The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached

Cnidarians are amongst the most venomous animals on the planet. They are also under significant threat due to the impacts of climate change. Corals and anemones undergo climate-induced bleaching during extreme environmental conditions, where a loss of symbiotic photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) causes whitening in colour, loss of internal food supply, and reduction in health, which can ultimately lead to death. What has yet to be determined is whether bleaching causes a reduction in the production or quality of venom. In this study, the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor was exposed to long-term light-induced bleaching to examine the effect that bleaching has on venom. Venom quality and quantity, as determined through lethality and haemolysis measures and nematocyst production was highly preserved over the five-month imposed bleaching event. Maintenance of venom and nematocyst production, despite a loss of an internal food source provided by endosymbiotic algae, indicates both the ecological importance of maintaining toxicity and a remarkable resilience that anemones have to major environmental stressors.

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Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Aspects of Forests in India - An Overview

Indian Journal of Forestry ◽

10.54207/bsmps1000-2014-s08f6t ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Tajinder Singh ◽

R.S. Rawat ◽

V.R.S. Rawat

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Current Status ◽

Mitigation Potential ◽

Global Environmental ◽

Local Levels ◽

Adaptation And Mitigation ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Climate change is recognized as a significant man-made global environmental challenge and it is also treated as threat. It may alter the distribution and quality of natural resources. Considering the vulnerabilities of forests and irreversible impacts of climate change on forests, long term planning for forest conservation and management is the urgent need of the hour to ensure and maintain the long-term mitigation potential of forests. In this study multi-disciplinary literature review, interviews with researchers in a variety of related fields, and consultation meetings with selected practitioners at the national, regional, and local levels were conducted. The findings of study highlighted the current status of knowledge, strengths, gaps and constraints in research pertaining to climate change adaptation and mitigation aspects of forests in India.

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Impact of the rust Puccinia linkii on Highbush Cranberry, Viburnum edule, near Smithers, British Columbia

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v127i3.1494 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 127 (3) ◽

pp. 270 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kiri Daust

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Food Source ◽

Leaf Tissue ◽

Dead Leaf ◽

Important Food ◽

Important Food Source ◽

Ecological Importance ◽

The Impact

The berries of Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum edule) are an important food source for wildlife and for people in rural areas. In 2012 and 2013, many Highbush Cranberry plants in northwestern British Columbia were unusually severely infected by the rust Puccinia linkii, with telia covering up to half of each leaf. Given the ecological importance of the overwintering berries, I studied the impact of the infection on the production and quality of berries in mixed forests near Smithers, British Columbia. Sites where Highbush Cranberry bushes were infected with the rust had significantly more undeveloped berries. Plants from sites with higher levels of infection produced berries with significantly less sugar. Dead leaf tissue was also significantly more prevalent in infected plants. This study provides evidence that Puccinia linkii may stress plants, leading to reduced quality and quantity of berries, especially if the severity of the infection increases with the increasingly moist springs that are projected for the region.

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Thinking Beyond Language: Intervention for Severe Aphasia

Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders ◽

10.1044/nnsld19.1.15 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 15-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nina Simmons-Mackie

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Communication Training ◽

Language Intervention ◽

Specific Training ◽

Environmental Support ◽

Total Communication ◽

Communication Partners

Abstract Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence. Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training. Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.

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Communication Disordered: Program Implementation in Long-Term Care

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp1.sig15.64 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (15) ◽

pp. 64-67

Author(s):

George Barnes ◽

Joseph Salemi

Keyword(s):

Program Implementation ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Family Satisfaction ◽

Regulatory Compliance ◽

Care Staff ◽

Term Care ◽

Staff Members ◽

Change Policy

The organizational structure of long-term care (LTC) facilities often removes the rehab department from the interdisciplinary work culture, inhibiting the speech-language pathologist's (SLP's) communication with the facility administration and limiting the SLP's influence when implementing clinical programs. The SLP then is unable to change policy or monitor the actions of the care staff. When the SLP asks staff members to follow protocols not yet accepted by facility policy, staff may be unable to respond due to confusing or conflicting protocol. The SLP needs to involve members of the facility administration in the policy-making process in order to create successful clinical programs. The SLP must overcome communication barriers by understanding the needs of the administration to explain how staff compliance with clinical goals improves quality of care, regulatory compliance, and patient-family satisfaction, and has the potential to enhance revenue for the facility. By taking this approach, the SLP has a greater opportunity to increase safety, independence, and quality of life for patients who otherwise may not receive access to the appropriate services.

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