Hasil untuk "Human ecology. Anthropogeography"

P. Hessburg, P. Hessburg, Carol Miller et al.

Resilience and resistance concepts have broad application to ecology and society. Resilience is an emergent property that reflects the amount of disruption a system can withstand before its structure or organization uncharacteristically shift. Resistance is a component of resilience. Before the advent of intensive forest management and fire suppression, western North American forests exhibited a naturally occurring resilience to wildfires and other disturbances. Using evidence from ten ecoregions, spanning forests from Canada to Mexico, we review the properties of these forests that reinforced those qualities. We show examples of multi-level landscape resilience, of feedbacks within and among levels, and how conditions have changed under climatic and management influences. We highlight geographic similarities and differences in the structure and organization of historical landscapes, their forest types, and in the conditions that have changed resilience and resistance to abrupt or large-scale disruptions. We discuss the regional climates’ role in episodically or abruptly reorganizing plant and animal biogeography, and forest resilience and resistance to disturbances. We give clear examples of these changes and suggest that managing for resilient forests is a construct that is strongly dependent on scale and social values. It involves human community adaptations that work with the ecosystems they depend on and the processes that shape them. It entails actively managing factors and exploiting mechanisms that drive dynamics at each level as means of adapting landscapes, species, and human communities to climate change, and maintaining core ecosystem functions, processes, and services. Finally, it compels us to prioritize management that incorporates ongoing disturbances and anticipated effects of climatic changes, to support dynamically shifting patchworks of forest and nonforest. Doing so will make these shifting forest conditions and wildfire regimes more gradual and less disruptive to individuals and society.

Mak Ahmad, Andrew Macvean, JJ Geewax et al.

Enterprise API design is often bottlenecked by the tension between rapid feature delivery and the rigorous maintenance of usability standards. We present an industrial case study evaluating an AI-assisted design workflow trained on API Improvement Proposals (AIPs). Through a controlled study with 16 industry experts, we compared AI-generated API specifications against human-authored ones. While quantitative results indicated AI superiority in 10 of 11 usability dimensions and an 87% reduction in authoring time, qualitative analysis revealed a paradox: experts frequently misidentified AI work as human (19% accuracy) yet described the designs as unsettlingly "perfect." We characterize this as a "Perfection Paradox" -- where hyper-consistency signals a lack of pragmatic human judgment. We discuss the implications of this perfection paradox, proposing a shift in the human designer's role from the "drafter" of specifications to the "curator" of AI-generated patterns.

David Lefutso, Abiodun A. Ogundeji, Gideon Danso-Abbeam et al.

Flood risk in South Africa remains a problem due to climate change, rapid urbanisation and persistent disparities in the region and low-income urban households are disproportionately impacted because of poor access to affordable flood insurance. This paper constructs the Integrated Market Flood Risk Insurance Framework (IMFRIF) based on a qualitative, desk-based research design consisting of contextual policy analysis, systematic literature review and analytical synthesis through systems thinking. The policy and document analysis reviewed the legislation on national disaster management, insurance and industry reports to determine institutional and market limitations on the provision of flood insurance. A PRISMA-ScR systematic literature review filtered 312 records on Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, which led to the identification of 47 peer-reviewed articles and 15 policy and comparative case studies. Thematic analysis led to the identification of six prevailing clusters of barriers based on the influence on insurance uptake, which included affordability and product design, trust and risk perception, data and risk assessment gaps, regulatory capacity, multi-stakeholder coordination, and community engagement. The results of these studies were used to design the IMFRIF, a system incorporating 9 major stakeholder groups and 5 interdependent system components into a single market-based design. The framework provides a systematic foundation to the resolution of systemic exclusion of flood insurance, but specifically acknowledges the implementation limitations regarding data availability, regulation capacity, fiscal sustainability and communal level of trust. The IMFRIF is placed as a progressive and responsive system that offers a point of future empirical confirmation and policy implementation to promote inclusive disaster risk financing in South Africa and comparable low- and middle-income contexts.

Sigurður Kristinsson

Book review

Marion Jay, Gonzalo Cortés‐Capano, Romina Martin et al.

