Low Levels Of Variation Research Articles

Analysis of mangrove vegetation on Mursala Island

Mangrove forest destruction is a serious problem that is currently occurring in almost all of Indonesia. To ensure the success of mangrove forest rehabilitation and as evaluation material, monitoring the condition of the rehabilitated mangrove ecosystem is very important. The methods used in measuring and observing mangrove vegetation are the path method and the grid line method. Transects were selected using the Purposive Sampling method after conducting an initial survey. The transect locations were chosen to reflect the overall condition of the mangrove forest in the study area. As a result of the research, 30 research plots were built, and 6 types of mangrove species from 3 families were obtained, namely Rhizophoraceae (Rhizophora stylosa, Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora apiculata, Bruguiera gymnorhiza), Combretaceae (Lumnitzera racemosa), and Meliaceae (Xylocarpus granatum). Rhizophora stylosa dominates with the highest IVI, namely (118.4), followed by Rhizophora mucronata (78.0) and Rhizophora Apiculata (55.1). This shows that Rhizophora stylosa has the strongest role in the tree community in the study area. At the seedling stage, the diversity index (H’) reached 0.4, indicating a relatively low level of diversity. At the sapling stage, the diversity index increased to 1.0585 and at the tree growth stage, the diversity index was 1.38, indicating a balanced level of diversity.

Within-host influenza viral diversity in the pediatric population as a function of age, vaccine, and health status.

Seasonal influenza virus predominantly evolves through antigenic drift, marked by the accumulation of mutations at antigenic sites. Because of antigenic drift, influenza vaccines are frequently updated, though their efficacy may still be limited due to strain mismatches. Despite the high levels of viral diversity observed across populations, most human studies reveal limited intrahost diversity, leaving the origin of population-level viral diversity unclear. Previous studies show host characteristics, such as immunity, might affect within-host viral evolution. Here we investigate influenza A viral diversity in children aged between 6 months and 18 years. Influenza virus evolution in children is less well characterized than in adults, yet may be associated with higher levels of viral diversity given the lower level of pre-existing immunity and longer durations of infection in children. We obtained influenza isolates from banked influenza A-positive nasopharyngeal swabs collected at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia during the 2017-18 influenza season. Using next-generation sequencing, we evaluated the population of influenza viruses present in each sample. We characterized within-host viral diversity using the number and frequency of intrahost single-nucleotide variants (iSNVs) detected in each sample. We related viral diversity to clinical metadata, including subjects' age, vaccination status, and comorbid conditions, as well as sample metadata such as virus strain and cycle threshold. Consistent with previous studies, most samples contained low levels of diversity with no clear association between the subjects' age, vaccine status, or health status. Further, there was no enrichment of iSNVs near known antigenic sites. Taken together, these findings are consistent with previous observations that the majority of intrahost influenza virus infection is characterized by low viral diversity without evidence of diversifying selection.

Yield plasticity of new varieties of soft winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in different soil and climatic conditions of Ukraine

