The influence of climate, climatic change and other environmental factors on karst development

AbstractArchaeologists have failed to use all available data relevant to climatic changes and other environmental factors necessary for the reconstruction of paleoclimates. This neglect has fostered the continuance of significant problems of reconstruction and interpretation in archaeology. Paleolimnology can be helpful in elucidating some of these problems. Research of this sort has already provided valuable evidence for the advent of agricultural man in Austria, as well as providing data for the reconstruction of paleoclimates in other areas. While pollen analysis has traditionally been used as an indication of climatic change, certain aquatic micro-organisms manifest a more rapid and subtle response to slight climatic changes. Paleolimnological evidence can provide important data for paleoclimatic reconstruction in archaeology.

Download Full-text

Area, isolation and climate explain the diversity of mammals on islands worldwide

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2021.1879 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 288 (1965) ◽

Author(s):

Elisa Barreto ◽

Thiago F. Rangel ◽

Loïc Pellissier ◽

Catherine H. Graham

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Climatic Change ◽

Mixed Models ◽

Global Scale ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Island Endemics ◽

Historical Factors ◽

Flight Capacity ◽

Mammal Diversity ◽

Past Conditions

Insular biodiversity is expected to be regulated differently than continental biota, but their determinants remain to be quantified at a global scale. We evaluated the importance of physical, environmental and historical factors on mammal richness and endemism across 5592 islands worldwide. We fitted generalized linear and mixed models to accommodate variation among biogeographic realms and performed analyses separately for bats and non-volants. Richness on islands ranged from one to 234 species, with up to 177 single island endemics. Diversity patterns were most consistently influenced by the islands’ physical characteristics. Area positively affected mammal diversity, in particular the number of non-volant endemics. Island isolation, both current and past, was associated with lower richness but greater endemism. Flight capacity modified the relative importance of past versus current isolation, with bats responding more strongly to current and non-volant mammals to past isolation. Biodiversity relationships with environmental factors were idiosyncratic, with a tendency for greater effects sizes with endemism than richness. The historical climatic change was positively associated with endemism. In line with theory, we found that area and isolation were among the strongest drivers of mammalian biodiversity. Our results support the importance of past conditions on current patterns, particularly of non-volant species.

Download Full-text

Reductionist thinking and animal models in neuropsychiatric research

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x18001231 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nicole M. Baran

Keyword(s):

Animal Models ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽

Model Organisms ◽

Developmental Genetic ◽

Term Study ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

Mechanisms Of Plasticity

AbstractReductionist thinking in neuroscience is manifest in the widespread use of animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders. Broader investigations of diverse behaviors in non-model organisms and longer-term study of the mechanisms of plasticity will yield fundamental insights into the neurobiological, developmental, genetic, and environmental factors contributing to the “massively multifactorial system networks” which go awry in mental disorders.

Download Full-text

The dual nature of obesity in metabolic programming: quantity versus quality of adipose tissue

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs20201028 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 134 (18) ◽

pp. 2447-2451

Author(s):

Anissa Viveiros ◽

Gavin Y. Oudit

Keyword(s):

Adipose Tissue ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Maternal Obesity ◽

Metabolic Programming ◽

Dual Nature ◽

Prevalence Of Obesity ◽

Adipose Tissue Volume ◽

Males And Females ◽

Metabolically Healthy

Abstract The global prevalence of obesity has been rising at an alarming rate, accompanied by an increase in both childhood and maternal obesity. The concept of metabolic programming is highly topical, and in this context, describes a predisposition of offspring of obese mothers to the development of obesity independent of environmental factors. Research published in this issue of Clinical Science conducted by Litzenburger and colleagues (Clin. Sci. (Lond.) (2020) 134, 921–939) have identified sex-dependent differences in metabolic programming and identify putative signaling pathways involved in the differential phenotype of adipose tissue between males and females. Delineating the distinction between metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity is a topic of emerging interest, and the precise nature of adipocytes are key to pathogenesis, independent of adipose tissue volume.

Download Full-text

Shared Responsibilities for Full Participation in Society: Planning Further Integration of the ICF Into AAC

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp1.sig12.83 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (12) ◽

pp. 83-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mary Blake Huer ◽

Travis T. Threats

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Functional Limitations ◽

Community Support ◽

World Health ◽

International Classification Of Functioning ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Social Service Agencies ◽

Persons With Disabilities ◽

Full Participation

The World Health Organization's (WHO's) 2001 International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) has as one of its central tenets the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. It acknowledges the need for medical and rehabilitation intervention in its biopscychosocial framework. However, the WHO realizes that society must do its part to facilitate this full participation and empowerment. Persons with complex communication needs (PWCCN) often need augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in order to express themselves. However, in order to access and successfully use AAC, PWCCN need access to the necessary AAC devices and services, as well as a willing society to interact with them as full contributing members of society. The factors outside of a person's specific physical and/or cognitive functional limitations are addressed in the ICF via the Personal and Environmental Factors. Personal Factors include the individual's personality traits, lifestyle, experiences, social/educational/professional background, race, gender, and age. Environmental Factors include community support systems, social service agencies, governments, social networks, and those persons that interact with the PWCCN. This article addresses the sociopolitical influences on PWCCN and their functioning from a human rights perspective. The necessary introspective role of speech-language pathologists in this process is explored.

Download Full-text