Small Territories Research Articles

Spatial analysis of sap consumption by birds in the Chaco dry forests from Argentina

Sap is a resource of high energy content that is usually inaccessible to birds, although woodpeckers have the ability to drill into living trees to obtain sap. Because spatial patterns of resource availability influence avian abundance, we explored how spatial patterns of sap availability determine the spatial distribution of two sap-feeding species in the semiarid Chaco of Argentina. We studied the White-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cactorum), which obtains sap by drilling holes into tree trunks, and the Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon aureoventris), which can obtain sap only from active woodpecker holes; 12 other bird species also exploited the sap flows from holes drilled by White-fronted Woodpeckers. The abundance of tree species used for sap feeding did not explain the spatial patterns of territorial groups of White-fronted Woodpeckers. However, within each territory, the abundance of Woodpeckers was centred on a single tree from which sap was obtained. The abundance of the Emeralds was strongly associated with the availability of trees with active sap-holes. During the dry season, sap is a major component in the diet of White-fronted Woodpeckers and Glittering-bellied Emeralds. However, the spatial distribution of these two consumers in relation to the availability of sap was species-specific. This species-specific response was closely related to the ecology and life history of each species. The abundance of woodpeckers could be determined by local mechanisms, such as location of a single sap tree in their small territories, whereas non-territorial hummingbirds would be able to track sap wells at a larger scale than the territory of a single territorial group of Woodpeckers. Our results show the importance of spatial analysis in identifying the ecological determinant of habitat selection and niche differentiation within species.

Evidence for Mate Guarding Behavior in the Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly

Discerning the intricacies of mating systems in butterflies can be difficult, particularly when multiple mating strategies are employed and are cryptic and not exclusive. We observed the behavior and habitat use of 113 male Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies (Euphydryas editha taylori). We confirmed that two distinct mating strategies were exhibited; patrolling and perching. These strategies varied temporally in relation to the protandrous mating system employed. Among perching males, we recorded high site fidelity and aggressive defense of small (<5 m2) territories. This territoriality was not clearly a function of classic or non-classic resource defense (i.e., host plants or landscape), but rather appeared to constitute guarding of female pupae (virgin females). This discrete behavior is previously undocumented for this species and has rarely been observed in butterflies.

Development of an enhanced tropical cyclone tracks database for the southwest Pacific from 1840 to 2010

AbstractThe ecosystems and economies of small island nation states and territories of the tropical southwest Pacific region are widely agreed to be among the most vulnerable to climate variability and weather extremes anywhere in the world. Tropical Cyclones (TCs) are capable of exacerbating existing hazards and those made more severe by climate change (e.g. local sea level rise). In order to properly understand TC impacts in this region, a comprehensive database of TC tracks is required. This work has collated TC best track data from forecast centres around the globe with the aim of producing a unified global best TC track dataset for the historical period. Data from the International Best Tracks for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS) project information for the southwest Pacific (135°E–120°W, 5°–25°S) is built upon and included in this effort. We document the construction of an enhanced TC database for the southwest Pacific, the quality controls needed to construct the database, and discuss how it has enhanced the chronology of region‐wide historical TC activity in light of newly discovered data. We suggest this enhanced dataset can be used in forthcoming climate and weather studies to better characterize the climatology and behaviour of TCs in the southwest Pacific. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society

Arabs and Jews in the Virgin Islands: A Search for Caribbean Paradigms

Recent attempts to address non-autochthonous Caribbean minority populations within historical and ethnic studies literatures often fit uncomfortably with existing theoretical models for identity, since those models seem to favor populations of the greatest size. By looking at the ways that discourses of Arab/Jewish duality have factored into the much smaller territory of the US Virgin Islands, I argue that understanding minority ethnic populations in small communities cannot simply be explained as miniature versions of larger populations. Instead, by looking at how these two small and demographically diverse communities (numbering no more than a couple thousand each) situate themselves in relation to international events, island-wide perceptions, and religious ecumenical activity, I suggest that in-depth studies of smaller Caribbean islands’ ethnic formulations may point to important identity issues lost in ethnic macro-portraits.

