Abstract Bird populations associated with agricultural ecosystems have declined markedly in Europe during the last quarter of the 20th century due to land-use intensification. This has meant that some very common species, in some cases even species considered as pests, are now threatened or subject to management programs to ensure their conservation. Considered pests of crops and predators of small game species, corvids are among the most persecuted common farmland birds. The consideration that these birds are pests lacks any scientific evaluation and is justified by the subjective impression that they are abundant. Here, using estimates of absolute and relative abundances of both the total and the breeding population, we show how jackdaws Corvus monedula have shown a marked negative population trend in central Spain during the last 40 years. Decline involves the loss of multiple colonies, the apparent absence of the species as a breeder in riverside forests, and an overall numerical decrease of about 75% (from 35,000 to 9000 individuals) according to counts in communal roosts. The population decline seems to be more pronounced in areas where land use has been intensified, probably in response to the reduction in the availability of once-abundant food (i.e., invertebrates and weed seeds) but also due to more direct effects such as intoxication and medium to long-term accumulation of agricultural pollutants which may have also affected reproduction and survival. Intensive hunting over decades has undoubtedly contributed to this decline and should therefore be made forbidden urgently. Generally, it seems that high-intensity agricultural management more drastically affects smaller and less adaptable common species, which are expected to decline before and at a higher extent and magnitude than jackdaws. Given that global population estimates based on direct counts of individuals are readily achievable through simultaneous counts in communal roosts, the jackdaw can serve as a model for assessing temporal trends potentially linked to large-scale anthropogenic modifications of open and agricultural environments.

Abstract The Belai beel serves as an important aquatic resource for the livelihood of the local community of the Gazipur district in Bangladesh. However, water pollution in recent times, mainly from industrial wastes and sewage effluents, may disrupt its aquatic environment. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to assess the potential area of pen fish culture in the Belai beel. The study was performed in the Rajbagan (L1), Kamaria (L2) and Rewla (L3) areas of the Belai beel. Grass carp, silver carp, common carp, catla and rui of 20–30 cm in size were stocked at a rate of 15,000 fish/ha and reared for 150 days in pens installed in the L1, L2 and L3 areas, respectively. The fishes were fed with mustard oil cake and rice bran. Maximum fish production was found in Rewla (12.97 ton/ha/150 days)compared to Rajbagan (8.85 ton/ha/150 days) and Kamaria (10.67 ton/ha/150 days) due to it having comparatively good quality water. There were significant differences in metal ion concentrations (p < 0.05) among the three fish pens. In the Rajbagan area, concentrations of Cd and Cu in the water coming from the industrial effluent canal exceeded the acceptable limit. Results indicated that the Rewla area was better than Rajbagan and Kamaria due to it having relatively good quality water for pen fish culture.

Abstract Understanding how small mammals (SM) are associated with environmental characteristics in olive groves is important to identify potential threats to agriculture and assess the overall conservation value and functioning of agro-ecosystems. Here, we provide first insights on this topic applied to traditional olive groves in northeast (NE) Portugal by assessing the landscape attributes that determine SM occurrence, focusing on one species of conservation concern (Microtus cabrerae Thomas 1906) and one species often perceived as a potential pest of olives (Microtus lusitanicus Gerbe 1879). Based on SM genetic non-invasive sampling in 51 olive groves and surrounding habitats, we identified seven rodent species and one insectivore. Occupancy modelling indicated that SM were generally less detected within olive groves than in surrounding habitats. The vulnerable M. cabrerae reached a mean occupancy (95% CI) of 0.77 (0.61–0.87), while M. lusitanicus stood at 0.37 (0.24–0.52).M. cabrerae was more likely to occur in land mosaics with high density of agricultural field edges,while M. lusitanicus was more associated with high density of pastureland patches. Overall, our study suggests that the complex structure and spatial heterogeneity of traditionally managed olive grove agro-ecosystems may favor the occurrence of species-rich SM communities, possibly including well-established populations of species of conservation importance, while keeping potential pest species at relatively low occupancy rates.

Abstract Place identity is an important constituent of general cultural identity, in that it provides its share of continuity, sustainability, and character to the built environment. The image of cultural heritage is stored knowledge that reflects the identity of a specific culture. In the formation of a place, some features gain identity with the environment. This study aims to explore the evolving image formation of wind towers in Dubai, and how this image is related to the concept of meaning and cultural identity of the place. This study focuses on the process of place identity formation and its relation to the evolving cultural values of society, as well as how it is applied to the changing meaning of cultural heritage objects. Based on the value assessment approach, different examples of wind towers, taken from either traditional houses or contemporary buildings influenced by the local architecture in Dubai, the author attempted to study how the interpretation and meaning of wind towers has evolved through time, thus influencing the cultural identity of Dubai city. This study is based on qualitative research. It concludes that a wind tower, as a cooling device, represents a unique example of an evolving creative process of architectural expression, resulting from the social and cultural complexity of the Persian Gulf in the early twentieth century. They were introduced through commercial exchange, adapted by the mercantile community, and integrated into localcultural systems—thus creating new architectural features and urban character—and reintroduced as a modern symbol of cultural identity for Dubai and the UAE.