Major Island Groups Research Articles

Multi-objective optimisation of renewable energy systems for pollution mitigation – a case study of Kavaratti Island, India

Islands represent a unique challenge in terms of electrical energy supply. A great deal of work has been carried out on this specific aspect of energy supply on different islands in the world. Unfortunately, due to island-specific energy usage profile, resources and different kinds of environmental conditions, a study of one island cannot be easily extended to other islands. The Lakshadweep group of islands in the Arabian Sea is one of the two major groups of islands in India having diesel generators (DGs) as the main source of electricity. Considering the remoteness of the island and the polluting nature of existing DGs, it is desirable to adopt a strategy to utilise the available potential of non-polluting renewable energy sources (RESs) for these ecologically sensitive islands. A multi-objective optimisation methodology is applied in Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep, where various RESs exist and can be exploited to generate electrical energy and to mitigate environmental pollution. A specific mathematical model is developed with two objective functions, namely cost and environmental pollution that work reversibly. Application of the proposed mathematical tool leads to a Pareto set, satisfying the multiplicity of criteria, namely environmental pollution, energy demand, per-unit generation cost and resource constraints.

Annual Cycle of Southeast Asia—Maritime Continent Rainfall and the Asymmetric Monsoon Transition

Abstract In general, the Bay of Bengal, Indochina Peninsula, and Philippines are in the Asian summer monsoon regime while the Maritime Continent experiences a wet monsoon during boreal winter and a dry season during boreal summer. However, the complex distribution of land, sea, and terrain results in significant local variations of the annual cycle. This work uses historical station rainfall data to classify the annual cycles of rainfall over land areas, the TRMM rainfall measurements to identify the monsoon regimes of the four seasons in all of Southeast Asia, and the QuikSCAT winds to study the causes of the variations. The annual cycle is dominated largely by interactions between the complex terrain and a simple annual reversal of the surface monsoonal winds throughout all monsoon regions from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and the equatorial western Pacific. The semiannual cycle is comparable in magnitude to the annual cycle over parts of the equatorial landmasses, but only a very small region reflects the twice-yearly crossing of the sun. Most of the semiannual cycle appears to be due to the influence of both the summer and the winter monsoon in the western part of the Maritime Continent where the annual cycle maximum occurs in fall. Analysis of the TRMM data reveals a structure whereby the boreal summer and winter monsoon rainfall regimes intertwine across the equator and both are strongly affected by the wind–terrain interaction. In particular, the boreal winter regime extends far northward along the eastern flanks of the major island groups and landmasses. A hypothesis is presented to explain the asymmetric seasonal march in which the maximum convection follows a gradual southeastward progression path from the Asian summer monsoon to the Asian winter monsoon but experiences a sudden transition in the reverse. The hypothesis is based on the redistribution of mass between land and ocean areas during spring and fall that results from different land–ocean thermal memories. This mass redistribution between the two transition seasons produces sea level patterns leading to asymmetric wind–terrain interactions throughout the region, and a low-level divergence asymmetry in the region that promotes the southward march of maximum convection during boreal fall but opposes the northward march during boreal spring.

Nestedness of Southern Ocean island biotas: ecological perspectives on a biogeographical conundrum

