Anthropogenic Disturbance

Associations between the nestling and facultatively boring pectinid Pedum spondyloideum and stony corals (Scleractinia, Milleporidae) were reported in the Indo-Pacific from data obtained from literature and from field observations. Pedum used 65 hosts including the previously unrecorded species of Coscinarea exesa (Raja Empat), Echinopora gemmacea (Dahab, Sinai peninsula), Goniopora savignyi (Dahab, Sinai peninsula), Porites arenatai (Sipadan), Porites murrayensis (Bali) and Millepora platyphylla ((Dahab, Sinai peninsula). Most of the host species of Pedum individuals have a wide Indo-Pacific distribution and although some scleractinian coral species are common to the different studied sites, Pedum individuals did not infest the same species. Nevertheless, the most frequently colonized corals were of massive form. Moreover, calcareous hydrozoans of the genus Millepora are inhabited by Pedum individuals in the northern Red Sea and the eastern part of the Indian Ocean but not in the Pacific Ocean. The results indicate that the associations between the pectinid bivalve Pedum spondyloideum and hard corals differ regionally.

Quantifying the impact of habitat disturbance on ecosystem function is critical to understanding and predicting the future of tropical forests. Many studies have examined post‐disturbance changes in animal traits related to mutualistic interactions with plants, but the effect of disturbance on plant traits in diverse forests has received much less attention. Focusing on two study regions in the eastern Brazilian Amazon, we used a trait‐based approach to examine how seed dispersal functionality within tropical plant communities changes across a landscape‐scale gradient of human modification, including both regenerating secondary forests and primary forests disturbed by burning and selective logging. Surveys of 230 forest plots recorded 26,533 live stems from 846 tree species. Using herbarium material and literature, we compiled trait information for each tree species, focusing on dispersal mode and seed size. Disturbance reduced tree diversity and increased the proportion of lower wo...

Disturbance gradients strongly influence biodiversity, stand structure, and regeneration dynamics in Shorea robusta (Sal) forests. This study provides the first empirical assessment of such impacts in Dharmapur National Park, Bangladesh, one of the last remaining Sal Forest remnants in the region. Despite its ecological importance, the disturbance ecology of Dharmapur has remained unexamined. To quantify disturbance effects, 105 plots (20 × 20 m) were established across low-(LD), moderate-(MD), and high-disturbance (HD) categories, classified using a composite Disturbance Index. Within each plot, trees (DBH ≥ 5 cm), saplings, and seedlings were inventoried, and diversity, structure, regeneration, and community composition were analyzed using diversity indices, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), and PERMANOVA. A total of 39 tree species (29 genera, 20 families) were recorded. Species richness declined from 35 species in LD plots to 17 in HD plots, while Shannon diversity decreased from 2.36 to 2.12 (p < 0.001). Basal area dropped from 25.7 to 13.4 m 2 ha-1 and tree density from 802 to 397 individuals ha-1 between LD and HD plots. Regeneration of S. robusta remained relatively strong, but late-successional and shade-tolerant associates declined sharply. NMDS ordination (stress = 0.14) revealed significant compositional turnover, with HD plots dominated by S. robusta and disturbance-tolerant taxa. Overall, disturbance gradients in Dharmapur's Sal forests reduce diversity, simplify structure, and constrain regeneration of non-Sal species, emphasizing the urgent need for disturbance-sensitive management and restoration strategies.

Riparian vegetation is found in the margins of streams, rivers and lakes, which significantly contributes to the health of the waterbodies. The current study aims to analyse the riparian vegetation of the Pattathipara and Poovanchira streams in Kerala, which are part of the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary. The Pattathipara quadrat study included 37 plant species from 28 families, whereas the Poovanchira quadrat survey included 34 plants from 25 families. Euphorbiaceae had the most species (4 spp.) in the Pattathipara region, while Malvaceae, Fabaceae, Rutaceae, and Lamiaceae each had three spp. in the Poovanchira region. The present study examined the relative density, relative frequency, relative basal area, tree importance value indexes and Shannon Weiner Diversity Index (H') in the Pattathipara and Poovanchira regions. Relative frequency, density, and abundance indicated that both area is relatively dominated by deciduous trees. The IVI profile indicated the dominance of Terminalia elliptica in Pattathipara and Wrightia tinctoria in Poovanchira, which are dry deciduous forest trees.

