scholarly journals Vocalizing during gaps in anthropogenic noise is an uncommon trait for enhancing communication in songbirds

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Darren S. Proppe ◽  
Emily Finch
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Road Noise ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Specific Analysis ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Acoustic Output ◽  
The Impact

Mounting evidence suggests that anthropogenic noise neg-atively impacts many wildlife species, including songbirds. One mechanism by which noise affects songbirds may be through acoustic obstruction to their systems of vocal communication. However, many species increase the amplitude or pitch of their vocalizations, which may partially mitigate the impact of high noise levels. When the amplitude of anthropogenic noise varies over time, such as near a moderate-use highway, short gaps between noise events may also provide an important oppor- tunity for communication. But, whether songbirds adjust vocalization rates rapidly to avoid overlap with noise is unknown for most species. We used acoustic playback to expose song- birds to simulated road noise during the dawn chorus in oth- erwise quiet habitats. We measured vocalization rates under ambient conditions and during quiet gaps embedded within playback of road noise to assess whether a community of songbirds, and nineteen individual species, vocalize more reg- ularly during noise gaps. There were no significant differences in community-wide acoustic output. Species-specific analysis revealed that only four species altered their vocal rates during quiet gaps in noise, but that the direction of the effect varied by species. Point count results revealed that birds generally remained on site for the duration of the experiment, suggesting that abandonment of noisy locations was unlikely to confound our results. In sum, increasing vocal output during short gaps in noise occurred in only a handful of species, perhaps con- tributing to the limited number of species that are found within noisy habitats.

Vocalizing during gaps in anthropogenic noise is an uncommon trait for enhancing communication in songbirds

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. TLP16D ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren S. Proppe ◽  
Emily Finch
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Road Noise ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Specific Analysis ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Acoustic Output ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Mounting evidence suggests that anthropogenic noise negatively impacts many wildlife species, including songbirds. One mechanism by which noise affects songbirds may be through acoustic obstruction to their systems of vocal communication. However, many species increase the amplitude or pitch of their vocalizations, which may partially mitigate the impact of high noise levels. When the amplitude of anthropogenic noise varies over time, such as near a moderate-use highway, short gaps between noise events may also provide an important opportunity for communication. But, whether songbirds adjust vocalization rates rapidly to avoid overlap with noise is unknown for most species. We used acoustic playback to expose songbirds to simulated road noise during the dawn chorus in otherwise quiet habitats. We measured vocalization rates under ambient conditions and during quiet gaps embedded within playback of road noise to assess whether a community of songbirds, and nineteen individual species, vocalize more regularly during noise gaps. There were no significant differences in community-wide acoustic output. Species-specific analysis revealed that only four species altered their vocal rates during quiet gaps in noise, but that the direction of the effect varied by species. Point count results revealed that birds generally remained on site for the duration of the experiment, suggesting that abandonment of noisy locations was unlikely to confound our results. In sum, increasing vocal output during short gaps in noise occurred in only a handful of species, perhaps contributing to the limited number of species that are found within noisy habitats.

scholarly journals In situ determination of cellular DMSP and pigment quotas in a Prorocentrum minimum bloom near the Falkland Islands

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Cyronak ◽  
Erin O’Reilly ◽  
Peter A. Lee ◽  
Giacomo R. DiTullio
Keyword(s):  
Prorocentrum Minimum ◽  
Marine Phytoplankton ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Falkland Islands ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Biochemical Analyses ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
The Impact

Marine phytoplankton play critical roles in the biogeochemistry of open and coastal oceans. However, the impact that individual species have on an ecosystem-wide scale can strongly depend on the production of cellular compounds, especially those that are climatically active such as dimethylsulfide (DMS). Herein, we use sorting flow cytometry to separate a distinct phytoplankton population from four samples taken along the Patagonian shelf near the Falkland Islands. Morphological, genetic, and biochemical analyses demonstrated that three of the sorted samples were dominated by a bloom of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum. Cellular quotas of the DMS-precursor dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) ranged from 1.23–4.11 pg cell−1 in the same population at different sampling stations. Causes of this variability may be due to different growth stages of the P. minimum bloom or changes in other environmental variables. Overall, in situ intracellular DMSP concentrations were lower than what would be expected based on previous, culture-based measurements. We demonstrate the difficulties inherent in sorting individual phytoplankton species from natural samples in order to determine in situ species-specific cellular quotas of important biogeochemical compounds.

