Ecology

Sustainable tourism is widely recognized as a solution that benefits the environment, economy, and social and cultural aspects. Ecotourism stands out as a tangible demonstration of sustainable tourism practices. Therefore, the focus of this research is on the implementation of ecotourism in Tista Village, Tabanan Regency, Bali. The main objective is to explore the effectiveness of implementing eco-tourism in mitigating negative impacts in the field of tourism. Using a qualitative approach that is conducted in a naturalistic setting. Purposive sampling technique is utilized to select informants. Data was collected through observation, document analysis, and structured interviews. The data collected are processed using descriptive qualitative, with data reduction steps to summarize the main elements, data submissions, as well as conclusions. The research findings that the implementation of ecotourism in Tista Village succeeded in providing various positive impacts for the community an...

A revision of the generic classification of the Ethiopian Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) PUBLJSHED BY THE' SOCIETY 41 QUEEN'S GATE, LONDON S.W.7. Price 15s. Od. A revision of the generic classification of the Ethiopian Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera)*

Phenol is an important pollutant widely discharged as a component of hydrocarbon fuels, but its degradation in cold regions is a great challenge due to the harsh environmental conditions. To date, there is little information available concerning the biodegradation of phenol by indigenous Antarctic bacteria. This study addresses the isolation of three phenol-degrading bacterial strains from King George Island, Antarctica. Based on preliminary screening, three isolates (AQ5-05, AQ5-06 and AQ5-07) capable of completely degrading 0.5 g/L phenol within 120 h at 10 °C were selected for detailed study. Two were identified as Arthrobacter spp., and one Rhodococcus sp., based on 16S rRNA sequences. All strains were non-motile, Gram positive, oxidase negative and catalase positive. A study on the effects of parameters including temperature, pH, salinity and nitrogen source was conducted to optimise the conditions for phenol degradation. This revealed that the three isolates were psychrotolerant with the optimum temperature for phenol degradation between 10 and 15 °C. This study suggests the potential use of cold-adapted bacteria in the bioremediation of phenol over a wide range of low temperatures.

Speleothems are useful in detecting past geoenvironmental events. Variations in trace element concentrations may constitute a diagnostic of volcanic eruptions, enabling both dating and environmental impact assessment. This work attempts to detect possible 'signatures' of past volcanic eruptions in speleothems from Zoodochos Pigi cave on Santorini. Higher-than-usual concentrations of elements and minerals (e.g. barium and monazite respectively) exotic to typical speleothem chemistry in a band within a flowstone retrieved from the cave were revealed through SEM-EDS and XRD analyses and thought to be of volcanic origin. By chance, charcoal trapped in the said speleothem band allowed dating to establish the timing of the volcanic event. The radiocarbon date pointed towards the historically documented Hiera eruption, the earliest of a series of volcanic eruptions that postdate the Minoan eruption. The Hiera eruption, although less violent than the Minoan eruption, signallised the recrudescence of intracaldera activity which culminated in the formation of Palea Kameni (197 BC) with palpable effects on the regional environment. The interpretation of the results presented here, i.e. geochemical analysis on speleothems and radiocarbon dating, are crosscorrelated with the well-documented timeline of eruptions of Santorini and ancient literature.

This paper mainly explores the research scope of the impact of a child-friendly campus landscape on children's learning and social behavior, adopts a mixed research method combining qualitative and quantitative research, and selects two primary schools with different landscape characteristics in HeZe City, China as research objects and conducts a comparative study on them. The research data obtained by the comparison show that the child-friendly campus environment can stimulate students' interest in learning and promote interpersonal communication among students. However, the child-friendly campus landscape also has certain limitations, which will be further expanded and improved in future studies.

Comparative data from field observations in August 2005 and 2013 on phytoplankton and epiphyton productivity in the Ivankovo and Uglich reservoirs (Upper Volga) are presented. The average chlorophyll content (Chl a) varies from 7.6 ± 1.6 to 39.1 ± 0.7 μg/L in plankton and from 6.6 ± 2.8 to 28.4 ± 4.2 mg/m 2 of the substrate in epiphyton; the daily primary production values are 0.55-1.64 mg C/L and 0.10-0.68 g C/m 2 of substrate, respectively. Interannual different-direction changes in the development of the two communities have been identified. In the conditions of more intensive heating in 2013, Chl a content in plankton increased by factors of 1.5-2.5 when compared to 2005, while in epiphyton it decreased by factors of 2-3.5 times. In the Ivankovo Reservoir, abounding in large shallow areas, phytoplankton of the pelagic zone accounted for a lower proportion of algae biomass and primary production (66.6-78.6%) than in the Uglich Reservoir (86.5-97.0%), while, on the contrary, the share of epiphyton in the former reservoir (22.2 and 14.2% in 2005; 8.2 and 4.6% in 2013) was 1.8-5.1 times higher than in the latter.

