A Search for Lost Planets in the Kepler Multi-planet Systems and the Discovery of the Long-period, Neptune-sized Exoplanet Kepler-150 f

The vast majority of the 4700 confirmed planets and planet candidates discovered by the Kepler mission were first found by the Kepler pipeline. In the pipeline, after a transit signal is found, all data points associated with those transits are removed, creating a "Swiss cheese"-like light curve full of holes, which is then used for subsequent transit searches. These holes could render an additional planet undetectable (or "lost"). We examine a sample of 114 stars with $3+$ confirmed planets to evaluate the effect of this "Swiss cheesing". A simulation determines that the probability that a transiting planet is lost due to the transit masking is low, but non-negligible, reaching a plateau at $\sim3.3\%$ lost in the period range of $P=400-500$ days. We then model all planet transits and subtract out the transit signals for each star, restoring the in-transit data points, and use the Kepler pipeline to search the transit-subtracted (i.e., transit-cleaned) light curves. However, the pipeline did not discover any credible new transit signals. This demonstrates the validity and robustness of the Kepler pipeline's choice to use transit masking over transit subtraction. However, a follow-up visual search through all the transit-subtracted data, which allows for easier visual identification of new transits, revealed the existence of a new, Neptune-sized exoplanet (Kepler-150 f) and a potential single transit of a likely false positive (Kepler-208). Kepler-150 f ($P=637.2$ days, $R_{\rm{P}}=3.64^{+0.52}_{-0.39}$ R$_{\oplus}$) is confirmed with $>99.998\%$ confidence using a combination of the planet multiplicity argument, a false positive probability analysis, and a transit duration analysis.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables. Accepted into A

Comparative growth and static allometry in the genus Chlorocebus

Characterizing variation in growth across populations is critical to understanding multiple aspects of development in primates, including within-taxon developmental plasticity and the evolution of life history patterns. Growth in wild primates has often been reported and directly compared across larger taxonomic groups and within social groups, but comparisons are rarely investigated across widely dispersed populations of a single taxon. With the Vervet Phenome-Genome Project and the International Vervet Research Consortium, we trapped 936 vervet monkeys of all ages representing three populations (Kenyan pygerythrus, South African pygerythrus, and sabaeus from St. Kitts & Nevis). We gathered 10 different body measurements from each including mass, body breadth and length, segmental limb lengths, and chest circumference. To gain a better understanding of how ontogenetic patterns vary in these populations, we calculated bivariate allometry coefficients, derived using PCA on log-transformed and z-standardized trait values, and compared them to isometric vector coefficients. Within all population samples, around weaning age most traits showed a negative allometric relationship to body length. As each population ages, however, distinct patterns emerge, showing population differences in onset and intensity of growth among traits. In concordance with other analyses on growth in these populations, our results suggest that there exist relative differences in patterns of growth between Chlorocebus populations, further suggesting selection for unique developmental pathways in each

Delayed Hooking Mortality of Blue Catfish Ictalurus Furcatus Caught on Juglines in Oklahoma Reserviors

Growth of blue catfish in Oklahoma reservoirs is typically slow, with only a small percentage of fish reaching preferred size (762 mm). To prevent over harvest of larger fish, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recently implemented a law restricting harvest to one fish per person, per day for preferred-size or larger fish. For this regulation to be effective, released fish must survive to further contribute to the population, but little is known concerning the delayed hooking mortality of blue catfish. We investigated the delayed hooking mortality for blue catfish caught on juglines. Blue catfish (N=559) were caught seasonally from three reservoirs on either 5/0 circle hooks or J-hooks fished for 24 h sets. One experimental fish (captured via jugline) and one control fish (captured via pulsed-DC electrofishing) were then placed in field enclosures and monitored for mortality after 72 h. Mean mortality was low at 8.5%. Mortality increased with water temperature, and, for every 1C increase in temperature, the fish were 1.1 times more likely to die (odds ratio = 1.1). At temperatures of less than 15 C, mortality decreases to 1.6%. Hook type did not significantly affect mortality, nor did the depth in the water column where the fish was hooked. The odds of dying were 6 times lower for every 100-mm increase in the total length of the fish. Mean mortality for preferred-size fish was negligible at 2.5%; no mortalities were observed memorable and trophy-size fish. These results suggest that the new regulation limiting the harvest of preferred-size fish should be effective, even when fish are harvested with 24-h jug fishing sets.Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Managemen

Analysis of an agent-based model for predicting the behavior of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) under the influence of acoustic deterrence

Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) are an invasive, voracious, highly fecund species threatening the ecological integrity of the Great Lakes. This agent-based model and analysis explore bighead carp behavior in response to acoustic deterrence in an effort to discover properties that increase likelihood of deterrence system failure. Results indicate the most significant (p \u3c 0.05) influences on barrier failure are the quantity of detritus and plankton behind the barrier, total number of bighead carp successfully deterred by the barrier, and number of native fishes freely moving throughout the simulation. Quantity of resources behind the barrier influence bighead carp to penetrate when populations are resource deprived. When native fish populations are low, an accumulation of phytoplankton can occur, increasing the likelihood of an algal bloom occurrence. Findings of this simulation suggest successful implementation with proper maintenance of an acoustic deterrence system has potential of abating the threat of bighead carp on ecological integrity of the Great Lakes

The untilted diffuse matter Bianchi V Universe

A diffuse matter filled Type V Universe is studied. The anisotropic behaviour, the distortion caused to the CMBR and the parameter region allowed by present cosmological bounds are examined. It is shown how the overall sky pattern of temperature anisotropies changes under a non-infinitesimal spatial coordinate transformation that preserves the Type V manifest homogeneity.Comment: (RevTeX) 23 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Physics Letters

Ontogenetic and Sex-Specific Shifts in the Feeding Habits of the Barndoor Skate

Diet analysis is critical in understanding the flow of energy within marine food webs and is necessary for trophic ecosystem modeling and subsequent ecosystem-based management recommendations. This study represents the first comprehensive diet description for the Barndoor Skate Dipturus laevis, the largest rajid species found on the continental shelf in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Stomach contents were extracted from 273 individual skate caught as bycatch in the commercial scallop fishery on Georges Bank and a total of 31 prey species were identified. The Barndoor Skate feeds primarily upon sand shrimp Crangon septemspinosa, the rock crab Cancer irroratus, the Acadian hermit crab Pagurus acadianus, and teleost fish. Length-specific analysis revealed four significant feeding groups (ANOVA: P \u3c 0.01). Skate \u3c 35 cm TL were specialized feeders foraging solely on caridean shrimp, and as size increased (35-75 cm TL), they began to feed upon rock crab and then the Acadian hermit crab. At lengths ranging from 85 to 105 cm TL, no caridean shrimp were found in the skate\u27s diet and the prevalence of crustaceans decreased. Large skate (\u3e105 cm TL) began to prey heavily upon teleost fish, yet also continued to consume larger crustaceans. Significant sex-specific differences in food habits were also observed in the biggest skate (\u3e105 cm TL): males fed primarily on teleost fish (similar to 80%); however, females maintained a diet of approximately equal amounts of fish and crustaceans. These sex-specific feeding patterns and differential food niche utilization may be mitigated by sexually dimorphic dentition