Seasonal variations in intertidal density of invertebrate prey in a tropical lagoon and effects of shorebird predation

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1755-1763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francine Mercier ◽  
Raymond McNeil

We analyzed the relationship between the abundance of shorebirds and that of their intertidal invertebrate prey, and attempted to determine if shorebird predation significantly affects prey density. The study was conducted at three sites in the Chacopata Lagoon complex in northeastern Venezuela between January 1985 and September 1986, using shorebird census data, monthly sampling of intertidal invertebrates, and exclosure experiments. The invertebrates collected were divided into three groups: (i) polychaetes (≤50 mm in length), (ii) small bivalves (2 – 3 mm in length), and (iii) other species. The overall density of shorebirds foraging in the Chacopata Lagoon complex was very high, exceeding the densities reported for most other staging and overwintering areas by a wide margin. The abundance of shorebirds in the study area was related primarily to the density of polychaetes, their main prey. At two of the study sites, the arrival of fall migrants followed a significant increase in polychaete numbers. The increase in shorebird numbers in autumn was negligible at the third site, where polychaete density was lower than at the other sites. The impact of shorebird predation on their invertebrate prey varied seasonally, as did the extent of the foraging area available to them. The exclosure experiment revealed significant differences in the density of polychaetes inside and outside the exclosures only during, or shortly after, the fall migration period. The variability in the conclusions drawn from other studies examining prey depletion by shorebirds in tropical environments may be explained by differences in the length of sampling periods and seasonal variations in the numbers of foraging shorebirds, the energy demands of moult, fat deposition, and the intertidal surface area available for feeding. The impact of seasonal variables such as these should be taken into consideration when designing studies to measure prey depletion by shorebirds; such objectives may necessitate long-term studies.

Oikos ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siân C. Whitehead ◽  
Jonathan Wright ◽  
Peter A. Cotton ◽  
Sian C. Whitehead

The university is considered one of the engines of growth in a local economy or its market area, since its direct contributions consist of 1) employment of faculty and staff, 2) services to students, and supply chain links vendors, all of which define the University’s Market area. Indirect contributions consist of those agents associated with the university in terms of community and civic events. Each of these activities represent economic benefits to their host communities and can be classified as the economic impact a university has on its local economy and whose spatial market area includes each of the above agents. In addition are the critical links to the University, which can be considered part of its Demand and Supply chain. This paper contributes to the field of Public/Private Impact Analysis, which is used to substantiate the social and economic benefits of cooperating for economic resources. We use Census data on Output of Goods and Services, Labor Income on Salaries, Wages and Benefits, Indirect State and Local Taxes, Property Tax Revenue, Population, and Inter-Industry to measure economic impact (Implan, 2016).


10.28945/2926 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
James N. Morgan ◽  
Craig A. VanLengen

The divide between those who have computer and Internet access and those who do not appears to be narrowing, however overall statistics may be misleading. Measures of computer availability in schools often include cases where computers are only available for administration or are available only on a very limited basis (Gootman, 2004). Access to a computer and the Internet outside of school helps to reinforce student learning and emphasize the importance of using technology. Recent U.S. statistics indicate that ethnic background and other demographic characteristics still have substantial impact on the availability and use of computers by students outside of the classroom. This paper examines recent census data to determine the impact of the household on student computer use outside of the classroom. Encouragingly, the findings of this study suggest that use of a computer at school substantially increases the chance that a student will use a computer outside of class. Additionally, this study suggests that computer use outside of the classroom is positively and significantly impacted by being in a household with adults who either use a computer at work or work in an industry where computers are extensively used.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 78-95
Author(s):  
A.R. Ivanova ◽  
◽  
E.N. Skriptunova ◽  
N.I. Komasko ◽  
A.A. Zavialova ◽  
...  

