Deeply Set Roots: an Archaeobotanical Perspective on the Origins of Crop Husbandry in the Western Balkans

This doctoral thesis explores the origins and development of Neolithic crop agriculture in the western Balkans from c.6100 to 4500 cal. BC, through archaeobotanical data. The western Balkans is a geographical area comprising of Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia. The western Balkans is the first area in the westward spread of agriculture into Europe where different maritime and inland routes can be observed to progress simultaneously whilst retaining distinctive cultural signatures. The aim of this thesis is to identify and describe the crop packages, gathered edible plants and cultivation practices between the two streams of neolithisation, and to place them within their wider geographical and chronological contexts. As such, archaeobotanical records from Adriatic Italy, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece were also used. Data for this thesis is thus composed of samples from ten sites analysed by the author, in addition to a dataset of 244 archaeobotanical records from published and unpublished Neolithic sites. The ten sites are analysed individually before being added to the larger dataset, allowing for site-specific interpretations to be made. This thesis demonstrates that the suite of crops cultivated by the first farmers to reach Europe was not as restricted as was previously suggested by other meta-analysis approaches. Through statistical methods, spatial and diachronic differences within the crop packages are illustrated, and ecological characteristics of the possible weed flora are used to define past agricultural systems. Both environmental and cultural explanatory frameworks are sought to explain the patterns in agricultural practices, which appear to have been variably influenced by both parameters. Although domesticated fauna are not the focus of this thesis, information on animal husbandry regimes is included wherever possible, with a view to present a more accurate image of the agricultural foundations that defined the Neolithic in the western Balkans

Genetic parameters of feeding behaviour and performance traits in group-housed Large White and French Landrace growing pigs

Data on feeding behaviour of 3 710 group-housed and ad libitum fed growing pigs were recorded using ’Acema 48’ electronic feed dispensers. Genetic parameters for six feeding behaviour criteria and the main production traits routinely recorded in French central test stations (three ’boar’ traits and three ’sib’ traits) were estimated in two breeds (Large White and French Landrace) using a multiple trait animal model DF-REML procedure. Heritability estimates for feeding behaviour criteria ranged from 0.36 to 0.54 and were markedly higher than that for the food conversion ratio (0.20). Heritability of daily feed intake was 0.42 in both breeds, whereas heritabilities of rate of feed intake, feed intake per meal and time per meal were slightly higher (0.45-0.54). Daily feed intake showed a very close genetic correlation (around 0.85) with average daily gain but also unfavourable genetic correlations with ultrasonic backfat thickness (around 0.5) and lean percentage (around -0.4). Daily feed intake was genetically independent of food conversion ratio, whereas average daily gain showed a favourable genetic correlation (around -0.35) with that trait. Among the feeding behaviour criteria, feed intake per meal and rate of feed intake showed the highest genetic correlations with daily feed intake (around 0.5) and average daily gain (around 0.4). They also showed moderately unfavourable genetic correlations with ultrasonic backfat thickness (around 0.25) and carcass lean percentage (around -0.25) and seemed to be genetically independent of food conversion ratio. The value of including a trait relating to feed intake pattern among traits selected for is discussed on the basis of this set of genetic parameters.Les données de comportement alimentaire de 3 710 porcs en croissance élevés en groupes et alimentés à volonté ont été récoltées à l’aide de distributeurs automatiques d’aliment «Acema 48». Les paramètres génétiques de six critères de comportement alimentaire et des principaux caractères de production mesurés en routine dans les stations publiques de contrôle des performances (trois caractères « candidats » et trois caractères « collatéraux») ont été estimés dans deux races (Large White et Landrace français) à l’aide de la méthode du maximum de vraisemblance restreinte (REML) appliquée à un modèle animal multicaractère. Les héritabilités des critères de comportement alimentaire sont comprises entre 0,36 et 0,54, et sont nettement supérieures à celle de l’indice de consommation (0,20). L’héritabilité de la consommation moyenne journalière est de 0,42 dans chacune des deux races tandis que celles de la vitesse d’ingestion, de la consommation moyenne par repas ou de la durée des repas sont légèrement plus élevées (0,45-0,54). La consommation moyenne journalière présente une corrélation génétique très élevée (de l’ordre de 0,85) avec le gain moyen quotidien mais aussi des corrélations génétiques défavorables avec l’épaisseur de lard dorsal (de l’ordre de 0,5) et le pourcentage de muscle (de l’ordre de - 0,4). La consommation moyenne journalière est génétiquement indépendante de l’indice de consommation tandis que le gain moyen quotidien présente une corrélation génétique favorable (de l’ordre de -0,35) avec ce caractère. Parmi les critères de comportement alimentaire, la consommation moyenne par repas et la vitesse d’ingestion sont les plus liées génétiquement à la consommation moyenne journalière (environ 0,5) et au gain moyen quotidien (environ 0,4). Ces critères présentent également des corrélations génétiques modérément défavorables avec l’épaisseur de lard dorsal (environ 0,25) et le pourcentage de muscle (environ -0,25) et semblent être génétiquement indépendants de l’indice de consommation. L’inclusion possible d’un critère de comportement alimentaire parmi les caractères sélectionnés est discutée sur la base de cet ensemble de paramètres génétiques

