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Fiber‐reinforced composites are widely used in civil engineering, aerospace, automotive, and medical sectors. However, these composites undergo aging due to factors such as temperature, humidity, load, and so on, during their usage. As a result, their performance deteriorates, and predicting their durability under real service conditions is a significant challenge. In order to better understand the durability of fiber‐reinforced composites, this article summarizes their microscopic aging mechanism under natural aging conditions and analyzes the changing rules of tensile, bending, and shear properties of composites under seven typical climate types, including tropical desert climate, temperate continental climate, temperate oceanic climate, Mediterranean climate, seasonal climate, tropical rainforest climate, and seawater immersion. This article reviews various durability prediction models, such as the Arrhenius model, prediction models based on residual modulus of elasticity and residual strength, and median strength regression analysis. To enhance the accuracy of aging life prediction during the natural aging process of composites, it is important to consider the influence of loads under real service conditions, incorporate different climatic types, utilize comprehensive mechanical property indices, establish an equivalent conversion relationship between natural aging and accelerated aging, and create a database with unified test standards. Highlights: The aging mechanisms of FRP after exposure in natural aging environments are discussed.The tensile, bending, and shear properties of FRP after exposure under seven climate types are discussed.The predictive models are proposed for the FRP used in natural aging.The future research needs are proposed for the FRP used in natural aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of freshwater sources like surface river runoff and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) on coastal waters is currently in focus of intense debate and investigation. One of the ongoing challenges in SGD research is the characterization and quantification of the freshwater endmember contributions to the subsurface mixing zone and their influences on element balance and biogeochemical transformations. Long-term investigations of the sediment porewater composition provide characterization and understanding of the physical, hydrological and biogeochemical processes controlling the substance exchanges. In this study, we focus on the hydrochemical and stable isotope (δ2H, δ18O) compositions of sediment porewaters along the coastline of a southern Baltic Sea peatland. Coastal surface water and groundwater dynamics were monitored at two coastal sites using 5-m-long stationary lances over a 5-year period.The vertical compositional gradients were used to extrapolate to zero-salinity (ZS) components applying a binary mixing model on the salinity and water isotope composition. The results characterize a subterranean estuary (STE) with three potential mixing endmembers: two fresh groundwaters and the brackish Baltic Sea. Tritium–helium (3H–3He) porewater dating gave ages of more than about 20 years for the freshwater components. The ZS components were compared with other SGD sites along the southern Baltic Sea and North Sea and highlight the importance of local SGD studies for a proper groundwater endmember characterization as basis to understand hydrological and biogeochemical developments at the land–ocean continuum in times of current climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Location Taxon Methods Results Main Conclusions Most plant groups originated under tropical conditions, leading to the hypothesis of tropical niche conservatism, according to which species assemblages of a clade originating and diversifying in tropical climates are expected to have low phylogenetic diversity and dispersion in temperate climates because only few lineages have adapted to these novel conditions. The opposite may be expected for clades originating under temperate conditions, but this temperate niche conservatism hypothesis has not been tested for a broad temperature gradient including both tropical and arctic climates. Liverworts are thought to have originated in temperate climates, and may thus follow the pattern of temperate niche conservatism. Here, we test this hypothesis using regional liverwort floras across a nearly full temperature gradient from tropical through temperate to arctic climates in North America. In addition, we investigate whether temperature‐related variables and climate extreme variables play a more important role in determining phylogenetic structure of liverwort assemblages, compared to precipitation‐related variables and climate seasonality variables, respectively.North America.Liverworts (Marchantiophyta).Phylogenetic diversity (measured as mean pairwise distance) and phylogenetic dispersion (measured as standardised effect size of mean pairwise distance) in liverworts in regional floras in North America were related to latitude and climatic variables. Variation partitioning analysis was used to assess the relative importance of temperature‐ versus precipitation‐related variables and of climate extremes versus seasonality on phylogenetic diversity and dispersion.Phylogenetic diversity and dispersion in liverworts is highest in temperate climates, compared to both tropical and arctic climates. Temperature‐related variables and climate extreme variables explained more variation in phylogenetic diversity and dispersion of liverwort assemblages than did precipitation‐related variables and climate seasonality variables, respectively.Variations in phylogenetic diversity and dispersion in liverworts along the latitudinal gradient in North America are consistent with the temperate niche conservatism hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study exploits the air temperature and precipitation data from ERA5‐Land reanalysis and E‐OBS gridded observations that are freely available from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The objectives of the study are to analyze the distribution of Köppen climate zones and to detect the changes in the presence and coverage of the specific climate types in Southeastern Europe. The results are shown separately for the following reference periods: 1961–1990, 1971–2000, 1981–2010, and 1991–2020. In the period 1961–1990, the most dominant climate type in Southeastern Europe was fully humid temperate climate with warm summer (Cfb), while fully humid continental climate with warm summer (Dfb) was also highly present there, together with fully humid temperate climate with hot summer (Cfa). In the period 1991–2020, the shift of Köppen climate zones appeared in such a way that the area with Dfb continental climate, that is often called snow or cold climate, is significantly reduced and this type is replaced with Cfb temperate climate. At the same time, Cfa climate type with hot summer is spread across wider area, mainly instead of Cfb with warm summer, now reaching almost the same percentage of coverage as Cfb type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duckweeds are widely distributed small, simply constructed aquatic higher plants (the Lemnaceae) found on quiet freshwater surfaces. Species inhabiting temperate climates may have to cope with long periods of severe cold during the winter season. Several duckweeds form compact resting structures from the assimilatory fronds of the growing season that can bridge inhospitable conditions in a quiescent state. Of these, turions separate from the mother fronds and overwinter on the water body bottom in a dormant state. They can surface, germinate, and sprout to resume active growth upon warming in the spring. The turions of the largest duckweed, Spirodela polyrhiza, have been intensively examined as to ultrastructure, the factors governing their formation and release from dormancy, and the signals driving their germination and sprouting and the accompanying starch degradation. Comparative transcriptomics of assimilatory fronds and dormant turions are revealing the molecular features of this developmental cycle. The results illustrate an elegant sequence of reactions that ensures aquatic survival of even severe winters by frost avoidance in a vegetative mode. Since little is known about other duckweed resting fronds, the S. polyrhiza turion developmental cycle cannot be considered to be representative of duckweed resting fronds in general but can serve as a reference for corresponding investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper determines the effect of daily precipitation, occurring in the sewerage catchment area located in the Jastków Commune, on the volume of wastewater, flowing into the treatment plant in Snopków. Daily and annual volumes of incidental water, caused by precipitation, flowing into the selected sewerage system were determined, and then the annual costs incurred for their treatment were calculated. The sewerage system selected for the study is located in the eastern part of Poland, in the Lublin Voivodeship, within the Jastków Commune. The design average daily inflow of wastewater to the classical treatment plant with activated sludge is 1200 m³·d-1. To the sewage network made of PVC with a length of 67.22 km domestic wastewater from 1119 single-family buildings from 3350 residents are discharged. The study was carried out in 2019–2022, and the daily precipitation totals and daily sewage inflows to the treatment plant were analyzed. The results of the calculations were related to the humidity classification of the year (dry, average and wet) under temperate climate conditions. The study showed that during precipitation events, the share of incidental water in the average daily volume of wastewater flowing into the treatment plant ranged from 3 to 26%. Annually, 7,400 to 10,325 m³ of rainwater flowed into the studied treatment plant, which accounted for 5.0 to 6.3% of the annual volume of wastewater. The incidental waters flowing into the sewage system resulted in the need to spend additional sums – from PLN 47,814 (€10,897) to PLN 71,232 (€16,234) per year. Thus, the annual cost of wastewater treatment in the studied system increased by about 5–6%. The