Protecting trapped animals from heat exposure: the influence of shading on temperature within small metal box traps

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murray V. Ellis

Animal research guidelines recognise that trapped animals can potentially be subjected to heat stress, but recommendations are limited to avoiding exposing traps to weather extremes. Intuitively, shading metal box traps should be beneficial in warm to hot climates. Temperatures inside metal box traps were measured within traps located in direct sunlight concurrently with ones covered with artificial shading. Additionally, comparisons were conducted in continuous shade cast by ground-cover vegetation, and in stippled sunlight under an artificial lattice. Deep continuous shade from vegetation was most effective and able to keep traps within 5°C of ambient. Artificial shading using dark shade cloth could actually elevate trap temperatures above that in uncovered traps when exposed to direct sunshine. Reflective foil insulation cover not only provided rain protection for traps but was the most effective shading method trialled for reducing both the rate at which traps heated after sunrise and the maximum temperature reached during the day when exposed to direct sunshine. The use of foil sleeves can provide an extra level of protection from excessive heat exposure to trapped animals, keeping trap temperatures as much as 15°C lower than unprotected traps.

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 287-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Yeganeh ◽  
Seyed jamale Khajedein ◽  
Fazel Amiri ◽  
Abdul Rashid B. Mohamed Shariff

1963 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Heringa ◽  
R. G. H. Cormack

The present paper describes the ground vegetation of even-aged pine stands in West Central Alberta on six different sites and attempts to relate the ground vegetation to soil conditions.


Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alisa L. Hass ◽  
Kelsey N. Ellis

Heat is the deadliest meteorological hazard; however, those exposed to heat often do not feel they are in danger of heat-health effects and do not take precautions to avoid heat exposure. Socioeconomic factors, such as the high cost of running air conditioning, might prevent people from taking adaption measures. We assessed via a mixed-methods survey how residents of urban Knoxville, Tennessee, (n = 86) describe and interpret their personal vulnerability during hot weather. Thematic analyses reveal that many respondents describe uncomfortably hot weather based on its consequences, such as health effects and the need to change normal behavior, which misaligns with traditional heat-communication measures using specific weather conditions. Only 55% of those who perceived excessive heat as dangerous cited health as a cause for concern. Respondents who have experienced health issues during hot weather were more likely to perceive heat as dangerous and take actions to reduce heat exposure. Social cohesion was not a chief concern for our respondents, even though it has been connected to reducing time-delayed heat-health effects. Results support using thematic analyses, an underutilized tool in climatology research, to improve understanding of public perception of atmospheric hazards. We recommend a multi-faceted approach to addressing heat vulnerability.


1969 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Tothill

The factors underlying the increasing dominance of Heteropogon contortus (bunch or black spear grass) as a result of regularly burning native pastures in eastern Queensland have been investigated. In the subtropical environment of this experiment the removal of ground cover by burning or other means significantly increased the average maximum temperature of the surface soil. Burning favoured the germination of buried H. contortus seed at a time when ambient temperatures were too low for this to occur in unburnt situations. In late seasons and in the seasonally dry tropics insufficient soil moisture would tend to limit growth and germination until ambient temperatures are high, in which case the burning effect would be less pronounced. The efficient seed burial mechanism of H. contortus places it at an establishment advantage over other commonly associated species such as blue grasses (Bothriochloa, Dichanthium) and others whose seeds remain largely in the surface litter. Fire destroys much of this litter, the microhabitat for seed germination at ground level, and some of the weaker perennial plants. The implications of these results in relation to the increased dominance of either H. contortus or Themeda australis (kangaroo grass) are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (02) ◽  
pp. 161-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zayid K. Al Mayahi ◽  
Ibrahim Ali Kabbash

Background:The problems associated with exposure to excessive heat are a key health concern throughout the world, and are likely to become increasingly important as Earth’s climate warms. Heat exposure is particularly problematic when large groups of people gather, but there is relatively little literature on the subject. Islam requires all adherents who are able to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca (Saudi Arabia), known as the Hajj. This can result in huge numbers of pilgrims travelling to Mecca in the summer months, during which the temperatures can be very high, and to undertake physically demanding activities.Objective:The aim of this study was to identify the perception level of heat-related health issues and the coping behaviors adopted by pilgrims in the face of excessive heat exposure.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mecca, Saudi Arabia among male Arab pilgrims performing Hajj of the Islamic calendar year 1436 (Summer 2015). Sample was divided into two strata: domestic pilgrims and international Arabs. A total of 14 camps were selected randomly, seven from each stratum. A total of 412 participants completed the questionnaire.Results:Mean age was 43.48 (SD = 13.42) years. Majority of pilgrims had never performed Hajj before (68.2%). Almost 89.5% among pilgrims more than 40 years of age had more water intake compared to only 76.5% for people under 40 years. Only 7.3% of educated people used to go out at noon time, and almost two-fold of pilgrims with lower educational level did so (15.4%). Approximately 51.8% among those who were aware of Mecca’s weather used cotton clothes, compared to 36.0% among pilgrims unaware of Mecca’s weather.Conclusion:This study reveals the extent of pilgrims’ understanding of, and abilities to cope with, excessive heat and also suggests coping strategies and options for improved understanding of heat-related health issues world-wide.Al Mayahi ZK, Ali Kabbash I. Perceptions of, and practices for coping with, heat exposure among male Arab pilgrims to the Hajj, 1436. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(2):161–174


PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e0117265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Paredes ◽  
Luis Cayuela ◽  
Geoff M. Gurr ◽  
Mercedes Campos

2010 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 1221-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha Charkoudian

Human skin blood flow responses to body heating and cooling are essential to the normal processes of physiological thermoregulation. Large increases in skin blood flow provide the necessary augmentation of convective heat loss during environmental heat exposure and/or exercise, just as reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction is key to preventing excessive heat dissipation during cold exposure. In humans, reflex sympathetic innervation of the cutaneous circulation has two branches: a sympathetic noradrenergic vasoconstrictor system, and a non-noradrenergic active vasodilator system. Noradrenergic vasoconstrictor nerves are tonically active in normothermic environments and increase their activity during cold exposure, releasing both norepinephrine and cotransmitters (including neuropeptide Y) to decrease skin blood flow. The active vasodilator system in human skin does not exhibit resting tone and is only activated during increases in body temperature, such as those brought about by heat exposure or exercise. Active cutaneous vasodilation occurs via cholinergic nerve cotransmission and has been shown to include potential roles for nitric oxide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, prostaglandins, and substance P (and/or neurokinin-1 receptors). It has proven both interesting and challenging that no one substance has been identified as the sole mediator of active cutaneous vasodilation. The processes of reflex cutaneous vasodilation and vasoconstriction are both modified by acute factors, such as exercise and hydration, and more long-term factors, such as aging, reproductive hormones, and disease. This review will highlight some of the recent findings in these areas, as well as interesting areas of ongoing and future work.


Author(s):  
Brian Collins

There is high confidence that climate change has increased the probability of concurrent temperature-precipitation extremes, changed their spatial-temporal variations, and affected the relationships between drivers of such natural hazards. However, the extent of such changes has been less investigated in Australia. Daily weather data (131 years, 1889-2019) at 700 grid cells (1◦ × 1◦) across Australia was obtained to calculate annual and seasonal mean daily maximum temperature (MMT) and total precipitation (TPR). A nonparametric multivariate copula framework was adopted to estimate the return period of compound hot-dry (CHD) events based on an ‘And’ hazard scenario (hotter than a threshold ‘And’ drier than a threshold). CHD extremes were defined as years with joint return periods of larger than 25 years. Mann-Kendall nonparametric tests was used to analyse trends in MMT and TPR as well as in the frequency of univariate and CHD extremes. A general cooling-wetting trend was observed over 1889-1989. Significant increasing trends were detected over 1990-2019 in the frequency and severity of hot extremes across the country while trends in dry extremes were mostly insignificant (and decreasing). Results showed a significant increase in the association between temperature and precipitation at various temporal scales. The frequency of CHD extremes was mostly stable over 1889-1989, but significantly increased between 1990 and 2019 at 44% of studied grid cells, mostly located in the north, south-east and south-west. Spatial homogeneity (i.e. connectedness) and propagation of extreme events from one grid cell to its neighbouring cells was investigated across Australia. It can be concluded that this connectedness has not significantly changed since 1889.


Background: Sunscreen companies recommend replacing your chemical sunscreen every year. Consumer inquiries about product integrity under excessive exposure to heat prompted the FDA to add a requirement statement to sunscreen products indicating a need to protect stored sunscreen from excessive heat and direct sun. If heat exposure indeed affects chemical sunscreen stability, then in some areas, replacement may be warranted earlier than a year. Methods: We examined real-life scenarios related to the storage of sunscreen containers inside vehicles sitting in natural sunlight to provide information about the stability of sunscreen active ingredients under real-life storage conditions. The active ingredients avobenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, and octocrylene in samples of sunscreens were examined after heat exposure over six months using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. The calculated levels of each active ingredient were then compared between the non-heat exposed samples and the heat exposed samples using a paired t-test to look for decreases in active chemicals from heat exposure. Results: No important differences were seen for heat exposure in this study of 378 hours of temperatures above 37.8 °C, with an additional 292 hours of exposure to temperatures of 32.2-37.7 °C, and 3454 hours at 26.7-32.2 °C. Conclusions: This suggests such heat exposure does not result in degradation of the active ingredients of sunscreens with sun protection factors (SPF) of 30 and 50. This is important for individuals attempting to prevent sunburns and skin cancer.


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