Influence Of Season Research Articles

Chemical Preservatives, Adulterants, and Antibiotic Residues in Raw Cow’s Milk in Khartoum State, Sudan

Objective: This study investigate the influence of season on the occurrence of adulteration by chemical preservatives and antibiotic residues (beta-lactam, tetracycline and sulfonamides) in the raw milk in the main towns of Khartoum State, Sudan. Methods: The milk samples (n = 270) were randomly collected from farms (90 samples), groceries (90 samples) and vendors (90 samples) during late summer and winter seasons, 135 samples during each season. The samples were placed in cool cracked ice and transported immediately to the laboratory for analysis. Results: Data revealed a high presence of the added water in the milk collected from vendors during late summer season (7.70 +- 9.46%). Also, hydrogen peroxide, starch and formalin were detected only in the milk obtained from vendors. However, the higher percentages of salt (32%) and ammonium sulphate (28%) were obtained in the milk samples collected from the groceries during late summer season, while the occurrenc of ammonium sulphate was 26% in the samples collected from vendors during winter season. On the other hand, 93% of the milk samples examined during late summer season were positive for the occurrence of antibiotic residues compared to 55% that was detected during winter season. The highest percentage of antibiotic residues (26%) was found in milk from groceries during the winter season. Milk samples from vendors during late summer season contained beta-lactam, tetracycline, and sulfonamide in 19%, 13%, and 1% of samples, respectively, while these figures were 20%, 2%, and 3%, respectively, during winter season. Conclusions: The addition of water followed by the presence of salt and antibiotics are the most adulterants found in raw milk sold in Khartoum State especially from vendors during late summer season.

Seasonal Influence on the Feeding Patterns of Three Sympatric Tropidurus Lizards (Squamata: Tropiduridae) of the Caatinga, in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region

Seasonal Influence on the Feeding Patterns of Three Sympatric Tropidurus Lizards (Squamata: Tropiduridae) of the Caatinga, in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region

Influence of feeding systems and seasons on the basic composition and content of fat-soluble antioxidants and on the antioxidant activity of cow's milk

Influence of feeding systems and seasons on the basic composition and content of fat-soluble antioxidants and on the antioxidant activity of cow's milk

Seasonal Influence on the Diurnal Behaviours of the Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus medius) in Lucknow, India

Seasonal Influence on the Diurnal Behaviours of the Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus medius) in Lucknow, India

The diversity of soil-dwelling arthropods is significantly influenced by land use systems with tree cover in semiarid conditions

Seasonal changes in vegetation and climate exert significant influences on soil fauna in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Additionally, evidence indicates that interactions between different plant layers promote soil fauna diversity through the variety of resources available. The objective was to assess the edaphic fauna in traditional land use systems, agroforestry systems and natural vegetation, under the influence of rainfall seasonality and plant strata in the semiarid region of Brazil. For this purpose, six types of land use were selected: agroforestry; silvopastoral; slash and burn with intensive use without fallow; slash and burn with six years of fallow; slash and burn with nine years of fallow; and a system representing the natural vegetation of the Caatinga. Edaphic fauna was collected using pitfall traps in the dry and rainy seasons. A total of 43,363 individuals of the edaphic fauna were collected and grouped into taxa, determining abundance, diversity and functional groups. The results revealed higher abundance and diversity of edaphic fauna in the rainy season across all land use systems, but significantly higher numbers in systems with tree strata. The greater the abundance, richness and diversity of trees, the higher the diversity of edaphic fauna (Shannon Index - H: 0.7 < ‾H < 1) for the seasonal effect. Agroforestry systems were intermediate in the diversity of edaphic fauna (‾H < 0.8) compared to other systems. Systems with greater heterogeneity in tree and herbaceous strata were the ones that most increased the diversity and activity of functional groups of edaphic fauna (H < 0.8; 0.5 < r < 0.9). In semiarid conditions, more attention should be given to agricultural production systems with greater tree diversity and interaction between tree and herbaceous strata to conserve the biodiversity of edaphic fauna and improve the soil health.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban public transportation: Seasonal influences and variations

