16 research outputs found
Large-scale and High-resolution Flood Risk Model for Japan
No full textJapan has experienced several catastrophic flood events causing extensive damage to property and the national economy due to its topography, geography, and climate. Steep and short rivers, frequent typhoons and torrential rains, extremely high concentration of people and assets in flood-prone areas, and intensive human intervention subject the country to frequent flood disasters. Risk Management Solutions (RMS) has developed a stochastic inland flood model as part of its Japan Typhoon Model to assess flood risk due to typhoon for the (re)insurance industry. The RMS flood risk model consists of i) a precipitation-driven flood hazard module, ii) a building-level exposure module, iii) a component-based vulnerability module and iv) a financial module. The flood model is driven by 105,000 years of continuously simulated precipitation accounting for typhoon and non-typhoon precipitation. Rainfall-runoff and routing models, fluvial- and pluvial-inundation models, and probabilistic defence failures are included in the flood hazard module to obtain a realistic view of flood risk. By combining a large, country-level stochastic dataset with a high-resolution grid (~40m) for flood inundation modeling, and building level exposure data and hundreds of unique component-based vulnerability types, a comprehensive view of flood risk is provided on both local and aggregate levels, The financial module accounts for insured risk from different financial contracts
and its associates
No full textInternational audienceIn ecological communities, several species interact with one another to regulate their abundance. For example, mutualisms benefit all species involved, commensalism benefits one species but not the other, competition (for a resource) lowers the fitness of all species involved, whereas for predation, herbivory and parasitism one species is negatively affected by the other. We present the biological interactions between the myrmecophyte Hirtella physophora (i.e. a plant sheltering ants in hollow structures) and other organisms. Two Allomerus ants build gallery-shaped traps on this plant using hairs from its stems and the mycelium of an Ascomycota fungus to capture prey. They also use their refuse to provide their host plant and the fungi with nutrients (myrmecotrophy). Social wasps build their nests under the Hirtella leaves to benefit from the protection provided by Allomerus against army ants. Several insects can rob parts of Allomerus prey (cleptobiosis), but can be captured in turn. Finally, the reduviid Zelus annulosus, which foils attacks by Allomerus due to the production of a sticky substance that covers its egg masses and coats its legs, mostly attacks prey in groups and then shares them. Their populations are regulated by parasitoid wasps. Consequently, almost all possible biological interactions were noted in this study
Environmental factors as drivers of the spatial distribution of the copepods **Eurytemora affinis affinis** and **Eurytemora velox** in the Scheldt tributaries
No full textAbstract: The main tributaries of the Scheldt estuary offer an interesting setting to study the response of organisms to various environmental conditions. The Bovenscheldt and the Dender are closed to tidal entrance by locks, and are hence essentially fresh water systems with low turbulence. The Durme and the Rupel, with its two sub-tributaries (the Beneden-Nete and the Dijle), receive estuarine water at each tide and as such, present a fresh-brackish water gradient according to the geographic location of their confluence with the estuary and the tidal phase. This paper aims (1) to determine the spatial -temporal distribution of two calanoid copepod species: Eurytemora affinis affinis (Poppe, 1880) and E. velox (Lilljeborg, 1853) in these tributaries and (2) the environmental conditions favoring each species development. Species distribution and abundance data, collected in the four tributaries between 2018 and 2021 are analyzed by Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) and the results are interpreted in the context of ecosystem functioning. A spatial structuring between E. affinis affinis and E. velox was revealed. Whilst E. affinis affinis develops best in the tidal tributaries such as the Durme and Rupel, E. velox is more typical of the non -tidal ones: the Bovenscheldt and the Dender. The tidal tributaries have high Particulate Organic Matter (POM) concentrations due to tidal turbulence, and hence generally lower oxygen concentrations than the nontidal ones ( <10 -11 mg L-1 ). Factors favoring E. affinis affinis development in the tidal tributaries are higher chlorinity, pH and diatom abundance than in the non -tidal ones. In the non -tidal tributaries, with lower POM concentrations, phytoplankton activity more strongly influences the overall oxygen balance, with oxygen concentrations often rising above 10 -11 mg L-1 and sometimes showing high variability. The results suggest that E. affinis affinis might suffer from hyperoxia-induced oxidative stress under these high oxygen conditions and advocate the necessity to include this aspect in further research. E. velox , which is most abundant in those tributaries, seems to be more tolerant to hyperoxia and strong fluctuations in O-2 concentrations than E. affinis affinis
