Similarity Cluster Analysis Research Articles

Modelling prey-predator interactions in Messina beachrock pools

The Strait of Messina (Sicily, Italy) attracts the interest of marine ecologists for the presence of a large variety of habitat and mutually-interacting communities. Among them, beachrock formations, despite their wide geographic distribution, which also includes the Mediterranean area, have been poorly investigated from the biotic viewpoint. In this paper, the spatial and seasonal variability of benthic megafauna from the Messina microtidal beachrock is described. Combining in situ collected data (measurements of abiotic parameters and underwater visual census) with theoretical post-processing analyses (analysis of similarity percentages and cluster analysis), we deduced the possibility to model the dynamics observed between the most dominant species, a top snail, Phorcus turbinatus (Born, 1778), and a hermit crab, Clibanarius erythropus (Latreille, 1818), in terms of a prey-predator interaction. These species gave rise to different intriguing dynamical regimes (including periodic oscillations) that were qualitatively captured by a mathematical model focused on the respective trophic chain levels. The identification of all model parameters and the use of numerical simulations complemented the above analysis and allowed to gain more insights into the complex dynamics of these oligotypic communities and on the most relevant factors determining the ecosystem equilibria.

STUDI KEANEKARAGAMAN DAN STRUKTUR KOMUNITAS PERIFITON DI PERAIRAN SUNGAI COBAN RONDO MALANG

Periphyton is a community of microorganisms that live attached to or adjacent to a substrate sink. For aquatic organisms, periphyton habitats have a relatively fixed. With it is so, the changes of water quality and substrate greatly affects the composition of his life and abundance. Periphyton composition and abundance depends on the tolerance or sensitivity to environmental changes. This study aims to determine each periphyton community in responding to changes in habitat quality by way of adjustment in community structure. The methodology used in this prektikum involves taking data from four stations along the river Coban Rondo, in each station there are 3 replicates. And take measurements of factors such environments as supportive data turbidity, flow rate, pH, and depth. Analyzed using Simpson's Dominance Index to determine the type of periphyton dominance, as well as morisita similarity indices and cluster analysis. The results showed that the diversity in each station belonging to the category of high (H more than 3.32) because the obtained value of the index H' between 3.2 to 3.48. Species that dominate from the four stations is Pinularia with an average Index Value Important (IVI) 31,5.

Quality evaluation of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma by UPLC fingerprint combined with QAMS

The present study was performed to establish the UPLC fingerprints of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma and determine the contents of three saponins by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker(QAMS), and provide basis for quality evaluation of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma. The analysis was carried out on an analytical column of Waters Cortecs T3(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.6 μm)with gradient elution by acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid solution, at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1). The detection wavelength was 203 nm, the column temperature was 30 ℃ and the injection volume was 1 μL. The UPLC fingerprints of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma were established and evaluated by similarity calculation, cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The relative calibration factors of toberoside B and toberoside C were determined with toberoside A as internal reference. The content was calculated by relative calibration factors to develop a method of QAMS. Comparing the results of QAMS with those of ESM, the accuracy and feasibility of one-eva-luation and multi-evaluation can be determined. RESULTS:: showed that the fingerprints of 19 batches of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma have four common peaks with similarities ranging from 0.754 to 1.000. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis classified 19 batches of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma into three categories, which was consistent with the similarity evaluation results. The relative deviation between the content of tubeicosides B and C in 19 batches of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma determined by QAMS and ESM is less than 5.0%, indicating that there was no significant difference between the two methods. Therefore, the UPLC fingerprints combined with QAMS and similarity evaluation can be effectively used to evaluate the quality of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma.

Distinguishing Activities in the Photodynamic Arsenals of the Pigmented Ciliates Blepharisma sinuosum Sawaya, 1940 and Blepharisma japonicum Suzuki, 1954 (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea).

