The evolutionary ecology of interactive synchronism: The illusion of the optimal phenotype

In this article, we discuss some ecological-evolutionary strategies that allow synchronization of organisms, resources, and conditions. Survival and reproduction require synchronization of life cycles of organisms with favourable environmental and ecological features and conditions. This interactive synchronization can occur directly, through pairwise or diffuse co-evolution, or indirectly, for example, as a result of actions of ecosystem engineers and facilitator species. Observations of specific interactions, especially those which have coevolved, may give the false impression that evolution results in optimal genotypes or phenotypes. However, some phenotypes may arise under evolutionary constraints, such as simultaneous evolution of multiple traits, lack of a chain of fit transitional forms leading to an optimal phenotype, or by limits inherent in the process of selection, set by the number of selective deaths and by interference between linked variants. Although there are no optimal phenotypes, optimization models applied to particular species may be useful for a better understanding of the nature of adaptations. The evolution of adaptive strategies results in variable life histories. These strategies can minimize adverse impacts on the fitness of extreme or severe environmental conditions on survival and reproduction, and may include reproductive strategies such as semelparity and iteroparity, or morphological, physiological, or behavioural traits such as diapause, seasonal polyphenism, migration, or bet-hedging. However, natural selection cannot indefinitely maintain intra-population variation, and lack of variation can ultimately extinguish populations

DIÁLOGOS, PERSPECTIVAS E POSSIBILIDADES SOBRE FEMINISMOS

Resenha de : DINIZ, Debora; GEBARA, Ivone. Esperança Feminista. 1ª ed. Rio de Janeiro: Rosa dos Tempos, 2022. O livro “Esperança Feminista” foi publicado em 2022 como resultado de uma parceria entre as autoras Debora Diniz e Ivone Gerbara. A obra está dividida em doze capítulos, cada um representando um verbo considerado essencial para se pensar em feminismos na atualidade. Indicado pelas próprias autoras como “verbos feministas”, cada capítulo indica uma ação necessária “para a construção de uma desobediência criativa ao patriarcado e suas tramas” (DINIZ; GEBARA, 2022, p. 09). Cada capítulo traz a escrita de cada autora de forma separada e individual, apesar de relacionadas, sempre começando por Debora e, na sequência, Ivone

Outflows, Inflows and Young Stars in the inner 200 pc of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 2110

We present a two-dimensional mapping of stellar population age components, emission-line fluxes, gas excitation and kinematics within the inner $\sim200$ pc of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 2110. We used the Gemini North Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) in the J and K bands at a spatial resolution of $\sim22$ pc. The unresolved nuclear continuum is originated in combined contributions of young stellar population (SP; age$\leq100$ Myr), a featureless AGN continuum and hot dust emission. The young-intermediate SP ($100<$age$\leq700$ Myr) is distributed in a ring-shaped structure at $\approx140$ pc from the nucleus, which is roughly coincident with the lowest values of the stellar velocity dispersion. In the inner $\approx115$ pc the old SP (age$>2$ Gyr) is dominant. The [FeII]1.25$\mu$m emission-line flux distribution is correlated with the radio emission and its kinematics comprise two components, one from gas rotating in the galaxy plane and another from gas in outflow within a bicone oriented along north-south. These outflows seem to originate in the interaction of the radio jet with the ambient gas producing shocks that are the main excitation mechanism of the [FeII] emission. We estimate: (1) an ionized gas mass outflow rate of $\sim0.5$ M$_\odot$/yr at $\sim$70 pc from the nucleus; and (2) a kinetic power for the outflow of only 0.05% of the AGN bolometric luminosity implying weak feedback effect on the galaxy.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

A multi-domain approach to asteroid families identification

Previous works have identified families halos by an analysis in proper elements domains, or by using Sloan Digital Sky Survey-Moving Object Catalog data, fourth release (SDSS-MOC4) multi-band photometry to infer the asteroid taxonomy, or by a combination of the two methods. The limited number of asteroids for which geometric albedo was known until recently discouraged in the past the extensive use of this additional parameter, which is however of great importance in identifying an asteroid taxonomy. The new availability of geometric albedo data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission for about 100,000 asteroids significantly increased the sample of objects for which such information, with some errors, is now known. In this work we proposed a new method to identify families halos in a multi-domain space composed by proper elements, SDSS-MOC4 (a*,i-z) colors, and WISE geometric albedo for the whole main belt (and the Hungaria and Cybele orbital regions). Assuming that most families were created by the breakup of an undifferentiated parent body, they are expected to be homogeneous in colors and albedo. The new method is quite effective in determining objects belonging to a family halo, with low percentages of likely interlopers, and results that are quite consistent in term of taxonomy and geometric albedo of the halo members.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figures, 6 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

The competitiveness of the Portuguese wine sector and a case study of exports and activity diversification in the Vinhos Verdes region

The world wine market is currently characterised by two principal wine suppliers: the European and the New World. Countries such as France, Italy, Spain and Portugal have witnessed a tremendous growth in the New World wine- makers (Australia, Chile, South Africa, etc.). As competition continues to intensify, wineries are searching for new channels to increase revenues and many vintners chose to develop other activities. Portugal is one of the European countries that present several natural and technical constraints which might be now resulting in modest performance regarding its position in the global wine market, competitiveness and dynamism required to overcome difficulties. The main objective of the study is to provide information to vintners concerning the current situation of the wine industry and possibly to present "holes" in the market which overall might be explored as new business opportunities. To that end, the research will attempt to measure the competitiveness of the Portuguese wine industry and its behaviour during a time period considered. This will be based on indices such as the trade intensity index, revealed comparative advantage, auto- sufficiency and market share ratios. This paper will also try to analyse empirically the specific case of exports and activity diversification in the Vinhos Verdes region.wine industry, competitiveness indices, exports, activity diversification, Vinhos Verdes wine, Agribusiness,

Asteroid taxonomic signatures from photometric phase curves

We explore the correlation between an asteroid's taxonomy and photometric phase curve using the H, G12 photometric phase function, with the shape of the phase function described by the single parameter G12. We explore the usability of G12 in taxonomic classification for individual objects, asteroid families, and dynamical groups. We conclude that the mean values of G12 for the considered taxonomic complexes are statistically different, and also discuss the overall shape of the G12 distribution for each taxonomic complex. Based on the values of G12 for about half a million asteroids, we compute the probabilities of C, S, and X complex membership for each asteroid. For an individual asteroid, these probabilities are rather evenly distributed over all of the complexes, thus preventing meaningful classification. We then present and discuss the G12 distributions for asteroid families, and predict the taxonomic complex preponderance for asteroid families given the distribution of G12 in each family. For certain asteroid families, the probabilistic prediction of taxonomic complex preponderance can clearly be made. The Nysa-Polana family shows two distinct regions in the proper element space with different G12 values dominating in each region. We conclude that the G12-based probabilistic distribution of taxonomic complexes through the main belt agrees with the general view of C complex asteroid proportion increasing towards the outer belt. We conclude that the G12 photometric parameter cannot be used in determining taxonomic complex for individual asteroids, but it can be utilized in the statistical treatment of asteroid families and different regions of the main asteroid belt.Comment: submitted to Icaru