Comment on Rust et al.: Human–Carnivore Conflict in Namibia Is Not Simply About Black and White

Carnivore conservationists agree that addressing the socioeconomic needs of people is critical to human-carnivore conflict mitigation. We therefore welcome studies that encompass complex social and cultural factors that affect the severity of human-carnivore conflict on Namibian farmlands. However, we contend that the recent study by Rust et al. (2016 Rust, N. A., J. Tzanopoulos, T. Humle, and D. C. MacMillan. 2016. Why has human–carnivore conflict not been resolved in Namibia? Society &; Natural Resources 29 (9):1079–94. doi:10.1080/08941920.2016.1150544[Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) was poorly designed, used inappropriate sampling methods, lacked quantitative information on their qualitative results, and ultimately produced unsupported conclusions about the role of historic apartheid and current racism in exacerbating human-carnivore conflict in Namibia. We outline our concerns regarding the methods used, and demonstrate that the conclusions drawn by Rust et al. were not supported by their data.     

Comparison of polynomial models for land surface curvature calculation

Curvature is a fundamental surface property whose application, for example in geomorphology and hydrology, has long been recognised. Its measurement from Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) has received less attention than that of slope, and there is even disagreement about which definitions of curvature are most applicable. Here these problems are related to semantic problems in the definition of the land surface, and three distinct algorithms for the three main gravity-related components of curvature are compared for both artificial and real surfaces. Quadratic-based algorithms are shown to give more stable results. Higher-order local surfaces (e.g. partial quartic) can fit more complex landform features, but are reliable only for very accurate data.     

Kohlendioxid-Messungen in einem Durchfluß-Meßsystem mit einem neu entwickelten CO2-Sensor am Beispiel eines Hartwassersees (Willersinnweiher, Ludwigshafen am Rhein)

The concentrations of free dissolved carbon dioxide in lake water were measured with a newly developed CO₂ sensor, which was installed in a through-flow measurement system. The results of measurements demonstrate the CO₂ dynamics in lake Willersinnweiher. The CO₂ concentrations showed a correlation with the oxidation of CH₄ in the metalimnion and caused shifts in the carbonate system, thus affecting the autochthonous precipitation and dissolution of calcite.

From the results of measurement appears that the CO₂ sensor is capable of very exact measurements of dissolved free CO₂ in lake water. At the same time, the parameter is easily determined in the field without large expenditures.     

Gis-aided land evaluation and decision-making for regulating urban expansion: A South African case study

A computerised aid to the land use planning process is demonstrated on the urban edge of Cape Town, South Africa. Multi-criteria analysis is performed in the IDRISI GIS package to evaluate development suitability for four land use categories according to appropriately measured and weighted criteria. The four suitability images are then subjected to multi-objective land allocation to demarcate optimum locations for each land use type. The decision-making process entails execution of seven consecutive steps which are discussed in detail and applied in the case study. Technical decisions are rationalised and results displayed. The paper concludes with a call for the development of applications which can incorporate public participation in this type of decision-making process to ensure the wider acceptance of advanced GIS technology as appropriate technology.     

Eclogite-facies vein systems in the Marun-Keu complex (Polar Urals,Russia): textural,chemical and thermal constraints for patterns of fluid flow in the lower crust

Metasomatic amphibole-eclogite sequences grew in selvages of quartz veins from the Marun-Keu complex (Polar Urals, Russia) during high-pressure metamorphism. Relicts of a pre-metasomatic eclogite-facies assemblage are present in the wallrock layers as irregular patches. Wallrock interstitial quartz trails lying at a high angle to reaction fronts provide evidence for grain-scale pore channelisation which may be produced by intergranular-fluid compositional gradients parallel to the quartz trails. Disequilibrium at vein-wallrock scale is inferred from wallrock mineral heterogeneity and from variable initial Sr isotope ratios in mineral separates. Mass-balance calculations between relicts and wallrock assemblages reveal chemical imbalances caused by open system-behaviour with two way mass-transfer. The vein-wallrock system registers a prograde history from 408–434 °C (relicts) to 526–668 °C (vein precipitates). Vein and metasomatic assemblages formed during a single fluid-rock interaction process, implying high heating rates (100 °C/Ma), which could result from heat advection by large-scale fluid circulation.Editorial responsibility: W. Schreyer     

History of anthropogenic nitrogen input to the German Bight/SE North Sea as reflected by nitrogen isotopes in surface sediments,sediment cores and hindcast models

