Harmony Point Research Articles

The emergence of vowel harmony in Armenian dialects

Abstract We find vowel harmony systems in many non-standard varieties of modern Armenian. It has been speculated that these may have acquired vowel harmony due to contact with Turkic varieties (Scala 2018). On the basis of an exploration of the synchrony and typology of Armenian vowel harmony, consideration of historical changes that could have caused harmony to develop, and evaluation of new data bearing on the origins of backness and rounding harmony in Oghuz, we propose that the vowel harmony systems of the modern Armenian dialects show evidence of having been influenced by Turkish, but the numerous differences between Armenian and Turkish vowel harmony point against a straightforward copying of the Turkish phonological system. We theorize that vowel harmony in Armenian arose due to a combination of language-internal and ‑external factors: vowel shifts in some Armenian dialects, alongside universal analytic and channel biases, provided the necessary preconditions for the development of vowel harmony by the 11th century AD, prior to the arrival of Turkic speakers in the Armenian homeland. Extensive contact with Turkic vowel systems may then have encouraged the phonologization of this assimilation process, but in strikingly different ways than are found in Turkic languages.

Contribution by Giant petrels and Brown skuas to soil phosphatization in Harmony Point - Maritime Antarctica.

This research was conducted for the purpose to evaluate the contribution Giant petrels and Brown skuas nestings in the formation of ornithogenic soils by the phosphatization process in Harmony Point, Maritime Antarctic. Ten nests were selected to collect topsoil samples (0-20 cm), from 0 m up to 20 m away, with regular spacing of 2 m. The analysis of the samples included the physical, chemical, mineralogical and geochemical analyzes. Phosphate minerals were identified. The presence of high content of some trace elements, such as Zn, Cu and Sr is associated with the bird's excrements. Total-P and bioavailable-P recorded higher levels. This result demonstrates the importance of the time factor in the bird's nesting, as well as in the development of the soil in these soil-forming environment. Phosphatization in these areas is not restricted to the specific location of the nest, since high values of P have been identified at distances between 8 and 12 m, from de nest's top. This suggests the transport of P rich solutions and phosphatized material along fractures by the freeze-thaw cycles, contributing to increase the geographical expression of this phenomenon in this ice-free area, consequently the development of soils and the establishment of vegetation.

Waterborne metal levels in four freshwater lakes from Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Antarctica.

The aim of this study is to analyze the waterborne metal levels in four lakes (one endorheic and three exorheic) of Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Antarctica. Water samples were analyzed by using a quadrupole type inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer and an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The levels of As, Cu, Mn, Mo, and V were significantly lower and those of Cr, Mg, Na, and Sr were significantly higher in the endorheic lake than in the other lakes. Most water samples presented levels of Ag, Be, Cd, Pb, Se, Tl, and U below the limit of quantification, while for Ba, Co, and Ni around half of the samples were below this limit. The waterborne metal levels were not significantly different between the exorheic lakes. Waterborne metal levels in the freshwater lakes from Harmony Point did not show any clear relationship with their levels in the soil of the region or with bird guano, and overall, their levels indicate an environment without anthropogenic influence. Apparently, the Na levels are influenced by salt spray from the ocean, as they are related to the distance of the lakes from the ocean.

Breeding Population and Nesting Habitat of Skuas in the Harmony Point Antarctic Specially Protected Area

Regular monitoring of breeding population abundance and environmental factors related to the nesting habitat has proven fundamental for seabird conservation. Harmony Point (Nelson Island) is an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) designated to manage and protect the high biological value of seabirds’ richness and abundance. However, due to the remote location of their breeding sites, many species lack updated population counts. Skuas (Catharacta sp.) exhibited a two-decade gap since the last census was conducted in Harmony Point. The abundance and spatial distribution of the nests of skuas were studied during the austral summer of 2019/2020. Through an exhaustive search, we counted and mapped active nests. Nesting habitat was assessed by the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle to take aerial pictures and build an orthomosaic image to determine vegetation in the area. Additionally, a digital elevation model was built to calculate a series of geomorphological-related variables. Suitability models were used to estimate the importance of variables to the nesting of skuas. A total of 71 brown skua (Catharacta antarctica) and 3 south polar skua (C. maccormicki) nests were counted. Two of the seven variables (terrain slope and vegetation cover) accounted for 57.5% ± 14.1% of the models’ variability; sun radiation incidence, and wind shielding were of secondary importance. Water flow accumulation, distance from penguin colonies, and terrain elevation were the least important variables. Skuas selected for nesting flat terrains (slope < 10°) with a vegetation cover of above 20%, slightly higher sun incidence (270 to 280 kW/h), and intermediary windshielding (45% to 55% of exposition). Considering previous estimates, the skua species at Harmony Point has kept an apparently stable population size over the last 25 years. However, expected changes in nesting habitat availability, i.e., increased snow-free area, increased wind intensity, changes in vegetation cover, and reduction of penguin populations, might change population size in the mid to long term.