Exploring the genetic structure and phylogeographic patterns of the copepod genus Eurytemora in Europe
No full textAbstract: The genus Eurytemora is a diverse group of copepods found in coastal, estuarine, brackish, and freshwater environments. The main research has focused on Eurytemora affinis (Poppe, 1880) and revealed it to be a species complex. Eurytemora velox (Liljeborg, 1853) has only recently been characterized in the Scheldt estuary but never within a global phylogenetic context. This study integrated nearly all European Eurytemora species sequences available, along with original ones from the Scheldt. A total of 351 sequences were analyzed using one mitochondrial gene (CO1) and one nuclear gene (nITS), with sequencing performed specifically on the CO1 gene. Phylogenetic reconstructions were performed using the Maximum Likelihood method, along with haplowebs and genetic diversity indices. A significant subdivision between six European species was observed. The monophyletic clade status of the E. affinis complex was confirmed alongside the existence of three geographically isolated lineages of the E. affinis species, the East Atlantic, the North Sea/English Channel, and the Baltic lineages, each exhibiting pronounced genetic differentiation. The population of E. velox from the Urals differs significantly from the European ones. These results provide both an overview of the genetic structure of the genus in geographic Europe as well as new insights on E. velox
Endothelin-1: a predictor of extracapsular extension in clinically localized prostate cancer?
No full textEstéticas da existência e sexualidade operária: discursos LGBTTTs no chão de fábrica em Campina Grande-PB (2009 -2016).
No full textEssa dissertação de mestrado tem por objetivo discutir como eram vivenciadas as práticas educativas da sexualidade e as estéticas da existência a partir das narrativas orais dos operários LGBTTTs que atuavam de forma direta ou indireta no chão de fábrica da cidade de Campina Grande – PB, no período que vai de 2009 a 2016. Para costurar os corpos analisados nesse texto, dialogamos com a História do Tempo Presente a partir das narrativas de operários homoafetivos cisgêneros, assim como através de uma operária transexual e de suas memórias. Problematizamos as práticas educativas da sexualidade, como o machismo, a homofobia e a transfobia, com fins de oferecer visibilidade a sujeitos que, por representarem uma minoria historicamente excluída da sociedade, são alvos do discurso biológico. As narrativas foram interpretadas pelas tramas da História Cultural, com a metodologia da Análise do Discurso sob o prisma de Michel Foucault (1985), autor que colaborou com os conceitos sobre o dispositivo da sexualidade e estética da existência. Judith Butler (2008) se fez presente na discussão sobre o conceito de abjeto e Guacira Lopes Louro (2015) emergiu traçando uma linha tênue entre gênero e corpo. Com esses olhares teóricos, identificamos nas experiências fabris as relações entre operários masculinos e suas singularidades. Observamos as táticas para se aproximar afetivamente ou assediar sexualmente o outro, que representava a diferença de gênero e sexualidade no âmbito do trabalho. Concluímos que no cotidiano dos operários LGBTTTS percebemos as táticas de defesa para sobreviver a um ambiente impregnado por práticas discriminatórias.This work aimed to discuss how the educational practices of sexuality and the aesthetics of existence were experienced through the narratives of LGBTTT workers who worked directly or indirectly on factory floor. To build this operation, we dialogue with Present Time History through the narratives of homaffetive and cisgender workers, as well as a transsexual worker. We problematize the educational practices of sexuality such as male dominance, homophobia and transphobia in order to offer expression to subjects that, because they represent a minority, are historically excluded from society and targets of biological discourse. The narratives were interpreted through Cultural History with the methodology of the discourse analysis by the prism of Michel Foucault (1985), author who collaborated with the concepts on the device of sexuality and aesthetics of existence. Judith Butler (2008) was present in the discussion about the concept of abject and Guacira Lopes Louro (2015) emerged drawing a fine line between gender and body. With these theoretical views we identify in the factory experiences the relations between male workers and their singularities. We observed the tactics to approach affectively or sexually harass the other that represented the difference of gender and sexuality in the scope of the work. In the daily life of the LGBTT's workers we perceive the tactics of defense to survive an environment impregnated by discriminatory practices
