Short Season Research Articles

Characterization of Important Odorants in Dried Lobster Mushrooms.

Lobster mushrooms, a type of wild edible mushroom that primarily grows in North America, have a distinctive aroma resembling seafood and are highly desired by fine dining establishments and food enthusiasts. Lobster mushrooms have a short collection season; therefore, they are usually dried for a year-round sale. Owing to their rising popularity, lobster mushrooms have become one of the most expensive mushroom species in the dried mushroom market. Herein, 35 odorants were identified from dried lobster mushrooms using solvent assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) and aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). Fourteen odorants were quantitated using stable isotope dilution assays (SIDA), and their odor activity values (OAVs) were calculated. Eleven of the quantitated odorants exhibited OAVs of ≥1. Some notable odorants with relatively high OAVs included 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (OAV 730), γ-nonalactone (OAV 410), 1-octen-3-one (OAV 180), and sotolon (OAV 170). The organohalogen molecule 2,6-dichlorophenol was determined to be key to the seafood aroma character of the mushrooms. An aroma simulation model formulated based on the quantitation data closely matched the aroma profile of the dried mushrooms. This study lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at understanding the effect of processing on lobster mushroom aroma chemistry and the biotechnological production of natural seafood flavors.

Competition, Drought, Season Length? Disentangling Key Factors for Local Adaptation in Two Mediterranean Annuals across Combined Macroclimatic and Microclimatic Aridity Gradients

ABSTRACTCompetition in mesic sites and drought stress combined with short growing seasons in drier sites are key environmental factors along macroclimatic aridity gradients. They impose a triangular trade‐off for local adaptation. However, as experiments have rarely disentangled their effects on plant fitness, uncertainty remained whether mesic populations are indeed better competitors and drier populations better adapted to drought stress and short season length. Aridity differs also at microclimatic scale between north (more mesic) and south (more arid) exposed hill‐slopes. Little is known whether local adaptation occurs among exposures and whether south exposures harbor conspecifics better adapted to drier climates that could provide adaptive reservoirs under climate change. We sampled two Mediterranean annuals (Brachypodium hybridum, Hedypnois rhagadioloides) in 15 sites along a macroclimatic aridity gradient (89–926 mm rainfall) on corresponding north and south exposures. In a large greenhouse experiment, we measured their fitness under drought stress, competition, and short vs. long growing seasons. Along the macroclimatic gradient, mesic populations were better competitors under benign conditions. Drier populations performed no better under drought stress per se but coped better with the short growing seasons typical for drier macroclimates. At microclimatic scale, north exposure plants were slightly better competitors in H. rhagadioloides; in B. hybridum, south exposure plants coped better with drought under short season length. We demonstrate that local adaptation to drier macroclimates is trading‐off with competitive ability under benign conditions and vice‐versa. Drought escape via short life‐cycles was the primary adaptation to drier macroclimates, suggesting that intensified drought stress within the growing season under climate change challenges arid and mesic populations alike. Moreover, the drier microclimates at south exposures exhibited some potential as nearby reservoirs of drier‐adapted genotypes. This potential needs further investigation, yet may assist populations to persist under climate change and lessen the need for long‐distance migration.

Comparative Analysis of Grass Pollen Dynamics in Urban and Rural Ireland: Identifying Key Sources and Optimizing Prediction Models

The Poaceae family, one of the most diverse and widespread angiosperms, is prevalent in various natural and urban environments and is a major cause of allergies, affecting over 20% of the population in Europe, specifically in Ireland. With extensive grasslands, Ireland supports numerous grass species, though pollen release varies due to the family’s complexity. The Hirst spore-trap is commonly used to sample airborne pollen, but the area of influence is debated and may differ by pollen type. This study compares grass pollen seasons between rural Carlow and urban Dublin, aiming to create forecast models for airborne pollen and identify key grass areas influencing the main pollen season (MPS). Two Hirst samplers were analyzed, using data up to 2020, and two threshold models (based on Swedish and Danish studies) were tested to find the best fit for Ireland. Airmass footprints were calculated using Hysplit and combined with grassland data to pinpoint major pollen sources. The results showed that Carlow had higher pollen concentrations but shorter seasons than Dublin. The Swedish threshold method was the most accurate for Ireland, with the Wicklow Mountains identified as a significant pollen source. These findings improve the understanding of pollen dynamics and support better public health and allergy management.

