scholarly journals Conservation implications of the drinking habits of Black-cheeked Lovebirds Agapornis nigrigenis in Zambia

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
LOUISE S. WARBURTON ◽  
MICHAEL R. PERRIN
Keyword(s):  
Natural Habitat ◽  
External Disturbance ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Drinking Behaviour ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Drinking Habits ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Artificial Water

Since 1950, the annual rainfall in the habitat of Black-cheeked Lovebirds Agapornis nigrigenis has decreased, increasing dependence on artificial water supplies. In this study, the seasonal water requirements and drinking behaviour of the lovebirds in their natural habitat were investigated. During the dry season, lovebirds drank at the same water-point in the early morning and late afternoon. Flock sizes of birds at drinking sites ranged from 1 to 175 individuals. Birds from one locale all drank at the same waterhole. Black-cheeked Lovebirds were vigilant and highly cautious drinkers that did not drink at waterholes when disturbed by humans or livestock. The implications for conservation of the species are discussed. Since water availability is a limiting factor for the Black-cheeked Lovebird, gradual desiccation of its habitat has caused the reduction of its small distributional range. Because of increasing dependence on artificial water supplies in a highly localized distribution the priority for conservation management of the species must be creating and maintaining water resources with minimal external disturbance.

scholarly journals New records, potential distribution, and conservation of the Near Threatened cave bat Natalus macrourus in Brazil

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 579-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Delgado-Jaramillo ◽  
Eder Barbier ◽  
Enrico Bernard
Keyword(s):  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Environmental Suitability ◽  
Area Of Occupancy ◽  
Near Threatened

AbstractSpecies with specific roosting, foraging or breeding requirements are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation. For bats, the availability and environmental condition of caves can be a limiting factor. The cave specialist Natalus macrourus (formerly Natalus espiritosantensis) is categorized as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List but as Vulnerable in Brazil, based on a projected population reduction and a decline in its area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat. There is a lack of knowledge about the species’ distribution, natural history and ecology, information that is required for conservation. Using new occurrence data and potential distribution modelling we evaluated the distribution of N. macrourus in Brazil, analysed pressures on and threats to the species, and assessed the species’ conservation needs. Natalus macrourus is positively associated with areas with higher probability of cave occurrence and negatively associated with areas of high variation in mean daily temperature and mean annual rainfall. Areas with high environmental suitability for N. macrourus correspond to only 3% of the potential distribution modelled. We estimate that the species has already lost 54% of its natural habitat and that there is < 35% of habitat remaining in areas with high environmental suitability. We calculated that approximately half of the caves in areas with high environmental suitability are < 5 km from mining operations and only 4% of the species’ potential distribution lies within protected areas. Given the strong association of N. macrourus with caves, it is important to protect these habitats, and we recommend that caves where the species is present should receive immediate protection.

Effect of the Covid-19 Italian lockdown on human health: the analysis of alcohol consumption for aware quarantine (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Mazzarella ◽  
Annamaria Spina ◽  
Marcello Dallio ◽  
Antonietta Gerarda Gravina ◽  
Mario Romeo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Abuse ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Alcohol Drinking ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
Drinking Behaviour ◽  
Drinking Habits ◽  
Specific Subset

BACKGROUND Italy has been one of the first western countries seriously involved in the COVID-19 pandemic in the first months of 2020 and so that the national government was forced to impose a long lockdown period, stopping all the people aggregation outdoor and indoor activities. From a social point of view this period of domestic confinement resulted in deep changes of behaviours and lifestyles, promoting in many people the onset of psychological symptoms and signs (including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and irritability among others) already known as associated with drug and alcohol abuse OBJECTIVE this study aims to assess the variation of alcohol drinking habits in a sample of Italian citizens during the COVID-19 lockdown and to identify the psychosocial factors surrounding it, in order to assess the specific subset of the population that could need psychosocial support during these events METHODS An online anonymous questionnaire was created and submitted from 9th April 2020 to 28th April 2020 using social medias and e-mails. Questions were related to personal details such as age, work, instruction, and, moreover, to alcohol drinking habits during the lockdown, including Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT C) test questions RESULTS A total of 1234 surveys were filled out by subjects with an age range from 18 to 80 years old. An increase in both anxiety and fear has been detected in most of the participants (63% and 61% respectively) with a direct (r=0.652; p<0.001) relationship between them. Participants older than 50 years showed the strongest correlation between alcohol consumption, fear, and anxiety, (r=0.830, P <0.001 and r=0.741, P<0.001, respectively). Subjects living alone experienced a stronger association between anxiety, fear, and higher level of alcohol consumption (r: 0.529; P<0.001; r: 0.628, P<0.001 respectively). Moreover, 18% of participants increased alcohol consumption drinking during the lockdown. These subjects showed a lower frequency of alcohol consumption before the lockdown in comparison to the rest of the study population (2.5±0.96 vs 3±1.03, P<0.0001 respectively). Moreover, comparing the abovementioned groups, the percentage of subjects who experienced higher alcohol assumption before the 11th of March was higher in those that didn't change their drinking behaviour during the lockdown in comparison to that portion of them that experienced a worsening of alcohol abuse (r: 30.422, P<0.0001) CONCLUSIONS according to these data, during the Italian lockdown due to COVID 19 pandemic, different kind of people experienced an increase in alcohol drinking. Several psychosocial factors are involved in determining the increase in harmful alcohol consumption during this extraordinary stressful event and they must be addressed by the healthcare support in order to avoid awful lockdown impact on human life