AbstractAim To use patterns of nestedness in the indigenous and non‐indigenous biotas of the Southern Ocean islands to determine the influence of dispersal ability on biogeographical patterns, and the importance of accounting for variation in dispersal ability in their subsequent interpretation, especially in the context of the Insulantarctic and multi‐regional hypotheses proposed to explain the biogeography of these islands.Location Southern Ocean islands.Methods Nestedness was determined using a new metric,d1(a modification of discrepancy), for the indigenous and introduced seabirds, land birds, insects and vascular plants of 26 Southern Ocean islands. To assess the possible confounding effects of spatial autocorrelation on the results, islands were assigned to 11 major island groups and each group was treated as a single island in a following analysis. In addition, nestedness of the six Southern Ocean islands comprising the South Pacific Province (New Zealand islands) was analysed. All analyses were conducted for species and genera, for each of the taxa on its own, and for the complete data sets.Results Statistically significant nestedness was found in all of the taxa examined, with nestedness declining in the order seabirds > land birds > vascular plants > insects for the indigenous species. Vagility had a marked influence on nestedness and the biogeographical patterns shown by the indigenous species. This influence was borne out by additional analyses of marine taxa and small‐sized terrestrial species, both of which were more nested than the most nested group examined here, the seabirds. Assemblages of non‐indigenous species also showed nestedness, and nestedness was generally more pronounced than in the indigenous species. Surprisingly, vagility had a significant effect on nestedness in these assemblages too.Main conclusions Nestedness analyses provide a quantitative means of comparing biogeographical patterns for groups differing in vagility. These comparisons revealed that vagility has a considerable influence on biogeographical patterns and should be taken into account in analyses. Here, investigations of more vagile taxa support hypotheses for a single origin of the Southern Ocean island biota (the Insulantarctica scenario), whilst those of less mobile taxa support the more commonly held, multi‐regional hypothesis. All biogeographical analyses across the Southern Ocean (and elsewhere) will be influenced by the effects of dispersal ability, with composite analyses dominated by sedentary groups likely to favour multi‐regional scenarios, and those dominated by mobile groups favouring single origins. Mechanisms underlying nestedness in the region range from nested physiological tolerances in more mobile groups to colonization ability and patterns of speciation in less vagile taxa. Considerable nestedness in the non‐indigenous assemblages is largely a consequence of the fact that many of these species are European weedy species.

Techno-economic and environmental analysis for grid interactive solar photovoltaic power system of Lakshadweep islands

The Lakshadweep group of islands in Arabian Sea is one of the two major groups of islands in India. In these islands the main source of electricity is diesel generators, the diesel being transported from the main land to produce over 9 MW of electricity. Considering the remoteness of the island and the polluting nature of the existing plants, it is desirable to adopt a strategy to utilize available potential of non-polluting renewable energy sources for these ecologically sensitive islands. A techno economic and environmental analysis for grid interactive solar photovoltaic power system of Union Territory of Lakshadweep islands is presented. This paper also examines the pollution aspect of power generation through Diesel Generator set and highlights the environmental benefits in using solar energy. Experiences of grid interactive solar photovoltaic power system installed recently in different islands are discussed and suggestions have been made for improving its efficiency and performance. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Genetic and geographical differentiation of Pandaka gobies in Japan

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeny of Japanese Pandaka species (Perciformes: Gobiidae) was inferred from partial nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes (1083 bp). The resultant mtDNA tree showed two major clades (clade I and clade II), which were inconsistent with the present taxonomic classification. One of the major clades was further divided into two geographical groups, distributed on the Japanese Major Islands (clade I-A) and from Amami-oshima Island to Iriomote Island (clade I-B). The mtDNA haplotypes in clade II were found only on Iriomote Island. The mtDNA divergences in clade I indicated that the Japanese Major Island (clade I-A) and Ryukyu (clade I-B) groups have been geographically isolated from each other for millions of years, based on the putative molecular divergence rate. The geographical distributions of mtDNA haplotypes in clade I-A and clade I-B also suggested that Pandaka gobies had not dispersed to distant offshore islands, indicating that their geographical differentiation may be closely associated with the geological history of the Japanese and Ryukyu Archipelagos.