Territorial Behavior in Public Settings

This study provides a novel observational method to observe repetitive seating patterns chosen by students in a classroom. Although prior work that relied on self-reports suggests that students claim the same seats repeatedly, the main hypothesis of the study was that in a repeated use of a public space, people tend to occupy the same position, thus establishing a form of territoriality. Student seating locations were observed in two university lecture halls, 6 times during a span of 4 weeks. Observations were carried out on a sample of 47 and 31 students for Lecture Halls A and B, respectively. Two parameters were computed: mean displacement and mean territory dimension. The results showed very low mean displacements in both halls and the establishment of very small territories inside the halls. The results are explained in terms of conflict and anxiety avoidance, and the interaction between spatial preference and goal fulfillment driven by motivational and personality factors.

A PLACE, A PLACE NAME, A CULTURAL HERITAGE: THE LEGENDARY HISTORY OF THE FOUNDING OF CARTHAGE-BYRSA

The strategic location of Tunisia and its rich farmlands attracted many waves of settlers whose presence has contributed to an ethnic and cultural mix of peoples. Berbers, Numidians, Phoenicians / Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Arabs, Spaniards, Sicilians, Maltese, Turkish and French were all involved in this small territory. This has led to geographical names in Tunisia to be a mixture of different languages and undergo several linguistic changes. Those toponyms in addition to the historical depth of Tunisia they recall, they witness the age and memory of the country and constitute a cultural heritage passed on from one generation to another through the ages. The toponym Carthage / Byrsa is an example. Its origin is the subject of several interpretations, the most common is that related to the legendary history of the founding of the city Carthage-Byrsa by the Phoenician princess Elyssa.

Integration Limit of Renewable Energy Systems in Small Electrical Grid

The integration of renewable energy systems (RES) in an island grid with a small interconnection is limited by their stochastic nature; in small territory, the dispersion of sites is too limited for modifying the wind and solar variability and to smooth the “fatal” energy production. Using energy storage means can improve greatly the electricity distribution and the quality of the electricity. We present the problematic of the electricity production and RES use in islands. A more detailed situation of the island of Corsica is shown, a general view of electrical energy storage means is given and at last, the first results of a system simulation using a hydro-pumping system are presented. The assumptions are explained and the future trends developed.

Record Pack-density of Eastern Coyotes/Coywolves (Canis latrans × lycaon)

Abstract We report on an eastern coyote or coywolf (Canis latrans × lycaon) pack in a heavily urbanized area at the northern edge of Boston, Massachusetts, living at a high pack density. We radio-collared four members of this social unit, a breeding pair and two of their juvenile offspring and tracked them from May 2004–Apr. 2005. The pack had a small cumulative territory area (overall = 2.05 km2), yet lived at a normal group size (fall = 6–7, winter = 4) for coyotes/coywolves in eastern North America. Fall density for this pack was 2.92–3.41/km2 and winter density was 1.95/km2, representing the highest recorded density for coyotes in this region.

The Southern Interests of the Royal Court of Ethiopia in the Light of Bərbər Maryam’s Ge’ez and Amharic Manuscripts

Oral traditions recount a long period of interaction between the Ethiopian royal court and the country’s southwestern peoples. The traditions served as the basis for a late-nineteenth-century account written in Amharic, which we can compare with medieval documents in Ge’ez dating back to the fifteenth/sixteenth centuries. These documents from the Bərbər Maryam church attest the economic and political interests that the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia had in the southwest. They can be used to identify medieval chiefs in this area. Most of the small territories named in the Ge’ez documents can still be identified: Waǧ, Qogga, and Wälamo; but a few cannot: Gäda, K w äm Dahar, Q w aṣä, and Bäräza. The present article shows how written sources are related to oral traditions and can be used to reconstruct local history.

