#naturally calcareous

[mineralsrocksandfossiltalks]

Monday Musings: Why are there so many perfectly preserved soft-bodied animals found in the Cambrian?

There are a number of ways to get the perfect preservations needed to fossilize soft parts but none of them are particularly common. On the other hand, most of them require water and there was quite a lot of it 518 million years ago.

Phosphatization occurs when large quantities of phosphate are present, either in sea water or from the tissues of a decaying organism. In some cases, microbes that fed on the tissue control the phosphatization. Many soft tissues are preserved this way in the Burgess Shale. The phosphate comes from the tissue itself and when pH is low and oxygen is absent, it becomes the primary method of fossilization.

Silicification is one of the most common ways to fossilize something because silicates is the most common rock forming minerals in the crust. Silica often replaces other minerals that have dissolved out such as calcite shells. This is usually seen to preserve things like trilobites. It doesn't often fossilize soft tissue.

Another form of preservation found at least in the Burgess Shale is carbonaceous film. This occurs when something is buried under several layers of sediment and diagenetically altered (in this case by heat and pressure brought on by compaction) and the animal lacks a hard skeleton or shell.

When we look at quarry locations on a paleo map,

and examine the rocks, we see that they lived and died in the right place at the right time (if the taphonomic and preservation bias don't lead us astray).

The Burgess Shale beds were deposited at the base of a cliff of calcareous reefs below the depth agitated by waves during storms. The most widely accepted hypothesis for burial is that part if the reef became detached, slumped and transported rock and debris several kilometers and quickly burying anything in its path.

On the other hand, the Maotianshan Shale was probably buried periodically under turbidity currents, basically an underwater mass wasting event. This is why we don't build our homes on old landslide deposits kids.

The Sirius Passet lagerstatte of Greenland was yet a different environment close to the boundary of an oxygen minimum zone according to geochemical analysis. It is thought that the original preservation was phosphatization that was later altered to silica by low grade metamorphism during the Devonian Period mountain-building events.

Finally, we have the Sinsk Biota of Siberia which inhabited an open marine basin where storms created back currents that sent many animals off into the oxygen depleted depths below. Anoxic conditions prevent growth of microbes that would normally decay flesh allowing soft tissues to preserve.

Now, it is also important to note that oftentimes, parts labeled soft tissue are not necessarily as soft as you believe. Take keratin for example which makes up nails, hair, feathers and sheaths over horns. It's not really that soft in some cases but it is softer than bone which makes it harder to preserve.

Whether we mean keratin or chitin (a natural polymer used to strengthen fungi and invertebrates) or internal organs which really are soft tissues, the Cambrian lagerstatten really are something else.

[flowerishness]

Aster amellus (European Michaelmas daisy)

Most of the Michaelmas daisies I see, live the lives of pampered pussycats. Expensive, store-bought soil, regular watering, all competing ‘weeds’ promptly removed - nothing but the best for my little floral treasures. Isn’t life in modern suburbia wonderful?

In reality, this flower is a hard-nosed survivor. The first photo shows a Michaelmas daisy flourishing in a mixture of gravel and clay. In nature, it grows in rocky, mountainous areas from the French Pyrenees to Siberia. As one of my wildflower books says, “It prefers a calcareous and slightly dry substrate with basic pH and low nutritional value.”

[statsbot]

Living Armor (Dunmeshi)

Below are three statblocks for Living Armors in the style of Dungeon Meshi - colonial mollusks living in between the plates of suits of armor.

AD&D/OSR

Pathfinder

D&D 5e

Full text under the Read More

AD&D/OSR:

In the shadowed corners of forsaken ruins and rust-eaten dungeons, the clatter of metal hints at a menace unlike any other. Behold the colonial mollusks, a curious form of life that thrives unseen within the hollows of abandoned armor. Individually, they are but soft-bodied creatures, seeking refuge within iron shells. Yet together, they achieve a bizarre unity of purpose, moving the armor as if it were their own body. The elder colonies, more ambitious and adorned, shift into grander armaments, echoing the vanity of hermit crabs in their endless quest for the perfect shell. With clusters of their kind nestled in helms to serve as scouts and sentries, they seem nothing more than empty suits of armor, save for the rare, ghastly glimpse of a tentacle through a visor. Woe betide the unwary adventurer who trespasses during their mating season, for the living armor, normally docile, turns fiercely protective of its nascent brood. STATBLOCK Living Armor (Colonial Mollusk)

Armor Class: 2 (due to the hard metal armor)

Hit Points: 5d8 (individual mollusks within have 1 hp each, but damaging them requires piercing the armor)

Movement: 20' (6')

Attack: 1 weapon attack (by weapon type, typically 1d8 for a sword)

Damage: By weapon type

Special Attacks: None

Special Defenses: Regeneration – Any "killed" armor piece regenerates in 3d4 rounds as mollusks pull it back together. True death only comes if all mollusks are killed or armor is completely destroyed.

Magic Resistance: Standard

Size: M (6'+ tall)

Alignment: Neutral

Intelligence: Animal (cluster intelligence when acting as a colony)

Pathfinder:

In the derelict halls of forgotten crypts, adventurers whisper of armor that moves of its own volition, clanking and grinding with the eerie echo of non-life. Yet, within these metallic shells are not spirits nor necromantic energies, but a clever congregation of colonial mollusks, thriving unseen. The Mollusk Armor, as it's known by those few who've peered beneath its guise, is an ecology unto itself—a symbiotic assembly of creatures that have found unity in animating the empty husks of warriors long gone. The eldest of these colonies sport grotesque, calcareous growths, a grim heraldry only nature could craft.

STATBLOCK Mollusk Armor N Medium vermin (colony) Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0

DEFENSE AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 20 (+10 natural, armor varies) hp 45 (7d8+14) Fort +7, Ref +2, Will +2 Defensive Abilities: Armor Reformation, All-Around Vision; DR 5/slashing; Immune mind-affecting effects

OFFENSE Speed 20 ft. Melee Weapon Attack (e.g., longsword) +8 (1d8+3/19-20), Slam +3 (1d6+1) Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

STATISTICS Str 16, Dex 10, Con 14, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1 Base Atk +5; CMB +8; CMD 18

SPECIAL ABILITIES Armor Reformation (Ex): When a Mollusk Armor is reduced to 0 hit points, the mollusks within quickly retreat and begin reassembling their protective shell. After 1d4+1 rounds, the Mollusk Armor re-forms with half its maximum hit points. Destroying the armor or exposing the mollusks to salt water prevents this reformation. All-Around Vision (Ex): The colony's mollusks are well-distributed within the armor, especially in the helmet, giving the Mollusk Armor a 360-degree field of vision. This makes it immune to flanking and sneak attacks.

D&D 5e:

In the twisted corridors of an abandoned citadel, a clanking sound echoes with a rhythm as precise as clockwork. A suit of armor, ornate and bearing the scars of many battles, patrols the area. But within this iron carapace, a colony of intelligent mollusks lurks, controlling the metal shell as one. These creatures, resembling nautiluses with their soft bodies and tentacles, have bound together, forming a collective consciousness that animates the armor. Their helmet-cluster acts as the brain, with the visor serving as their all-seeing eyes. The older the colony, the more grand the armor they command, sometimes adorned with intimidating spikes or gilded edges. Beware the mating season, for during these desperate times they will fiercely attack anyone who ventures too close to their hidden brood. STATBLOCKLiving Armor ColonyMedium swarm of Tiny monstrosities (colonial mollusks), unaligned

Armor Class: 18 (plate armor)

Hit Points: 60 (8d8 + 24)

Speed: 25 ft.

| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA | |------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----| | 16 (+3)| 11 (+0)| 16 (+3)| 3 (-4)| 10 (+0)| 1 (-5)|

Skills: Perception +2

Damage Immunities: poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with adamantine weapons

Condition Immunities: charmed, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned

Senses: blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 12

Languages: —

Challenge: 5 (1,800 XP)

Traits

Regeneration. The Living Armor regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn. If the Living Armor takes fire damage, this trait doesn't function at the start of the Living Armor's next turn. The Living Armor dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn't regenerate.

Mollusk Vulnerability. When exposed to fire damage, the Living Armor has disadvantage on all saving throws and its Regeneration trait is suppressed for 1d4 rounds.