The COVID-19 lockdown has been regarded as a catalyst for the restoration of natural water bodies worldwide. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impacts of the lockdown on the water quality of the Kelani River, Sri Lanka. The water quality downstream of the Kelani River Basin was greatly improved during the lockdown season, The concentration of biological oxygen demand (BOD) decreased downstream by ~46% during the lockdown, while that in the middle and upstream reduced by 7.1% and 5.0%, respectively. The concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was diminished by around 65%, 52%, and 43% in downstream, middle stream, and upstream, respectively, in the lockdown season. However, in post-lockdown season, upstream showed the highest spatial variation in nitrate concentration, which may be due to excessive use of fertilizers in that region. Many industries temporarily shut down or scaled back operations during the lockdown, which allowed for a large reduction in the dischar...

The growth, yield, and carbon content of eight-month old seedlings of Pongamia pinnata were compared under water and urea supplementation. One set of plants were subjected to water stress condition (WS), whereas the other supplied with 2 g of urea (WS+U) under WS. Both the experimental set ups were exposed to varying treatment levels which include full irrigation (100%, control) followed by 75% (T1), 50% (T2), 25% (T3) and 12.5% (T4). The growth, leaf area and relative water content were maximum under WS when compared to WS+U (p < 0.001). The maximum biomass was produced in the seedlings under WS in control (1.68 g) followed by T1 (1.38 g), T2 (1.53 g), T3 (0.93 g) and T4 (0.73 g). A significant (p < 0.001) reduction in biomass production was observed in WS+U in control (1.28 g), T1 (0.66 g), T2 (1.13 g) and T3 (0.44 g). T4 of WS+U showed similar biomass (0.73 g) as that of T4 of WS. Under WS, the highest biomass allocation was recorded in shoots followed by leaves and roots. ...

South west Aceh has potential natural resources in the form of mangrove fruit, one of which is Sonneratia sp or pedada fruit. Pedada fruit has not been used optimally, therefore it is necessary to provide training and assistance for the use of pedada fruit as a processed food ingredient in the form of mangrove chocolate. The purpose of this research is (1) To provide knowledge to the public about the importance of the benefits of mangroves in terms of nutrition of mangrove fruit as food. (2) To introduce various types of processed mangrove foods to the community. Descriptive analysis method using a qualitative approach. Descriptive proximate analysis by knowing the nutritional content of mangrove chocolate. The parameters measured were the content of protein, vitamin C, fat, water, ash, and carbohydrates. The chemical characteristics of mangrove chocolate for 100g with 40% Sonneratia alba fruit composition contains 7.65% protein, 12.30% vitamin C, 14.6% fat, 12.5% water, 0.7% ash co...

An eco-washland is increasingly getting attentions as a new alternative plan for management of water resources because of role as flooding control and ecological park without social and ecological side effects. However, there is a lack of study regarding technological development and ecological guidelines to create eco-washland. This study was carried out to suggest ecological guidelines necessary for engineering process to create eco-washland. A study site was the lower reach of Seokjang stream connecting to Yimjin river, a candidate of new eco-washland, and Kumsa area in Namhan river was selected as a reference site. The analysis of ecological characteristics focused on vegetation, fishes, and birds. Major vegetation communities, composed of dominant species such as Salix koreensis, Salix gracylistyla, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Phragmites communis, etc., formed physical conditions along with other land uses including open water, sandbar, cultivated land, etc. Dominant species of fishes were some species belonging to Cyprinidae and Acheilognathinae, and in case of birds Anser albifrons, Anas platyrhychos, Anas poecilorhyncha belonging to waterbirds and Paradoxornis webbinanus dependent to forest edge were dominantly distributed. The results showed that complex wetland types associated with partially deep water and upland was the optimal eco-hydrological condition of washland. Cyprinidae and Acheilognathinae in case of fish and Egretta spp. (spring season) and Anas spp. (winter season) in case of bird were selected as target species for the these wetland types. Finally, a detail planning criteria to create habitats of these target species were discussed in terms of spawning, breeding, feeding, resting, refuge, nesting, etc.

