Importance Of Environmental Factors Research Articles

Applying Biomod2 for modeling of species suitable habitats:a case study of Paeonia lactiflora in China

Paeonia lactiflora is an important medicinal resource in China. It is of great significance for the protection and cultivation of P. lactiflora resources to find the suitable habitats. The study was based on the information of 98 distribution sites and the data of 20 current environmental factors of wild P. lactiflora in China. According to the correlation and importance of environmental factors, we selected the main environmental factors affecting the potential suitable habitats. Then, BCC-CSM2-MR model was employed to predict the distribution range and center change of potential suitable habitat of wild P. lactiflora in the climate scenarios of SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 during 2021-2100. The ensemble model combined with GBM, GLM, MaxEnt, and RF showed improved prediction accuracy, with TSS=0.85 and AUC=0.95. Among the 20 environmental factors, annual mean temperature, monthly mean diurnal range of temperature, temperature seasonality, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the driest quarter, and elevation were the main factors that affected the suitable habitat distribution of P. lactiflora. At present, the potential suitable habitats of wild P. lactiflora is mainly distributed in Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Gansu, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Ningxia, and concentrated in the northeastern Inner Mongolia, central Heilongjiang, and northern Jilin. Under future climate conditions, the highly sui-table area of wild P. lactiflora will shrink, and the potential suitable habitat will mainly be lost to different degrees. However, in the SSP5-8.5 scenario, the low suitable area of wild P. lactiflora will partially increase in the highlands and mountains in western China including Xinjiang, Tibet, and Qinghai during 2061-2100. The distribution center of wild P. lactiflora migrated first to the northeast and then to the southwest. The total suitable habitats were stable and kept in the high-latitude zones. The prediction of the potential geo-graphical distribution of P. lactiflora is of great significance to the habitat protection and standardized cultivation of this plant in the future.

Importance of environmental factors on plantings of wild-simulated American Ginseng

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is an herbaceous perennial plant native to the forests of eastern North America with a long history of use and harvest, and with a significant international market. To supply international demand, the plant is grown in the USA and Canada under artificial shade cloth. However, wild and wild-appearing ginseng roots command prices up to 100 times greater than roots cultivated in a field: $550–2200 (US$ dry kg) vs. $20–70 (US$ dry kg). Growing ginseng in a forested environment using a “wild-simulated” forest farming approach, where growers introduce ginseng into a forested environment and then let it grow with little to no intervention, allows forest farmers to access these higher prices and meet international demand. As climate change shifts growing conditions globally, there will be increasing opportunities for the forest farming of American ginseng internationally. In this study, we examined the main drivers of ginseng growth and development in a wild-simulated ginseng forest farm. We measured the range of environmental conditions and built statistical models to examine which factors were most important for ginseng vigor. We found that the amount of sunlight, even under highly shaded conditions, was the most important driver of ginseng establishment on the landscape, as well as ginseng plant size and development. Prior research indicates that additional factors including soil nutrient levels, moisture, and texture are important for the survival, growth, and development of wild and planted American ginseng, but our study did not show significant patterns of importance at this site. Our findings suggest that integrating silvicultural techniques such as forest thinning may enhance the productivity of wild-simulated ginseng operations while providing additional forest-based income with minimal impact on natural forest ecosystems.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic During the Lockdown on Children With the Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANDAS/PANS): The Importance of Environmental Factors on Clinical Conditions.

