Lowland Areas Research Articles

Assessment of sustainability of natural complexes of the Minyarsky physiographic region of the Western slope of the Southern Urals

The article considers the evaluation of sustainability of natural complexes of low-mountain sections of the western slope of the Southern Urals (Minyarsk physical and geographical area) on the basis of analysis of landscape profiles on the indicator of sustainability of natural complexes. Peculiarities of the study area are highlighted: specific climatic conditions, complex geological and geomorphological conditions with ongoing industrial development, as well as a variety of soil and hydrological conditions combined with anthropogenic transformation of the territory. In the course of landscape profiling, as well as the application of methods of assessment of anthropogenic transformation of landscapes (at the level of the terrain), a decrease of diversity in natural complexes on the studied slopes was established, Replacement of typical plant communities by secondary successional communities in lowland areas dominated by horsetail. It has also been established that the aggregate of conditions in natural complexes indicates anthropogenic transformation of slope landscapes, the aggregate leading factor of which is the geochemical position on the element of the slope, Low resistance to external influence of the soil with a rinsing type of water regime defining plant associations. The obtained materials can be used as a basis for analysis of ecological condition of landscapes of the western slope of the Southern Urals, as well as characteristics of slope types of locations. Materials allow to further assess the recreational attractiveness of landscapes and the choice of ways of natural use of the studied area.

Public support for flood adaptation policy in Tokyo lowland areas

ABSTRACT Sea level rise induced flooding is projected to cause significant damage to the low-lying coastal areas of many countries around the planet. Many households located in vulnerable areas have already started to adapt to flooding, although some empirical studies indicate that informal adaptation is reaching its limit and that more formal countermeasures by governments will be necessary to cope with the increased flood risks. In such cases, public support for flood adaptation policy is crucial to ensure a successful and timely adaptation, as these strategies can directly affect coastal residents. However, there is limited understanding on the mechanisms and factors that determine public support for flood adaptation policy. Thus, this study proposes a new model – the Foundation of Adaptation Policy Support (FAPS) – which integrates the Protection Motivation Theory and the Risk Information Seeking and Processing models. FAPS was tested using structural equation modelling with latent variables and data that was collected from a household questionnaire survey conducted in the Tokyo lowland areas (n = 388), with the super levee representing a policy that could be applied to sea level rise adaptation. The proposed FAPS model showed a good fit with the collected data, indicating that the strongest predictors of policy support include the perceived effectiveness of the policy and the importance of the issue of flooding to individuals. Other important predictors of policy support include knowledge about flooding, the opinions of surrounding people (i.e. family and friends), and the systematic processing by respondents of information related to floods. The FAPS model sets the foundation for understanding the mechanisms of public support for adaptation policy and provides new insights into designing and planning such policies in practice. Key policy insights Perceived policy effectiveness and the importance of addressing floods are the strongest predictors of public support for adaptation policy. Increasing people’s knowledge about flooding is essential to communicate the importance of adaptation policy. Investigating people’s knowledge and the perceived importance of the issue of flooding prior to designing policies can predict public preferences for certain countermeasures.

Update of the geographic range of Humboldt's squirrel monkeys (Saimiri cassiquiarensis cassiquiarensis Lesson, 1840) using a model-based approach.

Saimiri cassiquiarensis cassiquiarensis (Cebidae) is a primate subspecies with a wide distribution in the Amazonian region of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. However, the boundaries of its geographic range remain poorly defined. This study presents new occurrence localities for this subspecies and updates its distribution using a compiled data set of 140 occurrence records based on literature, specimens vouchered in scientific collections, and new field data to produce model-based range maps. After cleaning our data set, we updated the subspecies' extent of occurrence, which was used in model calibration. We then modeled the subspecies' range using a maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt). The final model was adjusted using a fixed threshold, and we revised this polygon based on known geographic barriers and parapatric congeneric ranges. Our findings indicate that this subspecies is strongly associated with lowland areas, with consistently high daily temperatures. We propose modifications to all range boundaries and estimate that 3% of the area of occupancy (AOO,as defined by IUCN) has already been lost due to deforestation, resulting in a current range of 224,469 km2. We also found that 54% of their AOO is currently covered by protected areas (PAs). Based on these results, we consider that this subspecies is currently properly classified as Least Concern, because it occupies an extensive range, which is relatively well covered by PAs, and is currently experiencing low rates of deforestation.

