374 research outputs found

    Amphibian diversity in Amazonian flooded forests of Peru

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    Global biodiversity is currently facing the sixth mass extinction, with extinction rates at least 100 times higher than background levels. The Amazon Basin has the richest amphibian fauna in South America, but there remain significant gaps in our knowledge of the drivers of diversity in this region and how amphibian assemblages are responding to environmental change. Surveys were conducted in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve (PSNR) in Amazonian Peru, with a view to (1) comparing assemblage structure on floating meadows and adjacent terrestrial habitats; (2) determining the predictors of diversity in these habitats; and (3) exploring the effects of disturbance and seasonal flooding on diversity measures. Eighty-one species of amphibians have been recorded in these habitats since 1996 representing 11 families and three orders. In 2012-2013 22 anuran species used the floating meadow habitat, of which 10 were floating meadow specialists. These specialists were predominantly hylids which breed on floating meadows all the year round. Floating meadows therefore host an assemblage of species which is different to that found in adjacent terrestrial areas which are subject to seasonal flooding. Floating meadows enhance the amphibian diversity of the region, and rafts of vegetation that break away and disperse frogs downstream may explain the wide distribution of hylids within the Amazon Basin. Fourteen different reproductive modes were represented within the 54 anuran species observed. The number of reproductive modes present was influenced by localised disturbance and seasonal flooding. Diversity increased in the low water period, with hylids breeding in temporary pools. When the forest is inundated most species disperse away from the flood waters. Disturbance, habitat change, emerging diseases and climate change would likely lead to changes in species composition and assemblage structure rather than wholescale extinctions. However, further studies are needed to evaluate long-term consequences of synergistic environmental change

    sj-pdf-1-vmj-10.1177_1358863X211073622 – Supplemental material for Implementation of supervised exercise therapy in a veteran population with symptomatic claudication

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    Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-vmj-10.1177_1358863X211073622 for Implementation of supervised exercise therapy in a veteran population with symptomatic claudication by S Elissa Altin, Marabel D Schneider, Helen Parise, Subhash Banerjee, Wen-Chih Wu, Judith L Meadows, Steven Pfau, Heidi Keefe and Ehrin J Armstrong in Vascular Medicine</p

    Comparison of water velocity profiles through morphologically dissimilar seagrasses measured with a simple and inexpensive current meter

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    The influence of seagrass morphology on water flow was studied by measuring water velocity profiles through natural seagrass meadows. An array of eight solid-state electronic current meters was used to obtain profiles through meadows of Amphibolis griffithii (Cymodoceaceae), a seagrass which possesses a profusely-branched erect stem with terminal leaf clusters, and two strap-like seagrasses, Posidonia australis and P. sinuosa (Posidoniaceae). Significant differences were observed in the shapes of velocity profiles of the different seagrass species; in particular, a region of high water velocity was observed beneath the leafy canopy of Amphibolis, but not in the Posidonia canopy. There is a strong correlation between the water velocity profile of Amphibolis plants and the distribution of leaf biomass, highlighting the influence of the 'stem-and-leaf cluster' morphology on the velocity profile. The unusual velocity profile of Amphibolis has implications for the ecology of these ecosystems, and sediment stability in particular. The solid-state electronic current meters used in this study were found to be an effective and inexpensive means of measuring water velocity profiles in seagrass canopies

    Unpalatable weed Stellera chamaejasme L. provides biotic refuge for neighboring species and conserves plant diversity in overgrazing alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau in China

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    Steller chamaejasme L. (S. chamaejasme for short) is one of the most noxious unpalatable weeds in China, which has been frequently reported its negative interaction (i.e. competition and allelopathy) with other herbaceous species in grasslands. This study compared species diversity, biomass and sexual reproduction of herbaceous plants in meadows with S. chamaejasme and in open meadows without S. chamaejasme in overgrazing meadows on the Tibetan Plateau in China to determine whether positive facilitation exist between S. chamaejasme and other herbaceous species under livestock's overgrazing. The results showed that there are more herbaceous species in meadows with S. chamaejasme than those in open meadows (35s and 30s, respectively). Diversity index and above-ground biomass were also significantly higher in meadows with S. chamaejasme. There were 39% (11/28) of all species with sexual reproduction found in meadows with S. chamaejasme, which was 7 times more than those in open meadows. Our study showed that S. chamaejasme could provide biotic refuge for neighboring plants and preserve plant diversity from livestock's overgrazing in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau. It also suggested that inter-specific facilitation between S. chamaejasme and other herbaceous species may play a key role in overgrazing alpine meadows

    The changing face of the Constantia Valley a temporal study of land use change in a heritage landscape

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    Includes bibliographical references.The study of land use change and urban morphology requires a multi-layered approach. Case studies are needed to gain an understanding of the local factors that are driving land use change and forming urban landscapes. This study will provide a temporal perspective on land use change in the Constantia Valley, a high income suburb on the outskirts of Cape Town. It will contextualise the efforts to conserve its heritage and, furthermore, attempt to explain the factors underlying the observed changes in the urban form. This study, through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and a series of interviews, examines how and why the urban form of the Constantia Valley has changed. Finally, based on the findings the possible future urban form of Constantia will be considered

    Bibliographics for the 983 eprints in the live archives of E-LIS : trends and status report up to 7th July 2004, based on author-self-archiving metadata