Purpose. To determine the level of productivity of new varieties of soft winter wheat, their stability and plasticity when grown in different soil and climatic conditions of Ukraine. Methods. The field trial was carried out in 2022–2023 under the conditions of the research stations of the Ukrainian Institute for Plant Variety Examination (UIPVE) in the Steppe, Forest Steppe and Polissia soilclimatic zones. The peculiarities of plant growth and development, the yield formation of 34 new varieties of soft winter wheat were studied. Plasticity and stability of yield formation were calculated and analyzed according to the Ebergard – Russell method, general homeostaticity and selection value according to Khangildin V.V. and Lytvynenko N.A. In the course of the research, computational and statistical methods were used. Analysis and synthesis were used to draw conclusions. Results. The yield varied from 5.4 to 8.4 t/ha, depending on the soil and climate zone and the location of the trial. The variety ‘LG Optimist’ had the highest average yield (8.1 t/ha) and ‘YUSON’ the lo west (6.0 t/ha). The most favorable conditions for the study of growth and development of genotypes in 2022 were in the Forest-Steppe (Ij = 0.9) and Polissia (Ij = 0.6) zones, in 2023 – Polissia (Ij = 0.2); the worst in 2022 – in the Steppe (Ij = –0.7), in 2023 – in the Steppe (Ij = –0.7) and ForestSteppe (Ij = –0.5) zones. In 2023, the best climatic conditions were in the Polissia zone (Ij = 0.2), the worst were in the points located in the Steppe (Ij = –0.7) and Forest Steppe (Ij = –0.5) zones. The theoretical yield values of the varieties at the research points did not differ from the actual values and averaged 7.1 t/ha, ranging from 6.0 to 8.1 t/ha. High homeostaticity and low level of variation (V ≤ 10.0%) were found in the varieties ‘Yevraziia’ (Hom = 15.6), ‘Dekaster’ (Hom = 15.2), ‘FORSAIT’ (Hom = 13.9) and ‘LG Optimist’ (Hom = 12.1). In addition, ‘LG Optimist’ (Sc = 6.9) and ‘Dekaster’ (Sc = 6.6) had the highest breeding value. The variety ‘FORSAIT’ (bi = 0.2; S2 di = 0.24), with an average yield of 7.4 t/ha, has a high plasticity, so it is recommended to grow it on extensive backgrounds and in unfavorable conditions. Varieties ‘Yevraziia’, ‘Nosivochka’, ‘SOLIFLOR CS’, ‘Mizynka’, ‘Troiana’, ‘LG Optimist’, ‘Biskvit’, ‘MIP Dovira’, ‘Etual’, ‘Tvorchist Odeska’, ‘Attribut’, ‘Epihraf’, ‘Dekaster’, ‘Epitet’, ‘Jannis’, ‘Pamiati Horlacha’, ‘Trembita Bilotserkivska’ and ‘Slava Unavy’ with a combined manifestation of high ecological plasticity bi = 1 and stability S2 di = 0 in average grain yield 7.2 t/ha, according to the genotype respond well to the improvement of growing conditions and are stable, are considered the most practically valuable. Conclusions. New varieties of soft winter wheat, when grown in different soil and climatic conditions, fully develop their genetic potential under significant changes in environmental conditions and produce the highest yield that can be obtained under ideal conditions.

The interplay between product development failures and alliance portfolio properties in the formation of exploration versus exploitation alliances

We investigate the role of product development failure as an important behavioral driver of explorative (vs. exploitative) search in interfirm collaborations. We also suggest that the effect of product development failure on the level of exploration in subsequent alliances hinges on the properties of the firm’s existing alliance portfolio. We suggest and show that the positive association between a firm’s product development failures and the level of exploration alliances is mitigated when the firm faces a high level of relational embeddedness. We also demonstrate that the positive association is amplified when the firm has a low level of technological diversity in its current alliance portfolio. We test our hypotheses using established firms’ alliances in the biopharmaceutical industry and find evidence that supports our arguments.

Population genetics of the critically endangered three-striped turtle, Batagur dhongoka, from the Ganga river system using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite analysis

The three-striped roofed (Batagur dhongoka) is a semi-aquatic turtle that belongs to family Geoemydidae. Due to anthropogenic pressure, it has been facing an intense decline of over 80% in its distribution range in the past 50 years. It is considered as 'Critically Endangered' so effective conservation strategies are needed to protect the species by determining their genetic diversity and population genetic structure. This study investigates the genetic diversity, population structure and demographic pattern of B. dhongoka from two Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre established near Ganga river using mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b: 1140 bp) ; control region (CR: 451 bp) and ten nuclear microsatellite loci. mtDNA results show low levels of nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0022) in B. dhongoka haplotypes and provide evidence for a low substitution rate. The demographic pattern estimated by the Bayesian skyline plot (BSP) analysis indicates historical stability followed by growth in the effective population size, with a recent reduction in population size from ~ 2 thousand years ago. The microsatellite findings show a moderate level of observed heterozygosity (Ho: 0.49). Bayesian-based clustering analysis revealed weak genetic structures in B. dhongoka and presence of admixed assignations suggesting close genetic relationships. These findings shed light on B. dhongoka's genetic status and underline the necessity of comprehensive rehabilitation and relocation programs and conservation and management techniques to ensure the species' long-term survival. In order to ensure the effective protection and conservation of B. dhongoka, the Government of India has taken a proactive measure by incorporating it into Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022.