A Wide Survey To Assess Population Of Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca Fascicularis (Primates: Cercopithecidae) In Lowland Region Of South Sumatra

The Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis is an Endagered primate because species' population decline very rapidly due to high levels of hunting for trade. A survey to collect data on the M. fascicularis population was carried out in the lowland areas of South Sumatra Province on 7 September-16 October 2023. This survey was carried out in 17 sites in four main districts/cities, including Palembang, Musi Banyuasin, Banyuasin and Ogan Ilir. This survey was recorded 4,316 individuals of M. fascicularis. This number suggest that M. fascicularis has good population number and still commonly found at the survey sites. Based on the survey coverage of the survey area and the total number of ??the lowlands in South Sumatra, we estimate the population of M. fascicularis in the lowlands in this province to be around 300,000 individuals. Further surveys are needed to determine the exact number of M. fascicularis populations in South Sumatra Province.

Evaluation of Impact of Biofertilizer and Mulch Types on Growth and Production of Tomato Cultivar Gustavi F1 in Lowland Areas

Evaluation of Impact of Biofertilizer and Mulch Types on Growth and Production of Tomato Cultivar Gustavi F1 in Lowland Areas

Field Evaluation of Rice Lines Derived from Suakoko 8 X Bao Thai for Iron Tolerance in the South Saharan African Farming System.

Rice is a major grain crop in numerous countries. In lowland areas, high iron levels in the soil severely hinder its cultivation. The current study explored high-yielding and Fe-toxicity-tolerant irrigated lowland rice (340 lines) among a population derived from a cross between Suakoko 8 and Bao Thai in Edozighi and Ibadan, Nigeria. In contrast to Ibadan, the soils in Edozighi contain a significant amount of iron. For the stated purpose, we carried out a two-year experiment using an alpha lattice design. The data showed significant differences between genotypes for the days to heading, plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of panicles per plant, panicle length, and grain yield. The results revealed that multiple characteristics had both direct and indirect effects on cultivated rice yields. There was a direct and positive influence on the number of days in the 50% heading period (0.31), a direct and negative effect on plant height (-0.94), a direct and positive effect on tiller and panicle numbers, and a direct but negative effect on panicle length (-0.56). The leaf bronzing score was adversely correlated with yield, panicle length, and plant height, while it was positively correlated with the number of panicles, tillers, and days to heading. The findings showed significant changes in yield and yield characteristics between genotypes. Grain yields ranged from 283 to 11,700 kg/ha in the absence of iron in the soil, contrary to 0 to 8230 kg/ha in soil with iron toxicity, with losses estimated between 6 and 94%, demonstrating the resulting disaster. In contrast to the elite parents and varieties used in this study, the ten top genotypes exhibited smaller losses in yield. The authors strongly recommend using these lines for further studies as donors or releasing them in farmer fields in Africa.

