2,904 research outputs found
Censusing manatees: a report on the feasibility of using aerial surveys and mark and recapture techniques to conduct a population survey of the West Indian Manatee
This report results from an invitation to review the needs and
prospects for capture-recapture and aerial census studies of the
manatee (Trichechus manatus) in Florida. Three aerial reconnaissance flights provided a
first hand view of manatee habitats, as follows: May 3, Suwannee
River to Kings Bay and Crystal River (Rathbun, Eberhardt), May 4,
Vero Beach to Ft. Lauderdale and Ft. Myers by way of Whitewater Bay
(Rose, Percival, Eberhardt), and May 5, Cape Canaveral to Jacksonville,
St. Johns River and Blue Spring (Rose, Kinnaird, Eberhardt). (24 page document
Attitudes to telecare among older people, professional care workers and informal carers: a preventative strategy or crisis management?
This paper reports findings from an attitudinal survey towards telecare that emerged from twenty-two focus groups comprising ninety-two older people, fifty-five professional stakeholders and thirty-nine carers. These were convened in three different regions of England as a precursor to telecare service development. The results from this study suggest that informants’ views were shaped by prior knowledge of conventional health and social care delivery in their locality and the implication is that expectations and requirements in respect of telecare services in general are likely to be informed by wider perceptions about the extent to which community care should operate as a preventative strategy or as a mechanism for crisis management
Sea turtle nesting in the Ten Thousand Islands of Florida
Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nest in numerous substrate and beach
types within the Ten Thousand Islands (TTl) of southwest Florida. Nesting beach
selection was analyzed on 12 islands within this archipelago. Numerous physical
characteristics were recorded to identify the relatedness of these variables and determine
their importance for nesting beach selection in C. caretta. These variables were chosen
after evaluating the islands, conducting literature searches and soliciting personal
communications. Along transects, data were collected, on the following: height of
canopy, beach width, overall slope (beach slope and slope of offshore approach) and sand
samples analyzed for pH, percentage of water, percentage of organic content, percentage
of carbonate and particle size (8 size classes). Data on ordinal aspect of beaches and
beach length were also recorded and included in the analysis. All of the variables were
analyzed by tree regression, incorporating the nesting data into the analysis. In the TTl,
loggerheads appear to prefer wider beaches (p< 0.001; R2
= 0.56) that inherently have less
slope, and secondarily, wider beaches that have low amounts of carbonate (p< O.00 1). In
addition, C. caretta favors nest sites within or in close proximity to the supra-littoral
vegetation zone of beaches in the TTl (p< 0.001). (86 page document
Sewing sound quantum flesh onto classical bones
Semiclassical transformation theory implies an integral representation for
stationary-state wave functions in terms of angle-action variables
(). It is a particular solution of Schr\"{o}dinger's time-independent
equation when terms of order and higher are omitted, but the
pre-exponential factor in the integrand of this integral
representation does not possess the correct dependence on . The origin of
the problem is identified: the standard unitarity condition invoked in
semiclassical transformation theory does not fix adequately in a
factor which is a function of the action written in terms of and
. A prescription for an improved choice of this factor, based on
succesfully reproducing the leading behaviour of wave functions in the vicinity
of potential minima, is outlined. Exact evaluation of the modified integral
representation via the Residue Theorem is possible. It yields wave functions
which are not, in general, orthogonal. However, closed-form results obtained
after Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization bear a striking resemblance to the exact
analytical expressions for the stationary-state wave functions of the various
potential models considered (namely, a P\"{o}schl-Teller oscillator and the
Morse oscillator).Comment: RevTeX4, 6 page
Herpetofaunal Inventories of the National Parks of South Florida and the Caribbean: Volume III. Big Cypress National Preserve
Amphibian declines and extinctions have been documented around the world, often in protected
natural areas. Concern for this trend has prompted the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park
Service to document all species of amphibians that occur within U.S. National Parks and to search for any
signs that amphibians may be declining. This study, an inventory of amphibian species in Big Cypress
National Preserve, was conducted from 2002 to 2003. The goals of the project were to create a
georeferenced inventory of amphibian species, use new analytical techniques to estimate proportion of
sites occupied by each species, look for any signs of amphibian decline (missing species, disease, die-offs,
and so forth.), and to establish a protocol that could be used for future monitoring efforts.
