Sunny Areas Research Articles

Factors Affecting Reproductive Success in a Rare Grass, Calamagrostis porteri Subsp. Insperata

Factors Affecting Reproductive Success in a Rare Grass, Calamagrostis porteri Subsp. Insperata

A New Southern Hemisphere Species of Potentilla (Rosaceae)

Potentilla A. Castagnaro & M. Arias, sp. nov., from Tucumin, Argentina, is described and illustrated. Potentilla was originally determined as P. norvegica. The latter and PR anserina were the only two species of this large genus primarily of the Northern Hemisphere cited from Argentina. Potentilla is distinguished from P norvegica by morphological-reproductive (flowers and achenes), anatomical (stomata), and genetic (chromosome number) characters. The genus Potentilla belongs to the family Rosaceae and includes approximately 500 species of annual and perennial herbs and shrubs (Davidson, 1995), most of them from the Northern Hemisphere (Acharya-Goswami & Matfield, 1975). Potentilla norvegica was characterized by Linnaeus (1753) as a Scandinavian species. In 1900 Lillo found morphologically similar specimens in Tucum~n (Argentina), which he identified it as P. norvegica. Later, Zardini (1973) cited this species from C6rdoba and La Rioja, and Novara (1993) observed similar specimens in the Valle de Lerma, province of Salta, Argentina (Fig. 1). However, studies carried out by our group with recently collected material, comparison with materials from different herbaria, and an exhaustive literature search revealed that all specimens found in Argentina that were erroneously called P norvegica belong to a new species designated here as P (Fig. 2); this new species does not resemble any other European or North American species (Focke, 1888; Wolf, 1908; Rothmaler, 1959; Kalkman, 1968; Werner & Soule, 1976; Fitter et al., 1986; Ikeda & Ohba, 1993). Furthermore, the true P. norvegica does not occur in Argentina or at least has not yet been reported from there. The main morphological-reproductive, anatomical, and genetic differences observed between P. and the European P norvegica are shown in Table 1. Despite the fact that this plant was originally classified as P. norvegica because of its broad similarities to the European species, we have considered it to be novel not only for its diploid status, but also because morphological and anatomical analyses (Ikeda & Ohba, 1993; Leht, 1991) showed relevant taxonomic characters that clearly discriminate P. from P n rvegica. The name tucumanensis refers to the geographical region that in the colonial period was called Regi6n del Tucumin. Potentilla A. Castagnaro & M. Arias, sp. nov. TYPE: Argentina. Tucumin: Dpto. Trancas, Loc. Potrero, 1500-1600 m, sunny disturbed areas, 12 Sep. 1996, D. Kirschbaum 11 (holotype, LIL 602866). Figure 2. Herba annua erecta 10-30 cm alta. Folia trifoliolata pubescentia, basalia petiolis longis apicaliaque petiolis brevibus insidentia; foliolo terminali 6-20 mm longo, 515 mm lato, elliptico, profunde bidentato; venatione brochidodroma; estipulis bipartitis. Inflorescentia ex flore solitario constans; bracteolis calyculi elliptico-lanceolatis, apice attenuatis, pubescentibus, venatione reticulata. Flos 3-6 mm longus, 4-9 mm latus; sepalis triangularibus; petalis flavis, lanceolato-spathulatis, glabris, venatione dichotoma, 1.8-2.5 mm longis, 0.7-1.5 mm latis; staminibus 15 tricyclis aequalibus, filamentis filiformibus curvatis, antheris subglobosis. Achenia ochracea, reniformia; tegumento laevi, rare alato; stylo in fructu persistente, membranaceo; stigmate bilobo, incurvato. Numerus chromosomatum: 2n = 2x = 14. Annual herb, erect, 10-30 cm high; root unbranched, vertical. Leaves 3-foliolate, pubescent with glandular and unicellular trichomes on both sides of epidermal leaves; terminal leaflet 6-20 x 5-15 mm, elliptic, deeply bidentate; basal leaves with long petioles (30-70 mm) and apical leaves with short petioles (1-30 mm); stipules bipartite; venation brochidodromous. Flower solitary, 3-6 x 4-9 mm; peduncle 5-15 mm long; epicalyx bracteoles elliptic-lanceolate with attenuate apex, 2.53.5 x 0.8-1.0 mm, pubescent with reticulated veins. Sepals triangular, veins reticulated, pubesNovoN 8: 333-336. 1998. This content downloaded from 40.77.167.24 on Mon, 19 Sep 2016 06:13:48 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms

Melanoma risk and residence in sunny areas. EORTC Melanoma Co-operative Group. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer.

