The Asian elephant is amongst the top three frugivores of two tree species with easily edible fruit

Large animal species are prone to local extirpation, but ecologists cannot yet predict how the loss of megaherbivores affects ecosystem processes such as seed dispersal. Few studies have compared the quantity and quality of seed dispersal by megaherbivores versus alternative frugivores in the wild, particularly for plant species with fruit easily consumed by many frugivorous species. In a disturbed tropical moist forest in India, we examine whether megaherbivores are a major frugivore of two tree species with easily edible, mammal-dispersed fruit. We quantify the relative fruit removal rates of Artocarpus chaplasha and Careya arborea, by the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and alternative dispersers. Through focal watches and camera trapping, we found the elephant to be amongst the top three frugivores for each tree species. Furthermore, seed transects under A. chaplasha show that arboreal frugivores discard seeds only a short distance from the parental tree, underscoring the elephant's role as a long-distance disperser. Our data provide unprecedented support for an old notion: megaherbivores may be key dispersers for a broad set of mammal-dispersed fruiting species, and not just fruit inaccessible to smaller frugivores. As such, the elephant may be particularly important for the functional ecology of the disturbed forests it still inhabits across tropical Asia.

Primates, Provisioning and Plants: Impacts of Human Cultural Behaviours on Primate Ecological Functions

Human provisioning of wildlife with food is a widespread global practice that occurs in multiple socio-cultural circumstances. Provisioning may indirectly alter ecosystem functioning through changes in the eco-ethology of animals, but few studies have quantified this aspect. Provisioning of primates by humans is known to impact their activity budgets, diets and ranging patterns. Primates are also keystone species in tropical forests through their role as seed dispersers; yet there is no information on how provisioning might affect primate ecological functions. The rhesus macaque is a major human-commensal species but is also an important seed disperser in the wild. In this study, we investigated the potential impacts of provisioning on the role of rhesus macaques as seed dispersers in the Buxa Tiger Reserve, India. We studied a troop of macaques which were provisioned for a part of the year and were dependent on natural resources for the rest. We observed feeding behaviour, seed handling techniques and ranging patterns of the macaques and monitored availability of wild fruits. Irrespective of fruit availability, frugivory and seed dispersal activities decreased when the macaques were provisioned. Provisioned macaques also had shortened daily ranges implying shorter dispersal distances. Finally, during provisioning periods, seeds were deposited on tarmac roads that were unconducive for germination. Provisioning promotes human-primate conflict, as commensal primates are often involved in aggressive encounters with humans over resources, leading to negative consequences for both parties involved. Preventing or curbing provisioning is not an easy task as feeding wild animals is a socio-cultural tradition across much of South and South-East Asia, including India. We recommend the initiation of literacy programmes that educate lay citizens about the ill-effects of provisioning and strongly caution them against the practice.

Fruit Trait Preference in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) and its Implications for Seed Dispersal

Primates constitute 25-40 % of the frugivore biomass of tropical forests. Primate fruit preference, as a determinant of seed dispersal, can therefore have a significant impact on these ecosystems. Although the traits of fruits included in primate diets have been described, fruit trait preference has been less studied with respect to fruit availability. We examined fruit trait preference and its implications for seed dispersal in the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), a dietarily flexible species and important seed disperser, at the Buxa Tiger Reserve, India. Over a year, we monitored the phenology of selected trees in the study area, observed the feeding behavior of rhesus macaques using scans and focal animal sampling, and documented morphological traits of the fruits/seeds consumed. Using generalized linear modeling, we found that the kind of edible tissue was the chief determinant of fruit consumption, with M. mulatta feeding primarily on fruits with juicy-soft pulp and acting as seed predators for those with no discernible pulp. Overall, the preferred traits were external covers that could be easily pierced by a fingernail, medium to large seeds, true stone-like seeds, and juicy-soft edible tissue, thereby implying that fruit taxa with these traits had a higher probability of being dispersed. Macaques were more selective during the high fruit availability period than the low fruit availability period, preferentially feeding on soft-skinned fruits with juicy-soft pulp. We suggest that further studies be conducted across habitats and time to understand the consistency of interactions between primates and fruits with specific traits to determine the degree of selective pressure (if any) that is exerted by primates on fruit traits.

