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Little Seasonal Variation (little + seasonal_variation)
Selected AbstractsSpatial and temporal variation in the morphology (and thus, predicted impact) of an invasive species in AustraliaECOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2006Ben L. Phillips The impact of an invasive species is unlikely to be uniform in space or time, due to variation in key traits of the invader (e.g. morphology, physiology, behaviour) as well as in resilience of the local ecosystem. The weak phylogeographic structure typical of an invasive population suggests that much of the variation in an invading taxon is likely to be generated by the environment and recent colonisation history. Here we describe effects of the environment and colonisation history on key morphological traits of an invader (the cane toad Bufo marinus). These "key traits" (body size and relative toxicity) mediate the impact of toads on Australian native predators, which often die as a consequence of ingesting a fatal dose of toad toxin. Measurements of museum specimens collected over >60 yr from a wide area show that seasonal variation in toad body size (due to seasonal recruitment) effectively swamps much of the spatial variance in this trait. However, relative toxicity of toads showed strong spatial variation and little seasonal variation. Thus, the risk to a native predator ingesting a toad will vary on both spatial and temporal scales. For native predators capable of eating a wide range of toad sizes (e.g. quolls, varanid lizards), seasonal variation in overall toad size will be the most significant predictor of risk. In contrast, gape-limited predators restricted to a specific range of toad sizes (such as snakes) will be most strongly affected by the relative toxicity of toads. Gape-limited predators will thus experience strong spatial variation in risk from toad consumption. [source] Effects of floods versus low flows on invertebrates in a New Zealand gravel-bed riverFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2006ALASTAIR M. SUREN Summary 1. Floods and low flows are hydrological events that influence river ecosystems, but few studies have compared their relative importance in structuring invertebrate communities. Invertebrates were sampled in riffles and runs at eight sites along 40 km of a New Zealand gravel-bed river every 1,3 months over 2.5 years, during which time a number of large flood and low flow events occurred. Flows were high in winter and spring, and low in summer and autumn. Four flow-related variables were calculated from hydrological data: flow on the day of sampling (Qsample), maximum and minimum flow between successive samples (Qmax and Qmin, respectively), and the number of days since the last bed-moving flood (Ndays). 2. The invertebrate community was summarised by relative densities of the 19 most abundant taxa and four biotic metrics [total abundance, taxon richness, the number of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera taxa (i.e. EPT richness), and per cent EPT]. Invertebrate density fluctuated greatly, and was high in summer and autumn, and low during winter and spring. Stepwise multiple regression (SMR) analysis was used to investigate relationships between the invertebrate community and season, flow, habitat and water temperature. 3. Seasonal variables were included in almost 50% of the SMR models, while flow-related variables were included in >75% of models. Densities of many taxa were negatively correlated to Qmin and Qmax, and positively correlated to Ndays, suggesting that while high flows reduced invertebrate densities, densities recovered with increasing time following a flood. Although season and flow were confounded in this study, many of the taxa analysed display little seasonal variation in abundance, suggesting that flow-related variables were more important in structuring communities than seasonal changes in density associated with life-cycles. 4. Five discrete flood and low flow events were identified and changes to invertebrate communities before and after these events examined. Invertebrate densities decreased more commonly after floods than after low flows, and there was a significant positive relationship between the number of taxa showing reductions in density and flood magnitude. Densities of most invertebrates either remained unchanged, or increased after low flow events, except for four taxa whose densities declined after a very long period (up to 9 months) of low flow. This decline was attributed to autogenic sloughing of thick periphyton communities and subsequent loss of habitat for these taxa. 5. Invertebrate communities changed more after floods and the degree of change was proportional to flood magnitude. Community similarity increased with increasing time since the last disturbance, suggesting that the longer stable flows lasted, the less the community changed. These results suggest that invertebrate communities in the Waipara River were controlled by both floods and low flows, but that the relative effects of floods were greater than even extended