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Background and Aim: Swamp buffaloes play an important role in the rural economy of Indonesia. They consume various forages during their grazing time, including those with anti-parasitic potential. However, the information about the type and quality of forages and their potential as a natural anthelmintic for swamp buffalo is very limited. This study aimed to identify the diversity, quality, and anthelmintic potency of forages consumed by swamp buffaloes reared in Bantarkawung Subdistrict, Brebes District, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Samples of forages were obtained during three observation periods of the study, with a 12-week interval between each period. Forage diversity was evaluated by identifying its consumption by swamp buffaloes during their grazing activity in the field and feeding time in their shed. The quality of forages was analyzed using proximate analysis to measure their dry matter (DM), crude fiber (CF), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CFat), and ash contents. This is followed by the calculation of their total digestible nutrient based on the proximate analysis results. Botanical composition analysis was then conducted to measure the predominance of forages consumed by the livestock during their grazing activity. Literature reviews were carried out to explore forage's anthelmintic activity. Results: The results showed that swamp buffaloes consume nine species of forage in the shed and 47 in the grazing area, including nine legumes, 18 grass, and 20 others. Swamp buffaloes consumed forages of lower quality, which contained high CF contents and varying levels of other nutrients below their daily nutritional needs. The grazing activity allowed swamp buffaloes to consume a higher variety of forages with better nutritional quality, thereby enabling them to meet their nutritional needs. Legumes and other forages served as the major protein sources, providing CP of 20.03% DM and 11.53% DM, and CF levels of 17.01% DM and 20.35% DM, respectively. The results also showed that the consumption of these forages increased during the rainy season. The predominant species of legumes consumed were Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia spp., while Alternanthera sessilis and Merremia umbellata were the predominant species of other forages. A total of 13 of the 47 species could potentially be used as natural anthelmintic due to their secondary metabolites, namely, tannin, flavonoid, saponin, terpenoid, diterpenoid, and mimosine. These compounds exert anthelmintic effects by inhibiting egg-hatching and larval development, as well as damaging the surface structure of both larvae and adult worms, ultimately leading to the death of the parasites. Conclusion: Overall, swamp buffaloes consumed more variety of forages during grazing compared to when they were kept in sheds. While the low-variety and low-quality forages provisioned for swamp buffaloes in their shed resulted in a low nutrient intake below their daily requirement. Furthermore, daily grazing activities allowed swamp buffaloes to fulfill and supplement their need by consuming a variety of grasses, legumes, and other forages in their respective grazing areas. Some of these forages also have the potential to become natural anthelmintic because they contain secondary metabolites, such as tannins, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, diterpenoids, and mimosine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Littoral and swamp forests are among the most threatened native plant communities in the island of Tahiti (South Pacific) due to past and present anthropogenic pressures such as agriculture, urbanization, pollutions, and invasive alien species, including the mangrove tree Rhizophora stylosa. In order to provide reference data that are crucial to implement appropriate conservation and restoration strategies in these habitats, we assessed the composition and structure of seven littoral and swamp forests types in eighteen 10 × 20 m plots considering three different strata (trees and lianas, epiphytes, and understory). Forest types were compared using common diversity indices (e.g. Shannon index, Simpson index, and Pielou evenness) and indicator values. Results show that native submangrove swamp forests dominated by the tree Talipariti tiliaceum and the large erect fern Acrostichum aureum were the most species-rich, while introduced Rhizophora mangroves had an almost monospecific composition in the trees, lianas, and understory strata. The diversity of trees and lianas was higher in littoral forests with the highest understory cover in Talipariti-Barringtonia asiatica and Talipariti-Inocarpus fagifer plant communities. Surprisingly, epiphyte diversity and abundance were higher in swamp forests with lower canopy, especially in the mixed swamp forest with both A. aureum and R. stylosa. These counter-intuitive results highlight the potential role of introduced species in creating novel microhabitats suitable for the development of some native epiphytes. Conservation and restoration projects should however focus on the use of native species to maintain these remnant littoral and swamp habitats in Tahiti and other high volcanic islands of the Society archipelago, rather than nonnative and potentially harmful species such as R. stylosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchids are the most numerous flowering plants on our planet and the genus Habenaria, which is one of the most abundant in species, is taxonomically complex and with a pantropical distribution. Locating them in their habitats requires in-depth botanical knowledge and experience to successfully harvest their geophyte or tuberoid corms. Cultivate, hybridize, and reproduce them with biotechnology; requires patience, equipment, and technological expertise. Creating a new orchid hybrid poses challenges in the medium term, no less than five years until it blooms, so choosing the intervening parental species is the most important task in the process. The registration in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), is the worldwide award that visualizes all the previous work. In this work, we narrate the story of finding the parents, anecdotes, and adventures of the collecting trips with Aurelio Schinini and the record of the first Argentine hybrid of Habenaria Iberá FCA, an orchid of singular lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Henneguya myxosporean species is described to infect an ecological, biological, and evolutionary important fish from Amazon biome. The myxosporean was found in the skin of only one specimen of marbled swamp eel, Synbranchus marmoratus caught in a small stream from Peruvian Amazon floodplain. Mature myxospores have ovoid shape from the valvular view, measuring 32.2 ± 0.6 μm (31.6-32.8) in total length, 21.5 ± 0.3 μm (21.2-21.8) in spore body length, 11.7 ± 0.5 μm (11.2-12.2) in width and 10.6 ± 0.9 μm (9.7-11.5) in thickness. Non-bifurcate caudal appendage, measuring 10.7 ± 0.4 μm (10.3-11.1) in length. Two polar capsules elongated aubergine in shape, equal in size and measuring 4.9 ± 0.2 μm (4.7-5.1) in length and 3.1 ± 0.5 μm (2.6-3.6) in width. Polar tubules coiled in 7-8 turns. This is the first report of a Henneguya species parasitizing a fish of the order Synbranchiformes from Amazon basin and the first to describe this parasite infecting a potamodromous fish from South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A good understanding of reservoir's quality is crucial to hydrocarbon recovery optimization, especially in brown fields. The FORT Field is a brown field in Niger Delta with most of its wells clustered around a region. This study was therefore carried out to understand the reservoir quality distribution away from well locations, for a better recovery plan. The dataset comprising of well log, biostratigraphic and seismic data was employed for the study. A standard interpretation technique using Petrel software was adopted. Depositional sequences were identified and dated using the well logs and biostratigraphic data. Reservoirs within the sequences were identified, and the depositional environment of the reservoirs was inferred from gamma ray log motifs. Porosity, permeability and water saturation were calculated using established petrophysical log relationships. The reservoir models were generated using sequential indicator and sequential Gaussian simulation algorithms. The quality of the reservoirs was assessed based on the generated models. The result of the study showed that the FORT Field is underlain by three depositional sequences, bounded by 10.60 Ma, 10.35 Ma, 8.60 Ma and 6.70 Ma sequence