Ecological Characteristics Research Articles

Influence of ecological characteristics and phylogeny on native plant species' commercial availability.

Plant vendors generate a commercial species pool, the subset of species in a regional flora that is purchasable. The availability of plant species from commercial vendors can influence the composition and outcomes of conservation, landscaping, and restoration plantings. Although previous research suggests that most plant species are unavailable, there is little information that identifies the plant characteristics associated with commercial availability. We studied the composition of the commercial species pool by examining the ecology, phylogeny, and phenology of a regional flora in the Midwestern United States. We used a database of native plant species sold by 557 vendors throughout the Midwest (USA) to characterize species' availability. We compiled ecological characteristics of all plant species, including range size, growth form, moisture requirements, and conservatism-meaning fidelity to high-quality natural areas. We characterized phenological (bloom time) data for a subset of the regional flora. Finally, we constructed a regional phylogeny to assess the phylogenetic signal of plant availability. We expected that commercially unavailable species would be niche specialists or short-lived (often nonconservative "weedy") species, and that they would bloom earlier in the season and for a shorter time. We found that commercially available species were more long-lived, had larger range sizes, had intermediate fidelities to wetlands and high-quality or disturbed natural areas, and were associated with certain plant types, especially shrubs and trees. In contrast, ferns and graminoids were underrepresented in the commercial trade. There was a strong phylogenetic signal associated with commercial availability; some plant families had nearly all or none of their species commercially available. Example families with low representation included Orchidaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Cyperaceae, and fern families. Longer bloomed species were more commercially available, but we did not find differences in availability between early- and late-blooming species. Despite the diversity of the commercial pool in the Midwest, it is an unrepresentative, nonrandom subset of the regional species pool. This finding may promote the mismatch in species diversity and composition between remnant natural habitats and restorations because many specialized species are commercially unavailable to conservation and restoration practitioners. We encourage strategies to promote the availability of underrepresented plant diversity in the commercial species pool.

The Oxford House Stability Questionnaire: An Effort to Classify Recovery Homes.

Recovery homes are located throughout the United States, with the self-governed Oxford Houses representing one of the largest networks with over 3000 homes. Although there is a growing literature on the characteristics and outcomes of these recovery homes, far less is known about differences among the homes. The current study used a set of characteristics that had been proposed by a leader within the Oxford House recovery movement, and a university research team operationalized them into what is now called the Oxford House Stability Questionnaire. This scale was administered to attendees at their annual convention. Results of a sample of 397 respondents who completed over 95% of the scale validated the notion that there are four different types of Oxford House recovery houses, including Survival, Stable, Successful, and Significant. This scale examined activities that might occur in these homes related to enhancing stability, and we were able to identify mechanisms related to general involvement, social support, and self-help. The findings suggest that these ecological and structural house characteristics are valuable ways to better understand these settings that are providing thousands of people with substance use disorders with distinctive environments for recovery.

Dynamics of Soil N and P Nutrient Heterogeneity in Mixed Forest of Populus × Euramercana ‘Neva’ and Robinia pseucdoacacia in Coastal Saline–Alkali Land

