scholarly journals Following the pest outbreak: preliminary findings on the landscape effect on Dasineura oleae and its parasitoids in central Italy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malayka Samantha Picchi ◽  
Elena Tondini ◽  
Nicola Albertarelli ◽  
Gaia Monteforti ◽  
Ruggero Petacchi
Keyword(s):  
Scale Effect ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Gall Midge ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Small Region ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Parasitism Rate ◽  
Natural Habitats

AbstractDasineura oleae (Angelini, 1831) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), the olive leaf gall midge, is a pest of olive crops that was not problematic in Italy until 2016 when a massive infestation of this pest was reported in a small region in central Italy. We identified infested olive orchards using farmers’ reports and quantified the pest infestation level and parasitism rate in each field. We also explored the effect of the landscape on both the pest and parasitoids using the abundance of olive crops and semi-natural habitats and the Shannon index, estimated at four different scales (250 m, 500 m, 750 m and 1000 m buffers around the sampling points). The results showed a small-scale effect on the parasitism rate and a large-scale effect on leaf infestation mediated by the Shannon Index. Moreover, some preliminary results showed that the parasitism rate was high in sites where plants associated with D. oleae parasitoids were present in the adjacent semi-natural habitat. Further studies are needed to validate our findings on the effect of landscape and vegetation on the natural enemies of D. oleae in order to develop new suppression strategies.

scholarly journals Following the outbreak: preliminary findings on the landscape effect on Dasineura oleae and its parasitoids in Central Italy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malayka Samantha Picchi ◽  
Elena Tondini ◽  
Nicola Albertarelli ◽  
Gaia Monteforti ◽  
Ruggero Petacchi
Keyword(s):  
Scale Effect ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Gall Midge ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Olive Leaf ◽  
Parasitism Rate ◽  
Natural Habitats

Abstract Dasineura oleae (Angelini, 1831) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), the olive leaf gall midge, is a pest of olive crops that has never been problematic in Italy since 2016, when a massive infestation of this pest was reported in a small region of Central Italy. We selected infested olive orchards through farmers’ reports aiming at quantifying the pest infestation level and the parasitism rate in each site. Also, we aimed at exploring the landscape effect in both pest and parasitoids, using proportion of olive crops and semi-natural habitats, as well as the Shannon index as a measurement of the landscape diversity, estimated at four different scales (250m, 500m, 750m and 1000m buffers around the sampling points). Results showed different landscape effect depending on the organism and on the scale. We underlined a small-scale effect on the parasitism rate and a large-scale effect on the olive leaf midge mediated by the Shannon Index. Moreover, some preliminary results showed that the parasitism rate was high in sites where plants associated with D. oleae parasitoids were present in the adjacent semi-natural habitat. Further study should deepen and validate our findings on the effect of landscape and of the vegetation on natural enemies of D.oleae. These results should stimulate new approaches in the studying of the olive gall leaf midge as well as new suppression strategies.

scholarly journals Experimental illumination of natural habitat—an experimental set-up to assess the direct and indirect ecological consequences of artificial light of different spectral composition

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1667) ◽  
pp. 20140129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamiel Spoelstra ◽  
Roy H. A. van Grunsven ◽  
Maurice Donners ◽  
Phillip Gienapp ◽  
Martinus E. Huigens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Spectral Composition ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Impact

Artificial night-time illumination of natural habitats has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Generally, studies that assess the impact of artificial light on various species in the wild make use of existing illumination and are therefore correlative. Moreover, studies mostly focus on short-term consequences at the individual level, rather than long-term consequences at the population and community level—thereby ignoring possible unknown cascading effects in ecosystems. The recent change to LED lighting has opened up the exciting possibility to use light with a custom spectral composition, thereby potentially reducing the negative impact of artificial light. We describe here a large-scale, ecosystem-wide study where we experimentally illuminate forest-edge habitat with different spectral composition, replicated eight times. Monitoring of species is being performed according to rigid protocols, in part using a citizen-science-based approach, and automated where possible. Simultaneously, we specifically look at alterations in behaviour, such as changes in activity, and daily and seasonal timing. In our set-up, we have so far observed that experimental lights facilitate foraging activity of pipistrelle bats, suppress activity of wood mice and have effects on birds at the community level, which vary with spectral composition. Thus far, we have not observed effects on moth populations, but these and many other effects may surface only after a longer period of time.