Immutable Form. The Living Armor is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form. False Appearance. While the Living Armor remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal suit of armor.

Shell Game. If a piece of the Living Armor is removed or destroyed, the mollusks inside can use their action to reassemble or replace the piece, restoring the Living Armor to its full hit points.

Actions

Multiattack. The Living Armor makes two melee attacks.

Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10 + 2) slashing damage if used with two hands.

Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

[musicalsiphonophore]

It’s a map of the habitats of England!! It goes into great detail, more or less dividing field-by-field into what habitat an area is! It’s really cool!

It says that around where I am is mainly neutral/acidic/calcareous grassland mixed with improved grassland / farmland and a little broadleaved/mixed/yew woodland (I don’t think this is really doxxing me because a lot of England is like that). So I think if I go and get a soil sample then I can test its pH and I can find out precisely what kind of grassland it is! YAYYYYY!

WAIT I don’t have litmus paper… :( I am gonna have to buy some online! They sell it on Amazon for like five quid.

This is VERY exciting!

@most-definitively-a-human look at this!!!!!

[libraryofmoths]

Moth of the Week

Bogbean Buckmoth

Hemileuca maia menyanthevora

The bogbean buckmoth/bog buckmoth is part of the family Saturniidae. This moth was originally described under the Hemileuca maia complex or a group of closely related species in the genus of buck moths: Hemileuca. However, by using genomewide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), entomologists such as Julian R. Dupuis have found both Ontario and Oswego County, NY, populations of buck moths were not part of the H. maia lineage. In 2020, Pavulaan stated the bogbean buck moth may be its own species and called it Hemileuca maia menyanthevora.

Cryan & Dirig described the same taxon as species Hemileuca iroquois on April 2, 2020. The names have not yet been formally synonymized nor has one been discredited.

Description The females’ bodies are all black while the males’ are black with a red tip. Both have black/gray translucent wings. In the middle of the wings are a white band that flows from the forewings to the hindwings. Near the top edges of both wings in the white band is a gray and white eyespot. The forewing eyespot is larger than the hindwing spot.

Average forewing length: 29 mm (≈1.14 in)

Males have thicker antennae and females are slightly larger.

Adults are larger than other Hemileuca maia and the white wing bands are much larger than other H. maia

Diet and Habitat Larvae feed mainly on the plant bog buckbean, which is where they get their name. Adult moths do not feed. These moths are only found in calcareous fens where its primary host plant grows.

These moths have a limited range and are only found in ten colonies throughout the world: six located in Oswego County, NY, and four in eastern Ontario, Canada. In New York, bog buck moths can be found in wetlands sheltered by the eastern Lake Ontario dune network.

Mating Mating season begins around fall when the adult moths emerge. Female buck moths lay one large cluster of eggs on sturdy stems of a variety of plant species. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring. The eggs are never laid on the bog buckbean plants because they die back each year making them unable to support the eggs over winter.

Predators The eggs of the bogbean buckmoth are parasitized by the wasp Anastatus furnissi. Eggs are also preyed on by small mammals and invertebrates and may accidentally be ingested by white-tailed deer that eat the plant stems where eggs are laid. Egg predation is also observed from mites. All Hemileuca larvae have spines that can injure some vertebrate predators but do little to no to protect against parasitic flies and wasps.

Fun Fact Due to the rarity of this species, bog buck moths are considered an endangered species in New York.

(Source: Wikipedia; SLELO PRISM; New York Natural Heritage Program; Ontario.ca; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cortland, NY; Federal Register)

@turkeygamemaster

[ardentguilt]

Mother Of Pearl

Mother of Pearl is a naturally occurring organic material found making up the lining of some shells, primarily in warmer seas.

Abalone is one such shell that forms this material.

Mother of Pearl is commonly occuring in mollusc shells where the composition, number and arrangement of calcareous layers form distinct microstructures resulting in differing mechanical properties and coloration.

The beautiful colors have resulted in a long history of shells being carved into cameos and around the 19th century mother of pearl was widely used to carve into buttons.

[sherbertilluminated]

You had me at "taphonomy" and then every word after that kept getting better

Thanks! I'm in the trenches trying to write it right now but it's about how the unprocessed whale, both the carcass and the fossil, represent site of geological discourse onto which whalers project a Christian understanding of natural history, because to otherwise comprehend the age of the whale would:

a) be sublime, and

b) challenge the quasi-creationist American Protestant Whale Industrial Complex upon which the Pequod's quest depends.

My essay focuses on three encounters with whales in states of increasingly difficult-to-interpret preservation: Chapter 104 (The Fossil Whale), Chapter 81 (The Pequod Meets the Virgin and the discovery of the stone lance-head in the "monstrous cabinet" of the disabled whale) and Chapter 7 (The Chapel, with its marble cenotaphs which while not strictly whales are still calcareous and therefore Rich and Strange).

Right now I just need sleep and the confidence to get it done tomorrow. You've really inspired the latter and I'm very grateful!

[kitwallace]

BNG4.0 : Where was the ontologist?

One aspect of the Natural England Biodiversity Metric 4.0  Metric tool which has surprised me is the lack of a consistent vocabulary for parts of the model. There is a list of Key terms and definitions in Table 2-1 of the User Guide such as Habitat Type and Broad Habitat but naming in a complex data structure needs to go beyond that.

Naming is acknowledged to be one of the hard problems in software development and it is good practice to devise and document a vocabulary for the key concepts. Judging by the lack of consistency in column labels, no such vocabulary was agreed. Thus major and minor differences (such as case use) in naming occur:

Broad Habitat and Habitat Type

The column name for the broad groups of Habitat like 'Cropland' and 'Grassland' are variously:

Habitat table -no separate column, just a prefix in 'Labeling column'

A-1 Onsite Baseline Habitat - 'Broad Habitat'

A-2 Onsite Baseline Habitat Creation - 'Broad Habitat'

D-1 Offsite Habitat Baseline - 'Broad habitat'

G-2 All Habitats - 'Group' and 'Habitat Group'

Likewise for the Habitat Type within a Broad Habitat like 'Bracken' or 'Lowland calcareous grassland'

G-1 All Habitats - Column is unlabeled

A-1 Onsite Baseline Habitat - 'Habitat Type'

A-2 On-Site Habitat Creation - [Proposed] Habitat

A-3 On-Site Enhancement - [Baseline] Habitat, [Proposed] Habitat

Names of Habitat (Type) are in fact unique, but in most places it is redundantly combined with Broad Habitat into a compound label 'Broad Habitat' - 'Habitat Type' but even this combination has no consistent name:

Habitat table -'Labeled column'

G-8 Description lookup - Habitat Description

G-1 All Habitats - 'Labeling column'

G-2 All Habitats - Habitat Description, Habitat Group

G-3 Multipliers - Habitat Description

G-5 Enhancement Temporal - Habitat

Although the User Guide uses the term 'Habitat Type' for the detailed Habitat characterization, I've chosen to use the terms 'Broad Habitat' and 'Habitat' in my vocabulary.

Habitat and Parcel

The term Habitat is also used to name tables such as A2-Habitat_Baseline. However the rows of this table and similar tables are not Habitats but Parcels, defined in the User Guide as "A linked area of habitat with the same distinctiveness, condition and strategic significance". This means that parcels with the same Habitat need to be aggregated for Habitat analysis. However the term 'parcel' is not used anywhere in the calculator so this distinction is not explicit.

Biodiversity Units

The naming of the units in which the BNG value of a parcel is measured is generally called 'Units' but in some places, the term 'Value' is used ( in G2-Habitat Groups).

Planning phases

The method calls for the evaluation of the existing site and for the site (and off-site parcels ) after development. The terminology for these two phases of the project is mixed.

The User guide uses the terms Baseline and Pre-development for the first phase and Post-development for the second phase. In tables such as A2-Habitat_Baseline, the term 'Baseline' is used for Pre-Development while 'Proposed' is used for Post-Development. In the summary tables such as G2-Habitat Group, the term 'Existing' is used for Pre-development

Conclusion

This lack of consistency in naming makes comprehension of the BNG 4.0 Metric calculator and its alignment with the User Guide more difficult but it is also a symptom of a lack of underlying design (or redesign of a prototype) during software development.

