Field Observations Research Articles

Elevated aerosol enhances plant water-use efficiency by increasing carbon uptake while reducing water loss.

Aerosols could significantly influence ecosystem carbon and water fluxes, potentially altering their interconnected dynamics, typically characterized by water-use efficiency (WUE). However, our understanding of the underlying ecophysiological mechanisms remains limited due to insufficient field observations. We conducted 4-yr measurements of leaf photosynthesis and transpiration, as well as 3-yr measurements of stem growth (SG) and sap flow of poplar trees exposed to natural aerosol fluctuation, to elucidate aerosol's impact on plant WUE. We found that aerosol improved sun leaf WUE mainly because a sharp decline in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) inhibited its transpiration, while photosynthesis was less affected, as the negative effect induced by declined PAR was offset by the positive effect induced by low leaf vapor pressure deficit (VPDleaf). Conversely, diffuse radiation fertilization (DRF) effect stimulated shade leaf photosynthesis with minimal impact on transpiration, leading to an improved WUE. The responses were further verified by a strong DRF on SG and a decrease in sap flow due to the suppresses in total radiation and VPD. Our field observations indicate that, contrary to the commonly assumed coupling response, carbon uptake and water use exhibited dissimilar reactions to aerosol pollution, ultimately enhancing WUE at the leaf and canopy level.

Diurnal predators in dim light: the ability of mantids to prey for supper.

Many insects rely heavily on visual cues in foraging and other life activities. Mantids are insect predators that usually ambush prey. The sophisticated visual system of mantids allows them to spot, track, and strike at prey with high accuracy. Mantids are categorized as diurnal animals in most cases, while our field observations suggested that they were active in foraging both day and night. Therefore, we hypothesize that predation in dim light is possible for mantids, while mantids are unable to capture prey in complete darkness. In this study, we experimentally examined whether different light conditions could affect the predation success and efficiency of mantid nymphs and adults, Hierodula chinensis Werner (Mantodea: Mantidae), through behavioral observations. Individual mantids were placed in individual chambers in complete darkness, simulated moonlight (0.1 lux), or simulated dusk (50 lux) conditions and were allowed to forage for prey items for 10 min. Our observations showed no evidence that H. chinensis could capture any prey in complete deprivation of light. The proportion of nymphs with successful predation in simulated moonlight was 50% higher than that in complete darkness and 45.83% lower than that in simulated dusk. The proportion of adults with successful predation in simulated moonlight was 42.11% higher than that in complete darkness and 57.89% lower than that in simulated dusk. Overall, the results provide new insights into the behavioral ecology of diurnal predators at night, with potential association with moonlight, starlight, and light pollution.

Exploring the interplay between soil thermal and hydrological changes and their impact on carbon fluxes in permafrost ecosystems

Accelerated warming of the Arctic can affect the global climate system by thawing permafrost and exposing organic carbon in soils to decompose and release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. We used a process-based biosphere model (DVM-DOS-TEM) designed to simulate biophysical and biogeochemical interactions between the soil, vegetation, and atmosphere. We varied soil and environmental parameters to assess the impact on cryohydrological and biogeochemical outputs in the model. We analyzed the responses of ecosystem carbon balances to permafrost thaw by running site-level simulations at two long-term tundra ecological monitoring sites in Alaska: Eight Mile Lake (EML) and Imnavait Creek Watershed (IMN), which are characterized by similar tussock tundra vegetation but differing soil drainage conditions and climate. Model outputs showed agreement with field observations at both sites for soil physical properties and ecosystem CO2 fluxes. Model simulations of Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) showed an overestimation during the frozen season (higher CO2 emissions) at EML with a mean NEE of 26.98 ± 4.83 gC/m2/month compared to observational mean of 22.01 ± 5.67 gC/m2/month, and during the fall months at IMN, with a modeled mean of 19.21 ± 7.49 gC/m2/month compared to observation mean of 11.9 ± 4.45 gC/m2/month. Our results underscore the importance of representing the impact of soil drainage conditions on the thawing of permafrost soils, particularly poorly drained soils, which will drive the magnitude of carbon released at sites across the high-latitude tundra. These findings can help improve predictions of net carbon releases from thawing permafrost, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of the impact of Arctic warming on the global climate system.

