scholarly journals First Assessment of Nocturnal Lepidopteran Communities in the Forest Savannah Mosaic of the Plateaux Batéké, Southeastern Gabon

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
Hugues Bi Ateme Bikang ◽  
Stephan Ntie ◽  
Thibaud Decaëns ◽  
Rodolphe Rougierie
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Seasonal Cycles ◽  
Ecological Traits ◽  
Ecological Gradient ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Trapping Methods ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Lepidopterans are an important component of central African biodiversity. Indeed, they play an important role as plant pollinators, food source, bio-indicators, and even pests for local crops. However, almost nothing is known about these moths in central Africa, while they are being increasingly threatened by significant landscape changes due mainly to infrastructure constructions and climate change. So, the mosaic of forests and savannah in the Plateaux Batéké (southeastern Gabon) constitutes a unique opportunity to study how Lepidopteran communities might evolve along an ecological gradient with upcoming changes in forest cover in the region. A total of 2824 specimens, representing 14 distinct families or subfamilies, were sampled using light-trapping and sorted into morphospecies, while a subset of 95 samples was further investigated using both morphological and molecular methods. Community comparison of nocturnal Lepidopteran showed that there was a significant difference in terms of abundance only between sampling sessions. Indeed, this could be due to food availability between sampling sessions. In May and June in Gabon, most plants have flowers and fruits and moth families such as Geometridae and Sphingidae emerge at that time. The most represented family in our sampled specimens was the Geometridae, which prefers habitats with permanent river courses as is the case in our sampling area. However, a more comprehensive study using various trapping methods, during several seasonal cycles and with more replicates in each habitat type is needed for a better understanding of the community structure and ecological traits that characterize nocturnal Lepidopteran in the Plateaux Batéké of Gabon.

scholarly journals Gender-wise Comparative Assessment of Lifestyle Patterns and Well-being Status among Healthcare Employees at a Tertiary Care Hospital

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanajakshamma Velam ◽  
Vyshnavi Kancherla ◽  
Latheef Kasala ◽  
Anusha Kancherla ◽  
Mounica Reddy Pillaram
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Female Employees ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Lifestyle Patterns ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Abstract Background This study was an attempt to assess and compare the gender-wise lifestyle patterns and well-being status among the employees of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Material and Methods This is a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted at a tertiary care hospital between May and August 2019. A total of 777 employees belonging to both genders (male and female) and working at different professional levels were assessed. All the enrolled employees were subjected to a comprehensive study tool consisting of various dimensions of their health, which included physical, mental, social, spiritual and intellectual health dimensions. Results Among the participants, 327 (42.1%) were male and 450 (57.9%) were female. There was no significant difference in the mean age of male (37.91 ± 7.52) and female (36.85 ± 8.16) employees (p = 0.07). A significantly higher proportion of diabetes and hypertension were seen in male employees (9.8% and 14.4%, respectively) than in female (5.6% and 6.2% respectively). The overall well-being was better in male employees than in females and was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). We found that male employees had statistically significant better well-being in terms of physical, mental and social health whereas female employees had intellectual health. Conclusion The overall well-being in healthcare staff was good at our tertiary care hospital, and the outstanding/good well-being rate was higher in male employees than in female employees. Female employees experienced risks with regard to their physical health.

