Speciation and Persistence of a Contact Zone in Mojave Desert Ground Squirrels, Subgenus Xerospermophilus

1992 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 770-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Hafner
Keyword(s):  
Contact Zone ◽  
Mojave Desert ◽  
Ground Squirrels

Seasonal Water, Energy and Food Use by Free-Living, Arid-Habitat Mammals

1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Mojave Desert ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Arid Ecosystems ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Kangaroo Rats ◽  
Adequate Food ◽  
Arid Habitat ◽  
Merriam's Kangaroo Rats

In arid ecosystems, the dry season is probably an especially challenging time for animals to find adequate food and water resources. Both stressful and benevolent times of the year can be identified by measuring rates of water and energy use (with doubly labelled water), diet and behaviour throughout a year in free-ranging animals. Such field studies have been completed on four species of arid-land mammals. Jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) are strict herbivores, and most Mojave Desert individuals have no access to drinking water, and depend on their food for their water. When vegetation dries up during the summer drought, most jackrabbits apparently die of dehydration and malnutrition, but populations are replenished by bountiful reproduction after winter rains. However, springbok antelope (Antidorcas marsupialis), also strict herbivores, can maintain water and energy balance throughout the year in the Kalahari in southern Africa by drinking water if available, but, if not, they obtain enough water from dietary plants, probably by feeding before dawn, when food items have taken up water from the humid air. Antelope ground squirrels (Ammospermophilus leucurus) are omnivorous in the Mojave Desert, and are active diurnally. They have lower water and energy requirements than non-desert mammals of the same body mass, like many desert mammals, but their ability to find succulent plant or animal foods in all seasons appears to be their primary survival tool. On the other hand, Merriam's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) are essentially nocturnal, and were thought to be strict granivores that never drank. A recent study, done throughout a year in the Mojave Desert, confirms their lack of drinking, but reveals that they eat much green vegetation in late winter and spring, probably in connection with reproduction. They obtain additional water throughout the year by caching dry seeds in humid burrows, where seeds take up water hygroscopically before being eaten. Although springbok, antelope ground squirrels and Merriam's kangaroo rats were in negative energy and water balance at times during the year, only jackrabbits were severely stressed by the dry season. Each species has a unique suite of desert survival mechanisms. Future research should include carnivores as well as arid-habitat marsupials.

Tire Treadwear — A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Factors: Generic Type, Aspect Ratio, Tread Pattern, and Tread Composition Part IV: Laboratory Measurement of Mechanical Properties and Mechanical Actions of Tires Relating to Treadwear

1986 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 264-291
Author(s):  
K. L. Oblizajek ◽  
A. G. Veith
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Contact Zone ◽  
Flexural Rigidity ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Shear Stiffness ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Lateral Shear ◽  
Band Bending ◽  
Tread Rubber

Abstract Treadwear is explained by specific mechanical properties and actions of tires. Rubber shear stresses in the contact zone between the tire and the road become large at large slip angles. When normal stresses are insufficient to prevent sliding at the rear of the footprint, wear occurs at a rate that depends on test severity. Two experimental approaches are described to relate treadwear to tire characteristics. The first uses transducers imbedded in a simulated road surface to obtain direct measurements of contact stresses on the loaded, freely-rolling, steered tires. The second approach is developed with the aid of a simple carcass, tread-band, tread-rubber tire model. Various tire structural configurations; characterized by carcass spring rate, edgewise flexural band stiffness, and tread rubber shear stiffness; are simulated and lateral shear stress response in the contact zone is determined. Tires featuring high band stiffness and low carcass stiffness generate lower lateral shear stress levels. Furthermore, coupling of tread-rubber stiffness and band flexural rigidity are important in determining level of shear stresses. Laboratory measurements with the described apparatus produced values of tread-band bending and carcass lateral stiffness for several tire constructions. Good correlation is shown between treadwear and a broad range of tire stiffness and test course severities.

Stibnite vein from Dębowina near Bardo (polish Sudetes)

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-33
Author(s):  
Piotr Kotula
Keyword(s):  
Contact Zone

Abstract In the contact zone of the Bardo Structure and Kłodzko-Złoty Stok Intrusion and Kłodzko Metamorphic, metasomatic orebearing quartz-carbonate veins rich in Sb, Zn, Cu, Ag, Au, Pb are present. In 1771 the mine ,,Reiche Silber Gluck” within stibnite vein was founded in Dębowina near Bardo. Its entrance was discovered again in 2007. The stibnite vein is mainly build of stibnite and sphalerite and of quartz and dolomite rich in Mn. Stibnite crystallizes as columnar or forming radiate centres and aciculars. Its crystals reach size to 2 mm. Sphalerite appears as individual anhedral and polymineralic grained concentrations reaching size to 2,5 mm. Earlier pyrite and arsenopyrite crystallized - they occur locally in this deposit. There were found also in the deposit tetrahedrite rich in Ag, what wasn't reported earlier in studies from the mine in Dębowina.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document