scholarly journals Effects of Climate Change and Various Grassland Management Practices on Grasshopper (Orthoptera) Assemblages

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltán Kenyeres ◽  
Judit Cservenka

Influence of different grassland management practices on Orthoptera assemblages inhabiting humid grassland areas was studied since 2003 to 2011. The examined sites were within the protected area of Balaton Uplands National Park. The physiognomy and climatic conditions of the studied habitats were similar but their land use types were significantly different. After the preliminary analyses of Nonmetric multidimensional scaling, neighbour joining clustering, and Spearman rank correlation, we examined the possible effects of such independent variables as land use (nonmanagement, mowing, grazing), microclimate (humidity and temperature), regional macroclimate (annual and monthly mean temperatures and rainfall), using General Linear Mixed Models, and canonical correlation analysis. Our results showed that the effect of grassland management practices on the organization of Orthoptera assemblages was at least as important as that of macro- and microclimate. Furthermore, grassland management could intensify the influence of several local and regional parameters. These results can help finding the most suitable type of grassland management to conserve the grasshopper assemblages.

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Hayasaka ◽  
Munemitsu Akasaka ◽  
Daisaku Miyauchi ◽  
Taizo Uchida

Growth of vegetation in curbside cracks causes deterioration of asphalt and curbs, reducing road longevity and safety capabilities. Road managers spend a considerable amount of time and money on roadside vegetation management every year. The vegetation in curbside cracks in these study regions is managed approximately once a year by mowing and road sweeping using street-sweeper trucks. Nevertheless, ideal management practices of roadside vegetation have not yet been established partly due to insufficient knowledge of the ecological strategies of plants invading roadsides, especially curbside cracks. Although establishment of plants in the cracks might be restricted due to severe anthropogenic road disturbances, the cracks could be habitats for species with specific ecological traits. The objective of this study was to clarify the floristic and functional characteristics of roadside weeds, particularly species invading curbside cracks, to provide information for effective road management. The species composition of plants invading the cracks was surveyed along Route 3 (southern Japan) and Route 4 (eastern Japan) in different climatic zones, based on 108 floristic inventories. We compared species occurrence and composition to characterize the dominant ecomorphological traits of the species. In total, 163 species occurred in curbside cracks along both routes. Species composition of vegetation in curbside cracks was more variable between the routes than between land-use types. Of the 54 species, more than 5% occurred in all plots, and only three had differences in occurrence among land-use types. Ecomorphological trait composition patterns of the species were similar across land-use types. From these results, we found that regardless of differences in species composition among regions, climatic conditions, and surrounding land-use type, there were some dominant ecomorphological traits of roadside vegetation with plants in curbside cracks, such as ephemeral monophytes that are barochorous or anemochorous. By contrast, rhizomatous perennials, which cause greater deterioration of asphalt than ephemeral monophytes, were rare along the cracks. Although vegetation composition and structure generally depend on land-use types and disturbance regimes, linear landscape elements such as curbsides might be habitats for plants adapted to road disturbances. Roadside vegetation management, such as mowing and road sweeping once a year, seems sufficient to restrict establishment of rhizomatous perennials around Japan.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie E. Kroeger ◽  
Laura K. Meredith ◽  
Kyle M. Meyer ◽  
Kevin D. Webster ◽  
Plinio Barbosa de Camargo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe Amazon rainforest is a biodiversity hotspot and large terrestrial carbon sink that is threatened by agricultural conversion. Rainforest-to-pasture conversion leads to the release of a potent greenhouse gas by converting soil from a methane sink into a source. The biotic methane cycle is driven by microorganisms; therefore, this study focused on active methane-cycling microorganisms and their functions across land-use types. We collected intact soil cores from three land use types (primary rainforest, pasture, and secondary rainforest) of two geographically distinct areas of the Brazilian Amazon (Santarém, Pará and Ariquemes, Rondônia) and performed DNA stable-isotope probing coupled with metagenomics to identify the active methanotrophs and methanogens. At both locations, we observed a significant change in the composition of the isotope-labeled methane-cycling microbial community across land use types, specifically an increase in the abundance and diversity of active methanogens in pastures. We conclude that a significant increase in the abundance and activity of methanogens in pasture soils could explain the greater methane flux. Furthermore, we found that secondary rainforests recovered as methane sinks, indicating the potential for reforestation to offset greenhouse gas emissions in the tropics. These findings are critical for informing land management practices and global tropical rainforest conservation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Muhammad Iqbal Tawakkal ◽  
Akhmad Rizali ◽  
Anik Larasati ◽  
Adha Sari ◽  
Purnama Hidayat ◽  
...  

