Generation lengths of the world's birds and their implications for extinction risk

Birds have been comprehensively assessed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List more times than any other taxonomic group. However, to date, generation lengths have not been systematically estimated to scale population trends when undertaking assessments, as required by the criteria of the IUCN Red List. We compiled information from major databases of published life-history and trait data for all birds and imputed missing life-history data as a function of species traits with generalized linear mixed models. Generation lengths were derived for all species, based on our modeled values of age at first breeding, maximum longevity, and annual adult survival. The resulting generation lengths varied from 1.42 to 27.87 years (median 2.99). Most species (61%) had generation lengths <3.33 years, meaning that the period of 3 generations—over which population declines are assessed under criterion A—was <10 years, which is the value used for IUCN Red List assessments of species with short generation times. For these species, our trait-informed estimates of generation length suggested that 10 years is a robust precautionary value for threat assessment. In other cases, however, for whole families, genera, or individual species, generation length had a substantial impact on their estimated extinction risk, resulting in higher extinction risk in long-lived species than in short-lived species. Although our approach effectively addressed data gaps, generation lengths for some species may have been underestimated due to a paucity of life-history data. Overall, our results will strengthen future extinction-risk assessments and augment key databases of avian life-history and trait data.     

The impact of organic cotton use and consumer habits in the sustainability of jean production using the LCA approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Due to the rise in clothing consumption per person and growing consumer awareness of environmental issues with products, the textile industry must...     

Evaluation of sustainable groundwater utilization using index methods (WQI and IWQI), multivariate analysis,and GIS: the case of Akşehir District (Konya/Turkey)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Ak?ehir district is one of the regions where significant agricultural production and industrial activities are carried out. Groundwater is the...     

Chlorpyrifos-induced changes in oxidant/antioxidant status and haematological parameters of Cyprinus carpio carpio: Ameliorative effect of lycopene

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential ameliorative effects of lycopene against chlorpyrifos (CPF) toxicity in carp. The fish were divided into 7 different experimental groups and received the following treatments: Group 1, control; Group 2, orally administered corn oil; Group 3, oral lycopene (10 mg kg^?1 body weight); Group 4, exposure to 0.040 mg L^?1 CPF; Group 5, exposure to 0.040 mg L^?1 CPF plus oral administration of 10 mg kg^?1 lycopene; Group 6, exposure to 0.080 mg L^?1 CPF; and Group 7, exposure to 0.040 mg L^?1 CPF plus oral administration of 10 mg kg^?1 lycopene. Treatment was continued for 14 d and samples of the blood and tissue (liver, kidney, and gill) were collected at the end of the experiment and analysed for their oxidant–antioxidant status, including the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. The samples were also measured for changes in the haematological parameters, such as the red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, the haemoglobin concentration (Hb), the haematocrit (Ht) level, and the erythrocyte indices: the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), the mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The findings of this study demonstrated that CPF had a negative effect on the haematological parameters and the antioxidant enzyme activities of the fish; this toxic effect was neutralised by the administration of lycopene. The present results suggest that lycopene (10 mg kg^?1) can be effective in the protection of CPF-induced toxicity in fish.     

Bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated medium using Lemna minor,Daphnia magna and their consortium

Single, dual and triple mixtures of totally seven different mixture combinations of the metals Al, Ba and Fe were examined in Lemna minor (L) culture, Daphnia magna (D) culture and in a consortium culture consisting of L. minor and D. magna. In this study: (a) differences in removed metal proportions at the end of 24 and 48?h, (b) differences in removed metal amounts due to cultures, (c) differences in the removed proportions of a metal in distinct mediums and (d) removal correlation of the metals due to cultures were investigated. The study results showed that among the metals Al, Ba and Fe, Al has the most toxic effect on organisms involved in this study. Although similar toxicity results of Al and Fe on test groups were observed, Ba gave different toxicity results on test groups. An overview of the bioremediation results indicates that L. minor removes the metals Al and Fe more successfully than Ba. Different mixture combinations of metals performed dissimilar removal results in the same cultures. According to the correlations analysis for the metals Ba and Fe, a high correlation was recorded between the consortium group and test groups containing only D. magna, r?=?0.88, r?=?0.91, respectively.     

Anthropometric evaluation of cockpit designs

The objective of this research is to evaluate all the critical reaches in a cockpit and determine the visual sufficiency of a cockpit to accommodate 90% of potential pilots. While mismatches of measurements with cockpit dimensions are revealed, proposals are made to improve cockpit ergonomics. Regression models were generated to predict and assure adequate exterior vision. Mean, lower and upper control limits of all measurements were found acceptable except eye level. There are very strong positive relationships between stature and eye level (R²?=?0.972, p?R²?=?0.994, p?SD smaller than the eye level mean or seating adjustment limits in height may be changed. In general, cockpit design is acceptable in terms of fit/reach accommodation for pilots, except eye level and visual variables that could be solved by better seat adjustments.     

Nickel and Cadmium Concentrations in Plasma and Na+/K+ATPase Activities in Erythrocyte Membranes of the People Exposed to Cement Dust Emissions

The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of nickel and cadmium in blood plasma of the people exposed to cement dust emissions and to investigate the effects of exposure period on the activities of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase enzymes in their erythrocyte membranes. The study was carried out on people living in Eskiehir Çukurhisar rural area, located near a cement factory. Blood samples of the individuals residing in this area were taken from 80subjects (30 for control) following a physical examination. The analysis of plasma samples showed that nickel concentrations in subject group were found to be significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.001). Cadmium concentrations were found to be within the reference values for both group and no difference was found between the subjects and controls (p > 0.05). Furthermore, no correlation was observed between the levels of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase activity in erythrocyte membranes of the subject group and the ages of people living in the region (p > 0.05, r = 0.133). It was also observed that nickel concentrations increased by age (p < 0.001, r = 0.646) while no effect was observed in means of cadmium. Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase activities in the erythrocyte membranes were not affected.In conclusion although there was no difference between the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase activity in means of age, there was an environmental pollution and may be it was due to the industrial plant.     

Confined placental mosaicism in term placentae: Analysis of 125 cases

In order to determine the incidence of confined placental mosaicism (CPM) in term placentae and to show the presence of specific sites and the effect on fetal development, 125 placentae from uneventful pregnancies were analysed by cytogenetic methods. The incidence was at least 4.8 per cent and there were no specific sites on the placenta. Although the number of cases is still too small, we found CPM to be associated with intrauterine growth retardation in six cases.     

What affects perceptions of local residents toward protected areas? A case study from Kure Mountains National Park,Turkey

Local residents’ active participation is essential in protected areas to ensure achievement of conservation goals. One of the important steps for ensuring the active participation of local residents is to determine the perceptions and the factors that influence the perceptions of the local residents toward the protected area. In this context, the researchers of this study try to come up with the perception formed among the local residents toward the protected areas and especially toward Kure Mountains National Park (KMNP), the factors that would influence their perceptions and the ways how their perceptions are influenced. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the putative influence of variables on perceptions toward protected areas. According to study results, the survey respondents have displayed a positive perception toward the protected areas in the world and in KMNP. It was determined that the respondents formed a positive perception from their economic, environmental and recreational interaction with KMNP. Also, the outcomes of this study showed that the perception developed by local residents toward the protected areas in the world and KMNP are influenced by gender, the level of satisfaction derived from the national park, duration of their residence in the national park, and that the perception that KMNP conservation are beneficial for the source values of the area, the current protection works in the world, as well as its impacts on their living conditions.