Seasonal Effects Research Articles

Cryopreservation alters buffalo sperm kinematics and mitochondrial parameters, acrosome and intra-cellular calcium status

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effects of different seasons on the cryopreservation success of buffalo sperm in terms of kinematics and sperm functional parameters. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of three seasons (winter, comfort and summer) and cryopreservation on sperm kinematics and functional properties in buffalo bulls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen ejaculates (n = 90) collected during three seasons i.e. winter (n = 30), comfort (n = 30), summer (n = 30) were evaluated for sperm kinematics and functional properties. RESULTS: Sperm kinematics with respect to total (TM), progressive (PM) and rapid motility (RM) was higher (P<0.05) in fresh sperm compared to sperm that had been frozen-thawed. Similarly, all kinematic parameters [viz. average path velocity (VAP), straight linear velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), beats cross frequency (BCF), lateral head displacement (ALH), linearity (LIN) and straightness (STR)] were higher (P<0.01) at the fresh stage. With respect to season, frozen-thawed semen TM (57.67 ± 115%), PM (50.2 ± 1.15%) and RM (51.6 ± 1.19%) were higher (P<0.01) when using sperm collected during winter. The stage of cryopreservation (i.e., equilibration and freeze-thawing) also showed significant effects (P<0.01) on mitochondrial superoxide positive status (MSPS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), acrosome status and intra-cellular calcium status. CONCLUSION: The season of sperm collection and cryopreservation have significant effects on buffalo bull sperm kinematics and functional properties.

Results from the ENJOY MAP for HEALTH: a quasi experiment evaluating the impact of age-friendly outdoor exercise equipment to increase older people’s park visitations and physical activity

BackgroundRecreational parks can play a significant role in older people’s health, with emerging evidence suggesting that changes in the physical environment, such as refurbishments of local parks, can increase park visitations and physical activity engagement. The ENJOY MAP for HEALTH aimed to evaluate the impact of Seniors Exercise Park installations and associated capacity building activities on older people’s park visitation, and park-based physical activity.MethodThe ENJOY MAP for HEALTH was a quasi-experiment study design that involved the installation of specialised Seniors Exercise Park equipment as part of park refurbishment, supported by promotion and community capacity building activities in six municipalities in Victoria, Australia. Direct observations of park users took place prior to park upgrades, one-month post upgrade and 12-months from baseline. The overall number and characteristics of park visitors, and the type and level of physical activity undertaken, were summarised descriptively. Generalised linear models were used to examine the impact of park refurbishment (equipment installation and site activation) on the total number of older people observed in the park, and their engagement in physical activity, accounting for site and seasonal effects.ResultsOverall number of visits increased following park upgrades, with the largest number of visitors observed one-month post upgrade (n = 12,501). The proportion of older people observed at the parks remained relatively low prior to and one-month post upgrade compared to other age groups. However, after adjusting for site and seasonal effects, the number of older people observed in the parks increased significantly post upgrade and site activation compared to prior to the refurbishment (incidence rate ratios (IRR) 3.55; 95% CI 2.68, 4.70). The number of older people observed to be exercising at the Seniors Exercise Park also increased by 100% at 12-months post-installation relative to one-month post upgrade (IRR 2.00; 95% CI 1.26, 3.17).ConclusionInstallation of the Seniors Exercise Parks and the supportive programs and activities following six park upgrades resulted in an increase in older people’s park visitation and engagement in physical activity. Community engagement and training of volunteers with the support of local governments are likely to contribute to the increased park usage by older people.Trial registrationThis trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. Trial registration number ACTRN12621000965808. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380745&isReview=true.

Do global extreme hazards and related attention lead to financial risks in the shipping market?

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the impacts of extreme hazards on the shipping market in terms of freight rates. We develop a unique measure of abnormal freight rate occurred in the period of extreme hazard by introducing the concept of abnormal return in the finance field and find that such impacts of extreme hazards tend to be positive. The impacts are attributed to systematic risks in the shipping market due to increasing costs and decreasing supply. We observe similar associations between individuals’ attention to hazards and freight rates, which are related to stakeholders’ expectations and thus cause non-systematic risks in the shipping market. Unlike the systematic risk, which has short-term effects on the freight rates and starts to fade in three months, the non-systematic risks caused by attention is long-lived. Stakeholders require higher premium for higher systematic and non-systematic risks in the shipping market. The impacts of extreme hazards and attention remain positive when the hazards are associated with the shipping market, non-Asia market, environmental pollution, and seasonal effects. Our results are robust when considering alternative measures of freight rates, potential endogeneity of COVID-19 and macroeconomic conditions. We provide stakeholders with suggestions on pricing, environmental protection, decision-making and market-forecasting.

