scholarly journals Extreme climate event promotes phenological mismatch between sexes in hibernating ground squirrels

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caila E. Kucheravy ◽  
Jane M. Waterman ◽  
Elaine A. C. dos Anjos ◽  
James F. Hare ◽  
Chris Enright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Size ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Motile Sperm ◽  
Extreme Climate ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Phenological Mismatch ◽  
Climate Event ◽  
Climate Events ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Urocitellus Richardsonii

AbstractHibernating ground squirrels rely on a short active period for breeding and mass accrual, and are thus vulnerable to extreme climate events that affect key periods in their annual cycle. Here, we document how a heatwave in March 2012 led to a phenological mismatch between sexes in Richardson’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii). Females emerged from hibernation and commenced breeding earlier in 2012 relative to average female emergence. Although males had descended testes and pigmented scrota, it appeared that not all males were physiologically prepared to breed since 58.6% of males had non-motile sperm when breeding commenced. Body condition, relative testes size, and the relative size of accessory glands were significant predictors of sperm motility. Males with non-motile sperm had smaller accessory glands than males with motile sperm. There was no decrease in the number of juveniles that emerged in 2012 or female yearlings recruited in 2013, nor did juveniles emerge later than other years. The impact of this heatwave on male ground squirrels emphasizes the importance of assessing the consequences of climate change on the breeding success of hibernating species in both sexes, since the different sensitivity to external cues for emergence led to a mismatch in timing under this event.

scholarly journals Shooting blanks: extreme climate event promotes phenological mismatch between sexes in hibernating ground squirrels

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caila E. Kucheravy ◽  
Jane M. Waterman ◽  
Elaine A.C. Anjos ◽  
James F. Hare ◽  
Chris Enright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Size ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Motile Sperm ◽  
Extreme Climate ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Phenological Mismatch ◽  
Climate Event ◽  
Climate Events ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Urocitellus Richardsonii

Abstract Hibernating ground squirrels rely on a short active period for breeding and mass accrual, and are thus vulnerable to extreme climate events that affect key periods in their annual cycle. Here, we observed how a heatwave in March 2012 led to a phenological mismatch between sexes in Richardson’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii). Females emerged from hibernation and commenced breeding earlier in 2012 relative to average female emergence. Despite external indicators suggesting that males were prepared for breeding, it appeared that not all males were physiologically prepared since 58.6% of males had non-motile sperm when breeding commenced. We found that males with non-motile sperm had smaller accessory glands than males with motile sperm. Body condition, relative testes size, and the relative size of accessory glands were significant predictors of sperm motility. There was no difference in litter size among years, nor a decrease in the number of juveniles emerged in 2012 or female yearlings recruited in 2013. The impact of this heatwave on male ground squirrels emphasizes the importance of assessing the consequences of climate change on breeding success of hibernating species in both sexes, since the different cues for emergence led to a mismatch in timing under this event.

scholarly journals Impact of recent climate extremes on mosquito-borne disease transmission in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. e0009182
Author(s):  
Cameron Nosrat ◽  
Jonathan Altamirano ◽  
Assaf Anyamba ◽  
Jamie M. Caldwell ◽  
Richard Damoah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Mosquito Abundance ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Extreme Climate Events ◽  
Extreme Climate ◽  
Recent Climate ◽  
Climate Events ◽  
The Impact

Climate change and variability influence temperature and rainfall, which impact vector abundance and the dynamics of vector-borne disease transmission. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events. Mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, are primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Freshwater availability and temperature affect dengue vector populations via a variety of biological processes and thus influence the ability of mosquitoes to effectively transmit disease. However, the effect of droughts, floods, heat waves, and cold waves is not well understood. Using vector, climate, and dengue disease data collected between 2013 and 2019 in Kenya, this retrospective cohort study aims to elucidate the impact of extreme rainfall and temperature on mosquito abundance and the risk of arboviral infections. To define extreme periods of rainfall and land surface temperature (LST), we calculated monthly anomalies as deviations from long-term means (1983–2019 for rainfall, 2000–2019 for LST) across four study locations in Kenya. We classified extreme climate events as the upper and lower 10% of these calculated LST or rainfall deviations. Monthly Ae. aegypti abundance was recorded in Kenya using four trapping methods. Blood samples were also collected from children with febrile illness presenting to four field sites and tested for dengue virus using an IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found that mosquito eggs and adults were significantly more abundant one month following an abnormally wet month. The relationship between mosquito abundance and dengue risk follows a non-linear association. Our findings suggest that early warnings and targeted interventions during periods of abnormal rainfall and temperature, especially flooding, can potentially contribute to reductions in risk of viral transmission.

scholarly journals Observationally constrained projection of the reduced intensification of extreme climate events in Central Asia from 0.5 °C less global warming

