Selección de nido y biología reproductiva del Chorlitejo Patinegro Charadrius alexandrinus en playas de la costa oeste de Portugal

Aims: The nest-site selection and breeding biology of Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus were studied on sandy beaches of the Portuguese West coast. Methods: Nest-site characteristics were compared with those of random points and between successful and unsuccessful nests. Breeding parameters (timing of laying, nesting success and egg size) were examined on sandy beaches and these data combined with a literature review to provide a comparison of Kentish Plovers’ breeding parameters between natural (sandy beaches, saline lakes) and man-made coastal habitats (salinas and fish-farms). Results and Conclusions: Three temporal peaks of breeding activity were distinguished: end of April, mid May and end of June. Most nests were located less than 100 meters from the nearest active nest. The dimen- sions (breadth and volume) of the eggs from late clutches were significantly smaller than those from eggs of early and intermediate clutches. Nesting success was 32% (12.3% using the Mayfield method). There were significant differences in nesting success between the four studied beaches (56% of all clutches produced chicks in Gala while only 18% of all clutches produced chicks in Costinha). Despite the lower success of in- termediate clutches no significant difference in nesting success was found between early, intermediate and late clutches. There was a higher probability of finding nest-sites near objects and in areas with a higher cover of sparse vegetation and objects than were random points. Successful nests were placed farther from the nearest mammal footprint, were closer to the nearest vehicle sandmark and had a lower cover of shells and pebbles than did unsuccessful nests. Nesting success was highly variable for both natural and man-made coastal ha- bitats and affected mainly by predation and flooding. In terms of conservation it seems important to maintain habitat diversity for Kentish PloversObjetivos: Se estudia la selección de nido y la biología reproductiva del Chorlitejo Patinegro en playas de la costa oeste de Portugal. Métodos: Las características del emplazamiento de nidos tanto exitosos como fracasados se comparan con las características de puntos tomados al azar. Se analizaron variables descriptoras de la reproducción tales como, fecha de puesta, éxito y tamaño de los huevos. Así mismo, se utilizaron los datos obtenidos además de datos procedentes de la bibliografía para realizar una comparación de la reproducción en hábitats naturales (playas y lagos salinos) y en hábitats artificiales (salinas y piscifactorías). Resultados y conclusiones: Se distinguieron tres máximos temporales durante la reproducción: finales de abril, mediados de mayo y finales de junio. La mayor parte de los nidos se situaron a menos de 100 metros de otro nido ocupado. Los huevos de las puestas tardías fueron significativamente más pequeños (anchura y vo- lumen) que los huevos procedentes de puestas tempranas o intermedias. El éxito reproductivo fue del 32% (12,3% utilizando el método de Mayfield). Se encontraron diferencias significativas en el éxito de los nidos en- tre las cuatro playas estudiadas (el 56% de las puestas produjeron pollos en Gala mientras que solo el 18% de las puestas produjeron pollos en Costinha). A pesar del bajo éxito de las puestas intermedias no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre las puestas tempranas, intermedias o tardías. Los nidos se situaron con una ma- yor probabilidad en la proximidad de objetos o en zonas con una menor cobertura de vegetación en compara- ción con los puntos tomados al azar. Los nidos exitosos se situaron en los lugares más alejados de huellas de mamíferos, estuvieron más cerca de lugares donde se encontraron huellas de vehículos y tuvieron una menor cobertura de piedras y/o conchas que los nidos fracasados. El éxito reproductor fue muy variable tanto en los hábitats naturales como en los artificiales, y fueron afectados fundamentalmente por depredación e inundación. En relación a la conservación del Chorlitejo Patinegro, parece importante conservar hábitats diverso

Nanofabricated tips for device-based scanning tunneling microscopy

We report on the fabrication and performance of a new kind of tip for scanning tunneling microscopy. By fully incorporating a metallic tip on a silicon chip using modern micromachining and nanofabrication techniques, we realize so-called smart tips and show the possibility of device-based STM tips. Contrary to conventional etched metal wire tips, these can be integrated into lithographically defined electrical circuits. We describe a new fabrication method to create a defined apex on a silicon chip and experimentally demonstrate the high performance of the smart tips, both in stability and resolution. In situ tip preparation methods are possible and we verify that they can resolve the herringbone reconstruction and Friedel oscillations on Au(111) surfaces. We further present an overview of possible applications

A Ranked Inventory of Commercially-important Mollusks of Panay, West Central Philippines as a Guide to Prioritize Research

