Canonical Correspondence Analysis Research Articles

Ecology and life cycle of the filter-feeding Amphipsyche meridiana Ulmer 1902 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in an irrigation canal, central Thailand

The life cycle and larval diet of Amphipsyche meridiana Ulmer 1902 were investigated in a natural freshwater habitat at Kasetsart University's Kamphaeng Saen Campus in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. Larvae were collected monthly from December 2021 to November 2022. Most species of Hydropsychidae have five larval instars. The first to fifth larval instars were found in the stream throughout the year. Head capsule widths of the first to fifth instar larvae were 0.1–0.3, 0.4–0.6, 0.7–0.9, 1.0–1.2, and 1.3–1.6 millimeters, respectively. The highest number of larvae was found in July 2022. Adult emergence occurred throughout the year, with the highest number occurring in April 2022. A. meridiana's life cycle was characterized as multivoltine, with year-round recruitment. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to determine how conditions in the environment influenced larval abundance. The factors influencing the amounts of larvae are water depth, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia-nitrogen, and sulfate. The larvae of this species are omnivorous filterers. The main food types found in the gut were blue-green algae and green algae, comprising 34.11% and 33.07% of its ingestion. In addition, the digestive tract was abundant with diatoms, rotifers, and insect fragments, accounting for 32.82% of the diet.

Determination of ecological statuses of streams in the Ceyhan River Basin using composition and ecological characteristics of diatoms.

The present study aimed to evaluate the interactions between diatoms and ecological factors in various streams and to test the suitability of diatom indices to evaluate the ecological status of 44 streams in the Ceyhan River Basin during the spring and autumn periods of 2021 and the summer of 2022. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated the significant effects of electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand (BOD5), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) on the distribution of diatom species of streams in the Ceyhan River Basin. Of the streams, Aksu and Erkenez streams were associated with high EC, BOD5, and TP and characterized by pollution-tolerant species. Pollution-sensitive species showed close integration with Aksu Spring Brook, Gözpınar Creek, Göksun Creek, and Yeşilgöz Spring Brook, which related to a high dissolved oxygen gradient. Different eco-regional diatom indices displayed different scores, representing from bad to high ecological status in the Ceyhan River basin. Among the diatom indices, Trophic Index Turkey (TIT) proved to be the more suitable metric to assess the ecological status of streams. TIT indicated deterioration of water quality in Karasu (S06), Erkenez (S07) streams, and downstream areas of the Ceyhan River and the least distributed sampling stations in the basin. Results suggested that eco-regionally developed diatom indices, like TIT, are required to more accurately assess the ecological status of streams in the Mediterranean region. The study provides a fundamental assessment of the ecological status of streams in the Ceyhan River Basin using an appropriate diatom index before the Pazarcık-centered earthquake on February 6, 2023. Findings allow someone to assess the impact of the earthquake on diatom communities and ecological factors in the region in the future studies.

Analysis of chlorhexidine, antibiotics and bacterial community composition in water environments from Brazil, Cameroon and Madagascar during the COVID-19 pandemic

