Autumn Period Research Articles

Study the Dynamics of the Transformation Processes for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Compounds in the Ecosystem of the Vistula Lagoon of the Baltic Sea using the Methods of Mathematical Modeling

By using mathematical modeling methods, a systematic study of the interaction of hydrobiological, hydrochemical, hydrological and hydrophysical processes that occur in the ecosystem of the Vistula Lagoon (VL) of the Baltic Sea was carried out, taking into account the processes in the active layer of bottom sediments (BS). The features of the dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, the turnover time and the components of the balance of compounds of biogenic elements in the VL ecosystem, as well as the degree of their temporal variability have been analyzed. It is shown that the variability of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in the aquatic environment increases in spring and autumn periods. This is due to an increase in river flow into the lagoon and an increase in the level of external biogenic load on the water area of the VL. Model calculations of matter fluxes allow us to state that the inputs of dissolved organic and suspended matter into the lagoon from external sources and the removal to the Baltic Sea are important processes that significantly affect their content in the VL ecosystem. It has been established that under strong winds the process of sedimentation of suspensions can be largely blocked, and the intensity of BS resuspension can increase significantly. An analysis of the main qualitative and quantitative features of the nature of the temporal dynamics of the DON and DOP turnover times, as well as the mineral compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus, indicates a close conjugation of the processes of transformation of dissolved organic and inorganic substances in the water of the VL. A quantitative assessment of the processes of consumption and excretion of compounds of biogenic elements by different groups of aquatic organisms has been performed, and the important role of heterotrophic bacterioplankton and protozoa in the processes of transformation of compounds of nutrients in the VL ecosystem has been shown. The model can be used to perform scenario modeling and analysis of possible changes in the VL ecosystem under changing climatic and anthropogenic conditions.

Intra‐ and inter‐specific variability in the temporal trends of butterfly phenology in the Northern Alps

Abstract Large‐scale declines in insect abundances and richness due to climate and land‐use change have been well documented during the past years. These changes are accompanied by shifts in insect phenology towards earlier appearance in spring and prolonged activity periods in late summer and autumn. The magnitude of these responses to climate change might be masked by intra‐ and inter‐specific variability in phenology and trait expression. Here, we used a large data set of museum records of butterflies from the northern Austrian Alps (380 m to >3000 m asl) and ask to which degree does intra‐ and inter‐specific variability in spring and autumn activity and in the numbers of generations affect the temporal trends in phenology during the last 30 years? For the 17 most abundant species, we found phenological variability to strongly differ among species, local habitats and study years. Ubiquitous mobile species were significantly more variable than habitat specialist and sedentary species. Intra‐specific variability was highest in ubiquitous habitat generalist species and increased during the study period. As consequence, seasonal appearance and composition of local butterfly communities are now less predictable than decades ago. It remains unclear whether this trend causes a rewiring of pollinator food webs.

Seasonal persistence of the nitrogen oxides production in Mexico City

AbstractThis study investigates the seasonal influence on the nitrogen oxide NOx pollution records at four monitoring sites in Mexico City from 2010 to 2018. The analysis employs the second-order structure function to examine the trends in NOx concentration fluctuations. The findings reveal that the fluctuations follow a power law pattern characterized by Hurst exponents, predominantly in the statistical persistence regime, with a scaling range spanning three orders of magnitude. Specifically, the autumn period exhibits fluctuations with an exponent of $$\overline{H}=0.72$$ H ¯ = 0.72 , indicating relatively smaller fluctuations compared to other seasons, but with the potential for NOx concentrations to surpass those in other periods. In contrast, for spring, summer, and winter, the fluctuations are characterized by exponents of$$\overline{H}=0.59$$ H ¯ = 0.59 ,$$\overline{H}=0.61$$ H ¯ = 0.61 , and$$\overline{H}=0.62$$ H ¯ = 0.62 , respectively, demonstrating greater fluctuations with lower NOx concentrations compared to autumn. These results are consistent with various studies conducted worldwide. Additionally, a negative correlation between NOx and ozone (O3) has been established during the winter season, as NOx and O3 fluctuations display persistent and anti-persistent behavior, respectively.

