Peri-urban Areas Research Articles

Distribution and ecological aspects of sand fly species from Kousseri, an endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Northern Cameroon

IntroductionKousseri in the Far North Region of Cameroon has long been known as an endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), although the study on sand flies in this focus is scarce. The present study investigates the spatial distribution, seasonality, and ecological aspects of sand flies from Kousseri. This study is based on the need to optimize the effectiveness of leishmaniasis control programs in the northern part of the country. MethodsSand flies were sampled monthly over 12 months in five selected sites using CDC light traps. Only captured females were morphologically identified at species level based on valid keys. Results and discussionOverall, 4,214 sand fly specimens were collected during 360 trapping nights. The male/female sex ratio slightly favored females (1:1.04). The eudominant Sergentomyia antennata followed by both dominant Sergentomyia schwetzi and Sergentomyia squamipleuris were the most common and abundant species, accounting for 76.1% of the collection. Phlebotomus duboscqi, the confirmed vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in West African foci, although rare in the collection, was found in four of the five surveyed sites. This sand fly species with Se. schwetzi abounded in peri-urban areas and, respectively, in animal shed and in uninhabited house biotopes, while Se. antennata and Se. squamipleuris prevailed in rural areas and, respectively, in animal shelter biotopes and outside dwellings. All caught sand fly species except Se. schwetzi, Sergentomyia clydei, Sergentomyia inermis, and Sergentomyia adleri prevailed during the dry season. The highest Shannon–Wiener index of sand flies due to the maximal richness and evenness was found in the urban area, in outdoor biotopes, and during the rainy season (H′ = 1.68, 1.80, and 1.74, respectively). These data provide evidence that less urbanized areas, animal shelters around the compounds, and the absence of precipitation (dry season) favored the dispersion of abundant sand fly species in Kousseri. Based on previous reports on Leishmania transmission, a surveillance plan is required to prevent an outbreak of VL or an establishment of CL or canine leishmaniasis (CnL) in this focus. Further research identifying the blood meal source and the Leishmania parasites in these insects is critical for providing insightful data to fight leishmaniasis in Northern Cameroon.

A social-ecological approach for identifying and mapping ecosystem service trade-offs and conservation priorities in peri-urban areas.

Considering both ecological and social dimensions in the assessment of ecosystem services (ESs) can facilitate acceptable and inclusive management strategies, especially in peri-urban areas characterized by intricate human-ecosystem interactions. A limited body of research, however, has mapped the plural values of ESs and their different types of trade-offs in such areas. This research aimed to execute an interdisciplinary analysis of the biophysical and social values of ESs in peri-urban Shanghai, China, through a social-ecological approach that integrates spatial biophysical assessment with participatory mapping. Trade-off analysis in both ES types and ES valuations were then conducted, and multicriteria decision-making was applied for conservation. Our results reveal that trade-off intensities were lower within the social values compared to the biophysical values. Within both value dimensions, relatively stronger trade-offs were found between food production and other ESs. Areas with both high biophysical and social values were infrequently observed across ESs. Based on the characteristics of diverse values, our study identified priority conservation areas and provided management implications. We argue that adopting the integrated social-ecological perspective in sustainable environmental management contributes to the realization of harmonious coexistence between people and nature in peri-urban areas.

Dynamics of Per-Urban Land Alteration in and Around Siliguri City, India: A Geo-Spatial Study