The mixing of poplar and robinia in coastal saline land is a useful attempt at difficult site afforestation. Investigating the long–term mixing effects of nitrogen–fixing and non–nitrogen–fixing tree species on the spatial heterogeneity of N and P nutrients and their ecological stoichiometric characteristics in the coastal saline–alkali soil can provide a scientific basis for soil improvement and plantation management in the coastal saline–alkali soil. By replacing time with space, poplar and robinia mixed forests and corresponding pure forests with the ages of 3, 7 and 18 years were selected, and soil profiles of 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm were dug up to determine the contents of total nitrogen, hydrolyzed nitrogen, total phosphorus and available phosphorus, the activities of soil urease and phosphatase and the number of soil bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in rhizosphere soil. The mixture of poplar and robinia and the increase in planting years led to the heterogeneity of soil N and P in a coastal saline–alkali forest, which could significantly increase the contents of soil total nitrogen, hydrolyzed nitrogen, total phosphorus and available phosphorus between soil layers. Compared with the pure forest of poplar and robinia at the same age, the soil urease activity in the 0–20 cm soil layer of an 18a poplar and robinia mixed forest increased by 94.75% and 73.36%, and the soil phosphatase activity increased by 30.36% and 70.27%. The mix of poplar and robinia significantly increased the abundance of soil microorganisms in saline–alkali soil. The number of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in the 0–20 cm soil layer of the 18a poplar and robinia mixed forest was the highest, which were 703,200, 31,297 and 1903, respectively. Redundancy analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between soil N and P nutrient contents, soil enzyme activities and microbial abundance. The soil depth of N and P nutrient decomposition and transformation in the mixed poplar and robinia plantation was expanded. The soil N and P nutrient contents, enzyme activities and microbial abundance in the 40–60 cm soil layer of the mixed forest were higher than those of the pure forest. With the increase in plantation years, the depth of soil that can be used in the forest land is increasing. The mixture of poplar and robinia plantation is an excellent choice for the construction of coastal saline–alkali land plantation, which has a significant mixed gain for the decomposition and transformation of N and P nutrients and increases the depth of the available soil layer in the forest land in coastal saline–alkali land. However, the coastal saline–alkali land soil N/P is < 14 and is still restricted by nitrogen, so the application of nitrogen fertilizer can be increased during the afforestation process.

Phylospecies in the Mexican marine algal diversity and the problem of morphospecies

Algae constitute a non-natural group of organisms that share morphological, physiological and ecological characteristics due to a complex shared evolutionary history. They live attached to a substrate or floating in a column of fresh or marine water. These latter are classified into macro and microalgae, whose current diversity recorded in Mexico is represented by approximately 1,700 species of macroalgae and 1,500 of microalgae. However, this diversity is based on morphological attributes. The problem of the morphospecies is that it depends on the expression of the genotype in response to the environmental heterogeneity in which these organisms establish themselves, resulting in phenotypic plasticity or morphological monotony, with the consequent overlapping of characters, generating misidentifications with several taxonomical problems associated and unstable classification systems. The molecular characterization of species has generated great taxonomic changes and more robust classifications. Currently, the diversity of Mexican phylospecies is reduced, with only 250 macro and microalgae, representing 12.5 and 2.3 % of the diversity, respectively. However, of the 142 works associated with phylospecies, 82 have led to taxonomic changes and proposals with important implications in the construction of more stable classification systems and a better understanding of Mexican phycofloristic diversity in all groups.

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF ARIDITY TRENDS USING THE DE MARTONNE INDEX: A GIS-BASED STUDY OF THE TIMGAD BASIN, ALGERIA

Knowledge of drought conditions is necessary for the rational use of water resources, the prevention of the dangers resulting from them, and for explaining landscape and ecology characteristics. To analyze annual, seasonal and monthly aridity trends in the Timgad Basin, North-East Algeria, climate data from 07 meteorological stations within the 1975-2009 period were used. After computing the De Martonne aridity index at each station, a geographic information system (GIS) was utilized to maps this index throughout the region and specify drought trends, visualizing detected annual, seasonal and monthly tendencies. On an annual scale, the De Marton Drought Index shows a semi-arid climate in the entire Timgad Basin. On a seasonal scale, the winter season shows a dry semi-humid climate - from Mediterranean to semi-humid conditions, and the climate of the region in autumn and spring is semi-arid except for some eastern areas, which are characterized by a dry semi-humid climate - from Mediterranean conditions in spring. In contrast, summer shows from very dry to dry. The period extending from May to October is characterized by a semi-arid to dry climate; December and January reveal humid conditions, while November, February, March and April belong to a semi-arid to Mediterranean climate.

Actively soniferous tropical reef fishes are diverse, vulnerable, and valuable.

