Diversity Of Factors Research Articles

Response of bacterial and fungal communities in natural biofilms to bioavailable heavy metals in a mining-affected river

Biofilms, known as “microbial skin” in rivers, respond to rapid and sensitive environmental changes. However, the ecological response mechanisms of bacterial and fungal communities in river biofilms toward heavy metal pollution (HMP) remains poorly understood. This study focused on the key driving factors of bacterial and fungal community diversity and composition and their ecological response mechanisms within periphytic biofilms of Asia's largest Pb–Zn mining area. The diversity, dominant bacterial taxa, and bacteria structure in biofilms were influenced by biologically available heavy metal (HM) fractions, with Ni-F3 (17.96 %) and Pb-F4 (16.27 %) as the main factors affecting the bacterial community structure. Fungal community structure and α-diversity were more susceptible to physicochemical parameters (pH and nutrient elements). Partial least squares path modeling revealed that environmental factors influencing bacterial and fungal communities in biofilms were ranked as water quality > metal fractions > total metals. Dispersal limitation was the most critical ecological process in bacterial (56.9 %) and fungal (73.4 %) assembly. The proportion of heterogeneous selection by bacteria (39.5 %) was higher than that of fungus (26.2 %), which increased with increasing HMP. Bacterial communities had a higher migration rate (0.48) and ecological drift proportion (3.6 %), making them more prone to escape environmental stress. Fungal communities exhibited more keystone species, larger niche width (23.24 ± 13.04 vs. 9.72 ± 5.48), higher organization level, and a more stable co-occurrence network than bacterial communities, which enabled them to better adapt to high environmental pollution levels. These findings expanded the understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of microbial communities within biofilms in HM-polluted watersheds and provided new insights into the ecological responses of microbial communities to HMP.

Soil fungi lead to stronger ‘diminishing returns’ in fine‐root length versus mass allometry towards earlier successional tropical forests

Abstract Decreasing returns in resource acquisition ability with increasing leaf mass investment is called ‘diminishing returns’, which provides important insights into plant economy. Yet, whether this is true for fine roots and how root resource acquisition strategies change with forest succession remain unclear. We investigated the scaling relationship between fine‐root length (L) and mass (M) for 215 topsoil cores from 24 plots across four successional stages in tropical forests of Xishuangbanna, southwestern China. We also assessed the relative effects of edaphic conditions, leaf functional traits, tree species diversity and soil fungal factors on L versus M scaling relationship using hierarchical variation partitioning. Our results revealed the existence of diminishing returns in root length (L vs. M scaling exponent <1), and that the exponent was higher in late‐ than early‐successional forests, corresponding to a strategy shifting from ‘do‐it‐yourself’ in the late‐successional stage to ‘outsourcing’ resource uptake by soil fungi in the early‐successional stage. Soil fungal abundance was the main driver of changes in the L versus M scaling exponent across plots (explained 58% of variances), with root endophytic fungi the strongest predictor (22.11%), followed by mycorrhizal fungi (10.41%), while other factors (leaf functional traits, edaphic nutrient conditions and tree species diversity) exerted weak effects. Our results suggest that root endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi act as key modulators of root economy changes during forest succession, but the former has received less attention previously. L versus M scaling exponent may be a better indicator for shifts in root resource acquisition strategy than the commonly used specific root length. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Effects of Grazing on Plant Diversity and Their Carbon Stocks in Different Types of Grasslands

With the drying and warming of the climate and irrational grazing, various types of grasslands in Inner Mongolia have been degraded to different degrees, and different management modes will inevitably affect the plant diversity and vegetation carbon stock of soil grasslands. To clarify the changes and influencing factors of plant diversity and carbon stock in different types of grasslands under different management modes, plant species composition, aboveground biomass, and vegetation carbon were analyzed based on 18 sentinel monitoring stations across three different types of grasslands in Inner Mongolia. The results showed that grazing increased the dominance of typical grassland and desert grassland, whereas meadow grassland decreased, and the evenness index and Shannon Wiener diversity index increased less in meadow grassland and desert grassland. Grazing decreased graminaceous biomass in meadow grassland and typical grassland, whereas it increased in desert grassland. Above-ground vegetation and below-ground root carbon stocks were much higher than those in grazing areas, 1.5 and 1.2 higher, respectively, but vegetation carbon stocks in long-term grazing sites were significantly lower than those in short-term grazing. Further, the structural equations showed that the effects of geographic location, climatic factors, and soil factors on the biomass and vegetation carbon stocks of the three grassland types differed significantly. The results can provide a reference for the ecologically sustainable development of grassland and the optimization of management mode.