Ecological And Economic Productivity Agrosilvopastura In Manimbahoi And Sicini Village Of Parigi And Gowa District

Agrosilvopastura as one of the branches of the agroforestry system is one of the land management systems that may be offered to overcome the problems arising from land conversion and simultaneously to overcome the problem of food availability. Manimbahoi and Sicini villages located in Parigi of Gowa Regency, where both villages have the potential of long standing agrosilvopastura system on brand lands, this research is to know (1) Management of agrosilvopastura (2) Level of diversity and value of agrosilvopastura ecological productivity. (3) Economic productivity resulting from agrosilvopastura management in meeting the daily needs and increasing the income of the local community. Methods of field survey research interviewed 30 respondents with purposive sampling and plot measuring 20X20 m to determine ecological and economical productivity and statistical analysis to determine the diversity ecological and economic income. The results of the research show the diversity in Manimbahoi village of 1.2 and 1.3 and 1.3, respectively, are at a low level of diversity. Sicini village, 1.7 pole 1.5 trees are of medium diversity, while 1, 3 stakes are at a low level of diversity while from the questionnaire found acceptance of Agrosilvopastura management of the economical productivity of Manimbahoi and Sicini Village of Rp. 11,112,000 every month, the total revenue of agriculture sector and Sicini Village farm is Rp. 6,446,000 every month. Forestry sector revenue does not exist, because farmers do not know the market network to sell forest products, farmers only use their own for household needs

Ethnobotanical and ecological study of medicinal plants of mangroves in Siak District, Riau Province, Indonesia

The mangrove forest in Kayu Ara Permai Village, Sungai Apit, Siak Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia, is a mangrove forest managed by the local community as the "Historic River" Mangrove Ecotourism Area. Mangrove forests have become a tourist attraction for many local and national tourists. The purpose of this study was to identify plants that have potential as medicinal plants in mangrove ecotourism areas of "Sungai Bersejarah" Kayu Ara Permai Village, Sungai Apit, Siak Regency, Riau Province. This study used a survey method in mangrove forests to conduct an inventory of the medicinal plants scattered throughout the area. Observations were made using a combination of the path and plot methods. The investigation was carried out by cross-checking the traditional use of medicinal plants by the surrounding community with the scientific literature. The results showed 7 species of medicinal plants from 5 different families, namely Avicennia alba, Rhizophora apiculate, Bruguiera parviflora, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Xylocarpus granatum, Sonneratia alba, and Acrostichum aureum. Mangrove density levels were in the sparse category (1,000 trees/ha) and had low diversity levels, with two dominant species, Rhizophora apiculata and Xylocarpus granatum.

Demographic dynamics and molecular evolution of the rare and endangered subsect. Gerardianae of Pinus: insights from chloroplast genomes and mitochondrial DNA markers.

The divergence of subsect. Gerardianae was likely triggered by the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent mountains. Pinus bungeana might have probably experienced expansion since Last Interglacial period. Historical geological and climatic oscillations have profoundly affected patterns of nucleotide variability, evolutionary history, and species divergence in numerous plants of the Northern Hemisphere. However, how long-lived conifers responded to geological and climatic fluctuations in East Asia remain poorly understood. Here, based on paternally inherited chloroplast genomes and maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA markers, we investigated the population demographic history and molecular evolution of subsect. Gerardianae (only including three species, Pinus bungeana, P. gerardiana, and P. squamata) of Pinus. A low level of nucleotide diversity was found in P. bungeana (π was 0.00016 in chloroplast DNA sequences, and 0.00304 in mitochondrial DNAs). The haplotype-based phylogenetic topology and unimodal distributions of demographic analysis suggested that P. bungeana probably originated in the southern Qinling Mountains and experienced rapid population expansion since Last Interglacial period. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that P. gerardiana and P. squamata had closer genetic relationship. The species divergence of subsect. Gerardianae occurred about 27.18 million years ago (Mya) during the middle to late Oligocene, which was significantly associated with the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent mountains from the Eocene to the mid-Pliocene. The molecular evolutionary analysis showed that two chloroplast genes (psaI and ycf1) were under positive selection, the genetic lineages of P. bungeana exhibited higher transition and nonsynonymous mutations, which were involved with the strongly environmental adaptation. These findings shed light on the population evolutionary history of white pine species and provide striking insights for comprehension of their species divergence and molecular evolution.

