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Seasonal Patterns (seasonal + pattern)
Kinds of Seasonal Patterns Selected AbstractsSmoke Rising from the Villages of the Dead: Seasonal Patterns of Mood in a Papua New Guinea SocietyTHE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, Issue 2 2001Simon Harrison This article discusses seasonal patterns of mood in a Papua New Guinea society, showing how these are connected with beliefs relating to cosmology and the afterlife, and with more abstract conceptions of personhood, sociality, and attachment. The argument suggests that cultural factors may play an important role in mediating the influences of seasonal changes on everyday moods, and that such moods may be complex socio-cultural constructs. [source] Seasonal pattern of depth selection in smallmouth bassJOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 2 2009C. D. Suski Abstract The current study used a stationary acoustic telemetry array to monitor the depth selection of adult smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in a large, oligotrophic lake in Ontario, Canada. At an annual scale, smallmouth bass demonstrated regular, seasonal changes in inhabited depths: fish occupied shallow water during the summer (2,5 m depth) and descended to deeper water (12,15 m depth) during winter under ice. Smallmouth bass remained above the thermocline in the summer, seasonal depth patterns did not vary across fish size and movements to and from seasonal depths were closely linked to the development and degradation of the thermocline. At finer time scales, smallmouth bass exhibited diel vertical migrations in summer, with fish moving to <2 m at night, and then descending to 3,5 m during the day. This pattern remained constant during the summer period examined, and varied with size such that larger fish remained deeper than smaller fish. During winter, depth did not vary across the 3-month monitoring period (c. 14 m), but small (<2 m) changes in depth were observed periodically, suggesting limited movements were occurring. Results are further discussed in the context of climate change and reproductive success for this species. [source] Seasonal pattern of insect abundance in the Brazilian cerradoAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2002F. Pinheiro Abstract In Brazil, a severe dry season lasting for approximately 5 months and frequent fires make life difficult for cerrado insects. In certain aspects, the cerrado can be considered to be an understudied ecosystem; even basic information such as knowledge about the annual peak in abundance of different insect orders is unknown. Insect abundance patterns have only been investigated for a few groups in the cerrado region. Thus, our study concerns the temporal distribution of insect abundance in the savanna-like vegetation of the central Brazilian cerrado (sensu stricto) in Distrito Federal. The region has a well-defined, long dry season between May and September. The insects were sampled by window, malaise tent and pitfall traps within 1 year. We used a multiple linear regression to analyse the relationship between abundance of insects of each order and climate variables. A total of 50 127 individuals from 15 orders was collected. The orders were Coleoptera (26%), Hymenoptera (23%), Diptera (20.5%), Isoptera (20%), Homoptera (4%), Lepidoptera (4%), Orthoptera (1.5%) and Hemiptera (1%). The abundance of Diptera, Homoptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera was randomly distributed over time, Isoptera peaked in the first half of the wet season, Coleoptera and Hemiptera in the second half of the wet season and Hymenoptera in each season. A significant correlation was found only between Coleoptera and delayed climatic variables. There were no obvious trends that might help explain the abundance patterns observed. The study provides baseline information about phenological patterns of insect abundance and permits evaluation of this group as a resource for various food chains and different trophic levels. [source] Environmental and spatial effects on the distribution of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) as inferred from data for longline fisheries in the Pacific OceanFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2008NAN-JAY SU Abstract Blue marlin is distributed throughout tropical and temperate waters in the Pacific Ocean. However, the preference of this species for particular habitats may impact its vulnerability to being caught. The relationship between spatio-temporal patterns of blue marlin abundance and environmental factors is examined using generalized additive models fitted to catch and effort data from longline fisheries. The presence of blue marlin, and the catch rate given presence, are modeled separately. Latitude, longitude, and sea-surface temperature explain the greatest proportion of the deviance. Spatial distributions of relative density of blue marlin, based on combining the probability of presence and relative density given presence, indicate that there is seasonal variation in the distribution of blue marlin, and that the highest densities occur in the tropics. Seasonal patterns in the relative density of blue marlin appear to be related to shifts in SST. The distribution and relative abundance of blue marlin are sufficiently heterogeneous in space and time that the results of analyses of catch and effort data to identify ,hotspots' could be used as the basis for time-area management to reduce the amount of blue marlin bycaught in longline fisheries. [source] Temporal variation of energy reserves in mayfly nymphs (Hexagenia spp.) from Lake St Clair and western Lake ErieFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2003J.F. Cavaletto Summary 1. We analysed changes in energy reserves (lipid and glycogen) and length,weight relationships of burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia spp.) in 1997,99 to compare an established population in Lake St Clair with a recovering population in western Lake Erie of the Laurentian Great Lakes. In addition, we measured changes in water temperature and potential food in both water columns and sediments. 2. Although overall mean values of lipid and glycogen levels of Hexagenia nymphs from Lake St Clair and western Lake Erie were not significantly different, there were differences in seasonal patterns between the two lakes. In Lake St Clair, levels were highest in early spring, declined throughout the year, and reached their lowest levels in fall during all 3 years of study. In contrast, levels in western Lake Erie were lower in spring, increased to a maximum in summer, then declined in fall. Seasonal patterns in length,weight relationships were similar to those for lipid and glycogen. 3. Total lipid as a percentage of dry weight did not increase with developmental stage of nymphs until just prior to metamorphosis and emergence from water. However, the major reserve lipid, triacylglycerols, increased systematically with development stage. In the final stage of development, triacylglycerols declined, probably as a result of energy consumption and its conversion to other biochemical components for metamorphosis and reproduction. 