Important Services Research Articles

Research on Spatial Planning Layout of Inclusive Pre-school Education Resources in Chengdu City

With the population gathering in urban centers, the spatial distribution of preschool education resources is becoming increasingly important. Families want their children to receive education at the kindergartens located near their homes. Public kindergartens and inclusive private kindergartens recognized by districts (cities) and counties are important components of the public preschool education system. In 2012, the State Council published the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan for the National Basic Public Service System", which first clarified the concept definition of basic public services, that is, services provided by the government based on social consensus, in line with the level of social and economic development, and aimed at meeting the survival and development needs of all citizens. Therefore, it can be judged that preschool education is an important basic public service. To solve the current problem of unreasonable spatial distribution of preschool education resources, Chengdu has proposed the goal of building a "15-minute preschool education service circle", by rational planning and layout, to increase the coverage and utilization rate of preschool education resources, and meet the needs of families for preschool education. This study, through analyzing the new trends of population mobility in various districts (cities) and counties in Chengdu and the allocation of preschool education resources, found that the coverage rate of inclusive kindergartens in Chengdu has reached more than 85%, and the proportion of children in public kindergartens has basically reached 50%.

Assessing the conservation status of mangroves in Rakhine, Myanmar

Abstract Ecosystem degradation is a key challenge that human society faces, as ecosystems provide services that are tied to human well‐being. Particularly, mangrove ecosystems provide important services to communities but are suffering heavy degradation, loss and potential collapse due to anthropogenic activities. The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems is a transparent and consistent framework for assessing ecosystems' risk of collapse and is increasingly used to inform legislation and ecosystem management globally. Satellite data have become increasingly common in environmental monitoring due to their extensive spatial and temporal coverage. Here, recent advances in analyses using satellite‐derived data were implemented to reassess the conservation status of the ‘Rakhine mangrove forest on mud’, an important intertidal ecosystem in Myanmar, extending a previous national Red List assessment that assessed the ecosystem as Critically Endangered. By incorporating additional data sources and analyses, the extended assessment produced more robust results and reduced the uncertainty in the previous assessment. Overall, the ecosystem was assessed as Critically Endangered (range: Vulnerable to Critically Endangered) as a result of historical mangrove extent loss. Recent losses and biotic disruptions were also observed, which would have led to the ecosystem being assessed as Vulnerable. While the final outcome of the Red List assessment remained at Critically Endangered due to the historical state of the mangroves pre‐dating the temporal coverage from satellite data, the uncertainty of the ecosystem's status was reduced, and the reassessment highlighted the recent areal changes and mangrove degradation that has occurred. The importance of conducting reassessments when new data become available is discussed, and a template for future mangrove Red List assessments that use satellite data as their primary source of information to improve the robustness of their results is presented.

Grazing-driven shifts in soil bacterial community structure and function in a typical steppe are mediated by additional N inputs

Herbivore grazing and nitrogen (N) fertilization affect soil microbial diversity and community composition both in direct and indirect pathways (e.g., via alterations in soil microenvironment and plant communities); however, their combination effects are still largely unexplored. We carried out a field study to investigate how soil abiotic properties, plant community composition and functional traits altered soil bacterial community structure and function in response to a long-term herbivore grazing (17-year sheep grazing with four stocking rates) and anthropogenic N inputs (6-year N addition with four levels) experiment. We show that a high stocking rate of 8.7 sheep ha−1 (SR8.7) decreased soil bacterial α- and β-diversity, while α- and β-diversity showed hump-shaped and saddle-shaped responses, respectively, with increasing N addition rate, reaching tipping points at the N application rate of 10 g N m−2 year−1 (N10). The synergistic effects of grazing and N addition induced the highest soil bacterial α-diversity at SR2.7 with N10. The contrasting effects of grazing and N addition induced higher soil bacterial β-diversity at SR8.7 with N20. Plant factors (e.g., aboveground biomass of Stipa bungeana and community-weighted mean carbon [CWM_C]), edaphic factors (e.g., soil moisture, pH, NO3−-N, and C:nutrients ratios) and their interactions were the most significant factors affecting the diversity and community composition of bacteria. Our structure equation model (SEM) shows that grazing-induced negative effects on soil pH and plant community composition indirectly increased the β-diversity of soil bacteria, while grazing-induced decreased CWM_C had positive effects on bacterial α-diversity and community structure. However, N addition indirectly increased β-diversity of soil bacteria via changes in soil NO3−-N and plant community composition, while N addition had negative impacts on bacterial α-diversity and community structure via variations in CWM_C. The interaction of grazing and N addition increased the complexity and stability of the bacterial network. Based on the KEGG database, grazing and N addition could accelerate the soil functional potential of C and N cycling. Our findings suggest that N application at a rate of <10 g N m−2 year−1 with a stocking rate of <5.3 sheep ha−1 could maintain the development of soil bacteria in supporting the most important ecosystem functions and services. Complex responses of soil microbes to grazing and N addition indicate the need for deeper investigations of the impacts of global change on microbial involvement in biogeochemical cycles.

