Reduction In Biodiversity Research Articles

Development and implementation of a wildlife and biodiversity protection Eco-label: The “RESPECT” initiative

The reduction of biodiversity and the decline in wildlife populations are urgent environmental issues with devasting consequences for ecosystems and human health. As a result, the protection of wildlife and biodiversity has emerged as one of humanity’s greatest goals, not only for protecting and maintaining human health but also for environmental, economic, and social well-being. In recent years, people have become increasingly aware of the importance and effectiveness of wildlife conservation efforts alongside environmental protection measures, sustainable agricultural practices and non-harmful production procedures and services. This study describes the development and implementation of a labeling scheme for wildlife and biodiversity protection for products or services. The label is designed to encourage the adoption of sustainable and environmentally friendly production methods and services that will contribute to biodiversity conservation and the harmonic coexistence of human-wildlife. Moreover, using a case study approach, the research presents an innovative information system designed to streamline the label-awarding process, ensuring transparency and efficiency. The established system evaluates the sustainability practices and measures implemented by businesses, with a focus on honey production in this case. Additionally, the study explores the broader social implications of the label, particularly its potential to engage consumers and promote awareness of biodiversity conservation.

Optimization in vitro cultivation conditions for an endemic species of Regel's pear

The decline in plant diversity is a pressing global issue driven by climate change, plant diseases, and humanactivities. This reduction in biodiversity poses significant threats to food security and the sustainability ofecosystems. Conserving wild plant species is crucial as they harbor genes that confer resistance to various bioticand abiotic stresses. One such important species is the Regel pear, endemic to Kazakhstan, known for itsresistance to drought and diseases. During research efforts, samples of Regel pear were collected from theirnatural habitats. Using SSR markers, researchers identified samples that exhibited resistance to scab. In a pioneeringstep, optimal in vitro cultivation conditions were developed to preserve this economically valuablespecies. The sterilization process for establishing in vitro culture and subsequent regeneration was established.The multiplication conditions were refined using DKW nutrient medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/lBAP, 0.5 mg/l IBA, and 0.2 mg/l GA3. These measures aim to ensure the long-term conservation of geneticdiversity and enhance agricultural resilience to environmental changes.

Mapping Urban Changes Through the Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Vegetation and Built-Up Areas in Iași, Romania

Vegetation cover in urban and peri-urban areas is threatened by urban sprawl, through habitat fragmentation, loss of green space, biodiversity reduction, and the urban heat island effect intensifying. The intrusion of cities into natural landscapes reduces vital ecosystem services provided by vegetation. Hence, sustainable and integrated urban planning practices are required. Our study aims to investigate the dynamics of the urban and peri-urban fabric by exploring the relationship between the green fabric distribution and recent trends in urban expansion, focusing specifically on the peri-urban areas of Iași Municipality, Romania. We designed a mixed-method approach combining a multivariate analysis of four critical indicators (vegetation cover, built-up space, land surface temperature, and population density), emerging hot-spots, and space-time cubes in a GIS environment to achieve our research aims. Our results demonstrate that uncontrolled urban expansion has manifested in diverse patterns, impacting territories next to road transport networks and with construction-suitable topography. Concurrently, the development of green spaces prevails in forests and unexpected locations such as brownfields, railway corridors, and old industrial zones, through the growth of urban greenery. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of how urban sprawl impacts the environment and how different land types are prone to this transformation, creating a path towards sustainability, resilience, and equitable development.

Prosecuting Individuals for Environmental Harm in the Armed Conflict Between Russia and Ukraine: The Case of Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused serious harm to the environment, resulting in the destruction of ecosystems, a reduction in biodiversity, and damage to natural reserves and protected ecosystems. This type of damage may fall under the jurisdiction of both the International Criminal Court (ICC) under Art. 8(2)(b)(iv) of the ICC Statute regarding war crimes and the Ukrainian domestic courts under Art. 441 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (CCU) regarding ecocide. However, while Ukrainian domestic judicial authorities are already conducting investigations under Art. 441 CCU, the prosecution by the ICC for environmental damage should satisfy the high threshold imposed by Art. 8(2)(b)(iv) of the ICC Statute. It would be interesting to see whether the ICC Prosecutor will initiate an investigation into the Kakhovka dam bombing, just like Ukrainian domestic authorities have already done.

EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL – UMA ANÁLISE CONCEITUAL

The environmental issues affecting the globe have been intensifying since the Industrial Revolution, which began in 1789, at the end of the 18th century. Technological development enabled humans to expand their capacity for exploration and extraction of natural resources, resulting in the concentration of wealth in the hands of a small group of international organizations, with the complicity of the most developed nations. The consequences of this predatory development model are evident: global warming, uncontrolled population growth, environmental degradation, and an exponential increase in poverty in various regions. This study, through a bibliographic review, seeks to identify trends and assess the possible consequences of this scenario for the lives of citizens on planet Earth. The focus is to suggest mitigating actions that can curb environmental devastation and ensure a more sustainable future, preserving human life on what was once known as the "blue planet," but which, in recent decades, has been marked by the spread of gray areas due to wildfires and increased carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. The drastic reduction in biodiversity, with the extinction of numerous species of fauna and flora, is an irrefutable fact that demands immediate attention.

Impact of climate change on vegetation growth trends in a citrus farmland in the south-eastern Sicily

Abstract. The environmental repercussions of climate change triggered substantial alterations in existing ecosystem balances leading to a gradual reduction in biodiversity and the increasing degradation of soil and the built environment. This has a direct effect on agricultural production in particular, leading to increased crop water requirements, the spread of new pests and pathogens that are difficult to manage, and, thus, a general reduction in productivity. Through the analysis of multispectral data remotely sensed with latest generation of optical sensors (RGB, thermal, NIR and multi-spectral cameras), it is possible to recognize the health status and growth stages of crops. In fact, in relation to the amount of radiation reflected in the different bands it is possible to calculate spectral indices, or vegetation indices. The main vegetative indices are NDVI, SAVI, MSAVI2, GNDVI and NDRE, which are calculated by differentially combining the ultraviolet spectrum, the visible range, and the near and mid-infrared band.In this paper the outcomes of a multi-year monitoring of a citrus grove field near Rosolini (Syracuse), in south-eastern Sicily-Italy, are presented. This monitoring activity was conducted to highlight areas of productive greenery under stress, on which to act as a priority with specific agronomic interventions. In parallel with the direct monitoring phases of the citrus grove, the trend of average monthly and annual temperature and precipitation values over the past 24 years was also studied to more specifically contextualize the possible presence of significant variations in climatic trends and relate them to the results returned by the calculation of the indices.

Changes in the soil and vegetation cover of the Kochubey biosphere station under global warming in recent years

Objectives: The study and long-term observations of changes in the spatial structure of vegetation cover of pasture landscapes of the Kochubey Biosphere Station (KBS) due to global climate warming. Arid pasture landscapes, due to the peculiarities of their spatial structure (the presence of semi-desert vegetation groupings) are a good indicator of modern climatic changes. To achieve this goal, the spatial structure and the current state of the arid landscapes of the Northwestern Caspian Sea in the territory of the KBS have been studied. The analysis of the biological diversity of species was carried out. Also the characteristics of the common features of seasonal dynamics of landscapes were studied. Moreover, trends of climatic changes in the landscape structure of the territory and trends in anthropogenic transformation of arid landscapes of the region were identified. It has been revealed that the main reasons for the reduction of biodiversity are habitat fragmentation, the introduction of alien species, the settlement of native species outside the range, ecotonization and “islandization” of pasture ecosystems, and the displacement of range boundaries. Since the goal of preserving the components of vegetation biodiversity is to reduce the pressures caused by climate change, adaptation measures should be aimed at reducing the rate of fragmentation and degradation of pasture landscapes. Monitoring observations have shown that over the last 20-century period there have been rhythmically repeating changes in climate and soil and vegetation cover, which indicates high mobility of vegetation. It has been established that the contribution of anthropogenic land degradation to desertification is confirmed by a significant linear trend in interannual fluctuations in indicators of pasture digression in the region. It has been established that the contribution of anthropogenic land degradation to desertification is confirmed by a significant linear trend in interannual fluctuations in indicators of pasture digression in the region. Due to excessive pasture digression, “islands” of anthropogenic desertification are formed here, the lifespan of which is determined by human influence and precipitation fluctuations.