4. Indicators of potential food (algal fluorescence in the water column and chlorophyll a and chlorophyll a/phaeophytin ratio in sediments) suggest that Hexagenia in Lake St Clair have a food source that is benthic based, especially in early spring, whereas in western Lake Erie nymphs have a food source that is water column based and settles to the lake bottom during late spring and summer. [source] Contrasting soil respiration in young and old-growth ponderosa pine forestsGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2002J. IRVINE Abstract Three years of fully automated and manual measurements of soil CO2 efflux, soil moisture and temperature were used to explore the diel, seasonal and inter-annual patterns of soil efflux in an old-growth (250-year-old, O site) and recently regenerating (14-year-old, Y site) ponderosa pine forest in central Oregon. The data were used in conjunction with empirical models to determine which variables could be used to predict soil efflux in forests of contrasting ages and disturbance histories. Both stands experienced similar meteorological conditions with moderately cold wet winters and hot dry summers. Soil CO2 efflux at both sites showed large inter-annual variability that could be attributed to soil moisture availability in the deeper soil horizons (O site) and the quantity of summer rainfall (Y site). Seasonal patterns of soil CO2 efflux at the O site showed a strong positive correlation between diel mean soil CO2 efflux and soil temperature at 64 cm depth whereas diel mean soil efflux at the Y site declined before maximum soil temperature occurred during summer drought. The use of diel mean soil temperature and soil water potential inferred from predawn foliage water potential measurements could account for 80% of the variance of diel mean soil efflux across 3 years at both sites, however, the functional shape of the soil water potential constraint was site-specific. Based on the similarity of the decomposition rates of litter and fine roots between sites, but greater productivity and amount of fine litter detritus available for decomposition at the O site, we would expect higher rates of soil CO2 efflux at the O site. However, annual rates were only higher at the O site in one of the 3 years (597 ± 45 vs. 427 ± 80 g C m,2). Seasonal patterns of soil efflux at both sites showed influences of soil water limitations that were also reflected in patterns of canopy stomatal conductance, suggesting strong linkages between above and below ground processes. [source] Seasonal patterns in biomass smoke pollution and the mid 20th-century transition from Aboriginal to European fire management in northern AustraliaGLOBAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007David M. J. S. Bowman ABSTRACT Aim, Globally, most landscape burning occurs in the tropical savanna biome, where fire is a characteristic of the annual dry season. In northern Australia there is uncertainty about how the frequency and timing of dry season fires have changed in the transition from Aboriginal to European fire management. Location, In the tropical eucalypt savannas that surround the city of Darwin in the northwest of the Northern Territory of Australia. Methods, Our study had three parts: (1) we developed a predictive statistical model of mean mass (µg) of particulates 10 µm or less per cubic metre of air (PM10) using visibility and other meteorological data in Darwin during the dry seasons of 2000 and 2004; (2) we tested the model and its application to the broader air shed by (a) matching the prediction of this model to PM10 measurements made in Darwin in 2005, (b) matching the predictions to independent measurements at two locations 20 km to the north and south of Darwin and (c) matching peaks in PM10 to known major fire events in the region (2000,01 dry seasons); and (3) we used the model to explore changes in air quality over the last 50 years, a period that spans the transition from Aboriginal to European land management. Results, We demonstrated that visibility data can be used reliably as a proxy for biomass burning across the largely uncleared tropical savannas inland of Darwin. Validations using independent measurements demonstrated that our predictive model was robust, and geographically and temporally representative of the regional airshed. We used the model to hindcast and found that seasonal air quality has changed since 1955, with a trend to increasing PM10 concentrations in the early dry season. Main conclusions, The results suggest that the transition from Aboriginal to European land management has been associated with an increase in fire activity in the early months of the dry season. [source] A comparison of forest and moorland stream microclimate, heat exchanges and thermal dynamicsHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 7 2008David M. Hannah Abstract Although the importance of riparian forest in moderating stream temperature variability is recognized, most previous research focuses on conifer harvesting effects and summer maximum temperature with highly variable findings. This article compares stream temperature, microclimate and heat exchange dynamics between semi-natural forest and moorland (no trees) reaches in the Scottish Cairngorms over two calendar years to provide a longer-term perspective. Mean daily water column temperature is warmer for moorland than forest in late winter,early spring, but cooler in summer. Daily water column temperature range is greater for moorland than forest. Streambed temperature dynamics are markedly different between reaches, reflecting contrasting groundwater,surface water (GW,SW) interactions. Mean, minimum and maximum daily air temperature is cooler, humidity is lower, and wind speed is much higher for moorland than forest on average. Net radiation is the dominant heat sink in autumn,winter and major heat source in spring,summer for moorland and summer for forest. Net radiation is greater in summer and lower in winter for moorland than forest. Sensible heat is an energy source in autumn,winter and sink in spring,summer, with loss (gain) greater in summer (winter) for moorland than forest. Latent heat is predominantly a sink for both reaches, with magnitude and variability higher for moorland than forest. Streambed heat flux is much smaller than fluxes at the air,water interface, with moorland and forest illustrating seasonal and between-reach differences attributable to different GW,SW interactions. Seasonal patterns in stream energy budget partitioning are illustrated schematically. To our knowledge, this is the first such study of mixed woodland, which generates notably different results to work on coniferous forest. This research provides a process basis to model stream thermal impact of changes in forest practice, and so inform decision making by land and water resource managers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Seasonal patterns of growth, expenditure and assimilation in juvenile Atlantic salmonJOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2002Wayne Jones Summary 1We report a modelling study of a data-set describing the growth of individual Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr in the Girnock Burn (Scotland). A development of the compensatory growth model due to Broekhusien et al. (1994) was fitted to these data by numerical optimization. 2The model uses carbon mass as a surrogate for an energy currency. This mass is divided into structure and reserve components, so as to describe decoupled changes in length and wet-weight. 