Patterns in the local assembly of Egyptian rodent faunas: Co-occurrence and nestedness

We studied co-occurrence patterns of 29 rodents across 308 sites in Egypt to evaluate spatial variation and non-randomness in community assembly (co-occurrence and nestedness). There was strong evidence for negative species association in the entire fauna. Negative associations can be traced to habitat segregation among species, the discreteness of habitats, low species richness at local assemblages due to aridity and low primary productivity, and allopatry of sibling species. Nevertheless, high degree of nestedness characterizes the entire collection, as tested by BINMATNEST and Aninhado. Species ranks in the packed matrix were significantly correlated with incidence, total abundance, number of coexisting species, total number of species combinations, and range size. Analyses of the assemblages by region and sampling intensity using Aninhado simulations confirmed the nestedness for the whole fauna and showed little or no nested structure in species incidences.Egyptian rodent faunas appear to be structured by a dynamic interplay of biotic and abiotic factors operating on distinct sets of species with shared habitat preferences and requirements. Local assembly patterns may result from interspecific interactions coupled with aridity and low productivity, habitat requirements, and historical factors. The harsh conditions of these arid regions led to the prevalence of species exclusion.     

Petrology,geochemistry, radioactivity,and M–W type rare earth element tetrads of El Sela altered granites,south eastern desert,Egypt

Acta Geochimica - The southern part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt—about 30 km southwest of Abu-Ramad city—is mainly covered by ophiolitic rocks (Sul Hamed), island arc...     

Chitosan – A Sizing Agent in Fabric Production – Development and Ecological Evaluation

Chitosan, a natural polymer, was investigated as a possible sizing agent in fabric production by appropriate modification in the textile industry. Based on recipe developments at a laboratory‐scale, the ecological and economical potential of mainly cotton yarns were demonstrated and developed. Subsequent tests within the scope of industrial production confirmed the findings of the basic developments. As an interesting alternative to the conventional sizing process involving the removal of the size after weaving, the use of appropriate processing technologies makes it possible to apply chitosan in the form of a sizing agent resistant to wash‐out processes. Therefore, the wash‐out process and the combined wastewater loading can be avoided and the properties of chitosan can be used beneficially in the later applications of the fabric. The traditional method of sizing and weaving developments as well as the analyses of material recycling showed the possibilities of using closed circuits in textile production involving sizing agent and water. It is possible that a chitosan‐specific enzyme suitable for production conditions, which facilitates the wash‐out process in combination with the biodegradation of the wastewater in a sewage plant, could be developed.     

Experimental investigation of runoff reduction and sediment removal by vegetated filter strips

The impact of vegetated filter strips (VFS) on sediment removal from runoff has been studied extensively in recent years. Vegetation is believed to increase water infiltration and decrease water turbulence thus enhancing sediment deposition within filter media. In the study reported here, field experiments have been conducted to examine the efficiency of vegetated filter strips for sediment removal from cropland runoff. Twenty filters with varying length, slope and vegetated cover were used under simulated runoff conditions with an average sediment concentration of 2700 mg/L. The filters were 2, 5, 10 and 15 m long with a slope of 2·3 and 5% and three types of vegetation. Three other strips with bare soil were used as a control. The experimental results showed that the average sediment trapping efficiency of all filters was 84% and ranging from 68% in a 2‐m filter to as high as 98% in a 15‐m long filter compared with only 25% for the control. The length of filter has been found to be the predominant factor affecting sediment deposition in VFS up to 10 m. Increasing filter length to 15 m did not improve sediment trapping efficiency under the present experimental conditions. The rate of incoming flow and vegetation cover percentage has a secondary effect on sediment deposition in VFS. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Validation of a vegetated filter strip model (VFSMOD)

Vegetated filter strips (VFS) are designed to reduce sediment load and other pollutants into water bodies. However, adaptation of VFS in the field has been limited owing to lack of data about their efficiency and performance under natural field conditions. A number of models are available that simulate sediment transport and trapping in VFS, but there is a general lack of confidence in VFS models owing to limited validation studies and model limitations that prevent correct application of these models under field conditions. The objective of this study is to test and validate a process‐based model (VFSMOD) that simulates sediment trapping in VFS. This model links three submodels: modified Green–Ampt's infiltration, Quadratic overland flow submodel based on kinematic wave approximation and University of Kentucky sediment filtration model. A total of 20 VFS, 2, 5, 10 and 15 m long and with various vegetation covers, were tested under simulated sediment and runoff conditions. The results of these field experiments were used to validate the VFS model. The model requires 25 input parameters distributed over five input files. All input parameters were either measured or calculated using experimental data. The observed sediment trapping efficiencies varied from 65% in the 2‐m long VFS to 92% in the 10‐m long filters. No increase in sediment removal efficiency was observed at higher VFS length. Application of the VFS model to experimental data was satisfactory under the condition that actual flow widths are used in the model instead of the total filter width. Predicted and observed sediment trapping efficiencies and infiltration volume fitted very well, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0·9 and 0·95, respectively. Regression analyses revealed that the slope and intercept of the regression lines between predicted versus observed infiltration volume and trapping efficiency were not significantly different than the line of perfect agreement with a slope of 1·0 and intercept of 0·0. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochemistry,provenance, and metamorphic evolution of Gabal Samra Neoproterozoic metapelites,Sinai, Egypt

