scholarly journals The influence of environmental variables on spatial and temporal phytoplankton dissimilarity in a large shallow subtropical lake (Lake Mangueira, southern Brazil)

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciane Oliveira Crossetti ◽  
Fabiana Schneck ◽  
Lacina Maria Freitas-Teixeira ◽  
David da Motta-Marques

AIM: The uneven distribution of organisms in aquatic ecosystems is generally attributed to environmental heterogeneity in both space and time, reflecting the occurrence of appropriate environmental conditions and the availability of resources to biological communities. The aim of this study was to understand how the dissimilarity of the phytoplankton community in a large subtropical shallow lake is related to environmental dissimilarities. METHODS: Biotic and environmental data were gathered at 19 sites along the 90-km length of Lake Mangueira. Sampling was carried out quarterly during 2010 and 2011, totaling 152 sampling units. The relationship between phytoplankton dissimilarity and the dissimilarity of environmental variables was assessed by the BioEnv analysis. MAJOR RESULTS: There is a significant relationship between phytoplankton dissimilarity and environmental dissimilarity. The model that best explained the dissimilarity of phytoplankton among the sampling units included pH, turbidity and nitrate. CONCLUSIONS: The dissimilarity of phytoplankton was related to the dissimilarity, which were directly associated to the variability of conditions and resources in space and time in Lake Mangueira.

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Rogelio Rodríguez-Flores ◽  
Javier Carmona-Jiménez

<p><strong>Background</strong><strong>:</strong> Several studies of lotic ecosystems have provided important ecological information on the influence of environmental heterogeneity on macroscopic algae composition.</p><p><strong>Hypothesis</strong><strong>:</strong> The highest species diversity will occur during the cold-dry season, correlated to low temperature and oligothrophic water, while the distribution of each species will be related to heterogeneity of habitat and its dispersal strategies.</p><p><strong>Studied species</strong><strong>:</strong> Twenty-two species of macroscopic algae of different Phyla (Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria, Heterokontophyta and Rhodophyta).</p><p><strong>Study site</strong><strong>:</strong> The macroscopic algae composition was described for 35 permanent mountain streams in the Basin of Mexico from 2012 to 2015.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong><strong>:</strong> Algae species, physico-chemical water conditions and microhabitat factors were recorded <em>in situ</em> at each contrasting season. The relationship between diversity and the environmental factors was statistically evaluated by Canonical Correspondence Analysis and a Spearman test. </p><p><strong>Results</strong><strong>:</strong> Macroscopic algae recorded had biological features and environmental abilities that separated them into two groups. The first included the most frequent and abundant species: <em>Nostoc parmelioides, Placoma regulare, Prasiola mexicana</em> and <em>Vaucheria bursata</em>. The second included species restricted to certain habitats:  <em>Draparnaldia mutabilis, Tetraspora gelatinosa</em>, <em>Batrachospermum gelatinosum </em>and <em>Paralemanea mexicana</em>. Each Phyla responds differentially to the spatial heterogeneity of the streams, but the species does not change between contrasting seasons.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong><strong>:</strong> Local and spatial environmental variables explain differences in richness and distribution of species on the studied area; however, species composition does not vary widely among sampling sites. Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta are more affected by local environmental variables, whereas Rhodophyta is more influenced by spatial variables.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 284 ◽  
pp. 01002
Author(s):  
Junshuang Yu

Rivers can shape diverse landscapes, determine the spatial connectivity of river and terrestrial life, and provide a variety of resources and services. Rivers are often over-bound due to the need for flood control and irrigation. Rivers affected by human disturbance often require restoration to improve the ecosystem services they provide. Environmental heterogeneity is generally considered to be the non-uniform variation of environmental elements in space and/or time. The relationship between variability in physical characteristics of restored rivers and biological communities in the river environment is a highly complex feedback, and studying and summarising changes in environmental heterogeneity following river restoration can help refine methodologies for monitoring river restoration outcomes. This study highlights the variability in river geomorphology and river ecology, and demonstrates the feasibility and necessity of incorporating environmental heterogeneity indicators into river restoration outcome evaluation systems at three levels: hydrological, geomorphological and ecological.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek K Kala ◽  
Chetan Tiwari ◽  
Armin R Mikler ◽  
Samuel F Atkinson

