scholarly journals Ecological and Economic Importance of Bats (Order Chiroptera)

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Kasso ◽  
Mundanthra Balakrishnan
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Control Plant ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Nutrient Distribution ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Bush Meat ◽  
Ecological Importance

Order Chiroptera is the second most diverse and abundant order of mammals with great physiological and ecological diversity. They play important ecological roles as prey and predator, arthropod suppression, seed dispersal, pollination, material and nutrient distribution, and recycle. They have great advantage and disadvantage in economic terms. The economic benefits obtained from bats include biological pest control, plant pollination, seed dispersal, guano mining, bush meat and medicine, aesthetic and bat watching tourism, and education and research. Even though bats are among gentle animals providing many positive ecological and economic benefits, few species have negative effects. They cause damage on human, livestock, agricultural crops, building, and infrastructure. They also cause airplane strike, disease transmission, and contamination, and bite humans during self-defense. Bat populations appear to be declining presumably in response to human induced environmental stresses like habitat destruction and fragmentation, disturbance to caves, depletion of food resources, overhunting for bush meat and persecution, increased use of pesticides, infectious disease, and wind energy turbine. As bats are among the most overlooked in spite of their economical and ecological importance, their conservation is mandatory.

scholarly journals Study on the path of Integration use of Land Resource elements under the background of Rural Revitalization

2021 ◽  
Vol 236 ◽  
pp. 01040
Author(s):  
Hong Tang ◽  
Changpin Ji ◽  
Yan Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Circulation System ◽  
Land Resource ◽  
Resource Integration ◽  
Land Utilization ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Rural Economic Development

At present, with the rapid development of urban-rural integration, the problems of land fragmentation in rural areas, such as low land use rate, poor economic benefits, many production conflicts and disputes, land distribution difficulties and other negative effects, continue to appear, and the rural economic development is very severe. Based on this, this paper mainly studies the path of land resource integration, studies the reform of land system in various aspects, such as land circulation system, homestead reform, land acquisition system and other specific systems, and studies the specific path of land resource integration, so as to promote the land utilization rate, promote the rapid development of population industry and its development The increase of farmers' income.

Additive negative effects of Philornis nest parasitism on small and declining Neotropical bird populations

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (03) ◽  
pp. 339-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIANA BULGARELLA ◽  
MARTÍN A. QUIROGA ◽  
GEORGE E. HEIMPEL
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Mortality Factor ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Nest Parasitism ◽  
Bird Populations

SummaryThe declining-population paradigm holds that small populations are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic influences such as habitat destruction, pollution and species introductions. While the effects of particular stressors, such as parasitism, may be unimportant in a large, healthy population, they can be serious and even devastating in situations characterised by a restricted geographic range, or by fragmented or reduced population sizes. We apply this idea to nest parasitism of threatened Neotropical bird species that exist in small populations, focusing on dipteran nest parasites in the genusPhilornis. We review the literature onPhilornisparasitism exerting negative pressure on bird populations that have become small and isolated due to human actions and present a new case ofPhilornisparasitism of a threatened hummingbird species. Our aim is to raise awareness about the exacerbating effect that nest parasites can have on small and declining bird populations; especially when biological information is scarce. The five reviewed cases involve two species of Darwin’s Finches in the Galápagos Islands attacked by the invasiveP. downsi, two species of hawks on islands in the Caribbean attacked by the nativeP. piciandP. obscura, and the Yellow CardinalGubernatrix cristatain southern South America attacked by an unknownPhilornisspecies. We also present new documentation of parasitism of a threatened hummingbird species in mainland Ecuador by an unidentifiedPhilornisspecies. We recommend more field studies to determine the presence of nest parasites in bird populations worldwide to improve understanding how nest parasites affect bird fitness and population viability and to allow time to act in advance if needed. Parasitism byPhilornismay represent a severe mortality factor in most already threatened bird species, putting them at greater risk of extinction. Therefore, parasitism management should be included in all threatened species recovery plans.

Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining on Water Quality in Mozambique and Zimbabwe

2015 ◽  
pp. 101-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Never Mujere ◽  
Manuel Isidro
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Aquatic Life ◽  
Land Disturbance ◽  
Research Findings

Artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) is an informal economic activity. ASGM is the process of extracting gold ore from the ground in the absence of land rights, mining license, exploration or mining mineral exploration permit or any legitimate document that allows the operation. Its haphazard nature, location close to and dependence on water have negative effects on the physical, chemical and biological composition of water. The socio-economic benefits of small scale mining, which include employment and income generation, are seriously outweighed by devastating environmental costs and impacts. The objective of this chapter is to examine effects of ASGM on water quality in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Findings show that ASGM causes land disturbance, loss of biodiversity, deforestation and depletion of water resources, increased levels of siltation, turbidity and heavy metal content and the disturbance of aquatic life and its habitats. ASGM also negatively effects the health of people and animals. Based on the research findings, it is important to support and formalize, as much as possible, the mining operations so that it becomes environmentally friendly and sustainable.

