A method to detect sub-communities from multivariate spatial associations

1.Species are seldom distributed randomly across a community, but instead show spatial structure that is determined by environmental gradients and/or biotic interactions. Analysis of the spatial co-associations of species may therefore reveal information on the processes that helped to shape those patterns. 2.We propose a multivariate approach that uses the spatial co-associations between all pairs of species to find sub-communities of species whose distribution in the study area are positively correlated. Our method, which begins with the patterns of individuals, is particularly well-suited for communities with large numbers of species, and gives rare species an equal weight. We propose a method to quantify a maximum number of sub-communities that are significantly more correlated than expected under a null model of independence. 3.Using data on the distribution of tree and shrub species from a 50 ha forest plot on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama, we show that our method can be used to construct biologically meaningful sub-communities that are linked to the spatial structure of the plant community. As an example, we construct spatial maps from the sub-communities that closely follow habitats based on environmental gradients (such as slope) as well as different biotic conditions (such as canopy gaps). 4.We discuss extensions and adaptations to our method that might be appropriate for other types of spatially referenced data and for other ecological communities. We make suggestions for other ways to interpret the sub-communities using phylogenetic relationships, biological traits, and environmental variables as covariates, and note that sub-communities that are hard to interpret may suggest groups of species and/or regions of the landscape that warrant further attention

Estimating the relationship between BRICS and U.S. stock index returns using panel regression methods

This thesis examines the relationships between BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) stock index returns and U.S. stock index returns using a panel data covering the period from 1990 to 2013. This relationship is further examined in relation to both the global financial crisis in 2007-2009 and BRICS' own financial crises in 1997-1999. To control for the effects of economic factors on stock markets, three macroeconomic variables including GDP growth rate, nominal interest rate, and exchange rate are included in empirical models. The panel regression methods are used in this thesis. Results reveal that index returns in BRICS stock markets are significantly responsive to the U.S. stock market performance. However, the findings show that the BRICS stock markets did not underperform during the global financial crisis. Instead, BRICS index returns increased during that time. The results also exhibit that while financial crises originated in the BRICS economies adversely affected index returns of respective stock markets in those countries, this negative impact can be reduced by choosing U.S. stocks subject to the U.S. stock market performing well during the same time. Hence, a portfolio consisting of stocks from both BRICS and U.S. markets could be beneficial for reducing the risk of financial crisis. The thesis concludes with policy recommendation suggesting that a close monitoring of U.S. financial market is critical for BRICS investors who prefer to invest in U.S. stocks. Also, there is a need for international fund managers who invest in newly emerging stock markets to evaluate the value and stability of domestic currencies as part of their stock market investment decisions. --Leaf ii.The original print copy of this thesis may be available here: http://wizard.unbc.ca/record=b205542

Cheater\u27s Selfish-Synonymy

The February issue (WW 04-45) gave the results of my systematic search for coincidental self-synonymy: pairs of words that are unrelated etymologically but via convergent evolution happen to be spelled the same and c. mean the same. I extended the coverage to near-synonymic pairs as well and to unrelated contronymic (self-opposite) pairs

Identifying fisheries regions in New Zealand: Some conceptual difficulties

The importance of fisheries to nations is reflected in the production and employment statistics of the country. It is also reflected in socio-cultural symbols (for instance songs, tales), and in socio-political hegemonies. Just as these may vary from one nation to another, they may also vary from region to region within a nation. Several nations speak openly in terms of 'fisheries regions' and there have been a number of attempts to identify such regions in the social science literature. An understanding of these regions is seen as step towards defining appropriate policies for the sustainable management of their resources. In 1986, New Zealand established an innovative fishery management system based on individually transferable quota (ITQ), and subsequently removed the (never-implemented) region-based, fishery management planning structure from the statutes. These changes might be indicative of a loss of geography, a flattening of the nation's "fishing topography", and might be expected to result in significant changes to the nature and location of fisheries regions. This paper outlines the changes in the management structure of New Zealand's fisheries. We then attempt a preliminary analysis of fisheries regions in New Zealand as the basis for a "new regional" geography of New Zealand's fisheries. In the process we discuss various criteria for defining fishery regions and present our initial categorisation of New Zealand into those regions. The relationship between these regions and related institutional structures is then discussed. This raises a number of additional questions regarding the concept of a fisheries region, especially in the context of a resurgent indigenous (Maaori) culture, the emergence of new fishing peoples in New Zealand, and the respective size of recreational and commercial fishing sectors

The Perils of Risk Assessment

The article considers how social solidarity has changed over the long march of human history. The distinction that the author Emile Durkheim makes between mechanical and organic solidarity is summarized. In his book Suicide, Durkheim\u27s pessimism about modern society was fueled by data which indicated that social pathologies were occurring at higher rates in metropolitan communities. The application of postmodern interpretations to the criminal justice arena, especially in terms of the practice of reducing risk via the development of risk assessment tools is illustrated

Winter and Spring 1968 Student Announcements

https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/raymond-college/1068/thumbnail.jp

Approaches to Automated Morphological Classification of Galaxies

There is an obvious need for automated classification of galaxies, as the number of observed galaxies increases very fast. We examine several approaches to this problem, utilising {\em Artificial Neural Networks} (ANNs). We quote results from a recent study which show that ANNs can classsify galaxies morphologically as well as humans can.Comment: 8 pages, uu-encoded compressed postscript file (containing 2 figures

Observations of solar flare gamma-rays and protons

Solar flare gamma-rays (4 to 7 MeV) and protons (8 to 500 MeV) were simultaneously observed from six flares on 1 Apr., 4 Apr., 27, Apr. 13, May 1981, 1 Feb. and 6 June 1982 by the Hinotori and GMS satellites. The relationship between 4 to 7 MeV gamma-ray fluences and peak 16 to 34 MeV proton fluxes for these flares are analyzed. It does not reveal an apparent correlation between these two parameters. The present result implies that the protons producing gamma-rays and the protons observed near the Earth do not always belong to the same population