Current Climate Change Research Articles

Morphological, Histological and Genetic Evaluation of Gamma Radiation-Induced Mutation and Its Potential Application in Rudbeckia hirta (L.)

Many cultivars of annual ornamental horticulture have great phenotypic qualities but are less tolerant to the effects of current climate change and urbanization. A good example of this in Hungarian ornamental breeding is the Rudbeckia hirta cultivar “Őszifény”. The objective of this study was to determine whether gamma mutation breeding (using 5 Gy, 10 Gy, 30 Gy doses) can be employed to enhance genetic variability and create mutants with novel trait values. Furthermore, it is important to ascertain whether the altered genetic traits are proportionate to the observed changes in phenotype. As an original and innovative aspect of the research, this will assist in establishing appropriate dose rates for the species. Changes induced by gamma radiation have been mapped using morphological, histological, and genetic methods. The radiation dose of 5 Gy resulted in plants with the most favorable characteristics, including significant increases in branching and flower number. Additionally, the phenomenon of hormesis was observed. Beyond these, the dose of 30 Gy also had a significant effect because it resulted in plants with many flowers and bushy habits, making them suitable for use as ornamental potted plants. The 10 Gy dose resulted in a heterogeneous stand but showed the greatest genetic variation. These results may contribute to future breeding work and may pave the way for further urban application of R. hirta in the light of urbanization.

Cumulative frost heave and hydrothermal process of the high-speed railway subgrade under extreme climate conditions in northwest China

The mechanisms underlying the long-term deformation response and hydrothermal processes of high-speed railway subgrades in high altitude, seasonally frozen regions remain poorly understood, especially under extreme weather conditions. This study, based on an eight-year continuous field monitoring of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-Speed Railway (LXHR), presents several novel findings. From 2015 to 2022, air temperature, ground surface temperature, and subgrade surface temperature consistently increased, while the average annual rainfall showed a decreasing trend. During this period, sporadic heavy rainfall events occurred, and the climate demonstrated anomalous fluctuations. Such occasional heavy rainfall can cause a rise in the groundwater table, leading to an increase in frost heave within the subgrade. Given the same climatic conditions, embankments display a greater frozen depth compared to road cuts, but experience relatively less frost heave. Frost heave deformation within the subgrade comprises two components: residual deformation and inherent frost heave deformation. Residual deformation primarily contributes to the annual cumulative increase in frost heave, a process succinctly described as the transportation and deposition of fine particles (less than 2 mm in diameter) in coarse fillers by water, in close proximity to the frozen edge, ranging from 0.8 m to 1.2 m of the subgrade. In summary, the results of this study serve as a reminder for engineering designers and researchers to give more attention influence of residual deformation and the current climate change, in consideration of the stability and long-term service performance of subgrade under extreme weather conditions in the future.

A Simulation-Based Study on the Impact of Parametric Design on Outdoor Thermal Comfort and Urban Overheating

Under the current energy crisis and climate change, sustainable urban planning and building design are a priority to achieve a net-zero future, as energy use in buildings for thermal comfort is one of the major carbon emission contributors. To adapt to a rapidly growing and stringent urban environment, where buildings are causing more emissions due to more frequent and severe extreme hot weather events, the parametric design approach has great potential and flexibility in providing a sustainable solution by simulating different design scenarios. This study aims to analyse urban geometry and identify the impact of various built environment scenarios on outdoor thermal comfort under certain climates. The Grasshopper program was used along with the Ladybugs plug-in to provide visualised outcomes of outdoor thermal comfort, with simulation models on Rhinoceros 3D Version 7 SR37 (7.37.24107.1500). Comparing the thermal comfort performance of different design scenarios, based on building height, orientation and urban geometry, helps to identify which factors are more impactful on building design. This study demonstrates the workflow of parametric design in analysing the microclimate pattern and outdoor thermal comfort performance of the existing built environment in Melbourne, Australia, to provide an insight for stakeholders and builders to inform better decision-making in urban planning and building design in order to achieve a zero-emission future.

