scholarly journals Observations on Earthworm Communities and Soils in Various Natural and Man-Affected Ecosystems

Soil Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Christina Chalkia ◽  
Evangelia Vavoulidou ◽  
Csaba Csuzdi ◽  
Christina Emmanouil ◽  
Alexandros Dritsoulas ◽  
...  

Earthworms are important members of the soil fauna since they regulate fundamental soil functions such as organic matter breakdown, fertility, structure and water balance. However, so far, their community assemblages have been poorly investigated in Greece. In this context, the earthworm communities of forty five sites in Greece, belonging to three types of ecosystems—terrestrial water bodies, undisturbed (natural) sites and cultivated (agricultural and urban) fields—were investigated using the combined method of digging and hand sorting followed by the application of a 0.4% formaldehyde solution. Specific soil parameters and various environmental characteristics were examined as potential factors affecting the abundance and species richness. The results showed no statistically significant difference between ecosystem densities. The species number was significantly different between ecosystems, with the cultivated fields exhibiting richer communities, with a mean of 5.3 ± 0.6 species per site compared to the natural areas with 2.4 ± 0.5 species per site, while the water bodies showed intermediate numbers (3.6 ± 0.5 species per site). Finally, earthworm densities were positively correlated with species number and percentage vegetation cover and negatively with clay. These results may contribute to understanding how different land uses affect earthworm communities.

Author(s):  
Marta Pikosz ◽  
Beata Messyasz

AbstractPotential factors affecting the occurrence of filamentous algae include the morphometry of water bodies, the type of substrate and physicochemical conditions of the habitat. This study attempts to describe the individual filamentous algae species recorded in Poland, taking into account the trophic and ecological characteristics based on our own research and available literature data. Filamentous algae attached to the substrate as well as those forming free-floating patches (loose or dense mats) and crusts occur in all types of water bodies. Among the representatives of filamentous algae species,


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 600-605
Author(s):  
Patricio De los Ríos-Escalante

Chilean inland-water ecosystems are characterized by their low species-level biodiversity. This study analyses available data on surface area, maximum depth, conductivity, chlorophyll-a concentration, and zooplankton crustacean species number in lakes and ponds between 23º and 51ºS. The study uses multiple regression analysis to identify the potential factors affecting the species number. The partial correlation analysis indicated a direct significant correlation between chlorophyll-a concentration and species number, whereas the multiple regression analysis indicated a direct significant response of species number to latitude and chlorophyll-a concentration. These results agree with findings from comparable ecosystems in Argentina and New Zealand.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waqar Hassan ◽  
Nadia Jamil ◽  
Shehzaib Siddiqui ◽  
Anam Ali ◽  
Owais Quadri ◽  
...  

AbstractRice is one of the highly consumable and demanded food crops throughout the world. To meet this requirement, genetically modified (GM) crops were introduced, which were met with sturdy and frequently angry opposition by the user. To handle the situation labeling of GM food / crop was advised, thus demand for traceability and detection of unknown modified genes increased.Modified genes are detected by various methods; these methods are affected by several factors as reported in international standards. Those factors include presence / absence of shells, husk, and dust, method of DNA extraction and different PCR primers. These factors ultimately pose hindrance in detection of modified genes.This study was conducted to analyze the effects of the above mentioned factors on detection of GM rice samples. Furthermore two different sets of primers were used with same samples and their impact on the PCR detection was observed.The results showed a significant difference in DNA concentration between the rice samples with husk, without husk and after seed germination. Furthermore, the change of PCR primer set also affected the detection of genetic modifications. This allows analysis of the potential factors that may have impact on the final results.


2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-28
Author(s):  
Marek Merdalski ◽  
Krzysztof Banaś ◽  
Rafał Ronowski

Abstract In 32 lakes, 19 watercourses and 11 estuaries located along the southern Baltic coast (NW Poland) taxa of Potomogeton and Stuckenia genera were determined on the basis of 981/0.1 m2 plant samples. Environmental factors affecting them were identified on the basis of 212 water samples and 272 sediment samples. Twenty-one Potamogeton taxa were found, including four hybrids and two Stuckenia species. Twenty-one pondweed species occurred in lakes, thirteen in watercourses and ten in estuaries. There were significant differences in environmental factors in particular types of water bodies (p<0.001) except for the content of organic and mineral matter and of humic acids in the sediment. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) between the environmental factors affecting Potamogeton and Stuckenia, respectively, within each of the waterbody types studied. In lakes, Potamogeton occupied poorer habitats than Stuckenia, with lower conductivity, redox, PAR intensity, concentration of bicarbonates, calcium and chlorides and lower calcium content in the sediment. In watercourses, Potamogeton occurred in less coloured and less oxygenated waters than Stuckenia, but richer in CO2 and chlorides, better insolated and flowing faster. It also occupied less alkaline sediment, but of higher conductivity. In estuaries, Potamogeton occurred in waters with a relatively low concentration of chlorides and calcium than Stuckenia, lower pH and conductivity, but more coloured and, consequently, with lower PAR. C&RT analysis showed mineral concentration (Ca2+, Cl−, HCO3−) in the water, its conductivity, colour and flow to be the highest-ranking environmental factors affecting pondweeds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-48
Author(s):  
Takehiro Iizuka ◽  
Kimi Nakatsukasa

