This paper aims to enhance the compression capacity of underwater cylindrical shells by adopting the corrugated sandwich structure of cuttlebone.The cuttlebone suffers uniaxial external compression,while underwater cy...This paper aims to enhance the compression capacity of underwater cylindrical shells by adopting the corrugated sandwich structure of cuttlebone.The cuttlebone suffers uniaxial external compression,while underwater cylindrical shells are in a biaxial compressive stress state.To suit the biaxial compressive stress state,a novel bidirectional corrugated sandwich structure is proposed to improve the bearing capacity of cylindrical shells.The static and buckling analysis for the sandwich shell and the unstiffened cylindrical shell with the same volume-weight ratio are studied by numerical simulation.It is indicated that the proposed sandwich shell can effectively reduce the ratio between circumferential and axial stress from 2 to 1.25 and improve the critical buckling load by about 1.63 times.Numerical simulation shows that optimizing and adjusting the structural parameters could significantly improve the advantage of the sandwich shell.Then,the hydrostatic pressure tests for shell models fabricated by 3D printing are carried out.According to the experimental results,the overall failure position of the sandwich shell is at the center part of the sandwich shell.It has been found the average critical load of the proposed sandwich shell models exceeds two times that of the unstiffened shell models.Hence,the proposed bio-inspired bidirectional corrugated sandwich structure can significantly enhance the pressure resistance capability of cylindrical shells.展开更多
The snap-through behaviors and nonlinear vibrations are investigated for a bistable composite laminated cantilever shell subjected to transversal foundation excitation based on experimental and theoretical approaches....The snap-through behaviors and nonlinear vibrations are investigated for a bistable composite laminated cantilever shell subjected to transversal foundation excitation based on experimental and theoretical approaches.An improved experimental specimen is designed in order to satisfy the cantilever support boundary condition,which is composed of an asymmetric region and a symmetric region.The symmetric region of the experimental specimen is entirely clamped,which is rigidly connected to an electromagnetic shaker,while the asymmetric region remains free of constraint.Different motion paths are realized for the bistable cantilever shell by changing the input signal levels of the electromagnetic shaker,and the displacement responses of the shell are collected by the laser displacement sensors.The numerical simulation is conducted based on the established theoretical model of the bistable composite laminated cantilever shell,and an off-axis three-dimensional dynamic snap-through domain is obtained.The numerical solutions are in good agreement with the experimental results.The nonlinear stiffness characteristics,dynamic snap-through domain,and chaos and bifurcation behaviors of the shell are quantitatively analyzed.Due to the asymmetry of the boundary condition and the shell,the upper stable-state of the shell exhibits an obvious soft spring stiffness characteristic,and the lower stable-state shows a linear stiffness characteristic of the shell.展开更多
Atom-level modulation of the coordination environment for single-atom catalysts(SACs)is considered as an effective strategy for elevating the catalytic performance.For the MNxsite,breaking the symmetrical geometry and...Atom-level modulation of the coordination environment for single-atom catalysts(SACs)is considered as an effective strategy for elevating the catalytic performance.For the MNxsite,breaking the symmetrical geometry and charge distribution by introducing relatively weak electronegative atoms into the first/second shell is an efficient way,but it remains challenging for elucidating the underlying mechanism of interaction.Herein,a practical strategy was reported to rationally design single cobalt atoms coordinated with both phosphorus and nitrogen atoms in a hierarchically porous carbon derived from metal-organic frameworks.X-ray absorption spectrum reveals that atomically dispersed Co sites are coordinated with four N atoms in the first shell and varying numbers of P atoms in the second shell(denoted as Co-N/P-C).The prepared catalyst exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)activity as well as zinc-air battery performance.The introduction of P atoms in the Co-SACs weakens the interaction between Co and N,significantly promoting the adsorption process of ^(*)OOH,resulting in the acceleration of reaction kinetics and reduction of thermodynamic barrier,responsible for the increased intrinsic activity.Our discovery provides insights into an ultimate design of single-atom catalysts with adjustable electrocatalytic activities for efficient electrochemical energy conversion.展开更多
