scholarly journals Mate choice in a polluted world: consequences for individuals, populations and communities

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1781) ◽  
pp. 20180055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrika Candolin ◽  
Bob B. M. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Animal Communication ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Final Choice ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sensory Modalities

Pollution (e.g. by chemicals, noise, light, heat) is an insidious consequence of anthropogenic activity that affects environments worldwide. Exposure of wildlife to pollutants has the capacity to adversely affect animal communication and behaviour across a wide range of sensory modalities—by not only impacting the signalling environment, but also the way in which animals produce, perceive and interpret signals and cues. Such disturbances, particularly when it comes to sex, can drastically alter fitness. Here, we consider how pollutants disrupt communication and behaviour during mate choice, and the ecological and evolutionary changes such disturbances can engender. We explain how the different stages of mate choice can be affected by pollution, from encountering mates to the final choice, and how changes to these stages can influence individual fitness, population dynamics and community structure. We end with discussing how an understanding of these disturbances can help inform better conservation and management practices and highlight important considerations and avenues for future research. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.

Recent Trends and Advancement in Nanotechnology for Water and Wastewater Treatment

2016 ◽  
pp. 208-252
Author(s):  
Sushmita Banerjee ◽  
Ravindra Kumar Gautam ◽  
Pavan Kumar Gautam ◽  
Amita Jaiswal ◽  
Mahesh Chandra Chattopadhyaya
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Inorganic Contaminants ◽  
Waste Streams ◽  
Water And Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
Water And Wastewater ◽  
Significant Attention

Fast growing demand of fresh water due to increasing population and industrialization dictated research interests towards development of techniques that offers highly efficient and affordable methods of wastewater treatment. In recent decades water treatment using nano-technological based expertise have gained significant attention. Varieties of nanoparticles were synthesized and proficiently used in treatment of wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants from waste streams. This chapter encompasses recent development in nano-technological approach towards water and wastewater treatment. The authors tried to compile up to-date development, properties, application, and mechanisms of the nanoparticles used for decontamination purpose. This piece of work offer a well organized comprehensive assessment of the technology that delineates opportunities as well as its limitation in water management practices moreover few recommendations for future research are also proposed.

scholarly journals Antipredator strategies of pupae: how to avoid predation in an immobile life stage?

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1783) ◽  
pp. 20190069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carita Lindstedt ◽  
Liam Murphy ◽  
Johanna Mappes
Keyword(s):  
Life Stage ◽  
Pupal Stage ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Antipredator Strategies ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Cryptic Coloration ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Common Strategy ◽  
Complete Metamorphosis

Antipredator strategies of the pupal stage in insects have received little attention in comparison to larval or adult stages. This is despite the fact that predation risk can be high during the pupal stage, making it a critical stage for subsequent fitness. The immobile pupae are not, however, defenceless; a wide range of antipredator strategies have evolved against invertebrate and vertebrate predators. The most common strategy seems to be ‘avoiding encounters with predators' by actively hiding in vegetation and soil or via cryptic coloration and masquerade. Pupae have also evolved behavioural and secondary defences such as defensive toxins, physical defences or deimatic movements and sounds. Interestingly, warning coloration used to advertise unprofitability has evolved very rarely, even though the pupal stage often contains defensive toxins in chemically defended species. In some species, pupae gain protection from conspecifics or mimic chemical and auditory signals and thereby manipulate other species to protect them. Our literature survey highlights the importance of studying selection pressures across an individual's life stages to predict how ontogenetic variation in selective environments shapes individual fitness and population dynamics in insects. Finally, we also suggest interesting avenues for future research to pursue. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The evolution of complete metamorphosis’.

scholarly journals Industrial hemp and its potential

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
ARNAB BHOWMIK
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cannabis Sativa ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Hemp Fiber ◽  
Hemp Seed ◽  
Wide Range

