scholarly journals Assessing the genetic structure of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in Romania

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-26
Author(s):  
Mihai Fedorca ◽  
◽  
Ovidiu Ionescu ◽  
Neculae Șofletea ◽  
Ancuța Fedorca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Tetrao Urogallus ◽  
Mountain Regions ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Expected Heterozygosity ◽  
European Mountain

Romania holds the most extensive mountain range with oldgrowth forests, in which both habitat surface and capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) numbers are ones of the highest in Central and Eastern Europe. While previous genetic studies have found that the individuals located in different European mountain ranges are isolated and have highlighted that the species is declining. Here, we are aiming to assess the genetic structure of capercaillie in Romania by genotyping 137 samples collected in the field with 9 STR markers. Expected heterozygosity was 0.586, whereas observed heterozygosity values were 0.859. Population structure analyses indicated weak population differentiation and suggested that sufficient gene flow exists among individuals sampled in different mountain regions. We did not find evidence for a past genetic bottleneck. Our findings contain important information to wildlife managers to focus conservation efforts in areas such as Curvature Carpathians, which serve as a connectivity corridor to avoid eroding the extent or quality of habitat and to prevent further fragmentation.

scholarly journals Genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure in populations of Orbignya phalerata Mart. under different exploitation intensities in the Brazilian savanna

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 201-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruna Ibanes ◽  
A.M. Sebbenn ◽  
V.C.R. Azevedo ◽  
M.A. Moreno ◽  
F.B. Gandara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Spatial Distance ◽  
Null Alleles ◽  
Fixation Index ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Expected Heterozygosity ◽  
Adult Trees ◽  
Diversity Structure

Abstract Genetic studies in tropical tree species have found signs of decreased genetic diversity and increased levels of inbreeding and spatial genetic structure (SGS) in fragmented and exploited populations. The aim of this paper was to investigate genetic diversity, structure, and intrapopulation SGS using eight microsatellite loci for three Orbignya phalerata populations that have undergone different intensities of seed harvesting. From each population, we georeferenced and sampled 30 seedlings, 30 juveniles, and 30 adult trees. The total number of alleles over all loci (k), and observed (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) presented lower values for the population experiencing more intense fruit harvesting than less heavily exploited populations, suggesting that fruit harvesting may decrease genetic diversity. Null alleles were detected in practically all loci among seedlings, juveniles, and adults in all populations, indicating that the estimates of Ho, He, and fixation index (F) are biased. When corrected for null alleles (FNull), the fixation index decreased for all samples, resulting in significantly higher than zero results for seedlings of all populations, but not for juveniles and adults of all populations. The comparison of FNull values between cohorts in the most heavily exploited population (ESP) suggests that inbred individuals are eliminated between seedling and adult stages. Significant SGS was detected up to 60 m in all populations, which indicates short distance seed dispersal. Genetic differentiation (G’ST) between pairwise populations was related to spatial distance between populations, with the greatest difference between more distant populations.

Between the Czech Krkonoše and the German Riesengebirge: Nationalism and Tourism in the Giant Mountains, 1880s–1930s

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Stanislav Holubec
Keyword(s):  
Nazi Germany ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Ethnic Conflicts ◽  
Central European ◽  
European Mountain ◽  
The Alps

Abstract The article deals with Czech and German nationalist discourses and practices in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as they relate to tourism in the Krkonoše/Riesengebirge, the highest Central European mountain range between the Alps and Scandinavia. It will discuss the discourses developed in relation to mountain tourism and nationalism (metaphors of battlefields, wedges, walls, gates, and bastions), different symbolical cores of mountains, and practices of tourist and nationalist organizations (tourist trails and markings, excursions, the ownership of mountains huts, languages used, memorials, and the construction of roads). It will examine how these discourses and practices changed from the first Czech-German ethnic conflicts in the 1800s until the end of interwar Czechoslovakia. Finally, it will discuss the Czech culture of defeat in the shadow of the Munich Agreement, which meant the occupation of the Giant Mountains by Nazi Germany.