Introduction: In March 2020, SARS-CoV-2 declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Restrictive isolation measures have also brought psychological distress to the pediatric population. Building on the syndrome's characteristics, the present study explored the impact of lockdown on the clinical course of young people with PANDAS/PANS. The initial hypothesis considered both the reduced exposure to viral agents and the strategies of the parents and other containment actions as protective factors against the worsening of symptoms.Methods: One hundred and eight children, adolescents, and young adults were recruited according to the multicenter PANDAS/PANS research program. Parents participated in a web-based survey. Results: contrary to our hypothesis, the study results show an increase in symptoms during the block in 71% of the sample. Psychometric analyzes allowed us to exclude a relationship between the main symptoms of PANDAS and the increase in symptoms or the presence of symptoms before the block and their increase over time. The increase in symptoms is best explained by the presence of sleep disturbances and emotional lability. The exacerbation also appears to be linked to the onset of new symptoms in children and adolescents with depressed moods and eating problems. Furthermore, irritability and oppositionality are significant predictors of acute exacerbation. Equally statistically significant is the factor linked to the effects of pandemic stress, such as the fear of contracting the virus. No significant associations for symptom reduction have been identified between parental strategies or other parent-initiated actions, but the study demonstrates that caregiver perceived efficacy on the strategies used can reduce the risk of exacerbation.Conclusion: This preliminary study highlights the importance of studying the causes of increased symptoms in children with PANDAS/PANS. Life events can exacerbate the clinical condition or generate new symptoms in young patients. In particular, environmental, family, and social changes in the course of clinical symptoms in PANDAS/PANS patients should be investigated. It highlights the importance of emotional and behavioral management, which can be improved by enhancing coping strategies in young people with PANDAS/PANS and their caregivers through a combination treatment in which CBT and PMT are included, in line with guidelines.Limits: An experimental proxy-report questionnaire not yet standardized and validated on the PANS/PANDAS pediatric clinical sample was used for the exploratory study. There is also a small sample size (N = 108) and the absence of a control group (pre-lockdown or children without PANDAS/PANS). It would be interesting to evaluate the exact long-term dimensions to see the course of symptoms after covid and conduct a new study focusing on the impact of stressful events on the clinical course of the syndrome.

Area-level and family-level socioeconomic position and body composition trajectories: longitudinal analysis of the UK Millennium Cohort Study

SummaryBackgroundInequalities in the trajectories of body composition in childhood and adolescence have been infrequently studied. Despite the importance of environmental factors in obesity development, little research has looked at area-level socioeconomic position, independent of family socioeconomic position. We aimed to assess how inequalities in body composition develop with age.MethodsThe Millennium Cohort Study is a longitudinal study of 19 243 families who had a child born between 2000 and 2002 in the UK. Multilevel growth curve models were applied to examine change in fat mass index (FMI), fat free mass index (FFMI; using the Benn index), and fat mass to fat free mass ratio (FM:FFM), measured using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, from ages 7 years to 17 years by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and household income at baseline.FindingsInequalities in FMI and FM:FFM ratio are evident at age 7 years and widen with age. At age 17 years, adolescents in the most disadvantaged IMD group had FMI 0·57 kg/mB (B=Benn parameter; 95% CI 0·43 to 0·70) higher and FM:FFM ratio 0·037 (95% CI 0·026 to 0·047) higher compared with the most advantaged group. Disadvantaged socioeconomic position is associated with higher FFMI but is reversed in adolescence after adjustment for FMI. Inequalities were greater in girls at age 7 years (mean FMI 0·22 kg/mB; 95% CI 0·13 to 0·32) compared with boys of the same age (0·05 kg/mB; –0·04 to 0·15, p=0·3), but widen fastest in boys, especially for FMI, in which there was over an 11 times increase in the inequality from age 7 years of 0·05kg/mB (95% CI –0·04 to 0·15) to 0·62 kg/mB at 17 years (0·42 to 0·82). Inequalities for the IMD were similar to income, and persisted at age 17 years independent of family socioeconomic position.InterpretationChildhood and adolescence is an important period to address inequalities in body composition, as they emerge and widen. Policies should consider FFM as well as FM, and inequalities in the environment.FundingMedical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council.