Blepharismins are photodynamic hypericin-like dianthrones produced as a variable pigment blend in Blepharisma ciliates and mostly studied in the Afro-Asiatic Blepharisma japonicum. The present work describes the bioactivity of pigments from the Brazilian Blepharisma sinuosum. Comparative analyses showed that the pigments from both species can trigger photo-induced modifications in phospholipids, but different redox properties and biological activities were assigned for each pigment blend. Stronger activities were detected for B.sinuosum pigments, with the lethal concentration LC50 10×lower than B.japonicum pigments in light-irradiated tests against Bacillus cereus and less than half for treatments on the human HeLa tumor cells. HPLC showed B.sinuosum producing a simpler pigment blend, mostly with the blepharismin-C (~70%) and blepharismin-E (~30%) types. Each blepharismin engaged a specific dose-response profile on sensitive cells. The blepharismin-B and blepharismin-C were the most toxic pigments, showing LC50 ~2.5-3.0µm and~100µm on B.cereus and HeLa cells, respectively, after illumination. Similarity clustering analysis compiling the bioactivity data revealed two groups of blepharismins: the most active, B and C, and the less active, A, D and E. The B.sinuosum pigment blend includes one representative of each clade. Functional and medical implications are discussed.

Clustering of functioning and disability profile based on the WHO disability assessment schedule 2.0 – a nationwide databank study

Objective To compare and cluster the health status and disability restrictions associated with eight major physiological functions of body systems, using functioning domains of WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Design Retrospective analyses of a nation-wide disability database. Setting Population-based study. Participants Records from patients >18 years of age with disability were obtained from the Taiwan Data Bank of Persons with Disability (July 2012–November 2017). Disability functioning profile of the following diagnosis were analyzed: stroke, schizophrenia, hearing loss, liver cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, burn, head and neck cancer. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Demographic data, severity of impairment, and Disability Assessment Scale scores were obtained and analyzed. Radar charts were constructed using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. functioning domain score. Degree of similarity between any two given diagnosis was assessed by cluster analysis, comparing the Euclidean distances between radar chart data points among the six domains. Results Based on cluster analysis of similarities between functioning domain profiles, the eight diagnoses were grouped into different disability clusters. Four clusters of disability were named according to the type restriction patterns: global-impact cluster (stroke); interaction-restriction cluster (schizophrenia, hearing loss); physical-limitation cluster, (liver cirrhosis, CKD, and congestive heart failure); and specific-impact cluster (burn, head and neck cancer). The rates of institutionalization and unemployment differed between the four clusters. Conclusion We converted WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. functioning domain scores into six-dimensioned radar chart, and demonstrate disability restrictions can be further categorized into clusters according to similarity of functioning impairment. Understanding of disease-related disabilities provides an important basis for designing rehabilitation programs and policies on social welfare and health that reflect the daily-living needs of people according to diagnosis. Implication for Rehabilitation The use of radar charts provided a direct visualization of the scope and severity of disabilities associated with specific diagnoses. Diagnosis-related disabilities can be organized into clusters based on similarities in WHODAS 2.0 disability domain profiles. Knowledge of the characteristics of disability clusters is important to understand disease-related disabilities and provide a basis for designing rehabilitation.

Comparative analysis of five Heliotropium species in phenotypic correlations, biochemical constituents and antioxidant properties

Abstract: This study aims to compare five species of Heliotropium collected from Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This comparison was carried out on basis of morphology, pigments content, proteins, total phenolics, flavonoids as well as their antioxidant activity. According to similarity matrix and cluster analysis, H. longiflorum and H. zeylanicum were closely related while H. pterocarpum and H. zeylanicum were distantly related species. The variation in pigments content of the five studied species of Heliotropium was obvious. H. zeylanicum recorded the highest content of pigments while H. bacciferum was the lowest. Moreover, H. jizanense and H. pterocarpum had almost similar pigments content. Proteins, phenolics and flavonoids showed noticeable variation among the tested species. In other words, H. zeylanicum and H. bacciferum had the highest contents of proteins, phenolics and flavonoids and H. jizanense had lowest and the difference was significant. Meanwhile, the total antioxidant activity was variable among species. Higher antioxidant activity was detected in H. zeylanicum (93%) and H. bacciferum (84%) while H. pterocarpum (34.5%).

