Sea otter predation and the distribution of bivalve prey in the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

The California sea otter population is gradually expanding in size and geographic range and is consequently invading new feeding grounds, including bays and estuaries that are home to extensive populations of bivalve prey. One such area is the Elkhorn Slough, where otters have apparently established a spring and summer communal feeding and resting area. In anticipation of future otter foraging in the slough, an extensive baseline database on bivalve densities, size distributions, biomasses, and burrow depths has been established for three potential bivalve prey species, Saxidomus nuttalli, Tresus nutallii, and Zirphaea pilsbryi. In 1986, the Elkhorn Slough otters were foraging predominately at two areas immediately east and west of the Highway 1 bridge (Skipper's and the PG&E Outfall). Extensive subtidal populations of Saxidomus nuttalli and Tresus nuttallii occur in these areas. Shell records collected at these study areas indicated that sea otters were foraging selectively on Saxidomus over Tresus. The reason for this apparent preference was not clear. At the Skipper's study site, 51% of the shell record was composed of Saxidomus, yet this species accounted for only 16% of the in situ biomass, and only 39% of the available clams. Tresus represented 49% of the shell record at Skipper's, yet this species accounted for 84% of the in situ biomass and 61% of the available clams. There was no difference in mean burrow depth between the two species at this site so availability does not explain the disparity in consumption. At the PG&E Outfall, Saxidomus represents 66% of the in situ biomass and 81% of the available clams, while Tresus accounts for 34% of the in situ biomass and 19% of the available clams. Saxidomus accounts for 96% of the shell record at this site vs. 4% for Tresus, again indicating that the otters were preying on Saxidomus out of proportion to their density or biomass. High densities and biomasses of a third species, Zirphaea pilsbryi, occur in areas where sea otters were observed to be foraging, yet no cast-off Zirphaea shells were found. Although it is possible this species was not represented in the shell record because the otters were simply chewing up the shells, it is more likely this species is avoided by sea otters. There were relatively few sea otters in the Elkhorn Slough in 1986 compared to the previous two years. This, coupled with high bivalve densities, precluded any quantitative comparison of bivalve densities before and after the 1986 sea otter occupation. Qualitative observations made during the course of this study, and quantitative observations from previous studies indicate that, after 3 years, sea otters are not yet significantly affecting bivalve densities in the Elkhorn Slough.

Establishing continental sovereignty in Africa: risk and opportunity in financial integration - lessons for Africa from a legal perspective

This thesis identifies and defines the new African sovereignty. It establishes a modern sovereignty in Africa hatched from the changing nature of sovereignty in which countries come together at various levels or grades of partial surrender of national sovereignty in order to work closer together for their mutual advantage and benefit. To this end, the narrative zooms in on the central issues within the realms of money matters whereby a new model of monetary sovereignty and monetary solutions is designed in an attempt to ease the recurring tensions and challenges of modern national sovereignty in the continent of Africa. As such, this discussion will offer a historical journey through the constitution of sovereignty, to the birth of the nation state and international public law. It develops the theory of the changing nature of sovereignty within the modern state and opens new lines of inquiry for Africa. In this regard, it draws from juxtaposing and mixing elements of regional and global financial integration as well as retaining national financial sovereignty features to form this new design which I dub continental sovereignty. At its core, the thesis will deal with the legal aspects that stem from the co-mingling of legal systems of nation states and communities at the regional and global levels within the context of financial integration. The argument is that the rule of law remains sacrosanct in monetary management. Effective financial integration is the result of properly structured and managed legal frameworks with robust laws and institutions whether at a national, regional or global level. However, the thesis reveals that in order to avoid undermining the progress of Africa’s financial integration project, any solution for Africa must be immersed within a broader global solution where development issues are addressed and resolved and Africa can form a more central part in all relevant international discussion fora. The work will expound these issues by applying them within a regional and global context, with the state of affairs in Africa forming the nucleus. This application consequently presents the six key themes of the thesis which will be considered therein. They are: a.) regional advantage: which exploits the possibilities of deeper and further financial integration between smaller communal arrangements; b.) regional risk and exposure: the extent to which this deeper form of financial integration can spiral out of control if effected too quickly and too ambitiously; c.) global advantage: which considers the merits of global financial integration and the influence exerted by financial laws on the global financial architecture; d.) global risk and exposure: which considers the challenges of global financial integration especially within the background of the Global Financial Crisis 2007-2008; e.) African challenge: which considers the extent to which this analysis impacts the African economic and financial integration agenda; and f.) development challenge: which examines the extent to which global development issues impact the African solution (continental sovereignty) and the need for any solution for the continent to be roped into a broader global solution within which Africa can form an important part. Even though the thesis requests an optimistic undertone on the progress made so far, it unearths the African problem of multiple national sovereignty and multiple overlapping regional sovereignty constituted as the ‘spaghetti bowl’ dilemma. As such, the unique contribution to knowledge on financial integration in Africa can be echoed in these words: Africa‘s financial integration agenda has had little success in authenticating a systematic and dependable legal framework for monetary management. Efforts made have been incomplete, substandard, and not carefully followed through particularly reflected in the impuissant nature of the judicial enforcement mechanisms. Thus, the thesis argues that, any meaningful answer to the problems dogging the continent is inter alia deeply entrenched within a new form of cooperative monetary sovereignty. In other words, the thesis does not prescribe the creation of new laws; rather it advocates the effective enforcement of existing laws.