Multiple trait model combining random regressions for daily feed intake with single measured performance traits of growing pigs

A random regression model for daily feed intake and a conventional multiple trait animal model for the four traits average daily gain on test (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass lean content and meat quality index were combined to analyse data from 1 449 castrated male Large White pigs performance tested in two French central testing stations in 1997. Group housed pigs fed ad libitum with electronic feed dispensers were tested from 35 to 100 kg live body weight. A quadratic polynomial in days on test was used as a regression function for weekly means of daily feed intake and to escribe its residual variance. The same fixed (batch) and random (additive genetic, pen and individual permanent environmental) effects were used for regression coefficients of feed intake and single measured traits. Variance components were estimated by means of a Bayesian analysis using Gibbs sampling. Four Gibbs chains were run for 550 000 rounds each, from which 50 000 rounds were discarded from the burn-in period. Estimates of posterior means of covariance matrices were calculated from the remaining two million samples. Low heritabilities of linear and quadratic regression coefficients and their unfavourable genetic correlations with other performance traits reveal that altering the shape of the feed intake curve by direct or indirect selection is difficult

Sea state bias in altimeter sea level estimates determined by combining wave model and satellite data

This study documents a method for increasing the precision of satellite-derived sea level measurements. Results are achieved using an enhanced three-dimensional (3-D) sea state bias (SSB) correction model derived from both Jason-1 altimeter ocean observations (i.e., sea state and wind) and estimates of mean wave period from a numerical ocean wave model, NOAA’s WAVEWATCH III. A multiyear evaluation of Jason-1 data indicates sea surface height variance reduction of 1.26 (±0.2) cm2 in comparison to the commonly applied two-parameter SSB model. The improvement is similar for two separate variance reduction metrics and for separate annual data sets spanning 2002–2004. Spatial evaluation of improvement shows skill increase at all latitudes. Results indicate the new model can reduce the total Jason-1 and Jason-2 altimeter range error budgets by 7.5%. In addition to the 2-D (two-dimensional) and 3-D model differences in correcting the range for wavefield variability, mean model regional differences also occur across the globe and indicate a possible 1–2 cm gradient across ocean basins linked to the zonal variation in wave period (short fetch and period in the west, swells and long period in the east). Overall success of this model provides first evidence that operational wave modeling can support improved ocean altimetry. Future efforts will attempt to work within the limits of wave modeling capabilities to maximize their benefit to Jason-1 and Jason-2 SSB correction methods

