The mechanism of lightning that ignites a forest fire and the lightning that occurs above a forest fire are explained at the molecular level. It is based on two phenomena, namely, internal charge separation inside the...The mechanism of lightning that ignites a forest fire and the lightning that occurs above a forest fire are explained at the molecular level. It is based on two phenomena, namely, internal charge separation inside the atmospheric cloud particles and the existence of a layer of positively charged hydrogen atoms sticking out of the surface of the liquid layer of water on the surface of rimers. Strong turbulence-driven collisions of the ice particles and water droplets with the rimers give rise to breakups of the ice particles and water droplets into positively and negatively charged fragments leading to charge separation. Hot weather in a forest contributes to the updraft of hot and humid air, which follows the same physical/chemical processes of normal lightning proposed and explained recently[1]. Lightning would have a high probability of lighting up and burning the dry biological materials in the ground of the forest, leading to a forest (wild) fire. The burning of trees and other plants would release a lot of heat and moisture together with a lot of smoke particles (aerosols) becoming a strong updraft. The condition for creating lightning is again satisfied which would result in further lightning high above the forest wild fire.展开更多
Research was conducted on topmouth culter (Culter alburnus) grown in ponds and lakes as well as wild types in order to determine their chemical composition and nutritional value. There are three types of fish that dif...Research was conducted on topmouth culter (Culter alburnus) grown in ponds and lakes as well as wild types in order to determine their chemical composition and nutritional value. There are three types of fish that differ in their proximate composition, amino acids, fatty acids, and minerals. Wild fish had a significantly lower crude lipid contents than cultured fish (P P ∑PUFAs) showed an obviously opposite trend. As compared with cultured fish, wild fish had significantly higher levels of n-3 PUFAs, arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahxaenoic acid (DHA) (P P > 0.05), except for Na, Fe and Se. In conclusion, diet composition and external aqueous environment may determine the differences between wild and cultured topmouth culter.展开更多
Local adaptation is an important process that drives the evolution of populations within species, and it can be generally expressed by the higher fitness of individuals raised in their native habitats versus in a fore...Local adaptation is an important process that drives the evolution of populations within species, and it can be generally expressed by the higher fitness of individuals raised in their native habitats versus in a foreign location. The influence of local adaptation is especially prominent in species that subsist in small and/or highly isolated populations. This study evaluated whether the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) is locally adapted to its exclusive larval host plant, the wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). To test for local adaptation, individuals from a laboratory-raised colony were reared on wild lupine plants from populations belonging to either their native (Indiana) or a foreign (Michigan and Wisconsin) region. For this purpose, lupine plants from the different populations were grown in a common garden in growth chambers, and one Karner blue larva was placed on each plant. Fitness traits related to growth and development were recorded for each butterfly across populations. Days from hatching to pupation and eclosion showed gender-specific significant differences across wild lupine populations and plant genotypes (within populations). The percent survival of butterflies (from hatching to eclosion) also differed among plants from different populations. These results indicate that wild lupine sources can affect some developmental traits of Karner blue butterflies. However, growth-related traits, such as pupal and adult weight of individuals reared in plants from native populations did not differ from those of foreign regions. The apparent absence of local adaptation to wild lupine suggests that, at least, some individuals of this species could be translocated from native populations to foreign reintroduction sites without experiencing decreased fitness levels. However, future studies including more populations across the geographical range of this butterfly are recommended to evaluate other environmental factors that could influence adaptation on a wider spatial scale.展开更多
The state of Nagaland is located in a region known to be a micro-centre of Musa evolution. The prevailing agro-climatic conditions are known to support various members of the genus. This study documents 12 species, wh...The state of Nagaland is located in a region known to be a micro-centre of Musa evolution. The prevailing agro-climatic conditions are known to support various members of the genus. This study documents 12 species, which is an ideal representation of the rich diversity of this genus in an area of 16,579 sq. km. The various species were classified using morphological descriptors based on INIBAP, 1996 following the subsequent collection of the live specimen. The various species documented have been found to exist in single populations or in association with other species and their distribution depends on the varying altitudinal profile as well as the agro-climatic and topographical condition of the environment.展开更多
文摘The mechanism of lightning that ignites a forest fire and the lightning that occurs above a forest fire are explained at the molecular level. It is based on two phenomena, namely, internal charge separation inside the atmospheric cloud particles and the existence of a layer of positively charged hydrogen atoms sticking out of the surface of the liquid layer of water on the surface of rimers. Strong turbulence-driven collisions of the ice particles and water droplets with the rimers give rise to breakups of the ice particles and water droplets into positively and negatively charged fragments leading to charge separation. Hot weather in a forest contributes to the updraft of hot and humid air, which follows the same physical/chemical processes of normal lightning proposed and explained recently[1]. Lightning would have a high probability of lighting up and burning the dry biological materials in the ground of the forest, leading to a forest (wild) fire. The burning of trees and other plants would release a lot of heat and moisture together with a lot of smoke particles (aerosols) becoming a strong updraft. The condition for creating lightning is again satisfied which would result in further lightning high above the forest wild fire.
文摘Research was conducted on topmouth culter (Culter alburnus) grown in ponds and lakes as well as wild types in order to determine their chemical composition and nutritional value. There are three types of fish that differ in their proximate composition, amino acids, fatty acids, and minerals. Wild fish had a significantly lower crude lipid contents than cultured fish (P P ∑PUFAs) showed an obviously opposite trend. As compared with cultured fish, wild fish had significantly higher levels of n-3 PUFAs, arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahxaenoic acid (DHA) (P P > 0.05), except for Na, Fe and Se. In conclusion, diet composition and external aqueous environment may determine the differences between wild and cultured topmouth culter.
文摘Local adaptation is an important process that drives the evolution of populations within species, and it can be generally expressed by the higher fitness of individuals raised in their native habitats versus in a foreign location. The influence of local adaptation is especially prominent in species that subsist in small and/or highly isolated populations. This study evaluated whether the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) is locally adapted to its exclusive larval host plant, the wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). To test for local adaptation, individuals from a laboratory-raised colony were reared on wild lupine plants from populations belonging to either their native (Indiana) or a foreign (Michigan and Wisconsin) region. For this purpose, lupine plants from the different populations were grown in a common garden in growth chambers, and one Karner blue larva was placed on each plant. Fitness traits related to growth and development were recorded for each butterfly across populations. Days from hatching to pupation and eclosion showed gender-specific significant differences across wild lupine populations and plant genotypes (within populations). The percent survival of butterflies (from hatching to eclosion) also differed among plants from different populations. These results indicate that wild lupine sources can affect some developmental traits of Karner blue butterflies. However, growth-related traits, such as pupal and adult weight of individuals reared in plants from native populations did not differ from those of foreign regions. The apparent absence of local adaptation to wild lupine suggests that, at least, some individuals of this species could be translocated from native populations to foreign reintroduction sites without experiencing decreased fitness levels. However, future studies including more populations across the geographical range of this butterfly are recommended to evaluate other environmental factors that could influence adaptation on a wider spatial scale.
文摘The state of Nagaland is located in a region known to be a micro-centre of Musa evolution. The prevailing agro-climatic conditions are known to support various members of the genus. This study documents 12 species, which is an ideal representation of the rich diversity of this genus in an area of 16,579 sq. km. The various species were classified using morphological descriptors based on INIBAP, 1996 following the subsequent collection of the live specimen. The various species documented have been found to exist in single populations or in association with other species and their distribution depends on the varying altitudinal profile as well as the agro-climatic and topographical condition of the environment.
