Landscape Scenarios Research Articles

Supersymmetric particle and Higgs boson masses from the landscape: Dynamical versus spontaneous supersymmetry breaking

Perturbative supersymmetry breaking on the landscape of string vacua is expected to favor large soft terms as a power-law or log distribution, but tempered by an anthropic veto of inappropriate vacua or vacua leading to too large a value for the derived weak scale -- a violation of the atomic principle. Indeed, scans of such vacua yield a statistical prediction for light Higgs boson mass m_h~ 125 GeV with sparticles (save possibly light higgsinos) typically beyond LHC reach. In contrast, models of dynamical SUSY breaking (DSB) -- with a hidden sector gauge coupling g^2 scanned uniformly -- lead to gaugino condensation and a uniform distribution of soft parameters on a log scale. Then soft terms are expected to be distributed as $m_{\rm soft}^{-1}$ favoring small values. A scan of DSB soft terms generally leads to $m_h\ll 125$ GeV and sparticle masses usually below LHC limits. Thus, the DSB landscape scenario seems excluded from LHC search results. An alternative is that the exponential suppression of the weak scale is set anthropically on the landscape via the atomic principle.

The interplay of spatial scale and landscape transformation modulates the abundance and intraspecific variation in the ecomorphological traits of a phyllostomid bat

AbstractLand use intensification imposes selective pressures that systematically change the frequency of wild population phenotypes. Growing evidence is biased towards the comparison of populations from discrete categories of land uses, ignoring the role of landscape emerging properties on the phenotype selection of wild fauna. Across the largest urban–rural gradient of the Colombian Orinoquia, we measured ecomorphological traits of 216 individuals of the flat-faced fruit-eating batArtibeus planirostris.We did this to evaluate the scale of effect at which landscape transformation better predicts changes in phenotype and abundance of an urban-tolerant species. Forest percentage at 1.25 km was the main predictor affecting negatively bat abundance and positively its wing aspect ratio and body mass. Landscape variables affected forearm length at all spatial scales, this effect appeared to be sex-dependent, and the most important predictor, forest percentage at 0.5 km, had a negative effect on this trait. Our results indicate that landscape elements and spatial scale interact to shape ecomorphological traits and the abundance ofA. planirostris. Interestingly, the scale of effect coincided at 1.25 km among all biological responses, suggesting that species’ abundance can be linked to the variation on phenotype under different environmental filters across landscape scenarios.

The Impact of Black Hole Formation on Population-averaged Supernova Yields

Abstract The landscape of black hole (BH) formation—in which massive stars explode as core-collapse supernovae (CCSN) and which implode into BHs—profoundly affects the initial-mass-function (IMF)-averaged nucleosynthetic yields of a stellar population. Building on the work of Sukhbold et al., we compute IMF-averaged yields at solar metallicity for a wide range of assumptions, including neutrino-driven engine models with extensive BH formation, models with a simple mass threshold for BH formation, and a model in which all stars from 8 to 120 M ⊙ explode. For plausible choices, the overall yields of α-elements span a factor of 3, but changes in relative yields are more subtle, typically 0.05–0.2 dex. To constrain the overall level of BH formation, ratios of C and N to O or Mg are promising diagnostics. To distinguish complex, theoretically motivated landscapes from simple mass thresholds, abundance ratios involving Mn or Ni are promising because of their sensitivity to the core structure of the CCSN progenitors. We confirm previous findings of a substantial (factor 2.5–4) discrepancy between predicted O/Mg yield ratios and observationally inferred values, implying that models either overproduce O or underproduce Mg. No landscape choice achieves across-the-board agreement with observed abundance ratios; the discrepancies offer empirical clues to aspects of massive star evolution or explosion physics still missing from the models. We find qualitatively similar results using the massive star yields of Limongi & Chieffi. We provide tables of IMF-integrated yields for several landscape scenarios, and more flexible user-designed models can be implemented through the publicly available Versatile Integrator for Chemical Evolution (VICE; https://pypi.org/project/vice/).