Background. The primary aim of the study reported here was to determine the effectiveness of utilizing local spatial variations in environmental data to uncover the statistical relationships between West Nile Virus (WNV) risk and environmental factors. Because least squares regression methods do not account for spatial autocorrelation and non-stationarity of the type of spatial data analyzed for studies that explore the relationship between WNV and environmental determinants, we hypothesized that a geographically weighted regression model would help us better understand how environmental factors are related to WNV risk patterns without the confounding effects of spatial non-stationarity. Methods. We examined commonly mapped environmental factors using both ordinary least squares regression (LSR) and geographically weighted regression (GWR). Both types of models were applied to examine the relationship between WNV-infected dead bird counts and various environmental factors for those locations. The goal was to determine which approach yielded a better predictive model. Results. LSR efforts lead to identifying three environmental variables that were statistically significantly related to WNV infected dead birds (adjusted R2=0.61): stream density, road density, and land surface temperature. GWR efforts increased the explanatory value of these three environmental variables with better spatial precision (adjusted R2 = 0.71). Conclusions. The spatial granularity resulting from the geographically weighted approach provides a better understanding of how environmental spatial heterogeneity is related to WNV risk as implied by WNV infected dead birds, which should allow improved planning of public health management strategies.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek K. Kala ◽  
Chetan Tiwari ◽  
Armin R. Mikler ◽  
Samuel F. Atkinson

BackgroundThe primary aim of the study reported here was to determine the effectiveness of utilizing local spatial variations in environmental data to uncover the statistical relationships between West Nile Virus (WNV) risk and environmental factors. Because least squares regression methods do not account for spatial autocorrelation and non-stationarity of the type of spatial data analyzed for studies that explore the relationship between WNV and environmental determinants, we hypothesized that a geographically weighted regression model would help us better understand how environmental factors are related to WNV risk patterns without the confounding effects of spatial non-stationarity.MethodsWe examined commonly mapped environmental factors using both ordinary least squares regression (LSR) and geographically weighted regression (GWR). Both types of models were applied to examine the relationship between WNV-infected dead bird counts and various environmental factors for those locations. The goal was to determine which approach yielded a better predictive model.ResultsLSR efforts lead to identifying three environmental variables that were statistically significantly related to WNV infected dead birds (adjustedR2 = 0.61): stream density, road density, and land surface temperature. GWR efforts increased the explanatory value of these three environmental variables with better spatial precision (adjustedR2 = 0.71).ConclusionsThe spatial granularity resulting from the geographically weighted approach provides a better understanding of how environmental spatial heterogeneity is related to WNV risk as implied by WNV infected dead birds, which should allow improved planning of public health management strategies.


2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 1353-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felippe A. Postuma ◽  
Maria A. Gasalla

AbstractPostuma, F. A., and Gasalla, M. A. 2010. On the relationship between squid and the environment: artisanal jigging for Loligo plei at São Sebastião Island (24°S), southeastern Brazil. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 1353–1362. The squid Loligo plei concentrates in the southeastern Brazil Bight, where it has traditionally supported small-scale fisheries around São Sebastião Island (SSI). Sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a (Chl a), windspeed, wave height, rainfall, and lunar phase are related to fishing records and to the results of a survey of local fishers to investigate how they believe environmental variables might affect catches of L. plei. Daily fishery-dependent data over the years 2005–2009 were obtained from a fishing cooperative and were matched with satellite and meteorological forecast data. Generalized linear models were used to explore the significance of environmental variables in relation to variability in catch and catch per unit effort (cpue). Squid are fished with jigs in water shallower than 20 m, generally where SST is warmer and Chl a and windspeed are lower. Cpue and monthly catches decreased from 2005 to 2008, followed by a slight increase in 2009. The correlations between fishery and environmental data relate well to fishers' oceanological knowledge, underscoring the potential of incorporating such knowledge into evaluations of the fishery.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
R. E. Muciño-Márquez ◽  
M. G. Figueroa-Torres ◽  
A. Esquivel-Herrera