‘Paleofloodscapes’: Application of sediment source fingerprinting to track flood regime change over space and time at the Peace-Athabasca Delta, Canada

Deltas are hydrologically dynamic landscapes where river floodwaters create a mosaic of productive ecosystems that provide important services. The flood regime, however, is vulnerable to upstream anthropogenic activities, climate change and geomorphic processes. Deciphering the roles of multiple potential stressors on flood regime change is critical for developing appropriate adaptive and mitigative strategies but requires knowledge of hydrological variability at broader scales of space and time than is typically available from instrumental and observational records. At the globally recognized Peace-Athabasca Delta (Canada), the timing, magnitude and causes of reduced flooding and drawdown of perched basin water levels remain an intense focus of investigation. Here we employ novel ‘paleofloodscapes’, generated from geospatial interpolation of Bayesian mixing model fingerprinting of sediment elemental concentrations, to quantify variation in the delta's flood regime during the past ~140 years. Results reveal that flooding of the delta began to decline several decades before hydroelectric regulation of Peace River flow, not coincident with it, and the influence of floodwaters from the unregulated Athabasca River has declined more than the regulated Peace River. A key discovery is that widespread flooding of perched basins occurs when ice-jam events on the river(s) coincide with a relatively high water-plane in the delta's open-drainage network. Without knowledge of open-drainage water levels, inferred change to the flood regime of perched basins may be inaccurate when derived solely from analyses of Peace River hydrometric data and climatic records. The paleofloodscapes illustrate that rising sediment delivery caused by a natural river avulsion in 1982 may undermine the intended purpose of a proposed weir installation. The most recent paleofloodscape, developed from lake surface sediment sampling shortly after widespread flooding, demonstrates the value of the approach as a landscape hydrological monitoring tool, and is readily transferrable to other floodplains to track flood regime change.

TRANSMISSION OF RELIGIOSITY BETWEEN GRANDPARENTS AND GRANDCHILDREN AS A BASIS FOR ELDERCARE RESPONSIBILITY

Abstract Different branches of research demonstrate that religiosity is effectively transmitted from grandparents to grandchildren and that religiosity strengthens norms of eldercare responsibility. This paper unites these two branches of inquiry by proposing that eldercare norms in emerging adulthood are directly and indirectly formed through an intergenerational religious pathway. Data derive from 149 grandparent-grandchild dyads from the 2021-22 wave of the Longitudinal Study of Generations. Religiosity is defined as a composite consisting of self-assessments of religious importance, religious intensity, and religious service attendance. Eldercare norms are assessed based on an evaluation of the obligation that adult children should have to provide support and care to older parents in six areas of assistance. Intermediate factors include grandchildren’s familistic values and emotional closeness to grandparents. Structural equation modelling was used to examine direct and indirect pathways linking these factors. Results indicate significant continuity in religiosity between grandparents and grandchildren. The impact of grandchildren’s religiosity on their eldercare norms is fully mediated by their familistic values and emotional closeness with grandparents. This analysis reveals that the transmission of religiosity to grandchildren begets eldercare norms through an ideational route of strengthening values of familism, and a personal route of promoting closer, and possibly more empathetic, relationships with grandparents who have or may soon have support needs. Results demonstrate the “hidden” impact of religious orientations of older grandparents on grandchildren and serve as a counterpoint to potentially specious reports about the adverse impact of declining religiosity and weakening intergenerational cohesion on aging families in American society.

