47 research outputs found
Brane World Cosmologies and Statistical Properties of Gravitational Lenses
Brane world cosmologies seem to provide an alternative explanation for the
present accelerated stage of the Universe with no need to invoke either a
cosmological constant or an exotic \emph{quintessence} component. In this paper
we investigate statistical properties of gravitational lenses for some
particular scenarios based on this large scale modification of gravity. We show
that a large class of such models are compatible with the current lensing data
for values of the matter density parameter
(). If one fixes to be , as suggested by
most of the dynamical estimates of the quantity of matter in the Universe, the
predicted number of lensed quasars requires a slightly open universe with a
crossover distance between the 4 and 5-dimensional gravities of the order of
.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, revte
Spatial and temporal variation of fish assemblage associated with aquatic macrophyte patches in the littoral zone of the Ayapel Swamp Complex, Colombia
ABSTRACT: Aim: The purpose of the present study was to examine spatial and temporal variation in fish assemblage structure associated with aquatic macrophytes in the littoral zone of the ASC. Methods: Specimens were caught between January 2008 and February 2009, over four limnimetric moments, using both cast net and seine net. Data on the temperature, electrical conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen was recorded for the characterization of the water mass in the sites. Results: A total of 34,151 specimens from 44 species were collected. The most abundant species were Eigenmannia virescens, Astyanax caucanus, Astyanax fasciatus, Roeboides dayi and Cyphocharax magdalenae, which together accounted for more than 75% of the sample. Temporal and spatial comparisons showed variation in the environmental conditions and highlighted the existence of heterogeneous abiotic conditions (p0.05) regarding the fish assemblage structure. The multivariate analysis showed no significant relationship between existing environmental conditions and the fish assemblage (p=0.04). The analysis also showed the absence of a relationship between the fish assemblage and environmental variables with respect to the flood pulse and sampling sites (p>0.05). Conclusion: The uniformity of the fish communities that inhabit aquatic macrophyte patches in the littoral region of the ASC may
be related to the availability of suitable habitat in structural terms, that probably supports a more abundant and varied wildlife
Cosmological consequences of a Chaplygin gas dark energy
A combination of recent observational results has given rise to what is
currently known as the dark energy problem. Although several possible
candidates have been extensively discussed in the literature to date the nature
of this dark energy component is not well understood at present. In this paper
we investigate some cosmological implications of another dark energy candidate:
an exotic fluid known as the Chaplygin gas, which is characterized by an
equation of state , where is a positive constant. By assuming
a flat scenario driven by non-relativistic matter plus a Chaplygin gas dark
energy we study the influence of such a component on the statistical properties
of gravitational lenses. A comparison between the predicted age of the universe
and the latest age estimates of globular clusters is also included and the
results briefly discussed. In general, we find that the behavior of this class
of models may be interpreted as an intermediary case between the standard and
CDM scenarios.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Effects of dredging and macrophyte management on the fish species composition in an old Neotropical reservoir
Using tetraether lipids archived in North Sea Basin sediments to extract North Western European Pliocene continental air temperatures
The Pliocene is often regarded as a suitable analogue for future climate, due to an overall warmer climate (2â3â°C) coupled with atmospheric CO2 concentrations largely similar to present values (âŒ400 ppmv). Numerous Pliocene sea surface temperature (SST) records are available, however, little is known about climate in the terrestrial realm. Here we generated a Pliocene continental temperature record for Northwestern Europe based on branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (brGDGT) membrane lipids stored in a marine sedimentary record from the western Netherlands. The total organic carbon (TOC) content of the sediments and its stable carbon isotopic composition () indicate a strong transition from primarily marine derived organic matter (OM) during the Pliocene, to predominantly terrestrially derived OM after the transition into the Pleistocene. This trend is supported by the ratio of branched and isoprenoid tetraethers (BIT index). The marineâterrestrial transition indicates a likely change in brGDGT sources in the core, which may complicate the applicability of the brGDGT paleotemperature proxy in this setting. Currently, the application of the brGDGT-based paleothermometer on coastal marine sediments has been hampered by a marine overprint. Here, we propose a method to disentangle terrestrial and marine sources based on the degree of cyclization of tetramethylated brGDGTs (#rings) using a linear mixing model based on the global soil calibration set and a newly developed coastal marine temperature transfer function. Application of this method on our brGDGT record resulted in a âcorrectedâ terrestrial temperature record (MATterr). This latter record indicates that continental temperatures were âŒ12â14â°C during the Early Pliocene, and 10.5â12â°C during the Mid Pliocene, confirming other Pliocene pollen based terrestrial temperature estimates from Northern and Central Europe. Furthermore, two colder (Î 5â7â°C) periods in the Pliocene MATterr record show that the influence of Pliocene glacials reached well into NW Europe