boundaries. Three hydrocarbon reservoirs were identified in the lowstand systems tracts of the two shallower sequences. The environment of deposition of the sediments was inferred to range from marginal marine to shallow marine environment. The identified reservoirs were interpreted to be composed of shoreface, tidal channel and distributary channel sands. The structural framework of the study area is made up of seven major faults which run in the east–west direction and are connected to the reservoirs. The result of the petrophysical models showed porosity range of 0.1–0.35, permeability range of 300–3000 mD and water saturation range of 0.09–0.99. The study concluded that the reservoirs in FORT Field have moderate to good reservoir quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae are a group of autotrophic microorganisms that can live in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Microalgae in peat swamp waters are important to investigate and identify because they are used as aquatic bioindicators and have various potency and applications. This study aims to identify microalgae in peat swamp water in the Universitas Palangka Raya area, Central Kalimantan. This research used a purposive sampling method with two stations. The abiotic factors observed were temperature, dissolved oxygen, water transparency, and pH. Microalgae found were 12 genera (Behind the FMIPA UPR Building) and 6 genera (Jalan B Koetin). Some of the microalgae included Closterium, Micrasterias, Chlorella, Botryococcus, Cosmarium, Euastrum, Pleurotaenium, Chroococcus, Chlorogonium, Euglena, Selenastrum, Zygnema, Anabaena, Thalassionema, Pinnularia, Staunrastrum, and Gonatozygon. Some of them have morphological characteristics and potential in various fields. The abiotic factors in this research showed the normal temperature (29.5 0C and 27 0C), quite low for DO (2.9 mg/L and 4.7 mg/L), low brightness (23.25 and 25 cm), and acidic pH (4). Abiotic factors indicate that the condition of peat swamp water is a reasonably extreme ecosystem but is still suitable for the life of several species of microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: For enhanced environmental management of the Ciliwung River, toxic pollutions such as cadmium dan lead data are required. Cadmium and lead have widespread industrial applications. However, cadmium and lead are poisonous and classified as cancer-causing non-essential elements. Moreover, cadmium and lead accumulation in Ciliwung River-caught eels has not yet been examined. Consequently, it is essential to acquire the gathered data from this study. The primary objective of this study was to explore the accumulation of cadmium and lead in sediments and eel organs along the Ciliwung River and to estimate the weekly cadmium and lead intake from eel consumed by the people. METHODS: Sediment and eel samples were collected at six sampling locations ranging from the upstream, midstream, and downstream regions. Method of 3051a of the United States Environmental Protection Agency was applied to analyze the metal yield from the sediment samples and targeted eel organs (gills, digestive tract, and flesh). In addition, quality control and quality assurance standards were employed, and Certified Reference Materials were used to ensure the quality of data and instruments. FINDINGS: The average concentrations of cadmium (0.7825±0.3768 milligram per kilogram) and lead (36.9333±14.9040 milligram per kilogram) were greater than their natural levels. The average cadmium concentration in riverine sediment was below the interim sediment quality guidelines. However, the lead concentration exceeded the guidelines. The cadmium and lead accumulation patterns in the sediment and eels were found to be lowest in the upstream and found increased in the downstream are. In this case, the gills acquired the most concentration of cadmium (1.4571±0.3433 microgram per gram) and lead (43.2489±18.6775 microgram per gram). The fact that eel gills accumulated the highest cadmium and lead indicates the presence of heavy metals in their environment. The accumulation of cadmium and lead in the eel surpassed the permitted levels. According to the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake estimation, this research showed 0.0328 milligram/week for the cadmium and 1.2826 milligram/week for the lead. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cadmium and lead in riverine sediments and eels in the Ciliwung River is believed to be predominantly the result of inefficient wastewater management. However, cadmium and lead pollution must be handled with extreme caution because it interferes with the physiological processes of the biota, hence decreasing the population of eels and posing a health risk if consumed. In general, Asian swamp eels from the Ciliwung River are still edible. As a result, it is hoped that enhanced management will reduce the number of pollutants entering the riverine ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Consumers have expressed concern regarding the food safety of aquatic products in light of escalating global environmental pollution. The potential accumulation of heavy metals in red swamp crayfish, an omnivorous aquatic species, may present a significant risk to human health. Hence, a comprehensive multi-point sampling was carried out in Qianjiang, the foremost export city in China, followed by a meticulous risk evaluation of the red swamp crayfish originating from Qianjiang. In the study, we found eight significant interaction relationships that may be utilized to construct predictive models for the spatial distribution of heavy metals in crayfish tissue. The findings indicate that the abdomen muscle of crayfish does not present any discernible risk to human well-being. However, a minute fraction of crayfish hepatopancreas samples exhibited excessive levels of arsenic, rendering it inadvisable for excessive consumption. Due to rapidly expanding crayfish consumption worldwide, the food safety of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is of great concern. China is the largest consumer and producer of crayfish globally. As of yet, it is unknown whether the main crayfish production cities in China are within safe levels of toxic heavy metals and metalloids. For 16 consecutive years, Qianjiang city ranked first in China in processing export volumes of red swamp crayfish. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the enrichment levels and associated health risks of the species in Qianjiang. In our research, samples of four crayfish tissues, including the head, hepatopancreas, gills, and muscles, were collected from 38 sampling sites distributed in Qianjiang to evaluate the concentration levels of five heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, As, and Cu). The concentration levels of all five metals in muscle did not surpass the national standard. Furthermore, eight significant correlations have been found. For further in-depth assess risk of crayfish in Qianjiang, estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), carcinogenic risk (CR), and estimated maximum allowable consumption rates (CRmm) were evaluated in the abdomen muscle and hepatopancreas. The THQ values for each metal were found to be less than 1, while the CR values were below 10–6. Additionally, the CRmm for adults was determined to be 17.2 meals per month. These findings, based on the analysis of five metallic elements included in this study, suggest that the consumption of crayfish abdomen muscle in Qianjiang does not pose any significant health risks. However, it is noteworthy that certain regions exhibit elevated levels of arsenic in the hepatopancreas, surpassing the national standard, thereby rendering them unsuitable for excessive consumption. In general, the findings can be used to provide guidance for safe dietary practices in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland ecosystems host an extensive number of avian species and play therefore a key role in biodiversity conservation. However, avifauna in wetlands is severely impacted by the anthropogenic transformation of natural habitats into other land uses. Understanding how habitat changes influence avian community dynamics is crucial for effective management and conservation of bird habitats. Here, we assessed spatio-temporal variation in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity, and assembly structures of the bird community in the Indawgyi Wetland Ecosystem in Myanmar. Bird surveys were seasonally conducted at 120 sample plots, which were equally distributed among four habitat types subject to different level of human influences (natural lake habitat, seasonally flooded grasslands, riparian