The Yadovitaya fumarole, Tolbachik volcano: A comprehensive mineralogical and geochemical study and driving factors for mineral diversity

Active volcanic fumaroles are one of the most spectacular natural objects in terms of mineral diversity. The Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption (GTFE) (Kamchatka) fumaroles are renowned for its exceptional number of mineral species. The total number of minerals that have been reliably identified from this particular locality exceeds 400, which is approximately 6.5 % of all known minerals to date. In this study, we employ a comprehensive approach (bulk chemistry, microprobe analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, HR X-ray computed tomography, and 34S, 18O, and 65Cu isotope measurements) to study the distribution of primary exhalation and secondary mineral assemblages and to reveal the driving factors responsible for the unique mineral diversity in the Yadovitaya fumarole. High oxygen fugacity, the interaction of minerals with atmospheric oxygen and water from seasonal precipitation (leading to abundant hydrated mineral associations), temperature conditions controlling the spatial distribution of mineral-forming components, gas-rock interactions, and basaltic scoria morphology perfect for the crystallization of various minerals are some of the factors revealed. The combination of these factors caused a stepwise mineralization resulting in 12 zones of the Yadovitaya fumarole with characteristic mineral assemblages. The described mineralogy of the Yadovitaya fumarole demonstrates a consistent spatial evolution of fumarolic mineral assemblages that vary in complexity, chemistry, and interaction patterns with the surrounding environment. The examination of mineralogical and geochemical data yields novel insights into the active volcanic systems that are associated with the formation of distinct oxidation-type fumaroles.

Climate influences the gut eukaryome of wild rodents in the Great Rift Valley of Jordan

BackgroundThe mammalian gut microbiome includes a community of eukaryotes with significant taxonomic and functional diversity termed the eukaryome. The molecular analysis of eukaryotic diversity in microbiomes of wild mammals is still in its early stages due to the recent emergence of interest in this field. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by collecting data on eukaryotic species found in the intestines of wild rodents. Because little is known about the influence of climate on the gut eukaryome, we compared the composition of the gut eukaryotes in two rodent species, Mus musculus domesticus and Acomys cahirinus, which inhabit a transect crossing a temperate and tropical zone on the Jordanian side of the Great Rift Valley (GRV).MethodsWe used high-throughput amplicon sequencing targeting the 18S rRNA gene in fecal samples from rodents to identify eukaryotic organisms, their relative abundance, and their potential for pathogenicity.ResultsNematodes and protozoa were the most prevalent species in the eukaryome communities, whereas fungi made up 6.5% of the total. Sixty percent of the eukaryotic ASVs belonged to taxa that included known pathogens. Eighty percent of the rodents were infected with pinworms, specifically Syphacia obvelata. Eukaryotic species diversity differed significantly between bioclimatic zones (p = 0.001). Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Aspiculuris tetraptera were found to be present exclusively in the Sudanian zone rodents. This area has not reported any cases of Trichuris infections. Yet, Capillaria infestations were unique to the Mediterranean region, while Trichuris vulpis infestations were also prevalent in the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian regions.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of considering host species diversity and environmental factors when studying eukaryome composition in wild mammals. These data will be valuable as a reference to eukaryome study.Graphical

Determinants of Food Security in Rural Households: An Analysis of Dietary Diversity, Land Ownership, and Socioeconomic Factors

Background: Food security is a critical issue in rural areas, influenced by various socioeconomic factors, dietary practices, and resource ownership. Understanding the determinants of food security can help in designing effective interventions to improve the well-being of rural households. Purpose: This study aims to identify and analyze the key determinants of food security among rural households, focusing on dietary diversity, land ownership, and other socioeconomic factors. Methods: The dataset used in this study includes variables such as gender, marital status, education, land ownership, food crop cultivation, meal frequency, age, food source, Food Security Index (FSI), and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between these variables and the FSI. Additionally, a Random Forest Regressor model was employed to predict the FSI and to determine the importance of each feature. Results: The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that HDDS has a significant positive relationship with the FSI (p<0.001), indicating that higher dietary diversity is associated with higher food security levels. Other variables, such as education and food source, showed weaker correlations with food security. The Random Forest Regressor model achieved an R-squared value of 0.495, with feature importance analysis indicating that HDDS, food source, and age are the most influential factors in determining food security. The Mean Squared Error (MSE) of the model was 10.743. Conclusion: This research highlights the crucial role of dietary diversity and socioeconomic conditions in shaping food security outcomes in rural areas. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to enhance food security and dietary quality in rural communities. Further studies are recommended to explore the complex interactions between these variables and to develop targeted interventions to improve food security.