The present work aims to analyze the information related to the organic pollutants present inside the public transport units of León Guanajuato, Mexico, along winter, spring and fall seasons. Through the application of different selection criteria, a database was generated that allowed the analysis of the different selected pollutants and determine their behavior throughout the spring, autumn and winter seasons. These analyzes were carried out using different statistical tools like ANOVA, PCA, and correlation network maps. At least 23 compounds were selected as common pollutants along all the seasons, including aromatics, aliphatic, halogenated, polycyclic, and compounds with heteroatoms species. Results showed that the concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds s such as hexane (1.5–3.0 µg/m³), dichlorobenzene (2.0–4.5 µg m−3), and toluene (5.0–12.0 µg m−3) varied significantly across the seasons, with higher levels observed in winter. The study highlights the influence of external environmental factors on indoor air quality within public transport units proven through statistical analysis. The results allowed to mention that the concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds can vary significantly in different season along the year, as well as that the main pollutants vary according to the season, of which there are compounds that are only present during these periods.

How Can Seasonality Influence the Performance of Recent Microwave Satellite Soil Moisture Products?

In addition to technical issues related to the instruments used, differences between soil moisture (SM) measured using ground-based methods and microwave remote sensing (RS) can be related to the main features of the study areas, which are intricately connected to hydraulic–hydrological conditions and soil properties. When long-term analysis is performed, these discrepancies are mitigated by the contribution of SM seasonality and are only evident when high-frequency variations (i.e., signal anomalies) are investigated. This study sought to examine the responsiveness of SM to seasonal variations in terrestrial ecoregions located in areas covered by the in situ Romanian Soil Moisture Network (RSMN). To achieve this aim, several remote sensing-derived retrievals were considered: (i) NASA’s Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) L4 V5 model assimilated product data; (ii) the European Space Agency’s Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity INRA–CESBIO (SMOS-IC) V2.0 data; (iii) time-series data extracted from the H115 and H116 SM products, which are derived from the analysis of Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) data acquired via MetOp satellites; (iv) Copernicus Global Land Service SSM 1 km data; and (v) the “combined” European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative for Soil Moisture (ESA CCI SM) product v06.1. An initial assessment of the performance of these products was conducted by checking the anomaly of long-term fluctuations, quantified using the Absolute Variation of Local Change of Environment (ALICE) index, within a time frame spanning 2015 to 2020. These correlations were then compared with those based on raw data and anomalies computed using a moving window of 35 days. Prominent correlations were observed with the SMAP L4 dataset and across all ecoregions, and the Balkan mixed forests (646) exhibited strong concordance regardless of the satellite source (with a correlation coefficient RALICE &gt; 0.5). In contrast, neither the Central European mixed forests (No. 654) nor the Pontic steppe (No. 735) were adequately characterized by any satellite dataset (RALICE &lt; 0.5). Subsequently, the phenological seasonality and dynamic behavior of SM were computed to investigate the effects of the wetting and drying processes. Notably, the Central European mixed forests (654) underwent an extended dry phase (with an extremely low p-value of 2.20 × 10−16) during both the growth and dormancy phases. This finding explains why the RSMN showcases divergent behavior and underscores why no satellite dataset can effectively capture the complexities of the ecoregions covered by this in situ SM network.

Cross-seasonal and diurnal variation in physical contact between sub-adult pigs

Social touch is an important aspect of social relationships and has a major influence on development and health. However, in many species the occurrence and function of social touch is unknown. Pigs have frequent physical contact but this behaviour is largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the undisturbed variation in physical contact between pigs, and to assess diurnal and seasonal influences. A stable group of ten Puławska sub-adult female pigs was observed for 406 h across four seasons during the day and night, by continuous observations on an individual level (406 h / pig). They were housed indoors (112 m2 pen) on straw bedding. The ethogram distinguished the amount of surface contact between pigs when lying, the orientation to others, social nosing, other non-agonistic social behaviour and agonistic behaviours. Resting location within the pen was recorded 48 times per pig, and dominance relationships were calculated from agonistic interactions. Data were analysed with mixed models accounting for repeated observations. Pigs spent on average 40 % of their time lying in body contact, most often lying with their extremities in contact (71 %), followed by lying in partial body contact (16 %) or full body contact (13 %) and were frequently nosing the head and body of others. The duration of lying in any type of contact, as well as agonistic behaviour, was influenced by season, with the longest durations in autumn. In summer, the duration of partial body contact was lowest, but full body contact was unaffected by season. Nosing behaviour remained constant throughout the year. Pigs lay in contact more during the night, while showing more social behaviours during the day. Pigs mostly lay in nonparallel orientation or head-to-head, but clearly least in the head-to-tail orientation. Season influenced the frequency of lying head-to-head and head-to-tail, but not lying nonparallel. The coefficient of variation of the lying location was influenced by season. Allo-grooming, mounting, and nudging were shown infrequently and mostly by specific individuals. In conclusion, when at a large space allowance, pigs spend nearly half of their time in body contact, even during the higher temperatures in summer. This shows that social touch, including affiliative behaviour, has an important role in pigs’ social life, and remains largely unaffected by external influences.

