scholarly journals Emergence and Evolution of Anthropogenic Landscapes in the Western Mediterranean and Adjacent Atlantic Regions

Fire ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Iglesias ◽  
Boris Vannière ◽  
Isabelle Jouffroy-Bapicot
Keyword(s):  
Population Expansion ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Pollen Data ◽  
Complex Dynamic ◽  
Anthropogenic Landscapes ◽  
Subsistence Strategies ◽  
Dynamic Structures

Socio-ecological systems are complex, dynamic structures driven by cross-scale interactions between climate, disturbance and subsistence strategies. We synthetize paleoecological data to explore the emergence and evolution of anthropogenic landscapes in southwestern Europe and northern Africa. Specifically, we estimate trends in vegetation and fire, and assess how changes in climate and resource exploitation altered ecosystem dynamics over the last 10,000 years. Pollen data reveal that a complex vegetation mosaic resulted from the conversion of forests into areas suitable for crops, especially after 7000 cal yr BP. Cross-scale analysis shows a progressive decoupling of climate and ecosystem trajectories, which displayed an overall south-to-north time-transgressive pattern consistent with models of population expansion. As human impact increased, so did the use of fire, and after 4000 cal yr BP, levels of biomass burning became homogeneous across the region. This region-wide rise in burning suggests that land-management overrode the effects of climate, fuel and topography. Thus, while increasing the returns and predictability of resources, rapidly-growing communities created a new form of frequent and extensive disturbance that led to profound and persistent changes in the landscape, including shrub encroachment, increased erosion and soil impoverishment.

scholarly journals Ecosystem dynamics: exploring the interplay within fintech entrepreneurial ecosystems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Alaassar ◽  
Anne-Laure Mention ◽  
Tor Helge Aas
Keyword(s):  
New Ventures ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Opportunity Identification ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems ◽  
Regulatory Dynamics ◽  
Financial Technology

AbstractScholars and practitioners continue to recognize the crucial role of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) in creating a conducive environment for productive entrepreneurship. Although EEs are fundamentally interaction systems of hierarchically independent yet mutually dependent actors, few studies have investigated how interactions among ecosystem actors drive the entrepreneurial process. Seeking to address this gap, this paper explores how ecosystem actor interactions influence new ventures in the financial technology (fintech) EE of Singapore. Guided by an EE framework and the use of an exploratory-abductive approach, empirical data from semi-structured interviews is collected and analyzed. The findings reveal four categories representing both the relational perspective, which features interaction and intermediation dynamics, and the cultural perspective, which encompasses ecosystem development and regulatory dynamics. These categories help explain how and why opportunity identification and resource exploitation are accelerated or inhibited for entrepreneurs in fintech EEs. The present study provides valuable contributions to scholars and practitioners interested in EEs and contributes to the academic understanding of the emerging fintech phenomenon.

scholarly journals Mismatches in spatial scale of supply and demand and their consequences for local welfare in Scottish aquaculture

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim O’Higgins ◽  
Karen Alexander ◽  
Marcello Graziano
Keyword(s):  
Systems Approach ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Ecological Resilience ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Salmon Aquaculture ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Blue Growth ◽  
Marine Areas

Mismatches in spatial scales, or spatial disconnections between causes and effects of ecosystem degradation, can reduce resilience in social–ecological systems. These mismatches can be particularly disruptive in coastal and marine areas, where multiple social and ecological systems are multi-layered. Scotland’s Western Isles have a history of local resource exploitation to meet extra-regional, larger-scale demands, which has resulted in a long process of socio-demographic decline. Salmon aquaculture is a major and expanding industry in the area, often linked to “Blue Growth”. The expansion of this industry operates within and contributes to create several scale mismatches. Combining a systems approach across nested scales with a classification of scale mismatches, this work analyses the characteristics of the Western Isles salmon aquaculture industry, and it explores effects on social–ecological resilience. An extent scale mismatch between the global stocks of fishmeal species and the local capacity to respond to fluctuations is identified. The implications for this mismatch for the Western Isles are discussed. Some potential policy arrangements for incorporating matched spatial scales are considered.

