Warm Climate Regions Research Articles

Evaluation of the soil quality using health index in temperate European conditions (Slovak Republic)

Land users and policy makers recognize importance of soil health and these types of evaluations are welcomed within sustainable land management. The aim of this study was to establish minimum and maximum values of soil health index across the breadth of agricultural used soils of Slovakia. Core objectives included (1) identifying the range of soil health benchmarks; (2) defining benchmarks for different land uses, and (3) defining benchmarks of soil health index for main groups of agricultural soils in Slovakia. These benchmarks represent the first soil health metrics of their kind in Slovakia using data from 266 locations. The soil health index (SHI) approach has been used as a quantitative tool to establish linkage between soil health and soil ecosystem services. We recorded the highest average SHI value in the very warm climatic region of the Slovak Republic, where the majority of agriculturally used arable soils (with an optimal pH value without contamination) are located. The locality with lowest SHI value is in a slightly warm area on soil used as arable soil with a very small depth of humus horizon, with by the pH value in an acidic area, and with a high content of clay. The typical SHI in humus-rich soil groups of Slovakia (Mollic Fluvisols, Chernozems and Cutanhic Luvisols) is higher contrasted with the typical SHI in other soil groups of Slovakia.

Enhancing Red Table Grape Coloration Using Tsikoudia: A Novel and Sustainable Approach.

Achieving optimal coloration in red table grapes, especially in warm-climate regions, presents significant challenges due to high temperatures that inhibit anthocyanin biosynthesis. Conventional methods to enhance grape coloration, including the use of abscisic acid (ABA), ethephon, foliar nutrient supplementation, and viticultural practices like cluster trimming and girdling, have limitations related to cost, regulatory restrictions, and potential adverse effects on grapes quality. This study proposes the application of tsikoudia, a traditional Greek alcoholic beverage, as a novel, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to conventional practices. Tsikoudia, applied during the veraison stage, significantly improved the coloration of 'Crimson Seedless' and 'Red Globe' grapes by enhancing anthocyanin accumulation and altering color parameters. Specifically, lightness (L*), chroma (C*), and hue angle (h), measured using the CIE-Lab color system, were reduced, while the Color Index for Red Grapes (CIRG) was increased. Additionally, total anthocyanin content, determined through spectrophotometric analysis, also showed an increase. These changes indicate a more intense red coloration. This research highlights the effectiveness of tsikoudia in improving grape coloration and contributes to the development of more sustainable viticultural practices.

Comparative Analysis of Aerosol Direct Radiative Forcing During COVID-19 Lockdown Period in Peninsular India

AbstractThe load of aerosols in the atmosphere has been increasing gradually due to industrialization and urbanization. This increase has contributed to change in the Earth’s radiation budget through the absorption or scattering of radiation. The aerosol direct radiative forcing (ADRF) is a measurement utilized to comprehend the impact of cooling or warming up of the atmosphere directly by aerosols. Our study examined the impact of aerosols during the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing them to the average from the preceding 5-year period (2015–2019) in peninsular India. The measure of aerosols deployed in this study is the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), and the study was carried out on three distinct time frames: prior to lockdown, during lockdown, and post lockdown. The study revealed that the ADRF increased during all the three time frames of 2020 compared to the average of 2015–2019, and the other time scales experienced an increase in ADRF as well. The most notable rise in ADRF and decrease in temperature occurred in the tropical savanna and warm semi-arid climate regions during the pre-lockdown period. During lockdown, the increase in ADRF was seen throughout the study area, and a decrease in temperature was observed only in the tropical monsoon region. In the post-lockdown period, the decline in ADRF was accompanied by a fall in temperature in the tropical savanna region. This study provides insights into the effect of aerosols on ADRF in peninsular India and highlights the importance of monitoring and regulating aerosol emissions to mitigate the changes in temperature.