Comparison of human safety risks between old and new concrete mixing plant

One of, if not the most important service sector today is construction. It is constantly changing, both in terms of materials and workforce. That is why it is important to monitor it from a health and safety perspective. New materials, products and equipment are regularly introduced to the market, and it is essential not only to review them in advance, but also to monitor their continued use from a safety perspective. From the point of view of building materials, if we look only at the increased battery production and the construction of the halls required for this, reinforced concrete, of which thousands of m3 are produced every year, has an absolute advantage. The production of a simple reinforced concrete element is a very long process, from the raw material extracted to the delivery of the finished product to the construction site. In the 21st century, it has become clear to us that the future lies in robotisation and the constant introduction of electronics. The more machines, the more hazards. As in any other factory, the improvements in the plant under review are being made in parallel with the need to ensure safety at work. Newly installed and/or commissioned machines and equipment are subject to preliminary and periodic inspections and maintenance. This is no different for the concrete mixing plant of the company under investigation, which is constantly being improved and refined in order to develop the most efficient and safest production technologies. The aim of our work is to illustrate the new Italian-made concrete mixing plant installed when the existing mixer was replaced in the 1990s, and to show how this improvement and the use of modern technology have enabled the company to reduce the risks and make the plant safer from the point of view of health and safety.

Ecosystem service evaluation based on local knowledge of residents using spatial text-mining

This study aims to evaluate the ecosystem services of Upo wetland, one of the best-known Ramsar sites in Korea, reflecting the characteristics of the ecological assets and local knowledges in the area. Application of spatial text-mining begins with collecting local perceptions and knowledge of residents on the 17 ecological assets of Upo site and surrounding area. Our results identified five important ecosystem services: flood control during heavy rainfall, water purification by aquatic plants, cultural and natural heritages, agricultural products and water provision for crop cultivation. GIS created a map where these ecosystem services were linked to the locations of 17 ecological assets. This map showed which ecosystem service is associated with particular ecological assets and their characteristics from residents’ perspectives. Mapping local knowledge using the spatial text-mining is able to identify multi-functional bases which provide various ecosystem services in the same location simultaneously. Identification of multi-functional bases can provide information for local government to design an effective and comprehensive management plan considering physical-cultural geography of ecosystem services.

Estimation of chlorophyll content for urban trees from UAV hyperspectral images

Urban trees provide important ecosystem services to improve cities’ liveability and sustainability. Leaf chlorophyll content (Cab) estimation by remote sensing can help monitor tree health efficiently. However, the Cab retrieval of urban trees is challenging because of the complex canopy structures, backgrounds, and illuminations conditions. This paper proposed an automatic method for partitioning sunlit/shaded pixels and removal of bright-specular/dark-hole and background pixels. In addition, we proposed a new index, the Urban Tree Chlorophyll Index (UTCI), defined as UTCI=(ρ709-ρ697)/(ρ709-ρ686), based on the simulated hyperspectral images of urban tree using radiative transfer model. This proposed UTCI index outperforms existing narrow-band indices (NBIs) for estimating Cab for complex canopy structures, backgrounds, and illumination conditions evaluated using simulated hyperspectral images. The advantage of the UTCI was also demonstrated when applied to UAV hyperspectral images validated with direct field foliar measurements of Cab. It surpasses existing NBIs, demonstrating a moderate correlation (R2 = 0.34) with Cab under varying irradiance and a strong correlation (R2 = 0.62) with Cab under stable diffuse illumination. This study, for the first time, extensively investigated NBIs for Cab estimation of urban trees from UAV hyperspectral images, providing a theoretical and operational basis for future monitoring of Cab in the management of urban trees. This new method can be potentially applied to other vegetation types with complex canopy structures, backgrounds, and illuminations conditions.

