Sediment Characteristics Determine the Flowering Effort of Zostera noltei Meadows Inhabiting a Human-Dominated Lagoon

Recent studies have shown increasing Zostera noltei meadows in areas modified by anthropogenic activities. However, it is not entirely clear whether this trend of expansion could be linked to a greater reproductive effort in the species. Anthropogenic stressors can induce the reproductive effort of seagrass meadows as a response to stress, but other variables, such as seagrass biometrics or environmental factors, can also influence their sexual reproduction. To increase the knowledge regarding this issue, we monitored the flowering effort, seagrass biometrics and abiotic parameters of three Z. noltei meadows in an area that has been highly modified by anthropogenic activities during the past decades. Results showed that silt and clay content in the sediment (strongly correlated with organic matter) and seagrass vertical shoot density explained 54% of the variability in the flowering effort of the meadows. This study suggests that stress-induced flowering of Z. noltei may occur under determinate environmental conditions, such as silty environments with organic enrichment.

Download Full-text

Reproductive effort of intertidal tropical seagrass as an indicator of habitat disturbance

10.1101/2020.07.19.177899 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Amrit Kumar Mishra ◽

Deepak Apte

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Effort ◽

Shoot Density ◽

Habitat Disturbance ◽

Andaman Sea ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

Reproductive Process ◽

Seagrass Meadows ◽

Habitat Disturbances ◽

The Indian Ocean ◽

The Relationship

AbstractHabitat disturbance is one of the major causes of seagrass loss around the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean bioregion. Assessing the seagrass response to these disturbances is of utmost importance in planning effective conservation measures. Here we report about seagrass reproductive effort (RE) as an indicator to assess seagrass response to habitat disturbances. Quadrat sampling was used to collect seagrass samples at three locations (a disturbed and undisturbed site per location) of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The health of seagrass meadows was quantified based on density-biomass indices of the disturbed sites. A change ratio (D/U) was derived by contrasting the RE of disturbed (D) sites with the undisturbed (U) sites of all three locations. The relationship between RE and plant morphometrics were also quantified. Reproductive density of T. hemprichii was higher and significant at the three disturbed sites. The average reproductive density of T. hemprichii at the disturbed sites was 3.3-fold higher than the undisturbed sites. The reproductive density consisted around 52% of the total shoot density of T. hemprichii at the disturbed sites. In general, the increase in the plant RE was site-specific and was 4-fold higher at the three disturbed sites. Positive and significant correlations was observed between the change ratio of RE and the plant morphometrics, suggesting an active participation of seagrass morphometrics in the reproductive process. Increase in seagrass RE can contribute to the increase in population genetic diversity, meadow maintenance and various ecosystem functions under the influence of anthropogenic disturbance scenarios.

Download Full-text

Research Trends of Biodegradation of Cooking Oil in Antarctica from 2001 to 2021: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on the Scopus Database

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18042050 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 2050

Author(s):

Khadijah Nabilah Mohd Zahri ◽

Azham Zulkharnain ◽

Suriana Sabri ◽

Claudio Gomez-Fuentes ◽

Siti Aqlima Ahmad

Keyword(s):

Bibliometric Analysis ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Drainage System ◽

The United States ◽

Waste Cooking Oil ◽

Oil Degradation ◽

Carcinogenic Effect ◽

Cooking Oil ◽

The Past ◽

Scopus Database

In the present age, environmental pollution is multiplying due to various anthropogenic activities. Pollution from waste cooking oil is one of the main issues facing the current human population. Scientists and researchers are seriously concerned about the oils released from various activities, including the blockage of the urban drainage system and odor issues. In addition, cooking oil is known to be harmful and may have a carcinogenic effect. It was found that current research studies and publications are growing on these topics due to environmental problems. A bibliometric analysis of studies published from 2001 to 2021 on cooking oil degradation was carried out using the Scopus database. Primarily, this analysis identified the reliability of the topic for the present-day and explored the past and present progresses of publications on various aspects, including the contributing countries, journals and keywords co-occurrence. The links and interactions between the selected subjects (journals and keywords) were further visualised using the VOSviewer software. The analysis showed that the productivity of the publications is still developing, with the most contributing country being the United States, followed by China and India with 635, 359 and 320 publications, respectively. From a total of 1915 publications, 85 publications were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Meanwhile, the second and third of the most influential journals were Bioresource Technology and Industrial Crops and Products with 76 and 70 total publications, respectively. Most importantly, the co-occurrence of the author’s keywords revealed “biodegradation”, “bioremediation”, “vegetable oil” and “Antarctic” as the popular topics in this study area, especially from 2011 to 2015. In conclusion, this bibliometric analysis on the degradation of cooking oil may serve as guide for future avenues of research in this area of research.