Effect of Different Seasons and Development Stages on the Chemical Composition and Bioactive Potential of Cardoon.

Cynara cardunculus L. (cardoon) is a wild species of the Mediterranean basin and is highly appreciated due to its rich nutritional value and versatile industrial applications. It is widely known that environmental conditions, such as air temperature, humidity, and solar radiation, among others, play a crucial role in plant phenological variations and the chemical composition and bioactive properties of different plant tissues of cardoon. This study applied several statistical methods to uncover the variations in biomolecules of different cardoon tissues collected in Greece over the growth cycle. The influence of the different seasons on the species is evident, resulting in a clear discrimination between the samples harvested throughout the growth cycle. In addition, the observed fluctuations in chemical composition are consistent with each vegetable tissue's functions and the plant's different physiological processes. This work allows for a better understanding and knowledge of the species, encouraging more profitable and sustainable use of all the plant parts.

Effects of season and water quality on community structure of planktonic eukaryotes in the Chaohu Lake Basin.

Analyzing the correlation between planktonic eukaryotic communities (PECs) and aquatic physicochemical parameters (APPs) provides important references for predicting the impact of climate change and human activities on aquatic ecosystems. To assess the influence of seasons and APPs on PEC structures in lakes and rivers, we utilized high-throughput sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene to analyze PEC structures in a lake and seven rivers in the Chaohu Lake Basin and analyzed their correlations with APPs. Our results revealed that PEC structure was significantly affected by season, with the highest α-diversity observed in summer. Furthermore, we identified several APPs, including water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, phosphate, total phosphorus, trophic level index (TLI), nitrate, ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen, that significantly influenced PEC structures. Specifically, we found that Stephanodiscus hantzschii, Simocephalus serrulatus, Cryptomonas sp. CCAC_0109, Pedospumella encystans, Actinochloris sphaerica, Chlamydomonas angulosa, Gonyostomum semen, Skeletonema potamos, Chlamydomonas klinobasis, Pedospumella sp., and Neochlorosarcina negevensis were significantly correlated to TLI, while Limnoithona tetraspina, Theileria sp., and Pseudophyllomitus vesiculosus were significantly correlated to the water quality index (WQI). However, our random forest regression analysis using the top 100 species was unable to accurately predict the WQI and TLI. These results provide valuable data for evaluating the impact of APPs on PEC and for protecting water resource in the Chaohu Lake Basin.

Effects of Land Use on the Community Structure of Aquatic Invertebrate in Subtropical Streams

Streams constitute the water supply of the watersheds and provide the transfer of energy along the course of water, ensuring water biodiversity. Due to the different uses of the earth, the benthic community is being suppressed. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of changes in land use on the abundance, richness, and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in subtropical streams, considering the physical and chemical variables of streams seasonally. In total, 144 samples were collected between February 2022 and November 2023 at 12 sites distributed in a watershed in southern Brazil, four sites for each land use. Herein, 83.520 individuals were identified, comprising 67 taxa. There was a decrease in richness along the forested–rural–urban gradient and a greater abundance in the urban environment, without the significant influence of seasonality. We conclude that the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate in the streams is influenced not only by environmental variables but also by the spatial distribution between streams. The proximity of the streams generates a similarity in dominance. This study contributed to understanding the relationships of the environment with the benthic community and considering the spatial distribution among the streams sampled in future investigations.

