Local Conservation Research Articles

Análise da paisagem urbana visando a implantação de corredor ecológico entre os dois maiores fragmentos florestais do município de Campinas (São Paulo, Brasil): a Mata de Santa Genebra e a Mata Ribeirão Cachoeira

The forests of the Atlantic Forest biome are becoming increasingly rare due to various factors that lead to the degradation of forest areas, such as uncontrolled urban expansion, the intensification of agricultural and industrial activities, illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and the introduction of exotic species. An effective strategy to mitigate the effects of fragmentation is to enhance landscape connectivity through restoration actions, facilitating the movement of organisms between remaining fragments. In this context, the present research aims to plan the landscape to support the implementation of an ecological corridor connecting the two largest forest fragments in the municipality of Campinas: the Mata de Santa Genebra and the Mata do Ribeirão Cachoeira. The methodology included land cover mapping, the definition of Puma concolor (cougar), a threatened species, as the target species, and the analysis of landscape connectivity and resistance metrics. In addition, least-cost paths were used to define the corridor. The proposal resulted in a corridor with a width of 100 meters, covering an area of 248.86 hectares. The corridor was validated through camera traps installed at six strategic points, where Puma concolor, the target species of this research, was recorded. This ecological corridor has the potential to significantly improve landscape connectivity, allowing the movement of organisms between fragmented natural areas and playing a crucial role in local biodiversity conservation, as well as contributing to the urban planning of Campinas.

Density correlations under global and local charge conservation

This work presents a formalism to compute spatial n-point correlations of a conserved charge density in a large thermal system in the canonical ensemble, with explicit results presented up to fourth order. The resulting correlators contain local and balancing terms expressed through the grand-canonical susceptibilities for any equation of state. The new formalism is used to introduce a Gaussian local baryon number conservation in (spatial) rapidity in heavy-ion collisions at CERN Large Hadron Collider conditions through a modulation of the balancing term. Connection to the conservation volume Vc approach is established, indicating that the latter is appropriate for observables within a limited range around midrapidity. Quantitative analysis of the experimental data of the ALICE Collaboration on net proton cumulants in central Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV shows significant evidence for local baryon conservation. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Sustainable Community-Based Tourism Development in Guwang, Gianyar Regency

This study aims to examine how sustainable community-based tourism (CBT) is being implemented in Guwang Village, Gianyar Regency to improve the tourist visits in Guwang Village. The study uses qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. The study highlights the factors that are important to the success of community-based tourism (CBT) projects and offer suggestions for enhancing the sustainability of tourism in the area. Research Methods: Data on the current state of CBT in Guwang Village are gathered through observation, document study, interviews with key stakeholders, and focus group discussion. The objectives of the study center on steps 5 to 9 of the 9 steps in the APEC Handbook of CBT, which include developing partnerships, adopting an integrated approach, planning and designing quality products, identify market demand and develop marketing strategy, and implement and monitor performance. Findings: The implementation of sustainable community-based tourism development in Guwang, Gianyar Regency, involves a series of strategies that focus on the active participation of local communities, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation. The sustainable community-based tourism development model in Guwang, Gianyar Regency, emphasizes the active involvement of local communities in every stage of tourism planning and implementation. Implication: The study is important because it provides insights in to applying CBT, which helps Guwang Village establish sustainable tourism.

Habitat Suitability of Danaus genutia Based on the Optimized MaxEnt Model.

Danaus genutia, commonly known as the tiger butterfly, is a visually appealing species in the Danaidae family. As it is not currently classified as endangered, it is excluded from key protected species lists at national and local levels, limiting focus on its population and habitat status, which may result in it being overlooked in local butterfly conservation initiatives. Yunnan, characterized by high butterfly diversity, presents an ideal region for studying habitat suitability for D. genutia, which may support the conservation of regional biodiversity. This study employs the MaxEnt ecological niche model, predictions regarding suitable habitat distribution, and trends for D. genutia and identifying primary environmental factors influencing their distribution. The results indicate that the niche model that includes interspecies relationships provides a distribution prediction closely aligned with the observed range of D. genutia. Under current climatic conditions, highly suitable habitats for both D. genutia and its host plant, Cynanchun annularium, are located predominantly in the Yuanjiang River Valley. Optimal conditions occur at average annual temperatures of 19.80-22 °C for D. genutia and 22-24 °C for C. annularium. The distribution range of C. annularium is a vital biological factor limiting D. genutia's habitat. By 2040, projections under four future climate scenarios indicate a potential increase in the total area of suitable habitats for D. genutia, with a general trend of northward expansion.

