High Solar Exposure Research Articles

An artificial intelligence powered study of enlarged facial pore prevalence on one million Chinese from different age groups and its correlation with environmental factors.

Enlarged pores are amidst one of the top cosmetic concerns, especially among Chinese. Many small-group studies have been conducted in understanding their prevalence and beauty relevance. Nonetheless, population-level investigations are still lacking because of gaps in data collection and processing of large-scale studies. Owing to the recent technological advancement enabled by artificial intelligence, databases on the scale of millions can be processed and analyzed readily. Powered by big data capabilities, revealed a number of novel trends on pore conditions among over-a-million Chinese participants recruited via the "You Look Great Today" mobile application. A scoring model was constructed, which demonstrated high consistency with conventional grading method from dermatologists. Environmental data (weather, air pollution, light at night satellite) were applied to correlate with pore severity. Intraclass correlations between the two scoring systems were strong, with coefficients ranging from 0.79 to 0.92 for different facial areas. Statistical differences in pore severity among all four facial areas (cheek, forehead, nose, and overall) were observed, with the cheek exhibiting the most severe pore condition. Interestingly, Chinese men suffer from more severe pore condition than females. Multiple environmental factors exhibited strong correlations with cheek pore severity and were statistically fitted into linear regressions. Specifically, incremental risk with Each Low Temperature, Low Humidity, And High Solar Exposure correlate to worse cheek pore conditions. Although the Pearson correlation was low between cheek pore severity and light at night, comparison between representative cities demonstrated that in geologically similar cities, higher light at night corresponds to more severe cheek pore conditions. Our study is showcasing a robust and reliable AI model in facial pore evaluation. More importantly, insights uncovered using this facile approach also bear significant cosmetic ramifications in treatment of pore enlargement.

Integration of Photovoltaic Cells in Building Shading Devices:

This study focuses on the thermal performance simulation of the CSERS administrative building. It proposed the integration of shading elements on the south façade of the building to enhance thermal comfort for office occupants. These shading elements incorporate photovoltaic cells, displaying the potential of utilizing photovoltaic in external shading devices. The main objective of this approach is effectively address issues related to high internal temperatures and excessive solar radiation exposure. Furthermore, it ensures the preservation of key functions of the building envelope, such as thermal insulation, provision of natural lighting, and prevention of internal thermal glare. Comparative analysis is conducted between the building equipped with shading devices and the one without, with a focus on measuring the total electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels. Simulation programs such as SketchUp and EnergyPlus are utilized for this purpose. The results of the simulations reveal that strategically designed shading on south-facing windows leads to 17.15% reduction in annual heat gains transmitted to the building. In addition, the integration of photovoltaic shading devices demonstrates outstanding performance characteristics, contributing a productive capacity of around 5916.388 MW/h to the building. This integration effectively harnesses solar energy to improve the indoor environment of the building.

Observed Climatology and Variability of Cattle Heat Stress in Australia

Abstract Exposure to weather extremes, such as heatwaves, can cause discomfort, harm, or death in grazing cattle in pastures. While the Australian Bureau of Meteorology issues sheep graziers alerts when there is an exposure risk to chill for livestock, there is no equivalent alert for heat stress for Australian cattle. Before any such alert system can be developed, a robust assessment and comparison of relevant cattle thermal stress indices is required. This study evaluates and compares the multiyear climatology of three cattle thermal heat stress indices across Australia in the warm season months (October–March). The same indices are then used to assess historical Australian heat events where cattle died from heat exposure. These events are based off official records and survey responses from northern Australian graziers. In the seven historical heat events studied, high relative humidity combined with low wind speeds, or high solar exposure combined with high surface temperatures, exacerbated the impact of heat stress on cattle. In the two historic events where multiple compounding weather factors combined (e.g., high humidity, low winds, and high solar exposure), the cattle mortality levels were significantly high. These events were characterized by rainy conditions followed by a rapid warming, meaning cattle were likely unable to acclimatize to such dramatic temperature changes. This study highlights the need for using more than one thermal stress index when verifying cattle heat stress events and, importantly, calls for further research on standardizing the risk classifications of these thermal indices for cattle in Australia’s variable climate. Significance Statement Cattle across Australia’s northern tropical and semiarid regions often experience extreme hot and humid conditions in the summer months, which increases the risk of heat stress. This is the first study of its kind to evaluate observations of cattle heat stress across Australia using indices that describe the combined effects of solar exposure, wind speed, relative humidity, and surface temperatures. These cattle heat stress indices can be used to evaluate historical cattle mortality events in feedlots and in grazed pastures. This study lays the groundwork for the development of Australian-wide cattle heat stress forecast products on the 7-day to multiweek time scales.

