Temperate Zone Research Articles

New coccidian Eimeria iyoensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida: Eimeriidae) in farmed ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus L.) in Ehime, Japan.

Eight Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) have been isolated from the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus), native to the temperate zone of Asia and eastern regions of Europe. Enteric coccidiosis has become a major issue associated with the breeding of farmed pheasants for game bird release or meat production. In this study, 35 fecal samples were collected from two-to-three-month-old ring-necked pheasants from four pheasant-rearing farms in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. Microscopic examination using a saturated sugar solution technique detected numerous subspherical oocysts from the samples of one farm and ellipsoidal Eimeria phasiani Tyzzer, 1929 oocysts from the three other farms. The subspherical oocysts were artificially sporulated and measured 18.6 µm by 15.7 µm with a 1.18 shape index (n = 150). Each oocyst contained four 10.7 µm × 5.8 µm sporocysts (n = 30) and one coarse refractile polar granule; no micropyle or residua were detected. Each sporocysts contained two sporozoites with one large and one small refractile body and sparsely distributed residua. The complete, 1,443-bp cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (cox1) of this isolate exhibited low sequence identity with published Eimeria spp. sequences including E. phasiani that was previously recorded in the same area. Meanwhile, the oocyst morphology most closely resembled that of Eimeria tetartooimia Wacha, 1973, but with distinct refractile polar granules and sporocyst residua. The available GenBank cox1 sequence of E. tetartooimia exhibited a sequence identity of < 94.5% with the study isolate. Here, the coccidian isolate identified in this study represents a new Eimeria iyoensis n. sp. capable of infecting ring-necked pheasant.

Effects of the insecticide imidacloprid on aquatic invertebrate communities of the Ecuadorian Amazon

Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide that has received particular attention due to its widespread use and potential adverse effects for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Its toxicity to aquatic organisms has been evaluated in central and southern Europe as well as in (sub-)tropical regions of Africa and Asia, showing high toxic potential for some aquatic insects and zooplankton taxa. However, its toxicity to aquatic organisms representative of tropical regions of Latin America has never been evaluated. To fill this knowledge gap, we carried out a mesocosm experiment to assess the short- and long-term effects of imidacloprid on freshwater invertebrate communities representative of the Ecuadorian Amazon. A mesocosm experiment was conducted with five weekly applications of imidacloprid at four nominal concentrations (0.01 μg/L, 0.1 μg/L, 1 μg/L and 10 μg/L). Toxic effects were evaluated on zooplankton and macroinvertebrate populations and communities, as well as on water quality parameters for 70 days. Given the climatic conditions prevailing in the study area, characterized by a high solar radiation and abundant rainfall that resulted in mesocosm overflow, there was a rapid dissipation of the test compound from the water column (half-life: 4 days). The macroinvertebrate taxa Callibaetis pictus (Ephemeroptera), Chironomus sp. (Diptera), and the zooplankton taxon Macrocyclops sp., showed population declines caused by the imidacloprid treatment, with a 21-d Time Weighted Average No Observed Effect Concentrations (21-d TWA NOEC) of 0.46 μg/L, except for C. pictus which presented a 21-d TWA NOEC of 0.05 μg/L. In general terms, the sensitivity of these taxa to imidacloprid was greater than that reported for surrogate taxa in temperate zones and similar to that reported in other (sub-)tropical regions. These results confirm the high sensitivity of tropical aquatic invertebrates to this compound and suggest the need to establish regulations for the control of imidacloprid contamination in Amazonian freshwater ecosystems.

Exploring the influence of local urban heat features on park cooling effects: Insights from Chinese cities

Urban parks are vital for mitigating urban heat, yet debate persists on whether local urban heat features hinder or enhance park cooling effects. Therefore. We employed Google Earth Engine and Landsat 8 OLI to map the average summer daytime land surface temperature (LST) across China during 2017–2019. This allowed us to evaluate park cooling effects and calculate local urban heat island intensities (LUHI) around each park. Findings revealed that: (1) urban parks had an average cooling intensity (PCI) of 1.38 °C, with Blue and Green Parks demonstrating superior cooling effects, particularly in arid regions. (2) Parks in hotter urban areas exhibited enhanced cooling effects, with notable PCI differences of over 0.4 °C among different LUHI regions, especially for Blue and Green Parks. However, this effect was not observed in the central subtropical (CST) and central temperate (CT) zones. (3) Hotter urban areas had larger Threshold Value of Efficiency (TVoE), particularly for Blue and Green Parks (0.11–0.46 ha), with CT zone parks displaying the largest TVoE among climate zones. (4) The variations in park cooling effects attributed to LUHI primarily stem from differences in land cover composition and their thermal properties. More importantly, our study underscores the greater influence of local urban heat features over urban heat characteristics on park cooling effects. Therefore, local urban heat features surrounding urban parks must be taken into account when planning urban green spaces, what's more, a larger park was more efficient in hotter urban areas.

