scholarly journals True grit: ingestion of small stone particles by hummingbirds in West Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Maya-García ◽  
Mauricio Ortega-Flores ◽  
Jorge E. Schondube
Keyword(s):  
Dry Season ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Chitin Content ◽  
West Mexico ◽  
Small Stone ◽  
Fast Development ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Selasphorus Platycercus ◽  
Rufous Hummingbird ◽  
Do So

Abstract Background Grit is used by birds mainly for grinding hard food items but can also serve a nutritional role as a source of minerals. Ingestion of grit by birds has been documented primarily in species that feed on seeds and invertebrates. Although feeding mainly on nectar and small arthropods, hummingbirds also ingest grit, but why they do so is unclear. We quantified the number of grit particles in the stomachs of six species of hummingbirds during an annual cycle in a seasonal ecosystem of West Mexico. Methods We compared the number of grit particles in the stomachs of different hummingbird species (Mexican Violetear Colibri thalassinus, Amethyst-throated Mountaingem Lampornis amethystinus, White-eared Hummingbird Basilinna leucotis, Rivoli’s Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens, Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus, and Rufous Hummingbird S. rufus), and between sex and age categories during the different seasons of a year. To determine if grit was used to grind ingested arthropods, we examined the relationships between the number of grit particles, the biomass of arthropods ingested, and their chitin content. Results Although species did not differ in the number of grit particles in their stomachs, we found that grit was mostly ingested by female individuals, with only one male of one species (Mexican Violetear) presenting grit in its stomach. We also found that female hummingbirds had grit in their stomachs during the rainy and the cold-dry season (June–February) but not during the warm-dry season (March–May). Our analyses revealed no relationship between the number of grit particles and the amount of ingested arthropods and arthropod chitin content. However, high grit consumption was related to wasp ingestion on Mexican Violetears. Conclusions Our results indicate that grit is used mainly by female hummingbirds. The seasonal variation in the ingestion of grit by female individuals suggests that it can be used to meet mineral requirements related to breeding; however, this topic needs further exploration. Additionally, the use of grit was proportionally higher in juvenile individuals, suggesting it is used for grinding arthropods during a period of fast development.

Stable Isotopes Analysis of Precipitation in Subtropical Plateau of Yunnan

2014 ◽  
Vol 1010-1012 ◽  
pp. 1059-1063
Author(s):  
Wei Guan ◽  
Tao Fan ◽  
Xiu Qin Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Precipitation Line ◽  
Stable Isotopic ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Geographical Position ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Relationship

To elucidate the relationship between stable isotopes of precipitation (SIP) and the extreme drought in Kunming area, based on the stable isotopes data of the GNIP in Kunming site from 1986 to 2003, the precipitation line equation is brought forward and the seasonal change rule of stable isotopes are discussed. The stable isotopic compositions of precipitation exhibit great diversities in different seasons during to influences of multiple factors, such as monsoon, rainfall amount moisture source and others. The δ18O values in rainwater exhibit significant seasonal variations, the average of-10.12‰ in rainy season, the dry season is-4.5‰, having lower values in the rainy season and higher one in the dry season. The amount effect of precipitation is very distinct, that concealed the temperature effect. Got the special geographical position,dvalues present unique characteristics, the average ofdvalues is 10.78‰ in rainy season, and is 4.86‰ in dry season, the mean value is generally lower than most parts of the world.

scholarly journals Analisis Profil Konsentrasi Pb di Air Waduk Saguling

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ade Arinda ◽  
Eka Wardhani
Keyword(s):  
Rainy Season ◽  
Government Regulation ◽  
Water Reservoir ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Domestic Waste ◽  
Water Based ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
And Control