3Using the same parameters for all fish, our model explained 83% of the variability in length and weight at age. Adding a single additional parameter for each individual enabled the model to explain over 96% of length and weight variability. 4Weak negative correlation between size at first capture and within-study growth argues against genetic causality of observed growth variability. 5The energetic basis of our model enables us to infer time-series of net assimilation and basal maintenance rates for the observed individuals. Maximal growth occurs early in the season when high assimilation is accompanied by low temperatures and maintenance rates. In late season, continuing high assimilation is balanced by high maintenance rates consequent on summer temperatures. [source] Seasonal patterns in post-dispersal seed predation of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi in three cropping systemsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2006ANDREW H. HEGGENSTALLER Summary 1Post-dispersal seed predation is an important source of mortality for arable weed populations that can potentially contribute to ecologically based management strategies. The extent to which cropping practices influence rates of seed predation is not well established. 2Removal of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi seeds by predators was measured in 2-year (maize/soyabean), 3-year (maize/soyabean/triticale + red clover) and 4-year (maize/soyabean/triticale + lucerne/lucerne) crop rotations in Iowa, USA, during 27 48-h sampling periods conducted during the 2003 and 2004 cropping seasons. 3Predation of S. faberi seeds was equal (eight sampling periods) or greater (19 sampling periods) than predation of A. theophrasti seeds, but the influence of crops on seasonal predation patterns was generally similar for the two weeds. 4Seasonal patterns in seed predation were crop-specific and complementary. In maize and soyabean, seed predation was low in spring, high in summer and low in autumn. In triticale,legume intercrops, seed predation was high in spring, low in summer and moderate in autumn. In lucerne, seed predation fluctuated from high to low, matching the periodic harvest and regrowth cycle of the crop. 5Measurements of crop canopy light interception taken in 2004 were positively correlated with rates of seed removal for both A. theophrasti (r = 0·54, P < 0·001) and S. faberi (r = 0·25, P < 0·001), suggesting that vegetative cover promotes weed seed predation. 6Synthesis and applications. The results indicate that crop vegetation can be managed to promote weed seed predation. Diversified farming systems that include a range of phenologically dissimilar crop species are likely to provide the greatest opportunities for weed seed destruction by predators. [source] Seasonal patterns of sucrose concentration in relation to other quality parameters of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 1 2006Christine Kenter Abstract The chemical composition of sugar beet is the most important parameter affecting its processing. Sugar factories require beet with high concentrations of sucrose and low concentrations of melassigenic substances to maximise the amount of extractable sugar. In order to plan the processing campaign, forecasts of root and sugar yield by prediction models are possible but there are no means to predict the technical quality of the beet. In the present study, the seasonal development and physiological relationships of different parameters of sugar beet quality were analysed. In order to estimate possibilities for quality forecasts, the concentrations of beet quality variables in October were correlated with corresponding quality measurements in late summer and to weather variables during the growing season by linear regressions. In 2000 and 2001, 27 field trials were conducted on commercial farm fields in all sugar beet growing areas in Germany. From June to October, sequential samples were taken every 4 weeks and the concentrations of sucrose, potassium, sodium, total soluble nitrogen, ,-amino nitrogen, nitrate, betaine, reducing sugars and marc in the beet were determined. The sucrose concentration increased progressively until the final harvest date in autumn, whereas the concentrations of the melassigenic substances decreased markedly until late summer and remained fairly constant as the season progressed. Marc concentration was the most stable of the parameters analysed. The sucrose concentration was positively correlated with the concentrations of dry matter, betaine and marc, but negatively with nitrate concentration and leaf yield throughout the season. The correlation between the concentrations of sucrose and nitrogenous compounds measured in summer and their final concentrations in autumn was rather weak. However, it was close for potassium, sodium and marc and a satisfactory prediction of their final concentrations was possible by the end of August. Based on weather data, beet quality was not predictable. Therefore, it seems to be difficult to integrate beet quality parameters into prediction models. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Structures, dynamics and stability of reef fish assemblages in non-reefal coral communities in Hong Kong, ChinaAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 3 2009Tze-Wai Tam Abstract 1.A detailed study on the spatial and temporal patterns of reef fish assemblages associated with non-reefal coral communities at A Ma Wan (AMW) and A Ye Wan (AYW) in Tung Ping Chau, Hong Kong, China, was carried out using an underwater visual census method from January 1998 to December 1999. 2.The study identified a total of 106 species (76 genera in 39 families) of fish in the study sites, in which 88 species were recorded in AMW and 78 species in AYW. Seasonal patterns in the abundance and species richness of all reef fishes and most of the frequently encountered families/trophic groups in both study sites were observed. Seasonal fluctuation of macroalgae, the influence of recruitment of larvae, and the possible seasonal variation in the behaviour of fish may all contribute to these observed seasonal patterns. 3.Multidimensional scaling (MDS) ordinations demonstrated that there were spatial variations in the fish community structures within and between sites. Such spatial patterns were possibly related to the spatial variation of the coral community structures in the study sites. The ordinations also showed that the fish community structures in the study sites were not seasonally stable. Such temporal instability of the fish community structures may be partly due to habitat isolation among the fish communities around the island. 4.These results imply that preservation and enhancement of habitat connectivity of the coral communities should be one of the main conservation strategies for the reef fish communities of Tung Ping Chau, and those of Hong Kong in general. This strategy may be equally applicable to other non-reefal coral communities elsewhere around the world. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of Season, Rainfall, and Hydrogeomorphic Setting on Mangrove Tree Growth in MicronesiaBIOTROPICA, Issue 2 2007Ken W. Krauss ABSTRACT Seasonal patterns of tree growth are often related to rainfall, temperature, and relative moisture regimes. We asked whether diameter growth of mangrove trees in Micronesia, where seasonal changes are minimal, is continuous throughout a year or conforms to an annual cycle. We installed dendrometer bands on Sonneratia alba and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza trees growing naturally within mangrove swamps on the islands of Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Pohnpei, FSM, and Butaritari, Republic of Kiribati, in the eastern Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Trees were remeasured monthly or quarterly for as long as 6 yr. Annual mean individual tree basal area increments ranged from 7.0 to 79.6 cm2/yr for all S. alba trees and from 4.8 to 27.4 cm2/yr for all B. gymnorrhiza trees from Micronesian high islands. Diameter increment for S. alba on Butaritari Atoll was lower at 7.8 cm2/yr for the one year measured. Growth rates differed significantly by hydrogeomorphic zone. Riverine and interior zones maintained up to seven times the annual diameter growth rate of fringe forests, though not on Pohnpei, where basal area increments for both S. alba and B. gymnorrhiza were approximately 1.5 times greater in the fringe zone than in the interior zone. Time-series modeling indicated that there were no consistent and statistically significant annual diameter growth patterns. Although rainfall has some seasonality in some years on Kosrae and Pohnpei and overall growth of mangroves was sometimes related positively to quarterly rainfall depths, seasonal diameter growth patterns were not distinctive. A reduced chance of moisture-related stress in high-rainfall, wetland environments may serve to buffer growth of Micronesian mangroves from climatic extremes. [source] Noninvasive Stress and Reproductive Measures of Social and Ecological Pressures in Free-Ranging African ElephantsCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001C. A. H. Foley This, coupled with political pressures to delist the elephant, has created a need for noninvasive physiological measures that can quantify the long-term effects of past mortality patterns of this long-lived species. We collected fresh fecal samples from 16 female elephants in three different groups over 23 months at Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, and analyzed them for fecal progesterone and cortisol metabolites. Social and ecological measures were collected concurrently. Fecal progesterone metabolite measures corresponded significantly with stage of gestation, and appear to be able to confirm pregnancy in female elephants from as early as 3 months of gestation. We found that progesterone metabolite concentrations were significantly lower during the dry season than during the wet season after controlling for stage of gestation. Fecal cortisol metabolite concentrations showed the opposite seasonal pattern, being significantly higher in the dry season and inversely correlated with rainfall across seasons. Fecal cortisol metabolite concentrations also increased with group size and were correlated positively with dominance rank in the largest group. Our results suggest that measures of progesterone and cortisol metabolites in feces provide indices of reproductive function and physiological stress that can quantify both natural and human disturbances in African elephants. These measures are ideally suited for monitoring the long-term effects of social disruption from poaching and a variety of other management concerns. Resumen: Debido a la cacería furtiva, la población de elefante africano ( Loxodonta africana) declinó en un 60%, principalmente adultos, entre 1979 y 1988. Esto, aunado a presiones políticas para eliminar al elefante de las listas de especies en peligro, ha creado la necesidad de medidas fisiológicas no invasivas que puedan cuantificar efectos a largo plazo de patrones de mortalidad en el pasado de esta especie longeva. Recolectamos muestras fecales de 16 elefantes hembras en tres grupos diferentes en el Parque Nacional Tarangire, Tanzania a lo largo de 23 meses, y las analizamos para detectar metabolitos de progesterona fecal y de cortisol. Al mismo tiempo se recolectaron medidas sociales y ecológicas. Las medidas de metabolitos de progesterona fecal correspondieron significativamente con la etapa de gestación, y parecen permitir la confirmación de preñez en elefantes hembras tan temprano como a los tres meses de gestación. Las concentraciones de metabolitos de progesterona fueron significativamente menores durante la época de sequía que en la de lluvias después de controlar para la etapa de gestación. Las concentraciones de metabolitos de cortisol fecal mostraron un patrón estacional opuesto, siendo significativamente más altas en la época de sequía e inversamente correlacionados con la precipitación en todas las estaciones. Las concentraciones de metabolitos de cortisol fecal también incrementaron con el tamaño del grupo y se correlacionaron positivamente con el rango de dominancia en el grupo más grande. Nuestros resultados sugieren que las medidas de metabolitos de progesterona y cortisol en las heces proporcionan índices de la función reproductiva y del estrés fisiológico que puede cuantificar perturbaciones, tanto naturales como humanas, en elefantes africanos. Estas medidas son idealmente adecuadas para monitorear efectos a largo plazo de la disrupción social por la cacería furtiva y así como una variedad de aspectos del manejo. [source] Seasonal variation of diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in children worldwideDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 7 2009E. V. Moltchanova Abstract Aims, To determine if there is a worldwide seasonal pattern in the clinical onset of Type 1 diabetes. Methods, Analysis of the seasonality in diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes was based on the incidence data in 0- to 14-year-old children collected by the World Health Organization Diabetes Mondiale (WHO DiaMond) Project over the period 1990,1999. One hundred and five centres from 53 countries worldwide provided enough data for the seasonality analysis. The incidence seasonality patterns were also determined for age- and sex-specific groups. Results, Forty-two out of 105 centres exhibited significant seasonality in the incidence of Type 1 diabetes (P < 0.05). The existence of significant seasonal patterns correlated with higher level of incidence and of the average yearly counts. The correlation disappeared after adjustment for latitude. Twenty-eight of those centres had peaks in October to January and 33 had troughs in June to August. Two out of the four centres with significant seasonality in the southern hemisphere demonstrated a different pattern with a peak in July to September and a trough in January to March. Conclusions, The seasonality of the incidence of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in children under 15 years of age is a real phenomenon, as was reported previously and as is now demonstrated by this large standardized study. The seasonality pattern appears to be dependent on the geographical position, at least as far as the northern/southern hemisphere dichotomy is concerned. However, more data are needed on the populations living below the 30th parallel north in order to complete the picture. [source] Using age grading by wing injuries to estimate size-dependent adult survivorship in the field: a case study of the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercorariaECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 5 2002Dieter U. Burkhard Abstract 1. Studies of natural selection depend on estimates of longevity and mortality in the wild. In small and mobile species such as insects, direct, mark,recapture (resight), studies are difficult to perform because individuals cannot be tracked easily. 