results of the study are important and valuable information for the operators of the analyzed sewerage network and the wastewater treatment plant, as well as for other units that use similar systems. They will allow to initiate actions to detect and eliminate illegal connections of roof gutters and/or yard drains to sanitary sewers in the analyzed area, which would then allow to reduce the cost of wastewater treatment in the studied case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proportions of exterior windows in low-rise residential buildings are crucial for optimizing energy consumption. This study investigates and optimizes these proportions for buildings in the temperate climate of Rasht City, Iran. A building was simulated in DesignBuilder software to explore how different window-to-wall ratios affect energy consumption. Using a parametric algorithm, the percentage of windows on each building facade was varied from 10% to 100%, and heating, cooling, and lighting loads were calculated. The results revealed that optimizing window proportions can significantly reduce annual energy consumption. For the north-facing facade, the optimal window-to-wall ratio is between 26% and 33%. On the south side, the most efficient window proportion is 21%–25%, resulting in the lowest energy consumption of 2,102 kWh/m2 per year. The optimal window proportions for the east and west facades are 54%–57%, and 58%, respectively. The study found a strong correlation between energy consumption and the window-to-wall ratio for the south-facing facade, with a correlation coefficient of 0.97. For the north, east, and west facades, the correlation coefficients are 0.72, 0.17, and 0.33, respectively. These findings can predict energy consumption for residential buildings in Rasht and similar climates. Optimizing window proportions is an effective strategy to reduce energy use and enhance residents' quality of life, applicable to both new constructions and renovations of existing buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aedes albopictus (Skuse 1894) mosquitoes can transmit deadly arboviruses and are globally invasive due to their ability to survive in both tropical and temperate climates. Although adults cannot survive harsh winters, females are capable of anticipating seasonal change and producing overwintering diapause (DP) eggs that remain in a state of arrested development over the winter and hatch when favorable conditions return in the spring. While low temperatures can facilitate DP entry under short photoperiods, temperature signals alone are not sufficient to induce DP. Methodology/Principal findings: To identify maternal phenotypes predictive of DP egg production in laboratory conditions, we characterized aspects of maternal physiology and behavior to identify those that correlate with DP egg production and changes in photoperiod, versus changes in temperature. Neither changes in temperature nor photoperiod impacted protein preference, blood meal consumption, or total number of eggs produced per female. Egg retention and oviposition timing were influenced by temperature, independent of DP egg production. However, females housed under short photoperiod conditions showed increased starvation resistance, despite showing similar levels of locomotor activity and internal stores of triacylglycerols, glucose, glycogen, and trehalose compared to females housed in long photoperiods. Conclusions/Significance: These results suggest that temperature and photoperiod differentially affect maternal phenotypes and identify starvation resistance as a maternal phenotype that is influenced by photoperiod and correlates with DP egg status. Author summary: Aedes albopictus mosquitoes can survive in temperate climates because females are able to detect changes in temperature and day length in the autumn to produce "diapause" eggs that are provisioned with extra nutrients to survive harsh winters by remaining in a state of arrest and hatching in the spring. Although temperature and day length normally change in concert with each other throughout the year, studies have shown that day length is the most important cue used by female mosquitoes to initiate diapause egg production. In this study, the authors examined aspects of feeding and reproduction to determine which of these correlated with day length. Many aspects of reproduction were influenced by temperature; however, housing female mosquitoes under autumn-like short-day conditions led to increased starvation resistance. Surprisingly these females survive longer even though they do not appear to expend less energy compared to females housed in spring-like long-day conditions at the same temperature. This suggests that the mosquito mothers undergo changes in their metabolism that correlate with the production of DP eggs that can survive the winter. This new knowledge may lead to novel targets to disrupt seasonal reproduction in mosquitoes and limit the parts of the world where they can survive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of probabilistic event attribution studies depend on the choice of the extreme value statistics used in the analysis, particularly with the arbitrariness in the selection of appropriate thresholds to define extremes. We bypass this issue by using the Extended Generalized Pareto Distribution (ExtGPD), which jointly models low precipitation with a generalized Pareto distribution and extremes with a different Pareto tail, to conduct daily precipitation attribution across the contiguous United States (CONUS). We apply the ExtGPD to 12 general circulation models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 and compare counterfactual scenarios with and without anthropogenic emissions. Observed precipitation by the Climate Prediction Center is used for evaluating the GCMs. We find that greenhouse gases rather than natural variability can explain the observed magnitude of extreme daily precipitation, especially in the temperate regions. Our results highlight an unambiguous linkage of anthropogenic emissions to daily precipitation extremes across CONUS. Plain Language Summary: We investigate how human‐induced emissions affect daily rainfall extremes across the United States. The attribution of an extreme event to human‐induced emissions depends on the selected extreme event statistics, with setting a threshold to define what counts as an extreme event remaining a major challenge. To overcome this, we used the Extended Generalized Pareto Distribution (ExtGPD) that jointly models both low and heavy rainfall events without defining a threshold, providing a more complete picture of the full distribution including extremes. We fitted the ExtGPD to 12 general circulation models and compared scenarios with and without human‐induced emissions. Our findings suggest that human emissions are responsible for the observed intensity of daily rainfall extremes across the United States, especially in regions with temperate climates, and that these extremes would have been smaller without greenhouse gases. Key Points: We apply the Extended Generalized Pareto Distribution for probabilistic event attribution to bypass issues with threshold specificationAnthropogenic emissions alone could exacerbate the observed magnitude of extreme daily precipitation across the United StatesThe study underscores the urgent need for mitigation, revealing a clear link between anthropogenic activities and extreme precipitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of biodiversity has been a severe problem in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Among the various wildlife, amphibians have high conservation value because of their ecological position and life cycle in both terrestrial and aquatic areas. Owing to the problems caused by the change in the habitat environment of amphibians, many studies have been conducted on the habitat characteristics and distribution changes in the ROK. However, there are only a few studies in the ROK that focused on analyzing suitable habitat areas for various amphibians and investigating species richness and rarity over time We aimed to determine the changes in species richness and rarity by identifying changes in their habitats according to temporal and spatial changes in the central region representing the ROK's temperate climate. Suitable habitat area maps for nine amphibians (Rana huanrensis, Kaloula borealis, Rana coreana, Glandirana rugosa, Pelophylax nigromaculatus, Dryophytes japonicus, Onychodactylus fischeri, Bufo gargarizans, and Bufo stejnegeri) at different periods were drawn. Spatial changes in species richness and rarity over time were identified using those maps. The area with high species richness decreased, whereas that with low species richness increased. In terms of species rarity, the high-altitude region had a relatively higher species rarity than the low-altitude region. Some groups were derived on the basis of the increase and decrease in the species richness and rarity of amphibians, whereas the distribution of each group was distinguished by the altitude and distance from the road. Accordingly, priority areas for conservation in the central region of the ROK were found. This study can be applied as a framework for the conservation of amphibians in temperate countries such as the ROK. It will help identify amphibians' habitats that should be protected first when a regional development is planned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is the primary driver of wildfires in humid regions, and the main drought drivers for wildfire occurrence and spread vary across different humid climatic areas. This study explores the suitability of different drought descriptions for wildfires under various humid temperate climates in Japan. Based on wildfire data from 1995 to 2012, statistical and correlation analyses were conducted to examine the performance of effective humidity (EH) and soil moisture (SM) as indicators of atmospheric and soil drought. EH is used for nationwide wildfire and drought warnings in Japan. The results show that EH is significantly influenced by seasonal and regional factors, with its ability to assess drought for wildfire varying accordingly, whereas SM demonstrates a more consistent ability to assess drought across different seasons and regions. Correlation