Active (i.e., intentional) fish sound production provides informative cues for numerous ecological functions, including larval recruitment or reproduction, and can facilitate monitoring and restoration. It is therefore important to have a holistic picture of actively soniferous tropical reef fish diversity, particularly in the face of growing threats such as noise pollution and habitat degradation. This study integrates fish biodiversity and sonifery datasets to assess the prevalence and ecological characteristics of actively soniferous tropical reef fishes. There are 258 known sound-producing species, which span 46 families, encompass a variety of life-history (e.g., lifespan) and distribution (e.g., depth) attributes, and include many vulnerable and commercially valuable species. Furthermore, up to 75% of tropical reef fish species are considered likely to produce active sounds. This synthesis should encourage a greater appreciation for active fish sound production in tropical reef environments and advance efforts to incorporate soundscape ecology into management and restoration strategies.

Autecology and determination of relationships between nutrients in soil and sage plant (Salvia eremophila Boiss.) in the south of Yazd province.

This study aims to investigate the autecology and determine the relationship between the nutritional elements in the soil and the Sage plant (Salvia eremophila Boiss.) in the south of Yazd province. The main habitats were determined, which contained various ecological characteristics. Total potassium (K), total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), total sugar content (TSC), and proline content of the plants were determined. In addition, macro and microelement contents such as total N, extractable K, extractable magnesium (Mg), available P, available iron (Fe), and available manganese (Mn) of the study areas were determined. The highest concentrations of TSC (72.90mgkg-1 ± 3.87) and TN (0.265gkg-1 ± 0.021) of the plant, and also the highest extractable Mg (26.60mgkg-1 ± 1.70) and available Fe (0.44mgkg-1 ± 0.19), of soil were related to the Qavam Abad habitat. The highest concentrations of total K (17.495gkg-1 ± 4.91) and total P (1.206gkg-1 ± 0.257) of plants, and the highest extractable K (356.68gkg-1 ± 63.53) of soil belonged to the Tang Chenar Station. The highest TN content (6.3gkg-1 ± 1.21) of soil and the highest proline content (0.015gkg-1 ± 0.003) of plants was related to the Damgahan habitat. Also, the concentrations of soil available Mn and available P had the highest levels in the Damgahan (0.60gkg-1 ± 0.34) and Qavam Abad habitats (0.075gkg-1 ± 30.74), respectively. There was no significant difference between the amount of nutrients and soil elements in the studied stations (p < 0.05). There was a positive and significant correlation between the amount of soil TN and plant TN (Pvalues = 0.001, R2 = 0.87). An inverse and significant correlation was also observed between the amount of soil available P and plant total P (Pvalues = 0.014, R2 = - 0.72). This study highlights the various environmental controls over soil's physicochemical properties, which have significant implications for the management of soil nutrients.

A CNN-Based Framework for Automatic Extraction of High-Resolution River Bankfull Width

River width is a crucial parameter that correlates and reflects the hydrological, geomorphological, and ecological characteristics of the channel. However, the width data with high spatial resolution is limited owing to the difficulties in extracting channel width under complex and variable riverine surroundings. To address this issue, we aimed to develop an automatic framework specifically for delineating river channels and measuring the bankfull widths at small spatial intervals along the channel. The DeepLabV3+ Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model was employed to accurately delineate channel boundaries and a Voronoi Diagram approach was complemented as the river width algorithm (RWA) to calculate river bankfull widths. The CNN model was trained by images across four river types and performed well with all the evaluating metrics (mIoU, Accuracy, F1-score, and Recall) higher than 0.97, referring to the accuracy over 97% in prediction. The RWA outperformed other existing river width calculation methods by showing lower errors. The application of the framework in the Lillooet River, Canada, presented the capacity of this methodology to obtain detailed distributions of hydraulic and hydrological parameters, including flow resistance, flow energy, and sediment transport capacity, based on high-resolution channel widths. Our work highlights the significant potential of the newly developed framework in acquiring high-resolution channel width information and characterizing fluvial dynamics based on these widths along river channels, which contributes to facilitating cost-effective integrated river management.