Comparative analysis of five Heliotropium species in phenotypic correlations, biochemical constituents and antioxidant properties

Abstract: This study aims to compare five species of Heliotropium collected from Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This comparison was carried out on basis of morphology, pigments content, proteins, total phenolics, flavonoids as well as their antioxidant activity. According to similarity matrix and cluster analysis, H. longiflorum and H. zeylanicum were closely related while H. pterocarpum and H. zeylanicum were distantly related species. The variation in pigments content of the five studied species of Heliotropium was obvious. H. zeylanicum recorded the highest content of pigments while H. bacciferum was the lowest. Moreover, H. jizanense and H. pterocarpum had almost similar pigments content. Proteins, phenolics and flavonoids showed noticeable variation among the tested species. In other words, H. zeylanicum and H. bacciferum had the highest contents of proteins, phenolics and flavonoids and H. jizanense had lowest and the difference was significant. Meanwhile, the total antioxidant activity was variable among species. Higher antioxidant activity was detected in H. zeylanicum (93%) and H. bacciferum (84%) while H. pterocarpum (34.5%).

Medicinal plant use practice in four ethnic communities (Gurage, Mareqo, Qebena, and Silti), south central Ethiopia

BackgroundEthnic groups throughout the world have developed their own cultures expressed in the form of customs, taboos, and traditional healthcare systems. Traditional medicine system is one of the widespread cultures known throughout the world which is very much tied to cultural practices of the community or ethnic group. Medicinal plant treasure found in Gurage and Silti zones remained poorly characterized and understood. Therefore, this study was conducted in four ethnic groups: three from Gurage zone (Gurage, Qebena, and Mareqo) and one from Silti zone (Silti) which have lived in close proximity and contact for many centuries in the respective zones. In the present study, unique and shared cultural elements in connection to traditional herbal medicine were examined through investigation of the diversity of medicinal plants. Moreover, attempts have been made to determine similarities among the society in the medicinal plants they have used in general and in medicinal plant species considered culturally most important.MethodsIn a study that involved 320 randomly sampled informants, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation were used and qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Descriptive statistics, rank order priority (ROP), informant consensus factor, Jaccard similarity coefficient, and clustering were used for data analysis.ResultsA total of 244 medicinal plant species and a fungal species used to treat human and/or livestock ailments were documented. The number of plants (80 plants, 33 %) with ROP value greater than 50% were considerably fewer than that of plants with ROP < 50% (164, 67 %). Jaccard similarity index and clustering analysis for all cited plants, among the respective studied districts, indicated that grouping generally followed the existing ethnic origin. On the contrary, clustering based on culturally important medicinal plant species (80 plant species, score ROP ≥ 50%) showed the influence of proximity and geographical orientation rather than ethnic relation.ConclusionsCulturally, most important plants (80 spp.) are widely used and best shared with nearby communities and this could imply current (new) knowledge being practiced in the communities. This knowledge must be documented and better utilized in a modern way including modernized use of traditional medicinal plants.

Impact of River Water and Bottom Sediment Pollution on Accumulation of Metal(loid)s and Arsenic Species in the Coastal Plants Stuckenia pectinata L., Galium aparine L., and Urtica dioica L.: A Chemometric and Environmental Study

The role of water and bottom sediment pollution of a river subjected to a strong industrial anthropo-pressure in coastal plants was investigated. The work presented the influence of polluted environment on accumulation of metal(loid)s (including arsenic and its species) in Stuckenia pectinata L., Galium aparine L., and Urtica dioica L. The study provided important information on the contents of organic and inorganic arsenic species in selected plants and their response to heavy metal and arsenic contamination. The As(III), As(V), AB (arsenobetaine), MMA (monomethylarsonic acid), and DMA (dimethylarsinic acid) ions were successfully separated on the Hamilton PRP-X100 column with high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) techniques. The Pollution Load Index and geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) values clearly indicate significant pollution of the examined ecosystem with heavy metals. The chemometric analysis with the concepts of (Dis)similarity Analysis, Cluster Analysis, and Principal Component Analysis helped to visualize the variability of the As species concentrations and to analyse correlations between sampling point locations and analyte contents.

Quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker combined with HPLC fingerprint qualitative analyses for comprehensive evaluation of Aurantii Fructus.

The present study aimed to develop a strategy involving quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint qualitative analysis for performing the quality control of Aurantii Fructus. The content of 12 components (eriocitrin, neoeriocitrin, narirutin, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, meranzin, poncirin, naringenin, nobiletin, tangeretin, and auraptene) in samples was determined using reliable relative correction factors that were obtained using naringin as an internal reference standard. The new method demonstrated good applicability, and no significant differences were observed between the external standard method and the new method as determined by calculating standard method difference. Qualitative evaluation of samples was conducted using similarity analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and quality fluctuation analysis. Chromatographic fingerprint data were divided into three groups by similarity and hierarchical cluster analyses, and seven components may have a more significant impact on the quality of Aurantii Fructus in quality fluctuation analysis. Overall, the study suggests that the qualitative and quantitative analyses of multicomponents using quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker combined with chromatographic fingerprinting can be considered good quality criteria for performing quality control and providing technical support for the further pharmacological and pharmaceutical research of Aurantii Fructus.

Assessment of Aquatic Ecological Health: A Case Study of Lake Rewalsar, Himachal Pradesh

The present study was conducted for two years to analyze the water quality of the sacred lake Rewalsar. Water quality of different seasons was evaluated by water quality index. Various statistical techniques, such as correlation, principal component analysis were applied. Based on Water Quality Index, water quality of the lake was in the range of 33-80 in different seasons. Cluster analysis of similarity indicates the relationship intensity between the seasons as cluster ranged 80-100% during the study period. In the principal component analysis maximum variables (Conductivity, Alkalinity, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Nitrates, Phosphates, and Chloride) shows maximum influence during the summer and monsoon. The outcome revealed that the major driving factors of water quality deterioration are the runoff of effluent from the domestic area and offering food materials to the fishes. So, it is necessary to implement effective management strategies for the conservation of the Rewalsarlake.

Biodiversity and distribution patterns of deep-sea fauna along the temperate NW Pacific

The deep NW Pacific has been intensively analyzed in the last decade, during an international collaboration between German and Russian scientists, which has resulted in a vast, unique collection of material from previously unexplored areas. Until now, the environmental forces that could be driving species richness patterns in the deep NW Pacific have not been explored widely. Therefore, in this paper, we utilize new species distribution data from four deep-sea expeditions to the NW Pacific (2010–2016), which include the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, the abyssal plain adjacent to the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench (KKT) and the KKT, to better understand species connectivity, biodiversity patterns, and distribution ranges in deep-sea benthos in this region. To determine the best environmental predictors driving these deep-sea species richness patterns, we applied generalized additive (GAMs) and linear models (GLMs). We calculated the total number of geographic distribution records, alpha (total number of species per 10,000 km2 hexagonal cells) and gamma species richness (total number of species per 1° latitudinal bands), and expected number of species (rarefaction ES15). Our highest number of distribution records and gamma species richness during the last decade peaked at intermediate latitudes (42°−44°N) along the mesopelagic zone (500–1000 m) of the Sea of Japan and abyssopelagic zone (4000–6000 m) of the NW Pacific and KKT. When sampling bias was accounted for, the alpha species richness in bathypelagic zone (1000–4000 m) of Sea of Okhotsk and abyssopelagic zone (4000–6000 m) of the NW Pacific and KKT were as high as mesopelagic zone of the Sea of Japan. The similarity cluster analysis of species presence/absence in lower bathyal/hadal (3000–8500 m) revealed three distinct geographic regions including Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and KKT in the NW Pacific. The eastern sector of the Sea of Okhotsk and western KKT had c. 50% of species in common. Several species of deep-sea Bivalves, such as Dacrydium rostriferum and Vesicomya pacifica, had the greatest latitudinal distribution ranges among all species. Echinoderm Ophiura leptoctenia, had instead, the broadest bathymetric distribution ranges compared to all other collected species. GAM models indicated that dissolved oxygen was the best explanatory variable for predicting numbers of species, closely followed by the model including all environmental variables plus topography. However, the GLM models of species richness, with latitudinal intervals of 1° and 5°, found that the topography and temperature were the best predictors of number of species. GLM model outputs indicated that a model that contains only the number of distribution records is, for all practical purposes, as good as any model that contains an environmental predictor. This study provides new insights on the NW Pacific deep-sea species richness patterns, where dissolved oxygen might play an important role, especially when considering the Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs) in the deep NW Pacific.