A first-ever effort to rank commercially-important mollusk species of Panay Island was conducted based on an extensive survey between March and April 2018. Ranking was based on the following criteria, namely: commercial value (40%), catch rates (20%), sources of threats (type of gear, processing plants, and number of fishers) (20%), frequency in the markets and source sites (10%), and literature available (10%), modified to a certain extent. A total of 90 mollusk species categorized into bivalves (49), gastropods (32), and cephalopods (9) were ranked. The comb pen shell Atrina pectinata (Pinnidae), Indian squid Uroteuthis duvaucelii (Loliginidae), and the scallop Mimachlamys sanguinea (formerly Chlamys senatoria) (Pectinidae) formed the top three species in the list strongly attributed to their high commercial value and thus catch rates. Squids, in general, are caught by trawls, whereas most of the other species are harvested primarily by gleaning and diving. The study highlights the high diversity of the malaco-fauna of Panay, as well as the multi-gear character of tropical fisheries. This ranked inventory can be used in prioritizing research on mollusks, by identifying target species for more in-depth studies useful for establishing their present status

Evaluación de índices de inestabilidad y parámetros sinópticos como predictores de tiempo convectivo en el norte de Mendoza

Las tormentas convectivas que afectan la región norte de Mendoza son investigadas desde hace ya varios años. En el área de San Martín (Mendoza) se efectúa un plan operativo experimental de siembra de nubes qraniceras. Concurrente a ello, durante el período Octubre-Marzo de cada año en la oficina meteorológica de El Plumerillo se desarrollan diariamente métodos de pronóstico de granizo utilizando datos de vientos y de parámetros termodinámicos obtenidos de los radiosondeos. La evaluación final se limita a determinar si el día es "positivo" o "negativo" en cuanto a las posibilidades de ocurrencia de granizo. El objetivo de este trabajo es poder encontrar un método que permita inferir la intensidad de la actividad convectiva de manera más explícita, se utilizó la clasificación de días convectivos (COC) de Nicolini-Norte (1980) que se confrontó con una serie de parámetros sinópticos. Se tuvo en cuenta el método canadiense de Strong (1979).Far many years the convective storms ever Mendoza's north area have been investigated. An experimental plan of hail-cloud seeding is carried out in San Martín (Mendoza). The meteorological office of "El Plunerillo" prepares daily forecasts of hail during the period from October to march. Taking into account thermodynamic parameters and wind data a decision is made whether the day is "positive" or "negative" with respect to hail. The purpose of this peper is to find a method to forecast intensilly of the convective activity. The Convective Day Categories (OOC) postulated by Nicolini-Bocte (1980) were used and coopered with a list of synoptic parameters. The Canadian Method elaborated by Strong (1979) was taken into account too. Instability index that aren't used in Mendoza's experiment were studied like the "total-total" Binder, 1970); the "SWEAT" index (Binier, 1970) and the "STOP index" (Maddox, R.A., 1973). The information was taken from 1976-77, 1977-78 and 1978-79 convective season selecting 101 events. The mejority of than were storms accurred after 18 GMT (Grenwich Middle Time).Asociación Argentina de Geofísicos y Geodesta

Definición del zonda en la cordillera frontal mendocina por su efecto térmico

El objetivo del trabajo es determinar el incremento de temperatura que es necesario obtener en un intervalo de tiempo fijado para poder decir que se esté en presencia del "zonda térmico" teniendo en cuenta Ia onda climática diaria. Además se pretende ver en qué medida Ios casos de Zonda definidos usando solamente Ia temperatura coinciden con Ios casos de Zonda real detectados con fajas de termohigrógrafos. Se realiza un análisis mesoclimático del régimen térmico de estaciones seleccionadas del noroeste de Mendoza. Se concluye que si Ia variación horaria de Ia temperatura supera a Ia climática entre 2.5º C/h y 3.5º C/h se está en ptesencia de Zonda debila entre 3.5º C/h y 4.5º C/h, moderado y cuando es mayor 4.5º C/h, Zonda intenso. También se observa que existe el Zonda continuo y el Zorda pulsante.A method is proposed to determine the temperature increase to be obtained at a given time interval to prove the existence of a thermal Zondaa taking into Consideration the daily climatic wave. Besides, it is intended to see up to what extent Zonda events defined by using temperature values only, coincide with actual Zonda events detected by means of thermohigrographs. A mesoclimatic analysis was made of the thermal reαimen of the Selected Stations NW of Mendoza. We conclude that if the t1me variation of the temperature is greater than the climat1c one between 2.5º C/h and 3.5º C/h then, a weak Zonda is blowing; between 3.5º C/h and 4.5º C/h, the Zonda is moderate and when temperature values are greater than 4.5º C/h intense Zonda is present. It could also be observed that there exist continuous and pulsing Zondas.Asociación Argentina de Geofísicos y Geodesta