forest, and agricultural land). Across habitat types, functional and phylogenetic diversity were the highest in the lake habitat, especially during the migration season, and the lowest in the cultivated habitat. Our results indicated over-dispersed functional and phylogenetic structures in the lake habitat, with clustered structures in the remaining habitats. Diversity of species important for conservation was also higher in the lake habitat and in areas far away from human disturbances. Spatial variation of bird community diversity suggests that conservation efforts in this ecosystem should concentrate more on the lake habitat and associated grassland habitats. Moreover, our results suggest the need for habitat restoration in riparian forests and increased sustainable agricultural practices in order to improve the contribution of these habitats to the diversity in the avifauna community. Our study highlighted the importance of integrating functional and phylogenetic dimensions into biodiversity analyses providing broader ecological insights for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Argentinian Ministry of Environment has approved the translocation of 45 guanacos from Southern Patagonia to the Pampas region, a distance of 1500 km, as the initial phase toward future translocations into a National Park located in the Chaco region, another 1600 km further North. This decision raises concerns about the technical and ethical aspects of the translocation. Firstly, there is a lack of proper evaluation and scientific evidence to support the need, opportunity, and feasibility of this translocation. The guanaco population is currently over one million and is increasing, and genetic differences exist among local populations. The translocation could produce anthropogenic‐driven admixed populations, leading to genetic swamping and disrupting evolutionary processes. Second, there are ethical conflicts around managing wild species populations that prioritize private objectives and disregard local, publicly funded science. Rewilding projects require a deep understanding of interacting ecosystem processes, and of the socio‐economic context. This management decision violates guiding principles for rewilding and should have followed proper scientific evaluation and transparent local consultation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byttneriophyllum tiliifolium is a leaf fossil-species of the family Malvaceae that was distributed widely throughout Eurasia from the Miocene to the Pliocene. An affinity to some Malvadendrina subfamilies has been suggested for Byttneriophyllum-bearing plants, but remains to be clarified due to insufficient information on other organs. Here, we report an exceptional lower Miocene fossil locality in Japan where a monodominant forest of the wood fossil-species Wataria parvipora flourished. Notably, the forest floor was covered by a bed consisting almost exclusively of B. tiliifolium. We observed occurrence modes of B. tiliifolium in this bed that confirmed that these leaves were deposited parautochthonously. These observations imply a biological connection between B. tiliifolium and W. parvipora. The wood and leaf characters together might narrow the affinity of Byttneriophyllum-bearing plants down to Helicterioideae within the Malvadendrina, although it is also possible that Byttneriophyllum-bearing plants constitutes an extinct lineage which is characterized by a combination of morphological traits found in several extant lineages. Our results suggest that Byttneriophyllum-bearing plants started to inhabit swamps no later than the end of the early Miocene when the global temperature was getting warmer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the variation in vegetation types within the source region of the Yellow River (SRYR) is of great significance for understanding the response of vegetation to climate change and human activities on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) permafrost. In order to understand the characteristics of the variation in vegetation associations in the SRYR under the influence of climate and human activities, two hyperspectral remote sensing images from HJ-1A in 2013 and OHS-3C in 2020 were used to extract the vegetation types located in the area south of Ngoring Lake, covering 437.11 km2 in Maduo County, from the perspective of vegetation associations. Here, the hybrid spectral CNN (HybridSN) model, which is dependent on both spatial and spectral information, was used for vegetation association classifications. On this basis, the variations in vegetation associations from 2013 to 2020 were studied using the transition matrix, and the variation in noxious weeds across different altitude and slope gradients was analyzed. As an example, Thermopsis lanceolata's spatial distribution pattern and diffusion mechanism were analyzed. The results showed that (1) in addition to noxious weeds, herbage such as Poa poophagorum, Stipa purpurea, Kobresia humilis, and Carex moorcroftii increased, indicating that the overall ecological environment tended to improve, which may be attributed mainly to the development of a warm and humid climate. (2) Most of the noxious weeds were located at low altitudes with an area increase in the 4250–4400 m altitude range and a decrease in the 4400–4500 m altitude range. More attention should be given to the fact that the noxious weeds area increased from 2.88 km2 to 9.02 km2 between 2013 and 2020, which was much faster than that of herbage and may threaten local livestock development. (3) The Thermopsis lanceolate association characterized by an aggregated distribution tended to spread along roads, herdsmen sites, and degraded swamps, which were mainly affected by human activities and swamp degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study will assist in the conservation of genetic resources and breeding planning for the sustainable utilization of Thai swamp buffalo. It is essential to clearly understand the diversity of genetic resources for breeding planning and genetic conservation. High genetic variation has the potential to exist, and vice versa; the species may easily become extinct when low genetic variation exists. The study revealed that the indicators of the genetic diversity of the swamp buffalo population were also genetically diverse in the TLR2 coding region, as assessed by nucleotide diversity, and that genetic diversity was high. This indicates that it is easy to select and improve the available genetic tools to improve health and production in swamp buffalo when the populations are diverse. The authors suggest that TLR2 gene variations may have the potential for marker-based breeding programs aimed at breeding better disease resistance in swamp buffalo. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are transmembrane proteins important for directing immune responses. Their primary role is to recognize pathogens based on single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) characteristics. TLR2 is categorized as a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that is important for the recognition of pathogens. Nucleotide variation in the coding region determines the conformation of the TLR protein, affecting its protein domain efficiency. This study aimed to identify SNPs in the coding region of TLR2 to enhance available genetic tools for improving health and production in swamp buffalo. A total of 50 buffaloes were randomly sampled from the northeastern part of Thailand for genomic DNA extraction and sequencing. Nucleotide sequences were aligned and compared with cattle and river buffalo based on the database. The results showed, there were 29 SNP locations in swamp buffalo and 14 different locations in both cattle and buffaloes. Haplotype analysis revealed that 27 haplotypes occurred. Swamp buffalo were identified from 13 SNPs based on biallelic analysis, which found eight synonymous and five nonsynonymous SNPs. Nucleotide diversity (π) was 0.16, indicating genetic diversity. Genetic diversity (haplotype diversity; HD) was high at 0.99 ± 0.04. This indicates a high probability that the two sample haplotypes are different. The π and HD values are important indicators of the genetic diversity of the swamp buffalo population. In summary, the Thai swamp buffalo population detected a polymorphism of the coding region of the TRL2 gene. Therefore, further, in-depth study of the relationship between these genes in the immune system and disease resistance should be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the optimal stocking density of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) larvae (0.0134 ± 0.001 g) by using biofloc technology, five