Comparison of CMIP6 model performance in estimating human thermal load in Europe in the winter season

AbstractIn this work, historical simulations of CMIP6 GCMs are evaluated with respect to the ERA5 reanalysis dataset, in order to examine their ability to assess human thermal load in Europe in the winter season. The period of 1981–2010 is chosen for the analysis, and thermal load is expressed via the clothing resistance index (rcl index; expressed in clo). It is found that the GCMs are able to reproduce the areal differences of thermal load satisfactorily, the spatial correlation with the reanalysis is greater than 0.95 in all cases. The effects of the main geographical constraints (latitude, continentality and elevation) are shown by all GCM simulations, as rcl index values are greater at higher latitudes, away from the ocean and in mountainous areas, although GCMs only capture major mountains (the Caucasus, the Armenian Highlands, the Scandinavian Mountains, the Alps). The root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) is around 0.2 clo in all cases, GCMs generally perform better in homogenous lowland areas, while results are less accurate in highlands and mountains owing to the coarse horizontal resolution of GCMs (~1°). The smallest errors occur over central and western Europe and the Mediterranean region, while results tend to be less accurate over the northeastern part of Europe. Biases in the estimation of heat deficit can mainly be attributed to biases in temperature, but biases in wind speed and atmospheric downward radiation seem to be important factors as well.

Sero-epidemiological study of brucellosis in cattle under pastoral/agro-pastoral and mixed crop-livestock systems in South Omo, southern Ethiopia

BackgroundIn the pastoral/agro-pastoral communities in Ethiopia, like in South Omo, brucellosis constitutes a serious health threat for livestock and the public. The public health risk is especially high in these communities, as their way of life is highly linked with their herds. ObjectiveThe study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence and identify potential risk factors of cattle brucellosis in South Omo zone in southern Ethiopia. MethodsA total of 614 traditionally managed local zebu female cattle, above six months old, were bled and data on hypothesized risk factors were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The preliminary screening of the sera for Brucella antibodies was done using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and positive sera were further subjected to complement fixation test (CFT). ResultsThe overall animal level seroprevalence of brucellosis was 2.8 % (95 % CI: 1.72–4.41) while herd level prevalence was 11.3 % (95 % CI: 6.5–19.0). Among the risk factors considered, seroprevalence was associated with herd size, new animal introduction, district, history of occurrence of abortion, and retained fetal membranes (RFM), at both individual- and herd-level (p < 0.05). Higher seroprevalence of brucellosis was observed in cows than heifers and in animals older than 4 years (p < 0.05). Brucella seroprevalence was higher in herds in lowland areas than those in mid-altitude and highlands (p < 0.05). ConclusionThe individual and herd level prevalence observed in our study indicates endemicity of brucellosis and the potential public health threat it poses in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of southern Ethiopia. The results of the study also suggest that the disease might be responsible for significant losses in cattle productivity due to impaired reproductive performance.

Disaster effects of climate change in High Mountain Asia: State of art and scientific challenges

High Mountain Asia (HMA) shows a remarkable warming tendency and divergent trend of regional precipitation with enhanced meteorological extremes. The rapid thawing of the HMA cryosphere may alter the magnitude and frequency of nature hazards. We reviewed the influence of climate change on various types of nature hazards in HMA region, including their phenomena, mechanisms and impacts. It reveals that: 1) the occurrences of extreme rainfall, heavy snowfall, and drifting snow hazards are escalating; accelerated ice and snow melting have advanced the onset and increased the magnitude of snowmelt floods; 2) due to elevating trigger factors, such as glacier debuttressing and the rapid shift of thermal and hydrological regime of bedrock/snow/ice interface or subsurface, the mass flow hazards including bedrock landslide, snow avalanche, ice-rock avalanches or glacier detachment, and debris flow will become more severe; 3) increased active-layer detachment and retrogressive thaw slumps slope failures, thaw settlement and thermokarst lake will damage many important engineering structures and infrastructure in permafrost region; 4) multi-hazards cascading hazard in HMA, such as the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and avalanche-induced mass flow may greatly enlarge the destructive power of the primary hazard by amplifying its volume, mobility, and impact force; and 5) enhanced slope instability and sediment supply in the highland areas could impose remote catastrophic impacts upon lowland regions, and threat hydropower security and future water shortage. In future, ongoing thawing of HMA will profoundly weaken the multiple-phase material of bedrock, ice, water, and soil, and enhance activities of nature hazards. Compounding and cascading hazards of high magnitude will prevail in HMA. As the glacier runoff overpasses the peak water, low flow or droughts in lowland areas downstream of glacierized mountain regions will became more frequent and severe. Addressing escalating hazards in the HMA region requires tackling scientific challenges, including understanding multiscale evolution and formation mechanism of HMA hazard-prone systems, coupling thermo‒hydro‒mechanical processes in multi-phase flows, predicting catastrophes arising from extreme weather and climate events, and comprehending how highland hazards propagate to lowlands due to climate change.

