scholarly journals Human-modified landscapes alter mammal resource and habitat use and trophic structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (37) ◽  
pp. 18466-18472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Magioli ◽  
Marcelo Zacharias Moreira ◽  
Renata Cristina Batista Fonseca ◽  
Milton Cezar Ribeiro ◽  
Márcia Gonçalves Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Trophic Structure ◽  
Behavioral Plasticity ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Agricultural Matrix ◽  
Forest Remnant ◽  
Significant Difference

The broad negative consequences of habitat degradation on biodiversity have been studied, but the complex effects of natural–agricultural landscape matrices remain poorly understood. Here we used stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes to detect changes in mammal resource and habitat use and trophic structure between preserved areas and human-modified landscapes (HMLs) in a biodiversity hot spot in South America. We classified mammals into trophic guilds and compared resource use (in terms of C3- and C4-derived carbon), isotopic niches, and trophic structure across the 2 systems. In HMLs, approximately one-third of individuals fed exclusively on items from the agricultural matrix (C4), while in preserved areas, ∼68% depended on forest remnant resources (C3). Herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores were the guilds that most incorporated C4carbon in HMLs. Frugivores maintained the same resource use between systems (C3resources), while insectivores showed no significant difference. All guilds in HMLs except insectivores presented larger isotopic niches than those in preserved areas. We observed a complex trophic structure in preserved areas, with increasing δ15N values from herbivores to insectivores and carnivores, differing from that in HMLs. This difference is partially explained by species loss and turnover and mainly by the behavioral plasticity of resilient species that use nitrogen-enriched food items. We concluded that the landscape cannot be seen as a habitat/nonhabitat dichotomy because the agricultural landscape matrix in HMLs provides mammal habitat and opportunities for food acquisition. Thus, favorable management of the agricultural matrix and slowing the conversion of forests to agriculture are important for conservation in this region.

Habitat use by Long-tailed Weasels in a Fragmented Agricultural Landscape

2021 ◽  
Vol 186 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Gehring ◽  
Ellisif E. Cline ◽  
Robert K. Swihart
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Agricultural Landscape

Habitat use and coexistence of three territorial herbivorous damselfish on different-size patch reefs

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 2265-2272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihisa Hattori ◽  
Takuro Shibuno
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Patch Reef ◽  
Back Reef ◽  
Intraspecific Interactions ◽  
Reef Area ◽  
Patch Reefs ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Random Placement

In local reef fish communities, species richness increases with increasing reef area. At Ishigaki Island, Japan, species richness is much lower on large reefs in the shallow back reef than that expected from random placement model simulations (RPMS). As three aggressive territorial herbivorous damselfish, Stegastes nigricans, Stegastes lividus and Hemiglyphidodon plagiometopon, coexist only on such large reefs, we focused on these species and examined patterns of their distribution and abundance on 84 patch reefs of various sizes (area and height). We also examined their aggressive intra- and interspecific behavioural interactions and habitat use on the two large reefs (the largest complex patch reef and the large flat patch reef) among the 84 patch reefs. While the abundance of both S. lividus and H. plagiometopon was highly correlated with patch reef area, that of S. nigricans was closely correlated with patch reef height. For S. nigricans and S. lividus, interspecific interactions occurred significantly more frequently than intraspecific interactions on the large flat patch reef. However, there was no significant difference in frequencies of the two interaction types on the largest complex patch reef, where they three-dimensionally segregated conspecific territories. This study suggested that reef height as well as reef area influence the distribution and abundance of these territorial herbivorous damselfish in the shallow back reef. As large patch reefs cannot be tall allometrically in shallow back reefs, relatively flat patch reefs may not have the high species richness expected from RPMS based on reef area.

Effects of shade cocoa plantation on artificial fruit consumption by birds in two contrasting landscapes in Southern Bahia, Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamille de Assis Bomfim ◽  
Roberta Mariano Silva ◽  
Virgínia de Fernandes Souza ◽  
Edyla Ribeiro de Andrade ◽  
Eliana Cazetta
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Fruit Consumption ◽  
Artificial Fruit ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Southern Bahia ◽  
Cocoa Plantation

Abstract:To investigate the influence of forests and agroforestry systems on fruit consumption by birds, we studied two landscapes, one covered predominantly with forests and the other dominated by traditional shade cocoa plantations. In each landscape, we sampled three forest fragments and three shade cocoa plantations. We placed 15 artificial fruits in 25, 1–2-m-tall shrubs spaced every 50 m and evaluated the detection and consumption of fruits after 72 h. We used hemispherical photographs positioned above each fruit station to evaluate canopy openness. We found a statistically significant difference in fruit consumption between landscapes, which means that more fruits were detected and consumed in the forest-dominated landscape. However, forests and shade cocoa plantations within each landscape exhibited similar fruit consumption. Canopy openness was similar between the landscapes, however, the cocoa plantations exhibited greater canopy openness than forests. The results of this study reinforce the importance of the presence of forests in the agricultural landscape. Thus, to evaluate the capacity of agroforest to protect species and maintain ecological interactions it is also necessary to consider the landscape context.