Constraints in Farmers’ Purchase Decisions of Agricultural Inputs in High Hills Temperate Wet Zone of Himachal Pradesh

"The study was conducted in the high hill temperate wet zone of Himachal Pradesh to investigate the information sources used and the constraints in farmers’ purchase of agricultural inputs. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 448 households in the study area. Multiple response analyses and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were used for the study. The findings of the study revealed that timely non-availability of inputs in government stores, followed by the limited supply of inputs in government stores, high input prices, non-availability of the preferred package of inputs in markets, and fear of adulteration were the significant constraints experienced by the farmers in purchase of agricultural inputs. However, fellow/progressive farmers and private input dealers were the most commonly used source of information for purchased agricultural inputs. The results suggested that an increase in government funding for the development of input delivery systems can positively impact public awareness campaigns aimed at promoting better agricultural input u"

Micromorphology of fern spores as a tool in taxonomy of East-Central European species from the family Aspleniaceae (Polypodiopsida)

The family Aspleniaceae consists of ca. 730 fern species found primarily in the tropics but present also in the temperate zone. Recently, researchers have been increasingly interested in spore morphology, as it provides valuable information used in taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses. This study aimed to (1) describe in detail spore morphology in species of the family Aspleniaceae from Central and Eastern Europe; (2) attempt to use their features in taxonomic analyses; and (3) create a key to species identification on the basis of spores. e study was based on &lt;i&gt;Asplenium&lt;/i&gt; spores of 10 species from 57 localities. The morphological type of spores was very similar in all the studied species, whereas spore microsculpture varied widely between and within species. This makes it difficult to use spores for species identification. Nevertheless, spore morphology allows the identification of six species, while the others form groups composed of 2–3 species each. In the group consisting of &lt;i&gt;A. adulterinum&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;A. trichomanes&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;A. ruta-muraria&lt;/i&gt;, the last species is distinguished by larger spore size (more than 50 μm long).

Microbial co-occurrence network demonstrates spatial and climatic trends for global soil diversity

Despite recent research efforts to explore the co-occurrence patterns of diverse microbes within soil microbial communities, a substantial knowledge-gap persists regarding global climate influences on soil microbiota behaviour. Comprehending co-occurrence patterns within distinct geoclimatic groups is pivotal for unravelling the ecological structure of microbial communities, that are crucial for preserving ecosystem functions and services. Our study addresses this gap by examining global climatic patterns of microbial diversity. Using data from the Earth Microbiome Project, we analyse a meta-community co-occurrence network for bacterial communities. This method unveils substantial shifts in topological features, highlighting regional and climatic trends. Arid, Polar, and Tropical zones show lower diversity but maintain denser networks, whereas Temperate and Cold zones display higher diversity alongside more modular networks. Furthermore, it identifies significant co-occurrence patterns across diverse climatic regions. Central taxa associated with different climates are pinpointed, highlighting climate’s pivotal role in community structure. In conclusion, our study identifies significant correlations between microbial interactions in diverse climatic regions, contributing valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of soil microbiota.

Four New Species of Tomentella (Thelephorales, Basidiomycota) from Subtropical Forests in Southwestern China.

Species of the basidiomycetous genus Tomentella are widely distributed throughout temperate forests. Numerous studies on the taxonomy and phylogeny of Tomentella have been conducted from the temperate zone in the Northern hemisphere, but few have been from subtropical forests. In this study, four new species, T. casiae, T. guiyangensis, T. olivaceomarginata and T. rotundata from the subtropical mixed forests of Southwestern China, are described and illustrated based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) and the large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU). Molecular analyses using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analysis confirmed the phylogenetic positions of these four new species. Anatomical comparisons among the closely related species in phylogenetic and morphological features are discussed. Four new species could be distinguished by the characteristics of basidiocarps, the color of the hymenophoral surface, the size of the basidia, the shape of the basidiospores and some other features.

