scholarly journals The eradication of Asian longhorned beetle at Paddock Wood, UK

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Eyre ◽  
Jane Barbrook
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽  
Asian Longhorned Beetle ◽  
Public Meetings ◽  
Outbreak Area ◽  
Pheromone Trapping ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Standing Trees ◽  
Important Host

AbstractIn March 2012, an outbreak of Anoplophora glabripennis was detected at Paddock Wood, Kent, UK. The epicentre of the outbreak was adjacent to a site that a company had used for storing imported stone in wood packaging. An eradication campaign was initiated involving the agencies responsible for plant health and forestry in England and Wales. The area was initially surveyed by visual inspection of standing trees from the ground and 24 infested trees were detected. This method was more effective for detecting trees with A. glabripennis exit holes than trees at an early stage of infestation. A further 42 infested trees were detected when the infested trees and host trees within 100 m of them were felled and the felled material was inspected. The most important host tree species was Acer pseudoplatanus (43 of the 66 infested trees). Tree climbers inspected the trees between 100 and 300 m of infested trees three times. They found damage caused by native pests that it had not been possible to detect from the ground but no A. glabripennis. Other surveillance techniques used were the regular inspection of favoured host trees over a wide area and the planting and regular inspection of favoured host trees in the core of the outbreak area. Pheromone trapping and the use of detection dog teams were trialled during the outbreak. Public meetings, leaflet drops, press releases, television features and school visits were all used to communicate with local residents and other stakeholders. No A. glabripennis were detected after the initial removal of trees in 2012 and eradication was declared after seven years of surveillance in 2019. The outbreak was likely to have been present for 10 or 11 years, but population development is likely to have been limited by the sub-optimal climatic conditions, especially the UK’s relatively cool summers.

scholarly journals Predicting SARS-CoV-2 Weather-Induced Seasonal Virulence from Atmospheric Air Enthalpy

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 9059
Author(s):  
Angelo Spena ◽  
Leonardo Palombi ◽  
Massimo Corcione ◽  
Alessandro Quintino ◽  
Mariachiara Carestia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Specific Enthalpy ◽  
Atmospheric Air ◽  
Italian Provinces ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Risk Scale ◽  
Correlating Equation

Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several studies have examined the possibility of correlating the virulence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, to the climatic conditions of the involved sites; however, inconclusive results have been generally obtained. Although neither air temperature nor humidity can be independently correlated with virus viability, a strong relationship between SARS-CoV-2 virulence and the specific enthalpy of moist air appears to exist, as confirmed by extensive data analysis. Given this framework, the present study involves a detailed investigation based on the first 20–30 days of the epidemic before public health interventions in 30 selected Italian provinces with rather different climates, here assumed as being representative of what happened in the country from North to South, of the relationship between COVID-19 distributions and the climatic conditions recorded at each site before the pandemic outbreak. Accordingly, a correlating equation between the incidence rate at the early stage of the epidemic and the foregoing average specific enthalpy of atmospheric air was developed, and an enthalpy-based seasonal virulence risk scale was proposed to predict the potential danger of COVID-19 outbreak due to the persistence of weather conditions favorable to SARS-CoV-2 viability. As an early detection tool, an unambiguous risk chart expressed in terms of coupled temperatures and relative humidity (RH) values was provided, showing that safer conditions occur in the case of higher RHs at the highest temperatures, and of lower RHs at the lowest temperatures. Despite the complex determinism and dynamics of the pandemic and the related caveats, the restriction of the study to its early stage allowed the proposed risk scale to result in agreement with the available infectivity data highlighted in the literature for a number of cities around the world.

The involvement of the mitochondrial peroxiredoxin PRXIIF in defining physiological differences between orthodox and recalcitrant seeds of two Acer species

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewelina Ratajczak ◽  
Elke Ströher ◽  
Marie-Luise Oelze ◽  
Ewa M. Kalemba ◽  
Stanisława Pukacka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcript Level ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Initial Water Content ◽  
2D Electrophoresis ◽  
Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽  
Recalcitrant Seeds ◽  
Initial Water ◽  
Norway Maple ◽  
Physiological Differences

