scholarly journals A novel approach to analysing the regimes of temporary streams in relation to their controls on the composition and structure of aquatic biota

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 3165-3182 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Gallart ◽  
N. Prat ◽  
E. M. García-Roger ◽  
J. Latron ◽  
M. Rieradevall ◽  
...  

Abstract. Temporary streams are those water courses that undergo the recurrent cessation of flow or the complete drying of their channel. The structure and composition of biological communities in temporary stream reaches are strongly dependent on the temporal changes of the aquatic habitats determined by the hydrological conditions. Therefore, the structural and functional characteristics of aquatic fauna to assess the ecological quality of a temporary stream reach cannot be used without taking into account the controls imposed by the hydrological regime. This paper develops methods for analysing temporary streams' aquatic regimes, based on the definition of six aquatic states that summarize the transient sets of mesohabitats occurring on a given reach at a particular moment, depending on the hydrological conditions: Hyperrheic, Eurheic, Oligorheic, Arheic, Hyporheic and Edaphic. When the hydrological conditions lead to a change in the aquatic state, the structure and composition of the aquatic community changes according to the new set of available habitats. We used the water discharge records from gauging stations or simulations with rainfall-runoff models to infer the temporal patterns of occurrence of these states in the Aquatic States Frequency Graph we developed. The visual analysis of this graph is complemented by the development of two metrics which describe the permanence of flow and the seasonal predictability of zero flow periods. Finally, a classification of temporary streams in four aquatic regimes in terms of their influence over the development of aquatic life is updated from the existing classifications, with stream aquatic regimes defined as Permanent, Temporary-pools, Temporary-dry and Episodic. While aquatic regimes describe the long-term overall variability of the hydrological conditions of the river section and have been used for many years by hydrologists and ecologists, aquatic states describe the availability of mesohabitats in given periods that determine the presence of different biotic assemblages. This novel concept links hydrological and ecological conditions in a unique way. All these methods were implemented with data from eight temporary streams around the Mediterranean within the MIRAGE project. Their application was a precondition to assessing the ecological quality of these streams.

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 9637-9673 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Gallart ◽  
N. Prat ◽  
E. M. García-Roger ◽  
J. Latron ◽  
M. Rieradevall ◽  
...  

Abstract. Temporary streams are those water courses that undergo the recurrent cessation of flow or the complete drying of their channel. The biological communities in temporary stream reaches are strongly dependent on the temporal changes of the aquatic habitats determined by the hydrological conditions. The use of the aquatic fauna structural and functional characteristics to assess the ecological quality of a temporary stream reach can not therefore be made without taking into account the controls imposed by the hydrological regime. This paper develops some methods for analysing temporary streams' aquatic regimes, based on the definition of six aquatic states that summarize the sets of mesohabitats occurring on a given reach at a particular moment, depending on the hydrological conditions: flood, riffles, connected, pools, dry and arid. We used the water discharge records from gauging stations or simulations using rainfall-runoff models to infer the temporal patterns of occurrence of these states using the developed aquatic states frequency graph. The visual analysis of this graph is complemented by the development of two metrics based on the permanence of flow and the seasonal predictability of zero flow periods. Finally, a classification of the aquatic regimes of temporary streams in terms of their influence over the development of aquatic life is put forward, defining Permanent, Temporary-pools, Temporary-dry and Episodic regime types. All these methods were tested with data from eight temporary streams around the Mediterranean from MIRAGE project and its application was a precondition to assess the ecological quality of these streams using the current methods prescribed in the European Water Framework Directive for macroinvertebrate communities.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc Gallart ◽  
Núria Cid ◽  
Pilar Llorens ◽  
Jérôme Latron ◽  
Núria Bonada ◽  
...  

<p>Water courses that recurrently cease to flow represent a large part of drainage networks, and are expected to expand with global warming and increased exploitation of water resources. Common classifications of the regime of these temporary streams are based on the statistics of zero flow events. This is partly practical because these statistics can be obtained from flow records or model simulations and the results can be used for some environmental regulations or management purposes.</p><p>Nevertheless, it is well known that the main hydrological control on riverine aquatic life is the presence-absence of water rather than its flow regime. Disconnected pools that frequently remain in temporary streams after flow cessation provide valuable refuges for aquatic life, which can last up to all year round. An operational characterisation of the hydrological regime of temporary streams useful for ecological purposes must therefore take into account at least the three main aquatic phases that they undergo: flow, disconnected pools and dry stream bed. However, gauging stations and the derived hydrological models may only marginally inform about the possible occurrence of disconnected pools after the cessation of flow.</p><p>In order to facilitate the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive to the temporary streams, an operational approach has been developed to describe and classify the regime of temporary streams and to assess their degree of hydrologic alteration, relevant to aquatic life. This approach is encapsulated in the freely available TREHS software. The first step of this approach is the gathering of information on the frequency of the three aquatic phases using diverse sources of information, such as flow records and simulations, <em>in situ</em> observations, interpretation of aerial or terrestrial series of photographs, and interviews with local inhabitants or technicians familiar with the riverine systems. Up to six metrics describing these frequencies and their temporal patterns of occurrence are used to determine the natural and observed stream regime, and to assess the degree of hydrological alteration.</p><p>The combination of the complementary frequencies of the three main aquatic phases allows the description of the regime of every stream as a point in a ternary plot, where the three vertices of the triangle represent the perennial streams, the perennial pools and the terrestrial systems, respectively. This ternary plot assists the classification of the regime of any stream that takes into account the statistics of the main proxies of the occurrence of aquatic habitats. The TREHS software also provides a classification of the regimes in the ternary plot that groups the regimes of assumed ecological significance and uses terms that are conflict-free from the current classifications. Furthermore, TREHS users can easily define new regime classes in this plot according to the ecohydrological characteristics of their streams.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 775-775
Author(s):  
Debra Sheets ◽  
Stuart MacDonald ◽  
Andre Smith