A first ecological coherent assessment of eutrophication across the North-East Atlantic waters (2015–2020)

This paper presents the outcomes of the fourth application of the Common Procedure for the Identification of the Eutrophication Status of the OSPAR Maritime Area (the “Common Procedure”), conducted for the period 2015–2020 for the North East Atlantic. Previously, OSPAR has assessed eutrophication based on national assessment areas and disparate approaches lacking a transparent and comparable basis. A more harmonized approach has now been achieved through development of ecologically relevant assessment areas defined by oceanographic criteria rather than international boundaries, allowing for consistent assessments across exclusive economic zones and acknowledging that eutrophication is a transboundary problem. Thresholds that were specific for those harmonized assessment areas and eutrophication parameters have been derived primarily from an ensemble modeling approach to determine pre-eutrophic conditions. Common assessment areas and harmonized thresholds have enabled, for the first time, an objective and comparable assessment of the eutrophication status of the whole OSPAR Maritime Area. This establishes a level playing field for managing eutrophication and a solid basis for deriving OSPAR nutrient reduction targets as a prerequisite for targeted and successful regional eutrophication management. This assessment shows that eutrophication problem areas persist, in particular along the continental coasts from France to Denmark/Sweden and in the Greater North Sea and the Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast. The main areas affected by eutrophication are the plumes and adjacent coastal areas in the Greater North Sea and Bay of Biscay/Iberian Coast, with riverine nutrient inputs remaining the major source of nutrient pollution. Approximately 6% (152,904 km2) of the OSPAR Maritime Area is eutrophic, with the impacted area supporting many important ecosystem services. Fifty-eight percent of river plume areas (eight assessment areas out of 14), 22% (five of 27) of the coastal areas and 10% (three of 17) of the shelf areas were classified as problem areas. Application of the current assessment process to historical data from the previous three OSPAR assessment periods shows a gradual improvement since 2000. However, the OSPAR 2010 objective “to combat eutrophication, with the ultimate aim of achieving and maintaining a healthy marine environment where anthropogenic eutrophication does not occur” has not yet been fully achieved. Further measures to reduce nutrient loads are needed to ensure long-term sustainability of our coastal waters.

Orchid bees enhance seed set production of an understory herb in the Western Brazilian Amazon

Bee pollination is an important ecosystem service related to the maintenance of many flowering plants. We evaluated the relationship between orchid bee foraging time and the density of flowering plants and whether visitation varied according to the sex and size class of bees, using Calathea mansonis as a model species. We monitored 10 plots between December 2009 and November 2010 in a forest fragment in Senador Guiomard, Acre, Brazil. We counted the number of flowering plants and flowers per plant and the behaviour of the observed bees. Additionally, we compared the bagged and exposed inflorescences for self-compatibility analysis. We sampled 173 orchid bees from 13 species, with Eulaema cingulata as the most abundant visitor. Eulaema (large bees) were more effective pollinators than Euglossa (small bees). We also found Eulaema polyzona individuals feeding on a Marantaceae species for the first time. The time spent by the bees visiting flowers did not differ with the density of flowering plants or the number of flowers per plant. However, flowers exposed to visitors produced 35% more seeds and 15% heavier seeds than bagged flowers. Considering plant–bee interactions, orchid bees may increase gene flow and compensate for the clonal reproduction of this herb.

