Responses of Zooplankton to Long-Term Environmental Changes in the Egyptian Coastal Lakes

The use of Customer Relationship Managers to foster customers loyalty has become one of the most common business strategies in the past years. However, CRM solutions do not fill the abundance of happily ever-after relationships that business needs, and each client’s perception is different in the buying process. Therefore, the experience must be precise, in order to extend the loyalty period of a customer as much as possible. One of the economic sectors in which CRM’s have improved this experience is retailing, where the personalized attention to the customer is a key factor. However, brick and mortar experiences are not enough to be aware in how environmental changes could affect the industry trends in the long term. A base unified theoretical framework must be taken into consideration, in order to develop an adaptable model for constructing or implementing CRMs into companies. Thanks to this approximation, the information is complemented, and the outcome will increment the quality in any Marketing/Sales initiative. The goal of this article is to explore the different factors grouped by three main domains within the impact of service quality, from a consumer’s perspective, in both on-line and off-line retailing sector. Secondly, we plan to go a step further and extract base guidelines about previous analysis for designing CRM’s solutions focused on the loyalty of the customers for a specific retailing sector and its product: Sports Running Shoes.

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Past testate amoeba communities in landslide mountain fens (Polish Carpathians): The relationship between shell types and sediment

The Holocene ◽

10.1177/0959683621994647 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 095968362199464

Author(s):

Katarzyna Marcisz ◽

Krzysztof Buczek ◽

Mariusz Gałka ◽

Włodzimierz Margielewski ◽

Matthieu Mulot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Changes ◽

Testate Amoebae ◽

Mineral Matter ◽

Testate Amoeba ◽

Run Off ◽

Number Of Factors ◽

Depth To Water Table ◽

Polish Carpathians ◽

The Relationship

Landslide mountain fens formed in landslide depressions are dynamic environments as their development is disturbed by a number of factors, for example, landslides, slopewash, and surface run-off. These processes lead to the accumulation of mineral material and wood in peat. Disturbed peatlands are interesting archives of past environmental changes, but they may be challenging for providing biotic proxy-based quantitative reconstructions. Here we investigate long-term changes in testate amoeba communities from two landslide mountain fens – so far an overlooked habitat for testate amoeba investigations. Our results show that abundances of testate amoebae are extremely low in this type of peatlands, therefore not suitable for providing quantitative depth-to-water table reconstructions. However, frequent shifts of dominant testate amoeba species reflect dynamic lithological situation of the studied fens. We observed that high and stable mineral matter input into the peatlands was associated with high abundances of species producing agglutinated (xenosomic) as well as idiosomic shells which prevailed in the testate amoeba communities in both analyzed profiles. This is the first study that explores testate amoebae of landslide mountain fens in such detail, providing novel information about microbial communities of these ecosystems.

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Cellular stress signaling activates type-I IFN response through FOXO3-regulated lamin posttranslational modification

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-20839-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Inah Hwang ◽

Hiroki Uchida ◽

Ziwei Dai ◽

Fei Li ◽

Teresa Sanchez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Type I ◽

Neurogenic Differentiation ◽

Forkhead Box ◽

Nuclear Lamin ◽

Neural Stem Progenitor Cells ◽

Subsequent Activation ◽

Methyl Group Transfer

AbstractNeural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) persist over the lifespan while encountering constant challenges from age or injury related brain environmental changes like elevated oxidative stress. But how oxidative stress regulates NSPC and its neurogenic differentiation is less clear. Here we report that acutely elevated cellular oxidative stress in NSPCs modulates neurogenic differentiation through induction of Forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3)-mediated cGAS/STING and type I interferon (IFN-I) responses. We show that oxidative stress activates FOXO3 and its transcriptional target glycine-N-methyltransferase (GNMT) whose upregulation triggers depletion of s-adenosylmethionine (SAM), a key co-substrate involved in methyl group transfer reactions. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that reduced intracellular SAM availability disrupts carboxymethylation and maturation of nuclear lamin, which induce cytosolic release of chromatin fragments and subsequent activation of the cGAS/STING-IFN-I cascade to suppress neurogenic differentiation. Together, our findings suggest the FOXO3-GNMT/SAM-lamin-cGAS/STING-IFN-I signaling cascade as a critical stress response program that regulates long-term regenerative potential.

