Support Population Growth Research Articles

Impact of Organic Farming in Economic Development in Agriculture

Organic farming is valued for its self-sustaining, environmentally friendly methods that protect surrounding ecosystems of plants and animals. It reduces weed growth through techniques like crop rotation and integrates traditional knowledge alongside natural processes. This approach optimizes inputs, strengthens regenerative abilities, and ensures effective conservation of resources and nutrients. The cost-benefit ratio in sustainable agriculture is notably better, as it requires fewer primary inputs compared to conventional methods, which often incur high costs for fertilizers and pesticides, lowering profit margins. Additionally, conventional farming's heavy reliance on chemicals can lead to significant health risks, both mental and physical. Organic farming, by following natural principles and using non-synthetic, traditional practices, creates a balanced environment that allows crops to thrive. This approach helps counteract the negative impacts of chemical-dependent agriculture, increasing production sustainably and supporting population growth without harming the ecosystem. Core principles of organic farming include health, ecology, fairness, and care. The benefits range from natural pest and disease resistance, specialization potential, healthier soil, support for pollinators, no GMO concerns, safer work conditions for farmers, and on-farm input production. Farmers and companies must meet stringent, government-approved standards, undergo regular certification, and comply with inspections to ensure the high quality of organic products produced with renewable resources. This paper aims to delve into the origins of organic farming, its environmental, social, economic, and agricultural advantages, and underscore its importance for the future. Similarly, on a larger scale, it can provide rural populations with greater earnings, better resource management and more chances to generate revenue Keywords: Organic Farming, Sustainability, Farmers, Health, Ecology.

The biotechnological potential of the Chloroflexota phylum.

In the next decades, the increasing material and energetic demand to support population growth and higher standards of living will amplify the current pressures on ecosystems and will call for greater investments in infrastructures and modern technologies. A valid approach to overcome such future challenges is the employment of sustainable bio-based technologies that explore the metabolic richness of microorganisms. Collectively, the metabolic capabilities of Chloroflexota, spanning aerobic and anaerobic conditions, thermophilic adaptability, anoxygenic photosynthesis, and utilization of toxic compounds as electron acceptors, underscore the phylum's resilience and ecological significance. These diverse metabolic strategies, driven by the interplay between temperature, oxygen availability, and energy metabolism, exemplify the complex adaptations that enabled Chloroflexota to colonize a wide range of ecological niches. In demonstrating the metabolic richness of the Chloroflexota phylum, specific members exemplify the diverse capabilities of these microorganisms: Chloroflexus aurantiacus showcases adaptability through its thermophilic and phototrophic growth, whereas members of the Anaerolineae class are known for their role in the degradation of complex organic compounds, contributing significantly to the carbon cycle in anaerobic environments, highlighting the phylum's potential for biotechnological exploitation in varying environmental conditions. In this context, the metabolic diversity of Chloroflexota must be considered a promising asset for a large range of applications. Currently, this bacterial phylum is organized into eight classes possessing different metabolic strategies to survive and thrive in a wide variety of extreme environments. This review correlates the ecological role of Chloroflexota in such environments with the potential application of their metabolisms in biotechnological approaches.

Concentrations Fermentation of Rice Bran Addition of Lemuru Fish Oil Toward Fecundity and Production Offspring Moina macrocopa

Moina macrocopa is a natural food that has the potential for freshwater fish seeds, because of its high nutritional value, easy to digest and has a fast, fast breeding, and has a size that is in accordance with the fish's mouth opening. Problems in the use of M. macrocopa as natural food are constrained by the availability of M. macrocopa both from nature and from cultivation. Population density in M. macrocopa cultivation varies due to different quality of food used. The needs of M. macrocopa as natural food can be met if the quality and quantity of feed used optimally support population growth. This study aims to determine the effect of lemuru fish oil concentration in bran suspension fermentation on fecundity and offspring production of M. macrocopa. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of five treatments three replications, namely: control treatment (0 mg/L lemuru fish oil, 100 gram bran), P1 (4 mg/L lemuru fish oil, 100 gram bran), P2 (lemuru fish oil 5 mg/L, 100 gram bran ), P3 (lemuru fish oil 6 mg/L, 100 gram bran), P4 (7 mg/L lemuru fish oil, 100 grams), and P5 (8 mg/L lemuru fish oil, 100 gram bran ).The parameters observed were fecundity and child production per parent and water quality. Data analysis used the Analysis of Variance test followed by Duncan's multiple test. The results showed that the cultivation of M. macrocopa using different bran suspension feed with supplemented lemuru fish oil affected the fecundity and production of children per M. macrocopa parent. The concentration of lemuru fish oil of 6 mg/L in the feed resulted in a fecundity of 24,00±2,00 eggs/parent and child production is 20,33±1,52 ind/parent.

