Can Carbon Find a Home on the Range?

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

An unusual new fossil shark (Pisces: Chondrichthyes) from the Late Devonian of South Africa

A new stem-group chondrichthyan fish, PlesioselacJllIs macracanthlls gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Late Devonian Witpoort Formation, representing an estuarine lagoon site, near Grahamstown, South Africa. Based on a single, fairly complete specimen, it is distinctive in its a single dorsal fin braced by a large, stout spine with numerous ribs and posterior denticles, apparently no second dorsal or anal fin, an amphistylic jaw suspension, and a distinctive triangular palatoquadrate. It is suggested that the species may represent a high-latitude, Late Devonian relict taxon

TB88: Descriptive and Comparative Studies of Maine Lakes

This is a descriptive and comparative study of 17 lakes in Maine. The major objectives of this study are (1) to characterize the pelagial zone of the lakes physically, chemically, and biologically, (2) to assess bacterial pollution, (3) to compare the lakes to each other and classify them trophically, and (4) to compare the lakes to others in different geographic regions.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1117/thumbnail.jp

Rapid Oscillations in Cataclysmic Variables. XV. HT Camelopardalis (= RX J0757.0+6306)

We present photometry and spectroscopy of HT Camelopardalis, a recently discovered X-ray-bright cataclysmic variable. The spectrum shows bright lines of H, He I, and He II, all moving with a period of 0.059712(1) d, which we interpret as the orbital period. The star's brightness varies with a strict period of 515.0592(2) s, and a mean full amplitude of 0.11 mag. These properties qualify it as a /bona fide/ DQ Herculis star (intermediate polar) -- in which the magnetism of the rapidly rotating white dwarf channels accretion flow to the surface. Normally at V=17.8, the star shows rare and very brief outbursts to V=12-13. We observed one in December 2001, and found that the 515 s pulse amplitude had increased by a factor of ~100 (in flux units). A transient orbital signal may also have appeared.Comment: PDF, 19 pages, 3 tables, 6 figures; accepted, in press, to appear June 2002, PASP; more info at http://cba.phys.columbia.edu

Belugas in the Mackenzie River estuary, NT, Canada: Habitat use and hot spots in the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area

AbstractThe Tarium Niryutait MPA (TNMPA) was created in 2010, through the collaborative efforts of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Inuvialuit, private industry and local stakeholders. The purpose of the TNMPA is to conserve and protect the biological resources within the Mackenzie Estuary, ensuring viability of a healthy population of beluga whales. TNMPA regulations allow for the conduct of certain industry activities (e.g., dredging, transportation, and hydrocarbon exploration and production activity), as long as disturbance, damage, destruction or removal of belugas do not occur or are not expected. Our goal is to summarize baseline knowledge of the times, areas and patterns of aggregation of belugas in the TNMPA, to inform future monitoring, research and environmental assessments of any developments proposed for the TNMPA. Sightings of surfaced belugas in the Mackenzie River estuary made during seven summers of aerial surveys between 1977 and 1992 were examined using contemporary geospatial analytical methods. A total of 77 aerial surveys met the minimum criteria for inclusion: flown in their entirety, without interruption, under calm sea conditions, and with full visibility. The distribution of surfaced belugas was significantly clustered in three time periods (June 26–July 9, July 10–20, July 21–31) and in all sub areas of the TNMPA (Ripley's L, p < 0.0001). Sighting rates varied by subarea and time period, with Niaqunnaq Bay having rates 3–4 times higher (p < 0.0001) in the corresponding period, compared with West Mackenzie (WM), East Mackenzie (EM) and Kugmallit (KB) bays, in all but WM in late July. During early and mid-July of 1977–1985, belugas were aggregated in seven localized, recurrent geographic areas within the TNMPA, termed here as ‘hot spots’. Results will foster more confident and informed decisions about the acceptability of proposed industry activities in the TNMPA, ensuring assessments are evidence-based and not unnecessary restrictive

Conference 2008 - Integrating Science and Mathematics Education Research into Teaching IV: Resources and Tool for Improved Learning