Allele Frequencies of Eight Short Tandem Repeat Loci in Three Visayas Regional Populations of the Philippines

Abstract The Philippine Archipelago, composed of 7,100 islands and more than 70 ethno-linguistic groups, is divided into 15 regions on the basis of geographical, cultural, and political variations. Each region is classified under three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The National Capital Region (NCR) is situated south of Luzon, and its population genetic database has been reported (1). However, because the NCR is geographically separated by sea from the rest of the island groups, and because each island group has its own distinct cultural identity, there is a need to study and compare the genetic composition of other regional populations to that of NCR. The present study reports population data at eight short tandem repeat (STR) loci, namely HUMvWA, HUMCSF1PO, HUMTH01, HUMTPOX, HUMF13A01, HUMFES/ FPS, HUMFOLP23, and D8S306 for the Visayas. Visayas refers to the central group of islands in the Philippine Archipelago, where the major language spoken is the Visaya or Bisaya, instead of the more common Filipino (Tagalog) language. It is composed of three political regions, namely, Region VI, VII, and VIII. Blood samples were collected in Region VI (Aklan, Iloilo, n = 114), Region VII (Cebu, n = 140), and Region VIII (Leyte, n = 92) and blotted on FITZCO FTA™ cards. Genomic DNA was purified according to manufacturer's instructions (Flinder's Technology, Massachusetts). PCR amplification was performed as described previously (1). Amplified products were detected with the ALFExpress sequencer and using ALFwin and Allelelinks software (Pharmacia Biotech) using automated flourescence technology. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and linkage equilibrium (LE) were checked by the Exact Test using the DNA View software (2). Homogeneity tests were performed using Popgene ver 1.32 (3).

A Shallow Zonal Jet South of Fiji

In a recent paper, Webb (2000) presented evidence for shallow zonal jets in the South Equatorial Current in the Southwest Pacific. This was based on numerical model results from the high-resolution Ocean Circulation and Climate Advanced Modelling (OCCAM) model driven by ECMWF wind stress. Model resolution was sufficient to indicate that the current was broken up into a series of zonal jets by the extensive shallow topography associated with islands and reefs. These jets were prominent near the northern and southern extremities of the major island groups—Fiji, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. The model defined the broad-scale structure of the jets and their effect on the temperature and salinity fields. Webb (2000) states that ‘‘Such features are relatively unknown and unstudied, so these results should provide a strong incentive for further detailed experimental and theoretical research in the region.’’ This statement reminded the present authors of oceanographic data collected south of Fiji in 1992, which appeared to show such a zonal jet, and these results are presented here.

Associations with habitat versus geographic cohesiveness: size and shape of Bembicium vittatum Philippi (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in the Houtman Abrolhos Islands

In the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, the direct-developing littorine snail Bembicium vittatum occupies a wide range of habitats, which are replicated across the three major groups of islands. Earlier studies showed that allozyme similarities followed patterns related to gene flow, independent of habitat, providing an excellent opportunity to test for associations with habitat for traits more likely to be adaptively important. As the first test for adaptive divergence, we examined variation in size and shape of shells among 131 populations in the Abrolhos Islands. Two-fold variations were found in width of adults, the allometric coefficient of height with width, and shell height scaled to a standard width. Quantification of habitat characteristics was summarized by principal components analysis. In contrast with the patterns of divergence for allozymes, shell height, adjusted for width, was strongly associated with habitat: flatter shells are found on exposed, vertical shores, while domed, more globose shells predominate in sheltered sites. This association was stronger for shape of adult-sized snails than for height scaled to an arbitrary size, highlighting the importance of using biologically relevant measures. Even highly isolated and allozymically less variable populations in tidal ponds conformed to this association. Because differences in shape are highly heritable in B. vittatum, this association of shape with habitat, independent of patterns of gene flow, indicates local adaptation. Shell size also varied with habitat, but because growth rate is highly plastic, variation in size cannot be interpreted simply in terms of adaptation. Nevertheless, the pattern of variation indicates that, within realized limits, larger size is generally favourable, but may be constrained by local conditions. Thus, variation in size signals the potential for adaptive divergence of life histories among the many, isolated populations of this species.