Functional leaf traits in congeneric species of tree communities in central Amazon

The Amazon is a Neotropical region that features various types of phytophysiognomies subject to multiple environmental filters. The Amazonian Savanna and Ombrophilous Forest areas support complex ecosystem functions and are sensitive to biotic and abiotic disturbances. The low availability of nutrients and water, along with the high solar exposure these vegetations experience, impose rigorous environmental filters that affect species distribution. Plant species with structural and functional adaptations can occur in specific locations due to environmental characteristics. We investigated potential variations in the functional leaf traits of congeneric species of Tachigali and Pouteria in different tree community vegetation types in savanna and forest areas in Central Amazon. For this purpose, using standard optical microscopy techniques and statistical models, we analyzed 9 congeneric species, with 3 individuals per species, of woody congeners from Ombrophilous Forest and Amazonian Savanna, both located in the state of Pará, Brazil. Fifteen anatomical traits, both quantitative and qualitative, possessing functional significance were evaluated by comparing tissues between forest and savanna plants, employing ANOVA and ordination analyses. The results indicate that variations in environmental conditions within different vegetation types might be linked to morphophysiological adjustments and strategies in leaves to resist environmental conditions. Species from the Amazonian Savanna present traits more related to conservative characteristics related to water retention and drought resistance, demonstrating a degree of leaf xeromorphism with greater thickness of leaves, palisade parenchyma and epidermal cells. On the other hand, forest species exhibited traits more related to acquisitive and diversified resource strategies, which may be characteristic of the greater availability of light, water and nutrients existing in this environment. The results show considerable variation in leaf traits among forested and savanna formations, and variations in leaf characteristics are expected to be essential for the survival and development of tree species within each type of vegetation.

Differential selection of roosts by Eastern Small-footed Myotis (Myotis leibii) relative to rock structure and microclimate.

Roost selection by insectivorous bats in temperate regions is presumably influenced by roost microclimates in relation to thermoregulatory strategies, but few studies have included temperature measurements in habitat selection models. Rocky landscape features are an important source of roosts that provide both shelter from predators and beneficial microclimates for bats. Most information about rock-roosting bats has been derived from western North America. We studied microhabitat selection by the Eastern Small-footed Myotis (Myotis leibii) on natural talus slopes and human-made stone structures in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and New Hampshire, relative to thermal and structural characteristics of rock crevices. Roosts were located with a combination of radiotelemetry and randomized visual surveys. Roost-switching behavior and structural characteristics of roosts did not appear to be influenced by the methods we used to locate roosts. Compared to random crevices, both sexes selected crevices with narrow openings, likely to provide protection from predators. Reproductive females also selected rocks that were larger and more thermally stable than random crevices, whereas males selected crevices that were structurally similar to random crevices but warmed more during the day. Rock size and other structural characteristics influenced temperatures of roosts and random crevices alike by inhibiting excessive daytime heating and nighttime cooling. Because large rocks were important for reproductive females, and talus slopes with large rocks could be limited, we recommend including rock size as a variable in landscape scale habitat assessments for Eastern Small-footed Myotis. Protecting or managing for habitat features with large rocks that receive high solar exposure could benefit Eastern Small-footed Myotis, and perhaps other rock-roosting species.

High solar radiation exposure reduces self-regulated work intensity in the heat

High solar radiation exposure reduces self-regulated work intensity in the heat

Acclimating Cucumber Plants to Blue Supplemental Light Promotes Growth in Full Sunlight.