A Five-Year Malaria Prevalence/Frequency in Makenene in a Forest-Savannah Transition Ecozone of Central Cameroon: The Results of a Retrospective Study.

Understanding the epidemiological features of malaria is a key step to monitoring and quantifying the impact of the current control efforts to inform future ones. This study establishes the prevalence and frequency of malaria in a forest-savannah ecozone for 5 consecutive years in Cameroon. A retrospective study was conducted in 3 health centers of Makenene from 2016 to 2020, a period covering the second long-lasting insecticide net mass distribution campaign. Malaria infectious records were reviewed from laboratory registers. The difference in exposure to malaria was estimated using a regression logistic model. A total of 13525 patients underwent malaria diagnostic tests, with a general malaria prevalence of 65.3%. A greater prevalence of malaria was observed in males (68.39%) compared to females (63.14%). The frequency of consultations in health centers was dominated by females, with a gender ratio (M/F) of 0.66. Annual trends in malaria prevalence slightly varied from 2016 to 2020, exceeding 60%: 65.2% in 2016; 66.7% in 2017, 68.1% in 2018, 63.2% in 2019, and 65.3% in 2020, with a significant seasonal variation (p < 0.0001). The highest malaria prevalence was observed during the short rainy season, no matter the year. Among positive cases, the most represented age groups were 6-15 (p < 0.0001), followed by those under 5, while the age group >25 years was the least represented. Close monitoring and additional intervention measures for malaria control are needed, as are more studies on vector bionomics and transmission patterns.

Individual variation in breeding phenology and postnatal development in northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii).

Bats inhabiting northern latitudes are faced with short reproductive seasons during which they must produce and rear pups before fattening up in time to survive the winter hibernation. Therefore, the timing of parturition has considerable impacts on future fitness prospects for the mother and pup. However, little is known about individual variation in breeding phenology and its consequences for postnatal development within bat populations. Here, we studied the phenology of breeding in Eptesicus nilssonii across 7 years using data collected by day-to-day monitoring of a breeding colony in Norway (60.1° N) for which the identity and age of each mother (N = 8) and pup (N = 28) were known. Using mixed-effect models, we found that arrival at the colony was influenced by temperature conditions from mid-April to mid-May across all females, but that there were strong and consistent individual differences in arrival- and parturition time across years. Females generally arrived ~32.1 days before giving birth, but the gestation duration was reduced if females arrived late and prolonged if females left the colony when faced with cold weather conditions. Pups born later in the season were born smaller but had higher growth rates during the most rapid growth period (<10 days old). The within-individual effects suggest that the higher growth rates could be due to mothers compensating (e.g. through increased food intake) for late parturition rather than by improved food availability. Date of parturition did not influence adult body size in pups. Pups became volant at the earliest only 13.1 days after birth and approached adult flight patterns during their first flight week. Our results suggest that E. nilssonii is highly adapted to a short breeding season by producing large, fast developing and early volant pups, despite the environmental pressures bats face at northern latitudes.

Prevalence of viviparous germination as a function of seasonal conditions and seed phenotypic characteristics in the bottle gourd Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley (Cucurbitaceae)

Selection for resistance to viviparous germination is an important step and one of the most effective strategies for solving the problem of vivipary in orthodox seed species. Vivipary generally occurs when mature fruits are exposed to rain. To understand the existing relationships between seed phenotypic characteristics, seasonal conditions and the prevalence of vivipary in Lagenaria siceraria, experiments were carried out under natural conditions during the short and long rainy seasons of 2014 and 2015. Three main conclusions were drawn from the results. Firstly, yellowish seeds with a soft seed coat without a cap and yellowish seeds with a soft seed coat with a thin cap were more susceptible to vivipary with prevalences of 37.64% and 29.75% respectively. The whitish seeds with a hard seed coat and no cap, the brown seeds with a hard seed coat and no cap, the yellowish seeds with a soft seed coat and a thick cap and the seeds with a soft seed coat and a brown cap did not show vivipary whatever the intensity of the rain preceding harvest. Secondly, although the prevalence of vivipary was affected by the interaction of phenotype and rainy seasons, it explained only 7.57% of the variation. Most of the variation in vivipary prevalence was related to seed phenotype (68.33%) indicating that seed phenotype is the main factor influencing vivipary prevalence in L. siceraria. Finally, vivipary prevalence was strongly and positively correlated with rainfall and humidity in viviparous genotypes, whereas non-viviparous genotypes were not affected by climatic parameters.

