Is fiscal deficit 'curse' or 'haven' for environmental quality in India? Empirical investigation employing battery of distinct ARDL approaches.

Undoubtedly, throughout the past half-century, environmental quality has emerged as a significant obstacle to both economic and social endeavors. Recent local and international policy debates have focused on environmental deterioration and global warming, but how governments balance economic growth and environmental sustainability is still enigmatic. For this reason, we have examined the determinants of environmental quality in India from 1972 to 2021. More specifically, we have investigated whether the fiscal deficit is 'curse' or 'haven' for environmental quality (CO2) in India. Moreover, this study deliberated four other predictors, comprising technological development (TIN), fossil fuel consumption (FFC), urbanization (Ub), and human capital index (HCI). In order to attain this objective, a range of econometric estimation techniques are employed to ensure the validity and reliability of the outcomes. For instance, we have employed a battery of ARDL approaches, such as standard ARDL, nonlinear ARDL, and multiple threshold NARDL approaches. In light of our research findings, we will be focusing directly on the examination of the NARDL and MTNARDL outcomes. This is due to the empirical evidence indicating the existence of asymmetric effects resulting from FD on CO2 emissions in India. The NARDL approach reveals that the consequence of fiscal deterioration is more pronounced, and the influence of fiscal progress is mild in terms of CO2 emission growth. Further, the outcomes of the MTNARDL approach revealed that the size of the extremely low changes in FD is much higher than the extremely high changes in FD in both models. This implies that as the FD rises, CO2 ascends more significantly, and when the FD lowers, CO2 declines progressively. In a nutshell, FD has a long-run positive and asymmetric impact on CO2 in India; thus, we may conclude that FD is considered the 'curse' for CO2 in India. Furthermore, TIN, HCI, and Ub have detrimental effects on CO2, whereas FFC stimulates CO2 in India. This research work provides some important policy implications for environmentalists, economists and macroeconomic policymakers to promote a green and healthy environment.

Non-linear effect of manufacturing on an environmental pollution index in Latin America.

Manufacturing is one of the primary sources of environmental pollution due to the emission of polluting gases and waste generation. This research aims to examine the manufacturing industry's effect on an environmental pollution index in nineteen Latin American countries using non-linear methods. The youth population, globalization, property rights, civil liberties, the unemployment gap, and government stability moderate the relationship between the two variables. The research has a temporal coverage between 1990 and 2017 and uses threshold regressions to verify the hypotheses. In order to obtain more specific inferences, we group countries according to the trade block and geographic region to which they belong. Our findings indicate that manufacturing has limited explanatory power for environmental pollution. This finding is supported by the fact that the manufacturing industry in the region is scarce. In addition, we find a threshold effect on the youth population, globalization, property rights, civil liberties, and government stability. Consequently, our results highlight the importance of institutional factors in designing and applying environmental mitigation mechanisms in developing regions.

Scenarios of environmental deterioration in the Paraopeba River, in the three years after the breach of B1 tailings dam in Brumadinho (Minas Gerais, Brazil).

The collapse of B1 dam at the Córrego do Feijão mine of Vale, S.A., located in the Ferro-Carvão stream watershed (Brazil), released 11.7 Mm3 of tailings rich in iron and manganese, and 2.8 Mm3 entered the Paraopeba River 10 km downstream. Seeking to predict the evolution of environmental deterioration in the river since the dam break on January 25, 2019, the present study generated exploratory and normative scenarios based on predictive statistical models, and proposed mitigating measures and subsides to ongoing monitoring plans. The scenarios segmented the Paraopeba into three sectors: "anomalous" for distances ≤63.3 km from the B1 dam site, "transition" (63.3-155.3 km), and "natural" (meaning unimpacted by the mine tailings in 2019; >155.3 km). The exploratory scenarios predicted a spread of the tailings until reaching the "natural" sector in the rainy season of 2021, and their containment behind the weir of Igarapé thermoelectric plant located in the "anomalous" sector, in the dry season. Besides, they predicted the deterioration of water quality and changes to the vigor of riparian forests (NDVI index) along the Paraopeba River, in the rainy season, and a restriction of these impacts to the "anomalous" sector in the dry season. The normative scenarios indicated exceedances of chlorophyll-a in the period January 2019-January 2022, but not exclusively caused by the rupture of B1 dam as they also occurred in areas not affected by the accident. Conversely, the manganese exceedances clearly flagged the dam failure, and persist. The most effective mitigating measure is likely the dredging of the tailings in the "anomalous" sector, but currently it represents solely 4.6 % of what has entered the river. Monitoring is paramount to update the scenarios until the system enters a route towards rewilding, and must include water and sediments, the vigor of riparian vegetation, and the dredging.