[20k-leagues-speedrun]

CHAPTER XIII THE ICEBERG

The Nautilus was steadily pursuing its southerly course, following the fiftieth meridian with considerable speed. Did he wish to reach the pole? I did not think so, for every attempt to reach that point had hitherto failed. Again, the season was far advanced, for in the Antarctic regions the 13th of March corresponds with the 13th of September of northern regions, which begin at the equinoctial season. On the 14th of March I saw floating ice in latitude 55°, merely pale bits of debris from twenty to twenty-five feet long, forming banks over which the sea curled. The Nautilus remained on the surface of the ocean. Ned Land, who had fished in the Arctic Seas, was familiar with its icebergs; but Conseil and I admired them for the first time. In the atmosphere towards the southern horizon stretched a white dazzling band. English whalers have given it the name of “ice blink.” However thick the clouds may be, it is always visible, and announces the presence of an ice pack or bank. Accordingly, larger blocks soon appeared, whose brilliancy changed with the caprices of the fog. Some of these masses showed green veins, as if long undulating lines had been traced with sulphate of copper; others resembled enormous amethysts with the light shining through them. Some reflected the light of day upon a thousand crystal facets. Others shaded with vivid calcareous reflections resembled a perfect town of marble. The more we neared the south the more these floating islands increased both in number and importance.

At 60° lat. every pass had disappeared. But, seeking carefully, Captain Nemo soon found a narrow opening, through which he boldly slipped, knowing, however, that it would close behind him. Thus, guided by this clever hand, the Nautilus passed through all the ice with a precision which quite charmed Conseil; icebergs or mountains, ice-fields or smooth plains, seeming to have no limits, drift-ice or floating ice-packs, plains broken up, called palchs when they are circular, and streams when they are made up of long strips. The temperature was very low; the thermometer exposed to the air marked 2 deg. or 3° below zero, but we were warmly clad with fur, at the expense of the sea-bear and seal. The interior of the Nautilus, warmed regularly by its electric apparatus, defied the most intense cold. Besides, it would only have been necessary to go some yards beneath the waves to find a more bearable temperature. Two months earlier we should have had perpetual daylight in these latitudes; but already we had had three or four hours of night, and by and by there would be six months of darkness in these circumpolar regions. On the 15th of March we were in the latitude of New Shetland and South Orkney. The Captain told me that formerly numerous tribes of seals inhabited them; but that English and American whalers, in their rage for destruction, massacred both old and young; thus, where there was once life and animation, they had left silence and death.

About eight o’clock on the morning of the 16th of March the Nautilus, following the fifty-fifth meridian, cut the Antarctic polar circle. Ice surrounded us on all sides, and closed the horizon. But Captain Nemo went from one opening to another, still going higher. I cannot express my astonishment at the beauties of these new regions. The ice took most surprising forms. Here the grouping formed an oriental town, with innumerable mosques and minarets; there a fallen city thrown to the earth, as it were, by some convulsion of nature. The whole aspect was constantly changed by the oblique rays of the sun, or lost in the greyish fog amidst hurricanes of snow. Detonations and falls were heard on all sides, great overthrows of icebergs, which altered the whole landscape like a diorama. Often seeing no exit, I thought we were definitely prisoners; but, instinct guiding him at the slightest indication, Captain Nemo would discover a new pass. He was never mistaken when he saw the thin threads of bluish water trickling along the ice-fields; and I had no doubt that he had already ventured into the midst of these Antarctic seas before. On the 16th of March, however, the ice-fields absolutely blocked our road. It was not the iceberg itself, as yet, but vast fields cemented by the cold. But this obstacle could not stop Captain Nemo: he hurled himself against it with frightful violence. The Nautilus entered the brittle mass like a wedge, and split it with frightful crackings. It was the battering ram of the ancients hurled by infinite strength. The ice, thrown high in the air, fell like hail around us. By its own power of impulsion our apparatus made a canal for itself; some times carried away by its own impetus, it lodged on the ice-field, crushing it with its weight, and sometimes buried beneath it, dividing it by a simple pitching movement, producing large rents in it. Violent gales assailed us at this time, accompanied by thick fogs, through which, from one end of the platform to the other, we could see nothing. The wind blew sharply from all parts of the compass, and the snow lay in such hard heaps that we had to break it with blows of a pickaxe. The temperature was always at 5 deg. below zero; every outward part of the Nautilus was covered with ice. A rigged vessel would have been entangled in the blocked up gorges. A vessel without sails, with electricity for its motive power, and wanting no coal, could alone brave such high latitudes. At length, on the 18th of March, after many useless assaults, the Nautilus was positively blocked. It was no longer either streams, packs, or ice-fields, but an interminable and immovable barrier, formed by mountains soldered together.

“An iceberg!” said the Canadian to me.

I knew that to Ned Land, as well as to all other navigators who had preceded us, this was an inevitable obstacle. The sun appearing for an instant at noon, Captain Nemo took an observation as near as possible, which gave our situation at 51° 30′ long. and 67° 39′ of S. lat. We had advanced one degree more in this Antarctic region. Of the liquid surface of the sea there was no longer a glimpse. Under the spur of the Nautilus lay stretched a vast plain, entangled with confused blocks. Here and there sharp points and slender needles rising to a height of 200 feet; further on a steep shore, hewn as it were with an axe and clothed with greyish tints; huge mirrors, reflecting a few rays of sunshine, half drowned in the fog. And over this desolate face of nature a stern silence reigned, scarcely broken by the flapping of the wings of petrels and puffins. Everything was frozen—even the noise. The Nautilus was then obliged to stop in its adventurous course amid these fields of ice. In spite of our efforts, in spite of the powerful means employed to break up the ice, the Nautilus remained immovable. Generally, when we can proceed no further, we have return still open to us; but here return was as impossible as advance, for every pass had closed behind us; and for the few moments when we were stationary, we were likely to be entirely blocked, which did indeed happen about two o’clock in the afternoon, the fresh ice forming around its sides with astonishing rapidity. I was obliged to admit that Captain Nemo was more than imprudent. I was on the platform at that moment. The Captain had been observing our situation for some time past, when he said to me:

“Well, sir, what do you think of this?”

“I think that we are caught, Captain.”

“So, M. Aronnax, you really think that the Nautilus cannot disengage itself?”

“With difficulty, Captain; for the season is already too far advanced for you to reckon on the breaking of the ice.”

“Ah! sir,” said Captain Nemo, in an ironical tone, “you will always be the same. You see nothing but difficulties and obstacles. I affirm that not only can the Nautilus disengage itself, but also that it can go further still.”

“Further to the South?” I asked, looking at the Captain.

“Yes, sir; it shall go to the pole.”

“To the pole!” I exclaimed, unable to repress a gesture of incredulity.

“Yes,” replied the Captain, coldly, “to the Antarctic pole—to that unknown point from whence springs every meridian of the globe. You know whether I can do as I please with the Nautilus!”

Yes, I knew that. I knew that this man was bold, even to rashness. But to conquer those obstacles which bristled round the South Pole, rendering it more inaccessible than the North, which had not yet been reached by the boldest navigators—was it not a mad enterprise, one which only a maniac would have conceived? It then came into my head to ask Captain Nemo if he had ever discovered that pole which had never yet been trodden by a human creature?

“No, sir,” he replied; “but we will discover it together. Where others have failed, I will not fail. I have never yet led my Nautilus so far into southern seas; but, I repeat, it shall go further yet.”

“I can well believe you, Captain,” said I, in a slightly ironical tone. “I believe you! Let us go ahead! There are no obstacles for us! Let us smash this iceberg! Let us blow it up; and, if it resists, let us give the Nautilus wings to fly over it!”

“Over it, sir!” said Captain Nemo, quietly; “no, not over it, but under it!”

“Under it!” I exclaimed, a sudden idea of the Captain’s projects flashing upon my mind. I understood; the wonderful qualities of the Nautilus were going to serve us in this superhuman enterprise.

“I see we are beginning to understand one another, sir,” said the Captain, half smiling. “You begin to see the possibility—I should say the success—of this attempt. That which is impossible for an ordinary vessel is easy to the Nautilus. If a continent lies before the pole, it must stop before the continent; but if, on the contrary, the pole is washed by open sea, it will go even to the pole.”

