scholarly journals The unusual biology of marine file snakes with a perspective for the conservation of Acrochordus granulatus

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Shallow Water ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Oxygen Storage ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Marine Environments ◽  
Coastal Environments ◽  
Coastal Habitats ◽  
Distinct Evolutionary Lineage

Biodiversity and the function of tropical shallow-water marine environments are threatened by numerous anthropogenic factors, especially climate change, overharvesting of resources, and destruction of habitat. Marine snakes are important components of coastal shallow-water systems and should be considered as indicators of the health of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves. Acrochordid snakes (Acrochordidae: Acrochordus) represent a highly distinct evolutionary lineage with unusual adaptations to shallow water habitats and importance to biodiversity of tropical coastal regions. One of three congeneric species, Acrochordus granulatus (file snake), is an interesting and common inhabitant of coastal estuaries and mangroves in the Philippines. This paper reviews unusual attributes of A. granulatus and provides a perspective for its conservation in coastal habitats. Morphological, physiological, and behavioral characters of this snake are specialized for life in shallow-water marine environments such as mangroves. Unusual and specialized features confer abilities for prolonged submergence and include low metabolic rate, large capacity for oxygen storage, cutaneous gas exchange, nearly complete utilization of oxygen stores during aerobic submergence, intracardiac and cutaneous shunts for regulating blood flow, and reclusive behavior. Fresh water is required for water balance, and file snakes are dependent on rainfall in many habitats where they drink from freshwater lenses formed by precipitation on the surfaces of marine water. File snakes feed largely on fishes and are candidates as bio-indicators of the health of shallow-water coastal habitats. Attention should be given to threatening insults on coastal environments including climate change, habitat destruction, harvesting of resources, and other factors in need of research, monitoring, and plans for abatement. Importantly, conservation can be promoted by educating people about the docile behavior, unusual traits, and interesting ecology of A. granulatus. KEYWORDS: mangrove, shallow water, Acrochordidae, little file snake, conservation physiology, ecophysiology

scholarly journals Drastic effects of climate change on Mediterranean marine forests

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Verdura ◽  
Alba Vergés ◽  
Jorge Santamaría ◽  
Sònia de Caralt ◽  
Enric Ballesteros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Shallow Water ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Relict Population ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
Rocky Bottoms

Macroalgal forests have gone missing in several temperate rocky shores during the last decades, triggering important changes in the seascape. Cystoseira species are some of the main habitat-forming species on shallow water Mediterranean rocky bottoms and follow the same tendency, which has been mainly related to habitat destruction and pollution. Here we suggest that abnormal positive thermal events may have contributed to this widespread Cystoseira decline. Densities and size structure distribution of C. crinita showed a drastic decline on a relict population coinciding with abnormal high summer temperatures. Additionally, we experimentally tested in the laboratory the cause-effect of high temperatures and UV radiation on C. crinita populations. Although, C. crinita was able to resist punctual high temperature peaks, exceptional and maintained periods of high temperatures (28ºC) lead to the death of all individuals, compromising the viability of these populations. Thus, climate change may seriously compromise C. crinita stands and act synergically with historical drivers of macroalgal decline such as pollution, habitat destruction and increased herbivorism.

scholarly journals Drastic effects of climate change on Mediterranean marine forests

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Verdura ◽  
Alba Vergés ◽  
Jorge Santamaría ◽  
Sònia de Caralt ◽  
Enric Ballesteros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Shallow Water ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Relict Population ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
Rocky Bottoms

Macroalgal forests have gone missing in several temperate rocky shores during the last decades, triggering important changes in the seascape. Cystoseira species are some of the main habitat-forming species on shallow water Mediterranean rocky bottoms and follow the same tendency, which has been mainly related to habitat destruction and pollution. Here we suggest that abnormal positive thermal events may have contributed to this widespread Cystoseira decline. Densities and size structure distribution of C. crinita showed a drastic decline on a relict population coinciding with abnormal high summer temperatures. Additionally, we experimentally tested in the laboratory the cause-effect of high temperatures and UV radiation on C. crinita populations. Although, C. crinita was able to resist punctual high temperature peaks, exceptional and maintained periods of high temperatures (28ºC) lead to the death of all individuals, compromising the viability of these populations. Thus, climate change may seriously compromise C. crinita stands and act synergically with historical drivers of macroalgal decline such as pollution, habitat destruction and increased herbivorism.

scholarly journals The Impact of Human Pressure and Climate Change on the Habitat Availability and Protection of Cypripedium (Orchidaceae) in Northeast China

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Huanchu Liu ◽  
Hans Jacquemyn ◽  
Xingyuan He ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Yanqing Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Northeast China ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Changbai Mountains ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Human Pressure ◽  
Terrestrial Orchids ◽  
The Future ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
The Impact