scholarly journals The Genetic History of France

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aude Saint Pierre ◽  
Joanna Giemza ◽  
Matilde Karakachoff ◽  
Isabel Alves ◽  
Philippe Amouyel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Migration Routes ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Independent Population ◽  
Genome Wide Data ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Exhaustive Study

ABSTRACTThe study of the genetic structure of different countries within Europe has provided significant insights into their demographic history and their actual stratification. Although France occupies a particular location at the end of the European peninsula and at the crossroads of migration routes, few population genetic studies have been conducted so far with genome-wide data. In this study, we analyzed SNP-chip genetic data from 2 184 individuals born in France who were enrolled in two independent population cohorts. Using FineStructure, six different genetic clusters of individuals were found that were very consistent between the two cohorts. These clusters match extremely well the geography and overlap with historical and linguistic divisions of France. By modeling the relationship between genetics and geography using EEMS software, we were able to detect gene flow barriers that are similar in the two cohorts and corresponds to major French rivers or mountains. Estimations of effective population sizes using IBDNe program also revealed very similar patterns in both cohorts with a rapid increase of effective population sizes over the last 150 generations similar to what was observed in other European countries. A marked bottleneck is also consistently seen in the two datasets starting in the fourteenth century when the Black Death raged in Europe. In conclusion, by performing the first exhaustive study of the genetic structure of France, we fill a gap in the genetic studies in Europe that would be useful to medical geneticists but also historians and archeologists.

scholarly journals GENOMIC DETERMINATION OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FATHER LINES OF SLOVAK PINZGAU COWS

AGROFOR ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika KUKUČKOVÁ ◽  
Nina MORAVČÍKOVÁ ◽  
Radovan KASARDA
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
The State ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Pedigree Data ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
Expected Heterozygosity ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Bayesian Approach

The aim of this study was to assess genetic structure of Slovak Pinzgau populationbased on polymorphism at molecular markers using statistical methods. Femaleoffspring of 12 most frequently used bulls in Slovak Pinzgau breeding programmewere investigated. Pinzgau cattle were found to have a high level of diversity,supported by the number of alleles observed across loci (average 5.31, range 2-11)and by the high within-breed expected heterozygosity (average 0.66, range 0.64-0.73). The state of genetic diversity is satisfying and standard for local populations.Detection of 12 possible subpopulation structures provided us with detailedinformation of the genetic structure. The Bayesian approach was applied, detectingthree, as the most probable number of clusters. The similarity of eachsubpopulation using microsatellites was confirmed also by high-throughputmolecular data. The observed inbreeding (FROH=2.3%) was higher than thatexpected based on pedigree data (FPED=0.4%) due to the limited number ofavailable generations in pedigree data. One of the most important steps indevelopment of efficient autochthonous breed protection programs ischaracterization of genetic variability and assessment of the population structure.The chosen set of microsatellites confirmed the suitability in determination of thesubpopulations of Pinzgau cattle in Slovakia. The state of genetic diversity at moredetailed level was successfully performed using bovineSNP50 BeadChip.

scholarly journals Are interest groups different in the factors determining landscape preferences?

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Bacher ◽  
Janette F. Walde ◽  
Caroline Pecher ◽  
Erich Tasser ◽  
Ulrike Tappeiner
Keyword(s):  
Public Involvement ◽  
Landscape Planning ◽  
Rural Landscape ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Mountain Regions ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
European Mountain ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Indispensable Tool ◽  
Sustainable Landscape