Strategies and Models for Development of Hot Water Tourism Objects in Tombasian Village Under Kawangkoan Barat District, Minahasa Regency

Tourism development is sought to be developed in the context of economic improvement, sustainable development and technological development. Geographically, each region has different characteristics with their own uniqueness and advantages. Natural resources that are owned with all its contents, land in all its forms and the sea with all its contents. This potential can be utilized optimally through tourism. Natural resources owned with all their contents and existing potential will be utilized for development purposes. That potential can be an asset through the tourism sector. One of the attractions that attracts the attention of both domestic and foreign tourists is the hot springs in Tombasian Bawah Village. Tombasian Bawah Village is one of the villages in Kawangkoan Barat District, Minahasa Regency, where in general the people work as farmers and craftsmen on stilt houses. Furthermore, the data that has been collected is analyzed by descriptive analysis using the SWOT analysis method and breaking it down internally and externally. The stages of the research were field observations by collecting data at the physical location, conducting interviews with the government of tourist attraction locations with village programs and district governments related to the development of tourism objects, specifically hot water in the village of Tombasian Bawah and visitors to obtain data. The results of the study show that the Hot Spring Tourism Object Development Strategy is adequate which can be applied by developing tourism on holidays and other holidays. And the model is community based. The development of this hot spring tourism object can be done by diversifying tourism objects and modifying the system so that tourists can travel easily and pleasantly. The results of this research are the proceding/Sentrinov output targets and reports.

University–industry collaborations as processual inter-organizational learning: implications of the third context

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explicate how the processual third context learning approach provides new understandings and dimensions to the well-established terminology within the fields of inter-organizational learning and university–industry collaboration. These understandings and dimensions are empirically informed by an analysis of a collaboration between Aalborg University and Bang & Olufsen, a Danish loudspeaker manufacturer. Design/methodology/approach To fulfill the research purpose, a case study based on a participatory data collection strategy was applied in the collaboration between Aalborg University and Bang & Olufsen. Data were collected through a qualitative multimethod approach, comprising semi-structured interviews, field observations and field notes. Phenomenologically inspired content analysis revealed the themes outlined and discussed. Findings The third context framework was useful in outlining the complexity of a bidirectional collaboration. The inter-organizational learning processes were, for example, influenced by the actors’ recurrent inquiry of perplexities regarding the purpose and content of the collaboration. The extracted empirical findings are discussed and related to the fields of inter-organizational learning and university–industry collaboration, thereby explicating how a processual learning perspective provides new understandings and dimensions to collaboration across organizations. Originality/value The paper contributes empirically informed processual-learning dimensions to the literature on inter-organizational learning and university–industry collaboration.

Sustainability Analysis of Community-Managed Rural Water Supply Project: A Case Study of Kaski District

After the 1992 International Conference on Water and the Environment in Dublin, a new approach to rural water supply was adopted being that the water should be managed at the lowest appropriate level, with users involved in the planning and implementation of projects. As per the data of DWSSM (2019) even though the basic level water supply coverage of Nepal is 87.22% among the water supply schemes providing service to the people only 28.13% of the schemes are fully functional. The lack of functionality questions the investment of different agencies as projects do not operate throughout project life and the public are facing the problem of not getting safe and reliable water. The main aim of this study was to assess the post-construction status of these projects in relation to their sustainable management. For this, six water supply projects completed over the last five years have been studied. During the study, the data was collected from the structured questionnaire, focal group discussion, Key informants’ interviews and field observations. These water supply projects were evaluated based on five main criteria namely economic, technical, social, institutional, and environmental factors. From the study it is observed that the sustainability score of Syaude Lifting WSP is 62.82%, Serokhola WSP is 66.74%, Lumre WSP is 64.25%, Sudame WSP is 54.97%, Bhachok WSP is 63.74% and Chisapani WSP is 76.90%. The economic and technical aspect of sustainability is found poor in all of these water supply projects. The major problem faced by the community is the lack of financial resources and technical capacity-building programs in the construction stage which have ultimately hampered the project's sustainability. Post-construction training, technical and capacity-building training, support policies and programs are important requirements for the sustainable development of rural water supply systems.