Phylogrouping, Virulence Profile and Antibiogram of Escherichia coli Strains Associated with Canine Pyometra

Background: Multi-drug resistant bacterial strains with biofilm-forming ability are one of the significant reasons contributing to the failure of medical management and recurrence of canine pyometra. The predominant bacterial agent implicated in canine pyometra is Escherichia coli, the different strains of which can be grouped into distinct phylogroups with the same ecological niches, characteristics and tendency to cause disease. The identification of a phylogroup of an unknown strain can facilitate the control, prevention and treatment of infections. Methods: The isolates of E.coli obtained from 25 clinical cases of pyometra were identified based on the cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. The antibiogram of the isolates were done employing Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Biofilm forming ability of theisolates were detected by tissue culture plate method and the presence of virulence genes among them were detected using a multiplex PCR. The phylogrouping of E. coli was done employing the novel quadruplex PCR method. Result: In the antibiogram, most isolates were found sensitive to Amoxycillin-clavulanate (90%), Gentamicin (80%),Tetracycline (50%) and Amikacin (50%), while 100% resistance were shown towards ceftazidime-clavulanate, enrofloxacin,ceftriaxone-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime-clavulanate. Among the E. coli isolates, strong and moderate biofilm producers showed resistance to a wide range of antibiotics compared to non-biofilm producers. Around 80% of the isolates belonged to the phylogroup B2 and all of these had the presence of fimH, sfa, and csgA genes. Among the isolates belonged to the phylogroup B2, 87.5% of the isolates had pap gene while none of them possessed afa gene.

Circumpolar and Regional Seascape Drivers of Genomic Variation in a Southern Ocean Octopus.

Understanding how ecological, environmental and geographic features influence population genetic patterns provides crucial insights into a species' evolutionary history, as well as their vulnerability or resilience under climate change. In the Southern Ocean, population genetic variation is influenced across multiple spatial scales ranging from circum-Antarctic, which encompasses the entire continent, to regional, with varying levels of geographic separation. However, comprehensive analyses testing the relative importance of different environmental and geographic variables on genomic variation across these scales are generally lacking in the Southern Ocean. Here, we examine genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms of the Southern Ocean octopus Pareledone turqueti across the Scotia Sea and the Antarctic continental shelf, at depths between 102 and 1342 m, throughout most of this species' range. The circumpolar distribution of P. turqueti is biogeographically structured with a clear signature of isolation-by-geographical distance, but with long-distance genetic connectivity also detected between East and West Antarctica. Genomic variation of P. turqueti was also associated with bottom water temperature at a circumpolar scale, driven by a genotype-temperature association with the warmer sub-Antarctic Shag Rocks and South Georgia. Within the Scotia Sea, geographic distance, oxygen and fine-scale isolation-by-water depth were apparent drivers of genomic variation at regional scales. Putative positive selection of haemocyanin (oxygen transport protein), calcium ion transport and genes linked to RNA modification, detected within the Scotia Sea, suggest physiological adaptation to the regional sharp temperature gradient (~0-+2°C). Overall, we identified seascape drivers of genomic variation in the Southern Ocean at circumpolar and regional scales in P. turqueti and contextualised the role of environmental adaptations in the Southern Ocean.

Genetic diversity of populations of Simulium reptans s.l. (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the territory of Russia and Northern Kazakhstan.

