Morphological variation of Jovibarba heuffelii (Crassulaceae) in the central Balkan Peninsula—The impact of geological, orographical and bioclimatic factors on the differentiation of populations

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 203 (3) ◽  
pp. 213
Author(s):  
Danijela Nikolić ◽  
Jasmina Šinžar-Sekulić ◽  
Vladimir Ranđelović ◽  
Dmitar Lakušić
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Balkan Peninsula ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
Mahalanobis Distances ◽  
Geographical Position ◽  
Bioclimatic Conditions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Spearman’S Correlation

The aim of this study was to quantify and compare morphological variation between 14 populations of J. heuffelii distributed in Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia and to correlate their morphological characteristics with the geomorphologic and bioclimatic parameters of their habitats. For these purposes, several multivariate analyses (PCA, CDA, clustering UPGMA analysis based on Mahalanobis distances, MCA, and Spearman’s correlation) of the vegetative and generative plant organs were performed. Analyses showed that apart from the overall morphological variability, which is related to environmental conditions, there are four groups of populations that are morphologically distinct. Although the results clearly indicate the significant influence of environmental factors (elevation, aspect and slope) on the morphology of the species, we found that recent bioclimatic conditions, geological substratum and geographical position are only of secondary importance in the pattern of morphological variation in J. heuffelii in the area investigated.

scholarly journals Impact of climate and hydrochemistry on shape variation – a case study on Neotropical cytheroidean Ostracoda

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Wrozyna ◽  
Thomas A. Neubauer ◽  
Juliane Meyer ◽  
Maria Ines F. Ramos ◽  
Werner E. Piller
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Shape Variation ◽  
Valve Morphology ◽  
Temperature Seasonality ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. How environmental change affects a species’ phenotype is crucial not only for taxonomy and biodiversity assessments but also for their application as (paleo-)ecological indicators. Previous investigations addressing the impact of climate and hydrochemical regime on ostracod valve morphology have yielded quite contrasting results. Frequently identified ecological factors influencing carapace shape are salinity, cation and sulphate concentrations and alkalinity. Here, we present a thorough approach integrating data from carapace outline and surface details of the ubiquitous Neotropical cytheroidean ostracod species Cytheridella ilosvayi, as well as several climatic and hydrochemical variables, in order to investigate a potential link between morphology and environmental conditions. A previous study lately demonstrated considerable biogeographical variation in valve morphology among Floridian, Mexican and Brazilian populations of this species. We hypothesize that the climatic differences between the regions it inhabits and associated differences in hydrochemical regimes have influenced valve morphology and eventually led to biogeographically distinctive groups. Generalized least-squares Procrustes Analyses based on outline and structural features were applied to left and right valves of adult females and males. The analyses identified relative carapace length and shape symmetry as most important morphological characteristics representing shape change across all datasets. Two-block partial least-squares analyses and multiple regressions indicate strong relationships between morphological and environmental variables, specifically with temperature seasonality, annual precipitation and chloride and sulphate concentrations. We hypothesize that increased temperature seasonality slowed down growth rates during colder months, potentially triggering the development of shortened valves with well-developed brood pouches. Differences in chloride and sulphate concentrations, related to fluctuations in precipitation, are considered to affect valve development via controlling osmoregulation and carapace calcification. These factors represent hitherto unknown drivers for ostracod ecophenotypy and emphasise that environmental predictors for morphological variability are not consistent across non-marine ostracods.

scholarly journals Significance of climate and hydrochemistry on shape variation – a case study on Neotropical cytheroidean Ostracoda

