Habitat Patterns Research Articles

A cross-sectional study to examine constraints to sport participation among ethnically diverse female adolescents from Ontario, Canada

Sport participation during adolescence is associated with good physical and mental health as well as social connectedness and greater well-being. Importantly, adolescence is a key developmental period when lifelong habit and behavioral patterns are shaped and when the benefits of sport are particularly beneficial to physical and psychological development. However, in Canada and internationally, adolescent females are consistency less active than males during adolescent years, are typically underrepresented in sports, and tend to drop out at disproportionate rates compared with their male peers. This cross-sectional study (2017-2019) aimed to examine associations between sport participation and individual, environmental, and task constraints for 825 ethnically diverse adolescent girls aged 13-19 years. Guided by Newell’s model on sport participation, analysis included a series of unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression models in order to examine individual, environmental, and task constraints as predictors of sport participation, as well as potential interactions between significant constraints and their association with sport participation. In the adjusted multivariate analyses, significant constraints to sport participation included weather (environmental), development and age (individual), and physical intensity (task), with no significant interactions. Overall, findings suggest that various constraints, particularly at the individual level (developmental) affect sport participation among diverse female adolescents. Future research should integrate mixed-methods to ensure a comprehensive examination of potential interactions of constraints. This can enhance understanding of complex and interacting factors, which can be integrated to lead to effective interventions, programs and policies that support adolescent female sport participation.

Dynamics, Costs, and Survival of Minorities: Optimal Language Policies for Increasing the Vitality of Minority Languages

It is assumed that language policy can influence the language in which parents choose to raise their children. A basic model of language transmission in the family is outlined and the effect of different policies on the vitality of a minority language is analyzed. It is argued that the habitation patterns and numerical strength of the minority have a strong influence on the cost effectiveness of various policy measures. It is shown that by classifying language policies into four distinct categories we can assign different policies to different minorities in a cost-effective manner, based on the size of the jurisdiction where the minority lives and its numerical strength within it. We provide a general intuitive discussion and a specific example to support the general analysis.

Habitat selection in a southern Lake Sturgeon population: implications of temporal, spatial, and ontogenetic variation for restoration

Successful species reintroduction requires restoration of receiving habitats to support growth, survival, and reproduction that reverse the initial causes of decline. Little is known about whether present habitat conditions can support all life stages of reintroduced southern Lake Sturgeon populations that were possibly extirpated by the mid‐1900s due to overharvest and habitat degradation. Therefore, we conducted a telemetry study to assess annual adult and subadult and overwinter age‐0 Lake Sturgeon habitat selection and suitability in two Missouri River U.S. tributaries near the southern edge of the species range. Spring habitat selection models were unable to define spawning habitat criteria, but criteria from other studies suggest that substrate and depths for spawning are suitable in both rivers. In the summer and winter, adult and subadult Lake Sturgeon exhibited strong selection for pools greater than 8 m deep, which comprised less than 5% of our study streams. Habitat selection in the fall and winter by age‐0 Lake Sturgeon differed from adults with age‐0s selecting shallower habitats both rivers and swifter current velocities in the Gasconade River. General habitat patterns persisted for both life stages in each river regardless of habitat availability, suggesting specialized habitat requirements in southern Lake Sturgeon that differ from previously studied populations further north. These results may be used to direct sampling for validation of reproduction and restoration of not only spawning habitats, but age‐0 and summer and winter refugia that may be potential restoration bottlenecks for southern Lake Sturgeon populations.

Intervention Strategy for Ecosystem-Based Tourism Sustainability in Coastal Areas and Gili Matra Small Islands

The development of coastal ecosystem-based tourism in Gili Matra has been very massive and tends to exceed capacity. For this reason, it is necessary to review the existing ecosystem status in mapping out appropriate intervention strategies in tourist areas. The research during 2021 at 13 locations in Gili Matra aims to look at the pattern and status of the ecosystem for the preparation of tourism development intervention strategies. Data analysis includes descriptive and cluster analysis of the pattern of ecosystem structure, habitat, and resources. The results showed that 30.7% of hard coral cover was still in good condition, and 69.23% was in poor condition. The coral health index level is also with the same percentage value as coral cover. Meanwhile, fish species richness that exceeds 5 species reaches 61.53% and less than 5 species by 38.46%. The general conclusion is that coral reefs are under pressure, although fish biodiversity is still high. The intervention strategy is through efforts to increase coral coverage, and while fishing tourism activities must be managed properly, so as not to damage coral reefs and maintain the target fish population.