Download Full-text

The site Vavilino 1 on the right bank of the Derkul River in Western Kazakhstan (materials of 2018)

Samara Journal of Science ◽

10.17816/snv201983209 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 166-173

Author(s):

Talgat Basarbaevich Mamirov

Keyword(s):

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Past Century ◽

Stone Age ◽

Cultural Layer ◽

Stone Artifacts ◽

The Past ◽

Western Kazakhstan ◽

The Right ◽

Bone Remains ◽

Excavation Area

The paper is devoted to preliminary data from a study of the Vavilino 1 site in Western Kazakhstan. The monument was first opened by N.M. Malov in 1986, later he picked artifacts from the surface in 1988. In 1991 N.L. Morgunova carried out excavations on the site, which showed the importance of this monument study to understand the Neolithic Volga-Ural interfluve. The monument is located on the right bank of the Derkul River and is currently classified as an emergency. In 2018, employees of the Institute of Archeology named after A.Kh. Margulan in the framework of the Stone Age study in Western Kazakhstan started to work on the monuments of Yeshkitau, Derkul 1 and Vavilino 1. At the Vavilino 1 site a small excavation area - 16 square meters was made, more than a thousand stone artifacts were received; fragments of ceramics and bone remains of animals were poorly diagnosed. Excavations have shown the presence of a 15-20 cm thick cultural layer belonging to the Neolithic time. The upper layer of the monument with a capacity of up to 30 cm was destroyed by anthropogenic activities in the past century. The material from the cultural layer is not numerous; tip scrapers, fragments of plates with retouching, geometrical microliths, prismatic nucleus for plates, etc. are typologically distinguished.

Download Full-text

Comparison of Land Surface Temperature During and Before the Emergence of Covid-19 using Modis Imagery in Wuhan City, China

Forum Geografi ◽

10.23917/forgeo.v34i1.10862 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hamim Zaky Hadibasyir ◽

Seftiawan Samsu Rijal ◽

Dewi Ratna Sari

Keyword(s):

Surface Temperature ◽

Land Surface Temperature ◽

Land Surface ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Temporal Analysis ◽

The Past ◽

Modis Imagery ◽

Rapid Transmission ◽

The Mean ◽

Spatio Temporal

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was firstly identified in Wuhan, China. By 23rd January 2020, China’s Government made a decision to execute lockdown policy in Wuhan due to the rapid transmission of COVID-19. It is essential to investigate the land surface temperature (LST) dynamics due to changes in level of anthropogenic activities. Therefore, this study aims (1) to investigate mean LST differences between during, i.e., December 2019 to early March 2020, and before the emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan; (2) to conduct spatio-temporal analysis of mean LST with regards to lockdown policy; and (3) to examine mean LST differences for each land cover type. MODIS data consist of MOD11A2 and MCD12Q1 were employed. The results showed that during the emergence of COVID-19 with lockdown policy applied, the mean LST was lower than the mean LST of the past three years on the same dates. Whereas, during the emergence of COVID-19 without lockdown policy applied, the mean LST was relatively higher than the mean LST of the past three years. In addition, the mean LST of built-up areas experienced the most significant differences between during the emergence of COVID-19 with lockdown policy applied in comparison to the average of the past three years.