From Kharkiv to Istanbul: Creative Work of Mykola Kalmykov – Naci Kalmukoğlu

The article is dedicated to the art of Mykola (Nikolay) Kalmykov, whose maturity and creative activity took place in historical and cultural realias of Turkey in the 1920s and 1940s. Years of artistic formation associated with Ukraine in the first decades of the 20th century are an integral part of his creative biography. A high level of academic training, knowledge of historical styles, obtained at Kharkiv Art School, on the one hand, on the other hand, admiration for the artists of the “Seven” group, of which M. Kalmykov was an active member, for applied forms of creativity, orientation towards European modernism as a space of creative freedom determined the artistic universalism of the novice. The modernist nature of Istanbul artworks of M. Kalmykov is undoubtable. At the same time, absorbing the plastic discoveries of French modernism, the artist existed in a special emotional sphere, where there was a place for aesthetic research in the art of past epochs. In this dichotomous fusion of impressionistic worldview and passeism, most of the custom-made things were solved – mise-en-scenes for murals and theatrical scenery, historical canvases and still lifes. Exclusively pictorial ambitions were embodied in depiction of nude figures, in portraits of relatives and friends, in hundreds of landscape scenarios, the main role in which was assigned to sunlight. Painting as such, attractive in itself, related M. Kalmykov to A. Grishchenko, the author of the plastic concept “color dynamos”. Construction of a pictorial plot on the ratio of color masses, structural framework of which was set by horizontal and vertical axes of free brushstrokes are its basic features. Creative biography and personality of Mykola Kalmykov are widely known to Turkish specialists, collectors and art lovers. Discovery of art of Mykola Kalmykov by their Ukrainian colleagues is still ahead.

Optimizing bat bioacoustic surveys in human‐modified Neotropical landscapes

AbstractDuring the last decades, the use of bioacoustics as a non‐invasive and cost‐effective sampling method has greatly increased worldwide. For bats, acoustic surveys have long been known to complement traditional mist‐netting, however, appropriate protocol guidelines are still lacking for tropical regions. Establishing the minimum sampling effort needed to detect ecological changes in bat assemblages (e.g., activity, composition, and richness) is crucial in view of workload and project cost constraints, and because detecting such changes must be reliable enough to support effective conservation management. Using one of the most comprehensive tropical bat acoustic data sets, collected in the Amazon, we assessed the minimum survey effort required to accurately assess the completeness of assemblage inventories and habitat selection in fragmented forest landscapes for aerial insectivorous bats. We evaluated a combination of 20 different temporal sampling schemes, which differed regarding number of hours per night, number of nights per site, and sampling only during the wet or dry season, or both. This was assessed under two different landscape scenarios: in primary forest fragments embedded in a matrix of secondary forest and in the same forest fragments, but after they had been re‐isolated through clearing of the secondary forest. We found that the sampling effort required to achieve 90% inventory completeness varied considerably depending on the research aim and the landscape scenario evaluated, averaging ~80 and 10 nights before and after fragment re‐isolation, respectively. Recording for more than 4 h per night did not result in a substantial reduction in the required number of sampling nights. Regarding the effects of habitat selection, except for assemblage composition, bat responses in terms of richness, diversity, and activity were similar across all sampling schemes after fragment re‐isolation. However, before re‐isolation, a minimum of four to six sampling hours per night after dusk and three to five nights of sampling per site were needed to detect significant effects that could otherwise go unnoticed. Based on our results, we propose guidelines that will aid to optimize sampling protocols for bat acoustic surveys in the Neotropics.

Improved hydrological modeling with APEX and EPIC: Model description, testing, and assessment of bioenergy producing landscape scenarios

A Richards-based soil water model was implemented in the APEX and EPIC terrestrial ecosystem models to improve their hydrologic modeling capabilities. The Richards model together with two existing soil water models were calibrated and evaluated to assess their performance for simulating watershed-level hydrology under scenarios of landscape conversion to bioenergy crop production. The Richards model was shown to better reflect observed soil-water dynamics in grain (corn) and cellulosic (switchgrass) bioenergy agroecosystems, whereas all three models simulated historic streamflows comparably. Application of the models to understand the impacts of widespread landscape conversion from traditional agriculture to bioenergy producing landscapes indicated disparate conclusions, with the Richards-based simulations indicating a modest 1.0% reduction in streamflow whereas the existing models simulated sizable reductions of 10.6–16.1%. This study clearly demonstrates the impact of model methodology on system understanding and contextualizes the wide range of simulated streamflow impacts from bioenergy conversions reported in the literature.