A Treatment for Overlapping Fractures in the Context of Mixed Finite Elements for Flow in Fractured Porous Media

Accurately modeling flow in discrete fracture networks (DFNs) can be important for several fields of engineering such as groundwater management, petroleum engineering, and geotechnical engineering where these DFNs can play a key role in the flow patterns in a formation. These fracture networks are often complex and can have fractures in very close proximity, which, in turn, can lead to challenges in creating fitting meshes for finite element analyses. This work proposes a methodology to handle overlapping fractures in the context of simulating flow in fractured porous media using a Mixed Finite Element Method formulation. With this capability, fractures in close proximity can simply occupy the same geometric location in the mesh, which avoids the creation of elements with poor aspect ratio. In this work, the porous media flow is modeled with traditional Darcy's equations and the fractures and their interaction with the porous media are modeled using the Discrete-Fracture-Matrix (DFM) representation. A mixed finite element formulation is adopted to solve the flow problem in both porous media and fractures, which has key features such as local mass conservation and improved velocity approximation. The mesh generation is done using the DFNMesh algorithm, which is a mesh generator for DFNs that can handle overlapping fractures by using pre-defined user settings. The proposed methodology is analyzed using a set of numerical examples, which show the importance of the treatment even for very simple cases and that it can handle overlapping fractures and provide accurate results for the flow in complex fractured porous media problems.

Wetland Species Mapping Using Advanced Technological Measurement

ABSTRACTWetlands are pivotal in supporting the natural ecosystem and maintaining biodiversity while being susceptible to anthropogenic activities and climate change. However, monitoring wetlands over a large geographical and temporal extent is challenging. Vegetation health can be considered a good indicator of wetland conditions, and measuring chlorophyll content will provide insight into vegetation health. Linking wetland species mapping from chlorophyll spectral indices to local and regional conservation strategies could improve biodiversity conservation. Here, we apply this to Keetham Lake, India, using machine learning methods (relevance vector model) and hyperspectral measurements. From 10 chlorophyll‐sensitive spectral indices, we identified four as best performing, particularly for: TVI + CCCI + NDRE for calibration and NDRE + TVI for validation data. The least performing combinations were MCARI for calibration and TVI + CCCI + NDRE + MCARI for validation. Overall, we identified that NDRE + TVI was the best‐performing pair of spectral indices for chlorophyll assessment and implementation in wetland species. This approach allows for precise mapping of wetland species, providing data on their extent and the area they cover. By creating a digital database, this method enables long‐term monitoring of changes in wetland species' numbers and distribution, helping to assess trends of increase or decline in freshwater ecosystems. Such strategies are vital for supporting both local and global conservation efforts, offering insights for forward‐looking, data‐driven preservation initiatives.

Adaptively Implicit Advection for Atmospheric Flows

AbstractImplicit time‐stepping for advection is applied locally in space and time where Courant numbers are large, but standard explicit time‐stepping is used for the remaining solution which is typically the majority. This adaptively implicit advection scheme facilitates efficient and robust integrations with long time‐steps while having negligible impact on the overall accuracy, and achieving monotonicity and local conservation on general meshes. A novel and important aspect for the efficiency of the approach is that only one iteration is needed each time the linear equation solver is called for solving the advection equation. The demonstration in this paper uses the second‐order Runge‐Kutta implicit/explicit time integration in combination with a second/third‐order finite‐volume spatial discretization and is tested using deformation flow tracer advection on the sphere and a fully compressible model for atmospheric flows. Tracers are advected over the poles of highly anisotropic latitude‐longitude grids with very large Courant numbers and on quasi‐uniform hexagonal and cubed‐sphere meshes with the same algorithm. Buoyant flow simulations with strong local updrafts also benefit from adaptively implicit advection. Stably stratified compressible flow simulations require a stable combination of implicit treatment of gravity and acoustic waves as well as advection in order to achieve long time‐steps.