 ABSTRAKAir Waduk Saguling saat ini menunjukkan penurunan, baik secara kualitas maupun kuantitas akibat aktivitas manusia yang menghasilkan limbah rumah tangga, industri, pertanian, peternakan, perikanan dan pertambangan. Salah satu pencemar di Waduk Saguling adalah logam berat. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis konsentrasi Pb di perairan Waduk Saguling pada musim yang berbeda. Penelitian ini menggunakan data sekunder yang diperoleh dari PT Indonesia Power tahun 2008-2017. Data berasal dari tiga kedalaman yaitu kedalaman permukaan, tengah, dan dekat dasar perairan. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian menunjukkan konsentrasi Pb di musim kemarau lebih tinggi daripada musim hujan dan sebagian sudah melebihi baku mutu yang mengacu pada Peraturan Pemerintah No. 82 Tahun 2001 tentang Pengelolaan Kualitas Air dan Pengendalian Pencemaran Air untuk logam Pb sebesar 0,03 mg/L. Parameter pendukung yang di analisis yaitu parameter DO, pH, TDS, suhu, kekeruhan, dan kesadahan. Berdasarkan hasil analisis statistik menggunakan PCA, parameter yang paling mempengaruhi konsentrasi Pb di musim kemarau adalah kekeruhan dan suhu sedangkan musim hujan adalah TDS.Kata kunci: Musim, Pb, PCA, Waduk SagulingABSTRACTSaguling Water Reservoir currently shows a decline, both in quality and quantity due to human activities that produce domestic waste, industry, agriculture, livestock, fishery and mining. One of the pollutants in Saguling Reservoir is heavy metal. The research aims to analyze the concentration of Pb in the waters of Saguling Reservoir in different seasons. This research uses secondary data which is obtained from PT Indonesia Power in 2008-2017. The data comes from three depths: surface depth, center, and near bottom of water. Based on the results of the research shows that the concentration of Pb in the dry season is higher than the rainy season and some have exceeded the quality standard which refers to Government Regulation no. 82 of 2001 on the Management of Water Quality and Control of Water Pollution for Pb metal by 0.03 mg/L. The supporting parameters in the analysis are DO, pH, TDS, temperature, turbidity, and hardness parameters. Based on the results of statistical analysis using PCA, the parameters that most influence the concentration of Pb heavy metals in the dry season are turbidity and temperature and rainy season is TDS.Keywords: Season, pb, pca, saguling reservoi

scholarly journals Seasonal variation on diet of juvenile Elops saurus Linnaeus, 1766 (Ladyfish) in the Parnaiba River Delta

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiane Araujo Santos ◽  
Thamires Souza Gonçalves ◽  
Patricia Silva do Nascimento ◽  
Cézar Augusto Freire Fernandes ◽  
Francisca Edna de Andrade Cunha
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Importance Index

Abstract: Aim Identify seasonal variations in the diet of juvenile living in the estuary of the Parnaíba River Delta. Methods Food items were identified through analysis of stomach contents, and later submitted to analysis by regular methods for Frequency of Occurrence (FO), Frequency Numerical (FN), Gravimetric Frequency (FW) and Relative Importance Index (IRI). Results Juvenile diet of Elops saurus that inhabit the lagoons in the Parnaíba delta was composed in order decreasing of importance by Osteichthyes (Teleostei), Insecta and Crustacea in addition to Polychaeta and Nematoda. It was also observed a high frequency of occurrence of fragments of plastics in the diet. In the rainy season, 17 items were recorded in the diet, whereas in the dry season only 7 items were present. Relative Importance Index showed high presence of the Teleostei fish (69.93%) on diet of E. saurus during the rainy season, whereas during the dry period the insects of the families Corixidae (43.25%) and Dysticidae (39.16%). Conclusions With the study it was possible to identify that juvenile are piscivorous in the rainy season when there is a higher availability of prey in the environment and insectivores in the dry season when it reduces the supply of food, indicating feeding flexibility to environmental alterations.

Effects of seasonal variation and locations on microbial load in sediment and water of a polluted ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-105
Author(s):  
A.N. Okereke ◽  
J.C. Ike-Obasi
Keyword(s):  
Heterotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Microbial Load ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Total Fungi ◽  
Hydrocarbon Utilizing Bacteria