Source-to-tap investigation of the occurrence of nontuberculous mycobacteria in a full-scale chloraminated drinking water system.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in drinking water are a significant public health concern. However, an incomplete understanding of the factors that influence the occurrence of NTM in drinking water limits our ability to characterize risk and prevent infection. This study sought to evaluate the influence of season and water treatment, distribution, and stagnation on NTM in drinking water. Samples were collected source-to-tap in a full-scale, chloraminated drinking water system approximately monthly from December 2019 to November 2020. NTM were characterized using culture-dependent (plate culture with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry [MALDI-TOF MS] isolate analysis) and culture-independent methods (quantitative PCR and genome-resolved metagenomics). Sampling locations included source waters, three locations within the treatment plant, and five buildings receiving water from the distribution system. Building plumbing samples consisted of first draw, 5-min flush, and full flush cold-water samples. As the study took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the influence of reduced water usage in three of the five buildings was also investigated. The highest NTM densities source-to-tap were found in the summer first draw building water samples (107 gene copies/L), which also had the lowest monochloramine concentrations. Flushing was found to be effective for reducing NTM and restoring disinfectant residuals, though flush times necessary to improve water quality varied by building. Clinically relevant NTM species, including Mycobacterium avium, were recovered via plate culture, with increased occurrence observed in buildings with higher water age. Four of five NTM metagenome-assembled genomes were identified to the species level and matched identified isolates.IMPORTANCENTM infections are increasing in prevalence, difficult to treat, and associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Our lack of understanding of the factors that influence NTM occurrence in drinking water limits our ability to prevent infections, accurately characterize risk, and focus remediation efforts. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated NTM in a full-scale drinking water system, showing that various steps in treatment and distribution influence NTM presence. Stagnant building water contained the highest NTM densities source-to-tap and was associated with low disinfectant residuals. We illustrated the differences in NTM detection and characterization obtained from culture-based and culture-independent methods, highlighting the complementarity between these approaches. We demonstrated that focusing NTM mitigation efforts in building plumbing systems, which have the highest NTM densities source-to-tap, has potential for immediate positive effects. We also identified steps during treatment that increase NTM levels, which provides beneficial information for utilities seeking to reduce NTM in finished water.

Ice-Ice Disease Prevalence and Intensity in Eucheumatoid Seaweed Farms: Seasonal Variability and Relationship with the Physicochemical and Meteorological Parameters.

Since its initial report in the Philippines in 1981, ice-ice disease (IID) remains a substantial threat to the sustainability of eucheumatoid seaweed production. However, comprehensive investigations into the prevalence, intensity, and potential relationships with physicochemical and meteorological parameters are limited, particularly in open-sea farms. This is the first study to conduct a 12-month monitoring of IID prevalence and intensity in eucheumatoid seaweed farms in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. The research aimed to elucidate seasonal variations and potential associations with physicochemical and meteorological parameters. The findings revealed significant seasonal variations in IID prevalence, with a higher incidence observed during the dry season compared to the wet season. Additionally, deep-water farms exhibited significantly higher prevalence and ice-ice spot numbers per bundle compared to shallow-water farms. Furthermore, Kappaphycus striatus displayed a significantly greater ice-ice spot length per bundle compared to K. alvarezii. Notably, no interaction effects were observed among season, species, and depth. Interestingly, while no correlations were found between ice-ice disease and most measured physicochemical and meteorological parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, water current velocity, wind speed) or nutrient concentrations (phosphate, nitrate, nitrite), an inverse correlation (p < 0.05) emerged between ammonium levels and IID intensity parameters (number and length of ice-ice spot per bundle). Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between monthly rainfall and IID intensity. These findings offer valuable insights into the dynamics of IID in open-sea eucheumatoid seaweed (Kappaphycus) farming, highlighting the influence of seasonality, depth, and species susceptibility, as well as the relationship between IID severity and ammonium levels and rainfall.

Seasonal Variation Influence to Water Image Properties to Retrieve Nearshore Bathymetry Based on Cloud Machine Learning Approach

Seasonal Variation Influence to Water Image Properties to Retrieve Nearshore Bathymetry Based on Cloud Machine Learning Approach

Microhabitat and seasonal influence on bess beetle (Coleoptera: Passalidae) assemblage in Altitudinal Atlantic Forest

