Responses of gastropods to changes in amounts of leaf litter and algae in mangrove forests

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 1481-1488 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.G. Chapman ◽  
K. Michie ◽  
T. Lasiak
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Alternative Models ◽  
Rapid Responses ◽  
Port Jackson ◽  
Disturbed Habitats ◽  
Different Parts ◽  
Macro Algae

Leaf litter, pneumatophores, saplings and patches of macro-algae are common characteristics of habitats in mangrove forests. The amounts of these vary among different parts of mangrove forests. In Port Jackson, some parts of forests under the canopy of trees appeared to have more saplings, longer pneumatophores and greater amounts of leaf litter and macro-algae than did other similarly shaded parts of the forest. The former also appeared to have greater densities of snails, Ophicardelus spp. and Salinator solida, which was confirmed by quantitative sampling. Two field experiments were carried out, in which the amount of litter or algae and the length of the pneumatophores, were manipulated to test six alternative models about influences of these features of habitat that might explain these patterns. In each experiment, both species decreased rapidly in plots with reduced litter and showed no response to the length of the pneumatophores. In the first experiment, there was no response to reductions of algae, but in the second experiment, each species showed a decrease in density when algae were reduced. The implications of these rapid responses to changes in small-scale features of habitat are discussed with respect to managing disturbed habitats.

scholarly journals Applications of Chemically Modified Clay Minerals and Clays to Water Purification and Slow Release Formulations of Herbicides

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Tomas Undabeytia ◽  
Uri Shuali ◽  
Shlomo Nir ◽  
Baruch Rubin
Keyword(s):  
Clay Minerals ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Nano Particles ◽  
Organic Cations ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Slow Release Formulations

This review deals with modification of montmorillonite and other clay-minerals and clays by interacting them with organic cations, for producing slow release formulations of herbicides, and efficient removal of pollutants from water by filtration. Elaboration is on incorporating initially the organic cations in micelles and liposomes, then producing complexes denoted micelle- or liposome-clay nano-particles. The material characteristics (XRD, Freeze-fracture electron microscopy, adsorption) of the micelle– or liposome–clay complexes are different from those of a complex of the same composition (organo-clay), which is formed by interaction of monomers of the surfactant with the clay-mineral, or clay. The resulting complexes have a large surface area per weight; they include large hydrophobic parts and (in many cases) have excess of a positive charge. The organo-clays formed by preadsorbing organic cations with long alkyl chains were also addressed for adsorption and slow release of herbicides. Another examined approach includes “adsorptive” clays modified by small quaternary cations, in which the adsorbed organic cation may open the clay layers, and consequently yield a high exposure of the siloxane surface for adsorption of organic compounds. Small scale and field experiments demonstrated that slow release formulations of herbicides prepared by the new complexes enabled reduced contamination of ground water due to leaching, and exhibited enhanced herbicidal activity. Pollutants removed efficiently from water by the new complexes include (i) hydrophobic and anionic organic molecules, such as herbicides, dissolved organic matter; pharmaceuticals, such as antibiotics and non-steroidal drugs; (ii) inorganic anions, e.g., perchlorate and (iii) microorganisms, such as bacteria, including cyanobacteria (and their toxins). Model calculations of adsorption and kinetics of filtration, and estimation of capacities accompany the survey of results and their discussion.

scholarly journals The Benefits of Combining Global and Local Data—A Showcase for Valuation and Mapping of Mangrove Climate Regulation and Food Provisioning Services within a Protected Area in Pará, North Brazil

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 432
Author(s):  
Robin Gutting ◽  
Ralf-Uwe Syrbe ◽  
Karsten Grunewald ◽  
Ulf Mehlig ◽  
Véronique Helfer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Climate ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Food Provisioning ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Climate Regulation ◽  
North Brazil ◽  
Species Specific

Mangrove forests provide a large variety of ecosystem services (ES) to coastal societies. Using a case study focusing on the Ajuruteua peninsula in Northern Brazil and two ES, food provisioning (ES1) and global climate regulation (ES2), this paper proposes a new framework for quantifying and valuing mangrove ES and allow for their small-scale mapping. We modelled and spatialised the two ES from different perspectives, the demand (ES1) and the supply (ES2) side respectively. This was performed by combining worldwide databases related to the global human population (ES1) or mangrove distribution and canopy height (ES2) with locally derived parameters, such as crab catches (ES1) or species-specific allometric equations based on local estimates of tree structural parameters (ES2). Based on this approach, we could estimate that the area delivers the basic nutrition of about 1400 households, which equals 2.7 million USD, and that the mangrove biomass in the area contains 2.1 million Mg C, amounting to 50.9 million USD, if it were paid as certificates. In addition to those figures, we provide high-resolution maps showing which areas are more valuable for the two respective ES, information that could help inform management strategies in the future.