scholarly journals Proliferation in Postmenopausal Endometrial Polyps—A Potential for Malignant Transformation

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adomaitienė ◽  
Nadišauskienė ◽  
Nickkho-Amiry ◽  
Čižauskas ◽  
Palubinskienė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endometrial Cancer ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Malignant Transformation ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ki 67 ◽  
Endometrial Polyps ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Immunohistochemical Studies ◽  
Asymptomatic Women

Background and objectives: Endometrial polyps in asymptomatic postmenopausal women are often incidentally found, yet only 1.51% of them are malignant. Their potential for malignant transformation has not been adequately addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate the proliferation within endometrial polyps as one of the indicators of their malignization potential in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical studies of Ki-67 were performed. Cases included 52 benign postmenopausal polyps, 19 endometrioid carcinoma with coexisting benign polyps, 12 polyps with foci of carcinoma and 4 cases of polyps, which later developed carcinoma. The control group included 31 atrophic endometria and 32 benign premenopausal polyps. Ki-67 was scored in either 10 or 20 “hot spot” fields, as percentage of positively stained cells. Results: The median epithelial Ki-67 score in postmenopausal benign polyps (4.7%) was significantly higher than in atrophic endometria (2.41%, p < 0.0001) and significantly lower than in premenopausal benign polyps (11.4%, p = 0.003) and endometrial cancer (8.3%, p < 0.0001). Where endometrial polyps were found in association with endometrial carcinoma, Ki-67 was significantly higher in cancer (p < 0.0001). No significant difference was found between Ki-67 scores of cancer focus and of the polyps tissue itself, respectively 2.8% and 4.55%, p = 0.37. Ki-67 expression, where polyps were resected and women later developed cancer, was not significantly different (p = 0.199). Conclusion: Polyps from asymptomatic postmenopausal women showed significantly more proliferation in both epithelial and stromal components than inactive atrophic endometria but less than premenopausal benign polyps and/or endometrial cancer. Benign postmenopausal endometrial polyps exhibit low proliferative activity, suggesting low malignant potential and may not require resection in asymptomatic women.

scholarly journals Habitat use and abundance of goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara in Brazil: a participative survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 803-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinicius J. Giglio ◽  
Johnatas Adelir-Alves ◽  
Leopoldo C. Gerhardinger ◽  
Fabiano C. Grecco ◽  
Felippe A. Daros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Population Recovery ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Goliath Grouper ◽  
The Relationship

Developing survey strategies for threatened species is often limited by access to sufficient individuals to acquire information needed to design appropriate conservation measures. The goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is a large reef fish, globally classified as critically endangered. In Brazil, fishing has been prohibited since 2002. Herein we investigated habitat use and abundance of E. itajara in Brazil drawn from a participative survey, which engaged volunteer divers in data-collection. A total of 188 reports were recorded between 2005 to 2011 throughout 13 Brazilian states. Our results revealed that habitat type influenced the relationship between total length and depth of occurrence of E. itajara. We observed a significant difference between habitats, artificial presented a nonlinear and natural an asymptotic relationship. This study underscores the importance of developing conservation measures addressing specific habitats and locations to enhance population recovery. Artificial structures (shipwrecks and manmade reefs) are critical habitats that must be considered as highly sensitive areas to E. itajara strategic conservation policies. We suggest the creation and implementation of marine protected areas, as key strategies for E. itajaraconservation, especially for artificial habitats and aggregation sites.

Post-fire carbon emissions from degraded tropical peat swamp forests in Brunei

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Lupascu ◽  
Hasan Akhtar ◽  
Thomas E.L. Smith ◽  
Rahayu S. Sukri
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Ecosystem Respiration ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Tropical Peat ◽  
Brunei Darussalam ◽  
Peat Swamp ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Tropical Peat Swamp

&lt;p&gt;Tropical peat swamp forests hold about 15&amp;#8211;19% of the global organic carbon (C) pool of which 77% is found in Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, these ecosystems have been drained, exploited for timber and land for agriculture, leading to frequent fires in the region. Fire alters the physico-chemical characteristics of peat as well as the hydrology, which may convert these ecosystems into a source of C for decades as C emissions to the atmosphere exceeds photosynthesis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To understand the long-term impacts of fire on C cycling, we investigated C emissions in intact and degraded PSFs in Brunei Darussalam, which has experienced 7 fires over the last 40 years. We quantified the magnitude and patterns of C loss (CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, CH&lt;sub&gt;4, &lt;/sub&gt;and Dissolved Organic carbon) and soil-water quality characteristics along with continuous monitoring of soil temperature and water table level from June 2017 to January 2019. To investigate the age and sources of C contributing to ecosystem respiration (R&lt;sub&gt;eco&lt;/sub&gt;) and CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;, we used natural tracers such as &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We observed a major difference in the physico-chemical parameters, which in turn affected C dynamics, especially CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;. In burnt areas (7.8&amp;#177;2.2 mg CH&lt;sub&gt;4 &lt;/sub&gt;m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; hr&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) the CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emission was approximately twice compared to the intact peat swamp forest (4.0&amp;#177;2.0 mg CH&lt;sub&gt;4 &lt;/sub&gt;m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; hr&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) due to prolonged higher water table creating optimum methanogenesis conditions. On the contrary, R&lt;sub&gt;eco&lt;/sub&gt; did not show a significant difference between burnt (432&amp;#177;83 mg CO&lt;sub&gt;2 &lt;/sub&gt;m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; hr&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) and intact areas (359&amp;#177;76 mg CO&lt;sub&gt;2 &lt;/sub&gt;m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; hr&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;). Further, radiocarbon (&lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C) analysis showed an overall modern signature for both CO&lt;sub&gt;2 &lt;/sub&gt;and CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; fluxes implying a microbial preference for the more labile C fraction in solution.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With frequent fires and more flooding in the future, these degraded tropical peat swamp forests areas may remain a hot spot of C emissions as suggested by our findings.&lt;/p&gt;