analysis revealed that atmospheric drought better explains the drought conditions for wildfire ignition in 11 prefectures, mainly concentrated in the northern regions along the Sea of Japan. In contrast, the correlation coefficients for SM were higher in 33 prefectures, particularly along the Pacific coast, indicating that soil drought better explains the drought conditions for burned areas in these prefectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honey bee, Apis mellifera L., is one of the main pollinators worldwide. In a temperate climate, seasonality affects the life span, behavior, physiology, and immunity of honey bees. In consequence, it impacts their interaction with pathogens and parasites. In this study, we used Bayesian statistics and modeling to examine the immune response dynamics of summer and winter honey bee workers after injection with the heat-killed bacteria Serratia marcescens, an opportunistic honey bee pathogen. We investigated the humoral and cellular immune response at the transcriptional and functional levels using qPCR of selected immune genes, antimicrobial activity assay, and flow cytometric analysis of hemocyte concentration. Our data demonstrate increased antimicrobial activity at transcriptional and functional levels in summer and winter workers after injection, with a stronger immune response in winter bees. On the other hand, an increase in hemocyte concentration was observed only in the summer bee population. Our results indicate that the summer population mounts a cellular response when challenged with heat-killed S. marcescens, while winter honey bees predominantly rely on humoral immune reactions. We created a model describing the honey bee immune response dynamics to bacteria-derived components by applying Bayesian statistics to our data. This model can be employed in further research and facilitate the investigating of the honey bee immune system and its response to pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical climate classification is a process that makes environmental conditions understandable to humans by using climatic elements. Köppen-Geiger (KG) is a popular climate classification method that uses long-term precipitation and temperature data to classify climate into five primary groups. However, long-term continuous meteorological data is heavily exposed to data scarcity, particularly in a national scale. This research study addresses this challenge by leveraging satellite imageries, multilinear regression models and spatial interpolation within the context of entire country of Iran between 2016 and 2019. Accordingly, this study examined statistical relationship between 14 explanatory variables under four main categories of MODIS-LST, MODIS-NDVI, MODIS-TVDI, GPM-precipitation and SRTM-DEM against ground-based precipitation and temperature data (dependent variables). The spatial interpolation model (i.e. Krigging and Co-krigging) was directly developed from weather observation station datasets. A total of 332 synoptic stations were selected, 67% of which were used in modeling and the remaining 33% in testing. Accuracy assessment was performed with Kappa statistics. Overall, this research study developed three KG classification maps. These include a map per precipitation and temperature from regression model and spatial interpolation and a point-based maps from unused climate data in modelling. This study identified three KG main climate groups of arid, warm temperate and snow and eight KG sub-groups of hot desert, cold steppe, cold desert, hot steppe, warm temperate climate with dry hot summer, snow climate with dry hot summer, warm temperate climate with dry warm summer and snow climate with dry warm summer. A comparison between those maps (kappa = 0.75) showed the higher accuracy of regression-based KG maps against spatial interpolation maps. This study contributes to a more detailed monitor of climate change across countries and regions with sparse distribution of weather observation data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing heat stress in urban environments due to climate change has a significant adverse impact on human work and daily life. Street canyons as the main component of the underlying surface of the city and the main place of residents' activities, a comprehensive understanding of street morphology and tree planting practices can help to improve thermal comfort. Based on survey data and field experiments, this study designed 30 scenarios and employed ENVI-met model (version 5.0.3) to quantify the effect of street aspect ratio (H/W: H is building height and W is street width) and tree spacing (TS) on pedestrian thermal comfort in two differently oriented streets (north–south and east–west) in Taiyuan, China. Results showed that H/W ratio and TS significantly influenced the street thermal comfort mainly owing to shading. H/W ratio played a pivotal role in reducing mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) and physiological equivalent temperature (PET), and was negatively correlated with Tmrt and PET. Compared to no-tree scenarios, street trees significantly improved thermal comfort (mean reductions of Tmrt and PET were 12.74℃ and 5.66℃, respectively), and PET and Tmrt were significantly negatively correlated with TS. The improvement effect of street trees on Tmrt and PET in east–west oriented street was better than north–south oriented street. H/W = 1.0 and TS = 6 m appeared as the proposed combination to mitigate the summer thermal comfort in the temperate monsoon climate zone. These quantitative results provide new insights into renewal and design strategies for future urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Spring regrowth in temperate perennials relies on renewal buds, which form a key component in the shoot growth cycle. Still, we possess almost no information on these renewal buds, which is becoming more pressing with the current climate change. Most existing studies concentrated on easy‐to‐study aboveground buds of woody plants, whose morphology has largely been linked to frost protection. It is not clear to what extent these findings apply also to herbaceous species.We therefore examined protective traits and preformation of winter renewal buds in 379 species of temperate herbs, and tested how these traits are distributed across the phylogeny and related to other bud bank and whole‐plant traits.We identified a major gradient from few, large, highly preformed, scale‐covered buds associated with larger belowground storage organs deep in the soil, to small, numerous, less preformed, and naked buds near the soil surface.Belowground renewal buds of temperate herbs show several distinct strategies for winter survival and spring regrowth that might affect their response to changing winter and early spring conditions. Renewal bud traits are driven not only by frost protection but also by protection of the apical meristem from mechanical disturbance in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 13-year field test of a methane oxidising landfill cover with capillary barrier. • On average, the capillary barrier diverted 82% of the water reaching the barrier. • The diversion capacity decreased initially and recovered in the years after. • The cover soil optimised for CH 4 oxidation decreased capillary barrier performance. • Successful dual-functionality cover design must balance both components. This study quantifies the field hydraulic performance of a dual-functionality landfill cover, combining microbial methane oxidation with water diversion using a capillary barrier. The investigated 500 m2 test field, constructed on a landfill in the Netherlands, consisted of a cover soil optimised for methane oxidation, underlain by a sandy capillary layer and a gravelly capillary block. Outflows from these layers were measured between 2009 and 2023. Average precipitation was 848 mm/a, evapotranspiration, diverted infiltration and breakthrough amounted to 504 (59.4 %), 282 (33.3 %) and 62 (7.3 %) mm/a, respectively. On average, the capillary barrier diverted 82 % of the inflow into the capillary layer. Breakthrough occurred mainly from October to March when evapotranspiration was low and the maximum water storage capacity of the cover soil was reached. During this period, inflow into the capillary barrier exceeded its diversion capacity, caused by the relatively high hydraulic conductivity of the cover soil due to its optimisation for gas transport. The diversion capacity declined drastically in the year after construction and increased again afterwards. This was attributed to suffusion of sand from the capillary layer into the capillary block and subsequent washout to greater depths or the influence of iron precipitates at the bottom of the capillary layer. The effect of a more finely grained methane oxidation layer on the hydraulic and methane oxidation performance should be investigated further. These measures could further improve the combined performance of the dual functionality landfill cover system under the given conditions of a temperate climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavernous weathering forms have long been studied and discussed as enigmas in geomorphology. Recently, their evolution has been shown to be controlled by moisture patterns, which are still poorly understood. For the first time, capillary water and vapor fluxes were characterized in detail at tafone in a temperate climate of central Europe using a wide range of methods adapted from soil hydrology. Time domain reflectometry showed that moisture flows from the rock interior to the evaporation front in the shallow subsurface of both — the backwalls and the outer surface. When overland flow occurs on the outer surfaces (after heavy rains), 10 mm/day can infiltrate and flow toward the backwalls. The main sources of water for tafone are the influx of water from the rock interior and the infiltration of overland flow after heavy rains, while condensation of air humidity is a minor source. Influx from the rock interior is coupled to the evaporation rate, which varies between 100 and 300 kg/m2/year in summer and less than 15 kg/m2/year in winter. More water evaporates from the backwall of the tafone than from the outer surface, and more salt is deposited in the backwalls, resulting