Deciphering and predicting anammox-based nitrogen removal process under oxytetracycline stress via kinetic modeling and machine learning based on big data analysis

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is an advanced nitrogen removal process that is widely used in the nitrogen removal of various antibiotic containing wastewaters due to its high efficiency and energy saving characteristics. However, as a widely used antibiotic, the inhibitory effect of oxytetracycline (OTC) on anammox is unclear. In this study, the effect of OTC on the anammox-based nitrogen removal process was revealed by kinetic model and machine learning models. Statistical analysis showed that anammox started to be inhibited when the OTC concentration reached 2 mg/L. The inhibition and recovery periods were simulated under OTC stress. During the inhibition period, the R2 fitted by Exp model was higher, and the simulated maximum nitrogen removal rate (NRR) was between 0.47 and 17.05 kg/(m3·d). During the recovery period, both Boltzmann and Gauss models fit well. In addition, the machine learning model of the artificial neural network predicted the NRR more accurately, indicating that the importance of environmental factors was lower than the effluent parameters. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the NRR was negatively correlated with OTC under both short-term and long-term OTC stress. Furthermore, the hydraulic retention time and water quality parameters played an important role in the short-term and long-term experiment, respectively. Finally, redundancy analysis demonstrated that the abundance of nitrogen functional genes, such as hydrazine dehydrogenase, nitrite/nitric oxide oxidoreductase and hydrazine synthase, was negatively correlated with the amount of OTC, while antibiotic resistance genes showed the opposite trend.

Environmental Factors Influencing Chlorophyll-a Concentration in Tri An Reservoir, Vietnam

Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) has been used extensively as an essential indicator of trophic state in the assessment and monitoring of surface water quality environments. The environmental factors can influence Chl-a concentrations; thus, to determine the relationship between Chl-a concentration and factors. The research was carried out in dry season (March 2016) and wet season (September 2016) in Tri An reservoir, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam and performed by Spearman's correlation analysis and Linear regression analysis. The result showed that Chl-a varied between 12.84 and 783.51 µg/L and was quite different a cross stations in two surveys. Factor analysis and the best models revealed the association of strong physico-chemical with Chl-a concentration. The Chl-a was significantly positively correlated with Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and negative with Nitrate (NO3-) in the dry season, while in the wet season the positive relationships between Chl-a concentration and Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Temperature and a strong negatively correlated with Phosphate (PO43-) correlation were found. This relationships inferred that the nutrients brought by the influx of reservoir into the study area have contributed to control the growth and abundance of phytoplankton. Thus, the importance of environmental factors in structuring Chl-a concentration may be used to guide the conservation of the aquatic ecosystems in the reservoir.

A Candidate Gene Association Study for Economically Important Traits in Czech Dairy Goat Breeds.

Simple SummaryThe milk production traits of goats are economically important. In the Czech Republic, goat milk is processed directly on farms and distributed as cheese. Although goat breeding is not a main focus of animal production in the Czech Republic, it is essential for the agricultural sector. A group of 14 SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) within four candidate genes (ACACA, BTN1A1, LPL, and SCD) were analysed in two Czech dairy goat breeds, White Shorthaired (WSH) goats and Brown Shorthaired (BSH) goats. The SNPs were significantly associated with milk-production traits (daily milk yield, protein, and fat percentage) and somatic cell count. This information may be useful for marker-assisted selection or related techniques to increase the accuracy of selection.Milk production is influenced by many factors, including genetic and environmental factors and their interactions. Animal health, especially udder health, is usually evaluated by the number of somatic cells. The present study described the effect of polymorphisms in the ACACA, BTN1A1, LPL, and SCD genes on the daily milk yield, fat, and protein percentages and somatic cell count. In this study, 590 White Shorthaired (WSH) and Brown Shorthaired (BSH) goats were included. SNP genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP and multiplex PCR followed by SNaPshot minisequencing analysis. The linear mixed model with repeated measurement was used to identify the genetic associations between the studied genes/SNPs and chosen traits. All selected genes were polymorphic in the tested goat populations and showed significant associations with milk traits. Only BTN1A1 (SNP g.599 A > G) showed a significant association with the somatic cell score. After Bonferroni correction, a significant effect of LPL g.300G > A on daily milk yield and fat percentage, LPL g.185G > T on protein percentage, and LPL G50C, SCD EX3_15G > A, and SCD EX3_68A > G on fat percentage was found. The importance of environmental factors, such as the herd-year effect, month of milking, and lactation order on all milk performance indicators was confirmed.