Stakeholder insights into embedding marine net gain for offshore wind farm planning and delivery

The rapid expansion of offshore wind farms plays a key role in meeting global Net Zero targets by 2050 and if delivered sustainably could address the dual challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Many countries are embracing ambitious approaches to environmental impact reduction by implementing concepts such as Biodiversity Net Gain, Nature Positive and No Net Loss. Such policies are now recognized in European and UK legislation, although generally only applicable to terrestrial activities. For the marine realm, there is little consensus on how Marine Net Gain can provide optimal environmental and societal outcomes from marine activities such as offshore wind farm construction, operation and decommissioning. This study sought to clarify the key issues that need to be addressed for effective implementation of Marine Net Gain. Following recruitment through a stakeholder mapping exercise, in-workshop and follow-up questionnaires sought to elicit expert opinions from multi-sector UK offshore wind farm stakeholders on a range of aspects of Marine Net Gain policy formulation and delivery. Over 80 % of participants indicated that certain external inputs, including information for climate change adaptation options and habitat mapping data, were important to enable delivery of Marine Net Gain. The most important ecosystem services to include within Net Gain measures were perceived as those relating to fisheries (mean 4.50, SD 0.51), maintaining nursery habitats (mean 4.41, SD 0.59), and climate regulation (mean 4.20, SD 1.). Stakeholders felt the most important Net Gain actions for environmental restoration/enhancement for future offshore wind deployment were shellfish/mussel bed (ave rank score 4.06) and invertebrate habitat restoration (ave rank score 4.60), and actions supporting plankton communities (ave rank score 4.67). Stakeholders agreed (83 %) that Net Gain actions should be considered at the decommissioning stage, and the preferred decommissioning option was the complete removal or abandonment of all structures. Stakeholders felt that strategic Net Gain assessments should prioritize fishing pressures (dredging: mean 4.27, SD 1.03; line and net: mean 4.21, SD 0.89) and those arising from physical structures (mean 4.0, SD 0.85). Aquaculture farming was deemed most feasible to co-exist with fixed offshore wind farms (means 3.93–4.19), while floating wind farms were felt to be more co-locatable with fishing practices (means 3.94–4.06) and carbon capture storage devices (mean 3.87) compared to fixed structures. Recommendations are suggested for future policy development and scientific research in relation to the application of Marine Net Gain assessment for offshore wind farm projects.

Beyond Protection, toward Respect: Struggle for Environmental Justice in the Kendeng Mountains

The cement industry is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than international air traffic, it takes up massive amounts of water and energy in the production process and creates highly destructive stone pit mines. The case we are presenting here stands for a complex transnational struggle for environmental justice involving the indigenous Sedelur Sikep community and a subsidiary of the German HeidelbergCement AG linking the Javanese lime stone landscapes of the Kendeng mountains with nodes of decision-making in Jakarta and Germany. The Kendeng mountains on the island of Java are important sites of social and cultural reproduction for the Sedelur Sikep, providing important ecosystem services. The community rejects the market economy and in particular the trading of products they have not produced themselves. Their practices have contributed to the conservation of this biodiversity rich landscapes for centuries. The plans of the HeidelbergCement AG to construct a cement factory raises concerns among the Sedelur Sikep. The group worries that the factory and the stone pit mine alter the hydrological cycle affecting their wet-rice fields and ultimately their lifestyles. Despite protests by Sedelur Sikep and allied conservation and human-rights organizations, the subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement AG hold son to its plans, referring to a completed environmental impact assessment and related permits.Building on the concepts of environmental justice and epistemic justice, we investigate how the Sedelur Sikep, together with conservation and human-rights organizations have (so far) successfully prevented the construction of the cement factory by challenging the procedural aspects of the permit process, stressing their role as indigenous communities and by challenging dominant forms of knowledge production used in environmental impact assessments. We show how successful resistance is organized employing the mainstream nature conservation narrative. We also show that the employment of different knowledge system is part of a strategy, while the groups own understanding of respecting and living with the mountain goes beyond this mainstream narrative.

