Unexploited Areas Research Articles

Assessment of food intake rates in pink‐footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus based on examination of oesophagus contents

An alternative to the so‐called ‘marker substance’ method used to estimate daily food intake in geese is presented. Based on the assumption that a grazing bird takes one leaf per peck, the daily food intake rate can be calculated by multiplying mean bite weight, peck rate and total daily foraging time. Wintering pink‐footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus feeding on pastures and winter wheat fields were collected and samples of leaves in the oesophagus were measured, dried and weighed individually. We measured leaf lengths in unexploited areas of the same fields upon which geese had been feeding. Peck rates of winter wheat feeding geese were measured. Daily foraging time was obtained from observations of activity budgets of flocks of geese. Daily food intake of winter wheat feeding geese was estimated at 159–229 g ash free dry weight (AFDW) during late winter and at 188–212 g AFDW in early spring. For geese feeding on pastures in early spring food intake was estimated at 170 g AFDW. Averages were generally in accordance with estimates derived by the ‘marker substance’ method. Bite length was positively related to primary leaf length of winter wheat, suggesting that geese adjust bite size to available leaf lengths. There was a negative relationship between peck rate and length of all leaf types, but the relationship was only significant for primary leaves. Based on the assumption that bite length was identical to primary leaf length and the relationship between primary leaf length and peck rate, a quadratic relation between primary leaf length and instantaneous intake rates was derived, yielding a peak intake rate of 0.62 g AFDW min−1 at a primary leaf length of 8.4 cm. In the beginning of the winter, bite lengths were close to this optimal leaf length, but decreased during winter.

Demography and behaviour of African mammals subject to exploitation

Behavioural and demographic changes in animal populations resulting from exploitation are of conservation significance if they affect population growth rates. In this study, demography and behaviour of 19 larger mammals in conservation areas where legal and illegal hunting occurred were compared to that in a fully protected non-hunted area in western Tanzania. Results showed that there were few differences in species' demography between exploited and unexploited areas, but that, in general, mammals were more flighty outside protected areas and that these tended to be species that were more heavily exploited. Nevertheless, there were few differences in other behaviour patterns between the two areas. These findings question the supposition that behaviour and demography of mammals necessarily changes in areas of exploitation, and that population growth rates or monitoring strategies need be affected in anthropogenically disturbed habitats.

Assessment of a brown trout Salmo trutta population in the River Gallo (central Spain): Angling effects and management implications (Salmonidae)

The brown trout population of the River Gallo (central Spain) was monitored every two months during 1996 to determine the current impact of angling. To evaluate the influence of additional parameters, physical habitat and food availability were also studied. To assess fishing pressure, trout harvest and angling exploitation, a partial creel census was conducted during the 1996 fishing season. Differences were found in densities and biomass between exploited (1182.4 fish ha‐1, 68.3 kg ha‐1) and unexploited areas, the latter being markedly higher (3135.1 fish ha‐1, 208.2 kg ha‐1). Production was quite superior in the unexploited area and decreased (from 144.5 kg ha‐1 yr‐1 to 37.2 kg ha‐1 yr‐1) as fishing pressure increased. However, no consistent differences were observed in growth, condition factor, age diversity, mortality, recruitment age and turnover ratio. Sport fishing seems to be the main negative factor influencing the balance within population of brown trout in the River Gallo and therefore management should be focused on more restrictive angling measures.

A spatial comparison of common guillemots and sandeels in Scottish waters

The lesser sandeel (Ammodytes marinus) is an important prey of many seabirds and is the subject of the largest single-species fishery in the North Sea. Owing to their dependence on suitable sediment types, the distribution of post-settled sandeels (late 0-group and older age classes) is restricted and constant through time. Consequently, it is possible to compare the presence/absence of post-settled sandeels with the distribution of predators without the requirement for simultaneous collection of data on predator and prey distribution. Post-settled sandeels are an important prey of guillemots (Uria aalge), particularly during the breeding season. This paper examines the extent to which the spatial distribution of guillemots, sandeels, and fisheries overlaps. A recently collated database on the distribution of post-settled sandeels together with data from the European Seabirds at Sea database is used to compare the seasonal distributions of guillemots and sandeels. Spatial analyses were conducted at a single scale using two approaches: a non-parametric test which determines whether the distributions of predator and prey are the same; and generalized additive modelling. These analyses indicate that sandeel distribution is an important influence on guillemot distribution in the breeding season, but is less important during other times of the year. As such, the seasonal changes in association appear to reflect changes in diet and prey availability. Other factors that appeared to be important in influencing guillemot distribution were distance from colony and latitude (colony location). Data on fishery landings per ICES rectangle were used to consider the degree of common utilization of sandeel grounds by fisheries and guillemots in recent years. This comparison indicated that there were some areas important for both guillemots and fisheries, but that most concentrations of guillemots were found in unexploited sandeel areas.