Hosts and impacts of elongate hemlock scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae): A critical review.

Fiorinia externa Ferris, elongate hemlock scale, was inadvertently introduced to North America from Japan. This insect is particularly problematic on hemlock, Tsuga spp., though it has been reported in association with several other conifers. The evidence that other conifers might be hosts, capable of supporting growing populations of the insect, has not been previously reviewed. Our review confirms that F. externa is an oligophagous pest of members of Pinaceae. Although species of Cupressaceae and Taxaceae have been reported as hosts of F. externa, they seem unable to support population growth of this pest. Evidence of the tree-killing potential of the insect, even on suitable hosts, is remarkably scant. The degree of pest risk posed by F. externa with respect to tree mortality in areas beyond the geographic range of hemlock seems modest, but uncertain.

PERKIRAAN JUMLAH PENDUDUK OPTIMAL DAMPAK ADANYA PERGURUAN TINGGI BARU DI KABUPATEN PEKALONGAN

The existence of the attraction zone in the form of infrastructure facilities and infrastructure supporting community activities is a special attraction for the community to build a residence in Pekalongan Regency. This triggered the population growth of Kajen District, which continued to peak; in the 2020–2022 range, there was an increase in the population of more than 75,000 people. The results of the analysis stated that the area of ​​Pekalongan Regency which covers 83,615 ha, as much as 52% of the area is a cultivation area. The remaining 35% is a buffer area, and 14% of it is an area with a protected function. This article is intended to estimate the maximum population that can be accommodated in Pekalongan Regency due to the existence of a new university, so that it will not have a negative impact on the environment . Meanwhile, to estimate this, data analysis methods are used by utilizing tools in the form of GIS and land carrying capacity calculations based on the determination guidelines carriage capacity and capacity environment. In accordance with the analysis of the carrying capacity of residential land functions in Pekalongan Regency, it was found that it currently has a DDPm value of 16.96. This represents that Pekalongan Regency is still very capable of supporting population growth.

A simple biochemical plasma test as an indicator of maternal energy balance predicts offspring survival in bighorn sheep

In species where offspring survival is highly variable relative to adult survival, such as bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), physiological indicators of maternal investment could clarify the functional mechanisms of life history trade-offs and serve as important predictors of population dynamics. From a management perspective, simple predictors of juvenile survival measured non-lethally from maternal samples could aid in identifying at-risk populations or individuals before significant mortality occurs. Blood biochemical parameters can offer low-cost insights into animal health and physiology, therefore we sought to develop a simple biochemical predictor of juvenile survival based on maternal blood samples. We measured biochemical indicators of energy balance in adult bighorn sheep at a single time point in January or February, and then monitored survival through August of the same year to assess how those measures related to survival of individual adults and their juvenile offspring. Juvenile survival was lower over the subsequent spring and summer when maternal adult serum beta-hydroxybutyric acid (β-HBA) concentration was high, indicating a negative energy balance in the mothers. However, serum β-HBA did not correlate with adult survival over the same period. Our findings suggest that even when maternal body condition is high, short-term caloric deficit may be sufficient trigger to decrease investment in offspring survival. This mechanism could protect adult females from investing heavily in juvenile survival when resources become too limited to support population growth. Our study suggests that β-HBA could be a powerful monitoring tool for bighorn sheep and other threatened ruminant populations under resource limitation.

On the road to self-sustainability: reintroduced migratory European northern bald ibises Geronticus eremita still need management interventions for population viability

