scholarly journals A New Collection Tool-Kit to Sample Microplastics From the Marine Environment (Sediment, Seawater, and Biota) Using Citizen Science

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lola M. Paradinas ◽  
Neil A. James ◽  
Brian Quinn ◽  
Andrew Dale ◽  
Bhavani E. Narayanaswamy
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Beach Sediment ◽  
The Public ◽  
The North ◽  
Practical Tool ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
First Time

Microplastics (plastic particles ≤ 5 mm) have been studied extensively in coastal areas around the world in several habitats. Nevertheless, understanding and explaining the temporal and spatial occurrence and dynamics of microplastics is challenging. For the first time, three environmental variables were studied at six locations at the same time for each season over a year, along the North and West coasts of Scotland. Surface water was collected with a pole water sampler from the shore whilst beach sediment was sampled using glass jars, and mussels were the target organism collected. Concentrations of microplastics ranged from 0 to 6 ± 1.50 particles per l of surface water. In beach sediment, microplastics concentrations ranged from 0 to 0.37 ± 0.12 particles per g.dw, whilst for mussels it ranged from 0 to 23.81 particles per g.ww. This study was designed to determine the presence of microplastics as well as extend the temporal and geographical scales. We developed a simple, cost-effective and practical tool-kit to collect microplastics from the coastal environment and engaged the public in scientific research. The tool-kit was designed to take into account the latest recommendations for sampling each environmental substrate, whilst being practical for citizen scientists to use. This research demonstrates that using a semi-structured to structured project with a defined sampling approach including the participation of the public with local knowledge can be an effective way to monitor microplastics in the marine environment along the Scottish coastline. This approach, can be adapted to other projects monitoring microplastics to increase the use of citizen science in projects, allowing more studies to take place, more samples to be collected, and a greater understanding of the occurrence and the potential impact of microplastics in the environment.

scholarly journals HOW TO SABOTAGE A SECRET SOCIETY: THE DEMISE OF CARL FRIEDRICH BAHRDT'S GERMAN UNION IN 1789

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-402
Author(s):  
ANDREW MCKENZIE-MCHARG
Keyword(s):  
Secret Society ◽  
Republic Of Letters ◽  
The Public ◽  
The North ◽  
State And Society ◽  
German Republic ◽  
The Status ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractIn 1789 in Leipzig, a slim pamphlet of 128 pages appeared that sent shock waves through the German republic of letters. The pamphlet, bearing the title Mehr Noten als Text (More notes than text), was an ‘exposure’ whose most sensational element was a list naming numerous members of the North German intelligentsia as initiates of a secret society. This secret society, known as the German Union, aimed to push back against anti-Enlightenment tendencies most obviously manifest in the policies promulgated under the new Prussian king Frederick William II. The German Union was the brainchild of the notorious theologian Carl Friedrich Bahrdt (1741–92). But who was responsible for the ‘exposure’? Using material culled from several archives, this article pieces together for the first time the back story to Mehr Noten als Text and in doing so uncovers a surprisingly heterogeneous network of Freemasons, publishers, and state officials. The findings prompt us to reconsider general questions about the relationship of state and society in the late Enlightenment, the interplay of the public and the arcane spheres and the status of religious heterodoxy at this time.

scholarly journals The Australian Roadkill Reporting Project—Applying Integrated Professional Research and Citizen Science to Monitor and Mitigate Roadkill in Australia

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1112
Author(s):  
Bruce Englefield ◽  
Melissa Starling ◽  
Bethany Wilson ◽  
Caidyrn Roder ◽  
Paul McGreevy
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
The Public ◽  
Distribution Mapping ◽  
Professional Research

Australia has no national roadkill monitoring scheme. To address this gap in knowledge, a roadkill reporting application (app) was developed to allow members of the public to join professional researchers in gathering Australian data. The app is used to photograph roadkill and simultaneously records the GPS location, time and date. These data are uploaded immediately to a website for data management. To illustrate the capacity to facilitate cost-effective mitigation measures the article focuses on two roadkill hotspots—in Queensland and Tasmania. In total, 1609 reports were gathered in the first three months of the project. They include data on mammals (n = 1203, 75%), birds (n = 125, 7.8%), reptiles (n = 79, 4.9%), amphibians (n = 4, 0.025%), unidentified (n = 189, 11.8%) and unserviceable ones (n = 9). A significant finding is variance in the distribution of mammals and birds at different times of day. These findings reflect diurnal variation in the activity levels of different species and underline the need for data on a targeted species to be collected at appropriate times of day. By continuing to facilitate roadkill monitoring, it is anticipated that the data generated by the app will directly increase knowledge of roadkill numbers and hotspots. Indirectly, it will provide value-added information on animal behaviour, disease and population dynamics as well as for species distribution mapping.

scholarly journals About the role of mineral fertilizers and methods of basic soil treatment in the formation of corn hybrids productivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 212 (09) ◽  
pp. 11-24
Author(s):  
Nurbiy Mamcirov ◽  
Arcen Mnatcakanyan
Keyword(s):  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Maximum Effect ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
North Caucasus ◽  
Corn Hybrids ◽  
The North ◽  
Yield Structure ◽  
Cultivation Technology ◽  
First Time

