scholarly journals Demographic analysis of Israeli Carpobrotus populations: management strategies and future directions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Bogdan ◽  
Sam C. Levin ◽  
Roberto Salguero-Gómez ◽  
Tiffany M. Knight
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Data ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Plant Population Dynamics ◽  
Global Knowledge ◽  
Integral Projection Model ◽  
Projection Model ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Demographic Models ◽  
Mediterranean Habitats

AbstractCarpobrotus species are harmful invaders to coastal areas throughout the world, particularly in Mediterranean habitats. Demographic models are ideally suited to identify and understand population processes and stages in the life cycle of the species that could be most effectively targeted with management. However, parameterizing these models has been limited by the difficulty in accessing the cliff-side locations where its populations are typically found, as well as accurately measuring the growth and spread individuals, which form large, dense mats. This study uses small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, drones) to collect demographic data and parameterize an Integral Projection Model of an Israeli Carpobrotus population. We validated our data set with ground targets of known size. Through the analysis of asymptotic growth rates and population sensitivities and elasticities, we demonstrate that the population at the study site is demographically stable, and that reducing the survival and growth of the largest individuals would have the greatest effect on reducing overall population growth rate. Our results provide a first evaluation of the demography of Carpobrotus, a species of conservation and economic concern, and provide the first stage-based population model of a representative of the Aizoaceae family, thus contributing to our global knowledge on plant population dynamics. In addition, we demonstrate the advantages of using drones for collecting demographic data in understudied habitats such as coastal ecosystems.

scholarly journals Demographic analysis of an Israeli Carpobrotus population

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250879
Author(s):  
Ana Bogdan ◽  
Sam C. Levin ◽  
Roberto Salguero-Gómez ◽  
Tiffany M. Knight
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Data ◽  
Plant Population Dynamics ◽  
Global Knowledge ◽  
Integral Projection Model ◽  
Projection Model ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Structured Population Model ◽  
Demographic Models ◽  
Mediterranean Habitats ◽  
Structured Population

Carpobrotus species are harmful invaders to coastal areas throughout the world, particularly in Mediterranean habitats. Demographic models are ideally suited to identify and understand population processes and stages in the life cycle of the species that could be most effectively targeted with management. However, parameterizing these models has been limited by the difficulty in accessing the cliff-side locations where its populations are typically found, as well as accurately measuring the growth and spread of individuals, which form large, dense mats. This study uses small unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to collect demographic data and parameterize an Integral Projection Model of an Israeli Carpobrotus population. We validated our data set with ground targets of known size. Through the analysis of asymptotic growth rates and population sensitivities and elasticities, we demonstrate that the population at the study site is demographically stable, and that reducing the survival and growth of the largest individuals would have the greatest effect on reducing overall population growth rate. Our results provide a first evaluation of the demography of Carpobrotus, a species of conservation and economic concern, and provide the first structured population model of a representative of the Aizoaceae family, thus contributing to our global knowledge on plant population dynamics. In addition, we demonstrate the advantages of using drones for collecting demographic data in understudied habitats such as coastal ecosystems.

Uncal apex movement and positioning in Alzheimer's Disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Patel ◽  
Jordan Poppenk
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Medial Temporal Lobe ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Native Space ◽  
Anterior Position ◽  
Anatomical Mri

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) patients have consistently shown declines in declarative memory, consolidation, and in many other cognitive areas. These changes are associated with atrophy and volumetric declines in medial temporal lobe structures, such as the hippocampus. Hippocampal atrophy has been associated with AD. However, the influence of AD atrophy on the position of the uncal apex—an anatomical landmark for the hippocampus—has not been longitudinally examined. The current study’s objective is to investigate changes in the position of the uncal apex of AD patients over the course of two years. The current study draws upon the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data set (adni.loni.usc.edu). For each participant, I obtained demographic data, anatomical MRI images in native space, hippocampal segmentations from the subcortical stream of FreeSurfer (v.5.3.0), and linear transforms to MNI space. Using uncal apex y-positions transformed in MNI space, I found that the uncal apex fell in a more posterior position in AD patients relative to control and  that over time, the uncal apex migrates toward a more anterior position in both groups. These results suggest that part of the neuroimaging examinations that are done on AD patients should examine uncal apex positions as a biomarker of early AD progression. Future directions and limitations are discussed

scholarly journals Demographic effects of interacting species: exploring stable coexistence under increased climatic variability in a semiarid shrub community

