Modelling climate influences on population dynamics and diurnal time budget of the Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) wintering in Ramsar wetlands of Algeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 77-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel Bezzalla ◽  
Moussa Houhamdi ◽  
Mohamed Cherif Maazi ◽  
Haroun Chenchouni

Several North African wetlands are classified as wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites and Important Bird Area) because thousands of Shelducks ( Tadorna tadorna) winter in these habitats. However, Shelduck’s patterns of habitat use in these protected wetlands during the wintering season are still hindered by lack of information in arid and semi-arid regions regarding population dynamics and the effects of climate variables. This ornithological survey aims to study population dynamics and temporal patterns of diurnal activities of the Shelduck at two Ramsar and Important Bird Area sites (Chott Tinsilt and Sebkhet Ezzemoul) with respect to the effect of climatic parameters of the habitat in order to deepen our understanding of wintering strategies and habitat use. Populations were weekly censused from 06:00 to 19:00 during the entire wintering season (September 2015–May 2016). Diurnal behavioural activities were monitored at the same rate, and then the variation of time budget was tested using generalized linear model to determine the effects of climate variables and conspecific density dependence. The Shelduck was observed at both sites from the end of November and remained there until the total desiccation of both lakes in early May. Trends of Shelduck’s population dynamics differed between the two sites. Generalized linear models revealed the significant effects of temperature, wind speed and number of snowy days on population dynamics. Feeding was the main diurnal activity of the Shelduck at both sites with 80.2% of time budget at Chott Tinsilt (mainly feeding at lake shores) and 82% at Sebkhet Ezzemoul (mainly feeding in water). The generalized linear models showed that the variation of time budget allocated to different diurnal activities was not density-dependent, but rather it was negatively affected by the increase of air temperature. Significant effects of the interaction between population size and some climatic variables were found and discussed. During the whole wintering season, Chott Tinsilt and Sebkhet Ezzemoul play an important ecological role since they offer a wide-ranging diurnal forging habitat and a shelter for thousands of this waterfowl.

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 2933-2960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabah Labbas ◽  
◽  
Keddour Lemrabet ◽  
Stéphane Maingot ◽  
Alexandre Thorel ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 642 ◽  
pp. 227-240
Author(s):  
L Lodi ◽  
R Tardin ◽  
G Maricato

Most studies of cetacean habitat use do not consider the influence of anthropogenic activities. We investigated the influence of environmental and anthropogenic variables on habitat use by humpback Megaptera novaeangliae and Bryde’s whales Balaenoptera brydei off the coast of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. Although there are 2 marine protected areas (MPAs) in this area, few data are available on cetacean habitat use or on the overlap of different cetacean species within these MPAs. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the MPAs and propose a buffer zone to better protect the biodiversity of the study area. We conducted systematic surveys and developed spatial eigenvector generalized linear models to characterize habitat use by the species in the study area. Habitat use by humpback whales was influenced only by depth, whereas for Bryde’s whales there was the additional influence of anthropogenic variables. For Bryde’s whales, which use the area for feeding, sea surface temperature and the distance to anchorages had a major influence on habitat use. We also showed that neither of the MPAs in the study area adequately protects the hotspots of either whale species. Most of the humpback whale grid cells with high sighting predictions were located within 2 km of the MPAs, while areas of high sighting prediction of Bryde’s whales were located up to 5 km from the MPAs, closer to beaches. Our findings provide important insights for the delimitation of protected areas and zoning of the MPAs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 02 ◽  
Author(s):  
RM Garcia ◽  
WF Vieira-Junior ◽  
JD Theobaldo ◽  
NIP Pini ◽  
GM Ambrosano ◽  
...  

Objective: To evaluate color and roughness of bovine enamel exposed to dentifrices, dental bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP), and erosion/staining by red wine. Methods: Bovine enamel blocks were exposed to: artificial saliva (control), Oral-B Pro-Health (stannous fluoride with sodium fluoride, SF), Sensodyne Repair & Protect (bioactive glass, BG), Colgate Pro-Relief (arginine and calcium carbonate, AR), or Chitodent (chitosan, CHI). After toothpaste exposure, half (n=12) of the samples were bleached (35% HP), and the other half were not (n=12). The color (CIE L*a* b*, ΔE), surface roughness (Ra), and scanning electron microscopy were evaluated. Color and roughness were assessed at baseline, post-dentifrice and/or -dental bleaching, and after red wine. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) (ΔE) for repeated measures (Ra), followed by Tukey ́s test. The L*, a*, and b* values were analyzed by generalized linear models (a=0.05). Results: The HP promoted an increase in Ra values; however, the SF, BG, and AR did not enable this alteration. After red wine, all groups apart from SF (unbleached) showed increases in Ra values; SF and AR promoted decreases in L* values; AR demonstrated higher ΔE values, differing from the control; and CHI decreased the L* variation in the unbleached group. Conclusion: Dentifrices did not interfere with bleaching efficacy of 35% HP. However, dentifrices acted as a preventive agent against surface alteration from dental bleaching (BG, SF, and AR) or red wine (SF). Dentifrices can decrease (CHI) or increase (AR and SF) staining by red wine.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (16) ◽  
pp. 1105-1115
Author(s):  
Shuqing Wu ◽  
Xin Cui ◽  
Shaoyu Zhang ◽  
Wenqi Tian ◽  
Jiazhen Liu ◽  
...  

