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This paper examines the relationship between landscape degradation and flooding in the Niger River catchment of Onitsha, Nigeria, over a 40‐year period (1992–2022), focusing on changes in land use and land cover characteristics. Satellite images were preprocessed and classified using Anderson's classification technique. Erdas Imagine GIS software was adopted to carry out change analysis for each of the classes generated. The Landsat images for all the years (1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022) were acquired for the months of July (wet season) and December (dry season) and analyzed. The trends in seasonal changes in land use and land cover characteristics were prominent in the wet season. This was significantly seen in changes for water body and vegetative area. Built‐up areas and open spaces indicated a decrease during the wet season compared to the dry season. The notable changes occurred in water bodies and vegetation across the studied years, peaking in 1992 with 1628.82 ha for water bodies and 8993.79 ha for vegetation. In 2012, these values were 2040.93 and 8977.5 ha. The largest seasonal shifts were in vegetative areas in 2012 and built‐up in 2022. After analyzing the geospatial data according to the classifications, the study uncovers a notable link between landscape degradation and increased flood susceptibility. Notably, the findings highlight that shifts in these landscape features during the wet season significantly impact flood occurrence, emphasizing the critical role of landscape degradation in exacerbating flood risks in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying glacier changes is essential for understanding global glacier mass balance, patterns in climate change, and the potential consequences they may have. The glaciers of Geladandong Mountain serve as a crucial water source for the Yangtze River and its downstream regions. Any changes in the glacier at the river source will directly impact the ecological environment and water recycling process downstream. This study presents an approach for monitoring Geladandong Mountain glacier elevation changes using ICESat-2 data combined with a Binned Multilevel Regression Fitting Method (BMRFM). We analysed multi-year ICESat-2 data, considering various topographic features, to understand glaciers' annual and seasonal elevation changes. Our research reveals significant spatial heterogeneity in glacier elevation changes, influenced by altitude, slope, and aspect factors. It demonstrates the effectiveness of ICESat-2 in glacier monitoring, offering insights into the impacts of climate change on glacier dynamics. Moreover, the results indicate a predominant trend of ongoing melting at lower altitudes, with a small amount of accretion at higher elevations. Over the last two decades, the overall elevation change rate is −0.23 ± 0.12 metres per year. Seasonal analysis shows substantial glacier thickening from April to August, primarily due to increased precipitation offsetting elevated temperatures. This study offers a robust method for monitoring glaciers using satellite data, thereby advancing the precision and reliability of glacier research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The Xizang sheep is a unique breed of sheep in the highland regions of China that has gradually developed physiological characteristics adapted to the plate environment through long-term natural selection and artificial breeding. However, little is known about the molecular basis of metabolic adaptation to seasons in Xizang sheep. Methods: In this study, liver tissues from Xizang sheep in summer (SL) and autumn (AL) were selected for transcriptome sequencing to explore the metabolic adaptability of Xizang sheep to seasons. Results: The results showed that a total of 12,046 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 1123 genes significantly upregulated and 951 genes significantly downregulated in autumn. The top five pathways enriched for DEGs were Metabolic pathways, Phagosome, Valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, Propanoate metabolism, and Fatty acid metabolism, which are involved in immune regulation, fat oxidation, and synthesis. The reduction in lipid synthesis, fatty acid oxidation, and fat breakdown metabolism promotes gluconeogenesis by inhibiting the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) and Phosphoinositide 3-kinase- Protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathways. Conclusions: This process helps to maintain the whole-body energy homeostasis of Xizang sheep, facilitating their adaptation to the seasonal changes in the extreme high-altitude environment. These findings provide foundational data for studying the molecular mechanisms of metabolic adaptation to seasons in ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling agricultural systems, from the point of view of saving and optimizing water, is a challenging task, because it may require multiple soil physical and hydraulic measurements to investigate the entire crop cycle. The Beerkan method was proposed as a quick and easy approach to estimate the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, Ks. In this study, a new complete three-dimensional model for Beerkan experiments recently proposed was used. It consists of thirteen different calculation approaches that differ in estimating the macroscopic capillary length, initial (θi) and saturated (θs) soil water contents, use transient or steady-state infiltration data, and different fitting methods to transient data. A steady-state version of the simplified method based on a Beerkan infiltration run (SSBI) was used as the benchmark. Measurements were carried out on five sampling dates during a single growing season (from November to June) in a long-term experiment in which two soil management systems were compared, i.e., minimum tillage (MT) and no tillage (NT). The objectives of this work were (i) to test the proposed new model and calculation approaches under real field conditions, (ii) investigate the impact of MT and NT on soil properties, and (iii) obtain information on the seasonal variability of Ks and other main soil physical properties (θi, soil bulk density, ρb, and water retention curve) under MT and NT. The results showed that the model always overestimated Ks compared to SSBI. Indeed, the estimated Ks differed by a factor of 11 when the most data demanding (A1) approach was considered by a factor of 4–8, depending on the transient or steady-state phase use, when A3 was considered and by a practically negligible factor of 1.0–1.9 with A4. A relatively higher seasonal variability was detected for θi at the MT than NT system. Under both MT and NT, ρb did not change between November and April but increased significantly until the end of the season. The selected calculation approaches provided substantially coherent information on Ks seasonal evolution. Regardless of the approach, the results showed a temporal stability of Ks at least from early April to June under NT; conversely, the MT system was, overall, more affected by temporal changes with a relative stability at the beginning and middle of the season. These findings suggest that a common sampling time for determining Ks could be set at early spring. Soil management affected the soil properties, because the NT system was significantly wetter and more compact than MT on four out of five dates. However, only NT showed a significantly increasing correlation between Ks and the modal pore diameter, suggesting the presence of a relatively smaller and better interconnected pore network in the no-tilled soil. This study confirms the need to test infiltration models under real field conditions to evaluate their pros and cons. The Beerkan method was effective for intensive soil sampling and accurate field investigations on the temporal variability of Ks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, half of the amount of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is used in agriculture, in Poland about 27%, respectively. Fertilizing products (compost or organic-mineral fertilizers) produced from sewage sludge are promise alternative for directly use of no-treated waste. The paper presents seasonal changes of Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cr, Cd and Hg content in sewage sludge from different regions of Poland collected during one year. It was noted wide range of the metal amount in dependence on season andWWTPs capacity. The Cu concentration was from 0.4 to 784 mgkg–1 d.m., Ni from 0.25 to 1281 mgkg–1 d.m., Cd from 0.005 to 14.85 mgkg–1 d.m., Pb from 0.11 to 306.2 mgkg��1 d.m., Hg from

