scholarly journals Status, distribution and conservation of Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus (Aves, Charadriiformes) in Sicily

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Galasso ◽  
Giovanni Spinella ◽  
Manuel Andrea Zafarana ◽  
Antonino Barbera ◽  
Andrea Cusmano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sharp Decrease ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Charadrius Alexandrinus ◽  
Previous Decade ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
First Time ◽  
Kentish Plover

The Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus is a sensitive species whose national breeding population has been undergoing a sharp decrease, up to 50%, in 2010 compared to the previous decade. Due to the lack of updated data and fragmented knowledge about its current status and distribution in Sicily, a specific and accurate monitoring of this species was carried out during the years 2018 and 2019. About 230 km of coastline and 64 UTM squares 10x10 km were investigated during the breeding seasons, and a total of 205-287 pairs have been estimated for the whole region, distributed in 41 UTM squares (including the island of Favignana). Pairs are mainly concentrated in the complex of “Saline di Trapani and Stagnone di Marsala” and along the sandy coast of Gulf of Gela, with a higher abundance along the southeast coast of the region. Breeding population showed a decrease of 18-28% in number of pairs in comparison to the last estimation of 250-400 pairs reported for the years 2009-2010. After the investigation of 108 km of coastline and 46 UTM squares, the Sicilian wintering population has been estimated at 376- 563 ind., with wintering flocks mainly concentrated in the wetlands of “Mazara del Vallo” and along the coasts of Syracuse and the Gulf of Gela. These updated estimates place Sicily as the second most important Italian region for the wintering of this species, just after Sardinia. For the first time, the data collected have made it possible to draw up qualitative-quantitative maps of C. alexandrinus distribution in Sicily, providing an important instrument for the management and planning of specific conservation actions, which should be based on habitat protection and implementation of appropriate artificial ecological niches.

Psychological Resilience Provides No Independent Protection From Suicidal Risk

Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica W. Y. Liu ◽  
A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt ◽  
Richard Burns ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts ◽  
Kaarin J. Anstey
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Life Project ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
First Time

Abstract. Background: Little is known about the role of resilience in the likelihood of suicidal ideation (SI) over time. Aims: We examined the association between resilience and SI in a young-adult cohort over 4 years. Our objectives were to determine whether resilience was associated with SI at follow-up or, conversely, whether SI was associated with lowered resilience at follow-up. Method: Participants were selected from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project from Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, aged 28–32 years at the first time point and 32–36 at the second. Multinomial, linear, and binary regression analyses explored the association between resilience and SI over two time points. Models were adjusted for suicidality risk factors. Results: While unadjusted analyses identified associations between resilience and SI, these effects were fully explained by the inclusion of other suicidality risk factors. Conclusion: Despite strong cross-sectional associations, resilience and SI appear to be unrelated in a longitudinal context, once risk/resilience factors are controlled for. As independent indicators of psychological well-being, suicidality and resilience are essential if current status is to be captured. However, the addition of other factors (e.g., support, mastery) makes this association tenuous. Consequently, resilience per se may not be protective of SI.

PERSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD PRODUCTION OF FEEDS FOR AQUACULTURE: ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF RAW MATERIALS

2017 ◽  
pp. 67-78
Author(s):  
Lina Yurievna Lagutkina
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
The World ◽  
Market Trends ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
World Industry ◽  
First Time ◽  
A Current

The author of the article discloses the prospects of development of the world feed production for aquaculture based on the analysis of key innovative technological and market trends. The author specifies that shortage, high cost, low ecological compatibility of traditional raw materials - fish flour - are among major limiting factors in the development of production of feeds for aquaculture. This fact, in turn, limits sustainable development of aquaculture both in Russia, and in the world in general. The article presents the overview of a current status of the world industry of feed production in aquaculture, where the regional situation is studied, as well. For the first time, there is given the outlook of innovative technologies in feed production based on the alternative sources of protein (on the example of projects of leading aquabiotechnological companies) which will determine industry’s objectives for the mid-term perspective.

