scholarly journals Self-Organizing Feature Maps and selected conventional numerical methods for assessment of environmental quality

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Kosiba
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Biological Indicator ◽  
Acer Platanoides ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Feature Maps ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Significant Differentiation ◽  
Environmental Status ◽  
Tar Spot

The investigations concerned sites of <em>Acer platanoides</em> L. infected or not by <em>Rhytisma aceriniu</em> (Pers.) Fr. The aim of the study was to check the occurrence of <em>R. acerinium</em>, and whether it reflects the environmental status. Furthermore, an analysis was carried out to find out whether the applied SOFM offers additional advantages to solve problems in relation to conventional methods. Concentrations of selected elements in soils and leaves, and leaf and "tar-spot" morphometric traits were also measured. A significant differentiation was found between sites in relation to the analyzed traits. It appeared, that sites showing lower concentrations of chemical elements and proper developmental habitat conditions massive infections take place. The study showed that <em>R. acerinium</em> is a good biological indicator for assessment of environmental status. The applied, conventional statistical methods, SOFM and image techniques showed similar, but not identical results for assessment of environmental quality using <em>R. acerinium</em>. SOFM appeared to be more useful for ordination of results and ought to be taken into account as a proper tool of estimation of various plants and their biotopes.

scholarly journals Modelling of habitat conditions by self-organizing feature maps using relations between soil, plant chemical properties and type of basaltoides

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Kosiba ◽  
Andrzej Stankiewicz ◽  
Lucyna Mróz
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Feature Maps ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Statistical Parameters ◽  
Plant Chemical ◽  
Chemical Properties Of Soils ◽  
Lower Silesia

The paper shows the use of Kohonen's network for classification of basaltoides on the base of chemical properties of soils and <em>Polypodium vulgare</em> L. The study area was Lower Silesia (Poland). The archival data were: chemical composition of types of basaltoides from 89 sites (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, CaO, FeO, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, K2O, MgO, MnO, Na<sub>2</sub>O, P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, SiO<sub>2</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub>), elements contents in soils (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Ti and Zn) and leaves of <em>P. vulgare</em> (Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, Ni, P, Pb, S, Ti and Zn) from 20 sites. Descriptive statistical parameters of soils and leaves chemical properties have been shown, statistical analyses using ANOVA and relationships between chemical elements were carried out, and SOFM models have been constructed. The study revealed that the ordination of individuals and groups of neurons in topological maps of plant and soil chemical properties are similar. The constructed models are related with significantly different contents of elements in plants and soils. These models represent different chemical types of soils and are connected with ordination of types of basaltoides worked out by SOFM model of TAS division. The SOFM appeared to be a useful technique for ordination of ecological data and provides a novel framework for the discovery and forecasting of ecosystem properties.

scholarly journals Impact of air pollution on the occurrence of Rhytisma acerinium "tar-spot" on mapie leaves

2011 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Kosiba
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Urban Agglomeration ◽  
Acer Platanoides ◽  
Tar Spot ◽  
Air Pollutions ◽  
Two Factors

The aim of the study was, to find out whether the occurrence of <em>Rhytisma acerinium</em> and the variability of numbers of the "tar-spot" fungus on <em>Acer platanoides</em> leaves depend on the degree of environmental pollution. <em>A significant</em> variability was found between sites in relation to contents of chemical elements in soils, leaves and numbers of "tar-spots". The similarity of sites presented in dendrograms classified them as industrial, urban-agglomeration and vehicle-transport areas. The factor and PCA analyses showed that two factors differentiate the soil of the sites in respect of Fe, Cu, Co, Mo, Cr, Ni, Cd and N, S, Mn, Pb. In case of leaves of <em>A. platanoides</em> populations differentiate them in respect of N, S, Fe, Pb, Zn, Co, Be, Cr, Cd and Mn, Cu, Mo. The different air pollutions affect significantly the numbers of "tar-spots" on leaves. Sites with the highest contents of elements do not show "tar-spots", and the factors restricting their occurrence are the high contents, mainly of N, S (NO<sub>X</sub>, SO<sub>X</sub>) and heavy metals. In sites, with the lowest contents of these elements massive infections take place. The occurrence of <em>R. acerinium</em> corresponding with the level of site pollution can be used as a tool for evaluation of the degree of environmental pollution.

scholarly journals Environmental quality and evolutionary potential: lessons from wild populations