Direct and indirect effects of Basta®, a glufosinate-based herbicide, on banana plantation soil microbial diversity and function

Herbicide applications have doubled over the past 30 years to control weeds, but their use may influence soil microbial communities, which mediate important ecosystem services. Here, we characterised the direct effects of a single application of Basta® (glufosinate), at 1× and 2× the recommended rate (5 and 10 kg product ha−1), as well as the indirect effects of vegetation loss on the diversity and function of soil microbial communities within a banana plantation. A 10-month pre-experimental period using Basta® to remove additional vegetation from half of the experimental area created conditions for assessing the indirect herbicide effects. Direct assessments on soil microbial communities began when the Basta® herbicide treatments were applied to the areas with and without vegetation and continued over multiple time-points, for 56 days. Herbicide treatment had no significant direct impacts on basal, and substrate induced respiration rates, or the potential activities of microbial enzymes as inferred from fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDA) and β-glucosidase assays. Similarly, phylogenetic marker gene sequencing indicated that Basta® application did not significantly influence the diversity of soil bacterial or fungal communities. Indirectly, Basta® had a greater influence on the soil microbial activity and functions by removing understory vegetation cover around banana plants. This suggested that continual use of herbicides to reduce soil vegetation cover under bananas had a greater impact on soil microbial communities than a single application of the herbicide. Furthermore, the presence or absence of vegetation cover, significantly altered the abundance of Fusarium oxysporum, plus an additional eight bacterial and ten fungal taxa. Our results indicated that a single application of glufosinate as Basta® at the recommended or double the recommended rate, did not adversely affect soil microbial communities or their activities in banana plantations directly. However, application of herbicides, such as Basta® in crops like banana, indirectly alters soil microbial communities and their activities through loss of vegetation cover and should only be used as a component of an integrated weed management system.

Food plants in Brazil: origin, economic value of pollination and pollinator shortage risk

Pollination is a key ecosystem service of critical importance for food production. However, globally, several regions are already experiencing pollinator shortage as pollinators are declining. Here, we investigate the origin, pollinator dependence and economic value of 199 food crops cultivated in Brazil to understand to which extent (1) Brazilian agriculture is vulnerable to pollinator shortage, and (2) Brazilian society has already achieved a comprehensive perspective about crop dependence. We used Brazil as a case study as it is a megadiverse tropical country and the 3rd largest world crop producer and exporter, with most of the crops depending on pollinators. Our findings revealed that over half (53.7%) of the food crops in Brazil are native, with the North region of Brazil housing the higher diversity of native crops, in contrast with the South and Southeast regions. Additionally, considering the reproductive systems, among native food crops, 65.6% exhibit self-incompatibility or dioecy (i.e., requiring obligatory cross-pollination), whereas 30.6% of exotic food crops display this trait. Overall, Brazilian municipalities produce more exotic crops than native ones, with almost 4/5 of the total agricultural area of the country dedicated to the cultivation of exotic crops, which are generally self-compatible commodities that rely low to modestly on pollinators. Regarding the biomes, we observe that this pattern is followed by most of them, but for the Caatinga dry forest, where native crops dependent on pollinators predominate. However, when soybean is removed from the analysis, the areas devoted to exotic crops always decreased, even being equal to native crops in the Atlantic forest. Our results also indicate that considering the pollinator shortage, some Brazilian biomes may be at risk of losing >20% of their yields, mainly in the Caatinga dry forest and the Atlantic forest. Therefore, in this paper, we are discussing that the expansion of monocultures in Brazil's agricultural lands may have several impacts on the provision of pollination services, food production and, then, on food security not only for the Brazilian population, as Brazil is the 3rd largest world agricultural producer and exporter.

Contribution of ecosystem services improvement on achieving Sustainable development Goals under ecological engineering projects on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) is an important ecosystem service provider but increasing human activities have led to ecosystem degradation. Several ecological engineering projects (EEPs) have been adopted to restore the degraded ecosystems. To analyze changes in ecosystem services on the QTP and their contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) following the implementation of the EEPs, and to explore the roles of different types of EEPs and climate in this process. Quantified changes in the six key ecosystem services and their trade-offs at the county level since the implementation of the ecological project, and further calculated the progress of the contribution of ecosystem services to the achievement of the SDGs based on the “Ecosystem service-SDGs” contribution framework. The results show that since the implementation of the EEPs, the ecosystem services of the QTP have generally improved. Over 70% of the counties showed continuous improvement in water yield, food production, soil retention, and sandstorm prevention, particularly in the central and eastern parts of the QTP. Synergistic relationships are maintained between provisioning, regulating and supporting services. Ecosystem service-based SDG scores (ESSDG) showed a distribution pattern of high southeast and low northwest in the QTP, and increased in 75.22% of counties between 2000 and 2020. Our study revealed that the EEPs contributed to the realization of SDGs in QTP by improving ecosystem services, especially in the areas where the Grain for Green projects was implemented. Sustainable ecosystem management following the implementation of EEPs may benefit future contributions to SDGs realization.