Breeding ecology of the Kentish Plover,Charadrius alexandrinus, in the Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia

2011 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monif AlRashidi ◽  
András Kosztolányi ◽  
Mohammed Shobrak ◽  
Tamás Székely
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Breeding Ecology ◽  
Charadrius Alexandrinus ◽  
Farasan Islands ◽  
Kentish Plover

scholarly journals Characterization of a newly established aggregation of the invasive ladybeetle Harmonia axyridis and current status of the invader in Spain

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. e1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Pons ◽  
Meritxell Roca ◽  
Belén Lumbierres ◽  
Éric Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Harmonia Axyridis ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Aphid Control ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Overwintering Aggregation ◽  
North And South America ◽  
First Time ◽  
North And South

<p>The multicoloured Asian ladybeetle, <em>Harmonia </em><em>axyridis</em> (Pallas), an invasive biocontrol agent introduced in North and South America, as well as in Europe for aphid control, drastically affected assemblages of native coccinellid species, local communities and people. Although the insect is common in several European countries and it was released in Spain for aphid control in 1995, no evidence of population establishment has been reported until 2011. In the present paper, 1) we summarize the records of the invasive ladybeetle in Spain and provide numerous new mentions, and 2) we follow for the first time an overwintering aggregation from autumn to spring and characterize some individual features which allow us to determine its phenology of the establishment and spreading. The results establish clearly that: 1) <em>H. axyridis</em> is (until now) restricted to Catalonia (NE Spain) but the invading process is in progress and the insect is able to occupy different habitats; 2) the ladybeetle overwinters successfully in Spain without significant natural mortality or parasitism; 3) the form <em>succinea</em> represents 73-81% of the overwintering individuals, and 4) the invasion takes probably its origin from Southern France. The potential impact of the invasion by <em>H. axyridis</em> in Spain is discussed.</p>

scholarly journals Experimental pieces of evidence for Mycobacterium ulcerans dormancy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Loukil ◽  
R. Lalaoui ◽  
H. Bogreau ◽  
S. Regoui ◽  
M. Drancourt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physiological State ◽  
Nile Red ◽  
Buruli Ulcer ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Oxygen Depletion ◽  
Mycobacterium Ulcerans ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Intracellular Lipid ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACTBackgroundWhether Mycobacterium ulcerans, the etiological agent of the neglected Buruli ulcer in numerous tropical countries, would exist in a dormant state as reported for closely related Mycobacterium species, is not established.MethodologySix M. ulcerans strains were exposed to a progressive depletion in oxygen for two months, using a previously described Wayne model of dormancy; and further examined by microscopy using DDD staining, microcalorimetry and subculture in the presence of dead and replicative M. ulcerans as controls.Principal Findings/ConclusionsM. ulcerans CU001 strain died during the progressive oxygen depletion and four of five remaining strains exhibited Nile Red-stained intracellular lipid droplets after DDD staining and a 14-20-day regrowth when exposed to ambient air, diagnosing dormancy. A fifth M. ulcerans 19423 strain stained negative in DDD and slowly regrew in 27 days. Three tested M. ulcerans strains yielded microcalorimetric pattern similar to that of the negative (dead) homologous controls, differing from that of the homologous positive (replicative) controls. The relevance of these experimental observations, suggesting a previously unreported dormancy state of M. ulcerans, needs to be investigated in the natural ecological niches where M. ulcerans thrive and in Buruli ulcer lesions.Author summaryMycobacterium ulcerans is an environmental opportunistic pathogen of mammals and humans, causing a subcutaneous necrotizing infection named Buruli ulcer. Molecular detection of M. ulcerans DNA revealed different ecological niches where M. ulcerans may thrive, but the molecular biology approach does not catch the physiological state of M. ulcerans in these different ecological niches. Thus, the reservoir and the mode of transmission of M. ulcerans remain elusive. Here, we investigated experimental dormancy of M. ulcerans by using a previously described Wayne model of dormancy coupled with microscopy using DDD staining, microcalorimetry and subculture. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that some M. ulcerans strains exhibit a physiological state of dormancy; potentially limiting isolation and culture of M. ulcerans from environmental niches.

scholarly journals Regularities of Low-Temperature Deformation and Fracture of Polyimide Films of Kapton H Type of Different Thickness

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Thick Film ◽  
Sharp Decrease ◽  
Rate Sensitivity ◽  
Temperature Deformation ◽  
Relative Deformation ◽  
Polyimide Films ◽  
Deformation Curves ◽  
Deformation And Fracture ◽  
First Time