Empirical Study of the Occurrence of Domestic Violence in Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi Province

The smallest social unit in society is the household or family, and this has a significant impact on the personality development of each family member and the way they interact with other people. The aim of this research is to identify the causes and various forms of domestic violence in Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. and Factors influencing the occurrence of domestic violence in Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. This research uses empirical methodology, with data sourced from literature reviews and field investigations. The research was conducted in Central Sulawesi Province, in Banggai Regency. collecting information in the field through field work, interviews and observations. After that, qualitative descriptive analysis was used to test the data. Research findings show that in Banggai district, Central Sulawesi Province, there are very frequent cases of domestic violence where the victims are generally women. In addition, a number of laws and regulations have been enacted to protect women who are victims of domestic violence. Law Number 23 of 2004 concerning the Elimination of Domestic Violence is one of the legal regulations that specifically regulates domestic violence. However, the many laws and regulations governing women's safety do not adequately consider women's needs to protect them from crimes involving domestic violence. Economic problems, social media, adultery and drug use are key variables that influence the incidence of domestic violence. So it is hoped that the government, police and society can work together to combat acts of domestic violence in order to minimize physical, psychological and sexual domestic crimes and create a harmonious household environment.

Functional and compositional responses of stream microphytobenthic communities to multiple stressors increase and release in a mesocosm experiment

Field observations form the basis of the majority of studies on microphytobenthic algal communities in freshwater ecosystems. Controlled mesocosm experiments data are comparatively uncommon. The few experimental mesocosm studies that have been conducted provide valuable insights into how multiple stressors affect the community structures and photosynthesis-related traits of benthic microalgae. The recovery process after the stressors have subsided, however, has received less attention in mesocosm studies. To close this gap, here we present the results of a riparian mesocosm experiment designed to investigate the effects of reduced flow velocity, increased salinity and increased temperature on microphytobenthic communities. We used a full factorial design with a semi-randomised distribution of treatments consisting of two levels of each stressor (2 × 2 × 2 treatments), with eight replicates making a total of 64 circular mesocosms, allowing a nuanced examination of their individual and combined influences. We aimed to elucidate the responses of microalgae communities seeded from stream water to the applied environmental stressors. Our results showed significant effects of reduced flow velocity and increased temperature on microphytobenthic communities. Recovery after stressor treatment led to a convergence in community composition, with priority effects (hypothesized to reflect competition for substrate between resident and newly arriving immigrant taxa) slowing down community shifts and biomass increase. Our study contributes to the growing body of literature on the ecological dynamics of microphytobenthos and emphasises the importance of rigorous experiments to validate hypotheses. These results encourage further investigation into the nuanced interactions between microphytobenthos and their environment and shed light on the complexity of ecological responses in benthic systems.

Modeling multi-source plastic pollution yield and transport driven by catchment hydrometeorological processes

Plastic pollution has emerged as a global environmental concern, impacting both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. However, understanding of plastic sources and transport mechanism at the catchment scale remains limited. This study introduces a multi-source plastic yield and transport model, which integrates catchment economic activities, climate data, and hydrological processes. Model parameters were calibrated using a combination of field observations, existing literature, and statistical random sampling techniques. The model demonstrated robust performance in simulating both plastic yield and transport from 2010 to 2020 in the upper and middle Mulan River Catchment, located in southeast China. The annual average yield coefficients were found to closely align with existing estimations, and the riverine outflow exhibited a high correlation coefficient of 0.97, with biases ranging from -63.0 % to -21.4 % across all monitoring stations. The analysis reveals that, on average, 12.5 ± 2.5 % of the total plastic yield is transported to rivers annually, with solid waste identified as the primary source, accounting for 37.8 ± 20.7 % of the total load to rivers, followed by agricultural film (26.4 ± 9.8 %), impermeable surfaces (21.5 ± 10.3 %), urban and rural sewage (10.4 ± 5.0 % and 3.0 ± 1.5 %, respectively), and industrial wastewater (0.9 ± 0.7 %). The annual average outflow was estimated to between 9.3 and 43.0 ton/year (median: 23.1) at a 95 % confidence level. This study not only provides insights into the primary sources and transport pathways of plastic pollution at the catchment scale, but also offers a valuable tool for informing effective plastic pollution mitigation strategies.