Introduction: Coastal marine ecosystems are among the most ecologically and socio-economically dynamic regions on Earth, and the study of eukaryotic planktonic communities is an important aspect of aquatic ecology. It is essential to monitor plankton biodiversity and identify influencing factors in order to measure human effects on coastal waters and help contribute to ecosystem preservation. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding analysis is an advanced toolfor detecting the presence of aquatic organisms, which has revolutionary significance for biodiversity monitoring and real-time detection of wild environments. Methods: In this study, eDNA metabarcoding was used to study seasonal changes in eukaryotic plankton communities in subtropical coastal waters of the northern South China Sea, to explore how various trophic groups affect the complexity and stability of the species network. Results: The results showed that the summer interaction network is looser and had has reduce biodiversitycompared to the spring interaction network. As an important part of the planktonic community, the abundance and diversity of algae reflect the interactions between different species and the influence of environmental factors on the dominant species, particularly temperature and nutrients. In addition, producer diversity set the basis for species network complexity and indirectly affected network stability, while consumer diversity and its flexible predation strategies may directly lead to differences in network stability across seasons. There were close correlations among species interaction, environmental factors and species diversity. Discussion: This study can help us understand the ecosystemfunctions throughout the year and the complex interactions of planktonic communities from a multiple trophic level perspective, and provide effective methods for sustainable resource utilization and ecological environmental protection in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern Himalayan syntaxis (EHS) region is characterized by steep topography, strong tectonic activity, and strong disaster activity, and the disaster activity has a temporal correlation with the change of seasonal climate factors. Different from other disaster-prone areas, the disasters in the EHS area are more destructive and more susceptible to changes in climate factors. However, previous studies on disaster susceptibility in the region mainly focused on geohazard samples, regional topography, and geological conditions and seldom considered the characteristics of disaster activity and the characteristics of seasonal temperature and rainfall changes, which often led to an underestimation of disaster susceptibility in this region. Therefore, in this study, SBAS-InSAR technology and the GEE (Google Earth Engine) platform were used to identify 317 geological disasters and construct the spatial–temporal motion field and spatial-temporal background information of disasters in the last 5 years. Based on the random forest and optimized evaluation data model, the disaster susceptibility in the EHS area was quantitatively evaluated. The AUC value of the model was 0.89, indicating that the results have high reliability. The results showed that the high-susceptibility areas were mainly distributed in the riverbank and high-altitude areas. The SHAP model revealed that the factors of temperature, precipitation, slope, and elevation in the EHS area had a great negative influence on the disaster. The quantitative results of the influence of seasonal temperature and precipitation on disaster susceptibility showed that the area of susceptibility in summer was significantly higher than that in winter, and the area of high and very high susceptibility increased by about 13%. Finally, the dynamic failure process of typical landslide and glacier disasters in highly susceptible areas was quantitatively predicted, which provides a scientific basis for disaster prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil cover as a systemic formation is characterized by the formation of properties of different taxonomic levels and signs of structural organization with hierarchical subordination. As an integral natural formation, soils have resource potential, subject to the active influence of factors of the physical and geographical environment. Individual soil properties and their overall functional purpose may differ in time and space. Such properties are formed in different regions, reflecting the influence of local conditions. Typical representatives of soils with signs of salinity, excluding the implementation of production processes, are formed in arid conditions (Caspian lowland, Volga delta). The difference in the target functioning of soils in the region is expressed in the presence of a special natural combination of properties that the components of a typical soil profile do not possess (Neustruev, 1915). This is due to the fact that, when determining the classification characteristics of saline soils, processes that occur between individual horizons and are reversible in nature remain unaccounted for to date. The possibility of reversibility and restoration of physicochemical properties to the level of indicators characteristic of the climatic regime with the duration of geological periods of time remains in the shadows for many types of soils to this day (the water-soluble part of carbonates, silicates, and organic matter). We consider it appropriate to use a systematic approach when analyzing the temporal and seasonal functions of various types of soils (especially saline ones) under conditions of desertification and arid degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), colonies forage from multiple wood and soil sources in a temperate climate. Thus, access to all nutrients may not be consistent throughout the year due to seasonal temperature changes. This study examined the changes in levels of protein, lipids, carbohydrates (simple sugars and glycogen), and amino acids in workers and soldiers during four different time intervals of the year (spring, early summer, late summer, and fall) when termites would be actively foraging. Workers and soldiers did show differences in nutrient levels and in both castes, levels of all nutrients did change seasonally. Based on the results of this study, both castes increase levels of protein, carbohydrates, and lipids as winter approaches. These findings suggest that termite soldiers may act as repletes for the colony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the gut microbiome has been intensively investigated for more than twenty years already, its role in various disorders remains to be unraveled. At the same time, questions about what changes in the gut microbiota can be considered as normal or pathological and whether communities are able to recover after exposure to negative factors (diseases, medications, environmental factors) are still unclear. Here, we describe changes in the gut microbiota composition and the content of short-chain fatty acids in adult healthy volunteers (n = 15) over a 24 month-period. Intraindividual variability in gut microbial composition was 40%, whereas the short chain fatty acids profile remained relatively stable (2-year variability 20%, inter-individual 26%). The changes tend to accumulate over time. Nevertheless, both short-term and long-term changes in the gut microbiome composition were significantly smaller within individuals than interindividual differences (two-year interindividual variability was 75%). Seasonal changes in gut microbiota were found more often in autumn and spring involving the content of minor representatives (less than 1.5% of the community in average) in the phyla Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, half of the amount of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is used in agriculture, in Poland about 27%, respectively. Fertilizing products (compost or organic-mineral fertilizers) produced from sewage sludge are promise alternative for directly use of no-treated waste. The paper presents seasonal changes of Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cr, Cd and Hg content in sewage sludge from different regions of Poland collected during one year. It was noted wide range of the metal amount in dependence on season and WWTPs capacity. The Cu concentration was from 0.4 to 784 mgkg-1 d.m., Ni from 0.25 to 1281 mgkg-1 d.m., Cd from 0.005 to 14.85 mgkg-1 d.m., Pb from 0.11 to 306.2 mgkg-1 d.m., Hg from<0.001 to 2.3 mgkg-1, Cr from 0.23 to 854 mgkg-1 and Zn from 11 to 4669 mgkg-1, respectively. It has been shown that Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg and Cr content did not exceed the permissible levels for agricultural purposes according to Polish law. There was no clear correlation between the heavy metal amount and the WWTP capacity, expressed as population equivalent (PE). However some increase trend in the case of Cu, Ni, Hg and Cr concentration at the higher PE value was found. It has been concluded that in spite relatively low level