Global analysis of soil bacterial genera and diversity in response to pH

Soil pH stands as a decisive factor in shaping bacterial diversity and community composition, yet predicting the pH preferences and traits of individual bacterial taxa is still incomplete. We surveyed 942 samples from seven biomes worldwide to unravel the responses of individual bacterial genus to soil pH. Our findings indicate that soil pH surpasses the influences of spatial and climatic factors (biomes) in affecting bacterial composition and diversity. We observed that a comparable proportion of genera had low pH optima (21%), high pH optima (18%), and neutral pH optima (18%). However, apart from genera with optima groups, only a small percentage of genera were low pH tolerant (0.8%) compared to those that were high pH tolerant (21%). This suggests that a greater number of non-extremophiles genera can tolerate alkaline conditions compared to acidic conditions. Bacterial richness forms unimodal relationship with soil pH, consistently increasing from acidic levels to neutral across all biomes. However, the decline in richness when pH rises beyond neutral was less pronounced. This can be attributed to the higher number of alkaline-tolerant genera compared to acidic-tolerant genera. As expected, genera with acidic optima are more prevalent in humid climates, such as tropical forests, arctic tundra, and boreal forests, whereas genera with alkaline optima are generally dominant in arid grasslands and drylands. Collectively, our results indicate that the probability of existence of at least 75% of genera in specific soil pH conditions can be predicted, irrespective of biome. The identification of the actual niche spaces occupied by individual soil bacterial genera forms the foundation for developing comprehensive hypotheses regarding the response of soil communities to changing soil conditions worldwide.

The Effect of Board of Directors' Diversity on Financial Distress in Energy Companies in Indonesia

The purpose of this study is to determine the role of board diversity in the form of the presence of female directors, the presence of foreign directors, the age of directors and the size of the board of directors against the risk of financial distress by conducting logistic regression testing on energy sector companies in Indonesia during 2018-2022. The results showed that the presence of female directors and the size of the board of directors negatively affected the risk of financial distress. Further research can test separately the period before the pandemic and after the pandemic so that the characteristics of each can be known in more detail. In addition, it can add cognitive diversity factors such as education, expertise and tenure of directors. This research can be used as a reference to determine non-financial factors that can affect the possibility of financial distress experienced by the company.

A case study of fungal diversity and virulence factors in COVID-19 patients at Al-Muthanna Hospital in Iraq

A case study of fungal diversity and virulence factors in COVID-19 patients at Al-Muthanna Hospital in Iraq

Distribution Transformer Capacity Planning Based On Load Characteristics According To Electric Power Requirements At The Mugarsari Campus, Siliwangi University

Siliwangi University is currently building a second campus in the Mugarsari Tasikmalaya area. With the construction of this second campus, it is necessary to plan the transformer capacity in accordance with the installed electrical power requirements. In terms of designing electrical installations and the need for electrical power to be installed, proper planning is needed. In this research, the distribution transformer capacity value planning has been carried out in accordance with the installed electrical power requirements by considering load characteristics, namely demand factors and diversity factors. The aim of this research is to determine the capacity of the distribution transformer along with an analysis of the distribution transformer loading so that it complies with PLN standards. The total installed load is 1,566 kVA. In this study, calculations were carried out based on load characteristics, namely diversity factors and needs factors . The distribution transformer capacity obtained by considering load characteristics is 1,220 kVA with a loading percentage of 81% . The results of the loading that have been carried out are still in accordance with the Electricity Planning Projections through the 2020 RUPTL.