In the last decades, rural landscape in Europe has evolved from an agricultural by-product to an important public good. This development creates not only new challenges to farming practices, it also makes participation and public involvement an indispensable tool for sustainable landscape planning. This is especially true for many European mountain regions, where tourism represents an important source of income and conflicts between locals’ and tourists’ interests should be avoided. In our study, we analyze whether discrepancies in the perception of the Alpine landscape can be located between locals and tourists and, if these differences exist, in which aspects these two groups are differing. A model employing three general factors able to describe landscape preferences regardless of the personal background is suggested and validated by confirmatory factor analysis. Our major finding shows that an attractive landscape for tourists does not have to be contradictory to a landscape that supports a high living quality for locals. Compromises in landscape planning between locals’ and tourists’ requirements seem often not to be necessary as they, generally, do not differ in the way they experience and assess the  landscape.

scholarly journals Possible ecologically based ways of preserving and developing the Ukrainian Carpathians

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-163
Author(s):  
V. І. Nikolaichuk ◽  
M. М. Vakerich ◽  
M. V. Bilkey ◽  
O. P. Chechuy ◽  
I. Voloshchuk
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
The Carpathians

Ukraine has transformed into one of the most environmentally dangerous countries in the world due to the high concentration of industrial production and agriculture and predatory use of natural resources. The current ecological situation in Ukraine is characterized by a deep ecological crisis, which is caused by the laws of operation of the command economy of the former USSR. The majority of the environmental and social indicators of Ukraine are among the worst in Europe. The Carpathian Mountains are among the most significant and interesting landscapes in Europe from the geological and geomorphological, scenic and biological perspectives. The giant arc of the Carpathians begins in southern Romania and passes through Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to Austria, crosses all Eastern and Central Europe. A third of the forest reserves of Ukraine are located in the Ukrainian Carpathians, at 53.5% the percentage of forest cover of the area is among the highest in the country. About 50% of the gene pool of Ukraine’s plants, many species of trees and medicinal plants grows there. The geographical location and large area of the rich natural heritage of the Carpathians have multifaceted importance for the conservation of biological, phytocoenotic and landscape diversity and maintaining the ecological balance in the central part of our continent. As with the Alps mountain range, this is an important ecological corridor between Western, Central and Eastern Europe, which promotes the migration of species and their spread into lowland landscapes. In order to preserve biodiversity an inventory of virgin forest ecosystems should be made and strict measures for their protection should be enforced. It is necessary to continue the practice of establishing bilateral areas in cross-border protected areas in order to combine efforts to solve pressing environmental challenges. Conservation of the Carpathians Biodiversity is an urgent problem. Structural changes in the economy of the region are expected to strengthen the recreational value of the Ukrainian Carpathians for the public not only in our country but also in Central and Eastern Europe, reducing the technogenic loading. International cooperation of all countries of the Carpathian region is imperative. The development of tourism in the Carpathians is highly promising, but this should be civilized tourism, taking into account the environmental sustainability of the recreational areas and protected areas. 

scholarly journals The role of Central American barriers in shaping the evolutionary history of the northernmost glassfrog,Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni(Anura: Centrolenidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Mendoza ◽  
Wilmar Bolívar-García ◽  
Ella Vázquez-Domínguez ◽  
Roberto Ibáñez ◽  
Gabriela Parra Olea
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Central America ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Central American ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Biogeographic History ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

The complex geological history of Central America has been useful for understanding the processes influencing the distribution and diversity of multiple groups of organisms. Anurans are an excellent choice for such studies because they typically exhibit site fidelity and reduced movement. The objective of this work was to identify the impact of recognized geographic barriers on the genetic structure, phylogeographic patterns and divergence times of a wide-ranging amphibian species,Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni. We amplified three mitochondrial regions, two coding (COI and ND1) and one ribosomal (16S), in samples collected from the coasts of Veracruz and Guerrero in Mexico to the humid forests of Chocó in Ecuador. We examined the biogeographic history of the species through spatial clustering analyses (Geneland and sPCA), Bayesian and maximum likelihood reconstructions, and spatiotemporal diffusion analysis. Our data suggest a Central American origin ofH. fleischmanniand two posterior independent dispersals towards North and South American regions. The first clade comprises individuals from Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and the sister speciesHyalinobatrachium tatayoi; this clade shows little structure, despite the presence of the Andes mountain range and the long distances between sampling sites. The second clade consists of individuals from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and eastern Honduras with no apparent structure. The third clade includes individuals from western Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico and displays deep population structure. Herein, we synthesize the impact of known geographic areas that act as barriers to glassfrog dispersal and demonstrated their effect of differentiatingH. fleischmanniinto three markedly isolated clades. The observed genetic structure is associated with an initial dispersal event from Central America followed by vicariance that likely occurred during the Pliocene. The southern samples are characterized by a very recent population expansion, likely related to sea-level and climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene, whereas the structure of the northern clade has probably been driven by dispersal through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and isolation by the Motagua–Polochic–Jocotán fault system and the Mexican highlands.

