scholarly journals Greenhouses – urban biodiversity hotspot of alien Oribatida (Acari) species

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Mateusz OSZUST ◽  
◽  
Ziemowit OLSZANOWSKI ◽  
Marta PRZYMUSZAŁA ◽  
d Aleksandra JAGIEŁŁO ◽  
...  

Palm houses and other greenhouses, due to maintaining constant temperature and humidity, allow the cultivation in Europe of plants from different parts of the world, even from tropical regions. However, sometimes they are also a habitat for alien species of spiders, mites, insect, etc. These animals have been introduced accidentally with contaminated plants, seeds, seedlings, soil and thanks to stable conditions maintained in greenhouses, they may colonize these places. Example of arthropods, of which even tropical species occur in several greenhouses, are oribatid mites – minute saprophagous arachnids that mostly inhabit soil. In Europe they are represented by about 2,000 species, while worldwide – over 10,000 taxa were described. The aim of this research was to investigate the selected greenhouses for the biodiversity of oribatid mites and the presence of non-native species. In total, 49 taxa were recorded, including 23 alien species (for example, a Neotropical taxon Galumna hamifer, or Oriental Suctobelbella parallelodentata). These results confirm that greenhouses are the places of occurrence of many alien oribatid species. The obtained results may be used in future research on the biology of poorly known tropical mites.

Author(s):  
Xiaoli Tian ◽  
Qian Li

With more social interactions shifting to online venues, the different attributes of major social media sites in China influence how interpersonal interactions are carried out. Despite the lack of physical co-presence online, face culture is extended to online spaces. On social media, Chinese users tend to protect their own face, give face to others, and avoid discrediting the face of others, especially when their online and offline networks overlap. This chapter also discusses the different methods used to study facework online and offline and how facework is studied in different parts of the world. It concludes with a brief discussion of how sociological research has contributed to the study of social media in China and directions for future research.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-62
Author(s):  
Selvi Salome Gnasigamoney ◽  
Manjit Singh Sidhu

The threat of cyber-related crimes due to excessive usage of Internet and current e-behaviour amongst the younger children is not new in this new millennium but stays as an issue for consideration. This paper provide a general pattern of online related behaviours that seem to be taking place among Malaysian pre-adolescents and adolescents and its possible impact on their behaviours leading towards cyber-related crimes. Facts and finding from various researches conducted from different parts of the world, including Malaysia were reviewed. The results from various studies reveal that a great concern and strategies have to be put into place as the age group using the Internet has reduced and the routine activity of pre-adolescence and adolescence are changing and are based on Internet. Non-awareness of their current online behaviours and its possible link to cyber-related crimes may lead these young children to a greater threat when using e-Commerce or any other Internet dependent activities in the future. This paper focuses on the facts collected from various studies to justify the importance of having future research on this phenomenon.


Author(s):  
Niranjan Das ◽  
Sujata Deori

Tourism is currently the world’s largest industry (US$ 3.4 trillion annually) and ecotourism represents the fastest growing sector of this market. The term ‘Ecotourism’ was first coined by “Hector Ceballos Lascurain” in 1983, and was initially used to describe nature-based travel to relatively undisturbed area with an emphasis on education. Assam, comprising Eastern Himalaya is one of the Mega bio-diversity hot spots of the world (MYERS, 1991). It also forms part of two endemic bird areas, viz Eastern Himalaya and Assam plains (COLLAR et al., 1994). Nameri National Park is a part of NBL (North Bank Landscape) and also is a part of Eastern Himalayan Mega Biodiversity Hotspot has immense potentialities for the ecotourism venture. The present research can provide an assessment of potential sites within the park, which can speed up tourism infrastructural development. Through the paper the author tries to highlight such possibilities on the basis of assessment of potentials Ecotourism resources of the Nameri National Park through field experience gained different parts of the study area.


1911 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harriette Chick ◽  
C. J. Martin

(1) As far as is at present known, the great majority of the fleas infesting Mus rattus and Mus decumanus in different parts of the world, belong to either the species Xenopsylla cheopis, Ceratophyllus fasciatus, Ceratophyllus anisus, Ctenopsylla musculi or Ctenophthalmus agyrtes or are comprised of some admixture of these five species.(2) Xenopsylla cheopis is the most prevalent in the tropics and sub-tropical regions and often occurs there to the almost complete exclusion of other species. It is common during summer and autumn in some of the warmer parts of the temperate zone, more especially in ports which have maritime intercourse with the tropics.(3) In the cooler regions Ceratophyllus fasciatus is the most universally distributed flea and is associated with more or less of Ctenopsylla musculi and Ctenophthalmus agyrtes according to the locality and the habitat of the particular rats.(4) In Japan Ceratophyllus fasciatus is replaced by Ceratophyllus anisus, a closely allied species.(5) The numerous other fleas which have been captured off rats are only occasional visitors.(6) Ceratophyllus fasciatus, like Xenopsylla cheopis, readily bites man. Out of 517 experiments 308 fed, or 59% were positive. In 101 experiments, under identical circumstances with a rat, 59, or 58.4% of the fleas fed.(7) The experiments with Ceratophyllus fasciatus were made upon eight persons and evidence was obtained of preference on the part of the insects for particular individuals.(8) 111 experiments were made with 46 specimens of Ctenopsylla musculi; only 4 fed=3.6% whereas 9 out of 11 fed on a mouse.(9) 68 specimens of Ctenophthalmus agyrtes were tried, in some cases upon three persons. None fed, whereas 11 out of 19 of the same fleas fed on a rat under identical conditions.