Damage and Entomophagy in Natural Infestations of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Maize Landraces in Oaxaca, Mexico1

Abstract The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), seriously damages maize (Zea mays L.) crops in tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones of Mexico and around the world. This study was conducted to evaluate the damage caused by S. frugiperda to six native maize populations and the natural parasites of S. frugiperda in three localities from Oaxaca, Mexico. Two native maize populations each of the Zapalote Chico, Bolita, and Conico-Chalqueño races were used. Plantings were done at Coatecas Altas, Santa Lucia Miahuatlan, and Villa de Zaachila under a randomized complete block design with four replications. The agroecological conditions of cultivation influenced the damage caused by S. frugiperda and influenced its natural parasitism. The ordered weighted mean damage in the localities was Villa de Zaachila (1.40–4.92) &amp;gt; Coatecas Altas (1.33–4.06) &amp;gt; Santa Lucia Miahuatlan (0.53–1.00). The order of parasitism rates in the localities was Villa de Zaachila (56.16%) ≈ Santa Lucia Miahuatlan (37.59%) &amp;gt; Coatecas Altas (14.27%). Zapalote Chico populations were less damaged by S. frugiperda larvae and flowered earlier than did the Conico-Chalqueño and Bolita populations. Thirteen parasitoid species and nematodes were recorded attacking S. frugiperda. Chelonus insularis Cresson was the most abundant parasitoid species across the locations. Members of 17 families of predators and 12 families of parasitoids also were identified as potential natural enemies of S. frugiperda. The population dynamics of this armyworm were determined by the environmental conditions of the location, maize population, transition from the vegetative to the reproductive stage, and presence of natural enemies, whereas natural parasitism was influenced only by location.

A new species of Homalernis Meyrick, 1908 (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae, Tortricinae) represents the first record of the tribe Schoenotenini in Japan

Homalernis fluctuosa Suzuki &amp; Jinbo, sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Tsushima Island, Amamiooshima Island, and Okinawajima Island, Japan. This is not only the first record of the genus Homalernis but also of the tribe Schoenotenini from warm temperate zones in the Palaearctic region. The association of males and females of the new species was confirmed based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase submit 1 (COI). We discuss the taxonomic positions of two alleged Homalernis species from Malaysia and the taxonomic position of Homalernis within Schoenotenini.

Modelling the impacts of future droughts and post-droughts on hydrology, crop yields, and their linkages through assessing virtual water trade in agricultural watersheds of high-latitude regions

This study elaborates on the effects of future drought and post-drought conditions on the reliability of global breadbaskets. The study simulates agro-hydrological processes in the Nelson River Basin, a large agricultural watershed in western Canada that supplies food for over 170 countries globally. In temperate zones of higher latitudes, future climate change scenarios suggest that global breadbaskets will likely experience increased precipitation and higher crop yields (Y). This could be perceived as an increased export potential of food from these regions. However, projected drought events in the future can affect agro-hydrological processes, Y, and, therefore, export potentials during and following the drought events. Using a process-based agro-hydrologic model, this research examines the potential impacts of future agricultural droughts and post-drought conditions on hydrological water yield (WYLD), Y, and their linkages through assessing the net virtual water export (NVWE), the water embodied in the production of crops that are destined for export. The results indicate that long-term average Y, NVWE, and WYLD are expected to improve in the future. However, droughts will become more extreme in the future, leading to considerable reductions in Y, NVWE, and WYLD. During the post-drought period, the recovery time for WYLD is considerably longer than Y and NVWE across regions. The slow recovery of WYLD, following an agricultural drought, is related to crop water uptake, which can be controlled by optimization of the cropping pattern. The continuous loss of WYLD during and after prolonged and more frequent droughts in the future can significantly affect not only the environment and several economic sectors but also the irrigated crop production and export potential from these regions. This finding highlights the connections between local hydrology and global trade systems in agricultural watersheds of higher-latitude regions. Future adaptation measures, such as changes in cropping patterns, can preserve WYLD during and after droughts, supporting water and food security.

Urban Seasonality: New Paths in Urban Environmental History

Seasons shape infrastructures, temporalities, and life worlds in fundamental ways. Urbanites have long recognized the seasonality of their environments, but seasons have been little studied by historians. This special section explores the diverse ways that urban seasonality affects urban life, focusing on cities in temperate zones across the globe, from North America to Europe to Japan. This collection of essays shows how seasonal rhythms, differentiated from weather (with its transient nature) and climate (with its vast scales) can reveal new areas of inquiry for historians concerned with how urban environments are located in time and space. Taken together, these collected essays move beyond seasonal descriptions to frame seasonality as an analytical and methodological tool, suggesting new ways of thinking about everything from childhood to potholes, social solidarity, style, sewage and human-animal relations. This introduction is an effort to focus our attention on urban seasonality as generative of often surprising ways of approaching familiar topics in urban history.

