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We investigated the reproduction of the barnacle Tetraclita kuroshioensis Chan, Tsang & Chu, 2007 (Cirripedia: Thoracica: Tetraclitidae) at different heights in the intertidal zone in Okinawa, Japan with a focus on gonadal development, the brooding of eggs, and unhatched larvae, as well as the role of environmental factors in breeding rhythmicity. Histological observations collected around each full moon from September 2019 to October 2020 showed various stages of oocyte development in September and October 2019 and from March to September 2020, whereas mature testes were observed from April to October 2020. The breeding season of this species thus lasts for at least seven months under long-day conditions at a water temperature above 21 °C. Barnacles collected from three tidal levels on multiple occasions during April, August, and October 2020 displayed little vertical variation in their stage of ovarian development, but there was a noticeable difference in the percentage of brooding individuals in August and October, as well as an increased prevalence of brooding during the new-moon phase at the upper and middle tidal heights. Our findings indicate that larval release by T. kuroshioensis undergoes seasonal variation, apparently influenced by the cycles of lunar (major factor) and tide (minor factor) in their habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional beliefs about the influence of the moon's phases on human well-being and health remain vague in Estonia. The study hypothesized that Estonian pharmacists have noticed a periodic increase in the number of problematic pharmacy visitors, which can be associated with full moon days (3 days before and after). The observational study was conducted in 22 community pharmacies in Estonia (11 in standard and 11 in blind group), a total of 76 pharmacists filled out an observation diary daily for 10 months. Additionally, a questionnaire was used for 400 randomly selected employees of pharmacies. During the full moon period, the number of conflicts in the community pharmacies increased by 2.7 in the standard group and 3 times in the blind group (p<0.01). Pharmacists' opinions about the full moon's effect on the behavior of pharmacy visitors and themselves are described. Also, the sales of medicines for nervous system disorders increase on full moon days. Sensitive customers believe in the influence of the full moon and experience changes thanks to autosuggestion. The behavior of visitors is emotionally more unstable, with an increased level of anxiety. There is a need for further research on the impact of moon phases on behavioral aspects when providing medical and pharmaceutical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children are very curious about the world around them. You may find them peering at tadpoles in a pond, counting ants on a log, or wondering about the stars, the sun, and the moon. I have been asked many times: Is the moon really made of cheese? Do astronauts live on the moon? Why does the moon look different every time I look up? Introducing young learners to our universe, beyond what their eyes can see, is a powerful teaching moment that primary teachers like myself get the pleasure to experience. Fostering students' early curiosities regarding our universe is one of the first steps to opening their minds to the vision of endless possibilities. Making observations, asking questions, and recognizing patterns are a few of the initial skills a young science learner should be encouraged to practice. In this particular unit, first grade students make observations of the sky including the differences in features and apparent movement of celestial objects. This unit and the featured lesson emphasize the use of students' prior knowledge and observations of the sky and identifying patterns to predict and infer how the moon changes during the lunar cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: We investigated the influence of the lunar cycle on bluefin tuna prey composition in the Strait of Messina by stomach content analysis. We tested if the lunar phases could determine changes in mesopelagic prey composition and abundance. Moreover, we considered two potential impacts of the lunar cycle: the lunar irradiance and the strength of currents. These factors could affect availability of mesopelagic prey in upper waters of the study area. Mesopelagic fish and cephalopod prey were 60.7% of overall diet by number. In summary, the Strait of Messina has highly specific hydrodynamic and biological features which strongly depend on upwelling currents, which in turn are influenced by the lunar cycle (new and full moon with strong currents, quarters with fewer currents). Upwelling causes water mixing, bringing to the surface a large amount of mesopelagic fauna which become more readily available to tuna. Lunar irradiance contributes to the variation of prey composition, increasing the success of visual predation on mesopelagic resources at high light in the water column. The influence of the lunar cycle on bluefin tuna foraging in the upwelling area of the Strait of Messina was investigated by exploring trophic interaction with mesopelagic fish and cephalopod prey. To focus on how the lunar cycle could affect availability of mesopelagic prey for this predator, we tested potential differences in the diet related to each lunar phase. Moreover, we considered two potential impacts of the lunar cycle: the lunar irradiance and the strength of currents. Overall, 2672 prey items were mesopelagic fish and cephalopods, representing 60.7% of overall diet by number. The main mesopelagic fish prey items were lanternfishes and dragonfishes, while Onychoteuthis banksii was the most important cephalopod prey. In summary, the Strait of Messina has highly specific hydrodynamic and biological features which strongly depend on upwelling currents, which in turn are influenced by the lunar cycle (new and full moon with strong currents, quarters with fewer currents). Upwelling causes water mixing, bringing to the surface a large amount of mesopelagic fauna which become more readily available to tuna. Lunar irradiance contributes to the variation of prey composition, increasing the success of visual predation on mesopelagic resources at high light in the