Norway maple (Acer platanoides L., orthodox) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L., recalcitrant) belong to the same genus and grow under similar climatic conditions, but their seeds differ in their tolerance to desiccation. The initial water content (WC) of the seeds used in this study was 50%, and they were dried to 40, 20 and 7%. The mitochondrial peroxiredoxin IIF (PRXIIF) was identified in seeds of both species by immunoblotting. Semiquantitative RT–PCR analyses indicated that the transcript level of PRXIIF in both types of seeds increased during different stages of desiccation and was higher in seeds of Norway maple than in sycamore. General proteome analyses showed important differences between orthodox and recalcitrant seeds. In sycamore seeds that had been desiccated to a 7% WC, the number of protein spots and the levels of those spots were lower than in desiccation-tolerant Norway maple seeds. Post-translational modifications of PRXIIF in seeds at a 50% WC were detected via 2D electrophoresis and subsequent western blot analysis. The detected shift in the pI values (± 0.3) in A. pseudoplatanus was possibly caused by phosphorylation because several potential phosphorylation sites were predicted in silico for that protein. The gene and amino acid sequences were obtained and aligned with known sequences of other plant PRXIIF genes and proteins. High values of sequence identity were noted between the PRXIIF protein sequences of Acer species, Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. The involvement of PRXIIF in defining the physiological differences between desiccation-tolerant and desiccation-sensitive Acer seeds is discussed in the context of its role in mitochondrial redox homeostasis.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Carbon Footprint Assessments, Case Study of Malaysian Housing Sector

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1003-1017
Author(s):  
Syed Shujaa Safdar Gardezi ◽  
Nasir Shafiq ◽  
Ishtiaq Hassan ◽  
M. Usman Arshid
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Housing Sector ◽  
Complete Life Cycle ◽  
Housing Units

Abstract The ever-increasing concentration of Carbon footprint into the environment has drastically changed the climatic conditions. Among many anthropogenic activities, the housing sector remains one of the major contributors. However, a complete assessment of these environmental impacts throughout the life cycle still remains an area of concern. Most of the study does not assess the impacts by each phase of lifecycle. The current work presents a complete approach for carbon footprint assessment including planning, construction, operational, maintenance and dismantling & dispose-off phase. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with boundary limitations of ‘cradle to grave’ was adopted. Thirteen housing units were selected as case study. These included detached, semi-detached and terraced types of construction. Selected units were developed in a virtual environment using Building Information Modeling (BIM). The study observed the average contribution range from 1.48 tons-CO2/yr to 2.85 tons-CO2/yr. On individual basis, the execution phase dominated the five phases with almost 43 %. The operational phase shared 39 % followed by maintenance (15 %), dismantling & dispose-off (1.8 %) and planning at the last (1.5 %). The categorization of environmental impact into embodied and operational carbon footprint observed the embodied part in dominance. A strong positive relationship between the area of housing units and resulting carbon impact was also observed. The work presents one of few environmental studies for a tropical housing sector assessing complete life cycle. The study provides a vital guideline to the designers for ensuring a sustainable environment by assessing and opting less carbon intensive options at early stage of planning and design.

scholarly journals Forstliche Schadorganismen im Zeichen des Klimawandels | Effects of climate change on forest pests and diseases

2008 ◽  
Vol 159 (10) ◽  
pp. 344-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Engesser ◽  
Beat Forster ◽  
Franz Meier ◽  
Beat Wermelinger
Keyword(s):  
Bark Beetles ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Development Scenarios ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Winter Temperatures ◽  
Harmful Species

The predicted increase in temperature, dry summers, and extreme meteorological events will affect many harmful species both by directly accelerating their propagation rates as well as by weakening their host plants. There might also be shifts in the interrelations in species communities that can hardly be predicted. Some fungal species, that had previously been inconspicuous, caused notable damages in the drought periods of the last two decades. Higher winter temperatures often increase the survival rates of many fungal and insect species. Because hot and dry summers are likely to become more frequent and heavy storms tend to occur more often, an increase in massive outbreaks of bark beetles with corresponding damage is to be expected. As a result of global trade, more invasive alien fungi and insects are introduced into Europe where the climatic conditions become more favorable for them to establish themselves on native or introduced host trees. Insects and diseases can have a profound impact on forest dynamics. Therefore, these disturbances must be included in the discussion of future tree species composition and of forest development scenarios.

scholarly journals Investigations on the detectability of water intruding into bridge deck sealings by electrical resistivity measurements

2018 ◽  
Vol 199 ◽  
pp. 06005
Author(s):  
Carla Driessen ◽  
Michael Raupach
Keyword(s):  
Bridge Deck ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Textile Reinforced Concrete ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Resistivity Measurements ◽  
Joint Research Project ◽  
Measuring Field ◽  
Measured Resistivity ◽  
A Current