Abstract Choral singing is a novel approach to reduce dementia stigma and social isolation while offering participants a sense of purpose, joy and social connection. The pervasiveness of stigma surrounding dementia remains one of the biggest barriers to living life with dignity following a diagnosis (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2018). This paper examines how a social inclusion model of dementia care involving an intergenerational choir for people living with dementia, their care partners and high school students can reduce stigma and foster social connections. Multiple methodologies are used to investigate the effects of choir participation on cognition, stress levels, social connections, stigma, and quality of life. Results demonstrate the positive impact of choir participation and indicate that this socially inclusive intervention offers an effective, non-pharmacological alternative for older adults living with dementia in the community. Discussion focuses on the importance of instituting meaningful and engaging dementia-friendly activities at the community level.


Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Arne Sørensen ◽  
Vidar Sørensen ◽  
Terje Dalen

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between soccer players’ performance of receptions of passes in tests of both isolated technical skills and more match-realistic situations in small-sided games (SSGs). In addition, this study investigated whether the involvement in SSGs (number of receptions) correlated with the quality of receptions in the respective SSGs. The participants were 13 male outfield youth soccer players from teams in the first division of the regional U18 league. The quality of receptions was scored by educated coaches according to set criteria of performance. Statistical analyses of correlations were determined using Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient (rs). The main results were (1) a significant correlation in the quality of ball reception between 4vs1 SSGs and 5vs5 SSGs (rs = −0.61, p < 0.01) and (2) a trend towards moderate correlation between the quality of ball reception using a ball projection machine and 5vs5 SSGs (rs = −0.48, p = 0.10). (3) A significant correlation was found between the number of receptions in 5vs5 SSGs and the quality score of receptions in 5vs5 SSGs (rs = −0.70, p < 0.01). The trend towards moderate correlations between 5vs5 SSGs and the isolated technical reception test could imply the importance of training in the technical aspects of ball reception. Moreover, it seems as though the players with the best reception performance are the players who are most involved in SSGs, that is, having the most receptions.


2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Luca Barletta ◽  
Arnaldo Spalvieri

This work focuses on high-rate () moderate-length () low-density parity-check codes. High-rate codes allow to maintain good quality of the preliminary decisions that are used in carrier recovery, while a moderate code length allows to keep the latency low. The interleaver of the LDPC matrix that we consider is inspired to the DVB-S2 standard one. A novel approach for avoiding short cycles is analyzed. A modified BP decoding algorithm is applied in order to deal with longer cycles. Simulations and results for the AWGN channel are presented, both for BPSK signalling and for coded modulation based on the partition .


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
VERONICA JOHANSSON ◽  
SURJO R. SOEKADAR ◽  
JENS CLAUSEN

Abstract:Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) can enable communication for persons in severe paralysis including locked-in syndrome (LIS); that is, being unable to move or speak while aware. In cases of complete loss of muscle control, termed “complete locked-in syndrome,” a BCI may be the only viable solution to restore communication. However, a widespread ignorance regarding quality of life in LIS, current BCIs, and their potential as an assistive technology for persons in LIS, needlessly causes a harmful situation for this cohort. In addition to their medical condition, these persons also face social barriers often perceived as more impairing than their physical condition. Through social exclusion, stigmatization, and frequently being underestimated in their abilities, these persons are being locked out in addition to being locked-in. In this article, we (1) show how persons in LIS are being locked out, including how key issues addressed in the existing literature on ethics, LIS, and BCIs for communication, such as autonomy, quality of life, and advance directives, may reinforce these confinements; (2) show how these practices violate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and suggest that we have a moral responsibility to prevent and stop this exclusion; and (3) discuss the role of BCIs for communication as one means to this end and suggest that a novel approach to BCI research is necessary to acknowledge the moral responsibility toward the end users and avoid violating the human rights of persons in LIS.


2015 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 137-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Alexandre Rastorgueff ◽  
Denise Bellan-Santini ◽  
Carlo Nike Bianchi ◽  
Simona Bussotti ◽  
Pierre Chevaldonné ◽  
...  
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