water column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history recorded moon as the most inspiring object in the sky, but it combined with visibility issues to study the phases. This research paper proposes a novel algorithm named Sunfa Ata Zuyan (SAZ), which is meant to extend the shape detection algorithms to aim for lunar phase deceleration and overcome the difficulties encountered by the previous methods to find the moon and determine its phase. The paper sets to investigate two aims. First, propose the add-on algorithm SAZ to determine the lunar phase's data faster. Secondly, evaluate the Raspberry Pi as the main CPU due to its compact size and power as the primary processor based on the idea of a portable designed system. Then to examine the ability of the SAZ algorithm, it's combined with famous algorithms like hue, saturation and value (HSV), Canny, erosion, shape detection, and binarization has been tested on both personal computers (PC) and Raspberry Pi with the same images being compared. The results show that SAZ will help the shape detection algorithm to find the object and disclose the moon phases. Furthermore, the Raspberry Pi, functioning as a CPU, can perform as a hand-to-hand system to determine the lunar phase as a compact portable remote sensing structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavia tschudii is a wild rodent that inhabits Andean and coastal grasslands and wetlands whose ecological aspects have been rarely studied. In this study we describe their daily activity patterns and evaluate the effect of lunar luminosity on their nocturnal activity during the 2019 wet and 2020 dry seasons in a bulrush community of a coastal wetland in Peru. Moreover, we evaluated the activity overlap of C. tschudii with the species that co-occurred with it. Using six camera trap stations and analyzing the dates and times of the recordings, we found that during both seasons C. tschudii was mainly nocturnal, the dogs were cathemeral and Rattus sp. was nocturnal. The activity of C. tschudii had a moderate overlap with the dogs and a high overlap with Rattus sp. During both seasons C. tschudii showed two peaks of activity when the lunar luminosity was 76-100 % and 1-25 %. Likewise, in the dry season, its nocturnal activity had a positive correlation with lunar luminosity. This is the first study that evaluates the daily and lunar activity patterns of C. tschudii under natural conditions. We conclude that the daily activity of C. tschudii is mostly nocturnal during both seasons, but during the dry season the nocturnal activity increases; the highest activity overlap with Rattus sp. suggests a possible competition; and the nocturnal activity of C. tschudii during the dry season suggests that it takes advantage of moonlight to improve its foraging and predator detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background & Objective: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death. It is also one of the most important factors of long-term disability. We aimed to reveal the relationship of the lunar cycle and seasonality with stroke characteristics. Methods: Data, including the demographic characteristics of the patients, stroke types, stroke severity, etiological factors, accompanying diseases, intensive care needs, and mortality rate were evaluated, recorded, and compared according to seasonality and lunar phases. Results: The study included 538 patients. The stroke type of 468 patients was ischemic. The stroke severity of 231 patients was determined as minor. The ischemic stroke rate was higher in winter than in spring and summer. In spring, the rate of severe stroke was lower than in summer and winter. Posterior system strokes were found at a higher rate in the summer months. During the winter months, middle cerebral artery infarctions were detected more frequently. The intensive care needs of the patients were observed mostly in summer and winter in ischemic stroke patients. When the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were compared according to season, no significant difference was found between the groups. There was also no significant difference in gender, age, stroke severity, involved arterial system, etiology, and NIHSS score according to moon phases. But the transient ischemic attack (TIA) rate was higher in the full moon than in the last quarter moon. Conclusion: Seasonal variations may affect ischemic stroke characteristics, such as type, severity and involved arterial system, but in our study, the lunar cycle was not found related to the investigated features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit-feeding pteropodid bats roost under varying light conditions. Some roost in trees with high exposure to daylight (> 1000 lx), while others roost in dark caves (< 0.1 lx). To understand the effect of ambient light intensity and moon phase on flight activity, we examined flight times across five lunar cycles in three pteropodid species whose roosts differ in daylight exposure. We found significant interspecific differences in flight emergence and termination times. All species initiated flights after sunset but Rousettus leschenaultii, which typically roosts in caves, delayed emergence (40 ± 11 min) more than the two tree-roosting species Pteropus giganteus (16 ± 6 min) and Cynopterus sphinx (19 ± 7 min). R. leschenaultii terminated flights earlier (30 ± 7 min before sunrise) than P. giganteus (11 ± 11 min) and C. sphinx (16 ± 10 min). All individuals from P. giganteus and C. sphinx roosts emerged within less than an hour, while emergence times were more spread out in the R. leschenaultii colony. Peak emergence times differed across moon phases in the cave-roosting R. leschenaultii but not in the other species. Flight activity in R. leschenaultii is restricted to comparatively lower light levels than the tree-roosting species. The observed interspecific differences suggest that bat species, sharing same landscapes may respond differently to light pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Therya is the property of Asociacion Mexicana de Mastozoologia, A. C. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We present an annotated checklist of the species of Bombycidae, Saturniidae and Sphingidae collected in the Utría National Natural Park, Chocó, Colombia. We used mercury light trap for 31 days in four different habitats. We found 35 species: 19 Saturniidae, 15 Sphingidae and 1 Bombycidae. Eighteen species are recorded for the first time in the department of Chocó. These include the Chocó endemic Syssphinx chocoensis, the first specimen of Manduca dalica dalica, in a Colombian collection, and the fifth instar of Isognathus scyron. Our results agree with the lunar phobia hypothesis. This work is the first approach to the diversity of these families in the Utría National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the question whether to what extent (if any) light-trap catch of the harmful pest, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1805) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) depends on the Moon phases and the geomagnetic horizontal component (H-index). Therefore, daily relative catch data were assigned to the daily values of geomagnetic field above 0.2125−10 T (H-index). We correlated the daily catch results to the daily values of geometric H-index. The numbers of specimens caught and classified according to generation were calculated relative to catch values. Relative catch data were divided according to the Moon phase angle around the four Moon quarters. The relative daily catch data were assigned to the daily values of geomagnetic H-index. We correlated the daily catch results to the daily values of geometric H-index in four moon phases. More abundant catch corresponded to higher H-index values in the New Moon period. Approaching Full Moon led to increasing catch correlating to low H-index value, but there decreasing catch coincided with higher H-index values. There was also decreasing catch at the increasing H-index values in the First Quarter and Last Quarter period. The light trap catch of the H. armigera was seemingly influenced by both the moon phases and the horizontal component of geomagnetism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the complexity of the dynamics in litter reposition, our objective was modeling the possible main and interaction effects of tidal oscillations, seasons of the year and the moon phases over the solid waste in Santos beaches. A total of 80 collections were carried out using quadrat sampling, from which we classified, counted and weighed all residue items. We fitted mixed Hurdle models to the output datasets and performed hypotheses tests based on this framework. We found plastic to be the most abundant residue in all seasons, moon phases and tides, followed by Styrofoam and wood. Our models suggest the strongest effect was due to seasonal variations, which, in turn, may be related to different human activities. Although the dynamics of different components showed independency of all interaction structures, plastics depended on the interaction of tide and season, whose impact over estuarine life and ecosystem services shall be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studied a group of three preservice elementary teachers creating a narrated stop-motion animation (Slowmation) from start to finish in 3 hours to explain the challenging concept of 'phases of the moon' to elementary school children. The research questions investigated the preservice teachers' learning before and after the construction as well as how the preservice teachers designed the slowmation as a teaching resource. Data collection involved individual interviews immediately before and after the construction in conjunction with analysis of video and audio data collected during the construction process. Before the animation construction, the participants had little understanding of the causes of moon phases and one held an alternative conception. After creating the slowmation all three preservice teachers demonstrated more 'elements' of the concept and appeared to resolve an alternative conception. There are two findings from this research: (i) creating a slowmation enabled the preservice teachers to develop more elements to contribute to their understanding of moon phases; (ii) the design of the slowmation was based on breaking the concept into a sequence of sub-concepts that were represented digitally. Designing a digital teaching resource such as a slowmation to explain a concept involves preservice teachers breaking a concept down into coherent parts or 'chunks' and representing the concept in multiple ways. This can be done within a science method class and is also a good way for the them to negotiate meanings about a difficult concept. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 52: 1207-1233, 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-hourly zooplankton samplings encompassing tidal (semi-diurnal), diel (24 h), and lunar (4 phases) cycles during the dry (July 2003) and wet (November 2003) monsoon periods were conducted in the Matang estuary to investigate the vertical distribution and behavior of five different groups of copepods (estuarine, euryhaline, marine euryhaline, stenohaline and nocturnal pontellids) in response to the tidal and light regime. Diel vertical migration (DVM) was evident for all copepod groups but the observed patterns differed among species and sampling period (wet or dry and neap or spring tide). Tidally-induced vertical migration (TVM), superimposed by DVM, was observed for estuarine, marine euryhaline and stenohaline copepods but not for euryhaline and nocturnal pontellid copepods. Estuarine copepods tended to ascend during night-flood tide and descent to the bottom during day-ebb tide; this suggests a selective mechanism to penetrate upstream and maintain position in the estuary. In contrast, the marine euryhaline and stenohaline copepods remained at the bottom especially during day-flood tide and ascended into the water column during night-ebb tide; this suggests a selective mechanism to avoid upstream transport. Euryhaline copepods did not respond to tidal advection probably due to their wide range of salinity tolerance, while the large nocturnal pontellid copepods have strong swimming ability. Adaptive vertical migration appears to be a major factor structuring the copepod community in tropical estuaries, and its occurrence in most copepods suggests that neritic marine zooplankton tidally-advected into estuaries and nearshore waters can survive better than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore pre-service primary teachers' ideas about how lunar phases occur. 