Adaptive female choice for middle-aged mates in a lekking sandfly

Most theoretical models of age-related mate choice predict that females should prefer older males because they have proven survival ability. An alternative view is that older males represent inferior mates because of negative genetic correlations between early and late fitness components, or because older males have traded off longevity against other fitness components, have accumulated deleterious germ-line mutations, or are less well adapted to current conditions than more recently born individuals. While numerous studies have reported female choice for older males, few have explicitly examined the fitness consequences of such a preference. We present evidence from a lekking sandfly, Lutzomyia longipalpis , showing that choosy females discriminate against older males and gain a fitness benefit from their choice. When permitted free choice from an aggregation consisting of males aged zero to two days (young), four to six days (middle-aged) and eight to ten days (old), females preferentially mated with middle-aged males, but all measures of female reproductive success were independent of male age. In contrast, when a second set of females was randomly assigned single virgin males of known age, the eggs of those paired to old mates exhibited lower hatching success than the eggs of females mated to young or middle-aged males. These results suggest that females avoid mating with older males because they represent poorer quality mates. Age-related differences in male quality may have a genetic basis, but could equally well arise through a phenotypic decline in sperm quality or sperm transfer ability with male age. The lack of evidence of female discrimination against older males from other studies may be because these did not explore the reproductive success of the full age range of males

The High Resolution Airborne Resource and Environmental Survey- (Phase 1) (HiRES-1): background, data processing and dissemination and future prospects

This report provides an overview of the HiRES-1 airborne geophysical survey of Central England. The BGS and World Geoscience (UK) Ltd. carried out the survey jointly in 1998. The three main survey data sets acquired were magnetic, radiometric (gamma ray spectrometry) and Very Low Frequency (VLF) electromagnetic. The main aim of the report is to provide information on the acquisition, processing and storage of the final data and map products produced by the HiRES-1 project. Additional descriptions of ground truthing activities, data licensing and dissemination are also provided. A significant aspect of the project was the assessment of the potential of, and issues raised by, modern, multi-parameter, regional-scale airborne geophysical surveys in the UK context. Some of the main issues outlined in the report are: • The practical difficulties of conducting extensive low level, fixed-wing geophysical surveying in the UK. Issues discussed include CAA regulatory permissions, flight height adjustments above conurbations and surveying near areas with dense air traffic. • The processing challenges introduced by cultural (nongeological) influences on high resolution airborne magnetic data sets in the UK. • The significant amounts of detailed geological and environmental information contained within the radiometric data. • The weak application potential provided by passive (i.e. VLF) measurements, in contrast to active airborne electromagnetic techniques. The future prospects for regional-scale, airborne geophysical surveys in the UK are considered. Such prospects are also influenced by a further set of trial airborne data, obtained in 1999, but not described here. Further detail of the HiRES-1 survey, productivity, technical specifications and data pre-processing are contained in the survey logistics report prepared by WGL: ‘British Geological Survey “Hi-Res Phase One” Airborne Geophysical Survey (Survey Details, Technical Specifications & Processing Summary)’ (WGL 2000)

Trial airborne environmental and geological survey: an initial appraisal of relevance to land-use

A series of four trial airborne environmental and geological surveys was flown by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) in collaboration with the British Geological Survey (BGS) in June 1999; the trials were co-sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Environment Agency. The main objective of these surveys was to test the efficiency of the GTK airborne electromagnetic system in the mapping of potential pollution problems in the UK environment. Gamma spectrometric and magnetometric measurements were also collected to see to what extent these techniques provide complementary information. This report is an initial consideration of the multi-parameter airborne geophysical data in relation to land-use issues. A variety of earth science information for planning and development already exists. The baseline information is reviewed according to scale and resolution. It is noted that the airborne data is of a new type with regard to both information content and spatial continuity. The specific characteristics and advantages of the airborne geophysical data are emphasised. The trial survey data were obtained at high resolution and a large number of anomalous responses have been observed. Since the information is provided at a local-scale a number of issues concerning the nature of the responses observed and the underlying causes have been raised. It will be necessary to improve our understanding of the data before an unambiguous discussion of their specific relevance to land-use issues can proceed. In advance of detailed interpretations of the trial data, the data are presented and discussed in relation to their potential relevance to five land-use issues: (i) Waste planning/Planning and pollution control, (ii) Minerals Planning, (iii) Water supply and water resource protection/Coastal zone management, (iv) Urban regeneration/Peripheral development and new communities and (v) Agriculture and Forestry. It is acknowledged that there are differences between the information needed for planning the use of land, and information which is required for monitoring environmental strategies. The geophysical data appear to have greatest relevance to the latter requirement. Recommendations for ground and subsurface calibration of the data are made

Cell death and degeneration in the symbiotic dinoflagellates of the coral Stylophora pistillata during bleaching