Mytilus galloprovincialis: A valuable bioindicator species for understanding the effects of diclofenac under warming conditions

Drugs are chemical compounds used to treat and improve organic dysfunctions caused by diseases. These include analgesics, antibiotics, antidepressants, and antineoplastics. They can enter aquatic environments through wastewater streams, where their physico-chemical properties allow metabolites to distribute and accumulate. Current climate change and associated extreme weather events may significantly impact these substances' toxicity and aquatic organisms' sensitivity. Among the chemicals present in aquatic environments is the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DIC), which the EU monitors due to its concentration levels. This study investigated the influence of temperature (control at 17 °C vs. 21 °C) on the effects of DIC (0 μg/L vs. 1 μg/L) in the mussel species Mytilus galloprovincialis. Significant results were observed between 17 and 21 °C. Organisms exposed to the higher temperature showed a decrease in several parameters, including metabolic capacity and detoxification, particularly with prolonged exposure. However, in some parameters, after 21 days, the M. galloprovincialis showed no differences from the control, indicating adaptation to the stress. The results of this study confirm that DIC concentrations in the environment, particularly when combined with increased temperatures, can produce oxidative stress and adversely affect M. galloprovincialis biochemical and physiological performance. This study also validates this species as a bioindicator for assessing environmental contamination with DIC. Beyond its direct impact on aquatic organisms, the presence of pharmaceuticals like DIC in the environment highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health, underscoring the One Health approach to understanding and mitigating environmental pollution.

Coming in from the cold: Addressing the challenges experienced by women conducting remote polar fieldwork

Remote fieldwork is an important component of polar research across both physical and social sciences. There is increasing recognition that the inherent logistical, physical, psychological, and interpersonal challenges of remote polar fieldwork are not felt equally across the polar research community, with minority groups often disproportionately affected. Although historically lacking diversity, the demographics of polar researchers have shifted, and the way polar research is conducted has been changing in response. However, there are still barriers to equal participation. Removing these barriers would attract scientists from more diverse backgrounds and improve scientific outcomes. We explored the lived experiences of those who identify as women in polar fieldwork through a review of current literature and an anonymous survey, using existing networks to connect with women working in polar research. We synthesised survey responses with regards to topics such as harassment, hygiene, inefficient communication, gendered work expectations and responsibilities to form a holistic understanding of the key fieldwork challenges faced by women. The majority of survey respondents (79%, n = 320) had encountered negative experiences during fieldwork, with the most common and impactful issues relating to field team dynamics and communication, sexism, rest, and weather. Many other issues including fieldwork preparation, work expectations, harassment, and personal space and privacy were also raised by respondents. We identify critical points of action from the survey results and in literature and propose strategies to remove barriers to participation and improve the experiences of women in polar fieldwork. These include individual- and organisational-level strategies for pre, during, and post fieldwork. A diverse polar research community is imperative in order to address the challenges presented by current unprecedented climate change. Though this study focussed on women’s experiences, we seek to advance the discourse on challenges faced by all minorities in polar research.

Forecasting the Expansion of Bactrocera tsuneonis (Miyake) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in China Using the MaxEnt Model.

The invasive pest, Bactrocera tsuneonis (Miyake), has become a significant threat to China's citrus industry. Predicting the area of potentially suitable habitats for B. tsuneonis is essential for optimizing pest control strategies that mitigate its impact on the citrus industry. Here, existing distribution data for B. tsuneonis, as well as current climate data and projections for four future periods (2021-2040, 2041-2060, 2061-2080, and 2081-2100) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) were obtained. The distribution of B. tsuneonis under current and different climate change scenarios in China was predicted using the optimized MaxEnt model, ArcGIS, and the ENMeval data package. Model accuracy was assessed using ROC curves, and the primary environmental factors influencing the distribution of the pest were identified based on the percent contribution. When the regularization multiplier (RM) was set to 1.5 and the feature combination (FC) was set to LQH, a model with lower complexity was obtained. Under these parameter settings, the mean training AUC was 0.9916, and the mean testing AUC was 0.9854, indicating high predictive performance. The most influential environmental variables limiting the distribution of B. tsuneonis were the Precipitation of Warmest Quarter (Bio18) and Temperature Seasonality (standard deviation ×100) (Bio4). Under current climatic conditions, potentially suitable habitat for B. tsuneonis in China covered an area of 215.9 × 104 km2, accounting for 22.49% of the country's land area. Potentially suitable habitat was primarily concentrated in Central China, South China, and East China. However, under future climatic projections, the area of suitable habitat for B. tsuneonis exhibited varying degrees of expansion. Furthermore, the centroid of the total suitable habitat for this pest gradually shifted westward and northward. These findings suggest that B. tsuneonis will spread to northern and western regions of China under future climate changes. The results of our study indicate that climate change will have a major effect on the invasion of B. tsuneonis and have implications for the development of strategies to control the spread of B. tsuneonis in China.