Ornithogenesis and soil-landscape interplays at northern Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctica.

Understanding the influence of soil-forming factors and processes in ornithogenic soils is important to predict impacts of climate change on Antarctic ecosystems. Herein, we analyzed the soil-landscape interplays and development of ornithogenic soils at Harmony Point (HP), Nelson Island. We collected, described, and classified 24 soil profiles, combined with vegetation and landforms descriptions. Geoprocessing techniques were employed for mapping. Soil physical, chemical, geochemical, and mineralogical analyses were applied. Patterned ground, "Ornithogenic"/Typic Gelorthent, and moss carpets were the dominant landform, soil and vegetation classes, respectively. Soils from rocky outcrops were more structured, acidic, with higher organic carbon, organometallic complexes, and secondary phosphate minerals, due to former bird influence. Soils from cryoplanated platforms presented higher water pH, base saturation, clay content, and secondary silicate minerals. Soils from marine terraces presented high exchangeable bases, phosphorous, and amorphous phosphate minerals. Soil chemical weathering is enhanced by ornithogenesis and widespread in HP. Besides ornithogenesis, organic matter accumulation, cryoturbation, and cryoclastic processes are also important to pedogenesis of ornithogenic soils. The soils of the cryoplanated platforms exhibited a gradient of pedogenetic development corresponding to increasing biota influence and distance from glacier. In contrast, soils of rocky outcrops were more developed even close to the glacier, due to ornithogenesis.

Correction to: Spectral behavior of vegetation in Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Antarctica

Correction to: Spectral behavior of vegetation in Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Antarctica

Spectral behavior of vegetation in Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Antarctica

Spectral behavior of vegetation in Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Antarctica

Use of optimal control in studying the dynamical behaviors of fractional financial awareness models

Around there, we new examination has been done on past investigations of perhaps the main numerical models that portray the worldwide monetary development and that is depicted as a non-straight fragmentary monetary model of mindfulness, where the investigations address the means following: One: The schematic of the model is proposed. Two: The sickness-free balance point and the soundness of the harmony point are talked about. Three: The strength of the model is satisfying by drawing the Lyapunov examples. Fourth: The presence of consistently stable arrangements is examined. Five: The Caputo is portrayed as the fragmentary subsidiary. Six: Fragmentary ideal control for NFFMA is examined, by explaining the partial ideal control through drawing when control. Seven: We are utilizing the calculation, summed up Adams–Bashforth–Moulton technique (GABMP) to tackle the is utilized to take the goal of an NFFMA. At last, we show that GABMP is profoundly indistinguishable. The mathematical strategy utilized in this composition to address this model has not been used by any creator before that. Additionally, this model with partial subordinates characterized in this manner has not been concentrated before that. The strategies used are not difficult to impact, regardless of whether logical or mathematical, and give great results.

Soil-chronosequence and Quaternary landscape evolution at the marine terraces of Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctica.

This study characterized the physical, chemical, macro- and micromorphological soil properties from three successive marine terrace levels from Harmony Point (Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctica) in order to understand the pedological signatures of Quaternary coastal landscape evolution of Maritime Antarctica. Soils were sampled on the Late Holocene beach (current beach) and Mid Holocene marine terraces higher up, at 3, 8, and 12 m a.s.l. At the lower levels, the predominant soils were Gelorthents, whereas Haplogelepts dominate the higher terraces. Soil properties are mostly influenced by parent material and faunal activity, in which cryoclastic (thermal weathering) and phosphatization are the main soil-forming processes. Soils from the upper levels are more developed, deeper with reddish colors, granular structures and incipient formation B horizon. These horizonation features highlight that soils vary according with age of glacier-isostatic terrace uplift, representing a Quaternary soil chronosequence. All marine terrace levels are Ornithogenic soils, at varying degrees. However, the presence of old bird nesting sites for long periods led to formation of phosphatic horizons, stable Fe-phosphate minerals and abundant vegetation in the highest terraces of this part of Maritime Antarctica.

Anthropogenic debris in an Antarctic Specially Protected Area in the maritime Antarctic

Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) provide the strongest environmental protection in Antarctica. However, they are not immune from anthropogenic pollution of marine or terrestrial origin. We document anthropogenic debris within ASPA No. 133 Harmony Point, Nelson Island, recovering 1544 items between November 2019 and January 2020. The majority (82.6 %) were found close to a national operator-constructed refuge and were smaller than 5 cm. Larger items (up to 300 cm) were present on beaches and plateaus. Charcoal and rubber were the most abundant items around the refuge and plastic and metal were the most abundant items on beaches and plateaus. Debris items likely arriving in the area by marine transportation (e.g. plastic) are of concern due to both risk of ingestion and their degradation leading to the release of hazardous chemicals. Such pollution contravenes the terms of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and other regionally applicable regulations.