Abstract Protected areas have become the most widespread strategy for nature conservation, and are currently expanding worldwide. Many of them are inhabited or close to inhabited areas, shaping and being shaped by connections between people and nature. These connections are not always positive. Social fragmentation, in the form of conflicts and disconnections from nature, represents a major challenge for biodiversity conservation in protected areas. Assessing the multiple forms of people's connections with nature has shown pivotal to the development of conservation strategies that integrate ecological and social benefits. However, understanding how people articulate the role of protected areas in shaping their connections with nature remains overlooked in the literature. We use a narrative approach to investigate connections of people to protected areas based on seven dimensions: material, experiential, cognitive, emotional, philosophical, cultural and institutional. Using five protected areas in a multifunctional landscape in Central Germany as case studies, we explored narratives of connection based on in‐depth analysis of 38 semi‐structured interviews. Our main findings highlight that: (i) Narratives allow us to describe complex human–nature connections in protected areas; (ii) the novel framework of seven human–nature connections uncovered learning, regional heritage, care, multifunctional production and collaborations as key themes to better understand people's connection to nature in protected areas; (iii) different ways of connecting to nature, such as emotional, experiential and material connections, are closely linked; and (iv) the five narratives present overlaps that point at implications for protected area policy and practice. We discuss how protected areas can contribute to a reconnection to nature by reinforcing links between all dimensions of connections; considering the complexity associated with material connections; recognizing the importance of non‐material values of protected areas; improving the articulation of multiple knowledge; and supporting collaboration and trustful relationships. We argue that, to further contribute to cultural landscapes' sustainability, protected areas should focus on creating the conditions to foster diverse human–nature connections. Narratives can thereby help to identify new alliances and put nature protection and protected areas at the core of society and landscapes, rather than isolating them in conservation niches or silos. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Chitralekha Gupta, Hanjun Wu, Praveen Sasikumar et al.

Wearable devices are transforming human capabilities by seamlessly augmenting cognitive functions. In this position paper, we propose a voice-based, interactive learning companion designed to amplify and extend cognitive abilities through informal learning. Our vision is threefold: (1) to enable users to discover new knowledge on-the-go through contextual interactive quizzes, fostering critical thinking and mindfulness, (2) to proactively detect misinformation, empowering users to critically assess information in real time, and (3) to provide spoken language correction and prompting hints for second language learning and effective communication. As an initial step toward this vision, we present Factually - a proactive, wearable fact-checking system integrated into devices like smartwatches or rings. Factually discreetly alerts users to potential falsehoods via vibrotactile feedback, helping them assess information critically. We demonstrate its utility through three illustrative scenarios, highlighting its potential to extend cognitive abilities for real-time misinformation detection. Early qualitative feedback suggests that Factually can enhance users' fact-checking capabilities, offering both practical and experiential benefits.

Callie Y. Kim, Christine P. Lee, Bilge Mutlu

Large-language models (LLMs) hold significant promise in improving human-robot interaction, offering advanced conversational skills and versatility in managing diverse, open-ended user requests in various tasks and domains. Despite the potential to transform human-robot interaction, very little is known about the distinctive design requirements for utilizing LLMs in robots, which may differ from text and voice interaction and vary by task and context. To better understand these requirements, we conducted a user study (n = 32) comparing an LLM-powered social robot against text- and voice-based agents, analyzing task-based requirements in conversational tasks, including choose, generate, execute, and negotiate. Our findings show that LLM-powered robots elevate expectations for sophisticated non-verbal cues and excel in connection-building and deliberation, but fall short in logical communication and may induce anxiety. We provide design implications both for robots integrating LLMs and for fine-tuning LLMs for use with robots.

Huili Chen, Sharifa Alghowinem, Cynthia Breazeal et al.