Material composition and structural design are important factors influencing the electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorption performance of materials.To alleviate the impedance mismatch attributed to the high dielectric const...Material composition and structural design are important factors influencing the electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorption performance of materials.To alleviate the impedance mismatch attributed to the high dielectric constant of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene,we have successfully synthesized core‐shell structured SiO_(2)@MXene@MoS_(2)nanospheres.This architecture,comprising SiO_(2) as the core,MXene as the intermediate layer,and MoS_(2) as the outer shell,is achieved through an electrostatic self‐assembly method combined with a hydrothermal process.This complex core‐shell structure not only provides a variety of loss mechanisms that effectively dissipate electromagnetic energy but also prevents self‐aggregation of MXene and MoS_(2) nanosheets.Notably,the synergistic combination of SiO_(2) and MoS_(2) with highly conductive MXene enables the suitable dielectric constant of the composites,ensuring optimal impedance matching.Therefore,the core‐shell structured SiO_(2)@MXene@MoS_(2) nanospheres exhibit excellent EMW absorption performance,featuring a remarkable minimum reflection loss(RL_(min))of−52.11 dB(2.4 mm).It is noteworthy that these nanospheres achieve an ultra‐wide effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of 6.72 GHz.This work provides a novel approach for designing and synthesizing high‐performance EMW absorbers characterized by“wide bandwidth and strong reflection loss.”展开更多
The free vibration analysis of a rotating sandwich conical shell with a reentrant auxetic honeycomb core and homogenous isotropic face layers reinforced with a ring support is studied.The shell is modeled utilizing th...The free vibration analysis of a rotating sandwich conical shell with a reentrant auxetic honeycomb core and homogenous isotropic face layers reinforced with a ring support is studied.The shell is modeled utilizing the first-order shear deformation theory(FSDT)incorporating the relative,centripetal,and Coriolis accelerations alongside the initial hoop tension created by the rotation.The governing equations,compatibility conditions,and boundary conditions are attained using Hamilton’s principle.Utilizing trigonometric functions,an analytical solution is derived in the circumferential direction,and a numerical one is presented in the meridional direction via the differential quadrature method(DQM).The effects of various factors on the critical rotational speeds and forward and backward frequencies of the shell are studied.The present work is the first theoretical work regarding the dynamic analysis of a rotating sandwich conical shell with an auxetic honeycomb core strengthened with a ring support.展开更多
The deep-sea clam Calyptogena marissinica is widely distributed in the Haima cold seep ecosystem on the northwes-tern slope of the South China Sea with low pH values,low temperature and high pressure.Limited informati...The deep-sea clam Calyptogena marissinica is widely distributed in the Haima cold seep ecosystem on the northwes-tern slope of the South China Sea with low pH values,low temperature and high pressure.Limited information is available on the biomineralization of this species.In this research,we generated a comprehensive transcript dataset of C.marissinica’s mantle tissue,and a total of 19821 unigenes were assembled.Fourteen shell matrix proteins(SMP)-related genes were identified.The qPCR results showed that four out of six prismatic matrix genes(MSP2,MSP5,prisilkin-39,and shematrin),four out of the six nacreous matrix genes(perlucin,pif,pif97,and papilin),and two extrapallial fluid proteins(SPARC and calmodulin)were significantly expressed in the mantle.Both the nacreous and the prismatic layers are chrysanthemum-shaped,which are stacked on the top of each other to form a laminated nacreous structure.The alignment and phylogenetic analysis of MSP-5,Prisilkin-39,Perlucin,and Pif homologues showed that some amino acids of C.marissinica that differed from those detected in other molluscs may cause the different shape of the nacreous and prismatic layers,but do not lead to a change in the species’evolutionary status.These results indicated the conservation of the functions of SMP-related genes in C.marissinica,and the specific shape of the prismatic and nacreous layers of this deep-sea mollusc,which will contribute to the research on the molecular regulation mechanisms of biomineralization in C.marissinica and provide a new perspective to investigate biomineralization in deep-sea clams in general.展开更多
