241 research outputs found
Trend assessment of changing climate patterns over the major agro-climatic zones of Sindh and Punjab
The agriculture sector, due to its significant dependence on climate patterns and water availability, is highly vulnerable to changing climate patterns. Pakistan is an agrarian economy with 30% of its land area under cultivation and 93% of its water resources being utilized for agricultural production. Therefore, the changing climate patterns may adversely affect the agriculture and water resources of the country. This study was conducted to assess the climate variations over the major agro-climatic zones of Sindh and Punjab, which serve as an important hub for the production of major food and cash crops in Pakistan. For this purpose, the climate data of 21 stations were analyzed using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator method for the period 1990–2022. The results obtained from the analysis revealed that, in Sindh, the mean annual temperature rose by ~0.1 to 1.4°C, with ~0.1 to 1.2°C in cotton-wheat Sindh and 0.8 to 1.4°C in rice-other Sindh during the study period. Similarly, in Punjab, the mean annual temperature increased by ~0.1 to 1.0°C, with 0.6 to 0.9°C in cotton-wheat Punjab and 0.2 to 0.6°C in rainfed Punjab. Seasonally, warming was found to be highest during the spring season. The precipitation analysis showed a rising annual precipitation trend in Sindh (+30 to +60 mm) and Punjab (+100 to 300 mm), while the monsoon precipitation increased by ~50 to 200 mm. For winter precipitation, an upward trend was found in mixed Punjab, while the remaining stations showed a declining pattern. Conclusively, the warming temperatures as found in the analysis may result in increased irrigation requirements, soil moisture desiccation, and wilting of crops, ultimately leading to low crop yield and threatening the livelihoods of local farmers. On the other hand, the increasing precipitation may favor national agriculture in terms of less freshwater withdrawals. However, it may also result in increased rainfall-induced floods inundating the crop fields and causing water logging and soil salinization. The study outcomes comprehensively highlighted the prevailing climate trends over the important agro-climatic zones of Pakistan, which may aid in devising an effective climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy to ensure the state of water and food security in the country
Environmental Effects of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion, UV Radiation, and interactions with Climate Change: 2022 Assessment Report
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was established 35 years ago following the 1985 Vienna Convention for protection of the environment and human health against excessive amounts of harmful ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280-315 nm) radiation reaching the Earth’s surface due to a reduced UV-B-absorbing ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol, ratified globally by all 198 Parties (countries), controls ca 100 ozone-depleting substances (ODS). These substances have been used in many applications, such as in refrigerants, air conditioners, aerosol propellants, fumigants against pests, fire extinguishers, and foam materials.
The Montreal Protocol has phased out nearly 99% of ODS, including ODS with high global warming potentials such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), thus serving a dual purpose. However, some of the replacements for ODS also have high global warming potentials, for example, the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Several of these replacements have been added to the substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol. The HFCs are now being phased down under the Kigali Amendment. As of December 2022, 145 countries have signed the Kigali Amendment, exemplifying key additional outcomes of the Montreal Protocol, namely, that of also curbing climate warming and stimulating innovations to increase energy efficiency of cooling equipment used industrially as well as domestically.
As the concentrations of ODS decline in the upper atmosphere, the stratospheric ozone layer is projected to recover to pre-1980 levels by the middle of the 21st century, assuming full compliance with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol. However, in the coming decades, the ozone layer will be increasingly influenced by emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuing global warming. These trends are highly likely to modify the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth\u27s surface with implications for the effects on ecosystems and human health.
Against this background, four Panels of experts were established in 1988 to support and advise the Parties to the Montreal Protocol with up-to-date information to facilitate decisions for protecting the stratospheric ozone layer. In 1990 the four Panels were consolidated into three, the Scientific Assessment Panel, the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel.