Keanekaragaman Tumbuhan Bawah di Kawasan Universitas Negeri Jakarta

Understory plants are a group of plants that form a layer near the surface of the soil. One of the functions of undergrowth is as a ground cover which contributes to increasing the organic matter content in the soil. This research was conducted in November 2023 in the garden behind the KH. Hasyim Asy'ari Building, Jakarta State University. The aim of this research is to determine the diversity of understory plants found in the Jakarta State University environment. The research method used was a survey using a sampling technique with a quadratic method. There are 4 types of undergrowth in the garden behind the KH. Hasyim Asy'ari Building, namely Cyanthillium cineroum, Pilosela officinarum, Eclipta prostrata, and Cynodon dactylon. The results of the calculation of the Shannon-Wiener diversity index based on its classification show that the garden behind the KH. Hasyim Asy'ari Building, Jakarta State University has a low level of understory plant diversity.

Should we consider integrated crop–livestock systems for ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, and agricultural resilience to climate change?

AbstractContemporary agricultural systems can be generalized as highly specialized operations that are fueled by mechanization; supplied with external nutrients to maximize production; crops protected by petrochemicals to fight against weed, disease, and insect pressures; and livestock protected by therapeutics to ward off virus and bacterial infections when managed in confinement. Such specialized systems have led to low levels of diversity, elevated environmental risks from contamination, loss of soil organic matter, ecological instability, and limited adaptability to climate change. More diversified farming systems are possible, but research required to characterize them in a holistic manner as an alternative to contemporary, specialized systems remains challenging to fund and sustain over time, primarily because they require more labor, management skills, and accessible markets to achieve additional ecological, environmental, and social goals. We share some perspectives as to (1) how specialized systems became the norm and (2) what changes could be made to reverse some ecological risks and environmental declines associated with specialization, acknowledging there is no panacea. Strong evidence exists for perennial forages to restore soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen, but system‐level analyses of the net balance in greenhouse gas emissions remain to be characterized in the myriad of potential integrated crop–livestock systems that might be deployed across the diversity of edaphic, environmental, and socio‐economic conditions. We suggest there are abundant opportunities for more sustainable agricultural production to sequester soil organic C, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and develop more climate‐resilient agricultural systems that will be needed in a future dominated by climate change issues.

Environmental pressure and board gender diversity: Evidence from the European Union Emission Trading System

AbstractWe examine how environmental pressure influences board gender diversity. Drawing from resource dependence, strategic adaptation, and gender socialization theories, we develop and test the prediction that firms with worse environmental performance have a higher likelihood of increasing their board gender diversity following a rise in environmental pressure. Focusing on the third phase (2013–2019) of the European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS), we exploit the unexpected increase in emission prices after the European Council's (EC) intervention in 2017 as a quasi‐natural experiment bringing heightened environmental pressure to firms. Our baseline sample consists of 182 polluting firms in 20 different EU ETS‐covered countries. In line with our main hypothesis, we find that board gender diversity increases with firms' industry‐adjusted levels of pollution in the post‐EC intervention period, with the effect being particularly pronounced for firms with a higher exposure to emission prices and lower diversity levels. Inconsistent with a window dressing explanation, highly polluting firms replace incumbent male board members with highly qualified women. Our findings, which survive several robustness tests, suggest that more stringent environmental regulation drives social and governance changes at top corporate levels.