This exploratory study examined the impact of implicit and explicit oral corrective feedback (CF) on the development of implicit and explicit knowledge of Japanese locative particles (activity de, movement ni and location ni) for those who directly received CF and those who observed CF in the classroom. Thirty-six college students in a beginning Japanese language course received either recast (implicit), metalinguistic (explicit) or no feedback during an information-gap picture description activity, and completed a timed picture description test (implicit knowledge) and an untimed grammaticality judgement test (explicit knowledge) in a pre-test, immediate post-test and delayed post-test. The results showed that overall there was no significant difference between CF types, and that CF benefited direct and indirect recipients similarly. Potential factors that might influence the effectiveness of CF, such as instructional settings, complexity of target structures and pedagogy styles, are discussed.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Gaurav Mishra ◽  
Rosa Francaviglia

Northeast (NE) India is a typical tropical ecosystem with a luxuriant forest vegetation cover, but nowadays forests are under stress due to exploitation and land use changes, which are known to affect soil health and productivity. However, due to a scarcity of data, the influence of land uses and altitude on soil properties of this peculiar ecosystem is poorly quantified. This study presents the changes in soil properties in two districts of Nagaland (Mon and Zunheboto) in relation to land uses (forest, plantation, jhum and fallow jhum), altitude (<500 m, 500–1000 m, >1000 m) and soil texture (coarse, medium, fine). For this, a random soil sampling was performed in both the districts. Results indicated that soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and available potassium (K) were significantly influenced by land uses in the Mon district, while in Zunheboto a significant difference was observed in available phosphorus (P) content. SOC stocks showed an increasing trend with elevation in both districts. The influence of altitude on P was significant and the maximum concentration was at lower elevations (<500 m). In Mon, soil texture significantly affected SOC stocks and the available N and P content. The variability in soil properties due to land uses, altitudinal gradients and textural classes can be better managed with the help of management options, which are still needed for this ecosystem.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
V.L Malavasi ◽  
E Fantecchi ◽  
V Tordoni ◽  
L Melara ◽  
A Barbieri ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Natural history of atrial fibrillation (AF) shows a progression of arrhythmia from non-permanent to permanent AF. Permanent AF was found associated with a worse prognosis than non-permanent one. Aim To assess the factors associated with progression to permanent AF in an unselected population of AF patients with non-permanent AF. Methods In this prospective study we enrolled in- as well as out-patients with non-permanent AF and age ≥18 years, with at least one episode of ECG-documented AF within 1 year. The patients were followed-up at 1 month and every 6 months thereafter. Results Out of 523 patients, 314 (60%) were in non-permanent AF (80 [25.5%] paroxysmal AF, 165 [52.5%] persistent AF, 69 [2%] first diagnosed AF), mostly male (188, 59.9%), median age 71 years (IQ range 62–77), median CHA2DS2VASc 3 (1–4), median HATCH score 1 (1–2). After a median follow-up of 701 (IQ range 437–902) days, 66 patients (21%) showed permanent AF. CHA2DS2VASc and HATCH scores were incrementally associated to progression to permanent AF (CHA2DS2VASc χ2 p=0.001; HATCH χ2 p=0.017; p for trend CHA2DS2VASc &lt;0.001, HATCH p=0.001). At multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression the following variables were significantly associated with AF progression: age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.041; 95% CI: 1.004–1.079; p=0.028), at least moderate left atrial (LA) enlargement (&gt;42 ml/m2) (HR 2.092; 95% CI: 1.132–3.866; p=0.018), antiarrhythmics drugs after the enrollment (HR 0.087; 95% CI: 0.011–0.662; p=0.018), EHRA score &gt;2 (HR 0.351; 95% CI: 0.158–0.779; p=0.010) and Valvular HD (HR 2.161; 95% CI: 1.057–4.420; p=0.035). Adding LA dilation to HATCH score (HATCH-LA) and assigning 2 points based on multivariable Cox regression, HATCH-LA was statistically better in ROC curves in prediction of AF progression vs HATCH score (area under the curve 0.695 vs 0.636; DeLong p=0.0225). Survival-free curves on freedom from permanent AF using as discriminator HATCH-LA score ≤2 vs &gt;2 led to a statistically significant difference (χ2=16.080 p&lt;0.001), but the same was not found for HATCH score (χ2 =3.099; p=0.078). Conclusions In patients without permanent AF, progression of AF was independentely related to age, LA dilation, AF symptoms severity, antiarrhythmic drugs and Valvular HD. HATCH score predicted AF progression and adding to it LA dilation (at least moderate) improved patients stratification for the risk of evolution to permanent AF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Gamze Aytaş ◽  
Rümeyza Kazancıoğlu ◽  
Ömer C. Elçioğlu ◽  
Meltem Gürsu ◽  
A. Serra Artan ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Orthostatic hypotension (OH) affects 5–20% of the population. Our study investigates the presence of OH in diabetic nephropathy (DNP) patients and the factors affecting OH in comparison with nondiabetic chronic kidney disease (NDCKD) patients. <b><i>Method:</i></b> Patients presented to the nephrology clinic, and those who consented were included in the study. DNP was defined by kidney biopsy and/or clinical criteria. NDCKD patients of the same sex, age, and eGFR were matched to DNP patients. Demographic parameters and medications were obtained from the records. OH was determined by Mayo clinic criteria. The same researcher used an electronic device to measure blood pressure (BP). All samples were taken and analyzed the same day for biochemical and hematologic parameters and albuminuria. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 112 (51 F, 61 M, mean age: 62.56 ± 9.35 years) DNP and 94 (40 F, 54 M, mean age: 62.23 ± 10.08 years) NDCKD patients were included. There was no significant difference between DNP and NDCKD groups in terms of OH prevalence (70.5 vs. 61.7%, <i>p</i> = 0.181). Male patients had significantly higher OH prevalence than female patients (74.7 vs. 60.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.026). There was no significant difference in change in systolic BP between the groups (24.00 [10.00–32.00] mm Hg vs. 24.00 [13.75–30.25] mm Hg, <i>p</i> = 0.797), but the change in diastolic BP was significantly higher in the DNP group (8.00 [2.00–13.00] mm Hg vs. 6.00 [2.00–9.00] mm Hg, <i>p</i> = 0.025). In the DNP group, patients with OH had significantly higher uric acid levels than those without OH (7.18 ± 1.55 vs. 6.36 ± 1.65 mg/dL, <i>p</i> = 0.017). And, 73.7% of patients on calcium channel blockers developed OH (<i>p</i> = 0.015), and OH developed in 80.6% of 36 patients on alpha-blockers (<i>p</i> = 0.049). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> OH prevalence is very high in CKD, and etiology of CKD does not have a statistically significant effect on the frequency of OH, despite a difference that could be meaningful clinically. Therefore, patients with CKD are checked for OH, with or without concurrent diabetes mellitus. Evaluation of postural BP changes should be a part of nephrology practice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 7900-7915
Author(s):  
Mostakim Lahcen ◽  
Fetnassi Nidal ◽  
Ghamizi Mohamed