Effect of Dietary Olive Leaf Integration on Qualitative Characteristics of Sheep Cheese During Ripening

Olive leaf by-products may be an important feed source for ruminants in the Mediterranean area, due to their nutritional value and high levels of functional metabolites. Additionally, their use can enhance the environmental and economic sustainability of the productions. To evaluate the effect of olive leaf supplementation on the fatty acid profile of sheep cheese, two farms with Comisana breed sheep with free access to pasture and fedwith 300 g/head/day of concentrate were considered. One farm supplemented the feed with clover hay ad libitum (NOL) and the other farm replaced hay with olive leaves (OLI) in the autumn period. Cheese analyses were performed at 15, 30, and 60 days of ripening. Saturated fatty acids were lower in OLI cheese than NOL cheese, while MUFA and PUFA n-3 and n-6 were higher in OLI cheese. Myristic acid (C14:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0) were lower in OLI cheese compared to NOL (8.31% vs. 8.90% and 21.52% vs. 24.95%, respectively), while oleic acid (C18:1 cis-9) was higher in OLI cheese (20.66% vs. 18.78%). Also, CLA cis-9 trans-11 (0.98% vs. 0.84%), and other isomers were higher in OLI cheese. Health indexes, such as the thrombogenic and atherogenic index, were lower in OLI than in NOL cheese (1.96 vs. 2.38 and 1.69 vs. 2.05, respectively) showing the improvement in the health quality of cheese due to olive leaf integration in directly on farm sheep feeding.

Urban waste-water treatment plants as hotspots for birds : an environmental assessment highlights the role of a single dominant gull

Waste-water treatment plants (WWTPs) are still little explored in their ecological role. This work reports data obtained from standardized sampling for the two largest Italian WWTPs, to obtain seasonal patterns (late winter, spring, and autumn) of univariate diversity metrics in bird communities. The ecological conditions, linked above all to the high availability of water, with the presence of mud and trophic resources, and heterogeneous features (buildings, trees, and hedges), allow the presence of water-related and synanthropic bird species, using the site as a seasonal stopover and wintering sites. The large availability of biomass of invertebrates, linked to the sludge from the water-waste treatment plants, can provide an important trophic resource during spring migration. The richness, diversity and evenness did not differ significantly between the two plants analysed, both having comparable size and heterogeneity. The highest Simpson dominance values were recorded in autumn with species frequency concentrated in a few abundant species. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) shows a close association between the autumn period and the dominant Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), in both treatment plants, with possible implication on the spreading on zoonosis.

The snow depth and its dynamics on the continental part of the Russian Arctic under conditions of the present-day climate

Based on the data of route snow surveys for the period 1966–2020, the comparison of the average long-term maximum depths of snow cover, the depths of snow cover for individual months and the dynamics of snow accumulation (the ratio of the depths of snow cover to the maximum value) on the continental part of the Russian Arctic for two representative periods (1966–1990 and 1991–2020) was made. Maps of snow cover depths and snow accumulation dynamics have been constructed for both periods. These maps made possible to analyze influence of the climatic changes on the depths of snow cover and the dynamics of snow accumulation. A comparison of these values for the first (1991–2020) period with the same of the second one showed that in October–November in the European part of the Russian Arctic, the snow depths decreased by an average of 22% (first period) and 8% (second period), and in some areas the decrease reached 70 and 20%. In the Arctic part of Western Siberia, these characteristics of snow cover increased. Growth of snow cover depths in November/January/March averaged as 11/20/23%, and in some areas it exceeded 40%. The dynamics of snow accumulation in the Arctic for the whole period 1991–2020 averages 18/37%, in October/November, and 71/91% in January/March. In the European part of the Arctic, these values are smaller: 13/29% and 68/90%, respectively. The dynamics of snow accumulation in the west and in the center of the European Arctic territory by the end of the autumn period does not reach 30%, while in the Arctic part of Siberia this mainly exceeds 50%. In October/November 1991–2020, the dynamics of snow accumulation decreased in several regions of the European Arctic and the Arctic part of Western Siberia as compared to 1966–1990. On average over the entire territory of the Arctic, the decrease in the dynamics of snow accumulation compared to 1966–1990 amounted to 13/4% in October/November, and 3/1% in January/March.