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (17) ◽  
pp. 5489-5502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Wrozyna ◽  
Thomas A. Neubauer ◽  
Juliane Meyer ◽  
Maria Ines F. Ramos ◽  
Werner E. Piller
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Shape Variation ◽  
Valve Morphology ◽  
Temperature Seasonality ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. How environmental change affects a species' phenotype is crucial not only for taxonomy and biodiversity assessments but also for its application as a palaeo-ecological and ecological indicator. Previous investigations addressing the impact of the climate and hydrochemical regime on ostracod valve morphology have yielded contrasting results. Frequently identified ecological factors influencing carapace shape are salinity, cation, sulfate concentrations, and alkalinity. Here, we present a thorough approach integrating data with the carapace outline and surface details of the ubiquitous Neotropical cytheroidean ostracod species Cytheridella ilosvayi, as well as several climatic and hydrochemical variables, in order to investigate a potential link between morphology and environmental conditions. A recent study previously demonstrated considerable biogeographical variation in valve morphology among Floridian, Mexican and Brazilian populations of this species. We hypothesize that the climatic differences between the regions it inhabits and associated differences in hydrochemical regimes have influenced valve morphology and eventually led to biogeographically distinctive groups. Generalized least-squares Procrustes analyses based on outline and structural features were applied to the left and right valves of adult females and males. The analyses identified relative carapace length and shape symmetry as most important morphological characteristics representing shape differences across all datasets. Two-block partial least-squares analyses and multiple regressions indicate strong relationships between morphological and environmental variables, specifically with temperature seasonality, annual precipitation and chloride and sulfate concentrations. We suggest that increased temperature seasonality slowed down growth rates during colder months, potentially triggering the development of shortened valves with well-developed brood pouches. Differences in chloride and sulfate concentrations, related to fluctuations in precipitation, are considered to affect valve development via controlling osmoregulation and carapace calcification. The factors identified by our analyses represent hitherto unknown drivers for ostracod ecophenotypy in other species and therefore suggest that environmental predictors for morphological variability are not consistent across non-marine ostracods.

scholarly journals Influence of Age on the Technical Wear of Tenement Houses

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 297
Author(s):  
Jarosław Konior ◽  
Marek Sawicki ◽  
Mariusz Szóstak
Keyword(s):  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Numerical Approach ◽  
Technical Condition ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
Building Maintenance ◽  
Technical Maintenance ◽  
Traditional Construction ◽  
The Impact

The research presented in the article, which includes methods, models, and conclusions, contains synthetic and analytical model solutions concerning the problems of the technical maintenance and wear of residential buildings with a traditional construction. The cause and effect relationships between the occurrence of damage in the elements of tenement houses (treated as proof of their maintenance conditions), and the size of the technical wear of these elements were determined using a representative and purposefully selected sample of 102 residential buildings erected during the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Wroclaw’s “Downtown” district. Quantitative damage analysis, which was carried out using empirical (visual) methods of assessing the technical condition of a building, indicates the type and size of damage to the building’s elements that are characteristic for the relevant maintenance conditions. Research concerning the cause–effect relationships (“damage–technical wear”) in observed states allows for a numerical approach to the impact of building maintenance conditions on the degree of the technical wear of its components. The maintenance and exploitation conditions determine the degree of the technical wear of the elements of an old residential building. The exploitation condition of these buildings is manifested by damage to elements caused by water and moisture penetration, which is especially important for poorly maintained buildings. The article shows that the age of the elements of an old residential building with a traditional construction is of secondary importance in the process of the intensity of losing its serviceability value. It was calculated that no more than 30% of the damage of building components is explained by the passage of time, and it is therefore not age that determines the course of the technical wear of the elements of the analyzed tenement houses.

scholarly journals Planning the Urban Waterfront Transformation, from Infrastructures to Public Space Design in a Sea-Level Rise Scenario: The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Case

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Francesca Dal Cin ◽  
Fransje Hooimeijer ◽  
Maria Matos Silva
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Space Design ◽  
Urban Waterfront ◽  
Mies Van Der Rohe ◽  
The Impact

Future sea-level rises on the urban waterfront of coastal and riverbanks cities will not be uniform. The impact of floods is exacerbated by population density in nearshore urban areas, and combined with land conversion and urbanization, the vulnerability of coastal towns and public spaces in particular is significantly increased. The empirical analysis of a selected number of waterfront projects, namely the winners of the Mies Van Der Rohe Prize, highlighted the different morphological characteristics of public spaces, in relation to the approximation to the water body: near the shoreline, in and on water. The critical reading of selected architectures related to water is open to multiple insights, allowing to shift the design attention from the building to the public space on the waterfronts. The survey makes it possible to delineate contemporary features and lay the framework for urban development in coastal or riverside areas.

scholarly journals Prevalence and quality of life in high school pupils with acne in Serbia