Towards Sustainable Productivity of Greenhouse Vegetable Soils: Limiting Factors and Mitigation Strategies.

Greenhouse vegetable production has become increasingly important in meeting the increasing global food demand. Yet, it faces severe challenges in terms of how to maintain soil productivity from a long-term perspective. This review discusses the main soil productivity limiting factors for vegetables grown in greenhouses and identifies strategies that attempt to overcome these limitations. The main processes leading to soil degradation include physical (e.g., compaction), chemical (e.g., salinization, acidification, and nutrient imbalances), and biological factors (e.g., biodiversity reduction and pathogen buildup). These processes are often favored by intensive greenhouse cultivation. Mitigation strategies involve managing soil organic matter and mineral nutrients and adopting crop rotation. Future research should focus on precisely balancing soil nutrient supply with vegetable crop demands throughout their life cycle and using targeted organic amendments to manage specific soil properties. To ensure the successful adoption of recommended strategies, socioeconomic considerations are also necessary. Future empirical research is required to adapt socioeconomic frameworks, such as Science and Technology Backyard 2.0, from cereal production systems to greenhouse vegetable production systems. Addressing these issues will enable the productivity of greenhouse vegetable soils that meet growing vegetable demand to be sustained using limited soil resources.

Unveiling the prevalence of invasive alien plant species in multiple-use zone of Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape, Misamis Oriental, Philippines

Abstract. Herbito Jr. LC, Guihawan JQ, Casal CMV, Polestico DLL, Torres AG. 2024. Unveiling the prevalence of invasive alien plant species in multiple-use zone of Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Biodiversitas 25: 3286-3294. Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) threaten Protected Areas (PAs) globally, causing habitat degradation, biodiversity reduction, and ecosystem disruption. In the Philippines, data on invasive species in PAs is limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, abundance, and diversity of IAPS in multiple-use zone of Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape (ILPLS), Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Using belt-transect method, a total of 15 nested plots (20×20 m for trees, 5×5 m for herbs and shrubs, and 1×1 m for grasses and lianas) were established. Twenty-nine plant species from 18 families were identified, comprising 18 Native Species (NS), seven Non-Invasive Alien Species (NIAS), and four IAPS. The IAPS identified were Gmelina arborea, Leucaena leucocephala, Lantana camara, and Swietenia macrophylla which had the highest relative abundance of 96.83%. The Shannon-Weiner diversity indices showed very low to low diversity of 0.30 to 2.17, and an unbalanced to semi-balanced species evenness of 0.17 to 0.70. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a significant difference in relative abundance between NS and IAPS (p = 0.01576). The Wilcoxon rank-sum test indicated significant differences in species diversity and evenness of p = 0.03359 and 0.03343, respectively. These findings are crucial for developing IAPS control strategies in the ILPLS in the future.

Species composition, stand structure, and carbon stock in the agroforestry system of Wana Lestari Community Forestry, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract. Akdah RD, Wijayanto N, Hartoyo APP. 2024. Species composition, stand structure, and carbon stock in the agroforestry system of Wana Lestari Community Forestry, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 3350-3358. Climate change is characterized by shifting climate patterns that result in erratic weather phenomena. One of the major consequences of climate change is the reduction in biodiversity and the increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs), primarily carbon. Agroforestry systems (AF) have emerged as a potential solution to mitigate these effects by conversing biodiversity and enhancing carbon stocks. This study aims to analyze the species composition and structure of tree stands and estimate the carbon stock in the AF of the community forest (HKm). The methods used employed included vegetation analysis, stand structure measurement using the Spatially Explicit Individual-based Forest Simulator (SExI-FS), and carbon stock estimation using allometric equations and destructive approaches for seedlings and understory levels. A total of 25 plots, each measuring 20×20 m, were used for data collection. The results show that the species composition in HKm Wana Lestari consists of 63 plant species from 40 families. The highest importance value index (IVI) was recorded for durian (Durio zibethinus Murray) at the pole growth level (90.34%), while coffee (Coffea robusta L.Linden) emerged as the dominant species within the agroforestry system. The diversity index (H') ranged from 0.40 to 2.29, indicating a medium category of diversity. The stand structure did not follow the expected "J" curve pattern. The total biomass and carbon stock across all growth levels were found to be 228.35 and 107.22 tons/ha, respectively. In conclusion, the agroforestry system in HKm Wana Lestari demonstrates notable species diversity and carbon storage potential, although its stand structure deviates from the ideal "J" curve, suggesting opportunities for further forest management improvements.