In a parasite species, the dispersal of individuals should be dependent on the host species to which they are specialized; thus, any sexual/individual difference in host specificity may influence their dispersal patterns and, hence, population genetic structures. However, such predictions remain poorly verified in generalist avian brood parasites that are composed of multiple lineages of host-specific races. Here, we show the dispersal consequences inferred from spatial genetic structures and their association with host specificity in brood parasitic common cuckoos Cuculus canorus in which female-specific host race formation has been widely accepted. Genetic sampling from adult cuckoos confirmed restricted dispersal in both sexes and resultant genetic structures between populations where different host species breed allopatrically, whereas it was not the case between distant areas inhabited by the same host species. Contrary to the female host race hypothesis, our results demonstrat...

This study examines the impact of globalisation on traditional architecture and the preservation efforts for traditional architecture on Lagos Island, Nigeria. The architectural landscape of Lagos Island reflects a rich cultural and historical heritage influenced by Portuguese, British, and indigenous Yoruba architectural styles. However, globalisation has led to significant changes in architectural practices, materials, and preferences, displacing traditional architecture in urban areas. A qualitative research approach was employed in this study, and data were collected from eight participants who are architects using semi-structured interviews. This study employed thematic analysis for the interview transcript and developed five themes. The findings reveal that globalisation has shifted from traditional building practices and materials to modern ones, such as reinforced concrete and steel, glass facades, and sleek designs. This shift is driven by the desire to adopt Western architectural styles associated with modernity and progress. As a result, traditional architecture has been relegated to rural areas and is no longer viewed as relevant in urban settings. Imported materials and technologies further erode traditional architecture and cultural values. Cultural identity erosion is a significant concern as traditional architecture loses its distinctiveness to global styles, leading to a homogenised architectural landscape. Loss of intangible cultural values exacerbates this erosion. However, globalisation also brings positive impacts, including new ideas, materials, and construction techniques that foster innovation and diversity in architectural styles. However, efforts to preserve and promote traditional architecture on Lagos Island face several challenges, including rapid urbanisation, the lack of awareness and appreciation among the younger generation, inadequate maintenance and funding, and the absence of comprehensive legal protection and planning policies. Recommendations for preserving traditional architecture in response to these challenges include im-

Single-molecule experimental techniques and theoretical approaches reveal that important aspects of virus biology can be understood in biomechanical terms at the nanoscale. A detailed knowledge of the relationship in virus capsids between small structural changes caused by single-point mutations and changes in mechanical properties may provide further physics-based insights into virus function; it may also facilitate the engineering of viral nanoparticles with improved mechanical behavior. Here, we used the minute virus of mice to undertake a systematic experimental study on the contribution to capsid stiffness of amino acid side chains at interprotein interfaces and the specific noncovalent interactions they establish. Selected side chains were individually truncated by introducing point mutations to alanine, and the effects on local and global capsid stiffness were determined using atomic force microscopy. The results revealed that, in the natural virus capsid, multiple, mostly hy...

Sizing individual nanoparticles and dispersions of nanoparticles provides invaluable information in applications such as nanomaterial synthesis, air and water quality monitoring, virology, and medical diagnostics. Several conventional nanoparticle sizing approaches exist; however, there remains a lack of high-throughput approaches that are suitable for low-resource and field settings, i.e., methods that are cost-effective, portable, and can measure widely varying particle sizes and concentrations. Here we fill this gap using an unconventional approach that combines holographic on-chip microscopy with vapor-condensed nanolens self-assembly inside a cost-effective hand-held device. By using this approach and capturing time-resolved in situ images of the particles, we optimize the nanolens formation process, resulting in significant signal enhancement for the label-free detection and sizing of individual deeply subwavelength particles (smaller than λ/10) over a 30 mm(2) sample field-of...

A new halo-alkaline sulfur-oxidising bacterial strain was isolated from brackish estuary sediments contaminated by total petroleum hydrocarbon. The isolate was classified as a new strain of Thioalkalivibrio sulfidiphilus sp., showing a higher capability of adaptation to pH and a higher optimal sodium concentration for growth, when compared to Thioalkalivibrio sulfidiphilus sp. HL-EbGr7, type strain of the species. The strain was capable to grow in saline concentrations up to 1.5 M Na+ and pH up to 10. The genome of the new isolate was sequenced and annotated. The comparison with the genome of Thioalkalivibrio sulfidiphilus sp. HL-EbGr7 showed a duplication of an operon encoding for a putative primary sodium extruding pump and the presence of a sodium/proton antiporter with optimal efficiency at halo-alkaline conditions. The new strain was able to oxidize sulfide at halo-alkaline conditions at the rate of 1 mmol/mg-N/h, suitable for industrial applications dedicated to the recovery o...