The widespread of chlorhexidine and antibiotics in the water bodies, which grew during the global COVID-19 pandemic, can increase the dispersion of antibiotic resistance. We assessed the occurrence of these pharmaceutical compounds as well as SARS-CoV-2 and analysed the bacterial community structure of hospital and urban wastewaters from Brazil, Cameroon, and Madagascar. Water and wastewater samples (n = 59) were collected between January–June 2022. Chlorhexidine, azithromycin, levofloxacin, ceftriaxone, gentamicin and meropenem were screened by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer. SARS-CoV-2 was detected based on the nucleocapsid gene (in Cameroon and Madagascar), and envelope and spike protein-encoding genes (in Brazil). The total community-DNA was extracted and used for bacterial community analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene. To unravel likely interaction between pharmaceutical compounds and/or SARS-CoV-2 with the water bacterial community, multivariate statistics were performed. Chlorhexidine was found in hospital wastewater effluent from Brazil with a maximum concentration value of 89.28 μg/L. Additionally, antibiotic residues such as azithromycin and levofloxacin were also present at concentrations between 0.32–7.37 μg/L and 0.11–118.91 μg/L, respectively. In Cameroon, azithromycin was the most found antibiotic present at concentrations from 1.14 to 1.21 μg/L. In Madagascar instead, ceftriaxone (0.68–11.53 μg/L) and levofloxacin (0.15–0.30 μg/L) were commonly found. The bacterial phyla statistically significant different (P < 0,05) among participating countries were Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria and Dependentiae which were mainly abundant in waters sampled in Africa and, other phyla such as Firmicutes, Campylobacterota and Fusobacteriota were more abundant in Brazil. The phylum Caldisericota was only found in raw hospital wastewater samples from Madagascar. The canonical correspondence analysis results suggest significant correlation of azithromycin, meropenem and levofloxacin with bacteria families such as Enterococcaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Deinococcaceae, Thermacetogeniaceae and Desulfomonilaceae, Spirochaetaceae, Methanosaetaceae, Synergistaceae, respectively. Water samples were also positive for SARS-CoV-2 with the lowest number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Madagascar (n = 7) and Brazil (n = 30). Our work provides new data about the bacterial community profile and the presence of pharmaceutical compounds in the hospital effluents from Brazil, Cameroon, and Madagascar, whose limited information is available. These compounds can exacerbate the spreading of antibiotic resistance and therefore pose a risk to public health.

Syntrophic Jiont of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria and Hydrogen-Producing Acetogen Stimulated Methane Production from Waste Activated Sludge Digestion

Anaerobic digestion of waste-activated sludge (WAS) towards biogas recovery is constrained by the limited hydrolysis and inhibited acetogenesis steps that hinder subsequent energy recovery. This study employed Fe(VI)/S(IV) oxidation to enhance the WAS solubilization and coupled it with the syntrophic interaction of hydrogen-producing acetogen (HPA) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to stimulate the successive procedure towards methane production. Results showed that the dosage ratio of HPA-SRB to WAS (H-S-W) with 1:1:50 outperformed with the highest methane production potential (11.63 ± 1.87 mL CH4/(g VSS·d). Meanwhile, the efficient and sequential process from acetogenesis to methanogenesis stimulated by HPA-SRB was evidenced by a significant decrease of 30.2% in the acetate concentration. The microbial community structure further manifested the crucial role of HPA-SRB with increased abundance of Desulfobulbus (2.07%), Syntrophomonas (1.24%) and Smithella (1.63%), which stimulated acetophilic methanogen boost with Methanobacterium dominating with 77.51% in H-S-W100. Furthermore, the positive syntrophic relationships among HPA-SRB and acetophilic methanogens towards methane production were confirmed via molecular ecological network and canonical correspondence analysis. This study highlighted the syntrophic cooperation of the mixed consortia of HPA and SRB on methane production based on Fe(VI)/S(IV) pretreatment and provided the theoretical and technical basis for the potential implementation of novel methanogenesis technology for WAS treatment.

Conserving biodiversity in coffee agroecosystems: Insights from a herpetofauna study in the Colombian Andes with sustainable management proposal

Amphibians and reptiles are important indicators of ecosystem health, yet their populations are declining worldwide due to habitat loss and climate change. Agroecosystems, such as coffee plantations, can provide important habitat for these species. We conducted field surveys in the Sumapaz region of Colombia to identify the habitat structural variables that influence the diversity and abundance of herpetofauna in coffee crops. The canonical correspondence analysis revealed that abundance of leaf litter, leaf litter moisture, shade percentage, plantation area, and plantation age category were the most important variables for determining herpetofauna diversity. Our findings suggest that shaded coffee plantations can sustain herpetofauna diversity, and maintaining a thick layer of leaf litter is critical for establishing complex and structured animal communities. This study proposes a set of sustainable agricultural management principles to promote the existence of amphibians and reptiles in coffee crops. By adopting these practices, it is possible to prevent the decline in the population of amphibians and reptiles due to the expansion of the agricultural frontier, as seen in other coffee-growing regions. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of how to balance agricultural production and biodiversity conservation in the context of agroecosystems.