The German Bight/SE North Sea is considered a hot-spot of river-induced eutrophication, but the scarce observational data of river nitrate loads prior to the 1970s complicate the assessment of target conditions for environmental management and legislation. Stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N) in sediment records can be used to decipher historical river nitrate contributions. To better constrain pre-1970s conditions, we determined δ¹⁵N in archive sediment samples (1950–1969) and dated cores from the Helgoland depositional area. We also modeled the δ¹⁵N in past situations (1960 and 1860) using an N-isotope-tracking ecosystem model. The modeled spatial distribution of δ¹⁵N in sediments for 1960 conditions and the observed spatial pattern of δ¹⁵N in archive sediment samples (1950–1969) represent a period of moderate eutrophication. The modeled spatial distribution of δ¹⁵N in sediments for 1860 conditions (pre-industrial) showed a moderate δ¹⁵N gradient from the Elbe river mouth (δ¹⁵N<4‰) to the open sea (δ¹⁵N∼5‰). This pattern contrasts with the δ¹⁵N pattern in modern surface sediments, which exhibits a steep and inverted δ¹⁵N gradient from the Elbe river mouth (δ¹⁵N>9‰) to the open sea (δ¹⁵N<7‰). Modeled δ¹⁵N for 1860 conditions are consistent with δ¹⁵N values observed in dated sediment cores that span the last 900 years. Value of δ¹⁵N in sediment cores increased from approximately 1860 to 2000 by 2.5‰. The increasing trend reflects changes in the abundance and isotopic composition of riverine nitrate loads caused by anthropogenic activities. Sensitivity tests suggest that loads and isotopic ratios of nitrogen forms other than nitrate (ammonium and organic nitrogen) have minor impact on the modeled surface sediments, despite their higher abundance in the riverborne loads in the past. Our results suggest that eutrophication of the German Bight predates the 1960 period of documented rapidly increasing river loads. Pre-industrial levels of δ¹⁵N modeled with 28% of the modern annual (1990–1999) atmospheric loads and 10% of the modern annual river loads agree best with levels of δ¹⁵N (∼6‰) observed in sediments of the cores dated to 1860.     

Calcmylonites and solution transfer in a Devonian reef at Warstein,Germany

Massive limestone complexes of Late Palaeozoic age are scattered across the allochthonous foreland of the Hercynides in Germany. One of these complexes is situated at Warstein. Stratigraphic facies studies have represented the Warstein complex as a reef in a coastal shelf. Our study emphasizes that at least part of the reef consists of a pile of calcmylonites.The calcmylonites have a strong foliation (S_m) and lineation (L_m) and a structural asymmetry indicating non-coaxial deformation. X-ray textures and calcite microstructures show that the mylonitization involved intracrystalline deformation and dynamic recrystallization. These processes competed with solution transfer, as the mylonites are corroded at S_m-parallel stylolites and contain carbonate veins. Cathodoluminescopy shows that some veins are parallel to S_m and have been recrystallized, whereas others are normal to S_m and retain a fibrous crackseal microstructure. The latter type created limestones showing a pair of preferred grain boundary orientations; one normal to S_m, one in S_m. This orthogonal boundary fabric is distinct from crystalplastic fabrics: the latter show only one preferred grain boundary orientation (in S_m).

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Zusammenfassung Massenkalkkomplexe spätpaläozoischen Alters liegen verstreut über das allochthone Vorland des Variszischen Gebirges in Deutschland. Einer dieser Komplexe liegt bei Warstein. Stratigraphische Faziesstudien haben den Warsteiner Komplex als ein Riff in einem küstennahen Schelf dargestellt. Die vorliegende Arbeit betont, daß wenigstens ein Teil des Riffes aus einer Stapelung von Kalkmyloniten besteht.Die Kalkmylonite haben eine starke Foliation (S_m) und Lineation (L_m), und eine strukturelle Asymmetrie die auf nicht-koaxiale Verformung hinweist. Röntgentexturen und Calcitmikrostrukturen zeigen, daß die Mylonitisierung intrakristalline Verformung und dynamische Rekristallisation beinhaltet. Diese Prozesse müssen mit Lösungstransport konkurriert haben, da die Mylonite an S_m-parallelen Styloliten korrodiert sind und Karbonatgänge erhalten. Kathodolumineskopie zeigt, daß einige Gänge (parallel zu S_m) rekristallisiert sind, während andere (senkrecht zu S_m) eine faserige crack-seal Mikro-Struktur enthalten. Der letzte Typ ist verbunden mit Konformgefügen. Diese unterscheiden sich von kristallplastischen Kornformgefügen, da sie eine zweite bevorzugte Korngrenzorientierung aufweisen, die senkrecht zur ersten (in S_m) einfällt.

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Résumé Les complexes de calcaires massifs de l'Âge paléozoîque supérieure sont repandus sur l'avantpays allochthone des Hercynides en Allemagne. Un de ces complexes est situé à Warstein. Les Études de faciès stratigraphiques ont répresenté le complexe à Warstein comme un Récif littoral. Notre étude montre que au moins partie de ce «Récif» consiste en un empilement des calcmylonites.Les calcmylonites ont une foliation (S_m) et linéation (L_m) fort, et une asymmetrie structurale indiquant de la déformation non-coaxiale. Les textures röntgenographiques et les microstructures calcitiques montrent que la mylonitization était incluse de déformation intracristalline et récristallisation dynamique. Ces processus auront été en compétition avec dissolution-cristallization («solution transfer»), car les mylonites sont corrodées aux stylolites parallel à S_m et contient des veines carbonatiques. La cathodoluminescopie montre que quelques veines (parallel à S_m) sont récristallisées, pendant que les autres (perpendiculaire à S_m) ont retenu une microstructure fibreuse («crack-seal»). Le dernier type est lié avec des fabriques de forme des grains. Ils se sont distingués des fabriques de plasticité cristalline par la présence d'une deuxième orientation préférentielle des bordures des grains, perpendiculaire à la première (dans S_m).

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. Warstein'a. , . , , , »« . (S_m) (L_m), , . , - , . , .. , S_m, . , , S_m, , , S_m, = »crack-seal«. : , S_m.

     

Impregnation of organic lake sediments for palaeomagnetic measurements

A procedure for impregnating high water-content sediments for palaeomagnetic measurements is described and applied to an organic lake sediment core. Comparison of results obtained by a standard sub-sampling procedure, and by the impregnation method, demonstrates a significant improvement in the scatter of the palaeomagnetic directions using the latter method.