Associations with habitat versus geographic cohesiveness: size and shape of Bembicium vittatum Philippi (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in the Houtman Abrolhos Islands

In the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, the direct-developing littorine snail Bembicium vittatum occupies a wide range of habitats, which are replicated across the three major groups of islands. Earlier studies showed that allozyme similarities followed patterns related to gene flow, independent of habitat, providing an excellent opportunity to test for associations with habitat for traits more likely to be adaptively important. As the first test for adaptive divergence, we examined variation in size and shape of shells among 131 populations in the Abrolhos Islands. Two-fold variations were found in width of adults, the allometric coefficient of height with width, and shell height scaled to a standard width. Quantification of habitat characteristics was summarized by principal components analysis. In contrast with the patterns of divergence for allozymes, shell height, adjusted for width, was strongly associated with habitat: flatter shells are found on exposed, vertical shores, while domed, more globose shells predominate in sheltered sites. This association was stronger for shape of adult-sized snails than for height scaled to an arbitrary size, highlighting the importance of using biologically relevant measures. Even highly isolated and allozymically less variable populations in tidal ponds conformed to this association. Because differences in shape are highly heritable in B. vittatum, this association of shape with habitat, independent of patterns of gene flow, indicates local adaptation. Shell size also varied with habitat, but because growth rate is highly plastic, variation in size cannot be interpreted simply in terms of adaptation. Nevertheless, the pattern of variation indicates that, within realized limits, larger size is generally favourable, but may be constrained by local conditions. Thus, variation in size signals the potential for adaptive divergence of life histories among the many, isolated populations of this species.

Geographic cohesiveness versus associations with habitat: genetic subdivision ofBembicium vittatumPhilippi (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in the Houtman Abrolhos Islands

The littorine snailBembicium vittatumhas direct development and associated high levels of genetic subdivision. In the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, this species occupies a wide range of habitats. Replication of habitat types across the three major groups of islands, which are separated by water gaps of 10 to 15 km, separates patterns of genetic divergence related to gene flow from those expected from localised selection related to habitat. Allozyme frequencies at 14 loci were examined in samples ofB. vittatumfrom 81 sites in the Abrolhos archipelago, at 72 of which descriptions of the physical and biological characteristics were made. Although shell shape and population density ofB. vittatumvaried with habitat, none of the allozymes showed such associations. Instead, there was spatial coherence of the allozyme variation, indicating connections among populations at two levels. On a larger scale, nearly half the interpopulation diversity was due to differences between island groups, including the association of rare alleles with island group. At a smaller scale, variation within island groups showed coherence in the form of isolation by distance, the extent and intensity of which were related to expected patterns of gene flow. This spatial coherence, independent of the mosaic of habitats, strongly favours the interpretation of patterns of genetic subdivision inB. vittatumin the Houtman Abrolhos as reflecting primarily the patterns of past and present gene flow. Contrasts with some results of an earlier study emphasise the importance of adequate sampling of sites and polymorphic loci.

Geographic cohesiveness versus associations with habitat: genetic subdivision of Bembicium vittatum Philippi (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in the Houtman Abrolhos Islands

Abstract The littorine snail Bembicium vittatum has direct development and associated high levels of genetic subdivision. In the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, this species occupies a wide range of habitats. Replication of habitat types across the three major groups of islands, which are separated by water gaps of 10 to 15 km, separates patterns of genetic divergence related to gene flow from those expected from localised selection related to habitat. Allozyme frequencies at 14 loci were examined in samples of B. vittatum from 81 sites in the Abrolhos archipelago, at 72 of which descriptions of the physical and biological characteristics were made. Although shell shape and population density of B. vittatum varied with habitat, none of the allozymes showed such associations. Instead, there was spatial coherence of the allozyme variation, indicating connections among populations at two levels. On a larger scale, nearly half the interpopulation diversity was due to differences between island groups, including the association of rare alleles with island group. At a smaller scale, variation within island groups showed coherence in the form of isolation by distance, the extent and intensity of which were related to expected patterns of gene flow. This spatial coherence, independent of the mosaic of habitats, strongly favours the interpretation of patterns of genetic subdivision in B. vittatum in the Houtman Abrolhos as reflecting primarily the patterns of past and present gene flow. Contrasts with some results of an earlier study emphasise the importance of adequate sampling of sites and polymorphic loci.