Comparative evaluation of geospatial scenario-based land change simulation models using landscape metrics

Assessing the performance of land change simulation models is a critical step when predicting the future landscape scenario. The study was conducted in the district of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India because the city being “the oldest living city in the world” attracts a vast population to reside here for short and long-term, leaving the city’s ecosystem more exposed to fragility and less resilient. In this work, an approach based on landscape metrics is introduced for comparing the performance of the ensemble models designed to simulate the landscape changes. A set of landscape metrics were applied in this study that offered comprehensive information on the performance of scenario-based simulation models from the viewpoint of the spatial ordering of simulated results against the related reference maps. A supervised support vector machine classification technique was applied to derive the LULC maps using Landsat satellite images of the year 1988, 2001, and 2015. The LULC maps of 1988 and 2001 were used to simulate the LULC scenario for 2015 using three Markov chain-based simulation models namely, multi-layer perceptron-Markov chain (MLP_Markov), cellular automata-Markov chain (CA_Markov), and stochastic-Markov chain (ST_Markov) respectively. The mean relative error (MRE), as a measure of the success of simulation models, was calculated for metrics. The MRE values at both the class and landscape levels were accounted for 21.63 and 11.45% respectively using MLP_Markov simulation model. The MRE values at both the class and landscape levels were accounted for 39.61 and 28.31% respectively using CA_Markov simulation model. The MRE values at both the class and landscape levels were accounted for 55.36 and 45.75% respectively using ST_Markov simulation model. The MRE values considered at class and landscape levels are further evaluated qualitatively for comparing the performance of simulation models. The results indicate that the MLP_Markov performed excellently, followed by CA_Markov and ST_Markov simulation models. This work showed an ordered and multi-level spatial evaluation of the models’ performance into the decision-making process of selecting the optimum approach among them. Landscape metrics as a vital characteristic of the utilized method, employ the maximum potential of the reference and simulated layers for a performance evaluation process. It extends the insight into the main strengths and drawbacks of a specific model when simulating the spatio-temporal pattern. The quantified information of transition among landscape categories also provides land policy managers a better perception to build a sustainable city master plan.

Climate Aridity and the Geographical Shift of Olive Trees in a Mediterranean Northern Region

Climate change leverages landscape transformations and exerts variable pressure on natural environments and rural systems. Earlier studies outlined how Mediterranean Europe has become a global hotspot of climate warming and land use change. The present work assumes the olive tree, a typical Mediterranean crop, as a candidate bioclimatic indicator, delineating the latent impact of climate aridity on traditional cropping systems at the northern range of the biogeographical distribution of the olive tree. Since the olive tree follows a well-defined latitude gradient with a progressive decline in both frequency and density moving toward the north, we considered Italy as an appropriate case to investigate how climate change may (directly or indirectly) influence the spatial distribution of this crop. By adopting an exploratory approach grounded in the quali-quantitative analysis of official statistics, the present study investigates long-term changes over time in the spatial distribution of the olive tree surface area in Northern Italy, a region traditionally considered outside the ecological range of the species because of unsuitable climate conditions. Olive tree cultivated areas increased in Northern Italy, especially in flat districts and upland areas, while they decreased in Central and Southern Italy under optimal climate conditions, mostly because of land abandonment. The most intense expansion of the olive tree surface area in Italy was observed in the northern region between 1992 and 2000 and corresponded with the intensification of winter droughts during the late 1980s and the early 1990s and local warming since the mid-1980s. Assuming the intrinsic role of farmers in the expansion of the olive tree into the suboptimal land of Northern Italy, the empirical results of our study suggest how climate aridity and local warming may underlie the shift toward the north in the geographical range of the olive tree in the Mediterranean Basin. We finally discussed the implications of the olive range shift as a part of a possible landscape scenario for a more arid future.

Phthalocyanine as a Bioinspired Model for Chlorophyll f-Containing Photosystem II Drives Photosynthesis into the Far-Red Region.