TRANSFORMING BORDERS FUNCTIONS IN THE LITHUANIAN‐POLISH‐BELARUSIAN BORDERLAND

This article is an attempt to give an answer to the question: what are the consequences of the weakening factor of territorial belonging and how it in fact realizes in the Lithuanian‐Polish‐Belarusian borderland? In such a small territory as Lithuanian‐Polish‐Belarusian borderland it is possible to investigate two opposite, reciprocal processes: disappearances (the Lithuanian‐Polish borderland) and strengthening of borders (the Lithuanian‐Belarusian and Polish‐Belarusian borderland). Borders as markers of division have different functions. Using a “boundary narrative” we will analyse such functions as “border‐door”, “borderwall”, and “barrier”. A method of a free narration about a life on border will allow to create the generalized image of the inhabitant of a border zone, its way of life and to reveal its peculiar features. These peculiar features we will analyse in the case of Lithuanian‐Polish‐Belarusian borderland. Kintančių sienų funkcijos lietuvių, lenkų ir baltarusių paribyje Santrauka Straipsnyje bandoma atsakyti į klausimą – kokios yra teritorinės priklausomybės veiksnio silpnėjimo pasekmės ir kaip jis iš tikrųjų formuoja lietuvių, lenkų ir baltarusių paribį? Tokioje mažoje teritorijoje, kaip lietuvių, lenkų ir baltarusių paribys, galima ištirti du priešingus abipusius procesus: sienų nunykimą (lietuvių, lenkų ir baltarusių paribys) ir jų tvirtėjimą (lietuvių ir baltarusių bei lenkų ir baltarusių paribys). Sienos, kaip padalijimų žyminiai, atlieka skirtingas funkcijas. Vartojant ribos naratyvą, analizuojamos tokias funkcijas, kaip riba–durys, riba–siena ir barjeras. Laisvos naracijos apie gyvenimą pasienyje metodas leis sukurti apibendrintą gyvenimo būdo pasienyje vaizdą ir atskleisti savitus jo bruožus. Juos analizuosime lietuvių, lenkų ir baltarusių paribio atžvilgiu.

The region of Lithuanian sutartinės: on the problem of interaction between the musical culture and the soil and surface rock cover

According to the classification of the sutartinės spreading region, proposed by Z. Slaviūnas in 1958 and 1969 (Fig. 2), as well as by D. Račiūnaitė-Vyčinienė in 2000 (Fig. 3) and M. Boiko in 2008 (Fig. 4), the most noticeable region (the so-called “first focus”) was chosen, where the usage of all kinds of vocal (Table 1) and instrumental (Table 2) polyphonic music is evident. The soil and surface rocks peculiarities in this region and in northern Lithuanian region are compared. The most characteristic feature of the sutartinės region is that a lot of various forms of vocal and instrumental music spread on a very small territory. We can notice a very close similarity in comparison of this region to the spreading of the features characteristic of the covering soil and surface rocks, i. e. there are a lot of varieties which coincide with the spreading of covering soil and the surface rock types. The most characteristic features of the vocal and instrumental polyphony spread in a certain and very active zone of this Karst region of Northern Lithuania (Fig. 7). According to M. Boiko (1987, 1992, 2008), traces of sutartinės are evident also in some places of Latvia. Places of these traces together with other ancient forms of vocal polyphony had been existing in Karst areas of this country and in Southern Estonia (Fig. 8). The most ancient relic types of polyphony, which more or less coincide with sutartinės, can be found also in other Karst regions of Europe, especially in the Balkans. The hypothesis has been proposed that the process of the formation and spreading of the Lithuanian sutartinės, most probably could have been related not only to the cultural history of mankind, but even to specific geological conditions and to the peculiarities of soil and surface rocks in this region. In this cases, the phenomenon of the Lithuanian ethnic music sutartinės could have spread to the neighbouring areas from such a very small and closed area (the “first focus“).

The transcriptional diversity of 25 Drosophila cell lines

Drosophila melanogaster cell lines are important resources for cell biologists. Here, we catalog the expression of exons, genes, and unannotated transcriptional signals for 25 lines. Unannotated transcription is substantial (typically 19% of euchromatic signal). Conservatively, we identify 1405 novel transcribed regions; 684 of these appear to be new exons of neighboring, often distant, genes. Sixty-four percent of genes are expressed detectably in at least one line, but only 21% are detected in all lines. Each cell line expresses, on average, 5885 genes, including a common set of 3109. Expression levels vary over several orders of magnitude. Major signaling pathways are well represented: most differentiation pathways are "off" and survival/growth pathways "on." Roughly 50% of the genes expressed by each line are not part of the common set, and these show considerable individuality. Thirty-one percent are expressed at a higher level in at least one cell line than in any single developmental stage, suggesting that each line is enriched for genes characteristic of small sets of cells. Most remarkable is that imaginal disc-derived lines can generally be assigned, on the basis of expression, to small territories within developing discs. These mappings reveal unexpected stability of even fine-grained spatial determination. No two cell lines show identical transcription factor expression. We conclude that each line has retained features of an individual founder cell superimposed on a common "cell line" gene expression pattern.