Prediction of Potential Distribution of Carposina coreana in China under the Current and Future Climate Change.

Carposina coreana is an important pest of Cornus officinalis, distributed in China, Korea, and Japan. In recent years, its damage to C. officinalis has become increasingly serious, causing enormous economic losses in China. This study and prediction of current and future suitable habitats for C. coreana in China can provide an important reference for the monitoring, early warning, prevention, and control of the pest. In this study, the potential distributions of C. coreana in China under current climate and future climate models were predicted using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model with ArcGIS software. The distribution point data of C. coreana were screened using the buffer screening method. Nineteen environmental variables were screened using the knife-cut method and variable correlation analysis. The parameters of the MaxEnt model were optimized using the kuenm package in R software. The MaxEnt model, combined with key environmental variables, was used to predict the distribution range of the suitable area for C. coreana under the current (1971-2000) and four future scenarios. The buffer screening method screened data from 41 distribution points that could be used for modeling. The main factors affecting the distribution of C. coreana were precipitation in the driest month (Bio14), precipitation in the warmest quarter (Bio18), precipitation in the coldest quarter (Bio19), the standard deviation of seasonal variation of temperature (Bio4), minimum temperature in the coldest month (Bio6), and average temperature in the coldest quarter (Bio11). The feature class (FC) after the kuenm package optimization was a Q-quadratic T-threshold combination, and the regularization multiplier (RM) was 0.8. The suitable areas for C. coreana under the current climate model were mainly distributed in central China, and the highly suitable areas were distributed in southern Shaanxi, southwestern Henan, and northwestern Hubei. The lowest temperature in the coldest month (Bio6), the average temperature in the coldest quarter (Bio11), and the precipitation in the warmest quarter (Bio18) all had good predictive ability. In future climate scenarios, the boundary of the suitable area for C. coreana in China is expected to shift northward, and thus, most of the future climate scenarios would shift northward.

Selective effect of winter weather on a songbird's morphology depends on individual sex and winter condition.

Knowledge of the effect of harsh weather on the phenotypic traits of organisms is essential for understanding the environmental influence on phenotype evolution and holds implications for predicting how species respond to current climate change. For many birds, harsh weather in winter often imposes a strong selective effect on their survival, and only the individuals with certain phenotypes may survive. However, whether the selective effect on phenotype varies with winter weather conditions has been poorly investigated. Here, we explored the selective effect of winter weather on black-throated tit's (Aegithalos concinnus) morphological traits under winters with and without severe snowstorms. We found that for males, the sizes of their bills, heads and wings significantly affected their overwinter survival, but the effects varied with winter conditions. In relatively benign winters, males with smaller bill depths, smaller bill surface areas, and greater head lengths survived better; whereas, in winters with severe snowstorms, a reverse pattern was found. This phenomenon was likely driven by selection pressures from heat retention and foraging requirements, with their relative importance depending on winter conditions. Additionally, wing length was positively correlated with male survival and the relationship was stronger in harsher winters, which was probably due to longer wings' higher flight efficiency in adverse weather. By contrast, we found no correlation between morphological traits and survival in females. These results suggest a sex-specific and condition-dependent selective effect of environment on bird phenotypes, implying complicated interactions between different selection pressures and phenotype evolution.

Identification and Analysis of Main Drivers and Barriers to the Promotion of PPAs for Green Energy

Abstract With the current climate change, decarbonization is essential to the global energy transition. In this regard many instruments have been created or developed, Power Purchase Agreements, as a direct legal contract between a power provider and a power buyer, being one of the most popular instruments to increase the use of renewable energy. But sometimes, Power Purchase Agreements get violated due to the elements that constrain and prevent its development and implementation. This situation only brings a certain insecurity to the PPA, and the result is nothing other than to compromise its true role and to distance it from the achievement of the objectives established in its contents. The main goal of this research is to identify and analyze the main drivers and barriers which constrain or prevent the development and implementation of Power Purchase Agreements as a tool for promoting green energy. For this research the comparative analysis, survey based on questionnaires, Spearman’s correlation matrix and IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows are used. The article reduces the gap among the respondents' opinion regarding the Power Purchase Agreements and their involvement in the implementation and development of these contracts, roughly establishing the level where the PPA is located in the transition to green energy. The results suggest that Power Purchase Agreements play a major role in the renewable energy market and they will have a positive impact in what it means the transition to green energy and the achievement of climate neutrality. Therefore, although Romania is a country rich in energy resources that allow the achievement of climate neutrality, it is necessary to take additional measures to attract investors, whose investments will be crucial in the development of energy from renewable energy sources, the three Power Purchase Agreements concluded up to now, regardless they represent a gratifying step, they are not enough to talk about a real Power Purchase Agreement market.