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 935-939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Peric ◽  
Natasa Maksimovic ◽  
Janko Jankovic ◽  
Biljana Mijovic ◽  
Vesna Reljic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
High School ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Demographic Questionnaire ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Serbian Version ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Spearman’S Correlation

Background/Aim. Acne is a common problem in adolescent children with considerable emotional and psychological effects. The aim of this study was to determine the self-reported prevalence of acne and to assess its impact on the quality of life in high school pupils in Serbia. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2011 in two medical high schools in Serbia. Only pupils who gave a written informed consent to participate in the study (n = 440) were asked to fill in two questionnaires: short demographic questionnaire and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), a disease-specific questionnaire measuring disability induced by acne. Internal consistency (tested by Cronbach?s alpha) and item-total score correlations (Spearman's correlation analysis) were used for reliability analyses. Results. The study population consisted of 440 pupils, 281 from Belgrade and 159 from Uzice. Among them 371 (84.3%) were girls and 69 (15.7%) boys, with similar sex distribution in Belgrade and Uzice. The total mean age of pupils was 16.48 years (SD = 0.55). Out of 440 pupils 228 (51.8%) self-reported their acne. The acne prevalence was significantly higher in pupils from Uzice (73.6%) than in those from Belgrade (39.6%). The overall mean CADI score for the whole sample was 2.87 ? 2.74, with the similar quality of life impairment in adolescents from Belgrade and from Uzice. The mean Cronbach?s alpha was 0.82. Conclusion. This study shows that the quality of life impairment due to acne is mild for the majority of the affected pupils. The Serbian version of the CADI is a reliable, valid, and valuable tool for assessing the impact of acne on the quality of life.

Lectotypification of names related to Teucrium montanum L. (Lamiaceae) reported for the Balkan peninsula

Phytotaxa ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 530 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-204
Author(s):  
MILOŠ ZBILJIĆ ◽  
DMITAR LAKUŠIĆ ◽  
IVANA STEVANOSKI ◽  
NEVENA KUZMANOVIĆ
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Balkan Peninsula ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Asia Minor

Teucrium montanum is a species widely distributed in Europe, occurring also in North Africa and Asia Minor. Because of its wide distribution and high morphological variability, many taxa related to T. montanum have been described. In this paper we discuss and lectotypify the following six names of taxa described or reported for the Balkan Peninsula: T. helianthemoides, T. montanum var. hirsutum, T. montanum var. modestum, T. montanum var. parnassicum, T. pannonicum, and T. skorpilii.

scholarly journals A Long-Term Fine-Resolution Record of AVHRR Surface Temperatures for the Laurentian Great Lakes

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1210
Author(s):  
Charles White ◽  
Andrew Heidinger ◽  
Steven Ackerman ◽  
Peter McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Laurentian Great Lakes ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Weighted Interpolation ◽  
Large Lakes ◽  
Fine Resolution ◽  
Observation Times ◽  
The Impact

Inland waters are warming at highly variable rates that often differ from regional air temperature trends. This variable warming is partially attributable to an individual lake’s geographical and morphological characteristics. In very large lakes, significant intralake variability in long-term warming trends has also been observed. In light of this intralake and interlake heterogeneity of lake surface water temperature (LSWT) and LSWT trends, we revisit the 1.1 km Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) record for the Laurentian Great Lakes. In this work, we have assembled a long-term (1986–2016) and high-spatial-resolution (0.018°) daily LSWT dataset using AVHRR record. Subtracting an empirically-determined mean diurnal cycle mitigates the effects of varying observation times. Adjustments in the georegistration of the images are made to reduce the impact of AVHRR navigational errors on the earlier platforms. Both the original daily composites, and a gap-filled product using locally weighted interpolation methods will be made available to support fine-scale physical and environmental research in the region.

scholarly journals Hydrometeorological extremes derived from taxation records for south-eastern Moravia, Czech Republic, 1751–1900 AD

