Crustacean decapod assemblages associated with fragmented Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea): composition,temporal dynamics and influence of meadow structure

The decapod assemblage associated with a Posidonia oceanica meadow located near its western limit of biogeographic distribution was studied over an annual cycle. Fauna samples were taken seasonally over a year (five replicates per season) in two sites located 7 km apart, using a non‐destructive sampling method (airlift sampler) for the seagrass. The dominant species of the assemblage, Pisidia longimana, Pilumnus hirtellus and Athanas nitescens, were associated with the protective rhizome stratum, which is mainly used as a nursery. The correlations between decapod assemblage structure and some phenological parameters of the seagrass shoots and wave height were negative or null, which reflects that species associated with the rhizome had a higher importance than those associated with the leaf stratum. The abundance and composition of the decapod assemblage as well as the ecological indexes displayed a seasonality trend with maximum values in summer‐autumn and minimum in winter‐spring, which were related to the seawater temperature and the recruitment periods of the dominant species. The spatial differences found in the structure and dynamics of the assemblages may be due to variations in the recruitment of the dominant species, probably as a result of the influence of local factors (e.g. temperature, currents) and the high dispersal ability of decapods, together with the patchy configuration and the surrounding habitats. The studied meadows are fragmented and are integrated within a mosaic of habitats (Cymodocea nodosa patches, algal meadows, rocky and sandy bottoms), which promotes the movement of individuals and species among them, maintaining a high species richness and evenness.     

Climatic constraints for the maize-soybean system in the humid subtropical region of Argentina

The implementation of two summer crops in the same growing season is a possible alternative for land intensification in areas with a long frost-free period. The aim of this study was to analyse the strategy of land intensification through the implementation of the maize-soybean succession at two locations (Reconquista, 29°09′S 59°40′W and Las Breñas, 27°05′S 61°5′W) of the humid subtropical region of Argentina. CERES-Maize and CROPGRO-Soybean models were used to evaluate the impact of inter-annual variability of climate (36 years) of both locations on rain-fed grain yields of the following productive alternatives: (i) monoculture of maize, (ii) monoculture of soybean and (iii) the succession of a short-cycle maize followed by soybean as the second summer crop (maize-soybean system). The maize-soybean system was evaluated by the method of land equivalent ratio (LER), based on the sum of the relative grain yields of its components. The impact of the inter-annual variability of climate and of “El Niño” or “La Niña” episodes (El Niño Southern Oscillation phenomenon (ENSO)) on LER values was analysed. Simulated yields of maize monoculture (5687 kg ha^?1; CV = 49.7% and 5637 kg ha^?1; CV = 57.6% at Reconquista and Las Breñas, respectively) were higher than those of the short-cycle maize, especially at Las Breñas (5448 kg ha^?1; CV = 49.3% and 2322 kg ha^?1; CV = 33.9% at Reconquista and Las Breñas, respectively). Simulated yields of the soybean monoculture were higher (3588 kg ha^?1; CV = 26.1% and 2883 kg ha^?1; CV = 20.7% at Reconquista and Las Breñas, respectively) that those of the soybean as the second crop (2634 kg ha^?1; CV = 38.1% and 2456 kg ha^?1; CV = 32.9% at Reconquista and Las Breñas, respectively) at both locations. Average LERs were 1.69 (CV = 11.4%) at Reconquista and 1.41 (CV = 26.1%) at Las Breñas, and the inter-annual variability of LER was mainly determined by grain yields of (i) soybean as the second crop at Reconquista and (ii) maize monoculture at Las Breñas. Soil water content after maize harvest and rainfalls during reproductive period of soybean as the second crop conditioned LER values, but they were generally greater than 1. At Reconquista, LER values were not affected by the different episodes of ENSO phenomenon. By contrast, at Las Breñas, LER values were higher during La Niña episodes (1.48; CV = 26.6%) than during El Niño episodes (1.32; CV = 23.7%) mainly by their effects on grain yields of maize monoculture. Therefore, crop simulation models demonstrate the possibility to intensify land use (40–70%) at two locations of the humid subtropical region of Argentina, by the implementation of the maize-soybean system.     

Ein impulsoptisches Transmissometer für Registrierung der Normsichtweite zwischen etwa 40m und ∞ (Videograph)

Zusammenfassung Das impulsoptische Signalübertragungsprinzip mit Funkenlicht als Sender und einem photoelektrischen Impulsempfänger wurde als Transmissometer ausgeführt. Mittels unterkritischem Betrieb der Funkenstrecke unterliegt der Sender keinen störenden Intensitätsschwankungen. Der Meßbereich der Extinktion beträgt 110⁵, entsprechend etwa 40 m bis Normsichtweite. Das Gerät ist klimafest für Flugplatzbelange ausgebildet und benötigt zum Schreiber hin nur Telephonkabel.

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Summary A transmission-measuring apparatus was constructed on the principle of transmitting impulse-optic signals by means of spark light as transmitter and a photo-electric cell as impulse receiver. The transmitter shows no disturbing variations of intensity if the spark gap is operated under the critical value. The measuring range of extinction amounts to 110⁵ corresponding to a normal range of visibility from about 40 m to infinite. The apparatus is designed for airports. A simple telephon cable serves as conection with the recording system.

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Résumé Le procédé à impulsions lumineuses reçues par une cellule photoélectrique a été developpé sous forme d'appareil à transmission. L'emeteur fonctionnant sous longueur sous-critique des étincelles n'éprouve pas de variations gênantes d'intensité. Le domaine de mesure de l'extinction est de 110⁵, correspondant à une portée comprise entre 40 m. et l'infini. L'appareil, à l'abri des intempéries, se prête à l'emploi sur les aérodromes; la liaison avec l'enregistreur se fait à l'aide d'un simple câble téléphonique.