Environmental variables affecting the gillnet catches and condition of Labiobarbus festivus and Osteochilus hasseltii in northern Malaysia

The influences of technical factors on the catching efficiencies of gillnets are well understood, but less is known about the importance of environmental factors and how these might concurrently affect target-species condition. Here we address this deficit for two economically important southeast Asian cyprinids (Labiobarbus festivus and Osteochilus hasseltii) during a one-year study at a key fishing location in Lake Kenyir, Malaysia. Three gillnets (each 200 m long, 2 m deep and comprising either 38-, 51-, or 76-mm mesh) were deployed each month concurrent with sampling of benthic macroinvertebrates and various environmental parameters. Various multivariate analyses (detrended correspondence analysis, redundancy analysis and permutational multivariate analysis of variance) were used to explore potential relationships between the extrinsic variables (mesh size, sampling season, water quality and, based on known prey items, benthic macroinvertebrates) and gillnet catches and the biological condition (growth co-efficient and hepatosomatic index) of the target species. Catches of L.festivus (the most abundant species) were positively influenced by water turbidity without seasonal effects, while their biological condition was positively influenced by benthic macroinvertebrates (mostly Trichoptera) and the concentrations of DO and phosphate, and negatively influenced by water temperature. By comparison, seasonal influences on the catches and biology of O. hasseltii were somewhat size specific with positive and negative effects of the monsoon on small and large fish, respectively. The abundance of phytoplankton also positively affected the catches of O. hasseltii, while their biological condition was positively influenced by water temperature, but negatively influenced by water turbidity. Such species-specific differences were attributed to life histories, and although the more abundant L. festivus might be best sought during any period of turbidity, effort should be focused during the monsoon when individuals have optimal condition (and therefore better flesh quality). In contrast, larger O. hasseltii might be best sought during non-monsoon months concurrent with greater catches and optimal condition. Collecting similar data for other freshwater species both nationally and internationally might facilitate future efforts at fine-tuning gillnet fishing effort.

"I Go up to the Edge of the Valley, and I Talk to God": Using Mixed Methods to Understand the Relationship between Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health among Lebanese and Syrian Refugee Women Engaged in Psychosocial Programming.

Lebanon’s intersecting economic and political crises exacerbate complex public health issues among both host and refugee populations. This mixed-methods study by a Lebanese service provider, in partnership with an international research institute, seeks to better understand how experiences of gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health intersect in the lives of Syrian and Lebanese women, and how to better meet these needs. It employs a randomized cross-sectional survey of 969 Abaad service users and focus groups with community members and service providers. There were significant associations between GBV and ill mental health; notably, respondents reporting transactional sex had 4 times the likelihood of severe distress (aOR 4.2; 95% CI 1.2–14.8; p ≤ 0.05). Focus groups emphasized less-visible forms of violence, such as emotional violence, and the importance of environmental factors in one’s ability to cope, noting “it always came back to the economy”. Recommendations include providing a more holistic and coordinated approach between GBV, mental health, livelihood, and basic assistance sectors; and sensitive, accessible, and higher-quality mental health services informed by GBV response actors’ experience putting in place survivor-centered programming and made available to both host and refugee community members.

Importance of environmental factors over habitat connectivity in shaping bacterial communities in microbial mats and bacterioplankton in an Antarctic freshwater system.

