Potential effects of global climatic change on the phenology and yield of maize in venezuela

Simulated impacts of global and regional climate change, induced by an enhanced greenhouse effect and by Amazonian deforestation, on the phenology and yield of two grain corn cultivars in Venezuela (CENIAP PB-8 and OBREGON) are reported. Three sites were selected:Turén, Barinas andYaritagua, representing two important agricultural regions in the country. The CERES-Maize model, a mechanistic process-based model, in theDecision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) was used for the crop simulations. These simulations assume non-limiting nutrients, no pest damage and no damage from excess water; therefore, the results indicate only the difference between baseline and perturbed climatic conditions, when other conditions remain the same. Four greenhouse-induced global climate change scenarios, covering different sensitivity levels, and one deforestation-induced regional climate change scenario were used. The greenhouse scenarios assume increased air temperature, increased rainfall and decreased incoming solar radiation, as derived from atmospheric GCMs for doubled CO₂ conditions. The deforestation scenarios assume increased air temperature, increased incoming solar radiation and decreased rainfall, as predicted by coupled atmosphere-biosphere models for extensive deforestation of a portion of the Amazon basin. Two baseline climate years for each site were selected, one year with average precipitation and another with lower than average rainfall. Scenarios associated with the greenhouse effect cause a decrease in yield of both cultivars at all three sites, while the deforestation scenarios produce small changes. Sensitivity tests revealed the reasons for these responses. Increasing temperatures, especially daily maximum temperatures, reduce yield by reducing the duration of the phenological phases of both cultivars, as expected from CERES-Maize. The reduction of the duration of the kernel filling phase has the largest effect on yield. Increases of precipitation associated with greenhouse warming have no effects on yield, because these sites already have adequate precipitation; however, the crop model used here does not simulate potential negative effects of excess water, which could have important consequences in terms of soil erosion and nutrient leaching. Increases in solar radiation increased yields, according to the non-saturating light response of the photosynthesis rate of a C₄ plant like corn, compensating for reduced yields from increased temperatures in deforestation scenarios. In the greenhouse scenarios, reduced insolation (due to increased cloud cover) and increased temperatures combine to reduce yields; a combination of temperature increase with a reduction in solar radiation produces fewer and lighter kernels.A report of thePAN-EARTH Project, Venezuela Case Study.     

Variations in some physico-chemical parameters in a hypersaline coastal lagoon of Baja California,Mexico

San Jose lagoon is a hypersaline body of water located in Mexico in the Baja California Peninsula. The lagoon belongs to a system that lies between the fault ridge known as San Jose Creek. Because of its marine origin, it can be considered as thalassohaline, but its isolation from the ocean has brought about changes in its salt composition. It has an area of 13,500 m², a mean depth of 80 cm and a total volume of 10,000 m³. It does not desiccate and can be considered as a permanent lagoon. Seasonal variations are small. TheArtemia population in San Jose produces cysts all year. To determine the physico-chemical conditions inducing permanent production of cysts, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH of the lagoon were monitored, as well as relative humidity and wind conditions in the region in different seasons of the year. From spring to summer, differences of 1 mg L^–1 of O₂, 1°C in water temperature, and 8 g L^–1 in salinity were observed, and from summer to winter differences of 3.3 mg L^–1, 6.5°C, and 14 g L^–1, respectively. Despite small seasonal variations, the lagoon exhibits strong spatial and daily changes that are important for cyst production.     

Static deformation of an orthotropic multilayered elastic half-space by two-dimensional surface loads

The transfer matrix approach is used to solve the problem of static deformation of an orthotropic multilayered elastic half-space by two-dimensional surface loads. The general problem is decoupled into two independent problems. The antiplane strain problem and the plane strain problem are considered in detail. Integral expressions for displacements and stresses at any point of the medium due to a normal line load and a shear line load, acting parallel to a symmetry axis, are obtained. In the case of a uniform half-space, closed form analytic expressions for displacements and stresses are derived. The procedure developed is quite easy and convenient for numerical computations.     