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The influence of land use/land cover variability and rainfall intensity in triggering landslides: a back-analysis study via physically based models

Natural Hazards - The objective of this study was to use physically based models to carry out a back-analysis of the set of factors that may have influenced slope instability and the consequent...     

Timing of low-temperature metamorphism and cooling of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations of the Bükkium,innermost Western Carpathians,Hungary

K-Ar ages of illite-muscovite and fission track ages of zircon and apatite were determined from various lithotypes of the Bükkium, which forms the innermost segment of the Western Carpathians. The stratigraphic ages of these Dinaric type formations cover a wide range from the Late Ordovician up to the Late Jurassic. The grade of the orogenic dynamo-thermal metamorphism varies from the late diagenetic zone through the anchizone up to the epizone (chlorite, maximally biotite isograd of the greenschist facies). The K-Ar system of the illite-muscovite in the < 2 m grain-size fraction approached equilibrium only in epizonal and high-temperature anchizonal conditions. The orogenic metamorphism culminated between the eo-Hellenic (160-120 Ma) phase connected to the beginning of the subduction in the Dinarides, and the Austrian (100-95 Ma) phase characterized by compressional crustal thickening. No isotope geochronological evidence was found for proving any Hercynian recrystallization. The stability field of fission tracks in zircon was approached using the thermal histories of the different tectonic units. A temperature less than 250°C and effective heating time of 20–30 Ma had only negligible effects on the tracks, whereas total annealing was reached between 250 and 300°C. Apatite fission track ages from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations show that the uplift of the Bükk Mountains occurred only in the Tertiary (not earlier than ca. 40 Ma ago). Thermal modeling based on apatite fission track length spectra and preserved Paleogene sediment thickness data proved that the Late Neogene burial of the recently exhumed plateau of the Bükk Mountains exceeded 1 km.     

In two waters: contemporary evolution of lagoonal and marine white seabream (Diplodus sargus) populations

Brackish water ecosystems are often exposed to wide variations in environmental variables, including temperature and salinity, which may cause strong selective pressures on organisms modifying the genetic patterns of species. The aim of this work was to test whether there is a ‘divergence-with-gene flow’ in coastal lagoon populations of white seabream (Diplodus sargus) (Ria Formosa, S Portugal and Mar Menor, SE Spain) respect to four marine populations, by using partial sequences of cyt b mitochondrial gene and information from nine microsatellite loci. Genetic diversity was highest in both coastal lagoons (Mar Menor and Ria Formosa) considering mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Although some of F_ST population pairwise comparisons were not significant, analyses of molecular variance (AMOVAs) detected differences between groups (coastal lagoon and marine) close to significance. Also, only two haplotypes (Cytb-17 and Cytb-18) were detected in both coastal lagoon sampling sites and these localities (Mar Menor and Ria Formosa) showed the highest number of singletons, some of them with a high number of mutations, as has been already described for other Mar Menor populations (Pomatochistus marmoratus and Holothuria polii). Also, several tests detected significant positive and balancing selection considering mtDNA and microsatellite data. These data support the hypothesis of selection as one of the drivers of the genetic differences found between coastal lagoon and marine populations. The life strategy adopted by Diplodus sargus in coastal lagoons allows it to decrease its mortality rate and improve the heritability of its genes. Also, the increase time spent in coastal lagoons with different temperatures and salinities favours the fitness selection and the maintenance of exclusive haplotypes and genotypes in coastal lagoon inhabitants favouring the ‘divergence-with-gene-flow’.     

Volunteered geographic information systems: Technological design patterns

Volunteered geographic information (VGI) has been studied extensively within various contexts, however, generally focusing on isolated aspects of data. Therefore, we still need to advance the structured knowledge of the mechanisms that affect and support its creation. This article aims to contribute to the integrated study of VGI systems (VGIS) in order to enhance design processes that lead to a more systematic and efficient VGI management. We define VGIS, their main components, and general architectures. Then, we use the service blueprinting technique to conduct the case study of several systems, identifying system actions to find the processes and technologies forming the different functional components of VGIS: elements of the technological infrastructure that implement diverse processes to facilitate participation and data management. Integrated in the data collection component, we also propose a typology of crowdsourcing tasks that—coupled with the functional components—establishes a foundation for VGIS research and design. We characterize these components, arguing that they are necessary in the development of VGIS, however, there is still a need for a more detailed study of the flow of processes and subprocesses and how they work under the criteria of different types of projects to continue facilitating their design.     

Towards an Integrated Model of Interoperability for Spatial Data Infrastructures

Although there is a vast literature available on interoperability models, and their respective interoperability levels, limited research has been carried out on the development of interoperability models for the implementation of Spatial Data Infrastructures. This article demonstrates the important role of metadata elements in the formalisation of interoperability models for the implementation of Spatial Data Infrastructures. It describes an approach for designing an integrated interoperability model based on the definition of a common template that integrates seven interoperability levels. They are: technical, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, dynamic, conceptual and organisational levels. A non-hierarchical structure is proposed to ensure the relationship among these interoperability levels.     

Galileo Constellation Design

A significant effort has been carried out in Europe to define the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), named Galileo Satellites flying in Medium Earth Orbits (MEO) will compose the system (according to the most recent architecture definition baseline); a regional complement of geosynchronous satellites may be required to increase performances over Europe and maybe also to provide some specific communication services. Nominal medium performances are envisaged, but they will be increased by means of augmentation systems (local or wide area), or even by using simultaneously other GNSSs such as GPS. All the involved requirements make the design process quite complex. A powerful software tool, Elcano, has been developed for this purpose; its capabilities will be outlined, and the results of the design process will be presented. ? 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.