SMALL SCALE EFFECT ON THE FREE VIBRATION OF MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (28) ◽  
pp. 2769-2777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. YAN ◽  
W. Q. WANG ◽  
L. X. ZHANG
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Free Vibration ◽  
Scale Effect ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Beam Model ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Small Scale Effect ◽  
Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Walled Carbon Nanotubes

This paper is concerned with the free vibration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with simply supported ends. Based on the non-local elasticity theory, Timoshenko beam model with the small scale effect and the van der Waals (vdW) interaction is derived and then solved analytically. The results reveal that the small scale effect is quite significant for small aspect ratios, large scale parameters and high radial vibration modes, whereas it is insensitive to the number of layers of MWCNTs and is weakly-dependent on the wall thickness of MWCNTs.

scholarly journals Basic considerations on seasonal breeding in mammals including their testing by comparing natural habitats and zoos

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Clauss ◽  
Philipp Zerbe ◽  
Laurie Bingaman Lackey ◽  
Daryl Codron ◽  
Dennis W. H. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Fluctuating Resources ◽  
Resource Limitations ◽  
In The Wild

Abstract Seasonal reproduction is common in mammals. Whereas specific conditions triggering a seasonal response can only be identified in controlled experiments, large-scale comparisons of reproduction in natural habitats and zoos can advance knowledge for taxa unavailable for experimentation. We outline how such a comparison can identify species whose seasonal physiology is linked to photoperiodic triggers, and those whose perceived seasonality in the wild is the consequence of fluctuating resources without a photoperiodic trigger. This concept groups species into those that do not change their aseasonal pattern between natural habitats and zoos because they are not constrained by resources in the wild, those that do not change a seasonal pattern between natural habitats and zoos because they are triggered by photoperiod irrespective of resources, and those that change from a more seasonal pattern in the natural habitat to an aseasonal pattern in zoos because the zoo environment alleviates resource limitations experienced in the wild. We explain how detailed comparisons of mating season timing in both environments can provide clues whether a specific daylength or a specific number of days after an equinox or solstice is the likely phototrigger for a taxon. We outline relationships between life history strategies and seasonality, with special focus on relative shortening of gestation periods in more seasonal mammals. Irrespective of whether such shortening results from the adaptive value of fitting a reproductive cycle within one seasonal cycle (minimizing ‘lost opportunity’), or from benefits deriving from separating birth and mating (to optimize resource use, or to reduce infanticide), reproductive seasonality may emerge as a relevant driver of life history acceleration. Comparisons of data from natural habitats and zoos will facilitate testing some of the resulting hypotheses.

scholarly journals Interpreting the interseismic deformation of the Altotiberina Fault (central Italy) through 2D modelling

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora Finocchio ◽  
Salvatore Barba ◽  
Stefano Santini ◽  
Antonella Megna
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Normal Fault ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Rheological Parameters ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Interseismic Deformation ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Stress Orientations ◽  
Main Factors

The Altotiberina low-angle normal fault in central Italy has been a focus of many recent studies. Although the existence of this fault has long been known, its seismicity and relationship to other faults are still debated. We present a 2D elastoplastic finite-element model that reproduces the interseismic deformation of the Altotiberina Fault. The model predictions are compared to observed geodetic velocities, stress orientations and geological data. The influence of the Altotiberina Fault on interseismic evolution is tested by building several models with different boundary conditions. The best model is 180 km long, 40 km deep and contains two layers with different rheological parameters, two ramps, two faults and four freely slipping segments. The main factors contributing to the large-scale interseismic deformation include basal traction, rheology and the Altotiberina Fault itself, whereas the local, small-scale variations are due to two secondary high-angle faults.

Evaluation of Available Technologies for Chicken Manure Energy Conversion and Techno-Economic Assessment of a Case Study in Italy

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Fantozzi ◽  
Bruno D’Alessandro ◽  
Daniela Leonardi ◽  
Umberto Desideri
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Chicken Manure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Odor Control

Chicken manure used as a natural fertilizer, given its high Nitrogen content, requires key actions in odor control that are often difficult to carry out resulting in an image loss for the company. Manure land-filling however is costly as well as incineration and this latter does still require odor control. Energy conversion from chicken manure may turn the cost into an earning that could payback both the investment and the image loss for odorous emissions. In this optic the paper analyses the different technologies that are available for energy conversion from chicken manure namely incineration, gasification, pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion with application to a real case. A large scale egg selling company in central Italy, with three production sites, was selected and its mass and energy flow balance assessed with particular reference to manure production and electricity consumption and expense. Five different technologies were then considered for energy conversion from chicken manure both for a single production site (microscale) and for the three (small scale). Grate incineration with steam production from exhaust gases was considered and discarded because of the too small scale. BTG gasification technology and IPRP pyrolysis technology presented by the authors, were evaluated and the techno-economic assessment showed interesting pay back time with medium to high investment costs and medium efficiencies. Pyrolysis technology with gas-steam combined cycle was considered but the economics show a very high pay back for the investment due to the small scale. Finally anaerobic digestion was evaluated showing the lowest investment cost and efficiency but an interesting payback period also considering that no public financing was considered. This latter solution has been presented to the company that will decide whether to finance the project.