Parks, people, and conservation: A review of management issues in nepal's protected areas

Human encroachment and many management problems affect Nepals protected areas despite conservation activities governmental support and legal protection. Some problems of the Kosi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the subtropical Terai region include illegal grazing illegal wood and fodder cutting wildlife mortality from monsoon floods and densely populated boundary areas. 4 small villages exist within the Parsa Wildlife Reserve in the Terai region and illegal timber cutting is common. Chitwan National Park lies within Chitwan District which has the greatest population growth in Nepal (3.5%/year vs. 2.7%/year for the whole country) which has resulted in considerable park/people management problems including rising numbers of tourists. Shivapuri Wildlife Reserve in the middle hills of Nepal houses various watershed projects since it provides most of the drinking water for Kathmandu Valley. The creation of this reserve has curbed overgrazing and deforestation activities. The Makalu-Barun National Park/Conservation Area is uninhabited and 1 of the only unexploited areas in the mountains. Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park has received >10000 foreign tourists and 2500 people (chiefly Sherpa) live in it. This puts much strain on existing forests. A proposal exists for integrated conservation and development including maximum participation and management by the local people for the Annapurna Conservation Area--a highly visited area of Nepal. Overgrazing by domestic stock is a main problem of the Dhor Patan Hunting Reserve. 650 mostly Thakuri residents of 2 villages in Rara National Park were relocated to Barida District in the Terai where many have died. Population pressure from population growth and tourism affect the protected areas of Nepal. Conservation specialists need to develop ways to introduce incentives for local people to diminish park/people conflicts and better conservation strategies.

Aspects des systèmes touristiques et récréatifs du littoral soviétique de la mer Noire et de la mer Caspienne. Étude comparative avec le littoral méditerranéen français

Aspects of the touristic and leisure systems of the Soviet littoral along the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. While the tourism along the Caspian Sea is still to be developed, the Black Sea littoral is already in full bloom. The «organized» tourism only regards seaside resorts which play the part of both holiday villages and rest-houses (sanatoria). But most part of the holiday resorts is due to «unorganized» people which causes many problems to arise on regard to their servicing. The two regions are separated by four main differences on the landscape point of view, the difference with the french mediterranean littoral being considerable. The generalization of collective housing as well as the importance of green areas consequently limit the built area. There are hardly any nautical resorts to be seen. The servicing of touristic areas is made by rail and plane, the car playing a very feeble part in it. Lastly, the spreading of touristic areas inland is so limited in U.S.S.R. thai it causes the littoral to be overcrowded. The realization of a better development is thus linked to the exploiting of the still unexploited areas along the Crimean and Caspian littoral.

Changes in Size Distribution of Snow Crabs (Chionoecetes opilio) in the Southwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Size distributions of the exploited snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) population in the southwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence were obtained from commercial landings in New Brunswick ports during 1977-82. The unexploited part of the stock was sampled during research vessel surveys in 1980 and 1981. The size distributions were analyzed by factorial analysis of correspondence. The trend in mean size was negative from 1977 to 1981 and positive thereafter. The analysis identified two periods of recruitment to the standing stock within each year: the first at the beginning of summer and the second in late summer and autumn. Growth of the previouslyrecruited crabs occurred between these two periods. Analysis of research vessel data indicated that many prerecruits inhabited areas outside the usual fishing grounds. The hypothesis is proposed of recruitment by platoons, with a part being due possibly to migration of crabs from shallow unexploited areas to deeper water where the commercial fishery occurs.

May Israel as a Belligerent Occupant Lawfully Exploit Previously Unexploited Oil Resources of the Gulf of Suez?