A new species of electric knifefish, genus Compsaraia
A new species of the neotropical electric fish genus Compsaraia is described from the western Amazon of Peru and Brazil. Compsaraia samueli is distinguishable from all other apteronotids by sexual dimorphism in which mature males exhibit extreme elongation and slenderness of the snout and jaws. Compsaraia samueli is readily distinguishable from its only congener, C. compsa, by more caudal-fin rays (1718 vs. 1316), a shorter caudal peduncle (mean length 9% vs. 34% body length to end of anal fin), a less tapering body shape in lateral profile (mean ratio of body depth at origins of anal fin and dorsal organ 93% vs. 75%), and a smaller maximum adult body size (230 vs. 305 mm). The genus Compsaraia is readily separated from other apteronotids by a pale antorbital stripe and a pale L-shaped patch over the supratemporal canal. The phylogenetic position of C. samueli is estimated by inclusion in a previously published data matrix of osteological and other morphological characters. Comparisons of the cranial bones in apteronotids shows the derived morphology of C. samueli to be a composite of three developmentally and phylogenetically discrete characters: (1) positive allometric growth before sexual maturity in both sexes of the pre-orbital region of the neurocranium, (2) positive allometric growth of the (oral) jaws, and (3) secondary sexual dimorphism of snout and jaw morphology. The genus Compsaraia represents one of at least three phylogenetically independent cases of snout elongation and one of at least four cases of jaw elongation within the Apteronotidae. Compsaraia samueli also represents one of at least four cases of secondary sexual dimorphism in snout and jaw length within the Apteronotidae. The phylogenetic distribution of snout and jaw characters within the Apteronotidae suggests the influence of both sexual and trophic functional influences on the evolution of head morphology. © 2009 Copyright The Natural History Museum
Early-middle Eocene chronology of the Southern Ocean: magnetostratigraphic data from the South Island of New Zealand
During the Paleogene the Earth experienced a pronounced warming trend culminating with the early Eocene climatic optimum (EECO, ~52-50 Ma), which was followed by a long-term cooling trend over the middle-late Eocene. This long-term climate evolution was punctuated by several transient (~10^3-5 yr) hyperthermal events (e.g. Paleocene Eocene thermal maximum). Even though great advances have been made in the last few years in understanding the paleoclimate history of the southwestern Pacific Ocean and the implications on the sedimentation patterns, a precise correlation between sites and global events is still missing. This is mainly because of the poor preservation of calcareous nannofossils, diachronous ranges of index species, and a lack of a good magnetic polarity reversals record. We present preliminary early-middle Eocene magnetostratigraphy from the Mid Waipara and the Mead Stream marine sections, cropping out in the South Island of New Zealand. These sections provide the best-known record of oceanic changes in the southern Pacific high-latitude (50-60\ub0S) for this time period. Magnetostratigraphic data, integrated with new and published biostratigraphy, indicates that the sampled ~45 m of the Mid Waipara section straddles polarity Chrons from C23n to C21n (~51.5-47 Ma), with an average sediment accumulation rate of ~9 m/Myr, calculated by means of correlation with the GPTS2004 time scale. This robust chronological framework allow to constrain in time the paleotemperature dataset of Hollis et al.
(EPSL 349-350, pp. 53-56, 2012), confirming that the Ashley Mudstone formation of Mid Waipara includes at least the upper part of the EECO and the early-middle Eocene transition. The sampled ~320 m of the Mead Stream section, which comprises the three upper member of the Amuri Limestone (Lower Marl, Upper Limestone and Upper Marl), encompass polarity Chrons from C24r to C18r (~55-40 Ma), with an average sedimentation rate of ~17 m/Myr. We confirm evidence from carbon isotopes (Slotnick et al., J. Geol. 120, 2012) and biostratigraphy that the upper marl-dominated parts of Lower Marl and Upper Marl may be correlated with the EECO and MECO (middle Eocene climatic optimum), respectively. This is a major contribution to the knowledge about the early Paleogene Earth's climate and environmental dynamics