scholarly journals Pollen-inferred regional vegetation patterns and demographic change in Southern Anatolia through the Holocene

The Holocene ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 728-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Woodbridge ◽  
C Neil Roberts ◽  
Alessio Palmisano ◽  
Andrew Bevan ◽  
Stephen Shennan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Change ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Significant Area ◽  
The Mediterranean

Southern Anatolia is a highly significant area within the Mediterranean, particularly in terms of understanding how agriculture moved into Europe from neighbouring regions. This study uses pollen, palaeoclimate and archaeological evidence to investigate the relationships between demography and vegetation change, and to explore how the development of agriculture varied spatially. Data from 21 fossil pollen records have been transformed into forested, parkland and open vegetation types using cluster analysis. Patterns of change have been explored using non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) and through analysis of indicator groups, such as an Anthropogenic Pollen Index, and Simpson’s Diversity. Settlement data, which indicate population densities, and summed radiocarbon dates for archaeological sites have been used as a proxy for demographic change. The pollen and archaeological records confirm that farming can be detected earlier in Anatolia in comparison with many other parts of the Mediterranean. Dynamics of change in grazing indicators and the OJCV ( Olea, Juglans, Castanea and Vitis) index for cultivated trees appear to match cycles of population expansion and decline. Vegetation and land use change is also influenced by other factors, such as climate change. Investigating the early impacts of anthropogenic activities (e.g. woodcutting, animal herding, the use of fire and agriculture) is key to understanding how societies have modified the environment since the mid–late Holocene, despite the capacity of ecological systems to absorb recurrent disturbances. The results of this study suggest that shifting human population dynamics played an important role in shaping land cover in central and southern Anatolia.

Development and Regulation of Dendritic Spine Synapses

Physiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Calabrese ◽  
Margaret S. Wilson ◽  
Shelley Halpain
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Excitatory Synapses ◽  
Dense Array ◽  
Complex Dynamic ◽  
Neuronal Dendrites ◽  
Spine Abnormalities ◽  
Dynamic Structures ◽  
The Brain

Dendritic spines are small protrusions from neuronal dendrites that form the postsynaptic component of most excitatory synapses in the brain. They play critical roles in synaptic transmission and plasticity. Recent advances in imaging and molecular technologies reveal that spines are complex, dynamic structures that contain a dense array of cytoskeletal, transmembrane, and scaffolding molecules. Several neurological and psychiatric disorders exhibit dendritic spine abnormalities.

scholarly journals Considering an integrated malacology approach to ecosystem assessment: a socio-ecological system analysis of the terrestrial mollusks in an atlantic rainforest area, southeastern Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Rafael Alves Esteves
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Environmental Services ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Geographical Boundary ◽  
Terrestrial Mollusks

The invertebrate group is not considered in environmental studies. When they are remembered, the studies are vague, superficial and do not give the due importance that the group has in the ecosystem dynamics. This paper aimed at placing the terrestrial mollusks in the discussion agenda of complex socio-ecological systems and analyzed the interactions of these mollusks with the other components of the socio-ecological subsystems. The analysis was based on the theoretical-methodological framework proposed by Ostrom and discussed how terrestrial mollusks have the potential to support actions for decision-making in biodiversity conservation, public health and local economy. The framework presented four subsystems categorized as ecological, political, social and economic, with the Sooretama Biological Reserve in the Northern state of Espirito Santo as a geographical boundary. The results allow us to perceive that terrestrial mollusks have essential characteristics that reflect into ecosystem health, acting in an integrated way with the dynamics of environmental services and the equilibrium of habitats.