scholarly journals Lidar-Based Morphometry of Conical Hills in Temperate Karst Areas in Slovenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2668
Author(s):  
Tamás Telbisz
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Distribution ◽  
Inverse Gaussian ◽  
Digital Terrain ◽  
Terrain Models ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Karst Areas ◽  
Hill Area ◽  
The Hill ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Conical hills, or residual hills, are frequently mentioned landforms in the context of humid tropical karsts as they are dominant surface elements there. Residual hills are also present in temperate karsts, but generally in a less remarkable way. These landforms have not been thoroughly addressed in the literature to date, therefore the present article is the first attempt to morphometrically characterize temperate zone residual karst hills. We use the methods already developed for doline morphometry, and we apply them to the “inverse” topography using LiDAR-based digital terrain models (DTMs) of three Slovenian sample areas. The characteristics of hills and depressions are analysed in parallel, taking into account the rank of the forms. A common feature of hills and dolines is that, for both types, the empirical distribution of planform areas has a strongly positive skew. After logarithmic transformation, these distributions can be approximated by Inverse Gaussian, Normal, and Weibull distributions. Along with the rank, the planform area and vertical extent of the hills and dolines increase similarly. High circularity is characteristic only of the first-rank forms for both dolines and hills. For the sample areas, the the hill area ratios and the doline area ratios have similar values, but the total extent of the hills is slightly larger in each case. A difference between dolines and hills is that the shapes of hills are more similar to one another than those of dolines. The reason for this is that the larger, closed depressions are created by lateral coalescence, while the hills are residual forms carved from large blocks. Another significant difference is that the density of dolines is much higher than that of hills. This article is intended as a methodological starting point for a new topic, aiming at the comprehensive study of residual karst hills across different climatic areas.

scholarly journals Drivers of Bornean Orangutan Distribution across a Multiple-Use Tropical Landscape

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 458
Author(s):  
Sol Milne ◽  
Julien G. A. Martin ◽  
Glen Reynolds ◽  
Charles S. Vairappan ◽  
Eleanor M. Slade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Bornean Orangutan ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fig Trees ◽  
Abundance And Distribution

Logging and conversion of tropical forests in Southeast Asia have resulted in the expansion of landscapes containing a mosaic of habitats that may vary in their ability to sustain local biodiversity. However, the complexity of these landscapes makes it difficult to assess abundance and distribution of some species using ground-based surveys alone. Here, we deployed a combination of ground-transects and aerial surveys to determine drivers of the critically endangered Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio) distribution across a large multiple-use landscape in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Ground-transects and aerial surveys using drones were conducted for orangutan nests and hemi-epiphytic strangler fig trees (Ficus spp.) (an important food resource) in 48 survey areas across 76 km2, within a study landscape of 261 km2. Orangutan nest count data were fitted to models accounting for variation in land use, above-ground carbon density (ACD, a surrogate for forest quality), strangler fig density, and elevation (between 117 and 675 m). Orangutan nest counts were significantly higher in all land uses possessing natural forest cover, regardless of degradation status, than in monoculture plantations. Within these natural forests, nest counts increased with higher ACD and strangler fig density, but not with elevation. In logged forest (ACD 14–150 Mg ha−1), strangler fig density had a significant, positive relationship with orangutan nest counts, but this relationship disappeared in a forest with higher carbon content (ACD 150–209 Mg ha−1). Based on an area-to-area comparison, orangutan nest counts from ground transects were higher than from counts derived from aerial surveys, but this did not constitute a statistically significant difference. Although the difference in nest counts was not significantly different, this analysis indicates that both methods under-sample the total number of nests present within a given area. Aerial surveys are, therefore, a useful method for assessing the orangutan habitat use over large areas. However, the under-estimation of nest counts by both methods suggests that a small number of ground surveys should be retained in future surveys using this technique, particularly in areas with dense understory vegetation. This study shows that even highly degraded forests may be a suitable orangutan habitat as long as strangler fig trees remain intact after areas of forest are logged. Enrichment planting of strangler figs may, therefore, be a valuable tool for orangutan conservation in these landscapes.

scholarly journals State and evolution of the African rainforests between 1990 and 2010

2013 ◽  
Vol 368 (1625) ◽  
pp. 20120300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Mayaux ◽  
Jean-François Pekel ◽  
Baudouin Desclée ◽  
François Donnay ◽  
Andrea Lupi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Congo Basin ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Deforestation Rate ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Moderate Resolution ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

This paper presents a map of Africa's rainforests for 2005. Derived from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer data at a spatial resolution of 250 m and with an overall accuracy of 84%, this map provides new levels of spatial and thematic detail. The map is accompanied by measurements of deforestation between 1990, 2000 and 2010 for West Africa, Central Africa and Madagascar derived from a systematic sample of Landsat images—imagery from equivalent platforms is used to fill gaps in the Landsat record. Net deforestation is estimated at 0.28% yr −1 for the period 1990–2000 and 0.14% yr −1 for the period 2000–2010. West Africa and Madagascar exhibit a much higher deforestation rate than the Congo Basin, for example, three times higher for West Africa and nine times higher for Madagascar. Analysis of variance over the Congo Basin is then used to show that expanding agriculture and increasing fuelwood demands are key drivers of deforestation in the region, whereas well-controlled timber exploitation programmes have little or no direct influence on forest-cover reduction at present. Rural and urban population concentrations and fluxes are also identified as strong underlying causes of deforestation in this study.