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana I. García-Cervigón ◽  
Pedro F. Quintana-Ascencio ◽  
Adrián Escudero ◽  
Merari E. Ferrer-Cervantes ◽  
Ana M. Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Species Coexistence ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Vital Rates ◽  
Climatic Fluctuations ◽  
Demographic Models ◽  
Shrub Community

AbstractPopulation persistence is strongly determined by climatic variability. Changes in the patterns of climatic events linked to global warming may alter population dynamics, but their effects may be strongly modulated by biotic interactions. Plant populations interact with each other in such a way that responses to climate of a single population may impact the dynamics of the whole community. In this study, we assess how climate variability affects persistence and coexistence of two dominant plant species in a semiarid shrub community on gypsum soils. We use 9 years of demographic data to parameterize demographic models and to simulate population dynamics under different climatic and ecological scenarios. We observe that populations of both coexisting species may respond to common climatic fluctuations both similarly and in idiosyncratic ways, depending on the yearly combination of climatic factors. Biotic interactions (both within and among species) modulate some of their vital rates, but their effects on population dynamics highly depend on climatic fluctuations. Our results indicate that increased levels of climatic variability may alter interspecific relationships. These alterations might potentially affect species coexistence, disrupting competitive hierarchies and ultimately leading to abrupt changes in community composition.

scholarly journals Fusarium basal rot: profile of an increasingly important disease in Allium spp.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dung Le ◽  
Kris Audenaert ◽  
Geert Haesaert
Keyword(s):  
Disease Management ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Basal Rot ◽  
Major Constraint ◽  
Fusarium Basal Rot ◽  
Chemical Pesticides ◽  
Important Disease

AbstractFusarium basal rot (FBR) is a soil-borne disease that affects Allium species worldwide. Although FBR has long been recognized as a major constraint to the production of economically important Allium species, information that could support disease management remains scattered. In this review, the current knowledge on the causal agents, symptomology and epidemiology, impact, and management strategies of FBR is synthesized. We highlight that FPR is associated with different complexes of several Fusarium species, of which Fusarium oxysporum and F. proliferatum are the most prevalent. These pathogenic complexes vary in composition and virulence, depending on sites and hosts, which can be challenging for disease management. Research to improve disease management using chemical pesticides, resistance cultivars, biocontrol agents, and cultural practices has achieved both promising results and limitations. Finally, research needs and future directions are proposed for the development of effective FBR management strategies.

Demographic Characterization of Anonymous Trace Travel Data

2015 ◽  
Vol 2526 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Auld ◽  
Abolfazl (Kouros) Mohammadian ◽  
Marcelo Simas Oliveira ◽  
Jean Wolf ◽  
William Bachman
Keyword(s):  
Test Data ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Travel Demand ◽  
Null Model ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Travel Pattern ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Trace Data ◽  
Demographic Models ◽  
Pattern Information

Research was undertaken to determine whether demographic characteristics of individual travelers could be derived from travel pattern information when no information about the individual was available. This question is relevant in the context of anonymously collected travel information, such as cell phone traces, when used for travel demand modeling. Determining the demographics of a traveler from such data could partially obviate the need for large-scale collection of travel survey data, depending on the purpose for which the data were to be used. This research complements methodologies used to identify activity stops, purposes, and mode types from raw trace data and presumes that such methods exist and are available. The paper documents the development of procedures for taking raw activity streams estimated from GPS trace data and converting these into activity travel pattern characteristics that are then combined with basic land use information and used to estimate various models of demographic characteristics. The work status, education level, age, and license possession of individuals and the presence of children in their households were all estimated successfully with substantial increases in performance versus null model expectations for both training and test data sets. The gender, household size, and number of vehicles proved more difficult to estimate, and performance was lower on the test data set; these aspects indicate overfitting in these models. Overall, the demographic models appear to have potential for characterizing anonymous data streams, which could extend the usability and applicability of such data sources to the travel demand context.