Multi-cohort shotgun metagenomic analysis of oral and gut microbiota overlap in healthy adults

The multitude of barriers between the mouth and colon may eliminate swallowed oral bacteria. Ascertaining the presence of the same bacteria in the mouth and colon is methodologically challenging partly because 16S rRNA gene sequencing – the most commonly used method to characterize the human microbiota – has low confidence in taxonomic assignments deeper than genus for most bacteria. As different species of the same genus can have low-level variation across the same 16S rRNA gene region, shotgun sequencing is needed to identify a true overlap. We analyzed a curated, multi-cohort, shotgun metagenomic database with species-level taxonomy and clade-specific marker genes to fill this knowledge gap. Using 500 paired fecal/oral (4 oral sites) samples from 4 healthy adult cohorts, we found a minute overlap between the two niches. Comparing marker genes between paired oral and fecal samples with species-level overlap, the pattern of overlap in only 7 individuals was consistent with same-strain colonization. These findings argue against ectopic colonization of oral bacteria in the distal gut in healthy adults.

The Molecular Detection, Characterization, and Temperature Dependence of Wolbachia Infections in Field Populations of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes in Greece

We investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of Wolbachia pipientis strains in Aedes albopictus populations in Greece. Using a combination of PCR and Sanger sequencing techniques, we genotyped Wolbachia strains in 105 mosquitoes collected across eight different administrative regions in 2021. We found a high prevalence of Wolbachia in both male (90%) and female (97%) mosquitoes. Among the infected samples, 84% had double infections with both wAlbA and wAlbB strains, while 16% had infections with only wAlbB. Our comparison of the Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) profile, employing gatB–coxA–hcpA–ftsZ–fbpA genotyping, revealed a single MLST profile for each wAlbA and wAlbB strain in Greek populations. The same MLST profiles were also reported in populations from China, Russia, and Argentina, suggesting low levels of global diversity in wAlbA and wAlbB strains. Furthermore, our results indicated a significant association between temperature and the prevalence of single infections (p = 6.498 × 10−7), with higher temperatures correlating with an increased likelihood of single infections. Although male bias showed a tendency towards single infections, the effect was marginally non-significant (p = 0.053). These results were confirmed using a bootstrap-with-replacement analysis approach. Overall, our findings offer novel insights into the distribution and species diversity of Wolbachia strains in Greek Ae. albopictus populations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the short-term plastic and adaptive responses of these organisms to environmental stressors and rapid climate change.

The structure of variability in shoot and fruit traits of subalpine populations of <i>Fagus orientalis</i> Lipsky in the Western and Eastern Caucasus

Aim. Comparative study and analysis of the variability of characters of the shoots and fruit of Fagus orientalis Lipsky from subalpine populations of the Western and Eastern Caucasus. Material and Methods. For the analysis randomly collected annual shoots with fruit from 47 Fagus orientalis trees from 6 populations of the Western and Eastern Caucasus were used. Measurement data from 12 traits were used to identify variability. The total repetition of measurements for each trait for 6 populations was 1318. Results. A comparative study of the variability of traits in the shoot and fruit of Fagus orientalis from 6 populations of the Eastern and Western Caucasus showed a predominance of size traits in individuals from the Eastern Caucasus. The trait “length of annual shoot” had the highest level of variability – 70.6 %. Low and medium levels were detected in fruit traits, leaf blade length and width, and plus length. The results of Student's t‐tests showed the greatest significance of differences in the “length of annual bud” trait – 28.98. Correlation analysis revealed positive, reliable relationships for most pairs of characteristics. The closest of them are noted in all fruit characters and in the character of length and width of the leaf blade. Conclusions. The predominance of size values of traits in individuals from populations of the Eastern Caucasus is associated with climatic conditions – the growing season in the Western Caucasus being shorter by almost a month. The low level of variability of fetal traits confirms their high genetic determination. The “apical bud length” trait can be used as an indicator, reflecting the degree of influence of environmental factors on populations. The closest correlations are manifested by the characteristics of the fruit and a pair of characteristics ‐ the length and width of the leaf blade.