Planning Small Regions in a Larger Europe: Spatial Planning as a Learning Process for Sustainable Local Development

An enlarged Europe is addressing the challenge of territorial cohesion on the basis of a disciplinary and operative framework formed by a number of evolving documents and provisions to be applied and developed at different administrative and planning levels. Rapid and profound changes have occurred in previous decades as far as institutional framework, the role of actors and issues to be tackled are concerned, within a re-scaling process of territorial governance. In this context, small territories can take advantage of European funds, but experience a hard confrontation with the market economy and supra-local visions, use of resources and infrastructure projects. A decisive role, in many countries, has been gained by regional authorities, which must mediate among various territorial levels, institutions and actors involved in a multilevel governance process. The paper focuses on spatial and regional/territorial planning processes among the European dimension, Member States and regions, on the basis of a case study conducted in Northern Italy. The aim is to determine the role of European spatial planning as a “learning machine” [Faludi, A. (2008) European Territorial Cooperation and Learning, disP 172, (1/2008), pp. 3–10.] able to support processes of mutual learning and cooperation, overcoming the attitude of compliance to upper level schemes and financial programmes rather than innovating usual procedures and territorial planning.

Climate change in Nepal and its impact on Himalayan glaciers

Climate change can be particularly hard-hitting for small underdeveloped countries, relying heavily on natural resources for the economy and livelihoods. Nepal is one among these countries, being landlocked, with diverse physiographical characteristics within a relatively small territory and with rugged terrain. Poverty is widespread and the capacity of people and the country to cope with climate change impact is low. The country is dominated by the Asian monsoon system. The main occupation is agriculture, largely based on rain-fed farming practices. Tourism based on high altitude adventures is one of the major sources of income for the country. Nepal has a large hydropower potential. While only 0.75% of the theoretical hydropower potential has been tapped, Nepal can greatly benefit from this natural resource in the future. Climate change can adversely impact upon water resources and other sectors of Nepal. The source of water is mainly summer monsoon precipitation and the melting of the large reserve of snow and glaciers in the Himalayan highlands. Observations show clear evidences of significant warming. The average trend in the country is 0.06°C per year. The warming rates are progressively higher for high elevation locations. The warming climate has resulted in rapid shrinking of majority of glaciers in Nepal. This paper presents state-of-knowledge on the glacial dynamics in the country based on studies conducted in the past in Shorong, Khumbu, Langtang, Dhaulagiri and Kanchenjunga regions of Nepal. We present recent trends in river flow and an overview of studies on expected changes in the hydrological regime due to climate change. Formation, growth and likely outburst of glacial lake are phenomena directly related to climate change and deglaciation. This paper provides a synopsis of past glacial lake outburst floods impacting Nepal. Further, likely impacts of climate change on other sectors such as agriculture, biodiversity, human health and livelihoods are discussed.

Acute and chronic increases in predation risk affect the territorial behaviour of juvenile Atlantic salmon in the wild

Optimality models predict that territory size will decrease as the costs of defence increase. One poorly understood cost is predation risk, especially the relative influence of short- versus long-term increases in predation risk. Under natural conditions, we quantified the territorial behaviour of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, exposed to either acute or chronic increases in perceived predation risk. The effects of an acute increase in predation risk were assessed by exposing 18 young-of-the-year (YOY) Atlantic salmon to a control of stream water and to an alarm cue (i.e. conspecific skin extract) while monitoring their territorial behaviour. We investigated the effects of a chronic increase in perceived predation risk by quantifying the territorial behaviour of YOY salmon in control versus risky sections of seven sites, where we manipulated the perceived predation risk over a 4-week period by releasing stream water in control sections and alarm cue in risky sections. We found that salmon exposed to the alarm cue decreased the number of switches between foraging stations, but they did not change their territory size or foraging rate. As predicted, YOY salmon in risky sections had smaller territories than in control sections. However, their foraging rates and number of switches between foraging stations did not differ between treatments. Our study suggests that juvenile Atlantic salmon are sensitive to both acute and chronic increases in perceived predation risk under natural conditions, and support the predictions of optimality models that territory size decreases with increasing predation risk.

