scholarly journals Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) Winter Foraging Preferences in Northern Poland—The Role of Woody Vegetation Composition and Anthropopression Level

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1376
Author(s):  
Mateusz Jackowiak ◽  
Peter Busher ◽  
Dagny Krauze-Gryz
Keyword(s):  
Linear Model ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Generalized Linear Model ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Eurasian Beaver ◽  
Northern Poland ◽  
Foraging Preferences

We studied beavers’ dietary preferences and the role of several factors (such as plant species, size and anthropopression level) that affect the beavers’ foraging in northern Poland. Woody plants along the river were measured and classified according to species in six 100 m-long transects that were characterized by a diversified human disturbance level. Ivlev’s electivity index was used to present the beavers’ preferences for various plant species and sizes, and the generalized linear model was used to assess the significance of studied factors in beavers’ browsing choices. Most popular in the beavers’ diets were willows (Salix), maples (Acer) and alder (Alnus), but only willows and maples were preferred. We noted a decrease in the beavers’ foraging preference in parallel to an increase in the shoot diameter; plants with a diameter below 10 cm were preferred. All factors included in the generalized linear model (GLM) were significant in shaping the beavers’ foraging choices. A negative correlation between the shoot diameter and the human disturbance level was found, but the species composition of the browsed woody plants was the same in each transect. Beavers’ foraging preferences, as observed in our study, were similar to those described in the literature and confirmed the role of woody species and their diameters in shaping the beavers’ diet. We also suggested the potential role of anthropopression in the shaping of the beavers’ foraging behaviors.

scholarly journals Toward a Better Understanding of Metal Nanoparticles, a Novel Strategy from Eucalyptus Plants

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 929
Author(s):  
Hanadi Sawalha ◽  
Rambod Abiri ◽  
Ruzana Sanusi ◽  
Noor Azmi Shaharuddin ◽  
Aida Atiqah Mohd Noor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metal Nanoparticles ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Ideal Candidate ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Novel Strategy ◽  
The Ideal

Nanotechnology is a promising tool that has opened the doors of improvement to the quality of human’s lives through its potential in numerous technological aspects. Green chemistry of nanoscale materials (1–100 nm) is as an effective and sustainable strategy to manufacture homogeneous nanoparticles (NPs) with unique properties, thus making the synthesis of green NPs, especially metal nanoparticles (MNPs), the scientist’s core theme. Researchers have tested different organisms to manufacture MNPs and the results of experiments confirmed that plants tend to be the ideal candidate amongst all entities and are suitable to synthesize a wide variety of MNPs. Natural and cultivated Eucalyptus forests are among woody plants used for landscape beautification and as forest products. The present review has been written to reflect the efficacious role of Eucalyptus in the synthesis of MNPs. To better understand this, the route of extracting MNPs from plants, in general, and Eucalyptus, in particular, are discussed. Furthermore, the crucial factors influencing the process of MNP synthesis from Eucalyptus as well as their characterization and recent applications are highlighted. Information gathered in this review is useful to build a basis for new prospective research ideas on how to exploit this woody species in the production of MNPs. Nevertheless, there is a necessity to feed the scientific field with further investigations on wider applications of Eucalyptus-derived MNPs.

scholarly journals The resource role of flowering woody plants in increasing the insects biological diversity

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 00067
Author(s):  
Tatiana Kuzmina ◽  
Elena Toropova
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
High Power ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Flowering Period ◽  
Northern Forest

The aim of the study was to assess the resource role of flowering woody plants in maintaining the biological diversity of insects. The studies were carried out in 2019–2020 in the northern forest-steppe of the Ob region during the flowering period of woody plants from the Oleaceae family of the genus Syringa: S. josikaea J. and S. vulgaris L. Insects were collected by mowing with an entomological net in the crowns and under-crown space. The flowering of plants attracted insects from more than 25 families from 7 orders. The largest number of insects belonged to the order Thysanoptera 79.2%, followed by representatives of the orders Hemiptera (7.1%) and Diptera (6.4%). The entomological faunas of S. josikaea and S. vulgaris differed significantly in their taxonomic composition, insects abundance, and their association with flowering periods. Low coefficients of similarity and high power of the factor “plant species” influence on biological diversity and the insects number were revealed. S. josikaea played a more significant role in maintaining the biological diversity of insects. Research showed that insects are associated with a certain species of woody plant.

scholarly journals Pre-forcing Treatments Influence Bud Break and Shoot Elongation in Forced Woody Species

1992 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-103
Author(s):  
Guochen Yang ◽  
Paul E. Read
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Culture ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Bud Break ◽  
Cold Requirement

Abstract Experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of pre-forcing treatments for the release of bud dormancy of dormant stems of lilac, privet and Vanhoutte spirea. The new softwood growth of these dormant stems was used either as explants for in vitro culture or as cuttings for rooting studies of woody plant species in the off-season. A pre-forcing 15% bleach solution (0.78% NaOCl) soak hastened bud break, enhanced percentage of bud break, and promoted shoot elongation. Pre-forcing wetting agent treatments produced similar results to those of the bleach soak with variation among wetting agents and plant species. Smaller treatment differences were observed in the forcing characteristics when stems were collected later in the winter, probably because the cold requirement of the buds had been completely or partially met. This technique will provide explants for in vitro culture and softwood cuttings for propagation of woody plants over an extended period.

scholarly journals Lignin in Woody Plants under Water Stress: A Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ubirajara Contro Malavasi ◽  
Antony Swick Davis ◽  
Marlene de Matos Malavasi
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Defense Responses ◽  
Climatic Changes ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Tropical Conditions ◽  
Growth Development ◽  
Limiting Condition ◽  
Response To Water