The Diversity and Floristic Analysis of Rust Diseases in the Sanjiangyuan Forest Plants.

Between 2020 and 2023, rust fungus specimens were collected from the primary forested regions of the Sanjiangyuan area in Qinghai Province, resulting in over 300 samples. A taxonomic and phylogenetic study of the rust fungi from these forests was conducted using morphological and molecular biological techniques. The investigation identified rust fungi from 7 families, 12 genera, 56 species and varieties, including 10 new host records, 1 new record for China, and 2 novel species. The host plants involved belonged to 26 families, 48 genera, and 78 species. Pucciniaceae and Coleosporiaceae were the dominant families, with the genera Puccinia, Melampsora, and Gymnosporangium being prevalent. The rust fungi in the Sanjiangyuan forests showed a biogeographical affinity with the North Temperate Zone. Floristic comparisons revealed a higher similarity with rust fungi from Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Tibet and a lower similarity with those from Hainan. An analysis of the life forms of rust fungus host plants indicated that herbaceous plants were the most common, followed by shrubs and trees. In different regions of Sanjiangyuan, rust fungi were found as follows: Golog Prefecture with 6 families, 9 genera, and 28 species; Yushu Prefecture with 5 families, 8 genera, and 31 species; Huangnan Prefecture with 5 families, 9 genera, and 26 species; and Hainan Prefecture with 4 families, 5 genera, and 10 species. The families Pucciniaceae, Melampsoraceae, and Coleosporiaceae were common across all four regions. Moreover, the families Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, Salicaceae, and Caprifoliaceae were shared among the host plants in these regions.

Sex and age distribution of the Hyperostosis frontalis interna (based on skulls analysis of tra-ditional societies in Eurasia)

Hyperostosis frontalis interna is an overgrowth on the inner surface of the frontal bone [Hershkovitz et al., 1999]. HFI is accompanied by hormonal and metabolic disorders usually [Hershkovitz et al., 1999]. The rate of HFI in historical groups is low (1–4 %) compared to the modern population, where the incidence of HFI can reach 70 % [Kolyasnikova, Buzhilova, 2023; Barber et al., 1997]. In the modern population, HFI is more common for women, predominantly elderly, which, at first glance, is explained by the general increase in women's life expectancy and the accumulation of various chronic pathologies in old age, including those related to metabolism. To examine the distribution of the HFI trait by sex and age, craniological material from representatives of traditional societies of farmers, hunters, nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists living in different climatic zones was studied. Craniological series were divided into three main groups: inhabitants of the Arctic and subarctic, temperate and continental climatic zones. A total of 1912 skulls were studied from the funds of the Research Institute and the Museum of Anthropology of Moscow State University [Alexe-eva et al., 1986]. As a result, using the example of 4 traditional groups from three climatic zones, it was shown that the sign of frontal internal hyperostosis is equally pronounced in both women and men, regardless of ethnic origin, place of residence and type of activity. The age-related increase in the frequency of hyperostosis, taking into account gender, does not give a clear trend in all groups obtained from the analysis of combined samples, which can be explained by the relatively small number of HFI observations in individual subgroups. The pattern of distribution of the trait of frontal internal hyperostosis in the modern population, where the trait is more common in older women, does not correlate with the distribution of HFI in the population adapted to environmental conditions. The results obtained suggest that in tradi-tional societies that have been selected for factors of conditions and lifestyle, regardless of their origin, the distribution of the trait of frontal internal hyperostosis will demonstrate a natural profile that is most adequate to their lifestyle and diet.

Life Forms and Architectural Models of Some Species of Campanula Subgenus (Campanula L., Campanulaceae)

Campanula L. is the largest genus of Campanulaceae family and comprises about 400 (as well as 110 species in Caucasus and 46 species in Azerbaijan flora) herbaceous perennial, sometimes annual and biennial monocarp species distributed in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. Most of Campanula species are cosmopolitan. The species of this genus have long been used in the national economy, primarily as decorative plants, but also as pollinator, melliferous, food and medicinal plants. The genus Campanula L. yet does not have a modern taxonomic classification, although many species are of high horticultural value, and many are rare and endangered. The only monograph was published by A. de Candolle (1830). The final systematic composition of the genus was given in Flora of the Caucasus by M. E. Oganesian and V. V. Shvanova (2008). Representatives of this genus grows in various environmental conditions: forests, meadows, rocks and rarely in deserts and semi — deserts. Most of them are numerous and varied in high mountains, in the subalpine and alpine belts.