Sharing the ocean: fostering blue synergies for sustainable whale-watching

Sharing the ocean: fostering blue synergies for sustainable whale-watching

Lie group analysis and its invariants for the class of multidimensional nonlinear wave equations

We systematically classify Lie symmetries of a class of (2 + 1)-dimensional nonlinear wave equations. Our methodology proposes a symmetry classification for Lie generators applicable to four distinct cases inherent within this equation. For each identified category, we comprehensively analyze symmetry reduction and delineate the invariant solutions. Furthermore, we extend our Lie symmetry analysis to encompass reduced 1 + 1 partial differential equations (PDEs). Through our investigations, we establish local conservation laws corresponding to each conserved vector, employing the formal Lagrangian approach. Significantly, this classification constitutes a novel contribution to the scientific discourse, as it remains absent from extant literature to date.

Does Climate Change Pose a Threat to the Guild Mimicry System of Australian Orchids?

Global warming is one of the biggest threats to global biodiversity causing not only changes in the patterns of precipitation and temperature but also disturbing ecological interactions. The aim of our study was to forecast the effect of climate change on the distribution of food-deceptive orchid species whose pollination strategy relies on a strict association with pollinators and co-occurring rewarding Faboideae plants. We used the ecological niche modeling approach to evaluate future overlap of the suitable niches of studied orchid species with the predicted distribution of their ecological partners. Models were made based on two different global circulation models (FIO, CNRM). CNRM projections predict expansion of orchids' geographical range. In contrast, FIO prediction is less optimistic, forecasting species range contraction. The studied Faboideae species showed different responses to predicted global warming with no consistent patterns in how their suitable niches might change. Most climate change projections and scenarios of the future modifications of temperature and precipitation patterns do not predict significant loss of suitable niches of Trichocolletes bees (Colletidae) pollinating Diuris species. However, global warming has the potential to disrupt interactions between the studied orchids and their co-occurring pea plants by altering the overlap of their geographical ranges which can further disturb pollination success. CNRM projections predict an overall loss of Faboideae within the potential geographical range of Diuris brumalis. Conversely, FIO projections suggest a less extensive predicted divergence. Our simulations offer suggestions for conservation strategies of orchids and potentially for other species that have a similar pollination strategy. The areas indicated here as suitable in the future for the occurrence of all ecological partners can be important climate refugia to consider in local conservation plans. The approach used in our study can serve as a model for understanding the potential effects of climate change on the strength of the pollination system via food deception.

Multiple Uses of Wild Edible Trees by a Nahua-Origin Community in Western Mexico.

Wild edible trees (WETs) play an important role in the diet of many rural communities. Therefore, research on their use and management is important to support both food sovereignty and local conservation of biocultural resources. We evaluated the different uses of WETs by the community of Zacualpan, Colima, in western Mexico, through 32 semi-structured interviews registering the species richness, plant parts consumed, and non-food uses. Additional information was collected on their management, availability, and forms of preparation. We used a cultural salience index to determine the food importance of the WETs mentioned. We registered 33 edible tree species (26 wild, 3 native crops, and 4 exotic crops) that were most commonly consumed as fruits or seeds. WETs were also used for fuel, live fences, timber, handicrafts, medicine, shade, fodder, poles, utensils, construction, tanning, soap, and paper. Pithecellobium dulce had the highest food salience, followed by Spondias purpurea, Leucaena esculenta, Leucaena leucocephala, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, and Jacaratia mexicana. Salient wild trees were collected in the wild and promoted in agroforestry systems. These trees provided food during the dry season and also had the highest number of additional uses. Promoting the biocultural value of WETs and their sustainable use can favor ecosystem conservation and local food sovereignty.