Distribution and pathogenicity of nsSNPs in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in patients with colorectal cancer.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15012-e15012
Author(s):  
Matthew K Stein ◽  
Saradasri Karri ◽  
Lindsay Kaye Morris ◽  
Srishti Sareen ◽  
Kruti Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Domain ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Carboxy Terminal

e15012 Background: Non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) occur along the entire sequence of RTKs and can promote oncogenic activity. As prior “hot-spot” testing was limited to the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD), next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows the discovery of novel extra-TKD variants. Methods: We analyzed all nsSNPs in 29 RTKs of colon cancer patients (pts) who received tumor profiling (2013-2015) with Caris NGS. Mutations were classified by location including the TKD, extracellular domain (ECD), transmembrane domain (TM), juxtamembrane domain (JM) and carboxy-terminal (CT) regions. nsSNPs underwent in silico analysis using PolyPhen-2 (Harvard) to predict if damaging (pnsSNP). Results: 110 pts were identified with a median age of 58 years (range 37-86); 55% male; 57% white, 41% black. 51 were KRAS+, 12 BRAF+, 5 NRAS+ and 5 were microsatellite unstable (MSI-H); 67 were left-sided, 31 right-sided, 10 transverse and 2 unknown. A total of 171 nsSNPs and 7 pathogenic mutations (Pmut) were detected: ERBB2 (ECD S310F, TKD V777L and TKD V842I), ERBB3 (ECD A232V and TKD Q809R), FGFR2 (ECD S252L) and RET (TKD L790F). 83/110 (76%) pts had ≥1 RTK mutation (median 1; range 0-9). 72/171 (42%) variants were pnsSNPs and found in 50 (45%) pts; 14% of pts had ≥2. All 29 RTKs had nsSNPs with median 6 (range 2-12); 24/29 RTKs had a Pmut or pnsSNP (median 2; range 0-8). RTKs with the most nsSNPs were EPHA5 (8/10 were pnsSNPs), PDGFA (7/8), ALK (6/8), ERBB4 (5/8), NTRK3 (5/6), cKIT (4/9), ROS1 (3/12), PDGFRB (3/6) and FGFR1 (3/6). nsSNPs were distributed across all RTK domains: 50% were ECD (30/86 pnsSNPs), 27% TKD (28/46), 13% CT (7/22), 5% JM (6/9) and 5% TM (1/8). No significant difference was seen between pnsSNP incidence and sidedness or KRAS/BRAF/NRAS status. In MSI-H pts, 13/22 variants were pnsSNPs (median 2; 1-5); 4/5 MSI-H were right-sided (Fisher’s exact p < 0.01). Conclusions: > 70% colon cancer pts had ≥1 mutation in 29 RTKs with > 70% outside the TKD, and > 40% pnsSNPs. MSI-H had a higher incidence of pnsSNPs; further study is warranted to determine their significance and actionability.

Habitat use patterns by the seven-spotted lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in a diverse agricultural landscape

1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.M. Maredia ◽  
S.H. Gage ◽  
D.A. Landis ◽  
J.M. Scriber
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Lady Beetle ◽  
Use Patterns

scholarly journals Landscape alteration in view of soil protection from water erosion - an example of the Mielnica watershed

2009 ◽  
Vol 13a (1) ◽  
pp. 161-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romuald Żmuda ◽  
Szymon Szewrański ◽  
Tomasz Kowalczyk ◽  
Łukasz Szarawarski ◽  
Michał Kuriata
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Water Erosion ◽  
Agricultural Watershed ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Protective Actions ◽  
Landscape Alteration ◽  
Set Up

Landscape alteration in view of soil protection from water erosion - an example of the Mielnica watershed The paper pertains to landscape management in eroded areas. Erosion processes, especially water erosion of soils, change the existing landscapes and make them less attractive or even hostile to people. Such situation calls for protective actions e.g. an appropriate management of agricultural landscape to minimise negative consequences of such phenomena. The paper presents a concept of counter-erosion measures to be implemented in the Trzebnickie Hills and comments their effect on the landscape. The concept was applied to an agricultural watershed of the Mielnica River. Particular attention was paid to visual aspect of this landscape and to functioning of its elements. Changes in the landscape were visualised and set up with the present status of the watershed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document