The presence of sibling (cryptic) species among bloodsucking black flies can be a serious problem in assessing both their diversity and the role of individual species in the transmission of dangerous human and animal pathogens. The peculiarities of molecular genetic structure of populations and ecology of black flies of Simulium reptans s.l. (complex of Simulium reptans (Linnaeus) and Simulium reptantoides Carlsson) in European and Asian parts of Russia and Northern Kazakhstan in comparison with populations from Central and Northern Europe were investigated. Using restriction analysis of the COI gene and subsequent sequencing, we searched for unique mtDNA variants that could belong to previously undescribed forms of the studied group. In the north of the European part of Russia (north of Eastern Europe), only S. reptans A was registered, and in the Asian part of Russia (Siberia) and Northern Kazakhstan, only S. reptans B was found. Using phylogenetic analysis of the total data, three branches of S. reptans B were revealed and named in accordance with the areas of their distribution-East European, Eurasian and Asian. Simulium reptantoides Carlsson has currently been found only in Europe. The peculiarities of distribution and possible adaptations to different habitats of S. reptantoides and representatives of individual groups within S. reptans are discussed. Based on the characteristics of the sampling sites of the studied specimens, as well as the samples available in the NCBI database, the ecological and geographical features of the habitats of the molecular forms of Simulium reptans A and B were revealed. To obtain more accurate information on the distribution of S. reptans A and B forms in Eurasia, taking into account the elevational zonation, it is necessary to conduct additional studies in the mountainous regions of South-Western Europe, Siberia and Northern China. Based on the sequences presented in the DNA database, a method (AS-PCR COI variant) for separating the cryptic species-Simulium reptans (Linnaeus) and S. reptantoides Carlsson-was proposed. During testing of this method on the material collected in Russia and Northern Kazakhstan, only S. reptans was identified (S. reptantoides was absent), which completely coincided with the sequencing results. To further confirm the effectiveness of the method, it is necessary to conduct testing on material including representatives of the both species.

Ecological and faunistic characteristics of taxoсenes of Collembola in the agrocenoses of Zhovkivsky (Lviv District

As a result of the conducted research, a total of 43 species of collembola were found, which belong to 29 genera and 10 families. In the course of longer and larger-scale research in agrocenoses, it is possible to detect significantly more species (according to literature data, no less than 70). The studied coenotic fauna (αb-diversity) includes from 5 to 21 species of collembola (on average 13.9). One soil sample (αa-diversity) contains from 1 to 8 species of Collembola (on average 2.1). The highest capacity of the medium for collembola at the level of αa-diversity is characteristic of wheat agrocenosis, and the smallest – of potato. The βa-diversity index of collembola (differentiating diversity) of the studied agrocenoses is 3.5 times higher than in natural biotopes of the broad-leaved forest zone, which is associated with a greater contrast of edaphic conditions of the arable environment. The noted high values of the βa-diversity index in agrocenoses are associated with relatively small values of the so-called point αa-diversity. A noticeable decrease in the ecological capacity of the environment for collembola at the level of αa-diversity in the studied agrocenoses is due to the contrast of physical and chemical conditions in specific edaphotopes, the weak edifying effect of the cultivated crop, as well as the implementation of agrotechnical measures. The analysis of the βα-diversity index shows that the greatest unevenness of intracenotic conditions for collembola was found in agrocenoses of wheat (βα-diversity = 5.9), the average in potatoes (5.3), and the smallest in rapeseed (4.7, respectively). The indicator of the average population of collembola in the studied types of agrocenoses varies in a 30-fold interval of values. It has the highest average value in wheat agrocenosis and the lowest value in potato. However, in comparison with natural forest and meadow coenoses, the maximum indicator of the number of pintails in the studied agrocenoses is about an order of magnitude lower. The obtained data on the share of families in the studied coenotic fauna generally agree with the literature data that are known for the natural coenoses of western Ukraine.

Expanding the known haemosporidian parasite diversity in Eurasian Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) subspecies through amplicon sequencing