Analysis of Meteorological Drought in Cases of North Wello Zone, Ethiopia

Drought is a commonly used term, but the most complex and least realized of all the natural hazards affecting more people than any other hazards. The main objective of the study was to investigate the spatial-temporal occurrence of Meteorological drought indices analysis in the study areas. The study was undertaken to investigate the magnitude, frequency, and trends of drought incidence in North Wello Zone Ethiopia using monthly rainfall records for the period 1990 to 2020 of North Wello zone stations and CHIRPS satellite data. Drought Index Calculator used to analyse standard precipitation index (SPI). The correlation between station data and CHIRPS data in this study was 0.89 which shows highly correlation between them. the result of meteorological drought indices map analysis on the years 1999, 2000, and 2008 severely dry to extremely dry conditions in the Belg season, similarly in 19990, 199308, 201507, 201508, and 201509 have got meteorological drought indices with extremely dry Kiremt season on the North Wello Zone. The drought magnitude of different time scales varied from slight to extremely severe in the studied stations. The identification of the temporal and spatial characteristics of droughts in the North Wello Zone will be useful for the development of a drought preparedness plan in the Zone. Generally increasing tendencies of drought were observed during the main rainy season and decreasing tendencies of drought during the short rainy season and annual scale were observed in the study area.

First Report of Stem Blight of Mungbean (Vigna radiata) Caused by Diaporthe longicolla in the United States.

Mungbean (Vigna radiata) is primarily grown in Asia and directly consumed by humans. U.S. consumers embraced mungbean as a plant-based protein in vegan eggs and meat substitutes. New cultivars are being developed for American farmers because of the crop's tolerance to heat and drought, and its adaptability to current farming infrastructure. Mungbean's short season complements various cropping systems such as intercropping, alternative cropping, and green manure. With rotations and inclusion with soybean systems, there is a concern about the overlap of common pathogens for soybean and mungbean. During August 2022 when mungbeans reached full maturity (growth stage R6), reddish-brown and necrotic stem lesions with linear rows of black pycnidia were observed on Berken and OK2000 cultivars at fields located in Hancock County, IA and Story County, IA in the United States. Pycnidia measured 0.5-0.6mm in length. Disease incidence was approximately 10% of plants in Hancock County, IA and less than 3% of plants in Story County, IA. Pycnidia from 16 plants were excised and immersed in a 0.5% NaOCl solution for 1 min, rinsed with autoclaved distilled water, and placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA). Eighteen isolates were hyphal tipped and grown on PDA and were stored at 25°C. Isolates were then visually identified by culture and conidia morphology (Hobbs et al. 1985, Santos et al. 2011). Colonies were cream to white, dense, and floccose. Large black stromata were formed in a concentric pattern or scattered; alpha conidia were ellipsoidal. Template DNA for PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA operon (ITS) and the beta-tubulin gene (TUB) was extracted from 18 isolates by scraping mycelia with a sterile pipette tip and transferring it into 50 ul of PrepMan Ultra Sample Reagent (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California, USA). Fungal primers were ITS1 and ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and Bt-2F/Bt-2R (Udayanga et al. 2014). Sequences of isolates obtained from fields in both counties were identical, providing no species diversity. GenBank accession numbers for the ITS region were PP105598 and PP105599; PP108254 and PP108255 for TUB sequences. BLAST results showed the ITS 550/550 base pairs with type specimen D. longicolla ATCC 60326 GB NR_144924 and the TUB 446/446 base pairs with type specimen D. longicolla ATCC 60325 GB KJ610883. Thus, the isolates were identified as Diaporthe longicolla (Hobbs) J.M. Santos, Vrandecic & A.J.L. Phillips based on morphology and molecular characters (Santo et al 2011; Udayanga et al. 2014). To confirm the pathogenicity of the D. longicolla isolates, twenty mungbean plants (cv. Berken and OK2000) were grown in the greenhouse at 85% RH and 16hr light for 20 days. Inoculum was prepared by placing sterile toothpicks on 1/3 PDA with a single representative isolate from each field location for 21 days (Ghimire et al. 2019). Mungbean plants were grown in a 10cm-by-10cm pot containing a greenhouse professional growing mix (Sungrow, Agawam, Massachusetts, USA) and grown for 30 days post emergence. After 12 days of growing, a 3mm segment of the infested toothpick was inserted into a stem wound below the first trifoliate and sealed with parafilm. A sterile toothpick was inserted into the control plants. After 14 days, red lesions extended downward 1 to 3 cm from the inoculation site, and white mycelial was present in the wound. At 21 days red lesions spanned 3 to 9 cm upward and downward from the inoculation site. Pycnidia were present on collapsed stem tissue, and leaves became chlorotic. Damage was limited to 2mm from the mock-inoculation site, with no discoloration in the control plants. Symptomatic tissues were plated and compared to the original isolates. Alpha conidia were ellipsoidal with the base end rounded. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Diaporthe longicolla causing disease on mungbean within the U.S. and worldwide. The presence of this disease in two locations suggests the potential for Diaporthe longicolla to be a serious disease of mungbean in the future.