scholarly journals Relative occurrence of the family Kalotermitidae (Isoptera) under different termite sampling methods

Sociobiology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf H Scheffrahn ◽  
James A Chase ◽  
John R. Mangold ◽  
Henry H Hochmair
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Methods ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Termite Species ◽  
Expert Survey ◽  
Abundance And Diversity

The termite family Kalotermitidae constitutes a wood-nesting termite family that accounts for about 15% of all extant termite species. In recent decades, field studies have been carried out to assess termite diversity in various wooded habitats and geographic locations. Three sampling methods have been favored expert, transect, and alate light-trap surveys. Expert collecting is not spatially quantifiable but relies on field personnel to recognize and sample termite niches. The transect method aims to standardize and quantify termite abundance and diversity. Light trapping is a passive method for sampling nocturnal alate flights. We compared our expert survey results and results of published sampling methods for their proportional yields of kalotermitid versus non-kalotermitid encounters. Using an odds ratio statistic, we found that worldwide, there is about a 50.6-fold greater likelihood of encountering a kalotermitid sample versus a non-kalotermitid using the expert survey method and a 15.3-fold greater likelihood using alate trapping than using the transect method. There is about a 3.3 -fold greater likelihood of collecting a kalotermitid specimen versus a non-kalotermitid sample using the expert survey method than using the alate trap method. Transect studies in which only termite species diversity was reported gave similar low Kalotermitidae yields. We propose that multiple biases in sampling methodology include tools, time constraints, habitat type, geographical location, topographical conditions, and human traits account for the divergent outcomes in sampling the abundance and diversity of Kalotermitidae compared to other termite families.

scholarly journals Bio-Ecological Traits of Western Tubenose Goby Proterorhinus semilunaris (Heckel, 1837): A Key to Understand Its Invasion Success

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gülşah Saç
Keyword(s):  
Standard Length ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Invasion Success ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Ecological Traits ◽  
Tubenose Goby ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Proterorhinus Semilunaris

This study aims to contribute to the limited knowledge on the bio-ecological traits of the native Western tubenose goby, Proterorhinus semilunaris, which is considered to invade many inland waters in Europe and North America. During monthly sampling surveys from March 2012 to June 2013, the species was collected from the four stations in the Istranca River (Turkey) by electrofishing. The standard length and body weight of 310 samples varied between 1.4–6.1 cm and 0.08–7.09 g, respectively. The sex ratio of female to male was found to be 1.7:1.0, with a significant difference. The values of the exponent b in the length–weight relationship were approximately 3 for females, males, and all individuals, indicating an isometric growth. The size at first sexual maturity was 2.44 cm standard length (SL) for females and 2.29 cm SL for males. Absolute fecundity ranged from 56 to 344 eggs with a mean of 164 eggs. The food composition of the species comprised of 8 major groups: Insecta (Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Odonata, Trichoptera, Coleoptera), Arachnida, Annelida, Gastropoda, Crustacea, Pisces, plant, and detritus. According to the results of modified index of relative importance (MI) and index of relative importance (IRI), insect and Diptera were the most prevalent prey for this fish. The present study has provided baseline information on the basic biological traits of the fish in its natural habitat for further understanding of this species success of invasion.

scholarly journals Habitat use and abundance of goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara in Brazil: a participative survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 803-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinicius J. Giglio ◽  
Johnatas Adelir-Alves ◽  
Leopoldo C. Gerhardinger ◽  
Fabiano C. Grecco ◽  
Felippe A. Daros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Population Recovery ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Goliath Grouper ◽  
The Relationship