The Center for Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Maine continues its series of national conferences on providing professional development and resources for integrating mathematics and science education research into teaching. The first part of the conference consists of three days of parallel presentations and discussions by nationally recognized experts along with short workshops. The workshops provide first hand experience with either research-based STEM curricula or cutting edge STEM research projects that can serve as a basis for classroom instruction. The purposes of the conference include bringing together 150 participants in all aspects of STEM education (researchers, teachers, administrators, and preservice students) to exchange ideas about research, curriculum and assessment, to help teachers integrate research based instructional strategies in their teaching, and to build sustainable collaborations between participants. The second part of the conference is a two day summer academy in which about 60 participants have the option of (1) working on implementing a module of technology-rich curriculum in their classroom; (2) developing plans, curricular materials and assessments for involving teachers and students in a STEM research project; or (3) adapting and implementing a research-supported curriculum in their teaching. The academy continues throughput the year. A focus on research-based strategies that advance the successful participation of underrepresented groups is embedded in all activities

Summer Distribution of Bowhead Whales, Balaena mysticetus, Relative to Oil Industry Activities in the Canadian Beaufort Sea, 1980-84

Aerial surveys in 1980-84 showed that summer distribution of bowheads in the Beaufort Sea varied markedly between years. Distribution varied both outside and within the "main industrial area" (MIA), the area of island construction, drilling and intensive ship and helicopter traffic. Numbers of bowheads in the MIA were high in 1980, lower in 1981, near zero in 1982 and very low in 1983-84. The few whales in the MIA in 1983-84 were mainly near its edges, contrary to 1980-81. These data, plus limited evidence from 1976-79, indicate that bowheads were numerous in the centre of the MIA in 3 of 5 years from 1976-80 (1976-77, 1980) vs. 0 of 4 years from 1981-84. One hypothesis is that progressively increasing industrial activities affected bowhead distribution after 1980. However, bowheads probably also react to variations in their zooplankton prey, which may be affected by year-to-year changes in oceanography and weather. Influences of natural factors on zooplankton and bowheads need to be better understood in order to assess whether oil exploration caused any of the observed changes in bowhead distribution.Key words: bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, Beaufort Sea, oil exploration, seismic exploration, aerial surveysDes relev&eacute;s a&eacute;riens effectu&eacute;s entre 1980 et 1984 ont montr&eacute; que la r&eacute;partition estivale des baleines franches dans la mer de Beaufort varie nettement d&rsquo;ann&eacute;e en ann&eacute;e. Elle varie &agrave; fois &agrave; l&rsquo;ext&eacute;rieure et &agrave; l&rsquo;int&eacute;rieur de la &ldquo;zone industrielle principale&rdquo; (ZIP), qui est la zone de construction de l&rsquo;&icirc;le, de forage et de circulation intense de bateaux et d&rsquo;h&eacute;licopt&egrave;res. Le nombre de baleines franches dans la ZIP &eacute;tait &eacute;lev&eacute; en 1980, plus bas en 1981, pr&egrave;s de z&eacute;ro en 1982, et tr&egrave;s bas en 1983 et 1984. Les quelques baleines pr&eacute;sentes dans la ZIP en 1983 et 1984 &eacute;taient principalement &agrave; la p&eacute;riph&eacute;rie, contrairement &agrave; 1980 et 1981. Ces donn&eacute;es, jointes &agrave; des &eacute;vidences plus limit&eacute;es de 1976 &agrave; 1979, indiquent que les baleines franches &eacute;taient nombreuses au centre de la ZIP pendant 3 ann&eacute;es sur 5, allant de 1976 &agrave; 1980 (1976, 1977 et 1980), par rapport &agrave; aucune ann&eacute;e sur les quatre allant de 1981 &agrave; 1984. On avance l&rsquo;hypoth&egrave;se que les activit&eacute;s industrielles progressivement croissantes ont affect&eacute; la r&eacute;partition des baleines franches apr&egrave;s 1980. Cependant, les baleines franches ont probablement r&eacute;agi aussi aux variations de zooplancton qui constitue leur nourriture et qui peut &ecirc;tre affect&eacute; par les changements qui ont lieu d&rsquo;ann&eacute;e en ann&eacute;e dans l&rsquo;oc&eacute;anographie et le climat. I1 est n&eacute;cessaire de mieux comprendre l&rsquo;influence des facteurs naturels sur le zooplancton et les baleines franches afin d&rsquo;&eacute;valuer si l&rsquo;exploration p&eacute;troli&egrave;re a provoqu&eacute; l&rsquo;un quelconque des changements observ&eacute;s dans la r&eacute;partition de ces baleines.Mots cl&eacute;s: baleine franche, Balaena mysticetus, mer de Beaufort, exploration p&eacute;troli&egrave;re, exploration sismique, relev&eacute;s a&eacute;rien