scholarly journals Annual changes in the Biodiversity Intactness Index in tropical and subtropical forest biomes, 2001–2012

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana De Palma ◽  
Andrew Hoskins ◽  
Ricardo E. Gonzalez ◽  
Luca Börger ◽  
Tim Newbold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Change ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Subtropical Forest ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Average Increase ◽  
Biodiversity Indicators ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Average Abundance ◽  
First Time

AbstractFew biodiversity indicators are available that reflect the state of broad-sense biodiversity—rather than of particular taxa—at fine spatial and temporal resolution. One such indicator, the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII), estimates how the average abundance of the native terrestrial species in a region compares with their abundances in the absence of pronounced human impacts. We produced annual maps of modelled BII at 30-arc-second resolution (roughly 1 km at the equator) across tropical and subtropical forested biomes, by combining annual data on land use, human population density and road networks, and statistical models of how these variables affect overall abundance and compositional similarity of plants, fungi, invertebrates and vertebrates. Across tropical and subtropical biomes, BII fell by an average of 1.9 percentage points between 2001 and 2012, with 81 countries seeing an average reduction and 43 an average increase; the extent of primary forest fell by 3.9% over the same period. We did not find strong relationships between changes in BII and countries’ rates of economic growth over the same period; however, limitations in mapping BII in plantation forests may hinder our ability to identify these relationships. This is the first time temporal change in BII has been estimated across such a large region.

scholarly journals Annual changes in the Biodiversity Intactness Index in tropical and subtropical forest biomes, 2001-2012

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana De Palma ◽  
Andrew Hoskins ◽  
Ricardo E. Gonzalez ◽  
Luca Börger ◽  
Tim Newbold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Biodiversity Indicators ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Average Abundance ◽  
Combined Models ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACTFew biodiversity indicators are available that reflect the state of broad-sense biodiversity—rather than of particular taxa—at fine spatial and temporal resolution. The Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) estimates how the average abundance of native terrestrial species in a region compares with their abundances before pronounced human impacts. BII is designed for use with data from a wide range of taxa and functional groups and for estimation at any resolution for which data on land use and related pressures are available. For each year from 2001 to 2012, we combined models of how land use and related pressures in tropical and subtropical forested biomes affect overall abundance and compositional similarity of plants, fungi, invertebrates and vertebrates, with data on anthropogenic pressures to produce annual maps of modelled BII at a spatial resolution of 30 arc seconds (roughly 1 km at the equator) across tropical and subtropical forested biomes. This is the first time temporal change in BII has been estimated across such a large region. The approach we have used to model compositional similarity uses data more efficiently than that used previously when estimating BII. Across tropical and subtropical biomes, BII fell by an average of 1.9 percentage points between 2001 and 2012, with 81 countries seeing an average reduction and 43 an average increase; the extent of primary forest fell by 3.9% over the same period. Changes are not strongly related to countries’ rates of economic growth over the same period.

Spider diversity in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 ((suppl.1)) ◽  
pp. 209-243
Author(s):  
J.K.H. Koh ◽  
D.J. Court
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
New Records ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Vegetation Zones ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Quantitative Analyses ◽  
First Time

This paper discusses the preliminary results of the first comprehensive survey of the spiders of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) in Singapore. Two plots were established in each of the three zones of vegetation, viz., primary forest, old secondary forest, and maturing secondary forest. They were repeatedly sampled over an 18-month period. Sorting of the collection so far suggests that the three vegetation zones harbour rather different spider assemblages. Only ~9% of the total spider fauna recovered was shared by all three zones. The results have also yielded a preliminary picture of dominance, abundance and rarity. Although first intended to obtain a baseline for future quantitative analyses, the survey became a testing ground to modify and refine methodology so as to conduct future quantitative surveys with greater scientific rigour. Taxonomic work on the samples so far shows that the spiders in the BTNR span over 43 families, of which six families are listed for the first time in Singapore. The tally is summarised in an interim checklist of BTNR spiders. The checklist, with a total of 317 entries, shows that there are 158 described species of spiders in BTNR, of which 25 species are new records for Singapore. Another 159 morphospecies are provisionally recognised as distinct species, some of which may be new to science. Our observations during the survey have allowed us to provide a narrative of BTNR spider diversity against a backdrop of their microhabitat specialisation.

scholarly journals European primary forest database v2.0

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Maria Sabatini ◽  
Hendrik Bluhm ◽  
Zoltan Kun ◽  
Dmitry Aksenov ◽  
José A. Atauri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Satellite Image ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Potential Natural Vegetation ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Biogeographical Regions ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
Landsat Satellite ◽  
Primary Forests