The textbook explanation that P680 pigments are the red limit to drive oxygenic photosynthesis must be reconsidered by the recent discovery that chlorophyll f (Chlf)-containing Photosystem II (PSII) absorbing at 727 nm can drive water oxidation. Two different families of unsymmetrically substituted Zn phthalocyanines (Pc) absorbing in the 700-800 nm spectral window and containing a fused imidazole-phenyl substituent or a fused imidazole-hydroxyphenyl group have been synthetized and characterized as a bioinspired model of the Chlf/TyrosineZ /Histidine190 cofactors of PSII. Transient absorption studies in the presence of an electron acceptor and irradiating in the far-red region evidenced an intramolecular electron transfer process. Visible and FT-IR signatures indicate the formation of a hydrogen-bonded phenoxyl radical in ZnPc II-OH. This study sets the foundation for the utilization of a broader spectral window for multi-electronic catalytic processes with one of the most robust and efficient dyes.

Modelling flood regulation ecosystem services dynamics based on climate and land use information

The concept of ecosystem service (ES) identifies benefits that people obtain from ecosystems with contributions to human well-being. One important ES under external pressure is “flood regulation” that describes an ecosystem’s capacity to reduce flood hazards. Several related studies estimate current flood regulation ES. However, regional climate projections indicate a shift in precipitation patterns. Therefore, Climate and land use changes make it necessary to assess future supply in order to test functionality and adaptation measures. This study focuses on surface retention ES. We used two methods to show the relevance of different landscape scenarios and climate information for flood regulation ES supply: 1) hydraulic simulations with the model HEC-RAS 2) the flood retention capacity indicator suggested by the German MAES-Working group. We simulated two events: the historic flood of 2013 and future hypothetically 10% higher water levels. Furthermore, three land use change scenarios were evaluated. The model results indicate water accumulation by vegetation. Higher water levels of future climate scenarios lead to an increase in flooded areas and higher water volumes. To evaluate flood regulation capacities, an approach solely based on 2D retention areas, such as the MAES-indicator, is not sufficient. Modelling approaches deliver the opportunity for future scenario simulations.

Next steps for ecosystem service models: integrating complex interactions and beneficiaries

Accounting for ecosystem services (ES)—the ways in which society and people directly benefit from ecological processes and functions—is crucial for developing sustainable landscape management approaches that consider the interrelationship between people and nature. Previous research has produced models that estimate the provision of potential ES by landscapes to help inform policy and stakeholder decision-making. However, most modelling efforts do not consider the delivery of ES to specific human populations or communities, making it difficult to evaluate any possible human welfare implications from alternative land use planning scenarios. In this paper, we first explore the recent state of science of ES modelling from the perspective of ES provision and delivery to the people that benefit from them. Second, we propose the addition of some essential aspects of complexity using the classic social–ecological system framework, crucial for developing models to inform pragmatic decision-making. Our propositions are illustrated using simplified examples inspired by sea otter conservation in the seascapes of British Columbia. Integrating these concepts in future ES models should serve as a baseline for future management approaches that more adequately capture the important implications of landscape scenarios on human well-being.

Honey bee colony performance affected by crop diversity and farmland structure: a modeling framework.