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    The priority for ideas and philosophy related to "Network Theory" have been traced back and documented by Braun(2004),and credit goes to Karinthy(1929).The IT has empowered to realise it, as the most practical phenomena and it is no more a humour. The OAI (Open Archives Initiatives)and ACIS (Academic Contributor Information System)are progressive in the direction ,which may lead to realise the "Collective Genius" at global level. Focus of present study is on Author-Self-Archiving (A-S-A)Metadata of the 983 Eprints in the Live Archives of the E-LIS (EPrints of Library and Information Science),which were approved till 7th July 2004.The A-S-A Metadata was used for librametric analysis. Self-explanatory bibliographics are illustrated.The highlights include: Conference papers (34%); highest approval, June 2004 (28%); published archives (76%);not refereed (52%); not in public domain (60%); highest self-archiving-author (De Robbio, Antonella).The Nos. of EPrints having single JITA domain specifications were: Theoretical and general aspects of libraries and information(27); Information use and sociology of information(80);Users,literacy and reading(13);Libraries as physical collections(30);Publishing and legal issues(57);Management(13);Industry, profession and education(36);Information sources, supports, channels(113) ; Information treatment for information services, Information functions and techniques (101); Technical services libraries, archives and museums(25); Housing technologies(1); Information technology and library technology(92); and Inter-domainery (395) i.e. having specifications of two or more than two JITA classes

    Scientometric portrait of Nobel laureate Leland H. Hartwell

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    Leland H. Hartwell was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2001) at his 62 years age and at 41 years of research publishing career. The first contribution of the author was in 1961 at the age of 22. The number of his contributions in a year peaked in 1997 when it touched 8. He had 108 publications during 1961 – 2001 in domains: Molecular Biology of Cell Cycle Regulation (43), Genetics of Cell Division (48), Genomic Re-arrangement and DNA Repair (9), Molecular Genetics of Yeast Cell Fission (5), and Drug Target Interaction (3) which were analysed for authorship pattern with his 101 collaborators. Most active researchers having number of publications with Leland H. Hartwell were : Weinert, T. A. (10), Garvik, B. M. (8), McLaughlin, C. S. (8), Jenness, D. D. (5). His productivity coefficient was 0.76 which clearly indicates that his productivity increased after 50 percentile age. Highest collaboration coefficient (1) for Leland H. Hartwell was found during 1963-1965, 1968-1969, 1977, 1981-1983, 1985-1990, 1996 and 1998-2001. Journals have been the most preferred channel of communication where, as many as 96 papers out of 108 have been published. The core journals publishing his papers were: Cell (14), Genetics (12), Mol. Cell Biol. (8), J. Bactariol. (7), J. Cell Biol. ( 7), Science (7) J. Mol. Biol.(6), Exp. Cell Res. (5), and Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.(5). Publication density is 2.63 and Publication concentration is 14.63. Most prolific keywords in titles of publications were: Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Yeast , Cell division cycle , RAD9, DNA Damage , Genes , Cell cycle, Genetic control , Check point (s) , Cell division , Mutant of Yeast

    Scientometric portrait of Ram Gopal Rastogi

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    Publication productivity of Indian scientist (R.G. Rastogi) has been documented. Scientometric analysis of 312 papers by Ram Gopal Rastogi published during 1954 to 1992 in various domains: (a) Luni -solar activity and quiet -time E & F- region (57); (b) Equatorial electric field and low and mid latitude iof:osphere (78); (c) Ionospheric E- region irregularities (19); (dj Ionospheric F- region irregularities (32); and (e) Magnetic disturbance effects on the equatorial low and mid latitude ionosphere (23) were analysed. Interdomainery contents and of the number of papers: a+b were 36; b+c and b+d were 20 each; b+e were 16;. c+e were 5; a+e were 3; d+e were 2; and a+d had only one publication. Highest collaborations were with H. Chandra (61), M.R. Deshpande (42), and G. Sethia (19) out of his total 97 collaborators. His highest productivity was during 1978 with 28 papers followed by 19 papers during 1977. The core journals preferred by him for publishing papers were: Indian Journal of Radio & Space Physics, India, and Journal of Atomic & Terrestrial Physics, UK (59 each), followed by Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, India (34). Most prolific title keywords with their frequencies were: Ionosphere (92); Equatorial (61); F-region (53); Equatorial electrojet region (40), and Magnetic equator (30)

    Late quaternary palaeoenvironments at Vankervelsvlei, near Knysna, South Africa

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    This dissertation outlines the results of a study undertaken to describe the environmental history of Vankervelsvlei, a schwingmoor-type bog near Knysna on the south coast of South Africa. The study relies heavily on the use of fossil pollen as an indicator of vegetation change from which environmental conditions are inferred. Several additional lines of evidence including sedimentological and geochemical data are used to corroborate pollen findings. The narrative of environmental change at the site has been compared with findings from other palaeoecological studies undertaken in the area. Particular reference has been made to the expansion and contraction of afromontane forest vegetation over time to add to existing knowledge of forest history in Southern Africa

    Research fronts in library and information science in Spain

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    Publications and author cocitations in library and information science in Spain during the period from 1985 to 1994 were analyzed as a measure of the structure, specificity and composition of research fronts in this country. A cocitation matrix developed from an ad hoc database was subjected to cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling and principal components analysis, The resulting cocitation maps identified specific areas of r~search and their knowledge bases. We inferred the degree of consolidation of the discipline of library and information science, and of the subdisciplines informetrics, librarianship and university affiliation, from the research activities revealed. In this respect, the conclusions from the study show the existence of several research fronts in Spanish literature the contents of which are in most cases difficult to compare with those in other countries. A lesser degree of maturity of research in this field is shown
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