Preliminary investigation of the critically imperiled Caney Mountain cave crayfish Orconectes stygocaneyi (Hobbs III, 2001) (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in Missouri, USA

Abstract The Caney Mountain cave crayfish (Orconectes stygocaneyi) is one of North America’s rarest crayfish, endemic to one cave in southern Missouri, USA. The species is listed as “critically imperiled” by Missouri, and “threatened” by the American Fisheries Society. Previously, only 15 crayfish have been observed in Mud Cave, and only two have been collected (for original species description). We aimed to collect the first natural history data on the species and search adjacent caves and springs for additional populations. Twelve visual searches and supplemental trapping over four years, in all seasons, yielded 69 O. stygocaneyi (including 11 young-of-year) observations and capture of 22 crayfish, including one ovigerous female. Visual searches of nearby caves and springs yielded no O. stygocaneyi records. However, multiple surveys of those caves and springs, using environmental DNA detected the species in one additional cave adjacent to Mud Cave, but only during spring high flow events when the caves may be ephemerally connected. Orconectes stygocaneyi’s distribution is among the most restricted of any North American crayfish, and further evaluation of its conservation status designations might be warranted. Long term conservation of O. stygocaeyi would benefit from management practices promoting sustained, unimpacted surface runoff within Mud Cave’s recharge area.

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Monitoring Effects of Catchment Management Practices on Phosphorus Loads into the Eutrophic Peel-Harvey Estuary, Western Australia

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1986.0180 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 18 (4-5) ◽

pp. 53-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

P. B. Birch ◽

G. G. Forbes ◽

N. J. Schofield

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Major Change ◽

High Flow ◽

Catchment Management ◽

Flow Rates ◽

Early Results ◽

Phosphorus Loads ◽

Time Of Year ◽

High Runoff

Early results from monitoring runoff suggest that the programme to reduce application of superphosphate to farmlands in surrounding catchments has been successful in reducing input of phosphorus to the eutrophic Peel-Harvey estuary. In the estuary this phosphorus fertilizes algae which grow in abundance and accumulate and pollute once clean beaches. The success of the programme has been judged from application of an empirical statistical model, which was derived from 6 years of data from the Harvey Estuary catchment prior to a major change in fertilizer practices in 1984. The model relates concentration of phosphorus with rate of flow and time of year. High phosphorus concentrations were associated with high flow rates and with flows early in the high runoff season (May-July). The model predicted that the distribution of flows in 1984 should have resulted in a flow-weighted concentration of phosphorus near the long-term average; the observed concentration was 25% below the long-term average. This means that the amount of phosphorus discharged into the Harvey Estuary could have been about 2 5% less than expected from the volume of runoff which occurred. However several more years of data are required to confirm this trend.

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The fundamental importance of taxonomy in conservation biology: the case of the eyeless Cicurina bandida (Araneae:Dictynidae) of central Texas, including new synonyms and the description of the male of the species

Invertebrate Systematics ◽

10.1071/is07044 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 139 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Pierre Paquin ◽

Nadine Dupérré ◽

James C. Cokendolpher ◽

Kemble White ◽

Marshal Hedin

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Intraspecific Variability ◽

Small Sample ◽

Adult Males ◽

New Synonyms ◽

Central Texas ◽

Original Species ◽

Male Morphology ◽

First Time

Three eyeless species belonging to the spider genus Cicurina Menge are known from five caves located south of Austin, Travis County (Texas, United States). Because adult female cave-dwelling Cicurina are not common, and adult males rarely collected, these species were described from a very small sample of individuals (nine females). Recent collections have allowed the examination of a larger series of specimens, providing an opportunity to assess intraspecific variability. This has resulted in the synonymy of C. cueva Gertsch and C. reyesi Gertsch with Cicurina bandida Gertsch. The synonymy is supported by both female and male morphology; the male of the species is described for the first time. Cicurina bandida is now known from ~20 caves, restricted to a 10 km × 30 km area. Cicurina cueva was proposed to be listed as an endangered species. Because of the special conservation status of troglobitic Cicurina, modifications of the original species hypothesis are fertile grounds for confrontation between conservationists and proponents of development. Taxonomy is a dynamic science that progresses by proposing new scientific hypotheses and this conflicts with conservation principles that are embedded in a static framework. The criteria used to assign species a particular conservation status should be based on the best available evidence, and not limited by political considerations. Long-term conservation goals can only be achieved when based on a robust taxonomy, which is still largely unavailable for most Texas cave arthropods.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Ecosystem services of the soil food web after long-term application of agricultural management practices.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.729912969.793540698 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Paul Kardol

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Food Web ◽

Management Practices ◽

Agricultural Management ◽

Soil Food Web

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Tracking Changes on Soil Structure and Organic Carbon Sequestration after 30 Years of Different Tillage and Management Practices

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11020291 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 291

Author(s):

Ramón Bienes ◽

Maria Jose Marques ◽

Blanca Sastre ◽

Andrés García-Díaz ◽

Iris Esparza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Triticum Aestivum ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