Duodenal microbiota dysbiosis in functional dyspepsia and its potential role of the duodenal microbiota in gut-brain axis interaction: a systematic review.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder associated with brain-gut interaction disturbances. In recent years, accumulating evidence points to the duodenum as a key integrator in dyspepsia symptom generation. Investigations into the pathological changes in the duodenum of FD patients have begun to focus on the role of duodenal microbiota dysbiosis. This review summarizes duodenal microbiota changes in FD patients and explores their relationship with gut-brain interaction dysregulation. Ten databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library, were searched from inception to 10th October 2023 for clinical interventional and observational studies comparing the duodenal microbiota of FD patients with controls. We extracted and qualitatively summarized the alpha diversity, beta diversity, microbiota composition, and dysbiosis-related factors. A total of nine studies, consisting of 391 FD patients and 132 non-FD controls, were included. The findings reveal that the alpha diversity of the duodenal microbiota in FD patients does not exhibit a significant difference compared to non-FD controls, although an upward trend is observed. Furthermore, alterations in the duodenal microbiota of FD patients are associated with the symptom burden, which, in turn, impacts their quality of life. In FD patients, a considerable number of duodenal microbiota demonstrate a marked ascending trend in relative abundance, including taxa such as the phylum Fusobacteria, the genera Alloprevotella, Corynebacterium, Peptostreptococcus, Staphylococcus, Clostridium, and Streptococcus. A more pronounced declining trend is observed in the populations of the genera Actinomyces, Gemella, Haemophilus, Megasphaera, Mogibacterium, and Selenomonas within FD patients. A negative correlation in the relative abundance changes between Streptococcus and Prevotella is identified, which correlates with the severity of symptom burden in FD patients. Moreover, the alterations in specific microbial communities in FD patients and their potential interactions with the gut-brain axis merit significant attention. Microbial dysbiosis in FD patients is linked to the onset and exacerbation of symptoms and is related to the disorder of gut-brain interaction. Larger-scale, higher-quality studies, along with comprehensive meta-omics research, are essential to further elucidate the characteristics of the duodenal microbiota in FD patients and its role in FD pathogenesis.Systematic review registration: CRD42023470279, URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023470279.

Arousing Learner Interest and Engagement in a Multilingual Classroom Context: English Second Language Teachers’ Experiences and Strategies

Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to learners of different basic schooling phases is arguably an interesting yet enigmatic phenomenon, which features a variety of factors such as language diversity, curriculum, policy, and cultural factors. This paper sought to explore the experiences and the strategies employed by ESL teachers to aid learners navigate through linguistic diversity in English Second Language classroom contexts. From the interpretivist epistemological stance, the researchers inferred qualitative data through semi-structured interviews from ten (10) purposively sampled high school ESL teachers from one district in Durban. Data was thematically analysed through the Social Constructivist Theory. The study’s findings indicated that the primary approach used by ESL teachers in linguistically diverse classrooms was various languages in English literature classrooms. Furthermore, the study discovered that using various languages arouses learners’ interests and enhances learner involvement in classroom-based activities. In this regard, the researchers concluded that learners are more engaged and motivated to learn to read, analyse and respond to texts in a multilingual classroom than in monolingual classrooms. The researchers further recommend that teachers use strategies beyond the textbook and policy documents to capture the learner’s attention. Using various teaching approaches, codeswitching, and translanguaging are effective strategies teachers and the Department of Education should not shy away from. Keywords: Learner interest, Learner engagement, English as a Second Language, Multilingual classrooms, Literature in English, Code-Switching.

Dynamic changes of food environment: In and out of COVID-19 pandemic

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated food crises worldwide, prompting a re-examination of the resilience of the urban food environment. While previous research on the urban food environment has predominantly focused on Western contexts, scant attention has been given to China. This study takes Shenzhen, China as an example to establish a food environment evaluation framework centered on accessibility, diversity, and healthiness factors, aiming to analyze the dynamic changes of the food environment during normal and pandemic periods. By using the GA optimization algorithm, some convenience stores are transformed into self-pickup points (SPPs), which is expected to eliminate the deserts risk areas (DRAs) with low cost and high efficiency. The findings reveal a distinctive “center-periphery” spatial structure characterizing the food environment in Shenzhen, and the improvement of healthiness plays a crucial role in sustaining food oases and ameliorating food swamps. This research provides methods for improving the resilience of the food environment during the pandemic across diverse nations, bolstering the security of urban lifeline systems.

Staphylococcus spp. in Salad Vegetables: Biodiversity, Antimicrobial Resistance, and First Identification of Methicillin-Resistant Strains in the United Arab Emirates Food Supply.