scholarly journals Autecology of Drosera burmanni in the Wolobobo Botanic Gardens, Ngada District, Flores Island, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joko Ridho Witono ◽  
DIDI USMADI ◽  
WIHERMANTO ◽  
DANANG WAHYU PURNOMO ◽  
DINA SAFARINANUGRAHA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Distribution ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Imperata Cylindrica ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Island Conservation ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Associated Species

Abstract. Witono JR, Usmadi D, Wihermanto, Purnomo DW, Safarinanugraha D, Pakiding Y, Netoseso N. 2020. Autecology of Drosera burmanni in the Wolobobo Botanic Gardens, Ngada District, Flores Island, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 2137-2145. Drosera burmanni Vahl is a native carnivorous plant from tropical and subtropical Asia to the West Pacific, including Flores Island. During the botanical survey, a small population of the species was found in a limited area in the Wolobobo Botanic Gardens, Flores Island. Conservation of the species is necessary, since the habitat might be developed for the botanic gardens infrastructure. This research aims to study the autecology of D. burmanni, including environmental preferences and its associated species. Thirty plots with 2 x 2 m each were made to recognize its associated species and the pattern of its population distribution and its soil requirements. In the Wolobobo Botanic Gardens, D. burmanni flourishes with an average annual rainfall of 1835 mm; a temperature of 12.50-26.2° C; 48-99% humidity; at an altitude of 1489-1491 m asl.; a soil pH of 6.66, which contains very high C-organic, a high C/N ratio, moderate N total, K2O, P2O5, low CEC, and very low K, Na, Ca, Mg, and BS. Drosera burmanni displays a density of 8.5 individuals per m2 and is associated with 20 species, which belong to 19 genera and 9 families. The species has a clustering pattern and a positive association with Erigeron sumatrensis, Spinifex littoreus, and Imperata cylindrica. To conserve D. burmanni in the Wolobobo Botanic Gardens, it is necessary to designate its natural habitat as an in situ conservation area.

Seasonal changes in populations of phlebotomine sandflies (Dipt., Psychodidae) in Kenya

1964 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Minter
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Rainfall Distribution ◽  
Phlebotomine Sandflies ◽  
Local Abundance ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Termite Hills

An account is given of seasonal changes in the incidence and relative abundance of a number of Phlebotomine sandflies which rest in termite hills in two widely separated areas of Kenya.The annual pattern of rainfall distribution is shown to be of greater importance than the total precipitation in influencing the gross distribution and local abundance of many sandflies.Kenya sandflies fall readily into ‘ perennial ’ and ‘ rainy-season ’ groups: the former have a wide distribution and appear to breed throughout the year. The distribution of the ‘ rainy-season ’ sandflies is relatively restricted, since these species are found almost exclusively in areas with a bimodal pattern of annual rainfall; it is suggested that they may survive the intervening dry periods in larval diapause. The length rather than the severity of the dry seasons is thought to be the limiting factor in the distribution of ‘ rainy-season ’ species.Examples are given of the seasonal changes in structure of populations made up of several species sharing, in the adult form, the same termite-hill habitat.

scholarly journals Moth versus fly: a preliminary study of the pollination mode of two species of endemic Asteraceae from St Helena (Commidendrum robustum and C. rugosum) and its conservation implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Paajanen ◽  
Quentin Cronk
Keyword(s):  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Species Survival ◽  
Insect Visitation ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Pollination Mode ◽  
St Helena ◽  
Atlantic Island