stocking densities (50, 100, 200, 400, 600 larva/m2) in BFT (BFT50, BFT100, BFT200, BFT400, BFT600) were arranged. After 45 days of farming, the BFT50, BFT100, and BFT200 groups had higher final body weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and lower residual limb rate. No significant difference was found in survival rate among all the experimental groups. Moreover, the activities of lipase and pepsin in the BFT50 group were significantly higher than those of the other four groups. The amylase activity in the BFT200 group was relatively high. The cellulase activity tended to increase with the increase of the stocking density. Furthermore, the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in BFT600 group were significantly lower than those of BFT50, BFT100, and BFT200 groups. The acid phosphatase activities of BFT200 and BFT400 were significantly higher than that of BFT600 group. In addition, concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen in the BFT50, BFT100, and BFT200 groups were significantly lower than those in the BFT600 group. Considering that increasing stocking density can improve the economic benefits, but too high density may lead to the decline of growth performance, increase of residual limb rate, and decline of antioxidant capacity, it is suggested that the stocking density of crayfish larvae should be controlled about 200 larvae/m2 by biofloc technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The controlled use of fires to reduce combustible materials in prescribed burning helps to prevent the occurrence of forest fires. In recent decades, these fires have mainly been caused by anthropogenic activities. The study area is located in the Pantanal biome. In 2020, the greatest drought in 60 years happened in the Pantanal. The fire affected almost one third of the biome. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of prescribed burnings carried out in 2021 on three macrohabitats (M1: natural grassland flooded with a proliferation of Combretum spp., M2: natural grassland of seasonal swamps, and M3: natural grassland flooded with a proliferation of Vochysia divergens) inside the SESC Pantanal Private Natural Heritage Reserve. Multispectral and thermal data analyses were conducted with remotely piloted aircraft systems in 1 ha plots in three periods of the dry season with early, mid, and late burning. The land use and land cover classification indicate that the predominant vegetation type in these areas is seasonally flooded grassland, with percentages above 73%, except in zone three, which has a more diverse composition and structure, with the presence of arboreal specimens of V. divergem Pohl. The pattern of the thermal range showed differentiation pre- and post-burning. The burned area index indicated that fire was more efficient in the first two macrohabitats because they are natural grasslands, reducing the grass species in the burnings. Early and mid prescribed burnings are a good option to reduce the continuous accumulation of dry forest biomass fuel material and help to promote landscape heterogeneity. The use of multispectral sensor data with high spatial/spectral resolution can show the effects of fires, using highly detailed scales for technical decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing environmental challenges worldwide and the lack of resources to tackle them require conservationists to set priorities for action. As known; protected areas will be needed as species change their distribution over time due to global climate change, drought, and complete habitat destruction. Although; conservation targets have been met for most species, some conservation features remain unprotected, especially for threatened bird species. There are certain habitat types in Aksaray province where target species belonging to different bird groups are concentrated. Herein; we identify these priority areas for conservation for the current and future estimated distributions of bird species. For this purpose; field studies have been carried out for two years (2015-2017) to represent different habitat types besides bird species detected within the borders of the province. According to our findings; three different habitats (wetland, swamp, and steppe) rich in target species were determined as priority areas for protection. In addition, five different bird species (Vanellus vanellus, Limosa limosa, Numenius arquata, Circus macrourus, Streptopelia turtur) observed in these habitats are in the Vu (Vulnerable) and NT (Near Threatened) categories according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. As a result; both the protection and monitoring of the identified habitats and taxa that directly reflect the health of the habitat will facilitate the sustainability of priority areas in future. This study could be a resource for future regulation of conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, using telecommunication systems and advanced measuring devices underlies cyberattacks on electrical grids. Bad data injection and failure to detect it on time, cause drastic damage to the network. This paper presents a new method for bad data detection (BDD) in state estimating when a cyber attacker manipulates the important measurements. Therefore, the new attack index is defined by simultaneously manipulating the network parameters and injecting incorrect data into the measured values. For this purpose, considering the masking and swamping effect, the diagnostic robust generalized potential (DRGP) algorithm detected and isolated high-leverage measurements installed in important locations from low-leverage measurements. Then, the state estimation process performs using low-leverage measurements. The Generalized Studentized Residual (GSR) algorithm detects bad data. With simultaneous manipulation of network parameters and measurement values, conventional BDD methods are unable to detect an attack. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, they were implemented on the IEEE standard 14-bus network using MATLAB and Rstudio software. The simulation results show the ability of the proposed algorithm to detect a bad data attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is one of the Indonesian germplasm that adapts well to Borneo Island. This study aimed to determine the genetic diversity, phylogenetic tree, and phylogeographic structure of Bornean swamp buffalo based on control region (D-loop) mitochondrial DNA sequences. A total of 120 animals were collected from three populations in Indonesia, i.e., the North, East, and South of Kalimantan Provinces. Along 1140 bp of D-loop mtDNA gene of Bornean swamp buffaloes was amplified with a design primer of F: 5'-CAA CAC CCA AAG CTG AAG TT-3' and R: 5'-CGC TCC TCT TAG TCT CGT TG-3'. Therefore, the forward and reverse sequencing was performed to visualize the full length of D-loop mtDNA gene sequence (1140 bp). Results showed that a total of 47 haplotypes were detected in the animal study, with haplotype and nucleotide diversities of 0.936 and 0.005, respectively. Consequently, two haplogroups were observed in the animal study, i.e., Haplogroup A (North) and Haplogroup B (East and South). Based on structure analysis, Bornean swamp buffaloes were comparable to filing swamp buffaloes of China based on structure. According to the analysis of molecular (AMOVA), the geographical component contributed over 56.44% of the total mtDNA sequence variations. In conclusion, it was discovered that the haplogroups of buffalo from the East and South populations were identical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historic Bacon's Swamp in Indianapolis is commonly regarded as the southernmost Sphagnum-dominated peatland in Indiana. Although pollen analyses have been published, no previous macrofossil investigations have been conducted. Recent attempts to retrieve a sediment core to recover macrofossils and study the palaeoecology of historic Bacon's Swamp failed due to the presence of extensive and deep gravel fill overlaying the remaining wetland sediments. Discovery of core samples collected for pollen analysis in 1936, before extensive dredging and filling of the peatland, provided an unusual opportunity to recover macrofossils. Macrofossils were remarkably well-preserved, despite having been dried for nearly 85 years. Those identified in this study indicate that the ecological succession of Bacon's Swamp was markedly different than previously reported. Changes in local or regional hydrology are evident and may have controlled the onset of developmental stages. Contrary to a previous published account, Sphagnum appears to have been a relatively recent pioneer in Bacon's Swamp rather than a long-term