Nexus between stock markets, economic strength, R&D and environmental deterioration: new evidence from EU-27 using PNARDL approach.

This research investigates the impact of stock market indices, economic strength, and research and development expenditures on environmental deterioration in the EU-27 countries for the period 2000-2020. This study utilized linear and non-linear panel ARDL to estimate the short- and long-run effect. According to the results, the stock market indices have negative effect on environmental deterioration in the symmetric form. However, the asymmetric evidence shows that in the long run the positive shocks of stock market indices contribute positively to the environmental deterioration and negative shocks decrease the environmental deterioration. This effect is reversed in the short run. Linear effect of economic strength on environmental deterioration is positive. For non-linear effect, the long-run shocks show no difference. However, the negative shock of economic strength in the short run causes an increase in the environmental deterioration. Symmetric evidence for research and development increases environmental deterioration. However, asymmetric results show weak evidence. The study has policy implications in context of achieving sustainable development goals.

Is there a trade-off between financing current account deficits and environmental deterioration in developing countries? An empirical investigation for the validity of the pollution haven hypothesis.

The impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on environmental quality has been discussed in the environmental economics literature over the last decades. Within this scope, the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) postulates that FDI inflows can cause environmental degradation in developing countries. Using data over the period 1993-2018 for 10 developing countries with current account deficits, this paper aims to test the validity of the PHH. Therefore, the paper examines whether or not developing countries face off a trade-off between financing current account deficits and environmental deterioration. The paper employs panel data methods that consider cross-sectional dependence. The empirical findings show that foreign direct investment inflows have no impact on environment, meaning the PHH does not dominate for these countries. Hence, the findings indicate that there is no trade-off between financing current account deficits and environmental deterioration.

Evaluating the nexus between ongoing and increasing urbanization and carbon emission: a study of ARDL-bound testing approach.

The growing urbanization has created a substantial economic imbalance between the urban and rural households in the world's emerging economies and put a significant effect on carbon dioxide emissions. Simultaneously, many researchers have grown concerned by the significant consequences of urbanization on carbon emissions. In current research, we make an effort in Pakistan to investigate how urbanization affects the carbon emissions. In order to attain the intended goals of long run and short run investigation, we employed the most appropriate method of auto-regressive distributed lag model for time series data-set, while the vector error correction model, on the other hand, was employed to investigate causation. The estimated findings of the auto-regressive distributed lag model supported the association amongst the model's selected variables. In long and short run, the estimated findings approved that as the level of urbanization rises, so does the carbon emissions. Furthermore, the estimated results of the vector error correction model acknowledged the validity of short run unidirectional causal relationship from urbanization towards carbon emissions and from carbon emission towards energy consumption, as well as in short run, where economic growth one-way Granger generates the carbon emission. To summarize, based on the current findings, that reflects the significance of the underlined factors. The study recommends that government should prioritize the development of energy efficient and environment friendly strategies with respect to fast growing urbanization to control the carbon emission.

