A Study on Impact of Environment Friendly Product Attributes on Consumer Purchase Decisions

The study aims to find out the influence of environment friendly attributes on the willingness of consumers to purchase the product. It also aims to determine the type of emotions elicited by these kinds of consumer products. It was hypothesized that buying eco products can elicit different kinds of emotions in consumers. These emotions are usually positive that cause attraction to consumers and eventually the actual purchase of the product. An exploratory pre-purchase affect survey was conducted through field and online survey to determine what shoppers feel while looking for eco products to buy. Results revealed that participants significantly experience more positive feelings/emotions than negative feelings/ emotions when buying eco-products while participants are indifferent in experiencing positive and negative feelings/emotions when buying non-eco products. This study provided information on the importance of incorporating ecological attributes to the design of consumer products. As of now, not all companies offer eco-friendly products because it is not known if consumers are willing to pay more for the “environment friendly” attribute. This study hopes to shift the paradigm of companies as it will try to establish the emotional attachment of consumers to product attributes related to the environment.

Beyond Taxonomic Identification: Integration of Ecological Responses to a Soil Bacterial 16S rRNA Gene Database

High-throughput sequencing 16S rRNA gene surveys have enabled new insights into the diversity of soil bacteria, and furthered understanding of the ecological drivers of abundances across landscapes. However, current analytical approaches are of limited use in formalizing syntheses of the ecological attributes of taxa discovered, because derived taxonomic units are typically unique to individual studies and sequence identification databases only characterize taxonomy. To address this, we used sequences obtained from a large nationwide soil survey (GB Countryside Survey, henceforth CS) to create a comprehensive soil specific 16S reference database, with coupled ecological information derived from survey metadata. Specifically, we modeled taxon responses to soil pH at the OTU level using hierarchical logistic regression (HOF) models, to provide information on both the shape of landscape scale pH-abundance responses, and pH optima (pH at which OTU abundance is maximal). We identify that most of the soil OTUs examined exhibited a non-flat relationship with soil pH. Further, the pH optima could not be generalized by broad taxonomy, highlighting the need for tools and databases synthesizing ecological traits at finer taxonomic resolution. We further demonstrate the utility of the database by testing against geographically dispersed query 16S datasets; evaluating efficacy by quantifying matches, and accuracy in predicting pH responses of query sequences from a separate large soil survey. We found that the CS database provided good coverage of dominant taxa; and that the taxa indicating soil pH in a query dataset corresponded with the pH classifications of top matches in the CS database. Furthermore we were able to predict query dataset community structure, using predicted abundances of dominant taxa based on query soil pH data and the HOF models of matched CS database taxa. The database with associated HOF model outputs is released as an online portal for querying single sequences of interest (https://shiny-apps.ceh.ac.uk/ID-TaxER/), and flat files are made available for use in bioinformatic pipelines. The further development of advanced informatics infrastructures incorporating modeled ecological attributes along with new functional genomic information will likely facilitate large scale exploration and prediction of soil microbial functional biodiversity under current and future environmental change scenarios.

Ecological variation among island foxes relative to reproductive events

Ecological attributes of a species can vary as resource requirements and social interactions change in response to the annual reproductive cycle. We examined variation in home range size, home range overlap, activity (2005–2006), and food item selection (2006–2007) of island foxes (Urocyon littoralis) on San Nicolas Island relative to reproduction-related events. Home ranges, particularly for males, were larger during the mating period compared with the post-mating, pup-rearing, and non-reproduction periods. Home range overlap with non-mate neighbors also increased during the mating period. The greater home range size and overlap during the mating season is consistent with foxes, particularly males, traveling into the ranges of neighboring pairs in an attempt to secure extra-pair copulations. Daily activity patterns did not vary among the reproductive periods. Use of vertebrate prey items increased during the period when adults would have been provisioning weaning young. These items (e.g., mice, birds, lizards) are protein-rich and easier to transport compared with smaller items (e.g., fruits, snails, insects) that also are commonly consumed by island foxes. Variation in ecological attributes among island foxes across the different seasons defined by reproductive events likely represents efforts to maximize mating opportunities, particularly among adult males, and to secure optimal resources for provisioning growing young. These patterns are consistent with those observed among other small canid species.

Effect and difference between the threatened and endemic status on the general public support towards wildlife species in a biodiversity hotspot

General public inclusion in nature conservation is crucial to accomplish wildlife species recovery. Mammal and bird species usually receive most of the research and general public attention, leaving aside other taxa species. It is necessary to obtain general public support towards other taxa species by emphasizing ecological attributes. Here we test if the disclosure of the threatened and endemic status of amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, could increase general public support. Additionally, we wanted to identify if the threatened and endemic status could implicate a difference in support. Interviews (N: 359) were conducted among the general public in Valdivia, Chile, to elicit the support, allocation of a fictional fixed amount of conservation funds (WTS), towards native wildlife species. The species were two mammals, and four bird species, none threatened nor endemic, and two amphibians, one fish, and three invertebrates, all threatened and endemic. The WTS was derived on two occasions for each participant. Firstly presenting colorful pictures with the name of the species and, secondly, adding the threatened and endemic status in two separate treatments. Results indicated mammal and bird species with significantly higher WTS when pictures and names were provided. The main driver was a misperception of the threatened status of these species. When the threatened and endemic status was disclosed, the WTS significantly shift towards the amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. No difference in the WTS was spotted between the threatened or endemic status. As our results indicate participants associate charismatic species (mammal and birds) with threatened status. We encourage nature conservation entities to promote a broader spectrum of wildlife species by emphasizing conservation needs.