Formation of composite organic thin film transistors with nanotubes and nanowires

Plastic electronics is a rapidly expanding topic, much of which has been focused on organic semiconductors. However, it is also of interest to find viable ways to integrate nanomaterials, such as silicon nanowires (SiNWs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), into this technology. Here, we present methods of fabrication of composite devices incorporating such nanostructured materials into an organic matrix. We investigate the formation of polymer/CNT composites, for which we use the semiconducting polymer poly(3,3‴-dialkyl-quaterthiophene) (PQT). We also report a method of fabricating polymer/SiNW TFTs, whereby sparse arrays of parallel oriented SiNWs are initially prepared on silicon dioxide substrates from forests of as-grown gold-catalysed SiNWs. Subsequent ink-jet printing of PQT on these arrays produces a polymer/SiNW composite film. We also present the electrical characterization of all composite devices. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposited carbon nanotubes for field emission applications

Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition is an extremely versatile technique for directly growing multiwalled carbon nanotubes onto various substrates. We will demonstrate the deposition of vertically aligned nanotube arrays, sparsely or densely populated nanotube forests, and precisely patterned arrays of nanotubes. The high-aspect ratio nanotubes (∼50 nm in diameter and 5 microns long) produced are metallic in nature and direct contact electrical measurements reveal that each nanotube has a current carrying capacity of 107-108 A/cm2, making them excellent candidates as field emission sources. We examined the field emission characteristics of dense nanotube forests as well as sparse nanotube forests and found that the sparse forests had significantly lower turn-on fields and higher emission currents. This is due to a reduction in the field enhancement of the nanotubes due to electric field shielding from adjacent nanotubes in the dense nanotube arrays. We thus fabricated a uniform array of single nanotubes to attempt to overcome these issues and will present the field emission characteristics of this.

Estado forestal del Pinus caribaea Morelet var. Hondurensis en el Pinal, Laguna de Perlas, RAAS

Tbe present study was carried out in the strip of land coast between Pearls Lagoon community and the Caribbean sea, in the nearness of Pinar lagoon, 25 km to the north of Bluefields. The geographical coordinates of the area are 12" 13' N and 83" 42' west. Tbe climate presents an annua! rninfall of 4 250 mm, an avera· ge temperature of 26 "C and a relative humidity of 89 %. The topography is plain and tbe elevation oscillates between O· 10 masl. The ma.in objective of the study was to evaluate the forest conditions in which forest of P. Caribaea var .. Jwndurei'ISis ealled the Pinal are found. The methodology employed consisted of gathering all information using air pllotographs and topograpbieal maps to defined the area and stands group (designed A, B, C, D, E, F and G). Two block and seven stands were found, in which invent.ory lines with sample plots of 500 m1 each one were employed to measure the indivíduals with DBH over 10 cm. The intensily it shows ís of !5% and was measured diameter, height, age and other. In tbis forest there where found seven stands with a total area covered with pine of 312.42 has. The average age is 23 years and estirnated total volume of 97.4 ms of wood. The density is of 60,61 trees hectare, with an average volume of 13.02 m3 /has and a commercial volume of 8.29 m' 1 has. Where found lndices of place 12 (stands G), 9 y 6. Besides, the 6.3.64 % of the trees has a satisfactory tendency of growlh (quality l and 2). lt can be concluded that the resource is in badly state due to intensive exploitations and annual f!fCS; is a young forest (23 years old), dotninated by índi viduals of small diameters (10-25 cm) and medium height (5-25 m); the available areas or with possibilities of being planting are: estimated in 468.64 has. This forest has a half annual increment of 1.4.3 cm/year, which is considered excellent and is c1assified with Clas P-III, FAO Classification by forests stratification.