Global overview on groundwater fauna

AbstractGroundwater is an important global resource, providing water for irrigation, industry, geothermal uses and potable water. Moreover, groundwater contains the world's largest terrestrial freshwater biome with ecosystems, inhabited mainly by invertebrates (stygofauna) and microbes, undertaking important services including water purification, as well as nutrient and carbon cycling. Despite investigations on the spatial and temporal variations of groundwater fauna and the influence of environmental parameters on these organisms, in parts of the world, even the most basic knowledge of these ecosystems is still lacking. The aims of this study are to provide an overview on groundwater fauna (stygofauna) research, including the historical evolution of research topics and the development of sampling methods and secondly to identify the global distribution of groundwater fauna research and resulting data gaps. To achieve this, an extensive review of accessible groundwater fauna data was conducted by analysing 859 studies. It was evident that over time, there has been an exponential increase in the number of groundwater fauna studies together with changing paradigms in the research focus, particularly as sampling methods have developed from using simple nets, substrate samples and hand‐pumps in the beginning to recent molecular analyses (e.g. eDNA). As application of molecular methods becomes more common, knowledge on groundwater diversity and functional ecology is expected to increase. Studies on groundwater fauna are spatially uneven and are dominated by research in Europe and Australia, with few studies in Africa, Asia and the Americas. This presently biased view on groundwater biota hinders the identification of biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functions on a wider geographic and climatic scale. In the future, a more evenly distributed stygofauna sampling effort in currently underrepresented areas of the globe is necessary to ensure a more comprehensive perspective on stygofauna biodiversity, roles and functional significances. This is increasingly important with the accumulating knowledge of the sensitivities of these ecosystems to anthropogenic activities, including climate change, and is fundamental to effective management of these ecosystems.

Ethical Leadership and Its Impact on Sustainable Performance – An Exploratory study of the Opinions of Employees at Al-Mustaqbal University

The research aimed to reveal the nature of the role that ethical leadership can play in achieving sustainable performance. The importance of the research was that it was applied in one of the most important service sectors in Iraq in general, which is the higher education sector, as well as to address a realistic problem represented in the investigation of the research sample organisations About achieving the highest levels of sustainable performance, as the research came to fill a knowledge gap represented by the scarcity of Arab or foreign studies to the knowledge of the researcher, which dealt with the relationship between research variables in one hypothetical model. The gradient was distributed to the university’s employees, who numbered (110) individuals. (86) audited and measurable questionnaires were retrieved. The descriptive analytical method was used in analysing the data based on the statistical analysis program spss v.26 and SmartPLS. The researchers also used a set of statistical measures in order to analyse the data and the reach results. The research has reached a set of results, most notably the existence of an Impact and connection relationship between ethical leadership and sustainable performance. The results indicate that paying attention to the development of ethical leadership capabilities can achieve sustainable performance in government and private institutions. Additionally, the research sample college seeks to benefit from ethical leadership behaviours to achieve sustainable performance, and its top leaders are fully aware of the necessity of following the ethical leadership approach in managing the college to reach high levels of sustainable performance.