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an emerging high-value specialty crop that can be cultivated foreither fiber, seed, or cannabidiol (CBD). The demand for hemp and its products has been consistently onthe rise in the 21st century. The United States of America has reintroduced hemp and legalizedits production as an agricultural commodity through the 2018 Federal Farm Bill. Although thereis a renewed interest in the adoption of hemp due to the emerging market, its production in theUnited States remains limited partly because of unclear agronomic guidance and fertilizationrecommendations. This review article provides information on the current agronomic managementpractices that are available in the literature and identifies the future research needs for cultivating thismultipurpose crop to address the growing market demands. Hemp production could be beneficialif managed properly. Hemp fertilizer requirements vary in accordance with the type of hempgrown (seed, fiber, or CBD), soil, environmental conditions and requires a wide range of macro- andmicronutrients. Integrating management practices in hemp cultivation intended to build soil health ispromising since the hemp cropping system is suitable for crop rotation, cover cropping, and livestockintegration through animal waste applications. Hemp also has significant environmental benefitssince it has the potential to remediate contaminated soils through phytoremediation, convert highamounts of atmospheric CO2 to biomass through bio-sequestration, and hemp biomass for bioenergyproduction. This review identifies that most of the agronomic research in the past has been limitedto hemp fiber and, to some extent, hemp seed but not CBD hemp. With the increase in the globalmarkets for hemp products, more research needs to be conducted to provide agronomic guidelinesfor sustainable hemp production.

Recent Trends and Advancement in Nanotechnology for Water and Wastewater Treatment

2017 ◽  
pp. 1745-1779
Author(s):  
Sushmita Banerjee ◽  
Ravindra Kumar Gautam ◽  
Pavan Kumar Gautam ◽  
Amita Jaiswal ◽  
Mahesh Chandra Chattopadhyaya
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Inorganic Contaminants ◽  
Waste Streams ◽  
Water And Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
Water And Wastewater ◽  
Significant Attention

Fast growing demand of fresh water due to increasing population and industrialization dictated research interests towards development of techniques that offers highly efficient and affordable methods of wastewater treatment. In recent decades water treatment using nano-technological based expertise have gained significant attention. Varieties of nanoparticles were synthesized and proficiently used in treatment of wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants from waste streams. This chapter encompasses recent development in nano-technological approach towards water and wastewater treatment. The authors tried to compile up to-date development, properties, application, and mechanisms of the nanoparticles used for decontamination purpose. This piece of work offer a well organized comprehensive assessment of the technology that delineates opportunities as well as its limitation in water management practices moreover few recommendations for future research are also proposed.

Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia (BFDC): knowledge gaps and lessons learnt

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 539 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Conyers ◽  
M. J. Bell ◽  
N. S. Wilhelm ◽  
R. Bell ◽  
R. M. Norton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Critical Concentration ◽  
Relative Yield ◽  
Critical Values ◽  
National Database ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Critical Range ◽  
Wide Range

Soil testing remains a most valuable tool for assessing the fertiliser requirement of crops. The relationship between soil tests (generally taken from surface soil) and relative yield (RY) response to fertiliser is subject to the influence of environment (e.g. water, temperature) and management (e.g. cultivation, sowing date). As such, the degree of precision is often low when the soil test calibration is based on a wide range of independent experiments on many soil types over many years by many different operators. Hence, the 90% RY target used in soil test interpretation is best described by a critical range (critical concentration and confidence interval) for a given soil test rather than a single critical value. The present Better Fertiliser Decisions for Crops (BFDC) National Database, and the BFDC Interrogator that interacts with the database, provide a great advance over traditional formats and experiment-specific critical values because it allows the use of filters to refine the critical range for specific agronomic conditions. However, as searches become more specific (region, soil type) the quantity of data available to estimate a critical range becomes more vulnerable to data paucity, to outliers, and to clusters of localised experiments. Hence, appropriate training of the users of this database will ensure that the strengths and limitations of the BFDC National Database and BFDC Interrogator are properly understood. Additionally, the lack of standardised metadata for sites within the database makes it generally impossible to isolate the effects on critical values of the specific management or environmental factors listed earlier, which are therefore best determined by specific studies. Finally, the database is dominated (60%) by responses of wheat to nitrogen and phosphorus, meaning that relatively few studies are available for responses by pulses (other than narrow leaf lupins) or oilseeds (other than canola), especially for potassium and sulfur. Moreover, limited data are available for current cropping systems and varieties. However, the identification of these gaps can now be used to focus future research on the crops, nutrients, soils, regions, and management practices where data are lacking. The value of metadata and the need for standardised protocols for nutrition experiments were key lessons.