Interrelationship between sunflower yield and climate variables in the Republic of Moldova

Current climate change exerts a substantial influence on the world economy, the agricultural sector being the most vulnerable. Although the species Helianthus annuus L. is considered drought-tolerant, in the critical phases of growth and development it is quite susceptible to soil water deficiency. Understanding the relationship between climate and the dynamics of agricultural production is a key element in developing appropriate adaptation and risk mitigation strategies. This paper focused on elucidating the interrelationship between the climate parameter variables and the sunflower yield at the level of administrative-territorial units in the Republic of Moldova, during the period of 2003-2021. Based on the statistical analysis of the data, the trends of crop yield evolution in the context of current climate conditions, some correlations between climatic variables (temperature during the growing season, amount of precipitation in the cold and growing seasons) and crop yield, as well as the contribution of the investigated environmental factors in crop yield variation were revealed.

Ice phenology interactions with water and air temperatures in high mountain lakes

Ice phenology is of great importance for the thermal structure of lakes and ponds and the biology of lake species. Under the current climate change conditions, ice-cover duration has been reduced by an advance in ice-off, and a delay in ice-on, and future projections foresee this trend as continuing. Here, we describe the current ice phenology of Pyrenean high mountain lakes and ponds, including ice-cover duration and ice-on and ice-off dates. We used mixed models to identify the variables that explained the observed patterns, extrapolated them across all water bodies in the mountain range, and related the seasonality of air and water temperatures with ice phenology using structural equation models. Ice phenology was obtained from the temperature series of 85 lakes and ponds for fourteen years, including 2001 to 2004 and 2009 to 2019. We discovered that high autumn precipitation was related to earlier ice-on dates, and that earlier ice-off dates were associated with higher following-summer water temperatures. We found a greater predictability of ice-off dates and ice-cover duration than ice-on dates. Altitude was the most important variable explaining the variation in ice phenology, followed by latitude, which was related to climatic differences among the northern and southern slopes of the mountain range. The lake area was significant for ice-on dates and ice-cover duration. The interannual variability in air temperature and radiation was remarkable for the ice-off date and ice-cover duration but not for the ice-on date. In contrast, wind speed was related to an earlier ice-off date and shorter ice-cover duration. All the measured lakes and ponds froze in winter during the studied period, a feature maintained in the extrapolation to the whole set of water bodies.

Relationships between ecosystem services provided by forest ecosystems and human well-being

Current climate change trends significantly influenceing the structure and functioning of natural ecosystems, including forest ecosystems, which directly or indirectly affects human well-being. The present study consists in reviewing the specialized literature on the effects of the relationships between ecosystem services provided by forest ecosystems and human well-being, describing the following aspects: the definition of the concept of ecosystem services, their history, categories of ecosystem services and the relationship between them and human well-being. The concept of ecosystem services has become an important model of the link between forest ecosystem functioning and human well-being. Understanding this linkage is essential for a wide range of decision-making contexts for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems. We conclude that humanity’s dependence on nature for well-being and survival is complex.

Drought-Tolerant Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Mitigate the Detrimental Effects of Drought Stress Induced by Withholding Irrigation at Critical Growth Stages of Soybean (Glycine max, L.).