The impacts of inter- and intra-seasonal burns on the terrestrial orchid Pterostylis curta

AbstractPrescribed burning is a management tool used for both management of fuel loads and for ecological purposes across fire prone areas. While in temperate areas wildfires usually occur during the hottest summer months, prescribed burns are generally conducted in autumn and spring, when conditions are more suitable for controlling fire. Orchids maintain avoidance mechanisms, such as persisting as dormant tubers during the predominant fire season, and therefore may be at risk from prescribed burns occurring during their active life cycle period. Using a glasshouse experiment, we investigated the impacts of fire season on the Australian orchid species Pterostylis curta. This approach allowed us to i) implement seasonal burns and relate impacts to quantifiable above and belowground life cycle stages of the study species, ii) isolate and assess the role of smoke, and iii) control for fire intensity and life stage of the study species at each of the treatment levels to enable robust comparison focused on fire season effects. We found that late autumn burns caused complete failure of a cohort in our glasshouse study. Heat alone was not the driver of tuber mortality, because soil heating was similar across all burn seasons, and plants burnt in the three other seasons were able to re-emerge strongly in the growing season after fire. Furthermore, a lack of post-fire emergence was due to tuber mortality, not dormancy. Our results highlight that there is likely an interaction between fire-related heat and the life cycle stage at which burning occurs, especially replacement tuber initiation, that drives post-fire demography. We show that orchids like P. curta had the lowest risk of negative impacts when burnt in the later stages of their growing season, and that an understanding of finer-scale phenological cycles can inform more robust fire management of orchid species.

A Study on Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Chinese National Park Network Attention

Due to advancements in information technology and growing eco-tourism demand, National Park Network Attention (NPNA) has emerged as a novel indicator of tourism appeal and ecological value recognition. Utilizing Baidu search index (accessed in 2023) data from 2013 to 2022, this study employs time series analysis, index analysis, and spatial statistics to measure and differentiate the spatial and temporal aspects of NPNA across 31 provinces, regions, and municipalities in mainland China, while systematically assessing the impact of various factors from both source and destination perspectives. Over the period of 2013 to 2022, NPNA has increased annually, peaking around holidays and during spring and autumn, demonstrating pronounced seasonality and precursor effects, while exhibiting volatility due to external events. Influenced by factors from both source and destination perspectives, the spatial distribution of NPNA displays a trend of being “high in the east and low in the west” and “high in the south and low in the north,” though regional disparities are diminishing. The population size in the source areas remains the dominant factor influencing NPNA, while the concept of national parks is not yet widely recognized. The destination’s tourism resource endowment, media publicity, accessibility, and level of informatization are significant influences. An effective integration of resources and marketing is essential for boosting NPNA. The findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the spatial layout of national parks, enhancing the tourism service system, innovating communication and promotional strategies, and improving national park governance effectiveness.

Impact of changes of hospital integrations spanning a decade in Hungary: Modern diagnostic services: CT care based on a Hungarian sample