Organophosphate pesticide residue impact on water quality and changes in macroinvertebrate community in an Afrotropical stream flowing through farmlands.

River Chanchaga has experienced significant agricultural practices around its catchment, which involved the indiscriminate use of pesticides. However, residents of the study area are not well aware of the negative impact of pesticides on water quality and macroinvertebrates. In this study, the first report on the influence of organophosphate pesticide contamination on the abundance of the macroinvertebrate community was provided. Sampling for the determination of organophosphate pesticide residues was carried out during the peak of the two seasons, while macroinvertebrates and physicochemical variables were observed for 6 months. We examined 11 organophosphate pesticide residues using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, 12 water quality variables, and 625 macroinvertebrate individuals. The concentration of recorded organophosphate pesticide residues ranged from 0.01 to 0.52 μg/L. From the Canonical Correspondence Analysis plot, malathion, chlorine, and paraffin show a positive correlation with Unima sp., Hydrocanthus sp., Chironomus sp., and Potadoma sp. At station 3, depth shows a positive correlation with Biomphalaria sp. and Zyxomma sp., indicating poor water quality as most of these macroinvertebrates are indicators of water pollution. Diuron and carbofuran show a negative correlation with Lestes sp. and Pseudocloeon sp., and these are pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrates. The total mean concentration of organophosphate pesticide residues was above international drinking water standards set by the World Health Organization except for paraffin, chlorpyrifos, and diuron. In conclusion, the observations recorded from this research are useful in managing pesticide applications around the river catchment.

Habitat associations of marine predators in the northern California Current during the low productivity downwelling season

IntroductionEastern Boundary Upwelling Systems are some of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. Little is known about habitat associations and spatial distributions of marine predators during seasonal periods of low productivity because there are few at-sea surveys during this period. During low productivity or prey scarcity, predators consuming similar prey in the same time and space may compete for limited resources, or they may avoid competition by exploiting different habitats or occupying separate spaces (i.e. niche partitioning). In this study, we examined habitat associations and niche partitioning of marine predators during the low-productivity winter downwelling season of the northern California Current Ecosystem (CCE). MethodsSeabird and marine mammal counts were continuously collected during systematic at-sea surveys during February–March/April in the northern California Current across four years (2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012). We examined seabird and marine mammal distributions in relation to seven habitat characteristics [i.e., sea surface temperature (°C), salinity, depth (m), seafloor slope (%), distance from shore (km), and distance from the 100 m and 200 m isobaths (km)]. We used a non-parametric multivariate analysis [i.e. canonical correspondence analysis (CCA)] to quantify species’ habitat associations and directional distribution ellipses to explore overlap in species core winter habitat.ResultsResults show 49 seabird and ten marine mammal species inhabit the CCE during this low productivity period, including endangered southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca). Seabirds and marine mammals exhibited significant but low overlap in habitat associations (i.e. weak niche partitioning) and similar habitat associations to summer studies. DiscussionWe also found that some species with similar foraging strategies showed asymmetrical spatial range overlap (i.e. common murre (Uria aalge) and parakeet auklet (Aethia psittacula)), which may mean that expected increased competition due to climate change can negatively affect some species more than others. Given that climate change is leading to increased frequencies, intensities, and durations of marine heat waves during winter months, addressing the winter ecology knowledge gap will be important to understanding how climate change is going to affect species that reside in or migrate through the northern California Current during the low productivity downwelling season.

Impacts of Soil Properties on Species Diversity and Structure in Alternanthera philoxeroides-Invaded and Native Plant Communities.