AbstractThe northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita disappeared from Europe in the Middle Ages. Since 2003 a migratory population has been reintroduced in Central Europe. We conducted demographic analyses of the survival and reproduction of 384 northern bald ibises over a period of 12 years (2008–2019). These data also formed the basis for a population viability analysis simulating the possible future development of the northern bald ibis population under different scenarios. We analysed life stage-specific survival rates, rearing protocols and colonies, and the influence of stochastic catastrophic events and reinforcement translocations on population growth. Life stage-specific survival probabilities were 0.64–0.78. Forty-five per cent of the mature females reproduced, with a mean fecundity of 2.15 fledglings per nest. The complementary population viability analysis indicated that the Waldrappteam population is close to self-sustainability, with an estimated population growth rate of 0.95 and a 24% extinction probability within 50 years. Of the 326 future scenarios tested, 94% reached the criteria of extinction probabilities < 5% and population growth rates > 1. Stochastic catastrophic events had only a limited effect. Despite comparatively high survival and fecundity rates the population viability analysis indicated that to achieve self-sustainability the Waldrappteam population needs further translocations to support population growth and the implementation of effective measures against major mortality threats: illegal hunting in Italy and electrocution on unsecured power poles. The findings of this study are to be implemented as part of a second European LIFE project.

Mapping of Greenhouse Gas Concentration in Peninsular Malaysia Industrial Areas Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Sniffer Sensor

The increasing concentration of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to increased fossil fuel consumption for manufacturing activities to support population growth is worrisome. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) remain the two GHGs that contribute to the impact of global warming, and inventorying their concentrations is important for monitoring their changes, which can be used to infer their emissions over time. Hence, this article highlights sniffer4D, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based air pollutant mapping system that visualise and analyse three-dimensional (3D) air pollution data in real time, for mapping GHGs concentrations within industrial areas. Consequently, GHGs concentrations for two industrial and adjacent residential areas in Johor, Peninsular Malaysia were mapped. The GHGs concentrations were validated using a ground-based portable gas detector. The results revealed that CO2 has the highest concentration mean of 625.235 mg/m3, followed by CH4 with a mean of 249.239 mg/m3. The mapped UAV GHG concentration also reported good agreement with the in situ observations with an RMSE of 7 and 6 mg/m3 for CO2 and CH4 concentration, respectively. Ozone and nitrogen dioxide mixture (O3 + NO2) with a mean concentration of 249 μg/m3 and an RMSE of 9 μg/m3 are the remaining significant concentrations reported. This approach shall assist in fast-tracking the United Nations climate change mitigation agenda.

Prediction of Settlement Growth in Meulaboh Urban Area (MUA) and Its Implication for Carrying Capacity

Population growth affects the competition between land uses. Inevitably, the increasing demand for natural resources causes severe damage to the urban environment. In addition, the potential of water resources can be a problem related to the supply of clean and suitable water to the community. The geological structure of the soil, disaster susceptibility, and issues with the clean water supply at the location are challenges in determining the development of residential areas in the Meulaboh Urban Area (MUA). This study aims to determine the carrying capacity of the Meulaboh urban settlement environment and the model for the distribution of settlements in the MUA. The environment’s carrying capacity is reviewed based on two aspects: the carrying capacity of settlements and water resources. In analyzing settlement modeling using MLC data from time-series images of Google Earth and Landsat 8-9 in 2011, 2016, and 2021 and using the MOLUSCE plugin on QGIS. The environmental carrying capacity assessment results show that the level of carrying capacity of settlements in the MUA is currently worth 1.69, and in 2041 it will reach a value of 1.26. While the carrying capacity of water resources in the current year is at a value of 2.8, and in 2041, it will reach a value of 2.0. Until 2041, it can still accommodate the population and meet the water needs to support population growth. However, it must still consider the disaster aspects and existing environmental constraints. So that sustainable development can be created that can balance development and the environment in the region.

An Overview of Agro-Waste Management in Light of the Water-Energy-Waste Nexus

It is urgent that we increase global food production to support population growth. Food production requires significant resources, amongst them water and energy. Therefore, any losses of food or other agricultural products also means a waste of water and energy resources. A significant amount of these losses occurs during the postharvest stage, primarily during processing and storage. This is considered avoidable food waste. The water-energy-waste nexus (WEW), and its relationship to food production, needs to be investigated from a circular bioeconomy lens. Furthermore, alternative uses of the wastes should be investigated. This review focuses on agro-wastes and their management as sources for bioactive compounds, biofertilizers, biomaterials, nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals and medicinal agents, and growth media, e.g., for plant tissue culture. We also investigated the potential contribution of agro-wastes to bioenergy production (bioethanol, biogas, and biofuel). Proper management of agro-wastes may support the mitigation of climate change, produce innovative bio-ingredients and biodegradable materials, and enhance green growth and a circular bioeconomy. We argue that the management of agro-wastes cannot be discussed without referring to the role of water and energy within the food system. Thus, this review focuses on agricultural wastes and their handling, applications, environmental impacts, and potential benefits in the agricultural and medical industries in light of the WEW nexus.

