Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Qualitative Predictions (qualitative + prediction)
Selected AbstractsNeutral community dynamics, the mid-domain effect and spatial patterns in species richnessECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 8 2005Thiago F. L. V. B. Rangel Abstract The mid-domain effect (MDE) aims to explain spatial patterns in species richness invoking only stochasticity and geometrical constraints. In this paper, we used simulations to show that its main qualitative prediction, a hump-shaped pattern in species richness, converges to the expectation of a spatially bounded neutral model when communities are linked by short-distance migration. As these two models can be linked under specific situations, neutral theory may provide a mechanistic population level basis for MDE. This link also allows establishing in which situations MDE patterns are more likely to be found. Also, in this situation, MDE models could be used as a first approximation to understand the role of both stochastic (ecological drift and migration) and deterministic (adaptation to environmental conditions) processes driving the spatial structure of species richness. [source] Theoretical reassessment of Whelk-O1 as an enantioselective receptor for 1-(4-halogeno-phenyl)-1-ethylamine derivativesCHIRALITY, Issue S1 2004Alberto Del Rio Abstract A combination of molecular mechanics and first principles calculations was used to explore the enantioselectivity of receptors, taking into account experimental data from the CHIRBASE database. Interactions between the Whelk-O1 HPLC chiral stationary phase with the complete series of 1-(4-halogeno-phenyl)-1-ethylamine derivative racemates were studied. The objective was to extract information from the interactions between the chiral Whelk-O1 stationary phase and the enantiomers, hence probing the origin of the enantioselective behavior. Calculations correctly reproduce the elution orders and reasonably describe the experimental enantioselectivities and retention factors. Different binding modes were observed for the first eluted enantiomer complexes, whereas the second eluted show only one prevalent diastereomeric binding fashion. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was used on the global minima bound-complexes to quantify donor-acceptor interactions among chiral stationary phase and ligand moieties. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding was found to be the essential energetic interaction for all systems studied. CH-,, aromatic stacking and various charge transfer interactions were found to be smaller in magnitude but still important for the global enantioselective behavior. The three-point interaction model is discussed, pointing out the difficulty of its application for the qualitative prediction of elution orders (absolute configurations). Chirality 16:S1,S11, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Trends in aquatic macrophyte species turnover in Northern Ireland , which factors determine the spatial distribution of local species turnover?GLOBAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Einar Heegaard ABSTRACT Aim, The study examined qualitative predictions of ecological theories in relation to the spatial distribution of species turnover of aquatic macrophytes, through the following parameters: (1) distance between lakes (2) chemical conditions of the lakes (3) chemical differences between the lakes, and (4) the lake size. Location, 562 lakes dispersed throughout Northern Ireland were analysed. Methods, To obtain species turnover estimates independent of richness, the average distance between focal lakes and their five nearest neighbours in ordination space (DCA) was standardized by the species richness in a Generalized Additive Model (GAM). The relationships between species turnover and ecological (chemical condition, chemical difference, distance between lakes, and lake-size) and geographical parameters (latitude, longitude, and altitude) were analysed using GAM. Results, The results indicate that the pattern in species turnover is a combination of the chemical conditions and the distance between the lakes, including the interaction term. The effects of chemical heterogeneity and lake size parameters were both positive but weak. In general, increased distance and decreased ionic concentration contribute to increased turnover. The influence of distance on species turnover is strongest at low and high altitude, and at mid-elevation the species turnover is mainly driven by the chemical conditions. Towards the north there is an increasing influence of distance, whereas in the south the chemical conditions have their strongest influence. Conclusions, There is a need for components from several established ecological theories to explain the spatial trends in species turnover within Northern Ireland. Central theories in this particular study are the population/metapopulation dynamics, the continuum concept, and the species-pool concept. [source] The flight speed of parent birds feeding youngJOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Alasdair I. Houston I review previous models of the speed at which parent birds should fly when delivering food to their young. Norberg gives a graphical method of finding a parent's best flight speed. This speed maximizes the overall rate at which energy is delivered to the young. An alternative assumption is that a parent maximizes the net rate of delivery of energy. I suggest that in general we cannot distinguish between net rate and overall rate on the basis of whether the parent feeds itself. The best way to distinguish between these currencies may be to use qualitative predictions. I present new results on the effect of a constraint on energy expenditure on the parent's optimal speed. I show that the optimal speed when foraging should be less than the optimal speed when traveling. I also analyse the advantage to a parent of flying faster than the maximum range speed and evaluate previous empirical studies of the speed at which parent birds fly. Only one study claims that parent birds fly at the speed identified by Norberg, but I raise doubts about this claim. [source] Reproductive skew in birds: models, problems and prospectsJOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2000Robert D. Magrath In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in models to explain the partitioning of direct reproduction (,reproductive skew') among members of one sex within social groups. We review models of skew, identify problems of testing models, and consider how to make progress. One series of models assumes that dominants have complete control of subordinate reproduction, but may allow subordinates some reproduction as a way of enticing them to help or getting them to share the cost of reproduction. Another series of models assume that dominants have limited control of subordinate reproduction. Reproductive skew may also be affected by incest avoidance or control by the opposite sex. Models are largely untested because no study of birds has quantified all relevant parameters, and we see no prospect of this happening soon. A common simplifying approach is to test qualitative predictions about the effect on skew of relatedness among group members. However, these data alone cannot distinguish among models because models do not make unique predictions, partly because skew is also affected by other factors. A major problem in cooperatively-breeding birds is that any effect of relatedness will often be confounded by covariation with relatedness asymmetry and subordinate competitiveness. Progress can be made with the development of theory, controlling confounding variables through the choice of study species or types of social group, and, most importantly, testing assumptions underlying hypotheses. [source] Real Effects of Monetary Policy in New ZealandTHE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC REVIEW, Issue 4 2007Shahnawaz Karim This article analyses the dynamic effects of unexpected domestic and foreign monetary policy shocks on industrial output in New Zealand based on a new open economy macroeconomic model. Empirical analyses are performed using unrestricted recursive open economy vector autoregressive models involving policy and non-policy variables for New Zealand and four of its most important trading partners (that is, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States). The empirical findings are in accord with the qualitative predictions of the conventional monetary transmission mechanism applicable to a small open economy. Consequently, no empirical anomalies are observed in the dynamic behaviour of New Zealand industrial output in response to restrictive monetary innovations of domestic and foreign origin. [source] | ||||||||||