The natural disturbance model for ecosystem management of timber harvesting promotes the emulation of natural disturbance regimes in the patterns of tree removal. Wildfire is a prominent natural disturbance in boreal forests of western Canada, frequently removing most of the tree canopy from patches of 500–10,000 ha in stand-replacing events. However, fire suppression, coupled with a spatial pattern of timber harvesting dominated by small patch cuts of 10–160 ha, have changed the spatial scale of younger stands away from scales within which boreal organisms evolved. In two regions (Sub-Boreal Spruce biogeoclimatic zone of central British Columbia and Liard Basin of southeast Yukon), we tested the hypothesis that different spatial scales of stand-replacing forest disturbance (wildfire and timber harvesting) result in different amplitudes of change in abundance of snowshoe hare, a keystone boreal forest mammal for which mid-seral stand conditions provide optimal habitat. Landscapes with large patches (>2000 ha) of mid-seral forest following stand-replacing disturbance supported consistently and often significantly more hares, with wider amplitude in cyclic fluctuation, than small patches (20–200 ha) of mid-seral habitat and than mature forest landscapes. Densities of hares high enough to support reproduction by Canada lynx (a specialist hare predator) only occurred in landscapes disturbed at the scale of a moderate to large-sized wildfire (1000 – 10,000 ha). Landscapes unaffected by stand-replacing disturbance for at least 80 years (i.e. mature forests) supported very few hares and without cyclic fluctuations. We recommend that the recent pattern of cutting dominated by small patches (20–200 ha) be shifted to include many larger patches (2000–5000 ha). This can happen with incremental, contiguous patch cutting over a period of years short enough that the completed patch will supply high quality, mid-seral habitat for at least the period of one hare cycle (10 y). In designing relatively large patches, mature green tree retention would be desirable for various values, but would be best as small stands of mature forest dispersed within large patch cuts, similar to the legacy of fire. Silviculture (reforestation and stand tending) should create and sustain a mix of conifer and deciduous regeneration in the mid-seral stands. Emulating spatial patterns of stand-replacing natural disturbance appears necessary to sustain snowshoe hare cycles when most fires are suppressed in intensively managed western Canadian boreal forests.

Does seasonal flowering and fruiting patterns of cacao only depend on climatic factors? The case study of mixed genotype populations in Côte d'Ivoire

Theobroma cacao, a tropical cauliflorous fruit tree, typically produces flowers and fruits twice a year and exhibits alternate harvesting patterns over consecutive six-monthly seasons in regions with bi-modal rainfall distribution, such as Côte d'Ivoire. This study investigated seasonal variations in flowering and fruiting among trees in populations of mixed cacao genotypes. The intensities of crown and trunk flowering and pod production were monitored for eight consecutive six-monthly seasons on 114 adult cacao trees grown from seedlings. We investigated distributions of seasonal flowering and fruiting values, relationships between flowering and pod production, and the effects of seasonal cumulative rainfall. The patterns of seasonal flowering and fruiting series were analyzed using two descriptors: the first distinguishing between regular and variable patterns, and the second analyzing the structure of such variability, classifying it as either irregular or alternating. Despite being subjected to similar climate and agronomic management, individual trees exhibited highly variable flowering and fruiting behaviors within each season, as well as variable patterns of flowering and fruiting across seasons. Seasonal alternate fruiting on a population scale masked highly variable patterns among trees, and only 19 % of the trees exhibited marked alternate fruiting patterns. Variations in pod production on a tree scale were mainly related to variations in trunk flowering. Endogenous factors seemed to control seasonal variations in flowering and fruiting, even though exogenous factors, both climatic and agronomic, could structure flowering and fruiting patterns at the orchard scale.