in predominant salt weathering in the backwalls. The tafoni studied thus evolve, and the cavities deepen. Tafoni in arid and semi‐arid environments generally show a much higher contrast between evaporation rates from backwalls and outer surfaces than tafoni and honeycombs in temperate and coastal environments. Tafoni in temperate settings are therefore more susceptible to degradation when evaporation decreases or inflow to the tafone increases. This study also shows that microtensiometers can be used to determine moisture content with high spatial resolution, while time domain reflectometry allows accurate characterization of moisture patterns with depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban environments often present environmental conditions that facilitate the introduction and establishment of nonnative and invasive species. These can expand their range into areas with unfavorable climates by taking advantage of the ecological and climatic homogenization of cities, bypassing the ecological barriers presented by the surrounding environment. One way to monitor the expansion of these species is using potential distribution models. We used as a model species the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) whose invasion has caused serious consequences for biodiversity and economic losses worldwide. We used the average result of six different algorithms and used climatic variables and population density as a proxy for the urbanization level in the Western Palearctic to build the predictive model. The model indicates this ant prefers to inhabit areas with Mediterranean and Temperate Oceanic climates and that its suitability depends on two main factors: the continentality (temperature annual range) and the degree of urbanization. The species is predicted to be absent in areas with large temperature contrasts throughout the year, particularly in rural and peri‐urban areas (i.e. adjacent to urban areas) of inland regions. Conversely, the species has a predilection for coastal and urban areas where environmental conditions are attenuated by the influence of the sea or the “urban heat island” effect in the case of inland cities. In this sense, cities act as “bioclimatic islands” facilitating the establishment of the Argentine ant as a reservoir, enlarging its distribution into climatically nonoptimal areas, and promoting its future expansion in a scenario of global warming and socioeconomic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cynanchum acutum L. (Asclepiadaceae) is a perennial vine weed widespread in the Mediterranean region. In Israel, it is native to areas such as the Golan Heights, Galilee, and the northern Negev. Recently, its range has expanded to the Arava Valley in the southern part of Israel. In this study, we investigate the biology and phenology of C. acutum plants originating from both native and invasive populations. To achieve this, we utilized rhizomes from the invasive area in the southern region characterized by a hyper-arid desert climate (Yahel), and from the northern region characterized by a temperate climate (Gvat). Additionally, we examine chemical-based weed management approaches for controlling C. acutum. Rhizomes collected from the northern region showed higher emergence rates at temperatures between 15-30°C, whereas at 35°C, rhizomes from the southern region exhibited a higher emergence rate. Phenology experiments conducted simultaneously at southern and northern locations revealed that plants from the northern location flowered first at both sites. However, flowering initiation occurred ~20 days earlier on average when plants from both populations were grown at the southern site. Pre-emergence herbicide treatments using indaziflam and pyroxasulfone were effective in inhibiting C. acutum root formation. According to the percentage of emergence, pendimethalin showed higher emergence (93% and 100%) in comparison to indaziflam (10% and 93%) and pyroxasulfone (72% and 70%) (2020 and 2021, respectively). Treatments including the herbicide fluroxypyr, as well as the treatment of glyphosate + saflufenacil + surfactant were highly effective in controlling C. acutum plants. These results offer valuable insights into effective weed management strategies for addressing C. acutum infestations. Moreover, our findings underscore the remarkable plasticity of this species and shed light on how populations originating from diverse habitats may have adapted to distinct environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In livestock, temperature, humidity, and Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) affect the welfare, yields, health and viability of animals. This study aimed to develop optimal temperature, humidity, and THI thresholds for dairy farms in temperate climate regions using a fuzzy logic model. THI values were calculated using three different literature-derived equations, considering different temperature and humidity situations in dairy farms. The Mamdani-type fuzzy logic method was utilized to formulate linguistic expressions for temperature, humidity, and THI values. According to the THI thresholds, the areas below the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) were found to be significant (p < 0.001) in all fuzzy algorithms. The study found 100% harmony with the THI thresholds of 66 and 72 for cattle in temperate climates, but only 73.6% harmony with the threshold of 74 for cattle adapted to tropical climate. Briefly, in temperate dairy farms, the fuzzy logic revealed that the optimal temperature, humidity and THI values should be between 14–18.5°C, 65–70% and 52.5–64.5, respectively. However, further research is required to understand the impact of thresholds determined by fuzzy logic on dairy cow production and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Determination the scale of hazard caused by episodic water runoff in rural areas will allow better management of the land and limit its negative effects. There has been an increase in the frequency of hazards associated with meteorological and hydrological phenomena. One of them is flash floods occurring episodically in areas of concentrated runoff—valleys without permanent drainage. In the opinion of residents and local authorities, these are potentially safe areas—they are not threatened by floods and are therefore often occupied by buildings. The importance of addressing flash floods in land use planning is essential for sustainable development and disaster risk reduction. The objective of this research was to assess the level of the hazard and to evaluate its presence in land use planning activities. This manuscript fills a research gap, as to date flash flood threats have not been analyzed for individual buildings located in catchments of dry valleys in temperate climates. More than 12,000 first-order catchments were analyzed. The study covered an upland area located in East Poland, which is characterized by high population density and dispersed rural settlement. Within the 10 municipalities, buildings located on potential episodic runoff lines were identified. Qualitative assessment was applied to ascertain the susceptibility of catchments to flash floods. Such criteria as slopes, size, shape of the catchment area, and land cover, among others, were used. Between 10 and 20% of the buildings were located on episodic runoff lines, and about 900 sub-catchments were highly or very highly susceptible to flash floods. The way to reduce the negative effects of these phenomena is to undertake proper land use planning based on knowledge of geohazards, including flash floods. However, an analysis of available planning documents shows that phenomena of this type are not completely taken into account in spatial management processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate whether heat stress, as defined by the temperature-humidity index (THI) during the close-up dry period, had any impact on the productive performance, fertility, and immunometabolic blood indices of dairy cows in the subsequent lactation. Lactation performance was associated with increasing THI values on − 21, − 14, and − 7 d before calving resulting in decreased milk yield by about 2.30, 2.60, and 2.90 kg, respectively. The THI on the − 7 d before the calving was negatively associated with fertility parameters such as delayed first estrus postpartum, an elongated calving interval by approximately 32 d, a higher number of services per conception by 1.00, and an elongated artificial insemination service period, days open, and inter-calving period by about 20, 52, and 52 d, respectively. The study found that the immunometabolic blood indices were associated with increasing THI values during the close-up dry period. The study showed that exposing dairy cows to close-up dry period heat stress had negative consequences on performance, fertility, and immunometabolic blood indices in the subsequent lactation. Therefore, it is recommended that herd management and barn microclimate changes be implemented earlier, starting from the late dry period, to mitigate the negative impact of heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thaumatin‐like proteins (TLPs) are conserved proteins involved in the defense and stress responses of plants. Previous studies showed that several TLPs were accumulated in leaf apoplast in Ammopiptanthus mongolicus in winter, indicating that TLPs might be related to the adaptation to winter climate in A. mongolicus. To investigate the roles of TLPs in winter adaptation, we first analyzed the expression pattern of TLP genes in A. mongolicus and then focused on the biological function and regulation pathway of AmTLP25 gene. Several TLP genes, including AmTLP25, were upregulated during winter and in response to both cold and osmotic stress. Overexpression of the AmTLP25 gene led to an increased tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis to freezing and osmotic stress. Furthermore, the elevated AmWRKY14 transcription factor during winter activated AmTLP25 gene expression by specifically binding to its promoter. It is speculated that the AmWRKY14 – AmTLP25 module contributes to the adaptation to temperate winter climate in A. mongolicus. Our research advances the current understanding of the biological function and regulatory