Change in Cultivation of Bajra in Haryana and Rajasthan

Background: Bajra (Pennisetum glaucum) is the main coarse cereal crop grown mainly in Africa and Asia. In India, it is mainly grown in Rajasthan and Haryana. It is cultivated in the dry and warm climatic regions. It is a Kharif crop that is grown at the start of the season’s first monsoon. Objective: This study aimed to explore the change in the cultivation of bajra in two states, Haryana and Rajasthan. Cultivation means how the crop is grown in any particular area and what steps are taken to improve the growth of crops. Methods: In this study, different aspects like area, productivity, and yield were studied from 2018 to 2020, and data were compiled for all these factors in both states with the help of various literature research. Results: This study demonstrated that the growth trends in the area under cultivation, productivity, and yield of bajra increased from 2018 to 2020 due to stability in yield, price (MRP), and insured marketing. All the results and data were obtained from different published sources in these two states. Conclusion: This review gives a brief account of the changes in the cultivation of bajra in two different states, Haryana and Rajasthan. The expansion of the area of bajra is due to the use of good quality seeds, the use of hybrids, and the adaption of good agricultural practices, and it is also the reason for an increase in production and yield.

Co-influence of the start of thermal growing season and precipitation on vegetation spring green-up on the Tibetan Plateau

The climate in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has undergone significant change in recent decades, mainly in thermal and water conditions, which plays a crucial role in phenological changes in vegetation spring phenology. However, how the start of the thermal growing season (SOS-T) and the start of the rainy season (SORS) as key climatic factors affect vegetation green-up remains unclear. Given that these factors characterize thermal and water conditions required for vegetation green-up, this study investigated changes in the SOS-T and SORS from 1961 to 2022, using observation-based datasets with long time series. We found that the SOS-T and SORS have advanced across the TP in 1961–2022 and have shown a spatial pattern of advancement in the east and delay in the west in 2000–2022. Further, the co-effect of temperature and precipitation change on the start of vegetation growing season (SOS-V) in 2000–2022 was observed. Averaged across TP, the SOS-V had an early onset of 1.3 d per decade during 2000–2022, corresponding to advanced SOS-T and SORS. Regionally, the SOS-V generally occurred nearly at the same time as the SOS-T in the high-altitude meadow region. A substantial delay in the SOS-V relative to the SOS-T was observed in the desert, shrub, grassland and forest regions and generally kept pace with the SORS. Furthermore, for 50% of the vegetated regions on the TP, inter-annual variation in the delay in the SOS-V relative to the SOS-T was dominated by precipitation change, which was profound in warm-climate regions. This study highlights the co-regulation of precipitation and temperature change in the SOS-V in different vegetation cover regions in the TP, offering a scientific foundation for comprehending the impact of climate change and prospects for vegetation phenology on the TP.

Warm places, warm years, and warm seasons increase parasitizing of moose by winter ticks

AbstractObserved links between parasites, such as ticks, and climate change have aroused concern for human health, wildlife population dynamics, and broader ecosystem effects. The one‐host life history of the winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) links each annual cohort to environmental conditions during three specific time periods when they are predictably vulnerable: spring detachment from hosts, summer larval stage, and fall questing for hosts. We used mixed‐effects generalized linear models to investigate the drivers of tick loads carried by moose (Alces alces) relative to these time periods and across 750 moose, 10 years, and 16 study areas in the western United States. We tested for the effects of biotic factors (moose density, shared winter range, vegetation, migratory behavior) and weather conditions (temperature, snow, humidity) during each seasonal period when ticks are vulnerable and off‐host. We found that warm climatic regions, warm seasonal periods across multiple partitions of the annual tick life cycle, and warm years relative to long‐term averages each contributed to increased tick loads. We also found important effects of snow and other biotic factors such as host density and vegetation. Tick loads in the western United States were, on average, lower than those where tick‐related die‐offs in moose populations have occurred recently, but loads carried by some individuals may be sufficient to cause mortality. Lastly, we found interannual variation in tick loads to be most correlated with spring snowpack, suggesting this environmental component may have the highest potential to induce change in tick load dynamics in the immediate future of this region.

