Vegetation zones and EVAPORABLE WATER in tropical climates

1994 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinz H. Lettau
Keyword(s):  
Evaporable Water ◽  
Vegetation Zones ◽  
Tropical Climates

Spider diversity in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 ((suppl.1)) ◽  
pp. 209-243
Author(s):  
J.K.H. Koh ◽  
D.J. Court
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
New Records ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Vegetation Zones ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Quantitative Analyses ◽  
First Time

This paper discusses the preliminary results of the first comprehensive survey of the spiders of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) in Singapore. Two plots were established in each of the three zones of vegetation, viz., primary forest, old secondary forest, and maturing secondary forest. They were repeatedly sampled over an 18-month period. Sorting of the collection so far suggests that the three vegetation zones harbour rather different spider assemblages. Only ~9% of the total spider fauna recovered was shared by all three zones. The results have also yielded a preliminary picture of dominance, abundance and rarity. Although first intended to obtain a baseline for future quantitative analyses, the survey became a testing ground to modify and refine methodology so as to conduct future quantitative surveys with greater scientific rigour. Taxonomic work on the samples so far shows that the spiders in the BTNR span over 43 families, of which six families are listed for the first time in Singapore. The tally is summarised in an interim checklist of BTNR spiders. The checklist, with a total of 317 entries, shows that there are 158 described species of spiders in BTNR, of which 25 species are new records for Singapore. Another 159 morphospecies are provisionally recognised as distinct species, some of which may be new to science. Our observations during the survey have allowed us to provide a narrative of BTNR spider diversity against a backdrop of their microhabitat specialisation.

Genomic Analyses Reveal Genetic Adaptations to Tropical Climates in Chickens

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilin Tian ◽  
Xuming Zhou ◽  
Dejing Zhang ◽  
Chunyou Ning ◽  
Diyan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Analyses ◽  
Tropical Climates

scholarly journals Life Cycle GHG Emissions of Residential Buildings in Humid Subtropical and Tropical Climates: Systematic Review and Analysis

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Daniel Satola ◽  
Martin Röck ◽  
Aoife Houlihan-Wiberg ◽  
Arild Gustavsen
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Cycle Performance ◽  
Tropical Climates ◽  
Building Life Cycle ◽  
Total Life

Improving the environmental life cycle performance of buildings by focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along the building life cycle is considered a crucial step in achieving global climate targets. This paper provides a systematic review and analysis of 75 residential case studies in humid subtropical and tropical climates. The study investigates GHG emissions across the building life cycle, i.e., it analyses both embodied and operational GHG emissions. Furthermore, the influence of various parameters, such as building location, typology, construction materials and energy performance, as well as methodological aspects are investigated. Through comparative analysis, the study identifies promising design strategies for reducing life cycle-related GHG emissions of buildings operating in subtropical and tropical climate zones. The results show that life cycle GHG emissions in the analysed studies are mostly dominated by operational emissions and are the highest for energy-intensive multi-family buildings. Buildings following low or net-zero energy performance targets show potential reductions of 50–80% for total life cycle GHG emissions, compared to buildings with conventional energy performance. Implementation of on-site photovoltaic (PV) systems provides the highest reduction potential for both operational and total life cycle GHG emissions, with potential reductions of 92% to 100% and 48% to 66%, respectively. Strategies related to increased use of timber and other bio-based materials present the highest potential for reduction of embodied GHG emissions, with reductions of 9% to 73%.

scholarly journals Heat Stress and Goat Welfare: Adaptation and Production Considerations

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1021
Author(s):  
Veerasamy Sejian ◽  
Mullakkalparambil V. Silpa ◽  
Mini R. Reshma Nair ◽  
Chinnasamy Devaraj ◽  
Govindan Krishnan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Tropical Climates

This review attempted to collate and synthesize information on goat welfare and production constraints during heat stress exposure. Among the farm animals, goats arguably are considered the best-suited animals to survive in tropical climates. Heat stress was found to negatively influence growth, milk and meat production and compromised the immune response, thereby significantly reducing goats’ welfare under extensive conditions and transportation. Although considered extremely adapted to tropical climates, their production can be compromised to cope with heat stress. Therefore, information on goat adaptation and production performance during heat exposure could help assess their welfare. Such information would be valuable as the farming communities are often struggling in their efforts to assess animal welfare, especially in tropical regions. Broadly three aspects must be considered to ensure appropriate welfare in goats, and these include (i) housing and environment; (ii) breeding and genetics and (iii) handling and transport. Apart from these, there are a few other negative welfare factors in goat rearing, which differ across the production system being followed. Such negative practices are predominant in extensive systems and include nutritional stress, limited supply of good quality water, climatic extremes, parasitic infestation and lameness, culminating in low production, reproduction and high mortality rates. Broadly two types of methodologies are available to assess welfare in goats in these systems: (i) animal-based measures include behavioral measurements, health and production records and disease symptoms; (ii) resources based and management-based measures include stocking density, manpower, housing conditions and health plans. Goat welfare could be assessed based on several indicators covering behavioral, physical, physiological and productive responses. The important indicators of goat welfare include agonistic behavior, vocalization, skin temperature, body condition score (BCS), hair coat conditions, rectal temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, sweating, reduced growth, reduced milk production and reduced reproductive efficiency. There are also different approaches available by which the welfare of goats could be assessed, such as naturalistic, functional and subjective approaches. Thus, assessing welfare in goats at every production stage is a prerequisite for ensuring appropriate production in this all-important species to guarantee optimum returns to the marginal and subsistence farmers.