pathway of TLP genes and provides valuable information for understanding the molecular mechanism of temperate evergreen broad‐leaved plants adapting to winter climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Bondarzewiaceae is an important and diverse group of macrofungi associated with wood as white rotting fungi, and some species are forest tree pathogens. Currently, there are nine genera and approximately 89 species in the family, distributed in tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates. To address the phylogenetic relationships among the genera, a combined ITS-28S dataset was subjected to maximum likelihood (ML), Bayesian inference (BI), and time divergence analyses using the BEAST package. Both ML and BI analyses revealed two major clades, where one major clade consisted of Amylosporus, Stecchericium, and Wrightoporia austrosinensisa. The second major clade is composed of Bondarzewia, Heterobasidion, Gloiodon, Laurilia, Lauriliella, and Wrightoporia, indicating that these genera are phylogenetically similar. Wrightoporia austrosinensisa recovered outside of Wrightoporia, indicating that this species is phylogenetically different from the rest of the species of the genus. Similarly, time divergence analyses suggest that Bondarzewiaceae diversified around 114 million years ago (mya), possibly during the Early Cretaceous Epoch. The genus Amylosporus is well resolved within the family, with an estimated stem age of divergent around 62 mya, possibly during the Eocene Epoch. Further, the species of the genus are recovered in two sister clades. One sister clade consists of species with pileate basidiomata and generative hyphae with clamp connections, corresponding to the proposed section Amylosporus sect. Amylosporus. The other consists of species having resupinate basidiomata and generative hyphae without clamps, which is treated here as Amylosporus sect. Resupinati. We provided the key taxonomic characters, known distribution, number of species, and stem age of diversification of each section. Furthermore, we also described a new species, Amylosporus wadinaheezicus, from Oman, based on morphological characters of basidiomata and multigene sequence data of ITS, 28S, and Tef1-α. With pileate basidiomata and phylogenetic placement, the new species is classified under the proposed A. sect. Amylosporus. An identification key to the known species of Amylosporus is presented. Ecology and distribution of species of the genera in the family are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Vaccinium is represented by shrubs growing in a temperate climate that have been used for ages as traditional remedies in the treatment of digestive problems, in diabetes, renal stones or as antiseptics due to the presence of polyphenols (anthocyanins, flavonoids and tannins) in their fruits and leaves. Recent studies confirm their marked potential in the treatment of skin disorders and as skin care cosmetics. The aim of this review is to present the role of Vaccinium spp. as cosmetic products, highlight their potential and prove the biological properties exerted by the extracts from different species that can be useful for the preparation of innovative cosmetics. In the manuscript both skin care and therapeutic applications of the representatives of this gender will be discussed that include the antioxidant, skin lightening, UV-protective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive properties to shed new light on these underestimated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The mite Varroa destructor is the most damaging parasite of honey bees (Apis mellifera) worldwide. When necessary, mite control is mainly accomplished with acaricides. Optimal parasite control is achieved when the acaricide is applied during times of little or no brood in honey bee colonies, which varies by region. Therefore, in this study we analyzed the population dynamics of the mite in honey bee colonies established in a temperate semi-arid climate in Mexico by periodically sampling brood and adult bees, as well as by counting mites falling to the bottom board of hives over 10 months. We also measured brood and adult bee populations and food stores. It was found that the sampling period influences the population of V. destructor in the colonies. The mite population increased by 26% in the 10 months of sampling. It was observed that as the worker brood population increased, the mite infestation rate in adult bees decreased, and the opposite occurred when the amount of brood in the colonies was reduced. Monitoring V. destructor populations by recording fallen mites is more reliable than determining mite infestation rates in adult bees and brood. The best period to apply an acaricide treatment in the region of study is between November and December. This study aimed to analyze the population dynamics of the mite Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in a temperate semi-arid climate in Mexico. Ten colonies homogeneous in population, food stores, and levels of mite infestation were used. The mite infestation rate in brood and adult bees, total number of mites, daily mite fall, brood and adult bee population, and food stores were determined periodically for 10 months. There was a significant effect (p < 0.05) of sampling period on the population of V. destructor in adult bees, brood, total mite population, and daily fallen mites. The total mite population increased by 26% on average per colony. The increase in brood amount reduced the mite infestation rate in adult bees, and the opposite occurred when the brood decreased. Monitoring V. destructor populations by recording fallen mites is more reliable than determining mite infestation rates in bees, as mite fall has a dynamic pattern similar to that of the total mite population. The best period to apply an acaricide treatment in the region of study is between November and December because most mites were in the phoretic phase, since there was less brood in the colonies compared to other times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies of terrestrial bryophytes as natural substrates for photosynthetic microorganisms have been performed in the polar regions, where bryophytes are an important part of the ecosystem. As they remain green throughout the year, bryophytes may also be an ideal substrate for epiphytic organisms in temperate regions. The present study investigated the colonization potential and diversity of microalgae on selected plant species in riparian forest and spruce monoculture in a temperate region. It examines whether the presence of algae is related to substrate humidity, the micromorphology of gametophyte or the seasonal availability of substrate. The taxonomic diversity of algae was studied. Cyanobacteria and green algae were cultured on BG-11 agar medium, while diatoms were identified in permanent diatomaceous slides. The alpha- and beta-diversity indices were calculated, and the communities were compared using Bray-Curtis distances and multidimensional correspondence analyses. Our findings indicate that the largest number of alga species were diatoms; however, their presence was only observed in riparian forest and was associated with high humidity. Both aerophilic and freshwater taxa were noted, the latter carried by water from nearby aquatic ecosystem. Green algae were present in both phytocoenoses and humidity appears to have no substantial effect on the degree of colonization; their diversity was low and the group consisted of terrestrial taxa. In two bryophytes growing at the highest humidity, cyanobacteria were only identified in culture. The key factor influencing the degree of microalgae colonization was the humidity of the substrate, which was related to the distance from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) presents a challenge to farmers all over the globe, not only because it can have significant impacts on welfare and productivity, but also because diagnosis can prove challenging. Several clinical scoring systems have been developed to aid farmers in making consistent early diagnosis, 2 examples being the Wisconsin (WCS) and the California (CALIF) systems. Neither of these systems were developed in or for use in a temperate environment. As environment may lead to changes in BRD presentation, the weightings and cutoffs designed for one environmental presentation of BRD may not be appropriate when used in a temperate climate. Additionally, the interpretation of the scores recorded varies between studies; this may also influence conclusions. Hence, the objective of this work was to investigate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of these tests in a temperate climate and investigate the influence of varying the interpretation on the performance of the WCS. In this prospective study, 98 commercial spring-calving dairy farms were recruited (40 randomly, 58 targeted) and visited. Thoracic ultrasound and WCS were performed on 20 randomly sampled calves between 4 and 6 wk of age on each farm. On a subset of 32 farms, the CALIF score was also undertaken. The data were then used in a hierarchical Bayesian latent class model to estimate the Se and Sp of 5 different interpretations of the Wisconsin clinical score and 1 interpretation of the California clinical score. In total, 1,936 calves were examined. The Se of the Wisconsin score varied from 0.336 to 0.577 depending on the interpretation used, and the Sp varied from 0.943 to 0.977. The Se of the California score was 0.563 (95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI]: 0.452, 0.681) and the Sp was 0.919 (95% BCI: 0.899, 0.937). In conclusion, the performances of the clinical scores in a temperate environment were similar to previously published work from more extreme climates; however, the performance varied widely depending on the score interpretation. Authors should justify their use of a particular clinical score interpretation to improve clarity in publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hops are grown mainly for the brewing market due to the rich chemical composition that gives beer aroma and bitterness. Brazil is one of the largest beer producers and consumers in the world and one of the largest hop importers. There is growing demand and interest in producing hops for domestic