Assessing spatial and temporal trends over time in potential species richness using satellite time-series and ecological niche models

AbstractAssessing biodiversity in protected areas is essential for effective conservation management. However, conventional methods for estimating species richness can lead to inaccurate assessments of biodiversity in these regions. To address this, we present a complementary approach to assess potential species richness at a 1 km resolution in the special conservation area of Montesinho/Nogueira (SAC-MN; Portugal), based on a spatial and temporal estimates of species richness trends over time (2001–2021). We compiled 10,190 species occurrence records from four taxonomic groups: amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. We created correlative ecological niche models (MaxEnt) with a time series of satellite-remote sensing variables (SRS-ENMs) using Google Earth Engine (GEE). We calculated annual potential species richness (PSR) maps by stacking the SRS-ENMs and identified positive and negative trends with the Mann–Kendall test. Each species’ ecological niche model revealed unique patterns of habitat suitability within SAC-MN over time. The eastern and western boundaries of SAC-MN revealed an increase in PSR, while the central area indicated PSR declines. Each group displayed different trends in PSR: birds and mammals were more similar between them than amphibians and reptiles. This approach provides ecologists and conservationists with valuable tools to evaluate PSR and trends over time, offering crucial insights for decision-makers and stakeholders to support local biodiversity conservation efforts.

ETNOBOTÁNICA DE ÁRBOLES ÚTILES EN SISTEMAS AGROFORESTALES DE LA SIERRA DE ZONGOLICA, VERACRUZ, MÉXICO

<p><strong>Background:</strong> traditional ecological knowledge generated by different human groups is manifested in the various forms of appropriation of nature, particularly by intervening in the growth processes of plant species to take advantage of them and maintain them in the long term. The sierra of Zongolica is one of the most important indigenous areas in Mexico, where the use of forest resources is part of their livelihoods. There is evidence that in this region trees are used as raw material for furniture, construction, food, charcoal and firewood. <strong>Objective:</strong> to learn about the diversity, main uses and importance of multipurpose trees within agroforestry systems in the Sierra de Zongolica, Veracruz. <strong>Methodology:</strong> 74 semi-structured interviews and direct observations were conducted on the land of the interviewees and analyzed using a mixed approach, through a social network analysis to determine the main uses of the trees. <strong>Results:</strong> A total of 79 species of useful trees were recorded, belonging to 41 taxonomic families, of which the Fabaceae family was the most abundant with 4 species recorded. Sixty-two genera were found, of which the most abundant was the <em>Quercus </em>genus. Ninety-five percent of the informants were men around 50 years of age, demonstrating that they are the ones in charge of the productive activities and that they are the ones with the knowledge about the use and management of the trees. The household is made up of an average of 4 people, which makes it difficult to work in the fields due to the scarcity of family labor, which could jeopardize productive activities because people outside the family must be employed to use and manage the trees. <strong>Implications:</strong> since wood energy, construction, medicinal and food uses are of vital importance in this work, sustainable management practices should be implemented, such as selective harvesting, replanting and local tree management, so that firewood collection and trade benefit both rural areas and the environment. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> about 79 useful tree species were identified in Zongolica's agroforestry systems, demonstrating the diversity of natural resources in the region. These species are fundamental to the local economy and environmental conservation, providing firewood, food, medicines and construction materials for local communities. It is crucial to value and protect these forest resources to ensure their continuity and contribute to the sustainability of agroforestry systems in Zongolica.</p>

