191. Matrix type affects carabid beetle community and trait composition, and intraspecific variation in remnant forestsD. Johan Kotze, Matic Gabor, S. Kohout, Heikki Setälä, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Aim: The Anthropocene is characterised by urban and agricultural landscapes. Within these landscapes, natural to semi-natural habitats are fragmented, isolated and disturbed to varying degrees. Species associated with these natural habitats have to content with the surrounding landscape, both in terms of level of isolation, and matrix type and quality. We investigated the community structure, trait distribution and individual traits of carabid beetles in boreal forest fragments within three matrices: urban, agricultural and freshwater lake. Location: City of Lahti and its surroundings, southern Finland. Taxon: Coleoptera, Carabidae. Methods: Using pitfall traps from June to October 2019, we collected carabid beetles from eight spruce-dominated forest fragments in the urban matrix, 10 fragments in an agricultural matrix, seven fragments on lake islands and three large control forests at the outskirts of the city. Results: Compared to natural forests, carabid beetles in forest fragments in these matrices showed distinct assemblages, and with beetle diversity the highest in fragments in the agricultural landscape. Fragments in the urban and lake island landscapes were characterised by small-sized species, and those capable of flight. We also found strong intraspecific trait responses in terms of body size, with some generalist species being significantly smaller in urban, agricultural or lake island fragments compared to the controls. Main Conclusions: The matrix has a clear effect on carabid beetle communities, both in terms of taxonomic and trait distribution, and filters for communities of smaller sized species and those capable of flight. Such overall community and intraspecific effects can have considerable effects on populations and community assemblages: As anthropogenic effects intensify in urban and agricultural landscapes, our findings may be the expression of further morphological and physiological responses, and eventually in the adaptation of those species that can cope with the Anthropocene.
Keywords: biogeography, ground beetle, urban lake, agricultural lake, freshwater lake, zoology
Published in DiRROS: 16.05.2024; Views: 158; Downloads: 314
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192. Lizard host abundances and climatic factors explain phylogenetic diversity and prevalence of blood parasites on an oceanic islandRodrigo Megía-Palma, Gemma Palomar, Javier Martínez, Bernardo Antunes, Katarzyna Dudek, Anamarija Žagar, Nina Guerra Serén, Miguel A. Carretero, Wiesław Babik, Santiago Merino, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Host abundance might favour the maintenance of a high phylogenetic diversity of some parasites via rapid transmission rates. Blood parasites of insular lizards represent a good model to test this hypothesis because these parasites can be particularly prevalent in islands and host lizards highly abundant. We applied deep amplicon sequencing and analysed environmental predictors of blood parasite prevalence and phylogenetic diversity in the endemic lizard Gallotia galloti across 24 localities on Tenerife, an island in the Canary archipelago that has experienced increasing warming and drought in recent years. Parasite prevalence assessed by microscopy was over 94%, and a higher proportion of infected lizards was found in warmer and drier locations. A total of 33 different 18s rRNA parasite haplotypes were identified, and the phylogenetic analyses indicated that they belong to two genera of Adeleorina (Apicomplexa: Coccidia), with Karyolysus as the dominant genus. The most important predictor of between-locality variation in parasite phylogenetic diversity was the abundance of lizard hosts. We conclude that a combination of climatic and host demographic factors associated with an insular syndrome may be favouring a rapid transmission of blood parasites among lizards on Tenerife, which may favour the maintenance of a high phylogenetic diversity of parasites.