Dynamics of endemic human coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 in a hospital of Madrid, Spain. Retrospective study from June 2020 to July 2023.

An observational and retrospective study was carried out to analyse HCoV positivity from a multiplex PCR respiratory panel and RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory samples from 1 June 2020 to 31 July 2023 at the Príncipe de Asturias University Hospital (HUPA) in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Out of 2802 respiratory panels, 1258 (44.8%) turned out positive. HCoV was detected in 114 (4%) cases (range 0-23; median 1.5; IQR 0-3.75) with positivity rates ranging from 0% to 14%. All four variants of HCoV circulated, and OC-43 was the most common in 62.3% of cases. After the onset of the pandemic, the HCoV season was delayed 22 weeks, with a peak positivity of 9% in the summer of 2021, showing an inverse relationship with the alpha and delta waves of SARS-CoV-2. In the two subsequent autumn-winter seasons, HCoV positivity increased (11-14%) with a reduction in the summer of 2022 and 2023 following the emergence of the omicron variant and the relaxation of social distancing measures. The seasonal spread pattern of endemic HCoV might be returning to normal in our region and likely in other temperate zones of the northern hemisphere after 3 years of the pandemic.

Maskwio’mi (Birch Bark Extract): A Case Study Exploring The Use Of A Traditional L’nu Medicine On Skin Conditions

According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, more than 1 in 4 Canadians live with chronic skin conditions. There are many different treatment options, including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, natural remedies, and herbal folk medicines. Folk medicines have a long history, and birch trees (genus betula) have shown great utility for treating skin conditions in societies of temperate and boreal climate zones and have been listed in pharmacopoeias for several centuries. Maskwio’mi (maskwi = birch, o’mi = gathering or oil) is such a traditional skin remedy from the L’nu (Mi’kmaq) people of Atlantic Canada. This case study is part of a larger study and the first to document usage of maskwio’mi for skin conditions, with a goal of future in-depth clinical studies and hopes of recognizing it as a natural health product.

Stand diversity increases pine resistance and resilience to compound disturbance

BackgroundDrought, fire, and insects are increasing mortality of pine species throughout the northern temperate zone as climate change progresses. Tree survival may be enhanced by forest diversity, with growth rates often higher in mixed stands, but whether tree defenses are likewise aided remains in question. We tested how forest diversity-productivity patterns relate to growth and defense over three centuries of climate change, competition, wildfire, and bark beetle attack. We used detailed census data from a fully mapped 25.6-ha forest dynamics plot in California, USA to conduct a spatially explicit, dendroecological assessment of large-diameter Pinus lambertiana survival following fire reintroduction. Our structural equation models investigated direct and indirect pathways by which growth, defense, and forest composition together mediated pine resistance and resilience.ResultsIn the historical era of frequent, mixed-severity fire (pre-1900), trees that were ultimately resistant or susceptible to the post-fire bark beetle epidemic all showed similar growth and defenses, as measured by axial resin duct traits. During the era of fire exclusion (1901–2012), however, susceptible trees had slower growth. Following fire re-entry in 2013, both growth and defense declined precipitously for susceptible trees, resulting in fatal bark beetle attack. Spatial analysis showed that monodominant crowding by shade-tolerant competitors contributed to the long-term stress that prevented susceptible trees from recuperating defenses quickly following fire re-entry. For beetle-resistant trees, however, we found positive feedbacks between diversity, growth, and survival: trees in species-rich communities had higher growth rates pre-fire, which promoted a rapid recuperation of defenses following fire that helped trees resist bark beetle attack. Overall, this associational resistance outweighed associational susceptibility (+8.6% vs. −6.4% change in individual tree survival odds), suggesting a relaxation effect that ultimately allowed 58% of large pines to survive.ConclusionsThough climate change threatens forest biodiversity, biodiversity is key to forest climate adaptation in return. Our findings demonstrate centennial-scale feedbacks by which forest diversity increases pine resistance and resilience to climate-amplified disturbances. The spatially explicit, dendroecological framework provides new insights into diversity-productivity theory, while also informing climate-adaptive forest management by identifying thresholds of tree density and richness that maximize large pine survival.