<p>Hymenoptera is one of the four largest insect orders in the world, one of which is its role as a natural enemy (parasitoids, predators). Land conversion can affect the diversity and composition of the parasitoid Hymenoptera and its ecological role. This study aims to examine the effect of land use types on the diversity and composition of hymenopterans parasitoid in Jambi. The study was conducted on various types of land use in the Harapan Forest landscape and Bukit Duabelas National Park (TNBD), Jambi Province including forests, rubber forests, oil palm plantations, and rubber plantations. Insect sampling was conducted from March to September 2013, using fogging techniques. A total of 14,258 hymenopteran parasitoid individuals consisting of 30 families were obtained from all study sites. Encyrtidae, Braconidae, Aphelinidae, Eulophidae, Scelionidae, Ceraphronidae, and Platigasteridae families are found in high abundance. Oil palm land use types are found to have different parasitoid compositions compared to other land use types, while forest and rubber forest land use types have high species composition. The results of this study indicate that the type of land use affects the diversity and composition of hymenopteran parasitoid species.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Siswoyo Siswoyo ◽  
Kushariyadi Kushariyadi ◽  
Deka Isnatu Raka Joni

Cataract causes lowering visibility and becomes the main risk factor of blindness that can be healed by performing surgery. The surgery may cause anxiety which is affected by self efficacy. Thus, the self efficacy boost the human’s confidence in making decision, reducing stress, as well as lowering the depression risk. The objective of this research is to analyze the correlation between self efficacy and the level of anxiety to the pre-cataract operation patients at Balug Regional Hospital. This research comprises 2 variables there are self-efficacy (independent variables) and the level of anxiety (dependent variable) that is observed using descriptive analytical method by using purposive sampling. The data collection method used in this research is perfomed by using Pre Operative Self Efficacy Scale (PSES) to assess self efficacy and The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) to determine the level of anxiety. The analysis of the correlation between self efficacy and the level of anxiety is conducted by using The Spearman Rank Correlation (p=0,05). The result of this research reveals the median score of the self efficacy is 146,00 with the average of 131,48. The percentage of self efficacy reveals as many as 53 respondents (84,1%) show good self efficacy as opposed to 10 respondents (15,9%) who show poor self efficacy. The percentage of the repondents’ level of anxiety reveals as many as 39 respondents (61,9%) show mild level of anxiety. The result of this research also reveals the correlation between self efficacy and the level of anxiety of the pre-cataract operation patients (p = 0,001 r = -0,691) with negative direction. This means that the higher self efficacy, the lower level of anxiety is. Conclusion: Self efficacy plays important roles in controlling anxiety. Any individuals with high confidence may control what happens, thus allowing low level of anxiety to appear, respectively.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 24-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Ogryzek ◽  
Radoslaw Wisniewski ◽  
Tom Kauko

Abstract The article takes a fresh look at the concept of the "optimal" use of urban land. It discusses the procedure for choosing the "optimal" use of land within the context of rational spatial management practices and sets out a model solution for determining "optimal" land use types for given spatial and functional situations. A necessary set of geoinformation for informed decisions on choosing the "optimal" land use type is proposed. The study adds to the available knowledge concerning spatial analyses and simulations of "optimal" zoning processes; in doing so it applies the characteristic matrix method for inducing the optimal use of an area to diagnose the value of urban space and, in this way, to determine the "optimal" use under given circumstances. The article concludes by stating that the algorithm for selecting the "optimal” land use of an area significantly improves the decision-making process when carrying out the transformation of land use - the most important instrument for planning optimisation and organisation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yared Mulat ◽  
Kibebew Kibret ◽  
Bobe Bedadi ◽  
Muktar Mohammed

Abstract Background Soil quality, which can be inferred using indicators that interact synergistically, is affected by land use types and agricultural management practices. This study assessed the status of soil quality under three adjacent land uses (cultivated, grazing, and fallow) in Kersa subwatershed (622 ha). Soil samples were collected from the surface soil (0–20 cm depth) of the identified land uses with three replications and the soil quality parameters were analyzed. A minimum data set of soil quality indicators were selected from physical, chemical, and biological parameters using the literature review and expert opinion method. Linear scoring functions were used to give the unitless scores for the selected data sets, which were then integrated into a soil quality index (SQI). Results The results revealed that bulk density, aggregate stability, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), available P, and soil organic carbon (SOC) had a significant difference in SQI among the different land uses. The soil quality indices were 0.69 for grazing land, 0.62 for cultivated land, and 0.59 for the fallow land. The SQI of all the land uses falls in the intermediate soil quality (0.55 < SQI < 0.70) class. Conclusion In almost all the quality indicators assessed, the grazing land was superior to the cultivated and fallow lands. Therefore, implementing management practices that enhance soil quality like organic matter-controlled systems is imperative for sustainable agricultural production in the study area.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Ewelina Zajęcka ◽  
Anna Świercz