Several sampling methods were used to accomplish these goals. Visual encounter surveys and
anuran vocalization surveys were conducted in all habitats throughout the park to estimate the proportion
of sites or proportion of area occupied (PAO) by each amphibian species in each habitat. Opportunistic
collections, as well as limited drift fence data, were used to augment the visual encounter methods for
highly aquatic or cryptic species. A total of 545 visits to 104 sites were conducted for standard sampling
alone, and 2,358 individual amphibians and 374 reptiles were encountered. Data analysis was conducted
in program PRESENCE to provide PAO estimates for each of the anuran species.
All of the amphibian species historically found in Big Cypress National Preserve were detected
during this project. At least one individual of each of the four salamander species was captured during
sampling. Each of the anuran species in the preserve was adequately sampled using standard
herpetological sampling methods, and PAO estimates were produced for each species of anuran by habitat.
This information serves as an indicator of habitat associations of the species and relative abundance of
sites occupied, but it will also be useful as a comparative baseline for future monitoring efforts.
In addition to sampling for amphibians, all encounters with reptiles were documented. The
sampling methods used for detecting amphibians are also appropriate for many reptile species. These
reptile locations are included in this report, but the number of reptile observations was not sufficient to
estimate PAO for reptile species. We encountered 35 of the 46 species of reptiles believed to be present in
Big Cypress National Preserve during this study, and evidence exists of the presence of four other reptile
species in the Preserve.
This study found no evidence of amphibian decline in Big Cypress National Preserve. Although no
evidence of decline was observed, several threats to amphibians were identified. Introduced species,
especially the Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis), are predators and competitors with several
native frog species. The recreational use of off-road vehicles has the potential to affect some amphibian
populations, and a study on those potential impacts is currently underway. Also, interference by humans
with the natural hydrologic cycle of south Florida has the potential to alter the amphibian community.
Continued monitoring of the amphibian species in Big Cypress National Preserve is recommended.
The methods used in this study were adequate to produce reliable estimates of the proportion of sites
occupied by most anuran species, and are a cost-effective means of determining the status of their
populations
Sea turtle nesting activity along Eglin Air Force Base on Cape San Blas and Santa Rosa Island, Florida from 1994 to 1997.
Along EAFB on Cape San BIas, the only sea turtle species nest observed has been
the loggerhead turtle. The first green turtle nest documented along the Florida panhandle
coast was observed on EAFB property, however (D. Atencio, EAFB, pers. comm). Santa
Rosa Island, located approximately 150 miles west of Cape San BIas supports a small but
consistent, group of nesting green turtles (Fig. 2). Although erosion is not as severe along
Santa Rosa Island as it is on Cape San BIas, and vehicular traffic is not permitted, sea
turtles nesting on this barrier island must survive severe tropical storms, predation, and
artificial lighting to be successful. Because this area supports a rare group of nesting green
turtles and is disturbed by intense artificial lighting from Air Force missions and adjacent
resort towns, continued monitoring is necessary. The sea turtle species that nest along this
barrier island, and the human activities that disturb those sea turtles present unique
circumstances for management ofthis area. Protection ofthe significant nesting
populations of sea turtles on EAFB properties on Cape San BIas and Santa Rosa Island
requires yearly monitoring of the nesting activity and the natural and human disturbances
influencing the nesting females.
The objectives ofthis study were to monitor sea turtle nesting along EAFB on
Cape San BIas to determine number of nests and hatching success, assess disturbances,
and determine proper management to ensure successful nesting and hatching.(56 page document
The Cape San Blas Ecological Study
Eglin AFB on Cape San Blas consists of approximately 250 acres located about
180 miles east of the main Eglin reservation. This area lies on the S1. Joseph peninsula,
part of a dynamic barrier island chain that extends across the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Due to the natural forces that formed Cape San Blas and those that maintain this area, St.