Soil properties can affect plant population dynamics and the coexistence of native and invasive plants, thus potentially affecting community structure and invasion trends. However, the different impacts of soil physicochemical properties on species diversity and structure in native and invaded plant communities remain unclear. In this study, we established a total of 30 Alternanthera philoxeroides-invaded plots and 30 control plots in an area at the geographical boundary between North and South China. We compared the differences in species composition between the invaded and native plant communities, and we then used the methods of regression analysis, redundancy analysis (RDA), and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to examine the impacts of soil physicochemical properties on four α-diversity indices and the species distribution of these two types of communities. We found that A. philoxeroides invasion increased the difference between the importance values of dominant plant species, and the invasion coverage had a negative relationship with the soil-available potassium (R2 = 0.135; p = 0.046) and Patrick richness index (R2 = 0.322; p < 0.001). In the native communities, the species diversity was determined with soil chemical properties, the Patrick richness index, the Simpson dominance index, and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, which all decreased with the increase in soil pH value, available potassium, organic matter, and ammonium nitrogen. However, in the invaded communities, the species diversity was determined by soil physical properties; the Pielou evenness index increased with increasing non-capillary porosity but decreased with increasing capillary porosity. The determinants of species distribution in the native communities were soil porosity and nitrate nitrogen, while the determinants in the invaded communities were soil bulk density and available potassium. In addition, compared with the native communities, the clustering degree of species distribution in the invaded communities intensified. Our study indicates that species diversity and distribution have significant heterogeneous responses to soil physicochemical properties between A. philoxeroides-invaded and native plant communities. Thus, we need to intensify the monitoring of soil properties in invaded habitats and conduct biotic replacement strategies based on the heterogeneous responses of native and invaded communities to effectively prevent the biotic homogenization that is caused by plant invasions under environmental changes.

Deciphering the core microbiota in open environment solid-state fermentation of Beijing rice vinegar and its correlation with environmental factors.

Rice vinegar is a worldwide popular cereal vinegar worldwide and is typically produced in an open environment, and the ecosystem of solid-state fermentation is complicated and robust. The present study aimed to reveal the shaping force of the establishment of the ecosystem of Beijing rice vinegar, the core function microbiota and their correlation with critical environmental factors. The experimental findings revealed the changes in environmental factors, major metabolites and microbial patterns during Beijing rice vinegar fermentation were obtained. The major metabolites accumulated at the middle and late acetic acid fermentation (AAF) periods. Principal coordinates and t-test analyses revealed the specific bacterial and fungal species at corresponding stages. Kosakonia, Methlobacterium, Sphingomonas, unidentified Rhizobiaceae, Pseudozyma and Saccharomycopsis dorminated during saccharification and alcohol fermentation and early AAF, whereas Lactococcus, Acetobacter, Rhodotorula and Kazachstania dominated the later AAF stages. Canonical correspondence analysis of environmental factors with core microbiota. Temperature and total acid were the most significant factors correlated with the SAF bacterial profile (Pediococcus, Weissella, Enterococcus and Kosakonia). Ethanol was the most significant factor between AAF1 and AAF3, and mainly affected Acetobacter and Lactobacillus. Conversely, ethanol was the most significant factor in the SAF, AAF1 and AAF3 fungi communities; typical microorganisms were Saccharomyces and Malassezia. Furthermore, the predicted phenotypes of bacteria and their response to environmental factors were evaluated. In conclusion, the present study has provided insights into the process regulation of spontaneous fermentation and distinguished the key driving forces in the microbiota of Beijing rice vinegar fermentation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Land-Use Transitions and Its Driving Mechanism Analysis in Putian City, China, during 2000–2020

