Environmental variables driving species and genus level changes in annual plankton biomass

Abstract Abiotic variables subject to global change are known to affect plankton biomasses, and these effects can be species-specific. Here, we investigate the environmental drivers of annual biomass using plankton data from the Gulf of Finland in the northern Baltic Sea, spanning years 1993–2016. We estimated annual biomass time-series of 31 nanoplankton and microplankton species and genera from day-level data, accounting for the average phenology and wind. We found wind effects on day-level biomass in 16 taxa. We subsequently used state-space models to connect the annual biomass changes with potential environmental drivers (temperature, salinity, stratification, ice cover and inorganic nutrients), simultaneously accounting for temporal trends. We found clear environmental effects influencing the annual biomasses of Dinobryon faculiferum, Eutreptiella spp., Protoperidinium bipes, Pseudopedinella spp., Snowella spp. and Thalassiosira baltica and indicative effects in 10 additional taxa. These effects mostly concerned temperature, salinity or stratification. Together, these 16 taxa represent two-thirds of the summer biomass in the sampled community. The inter-annual variability observed in salinity and temperature is relatively low compared to scenarios of predicted change in these variables. Therefore, the potential impacts of the presented effects on plankton biomasses are considerable.

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A large-scale retrospective study of opioid poisoning in New York State with implications for targeted interventions

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84148-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xin Chen ◽

Wei Hou ◽

Sina Rashidian ◽

Yu Wang ◽

Xia Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Race And Ethnicity ◽

Large Scale ◽

New York State ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Opioid Overdose ◽

York State ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Level Data ◽

Zip Code

AbstractOpioid overdose related deaths have increased dramatically in recent years. Combating the opioid epidemic requires better understanding of the epidemiology of opioid poisoning (OP). To discover trends and patterns of opioid poisoning and the demographic and regional disparities, we analyzed large scale patient visits data in New York State (NYS). Demographic, spatial, temporal and correlation analyses were performed for all OP patients extracted from the claims data in the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) from 2010 to 2016, along with Decennial US Census and American Community Survey zip code level data. 58,481 patients with at least one OP diagnosis and a valid NYS zip code address were included. Main outcome and measures include OP patient counts and rates per 100,000 population, patient level factors (gender, age, race and ethnicity, residential zip code), and zip code level social demographic factors. The results showed that the OP rate increased by 364.6%, and by 741.5% for the age group > 65 years. There were wide disparities among groups by race and ethnicity on rates and age distributions of OP. Heroin and non-heroin based OP rates demonstrated distinct temporal trends as well as major geospatial variation. The findings highlighted strong demographic disparity of OP patients, evolving patterns and substantial geospatial variation.

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Investigating the species-specific association between anuran calling phenology and air temperature

Inquiry@Queen's Undergraduate Research Conference Proceedings ◽

10.24908/iqurcp.14584 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Samantha Wong

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Interspecific Variation ◽

Northern Ontario ◽

Anuran Species ◽

Calling Behaviour ◽

Survival And Development ◽

Species Specific

Climate change has been associated in phenological shifts for a variety of taxa. Amphibians, specifically the order Anura (frogs and toads), are considered particularly vulnerable due to their sensitivity to anthropogenic and environmental change. Previous research has documented shifts in the timing of anuran breeding that can be attributed, in part, to climate change, with potential implications for reproduction, survival, and development. This study aims to investigate how air temperature is associated with anuran calling phenology. I will examine the temporal trends in spring and summer air temperature in a lake in northern Ontario, Canada. and quantify seasonal patterns of calling anuran species using acoustic monitoring over a four-month period. I predict that there will be interspecific variation in peak calling associated with air temperature. Additionally, I expect to find asymmetrical association between air temperature and anuran species’ calling behaviour – wherein prolonged breeding species will have a larger optimal temperature range for calling compared to explosive breeding species. The findings of this research will aid in future conservation and provide insight for management strategies of anurans in Canada in response to anticipated climate warming.

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A decreasing trend in global soil water storage from 1981 to 2017

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-5756 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

XinRui Luo ◽

Shaoda Li ◽

Wunian Yang ◽

Liang Liu ◽

Xiaolu Tang

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Water Loss ◽

Root Zone ◽

Carbon Sink ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Water Storage ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Soil Water Storage ◽