In the context of a current joint research project a monitoring system to detect leakages in bridges is implemented by using a textile reinforced concrete interlayer which consists of two carbon meshes with a spacing of 15 mm and a new developed mortar. Between the two carbon meshes the resistivity is measured with alternating current. If a leakage in the bridge deck sealing occurs and water gets into the interlayer a drop in the measured resistivity occurs and the leakage is detected. In this case repair measures can be carried out in an early stage or a preventive cathodic protection can be switched on. To assess which sizes of leakages are detectable under which boundary conditions, laboratory tests and tests on a 100 m2 outdoor demonstrator were carried out. Therefore leakages were artificially produced and the changes in the measured resistivity values were observed under different climatic conditions. Impacts such as the form of the leakages or the position of the leakages in the measuring field were varied.

Use of district metered areas coupled with pressure optimisation to reduce leakage

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bambos Charalambous
Keyword(s):  
Water Loss ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Water Losses

Water shortage and the future threat posed by changing climatic conditions has intensified the need for the development of appropriate water management approaches, which aim at keeping a balance between water supply and demand. Losses from water distribution systems must be of concern to every water utility, especially in areas of our planet where water is found in very limited quantities. It is therefore imperative that water utilities apply simple and effective methodologies in accounting for water losses from their transmission and distribution systems. The Water Loss Task Force (WLTF) of the International Water Association (IWA) has established a water audit method, which traces water from its source right through the system and derives at the end the revenue and non-revenue component, in other words is a methodology for water accountability and an integrated approach to water loss control. The Water Board of Lemesos, Cyprus recognised at a very early stage the importance and significance of establishing a proper water audit system and has over the years developed its infrastructure in such a way in order to be able to account efficiently and accurately for all water produced. Reduction and control of water loss was achieved through the application of a holistic strategy based on the approach developed by the WLTF of the IWA. Integral part of this approach is the establishment and operation of DMAs.

CLIMATE IN RELATION TO WINTER MORTALITY OF THE LODGEPOLE NEEDLE MINER, RECURVARIA STARKI FREE., IN CANADIAN ROCKY MOUNTAIN PARKS

1959 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 753-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Stark
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Winter Climate ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
The North ◽  
Outbreak Area ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Winter Temperatures ◽  
Main Circulation

Four major air masses, tropical maritime (mT), polar maritime (mP), arctic maritime (mA), and arctic continental (cA) may be used in describing the winter climate of a lodgepole needle miner (Recurvaria starki Free.) outbreak area. The main circulation is from the north and west which results in a predominance of mP and cA air. Local topography and its effect on winter climate is described for four areas now sampled on a life-table basis. Variations in winter mortality from year to year and between sampling areas are related to climate. Extensive invasions of cA air, particularly of long duration, cause lethal winter temperatures. Winter mortality usually occurs during the coldest month, January, and may be exceptionally high when extreme minima of −30° F to −40° F persist long enough to depress the monthly mean temperature close to O° F. However, less extreme temperatures in other months may result in similar high mortalities if these are unseasonably low. The climatic conditions causing high mortality generally occur at the tops of slopes and at valley bottoms, allowing the middle slopes to serve as "refuge areas" for surviving needle miner populations.

scholarly journals Changes in Proline Levels during Seed Development of Orthodox and Recalcitrant Seeds of Genus Acer in a Climate Change Scenario

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1362
Author(s):  
Joanna Kijowska-Oberc ◽  
Aleksandra M. Staszak ◽  
Mikołaj K. Wawrzyniak ◽  
Ewelina Ratajczak
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Seed Development ◽  
Desiccation Tolerance ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Proline Content ◽  
Change Scenario ◽  
Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽  
Recalcitrant Seeds ◽  
Seed Desiccation

In the present study, we examined the utility of proline usage as a biochemical indicator of metabolic changes caused by climate change (mean temperature and precipitation) during seed development of two Acer species differing in desiccation tolerance: Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.—desiccation tolerant—orthodox) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.—desiccation sensitive—recalcitrant). In plants, proline is an element of the antioxidant system, which has a role in response to water loss and high temperatures. Our study considered whether proline could be treated as an indicator of tree seed viability, crucial for genetic resources conservation. Proline content was measured biweekly in developing seeds (between 11 and 23 weeks after flowering) collected in consecutive years (2017, 2018, and 2019). We showed that proline concentrations in recalcitrant seeds were positively correlated with mean two-week temperature. In contrast, in orthodox seeds no such relationship was found. Proline content proved to be sensitive to thermal-moisture conditions changes, which makes it a promising biochemical marker of seed desiccation tolerance in different climatic conditions.