Vitamin B12 is associated negatively with anemia in older Chinese adults with a low dietary diversity level: evidence from the Healthy Ageing and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS)

ObjectiveThe associations between plasma vitamin B12 level and anemia under different dietary patterns in elderly Chinese people are poorly understood. We aimed to examine the associations between plasma vitamin B12 levels and anemia under different dietary patterns in adults aged 65 years and older in nine longevity areas in China.MethodsA total of 2405 older adults completed a food frequency questionnaire at the same time as a face-to-face interview. The dietary diversity score (DDS) was assessed based on the food frequency questionnaire, with the low DDS group referring to participants with a DDS score ≤ 4 points. Vitamin B12 levels were divided into two groups of high (>295 pg/mL) and low (≤ 295 pg/mL) with the median used as the cut-off point. Sub-analyses were also performed on older adults divided into tertiles of vitamin B12 levels: low (< 277 pg/mL), medium (277–375 pg/mL) and high (> 375 pg/mL) to study the association of these levels with anemia.ResultsSix hundred ninety-five (28.89%) of these people were diagnosed with anemia and had a mean age of 89.3 years. Higher vitamin B12 levels were associated with a decreased risk of anemia (multi-adjusted OR, 0.59, [95% CI, 0.45 ~ 0.77] P < 0.001) in older adults with a low DDS, whereas no significant association between vitamin B12 levels and anemia was found in older adults with a high DDS in a full-model after adjustment for various confounding factors (multi-adjusted OR, 0.88, [95% CI, 0.65 ~ 1.19], P = 0.41).ConclusionThe relationship between vitamin B12 levels and the prevalence of anemia was significant only when the level of dietary diversity in the older adults was relatively low. The dietary structure of the population should be taken into consideration in combination in order to effectively improve anemia status by supplementing vitamin B12.

The impact of watershed on household food security: A comparative analysis

Watersheds provide a substantial contribution to household food security. The study investigates whether watershed development and management practices (WDMP) can help with food security challenges, and it compares the impact of WDMP on household food security status among practitioners and non-practitioners in the central highlands of Ethiopia and identified the determinants factors. The study employed a mixed research design with a cross-sectional approach. Household Dietary Diversity Score and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale were used to estimate households' food security status and An Ordered logit econometric model was applied to identify determinant factors. The study resulted in 44.65 % of non-practitioners and 18.30 % of practitioners had a low level of dietary diversity; whereas, 43.40 % of non-practitioners and 38.56 % of practitioners were severely food insecure. The household head's age, the number of laborers, income, livestock size, and agricultural land size highly determined the food security status of households. The HDDS and HFIAS findings reveal a statistically significant difference between WDM practitioners and non-practitioners. Therefore stakeholders must stress the promotion of WDMP to achieve food security.

Association between dietary diversity, sedentary time outside of work and depressive symptoms among knowledge workers: a multi-center cross-sectional study

BackgroundLow-diversity diets and sedentary status are risk factors for depressive symptoms, while knowledge workers were ignored before. The purpose of this current study was to examine the relationship between dietary diversity, sedentary time spent outside of work, and depressive symptoms among knowledge workers.Study design and methodsThis was a multicenter and cross‐sectional design that included 118,723 knowledge workers. Participants self-reported online between January 2018 and December 2020. Demographic information, the Dietary Diversity Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, dietary habits (which included eating three meals on time, midnight snacking, overeating, social engagement, coffee consumption, sugary drink consumption, smoking and alcohol use), sedentary time spent outside of work and physical activity were investigated.ResultsThe relationships between demographic information, dietary habits and dietary diversity, and depressive symptoms were estimated. Compared with the first and second levels of dietary diversity, the third level of dietary diversity (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84–0.98) reduced the risk of depressive symptoms. Knowledge workers with different degrees of sedentary status (2–4 h (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07–1.14), 4–6 h (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.17–1.26), and > 6 h (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.43–1.56), presented a progressively higher risk of depressive symptoms.ConclusionHigh amounts of sedentary time spent after work and low levels of dietary diversity are risk factors for depressive symptoms. In addition, an irregular diet and overeating are also major risk factors for knowledge workers.