Bisogna occuparsi delle forme delle opere d’arte, dedicarsi alla loro osservazione e tentare di comprenderne il funzionamento – pare volerci dire Venzi con questo suo ultimo lavoro – perché sono proprio le forme a costituire gli strumenti tramite cui i sistemi espressivi ci permettono di costruire significato. Bisogna studiare le forme perché è solo grazie ad esse e per il tramite di esse che i linguaggi artistici possono corrispondere alla loro (e la nostra) inesorabile tensione verso la sensatezza. [...] Ciò che l’ultimo lavoro di Luca Venzi anzitutto ci ricorda è allora che dobbiamo interrogare le forme, dobbiamo studiarle e adoperarci per comprenderle “perché sono” proprio loro - secondo Godard - “a dirci infine che cosa c’è in fondo alle cose”.

Lo studio degli scarabei in pietra dura della Sardegna punica (fine VI-III sec. a.C.), oggetto della tesi di dottorato che ha portato alla presente pubblicazione, nasce da un interesse profondo nei confronti della glittica sviluppato in occasione della laurea e maturato ulteriormente negli anni. Tale ricerca ha tentato di soddisfare l’esigenza di disporre di un quadro aggiornato e quanto più possibile completo su una classe di materiali che ancora necessita di approfondimenti, mettendone a fuoco gli aspetti tecnologici, funzionali, tipologici, iconografici e stilistici. La notevole mole di reperti da schedare ed esaminare ha messo in luce una serie di informazioni che si pongono come base per il prosieguo della ricerca sotto tutti i suoi aspetti, da quelli già analizzati a quelli che per difficoltà oggettive non è stato possibile approfondire. Questo lavoro si propone anche come momento di inizio per la prossima valorizzazione e fruizione non solo degli scarabei in pietra dura, ma dell’intera collezione glittica del Museo Archeologico di Cagliari. Infatti attualmente è dedicato uno spazio espositivo tutt’altro che adeguato ad una collezione che annovera reperti di grande interesse e straordinario valore documentale, ferma restando l'oggettiva difficoltà di una esposizione efficace per oggetti con dimensioni così ridotte. Tale lavoro di ricerca  per la prima volta riunisce in un solo lavoro tutti gli scarabei in pietra dura della collezione museale cagliaritana.

comprende un intervalo temporal de unos 400 años adscritos a la primera mitad del Tercer Milenio antes de nuestra era. La interpretación del registro polínico, así como de las evidencias arqueológicas, sugieren el impacto que la minería y producción temprana del cobre ejercería sobre la vegetación en la zona de estudio. Se describen también algunas secuencias contemporáneas que refl ejan procesos de degradación del medio, como la del Cabezo Juré en Alosno, Huelva, que desarrolla y establece una economía claramente vinculada a la explotación del cobre.

En este trabajo, se presentan los resultados del análisis palinológico de las muestras tomadas en uno de los perfiles del sondeo estratigráfico de la Cueva de San Bartolomé (Sierra de Cameros, La Rioja). Los niveles estudiados coinciden con una ocupación de la Edad del Bronce, en la que se aprecia, a diferencia el paisaje actual, un predominio de vegetación de clara influencia mediterránea.

comprende un intervalo temporal de unos 400 años adscritos a la primera mitad del Tercer Milenio antes de nuestra era. La interpretación del registro polínico, así como de las evidencias arqueológicas, sugieren el impacto que la minería y producción temprana del cobre ejercería sobre la vegetación en la zona de estudio. Se describen también algunas secuencias contemporáneas que refl ejan procesos de degradación del medio, como la del Cabezo Juré en Alosno, Huelva, que desarrolla y establece una economía claramente vinculada a la explotación del cobre.

Health is the most basic human right and one of the most important indicators of sustainable development. Individuals, communities and societies depend on healthy ecosystems support to remain healthy. Well-functioning ecosystems provide goods and services essential for human health. These goods and services include nutrition and food security, clean air and fresh water, medicines, cultural and spiritual values, and contributions to local livelihoods and economic development. They can also help to limit disease and stabilize the climate. However, over the years human activities have been constantly placing pressure on earth’s natural resources to meet the demands of the economies and the needs of a rapidly growing global population, which has resulted in the transformation of basic natural processes such as weather/climate, biogeochemical cycling, and more so the biological diversity in which the evolutionary changes depend. It is projected that less than 25% of Earth’s surface remai...