Field Trials ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Wilting Point

Long-term field trials are essential for monitoring the effects of sustainable land management strategies for adaptation and mitigation to climate change. The influence of more than thirty years of different management is analyzed on extensive crops under three tillage systems, conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), and no-tillage (NT), and with two crop rotations, monoculture winter-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and wheat-vetch (Triticum aestivum L.-Vicia sativa L.), widely present in the center of Spain. The soil under NT experienced the largest change in organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, macroaggregate stability, and bulk density. In the MT and NT treatments, SOC content was still increasing after 32 years, being 26.5 and 32.2 Mg ha−1, respectively, compared to 20.8 Mg ha−1 in CT. The SOC stratification (ratio of SOC at the topsoil/SOC at the layer underneath), an indicator of soil conservation, increased with decreasing tillage intensity (2.32, 1.36, and 1.01 for NT, MT, and CT respectively). Tillage intensity affected the majority of soil parameters, except the water stable aggregates, infiltration, and porosity. The NT treatment increased available water, but only in monocropping. More water was retained at the permanent wilting point in NT treatments, which can be a disadvantage in dry periods of these edaphoclimatic conditions.

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Green Practices Implementation as Prerequisite to Sustain Firm Competitive Advantages

International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development ◽

10.4018/ijsesd.2015100103 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 34-53

Author(s):

Kardison Lumbanbatu ◽

Vincent Didiek Wiet Aryanto

Keyword(s):

Product Innovation ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Large Scale ◽

Management Practices ◽

Corporate Image ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Competitive Advantages ◽

Green Management ◽

Marketing Performance

Encompassing firms to apply green policy in a holistic management practices are strongly required in order to maintain competitive advantages and experience long-term marketing performance. This current empirical research is aimed to fill the lack of empirical findings and empirical studies on firm's innovative concept. Green-based product innovation, green management practices and green corporate image are presented as the antecedents and postulated as the sources of sustaining firm competitive advantages. A questionnaire-based survey was deployed to collect data from Large Scale Enterprises in Indonesia with Top Management, Operational and Marketing Managers served as respondents. 500 questionnaires were mailed and 388 were valid for further analysis. Data was analyzed by using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via AMOS statistical software. Statistical findings demonstrated that green-based product innovation, green management practices and green corporate image significantly has a positive affect to sustain firm competitive advantages which is led to enhance long term marketing performance. However, green-based product innovation plays insignificant direct relationship on long term marketing performance. This study discusses some managerial implications for enterprises and recommendations on a basis of green implementation.

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Minor Treatments Can Play a Significant Role in Preserving Natural Habitats and Protected Species on the Shore of a Central European Lake

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11081540 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1540

Author(s):

Bence Fülöp ◽

Bálint Pacsai ◽

Judit Bódis

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Active Management ◽

Lake Balaton ◽

Protected Species ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Management Interventions ◽

Natural Grasslands ◽

Tourism Potential

Semi-natural grasslands were previously established through traditional land use and maintained by active management, but their extension nowadays is declining rapidly, particularly in areas that also have tourism potential. In parallel, the conservation value of the remaining areas is increasing. The shore of Lake Balaton is a particularly good example, as Lake Balaton is an area highly affected by tourism, yet there have been valuable habitats able to survive and provide refuge for many vulnerable, protected species. Fortunately, we have reliable information about the vegetation of the area from two decades ago. Comparing these data with our recent surveys we investigated the changes in habitats and the distribution of protected plant species in connection with the active conservation treatments such as grazing or cutting. Our results show that in areas where treatments are still ongoing, protected plant species are more likely to survive, or even other species can appear, which is in clear contrast with conditions experienced in abandoned areas, where at least seven protected species have disappeared. According to our results, minor, but appropriately chosen and well-executed management interventions, can help in the long-term maintenance of species-rich habitats and improving the conservation status of threatened species.

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Effects of Management and Hillside Position on Soil Organic Carbon Stratification in Mediterranean Centenary Olive Grove

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11040650 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 650

Author(s):

Jesús Aguilera-Huertas ◽

Beatriz Lozano-García ◽

Manuel González-Rosado ◽

Luis Parras-Alcántara

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Management Practices ◽

Soil Management ◽

Olive Grove ◽

No Tillage ◽

Short Term ◽

Degradation Degree

The short- and medium—long-term effects of management and hillside position on soil organic carbon (SOC) changes were studied in a centenary Mediterranean rainfed olive grove. One way to measure these changes is to analyze the soil quality, as it assesses soil degradation degree and attempts to identify management practices for sustainable soil use. In this context, the SOC stratification index (SR-COS) is one of the best indicators of soil quality to assess the degradation degree from SOC content without analyzing other soil properties. The SR-SOC was calculated in soil profiles (horizon-by-horizon) to identify the best soil management practices for sustainable use. The following time periods and soil management combinations were tested: (i) in the medium‒long-term (17 years) from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT), (ii) in the short-term (2 years) from CT to no-tillage with cover crops (NT-CC), and (iii) the effect in the short-term (from CT to NT-CC) of different topographic positions along a hillside. The results indicate that the SR-SOC increased with depth for all management practices. The SR-SOC ranged from 1.21 to 1.73 in CT0, from 1.48 to 3.01 in CT1, from 1.15 to 2.48 in CT2, from 1.22 to 2.39 in NT-CC and from 0.98 to 4.16 in NT; therefore, the soil quality from the SR-SOC index was not directly linked to the increase or loss of SOC along the soil profile. This demonstrates the time-variability of SR-SOC and that NT improves soil quality in the long-term.

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