Seasonal Spatial Activity Patterns of Visitors with a Mobile Exercise Application at Seoraksan National Park, South Korea

The assessment of spatio-temporal patterns of visitors’ activities in national parks is essential to mitigate impacts to natural resources as well as manage experiences. With the use of a GPS-based mobile exercise application dataset, this study explored the spatio-temporal patterns of visitors’ activities in Seoraksan National Park, South Korea. A total of 1,206 anonymous mobile application users along with their 2,571 activity start points were acquired for January 2015 to December 2015. GIS-based hot spot analyses were employed to analyze the spatial patterns of activity points over time. Results indicated activity hot spots for hours (i.e., dawn, morning, afternoon, and evening) as well as risky points (i.e., falling-rocks, risk of structure collapse, or lightning) during dark hours (night) across seasons. Findings from this study can assist managers to allocate their spatio-temporal park management resources effectively to minimize environmental impacts, and enhance visitor experiences and safety. Furthermore, GPS-based mobile exercise application can be used as an alternative tool to assess spatio-temporal use of visitors in national parks.

Tropical areas with favorable climatic conditions, high prey availability and large prey size are assumed to favor sociality in spiders. Notwithstanding, the three social species of Stegodyphus (Eresidae) inhabit arid and semi-arid habitats with marked daily and seasonal variation in climate. The nests of the social spider Stegodyphus mimosarum Pavesi commonly occur in dry Acacia savanna in southern Africa. We investigated the abiotic conditions to which the nests of S. mimosarum are exposed and the changes in availability of potential insect prey at different times of year and over the daily cycle. We used these data to determine the extent to which prey availability and climatic conditions explain seasonal and daily variation in the activity of the spiders. Data were collected during four sampling periods a year over two years from nests of S. mimosarum located on the Mkomazi River Bridge (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa). We measured ambient and nest temperatures and in a sample of nests, spider g...

This study was conducted to obtain the basic research about Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), and to establish a conservation area into Seoraksan(Mt.) National Park, South Korea. We recorded Siberian roe deer field signs (bedding sites, feeding areas, feces and tracks etc), and habitat variables such as nearest distance to the watercourse, trails, slope, aspect, forest type and land cover etc. from Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2007 in Seoraksan(Mt.) National Park. According to the research of habitat characteristics of Siberian roe deer inhabited in Seoraksan(Mt.) National Park preferred mixed forest consisted of aged forest and middle-aged forest on the gentle slope which was close to hydrosphere in the middle elevation area of altitude of 400~600m above sea level in Seoraksan(Mt.) National Park. The results indicated that Siberian roe deer appeared to prefer south slope or north slope during the snow season and west or east slope during the non-snow season. The area of most suitable habitat for Siberian roe deer in Seoraksan(Mt.) National Park was 125.8km (32% of the total area) followed by 244.3km buffer area (62.2% of the total area), and 22.9km unsuitable habitat area (5.8% of the total area), which means environmentally unsuitable habitat for Siberian roe deer was rare in Seoraksan(Mt.) National Park. Thus, the area 92 박용수.이우신 󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏 classified as major area in Seoraksan(Mt.) National Park appeared to be most important for the protection of Siberian roe deer.

Seasonal birth weight has been identified across different climate zones. Finland has wide seasonal and regional variation in climate within the country. We explore the potential seasonality of birth weight in singleton full-term births in Finland, and its variations across time and within the country. We apply descriptive time-series graphs, linear regression across regions, and linear regression with mother fixed effects using Finnish register data consisting of more than 1,800,000 infants born from 1987 to 2021. The descriptive findings indicate a decline in birth weight from 1987 to 2021. A monthly seasonal trend with peaks in spring and autumn and troughs in summer and winter is observed. The pattern gets less distinct with time and shows within-country variations. The seasonal pattern is also present when applying mother fixed effects. We suggest that the seasonal variation is more related to variations in climate than stable characteristics at the family level.

Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common complication of breast cancer treatment. Anecdotal and qualitative research suggests that heat and hot weather cause an exacerbation of BCRL; however, there is little quantitative evidence to support this. The aim of this article is to investigate the relationship between seasonal climate variation and limb size, volume, fluid distribution, and diagnosis in women following breast cancer treatment. Methods and Results: Women older than the age of 35 years who had undergone treatment for breast cancer were invited to participate. Twenty-five women aged between 38 and 82 years were recruited. Seventy-two percent received surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy as part of their breast cancer treatment. Participants completed anthropometric, circumferential, and bioimpedance measures and a survey on three occasions: November (spring), February (summer), and June (winter). Diagnostic criteria of >2 cm and >200 mL difference between the affected and unaffected arm, and a positive bioimpedance ratio of >1.139 for a dominant arm and >1.066 for nondominant arm was applied across the three measurement occasions. No significant correlation between seasonal variation in climate and upper limb size, volume, or fluid distribution were found in women diagnosed with or at risk of developing BCRL. Lymphedema diagnosis depends on the season and diagnostic measurement tool utilized. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant variation in limb size, volume, or fluid distribution in this population across spring, summer, and winter, although there were linked trends in these values. The diagnosis of lymphedema, however, varied between individual participants throughout the year. This has important implications for the implementation/commencement of treatment and management. Further research with a larger population in different climates is required to explore the status of women with respect to BCRL. The use of common clinical diagnostic criteria did not result in consistent diagnostic classification of BCRL for the women involved in this study.

Seasonal variation of net N mineralization under different biological soil crusts in Tengger Desert, North China

1. Pinoxylon dakotense Knowlton is a coniferous wood from the Lakota sandstone of the Black Hills, South Dakota. 2. It has been related to Pinus, but differs (1) in the absence of horizontal resin ducts; (2) in the presence of wood parenchyma; and (3) in the partly araucarian character of the pits on the radial walls of the tracheids. 3. The rays are abietinean, and show marginal elements which resemble tracheids markedly. 4. Protopiceoxylon Gothan is generically identical with Pinoxylon Knowlton, and consequently is synonymous. 5. The rings of growth indicate considerable seasonal variation in climate. 6. This wood, showing as it does features which relate it to both the Abietineae and the Araucarineae, cannot definitely be assigned to either tribe with impunity, owing to our present incomplete knowledge of the early history of the Coniferae.

Daily heat load variations in Swedish district heating systems

Understanding climatic controls on tropical forest productivity is key to developing more reliable models for predicting how tropical biomes may respond to climate change. Currently there is no consensus on which factors control seasonal changes in tropical forest tree growth. This study reports the first comprehensive plot-level description of the seasonality of growth in a Peruvian tropical forest. We test whether seasonal and interannual variations in climate are correlated with changes in biomass increment, and whether such relationships differ among trees with different functional traits. We found that biomass increments, measured every 3 months on the two plots, were reduced by between 40 and 55% in the peak dry season (July-September) relative to peak wet season (January-March). The seasonal patterns of biomass accumulation are significantly (p < 0.01) associated with seasonal patterns of rainfall and soil water content; however, this may reflect a synchrony of seasonal cycles rather than direct physiological controls on tree growth rates. The strength of the growth seasonality response among trees is significantly correlated to functional traits: consistent with a hypothesised trade-off between maximum potential growth rate and hydraulic safety, tall and fast-growing trees with broad stems had the most strongly seasonal biomass accumulation, suggesting that they are more productive in the wet season, but more vulnerable to water limitation in the dry season.

Seagrass meadows have a high ability to capture and store atmospheric CO2 in the plant biomass and underlying sediment and thereby function as efficient carbon sinks. The seagrass Zostera marina is a common species in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, a region with strong seasonal variations in climate. How seasonality affects carbon storage capacity in seagrass meadows is largely unknown, and therefore, in this study, we aimed to assess variations in sedimentary total organic carbon (TOC) content over a 1‐year cycle in seagrass meadows on the Swedish west coast. The TOC was measured in two Z. marina sites, one wave exposed and one sheltered, and at two depths (1.5 and 4 m) within each site, every second month from August 2015 to June 2016. We found a strong seasonal variation in carbon density, with a peak in early summer (June), and that the TOC was negatively correlated to the net community production of the meadows, presumably related to organic matter degradation. There was seasonal variation in TOC content at all sediment sections, indicating that the carbon content down to 30 cm is unstable on a seasonal scale and therefore likely not a long‐term carbon sink. The yearly mean carbon stocks were substantially higher in the sheltered meadow (3,965 and 3,465 g m−2) compared to the exposed one (2,712 and 1,054 g m−2) with similar seasonal variation. Due to the large intra‐annual variability in TOC content, seasonal variation should be considered in carbon stock assessments and management for cold‐temperate seagrass meadows.