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Brázdil ◽  
K. Chromá ◽  
H. Valášek ◽  
L. Dolák
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
Agricultural Work ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Tax Relief ◽  
Taxation System ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Historical written records associated with tax relief at ten estates located in south-eastern Moravia (Czech Republic) are used for the study of hydrometeorological extremes and their impacts during the period 1751–1900 AD. At the time, the taxation system in Moravia allowed farmers to request tax relief if their crop yields had been negatively affected by hydrological and meteorological extremes. The documentation involved contains information about the type of extreme event and the date of its occurrence, while the impact on crops may often be derived. A total of 175 extreme events resulting in some kind of damage are documented for 1751–1900, with the highest concentration between 1811 and 1860 (74.9% of all events analysed). The nature of events leading to damage (of a possible 272 types) include hailstorm (25.7%), torrential rain (21.7%), flood (21.0%), followed by thunderstorm, flash flood, late frost and windstorm. The four most outstanding events, affecting the highest number of settlements, were thunderstorms with hailstorms (25 June 1825, 20 May 1847 and 29 June 1890) and flooding of the River Morava (mid-June 1847). Hydrometeorological extremes in the 1816–1855 period are compared with those occurring during the recent 1961–2000 period. The results obtained are inevitably influenced by uncertainties related to taxation records, such as their temporal and spatial incompleteness, the limits of the period of outside agricultural work (i.e. mainly May–August) and the purpose for which they were originally collected (primarily tax alleviation, i.e. information about hydrometeorological extremes was of secondary importance). Taxation records constitute an important source of data for historical climatology and historical hydrology and have a great potential for use in many European countries.

Urban Finescale Forecasting Reveals Weather Conditions with Unprecedented Detail

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (12) ◽  
pp. 2675-2688 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Ronda ◽  
G. J. Steeneveld ◽  
B. G. Heusinkveld ◽  
J. J. Attema ◽  
A. A. M. Holtslag
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Human Thermal Comfort ◽  
Forecasting System ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Urban Weather ◽  
Neighborhood Level

Abstract Urban landscapes impact the lives of urban dwellers by influencing local weather conditions. However, weather forecasting down to the street and neighborhood scale has been beyond the capabilities of numerical weather prediction (NWP) despite the fact that observational systems are now able to monitor urban climate at these scales. In this study, weather forecasts at intra-urban scales were achieved by exploiting recent advances in topographic element mapping and aerial photography as well as looking at detailed mappings of soil characteristics and urban morphological properties, which were subsequently incorporated into a specifically adapted Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The urban weather forecasting system (UFS) was applied to the Amsterdam, Netherlands, metropolitan area during the summer of 2015, where it produced forecasts for the city down to the neighborhood level (a few hundred meters). Comparing these forecasts to the dense network of urban weather station observations within the Amsterdam metropolitan region showed that the forecasting system successfully determined the impact of urban morphological characteristics and urban spatial structure on local temperatures, including the cooling effect of large water bodies on local urban temperatures. The forecasting system has important practical applications for end users such as public health agencies, local governments, and energy companies. It appears that the forecasting system enables forecasts of events on a neighborhood level where human thermal comfort indices exceeded risk thresholds during warm weather episodes. These results prove that worldwide urban weather forecasting is within reach of NWP, provided that appropriate data and computing resources become available to ensure timely and efficient forecasts.

scholarly journals Unsupervised Compositionality Prediction of Nominal Compounds

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio Cordeiro ◽  
Aline Villavicencio ◽  
Marco Idiart ◽  
Carlos Ramisch
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Red Wine ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
High Agreement ◽  
Semantic Models ◽  
Corpus Size ◽  
Nominal Compounds ◽  
Distributional Semantic Models ◽  
The Impact

Nominal compounds such as red wine and nut case display a continuum of compositionality, with varying contributions from the components of the compound to its semantics. This article proposes a framework for compound compositionality prediction using distributional semantic models, evaluating to what extent they capture idiomaticity compared to human judgments. For evaluation, we introduce data sets containing human judgments in three languages: English, French, and Portuguese. The results obtained reveal a high agreement between the models and human predictions, suggesting that they are able to incorporate information about idiomaticity. We also present an in-depth evaluation of various factors that can affect prediction, such as model and corpus parameters and compositionality operations. General crosslingual analyses reveal the impact of morphological variation and corpus size in the ability of the model to predict compositionality, and of a uniform combination of the components for best results.

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