Evaluation of Coastal Management in the Municipality of Paulista/PE in the Light of the Decalogue

Brazil adopts Integrated Coastal Management as a way of protecting coastal environments through sustainable use and through the National Coastal Management Plan – PNGC structures actions directed at coastal areas, guaranteeing municipalities a prominent position in the integrative process. The structuring of the legal and institutional framework does not remove the picture of degradation borne by coastal cities, which have problems with sanitation, erosion and reduction of biodiversity. The general objective of this article is to analyze the Coastal Management process adopted by the municipality of Paulista, Pernambuco, in order to provide subsidies for institutionalization and sustainable governance. The methodology was structured in two parts. The first part used the Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) dataset available free of charge MapBiomas collection 6. The second part used the methodology proposed by Barragán in the “Decalogue for the Management of Coastal Areas”, where the 10 indicators are analyzed fundamental to evaluate actions related to coastal management. The methodology was adapted to include the mapping of the use and occupation of the municipality's coastal area over a period of 36 (thirty-six) years. The results of the analysis of land use and occupancy indicate a steady growth in anthropized areas from 1986 until the end of the 1990s, stabilizing with few changes. After an increase, there was a new stabilization between 2006 and 2012, followed by a notable growth in 2013–2014 and a subsequent period with less pronounced increments until the year 2021. Regarding the matrix analysis, there is a greater advancement in aspects related to Knowledge and Information, Normative and Competencies, whereas items such as Training and Capacity Building, Resources, and Public Policies require better strategic definitions by the municipality. As for the results of the matrix analysis, they reveal the need for the implementation of impact mitigation measures, the strengthening of oversight and monitoring, the development of strategies for climate change adaptation, the promotion of environmental education, and the fostering of scientific research in coastal areas. Finally, there is a suggestion for the continuous evaluation and correction of actions related to coastal and marine areas of the municipality, as well as the use of scientific evidence in decision-making.

Ammonia emission estimates using CrIS satellite observations over Europe

Abstract. Over the past century, ammonia (NH3) emissions have increased with the growth of livestock and fertilizer usage. The abundant NH3 emissions lead to secondary fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, climate change, and a reduction in biodiversity, and they affect human health. Up-to-date and spatially and temporally resolved information on NH3 emissions is essential to better quantify their impact. In this study we applied the existing Daily Emissions Constrained by Satellite Observations (DECSO) algorithm to NH3 observations from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) to estimate NH3 emissions. Because NH3 in the atmosphere is influenced by nitrogen oxides (NOx), we implemented DECSO to estimate NOx and NH3 emissions simultaneously. The emissions are derived over Europe for 2020 on a spatial resolution of 0.2°×0.2° using daily observations from both CrIS and the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI; on the Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P) satellite). Due to the limited number of daily satellite observations of NH3, monthly emissions of NH3 are reported. The total NH3 emissions derived from observations are about 8 Tg yr−1, with a precision of about 5 %–17 % per grid cell per year over the European domain (35–55° N, 10° W–30° E). The comparison of the satellite-derived NH3 emissions from DECSO with independent bottom-up inventories and in situ observations indicates a consistency in terms of magnitude on the country totals, with the results also being comparable regarding the temporal and spatial distributions. The validation of DECSO over Europe implies that we can use DECSO to quickly derive fairly accurate monthly emissions of NH3 over regions with limited local information on NH3 emissions.