AbstractPrimary forests, defined here as forests where the signs of human impacts, if any, are strongly blurred due to decades without forest management, are scarce in Europe and continue to disappear. Despite these losses, we know little about where these forests occur. Here, we present a comprehensive geodatabase and map of Europe’s known primary forests. Our geodatabase harmonizes 48 different, mostly field-based datasets of primary forests, and contains 18,411 individual patches (41.1 Mha) spread across 33 countries. When available, we provide information on each patch (name, location, naturalness, extent and dominant tree species) and the surrounding landscape (biogeographical regions, protection status, potential natural vegetation, current forest extent). Using Landsat satellite-image time series (1985–2018) we checked each patch for possible disturbance events since primary forests were identified, resulting in 94% of patches free of significant disturbances in the last 30 years. Although knowledge gaps remain, ours is the most comprehensive dataset on primary forests in Europe, and will be useful for ecological studies, and conservation planning to safeguard these unique forests.

scholarly journals Candidate name order effects in New Hampshire: Evidence from primaries and from general elections with party column ballots

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248049
Author(s):  
Bo MacInnis ◽  
Joanne M. Miller ◽  
Jon A. Krosnick ◽  
Clifton Below ◽  
Miriam Lindner
Keyword(s):  
New Hampshire ◽  
Political Engagement ◽  
Order Effects ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Major Party ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
General Elections ◽  
Primacy Effects ◽  
First Time

Research in a few U.S. states has shown that candidates listed first on ballots gain extra votes as a result. This study explored name order effects for the first time in New Hampshire, where such effects might be weak or entirely absent because of high political engagement and the use of party column ballots. In general elections (in 2012 and 2016) for federal offices and the governorship and in primaries (in 2000, 2002, and 2004), evidence of primacy effects appeared in 86% of the 84 tests, including the 2016 presidential race, when Donald Trump gained 1.7 percentage points from first listing, and Hillary Clinton gained 1.5 percentage points. Consistent with theoretical predictions, primacy effects were larger in primaries and for major-party candidates in general elections than for non-major-party candidates in general elections, more pronounced in less publicized contests, and stronger in contests without an incumbent running. All of this constitutes evidence of the reliability and generalizability of evidence on candidate name order effects and their moderators.

Air Pollution and Trade: The Case of China

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-346
Author(s):  
Jin Qin ◽  
◽  
Ivan T. Kandilov ◽  
Roger H. von Haefen ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Sulfur Dioxide ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Exogenous Shock ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
Sulfur Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Emissions Intensity

We estimate the effects of trade on air pollution in China. To address endogeneity concerns, we use an instrumental variable strategy that treats the Great Recession as an exogenous shock that differentially affected China’s coastal provinces, which export a greater volume of manufacturing as they are closer to navigable waters. In our empirical analysis, we employ annual data on emissions of sulfur dioxide as well as smoke and dust at the province level from 2003 to 2015 to measure air pollution intensity (the ratio of air pollution to GDP), and we also use fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations data derived from satellite imagery as a robustness check. We find that a decrease in trade intensity (the ratio of trade to GDP) by 10 percentage points (a negative trade shock similar to what occurred during the Great Recession) increases sulfur dioxide emissions intensity by about 38 percentage points. Emissions of the other two air pollutants grow by similar proportions.

scholarly journals Towards Conservation of Genetic Variation of Tropical Tree Species With Differing Successional Status: The Case of Mansonia altissima A. Chev and Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 194008291986426
Author(s):  
Akin Akinnagbe ◽  
Oliver Gailing ◽  
Reiner Finkeldey ◽  
Amadu Lawal
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Human Impact ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Genetic Erosion ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Timber Species ◽  
Pioneer Species ◽  
Forest Patch ◽  
Successional Status

Two important West African timber tree species with differing successional status, Mansonia altissima A. Chev and Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum were investigated in this study. Triplochiton scleroxylon is a pioneer species found in open forests, whereas Mansonia altissima is a nonpioneer light-demanding tree species occurring in closed forests. Amplified fragment length polymorphism markers were used to compare the genetic diversities of these two timber species in stands with different degrees of human impact (isolated forest patch, logged forest, farmland, plantation, and primary forest). Contrasting effects of human impact on genetic diversity were detected for these two timber species. The results suggested severe effects of human impact on the genetic diversity of Mansonia altissima, a nonpioneer species. However, no adverse effect was recorded in Triplochiton scleroxylon, a pioneer species. These findings indicate that nonpioneer tree species could be more prone to genetic erosion than pioneer tree species as a result of adverse human impacts. Therefore, conservation of genetic diversity in both pioneer and nonpioneer tree species populations would likely necessitate different measures.

scholarly journals Distribution of tensor anisotropy of cosmic rays near the neutral current sheet

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-21
Author(s):  
Петр Гололобов ◽  
Peter Gololobov ◽  
Прокопий Кривошапкин ◽  
Prokopy Krivoshapkin ◽  
Гермоген Крымский ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Temporal Change ◽  
Neutral Current ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Time Profiles ◽  
Activity Cycles ◽  
First Time ◽  
Solar Activity Cycles ◽  
Ground Level Enhancements

We analyze time profiles of isotropic intensity, components of vector and tensor anisotropies of cos-mic rays (CR) when Earth crosses the neutral sheet of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in solar activity cycles 23–24. The moments of the crossings are de-termined from Wilcox Observatory synoptic charts and IMF data. Periods of Forbush decreases and ground level enhancements are excluded from the analysis. The events are analyzed for the epochs of positive and negative signs of the Sun’s general magnetic field. During each epoch, the crossings from the positive sector to the negative one and vice versa are separated. In total, 213 crossing events have been selected. The first two spherical harmonics of the angular CR-distribution are obtained using the global survey method. In each case, the average number of stations is equal to 32. The analysis shows that the temporal change of the isotropic component is caused by a magnetic mirror. For the first time, the zonal harmonics are reliably distinguished, and the existence of the antisymmetric diurnal CR-variation in a low energy range, which is oriented along IMF, is recognized. We compare our results with those obtained earlier.