2. It was investigated whether age grading based on wing injuries alone can be used to estimate size-specific survivorship in the field in the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria (L.) (Diptera: Scathophagidae). 3. The accumulation of different types of wing injury throughout the spring and autumn flight seasons for both sexes was recorded: tears, notches (both reflecting regular wear), and large missing areas (probably due to intra- and inter-specific interactions). 4. Female longevity increased with body size in both spring and autumn, whereas male longevity increased slightly with size in spring but decreased in autumn. 5. The two sexes and males of different size classes accumulated the various types of wing injury differentially, presumably due to differential patterns of intraspecific interactions. Additionally, body size exhibited a seasonal pattern, complicating interpretation of the relationship between body size and wing injuries. 6. It is therefore concluded that estimating adult viability selection on body size using wing injuries is problematic in dung flies, and potentially also in other species. It is suggested that before this method is applied in any particular species, pilot studies should be conducted to verify whether wing injuries accumulate equally in all classes of individuals of interest. In addition, it is necessary to investigate the causes of different types of wing injury. [source] Movements of Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) in a large Australian lowland riverECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 4 2009J. D. Koehn Abstract,,, This study of Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) movements in a large lowland river in south-eastern Australia indicated that the species was not sedentary, but undertook complex movements that followed a seasonal pattern. While there were sedentary periods with limited home ranges and high site fidelity, Murray cod also under took larger movements for considerable portions of the year coinciding with its spawning schedule. This generally comprised movements (up to 130 km) from a home location in late winter and early spring to a new upstream position, followed by a rapid downstream migration typically back to the same river reach. Timing of movements was not synchronous amongst individuals and variation in the scale of movements was observed between individuals, fish size, original location and years. [source] Influence of seasonal, diel, lunar, and other environmental factors on upstream fish passage in the Igarapava Fish Ladder, BrazilECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 3 2009P. M. Bizzotto Abstract,,, Upstream fish passage was evaluated during 12 months in the vertical-slot Igarapava Fish Ladder constructed around Igarapava Dam, in the heavily dammed Grande River, Southeast Brazil. A video monitoring system was used to observe 61,621 fish that passed the ladder, of which 93.5% were identified to 15 taxa. Among the migratory species, the most abundant were Pimelodus maculatus (33.6% of all fish), Leporinus octofasciatus (31.4%), Leporinus friderici (4.5%), and Prochilodus lineatus (3.1%). Seven taxa were classified as nonmigratory, and of these taxa, the small Bryconamericus stramineus was the most abundant (12.7%) of all fishes. Passage of the ,nonmigratory' taxa upstream in the ladder shows they are migratory in this system and have a strong behavioural drive to move to upstream habitat. Passage of most taxa had a strong seasonal pattern. While some species passed primarily during the day, others showed a distinct nocturnal pattern. Lunar phase and water temperature also strongly affected passage of some taxa. Rainfall and dam discharge had a small or null influence on most taxa; perhaps due to the fairly small catchment area of the reservoir and the highly regulated discharge at Igarapava Dam. [source] Patterns of morbidity in late medieval England: a sample from Westminster AbbeyECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW, Issue 2 2001Barbara Harver A comparison between secular hospitals and monastic infirmaries introduces a discussion of the duration and seasonality of the illnesses of the monks of Westminster in two periods: 1297/8 to 1354/5 and 1381/2 to 1416/17. A change in the duration of illnesses is related to change in the conventions of treatment after the Black Death of 1348/9. The resemblance between the seasonal pattern of morbidity in this sample and that of mortality among male adults in the early modern period is discussed. It is suggested that the latter pattern may extend into the late middle ages. [source] Multiparasitism of Choristoneura fumiferana by the ichneumonid Tranosema rostrale and the tachinid Actia interrupta: occurrence in the field and outcome of competition under laboratory conditionsENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 2 2002Michel Cusson Abstract Tranosema rostrale (Brishke) (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) and Actia interrupta Curran (Hymenoptera: Tachinidae) are the two endoparasitoids most frequently encountered in low-density populations of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae), in the Quebec City region. Monitoring of attack rates of implanted C. fumiferana larvae at two different study sites suggested the possible existence of competition between the two parasitoids, with A. interrupta seemingly displacing T. rostrale. Here, we show that multiparasitism involving these two species does occur in the field, but at a frequency too low to explain the seasonal pattern of decline in apparent parasitism by T. rostrale that accompanies the rise of A. interrupta attack rates. We also provide preliminary evidence, from laboratory experiments, that A. interrupta has a competitive advantage over T. rostrale and that the success of parasitism by A. interrupta may be enhanced by prior parasitism by T. rostrale under certain conditions, possibly due to the presence of the latter species' polydnavirus. In addition, we describe a PCR-based method that we developed to help detect the presence of T. rostrale eggs which often escape detection by simple visual examination of the dissected host larvae; DNA sequences specific to the polydnavirus injected by the female wasp at the time of oviposition can be readily amplified from whole host larvae. [source] Resting spore formation of aphid-pathogenic fungus Pandora nouryi depends on the concentration of infective inoculumENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008Zhi-Hong Huang Summary Resting spore formation of some aphid-pathogenic Entomophthorales is important for the seasonal pattern of their prevalence and survival but this process is poorly understood. To explore the possible mechanism involved in the process, Pandora nouryi (obligate aphid pathogen) interacted with green peach aphid Myzus persicae on cabbage leaves under favourable conditions. Host nymphs showered with primary conidia of an isolate (LC50: 0.9,6.7 conidia mm,2 4,7 days post shower) from air captures in the low-latitude plateau of China produced resting spores (azygospores), primary