Development sites and early stages of eleven species of Clusiidae (Diptera) occurring in Europe

Zootaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3619 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
GRAHAM E ROTHERAY ◽  
DAVID HORSFIELD
Keyword(s):  
Dead Wood ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Inverted Position ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Head Skeleton ◽  
Tree Specificity ◽  
Eleven Species

Two hundred and ninety-six rearing records of 11 clusiid species (Diptera, Clusiidae) were obtained from 8 tree species in England, Finland, France, Norway, Russiaand Scotland, mainly during the period 1994 to 2004. Larvae and puparia were found between annual layers of whitewood (sapwood and heartwood) of wet, decay-softened, dead wood. Levels of host tree specificity were low, most species were reared from 2–4 host trees, maximum 6. The clusiid larva is distinguished by: a small, translucent head skeleton with an obliquely-shaped apex to the artium; a pseudocephalon fixed in an inverted position except for an external, flattened section bearing the antennomaxillary organs; a spherical prothorax with a truncate rim embedded with sensilla and, a wedge-shaped anal segment bearing a pair of conspicuous, sclerotised, red-brown hooks on the inner margins of which are the posterior spiracular plates. Many of these features support a distinctive feeding mechanism, spot-sucking of biofilm coating wet, decaying whitewood. Early stage characters support the results of recent supraspecific taxonomic and systematic investigations, such as the synonymy of Paraclusia Czerny under Clusia Haliday and the recognition of species groups in Clusiodes Coquillett. Based on early stages, supraspecific clusiid taxa are easily recognised but at species level, differences are relatively fine-grained and minor. A key is provided to identify puparia of species reared in this study.

scholarly journals A new high-resolution pollen sequence at Lake Van, Turkey: Insights into penultimate interglacial-glacial climate change on vegetation history

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Pickarski ◽  
Thomas Litt
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Oxygen Isotope ◽  
Vegetation History ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Atmospheric Co2 ◽  
Lake Van ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Pollen Records

Abstract. A new detailed pollen and oxygen isotope record of the penultimate interglacial-glacial cycle, corresponding to the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 7–6 (c. 242.5–131.2 ka before present), has been generated from the "Ahlat Ridge" (AR) sediment core at Lake Van, Turkey. The presented record displays the highest temporal resolution for this interval with a mean sampling interval of ~ 540 years. Integration of all available proxies shows three intervals of effective moisture, evidenced by the predominance of forested landscapes (oak-pine steppe forest), which can be correlated with MIS 7e, 7c, and 7a. The warmest stage in terms of highest temperate tree percentages is MIS 7c, while the amplitude of MIS 7e appears to be truncated by a shift to colder/drier climatic conditions. The detailed comparison between the penultimate interglacial complex (MIS 7) to the last interglacial (Eemian, MIS 5e) and the current interglacial (Holocene, MIS 1) provides a vivid illustration of possible differences of successive climatic cycles. Intervening periods of open steppe landscape correlate with MIS 7d and 7a, favouring local erosion and detrital sedimentation. The predominance of steppe elements during MIS 7d indicates very cold/dry climatic conditions. In contrast, the occurrence of more temperate tree percentages throughout MIS 7b points to relatively mild conditions, in agreement with atmospheric CO2 concentration and oxygen isotope records. Despite the general dominance of dry/cold desert-steppe vegetation during the penultimate glacial (MIS 6), this period can be divided into two parts: an early stage (c. 193–157 ka BP) with pronounced oscillations in tree percentages, and a later stage (c. 157–131 ka BP) with lower tree percentages and subdued oscillations. The occurring vegetation pattern is analogous to the MIS 3 to MIS 2 division during the last glacial in the same sedi–159 ka BP) as described in marine pollen records, which indicates cooler but relatively wetter climate conditions during the penultimate glacial. In comparison with long European pollen records, speleothem isotope records from the Near East, and global climate parameters (e.g., insolation, atmospheric CO2 content), the new high-resolution Lake Van record presents an improved insight into regional vegetation dynamics and climate variability in the eastern Mediterranean region.

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