scholarly journals DIVERSITY OF ANGIOSPERM CLIMBER SPECIES IN POINT CALIMERE WILDLIFE AND BIRD SANCTUARY, TAMIL NADU

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1146-1155
Author(s):  
M. Padma Sorna Subramanian ◽  
◽  
A. Saravana Ganthi ◽  
K. Subramonian ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Dynamics ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Important Group ◽  
Tropical Biodiversity ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
Scrub Forests

Climbers are currently understood to have a range of important ecological functions in forest dynamics. Climbers are already recognized as an important group for tropical biodiversity, playing a key role in ecosystem level processes and providing resources for pollinators and dispersers. The present study is an attempt to document different climber species and their uses in Point Calimere Wildlife and Birds Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, India. The present study recorded 53 herbaceous climbers and 21 lianas from all the forests types of Point Calimere Sanctuary, covering 25 families. Considering all climbers and lianas, 40 species are stem twiners, 2 species are branch twiners, 4 are spiny Climbers, 19 species are tendril climbers and 8 species are hook climbers. Most of the lianas are distributed in scrub forests and many climbers are recorded in wet lands. 53 medicinal climbers are recorded in the study area. Roots and leaves are widely used to treat diseases. To obtain a better comprehension of the floristic, ecological and biogeographical patterns of climbing species at a global scale, it is of the utmost importance that future studies include an increased number of subtropical and temperate sites.

scholarly journals How do we construct and operate experimental streams? An overview of facilities, protocols, and studied questions

Hydrobiologia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 847 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémi Menczelesz ◽  
Ildikó Szivák ◽  
Dénes Schmera
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Power ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Natural Stream ◽  
Experimental Protocols ◽  
Organism Group ◽  
Experimental Stream ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Experimental streams are bounded and partly enclosed lotic units that facilitate the simulation of certain aspects of natural stream ecosystems under controlled conditions. We summarized the current knowledge regarding experimental streams in order to support researchers in designing and undertaking future studies using experimental streams. We observed an increase in the number of such studies since 1975. The geographically uneven distribution of studies suggests that the generalization of findings to global scale may not be straightforward. Our results indicate that macroinvertebrates, fish, and algae are the most frequently studied organisms and that the size of the experimental streams was related to the focal organism group(s) studied. The size of the units decreased over time, while the number of treatments, interpreted as the combination of the levels of factors, increased. These results suggest that biologically complex studies have gradually been replaced by biologically less complex ones. In contrast, the experimental complexity (the number of treatments) and the statistical power (number of replication) increased. Finally, we identified a number of important, but poorly documented pieces of information regarding experimental stream systems and experimental protocols and made recommendations for future research.

scholarly journals A revised classification of the sister tribes Palicoureeae and Psychotrieae (Rubiaceae) indicates genus-specific alkaloid accumulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Berger ◽  
Karin Valant-Vetschera ◽  
Johann Schinnerl ◽  
Lothar Brecker
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Indole Alkaloid ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Important Group ◽  
Pharmacological Significance ◽  
The Common ◽  
Phytochemical Studies ◽  
Common Perception

AbstractTribes Palicoureeae and Psychotrieae (Rubiaceae, Gentianales) are complex and speciose sister groups with a pantropical distribution. Since the initial studies on ipecacuanha more than two centuries ago, species of the group have been subject to numerous phytochemical studies yielding diverse specialized ("secondary") metabolites, most of them alkaloids. However, the generic limits within the tribes have long been unclear and only recently, monophyletic genera have been delimited and segregated from a once broadly circumscribed Psychotria. Thus, a phylogeny-based and taxonomically updated review of phytochemical literature was performed which allowed assigning the bulk of phytochemical data previously reported for Psychotria to various segregate genera such as Carapichea, Eumachia and Palicourea. This review not only challenges the common perception of Psychotria as a monoterpene-indole alkaloid-rich genus. It also highlights that each of its relatives differs by accumulating specific groups of alkaloids, which is of major importance for understanding animal-plant interactions such as herbivory, as well as for drug discovery. The alkaloid complement of each of these genera is here enumerated and discussed, which should provide a framework for future studies addressing the biosynthesis, evolution, ecological and pharmacological significance of specialized metabolite differentiation in this abundant, ecologically and ethnopharmacologically important group.

scholarly journals Multiple mechanisms in which agricultural insects respond to environmental stressors: canalization, plasticity and evolution

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-99
Author(s):  
Yeisson Gutiérrez
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Environmental Stressors ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Manipulative Experiments ◽  
Insect Biology ◽  
Insect Decline

