Modelling categorical data to identify factors influencing concern for the natural environment in Iran

Phenotypic differentiation of the slow worm lizards (Squamata: Anguis) across their contact zone in Central Europe

Background

The application of molecular-phylogenetic approaches to taxonomy has had a dramatic effect on our understanding of the diversity of reptiles. These approaches have allowed researchers to reveal previously hidden lineages as well as taxonomic overestimation in morphologically plastic taxa. Slow worms, legless lizards of the genus Anguis (Squamata: Anguidae), were previously considered to comprise either one or two species, and morphology-based intraspecific taxonomy of Anguis fragilis remained controversial throughout the 20th century. After the discovery of deep genetic divergences within the genus, its taxonomy was reconsidered, and as a result, five extant species have been recognized. In order to better understand the patterns of their interspecific differentiation, here we studied phenotypic differences between the two most widespread of them—A. fragilis and A. colchica, and their putative hybrids across the contact zone of both species in Central Europe.

Methods

We used multivariate and univariate statistics and analyzed ten metric, eleven meristic, and six categorical phenotypic variables in material comprising a total of 326 individuals. We also genotyped individuals from the contact zone for one mitochondrial and two nuclear DNA fragments in order to delineate the distribution of individuals of hybrid and non-hybrid origin. The clines in morphological traits were studied using HZAR.

Results

We show that the two species are morphologically differentiated. Anguis fragilis has a less robust head, fewer scales covering the body, lower frequency of the external ear opening presence, lower frequency of separated prefrontal scales, higher frequency of prefrontal scales in contact with each other, and body coloration more similar to the juvenile coloration than A. colchica. Slow worms from the contact/hybrid zone are characterized by an intermediate morphology, with more similarities to A. fragilis than to A. colchica.

Discussion

None of the analyzed characters alone proved to be fully diagnostic, although more than 90% of all individuals could be successfully assigned to one or another species based on numbers of scales around the body. Our results indicate concordant, coincident, and steep clines in character states change. We present several hypotheses on the origin and evolutionary maintenance of the morphological divergence between both species and suggest that different evolutionary histories of the taxa rather than recently acting selection explain the observed morphological variation.

Infrastructure-driven development and sustainable development goals: Subjective analysis of residents' perception

Belt and Road initiatives (BRI) transportation infrastructural development project started a new bilateral relationship amongst countries and acquired an important position to contribute to tourism and sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030. The SDG1 (Poverty alleviation) and SDG 15 (Environmental protection) are globally highly challenging goals. Therefore, the current study using an integrative conceptual model addresses the fundamental role of BRI in achieving SDG 1 and SDG 15 in the presence of tourism development (TD) as a mediating variable. Based on stakeholder theory, using subjective analysis, the present study examines residents' perception of the BRI transportation infrastructural development, tourism development, SDG 1, and SDG 15. Using a self-administered questionnaire, collected a sample of 800 questionnaires data. The structural equation modelling analysis (SEM) indicated that the residents' perceive that the BRI transportation infrastructural development as a catalyst positively contributing to achieving SDG 1; however, it negatively correlates with SDG15. Besides, residents' perception of tourism development partially mediates between BRI transportation infrastructural development and SDG1 and SDG15. The study contributes to stakeholder theory and understanding residents' perceptions that may help key stakeholders in future policy and planning.

How public environmental concern affects the sustainable development of Chinese cities: An empirical study using extended DEA models

China is now facing the formidable tasks of saving energy and reducing emissions, so it is very important to analyze China's energy and environmental efficiency. However, previous studies have rarely paid attention to the cross-impacts that different forms of public environmental concern (PEC) have simultaneously on energy and environmental efficiency. To investigate how these two types of efficiency change along with PEC variations, this paper employs six extended programming models which are developed based upon the theory of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the directional distance function (DDF). An empirical analysis of data from 239 Chinese prefecture-level cities demonstrates the techniques. The empirical results show that PEC variations can significantly affect the environmental efficiency only if the city is experiencing unsustainable development. This work also shows that PEC about input resources may exaggerate the environmental efficiency, implying that the public may be more tolerant of resource over-consumption than of pollutant over-emission.

Challenges to the future development of Iran's protected areas system

Since the 1950s, there has been a continuous increase in the number and coverage of protected areas (PAs) in Iran, and in total 253 PAs have been declared that cover 10.12 % of the country's area. This paper reviews literature addressing Iran's PAs, examines what is known about them, highlights the challenges and lessons learned, and identifies areas where more research is needed. The PA system in Iran is criticized because of (1) shortages of manpower, equipment, and financial resources; (2) de jure PAs that are often implemented as de facto reserves; (3) lack of national biodiversity indicators and objective monitoring processes; and (4) limited public participation and conflict between people over PAs. To improve, Iran's PAs system needs to be realistically supported by policies and planning instruments. In addition, the implementation of active management to restore habitat, increase education and awareness, shift practices towards the guidelines of international organizations, build capacity, and improve management and co-management by local communities needs to occur.