Considering current global climate change, drought stress is regarded as a major problem negatively impacting the growth of soybeans, particularly at the critical stages R3 (early pod) and R5 (seed development). Microbial inoculation is regarded as an ecologically friendly and low-cost-effective strategy for helping soybean plants withstand drought stress. The present study aimed to isolate newly drought-tolerant bacteria from native soil and evaluated their potential for producing growth-promoting substances as well as understanding how these isolated bacteria along with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could mitigate drought stress in soybean plants at critical growth stages in a field experiment. In this study, 30 Bradyrhizobium isolates and 30 rhizobacterial isolates were isolated from the soybean nodules and rhizosphere, respectively. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 was used for evaluating their tolerance to drought, and then the production of growth promotion substances was evaluated under both without/with PEG. The most effective isolates (DTB4 and DTR30) were identified genetically using 16S rRNA gene. A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of inoculation with DTB4 and DTR30 along with AMF (Glomus clarum, Funneliformis mosseae, and Gigaspora margarita) on the growth and yield of drought-stressed soybeans. Our results showed that the bioinoculant applications improved the growth traits (shoot length, root length, leaf area, and dry weight), chlorophyll content, nutrient content (N, P, and K), nodulation, and yield components (pods number, seeds weight, and grain yield) of soybean plants under drought stress (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, proline contents were decreased due to the bioinoculant applications under drought when compared to uninoculated treatments. As well as the count of bacteria, mycorrhizal colonization indices, and the activity of soil enzymes (dehydrogenase and phosphatase) were enhanced in the soybean rhizosphere under drought stress. This study's findings imply that using a mixture of bioinoculants may help soybean plants withstand drought stress, particularly during critical growth stages, and that soybean growth, productivity, and soil microbial activity were improved under drought stress.

Predicting the Potential Risk Area of the Invasive Plant Galinsoga parviflora in Tibet Using the MaxEnt Model

The Tibetan plateau, with complex and diverse ecosystems, is an important ecological security barrier to China. However, climate change and the spread of invasive plant species have imperiled the once pristine and diverse ecosystem of the region. To prevent the further spread and control of invasive plants, it is important to delineate the potential distribution patterns of alien invasive plants at the regional scale across Tibet and understand their responses to climate change. Galinsoga parviflora Cav., a member of the family Asteraceae, is an annual herbaceous plant distributed globally as an invasive weed and possesses characteristics that make it highly invasive, such as a strong ability to proliferate and disperse. The species is also known to have an allelopathic effect. There has been no report on the spatial distribution of G. parviflora in Tibet. Using field survey data, we investigated the risk of G. parviflora invasion and its impacts on the ecological safety of Tibet. We employed the MaxEnt model using the R language and SPSS software to optimize and select model parameters and data. We acquired various environmental variables along with current and future climate change scenarios (two carbon emission scenarios, SSP126 and SSP585, for the years 2050 and 2090) to predict the geographic distribution and potential risk areas in Tibet that G. parviflora can invade. The MaxEnt model accurately predicted the distribution of G. parviflora in Tibet with an average AUC of 0.985. The most suitable environmental conditions in which G. parviflora performed the best in Tibet included a mean annual temperature of 6.2–10.0 °C and an elevation range of 2672–3744 m above sea level. Our results indicate that low precipitation during the coldest quarter of the year (mean temperature −2–3 °C) was the most important variable predicting G. parviflora distribution. The results also showed that the species was hardly found when precipitation in the coldest quarter exceeded 155 mm. The current potential invasion risk areas for G. parviflora included the river valleys of central, southeastern, and eastern Tibet. With future climate change scenarios (i.e., SSP126, SSP585), the suitable habitats for G. parviflora distribution will likely shift to northwest regions from the southeast. Particularly under the highest carbon emission scenario (i.e., SSP585), the potential risk area expands more rapidly, and the center of distribution shifts to northwest regions. These findings provide useful information about the current and future changes in G. parviflora distribution in Tibet, which is crucial for the comprehensive and proactive management and control of G. parviflora under future climate change.

Assessing the Feasibility of Climate Policies of Japan, Latvia and Lithuania to Reach the Targets of the Paris Agreement

The study compares the most recent developments in energy policies of Japan, Lithuania and Latvia as a way to mitigate climate change. Latvia, Lithuania and Japan have all pledged to reach net zero by 2050 but face significant challenges, namely the dependence on energy imports in the form of fossil fuels, as they keep dominating the final energy supply. All three countries have a goal to sharply reduce this dependence, with Lithuania and Latvia even striving to become net energy exporters by focusing almost entirely on renewable energy. Japan, on the other hand, also aim to boost a renewable energy share, yet focuses more on the diversification of imported energy sources. The study attempts to discuss the differing approaches in climate change mitigation in Japan as compared to Latvia and Lithuania. The ambition of each country is estimated by Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), the roadmap to reduce the emissions in different sectors as enshrined in the climate strategy of each country, and the penetration of the renewable energy sector, estimating the scope of the ambition and implementation gaps compared to the goals set by the Paris Agreement. The study also estimates the impact of external impacts, namely the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in shaping climate change policies. Therefore, this study offers a comprehensive outlook on what needs to be achieved so that all three countries could be role models to follow in the climate policy. All three countries could collaborate on solar power, off-shore wind power, and hydrogen technologies. There have already been joint projects between Japan and the EU on advanced biofuels and the new generation of concentrator photovoltaics. However, there are significant differences regarding the role of ammonia and hydrogen production in the Climate change policy strategies of the three countries. Some contributing sectors are left behind and the current climate change strategies, even if properly implemented, may not be 2°C-compatible, let alone 1.5°C-compatible. The policies look even direr for a fair share target, and the implementation gap generally remains wide for the 2024-2030 period.

