scholarly journals Flow modification associated with reduced genetic health of a river‐breeding frog, Rana boylii

Ecosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan A. Peek ◽  
Sean M. O'Rourke ◽  
Michael R. Miller
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan A. Peek ◽  
Sean M. O’Rourke ◽  
Michael R. Miller

AbstractRiver regulation or flow modification—the hydrological alteration of flow by dams and diversions—has been implicated as a cause of fundamental change to downstream aquatic ecosystems. Flow modification changes the patterns and functionality of the natural flow regime, and has the potential to restrict population connectivity and gene flow in river-dependent organisms. Since population connectivity and the maintenance of genetic diversity are fundamental drivers of long-term persistence, understanding the extent flow modification impacts these critical attributes of genetic health is an important goal for long-term conservation. Foothill yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylii) were historically abundant throughout many western rivers but have declined since the onset of regulation. However, the extent to which R. boylii populations in rivers with altered flow regimes are maintaining connectivity and genetic diversity is unknown. Here we use genetic methods to investigate the impacts of flow alteration on R. boylii to explore their potential for long-term persistence under continued flow modification. We found R. boylii in rivers with flow modification showed striking patterns of isolation and trajectories of genetic diversity loss relative to unregulated rivers. For example, flow modification explained the greatest amount of variance in population genetic differentiation compared with other covariates including geographic distance. Importantly, patterns of connectivity and genetic diversity loss were observed regardless of flow alteration level but were most prominent in locations with the greatest flow modification intensity. Although our results do not bode well for long-term persistence of R. boylii populations under current flow regulation regimes, they do highlight the power of genetic monitoring for assessing population health in aquatic organisms.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xundan Shi ◽  
J. M. Khodadadi

A finite-volume-based computational study of steady laminar natural convection (using Boussinesq approximation) within a differentially heated square cavity due to the presence of a single thin fin is presented. Attachment of highly conductive thin fins with lengths equal to 20, 35 and 50 percent of the side, positioned at 7 locations on the hot left wall were examined for Ra=104,105,106, and 107 and Pr=0.707 (total of 84 cases). Placing a fin on the hot left wall generally alters the clockwise rotating vortex that is established due to buoyancy-induced convection. Two competing mechanisms that are responsible for flow and thermal modifications are identified. One is due to the blockage effect of the fin, whereas the other is due to extra heating of the fluid that is accommodated by the fin. The degree of flow modification due to blockage is enhanced by increasing the length of the fin. Under certain conditions, smaller vortices are formed between the fin and the top insulated wall. Viewing the minimum value of the stream function field as a measure of the strength of flow modification, it is shown that for high Rayleigh numbers the flow field is enhanced regardless of the fin’s length and position. This suggests that the extra heating mechanism outweighs the blockage effect for high Rayleigh numbers. By introducing a fin, the heat transfer capacity on the anchoring wall is always degraded, however heat transfer on the cold wall without the fin can be promoted for high Rayleigh numbers and with the fins placed closer to the insulated walls. A correlation among the mean Nu, Ra, fin’s length and its position is proposed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Conlon ◽  
Á. Sonnevend ◽  
M. Patel ◽  
C. Davidson ◽  
P.F. Nielsen ◽  
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Author(s):  
K. Vijaykumar ◽  
S. Poonkodi ◽  
A.T. Sriram

Sunroof has become one of the essential features of a luxury car, and it provides natural air circulation and good illumination into the car. But the primary problem associated with it is the buffeting noise which causes discomfort to the passengers. Though adequate studies were carried out on sunroof buffeting, efficient control techniques are needed to be developed from fundamental mechanism. To reduce the buffeting noise, flow modifications at the entrance of the sunroof is considered in this study. The internal portion of the car with sunroof is simplified into a shear driven open cavity, and two-dimensional numerical simulations are carried out using commercial solver, ANSYS Fluent. Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equation is used with the realizable k-? turbulence model. The unsteady numerical result obtained in this study is validated with the available experimental results for the dominant frequency. The prediction is good agreement with experiment. Flow modification technique is proposed to control the sunroof buffeting by implementing geometric modifications. A hump has been placed near the leading edge of the cavity which resulted in significant reduction of pressure oscillations. Parametric studies have been performed by varying the height of hump and the distance of hump from the leading edge. There is no prominent difference when the height of the hump is varied. As the distance of the hump from the leading edge is reduced, the sound pressure level decreases.


2011 ◽  
Vol 71 (1 suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
CJR Alho ◽  
J Sabino

The Pantanal's biodiversity constitutes a valuable natural resource, in economic, cultural, recreational, aesthetic, scientific and educational terms. The vegetation plus the seasonal productivity support a diverse and abundant fauna. Many endangered species occur in the region, and waterfowl are exceptionally abundant during the dry season. Losses of biodiversity and its associated natural habitats within the Pantanal occur as a result of unsustainable land use. Implementation of protected areas is only a part of the conservation strategy needed. We analyse biodiversity threats to the biome under seven major categories: 1) conversion of natural vegetation into pasture and agricultural crops, 2) destruction or degradation of habitat mainly due to wild fire, 3) overexploitation of species mainly by unsustainable fishing, 4) water pollution, 5) river flow modification with implantation of small hydroelectric plants, 6) unsustainable tourism, and 7) introduction of invasive exotic species.


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