Abundant evidence exists that mobile animals exhibit different movement behavior during different seasons, especially in landscapes with strong seasonal variation in climate and resource availability. Quantifying seasonal movement dynamics is critical for making accurate inferences and appropriate recommendations for species conservation and landscape management. Using empirical approaches to characterize seasonal variation in animal movement minimizes assumptions about the timing of seasonal transitions, environmental proxies, and effects of spatiotemporal variation. We calculated 57,255 mean daytime hourly movement rates for 104 scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) released into a large protected area in central Chad from 2016 to 2022. We used these movement data to build generalized additive mixed models of movement rates over a generic calendar year to detect potential seasonal variation in oryx movement behavior. Our final model indicated that reintroduced oryx experience three seasons per year, exhibiting dramatically lower daytime movement rates during the hot, dry season and higher movement rates during the rainy and cool, dry seasons. Reproductive status also affected oryx movement rates, notably females 1-4months into pregnancy. Captive-born oryx exhibited transitions in movement behavior aligned with regionally characteristic seasonal variation, a promising indicator for an ongoing reintroduction effort. Females 1-4months pregnant, particularly those accompanied by neonates, exhibited consistently elevated daytime movement rates, suggesting substantial energyallocation to foraging in early pregnancy. The three seasons delineated by this study will be used to manage the reintroduced oryx population, for example to identify priority areas and time periods for enhanced monitoring and enforcement actions, as well as to investigate the potential re-emergence of historicalseasonal migrations.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze the seasonal spatiotemporal climate variability in the Borena zone of Ethiopia and its effects on agriculture and livestock production. By examining these climate variables in relation to global sea surface temperatures (SST) and atmospheric pressure systems, the study seeks to understand the underlying mechanisms driving local climate variability. Furthermore, it assesses how these climate variations impact crop yields, particularly wheat and livestock production, providing valuable insights for developing effective adaptation strategies and policies to enhance food security and economic stability in the region.Design/methodology/approachThe design and methodology of this study involve a multifaceted approach to analyzing seasonal spatiotemporal climate variability in the Borena zone of Ethiopia. The research uses advanced statistical techniques, including rotated empirical orthogonal function (EOF) and rotated principal component analysis (RPCA), to identify and quantify significant patterns in seasonal rainfall, temperature and drought indices over the period from 1981 to 2022. These methods are used to reveal the spatiotemporal variations and trends in climate variables. To understand the causal mechanisms behind these variations, the study correlates seasonal rainfall data with global SST and examines atmospheric pressure systems and wind vectors. In addition, the impact of climate variability on agricultural and livestock production is assessed by linking observed climate patterns with changes in crop yields, particularly wheat and livestock productivity. This comprehensive approach integrates statistical analysis with environmental and agricultural data to provide a detailed understanding of climate dynamics and their practical implications.FindingsThe findings of this study reveal significant seasonal spatiotemporal climate variability in the Borena zone of Ethiopia, characterized by notable patterns and trends in rainfall, temperature and drought indices from 1981 to 2022. The analysis identified that over 84% of the annual rainfall occurs during the March to May (MAM) and September to November (SON) seasons, with MAM contributing approximately 53% and SON over 31%, highlighting these as the primary rainfall periods. Significant spatiotemporal variations were observed, with northwestern (35.4%), southern (34.9%) and northeastern (19.3%) are dominant variability parts of the zone during MAM season, similarly southeastern (48.7%), and northcentral (37.8%) are dominant variability parts of the zone during SON season. Trends indicating that certain subregions experience more pronounced changes in climate variables in both seasons. Correlation with global SST and an examination of atmospheric pressure systems elucidated the mechanisms driving these variations, with significant correlation with the southern and central part of Indian Ocean. This study also found that fluctuations in climate variables significantly impact crop production, particularly wheat and livestock productivity in the region, underscoring the need for adaptive strategies to mitigate adverse effects on agriculture and food security.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of this study highlight the need for robust adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of climate variability. Detailed research on seasonal climate patterns and the specific behaviors of livestock and crops is essential. Gaining a thorough understanding of these dynamics is critical for developing resilient adaptation strategies tailored to the unique ecological and economic context of the Borana zone. Future research should focus on seasonal climate variations and their implications to guide sustainable development and livelihood adjustments in the region.Originality/valueThis study offers significant originality and value by providing a detailed analysis of seasonal spatiotemporal climate variability in the Borena zone of Ethiopia, using advanced statistical techniques such as rotated EOF and RPCA. By integrating these methods with global SST data and atmospheric pressure systems, the research delivers a nuanced understanding of how global climatic factors influence local weather patterns. The study’s novel approach not only identifies key trends and patterns in climate variables over an extensive historical period but also links these findings to practical outcomes in crop and livestock production. This connection is crucial for developing targeted adaptation strategies and policies, thereby offering actionable insights for enhancing agricultural practices and food security in the region. The originality of this work lies in its comprehensive analysis and practical relevance, making it a valuable contribution to both climate science and regional agricultural planning.

