Geographical Environmental Conditions Research Articles

Diversity and Community Structure of Typhlocybinae in the Typical Karst Rocky Ecosystem, Southwest China

In karst ecosystems, different geographic environmental conditions can lead to different lithospheric conditions, thus determining community composition and altering biotic interactions. Guizhou Province is a typical ecologically fragile karst area located in the South China Karst. To explore the relationship between biodiversity and environmental changes in different karst habitats, the community structure of typhlocybinae (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, and Cicadellidae) in three typical karst areas in Guizhou Province (the Zhenfeng–Huajiang Demonstration Zone, the Bijie Salaxi Demonstration Zone, and the Shibing Yuntai Mountain Nature Reserve) was analyzed. These areas are characterized by differences in terms of their geographic environment. For field investigations, typhlocybinae specimens were collected from five common leafhopper host plants—Juglans regia L., Rhus chinensis Mill., Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Prunus salicina Lindl., and Debregeasia orientalis C.J. Chen—in the three study areas. A total of 4078 typhlocybinae specimens were captured, belonging to 6 tribes, 40 genera, and 121 species. Among them, Alnetoidia dujuanensis, Limassolla lingchuanensis, and Singapora shinshana were the dominant species. The numbers of typhlocybinae specimens from each region were as follows: Shibing, 2170 (53.2%); Bijie, 973 (23.9%); and Huajiang, 935 (22.9%). The number of leafhoppers collected in areas with serious rocky desertification was low, and the number increased with the increase in vegetation coverage. The order of the influence of environmental factors on the community structure of the leafhoppers in the three study areas was Huajiang > Bijie > Shibing. This order is consistent with the ranking of rocky desertification grades in the three study areas. The order based on the number of units at different taxonomic levels was as follows: Bijie (6 tribes, 32 genera, and 68 species) > Huajiang (6 tribes, 22 genera, and 58 species) > Shibing (5 tribes, 21 genera, and 48 species). The results show that environmental factors, such as climate and host plant leaf traits, had various effects on the characteristics and diversity of the leafhopper communities in different grades of rocky desertification areas. This study demonstrates that there are differences in species diversity in different grades of karst rocky desertification areas and provides a theoretical basis for future rocky desertification control and regional ecological restoration.

Multiple Approaches to the Trophic Role of Mesopelagic Fish around the Iberian Peninsula.

Myctophids, commonly vertical migrators, and partial and non-migrant stomiiforms constitute most of the mesopelagic biomass, and transport organic matter throughout the food web from the surface to the ocean's depths. Both the diet and trophic structure of twenty-nine species of mesopelagic fish collected around the Iberian Peninsula were studied through the analysis of stomach contents, quantifying food items with a high taxonomic resolution. The investigation covered oligotrophic to productive habitats, with sampling stations distributed in five discrete zones of the western Mediterranean Sea and the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The geographic environmental conditions, migratory behavior, and species-specific body sizes allowed for the identification of some major feeding patterns for these fish communities. The trophic niche of migrant myctophids showed a high overlap, with copepods as the primary prey category. The diet composition of generalist myctophids (e.g., Ceratoscopelus maderensis and Hygophum benoiti) reflected the distinct zooplanktonic communities between zones. Large stomiiforms (Chauliodus spp., Sigmops elongatus) preferred feeding on micronekton, while the smallest stomiiforms (e.g., Argyropelecus spp., Cyclothone spp., Vinciguerria spp.) preyed on copepods and ostracods. Given the relevance of the mesopelagic fish communities for commercially exploited species and, therefore, for maintaining the sustainability of the fisheries' activity in the zones analyzed, the information provided in the present study is essential for a better understanding of the biology and ecology of these species.

Evaluation system of worker comfort for high geothermal tunnel during construction: A case study on the highway tunnel with the highest temperature in China

Geothermal environment is easily formed due to alternating uplift or subsidence of continental plates in the world. In this special environment, tunnel engineering activities will inevitably encounter the problems of high temperature and thermal damage. In the construction process of high geothermal tunnel, high temperature has a great impact on the comfort of workers. This paper is based on the extra-long highway tunnel with the highest temperature of 88.8 °C in China. Through literature research, field monitoring, numerical simulation, theoretical calculation and other means, this paper investigates evaluation system of worker comfort during construction in high geothermal and deep buried tunnel. The comfort of workers is mainly affected by geological conditions, construction conditions, geographical environment conditions and thermal insulation and cooling measures, including 19 impact indicators, such as rock temperature, buried depth, excavation method, thermal insulation layer, ice block, ventilation. Based on the impact indicators, the AHP-Extenics evaluation system is established for worker comfort. The results show that the worker comfort level is level I in Nige Tunnel after adopting thermal insulation and cooling measures. On the whole, the worker can work comfortably. Finally, based on the AHP-Extenics evaluation system, a design process of worker protection is established to ensure that the comfort level of worker meets the requirements.