component of the flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizen scientists may provide unique opportunities for surveillance and early detection of management-relevant biological invasions. Here, we report results of a classroom citizen science program that detected the first record of the invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) from northern Idaho, United States. Secondary school students trapping storm water ponds in a public park of Lewiston, Idaho detected an unusual crayfish that they identified as P. clarkii. We confirmed this identification by crayfish morphology and mitochondrial DNA barcoding. Management agencies were promptly notified and have initiated monitoring and removal efforts for this population, which directly neighbors a major river in the study region. Procambarus clarkii may be well-suited to citizen science surveillance by classroom programs because of its tendency to invade freshwater ecosystems like storm water ponds in urban and suburban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clinically normal, 13.5‐year‐old male Allen's swamp monkey (Allenopithecus nigroviridis) developed cardiac arrest and died shortly after anaesthetic induction for a routine examination. Gross examination of the lung revealed consolidation of the left caudal lobe, and cut surfaces exuded a purulent haemorrhagic discharge. Tissue impressions of the pulmonary tissue were consistent with Cryptococcus sp. Histological examination revealed that the infection was isolated to a single lung lobe, and Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans was confirmed by culture. This case report discusses the postmortem findings of a monkey with pulmonary cryptococcosis and the importance of considering routine screening in clinically normal guenons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated studies were carried out on one hundred and eleven (111) ditch samples retrieved from three wells drilled in Lagos area within the Dahomey Embayment, coastal southwestern Nigeria. The purpose of this study is to determine the provenance, heavy mineral assemblage(s), establish the lowstand - highstand episodes, Quaternary palaeoenvironment and date the encountered lithofacies which constitute sandstones, siltstones with thin beds of lignite. The textural parameters show that the sandstones are medium to fine grained with the lignite consisting of plant fragment remains. Petrographic analyses showed abundant detrital minerals with average modal composition of quartz (Q = 90%), feldspar (F = 2%) and rock fragments (RF = 4%). The QFR ternary plots revealed that the sandstones are quartz arenites of continental block provenance origin deposited under humid climatic setting. This lithofacies has undergone medium distance range of transportation and have been subjected to mechanical and chemical weathering prior deposition. The heavy mineral assemblages and the ratios of Zircon-Tourmaline (ZTR index) in the wells suggest matured sediments. The Apatite: Tourmaline (ATi) ratios showed variations within the studied wells indicating differences in rate of weathering. It is evident that the periods of residence on the floodplain despite similar provenances and fluctuations in ratios, suggest sea level changes. The fluctuations in apatite: tourmaline ratios with respect to weathering are attributed to rapid changes in climatic conditions during the floodplain residence. The high ATi values in sandstone were deposited during relative sea level highstand (transgression), while sandstones with low ATi were deposited during lowstand (regression) in Nigeria and along the West African region. The abundance species of Rhizophora sp., Avicennia africana, Acrostichu mauruem, Laevigatosporite sp. , Combretaceae sp. , Mitrogynaciliata, Sapotaceae sp. , Disopyros sp. , Elaeis guineensis and Alchronea spp. indicated depositional transition from mangrove to fresh water swamp due to the episodic highstand and lowstand regimes. The abundance of Podocarpus milianjanus and Retitricolporites hians and the absence of Miocene diagnostic forms suggest late Pleistocene (Tarantian = 0.012–0.126 Ma) deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand the relationship between the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the southern margin of the Salpi lagoon (Tavoliere coastal plain, Apulia, Italy) and the development of settlements on its shores during the last part of the Holocene (Late Northgrippian to Late Meghalayan) to complement recent archaeological investigations at the site of pre-Roman Salpia Vetus , Roman Salapia and Medieval Salpi. Micropalaeontological, palynological, and sedimentological analyses were conducted on a total of ten drilled cores, revealing local and regional events. Facies and micropalaeontological analyses show that the lagoon was partially connected to the sea between 6.2 ka BP and 3.1 ka BP. Between 3.1 ka BP and 2.4 ka BP, the area was characterised by marshes and swamps with restricted brackish lagoon conditions and permanent freshwater input. After 2.4 ka BP, the continuous freshwater influx from the major rivers of the coastal plain determined the progradation of the floodplain and the closure of the lagoon, with the formation of the two coastal lakes of Lago Salso (north) and Lago Salpi (south). Pollen data show the expansion of halophytic herbs under local brackish conditions during the Early Meghalayan and the continuous spread of dryland herbs consistent with the closure of the basin. The alluvial plain progradation during the Late Meghalayan allowed the intensive exploitation of the area and the development of a highly anthropogenic landscape. The development of the settlements of pre-Roman Salpia Vetus , Roman Salapia , and Medieval Salpi was mainly determined by the insalubrious condition of the surrounding marshes, due to the reduction in water depth and oscillations in salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are excellent vectors of allochthonous matter and energy due to their high mobility, with more intense flow when waterbirds congregate in breeding colonies, feeding in surrounding aquatic and terrestrial areas, and promoting nutritional pulses to nutrient-poor environments. In southern Brazil, a swamp forest on an estuarine island is used by waterbirds for breeding, providing an opportunity to investigate the potential effects of transport of matter between nutrient-rich environments. Soil, plants, invertebrates, and blood from terrestrial birds were collected and stable isotopes compared to similar organisms in a control site without heronries. Values of δ15N and δ13C from waterbirds were higher in the colony in comparison to the control site (spatial effect). The enrichment of 15N and 13C provided during the active colony period persisted after the breeding period, especially for δ15N, which was higher in all compartments (temporal effect). Moreover, the enrichment of 15N occurred along the entire trophic chain (vertical effect) in the colony environment, including different guilds of invertebrates and land birds. The enrichment in 13C seems to lose strength and was mostly explained by factors such as trophic guild rather than site, especially in birds. Bayesian mixture models with terrestrial vs. estuarine endpoints demonstrated that all organisms from both colony and control environments had assimilated estuarine matter. Finally, detritivorous invertebrates showed greater assimilation when compared to other guilds. This study demonstrates that adjacent nutrient-rich environments, such as palustrine forests and estuaries, are nutritionally enriched in several dimensions from nearby autochthonous subsidies that are maintained throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The swamp eel, Monopterus albus, is an important aquaculture species in Asia (mainly China) whose production has seriously suffered from infectious diseases. In spite of the critical requirement for aquaculture practices, to date there is scant information on its immune defence. Here, the genetic characteristics of Toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR9), which plays crucial roles in the initiation of host defence against microbial invasion, were analysed. It exhibits a striking lack of genetic variation resulting from a recent demographic bottleneck. A comparison with the homologue of M. javanensis revealed that replacement but not silent differences have nonrandomly accumulated in the coding sequences at the early stage following their split from a common ancestor. Furthermore, the replacements relevant to the type II functional divergence have mainly occurred in structural motifs mediating ligand recognition and receptor