European Non-native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme - a summary of assessment protocols and decision support tools for use of alien species in aquaculture

The European Non-native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme (ENSARS) was developed in response to European 'Council Regulation No. 708/2007 of 11 June 2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture' to provide protocols for identifying and evaluating the potential risks of using non-native species in aquaculture. ENSARS is modular in structure and adapted from non-native species risk assessment schemes developed by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation and for the UK. Seven of the eight ENSARS modules contain protocols for evaluating the risks of escape, introduction to and establishment in open waters, of any non-native aquatic organism being used (or associated with those used) in aquaculture, that is, transport pathways, rearing facilities, infectious agents, and the potential organism, ecosystem and socio-economic impacts. A concluding module is designed to summarise the risks and consider management options. During the assessments, each question requires the assessor to provide a response and confidence ranking for that response based on expert opinion. Each module can also be used individually, and each requires a specific form of expertise. Therefore, a multidisciplinary assessment team is recommended for its completion

LOFAR discovery of a double radio halo system in Abell 1758 and radio/X-ray study of the cluster pair

Radio halos and radio relics are diffuse synchrotron sources that extend over Mpc-scales and are found in a number of merger galaxy clusters. They are believed to form as a consequence of the energy that is dissipated by turbulence and shocks in the intra-cluster medium (ICM). However, the precise physical processes that generate these steep synchrotron spectrum sources are still poorly constrained. We present a new LOFAR observation of the double galaxy cluster Abell 1758. This system is composed of A1758N, a massive cluster hosting a known giant radio halo, and A1758S, which is a less massive cluster whose diffuse radio emission is confirmed here for the first time. Our observations have revealed a radio halo and a candidate radio relic in A1758S, and a suggestion of emission along the bridge connecting the two systems which deserves confirmation. We combined the LOFAR data with archival VLA and GMRT observations to constrain the spectral properties of the diffuse emission. We also analyzed a deep archival Chandra observation and used this to provide evidence that A1758N and A1758S are in a pre-merger phase. The ICM temperature across the bridge that connects the two systems shows a jump which might indicate the presence of a transversal shock generated in the initial stage of the merger

Spectral Distortions of the CMB as a Probe of Inflation, Recombination, Structure Formation and Particle Physics

Following the pioneering observations with COBE in the early 1990s, studies of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) have focused on temperature and polarization anisotropies. CMB spectral distortions - tiny departures of the CMB energy spectrum from that of a perfect blackbody - provide a second, independent probe of fundamental physics, with a reach deep into the primordial Universe. The theoretical foundation of spectral distortions has seen major advances in recent years, which highlight the immense potential of this emerging field. Spectral distortions probe a fundamental property of the Universe - its thermal history - thereby providing additional insight into processes within the cosmological standard model (CSM) as well as new physics beyond. Spectral distortions are an important tool for understanding inflation and the nature of dark matter. They shed new light on the physics of recombination and reionization, both prominent stages in the evolution of our Universe, and furnish critical information on baryonic feedback processes, in addition to probing primordial correlation functions at scales inaccessible to other tracers. In principle the range of signals is vast: many orders of magnitude of discovery space could be explored by detailed observations of the CMB energy spectrum. Several CSM signals are predicted and provide clear experimental targets, some of which are already observable with present-day technology. Confirmation of these signals would extend the reach of the CSM by orders of magnitude in physical scale as the Universe evolves from the initial stages to its present form. The absence of these signals would pose a huge theoretical challenge, immediately pointing to new physics.Comment: Astro2020 Science White Paper, 5 pages text, 13 pages in total, 3 Figures, minor update to reference

First evidence of diffuse ultra-steep-spectrum radio emission surrounding the cool core of a cluster

Diffuse synchrotron radio emission from cosmic-ray electrons is observed at the center of a number of galaxy clusters. These sources can be classified either as giant radio halos, which occur in merging clusters, or as mini halos, which are found only in cool-core clusters. In this paper, we present the first discovery of a cool-core cluster with an associated mini halo that also shows ultra-steep-spectrum emission extending well beyond the core that resembles radio halo emission. The large-scale component is discovered thanks to LOFAR observations at 144 MHz. We also analyse GMRT observations at 610 MHz to characterise the spectrum of the radio emission. An X-ray analysis reveals that the cluster is slightly disturbed, and we suggest that the steep-spectrum radio emission outside the core could be produced by a minor merger that powers electron re-acceleration without disrupting the cool core. This discovery suggests that, under particular circumstances, both a mini and giant halo could co-exist in a single cluster, opening new perspectives for particle acceleration mechanisms in galaxy clusters