Lightweight Deep Neural Network Method for Water Body Extraction from High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images with Multisensors.

Rapid and accurate extraction of water bodies from high-spatial-resolution remote sensing images is of great value for water resource management, water quality monitoring and natural disaster emergency response. For traditional water body extraction methods, it is difficult to select image texture and features, the shadows of buildings and other ground objects are in the same spectrum as water bodies, the existing deep convolutional neural network is difficult to train, the consumption of computing resources is large, and the methods cannot meet real-time requirements. In this paper, a water body extraction method based on lightweight MobileNetV2 is proposed and applied to multisensor high-resolution remote sensing images, such as GF-2, WorldView-2 and UAV orthoimages. This method was validated in two typical complex geographical scenes: water bodies for farmland irrigation, which have a broken shape and long and narrow area and are surrounded by many buildings in towns and villages; and water bodies in mountainous areas, which have undulating topography, vegetation coverage and mountain shadows all over. The results were compared with those of the support vector machine, random forest and U-Net models and also verified by generalization tests and the influence of spatial resolution changes. First, the results show that the F1-score and Kappa coefficients of the MobileNetV2 model extracting water bodies from three different high-resolution images were 0.75 and 0.72 for GF-2, 0.86 and 0.85 for Worldview-2 and 0.98 and 0.98 for UAV, respectively, which are higher than those of traditional machine learning models and U-Net. Second, the training time, number of parameters and calculation amount of the MobileNetV2 model were much lower than those of the U-Net model, which greatly improves the water body extraction efficiency. Third, in other more complex surface areas, the MobileNetV2 model still maintained relatively high accuracy of water body extraction. Finally, we tested the effects of multisensor models and found that training with lower and higher spatial resolution images combined can be beneficial, but that using just lower resolution imagery is ineffective. This study provides a reference for the efficient automation of water body classification and extraction under complex geographical environment conditions and can be extended to water resource investigation, management and planning.

Evolutionary biogeography on Ophiocordyceps sinensis: An indicator of molecular phylogeny to geochronological and ecological exchanges

The fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis is endemic to the vast region of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (QTP). The unique and complex geographical environmental conditions have led to the “sky island” distribution structure of O. sinensis. Due to limited and unbalanced sample collections, the previous data on O. sinensis regarding its genetic diversity and spatial structure have been deemed insufficient. In this study, we analyzed the diversity and phylogeographic structures of O. sinensis using internally transcribed spacer region (ITS) and 5-locus datasets by a large-scale sampling. A total of 111 haplotypes of ITS sequences were identified from 948 samples data of the fungus O. sinensis, with representing high genetic diversity, and 8 phylogenetic clades were recognized in O. sinensis. Both the southeastern Tibet and the northwestern Yunnan were the centers of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of the fungus, and they were inferred as the glacial refugia in the Quaternary. Three distribution patterns were identified to correspond to the 8 clades, including but not limited to the coexistence of widely and specific local distributive structures. It also revealed that the differentiation pattern of O. sinensis did not fit for the isolation-by-distance model. The differentiation into the 8 clades occurred between 1.56 Myr and 6.62 Myr. The ancestor of O. sinensis most likely originated in the late Miocene (6.62 Myr) in the northwestern Yunnan, and the Scene A–C of the Qinghai–Tibetan movements may have played an important role in the differentiation of O. sinensis during the late Miocene–Pliocene periods. Our current results provide a much clearer and detailed understanding of the genetic diversity and geographical spatial distribution of the endemic alpine fungus O. sinensis. It also revealed that the geochronology resulting from paleogeology could be cross-examined with biomolecular clock at a finer scale.