conidia or both spore types. Surprisingly, the proportion of mycosed cadavers forming resting spores (Pcfrs) increased sharply within the concentrations (C) of 28,240 conidia mm,2, retained high levels at 240,1760, but was zero or extremely low at 0.3,16. The Pcfrs,C relationship fit well the logistic equation Pcfrs = 0.6774/[1 + exp(3.1229,0.0270C)] (r2 = 0.975). This clarified for the first time the dependence of in vivo resting spore formation of P. nouryi upon the concentration of infective inoculum. A hypothesis is thus proposed that some sort of biochemical signals may exist in the host,pathogen interaction so that the fungal pathogen perceives the signals for prompt response to forthcoming host-density changes by either producing conidia for infecting available hosts or forming resting spores for surviving host absence in situ. [source] Contrasting bacterioplankton community composition and seasonal dynamics in two neighbouring hypertrophic freshwater lakesENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 11 2001K. Van der Gucht We characterized the bacterioplankton community and its seasonal dynamics in two neighbouring hypertrophic lakes by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of short (193 bp) 16S ribosomal DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products obtained with primers specific for the domain Bacteria. Lake Blankaart is turbid and has a high phytoplankton biomass and episodic cyanobacterial blooms, whereas biomanipulated Lake Visvijver is characterized by clearwater conditions and the establishment of a dense charophyte vegetation. Both lakes were dominated by bacterial groups commonly found in freshwater habitats (e.g. ACK4 cluster of Actinomycetes; ACK stands for clones isolated from the Adirondack mountain lakes). Yet, cluster analysis and principal components analysis (PCA) revealed that taxon composition of the bacterioplankton community of the two lakes differs substantially and consistently throughout the season. During the study year (1998), the bacterioplankton community of both lakes showed a distinct seasonal pattern. Lake Blankaart showed a clear differentiation between winter, spring, summer and autumn. In Lake Visvijver, summer samples differed greatly from spring, autumn and winter samples. We hypothesize that the contrasting bacterioplankton in the two neighbouring shallow lakes is determined largely by the presence or absence of macrophytes. [source] Modeling monthly temperature data in Lisbon and PragueENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 7 2009Teresa Alpuim Abstract This paper examines monthly average temperature series in two widely separated European cities, Lisbon (1856,1999) and Prague (1841,2000). The statistical methodology used begins by fitting a straight line to the temperature measurements in each month of the year. Hence, the 12 intercepts describe the seasonal variation of temperature and the 12 slopes correspond to the rise in temperature in each month of the year. Both cities show large variations in the monthly slopes. In view of this, an overall model is constructed to integrate the data of each city. Sine/cosine waves were included as independent variables to describe the seasonal pattern of temperature, and sine/cosine waves multiplied by time were used to describe the increase in temperature corresponding to the different months. The model also takes into account the autoregressive, AR(1), structure that was found in the residuals. A test of the significance of the variables that describe the variation of the increase in temperature shows that both Lisbon and Prague had an increase in temperature that is different according to the month. The winter months show a higher increase than the summer months. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Spatial and temporal patterns of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) spawning in the eastern Bering Sea inferred from egg and larval distributionsFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2010NATHAN M. BACHELER Abstract Walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma (pollock hereafter) is a key ecological and economic species in the eastern Bering Sea, yet detailed synthesis of the spatial and temporal patterns of pollock ichthyoplankton in this important region is lacking. This knowledge gap is particularly severe considering that egg and larval distribution are essential to reconstructing spawning locations and early life stages drift pathways. We used 19 yr of ichthyoplankton collections to determine the spatial and temporal patterns of egg and larval distribution. Generalized additive models (GAMs) identified two primary temporal pulses of pollock eggs, the first occurring from 20 February to 31 March and the second from 20 April to 20 May; larvae showed similar, but slightly lagged, pulses. Based on generalized cross-validation and information theory, a GAM model that allowed for different seasonal patterns in egg density within three unique areas outperformed a GAM that assumed a single fixed seasonal pattern across the entire eastern Bering Sea. This ,area-dependent' GAM predicted the highest densities of eggs (i.e., potential spawning locations) in three major areas of the eastern Bering Sea: near Bogoslof Island (February,April), north of Unimak Island and the Alaska Peninsula (March,April), and around the Pribilof Islands (April,August). Unique temporal patterns of egg density were observed for each area, suggesting that pollock spawning may be more spatially and temporally complex than previously assumed. Moreover, this work provides a valuable baseline of pollock spawning to which future changes, such as those resulting from climate variability, may be compared. [source] Linking growth to environmental histories in central Baltic young-of-the-year sprat, Sprattus sprattus: an approach based on otolith microstructure analysis and hydrodynamic modellingFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2006HANNES BAUMANN Abstract Otolith microstructure analysis and hydrodynamic modelling were combined to study growth patterns in young-of-the-year (YoY) sprat, Sprattus sprattus, which were sampled in October 2002 in the central Baltic Sea. The observed ,window of survival', approximated by the distribution of back-calculated days of first feeding (DFF), was narrow compared to the extended spawning season of sprat in the Baltic Sea (mean± SD = 22 June ± 14.1 days) and indicated that only individuals born in summer survived until October 2002. Within the group of survivors, individuals born later in the season exhibited faster larval, but more rapidly decreasing juvenile growth rates than earlier born conspecifics. Back-calculated larval growth rates of survivors (0.48,0.69 mm day,1) were notably higher than those previously reported for average larval sprat populations, suggesting that the YoY population was predominantly comprised of individuals which grew faster during the larval stage. Daily mean temperatures, experienced across the entire YoY population, were derived from Lagrangian particle simulations and correlated with (1) detrended otolith growth and (2) back-calculated, daily somatic growth rates of survivors. The results showed that abrupt changes in ambient temperature can be detected in the seasonal pattern of otolith growth, and that higher temperatures led to significantly faster