Investigating the spatial-temporal evolution of land use and its driving forces provides a scientific basis for policy formulation, land-use structure adjustment, and ecological civilization development. Using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, this study analyzed remote sensing images from 2000, 2010, and 2020 to derive basic land-use data for Putian City and its five districts and counties. These data were then systematically analyzed using methodologies such as Single Land-use Dynamics and Geo-informatic Tupu to reveal the characteristics of land-use transitions (LUTs), and the spatial-temporal evolution pattern over the past two decades in Putian City, China. Subsequently, socioeconomic conditions and macro policies were identified as driving factors to further explore the mechanisms behind land-use evolution in the study area through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The findings revealed that: (1) The predominant land-use structure in Putian City consisted mainly of cultivated land and forest land, with other land types interspersed within them, while built-up land exhibited continual outward expansion. (2) Various regions within Putian City exhibited varying degrees of abandoned farmland, ultimately transforming into wasteland (grassland) with weed growth, presenting significant challenges for ensuring food security and mitigating the conversion of cultivated land to non-agricultural and non-grain uses. (3) Specific macro-economic development objectives during distinct periods, particularly urban expansion and the growth of the secondary industry resulting from municipal and county mergers, emerged as pivotal factors driving the spatial and temporal evolution of land use and influenced the differential distribution pattern across Putian City. Consequently, this study suggests bolstering scientific planning and implementing effective regulations concerning land use, and it advocates for the efficient utilization of space-time resources pertaining to cultivated land, integrating them with agriculture, culture, and tourism endeavors. Such measures are proposed to ensure the harmonized and sustainable development of the regional ecological economy.

Understory specific species appearances indicate the soil improvement of low-function Platycladus orientalis forest in Beijing’s mountainous areas

How to assess the effect of ecosystem restoration is a trending topic with all the restoration projects and ecosystem function studies in recent years. Although many studies have used different indicators and methods to evaluate ecosystem restoration effects, it needs a lot of site works to acquire the data. Low-function Platycladus orientalis forest restoration program in Beijing mountainous area has been started since 2002, in this study, the understory species of 92 plots were investigated and recorded. We assumed that the effect of ecosystem restoration would improve site conditions, especially for the soil conditions which might lead to the appearance of new species. The relationship between understory species and eleven site condition factors was elucidated by means of canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), further, specific species were chosen to represent the improvement and possible growth areas of specific species was predicted by Maximum Entropy model. Results shown that Spiraea pubescens, Deutzia parviflora, Chrysanthemum chanetii, Themeda triandra, Oplismenus undulatifolius were the main understory species which were sensitive to environmental factors, and their distribution were related to soil factors closely. The species of Spiraea pubescens, Chrysanthemum chanetii, Oplismenus undulatifolius had strong indication to soil nutrient, the appearances would happen when the comprehensive index of soil nutrient was above 81,64 and 61 respectively. The appearance of Chrysanthemum chanetii and Oplismenus undulatifolius would indicate that the soil nutrient level was in or above the range of medium, and the appearance of Spiraea pubescens would mean that the soil nutrient level was in or above the range of high in low-function Platycladus orientalis forest of Beijing mountainous area. Our study indicates that the specific species could as an indicator to reflect or evaluate the ecosystem restoration effect.

Response of Chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae) to Environmental Factors at Different Spatial Scales.

Factors responsible for species distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates, including responses at different spatial scales, have been previously investigated. The aim of the present research was to review the most relevant factors explaining chironomid species distribution focusing on factors operating at different spatial scales, such as latitude, longitude, altitude, substrate, salinity, water temperature, current velocity, conductivity, acidity, dissolved oxygen, nutrient content etc. acting at regional levels and at a large or small water basin level. Data including chironomid species abundances from different lentic and lotic waters in Italy and other surrounding countries were analyzed using partial canonical correspondence analysis (pCCA) and multiple discriminant analysis (DISCR). Spatial analyses, including univariate Moran's I correlograms, multivariate Mantel correlograms and Moran's eigenvector maps (MEMs), were thereafter carried out. The results showed that habitat type, including different types of lotic waters (i.e., kryal, crenal, rhithral, potamal) and different lake types (i.e., littoral, sublittoral, profundal zones), is the most significant factor separating chironomid assemblages, while spatial factors act only as indirect influencers.

Wetland vegetation composition and ecology of Lake Abaya in southern Ethiopia.