In this paper, we introduce a novel conceptual model for a robot's behavioral adaptation in its long-term interaction with humans, integrating dynamic robot role adaptation with principles of flow experience from psychology. This conceptualization introduces a hierarchical interaction objective grounded in the flow experience, serving as the overarching adaptation goal for the robot. This objective intertwines both cognitive and affective sub-objectives and incorporates individual and group-level human factors. The dynamic role adaptation approach is a cornerstone of our model, highlighting the robot's ability to fluidly adapt its support roles - from leader to follower - with the aim of maintaining equilibrium between activity challenge and user skill, thereby fostering the user's optimal flow experiences. Moreover, this work delves into a comprehensive exploration of the limitations and potential applications of our proposed conceptualization. Our model places a particular emphasis on the multi-person HRI paradigm, a dimension of HRI that is both under-explored and challenging. In doing so, we aspire to extend the applicability and relevance of our conceptualization within the HRI field, contributing to the future development of adaptive social robots capable of sustaining long-term interactions with humans.

Ayodeji O. Abioye, William Hunt, Yue Gu et al.

Formal Modelling is often used as part of the design and testing process of software development to ensure that components operate within suitable bounds even in unexpected circumstances. In this paper, we use predictive formal modelling (PFM) at runtime in a human-swarm mission and show that this integration can be used to improve the performance of human-swarm teams. We recruited 60 participants to operate a simulated aerial swarm to deliver parcels to target locations. In the PFM condition, operators were informed of the estimated completion times given the number of drones deployed, whereas in the No-PFM condition, operators did not have this information. The operators could control the mission by adding or removing drones from the mission and thereby, increasing or decreasing the overall mission cost. The evaluation of human-swarm performance relied on four key metrics: the time taken to complete tasks, the number of agents involved, the total number of tasks accomplished, and the overall cost associated with the human-swarm task. Our results show that PFM modelling at runtime improves mission performance without significantly affecting the operator's workload or the system's usability.

Aigul R. Salikhova

The folkloric character Khoja Nasreddin is widely known in different countries. A cheerful and resourceful hero for many centuries has become an expression of feelings and sentiments of the eastern peoples, their wit, freedom and rebellion. Currently, numerous examples of not only folk, but also professional art are dedicated to him. The image of Khoja is presented in them in different aspects and sometimes transforms under the influence of the creative individuality of its authors. This article is devoted to various interpretations of the classical history of Khoja Nasreddin on the stage. The article examines dramatic performances of G. Kamal Theatre, a puppet show of the National Theater, which became a continuation of the sketch created at the theatre laboratory in Sviyazhsk, a musical production of the Opera Studio in cooperation with the Tatarica Orchestra of the Kazan Conservatory.

Wisdom Richard Mgomezulu, Paul Thangata, Daniel Njiwa

The impact of trade liberalization on Malawi’s economy has been a hotly debated topic. To shed light on the subject, a study was conducted using the PEP-1–1 CGE model and the latest Malawi’s Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) from 2019. The results were eye-opening, revealing the potential effects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on various sectors of the economy. The removal of trade tariffs is predicted to have a significant impact on prices, with a decrease of 26.31% in the agricultural sector alone, services (−7.88%), public administration (−9.92%), and manufacturing and industry (−11.23%) imposing hopes of improving food affordability and food security. However, it is expected to have adverse impacts on wage rates in the agricultural sector (−18.78%), manufacturing and construction (−19.01%), services (−2.79%) and public administration (−15.81%). Additionally, while exports are expected to increase, the country’s balance of payments may suffer as imports are likely to outweigh foreign earnings. This could also lead to a decrease in government revenue from taxes. To mitigate these effects, the study suggests implementing export restructuring strategies, particularly in industries like manufacturing and construction, and promoting diversification of local production to boost competitiveness and improve wage rates. With these measures in place, the government will not only offset potential losses but also tap into new sources of taxable income.