Effects of online education on the identification and management of immune-related adverse events over time.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18224-e18224
Author(s):  
Lori Keys Pender ◽  
Haleh Kadkhoda ◽  
Katie S. Lucero ◽  
Patti Repetto ◽  
Charlotte Warren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Average Increase ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Absolute Increase ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
Over Time

e18224 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly used in oncology care and produce a wide variety of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that differ from toxicities of other systemic therapies. The objective of this study was to assess trends over time in oncologists’ knowledge, competence, and confidence managing irAEs. Methods: A series of online continuing medical education (CME) activities addressing irAEs was launched beginning in April 2014; 39 included multiple-choice knowledge/competence questions and a confidence question assessed on a 5-point Likert-type scale before and immediately after the activity. Activities that had at least 30 oncologists participate pre/post are included in this analysis. A pre-/post-assessment study design was used, and educational effect was assessed with chi-square tests. Analyses were conducted to examine trends in knowledge, competence, and confidence recognizing, identifying, and managing irAEs over four years on a quarterly basis. Weighted averages in each of the outcomes were calculated by quarter. Results: A total of 187,800 learners participated from April 2014-March 2018, including 96,177 physicians, of whom 25,127 were oncologists. The average increase pre- to post-test for 22 activities that asked a knowledge-based question was 18% (P < 0.001). The absolute increase from pre-test in 2014 (67%) to post-test in 2018 (87%) was 20 percentage points. For 16 activities with competence questions, the average increase from pre- to post-test was 8% (P < 0.001), and the absolute increase from pre-test in 2014 (39%) to post-test in 2017 (87%) was 48 percentage points. For 5 activities with a confidence question, the average increase from pre- to post-test was 8% (P < 0.05), and the mean rating pre-test in 2016 was 2.85 versus 3.53 post-test in 2018. Conclusions: Online CME is effective to improve oncologists’ knowledge, competence, and confidence managing irAEs; however, pre-test outcomes in 2018 demonstrate ongoing knowledge and competence gaps that should be addressed, and post-test confidence data indicate a persistent lack of confidence among oncologists even after participating in online CME.

The Efficiency Change of Spiral Classifier with Different Overflow Discharge Methods

2011 ◽  
Vol 412 ◽  
pp. 453-458
Author(s):  
Xing Long Zhou ◽  
Xiang Wang ◽  
Xiao Ming Zhang ◽  
Luo Xiao Qing
Keyword(s):  
Basic Structure ◽  
Average Increase ◽  
Efficiency Change ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Shortest Distance ◽  
Circulation Circuit ◽  
Increase Rate ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Spiral Classifier ◽  
Significant Application

The basic structure, classification principle and low efficiency of the traditional spiral classifier were analyzed. The trial industrial comparative experiment was carried out by using φ300×4500 spiral classifier with the two-sided overflow and the port side overflow at the same parameter. The experimental results showed that, the qualified fine materials could overflow with the shortest distance by using two-sided overflow method, which avoided circulation circuit of fine materials and reduced the content of-200 mesh fine materials in the sinking sand down lower 2-5 percentage points compared with the port side overflow. At the same time, adjusting the overflow emissions height of two-sided overflow could delay the settling time of coarse mineral which reduced the content of +200 mesh materials of the overflow discharge lower 5-8 percentage points than the port side overflow. Compared with the port side overflow, the classification efficiency was improved about from 40% to 60%, and the average increase rate was up to 17%. The improvement of overflow discharge can be used not only for the adjusting of present spiral classifiers but also for making new machines, which is of a significant application prospect.

Revisiting the nexus between financial development, FDI, and growth: New evidence from second generation econometric procedures in the Turkish context

2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Güngör ◽  
Salih Katircioglu ◽  
Mehmet Mercan
Keyword(s):  
Financial Development ◽  
Structural Breaks ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Real Income ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Multiple Structural Breaks ◽  
Equilibrium Relationship ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

This study investigates the impact of the selected financial development proxies and foreign direct investment (FDI) on the growth in the case of Turkey, using annual data for the 1960–2011 period. The second-generation econometric procedure has been applied for the first time to the Turkish data with this respect. Unit root tests by Carrion-i-Silvestre et al. (2009) assume that real income, financial development proxies, and FDI are non-stationary at levels, but become stationary at first differences through multiple structural breaks. Cointegration results by Maki (2012) confirm the existence of a long-term equilibrium relationship between real income growth, financial development, and FDI, again through multiple structural breaks. Finally, this paper confirms that financial development and FDI are long-term drivers of real income, which enable it to react to its long-term path significantly.

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