Every four years, each of the Panels provides their Quadrennial Assessments as well as a Synthesis Report that summarises the key findings of all the Panels. In the in-between years leading up to the quadrennial, the Panels continue to inform the Parties to the Montreal Protocol of new scientific information
New Trends in Environmental Engineering, Agriculture, Food Production, and Analysis
This Special Issue presents the latest advances in agriculture, aquaculture, food technology and environmental protection and engineering, discussing, among others, the following issues: new technologies in water, stormwater and wastewater treatment; water saving, lake restoration; new sludge and waste management systems; biodiesel production from animal fat waste; the microbiological quality of compound fish feeds for aquaculture; the role of technological processes to improve food quality and safety; new trends in the analysis of food and food components including in vitro, in vivo, and in silico analyses; and functional and structural aspects of bioactivities of food molecules
Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities
Aquatic ecosystems and the water they hold have attracted people over the centuries. With the technological development and increasing needs of human society, the attitude to water and aquatic ecosystems has changed. Consequently, biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems has declined dramatically and it is still decreasing. Anthropogenic exploitation of these ecosystems and alterations of their hydrology has largely influenced hydrology-shaped plant communities. This Special Issue, “Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function” brings new outcomes about the interactions between hydrological factors and wide spectrum of plant communities. In ecosystems, where human activities directly or indirectly affected the hydrological factors, dependent plant communities have also changed or even disappeared. These plant communities have multiple ecological functions, and one of the most important are the maintenance of water quality and enhancement of local and regional diversity of other biotic communities like diatoms, invertebrates or fish. Thus, detailed knowledge and suitable management of hydrology-shaped plant communities is a prerequisite for their unconstrained ecological functions and high diversity of aquatic ecosystems in the widest sense. The Special Issue consists of ten peer-reviewed papers on plant communities in a variety of ecosystems - from the small kettle-holes in the lowlands of northern Germany to the river Danube - the largest river within the European Union, and from different wetland types in Central Europe to the Donggting Lake – fourth largest lake in China
Plankton Communities
Plankton is a group of small organisms that are passively displaced by water, that is, they are dragged by marine tides and currents. Marine plankton, which includes organisms such as protozoa, microalgae, small crustaceans, and jellyfish, play an important role in maintaining the health and balance of the ocean and its complex food chains. Over three sections and eight chapters, this book provides a comprehensive overview of zooplankton and phytoplankton as well as their environmental and economic importance
Advances in satellite remote sensing of the wetland ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa
Wetlands are highly productive systems that act as habitats for avariety of fauna andflora. Despite their ecohydrological signifi-cance, wetland ecosystems are severely under threat from globalenvironmental changes as well as pressure from anthropogenicactivities. Such changes results in severe disturbances of plantspecies composition, spatial distribution, productivity, diversity,and their ability to offer critical ecosystem goods and services .However, wetland degradation varies considerably from place toplace with severe degradation in developing countries, especiallyin sub-Saharan Africa due to poor management practices thatleads to underutilization and over reliance on them for liveli-hoods. The lack of monitoring and assessment in this region hastherefore led to the lack of consolidated detailed understandingon the rate of wetland loss
Fungos marinhos: diversidade e potencial biotecnológico
Marine fungi are a prolific group of organisms that have been largely neglected
for a long time. Over the last years, attention turned to the marine environment,
with the recognition that marine organisms represent a rich source of natural
products. The marine mycobiome has many species still to be identified and
the ones known still underutilized for biotechnological applications. In Portugal,
despite its very large coastline and privileged relationship with the sea, there
are only few studies on marine fungi. Thus, the main goal of this thesis was to
contribute to disclose the untapped diversity and the biotechnological potential
of the marine mycobiome from the Portuguese coastline and in the estuary of
Ria de Aveiro. To achieve this, three different approaches were used.
First, fungi were isolated from algae, drift- and submerged wood, saline water,
and sponges. The 1312 isolates obtained were initially subjected to
microsatellite-primed PCR to analyze the genetic fingerprinting patterns to
separate and discriminate different groups in the collection. From this
collection, 243 different fungal species were identified based on DNA sequence
data. Eighteen fungal species and one new genus were identified, which were
circumscribed based on morphological and phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore,
some taxonomic ambiguities have been resolved.
Secondly, eight fungal strains were selected for biological activities
characterization based on their enzymatic profile and antibacterial activity.
Mycelia aqueous extracts and culture media methanolic extracts, obtained from
liquid fermentation, were characterized regarding their antibacterial, antifungal,
antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. In addition, the effect of sea salt on fungal
bioactivities was evaluated. In general, the extracts of Aspergillus affinis,
Penicillium lusitanum, Emericellopsis cladophorae and Trichoderma
aestuarinum were able to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
Our results also demonstrated that the activity profiles from the extracts of the
marine fungi studied were different in response to the presence of sea salt.