Deformation of an elastic layer coupling in different ways to a base due to a very long vertical strike-slip dislocation

The closed-form analytic expressions for the displacement and stresses at any point of an elastic layer lying over a base due to a very long vertical strike-slip dislocation are obtained. The interface between the layer and the base is assumed to be either ‘smooth-rigid’ or ‘rough-rigid’ or ‘welded’. The variations of displacement and stresses with the horizontal distance from the fault for different types of coupling of the layer with the base have been studied. It is found that the displacement for ‘welded interface’ lies between the displacements due to ‘smooth rigid’ and ‘rough-rigid’ interfaces for different positions of the observer and different values of the ratio of rigidities of the layer and half-space.     

An energy budget forArtemia franciscana under laboratory conditions

An energy budget forArtemia franciscana is described. Differences between males and females are ascribed to several causes but result in higher rates of female biomass production.     

Diagenetic state and source characterization of marine sediments from the inner continental shelf of the Gulf of Cádiz (SW Spain), constrained by terrigenous biomarkers

Surface sediments from the Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) were analyzed by alkaline CuO oxidation, in order to estimate the contribution of terrigenous organic matter (TOM) to the inner continental shelf of the southwest Iberian Peninsula. The parallel analysis of sediment samples from the two most important rivers draining to this coastal area (i.e. Guadiana River and Tinto–Odiel fluvial system) provided fundamental information regarding local terrestrial sources. Relatively constant intensive lignin parameters (S:V = 1.0 ± 0.1 and C:V = 0.22 ± 0.04) and high values of the lignin phenol vegetation index (LPVI = 155 ± 43) indicated that non-woody angiosperm tissues constitute the dominant component of vascular plant material reaching the shelf sediments. The NW to SE decreasing isotopic (¹³C) and molecular (Λ₈) signatures found among the sediments, coinciding with the Guadiana delivery plume, suggest that this river is the main terrestrial source in the inner GoC shelf. Slightly elevated values of degradation indicative ratios ([Ad:Al]_V = 0.41 ± 0.10; [Ad:Al])_S = 0.34 ± 0.07; [3,5-Bd:V] = 0.14 ± 0.05; P:[V + S] = 0.24 ± 0.09) suggested the alteration state of the shelf sediments. The two fold higher ratios of the river sediments (Guadiana: [Ad:Al]_V = 0.82 ± 0.08; [Ad:Al]_S = 0.84 ± 0.03; Tinto–Odiel: [Ad:Al]_V = 0.86 ± 0.12; [Ad:Al]_S = 0.83 ± 0.013) and the increasing degradation trend observed outward in the shelf, lead us to consider preferential sorption processes, instead of in situ diagenesis, to affect the degradation signature of the shelf sediments. Preferentially solubilized degraded OM is more likely to be sorbed and stabilized prior to transport to the marine system, showing an apparently more advanced degradation state. The use of the 3,5-Bd:V ratio in conjunction with (Ad:Al)_V revealed a composition continuum of the sedimentary OM ranging from fresh plant materials to highly altered soil humic constituents. Elemental and molecular analyses show a land to sea gradient by a NW to SE decrease of the terrestrial influence, accounting for larger terrestrial inputs (TOM: 71–98%) in those sediments near the Guadiana mouth, and predominantly autochthonous composition (TOM: 42–50%) in those located offshore. This work utilizes lignin derived biomarkers to determine the contribution of terrigenous OM delivered to this poorly described coastal area from regional rivers. Within a context of increasing international efforts to better understand the global C cycling, this study illustrates the relevance of using the alkaline CuO oxidation approach to evaluate C budgets and continental influence in river dominated ocean margins.     

Estimation of potential pollution from mine tailings in the San Pedro River (1993–2005), Mexico–US border

The San Pedro River (SPR) is located in northern Sonora (Mexico) and southeastern Arizona (USA). SPR is a transboundary river that develops along the Sonora (Mexico) and Arizona (USA) border, and is considered the main source of water for a variety of users (human settlements, agriculture, livestock, and industry). The SPR originates in the historic Cananea mining area, which hosts some of the most important copper mineralizations in Mexico. Acid mine drainage derived from mine tailings is currently reaching a tributary of the SPR near Cananea City, resulting in the contamination of the SPR with heavy metals and sulfates in water and sediments. This study documents the accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in surface water along a segment of the SPR from 1993 to 2005. Total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn in surface waters are above maximum permissible levels in sampling sites near mine tailing deposits. Nevertheless, a significant decrease in the Fe and SO₄ ²⁻ in surface water (SO₄ ²⁻: 7,180–460.39 mg/L; Fe: 1,600–9.51 mg/L) as well as a gradual decrease in the heavy and transition metal content were observed during the period from 1994 to 2005. Approximately 2.3 km downstream of the mine tailings, the heavy metal content of the water drops quickly following an increase in pH values due to the discharging of wastewater into the river. The attenuation of the heavy metal content in surface waters is related to stream sediment precipitation (accompanied by metal coprecipitation and sorption) and water dilution. Determining the heavy metal concentration led to the conclusion that the Cananea mining area and the San Pedro River are ecosystems that are impacted by the mining industry and by untreated wastewater discharges arising from the city of Cananea (Sonora, Mexico).     