Wetland vegetation and ecology of Lake Abaya in the southern Ethiopia was studied to determine floristic composition, plant community type and vegetation ecology. A total of 102 plots were laid along transects that were set up preferentially across areas where there were rapid changes in vegetation or marked environmental gradients to collect data on estimate of percentage aerial cover of plant species and environmental variables. Vegetation data was analyzed by agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis using similarity ratio as a resemblance index and Ward's linkage method. Multivariate data analysis was performed using appropriate packages in R version 2.14.0. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to explore the relationship between the species composition and environmental variables. The environmental data included in the CCA were determined using stepwise backward and forward selection of variables by ANOVA test. Statistical measurement regarding species diversity, richness and evenness of the plant community types was carried out by using Shannon-Wiener diversity indices. A total of 92 plant species belonging to 66 genera and 34 families were identified. Families Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Solanaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Amaranthaceae account for about 56.99% of the total proportion. Based on the cluster analysis, five plant community types were identified. The most important factors influencing the plant species composition and pattern of wetland plant communities were water drainage, water depth, land use, slope, altitude, and hydrogeomorphology. Therefore, these factors should be considered in future management and protection under the circumstance of climate change and human activities.

Identification of Plant and Soil Characteristics Affecting Stability of Winter Wheat Cultivar in Temperate Climates

This study examines the significant variability in grain yield, thousand-grain weight, protein content, sedimentation value, and falling number among winter wheat cultivars across diverse trial locations, elucidating the profound influence of environmental factors on these traits. Employing Shukla’s stability variance and a multi-trait stability index (MTSI), cultivar stability is comprehensively assessed across multiple traits. Cultivars are ranked based on stability variance and cumulative ranking across all traits, with Bataja emerging as the most stable cultivar according to Shukla variance, while Apostel exhibits the lowest stability. Contrarily, MTSI rankings reveal distinct top performers, such as Medalistika and KWS Spencer. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) is utilized to discern relationships between stability and genotype characteristics, as well as trait values and soil properties/weather conditions. These findings contribute to the recommendation of stable cultivars for breeding programs and the optimization of crop management practices. Furthermore, this study underscores the need to explore causal relationships between accompanying variables, facilitating informed recommendations for plant breeders and advancing breeding progress amidst a changing climate. The use of multivariate statistical methods, including CCA, enhances our understanding of cultivar traits and stability, offering valuable insights for sustainable agriculture.

Influence of seagrass traits on the diversity of endophytic fungi

Abstract. Kinamot VB. 2024. Influence of seagrass traits on the diversity of endophytic fungi. Biodiversitas 25: 1254-1263. The interest in endophytic fungi has grown recently because of their potential to enhance plant growth, tolerate stresses, and modulate phytohormone synthesis. Understanding how plants influence their endophytic fungal assemblage is vital to manipulating them for biotechnological applications. In this study, Bray-Curtis analysis determined the variation of endophytic fungal assemblage among different seagrass species. Leaf/root area, leaf/root dry matter content, leaf mass per area, leaf toughness, and specific leaf area of seagrasses were measured using a standard protocol. The Folin-Ciocalteau method was utilized to quantify the phenolic and tannin contents in seagrasses using tannic acid as standard. Canonical correspondence analysis correlated the influence of seagrass traits on endophytic fungal diversity. Results showed that endophytic fungal diversity varied with seagrass hosts in which higher similarity of the fungal assemblage was observed among the same seagrass species than in different seagrass species. The seagrass traits mediated the variation of endophytic fungi. Phenolic and tannin in seagrasses significantly influenced the diversity of endophytic fungi. An antifungal assay using the methanolic crude extract of seagrasses had 80-100% mycelial growth inhibition to the five species of endophytic fungi tested, which could be accounted for the chemicals like phenol and tannin that the seagrass hosts produce. 

