Evolutionary relationships of the coelacanth, lungfishes, and tetrapods based on the 28S ribosomal RNA gene.

The origin of land vertebrates was one of the major transitions in the history of vertebrates. Yet, despite many studies that are based on either morphology or molecules, the phylogenetic relationships among tetrapods and the other two living groups of lobe-finned fishes, the coelacanth and the lungfishes, are still unresolved and debated. Knowledge of the relationships among these lineages, which originated back in the Devonian, has profound implications for the reconstruction of the evolutionary scenario of the conquest of land. We collected the largest molecular data set on this issue so far, about 3,500 base pairs from seven species of the large 28S nuclear ribosomal gene. All phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony, neighbor-joining, and maximum likelihood) point toward the hypothesis that lungfishes and coelacanths form a monophyletic group and are equally closely related to land vertebrates. This evolutionary hypothesis complicates the identification of morphological or physiological preadaptations that might have permitted the common ancestor of tetrapods to colonize land. This is because the reconstruction of its ancestral conditions would be hindered by the difficulty to separate uniquely derived characters from shared derived characters in the coelacanth/lungfish and tetrapod lineages. This molecular phylogeny aids in the reconstruction of morphological evolutionary steps by providing a framework; however, only paleontological evidence can determine the sequence of morphological acquisitions that allowed lobe-finned fishes to colonize land.

Preliminary data on horse mackerel (Trachurus spp) landings from Mauritanian waters

European fishery off Mauritania (one of the most productive and most intensively exploited regions in the world) targeted to small pelagic fish accounts for 30% of the total catches in the area. The Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), through its Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias, follows up the activity of these vessels that land at Spanish port (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain), under the European Project Data Collection (Regulation (EC) 1543/2000). One of the target groups in this fishery is Trachurus spp, commercially named “JAX”. During 2008 and 2009, several samples of this group from these landings were analysed, and Caranx rhonchus was the second species of importance. The mixture of these species in the landings of this UE fleet should be determined to improve the data provided to the international Working Groups responsible for assessment of those resources.

New information on the evolution of the Bradyodont Chondrichthyes / Richard Lund --.

v.33:no.28(1977)

EU-Mercosur trade relations: impacts of exchange rate misalignments on tariffs. CEPS Working Document No. 372, February 2013

The issue of “trade and exchange rate misalignments” is being discussed at the G20, IMF and WTO, following an initiative by Brazil. The main purpose of this paper is to apply the methodology developed by the authors to exam the impacts of misalignment on tariffs in order to analyse the impacts of misalignments on the trade relations between two customs unions – the EU and Mercosur, as well as to explain how tariff barriers are affected. It is divided into several sections: the first summarises the debate on exchange rates at the WTO; the second explains the methodology used to determine exchange rate misalignments; the third and fourth summarises the methodology applied to calculate the impacts of exchange rate misalignments on the level of tariff protection through an exercise of ‘misalignment tariffication’; the fifth reviews the effects of exchange rate misalignments on tariffs and its consequences for the trade negotiations between the two areas; and the last concludes and suggests a way to move the debate forward in the context of regional arrangements.

Quantifying Non-Tariff Measures for TTIP. Paper No. 12 in the CEPS-CTR project ‘TTIP in the Balance’ and CEPS Special Report No. 116/July 2015

This paper provides an overview of methods employed to quantify non-tariff measures (NTMs) and then analyses their differences and looks at what these mean for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations. The authors find several similarities in the approaches taken. Because all studies conclude that NTMs matter, they argue that policy-makers are right to focus on ‘regulatory cooperation’ in TTIP. Given the significant differences in NTMs across sectors, policy-makers are urged to dive deep into sector-specific elements of NTMs and focus on those sectors where the largest potential gains can be made (i.e. where NTMs are highest, such as in agriculture, automobiles, steel, textiles and insurance services). An area identified for further research is the fact that unlike trade taxes (i.e. tariffs), regulatory barriers to trade are not generally targeted as the primary policy objective, but rather stem from other strategic policy concerns such as consumer safety and/or social and environmental protection. This element should be further investigated.

Examining the Impact of Carbon Tariffs on Trade

Anirudh Shingal presents at the joint NCCR Trade Regulation/NCCR Climate Workshop on “Border measures and the PPM issue in the context of climate change”. This presentation explores the possibility of a unilateral tariff increase on the imports of the most carbon-intensive products (identified from literature) from countries non-committed to climate-friendly polices in a bid to push them towards “global” climate policies. The presentation provides a first look at the empirical model to be used as well as the choice of trading partners, carbon-intensive products and the time period. Preliminary statistical analysis undertaken reveals the importance of these products in the trade flows of both importing and exporting countries as well as the existence of low tariffs (on these products) in destination markets.

The economy of Puerto Rico, with special reference to the economic implications of independence and other proposals to change its political status under the general provisions of section 332, part II, title III, Tariff act of 1930.

Reproduced from type-written copy.

Effects of beach nourishment on the nearshore environment in Lake Huron at Lexington Harbor (Michigan) /

In October 1980 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted a beach nourishment project at the Lexington (Michigan) Harbor on the southwest shore of Lake Huron, a project designed to mitigate beach erosion attributable to the installation of the harbor. In response to a request from the Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Great Lakes Fishery Laboratory conducted a Corps-funded study from June 1980 to October 1981 along a 8.4-kilometer segment of shoreline adjacent to the harbor to determine the effect of the Corps' beach nourishment project on the nearshore aquatic environment. The study performed by the service included aerial photographic surveys of the study area; measurement of dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and suspended particulate matter levels; and collection of lake bottom sediments, macrozoobenthos and fish. Analysis of the aerial photographs showed that the beach face profile changed markedly during the study as a result of beach nourishment. Dredging of about 19,000 cubic meters of beach sediment from an accretion area adjacent to the harbor's north breakwater caused the beach face to recede, while deposition of this sediment on a feeder beach south of the harbor caused the beach face there to extend lakeward.

Speeches on questions of public policy,

Includes index.

An annotated bibliography on the biological effects of constructing channels, jetties, and other coastal structures /

Includes index.

Agriculture and tariff reform.

On cover: For speakers, writers, agents, etc.

Report of the Tariff commission .

Vol. 1, pt. 1 of v. 2, and v. 3 are complete reports. The remaining volumes are each an analysis and summary of the industry studied. Full reports on these industries were not published.