Interannual and geographical variability of the brood size of the euphausiids Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera along the Oregon coast (1999–2004)

Brood sizes of 1259 adult female Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera were measured during 48 h incubations (10 °C, ±0.5 °C) on 27 oceanographic cruises between July 1999 and September 2004. The data set includes measurements from several stations off Newport, Oregon (Newport Hydrographic line, 44°39′N) made over a 5-year period and measurements from 14 more extensive cruises at stations representative of continental shelf, slope, and oceanic waters off Oregon and California, USA. E. pacifica had similar brood sizes at inshore (<200 m) and offshore (>200 m) stations with an average of 151 and 139 eggs brood⁻¹ fem⁻¹, respectively. T. spinifera brood sizes were considerably higher at inshore stations—particularly at Heceta Bank (44°N) and south of Cape Blanco (42°50′N)—than at offshore stations, 155 and 107 eggs brood⁻¹ fem⁻¹, respectively. Average brood sizes of E. pacifica increased during the study period, from 125 (in 2000) to 171 eggs brood⁻¹ fem⁻¹ (in 2003). Average percentage of carbon weight invested in spawning (reproductive effort) was higher in E. pacifica (14%) than in T. spinifera (6%), because both species have similar brood size but T. spinifera females are larger than E. pacifica females and produce smaller eggs. Reproductive effort for both species was higher during summer 2002, probably associated with anomalous cool subarctic waters and high chl-a concentration observed during that summer. Brood sizes and chl-a values remained relatively high in 2003–2004 compared to the 1999–2001 period. Geographical and temporal variability in brood sizes for both species were significantly correlated with in situ measurements of chl-a concentration but not with sea surface temperature. No gravid females were collected during late autumn and winter cruises, thus the spawning season along the Oregon coast appears to extend from March through September for both species. However, T. spinifera usually starts reproductive activity earlier in the spring (March) than E. pacifica. Both species had their highest brood sizes in summer during the period of most intense upwelling, which is associated with an increase in regional phytoplankton standing stock.     

An integrated paleomagnetic study of Rio Grande de Santiago volcanic succession (trans-Mexican volcanic belt): revisited

We carried out an integrated paleomagnetic, rock-magnetic and paleointensity study of Miocene volcanic succession from the trans-Mexican volcanic belt (TMVB) north of Guadalajara. A total of 37 consecutive basaltic lava flows (326 oriented standard paleomagnetic cores) were collected at Lazo locality. Continuous susceptibility measurements with temperature and hysteresis experiments yield in most cases reasonably reversible curves with Curie points close to that of pseudo-single-domain magnetite. Two geomagnetic reversals were observed in the 300 m thick composite section. Paleosecular variation was lower than the one observed in general during Miocene. It appears that the volcanic units have been emplaced during a relatively short time span of about 1 Ma. The mean paleomagnetic directions obtained from this study do not differ significantly from that expected for the middle Miocene. The mean paleomagnetic direction calculated from all data is I=31.1°, D=354.6°, k=124 and ₉₅=2.1°, N=37. Seventy-two samples with apparently preserved primary magnetic mineralogy and without secondary magnetization, mostly belonging to reverse polarity chron were pre-selected for Thellier paleointensity determination. The flow-mean paleointensity values are ranging from 22.4±3.4 to 53.8±6.0 μT and the corresponding virtual dipole moments (VDMs) are ranging from (5.4±0.8) to (12.0±1.4)×10²² A m². This corresponds to mean value of (7.7±2.2)×10²² A m², which is close to present day geomagnetic field strength. Altogether, our data suggest the existence of relatively high geomagnetic field strength undergoing low fluctuations.     

Forest cover change and land tenure change in Mexico’s avocado region: Is community forestry related to reduced deforestation for high value crops?