Holocene resource exploitation along the Nile: diet and subsistence strategies of Mesolithic and Neolithic societies at Khor Shambat 1, Sudan

Antiquity ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Julie Dunne ◽  
Maciej Jórdeczka ◽  
Marek Chłodnicki ◽  
Karen Hardy ◽  
Lucy Kubiak-Martens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Residue Analysis ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Nile Valley ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Faunal Remains ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Subsistence Strategies ◽  
Central Sudan ◽  
First Time ◽  
Human Subsistence

The subsistence practices of Holocene communities living in the Nile Valley of Central Sudan are comparatively little known. Recent excavations at Khor Shambat, Sudan, have yielded well-defined Mesolithic and Neolithic stratigraphy. Here, for the first time, archaeozoological, palaeobotanical, phytolith and dental calculus studies are combined with lipid residue analysis of around 100 pottery fragments and comparative analysis of faunal remains and organic residues. This holistic approach provides valuable information on changes in adaptation strategies, from Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to Neolithic herders exploiting domesticates. A unique picture is revealed of the natural environment and human subsistence, demonstrating the potential wider value of combining multiple methods.

How global dryland vegetation dynamics relate to changing climatic conditions and anthropogenic dynamics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christin Abel ◽  
Stéphanie Horion ◽  
Torbern Tagesson ◽  
Wanda De Keersmaecker ◽  
Alistair W.R. Seddon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Positive Effects

<p>Monitoring ecosystem dynamics is fundamental to understanding and eventually forecasting ecosystem states. To achieve this, it is crucial to identify and understand potential negative/ positive effects from a changing world on the system. As one key aspect of every ecosystem are the living organisms it involves, our research focuses on vegetation, since it has major implications for both the climate, because plants absorb carbon dioxide, and human well-being, because people depend on the products of plants. Specifically addressing global drylands, where vegetation productivity is tightly linked to the availability of water (mainly through rainfall), we quantify changes in vegetation functioning by analyzing the slopes of a sequential linear regression (SeRGS) over a time series of remote sensing data (NDVI and rainfall), as introduced in Abel et al., 2019. Further, we apply a data-driven, empirical approach to estimate the relative importance of potential drivers of identified changes, as in Abel et al., 2020 (in revision). We show that there are substantial regional and continental differences in vegetation functioning and that these trends can be linked to global trends of population expansion, large-scale agriculture intensification/ expansion and changing climatic conditions. Results from these studies, follow-up research and perspectives will be presented and discussed at EGU.</p><p>References:</p><p>Abel, C., Horion, S., Tagesson, T., Brandt, M., Fensholt, R. (2019). Towards improved remote sensing based monitoring of dryland ecosystem functioning using sequential linear regression slopes (SeRGS). Remote Sens. Environ. 224, 317–332.</p><p>Abel, C., Horion, S., Tagesson, T., De Keersmaecker, W., Seddon, A. W. R., Abdi A. M., Fensholt, R. (2020). How the human-environment nexus changes global dryland vegetation functioning, in revision.</p>

scholarly journals Modeling and simulation of complex dynamic musculoskeletal architectures

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaotian Zhang ◽  
Fan Kiat Chan ◽  
Tejaswin Parthasarathy ◽  
Mattia Gazzola
Keyword(s):  
Neural Control ◽  
Numerical Approach ◽  
Complex Dynamic ◽  
Uncertain Environments ◽  
Cosserat Rods ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Dynamic Structures ◽  
Musculoskeletal Systems ◽  
Muscle Connectivity ◽  
Potential Use

Abstract Natural creatures, from fish and cephalopods to snakes and birds, combine neural control, sensory feedback and compliant mechanics to effectively operate across dynamic, uncertain environments. In order to facilitate the understanding of the biophysical mechanisms at play and to streamline their potential use in engineering applications, we present here a versatile numerical approach to the simulation of musculoskeletal architectures. It relies on the assembly of heterogenous, active and passive Cosserat rods into dynamic structures that model bones, tendons, ligaments, fibers and muscle connectivity. We demonstrate its utility in a range of problems involving biological and soft robotic scenarios across scales and environments: from the engineering of millimeter-long bio-hybrid robots to the synthesis and reconstruction of complex musculoskeletal systems. The versatility of this methodology offers a framework to aid forward and inverse bioengineering designs as well as fundamental discovery in the functioning of living organisms.

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