supply; however, as this crop originates from a temperate climate and the Northern Hemisphere, it is important to carry out research that describes the development of hops in a tropical climate to provide information on its cultivation in Brazil, as well as to determine its behavior in organic cultivation. A randomized block design was adopted, the treatments consisted of two cropping systems, conventional and organic, for Hallertau Mittelfrueh variety cultivation, with four blocks and three plants per plot. Gas exchange analyzes of plants under both cultivation systems were performed to obtain measurements of A, gs, Ci, E, WUE and A/Ci, morphometric and yield analyzes were also carried out. In comparison with the plants of the organic system, the plants of the conventional cultivation had greater photosynthetic efficiency; however, the practices adopted in the organic cultivation system provided the plants with greater productive capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasses (Poaceae) produce large amounts of pollen and are among the main causes of pollinosis worldwide. Despite their morphological similarity, pollen grains of different grass species may have different allergenicities. Therefore, quantification of the roles of individual species in airborne pollen is an important task. There are very few studies on this topic, and none of them have been conducted in a temperate continental climate. Our study was carried out for three years (2020–2022) in the urban territory of Moscow (Russia) and aimed to understand what grass species contribute the most to the total pollen load of the atmosphere. The comparison of aerobiological and phenological data was based on calculating the phenological index, which is a combination of phenological parameters, pollen productivity of individual species, and their abundance. Our data showed that the decomposition of pollination curves based on the phenological index was sometimes very efficient but not always possible in temperate continental climates. The main reasons for disagreement between aerobiological and phenological data were weather conditions and lawn mowing. Not all grasses were equally important as sources of allergenic pollen. The greatest contribution to the pollen load at the beginning of the season in Moscow was made by Dactylis glomerata, and to a lesser extent by Phleum pratense and Festuca pratensis. These are the most common species, which are widespread throughout Europe. The contribution of minor components is insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the application potential of the dew-point cooling tower (DPCT) in selected energy-intensive applications in temperate climates was analyzed and discussed. The applications selected for analysis are power generation with natural gas turbines and chilled water air conditioning systems. The study is based on a mathematical model derived from a modified ε-NTU model. The model was validated against experimental results and showed satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. DPCT was compared with a typical cooling tower limited by the wet-bulb temperature (wet-bulb cooling tower, WBCT). The simulation results showed that DPCT is able to provide significant energy savings in energy-intensive applications; therefore, its application potential in temperate climates can be considered justified. In the case of gas turbines, DPCT was able to generate 2 to 10 percentage points more capacity than operating on outdoor air and 1.8 to 5 percentage points more than operating with WBCT. In the case of air conditioning systems, the system equipped with DPCT achieved EERs (energy efficiency ratios) higher by 1 to 7.2 compared to dry cooling and by 0.3 to 5.1 compared to systems equipped with WBCT. The annual energy savings obtained by the system with DPCT were 14.7 MWh compared to WBCT and 30 MWh compared to dry cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, so‐called internal or sea‐based mitigation measures have been suggested as nature‐based solutions to remove nutrients and improve water quality in semi‐enclosed coastal waters. However, these have rarely been tested in the field, especially in colder climates where winter ice cover is common. The aim of this experimental research was to investigate plant growth conditions in such an environment, as well to estimate nutrient removal capacity by harvesting constructed floating wetlands (CFWs). We tested small (24–28 m2) CFWs (Biomatrix®, Scotland, UK) at two demonstration sites: the Curonian lagoon (CL, Lithuania) and Szczecin lagoon (SL, Poland). In the CL, CFWs were planted predominantly with Carex acutiformes (Ehrh.), while the SL CFW was planted mainly with the reed Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. We aimed to test the amount of nutrient removal by plant harvesting over three subsequent years (2019–2021). We investigated carbon storage capacity and plant nutrient stoichiometry as indicators of potential nutrient limitation in the brackish coastal waters. Plant biomass increased annually, stabilising at 2.5–3.7 kg wet weight m−2. The total nutrient uptake per installed island area varied with the plant species composition. In the successive years, the harvested plants from the CL CFW dominated by Carex accumulated 10.4–13.1 g N m−2, 0.6–0.8 g P m−2 and 318–431 g C m−2 per year. The harvest from the SL CFW dominated by Phragmites contained a two‐times higher amount of nutrients, the respective figures being 21.2 g N m−2, 1.6 g P m−2 and 704 g C m−2. The nutrient stoichiometry in the vegetation did not suggest the presence of sub‐optimal growth conditions due to nitrogen limitation. However, the CL's dissolved nutrient supply was very low during the summer cyanobacteria bloom and indicated a severe nitrogen deficiency (as reflected in the dissolved inorganic nitrogen:dissolved inorganic phosphorus [DIN:DIP] molar ratio of 6). We suggest that to maximise nutrient removal capacity, tall plants with high biomass should be selected and/or plants with fine root systems to efficiently uptake the limiting nutrient from the water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterium Erwinia amylovora is one of the most important pathogens of apples, causing significant damage. During the experimental years, 2021 and 2022, both the temperature and humidity in summer months, were favourable for the occurrence of fire blight in areas with a temperate climate. The absence of major genes for resistance to fire blight makes it difficult to improve apple cultivars in terms of this characteristic. Therefore, studies regarding the behaviour of apple cultivars, in certain environmental conditions, have kept their relevance. The behaviour of the cultivars studied was compared with that of ‘Auriu de Bistrița’, previously known to be susceptible to fire blight. Ten of the twelve cultivars performed well in 2021 and 2022 The results showed that ‘Jonaprim’ was not affected by Erwinia amylovora while other Romanian or foreign cultivars were sporadically affected. ‘Auriu de Bistrița’ presented a higher frequency of specific symptoms, than all the other cultivars.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate whether heat stress, as defined by the temperature-humidity index (THI) during the close-up dry period, had any impact on the productive performance, fertility, and immunometabolic blood indices of dairy cows in the subsequent lactation. Lactation performance was associated with increasing THI values on − 21, − 14, and − 7 d before calving resulting in decreased milk yield by about 2.30, 2.60, and 2.90 kg, respectively. The THI on the − 7 d before the calving was negatively associated with fertility parameters such as delayed first estrus postpartum, an elongated calving interval by approximately 32 d, a higher number of services per conception by 1.00, and an elongated artificial insemination service period, days open, and inter-calving period by about 20, 52, and 52 d, respectively. The study found that the immunometabolic blood indices were associated with increasing THI values during the close-up dry period. The study showed that exposing dairy cows to close-up dry period heat stress had negative consequences on performance, fertility, and immunometabolic blood indices in the subsequent lactation. Therefore, it is recommended that herd management and barn microclimate changes be implemented earlier, starting from the late dry period, to mitigate the negative impact of heat stress.

Rabies is often described as the quintessential One Health problem, linking especially animal health to human health. I examined how rabies is managed in the circumpolar North through semi-structured interviews of key informants in three cases: Alaska, Northwest Territories, and Svalbard. While rabies is controlled at the territorial or state level in the Northwest Territories and Alaska, respectively, the perception of where authority lies in rabies management is less evident in Norway concerning Svalbard than in the other two cases. Respondents generally characterised the working relationship between sectors and scales of governments as positive. However, coordination remains one of the main challenges to rabies management, with harsh environmental conditions and small remote communities adding additional challenges in all three cases. Rabies managers in Svalbard also face unique conditions, such as risks associated with hunting and the particular administrative structure of Svalbard. Due to limited veterinary services in dispersed small and remote communities, dogs present challenges to rabies management in Alaska and the Northwest Territories. Personal relationships are important in disease management across agencies, and the unique challenges in the far North will likely pose challenges in adopting approaches to disease management from temperate climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon exchange between forest ecosystems and the atmosphere play an important role in global carbon cycle, which is difficult to be accurately quantified due to the large uncertainties in scaling up site-scale observations or filling-up measurement gaps. A process-oriented model equipped with comprehensive processes to explicitly simulating coupled carbon, nitrogen and water cycling, is hypothesized to reduce