Climate match fails to explain variation in establishment success of non-native freshwater fishes in a warm climate region

For non-native species, climate can act as a primary filter limiting establishment. Numerous studies examining climate similarity between native and introduced regions have been completed for temperate areas, however we know little about how well climate matching performs for warmer regions. For non-native freshwater fish introduced to warm regions, one potential problem with climate matching is that fish from both temperate and tropical source regions could establish. Our goal was to examine whether climate matching can predict the establishment of non-native freshwater fish for a warm climate region. We used CLIMATCH, a widely applied climate matching program, to analyze climate similarity between source and target regions for 37 successfully established species and 36 species that have failed to establish. CLIMATCH was calculated in two ways for successfully established species, with Florida records included (post hoc) and without Florida records (a priori). The mean post hoc score for successful species was higher than that of failed species; however, the mean a priori score for successful species did not significantly differ from failed species. On average, post hoc scores were inflated 1.5 times over a priori scores. The post hoc result is tautological—the scores are high because the species is successful, and the species is successful because the scores are high. These results highlight two issues for climate matching: (1) as commonly done post hoc, degree of climate match and predictive power may be overestimated and (2) a priori applications may lack predictive power. We recommend consideration of these issues in the use and interpretation of CLIMATCH for prediction. Additional research into regional importance of climate variables (temperature and precipitation) is warranted, especially in warm climate regions.

Use of Non-Saccharomyces Yeast to Enhance the Acidity of Wines Produced in a Warm Climate Region: Effect on Wine Composition

One of the most notable effects of climate change, especially in warm regions, is the decrease in acidity (i.e., increase in pH) of wines and a reduction in their aromatic profile. To address this issue, must from a white grape variety with low acidity were inoculated with two non-Saccharomyces yeasts (Lachancea thermotolerans and Torulaspora delbrueckii) to enhance the acidity of the resulting wines. Basic oenological variables and major volatile compounds and polyols of the wines were analyzed, and the results were compared with those obtained through a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. Through multiple regression analysis, we found relations between the production of lactic acid to compounds involved in yeast metabolism and redox balance, including glycerol, acetic acid, isobutanol, isoamyl alcohols, and 2-phenylethanol. By means of principal component analysis, we obtained three components that explain more than 89% of the observed variability. The first component differentiates wines produced by L. thermotolerans; the second differentiates wines obtained by S. cerevisiae from those obtained by T. delbrueckii; and the third component is related to the temperature of fermentation. Organoleptic wines produced with S. cerevisiae were the best valuated, but taste was a highlight of the wines produced with L. thermotolerans due to possessing the best acidity.

Evaluation of the environmental and economic performance of wastewater treatment technologies of warm climate regions

Evaluation of the environmental and economic performance of wastewater treatment technologies of warm climate regions

Key insights for improved climate change adaptation strategies: Assessing chilling and heat requirements of Prunus cultivars (Prunus sp.) in warm climate regions

Given the influence of climate change, sustain productivity of stone fruit trees is considered a major concern for growers, especially in warm areas where temperature is a crucial determinant of phenology. Sustainable fruit tree orchards depended on satisfying the chilling requirements of cultivars to trigger dormancy release and heat requirements to blossom correctly. Yet determining agroclimatic requirements are essential for predicting cultivar performance and selecting suitable production areas. To support this challenge, our study was conducted to expand the knowledge of agroclimatic requirements of cultivars of Prunus species growing in warm areas. Thus, Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was employed to compute chilling requirements (CR) using the Dynamic Model (in Chill Portions (CP)) and heat requirements (HR) using the Growing Degree Hours Model (in (GDH)). PLS regression was employed to establish a correlation between long-term phenological observations and temperature records of 7 peach, 5 apricot, and 11 plum cultivars grown in Tunisia. The findings from the PLS regression revealed that the chilling and forcing periods appeared discontinuous. Overlaps or transition periods between the two phases were determined. For peach cultivars, the CR varied from 20 in early flowering cultivars to 63.4 CP in late flowering cultivars and the HR from 4381 to 6556 GDH. For apricot cultivars, the CR ranges from 45.3 to 47.9 CP and the HR from 5567 to 8647 GDH. For plum cultivars, the CR spans from 36.2 to 62.6 CP and the HR from 4999 to 7907 GDH. The main determinant of the flowering of the studied cultivars is the warm mean temperatures occurring during the chilling period. Our findings represent an advance regarding the global knowledge of Prunus temperature requirements which can aid in the adaptation of the stone fruit sector to climate change and mitigation of its impacts.