Bioética ambiental en perspectiva latinoamericana / Environmental Bioethics in a Latin American perspective / Bioética ambiental em perspectiva latino-americana

Resumen: El presente escrito desarrolla una búsqueda de los postulados ambientales inherentes al cuerpo epistemológico de la bioética, a partir de los escritos fundantes de dicho campo de estudio. Se incorporan en esa iniciativa bioeticistas latinoamericanos que hacia finales del siglo XX, a instancias de la Cumbre de la Tierra de 1992, promueven una bioética comprometida con una nueva convivencia con los ecosistemas. La metodología consistió en una revisión documental bajo el enfoque cualitativo en perspectiva hermenéutica, que incluyó la aplicación de programas para análisis de coocurrencia de campos semánticos. El periodo de revisión abarcó de 1970 a 2017, época en la cual se produjeron importantes informes a nivel mundial sobre la problemática ambiental. Como conclusión se obtuvo que en el ámbito de la bioética ambiental se consolidan postulados orientados a la defensa de la vida en cualquiera de sus expresiones biodiversas; la interdependencia de personas sanas en armonía con ecosistemas sanos; la estructuración de reglas ambientales para la adecuada interrelación entre áreas urbanas y zonas boscosas; y la promoción de la producción industrial y el consumo a escala humana, sin afectación de los entornos naturales.

Abstract: The present document develops a search for environmental postulates inherent in the epistemological body of bioethics, based on the founding writings of such field of study. Latin American bioethicists are incorporated into this initiative which by the end of the XX century, at the behest of the 1992 Earth Summit, promote bioethics committed to a new coexistence with ecosystems. The methodology involved a documentary review under the qualitative approach with a hermeneutic perspective, which included the implementation of programs for concurrency analysis of semantic fields. The review period covered the period between 1970 to 2017, during which there were important global reports on environmental issues. In conclusion, it was determined that in the field environmental bioethics, postulates are consolidated oriented to the defense of life in any of its biodiverse expressions; the interdependence of healthy people in harmony with healthy ecosystems; structuring environmental rules for the proper interrelationship between urban areas and forested areas; and the promotion of industrial production and consumption on a human scale, without affectation of natural environments.

Resumo: O presente texto desenvolve uma busca pelos postulados ambientais inerentes ao corpo epistemológico da bioética, a partir dos escritos fundadores desse campo de estudo. Incorporam-se nessa iniciativa bioeticistas latino-americanos que no final do século XX, por conta da Conferência Rio-92, promovem uma bioética comprometida com uma nova convivência com os ecossistemas. A metodologia consistiu numa revisão documental sob o enfoque qualitativo em perspectiva hermenêutica, que incluiu a aplicação de programas para a análise de coocorrência de campos semânticos. O período de revisão abarcou de 1970 a 2017, época na qual se produziram importantes relatórios a nível mundial sobre a problemática ambiental. Como conclusão, obteve-se que no âmbito da bioética ambiental se consolidam postulados orientados à defesa da vida em qualquer de suas expressões biodiversas; a interdependência de pessoas sãs em harmonia com ecossistemas sãos; a estruturação de regras ambientais para a adequada inter-relação entre áreas urbanas e zonas arborizadas; e a promoção da produção industrial e do consumo em escala humana, sem afetação dos meios naturais.

The limit of resistance to salinity in the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa is modulated by the rate of salinity increase.

The overall mean levels of different environmental variables are changing rapidly in the present Anthropocene, in some cases creating lethal conditions for organisms. Under this new scenario, it is crucial to know whether the adaptive potential of organisms allows their survival under different rates of environmental change. Here, we used an eco-evolutionary approach, based on a ratchet protocol, to investigate the effect of environmental change rate on the limit of resistance to salinity of three strains of the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Specifically, we performed two ratchet experiments in order to simulate two scenarios of environmental change. In the first scenario, the salinity increase rate was slow (1.5-fold increase), while in the second scenario, the rate was faster (threefold increase). Salinity concentrations ranging 7-10 gL-1 NaCl (depending on the strain) inhibited growth completely. However, when performing the ratchet experiment, an increase in salinity resistance (9.1-13.6 gL-1 NaCl) was observed in certain populations. The results showed that the limit of resistance to salinity that M. aeruginosa strains were able to reach depended on the strain and on the rate of environmental change. In particular, a higher number of populations were able to grow under their initial lethal salinity levels when the rate of salinity increment was slow. In future scenarios of increased salinity in natural freshwater bodies, this could have toxicological implications due to the production of microcystin by this species.