Measurements of ecosystem gas exchange, meteorology, and hydrology (rainfall and soil moisture) were used to assess the seasonal patterns of, and controls on, average diel (24 h) net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE), evapotranspiration (E), and bulk canopy water vapor conductance (Gc) of a tropical transitional (ecotonal) forest in the Brazilian Amazon. Diel trends in E and NEE were almost completely explained by the diel variation in photosynthetic photon flux density (QPPFD), and while the QPPFD response of E varied little over the annual cycle, the QPPFD response of NEE declined substantially during the dry season, and the magnitude of hysteresis in the NEE–QPPFD response increased as well. The magnitude of the residuals for the QPPFD versus NEE response was significantly negatively correlated with total monthly rainfall and surface soil moisture and positively correlated with the maximum daily temperature and atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (V). Average daily Gc was also significantly correlated with average daily V (r = −0.72) and soil moisture (r = 0.62), suggesting strong stomatal control of NEE during drought. However, drought reduced ecosystem CO2 efflux relatively more than CO2 assimilation, suggesting that the seasonal variation in NEE was largely driven by seasonal variation in respiration. When compared with other tropical forests, seasonality in NEE was negatively correlated with annual rainfall and positively correlated with dry-season length. The relatively high sensitivity of NEE to seasonal variation in climate and water availability has profound implications for C cycling dynamics under novel climates resulting from climate and/or land-use change in the Amazon basin.

The long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) faces significant threats from habitat loss and fragmentation and is classified as a Class I endangered species by the Ministry of Environment in South Korea and vulnerable by the IUCN. Understanding the behavioral ecology of this species is crucial for effective conservation and protective measures. Using GPS collars, this study investigated the home range sizes and activity patterns of nine rehabilitated long-tailed gorals (four males and five females) across three regions (Yanggu, Seoraksan National Park, and Uljin) from 2014 to 2016. The 95% minimum convex polygon (MCP) home range averaged 0.64 ± 0.33 km2, while the 50% MCP home range averaged 0.15 ± 0.05 km2. The male home ranges were larger than the female home ranges. Additionally, the home ranges varied seasonally, with the smallest recorded in winter. The activity pattern of long-tailed gorals was predominantly crepuscular and diurnal, with no significant sexual differences. There were no significant differences in activity during spring, summer, and autumn; however, activity in winter differed significantly from that in the other seasons. The data provided on the home ranges and activity patterns of the species will serve as a basis for developing effective conservation and management strategies to protect this endangered species. By elucidating the spatial and temporal behaviors of long-tailed gorals, this study enhances our understanding of the ecological needs of the species and helps develop precise conservation measures.

With its strong seasonal variation in wave climate and various bathymetric features due to the complex tectonics, the South China Sea (SCS) provides a natural laboratory to study the microseism. We collected data from seismic stations around the SCS and calculated their noise spectra, through which seasonal and spatial variations of microseism, as well as the general feature of seismic ambient noise in this marginal sea were revealed. Microseism seasonal variations in general reflect influences of the East Asian monsoon in winter and the Indian monsoon in summer, respectively. The two microseism components, the single frequency microseism (SFM) and the double frequency microseism (DFM), show striking alternating variation patterns both seasonally and spatially. These variation patterns, along with the bathymetric feature near the stations, indicate SFM and DFM are generated through different physical mechanisms. More interestingly, seasonal and spatial variations of DFM appear to be consistent with the basin-scale surface circulation model of the SCS, in which the upper SCS experiences cyclonic in winter and anti-cyclonic in summer. These consistencies provide observational evidence for the hypothesis that the cyclonic depression is a favorable condition to generate DFM.