of heavy metals in Polish WWTPs, it may be limiting factor for production high quality fertilizers on the base of sewage sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the current study was to find the impact of seasonal changes on undergraduate students and make a comparison between undergraduate students on the basis of prevalence of Seasonal affective disorder. STUDY DESIGN Cross sectional study design PLACE & DURATION OF STUDY Data was collected from different universities of Peshawar city including Khyber medical university, Abasyn University, Peshawar University, Cecos university, and Rehman Medical Institute from 07- January 2022 to 17-November, 2022. METHODS The sample size consisted of 100 undergraduate students from different universities in Peshawar (N = 100). Their ages ranged from 18 to 26 years old. The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) along with a demographic information sheet and informed consent sheet was administered. RESULT Statistical analysis revealed that among 100 participants, 71 were affected by SAD. Further on, it was elaborated that female students have high rates of SAD as compared to male students. The present study has a high value of significance (10.928). CONCLUSION The results of the study supported the proposed hypotheses and confirmed the impact of seasonal affective disorder on the academic performance of undergraduate students while having a large female population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine bacterioplankton play a crucial role in the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in coastal waters. And the impact of environmental factors on bacterial community structure and ecological functions is a dynamic ongoing process. To systematically assess the relationship between environmental changes and bacterioplankton communities, this study delved into the spatiotemporal distribution and predicted metabolic characteristics of bacterioplankton communities at two estuarine beaches in Northern China. Coastal water samples were collected regularly in spring, summer, and autumn, and were analyzed in combination with environmental parameters and bacterioplankton community. Results indicated significant seasonal variations in bacterioplankton communities as Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were enriched in spring, Cyanobacteria proliferated in summer. While Pseudomonadota and microorganisms associated with organic matter decomposition prevailed in autumn, closely linked to seasonal variation of temperature, light and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Particularly in summer, increased tourism activities and riverine inputs significantly raised nutrient levels, promoting the proliferation of specific photosynthetic microorganisms, potentially linked to the occurrence of phytoplankton blooms. Spearman correlation analysis further revealed significant correlations between bacterioplankton communities and environmental factors such as salinity, chlorophyll a, and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP). Additionally, the metabolic features of the spring bacterioplankton community were primarily characterized by enhanced activities in the prokaryotic carbon fixation pathways, reflecting rapid adaptation to increased light and temperature, as well as significant contributions to primary productivity. In summer, the bacterial communities were involved in enhanced glycolysis and biosynthetic pathways, reflecting high energy metabolism and responses to increased light and biomass. In autumn, microorganisms adapted to the accelerated decomposition of organic matter and the seasonal changes in environmental conditions through enhanced amino acid metabolism and material cycling pathways. These findings demonstrate that seasonal changes and human activities significantly influence the structure and function of bacterioplankton communities by altering nutrient dynamics and physical environmental conditions. This study provides important scientific insights into the marine biological responses under global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D regulates not only bone metabolism but also many other processes, including the functioning of lymphocytes. Human T cells have a nuclear receptor for vitamin D (VDR). Studies to date have shown significant seasonal variations in conventional T cell populations in humans living in temperate climates.

This study examined variations in match physical performances of Turkish Super League soccer players over four consecutive seasons, considering playing position. Data were derived from 1224 different match indices for 17997 observations of 25 different teams. These data were collected over the four seasons from 2015–16 to 2018–19 utilizing a multi-camera computerized tracking system. Playing positions were categorized as follows: central defender (CD), external defender (ED), central midfielder (CM), external midfielder (EM), and forward (FWR). The data analysed covered total distance, as well as distances covered in the following conditions: high-speed running (HSR, 20-23.9 km.h-1), sprinting (> 24 km.h-1), high metabolic power (HMP; from 20 to 35 W·kg1), elevated metabolic power (EMP; from 35 to 55 W·kg-1), and maximal metabolic power (MMP; > 55 W·kg-1). Players in the CM position were found to cover a significantly greater total distance, as well as significantly greater HMP and EMP distances than all other positions. In contrast, those in EM and ED positions engaged in significantly greater high-speed running and sprint distance than all other positions (p

Seasonal changes and uncontrolled anthropogenic activities alter surface water resources quality and threaten access to water for consumptive and non-consumptive needs of humankind. This study examines the interactive impact of seasonal variation and anthropogenic activities on selected biophysicochemical properties and heavy metal status of tropical surface water resources. The study was conducted with water samples taken from upstream, midstream and downstream of the networked surface water system of the Barekese and Owabi dams in the Ashanti Region of Ghana during the wet season (March – Mid. October 2019) and dry season (Mid. October – February,2019). The result revealed that the downstream had significantly higher levels of conductivity, BOD, NO3-N, NH4-N , as well as Escherichia coli (E. coli) when compared to the midstream and upstream. The levels of NO3-N were significantly higher during the wet season while conductivity, TSS, E. coli and copper were higher during the dry season. Significant interactive effects between seasons and anthropogenic activities on water quality were observed. The anthropogenic impacts on conductivity, E. coli, and copper concentration were observed during the dry season while that of NO3-N was observed during the wet season. Overall, the water quality was poorest during the dry season and mainly in the downstream where anthropogenic activities are pronounced. This means that efforts towards improving surface water quality should be targeted at downstream activities, especially during the dry season. The study recommends the need for effective monitoring and control of activities such as dry season farming and indiscriminate discharge of waste into tributaries of surface water especially within the downstream.

Study region: The largest lake in China's Yellow River Basin, Ulansuhai. Study focus: After implementing the optimal noise reduction strategies based on wavelet transform for the high-frequency monitoring data, hybrid models coupling random forests, support vector machines, and artificial neural networks were employed to simulate the dissolved oxygen in the lake during both the open-water and ice-covered periods. The optimal hybrid model for each period was selected through extensive analysis, and the shapley additive explanations method was utilized to quantify the contribution of feature variables to the results. New hydrological insight for the region: The results revealed MAE, RMSE, and NSE values of 0.76, 1.01, and 0.92 for WT-RF, and 0.42, 0.55, and 0.84 for WT-SVM. They represent the optimal hybrid models for the open-water and ice-covered periods, respectively. The SHAP analysis showed that water temperature, blue-green algae, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, and chlorophyll.a exhibited significant importance in the WT-RF model, in that order. BGA and Chl.a synergistically promoted the increase in DO levels during the open-water period. For the WT-SVM model, Chl.a, BGA, Tur, and Temp exhibited significant contributions to the simulation results in that order. However, only BGA was able to enhance DO levels during the ice-covered period. As seasons change, shifts in key water environment factors affecting DO reveal the complexity of lake ecosystems in a cold and arid region.