Finally, A. affinis and E. cladophorae were characterized in more detail with
their metabolomes and genomes sequenced. Both species contain many
unknown biosynthetic gene clusters, genes encoding for osmolytes’
biosynthetic processes, ion transport systems, and are rich in carbohydrate
active enzymes, which can contribute to understand their adaptation to the
marine environment. Furthermore, the compound library built from the crude
extracts for both species confirmed the presence of antifungal, antibacterial,
antitumor, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory metabolites.
The outcome of this work confirmed that the marine mycobiome is highly
diverse and can yield novel marine fungal taxa which must continue to be
explored contributing to unveil their biodiversity, ecological importance, and
natural products research.Os fungos marinhos são um grupo prolífico de organismos que tem sido
amplamente negligenciado. Ao longo dos últimos anos, as atenções voltaramse
para o meio marinho, com o reconhecimento de que os organismos
marinhos constituem uma rica fonte de produtos naturais. O micobioma
marinho tem muitas espécies ainda por desvendar e subutilizadas para
aplicação biotecnológica. Em Portugal, apesar da extensa linha costeira e da
relação privilegiada com o mar, são poucos os estudos sobre fungos marinhos.
Assim, o objetivo desta tese foi contribuir para a divulgação da diversidade e
do potencial biotecnológico contido no micobioma marinho da costa
portuguesa e no estuário da Ria de Aveiro. Para isso, três abordagens foram
utilizadas.
Primeiro, os fungos foram isolados de algas, madeira à deriva e submersa,
água salgada e esponjas. Obtiveram-se 1312 isolados que foram inicialmente
submetidos a MSP-PCR para analisar os padrões de impressão digital
genética para discriminar diferentes grupos na coleção. Desta coleção, foram
identificas 243 espécies diferentes de fungos com base em dados de
sequência de DNA. Foram identificadas dezoito novas espécies e um novo
género, que foram descritos com base em análises morfológicas e
filogenéticas. Além disso, algumas ambiguidades taxonómicas foram
resolvidas.
Em segundo lugar, oito estirpes de fungos foram selecionadas para a
caracterização de bioatividades com base nos seus perfis enzimáticos e
atividades antimicrobianass. Os extratos aquosos dos micélios e os extratos
metanólicos dos meios de cultura obtidos por fermentação líquida foram
caracterizados quanto às atividades antibacteriana, antifúngica, antioxidante e
citotóxica. De um modo geral, os extratos de Aspergillus affinis, Penicillium
lusitanum, Emericellopsis cladophorae e Trichoderma aestuarinum
apresentaram atividade contra bactérias e fungos patogénicos. Os resultados
demonstraram também que os perfis de atividade dos extratos destes fungos
marinhos são diferentes em resposta à presença de sal marinho.
Por fim, A. affinis e E. cladophorae foram estudados mais detalhadamente,
caracterizando-se os seus metabolomas e genomas. Ambas as espécies
contêm grupos de genes biossintéticos desconhecidos, genes que codificam
processos biossintéticos de osmólitos e sistemas de transporte de iões, e são
ricas em enzimas com atividade sobre hidratos de carbono, o que pode
contribuir para entender a sua adaptação ao ambiente marinho. Além disso, a
biblioteca de compostos construída a partir dos extratos brutos para ambas as
espécies confirmou a presença de metabolitos antifúngicos, antibacterianos,
antitumorais, antivirais e anti-inflamatórios.
O resultado deste trabalho confirmou que o micobioma marinho é altamente
diversificado e pode ter novos taxa de fungos marinhos que devem continuar a
ser explorados contribuindo para desvendar a sua biodiversidade, importância
ecológica e pesquisa de produtos naturais.Programa Doutoral em Biologi
Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecosystems and Their Services (Chapter 2)
Chapter 2, building on prior assessments1, provides a global assessment of the observed impacts and projected risks of climate change to terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, including their component species and the services they provide to people. Where possible, differences among regions, taxonomic groups and ecosystem types are presented. Adaptation options to reduce risks to ecosystems and people are assessed
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