Commidendrum robustum (Roxb.) DC. (St Helena gumwood) and C. rugosum (Dryand.) DC. (St Helena scrubwood) are ecologically important, endemic woody Asteraceae from the isolated South Atlantic island of St Helena. Once very abundant, they now exist in sparse fragmented populations due to 500 years of environmental destruction. They are sister taxa that evolved on the island and are reported to hybridise. Commidendrum rugosum has a saucer-like erect capitulum, whereas C. robustum has a somewhat globular hanging capitulum. Using daytime timelapse photography to follow capitula through their life cycle, we found that C. rugosum appears to be myophilous, visited largely by flies (including the endemic syrphid, Sphaerophoria beattiei Doesburg &amp; Doesburg) and occasionally by Lepidoptera. Commidendrum robustum, on the other hand, although visited by flies, strongly attracts moths (especially noted at the Millennium Forest site). Our data suggest that moth visits may reduce visits from flies due to the sensitivity of flies to interference by other insects. We conclude that C. robustum may have a mixed syndrome of myophily/phalaenophily and that there is apparently some divergence of the pollination niche between the two species. Its potential in attracting moths, coupled with its former abundance, suggests that it may have been a major food source for adults of the numerous endemic moths. Pollinator activity was measured by insect visitation rates (mean visits per capitulum per day, V) and insect residence time (mean pollinator kiloseconds per capitulum per day, R). Both are higher for C. robustum (C. rugosum, V = 16.4, R = 3.101; C. robustum, V = 34.0, R = 8.274), reflecting the abundance of moths on the capitula at the Millennium Forest site. The conservation implications of the pollination mode are that: (1) there is considerable pollinator activity on the capitula and pollination is not currently a limiting factor for plant reproduction; (2) gene exchange between geographically-isolated populations of C. rugosum is likely to be minimal due to the apparent reliance of the species for pollination on small flies (especially Sphaerophoria beattiei), which are believed to be not effective as pollinators over long distances (&gt; 1 km). A possible exception is the strong-flying drone-fly, Eristalis tenax Linn. which, although not as abundant as Sphaerophoria, does visit the flowers; (3) there is considerable overlap between the two species in flower visitors and interspecific pollen transfer is possible where the two species grow intermixed (which has potential positive and negative implications for species survival).

scholarly journals The demise of a wonder: Evolutionary history and conservation assessments of the Wonder Gecko Teratoscincus keyserlingii (Gekkota, Sphaerodactylidae) in Arabia

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0244150
Author(s):  
Karin Tamar ◽  
Johannes Els ◽  
Panagiotis Kornilios ◽  
Pritpal Soorae ◽  
Pedro Tarroso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Abu Dhabi Emirate ◽  
Conservation Assessments

Effective biodiversity conservation planning starts with genetic characterization within and among focal populations, in order to understand the likely impact of threats for ensuring the long-term viability of a species. The Wonder Gecko, Teratoscincus keyserlingii, is one of nine members of the genus. This species is distributed in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, with a small isolated population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where it is classified nationally as Critically Endangered. Within its Arabian range, anthropogenic activity is directly linked to the species’ decline, with highly localised and severely fragmented populations. Here we describe the evolutionary history of Teratoscincus, by reconstructing its phylogenetic relationships and estimating its divergence times and ancestral biogeography. For conservation implications of T. keyserlingii we evaluate the genetic structure of the Arabian population using genomic data. This study supports the monophyly of most species and reveals considerable intraspecific variability in T. microlepis and T. keyserlingii, which necessitate broad systematic revisions. The UAE population of T. keyserlingii likely arrived from southern Iran during the Pleistocene and no internal structure was recovered within, implying a single population status. Regional conservation of T. keyserlingii requires improved land management and natural habitat restoration in the species’ present distribution, and expansion of current protected areas, or establishment of new areas with suitable habitat for the species, mostly in northern Abu Dhabi Emirate.

SEAGRASS RESTORATION: AN UPDATE FROM TRANG PROVINCE, SOUTHWESTERN THAILAND

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasert Tongnunui ◽  
Prasert Tongnunui ◽  
Woraporn Tarangkoon ◽  
Woraporn Tarangkoon ◽  
Parichat Hukiew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Donor Site ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Seagrass Bed ◽  
Asexual Propagation ◽  
Enhalus Acoroides ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Sexual Propagation