Impact analysis and risk assessment of supply and demand bilateral randomness on power system

With the high proportion of new energy access, the randomness of the supply side increases. The electrical power system system is transformed from a unilateral stochastic system on the demand side to a bilateral stochastic system on the supply and demand side. Firstly, this paper studies the potential risks of power system under the randomness of supply and demand sides;Then, according to the principles of integrity, relevance, operability, quantitative and qualitative combination, the evaluation index system of bilateral randomness for the safety and stability risk of power system is constructed. Finally, a risk assessment model is constructed based on the static subjective weights of FAHP and similarity clustering analysis and the dynamic objective weights of the improved CRITIC weighting method.

Investigation on the Characteristic Components of Dahuang Zhechong Pill Based on High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Fingerprint

Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DHZCP) has been widely used in the treatment of hepatocarcinoma in China. The aim of our study was to identify the characteristic components of DHZCP. First, HPLC fingerprint of DHZCP was established to analyze the common components of 14 batches of DHZCP samples, which were purchased from different manufacturers. The results of HPLC fingerprint detected 164 peaks in these 14 batches of DHZCP. Through similarity analysis, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis, we identified 20 common components upon which to conduct quantitative analysis conducted by an HPLC method. After that, a cytotoxicity test was carried out to screen the active components in DHZCP. The results showed that hypoxanthine, rhein, emodin, aloe emodin, and wogonin are the active components of DHZCP for the treatment of hepatocarcinoma, as they have significant inhibitory effect against the activity of drug-resistant hepatocarcinoma cells (SMMC-7721/DOX) than others.

Study on quality of standard decoction of Coptidis Rhizoma based on traditional decoction process

In order to determine the quality evaluation method for standard decoction of Coptidis Rhizoma,15 batches of standard decoction of Coptidis Rhizoma were prepared by using standardized process. Parameters such as traits,p H value,indicative component content,fingerprint similarity,composition transfer rate and dry extract rate were selected as the indexes for quality evaluation. Similarity evaluation and cluster analysis were performed for HPLC fingerprint of standard decoction,and mathematical model was used to study the correlation between dry extract rate,berberine content,berberine transfer rate in standard decoction and berberine content in decoction pieces. The results showed that the similarity of fingerprints was greater than 0. 99 for these 15 batches of standard decoctions of Coptidis Rhizoma. In cluster analysis,the standard decoctions of Coptidis Rhizoma from 4 producing areas were classified into 3 categories,consistent with the content determination results,indicating that there were quality differences among different producing areas.R2 in three linear regression mathematical models established was all greater than 0. 9,with significant difference. The validation of three batches of data showed that the models had good accuracy. Therefore,this model can be used to predict the quality of standard decoction prepared from different Coptidis Rhizoma pieces. In the standard decoction process established in this study,the integrity of the traditional process was greatly preserved,and the established quality evaluation method could be used to comprehensively examine the quality of the standard decoction,which can provide a demonstration for the related research of water extraction preparation containing Coptidis Rhizoma pieces.

Effects of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) Inoculation on the Growth, Antioxidant Activity, Cu Uptake, and Bacterial Community Structure of Rape (Brassica napus L.) Grown in Cu-Contaminated Agricultural Soil.