Tequila, bats, and agave farmers: towards an understanding of the right incentives to protect genetic diversity

Tequila has a designation of origin by which it can only be produced with the blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber blue variety) grown in certain regions of Mexico. For several decades, an intensive asexual technique of reproduction has prevailed in the tequila industry. This has not only been detrimental for the agave’s genetic diversity, but it has also harmed bat populations. The low levels of diversity have increased the agave’s exposure to pests and diseases and have limited the possibilities for artificial selection of beneficial characteristics that can improve production. Arguably, with the cooperation of producers and consumers, it is possible to have an environmentally friendly and resilient production system. We focus on the agave producers and analyze their willingness to let some of their plants flower in exchange of some monetary and non-monetary benefits. By analyzing data from a choice experiment, we show that farmers are willing to let some of their plants flower even when they only receive partial compensation for the value of the plants. Farmers also show a willingness to participate in a conservation program if they receive a non-monetary transfer or expect an increase in yield because of the program. Our results provide a relevant piece of information that can help policymakers, producers, NGOs, and other participants in the tequila industry, in the design of effective strategies that can lead to the genetic conservation of blue agave and the protection of magueyero bats.

Engine Calibration With Surrogate-Assisted Bilevel Evolutionary Algorithm.

Engine calibration problems are black-box optimization problems which are evaluation costly and most of them are constrained in the objective space. In these problems, decision variables may have different impacts on objectives and constraints, which could be detected by sensitivity analysis. Most existing surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithms do not analyze variable sensitivity, thus, useless effort may be made on some less sensitive variables. This article proposes a surrogate-assisted bilevel evolutionary algorithm to solve a real-world engine calibration problem. Principal component analysis is performed to investigate the impact of variables on constraints and to divide decision variables into lower-level and upper-level variables. The lower-level aims at optimizing lower-level variables to make candidate solutions feasible, and the upper-level focuses on adjusting upper-level variables to optimize the objective. In addition, an ordinal-regression-based surrogate is adapted to estimate the ordinal landscape of solution feasibility. Computational studies on a gasoline engine model demonstrate that our algorithm is efficient in constraint handling and also achieves a smaller fuel consumption value than other state-of-the-art calibration methods.

Multiple biomarkers in pufferfish as a proxy of environmental health in brazilian marine protected areas

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designed to conserve biodiversity and vulnerable ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the environmental quality of three Brazilian MPAs, based on the integrated analysis of biomarkers in pufferfish. The MPAs are differentiated by the degree of anthropogenic influences. The Barra do Una Estuary sustainable reserve (JUR) is a reference area due to its low levels of contamination and species diversity. The Cananéia Estuarine System (CAN) has been recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, as well as a Ramsar wetland. This MPA was influenced by upstream mining activities, resulting in the introduction of metals in the estuarine waters and the discharge of untreated urban sewage. The São Vicente estuary (SSV) lacks proper sanitation infrastructure. All collections were conducted during winter season, and, after collection, the animals were euthanized, their soft tissues were removed, and multiple biomarkers were analyzed in the gills and liver, as biometric, genotoxic, biochemical, and morphological. A one-factor multivariate analysis was applied to evaluate the differences between the data sets, and the matrices were analyzed using PERMANOVA to evaluate the “estuary” factor. The results were integrated using PCA with a 0.4 cut value and an Enhanced Integrated Biomarker Response (EIBR) was calculated. PCA was correlated with biochemical, genotoxic, and morphological biomarkers. In general, SVV differed from CAN and JUR as shown by both univariate and multivariate analyses. SVV also showed the highest EIBR, followed by CAN. Organisms from SSV showed greater gill pathology, elevated AChE activity and lipoperoxidation (LPO), and micronuclei frequency. CAN present intermediate EIBR, with severe pathologies in the liver. CAN seems to present an intermediate environmental quality between SSV and JUR indicating the importance of the existence of MPAs for environmental conservation and the need to monitor such areas, to maintain their suitable environmental quality.