The current study intends to evaluate the influence of seasonal changes on the water quality parameters of a coupled commercial aquaponics system. The determined water quality parameters for the comparative study were total ammoniumnitrogen (TAN), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) and phosphate (PO43-), water temperature (WT), water pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS). The WT and DO analysis were carried out using a portable dissolved oxygen meter (Model: PDO-520, Taiwan). A portable electrode pH meter (Model: PH-220, Taiwan) was utilized for the pH measurement. The TDS and EC readings were obtained using a multi-parameter water quality meter (PHT-27, China). The TAN, NO3-N, and PO43- determinations were done using their individual Merck Spectro-quant® test kits. The research results indicated a significant (p<0.05) difference in the NO3-N, PO43-, WT, pH, EC, and TDS values among the comparative four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and autumn). However, the TAN and DO levels revealed no significant (p>0.05) difference. The observed significant increase of NO3-N, PO43-, EC, and TDS in the summer and autumn periods could be associated to the increased fish feeding rate (which increases waste production) as well as relative increase in microbial waste conversion/mineralization. The investigated water quality makers were within the recommended amounts in the aquaponics system. Thus, in this study, seasonal differences have induced variation in the NO3-N, PO43-, WT, pH, EC, and TDS amounts. However, these differences do not affect the TAN and DO levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the largest freshwater river flowing through Harbin, the Songhua River is a standby water source. It is very important to know the species and distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the river. In this study, five antibiotics were selected to screen and identify ARB in spring and autumn. The results showed that the concentration of cefotaxime-resistant bacteria was the highest, and the maximum concentration at S6 in spring was up to 1.40 × 104 CFU/mL. In spring and autumn, bacteria resistant to three antibiotics were screened at S1 of the Songhua River, and bacteria resistant to five antibiotics were screened at S6. No multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria (MARB) were screened in the other four sites in autumn, while MARB were screened in the other three samples except S2 in spring. In all sample areas in spring and autumn, the probability of screening MARB at S1 and S6 was the highest, reaching 100%. The identification results of 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of ARB showed that a total of 51 ARB strains from 15 bacterial genera were screened in the Songhua River, of which 20 ARB strains were from Pseudomonas. Among the 15 bacterial genera, bacteria from 8 bacterial genera have pathogenicity. The results of this study revealed the concentration, spatial distribution, and seasonal variation of culturable ARB in the Songhua River, providing data support for the remediation of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) pollution in the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was an identification and variability assessment of river low-flows in five big catchments in Poland that, due to their size and location, reflect the predominant features of the physico-geographical regions in which they lie. There were 92 gauging cross-sections with daily discharge series selected in the period 1989-2018. The data were taken from the database of Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - National Research Institute. Low-flows were identified on the base of the Threshold Level Method where truncation discharge corresponded to the 70th percentile on the Flow Duration Curve. During analysis, multiannual and seasonal variability of low-flow duration, streamflow deficit and their derived characteristics were assessed. The research showed the relationship of precipitation distribution and water balance structure with average low-flow duration and the number of identified episodes. Specific features of catchments determining low flows development were indicated. They resulted primarily from features of the catchment hydrogeological and hydrographic structure, land cover and evapotranspiration intensity. Attention was paid to shaping seasonal features of low-flows both in terms of their origin and the dynamics of development. The main anthropogenic factors have been identified which affect the course of low-flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major paradigms in ecology is the understanding of processes and patterns related to the structure of biological communities. Reef ecosystems, with their high productivity, habitat heterogeneity, and fish diversity provide a model for studying these processes. We sampled four sites three times during the season associated with the California Current and two times associated with the North Equatorial Current using video-transects on the coast of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico to determine the relationship between the habitat characteristics and the structure of the fish assemblage. We recorded a total of 26 families and 54 species and estimated fish richness and abundance. In addition to measuring local water variables such as temperature (°C), salinity (PPT), pH and dissolved oxygen (O2%), we determined habitat heterogeneity by processing photographs of the substrate and calculated rugosity using the tape chain. Oxygen and temperature were the variables associated to sea water conditions that differentiated the sampled sites. The fish community structure presented high correlations with temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, followed by the heterogeneity components such as rugosity and substrate diversity. Our results showed that seasonal changes in water conditions and physical components in the coast of Zihuatanejo promotes changes in the fish community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports data on the structural and production characteristics of bacterioplankton in the western Kara Sea at the beginning and middle of summer. On the slope of the St. Anna Trough, the average prokaryote abundance in the water column was 594–708 × 103 cells mL−1 (26.4–36.5 mgC m–3) in June and 247–517 × 103 cells mL−1 (12–28 mgC m–3) at the beginning of August. On the transect along the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, the average bacterioplankton abundance in the water column was 186–554 × 103 cells mL−1 (8.5–30 mgC m–3) within a week after the seasonal ice retreat and 169–443 × 103 cells mL−1 (8–21 mgC m–3) in midsummer. The specific bacterial growth rate did not exceed 1.28 day–1; high values were observed in the upper warm water layer, above the halocline, and also in near-bottom water. At the beginning of summer, the bacterioplankton production tended to decrease in the northeast direction. The prokaryote abundance distribution was associated with water temperature and oxygen saturation possibly as an indirect indicator of the past phytoplankton bloom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Through the cooperation with an industrial partner, we gained a set of data for the tensile properties (wet) of human hair. The hair samples originated from a cross‐over study with two groups of individuals, using for a topical application sequentially two products (A and B). Each phase of the study lasted 6 months. The phases of the study by chance covered first largely the winter and then the summer period. Initially, tensile variables were chosen, which not only reflect the mechanical properties of hair (modulus, break strain, and break stress) but which are also considered to have a good connection to practice‐relevant hair properties. The initial analysis of the data showed that changes were observed for the variables due to the treatment phases. However, these were either small or difficult to interpret. Methods: Against this background and using two‐factor analysis of variance, we investigated the hypothesis that the tensile properties of hair (wet) may show significant seasonal changes. For this, we chose those two independent variables, which reflect the properties of the intermediate filaments (modulus) and the matrix (break strain) in the composite structure of the hair cortex. Results: The results support the 'seasonal' hypothesis and clearly show that the variables show significant changes from Winter to Summer (modulus: 10% increase; break strain: 3% decrease). The seasonal effect was thus a major reason, why the first stage of the analysis of the data was inconclusive. Conclusions: The tensile properties of the main morphological components of the cortex show distinct seasonal changes. Towards the summer, the hair becomes stiffer and more brittle. Furthermore, the results suggest that seasonal effects may need to be taken into account when conducting studies on lengths of hair grown during different seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the seasonal changes in body condition (BC) of