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Pleistocene–Holocene environmental change in the Canary Archipelago as inferred from the stable isotope composition of land snail shells

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/j.yqres.2010.11.004 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 658-669 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Yurena Yanes ◽

Crayton J. Yapp ◽

Miguel Ibáñez ◽

María R. Alonso ◽

Julio De-la-Nuez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Change ◽

Canary Islands ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Isotope Composition ◽

Moving Average ◽

Land Snail ◽

Balance Model ◽

Low Latitude ◽

The Times

AbstractThe isotopic composition of land snail shells was analyzed to investigate environmental changes in the eastern Canary Islands (28–29°N) over the last ~ 50 ka. Shell δ13C values range from −8.9‰ to 3.8‰. At various times during the glacial interval (~ 15 to ~ 50 ka), moving average shell δ13C values were 3‰ higher than today, suggesting a larger proportion of C4 plants at those periods. Shell δ18O values range from −1.9‰ to 4.5‰, with moving average δ18O values exhibiting a noisy but long-term increase from 0.1‰ at ~ 50 ka to 1.6–1.8‰ during the LGM (~ 15–22 ka). Subsequently, the moving average δ18O values range from 0.0‰ at ~ 12 ka to 0.9‰ at present. Calculations using a published snail flux balance model for δ18O, constrained by regional temperatures and ocean δ18O values, suggest that relative humidity at the times of snail activity fluctuated but exhibited a long-term decline over the last ~ 50 ka, eventually resulting in the current semiarid conditions of the eastern Canary Islands (consistent with the aridification process in the nearby Sahara). Thus, low-latitude oceanic island land snail shells may be isotopic archives of glacial to interglacial and tropical/subtropical environmental change.

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Climate change drives mountain butterflies towards the summits

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-93826-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dennis Rödder ◽

Thomas Schmitt ◽

Patrick Gros ◽

Werner Ulrich ◽

Jan Christian Habel

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Life History ◽

Climate Warming ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Range Shifts ◽

Solar Irradiation ◽

High Mountain ◽

Detailed Knowledge ◽

Annual Range

AbstractClimate change impacts biodiversity and is driving range shifts of species and populations across the globe. To understand the effects of climate warming on biota, long-term observations of the occurrence of species and detailed knowledge on their ecology and life-history is crucial. Mountain species particularly suffer under climate warming and often respond to environmental changes by altitudinal range shifts. We assessed long-term distribution trends of mountain butterflies across the eastern Alps and calculated species’ specific annual range shifts based on field observations and species distribution models, counterbalancing the potential drawbacks of both approaches. We also compiled details on the ecology, behaviour and life-history, and the climate niche of each species assessed. We found that the highest altitudinal maxima were observed recently in the majority of cases, while the lowest altitudes of observations were recorded before 1980. Mobile and generalist species with a broad ecological amplitude tended to move uphill more than specialist and sedentary species. As main drivers we identified climatic conditions and topographic variables, such as insolation and solar irradiation. This study provides important evidence for responses of high mountain taxa to rapid climate change. Our study underlines the advantage of combining historical surveys and museum collection data with cutting-edge analyses.

