ecological understanding
Recently Published Documents


TOTAL DOCUMENTS

170
(FIVE YEARS 50)

H-INDEX

25
(FIVE YEARS 3)

2022 ◽  
Vol 289 (1966) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah N. Sells ◽  
Michael S. Mitchell ◽  
David E. Ausband ◽  
Angela D. Luis ◽  
Douglas J. Emlen ◽  
...  

Ecologists have long sought to understand space use and mechanisms underlying patterns observed in nature. We developed an optimality landscape and mechanistic territory model to understand mechanisms driving space use and compared model predictions to empirical reality. We demonstrate our approach using grey wolves ( Canis lupus ). In the model, simulated animals selected territories to economically acquire resources by selecting patches with greatest value, accounting for benefits, costs and trade-offs of defending and using space on the optimality landscape. Our approach successfully predicted and explained first- and second-order space use of wolves, including the population's distribution, territories of individual packs, and influences of prey density, competitor density, human-caused mortality risk and seasonality. It accomplished this using simple behavioural rules and limited data to inform the optimality landscape. Results contribute evidence that economical territory selection is a mechanistic bridge between space use and animal distribution on the landscape. This approach and resulting gains in knowledge enable predicting effects of a wide range of environmental conditions, contributing to both basic ecological understanding of natural systems and conservation. We expect this approach will demonstrate applicability across diverse habitats and species, and that its foundation can help continue to advance understanding of spatial behaviour.


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-47
Author(s):  
Bin Wu ◽  
Nesta Devine

Neoliberalism promotes the self as an enterprise. The entrepreneuring self originates from a western concept of autonomic individualism, which in its extreme form, gives rise to narcissist leadership in neoliberal times. Narcissist leaders are efficient in achieving neoliberal indicators and outcomes for personal gain. This leadership style is detrimental to the public good and democracy. Critiques of narcissist leadership could benefit from using an alternative ontological perspective: a Confucian notion of the self as an ecological being.


Author(s):  
Javier Zulategui Beñarán

ResumenExiste un interés cada vez mayor por conseguir ciudades responsables con el medio ambiente y que dialoguen mejor con la naturaleza. Son muchos los elementos que intervienen en este diálogo: apostar por la sostenibilidad, reformular el paisaje urbano, profundizar en la relación de la ciudad con su entorno circundante o comprender mejor los flujos de energía y materia que en ella tienen lugar. Pero existen varios obstáculos. Al menos a lo largo de los últimos tres siglos, naturaleza y ciudad han sido entendidos en gran medida como opuestos. Es necesario superar la divergencia entre ciudad y naturaleza para poder plantear futuros escenarios urbanos ambientalmente adecuados. Esta investigación analiza históricamente cómo ha ido madurando la división entre ciudad y naturaleza para entender cómo se ha producido esta escisión. El trabajo tiene dos objetivos: 1) rastrear tanto el discurso urbano como el ambiental que a lo largo del siglo XIX y XX fue reforzando la escisión entre ciudad y naturaleza; 2) Identificar en el pasado autores urbanistas (a través de tres actitudes urbanas: paisajística, sostenible y ecológica) que se esforzaron por el encuentro entre ambas realidades. Comprender el pasado urbano y ambiental a través de un mismo discurso permite descubrir los propósitos ambientales que el urbanismo debería perseguir y ayuda a reforzar las estrategias y planteamientos urbanos futuros.AbstractThere is a growing interest in ensuring cities that are in better dialogue with nature. In this dialogue, many elements are involved: a commitment to sustainability, a reformulation of the urban landscape, a deeper inderstanding of the relationship between the city and its surrounding environment or a greater comprehension of the fluxes of energy and matter that take place in the city. There are, however, notable barriers. For at least the last three centuries, nature and city have been understood largely as opposites. From an environmental approach, the divergence between city and nature needs to be overcome if suitable urban solutions are to be found in the future. This research analyses, in a historical perspective, how the city-nature división has developed in order to understand how this split has come about. The study has two objectives: 1) to trace both the urban and environmental discourse that throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries reinforced the city-nature rupture; 2) To identify past city planners that strived for the convergence of both realitiesthrough three urban attitudes (landscape, sustainable, and ecological). Understanding the urban and environmental past through a single narrative allows us to explore the environmental goals that urban planning should chase and helps to reinforce future urban strategies and approaches.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Lindert ◽  
Ingo Schäfer

Abstract Background Little is known about Syrian refugees ‘perspectives on substance use. Syrians have been the largest groups of refugees in Germany since 2014. To investigate Syrian refugees’ perspectives on substance use we applied a qualitative study design. Methods Five semi-structured focus group discussions with a total of 19 refugees were conducted in 2019 among the difficult to reach population of Syrian refugees. Audio recordings were translated and transcribed, and inductive thematic was analysis conducted. Results The following common themes were identified: (a) perception that substances are widely accepted and available in Germany; (b) availability of substances is linked to rules and norms in Germany which are different in Syria, (c) and to the intention to escape not only the past (d) but the present and finally that (e) mental health professional treatment for substance use is associated with shame. Conclusions Findings support Syrian refugees ‘perspectives of substance use as a way of escaping past and present in a socio-ecological understanding which includes past and present exposures. Understanding the explanatory model of Syrian refugees can inform future interventions to prevent substance abuse and design tailored interventions. Further studies with Syrian refugees in more countries are needed to better understand resettled refugees’ perspectives on substance use. Messages The intention to escape past and present elucidates links between the context of using substances and context of feeling rejected. Context specific knowledge of substance use is necessary which includes past and present factors.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105-108
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Essington

“Why Fit Models to Data?” is a brief introductory chapter that sets the stage for the forthcoming chapters and serves as a link between Part 1, which contains the introductory chapters on mathematical ecology, and Part 2, which contains the statistical analyses of the models presented in Part 1: Part 1 illustrated how models can be used to make inferences about the real world, to help clarify ecological understanding, aid decision-making, and evaluate risk. However, if models are presented as hypotheses written in mathematical form, then it becomes possible to use statistical methods to determine which hypotheses have the greatest support. Part 2 will focus on developing statistical tools so that the reader will be able to express hypotheses as mathematical models, fit the models to data, and assess the degree of support for each. The chapter also illustrates the limitations of null-hypothesis testing in decision-making in high-dimensional, multicausal systems.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Andreyev

Lessons from a Multispecies Art Studio presents new critical discourse and applied methods based on the author’s own research and art practice called Animal Lover. Each chapter narrates the creative processes of one project, coming into contact with the worlds of canines, salmon, birds and forest communities, and how these encounters transformed the author’s outlook on the Earth and all of life.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document