The Hidden Half: Linking microbial communities to habitat condition and vegetation management in UK blanket bogs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Burn ◽  
Andreas Heinemeyer ◽  
Thorunn Helgason ◽  
David Glaves ◽  
Michael Morecroft
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Vegetation Management ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Habitat Condition ◽  
Blanket Bog ◽  
The Uk

<p>Peatlands are globally valued for the ecosystem services they deliver, including water quality regulation and carbon sequestration. In the UK, blanket bogs are the main peatland habitat and previous work has linked blanket bog management, especially rotational burning of heather vegetation on grousemoors, to impacts on these ecosystem services. However, we still lack a mechanistic, process-level understanding of how peatland management and habitat status is linked to ecosystem service provision, which is mostly driven by soil microbial processes.</p><p>Here we examine bacterial and fungal communities across a spectrum of “intact” to degraded UK blanket bogs and under different vegetation management strategies. Sites included grousemoors under burnt and alternative mown or uncut management along with further locations including 'near intact', degraded and restored sites across a UK climatic gradient ranging from Exmoor (South UK), the Peak District (Mid) to the Flow Country (North). Moreover, an experiment was setup at the University of York with peat mesocosms taken from all sites and management/habitat conditions to allow a comparison between field and controlled conditions and assessing root-mediated processes. Using a structural equation model, we linked grousemoor management to specific fungal/bacterial functional groups, and have started to relate this to changes in water quality provision and carbon cycle aspects. This represents a significant step in the effort to use microbial communities as indicators of peatland habitat condition in UK upland blanket bogs. </p><p> </p>

Towards unravelling the 'Black Box' of peatland carbon: Linking peatland habitat condition and management to water chemistry and quality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abby Mycroft ◽  
Andreas Heinemeyer ◽  
Kirsty Penkman ◽  
Jenny Banks ◽  
Tim Thom
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Chemical Processes ◽  
Habitat Condition ◽  
Alternative Management ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
Blanket Bog ◽  
The Uk

<p>In the UK, peatlands are a significant provider of many ecosystem services including drinking water provision and carbon sequestration. However, a history of intense management and other environmental factors such as air pollution has led to large scale peatland degradation. In fact, a large proportion of UK peatland habitat, particularly upland blanket bog, is no longer being classified as ‘active’. Such degraded peatlands are characterised by lower water tables, causing increased peat decomposition and thus loss of carbon. Carbon is mainly lost via respiration (CO2 and CH4) and as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the latter leading to a potential associated decline in water quality (affecting colour and taste); however, separating climatic from vegetation impacts and attributing negative impacts to management remains a challenge.</p><p>A particular issue in the UK is water quality from uplands containing blanket bog, as they provide most of the UK’s drinking water. Over recent decades drinking water quality has deteriorated as seen in increasing DOC concentrations. Whilst previous work has explored links between rising DOC and management practices, particularly grousemoor management involving rotational burning of vegetation to encourage red grouse populations on shooting estates, there continues to be a lack of understanding linkages in relation to alternative management/restoration, vegetation composition and, in particular, underpinning peat chemical processes. Understanding such linkages is becoming ever more important as many degraded peatlands are currently being restored by revegetation and rewetting as well as exploring alternative management such as mowing of vegetation.</p><p>Unravelling the underpinning peat chemistry and plant-soil processes regulating carbon cycling, and producing and/or altering DOC and its various constituent components, is key to understand impacts upon water treatment requirements. Of particular concern is that chemical (coagulant) water treatment has potential health implications via disinfectant by-product formation following chlorination of DOC rich water supply. Thus, ill-informed land management and/or restoration alongside climatic change may incur additional water treatment pressures and costs, putting increased pressure on an already strained system. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of catchment-scale peat plant-soil chemical processes and adapt best-practice land management options for supporting drinking water quality at the peatland source.</p><p>Here, insights into peat physical and chemical properties are presented, towards enabling management decisions based on ‘treatment at source’ rather than the conventional ‘end of pipe’ drinking water treatment. Field samples and monitoring of peat mesocosm cores taken from across a spectrum of ‘intact’ to degraded and restored UK blanket bogs (including conventionally burnt and alternatively mown grousemoors) are routinely monitored for gaseous carbon fluxes, DOC and water quality parameters relating DOC properties (e.g. UV-spectra) to vegetation, habitat condition and management. Mesocosms also included sampling from individual vegetated cores, each with two attached plant-free cores, either with or without roots. We compare findings from controlled mesocosms to samples from field sites, assess potential methodological aspects affecting DOC collection and characterisation, unravel potential links to specific vegetation types and management/habitat condition, and explore the characterisation of DOC compounds linked to colour, high coagulant demand and the formation of disinfectant by-products.</p>