Melanoma risk among subjects from Germany, France and Belgium who had lived for 1 year or more in sunny climates was examined in a one-to-one unmatched case-control study conducted among white subjects 20 years old or more. A total of 412 consecutive patients with melanoma diagnosed from 1 January 1991 onwards, were derived from hospital registers; 445 controls were randomly chosen in the same municipality as the cases. After adjustment for host characteristics, melanoma risk associated with residence in a sunny area was 2.7 (95% CI: 1.4-5.2), increasing to 4.7 (95% CI: 1.4-13.5) if subjects sought a suntan when residing in sunny climates, and to 4.3 (95% CI: 1.7-11.1) if subjects arrived before the age of 10 years in the sunny area. Residence in sunny areas and recreational sun exposure seemed to combine their effects on melanoma risk. Increase in melanoma risk conveyed by deliberate sun exposure during adulthood was highest among subjects who had lived in sunny areas as a child or adolescent and lowest among subjects who had never resided in sunny areas. Our results support conclusions from migrant studies that indicated that childhood is a critical period of either vulnerability to solar radiation or more frequent exposures to melanoma risk factors. They also suggest that moderate sun exposure of an adult who was heavily sun exposed in childhood is associated with a higher melanoma risk than that of high sun exposure of an adult who was sun protected in childhood.

Decomposition of limestone in a solar reactor

The thermal decomposition of limestone has been selected as a model reaction for developing and testing an atmospheric open solar reactor. The reactor consists of a cyclone gas/particle separator which has been modified to let the concentrated solar energy enter through a windowless aperture. The reacting particles are directly exposed to the solar irradiation. Experimentation with a 60 kW reactor prototype was conducted at PSI's 90m 2 parabolic solar concentrator, in a continuous mode of operation. A counter-current flow heat exchanger was employed to preheat the reactants. Eighty five percent degree of calcination was obtained for cement raw material and 15% of the solar input was converted into chemical energy (enthalpy). The technical feasibility of the solar thermal decomposition of limestone was experimentally demonstrated. The use of solar energy as a source for high-temperature process heat offers the potential of reducing significantly the CO 2 emissions from lime producing plants. Such a solar thermochemical process can find application in sunny rural areas for avoiding deforestation.

Spatial and temporal variations in the activity patterns of Mediterranean ant communities

:We investigated the temporal and spatial separation of the activity rhythms of ants in three Mediterranean habitats. The different abilities of ant species to tolerate thermal stress influenced the time of day and year during which they were active. Activity of ants followed environmental fluctuations both seasonally and daily. Two groups of ant species could be distinguished in the communities studied: i) heat-tolerant species that were diurnal and changed little in daily activity rhythms throughout the year; ii) heat-intolerant species that shifted activity rhythms from diurnal to crepuscular-nocturnal at higher temperatures, and had peak activity at temperatures lower than 30°C. The different environmental conditions of each site affected the activity of different ant species and, therefore, community organization. In the forest areas, canopy cover created a heterogeneous environment of sunny and shaded areas throughout the day. Heat-intolerant species benefited from this spatial heterogeneity by lengthening their period of activity on hot days in areas covered by vegetation. This decreased the abundance of heat-tolerant species. Instead, in dry and open environments such as grasslands, the lack of trees caused the daily range of temperature to be sufficient to meet the requirements both of heat-adapted and cold-adapted species. This results in an increased diversity and a reduction in the dominance of heat-intolerant species.