Forest cover change in highland pine-oak forests of Michoacan, Mexico is due to a process of conversion of natural forests to avocado orchards. Privately-owned avocado orchards are found on land that was common forest before the 1992 Reform of the Mexican Constitution. We ask how forest cover change was facilitated by policy changes that affected land tenure rules and existing community forestry programs. We use a comparative case study of four communities, an analysis of forest cover change, and interviews and household surveys. Results show that 33.1% of forest cover was lost over a 16-year-period across the region. However, two forestry case study communities lost 7.2% and 15.1% of forest cover, while two adjacent non-forestry communities lost 86.5% and 92.4%, respectively. Interview data show that the Reform of Article 27 combined with the 1992 Forestry Law led to collapse of local governance, illegal division of common forests, and illegal logging in the two non-forestry communities.     

Review of the El Soplao Amber Outcrop,Early Cretaceous of Cantabria,Spain

<正>El Soplao outcrop,an Early Cretaceous amber deposit recently discovered in northern Spain (Cantabria),has been shown to be the largest site of amber with arthropod inclusions that has been found in Spain so far.Relevant data provided herein for biogeochemistry of the amber,palynology,taphonomy and arthropod bioinclusions complement those previously published.This set of data suggests at least two botanical sources for the amber of El Soplao deposit.The first(type A amber)strongly supports a source related to Cheirolepidiaceae,and the second(type B amber)shows non-specific conifer biomarkers.Comparison of molecular composition of type A amber with Frenelopsis leaves(Cheirolepidiaceae)strongly suggests a biochemical affinity and a common botanical origin.A preliminary palynological study indicates a regional high taxonomical diversity,mainly of pteridophyte spores and gymnosperm pollen grains.According to the preliminary palynological data,the region was inhabited by conifer forests adapted to a dry season under a subtropical climate.The abundant charcoalified wood associated with the amber in the same beds is evidence of paleofires that most likely promoted both the resin production and an intensive erosion of the litter,and subsequent great accumulation of amber plus plant cuticles.In addition,for the first time in the fossil record, charcoalified plant fibers as bioinclusions in amber are reported.Other relevant taphonomic data are the exceptional presence of serpulids and bryozoans on the surfaces of some amber pieces indicating both a long exposure on marine or brackish-water and a mixed assemblage of amber.Lastly,new findings of insect bioinclusions,some of them uncommon in the fossil record or showing remarkable adaptations,are reported.In conclusion,a documented scenario for the origin of the El Soplao amber outcrop is provided.     

Hydrochemistry and origins of mineralized waters in the Puebla aquifer system,Mexico

Significant upward movement of mineralized water takes place in the Puebla aquifer system. Preferential groundwater flow paths related to the geological structure and the lowering of the potentiometric surface are suspected to be the prime factors for this intrusion. A combined approach of geochemical and isotope analyses was used to assess the sources of salinity and processes that are controlling the changes in groundwater chemical composition in the Puebla aquifer. Geochemical and isotope data indicate that the likely source of increased solutes is mineralized water from the dissolution of evaporites of the Cretaceous age at the base of the Upper deep aquifer, which is deeper than the intakes of the shallow wells. Dedolomitization and cation exchange seems also to occur along flow paths where sulphate concentrations tend to increase. The deep regional flow paths controls the chemical stratification of groundwater in response to decreased heads through interconnecting vertical and horizontal pathways, such as in the Fosa Atlixco. The results also suggest that high sulphate concentrations originating in the Lower deep aquifer are currently affecting shallow production wells. It is concluded that hydrodynamic aspects together with hydrogeochemical characteristics need to be taken into account to correctly explain the hydrochemical evolution in the stratified aquifer.     

