Branchinecta hiberna, a new species of fairy shrimp (Crustacea: Anostraca) from western North America

This is the published version. Copyright Brigham Young University, Monte L Bean Life Science MuseauBranchinecta hiberna, a new species of fairy shrimp, is described from temporary pools in the Great Basin region of south central Oregon, northeastern California, and adjacent Nevada. The new species shares several characters with Branchinecta cornigera Lynch, 1958: males bear a similar large patch of small spines on the basal segment of antenna 2, and females bear the similar robust antenna 2 with medial spur, brood pouch shape, and resting egg (cyst) morphology. The new species differs from B. cornigera in the shape of the distal segment of antenna 2 and the number and size of spines on the paired penis warts of males, and in the thoracic spine pattern and lack of dorsal cephalic projections in females. Observations on behavior and ecology of B. hiberna are discussed

Laevicaudata catalogus (Crustacea: Branchiopoda):an overview of diversity and terminology

The Laevicaudata (smooth clam shrimp) are a small group of freshwater bivalved branchiopod crustaceans in need of taxonomic revision. Here the extant Laevicaudata are defined and diagnosed according to modern standards, and synapomorphies are listed, discussed, and illustrated. A catalogue of the Laevicaudata is presented with synonyms and some taxa are partially revised. One hundred and three recent laevicaudatan taxa are presented, of which 39 are considered valid species. Chresonyms are provided for taxa redescribed according to modern standards. Furthermore we designate a neotype for Lynceus brachyurus Müller, 1776. This species catalogue will provide a basis for further taxonomic revision and phylogenetic work within the Laevicaudata

Terrestrial laser scanning to quantify above-ground biomass of structurally complex coastal wetland vegetation

Above-ground biomass represents a small yet significant contributor to carbon storage in coastal wetlands. Despite this, above-ground biomass is often poorly quantified, particularly in areas where vegetation structure is complex. Traditional methods for providing accurate estimates involve harvesting vegetation to develop mangrove allometric equations and quantify saltmarsh biomass in quadrats. However broad scale application of these methods may not capture structural variability in vegetation resulting in a loss of detail and estimates with considerable uncertainty. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) collects high resolution three-dimensional point clouds capable of providing detailed structural morphology of vegetation. This study demonstrates that TLS is a suitable non-destructive method for estimating biomass of structurally complex coastal wetland vegetation. We compare volumetric models, 3-D surface reconstruction and rasterised volume, and point cloud elevation histogram modelling techniques to estimate biomass. Our results show that current volumetric modelling approaches for estimating TLS-derived biomass are comparable to traditional mangrove allometrics and saltmarsh harvesting. However, volumetric modelling approaches oversimplify vegetation structure by under-utilising the large amount of structural information provided by the point cloud. The point cloud elevation histogram model presented in this study, as an alternative to volumetric modelling, utilises all of the information within the point cloud, as opposed to sub-sampling based on specific criteria. This method is simple but highly effective for both mangrove (r 2 = 0.95) and saltmarsh (r 2 \u3e 0.92) vegetation. Our results provide evidence that application of TLS in coastal wetlands is an effective non-destructive method to accurately quantify biomass for structurally complex vegetation

A new species of Lynceus (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Laevicaudata) from Patagonia, with comments on laevicaudatan systematics

Lynceus mallinensis, a new species of laevicaudatan clam shrimp is described from a single temporary pool in Chubut province, Patagonia, Argentina. The form of the male rostrum necessitates a reevaluation of rostral characters for the genus. This species differs from L. rotundirostris, the only known Lynceus from Patagonia, by the absence of a distinct umbo. L. mallinensis is the fourth species of this genus and the fifth laevicaudatan to be reported from South America. The systematical position of the Laevicaudata is discussed in the Introduction.Lynceus mallinensis, una nueva especie de Laevicaudata, es descrita a partir de material recolectado en un mallín temporal en la provincia de Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina. Esta especie difiere de L. rotundirostris, la única especie descrita en Patagonia, por la ausencia de umbo. L. mallinensis es la cuarta especie del género y el quinto Laevicaudata registrado en América del Sur.Fil: Pessacq, Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Epele, Luis Beltran. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Rogers, D. Christopher. University of Kansas; Estados Unido

Parartemiopsis shangrilaensis, a new species of fairy shrimp (Branchiopoda, Anostraca) from Yunnan, with a key to the Chirocephalidae of China

The fairy shrimp genus Parartemiopsis Rogers, 2005 currently contains a single species reported from Russia and Mongolia. In 2013, an unidentified Parartemiopsis population was reported from the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau in China’s Yunnan Province, from Patatson National Park in Shangri-La County. Here, we describe the Chinese populations as a new species, Parartemiopsis shangrilaensis sp. nov. This new species is distinguished from its congener, P. longicornis (Smirnov, 1930), by the form of the male second antennae and the gonopod. The discovery of P. shangrilaensis sp. nov. extends the known distribution of the genus, and more Parartemiopsis species may be found in the future. We present a key to the genera and species of Chirocephalidae in China as an aid to future research

Infrastructure Management: Development of a Business Model for Transport Infrastructure Interdependencies Management