Urban studies in more detailed form have emphasized zonal development and spatio-temporal transformation of cities. With the progress of time, the city expands outward, which gives birth to new urban areas. While areas within the administrative boundary of a city often goes through the process of planning, those, outside the administrative jurisdiction of the city often lack proper management and organization of land. This often results in haphazard urban growth and proliferation of semi-formal settlements within the peri-urban setting of developing nations. The present study was conducted for exploring the dynamics of peripheral urban land alterations in and around Siliguri city. For in-depth research, three buffer zones were delineated and supervised classification-based satellite images were incorporated to visualize the usage and coverage of land (LULC) based transformations of over the years. In addition, NDVI and LST were used to trace the changes in vegetation quality and surface temperature at the buffer zone level. The findings show a deterioration in vegetation health and an increase in surface temperature of the land in newly developed built-up and desolate regions. All three buffer zones showed a negative association the temperature of the land surface and the health of the vegetation. Furthermore, spatial extent of built-up land determined by remote sensing data was compared to population growth rates to calculate the Land Conversion Rate-Population Growth Rate (LCRPGR). The study emphasizes that peri-urbanization has accelerated the spread of built-up areas across the three zones, reflecting population constraints on land and yielding an overall LCRPGR value of 3.22. Importantly, the study demonstrated how the change-induced evidence of peri-urban dynamics has led to land transformation in the study area. Importantly, the study highlights how evidence of peri-urban dynamics reveals land changes in the studied area. It demonstrates how the rapid rise of people and development, along with limited available land space, drives the rapid alteration of peri-urban areas inside urban cityscape.

A systematic literature review on women’s daily mobility in the Global North

ABSTRACT Since the early 1980s, the differences between the daily mobility patterns of men and women have attracted increasing interest from scholars and policymakers. Academic literature has revealed that women in advanced countries tend to travel shorter distances, make more daily trips, use cars less frequently, and are more willing to adopt sustainable travel behaviours than men. However, with changing family and labour market conditions, new trends are emerging, which open avenues for further investigation. Based on these premises, this study systematically reviews recent studies on women’s daily mobility across urban and peri-urban areas of the Global North. The studies published in the last ten years are systematized by developing an analytical framework that facilitates synthesising research findings, identifying research gaps, outlining directions for further studies in the field, and providing insights to policymakers to design initiatives for fair and inclusive mobility.

Exploring the Relationship between the Dynamics of the Urban–Rural Interface and Regional Development in a Post-Socialist Transition

This study offers, by an empirical analysis, another perspective on post-socialist development, highlighting the role of the urban–rural interface in regional dynamics. The current literature on the relationships between both issues is not too rich and our paper analyzes the relationships between core cities, their peri-urban areas, and their regions, through a comparative overview of their growth over the last three decades. Romania, as a special case study for a contradictory transition, due to the great step from a drastic dictatorial regime to a democracy and a market economy, is a good example to test these complex relationships. Considering the new development trend at the urban–rural interfaces, our key idea was to depict their contribution to regional development (NUTS 3) compared to city cores. The second question was how this differentiated contribution can be measured, using the simplest tool. The starting point was the fact that population dynamics reflect all changes in the city core and at the urban–rural interface, and less so at a regional level. Consequently, we selected the dynamics of the number of inhabitants for the first two, as well as the dynamics of GDP per capita at the regional level. We found higher and significant correlations between GDP per capita and urban–rural interfaces, but no significant correlations in the case of city cores. Our conclusion is that, in the transition period, the dynamics of urban–rural interfaces influenced more regional development dynamics, than those of city cores. This means that urban–rural interfaces amplify the development coming from cities, adding their own contribution and then dissipating it regionally. Future research should identify what the urban–rural interface offers to regions, in addition to the city core.

Racial capitalism and women’s horticultural labour in Senegal: neo-housewifisation and the micro-politics of paternalism

ABSTRACT The article addresses the social relations of labour in Senegal a decade after the land rush. Based on an intersectional feminist analysis of three firms, the study found that workers’ subjugation to patriarchal control in their households and workplace capitalists indicate the emergence of labour control associated with settler colonies of Africa. I argue that strategic alliances between patriarchy and racial capitalism influence the mobilisation and control of labour classes: i) through the subordination of women and younger male workers to farm management through the micropolitics of paternalism; and ii) through new spatial fixation forms of previously mobile footloose labour of women and junior workers staying close to their families for work such that they become a compliant and tied labour force. This occurs simultaneously with an urban exodus to the rural and peri-urban areas where the commercial horticultural farms are located. Class consciousness is stymied so resistance is circumscribed, taking limited, individualised forms.