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Determination of NPS Pollutant Unit Loads from Different Landuses

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13137193 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 7193

Author(s):

Jiyeon Choi ◽

Baekyung Park ◽

Jinsun Kim ◽

Soyoung Lee ◽

Jichul Ryu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Changes ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Runoff Coefficient ◽

Forest Land ◽

Event Mean Concentration ◽

Rainfall Events ◽

Total Phosphorous ◽

Mean Concentration

This study aimed to estimate pollutant unit loads for different landuses and pollutants that reflected long-term runoff characteristics of nonpoint source (NPS) pollutants and recent environmental changes. During 2008–2014, 2026 rainfall events were monitored. The average values of antecedent dry days, total rainfall, rainfall intensity, rainfall duration, runoff duration, and runoff coefficient for each landuse were 3.8–5.9 d, 35.2–65.0 mm, 2.9–4.1 mm/h, 12.5–20.4 h, 12.4–27.9 h, and 0.24–0.45, respectively. Uplands (UL) exhibited high suspended solids (SS, 606.2 mg/L), total nitrogen (TN, 7.38 mg/L), and total phosphorous (TP, 2.27 mg/L) levels, whereas the runoff coefficient was high in the building sites (BS), with a high impervious surface ratio. The event mean concentration (EMC) for biological oxygen demand (BOD) was the highest in BS (8.0 mg/L), while the EMC was the highest in BS (in the rainfall range <10 mm) and UL and forest land (in the rainfall range >50 mm). The unit loads for BOD (1.49–17.76 kg/km2·d), TN (1.462–10.147 kg/km2·d), TP (0.094–1.435 kg/km2·d), and SS (15.20–327.70 kg/km2·d) were calculated. The findings can be used to manage NPS pollutants and watershed environments and implement relevant associated management systems.

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Ecological succession as an aspect of structure in fossil communities

Paleobiology ◽

10.1017/s0094837300002505 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 238-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 139

Author(s):

Kenneth R. Walker ◽

Leonard P. Alberstadt

Keyword(s):

Environmental Changes ◽

Food Chains ◽

Short Term ◽

Niche Specialization ◽

Pattern Diversity ◽

Physical Environments ◽

Autogenic Succession ◽

Succession Stage ◽

Stratigraphic Sequences

Succession involves changes in a community through time, whether internally or externally controlled. As succession progresses, niche specialization, species diversity (variety and equitability), complexity of food chains, and pattern diversity increase; net production and species growth rate decrease. We apply the succession concept to three types of ancient community sequences: 1) fossil reefs (Ordovician—Cretaceous in age), 2) short-term successions occurring through thin stratigraphic intervals, and 3) long-term successions occurring through thicker stratigraphic intervals. Ancient reefs show four vertical zones: (1) a basal stabilization zone (autogenic), 2) the overlying colonization zone (autogenic, pioneer stage), 3) the diversification zone, the bulk of most reefs (diversification culminating in climax), and 4) the uppermost domination zone. The first three zones represent autogenic succession but the final stage may involve allogenic succession. Short-term succession usually occurs where periodic allogenic catastrophes wipe out the community which is rebuilt through autogenic succession. Opportunistic pioneer species are important and in our examples (Ordovician, Silurian, and Cretaceous) are species which pave soft substrata. Paleozoic strophomenid brachiopods filled this role, and inoceramid pelecypods served the function in the Mesozoic. The succession which begins with opportunists progresses to a climax community of equilibrists. Repetition of catastrophe-succession couplets produces a cyclic stratigraphic record. Long-term successions are recorded in thicker stratigraphic sequences, and are of two types: 1) autogenic succession in unchanging physical environments and 2) allogenic succession in changing physical environments. Our examples of these are from the Devonian Haragan-Bois D'Arc formations of Oklahoma and the Lime Creek Formation of Iowa. This type of succession represents a temporal-spatial mosaic. The Haragan data (unchanging environments) indicate characteristic, intergrading, and ubiquitous species in the brachiopod communities. Most ubiquitous species in the pioneer community were eurytopic opportunists. The Lime Creek data allows testing of the prediction that environmental changes cause regression to an earlier succession stage. The brachiopod communities after environmental changes have more ubiquitous and intergrading eurytopic species. These represent an earlier stage in the succession.