Phytoplankton Communities’ Response to Thermal Stratification and Changing Environmental Conditions in a Deep-Water Reservoir: Stochastic and Deterministic Processes

Thermal stratification has become more extensive and prolonged because of global warming, and this change has had a significant impact on the distribution patterns of the phytoplankton communities. However, the response of phytoplankton community structures and assembly processes to thermal stratification is not fully understood. We predicted that the structure and assembly processes of phytoplankton communities would be affected by thermal stratification among water layers associated with environmental condition changes, reflecting certain patterns in temporal and spatial scales. Phytoplankton from Danjiangkou Reservoir were collected from October 2021 to July 2022 to verify this prediction. During the sampling period, Danjiangkou Reservoir remained thermally stratified with stability. The composition of the phytoplankton community in the surface layer significantly differed from that in both the thermocline and bottom layer. The phenomenon of thermal stratification affected the pattern of nitrogen and phosphorus distribution and, thus, the processes of the phytoplankton community structures. Deterministic processes had a greater influence on the assembly of the phytoplankton communities in the surface and bottom layers. In contrast, stochastic processes were more prevalent in the assembly of the thermocline phytoplankton community. The phytoplankton community within the thermocline layer exhibited a broader niche range than that in the surface and bottom layers, showing notable dissimilarity from that of the bottom layer. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that the vertical distributions of the phytoplankton communities were significantly correlated with NH4+-N, pH, and water temperature (WT). In summary, this study explained the distribution patterns of phytoplankton community structures and assembly processes in deep-water reservoirs during the stratification period. Additionally, the study explored the potential of using the distribution patterns of phytoplankton in stratified-state deep-water reservoirs under a subtropical–warm temperate climate as climate indicators in the context of global warming.

Divisions within the British Parliamentary Labour Party under Keir Starmer: Results of a Cluster Analysis

AbstractThis paper offers a methodologically innovative two-stage approach for studying divisions amongst parliamentary representatives. Using the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) as our case study, we construct a dataset of all Labour MPs elected in the 2019 general election, along with their nominations in the 2020 Labour Party leadership and deputy leadership elections and their membership of, or affiliation with, various party-aligned organisations. We then conduct a cluster analysis based on this dataset, which reveals the existence of a two-cluster model—comprised of the Mainstream (N = 162) and the Left (N = 33)—and a five-cluster model—in which the Left exists alongside the Tribune Soft Left, the Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East Soft Left, the Unaligned Centrists, and the Right. Finally, we test the robustness of our clusters via a canonical correspondence analysis of the language used by MPs on social media (Twitter/X) and their contributions to parliamentary debates (Hansard). We show that the MPs from different clusters do use different languages to one another in both fora. We also find that the main divide within the PLP is between the left of the party and the rest of the party, and that the deputy leader, Angela Rayner, has a broader base of support amongst the PLP than its current leader Keir Starmer.

Ecology, genetic diversity, and population structure among commercial varieties and local landraces of Capsicum spp. grown in northeastern states of India.

Northeastern states of India are known for unique landraces of Capsicum spp. with geographical indications. However, little information is available about these valuable landraces of chillies. Surveys and collections were carried out in niche areas to find out their ecology and diversity through morphological traits and molecular analysis using microsatellite markers. Our result characterized the ecology of niche areas as cool (11.0°C-20.7°C) and humid (>60% relative humidity) climates for dalle-chilli (Capsicum annuum L.); mild-warm (12.2°C-28.6°C) and humid for king-chilli (C. chinense Jacq.); and cool to warm (11.3°C-33.1°C) and humid for bird's eye chilli (C. frutescens L.) during the crop period. The canonical correspondence analysis has shown the significant impact of temperature on the agro-morphological traits and distribution of the landraces in their niche areas. A wide variability was observed for different quantitative traits and yield attributing characters (fruit length, diameter, weight, and yield), showing high heritability (97.0%-99.0%), and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (119.8%-434.0%). A total of 47 SSR markers used for the molecular analysis generated 230 alleles, ranging from 2 (HPMSE-7) to 10 (HPMSE-5), with an average of 4.89 alleles per locus. The average polymorphism information content was also high (0.61) and ranged from 0.20 (HPMSE-7) to 0.85 (CAMS-91). The observed average heterozygosity was lower than the expected value. Analysis of molecular variance has shown significant variation within (69%) and between (31%) of the populations of Capsicum spp. Based on Nei's genetic distance, bird's eye chilli and king-chilli were found to be closer to each other, whereas dalle-chilli, a tretraploid species, was closer to hot pepper (C. annuum). However, the flower size of dalle-chilli was large and found closer to king-chilli in color and differs from C. chinense due to the presence of calyx teeth. For quality traits, landraces king-chilli, dalle-chilli, and bird's eye chilli have shown 2.8, 2.0, and 1.4 times higher average capsaicin and 0.46, 0.25, and 0.22 times higher average oleoresin content over the hot pepper, respectively. The knowledge of ecology and diversity can be used in identifying new areas for production, selection of elite lines, conservation, and crop improvement.