A null model for quantifying the geometric effect of habitat subdivision on species diversity

AbstractAimTo derive null models for the expected number of species shared among multiple samples or habitat patches, allowing exploration of the geometric effects of subdivision on species diversity.LocationGlobal.Major taxa studiedPredominantly sessile organisms.MethodsThe occurrence probability of a species in a subdivided area depends on its abundance and spatial pattern over a known habitat extent. The joint probability that two subareas share a species is the product of the probability of species occurrence in each subarea provided that the latter probability is independent. The sum of this probability over all species is the number of species the two subareas share, or zeta diversity of order 2. Generalizing from 2 tomsubareas yields a null model for zeta diversity of orderm. From zeta diversity, many metrics (e.g., beta and gamma diversity) for themhabitat patches can be calculated, revealing the effects of increasing habitat fragmentation.ResultsThe null models show the geometric effects of subdivision depend on patterns of spatial distribution of species within a landscape and evenness of species abundance distribution. For aggregated assemblages, increasing subdivision decreases shared species, increases beta diversity and results in higher total species richness in subdivided habitat than an equal contiguous area.Main conclusionsTo correctly interpret diversity patterns in fragmented habitat the geometric effects of subdivision must be considered. Our models explain why fragmented habitat could have higher diversity than continuous habitat of equal area but predict a threshold patch‐size above which this will not occur (herec. 100 ha). Apparently positive diversity effects of subdivision, including more species in groups of small patches, are probable outcomes of spatial aggregation of assemblages. The shared species null models offer an analytical tool for exploring the geometric effects of subdivision on diversity while controlling for total habitat area.

Linking a compartment model for West Nile virus with a flight simulator for vector mosquitoes

Compartmental SIR and SEIR models have become the state of the art tools to study infection cycles of arthropod-borne viruses such as West Nile virus in specific areas. In 2018, the virus was detected for the first time in Germany, and incidents have been reported in humans, birds, and horses.The aim of the work presented here was to provide a tool for estimating West Nile virus infection scenarios, local hotspots and dispersal routes following its introduction into new locations through the movements of mosquitoes. For this purpose, we adapted a SEIR model for West Nile virus to the conditions in Germany (temperatures, geographical latitude, bird and mosquito species densities) and the characteristic transmission and life trait parameter of a possible host bird and vector mosquito species. We further extended it by a spatial component: an agent-based flight simulator for vector mosquitoes. It demonstrates how the female mosquitoes move within the landscape due to habitat structures and wind conditions and about how many of them leave the region in the different cardinal directions.We applied the space–time coupled model with a daily temporal and spatial resolution of 100m × 100m to the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) and the Asian bush mosquito (Aedes japonicus japonicus). Both species are widely distributed in Germany and discussed as important hosts and vectors, respectively. We also applied the model to three study regions in Germany, each representing slightly different climatic conditions and containing significantly different pattern of suitable habitats for the mosquito species.

How can Sentinel‐2 contribute to seagrass mapping in shallow, turbid Baltic Sea waters?

