Exergy is demonstrated to be a useful measurable parameter reflecting the state of the ecosystem, and allowing estimation of the severity of its anthropogenous damage. Exergy is shown to have advantages such as good theoretical basis in thermodynamics, close relation to information theory, rather high correlation with others ecosystem goal functions and relative ease of computation. Nowadays ex...

1. Landscape ecology deals with the influence of spatial pattern on ecological processes. It considers the ecological consequences of where things are located in space, where they are relative to other things, and how these relationships and their consequences are contingent on the characteristics of the surrounding landscape mosaic at multiple scales in time and space. Traditionally, landscape...

Supplementary data ml http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/suppl/2011/07/08/rsbl.2011.0582.DC1.ht "Data Supplement" References #ref-list-1 http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2011/07/08/rsbl.2011.0582.full.html This article cites 17 articles, 7 of which can be accessed free P<P Published online 20 July 2011 in advance of the print journal. Subject collections (63 arti...

However, hydrologists and ecologists are still woefully incapable of answering the question, “How much hydrologic alteration is too much for an aquatic or riparian ecosystem?” This is not to say that we haven’t learned a great deal about the influence of hydrologic variation and extreme events on species and natural communities or key ecosystem processes such as nutrient transport and cycling. ...

This study examined the effects of theoretical constructs from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and value-belief-norm theory (VBN) on intentions to perform purchase and disposal behaviors that help prevent aquatic invasive species (AIS) spread by organisms-in-trade (OIT) hobbyists. More specifically, the goals of this study were to explore (1) the predictive ability of theoretical construct...

An advanced operational semi-empirical algorithm for processing satellite remote sensing data in the visible region is described. Based on the Levenberg-Marquardt multivariate optimization procedure, the algorithm is developed for retrieving major water colour producing agents: chlorophyll-a, suspended minerals and dissolved organics. Two assurance units incorporated by the algorithm are intend...

BACKGROUND Global aquaculture production has increased continuously over the last five decades, and particularly in China. Its aquaculture has become the fastest growing and most efficient agri-sector, with production accounting for more than 70% of the world's aquaculture output. In the new century, with serious challenges regarding population, resources and the environment, China has been wor...

BACKGROUND Aquatic insects are the major groups of arthropods that spend some parts of their life cycle in the water. These insects play an important role for transmission of some human and animal diseases. There is few information about the aquatic insects fauna of Iran. METHODS To study the aquatic insects fauna, adult, nymphal and larval collections were carried out from different habitats...

Wild aquatic birds in the Orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes are the main reservoir hosts perpetuating the genetic pool of all influenza A viruses, including pandemic viruses. High viral loads in feces of infected birds permit a fecal-oral route of transmission. Numerous studies have reported the isolation of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) from surface water at aquatic bird habitats. These...

Recognition that intermittent pools are a single habitat phase of an intermittent pool bed that cycles between aquatic and terrestrial habitat greatly enhances their usefulness for addressing general questions in ecology. The aquatic phase has served as a model system in many ecological studies, because it has distinct habitat boundaries in space and time and is an excellent experimental system...