Long-term Series (long-term + series)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Extent of Nontimber Resource Extraction in Tropical Forests: Accessibility to Game Vertebrates by Hunters in the Amazon Basin

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003
Carlos A. Peres
We conducted a basin-wide geographic information system analysis of the nonmotorized accessibility of Amazonian NTFP extraction and estimated the proportion of the Amazon drainage basin within Brazil ( 3.74 million km 2 ) that can be accessed on foot from the nearest navigable river or functional road. We use a long-term series of standardized line-transect vertebrate censuses conducted throughout the region to illustrate the effects of physical accessibility on wildlife densities in terms of hunting pressure as a function of distance from the nearest point of access. Population abundance in large-bodied, prime-target species preferred by game hunters tended to increase at greater distances from the access matrix, whereas small-bodied species ignored by hunters usually showed the reverse trend. In addition, we estimated the proportion of presumably inviolate core areas within nature, extractive, and indigenous reserves of Brazilian Amazonia that are prohibitively remote and unlikely to be overhunted; for instance, only 1.16% of the basin-wide area is strictly protected on paper and is reasonably safe from extractive activities targeted to game vertebrates and other valuable NTFPs. Finally, we discuss the concept of truly undisturbed wildlands in the last major tropical forest regions by distinguishing potentially overharvested areas from those that remain largely or entirely pristine and that maintain viable populations of a full complement of harvest-sensitive species. Resumen: Las actividades de extracción enfocadas en un amplio rango de productos forestales no maderables ( NTFPs ) son omnipresentes en los bosques tropicales. Sin embargo, la extensión de bosques estructuralmente intactos en una determinada región afectada por esta forma de perturbación críptica ha sido escasamente documentada. Realizamos un análisis GIS del acceso no motorizado para la extracción NTFP en el Amazonas y estimamos la proporción de la desembocadura de la cuenca amazónica ( ,3.74 millones de km2 ) a la cual se puede acceder a pie a partir del río navegable o la carretera funcional más cercana. Utilizamos series de censos de vertebrados a largo plazo empleando transectos en línea estandarizados a lo largo de la región para ejemplificar los efectos del acceso físico sobre las densidades de vida silvestre en términos de presión de caza como función de la distancia al punto de acceso más cercano. La abundancia poblacional de especies de cuerpo grande que son blancos preferidos por los cazadores tendió a crecer a mayores distancias de la matriz de acceso, mientras que las especies de cuerpo pequeño ignoradas por los cazadores generalmente muestran la tendencia inversa. Además, estimamos la proporción de áreas medulares presuntamente inviolables dentro de las reservas naturales, extractivas e indígenas del Amazonas brasileño que son prohibitivamente remotas y poco probables de ser sobreexplotadas: por ejemplo, solo el 1.16% del área de la cuenca estrictamente proyectada en papel está razonablemente a salvo de las actividades extractivas de los vertebrados de caza y otras NTFPs valiosas. Finalmente, discutimos el concepto de tierras silvestres verdaderamente no perturbadas en las grandes regiones de bosque tropical restantes diferenciando las áreas potencialmente sobreexplotadas de aquellas que son en su mayor parte o totalmente prístinas y que mantienen poblaciones viables de un complemento total de especies sensibles a la cosecha. [source]


Reproducible protein analysis by CE using linear polyacrylamide-coated capillaries and hydrochloric acid rinsing

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 13 2007
Adhitasari Suratman
Abstract Hydrochloric acid was investigated as a rinsing reagent to remove adsorbed proteins from linear polyacrylamide-coated capillaries for electrophoresis. Three model proteins were used, namely cytochrome c as a basic protein, ,-lactoglobulin as an acidic protein, and ,-casein as a more easily denaturing protein. In order to regenerate capillary surfaces, they have been rinsed for 5,min with 2,M hydrochloric acid, 5,min with water, and then 30,min with buffer after every tenth run. It was found important to perform this regeneration procedure on time. The obtained results show good repeatability of the apparent EOF mobility with percentage RSDs below 3% (n,=,60) in various cases. These good results were mainly confirmed in long-term series with more than 200 runs each. Only very high concentrations (175,,M) of ,-lactoglobulin and ,-casein at pH,3.5 gave RSD% values above 5%. For these conditions, the further test of 85% m/m phosphoric acid as rinsing reagent showed a good repeatability of the apparent EOF mobilities as well. [source]


THE RESPONSE OF PARTIALLY DEBRIS-COVERED VALLEY GLACIERS TO CLIMATE CHANGE: THE EXAMPLE OF THE PASTERZE GLACIER (AUSTRIA) IN THE PERIOD 1964 TO 2006

GEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2008
ANDREAS KELLERER-PIRKLBAUER
ABSTRACT. Long-term observations of partly debris-covered glaciers have allowed us to assess the impact of supra-glacial debris on volumetric changes. In this paper, the behaviour of the partially debris-covered, 3.6 km2 tongue of Pasterze Glacier (47°05,N, 12°44,E) was studied in the context of ongoing climate changes. The right part of the glacier tongue is covered by a continuous supra-glacial debris mantle with variable thicknesses (a few centimetres to about 1 m). For the period 1964,2000 three digital elevation models (1964, 1981, 2000) and related debris-cover distributions were analysed. These datasets were compared with long-term series of glaciological field data (displacement, elevation change, glacier terminus behaviour) from the 1960s to 2006. Differences between the debriscovered and the clean ice parts were emphasised. Results show that volumetric losses increased by 2.3 times between the periods 1964,1981 and 1981,2000 with significant regional variations at the glacier tongue. Such variations are controlled by the glacier emergence velocity pattern, existence and thickness of supra-glacial debris, direct solar radiation, counter-radiation from the valley sides and their changes over time. The downward-increasing debris thickness is counteracting to a compensational stage against the common decrease of ablation with elevation. A continuous debris cover not less than 15 cm in thickness reduces ablation rates by 30,35%. No relationship exists between glacier retreat rates and summer air temperatures. Substantial and varying differences of the two different terminus parts occurred. Our findings clearly underline the importance of supra-glacial debris on mass balance and glacier tongue morphology. [source]


A geochronological approach to understanding the role of solar activity on Holocene glacier length variability in the Swiss Alps

GEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2006
Anne Hormes
ABSTRACT. We present a radiocarbon data set of 71 samples of wood and peat material that melted out or sheared out from underneath eight presentday mid-latitude glaciers in the Central Swiss Alps. Results indicated that in the past several glaciers have been repeatedly less extensive than they were in the 1990s. The periods when glaciers had a smaller volume and shorter length persisted between 320 and 2500 years. This data set provides greater insight into glacier variability than previously possible, especially for the early and middle Holocene. The radiocarbon-dated periods defined with less extensive glaciers coincide with periods of reduced radio-production, pointing to a connection between solar activity and glacier melting processes. Measured long-term series of glacier length variations show significant correlation with the total solar irradiance. Incoming solar irradiance and changing albedo can account for a direct forcing of the glacier mass balances. Long-term investigations of atmospheric processes that are in interaction with changing solar activity are needed in order to understand the feedback mechanisms with glacier mass balances. [source]


Development of a new wind-rose for the British Isles using radiosonde data, and application to an atmospheric transport model

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 621 2006
A. J. Dore
Abstract A six-hourly dataset of radiosonde ascents spanning a ten-year period from four stations in the British Isles has been used to generate a set of wind frequency roses and wind speed roses for the pressure level range 950,900 hPa. The wind frequency rose showed close agreement with the long-term series of the Jenkinson classification scheme. Small but significant inter-station and interannual variations were observed. Seasonal analysis of the data revealed the higher incidence of north-easterlies during spring months whilst the stronger wind speeds associated with the winter months were also evident. The use of a harmonic mean was found to be appropriate for calculating a directionally dependent wind speed for use in an atmospheric transport model. A harmonic mean wind speed value of 7.5 m s,1 was generated from the entire dataset, the same as that which has previously been used in other transport models. This is also the same value as the ,optimized wind speed' that was generated by Singles et al. The radiosonde wind frequency rose and wind speed rose were input to the FRAME atmospheric transport model. This resulted in an improved correlation with measurements of SO2 concentrations from a national monitoring network when compared to a model simulation using the earlier dataset of Jones. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society [source]


Frequent monitoring of temperature: an essential requirement for site selection in bivalve aquaculture in tropical,temperate transition zones

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 10 2006
María Teresa Sicard
Abstract Frequent monitoring of temperature (FMT) for over 1 year at two aquaculture sites in the western Baja California peninsula was analysed in terms of hourly, daily and monthly variability, and with this information, temperature-change indices were calculated. These data were contrasted against a long-term series from a global database (Extended Reconstruction of Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST)) to evaluate whether these could substitute for FMT. The compatibility of species requirements with the thermal conditions was evaluated by comparing the temperature frequency distributions from the two FMTs, with the optimum and lethal temperature information available on five bivalve species of aquacultural interest. We concluded that there was no correlation between ERSST and FMT because the former underestimates the amplitude of real temperature fluctuations and exhibits a different pattern of variation during the year. Therefore, FMT was needed for a correct selection of an aquaculture site for bivalves. The FMT indicated high temperature variability at both sites studied on different time scales, with the site located at lower latitude (Rancho Bueno) warmer and with a higher variability than Laguna Manuela. Contrasting these results with optimum and lethal temperature values of bivalve species, it was possible to find the ideal site, for temperature, for culturing the species, taking into account the variability associated with large-scale phenomena. [source]