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Direct dating of Pleistocene stegodon from Timor Island, East Nusa Tenggara

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.1788 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e1788 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Julien Louys ◽

Gilbert J. Price ◽

Sue O’Connor

Keyword(s):

Environmental Changes ◽

Southeast Asian ◽

Oceanic Islands ◽

Current Data ◽

Island Population ◽

Modern Humans ◽

Uranium Series ◽

Uranium Series Dating

Stegodons are a commonly recovered extinct proboscidean (elephants and allies) from the Pleistocene record of Southeast Asian oceanic islands. Estimates on when stegodons arrived on individual islands and the timings of their extinctions are poorly constrained due to few reported direct geochronological analyses of their remains. Here we report on uranium-series dating of a stegodon tusk recovered from the Ainaro Gravels of Timor. The six dates obtained indicate the local presence of stegodons in Timor at or before 130 ka, significantly pre-dating the earliest evidence of humans on the island. On the basis of current data, we find no evidence for significant environmental changes or the presence of modern humans in the region during that time. Thus, we do not consider either of these factors to have contributed significantly to their extinction. In the absence of these, we propose that their extinction was possibly the result of long-term demographic and genetic declines associated with an isolated island population.

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Late Quaternary vegetation dynamics in a biodiversity hotspot, the Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/j.yqres.2009.02.005 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 111-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Jemma Finch ◽

Melanie J. Leng ◽

Rob Marchant

Keyword(s):

Environmental Changes ◽

Vegetation History ◽

Late Quaternary ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Significant Loss ◽

Environmental Stability ◽

Forest Composition ◽

Eastern Arc ◽

Uluguru Mountains

AbstractLate Quaternary vegetation history and environmental changes in a biodiverse tropical ecosystem are inferred from pollen, charcoal and carbon isotope evidence derived from a ∼ 48,000-yr sedimentary record from the Uluguru Mountains, a component of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Kenya and Tanzania. Results indicate that Eastern Arc forest composition has remained relatively stable during the past ∼ 48,000 yr. Long-term environmental stability of the Eastern Arc forests has been proposed as a mechanism for the accumulation and persistence of species during glacial periods, thus resulting in the diverse forests observed today. The pollen and isotope data presented here indicate some marked changes in abundance but no significant loss in moist forest taxa through the last glacial maximum, thereby providing support for the long-term environmental stability of the Eastern Arc. Anthropogenic activities, including burning and forest clearance, were found to play a moderate role in shaping the mosaic of forest patches and high-altitude grasslands that characterise the site today; however, this influence was tempered by the inaccessibility of the mountain.

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Mapping and monitoring intertidal benthic habitats: a review of techniques and a proposal for a new visual methodology for the European coasts

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment ◽

10.1177/0309133309342650 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 378-402 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Laurent Godet ◽

Jérôme Fournier ◽

Nicolas Toupoint ◽

Frédéric Olivier

Keyword(s):

Environmental Changes ◽

Coastal Zones ◽

Quick Method ◽

Simple Method ◽

Long Term Monitoring ◽

Intertidal Habitats ◽

Global Environmental Changes ◽

Remote Sensing Methods ◽

Term Monitoring

Mapping seafloors is a fundamental step for managing and preserving coastal zones. Moreover, in a context of current global environmental changes, new methods allowing long-term monitoring are increasingly required. Various methods have been used to map seafloors, primarily benthic macrofauna and sediment sampling along regular grids or transects, and remote sensing methods. These methods map very different things, do not have the same accuracy levels, and have different costs in time and money. Furthermore, such methods often require the competencies of highly skilled scientists and exclude non-specialists otherwise best placed to perform them. In this paper, we test a method based on Direct Field Observations (‘DFO method’), which can be used by non-specialists, and assess if it is sufficient for mapping and monitoring intertidal habitats. We further compare this method with other conventional ones. The results show that such a simple method is relatively rapid and inexpensive given the results obtained. Moreover, it is particularly suitable for highly fragmented intertidal landscapes where other methods are often very limited. In consequence, in areas such as the European coasts, it can be used by non-specialists, such as protected-area managers, and because it is an inexpensive and quick method long-term monitoring is also possible.

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