Potential impact of climatic factors on malaria in Rwanda between 2012 and 2021: a time-series analysis

BackgroundMalaria remains an important public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Rwanda, where malaria ranks among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, disease transmission is influenced by climatic factors. However, there is a paucity of studies investigating the link between climate change and malaria dynamics, which hinders the development of effective national malaria response strategies. Addressing this critical gap, this study analyses how climatic factors influence malaria transmission across Rwanda, thereby informing tailored interventions and enhancing disease management frameworks.MethodsThe study analysed the potential impact of temperature and cumulative rainfall on malaria incidence in Rwanda from 2012 to 2021 using meteorological data from the Rwanda Meteorological Agency and malaria case records from the Rwanda Health Management and Information System. The analysis was performed in two stages. First, district-specific generalized linear models with a quasi-Poisson distribution were applied, which were enhanced by distributed lag non-linear models to explore non-linear and lagged effects. Second, random effects multivariate meta-analysis was employed to pool the estimates and to refine them through best linear unbiased predictions.ResultsA 1-month lag with specific temperature and rainfall thresholds influenced malaria incidence across Rwanda. Average temperature of 18.5 °C was associated with higher malaria risk, while temperature above 23.9 °C reduced the risk. Rainfall demonstrated a dual effect on malaria risk: conditions of low (below 73 mm per month) and high (above 223 mm per month) precipitation correlated with lower risk, while moderate rainfall (87 to 223 mm per month) correlated with higher risk. Seasonal patterns showed increased malaria risk during the major rainy season, while the short dry season presented lower risk.ConclusionThe study underscores the influence of temperature and rainfall on malaria transmission in Rwanda and calls for tailored interventions that are specific to location and season. The findings are crucial for informing policy that enhance preparedness and contribute to malaria elimination efforts. Future research should explore additional ecological and socioeconomic factors and their differential contribution to malaria transmission.

Combined inorganic and organic fertilizers improved soil microbial biomass and nitrogen dynamics in Upper Eastern region of Kenya