In questo resoconto sono annotate le segnalazioni più significative relative all’avifauna selvatica osservata durante il 2022 nell’altipiano della Lessinia. Tra i dati di maggior rilievo raccolti nel corso del 2022 si ricordano: le prime segnalazioni in questi resoconti di combattente, croccolone, falaropo beccosottile e allodola golagialla. Inoltre: tuffetto, cavaliere d’Italia, piro piro piccolo, cicogna nera, airone bianco maggiore, grifone, civetta nana, picchio cenerino, ghiandaia marina, martin pescatore, bigia padovana, pispola golarossa, venturone alpino e migliarino di palude.

Coriander, fenugreek, nigella etc. are collectively known as seed spices. They are "High value and low volume crops" and considered cash crops for the growers of arid and semiarid regions of India. Coriander, fenugreek and nigella are grown during the rabi season and take hardly 130-140 days to attain full maturity. In this context, farmers are not able to develop income from available arable land round the year, even though they have sufficient resources as well as manpower. Therefore, coriander, fenugreek and nigella-based cropping systems, four of each (total 12) were evaluated during 3 consecutive years (2019-20 to 2021-22) for their productivity, resource-use efficiency, economics and soil fertility. The results showed that among the seed spices-based cropping systems, maximum system productivity (5193 kg ha -1 ), production efficiency (18.81 kg ha -1 day -1 ), water-use efficiency (2.31 kg ha -1 mm -1 ), economic efficiency (11.85 US $ ha -1 day -1 ), net return (3270 US $ ha -1 ), benefit:cost ratio (3.27) and available N (165.6 kg ha -1 ) were observed under nigella-green coriander-mungbean cropping system. Hence, seed spices growers are recommended to adopt nigella-green coriander-mungbean cropping system in order to realize better productivity, resource-use efficiency, soil fertility and profitability.

Nepal hosts 16 plant species of CITES appendix. The CITES appendix II includes Cyathea spp. (tree fern, Family Cyatheaceae) and the appendix III includes Cycas pectinata (Family Cycadaceae). During an ecological survey of Churiya hills of eastern Nepal, these two rare and endangered plants have been recorded in their natural habitats. The Churiya in eastern Nepal receives relatively high precipitation, and for its steep slopes with erodible poor soil, Churiya has very little to offer for agriculture and human settlement keeping the natural forest intact. However, the human population growth in the area has put pressure on the habitat and threatened the rare plants.Key words : Ecology; Forest; Fossil plants; Threatened speciesDOI: 10.3126/njst.v10i0.2827Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Volume 10, 2009 December Page: 69-72   

The increase in temperature due to global warming is affecting forest ecosystems worldwide. At the treeline ecotone growth is usually restricted by low temperatures. Recently, the impacts of climate change have been visible with the upward shift of the Himalaya fir (Abies spectabilis) in Nepal. Rhododendron campanulatum D. Don grows at the treeline ecotone and subalpine forest. Hardly any studies have been carried on this species in Nepal. The local people have reported that this species has been seen colonizing upper altitude in recent years, however, these needs to be verified with dendroecological studies. The study aims to assess the response of R. campanulatum to climatic variability and to evaluate the relationship of its basal diameter (Groundline) and age using dendroecological methods. Results reveal that the basal diameter was found to be significantly correlated with age (r2= 0.824, p<0.00001). Using the basal diameter age equations, attempts were made to study the age...

Wetlands support exceptionally high biodiversity and provide valuable ecosystem services, yet they are among the most threatened habitats due to anthropogenic activities. Conservation and management planning of wetlands requires, among others, a comprehensive floristic account. In this study, we prepared a checklist of the flowering plants found in the wetlands of the Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley (LCPV), a Ramsar site of Nepal, located in a rapidly urbanizing capital city of Gandaki Province in Central Nepal. Voucher specimens were collected from the study sites through multiple visits during the monsoon (June-August) and autumn (September-November) seasons. Species were categorized based on their life forms (Raunkiaer’s classification) and native distribution range (native, naturalized, invasive). Ethno-botanical uses of the plant species were compiled from the published literature. We identified 230 plant species belonging to 70 families and 177 genera. Asteraceae (25 species), ...