Comparación fisicoquímica y biológica entre efluentes de la producción de trucha arcoíris y la condición limnológica del Lago Guamuez, departamento de Nariño / Physicochemical and biological comparison between effluents from rainbow trout production and the limnological condition of Lake Guamuez, department of Nariño / Comparação físico-química e biológica entre efluentes da produção de trutas arco-íris e as condições limnológicas do lago Guamuez, departamento de Nariño

Resumen El estudio de lagos como fuentes de recursos naturales de diversa índole constituye una preocupación de entidades que regulan su manejo en conservación y producción sostenible en interacción de factores bióticos y abióticos que afectan el ecosistema. En consecuencia, éste proyecto puede generar información científica permanente para un plan de ordenamiento de la cuenca del lago Guamuez en cumplimiento de compromisos internacionales y nacionales en la conservación del humedal La Cocha. La presente investigación mediante 12 muestreos periódicos en cinco estaciones: 1. Intiyaco (E1), zona superficial (A) y zona profunda (B); las siguientes estaciones se ubicaron a partir de E1; estación 2. 50 metros (C); 3. 100 metros (D); 4. 150 metros (E) y 5. Centro del lago (F), análisis de varianza, prueba de normalidad y correlación, pretendió evaluar el efecto de las explotaciones acuícolas en jaulas flotantes sobre las variables fisicoquímicas y biológicas del lago Guamuez. La condición limnológica, presentó diferencias significativas entre aguas superficiales y profundas (respectivamente NH-N y DB, con P-PO, DQ, Colift y Coliff); el pH y NTU en A y B, difieren de los demás sitios evaluados. Existe mayor concentración (P<0,05) de OD y %O en estación 3. En el año 2008 las estaciones 1 y 5 señalan mayor media en la estimación de OD, pH, Dur y DB y para el año 2018, aumentó los parámetros limitantes hacia el centro del lago (NH-N, P-PO, NTU y Colift); así, el 70% de los parámetros de evaluación en el proyecto Intiyaco, aumentaron su estimación media entre los años 2008 y 2018 (DB, OD y %O). La concentración de E. coli presenta mayor media (P<0,05) en B y difiere de A, C, D, E y F; mientras fosfatos y Colift difieren (P<0,05) entre A y las estaciones B, C, D, E y F.

Abstract The study of lakes as sources of natural resources of various kinds constitutes a concern of entities that regulate their management in conservation and sustainable production in interaction of biotic and abiotic factors that affect the ecosystem. Consequently, this project can generate permanent scientific information for a management plan for the Guamuez Lake basin in compliance with international and national commitments in the conservation of the La Cocha wetland. The present investigation by means of 12 periodic sampling in five stations: 1. Intiyaco (E1), superficial zone (A) and deep zone (B); the following stations were located from E1; station 2. 50 meters (C); 3. 100 meters (D); 4. 150 meters (E) and 5. Center of the lake (F), analysis of variance, normality test and correlation, sought to evaluate the effect of aquaculture farms in floating cages on the physicochemical and biological variables of Lake Guamuez. The limnological condition showed significant differences between surface and deep waters (respectively NH-N and DB, with P-PO, DQ, Colift and Coliff); the pH and NTU in A and B, differ from the other sites evaluated. There is a higher concentration (P<0,05) of OD and %O in station 3. In 2008, stations 1 and 5 show a higher average in the estimation of OD, pH, Dur and DB and for 2018, the parameters increased limiting towards the center of the lake (NH-N, P-PO, NTU and Colift); Thus, 70% of the evaluation parameters in the Intiyaco project increased their average estimate between 2008 and 2018 (DB, OD and %O). The concentration of E. coli has a higher mean (P<0,05) in B and differs from A, C, D, E and F; while phosphates and Colift differ (P<0,05) between A and stations B, C, D, E and F.

