787 research outputs found
Attitudes of Nunavut Inuit toward Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)
Killer whale (Orcinus orca) sightings are increasing throughout the eastern Canadian Arctic, and residents of Nunavut are concerned about the possible impact of killer whale predation on other marine mammals that are of socio-economic and cultural importance to Inuit. We analyzed the attitudes of Inuit towards killer whales, drawing on 105 semi-directed interviews conducted in 11 eastern Nunavut communities (Kivalliq and Qikiqtaaluk regions) between 2007 and 2010. Information gathered included intervieweesâ firsthand knowledge, as well as knowledge they had gained through oral history. Interviews provided data on interactions between Inuit and killer whales, physical descriptions and nature of killer whales in this region, overall opinion of interviewees with respect to killer whales, historical use of the animal, opinions regarding research on killer whales and effects of killer whales on other species, particularly the whales and seals harvested for Inuit subsistence. Interviewees described killer whales as their helpers more often than as their competitors, but also as feared and dangerous. Overall, negative opinions were more common than positive opinions, and some interviewees also had a conflicted attitude towards killer whales. More participants viewed killer whales as smart and fast than as beautiful and playful. Inuit attitudes toward killer whales did not vary significantly with sex, age, hunter status, or experience with killer whales, but did vary somewhat across regions. Inuit knowledge and perspectives play a critical role in wildlife management, especially in a changing Arctic. Conservation and management of species that are important to the Inuit subsistence harvest in Nunavut must take into consideration killer whale predation, Inuit knowledge, and Inuit views and attitudes towards killer whales.Les observations dâĂ©paulards (Orcinus orca) augmentent dans lâest de lâArctique canadien, et les habitants du Nunavut sâinquiĂštent des effets possibles de la prĂ©dation des Ă©paulards Ă lâĂ©gard dâautres mammifĂšres marins qui revĂȘtent une importance socioĂ©conomique et culturelle pour les Inuits. Nous avons analysĂ© les attitudes des Inuits vis-Ă -vis des Ă©paulards, nous appuyant ainsi sur 105 entrevues semi-dirigĂ©es rĂ©alisĂ©es dans 11 collectivitĂ©s de lâest du Nunavut (les rĂ©gions de Kivalliq et de Qikiqtaaluk) entre 2007 et 2010. Les connaissances directes des personnes interviewĂ©es font partie des renseignements qui ont Ă©tĂ© recueillis, de mĂȘme que les connaissances obtenues par le biais de lâhistoire orale. Les entrevues ont ainsi permis dâobtenir des donnĂ©es sur les interactions entre les Inuits et les Ă©paulards, sur les descriptions physiques et sur la nature des Ă©paulards de cette rĂ©gion, en plus de recueillir lâopinion gĂ©nĂ©rale des personnes interviewĂ©es au sujet des Ă©paulards, lâutilisation historique de cet animal, les opinions en matiĂšre de recherche sur les Ă©paulards et les effets des Ă©paulards sur dâautres espĂšces, plus particuliĂšrement les baleines et les phoques capturĂ©s pour la subsistance des Inuits. Selon les personnes interviewĂ©es, les Ă©paulards leur viennent davantage en aide au lieu dâentrer en concurrence avec elles, mais cela dit, elles les craignent et les trouvent dangereux. Dans lâensemble, il y avait plus dâopinions nĂ©gatives que dâopinions positives, et certaines personnes interviewĂ©es avaient mĂȘme une attitude conflictuelle Ă lâĂ©gard des Ă©paulards. Plus nombreux Ă©taient les participants qui considĂ©raient les Ă©paulards comme intelligents et rapides que comme beaux et enjouĂ©s. Les attitudes des Inuits envers les Ă©paulards ne variaient pas beaucoup en fonction du sexe, de lâĂąge, du type de chasseur ou de lâexpĂ©rience quâils possĂ©daient avec les Ă©paulards, mais ils variaient quelque peu dâune rĂ©gion Ă lâautre. Les connaissances et les perspectives des Inuits jouent un rĂŽle critique dans la gestion de la faune, surtout dans lâArctique en pleine Ă©volution. La conservation et la gestion des espĂšces qui revĂȘtent de lâimportance dans les rĂ©coltes de subsistance des Inuits au Nunavut doivent tenir compte de la prĂ©dation par les Ă©paulards, des connaissances des Inuits de mĂȘme que des points de vue et des attitudes des Inuits vis-Ă -vis des Ă©paulards
First mid-infrared spectrum of a faint high-z galaxy: Observations of CFRS 14.1157 with the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope
The unprecedented sensitivity of the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer
Space Telescope allows for the first time the measurement of mid-infrared