The yellow-colored line of pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii displays a yellow prismatic layer and a white nacreous layer that can be used as an ideal model for research on shell color formation.Micro-Raman spect...The yellow-colored line of pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii displays a yellow prismatic layer and a white nacreous layer that can be used as an ideal model for research on shell color formation.Micro-Raman spectroscopy and transcriptome analyses were performed to explore the potential molecular mechanism underlying the phenotype differentiation.The micro-Raman spectroscopy results indicate that the prismatic layer exhibits distinct characteristic peaks of carotenoids,while these peaks are not prominent in the nacreous layer.In the transcriptome comparison of the central zone of mantle and mantle edge tissue,which function in nacreous and prismatic layer formation,respectively,935 significantly differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified,with 385 genes upregulated and 227 genes downregulated(|log_(2)(Fold change)|>1 and false discovery rate<0.05)in the mantle edge tissue.Among these genes,some were associated with melanoma/melanogenesis,such as tyrosinase,zinc metalloprotease,glutathione S-transferase,and ATP-binding cassette sub-family;some were associated with the carotenoid-related pathway,including scavenger receptors,cytochrome P450 and lipoprotein receptor.Genes associated with porphyrin metabolism,including porphobilinogen deaminase,and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase,and genes associated with shell matrix protein,including amorphous calcium carbonate binding protein,shematrin,PIF,and collagen,also exhibited significantly different expressions.It is speculated that the different colours between prismatic layer and nacreous layer in the yellow-colored line of P.f.martensii might be resulted from melanin,carotenoids and porphyrin metabolism,while genes related to shell structure and biomineralization might also affect coloration.Our results provide new insights to understand the mechanism of shell color formation in mollusca.展开更多
The main goal of this study is to use higher-order isogeometric analysis(IGA)to study the dynamic response of sandwich shells with an auxetic honeycomb core and two different functionally graded materials(FGM)skin lay...The main goal of this study is to use higher-order isogeometric analysis(IGA)to study the dynamic response of sandwich shells with an auxetic honeycomb core and two different functionally graded materials(FGM)skin layers(namely honeycomb-FGS shells)subjected to dynamic loading.Touratier's non-polynomial higher-order shear deformation theory(HSDT)is used due to its simplicity and performance.The governing equation is derived from Hamilton's principle.After verifying the present approach,the effect of input parameters on the dynamic response of honeycomb-FGS shells is carried out in detail.展开更多
Curved shells are increasingly utilized in applied engineering due to their shared characteristics with other sandwich structures,flexibility,and attractive appearance.However,the inability of controlling and regulati...Curved shells are increasingly utilized in applied engineering due to their shared characteristics with other sandwich structures,flexibility,and attractive appearance.However,the inability of controlling and regulating vibrations and destroying them afterward is a challenge to scientists.In this paper,the curve shell equations and a linear quadratic regulator are adopted for the state feedback design to manage the structure vibrations in state space forms.A five-layer sandwich doubly curved micro-composite shell,comprising two piezoelectric layers for the sensor and actuator,is modeled by the fourth-order shear deformation theory.The core(honeycomb,truss,and corrugated)is analyzed for the bearing of transverse shear forces.The results show that the honeycomb core has a greater effect on the vibrations.When the parameters related to the core and the weight percentage of graphene increase,the frequency increases.The uniform distribution of graphene platelets results in the lowest natural frequency while the natural frequency increases.Furthermore,without taking into account the piezoelectric layers,the third-order shear deformation theory(TSDT)and fourth-order shear deformation theory(FOSDT)align closely.However,when the piezoelectric layers are incorporated,these two theories diverge significantly,with the frequencies in the FOSDT being lower than those in the TSDT.展开更多
Shorebird populations are declining worldwide,mainly due to human disturbances and loss of coastal wetlands.However,supratidal habitats as saltpans could play a role in buffering human impact.Saltpans have shown to be...Shorebird populations are declining worldwide,mainly due to human disturbances and loss of coastal wetlands.However,supratidal habitats as saltpans could play a role in buffering human impact.Saltpans have shown to be important as feeding or breeding sites of some shorebird species.A potential conservation strategy to increase shorebird populations in saltpans is to manipulate the cues that birds use to select optimal breeding habitat.Here it is hypothesized that shorebirds are attracted to bivalve shells due to the advantages they offer.Following this hypothesis,we supplemented a restored saltpan in 2019 and 2021 with bivalve shells,expecting an increase in the number of breeding birds’ nests.More than 75% of Kentish Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Tern(Sternula albifrons) nests were found in patches with shells in both years.The best model for both species indicates that the presence of shells is the factor that most correlates with the location of nests.The probability of choosing one place over another to settle their nest increases in areas with an abundance of shells,double in the case of the Kentish Plover and triple in the case of the Little Tern.The result of this study may constitute a valuable tool for attracting birds to restored saltpans and could contribute to the success of expensive restoration projects where time is usually a constraint.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFB2602800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51879231,51679214)。