Abstract. The production of corn in the North Caucasus, and particularly in Adygea, has its own characteristics. While cultivating, it is necessary to improve individual elements of technology constantly, since they, together with technical means, determine production efficiency, seed productivity and quality of product [7]. The purpose of the work is to determine the optimal methods of basic soil cultivation and doses of mineral fertilizers that give the maximum effect when growing corn selection hybrids of the FSBSI “National Grain Center named after P. P. Lukyanenko”. The novelty of the obtained results is that the responsiveness of new corn hybrids has been studied for the first time on merged leached black soils and the most optimal elements of their cultivation technology have been identified. The research methods correspond to the “Methodology of Experimental Business” by B. A. Dospekhov. Results. As a result, it was found that the types of tillage did not have a significant effect on the density of the topsoil and varied within 1.23–1.26 g/cm3. It was noted that the best conditions for the growth and development of plants are formed when fertilizers are applied at doses of N120P60K40 and N150P60K40. Plowing to a depth of 30–32 cm (option 3) and plowing to a depth of 26–28 cm with soil deepening (option 4) had approximately the same effect on the analyzed parameters of corn. The maximum leaf area in the range of 7028–7083 cm2 and the largest weight of one plant, 2.25–2.26 kg, was noted respectively in 3 and 4 options, which contributed to obtaining of the highest yield – 5.84 and 5.62 t/ha. The optimal parameters of the elements in the yield structure were noted in the variant with a dose of N120P60K40, where the grain yield of the hybrid ROSS 140 SV was 4.94 t/ha, Krasnodar 194 MV – 4.90 and ROSS 195 MV – 5.25 t/ha, which is on 67.2, 72.6 and 69.0 % higher than in the control. The use of fertilizers in a dose of N120P60K40 provides better economic efficiency, although the yield here is somewhat lower than on the N150P60K40 option. The most cost-effective was the variant with the dose of N120P60K40, and amounted: ROSS 140 SV – 168.6 %, Krasnodar 194 MV – 184.4 % and ROSS 195 MV – 185.4 %.

Ectoparasites of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Teleostei: Sparidae) from Portuguese waters of the north-east Atlantic

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 503-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarida Hermida ◽  
Cristina Cruz ◽  
Aurélia Saraiva
Keyword(s):  
East Atlantic ◽  
Marine Aquaculture ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Sampling Locations ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Pagellus Bogaraveo ◽  
First Time

The ectoparasite community of the blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo, was studied in different locations in Portuguese waters of the north-east Atlantic Ocean. This is the first study to focus on the ectoparasites of this commercially important sparid fish. Nine ectoparasite species were detected. Gnathia sp., Aega deshaysiana, A. antillensis, Rocinela danmoniensis and Argulus sp. are reported for the first time on this host. Significant differences were detected among the sampling locations, with monogeneans being more prevalent in mainland waters, and crustaceans being more prevalent in the Atlantic islands of Madeira and Azores. Fish from Madeira showed significantly higher infection levels of all ectoparasites, especially crustaceans, and particularly high prevalence of Hatschekia pagellibogneravei. The potential impact of the species detected on captive fish is also discussed, since the blackspot seabream is a promising new species for marine aquaculture.

scholarly journals The Economy of Shark Conservation in the Northeast Pacific: The Role of Ecotourism and Citizen Science

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bear
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Scuba Diving ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Digital Cameras ◽  
The Public ◽  
The North ◽  
Near Extinction

AbstractHistorically sharks have been seen either as a source of income through harvesting, or as a nuisance and danger. The economic value of sharks has traditionally been measured as the total value of sharks caught for liver oil, fins, or meat for consumption. Sharks have also been killed to near extinction in cases where they were seen as a threat to fisheries on other species. This is illustrated by the mass extermination of Basking Sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) in British Columbia. They were seen as a nuisance to fishermen as they got entangled in gill nets during the salmon fishing season. However with the development of the SCUBA diving industry, and ecotourism in general, increased awareness of the role sharks play in marine ecosystems has resulted in changes in how they are perceived and utilized. Despite an ongoing harvest of sharks such as the North Pacific Spiny Dogfish (Squalus suckleyi), sharks now generate economic value through SCUBA diving enthusiasts who travel the globe to see, swim with, and photograph them. The use of digital cameras and other digital media has brought sharks into households around the world and increased awareness of the conservation issues facing many species. This renewed appreciation has led to a better understanding of sharks by the public, resulting in advocates calling for better protections and conservation. In particular, a growing part of the SCUBA diving community wants to contribute to conservation and research projects, which has led to participation in citizen science projects. These projects provide scientific data but also gain ground as ecotourism activities, thus adding to both economic value of tourism and conservation efforts.

scholarly journals Anthropogenic Sources of Non-Migratory Avian Mortalities In Singapore

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
David J. X. TAN ◽  
Ding Li YONG ◽  
Bing Wen LOW ◽  
Alan OWYONG ◽  
Alfred CHIA
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
The Public ◽  
Survey Methodologies

