A. Zamba, M. Boungou, Tenda Hélène Dembe Louvinguila, V. Mamonekene, Ronick Kombo, Ephraim Kamba, Gad Boukou, Lérège Batiabo Mikembi, Freedom Honest Poaty Ngot, Parisse Akouango
{"title":"Anthropogenic Impacts on Fish Populations in Lake Cayo (Republic of Congo, Central Africa)","authors":"A. Zamba, M. Boungou, Tenda Hélène Dembe Louvinguila, V. Mamonekene, Ronick Kombo, Ephraim Kamba, Gad Boukou, Lérège Batiabo Mikembi, Freedom Honest Poaty Ngot, Parisse Akouango","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1012046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1012046","url":null,"abstract":"Ichthyofaunal diversity and the impact of anthropogenic activities on fish population assemblages were studied in Lake Cayo, a small lake located in the coastal region of the Republic of Congo. Twelve stations were sampled twice over a two-year period. Fishing techniques following standardized methods utilizing monofilament gill nets, and nine environment variables were measured at each station. A total of 11,361 specimens comprising 30 species in 28 genera and 18 families were collected with the Cichlidae being the most diversified. Redundancy Analysis with forward selection coupled with Monte Carlo permutation tests identified depth, pH and substrate as accounting for 57.7% of the total variance among the nine variables sampled (p < 0.05). The low Shannon’s diversity (1.16 ± 0.33) and Equitability (0.43 ± 0.12) indices at all sites, suggest that the Lake Cayo system is in poor ecological health.","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129511304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Impact of Climate Change on Zooplankton Biodiversity Index (ZBDI) in Lake Kinneret, Israel","authors":"M. Gophen","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1012050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1012050","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change conditions were indicated in the watershed of Lake Kinneret: air and consequently water temperature increase, decline in rainfall, and diminish river discharges accompanied by a reduction in Epilimnetic nitrogen and a slight increase in phosphorus. It is suggested that warming trend of the Kinneret Epilimnion enhanced decline of Zooplankton Biodiversity Index (ZBDI).","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125590198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
V. Kimpouni, J. C. Mamboueni, G. Bileri-Bakala, C. Ma, det Massamba-Makanda, Guy Médard Koussibila-Dibansa, Denis Makaya
{"title":"Relationship between Urban Floristic Diversity and Ecosystem Services in the Moukonzi-Ngouaka Neighbourhood in Brazzaville, Congo","authors":"V. Kimpouni, J. C. Mamboueni, G. Bileri-Bakala, C. Ma, det Massamba-Makanda, Guy Médard Koussibila-Dibansa, Denis Makaya","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1012049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1012049","url":null,"abstract":"The relationship between ecosystem services and urban phytodiversity is being studied in the Moukonzi-Ngouaka district of Brazzaville. Urban forestry, a source of well-being for the inhabitants, is associated with socio-cultural foundations. The surveys concern flora, ethnobotany, socio-economics and personal interviews. The 60.30% naturalized flora is heterogeneous and closely correlated with traditional knowledge. The Guineo-Congolese endemic element groups are 39.27% of the taxa, of which 3.27% are native to Brazzaville. Ethnobotany recognizes 48.36% ornamental taxa; 28.36% food taxa; and 35.27% medicinal taxa. Some multiple-use plants are involved in more than one field. The supply service, a food and phytotherapeutic source, provides the vegetative and generative organs. Of the 52.31% of recognized taxa, 33.45% essentially provide leaves and 18.50% fruits. The main obsession of plant introduction being 1) food and phytotherapeutic, and 2) aesthetic, obscures other ecosystem services such as fuelwood and income, provided by NTFPs, pillars of poverty alleviation.","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"118 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114719507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Species Richness and Abundance of Bivalves and Gastropods in Mangrove Forests of Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines","authors":"Maria Cristina B. Cañada","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1012048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1012048","url":null,"abstract":"The diversity and abundance of bivalves and gastropods were studied from April to July 2015. Two sampling stations, Tinib and Esteves, in Casiguran, Aurora were selected based on the presence of mangrove forest, bivalves, gastropods, muddy substrate, and gleaners for the establishment of a transect line. Each station was laid with 100 meters transect line overlaid continuously with 2 m × 2 m quadrat along each transect. A total of 50 sampling units covering 0.02 ha area per sampling station were surveyed. The transect line recorded six species of bivalves distributed among five families and 12 species of gastropods belonging to eight families. Three species of bivalves and five species of gastropods were common to both sampling stations. However, Tinib station had most diverse species of bivalves (0.55) while Esteves station had most diverse species of gastropods (0.43). Both stations revealed Dendrostrea folium (43%) (bivalve) and Cerithidea cingulata (93%) (gastropods) as most frequently occurring species. Dendostrea folium also emerged as the densest (10,640 ind∙ha−1 and 6850 ind∙ha−1) and most abundant (58.52% and 77.84%) bivalve species. For gastropods, Terebralia sulcata (249,250 ind∙ha−1) was the densest and most abundant (96.97%) in Tinib while Terebralia palustris was the densest (747,050 ind∙ha−1) and most abundant (70.44%) in Esteves. Pooled results for bivalve species maintained Dendrostrea folium as the densest (8750 ind∙ha−1) and most abundant (64.81%). However, for gastropods, Terebralia palustris emerged as the densest (373,525 ind∙ha−1) and most abundant (56.70%) species. The mangrove forests of Casiguran, Aurora thus contain a variety of bivalves and gastropods with Tinib station dominated by bivalves while Esteves station dominated by gastropods.","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114625388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Cristina B. Cañada, M. A. Resueño, E. Angara