Keywords: Canary Islands, climate change, next-generation sequencing, phylogenetic analyses, zoology, ecology
Published in DiRROS: 16.05.2024; Views: 143; Downloads: 268
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194. Exploring the mesoscale connectivity of phytoplankton periodic assemblages' succession in northern Adriatic pelagic habitatsIvano Vascotto, Fabrizio Bernardi Aubry, Mauro Bastianini, Patricija Mozetič, Stefania Finotto, Janja Francé, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: An appropriate model for phytoplankton distribution patterns is critical for understanding biogeochemical cycles and trophic interactions in the oceans and seas. Because phytoplankton dynamics in coastal waters are more complex due to shallow depth and proximity to land, more accurate models applied to the correct spatial and temporal scales are needed. Our study investigates the role of the atmosphere and hydrosphere in pelagic habitat by modelling phytoplankton assemblages at two Long Term Ecological Research sites in the northern Adriatic Sea using niche-forming environmental variables (wind, temperature, salinity, river discharge, rain, and water column stratification). To study the synchronization between the phytoplankton community and these environmental variables at the two LTER sites, we applied current linear and nonlinear numerical methods for ecological modelling. The aim was to use periodic and/or non-periodic properties of the environmental variables to classify the phytoplankton assemblages at one LTER site (Gulf of Trieste - Slovenia) and then predict them at another LTER site 100 km away (Gulf of Venice - Italy). We found that periodicity played a role in the explanatory and predictive power of the environmental variables and that it was more important than non-periodic events in defining the common structure of the two pelagic habitats. The non-linear classification functions of the neural networks further increased the predictive power of these variables. We observed partial synchronization of communities at the mesoscale and differences between the original and predicted assemblages under similar environmental conditions. We conclude that mesoscale connectivity plays an important role in phytoplankton communities in the northern Adriatic. However, the loss of periodicity of niche-forming variables due to more frequent extreme meteorological and hydrological events could loosen these connections and affect the temporal succession of phytoplankton assemblages.
Keywords: phytoplankton, assemblages, Northern Adriatic, phenology, marine biology, hydrobiology
Published in DiRROS: 16.05.2024; Views: 155; Downloads: 239
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195. Indicated domination gameBoštjan Brešar, Csilla Bujtás, Vesna Iršič, Douglas F. Rall, Zsolt Tuza, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Motivated by the success of domination games and by a variation of the coloring game called the indicated coloring game, we introduce a version of domination games called the indicated domination game. It is played on an arbitrary graph $G$ by two players, Dominator and Staller, where Dominator wants to finish the game in as few rounds as possible while Staller wants just the opposite. In each round, Dominator indicates a vertex $u$ of $G$ that has not been dominated by previous selections of Staller, which, by the rules of the game, forces Staller to select a vertex in the closed neighborhood of $u$. The game is finished when all vertices of $G$ become dominated by the vertices selected by Staller. Assuming that both players are playing optimally according to their goals, the number of selected vertices during the game is the indicated domination number, $\gamma_{\rm i}(G)$, of $G$. We prove several bounds on the indicated domination number expressed in terms of other graph invariants. In particular, we find a place of the new graph invariant in the well-known domination chain, by showing that $\gamma_{\rm i}(G)\ge \Gamma(G)$ for all graphs $G$, and by showing that the indicated domination number is incomparable with the game domination number and also with the upper irredundance number. In connection with the trivial upper bound $\gamma_{\rm i}(G)\le n(G)-\delta(G)$, we characterize the class of graphs $G$ attaining the bound provided that $n(G)\ge 2\delta(G)+2$. We prove that in trees, split graphs and grids the indicated domination number equals the independence number. We also find a formula for the indicated domination number of powers of paths, from which we derive that there exist graphs in which the indicated domination number is arbitrarily larger than the upper irredundance number. We provide some partial results supporting the statement that $\gamma_{\rm i}(G)=n(G)/2$ if $G$ is a cubic bipartite graph, and leave this as an open question.
