Fitness spaces and their potential for visualizing change in the physical landscape

The use of the metaphors of general fitness and N-K spaces can assist in the understanding of the development of the physical landscape. Different modes of change can be viewed as different types of movement in, and distortions of, these phase spaces. Visualized in this manner landscape change can be viewed as both channelized, constrained and random.     

Cation ordering in omphacite and effect on deformation mechanism and lattice preferred orientation (LPO)

We present microstructural data and lattice preferred orientations (LPOs) of omphacites from a suite of eclogites, from the Adula/Cima Lunga nappe (Central Alps). Our work shows a surprisingly strong correlation between the measured LPO and the ordering state of cations in omphacite. Estimates of deformation temperature from metamorphic petrology, together with measured omphacite compositions and LPOs, determine the field (ordering state), on the omphacite phase diagram, into which each sample falls. LPOs dominated by L-type and S-type signatures are developed in samples that fall in the P2/n field (ordered structure) and C2/c field (disordered structure), respectively.Dislocations with b=1/2−110 or b=[001] are observed in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) in all samples. The former change from a perfect dislocation in the C2/c structure to a partial in P2/n. Any movement of a partial dislocation requires the formation or growth of a stacking fault. Furthermore, in order to pass an obstacle a partial dislocation has to constrict to a unit dislocation. The energy to form a constriction is high in omphacite due to the large separation width. Thus, the activity of the b=1/2−110 dislocation is hindered in the P2/n structure relative to the C2/c structure, which change the balance between the two and might give rise to the different LPOs.     

Bianchi Type-III String Cosmological Model with Bulk Viscous Fluid in General Relativity

A Bianchi type-III string cosmological model with bulk viscous fluid for massive string is investigated. To get a determinate solution, a supplementary condition B=C ⁿ, between metric potentials, is used whereB and C are function of time alone. The behaviour of the model in presence and absence of bulk viscosity, is discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A multi-site campaign on the long period variable subdwarf b star PG 1627+017

We report on the outcome of the first major multi-site campaign on a long-period variable subdwarf B star. The target PG 1627+017 was observed for a total of 334 h during April/May/June 2003 from the lynchpin observatory at Mt. Bigelow, Arizona, with important contributions coming from co-observations at SAAO, Calar Alto and Siding Spring. Preliminary analysis indicates the presence of 8–10 probable periods in the range ～4500 to ～8900 s with relative amplitudes between 0.1 and 0.5%;. The range over which the periods are found is in qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions and the number of periods found shows potential for an in-depth asteroseismological analysis. Multi-colour observations show that the relative amplitudes of pulsation are larger in the U-band than in the R, which again is in agreement with theory. However, more multi-colour observations are needed to be able to make statements at the quantitative level.     

Stakeholder Perceptions of Coastal Habitat Ecosystem Services

The goal of the current study was to document local stakeholder perceptions of ecosystem services provided by coastal habitats and to incorporate values of ecosystem services into an ecosystem-based management plan. A second goal was to identify and quantify ecosystem service supply at the local level, which is a knowledge gap identified by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Ecosystem services were quantified as stakeholder perceptions of values. To identify local stakeholder perceptions of coastal habitat ecosystem services, a workshop was conducted at which stakeholders were asked to complete surveys. Data from the surveys were used to create a spatial representation of the number of ecosystem services provided by habitats in the form of a heat map. Results of the study were incorporated into an ecosystem-based management plan to enable stakeholders and managers to make better-informed decisions regarding priority areas for conservation, preservation, and restoration. The methods used in this study can be expanded to develop future ecosystem-based management plans.