Resumo O estudo de lagos como fontes de recursos naturais de vários tipos constitui uma preocupação de entidades que regulam seu manejo na conservação e produção sustentável na interação de fatores bióticos e abióticos que afetam o ecossistema. Consequentemente, este projeto pode gerar informações científicas permanentes para um plano de manejo da bacia do lago Guamuez, em conformidade com os compromissos internacionais e nacionais na conservação do pantanal de La Cocha. A presente investigação por meio de 12 amostragens periódicas em cinco estações: 1. Intiyaco (E1), zona superficial (A) e zona profunda (B); as seguintes estações foram localizadas a partir da E1; estação 2. 50 metros (C); 3. 100 metros (D); 4. 150 metros (E) e 5. Centro do lago (F), análise de variância, teste de normalidade e correlação, procuraram avaliar o efeito de fazendas de aquicultura em gaiolas flutuantes nas variáveis ​​físico-químicas e biológicas do lago Guamuez. A condição limnológica mostrou diferenças significativas entre águas superficiais e profundas (respectivamente NH-N e DB, com P-PO, DQ, Colift e Coliff); O pH e NTU em A e B diferem dos demais locais avaliados. Há uma maior concentração (P<0,05) de DO e %O na estação 3. Em 2008, as estações 1 e 5 apresentam uma média mais alta na estimativa de DO, pH, Dur e DB e, para 2018, os parâmetros aumentaram limitando em direção ao centro do lago (NH-N, P-PO, NTU e Colift); Assim, 70% dos parâmetros de avaliação no projeto Intiyaco aumentaram sua estimativa média entre 2008 e 2018 (DB, OD e %O). A concentração de E. coli tem uma média mais alta (P<0,05) em B e difere de A, C, D, E e F; enquanto os fosfatos e Colift diferem (P<0,05) entre A e as estações B, C, D, E e F.

Development of macroinvertebrate multimetric index for ecological evaluation of a river in North Central Nigeria.

A macroinvertebrate-based multimetric index was developed for River Chanchaga, North Central Nigeria. Macroinvertebrates and physicochemical variables were sampled seasonally between March 2017 and February 2018 from four stations: station 1 (least impacted control station) and three downstream stations 2, 3 and 4. A total of 29 macroinvertebrate metrics in four categories, richness, abundance, composition and diversity, were evaluated for their potential to discriminate between the stations, seasonal stability and redundancy. Of the 29 metrics, only 13 fulfilled all criteria and were then integrated into the final Chanchaga multimeric index (MMIchanchaga). Application of the newly developed multimetric index revealed that water quality at stations 2 and 3 was fair and that of station 4 was poor. Water quality deteriorated slightly during the rainy season compared with the dry season. In terms of the individual component metrics, EPT richness, EPT (%) and Shannon diversity were highly sensitive to water quality impairment. The Bray-Curtis similarity measure revealed that stations 2 and 3 were more similar compared with the similarity between other stations. Overall, the newly developed multimetric index proved useful and represents the first important step in such index development in Nigeria.

The nexus between carbon emissions, poverty, economic growth, and logistics operations-empirical evidence from southeast Asian countries.

This research examines the role of poverty and logistical operations under the circumstance of environmental deterioration with panel data of ASEAN states from 2007 to 2017. The system-generalized method of moments (GMM) was adopted due to the presence of endogeneity. The results indicate that poverty and logistical operations have significant and positive relationship with greater environmental degradation. Because poor people are not skilled, they have to consume natural resources in original and unsustainable way for their survival and profits, which results in greater level of deforestation. On another hand, lacking fuel-efficient/green vehicles and green practices in logistical operations of ASEAN countries, logistics activities mainly depend on fossil fuel consumption, which generates greater carbon emission, methane, and greenhouse emissions that can directly damage the environment and become a primary source of climate change. Therefore, reduction in environmental degradation can be achieved through reduction in poverty and encouraging renewable energy and green practices in logistical operations. In addition, this study also provides detailed policy implications to regulatory bodies and corporate sector in order to improve environmental sustainability through adoption of green practices and reduction in poverty.