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Integument Injuries and Associated Risk Factors Among Canadian Turkeys

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M. Leishman ◽  
Nienke van Staaveren ◽  
Vern R. Osborne ◽  
Benjamin J. Wood ◽  
Christine F. Baes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Feather Pecking ◽  
Final Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Wide Range

Injurious pecking can cause a wide range of damage and is an important welfare and economic issue in turkey production. Aggressive pecking typically targets the head/neck (HN) area, and feather pecking typically targets the back/tail (BT) area; injuries in these separate areas could be used as a proxy for the level of aggressive and feather pecking in a flock. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for integument injuries in Canadian turkey flocks. A survey containing a questionnaire about housing and management practices and a scoring guide was distributed to 500 turkey farmers across Canada. The farmer scored pecking injuries in two different body areas (HN and BT) on a 0–2 scale on a subset of birds within each flock. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with the presence of HN and BT injuries. The prevalence of birds with integument injuries ranged widely between the flock subsets (HN = 0–40%, BT = 0–97%), however the mean prevalence was low (HN = 6%, BT = 10%). The presence of injuries for logistic regression was defined as flocks with an injury prevalence greater than the median level of injury prevalence in the dataset (3.3% HN and 6.6% BT). The final logistic regression model for HN injuries contained five variables: flock sex, flock age, number of daily inspections, number of different people during inspections, and picking up birds during inspections (N = 62, pR2 = 0.23, α = 0.05). The final logistic regression model for BT injuries contained six variables: flock sex, flock age, litter depth, litter condition, inspection duration, and use of hospital pens for sick/injured birds (N = 59, pR2 = 0.29, α = 0.05). Flock age, and to a lesser extent, sex was associated with both types of injuries. From a management perspective, aggressive pecking injuries appear to be influenced by variables related to human interaction, namely during inspections. On the other hand, the presence of feather pecking injuries, was associated with litter condition and other management factors like separating sick birds. Future research on injurious pecking in turkeys should focus on these aspects of housing and management to better describe the relationship between the identified variables and the prevalence and severity of these conditions.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Forestry Best Management Practices for Sediment Control in the Southeastern United States: A Literature Review

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Anderson ◽  
B. Graeme Lockaby
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sediment Retention ◽  
Sediment Control ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bmp Effectiveness

Abstract Water quality from forested watersheds (both managed and unmanaged) is normally very good and better than most other human-dominated land uses. Water degradation is possible during forestry operations; however, the use of best management practices (BMP) has been shown to substantially reduce the risk. In the southeastern United States, forests are managed under a wide range of conditions reflective of physiographic region, soil erodibility, climate, and site wetness. Although it is clear that BMP reduce sediment and pollutant loading into streams, there is less information regarding how effective these practices are (i.e., how much sediment did BMP retain? What was the mechanism for sediment retention?). A review of the scientific literature was conducted to evaluate forestry BMP effectiveness to control sediment in the southeastern United States. Our reviewly quantified BMP effectiveness to reduce sediment. In the Coastal Plain, research has focused on forest roads and site wetness, whereas in the Piedmont and regions with steeper terrain, the focus has been on streamside management zones. These studies provide an initial indication of how much sediment is reduced by BMP; however, more information is needed for managers to make reasonable estimations. Future research should focus on quantifying BMP effects on sediment yield and identifying the specific mechanisms involved.

Risk management in occupational safety: A systematic mapping

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Ana Caroline Francisco da Rosa ◽  
Gislaine Camila Lapasini Leal ◽  
Edwin Vladimir Cardoza Galdamez ◽  
Rodrigo Clemente Thom de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Literature Mapping ◽  
Systemic Process