The mechanical characteristics (limit of forced elasticity σforc, fracture stress σfr, relative deformation to failure εfr) of polyimide films of kapton H type under uniaxial tension conditions along the direction of drawing in the temperature range (4.2-293 K), deformation rates (10-5 - 10-3 s-1) and film thicknesses (25, 75 and 125 μm) were investigated. It is discovered, that the forced-elastic state remains for all films up to 4.2 K of all strain rates - σfors<σfr. In this case, the reserve of elasticity significantly depends on the thickness of the film with a decrease in temperature. A sharp decrease in εfr occurs in films: 125 μm thick - at 77 K, 75 μm thick - at 4.2 K. Two variants of deformation curves are possible in a 25 μm thick film at 4.2 K: with a short nonlinear stage or with a long one proceeding jumpily. The working surface of the samples that have undergone jump deformation is covered with a deformation relief, partially representing a delayed highly elastic deformation. The σfors limit is most sensitive to the strain rate. The nature of the strain rate sensitivity σfors(έ) depends on the temperature and film thickness. The change to the opposite in the character of σfors(έ) and σfr(έ) with a decrease in temperature to 4.2 K in 75 and 125 thick films was found for a first time. Change in the character of σfors(έ) is not observed in 25 μm thick film which retains the maximum reserve of elasticity at 4.2 K

scholarly journals The Behaviour of Skylarks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan D. Delius ◽  
Julia A. M. Delius
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Original Publication ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
First Time

A population of individually marked skylarks was studied by Juan D. Delius over four breeding seasons in Ravenglass, Cumbria, England. The original publication of his findings on their behaviour was published in German (Delius, 1963). Here, the article is presented in English for the first time, with updates of the relevant literature.

How to increase kidney transplant activity throughout Europe—an advocacy review by the European Kidney Health Alliance

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1254-1261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Vanholder ◽  
Vianda S Stel ◽  
Kitty J Jager ◽  
Norbert Lameire ◽  
Fiona Loud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Previous Decade ◽  
Legal Consent ◽  
Kidney Health ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Health Alliance

Abstract Kidney transplantation offers better outcomes and quality of life at lower societal costs compared with other options of renal replacement therapy. In this review of the European Kidney Health Alliance, the current status of kidney transplantation throughout Europe and suggestions for improvement of transplantation rates are reported. Although the European Union (EU) has made considerable efforts in the previous decade to stimulate transplantation activity, the discrepancies among European countries suggest that there is still room for improvement. The EU efforts have partially been neutralized by external factors such as economic crises or legal issues, especially the illicit manipulation of waiting lists. Hence, growth in the application of transplantation throughout Europe virtually remained unchanged over the last few years. Continued efforts are warranted to further stimulate transplantation rates, along with the current registration and data analysis efforts supported by the EU in the Effect of Differing Kidney Disease Treatment Modalities and Organ Donation and Transplantation Practices on Health Expenditure and Patient Outcomes project. Future actions should concentrate on organization, harmonization and improvement of the legal consent framework, population education and financial stimuli.

scholarly journals Behavioral and trophic segregations help the Tahiti petrel to cope with the abundance of wedge-tailed shearwater when foraging in oligotrophic tropical waters

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Ravache ◽  
Karen Bourgeois ◽  
Henri Weimerskirch ◽  
Angélique Pagenaud ◽  
Sophie de Grissac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trophic Ecology ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Foraging Strategy ◽  
Gps Tracking ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Extensive Search ◽  
Tropical Area ◽  
Time Space ◽  
Dna Metabarcoding ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Abstract Two species breeding in sympatry are more likely to coexist if their ecological niches are segregated either in time, space or in trophic habits. Here, we combined GPS-tracking, stable isotope analysis and DNA metabarcoding analysis to understand how the rare Tahiti petrel Pseudobulweria rostrata (TP) copes with the very abundant (i.e. 500,000 breeding pairs) wedge-tailed shearwater Ardenna pacifica (WTS) when breeding in sympatry in a tropical area. WTS foraged in restricted areas along their path, while TP predominantly foraged using extensive search behavior, suggesting a more opportunistic foraging strategy. Interspecific overlap of foraging areas was higher than intraspecific overlap. Breeding seasons largely overlap between species during the study, but TP seems to be asynchronous breeders. TP fed upon prey with higher δ15N values than WTS, and their diet was mainly composed of deep-sea organisms. TP could feed upon dead prey floating at the surface while WTS preyed mainly upon fish species that generally move in schools. Our study highlights several segregating mechanisms (temporal, behavioral and trophic) that could facilitate the coexistence of the two species despite the predominant number of WTS, and provides the very first information on the foraging and trophic ecology of the poorly-known TP.

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