High Dominance Research Articles

Identification and characterization of four bacteriome- and mycobiome-derived subtypes in tumour and adjacent mucosa tissue of colorectal cancer patients.

214 Background: The bacteriome and mycobiome, collectively referred to as the microbiome, is a key player in CRC pathogenesis, progression and response to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Microbial modulation and exacerbation in CRC is likely attributable to alterations of composition and diversity of the microbiome rather than to a single microbial species. We therefore systematically investigated alterations in the bacteriome and mycobiome of CRC patients in tumours and matched adjacent mucosa resulting in the identification of microbiome-based subtypes associated with host clinico-pathological and molecular characteristics. Methods: We estimated bacterial and fungal composition from RNA sequencing experiments using a validated subtractive method ( PathSeq) in in-house and publicly available cohorts. We evaluated the quality of the microbial estimates with two sets of orthogonal analysis determining i) the agreement with composition from an independent method and ii) retrieval of expected clinically-relevant microbial signatures. Diversity and composition of bacteriome and mycobiome of tumour and adjacent mucosa, and resulting subtypes were computationally deconvoluted using > 10,000 samples. Results: The bacteriome of tumours had higher dominance and lower ɑ-diversity compared to matched adjacent local and distant mucosa. Tumours were enriched with Proteobacteria (Gammaproteobacteria class), Fusobacteria (including Fusobacterium Nucleatum species) and Basidiomycota fungi (Malasseziaceae family). Tumours were depleted of Bacteroidetes (Bacteroidia class), Firmicutes (Clostridia class) and Ascomycota (Sordariomycetes and Saccharomycotina). Tumours and adjacent mucosa samples were classified into 4 microbial subtypes, termed C1 to C4, based on the bacteriome and mycobiome composition. The bacterial Propionibacteriaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Fusobacteriaceae, Bacteroidaceae and Ruminococcaceae along with the fungal Malasseziaceae, Saccharomycetaceae and Aspergillaceae were among the key families driving the microbial subtyping. Microbial subtypes were associated with distinct tumour histology and patient phenotypes and served as independent prognostic marker for disease-free survival. Key associations between microbial subtypes and alterations in host immune response and signalling pathways were validated in the TCGA pan-cancer cohort. The microbial subtyping demonstrated stratification value in the pan-cancer settings beyond merely representing differences in survival by cancer type. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the translational potential of microbial subtyping in CRC patient stratification, and provides avenues to design tailored microbiota modulation therapy to further precision oncology.

Characterization of algal community composition and structure from the nearshore environment, Lake Tahoe (United States).

Periphyton assemblages from the nearshore environment of the west (California) side of Lake Tahoe, were analyzed to determine their taxonomic composition and community structure across habitats and seasons. Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the US and an iconic oligotrophic subalpine lake with remarkable transparency. It has experienced offshore cultural eutrophication since the 1960s with observations of nuisance nearshore algal growth since the mid 2000s attributed to anthropogenic stressors. Samplings from November 2019-September 2020 provide useful snapshots against which older monitoring may be contextualized. A voucher flora, complete with descriptions, photo-documentation and referencing to species concepts employed, was created as a method of providing reproducible identification and enumeration of algal species, and more seamless reconciliation of detailed taxonomic data with future monitoring projects. The eulittoral zone (0-2 m) is seasonally dominated by elongate araphid (Synedra, Ulnaria) and stalked or entubed diatoms (Gomphonema, Cymbella, Encyonema). The sublittoral zone (>2 m) is dominated by a nitrogen-fixing Epithemia-cyanobacteria assemblage with less seasonal changes in dominance and composition that expanded to impinge on the 2 m depths of the eulittoral zone in the Fall. Sublittoral epipsammic samples, despite their proximity to rocks, had a very distinct diatom composition and high species dominance, similar to what was seen in the Fall eulittoral samples, with high numbers of Staurosirella chains and small biraphid diatoms. The deeper samples at 30 and 50 m contained high numbers of live Epithemia, and indicate a thriving sublittoral assemblage at these greater depths, but with less biomass. The 2019-20 data show many of the same diatom taxa observed in the 1970's and 1980's but with changes in species dominance. Notably, there was less of the green alga Mougeotia, when compared to the 1970's data, and a higher dominance by nitrogen fixing Epithemia in the sublittoral zone, persisting year-round. These new data show roughly double the algal species biodiversity that had been documented previously in the Lake Tahoe nearshore, and is largely attributed to the methods employed. Adopting these new methods in future monitoring efforts should improve harmonization of taxonomic data and help advance our knowledge of the contributions to nearshore cultural eutrophication.