Soil microbial biomass elements and mineralization processes are essential in replenishing soil nutrients. Yet, the effect of fertilization on the microbes is still not well-defined. This study aimed to determine the effect of integrated soil fertility inputs (inorganic and organic) on microbial biomass, carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN), phosphorus (MBP), nitrogen (N) mineralization, and N use efficiency in a field experiment. The treatments were: control (no fertility input), sole inorganic fertilizer, and different combinations of inorganic and organic inputs in a randomized block design. The results showed that Conventional tillage + maize residue + goat manure + Dolichos lablab intercrop (CT4); minimum tillage + maize residue + Tithonia diversifolia + goat manure (MT5); and minimum tillage + maize residue + goat manure + Dolichos lablab (MT4) intercrop increased microbial C, N, and P by 78 %, 48 %, and 41 %, respectively compared to control (CT0). Compared to CT0, N mineralization significantly varied (p < 0.0001) among the treatments at planting and on the 15th, 30th, 45th, and 60th days after planting during the 2020 short rains season. It also differed significantly (p = 0.0018, 0.0028, < 0.0001, and 0.0028,) on the 45th, 60th, 75th, 90th, and 105th days, respectively, relative to CT0 after planting during the 2021 long rains season. The CT4 had 5.11 and 52.80 kg N ha−1 higher apparent nitrogen recovery and partial factor productivity N, respectively. Similarly, MT4 greatly enhanced N apparent recovery efficiency by 57.5 % relative to CT0. Integrating fertility inputs improved soil biological fertility and mineralized N. Therefore, technologies that integrate organic inputs, either solely or with inorganic fertilizers, should be harnessed and promoted as medium and long-term technologies to advance soil biological fertility, and mineral N and N use efficiency in smallholder farmers.

AMMI and GGE biplot analysis for barley genotype yield performance and stability under multi environment condition in southern Ethiopia

AbstractBarley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major grain crop farmed in Ethiopia throughout the long rainy season (Meher) and the short rainy season (Belg) of the year. Barley genotypes were subjected to multi‐environment experiments in six different settings to identify stable genotypes and estimate the impact of genotype × environment interaction (GEI) on grain production. In each area, the field experiment was conducted from mid‐July to January during the primary cropping season of 2021. Three replications of a randomized complete block design were used to set up the trials. According to the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) study, genotype (18.19%), GEI (22.98%), and environment (58.83%) all had an impact on the major treatment sum of squares. The more variance attributed to the environments is a sign of environmental diversity. Given that the two interaction principal component analysis (IPCAs) accounted for 76.94% of the interaction sum of squares, they were sufficient for cross‐validation of the grain yield variance explained by GEI. In contrast to the GGE biplot approaches, which indicated genotypes G12, G3, and G9 as stable and high‐yielding genotypes throughout the environments, the AMMI stability value identified genotypes G3, G12, and G9 as high yielding with stable performance across environments. In general, the GGE biplot and AMMI analysis models demonstrated that genotypes G12, G3, and G9 were stable and yielded well, making G3 acceptable for cultivation in a wider range of environments and G12 and G9 suitable for release.

Enhancing Seed Access and Climate Resilience: A Farmer-Based Seed Multiplication Scheme in a Legume-Sorghum Double Cropping System in Mieso District Ethiopia

Sorghum is a major food security crop in Ethiopia. Sorghum landraces are particularly crucial in crop-livestock mixed farming systems in drylands, but due to the longer growing periods (6-8 months) needed for the landraces, the crop faces recurrent drought events associated with delayed rain, dry spells, and drought during critical stages. The landraces are normally grown combining a short and erratic rainy season (March to May) and a main rainy season (July to September). To address such circumstances, early-maturing improved sorghum varieties that are planted in July and mature within 3-4 months have been developed. Moreover, a sustainable cropping system involving legume-early maturing sorghum double cropping has been developed as an alternative to the traditional long-cycle sorghum production to help mitigate crop failure. The legume fits into the short rainy months. However, access to seeds of both component crops could be a challenge. The objective of this study therefore was to establish and assess the feasibility of a farmer-based seed multiplication (FBSM) scheme in enhancing the supply of quality seeds of legumes and sorghum and contributing to climate adaptation. Two activities were implemented in 2015 and 2016 in Mieso district, West Hararghe, Ethiopia. The first activity involved multiplying seeds of two early-maturing and drought-tolerant improved sorghum varieties (Dekeba and Melkam) using a FBSM scheme. The second activity was integrating this scheme into a legume-early maturing sorghum double cropping system. The results of the study show that the FBSM scheme provides much-needed support to smallholder sorghum farmers by offering resources for multiplying and marketing improved sorghum seeds, ensuring seed security, and improving access to quality seeds. The scheme aligns well with the legume-early maturing sorghum double cropping system, thereby enhancing access to compatible seeds and promoting a sustainable cropping system in the region. The scheme presents a viable solution to seed access for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia to enhance seed supply, income, and climate resilience, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders

Determining the Optimal Harvesting Moment of Green Forage from Guizotia abyssinica Cultivated as a Catch Crop on Silage and Its Quality Form, Fresh or Wilted Green Material, in the Two Following Years.

