Host Plant Suitability and a Test of the Feeding Specialization Hypothesis Using \u3ci\u3ePapilio Cresphontes\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

The concept that host plant favorites would be used for more rapid and/or efficient growth of the locally adapted individuals was tested in a preliminary way using the giant swallowtail butterfly, Papilio cresphontes. Populations feeding only on northern prickly ash, Zanthoxylum americanum (from Wisconsin), primarily (or exclusively) on hoptree, Ptelea trifoliata (in Ohio) and on lime prickly ash, Z. fagara, or Citrus, (in Florida) were compared on alternate hosts and on their actual local hosts under controlled environmental conditions. While the results with final instar larvae generally support the feeding specialization hypothesis with regard to more rapid and/or more efficient growth on local food plant favorites, we are hesitant to extrapolate these results to the species as a whole for several reasons dis- cussed herein

Assessing the Dynamics of Ecological Provinces in the European Seas

The concept of oceanographic provinces has existed for almost a century, providing a useful framework for understanding the mechanisms controlling biological, physical and chemical processes in the ocean and their interactions. This work is an attempt to identify and map marine provinces using satellite observations related to biological processes such as phytoplankton primary production. The approach is based on fuzzy logic as a means of classifying the European Seas into objectively defined areas. The analysis has identified nine domains based on three important variables, surface chlorophyll concentration, sea surface temperature, and available radiation for photosynthesis. These domains were subsequently mapped over the European geographical window using satellite ocean colour and temperature data. The method displays correctly most important productive and unproductive zones, as well as captures the dynamic nature of the marine systems. This study has been conducted in the frame of the institutional project ECOMAR (Monitoring and Assessment of Marine Ecosystems, Action # 2121) within the Inland and Marine Unit of the Institute for Environment & Sustainabilility.JRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

European Capacity for Monitoring and Assimilating Space-based Climate Change Observations - Status and Prospects

This report, which is based on the findings of a workshop at Ispra in March 2009, provides the scientific background to a forthcoming Commission response to the Space and Competitiveness councils requests that the commission assess the needs for full access to standardised climate change data, the means to provide these data and together with ESA, EUMETSAT and the scientific community define how GMES services can contribute effectively to providing these data. The report therefore focuses primarily, but not exclusively, on space-based Climate data sources. Standardised climate data are needed for climate monitoring, prediction and research, while climate information informs the policy cycle at four key points - Policy definition; Management and scenario building; Reporting requirements; Alarm functions. The workshop identified the 44 Essential Climate Variables defined by GCOS as the minimum set of standardised climate data that the commission should be considering and a gap analysis for the provision of these observations was undertaken. In addition European capacity is analysed according to maturity, differentiating between sustained operational capacity (Envelope Missions/EUMETSAT), non-operationally funded repetitive capacity and additional infrastructure needs in order to fill the gaps are identified. Finally the report discusses co-ordination and governance issues and how to overcome them. The key findings and recommendations are contained in an executive summary.JRC.DDG.H.2-Climate chang

A Synoptic View of Carbon and Oxygen Dynamics in European Regional Seas: an Approach Coupling Modelled and Satellite Datasets - Part A: Conceptual Model and Sensitivity Analysis

A major work package of the JRC/IES FP6 Action 2121 ECOMAR is related to the further development and validation of ecological indices and the development of value added products of state and process of coastal and marine ecosystems in European regional seas. In this context a specific task is to develop, apply and validate a model for the quantification of oxygen and carbon cycles in shallow coastal waters exposed or sensitive to eutrophication. This model should be used for a more accurate quantification of oxygen depletion risk at a pan-European level. In this report the development of an accurate model for oxygen and carbon cycles in shelf and eutrophicated areas is presented. Following the recent development of eutrophication indices for coastal and marine areas, OXYRISK and PSA, and several recent attempts to implement a thorough but simple coupled benthic/pelagic model, the new model is applied in highly eutrophicated and sensitive coastal areas of the European seas. A new approach is proposed coupling a 3D hydrodynamic and a 1D ecosystem model, supplied with primary production data derived from satellite remote sensing. This approach allows getting a synoptic view in time and space of carbon and dissolved oxygen concentrations for different basins. A first application of the model is made for the Baltic Sea. The biogeochemical sub-model includes coupled benthic/pelagic processes specifically addressing oxygen quantification in the sediment, as in the benthic and upper layers of the water column. This ecosystem model will be gradually developed further from a simple (POC)/(DO) model into a NPZD/sediment model, while being fully coupled with the hydrodynamic model for advection and diffusion processes. The model will be validated along with its application as an eutrophication assessment tool for European seas.JRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