The impact of the striped field mouse’s range expansion on communities of native small mammals

Understanding species expansion as an element of the dispersal process is crucial to gaining a better comprehension of the functioning of the populations and the communities. Populations of the same species that are native in one area could be considered nonindigenous, naturalised or invasive somewhere else. The striped field mouse has been expanding its range in south-western Slovakia since 2010, although the origin of the spread has still not been clarified. In light of the striped field mouse’s life history, the recent range expansion is considered to be the expansion of a native species. This study analyses the impact of the striped field mouse's expansion on the native population and small mammal communities and confronts the documented stages of striped field mouse expansion with the stages of invasion biology. Our research replicates the design and compares results from past research of small mammals prior to this expansion at the same three study areas with the same 20 study sites and control sites. Several years after expansion, the striped field mouse has a 100% frequency of occurrence in all study sites and has become the dominant species in two of the study areas. The native community is significantly affected by the striped field mouse’s increasing dominance, specifically: (i) we found a re-ordering of the species rank, mainly in areas with higher dominance, and (ii) an initial positive impact on diversity and evenness during low dominance of the striped field mouse turned markedly negative after crossing the 25% dominance threshold. Results suggested that the variation in the striped field mouse’s dominance is affected by the northern direction of its spread. Our findings show that establishment in a new area, spread and impact on the native community are stages possibly shared by both invasive and native species during their range expansion.

Variation in mesopelagic fish community composition and structure between Mediterranean and Atlantic waters around the Iberian Peninsula

Mesopelagic fish populations are characterised by high species richness and abundance, and have been identified as important contributors to the active carbon fluxes in the open ocean. We report variability in communities of mesopelagic fish between five zones around the Iberian Peninsula, i.e. Balears and Alboran in the Mediterranean, and Cadiz, Lisboa and Galicia in the Atlantic. Day and night samples were collected from 7 layers of the water column with a midwater trawl fitted with a multisampler. Temperature and salinity regimes were very different on the Mediterranean and Atlantic sides of the peninsula, with much higher values through the entire water column in the Mediterranean, characterized by a strong pycnocline. The highest productivity was observed off Lisboa, where Chlorophyll a concentrations were two orders of magnitude higher than in any other zone. Samples from the western Mediterranean held 22 fish species, while 67 were found in the Atlantic. The lowest diversity and the highest dominance were observed in Balears, and the highest diversity in Cadiz zone. In all zones, but particularly in those in the Mediterranean, mesopelagic populations were dominated by a high number of small fish with low individual biomasses. The species Benthosema glaciale, Cyclothone pygmaea and Ceratoscopelus maderensis were common in the Mediterranean populations, whereas in the Atlantic, Cyclothone microdon/livida, Valenciennellus tripunctulatus, Ceratoscopelus warmingii and Benthosema suborbitale were the most common species. Temperature and salinity (both at surface and in the mesopelagic zone) were the main environmental factors explaining variability in assemblage composition. A persistent (day-night) deep scattering layer was observed using the vessel-based echosounder in all zones, and was comprised primarily of the gonostomatid Cyclothone spp. Night-time echosounder observations of scattering layers near the surface were observed in Balears, Alboran, Cadiz and Lisboa, where night surface net collections indicated that Myctophidae, Stomiidae and Phosichthyidae migration extended to the upper 100 m. Sternoptychids and the gonostomatid Sigmops elongatus seldom reached the upper 100 m in their night vertical migrations. Night stratified hauls of 30 m resolution carried out in the epipelagic zone showed that abundances maxima of migratory fish coincided with the location of the Chlorophyll a maxima.

