Aspects of thermal ecology of the meadow lizard (Darevskia praticola)

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Ćorović ◽  
Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailović

Abstract We studied the thermal biology of the meadow lizard (Darevskia praticola) in the peripheral part of its distribution range (westernmost edge of the distribution area). We assessed whether these lizards actively thermoregulate, estimated the accuracy and effectiveness of thermoregulation, and evaluated the thermal quality of the habitat using the standard thermal parameters: body (), preferred () with set-point range () and operative temperatures (). of the meadow lizard under controlled laboratory conditions was between 27.8°C and 31.4°C. In the field and averaged 29.0°C and 26.1°C, respectively. A large proportion of s fell below the range of the meadow lizard, and lizard s were substantially closer to the species’ range. Obtained values of thermoregulatory indices suggested that the meadow lizard thermoregulated actively, with a rather high accuracy () and effectiveness ( and ), and that their habitat at this locality was thermally favourable during the spring. Our results suggest that thermal requirements of the meadow lizard resemble those of alpine lacertids, while their s and are lower than in most lacertid lizards. Further thermoregulation studies could be an important step in predicting the impact of the global climate change on the meadow lizard and the risks of local extinctions of its peripheral populations.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinu Medhi ◽  
Jintu Dutta ◽  
Mohan Chandra Kalita

Arthropods community structure and composition provides multiscale information about an environment health. Their reproduction and growth model are effective to assess the impact on ecosystem in response to stress such as anthropogenic activities (climate change) or natural (drought). Terrestrial and aquatic insects are potential bio-indicators. Terrestrial insects are an excellent model to assess the quality of terrestrial ecosystem. These insect species are assayed to detect metallic pollution and forest abundance. Soil and litter arthropods are used for examining soil quality. Honey bee mortality rates and the residues such as heavy metals, fungicides and herbicides presence in honey are good indicator of environmental pollution. The specificity of food and habitat selection by wasp population make it suitable for assessing habitat quality. Similarly butterflies habitat itself signifies a healthy ecosystem because of their sensitivity to even slightest change. Different arthropods act as keystone species and these keystone interactions also reveal many facets of an ecosystem quality. Similarly fly population such as Drosophila subobscura and their shift in the genetic composition indicate the global climate warming. The arthropods are explored as screening platform to understand the ecosystem resilience to disturbances. These underscores arthropods potential for evaluation of environmental impact and global climate change.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-125
Author(s):  
Thi Thanh Thuy Tran ◽  
Van Lam Nguyen ◽  
Huu On Dang

Thai Binh is a coastal province of Red River Delta in Vietnam, having administrative boundaries at the river systems and coastlines that cause groundwater quality varies complicatedly. Today in Thai Binh province, the groundwater in Holocene and Pleistocene aquifers is exploited for domestic use. But, beside the quality of groundwater in this region is not uniform, it is interspersed between salt water and fresh water zones in Holocene and Pleistocene aquifers. Nowaday, under the force of groundwater exploitation activity for domestic purposes, agricultural activities, the impact of climate change and sea level rise issues, the quality of distribution of groundwater here change. According to the recent research results, groundwater quality and distribution of salt water - fresh water there have many changes compared with the research results of the Northern Division for Water resources Planning and Investigation in the year 1996. For the the Holocene aquifer (qh), distribution area of salt water zone has been narrowed. Besides, saline cleaning process occurred in some coastal areas in Tien Hai, Thai Thuy and a part of Quynh Phu district. For the Pleistocene aquifer (qp), compared with research result in 1996, the boundaries between saline and fresh water at the present time is not change so much. By assessing the status of the distribution of saline and fresh water zones in groundwater in Thai Binh and the movement of this boundary, author’s research results will be the basis that helps the managers give out reasonable exploiting and sustainable using methods for these natural resources. Thái Bình là một tỉnh ven biển thuộc vùng châu thổ sông Hồng của Việt Nam, được bao bọc bởi hệ thống sông biển khép kín làm cho chất lượng nước ngầm biến đổi rất phức tạp. Hiện nay, tại Thái Bình có 2 tầng chứa nước chính phục vụ ăn uống sinh hoạt là tầng chứa nước Holocen và tầng chứa nước Pleistocen. Tuy nhiên, chất lượng nước ngầm ở các tầng chứa nước này không đồng đều, có sự phân bố xen kẽ giữa các khoảnh nước mặn và nước nhạt. Hiện nay, dưới tác động của hoạt động dân sinh, sản xuất nông nghiệp, khai thác nước phục vụ sinh hoạt cùng ảnh hưởng của biến đổi khí hậu và sự dâng cao của mực nước biển đã làm thay đổi chất lượng và quy mô phân bố nước ngầm khu vực. Theo những kết quả nghiên cứu mới nhất của tác giả cho thấy diện tích phân bố của các vùng nước mặn - nước nhạt của các tầng chứa nước trên địa bàn tỉnh đã có nhiều thay đổi so với kết quả nghiên cứu trước đây của Liên đoàn Địa chất thủy văn – Địa chất công trình miền Bắc năm 1996. Với tầng chứa nước Holocen, diện tích phân bố các khoảnh nước mặn bị co hẹp và đang có sự nhạt hóa tại một số khu vực ven biển thuộc Huyện Tiền Hải, Thái Thụy và một phần thuộc huyện Quỳnh Phụ. Trong tầng chứa nước Pleistocen (qp), so với kết quả nghiên cứu năm 1996, ranh giới mặn – nhạt tại thời điểm hiện tại đã có sự thay đổi nhưng không lớn. Kết quả nghiên cứu này là cơ sở giúp các nhà quản lý đề xuất giải pháp, phân vùng khai thác và sử dụng hợp lý nguồn tài nguyên thiên nhiên này đặc biệt trước tình trạng khan hiếm nước như hiện nay trên địa bàn tỉnh Thái Bình.