Previous analyses of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) combined with the remediation of heavy metal pollution in soil have largely been performed under potting or greenhouse conditions, and in situ remediation experiments under field conditions have rarely been reported. In this study, the effects of the metal-resistant PGPB Microbacterium oxydans JYC17, Pseudomonas thivervalensis Y1-3-9, and Burkholderia cepacia J62 on soil Cu pollution under rape remediation were studied in the farmland surrounding the Nanjing Jiuhuashan copper mining region in China. Following inoculation treatment for 50 days, the biomasses of the rape inoculated with strains JYC17, Y1-3-9, and J62 increased, and the total amounts of Cu uptake increased by 113.38, 66.26, and 67.91%, respectively, the translocation factor (TF) of rape inoculated with J62 was 0.85, a significant increase of 70.68%, thus improving the Cu remediation efficiency of the rape. Y1-3-9 and J62 affected the bioavailability of Cu in the soil, and the water-soluble Cu contents were increased by 10.13 and 41.77%, respectively, compared with the control. The antioxidant activities in the rape leaves showed that the tested bacteria increased the contents of antioxidant non-enzymatic substances, including ascorbic acid (ASA) and glutathione (GSH), which were increased by 40.24–91.22% and 9.89–17.67%, respectively, thereby reducing the oxidative stress caused by heavy metals and the contents of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxidase (POD). PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) was used to analyze the effects of the tested bacteria on the cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent bacterial communities in the root endosphere and rhizosphere soil of the rape. The sequencing results of the DGGE bands indicated that the tested bacteria colonized the endosphere and rhizosphere, and they became an important component of the cultivation-dependent bacteria. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the DGGE profile and similarity cluster analysis showed that the tested bacteria affected the cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent bacterial communities in the root endosphere and rhizosphere. In this experiment, the effects and mechanisms of the combined plant-microbe remediation under field conditions were preliminarily studied, and the results are expected to provide a theoretical basis for future combined remediation experiments.

Ethno-Pharmacognosy and Diversity Encourage Conservation of Wild Ziziphus species Collected from KP, Pakistan

The current research works to show that the medicinal practices of two different wild Ziziphus species (Ziziphus oxyphylla Edgew and Ziziphus mauritina Lamk), to assess the consensus factor between local communities of different areas of KP, to measure the potential for novel drugs of herbal origin. There was immeasurable promise among the informers concerning medicinal uses of plants with Informants Consensus Factor (ICF) value ranges from 0.992 to 0.124 with an average value as 0.440. The study naked that most of the informants agreed in the application of Z. oxyphylla to use and against Jaundice (ICF 0.992) that unveiled the highest fidelity level (100%) respectively. The present work has tried to genetic relationships among of Ziziphus species growing in Swat Valley, KP, Pakistan. The intra and inter genetic diversity among the 50 genotypes of Ziziphus species viz., 25 genotypes of Z. oxyphylla, 25 of Z. mauritina, were tested using morphometric and biochemical profiling. Twenty-four morphological characters were counted for the assessment of intra and inter genetic diversity through traits similarity index and cluster analysis. Total seed protein profiling was carried out on 12% slab gel electrophoresis; 12 reproducible bands were noticed in Z. muritiana and 8 Z. oxyphylla. Intra locus contribution toward the genetic disagreement was 41.666% in Z. oxyphylla and 25% in Z. muritiana. In the same way, inter species locus contribution toward genetic diversity was 66.666%. Fascinatingly, locus L-1, 6, 7, 8 was monomorphic in the collected germplasms and may be presented as generic specific locus for Ziziphus species.

Diversity and distribution of fish fauna in the Ib River, a tributary of Mahanadi, India

Ichthyofaunal survey was conducted in the Ib River (21°44’ to 22°50’ N; 83°56’ to 83°54’ E), an important tributary of Mahanadi, to evaluate the diversity and distribution of freshwater fishes along six sites on seasonal basis between February, 2016 and January, 2017. A total of 55 species belonging to 42 genera, 21 families and 9 orders were recorded from the study area. Maximum number of species belonged to the Order Cypriniformes (41.8%) followed by Siluriformes (21.8%) and Perciformes (21.8%). Maximum value of species richness was observed in downstream areas; Sundargarh and Barghat and least in upper stretches of Pamsala. Shannon–Weiner diversity index ranged between 2.47 to 3.68 at the six sites of Ib River indicating healthy state of the river. Bray-Curtis similarity cluster analysis suggests that similarities between sites decrease with increasing distance, with highest similarity found between Sundargarh and Barghat sites. Baseline data on fish biodiversity has been generated in this study which can now be periodically monitored and form basis for future conservation plans.