{"title":"Species Distribution, Diversity, and Abundance of Sea Cucumbers in Tropical Intertidal Zones of Aurora, Philippines","authors":"Maria Cristina B. Cañada, M. A. Resueño, E. Angara","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1012047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1012047","url":null,"abstract":"The distribution, diversity, and abundance of sea cucumbers in intertidal zones of Aurora were studied from February to June 2013 to obtain baseline data. A one-hour timed-search survey covering an approximate one kilometer over a ten-meter wide area was conducted in six coastal municipalities to obtain a comprehensive list of sea cucumber species found in the zones. Only four sampling stations (Baler, Dipaculao, Dilasag, and Dingalan) were selected for belt transect survey, 50 × 50 m, based on the availability of coralline, sandy, muddy sand, and rocky habitats which were laid perpendicular and parallel to each intertidal zone. Timed-search survey revealed a total of 15 species of sea cucumbers distributed among two Orders (Order Aspidochirotida and Order Apodida) and four Families (Family Holothuriidae, Family Stichopodidae, Family Synaptidae, and Family Chirotidae) were recorded. Synapta maculata is most common and has widespread distribution. Belt-tranect surveys showed Holothuria leucospilota is among the most frequently occurring species both during day time (58%) and night time (75%). The Dilasag sampling station had the most diverse species (0.71) while the Dipaculao sampling station had the densest species of Holothuria leucospilota (10,014 in∙ha−1) and abundant (95.91%) species.","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121248985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparison of the Xylem Anatomical Traits of L. gmelinii and P. sylvestris var. mongolica at Three Longitudinal Sites","authors":"Sumaira Yasmeen","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1011045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1011045","url":null,"abstract":"To find out the Xylem anatomical variations we analyzed the cell structure, lumen area early wood, lumen area late wood, ring width growth response relationship to climate factors in boreal forests. We present growth response from 3-sites KYH (Kheyihe), MEDG (Moredagha), ALH (Alihe) from central Daxing’an mountains China. Variations observed in Cell size from 2010-2016 years in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica and Larix gmelinii. We analyzed growth response from 2010-2016. Results interoperates that significant growth of Larixgmelinii was lower at ALH-site than Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica as compared to KYH and MEDG-site. We measure the influence of temperature and precipitation which have been shown by correlations of different growing seasons. The warmest temperature from June to September at ALH-site growth of late wood show significant differences at ALH-site. It is also observed that summer temperature in late wood have a significant role in cell dimensions, while the influence of spring temperature frequently influences on tracheid size in early wood formation providing well-documented sound for anatomy and generally used for determining the relationship between maximum growth of tree ring density and effect of temperature variation.","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126728625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diversity Assessment of Tree Species in Sitio Dicasalarin, Barangay Zabali, Baler, Aurora, Philippines","authors":"Ericson Esquibel Coracero, Pastor L. Malabrigo","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1011043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1011043","url":null,"abstract":"This paper provides the diversity assessment of the tree species in Sitio Dicasalarin, Barangay Zabali, Baler, Aurora including the endemism and ecological status. A total of 2239 individuals from 139 morphospecies, 87 genera and 46 families were recorded. A total of 48 Philippine endemic species and 2 Aurora Endemic species were found and at least 29 threatened species were listed either in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Philippine List of Threatened Species. Results of the tree diversity showed that the area is highly diverse being a well-protected and well-managed area.","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122264015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ecological Resilience Restoration in the Watershed of the Hancang River","authors":"Xiangrong Kong, Lin Wang, Gang Chen","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1010040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1010040","url":null,"abstract":"Hancang River is a river on the eastern border of Jinan City. In recent years, with the development of cities, river flow has dropped sharply, river water has been polluted, and the ecological environment of the basin has declined. Improving the water ecological environment and enhancing the resilience of the water ecology of the river