Nest architecture and demography of the non leaf-cutting fungus-growing ant species Mycocepurus goeldii and M. smithii (Attini: Formicidae) were studied in an agroforest habitat near Manaus, Brazil during the excavation of 13 nests. Both species built their nests in two different ways. The first type possessed a “tree-like” architecture, in which a vertical tunnel led downwards and lateral tunn...

Urban community gardens worldwide provide significant health benefits to those gardening and consuming fresh produce from them. Urban gardens are most often placed in locations and on land in which soil contaminants reflect past practices and often contain elevated levels of metals and organic contaminants. Garden plot dividers made from either railroad ties or chromated copper arsenate (CCA) p...

OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of gardens and outdoor spaces on the mental and physical well-being of people with dementia who are resident in care homes and understand the views of people with dementia, their carers, and care home staff on the value of gardens and outdoor spaces. DESIGN Systematic review. METHODS Fourteen databases were searched from inception to February 2013. Forward an...

In eastern North America, body size of the larval ant lion Myrmeleon immaculatus increases from south to north, following Bergmann's rule. We used a common-garden experiment and a reciprocal-transplant experiment to evaluate the effects of food and temperature on ant lion growth, body size, and survivorship. In the laboratory common-garden experiment, first-instar larvae from two southern (Geor...

INTRODUCTION Poor mental health in childhood has implications for health and wellbeing in later life. Natural space may benefit children's social, emotional and behavioural development. We investigated whether neighbourhood natural space and private garden access were related to children's developmental change over time. We asked whether relationships differed between boys and girls, or by hous...

UNLABELLED Garden soils were investigated as reservoirs and potential sources of pathogenic Legionella bacteria. Legionella bacteria were detected in 22 of 177 garden soil samples (12%) by amoebal coculture. Of these 22 Legionella-positive soil samples, seven contained Legionella pneumophila Several other species were found, including the pathogenic Legionella longbeachae (4 gardens) and Legion...

OBJECTIVES Objectives were to review the literature on horticultural therapy and describe the Danderyd Hospital Horticultural Therapy Garden and its associated horticultural therapy programme. DESIGN The literature review is based on the search words 'gardening', 'healing garden' and 'horticultural therapy'. The description is based on the second author's personal knowledge and popular-scient...

a genuine movement of increased awareness and increased concern for animals that is occurring in many countries,” he said. “There are even signs of great ape movements in countries that have not traditionally shown concern for animals.” Singer, who wrote the 1975 book Animal Liberation, a rallying cry for rights and protection for animals, said that the animal rights movement has shifted away f...