Blood and Micronuclei Analysis of Tawes Fish (Barbonymus gonionotus) Correlation with Water Quality in the Boon Pring Ecotourism Area, Turen, Malang Regency

Tawes (Barbonymus gonionotus) is a type of endemic fish that lives in the Boon Pring Reservoir, Turen, and Malang Regency. This study aims to analyze the water quality and blood profile of Tawes Fish (Barbonymus gonionotus) in Boon Pring Ecotourism and to determine the relationship between water quality and fish health through their blood profile using the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) method. The results obtained after measuring the water quality during two samplings at both locations were that the temperature ranged from 21.7–27C, TDS 111–145 mg/l, TSS 2-4 mg/l, pH 6-6.7, DO 8–10.1 mg/l, BOD 0.44-0.98 mg/l, and ammonia 0.026–0.075 mg/l. Both locations are classified as having good or normal conditions. Observations on the blood profile of Tawes fish (Barbonymus gonionotus) are healthy and normal. The average number of erythrocytes was 2,586,667 cells/mm3, leukocytes were 60,500 cells/mm3, lymphocytes were 76.8%, monocytes were 1.4%, neutrophils were 3.3%, hemoglobin was 9.8 g/mL, hematocrit was 34.6%, and micronuclei were 12.3 cells/1000. The results of data analysis using CCA showed that all blood and micronuclei profiles of fish were affected by water quality parameters, both significantly and moderately to severely.

Can artificially induced habitat complexity alter macroinvertebrates diversity? A case study from a freshwater wetland ecosystem

Habitat complexity can enhance the resilience of wetlands against environmental stressors such as extreme weather events, pollution, and habitat loss. The introduction of artificial induced complexity (AIC) can play a significant role in reshaping the macroinvertebrate communities within wetland ecosystems by enhancing habitat quality in protected areas. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the variation of macroinvertebrates community structure in artificially induced complex sanctuary site (SS), partially protected (PP) and open sites (OS) from July 2019-April 2020. AIC in the sanctuary sites was established through the installation of cemented hexapods and ring pipes. Over the study period, a total of 665 macroinvertebrates were gathered, with 55.55% originating from SS, 31.14% from PP, and 18.21% from OS sites. The community consists mainly of Lymnaea acuminatatea and Tubifex tubifex, with the most abundant species being Limnodrillus hoffmeisteri and Branchiura sowerbyi. A notable positive impact of AIC was evident in the increased total abundance and diversity indices of macroinvertebrate communities. The Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM) revealed significant distinctions in community structures among various intervention types, which was further corroborated by a non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) plot. Similarity of Percentage Analysis (SIMPER) highlighted that Limnodrillus hoffmeisteri made the most significant contribution to the dissimilarity observed among the different intervention types. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed a close association between the structure of the macroinvertebrate community and three key ecological factors: periphyton biomass, macrophyte cover, and sediment properties. These findings could offer a more effective approach for managers and policymakers engaged in the conservation of macroinvertebrates and the sustainable management of fisheries resources within wetland ecosystems.