scholarly journals Using Structural Equation Modeling to Jointly Estimate Maternal and Foetal Effects on Birthweight in the UK Biobank

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M Warrington ◽  
Rachel Freathy ◽  
Michael C. Neale ◽  
David M Evans
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Uk Biobank ◽  
Type 1 Error ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Genotype Information ◽  
Two Generations ◽  
The Uk

AbstractBackgroundTo date, 60 genetic variants have been robustly associated with birthweight. It is unclear whether these associations represent the effect of an individual’s own genotype on their birthweight, their mother’s genotype, or both.MethodsWe demonstrate how structural equation modelling (SEM) can be used to estimate both maternal and foetal effects when phenotype information is present for individuals in two generations and genotype information is available on the older individual. We conduct an extensive simulation study to assess the bias, power and type 1 error rates of the SEM and also apply the SEM to birthweight data in the UK Biobank study.ResultsUnlike simple regression models, our approach is unbiased when there is both a maternal and foetal effect. The method can be used when either the individual’s own phenotype or the phenotype of their offspring is not available, and allows the inclusion of summary statistics from additional cohorts where raw data cannot be shared. We show that the type 1 error rate of the method is appropriate, there is substantial statistical power to detect a genetic variant that has a moderate effect on the phenotype, and reasonable power to detect whether it is a foetal and/or maternal effect. We also identify a subset of birth weight associated SNPs that have opposing maternal and foetal effects in the UK Biobank.ConclusionsOur results show that SEM can be used to estimate parameters that would be difficult to quantify using simple statistical methods alone.Key MessagesWe describe a structural equation model to estimate both maternal and foetal effects when phenotype information is present for individuals in two generations and genotype information is available on the older individual.Using simulation, we show that our approach is unbiased when there is both a maternal and foetal effect, unlike simple linear regression models. Additionally, we illustrate that the structural equation model is largely robust to measurement error and missing data for either the individual’s own phenotype or the phenotype of their offspring.We describe how the flexibility of the structural equation modelling framework will allow the inclusion of summary statistics from studies that are unable to share raw data.Using the structural equation model to estimate the maternal and foetal effects of known birthweight associated loci in the UK Biobank, we identify three loci that have primary effects through the maternal genome and six loci that have opposite effects in the maternal and foetal genomes.

scholarly journals The Model of Odonate Diversity Relationship with Environmental Factors Based on Path Analysis

el–Hayah ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 07
Author(s):  
Bambang Feriwibisono ◽  
Marsoedi Marsoedi ◽  
Amin Setyo Leksono
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Water Velocity ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Vegetation Characteristics ◽  
The Relationship

This study aims to analyze and describe the relationship between altitude, aerial variables (temperature, light intensity, humidity), water qualities (water temperature, pH, BOD, COD, DO, TOM, and water velocity), and vegetation with the diversity of Odonate assemblages. Odonate samplings were conducted at six survey sites based on altitude and vegetation characteristics. Measurement of altitude, aerial variables, water qualities and vegetation characteristics were replicate in the first day and third day. Analysis of correlations of all environmental factors with the odonate diversity was done through structural equation model using Partial Least Squares (PLS), Open source Smart Software and Microsoft Excel. The aerial variables and water qualities affected indirectly on odonate diversity. The aerial variables directly or with interaction to other factor affected the water qualities and vegetation characteristics. The vegetation characteristics directly influenced to odonate diversity. Water flow affected water quality, light intensity affected the aerial, while morning period observation affected the odonate diversity. Predictive relevance (Q2) for a model designed amounted to 99.95%, while the rest of 0.05% are explained by other variables.<p> </p>