Hydromorphological control of phosphorus in a large free-flowing gravel bed river: the Garonne river (France)

The objective of this paper is to relate phosphorus (P) transport dynamics and hydromorphological characteristics of a large human-influenced river, the River Garonne within a sector receiving the waste water of a sewage treatment plant for a population of 600 000. Two studies were conducted in 1997 and 1999 during two different hydrological conditions at low-flow periods. The 1997 study was carried out on an 18-km stretch with discharges varying between 33 and 53 m3/s and with very small fluctuations. The 1999 study concerned a longer stretch of 47 km, divided into four smaller reaches, and with discharges fluctuating rapidly from 40 to 108 m3/s. Downstream of the sewage treatment plant, total phosphorus (TP) concentrations ranged from 0.19 to 0.27 mg/L and were mainly in the dissolved form: between 60 and 78% of TP was dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP). P concentrations were significantly lower upstream of the sewage treatment plant. By a mass-balance approach, we estimated that the sewage treatment plant represents more than half the input (between 59 and 67%) of the studied sector. TP dynamic is linked to suspended solids for discharges above 60 m3/s. During established low-flow period in the 1997 study (<60 m3/s), 22 and 27% of TP and DRP were retained by the river bed. In the 1999 study, under different low-water period hydraulic conditions, we calculate that particulate P retention occurred in two reaches among the four under study and only for discharges below 60 m3/s. We show that for established discharges below 60 m3/s, there is an active uptake of transported P by functional compartments (i.e. the hyporheic zone and the periphyton). During the low-water period with relatively high hydraulic fluctuations, and for discharges >60 m3/s, P retention is controlled as expected by suspended matter dynamics

Ensuring that the Sentinel-3A altimeter provides climate-quality data

Sentinel-3A, launched in February 2016, is part of ESA's long-term commitment to climate monitoring from space. Its suite of instruments for measuring surface topography includes a Microwave Radiometer (MWR) and SRAL, the first delay-Doppler instrument to provide global coverage. SRAL promises fine spatial resolution and reduced noise levels that should together lead to improved performance over all Earth surfaces. The Sentinel-3 Mission Performance Centre (S3MPC) has been developing the methodology to evaluate the accuracy of retrievals, monitor any changes and develop solutions to known problems. The S3MPC monitors internal temperatures, path delays and the shape of the generated pulses to assess the instruments health. The MWR records over known reference surfaces are compared with those from other spaceborne instruments. Over the ocean the SRAL's return pulses are analysed to give range to the sea surface, wave height and signal strength (which can be interpreted as wind speed). The metocean data are regularly contrasted with records from in situ measurements and the output from meteorological models, which rapidly highlights the effects of any changes in processing. Range information is used to give surface elevation, which is assessed in three ways. First, flights over a dedicated radar transponder provide an estimate of path delay to within ~10 mm (r.m.s.). Second, measurements are compared to GPS- levelled surfaces near Corsica and over Lake Issyk-kul. Third, there are consistency checks between ascending and descending passes and with other missions. Further waveform analysis techniques are being developed to improve the retrieval of information over sea-ice, land-ice and inland waters

The Sentinel-3 Mission Performance Center

As part of the Sentinel-3 mission and in order to ensure the highest quality of products, ESA in cooperation with EUMETSAT has set up the Sentinel-3 Mission Performance Centre (S-3 MPC). This facility is part of the Payload Data Ground Segment (PDGS) and aims at controlling the quality of all generated products, from L0 to L2. The S-3 MPC is composed of a Coordinating Centre (CC), where the core infrastructure is hosted, which is in charge of the main routine activities (especially the quality control of data) and the overall service management. Expert Support Laboratories (ESLs) are involved in calibration and validation activities and provide specific assessment of the products (e.g., analysis of trends, ad hoc analysis of anomalies, etc.). The S-3 MPC interacts with the Processing Archiving Centres (PACs) and the Marine centre at EUMETSAT