Barium-Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Yarns As Low-Work-Function Thermionic Cathodes

Barium-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube yarns were fabricated by drawing and twisting multiwalled carbon nanotube forests through a solution containing barium nitrate. After heat activation under vacuum, the functionalized yarns were enriched in barium oxide due to the high surface-to-volume ratio of the nanotubes. The cathodes exhibited good thermionic properties, with a work function as low as 1.73-2.06 eV and thermionic current density that exceeded 185 mA/cm(2) in a field of 850 V/5 mm at 1317 K. The barium-functionalized yarns had high tensile strength of up to 420 MPa and retained strength of similar to 250 MPa after a 2 h activation process. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

El pensamiento católico medieval sobre los bosques, los animales y el subsuelo

Resumen: El autor plantea un recorrido por el pensamiento católico medieval sobre los bosques, los animales y el subsuelo. Da cuenta de cómo filósofos morales como San Antonino de Florencia, Francisco de Vitoria, Domingo de Soto y San Francisco de Asís, entre otros, contribuyeron grandemente al pensamiento económico. Luego, dedica un apartado al análisis sobre cómo la teoría del dominio y la propiedad privada se aplica a los bienes de la naturaleza. Además, el autor se refiere también a la cuestión relativa a la propiedad del subsuelo. Finalmente, destaca que en ninguno de los postulados de tales filósofos se contempla el daño a la naturaleza como tal, sino en relación al impacto sobre la persona humana y el bien común.

Guided pollards in the Basque Country (Spain) during the Early Modern Ages

Publicado en: "End of Tradition?.Part 1 : History of Commons and Commons Management (Cultural Severance and Commons Past)", edited by Ian D. Rotherham, Mauro Agnoletti and Christine Handley

Las comunidades de montes en Guipúzcoa en el tránsito del Medievo a la Edad Moderna

Ejemplar dedicado a: Élites sociales y poder territorial.

Litter dynamics and phenology of Melaleuca quinquenervia in south Florida

We monitored litterfall biomass at six different sites of melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake) forested wetlands in South Florida from July 1997 to June 1999. Annual litterfall of melaleuca varied between sites from 6.5 to 9.9 t dry wt ha(-1) yr(1) over the two-year period. Litterfall was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in scasonally flooded habitats (9.3 t ha(-1) yr(1)) than in non-flooded (7.5 t ha(-1) yr(1)) and permanently flooded habitats (8.0 t ha(-1) yr(1)). Leaf fall was the major component forming 70% of the total litter, woody material 16%, and reproductive material 11%. Phenology of flowering and leaf flush was investigated by examination of the timing and duration of the fall of different plant parts in the litter traps, coupled with monthly field observations during the two-year study. In both years, flowering began in October and November, with peak flowers production around December, and was essentially completed by February and March. New shoot growth began in mid winter after peak flowering, and extended into the spring. Very little new growth was observed in melaleuca forests during the summer months, from May to August, in South Florida. In contrast, the fall of leaves and small wood was recorded in every month of the year, but generally increased during the dry season with higher levels observed from February to April. Also, no seasonality was recorded in the fall of seed capsules, which apparently resulted from the continual self-thinning of small branches and twigs inside the forest stand. In planning management for perennial weeds, it is important to determine the period during its annual growth cycle when the plant is most susceptible to control measures. These phenological data suggest that the appropriate time for melaleuca control in South Florida might be during late winter and early spring, when the plant is most active.

STREAM country strategy paper: Cambodia

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world; much of its population live in rural areas and many live below the local poverty line. The management of common property aquatic resources is of over-riding importance to food security and sustainable rural development in Cambodia. The key groups of poor people who use aquatic resources as part of their diverse livelihoods portfolios are subsistence fishers, small-scale aquaculture practitioners and aquatic resources collectors. Subsistence fishers access mainly the rivers, lakes and inundated forests in Tonle Sap provinces, the lower Mekong and Bassac regions and the upper part of the Mekong. Small-scale aquaculture and/or the collection of aquatic resources are most important in provinces that are not rich in fisheries resources including Kompong Speu, Ratnakiri, Mondulkiri, Preah Vihear and Ortdar Meanchey. Freshwater capture fisheries probably contribute more to national food security and the national economy in Cambodia than in any other country in the world. (19 p.)