文摘This paper aims to enhance the compression capacity of underwater cylindrical shells by adopting the corrugated sandwich structure of cuttlebone.The cuttlebone suffers uniaxial external compression,while underwater cylindrical shells are in a biaxial compressive stress state.To suit the biaxial compressive stress state,a novel bidirectional corrugated sandwich structure is proposed to improve the bearing capacity of cylindrical shells.The static and buckling analysis for the sandwich shell and the unstiffened cylindrical shell with the same volume-weight ratio are studied by numerical simulation.It is indicated that the proposed sandwich shell can effectively reduce the ratio between circumferential and axial stress from 2 to 1.25 and improve the critical buckling load by about 1.63 times.Numerical simulation shows that optimizing and adjusting the structural parameters could significantly improve the advantage of the sandwich shell.Then,the hydrostatic pressure tests for shell models fabricated by 3D printing are carried out.According to the experimental results,the overall failure position of the sandwich shell is at the center part of the sandwich shell.It has been found the average critical load of the proposed sandwich shell models exceeds two times that of the unstiffened shell models.Hence,the proposed bio-inspired bidirectional corrugated sandwich structure can significantly enhance the pressure resistance capability of cylindrical shells.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11832002 and 12072201)。
文摘The snap-through behaviors and nonlinear vibrations are investigated for a bistable composite laminated cantilever shell subjected to transversal foundation excitation based on experimental and theoretical approaches.An improved experimental specimen is designed in order to satisfy the cantilever support boundary condition,which is composed of an asymmetric region and a symmetric region.The symmetric region of the experimental specimen is entirely clamped,which is rigidly connected to an electromagnetic shaker,while the asymmetric region remains free of constraint.Different motion paths are realized for the bistable cantilever shell by changing the input signal levels of the electromagnetic shaker,and the displacement responses of the shell are collected by the laser displacement sensors.The numerical simulation is conducted based on the established theoretical model of the bistable composite laminated cantilever shell,and an off-axis three-dimensional dynamic snap-through domain is obtained.The numerical solutions are in good agreement with the experimental results.The nonlinear stiffness characteristics,dynamic snap-through domain,and chaos and bifurcation behaviors of the shell are quantitatively analyzed.Due to the asymmetry of the boundary condition and the shell,the upper stable-state of the shell exhibits an obvious soft spring stiffness characteristic,and the lower stable-state shows a linear stiffness characteristic of the shell.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51872115,12234018 and 52101256)Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility(BSRF,4B9A)。
文摘Atom-level modulation of the coordination environment for single-atom catalysts(SACs)is considered as an effective strategy for elevating the catalytic performance.For the MNxsite,breaking the symmetrical geometry and charge distribution by introducing relatively weak electronegative atoms into the first/second shell is an efficient way,but it remains challenging for elucidating the underlying mechanism of interaction.Herein,a practical strategy was reported to rationally design single cobalt atoms coordinated with both phosphorus and nitrogen atoms in a hierarchically porous carbon derived from metal-organic frameworks.X-ray absorption spectrum reveals that atomically dispersed Co sites are coordinated with four N atoms in the first shell and varying numbers of P atoms in the second shell(denoted as Co-N/P-C).The prepared catalyst exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)activity as well as zinc-air battery performance.The introduction of P atoms in the Co-SACs weakens the interaction between Co and N,significantly promoting the adsorption process of ^(*)OOH,resulting in the acceleration of reaction kinetics and reduction of thermodynamic barrier,responsible for the increased intrinsic activity.Our discovery provides insights into an ultimate design of single-atom catalysts with adjustable electrocatalytic activities for efficient electrochemical energy conversion.