Damage and management of cyclone Sidr-affected homestead tree plantations: a case study from Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Geographically, Bangladesh is considered to be one of the most cyclone-prone areas in the world. The super cyclone Sidr in 2007 was one of the most devastating disasters to have ever occurred in Bangladesh, having wind speeds of 223?km/h with a tidal surge of 6.1?C7.6?m high. In order to draw a pre- and post-Sidr damage and management scenario, a survey was conducted at Dumki upazila, Patuakhali district in Bangladesh with a pretested questionnaire. Primary data were collected through a questionnaire, while secondary data were collected from pertinent offices as well as academic journals. The major focus of this study was to assess the state of pre-Sidr tree plantations (woody and fruit trees), the devastation caused by Sidr on these tree plantations, and post-Sidr recovery and further sustainable management initiatives to counteract a possible future neo-Sidr. The post-Sidr study showed that about 16.84 million woody and fruit trees were uprooted by Sidr. A total of 3,120 rain tree (Samanea saman L.), 7,548 mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni L.), 1,444 royal siris (Albizzia richardiana L.), 702 white siris (Albizzia procera L.), 1,214 mango (Mangifera indica L.), 1,092 coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), 1,380 jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.), and 7,640 betel nut (Areca catechu L.) trees were sampled among which 922, 1,662, 382, 210, 106, 38, 362, and 1,652 trees, respectively, were markedly damaged by Sidr. Sexually propagated woody trees with a damaged taproot were vulnerable to heavy wind during the cyclone. Fruit trees were more resistant to the cyclone than other types of trees, and the lack of proper tree training and pruning was one of the principal causes of the severe damage to woody trees. Hence, plantations of woody tree saplings with damaged taproots are strongly discouraged. However, proper training and pruning of homestead trees together with plantation of fruit trees rather than woody trees is suggested as a possible effective management strategy to protect the homestead ecosystem from devastation by future cyclones in Bangladesh.     

Changes in solar irradiance and atmospheric turbidity in Costa Rica during the total solar eclipse of July 11, 1991

Solar global radiation was measured in several places in Costa Rica during the total solar eclipse that occurred on July 11, 1991. In two of these places, Puntarenas and Santa Cruz, measurements in the ultraviolet range (295–385 nm) were also taken. In Santa Cruz, a normal incidence pyrheliometer with Schott filters OG530 and RG630 was used to measure direct solar radiation in its whole range, and in the 530–2800 nm and 630–2800 wavebands respectively. Global radiation, and consequently direct, diffuse and irradiance in any of the wavebands considered, decreased gradually as the sun was being eclipsed and reached zero during the totality, then increased to their normal values. Data registered in Santa Cruz were used to determine Ångstrom's atmospheric turbidity parameters and. Computations show that between 13:00 and 14:30 LT (local time), decreased and increased significantly. This indicates that atmospheric turbidity was high and large particles were more abundant than small ones. The size of hygroscopic particles increased during the eclipse when temperature decreased and relative humidity increased in a comparatively short time.     

Dynamical evolution of an unstable gravastar with zero mass

Using the conventional gravastar model, that is, an object constituted by two components where one of them is a massive infinitely thin shell and the other one is a de Sitter interior spacetime, we physically interpret a solution characterized by a zero Schwarzschild mass. No stable gravastar is formed and it collapses without forming an event horizon, originating what we call a massive non-gravitational object. The most surprise here is that the collapse occurs with an exterior de Sitter vacuum spacetime. This creates an object which does not interact gravitationally with an outside test particle and it may evolve to a point-like topological defect.     

Seismic zoning for initial‐ and total‐cost minimization

We consider two design criteria to study seismic zoning. In the first, codes require that structures be designed for some specified values. Zoning is then optimal when it minimizes the expected present value of the initial costs of all structures to be built in the region being zoned. In the second criterion, it is designed so that the present value of the total cost is minimized, including initial and maintenance costs as well as losses due to damage and failure. We will call these criteria zoning for the initial‐ and total‐cost minimization, respectively. It is shown that under certain conditions, the boundaries coincide with isoparametric curves and the problem may be solved in one dimension. We also deal with problems not reducible to a single dimension. Different methods are proposed to solve the various kinds of problems. The work ends with some illustrative examples. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.