basin were set as the research goals, especially coupling of hydrological and ecological processes and the recycling of sewage resources. The “patch-corridor-matrix” theory of landscape ecology, the Least-cost distance model and the Arc Hydro Tools module of the ArcGIS platform were used to describe the river system and basin boundaries, optimize the current water network and the path network of the ecosystem. A novel ecological network and water network were proposed to form the final aquatic ecosystem, which combines the hydrological process with the ecosystem, and three decentralized wastewater treatment systems were designed to reduce the wastewater directly flowing into the river. The ecosystem resilience of the basin will be enhanced.","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128968916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Movement Patterns of the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) in Four Fragmented Landscapes of Prince Edward Island, Canada","authors":"S. Opps, Leslie A. Cudmore, Marina Silva-Opps","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1010042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1010042","url":null,"abstract":"The analysis of animal movement patterns can provide important information on animals’ responses to habitat features. In this study, the movement paths of eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) were examined in four landscapes, with different levels of habitat fragmentation, using either fluorescent powdering or spool-and-line tracking. Descriptions of the tree and ground vegetation communities were performed in the vicinity of the trail to obtain information on habitat use and habitat selection. Several key movement variables were calculated, including the total path length, net distance, fractal dimension, and radius of gyration. Despite statistically significant differences in some of the movement metrics between the four landscapes, the overall movement patterns were generically the same for all of chipmunk paths examined in this study. The data were compared to trends expected based on random or correlated random walks, as well as Levy-walk models. The mean squared net displacement did not support the correlated random walk predictions, except at smaller spatial scales, but overall demonstrated Levy-like super diffusive behaviour. Levy-like patterns were also confirmed from the move-length distributions that demonstrated truncated-tail power-law behaviour. Although this would suggest invariance of the movement patterns at all spatial scales studied, fractal analysis revealed at least two transitions in movement patterns at scales of around 2 and 5 m. The transition point at 2 m was negatively correlated with the density of small trees, while the transition at ~5 m was positively correlated with the spatial distribution of large trees. As the habitat-preference data showed that small trees are among the least preferred habitat component, while large trees were among the most preferred habitat, chipmunks are likely to alter their movement behaviour to avoid small trees, and attracted towards large trees possibly to avoid predators. Overall, we determined three principal domains of movement: at smaller spatio-temporal scales, foraging activities dominate and the movement is highly correlated but also random; at intermediate spatial scales, chipmunks may be moving to avoid predators, using different environmental cues, and the movement is more directed (but still influenced by vegetation patterns at intermediate scales); at larger spatio-temporal scales, the movement is dominated by long-range/long-term memory and homing to burrows and other key habitat features, such as food caches, drives more directed movement. The fact that scale-dependent movement mechanisms could give rise to LW patterns is consistent with recent studies.","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128900247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
V. Kimpouni, J. Nzila, Oracle Clément Tondo Bafouiri Ntsoni, G. Bileri-Bakala, J. C. Mamboueni, Charmes Maïdet Massamba-Makanda
{"title":"Natural Regeneration of Marker Species of the Tropical Dense Humid Ecosystems in the Loukaya Peri-Urban Forest, Brazzaville-Congo","authors":"V. Kimpouni, J. Nzila, Oracle Clément Tondo Bafouiri Ntsoni, G. Bileri-Bakala, J. C. Mamboueni, Charmes Maïdet Massamba-Makanda","doi":"10.4236/oje.2020.1010041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2020.1010041","url":null,"abstract":"The study aimed at evaluating the natural regeneration of some characteristic species in the Loukaya peri-urban forest was carried out in Brazzaville, over three surveys of one hectare each. The botanical inventory of the 23 species monitored covers the subjects of 2 ≤ d0.20 1.30 ≥ 10 cm. The study shows 1255 individuals of which 68.27% are 2 ≤ d0.20 < 10 cm. While being tropophilic and mesophilic, this ecosystem is pauciflorous and paucispecific. The phytoecological data show that this formation, which is a link in the African dense humid forest, presents values far below those known elsewhere; while being faithful to the forests of the Cataractes Plateau. As for the rate of natural regeneration, this index is greater than or equal to 100 for 69.56% of the taxa. Sarcochores and heliophytes are the taxa that best support this natural regeneration. This high rate of regeneration would be correlated with the high level of anthropization, whose large canopy gaps are accompanied by a flow of light conducive to the installation of seedlings.","PeriodicalId":265480,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Ecology","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128529896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}