Elevational Gradients in Bird Diversity in the Eastern Himalaya: An Evaluation of Distribution Patterns and Their Underlying Mechanisms

BACKGROUND: Understanding diversity patterns and the mechanisms underlying those patterns along elevational gradients is critically important for conservation efforts in montane ecosystems, especially those that are biodiversity hotspots. Despite recent advances, consensus on the underlying causes, or even the relative influence of a suite of factors on elevational diversity patterns has remained elusive. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We examined patterns of species richness, density and range size distribution of birds, and the suite of biotic and abiotic factors (primary productivity, habitat variables, climatic factors and geometric constraints) that governs diversity along a 4500-m elevational gradient in the Eastern Himalayan region, a biodiversity hotspot within the world's tallest mountains. We used point count methods for sampling birds and quadrats for estimating vegetation at 22 sites along the elevational gradient. We found that species richness increased to approximately 2000 m, then declined. We found no evidence that geometric constraints influenced this pattern, whereas actual evapotranspiration (a surrogate for primary productivity) and various habitat variables (plant species richness, shrub density and basal area of trees) accounted for most of the variation in bird species richness. We also observed that ranges of most bird species were narrow along the elevation gradient. We find little evidence to support Rapoport's rule for the birds of Sikkim region of the Himalaya. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: This study in the Eastern Himalaya indicates that species richness of birds is highest at intermediate elevations along one of the most extensive elevational gradients ever examined. Additionally, primary productivity and factors associated with habitat accounted for most of the variation in avian species richness. The diversity peak at intermediate elevations and the narrow elevational ranges of most species suggest important conservation implications: not only should mid-elevation areas be conserved, but the entire gradient requires equal conservation attention

Pollutant dispersion in wetland systems: Mathematical modelling and numerical simulation

In this paper we present and justify an original use of a diffusive-advective partial differential equation model, its discretization procedures and resulting numerical simulations for the dispersal of pollutants in an air-water system, with distinct behaviours in water and in air. The authors believe that the relevance of the developed work lies in its potential use in practical environmental assessment processes for the definition of both preventive and clean-up strategies. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved..2004173236037

Effect of the temperature on the structure and stability of Fe-18 Cr - (0 to 60) Ni alloys

The material studied consists of a series of alloys with a basic composition (weight %): 18Cr - 0.01C - 0.2 Si - 0.4 Mn, and levels of nickel varying from zero to 60%. Alloys in the annealed condition and after deformation at room temperature, 350 and 700 C to simulate the high temperatures achieved during machining were observed by optical microscopy. Equilibrium diagrams were generated by computational thermodynamics (Thermocalc) to predict the behavior of these alloys in a wide range of temperatures. The theoretical thermodynamic equilibrium conditions of the system were compared to the observed microstructures, indicating that the CFC phase in alloys with nickel content between 10% and 30% is, in fact, in a metastable condition at room temperature. Martensitic transformation induced by cold work in the alloy with 10% Ni was observed, validating the computer calculations.631455