The hyporheic invertebrate community from the pre-alpine river (W Slovenia) was studied in order to analyze the impacts of high discharge and in-stream gravel extraction. Two distinct river reaches were sampled from June 2004 to May 2005. At impacted site, where gravel extraction was carried out, the response of hyporheic community to the anthropogenic disturbance was studied. Physical and chemical parameters, together with the amounts organic matter and activity of the biofilm were measured. Invertebrates were sampled by Bou-Rouch pumping method. Discharge of the Baca River varied from 108 m3s-1 in October 2004 to 1.6 m3s-1 in March 2005. Streambed sediments at both sites were composed of heterogeneous mixture of boulders, cobbles, pebbles, gravel, sand and silt. Oxygen saturation was close to 100 %, indicating good sediment permeability. A total of 75 invertebrate taxa were identified, 40 of which belonged to the occasional hyporheos, 26 to the permanent hyporheos and 9 were stygo...

espanolLa sedimentacion, el aumento del turismo, las enfermedades de los corales y las altas temperaturas oceanicas se han convertido en una amenaza permanente para los arrecifes de coral en todo el mundo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el estado de salud de los arrecifes poco profundos en Cahuita y Manzanillo, Limon, Costa Rica. Se creo una base de datos, incluyendo especies de todos los cnidarios sesiles coloniales y sus enfermedades conocidas. Posteriormente, 15 transectos fueron muestreados en cada sitio a lo largo de la costa en bandas de 10 x 1 m, siguiendo el protocolo AGRRA V5.4, y a profundidades entre 1-3 m. De las 27 especies encontradas, 21 fueron reportadas de Cahuita y 23 de Manzanillo. El estado de salud de los arrecifes de coral someros en ambos sitios fue bueno en terminos de enfermedades, blanqueamiento y mortalidad debido a su baja incidencia. La composicion de las especies de cnidarios sesiles, el tamano y la cobertura de sus colonias fueron dominad...

Coral reef islands are among the most vulnerable environments on Earth to climate change because they are low lying and largely constructed from unconsolidated sediments that can be readily reworked by waves and currents. These sediments derive entirely from surrounding coral reef and reef flat environments and are thus highly sensitive to ecological transitions that may modify reef community composition and productivity. How such modifications – driven by anthropogenic disturbances and on‐going and projected climatic and environmental change – will impact reef island sediment supply and geomorphic stability remains a critical but poorly resolved question. Here, we review the unique ecological–geomorphological linkages that underpin this question and, using different scenarios of environmental change for which reef sediment production responses can be projected, explore the likely resilience of different island types. In general, sand‐dominated islands are likely to be less resilien...

espanolEn este trabajo proponemos abordar las historias de cinco mujeres latinoamericanas, interpretando sus ausencias, sus muertes, como un intento de silenciamiento. Las mujeres latinoamericanas que nombramos aqui nos interpelan en los analisis sobre el lugar y las formas que asumen las derechas y las violencias en nuestros territorios. Las categorias de “necropolitica” y de “interseccionalidad” nos permiten conectar textualidades y visibilizar la continuidad de opresiones, pero tambien vislumbrar maneras posibles de resistencia. EnglishIn this work we propose to approach the stories of five Latin American women, interpreting their absence, their deaths, like a silencing attempt. These women make it possible for us to think about the place and the forms that the rights manifest and the violence in our territories. At the same time, the categories of “necropolitics” and “intersectionality” help us connect textualities with the purpose of visibility into the continuum of oppressions...

Community genetics synthesizes community ecology and population genetics and yields fresh insights into the interplay between evolutionary and ecological processes. A community genetics framework proves especially valuable when strong selection on traits results from or impinges on interspecific interactions, an increasingly common phenomenon as more communities are subject to direct management or anthropogenic disturbances. We draw illustrations of this perspective from our ongoing studies of three representative communities, two managed and one natural, that have recently undergone large perturbations. The studied communities are: (1) insect pests of crop plants genetically engineered to produce insecticidal toxins; (2) insect-pollinated plants in habitats severely fragmented by agriculture and urbanization; and (3) a pathogen and its crop host now grown extensively outside their native ranges. We demonstrate the value of integrating genetic and ecological processes to gain a full understanding of community dynamics, particularly in nonequilibrium systems that are subject to strong selection.

This study delves into the relationship between cyber-physical systems (CPS) and economic security, with particular emphasis on how networking technologies facilitate more efficient data integration. It investigates how CPS adoption is reshaping national economies by influencing productivity levels, altering labor market structures, and introducing new cybersecurity challenges. Employing a hybrid research design that merges cross-sectional data evaluation with expert consultations, the research offers a comprehensive view of the implications of CPS implementation on sectoral productivity, employment trends, and macroeconomic resilience. CPS are positioned in the study as strategic innovations powered by data intelligence, underlining both their promising opportunities and associated threats. The findings support the development of informed policy measures that aim to enhance benefits while reducing potential risks. Ultimately, the work contributes to the evolving discourse on CPS by offering a balanced analysis of their socio-economic impacts and outlining actionable recommendations for decision-makers and industry stakeholders to capitalize on CPS innovations effectively.