Tourism Problems Policy in Labuan Bajo Using a Democratic Approach

Labuan Bajo, one of Indonesia's premier tourist destinations, faces significant challenges despite its growing popularity. Issues such as environmental degradation, economic inequality, and social conflict threaten the sustainability of tourism in the region. This study examines the application of democratic, participatory, and equitable approaches as potential solutions to these problems. The democratic approach emphasizes community involvement in decision-making processes to align tourism development with the needs and interests of local residents. The participatory approach encourages collaboration among stakeholders, including the government, private sector, and local communities, fostering sustainable tourism practices. Meanwhile, the equitable approach seeks to ensure a fair distribution of tourism benefits to prevent social conflicts and promote economic inclusivity. This research employs qualitative descriptive methods, utilizing literature reviews and multimedia sources to analyze tourism challenges and propose sustainable solutions. The findings reveal that incorporating democratic principles, such as establishing community tourism forums and supervisory bodies, can enhance local participation and environmental conservation. Additionally, community-based tourism initiatives provide greater economic benefits to local populations, reducing economic disparities. The results highlight the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach, where government, private entities, and local communities collaborate to address tourism-related challenges. The study concludes that a democratic framework, coupled with participatory and equitable strategies, is vital for achieving sustainable and inclusive tourism development in Labuan Bajo. These approaches not only safeguard environmental and cultural heritage but also ensure long-term economic growth that benefits all stakeholders.

Insights into large carnivore populations in Uganda: A participatory survey of lions, leopards, and hyenas using spatial capture-recapture

Insights into large carnivore populations in Uganda: A participatory survey of lions, leopards, and hyenas using spatial capture-recapture

A Historical Review of the Artificial Pollination of Vanilla planifolia: The Importance of Collaborative Research in a Changing World.

The natural fertilization of Vanilla planifolia has long been a matter of speculation. Stingless (tribe Meliponini) and orchid bees (tribe Euglossini) are often cited as effective pollinators, but direct evidence is notoriously lacking. As with other food-deceptive orchids, the natural fruit-set in V. planifolia is low and does not occur spontaneously outside its native range in Middle America. Fruiting has, therefore, necessitated human intervention through artificial pollination. How Vanilla first came to be artificially pollinated is a controversial issue spurring egotism and nationalism. There are numerous texts offering differing versions of the historical events that led to the discovery of the artificial fertilization of V. planifolia and its propagation as a crop. Historical records show Vanilla was simultaneously being pollinated in several parts of the world. I argue that the suspected independent simultaneous discoveries made in Liège, Paris, Padua, the Dutch colony of Java (Indonesia), and the French insular colonies Réunion (Bourbon), Guadeloupe, and Martinique are not unconnected. I conclude that they can be traced back to a single discoverer whose feat was spread around the globe by a tight network of corresponding naturalists. This view contrasts with previous authors. Finally, current concerns regarding Vanilla pollination and production are addressed, highlighting the need for immediate actions to conserve the genetic diversity of the crop's wild relatives to attenuate the effect of extreme climates in a changing world. A plea is made to shift the focus to Middle America, stimulating and supporting local research and conservation efforts and the allocation of funds from this billion-dollar industry.

A consistent diffuse-interface model for two-phase flow problems with rapid evaporation

We present accurate and mathematically consistent formulations of a diffuse-interface model for two-phase flow problems involving rapid evaporation. The model addresses challenges including discontinuities in the density field by several orders of magnitude, leading to high velocity and pressure jumps across the liquid–vapor interface, along with dynamically changing interface topologies. To this end, we integrate an incompressible Navier–Stokes solver combined with a conservative level-set formulation and a regularized, i.e., diffuse, representation of discontinuities into a matrix-free adaptive finite element framework. The achievements are three-fold: First, we propose mathematically consistent definitions for the level-set transport velocity in the diffuse interface region by extrapolating the velocity from the liquid or gas phase. They exhibit superior prediction accuracy for the evaporated mass and the resulting interface dynamics compared to a local velocity evaluation, especially for strongly curved interfaces.Second, we show that accurate prediction of the evaporation-induced pressure jump requires a consistent, namely a reciprocal, density interpolation across the interface, which satisfies local mass conservation. Third, the combination of diffuse interface models for evaporation with standard Stokes-type constitutive relations for viscous flows leads to significant pressure artifacts in the diffuse interface region. To mitigate these, we propose to introduce a correction term for such constitutive model types. Through selected analytical and numerical examples, the aforementioned properties are validated. The presented model promises new insights in simulation-based prediction of melt–vapor interactions in thermal multiphase flows such as in laser-based powder bed fusion of metals.