animals is important for understanding their reproduction and survival, as well as human–animal interaction. Visual or photographic assessment of BC has, however, been limited to species in open habitats or to specific times and locations. To noninvasively assess the seasonal changes in the entire local population of brown bears (Ursus arctos) inhabiting the forest habitat in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, we evaluated their BC using camera-trapping during 2015–2017. We assigned a 5-point BC score (BCS) for each individual based on the images, and examined seasonal changes in BCS by sex–age classes. Out of the 1,714 events in which brown bears were recorded, sex–age classes including adult males, subadults, females with offspring, and solitary adult females, could be determined in 887 events. Overall, BCS tended to decrease from spring to summer, with the lowest value in July, and tended to increase toward autumn, with the highest value in November. The BCS of adult male bears showed the highest seasonal variation, whereas that of subadults showed the least variation. Adult females, both solitary and those with offspring, showed intermediate seasonal variation in BCS compared with adult males and subadults. These seasonal changes were considered to be a general pattern and point to the amount of accumulated body fat. Adult males have a larger home range and, because of their social dominance, can exploit higher quality resources than can be exploited by other sex–age classes, which results in them being able to accumulate relatively more fat during hyperphagia. Females with offspring tended to have a lesser increase in BCS after August and lower BCS in autumn than did solitary adults. We were able to demonstrate the possibility of evaluating the BC of individuals and their seasonal changes by examining BCS based on the videos taken by camera traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perspiration fluctuates with the season. Body mass, humidity, temperature, and other factors affect perspiration. Due to higher temperatures, warmer seasons produce more perspiration in the individuals which is the opposite with colder seasons. Seasonal perspiration regulates body temperature in different climates. Due to seasonal and environmental factors, fingerprint residues are subject to variations. Photoluminescence and UV-VIS spectroscopy were used to evaluate fingerprint residues and their response with respect to seasonal variations. To test the hypothesis, 1600 latent fingerprint residues were collected under various conditions spanning the summer and winter seasons cycle for a year. The collected samples were subjected to ultraviolet (UV) light from 200nm to 1600nm to examine their absorption spectra. Further, their fluorescence intensities were measured using photoluminescence spectroscopy. The research's positive outcomes demonstrate that photoluminescence spectroscopy may accurately detect seasonal resonances on latent fingerprint residues, which can be termed seasonal markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves are estuarine and coastal ecosystems strongly influenced by the local tidal regime and climate, so there is a strong variation between seasons of the year. Assessing seasonal characteristics and fluctuations allows for an understanding of changes in mangrove ecosystems during each period of the year. In this study, we used images collected from the Multispectral Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to determine the current status and fluctuations between summer and winter of the mangrove area of Dong Rui commune according to five vegetation indicators, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index (VARI), and Green Chlorophyll Index (GCI). The results show that the current state of mangroves in the UAV flight area is relatively good, with the value of vegetation indicators at a high level. In the summer, the value of vegetation indicators is stable and higher than in the winter. In low-tide areas, vegetation index values fluctuate higher than in high-tide areas. Based on the results of the analysis of vegetation indicators, the degree of correlation between NDVI and the remaining four values was determined. The results showed that the correlation coefficient was at a high level, with the highest being between NDVI and SAVI with a correlation coefficient of approximately equal to 1, followed by NDVI and EVI with a correlation coefficient above 0.9. We propose that UAV is an effective tool for monitoring and assessing fluctuations, serving the management and conservation of mangrove ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the frequent occurrence of droughts has caused a serious impact on vegetation growth and progression. This research is based upon the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from 2001 to 2020. The correlation between the NDVI and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) at disparate time scales was used to assess the response of vegetation growth to drought in the Yinshanbeilu region. The drought levels of SPEI1, SPEI3, SPEI6, and SPEI12 increased prominently in the eastern region of the country, while the NDVI decreased significantly from east to west in spring, summer, and autumn but was reversed in the winter. The area with an upward trend (33.86%) was slightly lower than that with a downward trend (66.14%). The correlation coefficients between the NDVI and SPEI over the entire year increased with the SPEI timescale. The elevated values were concentrated in the southeastern and western regions of the survey region. Additionally, the best correlation timescales were SPEI6 and SPEI12. Grassland was the most sensitive vegetation type to the SPEI response in the NDVI. The correlation coefficients of NDVI and SPEI1–12 were 0.313, 0.459, 0.422, and 0.406. Both spring and summer were more responsive to SPEI12, whereas autumn and winter were more responsive to SPEI3. The correlation of disparate time scales exhibited complex soil texture features with respect to different seasonal scales, and the soil texture showed a strong response to vegetation in both summer and autumn. Loam, sandy loam, and silty loam all exhibited the highest response to SPEI12, with coefficients of 0.509, 0.474, and 0.403, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of morphological and biochemical blood indices facilitates assessment of the health and welfare of horses, their nutrient demand, the effects of training already undertaken, and the horses’ suitability for exercise. Identification of the season-dependent components and the effects of sex and exercise on changes in frequently referenced haematological and biochemical parameters was the main goal of the current study.

Abstract The monitoring of indoor air pollutants is an important part of the management of heritage collections. In this work, acetic acid, formic acid, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and NO2 were measured with passive samplers along with temperature and relative humidity once per season in seven European institutions of different sizes with different types of objects. The measurements were carried out in a variety of locations, from modern and old display cases in exhibition rooms of different sizes to storage rooms and their enclosures for different types of objects. The results were evaluated based on the characteristics of the sampling locations and the extent to which the changing seasons affect pollutant concentrations were estimated. The dataset obtained from this study can be a valuable asset as a snapshot of the current state of the environment in European heritage collections.

In addition to traffic, the main source of nitrogen dioxide is also industrial plants where combustion takes place at high temperatures, such as heating plants and smelters. Nitrogen oxides from traffic are the dominant component of air pollution in large cities and represent an important source of exposure and health risk for people, especially those who move along busy roads. In Bor, real-time nitrogen dioxide concentrations have been measured since 2010 at the measuring point "Institute IRM Bor" near Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor. This paper presents an analysis of the results of measuring nitrogen dioxide concentrations in Bor in the periods 2010-2013 and 2019-2023. Based on the analysis of nitrogen dioxide measurement results, it was established that in both periods there are seasonal changes (heating/non-heating season) in nitrogen dioxide concentrations. Nitrogen dioxide concentrations were on average 17% higher in the heating season than in the non-heating season. Also, in the period 2019-2023 the average concentration of nitrogen dioxide was 28.6 µg/m3 , which is about 18% more compared to the period 2010-2013 in which the average concentration of nitrogen dioxide was 24.3 µg/m3 . In the observed periods, there was no exceedance of the limit value for the average annual concentration of nitrogen dioxide of 40 µg/m3 . However, several days were recorded with an average daily concentration of nitrogen dioxide above the daily limit value of 85 µg/m3 .