In order to evaluate the present distribution patterns of salmonids and their potential effects on native fish, we sampled 11 large lakes and 105 streams, encompassing a total of 13 main hydrographic watersheds of southern Chile (39 o to 52 o S). Overall, trout (Salmo trutta and Oncorhynchus mykiss) accounted for more than 60 % of total fish abundance and more than 80 % of total biomass, while 40 % of the streams sampled did not have native fish. Salmon, introduced for aquaculture, such as O. kisutch, Salmo salar, and O. tshawytscha, were only present in lakes with salmon farming and did not seem to be reproducing naturally in affluent streams. We tested the effect of river geographic origin (Andes mountains, central valley, or Coastal range) on fish abundance and found that rainbow trout was more restricted to the Andean streams with higher water discharge, while brown trout was widely distributed and did not relate to any of several catchment attributes measured. The abundance of native fish was greater in lakes than in streams and the highest native fish biodiversity occurred in streams of the central valley. The most common native species were Galaxias maculatus, G. platei, Brachygalaxias bullocki, Aplochiton zebra and Basilichthys australis. Streams with higher conductivity, larger pool areas, more fine sediments, and low brown trout densities were more suitable for native fish. Thus, catchments with higher anthropogenic disturbance appeared as refuges for native species. Given the descriptive nature of our study we can only presume the negative impacts of trout and salmon on native fish; an effect which should be superimposed on biogeographical conditioning of present distribution. Yet based on the present abundance and distribution patterns of salmonids and native fish, negative effects are very likely. Conservation of native fish biodiversity in central valley streams, far from protected areas or national parks and fully exposed to human perturbations represents a great challenge. We propose to enhance conservation by exerting a stronger sport fishing pressure on trout in those streams.

View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk p 2 1 0 ͉ S u n d e r m a n , S p a h r , B i r c h a n d O s t e r attributable to their scenic and/or recreational use. The second index is based on a subset of the original data and includes only non-scenic ranches that are valued mainly because of their productivity.

We used a one-dimensional, spatially explicit model to simulate the community of small fishes in the freshwater wetlands of southern Florida, USA. The seasonality of rainfall in these wetlands causes annual fluctuations in the amount of flooded area. We modeled fish populations that differed from each other only in efficiency of resource utilization and dispersal ability. The simulations showed that these trade-offs, along with the spatial and temporal variability of the environment, allow coexistence of several species competing exploitatively for a common resource type. This mechanism, while sharing some characteristics with other mechanisms proposed for coexistence of competing species, is novel in detail. Simulated fish densities resembled patterns observed in Everglades empirical data. Cells with hydroperiods less than 6 months accumulated negligible fish biomass. One unique model result was that, when multiple species coexisted, it was possible for one of the coexisting specie...

between flowering spathe density and fruit-set, which was suboptimal at <1200 flowering spathes m -2 (corresponding to <600 reproductive shoots m -2 ). A fragmented population had ≈35 % lower fruit-set at similar reproductive density than a continuous population. 75 % of all European populations studied over a large latitudinal gradient had flowering spathe densities below that required for optimal fruitset, particularly in Southern countries. Literature review of the reproductive output of hydrophilous pollinated plants revealed that seed-or fruit-set of marine hydrophilous plants is generally low, as compared to hydrophilous Abstract Pollen limitation may be an important factor in accelerated decline of sparse or fragmented populations. Little is known whether hydrophilous plants (pollen transport by water) suffer from an Allee effect due to pollen limitation or not. Hydrophilous pollination is a typical trait of marine angiosperms or seagrasses. Although seagrass flowers usually have high pollen production, floral densities are highly variable. We evaluated pollen limitation for intertidal populations of the seagrass Zostera noltei in The Netherlands and found a significant positive relation Communicated by James Fourqurean.

AimEvidence linking the accumulation of exotic species to the suppression of native diversity is equivocal, often relying on data from studies that have used different methods. Plot‐level studies often attribute inverse relationships between native and exotic diversity to competition, but regional abiotic filters, including anthropogenic influences, can produce similar patterns. We seek to test these alternatives using identical scale‐dependent sampling protocols in multiple grasslands on two continents.LocationThirty‐two grassland sites in North America and Australia.MethodsWe use multiscale observational data, collected identically in grain and extent at each site, to test the association of local and regional factors with the plot‐level richness and abundance of native and exotic plants. Sites captured environmental and anthropogenic gradients including land‐use intensity, human population density, light and soil resources, climate and elevation. Site selection occurred independe...