Characterizing Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter Spatio-Temporal Variability in North Andean Patagonian Lakes Using Remote Sensing Information and Environmental Analysis

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is crucial in aquatic ecosystems, influencing light penetration and biogeochemical processes. This study investigates the CDOM variability in seven oligotrophic lakes of North Andean Patagonia using Landsat 8 imagery. An empirical band ratio model was calibrated and validated for the estimation of CDOM concentrations in surface lake water as the absorption coefficient at 440 nm (acdom440, m−1). Of the five atmospheric corrections evaluated, the QUAC (Quick Atmospheric Correction) method demonstrated the highest accuracy for the remote estimation of CDOM. The application of separate models for deep and shallow lakes yielded superior results compared to a combined model, with R2 values of 0.76 and 0.82 and mean absolute percentage errors (MAPEs) of 14% and 22% for deep and shallow lakes, respectively. The spatio-temporal variability of CDOM was characterized over a five-year period using satellite-derived acdom440 values. CDOM concentrations varied widely, with very low values in deep lakes and moderate values in shallow lakes. Additionally, significant seasonal fluctuations were evident. Lower CDOM concentrations were observed during the summer to early autumn period, while higher concentrations were observed in the winter to spring period. A gradient boosting regression tree analysis revealed that inter-lake differences were primarily influenced by the lake perimeter to lake area ratio, mean lake depth, and watershed area to lake volume ratio. However, seasonal CDOM variation was largely influenced by Lake Nahuel Huapi water storage (a proxy for water level variability at a regional scale), followed by precipitation, air temperature, and wind. This research presents a robust method for estimating low to moderate CDOM concentrations, improving environmental monitoring of North Andean Patagonian Lake ecosystems. The results deepen the understanding of CDOM dynamics in low-impact lakes and its main environmental drivers, enhance the ability to estimate lacustrine carbon stocks on a regional scale, and help to predict the effects of climate change on this important variable.

Microbiota of goby fish in the northern part of the Caspian sea

Microorganisms, including bacteria of aquatic ecosystems, due to their short life cycle and rapid reproduction, react to any transformations of environmental conditions earlier than other organisms of any biocenosis. Various qualitative and quantitative changes in the bacteriocenoses of water and bottom sediments entail changes in the microbiota of aquatic organisms. Fish of the Gobiidae family, due to their sedentary lifestyle, can serve as an indicator of changes in the microbiota of the environment through the transformation of their own. The results of microbiological studies of goby fish caught in the northern part of the Caspian Sea in 2014–2023 are presented. The microbiota of organs and tissues of gobies changed insignificantly over the years at the level of the isolated families; microbial associations were similar in summer and autumn. In the autumn period, the qualitative composition of bacteriocenoses of all studied biotopes became more diverse in terms of the number of isolated genera of bacteria. Isolated microorganisms of gobies are represented by gram-positive and gram-negative forms with a dominance of representatives of the family. Enterobacteriaceae and gram-positive rods and cocci. The isolated bacteria had enzymatic activity — the production of a wide range of enzymes was recorded, including enzymes acting as pathogenicity factors. The presence of resistant isolates to most of the tested antibiotics was also noted. The above properties indicated significant heterogeneity of the population of isolated bacteria and their significant adaptive potential. The results obtained indicated the persistence of potentially dangerous microorganisms in gobies. The absence of clinical signs of infectious diseases and any pathological processes in the organs and tissues of the examined fish made it possible to assess the presence of the above microorganisms as asymptomatic bacterial carriage

Seasonal dynamics of indicators of mineral metabolism in horses in the conditions of the Leningrad region