Design and operation of a 50 kWp PV rural electrification project for remote sites in Spain

PV systems are already cost-effective for rural electrification of scattered houses and villages in sunny areas of the world. To increase the feasibility of a large scale application there are some aspects that need better understanding and improvement. Some are technological, but also organizational, social and institutional. The district of La Garrotxa (Catalonia, Spain), is a mountainous zone with scattered population, part of which is not connected to the electric grid. In order to provide this service, the local authorities promoted an electrification project of 65 sites with stand-alone PV systems, within the framework of the European THERMIE programme. A comprehensive approach has included the following aspects. Organizational: The contractor has been an association of users. After commissioning of the systems, operation, monitoring and maintenance of the plants are the responsibility of the association. Users pay a monthly fee and contribute to some maintenance tasks. Training has been provided to the users on high efficiency appliances and load management. Technological: A new PV power conditioning unit, specifically designed to simplify servicing, has been evaluated. Its main features are a modular inverter, with a sinusoidal wave, and power range of 1–4 kW, PV regulator with MPPT, a battery gauge (state of charge algorithm) and an integrated data logger for the operating parameters. The analysis of the experience gained through this project contributes to a better understanding of the interacting parameters in these applications.

Activity and Habitat Use in a Population of Ameiva ameiva in Southeastern Columbia

The abundance, time of activity, time budget, and microhabitat selection of a population of Ameiva ameiva living in the Sierra of Chiribiquete (Southeastern Colombia) were studied. The area is isolated from the surrounding forest and has reduced trophic resources and few potential predators of lizards. The population is characterized by the small size of the lizards and by low density (22.1 indv/ha). Probably the special characteristics of the habitat make possible the lengthened daily activity pattern in both juvenile and adult individuals, but this pattern is also related to relative humidity. The juveniles showed a unimodal pattern with maximum frequency of sightings at midday, while the.adults preferred the morning and afternoon hours. Both age groups used open, sunny areas and spent most of their time in foraging and basking behaviors.

Environmental factors in the epidemiology and aetiology of malignant tumours of the eye

This review examines the scientific evidence for and against the role of environmental factors such as acute and accumulative ultraviolet radiation and visible light exposure as causative factors in the development of a spectrum of eye diseases. Displasia and neoplasia are more common in sunny areas and may be due to ultraviolet B radiation. Pale skin, pale iris and a history of squamous cell carcinoma or solar keratoses indicate at-risk patients. Ocular cancer may have an annual age-adjusted incidence between 0.6 per 100,000 and 0.9 per 100,000 for the male population and between 0.5 per 100,000 and 0.8 per 100,000 for the female population.

Decomposition of limestone in a solar reactor

Abstract The thermal decomposition of limestone has been selected as a model reaction for developing and testing an atmospheric open solar reactor. The reactor consists of a cyclone gas/particle separator which has been modified to let the concentrated solar energy enter through a windowless aperture. The reacting particles are directly exposed to the solar irradiation. Experimentation with a 60 kW reactor prototype was conducted at PSI's 90m 2 parabolic solar concentrator, in a continuous mode of operation. A counter-current flow heat exchanger was employed to preheat the reactants. Eighty five percent degree of calcination was obtained for cement raw material and 15% of the solar input was converted into chemical energy (enthalpy). The technical feasibility of the solar thermal decomposition of limestone was experimentally demonstrated. The use of solar energy as a source for high-temperature process heat offers the potential of reducing significantly the CO 2 emissions from lime producing plants. Such a solar thermochemical process can find application in sunny rural areas for avoiding deforestation.

Changes in sunny crown surface area, stem volume increment per unit sunny crown surface area and stem volume increment with tree height in the selection forest of Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa at Imasu, Gifu Prefecture

Changes in sunny crown surface area, stem volume increment per unit sunny crown surface area and stem volume increment with tree height in the selection forest of Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa at Imasu, Gifu Prefecture

Madeira earthworm fauna

Abstract The present work constitutes the first catalogue with commentaries of the earthworms of Madeira. The catalogue comprises a total of 25 species, of which Lumbricidae are the most numerous and representative, while Octochaetidae and Ocnerodrilidae are scarcely represented and have a very limited distribution range. Two species, Eisenia parva and Microscolex poulteni, are treated as doubtful, and another five, Dendrobaena lusitana, Dendrobaena hortensis, Pithemera bicincta, Microscolex phosphoreus, and Dichogaster sp., are cited for the first time for Madeira. Eisenia parva seems to prefer the shady environment of the degraded laurisilva, while the remaining species live preferentially in the sunny areas devoted to tropical crops.

Validation and adjustment of the mathematical prediction model for human sweat rate responses to outdoor environmental conditions.