Guizotia abyssinica is currently being used for soil improvement; however, owing to its rapid growth and high productivity, it may have value as feed for ruminants, although this has not been well studied. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the silage quality of Guizotia abyssinica grown during the short season (July-October) as a catch crop in northern Europe when harvested 58, 68, and 90 days after sowing (DAS) over two production years. Ensiled material was analyzed to compare silage quality for the three different DAS. Two factors were analyzed factorially in the experiment: the silage preparation year (2018 or 2019) and the form of the ensiled material (fresh or wilted). We used 36 replications, 18 for each variant of the experimental factor. Harvesting at 58 DAS resulted in unsatisfactory forage fermentability, even after wilting. At 68 DAS, silage quality was satisfactory, but the dry matter content before ensiling was below 20% for both fresh and wilted forage, indicating limitations for silage use without additional wilting for that DAS harvest time. Dry matter content and water-soluble carbohydrates consistently increased as harvest was delayed. Thus, the highest silage quality was obtained from forage harvested 90 DAS regardless of differences in dry matter content. Therefore, it is possible to prepare silage at lower temperatures when the wilting process is limited by environmental conditions.

Transcriptome analysis of the common moss Bryum pseudotriquetrum grown under Antarctic field condition.

Mosses are distributed all over the world including Antarctica. Although Antarctic mosses show active growth in a short summer season under harsh environments such as low temperature, drought and high levels of UV radiation, survival mechanisms for such multiple environmental stresses of Antarctic mosses have not yet been clarified. In the present study, transcriptome analyses were performed using one of the common mosses Bryum pseudotriquetrum grown under an Antarctic field and artificial cultivation conditions. Totally 88205 contigs were generated by de novo assembly, among which 1377 and 435 genes were significantly up and downregulated, respectively, under Antarctic field conditions compared with artificial cultivation conditions at 15°C. Among the upregulated genes, a number of lipid metabolism-related and oil body formation-related genes were identified. Expression levels of these genes were increased by artificial environmental stress treatments such as low temperature, salt and osmic stress treatments. Consistent with these results, B. pseudotriquetrum grown under Antarctic field conditions contained large amounts of fatty acids, especially α-linolenic acid, linolenic acid and arachidonic acid. In addition, proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, which enhance membrane fluidity, to the total fatty acids was also higher in B. pseudotriquetrum grown under Antarctic field conditions. Since lipid accumulation and unsaturation of fatty acids are generally important factors for the acquisition of various environmental stress tolerance in plants, these intracellular physiological and metabolic changes may be responsible for the survival of B. pseudotriquetrum under Antarctic harsh environments.

Sea Buckthorn: A Review on the Hidden Treasure of the Temperates

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is one of the most common yet underutilized dioecious fruit crop of the temperate region. This plant is known as the gold mine of the cold deserts due to its exceptional winter hardiness and multiple uses. It is a potential functional food which is rich in nutritional and medicinal values and holds the potential to emerge as a future food cum medicinal crop. Traditionally, the crop is used as a folk medicine, fence, wind break, firewood and fodder. The fruits are rich in tannins, flavonoids, sterols, carotenoids, tocopherols and lipids. The cultivation of sea buckthorn is low demanding and it is seen growing wild in the valleys, riverbanks, slopes and mountains in the temperate regions. Though extensive research and developmental activities are progressing, commercial cultivation and popularization of sea buckthorn is still in the nascent stage. Some of the challenges faced by the sea buckthorn industry include lack of awareness regarding its potential, its short harvest season and high moisture content that prevents the farmers from cultivating crop and also hinders development of value-added products. An enhancement in the production aspects of this crop can be a boon to the horticulture industry. Proper interventions and policies from government, standardization of production technology, production of quality planting material of promising cultivars etc. are some of the ways towards popularizing the crop.