AbstractSeagrass meadows are one of the most important benthic habitats in the Baltic Sea. Nevertheless, spatially continuous mapping data of Zostera marina, the predominant seagrass species in the Baltic Sea, are lacking in the shallow coastal waters. Sentinel‐2 turned out to be valuable for mapping coastal benthic habitats in clear waters, whereas knowledge in turbid waters is rare. Here, we transfer a clear water mapping approach to turbid waters to assess how Sentinel‐2 can contribute to seagrass mapping in the Western Baltic Sea. Sentinel‐2 data were atmospherically corrected using ACOLITE and subsequently corrected for water column effects. To generate a data basis for training and validating random forest classification models, we developed an upscaling approach using video transect data and aerial imagery. We were able to map five coastal benthic habitats: bare sand (25 km²), sand dominated (16 km²), seagrass dominated (7 km²), dense seagrass (25 km²) and mixed substrates with red/ brown algae (3.5 km²) in a study area along the northern German coastline. Validation with independent data pointed out that water column correction does not significantly improve classification results compared to solely atmospherically corrected data (balanced overall accuracies ~0.92). Within optically shallow waters (0–4 m), per class and overall balanced accuracies (>0.82) differed marginally depending on the water depth. Overall balanced accuracy became worse (<0.8) approaching the border to optically deep water (~ 5 m). The spatial resolution of Sentinel‐2 (10–20 m) allowed delineating detailed spatial patterns of seagrass habitats, which may serve as a basis to retrieve spatially continuous data for ecologically relevant metrics such as patchiness. Thus, Sentinel‐2 can contribute unprecedented information for seagrass mapping between 0 and around 5 m water depths in the Western Baltic Sea.

Quantifying Ecological Performance of Giant Panda Conservation: Evidence from Sichuan Province

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a symbolic and flagship species in the field of endangered wildlife conservation. We studied the changing and driving factors of landscape patterns in Sichuan giant panda habitats through image interpretation and ecological niche evaluation models. According to land-use and cover-change analysis, we also studied the structural changes in habitat over the past two decades and used empirical analysis to evaluate the relative ecological niche widths and overlap of giant panda distribution areas in 1995 and 2015. It is found the area of non-forested land decreased significantly from 1995 to 2015. It is interesting that the high-quality land-use types tended to decrease but low/middle-quality land-use types tended to increase over the past 20 years. Giant panda conservation projects in China have promoted changes in conservation thought and management, as well as the innovation of technical means over the studied period. The goals of Chinese giant panda conservation projects are not only to facilitate giant panda reproduction but also to alleviate the contradiction between conservation and development and promote the coexistence of humans and giant pandas.

Predictability of the distribution of human-biting mosquitoes using large-scale habitat patterns

Predictability of the distribution of human-biting mosquitoes using large-scale habitat patterns

A fractional land use change model for ecological applications

By mapping land use under projections of socio-economic change, ecological changes can be predicted to inform conservation decision-making. We present a land use model that enables the fine-scale mapping of land use change under future scenarios. Its predictions can be used as input to virtually all existing spatially-explicit ecological models. Our model maps the fractional cover of land use within each grid cell, providing higher information content than discrete classes at the same spatial resolution. The method accurately reproduced land use patterns observed in the Amazon, both in terms of the allocated fractional amounts and also the direction of predicted land use changes. A small case study showcases the application of our model to reproduce patterns of agricultural expansion and natural habitat declines. The model source code is provided as an open-source R package, making this new method available to bridge the gap between socio-economic, land use and biodiversity modelling.

Regionally divergent patterns of grass carp relative abundance, feeding habits and trophic niches in the subtropical Pearl River basin

Regionally divergent patterns of grass carp relative abundance, feeding habits and trophic niches in the subtropical Pearl River basin

Effect of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Cycle on the Catches and Habitat Patterns of Three Swimming Crabs in the Taiwan Strait