Under outdoor conditions this model was over estimating sweat loss response in shaded (low solar radiation) environments, and underestimating the response when solar radiation was high (open field areas). The present study was conducted in order to adjust the model to be applicable under outdoor environmental conditions. Four groups of fit acclimated subjects participated in the study. They were exposed to three climatic conditions (30 degrees, 65% rh; 31 degrees C, 40% rh; and 40 degrees C, 20% rh) and three levels of metabolic rate (100, 300 and 450 W) in shaded and sunny areas while wearing shorts, cotton fatigues (BDUs) or protective garments. The original predictive equation for sweat loss was adjusted for the outdoor conditions by evaluating separately the radiative heat exchange, short-wave absorption in the body and long-wave emission from the body to the atmosphere and integrating them in the required evaporation component (Ereq) of the model, as follows: Hr = 1.5SL0.6/I(T) (watt) H1 = 0.047Me.th/I(T) (watt), where SL is solar radiation (W.m-2), Me.th is the Stephan Boltzman constant, and I(T) is the effective clothing insulation coefficient. This adjustment revealed a high correlation between the measured and expected values of sweat loss (r = 0.99, p < 0.0001).

Ocular effects of UV-B exposure.

Although an association between UV-B exposure and ocular damage has been long suspected, this relationship is still not well quantified. Cataract is the most significant ocular damage associated with UV-B exposure. Initial studies of the association between UV-B exposure and cataract were hampered by a lack of precision in the assessment of cataract and a failure to separate cataract types. With a few exceptions, most studies have not assessed individual ocular UV-B exposure but have used ambient levels or isolated behaviours. Ecologic studies show there is more cataract in sunny areas, but whereas ambient UV-B fluxes may change by a factor of 3 or 4 over the globe, individual behaviour can change ocular exposure in a given location by 20-fold or more. The Chesapeake Bay Watermen studies assessed individual ocular UV-B exposure and have shown a consistent relationship between exposure to UV-B and the risk of both cortical and posterior subcapsular cataract. However, further work to refine these findings is sorely needed.

Patterns of macrophyte distribution within a Breton brook compared with other study scales

In order to assess macrophyte organisation processes and patterns, with particular reference to corridor effects and connectivity, macrophyte distributions and floristic assemblages were studied within a whole brook system divided into 208 consecutive 50-m-long units in summer. The results were compared with four 5-m-long plots of the downstream part of the brook, and with 196 stations located on the river basin.Four main types of longitudinal distribution were emphasised: macrophytes could be upstream-specific ortolerant, downstream-specific, -tolerant or mainly downstream, ubiquitous or confined to one tributary. The ecological tendencies of some macrophytes were pointed out from ecological profiles. Vegetational groups were determined by correspondence analysis: sunny upstream areas were dominated by heliophilous vascular spring hydrophytes while shaded upstream areas were characterised by aquatic bryophytes; in the larger downstream brooks, three layers were observed: helophytes, vascular rheophytes and aquatic bryophytes.The comparison with the two other levels showed how mapping was useful to emphasise species distribution. A possible misinterpretation of macrophyte ecology was pointed out when studying ecological profiles in a particular brook versus a stratified sampling on the river basin. The intermediate position of the brook in regard to the general typology of the river watercourse, and also its particularities due to general eutrophication of main course were shown. Then the relationships between the species distribution and the levels of organisation or human management were discussed and placed within the topics of fluvial corridor functioning, connectedness and connectivity. The use of other concepts such as ecotones, river continuum concept or functional sectors in hydrosystems was then attempted to understand some distribution and organisation features, and to forecast further research.

Cheap electricity with autonomous solar cell systems

A comparison has been made between the costs of an autonomous solar cell system and a centralized electricity supply system. In both cases investment costs are the main issue. It is shown that for households in densely populated sunny areas, the use of autonomous solar cell systems is — even with today's market prices — only as expensive or even cheaper than a grid connection as long as efficient electric appliances are used. The modular nature of solar cell systems makes it possible to start with any number of appliances, depending on the amount of money available to be spent.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma: epidemiological considerations.