Biodiversity and Economy but Not Social Factors Predict Human Population Dynamics in South Africa

The ongoing exponential growth of human population poses a risk to sustainable development goals (SDGs). Unless we understand the drivers of this growth and inform policy development accordingly, SDGs would remain a dream. One of the old theories of population growth known as the Malthusian theory predicts that resource availability drives population growth until a certain time when population growth outrun resource availability, leading to all sort of crises summarized as Malthusian crisis. Although the link between economic growth and population has been widely investigated while testing the theory, little is known about environmental and social factors potentially driving population growth. Here, because of various crises of our time recalling the Malthusian crisis, we revisited the theory by fitting structural equation models to environmental, social and economic data collected over 30-year period in South Africa. None of the social variables tested predicts population growth. Instead, we found that biodiversity (species protection index) correlates positively with population growth. Biodiversity provides various resources through ecosystem goods and services to human, thus supporting population growth as predicted in the Malthusian theory. However, we also found that this population growth may lead to conservation conflict as we found that biodiversity habitat (wetland area) correlates negatively with population growth, thus raising the compromising effect of population growth on life on earth. What’s more, we found a significant link between economic growth measured as GDP and population growth, further supporting the Malthusian prediction. Overall, our study re-affirms the value of biodiversity to human and suggests that the Malthusian theory should continuously be tested with predictors other than economic.

Nitrogen fixation by diverse diazotrophic communities can support population growth of arboreal ants

BackgroundSymbiotic ant-plant associations, in which ants live on plants, feed on plant-provided food, and protect host trees against threats, are ubiquitous across the tropics, with the Azteca-Cecropia associations being amongst the most widespread interactions in the Neotropics. Upon colonization of Cecropia’s hollow internodes, Azteca queens form small patches with plant parenchyma, which are then used as waste piles when the colony grows. Patches—found in many ant-plant mutualisms—are present throughout the colony life cycle and may supplement larval food. Despite their initial nitrogen (N)-poor substrate, patches in Cecropia accommodate fungi, nematodes, and bacteria. In this study, we investigated the atmospheric N2 fixation as an N source in patches of early and established ant colonies.ResultsVia 15N2 tracer assays, N2 fixation was frequently detected in all investigated patch types formed by three Azteca ant species. Quantified fixation rates were similar in early and established ant colonies and higher than in various tropical habitats. Based on amplicon sequencing, the identified microbial functional guild—the diazotrophs—harboring and transcribing the dinitrogenase reductase (nifH) gene was highly diverse and heterogeneous across Azteca colonies. The community composition differed between early and established ant colonies and partly between the ant species.ConclusionsOur data show that N2 fixation can result in reasonable amounts of N in ant colonies, which might not only enable bacterial, fungal, and nematode growth in the patch ecosystems but according to our calculations can even support the growth of ant populations. The diverse and heterogeneous diazotrophic community implies a functional redundancy, which could provide the ant-plant-patch system with a higher resilience towards changing environmental conditions. Hence, we propose that N2 fixation represents a previously unknown potential to overcome N limitations in arboreal ant colonies.

A study of sustainable peat cultivation implemented by the community of Tumbang Nusa Village, Central Kalimantan

Peatlands have enormous potential to produce food sources for supporting population growth. Farmers generally prefer plants that can adapt to changing conditions. However, challenges remain, such as limited knowledge of local community about peatlands’ function and management. Local community practices endogenous knowledge to manage peatlands, but it is rarely documented as best practice for peatlands management in Indonesia. This study aims to understand endogenous management implemented by local community for sustainable peat cultivation. The management is currently considered as the best solution to solve problems related to peatlands management. The study was carried out in Tumbang Nusa Village, Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan Province, using a semi-participatory approach with a stratified purposive sampling for selecting participants of in-depth interviews and field observations. An investigation of endogenous management related to biophysical aspects that determines sustainability was done by identifying main characteristics of peatlands in the dry season. The data were analyzed qualitatively by using Use Value. The results show that the community applied agroforestry systems interspersed with introduced plants. There were seven patterns implemented by the community, including pineapple-forest crops-seasonal fruit-food based, rubber-forest crops-seasonal fruit/food-based, a combination of forest plants, a combination of forest plants-annual introduced plants, a combination of forest plants-annual/food crops, and a combination of annual crops. The seven patterns based on the local wisdom are suitable for peatlands. It is in accordance with modern peat management which considered as the form of a pure Paludiculture and an intensive semi Paludiculture.