Anthropogenic underwater noise is increasingly recognized as a pervasive stressor in marine ecosystems, with significant implications for biodiversity and ecological health. This review synthesizes findings from the literature and studies conducted between 1992 and 2024, focusing on the impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals, fishes, and sea turtles. Key sources of underwater noise include offshore seismic surveys, sonar systems, shipping activities, and oil and gas exploration. These sounds vary in intensity, frequency, and duration, resulting in a range of biological responses across taxa. The review identifies consistent evidence of behavioral disruptions, such as altered communication, foraging, mating, and migratory patterns. Physiological effects include hearing loss, tissue damage, endocrine disruption, and elevated stress hormone levels. Developmental impacts, particularly in early life stages, include growth abnormalities and sensory impairment. Species-specific variability in sensitivity to sound presents challenges for standardized assessments but underscores the need for targeted research. Mitigation strategies are also discussed, including passive acoustic monitoring, exclusion zones, soft-start procedures, and engineering controls such as bubble curtains and hydro sound dampers. These measures, while promising, require further evaluation for effectiveness across varying marine conditions. Given the rapid expansion of offshore industrial activity within Guyana's Exclusive Economic Zone, this review highlights the urgent need for context-specific research and stronger regulatory frameworks. Raising awareness among stakeholders and informing conservation policy are essential to reducing acoustic impacts and preserving marine biodiversity.

The "surf diatom" species Attheya armata (West) Crawford accumulations have been detected in the coasts of Galicia (NW Spain) in recent years. However, unlike in other parts of the world, the current knowledge of the phenomenon in European coasts remains disperse and scarce. A multiple approach has been used to monitor a sector of the Galician coast and to evaluate chemical and biological parameters in the environment, as well as under in vitro culture conditions, with the aim of studying the causes underlying these episodes. Contrary to the general assumption, our results indicate no direct relationship between the ephemeral accumulation episodes occurrences with the continental discharges or nutrient levels in beach waters. The isotopic reference values for coastal food web in Galicia allows to affirm with certainty that A. armata accumulations is dominate by the sediment dynamics.

Bunut merupakan salah satu kecamatan di kabupaten Pelalawan provinsi Riau yang memiliki banyak potensi didalamnya. Sehingga perlu diolah untuk memaksimalkan pendapatan warga sekitar khususnya desa Merbau dan desa Sialang Kayu Batu. Pemahaman akan kewirausahaan seharusnya sudah lama di gaungkan di desa tersebut guna memberdayakan ketertinggalan informasi mengenai pentingnya kewirausahaan dan pengelolaanya. Hal itu itu dapat dilakukan dengan memberikan sosialisasi kepada warga desa Merbau dan Sialang Kayu Batu karena banyaknya waktu dan potensi yang bisa di manfaatkan. Pengetahuan kewirausahaan ini merupakan modal awal bagi siapa saja yang ingin bergerak di bidang usaha tertentu. Kurangnya informasi dan pengelolaan serta langkah-langkah memulai usaha merupakan suatu kendala yang umum ditemukan di masyarakat terutama masyarakat pedesaan. Berkaitan dengan hal ini prodi Teknik Industri Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, memberikan jalan lebar bagi warga desa Merbau dan Sialang Kayu Batu untu...

Anthropogenic disturbances affecting tropical forest reserves have been documented, but their ecological long-term cumulative effects are poorly understood. Habitat fragmentation and defaunation are two major anthropogenic threats to the integrity of tropical reserves. Based on a long-term (four decades) study, we document how these disturbances synergistically disrupt ecological processes and imperil biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning at Los Tuxtlas, the northernmost tropical rainforest reserve in the Americas. Deforestation around this reserve has reduced the reserve to a medium-sized fragment (640 ha), leading to an increased frequency of canopy-gap formation. In addition, hunting and habitat loss have caused the decline or local extinction of medium and large herbivores. Combining empirical, experimental, and modeling approaches, we support the hypothesis that such disturbances produced a demographic explosion of the long-lived (≈120 y old, maximum height of 7 m...

Researchers studying invasive plants often concentrate their efforts on predictive models thought to allow invasive plants to dominate native landscapes. However, if an invasive is already well established then experimental research is necessary to provide the information necessary to effectively manage the species. Prescribing appropriate management strategies without prior experimental research may not only be ineffective but also may squander limited resources or have the unintended consequence of furthering spread. Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don. is a well-established invasive plant of old fields and tall-grass prairie in the US. Managers suspect this species shades-out native plants and this is proposed as its primary mechanism for dominance. Using field experiments we tested probable factors allowing the species to establish itself and, once established, interfere in old field plant communities. We also examined the effects of two common anthropogenic disturbances (mowing and nutrients) on L. cuneata growth and establishment. When L. cuneata was treated (clipping, herbicide and stem pull-back) there was a significant increase in species richness and native species cover. Stem density and canopy cover of L. cuneata increased significantly with mowing frequency but decreased with nutrient input. We suggest that mowing benefits L. cuneata while also hindering woody competition. Results also indicate L. cuneata is less prevalent on nutrient enriched soils than on unamended soil. Lespedeza cuneata appears to suppress native plants by shading them out and it can subsequently take over grassland communities. Since it has a varying response to human induced disturbances and may actually benefit from mowing, land managers should be cautious when utilizing this as a management tool. Abbreviations: C -control; CL -clipping treatment of L. cuneata stems in the competition plots; H -herbicide treatment of L. cuneata in the competition plots; P -pull-back treatment of L. cuneata stems in the competition plots; SE -standard error w Nomenclature: Mohlenbrock (1986).