Large geographic and ethnic variations in incidence and mortality rates of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) suggest inverse correlations with the degree of skin pigmentation and latitude. Increases in CMM incidence and mortality rates have occurred in virtually all white populations, more markedly in those that permanently (immigrants) or temporarily (tourists/vacationers) reside in very sunny areas outside their primitive living environment. The interpretation of data from case-control studies is, however, hampered by the difficulties in quantifying retrospectively, but reliably, CMM risk correlates (e.g., host factors, sun exposure, clothing habits, sunburns) in various periods during the life span. There is, thus, a need for large prospective studies on the development of CMM and naevi, ideally in different contexts as concerns host factors, sun exposure, and other life-style habits within and across different populations.

Age, sunlight, and facial skin: A histologic and quantitative study

Quantitative methods were developed to assess the interrelation between age and sunlight on the facial skin of healthy women living in the same sunny area. The women were grouped into the following categories: young versus old and low versus high solar exposure. The features evaluated were perceived age, amount of facial wrinkling, skin color, and skin elasticity. A punch biopsy specimen of cheek skin was obtained and prepared histologically for evaluation of solar elastosis. The histologic examination was complemented by quantification of collagen and elastin by computer-assessed image analysis. Perceived age was estimated by untrained women viewing high quality photographs. As expected, those with greater sun exposure looked older and had more wrinkles, more severe elastosis, increased elastin, and decreased collagen.

Caching and Recovery in Scrub Jays: Transfer of Sun-Compass Directions from Shaded to Sunny Areas

Current models of navigation and homing (e.g., Wallraff 1974, Wiltschko and Wiltschko 1987) assume that compass orientation not only guides the birds on their homeward flight but is also used to build a navigational map. This is taken to be directionally oriented mental picture of the spatial distribution of navigational factors. Recent findings of Wiltschko and Balda (1989) indicate that compass orientation is also of major importance in foraging. For example, Scrub Jays, Aphelocoma coerulescens, were observed in an octagonal outdoor aviary when caching and recovering their seeds. When their internal clock was shifted 6 hr between caching and recovery, they altered the sectors of their search by the predicted 900 thus showing that they used the sun compass. This suggests that birds might generally have a directionally oriented view of space that is used for a wide variety of tasks. In our earlier experiments (Wiltschko and Balda 1989), caching as well as recovering took place in sunshine. Although the Scrub Jays live in a relatively dry, open environment, they may have opportunities to cache in the shade and recover in the sun or vice versa-the distribution of shaded and sunny areas could be quite different at the times of revisiting cache sites. This raises the question whether a jay can remember a cache site relative to a sun compass direction when it was unable to see the sun directly while caching. Is it possible that a bird includes a site in its sun compass oriented spatial map that it has never seen in sunshine? Here we report the first results of an attempt to answer this question.

The epidemiology of cutaneous malignant melanoma

Increases in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) incidence and mortality rates have occurred in the last decades in virtually all white populations, more markedly in those which permanently (immigrants) or temporarily (tourists/vacationers) reside in very sunny areas distant from their original living environment. The strong relationship between sex and site of CMM in these upward trends (ie trunk in males, lower limbs and, more recently, trunk as well in females) points to intense intermittent ultraviolet light exposure as the cause of the CMM epidemic. In Europe the highest rates of melanoma are seen in Denmark, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany, where many individuals have light complexion with tendency to burn. Increases of 2 to 7% per year in mortality rates appeared earlier in these countries, but were subsequently seen also in relatively low-risk areas such as southern European countries. The interpretation of data from case-control studies is, however, hampered by the difficulties in quantifying retrospectively CMM risk correlates (ie host factors, sun exposure, clothing habits, sunburns etc) in various periods during the life span.

Nest sites of common and German wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

In this study just over half of established nests of common wasps (Vespula vulgaris) and German wasps (V. germanica) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) found in suburban localities were in the ground, with about a third in the walls or roofs of dwellings. In contrast, nearly all the nests in forests were in the ground. The two species established nests in subtly different but broadly similar types of sites in urban areas, so the nests of each species are equally likely to be encountered by people. The availability of nest sites is unlikely to limit urban wasp numbers. The more abundant common wasps do not alter the type of nest site occupied by German wasps in towns. Common wasp colonies in the ground reached larger sizes than those established elsewhere. The relative sizes of nests in different positions were markedly different in the two species.Within honeydew beech forest, wasp nests are clustered in the same patches in successive years. There are more nests in sunny areas and near water, so these are the sites to search first to destroy nests for wasp nuisance abatement.