scholarly journals Phytolith and Calcitic Spherulite Indicators from Modern Reference Animal Dung from Mediterranean Island Ecosystems: Menorca, Balearic Islands

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 7202
Author(s):  
Marta Portillo ◽  
Kate Dudgeon ◽  
Montserrat Anglada ◽  
Damià Ramis ◽  
Yolanda Llergo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Balearic Islands ◽  
Island Ecosystems ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Fundamental Information ◽  
Animal Dung ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
Mediterranean Island

This study illustrates the contribution of plant and faecal microfossil records to interdisciplinary approaches on the identification, composition, taphonomy and seasonality of livestock dung materials. The focus is on the taphonomy of opal phytoliths and calcitic dung spherulites embedded within modern faecal pellets collected from pasture grounds and pens from a range of animals, including cattle, sheep and pigs from three different farms and seasons of the year in Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Modern reference materials provide comparative plant and dung microfossil indicators on factors affecting the formation, composition, preservation and decay of animal faeces, as well as on the diverse environmental and anthropogenic aspects influencing these. The reported results show relevant changes in phytolith and spherulite composition according to animal species and age, livestock management, seasonality, and grazing and foddering regimes. Both microfossil records provide fundamental information on taphonomic issues that are understudied, such as the variation in the digestibility among different species, including under investigated animals such as pigs, as well on the seasonality of plant and faecal microfossils that are excreted with dung as an important material for reconstructing human-environment interactions which is commonly overlooked in archaeology.

scholarly journals Towards Stimulating Tools for Advancement of Environmental Conservation through Promoting of Psychological Instruments

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
Md. Rahimullah Miah ◽  
Mohamed Sharif Mustaffa ◽  
Samsiah Jayos ◽  
Nor Hasniah Ibrahim ◽  
Sopian Bujang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Conservation Psychology ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
Psychological Instruments

The explorative field observation on Environmental Conservation Psychology (ECP) is multi-diversified with collective and conjectural outlook. ECP provides a better understanding of the way in which conservation awareness, attitude, ethics, culture and well-being are affected by physical environments, social settings and built-in environment. The goal is to stimulate more attention be paid to ensure the effectiveness of environmental conservation and highlight psychological instruments required to develop new interdisciplinary approaches with innovative ways in prevailing challenges for the present and upcoming generations. Primary data were collected from a sample of respondents at the Lawachara National Park (LNP) in Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh and secondary data were obtained from diverse sources. The research denoted and investigated by various disciplines and fields including environmental behaviors studies, positive psychology, person-environment studies, human-nature science and ecological psychology. The study showed about 70% of indigenous respondents opined on positive attitudes for environmental conservation to compare with 55% in others. The study identified approximately 65% of respondents stated for development of environmental education among local communities for promoting positive psychology surrounding the national park. This study focuses the importance of understanding this multidimensional psychological research as it is to inform about the environmental conservation perspectives that have contributed to and shaped the learning with high internal conservation stability, dependability, uniformity, and attractiveness with social bonding at LNP. This study represents the environmental design, manage, protect and restore conserving of biodiversity towards national parks that influence human behavior, predict and the likely outcomes when these conditions are not met and diagnose problem situations. This study links at solving complex environmental conservation problems in the pursuit of individual well-being within a longer community through human-environment conservation interactions.

Tree species preferences of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in the Campbelltown area south-west of Sydney, New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Phillips ◽  
John Callaghan
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
South West ◽  
Independent Field ◽  
Preferred Species ◽  
Species Preferences