the uncertainties in quantification of forest carbon fluxes. To test this hypothesis, the Catchment Nutrient Management Model – DeNitrification-DeComposition (CNMM-DNDC), as a hydro-biogeochemical model that dynamically couples the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and water cycling processes, was updated in this study by incorporating a new forest growth module derived from the Biome-BGC model and validating the updates using multiple-year continuous observations of carbon and water fluxes at the site scale. The updated model has improved the processes of photosynthesis, litter decomposition, allocation, respiration and mortality to more effectively capture the transformation and transportation of nutrients in plant-soil-water continuum. The observed gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER), net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange (NEE) and evapotranspiration (ET) of three typical forest sites subject to subtropical and temperate climates in eastern Asia (2003–2010) were used for the model calibration and validation. Compared with the original model in validation, the updated model showed significant improvements in simulating the daily dynamics and inter-annual variations of each variable, with the NRMSE values decreased by 46 % and 54 %, 65 % and 37 %, 4 % and -6 %, and 38 % and -3 % for GPP, ER, NEE, and ET on daily and annual scales, respectively. The comparable performances of both model versions for annual NEE emphasizes the importance of validating each component of carbon fluxes to avoid the offsetting of model errors. The canopy average specific leaf area, fraction of leaf nitrogen in Rubisco, annual leaf and fine root turnover fraction, maximum stomatal conductance and the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in leaves and fine roots were identified as the sensitive eco-physiological parameters affecting the simulations of GPP and ER. In addition, the meteorological variables of solar radiation, humidity and air temperature also showed strong influences on the simulated GPP and ER. The relatively satisfactory performances demonstrated that the modified model has the ability to capture the daily dynamics and inter-annual variations of carbon fluxes for forests in temperate and subtropical zones, which is essential for estimating the emissions of greenhouse gases at the regional or global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water vapor scale height reflects the vertical distribution of water vapor in the atmosphere, which is a vital parameter in tropospheric zenith wet delay (ZWD) modeling and GNSS meteorology. This study accurately calculated the long-term water vapor scale height using 89 radiosonde stations in China, analyzed the characteristics in temporal and spatial variations and explored the impact factors of the water vapor scale height from the perspective of the climate zones. The numerical results indicate that the water vapor scale height in China exhibits annual and semiannual variations with a rising-then-decreasing trend across the four seasons. A relatively larger value for the water vapor scale height were observed in the subtropical monsoon climate and the temperate continental climate zone, in which the values are greater than 2.35 km, while the values in temperate monsoon climate and the alpine plateau climate zone are relatively small. In addition, the water vapor scale height in different climate zones shows different trends, with a downward trend appeared in the subtropical monsoon climate and the alpine plateau climate zone, while an upward trend was observed in the temperate monsoon climate and the temperate continental climate zone. Furthermore, a positive correlation between water vapor scale height and temperature, pressure, and atmospheric precipitable water was found in China, with a varied degree of correlation in different climate zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The paper aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of soil nutrient characteristics and fertilizer supply capacity in the main distribution areas of temperate climate types in Yunnan province, to facilitate scientific guidance on fertilization and to ensure steady improvement in the level of soil fertility and stable crop yield. (Method) From 2019 to 2022, 1880 topsoil samples were collected from the northwest, northeast, and central northern regions in Yunnan province, which were the main temperate climate types, in order to analyze the current status of soil nutrient and fertility, and to clarify the spatial distribution of and differences in soil nutrients in the main distribution areas of the climate types. (Result) The soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium all belonged to the rich level or above in the main distribution areas of temperate climate type in Yunnan province, with average contents of 39.86 g/kg, 2.09 g/kg, 29. 17 mg/kg and 166.31 mg/kg, and the proportion of the rich level or above were 66.85%,73.19%,54.11% and 40.25%, respectively. There was a good linear positive correlation between soil organic matter content and total nitrogen content, and soil nutrient changing trends among different soil types were similar. Brown soil had the highest organic matter and total nitrogen content, followed by yellow brown soil, paddy soil, while purple soil and dry red soil had lower levels. The total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, slowly available potassium, and pH in soil of cultivated land in the northwest region in Yunnan province were significantly higher than those in northeastern and north-central Yunnan (P<0.05), and the contents of total nitrogen, available potassium and slowly available potassium in soil in the central-north region were also significantly higher than those in the northeastern region in Yunnan province. The soil available potassium in the northeastern and central northern regions in Yunnan province was deficient, with a deficiency ratio of 36.99% and 45.69%, respectively. (Conclusion】 It was necessary to pay attention to balance fertilization in the northwest regions in Yunnan province to ensure the balanced absorption and utilization of nutrients by crops. Organic fertilizer should be increased in the northeast and central northern regions in Yunnan province, and potassium fertilizer should be appropriately increased according to crop types to steadily improve the soil fertility of cultivated land and crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teratosphaeria nubilosa is the predominant causal agent of Teratosphaeria leaf disease (TLD) in experimental plantations of E. globulus in Brazil. It exhibits slow vegetative growth and lack of sporulation in in vitro culture, making it difficult to obtain enough ascospores for mass inoculation. This study aimed to establish an inoculation method based on ascospore ejection from naturally infected leaves and use it to assess the response to T. nubilosa of eucalypt species and interspecific hybrids. First, the optimal temperature and incubation time for ascospores ejection from naturally infected E. globulus leaves were determined in vitro. Then, these optimal conditions were used to assess the response of eight eucalypt genotypes to T. nubilosa inoculation using ejected ascospores. The infected leaves were placed above (T1), above and under (T2) or under (T3) the plants to be inoculated. Significant differences in disease incidence, disease severity and plant defoliation were observed among genotypes and inoculation treatments. Plants exhibited higher incidence, more severe symptoms and more defoliation when exposed to T2. E. globulus and E. globulus × E. nitens clones were the most susceptible whereas an E. benthamii clone was immune. The sources of resistance identified in this work can be used in hybridization programmes with E. globulus to obtain interspecific hybrids expressing resistance to T. nubilosa and retaining the desirable traits for planting in temperate climates. The inoculation method optimized in this work could be used for small and medium‐scale screening of Eucalyptus spp. resistant to TLD. However, periodic validation of the species and genotype of the fungus associated with the naturally infected leaves used for inoculation and confirmation of the resistant phenotype of the selected eucalypt clones or progenies through experimental replications over time must be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling towers, by producing chilled water and by integration with radiant and displacement cooling systems, offer a possible alternative method for space conditioning of office buildings in temperate climates. This present study examines the operational feasibility of a cooling tower in conjunction with a radiant and displacement ventilation cooling system for office conditioning in four temperate climates. The climates are: cool and semi-humid (Birmingham, UK), cool and dry (Helsinki, FI), warm and humid (Paris, FR) and warm and dry (Prague, CZ). The system is capable of producing chilled water between 14 and 20 °C, with low approach tower temperatures (1–3 K). A mathematical model of the cooling tower system was developed and integrated with an office building energy simulation model. Using the integrated simulation model, assessment was carried out based on ASHRAE design day specifications, as well as a complete cooling seasonal analysis. Moreover, the performance of the system is benchmarked against a variable-air-volume cooling system. Energy savings for the system when benchmarked against a variable-air-volume air conditioning system, where the chiller COP (coefficient of performance) varies from 2.75 to 6.5, were 62% to 37% in Paris, 56% to 30% in Prague, 52% to 28% in Helsinki and 45% to 13% in Birmingham, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pastoral agriculture underpins the New Zealand economy. Its success in generating export income is due to a mild and moist temperate climate, productive soils, innovative farmers supported by an effective research and development system, and an energy efficient production system based on year-round grazing. However, pastoral agriculture is entirely reliant on introduced pasture and forage species and their ability to withstand both endemic and introduced pasture