The swimming crabs is a crucial predator species in benthic habitats and a high value in commercial fishery industries in subtropical and tropical Asia. The climate variability caused by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events has substantial impacts on the catch and habitat of this species. In this study, a weighted habitat suitability index (HSI) model was constructed using logbooks and voyage data records from Taiwanese crab vessels (2013–2019) with the addition of environmental variables to examine the influence of ENSO events on catch rates (CRs) and habitat suitability for Charybdis feriatus, Portunus pelagicus, and Portunus sanguinolentus in the Taiwan Strait (TS). The autumn (September–October) is the major fishing season for catching these three swimming crab species in the TS. A high CR of P. sanguinolentus was observed across the TS, whereas high CRs of P. pelagicus and C. feriatus were recorded in areas in the southern and northern TS, respectively, during autumn. Moreover, the CRs for C. feriatus and P. pelagicus were higher (>7.0 and >8.0 kg/h) during La Niña events, with the increase being more than 40.0% compared with the CRs under normal and El Niño events in autumn. For P. sanguinolentus, the CRs were higher during both La Niña and El Niño events (>8.0 kg/h) compared with normal years. The high CRs for C. feriatus and P. sanguinolentus during autumn in La Niña years co-occurred with high sea temperature and low salinity, whereas the high CR of P. pelagicus co-occurred with high sea temperature and high salinity. Furthermore, the high CRs for C. feriatus and P. pelagicus were observed in areas with high HSI in the La Niña years but were distributed more widely with a lower HSI during normal and El Niño years. The low CRs for C. feriatus and P. pelagicus during normal and El Niño years and the low CR for P. sanguinolentus in normal years during autumn were highly consistent with substantial shrinkage of suitable habitats. Our findings suggest that ENSO events strongly affected the catch and habitat suitability of C. feriatus, P. pelagicus, and P. sanguinolentus during autumn in the TS.

Association between Chewable Tobacco Consumption and Oral Hygiene Habits on Periodontal Health

Aims: To determine the pattern of chewable tobacco habits, to assess the oral hygiene habits among patients visiting dental OPD and to determine the association of oral health maintenance and chewable tobacco with severity of periodontal disease.
 Study Design: It was a comparative cross sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Dental Outpatient Department, Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad and Jamshoro for six months from 1st February 2020 to 31st July 2020.
 Methodology: A total of 362 subjects were selected by non-probability sampling technique. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect the data. Questionnaire forms was close and open ended. The investigator checked the patients, under the supervision of the OPD specialist and classified the periodontal health status. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS v.22) was used for data analysis.
 Results: A total of 362 subjects, (84.5%) male and (15.5%) females were included in the study with the mean age 34.9 and SD ± 11.7. A highly significant association was found between chewable tobacco consumption and oral hygiene habits on periodontal health (p=<0.001) and statistically significant difference was found between the scores of measure of probing depth and loss of attachment for male and females (p=<0.001).
 Conclusion: Periodontal diseases and poor oral hygiene have been diagnosed in all consumers of chewable tobacco. Usage of various types of chewing tobacco has been found to exacerbate the condition by developing pocket formation, bleeding on the probe, and inducing gingival recession as well.

Morphological diversities and associated preference traits in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) landraces from central and southern Benin

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production in Benin is limited by several biotic and abiotic stresses. The objectives of this study were to document varietal trait preferences and peanut genetic diversity for breeding programs. A survey in the South and Center of Benin and an agro-morphological characterization was carried out. Results showed that farmers used five criteria, namely yield (seeds and pods), size of seeds, number of seeds per pod, oil content, and quality of the paste for selecting a variety. The clustering based on ten qualitative traits showed a variability structure in three groups based on the leaflets shape, plant habit, and branching pattern. The principal component analysis carried out on the quantitative traits indicated six groups of accessions. The group 3 of the latest analysis is composed of Azii alorga and Kamalo with interesting characteristics and showing a good criteria as seeds size (SDL= 14.62 ± 0.48 mm), and pods size (average pod length and width respectively PoL = 33.70 ± 1.14 mm, Pow = 14.87 ± 0.29 mm). The results should be prioritized for breeding programs to improve the good criteria found in other peanut varieties. It will be helpful for farmers in selecting performant varieties.

Revision of the genus Xanthopimpla Saussure, 1892 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) from Japan

Japanese species of the genus Xanthopimpla Saussure, 1892 are revised. A total of 15 species are recorded from Japan, including three new species, X. nipponensissp. nov. X. sylvicolasp. nov. and X. yoshimuraisp. nov. and three species, X. honorata (Cameron, 1899), X. minuta Cameron, 1905 and X. trias Townes & Chiu, 1970, newly recorded from Japan. Host, habitat, overwintering and distribution patterns of Japanese Xanthopimpla species are discussed.