154 third year primary student teachers were asked to explain "why the moon is seen in different shapes when we look at the sky at different times". They have given enough time to explain their answers in writing. Then, their responses were examined and categorized as scientific explanations and misconceptions. Results of the study showed that while the 54 % of the student teachers' ideas about the lunar phases are scientific, the remaining 46 % of them could be categorized as misconceptions. Some of the misconceptions detected from the student teachers' explanations of the causes of the moon phases are: earth's shadow on the moon, earth's rotation or varying distance between the earth and the moon. The study revealed similar results with the previous studies conducted in other cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Camera-trapping has been widely used to assess activity rhythms and temporal overlap of different medium- and large-sized mammal species sharing the same habitats. Conversely, this method has been poorly applied to small mammals, which are often difficult to identify at the species level through photos. In our work, we assessed the temporal overlap between two coexisting small rodents in forest environments, Apodemus flavicollis and Clethrionomys glareolus. We collected 124 independent records of A. flavicollis and 67 records of C. glareolus over three years. The former was mostly nocturnal, with activity peaking after midnight, whereas the latter was mostly active at dawn and dusk. In other words, we recorded a limited temporal overlap, thus suggesting a potential for interspecific competition. Intraguild interference competition between A. flavicollis and C. glareolus may play a pivotal role, forcing C. glareolus to be more active in daylight hours, when the more strictly nocturnal A. flavicollis is present. Nocturnal activity of C. glareolus was limited and not influenced by moon phases, whereas A. flavicollis was mostly active in the darkest nights, avoiding bright moonlight nights. Temporal partitioning is reported as one of the main strategies adopted by coexisting mammal species to limit interspecific competition and behavioural interference. In the last decades, camera-trapping surveys have provided valuable insights in assessing temporal niche and activity rhythms of medium and large-sized mammalian species. Conversely, this method has been poorly applied to small rodents. In this work we aimed at assessing temporal niche partitioning between two species of forest-dwelling small rodents—Apodemus flavicollis and Clethrionomys glareolus—by means of intensive camera-trapping. Camera traps were placed in areas where previous genetic analyses have confirmed the only presence of A. flavicollis amongst wood mice species, to prevent misinterpretation of records. We collected 124 independent records of A. flavicollis and 67 records of C. glareolus over three years. The former was mostly nocturnal, with activity peaking after midnight, whereas the latter was mostly active at dawn and dusk. Therefore, a limited temporal overlap was observed, confirming the potential for interspecific competition. Intraguild interference competition between A. flavicollis and C. glareolus may play a pivotal role forcing C. glareolus to be more active in daylight hours where, the more strictly nocturnal A. flavicollis is present. Nocturnal activity of C. glareolus was limited and not influenced by moon phases, whereas A. flavicollis was mostly active in the darkest nights, avoiding bright moonlight nights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was twofold. First, it was aimed to identify Turkish pre-service physics teachers' knowledge and understanding of the Moon, Moon phases, and other lunar phenomena. Second, the effects of model-based teaching on pre-service teachers' conceptions were examined. Conceptions were proposed as mental models in this study. Four different questionnaires including 22 generative, explanation, and factual questions were used through the study. The pre-service physics teachers' mental models generated in response to lunar phenomena might be representations of their naïve knowledge as a result of their causal observations and experiences with the world, and their misconceptions as a result of inconsistencies between their naïve knowledge and scientific knowledge. Therefore, the pre-service teachers' mental models were categorized based on the work by Chi and Roscoe. Some of the pre-service teachers' mental models shifted from flawed or incomplete mental models to correct mental models of the Moon and lunar phenomena with the facilitation of model-based teaching. The conclusions of the study carry implications for curriculum developers and teacher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourth-grade students' knowledge of observable moon phases and patterns of change, as well as conceptual understanding of the cause of moon phases, was investigated before and after special instruction. Pretest and post-test data for 48 students were used to address the research question related to observable moon phases and patterns of change. Interviews were conducted with 10 students on a post-only basis to provide data on understanding the cause of moon phases. The researchers used the constant comparative method to analyse data. Pretest results indicate these students had not met the expectations expressed in the U.S. Science Education Standards for lunar concepts. Post-test results reveal a very positive performance on observable moon phases and patterns of change, as well as the cause of moon phases. Interpretation and implications of these findings are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with a study that examined the effect of the different moon phases on the establishment of Gliricidia sepium as live fence. Some of the indicators used in each sampling are cited. Results showed that there were no differences between treatments in the different Gliricidia sepium establishment times for the height of the vegetative cutting, the diameter, the insertion height of the last regrowth and the number of regrowths per plant. It also found that there were growths in the last regrowth in the waning and new moon phases.