Tapes, Transgression and Mundanity: the participatory engenderment of death metal and grindcore

Since its origins in the early 1980s, the popular rise of extreme metal throughout the globe has been phenomenal. The emergence of extreme metal's most sonically transgressive subgenres of death metal and grindcore between the mid 1980s and the early 1990s, however, was not an easy one. Indeed, during this period, the only way for globally dispersed extreme metal fans and unsigned extreme metal bands to stay musically connected was via the underground practice of tape-trading. The aim of this study is to illuminate the impact of tape-trading upon the global spread of extreme metal. The study will situate the historical context of extreme metal tape-trading by exploring how it emerged, and why it was necessary in the first place. Utilising the concept of 'extreme metal scene', the study will focus on the central scenic discourse of transgression and explore how this was negotiated into the mundane scenic practice of tape-trading. In relation to this, and utilising the concept of participatory culture, the study will further explore how the music arose and spread throughout the globe via the socially networked practice of both musician and non-musician tape-traders in relation to the tape cassette technology itself. Ethnographic interviews were undertaken with both types of traders in order to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon in question. The research concludes that the tape-traders were able to challenge the status quo of record company gatekeepers, by facilitating the engenderment and global distribution (including the later commercial distribution) of death metal and grindcore. Such powerfully affective music via its continual global spread, offers as it did for the original tape-traders, a pleasurable and empowering communal/personal space for disempowered people throughout the globe. Further research into extreme metal tape-trading would require deeper exploration into other extreme metal subgenres, especially black metal, tape-traders situated outside of North America and Europe, women tape-traders as well as exploration of the phenomenon after the early 1990s.

GENERATIVE LEADERSHIP

This article presents the results of a research project that studied leadership from the standpoint of the personal conceptions that influence the behavior of local government leaders, as well as those conceptions desired to generate the social transformation processes required in communities. Qualitative methodology was used. Categories of analysis were created based on Pearson’s (1992) model of psychological archetypes. A relevant finding was the limited advance shown by interviewees regarding self-knowledge and a fragmented vision between the observer and the observee, which hinders their ability to take on the challenges that current reality demands from them.

Parques lineares ao longo de corpos hídricos urbanos : conflitos e possibilidades; o caso da orla do lago Paranoá – DF

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Programa de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação da Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, 2016.

No caminho da cidadania...