Download Full-text

Trait gradients inform predictions of seagrass meadows changes to future warming

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-97611-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Arianna Pansini ◽

Gabriella La Manna ◽

Federico Pinna ◽

Patrizia Stipcich ◽

Giulia Ceccherelli

Keyword(s):

Global Warming ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Shoot Density ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Seagrass Meadows ◽

Western Mediterranean Sea ◽

Seagrass Ecosystem ◽

Rhizome Biomass ◽

And Function ◽

Time Substitution

AbstractComparing populations across temperature gradients can inform how global warming will impact the structure and function of ecosystems. Shoot density, morphometry and productivity of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to temperature variation was quantified at eight locations in Sardinia (western Mediterranean Sea) along a natural sea surface temperature (SST) gradient. The locations are spanned for a narrow range of latitude (1.5°), allowing the minimization of the effect of eventual photoperiod variability. Mean SST predicted P. oceanica meadow structure, with increased temperature correlated with higher shoot density, but lower leaf and rhizome width, and rhizome biomass. Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) strongly impacted seagrass traits independent of SST. Disentangling the effects of SST and Chl-a on seagrass meadow shoot density revealed that they work independently, but in the same direction with potential synergism. Space-for-time substitution predicts that global warming will trigger denser seagrass meadows with slender shoots, fewer leaves, and strongly impact seagrass ecosystem. Future investigations should evaluate if global warming will erode the ecosystem services provided by seagrass meadows.

Download Full-text

Assessment of the ecological structure of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile on the northern coast of Lazio, Italy (central Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean)

Italian Botanist ◽

10.3897/italianbotanist.9.46426 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Valentina Gnisci ◽

Selvaggia Cognetti de Martiis ◽

Alessandro Belmonte ◽

Carla Micheli ◽

Viviana Piermattei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Morphological Variability ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Shoot Density ◽

Northern Coast ◽

Site Specific ◽

Fragmented Habitat ◽

Ecological Structure ◽

Wide Range

The ecological structure of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadows was evaluated on the northern coast of Lazio, Italy (central Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean sea). This is an infra-littoral zone with a wide range of anthropogenic activities and high geo-morphological variability, which reflects heterogeneity in shoot density, leaf morphology and biomass in fragmented patches. Genetic variability in populations corresponds to the formation of 3 sub-clusters, in the diverse impacted zones (north, centre and south), being correlated to the geographical distance between sites. AMOVA estimated a high genetic variation showing 43.05% individual differences within populations with a marked differentiation among the populations (56.9%) indicated by Fst value (0.57). These results revealed the role of the genetic structure of seagrasses for determining selectivity of fragmented habitat, in response to natural drivers. They showed that site-specific self-recruitment is related to biodiversity capacity and to the geo-morphological characteristic of the coast.

Download Full-text

Studies on birds of Biratnagar Sub-Metropolis, Nepal

Nepalese Journal of Biosciences ◽

10.3126/njbs.v1i0.7468 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 37-40

Author(s):

Kanchan Jha ◽

Bharat Raj Subba

Keyword(s):

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Bird Species ◽

The Past ◽

Gradual Loss

Biratnagar sub-metropolis is a good habitat for several bird species but in the past three decades drastic changes have taken place in the environment of this place because of anthropogenic activities. Several commonly visible birds’ species do not turn out at present. Habitats of birds have shrunk here in such a way that very limited species of birds have become successful to show representatives in this situation. Considering gradual loss of habitats and their inhabitants, an attempt was made to study the present bird status. In the observation of seven months, seventy two species of birds belonging to thirty two families were recorded. The birds recorded, were residents (72.17%), winter visitors (23.59%) and summer visitors (4.16%). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njbs.v1i0.7468 Nepalese Journal of Biosciences 1: 37-40 (2011)

Download Full-text

Negligible isotopic fractionation of nitrogen within temperate <i>Zostera</i> spp. meadows

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-15-7225-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (23) ◽

pp. 7225-7234

Author(s):

Douglas G. Russell ◽

Wei Wen Wong ◽

Perran L. M. Cook

Keyword(s):

Sewage Treatment ◽

Sewage Treatment Plant ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Isotopic Fractionation ◽