homodimerization. These results provide hints to understand the diversity‐based strategy of TLR9 in the arms race against pathogens. Furthermore, the findings reported here give credence to the importance of basic immunology knowledge, especially for the key elements, in genetic engineering and breeding for disease resistance in the eel and other fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upland swamps are peat‐accumulating, groundwater‐dependent and fire‐prone wetland ecosystems. Drying caused by anthropogenic processes such as underground mining, ditching and climate change may disrupt surface and groundwater flows and result in bottom‐up controls on wetland expression. Fire is an endogenous, recurring disturbance that drives a top‐down consumptive force in many upland swamp systems. When compounded with drying, fire may facilitate permanent community transitions. A dearth of ecological data and temporal lags have hampered our ability to predict risks associated with multiple disturbances in wetland plant communities.We collected intact wetland mesocosms from valley floors and lower slopes of four undisturbed swamp sites. We transferred the mesocosms to a glasshouse and established three different soil moisture availability levels to simulate wetland drainage. After 20 months of the hydrological treatment, we simulated a fire event by sequentially applying biomass removal (clipping), heat and smoke to half of the mesocosms. We monitored species biomass, richness and composition over a 3.5‐year time frame.We found evidence of a temporal lag in biomass response to low water availability and synergistic hydrological and fire effects on species richness. In unburnt conditions, richness declined with low water availability but was maintained under high and medium water availability. After simulated fire under medium water availability, however, richness also declined and converged with depauperate low‐water mesocosm richness. Representation by many obligate swamp species declined in low compared with high water availability mesocosms over time, an effect that was amplified by the fire treatment.Synthesis. Our evidence of lagged effects of hydrological change on wetland vegetation and compounding effects of fire should be considered in impact assessments, monitoring programs and ecosystem management to avoid irreversible wetland change in drying environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: As Indigenous Land and Sea Management has grown in scope and scale, there has been increasing focus on monitoring and evaluation to foster learning, strengthen accountability and report on outcomes. A resurgence in Indigenous governance has led to recognition that Indigenous knowledge, law and governance systems are essential to successful conservation initiatives on Indigenous lands. Indigenous‐led monitoring and evaluation involves Indigenous Peoples exercising control, direction and informed decisions about monitoring and evaluation practices and signals a greater role for Indigenous methodologies alongside participatory approaches and Western sciences. This Article describes the Intercultural Monitoring and Evaluation Project, led by the Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with Bi and Yolŋu Traditional Owners and clans and non‐Indigenous practitioners and researchers. The Intercultural Monitoring and Evaluation Project aimed to co‐produce an Indigenous‐led and Country‐based monitoring and evaluation system for Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation's Healthy Country Plan. The Intercultural Monitoring and Evaluation Project recognised that the Rangers from the Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation are accountable within Bi, Yolŋu and Western governance systems and that monitoring and evaluation at Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation needed to strengthen relationships between all three. The Intercultural Monitoring and Evaluation Project involved: (i) developing understandings of monitoring and evaluation in Bi, Yolŋu and Western knowledge systems, (ii) generating organisational roadmaps, targets and indicators, (iii) developing Bi, Yolŋu and Western monitoring methods, (iv) building a data management system and seasonal monitoring calendar, (v) initiating a monitoring and evaluation committee to inform Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation's strategic decision‐making and (vi) sharing the story of the project with others. This approach embedded monitoring and evaluation in Indigenous law and governance, oral knowledge traditions and the intergenerational kinship relationships that sustain people and Country, while also connecting to Western adaptive management frameworks. Indigenous‐led approaches can integrate monitoring and evaluation with Indigenous practices of caring for Country, contributing directly to the multiple ecological, cultural and socio‐economic goals of Indigenous Land and Sea Management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well established that oil palm is one of the most efficient and productive oil crops. However, oil palm agriculture is also one of the threats to tropical biodiversity. This study aims to investigate how set-aside areas in an oil palm plantation affect bird biodiversity. The research area includes two set-asides areas: peat swamp forest and riparian reserves and two oil palm sites adjacent to reserved forest sites. A total of 3,074 birds comprising 100 species from 34 families were observed in an oil palm plantation landscape on peatland located in the northern part of Borneo, Sarawak, Malaysia. Results showed that efforts by set-asides forest areas in large scale of oil palm dominated landscapes supported distinct bird species richness. High percentage of the canopies and shrub covers had a positive effect on bird species richness at area between oil palm and peat swamp forest. Herbaceous cover with height less than 1 m influenced the abundance of birds in the plantation closed to the peat swamp forest. The set-aside areas in oil palm plantations are essential in supporting bird’s refuges and should be part of oil palm landscape management to improve biodiversity conservation. Thus, provided the forest set-aside areas are large enough and risks to biodiversity and habitat are successfully managed, oil palm can play an important role in biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malay language belongs to the Austronesian language family. However, several Malay words are influenced by the Austroasian language group, namely Mon-Khmer. Based on history, the group occupied the Malay Peninsula four thousand years ago, at least a thousand years before the arrival of Austronesians (Bellwood 1997). Thus, it is understood that since ancient times, Southeast Asia has been influenced by Austroasian races and languages. Patani Malay dialect in southern Thailand shows the influence of Austroasian languages in various semantic fields. This study aims to trace the origin and history of the word 'saroh' in Pattani, Thailand. This study uses a qualitative approach consisting of library and field methods. Data were analyzed based on comparative linguistic concepts. The library method was used to find the historical background while the semi-structured interview technique was used as a field method. Six informants were involved in the study, three of whom were Patani Malay speakers, and the other three were Cambodians. The location of the study was Saroh Village located in the Yarang district of Pattani Province, Thailand. Preliminary findings of this study show that the word 'saroh'/saɣɔh/comes from the name of the first woman settler of the village, that is 'Saro'/sarɔ/. However, it was later found that the word 'saroh'/saɣɔh/is used to refer to reservoir or srah' which also means swamp or reservoir area. Then, the word changed according to the pronunciation of the Patani dialect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of History Studies (13094688) is the property of History Studies 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.)