Introduction, purpose of the study: In Central Europe, in Hungary, the state guarantees access to health care and basic health services partly through the Semmelweis Plan adopted in 2011. The Health Plan aims to optimize and transform the health system. The objectives of hospital integration, as set out in the Plan, started with the state ownership of municipal hospitals in 2012, continued with the launch of integration processes in 2012–2013 and culminated today. The transformation of a health system can have an impact on health services and thus on meeting the needs of the population. We aim to study the effectiveness of integration through access to CT diagnostic testing. Our hypothesis is that integration has resulted in increased access to modern diagnostic services. The specialty under study is computed tomography (CT) diagnostic care. Our research shows that the number of people receiving CT diagnostic care has increased significantly because of integration, which has also brought a number of positive benefits, such as reduced health inequalities, reduced travel time, costs and waiting lists. Test material and method: Our quantitative retrospective research was carried out in the hospital of Kalocsa through document analysis. The research material was comparing two time periods in the Kalocsa site of Bács-Kiskun County, Southern Hungary. The number of patients attending CT examinations by area of duty of care according to postal codes was collected: Pre-integration period 2014.01.01–2017.11.30. (Kalocsa did not have CT equipment, so patients who appeared in Kecskemét Hospital but were under the care of Kalocsa), post-integration period 2017.12.01–2019.12.31. (period after the installation of CT in Kalocsa). The target group of the study consisted of women and men together, aged 0–99 years, who appeared for a CT diagnostic examination. The study sample size was 6721 persons. Linear regression statistics were used to evaluate the results. Based on empirical experience, a SWOT analysis was carried out to further investigate the effectiveness of integration. Results: As a result of the integration, the CT scan machine purchased in the Kalocsa District Hospital has enabled an average of 129.7 patients per month to receive CT scans on site without travelling. The model used is significant, explaining 86% of the change in the number of patients served (F = 43.535; p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.860). The variable of integration in the model is significant, with an average increase in the number of patients served of 129.7 per month (t = 22.686; p < 0.001) following the introduction of CT due to integration. None of the month variables representing seasonal effects were found to be significant, with no seasonal effect on care. The SWOT analysis has clearly identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to the integration, the main outcome of which is the acquisition of a CT diagnostic tool. Conclusions: Although we only looked at one segment of the evidence for the effectiveness of hospital integration, integration in the study area has had a positive impact on CT availability, reducing disparities in care.

The response of epibenthic molluscan assemblages associated with Mytilus galloprovincialis beds to natural- and human-induced changes: Structure and small-scale spatiotemporal variability

Mussel beds are species-rich and diversified biogenic habitats for associated assemblages, playing important ecological roles and contributing significantly to local littoral invertebrate biodiversity. The community structure and seasonal patterns of molluscan assemblages associated with rocky-intertidal mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis beds along NW Atlantic coast of Morocco were investigated. Sampling was conducted at reference and contaminated stations in three distant coastal areas over a 4-season sampling period (between August 2018 and May 2019). We tested the hypothesis that the biogenic mussel habitats in areas experiencing different environmental conditions along the shore would support different associated molluscan assemblages under human-induced and natural changes at small spatial and temporal scales. A total of 6371 specimens comprising 28 taxa were identified and encompassing four trophic groups (carnivores, detritivores/deposivores, micrograzers and suspensivores). Micrograzers predominated, followed by carnivores, with gastropods being the numerically dominant taxa accounting for 79 % of total abundance. Steromphala pennanti emerged as the most abundant and frequent species, across almost all seasons and stations contributing to 31 % of total abundance. Significant seasonal variations were observed in species richness and Shannon-Wiener’s index (ANOVA, p<0.05), with the highest values recorded at the most polluted stations during cold/wet periods, and the lowest at the cleanest stations during hot/warm periods. Furthermore, the ANOVA analyses unveiled a significant spatiotemporal variation in abundance, emphasizing the dynamic nature of molluscan assemblages in response to environmental conditions and seasonal changes. The multivariate structure of associated molluscan assemblages (PERMANOVA analysis) differed significantly among stations and seasons, highlighting clear geographical and seasonal effects. Gastropod species, including Acanthochitona fascicularis, Lepidochitona cinerea, Nucella lapillus, Patella ulyssiponensis, P. vulgata, Phorcus lineatus, P. sauciatus, and Steromphala pennanti, were identified as the most contributive species to the dissimilarity of molluscan assemblage structure among stations throughout seasons (SIMPER analysis). Based on the canonical correspondence analysis results, salinity, water temperature, nutrient concentrations, sediment granulometry and total organic matter were identified as the key factors driving changes in the molluscan community structure. This study underscores the ecological importance of habitat-forming mussels as ecosystem engineers and biodiversity enhancers in shallow coastal waters along the Moroccan Atlantic coast.

Tiny Machine Learning for Concept Drift.