Preliminary research conducted in Warsaw in the 1970s and 2000s showed that roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) stayed in forest habitat and avoided anthropogenic areas. Activity and exploration patterns of animals are shaped by indices of anthropogenic disturbances, elevated in large cities. The aims of the study were (1) to compare the presence of roe deer in natural and anthropogenic habitats of Warsaw during three periods: 1976–1978, 2005–2008 and 2017–2021, based on snow tracking on transect routes (681.2 km in total), and (2) to describe the presence and activity of roe deer in relation to human disturbances in selected urban forests in its reproductive period (March–August), based on camera trap survey (2019–2020, 859 observations, 5317 trap-days in total). The number of tracks was higher in natural habitat during all three periods, with the highest value in 2017–2021 (9.85/km/24 h). The peak of roe deer activity was recorded at dusk, and it changed with moon phases between spring and summer. Landscape connectivity and level of light pollution did not affect the activity pattern of roe deer. Our research showed that roe deer inhabiting urban areas avoided human presence by using well-covered habitats and being active in periods when the level of human disturbance was lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents research that examines the alternative concepts on moon phases of the 8th grade students. It compares the collaborative learning method and traditional instruction in teaching the causes of moon phases. Results of the study show similar alternative conceptions of control and experimental group students before the instruction was given. However, it notes that their conceptual of the understanding of moon phases increased following the instructions.

This study describes for the first time the feeding behaviour and mesopelagic food consumption of adult Trachurus picturatus in the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea), where the distinctive hydrodynamic regime and the lunar cycle influence food availability for this predator. Indeed, the Strait of Messina is characterized by the upwelling of colder, saltier and nutrient-rich Levantine Intermediate Water, supporting the congregation and abundance of the mesopelagic community. Despite the commercial importance of T. picturatus in the Mediterranean and Atlantic fisheries, its trophic ecology is almost unknown. Overall, 262 specimens of T. picturatus were collected from small-scale fisheries of the Strait of Messina (September 2016–August 2017) and their stomach content was examined to investigate dietary composition and feeding strategy. Although the absence of a dominant prey item ruled out specialized predatory behaviour in T. picturatus , mesopelagic prey dominated the diet of this species and a significant fraction of food (more than 80% in terms of Index of Relative Importance) was represented by euphausiids and mesopelagic fish. The predator exploitation of mesopelagic prey resources was analysed, considering the ecological implications of the hydrodynamic regime of the study area, which is strongly influenced by upwelling processes linked to the lunar cycle. For this reason, we tested and confirmed the hypothesis that moon phases could influence the food intake of T. picturatus and seasonal variations in the diet as well as size-related dietary shift were also observed. Image 1 • The diet of Trachurus picturatus in a Mediterranean upwelling area was investigated. • Mesopelagic prey resources dominated the diet of T. picturatus. • T. picturatus acted as an opportunistic predator. • Feeding activity of T. picturatus was regulated by lunar cycle and upwelling regime. • A size-related ontogenetic shift in the diet of T. picturatus was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the impact of the lunar cycle on the incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhages. Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients admitted to the department of neurosurgery during 1992 and 2004 suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. The onset of bleeding was compared with the lunar phase. Results: We did not observe any significant impact of the lunar cycle on the incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in 717 consecutive patients (p =0.84). Conclusion: The impact of the lunar cycle on aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage is a myth rather than reality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]