Monitoring haemosporidian parasites in birds is essential to comprehend the dynamics of avian malaria, a disease that significantly affects bird populations worldwide. This study concentrated on the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites in 198 specimens from two subspecies of the Eurasian bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), aiming to explore the genetic diversity and species richness of haemosporidian fauna across the host populations. By utilizing next-generation amplicon high-throughput sequencing (NGS), we observed a marked increase in the detection of haemosporidian diversity, revealing cryptic variants and species previously unidentified by Sanger sequencing. A high prevalence of Plasmodium was seen in all studied sites, accompanied by a less frequent Leucocytozoon infection in the red-spotted subspecies and minimal occurrence of Haemoproteus. Both previously known and new, low prevalence cryptic variants were detected, underscoring the complexity of haemosporidian infections in avian hosts. The use of species delimitation tools provided a detailed understanding of haemosporidian species diversity, their coexistence within hosts, and their phylogenetic relationships. Despite the varying ecological characteristics of the study sites, no significant difference in haemosporidian alpha diversity among populations was found. However, significant differences in beta diversity were identified, suggesting that habitat characteristics and geographic distance influence parasite distribution. These findings highlight the importance of advanced molecular techniques in revealing the hidden diversity of parasites, offering valuable insights into the ecology and evolution of haemosporidian infections. Given the threatened status of one of the host’s populations, knowledge on local diversity of haemosporidian parasites also has implications for possible conservation strategies.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.): ecological features of promising forms and the value of the nutrient composition of their fruits for the production of functional products

Background.The relevance of the research is determined by a constant striving to increase the possibilities of using rare fruit and berry crops, e.g. blackthorn, in plant bree­ding and the production of healthy food products. It can be achieved by scientifically based selection and evaluation of fruit taking into account their physiological, phyto­pathological and biochemical parameters. The purpose of the research is to expand the morphological diversity of blackthorn that combines high productivity and quality for further breeding. Materials and Methods. Morphological characteristics and biological properties of the new forms of blackthorn as well as their biochemical parameters constitute the material for this research. A plethora of methods was applied: field, phenological, biometric, physiological and statistical ones. Results. The study presents original data on the morphology and economic charac­teristics of various blackthorn forms (Prunus spinosa L.) obtained as a result of selection in semiarid lands of the northern, central and western parts of Ukraine. The paper highlights morphological and biological properties of the selected forms of blackthorn, biochemical parameters of fruits, including the content of polyphenolic substances as a source of antioxidants. The study revealed that the selected forms of blackthorn have high drought resistance and winter hardiness, in addition to resistance to low temperatures during the flowering phase. Phenological observations of plants of different forms of Prunus spinosa L. allowed establishing the time of onset of the ontogenesis phases: the development of vegetative and generative buds, budding and flowering, appearance of leaves, intensity of shoot growth, formation and development of ovaries, and fruit ripening, which is a significant scientific achievement for the prospective selection in the fruit gardening system. The forms of blackthorn were differentiated by plant height, growth strength, thorniness, fruit size and weight and their potential use in the processing and manufacturing of functional foods. Biochemical analysis of the fruits, particularly the determination of polyphenols, allowed ascertaining their suitability for processing and manufacturing of healthy food products. Conclusions. The obtained data on selected new forms of blackthorn is a potential source of material for prospective breeding. Moreover, technologies for the production of blended juices and syrups from the fruits of the best samples of blackthorn were developed regarding their biochemical properties and technological indicators.

The location of solar farms within England's ecological landscape: Implications for biodiversity conservation.

A global energy transition to using sustainable renewable sources is being driven by global agreements. Simultaneously there is a call for increased biodiversity conservation. This creates a green-green dilemma, where the expansion of renewables could lead to the demise of biodiversity if not carefully assessed, managed and monitored. Recognition of the dilemma is central to the development of Sustainable Development Goals. It is therefore important to understand whether renewable energy sources such as solar farms are being sited in areas where they have minimal impact on biodiversity. If solar farms were sited with minimal impacts on biodiversity, we hypothesised that they would be less likely to be sited close to ecologically sensitive areas than near random points. We used Geographic Information System methods to explore the density of solar photovoltaic (PV) farms in England and assessed their siting relative to sensitive ecological features, including priority habitat types, designated sites, and land conservation initiatives. We compared the area of 25 sensitive ecological features around solar farms and random points across three spatial scales (100m, 1000m, and 6000m radius scales). Solar farms were distributed throughout England, with the highest concentration in South West England. Solar sites were primarily surrounded by habitats with anthropogenic influences, such as agricultural and urban settings. Priority habitats, such as woodland, grassland, wetland and heathland, were more extensive around random points across spatial scales (except for woodland at the largest scale). Most designated sites were significantly more extensive around random points. We conclude that, under current planning regulations, solar sites in England are being placed appropriately with regard to sensitive ecological habitats, and are often sited in areas already impacted by farming and development. Adaptive planning should be implemented to ensure that the evolving research around biodiversity and solar farms is incorporated into decision making, and monitoring is completed across the lifespan of solar farms to assess impacts and effective mitigation.