Raising young plants is important for modern greenhouse production. Upon transfer from the raising to the production environment, young plants should maximize light use efficiency while minimizing deleterious effects associated with exposure to high light (HL) intensity. The light spectrum may be used to establish desired traits, but how plants acclimated to a given spectrum respond to HL intensity exposure is less well explored. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings were grown in a greenhouse in low-intensity sunlight (control; ∼2.7 mol photons m–2 day–1) and were treated with white, red, blue, or green supplemental light (4.3 mol photons m–2 day–1) for 10 days. Photosynthetic capacity was highest in leaves treated with blue light, followed by white, red, and green, and was positively correlated with leaf thickness, nitrogen, and chlorophyll concentration. Acclimation to different spectra did not affect the rate of photosynthetic induction, but leaves grown under blue light showed faster induction and relaxation of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) under alternating HL and LL intensity. Blue-light-acclimated leaves showed reduced photoinhibition after HL intensity exposure, as indicated by a high maximum quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry (Fv/Fm). Although plants grown under different supplemental light spectra for 10 days had similar shoot biomass, blue-light-grown plants (B-grown plants) showed a more compact morphology with smaller leaf areas and shorter stems. However, after subsequent, week-long exposure to full sunlight (10.7 mol photons m–2 day–1), B-grown plants showed similar leaf area and 15% higher shoot biomass, compared to plants that had been acclimated to other spectra. The faster growth rate in blue-light-acclimated plants compared to other plants was mainly due to a higher photosynthetic capacity and highly regulated NPQ performance under intermittent high solar light. Acclimation to blue supplemental light can improve light use efficiency and diminish photoinhibition under high solar light exposure, which can benefit plant growth.

A nearly zero energy building design method based on architecture form design for high solar exposure areas in China's severe cold and cold regions

Located in a typical city with high solar exposure, Lhasa rural houses have the potential to achieve nearly zero consumption of heating energy by applying an efficient passive design method. Field survey, measurement and simulation were applied for the nearly zero energy building (nZEB) design method. After analyzing the architecture form design items of organizing heat collecting surfaces and buffer spaces, 5 out of 9 architecture form design items were proved to contribute to heating energy efficiency, including add-on direct solar gain system on width direction of north rooms, sunroom on roof, north sealed balcony, window-wall ratio (WWR) of south facade and layout shape. The architecture form design was proved to save nearly 80% of the heating energy, and the nZEB design method was proposed. The findings can serve as a guideline for the energy efficiency design for rural houses in high solar exposure area areas of China's severe cold and cold regions.

Diurnal roost selection of northern long-eared bats on the southern edge of their range

Mortality from white-nose syndrome has made management and recovery of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) a priority. Ensuring availability of diurnal summer roosts, where gestation and rearing of young occurs, is a critical component of successful recovery. However, observed variation in roost selection across the species’ range makes extrapolating data across physiographic regions and habitat types difficult, and limited information exists on roost selection at the southern range extent of the species. Therefore, we examined M. septentrionalis diurnal roost selection toward the southern range extent in northern Georgia, USA. We identified characteristics of desirable roosts for all individuals and for reproductive females by comparing roosts to surrounding vegetation and topographic characteristics at the plot, home range (67 ha), and landscape (17.2 km2) scales. From May to July 2014–2017, we radio tagged 12 female and 4 male M. septentrionalis and located 37 roosts. Bats roosted in cavities, loose bark, and hollow boles of 16 tree species. Over half of roosts (53%) were located below the canopy and in trees with larger diameters than surrounding trees. Bats disproportionately roosted in snags, with relative probability of selecting a snag roost increasing with snag density at the plot scale. On low gradient slopes, roosts occurred more frequently on west-facing aspects but as slope increased bats showed no aspect preference. Results indicate individuals in our study area are indifferent to or actively avoid roosts with high solar exposure. Our results support previous research that management efforts should focus on creating and retaining snags across the landscape and highlight the need for management to consider regional variation in habitat use.