Catalogue of Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The species Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) belongs to the genus, distributed in the Palaearctic, Middle East and North Africa, and represented by more than 500 described species (Catalogue of Life, 2023). In Ukraine, the genus is represented by 9 species. Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) has been recorded from thefollowing localities in Ukraine: outskirts of Sambir town, Spas village (Nowicki, 1858), the Eastern Beskydy up to Chornohora range (Nowicki, 1864), Ivano-Frankivsk city at the Bystrytsia river, in the river silt deposits (Łomnicki, 1886), beech forest zone of the Carpathians (Nowicki, 1873), Galicia, Bukovyna, Podilska gubernias , Zelemianka river, Bolekhiv town , NR «Gorgany» , foothill and lowland areas of the Carpathians: Ciscarpathian Upland, Beskydy massif, Gorgany massif, Pokutsko-Bukovynski Carpathians, Krasna range, as well as the Klavdievo village near Kyiv city, 10.V.1976 р., 2 spec., V.G. Dolin (IZU) , the Carpathians (including the Ciscarpathian Upland with foothills above 300 m a.s.l.), Right-Bank Polissia (mixed forest zone), Broadleaf Forest Zone (including the Ciscarpathian Upland, but with foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m a.s.l. and Male Polissia) . Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) is distributed in the mountains and foothills of Central Europe and the northern part of southern Europe (Burakowski et al., 1973). In Ukraine it is found in the belts of oak and beech forests and lives along the banks of rivers and streams . There are 34 specimens of Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) in the collection of the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv. The beetles were collected by Łomnicki M., Polianskyi S., Stöckl A., Susulovskyi A.S., Rizun V.B. Most of them were collected in the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, a number of individuals – in recent decades. Three specimens (Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//17, Digital record number: SMNH010749, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58124; Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//18, Digital record number: SMNH010750, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58125; Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//19, Digital record number: SMNH010751, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58126) most probably were mentioned in the work by M. Łomniсki (Łomnicki M. Muzeum imienia Dzieduszyckich we Lwowe. Dział I. Zoologiczny oddział zwierząt bezkręgowych. IV. Chrząszcze, czyli Tęgoskrzydłe (Coleoptera). – Lwów, 1886. – 308 s.). In general, the collection contains specimens, collected from Ukraine: Lvivska, Ivano-Frankivska, Chernivetska, Zakarpatska provinces, and from Poland. Some part of the presented material was collected in nature conservation areas of Ukraine: the Nature Reserve «Gorgany», National Nature Parks «Boikivshchyna», «Carpathian» and «Hutsulshchyna». This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Evaluation of Microbe-Enriched Organic Fertilizer on Three Hybrid Corn (Zea Mays L.) Varieties in Swamp Land