High thermal quality rookeries facilitate high thermoregulatory accuracy in pregnant female rattlesnakes

Temperature is a primary factor influencing organismal development, and the fluctuating daily and seasonal thermal regimes of temperate climates may challenge the ability of viviparous reptiles to optimize body temperatures during gestation. Testing how viviparous reptiles navigate highly variable thermal conditions (e.g., relatively cold nights and/or highly fluctuating temperatures) is a powerful way to understand how they use microhabitats for thermoregulatory benefits. We assessed the thermal ecology of pregnant and non-pregnant female Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) inhabiting a high-elevation, montane shrubland in northwest Colorado throughout their short summer active season, addressing the thermal consequences of microhabitat selection with a focus on thermoregulation of pregnant females at communal rookery sites. We deployed operative temperature models to collect data on the thermal quality of microhabitats used by the snakes, and calculated thermoregulatory accuracy of the snakes by comparing their field-active body temperatures with preferred body temperatures of snakes placed in a thermal gradient. Pregnant females inhabited rocky, hilltop rookeries that had higher thermal quality due to higher and less variable nighttime temperatures compared to microhabitats in the surrounding prairie. Pregnant females therefore thermoregulated more accurately than non-pregnant females. The difference was most pronounced during the night, when pregnant females at rookeries maintained higher body temperatures than non-pregnant snakes in the prairie. Our results support the hypothesis that one major reason female rattlesnakes at high latitudes and/or high elevations forgo migration and gestate at communal, rocky, hilltop rookeries is that, relative to prairie microhabitats, they provide better conditions for thermoregulation during pregnancy.

Reproductive ecology of the critically endangered pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) in the wild

Reproduction of the pancake tortoise in the wild has remained poorly known over the decades. This study fills the knowledge gap by investigating the reproductive ecology of the species in its natural habitats in Kenya. Data were collected using the time‐constrained search‐and‐seize method, group‐level scan sampling, radio tracking, and camera‐trapping. Our observations revealed a total of 19 mating events that occurred between December and April, predominantly during the rainy seasons. Mating duration averaged 15.2 ± 2.4 min. Male–male aggression was observed during the mating season, with the dominant male keeping off all other males and mating with the resident females. Nest preparation events occurred between April and June. Nine nesting events were recorded, but in only five of them was an egg deposited. The nests were dug in loose soil, appeared almost circular, and measured 8.4 ± 0.9 cm wide and 7.0 ± 0.1 cm deep (n = 7). The average clutch size was one egg. The eggs were white, hard‐shelled, oval, and elongated measuring 4.4 ± 0.4 cm long, 2.7 ± 0.04 cm wide and weighed 17 ± 0.6 g (n = 3). Incubation period lasted 177 ± 5.7 days (n = 2), and hatching coincided with the onset of the short rainy season in November, aligned with the availability of abundant food for the tortoises. The hatchlings were minimally wider than long, having an average straight carapace length of 4.5 ± 0.6 cm, an average width of 4.5 ± 0.4 cm, and on average weighed 14.7 ± 3.7g, (n = 9). They remained near the nest site for 4–5 days before relocating to tiny rock crevices away from the adult tortoise crevices. Egg and hatchling predation was high, with four of the total of six eggs, observed after they were laid, being destroyed. Three juveniles, out of nine, were also eaten by predators. These findings contribute useful information for the formulation of effective conservation and management strategies for this critically endangered species.

Microfacies and Paleomire Reconstruction of Coal in the Tanjung Formation, Barito Basin, Kandangan Area, South Kalimantan