2005 ◽  
Vol 272 (1571) ◽  
pp. 1415-1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Charmantier ◽  
Dany Garant
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Evolutionary Potential ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Major Step ◽  
In The Wild

An essential requirement to determine a population's potential for evolutionary change is to quantify the amount of genetic variability expressed for traits under selection. Early investigations in laboratory conditions showed that the magnitude of the genetic and environmental components of phenotypic variation can change with environmental conditions. However, there is no consensus as to how the expression of genetic variation is sensitive to different environmental conditions. Recently, the study of quantitative genetics in the wild has been revitalized by new pedigree analyses based on restricted maximum likelihood, resulting in a number of studies investigating these questions in wild populations. Experimental manipulation of environmental quality in the wild, as well as the use of naturally occurring favourable or stressful environments, has broadened the treatment of different taxa and traits. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis on recent studies comparing heritability in favourable versus unfavourable conditions in non-domestic and non-laboratory animals. The results provide evidence for increased heritability in more favourable conditions, significantly so for morphometric traits but not for traits more closely related to fitness. We discuss how these results are explained by underlying changes in variance components, and how they represent a major step in our understanding of evolutionary processes in wild populations. We also show how these trends contrast with the prevailing view resulting mainly from laboratory experiments on Drosophila . Finally, we underline the importance of taking into account the environmental variation in models predicting quantitative trait evolution.

scholarly journals Data on the elemental composition (mobile fractions and total content) of soils in catena at the SE Valdai Hills, Russia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polina Enchilik ◽  
Ivan Semenkov ◽  
Nikolay Kasimov
Keyword(s):  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Total Concentration ◽  
Total Content ◽  
Residual Fraction ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Acer Platanoides ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Particle Size Classes

Abstract. This study presents a dataset on seasonal soils sampling from September 2016 to May 2018 in the southern part of the Central Forest Reserve (SE Valdai Hills) within a catena with Endocalcaric Albic Glossic Stagnic Profondic Retisols (Cutanic, Loamic) and Albic Gleyic Histic Retisols (Cutanic, Loamic) under coniferous-deciduous forest (Tília cordáta, Pícea ábies, Ácer platanoídes) on loess-like loams underlain by carbonate moraine deposits. 152 soil samples were taken to define total concentration of 67 chemical elements (ChEs), content of three mobile fractions (exchangeable, bound within organo-mineral complexes, bound with Fe and Mn hydroxides) of 69 ChEs and content of residual fraction, including macro elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Ti, S, Si), heavy metals (Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Th, U, V, Zn), trace elements (Ag, As, B, Be, Bi, Br, Cd, Cs, Ge, Hf, Li, Mo, Nb, Pd, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Ta, Te, Tl,W, Zr) and rare earth elements (Ce, Er, Eu, Gd, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Sm, Tb, Tm, Dy, Ho, Y, Yb). We measured pH-value, total organic carbon content (TOC), seven particle-size classes (

scholarly journals Analysis of Hair Coat of Dachshund of Longhaired, Shorthaired, and Wirehaired Variety

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Czyż ◽  
Bożena Patkowska-Sokoła ◽  
Andrzej Filistowicz ◽  
Marzena Janczak ◽  
Robert Bodkowski
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Histological Structure ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Hair Coat ◽  
Significant Differentiation ◽  
Percentage Contribution ◽  
Hair Keratin

Abstract The aim of the study was to analyse the hair coat of the three dachshund varieties, i.e. shorthaired, longhaired, and wirehaired, with respect to its histological structure and content of selected chemical elements. The study was conducted on female dachshunds originating from individual breeders. The study included the assessment of the contribution of particular hair fractions, measurements of hair thickness and length, and also the analysis of histological structure of particular hair fractions. A great differentiation in the parameters and structure of particular kinds of hair from the examined dogs was demonstrated. Thickness and length of hair of particular varieties showed statistically significant differentiation, as well as percentage contribution of particular hair fractions. As regard the content of chemical elements in particular hair fractions and dachshund variety, it appeared that the elements forming hair keratin were the most abundant. The findings presented in the paper may be a useful tool for the recognition of dachshund varieties based on their hair coat structure. They may be also a valuable contribution to the expanding breed standards, which lack histological hair description.