Impact of invasive Typha and wetland interspersion on muskrat declines in North America

Impact of invasive Typha and wetland interspersion on muskrat declines in North America

Responses of the mesozooplankton community to marine heatwaves: Challenges and solutions based on a long-term time series.

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are extreme weather events that have major impacts on the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems worldwide. Due to anthropogenic climate change, the occurrence of MHWs is predicted to increase in future. There is already evidence linking MHWs with reductions in biodiversity and incidence of mass mortality events in coastal ecosystems. However, because MHWs are unpredictable, the quantification of their effects on communities is challenging. Here, we use the Helgoland Roads long-term time series (German Bight, North Sea), one of the richest marine time series in the world, and implement a modified before-after control-impact (BACI) design to evaluate MHW effect on mesozooplankton communities. Mesozooplankton play an essential role in connecting primary producers to higher trophic levels, and any changes in their community structure could have far-reaching impacts on the entire ecosystem. The responses of mesozooplankton community to MHWs in terms of community structure and densities occurred mainly in spring and autumn. Abundances of seven taxa, including some of the most abundant groups (e.g. copepods), were affected either positively or negatively in response to MHWs. In contrast, we observed no clear evidence of an impact of summer and winter MHWs; instead, the density of the most common taxa remained unchanged. Our results highlight the seasonally dependent impacts of MHWs on mesozooplankton communities and the challenges in evaluating those impacts. Long-term monitoring is an important contributor to the quantification of effects of MHWs on natural populations.

Rethinking Urban Water Management Through Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses Framework Application in Chennai, India

Cities suffering water scarcity are projected to increase in the following decades. However, the application of standardized indicator frameworks for assessing urban water resource management problems is on an early stage. India is expected to have the highest urban population facing water scarcity in the world by 2050. In this study, the authors assess how the Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses framework, a causal framework adopted by the European Environment Agency, can contribute to evaluate water management challenges in cities and apply it to Chennai, India´s fourth-largest urban agglomeration. The framework proved to be a helpful tool for the evaluation of water management challenges in cities by disentangling relationships between environmental indicators and structuring dispersed data that allows a better understanding for policymakers. The main drivers identified in Chennai were population growth and economic development which generated impacts such as loss of aquatic ecosystems, low water table, low water quality, and reduction of biodiversity and human health. As a response, better urban planning, projects for new water infrastructure, and water bodies restoration have been implemented. Nevertheless, Chennai keeps facing difficulties to achieve proper water management. The severe hit of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Indian economy and its future management will be key for achievements related to water management.

The overlooked biodiversity loss

As most life-forms exist as holobionts, reduction of host-level biodiversity drives parallel habitat losses to their host-adapted microorganisms. The holobiont concept helps us to understand how species are habitats for - often ignored - coevolved microorganisms also worthy of conservation. Indeed, loss of host-associated microbial biodiversity may accelerate the extinction risks of their host.

Unparallel resilience of shallow-water tropical calcifiers (foraminifera and scleractinian reef corals) during the early Paleogene global warming intervals

Unparallel resilience of shallow-water tropical calcifiers (foraminifera and scleractinian reef corals) during the early Paleogene global warming intervals

Viromes of Antarctic fish resemble the diversity found at lower latitudes.

Antarctica harbours some of the most isolated and extreme environments on Earth, concealing a largely unexplored and unique component of the global animal virosphere. To understand the diversity and evolutionary histories of viruses in these polar species, we determined the viromes of gill metatranscriptomes from 11 Antarctic fish species with 248 samples collected from the Ross Sea region spanning the Perciformes, Gadiformes, and Scorpaeniformes orders. The continent's shift southward and cooling temperatures >20 million years ago led to a reduction in biodiversity and subsequent radiation of some marine fauna, such as the notothenioid fishes. Despite decreased host species richness in polar regions, we revealed a surprisingly complex virome diversity in Ross Sea fish, with the types and numbers of viruses per host species and individuals sampled comparable to that of fish in warmer marine environments with higher host community diversity. We also observed a higher number of closely related viruses likely representing instances of recent and historic host-switching events among the Perciformes (all notothenioids) than in the Gadiformes, suggesting that rapid speciation events within this order generated closely related host species with few genetic barriers to cross-species transmission. Additionally, we identified novel genomic variation in an arenavirus with a split nucleoprotein sequence containing a stable helical structure, indicating potential adaptation of viral proteins to extreme temperatures. These findings enhance our understanding of virus evolution and virus-host interactions in response to environmental shifts, especially in less diverse ecosystems that are more vulnerable to the impacts of anthropogenic and climate changes.