Forage availability has been suggested as one driver of the observed decline in honey bees. However, little is known about the effects of its spatiotemporal variation on colony success. We present a modeling framework for assessing honey bee colony viability in cropping systems. Based on two real farmland structures, we developed a landscape generator to design cropping systems varying in crop species identity, diversity, and relative abundance. The landscape scenarios generated were evaluated using the existing honey bee colony model BEEHAVE, which links foraging to in-hive dynamics. We thereby explored how different cropping systems determine spatiotemporal forage availability and, in turn, honey bee colony viability (e.g., time to extinction, TTE) and resilience (indicated by, e.g., brood mortality). To assess overall colony viability, we developed metrics, PH and PP, which quantified how much nectar and pollen provided by a cropping system per year was converted into a colony's adult worker population. Both crop species identity and diversity determined the temporal continuity in nectar and pollen supply and thus colony viability. Overall farmland structure and relative crop abundance were less important, but details mattered. For monocultures and for four-crop species systems composed of cereals, oilseed rape, maize, and sunflower, PH and PP were below the viability threshold. Such cropping systems showed frequent, badly timed, and prolonged forage gaps leading to detrimental cascading effects on life stages and in-hive work force, which critically reduced colony resilience. Four-crop systems composed of rye-grass-dandelion pasture, trefoil-grass pasture, sunflower, and phacelia ensured continuous nectar and pollen supply resulting in TTE > 5yr, and PH (269.5kg) and PP (108kg) being above viability thresholds for 5 yr. Overall, trefoil-grass pasture, oilseed rape, buckwheat, and phacelia improved the temporal continuity in forage supply and colony's viability. Our results are hypothetical as they are obtained from simplified landscape settings, but they nevertheless match empirical observations, in particular the viability threshold. Our framework can be used to assess the effects of cropping systems on honey bee viability and to develop land-use strategies that help maintain pollination services by avoiding prolonged and badly timed forage gaps.

Point cloud modeling as a bridge between landscape design and planning

The paper evolves on the discourse of digital three-dimensional (3-D) modeling methods in the fields of landscape architecture and landscape planning. Digital design and planning methods used at present rely on mapping and modeling techniques that fall short of engaging the physical form of the landscape. However, form-specific knowledge is essential to understand how transformations can improve landscape functions, for example, in terms of providing ecosystem services and influencing climate in response to increasing heat in cities. The technical development of laser-scanning technology for landscape survey introduced new approaches over the last decade in working with geospatial data. Laser-scanning, or LiDAR, is now used to create digital 3-D representations of the landscape at high definition in the form of point clouds models. Beyond their function of representation, point cloud models can be manipulated to represent future landscape scenarios. Changes can be developed by editing the point cloud models and using the characteristics of form and scale of the physical site, resulting in an informed workflow of landscape transformation.In this paper, we address an existing gap in working concurrently with the analytical and spatio-visual properties of the landscape and propose a method that integrates landscape planning and design approaches by using point cloud models as a shared medium. We (i) propose a modeling method that employs laser-scanned data as a medium to represent landscape transformation and to enable a new level of inquiry for shaping future scenarios; (ii) exemplify with a case scenario in Singapore how point cloud models can be used to exchange analytical and spatial information for assessing thermal comfort; (iii) discuss the role that point cloud models can play in establishing a bridge between methods of landscape design and of landscape planning to develop the quality of urban landscapes.

Exploring the social coherence of rural landscapes featuring agroforestry intercropping systems using locals’ visual assessments and perceptions

Agroforestry intercropping systems (AIS), in which crops grow between widely spaced tree rows, can address several land-use challenges in regions of agricultural intensification and decline. Since their contribution to landscape sustainability depends on their coherence with the sociocultural dimension of landscapes, understanding the potential impacts of AIS on rural residents becomes necessary to inform planning processes and optimize their designs. We scrutinized the appreciation of landscapes featuring AIS for rural residents of two contrasted agricultural regions of Quebec (Canada), evaluated the influence of some individual characteristics and AIS design features on these appreciations, and elicited the reasons justifying landscape appreciations. Data was collected using an online questionnaire. We compared landscape scenarios featuring AIS designs to landscapes featuring common land-uses using a 10-point Likert scale. Open-ended questions elicited the reasons underlying respondents’ landscape appreciation and closed questions captured their sociodemographic profile and their attitude toward the environment. A total of 161 rural residents filled the questionnaire. The multivariate analysis showed no significant effect of any of the sociodemographic characteristics tested. The statistical analyses revealed that AIS are similarly appreciated to rural landscapes featuring forests, fallows, or cultivated fields. AIS appreciation varied with diversity and row spacing, but in intertwined, regionally contrasted ways. The qualitative analyses showed that the linear arrangement of trees, associated with artificiality, was unappreciated by respondents. Our results highlight that AIS may be socially coherent in diversified rural landscapes. Design recommendations should maximize diversity while attenuating the row effect.

Designing optimal human-modified landscapes for forest biodiversity conservation.