Insects are a paramount component of biodiversity in terms of taxonomic richness, ecological functions and ecosystem services. However, many human activities have negative consequences on such organisms, causing changes in their morphology, physiology, behaviour, and even causing mass deaths leading to the well-recognized insect decline phenomenon. Although the effects of some environmental stressors (e.g. global warming and pesticides) on insect biology are fairly well understood, there is a plethora of stressors that that have only recently been considered. Additionally, although the exposure to multiple stressors is a common scenario in natural conditions, our knowledge on insect responses in this regard is still incipient. Knowledge that is in much need to inform policy makers in the fight against global change. Here, a short review on prominent environmental stressors, and the known responses that insects may exhibit, which are summarized as canalization, plasticity and evolution is provided. Furthermore, an outlook and recommendation for future studies aiming to elucidate the effects of environmental stressors (both lone and mixed) on insect biology is given. This manuscript advocates for controlled (lab or semi-field) manipulative experiments that implement realistic environmental conditions and that ideally combine several stressors.

scholarly journals Striving for population-level conservation: integrating physiology across the biological hierarchy

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M Ames ◽  
Meaghan R Gade ◽  
Chelsey L Nieman ◽  
James R Wright ◽  
Christopher M Tonra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
Biological Hierarchy ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The field of conservation physiology strives to achieve conservation goals by revealing physiological mechanisms that drive population declines in the face of human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC) and has informed many successful conservation actions. However, many studies still struggle to explicitly link individual physiological measures to impacts across the biological hierarchy (to population and ecosystem levels) and instead rely on a ‘black box’ of assumptions to scale up results for conservation implications. Here, we highlight some examples of studies that were successful in scaling beyond the individual level, including two case studies of well-researched species, and using other studies we highlight challenges and future opportunities to increase the impact of research by scaling up the biological hierarchy. We first examine studies that use individual physiological measures to scale up to population-level impacts and discuss several emerging fields that have made significant steps toward addressing the gap between individual-based and demographic studies, such as macrophysiology and landscape physiology. Next, we examine how future studies can scale from population or species-level to community- and ecosystem-level impacts and discuss avenues of research that can lead to conservation implications at the ecosystem level, such as abiotic gradients and interspecific interactions. In the process, we review methods that researchers can use to make links across the biological hierarchy, including crossing disciplinary boundaries, collaboration and data sharing, spatial modelling and incorporating multiple markers (e.g. physiological, behavioural or demographic) into their research. We recommend future studies incorporating tools that consider the diversity of ‘landscapes’ experienced by animals at higher levels of the biological hierarchy, will make more effective contributions to conservation and management decisions.

Forest Dynamics in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India

2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 326-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Jayakumar ◽  
A. Ramachandran ◽  
G. Bhaskaran ◽  
J. Heo
Keyword(s):  
Forest Dynamics ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Eastern Ghats

Blockchain technology in international business: changing the agenda for global governance

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Hooper ◽  
Dirk Holtbrügge
Keyword(s):  
International Finance ◽  
International Business ◽  
Global Governance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Insurance Supply ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Blockchain technology has extended beyond the border of cryptocurrency and taken hold in various areas of international business. This study aims to analyze the impacts of blockchain on international business and the resulting challenges and implications for global governance. Design/methodology/approach The analysis of multiple blockchain applications in international finance, banking and insurance, supply chain management and logistics and marketing and advertising shows that the use of blockchain in international business has different impacts on global governance. Findings Although the protection of property rights can be improved and transaction costs can be reduced, the effects on other functions of global governance are more ambivalent. Research limitations/implications As a recommendation for future studies, the need for more multidisciplinary and empirical research is proposed. Practical implications As the technology disrupts business activities, it also affects the governance of these activities on a global scale. Suggestions for the future regulation of blockchain applications in international business are developed. Originality/value Blockchain technology has extended beyond the border of cryptocurrency and taken hold in various areas of international business. This study aims to analyze the impacts of blockchain on international business and the resulting challenges and implications for global governance. The application of blockchain technology in international business across multiple industries is explored in order to draw conclusions about its impacts on global governance. It is determined that blockchain brings about both challenges and benefits for global governance.

scholarly journals Diversity of moths from the urban set-up of Valmiki Nagar, Chennai, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 20174-20189
Author(s):  
Vikas Madhav Nagarajan ◽  
Rohith Srinivasan ◽  
Mahathi Narayanaswamy
Keyword(s):  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Mercury Vapour ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Larval Host ◽  
Mercury Vapour Lamp ◽  
White Sheet ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Larval Host Plants

A study was conducted at Valmiki Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India to explore its moth diversity  from December 2018 to May 2021. This manuscript presents a partial checklist of moths from Valmiki Nagar. Four locations around the colony were studied to record the moth fauna. The study sites were surveyed twice a month using a mercury vapour lamp along with a white sheet, along with over 100 visits at night. Diurnal surveys were conducted bimonthly to observe larval host plants and day flying moths. A total of 135 species were recorded from the study area, belonging to nine superfamilies. The most diverse family of moths recorded was family Erebidae, with 39% of moths recorded in the study belonging to this family, followed by Crambidae (30%), Geometridae (8%), and other families constituting the rest. The moth diversity in the month of July was seen to be the highest. Along with this study, future studies on similar lines will help in documenting the moth diversity of Chennai.