Craniometric data of Apodemus sylvaticus in Slovakia

Biologia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Čanády ◽  
Ladislav Mošanský
Keyword(s):  
Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Genetic Interaction ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Wood Mouse ◽  
Apodemus Sylvaticus ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Craniometric Analysis ◽  
North Western ◽  
Different Parts

AbstractA craniometric analysis of skulls of the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) from three different parts of Slovakia (north-western, northern and south-eastern) was conducted. Twenty-nine skull and dental variables were measured and evaluated on a sample of 56 adult individuals. The overlap of the values of the measured traits was high. Moreover, the differences among the populations were different for each trait. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test and Discriminant function analysis showed variations in the cranial variables among the different parts of country. We have identified six morphometric variables suitable for the differentiation of populations on the basis of discriminant analysis. Significant differences were confirmed in the characteristics between the analyzed regions; thus, we can speak about small-scale craniometric differentiation. In addition, the results could indicate the influence of altitude, even over a shorter geographic distance between 48-49º N. Moreover, restriction of genetic interaction between the populations may in the future lead to even greater differences between the populations in Slovakia.

scholarly journals Ecological relations between mangrove leaf litter and the spatial distribution of the gastropod Melampus coffeus in a fringe mangrove forest

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diva S. Tavares ◽  
Rafaela C. Maia ◽  
Cristina Rocha-Barreira ◽  
Helena Matthews-Cascon
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Mangrove Forest ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Physical Presence ◽  
Ecological Relations ◽  
Melampus Coffeus ◽  
Pulmonate Gastropod

Leaf litter represents a food source to many organisms that may directly contribute to organic matter decomposition. In addition, the physical presence of these vegetal detritus contributes for the modification of some environmental areas and produce microhabitats that may act as a refuge against predators and desiccation for many animals. The pulmonate gastropod Melampus coffeus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ellobiidae) is a very common specie in Atlantic Coast mangrove forests and feeds on fallen mangrove leaves. It was hypothesized that the spatial distribution of Melampus coffeus is directly affected by mangrove leaf litter biomass deposition. Thus, this research aimed at evaluating the spatial distribution of these gastropods in relation to the biomass of mangrove leaf litter through a twelve-month period. The study area was established in the middle estuary of Pacoti River, state of Ceará, Brazil where two adjacent zones with different topographic profiles were determined. Samples of Melampus coffeus and leaf litter were collected monthly, throughout a year, from the mangrove ground surface. The results indicated that the presence of twigs in mangrove litter favor the occupation by smaller individuals of M. coffeus, probably because smaller individuals are more susceptible to predator attacks and desiccation than larger ones, and twigs and branches may provide a safe microhabitat.

scholarly journals Patterns of fish utilisation in a tropical Indo-Pacific mangrove-coral seascape, New Caledonia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Dubuc ◽  
N. Waltham ◽  
R. Baker ◽  
C. Marchand ◽  
M. Sheaves
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Main Component

AbstractMangrove forests are important habitats for fish. However, their utilisation by fish, and the specific values they confer, are still not fully understood. This study describes how fish use mangrove forests in an Indo-Pacific mangrove-coral reef seascape. Sampling was conducted using underwater video cameras (UVCs) to describe spatial and temporal variations in fish assemblages across a small-scale (~ 2.5 km2) system, and over the tidal and lunar cycle. UVCs were deployed in the two main component habitats of mangrove forests: at the mangrove forest edge, and inside the forest (5 m from the forest edge), to establish patterns of utilisation of fish across the tidal and lunar cycle. Proximity to coral reefs had a strong influence on the mangrove fish community, as most fish recorded were reef-associated. Juveniles of 12 reef species were observed, including two species classified as vulnerable on the IUCN list, and one endemic species. Fish assemblages on the mangrove edge differed significantly from those inside the forest. Most fish utilised the forest edge, with few species making regular use of in-forest habitats, supporting the contention that most fish species remain on the edge and potentially retreat into the forest for opportunistic feeding, or when threatened by larger predators. Species-specific patterns of utilisation varied across the tidal and lunar cycle. Small differences in depth profiles and substrate across the small-scale system had a significant effect on fish assemblages, highlighting the importance of accounting for spatial heterogeneity in these factors. These data provide important information for managers to implement adequate conservation strategies that include broader interconnected habitat mosaics.