Plant community patterns and edge effect study in the ecotone region of River Pabber and Tons in Western Himalaya

The present study was carried out in riverine ecotone of Tons and Pabber rivers which are tributary of river Yamuna in Garhwal Himalaya to understand the edge effect on distribution and structure of plant community patterns. The study was done at an altitude of 900 m to 1300 m to identify the plant diversity and community structure of riverine ecotone areas within a stretch of 64 km. In total Seventeen (N=17) tree species twenty one (N=21) shrub species, thirty-eight (N=38) species of herbs and three (N=3) species grasses were identified. Mallotus philippensis, Alnus nepelensis, and Pinus roxburghii were found to be dominant threes having 35.7%, 14.9% and 13.6% representation in total tree population. Out of nine (N=9), sample sites Mallotus philippensis and Pinus roxburghii were having the highest densities and relative densities in five (N=5) sites. Rubus elipticus was dominating shrub species with 16% representation followed by Zanthoxylum armatum 12.2%, Adhatoda vasica 10.3% and Agave cantula 9.3%. Rubus elipticus and Zanthoxylum armatum.were having the highest numbers in sites where the slope was gentle and soil conditions were not sandy. Whereas Adhatoda vasica was more uniformly distributed and was found growing uniformly in riverine sandy soil areas Agave cantula preferred the southern and western aspects with rocky slopes and poor soil conditions. In grasses, Carex infuscata was having highest dominance (43.64), in herbs Trifolium repens was having the highest dominance (21) followed by Cannabis sativa (20.92), Cynodon dactylon (17.8) and Verbascum thapsus (10.71). Species diversity indices used in the study was the Shannon Index, the value of diversity indicated by H' was 2.44 which indicates that the herb diversity in the ecosystem is uniformly distributed, no single herb species is dominant, whereas the dominance value which is 0.11 corroborate the diversity of the ecosystem. The value of Shannon wiener (H') index for shrub species was 1.58 which indicates that the majority of shrub (66.6%) species are distributed uniformly except Berberis lycium, Clerodendrum phlomidis, Euphorbia royleana, Indigofera heterantha, Lantana camara, Woodfordia fruticosa and Viburnum cotinifolium.

Is tax evasion macho? Testosterone, personality traits and evasion

This paper examines the potential effects of testosterone and personality traits on the decision to evade taxes. In a series of experiments, subjects completed behavioural tasks and made a one-shot tax evasion decision. We estimate a negative weakly significant treatment effect, which suggests that an exogenous increase in the testosterone level may inhibit the decision to evade taxes. Our results also suggest that higher dominance and independent self-construal, as well as lower self-control, are associated with a greater likelihood of tax evasion. We discuss the mechanisms potentially linking testosterone to tax evasion. These findings support the inclusion of biological factors in the analysis of tax evasion behaviour.

Integrated production of biopolymers with industrial wastewater treatment: Effects of OLR on process yields, biopolymers characteristics and mixed microbial community enrichment

The production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using industrial wastewaters as feedstocks is a current and challenging topic. This study investigated the production of biopolymers by a mixed microbial culture under different OLRs equal to 1 kgCOD m−3d−1 (Period 1), 2 kgCOD m−3d−1 (Period 2) and 3 kgCOD m−3d−1 (Period 3). The maximum PHA content was achieved in Period 2 (0.38 gPHA gTSS−1), whereas lower values were obtained in Period 1 (0.13 gPHA gTSS−1) and Period 3 (0.26 gPHA gTSS−1). Overall, the maximum PHA productivity resulted equal to 0.08 gPHA L−1 h−1 (P2), 0.05 gPHA L−1 h−1 (P1) and 0.04 gPHA L−1 h−1 (P3), respectively.The molecular weight of the PHA increased from Period 1 (250 kDa) to Period 2 (417 KDa) and Period 3 (463 KDa), although resulting in a slight decrease of crystallinity degree. Microbial community analysis revealed a reduction in bacterial diversity and a progressive shift of the microbial community with the increasing OLR. Alpha-diversity indexes based on Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) at 99% identity revealed higher species richness (Taxa (S) 280) and diversity (Shannon (H) 4,06) in Period 1, whereas Period 3 was characterized by reduced richness and diversity and higher dominance (Taxa (S) 133, Shannon (H) 2,40).Based on the results obtained, it was pointed out that the OLR variation determined significant effects on the process performances, as well as on the productivity and quality of the biopolymers. This means that OLR is a key control parameter to maximize the PHA production and control the physical-chemical characteristics of the polymers.