Rising sea temperatures are increasing the incidences of mass coral bleaching (the dissociation of the coral–algal symbiosis) and coral mortality. In this study, the effects of bleaching (induced by elevated light and temperature) on the condition of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.) within the tissue of the hard coral Stylophora pistillata (Esper) were assessed using a suite of techniques. Bleaching of S. pistillata was accompanied by declines in the maximum potential quantum yield of photosynthesis (Fv/Fm, measured using pulse amplitude modulated [PAM] fluorometry), an increase in the number of Sytox-green-stained algae (indicating compromised algal membrane integrity and cell death), an increase in 2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluroscein diacetate (H2DCFDA)- stained algae (indicating increased oxidative stress), as well as ultrastructural changes (vacuolisation, losses of chlorophyll, and an increase in accumulation bodies). Algae expelled from S. pistillata exhibited a complete disorganisation of cellular contents; expelled cells contained only amorphous material. In situ samples taken during a natural mass coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef in February 2002 also revealed a high number of Sytox-labelled algae cells in symbio. Dinoflagellate\ud degeneration during bleaching seems to be similar to the changes resulting from senescence-phase cell death in cultured algae. These data support a role for oxidative stress in the mechanism of coral bleaching and highlight the importance of algal degeneration during the bleaching of a reef coral

Trial airborne environmental and geological survey of target areas in the English Midlands

A series of four trial airborne environmental and geological surveys was flown by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) in collaboration with the British Geological Survey (BGS) in June 1999; the trials were co-sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Environment Agency. The main objective of these surveys was to test the efficiency of the GTK airborne electromagnetic (EM) system in the mapping of potential pollution problems in the UK environment. Gamma spectrometric and magnetometric measurements were also collected to see to what extent these techniques provide complementary information. The EM data are particularly encouraging and have identified anomalies which may relate to subsurface pollution. The data have identified conductive zones both on the ‘local’ scale (i.e. possibly emanating from domestic landfills) through to regional scale features up to many kilometres in length. The information obtained in relation to spoil tip drainage is of particular note. The data have provided a wealth of information on ‘point source’ anomalies (requiring ground truth information) and diffuse sources that may be connected with groundwater extraction. At two sites (Trent Valley and Langar) the EM technique appears to have met the challenge of detecting conductive targets in a conductive host. Many other features of the data will take time to assess. The radiometric data indicate features of land fill and colliery spoil sites and allow comparison to be made rapidly with the EM data to define the lateral spread of conductive pore fluids beyond the site itself. They can also be used to map site-specific contamination where radioactive elements are present. The radiometric data also give direct indications of solid and drift geology and soil type, providing additional detail to that shown on geological maps (soil maps are not available for much of the UK). The magnetic data have suggested the presence of significant volumes of metallic debris in the Langar landfill sites. This may be significant in terms of the leachates derived and the compaction (through time) of the contrasting fill materials. Compared with the EM and radiometric techniques, the applications of magnetics in environmental studies are rather limited, but such data is worthwhile collecting in view of the marginal additional costs involved

A potential new method for determining the temperature of cool stars

‘The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com.’ Copyright Blackwell Publishing DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13489.xPeer reviewe

HD 179949b - a close orbiting extrasolar giant planet with a stratosphere?

The original article can be found at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com Copyright Blackwell Publishing. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13831.xWe have carried out a search for the 2.14-μm spectroscopic signature of the close orbiting extrasolar giant planet, HD179949b. High-cadence time-series spectra were obtained with the Cryogenic high-resolution InfraRed ´ Echelle Spectrograph at Very Large Telescope, Unit 1 on two closely separated nights. Deconvolution yielded spectroscopic profiles with mean signal-to-noise ratios of several thousand, enabling the near-infrared contrast ratios predicted for the HD179949 system to be achieved. Recent models have predicted that the hottest planets may exhibit spectral signatures in emission due to the presence of TiO and VO which may be responsible for a temperature inversion high in the atmosphere.We have used our phase-dependent orbital model and tomographic techniques to search for the planetary signature under the assumption of an absorption line dominated atmospheric spectrum, where T and V are depleted from the atmospheric model, and an emission line dominated spectrum, where TiO and VO are present. We do not detect a planet in either case, but the 2.120–2.174-μm wavelength region covered by our observations enables the deepest near-infrared limits yet to be placed on the planet/star contrast ratio of any close orbiting extrasolar giant planet system. We are able to rule out the presence of an atmosphere dominated by absorption opacities in the case of HD179949b at a contrast ratio of Fp/F∗ ∼ 1/3350, with 99 per cent confidence.Peer reviewe

Service Orchestration for Collaboration Patterns

This article describes a structuring of groupware services that allows end users to orchestrate the provided services in order to match their collaboration patterns. Our approach is based on the notion that different forms of collaboration require different combinations of groupware services, and that these provided services are the most important aspect of a groupware system for its users. Based on an analysis of a series of high-level collaboration patterns from the healthcare domain we illustrate where flexibility in groupware service design is needed. The resulting structuring has been evaluated by experts using scenarios and has been implemented in a proof-of-concept demonstrator