Agriculture and development transform forest ecosystems to human-modified landscapes. Decades of research in ecology have generated myriad concepts for the appropriate management of these landscapes. Yet, these concepts are often contradictory and apply at different spatial scales, making the design of biodiversity-friendly landscapes challenging. Here, we combine concepts with empirical support to design optimal landscape scenarios for forest-dwelling species. The supported concepts indicate that appropriately sized landscapes should contain ≥40% forest cover, although higher percentages are likely needed in the tropics. Forest cover should be configured with c. 10% in a very large forest patch, and the remaining 30% in many evenly dispersed smaller patches and semi-natural treed elements (e.g. vegetation corridors). Importantly, the patches should be embedded in a high-quality matrix. The proposed landscape scenarios represent an optimal compromise between delivery of goods and services to humans and preserving most forest wildlife, and can therefore guide forest preservation and restoration strategies.

Regional landscape futures to moderate projected climate change: a case study in the agro-pastoral transitional zone of North China

Changes in land systems have been shown to affect regional climate, but minimal attention has been paid to landscape patterns as adaptation strategies to climate change. In this study, we introduce alternative futures analysis and coupled land-atmosphere modeling to investigate the effect of landscape patterns on moderating projected climate change in northern China. Three future landscape scenarios are developed, and their impacts on regional climate in the context of climate change are examined. A reference scenario, Business-as-Usual, follows recent landscape trajectory; the Conservation scenario puts greater emphasis on ecosystem protection and restoration to ultimately achieve sustained socioeconomic development; the Degradation scenario ignores current policy to allow broad cropland expansion. The landscape impacts on regional climate under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) are substantial and dependent on background climate. The Conservation scenario shows considerable decreases in near-surface temperature and extensive increases in rainfall during summer as compared with Business-as-Usual under RCP8.5 (i.e., a high emissions scenario), thus representing a preferred landscape pattern for climate moderation. However, trade-offs between temperature reduction and rainfall enhancement exist under RCP4.5 (i.e., a low-to-moderate emissions scenario), which necessitates careful evaluation. Finally, the Degradation scenario leads to the highest temperature and lowest rainfall among the three alternative futures under both climate conditions. Our study underlines the importance of landscape design/planning as an effective way to moderate climate change, and provides useful scientific information for making land use policies.

Estimates of above-ground tree carbon after projected land-use and land cover change in a subtropical urban watershed

This study investigates the effect of land-use and land cover (LULC) change on above-ground tree carbon (AGTC) in a subbasin of the Tampa Bay Watershed, Florida. LULC change was integrated with AGTC to project future quantities under three landscape scenarios: baseline, increased and aggressive rates of development. A 12% increase in total landscape AGTC occurred from 2006 to 2011 as agriculture and rangeland were converted to residential, infrastructure and built classes. Scenario projections for 2016 show an additional increase of 11% AGTC under baseline change, 15% under increased development and 18% under aggressive development. These results suggest that residential expansion may cause an increase in AGTC storage as agriculture and rangeland areas are replaced. However, as agriculture and rangeland disappear, LULC change patterns could shift, with residential expansion replacing upland and wetland forested areas causing a long-term decrease in AGTC. These results show that biomass of the tree component of AGTC can be significant, in and of itself, for urban classes and provide insights into its role in AGTC dynamics for these systems. This information can also help decision-makers identify areas as potential carbon sources or sinks.

Public Perception of Wilderness in Iceland

In recent years, there has been a gradually growing emphasis on the protection of wilderness in Iceland. This is highlighted in the current preparation of a new national park in the Icelandic central highlands, which will become Europe’s largest national park. However, in order to protect the wilderness, a mutual understanding, both on what it is and where it is, is needed. This paper seeks to evaluate Icelanders’ perception and understanding of wilderness. Furthermore, to assess the value of wilderness for the Icelandic public and determine what lies behind the valuation, an online survey aided by maps from Google Earth and photographic scenarios of different landscapes was sent out to a nationally representative sample of Icelanders. The survey respondents mapped their perceived scope of Icelandic wilderness and furthermore chose between several landscape scenarios they thought most and least suited to their perception of wilderness. The results show that nearly all land located above the 300 m elevation line is perceived as wilderness, reflecting the country’s uninhabited highlands areas. The results also show that for the general public in Iceland it is chiefly an open and vast landscape, uninhabited areas, and the absence of anthropogenic features that bestow an area with the status of wilderness. The results demonstrate that any sign of anthropogenic interference, aside from archaeological remains, decrease Icelanders’ perception of wilderness. Moreover, despite being mostly categorized as urbanists or neutralists according to the purism scale, the majority of Icelanders still consider services, such as petrol stations, hotels, shops, restaurants, and diverse leisure services, along with energy production, to negatively impact the value of wilderness. Most Icelanders thus seem to regard wilderness as a valuable asset from the economic, cultural, and environmental perspectives, which underscores its uniqueness.