The article analyzes the seasonal dynamics of mineral metabolism indicators in adult horses kept in private stables in the Leningrad region. As a result of the research, knowledge of the concentration and dependence of indicators on the seasonality of the year was obtained. It is important to remember that macro- and microelements are not synthesized in the body, they come from food, water, and air. The degree of their assimilation depends on the state of the respiratory and digestive organs. The most difficult period for animals is winter, when there is a decrease in the resistance of the body as a whole due to poor climatic conditions and minimizing physical activity in the fresh air. All these are predisposing factors for the imbalance of indicators at the level of the whole organism.It is established that in the autumn-winter period there is a decrease in indicators relative to the average annual digital values. Thus, there is a linear relationship between the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in blood serum – the minimum values are observed in winter and are 2.53±0.27 mmol/l and 1.76± 0.11 mmol/l, respectively. And the maximum values are typical for the autumn period and are 3.63±0.29 mmol/l for calcium and 2.33±0.12 mmol/l for phosphorus. Similar dynamics is observed in other indicators of the body's mineral metabolism. Thus, for trace elements such as copper, iron, protein-bound iodine, the minimum values were noted in the spring period. This can be explained by a decrease in the mineral components of the feed itself, as a result of long-term storage, resulting in changes in the chemical composition of vegetable feed with fat oxidation. Microelementoses and osteodystrophic processes are observed in animals. The autumn period is characterized by the highest concentrations of minerals in the blood serum of horses, on average by 8-12% compared with the average annual figures, This is explained by the fact that it was in the summer period that the greatest benefit was obtained from juicy plant substances of feed and proper exercise.This knowledge is necessary to understand the processes occurring in the body of horses at different times of the year and the possibility of correcting mineral supplements based on the data obtained

Chemical Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Environmental Driving Factors of Groundwater in Hetao Irrigation Area

To explore the chemical characteristics and environmental factors of groundwater in the Hetao Irrigation Area of Inner Mongolia, five irrigation fields, including UulanBuh, Jiefangzha, Yongji, Yichang, and Wulat, were selected as the research area. From 72 groundwater observation wells, a total of 216 groundwater samples were collected throughout three typical periods： the end of freeze-thaw （March）, the middle of irrigation （July）, and the end of autumn watering （November）. Comprehensive methods were utilized, such as statistical analysis, Piper three-line diagram, Gibbs diagram, ion ratio, and principal component analysis, to explore the changes in the groundwater chemical environment and the environmental driving factors of groundwater component formation. The groundwater drinking suitability was evaluated using the water quality index （WQI）, and the irrigation suitability was analyzed using the USSL and Wilcox plots. The results indicated that the groundwater in the research areas was generally saline, and the total anion and cation concentrations in each period in ascending order were as follows： late freeze-thaw stage, late autumn irrigation stage, and mid-irrigation stage, with Na+ and Cl- being the major contributing ions. The chemical type of groundwater was dominated by Cl-Na, followed by Cl·SO4-Ca·Mg and a coexistence with SO4-Ca·Mg, HCO3·Cl-Na, HCO3-Na, and HCO3-Ca·Mg. Based on WQI values, the shallow groundwater in Hetao Irrigation District was mainly classified as Class IV and Class V, and the quality was poor in general. According to the USSL diagram and Wilcox diagram, the comprehensive evaluation results showed that the salinity and sodium concentration of shallow groundwater in the irrigation area were generally high. A total of 80.6% of the water samples during the late freeze-thaw period, 76.1% during the mid-irrigation period, and 77.6% during the late autumn irrigation period lacked irrigation suitability. Two major controlling factors of groundwater chemical characteristics were present in the study area, namely, evaporation and rock weathering, and Na+ and Cl- mainly came from the dissolution and cation exchange of salt rocks. Agricultural irrigation and drought were the chief driving factors of groundwater chemical evolution in the Hetao Irrigation Area. The study provides technical support for optimizing agricultural management measures and a theoretical reference for rational utilization of groundwater resources in the Yellow River irrigation area of Inner Mongolia.