Engineering aquatic plant community composition on floating treatment wetlands can increase ecosystem multifunctionality

Phytoremediation using floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) is an emerging nature-based solution for freshwater restoration. However, the potential to design these systems by manipulating macrophyte community composition to provide multiple ecosystem services remains unexplored. Using a tank experiment, we simulated aquatic environments impacted by multiple pollutants and employed a comparative ecological approach to design emergent macrophyte communities using the trait of plant stature (plant height) to structure communities. Ecosystem functions were quantified, and a threshold-based method used to compute an ecosystem multifunctionality index that was weighted based on three different management-driven restoration objectives: equal importance, phytoremediation, and regulation and cultural services. Across all restoration scenarios, ecosystem multifunctionality was higher when community types performed more diverse functions. Small emergent plant communities outperformed all other community types due to their increased provision of both regulation and maintenance, cultural, and provisioning services. Conversely, large emergent communities that are more typical candidates for phytoremediation had the highest levels of multifunctionality only when function was lower. Arranging emergent macrophytes in mixed-statured communities led to intermediate or poorer performance both in terms of multifunctionality and specific functions, suggesting that diversity on the plant stature axis leads to negative plant interactions and represents a ‘worst of both worlds’ combination. Employing comparative ecology to generalise plant selection by stature demonstrates that large emergent macrophytes are more likely to better deliver provision-based services, while small emergent communities can provide additional benefits from cultural and regulatory services. Selecting macrophytes for FTWs employed in freshwater restoration by stature is a simple and widely applicable approach for designing plant communities with predictable outcomes in terms of (multiple) ecosystem service provision and highlights the need for environmental managers to closely align restoration objectives with potential community types.

A study on Tourism Potential of District Baramulla, Kashmir Valley, J&amp;K

Kashmir, land of natural resources, Mosques, Shrines, Temples, and Gurudawaras, is popularly known as paradise on earth. The Baramulla district of North Kashmir is one of the places in J&amp;K, which has enormous tourism potential to attract local, national and international tourists throughout year. The Baramulla district provides all types of tourism products, which a tourist is looking for; the only condition is that we have to untap and bring those places on the tourism map. We know, Tourism is one of the important service sector industry and significant contributor to the economy of J&amp;K. It consists of Heritage tourism, religious tourism, mountain tourism, adventure tourism, rafting and skiing. The development of this area and bringing new places in tourist map will increase tourist arrivals and increase business opportunities for the local population of area. This present study will explore the tourism potential of Baramulla district besides the economic benefits, employ ability and poverty eradication. The paper will also propose recommendations and suggestions for the improvement and utilization of these tourist destinations of District Baramulla, Kashmir.

Dementia needs assessment in Latine communities: strengths, challenges and policy opportunities in Wisconsin, USA

AbstractBackgroundLatinx populations are 1.5 times more likely to develop ADRD than non‐Latinx whites. Despite their heightened risk, they are more likely to be undiagnosed, under‐diagnosed and misdiagnosed. This is exacerbated by the lack of culturally appropriate information addressing ADRD to combat culturally specific stigma and misconceptions, as well as a dearth of culturally suitable resources. Infrastructure development that engages the community and community organizations can assist in overcoming these challenges by addressing community needs, capitalizing on existing resources, fostering sustainability, and promoting health equity.MethodUsing a modified version of the instruments included in the ACT on Alzheimer’s® Dementia Friendly Communities Toolkit, we evaluated the ADRD related needs and other social needs (e.g. transportation) that Latine communities experience in Madison, Wisconsin (USA). The instrument was distributed via email to community organizations and individuals serving Latine individuals in the area. Additionally, a community advisory group contributed to the identification of existing assets/priorities and strategic planning.ResultThe strengths identified for the community were: a sense of community that leads to individuals caring for one another and wanting to provide for one another’s needs, and the availability of a variety of community organizations and individuals who play a role in serving people living with dementia and their care partners. The absence of bilingual/bicultural resources to serve individuals was cited as the most significant challenge, followed by the lack of information regarding dementia, and the paucity of care options for those who are not eligible for Medicare or Social Security benefits. Table 1 reflects the most important services needed in the community. Reimbursement/Service fees (e.g., organizations use Medicare/Medicaid funding and do not have additional revenue sources to serve individuals without insurance), educational requirements for employees without a comparable requirement on language proficiency, and limited funding for multi‐language services were identified as pertinent policies.ConclusionCommunity members viewed dementia education and awareness of care services as crucial. Collaboration with current organizations to provide additional resources that enable them to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate processes for all is key to ensure the sustainability of future endeavors.