scholarly journals Evaluation of Two Management Strategies for Harvested Emergent Vegetation on Immature Mosquito Abundance and Water Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-151
Author(s):  
William E. Walton ◽  
Kevin Mai ◽  
Andrew Nguyen ◽  
Rex Tse
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Vegetation Management ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Mosquito Abundance

ABSTRACT Emergent macrophytes play critical roles in water treatment processes of free-water surface constructed treatment wetlands. Management strategies for plant biomass affect wetland function and mosquito populations. Sinking of harvested macrophyte biomass is thought to provide organic carbon that enhances denitrifying bacteria important for nutrient removal while concomitantly reducing harborage for mosquitoes. The effects of sinking versus floating dried plant biomass (California bulrush [Schoenoplectus californicus]) on immature mosquito abundance and water quality (nutrient levels, oxygen demand, and physicochemical variables) were examined in mesocosms (28-m2 ponds or 1.4-m2 wading pools) under different flow regimes in 4 studies. The numbers of mosquito larvae in earthen ponds with floating vegetation were greater than in ponds with sunken vegetation on most dates but did not differ significantly between the 2 vegetation treatments in experiments using wading pools. Differences of the abundance of Anopheles larvae between the 2 vegetation management treatments were larger than for Culex larvae when naturally occurring larval mosquito predators were present. At high turnover rates (&gt;2 pond volumes/day), water quality did not differ significantly between the vegetation management treatments and the water supply. At low turnover rates (approximately 2–6% of water volume/day), water quality differed significantly between the 2 vegetation management treatments and the water supply. Sinking vegetation can enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control but, depending on water management practices, may raise the concentrations of water quality constituents in discharges that are regulated under the Clean Water Act.

Peatland-ES-UK: a long-term, deep and holistic look at climate and management impacts on grousemoor managed UK blanket bog peatlands - carbon, water, biodiversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Heinemeyer ◽  
Anthony Jones ◽  
Tom Holmes ◽  
Abby Mycroft ◽  
Will Burn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Treatment Monitoring ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Blanket Bog ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Term Monitoring

&lt;p&gt;Large parts of the rather cold and wet UK uplands are dominated by peatlands, specifically blanket bogs. During most of the Holocene, those peatlands have locked away carbon for many thousands of years due to water logged conditions leading to low decomposition rates and long-term accumulation of soil organic matter as peat. Importantly, this peat accumulation not just increases carbon but also water storage and provides many other associated and vital ecosystem services to societies across the UK, such as drinking water.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;However, since around 1850, much of the UK uplands have been under grousemoor management to encourage red grouse populations as part of shooting estates, including controversial drainage, heather burning, and more recently, alternative cutting. Due to the rather weak and often conflicting evidence base around impacts of such management more research is needed to unravel climate and management impacts on ecosystem functions and associated ecosystem services. Much of the controversial evidence base is based on short-term monitoring of only a few years (potentially misinterpreting short-term disturbance effects as long-term impacts), single site studies (not capturing edaphic and climatic variability) and space-for-time studies, often with different treatments located at different sites (and thus limited in their ability or even unable to disentangle confounding variables such as site environmental conditions/history from actual management impacts).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We present long-term data from a previously government-funded, and currently multi-funded and to 10 years extended, peatland management project investigating ecosystem functions from plot-to-catchment scales on three grousemoor sites across Northern England. The &lt;strong&gt;Peatland-ES-UK&lt;/strong&gt; project is part of the Ecological Continuity Trust&amp;#8217;s long-term monitoring network and is based on a Before-After Control-Impact design approach. Each of three replicated field sites consist of two paired 10 ha catchments under previous burn rotation management and part of current peatland restoration work. After one year of pre-treatment monitoring, catchments were allocated either a continuation of burning or an alternative mowing post-treatment catchment management rotation (the latter containing several 5x5 m sub-treatment monitoring plots including no management). Monitoring includes assessing hydrology, water budgets, carbon cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, peat properties, vegetation composition and key biodiversity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We shall provide new and sometimes surprising and even challenging insights into blanket bog ecosystem functioning in an ecosystem services and habitat status context, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring, experimental design, spatio-temporal changes and remaining uncertainties. Specifically, we shall present findings about water storage (water tables and stream flow), long-term carbon accumulation rates (peat cores), recent carbon budgets (flux chambers) and net greenhouse gas emissions (including methane). We also present some peatland model predictions around various land use impacts on past, present and future carbon storage potential. Finally, we call for a joint funding commitment across research, policy and land user organisations to ensure the continuation of such joined-up &amp;#8216;real-world&amp;#8217; experimental and long-term monitoring work, as part of a national applied research platform network, as it provides the &amp;#8220;gold standard&amp;#8221; to inform evidence-based policy directly related to practitioner needs.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals COVID-19 preventive behaviours in White British and Black, Asian and Minorty Ethnic (BAME) people in the UK