This paper is aimed to study the tree line dynamics of Himalayan silver fir (Abies spectabilis D. Don) based on its tree-ring data and age stand distribution at Langtang National Park, Central Nepal. Climatic response on radial growth, recruitment of A. spectabilis and its age distribution are carried out. The average tree density of the species in the study area (total 48 plots of 20 m x 20 m) was 236 no/ha while that for sapling and seedling in the study area was 255 and 350 no/ha, respectively. The stand character and age distribution of the species showed a high level of recruitment in the recent decades, with decreased in average age along with increased altitude. Tree-growth climate relationship showed negative response with temperature of March-May. Upward advancement of tree line is expected in the coming recent decades though not necessarily uniform through the line.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v12i0.6506 Nepal Journal of Science and Technology 12 (2011) 220-229 

Species dynamics in an abandoned urban forest of Central Japan is described in this paper. The dominant species in the urban plantation were Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa. A variety of eight patches of the canopy was produced by previous forest management practices. Progressive and retrogressive species dynamics within these eight patches are investigated in this paper. The study elucidates the deterministic role of patchiness in the nature of species colonization and the maintenance of species diversity in an urban forest. Altogether 139 native and/or naturalized species, including 23 shrub and 35 tree species, were recorded in the study area of 3.2 ha. The performance of species varied according to their successional attributes indicating a selective canopy influence. Twenty percent of the tree species were shade‐intolerant pioneers (e.g. Cornus spp., Rhus javanica var. roxburghii) re‐established under selective tree‐felling. Thirty percent were shade‐tolerant clim...

Environmental factors promote symbiosis, but its mechanism is not yet well understood. The alga Pseudocladophora conchopheria grows only on the shell of an intertidal gastropod Lunella correensis, and these species have a close symbiotic relationship which the alga reduces heat stress of the gastropod. In collaboration with general public, we investigated how environmental conditions alter the symbiotic interaction between the alga and the gastropod. Information about the habitats of each gastropod and images of shells was obtained from the Japanese and Korean coasts via social media. We constructed the hierarchical Bayesian model using the data. The results indicated that the proportion of shell area covered by P. conchopheria increased as the substrate size utilized by the gastropod increased. Meanwhile, temperature did not affect the proportion of P. conchopheria on the shell. These suggested that the alga provides no benefits for the gastropod on small substrates because gastrop...

Background While the human oral microbiome is known to play an important role in systemic health, its average composition and diversity patterns are still poorly understood. To gain better insights into the general composition of the microbiome on a global scale, the characterization of microbiomes from a broad range of populations, including non-industrialized societies, is needed. Here, we used the portion of non-human reads obtained through an expanded exome capture sequencing approach to characterize the saliva microbiomes of 52 individuals from eight ethnolinguistically diverse southern African populations from Angola (Kuvale, Kwepe, Himba, Tjimba, Kwisi, Twa, !Xun) and Zimbabwe (Tshwa), including foragers, food-producers, and peripatetic groups (low-status communities who provide services to their dominant neighbors). Results Our results indicate that neither host genetics nor livelihood seem to influence the oral microbiome profile, with Neisseria, Streptococcus, Prevotella, ...

The rapid and unprecedented expansion of the global population highlights concerns about the sufficiency of food resources to sustain this growth. This study investigates and substantiates the feasibility of renewable food resources in order to meet the nutritional requirements of consumers. Three edible aquatic weeds, helencha (Enhydra fluctuans), malancha (Alternanthera philoxeroides), and kalmi (Ipomoea aquatica), were used to produce edible paper sheets. The composition of the raw aquatic weeds and paper sheet samples was analyzed, including the proximate composition, amino acid content, minerals and heavy metal contents, and bioactive compounds. The dried raw aquatic weeds and paper sheets showed similar proximate compositions, with carbohydrates being the highest component (50.38–64.63%), followed by crude protein (15.25–19.13%), ash (9.30–15.88%), and lipid (1.55–3.43%). The raw weeds and paper sheets were rich in essential minerals like Na, Ca, and Zn with contents ranging f...