Human pressure on the environment and climate change are two important factors contributing to species decline and overall loss of biodiversity. Orchids may be particularly vulnerable to human-induced losses of habitat and the pervasive impact of global climate change. In this study, we simulated the extent of the suitable habitat of three species of the terrestrial orchid genus Cypripedium in northeast China and assessed the impact of human pressure and climate change on the future distribution of these species. Cypripedium represents a genus of long-lived terrestrial orchids that contains several species with great ornamental value. Severe habitat destruction and overcollection have led to major population declines in recent decades. Our results showed that at present the most suitable habitats of the three species can be found in Da Xing’an Ling, Xiao Xing’an Ling and in the Changbai Mountains. Human activity was predicted to have the largest impact on species distributions in the Changbai Mountains. In addition, climate change was predicted to lead to a shift in distribution towards higher elevations and to an increased fragmentation of suitable habitats of the three investigated Cypripedium species in the study area. These results will be valuable for decision makers to identify areas that are likely to maintain viable Cypripedium populations in the future and to develop conservation strategies to protect the remaining populations of these enigmatic orchid species.

The nexus of macroplastic and microplastic research and plastic regulation policies in the Philippines marine coastal environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 112343
Author(s):  
Van Ryan Kristopher R. Galarpe ◽  
Caroline Marie B. Jaraula ◽  
Maria Kristina O. Paler
Keyword(s):  
The Philippines ◽  
Coastal Environments

scholarly journals Geoinformation Technologies in Support of Environmental Hazards Monitoring under Climate Change: An Extensive Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Andreas Tsatsaris ◽  
Kleomenis Kalogeropoulos ◽  
Nikolaos Stathopoulos ◽  
Panagiota Louka ◽  
Konstantinos Tsanakas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
Environmental Hazards ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Spatial Data Analysis ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Geospatial Technologies ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
The Impact

Human activities and climate change constitute the contemporary catalyst for natural processes and their impacts, i.e., geo-environmental hazards. Globally, natural catastrophic phenomena and hazards, such as drought, soil erosion, quantitative and qualitative degradation of groundwater, frost, flooding, sea level rise, etc., are intensified by anthropogenic factors. Thus, they present rapid increase in intensity, frequency of occurrence, spatial density, and significant spread of the areas of occurrence. The impact of these phenomena is devastating to human life and to global economies, private holdings, infrastructure, etc., while in a wider context it has a very negative effect on the social, environmental, and economic status of the affected region. Geospatial technologies including Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing—Earth Observation as well as related spatial data analysis tools, models, databases, contribute nowadays significantly in predicting, preventing, researching, addressing, rehabilitating, and managing these phenomena and their effects. This review attempts to mark the most devastating geo-hazards from the view of environmental monitoring, covering the state of the art in the use of geospatial technologies in that respect. It also defines the main challenge of this new era which is nothing more than the fictitious exploitation of the information produced by the environmental monitoring so that the necessary policies are taken in the direction of a sustainable future. The review highlights the potential and increasing added value of geographic information as a means to support environmental monitoring in the face of climate change. The growth in geographic information seems to be rapidly accelerated due to the technological and scientific developments that will continue with exponential progress in the years to come. Nonetheless, as it is also highlighted in this review continuous monitoring of the environment is subject to an interdisciplinary approach and contains an amount of actions that cover both the development of natural phenomena and their catastrophic effects mostly due to climate change.

Potential of Community-Based Forest Management to Mitigate Climate Change in the Philippines

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodel D. Lasco ◽  
Remedios S. Evangelista ◽  
Florencia B. Pulhin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Mitigate Climate Change

scholarly journals Wind Energy Projection for the Philippines based on Climate Change Modeling

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 26-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angeli Silang ◽  
Sherdon Niño Uy ◽  
Julie Mae Dado ◽  
Faye Abigail Cruz ◽  
Gemma Narisma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
The Philippines

scholarly journals Status and Threats to Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris Lesson, 1831 at Rani Tal, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harish P Bhatt ◽  
Tej Bahadur Saund ◽  
Jham Bahadur Thapa
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuation ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Total Hardness ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
Wildlife Reserve

A study was carried out for preparing baseline information on water quality, population status and threats to Mugger crocodile, Crocodylus palustris Lesson at Rani Tal, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. Water quality analysis was conducted for three seasons (summer, autumn and winter) in the year 2008 - 2009. The study has found the physico-chemical contamination in the lake. The water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, total hardness, free carbon dioxide, biological oxygen demand and ammonia) exceeded the normal range to support the Muggers. A survey around the lake recorded four adult Mugger crocodiles (>180 cm body length) basking in sandy and muddy bank during the investigation period. The lake is under pressure from diverse anthropogenic factors. The principal threats to the Mugger crocodile include water pollution, habitat destruction, sedimentation, food shortage, egg collection and seasonal fluctuation of water level. The total area and depth of the lake is diminishing due to encroachment by Phragmites karka and flash flood during monsoon. Conservation and proper management of the lake are urgently required. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 13, No. 1 (2012) 125-131 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v13i1.7451

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