Although urban spaces are increasingly recognised as viable habitats for wildlife, cities remain a major source of anthropogenic mortality for wild birds. While the sources of urban avian mortalities have been well documented in North America, these phenomena remain poorly studied in Southeast Asia, especially for resident species. Here we present the first summary of non-migratory urban bird mortalities for the heavily urbanised island of Singapore. We conducted a citizen science study using print and social media outreach to encourage members of the public to report their observations of dead birds between November 2013 and October 2017, and collected a total of 362 mortality records across 65 resident bird species and five mortality sources. Our results show that a diverse array of bird species is directly impacted by anthropogenic sources of mortality, although mortalities stemming from roadkill and cat predation are likely to be undersampled. We also find that forest-edge frugivores such as the Pink-necked Green Pigeon are likely to be especially vulnerable to building collisions. Our study shows that despite its limitations, opportunistic sampling using citizen science can generate large amounts of ecological data at relatively low cost, and serve as a cost-effective complement to standardised survey methodologies.

Characterization and evolution of spearfishing in Madeira archipelago, Eastern Atlantic

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Roi Martínez-Escauriaza ◽  
Claudio Vieira ◽  
Lídia Gouveia ◽  
Nuno Gouveia ◽  
Margarida Hermida
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Teleost Fishes ◽  
The North ◽  
Southeast Coast ◽  
Madeira Archipelago ◽  
First Time

Data obtained from licenses of spearfishers and surveys conducted in 2004 and 2017 allowed for the analysis, for the first time, of the practice of spearfishing in the Madeira archipelago. Only a small percentage of the population practices spearfishing, mostly local young men. Most of them practice the activity with a partner throughout most of the year and along most of the island's coastal areas, although preferentially along the North and Southeast coast. Results show how, in recent years, despite the population of spearfishers decreasing, the abundance in the annual catch potentially increased, probably due to the higher investment of time in this activity. It has been observed that many fishers complement their catches with manual collecting of invertebrates. Overall, 40 teleost fishes and also 4 crustaceans and 8 molluscs were identified. The most frequently captured fish species were parrotfish and white seabream, while limpets were the most collected invertebrates in both selected periods.

Sphagnum mosses (Sphagnaceae, Bryophyta) of mires Chefandzar and Masota in North Ossetia (Caucasus)

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 455-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ya. Doroshina ◽  
I. A. Nikolajev
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
The Other ◽  
North Caucasus ◽  
Sphagnum Mosses ◽  
Greater Caucasus ◽  
The North ◽  
First Time ◽  
North Ossetia

Sphagnum mires on the Greater Caucasus are rare, characterized by the presence of relict plant communities of glacial age and are in a stage of degradation. The study of Sphagnum of Chefandzar and Masota mires is carried out for the first time. Seven species of Sphagnum are recorded. Their distribution and frequency within the North Caucasus are analyzed. Sphagnum contortum, S. platyphyllum, S. russowii, S. squarrosum are recorded for the first time for the study area and for the flora of North Ossetia. The other mosses found in the study area are listed.

Materials to the lichen flora of Samurskiy Ridge (high mountainous Dagestan)

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-406
Author(s):  
A. B. Ismailov ◽  
G. P. Urbanavichus
Keyword(s):  
North Caucasus ◽  
Lichenicolous Fungi ◽  
Greater Caucasus ◽  
Altitudinal Range ◽  
The North ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Mountainous Landscapes ◽  
First Time ◽  
Lichen Flora

The lichens and lichenicolous fungi of high mountainous landscapes of Samurskiy Ridge were studied in altitudinal range 2400–3770 m a. s. l. for the first time and 112 species are recorded. Among them 33 species, 10 genera (Arthrorhaphis, Baeomyces, Calvitimela, Epilichen, Lambiella, Psorinia, Rufoplaca, Sagedia, Sporastatia, Tremolecia) and 4 families (Anamylopsoraceae, Arthrorhaphidaceae, Baeomycetaceae, Hymeneliaceae) are new for Dagestan, six species (Buellia uberior, Carbonea atronivea, Lecanora atrosulphurea, Lecidea fuliginosa, L. swartzioidea, Rhizoplaca subdiscrepans) are reported for the first time for the Greater Caucasus and two species (Acarospora subpruinata and Rhizocarpon postumum) — for the North Caucasus. Most of the new findings were collected from 3500–3770 m a. s. l.

Hemiflagellochloris (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta), a new for Russian flora genus of green algae

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 104-113
Author(s):  
A. D. Temraleeva ◽  
E. V. Mincheva ◽  
Yu. S. Bukin ◽  
M. V. Eltsov ◽  
V. A. Demkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Algae ◽  
Molecular Analysis ◽  
18S Rdna ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Rdna Gene ◽  
Algal Strain ◽  
The North ◽  
Volgograd Region ◽  
First Time ◽  
18S Rdna Gene

The genus Hemiflagellochloris Watanabe et al. was found in Russia for the first time. The algal strain was isolated from a buried solonetz in the zone of dry steppes (the north-end of Ergeni Hills, Volgograd Region). The morphology and ecology of this isolate are described. Its phylogenetic position within Chlorophyceae is determined by molecular analysis of 18S rDNA gene.

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