scholarly journals Quantifying the Influence of Larval Density on Disease Transmission Indices in Culex quinquefasciatus, the Major African Vector of Filariasis

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 117954331985602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azubuike Christian Ukubuiwe ◽  
Chioma Cynthia Ojianwuna ◽  
Israel Kayode Olayemi ◽  
Francis Ofurum Arimoro ◽  
Innocent Chukwuemeka James Omalu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Adult Fitness ◽  
Larval Crowding

Larval crowding is one of the abiotic factors affecting biological fitness in mosquitoes. This study aims at elucidating, quantitatively, the influence of more larval crowding on aspects of fitness in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito. To this end, day-old larvae of the species were reared in 4 density regimens equivalent to 1 larva in 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mL of distilled water. Developmental indices, adult fitness indices, and accumulation and utilisation of teneral reserves for metamorphosis were determined at these density regimens. The results revealed varying significant negative effects of larval density on all fitness indices measured for the species. The study also revealed high utilisation of teneral reserves for metamorphosis at high larval densities. The information generated will be useful in making informed-decisions in allocating scare resources for vector control, although field trials are advocated to establish these laboratory findings.

scholarly journals Marsh deer (Blastocerus Dichotomus) reintroduction in the Jataí Ecological Station (Luís Antônio, SP): spatial preferences

2005 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. M. Figueira ◽  
J. S. R. Pires ◽  
A. Andriolo ◽  
M. J. R. P. Costa ◽  
J. M. B. Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Displacement Activity ◽  
Ecological Importance ◽  
Blastocerus Dichotomus ◽  
Privately Owned ◽  
Floodplain Area

Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, wildlife habitat destruction and species extinctions have greatly increased. As the number of endangered species grows, the use of reintroduction as a conservation tool against species extinction increases. This study focuses on a 16-month study on marsh deer reintroduced in the Jataí Ecological Station. The animals were radio tagged and tracked daily between December 1998 and April 2000. Displacement activity and spatial preferences were monitored by triangulation. The animals wandered the floodplains inside the protected area and also a floodplain that is part of privately owned property on the western edge of the Jataí Ecological Station. During the study, most of the reintroduced marsh deer preferred the private floodplain area more than the floodplains inside the protected area. This preference revealed the ecological importance of the area and the necessity of its incorporation into the Jataí Ecological Station.

MEASURING THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM THE CONTAMINATED SOIL REMEDIATION POLICY IN KOREA: A CONTINGENT VALUATION STUDY

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (5-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seul-Ye Lim ◽  
Seung-Hoon Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Contingent Valuation ◽  
Soil Remediation ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Contingent Valuation Study ◽  
Spike Model ◽  
Valuation Study

Soil contamination caused by economic growth through industrialization and urbanization has been progressed inKorea. Soil polluted with heavy metals and chemicals makes significantly negative effects on human and wildlife health. This paper attempts to measure the economic benefits from the contaminated soil remediation policy using a specific case study ofKorea. To this end, the contingent valuation (CV) method is employed. A CV national survey of randomly selected 500 households was implemented using person-to-person interviewing in May 2105.  To elicit the willingness to pay (WTP), we apply one-and-one-half bound dichotomous choice question format to reduce the potential for response bias and spike model to deal with zero willingness to pay (WTP). The mean WTP for the policy is estimated to be KRW 1,357 (USD 1.2) for next ten years per household per year and statistically significant at the 1% level. Expanding the value to the national population gives us KRW 25.4 billion (USD 22.9 million) per year. We can judge that the Korean public places a significant value and be utilized in assessing the total benefits from the policy.

Flammability is not selected for, it emerges

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy J. Midgley
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Emergent Property ◽  
Parent Plant ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Mutant Genotype ◽  
Fire Environment ◽  
The Dead

The present explanation for the evolution of flammability invokes the need for a flammable mutant parent plant (the torch) to be able to spread the negative effects of fire to less flammable, more fire-sensitive neighbouring plants (the damps). Thereafter, if the torch either produces more seedlings, or more competitive seedlings, in the post-fire environment, to take over the space vacated by both the dead damps and the torch, then torch genotypes could invade. Here, I argue that an individual flammable mutant genotype cannot invade the ‘group’ of non-flammable individuals because it implies unlikely patterns of seed dispersal and fitness advantages. The implication of this is that although flammability can evolve, it is an incidental or emergent property of species or ecosystems and that it confers no extra advantages to individual flammable plants. In contrast, anti-flammability could be both selected for, and evolve.