AbstractUnderstanding the spatiotemporal distribution of diversity has been a significant challenge in the field of conservation biology. Presently, there exists a limited understanding of the spatial distribution of passalid beetles within decomposing logs, as well as their distribution in microhabitats such as the cortex, heartwood and trunk–soil interface. Moreover, there is a scarcity of studies that delve into the temporal distribution patterns of passalid beetles. We evaluate the effect of seasons of the year and microhabitats on the distribution of passalid in an Altitudinal Atlantic Forest. More specifically, the effects of the period of the year and microhabitats were analysed on an assemblage scale and population structure scale. Collections were actively conducted monthly, during dry and rainy seasons, and distinct microhabitats of logs (tree cortex, heartwood and trunk–soil interface) were sampled. We discovered passalid galleries within 235 logs, housing a total of 785 individuals representing nine species across six genera and two tribes. Within the three examined microhabitats, the heartwood and cortex harboured the majority of individuals. In contrast, the trunk–soil interface microhabitat displayed reduced diversity and abundance and the absence of indicator species, exhibiting a distinct community structure compared with the others. The dry season stood out with a greater number of individuals, underscoring the influence of precipitation on passalid activity in this study. Our study contributes to understanding the ecological dynamics of these insects and evaluating their resilience to current landscape transformations on the planet.

Impact of seasonality and forest stand age on ion deposition inrehabilitated forests.

This study examines the critical interaction between seasonal precipitation variability and forest maturity in determining ion deposition patterns in rehabilitated forest ecosystems. This research was conducted in rehabilitated forest sites in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia that had ecologically similar plant distribution, species, and age in each planting area. This facilitated the standardization of rainfall deposition in the different study plots which streamlined the study of these specific facets of ecosystem dynamics. The goal is to understand how seasonal changes and the age of the forest influence the chemical composition of the flux that relates to the movement and deposition of nutrients through the forest ecosystem. This flux is a key factor in the health of the forest ecosystem and nutrient cycling. Using ion exchange resin (IER) samplers, we accurately measured and compared the deposition of different ions (Ca2+, Na+, Fe2+, Cu2+, NO3 -, NH4 + and SO4 2-) across different seasons and forest ages. The deposition of Ca2+ and NH₄+ was significantly lower in the low-precipitation season than in the high-precipitation season in all forest stands, regardless of the year they were established (1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, and 2009). In contrast, ions such as Na+, Fe2+, Cu2+, NO3 - and SO4 2- showed no clear seasonal fluctuations. In addition, the study shows that through-fall in forest stands from 2002, 2005 and 2009 had higher concentrations of Ca2+ in both seasons than in 1996 and 1999. Interestingly, forest stands from 2009 and 2002 had elevated levels of Na+ and SO₄2- in seasons with low precipitation, while stands from 1996 had higher levels in seasons with high precipitation. Our results emphasize the crucial role of precipitation amount and canopy age in determining ion deposition in forest ecosystems. By demonstrating the significant influence of precipitation seasonality and forest maturity on the chemical composition of throughfall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of nutrient dynamics in developing forest landscapes and provides valuable insights for ecological restoration measures.

Disentangling drivers of vertebrate roadkill in a protected area in the Amazon rainforest

AbstractVertebrates' roadkill impacts many species in natural areas. However, data on this topic in the Amazon domain are still scarce, especially within protected areas. In this study, we analysed data from 2 years of monitoring amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds' roadkill on five types of terrestrial transport infrastructure in a protected area in the Brazilian Amazon. We tested which vertebrate classes and feeding guilds were most recorded, the influence of seasonality and the spatial pattern of roadkill. In the studied area, 2795 roadkills were recorded, with amphibians suffering the most casualties. Most of the roadkills occurred during the rainy season (57%). Correcting the roadkill data using observer efficiency and carcass persistence time data, we concluded that mortality rates might be underestimated by up to 40 times when compared to raw data. There was no significant difference between feeding guilds concerning the number of fatalities, and rainfall and temperature significantly affected the roadkill pattern of all vertebrate classes. The spatial pattern of roadkill varied between traffic routes and vertebrate class types. The results indicate that amphibians are the most common victims of roadkill, although they are neglected in many roadkill monitoring. Consequently, mitigation strategies should prioritize periods with the highest mortality rates, as rainfall and temperature influence the frequency of these accidents. In addition, different classes of vertebrates have different patterns of impact concentration along traffic routes, which makes mitigation planning more complex. Therefore, planning to reduce vertebrate deaths from roadkill must consider each taxon's particularity and seasonality.