BACKGROUND: Occupational safety risk management is a systemic process capable of promoting technical engineering solutions, considering a wide range of predictable, unexpected and subjective factors related to accident occurrences. In Brazil, the behavior of managers in relation to risk management tends to be reactive, and facilitates access to information for crucial practical and academic purposes when it comes to changing the attitude of managers, so that their actions become increasingly more proactive. OBJECTIVE: To identify, classify, analyze, and discuss the existing literature related to the topic, produced from 2008 to 2020, besides contributing to a broader understanding of risk management in occupational safety. METHODS: We did a systematic literature mapping. The research process was documented starting by the planning stage. Afterwards, the focus was on research conduction and information synthesis. RESULTS: Knowledge systematization and stratification about OHS risk management through various perspectives to identify, analyze and manage risks in the workplace. Were identified 37 tools for identifying and analyzing risks, management-related practices and future research trends. CONCLUSIONS: The set of tools and management practices identified can be used as a support for decision making in the selection process of tools and practices to reduce risks and improve occupational safety. Also, the results can help target future research.

The prevalence and practice of soil balancing among organic corn farmers

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Caroline Brock ◽  
Douglas Jackson-Smith ◽  
Subbu Kumarappan ◽  
Steve Culman ◽  
Douglas Doohan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Base Cations ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Systematic Effect ◽  
Npk Fertilizers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Organic Farmers

Abstract The scientific community and most mainstream agriculturalists typically design fertilizer recommendations to provide a ‘sufficient level of available nutrients’ to meet the annual N, P and K requirements of common field crops. Soil balancing is another approach to managing soil fertility that focuses on the levels of Ca, Mg and K to achieve a desired base cation saturation ratio (BCSR). Soil balancing is believed to be practiced frequently by organic and other alternative farmers but is viewed skeptically by conventional agricultural scientists due to a lack of support for the idea in the published scientific literature. This study represents a pioneering effort to collect systematic data on the extent of soil balancing, how it is practiced and the types of outcomes reported by organic farmers. Our survey of over 850 farmers who grow certified organic corn in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania found that over half report using a soil-balancing approach based on BCSR. Their practice of soil balancing frequently includes more than management of base cations, but also uses a wide range of soil amendment products (such as purchased organic NPK fertilizers, micronutrients, microbial stimulants and soil inoculants) other than those applied specifically for cation balance. Farms that rely on vegetable and dairy production for most of their income, and Amish farmers who rely on horses for fieldwork, were more likely to report using a soil-balancing program. Self-described soil balancers perceived positive agronomic outcomes from the use of a BCSR program, including improvements in soil physical and biological properties and improved crop health and quality. Although farmers in our study report extensive use and positive perceived outcomes from soil-balancing methods, the scientific research literature has been unable to reproduce evidence that manipulating soil base cation levels has any systematic effect on crop yield. Future research could consider the interacting effects of BCSR with other field management practices to more closely approximate the actual practices of farmers.

Comparative Effects of High-Tech Visual Scene Displays and Low-Tech Isolated Picture Symbols on Engagement From Students With Multiple Disabilities

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Holyfield ◽  
Sydney Brooks ◽  
Allison Schluterman
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Multiple Disabilities ◽  
Visual Scene ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Difference

Purpose Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an intervention approach that can promote communication and language in children with multiple disabilities who are beginning communicators. While a wide range of AAC technologies are available, little is known about the comparative effects of specific technology options. Given that engagement can be low for beginning communicators with multiple disabilities, the current study provides initial information about the comparative effects of 2 AAC technology options—high-tech visual scene displays (VSDs) and low-tech isolated picture symbols—on engagement. Method Three elementary-age beginning communicators with multiple disabilities participated. The study used a single-subject, alternating treatment design with each technology serving as a condition. Participants interacted with their school speech-language pathologists using each of the 2 technologies across 5 sessions in a block randomized order. Results According to visual analysis and nonoverlap of all pairs calculations, all 3 participants demonstrated more engagement with the high-tech VSDs than the low-tech isolated picture symbols as measured by their seconds of gaze toward each technology option. Despite the difference in engagement observed, there was no clear difference across the 2 conditions in engagement toward the communication partner or use of the AAC. Conclusions Clinicians can consider measuring engagement when evaluating AAC technology options for children with multiple disabilities and should consider evaluating high-tech VSDs as 1 technology option for them. Future research must explore the extent to which differences in engagement to particular AAC technologies result in differences in communication and language learning over time as might be expected.

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