scholarly journals [Re]covering Jeddah’s Wadis – Building the City’s Resilience through Green Infrastructure

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Hanaa Motasim
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Rain Water ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Water Drainage ◽  
Severe Damage ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Natural Flow ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The City ◽  
Green Corridors

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s largest coastal city, is positioned between two prominent natural features: the mountain range on its eastern side and the Red Sea on its west. The city faces many challenges central to which is storm water drainage. The natural drainage of the city through its pre-existing wadis, bringing down the rain water from the steep mountain ranges through the low inclining coastal plane and into the sea, has been interrupted in the last few decades by massive road infrastructural projects cutting through the city and interrupting the natural flow. The outcome of these interventions has been excessive flooding calamities, of which the ones in 2009 and 2011 were the most extreme, causing severe damage to infrastructure, property and lives.In light of climate change the intensity of flash floods is expected to increase, placing enormous stress on the city. To control the floods the city has pushed forward heavily engineered solutions, canalizing the rich network of wadis, almost 80 in number, into 4 major concrete channels that discharge the rain water accumulated in the mountains directly into the sea. This solution, which has been prohibitive in cost, has robbed the city of any potential of utilizing the precious supply of rain water. This paper explores the potential of recovering Jeddah’s wadis and creating green corridors across the city. As opposed to engineered solutions which address singular problematics, green infrastructures could provide numerous benefits to the city and the region as a whole.

Simulations of Föhn in Antarctica with WRF for the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System AMPS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie Kirchgaessner ◽  
John King ◽  
Alan Gadian ◽  
Phil Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Prediction System ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Ice Shelf ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Surface Melt ◽  
Mixed Phase Clouds ◽  
The Antarctic

<p>We examine the representation of Föhn events across the Antarctic Peninsula Mountains during 2011 as they were observed in measurements by an Automatic Weather Station, and in simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) as run for the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS). On the Larsen Ice Shelf (LIS) in the lee of this mountain range Föhn winds are thought to provide the atmospheric conditions for significant warming over the ice shelf thus leading to the initial firn densification and subsequently providing the melt water for hydrofracturing. This process has led to the dramatic collapse of huge parts of the LIS in 1995 and 2002 respectively.</p><p>Measurements obtained at a crest AWS on the Avery Plateau (AV), and the analysis of conditions upstream using the Froude number help to put observations at CP into a wider context. We find that, while the model generally simulates meteorological parameters very well, and shows good skills in capturing the occurrence, frequency and duration of Föhn events realistically, it underestimates the temperature increase and the humidity decrease during the Föhn significantly, and may thus underestimate the contribution of Föhn to driving surface melt on the LIS.</p><p>Our results indicate that the misrepresentation of cloud properties and particularly the absence of mixed phase clouds in AMPS, affects the quality of weather simulation under normal conditions to some extent, and to a larger extent the model’s capability to simulate the strength of Föhn conditions - and thus their contribution to driving surface melt on the LIS - adequately. Most importantly our data show that Föhn conditions can raise the air temperature to above freezing, and thus trigger melt/sublimation even in winter.</p>

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