Tectonic relationships of Southwest Iberia with the allochthons of Northwest Iberia and the Moroccan Variscides

The Iberian Massif poses a problem of relationships between its northwestern and southern parts. Suture terranes (ophiolites and high-pressure rocks) crop out in NW Iberia but only as allochthonous units, unconnected from their root zone. Sutures cropping out in SW Iberia are discussed in order to relate them to the unknown root of the NW Iberia allochthons. On the other hand, the Moroccan Variscides are very briefly presented with a view to propose their correlation with the Iberian zones. Particularly important is the transition from the Variscides to the Paleoproterozoic basement in Morocco, which is a key argument for palaeogeographic reconstructions.     

Probabilistic Assessment of Earthquake Hazard in Gujarat and Adjoining Region of India

The Gujarat and adjoining region falls under all four seismic zones V, IV, III and II of the seismic zoning map of India, and is one of the most seismically prone intracontinental regions of the world. It has experienced two large earthquakes of magnitude M _w 7.8 and 7.7 in 1819 and 2001, respectively and several moderate earthquakes during the past two centuries. In the present study, the probability of occurrence of earthquakes of M ≥ 5.0 has been estimated during a specified time interval for different elapsed times on the basis of observed time intervals between earthquakes using three stochastic models namely, Weibull, Gamma and Lognormal. A complete earthquake catalogue has been used covering the time interval of 1819 to 2006. The whole region has been divided into three major seismic regions (Saurashtra, Mainland Gujarat and Kachchh) on the basis of seismotectonics and geomorphology of the region. The earthquake hazard parameters have been estimated using the method of maximum likelihood. The logarithmic of likelihood function (ln L) is estimated and used to test the suitability of models in three different regions. It was found that the Weibull model fits well with the actual data in Saurashtra and Kachchh regions, whereas Lognormal model fits well in Mainland Gujarat. The mean intervals of occurrence of earthquakes are estimated as 40.455, 20.249 and 13.338 years in the Saurashtra, Mainland Gujarat and Kachchh region, respectively. The estimated cumulative probability (probability that the next earthquake will occur at a time later than some specific time from the last earthquake) for the earthquakes of M ≥ 5.0 reaches 0.9 after about 64 years from the last earthquake (1993) in Saurashtra, about 49 years from the last earthquake (1969) in Mainland Gujarat and about 29 years from the last earthquake (2006) in the Kachchh region. The conditional probability (probability that the next earthquake will occur during some specific time interval after a certain elapsed time from last earthquake) is also estimated and it reaches about 0.8 to 0.9 during the time interval of about 57 to 66 years from the last earthquake (1993) in Saurashtra region, 31 to 51 years from the last earthquake (1969) in Mainland Gujarat and about 21 to 28 years from the last earthquake (2006) in Kachchh region.     

Survey of antibodies to Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (large colony type) in dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) in close contact with an infected goat population

Given recent evidence of a possible role of camelids in the epidemiology of diseases caused by mycoplasma species in other ruminants, we examined the prevalence of the mycoplasmas most commonly responsible for contagious agalactia (CA) in small ruminants among the dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) of Lanzarote. On this island, one of the most arid regions of Spain in which CA is considered endemic, dromedaries and infected small ruminants such as goats and sheep, live in close contact. Specific IgG antibodies against Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (large colony biotype) were determined using two indirect enzyme immunoassays in 28% of the island's dromedary population. None of the serum samples tested were found to have antibodies against the two mycoplasma species, suggesting that the camels are not potential carriers of the main causative agents of CA.