Historical effect in the territoriality of ayu fish

Ayu fish form algae-feeding territories in a river during a non-breeding (growing) season. We build a cost–benefit theory to describe the breakdown and formation of territory. In the early stage of a growing season, all fish hold territories at low densities. Once all territory sites are occupied, excess fish become floaters. When fish density further increases, a phase transition occurs: all the territories suddenly break down and fish form a school. In contrast, when the fish density is decreased, territories are suddenly formed from the school. Both theory and experiments demonstrate that ayu should exhibit a historical effect: the breakdown and formation processes of territory are largely different. In particular, the theory in formation process predicts a specific fish behavior: an “attempted territory holder” that tries to have a small territory emerges just before the formation of territory.

Mobility and Lithic Economy in the Terminal Pleistocene of Central Honshu

During the Terminal Pleistocene in central Honshu, which coincided temporally with the emergence of pottery, lithic raw material reduction sequences ceased to be rational and economical, instead becoming expedient and wasteful. Furthermore, hunter-gatherers had stopped importing lithic raw materials over long distances, and attempts made previously to attain a maximum number of usable edges on artifacts upon one nodule had ceased. Their reduction sequences might have no longer required a sparing strategy, since they now used abundant local raw materials, probably due to reduced mobility. It is suggested that the emergence of pottery allowed them to exploit more diverse plant sources and enabled them to survive within smaller territories, while the lithic reduction strategies changed as they adapted to use of available lithic raw materials.

GUIANA E SURINAME: UMA OUTRA AMÉRICA DO SUL

A Guiana e o Suriname são os dois Estados mais novos e menos povoados da América do Sul e estão entre os de menor dimensão territorial. Além disso, ambos se caracterizam por uma composição etno-cultural extremamente complexa e diversa, por idiomas distintos dos demais países sul-americanos e por uma inserção voltada para o Caribe e, ainda, em certa medida, para as ex-metrópoles. Trata-se de países ainda fragilmente conectados com aos seus vizinhos terrestres e, apesar de possuírem grandes possibilidades produtivas (especialmente nos setores mineral e energético), a economia ainda é rudimentar e carente de infra-estrutura de transportes e energia.

Religious heritage and emerging tourism in the Republic of Georgia

This brief research note describes the current situation regarding religiously based heritage tourism and pilgrimage in Georgia. Heritage in Georgia is almost synonymous with religious heritage. Few countries in the world possess such an intensity of built religious patrimony in a small territory as the foundations of their heritage tourism sector as Georgia does. Georgia is already an increasingly popular destination, but owing to its important religious history, the multitude of ancient churches and holy relics at home there, and the inseparable mix of religious and natural heritagescapes, the country has the potential to develop further in three areas of heritage tourism: domestic pilgrimage; international pilgrimage among Orthodox Christians from Eastern Europe and countries of the former USSR; and non-religious cultural tourists from all over the world.

Interactions Between Sabre‐Tooth Blennies and Their Reef Fish Victims: Effects Of Enforced Repeated Game Structure and Local Abundance on Victim Aggression

AbstractThe conditions under which humans benefit from contributing to a public good have attracted great interest; in particular the potential role of punishment of cheaters is hotly debated. In contrast, similar studies on other animals are lacking. In this study, we describe for the first time how the course of interactions between parasitic sabre‐tooth blennies (the cheaters) and their reef fish victims can be used to study both punishment and the emergence of public goods. Sabre tooth blennies (Plagiotremus sp.) sneak up from behind to bite off small pieces of scales and/or mucus from other fish. Victims regularly show spontaneous aggression as well as aggressive responses to blenny attacks. In a between species comparison, we tested how the probability of chasing a blenny is affected by (1) the option of avoiding interactions with a blenny by avoiding its small territory, and (2) variation in local abundance of conspecifics. We found that resident victim species are more aggressive towards blennies than visiting species. This difference persisted when we controlled for victim size and territoriality, suggesting that it is the enforced repeated game structure that causes residents to chase blennies. In residents, we also found a negative correlation between aggression towards blennies and local abundance, which suggests that the benefits of chasing are diluted with increasing local abundance. We discuss the implication of these results for future studies.