K. Teichman, B. Cristescu, L. Crevier et al.

ABSTRACT Landscapes used for livestock agriculture are common worldwide and have the potential for wildlife-human conflict, particularly when carnivores prey on livestock. Identifying habitat features that influence carnivore movements in livestock areas can help mitigate conflict. The caracal (Caracal caracal) is a common mesopredator on farms in southern Africa. We used Step Selection Functions to identify habitat selection of Global Positioning System collared male caracal (n = 8) along their movement paths on private farmlands in a semiarid region of South Africa. In the wet season, some caracals selected rugged terrain but high elevations were avoided by certain individuals. Electric fences were avoided, whereas some animals moved close to farm buildings. Many caracals selected shrubland and avoided main roads, but the opposite movement choices were documented for some individuals. Plowed fields were consistently avoided. In the dry season, caracal movements were similar to those recorded in the wet season, but there was greater variability in individual choices. On the basis of model averaging, caracals appeared to move closer to electric fences in the dry season, but such patterns were not significant from individual-level analyses. Because some caracals avoided, whereas others selected, the same habitats or anthropogenic features and model averaging could not detect those differences, we recommend that whenever possible, individual movement choices of predators are assessed. For caracals and other carnivores that prey on livestock, understanding the ecology of individuals as opposed to exclusively population-level habitat choices may be more informative for conflict mitigation.

Matthew Hines, Gregory Glatzer, Shreya Ghosh et al.

The interaction between elephants and their environment has profound implications for both ecology and conservation strategies. This study presents an analytical approach to decipher the intricate patterns of elephant movement in Sub-Saharan Africa, concentrating on key ecological drivers such as seasonal variations and rainfall patterns. Despite the complexities surrounding these influential factors, our analysis provides a holistic view of elephant migratory behavior in the context of the dynamic African landscape. Our comprehensive approach enables us to predict the potential impact of these ecological determinants on elephant migration, a critical step in establishing informed conservation strategies. This projection is particularly crucial given the impacts of global climate change on seasonal and rainfall patterns, which could substantially influence elephant movements in the future. The findings of our work aim to not only advance the understanding of movement ecology but also foster a sustainable coexistence of humans and elephants in Sub-Saharan Africa. By predicting potential elephant routes, our work can inform strategies to minimize human-elephant conflict, effectively manage land use, and enhance anti-poaching efforts. This research underscores the importance of integrating movement ecology and climatic variables for effective wildlife management and conservation planning.

T. Gerwing, Virgil C. Hawkes, George D. Gann et al.

Within the burgeoning field of restoration ecology, defining the concept of reclamation relative to rehabilitation and ecological restoration is important to enhance comparability between studies, as well as to enable clear communication of project specific methods and goals. The Society for Ecological Restoration's international standards (SER Standards), second edition, defines reclamation as “the process of making severely degraded land fit for cultivation or a state suitable for some human use.” However, we posit that this definition, and its anthropogenic focus, does not well match how the term is often used by practitioners, and in some legal or agency documents. Further, the relationship between restoration, rehabilitation, and reclamation is unclear. We propose a more specific term and definition, ecological reclamation: “the process of assisting the recovery of severely degraded ecosystems to benefit native biota through the establishment of habitats, populations, communities, or ecosystems that are similar, but not necessarily identical to surrounding and naturally occurring ecosystems.” This definition emphasizes that the objective of a reclamation project may not be direct human use, and begins to better distinguish between ecological reclamation, rehabilitation, and ecological restoration; however, more work and discussion on these relationships is required. Distinguishing these terms will result in better comparisons between studies, improving current and future literature reviews. Further, this term will also enable practitioners to better define project goals, and enhance communication to stakeholders, practitioners, and researchers.

Valentin Amrhein, Sander Greenland

This is a reply to Muff, S. et al. (2022) Rewriting results sections in the language of evidence, Trends in Ecology & Evolution 37, 203-210.

Sunnie S. Y. Kim, Elizabeth Anne Watkins, Olga Russakovsky et al.

Despite the proliferation of explainable AI (XAI) methods, little is understood about end-users' explainability needs and behaviors around XAI explanations. To address this gap and contribute to understanding how explainability can support human-AI interaction, we conducted a mixed-methods study with 20 end-users of a real-world AI application, the Merlin bird identification app, and inquired about their XAI needs, uses, and perceptions. We found that participants desire practically useful information that can improve their collaboration with the AI, more so than technical system details. Relatedly, participants intended to use XAI explanations for various purposes beyond understanding the AI's outputs: calibrating trust, improving their task skills, changing their behavior to supply better inputs to the AI, and giving constructive feedback to developers. Finally, among existing XAI approaches, participants preferred part-based explanations that resemble human reasoning and explanations. We discuss the implications of our findings and provide recommendations for future XAI design.