scholarly journals Signatures of conserved and unique molecular features in Afrotheria

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arangasamy Yazhini ◽  
Narayanaswamy Srinivasan ◽  
Sankaran Sandhya
Keyword(s):  
Ribosomal Proteins ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Functional Domain ◽  
Nucleic Acid Binding ◽  
Uncharacterized Protein ◽  
Homologous Proteins ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Molecular Features ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractAfrotheria is a clade of African-origin species with striking dissimilarities in appearance and habitat. In this study, we compared whole proteome sequences of six Afrotherian species to obtain a broad viewpoint of their underlying molecular make-up, to recognize potentially unique proteomic signatures. We find that 62% of the proteomes studied here, predominantly involved in metabolism, are orthologous, while the number of homologous proteins between individual species is as high as 99.5%. Further, we find that among Afrotheria, L. africana has several orphan proteins with 112 proteins showing < 30% sequence identity with their homologues. Rigorous sequence searches and complementary approaches were employed to annotate 156 uncharacterized protein sequences and 28 species-specific proteins. For 122 proteins we predicted potential functional roles, 43 of which we associated with protein- and nucleic-acid binding roles. Further, we analysed domain content and variations in their combinations within Afrotheria and identified 141 unique functional domain architectures, highlighting proteins with potential for specialized functions. Finally, we discuss the potential relevance of highly represented protein families such as MAGE-B2, olfactory receptor and ribosomal proteins in L. africana and E. edwardii, respectively. Taken together, our study reports the first comparative study of the Afrotherian proteomes and highlights salient molecular features.

Primate Vocal Communication and the Evolution of Speech

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-60
Author(s):  
Julia Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Nonhuman Primate ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Internal State ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Primate Communication ◽  
Evolution Of Speech ◽  
Primate Vocal Communication ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Shed Light

Studies of nonhuman primate communication are often motivated by the desire to shed light on the evolution of speech. In contrast to human speech, the vocal repertoires of nonhuman primates are evolutionarily highly conserved. Within species-specific constraints, calls may vary in relation to the internal state of the caller or social experience. Receivers can use signalers’ calls to predict upcoming events or behavioral dispositions. Yet nonhuman primates do not appear to express or comprehend communicative or informative intent. Signalers are sensitive to the relation between their own actions and receivers’ responses, and thus, signaling behavior can be conceived as goal directed. Receivers’ ability to integrate information from multiple sources renders the system flexible and powerful. Researchers who take a linguistic or biological perspective on nonhuman primate communication should be aware of the strengths and limitations of their approaches. Both benefit from a focus on the mechanisms that underpin signaling and responses to signals.

scholarly journals Codon harmonization reduces amino acid misincorporation in bacterially expressed P. falciparum proteins and improves their immunogenicity

AMB Express ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeraja Punde ◽  
Jennifer Kooken ◽  
Dagmar Leary ◽  
Patricia M. Legler ◽  
Evelina Angov
Keyword(s):  
Protein Structure ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Codon Usage ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Codon usage frequency influences protein structure and function. The frequency with which codons are used potentially impacts primary, secondary and tertiary protein structure. Poor expression, loss of function, insolubility, or truncation can result from species-specific differences in codon usage. “Codon harmonization” more closely aligns native codon usage frequencies with those of the expression host particularly within putative inter-domain segments where slower rates of translation may play a role in protein folding. Heterologous expression of Plasmodium falciparum genes in Escherichia coli has been a challenge due to their AT-rich codon bias and the highly repetitive DNA sequences. Here, codon harmonization was applied to the malarial antigen, CelTOS (Cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites). CelTOS is a highly conserved P. falciparum protein involved in cellular traversal through mosquito and vertebrate host cells. It reversibly refolds after thermal denaturation making it a desirable malarial vaccine candidate. Protein expressed in E. coli from a codon harmonized sequence of P. falciparum CelTOS (CH-PfCelTOS) was compared with protein expressed from the native codon sequence (N-PfCelTOS) to assess the impact of codon usage on protein expression levels, solubility, yield, stability, structural integrity, recognition with CelTOS-specific mAbs and immunogenicity in mice. While the translated proteins were expected to be identical, the translated products produced from the codon-harmonized sequence differed in helical content and showed a smaller distribution of polypeptides in mass spectra indicating lower heterogeneity of the codon harmonized version and fewer amino acid misincorporations. Substitutions of hydrophobic-to-hydrophobic amino acid were observed more commonly than any other. CH-PfCelTOS induced significantly higher antibody levels compared with N-PfCelTOS; however, no significant differences in either IFN-γ or IL-4 cellular responses were detected between the two antigens.