Background/Objectives: The Xizang sheep is a unique breed of sheep in the highland regions of China that has gradually developed physiological characteristics adapted to the plate environment through long-term natural selection and artificial breeding. However, little is known about the molecular basis of metabolic adaptation to seasons in Xizang sheep. Methods: In this study, liver tissues from Xizang sheep in summer (SL) and autumn (AL) were selected for transcriptome sequencing to explore the metabolic adaptability of Xizang sheep to seasons. Results: The results showed that a total of 12,046 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 1123 genes significantly upregulated and 951 genes significantly downregulated in autumn. The top five pathways enriched for DEGs were Metabolic pathways, Phagosome, Valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, Propanoate metabolism, and Fatty acid metabolism, which are involved in immune regulation, fat oxidation, and synthesis. The reduction in lipid synthesis, fatty acid oxidation, and fat breakdown metabolism promotes gluconeogenesis by inhibiting the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) and Phosphoinositide 3-kinase- Protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathways. Conclusions: This process helps to maintain the whole-body energy homeostasis of Xizang sheep, facilitating their adaptation to the seasonal changes in the extreme high-altitude environment. These findings provide foundational data for studying the molecular mechanisms of metabolic adaptation to seasons in ruminants.

Seasonal and interannual changes in the Greenland Sea ice age composition during winter months for seven standard age categories are analyzed. To estimate the amount of the ice of different age categories, the digital archive of the region's ice charts for the period 1997–2022 produced by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute is used. Statistical insignificance of linear trends has been revealed for the main age categories of the Greenland Sea ice. A comparison of the obtained estimates of the variability in the amount of the ice of different age categories and earlier studies shows that the quantitative changes in the Greenland Sea ice age composition started before 1997. The data on the ice age composition over a 25-year observation period alone are insufficient to draw an unambiguous conclusion about a decrease in the Greenland Sea ice thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-cycling processes mediated by microorganisms are directly linked to the eutrophication of lakes and ecosystem health. Exploring the variation and influencing factors of N-cycling-related genes is of great significance for controlling the eutrophication of lakes. However, seasonal dynamics of genomic information encoding nitrogen (N) cycling in sediments of eutrophic lakes have not yet been clearly addressed. We collected sediments in the Baiyangdian (BYD) Lake in four seasons to explore the dynamic variation of N-cycling functional genes based on a shotgun metagenome sequencing approach and to reveal their key influencing factors. Our results showed that dissimilatory nitrate reduction (DNRA), assimilatory nitrate reduction (ANRA), and denitrification were the dominant N-cycling processes, and the abundance of nirS and amoC were higher than other functional genes by at least one order of magnitude. Functional genes, such as nirS, nirK and amoC, generally showed a consistent decreasing trend from the warming season (i.e., spring, summer, fall) to the cold season (i.e., winter). Furthermore, a significantly higher abundance of nitrification functional genes (e.g., amoB, amoC and hao) in spring and denitrification functional genes (e.g., nirS, norC and nosZ) in fall were observed. N-cycling processes in four seasons were influenced by different dominant environmental factors. Generally, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or sediment organic matter (SOM), water temperature (T) and antibiotics (e.g., Norfloxacin and ofloxacin) were significantly correlated with N-cycling processes. The findings imply that sediment organic carbon and antibiotics may be potentially key factors influencing N-cycling processes in lake ecosystems, which will provide a reference for nitrogen management in eutrophic lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snails are often exposed to high variability of ambient temperatures, thus in response to that, they function for prolonged periods in a dormant state. It is known that molecular chaperones (like heat shock proteins (HSPs)) fulfill important functions in maintaining cell homeostasis and the cellular responses to stress, and that they are activated in many different species upon exposition to various environmental stressors. HSPs defend organisms from the harmful consequences of heat shock and potentially alternative stressors too. After thorough consideration, we decided to identify proteins that interact with HSP70 and HSP90 in Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758 snails under extreme thermal (low and high) and photoperiod (short and long) conditions and at hypometabolic/active states as a response to environmental stress. Identification of proteins that interact with HSPs can define a new tool in molecular basis of adaptation to temperature stress in snails. After performing co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot, we obtained results showing that HSP70 interacts with hemocyanin alphaN and alphaD, and with other isoforms of hemocyanin–hemocyanin beta as well as with Na+/K+-ATPase, whereas HSP90 interacts with hemocyanin alphaN. It means that the chaperones are likely to affect the most important life-supporting systems of snails like respiration and ionic conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal environment at birth may influence diabetes incidence in later life. We sought evidence for this effect and analyzed the association between the month of birth and the risk of developing type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This was a cohort study carried out with 814 patients diagnosed with T1DM in the region of Bauru – São Paulo State, Brazil, receiving medical care in a private Endocrinology clinic or in the public Brazilian National Health Care System, from 1981 to 2021. All live births that occurred in São Paulo State between 1974 and 2020 were classified by month of birth and were considered as the control group. We found no statistically significant difference (χ2=16.31, critical 19.68) between the month of birth and risk of developing T1DM, when comparing our patients with the background population of the region. There was no association between the month of birth, sex, age at diagnosis, duration of symptoms before diagnosis, self-reported color, and socioeconomic status. We found no association between month of birth and the risk of developing T1DM in this highly admixed South American population. Our data suggest that our population heterogeneity and geographic location may be important factors in the development of T1DM. Future prospective studies, evaluating environmental factors that may confer risk or protection to the disease, are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baijiu is one of the six primary distilled spirits in the world. It is produced through the solid-state fermentation of grains in the open environment, so high-quality Baijiu brewing largely depends on terrior. Environmental microbes are one of the most important factors affecting the quality, quantity, and flavors of Baijiu. As atmosphere is a pool and transport pathway for microbes from the ambient environment to Baijiu brewing ecosystems, we explored the functional microbes of Baijiu brewing in five important regions. The regions fell into two topographical types, namely, plain and river-valley. In total, 41 functional microbes were identified rich (relative abundance >0.1%) in at least one of the regions, such as the fungi of Aspergillus, Candida, Cladosporium, Debaryomyces, Penicillium, Pichia, Rhizopus, Saccharomyces, and Wickerhamomyces and the bacteria of Acetobacter, Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterobacter, Lactobacillus, Methanosarcina, Methanobacterium, Methanobrevibacter, and Pseudomonas. However, some functional bacteria (e.g., Clostridia, Gluconacetobacter, and Weissella) and fungi (e.g., Dekkera, Eurotium, Issatchenkia, Mucor, and Phoma) were not rich or were not detected in the atmosphere. Airborne microbiomes and the Phylogenetic Diversity (PD) index were significantly different between the main brewing season (winter) and the summer break in each region, except for the fungi in one region. In winter, airborne microbiomes were significantly different among almost all the regions. The relative abundance of bacterial fermentation function in each region increased from summer to winter. The relative abundances of fungal yeast function were higher in winter for the plain regions but were higher in summer for the river-valley