Paleoclimatic trends exhibited by assemblages of planktonic foraminifera in samples of two cores from the Mediterranean continental slope of Israel are similar regardless of the size fraction used in counting (larger than 76 um or larger than 149 ~m). Application of a North Atlantic-based transfer function (F13) to the counts of the fraction greater than 149 um reveals that in all the samples the tropical assemblage is dominant. Higher-latitude assemblages occur in the lower portion of one of the two cores which were studied. Stratigraphic correlation of this core with other Eastern Mediterranean cores suggests that its lower part was deposited at the end of the last Glacial. Paleoclimatic estimation was done by the application of the transfer function. The estimates of winter temperature and salinity thus derived from Recent sediment (core-top) differ from values actually observed. It is suggested that this results from inadequate calibration of the transfer function, and that a Mediterranean-based transfer function might be more reliable. The estimated summer temperature in Recent samples is closer to the observed values and, therefore, estimates of the summer temperature are probably more reliable than either of the winter temperature or of salinity. Based on the estimated summer temperature, the change from the late last Glacial to the Recent is small and does not exceed 2 ° C.

The presence of three Gomphoneis species from Chubut Province in Argentina is documented with light and scanning electron microscopy. Two of the taxa, G. patagoniana and G. eriense var. variabilis, are part of the Herculeana subgroup of Gomphoneis. Gomphoneis patagoniana is a newly discovered species and G. eriense var. variabilis is reported from Argentina for the first time. These two species have evident axial plates, differentiated apical pore fields (APFs), a stigmal opening that is round externally and slit-like internally, and areolae that are mostly tri-radiate in shape. The third species, G. frenguellii, is also newly discovered and described. Presence of four isolated stigmoids, undifferentiated APFs and lack of an axial plate indicates G. frenguellii is a member of the Elegans subgroup of the genus. Presence of these newly described species, and the previously unreported taxon, may also be associated with the invasive species Didymosphenia geminata. Given there is no long history of reports of Gomphoneis in the country and, in the case of G. eriense var. variabilis, its previously known distribution, it is possible that the origin of this Gomphoneis taxon is from western North America.

Background: A remarkable range of environmental conditions is present in the Hawaiian Islands due to their gradients of elevation, rainfall and island age. Despite being well known as a location for the study of evolutionary processes and island biogeography, little is known about the composition of the non-marine algal flora of the archipelago, its degree of endemism, or affinities with other floras. We conducted a biodiversity survey of the non-marine macroalgae of the six largest main Hawaiian Islands using molecular and microscopic assessment techniques. We aimed to evaluate whether endemism or cosmopolitanism better explain freshwater algal distribution patterns, and provide a baseline data set for monitoring future biodiversity changes in the Hawaiian Islands. Results: 1,786 aquatic and terrestrial habitats and 1,407 distinct collections of non-marine macroalgae were collected from the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Lanai and Hawaii from the years 2009-2014. Targeted habitats included streams, wet walls, high elevation bogs, taro fields, ditches and flumes, lakes/reservoirs, cave walls and terrestrial areas. Sites that lacked freshwater macroalgae were typically terrestrial or wet wall habitats that were sampled for diatoms and other microalgae. Approximately 50% of the identifications were of green algae, with lesser proportions of diatoms, red algae, cyanobacteria, xanthophytes and euglenoids. 898 DNA sequences were generated representing eight different markers, which enabled an assessment of the number of taxonomic entities for genera collected as part of the survey. Forty-four well-characterized taxa were assessed for global distribution patterns. This analysis revealed no clear biogeographic affinities of the flora, with 27.3% characterized as "cosmopolitan", 11.4% "endemic", and 61.3% as intermediate. The Hawaiian freshwater algal biodiversity survey represents the first comprehensive effort to characterize the non-marine algae of a tropical region in the world using both morphological and molecular tools. Survey data were entered in the Hawaiian Freshwater Algal Database, which serves as a digital repository of photographs and micrographs, georeferenced localities and DNA sequence data. These analyses yielded an updated checklist of the non-marine macroalgae of the Hawaiian Islands, and revealed varied biogeographic affinities of the flora that are likely a product of both natural and anthropogenic dispersal.