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 543-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongdong Peng ◽  
Tianjun Zhou ◽  
Lixia Zhang ◽  
Wenxia Zhang ◽  
Xiaolong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Coupled Model ◽  
Correction Method ◽  
Maximum Precipitation ◽  
Extreme Climate Events ◽  
Extreme Climate ◽  
Rcp 8.5 ◽  
Climate Events ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Arid Central Asia is highly vulnerable to extreme climate events. Information on potential future changes in extreme climate events in Central Asia is limited. In this study, the performances of models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) in simulating climatological extremes in Central Asia are first evaluated, and a bias correction method is employed to constrain future projections. The responses of extreme climate events over Central Asia to future warming and, in particular, the impact of 1.5 and 2 °C global warming scenarios are then assessed based on the observationally constrained projections. During the twenty-first century, coldest night (TNn), coldest day (TXn), warmest night (TNx), warmest day (TXx), 1-day maximum precipitation (RX1 day), 5-day maximum precipitation (RX5 day), and precipitation intensity (SDII) in Central Asia would robustly increase at best estimated rates of 1.93 °C, 1.71 °C, 1.18 °C, 1.25 °C, 6.30%, 5.71%, and 4.99% per degree of global warming, respectively, under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5. Compared with the 2 °C warming scenario, limiting global warming to 1.5 °C could reduce the intensification (relative to 1986–2005) of TNn, TNx, TXn, TXx, RX1 day, RX5 day, and SDII by 33%, 24%, 32%, 29%, 39%, 42%, and 53% from the best estimates under RCP8.5, respectively. The avoided intensification of TNn, TNx, TXn and TXx (RX1 day and SDII) would be larger (smaller) under RCP4.5. This suggests that a low warming target is necessary for avoiding the dangerous risk of extremes in this arid region.

scholarly journals Extreme Climate and Absence from Work: Evidence from Jamaica

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nekeisha Spencer ◽  
Mikhail-Ann Urquhart
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Work Absence ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Extreme Climate Events ◽  
Extreme Climate ◽  
Absence From Work ◽  
Climate Events ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThis study investigated the impact of extreme climate events on work absence in Jamaica. To this end, we constructed a quarterly individual level dataset on labor market and climatic data for 2004–2014. We find that while excess rainfall increases the odds of being temporarily absent from work, heat is unlikely to have an effect. The estimated outcome of excess rainfall is reasonable given the possibility of flooded roads, which can impede travel to work. This draws attention to the development of e-commuting policies to mitigate any negative effects on productivity.

scholarly journals Hurricane Driven Changes in Vegetation Structure and Ecosystem Services in Tropical Urban Yards: a Study Case in San Juan, Puerto Rico

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofía Olivero-Lora ◽  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval ◽  
Elvia J Melendez-Ackerman ◽  
Juan Orengo-Rolon
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Urban Forests ◽  
San Juan ◽  
Extreme Climate Events ◽  
Extreme Climate ◽  
Residential Yards ◽  
Climate Events ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Urban forests are valuable spaces for species conservation, protection of local biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services. However, they are also vulnerable to the impact of extreme climate events like hurricanes. Understanding how urban forests are responding to hurricane disturbances is crucial to improve their design, management, and resilience. Here we analyzed pre-and post-hurricane surveys in 52 residential yards in San Juan to assess urban forests responses after Hurricanes Irma and Maria impacted Puerto Rico in 2017. We used these surveys to compare vegetation structure and composition (including species-specific mortality and damage rates) and to quantify changes in the ecosystem services provided by these yards. We found that hurricane disturbances significantly altered the structure but not the composition of yard vegetation. We detected a 27% reduction and 31% mortality of standing stems, and a significant reduction in plants health. Yard species composition was dominated by non-native species and this trend did not change with hurricane disturbance. Changes in vegetation structure translated into substantial reductions in ecosystem services. Food provision, an important service provided by a large proportion of yards before the hurricane, reported the highest reduction (41.9%) while carbon storage was the service that changed the least (9%). Our combined results emphasize the key role played by residential yards providing ecosystem services in tropical cities and call for further efforts to manage private and public urban forests in ways that may ensure their resilience to mitigate extreme climate events, provide multiple ecosystem services, and promote long-term urban sustainability.

scholarly journals Quantifying the impact of an extreme climate event on species diversity in fragmented temperate forests: the effect of the October 1987 storm on British broadleaved woodlands

2014 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 1273-1287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon M. Smart ◽  
Aaron M. Ellison ◽  
Robert G. H. Bunce ◽  
Robert H. Marrs ◽  
Keith J. Kirby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Temperate Forests ◽  
Extreme Climate Event ◽  
Extreme Climate ◽  
Climate Event ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Impact of extreme climate events on water supply sustainability in Egypt: case studies in Alexandria region and Upper Egypt

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 484-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed G. Yehia ◽  
Khaled M. Fahmy ◽  
Mahmoud A. S. Mehany ◽  
Gehad G. Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Water Turbidity ◽  
Upper Egypt ◽  
Extreme Climate Events ◽  
Extreme Climate ◽  
Unsafe Water ◽  
Climate Events ◽  
The Impact

Water resources in Egypt have become stressed due to changes in climate patterns. Egypt is characterized by two seasons, a mild, wet winter and a hot, dry summer. In recent years, many areas have become vulnerable to the impact of extreme climate events. The impact of these events on water supplies has become more pronounced. This study states that there is a tangible impact of extreme climate events upon both water resources quality and water supplies. The Nile river water turbidity was investigated as an operational indicator for the water treatment plants (WTPs). The results illustrated that an unprecedented increase in average turbidity of raw water in Upper Egypt (from 4 up to 110 NTU) led to a cut in water supplies for up to 100 hours in some areas. While in Alexandria the turbidity did affect WTP operation efficiency, safe water could still be produced. Cuts in water supply would have an impact on hygiene and make people prone to use unsafe water sources. These consequences stimulate water supply bodies to develop action plans to mitigate and/or avoid such potential impacts on public health. This study suggests proposed steps to develop an appropriate plan to face such extreme events.

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