Cambios en la comunidad de peces por efecto del desarrollo costero en el Parque Nacional Huatulco (México) / Changes in fish communities from the effect of coastal development in Huatulco National Park (Mexico)

Resumen El incremento del aporte de sedimentos desde tierra derivado del desarrollo costero y urbanización ha producido efectos adversos en la estructura y función de los arrecifes coralinos. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la magnitud de disturbios por aportes excesivos de sedimentos en la comunidad íctica de arrecifes coralinos de las bahías Maguey y Violín del Parque Nacional Huatulco (México). Los muestreos de peces se realizaron antes y después de disturbios ocasionados por aportes de sedimentos asociados a obras de desarrollo costero. Como indicadores de cambios en las comunidades de peces se utilizaron el número de especies, diversidad, equidad y dominancia antes y después de la perturbación. El análisis se realizó mediante pruebas de comparación de medias, análisis de similitud (ANOSIM) y análisis de porcentaje de similitud (SIMPER). En ambas localidades, se observó, que, excepto la dominancia, la diversidad, equidad, abundancia y número de especies fueron mayores previos a la perturbación. En Maguey se observaron diferencias significativas en la equidad y dominancia (U=28, p=0.0401; U=24, p=0.0472), así como en la composición de especies y la abundancia (ANOSIM=0.35, p=0.009). El análisis de porcentaje de similitud (SIMPER) indicó que posterior a la perturbación, el 46 % de especies presentaron una disminución en su abundancia, destacó la ausencia de Prionurus laticlavius, así como el decremento en la abundancia de: P. punctatus, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Microspathodon dorsalis, Lutjanus novemfaciatus y Stegates acapulcoensis. La inadecuada planeación y ejecución de proyectos de desarrollo costero que propiciaron aporte excesivo de sedimentos al mar determinaron cambios negativos en las comunidades coralinas de Maguey y Violín, cuyo efecto fue observado en la composición de especies, abundancia, equidad y dominancia de la comunidad de peces de Maguey.(AU)

Abstract Coastal development and urbanization have increased the sediments that are washed from the land surface, producing adverse effects on the structure and functioning of coral reefs. The objective of this study was to identify the degree to which excessive sediments have disturbed the fish community in the coral reefs in the Maguey and Violin bays, located in the Huatulco National Park (Mexico). Fish samples were collected before and after disturbances produced by sediments associated with coastal development projects. Indicators of changes in the fish communities included the number and diversity of species as well as equity and dominance before and after the disturbances. The analysis was performed through means comparison tests, similarity analysis (ANOSIM) and similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER). In both locations, it was observed that the diversity, evenness, abundance and number of species were higher prior to the disturbance, but not for dominance, which shows an inverse pattern. In Maguey, significant differences in evenness and dominance were observed (U = 28, p = 0.0401; U = 24, p = 0.0472), as well as in species composition and abundance (ANOSIM = 0.35, p = 0.009). The similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) indicated that after the disturbance, more than 46 % of the species showed decreases in average abundance, highlighting the absence of Prionurus laticlavius, as well as the decrease in abundance of: P. punctatus, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Microspathodon dorsalis, Lutjanus novemfaciatus and Stegates acapulcoensis. Inadequate planning and implementation of coastal development projects that contribute to the discharge of excessive sediments into the sea were determinants of negative changes in the coral communities in Maguey and Violin, whose effects could be seen in the composition of the species and the abundance, equity, and dominance of the fish community in Maguey.(AU)

Environmental changes in Ariake Sea of Japan and their relationships with Isahaya Bay reclamation.

This paper reviews the recent environmental deterioration in Ariake Sea, Japan, including an increased frequency of red tides and hypoxic waters and decreased fishery production. Analysis of the mechanisms of environmental deterioration suggests that it is possibly induced by the decrease in tidal flat area, decreases in the tide and tidal current and changes in the sediment environment. The Isahaya Bay reclamation project resulted in the loss of 1550 ha of tidal flats, and is one of the possible reasons for the decreases in the tide and tidal current. Therefore, some fishermen and researchers believe that opening the reclamation project dike's floodgates is an effective environmental restoration countermeasure for Ariake Sea. However, the central government decided not to open the floodgates at present due to strong opposition from local farmers, and some researchers believe that the influences of the Isahaya Bay reclamation project on the environmental changes outside of Isahaya Bay are minor. Several lawsuits regarding these relationships and the opening of the dike's floodgates are currently under dispute. To revive Ariake Sea as a sustainable ecosystem, other countermeasures for environmental restoration are suggested and discussed in this paper.

