Automatic Recognition of Light Microscope Pollen Images

This paper is a progress report on a project aimed at the realization of a low-cost, automatic, trainable system "AutoStage" for recognition and counting of pollen. Previous work on image feature selection and classification has been extended by design and integration of an XY stage to allow slides to be scanned, an auto focus system, and segmentation software. The results of a series of classification tests are reported, and verified by comparison with classification performance by expert palynologists. A number of technical issues are addressed, including pollen slide preparation and slide sampling protocols

Conflicting Views of Easter Island

The recent book Collapse by Jared Diamond (2005) has been widely reviewed around the world, and most reviewers have chosen to focus on one case study in the book, that of Easter Island. Since much of that section is based on our own book Easter Island, Earth Island (1992) and The Enigmas of Easter Island (2003), it is hardly surprising that we agree with Diamond's exposition. He concludes (correctly in our opinion) that deforestation, population growth, soil erosion, overuse of bird and shellfish resources, and introduction of rats all contributed.</p

Reply to Robert Langdon

Since Mr Langdon's grievance seems to be primarily with Grant McCall's claim that his arguments were "refuted" in our book, his remarks should perhaps more properly have been directed elsewhere. Our book made no such claim; we merely set out some points where we disagreed with Langdon or found his views unconvinc~g. However, since his article is clearly directed at ourselves, a brief response is required.</p

A Final Reply to Langdon

There is little that we can usefully add to Erika Hagelberg's response, and we will therefore limit ourselves to a few salient points.</p

Moai in Japan

We were privilegdd recently to be invited to an international symposium, "Wa no Kuru" (Forests, Myths & Civilizations), held in Nara and Kyoto, Japan, in December 1995, where we presented a total of three talks about tile rise and fall of Easter Island's culture. </p

The Present and Former Vegetation of the Wabag Region of New Guinea

Contains around 134 pollen and spore images with morphological key from the flora of the Wabag Region, Papua New Guinea

Respect versus contempt for evidence: Reply to Hunt and Lipo

Contrary to the claim by Hunt and Lipo (2007), our disagreements with them do not constitute a simplistic and patronizing opposition of evidence and faith. This is a ridiculous claim. It's more a question of having faith in the available evidence, deciding what is vital and what incidental, and not being selective about it - such as ignoring the testimony of Forster, Geiseler and others (see Section 7). To a large extent, Hunt and Lipo seem to have set up some false oppositions to give themselve something to attack. And it is outrageous for them to claim that we do not have open minds, and that we are "unaware of both the historic impacts on Rapa Nui as well as the significant literature on the biological impacts Europeans wrought in the Americas and the Pacific".</p