Metapelites are exposed at Wadi Ba’ba, east of Abu Zenima city; represent the northwestern extension of the Fieran-Solaf Metamorphic Complex, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. The metapelites are characterized by qtz + pl (An_24–28) + bt + grt ± crd ± sil mineral assemblage, indicating upper amphibolite facies with peak metamorphic conditions of 700 °C and pressures of 7 kbar, as determined by conventional geothermobarometeric methods. This resulted in incipient migmatization, forms patches of leucosomes and melanosomes. Geochemical investigation indicates that the precursor sediments of the metapelites had been deposited as immature Fe-rich shales from source materials of dominantly intermediate composition. Source area exhibited weak to moderate chemical weathering in a tectonically active continental marginal basin within a continental-arc system. A strong shallow-dipping foliation, characterizing the metapelites, was folded around an open antiform with sub-horizontal south plunging hinge.Phase equilibria calculations in the KFMASH system indicate that the peak metamorphic conditions formed at 730–750 °C and 6.8–7.9 kbar. This was followed by a retrogression formed at 770–785 °C and 3.9–4.5 kbar. Hence, this implies an isothermal decompression and rapid exhumation of the metapelites from depth (25–29 km) in the lower crustal level at peak conditions, continuous to include shallow to middle crustal level (14–17 km), at overprint retrograde conditions. Subsequent isobaric cooling took place at 720–750 °C and 3.6–4.5 kbar. The resulting isothermal decompression followed by isobaric cooling clockwise P–T path of the metapelites is more likely, in which the high-temperatures attained maximum conditions during isothermal decompression were enhanced by heat flux, due to the presence of an active magmatic arc that formed on top of subducting young lithosphere. This is supported by a moderate geothermal gradient of 27–43 °C/km and dating compatibility of the Sinai granitoids and the metamorphic complexes. The P–T path segment records the tectonothermal histories of crustal thickening as a result of the East and West Gondwana collision at the metamorphic peak. This was subsequent by extensional and crustal thinning with syn-metamorphic magmatic intrusions, during P–T path retrogression, which resulted in the final assembly of the Arabian–Nubian Shield during Neoproterozoic.     

Machine Learning Approach to Predict Sediment Load – A Case Study

In this study, a novel machine learning technique called the support vector machine (SVM) method is proposed as a new predictive model to predict sediment loads in three Malaysian rivers. The SVM is employed without any restriction to an extensive database compiled from measurements in the Muda, Langat, and Kurau rivers. The SVM technique demonstrated a superior performance compared to other traditional sediment‐load methods. The coefficient of determination, 0.958, and the mean square error, 0.0698, of the SVM method are higher than those of the traditional method. The performance of the SVM method demonstrates its predictive capability and the possibility of the generalization of the model to nonlinear problems for river engineering applications.     

The active Kalabsha Fault Zone in Southern Egypt: detecting faulting activity using field-structural data and EMR-technique,and implications for seismic hazard assessment

Since November 14, 1981 earthquake (ML 5.6), about 60 km southwest of Aswan High Dam, the seismic hazard raised and the Aswan Local Seismic Network (ALSN) has recorded and precisely monitored the seismic activity in the vicinity of the High Dam. The major source of seismic activity in this region is the active Kalabsha Fault Zone (KFZ). The focal mechanism solutions indicate that two nodal planes strike E to ENE, with subordinate right-lateral strike-slip component and N to NNW, with left-lateral movement. The directions of tectonic extension (T) and compression (P) are NNE-SSW and NNW-SSE, respectively. Structural investigations and application of the Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) technique reveal ongoing activity on the KFZ. Kinematic evolution of the KFZ implies faulting events with a strong movement intervened with periods of severe crushing, grinding, and even pulverization. Such tectonic processes have resulted in fault-breccia and fault-gouge. Results obtained from the present study indicate that the KFZ is not a single transcurrent wrench fault with dextral sense of movement but, instead, it represents a major dextral transtensional shear or fault zone deforming southern Egypt and plays a significant role in the structural shaping of the area to the west of Nasser Lake. Furthermore, the activity on the KFZ is most probably controlling the seismic cycle in the area. Topographic expression of KFZ is evidently realized at Sinn El-Kaddab scarp, as well as at Gebel Marawa. Frequent surface rupturing and newly recorded strong seismic activity advocate faulting reactivation supported by the EMR data, which suggest an active fault system oriented ENE-WSW and NNW-SSE affecting the KFZ, with a maximum horizontal stress (σ1) perturbing between ENE and NNW directions.