Lowland areas are characterized by poor soil fertility and low nutrient content, making them suboptimal for agriculture. However, these lands have the potential to be developed for agricultural purposes, particularly for cultivating hybrid corn plants. To enhance production, organic fertilizers enriched with Azospirilium microbes and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (BPF) are utilized, along with the planting of superior varieties that are tolerant to lowland conditions. Azospirilium microbes play a crucial role in providing nitrogen (N) nutrients through the nitrogenase enzyme, while BPF contributes phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) nutrients through the phosphatase enzyme. This combination of nutrients is essential for hybrid corn plants to thrive and produce effectively. The research conducted in Pulau Semambu Village, North Inderalaya District, Ogan Ilir Regency, from January to April 2023, employed a field experiment method using a Factorial Randomized Block Design with 9 treatment combinations repeated 3 times. The study involved three varieties (Pioneer 21, Bisi 816, Pertiwi) and three organic fertilizer dosages (100 kg/ha, 300 kg/ha, 500 kg/ha). The highest yield was achieved by applying 300 kg/ha of microbe-enriched organic fertilizer in combination with the Bisi 816 variety, resulting in a yield of 4.24 kg/plot or 5.65 tonnes/ha. This result represented a 60% increase compared to the Pioneer 21 variety treated with 100 kg/ha of microbial-enriched organic fertilizer.

Ownership and use of insecticide-treated nets in Myanmar: insights from a nationally representative demographic and health survey

BackgroundMalaria poses a substantial public health threat in Myanmar, indicating the need for rigorous efforts to achieve elimination of the disease nationwide by 2030. The use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) forms part of a pivotal strategy for preventing transmission. This study explored the ownership and use of ITNs in Myanmar and identified factors associated with non-use of ITNs.MethodsHousehold datasets from the 2015–2016 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey were utilised, which encompassed all household members except children under the age of five. Descriptive statistics and inferential tests, including simple and multiple logistics regression models and Pearson correlations, were employed for analysis. All analyses, taking the two-stage stratified cluster sampling design into account, used weighting factors and the “svyset” command in STATA. The ownership and use of bed nets were also visualised in QGIS maps.ResultsAmong the 46,507 participants, 22.3% (95% CI 20.0%, 24.5%) had access to ITNs, with only 15.3% (95% CI 13.7, 17.1%) sleeping under an ITN the night before the survey. Factors associated with the non-use of ITNs included age category (15–34 years—aOR: 1.17, 95% CI 1.01, 1.30; 50+ years—aOR: 1.19, 95% CI 1.06, 1.33), location (delta or lowland—aOR: 5.39, 95% CI 3.94, 7.38; hills—aOR: 1.80, 95% CI 1.20, 2.71; plains—aOR: 3.89, 95% CI 2.51, 6.03), urban residency (aOR: 1.63, 95% CI 1.22, 2.17), and wealth quintile (third—aOR: 1.38, 95% CI 1.08, 1.75; fourth—aOR: 1.65, 95% CI 1.23, 2.23; fifth—aOR: 1.47, 95% CI 1.02, 2.13). A coherent distribution of the ownership and use of ITNs was seen across all states/regions, and a strong correlation existed between the ownership and use of ITNs (r: 0.9795, 95% CI 0.9377, 0.9933, alpha < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study identified relatively low percentages of ITN ownership and use, indicating the need to increase the distribution of ITNs to achieve the target of at least one ITN per every two people. Strengthening the use of ITNs requires targeted health promotion interventions, especially among relatively affluent individuals residing in delta or lowland areas, hills, and plains.

Phylogenetic position and plastid genome structure of Vietorchis, a mycoheterotrophic genus of Orchidaceae (subtribe Orchidinae) endemic to Vietnam