A review of literature on the impact of dust and sand storms on the air transport operation is presented. Observational data on dust storms at the aerodromes of European Russia for the period of 2001-2019 are analyzed. The seasonal variations in dust transport episodes at aerodromes and its relationship with visibility changes are discussed. The characteristics of dusty air masses and advection are given. It is concluded that the frequency of dust transfer episodes for the aerodromes under study has decreased over the past five years, except for Gumrak aerodrome (Volgograd). Keywords: dust storm, sand storm, aviation, visibility, seasonal variations, aerodrome оf European Russia


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Franziska S. Akert ◽  
Michael Kreuzer ◽  
Carmen Kunz ◽  
Beat Reidy ◽  
Joel Berard

Abstract For this research communication our objective was to investigate to what extent milk coagulation properties and milk fatty acid (FA) composition were affected by different feeding systems, season and their interaction. Eighteen cows in total were subjected to one of three different feeding system treatments: full-time grazing or part-time grazing combined with indoor feeding of fresh grass with low or high concentrate supplementation. Milk was sampled in spring, summer and autumn. Milk coagulation time was 15.0, 19.0 and 17.7 min, coagulation dynamics 1.67, 3.41 and 1.79 min, and curd firmness 52.7, 32.4 and 47.0 mm in spring, summer and autumn, respectively. Thus, milk coagulation properties of the milk were lower during summer. There were strong seasonal effects on milk FA proportions, but there were not always changes with progressing season, or changes were different with respect to the impact of the feeding systems (system × season interaction). The milk fat was favourably rich in oleic acid, conjugated linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid and had a low n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio in all systems. Factors like seasonal variations in grass composition and the energy balance of the cows were considered relevant for the milk FA composition. Overall, seasonal variations in milk quality were less pronounced with part-time grazing with fresh grass indoors as compared to full-time grazing without concentrate.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 596
Author(s):  
Shinichi Kitano

Abandoned farmland is particularly problematic in developed countries where agriculture has a comparative disadvantage in terms of effective use of land resources invested over time. While many studies have estimated the causes of these problems, few have discussed in detail the impact of data characteristics and accuracy on the estimation results. In this study, issues related to the underlying data and the estimation of the determinants of farmland abandonment were examined. Most previous studies on farmland abandonment in Japan have used census data as the basis of their analyses. However, census data are recorded subjectively by farmers. To address this, surveys of abandoned farmland are being conducted by a third party, and the results are compiled into a geographic information system (GIS) database. Two types of datasets (subjective census data and objective GIS data) were examined for their estimation performance. Although the two sets of data are correlated, there are considerable differences between them. Subjective variables are compatible with subjective data, and objective variables are compatible with objective data (meaning that parameters are easily identified). Original data for analysis, such as policy variables, are compatible with objective data. In policy evaluation research, attention should be paid to objective data collection.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4084
Author(s):  
Hassan Bazazzadeh ◽  
Peiman Pilechiha ◽  
Adam Nadolny ◽  
Mohammadjavad Mahdavinejad ◽  
Seyedeh sara Hashemi safaei

A substantial share of the building sector in global energy demand has attracted scholars to focus on the energy efficiency of the building sector. The building’s energy consumption has been projected to increase due to mass urbanization, high living comfort standards, and, more importantly, climate change. While climate change has potential impacts on the rate of energy consumption in buildings, several studies have shown that these impacts differ from one region to another. In response, this paper aimed to investigate the impact of climate change on the heating and cooling energy demands of buildings as influential variables in building energy consumption in the city of Poznan, Poland. In this sense, through the statistical downscaling method and considering the most recent Typical Meteorological Year (2004–2018) as the baseline, the future weather data for 2050 and 2080 of the city of Poznan were produced according to the HadCM3 and A2 GHG scenario. These generated files were then used to simulate the energy demands in 16 building prototypes of the ASHRAE 90.1 standard. The results indicate an average increase in cooling load and a decrease in heating load at 135% and 40% , respectively, by 2080. Due to the higher share of heating load, the total thermal load of the buildings decreased within the study period. Therefore, while the total thermal load is currently under the decrease, to avoid its rise in the future, serious measures should be taken to control the increased cooling demand and, consequently, thermal load and GHG emissions.