Trees ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Bona ◽  
Stanisław Kłosowski ◽  
Katarzyna A. Jadwiszczak ◽  
Galya Petrova

Abstract Key message Lowered pollen and seed quality of B. humilis compared to its widespread tree relatives may threaten its populations at the southwestern edge of the species range. Abstract Inability to produce vital propagules is the main threat to the persistence of rare plants at the edges of species distribution. In the present investigation, factors responsible for the low germinability of shrub birch (Betula humilis) seeds in the peripheral populations were analysed. As shrub birch populations are found in phosphorus (P)-limited peatlands with high groundwater levels, the impact of groundwater PO43− ion contents and groundwater table for B. humilis flowering was also studied. Qualities of the B. humilis seeds and pollen were compared to those of tree congeners silver birch (B. pendula) and downy birch (B. pubescens), which usually represent a high reproductive performance. We revealed that the poor germination ability of B. humilis seeds was caused by the high proportions of empty seeds (44.8%) and seeds with partially developed embryos (47.3%). The insufficient numbers of viable seeds may be a consequence of low-quality shrub birch pollen, as only 1.6% of pollen grains sprouted. The germinability of shrub birch pollen was significantly lower than that of Betula tree pollen; thus, there is a risk of pollination of B. humilis female flowers by pollen grains of tree birches. Positive relationships between the P concentrations in seeds and seed germinability were revealed in tree birches, but not in B. humilis. The availability of PO43− ions in the groundwater did not affect B. humilis flowering, but male inflorescences were more numerous in stands with higher groundwater levels. Consequently, the maintenance of peatlands is crucial for the efficient sexual reproduction of shrub birches.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 27219-27241 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Pummer ◽  
H. Bauer ◽  
J. Bernardi ◽  
S. Bleicher ◽  
H. Grothe

Abstract. The ice nucleation of bioaerosols (bacteria, pollen, spores, etc.) is a topic of growing interest, since their impact on ice cloud formation and thus on radiative forcing, an important parameter in global climate, is not yet fully understood. Here we show that pollen of different species strongly differ in their ice nucleation behaviour. The average freezing temperatures in laboratory experiments range from 240 K to 255 K. As the most efficient nuclei (silver birch, Scots pine and common juniper pollen) have a distribution area up to the Northern timberline, their ice nucleation activity may be a cryoprotective mechanism. Far more intriguingly, it has turned out that water, which has been in contact with pollen and then been separated from the bodies, nucleates as good as the pollen grains themselves. So the ice nuclei have to be easily-suspendable macromolecules located on the pollen surface. Once extracted, they can be distributed further through the atmosphere than the heavy pollen grains and so augment the impact of pollen on ice cloud formation even in the upper Troposphere. Our experiments lead to the conclusion that pollen ice nuclei, in contrast to bacterial and fungal ice nucleating proteins, are non-proteinaceous compounds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (13) ◽  
pp. 162-168
Author(s):  
Pippa Hales ◽  
Corinne Mossey-Gaston

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers across Northern America and Europe. Treatment options offered are dependent on the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, the staging, and the overall health of the person. When surgery for lung cancer is offered, difficulty swallowing is a potential complication that can have several influencing factors. Surgical interaction with the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) can lead to unilateral vocal cord palsy, altering swallow function and safety. Understanding whether the RLN has been preserved, damaged, or sacrificed is integral to understanding the effect on the swallow and the subsequent treatment options available. There is also the risk of post-surgical reduction of physiological reserve, which can reduce the strength and function of the swallow in addition to any surgery specific complications. As lung cancer has a limited prognosis, the clinician must also factor in the palliative phase, as this can further increase the burden of an already compromised swallow. By understanding the surgery and the implications this may have for the swallow, there is the potential to reduce the impact of post-surgical complications and so improve quality of life (QOL) for people with lung cancer.


2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer S. Fabritius ◽  
Lisa S. Doane ◽  
Aileen M. Echiverri ◽  
Shoshana Y. Kahana ◽  
Joshua D. McDavid ◽  
...  
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