Abundance and distribution of benthic foraminifera as indicators of the quality of the sedimentary environment in a subtropical lagoon, Gulf of California.

Abundance and spatial distribution of benthic foraminifera were used to evaluate the impacts of anthropogenic activities on sediment quality in a coastal lagoon in the Gulf of California. In 1985 and 2013, 27 samples of superficial sediments were collected. The foraminifera genera Ammonia, Cribroelphidium, Quinqueloculina and Peneroplis were dominant in both years. The abundance of Ammonia increased from 41% to 60%, while Peneroplis abundance decreased from a maximum of 50% in 1985 to 7% in 2013. The greater abundance of Ammonia and the greater spatial coverage of Ammonia and Cribroelphidium suggest a marked environmental deterioration in the quality of the sedimentary environment, which contrasts with studies of trace elements in the sediment of this lagoon. The Foram Stress Index indicates that sediment quality has deteriorated over time, likely due to the effects of anthropogenic activities around the lagoon.

Marked reduction in demographic rates and reduced fitness advantage for early breeding is not linked to reduced thermal matching of breeding time.

Warmer springs may cause animals to become mistimed if advances of spring timing, including available resources and of timing of breeding occur at different speed. We used thermal sums (cumulative sum of degree days) during spring to describe the thermal progression (timing) of spring and investigate its relationship to breeding phenology and demography of a long-distant migrant bird, the northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe L.). We first compare 20-year trends in spring timing, breeding time, selection for breeding time, and annual demographic rates. We then explicitly test whether annual variation in selection for breeding time and demographic rates associates with the degree of phenological matching between breeding time and thermal progression of spring. Both thermal progression of spring and breeding time of wheatears advanced in time during the study period. But despite breeding on average 7 days earlier with respect to date, wheatears bred about 4 days later with respect to thermal spring progression. Over the same time period, selection for breeding time changed from distinct within-season advantage of breeding early to no or very weak advantage. Furthermore, demographic rates (nest success, fledgling production, recruitment, adult survival) and nestling weight declined markedly by 16%-79%. Those temporal trends suggest that a reduced degree of phenological matching may affect within-season fitness advantage of early breeding and population demographic rates. In contrast, when we investigate links based on annual variation, we find no significant relationship between either demographic rates or fitness advantage of early breeding with annual variation in the degree of phenological matching. Our results show that corresponding temporal trends in phenological matching, selection for breeding time and demographic rates are inconclusive evidence for demographic effects of changed phenological matching. Instead, we suggest that the trends in selection for breeding time and demographic rates are due to a general deterioration of the breeding environment.

A new conservation strategy for China-A model starting with primates.

Although the evolutionary history of primates in China dates to the Eocene, and includes major radiations of lorisids, hominoids, cercopithecines, and colobines during the Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene, extensive human-induced habitat change and deforestation over the past few centuries has resulted in 22 of 25 extant species listed as threatened or endangered, and two species of gibbons extirpated in the last few years. This commentary briefly reviews factors that have contributed to the decline of primates in China over the past 400 years, and in particular how major social events and economic development in modern China have resulted in unsustainable environmental change. In response, we describe our efforts to develop a strategic scientific, educational and conservation partnership in China, focusing on primates, in which GIS technology will be used to integrate geographical profiles, climatic information, and changes in land use patterns and human and nonhuman primate distributions to highlight issues of immediate concern and to develop priority-based conservation solutions. Our goal is to evaluate how human-induced environmental change has impacted primates over time and to predict the likelihood of primate population extinctions in the near future. This model represents an early warning system that will be widely available to the Chinese government, public, educational institutions, researchers, and NGOs through social media and educational videos in order to arouse public awareness and promote wildlife conservation. We encourage colleagues across a broad range of academic disciplines, political ideologies, and the public to help move this strategy into reality, the sooner the better. Am. J. Primatol. 78:1137-1148, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Deterioração físico-conservacionista da sub - bacia hidrográfica do Rio Ibicuí-Mirim - RS / Physical-conservationist deterioration in the sub-watershed of the Ibicuí-Mirim River, RS, Brazil