No pós-guerra iniciou-se um processo de internalização política dos direitos fundamentais das mulheres com base na Declaração Universal dos Direitos do Homem, (10 de dezembro de 1948), onde são enaltecidos direitos e valores como a Liberdade e a Igualdade. A adoção da Declaração por parte de países democráticos, como o caso de Portugal, conduziu ao exercício de cidadania plena, independentemente do género, da raça e da religião. Assim, a não discriminação tornou-se um princípio a aplicar nas esferas familiares, públicas e laborais. Tal significa, por exemplo, partilha de tarefas domésticas entre homens e mulheres, participação na vida comunitária e iguais oportunidades laborais. Mas foram superadas as discriminações? Que se passa a nível laboral? A presente dissertação resulta de uma investigação sobre a situação laboral das mulheres em serviços onde constitucionalmente usufruem dos mesmos direitos que os seus colegas homens. Incide sobre os serviços públicos, privados e empresas de Ponte de Sor e tem por referencial o III Plano Nacional para a Igualdade de Cidadania e Género (2007/2010), cuja principal linha orientadora é "o aprofundamento de atividade política e de realidade social (gendermainstreaming)" (2007, p.l5). Com a realização deste estudo concretizámos um trabalho constituído por 3 capítulos, onde se constata que “No Caminho da Cidadania..." é um processo lento. No primeiro capítulo procurou-se abordar a origem histórica do conceito de cidadania e no capítulo segundo tratou­ se da relação da mulher com o trabalho e o poder. O terceiro capítulo, e último, dá conta dos resultados de questionários realizados em Ponte de Sor, nos serviços públicos e privados, e empresas. A conclusão revela a perplexidade causada pela quase indiferença em relação às questões de género nos Serviços questionados em Ponte de Sor. SUMMARY: After World War I began a process of political antinationalization of the women fundamental rights based on the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights, (1Oth December 1948), where rights and values like liberty and equality are exalted. The adoption of the Declaration by the democratically countries, like Portugal, leaded to the execution of full citizenship, independently of gender, race and religion. Therefore, nondiscrimination became a principle to apply in the family, public and labor spheres. This means, for example, share of domestic tasks between men and women, participation in the communal life, and equal opportunities of labor. But were the discriminations surpassed? What is going on the labor level This dissertation results from an inquiry about the labor situation of women in service where constitutionally make uses of the same rights as their colleague’s men. It reflects on the public, private and companies of Ponte de Sor which has for yardstick the III National Plan for Equality of Citizenship and Gender (2007/2010), whose mainline adviser is "the political activity and the social reality deepening (gender mainstreaming)" (2007, p.15). Through this study we fixed a work constituted by three chapters, where it established that "On the Path of Citizenship ..." is a slow process. ln the first chapter tried to broach the historical origin of the concept of citizenship and in the second paragraph was approached the relation of women with labor and power. The third, and last, chapter tries to show the results of questionnaires carried out in Ponte de Sor, in the public, private services and companies. The conclusion reveals the perplexity caused by the barely indifference regarding the questions of genre in the Services questioned in Ponte de Sor.

Narrativa histórica: El legado de la novela Yo, El Supremo de Augusto Roa Bastos en la consolidación de la identidad cultural del Paraguay

La novela Yo, el Supremo del escritor paraguayo Augusto Roa Bastos* se basa en una figura histórica controversial y en los acontecimientos que rodearon a ese personaje. Aunque conocer los hechos más trascendentes de esa época no es indispensable para comprender el texto de la obra, la referencialidad histórica juega un papel importante en la narrativa del Supremo, pues en el proceso de desarrollo argumental de la obra él se nutre de ella para expresar ciertas ideas relacionadas, entre otras, con el concepto comunitario paraguayo. El personaje se mueve dentro de una macro-temporalidad. No obstante, hay una sistemática referencia a una época determinada que sobresale en su discurso. La referencialidad histórica está así funcionando como un marcador temporal y, al mismo tiempo, señala que el discurso de el Supremo es portador de ciertos valores correspondientes a esa época. Los conceptos socio-políticos que maneja el personaje no son abstractos sino que se identifican con el ser paraguayo del siglo XIX.AbstractThe novel Yo, el Supremo, by Paraguayan writer Augusto Roa Bastos, is based on a historical and controversial character and on the facts that surrounded this character. Even though it is not important to know the most important events of that time to understand the text, the historical references play an important role in the narrative of the Supremo because in the process of the argumentative development he is nourished from those references in order to express some ideas related, among others, with the communal Paraguayan concept. The character moves inside a macro-temporal level. However, there is systematic reference to a specific epoch that is highlighted in his discourse. The historical references thus works as a temporal marker and, at the same time, reveals that the discourse of the Supremo contains some values that correspond to that time. The socio-political concepts that the character works with are not abstract but rather show the Paraguayan identity of the XX century.