Derivation of spatially detailed lentic habitat map and inventory at a basin scale by integrating multispectral Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and USGS Digital Elevation Models

Aquatic habitats are essential for aquaculture, agriculture, and municipal water supply. The geographical location and quantitative information about the aquatic habitats are critical for inventorying, monitoring, and managing these valuable resources. This paper presents a novel method that integrates the object-oriented image analysis and DEM-based stream network analysis to map and quantify lentic aquatic habitats, using freely available ESA Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery and USGS DEMs. This integrated method has been applied to the entire Mobile River Basin, USA, and lentic habitats at the basin scale have been delineated and inventoried at the 10-m spatial resolution. The surface water pixels of aquatic habitats are extracted through the Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique (ISODATA) unsupervised classification of the Sentinel-2 multispectral images. An object-oriented image analysis approach is then used to group contiguous water pixels to form and map discrete aquatic habitat objects. The stream network in the basin has been hydrologically derived from the USGS DEMs at the 10-m spatial resolution. The combination of the geometric and shape information from the object-oriented image analysis and hydrological information from the DEM-based stream network analysis enables the separation of lotic and lentic habitats. A set of planimetric, geometric, and shape attributes has been numerically derived for each lentic habitat object. The abundance pattern, shape pattern, and spatial distribution pattern of the lentic habitats in the basin have been analyzed. The vast majority of the aquatic habitat objects identified in the Mobile River Basin are lentic habitats. The most striking spatial pattern of lentic habitats is that small, oblong lakes and fish ponds are densely distributed along the Black Prairie Belt in the basin, laying the foundation for the catfish aquacultural industry in the regions of mid-west Alabama and east Mississippi. This research demonstrates that the integration of the recently emerged Sentinel-2A/B satellite multispectral imagery with USGS DEMs represents an effective approach to the inventory and environmental investigation of lentic habitats at a basin scale.

Association of Diet, Physical Activity Guidelines and Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Children

The aim was to identify different dietary and physical activity (PA) patterns in 5- to 14-year-old children with a high prevalence of overweight and obesity using cluster analysis based on their adherence to the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition dietary guidelines and levels of PA, and to determine their associations with age, sex, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk markers. In 549 children, hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups with similar adherence to dietary recommendations and level of PA. Three clusters were identified: Cluster 1, with the lowest level of vigorous PA and adherence to dietary recommendations; Cluster 2, with the lowest levels of moderate and vigorous PA and the highest adherence to dietary recommendations; and Cluster 3, with the highest level of PA, especially vigorous PA and a medium level adherence to dietary recommendations. Cluster 3 had lower total body fat and higher lean body mass percentages than Cluster 2. Cluster 2 had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than Cluster 1. The results from our study suggest that it is important to consider adherence to PA recommendations together with adherence to dietary guidelines to understand patterns of obesogenic habits in pediatric populations with high prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Relationship of Social Media Use (Tik-Tok) With Characters in Junior High School Grade VII in MTsN 2 Bulukumba

The current phenomenon shows how social media presents a variety of interesting applications that focus on the existence of its users from various kalanagn. Currently, social media is the most popular of various calendars, especially children, namely Tik-Tok with download data of 63.3 million users, where humans are supported by their character, making individuals have to establish social relationships with the community and social environment. Individual character is defined as behavior that is done consciously so as to form a pattern of habits.. The purpose of this study was to find out the relationshipof Tik-Tok social media use with Character in grade VII junior high school children in MTsN 2 Bulukumba.. In accordance with the problem of descriptive research correlation research methods used in this study are quantative research methods with retrospective cohort research design types that are modifications of cohort design. This design is used to determine the relationship between independent variables (risk factors) and dependent variables (outcomes) based on time travel across from the identification of risk factors to the occurrence of outcomes, but all events occurred in the past (retrospective). The study sampled 48 respondents. The data analysis in this study used the Chi-Square test. . With the statistical test used chi-square test obtained a value p : 0.449 which means there is no correlation or relationship of social media use Tik-Tok with character in children of middle age.. The conclusion of this study is the influence of tik-tok social media use on the character of junior high school age children in grade VII in MTsN 2 Bulukumba Bulukumbat district in 2021. Researchers suggest that the results of this study can be used as a reference to apply in the scope of nursing, especially for the character of children.