Analysis of the Use of Kindergarten Watching Siaga Bencana Learning Model for Structured Positive Thinking Ability on Early Childhood

The Kindergarten Watching Siaga Bencana Learning Model for early childhood has been tested for 2 years in three schools using development research methods. Urgenci of this research is to provide knowledge and skills to young children in dealing with disasters, especially the earthquake and tsunami. In this study children will be taught through a scientific approach to posture (scientific positive and structured thinking). Realizing learning in accordance with the stages of growth and development of early childhood. This research approach uses the research and development (R&D) method of the Thiagarajan model which consists of 4 stages known as the 4-D model (Four-D model). These stages are the defining stage (Define), the design stage (Design), the development stage (Develop), and the Disseminate stage. the study was conducted over 2 years with details: the first year was the defining stage (Define) and the design stage (Design). The second year was implemented the development stage (Develop), and the Deployment stage (Disseminate). By year 1 it had been reached the model's definition and design stages. The defining stage (Define) is complete, the design stage (Design) model with the following stage summary:1) has been analyze the geographical environmental conditions of the child is associated with earthquake disasters and relevant intelligence theories is completed with the obtainance of the initial trial site of TK syeikh abdurrauf area Blang Oi located about 1.9 KM from the seashore of ulhele, 2) Analysis of learner to draft learning previews, identify key parts to be taught and systematically compose topics to be taught, task analysis and learning purpose specifications, design prototype learning devices (test drafting, media selection and manufacture, format selection, drafting activity implementation procedures are complete. In the second year, the team has come to the field, namely 3 schools. This article will discuss the use of the Kindergarten Watching Siaga Bencana Learning Model in practicing positive and structured thinking skills in early childhood. The description of the results of the analysis each step applied in this model can train the ability to think positively and structured children. Starting from the provision of knowledge through school environment surveys, then mapping in the form of mini models and presenting them. This positive structured thinking can also be trained in the provision of knowledge and skills about earthquakes and tsunamis to children, namely at the micro and macro simulation stages of the earthquake and tsunami.

Big data analysis of smart grid based on back-propagation neural network algorithm in Hadoop environment

Smart micro-grid, as an important way for the best use of renewable energy, can help to solve the problem of energy crisis. However, smart micro-grid has limitations to the impact of natural geographical environment conditions, which increases the instability of productions. In this paper, the back-propagation neural network algorithm is used to analyse the data of wind, and the future wind speed is forecasted through the established network model, experimental data is stored and managed in Hadoop framework. The accuracy of predicted results is presented by Relative Error (RE).

Research on Potential Evaluation and Sustainable Development of Rural Biomass Energy in Gansu Province of China

The development and utilization of renewable energy is an important way to solve the environmental dilemma. Biomass energy is a kind of renewable energy and one of the most widely distributed and easily accessible energy forms. It has currently become a main direction of renewable energy development. This paper took Gansu Province of China as the research object to calculate its theoretical reserves of biomass energy resources and then evaluate its potential of biomass energy development by using TOPSIS method under different agricultural development and geographical environmental conditions. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was also performed to reveal the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of the potential of biomass energy development in Gansu Province. The results show that: (1) The total reserves of biomass energy resources from agricultural wastes in Gansu Province reach 7.28 × 107 t/year, with equivalent biogas production of about 1.95 × 1010 m3/year. (2) In most counties of Gansu Province, the Ci value is smaller than 0.5000, indicating that the potential of biomass energy development is relatively low in Gansu Province. (3) The spatial agglomeration of biomass energy development potential occurs mainly in the Hexi area, the Gannan area and the Loess Plateau area of East Gansu Province. (4) There is an area with obvious high-low (H-L) agglomeration of biomass energy development potential to the north-west side of the Gannan area with low-low (L-L) agglomeration of biomass energy development potential. It is a key zone to help drive biomass energy development in the Gannan area. (5) The spatial range of positive correlation (high-high and low-low agglomeration) areas shrunk during the evaluation period.