1981 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-518
Author(s):  
Gérald Bernier

The study of social classes in the nineteenth century requires the development of conceptual tools able to explain the impact of the Conquest on the pre-existant social structures in determining transformations of the class structure during the subsequent decades.This article examines the work done on this question by Marxist writers. The author criticizes certain conclusions which have been drawn and which suggest deficiencies at a theoretical level. The objections relate to the marked tendency of these conclusions to perceive the structural effects of the Conquest in terms of the formation of a double-class structure characterized by “ethnic origins.” Specifically, the author challenges the notion of the division itself, as well as the criterion on which the division is based.The author proposes that an analysis centred upon the concepts relating to a problem of the transition and linkage of different modes of production permits a more satisfying interpretation, if accompanied by a certain number of considerations of the “upside” and “downside” of the Conquest. To this end, the argument is based on a characterization of New France in terms of the domination of the relations of production of the feudal type and on an analysis of metropolitan centres with intent to evaluate their level of capitalist development at the moment of their respective colonial penetration in Canada. The results of this approach permit one to posit the existence of a single-class structure, characterized principally by the existence of elements connecting diverse modes and forms of production, whose origin reflects the unequal state of economic development in the two metropolitan centres.The empirical demonstration rests on the census data of 1851–1852 and on the complementary information drawn from the works of historians.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
Thu- Rein

Studies on percent cover and biomass of seagrasses from Shwe Thaung Yan coastal areas (Inn Din Gyi, Kyauk Nagar and Phoe Htaung Gyaing), the Southern parts of Rakhine Coastal Region, were carried out between March and August, 2018. A total of 8 species of seagrasses, namely Syringodiumisoetifolium (Ascherson) Danty, Halodulepinifolia (Miki) den Hartog, Haloduleuninervis (Forsskal) Ascherson, Cymodocearotundata Ehrenberg et Hemprich ex Ascherson, C. serrulata (R. Brown) Ascherson et Magnus, Thalassiahemprichii(Ehrenberg) Ascherson, Halophila major (Zoll.) Miquel and Enhalusacoroides (Linnaeus f.) Royle, were recorded in three study sites. Seagrass meadow in this study showed seasonal variations in both percent cover and biomass. Total seagrass coverage and biomass were higher in the dry season than in the monsoon season. Total seagrass coverage ranged between 8% and 75% in Phoe Htaung Gyaing, between 10% and 42% in Kyauk Nagar, and between 15% and 43% in Inn Din Gyi. Total seagrass mean biomass was 50.2413-259.846gdry.wtm-2 in Phoe Htaung Gyaing, 63.0194 -321.535gdry.wtm-2 in Kyauk Nagar, and 98.6819-416.237gdry.wtm-2 in Inn Din Gyi.


2012 ◽  
Vol 367 (1606) ◽  
pp. 3076-3086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Thomas

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are an important source of organic carbon, and affect a range of ecosystem functions in arid and semiarid environments. Yet the impact of grazing disturbance on crust properties and soil CO 2 efflux remain poorly studied, particularly in African ecosystems. The effects of burial under wind-blown sand, disaggregation and removal of BSCs on seasonal variations in soil CO 2 efflux, soil organic carbon, chlorophyll a and scytonemin were investigated at two sites in the Kalahari of southern Botswana. Field experiments were employed to isolate CO 2 efflux originating from BSCs in order to estimate the C exchange within the crust. Organic carbon was not evenly distributed through the soil profile but concentrated in the BSC. Soil CO 2 efflux was higher in Kalahari Sand than in calcrete soils, but rates varied significantly with seasonal changes in moisture and temperature. BSCs at both sites were a small net sink of C to the soil. Soil CO 2 efflux was significantly higher in sand soils where the BSC was removed, and on calcrete where the BSC was buried under sand. The BSC removal and burial under sand also significantly reduced chlorophyll a , organic carbon and scytonemin . Disaggregation of the soil crust, however, led to increases in chlorophyll a and organic carbon. The data confirm the importance of BSCs for C cycling in drylands and indicate intensive grazing, which destroys BSCs through trampling and burial, will adversely affect C sequestration and storage. Managed grazing, where soil surfaces are only lightly disturbed, would help maintain a positive carbon balance in African drylands.


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