The atmospheric transport and deposition of aerosols has the potential to influence the chemistry and biology of oligotrophic alpine lakes. In recent decades, dust and nitrogen emissions to alpine ecosystems have increased across large areas of the western U.S., including Wyoming. Here, we use sediment geochemistry and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and 143 Nd/ 144 Nd isotopes to examine historical dust deposition rates to alpine lakes in the southwestern region of the Wind River Range, Wyoming. We evaluate the biological response using diatom fossil assemblages and sediment pigment concentrations. Sediment core analyses indicated that prior to a recent rise in dust flux, phosphorus concentrations and species composition were similar to those found in other alpine lakes in the region. Concomitant with a 50 fold increase in dust flux to the sediments circa 1940, sediment proxies revealed a two-to threefold increase in normalized sediment phosphorus content, an increase in the diatom-inferred total dissolved phosphorus concentration from 4 to 9-12 lg L 21 , a tenfold increase in diatom production, and a relative increase in cyanobacteria abundance. The increase in dust influx during the 20 th century appears to be due in part to human factors and demonstrates the potential for dust and other atmospheric pollutants to significantly alter remote aquatic ecosystems.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina state-line is a biologically diverse region which has recently become the site of an All Taxon Biodiversity Inventory, an effort to chronicle species diversity by documenting all species in all phyla present within park boundaries. As a result of studies within the last two years, we have added 415 new algal taxa records. With records reported in 2004, we now have documented a total of 1000 taxa in the park. This paper summarizes all algal species found to date.

The prairie pothole region of North America is characterized by a large number of lakes and wetlands created during the last glacial retreat. These waterbodies are characterized by their generally small sizes (70% of waterbodies are less than 0.4 ha), high densities (as many as 40 waterbodies km −2) and elevated but variable conductivities, ranging between 230–70,000 µS cm−1. Although this region boasts a great number and diversity of habitats, few studies have investigated the diatom diversity present. Presented here are descriptions and illustrations of three new species from the genus Halamphora based on light microscope and scanning electron microscope observations. Halamphora pratensis was collected from Long Lake, Burleigh County, with a conductivity of 2187 µS cm−1, and appears to be most closely allied with the common freshwater H. veneta group within the genus. Halamphora pertusa and H. attenuata were collected from Salt Alkaline Lake, Kidder County, with an elevated conduc...

The effects of warming on autumnal growth cessation and bud formation in trees remain ambiguous due to contrasting observations between a range of studies under controlled conditions and field experiments. High night temperature has been reported to advance growth cessation and bud formation in several tree species grown under controlled conditions. On the other hand, some recent field experiments have shown that autumn warming delays bud formation, although the temperature parameters that could account for this effect have not been identified. In addition, dioecious species have been shown to respond differently to environmental change, and differential warming effects on the sexes have received limited attention, even more so in relation to phenology. In a data set including three separate field experiments employing either experimental warming or an elevational gradient, we tested the effect of different temperature parameters on apical, vegetative bud formation and transitions between bud stages in female and male clones of Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula). Increased temperature was found to delay bud formation, and this process was best explained by maximum daily temperature. Males were significantly delayed compared with females in forming green closed buds, a process best explained by mean 24 h temperature. Bud maturation was best explained by mean daytime temperature, and buds matured significantly faster in males than in females, possibly explaining why females and males did not differ in terms of overall bud formation. In conclusion, our data show that delayed bud formation in Eurasian aspen during autumn can be attributed to the effect of high temperature, and this effect is in contrast to most of the evidence from studies of bud development in controlled environments.

Sphaeronycteris toxophyllum Peters, 1882, is a rare bat known as the visored bat because it has a unique outgrowth on the face. This typical hornlike growth is sexually dimorphic, larger on males than on females, and also better developed in adults than in juveniles. This bat is endemic to tropical South America and present in Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, and Ecuador. It is present from the Amazon Basin to mountainous regions up to 3,000 m in elevation and has been captured in secondary rain forest, cloud forest, deciduous forest, and open areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources conservation status is Lower Risk/Least Concern.

Buenos Aires city is located near the southern limit of the distribution of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). This study aimed to assess long-term variations in the abundance of Ae. aegypti in Buenos Aires in relation to changes in climatic conditions. Ae. aegypti weekly oviposition activity was analyzed and compared through nine warm seasons from 1998 to 2014, with 200 ovitraps placed across the whole extension of the city. The temporal and spatial dynamics of abundances were compared among seasons, and their relation with climatic variables were analyzed. Results showed a trend to higher peak abundances, a higher number of infested sites, and longer duration of the oviposition season through subsequent years, consistent with a long-term colonization process. In contrast, thermal favorability and rainfall pattern did not show a consistent trend of changes. The long-term increase in abundance, and the recently documented expansion of Ae. aegypti to colder areas of Buenos Aires pro...