Local Use and Management of Tasba (Senna obtusifolia) in the Traditional Food System of Sanguere Paul, North Cameroon

The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of the wild edible weed tasba (Senna obtusifolia) in Sanguéré Paul, Cameroon by examining how households use and manage the plant. This study found that local management of tasba is minimal compared to other traditional vegetables. Tasba was collected most frequently from en brousse or the communal, fallowed land which is often too degraded for traditional field crops to grow. Women subsistence farmers were closely involved with tasba as they are the ones responsible for food production within the family. Socioeconomic differences between women affects how they manage tasba and other vegetables to form a livelihood strategy to achieve food security within the family. Modifications and changes in management and use of tasba are influenced by time, proximity and income based on her perspective, preferences and resources available. Overall, tasba is an integral part of the traditional food system in Sanguéré Paul, and can play a role in the uncertain ecological and social setting of northern Cameroon.

Loose Ends

Loose Ends is a collection of lyric and narrative poems that explores the multiple terrains of identity—individual, cultural, and historical. The poems embrace the essential incoherence of the self, resisting monolithic identity in favor of a multi-faceted, historically complex, imagistic rendering of the inner life. At its heart, the collection seeks to grapple with the gravitas of living: the continual assault of history and nature on human agency, the staggering context of the universe as a backdrop for communal and individual struggle. While single poems may only touch briefly or incompletely on these themes, the collection as a whole presents an admittedly inchoate picture of contemporary American identity.

Todo empezó en el 53”: historia oral de un distrito liberacionista

ResumenEl distrito de Concepción de Tres Ríos ha sufrido a partir de 1953 una transformación profunda; de un pueblo cafetalero por excelencia ha pasado a ser un suburbio “dormitorio” de trabajadores urbanos, en su mayoría inmigrantes de otras zonas del país. Este artículo analiza las formas de la política comunal y la política de partidos en este distrito liberacionista.AbstractIn the period alter 1953, the district of Concepción de Tres Ríos has a undergone a deep transformations: from a typical coffee producing town to a suburb where urban works –mostly immigrants from others parts of the country- reside. This article discusses forms of communal politics and partisan politics in the Liberacionista district.

¿Anarquistas, ambientalistas o revolucionarios? La conflictividad rural en Chalco. San Francisco Acuautla contra Zoquiapa, 1850-1868

Resumen El artículo pretende determinar el peso de lo material y lo cultural como factores fundamentales del levantamiento rural en la región de Chalco, México. Entre 1760 y 1920 se producen una serie de cambios en la estructura económica y social de esa región que revelan la ofensiva de la hacienda comercial en detrimento de los recursos comunales de los pueblos. Esto genera una serie de conflictos agrarios de los cuales este artículo analiza uno, el de 1868, ya que su análisis permite considerar y discutir la naturaleza esencial del movimiento social, ponderando el componente anarquista con la dimensión ambientalista del mismo. El autor se encuentra un discurso reivindicativo de los recursos naturales que considera ?ambientalista? por ser una defensa del modo de vida de los pueblos y no sólo de un recurso ?ambiental?, mismo que inserta en la reflexión global sobre la encrucijada entre conflicto y negociación en la región de Chalco. Abstract This essay analyzes material and cultural explanations of rural rebellions in Chalco, Mexico between 1760 and 1920. In that period, several social and economic changes took place which reveal the consolidation of the commercial hacienda against pueblos communal resources. This situation produced several agrarian conflicts; this paper analyses one of those conflicts: that of 1868. The study of that conflict discloses the composition of the rural movement in its anarchist and environmental dimensions. This paper argues that the pueblos defended their natural resources and consequently their way of life by using an ?environmentalist? discourse. Such a discourse was inserted at a crossroads of conflict and negotiation in Chalco.