Unexpected bat community changes along an urban–rural gradient in the Berlin–Brandenburg metropolitan area

Urbanization gradients are increasingly used in ecological studies to discover responses of species communities to different intensities of human-induced habitat transformation. Here, we investigated patterns of bat communities against the background of different urbanization levels using a priori defined urbanization categories based on distance classes (5 km intervals) along a linear transect from the urban core of the city of Berlin westwards into the rural outskirts of the state of Brandenburg. Using linear-mixed effects models, we found that “distance class”, as a proxy for urbanization level, is a meaningful and suitable predictor of bat species richness and diversity. We observed an unexpectedly sudden increase in bat species richness and diversity and changes in species-specific activity levels relatively close to the urban center at the transition between urban and peri-urban areas. This change suggests a relevant influence of the peri-urban areas as a “buffer zone” for specific bat species not able to adapt to the heavily modified inner core of the metropolitan area. Although we could demonstrate that anthropogenic noise and artificial light have the potential to predict the variability of bat species activity along the urban–rural gradient, the actual influence on observed shifts in the bat community needs further research.

Integrating Remote Sensing and Ground-Based Data for Enhanced Spatial–Temporal Analysis of Heatwaves: A Machine Learning Approach

In response to the urgent global threat posed by human-induced extreme climate hazards, heatwaves are still systematically under-reported and under-researched in Thailand. This region is confronting a significant rise in heat-related mortality, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths, underscoring a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. This research article is one of the first to present a solution for assessing heatwave dynamics, using machine learning (ML) algorithms and geospatial technologies in this country. It analyzes heatwave metrics like heatwave number (HWN), heatwave frequency (HWF), heatwave duration (HWD), heatwave magnitude (HWM), and heatwave amplitude (HWA), combining satellite-derived land surface temperature (LST) data with ground-based air temperature (Tair) observations from 1981 to 2019. The result reveals significant marked increases in both the frequency and intensity of daytime heatwaves in peri-urban areas, with the most pronounced changes being a 0.45-day/year in HWN, a 2.00-day/year in HWF, and a 0.27-day/year in HWD. This trend is notably less pronounced in urban areas. Conversely, rural regions are experiencing a significant escalation in nighttime heatwaves, with increases of 0.39 days/year in HWN, 1.44 days/year in HWF, and 0.14 days/year in HWD. Correlation analysis (p<0.05) reveals spatial heterogeneity in heatwave dynamics, with robust daytime correlations between Tair and LST in rural (HWN, HWF, HWD, r>0.90) and peri-urban (HWM, HWA, r>0.65) regions. This study emphasizes the importance of considering microclimatic variations in heatwave analysis, offering insights for targeted intervention strategies. It demonstrates how enhancing remote sensing with ML can facilitate the spatial–temporal analysis of heatwaves across diverse environments. This approach identifies critical risk areas in Thailand, guiding resilience efforts and serving as a model for managing similar microclimates, extending the applicability of this study. Overall, the study provides policymakers and stakeholders with potent tools for climate action and effective heatwave management. Furthermore, this research contributes to mitigating the impacts of extreme climate events, promoting resilience, and fostering environmental sustainability.

Spatial pattern analysis of the impact of community food environments on foetal macrosomia, preterm births and low birth weight.

Community food environments (CFEs) have a strong impact on child health and nutrition and this impact is currently negative in many areas. In the Republic of Argentina, there is a lack of research evaluating CFEs regionally and comprehensively by tools based on geographic information systems (GIS). This study aimed to characterize the spatial patterns of CFEs, through variables associated with its three dimensions (political, individual and environmental), and their association with the spatial distribution in urban localities in Argentina. CFEs were assessed in 657 localities with ≥5,000 inhabitants. Data on births and CFEs were obtained from nationally available open-source data and through remote sensing. The spatial distribution and presence of clusters were assessed using hotspot analysis, purely spatial analysis (SaTScan), Moran's Index, semivariograms and spatially restrained multivariate clustering. Clusters of low risk for LBW, macrosomia, and preterm births were observed in the central-east part of the country, while high-risk clusters identified in the North, Centre and South. In the central-eastern region, low-risk clusters were found coinciding with hotspots of public policy coverage, high night-time light, social security coverage and complete secondary education of the household head in areas with low risk for negative outcomes of the birth variables studied, with the opposite with regard to households with unsatisfied basic needs and predominant land use classes in peri-urban areas of crops and herbaceous cover. These results show that the exploration of spatial patterns of CFEs is a necessary preliminary step before developing explanatory models and generating novel findings valuable for decision-making.