Richard G. Freedman, Joseph B. Mueller, Jack Ladwig et al.

Robots that interact with humans in a physical space or application need to think about the person's posture, which typically comes from visual sensors like cameras and infra-red. Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms use information from these sensors either directly or after some level of symbolic abstraction, and the latter usually partitions the range of observed values to discretize the continuous signal data. Although these representations have been effective in a variety of algorithms with respect to accuracy and task completion, the underlying models are rarely interpretable, which also makes their outputs more difficult to explain to people who request them. Instead of focusing on the possible sensor values that are familiar to a machine, we introduce a qualitative spatial reasoning approach that describes the human posture in terms that are more familiar to people. This paper explores the derivation of our symbolic representation at two levels of detail and its preliminary use as features for interpretable activity recognition.

آزیتا بلالی اسکویی, پرستو جعفری

انسان فطرتاً موجودی اجتماعی است و فضای احاطه کننده وی، محل شکل گیری و برقراری روابط اجتماعی اوست. میزان و چگونگی اثرگذاری محیط بر عملکرد انسان، همواره یکی از دغدغه‌های مهم طراحان محیطی بوده است. در این بین بازارها به عنوان مکان‌هایی عمومی، پررونق و پر رفت و آمد، در درجه بالایی از اهمیت قرار دارند. هدف از این تحقیق دستیابی به مؤلفه‌های اثرگذار کالبد بر تعامل موجود در آن و بررسی میزان نقش فضای بازار تبریز به عنوان نمونه زنده و پویایی از بازارهای سنتی ایران، بر تعاملات موجود در آن است. در این تحقیق از دو روش توصیفی_تحلیلی و روش پیمایشی برای بررسی تعاملات اجتماعی و تأثیر کالبد بر میزان تعاملات استفاده شده که پس از به دست آوردن مؤلفه‌های نحو فضای بازار و تعاملات اجتماعی به بررسی تأثیر بازار بر تعاملات و مقایسه تطبیقی فعالیت‌های مختلف یک مجموعه به وسیله نرم افزار تخصصی نحو فضا (دپث مپ) می‌پردازد؛ سپس با کمک پرسشنامه، میزان تأثیر کالبد بر تعاملات موجود در بازار را ارزیابی می‌کند. از جمله سراهای این بازار دو سرای امیر و دودری هستند که از نظر کارکرد و شکل هندسی متفاوت از یکدیگر بوده و تعاملات متفاوتی ایجاد می‌نمایند. نتایج تحقیق حاکی از آن است که سه عامل ارتباط، هم‌پیوندی و کنترل تأثیر مستقیمی بر میزان دسترسی، نفوذپذیری و انعطاف‌پذیری فضایی دارند که هر سه این عوامل از جمله عوامل ارتقای تعاملات اجتماعی از منظر نحو فضا هستند؛ بررسی نحو فضا در هر دو سرا نشانگر تأثیر مرکزی بودن فضا و ورودی‌ها بر ارتقای رفت و آمد و متمرکز کردن مخاطب و محوری بودن این دو مورد بر جذب کمتر مخاطب و ایجاد فضاهای دنج برای تعاملات اجتماعی است. بررسی عوامل کالبدی بیانگر تأثیر مثبت کف‌سازی مناسب، امکان رؤیت، خوانایی، استفاده از عناصر طبیعی در میزان تعاملات اجتماعی بوده و هرکدام از مؤلفه‌های مبلمان مناسب، دسترسی و فضاهای مکث در دو سرا متفاوت بوده که بیانگر تفاوت در میزان تعامل در دوسرا هستند.

O. Seehausen, G. Takimoto, D. Roy et al.

P. Lesiczka, K. Hrazdilová, Karolina Majerová et al.