PROJECTIVE LEAF COVER PREDICTS PLANT SPECIES RICHNESS IN THE SACRED FIR FORESTS OF MONTE TLÁLOC, STATE OF MEXICO

The establishment of relationships between the water balance coupled to the atmosphere and species richness, for a given ecosystem, allows characterizing the state of vegetation under stable conditions. The proposal by Specht and colleagues of the water relationship between actual evapotranspiration/potential evapotranspiration (Ea/Eo), mediated by the evaporative coefficient k, allows to establish empirical relationships, without implying a cause-effect relationship, between the projective leaf cover (CPF) and the richness of plant species in relation to k. These relationships were reviewed with information from sampling sites established in sacred fir [Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. & Cham.] forests of the warm temperate climatic region of Mount Tlaloc, State of Mexico. Species richness and CPF of the upper stratum of the forests were measured, and the aboveground biomass was estimated. The patterns of the relationship between the CPF of the upper stratum and the total number of species showed variations within the limits of Specht’s equilibrium relationship, even though the levels of disturbing agents in the sites showed a greater dispersion of the data. Establishing a relationship between projective leaf cover and species richness facilitates estimates in plant diversity conservation projects.

Pharmacological Activity and Mechanisms of Action of Terpenoids from Laurus nobilis L.

Abstract: Native to the Southern Mediterranean region, Laurus nobilis L. (Family Lauraceae) is an evergreen shrub or tree found in warm climate regions with high rainfall. The leaves and essential oil of this plant have been widely used as condiments, spices, and flavoring agents in the culinary and food industries. The whole plant is also used for the traditional treatment of various diseases, including cough, asthma, hemorrhoids, rheumatic pain, diarrhea, intestinal, and cardiac diseases. Previous phytochemical investigation of this plant demonstrated the presence of a variety of secondary metabolites, especially terpenoids. The present study aims to critically analyze comprehensive literature on the pharmacological activity and mechanisms of action of terpenoids from Laurus nobilis L. The available information on the pharmacological activity of terpenoids from L. nobilis L. was obtained from textbooks, theses, as well as published articles through a variety of libraries and electronic databases. The present study demonstrated that L. nobilis is rich in terpenoids, with more than 200 entities identified in reported studies. Terpenoids from L. nobilis have shown a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antifungal, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, anticonvulsant, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The mechanisms of action of most of these terpenoids included the imbalance of the ionic permeability of the cell membrane (anti- inflammatory and antimicrobial activities), modulation of the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) nergic neurotransmission (anticonvulsant activity), and the inhibition of inflammatory responses, prevention of metastasis, and induction of apoptosis (cytotoxic effect), among others. Referring to in vitro studies, terpenoids of L. nobilis L. have shown a variety of biological activities. However, more cytotoxic and in vivo studies and detailed mechanisms of action of the bioactive terpenoids are recommended.