growth throughout the entire age range of YoY sprat. [source] Seasonal effect on infection and development of lesions caused by Cryphonectria parasitica in Castanea sativaFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2003L. Guérin Summary Seasonal variation in the development of chestnut blight, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica, was investigated by inoculating in situ chestnut trees and in vitro excised chestnut segments, at either monthly or 3-monthly intervals throughout 30 months. Inoculations were made with conidia and mycelium of a virulent isolate and with mycelium of a hypovirulent isolate. Conidial inoculations of living sprouts or excised segments between May and July resulted in the greatest incidence of infection whereas inoculations in autumn and winter, in vitro as well as in situ, did not reveal any visible disease. However, from these symptomless inoculated stems, C. parasitica was isolated 3 months after inoculation. Inoculations with the mycelium of the virulent isolate always resulted in lesions, except in January 1999, and the greatest rate of lesion development occurred for inoculations made in the spring and summer. There was a significant seasonal effect on lesion development. Lesions caused by the hypovirulent isolate, smaller than those caused by the virulent isolate, followed a similar seasonal pattern. The same seasonal variations were observed for inoculations in vitro of excised segments. Relative water content (RWC) of chestnut bark significantly varied with bark sampling date. The rate of lesion development in sprouts significantly correlated with average minimum (ATn) and maximum (ATx) temperatures and the sum of rainfall during inoculation period, with the rate of lesion development measured in excised segments 10 days after inoculation (R10d) and with RWC measured on the day of inoculation. In multiple regression models, variables ATx and R10d best explained variation in lesion development. Résumé La variation saisonnière du développement de la maladie du chancre causée par Cryphonectria parasitica a étéétudiée en réalisant, une fois par mois ou par trimestre pendant deux ans et demi, des inoculations de châtaigniers in situ et des inoculations in vitro de branches coupées. Les inoculations ont été réalisées avec des conidies et du mycélium d'un isolat virulent et avec du mycélium d'un isolat hypovirulent. En Mai et Juin, les inoculations conidiennes ont provoqué le taux d'infection le plus élevé, in situ et in vitro. A l'inverse, en automne et en hiver, ces inoculations n'ont pas causé de symptômes. Cependant C. parasitica a été réisolé 3 mois plus tard, sur ces tiges ne présentant aucune lésion. Les inoculations avec du mycélium ont toujours résulté en des lésions, excepté en Janvier 1999, et le développement des lésions (R1m) a été le plus rapide au printemps et en été. La date d'inoculation a eu un effet significatif sur l'extension des lésions. Le même effet saisonnier était observé sur le développement des lésions causées par l'isolat hypovirulent, plus petites que celles causées par l'isolat virulent. Les mêmes variations saisonnières de l'extension des lésions étaient observées in vitro sur tiges excisées. Un effet saisonnier significatif a été mis en évidence sur la teneur en eau relative des écorces de châtaignier (RWC). Le développement des lésions dans les tissus vivants était significativement corrélé avec les températures moyennes minimale (ATn) et maximale (ATx) et la somme des précipitations (SR) calculées sur chaque période d'incubation, avec le développement des lésions in vitro (R10d) et avec RWC. La variation saisonnière du développement des lésions était le mieux expliquée, par un modèle de régression multiple, par ATx et R10d pour l'isolat virulent, et par ATx pour l'isolat hypovirulent. Zusammenfassung Der jahreszeitlich bedingte Einfluß auf die Entstehung von Kastanienrindenkrebs, verursacht von Cryphonectria parasitica, wurde durch Inokulation von Kastanienbäumen in situ und durch Beimpfung von geschnittenen Triebsegmenten in vitro in monatlichen oder drei-monatlichen Intervallen über dreißig Monate untersucht. Zur Inokulation wurden Myzel und Konidien eines virulenten Isolates und Myzel eines hypovirulenten Isolates verwendet. Mit Konidien wurde zwischen Mai und Juni die größte Infektionshäufigkeit auf lebenden Sprossen oder Triebsegmenten erreicht, während Inokulationen im Herbst und Winter keine sichtbaren Symptome hervorriefen. Jedoch konnte C. parastica drei Monate nach Inokulation von lebenden Sprossen isoliert werden, auch wenn keine Läsion sichtbar war. Außer im Januar 1999 führte Inokulation mit Myzel des virulenten Isolates immer zu Läsionen. Am häufigsten traten Läsionen bei Inokulationen im Frühling und im Sommer auf. Der Einfluß des Inokulationszeitpunktes auf die Ausbildung von Läsionen war signifikant. Inokulationen mit dem hypovirulenten Isolat zeigten eine ähnliche jahreszeitliche Schwankung wie jene mit dem virulenten Isolat, führten aber zu kleineren Läsionen. Die gleichen jahreszeitlichen Variationen wurden bei in vitro Inokulation von Kastanientrieben beobachtet. Der relative Wassergehalt (RWC) der Borke variierte signifikant mit dem Beprobungszeitpunkt der Borke. Die Bildung von Läsionen an lebenden Sprossen korrelierte signifikant mit den durchschnittlichen Temperaturminima (ATn) und -maxima (ATx), mit der Gesamtregenmenge (SR) während der Inokulationsperiode, mit der Bildung von Läsionen an Triebsegmenten (R10d) und mit dem am Inokulationstag gemessenen RWC. In einem multiplen Regressionsanalysenmodell zeigte sich, dass die jahreszeitliche Schwankung der Ausbildung von Kastanienrindenkrebs beim virulenten Isolat am besten durch die Variablen ATx und R10d, beim hypovirulenen Isolat durch ATx erklärt wurde. [source] Annual cycle and inter-annual variability of gross primary production and ecosystem respiration in a floodprone river during a 15-year periodFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006URS UEHLINGER Summary 1. Temporal variation in ecosystem metabolism over a 15-year period (1986,2000) was evaluated in a seventh order channelised gravel bed river (mean annual discharge 48.7 m3 s,1) of the Swiss Plateau. The river is subject to frequent disturbance by bed-moving spates. Daily integrals of gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) were calculated based on single-station diel oxygen curves. 2. Seasonal decomposition of the time series of monthly metabolism rates showed that approximately 50% of the variation of GPP and ER can be attributed to season. Annual GPP averaged 5.0 ± 0.6 g O2 m,2 day,1 and showed no long-term trend. 3. Ecosystem respiration, averaging 6.2 ± 1.4 g O2 m,2 day,1, declined from 8.8 to 4.1 g O2 m,2 day,1 during the 15-year period. This significant trend paralleled a decline in nitrate and soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations, and the biochemical oxygen demand discharged by sewage treatment facilities upstream of the study reach. The ratio of GPP to ER (P/R) increased from 0.53 to about 1 as consequence of ER reduction. 4. Bed moving spates reduced GPP by 49% and ER by 19%. Postspate recovery of GPP was rapid between spring and autumn and slow during winter. Recovery of ER lacked any seasonal pattern. Annual patterns of daily GPP and to a minor extent of daily ER can be described as a sequence of recovery periods frequently truncated by spates. 