Chemical profile of Stachytarpheta schottiana by LC-HRMS/MS dereplication and molecular networking

Abstract Restingas are extreme environments present in the Atlantic Rainforest biome. These ecosystems show peculiar characteristics, like sandy soil, high salinity, and high solar exposure, which brings scientific interest to their native species. Stachytarpheta schottiana is an endemic Brazilian species found in Jurubatiba Restinga, and just like other species of the genus Stachytarpheta, is used in folk medicine. In this paper, we describe, for the first time, 28 secondary metabolites from S. schottiana polar extract, among them iridoids, flavonoids, lignans and phenylethanoids, with the use of LC-HRMS/MS dereplication and molecular networking methodologies. Many of these compounds have not been described yet for the genus Stachytarpheta, like astragalin, taxifolin, lamiide and the lignans secondary metabolites class. Also, in this paper, High Speed Counter-Current Chromatography (HSCCC) isolation and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) of two compounds were used to correct a misidentification in the dereplication procedure and to create seeds for molecular networking. Some of the suggested known compounds found in this work have had their biological activities described in the literature, such as the hepatoprotective activity of verbascoside, that matches those already related for the genus Stachytarpheta and for the folk use of Stachytarpheta schottiana itself.

Thermal management of metal roof building using phase change material (PCM)

The energy consumption of the buildings for cooling, especially during the days of high solar exposure is large due to the increased indoor temperature. The roof of the building contributes more for this cause by allowing a large quantity of heat during day hours. Further, the single storey buildings with the metal roof would help to penetrate a greater quantity of heat and increase the total heat gain of the building. In this way, they could increase the cooling load to attain the human comfort. In this current work, an experimental investigation was carried-out to reduce the indoor temperature of the metal roof single storey industrial building with the help of paraffin based phase changing material (PCM). In this fashion, an attempt was made to reduce the total cooling load of the building which can diminish a greater quantity of conventional power requirement. A scale model of the proposed building was fabricated and tested for the analysis. The experiments conducted in two modes such as the first case without any PCM in the roof (Plain Roof) and next case with encapsulated paraffin as PCM within the roof (PCM Roof). The test results proved that the encapsulation of PCM within the metal roof of the single storey building reduced the temperature of the outer roof, inner roof and consequently the indoor temperature of the building space to a vast extent. Quantitatively, the daily average indoor temperature was dropped by 5 °C and peak indoor temperature was reduced by 9.5 °C with the help of PCM.

Unique genomic traits for cold adaptation in Naganishia vishniacii, a polyextremophile yeast isolated from Antarctica.

Cold environments impose challenges to organisms. Polyextremophile microorganisms can survive in these conditions thanks to an array of counteracting mechanisms. Naganishia vishniacii, a yeast species hitherto only isolated from McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, is an example of a polyextremophile. Here we present the first draft genomic sequence of N. vishniacii. Using comparative genomics, we unraveled unique characteristics of cold associated adaptations. 336 putative genes (total: 6183) encoding solute transfers and chaperones, among others, were absent in sister species. Among genes shared by N. vishniacii and its closest related species we found orthologs encompassing possible evidence of positive selection (dN/dS>1). Genes associated with photoprotection were found in agreement with high solar irradiation exposure. Also genes coding for desaturases and genomic features associated with cold tolerance (i.e. trehalose synthesis and lipid metabolism) were explored. Finally, biases in amino acid usage (namely an enrichment of glutamine and a trend in proline reduction) were observed, possibly conferring increased protein flexibility. To the best of our knowledge, such a combination of mechanisms for cold tolerance has not been previously reported in fungi, making N. vishniacii a unique model for the study of the genetic basis and evolution of cold adaptation strategies.