The NIKA2 instrument, a dual-band kilopixel KID array for millimetric astronomy

NIKA2 (New IRAM KID Array 2) is a camera dedicated to millimeter wave astronomy based upon kilopixel arrays of Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KID). The pathfinder instrument, NIKA, has already shown state-of-the-art detector performance. NIKA2 builds upon this experience but goes one step further, increasing the total pixel count by a factor $\sim$10 while maintaining the same per pixel performance. For the next decade, this camera will be the resident photometric instrument of the Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimetrique (IRAM) 30m telescope in Sierra Nevada (Spain). In this paper we give an overview of the main components of NIKA2, and describe the achieved detector performance. The camera has been permanently installed at the IRAM 30m telescope in October 2015. It will be made accessible to the scientific community at the end of 2016, after a one-year commissioning period. When this happens, NIKA2 will become a fundamental tool for astronomers worldwide.Comment: Proceedings of the 16th Low Temperature Detectors workshop. To be published in the Journal of Low Temperature Physics. 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Black hole accretion and star formation as drivers of gas excitation and chemistry in Mrk231

We present a full high resolution SPIRE FTS spectrum of the nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxy Mrk231. In total 25 lines are detected, including CO J=5-4 through J=13-12, 7 rotational lines of H2O, 3 of OH+ and one line each of H2O+, CH+, and HF. We find that the excitation of the CO rotational levels up to J=8 can be accounted for by UV radiation from star formation. However, the approximately flat luminosity distribution of the CO lines over the rotational ladder above J=8 requires the presence of a separate source of excitation for the highest CO lines. We explore X-ray heating by the accreting supermassive black hole in Mrk231 as a source of excitation for these lines, and find that it can reproduce the observed luminosities. We also consider a model with dense gas in a strong UV radiation field to produce the highest CO lines, but find that this model strongly overpredicts the hot dust mass in Mrk231. Our favoured model consists of a star forming disk of radius 560 pc, containing clumps of dense gas exposed to strong UV radiation, dominating the emission of CO lines up to J=8. X-rays from the accreting supermassive black hole in Mrk231 dominate the excitation and chemistry of the inner disk out to a radius of 160 pc, consistent with the X-ray power of the AGN in Mrk231. The extraordinary luminosity of the OH+ and H2O+ lines reveals the signature of X-ray driven excitation and chemistry in this region.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Special Issue on Herschel first result

Comparison of prestellar core elongations and large-scale molecular cloud structures in the Lupus 1 region

Turbulence and magnetic fields are expected to be important for regulating molecular cloud formation and evolution. However, their effects on sub-parsec to 100 parsec scales, leading to the formation of starless cores, are not well understood. We investigate the prestellar core structure morphologies obtained from analysis of the Herschel-SPIRE 350 mum maps of the Lupus I cloud. This distribution is first compared on a statistical basis to the large-scale shape of the main filament. We find the distribution of the elongation position angle of the cores to be consistent with a random distribution, which means no specific orientation of the morphology of the cores is observed with respect to the mean orientation of the large-scale filament in Lupus I, nor relative to a large-scale bent filament model. This distribution is also compared to the mean orientation of the large-scale magnetic fields probed at 350 mum with the Balloon-borne Large Aperture Telescope for Polarimetry during its 2010 campaign. Here again we do not find any correlation between the core morphology distribution and the average orientation of the magnetic fields on parsec scales. Our main conclusion is that the local filament dynamics---including secondary filaments that often run orthogonally to the primary filament---and possibly small-scale variations in the local magnetic field direction, could be the dominant factors for explaining the final orientation of each core

5th International Galliformes Symposium (November 7-10, 2010 : Chiang Mai, Thailand): Abstract Book