Spot the difference: Zircon disparity tracks crustal evolution

We present a novel approach to examining the detrital zircon record, using similarity analysis of regionally defined populations to track crust production, preservation, and the efficacy of crustal recycling and homogenization. We compared temporally binned detrital zircon age data from geographically defined regions using Kolmogorov-Smirnov similarity measures, multidimensional scaling, and cluster analysis. This approach tracks disparity in the global detrital zircon record from 4 Ga to the present. Disparity values increase dramatically in the Neoarchean and are interpreted to reflect the emergence and preservation of isolated crustal fragments. Disparity values decrease through the early Paleoproterozoic, associated with the onset of plate tectonics and craton assembly. Oscillating disparity values through the remaining Proterozoic and Phanerozoic correlate (p = <0.01) with the supercontinent cycle, where regional detrital zircon populations are more similar during assembly and more distinct during dispersal. This link between the detrital zircon record and the supercontinent cycle necessitates well-coupled crustal recycling mechanisms that operate via both magmatic and sedimentary processes.

Adaptation of invasive species of Solidago canadensis L. in the urban ecosystem of Cherkasy

Introduction . There is a great deal of researches on the effects of S. canadensis L. on species of phytocenoses and biodiversity in general, however the results of such researches have many contradictions. They differ depending on their research locations . This proves that the behavior of S. canadensis L. in phytocenoses is highly dependent on many factors (soil, climate, species composition of local phytocenoses ) as well as the lack of a clear understanding of the mechanisms of its impact on phytocenoses, indicating the need to further study the impact of this species on phytocenoses to understand this mechanism. Purpose. The detection of S. canadensis L . localities in the Cherkasy urban ecosystem, study of synecological parameters of S. canadensis L. and accompanying species, as well as its influence on the floristic composition of phytocenoses; predicting the possibility of further increasing the invasion area and identifying priority areas for measures to control it. Methods. Locations were searched using the route method. The accounting was carried out at accounting sites of 1 m 2 , using standard geobotanical techniques. Statistical processing of the results was performed using dispersion coefficient, diversity compositioт coefficient, occurrence coefficient, Jaccard similarity coefficient and cluster analysis by nearest neighbor method. Results. In the course of the research conducted during the vegetation period 2016-2017, a significant level of presence of the S. canadensis L . was noted in 9 districts in Cherkasy: average projective coverage of 20,00% - 82 , 67%. S. canadensis L . dominates on 74% of the accounting sites. In all districts depletion of the species composition of spontaneous plant communities due to the invasion of the S. canadensis L. was found: the average number of species per 1 m 2 was 6.68 ± 0.23 species. The occurrence coefficients of the accompanying species are calculated, the species occurring in phytocenoses with S. canadensis L . are most often identified: Elymus repens (L.) Gould (76%) Ambrosia artemisiifolia L . (64%) Achillea submillefolium Klok. et Krytzka (50%) Stenactis annua (L.) Cass. ex Less. (36%) Acer negundo L. (30%) Sonchus arvensis L. (26%) Poa trivialis L . (20%) Trifolium pratense L . (18%) Artemisia absinthium L. (16%) Trifolium arvense L . (16%), Artemisia vulgaris L. (14%). In comparing the species composition of the phytocenoses of the 9 districts by Jaccard similarity coefficient and the cluster analysis of the average projective coverage of the S. canadensis L. and accompanying species, priority areas were identified to control the invasion of the S. canadensis L . Combining cluster analysis with Jaccard similarity coefficient increases the accuracy of the results (because the species composition of the phytocenoses in addition to their quantitative indicators is taken into account). Similar invasion behavior is predicted in areas with similar species composition of phytocenoses. Conclusion. S. canadensis L . was detected in 9 Cherkasy districts. Negative influence of the S. canadensis L . on the species composition of phytocenoses has been proved. The species that were found most often with the S. canadensis L . have adapted to the conditions it creates. The combination of Jaccard similarity coefficient and cluster analysis yields more accurate results than cluster analysis alone.