Tree species preferences of a koala population inhabiting a small area of forest and woodland in the Campbelltown area, south-west of Sydney, were investigated over a two-year period. In total, 2499 trees from 45 independent field sites were assessed, with tree species preferences determined on the basis of a comparative analysis of proportional data relating to the presence/absence of koala faecal pellets. The results established that grey gum (Eucalyptus punctata) and blue-leaved stringybark (E. agglomerata) were most preferred by koalas in the study area, but only when growing on shale-based substrates. The preferential utilisation of E. punctata and E. agglomerata on substrates derived from shales, compared with that recorded for the same species on sandstones, suggests that their use by koalas was influenced by differences in nutrient status between substrates. Regression analyses further identified a trend for use of at least one of the preferred species (E. punctata) to be more commonly associated with larger trees. Results are discussed in terms of their relevance to issues of resource availability and the need to reconsider, by way of a hierarchical approach, the use of food trees by koalas generally. The presence of E. punctata and E. agglomerata and their occurrence in conjunction with shale-based substrates are considered to be important limiting factors affecting the present-day distribution and abundance of koalas in the Campbelltown area.

scholarly journals Carbon stock increases up to old growth forest along a secondary succession in Mediterranean island ecosystems

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. e0220194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Badalamenti ◽  
Giovanna Battipaglia ◽  
Luciano Gristina ◽  
Agata Novara ◽  
Juliane Rühl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Succession ◽  
Carbon Stock ◽  
Island Ecosystems ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Mediterranean Island

Key Issues Influencing the Performance of Near-Field Barriers

1992 ◽  
Vol 294 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.W. Tasker ◽  
S.J. Wisbey ◽  
C.B. Boyle
Keyword(s):  
Near Field ◽  
Performance Assessments ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Control Factors ◽  
Natural Analogues ◽  
Physical Barriers ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACTIn developing a national strategy for the disposal of radioactive wastes, each country will consider isolation options that are appropriate to the types of waste that are produced. The options are developed in response to specific national regulatory requirements, and thus will focus on different aspects of performance. However, there are a number of technical concerns that are common to all programmes. The major issues concerning the behaviour of the chemical and physical barriers in the near field of a radioactive waste repository are discussed in this paper.The description of key issues has been divided into the following categories: barrier design, barrier evolution, scientific understanding through modelling, and validation of performance. The near-field barriers are selected and designed to provide appropriate radionuclide containment and control. Factors affecting the evolution of these barriers, such as container degradation and gas generation, determine the subsequent release of radionuclides to the human environment. Modelling repository evolution is therefore an integral feature of performance assessments, and issues such as the treatment of inhomogeneities and non-equilibrium chemistry may need to be addressed. However, the use of mathematical and computer models implies a requirement for validation. The use of demonstration experiments and natural analogues builds confidence in the predictions of repository performance models, and provides a degree of validation for otherwise inaccessible timescales.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of a Mediterranean island (Pianosa), within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

2010 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 511-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Turrini ◽  
Cristiana Sbrana ◽  
Patrizia Strani ◽  
Beatrice Pezzarossa ◽  
Rosalba Risaliti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Mediterranean Island

In Situ Heating Transmission Electron Microscopy

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyasu Saka ◽  
Takeo Kamino ◽  
Shigeo Ara ◽  
Katsuhiro Sasaki
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Temperature Effects ◽  
Size Dependence ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Fundamental Information ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Solid Liquid Interface ◽  
Solid Liquid

AbstractTemperature is one of the most important factors affecting the state and behavior of materials. In situ heating transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a powerful tool for understanding such temperature effects, and recently in situ heating TEM has made significant progress in terms of temperature available and resolution attained. This article briefly describes newly developed specimen-heating holders, which are useful in carrying out in situ heating TEM experiments. It then focuses on three main applications of these specimen holders: solid–solid reactions, solid–liquid reactions (including highresolution observation of a solid–liquid interface, size dependence of the melting temperatures of one-, two- and three-dimensionally reduced systems, size dependence of the contact angle of fine metal liquid, and wetting of Si with liquid Au or Al) and solid–gas reactions. These results illustrate the benefit of in situ heating TEM for providing fundamental information on temperature effects on materials.

scholarly journals Widespread resistance of Mediterranean island ecosystems to the establishment of three alien species