Notonectids are well-known predators in aquatic habitats, where mosquito larvae, chironomids, and cladocerans constitute their main diet. Our purpose was to assess the effect of structural complexity on the predatory ability of Buenoa fuscipennis, a common predator in aquatic habitats of Buenos Aires city (Argentina). Buenoa fuscipennis showed type 2 functional responses in both the presence and absence of prey refuge and no differences in attack rate or handling time between refuge treatments. Regarding mosquito size classes, B. fuscipennis exhibited a significantly higher preference for 2 nd instar larvae and no predation on pupae. In the presence of mosquito larvae and alternative prey, B. fuscipennis preferred mosquitoes over chironomid larvae and adult cladocerans over mosquito larvae. No switching behavior was detected in our experiments. Habitat structure only slightly affected the predator´s consumption rates on mosquito larvae. Overall, preference for prey did not vary with the presence of refuge, except for the preference for mosquitoes over chironomid larvae, which was significantly decreased in the presence of refuge as a consequence of reduced predation on mosquito larvae. The results suggest that B. fuscipennis could efficiently control mosquitoes in structurally simple habitats where chironomids are the most abundant alternative prey but not in temporary pools where cladocerans are abundant.

The aim of the present study was to compare 2 urban habitat types: pools artificially filled with water from damaged or leaking water pipes (AF) and pools naturally filled by rainwater (NF), with regard to their favorability as breeding sites for mosquitoes. Two study areas were analyzed, 1 for 5 months and the other for 9 months, covering the whole period when AF pools contained water. The AF pools held water during the entire study, and showed lower fluctuations in surface area than NF pools. The AF pools showed higher levels of total mosquitoes and of stagnant-water mosquitoes. The floodwater mosquitoes were numerically (but not significantly) more abundant in NF pools. Nine mosquito species were identified. Habitat type, temperature, and season were significant in explaining the variability in species composition according to the canonical correspondence analysis. The most abundant species were Ochlerotatus albifasciatus (5 Aedes albifasciatus, predominantly in NF pools), Culex dolosus, and Cx. pipiens (mainly in AF pools). The latter 2 species differed in their temporal dynamics, with Cx. dolosus associated with lower temperatures and Cx. pipiens with higher temperatures. Overall, the results indicate that although both habitat types harbored immature mosquitoes, the AF pools were more favorable than co-occurring rain pools. Easy-to-implement management actions such as the design of adequate drainage systems and the fast repair of broken pipes will be helpful to reduce the risk of human illness associated with mosquitoes in urban green areas.

The district approach has become increasingly important for the analysis and planning of local agro-food systems. In this paper, we analyse the role and potential of Italian food districts, spaces of governance where a plurality of actors share practices and knowledge and jointly elaborate local development strategies. After a first section aimed at illustrating the theoretical background and the regulatory framework, we examine the food districts of Benevento, an inland Province of the Campania Region, in order to: (i) reconstruct the characteristics, actors and strategies of these local food systems and critically discuss the criteria used for their creation and spatialisation; (ii) investigate the contribution that districts can make to the goals of social cohesion and sustainability. As for the methods, we use a mixed approach that integrates documentary analysis and geostatistical information with a qualitative survey (based on semi-structured interviews and questionnaires) to ...

Background: Community composition on fragmented forest remnants has been shown to diverge from their natural successional path, revealing an alternative state which has been known as retrogressive succession. Here we show the long-term monitoring of a small forest fragment concerning community structure, species richness, functional diversity and composition throughout 17 years to offer a means to generalize community performance under the impacts of forest fragmentation. Results: The adult tree community showed shifts on its functional composition: reduction in species' maximum height and percentage of simple leaves, indicating an investment in resource-acquisitive and disturbance adapted traits. However, we also found a gradual increase in wood density throughout the years for the adult community. For the overall community, functional composition analysis indicated a gradual reduction in the percentage of simple leaves and a signi cant increase in aboveground biomass. The decrease in Hmax and simple leaves, especially for the adult tree community, are mostly related do microenvironmental conditions caused by edge effects, as desiccation and tree canopy damage. Conclusion: Our results show that natural regeneration is being negatively affected, except for aboveground biomass. Although these ndings could have resulted from a transient dynamic, they constitute a warning to future conservation policies around the ecological integrity of small forest fragments.