Arabic Language Curriculum Development in Ma’had Umar Bin Al-Khattab Surabaya in Maintaining Middle Eastern Culture-based Educational Institutions.

Ma’had Umar Bin Al-Khattab Surabaya is an educational institution that concentrates on providing Arabic language education and islamic studies with an institutional style based on Middle Eastern Culture. This study aims to describe and analyze the development of the Arabic language curriculum and the achievement of Arabic curriculum development at MUBK Surabaya in maintaining Middle Eastern culture based educational institutions.This research uses a naturalistic qualitative approach with the type of field research and case study research design. The subjects in this study were Mudir, Deputy Mudir, Lecturers of Ma’had, alumni and students of MUBK Surabaya. data was collected by observation, interview, and documentation. Data analiysis techniques using data analysis techniques of Miles and Huberman, namely data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions.The results of this research showed that the development of the Arabic language curriculum at MUBK Surabaya was carried out because of many background aspect including: stakeholder demands and students need. The principles of curriculum development are relevance, flexibility, continuity, as well as effectiveness and efficiency. The foundation of curriculum development used is religious, capability, psychological, and sosio-cultural. Middle Eastern culture at MUBK Surabaya includes 3 aspects, namely: first, the value system and nature of Middle Eastern people thought. Second, the pattern of life, attitudes, and Islamic habits of the Middle East. Third: patterns of student-teacher relationships in Middle Eastern cultures. The acvievement of curricilum development at MUBK Surabaya is by designing several courses to support the implementation of the 3 aspects of Middle Eastern culture.
 Keywords : Arabic Language Curriculum Development; Educational Institutions; Middle East Culture.

NATURAL HABITAT OF BALI STARLING (Leucopsar rothschildi) IN BALI BARAT NATIONAL PARK, INDONESIA

Tropical savannas and dry forests in Indonesia are important types of ecosystems which provide habitat to support various endemic wildlife. Several of these endemic species are now seriously threatened and accordingly have high conservation status according to IUCN, including the Bali starling (Leucopsar rotschildi) which is mostly now restricted to the Bali Barat National Park. Given the high extinction risk facing such species, conservation programmes are likely to require multidisciplinary approaches that address both the biological attributes of the species itself, as well as their habitat requirements. Regrettably, for many species, their habitat ecology remains inadequately understood. The objectives of this paper are to: 1) characterise the habitat of the Bali starling in terms of structure and floristic composition; and 2) document evidence of vegetation cover changes in the Bali Barat National Park. Analysis of remote sensing imagery as well as field sampling for vegetation attributes was conducted to address these objectives. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated from Landsat imageries using red and near infrared bands. Tree cover percentage data were downloaded from Vegetation Continuous Fields (VCF) product from the University of Maryland’s website. Results showed that forest and savanna are the dominant land cover types in the Bali Barat National Park but their distribution is somewhat dynamic with changes in vegetation cover and greenness found across the years in which increasing cover of woody plants is the general trend. In the Bali Barat National Park, the Bali starling is mostly found at or near distinct vegetation boundaries, such as the border between savanna-forest; savanna-cropland; savanna-shrubland; settlement-cropland; and forest-shrubland. Although Cekik area had planted species that has been known to be able to provide shelter and food for Bali Starling (so was Brumbun), the bird has not been observed to be presence in the area since the 1990s. These results further confirm the importance of examining habitat patterns of endemic bird within a landscape that are influenced by multiple factors that interact in space and time. Addressing data shortage in habitat patterns within endemic species distribution is important for conservation managers developing conservation management strategies. Evaluating the remaining habitat of the species is important for conservation of Bali starling and useful for the reintroduction and release program to their natural habitat.