Tiny machine learning (TML) is a new research area whose goal is to design machine and deep learning (DL) techniques able to operate in embedded systems and the Internet-of-Things (IoT) units, hence satisfying the severe technological constraints on memory, computation, and energy characterizing these pervasive devices. Interestingly, the related literature mainly focused on reducing the computational and memory demand of the inference phase of machine and deep learning models. At the same time, the training is typically assumed to be carried out in cloud or edge computing systems (due to the larger memory and computational requirements). This assumption results in TML solutions that might become obsolete when the process generating the data is affected by concept drift (e.g., due to periodicity or seasonality effect, faults or malfunctioning affecting sensors or actuators, or changes in the users' behavior), a common situation in real-world application scenarios. For the first time in the literature, this article introduces a TML for concept drift (TML-CD) solution based on deep learning feature extractors and a k -nearest neighbors ( k -NNs) classifier integrating a hybrid adaptation module able to deal with concept drift affecting the data-generating process. This adaptation module continuously updates (in a passive way) the knowledge base of TML-CD and, at the same time, employs a change detection test (CDT) to inspect for changes (in an active way) to quickly adapt to concept drift by removing obsolete knowledge. Experimental results on both image and audio benchmarks show the effectiveness of the proposed solution, whilst the porting of TML-CD on three off-the-shelf micro-controller units (MCUs) shows the feasibility of what is proposed in real-world pervasive systems.

Impact of wildfires on radiotherapy adherence in patients with cancer: A multi-clinic study.

e23154 Background: Recent surges in wildfire activity due to climate change pose significant threats to the delivery of consistent oncological care. Assessing the impact of such environmental disasters on the continuity of radiotherapy treatments is essential to mitigate healthcare disruptions and informing policy. Our study investigates the association between California wildfires from 2017-2021 and the adherence to scheduled radiotherapy sessions in cancer patients across multiple clinics, highlighting the interplay between environmental catastrophes and cancer care outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 539,292 visits across eight clinics, including Providence Northern California (Petaluma), Providence at St. Joseph Hospital (Eureka), UCSF, and Stanford, extracting data on completed and missed radiotherapy sessions from their Oncology Health Information systems. In conjunction with CAL FIRE wildfire data, we performed univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses with robust standard errors, adjusting for seasonal variations, clinic-specific effects, and temporal trends. Covariates in the multivariable model included seasonal effects modeled as sine/cosine functions, a linear date to capture time trends, and fixed effects for each clinic. All analyses were conducted using Stata 18.0 and R 4.2.3. Results: Univariable analysis indicated a slight increase in missed appointments when a wildfire occurred within 50km (OR = 1.06 [1.00, 1.11], p = 0.039). Specifically, the missed visit rate was 4.8% without a fire and 5.1% with a fire. Multivariable analysis, controlling for seasonality, temporal trends, and clinic-specific factors, revealed a stronger association (OR = 1.07 [1.02, 1.13], p = 0.007) with adjusted missed rates of 4.8% and 5.2%, respectively. The overall missed visit rate was 4.9%, with 8.8% of visits coinciding with active wildfires within 50 km of a clinic. Conclusions: This initial investigation suggests a potential trend towards higher non-adherence to radiotherapy sessions in the context of wildfire events. While our findings indicate a statistically significant association, they should be regarded as hypothesis-generating. There is a clear imperative for more comprehensive research to delineate which clinics, patient demographics, and disease sites are most susceptible to the deleterious effects of wildfires. Future studies should aim to incorporate a broader array of variables, including physical, psychological, and socioeconomic factors that may confer increased vulnerability to climate-related disruptions. This nuanced understanding is critical to inform targeted strategies that bolster the resilience of healthcare delivery systems and protect cancer patients from the escalating risks posed by climate change.

Prediction of ocean temperature based on ARIMA model

As an important parameter of the Earth's ecosystem, ocean temperature has always been a hot research field for scholars, and the rise in ocean temperature caused by global warming is a topic related to the fate of humanity. The prediction of future ocean temperature is of great significance. The ARIMA model, as a typical prediction model, is highly favored by scholars from various countries due to its accuracy and adaptability. In this paper, the ARIMA multiplication model with seasonal effect is used to forecast the trend of ocean temperature change in the next year, and to prediction graph as well as specific reference values are given. The conclusion is as follows: The global average monthly ocean temperature will continue to rise in the next year. Therefore, this article believes that the government should promptly introduce relevant policies to address the rise in ocean temperature caused by global warming, and people should also fulfill their obligations to protect the environment.