The thermal performance of compact housing in tall buildings: an analytical examination for the retrofit of façades in the densified city centre of São Paulo

Public and private sectors in the city of São Paulo are interested in redeveloping unoccupied buildings built between 1930s and 1960s and open up new housing market opportunities in the city centre. In this context, the objective of this research is to quantify the thermal performance of compact economic housing in these buildings and formulate design guidelines with emphasis on the façades, considering the impact of solar radiation and the benefits of natural ventilation within the urban context of the city centre of the subtropical city of São Paulo (23.85°S). The method was based on thermodynamic simulations for a representative base-case in the urban canyon. The adaptive comfort model proposed in BS EN 15251: 2007 standard was adopted. In the summer, sufficient air-flow via single sided ventilation was obtained with the 50% window’s aperture. In the cases of high solar exposure, cross ventilation is necessary for 80% of the time.

Complex agroforestry systems against biotic homogenization: The case of plants in the herbaceous stratum of cocoa production systems

In addition to their potential against deforestation and climate change, agroforestry systems may have a relevant role in biodiversity conservation. In this sense, not only species richness per se, but also community composition, including the distribution range of the species, should be considered. The latter is especially relevant in the current context of biotic homogenization, where the presence of geographically widely distributed species is increasingly frequent in detriment of native species.By studying plant species of the herbaceous stratum of cacao production systems, we can evaluate, at a narrow local scale (>10 ha), the potential role of agroforestry systems and management intensity in diversity conservation and against biotic homogenization. This study was performed in an experimental trial in Bolivia, where five production systems representing a gradient of management intensity were compared: two monocultures and two agroforestry systems under conventional and organic farming containing a planted cover crop layer, and a complex successional agroforestry system with no external inputs. All species in the herbaceous stratum were identified and classified according to their geographical range. An indicator species analysis was implemented to identify species linked to a specific production system.In total, 171 species were recorded, 42% of which were strictly herbaceous while the rest of them were woody regrowths, mainly found in the successional agroforestry system (an average of 40 species compared to 16 species in the other systems). Total species richness was higher in the successional agroforestry system compared with the other production systems. No main differences were found between the other systems, that is, monocultures and conventionally managed systems did not have less species than agroforestry and organically managed systems. However, community composition did change following the management intensity gradient. In addition, we found that widely distributed species, including some exotic species, were associated to intensive management, i.e. monocultures and conventional systems with high solar exposure levels and/or glyphosate application. Conversely, successional agroforestry and organic systems harbored species with a geographical distribution range restricted to the Neotropics or South America. According to our results, promotion and support for the adoption of cocoa organic and agroforestry systems, as a counterbalance to the common intensively managed plantations, could contribute to both biodiversity conservation and the minimization of biotic homogenization.

Watershed-scale mapping of fractional snow cover under conifer forest canopy using lidar

The distribution of snow cover is critical for predicting ecohydrological processes and underpins mountain water supplies in ranges like the Sierra Nevada in the Western United States. Many key water supply areas are covered by montane forests, which have substantial effects on the amount and timing of snowmelt. In-situ observations of snow-forest interactions have limited spatial coverage and remote sensing using optical sensors (e.g. MODIS) cannot observe snow cover below the canopy. In this study, we developed and verified a lidar-based method to detect snow cover under canopy, investigated how fractional snow covered area (fSCA) varies with topography in open versus under canopy areas and developed a correction factor that could be used to improve satellite-derived fSCA products. We developed our new method using three snow-on lidar overflights and verified it with in-situ distributed temperature sensor (DTS) observations at Sagehen Creek watershed in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA. DTS validation of lidar classifications showed excellent agreement at 85–96%, including high agreement and large number of returns in under canopy locations. The lidar-derived fSCA observations generally showed earlier snow disappearance under the canopy than in open positions, which is consistent with relatively warm temperatures and greater longwave radiation. However, in contrast to expectations, areas with high solar exposure (i.e. high southwestness) exhibited higher fSCA under the canopy. Results indicated that the k factor (the ratio of under canopy fSCA to open fSCA) varied systematically with southwestness and elevation. Using this factor to correct the study domain fSCA indicated that the typical assumption that k = 1 could lead to an up to ~0.05 bias (in fSCA units) towards overestimation. However, within 10 and 100-m individual pixels the fSCA overprediction bias can be 25–30% for higher fSCA values. Although uncertainty would be reduced using higher snow-on lidar point densities, our method shows promise to improve the typical assumption that snow disappearance is identical in under the canopy and in the open (k = 1). Future applications of our lidar-based method at different sites with varying climate, topography and vegetation structure has the dual potential to expand understanding of snow-forest interactions in complex terrain and improve operational fSCA products.