The limnology and spectral behaviour of a freshwater lake at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Antarctica

AbstractThe present study investigates the effect of limnology on the spectral reflectance of a freshwater lake, located in an ice-free area in the Antarctic Peninsula. Field-collected samples generated limnological and spectral parameters. This fact indicates that the studied lake has an ultra-oligotrophic/oligotrophic nature based on chlorophyll a (chl a), which registered concentrations below 3 μg l-1 with no total suspended solids, almost neutral pH and transparency equalled by depth. The water spectral behaviour in each sampling station indicates that the benthic characteristics of the lake have a strong influence as the reflectance at the 705 nm wavelength being greater than that at 583 nm signals the presence of soil and/or vegetation at its bottom. Hence, it is believed that the orbital sensors with spectral bands focused on regions between the green and red edge, such as the MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) sensor, may present better results for distinguishing the different bottom types found in the research area.

Geochemistry of Antarctic periglacial soils from Harmony Point, Nelson Island

Geochemistry of Antarctic periglacial soils from Harmony Point, Nelson Island

Cannibalism in southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) at Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctic Peninsula

Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) are a scavenger and predatory species with highly opportunistic feeding habits. Although cannibalism is a likely behavior for a predatory and colonial species, there are no confirmed records of this behavior for giant petrels. In this study, we describe two cases of cannibalism in a population of southern giant petrels breeding at Harmony Point (62°18′S; 59°10′W), Nelson Island. In both cases, a male giant petrel preyed upon a nestling. Our records confirm that heterocannibalism is part of the behavior repertoire of male southern giant petrels.

Phosphatization under birds' activity: Ornithogenesis at different scales on Antarctic Soilscapes

Extensive areas of penguins’ nesting (Pygoscelis sp.), on ice-free areas, account for vast deposits of organic matter-rich guano in maritime Antarctica. One such area, at Harmony Point, currently houses different penguin colonies with extensive and unique ornithogenic soils, where phosphatization is the key soil-forming process. We sought to enhance the knowledge of phosphatization process, products, cycles, and phosphorus (P) forms in these unusual soils. We compared ornithogenic and non-ornithogenic soils, based on advanced chemical, micromorphological and mineralogical analyses of samples of guano and phosphate biocrusts, complete with P and OM fractionation. Ornithogenic soils have the organic P-pool as the largest phosphorous compartment, followed by varying P-Ca forms. In contrast, soils unaffected by phosphatization showed a high inorganic P-pool. Penguin guano is enriched with P, Ca, K, Cu, Zn, C and N. The phosphatic biocrusts are composed of struvite and hydroxyapatite, forming a gradient of phosphate forms. We recognized three different phosphatization environments, namely (i) present-day marine birds’ rookeries, (ii) adjacent zone of rookeries and (iii) abandoned rookeries. Geomorphological evolution of the coastal areas, by Holocene glacier retreat, resulted in the changing location of penguin colonies, resulting in a larger area and varying ages of phosphatization, forming ornithogenic soils with contrasting evolution degrees. Abandoned areas have greater vegetation growth, with higher diversity.

Coprophagic behaviour of southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) during breeding period

Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) are opportunistic generalists whose feeding strategies include hunting, scavenging and fishing. While seals are important for southern giant petrels as a source of carrion, we documented that live seals also provide feeding opportunities for southern giant petrels. We tracked breeding southern giant petrels from Harmony Point, Antarctica, during incubation and chick rearing with solar-powered GPS-UHF devices. Tracking results showed that animals often visited confirmed haul-out sites of seals, mainly Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii). Feeding on seal faeces was confirmed by direct observation. Southern giant petrels were more likely to visit haul-out sites during incubation than during chick-rearing. This behaviour suggests that the birds fed on seal faeces mainly when fasting, which could last as long as 15 days. Seal faeces could be a resource consumed to quickly recover from the fast before leaving for a longer trip.

Discovery of a large population of Hygrolembidium isophyllum (Lepidoziaceae, Marchantiophyta) in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

In February 2019, during fieldwork at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, a large population of the rare liverwort Hygrolembidium isophyllum (Lepidoziaceae) was discovered. The occurrence of this rare species reinforces the need to preserve Antarctic Specially Protected Area 133.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey of the Antarctic shag (Leucocarbo bransfieldensis) breeding colony at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands

Monitored seabird populations—useful sentinels of marine ecosystem health—have been declining worldwide at a rapid pace. Yet, lack of reliable long-term monitoring data constrains assessment of the conservation status of many seabird populations. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have the potential to increase survey efficiency and count precision of seabird populations, especially where time constraints or inaccessible terrain, such as sea stacks, limit meaningful ground-based surveys. Furthermore, tremendous potential exists to combine fine-scale spatially integrated habitat mapping obtained from UAV images with occupancy to unravel how abiotic factors such as topography affect animal populations. In late December 2018, we used an UAV to create a georeferenced orthomosaic image and digital elevation model (DEM) from which we determined the size of the Antarctic shag (Leucocarbo bransfieldensis) breeding colony at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands. Our population estimate of 69 breeding pairs is approximately double that reported for the early 2000s and the highest count since the late 1980s. Most nests were located 10 to 20 m above sea level, on relatively shallow gradients that predominantly faced southeast. While it is difficult to compare historical ground-based counts with the UAV-derived estimates presented here, our new data provide robust baseline information for future monitoring of the colony population size using comparable survey methods. Our basic mapping of the topography of the breeding colony also highlights how UAV-derived habitat information can facilitate our understanding of the influence of landscape structure on animal population dynamics.

An update on the Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus breeding at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctic Peninsula

In several parts of Antarctica, the information on the size of seabird populations is outdated by decades. Considering the environmental changes taking place at the Antarctic Peninsula, up-to-date information is urgently required. In this study, the breeding population of southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus) at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, was counted and mapped during incubation. The total number of active nests was 481, distributed mostly in small dispersed groups ( 100 nests. Nests were distributed throughout the whole area. Current colony distribution was similar to the ones reported previously. The current number of nests is similar to those reported since 2005, and also for early counts in the 1965 and 1989s. However, current numbers were almost half of those counted in the 1997. The apparent increases in the number of southern giant petrels by 1997 was attributed to prohibiting tourism visits to the area (giant petrels are sensitive to human disturbance), but causes of the following decrease are unknown. This highlights the need for updated information in order to understand which factors are responsible for trends in Antarctic seabird populations.

Soil-landscape interplays at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctica: Chemistry, mineralogy and classification

Soils and landforms of Nelson Island remain one of the least studied in the South Shetlands Archipelago, despite that it is one of the oldest ice-free areas and is strongly vegetated. In this paper, we examine the main processes and factors of soil formation at Harmony Point and the relation of soils to landforms, vegetation and lithology.To achieve the goals, 26 pedons were collected and studied from a 4 km2 ice-free area at Harmony Point (S62°18′; W059°10′) on the southern area of Nelson Island (Maritime Antarctica). The soils were sampled on all representative local landforms, including three levels of uplifted marine terraces up to cryoplanated plateau, waterlogged depressions, rock felsenmeer, debris slopes and patterned ground, and a paraglacial border of the ice cap (270 m a.s.l). Sampling along the cryoplanated plateau was carried out along a gradient extending inland from the margins of the Ice Cap; and sampling of the marine terraces was performed along a chronosequence under varying bird-nesting influence and age. The main pedogenetic processes observed in this area are marked phosphatization, melanization from the accumulation of organic matter, and cryoturbation. Soil development varies from weakly developed, shallow, stony and cryoturbated to well-developed and organic-rich, phosphate soils with colors ranging from grayish to brown. The mineralogical composition of the clay fraction contains secondary minerals, indicating the active role of chemical weathering. Ornithogenic soils have mature phosphate minerals such as vivianite and taranakite, as well as poorly crystalline leucophosphite. Intensively cryoturbated soils are underlain by permafrost and are classified as Typic Haploturbels; polygonal soils are widespread on the cryoplanated plateau. Areas without permafrost were classified as Typic Gelorthents. Phosphatization is a dominant soil-forming process in this area and is associated with past and present-day guano accumulation by bird nesting and has led to the the development of deeper Ornithogenic Haplorthels. The ornithogenic soils occur at different topographic levels on the cryplanated platform and marine terraces. High P concentrations can be used as a proxy of the past nesting birds' activities, with far-reaching implications, especially with regards to vegetation growth and microbial activity and diversity.

Diet of South Polar Skua Chicks in Two Areas of Sympatry with Brown Skua

Abstract. The food provided to South Polar Skuas (Stercorarius maccormicki) chicks was determined at two Antarctic sites where South Polar Skuas breed sympatrically with Brown Skuas (S. antarcticus). At Harmony Point on Nelson Island, 16 samples of regurgitated stomach contents were analyzed, all contained remains of penguin chicks (mostly soft tissues), which constituted the bulk of the contents, while only two samples had fish or krill remains. These South Polar Skuas had access to penguin colonies, where they hunted chicks or fed on fresh carcasses. However, at Half Moon Island, only two out of nine samples contained minor amounts of penguin remains while fish were the major dietary resource. The high fish content in their diet may indicate a preference for marine rather than terrestrial resources or be the result of competition with Brown Skuas. The variability in food items evidenced by the differences in regurgitated stomach contents indicates that South Polar Skuas may have a trophic plasticity tha...