Seasonal toxicity of urban road dust in runoff process-studies in Poland

Urban road dust (URD) is one of the most important non-point sources of pollution in agglomerations. The aim of this study was to assess the seasonal toxic effects of URD runoff in two regions of Poland. The concentrations of elements in URD and leachate were studied. The impact of pollutants in URD runoff on water organisms was evaluated using Daphtoxkit F and Rotoxkit F (LC50). The acute toxicity tests for crustaceans and rotifers were selected as the response of these taxa reflects the impact on zooplankton, a key component of aquatic ecosystem and the basis of most food webs. The concentrations of elements were found to vary depending on the site, although URD samples collected in Katowice agglomeration (Upper Silesia) had higher values of elements (Mn, Cu, Zn, As) compared to Wrocław (Lower Silesia). The concentrations of Mn, Zn, As, Cr, and Mg in water-soluble fraction of URD were higher in summer and winter in the Upper Silesia region due to rainwater runoff resulting from traffic, industries, post-industrial waste, and the presence of old heating systems. When comparing the content of elements in the water-soluble fraction between seasons, Zn, As, Cr, and Al concentrations were slightly higher in winter. The highest mortality of Daphnia magna and Brachiouns calyciflorus was observed in URD from both agglomerations in winter. However, the mortality is likely due to the concentration of elements or/and the coexistence of an unknown compound or a synergistic effect of the studied elements. This study highlights the alarming seasonal sources of elements in URD runoff, which will directly enter the food chain and affect the entire ecosystem, and human health.

Exploring the Differences in Tree Species Classification between Typical Forest Regions in Northern and Southern China

Focusing on the trend of continuously seeking high-precision tree species classification results in small areas from the perspectives of sensors and classification algorithms. This study aimed to explore the effects of data sources, classifiers, and seasons on classification accuracy in regions with significant environmental variation, examining patterns of tree species classification to enhance the transferability of classification. Considering two typical forest distribution regions in the north and south of China, this study utilized the revisitation cycle and open-source advantages of Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8. Leveraging the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, this study captured spectral features, vegetation indices, and texture features for single seasonal and seasonal combination images. With the assistance of Sentinel-1A and SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) DEM (Digital Elevation Model), backscattering coefficient features and topographical features were extracted and input with features captured from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 into three types of classifiers: random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and gradient tree boosting (GTB) for major tree species classification. In this research, we discovered that the best classification for single season in the northern study area was spring, whereas, for the southern study area, it was winter. Seasonal combination images effectively improved the classification accuracy of single seasonal images, with Sentinel-2 imagery displaying better classification performance compared to Landsat-8, and the optimal classifier differing between the north and the south. The inclusion of topographical or backscattering coefficient features in the four-season combination imagery contributed to improvements in classification accuracy, with topographical features significantly enhancing the classification performance in the topographically varied southern study area. The evaluation of feature importance indicated that elevation was the most critical feature for classification, while spectral features and vegetation indices were also significant. In the southern study area with large topographical discrepancies, subdividing into different terrain units led to improved tree species classification accuracy in medium-altitude, gentle slope areas. These findings provide insights into the regularity of enhancing tree species classification accuracy in environmentally diverse areas through the use of multi-source remote sensing data and multi-seasonal imagery. Consequently, the results offer a reference for the identification of tree species across large areas and the creation of spatial distribution maps.

Log-Linear Model and Delivery Load Analysis for Improvements in Water Quality through TMDL in the Gyeongan Stream Watershed, Republic of Korea

The effectiveness of implementing the total maximum daily load (TMDL) in the Gyeongan stream watershed was evaluated to assess its impact on water quality. The relationships between water quality and flow rate and load and water quality were reinterpreted using a log-linear model and the delivery load, respectively. To estimate annual water quality trends and analyze the effects of water quality improvement in each parameter, an improved multivariable log-linear model addressing the limitations of the traditional L-Q equation was applied to analyze the relationship between water quality and flow rate, excluding the effects of flow rate and seasonality. The effect of total phosphorus (T-P) was particularly prominent. A new delivery load was developed and applied to address the limitations of the original unit-based delivery load. Evaluations showed that water quality continuously improved across all parameters, and all methods (excluding the influence of flow rate on water quality fluctuations) were highly effective in estimating water quality changes attributable to anthropogenic pollution sources. The analysis of pollutant contributions revealed that managing point sources is necessary for controlling the biochemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen, while point and non-point sources require T-P management. Future policy development should consider this when formulating management strategies.