Using Microgravity to Characterise Water Storage and Usage at Kings Park, Perth, WA

Since March 2015 the UWA in collaboration with the BGPA has conducted a time-lapse microgravity study of groundwater storage in Kings Park. Data collection has focused on seasonal to inter-annual change, with bi-monthly measurements extending across multiple days. Relative measurements are taken with a Scintrex CG-5 gravity meter and are referred to the Helena Valley reference station, which is located in the granite-dominated Perth Hills. Interim results (July 2017) suggest that measurement methods are sufficiently sensitive to characterize change, with measurement precision of ~2 microgals, or approximately 40 mm of stored water. Two-month storage-changes are defined from the gravity data, and usage is further defined as rainfall minus storage-change. Storage-changes are positively correlated with rainfall (r=+0.697) and negatively-correlated with solar exposure (r=-0.555). Thus, a fairly strong signal is seen of increase during the winter wet season, and decrease during the summer dry season. Usage is weakly positively correlated with solar exposure (r=+0.202) but also shows dry periods in late summer, where estimated usage is near-zero despite high solar exposure, and a high-usage period at the start of the wet season. Interannual change is substantial, and seems to be strongly linked to the Indian Ocean Dipole, which was strongly positive in winter 2015, strongly negative in winter 2016 and positive to neutral in winter 2017.

Exposure to high solar radiation reduces self-regulated exercise intensity in the heat outdoors

High radiant heat load reduces endurance exercise performance in the heat indoors, but this remains unconfirmed in outdoor exercise. The current study investigated the effects of variations in solar radiation on self-regulated exercise intensity and thermoregulatory responses in the heat outdoors at a fixed rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Ten male participants completed 45-min cycling exercise in hot outdoor environments (about 31°C) at a freely chosen resistance and cadence at an RPE of 13 (somewhat hard). Participants were blinded to resistance, pedal cadence, distance and elapsed time and exercised at three sunlight exposure conditions: clear sky (mean ± SD: 1072 ± 91 W·m−2; HIGH); thin cloud (592 ± 32 W·m−2; MID); and thick cloud (306 ± 52 W·m−2; LOW). Power output (HIGH 96 ± 22 W; MID 103 ± 20 W; LOW 108 ± 20 W) and resistance were lower in HIGH than MID and LOW (P < .001). Pedal cadence was lower, the core-to-skin temperature gradient was narrower, body heat gain from the sun (SHG) was greater and thermal sensation was higher with increasing solar radiation and all variables were different between trials (P < .01). Mean skin temperature was higher in HIGH than MID and LOW (P < .01), but core temperature was similar between trials (P = .485). We conclude that self-regulated exercise intensity in the heat outdoors at a fixed RPE of somewhat hard is reduced with increasing solar radiation because of greater thermoregulatory strain, perceived thermal stress and SHG. This suggests that reduced self-selected exercise intensity during high solar radiation exposure in the heat may prevent excessive core temperature rise.

Together yet separate: variation in soil chemistry determines differences in the arboreal-shrub structure of two contiguous rupestrian environments

ABSTRACT Rupestrian landscapes are characterized by vegetation mosaics comprised of different plant communities and strongly linked to environmental filters. These environments are nutrient-impoverished, and possess water retention deficits and high solar exposure. This study aimed to determine whether chemical properties of the soil shape the arboreal-shrub vegetation structure in two neighboring habitats; a rupestrian cerrado and a rupestrian grassland. We hypothesized that the habitat with higher soil chemical properties would have higher parameters for vegetation structure, and different species composition. We expected higher chemical properties of the soil to favor a greater variety of plant life-forms. A total of 1349 individuals of 85 species belonging to 24 families were recorded; 1141 individuals (65 species) in the rupestrian cerrado, and 208 individuals (20 species) in the rupestrian grassland. Overall, Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Melastomataceae had greater species richness in both areas. Both habitats floristic composition was strongly influenced by differences in soil chemistry. In the cerrado, species richness, composition, soil nutrient availability and acidity were greater than in the grassland. We demonstrated that variation in soil chemistry influences plant species richness and composition, and structural complexity of vegetation, in both contiguous rupestrian environments, and that soil chemistry heterogeneity yields different plant life-form strategies.