Constructing compact cities: How urban regeneration can enhance growth and relieve congestion

Urban population growth worsens congestion. However, this effect can be weakened by taller and denser city centers. Considering the important role played by intraurban density patterns, we modeled a mechanism to explain how urban regeneration can relieve population congestion. The model suggests two effects as follows: a direct concentration and an indirect growth effect. The direct concentration effect worsens congestion with little loss of welfare, whereas an indirect growth effect reduces the marginal congestion of population growth. These findings suggest that megacities should build taller and denser city centers through urban regeneration. Moreover, governments should regenerate megacities to support population growth instead of investing in new or smaller cities. This study helps bridge research on urban growth and planning, which warrants further investigation.

Genetic insights into the range expansion of the cattle egret (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae) in Brazil and population differentiation between the native and colonized areas

AbstractBubulcus ibis ibis expanded its range by flying across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa or Europe to South America. To provide insights into the source of migrant birds, we genotyped cattle egret sampled in Central and southern Africa (N = 129, 13 sites, five countries) and Brazil (N = 166, six sites) at 14 microsatellites. Expected heterozygosity was high in all colonies, but significantly lower in Brazilian samples. Population-genetic analyses based on different assumptions concurrently found significant genetic differentiation between Brazil and Africa. The genetic homogeneity among African populations did not enable us to identify the source of the invasive birds. Among Brazilian populations, the highest proportion of the African allelic ancestry was found in Fernando de Noronha. This archipelago on the north-eastern coast of Brazil could be an important stopover site for migrating birds coming from Africa. Bayesian demographic analyses supported population growth in Africa with subsequent expansion to Brazil and migration from Africa to Brazil at the time of colonization. We discuss our findings in light of previous colonization trajectories suggested by meteorological models and the anthropogenic changes that may promote the expansion of the cattle egret in Brazil.

Physiological and metabolic effects of glyphosate as the sole P source on a cosmopolitan phytoplankter and biogeochemical implications

Nutrient conditions influence the physiology and stoichiometry of marine phytoplankton. While extensive studies have documented the effects of abundances and types of nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), the effect of phosphonates as a P source is less understood and underexplored. Here, with the cosmopolitan coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi as a model phytoplankter, we investigated the effect of the phosphonate type of herbicide glyphosate as the sole P source in comparison with the P-depleted and P-replete (with 36 μM dissolved inorganic phosphate [DIP]) cultures. We measured changes in cellular C (carbon):P and N:P ratios and physiological performance and documented the corresponding transcriptomic and miRNAomic responses in E. huxleyi to glyphosate treatment. We found that glyphosate supported population growth but not to the full scale relative to DIP, and this was under the concerted regulation of DNA replication and cell cycle arrest genes as well as the growth-regulating miRNA. Furthermore, our data suggest that E. huxleyi took up glyphosate directly, bypassing extracellular hydrolysis, and this involved ABC transporters. Meanwhile, glyphosate-grown cultures displayed marked increases in cellular particulate organic C (POC) and PON contents, cell size, and transcription of genes for CO2 fixation and citrate cycle, nitrate transport, and protein biosynthesis. However, compared to DIP, the maximum absorption rate of glyphosate was only 33%, and glyphosate-grown E. huxleyi cells exhibited a mild P-stress symptom and elevated cellular C:P and N:P ratios. Interestingly, glyphosate-grown cells showed an increased sinking rate, suggesting that glyphosate as the sole P source might enhance the efficiency of C export by E. huxleyi, which would compensate for the expected decline in primary productivity (and hence carbon efflux) in the future more nutrient-depleted ocean. This biogeochemical implication needs to be further studied and verified, however.

Особенности размещения малых и средних предприятий в Уральском федеральном округе

The purpose of the study is to analyze the features of the placement of small and medium-sized enterprises on the example of the Ural Federal District. It is revealed that the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the Ural Federal District is uneven. The scientific novelty is to identify the key factors influencing the placement of small and medium-sized businesses. As a result, it is proved that factors such as the number of cities, population density and density of railways have a positive effect on the placement of SMEs. As recommendations for the uniform placement of SMEs on the example of the Ural Federal District, the following are proposed: 1) stimulating urban development; 2) conducting demographic policy aimed at supporting population growth; 3) implementing major infrastructure projects, such as the construction of a railway track.