"¿Politizando la maternidad o maternalizando la política? Ciudadanía y participación política de las mujeres de los barrios del sur de san José, 1950-1980"

En este artículo se abordan los aspectos más relevantes en cuanto a la ciudadanía, participación polí­tica y equipamiento urbano en los barrios del Sur de San José, específicamente la comunidad de Luna Parle. El tema se estudia en relación con las formas de control y resistencia y el rol de la maternidad, de las mujeres que participaron en el espacio público comunal. Se enfatizo en el trabajo del Club de Madres, formado en 1974 y el rol de la Junta ProgresistaAbstractThis article studies citizenship, political participation and urban facilities in south San losé, specifically the Luna Park neighborhood. The topic was studied in relation to the forms of control and resistance and the rule of motherhood for women to participate in the communal public space. Emphasis ¡s placed on the work of the Club de Madres, created in 1974 and the role of the Junta Progresista.

VALORACIÓN ECONÓMICA DE LOS RECURSOS HÍDRICOS EN LAS CUENCAS DE LOS RÍOS BANANO Y BANANITO

Entre los meses de marzo y setiembre del 2004, el Centro Internacional en Política Económica para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Universidad Nacional (CINPE-UNA) elaboró el estudio Valoración económica de los recursos hI’dricos en las cuencas de los rfos Banano y Bananito3 . El objetivo general de éste responde a “estimar el valor del recurso hídrico en las cuencas de los ríos Banano y Bananito, en función de los usos prioritarios, para la recomendación de mecanismos efectivos para la sostenibilidad de un sistema de compensación por los servicios hidrológicos”. Para cumplir con este objetivo se plantean los siguientes objetivos específicos: (1) identificar el método de valoración económica para el recurso hídrico más apropiado dadas las condiciones de la zona, (2) cuantificar los servicios hidrológicos en las cuencas de los ríos Banano y Bananito en función de los principales usos, y (3) recomendar un mecanismo de pago voluntario por el servicio ambiental hídrico, basado en los resultados del estudio, que provea al Área de Conservación La Amistad Caribe (ACLA-C) los elementos para el desarrollo de una experiencia concreta.Producto de una exhaustiva revisión bibliográfica y dados los objetivos del estudio se seleccionó el Análisis de Múltiples Criterios (AMC), como la metodología marco para la valoración económica. Esto implica la aplicación de un método no tradicional, que permite combinar variables cuantitativas y cualitativas. A este respecto, el uso de una metodología participativa y multisectorial hizo posible la participación de los principales grupos de actores usuarios del agua. que se clasificaron en cinco grupos: (1) Asociaciones Administradoras de Acueductos Rurales (ASADAS) y acueductos rurales, (2) ONG’s y organizaciones comunales, (3) sociedad civil, (4) empresa privada y (5) sector público.Luego de sistematizar la información recabada durante las 23 sesiones de consulta participativa. se procede al análisis de los datos, que sirven de insumos para realizar la valoración económica y, finalmente, el diseño de la propuesta de mecanismos de cobro por grupo de usuarios para el pago por servicios ambientales. Los resultados finales se presentan mediante el uso de matrices y gráficos de telaraña.Este informe presenta los avances correspondientes al primer objetivo específico. Asimismo, incluye los comentarios y las sugerencias realizadas durante y posterior al taller de discusión con representantes de PROARCA-APM, TNC y ACLA-C. El documento contiene la caracterización económica y social del área en estudio, una revisión de estudios de valoración, y métodos, así como el método de valoración seleccionado y su forma de aplicación.A bstract:Between March and September 2004, the International Center of Economic Policy for Sustainable Development of the National University (CINPE.IJNA) elaborated the study Economic Valuation of ihe Water Resources in ihe Basins of ihe rivers Banano and Bananito4. The general objcctive of it answers to “estimate the value of the water resource in the basin of the rivers Banano and Bananito, depending on the prior uses, for the recommendation of effective mechanisms for the sustainability of a system of compensation for the hydrological serv ices”.The following specific objectives appear to reach the general objective: (1) To identify the most appropriate method of economic valuation for water resource given (he conditions of the zone. (2) To quantify the hydrological services in the basins of the rivers Banano and Bananito depending on (he principal uses. And (3) to recommend a mechanism of voluntary payment for the environmental water service based on the results of the study, which provides to La Amistad Caribe Conservation Area (ACLA-C), the elements for the development of a concrete experience.Product and given of an exhaustive bibliographical review, the Analysis of Multiple Criteria (AMC) is selected as (he methodology for the economic valuation. It implies (he application of a not traditional method, which allows combining quantitative and qualitative variables. In this regard, the use of a participatory methodoiogy there made possible the participation of the principal groups of actors users of the water, who quatified ¡n five groups to knowing, (1) administrative associations of rural aqueducts (ASADAS), (2) ONG and communal organizations, (3) civil society, (4) private sector and (5) public sector.After systematizing the information obtained during 23 meetings of participatory consultation. one proceeds to the analysis of the information, which use as ¡nputs to realize the economic valuation. Finally, the design of the offer of collection mechanisms for user group for the payment for environmental services is presented. The final results appear by means of the use of counterfoils and spider web graphs.This repon includes the commentaries and suggestions realized during and later to ihe workshop of discussion with representatives of PROARCA-APM, TNC and ACLA-C. The document also contains the economic and social characterization of the area under study, a review of studies of valuation, and methods. as well as the method of valuation selected and its form of application.