Spermatozoa sexing requires a diluent that can protect and provide an optimal environment to maintain the quality of spermatozoa. This study targets to determine the effectiveness of adding sucrose to tris-egg yolk diluent on the sperm quality of the swamp buffaloes produced by sexing with the egg albumin method. Semen was collected once a week for 12 consecutive weeks with an artificial vagina from three male buffaloes at the Indonesian Center for Animal Research and Development (ICARD) in April - June 2021. Semen was separated by sedimentation using 10% and 30% egg albumins. Semen from sexing was divided into four diluent treatments, namely 20% tris-egg yolk (TEY), TEY+0% sucrose, TEY+0.2% sucrose, TEY+0.3% sucrose, and TEY+0.4% sucrose. Parameters measured included: motility, viability, intact plasm membrane, and intact acrosome cap of buffalo sperm. The results showed the motility of X sperm: 43.75-47.5%, Y sperm: 40-45%, the viability of X sperm: 78.25-79.75% and Y sperm: 77.25-79.75%, intact plasm membrane of X sperm: 70.5-71.5% and Y sperm: 70.5-71%, and viable acrosome-intact for X sperm: 79-80% and Y sperm: 78.75-79.5%. The addition of sucrose up to 0.4% into tris-egg yolk diluent was proven can maintain motility, viability, and integrity of cell membrane and acrosome of spermatozoa of water buffalo that was sexed with egg albumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuscuta gronovii species complex (sensu lato, s.l.) is a North American group of species that belong to C. sect. Oxycarpae of subgenus Grammica. Members of C. gronovii s.l. are often associated with riparian or wet habitats, and their delimitation has been problematic historically. DNA sequences from multiple plastid and nuclear ribosomal non-coding regions were used to reconstruct evolutionary relationships among taxa. Molecular phylogeny supported the resurrection of C. saururi, a taxon that has been treated either as C. gronovii var. latiflora or a nomenclatural synonym of C. gronovii var. gronovii. Cuscuta saururi was inferred to be sister to C. cephalanthi, but the relationships among the rest of taxa, although forming a clade with moderate support, remained largely unresolved. Thus, the species limits of C. gronovii s.l. aggregate were also comprehensively investigated through a morphometric study. Plants with 4-merous flowers from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada, which were previously thought to be C. cephalanthi, were described as a new species, C. acadiana. Cuscuta acadiana, although fertile and producing abundant seeds, is unusual in that the majority of its pollen grains intergrade from zonocolpate, syncolpate, or pantocolpate, with variously shaped or twisted ectoapertures. Cuscuta gronovii var. calyptrata, a widely accepted but virtually unknown taxon, was typified and included in all the analyses. Cuscuta umbrosa was treated as a variety of C. gronovii (var. curta), and C. rostrata was maintained as a species. An identification key, detailed descriptions, illustrations, and a summary of geographical distribution, ecology, and conservation status were provided for all the members of C. gronovii s.l. The only taxon of this species complex found to be weedy, especially in cranberries, was C. gronovii var. gronovii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most natural expectation away from asymptotic limits in moduli space of supergravity theories is the desert scenario, where there are few states between massless fields and the quantum gravity cutoff. In this paper we initiate a systematic study of these regions deep in the moduli space, and use it to place a bound on the number of massless modes by relating it to the black hole species problem. There exists a consistent sub-Planckian UV cutoff (the species scale) which resolves the black hole species problem without bounding the number of light modes. We reevaluate this in the context of supersymmetric string vacua in the desert region and show that even though heuristically the species scale is compatible with expectations, the BPS states of the actual string vacua lead to a stronger dependence of the cutoff scale on the number of massless modes. We propose that this discrepancy, which can be captured by the "BPS desert conjecture", resurrects the idea of a uniform bound on the number of light modes as a way to avoid the black hole species problem. This conjecture also implies a stronger form of the Tadpole Conjecture, which leads to an obstruction in stabilizing all moduli semi-classically for large number of moduli in flux compactifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensity and severity of bushfires in Australia have increased over the past few decades due to climate change, threatening habitat loss for numerous species. Although the impact of bushfires on vertebrates is well‐documented, the corresponding effects on insect taxa are rarely examined, although they are responsible for key ecosystem functions and services. Understanding the effects of bushfire seasons on insect distributions could elucidate long‐term impacts and patterns of ecosystem recovery.Here, the authors investigated the effects of recent bushfires, land‐cover change, and climatic variables on the distribution of a common and endemic dragonfly, the swamp tigertail (Synthemis eustalacta) (Burmeister, 1839), which inhabits forests that have recently undergone severe burning. The authors used a temporally dynamic species distribution modelling approach that incorporated 20 years of community‐science data on dragonfly occurrence and predictors based on fire, land cover, and climate to make yearly predictions of suitability. The authors also compared this to an approach that combines multiple temporally static models that use annual data.The authors found that for both approaches, fire‐specific variables had negligible importance for the models, while the percentage of tree and non‐vegetative cover were most important. The authors also found that the dynamic model outperformed the static ones, based on cross‐validation omission rate. Model predictions indicated temporal variation in area and spatial arrangement of suitable habitat, but no patterns of habitat expansion, contraction, or shifting.These results highlight not only the efficacy of dynamic modelling to capture spatiotemporal variables such as vegetation cover for an endemic insect species, but also provide a novel approach to mapping species distributions with sparse locality records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important source of genomic variation, copy number variation (CNV) contributes to environmental adaptation in worldwide buffaloes. Despite this importance, CNV divergence between swamp buffaloes and river buffaloes has not been studied previously. Here, we report 21 152 CNV regions (CNVRs) in 141 buffaloes of 20 breeds detected through multiple CNV calling strategies. Only 248 CNVRs were shared between river buffalo and swamp buffalo, reflecting great variation of CNVRs between the two subspecies. Population structure analysis based on CNVs successfully separated the two buffalo subspecies. We further assessed CNV divergence by calculating FST for genome‐wide CNVs. Totally, we identified 110 significantly divergent CNV segments and 44 putatively selected genes between river buffaloes and swamp buffaloes. In particular, LALBA, a key gene controlling milk production in cattle, presented a highly differentiated CNV in the promoter region, which makes it a strong functional candidate gene for differences between swamp buffaloes and river buffaloes in traits related to milk production. Our study provides useful information of CNVs in buffaloes, which may help explain the genetic differences between the two subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earthworm genus Helodrilus comprises about 20 species with distributions ranging from the Iberian Peninsula to the Caucasus, through Central Europe, the Balkans, Anatolia and the Levant. The species prefer moist habitats and are often found in the mud of river banks, in swamps or in caves. Although a high degree of morphological variability is observed in the taxonomic characters, the genus shares a common feature: the absence of nephridial bladders. In this study, we clarify the phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Helodrilus using an integrated approach including a multilocus molecular phylogenetic analysis and thorough morphological examination of several species across the putative Helodrilus area of distribution. The findings of this study have led to the genus Helodrilus being split and to the description of two new genera and two new species: Coventina Szederjesi, Sarbu & Csuzdi gen. nov. and Imetescolex movilensis Szederjesi, Sarbu & Csuzdi gen. & sp. nov. The highly homoplasic nature of the absence of nephridial bladders was also revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines what kinds of expressions the human-nature relationship in mire environments have taken in the context of imagined swamp creature narratives, and what the presence of swamp monsters reveals about the wider changes in the human-nature relationship in mires and other wetlands. The theoretical framework of this study is based on environmental humanities, including environmental aesthetics and ecocritical theory. The