Extracting the time-dependent transmission rate from infection data via solution of an inverse ODE problem

The transmission rate of many acute infectious diseases varies significantly in time, but the underlying mechanisms are usually uncertain. They may include seasonal changes in the environment, contact rate, immune system response, etc. The transmission rate has been thought difficult to measure directly. We present a new algorithm to compute the time-dependent transmission rate directly from prevalence data, which makes no assumptions about the number of susceptible or vital rates. The algorithm follows our complete and explicit solution of a mathematical inverse problem for SIR-type transmission models. We prove that almost any infection profile can be perfectly fitted by an SIR model with variable transmission rate. This clearly shows a serious danger of overfitting such transmission models. We illustrate the algorithm with historic UK measles data and our observations support the common belief that measles transmission was predominantly driven by school contacts

The importance of the service encounter in influencing identity salience and volunteering behavior in the cultural sector

Increasing identity salience among volunteers is an approach that organizations can utilize to enhance volunteer numbers. While the importance of identity salience in influencing volunteering has been recognized in the literature, most previous studies of the antecedents of identity salience have focused on personal or brand related variables which can be difficult for non-profit organizations to influence. Drawing on marketing theory, we develop a new conceptual model that considers personal, brand and service encounter variables as antecedents of identity salience. Using in-depth interviews (n = 11) and a survey (n = 433), the research expands and tests seven antecedents of identity salience. These include: personal variables (interest in the domain (art), social responsibility), service encounter variables (participation frequency, social exclusion, visibility, and experience quality) and a brand variable (organizational prestige). In the context of art galleries, social responsibility, visibility, social exclusion and organizational prestige were found to be the key drivers of identity salience.PostprintPeer reviewe

"Border Shopping"

A film produced by the Nerve Centre in Derry in August 2023, reflecting young people's understanding and experiences of the Irish Border as part of the Bordered Youth Project

Copernicus and Earth observation in support of EU policies

The Copernicus programme for Earth observation represents a big investment by the EU, justified by expected returns in public governance and private business. Copernicus is user and policy driven, and provides cross-domain products and services with a full free and open data policy and where possible taking up new technologies and research. This study has made a survey of the extent that Copernicus is used to support policy making in the European Commission, also assessing the perspectives for increased uptake. Also other Earth observation data and information has been looked at. An extensive use of the services is observed for policies monitoring landuse, climatic and environmental conditions, and this is expected to increase further with e.g. the new Common Agricultural Policy and the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry Regulation. Information of the Climate Change Service on optimal land-use targeting specific human activities, harnessing the beneficial opportunities of climate change, provides policy makers with a new set of adaptation measures. While air quality measures can be monitored by the atmosphere service, the marine service provides input to the information system for marine knowledge. The emergency service supports disaster risk reduction measures and a resilient build-up of society. Security is of increasing importance where land and water resources are at the origin of conflict and migration. Several lines of action have been identified to improve uptake: Increasing engagement within the policy Directorates-General, fostering feedback loops between the end-users and Copernicus services, Increasing communication, information and training, setting standards and guaranteeing quality controls, enabling full integration of different datasets. The Copernicus programme brings a unique opportunity to the EU for being a global player, addressing SDGs and International Conventions because of its a long-term sustained commitment and strong international dimension. No such space programme is currently available elsewhere.JRC.D.6-Knowledge for Sustainable Development and Food Securit