“Certainly,” said I, carried away by the Captain’s reasoning; “if the surface of the sea is solidified by the ice, the lower depths are free by the Providential law which has placed the maximum of density of the waters of the ocean one degree higher than freezing-point; and, if I am not mistaken, the portion of this iceberg which is above the water is as one to four to that which is below.”

“Very nearly, sir; for one foot of iceberg above the sea there are three below it. If these ice mountains are not more than 300 feet above the surface, they are not more than 900 beneath. And what are 900 feet to the Nautilus?”

“Nothing, sir.”

“It could even seek at greater depths that uniform temperature of sea-water, and there brave with impunity the thirty or forty degrees of surface cold.”

“Just so, sir—just so,” I replied, getting animated.

“The only difficulty,” continued Captain Nemo, “is that of remaining several days without renewing our provision of air.”

“Is that all? The Nautilus has vast reservoirs; we can fill them, and they will supply us with all the oxygen we want.”

“Well thought of, M. Aronnax,” replied the Captain, smiling. “But, not wishing you to accuse me of rashness, I will first give you all my objections.”

“Have you any more to make?”

“Only one. It is possible, if the sea exists at the South Pole, that it may be covered; and, consequently, we shall be unable to come to the surface.”

“Good, sir! but do you forget that the Nautilus is armed with a powerful spur, and could we not send it diagonally against these fields of ice, which would open at the shocks.”

“Ah! sir, you are full of ideas to-day.”

“Besides, Captain,” I added, enthusiastically, “why should we not find the sea open at the South Pole as well as at the North? The frozen poles of the earth do not coincide, either in the southern or in the northern regions; and, until it is proved to the contrary, we may suppose either a continent or an ocean free from ice at these two points of the globe.”

“I think so too, M. Aronnax,” replied Captain Nemo. “I only wish you to observe that, after having made so many objections to my project, you are now crushing me with arguments in its favour!”

The preparations for this audacious attempt now began. The powerful pumps of the Nautilus were working air into the reservoirs and storing it at high pressure. About four o’clock, Captain Nemo announced the closing of the panels on the platform. I threw one last look at the massive iceberg which we were going to cross. The weather was clear, the atmosphere pure enough, the cold very great, being 12° below zero; but, the wind having gone down, this temperature was not so unbearable. About ten men mounted the sides of the Nautilus, armed with pickaxes to break the ice around the vessel, which was soon free. The operation was quickly performed, for the fresh ice was still very thin. We all went below. The usual reservoirs were filled with the newly-liberated water, and the Nautilus soon descended. I had taken my place with Conseil in the saloon; through the open window we could see the lower beds of the Southern Ocean. The thermometer went up, the needle of the compass deviated on the dial. At about 900 feet, as Captain Nemo had foreseen, we were floating beneath the undulating bottom of the iceberg. But the Nautilus went lower still—it went to the depth of four hundred fathoms. The temperature of the water at the surface showed twelve degrees, it was now only ten; we had gained two. I need not say the temperature of the Nautilus was raised by its heating apparatus to a much higher degree; every manœuvre was accomplished with wonderful precision.

“We shall pass it, if you please, sir,” said Conseil.

“I believe we shall,” I said, in a tone of firm conviction.

In this open sea, the Nautilus had taken its course direct to the pole, without leaving the fifty-second meridian. From 67° 30′ to 90 deg., twenty-two degrees and a half of latitude remained to travel; that is, about five hundred leagues. The Nautilus kept up a mean speed of twenty-six miles an hour—the speed of an express train. If that was kept up, in forty hours we should reach the pole.

For a part of the night the novelty of the situation kept us at the window. The sea was lit with the electric lantern; but it was deserted; fishes did not sojourn in these imprisoned waters; they only found there a passage to take them from the Antarctic Ocean to the open polar sea. Our pace was rapid; we could feel it by the quivering of the long steel body. About two in the morning I took some hours’ repose, and Conseil did the same. In crossing the waist I did not meet Captain Nemo: I supposed him to be in the pilot’s cage. The next morning, the 19th of March, I took my post once more in the saloon. The electric log told me that the speed of the Nautilus had been slackened. It was then going towards the surface; but prudently emptying its reservoirs very slowly. My heart beat fast. Were we going to emerge and regain the open polar atmosphere? No! A shock told me that the Nautilus had struck the bottom of the iceberg, still very thick, judging from the deadened sound. We had in deed “struck,” to use a sea expression, but in an inverse sense, and at a thousand feet deep. This would give three thousand feet of ice above us; one thousand being above the water-mark. The iceberg was then higher than at its borders—not a very reassuring fact. Several times that day the Nautilus tried again, and every time it struck the wall which lay like a ceiling above it. Sometimes it met with but 900 yards, only 200 of which rose above the surface. It was twice the height it was when the Nautilus had gone under the waves. I carefully noted the different depths, and thus obtained a submarine profile of the chain as it was developed under the water. That night no change had taken place in our situation. Still ice between four and five hundred yards in depth! It was evidently diminishing, but, still, what a thickness between us and the surface of the ocean! It was then eight. According to the daily custom on board the Nautilus, its air should have been renewed four hours ago; but I did not suffer much, although Captain Nemo had not yet made any demand upon his reserve of oxygen. My sleep was painful that night; hope and fear besieged me by turns: I rose several times. The groping of the Nautilus continued. About three in the morning, I noticed that the lower surface of the iceberg was only about fifty feet deep. One hundred and fifty feet now separated us from the surface of the waters. The iceberg was by degrees becoming an ice-field, the mountain a plain. My eyes never left the manometer. We were still rising diagonally to the surface, which sparkled under the electric rays. The iceberg was stretching both above and beneath into lengthening slopes; mile after mile it was getting thinner. At length, at six in the morning of that memorable day, the 19th of March, the door of the saloon opened, and Captain Nemo appeared.

“The sea is open!!” was all he said.

[oaresearchpaper]

Phytodiversity and Ecological Evaluation of Vascular Plants in Mir Ali, North Waziristan

Abstract

Ecological research was conducted during 2016-2019, to assess the floristic diversity and biological spectra of vascular plant species in Mir Ali Subdivision,North Waziristan, Pakistan. The floristic list consisted of 336 plant species belonging to 229 genera and 79 families. There were 269 dicots, 60 monocots, 4 gymnosperms and 3 pteridophyte species. Poaceae (44 Spp., 13.09 %) and Asteraceae (28 Spp., 8.33 %) were leading families. Life form classes was dominated by Therophytes (171spps. 50.9%) followed by Nanophanerophytes (43 spps., 12.79%) and Megaphaneropyhtes (37 spps., 11.01%). Leaf size spectrum showed that leading leaf size classes were Nanophylls with 139 (41.4%) species, Microphylls 65(19.34%) species and Leptophylls consisted of 52 (15.5%) species. There were 313 (93.15%) deciduous species, 20 (5.95%) evergreen species and 3 (0.9%) aphyllous plant species. There were 283 (84.22%) non spiny plants and 53 (15.78%) spiny plant species. 276 (82.14%) species lived in terrestrial habitat and 60 (17.86%) dwelled in mesic habitat. The light requirements showed that 332 (98.8%) species found in light condition while 4 (1.2%) grow in shady places. 243 (72.32%) plants grow wild and 93 (27.67%) were cultivated plant species. 233 (69.35%) species had simple leaf structure while 52 (15.48%) plants possessed compound leaf structure. The phenology showed that 223 (66.36%) species were found at reproductive (S2), 84 (25%) pre-reproductive (S1) and 29 (8.63%) at post-reproductive (S3) stages. Atmospheric, edaphic and biotic factors effect distribution of plant species. The study concluded that the area has rich plant biodiversity which is subjected to heavy biotic pressures of grazing and deforestation. Conservation measures, sustainable utilization and further research are recommended.

Introduction

Mir Ali is a subdivision in North Waziristan Tribal district (FATA) Pakistan, adjoining District Bannu and falls under Inrano-Turanian Region (Ali and Qaiser, 1986). It is divided into three Tehsils namely, Mir Ali, Spinwam and Shawa. Its lies between 32059/12// to 3301 /16//N Latitude and 70015/24// to 70017/21 //E Longitude with an altitude of 655 m (2152 feet). The area is surrounded by mountains which are connected with Koh-e-Sufaid in the North and Koh-e-Sulaiman in the South. The climate of the area is cold in winter with temperature ranging from 15 0C to 23 0C and hot in summer with temperature varies from 310C to 42 0C and classified as subtropical. The area is fertile and cultivable which is irrigated by three rivers namely, Tochi, Katu and Kurram rivers. The area receive 45 mm monsoon rainfall (Ali and Qaiser, 1986). The forest cover is weak and the soil is mostly shallow and calcareous. Livestock, fuel wood and medicinal plants collection are generally practiced in the research area.