Contrasting range changes and drivers of four forest foundation species under future climate change in China

Forest foundation species, vital for shaping community structure and dynamics through non-trophic level interactions, are key to forest succession and sustainability. Despite their ecological importance, the habitat ranges of these species in China and their responses to future climate change remain unclear. Our study employed the optimal MaxEnt model to assess the range shifts and their essential drivers of four typical forest foundation species from three climatic zones in China under climate scenarios, including Acer tegmentosum, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum (temperate zone), Quercus glandulifera (subtropical zone), and Ficus hispida (tropical zone). The optimal MaxEnt model exhibited high evaluation indices (AUC values > 0.90) for the four foundation species, indicating excellent predictive performance. Currently, we observed that A. tegmentosum and A. pseudo-sieboldianum are predominantly inhabited temperate forest areas in northeastern China, Q. glandulifera is primarily concentrated in subtropical forests in southeastern China, and F. hispida is mainly distributed across the tropical forests in southern China. Climate factors, particularly temperature, emerged as the primary environmental factors influencing the potential range of forest foundation species. Moreover, precipitation strongly influenced the potential range of A. tegmentosum and A. pseudo-sieboldianum, while elevation exhibited a greater impact on the range of Q. glandulifera and F. hispida. Under future climate scenarios, suitable areas for A. tegmentosum and A. pseudo-sieboldianum tend to expand southward, F. hispida tends to expand northward, while Q. glandulifera exhibited a tendency to contract towards the center. This study advances our understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of forest foundation species in China under climate change, providing critical insights for conservation efforts and sustainable forest management practices.

Future sea-level rise in northwest Mexico is projected to decrease the distribution and habitat quality of the endangered Calidris canutus roselaari (Red Knot)

Abstract Sea-level rise (SLR) is one of the most unequivocal consequences of climate change, yet the implications for shorebirds and their coastal habitats are not well understood, especially outside of the north temperate zone. Here, we show that by the year 2050, SLR has the potential to cause significant habitat loss and reduce the quality of the remaining coastal wetlands in Northwest Mexico—one of the most important regions for Nearctic breeding migratory shorebirds. Specifically, we used species distribution modeling and a moderate SLR static inundation scenario to assess the effects of future SLR on coastal wetlands in Northwest Mexico and the potential distribution of Calidris canutus roselaari (Red Knot), a threatened long-distance migratory shorebird. Our results suggest that under a moderate SLR scenario, 55% of the current coastal wetland extent in northwest Mexico will be at risk of permanent submergence by 2050, and the high-quality habitat areas that remain will be 20% less suitable for C. c. roselaari. What is more, 8 out of the 10 wetlands currently supporting the largest numbers of C. c. roselaari are predicted to lose, on average, 17.8% of their Highly Suitable Habitat (HSH) areas, with 2 sites completely losing all of their HSH. In combination with increasing levels of coastal development and anthropogenic disturbance in Northwest Mexico, these predicted changes suggest that the potential future distribution of C. c. roselaari (and other shorebirds) will likely contract, exacerbating their ongoing population declines. Our results also make clear that SLR will likely have profound effects on ecosystems outside the north temperate zones, providing a clarion call to natural resource managers. Urgent action is required to begin securing sufficient space to accommodate the natural capacity of wetlands to migrate inland and implement local-scale solutions that strengthen the resilience of wetlands and human populations to SLR.

Relation of several pedological characteristics to engineering qualities in expansive clays of Northern Venezuela

The Caribbean Coastal Region of Venezuela with a semi-arid climate presents adequate conditions for the development of soils with expansive clays, which are the main pathology registered by the roads and surrounding infrastructures in the region. Correlation studies in temperate soils have shown that there is a close association between Atterberg limits (AL) with the clay content, less information exists in the literature between the association of AL and other soil physical properties of soil (e.g. in situ water-content and soil particle density). The main objectives of this research were to: evaluate the presence of expansive clays in northern Venezuela through the limits and indices of Atterberg, and to relate the AL to soil physical properties determined during both soil surveys and geotechnical evaluation of risks. The plasticity index (PI) and the shrinkage limit (SL) of the clays are high, whereas the plasticity chart of the samples indicates two well-defined groups, a major one, in the area of low plasticity, the other group in the area of high plasticity. The information shown a close association between the original moisture content of the samples with the AL, highlighting, the strong association of LL and PI with moisture content in situ. However, the soil particle density and the bulk density were negatively related to moisture content. The information presented here for tropical samples confirms the information in the literature for temperate zones, where it is concluded that the liquid, plastic and plasticity index limits were highly significantly related to the clay content.