Seagrass Beds ◽

Strongly Correlated ◽

Bulk Sediment ◽

Close Coupling ◽

Seagrass Meadows ◽

Algal Material

Abstract. Seagrass meadows form an ecologically important ecosystem in the coastal zone. The 15N∕14N ratio of seagrass is commonly used to assess the extent to which sewage-derived nitrogen may be influencing seagrass beds. There have, however, been few studies comparing the 15N∕14N ratios of seagrass beds, their associated sediments and, of critical importance, the porewater NH4+ pool, which is most bioavailable. Here, we undertook a study of the 15N∕14N ratios of seagrass tissue, sediment porewater NH4+ pool and the bulk sediment to elucidate the extent of any fractionating processes taking place during organic matter mineralisation and nitrogen assimilation. The study was undertaken within two coastal embayments known to receive nitrogen from a range of sources including marine, urban and sewage sources. There was close agreement between the bulk sediment δ15N and seagrass δ15N (r2 of 0.92 and mean offset of 0.9 ‰), illustrating a close coupling between the plant and sediment pools. The δ15N of porewater NH4+ was strongly correlated with the δ15N of both the sediment and the seagrass tissue. For both of these relationships, however, the intercept of the line was not significantly different from 0 and the slopes were not 1:1, reflecting an enrichment of the porewater NH4+ δ15N pool relative to seagrass tissue and bulk sediment δ15N at high δ15N values. We suggest that nitrogen fixation is the most likely explanation for the observation that the δ15N of seagrass tissue is lower than porewater NH4+. Conversely, we suggest that the most likely explanation for the enrichment of porewater NH4+ above bulk sediment was through the preferential mineralisation of isotopically enriched algal material (nitrogen derived from sewage sources) within the sediment as δ15N increased in the vicinity of a sewage treatment plant.

Download Full-text

Nutritional Support of the Critically Ill Pediatric Patient: Foundations and Controversies

Clinical Medicine Insights Trauma and Intensive Medicine ◽

10.1177/1179560317701108 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 117956031770110 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Iván José Ardila Gómez ◽

Carolina Bonilla González ◽

Paula Andrea Martínez Palacio ◽

Elida Teresa Mercado Santis ◽

José Daniel Tibaduiza Bayona ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critical Illness ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Nutritional Support ◽

Metabolic Stress ◽

Pediatric Intensive Care ◽

Critically Ill Children ◽

The Past ◽

Nutritional Recommendations ◽

Response To Stress ◽

Nutritional Strategies

Critically ill children require nutritional support that will give them nutritional and non-nutritional support to successfully deal with their disease. In the past few years, we have been able to better understand the pathophysiology of critical illness, which has made possible the establishment of nutritional strategies resulting in an improved nutritional status, thus optimizing the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay and decreasing morbidity and mortality. Critical illness is associated with significant metabolic stress. It is crucial to understand the physiological response to stress to create nutritional recommendations for critically ill pediatric patients in the PICU.

Download Full-text

Marine and anthropogenic controls on the estuary of the Suriname River over the past 50 years

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences – Geologie en Mijnbouw ◽

10.1017/njg.2016.18 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 95 (4) ◽

pp. 419-428

Author(s):

K. Gersie ◽

P.G.E.F. Augustinus ◽

R.T. Van Balen

Keyword(s):

Tidal Current ◽

River Flow ◽

Sediment Load ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Fluvial Systems ◽

Sediment Fluxes ◽

Fine Grained ◽

The Past ◽

The Impact ◽

Strong Tidal Current

AbstractHumans have played an important role in fluvial systems because of the impact of their land-use activities, frequently leading to degradation of environmental conditions. Rivers, which are the primary agents in sediment transport, have thus been subject to changes in sediment fluxes. The Suriname River has been affected by anthropogenic activities since colonial times, and has experienced strong discharge and sediment-load changes since the construction of the Afobaka Dam in 1964. The river's estuary sediments largely consist of fine-grained sediments, originating, ultimately, from the Amazon River and transported by the strong tidal current. The influence of this tidal current is diminished at the head of the estuary, allowing the river flow to become dominant. Also remarkable is the interaction of the Suriname River and the westward-migrating mudbanks which is evident in the changing magnitude and volume of Braamspunt, a mudcape located at the mouth of the estuary. The regulated discharge of the river results in a change of the river's morphology, resulting, among other things, in the growth of river bars.

Download Full-text