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 839-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Montserrat Vilà ◽  
Akis-Stavros D. Siamantziouras ◽  
Giuseppe Brundu ◽  
Ignazio Camarda ◽  
Philip Lambdon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Island Ecosystems ◽  
Mediterranean Island

scholarly journals ROBOTS IN EDUCATION: A JORDANIAN UNIVERSITY CASE STUDY

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-180
Author(s):  
Ala Almahameed ◽  
Dana AlShwayat ◽  
Mario Arias-Oliva ◽  
Jorge Pelegrín-Borondo
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Educational Context ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
Facilitating Conditions ◽  
Social Entities

This paper adopts a technology acceptance model used for studying Robot’s acceptance and focuses on the acceptance of robotic technologies. Despite a wide range of studies on the acceptance and usage of robotics technologies in different fields, there is lacuna of empirical evidence on the acceptance of robotics technologies in the educational context. We contribute to the scholarship on robotics technologies in an educational context, by using qualitative semi-structured interviews, and proposing a research model to empirically explore the main factors affecting the acceptance of robotics technologies, and particularly among university students. We contribute to practice by offering insights on users' expectations and intentions toward the potential use of robot services to both robot developers, and educational institutions alike. The results revealed a potential impact of effort expectancy, performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions on the intention behavior towards using robots as academic advisors. Additionally, an emergent dimension (i.e. emotions) was found to have an influence on the behavioral intentions, via its proposed impact on performance and effort expectancies. Overall, social characteristics of robots ought to be considered when investigating their acceptance, specifically when used as social entities in a human environment.

The Late Roman fort of Can Blai on Formentera and its role in the defence of the Balearic Sea

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 445-457
Author(s):  
Ricardo González Villaescusa ◽  
Jordi H. Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Balearic Islands ◽  
Late Antique ◽  
The South ◽  
The North ◽  
Balearic Sea ◽  
On This Island ◽  
Mediterranean Island ◽  
Late Roman

Until recently, the late-antique castellum of Can Blai (also known as Can Pins) has not received the attention it deserves. Located in Sant Ferran de ses Roques in the centre of the small Mediterranean island of Formentera (Balearic Islands) (fig. 1), the fort was built at the highest (25 m asl) and narrowest point of the isthmus that joins the two major areas of higher ground, Puig Guillem on the north (107 m asl) and La Mola in the south (192 m asl). The fort lies c.600 m from the E shore and c.900 m from the W shore. In 1975, the Swedish resident R. Sternberg mentioned its existence to the second-named author, here, who was then director of the Archaeological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera. Fernández undertook archaeological investigations (1979, 1980) which documented the site and the form of the fort. The fieldwork did not result in full reports, but it was mentioned in a general publication on this island and in accounts of the heritage of the Pityusic Islands.

Using faecal samples in lizard dietary studies

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Luiselli ◽  
Valentín Pérez-Mellado ◽  
Mario Garrido ◽  
Ana Pérez-Cembranos ◽  
Claudia Corti
Keyword(s):  
Balearic Islands ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Insect Larvae ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Arthropod Predators ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Podarcis Lilfordi ◽  
Reliable Source ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Dietary Analyses

AbstractWhile the use of faecal pellets is widely accepted as a primary methodological source of data for dietary studies, a recent paper advocated for the use of gut contents. This was due to the fact that faecal samples would give biased results of the diet of arthropod predators, due to a lower representation of soft-bodied prey in faecal pellets. To test this assumption, we compared the spring diet of several populations of two insular lizards from the Balearic Islands (Spain), Podarcis lilfordi and Podarcis pityusensis, using both faecal pellets and gut contents. Our results do not support the supposed bias of dietary analyses based on faecal pellets. Indeed, soft-bodied prey and particularly insect larvae are often equally represented in faecal pellets and gut contents. Alternatively, soft bodied prey are represented in different proportions in gut contents and faecal pellets, but in some cases with higher proportions being observed in the gut contents, and in other cases with higher proportions in faecal samples. We conclude that faecal pellets can be a reliable source of information for dietary studies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document