spectra from 14 to 38 microns of faint high-z galaxies. This unique capability
is demonstrated with observations of sources having 16 micron fluxes of 3.6 mJy
(CFRS 14.1157) and 0.35 mJy (CFRS 14.9025). A spectral-fitting technique is
illustrated which determines the redshift by fitting emission and absorption
features characteristic of nearby galaxies to the spectrum of an unknown
source. For CFRS 14.1157, the measured redshift is z = 1.00+/-0.20 in agreement
with the published result of z = 1.15. The spectrum is dominated by emission
from an AGN, similar to the nucleus of NGC 1068, rather than a typical
starburst with strong PAH emission like M82. Such spectra will be crucial in
characterizing the nature of newly discovered distant galaxies, which are too
faint for optical follow-up.Comment: Accepted in ApJ Sup. Spitzer Special Issue, 4 pages, 5 figure
A Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph Survey of Warm Molecular Hydrogen in Ultra-luminous Infrared Galaxies
We have conducted a survey of Ultra-luminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) with
the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope, obtaining spectra
from 5.0-38.5um for 77 sources with 0.02<z <0.93. Observations of the pure
rotational H2 lines S(3) 9.67um, S(2) 12.28um, and S(1) 17.04um are used to
derive the temperature and mass of the warm molecular gas. We detect H2 in 77%
of the sample, and all ULIRGs with F(60um)>2Jy. The average warm molecular gas
mass is ~2x10^8solar-masses. High extinction, inferred from the 9.7um silicate
absorption depth, is not observed along the line of site to the molecular gas.
The derived H2 mass does not depend on F(25um)/F(60um), which has been used to
infer either starburst or AGN dominance. Similarly, the molecular mass does not
scale with the 25 or 60um luminosities. In general, the H2 emission is
consistent with an origin in photo-dissociation regions associated with star
formation. We detect the S(0) 28.22um emission line in a few ULIRGs. Including
this line in the model fits tends to lower the temperature by ~50-100K,
resulting in a significant increase in the gas mass. The presence of a cooler
component cannot be ruled out in the remainder of our sample, for which we do
not detect the S(0) line. The measured S(7) 5.51um line fluxes in six ULIRGs
implies ~3x10^6 solar-masses of hot (~1400K) H2. The warm gas mass is typically
less than 1% of the cold gas mass derived from CO observations.Comment: Accepted ApJ 01 September 2006, v648n1 issue. 14 pages 12 figures
IRAS 06361-6217 the f25/f60 ratio is 0.10 not 1.0
Spectroscopic Redshifts to z > 2 for Optically Obscured Sources Discovered with the Spitzer Space Telescope
We have surveyed a field covering 9.0 degrees^2 within the NOAO Deep
Wide-Field Survey region in Bootes with the Multiband Imaging Photometer on the
Spitzer Space Telescope (SST) to a limiting 24 um flux density of 0.3 mJy.
Thirty one sources from this survey with F(24um) > 0.75 mJy which are optically
very faint (R > 24.5 mag) have been observed with the low-resolution modules of
the Infrared Spectrograph on SST. Redshifts derived primarily from strong
silicate absorption features are reported here for 17 of these sources; 10 of
these are optically invisible (R > 26 mag), with no counterpart in B_W, R, or
I. The observed redshifts for 16 sources are 1.7 < z < 2.8. These represent a
newly discovered population of highly obscured sources at high redshift with
extreme infrared to optical ratios. Using IRS spectra of local galaxies as
templates, we find that a majority of the sources have mid-infrared spectral
shapes most similar to ultraluminous infrared galaxies powered primarily by
AGN. Assuming the same templates also apply at longer wavelengths, bolometric
luminosities exceed 10^13 L(solar).Comment: Accepted for publication on 7 Feb 2005 in ApJL. 7 pages 2 figure
Spitzer IRS Spectra of Optically Faint Infrared Sources with Weak Spectral Features
Spectra have been obtained with the low-resolution modules of the Infrared
Spectrograph (IRS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope (Spitzer) for 58 sources
having f(24 micron) > 0.75 mJy. Sources were chosen from a survey of
8.2 deg within the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey region in Bootes (NDWFS)
using the Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Most sources are optically very faint (I > 24mag). Redshifts have previously
been determined for 34 sources, based primarily on the presence of a deep 9.7
micron silicate absorption feature, with a median z of 2.2. Spectra are
presented for the remaining 24 sources for which we were previously unable to
determine a confident redshift because the IRS spectra show no strong features.