Sediment transportation by strong winds over Gobi surfaces: Field observations along the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high‐speed railway

AbstractUnder strong wind action over vast Gobi surfaces, eolian transportation can cause significant environmental problems and infrastructural damage. However, scientific understanding of the underlying mechanisms and dynamics of this process in the Gobi region remains limited. To address this gap, our study focused on investigating eolian transportation over the Gobi surface along the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high‐speed railway (LXHSR) in Northwest China, where strong winds are prevalent. The results indicate that sand transportation heights can reach 9 m in this region, with the saltation layer approximately 3–6 times higher than that of other gravel deserts. The sediment flux density over the Gobi surface exhibited an exponential decrease with increasing elevation; however, the grain‐size vertical profile in wind‐blown sand displayed an increase up to a critical altitude, followed by a decrease with height. The annual eolian transported quantity recorded in this region exceeds that of most deserts worldwide. Notably, fine sand and total suspended particulates (TSP) contributed to approximately 90% of the sediment deposited on railway tracks and drawn in by passing trains. To control transportation of these fine particles, we propose increasing the height of sand‐blocking fences within the current railway wind‐blown sand protection system from 2 to 3 m. Simultaneously, anthropogenic damage to the Gobi surface should be minimized to reduce excessive dust release. This study provides insight into the wind‐blown sand movement mechanism over the Gobi surface under strong winds, and the eolian physics parameters revealed may serve as a theoretical foundation for preventing and managing eolian catastrophes along the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high‐speed railway.

Seven new species of Rinorea (Violaceae) from the Neotropics.

Over the course of revising the genus Rinorea (Violaceae) from Colombia, field observations and herbarium studies revealed seven new species. Several of the new species described here belong to species complexes that required examination of herbarium material from across the Neotropics. Each of the new species described here have oppositely arranged leaves and belong to Rinoreasect.Pubiflorae, a section restricted to the Neotropics. Two new species are segregated from the R.ovalifolia species complex: Rinoreachiribiquetensis from Chiribiquete National Park in the Colombian Amazon and Rinoreastevensii from the Orinoco River near the border of Colombia and Venezuela. Two new species are segregated from the Rinoreahirsuta species complex: Rinoreagaleanoae-bernalii and Rinoreacogolloi, both from the eastern slopes of the Andean Central Cordillera along the mid-Magdalena River Valley in Colombia. From the widely distributed R.pubiflora species complex, we segregated one new species, Rinoreacallejasii, from southeast Panama and the Chocó in Colombia. In addition to these five new taxa segregated from widely distributed species complexes, we discovered two previously unknown species with affinities to other Neotropical Rinorea. Rinoreaaymardii is described from the Alto Orinoco-Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve in Venezuela and most closely resembles R.melanodonta from Colombia. Rinoreabetancurii is segregated from R.macrocarpa and occurs in the Amazonian Regions of Colombia, Brazil, Peru and Venezuela. In this study, we provide descriptions, illustrations and distribution maps of the new species and make preliminary assessments of the risk of extinction using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. We also furnish an identification key to the species of Rinoreasect.Pubiflorae in Colombia.