Seasonal effects on microbial load of sediment and water at different locations along Bonny Estuary of Niger Delta was investigated for a period of 12 months. All analyses followed standard procedure. Results revealed that total fungi counts in sediment and water at different locations were not significantly different (p > 0.05) at both wet and dry seasons while hydrocarbon utilizing fungi showed significant differences (p < 0.05) at both seasons in both sediment and water samples. During the wet season, total faecal counts ranged from 5.0 to 10.0 x 105 CFU/g for sediment and 4.0 to 7.0x 105 CFU/g in water. In dry season, the concentration of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in the sediment ranged between 0.1 x 105 CFU/ml/g and 8.0 x 105 CFU/ml/g in wet season while in dry season, the concentration in water ranged between 0.1 x 105 CFU/ml/g and 6.0 x 105 CFU/ml/g at Abuloma. At Okwujagu, total heterotrophic bacteria counts in sediment ranged  from 0.1 to 8.0 x 105 CFU/g in dry season. This was higher than the range 0.1 to 6.8.0 x 105 CFU/ recorded in Abuloma, Okwujagu and Slaughter at dry season. The highest vibrio counts in water (11.0 x 105 CFU/ml) for wet and (10.0 x 105 CFU/ml) for dry seasons were recorded at Slaughter. In Oginiba, the feacal count recorded 3.0 x 105 CFU/ml in water during the wet season and 2.0 x 105 CFU/ml for dry season. Generally, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the bacterial concentrations in both sediment and water. This showed that different seasons favour the growth of certain microbial types.

scholarly journals Head-bobbing in the Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

2016 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Thomas J Lisney ◽  
Nikolaus F Troje
Keyword(s):  
Visual Perception ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Functional Significance ◽  
Visual Detection ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Larus Delawarensis ◽  
Head Bobbing ◽  
Common Behaviour ◽  
Do So

Many birds bob their head as they walk or run on the ground. The functional significance of this behaviour is unclear, but there is strong evidence that it plays a significant role in enhancing visual perception. If head-bobbing is advantageous, however, then it is a puzzle that some birds do not head-bob. As a group, gulls (Laridae) are among the birds that reportedly do not head-bob,yet here we report head-bobbing among Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis), observed and filmed in Ontario, when walking relatively slowly while foraging on the ground. This suggests that head-bobbing plays a key role in the visual detection of food items in this species. We suggest that head-bobbing may be a relatively common behaviour in foraging Ring-billed Gulls and speculate that other gulls (and indeed other birds) previously thought not to head-bob may in fact do so under certain circumstances.

scholarly journals Characterization of Vietnamese Lacquer Collected in Different Seasons

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Lu ◽  
Kenichiro Anzai ◽  
Bach Trong Phuc ◽  
Tetsuo Miyakoshi
Keyword(s):  
Rainy Season ◽  
Laccase Activity ◽  
Water Concentration ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Composition Analysis ◽  
Drying Time ◽  
Lipid Component ◽  
Different Seasons

Vietnamese lacquers collected every month from June to March of next year were characterized. Composition analysis showed that lacquer collected in rainy season contained much water, while those collected in dry season contained more lipid component. Although hardness of lacquer films is not very hard, lacquers tapped in all seasons can reach hard dry (HD) within 48 hours. Refining lacquer can accelerate drying time but the water concentration should be maintained around 10 wt% for laccase activity.

scholarly journals The Effect of N in Organic + Inorganic Liquid Fertilizer on the Activity Ability and Antioxidant Properties of Tea Shoots (Camellia sinensis L. O. Kuntze) in the Rainy and Dry Season

Agrologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakarias Frans Mores Hukom
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Active Ingredient ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Liquid Fertilizer ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Different Seasons

Antioxidant is a term related to the activity ability and properties of the active ingredient.  The higher the ability of the antioxidant activity of an active ingredient, the stronger its antioxidant properties are to ward off various free radical compounds due to oxidative stress. The activity ability and antioxidant properties of tea shoots often fluctuate with changing seasons.  This study investigated the effect giving nitrogen levels in organic + inorganic liquid fertilizers on the ability of activity and antioxidant properties of tea shoots in different seasons. The experimental design used was a over season complete randomized block design consisting of 5 levels of fertilization concentration in the rainy and dry seasons. The results showed that the application of organic + inorganic liquid fertilizers without the addition of N concentration in the dry season had a significant effect on the antioxidant activity of tea shoots by 88.14%, and 34.15% higher than control plants in the rainy season and 41.81% more. Height of control plants in the dry season. The IC50 value of tea shoots in the rainy season and dry season has very strong antioxidant properties where the order of the antioxidant properties of the control plants < all concentrations of adding N to organic + inorganic liquid fertilizers < concentration of organic + inorganic liquid fertilizers without the addition of N.Keywords: Ability Antioxidant Activity, Organic + Inorganic Liquid Fertilizer, Tea shoots, Antioxidant Properties.