Developing survey strategies for threatened species is often limited by access to sufficient individuals to acquire information needed to design appropriate conservation measures. The goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is a large reef fish, globally classified as critically endangered. In Brazil, fishing has been prohibited since 2002. Herein we investigated habitat use and abundance of E. itajara in Brazil drawn from a participative survey, which engaged volunteer divers in data-collection. A total of 188 reports were recorded between 2005 to 2011 throughout 13 Brazilian states. Our results revealed that habitat type influenced the relationship between total length and depth of occurrence of E. itajara. We observed a significant difference between habitats, artificial presented a nonlinear and natural an asymptotic relationship. This study underscores the importance of developing conservation measures addressing specific habitats and locations to enhance population recovery. Artificial structures (shipwrecks and manmade reefs) are critical habitats that must be considered as highly sensitive areas to E. itajara strategic conservation policies. We suggest the creation and implementation of marine protected areas, as key strategies for E. itajaraconservation, especially for artificial habitats and aggregation sites.

scholarly journals Multitemporal Analysis Using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) Bands for Forest Cover Classification in East Texas

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
Jason C. Raines ◽  
Jason Grogan ◽  
I-Kuai Hung ◽  
James Kroll
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Classification Accuracy ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Thematic Mapper ◽  
Landsat Thematic Mapper ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Land Cover Maps ◽  
Band Combinations

Abstract Land cover maps have been produced using satellite imagery to monitor forest resources since the launch of Landsat 1. Research has shown that stacking leaf-on and leaf-off imagery (combining two separate images into one image for processing) may improve classification accuracy. It is assumed that the combination of data will aid in differentiation between forest types. In this study we explored potential benefits of using multidate imagery versus single-date imagery for operational forest cover classification as part of an annual remote sensing forest inventory system. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery was used to classify land cover into four classes. Six band combinations were tested to determine differences in classification accuracy and if any were significant enough to justify the extra cost and increased difficulty of image acquisition. The effects of inclusion/exclusion of the moisture band (TM band 5) also were examined. Results show overall accuracy ranged from 72 to 79% with no significant difference between single and multidate classifications. We feel the minimal increase (3.06%) in overall accuracy, coupled with the operational difficulties of obtaining multiple (two), useable images per year, does not support the use of multidate stacked imagery. Additional research should focus on fully utilizing data from a single scene by improving classification methodologies.

Morphological and molecular analyses of larval taeniid species in small mammals from contrasting habitats in Denmark

2013 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.N.S. Al-Sabi ◽  
P.M. Jensen ◽  
M.U. Christensen ◽  
C.M.O. Kapel
Keyword(s):  
Multiplex Pcr ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Species Determination ◽  
North East ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractTaeniid infections in intermediate hosts manifest themselves as extraintestinal larval stages which, in early development, lack species-specific characteristics. The inability to distinguish infections of zoonotic importance such as Echinococcus multilocularis from other taeniid infections that have mainly veterinary significance stimulated the development of species-specific molecular diagnostics. In this study, the prevalence of taeniid infections in potential intermediate hosts was evaluated using both morphological diagnosis and a newly described multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for species determination. Small mammals (N= 719) were trapped in three different types of habitats in north-east Zealand, Denmark. The sensitivity of the multiplex PCR (90.5%) exceeded that of morphological examination (57.9%) for identifying 95 taeniid infections. The use of the multiplex PCR resulted in higher prevalence rates due to improved detection of immature liver infections with Hydatigera taeniaeformis and Versteria mustelae, but did not affect the observed prevalence rates of peritoneal metacestodes of Taenia polyacantha. The prevalence of taeniid infections showed a significant difference according to habitat type, potentially identifying a ‘sylvatic’ transmission and an ‘urban’ transmission, with marked variation among different taeniid species. Versteria mustelae and T. polyacantha were more prevalent in rural forests, while infections with H. taeniaeformis were dominant in urban parks/forests and in residential and farm gardens. The multiplex PCR facilitated a better utilization of wildlife samples by yielding a higher number of definitive diagnoses of ambiguous taeniid infections in liver lesions, allowing for more accurate epidemiological data and, hence, a more accurate risk assessment.

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