Kielce and Olsztyn are two different urban ecosystems. They differ from each other in terms of geological and climatic conditions, as well as spatial development and industrial past. The aim of this article is to assess and compare the degree of lead contamination of the natural environment in both cities based on the conducted tests of soils, as well as a common dandelion’s roots and leaves. For this study’s purpose, 60 samples of soils and common dandelion’s roots and leaves were collected in each city, according to four land-use types, namely industrial areas, urban green areas, urban allotment gardens, and urban forests. Basic physico-chemical properties and concentrations of lead, i.e., total content and bioavailable content were determined in the soils, using speciation analysis. Lead concentrations in the roots and leaves of common dandelion were, in turn, determined using the ICP-OES method. By using kriging models, spots with excessive lead concentrations differing from the geochemical background were identified in each city. The number of spots was comparable for both cities; however, the values for this metal differed significantly. No relationship has been found between land-use types and concentrations of lead in soils and common dandelions. The results of the study, as well as statistical and spatial analyses show that this species may be recommended as an indicator for biomonitoring of urban environments.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1501
Author(s):  
Van Du Le ◽  
Thanh Giao Nguyen ◽  
Hoang Dan Truong

This study was conducted to assess the water quality affected by different land use patterns in U Minh Ha National Park, Ca Mau, Vietnam. This study determined the water quality characteristics in three land use types (Acacia hybrid, planted melaleuca cajuputi, and natural melaleuca cajuputi) at different plant ages on two acid sulfate soil layers in the rainy season (8/2018) and dry season (4/2019) using nine water quality parameters. Multivariate statistical analyses were applied to evaluate the correlation and spatial and temporal variations in the water quality. The study results showed that the water quality in S-ASS was more polluted than that in D-ASS, characterized by low pH; the EC, organic matters (BOD and COD), nutrients (N-NH4+ and N-NO3−), and metal ions (Al3+ and Fe3+) were high; and the EC, BOD, COD, Al3+, and N-NO3− were determined high in D-ASS. The NMC area was noted to have high concentrations of organic matters and nutrients, while the factors specific to acidic soil were found to be higher in the AH and PMC areas. The water quality in the rainy season tended to be more polluted than that in the dry season. The cluster analysis grouped the land use patterns on S-ASS and D-ASS in both seasons into four groups, with a clear similarity between the wet and dry seasons in the areas at various plant ages. The seasonal variations of the water quality of the three land use types were distinguished by the main parameters, including pH, EC, BOD, N-NO3−, and Al3+ (S-ASS) and EC, BOD, N-NO3−, N-NH4+, and Fe3+ (D-ASS). Therefore, there is a need for better water management measures in the rainy season and focus on the key parameters causing water quality variations in each area. The findings in this study provided important information for the future water quality monitoring for both agricultural production and conservation in the national park.


Scientifica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jun Shapkota ◽  
Gandhiv Kafle

Understanding distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) in soil profile is important for assessing soil fertility and SOC stock because it varies with soils of different vegetation and land use types. In this context, the objective of this research is that it was conducted to determine key variance in the SOC stock in three different soil layers, 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm of different vegetation covers of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park of Kathmandu district, Nepal. Overall field measurement was based on standard national methods. We used the dichromate digestion method to analyse SOC concentrations. The highest SOC concentration (%) was recorded as 4.87% in 0–20 cm of oak forest and lowest 0.42% in 40–60 cm of Chir pine forest. Forest types (oak, upper mixed hardwood, lower mixed hardwood, and Chir pine) had SOC stock 149.62, 104.47, 62.5, and 50.85 t/ha, respectively, up to 60 cm depth. However, these values are significantly different ( p = 0.02 ) at 5% level of significance when comparing means between the forest types. The SOC stock was decreased with increased soil depth, though not significantly different at 5% level of significance. Further study with respect to different climate, soil, forest, and land use type is recommended.


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