Contamination of leafy greens with Staphylococcus spp. can occur at various supply chain stages, from farm to table. This study comprehensively analyzes the species diversity, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors of Staphylococci in salad vegetables from markets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A total of 343 salad items were sampled from three major cities in the UAE from May 2022 to February 2023 and tested for the presence of Staphylococcus spp. using standard culture-based methods. Species-level identification was achieved using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using the VITEK-2 system with AST-P592 cards. Additionally, whole genome sequencing (WGS) of ten selected isolates was performed to characterize antimicrobial resistance determinants and toxin-related virulence factors. Nine Staphylococcus species were identified in 37.6% (129/343) of the tested salad items, with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) dominating (87.6% [113/129]) and S. xylosus being the most prevalent (89.4% [101/113]). S. aureus was found in 4.6% (14/343) of the salad samples, averaging 1.7 log10 CFU/g. One isolate was confirmed as methicillin-resistant S. aureus, harboring the mecA gene. It belonged to multi-locus sequence type ST-672 and spa type t384 and was isolated from imported fresh dill. Among the characterized S. xylosus (n = 45), 13.3% tested positive in the cefoxitin screen test, and 6.6% were non-susceptible to oxacillin. WGS analysis revealed that the cytolysin gene (cylR2) was the only toxin-associated factor found in S. xylosus, while a methicillin-sensitive S. aureus isolate harbored the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (LukSF/PVL) gene. This research is the first to document the presence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus in the UAE food chain. Furthermore, S. xylosus (a coagulase-negative staphylococcus not commonly screened in food) has demonstrated phenotypic resistance to clinically relevant antimicrobials. This underscores the need for vigilant monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial contaminants, whether pathogenic or commensal, at the human-food interface.

Possible interactions between gut microbiome and division of labor in honey bees.

Recent studies have provided new insights into the role of the microbiome in shaping host behavior. However, the relationship between the temporal division of labor among honey bees (Apis mellifera) and their gut microbial community has not been widely studied. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the link between the gut microbiome and division of labor in honey bees by examining the microbial absolute abundance and relative composition of 7-day-old nurse bees and 28-day-old forager bees from a natural hive, as well as those of worker bees of the same 14-day-old age showing different behaviors in a manipulated hive. We found that forager bees had fewer core bacteria, particularly gram-positive fermentative genera such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, with Bifidobacterium asteroides being the most sensitive to host behavioral tasks. Our results showed that forager bees have lower gut community stability compared to nurse bees, suggesting that their gut community is more susceptible to invasion by non-core members. Furthermore, a pollen limitation experiment using caged honey bees indicated that dietary changes during behavioral shifts may be a driving factor in honey bee microbial diversity. This study contributes to a greater understanding of the interaction between the gut microbiome and behavioral tasks and provides a foundation for future assays.

Study on interspecific relationships, community stability, and environmental factors of lithophytic moss at different elevations in karst cities.

Ecosystem stability arises from the interplay of species diversity, environmental conditions, and external disturbances. Understanding the structure of plant communities, interspecific relationships, and community stability in urban ecosystems is fundamental to ecological restoration and community development. This study utilized the karst city of Guiyang as a case study and employed the α diversity index, variance ratio method (VR), χ 2-test, Pearson correlation test, Spearman rank correlation test, M. Godron stability, and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The research focused on analyzing the species diversity, interspecific associations, community stability, and environmental factors of lithophytic moss at various elevations (989-1398 m). The findings revealed the presence of 58 species belonging to 27 genera and 13 families of lithophytic moss in the study area. Notably, the Brachytheciaceae and Pottiaceae emerged as dominant, exhibiting a broad ecological range and adaptation mechanisms, thereby playing a crucial role in the ecological environment of rocky desertification. The study observed that the highest species richness and dominance values of lithophytic moss were recorded at the N4 (1296-1398 m) elevation gradient, while the highest species diversity and uniformity values were observed at the N3 (1194-1295 m) elevation gradient, indicating a significant impact of altitude on lithobryophyte species diversity, particularly at middle and high altitudes. The analysis of interspecific associations and stability indicated a predominantly negative overall association within the lithophytic moss community, suggesting an early stage of succession, with weak interspecific associations and correlations among dominant pairs, tending towards relative independence. Only the communities at N2 (1092-1193 m) elevation exhibited stability, while the other communities were in an unstable stage, showing no significant correlation with species diversity. Furthermore, light intensity (182-129300 lux) exerted the greatest influence on community stability. Additionally, air humidity (36.5-52.3%) and altitude (998-1327 m) emerged as the primary environmental factors influencing community distribution, with a close and positive correlation between the two. These results hold significant reference value for promoting the succession and steady development of vegetation in rocky desertification areas and enhancing the conservation and restoration of vegetation community diversity in karst urban ecosystems.