Optical photometry from the NDWFS and infrared photometry with MIPS and the
Infrared Array Camera on the Spitzer Space Telescope (IRAC) are given, with K
photometry from the Keck I telescope for some objects. The sources without
strong spectral features have overall spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and
distributions among optical and infrared fluxes which are similar to those for
the sources with strong absorption features. Nine of the 24 sources are found
to have feasible redshift determinations based on fits of a weak silicate
absorption feature. Results confirm that the "1 mJy" population of 24 micron
Spitzer sources which are optically faint is dominated by dusty sources with
spectroscopic indicators of an obscured AGN rather than a starburst. There
remain 14 of the 58 sources observed in Bootes for which no redshift could be
estimated, and 5 of these sources are invisible at all optical wavelengths.Comment: Accepted by Ap
Estimating the Economic Value of Narwhal and Beluga Hunts in Hudson Bay, Nunavut
Hunting of narwhal (Monodon monoceros) and beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) in Hudson Bay is an important activity, providing food and income in northern communities, yet few studies detail the economic aspects of these hunts. We outline the uses of narwhal and beluga and estimate the revenues, costs, and economic use value associated with the hunt on the basis of the harvests in 2007. We also explore the effects of cost sharing and inclusion of opportunity cost of labour on model outputs. For the communities participating in each hunt, the average economic use value was negative (-133 278) for narwhal. The corresponding per capita value estimates were -44 for narwhal. Including the effects of costEvaluation of a Technique to Trap Lemmings Under the Snow sharing with one other hunting activity in the model increased the economic use values to 321 500 for narwhal. Narwhals provide a higher value per whale, in addition to a higher per capita total economic value to the community, compared to belugas because resources are shared among fewer communities. However, the beluga hunt overall provides greater revenue because more belugas are harvested. In keeping with literature on other hunting activities in the Arctic, our results indicate that the value of whales to communities is largely due to their food value. Dans la baie dâHudson, la chasse au narval (Monodon monoceros) et au bĂ©luga (Delphinapterus leucas) reprĂ©sente une activitĂ© importante en ce sens quâelle est Ă la fois une source de nourriture et de revenu pour les collectivitĂ©s du Nord. Pourtant, peu dâĂ©tudes se penchent sur les aspects Ă©conomiques de cette activitĂ©. Nous faisons mention des utilitĂ©s du narval et du bĂ©luga, puis nous estimons les revenus, les coĂ»ts et la valeur utilitaire Ă©conomique liĂ©e Ă ces activitĂ©s de chasse en fonction des rĂ©coltes de 2007. De plus, nous explorons les effets du partage des coĂ»ts et de lâinclusion du coĂ»t de substiÂtution de la main-dâoeuvre Ă lâĂ©gard des sorties de modĂšles. Pour les collectivitĂ©s qui participent Ă chaque chasse, la valeur utilitaire Ă©conomique moyenne Ă©tait nĂ©gative (â9 399 ) dans le cas du narval. Les estimations correspondantes des valeurs par habitant Ă©taient de - 1 pour le narval. Lâinclusion des effets du partage des coĂ»ts avec une autre activitĂ© de chasse au modĂšle a pour effet dâaccroĂźtre la valeur utilitaire Ă©conomique Ă 266 504 pour le narval. Les narvals donnent une plus grande valeur par baleine, ainsi quâune valeur Ă©conomique totale plus Ă©levĂ©e par habitant pour la collectivitĂ©, comparativement aux bĂ©lugas car les ressources sont partagĂ©es entre un moins grand nombre de collectivitĂ©s. Cependant, dans son ensemble, la chasse au bĂ©luga procure un revenu plus Ă©levĂ© parce quâun plus grand nombre de bĂ©lugas est rĂ©coltĂ©. ConformĂ©ment Ă la documentation publiĂ©e sur dâautres activitĂ©s de chasse dans lâArctique, nos rĂ©sultats indiquent que pour les collectivitĂ©s, la valeur des baleines rĂ©side princiÂpalement dans leur valeur alimentaire
The role of body rotation in bacterial flagellar bundling
In bacterial chemotaxis, E. coli cells drift up chemical gradients by a
series of runs and tumbles. Runs are periods of directed swimming, and tumbles
are abrupt changes in swimming direction. Near the beginning of each run, the
rotating helical flagellar filaments which propel the cell form a bundle. Using
resistive-force theory, we show that the counter-rotation of the cell body
necessary for torque balance is sufficient to wrap the filaments into a bundle,
even in the absence of the swirling flows produced by each individual filament
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