Se determinó la estructura de la comunidad fitoplanctónica a lo largo de un ciclo nictemeral y su relación con las especies que forman Floraciones Algales Nocivas (FAN), en la boca de la laguna costera de Sontecomapan, Veracruz, durante los días 27 y 28 de octubre de 1999. Se recolectaron muestras de agua cada dos horas con una botella van Dorn para medir la temperatura, la salinidad, el pH, el oxígeno disuelto, la composición y la abundancia de la comunidad fitoplanctónica y se revisó el comportamiento de flujo y reflujo de la marea. Para describir el comportamiento de la comunidad se calculó el índice de dominancia simple, el de diversidad de Shannon (H´), equidad de Pielou (J`) y para comprender la relación de la abundancia de las especies del fitoplancton y las variables ambientales se aplicó un análisis de correspondencia canónica. Los resultados mostraron un total de 179 taxa, de los cuales 27 han sido reportadas como formadores de FAN en otros lugares. Los valores máximos de H´ = 5.8, J`= 0.9 se reportaron A las 11:00 horas de los días 27 y 28 y los mínimos de H´ = 3.79, J`= 0.6, a las 15:00 y las 23:00 horas del día 27. Con el índice de dominancia simple se determinó que Fragilaria exigua, F. tenuicollis, F. ulna var. ulna, Prorocentrum gracile y Scrippsiella trochoidea, fueron dominantes en el ciclo nictemeral. Cabe señalar que la salinidad fue la variable ambiental que más influyó en la composición y abundancia de la comunidad fitoplanctónica. Circadian variation of the phytoplankton community and its relationship to the species forming harmful algal blooms in the mouth of Sontecomapan coastal la- goon, Veracruz, Mexico We determined the structure of the phytoplankton community along a circadian cycle and its relation to species Harmful Algae Species (HAB), at the mouth of the coastal lagoon, Sontecomapan Veracruz, during the 27th and 28th of October, 1999. Water samples were collected every two hours employing a van Dorn bottle, to measure temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, the composition and abundance of phytoplankton community and reviewed the behavior of ebb and flow of tides. In order to describe the behavior of the community the following criteria were used: simple dominance index, the Shannon diversity (H ‘), the Pielou equity (J`) and a canonical correspondence analysis was applied to understand the relationship between the abundance of phytoplankton species and environmental variables. The results showed a total of 179 taxa, 27 of which form HAB elsewhere. At 11:00 hours on October 27 and 28 maximum values of H ‘= 5.8, J`= 0.9 are reported, the minimum of H’= 3.79, J`= 0.6 at 15:00 and 23:00 hours on October 27. With simple dominance index it was determined that Fragilaria exigua, F. tenuicollis, F. ulna var. ulna, Prorocentrum gracile, and Scrippsiella trochoidea, were dominant in the circadian cycle. It should be noted that salinity was the environmental factor which most influenced the composition and abundance of phytoplankton community.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek K Kala ◽  
Chetan Tiwari ◽  
Armin R Mikler ◽  
Samuel F Atkinson

Background. The primary aim of the study reported here was to determine the effectiveness of utilizing local spatial variations in environmental data to uncover the statistical relationships between West Nile Virus (WNV) risk and environmental factors. Because least squares regression methods do not account for spatial autocorrelation and non-stationarity of the type of spatial data analyzed for studies that explore the relationship between WNV and environmental determinants, we hypothesized that a geographically weighted regression model would help us better understand how environmental factors are related to WNV risk patterns without the confounding effects of spatial non-stationarity. Methods. We examined commonly mapped environmental factors using both ordinary least squares regression (LSR) and geographically weighted regression (GWR). Both types of models were applied to examine the relationship between WNV-infected dead bird counts and various environmental factors for those locations. The goal was to determine which approach yielded a better predictive model. Results. LSR efforts lead to identifying three environmental variables that were statistically significantly related to WNV infected dead birds (adjusted R2=0.61): stream density, road density, and land surface temperature. GWR efforts increased the explanatory value of these three environmental variables with better spatial precision (adjusted R2 = 0.71). Conclusions. The spatial granularity resulting from the geographically weighted approach provides a better understanding of how environmental spatial heterogeneity is related to WNV risk as implied by WNV infected dead birds, which should allow improved planning of public health management strategies.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2942
Author(s):  
Renee A. A. Rossini ◽  
Roderick J. Fensham ◽  
Gimme H. Walter