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110172
Author(s):  
Glynis M Breakwell ◽  
Emanuele Fino ◽  
Rusi Jaspal
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Political Trust ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Preventive Behaviour ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Minority Ethnic

A model of the effects of ethnicity, political trust, trust in science, perceived ingroup power, COVID-19 risk and fear of COVID-19 upon likelihood of COVID-19 preventive behaviour (CPB) is presented. The structural equation model was a good fit for survey data from 478 White British and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people. Ethnicity had a direct effect on CPB (BAME reported higher CPB) and an indirect effect on it through political trust, ingroup power, COVID-19 risk and trust in science. Ethnicity was not significantly related to COVID-19 fear. COVID-19 fear and trust in science were positively associated with CPB.

Land use types influence soil microbial community through effects on soil properties in the dry-hot valley region in southwestern China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taicong Liu ◽  
Li Rong ◽  
Xingwu Duan ◽  
Zhe Chen
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Microbial Community ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Bacterial Composition ◽  
Soil Microbial

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abstract&lt;/strong&gt;: Land use is one of the most important forms in agricultural production. Non-appropriate land use can cause deterioration of physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, thus affecting sustainable agriculture. Earlier reports showed that land use drastically altered microbial community composition. However, the mechanism of land use on microbial communities is still not fully understood. In the present study, we focus on the dry hot valley, characterized by high temperature and low humility, to test whether soil properties from four primary land uses including the land conversion from farmland (SLC), sugarcane land (SL), maize land with conventional tillage (CT) and bare land (BL) have different influences on soil microbial communities. The results showed that land uses altered bacterial and fungal community composition. In SL and BL, we found the respective absence of a kind of fungi at phylum the level. The abundances of several bacterial phyla in SL such as Gemmatimonadets and Acidobacteria associated with promoting mineralization were higher than that in other land uses. RDA indicated that bacterial communities were influenced by soil total nitrogen, total organic carbon and available potassium contents, and fungal communities were dominated by available potassium contents. SEM (structural equation model) showed that land use has direct and indirect effects on bacterial composition, while only indirect effects on fungal by land use. Land use indirectly affected bacterial composition through effects on soil moisture, clay and available potassium contents, whereas through effects on clay and available potassium for fungal composition. Land use exhibited greater impacts on bacterial composition than fungal composition, implying bacteria was more sensitive to land use changes compared to fungi in the dry-hot valley. Considering the low level of total potassium in soil under SL and CT, elevated potassium fertilizer would be a beneficial pathway to improve soil microbial composition and soil nutrients in the dry hot valley.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Key word&lt;/strong&gt;: Land use, Soil microbial community, Dry-hot valley, Soil properties, Structural equation model.&lt;/p&gt;

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