Application of artificial countermeasures to enhance desilting efficiency in a reservoir under normal and extreme events

ABSTRACT The influx of flood-induced turbidity flows with high sediment concentrations into the reservoir can create sediment deposition issues, potentially jeopardizing water supply reliability. Efficient management of reservoir water resources is imperative for sustainable utilization. Evaluating the need for reservoir desilting involves comprehending the inflow and outflow dynamics of water-sediment discharges, the capacity of existing outlet structures, reservoir operation objectives, and available desilting technologies. However, given the altering hydrological conditions due to the impacts of climate change, there is a necessity for adaptive methods to ensure reservoir storage maintenance. Consequently, this study introduces the utilization of a flushing channel with artificial guiding structures to enhance desilting efficiency. A 2D numerical model offers convenient computational tools for assessing water-sediment transport behaviors across various operational scenarios based on reservoir management strategies. Data obtained from field observations is collected and analyzed to calibrate and verify the numerical model. By employing 2D numerical modeling, sediment concentration and desilting efficiency are calculated to support effective desilting operations within a reservoir. Simulation results indicate that the integration of additional artificial guiding structures at the bottom of the reservoir can enhance sedimentation mitigation outcomes by approximately 17.63% under normal conditions and by 5.27% under extreme hydrological conditions.

Unveiling reflectance spectral characteristics of floating plastics across varying coverages: insights and retrieval model

Marine floating debris, particularly chemically stable plastics, poses a significant global environmental concern. These materials, due to their prevalence and durability, linger on the ocean surface for extended durations, inflicting considerable harm on marine ecosystems, life, and the food chain. The traditional methodology for investigating marine floating debris mainly uses field observations, which are time-consuming, laborious, and constrained in observational scope. Consequently, there is an urgent need for more effective methodologies, such as remote sensing, to monitor marine floating debris, which will be of great significance for enhancing the management of their pollution. In this study, we employ controlled experiments and theoretical model simulations to investigate the spectral characteristics of remote sensing reflectance (Rrs(λ)) of two common types of floating plastic debris, specifically polyvinyl chloride (PVC) buoys and polypropylene (PP) bottles. Our analysis reveals distinct Rrs(λ) spectral characteristics for each type of plastic debris, differing significantly from that of the background water. Furthermore, both PVC buoys and PP bottles exhibit a similar absorption valley in the short-wave infrared region, with its depth increasing alongside the plastic coverage. Based on these findings, we develop a novel floating plastic index (FPI) and a corresponding retrieval model for estimating the coverage of floating plastic debris. Validation with simulated data and measurements from control experiments shows good performance of the retrieval model with high inversion accuracy, demonstrated by the values of the coefficient of determination, mean percentage error, mean absolute percentage error, and root mean square error of 0.97, -0.3%, 17.5%, and 3.98%, respectively, for the experimentally measured dataset. Our research provides a theoretical and methodological foundation for remote sensing retrieval of the coverages of floating PVC and PP plastics, as well as offers valuable insights for the analysis of other floating debris types in future studies.

Role of Subauroral Polarization Streams in Deep Injections of Energetic Electrons Into the Inner Magnetosphere

AbstractThe electric fields of subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) have been suggested to affect energetic charged particles' dynamics in the inner magnetosphere, though their role on radiation belt electrons has never been properly quantified. A moderate geomagnetic storm on 2015‐09‐07 caused the deep injection of 10–100s of keV electrons in Earth's inner magnetosphere to low L* (L* < 4). Using a 2‐D test particle tracer, we present the effects of electric fields given by the Volland‐Stern model, a SAPS (Goldstein et al., 2005, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005ja011135) model, and a modified SAPS model on the energetic electron deep injections. The modified SAPS model reflects the SAPS electric field observations by the Van Allen Probes and is supported by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program observations. Simulations suggest that the SAPS electric field pushes 10–20 MeV/G electrons Earthward to L* ∼ 2.7 in 2.5 hr, much deeper compared to the Volland‐Stern electric field.

Rainfall-Triggered Landslides and Numerical Modeling of Subsequent Debris Flows at Kalli Village of Suntar Formation in the Lesser Himalayas in Nepal

Hazardous debris flows are common in the tectonically active young Himalayas. The present study is focused on the recurrent, almost seasonal, landslides and debris flows initiated from Kalli village in Achham District of Nepal, located in the Lesser Himalayas. Such geological hazards pose a significant threat to the neighboring communities. The field survey reveals vulnerable engineering geological conditions and adverse environmental factors in the study area. It is found that a typical complete debris transport process may consist of two stages depending on the rainfall intensity. In the first stage, debris flows mobilized from a landslide have low mobility and their runout distance is quite modest; in the second stage, with an increase in water content they are able to travel a longer distance. Numerical simulations based on a multi-phase flow model are conducted to analyze the characteristics of the debris flows in motion, including the debris deposition profiles and runout distances in both stages. Overall, the numerical results are reasonably consistent with relevant field observations. Future debris flows may likely occur again in this area due to the presence of large soil blocks separated by tension cracks, rampant in the field; numerical simulations predict that these potential debris flows may exhibit similar characteristics to past events.