Face Value: Trait Impressions, Performance Characteristics, and Market Outcomes for Financial Analysts

ABSTRACTUsing machine learning–based algorithms, we measure key impressions about sell‐side analysts using their LinkedIn photos. We find that impressions of analysts’ trustworthiness (TRUST) and dominance (DOM) are positively associated with forecast accuracy, especially after recent in‐person meetings between analysts and firm managers. High TRUST also enhances stock return sensitivity to forecast revisions, especially for stocks with high institutional ownership. In contrast, the impression of analysts’ attractiveness (ATTRACT) is only positively associated with accuracy for new analysts or when a firm has a new CEO or CFO. Furthermore, while high DOM helps male analysts’ chances of attaining All‐Star status, it reduces female analysts’ accuracy and the likelihood of winning the All‐Star award. In addition, the relation between TRUST and accuracy is modulated by the disclosure environment and is attenuated by Regulation Fair Disclosure. Our results suggest that face impressions influence analysts’ access to information and the perceived credibility of their reports.

Associations between Conflict Negotiation Strategies, Sexual Comfort, and Sexual Satisfaction in Adolescent Romantic Relationships

ABSTRACT Achieving healthy and satisfying sexual relationships is a major developmental task in adolescence, but factors promoting sexual satisfaction among adolescent romantic relationships remain underexplored. Since sexuality is shaped by relational experiences, strategies mobilized to negotiate conflicts in romantic relationships could be related to sexual satisfaction through comfort in negotiating sexual experiences. Sexual comfort refers to the ease of discussing sexuality, and feeling comfortable with one’s own sexual life and with others’ sexual behaviors. This cross-sectional dyadic study examined the mediating role of sexual comfort in the associations between perceived conflict negotiation strategies and sexual satisfaction among adolescent romantic dyads. The actor-partner interdependence model guided the analyses of self-reported questionnaires from 104 mixed- and same-sex dyads (Mage = 18.99 years, SD = 1.51). An adolescent’s higher compromise and lower submission were related to their own higher sexual satisfaction via their own higher sexual comfort. The results also revealed a direct association between an adolescent’s higher domination and their own lower sexual satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of considering conflict negotiation strategies and sexual comfort as key factors related to adolescents’ sexual satisfaction.

Employing Contemporary Integrative Interpersonal Theory to Understand Dysfunction in Those at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis.

Poor social functioning is related to the development of psychosis; however, our current understanding of social functioning in those at-risk for psychosis is limited by (a) poor conceptual models of interpersonal behavior and (b) a reliance on comparisons to healthy controls (e.g., vs. clinical controls). In this study, we introduce Contemporary Integrated Interpersonal Theory (CIIT) and use its Interpersonal Circumplex (IPC) model to compare interpersonal behavior traits in those at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis, clinical controls, and healthy controls. A community sample (N = 3460) was used to derive estimates of IPC dimensions (i.e., affiliation and dominance), which were then compared among a large subsample that completed diagnostic interviews (N = 337), which included a CHR group, as well as several control groups ranging on degree of psychosis vulnerability and internalizing disorders. CHR individuals were distinguished from healthy controls by low affiliation (d = –1.31), and from internalizing disorder groups by higher dominance (d = 0.64). Negative symptoms were consistently associated with low affiliation and low dominance, whereas positive symptoms were related primarily to coldness. These results connect social functioning in psychosis risk to a rich theoretical framework and suggest a potentially distinct interpersonal signature for CHR individuals. More broadly, this study suggests that CIIT and the IPC may have utility for informing diagnostics and treatment development in psychosis risk research.