Measuring the phytodiversity and determining environmental factors affecting the abundance and distribution of riparian plants of Zat sub-basin in Morocco were carried out in this study. A hypothesis was tested whether there is any statistically significant difference in environmental parameters and plants communities among the Zat River and its tributaries. For this purpose, water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, electrical conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, nitrate and phosphorus concentration, and riparian plants diversity were estimated at 17 stations along the Zat River and its tributaries during the periods (2018 and 2019). The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and Pearson correlation were preformed to assess the relationship between environmental parameters, and the distribution and abundance of riparian plants inventoried. The presence of 113 species was recorded, distributed between 43 families and 97 genera, 9 of which were floating-leaved, 24 submerged, and 80 emergent plants. The rare and threatened species inventoried were represented by 7 taxa, whereas 6 species are reported as endemic. Raunkiaer classification showed a dominance of therophytes (38.39%) over the other groups. According to CCA, the abiotic parameters (DO, elevation, salinity and nitrate concentration) were statistically significant parameters governing the distribution and abundance of the riparian plants inventoried. The results obtained reveal the state of the riparian vegetation in the Zat subBasin, therefore we can consider them as a reliable component for the assessment of the ecological status of the aquatic environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (14) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Emine Serap ÇAĞAN ◽  
Birsen KARACA SAYDAM ◽  
Sinem GÜLÜMSER ATEŞ ◽  
Rabia EKTİ GENÇ ◽  
Esin ÇEBER TURFAN

Introduction: The primary attachment figure is mostly defined as the mother, and studies focus on the mother. However, in many babies, basic attachment is just as good with the father as with the mother. It is seen that there are very few studies in the literature investigating the correlations of father-infant attachment relationships.. The aim of this study is to determine the father-infant attachment status and to determine the factors affecting attachment. Method: The population of the cross-sectional study consisted of the spouses of all puerperant women hospitalized in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic between September 1, 2018 and October 1, 2018. The sample size consisted of 156 fathers who agreed to participate in the study. Father identification form and father-infant attachment scale were used to collect the study data. The analysis of the data obtained from the research was carried out on the computer using the SPSS 16.0 package program. Results: 156 fathers participated in the study. The mean age of the fathers is 33.64±6.49, and 38.5% of them have a bachelor's degree. 91.0% of fathers stated that they felt ready for fatherhood. The fathers' Father-Infant Attachment Scale mean score was 82.60±7.72 In the analysis, the difference between the variables and the total score of the scale was found to be statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: At the end of the study, the bonding process of fathers participating in the study with their babies and the factors affecting this process were evaluated and it was seen that the father-infant attachment scale mean scores of the fathers participating in the study were high and were similar to other studies. In addition, when the basic factors affecting father-infant attachment were compared with the attachment scale mean score, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference.


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