Conserving Galliformes: What we need to do, Philip J. K. McGowan The Galliformes Specialist Group, Peter J. Garson and Ilse Storch Session 1: Conservation in Thailand, Chair: Tommaso Savini Wildlife conservation status in Thailand: The elephant\u27s case study, Mattana Srikrajang The Galliformes studies and research problems in Thailand, Wina Meckvichai Session 2: Galliformes Research and Conservation in Thailand, Chair: Wina Meckvichai Ranging ecology of Siamese fireback (Lophura diardi) in submontane forest, Niti Sukumal, George A. Gale, and Tommaso Savini Nesting behaviour and nest site selection of scaly-breasted partridge in Mo Singto Research Plot, Thailand, Tiwa Ong-in, George Gale, Andrew Pierce, Philip Round, Stephen Browne, and Tommaso Savini Study of Siamese fireback (Lophura diardi) by using camera traps, Jirapa Suwanrat, Taksin Artchawakom, Niti Sukumat, Dusit Ngopraserf, Tommaso Savini, and Pongthep Suwanwaree Habitat utilization of green peafowl Pavo muticus and their behaviour in breeding season at Huai Tab Saloa, Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Uthai Thani Province, Wina Meckvichai and Tanwarat Pinthong Genetic variation of captive green peafowl in Thailand based on D- loop sequences, Amporn Wiwegweaw and Wina Meckvichai Present and future of Galliformes research in Thailand: Prioritizing the effort, Tommaso Savini and Niti Sukumal Session 3: Effectiveness of Protected Areas, Chair, Sun Yue-hua Achieving long-term protection for Galliformes habitat: A case study from China, Simon D. Dowell, Dai Bo, Roger Wilkinson , Chen Benping, and Zhu Min Coverage of the Galliformes within South Asia\u27s protected area, Natalie Clark, Elizabeth Boakes, Richard Fuller, Georgina Mace, and Philip J. K. McGowan Galliformes conservation in Nepal through the priority sites for conservation, Hem Sagar Baral Enhancing the conservation and scope of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) Palawan, Phillipines, Edmund Leo B. Rico, Ronald Allan Altamirano, Neil Aldrin D. Mallari, and Rachel Austin Bringing protected areas beyond conservation rhetoric: A case study in Palawan, Philippines, N. A. D. Mallari, S. M. Marsden, J. Mendoza, J. Wenceslao, N. Puna, J. Bactol, and Philip J. K. McGowan Session 4: Field Research Techniques, Chair: Niti Sukumal Science, conservation, and abundance estimation of Galliformes, John P. Carroll A test of distance sampling to estimate the abundance of scaly-breasted partridge in a tropical evergreen forest, George A. Gale, Tiwa Ong-in, and Tommaso Savini Abundance, population structure and occupancy based modeling of three pheasants in the western part of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim, India, K. Poudyal, T. Bhattacharya, T. Bashir, S. Sathyakumar, and G. K. Saha Using camera traps to assess abundances and habitat associations of Galliformes in an Indonesian lowland forest, David Lee and Jeremy Lindsell Monitoring population dynamics of threatened pheasants using camera trapping: A case study in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, Xingfeng Si and Ding Ping Distribution of pheasants and partridges in the upper Setikhola forests of Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal, Laxman Prasad Poudyal, Baburam Lamichhane, Heera B. Chhetri, K. Ramesh, Philip J. K. McGowan Session 5: Conservation Status of Galliformes, Chair: Simon D. Dowell Emerging concerns about the status of Vietnam\u27s Galliformes, Le Trong Trai Conservation of Galliformes in India: Challenges and future needs, Rahul Kaul and S. Sathyakumar Saving the critically endangered Djibouti francolin and its forest ecosystem: Cause for optimism? Clive Bealey, Houssein Rayaleh, Zomo Fisher, Sam Cartwright, Geoff Welch, and Philip J. K. McGowan Status, habitat and conservation of swamp francolin (Francolinus gularis) in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Paras Bikram Singh and Laxman Poudyal Re-assessment of population status, habitat use and threats to swamp francolin (Francolinus gularis) between 2004 and 2009 in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal, R. Dahal Baghwan Session 6: Behavioural and Population Ecology, Chair: Rahul Kaul Diurnal behaviour of Crossoptilon auritus in winter in northwest China, Wu Yi-qun and Liu Nai-fa Habitat selection and group size change of Tibetan partridge in Daocheng, Sichuan, China, Que Pinjia The roles of weather and predator abundance in determining breeding success of capercaillie in Scotland, David Baines , Nicholas Aebischer, and Allan MacLeod Parental decisions and predators: Investment and risks to incubating northern bobwhites, Susan N. Ellis-Felege, Jonathan S. Burnam, William E. Palmer, D. Clay Sisson, and John P. Carroll Breeding biology of grey junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii) in Theni Forest Division, Gudalur Range, western Ghats, Tamilndu, Southern India, N. Ramesh and M. C. Sathyanarayana Reproductive ecology of the Trinidad piping-guan, Kerrie T. Naranjit Session 7a: Spatial Ecology, Chair: Zhang Zheng-wang Spatial and temporal associations of male Reeves\u27s pheasants to different forest edges in the Dabie Mountains of central China, Ji-Liang Xu, Xiao-Hui Zhang, Zheng-Wang Zhang, Guang-Mei Zheng, and Yong Wang Ecogeographical determinants of range limit and distribution pattern of red junglefowl and grey junglefowl in India, Merwyn Fernandes, Mukesh, S. Sathyakumar, and K. Ramesh Habitat use and activity pattern of Galliformes in the western part of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim, India, K. Poudyal, T. Bashir, T. Bhattacharya, S.Sathyakumar, and G. K. Saha Territory size and overlap of buff-throated partridge in tree-line habitats, Pamuling Mountains, China, Nan Yang, Kai Zhang, Jianghong Ran, Huw Lloyd, Yu Xu, Bisong Yue, and Ying Wang Habitat suitability assessment for Hume\u27s pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae) in the Nanhua part of Ailaoshan Nature Reserve, Yao Xiao-gang, Zhou Wei, Xu Wan-ji, Deng Zhong-jian, and Zhang Ren-gong Session 7b: Conservation Breeding, Chair: Keith Howman Conservation breeding in WPA, John Corder Conservation breeding programme of western tragopan at Sarahan Pheasantry in Himachal Pradesh, India, Alam Singh Chauhan and Sat Pal Dhiman