Host weight, seasonality and anthropogenic factors contribute to parasite community differences between urban and rural foxes

Pathogens often occur at different prevalence along environmental gradients. This is of particular importance for gradients of anthropogenic impact such as rural-urban transitions presenting a changing interface between humans and wildlife. The assembly of parasite communities is affected by both the external environmental conditions and individual host characteristics. Hosts with low body weight (smaller individuals or animals with poor body condition) might be more susceptible to infection. Furthermore, parasites' mode of transmission might affect their occurrence: rural environments with better availability of intermediate hosts might favour trophic transmission, while urban environments, typically with dense definitive host populations, might favour direct transmission. We here study helminth communities (141 intestinal samples) within the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), a synanthropic host, using DNA metabarcoding of multiple marker genes. We analysed the effect of urbanisation, seasonality and host-intrinsic (weight, sex) variables on helminth communities. Helminth species richness increased in foxes with lower body weight and in winter and spring. Season and urbanisation, however, had strong effects on the community composition, i.e., on the identity of the detected species. Surprisingly, transmission in two-host life cycles (trophic transmission) was more pronounced in urban Berlin than in rural Brandenburg. This disagrees with the prevailing hypothesis that trophically transmitted helminths are less prevalent in urban areas than in rural areas. Generally, co-infestations with multiple helminths and high infection intensity are associated with lighter (younger, smaller or low body condition) animals. Both host-intrinsic traits and environmental drivers together shape parasite community composition and turnover along urban-rural gradients.

Scanning electron microscopic and morphological studies on in-vitro derived callus of low-chill peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch)

In this investigation the effect of collection seasons of explants (winter, spring and summer), type of explants (leaf disc and intermodal segments) and length of explants (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 cm) for callusing in low-chill peach were standardized. The maximum callus induction (97.78%) in the low-chill peach was obtained from the intermodal segments of 0.5 cm in length used as an explant collected during spring season. The structural changes on the surface of the callus (5–7 weeks old yellowish green compact callus) during the progress of somatic embryogenesis of low-chill peach from the both intermodal segment as well as leaf disc derived callus were also examined with the use of scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM studies indicated that callus derived from internodal segment explant had the highest frequency of somatic embryos than callus from leaf discs. The SEM investigation, also demonstrated the sequential events/steps leading to low-chill peach somatic embryogenesis which was originating from somatic embryo mother cells through one unicellular pathway. Two types of calli were morphologically distinguished in both leaf disc and intermodal segment generated callus and these were the compact, well organized yellowish green embryogenic callus, containing large number of small, rich cytoplasmic, starch containing meristematic cells and soft and unorganized non-embryogenic callus containing sparsely cytoplasmic, vacuolated, and large cells devoid of metabolic reserves. The present SEM studies clearly demonstrated that somatic cells from peach explants generated callus could develop into fully differentiated somatic embryos through the characteristic embryological patterns of differentiation.

Seasonal Variation and Dietary Effects in the Fatty Acid Composition of Bulk Tank Milk in Taiwan

Background: Information about seasonal variation in the fatty acid (FA) composition of bulk tak milk and its relationship with dietary factors in Taiwan remains to be completed. This study aimed to determine the average FA composition of milk in different seasons and collect dietary information to investigate the relationship between dietary characteristics and lactation performance, including FA concentration in bulk tank milk. Methods: Bulk tank milk samples were collected monthly from 90 dairy farms across Taiwan for two years to capture seasonal variations. Additionally, 36 bulk tank milk samples from three farms were collected monthly from August 2022 to July 2023. Result: Milk production (kg/day), fat (%), crude protein (%), true protein (%), lactose (%) and solids-not-fat (%) were significantly higher in the cold season than in the hot and warm seasons (P less than 0.05) over the studied period. In contrast, somatic cell counts were significantly lower in the cold season than in the hot and warm seasons (P less than 0.05). Total saturated FA and C14:0 concentrations were significantly higher in the cold season than in the hot and warm seasons (P less than 0.05). In contrast, the C18:1 concentration was significantly higher in the hot and warm seasons than in the cold season (P less than 0.05). However, the C18:0 concentration did not differ significantly by season. Fat and FA concentrations varied significantly among three selected dairy farms (P less than 0.05). Milk fat only differed significantly between the three farms in the hot season, with Farm B having the lowest milk fat concentration (P less than 0.05). FA concentrations showed significant seasonal effects at all three farms. These results provide an overview of milk FA variation and identify the critical factors influencing variation in bulk tank milk fat and individual farm FA concentrations: dietary ether extract content and forage choice.