Reproduction of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in a Higher CO2 Environment

Weed Science ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 334-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara M. McPeek ◽  
Xianzhong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Environmental Significance ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Biological Studies ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Global Environmental Changes ◽  
Co2 Environment

Dandelion is a cosmopolitan weed of economic and environmental significance because of its negative effects on crop yield and the large amount of herbicides used for its control in agricultural, residential, and recreational areas in North America. Asexual dandelion plants, which are apomictic and produce genetically identical seeds, provide a great experimental model for biological studies, such as examination of its reproductive responses to global environmental changes. In a growth chamber experiment, we investigated how elevated CO2 affected reproduction and seed dispersal properties in dandelion. Dandelion plants were grown at ambient (370 µmol mol−1) or elevated (730 µmol mol−1) CO2 until reproductive maturity. Results showed that dandelion plants examined in our study produced 83% more inflorescences and 32% more achenes, i.e., single-seed fruits, per plant at elevated than at ambient CO2. Seeds from elevated CO2-grown plants were significantly heavier and had a higher germination percentage, leading to larger seedlings and earlier establishment in the subsequent generation. Furthermore, achenes from plants grown at elevated CO2 had characteristics, such as higher stalks at seed maturity, longer beaks, and larger pappi, which would increase the distance of seed dispersal by wind. In addition to these elevated CO2-induced changes in reproductive properties, dandelion has a number of inherent characteristics, e.g., high competitiveness and adaptations to disturbance, that would increase its vegetative and reproductive success in a higher CO2 environment. Consequently, dandelion can potentially become more widespread and noxious as atmospheric CO2 continues to rise because of human activities.

scholarly journals Sublethal and transgenerational effects of alphamethrin on life history traits of Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae), a malaria mosquito

2017 ◽  
Vol 149 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.P.N. Hariprasad ◽  
N.J. Shetty
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Anopheles Stephensi ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Egg Hatchability ◽  
Fitness Parameters ◽  
Sublethal Doses ◽  
Sublethal Concentrations

AbstractAnopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae), an urban malaria vector in India, is controlled by insecticides. Sublethal concentrations can be effective in reducing mosquito populations and disease transmission by reducing its reproductive fitness. In this study, sublethal effects of alphamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, were assessed on selected fitness parameters. Late third instars of the Goraguntepalya strain, Bangalore, were exposed to three sublethal doses, LC10 – 0.00006, LC30 – 0.0004, and LC50 – 0.0014 mg/L and their effects on fecundity, egg hatchability, sex ratio, and longevity in parental, F1 and F2 generations. The morphology of gonads, pattern of pupation, and adult emergence were also assessed. We found a significant reduction in fecundity and hatchability among the sublethal concentrations as well as across generations. Survival analysis showed significant reduction in lifespan of exposed groups. Delay in pupation, eclosion, and no distortion in sex ratio was observed. The results suggest that sublethal concentrations of alphamethrin may have negative effects on exposed individuals and subsequent generations.

scholarly journals Ecological functions of neotropical amphibians and reptiles: a review

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela María Cortes ◽  
César Augusto Ruiz-Agudelo ◽  
Anyelet Valencia-Aguilar ◽  
Richard J. Ladle
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Cultural Landscapes ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Control Seed ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Comprehensive Plans

Amphibians and reptiles (herps) are the most abundant and diverse vertebrate taxa in tropical ecosystems. Nevertheless, little is known about their role in maintaining and regulating ecosystems functions and, by extension, their potential value for supporting ecosystems services. Here, we review research on the ecological functions of Neotropical herps, in different sources (the bibliographic databases, book chapters, etc.). A total of 167 Neotropical herpetology studies published over the last four decades (1970 to 2014) were reviewed, providing information on more than 100 species that contribute to at least five categories of ecological functions: i) nutrient cycling; ii) bioturbation; iii) pollination; iv) seed dispersal, and v) energy flow through ecosystems and the mechanisms behind these, through the study of functional traits and analysis of ecological processes. Many of these functions provide key ecosystems, such as biological pest control, seed dispersal and water quality. By knowing and understanding the functions that perform the herps in ecosystems, management plans for cultural landscapes, restoration or recovery projects of landscapes that involve aquatic and terrestrial systems, development of comprehensive plans and detailed conservation of species and ecosystems may be structured in a more appropriate way. Besides information gaps identified in this review, this contribution explores these issues in terms of better understanding of key questions in the study of ecosystem services and biodiversity and, also, of how these services are generated.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document