Il saggio introduce al pubblico italiano lo scrittore, traduttore e critico letterario bengalese Buddhadeb Basu, figura di spicco del modernismo indiano di metà Novecento. Si analizzano alcune tendenze linguistiche, estetiche e politiche riconoscibili nell’opera dell’autore bengalese, ponendo l’accento sul suo impegno nel campo della traduzione, pratica di un internazionalismo sia politico che letterario, oltre che cifra caratterizzante del modernismo indiano.

The ideal distribution hypothesis states that territorial animals identify habitats with ideal habitat suitability and alter their settlement patterns accordingly. This hypothesis assumes no cost of migrating to a more profitable patch once the current one becomes less profitable. Another underlying assumption is that individuals only use current information while deciding where to breed. To evaluate these assumptions and resultant alternative hypotheses, we studied Ovenbird ( Seiurus aurocapilla (L., 1766)) territories during 2000–2001 in six northern hardwood tracts within a landscape composed of wetlands, regenerating stands, small farms and roads. We incorporated data from our own study and from published studies across the Ovenbird geographic range, using an information-theoretic approach. Contrary to the ideal distribution hypothesis, Ovenbird territory density increased with upland openings, but density was similar across clearcut-edge-distance and forest-thinning categories....

The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major concern for wildlife and ecosystem health globally. Genetic determinants of AMR have become indicators of anthropogenic pollution due to their greater association with humans and rarer presence in environments less affected by humans. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution and frequency of the class 1 integron, a genetic determinant of AMR, in both the faecal microbiome and in Escherichia coli isolated from neonates of three pinniped species. Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea), Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) and long-nosed fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) pups from eight breeding colonies along the Southern Australian coast were sampled between 2016-2019. DNA from faecal samples (n = 309) and from E. coli (n = 795) isolated from 884 faecal samples were analysed for class 1 integrons using PCRs targeting the conserved integrase gene (intI) and the gene cassette array. Class 1 integrons were detected in A. p. doriferus and N. cinerea pups sampled at seven of the eight breeding colonies investigated in 4.85% of faecal samples (n = 15) and 4.52% of E. coli isolates (n = 36). Integrons were not detected in any A. forsteri samples. DNA sequencing of the class 1 integron gene cassette array identified diverse genes conferring resistance to four antibiotic classes. The relationship between class 1 integron carriage and the concentration of five trace elements and heavy metals was also investigated, finding no significant association. The results of this study add to the growing evidence of the extent to which antimicrobial resistant bacteria are polluting the marine environment. As AMR determinants are frequently associated with bacterial pathogens, their occurrence suggests that these pinniped species are vulnerable to potential health risks. The implications for individual and population health as a consequence of AMR carriage is a critical component of ongoing health investigations.

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The study highlighted the trends in area, production, and productivity of rice cultivation in India and the North East Region and
tried to investigate the major issues and challenges of rice cultivation. The data from the years 1997 - 98 to 2015 - 16 were
collected from sources such as Handbook of Statistics, Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of
India and The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) databank. The study revealed that the area,
production, and productivity in India witnessed an increasing trend at a lower rate of about 0.99%, 1.24%, and 5.94%,
respectively. However, in case of the North East Region, there was an increasing trend in area and productivity by about 0.18%
and 1.07%, which was much lower than the national average, while production was 2.05%. The study showed that there was a
fluctuating trend in area, production, and productivity in India and the North East Region over this period. Lack of advanced
machinery, floods, infestation by weeds and pests, non - availability of HYV seeds, discouraging price conditions are some
limiting factors for the rice growers, weaning them away from rice cultivation in India in general and the North East Region in
particular.
Keywords : rice, land, production, productivity trends and determinants, North East Region

This chapter reimagines 19th-century industrial landscapes in the American West-not as static ruins of extraction, but as dynamic socio-ecological systems whose histories are legible through the botanical legacies still growing on their surface. By integrating landscape biography and historical ecology, it expands the definition of material culture to include surface vegetation as both artifact and actor-tracing how plants, different ethnic groups, and place co-authored enduring multispecies legacies.