Introduction and breeding of blood pheasants in Beijing Zoo, Zhang Jing, Zhang Jinguo, and Liu Bin Conservation breeding of pheasants in India: The Central Zoo Authority perspective, Nairn Akhtar and Shri B. S. Bonal Conservation breeding of cheer pheasants giving emphasis to enclosure designs in Himachal Pradesh, India, Sat Pal Dhiman Taki ng the next step forward in conservation breeding of pheasants in Himachal Pradesh, India, Ashwanii Gulaati Session 8: Galliformes-Human Interaction, Chair: Mukhtar Ahmed Logical conservation: Applying the state-pressure-response model to prioritise work on the threatened Galliformes species, Lowell J. Mills and Peter J. Garson Present opportunities of ecotourism and its impact on Himalayan pheasants in the Pipar Area, Nepal, Suman Sharma Genetic signature of anthropogenic population collapse in Reeves\u27s pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii), Jiang Chang, Ning Wang, De Chen, and Zhengwang Zhang Grouping behaviour of white eared-pheasant, Wang Nan Factors limiting population size of grey partridge in upland agricultural landscapes in northern England, David Baines, Philip Warren, and Kathy Fletcher Session 9: Taxonomy and Ecology, Chair: Natalie Clark Evaluation of genetic diversity and admixture analysis of red junglefowl with domestic chicken in India: Preliminary findings, Mukesh, M. Fernandes, S. Sathyakumar, R. S. Kalsi, Rahul Kaul, and R. P. Mandhan Taxonomic clarification in a plumage polymorphic species, silver pheasant, Lu Dong, Yanyun Zhang, Gerald Heckel, and Guangmei Zheng The spatial variation of plant food for Syrmaticus humiae in spring at Dazhongshan, Yunnan, Chang Lina and Zhou Wei Seasonal variation in the diet of gray junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii) in Theni Forest Division, Gudalur range, Western Ghats, Tamilnadu, Southern India, M. C. Sathyanarayana and N. Ramesh Observations on the Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) in the Mannar District, Sri Lanka, Charles Santiapillai and Shanmugasundaram Wijeyamohan Poster Session, Coordinator: John P. Carroll Voca lization of red junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Breeding Station, Uthai Thani Province, Sutipong Arsirapoj and Wina Meckvichai Assessment of pesticide load on Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur Rajasthan, India, Bhumesh Singh Bhadouria, V. B. Mathur, S. Sathyakumar, and Rahul Kaul Diet, throughput and faecal analysis of blood pheasants at Daocheng, Sichuan, China, G. W. H. Davison and Wang Nan Brief introduction of Galliformes and the distribution of Alectoris chukar in Xinjiang province, west China, Ding Peng, Ma Ming, Zhang Tong, and Chen Ying Declines and conservation of threatened Galliformes in the Himalayas, Jonathon C. Dunn Niche separation between the seven pheasant species in Karst Mountains in southwest Guangxi province, China, Zhou Fang, Yu Chengxin, Yang Gang, Lu Zhou, and Li Dong Opportunistic shift in nesting strategy by buff-throated partridges in tree-line habitat, China, Kai Zhang, Nan Yang, Yu Xu, Jianghong Ran, Huw Lloyd, and Bisong Yue Distribution and relative abundance of pheasant in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, India, V. Kandpal and S. Sathyakumar Koklass (Pucrasia macrolopha biddulphi) relative abundance and habitat use at lower Dachugam National Park, Kashmir, Lalit Kumar Sharma, Samina Anim Charoo, and S. Sathyakumar Conservation breed ing of Hume\u27s pheasants, Liankima Lailung and F. Laltanpuia A novel PCR method for gender identification of Tetraophasis szechenyii, Li Li, Wenqing Li, Xiao Li, Anlin Wu, and Jing Li Genetic evidence for male-biased dispersal in Elliot\u27s pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti) in China, Lin Fang-Jun, Ping-Ping Jiang, and Ping Ding Distribution of green peafowl (Pavo muticus imperator) after human disturbance and reintroduction at Mae Wong National Park, Kamphang Petch Province, Wina Meckvichai and Sutipong Arsirapoj Assessment of genetic diversity of red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) population in Himachal Pradesh, India, Mukesh, S. Sathyakumar, R. S. Kalsi, R. K. Vijh, M. Fernandes, and R. P. Mandhan Conservation status of western tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) in Machiara National Park, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, Muhammad Naeem Awan Roost sites selection of scaly-breasted partridge in seasonally wet evergreen forest, Tiwa Ong-in, George Gale, Andrew Pierce, Philip Round, Stephen Browne, and Tommaso Savini Distribution and relative abundances of Galliformes in Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim, India, K. Poudyal, S. Sathyakumar, and J. B. Subba Participatory survey of cheer pheasant through broadcasting a radio programme in far western Nepal, Laxman Prasad Poudyal and Nandalal Joshi Status of cheer pheasant in Nepal, Paras B. Singh and Peter J. Garson Assessment of pesticide load on Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur Rajasthan, India, Bhumesh Singh Bhadouria, V. B. Mathur, S . Sathyakumar, and Rahul Kaul Diurnal behaviours of Crossoptilon auritum in northwestern China, Wu Yi-qun and Liu Nai-fa Complete mitochondrial genome of Tetraophasis szechenyii Madarasz, 1885 (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae), and its genetic variation as inferred from the mitochondrial DNA CR, Yang Meng, Liwei He, Ailin Wu, Zhenxin Fan, Jianghong Ran, Bisong Yue, and Jing Li Cooperative breeding in the kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos): Basic ecology and the role of habitat saturation, Lijin Zeng and Zheng- Wang Zhang Comparison of artificial breeding methods of Crossoptilon harmani, Jing Zhang, Tonggai Zhou, Liying Wang, and Jing Li Phylogenetic study on Phasianidae species based on CR1 retrotransposable elements, Zhaofeng Liu, Liwei He, Honggang Yuan, Bisong Yue, and Jing Li Habitat evaluation for Reeves\u27s pheasant Syrmaticus reevisii), Chunfa Zhou and Zhengwang Zhang Workshops Chinese pheasant research and conservation Review of information needs and emerging issues in conserving Himalayan Galliformes Review of WPA field techniques manual Designing field studies for Galliformes How do we prioritise projects for Red List species