scholarly journals Aan tafel in het Oude Mannenhuis te Delft

Paleo-aktueel ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 103-114
Author(s):  
Merit Hondelink
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Exotic Species ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Historical Documents ◽  
Elderly Men ◽  
Edible Plant ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Food Purchase ◽  
The Town ◽  
Do So

What’s for dinner at the Oude Mannenhuis? This paper focuses on providing a nuanced picture of the daily meal consumed at the Oude Mannenhuis, an almshouse for elderly men in Early Modern Delft (1411-1792). It aims to do so by combining historical documents dealing with food-purchase orders and archaeobotanical macro remains taken from the cesspits. The historical documents, written by the steward, suggest a frugal and monotonous diet, which appears to be incomplete as it lacks generic food items such as fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices known to have been consumed during the medieval and Early Modern periods. Yet the additional archaeobotanical data shows that at least 43 edible plant species were consumed by the residents of the Oude Mannenhuis. Most of these species are indigenous and were probably grown within and around the town of Delft, though some exotic species were also present. This combined research shows a more nuanced picture of the daily menu consumed by the elderly men of the Oude Mannenhuis.

scholarly journals West Seti Hydroelectric Project: Assessment of its Contribution to Nepal’s Economic Development

1970 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 8-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ratna Sansar Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Carbon Market ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Good Source ◽  
Hydroelectric Project ◽  
Project Assessment ◽  
Carbon Offset ◽  
Do So

The proposed West Seti Hydroelectric Project, 750 MW, is one of the best projects of its genre, because it will not only generate peak-in energy and good quality power but because it will do so at low cost and, furthermore, its implementation will result in fl ood control and dry season augmented fl ow for lower riparian areas. Moreover, export of hydropower to India from this project will result in a carbon offset benefi t which is tradable on the carbon market and has potential as a good source of revenue. This paper evaluates such benefi ts and also ascertains to whom such benefi ts accrue, besides identifying costs (so far unaccounted for). This project's contribution to Nepal's economic development may even be higher by a magnitude if it is to be structured as suggested in this paper.Key words: West Seti; Carbon offset; Downstream benefit; Economic development; Export; Hydropower; Peak-in power; NepalDOI: 10.3126/hn.v5i0.2478Hydro Nepal Vol. 5, July 2009 Page:8-17 

Resprouting and mortality of juvenile eucalypts in an Australian savanna: impacts of fire season and annual sorghum

2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Werner ◽  
Donald C. Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Dry Season ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Fire Behaviour ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Canopy Tree ◽  
Carbohydrate Storage ◽  
Savanna Fires ◽  
Different Seasons

In northern Australian savannas, canopy tree species often have juvenile tree banks that are composed mainly of small individuals of indeterminate age that have resprouted repeatedly after fire. Little is known about their demography. We report the initial responses (mortality, topkill and resprouting type) of 3133 marked juvenile eucalypts to set fires of different seasons (early dry season, late dry season, wet season, unburnt) in a 32 400 m2 field experiment. Fire treatments were repeated in plots dominated by a native annual grass (sorghum) that becomes senescent before the early dry season and provides the main fuel of savanna fires, and in others with little or no sorghum, but instead other native grasses and forbs that remain green well into the dry season. Most juvenile eucalypts <150 cm high were topkilled but resprouted from underground tissues regardless of fire season or understorey (86–100% vs <5% in unburnt plots). Few saplings 200–500 cm high died or were topkilled, but impacts of fire were harsher in sorghum than in non-sorghum vegetation. The response of eucalypts 150–199 cm high was intermediate, suggesting a ‘tactical’ transition from suppressed persistence to growth toward maturity. Counter-intuitively, genet death of juvenile trees was >22% in the low-intensity early dry season fire in plots with little or no annual sorghum, compared with <2% in all other fire/understorey combinations. We suggest results are related to fire behaviour, seasonal carbohydrate storage dynamics and competition with ground-layer plants.

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