Spatial modelling of present and future groundwater potentials in Nigeria; towards a sustainable water demand and supply

The development of water resources in Nigeria has not risen alongside population increase. Although groundwater is the available source of water at all locations in Nigeria, groundwater aquifer is becoming deeper due to increased groundwater harvest, especially in urban areas. There is a need for continuous groundwater modelling using geological, climatic, environmental data, and spatial tools especially under climate change and intense landcover conversions. The Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis (SMCA) was adopted in this study to model the current groundwater potential in Nigeria. The multi-criteria analysis tool in ArcGIS was explored to overlay the nine factor maps to model historic and futuristic groundwater potentials. Our groundwater factor maps show an interesting pattern across Nigeria, the southern parts show more potential considering suitability factors like; surface water density, rainfall, temperature, soil, land cover and elevation in the region. Whereas the upland regions even with higher rainfall and lower temperatures suitable for groundwater recharge, are disadvantaged by geomorphological factors. Northern part of Nigeria shows high potentials, considering the geology, soil, lineament density and slope, but disadvantaged by other factors like lower rainfall and higher temperatures. This informed the final groundwater potential maps; results for the historic potential revealed that, no location in Nigeria has optimal (9–10), very poor or no (1–2) groundwater potential. The results further revealed that areas with higher groundwater potentials are largely within the corridors of major rivers in Nigeria (Niger and Benue), covering about 17.6% of the Nigerian landmass, while 2.6%, 33.7, 44% and 2.2% are occupy areas with very low, low, moderate and very high groundwater potentials respectively. Further analysis highlighs locations of concern due to climatic and environmental changes. Interestingly, our groundwater projection results show a persistent increase in groundwater potential from 2021 to 2100 if current landuses and environmental factors are maintained, and if the projected increase in rainfall is true. Despite these groundwater potentials, the recent issues of shallow aquifers have been cautioned by scientists, especially due to groundwater uncertainties in Nigeria especially with intense landcover conversions, combined with accelerated water demands due to increase in population, and incessant groundwater extractions. Therefore, there is a need to seek caution in the pattern of unregulated and incessant groundwater harvest in Nigeria and we recommend frequent updates of the groundwater potential using geospatial tools to inform governing policies on a centralised consolidated sustainable water supply in Nigeria.

Wild populations of Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) emerge during the blob heatwave in south Puget Sound, Washington USA

Marine heatwaves have altered ecosystems globally, including changing community composition and facilitating the spread of invasive species. In south Puget Sound, Washington (USA), non-native Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) have been farmed extensively for almost a century and grown in enhancement sites, however, they have only recently recruited in the wild. This study explores how the appearance of Pacific oysters was related spatially (eight sites) and temporally (decade) to warmer summer water temperatures in south Puget Sound and compares oyster persistence across five sites where recruitment occurred. The largest recruitment event from 2012-2020 was in the summer of 2015, in the middle of the east Pacific Blob marine heatwave which led to warm water temperatures off the west coast of North America. Throughout the study period, the number of oyster recruits each year was positively correlated with warmer water temperatures. Oyster population densities differed across the five sites where recruitment occurred and generally declined after 2015, but showed no site by year interactions, which is consistent with spatially-variable recruitment and similar post-recruitment survival. Mean oyster shell heights also differed among sites, which could reflect different growth trajectories or recreational harvest patterns. This study supports the claim that warming sea surface temperatures may interact with species introductions to change modern biogeography.

The Feasibility Analysis of the Cinnamon (Cassiavera) Farming in the Village of Koto Agung Sub-District Keliling Danau Kerinci Regency

Cinnamon (cassiavera) farming in Kerinci Regency has not been carried out economically. This can be seen from the pattern of cinnamon harvest that has not been carefully planned, some farmers harvest at the age of 20 years or even more, but some farmers harvest cinnamon when the price is high even though the cinnamon plant is still young, namely 5– 8 years. In connection with this situation, the authors encourage the author to examine how the use of costs and income in cinnamon farming. This study aims to determine the general description of Cinnamon (Cassiavera) farming in Koto Agung Village, Keliling Danau District, Kerinci Regency, to determine the amount of cinnamon (cassiavera) farming income in Koto Agung Village, Keliling Danau District, Kerinci Regency, and to determine the feasibility of cinnamon (cassiavera) farming in Koto Agung Village, Keliling Danau District, Kerinci Regency. The analytical method used in this research is descriptive quantitative using farm analysis and the financial feasibility of farming with three investment criteria, including NPV, Net B/C ratio, and IRR. The results of the analysis show that the farming system in the research area is still relatively simple and traditional. The average production of cinnamon (cassiavera) farming is 4,548.4 kg per harvest with an average income of IDR. 170.169.294.00,-. Cinnamon (cassiavera) farming with an average land area of ​ 0.61 Ha in Koto Agung Village is feasible to be cultivated with the results of a business feasibility analysis on the investment criteria of Net Present Value of IDR 215,237,894.00,-, Net B/C Ratio is 4.39, and the IRR is 17.436%.