Managed forests provide roosting opportunities for Indiana bats in south-central Indiana

There is an intense interest in the effects of timber harvest on forest-dwelling bats due to the potential for timber harvest to reduce available habitat. Knowledge of these effects would be especially significant for the conservation of threatened and endangered bat species, many of which are forest obligates. We conducted a study to determine how endangered Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) select summer roosts within a managed midwestern forest. In the summers of 2012–2015, we tracked 4 male and 11 female Indiana bats to 49 roosts (nmale = 24, nfemale = 25) in south-central Indiana, USA. We collected roost-, plot-, and stand-scale data on roosts and associated available trees, randomly located throughout the same landscape. We generated 10 matched pairs conditional logistic regression models based on a priori hypotheses on roost selection and ranked them using Akaike’s Information Criteria. Plausible models explaining female roost selection included those describing typical Indiana bat maternity roosts (tall and solar-exposed roosts) and typical tree-cavity bat roosts (tall, solar-exposed roosts close to water and surrounded by snags). Females selected roosts under exfoliating bark on large (averaging 17 ± 2 m in height and 34.8 ± 3.0 cm in diameter) standing dead trees (snags; 72% of roosts) and in bat boxes (20% of roosts) with high solar exposure (28.0 ± 6.0% canopy closure above roosts). For males, the model describing predator avoidance (tall roosts with many available snags and live trees) was the most plausible explanation of roost selection. Males selected for roosts under exfoliating bark on tall trees (23 ± 2 m; 71% snags, 25% live trees) surrounded by snags (4.5 ± 0.7 snags/0.1 ha plot) and live trees (30.4 ± 2.7 live trees/0.1 ha plot). Roost selection models including distance to timber harvest openings were not plausible. However, females roosted in or ≤10 m from harvest openings and first-stage shelterwood cuts more than expected (15 of 25 roosts) based on their availability on the landscape. Males roosted in harvest openings as expected (3 of 24 roosts). Our results demonstrate that a managed midwestern forest provides an array of roosts for Indiana bats and that Indiana bats do not actively avoid roosting near harvest openings in this forest. This suggests that Indiana bats may be able to subsist in managed forests in south-central Indiana, provided adequate maternity roost habitat (i.e., large standing dead trees with high solar exposures) is available.

Agricultural land use creates evolutionary traps for nesting turtles and is exacerbated by mercury pollution

The rate of anthropogenic habitat conversion often exceeds the rate of natural ecological and evolutionary processes, which sometimes creates mismatches between environmental cues and adaptive behaviors. In numerous species of aquatic turtles, nest site selection is primarily based on cues related to high solar exposure, which leads females to select sites where humans have disturbed habitat. These disturbed sites are often contaminated by pollutants, such as mercury. Despite the fact that anthropogenic disturbances often co-occur, few studies have examined the interactive influence of major global changes on animal development. Using Chelydra serpentina, we investigated the individual and interactive effects of crop agriculture and mercury pollution on hatch success and offspring phenotype. We hypothesized that following nesting, rapid crop growth would shade and cool nests in agricultural fields and subsequently negatively impact embryonic development. Agricultural and control nests were similar in temperature at the time of oviposition, but temperatures diverged as crops grew: agricultural nests averaged 2.5°C cooler than control nests over the course of incubation. In laboratory and field experiments, we found that turtles incubated under agricultural thermal regimens took longer to hatch, hatched at smaller body sizes, lost more mass, and had lower posthatching growth rates. Additionally, thermal conditions associated with agricultural land use interacted with mercury contamination to decrease hatching success. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of negative interactive effects of mercury pollution and habitat quality on early vertebrate development and highlights the importance of examining the combined influence of anthropogenic global changes on organisms.