Since shortly after the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has sought to reduce its dependence on imported oil by exploiting the resources of captured Egyptian territory. Until recently attention was centered on the Sinai’s Abu Rhodeis fields, which in 1974 were reported to be meeting 55 percent of Israel’s needs. In 1975, however, these fields were returned to Egypt as part of the second Egypt-Israel Disengagement Agreement. Previously unexploited areas of the eastern Gulf of Suez then became the subject of Israeli efforts, and by the fall of 1976 exploratory drilling was in progress off the Sinai coast. On November 25, 1977, Israel announced that this drilling had resulted in a commercial strike, and on March 29, 1978, it was reported that commercial production had begun. The question whether Israel may rightfully exploit the oil resources of the Gulf thus came sharply into focus.

The Challenge of Astronomy to Millimeter-Wave Technology

The inseparability of pure and applied science, or the synergy between scientific discovery and technological advance, has already been well illustrated in the field of radio astronomy. Recent astronomical discoveries in the millimeter range, and what can he expected to emerge from the far-infrared region, make further technological developments in these relatively unexploited areas of great interest to astronomy as well as technologically challenging. The nature of problems and the goals of astronomy in this area are discussed with particular reference to technological needs and developments.

Orthodontic prepayment plans

I have lrecn asked 1)~ l)ouglas Hoyt, prcsidcnt, of the Northcastcm Society of Ort,hodontists, to present current information on prepayment plans. In constructing this rqort, 1 was plcas:~l lo riotc the unirersal interest expressed by the excellent papclx recently publishetl in t,he dnr~~~cas .JOURNAL OF ORTHODOXTICS 1-z and T urge you to r*catl all of tlrcm. If’ WC keep oumclve~ in” > formed, our patients will hc assurctl of t,lic hcst possihlc orthodontic ca.rt. Before the above-rrrcrrtiorretl articlrs appcw~cd in the JOURNAI,, I had asked for and received help from *J, A. Salzmann, ITarold Hillcnhrand, Richard Pasternak, Barn&t Fr*ank, Joseph C,. I)i Stasio, I-Toward T. Oliver, Arthur L. Hudson, and James E. Brophy. Tn essence, T asked for assistance from the Srnerican Association of Orthodontist,s ant1 from thv New York, Connecticut, anti Massachusetts component. societies as wvcll as from the Rlontreal area. Tt was not my intention to ignore programs in Rhode Tslantl, RIaintx, New Hampshire, and Vermont, but I believed t,hat a. sampling of information would he sufficient. I WOUND also like to thank my own state consultants in (‘orrrrocticut,, Irving Maislen and George Sturman. In a TVaZZ St~rwt cJournc~l article clatctl Aug. 20, 1968, the first paragraph read, “Tlental Insurance, one of the last great unexploited areas of prepaid health protection, promises to remain just, that-unrxploitcd-for quite a. while longer.” Blamt: for the lagging acceptance of drntzal insurance is generally put on relatively high premiums, limited covvragc, anti, for the most part, the lack of opporbunity for participation by indi\-itluals who cannot get into a group plan. To further quote this article: “Rtoreo\-c~r, not all work is paid for by dental policies. Insurance companics, for now iit lWSt, steer clear of covering SUCh specialized work as straight,cning chiltlrcn’s tvcth.” Only on the West Coast. has dental c~vc~rage made much headway, wit,h little growth elsewhere. Govcrrrri~crrt-suppo~te(l wclfarx~ programs are, in fact, the mainst,ay of tlental plans in il nunibc~r* or StiltW. So fill’, StHtC service associations

Geochemical Survey of Natural Gas and Oil near Abashiri, Hokkaido

The area near Abshiri City is one of the unexploited areas of East Hokkaido for gas and oil. In spring 1953, geochemical survey was carried out in this area by Geological Survey of Japan in response to the request of the City Office. The purpose of this survey is to clarify the geochemical conditions of formations and components of underground water, before executing the test boring.The Kurumatomanai structure which is composed of the Miocene Kurumatomanai formation is distributed near the street of Ahashiri. If there is a fine permeable rock in deeper parts of the structure it is inferred that gas and oil deposits may be burned there. After all, it comes to a conclusion that the test boring with estimated depth of 800m must be carried out some places of the anticlinal zone. And the various tests concerning geological, geochemical examination should be performed by this boring.