Floristic diversity and its ecological characteristics depend upon prevailing environment, topography and existing ecosystem types. The various characters of flora such as life form, leaf size, phenology and other morphological features reflect the existing ecological and habitat conditions. A rich floristic diversity means favorable growing conditions. Listing of species is required for ecological plant resource management. Many studies for listing floristic diversity and its ecological behavior have been done at home and overseas, for suitable documentation and maintainable consumption of plants (Rafay et al., 2013). The information about vegetation of any area is important for the learning of biodiversity (Badshah et al., 2010). Biological spectrum suggested by Raunkiaer (1934) is the proportion delivery of diverse life-forms for particular vegetation. It can be used as a key for comparing actually detached plant groups, controls layering and stratification design of a community, nature of phytoclimate and its ambient pressure issues (Gazal and Raina, 2015). The lifeform arrangement is a significant physiognomic characteristic that expresses the coordination among plant and its surroundings (Shimwell, 1971). Leaf size spectrum delivers an awareness of the floristic version and is beneficial for exploring plant relations in relative to the dominant climatic features and thus can help in studying flora at local level (Rashid et al., 2011). Bibi et al. (2016) studied the structure and floristic composition of 30 species of road sides and central green belt of Motorway (M-1) from Peshawar to Charsadda Interchange. Shaheen et al. (2015) studied 205 plants species which belonged to 78 families with Asteraceae and Lamiaceae as dominant families. Hussain et al. (2015) identified 571 species belonging to 82 families while reporting the floristic diversity of Mastuj valley; district Chitral, Hindukush Range, Pakistan. Ullah et al. (2015) prepared a checklist of 107 plant species belonged to 90 genera and 49 families of Sheikh Buddin National Park, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Durrani et al. (2010) studied 123 plant species of 36 families from protected sites and 28 species from unprotected sites from Aghberg rangeland, Balochistan. Saima et al. (2009) studied 167 plant species of 65 families from Ayubia National Park, District Abbottabad. Badshah et al. (2013) studied the floristic diversity and ecological features of vegetation of District Tank. Sher et al. (2014) worked on the diversity and ecological structures of vegetation of Gadoon, District Swabi. Khan et al. (2017) identified 264 plants species belonging to 90 families and 202 from Swat Ranizai of District Malakand, Pakistan. Ali et al. (2017) identified104 plant species belonged to 46 families and 95 genera in Sherpao, Charsadda, Pakistan. Haq et al. (2018) documented 183 plant species from Keran valley of northwestern Himalya in which 37% therophytes were dominant life form. Khan et al. (2018) identified 80 plant species belonged to 45 familiesin Thandiani forest Abbotabbad, Pakistan. Samad et al. (2018) identified 80 plant species belonged to 45 families in Lala Kalay, Peshawar, Pakistan in which Asteraceae and Solanaceae were the leading families with 6 species each. Ahmed et al. (2019) studied 352 plant species belong to 150 genera and 82 families in which 31.25% were hemicryptophytes dominant life form spectra in the area of Kotli Sattian Kahtta national park Murree, Pakistan. Amber et al. (2019) studied 133 plant species of 52 families from Mahnsehra, Pakistan. Anwar et al. (2019) studied 195 plant species belong to 63 families from Liakot forest in kalam region of district Swat. therophyte (86 spp.) was dominant life form and nanophyll (73 spp.) was dominant life size class followed by microphyll (66 spp.) and mesophyll (44 spp.).Iqbal et al. (2019) identified the floristic composition of 36 grass species belonging to 23 genera of west region of D.G.Khan, Pakistan which help in ecological and biological spectra of research area.

Mir Ali subdivision is botanically less explored. Some references are available on weed flora of rain fed maize fields ofMir Ali (Wazir et al., 2014), flora and vegetation of gymnosperms of Razmak (Daud et al., 2013) and medicinal plants in North Waziristan (Qaiser et al., 2013). No other reference on the plants of Mir Ali is available. The present effort recorded the diversity and ecological features of plants of Mir Ali subdivision that will help in future researchers.

Source : Ecological evaluation and phytodiversity of vascular plants in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, Pakistan

[skretting2024]

Introduction to Barramundi Farming: A Comprehensive Overview

Barramundi, moreover known as Asian sea bass or Lates calcareous, has risen as a well-known choice for aquaculture due to its flexibility, quick development, and tall showcase request. This blog post investigates the basics of barramundi cultivating, covering key perspectives such as environment prerequisites, bolstering hones, edit turns, and economical cultivating practices.

Habitat and water quality. Barramundi are euryhaline fish that can flourish in both freshwater and saltwater situations. This flexibility makes it appropriate for an assortment of aquaculture frameworks, including lake culture, rotational aquaculture frameworks (RAS), and ocean cage culture.

Ideal water conditions for barramundi are:- Temperature: 28-32 °C (82-90 °F)- Salinity: 0-35 ppt (per thousand)- Dissolved oxygen: more than 4 mg /L- pH: 7.5 -8.5nMaintaining these parameters is vital to the wellbeing and development of your barramundi fish species. Observing and altering water quality can offer assistance in anticipating stress and disease outbreaks.

Nourishment:

Barramundi are carnivorous fish with high protein prerequisites. Within the wild, they eat little fish, shellfish, and molluscs. In aquaculture situations, an adjusted and nutritious diet is basic for ideal development and well-being. Specialist aquaculture feed companies such as Skretting have developed highly functional fish feed to suit the barramundi lifestyle.

Skretting's barramundi feed range includes: 1. Starter feed for fingerlings and fingerlings 2. Rearing of fingerlings for the large fish market ​​3. Breeder feed for breeding stocks

These feeds are specific to barramundi at each plant. Designed to meet nutritional requirements, promote rapid growth, disease resistance, and high quality.

Farming and production cycle: In aquaculture, the barramundi farming cycle usually lasts 12 to 18 months, depending on market size and farming practices. The production cycle can be divided into several stages. 1. Hatching (1-2 months): the larvae grow in a controlled environment until they reach hatching size. 2. Feeding (2-3 months): The fry is raised to juvenile size (usually 50-100 g). 3. Growth (6-12 months): Juveniles grow to market size from 350g to over 3kg depending on market demand. Management of feeding rate, stocking density, and water quality is important to maximize growth and minimize stress during this phase.

Sustainable Agriculture: As the aquaculture industry continues to grow, sustainable farming practices are gaining momentum. For barramundi farming, these are: 1. Good feed management: Using high-quality feed, such as that produced by Skretting, improves feed rotation and reduces waste and environmental impact. 2. Water conservation: Reduce water use and emissions by using rotational aquaculture systems or by improving pond management. 3. Disease Prevention: Follow biosecurity practices and use vaccines to reduce the need for antibiotics. 4. Genetic improvement: a selective breeding program to improve growth rate, disease resistance, and feed efficiency. 5. Integrated farming: combining barramundi farming with other types of aquaculture or aquaculture to create a more efficient closed system.

Challenges and Solutions: Barramundi farming faces many challenges including: 1. Disease control: Barramundi is susceptible to a variety of bacterial and parasitic diseases. Keeping an eye on your health, eating well, and maintaining good water quality are important to prevent disease. 2. Cannibalism: Barramundi shows cannibalism, especially during the early stages of growth. A sizing chart and proper feeding strategies can help with this problem. 3. Market Volatility: As with all aquaculture products, the price of barramundi is affected by supply and demand. Expansion of markets and product assortments makes a difference in stabilizing farmers' incomes. 4. Natural issues: Addressing issues such as waste management and potential impacts on nearby ecosystems is basic for long-term sustainability.

To address these challenges, agriculturists can utilize progressed advances and best practices, including: 1. We utilize high-quality ingredients such as Skretting's Barramundi range, which are planned to support healthy, productive development and diminish wastage. 2. Introduce automatic water quality control and delivery frameworks to progress efficiency and diminish working costs. 3. Establish a vaccination and anti-microbial program to extend disease resistance and diminish anti-microbial reliance. 4. Investigating value-added products and promoting methodologies to extend cash flow.