Freshwater ecosystems are considered hotspots of biodiversity in Antarctic polar deserts. Anticipated warming is expected to change the hydrology of these systems due to increased meltwater and reduction of ice cover, with implications for environmental conditions and physical connectivity between habitats. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we evaluated microbial mat and planktonic communities within a connected freshwater system in the McMurdo Wright Valley, Antarctica, to determine the roles of connectivity and habitat conditions in controlling microbial assemblage composition. We examined communities from glacial Lake Brownworth, the perennially ice-covered Lake Vanda and the Onyx River, which connects the two. In Lake Vanda, we found distinct microbial assemblages occupying sub-habitats at different lake depths, while the communities from Lake Brownworth and Onyx River were structurally similar. Despite the higher physical connectivity and dispersal opportunities between bacterial communities in the shallow parts of the system, environmental abiotic conditions dominated over dispersal in driving community structure. Functional metabolic pathway predictions suggested differences in the functional gene potential between the microbial mat communities located in shallower and deeper water depths. The findings suggest that increasing temperatures and meltwater due to future climate change will affect bacterial diversity and functioning in Antarctic freshwater ecosystems.

The Importance of Environmental Factors in the Planning of Container Terminals: The Case Study of the Port of Augusta

Container terminals are the main hubs of the global supply chain but, conversely, they play an important role in energy consumption, environmental pollution and even climate change due to carbon emissions. Assessing the environmental impact of this type of port terminal and choosing appropriate mitigation measures is essential to pursue the goals related to a clean environment and ensuring a good quality of life of the inhabitants of port cities. In this paper the authors present a Terminal Decision Support Tool (TDST) for the development of a container terminal that considers both operation efficiency and environmental impacts. The TDST provides environmental impact mitigation measures based on different levels of evolution of the port’s container traffic. An application of the TDST is conducted on the Port of Augusta (Italy), a port that is planning infrastructural interventions in coming years in order to gain a new role as a reference point for container traffic in the Mediterranean.

Population differentiation in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman: insights from the ghost shrimp's associated copepods, Clausidium iranensis and Clausidium persiaensis

AbstractEvolution and population genetic structure of marine species across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are shaped by two complex factors: the geological history and the present pattern of marine currents. Characterizing and comparing the genetic structures of co-existing species, such as host–parasite associations, allow the discrimination of the relative importance of environmental factors and life history traits that influenced gene flow and demographic events. In this study, we compare two associated Clausidium copepod species (C. persiaensis Sepahvand & Kihara 2017 and C. iranensis Sepahvand, Kihara & Boxshall 2019) along the south coast of Iran in two geological settings. We analysed partial nucleotide sequences of the mtCOI gene using divergence estimates (FST) and haplotype networks to infer intraspecific population connectivity in the two Gulfs. The results obtained demonstrate the existence of two genetically and geographically distinct clades, corresponding to the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman populations. Our results also indicate high diversity, population expansion and high connectivity among populations of C. persiaensis and C. iranensis in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

Distribution of Charophyte Oospores in the Curonian Lagoon and their Relationship to Environmental Forcing

Lack of knowledge about distribution of charophyte fructifications and importance of environmental conditions in the Baltic Sea coastal waters fostered us to assess the spatial-temporal patterns of oospore bank in relationship with environmental factors in the Curonian Lagoon (Lithuanian part). We mapped the distribution of oospores in 2017–2019. The importance of environmental factors was determined by the cluster analysis and boosted regression trees. Four oospores species were recorded up to 4 m depth. The highest mean densities (58,000 ind·m−2) of viable fructifications were found along the eastern shore, where the densest charophyte stands were recorded. Viable fructifications showed a clear pattern of filling the oospore bank after the vegetation season and a depletion during the summer as they germinated. The distance from charophyte stands, salinity, bottom slope aspect, and wave exposure were the most important environmental variables. Full fructifications mostly occurred within <0.5 km distance from the charophyte stands restricted to flat and sheltered areas exposed to the northern and eastern slopes. Empty fructifications were mostly found within <2 km distance from the charophyte stands but their high density was limited to <1 km distance from the charophyte stands and on the northeastern bottom slopes and >1.5 salinity.