The termite assemblages of three sites of Caatinga under different levels of anthropogenic disturbance in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil were sampled using 65 Â 2 m transects. A total of 26 species of termites were present in the three sites, and 196 encounters were recorded in the transects. The termite assemblages were considerably different among sites, with a conspicuous reduction in both diversity and abundance with increased disturbance, related to the reduction of tree density and soil cover, and with the intensity of trampling by cattle and goats. The wood-feeders were the most severely affected feeding group.

Mammalian fauna are considered good indicators of the degree of anthropogenic disturbance to the various ecosystems. Many mammalian species disappeared in the Gaza Strip during the last 5-6 decades and no efforts have been made to stop such disappearance. The present work aims at surveying the remnant wild mammals in the Gaza Strip; particularly in Wadi Gaza as a natural area. A total number of 15 mammalian species belonging to 5 orders and 11 families were recorded. Most mammalian species were of small sizes and residents. Seven disappeared mammalian species were mentioned by locals. The causes of disappearance were mostly anthropogenic and included the limited area of the Gaza Strip, over-population, residential and agricultural encroachment on the expense of natural areas and the overexploitation of natural resources of which hunting was and stills a common practice threatening wildlife. The Israeli Occupation is still adversely affecting wildlife ecology in the area. Finally, the authors recommend improving cooperation of different parties to enhance the public awareness and to implement environmental laws and legislations to conserve nature and to protect wildlife.

The Islamic University Journal (Series of Natural Studies and Engineering) Vol.15, No. 1, P111 -135 , 2007, ISSN 1726-6807, http// www.iugaza.edu.ps/ara/research ... The Herpetofauna of the Gaza Strip with Particular Emphasis on the Vicinity of Wadi Gaza

Environmental gradients are the driving forces that shape species density, community composition, stand structure and diversity. Distribution of plants in Nilgiri hill is the result of topographic variations and climatic differences. This study was conducted in Singara range of The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which lies between the altitudes of 900 to 2150 Meter above mean sea level (MSL). A total of 60 quadrates of 10×50 m size were laid in the forest across five elevational ranges with 250-meter interval covering 1250 meter altitude. A total of 181 species in 115 Genera & 56 Families were recorded in the present study. Anogeissus latifolia was the most dominant species across the study area and was present in four zones except the highest elevation zone E (1900-2150), which is shola forest while the former zones were tropical dry deciduous and semi-evergreen forest. A total of 56, 62, 46, 40 and 82 tree species were found in Zone A, Zone B, Zone C, Zone D and Zone E respectively.

The montane subtropical broad-leaved humid forests of Meghalaya (Northeast India) are highly diverse and situated at the transition zone between the Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots. In this study, we have used inventory data from seedlings to canopy level to assess the impact of both biotic and abiotic disturbances on structure, composition, and regeneration potential of the Fagaceae trees of these forests. Fagaceae trees are considered as the keystone species in these forests due to their regional dominance and their importance as a fuel wood source, and also because they form an important component of climax community in these forests. Unfortunately, these forests are highly degraded and fragmented due to anthropogenic disturbances. We have assessed, for the first time, the restoration potential (i.e., capacity to naturally regenerate and sustain desired forest structure) of Fagaceae species in the genera Lithocarpus Blume, Castanopsis (D. Don) Spach, and Qu...

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Much research has been done on how the physical environment can influence the outcome of battle, but few have studied the inverse: the effects of warfare upon the environment. The goal of this research is to characterize and help understand soil development within areas disturbed by explosive munitions on the WWI battlefield of Verdun, France (1916). Encompassing an area of 29,000 km 2 , the battlefield remains one of the most heavily shelled of all time. Twenty-seven pedons were sampled and described, at three sites on the battlefield; some pedons were within artillery craters while others were on adjacent "undisturbed" soils. Site selection reflected the diversity of bedrock and drainage characteristics across the study area. Soil development was characterized within the crater bottoms and sides. Many craters penetrated the shallow limestone bedrock, and blasted out fragments of limestone on nearby undisturbed pedons had already been incorporated into the profile. Despite the short period of time since the battle (88 years), measurable amounts of weathering and pedogenesis has occurred in the soils within the craters. A major pedogenic process operative here is the accumulation and decomposition of organic matter, which is intimately associated with (and aided by) earthworm bioturbation. Based on elemental analysis of the fine earth fraction, measurable amounts of leaching and weathering have occurred in the 88 years since the battle. This study provides insight into the ability of a landscape to recover following a catastrophic anthropogenic disturbance.