Modelling movement and stage-specific habitat preferences of a polyphagous insect pest

BackgroundThe feeding preferences of Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) cause a parent-offspring conflict, as providing the best host for the offspring development is detrimental to adult survival and fecundity. Understanding the implications of this conflict could help entomologists to implement pest-management programs. With this in mind, the foraging behaviour of D. speciosa was investigated using an individual-based model in two distinct scenarios.MethodsIn an intercropping scenario, parent-offspring conflict was simulated when adult insects exploit two crops (corn and soybean) that provide different nutritional advantages for each insect stage. First, we compared three hypothetical types of adult dispersal, considering a continuous oviposition over time: diffusion, attracted to a fixed host and alternating the preference between hosts with frequency frac {1}{tau }, where τ is the time in days spent foraging for each host. We also simulated two principles: “mother knows best” (adult females foraging for corn during the oviposition period) and “optimal bad motherhood” (adult females remain foraging for soybean to maximise their own fitness during the oviposition period), but considering the existence of a pre-oviposition period. In a landscape scenario, we investigated the population dynamics in an area composed by 4 crop plots that change over time.ResultsAmong dispersal types considering continuous oviposition, the crop-alternating movement a-3 performed best, when close to an optimal τ. Additionally, τ was predicted to be influenced mainly by the width of crop rows. We also verified that the “mother knows best” strategy is better for the population growth than the “optimal bad motherhood”. In the landscape scenario, we observed that including fallow periods in the crop calendar and adopting a more-heterogeneous arrangement of crop plots reduced the density of this insect.ConclusionBoth the continuous and sequential oviposition simulations indicate that foraging involving switching of target crop benefits population fitness. In the landscape scenario, arranging crop plots more heterogeneously and avoiding vast areas of soybean can help farmers to control this insect pest. Additionally, fallow periods can also reduce significantly D. speciosa populations.

IDEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CORRESPONDENCE AND STYLE UNITY, AS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF THE PRINCIPLE OF FORMING THE ARTISTIC-FIGURATIVE ENVIRONMENT OF SPECIALIZED CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PARKS

Analyzing modern parks, we can confidently say that most of them, having different functional nature, cause the same reactions among visitors. This stems from the fact that landscape objects use the same complex architectural and natural means, although the objects are different in function. When forming parks, it is necessary to design human feelings, and not environmental objects: alleys, spaces etc.When we will formulate the basis for designing the landscape object, and even then, to take care of the natural environment and the need for realizing it, so that you could realize the need for realizing the necessary landscape situation. The creation of harmonious interconnections in a landscape environment can only be carried out by rethinking the relationship between man and the landscape and the designer has included this rethinking in his practice.When creating a specialized thematic cultural and educational park, one of the main tasks is to identify the artistic image. It consists of three main components: the main idea (theme) of the park, the artistic image and script. The theme of the park is responsible for its creative design; the artistic image illuminates the main idea of the park in the form of specific forms; the script connects the artistic image into a logical picture of the perception of the idea of the park. The landscape scenario makes it possible to obtain a forecast of a person’s condition in four-dimensional space with minimal possibilities of deviations. Its essence is the formation of a system of aesthetically spatial effects on a person by means of landscape architecture.Even at the stage of creative design, a figurative row of the park is created, which depends on the chosen theme (idea). With the help of appropriate tools and techniques, characteristic features arise that recreate the images and style of a specialized theme landscape park.