Water Environment Quality Analysis in the Nearshore Marine District of the Caofeidian

2014 ◽  
Vol 1010-1012 ◽  
pp. 496-498
Author(s):  
Qi Si ◽  
Ming Chang Li
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Marine Water ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Parallel Coordinates ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Multiple Pollutants ◽  
Environmental Status ◽  
Water Environmental Quality

In this paper, the parallel coordinates’ method is used for analyzing the marine water environment quality. The environment status could be obtained by this method intuitively. In this paper, the water environment quality in the Caofeidian marine district is analyzed. Multiple pollutants in the multiple years are used. The results show that the water environmental quality in the Caofeidian marine district is acceptable, the environmental status could be obtained by the parallel coordinates’ method visually, which is the main advantageous of this method.

scholarly journals Chemical Composition of Scots Pine Bark as a Bioindicator of Environmental Quality in Riga, Latvia / Priežu Mizu ķīmiskais Sastāvs Kā Vides Stāvokļa Bioindikators Rīgā (Latvija)

2015 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 87-97
Author(s):  
Gunta Čekstere ◽  
Māris Laiviņš ◽  
Anita Osvalde
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Urban Forests ◽  
Background Level ◽  
Pine Bark ◽  
Element Concentrations ◽  
Building Area

Abstract The chemical composition of pine bark was used for the determination of environmental quality in Rīga. Bark samples were collected at 54 sites in Rīga differing in vegetation and building area characteristics (urban forests, parks and cemeteries, dwelling houses, and streets and railway zones) and at 52 sites from rural areas in Latvia (background level). Concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb, and pH was determined in the samples. The results showed significantly higher concentrations of chemical elements in pine bark collected in Rīga, compared to background levels: Fe and Cu concentrations three times higher, and other elements - up to 1.8 times. The highest element concentrations in Rīga were near streets (Sarkandaugava, Jaunmīlgrāvis, Daugavgrīva, Čiekurkalns, Imanta area, etc.). Element concentration and pH was significantly dependent on the distance from the closest street. The lowest element concentrations were found in urban forests (Jugla, Biķernieki, Beberbeķi) and parks and cemeteries (I Forest Cemetery, Jaunciema Cemetery). Mežaparks (forest), Sarkandaugava, Jaunmīlgrāvis, and Vecmīlgrāvis together formed the most polluted area in Rīga due to the close location near and downwind from the harbour.

scholarly journals Variability of morphometric leaf traits in small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata Mili.) under the influence of air pollution

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Kosiba
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Tilia Cordata ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Hierarchical Tree ◽  
Significant Differentiation ◽  
Dust Fall ◽  
Polluted Sites ◽  
Lower Variability

The study concerns the ecological responses of <em>Tilia cordata</em> Mill. to pollution and describes the advantages of estimating of the degree of environmental pollution. The aim was, to find out whether the degree of pollution conforms to the contents of the investigated elements in leaves, the assessment of variability of morphometric leaf traits and the cationic equilibrium values. The study has shown a statistically significant differentiation between the analysed sites in respect of dust fall, concentrations of elements in soils and leaves, morphometric traits of leaves and the cationic equilibrium. The hierarchical tree plot of cluster analysis qualified the sites as polluted and non-polluted. In polluted sites the contents of metals in leaves were significantly higher and the cationic equilibrium in leaves was disturbed. The surface, width and asymmetry of leaves, and also the variability of these measures were higher in polluted sites. In sites, which are not directly affected by pollution the cationic equilibrium is close to the const. value, whereas leaf traits have shown the lowest values and a considerably lower variability. The investigations show that leaf traits and cationic equilibrium correspond to the level of pollution and can be used as a tool for evaluation of the environment status.

Leeches (Clitellata: Hirudinida) of an upland stream: taxonomic composition in relation to habitat conditions

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Cichocka ◽  
Izabela Jabłońska-Barna ◽  
Aleksander Bielecki ◽  
Edyta Buczyńska ◽  
Paweł Buczyński ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Constant Component ◽  
Species Structure ◽  
Running Waters ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
The Impact

AbstractHirudinida comprise a constant component of benthofauna in running waters and their taxonomic composition is often analyzed to evaluate the environmental quality. However, the indicatory role of particular species is still arguable. Thus, it is very important to provide more detailed information on the impact of environmental parameters on the species structure within this group of invertebrates. Representatives of nine species were found in the investigated upland stream including mainly Erpobdella vilnensis and E. octoculata. The research has demonstrated that the hydromorphological conditions and feeding behavior are the main factors determining the taxonomic composition of leeches in particular sections of a watercourse.

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