Adaptive thermal comfort in naturally ventilated hostels of warm and humid climatic region, Tiruchirappalli, India

• Comfort range for hostel building was found between 26.1 and 32.8 °C. • The desired temperature was found to be 27.8 °C, while neutral temperature was 29.5 °C. • The comfort limit extended by 2.8 °C if air velocity rises from 0.1 to 1.1 m/s. • Sweating Acceptability extended the thermal acceptability limit from 31.8 to 32.4 °C. • At 26.6 °C temperature about 50% of the fans were found switched on. Thermal comfort is an important factor in hostel buildings when the aim is to maximize the productivity of the students. Due to the extreme weather conditions, achieving thermal comfort in a hostel building in a hot and humid climate is even more difficult. Studies conducted in naturally ventilated hostel buildings in warm-humid climates involved the influence of outdoor air temperature only up to 34.4 °C and have been conducted in a specific season. In contrast, the Tiruchirappalli climate is characterized by a higher range of environmental variables. Therefore, to understand the thermal comfort conditions and usage of the environmental controls in naturally ventilated hostel buildings at the higher range of the environmental variables, a thermal comfort field study spread over one year was carried out at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India, in twenty-seven hostel buildings. This study relies on field observation and thermal comfort responses from 2028 questionnaires collected from the students between September 2019 to August 2020. The analysis revealed a neutral temperature of 29.5 °C and a comfort range from 26.1 °C to 32.8 °C, indicating a wide range of thermal adaptation than suggested by the National Building Code of India and ASHRAE standard 55. The preferred temperature was 27.8 °C, indicating that students preferred a cooler environment. Acceptability with sweating conditions extended the upper limit of thermal acceptability from 31.8 °C to 32.4 °C. The use of a mosquito net can increase the probability of opening a window. Results indicated that overall behavioral adjustment could extend the comfort limits. The study results would be helpful to develop guidelines and designs for naturally ventilated hostel buildings in warm and humid climates that will contribute to reducing energy demand.

Seasonal drying influences odonate adults and nymphs in wetlands in an urban mediterranean‐climate landscape

AbstractLittle is known about odonate ecology and phenology in warm mediterranean climates where most wetlands are intermittent. We identified variables associated with the presence, relative abundance, assemblage composition and body size of odonates in spring and summer, to understand the influence of intermittency and season. We hypothesized that size at eclosion would be smaller in seasonal wetlands in summer due to time stress caused by drying. Nymphs, exuviae and adults were sampled in spring and summer from 22 intermittent and perennial suburban wetlands in south‐western Australia. Spatial and environmental variables within and between wetlands were measured and associated with adult and nymph distributions. Exuviae were collected to quantify size at eclosion. As in temperate perennial wetlands, wetland‐scale variables (submerged, emergent and terrestrial vegetation, water temperature) were most strongly associated with assemblage composition of adults and nymphs, but landscape‐scale variables (distance to nearest patch of native vegetation, distance to nearest large lake) were also associated with adult assemblages. Two abundant dragonfly (Orthetrum caledonicum Libellulidae, Hemicordulia tau Hemicorduliidae) and one damselfly (Xanthagrion erythroneurum Coenagrionidae) species emerged at smaller body sizes in summer than spring, but from both intermittent and perennial wetlands. Consequently, declining photoperiod and warmer summer temperatures, rather than wetland drying, probably caused reduced size at eclosion. Although the influence of vegetation, temperature and photoperiod on odonate assemblages appears similar in temperate and mediterranean climates, odonate phenology differs markedly. Fitness cost of emerging at a smaller adult size may be outweighed by the increased likelihood of successfully reaching emergence in drying waterbodies in summer. More field data on size at eclosion in warm climate regions, and laboratory experiments manipulating temperature and photoperiod, are needed to confirm the generality of patterns shown here.