The Tongan Lakalaka: Music Composition and Style

T he Kingdom of Tonga is perhaps the least known of the major island groups comprising Polynesia. Though there were pressures to do so, it never became a colony of a Western power as its neighbors did. This was due in large measure to the efforts of the first modem king of Tonga, George Tupou I, whose adaptability, intense nationalism, and shrewd diplomacy guided the country away from the shoals of Western colonial interests. Although at times it appeared as if Britain would take over Tonga's internal affairs, he withstood each attempt. King George became the ruler of the whole of Tonga in 1845 when he unified the country after many years of civil war. During his long and beneficent reign three developments had far-reaching consequences on national life and by extension on the performing arts that celebrate that national life. The first was a more or less traditional sociopolitical system presided over by the king and, under him, a number of nobles (presently 33 in number though some titles are vacant). Each of these owned large tracts of land on which were housed whole villages, which were taxed variously for the support of the noble and the costs of administration, public works, and the like. In return the noble was to see to their protection.

Trends in Family Size Preferences and Practice of Family Planning: Taiwan, 1965-1970

3 island-wide surveys of all married women of childbearing years (22-39 years) were conducted in 1965 1967 and 1970 by the Taiwan Provencial Committee on Family Planning. The third survey involved reinterview of 50% of those interviewed in 1967 and an additional sample representing those married 1967-1970. Each survey attempted to provide data to analyze trends in family size and family planning from information obtained on fertility history desired number of children attitudes toward and knowledge and use of family planning socioeconomic status family values living arrangements and modernity. There was a small but consistent downward shift (.2) in average number of desired children on all levels; the average at 3.8 the result of a greater choice of 3 rather than 4 children. Recent trends (1971) indicate a rapid decline in desired number of children among the under 30 group. Change in the ideal lags behind change in fertility behavior. Modernity measures indicate a preference for fewer children in this group with education showing the greatest differential. Mainland couples averaged a lower desired number of children as opposed to the 2 major island groups and the highest use of contraception throughout the study. There is a persistent desire for 2 sons and number of living sons affects other attitudes and behavior towards family planning. Traditional extended family relationships account for this behavior. There was a very rapid rise in family planning especially in women over 30 (38% in 1965; 72% in 1970) and in the less modern population strata. Family planning practices rose from 30% in 1965 to 57% in 1970 in all segments with a rise from 75% to 95% in 1970 for stated approval. Changes in reproductive patterns were seen in a lengthening of the open birth interval among older women. Decreases in cumulative fertility are not yet realized.

Earthquake locations and seismic wave propagation in the upper 250 km of the Tonga island arc

abstract This paper reports results of a series of short-term seismic observations made on nearly all the major island groups of the Tonga island arc. These data extend the mapping of anomalous propagation of seismic waves from earthquakes beneath the island arc reported by Oliver and Isacks (1967), and significantly increase the number of accurately located earthquakes beneath the Tonga Islands. The data of this paper, combined with those of Sykes et al (1969), indicate that the inclined seismic zone of the Tonga island arc is very thin even at shallow depths. Most of the hypocenters are confined to a slab of about 25 km thickness. This thickness probably still reflects the precision of locations and may only be a measure of the upper limit of the thickness of the seismic zone. The inclined seismic zone, which has a dip of about 45° at intermediate depths in the mantle, appears to decrease in dip or bend over at depths less than about 50 km and appears to intersect the surface at or near the axis of the trench. The wedge-shaped region above the inclined seismic zone appears to be relatively aseismic, although some minor seismic activity has been located at shallow depths beneath the line of active volcanoes. P and S phases with anomalously large amplitudes and frequencies from deep earthquakes (> 400 km) were observed at all sites occupied in Tonga, including sites on two volcanoes. These observations and observations from shallower events include ray paths that emerge nearly vertically beneath the volcanoes. Thus, any region of high attenuation (low Q) below the volcanoes, such as magma chambers, must be limited in extent. These data, in conjunction with regional observations of Sn, indicate that a broad zone of low Q material in the uppermost mantle exists west of the volcanoes on the concave side of the arc. However, the P and S phases recorded on the volcanic ridge exhibit an emergent and drawn-out character that contrasts with the sharp and impulsive character of phases recorded on the non-volcanic ridge. These observations are interpreted to indicate considerable heterogeneity beneath the volcanoes.