DAMPAK KEKERINGAN TERHADAP KESTABILAN SISTEM MANGSA PEMANGSA DENGAN FUNGSI RESPON HOLLING TIPE III DAN HASIL PEMANENAN KONSTAN PADA MANGSA

ABSTRACT: The dynamic relationship between prey populations and predator populations can be represent in the mathematical model. This research was developed from the mathematical model of predator-prey which was first introduced by Lotka-Volterra, namely by increasing the realism of the model through apply the logistic model to the prey and involving Holling type-III response function. The effects of drought on both populations and constant harvesting of prey are also included in the mathematical model. After the mathematical model is formed, a nondimensional model is then carried out to create a shape from the model that was built previously. This study aims to analyze the impact of drought on the prey-prey system with a type III Holling functional response and constant-yield prey harvesting. There is at least one equilibrium point and there are at most three equilibrium points in the model. Numerical simulations are carried out on the model to see the phase portrait. The simulation results show that if the rate of drought is greater than the intrinsic growth rate of prey then both populations will go towards extinction. However, on the other hand, if the intrinsic growth rate of the prey is greater than the rate of drought, then the dynamics relationship between the predator and prey populations depends on the pattern of constant-yield prey harvesting. Thus, a stable dynamic relationship occurs on the constant-yield prey harvesting at the interval 0&lt;h&lt;=K(r-a1)2

Linking crop availability, forest elephant visitation and perceptions of human–elephant interactions in villages bordering Ivindo National Park, Gabon

AbstractFeeding by Critically Endangered forest elephants Loxodonta cyclotis in rural plantations is a conservation issue in Gabon, but studies characterizing drivers of spatiotemporal patterns of human–elephant interactions remain sparse, hindering mitigation. In this study, we use GPS tracking data from two elephants to characterize temporal patterns of village visitation, and surveys of 101 local farmers across seven villages to determine local patterns of crop planting and harvesting and of human–elephant interactions. Local farmers' perceptions of elephant visitations and empirical data on such visits were positively correlated with local crop availability. However, considering the two elephants separately revealed that the correlations were driven by just one individual, with the second elephant showing weak links between crop availability and visitation, highlighting the challenges in reliably predicting human–wildlife interactions. The most popular local perceptions of the drivers of elephant visitation were the presence of crops (53% of responses) and logging (39%). The most popular proposed interventions were letting the government find a solution (32%), killing problem elephants (30%) and providing compensation for lost crops (22%). We discuss the potential feasibility and efficacy of the proposed solutions in the context of human–elephant interactions. Future research efforts should focus on collaring elephants in zones with high potential for negative human–elephant interaction and expanding perception surveys to villages with contrasting ecological contexts (e.g. with and without logging in their surrounding forests), as these could influence local perceptions of conflicts and conservation initiatives.