基金Joint Fund of Research and Development Program of Henan Province,Grant/Award Number:222301420002National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:U21A2064Scientific and Technological Innovation Talents in Colleges and Universities in Henan Province,Grant/Award Number:22HASTIT001。
文摘Material composition and structural design are important factors influencing the electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorption performance of materials.To alleviate the impedance mismatch attributed to the high dielectric constant of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene,we have successfully synthesized core‐shell structured SiO_(2)@MXene@MoS_(2)nanospheres.This architecture,comprising SiO_(2) as the core,MXene as the intermediate layer,and MoS_(2) as the outer shell,is achieved through an electrostatic self‐assembly method combined with a hydrothermal process.This complex core‐shell structure not only provides a variety of loss mechanisms that effectively dissipate electromagnetic energy but also prevents self‐aggregation of MXene and MoS_(2) nanosheets.Notably,the synergistic combination of SiO_(2) and MoS_(2) with highly conductive MXene enables the suitable dielectric constant of the composites,ensuring optimal impedance matching.Therefore,the core‐shell structured SiO_(2)@MXene@MoS_(2) nanospheres exhibit excellent EMW absorption performance,featuring a remarkable minimum reflection loss(RL_(min))of−52.11 dB(2.4 mm).It is noteworthy that these nanospheres achieve an ultra‐wide effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of 6.72 GHz.This work provides a novel approach for designing and synthesizing high‐performance EMW absorbers characterized by“wide bandwidth and strong reflection loss.”
文摘The free vibration analysis of a rotating sandwich conical shell with a reentrant auxetic honeycomb core and homogenous isotropic face layers reinforced with a ring support is studied.The shell is modeled utilizing the first-order shear deformation theory(FSDT)incorporating the relative,centripetal,and Coriolis accelerations alongside the initial hoop tension created by the rotation.The governing equations,compatibility conditions,and boundary conditions are attained using Hamilton’s principle.Utilizing trigonometric functions,an analytical solution is derived in the circumferential direction,and a numerical one is presented in the meridional direction via the differential quadrature method(DQM).The effects of various factors on the critical rotational speeds and forward and backward frequencies of the shell are studied.The present work is the first theoretical work regarding the dynamic analysis of a rotating sandwich conical shell with an auxetic honeycomb core strengthened with a ring support.
基金supported by the Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research of Guangdong Province(No.2019B030302004)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2023A1515030295)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province,China(No.2020B1212060058).
文摘The deep-sea clam Calyptogena marissinica is widely distributed in the Haima cold seep ecosystem on the northwes-tern slope of the South China Sea with low pH values,low temperature and high pressure.Limited information is available on the biomineralization of this species.In this research,we generated a comprehensive transcript dataset of C.marissinica’s mantle tissue,and a total of 19821 unigenes were assembled.Fourteen shell matrix proteins(SMP)-related genes were identified.The qPCR results showed that four out of six prismatic matrix genes(MSP2,MSP5,prisilkin-39,and shematrin),four out of the six nacreous matrix genes(perlucin,pif,pif97,and papilin),and two extrapallial fluid proteins(SPARC and calmodulin)were significantly expressed in the mantle.Both the nacreous and the prismatic layers are chrysanthemum-shaped,which are stacked on the top of each other to form a laminated nacreous structure.The alignment and phylogenetic analysis of MSP-5,Prisilkin-39,Perlucin,and Pif homologues showed that some amino acids of C.marissinica that differed from those detected in other molluscs may cause the different shape of the nacreous and prismatic layers,but do not lead to a change in the species’evolutionary status.These results indicated the conservation of the functions of SMP-related genes in C.marissinica,and the specific shape of the prismatic and nacreous layers of this deep-sea mollusc,which will contribute to the research on the molecular regulation mechanisms of biomineralization in C.marissinica and provide a new perspective to investigate biomineralization in deep-sea clams in general.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province (No.2022A1515010030)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.32102817)+3 种基金the Program for Sientific Research Start-up Funds of Guangdong Ocean University (No.060302022304)the Department of Education of Guangdong Province (Nos.2020ZDZX1045 and 2021KCXTD026)the Earmarked Fund for CARS-49the Guangdong Provincial Special Fund for Modern Agriculture Industry Technology Innovation Teams (No.2023KJ146)。
文摘The yellow-colored line of pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii displays a yellow prismatic layer and a white nacreous layer that can be used as an ideal model for research on shell color formation.Micro-Raman spectroscopy and transcriptome analyses were performed to explore the potential molecular mechanism underlying the phenotype differentiation.The micro-Raman spectroscopy results indicate that the prismatic layer exhibits distinct characteristic peaks of carotenoids,while these peaks are not prominent in the nacreous layer.In the transcriptome comparison of the central zone of mantle and mantle edge tissue,which function in nacreous and prismatic layer formation,respectively,935 significantly differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified,with 385 genes upregulated and 227 genes downregulated(|log_(2)(Fold change)|>1 and false discovery rate<0.05)in the mantle edge tissue.Among these genes,some were associated with melanoma/melanogenesis,such as tyrosinase,zinc metalloprotease,glutathione S-transferase,and ATP-binding cassette sub-family;some were associated with the carotenoid-related pathway,including scavenger receptors,cytochrome P450 and lipoprotein receptor.Genes associated with porphyrin metabolism,including porphobilinogen deaminase,and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase,and genes associated with shell matrix protein,including amorphous calcium carbonate binding protein,shematrin,PIF,and collagen,also exhibited significantly different expressions.It is speculated that the different colours between prismatic layer and nacreous layer in the yellow-colored line of P.f.martensii might be resulted from melanin,carotenoids and porphyrin metabolism,while genes related to shell structure and biomineralization might also affect coloration.Our results provide new insights to understand the mechanism of shell color formation in mollusca.