Hydrological connectivity, surface water quality and distribution of fish species within sub-locations of an urban oxbow lake, East India

Ecological processes and distribution of biodiversity within river floodplains are driven by the hydrological regime of the area. The relationship between fish abundance/diversity and surface water quality at four impact points of the Sashadanga oxbow lake was examined based on hydrological connectivity (distance of lake sections from parent channel; density of buffer vegetation and hydrological phases of seasons). Fish sample populations (n = 1440) belonging to 10 orders showed greater numerical abundance in the pre-and post-flooding phases. Oxbow sites proximal to the parent channel showed higher comprehensive pollution index (CPI), higher dominance and lower species evenness during the pre-monsoon (minor flooding) and vice versa during the monsoon and post-monsoon (greater flooding periods). Diversity descriptors using curve/asymptote based on Hill’s numbers indicate significant site-specific fish diversity within the oxbow lake at different seasons. Discriminant analysis revealed that change in temperature, turbidity and concentration of inorganic nitrogen were significant predictors in differentiating the quality of the different sites of the lake. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the relative abundance of each species order across sites was significantly influenced by changes in seasons and physicochemical parameters, and showed a weak association with the density of buffer vegetation at sites. Depending on the distance of oxbow areas to the parent channel, the combination of periodic flooding, riparian buffer and lake morphology define the degree of hydrological connectivity which in turn affects the composition and abundance of fish communities at different points of the lake.

Effects of Open and Forest Habitats on Distribution and Diversity of Bumblebees (Bombus) in the Małopolska Upland (Southern Poland): Case Study.

Simple SummarySouthern Poland represents one of the most diverse habitats for bumblebees (Bombus sp.); however, little is known about the abundance and distribution of many insect species in this region. Bumblebees are important for crop and wildflower pollination in different temperate latitudes because many plant species are only pollinated by them. Studies were conducted in natural and semi-natural habitats in southern Poland during the years 2003–2006 and compared with material collected from 2017–2020. During this eight-year-long study, more than 6214 bumblebee specimens of 25 species were found in the Małopolska Upland. The most frequently observed bumblebee species were: Bombus pascuorum, B. lapidarius, B. pratorum, and B. lucorum. The low-numbered bumblebees were: Bombus humilis, B. pomorum, B. veteranus, B. muscorum, and B. semenoviellus. There were also four rarely found species: Bombus confuses, B. ruderatus, B. soroeensis, and B. jonellus.Bumblebees are an important insect group occurring in different land ecosystems, but the number of these species has declined dramatically across Poland as well as in Europe in recent years. The fragmentation of bumblebee habitats influences the abundance and richness in community composition and trophic and competitive interactions. During the years 2003–2006 and 2017–2020, we studied the diversity and distribution of bumblebee species in two natural (boron-mixed Vaccinio-Piceetea and riparian forest Querco-Fagetea) and two semi-natural (segetal-ruderal Stellarietea mediae ruderal Artemisietea vulgaris) habitats in southern Poland. For that, we evaluated how habitats as well as local flowering communities influenced bumblebees’ abundance, richness, and community composition in 16 sites (which are located in four parks). Bumblebee communities responded to environmental factors in different ways according to the type of habitat. Vegetation factors were the most important drivers of bumblebee community structures. Forests showed the lowest bumblebee abundance, richness, and diversity, and the highest dominance levels of these parameters were found in the open ruderal-segetal habitats. The meadows from the Molinio arrhenatheretea class were characterized by bumblebee communities with a more complex structure. Species diversity was positively correlated with open ruderal-segetal habitats, and negatively with mixed forest cover, while abundance was positively correlated with forest cover. Studies like this are necessary to anticipate the impact of habitat fragmentation on bumblebee decline.