Experimental Evaluation of Compressor Blade Fouling

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Kurz ◽  
Grant Musgrove ◽  
Klaus Brun
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Blade Surface ◽  
Air Filtration ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Compressor Blades ◽  
Performance Deterioration ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dust Retention

Fouling of compressor blades is an important mechanism leading to performance deterioration in gas turbines over time. Experimental and simulation data are available for the impact of specified amounts of fouling on performance, as well as the amount of foulants entering the engine for defined air filtration systems and ambient conditions. This study provides experimental data on the amount of foulants in the air that actually stick to a blade surface for different conditions of the blade surface. Quantitative results both indicate the amount of dust as well as the distribution of dust on the airfoil, for a dry airfoil, as well as airfoils that were wet from ingested water, as well as different types of oil. The retention patterns are correlated with the boundary layer shear stress. The tests show the higher dust retention from wet surfaces compared to dry surfaces. They also provide information about the behavior of the particles after they impact on the blade surface, showing that for a certain amount of wet film thickness, the shear forces actually wash the dust downstream, and off the airfoil. Further, the effect of particle agglomeration of particles to form larger clusters was observed, which would explain the disproportional impact of very small particles on boundary layer losses.

Degradation of Great Tit (Parus Major) Song Before And After Foliation: Implications for Vocal Communication in a Deciduous Forest

Behaviour ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 141 (8) ◽  
pp. 935-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Blumenrath ◽  
Torben Dabelsteen
Keyword(s):  
Information Transfer ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Great Tit ◽  
Transmission Experiment ◽  
Distance Information ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSongbirds living in temperate forests experience great seasonal changes in habitat acoustics during the part of the breeding season when singing activity is high. These changes, which are brought about by accelerated vegetation growth and leaf burst in spring, affect sound propagation and potentially render vocal communication more difficult as the total number of scattering and absorbing obstacles increases. We investigated this in a sound transmission experiment in which representative great tit (Parus major) songs were broadcast in a typical forest habitat before and after foliation. Speaker and microphone were placed at natural separation distances and in typical sender and receiver positions. For each song note we quantified several aspects of sound degradation and found that they all increased considerably when leaves were present. Before foliation the same amount of degradation would only be obtained by doubling the transmission distance, i.e. foliage shortens the active space of great tit song. This inevitably alters distance information, provided that distance-dependent, structural changes of received songs are used as ranging cues. Moreover, sender and receiver positions within the canopy become unfavourable compared to heights just below the canopy when the aim is to maximise song propagation distances. Altogether, the presence of foliage greatly affects the potential for vocal information transfer in great tits and requires behavioural and/or perceptual adjustment of the communicating individuals to counteract or reduce the impact of foliage on signal degradation.