Keywords: domination game, indicated coloring, independence number, upper domination number
Published in DiRROS: 16.05.2024; Views: 175; Downloads: 161
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196. Quantitative aspects of ToF-SIMS analysis of metals and alloys in a UHV, O2 and H2 atmosphereJernej Ekar, Saša Kos, Janez Kovač, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Although secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is a versatile method used in the fields of surface analysis, depth profiling and elemental and molecular mapping, it also lacks quantification capabilities. The main reason for this is the matrix effect, which influences the ionization yield of secondary ions with respect to the substrate from which the analyzed compounds originate. There are several approaches to reduce the matrix effect, and gas flooding is one of the easiest methods to apply. In this work, we have investigated the possibilities of the ToF-SIMS method for the quantification of selected metals and alloys containing these metals in different ratios by reducing the matrix effect in the presence of different atmospheres. The measurements were performed in the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment, H2 and O2 atmospheres. H2 flooding shows the most significant improvements compared to the UHV analysis, while O2 is also promising but has some limitations. Improvements are most evident for the transition metals Ti, Cr, Fe, Co and Ni employed in our study, while the p-block elements such as Al and Si do not change so extensively. The deviations from the true atomic ratios of selected transition metals in different alloys reach a maximum of only 46 % when analyzed in the H2 atmosphere. In contrast, these values are 66 and 228 % for the O2 atmosphere and UHV environment, respectively. Our results suggest that gas adsorption and consequent formation of a new matrix on the surface, especially in the case of hydrogen, reduces the differences between the different chemical environments and electronic structures of the surface. In this way, the quantitative aspects of the SIMS method can be improved.
Keywords: ToF-SIMS quantification, H2 and O2 gas flooding, matrix effect reduction, cluster secondary ions
Published in DiRROS: 15.05.2024; Views: 161; Downloads: 150
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197. Microplastics in groundwater: pathways, occurrence, and monitoring challengesElvira Colmenarejo Calero, Manca Kovač Viršek, Nina Mali, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles measuring less than 5 mm, are considered an emerging pollutant. Their presence in the water cycle and their interaction with ecological processes pose a significant environmental threat. As groundwater (GW) represents the primary source of drinking water, monitoring MPs in GW and investigating their potential sources and pathways is of urgent importance. This article offers a comprehensive overview of the primary contamination pathways of MPs from surface water, seawater, and soil into the GW. Moreover, it presents an examination of the occurrence of MPs in GW and identifies the challenges associated with their monitoring in GW. This study also discusses the difficulties associated with comparing research results related to MPs in GW, as well as indicating the need for implementing standardised techniques for their sampling and detection. On the basis of our experience and the literature review, we highlight the importance of understanding the specific hydrogeological and hydrogeographic conditions, collecting representative samples, using sampling devices with comparable specifications and comparable laboratory techniques for MP identification, and preventing contamination at all stages of the monitoring process. This review offers valuable insights and practical guidelines on how to improve the reliability and comparability of results between studies monitoring MPs in GW.
Keywords: microplastics, groundwater, sampling, monitoring, aquifer, borehole
Published in DiRROS: 15.05.2024; Views: 148; Downloads: 132
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198. Poljub z dihom : filozofska teologija ljubečega srečanjaLenart Škof, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Članek se ukvarja s premišljevanjem logike božanske ljubezni v budističnih tantrah, krščanski mistiki ter sodobni zahodni filozofiji religije in filozofski teologiji. Osnovna teza članka je, da vse omenjene tematizacije ljubezni povezuje arhaična povezanost popolnega in enotnega para, ki je bila izgubljena z razvitjem prvih plasti bivanja. Iskanje te izgubljene enosti para se v prvem delu izvaja z obravnavo budističnih tantričnih spisov, ki jim sledijo krščanski mistični spisi. V okviru krščanskega pojmovanja se opiramo na Jakoba Böhmeja in Franza von Baaderja ter njuno eksplikacijo logike izvornega para in poljuba z dihom. V drugem delu se pomaknemo za korak naprej v smeri filozofije in teologije ljubezni kot bližine in intimnosti v okviru misli Ludwiga Feuerbacha in Luce Irigaray. V tem delu tudi kritično premišljujemo o heteronormativni logiki teologije ljubezni. Eksplikacija ljubezni Feuerbacha in Irigaray nas nazadnje vodi v tretji del, v katerem se v navezavi na Catherine Keller sprašujemo o možnostih povezave filozofije ljubezni in kvantne prepletenosti. Prispevek sklenemo z meditacijo o bližini para in dvojine.