regions. In sum, our results suggested that: (1) atmosphere was one but not the sole important source of functional microbes for Baijiu brewing and (2) microbiomes in different regions might be quite different but they could share some major functions related to Baijiu brewing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the microbial community composition of six stands. The findings of this study revealed the seasonal variations in the microbial community of the bulk soil in urban forests, as well as the microbial community structure associated with different tree species. These results offer valuable insights for the selection and conservation of tree species within urban forest stands. Urban forests play a crucial role in the overall health and stability of urban ecosystems. Soil microorganisms are vital to the functioning of urban forest ecosystems as they facilitate material cycling and contribute to environmental stability. This study utilized high-throughput sequencing technology to examine the structural characteristics of bacterial and fungal communities in the bulk soil of six different forest stands: Phyllostachys pubescens (ZL), Metasequoia glyptostroboides (SSL), Cornus officinalis (SZY), mixed broad-leaved shrub forest (ZKG), mixed pine and cypress forest (SBL), and mixed broad-leaved tree forest (ZKQ). Soil samples were collected from each forest stand, including the corners, center, and edges of each plot, and a combined sample was created from the first five samples. The results revealed that among the bacterial communities, ZKG exhibited the highest alpha diversity in spring, while ZL demonstrated the highest alpha diversity in both summer and autumn. Proteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial phylum in all six forest stand soils. The dominant fungal phylum across the six forest stands was identified as Ascomycota. Notably, the microbial community diversity of SBL bulk soil exhibited significant seasonal changes. Although ZL exhibited lower bacterial community diversity in spring, its fungal community diversity was the highest. The bulk soil microbial diversity of ZL and SSL surpassed that of the other forest stands, suggesting their importance in maintaining the stability of the urban forest ecosystem in the Zhuyu Bay Scenic Area. Furthermore, the diversity of the bulk soil microbial communities was higher in all six stands during spring compared to summer and autumn. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the seasonal variations of bulk soil microbial communities in urban forests and identifies dominant tree species, offering guidance for tree species' selection and preservation in urban forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Information on epibionts and symbionts of the introduced Barents Sea red king crab during the winter period is currently lacking. To address this gap, we examined the species composition and infestation indices of epibionts on this host in the northern part of Kola Bay in November. Our findings indicate a higher infestation rate of barnacles and amphipods during the winter season compared to the summer. In contrast, infestation rates of other species remained low during winter, reflecting seasonal fluctuations in both the size distribution of red king crabs and prevailing temperature conditions. Our research provides novel data on the growth patterns of commonly associated organisms, which could prove invaluable in determining the age of red king crabs in the Barents Sea. The species composition of epibiotic communities on red king crab was investigated in Sayda Bay, Russia, during November of 2015 and 2016. The community consisted of 12 species in total. Among epibionts, the barnacle Balanus crenatus was most prevalent (67.0%), while the amphipod Ischyrocerus commensalis was the most frequent symbiont (77.3%). Infestation levels in May–June 2005 and September 2004 were higher, as a larger proportion of small crabs without fouling species were present during those seasons. The lower infestation intensities recorded for other common associated organisms during winter can be attributed to their increased mortality due to unfavorable temperature conditions. The localization of epibionts and symbionts were related to larval settlement patterns of attached species and feeding behavior of mobile species. Monthly growth increments for I. commensalis and B. crenatus were estimated at 2 mm in body length and 1.35 mm in basal diameter, respectively. Size-at-age data for epibionts can aid in the age determination of large male crabs that may skip an annual molt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fish species undergo diel and seasonal changes in coastal (littoral) ocean zones. Many factors affect these seasonal and diel patterns, thus it is difficult to determine which are the most important. Concerning the Adriatic Sea, studies on the temporal changes of fish communities are rare. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate, in terms of abundance, diversity and species composition, the diel and seasonal changes in a one-year cycle of the fish community living in the infralittoral zone of the Eastern Central Adriatic and the main drivers affecting them. This study revealed the presence of a very rich and diverse community in the coastal zone of the Eastern Central Adriatic with a total of 63 identified fish species. The results showed that the differences in fish assemblage were more strongly influenced by seasonal variations rather than diurnal variations. The primary environmental factor that drives fish to undertake seasonal variations is water temperature. Considering that many species are important commercial species, especially for small scale fisheries, and taking into account future climate-driven changes that would affect the seasonality of the target species, it is essential that future management will be tailored accordingly and in due time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined variations in match physical performances of Turkish Super League soccer players over four consecutive seasons, considering playing position. Data were derived from 1224 different match indices for 17997 observations of 25 different teams. These data were collected over the four seasons from 2015-16 to 2018-19 utilizing a multi-camera computerized tracking system. Playing positions were categorized as follows: central defender (CD), external defender (ED), central midfielder (CM), external midfielder (EM), and forward (FWR). The data analysed covered total distance, as well as distances covered in the following conditions: high-speed running (HSR, 20-23.9 km.h-1), sprinting (> 24 km.h-1), high metabolic power (HMP; from 20 to 35 W·kg-1), elevated metabolic power (EMP; from 35 to 55 W·kg-1), and maximal metabolic power (MMP; > 55 W·kg-1). Players in the CM position were found to cover a significantly greater total distance, as well as significantly greater HMP and EMP distances than all other positions. In contrast, those in EM and ED positions engaged in significantly greater high-speed running and sprint distance than all other positions (p<0.05). Decreases were found in the distances covered in the different running speed zones and metabolic power zones for all positions over the seasons from 2015-16 to 2018-19. These findings show that the positional roles of the players entail different physical demands. Therefore, it is recommended that coaches consider the physical demands of the positions and seasonal variation when creating training programs for players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract One of the major paradigms in ecology is the understanding of processes and patterns related to the structure of biological communities. Reef ecosystems, with their high productivity, habitat heterogeneity, and fish diversity provide a model for studying these processes. We sampled four sites three times during the season associated with the California Current and two times associated with the North Equatorial Current using video-transects on the coast of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico to determine the relationship between the habitat characteristics and the structure of the fish assemblage. We recorded a total of 26 families and 54 species and estimated fish richness and abundance. In addition to measuring local water variables such as temperature (°C), salinity (PPT), pH and dissolved oxygen (O2%), we determined habitat heterogeneity by processing photographs of the substrate and calculated rugosity using the tape chain. Oxygen and temperature were the variables associated to sea water conditions that differentiated the sampled sites. The fish community structure presented high correlations with temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, followed by the heterogeneity components such as rugosity and substrate diversity. Our results showed that seasonal changes in water conditions and physical components in the coast of Zihuatanejo promotes changes in the fish community.