Long-term dynamics of the heterоtrophic bacterioplankton development in the mouth of the Usinsky bay of the Kuibyshev reservoir

Data of our long-term observations of the bacterioplankton development in the mouth section of the Usinsky bay (the Kuibyshev reservoir) during the summer–autumn periods are presented. The total abundance of heterotrophic bacterioplankton varied within (1.61–7.44)×106 cells/mL, the biomass was 39.01–249.53 µgC/L, which corresponds to III–V water quality classes. Between 2010 and 2017 the total abundance of heterotrophic bacterioplankton was nonmonotonically decreasing, and since 2021 its significant increase is recorded. Among heterotrophic bacteria, single freefloating cells predominated, mainly cocci and coccobacilli, and the proportion of rod-shaped cells increased during cyanobacterial bloom. Picocyanobacteria and picodetritus particles were almost always present in plankton, but their average contribution to the total organic carbon of picoseston was insignificant.

Variability and Composition of Mysid Assemblages in a Northwest Iberian Estuary: Insights from a 10-Year Data Series

Long-term temporal studies have been used to assess the effects of climate change on mysid populations and their complex ecological interplay within heterogeneous ecosystems. This study is the first to investigate the mysid community in the Mondego estuary, western Portugal, for a decade, from 2003 to 2012. Monthly data collected from five stations along the estuary was used to investigate variations in mysid assemblage composition, patterns, phenology, and the interactions with environmental variables. Thirteen taxa were found in the assemblages. The community was dominated by Mesopodopsis slabberi, which was found in great numbers in the upper estuarine region. Praunus flexuosus and Schistomysis spiritus dominated the assemblages in the middle estuary, while Gastrossacus spinifer and Heteromysis formosa were very abundant at the mouth of the estuary. Overall, mysids were mostly present during autumn periods, when local environmental factors such as water temperature and chlorophyll-a concentrations influenced assemblage abundances. The high productivity of the system played a pivotal role in fostering greater species abundance. However, lower abundances were detected during warmer years, further evidencing changes in these key species’ communities under future climatic scenarios of increasing water temperatures.

THE ORIGIN OF CONFUCIUS THOUGHT AND LU CULTURE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ZUO ZHUAN

There are thirty-eight records about Confucius's words and deeds in Zuo Zhuan, from which we can clearly feel the promotion and sublimation of Confucius's thought to Lu's culture. As a native of the state of Lu in the spring and autumn period, Confucius's worship of rite, virtue, and elegant language is the inheritance and promotion of the traditional culture of Lu, while the factors of advocating benevolence and achievement are the sublimation and transcendence of the traditional culture of Lu. At the same time, Confucius's thought is also an important part of Lu culture and even Chinese culture, which has a profound impact on later generations.

Analyzing Current Trends and forecasting Snow Cover Dynamics: A Multi-Data Approach utilizing Satellite Data, ERA5 and SSP Scenarios for Enhanced Disaster Preparedness

The Indus Himalayan region, characterized by its challenging mountainous terrain, presents obstacles for ground observations. This study aims to investigate variations in Snow Cover Area (SCA) and its relationship with other climatic variables. We utilized MODIS snow cover, temperature, ECMWF ERA-5 and SRTM elevation products to assess present trends (2002-2023) and CMIP6 SSP scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) to project future impacts (2024 to 2100) of climate change. Statistical analyses reveal decadal trends in SCA, with slight increases observed in winter, summer, autumn and annual periods (0.14% year−1, 0.33% year−1, 0.45% year−1 and 0.35% year−1 respectively). A significant positive trend is noted in spring (July-September) at 0.35% year−1. The study indicates an insignificant negative correlation (−0.81) between SCA and Land Surface Temperature (LST), suggesting potential climate change impacts on SCA depletion in the Northwest Himalayan (NWH) region. By projecting future climate scenarios including changes in temperature, precipitation patterns and annual frost days (Tmin < 0°C) until 2100, we observed a reduction in frost days and increasing temperatures due to climate change. Understanding evolving climate dynamics and snow cover trends is essential for developing effective strategies to address climate change impacts and to ensure community resilience in the Indus Himalayas.