Epidemiological study of post-pandemic pediatric common respiratory pathogens using multiplex detection

BackgroundThe burden and characteristics of respiratory viral infections in children hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) during the post-COVID-19 pandemic era are unclear. We analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients hospitalized with common respiratory virus infections before and after relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions in Hangzhou, China and evaluated the diagnostic value of the six-panel respiratory pathogen detection system.MethodsSix types of respiratory viruses were detected in respiratory samples from children with suspected ARTIs by multiplex real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Changes in virus detection rates and epidemiological and clinical characteristics, obtained from electronic health records, were analyzed. Binary logistic regression was used to identify respiratory tract infections risk factors. Multiplex RT-qPCR and targeted next-generation sequencing results were compared in random samples.ResultsAmong the 11,056 pediatric samples, 3228 tested positive for one or more of six common respiratory pathogens. RSV and PIV-3 detection rates differed significantly across age groups (both P < 0.001), and were more common in younger children. PIV-1 was more common in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers than in school-age children (P < 0.001). FluB was predominantly detected in school-age children (P < 0.001). RSV-, ADV-, and PIV-1-positivity rates were higher in 2022 than in 2023. Seasonal viral patterns differed across years. RSV (OR 9.156. 95% CI 5.905–14.195) and PIV-3 (OR 1.683, 95% CI 1.133–2.501) were risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections. RSV-positivity was associated with severe pneumonia (P = 0.044). PIV-3 (OR 0.391, 95% CI 0.170–0.899), summer season (OR 1.982, 95% CI 1.117–3.519), and younger age (OR 0.938, 95% CI 0.893–0.986) influenced pneumonia severity. Multiplex RT-qPCR showed good diagnostic performance.ConclusionAfter changes in COVID-19 prevention and control strategies, six common respiratory viruses in children were prevalent in 2022–2023, with different seasonal epidemic characteristics and age proclivities. RSV and PIV-3 cause lower, and FluA, FluB, and ADV more typically cause upper respiratory tract infections. Infancy and summer season influence severe pneumonia risk. Multiplex RT-qPCR is valuable for accurate and timely detection of respiratory viruses in children, which facilitates management, treatment, and prevention of ARTIs.

Dynamics of urban heat island intensity in Lecce, Italy: seasonal, diurnal and heat wave influence

This study investigates the impact of Heat Waves (HWs) on Urban Heat Island Intensity (UHII) in Lecce, a Mediterranean city in southern Italy. UHII was assessed using air temperature data from six weather stations over a four-year period (2020–2023). The results indicate that UHII is generally higher in winter and spring, with the ARPA (Environmental Protection Regional Agency) station consistently showing the highest values, particularly in summer, attributed to urban characteristics. The diurnal cycle of UHII reveals a peak in the early morning at most stations, followed by a decrease to near zero or slightly negative values during midday. Evening values then increase and persist throughout the night. Stations surrounded by green areas or located in suburban settings recorded the lowest UHII values. A total of eleven HWs occurred during the study period, with an average duration of 10 days. UHII was significantly more intense during HWs at all stations, with the greatest average observed at the ARPA station (2.60 °C) and the smallest at the LST (Liceo Scientifico Tabacchi) station (0.74 °C). These findings highlight the significant impact of HWs on UHI intensification in Lecce, especially in densely developed areas compared to suburban regions. This study emphasizes the importance of investigating UHII dynamics in Mediterranean cities to develop strategies for mitigating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect during extreme heat events.

Seasonal dynamics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in microplankton from Kaohsiung Harbor (Taiwan Strait, northeastern South China Sea)

The impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the marine food web is crucially understudied in the primary trophic system. We evaluated the seasonal dynamics of PAHs in microplankton in a polluted environment (Taiwan), northeastern South China Sea. Replicate size-fractionated microplankton (55–1000 μm) were freeze-dried, and PAHs were extracted with a 1:1 v/v ratio of acetone: n-hexane, then analyzed using GC–MS. Total PAHs ranged between 68 and 2548 ng/g dw in microplankton, greatest during spring (130–2548 ng/g), followed by autumn (135–772 ng/g) and summer (44–423 ng/g). Spatial distribution varied through seasons but was higher in the southern part (S6 > S4 > S5 > S2 > S3 > S1 > S7), dominated by higher-ring PAHs from mixed pyrogenic and petrogenic sources. PAHs are significantly correlated with environmental factors, especially in colder seasons and lower salinity areas. Suspended matter and plankton influenced PAH transport and partitioning seasonally. Plankton's PAHs seasonal changes and environmental influences are revealed in an anthropic environment.