Innovators and Transformers Is wasted food just waste? Reconceptualising food loss and waste in operations and supply chain management research and practice

PurposeFood waste is generated along the entire agricultural supply chain. From farm overproduction to lack of cold chain infrastructure, waste occurs for multiple reasons and negatively impacts the environment and society while generating economic losses. Although various supply chain actors and institutions have made attempts to reduce it, the activity is often confined to a single farm or to a retailer and charity dyad, without a systematic resolution of the problem. The environment is not only negatively impacted by the reduction of soil, water and biodiversity but also human beings suffer from malnutrition and food insecurity and finally, the entire supply chain faces considerable economic losses. Various supply chain actors have attempted to reduce this waste, but the results are often limited. The purpose of this paper is to consider systematic resolution by proposing a reconceptualisation from an alternative Operations and Supply Chain Management (O&SCM) perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed paper is problem-based research, which merges the research and industry perspectives derived from the authors’ field experience interviewing different supply chain stakeholders in Italy, the UK, the USA and France with an analysis of O&SCM literature related to food loss and waste.FindingsIn order to address the food waste problem, we propose a new perspective in dealing with food loss and waste through the lens of O&SCM. By reconceptualising O&SCM theories and methods with the unique aspects of food loss and waste and taking into account the multitude of stakeholders involved, we propose five research avenues.Originality/valueThe perspective of O&SCM management is missing when dealing systematically with food loss and waste, as researchers neglect its unique characteristics.

Cholesterol Gallstones and Long-Term Use of Statins: Is Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis Bridging over Uncertainties?

A total of 300 research participants-200 consecutive patients diagnosed with dyslipidemia (100 statin (+), treated for at least five years, and 100 statin (-)) and 100 healthy controls-were included in this observational study. The aim of the study was to deliver insights into the relationship between the long-term use of statins for dyslipidemia and gallstone disease (GSD), as well as insights into the background particularities of the gut microbiota. All study participants underwent clinical examination, laboratory workups, stool microbiology/stool 16S r RNA, next-generation sequencing, and abdominal ultrasound/CT exams. Results: The research participants presented with similarities related to age, gender, and location. Patients displayed comparable heredity for GSs, metabolic issues, and related co-morbidities. Gut dysbiosis (DB) was present in 54% of the statin (-) patients vs. 35% of the statin (+) patients (p = 0.0070). GSs were present in 14% of patients in the statin (-) group vs. 5% of patients in the statin (+) group (p = 0.0304). Severe dysbiosis, with a significant reduction in biodiversity, an increase in LPS (+) bacteria, and a notable decrease in mucin-degrading bacteria, mucosa-protective bacteria, and butyrate-producing bacteria were observed in the statin (-) group. Strong positive correlations between GSD and diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance (r = 0.3368, p = 0.0006), obesity (r = 0.3923, p < 0.0001), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (r = 0.3219, p = 0.0011), and DB (r = 0.7343, p < 0.0001), as well as significant negative correlations between GSD and alcohol use (r = -0.2305, p = 0.0211), were observed. The multiple regression equation demonstrated that only DB (95% CI: 0.3163 to 0.5670; p < 0.0001) and obesity (95% CI: 0.01431 to 0.2578; p = 0.0289) were independent risk factors predicting GSD in the group of patients treated with statins. Conclusion: The long-term use of statins in dyslipidemic patients was associated with a low risk of developing GSs. The gut microbiota associated with a long-term use of statins in dyslipidemic patients was characterized by a low risk of developing an imbalance of various functional bacteria and alterations in the metabolic microbiota. DB and obesity were found to be independent risk factors predicting GSD in statin (+) patients.