Food habits as an ecological partitioning mechanism in the nearshore rockfishes (Sebastes) of Carmel Bay, California

In the kelp forests of Carmel Bay there are six common rockfishes (Sebastes). Three are pelagic (S. serranoides, S. mystinus, and S. melanops) and two are demersal (S. chrysomelas and S. carnatus). The sixth (S. atrovirens) is generally found a few meters above the sea floor. The pelagic rockfishes which are spatially overlapping have different feeding habits. All rockfishes except S. mystinus utilize juvenile rockfishes as their primary food source during the upwelling season. Throughout the non-upwelling season, most species consume invertebrate prey. The pelagic rockfishes have shorter maxillary bones and longer gill rakers than their demersal congeners, both specializations for taking smaller prey. They also have longer intestines, enabling them to utilize less digestable foods. S. mystinus, which has the longest intestine, may be able to use algae as a food source. Fat reserves are accumulated from July through October, when prey is most abundant. Fat is depleted throughout the rest of the year as food becomes scarce and development of sexual organs takes place. Gonad development occurs from November through February for all species except S. atrovirens.

Science-based restoration monitoring of coastal habitats, Volume One: A framework for monitoring plans under the Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 2000 (Public Law 160-457)

Executive Summary: The Estuary Restoration Act of 2000 (ERA), Title I of the Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 2000, was created to promote the restoration of habitats along the coast of the United States (including the US protectorates and the Great Lakes). The NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science was charged with the development of a guidance manual for monitoring plans under this Act. This guidance manual, titled Science-Based Restoration Monitoring of Coastal Habitats, is written in two volumes. It provides technical assistance, outlines necessary steps, and provides useful tools for the development and implementation of sound scientific monitoring of coastal restoration efforts. In addition, this manual offers a means to detect early warnings that the restoration is on track or not, to gauge how well a restoration site is functioning, to coordinate projects and efforts for consistent and successful restoration, and to evaluate the ecological health of specific coastal habitats both before and after project completion (Galatowitsch et al. 1998). The following habitats have been selected for discussion in this manual: water column, rock bottom, coral reefs, oyster reefs, soft bottom, kelp and other macroalgae, rocky shoreline, soft shoreline, submerged aquatic vegetation, marshes, mangrove swamps, deepwater swamps, and riverine forests. The classification of habitats used in this document is generally based on that of Cowardin et al. (1979) in their Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States, as called for in the ERA Estuary Habitat Restoration Strategy. This manual is not intended to be a restoration monitoring “cookbook” that provides templates of monitoring plans for specific habitats. The interdependence of a large number of site-specific factors causes habitat types to vary in physical and biological structure within and between regions and geographic locations (Kusler and Kentula 1990). Monitoring approaches used should be tailored to these differences. However, even with the diversity of habitats that may need to be restored and the extreme geographic range across which these habitats occur, there are consistent principles and approaches that form a common basis for effective monitoring. Volume One, titled A Framework for Monitoring Plans under the Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 2000, begins with definitions and background information. Topics such as restoration, restoration monitoring, estuaries, and the role of socioeconomics in restoration are discussed. In addition, the habitats selected for discussion in this manual are briefly described. (PDF contains 116 pages)

Supporting the planning of a community fisheries monitoring and evaluation database: a collaborative project undertaken by CFDO, FLD, STREAM, VSO and AYAD

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world; much of its population live in rural areas and many live below the local poverty line. The management of common property aquatic resources is of over-riding importance to food security and sustainable rural development in Cambodia. Aquatic resources are utilized principally by subsistence fishers and the landless, for whom aquatic resource use is an important livelihood activity. Subsistence fishers access mainly the rivers, lakes and inundated forests in Tonle Sap provinces, the lower Mekong and Bassac regions and the upper part of the Mekong. Freshwater capture fisheries probably contribute more to national food security and the national economy in Cambodia than in any other country in the world. (PDF contains 52 pages)