Investigation of Seasonal Settlement and Clam Harvest Pressure in the Sechelt Inlet System, British Columbia, Canada, Through Sclerochronology and Stable Oxygen Isotope Analyses

ABSTRACT The Sechelt inlet system (SIS), situated on the inner Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, lies within the territory of the shíshálh Nation. This study focuses on ∼1000 years of shíshálh shellfish harvesting from 930-0 cal. BP. Specifically, we investigated the seasonal timing of shellfish collection, relative shellfish harvesting pressure and paleo-temperature reconstruction at four archaeological sites. Thirty archaeological butter clam shells (Saxidomus gigantea) from the SIS underwent high-resolution shell oxygen isotope (δ18O) analysis and 662 individual archaeological shell fragments were analysed for growth stage determination. The δ18O results showed a pattern of year-round collection with an emphasis on spring collection at village sites. Results from shell growth stage analysis suggest an intensive pattern of shellfish harvesting in the region, regardless of the site type. Archaeological shells show a larger δ18Oshell range, possibly reflecting a greater sea surface temperature amplitude than modern shells (i.e. a difference of ∼6.5°C; modern range: ∼3.7–20.4°C; archaeological range: ∼ −0.8–22.4°C). We contextualise our results with previous studies of seasonal timing and intensity of shellfish harvesting from the Pacific Northwest Coast, while interpreting these new data in the context of shíshálh occupation and landscape use.

Assessing the Economic Implications of Climate Change on Agriculture in Punjab in Pakistan: Farmers Perception and Satisfaction

Climate factors are pivotal for agriculture productivity and unremittingly climatic change are really harmful for agriculture productivity. Farm level adaptation measures preforms effective role to cope up with climate challenges. This research aims to focus on the farmers’ perception and awareness about climate changes and their vulnerable impacts on agriculture productivity. Additionally, this research also explore the farmer’s satisfaction on adaptation strategies to handle the climate change in Punjab, Pakistan. The 360 respondents were selected to get the questionnaire based data from the farmers located in Punjab province. The survey is conduct through multi-stage, random, and convenient sampling procedure for face to face interviews. For empirical analysis, this research was applied frequency analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) through factor analysis to account the farmers’ perception about climate change and satisfaction on adaptive measures. The results show that younger farmers have more knowledge about climate change and adaptation measures. The empirical results indicates that climate change increases the vulnerability of farmers and reducing the per hectare yield over the time. Variation in temperature, pattern of precipitation, mutable sowing and harvesting time creates alarming situation for agriculture productivity in Punjab, Pakistan. Most of the farmers are not happy with and demanding heat resistant and drought resistant seed varieties. Agriculture extension services are fails to increase the farmer’s perception and satisfaction about climate change. The results show that farmer are not satisfied with performance of climate resilient institutions of Punjab, government laws and regulation, public private partnership (PPP), the efforts of Research Institutions and NGOs, initiatives of international organizations, community level interventions and poor climate resilient funds. It is recommended that government, research institutions and climate resilient instructions should focus on to educate the farmers and predict new sowing and harvesting patterns, water technology, introduce the new climate zones and suitable crops for particular zone.

Perceptions on Climate Change and Satisfaction on Adaptive Measures: Farmer Field Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan

Climate change poses a serious threat to the agrarian economy of Pakistan. Future agriculture productivity of the country can only be secured through the adaptation of climate change strategies. This research is designed to investigate the farmers’ perceptions of climate change and their satisfaction with the adaptation measures in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The questionnaire-based data was collected in 36 districts, from 360 respondents through the field survey. Both random and convenient sampling techniques were employed. For empirical analysis, a Multinomial Logistic regression model was operated. The results indicate that an increase in per-hectare yield lessens the farmer’s vulnerability to climate change. This research found that the farmers observed that changing precipitation patterns, extreme climate events, mutable sowing and harvesting time, temperature variation, night temperature, and traditional crop varieties are key vulnerable factors of climate change. These may create an alarming situation for agriculture productivity in the province. It is registered that farmers are not satisfied with adaptation measures particularly concerning heat-resistant and drought-resistant varieties. Agriculture extension services could not deliver optimally to protect the agriculture output from climate vulnerability. The results show that farmers are not satisfied with the performance of climate-resilient and research institutions. It is recommended that the government, research institutions, and climate-resilient institutions design new sowing and harvesting patterns, new seed varieties, new climatic zones, and alternative crop switching. The whole paradigm of extension services needs to be modernized and mechanized with the wider application of ICTs. The extension department should timely disseminate the climate information and educate the farmers on climate resilience and adaptation.