Soil cooling can improve maize root-shoot growth and grain yield in warm climate

Global warming causes topsoil temperatures to increase, which potentially leads to maize yield loss. We explored the effects of soil warming/cooling on root-shoot growth and maize grain yields by performing pot experiments with a heat-sensitive maize hybrid (HS208) and a normal maize hybrid (SD609) in warm temperate climate in 2019 and 2020. Our results reveal, for the first time, differences in root characteristics, leaf photosynthetic physiology, and yield responses to soil warming and cooling between normal and heat-sensitive maize varieties under a warm temperate climate. Soil warming (+2 and 4 °C) inhibited whole root growth by decreasing root length, volume, and dry mass weight, which indirectly reduced leaf photosynthetic capacity and decreased grain yield/plant by 15.10–24.10% versus control plants exposed to ambient temperature. Soil cooling (−2 °C) promoted root growth and leaf photosynthesis, and significantly increased grain yield of HS208 by 12.61%, although no significant change was found with SD609. It can be seen that under unfavorable conditions of global warming, selection of excellent stress-resistant hybrids plays an important role in alleviating the soil heat stress of maize in warm temperate climate regions.

Thin-Layer Fibre-Reinforced Concrete Sandwich Walls: Numerical Evaluation

In this study, structural thin-layer sandwich walls (SWs) made of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) without conventional reinforcements were investigated. Other researchers have shown that SWs with thin wythes can be used as load bearing structures in low-rise buildings, thereby reducing the amount of concrete by 2–5 times if compared to conventional reinforced-concrete SWs. In most studies, relatively warm climatic regions are the focus, and thin-layer SWs with shear connectors to obtain a certain level of composite action are investigated. In almost no studies has sound insulation been evaluated. In this study, a numerical investigation of structural, thermal and sound insulation performances was carried out. The load-bearing capacities of composite and non-composite SWs are compared. Regions with the lowest five-day mean air temperature of −20 ∘C were considered. The characteristics of the SW are compared to the requirements given in relevant European and Latvian standards. The minimum thermal insulation for family houses varies from 120 mm to 200 mm, depending on the material. To ensure sufficient sound insulation, the average thickness of the concrete wythes should be around 60 mm, preferably with a 15 mm difference between them. Structural analysis of the proposed wall panel was performed using non-linear finite element analysis software ATENA Science. The obtained load-bearing capacity exceeded the design loads of a single-story family house by around 100 times, regardless of the degree of composite action.

Forecasting of Rainfall across River Basins Using Soft Computing Techniques: The Case Study of the Upper Brahmani Basin (India)

Floods are potential natural disasters that might disrupt human activities, resulting in severe losses of life and property in a region. Excessive rainfall is one of the reasons for flooding, especially in the downstream areas of a catchment. Because of their complexity, understanding and forecasting rainfalls are challenging. This paper aims to apply the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) in predicting average monthly rainfalls by considering several surface weather parameters as predictors. The Upper Brahmani Basin, which extends over 17,504 km2, was considered as a study area. Therefore, an ANFIS model was developed to forecast rainfalls using 37 years of climate data from 1983 to 2020. A hybrid model with six membership functions provided the best forecast for the area under study. The suggested method blends neural network learning capabilities with transparent language representations of fuzzy systems; 75% of data (from 1983 to 2006) was set aside for training and 25% (from 2006 to 2020) for testing. The Gaussian membership function with the hybrid algorithm provided satisfactory accuracy with R-values for training and testing equal to 0.90 and 0.87, respectively. Therefore, a new promising forecasting model was developed for the period from 2021 to 2030. The highest rainfall was forecasted for the period June–August, which is a striking characteristic of the monsoon climate. The study area is relatively close to the equatorial warm climate region. Hence, the proposed model might be of consistent use for regions lying in similar latitudes.

Leaf Mycobiome and Mycotoxin Profile of Warm-Season Grasses Structured by Plant Species, Geography, and Apparent Black-Stroma Fungal Structure.