Abundance and diversity of phytoplankton at sekotong bay waters Western Lombok

Phytoplankton is one of the important components in aquatic ecosystems. This organism plays an important role as a primary producer to support the life of the tropics above it. The purposes of this study were to reveal the abundance and diversity of phytoplankton species in the waters of Sekotong Bay, West Lombok. Sampling were conducted in July 2018 at 8 stations using plankton net and then observed at the Laboratory. The results of the abundance calculations show a varied pattern at each observation station. The highest abundance was found at station 8 (9,060 ind/L) followed by station 6 (8,300 ind/L), station 7 (6,490 ind/L), station 4 (4,440 ind/L), station 3 (3,980 ind/L) , station 5 (2,820 ind/L), station 2 (2,460 ind/L) and station 1 (2,440 ind/L). The Shannon - Wiener Species diversity Index also shows diverse patterns at each station. Station 7 has the highest diversity index value (H′ = 3.55), followed by station 6 (H′ = 3.46), station 8 (H′ = 3.18), station 1 (H′ = 2.72) , station 2 (H′ = 2.69), station 5 (H′ = 2.67), station 4 (H′ = 2.33) and station 3 (H′ = 2.26). Species dominance index at all stations at low category with the highest dominance found at station 3 (D = 0.19), followed by station 4 (D = 0.18), station 2 (D = 0.09), station 5 (D = 0, 09), station 1 (D = 0.08), station 8 (D = 0.06), station 6 (D = 0.05) and station 7 (D = 0.04). Species Evennes index (E) values ranged from 0.71 to 0.88, indicating that the number of individual species was relatively the same and the ecosystem was in relatively good condition. The analysis showed that the spatial pattern of abundance and diversity of phytoplankton species in Sekotong Bay was related to the distance from the estuary.

Contribution of the Mangrove ecosystem to the Gastropod community at pantai Bahagia vilage, Muara Gembong, West Java

The Mangrove ecosystem of Muara Gembong has been under continuing stress by land occupation, land conversion, and abrasion. This research was aimed to reveal the mangrove and gastropods community structure circumstance. A contribution of the environmental factor was also assessed to evaluate the interaction among them and to track the changes of the ecosystem. This research was conducted by purposive sampling in 3 sampling sites, these were a full reforestation site (A), a central site, that was exist by natural process (B), also a moderate reforestation site (C), with 3 sampling replication each site. About 4 mangrove species within shoreline has been progressively important as a protective flood barrier and abrasion at Muara Gembong. The highest gastropod diversity was found in the B1 site, while the highest dominance was found in A2. The C2 site is the only site that showed us a uniform dispersion of gastropods when the other sites showed a clumped dispersion. It can be implied that the ecosystem has been gradually degraded. Eigen and loading value from Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed that a gastropods community was holistically affected by pH, basal area, canopy, substrate, and TDS. The community of gastropods was influenced 62.14% by pH, and 34.29% by basal area. while the highest dominance was found in A2. The C2 site is the only site that showed us a uniform dispersion of gastropods when the other sites showed a clumped dispersion. It can be implied that the ecosystem has been gradually degraded.

Relationship between Fingerprint patterns and Multiple Intelligence among young adults in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State

The field of neuroscience is fast emerging with the various types of intelligence becoming critical to the overall wellbeing of an individual. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between fingerprint patterns and multiple intelligence among young adults (18-26 years) in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra state. Two hundred and forty one subjects were enlisted in this study, comprising 140 females (58.1%) and 101 males (41.9%). Each subject filled the Howard Gardner model of Multiple intelligence test and were examined on the different forms of Multiple Intelligence: Linguistic, Logical, and Kinesthetic. Musical, Spatial, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Naturalist intelligences. Their fingerprint patterns were gotten with a fingerprint scanner. The data collected was analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS 2.0). Also Chi square test was used to test the differences between variable groups and analysis showed that intrapersonal intelligence had the highest percentage of 28.2% followed by logical and interpersonal intelligence. Naturalistic intelligence had the least percentage of 3.2%. Males also showed a higher dominance of Logical, interpersonal, spatial, and kinesthetic intelligence; whereas females showed higher musical, naturalistic, linguistic, and intrapersonal intelligence. Also, the highest occurrence for the loop fingerprint was found among students with intrapersonal and musical intelligence; the highest occurrence for whorl was found among students with spatial and kinesthetic intelligence; and the highest occurrence of arch is found among students with naturalistic and linguistic intelligence. There was however, no significant difference observed in the relationship between multiple intelligence and tribe. The result of this study confirmed that every individual has different forms of intelligence at different levels and the knowledge of this may be useful in selecting career prospects.