The orchid genus Vietorchis comprises three species, all discovered in the 21 century. Each of these species is achlorophyllous, mycoheterotrophic and is known to be endemic to Vietnam. The type species of the genus, V. aurea, occurs in a single location in northern Vietnam within a lowland limestone karstic area. Vietorchis furcata and V. proboscidea, in contrast, are confined to mountains of southern Vietnam, far away from any limestone formations. Taxonomic placement of Vietorchis remained uncertain for the reason of inconclusive morphological affinities. At the same time, the genus has never been included into molecular phylogenetic studies. We investigate the phylogenetic relationships of two species of Vietorchis (V. aurea and V. furcata) based on three DNA datasets: (1) a dataset comprising two nuclear regions, (2) a dataset comprising two plastid regions, and (3) a dataset employing data on the entire plastid genomes. Our phylogenetic reconstructions support the placement of Vietorchis into the subtribe Orchidinae (tribe Orchideae, subfamily Orchidoideae). This leads to a conclusion that the previously highlighted similarities in the rhizome morphology between Vietorchis and certain mycoheterotrophic genera of the subfamilies Epidendroideae and Vanilloideae are examples of a convergence. Vietorchis is deeply nested within Orchidinae, and therefore the subtribe Vietorchidinae is to be treated as a synonym of Orchidinae. In the obtained phylogenetic reconstructions, Vietorchis is sister to the photosynthetic genus Sirindhornia. Sirindhornia is restricted to limestone mountains, which allows to speculate that association with limestone karst is plesiomorphic for Vietorchis. Flower morphology is concordant with the molecular data in placing Vietorchis into Orchidinae and strongly supports the assignment of the genus to one of the two major clades within this subtribe. Within this clade, however, Vietorchis shows no close structural similarity with any of its genera; in particular, the proximity between Vietorchis and Sirindhornia has never been proposed. Finally, we assembled the plastid genome of V. furcata, which is 65969 bp long and contains 45 unique genes, being one of the most reduced plastomes in the subfamily Orchidoideae. The plastome of Vietorchis lacks any rearrangements in comparison with the closest studied autotrophic species, and possesses substantially contracted inverted repeats. No signs of positive selection acting on the protein-coding plastid sequences were detected.

The impact of government policies and regulations on the subjective well-being of farmers in two rural mountain areas of Italy

AbstractThe sustainable development of rural areas involves guaranteeing the quality of life and well-being of people who live in those areas. Existing studies on farmer health and well-being have revealed high levels of stress and low well-being, with government regulations emerging as a key stressor. This ethnographic study takes smallholder farmers in two rural mountain areas of Italy, one in the central Alps and one in the northwest Apennines, as its focus. It asks how and why the current policy and regulatory context of agriculture affects farmer well-being. Interviews and participant observation were conducted with 104 farmers. Three common scenarios emerged that negatively affect farmer well-being. First, policies and regulations designed for lowland areas do not always make sense when applied in the mountains. Second, when subsidies are put into effect at the local level, the reality of their implementation can veer away from the original goals of the funding program and have unintended effects on farmer well-being, agricultural practices, and the environment. Finally, when regulations are implemented on farms in rural mountain areas, the primacy of a techno-scientific knowledge system over other, local and place-based knowledge systems is exposed. These three scenarios affect well-being by eliciting feelings of stress, frustration, and disillusionment; by reducing farmer control over their work; and by fostering the perception that farming is not valued by society. They also create conditions of inequality and insecurity. The ways in which government policies and regulations play out on mountain farms can erode trust in government institutions, lead to an us versus them mentality, and contribute to the further abandonment of agriculture and rural areas.

Tracking states and transitions in semiarid rangelands: A spatiotemporal archetypal analysis of productivity dynamics using wavelets