Prenatalni i perinatalni faktori rizika za razvoj alergijskih bolesti

For allergic diseases to develop, three components must be present: heredity, allergen contact and environmental factors. Allergic diseases are the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents. This paper aims to present the latest findings on prenatal and perinatal risk factors for the development of atopic disease. The analysis was conducted by researching papers from the MEDLINE and PubMed databases published before September 2021. It has been determined that a mother's immune system during pregnancy plays a key role in the development of the fetus and affects the overall well-being of her offspring later in life. Immune dysregulation during the gestation period is proven to be associated with adverse maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. Contrary to the long-established belief that amniotic fluid is a sterile medium, it is now known that the fetus receives its first dose of probiotics by swallowing amniotic fluid. In connection with that, the microbiota of the mother greatly affects the microbiome of the newborn. Premature birth, cesarean delivery, intrapartum administration of antibiotics and other drugs can all harm the formation of the baby's microbiome. Understanding the importance of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases as well as the old hygiene hypothesis concept in the light of microbial disorders, it is clear that all previously mentioned parameters can have a very important impact on the development of allergic diseases in children.

Geomagnetic disturbance effects on satellite attitude estimation

This study investigates the effects of magnetic disturbances resulting from geospace storms on the satellite attitudes estimated by EKF. It is shown that the increasing levels of geomagnetic activity affect geomagnetic field vectors predicted by IGRF and T89 models. Various sensor combinations including magnetometer, gyroscope, and sun sensor are evaluated for magnetically quiet and active conditions. Errors are calculated for estimated attitude angles and differences were discussed. This study emphasizes on the importance of environmental factors on the satellite attitude determination systems.

Chemically Induced Models of Parkinson’s Disease: History and Perspectives for the Involvement of Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of necrotic cell death characterized by its dependency on iron and lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis has attracted much attention recently in the area of neurodegeneration since the involvement of ferroptosis in Parkinson’s disease (PD), a major neurodegenerative disease, has been indicated using animal models. Although PD is associated with both genetic and environmental factors, sporadic forms of PD account for more than 90% of total PD. Following the importance of environmental factors, various neurotoxins are used as chemical inducers of PD both in vivo and in vitro. In contrast to other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases (AD and HD), many of the characteristics of PD can be reproduced in vivo by the use of specific neurotoxins. Given the indication of ferroptosis in PD pathology, several studies have been conducted to examine whether ferroptosis plays role in the loss of dopaminergic neurons in PD. However, there are still few reports showing an authentic form of ferroptosis in neuronal cells during exposure to the neurotoxins used as PD inducers. In this review article, we summarize the history of the uses of chemicals to create PD models in vivo and in vitro. Besides, we also survey recent reports examining the possible involvement of ferroptosis in chemical models of PD.

Importance of Environmental Factors on Production of Computationally- Defined Natural Molecules against COVID-19 Pandemic.

Importance of Environmental Factors on Production of Computationally- Defined Natural Molecules against COVID-19 Pandemic.

Evaluation of soil enzyme activities as soil biological activity indicators in desert-oasis transition zone soils in China

The seasonal and spatial variations (desert, desert-oasis, and oasis) in some enzyme activities (urease, alkaline phosphatase, nitrate reductase, dehydrogenase, and catalase) in the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers were evaluated along a typical desert-oasis transition zone in the Shule River basin in China. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation of soil urease, alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, and catalase activities with vegetation coverage and available phosphorus while they had a negative correlation with soil pH and EC. Nitrate reductase activity was positively correlated with soil pH and EC but was negatively correlated with elevation and vegetation coverage. According to the redundancy analysis, environmental factors (elevation, vegetation coverage, soil moisture contents, pH, EC, OM, AP and AK) in this study explained 89.8% of the soil enzymatic activity variations when combined (p < 0.01). The Monte Carlo simulation showed that the order of importance of environmental factors on soil enzyme activities was as follows: vegetation coverage (42.5%) > elevation (38.0%) > EC (30.7%) > AP (18.1%) > pH (15.4%). Accordingly, catalase activity exhibited sensitivity to changes in land use intensity and no seasonal variation, suggesting that it is the soil biological activity indicator best suited for measuring existing conditions and potential changes in the desert-oasis transition zone soils.