(1) The distribution of organisms that inhabit patchy systems is dictated by their ability to move between patches, and the suitability of environmental conditions at patches to which they disperse. Understanding whether the species involved are identical to one another in their environmental requirements and their responses to variance in their environment is essential to understanding ecological processes in these systems, and to the management of species whose patchy and limited distributions present conservation risks. (2) Artesian springs in Australia’s arid interior are “islands” of hospitable wetland in uninhabitable “oceans” of dry land and are home to diverse and threatened assemblages of endemic species with severely restricted distributions. Many have strict environmental requirements, but the role of environmental heterogeneity amongst springs has rarely been considered alongside conventional patch characteristics (isolation and patch geometry). (3) We quantified environmental heterogeneity across springs, and the relationship between spring size, isolation (distances to neighbours) and environmental quality (depth, water chemistry), and patterns of occupancy and population persistence of six endemic spring snail species, all from different families, and with all restricted to a single <8000 ha system of springs in Australia. To do so, a survey was conducted for comparison against survey results of almost a decade before, and environmental variables of the springs were measured. Many of the snail species occupied few sites, and environmental variables strongly covaried, so an ordination-based approach was adopted to assess the relationship between environmental measures and the distribution of each species, and also whether springs that held a higher diversity of snails had specific characteristics. (4) Each snail species occupied a subset of springs (between 5% and 36% of the 85 sampled) and was associated with a particular set of conditions. Of the six species considered in further detail, most were restricted to the few springs that were large and deep. Species in family Tateidae were distinct in having colonised highly isolated springs (with >300 m to nearest neighbour). Springs with highest diversity were significantly larger, deeper and had more numerous neighbours within 300 m than those devoid of endemic snails, or those with low diversity. (5) Although spring size and isolation affect patterns of occupancy, the six snail species had significantly different environmental requirements from one another and these correlated with the distribution pattern of each. Approaches that ignore the role of environmental quality—and particularly depth in springs—are overlooking important processes outside of patch geometry that influence diversity. These organisms are highly susceptible to extinction, as most occupy less than 3 ha of habitat spread across few springs, and habitat degradation continues to compromise what little wetland area is needed for their persistence.


2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Coventry

Hume’s account of the origin and nature of our ideas of space and time is generally thought to be the least satisfactory part of his empiricist system of philosophy. The main reason is internal in that the account is judged to be inconsistent with Hume’s fundamental principle for the relationship between senses and cognition, the copy principle. This paper defends Hume against the inconsistency objection by offering a new systematic interpretation of Hume on space and time and illuminating more generally the role of the copy principle in his philosophy. Humes Theorie des Wesens und des Ursprungs unserer Vorstellungen von Raum und Zeit wird generell zu den am wenigsten befriedigenden Teilen seiner empiristischen Philosophie gezählt. Der Hauptgrund dafür ist werkimmanent: Die Raum- Zeit-Theorie einerseits und Humes „copy principle“ andererseits – d.h. dasjenige Fundamental-Prinzip, das die Relation zwischen unseren Sinnen und unserem Denken regelt – werden als miteinander inkonsistent erachtet. Dieser Beitrag bietet eine neue, systematische Interpretation der Raum-Zeit-Lehre Humes und eine umfassendere Darstellung der Rolle des „copy principles“ in seiner Philosophie an. Auf diese Weise wird Hume gegen den Vorwurf der Inkonsistenz verteidigt.


2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S Borrell ◽  
Ghudaina Al Issaey ◽  
Darach A Lupton ◽  
Thomas Starnes ◽  
Abdulrahman Al Hinai ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground and AimsSouthern Arabia is a global biodiversity hotspot with a high proportion of endemic desert-adapted plants. Here we examine evidence for a Pleistocene climate refugium in the southern Central Desert of Oman, and its role in driving biogeographical patterns of endemism.MethodsDistribution data for seven narrow-range endemic plants were collected systematically across 195 quadrats, together with incidental and historic records. Important environmental variables relevant to arid coastal areas, including night-time fog and cloud cover, were developed for the study area. Environmental niche models using presence/absence data were built and tuned for each species, and spatial overlap was examined.Key ResultsA region of the Jiddat Al Arkad reported independent high model suitability for all species. Examination of environmental data across southern Oman indicates that the Jiddat Al Arkad displays a regionally unique climate with higher intra-annual stability, due in part to the influence of the southern monsoon. Despite this, the relative importance of environmental variables was highly differentiated among species, suggesting that characteristic variables such as coastal fog are not major cross-species predictors at this scale.ConclusionsThe co-occurrence of a high number of endemic study species within a narrow monsoon-influenced region is indicative of a refugium with low climate change velocity. Combined with climate analysis, our findings provide strong evidence for a southern Arabian Pleistocene refugium in Oman’s Central Desert. We suggest that this refugium has acted as an isolated temperate and mesic island in the desert, resulting in the evolution of these narrow-range endemic flora. Based on the composition of species, this system may represent the northernmost remnant of a continuous belt of mesic vegetation formerly ranging from Africa to Asia, with close links to the flora of East Africa. This has significant implications for future conservation of endemic plants in an arid biodiversity hotspot.


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