Long-term phytoplankton dynamics in the Zeeschelde estuary (Belgium) are driven by the interactive effects of de-eutrophication, altered hydrodynam- ics and extreme weather events
No full textAbstract: We studied how changing human impacts affected phytoplankton dynamics in the freshwater and brackish tidal reaches of the Zeeschelde estuary (Belgium) between 2002 and 2018. Until the early 2000s, the Zeeschelde was heavily polluted due to high wastewater discharges. By 2008, water quality had improved, resulting in lower nutrient concentrations and higher oxygen levels. Since 2009, however, increased dredging activities resulted in altered hydro-dynamics and increased suspended sediment concentration. The combined effects of these environmental changes were reflected in three marked transitions in phytoplankton community composition. Assemblages were dominated by Thalassiosirales and green algae (especially Scenedesmaceae) until 2003. The period 2003-2011 was characterized by the wax and wane of the centric diatoms Actinocyclus and Aulacoseira, while in the period 2012-2018 Thalassiosirales and Cyanobacteria became dominant, the latter mainly imported from the tributaries. Phytoplankton biomass increased sharply in 2003, after which there was a gradual decline until 2018. By 2018, the timing of the growing season had advanced with about one month compared to the start of the study, probably as a consequence of climate warming and intensified zooplankton grazing pressure. Our study shows that de-eutrophication (during the 2000s) and morphological interventions in the estuary (in the 2010s) were dominant drivers of phytoplankton dy-namics but that the main shifts in community composition were triggered by extreme weather events, suggesting sig-nificant resistance of autochthonous communities to gradual changes in the environment
Rotifers in the Schelde estuary (Belgium): a test of taxonomic relevance
No full textTo investigate the reaction of the zooplankton community to improving water quality in the Schelde estuary, we studied the relationship between rotifer species distribution and environmental factors, and the feasibility of using a coarser level of taxonomic resolution. Fifty-two taxa, belonging to 26 genera, were identified, including 22 taxa new for the Schelde. Brachionus calyciflorus, Keratella cochlearis and B. angularis were the most abundant species. The highest diversity and abundances were observed in the freshwater reach. Redundancy analyses (RDA) showed that the main environmental factors explaining rotifer distribution were chlorinity and seasonal factors (discharge levels, cyclopoid abundance). Analysis carried out with data at the species and the genus level gave similar ordination plots, but the positioning of a genus relative to environmental factors did not always adequately represent the associations between the various species within the genus and environmental factors. Similar patterns in space and time were observed using taxonomic richness and diversity indices for analyses at species or genus level. Thus, in the context of the restoration of the Schelde estuary, the identification of rotifer species is very informative, but not essential for detecting important ecological associations
Potential ecological impacts of floating photovoltaics on lake biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
No full textInternational audienceThe need to mitigate the effects of climate change is accelerating the development of novel technologies such as floating photovoltaics (FPV). Despite FPV being identified as an emerging issue of concern for biodiversity conservation, it is fast spreading globally and our understanding of their potential ecological impacts is limited. We present an overview of the current knowledge and provide an ecological perspective on FPV potential impacts on lake biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. To date, published works have highlighted reductions in light arrival, wind speed and water temperature with increased FPV cover but the subsequent cascading effects on biological and ecological processes remain unknown. We suggest that modifications in light and water temperature can alter individual regulatory processes affecting, primary production and energy transfer within lake food webs. Additionally, FPV can modify the thermal functioning and oxygenation of the water column while providing artificial habitats for organisms. These modifications can affect individual behavior and life-story but also alter the composition of plant and animal communities, trophic interactions and greenhouse gas balances. We suggest that FPV can also modify socioecological activities related to lake use (e.g., angling, leisure) and pressures at the meta-ecosystem level. Overall, we argue that FPV impacts will be highly context-dependent, varying across ranges of environmental conditions and industrial characteristics (e.g., FPV cover and location). Given the ecological and socio-economic implications of FPV, empirical quantifications based on robust designs are urgently needed and we provide here a unique guideline to help developing research programs to monitor these potential impacts