EL TURISMO Y LA CONVIVENCIA COMUNAL EN UN ÁREA RURAL-COSTERA

En el presente artículo el lector podrá encontrar algunos aspectos  relacionados  con el turismo como actividad económica y su expresión concreta en las comunidades de Tambor y Montezuma de Cóbano, provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Pero además y es la parte fundamental del mismo se hace referencia aquí al impacto que ha tenido este sector en la convivencia comunal y cotidianidad de esas comunidades. Este impacto se analiza en tres dimensiones específicas: la socioeconómica, la cultural y la ambiental. En síntesis y como producto de los efectos del turismo, la zona analizada sufre una transformación importante que engloba la convivencia comunal; convivencia que en sus manifestaciones generales coincide en cierta medida con el contexto nacional y mundial, pero que también tiene su particularidad. En este sentido, se nota una re-dimensión en la individualidad de actor y sector social, pero además en la totalidad de la convivencia comunal. Esta re-dimensión, si bien es producto de actividades económicas  de sistemas productivos y de nuevas estrategias de desarrollo globalizantes, se manifiesta en lo social, en lo cultural y en la relación sociedad naturaleza ó ambiente a nivel local, como un producto más divertido de la actividad turística.   Abstract: This paper discusses the effects of the tourism industry in the communities of Tambor and Montezuma, Cobano, province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. If focuses in the impact and tourism in peoples everyday life from on three- fold perspective: socio-economic, cultural and evironmental. Regarding the impact of tourism in the socioeconomic dimensión the study revels an important change in the labor market, which was traditionally related to farming and fishing, now oriented to the production of goods and services for tourists and other economic activities take place in medium and small scales and involve men and women, Young  and adults. They generate different social and interpersonal relations, which contribute to change comunal daily coexistence. In the cultural discussion tourism had changed daily like in these communities and patterns of social coexistence. Among the most significant changes are customs and holidays, clothing styles, the loss of traditional forms of communication, the beginning of different ways of dialoging and new relationships among neighbors, and even of the way people talk and how and whit they eat. In relation to the environment the new ways to relate to nature and of trying to manage and handle the natural resources the awareness and the new attitude in regard to the environmental situation, as well as the wormiest for conservation. For having clean and healthy surroundings, among others, had the collective levels. To summarize as a result of the effects of tourism an important transformation is talking place in the communities under study that coincides with the national and global context to a certain extent, but to also has its own particularities. In this sense, it is noticeable a re-definition of the individuality of each actor and social sector and in the totality of the communal identify as well. Eventhough that redefinition is the result of economic activities, of economic systems and new globalized developmental strategies, also effects in the social and cultural aspects and in the relation men-nature in a local level.