Conclusion: Aquaculture is much appreciated for economical aquaculture. Barramundi agriculturists can accomplish productive and ecologically dependable operations by understanding the biology of the species, executing great rural and cultivating practices, and embracing maintainable practices. With the support of specialist feed companies such as Skretting the use of high-quality barramundi feed and progressing research into cultivating strategies, long-term barramundi cultivating looks promising for producers and consumers alike.

[aquariuminfobureau]

Less famous than Nick Dakin's two previous Interpet titles, is this 1996 work, titled The Interpet Questions & Answers Manual of the Marine Aquarium. Though this volume, which is part of a series of books, in not much more recent than his earlier books on this subject, it does have a much more contemporary feel to it. Though needless to say, it feels old fashioned in parts.

The graphic design is excellent, even by the standards of Interpet. Photographs and diagrams adorn the pages alongside useful charts and informative text boxes. Before the author moves onto the animals, he presents pages on the subjects of setup and maintenance, including water changes and fish health.

He even dedicates pages onto the subjects of moving home and going on holiday. These problems are often asked of retail store staff, and aquarium magazine columnists. Each of the headings is accompanied by its own, pragmatic series of questions and answers, as you would expect, per the title of the book. Clearly designed with beginners in mind, the format achieves well what it's concept set out to do.

Whereas British books had previously mentioned 'live rock' only on passing, Dakin by 1996 dedicates pages to this nowadays ubiquitous, but problematic approach to reefkeeping. Which is equivalent to dumping mud from a South American stream into a blackwater tank. It never really made much sense to me, for a few reasons, even though people did (and do) swear by live rock with protein skimming, often without other filtration.

As presented below, good quality live rock can introduce fascinating inhabitants for free, and be aesthetically stunning. However this example is atypical in its being so photogenic. When live rock is exported to us, it is removed from the water, causing deaths among the organisms. The delayed decomposition of boring organisms such as sponges, can even pollute and 'crash' a tank after it appears permanently cycled.

The stressful and lethal process of curing the live rock, effectively filters out all but the toughest organisms. And unknown organisms that are tough, might be resilient and damaging - think of rats, mice, cockroaches, kudzu, cane toads, and indeed humans, as invasive organisms. This is surely the number one pathway by which Aiptasia sp. colonises our aquariums for instance.

By 1996 the Brits were not only learning about live rock, but also the debate about sand beds in reef aquariums. For the welfare of certain animals, a substrate is obviously essential. Without a substrate one cannot keep jawfishes, sleeper gobies, snapping shrimp, fighting conches, sand sifting starfishes, and the like. Some sessile animals and macroalgae also prefer or require siting on a sand or similar substrate.

However a bottom scouring system is otherwise worth considering, to prevent detritus from accumulating at the bottom of the aquarium. Calcareous sand (and rocks) also assist with maintaining the correct water chemistry, so a volume of an appropriate sand definitely has its benefits. There is a risk of a sulphur smell and a tank crash if dirt accumulates in the sand, however, so the substrate should not be too deep, either.

By 1996 British aquarists were shifting their attention, from big tangs, angelfishes, groupers, puffers, and triggers, onto smaller fishes creating less bioload for filtration systems. Or was Dakin writing with the US audience in mind? Either way, the US was ahead and the UK was catching up, though in my opinion, it's only after 2000 that home 'reefing' really caught on.

So that when Dakin dedicates pages to wrasse, he presents them in two separate size classes. As with the concept of a dwarf cichlid in the freshwater side of the hobby, dwarf wrasse are certainly not a phylogenetic grouping or clade. Earlier books by Dakin, Mills, and other authors, had not treated dwarf wrasse as distinct from larger wrasse

Strange as it sounds, British aquarists in the 1990s were not really aware, of the omnivorous natures of Centropyge sp. angelfishes, nor of certain other fishes such as blennies. When the behavior was reported in magazines, it tended to be dismissed as a behavioral aberration, an opinion admittedly supported by the fact some of these fish are observed to 'take nips' at corals and clams more than others, even within a species.

In fact stable isotopes provide powerful evidence, that wild Centropyge sp. habitually consume sessile fauna, beyond the incidental but nutritionally important ingestion of epibionts on algae. By 1996 British authors were coming round to this realization. Centropyge will not bother corals with powerful stings, such as Euphyllia sp. but are definitely capable of bothering corals and clam mantles.

Following the introductions to the different groupings of marine fishes, are those to the world of coral and other 'invertebrates'. These follow the same format of questions and answers, as do the pages on the fishes and throughout the book. Compared to Dakin's earlier titles, much more effort is spent on the subject of the corals. Already in the later 1990s, British retailers and home aquarists were getting more 'clued up' about coral and anenone care. As were book authors.

That an aquarium book organize ornamental animals as 'invertebrates' is expected. However a reference to Phylum Crustacea is unexpected in 1996, with it being a reference, surely, to past ideas about arthropod polyphyly, according to which insects evolved separately from velvet worms and also perhaps leeches. This is disproven, arthropods are instead a monophyletic group, velvet worms are their sister, and leeches are related to earthworms.

It seems especially silly nowadays because insects nest among the traditional crustaceans. Which has received a phylogenetic definition that has been falsified, by the phylogenetic placement of the insects. Like 'invertebrate', the word 'crustacean' makes sense as a historical and legacy term only. Dakin's use is equivalent to the multicrustaceans, and would properly exclude ostracods, fish lice, cladocerans such as Daphnia, and the clam, fairy and tadpole shrimp, such as Artemia and Triops.

As regards Dakin's choice of 'crustacean' species, it is oddly old fashioned. Hermit crabs are represented only by the showy Dardanus, not the ubiquitous little scavengers that are traded much, much more often today. Similarly in his pages on gastropods, he still features the tiger cowrie but not the small trochoids, that are surely the most popular snails in our tanks nowadays.

Without a mention of the standard 'CUC' assemblage, this '90s book feels decidedly old fashioned. I do however agree with Dakin, that detrivorous brittlestars are the most efficient 'janitors' for our tanks. They can reach and access food that other scavengers are likely unable to, and each brittlestar has the biomass and food requirements of several little hermit crabs. I am also fond of their appearance and behaviors

Cephalopods fascinate the public, and Dakin features armored nautiluses, cuttlefishes, and octopuses. Following a cliche he predictably tells us to avoid buying the notorious blue ringed octopuses, genus Hapalochlaena, only because of their venom. The personal risks can be avoided with carefulness, simply by not sticking bare hands into the aquarium, being the primary method to avoid envenomation.

Blue ringed octopuses are in fact a manageable size for aquarists, and because they are a staple species in behavioral research, their proper care is extremely well studied. Other than their venom, there are probably no better octopuses for the aquarist when they are available in the trade.

Reportedly they have even been housed alongside fishes, though I don't have details as to which fish. Planktivores significantly larger than the octopus would neither bother it, nor would they regard one another as potential prey. Incidentally, there is more than one species of Hapalochlaena, not one.

Dakin mentions in his page on cuttlefishes that they should not share aquariums with fishes. He is very wrong on this. Nowadays and for quite a while, it has been standard for public aquariums to house cuttles together with fishes, although tankmates must of course be selected with care

Another old fashioned aspect of the books, is the advocacy of a trap device to remove helpful bristleworms. Bristleworms vary in their feeding ecology, but the ones in our tanks are in fact very helpful scavengers. The reputation of bristleworms as harmful on the whole, is attributed to a subclade named the fireworms.

These are destructive corallivores, and furthermore their bristles are toxic to man upon contact, creating a namesake burning sensation. It's amazing how paranoid some people can be about benign reef fauna, yet advocate the use of live rock which is how they arrive.

[monaarcclinic]

Balancing Hormones Naturally: Homeopathic Solutions for PCOS Relief

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent hormonal disorder affecting millions of women globally. Characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, excess androgen levels, and polycystic ovaries, PCOS can cause various symptoms, including weight gain, acne, hirsutism (excess hair growth), and infertility. Conventional treatments often focus on symptom management with hormonal medications, but many women seek alternative therapies for a more holistic approach. Homeopathic treatment for PCOS offers a natural, individualized solution aimed at addressing the root causes of the condition and restoring hormonal balance.