Association between built environment factors and collective walking behavior in peri-urban area: Evidence from Chengdu

Optimizing collective walking has been a pivotal strategy for alleviating the excessive reliance on private cars. As an important criterion for residents' social interaction and mobility vigor, collective walking describes the results of walking activities in streets and positively correlates with the built environments. However, limited attention has been given to the contribution of built environment factors in peri-urban areas towards promoting collective walking. Therefore, this study employed multisource data to assess the impact of these factors on collective walking in peri-urban areas. Our analysis delved into the impact of these factors on collective walking across various urban spaces and explored intervention effects through cross-classification studies that prioritize planning strategies. These results revealed that (1) The impacts of the built environment on collective walking behavior differs in peri-urban areas. (2) Diversity and distance only show significant impacts in peri-urban areas. (3) A distinct spatial mismatch between urban spatial form and collective walking behavior is observed. Subsequent urban design interventions should consider these spatial distribution differences for prioritized zoning planning. Our findings provided convincing evidence that delineated the impact of built environments in peri-urban areas that can guide government and planners to precisely design pedestrian environments through targeted intervention measures.

Species richness and ecological connectivity of the mammal communities in urban and peri-urban areas at Mexico City

Urban expansion has emerged as a pervasive driver of biodiversity loss in Mexican cities due to shifts in landscape composition and configuration. Hence, the preservation of forest cover, green spaces and isolated trees assume a critical role in conserving the biodiversity within urban areas. We compared mammal assemblages across 520 sites in Mexico City examining the impact of local vegetation and site characteristics (e.g., patch size, isolation distance) on diversity patterns. Then, we used a generalized linear model to evaluate the relationship between mammal assemblages (including both alpha and beta diversities) and the level of structural and functional connectivity across the landscape. We collected 5,063 records of 38 species from the sampled sites. Mammalian richness ranged from 1 to 9 spp./site, and the mean of taxonomic and functional (Functional Distance [MFD]) alpha diversities were 1.9 ± 1.3 spp./site and 0.41 ± 0.60 MFD/site, respectively. The average size of habitat fragments was 0.41 hectares, and the percent forest cover per site ranged from 0.5 to 100%. Both species and functional alpha diversities were different among the land-use and vegetation types (including protected vs. non-protected areas). There was a clear distinction (β value > 0.40) in species composition across the landscape, which was positively related to geographical distance and negatively related to connectivity between sites. We identified four main patches especially important to connectivity across the city and argue that conserving them is critical for restoring key components of biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban and peri-urban areas of Mexico City.

Conflicts over the use of agrochemicals in peri-urban areas: current regulations and perspectives in a district in the southeast of Buenos Aires

Conflicts over the use of agrochemicals in peri-urban areas: current regulations and perspectives in a district in the southeast of Buenos Aires

Migration Along Bengaluru’s Rural–Urban Continuum: Implications for Household Well-being and Climate Change Adaptation

The academic literature on internal migration in India has been limited to studies which either capture the well-being of migrants at home or destination. With rural–urban (R–U) boundaries blurring and peri-urban areas gaining economic importance, it is imperative to move away from such binaries towards a continuum approach. Using mixed methods, this paper examines the differentiated nature of migration—its drivers and outcomes—across a R–U continuum in Karnataka. Combining household surveys with focus group discussions and life history interviews, across Bengaluru, its periphery and two predominantly rural districts, which are a source of in-migration, we document the variegated nature of migration. We show that while migrants into Bengaluru enter mostly unskilled livelihoods, peri-urban migrants tend to work in the formal sector. We also show how migration decisions are shaped by climate variability, environmental change, and social and class identity; and these factors mediate differentiated outcomes of moving on household well-being. Our findings have implications for interventions aimed at strengthening household capacities to deal with climatic and non-climatic risks and regional climate-resilient development. We also highlight that enabling inclusive, climate-resilient migration requires comprehensive interventions targeting material and subjective well-being of migrating households and individuals.