Soil Drought

Soil water storage serves as a vital resource of the terrestrial ecosystems, and it can significantly influence water cycle and carbon cycling with the frequent occurrence of soil drought induced by land-atmosphere feedbacks. However, there are high variations and uncertainties of root zone soil water storage. This study applied comparison map profile (CMP), Mann-Kendall test, Theil-Sen estimate and partial correlation analysis to (1) estimate the global root zone (0~1 m) soil water storage, (2) and investigate the spatial and temporal patterns from 1981 to 2017 at the global scale, (3) and their relationships with environmental drivers (precipitation, temperature, potential evaportranspiration) using three soil moisture (SM) products &#8211; ERA-5, GLDAS and MERRA-2. Globally, the average annual soil water storage from 1981 to 2017 varied significantly, ranging from 138.3 (100 Pg a-1, 1 Pg = 1015 g) in GLDAS to 342.6 (100 Pg a-1) in ERA-5. Soil water storage of the three SM products consistently showed a decreasing trend. However, the temporal trend of soil water storage among different climate zones was different, showing a decreasing trend in tropical, temperate and cold zones, but an increasing trend in polar regions. On the other hand, temporal trends in arid regions differed from ERA-5, GLDAS and MERRA-2. Spatially, the SM products differed greatly, particularly for boreal areas with D value higher for 2500 Mg ha-1 a-1 and CC value lower for -0.2 between GLDAS and MERRA-2. Over 1981 to 2017, water storage of more than 50% of the global land area suffered from a decreasing trend, especially in Africa and Northeastern of China. Precipitation was the main dominated driver for variation of soil water storage, and distribution varied in different SM products. In conclusion, a global decreasing trend in soil water storage indicate a water loss from soils, and how the water loss affecting carbon sink in terrestrial ecosystems under ongoing climate change needs further investigation.

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Contrasting effects of climate change on seasonal survival of a hibernating mammal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1918584117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 117 (30) ◽

pp. 18119-18126 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Line S. Cordes ◽

Daniel T. Blumstein ◽

Kenneth B. Armitage ◽

Paul J. CaraDonna ◽

Dylan Z. Childs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Population Dynamics ◽

Life History ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Life History Strategies ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Age Classes ◽

History Of ◽

Colorado Rocky Mountains

Seasonal environmental conditions shape the behavior and life history of virtually all organisms. Climate change is modifying these seasonal environmental conditions, which threatens to disrupt population dynamics. It is conceivable that climatic changes may be beneficial in one season but result in detrimental conditions in another because life-history strategies vary between these time periods. We analyzed the temporal trends in seasonal survival of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer) and explored the environmental drivers using a 40-y dataset from the Colorado Rocky Mountains (USA). Trends in survival revealed divergent seasonal patterns, which were similar across age-classes. Marmot survival declined during winter but generally increased during summer. Interestingly, different environmental factors appeared to drive survival trends across age-classes. Winter survival was largely driven by conditions during the preceding summer and the effect of continued climate change was likely to be mainly negative, whereas the likely outcome of continued climate change on summer survival was generally positive. This study illustrates that seasonal demographic responses need disentangling to accurately forecast the impacts of climate change on animal population dynamics.

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Community-driven disorder reduction: Crime prevention through a clean and green initiative in a legacy city

Urban Studies ◽

10.1177/0042098019892163 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (14) ◽

pp. 2956-2972

Author(s):

Jesenia M. Pizarro ◽

Richard C. Sadler ◽

Jason Goldstick ◽

Brandon Turchan ◽

Edmund F. McGarrell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crime Prevention ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Additive Models ◽

Level Data ◽

Spatial Dependencies ◽

Temporal And Spatial ◽

And Control ◽

Point Level ◽

Over Time

This study examines the effects of a neighbourhood greening and beautification strategy called Clean & Green on crime prevention and reduction. Point level data for all Part I index crimes and Clean & Green efforts in the study area from 2005 to 2014 are analysed using spatial and linear regression with two key modifications: (1) controlling for temporal and spatial dependencies between points; and (2) allowing for potentially non-linear temporal trends in the effect of cumulative greening. To accommodate those modifications, generalised additive models (GAMs) were employed. The analyses of violent and property crimes suggest that greening efforts are increasingly protective over time. The findings demonstrate that the elimination of blight and disorder via neighbourhood greening and beautification efforts can be an effective tool for crime prevention and control in communities.

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Spatial and temporal trends in order richness of marine phytoplankton as a tracer for the exchange zone between coastal and open waters

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315416001326 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 97 (3) ◽

pp. 477-489 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A.S. Jung ◽

R. Bijkerk ◽

H.W. Van Der Veer ◽

C.J.M. Philippart

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

North Sea ◽

Coastal Waters ◽

Wadden Sea ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Marine Phytoplankton ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Suspended Particulate ◽