Effects of Adjacent Land Use Types on the Composition of Vascular Flora in Urban Forest Ecotones in the Southern Poland

The purpose of the research was the recognition of edge effects regarding similarities and differences of vascular flora in undergrowth layers in the urban forest ecotones. Four types of urban forest neighborhoods were analyzed: ecotones adjacent to the manor park, the agriculture field, housing estates and the road. The plant compositions in the forest ecotones were compared with the plant compositions in the urban forest interior and the forest nature reserve. The phytosociological type of studied forests was a subcontinental oak-hornbeam one (Tilio-Carpinetum). Diagnostic plant species (e.g., characteristic) for forests from the non-diagnostic ones were identified. Forest consistent plant species dominated in the ecotone adjacent to the manor park and in the interior of urban forests too, but the best conditions for these plants were inside the forest nature reserve, where native consistent forest plants showed the highest dominance when comparing all studied areas. A higher anthropogenic pressure from the adjacent areas results in supporting the growth of inconsistent plant species in the forests, and these plants are mostly represented by plants belonging to grass and synanthropic communities. Another conclusion drawn from our research is that the protected forest, represented by a nature reserve in the city, provides better “shelter” for native forest plants than the urban forest without any protection. Ultimately, a permanent challenge is to achieve and maintain the balance between nature and the impact of anthropogenic activities on urban forests in the city. The high quality of green areas, biodiversity, including forests, implicates possibilities of sustainable development in cities. The research results will be useful for local urban planners and ecologists during their work on strategies of city development, including shaping of green infrastructure.

Environmental influences on the cyanobacterial mat formation in the mangrove ecosystems along the southwest coast of India

AbstractMangrove forests are highly diverse niches playing fundamental roles in ecosystem sustainability, particularly in the tropics. Benthic realms in mangrove forest sustain a wide variety of autotrophs among which cyanobacteria forms a major component. The present study discusses the spatiotemporal variabilities in benthic cyanobacterial assemblage in selected mangrove ecosystems (Kannur—S1, Kochi—S2 and Kollam—S3 were sampled for 1 year, 2018 to 2019) along the south‐west coast of India. A total of nine cyanobacterial species belonging to six genera were identified, which included mainly non‐heterocystous forms like Oscillatoria irrigua, Phormidium chalybeum, Geitlerinema bigranulatum, Oscillatoria sancta, Spirulina major, Trichodesmium sp., whereas heterocystous cyanobacteria included Nostoc sp. Oscillatoria irrigua was the major species distributed in all the mangrove ecosystems. Temporal variations were observed in the distribution with pre‐monsoon (PRM) and monsoon (MON) seasons having higher numerical density and lesser diversity of benthic cyanophytes with lesser abundance and comparatively higher diversity during post‐monsoon (POM). Regionally, S2 observed higher numerical abundance with higher dominance, whereas S3 observed less abundance with high diversity. Physico‐chemical parameters of sediment and pore water analysis observed that sediment temperature positively correlated with cyanobacterial abundance, whereas a negative correlation was observed with dissolved oxygen and pore water dissolved nitrate. Pore water salinity also influenced the community composition of cyanobacteria with heterocystous cyanobacteria in comparatively less saline conditions. Hence, the study emphasis spatiotemporal variabilities in the benthic cyanobacterial assemblage of mangrove ecosystems in relation to environmental variables.