periods of extreme low flow. 6. Hydraulic conditions in riffles and runs were measured throughout the study. Riffles had consistently faster velocities, but were shallower and narrower than runs at all measured flows. Invertebrate density in riffles was expressed as a percentage of total density and regressed against the flow-related variables to see whether invertebrate locations changed according to flow. Significant negative relationships were observed between the per cent density of common taxa in riffles and Qsample, Qmax and Qmin. This result suggests either that these animals actively drifted into areas of faster velocity during low flows, or that their densities within riffles increased as the width of these habitats declined. [source] Seasonal variation in terrestrial resource subsidies influences trophic niche width and overlap in two aquatic snake species: a stable isotope approachOIKOS, Issue 7 2010John D. Willson Quantifying diet is essential for understanding the functional role of species with regard to energy processing, transfer, and storage within ecosystems. Recently, variance structure in the stable isotope composition of consumer tissues has been touted as a robust tool for quantifying trophic niche width, a task that has previously proven difficult due to bias in direct dietary analyses and difficulties in integrating diet composition over time. We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses to examine trophic niche width of two sympatric aquatic snakes, banded watersnakes Nerodia fasciata and black swamp snakes Seminatrix pygaea inhabiting an isolated wetland where seasonal migrations of amphibian prey cause dramatic shifts in resource availability. Specifically, we characterized snake and prey isotope compositions through time, space, and ontogeny and examined isotope values in relation to prey availability and snake diets assessed by gut content analysis. We determined that prey cluster into functional groups based on similarity of isotopic composition and seasonal availability. Isotope variance structure indicated that the trophic niche width of the banded watersnake was broader (more generalist) than that of the black swamp snake. Banded watersnakes also exhibited seasonal variation in isotope composition, suggesting seasonal diet shifts that track amphibian prey availability. Conversely, black swamp snakes exhibited little seasonal variation but displayed strong ontogenetic shifts in carbon and nitrogen isotope composition that closely paralleled ontogenetic shifts in their primary prey, paedomorphic mole salamanders Ambystoma talpoideum. Although niche dimensions are often treated as static, our results demonstrate that seasonal shifts in niche dimensions can lead to changes in niche overlap between sympatric species. Such short-term fluctuations in niche overlap can influence competitive interactions and consequently the composition and dynamics of communities and ecosystems. [source] Ground thermal conditions in a frost-crack polygon, a palsa and a mineral palsa (lithalsa) in the discontinuous permafrost zone, northern SwedenPERMAFROST AND PERIGLACIAL PROCESSES, Issue 4 2001Bo Westin Abstract Ground temperature measurements were collected during 1997 to 1998 at three locations in the discontinuous permafrost zone in northern Sweden. Measurements were made in two frost-crack polygons, two palsas and a mineral palsa (lithalsa). Important for the formation of permafrost at all locations are (i) the absence of snow and, (ii) local soil properties. The seasonal variation in apparent thermal diffusivity,with higher diffusivities in summer than in winter in the mineral soil of the frost-crack polygon and relatively little seasonal variation in the peat of the palsas,is the main cause for the cooler conditions in the palsas in summer. Morphology adds to the temperature fluctuations as indicated by highly fluctuating ground temperatures in the dome-shaped mineral palsa as compared to the frost-crack polygon. Occasional ground temperature gradients of more than ,10 °C/m are probably sufficient for seasonal frost cracking. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. RÉSUMÉ En trois endroits de la zone du pergélisol discontinu, Staloluokta, Kisuris, et Laivadalen dans le nord de la Suède où les températures moyennes annuelles sont d'environ,0.9°C, des mesures de température du sol ont été réalisées jusqu'à des profondeurs de 125 cm dans deux polygones de fissures de gel, deux palses et une palse minérale (lithalse). Le facteur le plus important pour la formation du pergélisol en tous les sites étudiés paraît être l'absence de couverture neigeuse et secondairement les propriétés des sols. Le pergélisol a été trouvé dans les sols des polygones de fissures de gel, dans les palses et la palse minérale, en des endroits où probablement une faible couverture de neige existe en hiver. La variation saisonnière de la diffusivité thermique apparente,avec une plus grande diffusivité en été qu'en hiver dans le sol minéral du polygone de fissure de gel et relativement peu de variations saisonnières dans la tourbe des palses,a été la cause principale des conditions plus froides dans la palse en hiver. La morphologie des formes périglaciaires peut engendrer des fluctuations de température plus importantes comme l'indique la grande variation de la température du sol dans une palse minérale en forme de dôme par comparaison avec ce qui se produit dans un polygone de fissures de gel de la même région. En outre, des gradients de température de plus de 10°C/m dans le sol gelé de la majeure partie des formes étudiées ont été probablement suffisants pour permettre la fissuration par contraction thermique. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Blood pressure, seasonal body fat, heart rate, and ecological differences in Caboclo populations of the Brazilian AmazonAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006H.P. Silva This study compares blood pressure (BP) and related cardiovascular risk factors among three Caboclo communities from the Brazilian Amazon. Its purpose is to investigate possible risk differentials related to variable ecological settings and Western influences. Caxiuanã is characterized as a more "traditional" group, while Aracampina and Santana are viewed as more "transitional" in lifestyle. A total of 348 subjects from the three communities were evaluated in the wet or the dry season or in both. Measurements across the communities were compared by season and sex. Results suggest little seasonal variation in average BP, BP change, body fat, or body fat change among men. Conversely, there is substantial seasonal and intercommunity variation among women. Additional analyses reveal (1) an inconsistent association between age and BP across the communities; (2) that BMI is not associated with BP transitional communities in either season but is associated with both systolic and diastolic pressure in the most traditional community; and (3) little to no sex effect on BP. These results suggest increased Western influence affects body composition particularly of women. However, increased BMI and fat among transitional Caboclo women does not directly translate into higher BP; rather, their BP appears to be more affected by seasonal stresses. Finally, conditions during the wet season diminish age-related variation in BP, suggesting that during the wet season these Caboclo may be less active. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:10,22, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Acclimation of snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) leaf respiration to seasonal and diurnal variations in temperature: the importance of changes in the capacity and temperature sensitivity of respirationPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 1 2000O. K. Atkin ABSTRACT We investigated the relationship between daily and seasonal temperature variation and dark respiratory CO2 release by leaves of snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieb. ex Spreng) that were grown in their natural habitat or under controlled-environment conditions. The open grassland field site in SE Australia was characterized by large seasonal and diurnal changes in air temperature. On each measurement day, leaf respiration rates in darkness were measured in situ at 2,3 h intervals over a 24 h period, with measurements being conducted at the ambient leaf temperature. The rate of respiration at a set measuring temperature (i.e. apparent ,respiratory capacity') was greater in seedlings grown under low average daily temperatures (i.e. acclimation occurred), both in the field and under controlled-environment conditions. The sensitivity of leaf respiration to diurnal changes in temperature (i.e. the Q10 of leaf respiration) exhibited little seasonal variation over much of the year. However, Q10 values were significantly greater on cold winter days (i.e. when daily average and minimum air temperatures were below 6° and ,1 °C, respectively). These differences in Q10 values were not due to bias arizing from the contrasting daily temperature amplitudes in winter and summer, as the Q10 of leaf respiration was constant over a wide temperature range in short-term experiments. Due to the higher Q10 values in winter, there was less difference between winter and summer leaf respiration rates measured at 5 °C than at 25 °C. The net result of these changes was that there was relatively little difference in total daily leaf respiratory CO2 release per unit leaf dry mass in winter and summer. Under controlled-environment conditions, acclimation of respiration to growth temperature occurred in as little as 1,3 d. Acclimation was associated with a change in the concentration of soluble sugars under controlled conditions, but not in the field. Our data suggest that acclimation in the field may be associated with the onset of cold-induced photo-inhibition. We conclude that cold-acclimation of dark respiration in snow gum leaves is characterized by changes in both the temperature sensitivity and apparent ,capacity' of the respiratory apparatus, and that such changes will have an important impact on the carbon economy of snow gum plants. [source] | ||||||||||