Exploring the gene expression network involved in the heat stress response of a thermotolerant tomato genotype

BackgroundThe increase in temperatures due to the current climate change dramatically affects crop cultivation, resulting in yield losses and altered fruit quality. Tomato is one of the most extensively grown and consumed horticultural products, and although it can withstand a wide range of climatic conditions, heat stress can affect plant growth and development specially on the reproductive stage, severely influencing the final yield. In the present work, the heat stress response mechanisms of one thermotolerant genotype (E42) were investigated by exploring its regulatory gene network. This was achieved through a promoter analysis based on the identification of the heat stress elements (HSEs) mapping in the promoters, combined with a gene co-expression network analysis aimed at identifying interactions among heat-related genes.ResultsResults highlighted 82 genes presenting HSEs in the promoter and belonging to one of the 52 gene networks obtained by the GCN analysis; 61 of these also interact with heat shock factors (Hsfs). Finally, a list of 13 candidate genes including two Hsfs, nine heat shock proteins (Hsps) and two GDSL esterase/lipase (GELPs) were retrieved by focusing on those E42 genes exhibiting HSEs in the promoters, interacting with Hsfs and showing variants, compared to Heinz reference genome, with HIGH and/or MODERATE impact on the translated protein. Among these, the Gene Ontology annotation analysis evidenced that only LeHsp100 (Solyc02g088610) belongs to a network specifically involved in the response to heat stress.ConclusionsAs a whole, the combination of bioinformatic analyses carried out on genomic and trascriptomic data available for tomato, together with polymorphisms detected in HS-related genes of the thermotolerant E42 allowed to determine a subset of candidate genes involved in the HS response in tomato. This study provides a novel approach in the investigation of abiotic stress response mechanisms and further studies will be conducted to validate the role of the highlighted genes.

The impact of climate change on vehicle engineering and countermeasures

With the increasingly severe climate change, the field of vehicle engineering is facing numerous challenges and opportunities. This article aims to analyze the impact of climate change on vehicle engineering and propose corresponding strategies. Firstly, the research background and significance are introduced, and the current research status both domestically and internationally is analyzed. Following that, a comprehensive analysis is conducted on the impact of climate change on vehicle engineering, including the influence of current climate change on the development of vehicle engineering, the impact of low-carbon transportation on the development of vehicle engineering, and the influence of climate change on vehicle safety. Then, the role of vehicle engineering in responding to climate change is discussed in detail. Finally, development strategies for vehicle engineering are proposed, including the development of new energy vehicles, improvement of autonomous driving technology, and optimization of transportation policies. This study explains the impact of climate change on vehicle engineering and proposes strategies for long-term development.

Biogeographic isolation and climate shape the evolutionary heritage of Neotropical inselbergs