Planck Intermediate Results. IV. The XMM-Newton validation programme for new Planck galaxy clusters

We present the final results from the XMM-Newton validation follow-up of new Planck galaxy cluster candidates. We observed 15 new candidates, detected with signal-to-noise ratios between 4.0 and 6.1 in the 15.5-month nominal Planck survey. The candidates were selected using ancillary data flags derived from the ROSAT All Sky Survey (RASS) and Digitized Sky Survey all-sky maps, with the aim of pushing into the low SZ flux, high-z regime and testing RASS flags as indicators of candidate reliability. 14 new clusters were detected by XMM, including 2 double systems. Redshifts lie in the range 0.2 to 0.9, with 6 clusters at z>0.5. Estimated M500 range from 2.5 10^14 to 8 10^14 Msun. We discuss our results in the context of the full XMM validation programme, in which 51 new clusters have been detected. This includes 4 double and 2 triple systems, some of which are chance projections on the sky of clusters at different z. We find that association with a RASS-BSC source is a robust indicator of the reliability of a candidate, whereas association with a FSC source does not guarantee that the SZ candidate is a bona fide cluster. Nevertheless, most Planck clusters appear in RASS maps, with a significance greater than 2 sigma being a good indication that the candidate is a real cluster. The full sample gives a Planck sensitivity threshold of Y500 ~ 4 10^-4 arcmin^2, with indication for Malmquist bias in the YX-Y500 relation below this level. The corresponding mass threshold depends on z. Systems with M500 > 5 10^14 Msun at z > 0.5 are easily detectable with Planck. The newly-detected clusters follow the YX-Y500 relation derived from X-ray selected samples. Compared to X-ray selected clusters, the new SZ clusters have a lower X-ray luminosity on average for their mass. There is no indication of departure from standard self-similar evolution in the X-ray versus SZ scaling properties. (abridged)Comment: accepted by A&