Phytoplankton Communities ◽

Spatial And Temporal Trends

Quantifying exchange of particulate matter between coastal and open waters is an important and often unresolved issue. Here, we apply phytoplankton order richness as an innovative marine tracer to identify the geographic position of a coastal exchange zone in the SE North Sea, including its variability in time and space. Previous observations on dynamics of suspended particulate matter accumulation resulted in a hypothesized boundary between coastal waters (including the Wadden Sea) and open North Sea waters, the so-called ‘line-of-no-return’. Our study along two transects (Terschelling, Noordwijk) in the Dutch coastal zone showed seasonality patterns in phytoplankton order richness, both for diatoms and flagellates. The coastal Wadden Sea was found to be clearly different from the open North Sea, implying that seasonality in Wadden Sea phytoplankton is at least partly driven by local environmental conditions. Seasonality in flagellates was found to be more uniform than seasonality in diatoms. Stations in the coastal North Sea to a distance of 10 km (Terschelling) to 20 km (Noordwijk) from the shore appeared to be at the inside of the ‘line-of-no-return’. Our findings indicate that this approach is a useful aid in exploring mixing of particulate matter between coastal and open waters and to study the responses of phytoplankton communities to environmental drivers.

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Pulmonary tuberculosis space–time clustering and spatial variation in temporal trends in Portugal, 2000–2010: an updated analysis

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268815001089 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 143 (15) ◽

pp. 3211-3219 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

C. AREIAS ◽

T. BRIZ ◽

C. NUNES

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variation ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Space Time ◽

Percentage Change ◽

Annual Percentage Change ◽

Clustering Methods ◽

Large Space ◽

Mainland Portugal ◽

Level Data ◽

High Space

SUMMARYPortugal, a medium- to low-level endemic country (21·6 cases/100 000 population in 2012), has one of the highest European Union tuberculosis (TB) incidences. Although incidence is declining progressively, the country's heterogeneity in both regional endemics and their evolution suggests the importance of a better understanding of subnational epidemiology to customize TB control efforts. We aimed to update knowledge on municipality-years pulmonary TB incidence clustering, identify areas with different time trends, and show the potential of combining complementary clustering methods in control of infectious diseases. We used national surveillance municipality-level data (mainland Portugal, 2000–2010). Space–time clustering and spatial variation in temporal trends methods were applied. Space–time critical clusters identified (P < 0·001) were still the Lisbon and Oporto regions. The global incidence declined at a 5·81% mean annual percentage change, with high space–time heterogeneity and distinct time trend clusters (P < 0·001). Municipalities with incidences declining more rapidly belonged to critical areas. In particular, the Oporto trend cluster had a consistent −8·98% mean annual percentage change. Large space–time heterogeneities were identified, with critical incidences in the greater Lisbon and Oporto regions, but declining more rapidly in these regions. Oporto showed a consistent, steeper decrease and could represent a good example of local control strategy. Combining results from these approaches gives promise for prospects for infectious disease control and the design of more effective, focused interventions.

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Environmental Drivers of Culicoides Phenology: How Important Is Species-Specific Variation When Determining Disease Policy?

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0111876 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. e111876 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Kate R. Searle ◽

James Barber ◽

Francesca Stubbins ◽

Karien Labuschagne ◽

Simon Carpenter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Drivers ◽

Specific Variation ◽

Species Specific

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Silk Spinning Behavior Varies from Species-Specific to Individualistic in Embioptera: Do Environmental Correlates Account for this Diversity?

Insect Systematics and Diversity ◽

10.1093/isd/ixaa007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Janice S Edgerly ◽

Brody Sandel ◽

Isabel Regoli ◽

Onyekachi Okolo

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

High Temperature ◽

Tropical Forests ◽

Phylogenetic Signal ◽

Climatic Variables ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Environmental Correlates ◽

Species Specific ◽

Temperature Seasonality ◽

Silk Spinning

Abstract String sequence analysis revealed that silk spinning behavior of adult female Embioptera varies from species-specific to individualistic. This analysis included 26 species from ten taxonomic families with a total of 115 individuals. Spin-steps, 28 possible positions of the front feet during spinning, were scored from hour-long DVD recordings produced in the laboratory. Entire transcripts of hundreds to thousands of spin-steps per individual were compared by computing Levenshtein edit distances between all possible pairs of subsequences, with lengths ranging from 5 to 25—intraspecific similarity scores were then computed. Silk gallery characteristics and architecture, body size, climatic variables, and phylogenetic relationships were tested as possible drivers of intraspecific similarity in spinning behavior. Significant differences in intraspecific similarity aligned most strongly with climatic variables such that those species living in regions with high temperature seasonality, low annual precipitation, and high annual temperatures displayed more species-stereotypical spinning sequences than those from other regions, such as tropical forests. Phylogenetic signal was significant but weakly so, suggesting that environmental drivers play a stronger role in shaping the evolution of silk spinning. Body size also appears to play a role in that those of similar size are more like each other, even if not related.

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