Do different relevance attributes indicate the same conservation priorities? A case study in caves of southeastern Brazil

In the last decade, the scientific community brought to the debate gaps that slow down the advance of knowledge regarding global biodiversity. More recently, this discussion has reached subterranean environments, where these gaps are even more dramatic due to the relict and vulnerable nature of their species. In this context, we tested ecological metrics related to some of these gaps, checking if the biological relevance of the caves would change depending on ecological attributes related to each metric. The study was carried out in caves from southeastern Brazil, located in a region presenting a high richness of troglobitic species restricted to a narrow geographical extent. Thus, we verified: (a) the cave invertebrate communities’ vulnerability with the Vulnerability Index and the Importance Value for Cave Conservation; (b) the distribution and endemicity of the troglobitic species with the Endemicity Index; (c) the phylogenetic diversity of the troglobitic species considering the average taxonomic distinction (∆+), their richness and evenness. We observed a considerable change in the ordering of the caves’ biological relevance according to each tested attribute (index). We discussed how each of these metrics and their attributes indirectly relate to: (a) the preservation and maintenance of the phylogenetic diversity of subterranean communities; (b) the spatial restrictions of different groups, where the greater their restrictions, the greater their vulnerability; (c) the preservation of caves with high biological relevance considering these different attributes together. Thus, we recommend the use of different metrics so that different ecological attributes can be considered, supporting actions that aim to preserve caves in highly altered regions. Finally, we find that the most biologically important cave in the region is not protected (Gruta da Morena cave). We warn that this cave needs to be contemplated by a conservation unit in the region urgently.

Socio-Economic Differences Control Species Composition of Urban Gardens in a Metropolitan Area of Argentina

Human population is becoming increasingly more urbanized, and in that context private gardens contribute to biodiversity and to access to ecosystem services in cities. The urbanized landscape reflects social, economic and cultural differences of the population, which affect the patterns of urban biodiversity. Socioeconomic level is one of the main factors that spatially structure cities, for which it likely influences several attributes of gardens. In this study we characterized urban vegetation diversity in 50 private gardens of an urban agglomerate of Argentina, Gran San Miguel de Tucumán. We aimed to determine which variables control ecological attributes of gardens. We used socioeconomic indicators obtained from the 2010 Nacional Population and Households Census, and data obtained through a survey to garden owners. Our study suggests that species composition of gardens responds to socioeconomic conditions, which might be linked to the exchange of species as the main method to obtain plants and to strengthen social bonds by belonging to a similar socioeconomic level rather than neighborhood or geographic distance. Based on our analyses, gardens in areas with higher socioeconomic level were larger. Species richness and socioeconomic level of gardens were not significantly associated, and species diversity was related to garden age, with older gardens being more diverse.

Special Issue: Evolutionary Ecology of Venom

This Special Issue of Toxins aims to increase the profile and understanding of how ecology shapes the evolution of venom systems, and also how venom influences the ecological attributes of and interactions among species [...]

ECO-FLORISTIC STUDY OF WEED FLORA OF MAIZE CROP IN DISTRICT SWABI,KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

The present study explains floristic composition and ecological attributes characteristics of weeds of maize crop in district Swabi during September-October, 2018. A total of 28 weeds species distributed in 27 genera and 15 families were reported from the selected maize fields of the study area. Out of 15 families, 12 were dicots having (17 genera and 18 species) and 3 were monocots having (10 genera and 10 species). Poaceae was dominant family contributed 8 species. Amaranthaceae (5 spp.) followed by Aizoaceae and Convolvulaceae (2 spp.) each. The rest of 11 families were represented by single species each. Annuals contributed 19 (67.8%) species while perennials shared 9 (32.2%) species. Life-form spectra indicated that therophytes were dominant and abundant life form with 17 (60.7%) species. Leaf size spectra revealed that microphylls were major leaf size class with 12 (42.8 %) species. There were 25 (89.3%) species with simple leaves, 2 (7.1 %) species with compound leaves while 1 (3.6 %) species was represented by dissected leaves.

Leukocyte profile of the helmeted manakin, Antilophia galeata (Passeriformes: Pipridae) in a Cerrado forest fragment

Changes in the amounts and proportions of leukocytes, known as leucocyte profiles, have been documented for several bird species and have been used to measure stress levels in these animals. The present work ascertained the biological and ecological attributes that influence the leukocyte profile of Antilophia galeata (Lichtenstein, 1823), the helmeted manakin. This species has been deemed useful in ecological studies because it responds to environmental changes. Blood samples drawn from 89 individuals of A. galeata captured in a Cerrado forest fragment were subjected to analysis under optical microscopy to identify and quantify leukocytes and micronuclei. The number of lymphocytes was greater for males, non-reproductive individuals and individuals infected with ticks. None of the leukocyte components differed in relation to age, molting or body condition index. The amount of micronuclei was correlated with values for total leukocytes, H/L ratio, heterophils, basophils and monocytes. The results suggest that reproduction may be an immunosuppressive factor for the species, producing sexual differences in lymphocyte availability. In addition, biomarkers of genotoxic damage (micronuclei) were related to the amount of leukocytes, indicating that individuals may be sensitive to environmental disturbances. Leukocyte profiles can be considered a useful tool for addressing ecological questions that are relevant to the conservation of species in degraded environments.