scholarly journals Physicochemical Properties as Driver of Odonata Diversity in Oil Palm Waterways

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhamad Ishak ◽  
Ahmad R. Norhisham ◽  
Stephen M. Thomas ◽  
Siti Nurhidayu ◽  
Amal Ghazali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Stream Water Quality ◽  
Natural Habitats

Large-scale oil palm agriculture has caused deforestation in the tropics, but also degrades stream water quality and reduces aquatic biodiversity. Though the outcomes of industrial-scale oil palm plantations for biodiversity have been explored extensively, the consequences of small-scale oil palm agriculture for freshwater macroinvertebrate fauna are poorly understood. Here, we explored the impacts of small-scale oil palm agriculture on aerial adult Odonata (the dragonflies and damselflies), which, due to their inherent sensitivity to habitat degradation, represent useful indicators of wider ecosystem health. We surveyed riparian corridors of man-made waterways in natural habitats converted into agricultural lands in both peat swamp and mangrove forest, comprising a total of 60 sampling units across a region of Peninsular Malaysia where such small-scale agricultural practices are widespread. We hypothesized that physicochemical water quality of oil palm waterways together with riparian vegetation influence Odonata species richness and composition. Our results revealed that Odonata species richness increased with dissolved oxygen, water temperature and vegetation cover, but decreased with water level, pH, and total dissolved solids. Species composition was influenced by both dissolved oxygen and pH. The present study provides valuable insights into the effects of small-scale oil palm agriculture for water quality of associated aquatic habitats, and subsequent responses of adult Odonata. Therefore, smallholders should reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers to improve the conservation value of oil palm waterways for both Odonata and aquatic fauna more generally, in order to be certified as biodiversity-friendly agriculture.

Evaluating the hydraulic conductivity at three different scales within an unconfined sand aquifer at Lachenaie, Quebec

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 1212-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P Chapuis ◽  
Véronique Dallaire ◽  
Denis Marcotte ◽  
Michel Chouteau ◽  
Nelson Acevedo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Scale Effect ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scale Effects ◽  
Pumping Test ◽  
Field Variable ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sand Aquifer ◽  
Variable Head ◽  
A Site

This paper presents the evaluation of scale effects for the hydraulic conductivity, k, of a sand. Data were obtained using several methods at a site that was densely instrumented with piezometers within an area of about 100 m × 100 m. The 3.1–3.6 m thick sand deposit rests on a thick, nonfissured Champlain Sea clay deposit. At the small scale, local k values were obtained from the grain-size curves of sand samples and also from ground-penetrating radar surveys. At the intermediate scale, k values were obtained from field variable-head tests using piezometers. At the large scale, k values were obtained from pumping-test drawdowns in steady-state conditions. In this sand aquifer, the careful evaluations at three scales gave similar narrow distributions for the hydraulic conductivity, and therefore no scale effect is evidenced.Key words: hydraulic conductivity, sand, scale effect, gradation, monitoring well, pumping.

scholarly journals Genetic diversity and fragmentation of Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco (Apocynaceae) natural habitats, conservation issues in Chaco forest and savanna biomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-129
Author(s):  
Thomáz S. Guerreiro Botelho ◽  
Gecele Matos Paggi ◽  
Maria Ana Farinaccio
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Polymorphic Information Content ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Mantel Test ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
High Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Diversity And Structure

The present study analyses the first data on genetic diversity of A. quebracho-blanco with the fragmentation of its natural habitat, supporting conservation strategies such as the definition of priority areas for conservation. DNA was extracted from 25 individuals of five populations of A. quebracho-blanco from Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. Six ISSR primers were used to characterize the genetic diversity and structure of this species. The genotypes were grouped according to a distance matrix, considering the genetic diversity indices of Nei (He), Shannon (H’), polymorphic information content (PIC), and heterozygosis (H). The populations showed an average genetic diversity that ranged from 0.09 to 0.15 for the Shannon index and from 0.19 to 0.31 for the Nei index; the Mantel test was not significant (r2 = 0.25, P = 0.106). The results obteined for the sampled populations reveal that conservation units are indispensable for conserving the species genetic resources. In addition, it would be essential to construct a germplasm bank for the Cordoba (Argentina) population, which is a population with high genetic diversity in a region of lower fragmentation compared to other regions evaluated, to ensure the conservation of A. quebracho-blanco.

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