Inter‐basin comparison of wood flux using random forest modelling and repeated wood extractions in unmonitored catchments

AbstractPredicting wood flux (i.e., wood piece number per time interval) or discharge (metre cubes of wood per second) in rivers is crucial for adequate integrated river management that balances risk assessment and ecological improvement. To enhance our understanding of the transport mechanisms of wood and assess their effects in various geographical contexts, it is necessary to conduct inter‐basin comparative studies and preliminary modelling. The wood flux of two river basins was analysed using video monitoring and random forest predictions based on hydrological drivers. The wood flux dynamics of the Ain and Allier rivers were both compared and contrasted. Although there was shared wood transport hysteresis, hourly wood flux, relative critical flow discharges of wood transport and certain hydrological factors exhibited differences between the two river basins. As a next step, the two random forest models, which were trained previously, were applied to predict wood flux and then wood discharge in a third river (the Rhône), in order to estimate a wood volume export, which can be compared with the wood volumes extracted over a series of a few monthly periods in the Génissiat reservoir. By using the random forest modelling, it is possible to estimate the volume of wood on the Rhône river. Despite the absence of any training data, there is a noticeable correlation, however, the estimated volumes were significantly overestimated. To resolve this issue, a correction factor was applied, accounting for disparities in wood recruitment dynamics between the Rhône basin and the training river basins. It was found that high flow events are underestimated, emphasizing the importance of incorporating local annotations and additional parameters in training the random forest model. Accurately predicting wood flux is important for integrated watershed management, but field observations are still lacking for validation and process‐based understanding.

A too-many dwarf satellite galaxies problem in the MATLAS low-to-moderate density fields

Context. Dwarf galaxy abundances can serve as discernment tests for models of structure formation. Previous small-scale tensions between observations and dark matter-only cosmological simulations may have been resolved with the inclusion of baryonic processes; however, these successes have been largely concentrated on the Local Group dwarfs the feedback models were initially calibrated on. Aims. We investigate whether the ΛCDM model can reliably reproduce dwarf abundances in the MATLAS low-to-moderate density fields that are centred upon early-type host galaxies beyond the Local Volume. Methods. We carried out mock observations of MATLAS-like fields with the high-resolution hydrodynamic simulation IllustrisTNG-50. We used matching selection criteria and compared the properties of dwarfs contained within them with their MATLAS analogues. Results. Although simulated MATLAS-like dwarfs demonstrate photometric properties that are consistent with the observed galaxy population and follow the same scaling relations, TNG50 underestimates the number of dwarf galaxies in isolated MATLAS fields at the 6σ level. This significance maintained within crowded fields containing more than a single bright host. Our 55 − 62% estimate of the fraction of background galaxies is in agreement with estimates by MATLAS, but is wholly insufficient to alleviate this discrepancy in dwarf abundances. Any incompleteness in the observed fields further exacerbates this tension. Conclusions. We identified a “too-many-satellites” problem in ΛCDM, emphasising the need for the continued testing and refining of current models of galaxy formation in environments beyond the Local Group.

The termitaria terminator: Can Actinobolus beetles affect the relationships between termitaria and related fauna in the Brazilian Cerrado?