scholarly journals Comparing sterile male releases and other methods for integrated control of the tiger mosquito in temperate and tropical climates

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Léa Douchet ◽  
Marion Haramboure ◽  
Thierry Baldet ◽  
Gregory L’Ambert ◽  
David Damiens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vector Control ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Integrated Control ◽  
Mass Trapping ◽  
Southwest Indian Ocean ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Trapping Methods ◽  
Combination Of Methods ◽  
Tropical Climates

AbstractThe expansion of mosquito species worldwide is creating a powerful network for the spread of arboviruses. In addition to the destruction of breeding sites (prevention) and mass trapping, methods based on the sterile insect technique (SIT), the autodissemination of pyriproxyfen (ADT), and a fusion of elements from both of these known as boosted SIT (BSIT), are being developed to meet the urgent need for effective vector control. However, the comparative potential of these methods has yet to be explored in different environments. This is needed to propose and integrate informed guidelines into sustainable mosquito management plans. We extended a weather-dependent model of Aedes albopictus population dynamics to assess the effectiveness of these different vector control methods, alone or in combination, in a tropical (Reunion island, southwest Indian Ocean) and a temperate (Montpellier area, southern France) climate. Our results confirm the potential efficiency of SIT in temperate climates when performed early in the year (mid-March for northern hemisphere). In such a climate, the timing of the vector control action was the key factor in its success. In tropical climates, the potential of the combination of methods becomes more relevant. BSIT and the combination of ADT with SIT were twice as effective compared to the use of SIT alone.

scholarly journals Unraveling the Gut Microbiome of the Invasive Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata) in the Caribbean

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Anne A. M. J. Becker ◽  
KC Hill ◽  
Patrick Butaye
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Microbial Profile ◽  
Vegetation Zones ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Metabolic Properties ◽  
Small Indian Mongoose

Small Indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) are among the most pervasive predators to disrupt the native ecology on Caribbean islands and are strongly entrenched in their areas of introduction. Few studies, however, have considered the microbial ecology of such biological invasions. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiota of invasive small Indian mongooses in terms of taxonomic diversity and functional potential. To this end, we collected fecal samples from 60 free-roaming mongooses trapped in different vegetation zones on the island Saint Kitts. The core gut microbiome, assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon gene sequencing on the Ion S5TM XL platform, reflects a carnivore-like signature with a dominant abundance of Firmicutes (54.96%), followed by Proteobacteria (13.98%) and Fusobacteria (12.39%), and a relatively minor contribution of Actinobacteria (10.4%) and Bacteroidetes (6.40%). Mongooses trapped at coastal sites exhibited a higher relative abundance of Fusobacterium spp. whereas those trapped in scrubland areas were enriched in Bacteroidetes, but there was no site-specific difference in predicted metabolic properties. Between males and females, beta-diversity was not significantly different and no sex-specific strategies for energy production were observed. However, the relative abundance of Gammaproteobacteria, and more specifically, Enterobacteriaceae, was significantly higher in males. This first description of the microbial profile of small Indian mongooses provides new insights into their bioecology and can serve as a springboard to further elucidating this invasive predator’s impact throughout the Caribbean.

FISH | Tuna and Tuna-like Fish of Tropical Climates

2003 ◽  
pp. 2433-2437
Author(s):  
G.D. Khedkar ◽  
B.V. Jadhao ◽  
C.D. Khedkar ◽  
N.V. Chavan
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Climates

scholarly journals Moisture Desorption Studies on Polymer Hydrated and Vacuum Extruded Bentonite Clay Mat

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Wooi Kee Loh ◽  
Devapriya Chitral Wijeyesekera ◽  
Mihaela Anca Ciupala
Keyword(s):  
Bentonite Clay ◽  
Moisture Diffusion ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Thin Layer Drying ◽  
Drying Models ◽  
Tropical Climates ◽  
And Control ◽  
Moisture Desorption ◽  
Quality Of Fit

Moisture desorption observations from two bentonite clay mats subjected to ten environmental zones with individually different combinations of laboratory-controlled constant temperatures (between 20 °C and 40 °C) and relative humidity (between 15% and 70%) are presented. These laboratory observations are compared with predictions from mathematical models, such as thin-layer drying equations and kinetic drying models proposed by Page, Wang and Singh, and Henderson and Pabis. The quality of fit of these models is assessed using standard error (SE) of estimate, relative percent of error, and coefficient of correlation. The Page model was found to better predict the drying kinetics of the bentonite clay mats for the simulated tropical climates. Critical study on the drying constant and moisture diffusion coefficient helps to assess the efficacy of a polymer to retain moisture and control desorption through water molecule bonding. This is further substantiated with the Guggenheim–Anderson–De Boer (GAB) desorption isotherm model which is presented.

Effects of deep soil desiccation on artificial forestlands in different vegetation zones on the Loess Plateau of China

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1429-1445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Jun ◽  
Chen Bing ◽  
Li Xiaofang ◽  
Zhao Yujuan ◽  
Ciren Yangjing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Loess Plateau ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Soil Desiccation ◽  
Vegetation Zones
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