Joseph Peninsula has experienced severe land form change over time (see GIS land form
change maps). These changes allow for fluctuations in habitat types along Cape San Blas
(see GIS land cover change maps)that influence the floral and faunal species using this
area.
The dynamic environment along Cape San Blasincludes flatwoods, interdunal
swale, rosemary scrub, and beachfront. These habitats support a wide array of species,
including several threatened and endangered species such as the loggerhead sea turtle
(Caretta caretta), PipingPlover (Charadnus melodus), Least Tern (Sterna antillarum),
and Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Proper management of these species and their
habitats require knowledge of their abundance and distribution, and the effects
disturbances have on their survival.
In addition to threatened and endangered flora and fauna, Cape San Blas also
supports tourists and recreationists. Although Gulf County is sparsely populated, with
approximately 13,000 inhabitants throughout 578 square miles, summer tourism and heavy
recreational use of beaches for fishing, crabbing, and shelling place continued and
increasing pressure on the natural resources of these areas (Rupert 1991). Gulf County is
also one of the few remaining counties in Florida that permits vehicular traffic on its
beaches, including Cape San Blas. In addition to recreational use of these habitats;EAFB
also uses the area for military missions. Air Force property on Cape San Blas is primarily
used for radar tracking of flying missions over the Gulf of Mexico, although in recent
years it has been used for missile launchings and other various military activities.
To allow continued military and public use of Air Force property while also
protecting the unique flora and fauna of the area,EAFB proposed a characterization of the
resources found along Cape San Blas. A complete inventory of the physical features of the
area included investigating topography, soil chemistry, hydrology, archeology, and the
dynamics of land mass and land cover change over time. Various thematic layers within a
geographic information system (GIS) were used to spatially portray georeferenced data.
Large scale changes over time were assessed using stereo aerial photography. Vegetation
transects, soil samples, elevation transects, an archeological survey, freshwater wells, and
a tidal monitor were used to investigate the remaining features. (247 page document
Aspects of quantum coherence in the optical Bloch equations
Aspects of coherence and decoherence are analyzed within the optical Bloch
equations. By rewriting the analytic solution in an alternate form, we are able
to emphasize a number of unusual features: (a) despite the Markovian nature of
the bath, coherence at long times can be retained; (b) the long-time asymptotic
degree of coherence in the system is intertwined with the asymptotic difference
in level populations; (c) the traditional population-relaxation and decoherence
times, and , lose their meaning when the system is in the presence
of an external field, and are replaced by more general overall timescales; (d)
increasing the field strength, quantified by the Rabi frequency, ,
increases the rate of decoherence rather than reducing it, as one might expect;
and (e) maximum asymptotic coherence is reached when the system parameters
satisfy .Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures; to appear in J Chem Phy
The Equilibrium Distribution of Gas Molecules Adsorbed on an Active Surface
We evaluate the exact equilibrium distribution of gas molecules adsorbed on
an active surface with an infinite number of attachment sites. Our result is a
Poisson distribution having mean , with the
mean gas density, the sticking probability, the evaporation
probability in a time interval , and Smoluchowski's exit probability
in time interval for the surface in question. We then solve for the case
of a finite number of attachment sites using the mean field approximation,
recovering in this case the Langmuir isotherm.Comment: 14 pages done in late
State-space distribution and dynamical flow for closed and open quantum systems
We present a general formalism for studying the effects of dynamical
heterogeneity in open quantum systems. We develop this formalism in the state
space of density operators, on which ensembles of quantum states can be
conveniently represented by probability distributions. We describe how this
representation reduces ambiguity in the definition of quantum ensembles by
providing the ability to explicitly separate classical and quantum sources of
probabilistic uncertainty. We then derive explicit equations of motion for
state space distributions of both open and closed quantum systems and
demonstrate that resulting dynamics take a fluid mechanical form analogous to a
classical probability fluid on Hamiltonian phase space, thus enabling a
straightforward quantum generalization of Liouville's theorem. We illustrate
the utility of our formalism by analyzing the dynamics of an open two-level
system using the state-space formalism that are shown to be consistent with the
derived analytical results
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