2014 ◽  
pp. 1144-1156
Author(s):  
Selvi Salome Gnasigamoney ◽  
Manjit Singh Sidhu

The threat of cyber-related crimes due to excessive usage of Internet and current e-behaviour amongst the younger children is not new in this new millennium but stays as an issue for consideration. This paper provide a general pattern of online related behaviours that seem to be taking place among Malaysian pre-adolescents and adolescents and its possible impact on their behaviours leading towards cyber-related crimes. Facts and finding from various researches conducted from different parts of the world, including Malaysia were reviewed. The results from various studies reveal that a great concern and strategies have to be put into place as the age group using the Internet has reduced and the routine activity of pre-adolescence and adolescence are changing and are based on Internet. Non-awareness of their current online behaviours and its possible link to cyber-related crimes may lead these young children to a greater threat when using e-Commerce or any other Internet dependent activities in the future. This paper focuses on the facts collected from various studies to justify the importance of having future research on this phenomenon.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Giovos ◽  
Anastasia Charitou ◽  
Eugenio Gervasini ◽  
Celia López-Cañizares ◽  
Konstantinos Tsiamis ◽  
...  

Citizens around the world can act like scientists by providing important information about biodiversity that can help scientists’ research. The same applies to species that expand from their areas of origin to other places, often creating problems for the native species. Nowadays, there are plenty of projects that involve citizen scientists in the monitoring of alien species and biodiversity. The European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN) of the European Commission gathers data from several projects and has developed its own app that enables people to report observations of invasive alien species. So, are you ready to become a citizen scientist?


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (no 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhurima Tiwari ◽  
Prachi Bhargava

Sisymbrium irio Linn belonging to family ‘Cruciferae’ is one of the well-known plant used in Unani Thearpy. Several studies done throughout the world on ‘Sisymbrium irio L’, also known as ‘London Rocket’ or ‘Khakshi’ has established that this annual herb is of tremendous medicinal benefits. This plant exhibits potential pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, anticancer, detoxify spleen and liver, also used as febrifuge, expectorant, diuretic and used in the treatment of rheumatoid, voice disorders, boils, pimples, cough, and has bronchoprotective and hepatoprotective role. Various phytochemicals have been isolated scientifically from the different parts of the plants such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpinoids, carbohydrates, phenolics compounds, fatty acids, steroids, amino acids and proteins which were found to be of ‘Chemotherapeutic Interest’. This review paper summarizes the botanical description, ethnomedical, phytochemical and therapeutical role of the plant and highlighted the need of future research on this plant as a source of novel drug.


Oryx ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor Coote ◽  
Eric Loeve ◽  
Jean-Yves Meyer ◽  
Dave Clarke

AbstractThe current distribution of endemic partulid snails on Tahiti in French Polynesia reflects the danger of ignoring expert advice and introducing an alien species into a fragile island ecosystem. The endemic tree-snail fauna of the island now faces extinction. Although the extinction of the native species of Partula (Partulidae; Polynesian tree snails) on Moorea in French Polynesia is well known in the world of conservation biology, losses on other Pacific islands are less well described. This paper presents an update on the status of partulid snail populations on Tahiti in the light of fieldwork undertaken between 1995 and 1997. Native snails still exist in good numbers in two areas, at opposite ends of the island. In other areas, sightings of single or a few individuals indicate remnant populations now on the edge of extinction. Efforts to protect these populations and others in French Polynesia are being planned in collaboration with local government authorities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-74
Author(s):  
Saravanan Vivekanandarajah Sathasivampillai ◽  
Pholtan Rajamanoharan

Nymphaea pubescens Willd belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family. This plant species is used to treat various diseases including diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhages, and indigestion in traditional medicines around the world. Compounds like Arbutin, D-malic acid, Ergosterol, Fumaric acid, and Gluconic acid have been isolated from N. pubescens. As N. pubescens pharmacological activities are not systematically reviewed, this review is intended to analyze, recap, and document the reported bioactivities of N. pubescens. Appropriate published papers were obtained using the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases from 1900 to June 2021. Until now, anticancer, antidementia, antidiabetic, antihepatotoxic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic activities have been reported for different parts of N. pubescens. Remarkably, hitherto, no pharmacological active compound has been isolated from N. pubescens. This review provides a foundation for future research on this plant species.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Anđelković ◽  
Lori Lawson Handley ◽  
Elizabete Marchante ◽  
Tim Adriaens ◽  
Peter Brown ◽  
...  

Citizens make an important contribution to the study and management of biological invasions, as many monitoring and control projects rely heavily on volunteer assistance. Understanding the reasons why people participate in such projects is critical for successful recruitment and retention of volunteers. While research attention for this topic is growing, it is published in journals from different disciplines. We used a meta-synthesis approach to extract, analyze and synthesize the available information from 28 selected studies investigating motivations of volunteers to engage in monitoring and control of invasive alien species (IAS). Our findings show how motivations fit three broad themes, reflecting environmental concerns, social motivations, and personal reasons. An important outcome of this study is the description of motivations that are unique to the IAS context: supporting IAS management, protecting native species and habitats, and livelihood/food/income protection or opportunities. In addition, our study reflects on important methodological choices for investigating volunteer motivations as well as ethical issues that may arise in practice. We conclude with a set of recommendations for project design and future research on volunteer motivations in IAS contexts, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with social scientists.


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