Flow Assurance and Thermodynamic Challenges of operating CO2 Pipelines for variations in terrains and environments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence George Wood ◽  
Scott Campbell ◽  
Nathan Smith
Keyword(s):  
Process Equipment ◽  
Fluid Composition ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Operating Modes ◽  
Hydrocarbon Reservoir ◽  
Compositional Approach ◽  
Operational Life ◽  
Geographical Distances ◽  
Fluid Behaviour ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The requirement for capturing and storing Carbon Dioxide will continue to grow in the next decade and a fundamental part of this is being able to transport the fluid over large geographical distances in numerous terrains and environments. The evolving nature of the fluid supply and the storage characteristics ensure the operation of the pipeline remains a challenge throughout its operational life. This paper will examine the impact of changes in the fluid composition, storage locations, ambient conditions and the various operating modes the pipeline will see throughout the lifecycle, highlight the technical design and operational challenges and finally give guidance on future developments. The thermodynamic behaviour of CO2 with and without impurities will be demonstrated utilising the fluid characterisation software, MultiflashTM. The fluid behaviour and hydraulic performance will be calculated over the expected operational envelope of the pipeline throughout field life, highlighting the benefits and constraints of using the single component module in OLGATM whilst comparing against a compositional approach when dealing with impurities. The paper will demonstrate through two case studies of varying nature including geographical environment, storage location (aquifer vs. abandoned hydrocarbon reservoir) and ambient conditions, the following issues: The impact of the storage type on the pipeline operations and how this will evolve with time; The environmental conditions and the impact these have on selection of process equipment and operational procedures (i.e. shutdown); and The impact the CO2 composition has on the design of the CO2 pipeline, and The paper will conclude with a set of guidelines for undertaking design analysis of CO2 pipelines for variations in fluid composition, storage locations and ambient conditions as well as some key operational strategies. This paper utilises the current state of the art tools and how these evolving tools are making this technically challenging area more mainstream.

Response of dry grassland vegetation to fluctuations in weather conditions: a 9-year case study in Prague (Czech Republic)

Biologia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Dostálek ◽  
Tomáš Frantík
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Weather Variability ◽  
Grassland Vegetation ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe extreme habitats of dry grasslands are suitable for investigations of the response of vegetation to local climate changes. The impact of weather variability on the dynamics of a plant community in a dry grassland was studied. Correlations were found between different functional groups of species and individual species and weather variability. During a 9-year study in five nature reserves in Prague (Czech Republic), the following responses of dry grassland vegetation to weather conditions were observed: (i) wetter conditions, especially in the winter, affected the dominance and species richness of perennial grass species and the decline of rosette plants; (ii) the year-to-year higher temperatures in the winter produced a decline in the dominance of short graminoids and creeping forbs; (iii) spring drought adversely impacted the overall abundance, especially the abundance of dicotyledonous species, and the species richness. However, these relationships may be manifested in different ways in different locations, and in some cases the vegetation of different locations may respond to weather conditions in opposite manners.

Comparison of mayfly (Ephemeroptera) taxocenes of permanent and intermittent Central European small streams via species traits

Biologia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavla Řezníčková ◽  
Tomáš Soldán ◽  
Petr Pařil ◽  
Světlana Zahrádková
Keyword(s):  
Global Climate ◽  
Extreme Temperature ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Hydrological Regime ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Small Streams ◽  
High Oxygen Demand ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe recurrent drying out of small streams in past decades has shown an urgent need to pay attention to the impact of global climate change. The objectives of this study were to describe the effect of drying out on the composition of the mayfly taxocene and evaluate the relevance of individual species traits for survival of mayflies to drying out. The mayfly taxocenes of two model localities, one at an intermittent and one at a permanent brook, were investigated in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Compared with the permanent stream, the taxocene of the intermittent stream was short of nine species, foremost rheobionts and high oxygen demand species. To explain further differences between both stream types in survival and recolonisation ability, 15 species traits were evaluated. These included so-called “ecological traits” (e.g., habitat and substrate range, density, distribution, current velocity adaptation) and “biological traits” connected with life cycle and larval/adult adaptations. Species showing the highest number of advantageous traits (with only exception of Electrogena sp. cf. ujhelyii — species of taxonomically unclear status) were able to successfully survive under the unfavourable conditions of the intermittent brook. Biological traits considered more important in many respects seem to be good predictors for assessing sensitivity to extreme temperature changes, hydrological regime fluctuations and the survival/recolonisation ability of species in exposed habitats.

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