Soil carbon density can increase when Australian savanna is converted to pasture, but may not change under intense cropping systems

Savanna regions are increasingly developed for agriculture to support population growth, food demand and export economies. This is driving interest in the conversion of natural savanna to cattle grazed pastures or horticultural crops in Northern Australia. Savanna clearing leads to aboveground carbon (C) loss but impacts below-ground are less certain as studies have focused on high rainfall regions, low reactive clay soils and shallow depths of 0.3 m or less.To examine impact of land use change (LUC) in Northern Australia, we sampled the upper 1.0 m soil profile of: 1) savanna woodlands, 2) old and young C4 perennial cattle grazed pastures and 3) old and young, melon-sorghum rotation fields. Soil C concentrations and soil bulk density in the upper 0.3 m were significantly greater in cattle grazed pastures than savanna woodland, such that savanna to pasture LUC significantly increased soil C density from 30.2 ± 1.5–43.4 ± 3.0 Mg C ha-1 over 28 years. Soil bulk density in the upper 0.7 m of savanna woodland was significantly less than that in the melon-sorghum rotations. In contrast, soil C concentrations below 0.5 m were significantly greater in the savanna woodland than in the 3 y.o. melon-sorghum rotation fields. There was no significant difference in soil C density between savanna woodland and 12 y.o. melon-sorghum rotations. This may relate to the beneficial effects of ploughing in sorghum as a green manure, or simply that the decrease in soil C concentration was offset by increased soil C density in the upper layers of soil where most C is located. In contrast, conversion of savanna to cattle grazed pasture sites is equivalent to a soil sequestration rate of 0.34 Mg C ha-1 y-1, approximately 50% of the observed net ecosystem productivity estimated using eddy covariance methods. Changing the depth to which soil C density was estimated changed significant differences amongst land-use systems. Whereas, estimating soil C density using a ‘fixed depth’ or ‘equivalent mass’ method did not change the statistical significance.There is an increasing focus on the potential of soil carbon sequestration especially in north Australia and understanding potential change and impact of accounting methods is essential for meaningful policy development. Policy settings to maintain, or improve, soil C storage and soil health may contradict agricultural development goals.

Water quality in the ecosystem of sea cucumber Acaudina sp. in the Delta Wulan Waters, Central of Java, Indonesia

Sea cucumber Acaudina sp. is one of the benthic animals which has a very important role for the benthic ecosystem in a waters. One of its roles is to maintain sediment stability and is also known as a bioturbation animal. The research aims are to study the water quality in the ecosystem of sea cucumber in the Delta Wulan Waters, Demak. The research was conducted for 4 months (May, June, July and August 2020). Based on the research result, the type of substrate in the Delta Wulan Waters is silt has a range 87.4–96.70%. The salinity has a range value is 29.25 to 33.50 ppt. The value of the water temperature is 28.6–29.9 °C. The DO value has a range is 5.04–8.13 ppm. The pH value range is 6.05–7.–56. Furthermore, the average concentration of Pb in sediment has range 4.775.10 mg/kg. The average concentration of Cu in sediment has range 15.93–16.06 mg/kg. The average concentration of Cd in sediment has range 0.02–0.07 mg/kg. In the sediment, the average concentration of ortho-phosphate content has range 0.014–0.027 mg/g, nitrate has range 0.035–0.073 mg/g and chlorophyll-a has range 268-805 mg/m2. In conclusion, water quality in Delta Wulan Waters can still support population growth of Acaudina sp..

Circular Economy and the Transition to a Sustainable Society: Integrated Assessment Methods for a New Paradigm

The circular economy concept has recently gained prominence in political debate and corporate discourse around the world as a pathway towards sustainability. The academic debate is characterised by several and sometimes very contrasting definitions of the concept. We claim here that the issue is not finding silver-bullet solutions that will simultaneously support population growth, increasing affluence and environmental resource regeneration. We argue that a clearer definition is needed for the circular economy concept, in terms of strategies, objectives, future states and stakeholders’ needs. Also, assessment methods need to be developed for keeping track of the transition towards a circular economy. Within this context, this paper establishes the need for a multi-stakeholder, multi-dimensional and multi-criteria approach for the evaluation of the transition towards a circular economy across different time and spatial scales, as well as multiple sustainability dimensions.