Assessment of Environmental Literacy: A Case Study of Yazd Citizens’ Awareness, Attitudes, and Practices in 2017

Introduction: With regard to the importance of the environment in sustainable development along with environmental literacy among citizens, the present study aimed to assess the levels of environmental literacy (i.e. awareness , attitudes, and practices) among citizens residing in the city of Yazd, Iran, on the subject of environmental issues and challenges. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive--analytical study, the sample size was determined by 410 individuals as citizens aged over 18 years living in the city of Yazd based on the Cochran formula. The data selection tool was also a researcher-made questionnaire comprised of items on demographic characteristics information as well as levels of awareness, attitudes, and practices concerning the environment such as air pollution, waste management, water resources scarcity, soil pollution, etc. in 2017. Face validity verified by 10 qualified individuals as the faculty members and Reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.93. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS 22 software through descriptive statistics along with Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Chi-Square test in addition to Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r). In this study, significance level was considered as 0.05. Results: awareness score was statistically significant in terms of age, level of education, and employment status (p-value&lt;0.05). However, attitudes were only in a significant relationship with employment status (p-value=0.004). The relationship between practice score was also statistically significant with regard to age, marital status, and area of residence (p-value&lt;0.05). A significant relationship was further observed between age and level of income and level of awareness, but there was no significant relationship considering attitudes (p-value&gt;0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between awareness, attitude, and practice scores (0.323≥ r ≥0.28, p-value=0.000). Conclusion: Although awareness among Yazd citizens on some environmental issues was at low levels, in general, their awareness specifically regarding health issues stemming from air pollution was proper. In view of the importance of environmental factors, it is necessary to conduct various research studies to identify and control these factors and to carry out further intervention studies to find right and proper solutions before their implementation.

Correlates of avifaunal diversity along the elevational gradient of Mardi Himal in Annapurna Conservation Area, Central Nepal

BackgroundPatterns of biological diversity and richness can vary along the elevational gradients among mountain systems making it difficult to conclude the general pattern. The drivers of such pattern are also poorly known in the southern flank of the Himalaya due to limited studies. Therefore, we assessed the species richness, seasonal patterns and drivers of avian diversity along an elevational gradient on Mardi Himal trekking trail, a newly open tourist route in Annapurna Conservation Area of the central Himalaya.MethodsTwo surveys (winter and summer seasons of 2019) were conducted from the bank of Seti-Gandaki River confluence (1030 m above sea level, asl) up to the Low Camp (3050 m asl) of the Mardi Himal. The point count method was employed in every 100 m rise in the elevation. Diversity indices were calculated and bird abundance data on species, sites, seasons and environmental variables were analyzed. Generalized linear model, polynomial regression and ordinary least square regression were performed to examine the importance of environmental factors in shaping the avian richness pattern.ResultsA total of 673 individuals of birds belonging to 112 species, of which 72 in winter and 80 in summer, were recorded. We observed a hump-shaped pattern of the overall species richness along the elevational gradient. The richness pattern remained consistent even when explored by season, for winter and summer separately. Diversity indices were found higher during the summer. Elevation and mean monthly temperature in both seasons showed non-linear relation with avian species richness. Precipitation exhibited positive association in summer whereas the same in winter was negatively correlated with avian species richness. Distance to the nearest water source and the nearest human settlement were negatively correlated with the richness of birds. Small-ranged and insectivorous birds were under the strong influence of gradients on climatic variables like temperature and precipitation.ConclusionsWe conclude that the combined effects of multiple factors such as area, gradients of climate (i.e. temperature and precipitation), resource availability and disturbance play an important role in bird diversity and richness pattern along an elevational gradient of a montane environment in Mardi Himal.