Measurements of OVOC fluxes by eddy covariance using a proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer – method development at a coastal site

We present here vertical fluxes of oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) measured with eddy covariance (EC) during the period of March to July 2012 near the southwest coast of the United Kingdom. The performance of the proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) for flux measurement is characterized, with additional considerations given to the homogeneity and stationarity assumptions required by EC. Observed mixing ratios and fluxes of OVOCs (specifically methanol, acetaldehyde, and acetone) vary significantly with time of day and wind direction. Higher mixing ratios and fluxes of acetaldehyde and acetone are found in the daytime and from the direction of a forested park, most likely due to light-driven emissions from terrestrial plants. Methanol mixing ratio and flux do not demonstrate consistent diel variability, suggesting sources in addition to plants. We estimate air-sea exchange and photochemical rates of these compounds, which are compared to measured vertical fluxes. For acetaldehyde, the mean (1 sigma) mixing ratio of 0.13 (0.02) ppb at night may be maintained by oceanic emission, while photochemical destruction out-paces production during the day. Air-sea exchange and photochemistry are probably net sinks of methanol and acetone in this region. Their nighttime mixing ratios of 0.46 (0.20) and 0.39 (0.08) ppb appear to be affected more by terrestrial emissions and long-distance transport, respectively.

Covariance among North Sea ecosystem state indicators during the past 50 years - contrasts between coastal and open waters

Regime shift and principal component analysis of a spatially disaggregated database capturing time-series of climatic, nutrient and plankton variables in the North Sea revealed considerable covariance between groups of ecosystem indicators. Plankton and climate time-series span the period 1958–2003, those of nutrients start in 1980. In both regions, the period from 1989 to 2001 identified in principal component 1 had warmer surface waters, higher Atlantic inflow and stronger winds, than the periods before or after. However, it was preceded by a regime shift in both open (PC2) and coastal (PC3) waters during 1977 towards more hours of sunlight and higher water temperature, which lasted until 1997. The relative influence of nutrient availability and climatic forcing differed between open and coastal North Sea regions. Inter-annual variability in phytoplankton dynamics of the open North Sea was primarily regulated by climatic forcing, specifically by sea surface temperature, Atlantic inflow and co-varying wind stress and NAO. Coastal phytoplankton variability, however, was regulated by insolation and sea surface temperature, as well as Si availability, but not by N or P. Regime shifts in principal components of hydrographic and climatic variables (explaining 55 and 61% of the variance in coastal and open water variables) were detected using Rodionov's sequential t-test. These shifts in hydroclimatic variables which occurred around 1977, 1989, 1997 and 2001, were synchronized in open and coastal waters, and were tracked by open water chlorophyll and copepods, but not by coastal plankton. North–central–south or open-coastal spatial breakdowns of the North Sea explained similar amounts of variability in most ecosystem indicators with the exception of diatom abundance and chlorophyll concentration, which were clearly better explained using the open-coastal configuration.

Les foréts de Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii des Pyrénées aragonaises

Confirmation de la présence do Lonicero-Pinetum thalictretosum, climacique dans les Pyrénées aragonaises sur substrats calcaires. Il s’y développe, á l’étage supraméditerranéen, dans des conditions climatiques méditerranéo-continentales mais relativement xérothermiques.

Contribution á l'étude phytosociologique des matorrais de Méditerranée orientale

Sin resumen

Place et rôle de Juniperus thurifera dans les structures de vegetation des Alpes du Sud

Les formations a genévrier thurifère des Alpes françcaises du sud, présentent un intérêt biogeographique et historique de première importance. Les auteurs étudient les structures de végétation que le genevrier organise dans les étages supraméditerranéen et montagnards.

Précisions phytosociologiques sur les végétations aérohalines de la côte des Albères

Procédant à une révision phytosociologique de la végétation aérohaline des falaises maritimes des Pyrénées orientales, les auteurs y réétudient l'Armerietum ruscinonensis et y décrivent deux associations nouvelles.

Réflexions sur l'appauvrissement des syntaxons aux limites chorologiques des unités phytosociologiques supérieurs et quelques-unes de leurs consequences

Con la ayuda de algunos ejemplos, se estudia el comportamiento de los sintáxones en los límites corológicos de las unidades fitosociológicas superiores; se muestra que, a medida que nos alejamos de su centro de gravedad, esas unidades pierden poco a poco sus especies y que, en sus límites corológicos, no quedan más especies características de unidades superiores para definir las comunidades. Se evocan entonces algunas consecuencias de esas observaciones: noción de combinación específica original, interpretación fitosociológica de los sintáxones, nomenclatura fitosociológica.

L’Utilisation D’Entretiens Quantitatifs Pour Détecter L’influence des Parents Dans le Développement de Compétences Sportives Chez Les Athlètes

Past research has indicated that parents influence children’s sport performance, but studies using qualitative methodologies and lacking comparison groups have failed to outline specific parent behaviors that constitute support, pressure, involvement, and resource provision at each stage of development. This paper presents a quantitative methodology that assesses specific, observable, verifiable parent behaviors across development, allowing future researchers to highlight differences in parental behaviors of athletes who reach high levels of performance and those who do not. The combined survey and interview methodology examines parents’ demographic information, children’s involvement in sporting activities, and the nature of parents’ involvement in those activities. A case study conducted with the parents of three Canadian junior ice hockey athletes using this methodology found parents’ invested time and specific behaviors changed throughout the development of the athlete.