scholarly journals Board diversity and financial performance: A graphical time-series approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cobus CH Taljaard ◽  
Michael JD Ward ◽  
Chris J Muller
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Fiduciary Duty ◽  
Share Price ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Board Diversity

Directors need to guide and govern companies on behalf of and for the benefit of shareholders and stakeholders. However questions remain as to whether boards with higher levels of diversity amongst directors are better equipped to fulfil their fiduciary duty than boards with lower levels of diversity. This research examines whether increased levels of diversity within boards are associated with improved financial performance to shareholders. From the literature, several theoretical frameworks that could explain why increased diversity might or might not lead to improved board performance were noted. Share returns and directors’ demographic data were collected for a sample of the largest 40 companies listed on the JSE from 2000 to 2013. This data was analysed using Muller and Ward’s (2013) investment style engine by forming portfolios of companies based on board-diversity constructs. Time-series graphs of cumulative portfolio market returns were analysed to determine if the diversity dimensions tested were associated with improved share performance. The results show that racial diversity within boards is not associated with financial performance. However, increased gender diversity and younger average board age are shown to have strong associations with improved share price performance. These findings are mainly attributed to agency-, resource dependency, human capital and signalling theories. Increased diversity is seen to bolster independence and lessen agency problems. Rising diversity levels also enlarge boards’ external networks, allowing diverse stakeholders’ needs to be accommodated and limiting dependence on strategic resources. Finally, as human capital is increased, the collection of different skills and experiences are associated with better performance. The results, based on a more robust methodology and improved data set, provide additional support to previous studies.

scholarly journals Risk transfer beyond reinsurance: the added value of CAT bonds

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Götze ◽  
Marc Gürtler
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Default Risk ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Basis Risk ◽  
Cat Bonds ◽  
Risk Characteristics ◽  
Risk Management Strategies

AbstractReinsurance and CAT bonds are two alternative risk management instruments used by insurance companies. Insurers should be indifferent between the two instruments in a perfect capital market. However, the theoretical literature suggests that insured risk characteristics and market imperfections may influence the effectiveness and efficiency of reinsurance relative to CAT bonds. CAT bonds may add value to insurers’ risk management strategies and may therefore substitute for reinsurance. Our study is the first to empirically analyse if and under what circumstances CAT bonds can substitute for traditional reinsurance. Our analysis of a comprehensive data set comprising U.S. P&C insurers’ financial statements and CAT bond use shows that insurance companies’ choice of risk management instruments is not arbitrary. We find that the added value of CAT bonds mainly stems from non-indemnity bonds and reveal that (non-indemnity) CAT bonds are valuable under high reinsurer default risk, low basis risk and in high-risk layers.

Assessing population sustainability and response to fishing in terms of aggregation structure for greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) fishery management

2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie A Dowling ◽  
Stephen J Hall ◽  
Richard McGarvey
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Fishery Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Fertilization Success ◽  
Adult Density ◽  
Demographic Feature ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Functional Relationships ◽  
Aggregation Size

The greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) population in Waterloo Bay, South Australia, has undergone collapse and fishery closure twice since 1978. A rich data set, including survey measures of degree of spatial aggregation, has been gathered over that time and provides a unique opportunity to identify factors accounting for persistence or collapse, an issue that is of significance to abalone fisheries worldwide. Statistical analyses of fishery and survey data were undertaken to infer functional relationships between catch, effort, recruitment, adult density, and extent of aggregation. Catch rates were hyperstable, an observation consistent with the targeting of large aggregations. Statistical analysis of recruitment showed a significant year effect, implying an environmental signal, and suggested that aggregation size impacts fertilization success. Aggregation size grew under closure, suggesting an impact of fishing on this demographic feature. Aggregative behaviour appears to be critical for subpopulation sustainability. Fishery collapse may be triggered by depletion of larger abalone aggregations by heavy fishing, resulting in declines in fertilized egg production. When heavy fishing coincides with unfavourable environmental conditions, recruitment may be insufficient to sustain the subpopulation. If aggregation is similarly critical for other subpopulations, management strategies could be adapted according to the extent of aggregation in each subpopulation.

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