AbstractAimQuaternary climatic shifts can explain the current distribution of ancient ecosystems as well as the current distributions of gradients that hold species richness and diversity of several lineages in old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (OCBILs) as inselbergs. Thus, the combination of phylogenetic approaches and temporal landscape connectivity allows disentangling the mechanisms involved in the origin of the disjunct distribution of plant species and the evolutionary heritage of Neotropical inselbergs.LocationBrazilian Atlantic Forest and Caatinga.Time PeriodPliocene until the current period.Major TaxaAngiosperms.MethodsWe used a compiled data set of 42 inselbergs across the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga biomes in eastern Brazil to describe their structure and phylogenetic diversity and map the landscape resistance distances and the effects of resistance on their phylogenetic beta diversity. We also aimed to identify the effectiveness of protected areas and gaps in the conservation of plant species in Brazilian inselbergs.ResultsWe found evidence of dispersal limitation in the inselberg species pool and a latitudinal gradient in plant species richness and phylogenetic diversity across the Neotropical inselberg landscape, with greater isolation between the northeastern and southeastern core areas. Our findings indicate that inselbergs can lead to a high turnover of phylogenetic diversity, thus imposing distinctiveness on the evolutionary lineages of the inselberg flora.Main ConclusionsOur results suggest that the current distribution of inselberg's flora in isolated ecosystems may result from a more connected distribution of this flora in the past, as postulated by the Pleistocene habitat fluctuations. However, the patterns of diversity have probably been influenced by events much older than Quaternary climate shifts, due to inselbergs climate stability areas (refugia) since ancient periods. Conservation of mountain vegetation is a crucial strategy for maintaining biodiversity and distinct phylogenetic lineages in the current rapid global climate and land use change scenario.

Feed restriction affects milk performances and decreases milk lipolysis in dairy ewes

Spontaneous lipolysis results in the breakdown of milk fat by the lipoprotein lipase (EC: 3.1.1.34), an enzyme present in milk. Free fatty acids (FFAs) and by-products released in milk during lipolysis can alter both the organoleptic value of milk (off-flavors release) and technological properties of dairy products (decrease in creaming capabilities). Current climate change is having significant impacts on the feeding of grazing animals, with negative consequences on the availability and quality of grass. We and others have demonstrated that dietary restriction increases milk lipolysis in the cow species. However, no data about the impact of feed restriction on milk lipolysis is available in the ewe species. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the effect of feed restriction on milk characteristics with regard to lipolysis values in dairy ewes. Two groups of 24 multiparous Lacaune ewes in mid-lactation received a “non-restricted” control diet (100% of ad libitum DM intake) or a “restricted” (RESTR) diet (65% of ad libitum DM intake) according to a 2 × 2 crossover design. Milk gross composition together with lipolysis analyses were performed. Blood samples were also screened for metabolites or hormone concentrations. The RESTR treatment induced a decrease in milk production (− 21% compared with control treatment) and a modification of the metabolism of dairy ewes characterized by an increase in plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), which represents the balance between adipose tissue mobilization and the use of NEFA by other tissues (+153%), cholesterol (+17%) and β-hydroxybutyrate (+4 %) levels. As a result, a decrease in BW of dairy ewes was observed (−7%). Feed restriction also resulted in a decrease in milk lipolysis estimated by the milk FFA measured by the copper-soap method (−63 and −62%, respectively, for morning and evening milking) or by the reference Bureau of Dairy Industry method (−51 and –57%, respectively, for morning and evening milking). The decrease in milk spontaneous lipolysis under feed restriction was not associated with a decrease in lipoprotein lipase activity in ewes. These results will be completed with proteomic and lipidomic studies in milk samples to better understand mechanisms initiated in the ewe species specifically with regard to lipolysis in milk.

Analyzing energy consumption due to occupant interaction with manual and automatic window blinds in multiple climates

Proper daylight management through automated or manual blind systems can enhance user comfort and energy conservation. Furthermore, the influence of weather conditions, coupled with occupant behavior, significantly impacts energy consumption, rendering weather forecasts invaluable in conducting individual building energy simulations to identify energy-efficient strategies for the future. Also, I wonder if it is possible to move some items from room 308 until you can provide items from other resources. Future weather conditions and their impact on building performance can be evaluated using Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) scenarios provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This research aimed to compare the energy usage of manual and automated window blinds with internal blinds in mid-size office buildings across four main climate zones (2B Hot-Dry; 2A Hot-Humid; 7 Very Cold; 4A Mixed-Humid) in the USA under current and future climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5, 8.5). Utilizing simulation as the methodology and comparing the energy use resulting from the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios revealed that the most significant decrease in heating energy usage was happening in the Hot-Humid zone with Automated blinds, which is a more efficient alternative than manual Blinds. In contrast, the Very Cold zone experienced almost no changes in either heating or cooling energy consumption. In Climate Zones 2B Hot-Dry and 7 Very Cold, rising temperatures lead to increased cooling energy requirements and reduced heating demands due to climate changes. Climate Zone 4A Mixed-Humid saw reduced energy consumption for cooling but increased usage for heating, particularly under RCP 8.5. In Zone 2A Hot-Humid, a high demand for heating energy was found.