scholarly journals Distribution of soil viruses across China and their potential role in phosphorous metabolism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Li Han ◽  
Dan-Ting Yu ◽  
Li Bi ◽  
Shuai Du ◽  
Cynthia Silveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Nucleotide Synthesis ◽  
Viral Communities ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Biological Entities ◽  
Ssdna Viruses

Abstract Background: Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on the planet and drive biogeochemical cycling on a global scale. Our understanding of biogeography of soil viruses and their ecological functions lags significantly behind that of Bacteria and Fungi. Here, a viromic approach was used to investigate the distribution and ecological functions of viruses from 19 soils across China.Results: More than 60% of viral genome fragments could not be classified, representing potential new viruses. Among the 27 viral families identified, 15 families belonged to dsDNA viruses and 12 families belonged to ssDNA viruses. Soil samples clustered more significantly by geographical location than type of soil (agricultural and natural). Three clusters of viral communities were identified from North, Southeast and Southwest regions; these clusters differentiated using taxonomic as well as functional composition and were mainly driven by latitude. Phylogenetic analyses of the phoH gene showed a remarkable diversity and two new viral clades. Notably, five proteins involved in phosphorus (P) metabolism-related nucleotide synthesis functions, including dUTPase, MazG, PhoH, Thy1, and RNR, were mainly identified in agricultural soils. Conclusions: The present work revealed that soil viral communities and their functions were distributed across China according to geographical location, with latitude as the dominant driving factor. In addition, P metabolism genes encoded by these viruses probably drive the synthesis of nucleotides for their own genomes inside bacterial hosts, thereby affecting P cycling in the soil ecosystems.

scholarly journals Dynamic meta-analysis: a method of using global evidence for local decision making

BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gorm E. Shackelford ◽  
Philip A. Martin ◽  
Amelia S. C. Hood ◽  
Alec P. Christie ◽  
Elena Kulinskaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Evidence Based Decision Making ◽  
Global Evidence

Abstract Background Meta-analysis is often used to make generalisations across all available evidence at the global scale. But how can these global generalisations be used for evidence-based decision making at the local scale, if the global evidence is not perceived to be relevant to local decisions? We show how an interactive method of meta-analysis—dynamic meta-analysis—can be used to assess the local relevance of global evidence. Results We developed Metadataset (www.metadataset.com) as a proof-of-concept for dynamic meta-analysis. Using Metadataset, we show how evidence can be filtered and weighted, and results can be recalculated, using dynamic methods of subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and recalibration. With an example from agroecology, we show how dynamic meta-analysis could lead to different conclusions for different subsets of the global evidence. Dynamic meta-analysis could also lead to a rebalancing of power and responsibility in evidence synthesis, since evidence users would be able to make decisions that are typically made by systematic reviewers—decisions about which studies to include (e.g. critical appraisal) and how to handle missing or poorly reported data (e.g. sensitivity analysis). Conclusions In this study, we show how dynamic meta-analysis can meet an important challenge in evidence-based decision making—the challenge of using global evidence for local decisions. We suggest that dynamic meta-analysis can be used for subject-wide evidence synthesis in several scientific disciplines, including agroecology and conservation biology. Future studies should develop standardised classification systems for the metadata that are used to filter and weight the evidence. Future studies should also develop standardised software packages, so that researchers can efficiently publish dynamic versions of their meta-analyses and keep them up-to-date as living systematic reviews. Metadataset is a proof-of-concept for this type of software, and it is open source. Future studies should improve the user experience, scale the software architecture, agree on standards for data and metadata storage and processing, and develop protocols for responsible evidence use.

scholarly journals Restoration actions in marine ecosystems: a global analysis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simonetta Fraschetti ◽  
Giuseppe Guarnieri ◽  
Loredana Papa ◽  
Chris McOwen ◽  
Nadia Papadopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Temporal Scales ◽  
Project Duration ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Ecosystem Level

A review of 573 studies on active restoration actions in the marine environment, published in the last 25 years, was carried out at global scale. We assessed how, where, at which spatial and temporal scales and under which socio-ecological settings restoration studies have been carried out, from very shallow to deep sea habitats. Results show that restoration efforts across habitats are increasing, especially in seagrasses and coral reefs, but never approached at ecosystem level. Targets, methods, response variables and standards are still very heterogeneous. Of the factors considered in the review, habitat, human impact intensity, realm and methods of restoration were found to be good determinant of restoration success. Short project duration (one-two years), small restoration areas (< 1 ha), lack of controls and knowledge of baselines are still a limit for deriving generalities. Finally, restorations rarely consider future challenges linked to global change this impairing long-term success stories. Restoration science needs more robust approaches leading to the development of best practices (e.g. protocols, monitoring of the effects, reasons for failure) to be applied at spatial and temporal scales so as to answer to present and future disturbance regimes.

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