Understanding Homeopathy and PCOS

Homeopathy is a system of natural medicine founded on the principle of "like cures like." This means that a substance causing symptoms in a healthy person can treat similar symptoms in a sick person when given in diluted form. Homeopathic remedies are derived from natural substances and are prepared through a process of serial dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking). This enhances the healing properties of the substances while minimizing any potential toxicity.

Homeopathic treatment for PCOS focuses on the individual's unique symptom profile, considering physical, emotional, and mental aspects. By addressing the underlying hormonal imbalances and supporting the body's natural healing mechanisms, homeopathy can offer significant relief and improve overall well-being.

Benefits of Homeopathic Treatment for PCOS

Holistic Approach: Homeopathy treats the person as a whole, rather than just addressing isolated symptoms. This ensures that the root causes of PCOS, such as hormonal imbalances and metabolic issues, are targeted, leading to more effective and lasting results.

Natural and Safe: Homeopathic remedies are made from natural substances and are free from synthetic chemicals. They are generally safe for all ages and have minimal risk of side effects, making them suitable for long-term use.

Non-Invasive: Unlike some conventional treatments that may involve surgery or invasive procedures, homeopathic remedies are non-invasive and gentle on the body.

Personalized Treatment: Homeopathy recognizes that each individual is unique, and treatments are tailored to the specific needs and symptoms of the person. This increases the likelihood of success.

Promotes Overall Health: Homeopathic remedies not only target PCOS symptoms but also enhance overall health and well-being. By addressing the root causes of health issues, homeopathy can improve multiple aspects of health simultaneously.

Common Symptoms of PCOS and Corresponding Homeopathic Remedies

Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Irregular or absent menstrual cycles are a hallmark symptom of PCOS. Homeopathy offers several remedies that can help regulate menstrual cycles and restore hormonal balance.

Pulsatilla: Recommended for women with irregular or absent periods, especially when accompanied by mood swings and a tendency to feel better in open air. Pulsatilla can help stimulate menstrual flow and regulate cycles.

Sepia: Suitable for women experiencing irregular periods, particularly when accompanied by a sensation of heaviness in the pelvic region and irritability. It helps restore hormonal balance and improve menstrual regularity.

Cimicifuga: Beneficial for women with irregular periods and severe menstrual cramps. It helps regulate menstrual cycles and alleviate pain.

Excess Androgen Levels

Elevated levels of androgens (male hormones) can lead to symptoms such as hirsutism (excess hair growth), acne, and scalp hair thinning. Homeopathic remedies can help reduce androgen levels and mitigate these symptoms.

Thuja Occidentalis: Effective for treating hirsutism and acne caused by elevated androgen levels. It helps reduce excess hair growth and improve skin condition.

Calcarea Carbonica: Suitable for women with PCOS who experience weight gain, excess hair growth, and fatigue. Calcarea Carbonica helps balance hormones and improve overall metabolic function.

Natrum Muriaticum: Beneficial for women with PCOS who experience acne, oily skin, and emotional sensitivity. It helps regulate androgen levels and improve skin health.

Weight Gain and Insulin Resistance

Weight gain and insulin resistance are common issues for women with PCOS, often exacerbating hormonal imbalances and symptoms. Homeopathic remedies can support weight management and improve insulin sensitivity.

Lycopodium Clavatum: Effective for women with PCOS who struggle with weight gain, especially around the abdomen, and experience bloating and digestive issues. It helps improve metabolism and reduce sugar cravings.

Graphites: Suitable for women with PCOS who have difficulty losing weight and experience constipation and skin issues. Graphites help regulate metabolism and improve bowel function.

Calcarea Carbonica: Beneficial for women with PCOS who experience weight gain, especially when accompanied by fatigue and cold intolerance. It helps balance hormones and support metabolic health.

Infertility

Infertility is a significant concern for many women with PCOS. Homeopathy can help improve fertility by regulating menstrual cycles, balancing hormones, and enhancing overall reproductive health.

Agnus Castus: Recommended for women with PCOS who experience low libido, irregular periods, and infertility. It helps regulate hormonal balance and improve reproductive function.

Ovarinum: Derived from ovarian tissue, this remedy is beneficial for women with PCOS who experience irregular cycles and infertility. It helps stimulate ovarian function and improve fertility.

Sabina: Suitable for women with a history of miscarriages and heavy, painful periods. It helps regulate menstrual cycles and improve reproductive health.

Supporting Homeopathic Treatment with Lifestyle Changes

While homeopathic remedies are powerful tools in managing PCOS, their effectiveness can be significantly enhanced when combined with positive lifestyle changes. Here are some additional strategies to complement your homeopathic treatment and promote overall hormonal balance:

Balanced Diet

A nutritious diet plays a crucial role in managing PCOS and supporting hormonal health. Focus on a balanced diet rich in whole foods, including:

Fruits and Vegetables: High in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health and reduce inflammation.

Lean Proteins: Include sources of lean protein such as fish, chicken, legumes, and tofu to support muscle health and metabolism.

Healthy Fats: Incorporate healthy fats from sources like avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil to support hormone production and balance.

Whole Grains: Choose whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, and oats, which provide fiber and help regulate blood sugar levels.

Limit Processed Foods and Sugars: Reduce your intake of processed foods, sugary snacks, and refined carbohydrates, which can exacerbate insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances.

Regular Exercise

Regular physical activity is essential for managing PCOS symptoms and promoting overall health. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. Activities such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, and yoga can help improve insulin sensitivity, reduce stress, and support weight management.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can worsen PCOS symptoms by affecting hormonal balance. Incorporate stress-reducing practices into your daily routine:

Meditation and Mindfulness: Practice meditation, deep breathing exercises, or mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Adequate Sleep: Ensure you get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to allow your body to repair and regenerate.

Physical Activity: Regular exercise not only benefits physical health but also helps reduce stress and improve mood.

Avoid Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with hormone function and worsen PCOS symptoms. Minimize your exposure to EDCs by:

Choosing Natural Products: Use natural, chemical-free personal care products, household cleaners, and cosmetics.

Avoiding Plastic: Reduce your use of plastic containers and bottles, especially for food and drinks. Opt for glass or stainless steel alternatives.

Eating Organic: Choose organic produce and meats to reduce your exposure to pesticides and hormones.

Homeopathic Remedies for Specific PCOS Symptoms

In addition to the remedies mentioned earlier, homeopathy offers solutions for other specific PCOS symptoms. Here are a few more remedies to consider:

Mood Swings and Emotional Distress

Mood swings, anxiety, and depression are common in women with PCOS due to hormonal imbalances. Homeopathy can help stabilize mood and improve emotional well-being.

Ignatia Amara: Beneficial for women who experience mood swings, anxiety, and emotional sensitivity. It helps stabilize mood and reduce emotional distress.

Staphysagria: Suitable for women with PCOS who feel irritable, suppressed, or have difficulty expressing emotions. It helps release pent-up emotions and promote emotional balance.

Natrum Muriaticum: Effective for women who experience sadness, introversion, and sensitivity to criticism. It helps improve mood and emotional resilience.

Acne and Skin Issues

Acne and other skin issues are common in women with PCOS due to elevated androgen levels. Homeopathic remedies can help improve skin health and reduce acne.

Sulphur: Effective for treating acne, especially when accompanied by redness, itching, and burning. It helps improve skin condition and reduce inflammation.

Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum: Suitable for women with PCOS who experience painful, pustular acne. It helps promote healing and reduce infection.

Silicea: Beneficial for women with PCOS who have cystic acne and sensitive skin. It helps clear up skin issues and improve overall skin health.

Conclusion

Homeopathic treatment for PCOS offers a natural, safe, and effective way to manage the complex symptoms of this hormonal disorder. By addressing the root causes of PCOS and promoting overall hormonal balance, homeopathy provides a comprehensive solution that can improve both physical and emotional well-being.

If you are considering homeopathic treatment for PCOS, it is essential to consult a qualified homeopathic practitioner who can assess your individual symptoms and recommend the most appropriate remedies. Combined with a healthy lifestyle, proper diet, regular exercise, and stress management, homeopathy can help you achieve and maintain hormonal balance and improve your quality of life.