Molecular detection and characterization of Anaplasmataceae agents, Bartonella spp. and hemoplasmas in armadillos and anteaters from Brazil

Armadillos and anteaters exhibit a wide range of interactions with various pathogens and ectoparasites, which, along with their physiological and ecological characteristics, contribute to their potential as hosts for a broad variety of pathogens with zoonotic potential. However, there has been limited research into the occurrence and diversity of vector-borne agents in this group of mammals. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence and molecular identity of Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp. and hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in free-ranging armadillos and anteaters sampled in the southeast and central-west regions of Brazil. To this purpose, 167 biological samples (139 blood and 28 spleen) from Xenarthra mammals sampled in the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul were analyzed: 48 from six-banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus), 29 from giant armadillos (Priodontes maximus), 4 from nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), 1 from naked-tailed armadillo (Cabassous unicinctus), 79 from giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and 6 from southern tamanduas (Tamandua tetradactyla). Screening PCR assays were performed for Ehrlichia spp. based on the dsb gene, nested PCR for Anaplasma spp. and PCR for hemotropic mycoplasmas based on the 16S rRNA gene, and qPCR for Bartonella spp. based on the 16-23S rRNA intergenic region (ITS). The positive samples were additionally subjected to PCR assays targeting different molecular markers for molecular characterization. As a result, 1/48 (0.59%) blood sample from E. sexcintus was positive for Anaplasma spp., and 1/79 (0.59%) blood sample from M. tridactyla was positive for Ehrlichia spp. The 16S rRNA sequence of Anaplasma sp. detected in E. sexcintus clustered within the same clade as 'Candidatus Anaplasma brasiliensis', previously detected in T. tetradactyla. The dsb sequence of Ehrlichia sp. detected in M. tridactyla clustered within the same clade as Ehrlichia minasensis. In the PCR tests for hemoplasmas, 31/46 (64.5%) E. sexcinctus, 9/29 (65.5%) P. maximus, 2/4 (50%) D. novemcinctus, 33/79 (41.7%) M. tridactyla, and 2/6 (33.3%) T. tetradactyla tested positive. The 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA sequences of hemoplasmas found in E. sexcinctus clustered within the same clade as 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematomaximus', which was previously detected in P. maximus in Brazil. High positivity rates were also observed for Bartonella spp., with 23/48 (47.9%) E. sexcinctus, 1/4 (25%) D. novemcinctus, 9/29 (31%) P. maximus, 21/79 (26.5%) M. tridactyla, and 3/6 (50%) T. tetradactyla showing positive results. The ftsZ sequences of Bartonella sp. detected in E. sexcinctus clustered with 'Candidatus Bartonella washoensis subsp. brasiliensis', previously identified in six-banded armadillos in Brazil. These findings reinforce the presence of 'Candidatus Anaplasma brasiliensis' and 'Candidatus Bartonella washoensis subsp. brasiliensis' in armadillos, and Ehrlichia minasensis in anteaters. This is the first report of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haematomaximus’, a hemoplasma previously described in giant armadillos, in six-banded armadillos. The zoonotic potential and real significance of infection by these agents in xenarthrans’ health and conservation efforts are yet to be investigated.