The native or allochthonous nature of certain extant species of the Iberian Peninsula is a matter of some controversy given our lack of knowledge regarding the survival and extinction processes to which they have been subject. The aim of the present work is to provide a review of the current knowledge regarding these processes during the Quaternary. The Middle Pleistocene Transition was a period of noticeable disappearance of Arctotertiary taxa in the Iberian Peninsula, related to the alteration in glacial cyclicity and climate change, including an increase in the severity of glaciations, a reduction in the length of the interglacial periods, and increased dryness during the coldest times. It is difficult to maintain that human activities played any important part in the complete or near-complete disappearance of some taxa during the Quaternary. In the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, however, the extinction of Cedrus, Picea and Carpinus might be related to climate change, competition with other taxa, and anthropogenic disturbances. In contrast, the extreme reduction or even complete disappearance of Platanus or Syringa seems to be due to natural causes alone. The available geological, molecular and palaeobotanical data suggest that some Arctotertiary taxa persisted over long periods of time during the Quaternary in the Iberian Peninsula. Indeed, the fossil record of one important group of taxa, including Castanea, Ceratonia, Carpinus and Juglans, shows its continued presence throughout the Quaternary.

Recent reports of pollinator declines have stirred interest in investigating the impacts of habitat exploitation on the conservation of pollinator and plant communities. An important prerequisite to tailor conservation action is to understand the drivers and patterns of species-rich communities, and how they change in space and time during a whole season. To account for this, we surveyed wild bees and flowering plants using standardized transects in 11 natural habitat fragments of an IUCN important plant area along the coast of Israel. We used phylogeny-and taxon-based methods of community structure analyses to study the assembly processes of bee communities, and investigated the effects of several landscape parameters on bee diversity using generalized linear models (GLMs). Our results illustrate that natural habitat sites comprised significantly higher species richness compared to disturbed habitat sites, and show that even the smallest habitat fragments harbored unique bee assemblages, with significant species replacement (turnover) found in both space and time. Our GLMs indicated that flower diversity, and semi-natural habitat within 500 m of habitat fragments were important drivers of bee diversity, but we found no Communicated by David Hawksworth.

The Desert Lynx or Caracal (Caracal caracal Schreber, 1776) is a rare wild vertebrate found in Palestine, although it may be common in many countries in Africa and Asia. It tends to be fearful and wary of humans and usually flees if confronted. This modest study aims to shed light on the infiltration of a Desert (or Egyptian) Lynx from Egypt and its attack on Israeli soldiers in the Negev Desert in southern Palestine on March 18, 2025. The incident began when a female Desert Lynx infiltrated an Israeli military base in the Jabal Harif area of the Negev Desert. The attacks resulted in the transfer of five Israeli soldiers with varying degrees of injuries to a hospital for treatment and necessary tests to ensure they were not infected with rabies. After being captured, the female Desert Lynx was taken to Wildlife Hospital for medical examination. Tests revealed an old fracture in her right femur, severe weight loss, and infections in her teeth and nails. The study listed possible reasons for the Lynx's attacks on Israeli soldiers as starvation, habitat destruction, poaching, territorial defense, protection of young, rabies infection, fear and stress, seasonal behavioral changes, and escape from illegal capture. On the political and media fronts, Egyptian and Arab social media, websites, and news channels were abuzz with images, videos, articles, and posts glorifying the female Desert Lynx for her attack. This came as a result of these communities' stances on the devastating war Israel has been waging on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. In previous incidents, 12 Israeli soldiers were seriously injured after being stung by Yellow Jacket Wasps (Vespula spp.) after an Israeli tank ran over their nest in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, in May 2024. In conclusion, although the Desert Lynx does not usually pose a direct threat to humans, its defensive behavior when threatened or stressed can lead to unexpected actions.

Breast metastases are rare, with contralateral breast cancer being the most common. Neuroendocrine tumors (NET), a rare form of tumors, most commonly arise as carcinoid tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and other endocrine organs. Although NETs can metastasize to various sites, the breast is an uncommon location. These metastatic lesions may clinically and radiologically simulate primary breast cancers, making their diagnosis a considerable challenge. We present a case of a 51-year-old female with bilateral breast masses, initially diagnosed as ductal carcinoma of the breast with prominent neuroendocrine features. Pre-operative imaging demonstrated a mass in the lung and lesions in the liver, leading to the pathological diagnosis of lung-to-breast and liver metastatic atypical carcinoid tumor (ACT). Non-mammary metastases to the breast, particularly from NETs, are exceedingly rare. Clinicians—including internists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and surgeons—often encounter such distant metastases when managing patients with long-term remission from a known primary malignancy. Rarely, the secondary breast tumor is identified before the diagnosis of the primary tumor. We present this case of metastatic pulmonary ACT to the breast and briefly review the relevant literature.