Grasses harbor diverse fungi, including some that produce mycotoxins or other secondary metabolites. Recently, Florida cattle farmers reported cattle illness, while the cattle were grazing on warm-season grass pastures, that was not attributable to common causes, such as nutritional imbalances or nitrate toxicity. To understand correlations between grass mycobiome and mycotoxin production, we investigated the mycobiomes associated with five prominent, perennial forage and weed grasses [Paspalum notatum Flügge, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Paspalum nicorae Parodi, Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br., and Andropogon virginicus (L.)] collected from six Florida pastures actively grazed by livestock. Black fungal stromata of Myriogenospora and Balansia were observed on P. notatum and S. indicus leaves and were investigated. High-throughput amplicon sequencing was applied to delineate leaf mycobiomes. Mycotoxins from P. notatum leaves were inspected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Grass species, cultivars, and geographic localities interactively affected fungal community assemblies of asymptomatic leaves. Among the grass species, the greatest fungal richness was detected in the weed S. indicus. The black fungal structures of P. notatum leaves were dominated by the genus Myriogenospora, while those of S. indicus were codominated by the genus Balansia and a hypermycoparasitic fungus of the genus Clonostachys. When comparing mycotoxins detected in P. notatum leaves with and without M. atramentosa, emodin, an anthraquinone, was the only compound which was significantly different (P < 0.05). Understanding the leaf mycobiome and the mycotoxins it may produce in warm-season grasses has important implications for how these associations lead to secondary metabolite production and their subsequent impact on animal health. IMPORTANCE The leaf mycobiome of forage grasses can have a major impact on their mycotoxin contents of forage and subsequently affect livestock health. Despite the importance of the cattle industry in warm-climate regions, such as Florida, studies have been primarily limited to temperate forage systems. Our study provides a holistic view of leaf fungi considering epibiotic, endophytic, and hypermycoparasitic associations with five perennial, warm-season forage and weed grasses. We highlight that plant identity and geographic location interactively affect leaf fungal community composition. Yeasts appeared to be an overlooked fungal group in healthy forage mycobiomes. Furthermore, we detected high emodin quantities in the leaves of a widely planted forage species (P. notatum) whenever epibiotic fungi occurred. Our study demonstrated the importance of identifying fungal communities, ecological roles, and secondary metabolites in perennial, warm-season grasses and their potential for interfering with livestock health.

Relationship of shading devices and its effects on daylight in Commercial buildings in Pune

Day lighting is a critical part of visual environment in workspaces. It creates a sense of well-being and contributes to the efficiency of the occupants. Research has established that solar radiation admitted through the windows have serious effects on visual comfort of the occupants in the indoor spaces. Use of solar shading devices can address glare problems. This signifies the need for design of optimal shading devices that increase daylight levels with desirable control on excessive sunlight with an aim to reduce glare and discomfort for the occupants. In this research various configurations of conventional shading devices used for commercial buildings located in Pune, India was examined. A typical commercial building is modelled using the simulation program Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) where existing as well as different identified configuration of shading devices was analysed for daylight performance and visual comfort with respect to amount and uniformity of illumination with Radiance rendering tool. The analysis indicated that use of appropriate shading device result in improved visual comfort for occupants. The performance of different shading device presented aimed to help architects to select suitable shading device in order to contribute to sustainability aspects of office buildings in warm and humid climatic regions.

A global perspective on propagation from meteorological drought to hydrological drought during 1902–2014

Meteorological drought is generally regarded as the cause of other types of droughts. This study firstly analyzed the characteristics of meteorological drought and hydrological drought in different climate regions all over the world during a long time period (1902–2014); then, the maximum Pearson correlation coefficients (MPCC) of meteorological drought and hydrological drought at different time scales were calculated to determine the drought response time (DRT) in each climate region. The results revealed that: 1) meteorological drought in most climate regions intensified during 1902–1958 but showed a wetting trend during 1959–2014. Compared with the characteristics of meteorological drought, the change of hydrological drought was slightly different. Hydrological drought weakened during 1902–1958 but intensified slightly during 1959–2014; however, the magnitude of the changing rate was relatively small. 2) The drought response relationship in the Cf (i.e., continental wet warm) climate region was the strongest, and that in the E (i.e., polar) climate region was the weakest. 3) Globally, the DRTs in various climate regions were mainly 5–10 months, which were mainly related to the climate type. The outcomes of this study can provide a reference for further revealing the propagation mechanism from meteorological drought to hydrological drought in different climate regions.