Industrial yeast strains competence in mixed culture with wild flocculent yeast

In Brazil, the process of ethanol production is well established and there are many factors that may contribute to its efficiency, such as the quality of raw material, process conditions and levels of microbial contamination. During industrial fermentations, the microbial population can be quite dynamic, being able to be totally replaced by wild yeasts of low fermentative efficiency. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the fermentative characteristics of a flocculent yeast prevalent in the ethanol production process and the implications of this yeast in the kinetic parameters of the process. A wild yeast strain with a contamination level of 77.4% was found within the colonies isolated from the fermented wine. Fermentative tests were carried out with synthetic sugar cane must with 149 gL -1 of ART with this wild flocculent strain (LFS) and its interaction with the industrial strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae BG-1, CAT-1, FT-858L and PE -2. LFS showed a lower performance in productivity and fermentative efficiency compared to industrial strains. In mixed culture fermentative assays with LFS and the BG-1, CAT-1, FT-858L and PE-2 strains, industrial yeasts showed dominance over wild yeast presenting lower levels of final contamination than initial. However, in the mixed culture assays with PE-2 and LFS with addition of calcium oxide in the must, there were concerning results of fermentative efficiency and productivity, since the LFS yeast started to have a higher dominance than what was previously observed. • Wild yeast strain showed lower performance in productivity and fermentative efficiency compared to industrial yeast strains. • The competence of industrial yeast strains reduced contaminant concentrations in mixed cultured fermentations. • Mixed culture fermentations with PE-2 and wild yeast with addition of calcium oxide in the must show results of low efficiency and low fermentative productivity.

FLORISTIC COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY OF TREE SPECIES IN KUMO TOWN AND ITS ENVIRONS

Study was conducted on Floristic Composition and Diversity of Tree Species in Kumo Town and its Environs. The aim was to investigate the Tree Species Structure, composition and diversity. Systematic random sampling method was used to sample the Tree species. The result showed that a total number of Twenty –Seven (27) species belonging to 8 genera and 12 families were identified. The family Leguminosae: Mimosoideae had the highest number of 4 species. The family Combretaceae, Moraceae, Caesalpinoidceae, and Palmae had 3 species each. The family Anacaediaceae, Myrtaceae, were represented by 2 species each. The remaining 5 families; Balanitaceae, Bombacaceae, Meliaceae, Rhamnaceae and Sterculiaceae were represented by 1 species each. The plant with the highest dominance was Adansonia digitata. The Shannon Weiner index was 2.45 and Simpson index was 0.48. This study therefore concluded that the species Azadirachta indica was the most abundant, with highest Relative Density, Relative Frequency, and Importance Value Index in the study area. This study recommended that the plants that had the lowest IVI such as Prosopis africana, Cassia sieberiana, need urgent conservation measures

Enjoying tranquility — Development of ground vegetation after cessation of management in forests on loamy soils in Flanders (Belgium)

AbstractQuestionsManaged forests often show a more homogeneous age structure compared to unmanaged forests, but also a higher share and frequency of canopy and soil disturbances due to harvest operations. Here, we investigate what happens when non‐intervention is introduced in formerly managed forests: Was there a significant decrease in vascular plant species richness? Which species were particularly affected? Are there non‐random shifts in species composition? Were typical shade‐tolerant forest species also jeopardized due to prolonged deep shade? LocationFour recently installed strict reserves in Atlantic to Sub‐Atlantic lowland oak and beech forests on fertile loess soils east and southwest of Brussels (Belgium).MethodsWe compared vegetation relevés in permanent plots (183 plots of 16 m × 16 m) with a 10‐year interval. Total species richness per site was derived from rarefaction curves; significance of differences in species richness and composition at plot level were tested using paired t tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) was used to check for non‐random shifts in species composition.ResultsWe registered significant declines in species richness both at reserve and plot level. This decline was not random, but strongly dependent on ecological traits and strategies, with strong declines in light‐demanding gap phase‐associated species like Lonicera periclymenum and Deschampsia cespitosa, and species requiring soil disturbance, such as Juncus effusus and Carex sylvatica. Shade‐tolerant mesic species like Anemone nemorosa and Allium ursinum clearly increased in frequency and cover, despite strong declines in previous decades.ConclusionThe effect of lower disturbance frequency leading to continued closed canopy, against a background of reduced atmospheric deposition, induces the development of a ground vegetation with lower species richness, due to decrease of species related to disturbance, but with higher dominance and cover of characteristic species of mesic lowland oak and beech forests.