The Dynamics of Fire Activity in the Brazilian Pantanal: A Log-Gaussian Cox Process-Based Structural Decomposition

We present a novel statistical methodology for analyzing shifts in spatio-temporal fire occurrence patterns within the Brazilian Pantanal, utilizing remote sensing data. Our approach employs a Log-Gaussian Cox Process to model the spatiotemporal dynamics of fire occurrence, deconstructing the intensity function into components of trend, seasonality, cycle, covariates, and time-varying spatial effects components. The results indicate a negative correlation between rainfall and fire intensity, with lower precipitation associated with heightened fire intensity. Forest formations exhibit a positive effect on fire intensity, whereas agricultural land use shows no significant impact. Savannas and grasslands, typical fire-dependent ecosystems, demonstrate a positive relationship with fire intensity. Human-induced fires, often used for agricultural purposes, contribute to an increase in both fire frequency and intensity, particularly in grassland areas. Trend analysis reveals fluctuating fire activity over time, with notable peaks in 2018–2021.

Seasonal Incidence and Effect of Abiotic Factors on Mango Leaf Hopper (Amritodus atkinsoni L.) Population on Different Cultivars of Mango in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Seasonal Incidence and Effect of Abiotic Factors on Mango Leaf Hopper (Amritodus atkinsoni L.) Population on Different Cultivars of Mango in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Spatio-temporal distribution of copepods in the mangrove areas of Munroe Island, adjacent to Ashtamudi estuary, Kerala, India

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to assess the species composition of copepods around Munroe Island of Kerala (South India) from October 2020 to September 2022. Copepod samples collected from the mangrove habitats around Munroe Island revealed 31 species belonging to 18 genera and 15 families. The order Calanoida was recognized as the most dominant taxon, with 23 species, followed by Harpacticoida (5 spp.) and Cyclopoida (3 spp.). Spatially, sampling station 3 (Palliyanthuruthu) had the highest species richness (28 spp.); in contrast, the lowest species richness was found at sampling station 1 (Villimangalam, 13 spp.). When exploring the seasonal effects on copepod richness it was found that the highest species richness was seen in the post-monsoon season (31 spp.) followed by the pre-monsoon season (29 spp.), while the least diversity was found during the monsoon season (28 spp.). Species such as Acartia bilobata, Paracalanus parvus, Pseudodiaptomus aurivillii, Pseudocalanus elongatus, Microsetella norvegica, and Oithona similis were found to be perennial in nature. The investigation calls for intensive surveys of copepods to reveal their ecology and diversity in the hitherto less studied region in South India.

Seasonal Effects on Health Status and Parasitological Traits of an Invasive Minnow in Iberian Waters.

Biological invasions are of special conservation concern in the Iberian Peninsula and other regions with high levels of endemism. Environmental variability, such as the seasonal fluctuations of Mediterranean streams, is a key factor that affects the spread of aquatic species in novel habitats. Fish parasites have a great potential to reflect such changes in the habitat features of freshwater ecosystems. The aim of this study consisted of seasonally analysing the health status and parasitological traits of non-native fish in Iberian waters. In particular, a strongly invasive population of Languedoc minnow Phoxinus septimaniae (leuciscid species native to south-east France) was assessed in Tordera Stream (north-eastern Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean conditions). Fish were sampled in April, July, and October 2023 by electrofishing. Health status (external/internal organs) was significantly better in autumn (HAI = 28.8) than spring (HAI = 35.6). Life-cycle complexity was higher in spring (LCI = 1.98), whereas parasite abundance and Shannon diversity were significantly lower in autumn (TA = 19.6 and H' = 2.15, respectively). In October (more 'benign' environmental conditions in Iberian streams), minnows could display elevated foraging activity, with fish increasing their health condition and level of parasite resistance/tolerance. Overall results showed a particular seasonal profile of health and parasite infra-communities that allow this minnow species to thrive under highly fluctuating habitat conditions. This information could help environmental managers to control non-native fish in Mediterranean streams.