Abstract The occurrence of the Tanjung Formation as a coal-bearing formation that has thick coals and is laterally distributed along in Barito Basin causes it to be well-known as one of the biggest coal-producing basins in Indonesia. The genesis of Eocene coal formed in terrestrial depositional environment influenced by freshwater and marine transgression is the uniqueness of this coal and interesting to examine maceral’s characteristic and its microfacies, and the evolution of paleomire seam AGM-B3, AGM-B4, AGM-B5, and AGM-B6 in Kandangan area by organic petrography’s analysis and coal’s chemical analysis. The result of subbituminous coal’s petrography show vitrinite is the most abundant maceral ranging from 56,.6% - 80.36% vol, liptinite (15.27% - 39.45% vol), inertinite (0.55% - 15.18% vol), and mineral matter (0.18% - 4.36% vol) which is dominated by pyrite. Based on maceral’s assemblages, coal’s microfacies divided into four groups are (1) telovitrinite-rich group, (2) detrovitrinite-rich group, (3) telovitrinite-liptinite-rich group, (4) inertinite-rich group. The basal section of seam AGM-B6 is characterized by detrovitrinite-rich group while seam AGM-B3, AGM-B4, and AGM-B5 are characterized by telovitrinite-liptinite-rich group. The middle section only represented the inertinite-rich group in seam AGM-B3, and the top section of the coal seams, except AGM-B6, is typically represented by the telovitrinite-rich group. The vertical profile of paleomire evolution shows a repetition of topogenous mire changing into ombrogenous mire and then back to topogenous mire. The paleomire type developed includes wet forest swamp, forested peatlands, and intermittently dry forested swamp and the environmental conditions are telmatic. The correlation between paleomire’s type and coal maceral’s abundance in the Kandangan area reflects that the type of vegetation from woody plants that underwent high degradation, moderate gelification, and intensive oxidation processes triggered by a short dry season.

Assessing the Utility of Uncrewed Aerial System Photogrammetrically Derived Point Clouds for Land Cover Classification in the Alaska North Slope

Uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) have been used to collect “pseudo field plot” data in the form of large-scale stereo imagery to supplement and bolster direct field observations to monitor areas in Alaska. These data supplement field data that is difficult to collect in such a vast landscape with a relatively short field season. Dense photogrammetrically derived point clouds are created and are facilitated to extract land cover data using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier in this study. We test our approach using point clouds derived from 1-cm stereo imagery of plots in the Alaska North Slope region and compare the results to field observations. The results show that the overall accuracy of six land cover classes (bare soil, shrub, grass, forb/herb, rock, and litter) is 96.8% from classified patches. Shrub had the highest accuracy (&gt;99%) and forb/herb achieved the lowest (&lt;48%). This study reveals that the approach could be used as reference data to check field observations in remote areas.

Exploring seasonal variability in water quality of Nyabarongo River in Rwanda via water quality indices and DPSIR modelling.

Understanding seasonal variations in water quality is crucial for effective management of freshwater rivers amidst changing environmental conditions. This study employed water quality index (WQI), metal index (MI), and pollution indices (PI) to comprehensively assess water quality and pollution levels in Nyabarongo River of Rwanda. A dynamic driver-pressure-state-impact-response model was used to identify factors influencing quality management. Over 4years (2018-2021), 69 samples were collected on a monthly basis from each of the six monitoring stations across the Nyabarongo River throughout the four different seasons. Maximum WQI values were observed during dry long (52.90), dry short (21.478), long rain (93.66), and short rain (37.4) seasons, classified according to CCME 2001 guidelines. Ion concentrations exceeded WHO standards, with dominant ions being and . Variations in water quality were influenced by factors such as calcium bicarbonate dominance in dry seasons and sodium sulfate dominance in rainy seasons. Evaporation and precipitation processes primarily influenced ionic composition. Metal indices (MI) exhibited wide ranges: long dry (0.2-433.0), short dry (0.1-174.3), long rain (0.1-223.7), and short rain (0.3-252.5). The hazard index values for Cu2+, Mn4+, Zn2+, and Cr3+ were below 1, ranging from 8.89E - 08 to 7.68E - 07 for adults and 2.30E - 07 to 5.02E - 06 for children through oral ingestion, and from 6.68E - 10 to 5.07E - 07 for adults and 6.61E - 09 to 2.54E - 06 for children through dermal contact. With a total carcinogenic risk of less than 1 for both ingestion and dermal contact, indicating no significant health risks yet send strong signals to Governmental management of the Nyabarongo River. Overall water quality was classified as marginal in long dry, poor in short dry, good in long rain, and poor again in short rain seasons.