SOMUT OLMAYAN KÜLTÜREL BİR MİRASIN GÜNCEL BİR DEĞERLENDİRMESİ: ANADOLU DEVECİLİK KÜLTÜRÜ VE GELENEKSEL DEVE GÜREŞİ ŞENLİKLERİ

Owing to their roles in transportation and carrying affairs, camels had been of great value and been raised widely in Anatolia until recent past. In historical process, a rich culture concerning camel dealing occurred in Anatolia also under influence of geographical environmental conditions. However, camel raising and camel dealing culture have now been endangered in Anatolia depending on economic, social, and technological developments and changes. Despite all above-mentioned, Anatolian camel dealing and camel dealing culture hold onto camel wrestling festivals, thereby carrying on their struggle to exist around them. Camel wrestling are a colourful heritage which has survived since historical past of Turkish Culture that was shaped around Central Asia. With their past dating back to centuries earlier, significance and importance to Yuruk society, rich assets, traditional products and productions, and rituals, camel wrestles constitute a living culture in western Anatolia. In addition, today Turkey is only country where camel wrestling organizations are commonly and regularly carried on, which makes this cultural heritage unique. Approximately 500 thousand people participate in camel wrestling which are held in about 100 settlements in western Anatolia every year. Notwithstanding their social, cultural, and economic advantages, the Anatolian camel dealing culture and camel wrestling festivals have not been documented comprehensively as a cultural heritage asset yet. The study presented here aims to introduce various elements which constitute camel dealing culture maintained around traditional camel wrestling in Anatolia and to document current state of this cultural asset elaborately. Essentially, this study has been designed as an updated inventory of this cultural heritage upon completion of research process which started in 2007 and was supported with fieldwork. It has been ensured that various data obtained within this scope have been updated and transferred to visual materials. Moreover, presence and boundaries of a special cultural region in Anatolia have also been revealed by evaluating spatial distributional characteristics of elements which constitute this cultural asset.

Seasonal variability of soil respiration in multiple ecosystems under the same physical–geographical environmental conditions in central Japan

We investigated the relationships between soil respiration and environmental factors during foliation and defoliation periods in three ecosystems under the same physical–geographical environmental conditions in central Japan. These ecosystems comprised deciduous broad-leaved forest (Quercus crispula dominated, site Q), deciduous needle-leaved forest (Larix kaempferi dominated, site L), and grassland (Zoysia japonica dominated, site Z). Field measurements of soil respiration were made using a closed chamber method with an infrared gas analyzer at monthly intervals in the snow-free seasons from May 2010 to November 2011. Soil respiration began to increase in May, peaked rapidly in summer (July to September), and decreased in November. The seasonal patterns of soil respiration and soil temperature were nearly parallel among the three sites, with one exception, which may have been caused by the decrease in soil water content during summer months (July to September). Although Q 10 values based on the entire measurement period in 2010 were roughly the same as those in 2011 at the three sites, there was a large difference in Q 10 between the foliation and defoliation periods in both years, especially at the two forest sites. These differences among the three sites may be caused by differences in soil temperature dynamics and precipitation activity. To better understand the relationship between soil respiration and environmental factors, continuous observations are needed of soil respiration, environmental factors, and biological activities both below ground and above ground under the same physical–geographical environmental conditions.

Morphological and molecular diversity analysis among the Indian clones of Sesuvium portulacastrum L.

Sesuvium portulacastrum L. (seapurslane) is a halophyte used as pioneer species in sand dune fixation and stabilization of saline soil. Studies on the morphological and molecular diversity were carried out for the 14 clones of Sesuvium collected from the different coastal regions of India. Significant differences were observed for morphological traits viz., length, width, diameter and area of leaf, internodal distance and stem diameter for different clones when compared with the clone from Gujarat state (GJ1). A UPGMA dendrogram for morphological traits based on the Pearson’s similarity coefficient clustered the clones into three groups considering 80% polymorphism as criteria. Molecular diversity among the clones was studied using Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and markers specific to Ac homologous region. Of the total 749 RAPD loci amplified with 70 random primers, 294 were polymorphic with 39.25% diversity. A phylogenetic tree constructed with UPGMA and SHAN, grouped the clones into three major clades based on RAPD data. The molecular diversity studied with ITS and markers specific to Ac homologous region revealed 37.50% and 66.66% polymorphism and clustered the clones into three and four clades, respectively. The genetic diversity analysis revealed wide variations among the S. portulacastrum clones, reflecting a high level of diversity within the species which might be due to anthropogenic impact and geographic environmental conditions. Further, the various clones from the different eco-geographic coastal localities might have originated from native places of wild abundance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to evaluate both morphological and genetic diversity among the Sesuvium clones collected from the distant habitats of the coastal regions of the India.