Formal Housing Livability Criteria in the Peri-Urban Area of Taman District, Sidoarjo Regency

Livability is an environmental system that contributes to physical, social, and mental well-being and is related to the satisfaction of living in a specific location. Taman District in Sidoarjo Regency, as one of the peri-urban areas near Surabaya, has residential areas that are experiencing positive growth, including 22 formal housing developments built by developers. The residents of these formal housing developments in the Taman District face several issues that affect their quality of life, including river pollution from industrial waste, road surface damages, poor water quality, and power outages. While there have been many institutions and studies discussing livability, specific research on livability in formal housing within peri-urban areas is still limited. Given this situation, there is a research gap in the field of livability assessment within the context of formal housing in peri-urban areas. Therefore, this research aims to formulate criteria that influence the livability of formal housing in the Taman District, Sidoarjo Regency. The research method used is the Delphi analysis technique conducted through three rounds of interviews with experts in housing and development field. By using this method, experts are able to provide considerations related to criteria that affect livability based on their knowledges and experiences. The whole analysis process resulted in the identification of 28 criteria, which are divided into five indicators: physical environments, economics, socials, facilities, and utilities. This research is important to help the government and developers in addressing livability issues in the research area.

Is it healthy urban agriculture? Human exposure to potentially toxic elements in urban gardens from Andalusia, Spain

Different vegetable species and topsoils were collected from different urban gardens of Seville, Cordoba, and Huelva (South Spain) and from two small towns in a mining area (Riotinto), together with topsoil close to the plants. The concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was evaluated in edible plant parts and in the soils. The same species were also purchased from Seville local markets and from a peri-urban area (domestic garden in a rural area) and also analyzed. Plant/soil pollution relation was studied and human health risk was assessed by different parameters. Soils of urban gardens from the mining area were more contaminated with As, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in comparison with other locations, and generally, soils from cities showed higher values of As, Pb, and Zn than the peri-urban ones. The mean concentration of almost all potentially toxic elements was higher in leafy than in fruiting and bulbous species. Arsenic, Cd, and Pb concentrations were below health-based guidance values in all vegetables except Cd in one sample in the peri-urban area. In general, PTEs concentration in vegetables from city urban gardens did not exceed the one found in market vegetables for almost all studied elements, except in lettuce for almost elements. The hazard quotient (HQ) values were lower than the unit for all PTEs in plant species from the studied gardens, as well as the hazard index (HI), indicating that consumption of these vegetables can be considered safe and without risk to human health. Also, cancer risk values for As were below the established limits in all vegetables from the studied urban gardens, including those from the As-contaminated soils in the mining area.

Spatial Transformation Analysis in Menganti Subdistrict: A Study of Peri-Urban Area Typologies in the Face of Urban Expansion

The swift urbanization of Indonesian cities, notably Surabaya, has spurred population growth and a heightened demand for land, leading to the expansion of urban areas into peri-urban regions like Menganti District. This district, bordering Surabaya, experiences significant land-use change shaped by the city’s expansion, making it a compelling area for analysis due to its complex dynamics. This study aims to analyze Menganti’s peri-urban spatial transformation and its typology based on the land-use triangle continuum theory. Using indicators like land-use proportions, building density, and educational and healthcare facility distribution, the analysis delineates four zones: Urban fringe, Urban-Rural fringe, Rural-Urban fringe, and Rural-fringe zones. The analysis further involves comparing land-use maps from 2017 and 2022, revealing that Urban fringe and Rural fringe zones primarily witness residential land use growth, while Urban-Rural fringe and Rural-Urban fringe display a mix of residential, industrial, commercial, and warehouse land use growth. Analyzing factors influencing spatial transformation in Menganti’s peri-urban area through Delphi and AHP techniques underscores elements like trend of land-use change, road networks, trade facilities, distance from the district center and Surabaya city, and land prices as pivotal influences. Understanding these dynamics aids in comprehending the evolving landscape and guiding sustainable development strategies in peri-urban regions experiencing urban expansion.

Population density and ranging behaviour of a generalist carnivore varies with human population.

