Spatial considerations when monitoring reef fishes

Spatial dependence can obscure relationships between response and explanatory variables because of structuring within the residuals reducing variance and biasing coefficient estimates. Here, we highlight the influence of the spatial component, in the presence of spatial dependence, on abundance trends. This is illustrated using abundance data for a Critically Endangered reef fish, dageraad Chrysoblephus cristiceps, which were obtained from a long-term monitoring programme in the Tsitsikamma National Park marine protected area, South Africa. Correlograms illustrate distinct spatial structuring in the abundance data, and spatial variables were determined as more important than temporal variables when ranked according to predictive power using a random forest analysis. A generalised additive model (GAM) that did not account for spatial dependencies was compared to a generalised additive mixed model (GAMM) that incorporated a spatial residual correlation structure. Results derived from the spatially explicit GAMM differed considerably from the GAM lacking a spatial component, with the latter deemed to produce over-precise and partially biased abundance trends. The study emphasises the importance of space in accurately modelling abundance estimates, particularly temporal trends, and provides an introduction to the minimal statistical requirements necessary to address the violations associated with spatial autocorrelation.     

Citation analysis for the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

This paper presents the results of a 2008 citation-analysis study that was undertaken for the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its associated instruments. The overall objective of this study was to contribute towards a strategy for improved dissemination, awareness raising and communication about the Code and its implementation. For each citation, additional information was collected to identify patterns by year, topic, author affiliation or type of literature. Results support previously suggested anecdotal patterns, in particular related to the diversity of publishing outlets and the high proportion of fisheries information published as grey literature. The results also point to areas of concern for long-term preservation and dissemination of fisheries information.     

Richtmyer–Meshkov Instability Reshock Experiments Using Laser-Driven Double-Cylinder Implosions

As a shock travels through the interface between substances of different densities, existing perturbations can grow via the Richtmyer–Meshkov (RM) instability. The study of the RM instability in a convergent geometry leads to a better understanding of implosions applicable to inertial confinement fusion and various astrophysical events, such as core-collapse supernovae. We present results of laser-driven double-cylinder implosions performed at the Omega laser facility with an emphasis on sending a second shock through an already shocked RM unstable interface. The uniform reshock of a cylindrical interface is achieved by inserting a second cylinder inside the first that reflects the inwardly traveling shock and causes it to interact a second time with the unstable interface. We present an analysis of the instability growth as a function of shock strength and zero-order perturbation behavior during reshock.     

Interpolation of unit vectors

Summary. Time series of unit vectors occur in geophysics as palaeomagnetic poles or poles of relative motion in plate tectonics, and it is often required to trace a smooth curve through the individual points. A simple method is given for interpolating such time series based on cubic splines. The curve obtained is smooth (e.g. possesses continuous curvature) and does not depend on the choice of coordinate axes. An extension with the same desirable properties is given for the case where the given data are inexact.