Keywords: filozofska teologija, poljub z dihom, ljubezen, filozofija diha, dvojina, tantra, Franz von Baader, Ludwig Feuerbach, Catherine Keller
Published in DiRROS: 14.05.2024; Views: 144; Downloads: 158
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199. Elementalne politike v škodo zanikanih kultur : primorsko naravoverstvoCirila Toplak, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Skrivna zgodovinska kontrakultura domnevno predkrščanskih naravovercev v zahodni Sloveniji je bila globoko duhovno povezana z zrakom, vodo, ognjem in prstjo, temelji njihovega življenjskega sveta. V 20. stoletju so politični procesi v prostoru, kjer so naravoverci na skrivaj preživeli med nestrpnimi kristjani, močno preoblikovali njihove elementalne prakse in pripeljali do razpada njihove skupnosti. Gradnja železnice še v času avstro-ogrske je uničila najpomembnejše naravoversko svetišče. Prva svetovna vojna je zaradi topniškega obstreljevanja na soški fronti povzročila tolikšno preobremenitev prsti s kovinami, da je propadel sistem naravoverskih prostorskih triad – tročanov –, ki so zagotavljali rodovitnost zemlje in varnost skupnosti. V času medvojne okupacije Primorske je fašistična italijanska oblast prepovedala kurjenje kresov in tako preprečila najpomembnejše naravoverske skupne obrede. Italijanska oblast je zgradila tudi prve hidroelektrarne in jezove, ki so oskrunili sveto reko Sočo. Intenzivna industrializacija in ekstraktivizem v obdobju socialistične Jugoslavije po letu 1945 sta povzročila nadaljnje onesnaženje zraka, vode in prsti ter usodno predrugačila naravo, ki so jo naravoverci strahospoštljivo častili kot božanstvo. Elementarna degradacija zaradi »razvoja« in »napredka« na Primorskem v 20. stoletju tako ni imela neposrednega vpliva le na naravo, temveč tudi na zanikano, od narave neločljivo in odvisno kulturo. Naravoverci zaradi prikrivanja niso imeli možnosti za zaščito dragocenega elementalnega skupnega dobrega. Do konca 20. stoletja so bili elementalni temelji njihove kulture nepovratno izgubljeni in s tem tudi primorsko naravoverstvo.
Keywords: elementalna politika, naravoverstvo, Primorska, naravni elementi, zgodovina
Published in DiRROS: 14.05.2024; Views: 173; Downloads: 102
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200. Listening to the breath, chanting the word : the two breaths in María Zambrano’s Clearings of the forestRaquel Ferrández, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Clearings of the Forest (Claros del Bosque, 1977), one of the most poetic and chal-lenging works of María Zambrano’s thought, cannot be approached from a breath-less paradigm. For the immersion in these clearings take us into the breathing of being that we contemplate alongside the more obvious physiological breathing, the breathing of life. In this work, Zambrano proposes a poetic and mystical phe-nomenology of the breathing of being through the breathing of its word. Thus, to recover contact with this inner breathing could be to recover the lost chant of the word. This essay does not pretend to be a detailed analysis of Zambrano’s thought as a whole, nor of the vibrant mystery that her clearings reveal. The purpose is to uncover the fundamental role that breathing plays in this poetic-philosophical journey, along with other symbols such as light or love, with the question of what place this type of philosophical exercise occupies today in the classrooms of con-temporary universities.
Keywords: poetic reason, María Zambrano, being, love, Unamuno, Ortega, respiration
Published in DiRROS: 14.05.2024; Views: 128; Downloads: 142
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