基金funded by Le Quy Don Technical University Research Found (Grant No.2023QHT.03)。
文摘The main goal of this study is to use higher-order isogeometric analysis(IGA)to study the dynamic response of sandwich shells with an auxetic honeycomb core and two different functionally graded materials(FGM)skin layers(namely honeycomb-FGS shells)subjected to dynamic loading.Touratier's non-polynomial higher-order shear deformation theory(HSDT)is used due to its simplicity and performance.The governing equation is derived from Hamilton's principle.After verifying the present approach,the effect of input parameters on the dynamic response of honeycomb-FGS shells is carried out in detail.
基金the Iranian Nanotechnology Development Committee for their financial supportUniversity of Kashan for supporting this work by Grant No. 1223097/10the micro and nanomechanics laboratory by Grant No. 14022023/5
文摘Curved shells are increasingly utilized in applied engineering due to their shared characteristics with other sandwich structures,flexibility,and attractive appearance.However,the inability of controlling and regulating vibrations and destroying them afterward is a challenge to scientists.In this paper,the curve shell equations and a linear quadratic regulator are adopted for the state feedback design to manage the structure vibrations in state space forms.A five-layer sandwich doubly curved micro-composite shell,comprising two piezoelectric layers for the sensor and actuator,is modeled by the fourth-order shear deformation theory.The core(honeycomb,truss,and corrugated)is analyzed for the bearing of transverse shear forces.The results show that the honeycomb core has a greater effect on the vibrations.When the parameters related to the core and the weight percentage of graphene increase,the frequency increases.The uniform distribution of graphene platelets results in the lowest natural frequency while the natural frequency increases.Furthermore,without taking into account the piezoelectric layers,the third-order shear deformation theory(TSDT)and fourth-order shear deformation theory(FOSDT)align closely.However,when the piezoelectric layers are incorporated,these two theories diverge significantly,with the frequencies in the FOSDT being lower than those in the TSDT.
基金Servicio de Gestión del Medio Natural-Delegación de Cádiz from Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medioambiente y Economía Azul (regional government)Saltpan Initiative Project (MAVA Foundation) and MEDARTSALT project (EU-ENICBC) provided the funding for the studyfunded by the Margarita Salas Grant (2021-067/PN/MS-RECUAL/CD) from the Ministry of Universities of the Government of Spain and the European Union。
文摘Shorebird populations are declining worldwide,mainly due to human disturbances and loss of coastal wetlands.However,supratidal habitats as saltpans could play a role in buffering human impact.Saltpans have shown to be important as feeding or breeding sites of some shorebird species.A potential conservation strategy to increase shorebird populations in saltpans is to manipulate the cues that birds use to select optimal breeding habitat.Here it is hypothesized that shorebirds are attracted to bivalve shells due to the advantages they offer.Following this hypothesis,we supplemented a restored saltpan in 2019 and 2021 with bivalve shells,expecting an increase in the number of breeding birds’ nests.More than 75% of Kentish Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Tern(Sternula albifrons) nests were found in patches with shells in both years.The best model for both species indicates that the presence of shells is the factor that most correlates with the location of nests.The probability of choosing one place over another to settle their nest increases in areas with an abundance of shells,double in the case of the Kentish Plover and triple in the case of the Little Tern.The result of this study may constitute a valuable tool for attracting birds to restored saltpans and could contribute to the success of expensive restoration projects where time is usually a constraint.
