In many ecosystems, seasonal shifts in temperature and precipitation induce pulses of primary productivity that vary in phenology, abundance, and nutritional quality. Variation in these resource pulses could strongly influence community composition and ecosystem function, because these pervasive bottom-up forces play a primary role in determining the biomass, life cycles, and interactions of or...

As sessile organisms, plants are unable to escape from the many abiotic and biotic factors that cause a departure from optimal conditions of growth and development. Low temperature represents one of the most harmful abiotic stresses affecting temperate plants. These species have adapted to seasonal variations in temperature by adjusting their metabolism during autumn, increasing their content o...

The goal of this research is to evaluate the significance of riparian hosts in the epidemiology of Pierce’s disease (PD) in the North Coast grape-growing region of California. Our first objective is to examine the epidemiological role of seasonal Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) concentration fluctuations in riparian hosts in the field, where plants are subject to seasonal temperature changes. Among sys...

The phenology of plants reflects selection generated by seasonal climatic factors and interactions with other plants and animals, within constraints imposed by their phylogenetic history. Fig trees (Ficus) need to produce figs year-round to support their short-lived fig wasp pollinators, but this requirement is partially de-coupled in dioecious species, where female trees only develop seeds, no...

Low temperature inhibits plant growth despite the fact that considerable rates of photosynthetic activity can be maintained. Instead of lower rates of photosynthesis, active inhibition of cell division and expansion is primarily responsible for reduced growth. This results in sink limitation and enables plants to accumulate carbohydrates that act as compatible solutes or are stored throughout t...

We used a time series of satellite multispectral imagery for mapping and monitoring six classes of montane meadows arrayed along a moisture gradient (from hydric to mesic to xeric). We hypothesized that mesic meadows would support the highest species diversity of plants, birds, and butterflies because they are more moderate environments. We also hypothesized that mesic meadows would exhibit the...

The seasonal variation in the nutrient composition of Enhydra fluctuans and Marsilea quadrifolia, two edible semi-aquatic plants, was studied in order to promote their consumption as green leafy vegetables. Both plants had a high crude protein content throughout all harvesting seasons. Enhydra fluctuans had a low ash content and was a good source of beta-carotene (3.7 to 4.2 mg/100 g on a fresh...

This paper examines seasonal change of the water area in Lake Sakata by using Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (POLSAR) image analysis. Statistical POLSAR image analysis is carried out for both Xand L-band data, based on a threecomponent scattering power decomposition method, where the decomposed components are surface scattering, doublebounce scattering and volume scattering components. F...

Nowadays monitoring pharmaceutical residues from surface waters is a widespread analytical task. Most of the studies are conducted from river waters or sewage treatment plants and mainly in Western Europe or North America. Such studies are seldom published from Eastern Europe, especially from stream waters, even though the prescription and consumption patterns of drugs as well as wastewater tre...

Present paper enumerates highlights of seasonal variation in floristic composition and ecological strategies for the management of ‘Gujar Tal’ at Jaunpur in tropical semi-arid region of eastern U.P. (India). Total composition of macrophytes recorded was 47 from 26 families with maximum 6 plant species of Cyperaceae from April, 2012 to March, 2013 at certain periodic intervals. Maximum number of...