Time for 3D: UAV-based lidar for modelling splash erosion under vegetation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Antenor Senn ◽  
Steffen Seitz ◽  
Fabian Ewald Fassnacht ◽  
Zahra Hosseini ◽  
Jannika Schäfer
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Protective Layer ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Initial Results ◽  
Covering Vegetation

<p>Rain throughfall under vegetation is determined by characteristics of the vertical structure and the associated plant traits. It goes both ways: A protective layer of ground covering vegetation or leaf litter can decrease throughfall kinetic energy (TKE), whereas the formation of large drips in the canopy layers has been found to increase TKE. Abstracting the three-dimensional vegetation structure into usable quantitative metrics is challenging, and therefore these processes have not yet been sufficiently integrated into spatial erosion models. The vegetation splash factor (VSF) was designed to close this gap (Senn et al. 2020, DOI: 10.1002/esp.4820). The VSF quantifies the influence of vegetation on TKE and can be calculated from aerial lidar point clouds. In the first step, we derive the vegetation cover in a voxel space, which then allows modelling the proportional contribution of drips per layer to reach the ground. Hence, the approach is strictly based on the 3D structure rather than conventional forestry parameters, e.g. crown diameter or leaf sizes. Here, we present the result of the first application of the VSF in a small scale field study using splash cup measurements to validate and refine the concept.</p><p>We implemented the experiment in a mixed-broadleaf forest near Bretten, Germany with a beech and an oak-dominated plot to cover a variety of vertical forest structure configurations and a diverse composition of species. Each plot comprised two transects of ten splash cups to measure sand loss - as a proxy for TKE - during six individual rainfall events. In addition, we used micro-scale runoff plots to determine the effect of soil covering layers such as leaf litter or biological soil crusts in comparison to bare soil. The VSF was calculated in R with a voxel resolution of 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.25 m using a UAV lidar dataset. </p><p>Initial results from the splash cup measurements showed that young oak induced about 70 % higher TKE than adult beech trees. Among the individual cup positions, the lowest energy values were measured without canopy influence as freefall kinetic energy (FKE), TKE at positions with an intermediate young growth and shrub layer showed medium values. In near-trunk and mid-positions without intermediate layers, we measured TKE values more than twice as high as FKE. This resulted in significant sediment removal beneath the tree layer when the ground covering vegetation layer was removed, which is in accordance with studies from other ecosystems. Grouped according to these conventional vegetation structural criteria, we found that the calculated VSF values clustered around similar values and correlated with sand loss from splash cups. From these initial results, we assume general suitability of the VSF to reflect the influence of vegetation structure on TKE. Further, more detailed analysis will now be done to adjust and calibrate the VSF model to produce more indicative results. The preliminary findings presented here will be further expanded to be presented at vEGU21.</p>

Progress towards small-scale field trials of coastal enhanced weathering of olivine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Romaniello ◽  
Shanee Stopnitzky ◽  
Tom Green ◽  
Francesc Montserrat ◽  
Eric Matzner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Stage Of Development

<p>Slow progress towards achieving global greenhouse gas emissions targets significantly increases the likelihood that future climate efforts may require not only emissions cuts but also direct climate mitigation via negative emissions technologies (IPCC AR5). Currently, such technologies exist at only a nascent stage of development, with significant uncertainties regarding their feasibility, cost, and potential unintended consequences and/or co-benefits.</p><p>Coastal enhanced weathering of olivine (CEWO) has been suggested as one potential pathway for achieving net negative CO<sub>2</sub> emissions at scale. CEWO involves the mining of olivine-rich ultramafic rocks (such as dunite) for incorporation during beach augmentation and restoration work. While grinding this rock into increasingly fine particle sizes is essential for increasing its surface area and reactivity, this step is also costly and energetically expensive. CEWO attempts to minimize this cost and energy penalty by relying on wave and tidal action to provide ongoing physical weathering of olivine grains once distributed on beaches. Laboratory experiments and carbon emissions assessments of CEWO suggest that these approaches may be technically feasible and carbon negative, but significant uncertainties remain regarding the real-world kinetics of coastal olivine dissolution. Furthermore, concerns about the fate and ecological impact of nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr)—potentially toxic trace metals found in olivine—require careful evaluation.</p><p>In 2019, Project Vesta was established as a nonprofit, philanthropically funded effort to evaluate the technical feasibility and ecological impacts of CEWO through a dedicated research program ultimately culminating in small-scale, real-world field trials of CEWO. This presentation will provide an overview and discussion of our overall research strategy, share insights from interim modeling and mesocosm experiments designed to ensure the practicality and safety of future field experiments, and explain our approach for ensuring transparent, responsible, and ethical research oversight and governance.</p>