AbstractTermites are key components of tropical ecosystems, particularly in the Cerrado biome, where they dominate animal biomass and play crucial roles in nutrient cycling and soil formation. Their abundance and nutritional value make them primary food sources for various Cerrado animals, influencing predator diversity and several ecological interactions. Additionally, termite mounds serve as essential shelters for a wide range of fauna, aiding in thermoregulation and providing refuge from harsh environmental conditions, including wildfires. In this scenario, termitaria survival, diversity, and availability have several effects on the Cerrado fauna ecology. We present novel insights into the interaction between Actinobolus beetles and epigeous termite mounds in the Cerrado. Our field observations revealed Actinobolus beetles utilizing termite mounds for feeding and reproduction in several localities of Cerrado. These beetles access the inner portion of the termitaria, where the colony nest is located and protected by the termitaria's harder external layer and their larvae consume the termite nest structure. Actinobolus attack leads to partial or complete destruction of the colony and the creation of large hollows inside the mounds, causing deep changes in its structure. Despite the defensive mechanisms of termites, Actinobolus larvae thrive within the nest and likely ingest termites’ eggs, nymphae and adults. Furthermore, we found that the Actinobolus capsule are made of faecal pellets, instead of termitaria debris. We suggest that the interaction between Actinobolus beetles and epigeous termitaria impacts the role of termitaria in providing microclimate regulation, food and shelter for Cerrado fauna, likely having poorly understood effects on the conservation and management of Cerrado ecosystems.

Monitoring drought impacts on street trees using remote sensing - Disentangling temporal and species-specific response patterns with Sentinel-2 imagery

Healthy street trees provide important ecosystem services to cities, but are under increasing stress from urbanisation and climate change, including drought. Traditional field observations are limited in their ability to provide city-wide and regular monitoring of the drought response of street trees, which is essential for their effective management. To overcome this, we propose a novel workflow using freely available remote sensing imagery from Sentinel-2 to identify temporal and species-specific drought response patterns of street trees. We evaluate the workflow on a sample of 2514 mature street trees of the seven most common street tree species in Leipzig, Germany. For each tree, we generate time series of eight vegetation indices from 2017 to 2022, namely enhanced vegetation index (EVI), normalised burn ratio (NBR) and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), each using the 10 m and 20 m resolution near-infrared band (EVI-10, EVI-20, NBR-10, NBR-20, NDVI-10, NDVI-20), as well as red edge normalised difference vegetation index (RENDVI) and red-green vegetation index (RGVI). They form the basis for a correlation analysis with the meteorological drought indicator standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and for annual growing season integrals, which we subtract from those of the base year 2017. We use boxplots and statistical hypothesis testing to examine differences between and within tree species and years. The results show positive relationships between the eight vegetation indices and the SPEI, with the NBR-20 having the highest correlation coefficients. We also find significant differences in the drought response of several tree species, with Quercus robur being the most drought responsive and Platanus x acerifolia being the least. While most tree species have significantly smaller growing season integrals in the drought years 2018 and 2020 than in the non-drought years 2017 and 2021, the effects are not as pronounced in the drought years 2019 and 2022. Uncertainties arise, for example, from spectral signal variations caused by adjacent land use. Nevertheless, the proposed workflow holds promise for incorporation into holistic urban green management solutions and mixed-method approaches for further research into the causes and consequences of drought-induced damage to street trees.

Legal Study of Plastic Waste Handling for Street food Business Actors

In Cirebon City, plastic waste is still an unresolved problem. With the increase in population, there will be an increase in the volume of waste generated by human activities. This study aims to determine the procedures for handling plastic waste and the elements that influence the management of plastic waste in the city of Cirebon. The type of research used is empirical juridical research using qualitative data, initial research by examining secondary data, then continued with research in the field or community. Research data obtained through field observations or obtained through interviews. This research looks at written legal products such as Law Number 18 of 2008 concerning Waste Management, and Cirebon City Regional Regulation Number 4 of 2018 concerning Waste Management. Research on this issue is carried out descriptively analytically, explaining how written law can prevent environmental pollution. Waste management is difficult to resolve due to lack of awareness among business actors and insufficient socialization and efforts from the government. Law No. 18/2008 contains administrative provisions, civil liability, several rights to sue, and criminal sanctions. Regarding administrative sanctions, the above regulation authorizes the regent/mayor to impose administrative sanctions on waste managers who violate the provisions stipulated in the permit. The sanctions given are in the form of government coercion, forced money, and license revocation.