Effects of amphibian genetic diversity on ecological communities.

The amount of genetic diversity within a population can affect ecological processes at population, community, and ecosystem levels. However, the magnitude, consistency, and scope of these effects are largely unknown. To investigate these issues, we conducted two experiments manipulating the amount of genetic diversity and environmental factors in larval amphibians. The first experiment manipulated wood frog genetic diversity, the presence or absence of caged predators, and competition from leopard frogs to test whether these factors affected survival, growth, and morphology of wood frogs and leopard frogs. The second experiment manipulated wood frog genetic diversity, the presence or absence of uncaged predators, and resource abundance to test whether these factors affected wood frog traits (survival, morphology, growth, development, and behavior) and other components of the ecological community (zooplankton abundance, phytoplankton, periphyton, and bacterial community structure). Genetic diversity did not affect wood frog survival, growth, and development in either experiment. However, genetic diversity did affect the mean morphology of wood frog tadpoles in the first experiment and the abundance and distribution of zooplankton in the second experiment. It did not affect phytoplankton abundance, periphyton abundance, or bacterial community structure. While effect sizes (Cohen's d) of genetic diversity were approximately half those of environment treatments, the greatest effect sizes were for interaction effects between genetic diversity and environment. Our results indicate that genetic diversity can have a large effect on ecological processes, but the direction of those effects is highly dependent upon environmental conditions, and not easily predicted from simple measures of traits.

Beta diversity patterns and driving mechanisms of stream bacteria and fungi on Mt. Kilimanjaro

Aquatic microbes, which are highly diverse in freshwater biofilms, play a vital role in shaping the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Nevertheless, the influence of environmental factors on aquatic microbes in different biogeographic ecosystems, especially in tropical mountains, is relatively unexplored. Here, we examined the relative influence of climate and physicochemical factors on beta diversity of stream bacteria and fungi using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing at 40 sites on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Towards larger elevational distance, the total beta diversity and turnover of bacteria and fungi increased significantly, while nestedness decreased. The beta diversity of fungi showed greater spatial variation than that of bacteria, while the local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD) showed U-shaped elevational pattern for both taxa. Bacteria and fungi had strong positive relationships regarding the total beta diversity, LCBD and their components, except for nestedness, indicating similar environmental preferences and resource overlap. Among environmental variables, mean annual temperature, water depth and elevation predicted microbial beta diversity, while water depth, mean annual temperature and precipitation primarily affected LCBD. Overall, climate-related variables were the dominant factors for beta diversity and their effects were more pronounced for fungi than bacteria. The contrasting patterns of bacterial and fungal beta diversity and their ecological interactions in tropical aquatic ecosystems provide a rare dataset for assessing ecological functions in understudied aquatic ecosystems and predicting the impact of global change on microorganisms.

Park size as a key factor in urban bird diversity: insights from a study in Delhi, India

Park size as a key factor in urban bird diversity: insights from a study in Delhi, India

Exploring Skull Shape Variation and Allometry Across Different Chicken Breeds

This study investigates skull shape variation and allometry among three different chicken breeds: Broiler, Lohman Brown, and Leghorn. Geometric morphometric analysis was employed to analyze skull morphology, focusing on facial bones and the neurocranium. The study aims to understand how skull shape differs between these breeds and how it relates to size variation. Results show significant differences in skull morphology among the chicken breeds. Broiler chickens exhibit a distinct skull shape, characterized by a more rounded head and a higher neurocranium compared to the other breeds. In contrast, Lohman Brown and Leghorn chickens show similarities in skull shape, with a more elongated appearance. Broiler chickens were found to be the smallest among the breeds studied, with statistical analysis confirming their distinguishability based on centroid size. In contrast, Lohman Brown and Leghorn chickens exhibited similar sizes, with no significant difference between them. Allometric analysis reveals that skull shape changes with size, particularly in the neurocranium and facial bones. These findings suggest that evolutionary adaptations and breeding practices have influenced the skull morphology of these chicken breeds. Overall, this study provides insights into the skull shape variation and allometry of different chicken breeds, highlighting the importance of considering both genetic and environmental factors in understanding morphological diversity in poultry.