Search results for "diversity"

Mini-Review: Two Brothers in Crime – The Interplay of TRESK and TREK in Human Diseases

2021

Abstract TWIK-related spinal cord potassium (TRESK) and TWIK-related potassium (TREK) channels are both subfamilies of the two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channel group. Despite major structural, pharmacological, as well as biophysical differences, emerging data suggest that channels of these two subfamilies are functionally more closely related than previously assumed. Recent studies, for instance, indicate an assembling of TRESK and TREK subunits, leading to the formation of heterodimeric channels with different functional properties compared to homodimeric ones. Formation of tandems consisting of TRESK and TREK subunits might thus multiply the functional diversity of both TRESK and TREK …

Toward Comprehensive Plant Microbiome Research

2020

Microbes have driven eco-evolutionary adaptations organizing biodiversity from the origin of life. They are ubiquitous and abundant, facilitating the biochemical processes that make Earth habitable and shape ecosystem structures, functions, and services. Recent studies reveal that commensalistic and beneficial microbes associated with wild and domesticated plants may aid in establishing sustainable agriculture for a changing climate. However, developing microbe-based biotechnologies and ecosystem services requires a thorough understanding of the diversity and complexity of microbial interactions with each other and with higher organisms. We discuss the hot and blind spots in contemporary re…

Assessment of the Sabellaria alveolata reefs’ structural features along the Southern coast of Sicily (Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea)

2022

The honeycomb worm Sabellaria alveolata is a gregarious tube-dwelling polychaete that builds remarkable biogenic reefs in marine coastal waters. Sabellaria alveolata reefs are considered valuable marine habitats requiring protection measures for their conservation, as they play a key role in the functioning of coastal ecosystems. Sabellarid reefs are extensively developed along the Atlantic coasts of Europe and reported for the Mediterranean Sea and the Italian coasts, where large reefs have been recorded in several localities. Fragmentary information is available on their health status, Sabellaria reefs thus being listed as “Data Deficient” in the Red List of Marine Habitats. To fill this …

Revista electrónica de investigación y evaluación educativa

2014

Actualmente existe un interés creciente por la calidad educativa y la atención a la diversidad. En este trabajo se presenta un análisis de dos aspectos importantes: el “Contexto” en el que el centro debe de desarrollar su actividad y  las “metas y objetivos” que un centro educativo debe definir para dar una respuesta de calidad a la diversidad. Analizaremos el grado de importancia para los profesores y el nivel de cumplimiento en los centros, a partir de los datos obtenidos en dos cuestionarios. El estudio se realizó con profesores de la provincia de A Coruña (España). En líneas generales podemos decir que los aspectos analizados son considerados importantes por los profesores como indicado…

Biotic homogenization of forest bird communities under human influence

2018

Human actions impact biodiversity worldwide. Specialist species are particularly sensitive to environmental degradation whereas generalists may even benefit from habitat changes. As a consequence, specialists are declining while generalists are increasing and, therefore, communities become more similar. This phenomenon is known as biotic homogenization. In boreal forests logging and forest management is the most important factor changing the native habitat. In this thesis I studied if human actions are homogenizing boreal forest bird communities. I further studied if protected areas can maintain their diversity and, thus, prevent homogenization. Through the individual studies, biodiversity …

Distance decay 2.0. A global synthesis of taxonomic and functional turnover in ecological communities

2022

Caio Graco-Roza was funded by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), the Carlos Chagas Filho Research Support Foundation (FAPERJ) and the Ella and Georg Erhnrooth Foundation; Jan Altman by research grants INTER-EXCELLENCE LTAUSA19137 provided by Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, 20-05840Y of the Czech Science Foundation, and long-term research development project no. RVO 67985939 of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Otso Ovaskainen was funded by Academy of Finland (grant no. 309581), Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence Funding Scheme (223257), and the European Research Council (ERC) unde…

High‐resolution 3D forest structure explains ecomorphological trait variation in assemblages of saproxylic beetles

2022

1. Climate, topography and the 3D structure of forests are major drivers affecting local species communities. However, little is known about how the specific functional traits of saproxylic (wood-living) beetles, involved in the recycling of wood, might be affected by those environmental characteristics. 2. Here, we combine ecological and morphological traits available for saproxylic beetles and airborne laser scanning (ALS) data in Bayesian trait-based joint species distribution models to study how traits drive the distributions of more than 230 species in temperate forests of Europe. 3. We found that elevation (as a proxy for temperature and precipitation) and the proportion of conifers p…

A geomorphological approach for enhancing environmental management and conservation of landforms as protected nature objects in the Upper Daugava spi…

2015

<p class="R-AbstractKeywords"><span lang="EN-GB">This paper describes the application of geomorphological approach for environmental management and conservation of landforms. Specifically, we discuss the contribution of geomorphological field survey and adapted matrix methodology (in combination with understanding of geology) to identification, study and evaluation of those abiotic nature elements which represent geological and geomorphological heritage. We describe a case study carried out in that part of the protected landscape area “Augšdaugava” which encompasses the Upper Daugava spillway valley. The study programme reported in this paper was realized to perform inventory of…

Genetic diversity in the wild : cyclic population dynamics and population isolation

2013

A contribution to the inventory of parasitic microfungi on land plants in Champsaur region (French Alps, “Parc National des Ecrins”).

2023

A preliminary investigation of the flora of parasitic microfungi on land plants is reported, focused upon the mountain and the base of the subalpine ranges, in Champsaur region, (south-western French Alps, mainly within the “Parc National des Ecrins”). Sheltered by 128 host-plant species, 182 species of microfungi have been identified. Their respective distributions, among 24 investigated localities (including four located within the Central Zone of the “Parc National des Ecrins”), are specified. Moreover, seven of these 182 microfungi do not match satisfactorily any of the consulted diagnosis in the specialized literature. Accordingly, a detailed description of the main distinctive traits …