5. The study showed that disturbance by frequent bed-moving spates resulted in major stochastic variation in GPP and ER but annual patterns were still characterised by a distinct seasonal cycle. It also became evident that stream metabolism is a suitable method to assess effects of gradual changes in water quality. [source] Land-use influences macroinvertebrate community response following a pulse disturbanceFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2003Kevin J. Collier Summary 1.,We tested the hypothesis that interactions between disturbance types can influence invertebrate community response and recovery in two streams draining pasture (press-pulse disturbance) and native forest (pulse disturbance) catchments before and after a one-in-28-year flood. We also sampled drift and adult insects to gain insights into the relative importance of these two postdisturbance recolonisation pathways. 2.,Taxa numbers and total density declined markedly at the forested site after the flood, but there was a delayed response at the pasture site, reflecting greater initial resistance to this pulse disturbance among taxa adapted to the underlying press disturbance. 3.,Community composition was less stable at the pasture site where per cent abundance of taxa was highly variable prior to the flood and over the 2-year postflood sampling period. After the flood, the pasture stream fauna was more heavily dominated by vagile taxa, including several chironomid species and hydroptilid caddisflies. 4.,Taxa numbers and densities recovered to preflood levels within 5,7 months at both sites, but a range of taxa-specific responses was observed that took up to 18 months to recover to preflood densities. Community stability at the pasture site had not returned to preflood composition by 2 years postflood. 5.,Changes in drift densities of several common stream invertebrates at the pasture site reflected postflood changes in benthic densities and seasonally low drift in winter. Terrestrial invertebrates dominated drift at the pasture site for 3 months postflood whereas Ephemeroptera were most common at the native forest site. 6.,Flight patterns of selected adult aquatic insects showed a strongly seasonal pattern. Abundance of adults at the pasture site in the second year following the flood increased in line with the recovery of the non-Dipteran benthic fauna. Significant upstream flight occurred for several caddisfly species at the native forest site, and weakly directional or downstream flight was evident for most common Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera. 7.,This study indicates that the magnitude and duration of responses to major pulse disturbances can depend on the presence or absence of an underlying press disturbance. This finding has implications for monitoring, and suggests that a knowledge of disturbance history beyond 2 years may be required to interpret mechanisms contributing to observed land-use impacts. [source] Unravelling the microbial role in ooid formation , results of an in situ experiment in modern freshwater Lake Geneva in SwitzerlandGEOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008K. PLEE ABSTRACT The microbial role in the formation of the cortex of low-Mg calcite freshwater ooids in western part of Lake Geneva in Switzerland has been suggested previously, but not demonstrated conclusively. Early work mostly concentrated in hypersaline milieus, and hence little is known about their genesis in freshwater environments. We designed an in situ experiment to mimic the natural process of low-Mg calcite precipitation. A special device was placed in the ooid-rich bank of the lake. It contained frosted glass (SiO2) slides, while quartz (SiO2) is the most abundant mineral composition of ooid nuclei that acted as artificial substrates to favour microbial colonization. Microscopic inspection of the slides revealed a clear seasonal pattern of carbonate precipitates, which were always closely associated with biofilms that developed on the surface of the frosted slides containing extracellular polymeric substance, coccoid and filamentous cyanobacteria, diatoms and heterotrophic bacteria. Carbonate precipitation peaks during early spring and late summer, and low-Mg calcite crystals mostly occur in close association with filamentous and coccoid cyanobacteria (e.g. Tolypothrix, Oscillatoria and Synechococcus, Anacystis, respectively). Further scanning electron microscope inspection of the samples revealed low-Mg calcite with crystal forms varying from anhedral to euhedral rhombohedra, depending on the seasons. Liquid cultures corroborate the in situ observations and demonstrate that under the same physicochemical conditions the absence of biofilms prevents the precipitation of low-Mg calcite crystals. These results illustrate that biofilms play a substantial role in low-Mg calcite ooid cortex formation. It further demonstrates the involvement of microbes in the early stages of ooid development. Combined with ongoing microbial cultures under laboratory-controlled conditions, the outcome of our investigation favoured the hypothesis of external microbial precipitation of low-Mg calcite as the main mechanism involved in the early stage of ooid formation in freshwater Lake Geneva. [source] Model predicting dynamics of biomass, structure and digestibility of herbage in managed permanent pastures.GRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 2 2006Abstract To investigate seasonal and annual interactions between management and grassland dynamics, a simple mechanistic model of the dynamics of production, structure and digestibility in permanent pastures was constructed. The model is designed to respond to various defoliation regimes, perform multiple-year simulations and produce simple outputs that are easy to use as inputs for a model of ruminant livestock production. Grassland communities are described using a set of average functional traits of their constituent grass groups. The sward is subdivided into four structural compartments: green leaves and sheath, dead leaves and sheath, green stems and flowers, and dead stems and flowers. Each compartment is characterized by its biomass, age and digestibility. Only above-ground growth is modelled, using a light-utilization efficiency approach modulated by a seasonal pattern of storage and mobilization of reserves. Ageing of plant parts is driven by cumulative thermal time from 1 January and by biomass flows. Age affects senescence, abscission and digestibility of green compartments and, therefore, the quality of green leaves and stems can increase or decrease over time in relation to net growth and defoliation dynamics. The functional traits having the greatest impact on model outputs are seasonal effects, period of reproductive growth and effects of temperature on photosynthetic efficiency. The functional traits of the grass groups were parameterized for temperate pastures of the Auvergne region in France. The other model inputs are few: proportion of functional groups, basic weather data (incident photosynthetically active radiation, mean daily temperature, precipitation and potential evapotranspiration) and site characteristics (nitrogen nutrition index, soil water-holding capacity). In the context of a whole-farm simulator, the model can be applied at a field scale. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||