O presente trabalho trata do diagnóstico da deterioração físico-conservacionista realizado na Sub-bacia hidrográfica do Rio Ibicuí-Mirim, localizado no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Em uma área que corresponde a 8.882,50 ha e foi dividida em 49 microbacias. A metodologia consistiu em determinar o coeficiente de rugosidade (RN), a partir das características físicas das microbacias e utilizá-lo para a distribuição das classes de aptidão de uso da terra. O diagnóstico da área mostrou que o nível de deterioração físico-ambiental na Sub-bacia do Rio Ibicuí-Mirim é de 30,16 por cento. O estudo da aptidão do solo mostrou que 28,8 por cento da área da sub-bacia tem vocação florestal, 32,5 por cento para agricultura/urbanização, 28,6 por cento para pastagem/urbanização e 10,1 por cento para pastagem/floresta.

The present work concerns a physical-conservationist deterioration diagnosis carried out in the sub-watershed of the Ibicuí-Mirim river, located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The study area is 8.882,50 ha in size, and was divided into 49 micro-watersheds. The methodology consisted in determining the Ruggedness coefficient (RN) from the physical properties of the micro-watershed, and classifying the coefficient into land-use classes. The diagnosis of the area showed that the level of environmental deterioration in the Ibicuí-Mirim sub-watershed is 30.16 percent. Land-use classification concluded that 28.8 percent of the area of the sub-watershed is indicated for forestry, 32.5 percent for agriculture or urbanization, 28.6 percent for pasture or urbanization, and 10.1 percent for pasture or urbanization.

Pteridofitas indicadoras de alteración ambiental en el bosque templado de San Jerónimo Amanalco, Texcoco, México

Pteridophytes that indicate environmental alteration in the temperate forest of San Jerónimo Amanalco, Texcoco, México. Pteridophytes that indicate environmental alteration in the San Jerónimo Amanalco temperate forest, Texcoco, Mexico. The patterns of distribution of 26 pteridophyte species were studied as possible indicators of environmental alteration in the temperate forest of San Jerónimo Amanalco, Texcoco, State of Mexico. The presence and abundance of the pteridoflora was studied in relation to edaphic, topographic and vegetation variables in 100 sampling locations within an area of 494 hectares. The relationship between these variables was studied using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. Five landscapes were recognized in the study zone according to the degree of deterioration: severe erosion, erosion, mountain with moderate reversible deterioration, mountain with no evident deterioration, and canyon with no evident deterioration. Cheilanthes bonariensis and Pellaea ternifolia are indicators of environmental degradation. The taxa that only grow in landscapes without apparent alteration are Adiantum andicola, Adiantum poiretii, Argyrochosma incana, Asplenium blepharophorum, Dryopteris pseudo filix-mas, Equisetum hyemale and Pteris cretica. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (2): 641-656. Epub 2008 June 30.

Se estudiaron los patrones de distribución de 26 especies de pteridofitas como posibles indicadoras de alteración ambiental en los bosques templados de San Jerónimo Amanalco, Texcoco, Estado de México. La presencia y abundancia de la pteridoflora se relacionó con variables edáficas, topográficas y de vegetación en 100 sitios de muestreo en un área de 494 ha. Con base en el Análisis Canónico de Correspondencia se pudo explorar la relación entre variables. Se determinaron cinco paisajes en el área de estudio con base al grado de deterioro: erosión severa, erosión, montaña con deterioro moderado reversible, montaña sin deterioro aparente y cañada sin deterioro aparente. Cheilanthes bonariensis y Pellaea ternifolia son indicadores de deterioro ambiental. Los táxones que únicamente crecen en paisajes sin alteración aparente son: Adiantum andicola, Adiantum poiretii, Argyrochosma incana, Asplenium blepharophorum, Dryopteris pseudo filix-mas, Equisetum hyemale y Pteris cretica.