Embrace the power of natural healing with homeopathic remedies for PCOS and take a step towards a healthier, more balanced you. With patience, consistency, and the right approach, you can manage PCOS symptoms effectively and enjoy a better quality of life naturally.

Transform your health with the power of homeopathy at Monaarc Clinic. Our dedicated team provides individualized care to help you achieve lasting wellness. Don’t wait—visit Monaarc Clinic now to schedule your appointment and start living your best life naturally!

[stonetilesuppliers]

What Is the Travertine Paver Pros and Cons in Sydney Australia

If you want to create a patio on your property to extend your usable space or add value to your house, travertine pavers in Sydney are worth considering as an alternative to concrete. Travertine is a type of calcareous stone used by civilizations throughout human history in a variety of ways. Today we do not need it to create homes, but it is a valuable tool for ponds, garden walkways, and many other landscaping needs.

While considering the pros and cons of travertine pavers in Sydney, the finished product's consistency has to be the first concern. Cheap pavers tend to be more porous and require additional sealing to preserve consistency. If you like the looks of this sedimentary material, you will want to think about each main point.

Pros

Travertine Pavers Respond Well To Changing Conditions

When you need pavers that are capable of handling several changing seasonal conditions, travertine is a natural material that adapts well. Because of its resistance to high temperatures, it is an ideal surface that can happen. Your patio will receive direct summer sunlight and a freezing winter chill, but it will continue to function as expected. This benefit is due to the natural composition that works either downward into the soil or released into the atmosphere to create a consistent feeling in either direction.

Gives Improved Aesthetic to the House

When used to build a patio or porch, the travertine pavers convey comfort and opulence. You can also use this product indoors to create a beautiful, functional space to improve your property. Natural styles are found in this stone because of the way it shapes that you cannot find in other natural materials. Travertine often offers a different tone of colour, even though the pavers come from the same source. The depth and dimension naturally attract the eye to the end product, allowing you to construct something functional and visually appealing simultaneously.

Travertine Is an Environmentally Friendly 

When you want travertine pavers for your deck or patio, the blocks do not go through the same manufacturing processes needed for marble and other products deemed luxurious. It gives you a perfect non-slip surface that installs with only a few modifiers immediately. This means fewer chemical exposures to the commodity, less material handling, and usually fewer fossil fuels used in the acquisition processes. If you use sealers to produce a polished appearance, this benefit applies as compared to almost any other construction material you might use for your landscaping.

Cons

Travertine Pavers Are Thicker Than Other Concrete Materials 

Unless the soil structures around your home are low, travertine pavers may not be the best option for a patio or porch. Foundational support must be adequate to cope with the extra weight this material offers. It may not even be enough to strengthen the installation with gravel and sand to neutralize the disadvantage.

For Travertine Pavers, the Color Options Are Limited

Some colour choices available for travertine pavers include earth tones and neutral colours. This drawback is present due to the way the calcium carbonate forms with the movement of the water. You can build a stunning look that matches your house, but if your blocks are all of the same bland colours, it can also feel dull and boring. Often this disadvantage can be avoided by adding a sealant that darkens the product colour. 

When looking at the overall benefits and drawbacks of travertine pavers in Sydney, the findings are usually good, unless you have poor soil systems or budget constraints that you have to handle. Consider the needs of today’s porch, patio, or pool deck to see if the ideal solution might be the natural material.

[cazort]

specifically, it's the minerals, mostly calcium, in tap water that is the problem.

rainwater isn't pure, it contains small amounts of nitrogen and sulfur compounds from gases in the atmosphere (these are acidic, think of how acid rain forms) but it doesn't contain dissolved minerals. these can only come from solid compounds on land.

tap water is taken from rivers or groundwater, and thus has dissolved minerals.

these minerals, especially calcium, buffer the pH, raising the pH to closer-to-neutral levels, which in wetlands, makes it no longer a bog.

insectivorous plants are usually only found in highly acidic wetlands.

if you want to grow wetland plants from calcareous wetlands, such as those fed by groundwater springs, you need to look for plants that grow in fens, which are mineral-rich wetlands with higher pH. these plants are often taller and more robust because the close-to-neutral pH is more hospitable to plants and more amenable to nutrient uptake. they can be watered with tap water because tap water mimics their natural water source.

I see a looot of people in plant groups asking why their carnivorous plant is dying and it almost always turns out that they thought "distilled water only" was like just a strong recommendation, something they could just play loose with. Other times they just didn't understand what that meant and assumed filtered water would be just as good, or also assumed perhaps understandably that water from any healthy, natural pond should work, but it will not. If you transplant a Venus fly trap or a sundew to just the wrong type of wetland one mile down the road, you've already killed it! Giving them tap water just once can doom them irreversibly! Distilled seriously means distilled which is a "special kind" of water, or rather it's just water that condensed from vapor by a process that excludes most minerals and nutrients! If you don't own a reverse osmosis filter (a very specific and expensive thing for plant growers, not a brita filter!!!) You can use fresh rain water in most environments, as long as it didn't hit the ground first, which could have already changed its composition. Otherwise you should be able to just buy distilled water in any store:

It's the same quality of water that collects in peat bogs, which is what triggered the evolution of carnivorous plants in the first place; low nutrient, highly acidic water, purer than what you'd find in just a lake or a river.

[tutoroot]

What are the Causes and Effects of Acid Rain? 

Acid rain is a phenomenon characterized by precipitation that contains high levels of acidic compounds, such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3). This type of precipitation includes rain, snow, sleet, or fog and occurs when pollutants, particularly sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), are emitted into the atmosphere from various human activities, including industrial processes, vehicle emissions, and the burning of fossil fuels.

Formation of Acid Rain

The formation of acid rains is explained in detailed below,

Pollutant Emissions: The primary sources of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are industrial facilities, power plants, vehicles, and agricultural activities.

Atmospheric Reactions: Once emitted, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere. They react with water vapor, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

Precipitation: These acidic compounds then combine with moisture in the atmosphere to form acid rain, which falls to the Earth’s surface as rain, snow, sleet, or fog.

Measuring Acid Rain

The acidity of rainwater, or acid rain, is measured using the pH scale. Normal rainwater has a pH value of around 5.6, slightly acidic due to dissolved carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Acid rain, however, can have pH values below 5.6, indicating higher acidity levels. The pH of acid rain is measured using pH meters or indicator strips.

Causes of Acid Rain

The main causes of acid rain are explained below,

Industrial Emissions: Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere from industrial processes, including coal combustion, oil refining, and metal smelting.

Vehicle Emissions: Automobiles, trucks, and other vehicles emit nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide as byproducts of combustion.

Fossil Fuel Combustion: The burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the air.

Natural Sources: Volcanic eruptions and wildfires can also contribute to the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.

Effects of Acid Rain

The major effects of acid rains are explained below,

Environmental Damage: Acid rain can harm forests, lakes, rivers, and aquatic ecosystems by leaching essential nutrients from the soil, damaging plant foliage, and disrupting aquatic habitats.

Structural Damage: Acid rain can corrode and deteriorate buildings, monuments, statues, and other structures made of limestone, marble, and other calcareous materials.

Air and Water Pollution: Acid rain contributes to air and water pollution by releasing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants into the atmosphere and water bodies.

Soil Degradation: Acid rain can lower the pH of soil, making it more acidic and less conducive to plant growth, leading to soil degradation and loss of agricultural productivity.

Prevention of Acid Rain

Preventing acid rain necessitates a multi-faceted approach. Effective methods include reducing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions through stricter industrial regulations, cleaner energy sources, and improved vehicle emissions standards. Technologies like scrubbers on power plant smokestacks can also help remove pollutants before release.

Addressing acid rain is crucial for preserving our environment. Implementing stricter regulations, promoting cleaner energy sources, and raising awareness are essential steps toward minimizing the impact of acid rain and safeguarding our planet for future generations. Collective efforts from governments, industries, and individuals are necessary to achieve a cleaner, healthier planet by reducing the occurrence of acid rain and its detrimental effects.

Ready to effortlessly understand challenging concepts, as shown above? Dive into our Tutoroot Blog section for simplified learning. Enhance your comprehension of subjects and have your questions answered with Tutoroot’s online tutoring. Discover the benefits of Tutoroot online home tuition by scheduling a FREE DEMO session today.