Ceasefire: minimal aggression among Murray River crayfish feeding upon patches of allochthonous material

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danswell Starrs ◽  
Brendan C. Ebner ◽  
Christopher J. Fulton
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Fine Woody Debris ◽  
Trophic Pathways ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Freshwater Invertebrate

Transport and processing of allochthonous material is crucial for trophic pathways in headwater streams. Freshwater crayfish are known to affect and exploit the break-down of in-stream terrestrial plant material into detritus. We recorded Euastacus armatus (Murray River crayfish) individuals feeding on discrete patches of allochthonous material within an unregulated section of the Goodradigbee River, an upland stream in temperate Australia. Despite suggestions of aggressive territoriality, E. armatus were observed by remote and manual underwater filming to feed in non-aggressive aggregations on these piles of fine woody debris and leaf litter. On the basis of observations of 25 individuals found in the vicinity of the allochthonous patches, this population comprised mostly female individuals at smaller sizes of maturity than has been recorded for lowland populations of E. armatus. Our study confirms the importance of concentrated allochthonous food patches for detritivores, and points to the important trophic linkage between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems via a widespread and iconic freshwater invertebrate. Moreover, these non-aggressive feeding aggregations of E. armatus challenge notions of aggression in this species that have been developed in small-scale aquarium studies.

Non-Linear Space-Time Evolution of Wave Groups With a High Crest

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felice Arena ◽  
Francesco Fedele
Keyword(s):  
Time Evolution ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Surface Displacement ◽  
Fixed Time ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Free Surface Displacement ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Space Time Evolution

The theory of quasi-determinism, for the mechanics of linear three-dimensional waves, was obtained by Boccotti in the eighties. The first formulation of the theory deals with the largest crest amplitude; the second formulation deals with the largest wave height. The theory was verified in the nineties with some small-scale field experiments. In this paper the first formulation of Boccotti’s theory, valid for the space-time domain, is extended to the second order. The analytical expressions of the non-linear free surface displacement and velocity potential are obtained. Therefore the space-time evolution of a wave group, to the second-order in a Stokes expansion, when a very large crest occurs at a fixed time and location, is investigated. Finally the second-order probability of exceedance of the crest amplitude is obtained, as a function of two deterministic parameters.

scholarly journals Mission-driven research for stratospheric aerosol geoengineering

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 1089-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. MacMartin ◽  
Ben Kravitz
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Climate Risks ◽  
Research Activities

The last decade has seen broad exploratory research into stratospheric aerosol (SA) geoengineering, motivated by concern that reducing greenhouse gas emissions may be insufficient to avoid significant impacts from climate change. Based on this research, it is plausible that a limited deployment of SA geoengineering, provided it is used in addition to cutting emissions, could reduce many climate risks for most people. However, “plausible” is an insufficient basis on which to support future decisions. Developing the necessary knowledge requires a transition toward mission-driven research that has the explicit goal of supporting informed decisions. We highlight two important observations that follow from considering such a comprehensive, prioritized natural-science research effort. First, while field experiments may eventually be needed to reduce some of the uncertainties, we expect that the next phase of research will continue to be primarily model-based, with one outcome being to assess and prioritize which uncertainties need to be reduced (and, as a corollary, which field experiments can reduce those uncertainties). Second, we anticipate a clear separation in scale and character between small-scale experimental research to resolve specific process uncertainties and global-scale activities. We argue that the latter, even if the radiative forcing is negligible, should more appropriately be considered after a decision regarding whether and how to deploy SA geoengineering, rather than within the scope of “research” activities.

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