Aim: This real-world data study investigated the economic burden and associated factors of readmissions for cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSFL) post-cranial, transsphenoidal, or spinal index surgeries. Methods: Costs of CSFL readmissions and index hospitalizations during 2014–2018 were collected. Readmission cost was measured as absolute cost and as percentage of index hospitalization cost. Factors associated with readmission cost were explored using generalized linear models. Results: Readmission cost averaged US$2407–6106, 35–94% of index hospitalization cost. Pharmacy costs were the leading contributor. Generalized linear models showed transsphenoidal index surgery and surgical treatment for CSFL were associated with higher readmission costs. Conclusion: CSFL readmissions are a significant economic burden in China. Factors associated with higher readmission cost should be monitored.


1989 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 413-416
Author(s):  
Gerald Van Belle ◽  
Sue Leurgans ◽  
Pat Friel ◽  
Sunwei Guo ◽  
Mark Yerby

2021 ◽  
pp. 096228022110082
Author(s):  
Yang Li ◽  
Wei Ma ◽  
Yichen Qin ◽  
Feifang Hu

Concerns have been expressed over the validity of statistical inference under covariate-adaptive randomization despite the extensive use in clinical trials. In the literature, the inferential properties under covariate-adaptive randomization have been mainly studied for continuous responses; in particular, it is well known that the usual two-sample t-test for treatment effect is typically conservative. This phenomenon of invalid tests has also been found for generalized linear models without adjusting for the covariates and are sometimes more worrisome due to inflated Type I error. The purpose of this study is to examine the unadjusted test for treatment effect under generalized linear models and covariate-adaptive randomization. For a large class of covariate-adaptive randomization methods, we obtain the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic under the null hypothesis and derive the conditions under which the test is conservative, valid, or anti-conservative. Several commonly used generalized linear models, such as logistic regression and Poisson regression, are discussed in detail. An adjustment method is also proposed to achieve a valid size based on the asymptotic results. Numerical studies confirm the theoretical findings and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed adjustment method.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1211
Author(s):  
Li-Te Lin ◽  
Kuan-Hao Tsui

The relationship between serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels has not been fully established. Therefore, we performed a large-scale cross-sectional study to investigate the association between serum DHEA-S and AMH levels. The study included a total of 2155 infertile women aged 20 to 46 years who were divided into four quartile groups (Q1 to Q4) based on serum DHEA-S levels. We found that there was a weak positive association between serum DHEA-S and AMH levels in infertile women (r = 0.190, p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, serum DHEA-S levels positively correlated with serum AMH levels in infertile women (β = 0.103, p < 0.001). Infertile women in the highest DHEA-S quartile category (Q4) showed significantly higher serum AMH levels (p < 0.001) compared with women in the lowest DHEA-S quartile category (Q1). The serum AMH levels significantly increased across increasing DHEA-S quartile categories in infertile women (p = 0.014) using generalized linear models after adjustment for potential confounders. Our data show that serum DHEA-S levels are positively associated with serum AMH levels.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-112
Author(s):  
Richard Larouche ◽  
Nimesh Patel ◽  
Jennifer L. Copeland

The role of infrastructure in encouraging transportation cycling in smaller cities with a low prevalence of cycling remains unclear. To investigate the relationship between the presence of infrastructure and transportation cycling in a small city (Lethbridge, AB, Canada), we interviewed 246 adults along a recently-constructed bicycle boulevard and two comparison streets with no recent changes in cycling infrastructure. One comparison street had a separate multi-use path and the other had no cycling infrastructure. Questions addressed time spent cycling in the past week and 2 years prior and potential socio-demographic and psychosocial correlates of cycling, including safety concerns. Finally, we asked participants what could be done to make cycling safer and more attractive. We examined predictors of cycling using gender-stratified generalized linear models. Women interviewed along the street with a separate path reported cycling more than women on the other streets. A more favorable attitude towards cycling and greater habit strength were associated with more cycling in both men and women. Qualitative data revealed generally positive views about the bicycle boulevard, a need for education about sharing the road and for better cycling infrastructure in general. Our results suggest that, even in smaller cities, cycling infrastructure may encourage cycling, especially among women.


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