Canid species are highly adaptable, including to urban and peri-urban areas, where they can come into close contact with people. Understanding the mechanisms of wild canid population persistence in these areas is key to managing any negative impacts. The resource dispersion hypothesis predicts that animal density increases and home range size decreases as resource concentration increases, and may help to explain how canids are distributed in environments with an urban-natural gradient. In Australia, dingoes have adapted to human presence, sometimes living in close proximity to towns. Using a targeted camera trap survey and spatial capture-recapture models, we estimated spatial variation in the population density and detection rates of dingoes on Worimi Country in the Great Lakes region of the NSW coast. We tested whether dingo home range and population densities varied across a gradient of human population density, in a mixed-use landscape including, urban, peri-urban, and National Park environs. We found human population density to be a strong driver of dingo density (ranging from 0.025 to 0.433 dingoes/km2 across the natural-urban gradient), and to have a negative effect on dingo home range size. The spatial scale parameter changed depending on survey period, being smaller in the peak tourism period, when human population increases in the area, than in adjacent survey periods, potentially indicating reduced home range size when additional resources are available. Our study highlights the potential value of managing anthropogenic resource availability to manage carnivore densities and potential risk of human-carnivore interactions.

Spatial characteristics and driving factors of groundwater hydrochemistry and heavy metals in peri-urban agricultural areas of in Southwest China

Spatial characteristics and driving factors of groundwater hydrochemistry and heavy metals in peri-urban agricultural areas of in Southwest China

Diversity of ectoparasites of Gallus domesticus, NGOU 1990 (Hens) and Numida meleagris, Linnaeus 1758 (Guinea fowl) reared in extensive system in the Commune of Loumbila, Burkina Faso

In addition to impacting Avian’s zootechnical performance, Ectoparasites, lead to economic declines in Avian’s production. They are also recognized as vectors of zoonotic diseases in humans. This research investigated the ectoparasites of two poultry species, namely Gallus domesticus and Numida meleagris, in a periurban area of Ouagadougou (Loumbila) in Burkina Faso. The study was done from November 2021 to March 2022. The stratified probabilistic method was used for poultry collection. Following each collection, the poultry received a meticulous examination of the body and feathers to detect any ectoparasites. Sixty-five poultry specimens were examined, yielding seven kinds of ectoparasites. The collected ectoparasites consist of two classes: Insects, which include six species (Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus stramineus, Goniodes gigas, Goniocotes gallinae, Lipeurus caponis, and Columbicola columbae). The Mite class was represented by a single species (Argas persicus). The host variety and reproduction mode did not correlate with parasitism. Nevertheless, the prevalence and range of parasitic organisms in poultry differed based on the rearing method. The phenomenon of polyparasitism was noticed in most poultry infected with multiple parasites. Therefore, this could negatively influence the zootechnical quality of chickens and promote the transmission of certain zoonotic diseases.

Age reporting by and for older people in Uganda: relationships with frailty, human capital and population registration

In this article, we investigate the accuracy of age reporting by people aged 60 and older and proxy reporting by their carers in a peri-urban area of Uganda, and analyse the factors that influence reporting by both groups. We find a high level of age heaping on terminal digits 0 and 5, indicating poor knowledge of age. Contrary to other studies, we find that literate people were more likely to exhibit age heaping. We link this to the absence of birth registration for this cohort and the introduction of National Identification (ID) cards in Uganda five years before our survey. We conclude that age heaping is better interpreted as an indicator of registration machinery than of human capital. We also find that the health, functional capabilities and education of older people influenced the age ascribed to them by their carers. Carers who knew the older people less well were more likely to overestimate their age, and carers of healthy and more educated people were more likely to report a younger age than that reported by the older people themselves. Where people don’t know their age, the age they report may also be influenced by their health and capabilities, making it difficult to establish true relationships between chronological age and outcomes such as health. In many disciplines, self-reported age or age reported by proxy respondents is accepted uncritically by researchers, but our study shows that in peri-urban Uganda age reporting remains approximate and biased, and this has strong implications for appropriate targeting and monitoring of interventions to support healthy ageing in such contexts.