Climate change poses challenges in classifying ecosystem dynamics, as they are influenced by shifting dynamics resulting from changes in climate forces and meteorological variables, including temperature and water availability. To address this, our study presents a novel approach using Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) and power spectrum analysis to classify vegetation dynamics, considering the time-dependent variability of ecosystem frequencies. We applied our method to centred and standardized MODIS NDVI time series for the period 2000–2021, using an experimental field station in northern Patagonia as a case study. By performing a continuous wavelet transform on the data for each pixel, we obtained instantaneous power spectra, capturing variability across different dates and pixels. These spectrums were then consolidated into a comprehensive database, and subsequently classified using archetypal analysis. We identified a convex combination of archetypal spectrums that best represented the entire power spectrum database. Mapping the resulting archetypes and their weights in both space and time allowed us to explore pixels' variations in archetype weights in relation to factors such as time, topography, and climate. In addition, to examine the potential relationship between the NDVI time series and climate drivers, we computed the Average Cross-Wavelet Power Spectrum (ACWPS) to different climatic indices. Three archetypes were sufficient to explain the majority of power spectrum variability in the study area. These archetypes exhibited distinctive characteristics: 1) medium-frequency variability (2–4 years), 2) low-frequency variability (>4 years), and 3) an annual (i.e. seasonal) cycle with low-frequency variability. Spatially, the first two archetypes were predominantly observed in highland steppes, while the third archetype prevailed in lowland areas associated with meadows. At the beginning of the studied period, Archetypes 1 and 3 dominated, but after the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex eruption in 2011 their prominence diminished, and Archetype 2 became more prevalent in the whole study area. Finally, all three NDVI series representative of archetypes showed a relative peak at approximately four years, which could be linked to the Indian Ocean Dipole variability. These results highlight an abrupt shift in the system's behaviour, primarily related to changes in variability distribution rather than mean values. This disturbance-induced transition aligns with the theory of state and transitions in ecological system dynamics. We propose that the states in this model are not fixed but represent alternative dynamic behaviours, akin to different types of limit cycles. Consequently, employing a wavelet analysis-based classification method provides a robust means of studying and understanding such variability and transitions, thereby offering clarity and comprehension of ecosystem states. Notably, this methodology proves particularly effective for large databases of detailed time series.

A review of grass species yields and growth rates in Northland, New Zealand

ABSTRACT Pastoral farming is a major land use in New Zealand's Northland region, with 3,171 farm holdings and a total area of 637,500 hectares in 2022. The region's pasture grasses include temperate (C3) and subtropical and tropical (C4) grasses which support dairy, and sheep and beef production from grazing. In lowland areas, C3 and some annual C4 grasses are prevalent where cultivation occurs, while perennial C4 grasses dominate areas with low soil fertility and summer dry conditions. Grass-based pasture growth rates (kg dry matter/ha/day) from published and unpublished sources were assembled into the AgYields database. Among the resident and sown grasses tested in Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Whangarei and Dargaville, perennial ryegrass represented ∼60% of the total data points. Dominant kikuyu pastures represented 23% and the remaining species represented 17%. Rates of growth ranged from 5 to 120 kg DM/ha/day, being lowest in late autumn-winter and highest in early summer. Data were compared and agronomic traits (i.e. drought tolerance, biomass production and tillering) are discussed to assess species suitability for the Northland environment. The medium-term prospect suggests an urgent need to improve research into management of cocksfoot and tall fescue-based pastures to provide viable alternatives to overcome the decreasing persistence of perennial ryegrass.

Free-range poultry farming in a lowland suburban area increased the health risk of heavy metal contamination

Free-range poultry farming in a lowland suburban area increased the health risk of heavy metal contamination

Applying a Random Encounter Model to Estimate the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) Density from Camera Traps in the Hindu Raj Mountains, Pakistan.

Estimating the population density of vulnerable species, such as the elusive and nocturnal Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), is essential for wildlife conservation and management. We used camera traps and a Random Encounter Model (REM) to estimate the population density of U. thibetanus during the autumn and winter seasons in the Hindu Raj Mountains. We installed 23 camera traps from October to December 2020 and acquired 66 independent pictures of Asiatic black bears over 428 trap nights. Our results showed that the bears preferred lowland areas with the presence of Quercus spp. We estimated, using the REM, a population density of U. thibetanus of 1.875 (standard error = 0.185) per square kilometer, which is significantly higher than that in other habitats. Our results showed that during autumn and winter, the bear population density tends to concentrate at lower elevations. Forest cover showed a positive correlation with the rates of bear encounters unlike the Euclidean distance to human settlements, altitude, and aspect variables. The approaches used here are cost-effective for estimating the population density of rare and vulnerable species such as U. thibetanus, and can be used to estimate their population density in Pakistan. Population density estimation can identify areas where the bears live and human-bear conflicts occurred and use this information in future wildlife management plans.