The California Islands

The California Islands off the Pacific coast of southern and Baja California display almost diagrammatically the insular phenomena that characterize fringing archipelagos. To a lesser extent they also illustrate some of the insular features associated with oceanic islands. Several of these islands have been much studied and are relatively accessible. The location, size, elevation, and geological history of the islands are described. To determine the degree of disharmony of the island floras, they are analyzed in comparison with selected California mainland floras. The degree of richness of the island floras is discussed in relation to size of the islands, proximity to the mainland, and other variables. Such phenomena of island life as the immigrant pattern of vertebrate distribution, relict versus autochthonous endemism of plants and animals, insular gigantism, continuous flowering, high degree of hybridization, vulnerability, and loss of dispersibility in island species are considered in reference to the California Islands. Some suggestions as to available facilities on the islands and persons or institutions to contact are given in an epilogue. Off the Pacific coast of southern California and Baja California, Mexico, lie the islands variously called the Channel Islands or California Offshore Islands and the Baja California Islands or, collectively, the California Islands. Although they are in no sense tropical, they are worthy of mention in this symposium because they are a good example of a fringing archipelago and because they illustrate many of the insular phenomena that one might otherwise have to travel far to tropical areas to study. Some of them are quite accessible from the heavily populated areas of southern California, and some of them have been rather thoroughly studied by biologists. Although they are, thus, rather well known to California biologists, they are surprisingly little known to non-Californians. It is hoped that this short discussion of them and of some of their insular characteristics will create more interest in them among those biologists concerned with evolutionary and environmental phenomena. The Southern California and Baja California Islands consist of 16 major islands or island groups spread over some 500 miles between Point Conception, California, and Punta Eugenia, Baja California, Mexico (Fig. 1). From east to west the Northern Channel Islands are Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel. The Southern Channel Islands are San Nicolas, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, and San Clemente Islands. The Baja California Islands include Los Coronados just south of San Diego, Todos Santos off Ensenada, San Martin off San Quintin, San Geronimo south of El Rosario, the San Benitos, Cedros, and Natividad off Punta Eugenia, and Guadalupe 157 miles off the Baja California peninsula. In order of size, with area in square miles, the islands are: Cedros (134), Guadalupe (98), Santa Cruz (96), Santa Rosa (84), Santa Catalina (75), San 11 am grateful to Dr. Reid Moran for critically reviewing the manuscript, for making many valuable suggestions, and for supplying useful unpublished information. 2Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California 91711. ANN. MISSOURI BOT. GARD. 56: 391-408. 1969. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.247 on Wed, 27 Apr 2016 05:48:03 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms [VOL. 5 6 392 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN Clemente (56), San Nicolas (22), San Miguel (14), Natividad (2.8), San Benito (2.5), Anacapa (1.1), Santa Barbara (1.0), Los Coronados (1.0), San Martin (0.9), Todos Santos (0.5), and San Geronimo (0.2). Their distances from the mainland, in statute miles, are: San Martin (3), Todos Santos (4), Natividad (5), San Geronimo (6), Los Coronados (8), Anacapa (13), Cedros (14), Santa Cruz (19), Santa Catalina (20), San Miguel (26), Santa Rosa (27), Santa Barbara (38), San Benito (41), San Clemente (49), San Nicolas (61), and Guadalupe (157). All these figures are from a summary by Philbrick (1967). The highest elevations on the largest islands, in feet, are: Guadalupe (4,257), Cedros (3,950), Santa Cruz (2,165), Santa Catalina (2,069), San Clemente (1,965), Santa Rosa (1,574), and San Nicolas (907).