analysis deals with a range of fictional narratives (comic books, TV-series, literature for adults and children, and video performances) and folklore which feature diverse swamp creatures. Mires have often been considered as strange and fearsome, and both mires and monsters are linked to anomalies and burdened by negative preconceptions. However, attitudes towards mires have slowly changed. For example, along with monsters who sometimes transform into heroes or non-human friends, people’s fears of unpredictable mires are now transforming into fears for these unique environments. In conclusion, the imagined swamp creatures reflect the human-nature relationship of the mires, and at the same time, actively transform it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple elements are critical for plant growth and survival, community structure and vegetation function. Chemical diversity, defined as the ranges in element concentrations of plant species within communities, could provide essential insights into plant nutrient strategies and community assembly rules. However, little is known about the chemical diversity of multi-elements besides N and P, and current understanding of chemical diversity is largely based on aboveground plant traits. We investigated understory plant communities in forest swamps along a local soil chemical gradient and determined 11 major and trace elements in leaves and roots of dominant and subordinate plants. Using n-dimensional hypervolume, we examined the changes in leaf and root chemical diversity and their linkages with soil properties. Plant chemical diversity decreased significantly with soil Al, Mn, Mg and Zn concentrations, but showed no relationships with soil N, P, K, Na, and Fe concentrations, soil pH and C:N. These patterns also held after controlling for species richness and soil moisture. Furthermore, leaf and root chemical diversity was positively correlated and showed similar relationships with soil factors. Root chemical diversity was not significantly higher than leaf chemical diversity. Our results emphasized the important role of soil trace elements for plant chemical diversity along the local soil chemical gradient. Similar patterns and extent of leaf and root chemical diversity may indicate similar local-scale environmental constraint on above- and belowground plant chemical diversity. These findings have important implications for plant community assembly and ecosystem functioning influenced by soil nutrient changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sacred forests are of immense value for their ecosystem functions. Traditional indigenous conservation practices have helped to maintain biological diversity over centuries and have resulted in the preservation of some of the best patches of natural vegetation. Species that are endemic and restricted only to certain ecosystems find refuge in the micro-climatic conditions of sacred groves and many rare species are found here. Here, we compared species composition, floristic structure, diversity, and occurrence of amphibians, insects (odonatan) and birds in ten sacred swamps and ten non-sacred swamps in the central Western Ghats region, India. The sites were chosen based on similarities in distance from roads, village settlements, or commercial orchards and size. In the sacred swamps, 122 plant species from 99 genera and 58 families occur compared to 83 species from 72 genera and 47 families in the non-sacred swamps. Tree stem density was 277 individuals/ha in sacred swamps against 158.4 in nonsacred swamps. Average basal area was 47.57 m2/ha in sacred swamps and only 14.60 m2/ha in non-sacred swamps. Regeneration of swampy species is much better in sacred swamps showing a positively skewed distribution of individuals over all classes. Sacred swamps have a higher number of endemic species (28%) when compared to non-sacred swamps. There exist significant differences in the Shannon index of species diversity of amphibians and birds between sacred and to non-sacred swamps. We conclude that the traditional belief system of treating the swamps as sacred has helped to protect these ecologically important forests. Sacred forests are of immense value for their ecosystem functions. Traditional indigenous conservation practices have helped to maintain biological diversity over centuries and have resulted in the preservation of some of the best patches of natural vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountainous peatlands are one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems for carbon storage and play an important role in the global carbon cycle. An insight into the carbon cycle of peat swamps located in mountainous regions can be obtained by studying the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its relationships with environmental factors. This study focused on the development conditions of peat swamps in the Gahai wetlands, located on the Zoigê Plateau, China, with four different altitudinal gradients as experimental sample sites. The distribution of SOC and its relationship with environmental factors were analysed through vegetation surveys and a generalized additive model (GAM). The results show that with increasing altitude, soil temperature decreased while the soil pH and bulk density initially decreased then increased. On the contrary, the topographic wetness index (TWI), SOC content, above‐ground biomass and litter count initially increased then decreased. The SOC content of the 0–30 cm soil layer was in the range 226–330 g·kg−1 (coefficient of variation (CV) = 21.4%), and the 30–60 cm layer was 178–257 g·kg−1 (CV = 17.5%) and was significantly correlated (p <.05) with above‐ground biomass and litter count. Meanwhile, the SOC content in the 60–90 cm soil layer was in the range 132–167 g·kg−1 (CV = 9.2%) with a significant correlation (p <.05) with soil temperature, pH, bulk density and topographic moisture index. The study showed that the SOC content exhibited more pronounced spatial patterns with increasing altitude, with the peak value in the shallow soil layer appearing in lower elevation areas compared with the deep soil layer. The level of variation changed from medium to low, reflecting the stable mechanism for maintaining SOC within the heterogeneous peat swamp environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Folia Pomeranae Universitatis Technologiae Stetinensis Agricultura Alimentaria Piscaria et Zootechnica is the property of West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin 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.)

The article's author analyses the essays and reportages of Martin Pollack, which he considers interesting research material due to the writer's past and topics related to environmental humanities and violence against Jews. In his work, Pollack reconstructs the Nazi past of his father and grandfather and traces moments of tension between Jews and Austrians and between members of his own family. In his project, a criticism of a society unaware of the consequences of youth radicalisation is adjacent to an analysis of situations in which the memory of the Holocaust has been repressed. Passivity manifests itself on many levels and concerns, not only the lack of reaction to the violence inflicted but also the failure to mark the places of mass extermination of Jews (the case of Rechnitz). Pollack's essays concern the repressed memory of the Holocaust in Austria and the history of genocide traced from a post-anthropocentric perspective. The article's author examines how the writer practices space and makes it cease to be only a stage of the events described. The practice of space allowed Pollack to propose the term "contaminated landscapes" which describes procedures for murdering victims in secluded places chosen for their proximity to swamps or special terrain. Its operability is justified on the condition that the claims of anthropomorphisation of the landscape are abandoned and included in the genocidal process as an accomplice. A more sensible procedure is to shift attention from the landscape to practices referred to as necroviolence. The perpetrators' abandonment of funeral rituals and the abandonment of bodies in the pit include them in the circulation of matter in nature and indicate the violent nature of these practices. The author of the article checks the operability of the category "contaminated landscapes" and describes Pollack's project as an auto/bio/geo/graphy (a term proposed by Elżbieta Rybicka), in which writing about one's family forces one to take a position towards a place antagonising residents and complicating the biographies of individual members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]