New occurrence of corn and rice strains of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Bali and Lesser Sunda: Genetic diversity, distribution, and damage

Abstract. Yudha IKW, Supartha IW, Susila IW, Sudiarta P, Wijaya IN, Wiradana PA. 2024. New occurrence of corn and rice strains of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Bali and Lesser Sunda (Indonesia): Genetic diversity, distribution, and damage. Biodiversitas 25: 1890-1900. Spodoptera frugiperda is an invasive pest with rapid proliferation and is responsible for reducing corn productivity in several regions in Indonesia, including Bali and Lesser Sunda in Indonesia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the geographic distribution, genetic diversity, and specific genes of S. frugiperda as well as assess its attacks in Bali and Lesser Sunda (NTB and NTT) regions. The study procedures were carried out using field surveys, followed by molecular identification to determine the genetic diversity of S. frugiperda with the COI locus. A total of 150 infected corn plants were sampled using the diagonal sampling method, with a unit size of 5 m × 5 m. The distribution data obtained were then analyzed using the QGIS application and SPSS 22 for statistical analysis. The geographic distribution results showed that S. frugiperda was evenly distributed in the provinces of Bali and Lesser Sunda, with the observation of 2 strains, namely corn and rice. Corn strain was more specifically found in the Karangasem, Flores, Lombok Highlands, and Timor areas, while rice strain occured in the Jembrana, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, and Lombok lowland areas. In addition, a total of 12 specific nucleotide bases from S. frugiperda gene were found in Bali, NTB, and NTT regions. The findings also showed that the haplotype network of Bali, NTB, and NTT populations was effectively isolated from other locations and was in the process of genetic divergence. The 3-year invasion of S. frugiperda in Indonesian territory was reported to have experienced a process of genetic population development. Lombok Island had the highest average plant damage at 54.63%, which was not significantly different from the value of Sumbawa, Bali, and Sumba at 47.79%, 42.65%, and 40.72%, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest plant damage level in Timor at 20.95%, followed by Flores (at 30.38%).

Black soils in the southwest of the Brazilian Pantanal: Organic carbon and secondary carbonates accumulation in Phaeozems–Gleysol-Chernozem

The southwest of the Brazilian Pantanal contains areas formed by calcareous sediments, which give this hydromorphic environment special characteristics in the formation of soils such as Phaeozems, Chernozems and Gleysols. These soils have a dark surface horizon, enriched with organic matter, high natural fertility in the sorption complex and high clay activity. These soils are important because they store large amounts of organic carbon and can be used in carbon sequestration and greenhouse gases studies. However, despite their abundance in the Pantanal region and importance, these soils are few studied. Thus, our study aimed to characterize the morphology, physical, and chemical attributes of black soils in this region, identifying the main mechanisms of organic carbon and secondary carbonate accumulation. Three profiles located in the municipality of Corumbá-MS were studied, namely Phaeozem (profiles P1), Gleysol (profile P2) and Chernozem (profiles P3). In all profiles, high concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ elements were observed, mainly derived from the sediments of the Serra da Bodoquena and the Urucum-Amolar residual plateau, ion transport fluxes and secondary carbonate dissolution. The preservation of these elements and 2:1 clays is closely linked to the rainfall dynamics of the region, alternating between floods and droughts. The high 2:1 clays and exchangeable Ca2+ benefits the stabilization of organic carbon by means of organic–mineral interactions and promote the increase of humin content. In Phaeozem and Chernozem, the highest levels of secondary carbonates were observed at the top of the B horizons of these soils, where the pressure of CO2 is lower. Being a lowland area under the direct influence of flooding, the development of secondary carbonates is limited in the B horizons of the Gleysol, where access to the water table and root activity at depth increases the CO2 pressure and hinders the re-precipitation of carbonates in this soil, precipitating in the capillary bangs and in the upper zone (surface horizons).