Natural disasters may adversely affect coastal resources potentially leading to coastal habitat restorations that incorporate stakeholders and the general public. Appropriate methodologies for habitat restoration are developed to ensure the outcomes of this project. Currently, seagrass bed restoration by means of asexual and sexual propagation techniques have been used worldwide. However, the experience of seagrass (Enhalus acoroides) habitat restoration in Trang Province noted that to accomplish this project’s strategies involved the application of restoration techniques along with public and stakeholder participation. The application of asexual propagation, specifically the collection of single shoots from donor seagrasses and subsequent transplantation, is a convenient tool. However, from this project results, this process still has conceptual problems as from the large numbers of single shoots collected from donor seagrasses, the survival rate was relatively low. Furthermore, this process was complicated by conflicting interests between local communities near to the donor site and the project’s organizers. In order to reduce said conflicts, other techniques to balance stakeholder interests were instigated by this project, namely the development of both asexual and sexual propagation techniques. This project initiated a sexual propagation technique by the collection of wild seeds of Enhalus acoroides that were subsequently grown in the laboratory before natural habitat transplantation. This project results showed that seeds can be grown rapidly and can be cultured in large numbers. However, this development technique has a limit on rearing time because seedlings were found to be in decline after the third month of the experiment. These problems were compounded by a limiting factor that pushed the project’s organizers to decide to transplant seagrasses from the laboratory to the wild whether a time was seasonally suitable or unsuitable, the planting activity still done forward. This matter may have enhanced the low survival rate situation after seagrass transplantation to the wild. If there is a need to recover a seagrass bed, the above culture and transplantation methodologies should be used in conjunction with repeated periodic plantings until natural ecological function has been restored. In conclusion, further research should be instigated to improve the cultivation method for producing ready to plant seedlings and to improve methods of project operation.

“I don't just drink water for the sake of it”: Understanding the influence of value, reward, self-identity and early life on water drinking behaviour.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Rodger ◽  
Esther K. Papies
Keyword(s):  
Water Intake ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Parental Attitudes ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Drinking Behaviour ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Quantitative Survey ◽  
Drinking Habits ◽  
Water Drinking ◽  
Qualitative Survey

BackgroundThe prevalence and negative health outcomes of underhydration call for a better understanding of water drinking motivations to inform interventions. Prior research has indicated that constructs like habits and self-identity may be key in understanding adequate water intake.Objective To assess the motivational processes underlying different patterns of water intake (i.e., high and consistent versus low and inconsistent) with a specific focus on the constructs like value, reward, self-identity and early life drinking habits.Design We used mixed methods: an initial quantitative survey (N = 400), followed by a qualitative survey (N = 101) in the general UK population. The quantitative survey assessed self-reported differences in water drinking behaviour (e.g., amount and frequency) in two different types of water drinkers. The qualitative survey assessed underlying reasons for these differences, in a subset of participants. Results Participants who associated water drinking with valued, rewarding outcomes were more likely to drink a high and consistent amount of water, with less subjective effort than participants who did not (i.e., felt obligated to drink water). Reward seemed to motivate repeated performance of water preparation/intake behaviours, making these behaviours subjectively effortless. Participants with health-conscious self-identities were more likely to associate water drinking with reward, but their water intake could be disrupted in situations where other aspects of self-identity were prominent (e.g., professionalism at work). Finally, for many participants drinking habits from early life (partially shaped by parental attitudes and drinking behaviours) persisted into later life and were experienced as hard to change. ConclusionsHealth professional trying to increase patients’ water intake need to understand what outcomes patients value when drinking (e.g., taste or health) and try make water rewarding in line with these values. Early intervention is also essential given the persistence of early life drinking habits.

The influence of ambient temperature and humidity on the body temperature and water loss from two Australian lizards, Tiliqua rugosa (Gray) (Scincidae) and Amphibolurus barbatus cuvier (Agamidae)

1965 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
. Warburg.M.R
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
The Body ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Lethal Temperature ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Tiliqua Rugosa ◽  
Physiological Adaptations ◽  
Varied Diet

Tiliqua rugosa and Amphibolurus barbatus are capable of living in arid habitats; they display modified behaviour and corresponding physiological adaptations. The activity pattern of T. rugosa changes during the year with activity restricted during midsummer to short periods in the early morning and late afternoon. The body temperature of T. rugosa under natural conditions indicates that 41�C is the highest temperature tolerated naturally. In the controlled temperature cabinet a lizard of this species survived for 2 hr at a body temperature of 41.7�C, whilst the lethal temperature was 45.5�C. For A. barbatus the lethal temperature was 46.0�C, and one specimen survived for 2 hr at 43.5�C. The thermoregulation temperature (T.T.) of T. rugosa as calculated from field data was 37.5�C; above this temperature the body temperature of this lizard was below that of the air. Temperature regulation in this species was also studied in the laboratory under controlled conditions. Water loss by evaporation was remarkably low in both lizards even when compared with better adapted, desert lizards. The rate of water loss is directly related to temperature and inversely related to humidity. T. rugosa loses most water during the first period of exposure (about 2 hr) to temperatures between 30-37.5�C, whilst A. barbatus loses water more slowly. At high temperatures (i.e. over 40�C) the rate of water loss decreases. Even in areas where no surface water is available T. rugosa appears to survive because its varied diet supplies adequate water. It is unlikely that food is a limiting factor in its distribution.

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