There is ongoing debate about the value of the benefits of infrastructure systems (specifically those of energy, water & wastewater, transport, waste, and communications) and how to prioritize infrastructure investments to encompass considerations of social, economic and environmental wellbeing. The use of the term ‘infrastructure system’ is related to interdependencies. Infrastructure systems operating in different countries and cities are interrelated in different ways, but all have a strong relationship to ‘transport’ – there is a cost and a utility associated with movement. Infrastructure systems are ultimately created to serve individuals, who place a value on them. In order to explore all forms of value realisation – what is commonly termed a business model – the relationship between an individual and the transport system needs to be established. The hypothesis being tested in this paper is that it is possible to identify both the full range of value interdependencies required, and hence to establish a robust business model, for transport infrastructure interdependencies management in terms of social, economic and environmental wellbeing with the other four national infrastructure sectors in the UK (see above). Different research methods were used for each type of value: economic and environmental value were analysed through Pearson correlation coefficient of secondary data, social value was analysed through statistical analysis (mean, median, mode) of primary data. The new business model challenges the monodirectional value creation of more traditional business models by considering the interdependent bidirectional value creation

Predatory Morphology and Behaviour in Branchinella occidentalis (Dakin, 1914) (Branchiopoda: Anostraca: Thamnocephalidae)

Branchinella occidentalis (Dakin 1914) is redescribed from material collected across the species natural distribution, with special attention to its functional morphology in relation to predatory feeding behaviour observed in the wild and in culture. We present B. occidentalis as a predatory anostracan with physical adaptations convergent with other large predatory anostracan taxa. Comparisons with its closest sister taxon, B. australiensis (Richters 1876), and with other predatory species are made and discussed. Revised and updated defi nitions and diagnoses for the Thamnocephalidae, Branchinella, and Branchinella sensu stricto are provided

Sustainable utility placement via Multi-Utility Tunnels

AbstractDue to the adoption of short-term planning cycles and the requirement for lowest initial construction costs, the conventional method for utility installation and maintenance in the UK is via open-cut. When taking a long-term sustainability perspective there is a growing body of evidence which indicates that this method is socially disruptive, environmentally damaging and significantly more expensive, i.e. unsustainable. One long-term solution to this problem could be the adoption of Multi-Utility Tunnels (MUTs); a tunnel that co-locates more than one utility underground facilitating their subsequent repair and renewal while eliminating the need for continuous surface excavation. Unfortunately considerably higher short-term direct costs remain a significant barrier to adoption of MUTs. However, there is a lack of research to show where the economic tipping point between the two methods occurs and how it might be influenced by utility type, pipe number (i.e. density), pipe diameter, number of excavation and reinstatement (E&R) procedures avoided, location (i.e. undeveloped, suburban and urban areas), and the choice of MUT being adopted (i.e. flush-fitting, shallow and deep).This paper aims to fulfil this research need by investigating the effect of these influences on the economic viability of various types of MUTs. The results indicate that MUTs can provide a more economically sustainable method of utility placement in all three local contexts, with the tipping points occurring where street works are likely more frequent and/or where utility density is high

Differential rates of perinatal maturation of human primary and nonprimary auditory cortex

Abstract Primary and nonprimary cerebral cortex mature along different timescales; however, the differences between the rates of maturation of primary and nonprimary cortex are unclear. Cortical maturation can be measured through changes in tissue microstructure detectable by diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to characterize the maturation of Heschl’s gyrus (HG), which contains both primary auditory cortex (pAC) and nonprimary auditory cortex (nAC), in 90 preterm infants between 26 and 42 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). The preterm infants were in different acoustical environments during their hospitalization: 46 in open ward beds and 44 in single rooms. A control group consisted of 15 term-born infants. Diffusion parameters revealed that (1) changes in cortical microstructure that accompany cortical maturation had largely already occurred in pAC by 28 weeks PMA, and (2) rapid changes were taking place in nAC between 26 and 42 weeks PMA. At term equivalent PMA, diffusion parameters for auditory cortex were different between preterm infants and term control infants, reflecting either delayed maturation or injury. No effect of room type was observed. For the preterm group, disturbed maturation of nonprimary (but not primary) auditory cortex was associated with poorer language performance at age two years

Sustainable Water Infrastructure:Visions and Options for Sub-Saharan Africa

Developing a sustainable water infrastructure entails the planning and management of water systems to ensure the availability, access, quality, and affordability of water resources in the face of social, environmental, and economic challenges. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is currently in an era where it must make significant changes to improve the sustainability of its water infrastructure. This paper reviews the factors affecting water infrastructure sustainability and the interventions taken globally to address these challenges. In parallel, it reflects on the relevance of these interventions to the context of Sub-Saharan Africa through the lens of the STEEP (societal, technological, economic, environmental, political) framework. The paper goes on to recommend an extended analysis that captures additional critical dimensions when applying the concept of sustainability. Furthermore, this paper sheds light on the practice of sustainable development and fosters a deeper understanding of the issues, thereby forming the basis for further research and the development of sustainable and resilient solutions for water infrastructure and water asset management more generally