The pine wood nematode (PWN) is one of the most threatening pests of pine forests in China. An essential management response involves felling and removing the infested trees before the PWN can spread over large areas, but this requires early detection. In this study, we analyzed the temporal changes in the spectral signatures of healthy and infested trees throughout the entire growing season (May to October) using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) hyperspectral images (HSI). To explore the potential of these seasonal spectral changes in detecting PWN, we investigated the separability of healthy and infested trees using both absolute values and changes in values. A random forest (RF) classifier was applied to separate healthy and infested trees based on reflectances, derivatives, vegetation indices (VIs), and their seasonal change values. We obtained the following results: (1) the seasonal changes of tree crown spectra following a PWN infestation were similar to those observed using absolute spectral values, though the latter performed better in early detection; (2) in the early stage of infestation (June and July), the green and red-edge regions contained the most sensitive bands, whereas the near-infrared portion played a more important role in later stages; (3) derivatives achieved higher overall accuracy (OA) than the reflectance in the early stage of PWN infestation (June and July); (4) in June, the Pigment Specific Simple Ratio (PSSR) had the highest separability (OA = 0.77) for PWN infestation, followed by the Plant Senescence Reflectance Index (PSRI) and the Normalized Difference Red-edge Index (NDRE), both with a OA of 0.70. In July, PSRI, Red Edge Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (RENDVI), and the Modified Red Edge Simple Ratio (MRESR) had the highest OA of 0.77. These VIs were calculated based on the red-edge regions. In August, RENDVI achieved the best accuracy (0.87), followed by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI, OA = 0.83) and the Plant Stress Index (PSI, OA = 0.80). In September and October, PSRI, PSI, the Greenness Index (GI), and RENDVI showed the strongest separability (0.87 to 0.90). Similar results were obtained using change values of VIs. In June, RENDVI, PSI, and NDVI showed the highest accuracy (OA = 0.73). In July, MRESR had the best accuracy (0.77), followed by RENDVI (0.73) and PSI (0.73). In the late stage of PWN infestation, NDVI, PSRI, PSI, RENDVI, GI, and PSSR obtained the highest accuracies (0.83 to 0.93), surpassing the accuracy achieved using absolute spectra; (5) in RF classification model, seasonal variation values derived from reflectances, derivatives, and VIs performed well in the late stages of the PWN infestation (September and October) but were not as good as absolute values in the early and middle stages (June to August). Our study explored the potential of seasonal changes in UAV spectra for early detection of forest pests.

Abstract Large herbivores in seasonal environments often experience mass variation due to temporal changes in the availability of critical resources like water and forage, as well as due to breeding events. Yet the documentation of mass variation in mammals of highly seasonal savanna habitats, which host the highest densities of grazing ungulates globally, has rarely been explored. Here, we showcase a method to evaluate seasonal mass variation in bovids. Our method used mineral‐baited scales and camera traps to enable us to track the body mass of three species through a period of wet and dry seasons in a South African savanna ecosystem. To illustrate one potential application of the method, we related body mass data to time, weather and resource availability. This showed that individuals altered their body masses markedly between seasons with, for example, female Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) gaining, on average, >21 kg over the 15‐week wet‐season period in 1 year. These changes were positively related to factors such as vegetation productivity (assessed using NDVI) and the frequency of rains. This method enables easy, non‐lethal and non‐invasive acquisition of mass data. The equipment is easy to deploy concurrently over large areas. Monitoring by this method has a variety of possible applications, potentially providing a useful early‐warning indicator of body condition to inform management, or providing information about ecological states, such as parturition or the reproductive effort of males. Given the longer and harsher dry seasons experienced in many arid systems in recent decades, and projected in future, this method may provide a straightforward means of monitoring long‐term body condition in animals as a result of environmental change.

While the gut microbiome has been intensively investigated for more than twenty years already, its role in various disorders remains to be unraveled. At the same time, questions about what changes in the gut microbiota can be considered as normal or pathological and whether communities are able to recover after exposure to negative factors (diseases, medications, environmental factors) are still unclear. Here, we describe changes in the gut microbiota composition and the content of short-chain fatty acids in adult healthy volunteers (n = 15) over a 24 month-period. Intraindividual variability in gut microbial composition was 40%, whereas the short chain fatty acids profile remained relatively stable (2-year variability 20%, inter-individual 26%). The changes tend to accumulate over time. Nevertheless, both short-term and long-term changes in the gut microbiome composition were significantly smaller within individuals than interindividual differences (two-year interindividual variability was 75%). Seasonal changes in gut microbiota were found more often in autumn and spring involving the content of minor representatives (less than 1.5% of the community in average) in the phyla Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria.

Through their effects on sleep duration, bedroom environments, and pollen allergies, seasonal variations may impact positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence. We analyzed daily PAP telemonitoring data from 25,846 adults (median age 64 years, 67.8% male) treated with PAP for at least 4 months [mean (standard deviation, SD) duration of PAP: 5.5 years (SD 4.1)] to examine seasonal changes in PAP adherence, leaks, and residual apnea-hypopnea index. We demonstrate a significant decrease in PAP adherence in June compared to January (mean (SD): 0.37 (1.54) h/night) that achieved the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 30 min in 13.9% of adults. Furthermore, we provide novel data supporting the association of rising temperatures with seasonal changes in PAP use. Indeed, the most pronounced decline in PAP adherence was observed during the hottest days, while PAP adherence was only slightly reduced during the coolest days of June. Clinicians should be aware of seasonal changes in PAP adherence that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change.