Multigenerational differences in harvesting and use of wild edible fruits and nuts in the South Caucasus

Societal Impact StatementEcosystem services are underpinned by biodiversity, which is rapidly eroding globally, threatening rural livelihoods and culture. Examining the uses of wild edible plants (WEPs) that are important to rural communities gives insight into the value of a biodiverse landscape to local communities. Here, the importance of considering age groups in future ethnobotanical and conservation studies is highlighted, as this can enhance our understanding on the dependence of use within a landscape, informing more inclusive conservation actions.Summary Wild edible plants (WEP) remain an important aspect of many rural communities across the world, yet the decline in the diversity and knowledge of WEP use is becoming a global concern. In the Biodiversity Hotspot of the Caucasus, there is few cross‐cultural and multigenerational comparisons of plant uses, limiting our knowledge of resource use and dependence within biodiverse landscapes. Here, we investigate the patterns of use for wild edible fruits and nuts in the South Caucasus, focusing on multigenerational differences in harvesting patterns, diversity and use through semi‐structured interviews in Armenia and Georgia. We calculated use values (UV) for each genera harvested and compared the diversity of genera used between age groups. Pearson chi‐square was used to explore the relationship between age‐groups and genera harvested. We found 53% of rural population (n = 220) actively harvest from wild populations, with older age groups harvesting the highest diversity of plants. Twenty‐four species from 16 genera are harvested, with Berberis vulgaris L. and Rosa canina L. shared between both communities. The association between age and diversity of harvested genera was significant (χ2[48, N = 506] = 114.75, p &lt; .01), mainly driven by a strong positive association with Berberis spp. L., Crataegus spp. L. and Ribes spp. L. with the under 18s and Prunus spp. L. with under 35s. Young harvesters used WEP for income generation, while medicinal use increases across older age groups. Foraging activities within South Caucasus' communities remains active; however, the use of WEP is not uniform within and across different communities.

Energy and the Macrodynamics of Agrarian Societies

For the present work, we utilized Leslie White’s anthropological theory of cultural evolutionism as a theoretical benchmark for econometrically assessing the macrodynamics of energy use in agrarian societies that constituted the human civilization’s second energy paradigm between 12,000 BC and 1800 AC. As White’s theory views a society’s ability to harness and control energy from its environment as the primary function of culture, we may classify the evolution of human civilizations in three phases according to their energy paradigm, defined as the dominant pattern of energy harvesting from nature. In this context, we may distinguish three energy paradigms so far: hunting–gathering, agriculture, and fossil fuels. Agriculture, as humanity’s energy paradigm for ~14,000 years, essentially comprises a secondary form of solar energy that is biochemically transformed by photosynthetic life (plants and land). Based on this property, we model agrarian societies with similar principles to natural ecosystems. Just like natural ecosystems, agrarian societies receive abundant solar energy input but also have limited land ability to transform and store them biochemically. As in natural ecosystems, this constraint is depicted by the carrying capacity emerging biophysically from the limiting factor. Hence, the historical dynamics of agrarian societies are essentially reduced to their struggle to maximize energy use by maximizing the area and productivity of fertile land –in the role of a solar energy transformation hub– mitigating their limiting factor. Such an evolutionary forcing introduced technical upgrades, like the leverage of domesticated livestock power as a multiplier of the caloric value harvested by arable and grazing land combined. According to the above, we tested the econometric performance of four selected dynamic maps used extensively in ecology to reproduce humanity’s energy harvesting macrodynamics between 10,000 BC and 1800 AC: (a) the logistic map, (b) the logistic growth map, (c) a lower limiting case of the Hassel map that yields the Ricker map, and (d) a higher limiting case of the Hassel map that yields the Beverton–Holt map. Following our results, we discuss thoroughly our framework’s major elaborations on social hierarchy and competition as mechanisms for allocating available energy in society, as well as the related future research and econometric modeling challenges.