Population Assessment During the Adult Stage of the Alfalfa Blotch Leafminer, \u3ci\u3eAgromyza Frontella\u3c/i\u3e (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

This paper presents a sampling procedure for estimating adult populations of the alfalfa blotch leafminer, Agromyza frontella (Rondani). The method is based on counts of the flies as they emerge from the soil following adult metamorphosis, taken in a series offurmel traps. Analysis of sampling variability showed that 80 traps per field will give adequate precision for life table studies in alfalfa. The pattern of counts was overdispersed but conformed to the negative binomial distribution

Survival and Longevity of \u3ci\u3eOtiorhynchus Ligustici\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Alfalfa Hay Bales in Eastern Ontario

The alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici, a pest of European origin, has recently spread into mainland Ontario. A two-year study showed that dispersing adults incorporated into bales of alfalfa during harvest can survive therein for up to 46 days of storage in a mow. Furthermore, they can remain fertile for most of this period. This has important implications with respect to the shipment of hay from infested areas

Sampling Technique for Larvae of the Alfalfa Snout Beetle, \u3ci\u3eOtiorhynchus Ligustici\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

This paper presents a sampling procedure for estimating larval populations of the alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici. The method is based on counts of the larvae taken in 16 x 16 cm quadrats of soil during early fall when the grubs are in their final two instars and feeding just below the crowns of the plant. Analysis of sampling variability showed that 200 quadrats per field are necessary to obtain adequate precision for intensive population studies but that 50 quadrats are sufficient for survey work. The pattern of counts was overdispersed but conformed to the negative binomial distribution

Two \u3ci\u3eEntomophthora\u3c/i\u3e Species Associated with Disease Epizootics of the Alfalfa Weevil, \u3ci\u3eHypera Postica\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Ontario

Recent studies have shown that disease epizootics in Ontario populations of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), are caused by a complex of two fungi

Utilising the flexible generation potential of tidal range power plants to optimise economic value

Tidal range renewable power plants have the capacity to deliver predictable energy to the electricity grid, subject to the known variability of the tides. Tidal power plants inherently feature advantages that characterise hydro-power more generally, including a lifetime exceeding alternative renewable energy technologies and relatively low Operation & Maintenance costs. Nevertheless, the technology is typically inhibited by the significant upfront investment associated with capital costs. A key aspect that makes the technology stand out relative to other renewable options is the partial flexibility it possesses over the timing of power generation. In this study we provide details on a design methodology targeted at the optimisation of the temporal operation of a tidal range energy structure, specifically the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon that has been proposed within the Bristol Channel, UK. Apart from concentrating on the classical incentive of maximising energy, we formulate an objective functional in a manner that promotes the maximisation of income for the scheme from the Day-Ahead energy market. Simulation results demonstrate that there are opportunities to exploit the predictability of the tides and flexibility over the precise timing of power generation to incur a noticeable reduction in the subsidy costs that are often negotiated with regulators and governments. Additionally, we suggest that this approach should enable tidal range energy to play a more active role in ensuring security of supply in the UK. This is accentuated by the income-based optimisation controls that deliver on average more power over periods when demand is higher. For the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon case study a 23% increase is observed in the income obtained following the optimisation of its operation compared to a non-adaptive operation. Similarly, a 10% increase relative to an energy-maximisation approach over a year’s operation suggests that simply maximising energy generation in a setting where power prices vary may not be an optimal strategy

Automated Crevasse Mapping Using Deep Learning Foundation Models to Analyse Climate Change and Glaciology

Wallace, S., Durrant, A., Harcourt, W. D., and Leontidis, G.: Automated Crevasse Mapping Using Deep Learning Foundation Models to Analyse Climate Change and Glaciology , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-12922, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-12922, 2024

On the Magnetic Exchange Parameter for an O−Cu−Cu−O Component of CuII Carboxylate Dimers

Two approximate formulae are derived for the magnetic exchange parameter, J = ½{E(singlet) – E(triplet)}, for an O−Cu−Cu−O component of CuII carboxylate dimers. The derivations use standard valence bond and molecular orbital techniques, but the effects of superexchange are incorporated in different ways. A superexchange parameter k measures the extent of delocalization of oxygen lone-pair electrons into singly occupied 3dx2 - y2 atomic orbitals of the CuII ions. The two formulae for J are equivalent only when k = 0 and k = ∞. The formulae are compared, and suggestions are made for elaborations of them. The roles of two types of “cis O−O overlap” for stabilizing (via covalent-ionic resonance) the antiferromagnetic spin state are re-stated for 10-electron 6-centre (with two carboxylate ligands) as well as the 6-electron 4-centre bonding units