pests. Critical to this is the mutualistic relationship between ryegrass and Epichloë fungal endophytes which provide a range of secondary metabolites that deter herbivory by both ruminants and insect pests. The challenge has been to identify and commercialise Epichloë strains which while providing protection against insect pests, ensuring ryegrass persistence, do not cause animal health and welfare issues. The critical role that Epichloë fungal endophytes play in maintaining pasture persistence and as a result the pastoral economy of New Zealand will be reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying characteristics of invasive species or growth forms that facilitate their range expansion is critical for management. Clematis vitalba L. (old man's beard) is an invasive temperate liana in many areas of its introduction, yet its seedlings do not thrive in circumstances where resources are limited. Although some lianas in both tropical and temperate climates have been shown to spread by clonal stems along the ground, the bulk of previous research on C. vitalba reproduction has focused largely on aspects of seed ecology. The vegetative growth of the species is poorly understood. The first objective of our study was to evaluate the use of vegetative spread by C. vitalba as a means of local dispersal and population growth. We excavated ten 1‐m2 plots in infested riparian zones and found an extensive, branching network of creeping stems, both above and below ground. Our second objective was to test the ability of C. vitalba stem fragments to act as vegetative propagules. After 4 months, ~50% of two‐node fragments had regenerated, from both creeping and climbing stems. These studies help explain how a temperate liana forms populations and dominate ecological communities. The findings provide good evidence that C. vitalba may rely quite heavily on asexual reproduction. In addition, the results document liana stem phenotypic plasticity; fragmented climbing stems are just as likely as fragmented creeping stems to reprogram shoot tissue systems, generate roots and regrow as independent plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous new records of Ferganiella, Podozamites, and Schidolepium, including a new species, Ferganiella ivantsovii sp. nov., are described from the Early Jurassic (Toarcian) Middle Subformation of the Prisayan Formation from the Euro‐Sinian paleofloristic region in the Irkutsk Basin, Eastern Siberia, Russia. An analysis of the paleogeographic distribution of Ferganiella and Podozamites shows that both genera were the most diverse and numerous in the East Asian province of the Euro‐Sinian region and in the Northern Chinese province of the Siberian region during the Early and Middle Jurassic. These phytochoria were located in the subtropical and temperate subtropical climate zones, which allows us to consider Ferganiella and Podozamites as thermophilic plants, which are important indicators of the Early Toarcian climatic optimum. Their abundance in the Irkutsk Basin thus may indicate Early Toarcian warming; further abundant Schidolepium cones, which produced Araucariacites pollen, typical for Euro‐Sinian flora complement the scenario. Thus, the new finds are the first macrofloristic indicators of the Toarcian climatic optimum in the Irkutsk Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stauroneis (Naviculales, Bacillariaceae) are widespread, mostly in fresh-water habitats, and account for 343 species. They are described mainly on the basis of morphology and morphometric traits. These characteristics vary during life cycles and may overlap between species, making their identification difficult. We isolated two strains of naviculoid diatoms and examined them using an integrative approach (phylogenetic, morphological, ultrastructural data, and life cycle). Phylogenetic analyses based on chloroplast rbcL gene data showed affinity of the new strains to the genus Stauroneis. Our algae share morphological features typical of Stauroneis but differ from similar species in minimal valve length measurements, valve apex shape, and minimal number of striae in 10 μm. Two strains are distinct from each other in maximal valve length and width, partially valve shape, the number of areolae in 10 μm, and cingulum structure. It was revealed that the strains reproduce via isogamy. Three species delimitation methods (ASAP, PTP, and GMYC) also confirmed that the two closely related new strains represent distinct species. Based on molecular data and phenotypic traits examined within the framework of an integrative approach, we describe two new isolates as Stauroneis urbani sp. nov. and Stauroneis edaphica sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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3H enters the hydrologic cycle after oxidizing in the 3H1HO molecule and it constitutes a very useful tracer for hydrological studies. One of these applications is streamflow component separation, which provides useful information to understand the hydrological cycle. This application is based on the fact that the contents in precipitation (runoff) tend to be markedly higher than those in groundwater (baseflow) because of decreasing activity in the last as a consequence of radioactive decay. The main objective of this paper is to test 3H for hydrograph separation in sub‐tropical South America, where it is favoured by high values in precipitation. The catchment of the Quequén Grande River, in Argentina, was selected. Total flow in surface water is a mixing between the baseflow and the event flow portion; the separation was done in three sections of the drainage network, and the proportion of baseflow were 36%, 88% and 47%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its significant thermal requirements, melon is a vegetable species that holds the potential for expanding the crop range in temperate climate regions. The selection of appropriate varieties and agronomic practices facilitates its cultivation in these regions. This experiment, employing a randomized block design, was conducted from 2019 to 2021, and this study evaluated the response of three melon varieties—'Seledyn F1', 'Melba', and 'Malaga F1' (factor I)—to various mulching materials (factor II): black polyethylene film (PE), black polypropylene nonwoven (PP), biodegradable film (Fbio), and giant miscanthus straw. Control plots were left unmulched. Melon seeds were sown on 15 April, and seedlings were transplanted on 31 May at a spacing of 100 × 80 cm. This study assessed yield, fruit number, individual fruit weight, and vertical and horizontal fruit diameters. Under optimal conditions, the varieties Seledyn F1 and Malaga F1 produced fruits with the highest individual mass. The application of synthetic mulches led to a two-fold increase in fruit yield compared to unmulched plots, with a 23.7% increase in fruit number. On average, the largest fruits were obtained with PE mulch. Melons grown on Fbio mulch yielded, on average, 40% less and produced 18.8% fewer fruits compared to those grown with PE mulch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arundo donax L. (Arundinoideae subfamily, Poaceae family) is a sub-tropical and temperate climate reed that grows in arid and semi-arid environmental conditions, from eastern China to the Mediterranean basin, suggesting potential adaptations at the epicuticular level. A thorough physical-chemical examination of the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of A. donax leaf was performed herein in an attempt to track such chemophenetic adaptations. This sort of approach is of the utmost importance for the current debate about the hypothetical invasiveness of this species in the Mediterranean basin versus its natural colonization along the Plio-Pleistocene period. We concluded that the leaf surfaces contain, apart from stomata, prickles, and long, thin trichomes, and silicon-rich tetralobate phytolits. Chemically, the dominating elements in the leaf ashes are oxygen and potassium; minor amounts of calcium, silicon, magnesium, phosphorous, sulphur, and chlorine were also detected. In both surfaces the epicuticular waxes (whose density is higher in the adaxial surface than in the abaxial surface) form randomly orientated platelets, with irregular shape and variable size, and aggregated rodlets with variable diameter around the stomata. In the case of green mature leaves, the dominating organic compounds of the epicuticular waxes of both surfaces are triterpenoids. Both surfaces feature identical hydrophobic behaviour, and exhibit the same total transmittance, total reflectance, and absorption of incident light. The above findings suggest easy growth of the plant, remarkable epidermic robustness of the leaf, and control of water loss. These chemophenetic characteristics and human influence support a neolithization process of this species along the Mediterranean basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow–duration curves (FDCs) provide a compact view of the historical variability of river flows, reflecting climate conditions and the main hydrologic features of river basins. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission will enable the estimation of river flows globally, by sensing rivers wider than 100 m with a sampling recurrence from 3 to 21 days. This study investigated the lifetime mission potential for FDC estimation through the comparison between remotely-sensed and empirical FDCs. We employed the Global Runoff Data Center dataset and derived SWOT-like river flows by selecting gauging stations of rivers wider than 100 m with more than 10-year long daily river flow time series. Overall, 1200 gauged river cross-sections were examined. For each site, we created a set of 24 SWOT-simulated FDCs (i.e., based on different sampling recurrences, mean biases, and random errors) to be compared against their empirical counterparts through the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency and the mean relative error. Our results show that climate and the sampling recurrence play a key role on the performance of SWOT-based FDCs. Tropical and temperate climates performed the best, whereas arid climates mostly revealed higher uncertainties, especially for high- and low-flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]