Current state of sturgeon fish off the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov

The aim: the characteristics of sturgeon fish that make seasonal migrations to the near-shore zone of the Azov Sea.Material — scientific monitoring of commercial fishing with stationary seines in the water area of the Sea of Azov adjacent to the Primorsko-Akhtarsk district in October 2022, 2023 and April 2023, 2024.The results: Russian Sturgeon and Starry Sturgeon (Sevruga) were encountered in stationary seines from 50% to 100%, and the average catch of these species per facility was 1.3–7 sp./day in the autumn and spring periods, respectively. In the fall of 2022, the prevalence of Sevruga in bycatch was almost double — 63% of the total bycatch; in the spring and fall of 2023, 2024, the superiority was with Sturgeon — 63–83% of the bycatch. Size range of Sturgeon in 2022–2024 was from 22 to 148 cm; Sevruga — from 23 to 123 cm. The weight range of Sturgeon was from 0.1 to 30.0 kg, Sevruga — from 0.2 to 7.8 kg. The share of fish that reached the commercial length was on average 20.7% of Sturgeon and 36.6% of Sevruga. The age of the fish varied from fingerlings to 16+ for Sturgeon and up to 8+ for Sevruga. The average fullness coefficient of Russian Sturgeon in the autumn was 0.72; in spring, — 0.79; Sevruga: in the autumn of 2022 and 2023–0.45, in the spring of 2023–0.58. The state of Russian Sturgeon in the near-shore aggregations indicates the formation of its full-fledged mixed-age population in the Sea of Azov, that allows to expect its commercial fishing in the near future, on the background of the increasing its stock. The state of the Sevruga requires more in-depth research. A high fish fatness coefficient indicates their sufficient food supply.Practical value: Observations of bycatch in stationary seines in the near-shore area of the sea are an important addition to the accounting trawl survey data for understanding the structure of the Russian Sturgeon population in the Azov Sea and practically the main source of information on the state of the Sevruga population.

The Individual Division of Food Hoarding in Autumn Brandt's Voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii).

Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), one of the main non-hibernating rodent species in the typical grassland of Inner Mongolia, live in groups and have the behavioral habit of hoarding food in underground warehouses in autumn to prepare for the winter food shortage ahead. The division of labor and cooperation are typical behavior patterns of gregarious mammals, but it is unclear whether Brandt's voles exercise a division of labor in food hoarding before overwintering. To explore the division of food hoarding in Brandt's voles during the autumn period, three treatments, namely added food, added food + competition, and control, were set up with three replicates. An infrared camera was positioned to observe and record the behavior of Brandt's voles under different treatments. Next, behavioral experiments regarding food-hoarding division were performed on individuals. The results showed that (1) Brandt's voles had two types of hoarding behavior, namely high food hoarding and low food hoarding, but not all individuals displayed hoarding behavior. (2) In all treatments, feeding behavior, which was the most important type of behavior, accounted for the highest proportion of all behaviors. (3) There was no significant difference in body weight and sex between high- and low-food-hoarding individuals of Brandt's voles, and there was no significant difference between high- and low-food-hoarding individuals in other divisions of labor either. (4) There was no significant difference in inquiry ability between high- and low-food-hoarding groups, but there was a significant difference in spatial memory. High-food-hoarding individuals had greater spatial memory. In summary, Brandt's voles had two types of hoarding behavior: high food hoarding and low food hoarding. Furthermore, high-food-hoarding individuals had greater spatial memory.

Comparative Evaluation of Water Quality Properties: A Case Study of Coupled Commercial Aquaponics System

The current study intends to evaluate the influence of seasonal changes on the water quality parameters of a coupled commercial aquaponics system. The determined water quality parameters for the comparative study were total ammonium-nitrogen (TAN), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) and phosphate (PO43-), water temperature (WT), water pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS). The WT and DO analysis were carried out using a portable dissolved oxygen meter (Model: PDO-520, Taiwan). A portable electrode pH meter (Model: PH-220, Taiwan) was utilized for the pH measurement. The TDS and EC readings were obtained using a multi-parameter water quality meter (PHT-27, China). The TAN, NO3-N, and PO43- determinations were done using their individual Merck Spectro-quant® test kits. The research results indicated a significant (p0.05) difference. The observed significant increase of NO3-N, PO43-, EC, and TDS in the summer and autumn periods could be associated to the increased fish feeding rate (which increases waste production) as well as relative increase in microbial waste conversion/mineralization. The investigated water quality makers were within the recommended amounts in the aquaponics system. Thus, in this study, seasonal differences have induced variation in the NO3-N, PO43-, WT, pH, EC, and TDS amounts. However, these differences do not affect the TAN and DO levels.