공작새 상징에 대한 연구

This study aims to explore the universal symbolic meanings of the peacock by examining its ecological characteristics and its depictions in myths and legends, fables, literary works, religion, and art. Based on these considerations, the study seeks to understand the symbolic meaning of the peacock in sandplay therapy cases from an analytical psychology perspective. The symbolism of peacocks was considered in six aspects: sacredness, good fortune and wealth, beauty, power (power), healing and regeneration, and immortality, and we looked at how these symbols were expressed in the process of sand play therapy. As a result of examining the symbolism of peacocks in the sand play treatment case, In the first case an adolescent client who was emotionally influenced by a mother experiencing stress and depression during pregnancy expressed their fundamental and unconscious inner sanctity. In the second case, it appeared in terms of the colorful and imposing power latent in the unconscious, and the third case in terms of the authoritative power that wanted to show off the pride of the peacock with its wings wide open. The last case was a case of a single mother woman in her 20s, who expressed the possibility of a detoxification action that allowed peacocks to heal and regenerate diseases from the harms of poisonous insects or poisonous snakes. She also demonstrated the process of realizing the state in which her elegant and noble beauty could not spread her wings and was latent in the unconscious through the peacock. Clients experienced the process of consciousness while expressing various hidden instincts through the symbolism of peacocks in sand play therapy, and for counselors, it is a significant study from the perspective of deeper understanding, empathy, and acceptance of clients.

Ecological and geochemical features of aeration zone in rural areas in regions of influence of large mining facilities

Ecological and geochemical features of aeration zone in rural areas in regions of influence of large mining facilities

Differences in the genetic diversity and genome size between two ecotypes of Imperata cylindrica in Japan

AbstractUnderstanding genomic characteristics, such as genetic diversity and genome size, is important because they relate to species and ecotype performance. Imperata cylindrica has two ecotypes, the common type (C‐type) and the early‐flowering type (E‐type), which differ in their ecological characteristics and distribution ranges in Japan. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic diversity of the C‐type and E‐type ecotypes of I. cylindrica throughout Japan, using the multiplexed inter‐simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing (MIG‐seq) method. Genome‐wide single‐nucleotide polymorphism data analysis revealed that the C‐type had greater genetic diversity and clearer isolation by distance than the E‐type. Additionally, the C‐type exhibited clear genetic differentiation between the southern part of Amami Oshima and other populations, consistent with differences in its life history. The C‐type also had a smaller genome than the E‐type, which may contribute to faster plant growth and smaller seed mass, as compared with the larger genome of the E‐type. These phenomena were consistent with the characteristics of the C‐type. These results showed that the two ecotypes differ genetically, highlighting the necessity for different guidelines for each ecotype in their conservation and use for revegetation.

Ecological and Biological Studies of Two Larval Parasitoids on Two Monochamus Vectors of the Pinewood Nematode in South Korea

Pine wilt disease, caused by the pinewood nematode, affects Pinus densiflora, P. koraiensis Siebold and Zucc., and P. thunbergii Parl. in South Korea. It is primarily spread by vectors such as Monochamus alternatus Hope and M. saltuarius (Gebler). However, biological control research in this context remains limited in South Korea. We identified 15 parasitoids of these vectors, namely, two ectoparasitic larval parasitoids, Cyanopterus flavator (Fabricius) and Spathius verustus Chao, both in Braconidae, Hymenoptera. A field survey was conducted in Pohang from 2018 to 2020 to elucidate the ecological and biological characteristics of these parasitoids. The average parasitism rates of C. flavator were 6.3% and 1.0%, whereas those of S. verustus were 0.7% and 0.5% on M. alternatus and M. saltuarius, respectively. Both C. flavator and S. verustus appeared to prefer M. alternatus to M. saltuarius, but a statistically significant difference was observed only for C. flavator (p &lt; 0.001). The peak season and tree height with the highest parasitism rate of C. flavator coincided with the period when M. alternatus larvae lived beneath the bark and the highest larval density of M. alternatus and M. saltuarius occurred in pine trees. These findings provide valuable information for determining the optimal release time and height for C. flavator to achieve effective biological control.