ABSTRACT Under tropical and sub-tropical conditions, perennial woody plants most often encounter drought stress due to erratic rainfall, which has become compounded as result of recent climatic changes. Control of the efficiency and safety of water transport from roots to shoots is fundamental for plant survival under water stressed conditions. Lignin plays an important role in the life of terrestrial plants. Depending upon the stress, lignin plays protective, sustaining and disruptive roles in addition to its involvement in plant growth, development and defense responses. This review aims to present and summarize reported evidence on the possible role of lignin of plant tissue (in special woody species) in response to water limiting condition which is expected to increase because of environment changes.

scholarly journals Comparative Circulation Dynamics of the Five Main HIV Types in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bram Vrancken ◽  
Bin Zhao ◽  
Xingguang Li ◽  
Xiaoxu Han ◽  
Haizhou Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Model ◽  
Generalized Linear Model ◽  
Human Mobility ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Transmission Networks ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Spread Dynamics ◽  
Transportation Infrastructures

ABSTRACT The HIV epidemic in China accounts for 3% of the global HIV incidence. We compared the patterns and determinants of interprovincial spread of the five most prevalent circulating types. HIV pol sequences sampled across China were used to identify relevant transmission networks of the five most relevant HIV-1 types (B and circulating recombinant forms [CRFs] CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, CRF08_BC, and CRF55_01B) in China. From these, the dispersal history across provinces was inferred. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to test the association between migration rates among provinces and several measures of human mobility. A total of 10,707 sequences were collected between 2004 and 2017 across 26 provinces, among which 1,962 are newly reported here. A mean of 18 (minimum and maximum, 1 and 54) independent transmission networks involving up to 17 provinces were identified. Discrete phylogeographic analysis largely recapitulates the documented spread of the HIV types, which in turn, mirrors within-China population migration flows to a large extent. In line with the different spatiotemporal spread dynamics, the identified drivers thereof were also heterogeneous but are consistent with a central role of human mobility. The comparative analysis of the dispersal dynamics of the five main HIV types circulating in China suggests a key role of large population centers and developed transportation infrastructures as hubs of HIV dispersal. This advocates for coordinated public health efforts in addition to local targeted interventions. IMPORTANCE While traditional epidemiological studies are of great interest in describing the dynamics of epidemics, they struggle to fully capture the geospatial dynamics and factors driving the dispersal of pathogens like HIV as they have difficulties capturing linkages between infections. To overcome this, we used a discrete phylogeographic approach coupled to a generalized linear model extension to characterize the dynamics and drivers of the across-province spread of the five main HIV types circulating in China. Our results indicate that large urbanized areas with dense populations and developed transportation infrastructures are facilitators of HIV dispersal throughout China and highlight the need to consider harmonized country-wide public policies to control local HIV epidemics.

Journey Attributes, E-Bike Use, and Perception of Driving Behavior of Motorists as Predictors of Bicycle Crash Involvement and Severity

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (12) ◽  
pp. 581-589
Author(s):  
Gabriele Prati ◽  
Marco De Angelis ◽  
Federico Fraboni ◽  
Luca Pietrantoni ◽  
Daniel Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Generalized Linear Model ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Driving Behavior ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Crash Severity ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Online Panel

Previous studies have revealed the relevance of e-bike use, perception of driving behavior of motorists, and instrumental and affective factors in work and leisure journeys among regular cyclists. However, the importance of these factors as predictors of bicycle crash involvement and severity is less well-known. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of journey attributes, e-bike use, and perception of driving behavior of motorists in predicting bicycle crash involvement and severity, while controlling for sociodemographic factors, cycling levels, cycling environment, and purposes of cycling. We collected data from an online panel of 2,389 respondents from six European countries (Sweden, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Hungary, Italy, Spain). Using the generalized linear model, we found that both bicycle crash involvement and severity were related to lower age, being employed, using the bicycle for traveling to or from college/university, not using the bicycle for leisure/training, and using an e-bike. Bicycle crash severity was associated with lower affective attributes, higher instrumental attributes, and the perception of good driving behavior of motorists.

Overlap and seasonal shifts in use of woody plant species amongst a guild of savanna browsers

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (03) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. J. O'Kane ◽  
Kevin J. Duffy ◽  
Bruce R. Page ◽  
David W. Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Woody Plant Species ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Species Overlap ◽  
Theoretical Predictions

Abstract:To clarify the potential influence of different browsers in the same guild on woody vegetation, dietary overlap and separation between elephant, giraffe, kudu, nyala and impala was assessed in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa. Woody species browsed, browsing heights, plant-parts browsed and browsing versus grazing were recorded over 2 y by direct observation. We obtained 3068 browse records. Niche breadth (Levins' measure) and overlap (Schoener's index) in species browsed and browsing heights were calculated. Annual and seasonal differences in these measurements, plant-part use and browsing versus grazing were assessed. Elephant utilized the largest number (n = 78) of different woody plant species. Overlap in species browsed was lower between elephant and other browsers than amongst the latter. Seasonal rainfall influenced the range of woody plants utilized, niche breadth in terms of species browsed and browsing versus grazing. Marked resource depletion caused elephant, contrary to theoretical predictions, to narrow niche breadth in terms of species browsed. However, resource depletion rarely had a significant effect on interspecific overlap in species browsed or overlap in browsing heights, on actual browsing heights or plant-parts utilized. A small suite (n = 8) of woody species formed the core diet of all guild members, implying the potential for synergistic impacts by guild members on these species and for competition between populations of different guild members.

Effects of human disturbance on understory woody species composition and diversity in fengshui forests

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lü Hao-rong ◽  
Liu Song-song ◽  
Zhu Jian-yun ◽  
Ye Yong-chang ◽  
Chen Hong-yue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Woody Species
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