Inventing the Spring and Autumn Period

Abstract This article proposes that the invention of the concept of Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu; ca. 722–481 BCE), the only Chinese historical period named after a text, was neither early nor inevitable. A diachronic analysis of the word chunqiu shows that it began to denote the Chunqiu period in late Western Han (ca. 48 BCE–9 CE). An eschatological prediction in the first century BCE was instrumental in generating this temporal sensibility. Many used the time frame of 242 years with 12 reigns from the Chunqiu, a canonical text purportedly composed by Confucius, to predict that the Han dynasty would soon come to an end. Wang Mang, who overthrew the Han and fulfilled the prophecy, intensified this sensibility. Just as the Western Han was born as a historical period, so was Chunqiu as its historical analogue. Subsequently, historians artificially extended the length of the former to align it with the latter. The emergence of Chunqiu is thus a story about how numerology shaped the interaction between visions of the future and of history, textuality, temporality, political action, classical studies, and historiography in ancient China. The telling of this story complicates our understanding of the history of periodization, a problematic yet essential practice that concerns every historian.

Содержание железа в органах и тканях каспийского рыбца Vimba vimba persa (Pallas)

The object of research in this work is the Caspian vimba Vimba vimba persa (Pallas), one of the commercial fish species of the Caspian Sea. Fish samples taken in the middle part of the Caspian Sea in the autumn period from 2020 to 2023 were analyzed. The work includes studies of Fe concentration in organs and tissues (muscle tissue, gonads, liver, gills, gastrointestinal tract) and food coma of the Caspian vimba Vimba vimba persa (Pallas) aged 2 and 3 years old. It was revealed that Fe accumulation in the liver occurs to a greater extent in the body of the Caspian vimba, and to a lesser extent in muscle tissue. A comparative analysis of the metal concentration was carried out depending on the sex and age of the fish. It was found that females accumulate Fe to a lesser extent than males. The average concentration of Fe in the body of 2-year-old females was 184.11 mg/kg of dry matter, and in 3-year-old females 163.58 mg/kg of dry matter. The average concentration of Fe in the body of males aged 2 years was 203.39 mg/kg of dry matter, and in males aged 3 years 225.92 mg/kg of dry matter. There is also an increase in the concentra-tion of Fe in the body of males upon reaching the age of 3, and a slight decrease in concentration in females. There are sexual differences in the distribution of metal in fish organs (liver, gills, gonads). Of particular interest is the dynamics of metal in the gonads (increases in females, decreases in males). There occurs redistribution of metal in the organs and tissues of fish.

Development of Biological Control Tools against Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Citrus Orchards in Egypt

The peach fruit fly Bactrocera zonata, is a harmful insect that infests various fruit crops and vegetables worldwide, including Egypt. Its presence leads to significant damages and losses. To minimize the negative impact of pesticide residues on human health and the environment, a study was conducted to examine the seasonal behavior of Bactrocera zonata on navel orange trees. This investigation involved the utilization of sex attractants and the monitoring of fruit samples. The research was conducted over two consecutive seasons, namely 2020 and 2021. By utilizing sex attractants, pheromone (mass trapping) it was discovered that the number of male Bactrocera zonata captured and infested increased during the Autumn period, specifically in October, in both seasons. Additionally, it was observed that Bactrocera zonata males exhibited a single peak of activity each season. Fruit samples were monitored to assess fruit infestation, and it was found that infestation was positively correlated with the maturity of the fruits. The weekly count of males captured in the fly traps, along with the infestation rate of this pest, indicated that these traps could serve as a useful tool for predicting the infestation rates of Bactrocera zonata in their host fruits. Conclusion The implementation of mass trapping techniques utilizing pheromone-based tools will result in a reduction of infestation by the end of the second season of 2021.