Ecotourism for Coastal Slum Alleviation: A Strategic Approach to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Tangerang, Indonesia

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the potential of ecotourism as a strategic tool for transforming coastal slum areas in developing regions, with a focus on alleviating poverty, improving living conditions, and fostering sustainable development. Theoretical Framework: The research draws on theories of sustainable development, ecotourism, and community-based tourism. The study builds on frameworks that emphasize the role of local community involvement, environmental conservation, and socio-economic improvement in developing effective strategies for slum transformation. Method: This research adopts a quantitative approach, utilizing Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using R Studio to analyze relationships between ecotourism development, infrastructure investment, community participation, and sustainable tourism outcomes. Data were collected through surveys of 160 residents in a coastal slum area, complemented by direct observations of the region’s environmental and infrastructural conditions. Results and Discussion: The findings reveal that investments in ecotourism infrastructure and active community engagement significantly improve the economic conditions and environmental sustainability of coastal slum areas. However, gaps in policy support and sustainable tourism principles were identified, which limit the full realization of ecotourism’s potential in alleviating slum conditions. Research Implications: This study highlights ecotourism's potential to alleviate poverty and transform coastal slum areas through infrastructure investment and community participation. It offers practical insights for policymakers and developers in sustainable tourism, emphasizing improved economic, social, and environmental outcomes. Theoretically, it enriches sustainable development literature by linking local governance with ecotourism-driven regional transformation. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the existing literature by presenting a comprehensive framework that integrates ecotourism with poverty alleviation strategies, focusing on the transformation of coastal slums into sustainable tourism hubs. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners working on sustainable development initiatives in coastal regions.

Localized Amino Acid Enrichment Analysis as a Tool for Understanding Protein Extremophilicity.

Sequence conservation analyses offer us a powerful glimpse of natural selection at work. Standard tools for measuring sequence conservation report conservation as a function of a specific location in a multiple sequence alignment and have proven indispensable in identifying highly constrained features such as active site residues. The advent of large-scale genomic sequencing efforts allows researchers to expand this paradigm and investigate more nuanced relationships between sequence and function. Here, we present a simple tool (SWiLoDD: Sliding Window Localized Differentiation Detection) that allows researchers to analyze local, rather than site-specific, conservation using a sliding window approach. Our tool accepts multiple sequence alignments partitioned based on a biological differentiator and returns alignment position-based, localized differential enrichment metrics for amino acids of choice. We present two case studies of this analysis in action: local-but-diffuse glycine enrichments in the ATPase subunits of thermophilic and psychrophilic bacterial gyrase homologs, and ligand- and interface-specific amino acid enrichments in halophilic bacterial crotonyl-CoA carboxylases/reductases. Though we have described examples of extremophilic bacterial proteins in this study, our tool may be used to investigate any set of homologous sequences from which sub-groups can be meaningfully partitioned. Our results suggest that investigating differential localized conservation in partitioned MSAs will expand our understanding of how sequence conservation and protein function are connected.

Assessment of the Recreational Potential of Flooded Quarries in Slovakia

This article focuses the assessment of the recreational potential of selected water-filled quarries in Slovakia, specifically the Škrabské, Beňatina, and Kraľovany quarries. Water-filled quarries represent a significant untapped resource that can contribute to the development of various leisure activities while simultaneously supporting local communities and environmental conservation. The main challenge of the study is finding a balance between the recreational use of these sites and the need to maintain ecological sustainability, which requires a detailed evaluation of the natural conditions, infrastructure, and accessibility of the individual quarries. The study focuses on a comprehensive assessment of the recreational potential of selected water-filled quarries in Slovakia, specifically the Škrabské, Beňatina, and Kraľovany quarries, using a methodology based on point evaluation according to criteria such as natural beauty, accessibility, existing infrastructure, and ecological status. The results of this study provide an important foundation for further research and decision-making processes in the transformation of water-filled quarries, aiming to maximize their recreational potential while ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.