A past and a future for diversification on farms? Some evidence from large-scale, commercial farms in South East England

Diversification has been identified as a common response to the agricultural crisis of the 1980s and to the changing ethos of agricultural policy in the closing decade of the 20th century. In particular, farmers operating large-scale farms have been prominent in adopting this approach, just as they were innovative across a range of farming practices in the expansion and modernisation of their agricultural production in earlier decades. Can we identify serial diversifiers within this sector of the farming community, who are disposed to react in an entrepreneurial fashion to the changing fortunes of agriculture? The paper draws on results from a survey of large-scale commercial farmers in South East England and, by examining the sequence in which various forms of diversification were adopted, identifies a temporal pattern as farmers responded to the fluctuating fortunes of the agricultural industry over the last 30 years. But has the potential for diversification been exhausted? The paper also considers future prospects for diversification within the large-scale, commercially oriented sector of the agricultural industry

Growth curve of Balloniscus glaber Araujo & Zardo (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Parque Estadual de Itapuã, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Curva de crescimento de Balloniscus glaber Araujo & Zardo (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) no Parque Estadual de Itapuã, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Based on field data, this study presents the growth curve of Balloniscus glaber Araujo & Zardo, 1995, a terrestrial isopod species found in Parque Estadual de Itapuã (PEI), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Specimens were monthly sampled, from May 2004 to April 2005, at PEI. Captured individuals were sexed, their cephalothorax width was measured, and the growth curve was described according to von Bertalanffy's model. Male and female growth curves are described by the equations: Wt = 2.256[1-e-0.00394(t+91.128)] and Wt = 2.588[1-e-0.00301(t+101)], respectively. Curves show differential growth between males and females, with females reaching higher W<FONT FACE=Symbol>&yen;</FONT>, and a slower growth rate than males. Based on theses curves, life span was estimated.<br>Esse estudo, baseado em dados de campo, esse estudo apresenta a curva de crescimento de Balloniscus glaber Araujo & Zardo, 1995, um isópodo terrestre encontrado no Parque Estadual de Itapuã (PEI), Rio Grande do Sul. Os espécimes foram coletados mensalmente, de maio de 2004 a abril de 2005, no PEI. Os indivíduos capturados foram sexados e tiveram o cefalotórax mensurado e a curva de crescimento descrita a partir do modelo de von Bertalanffy. As curvas de crescimento para machos e para fêmeas são descritas pelas equações: Lt = 2,256[1-e-0,00394(t+91,128)] e Lt = 2,588[1-e-0,00301(t+101)], respectivamente. As curvas apresentam crescimento diferencial entre machos e fêmeas, com fêmeas atingindo maior L' mas com uma taxa de crescimento menor do que os machos. Com base na curva foi estimada a longevidade dos animais

Growth curve of Atlantoscia floridana (van Name) (Crustacea, Isopoda, Philosciidae) from a Brazilian Restinga Forest

The terrestrial isopod Atlantoscia floridana (van Name, 1940) occurs from the U.S.A. (Florida) to Brazil and Argentina. In the southernmost Brazilian State, Rio Grande do Sul, the species is recorded in many localities, in urban and in non-urban areas. The growth curve of Atlantoscia floridana based on field data is presented. The specimens were sampled from April, 2000 to October, 2001 at the Reserva Biológica do Lami (RBL), Rio Grande do Sul. Captured individuals were sexed and had their cephalothorax width measured, with the data analyzed with von Bertalanffy's model. The growth curves for males and females are described, respectively, by the equations: Wt = 1.303 [1 - e-0.00941 (t + 50.37)] and Wt = 1.682 [1 - e-0.00575 (t + 59.13)]. The curves showed differential growth between sexes, where females reach a higher Wµ with a slower growth rate. Based on the growth curves it was also possible to estimate life expectancy for males and females.<br>O isópodo terrestre Atlantoscia floridana (van Name, 1940) ocorre desde os Estados Unidos (Flórida) até o Brasil e Argentina. No Rio Grande do Sul a espécie é registrada em muitas localidades, em áreas urbanas e não-urbanas. Este trabalho apresenta a curva de crescimento de Atlantoscia floridana, baseada em dados de campo. Os espécimes foram amostrados desde abril, 2000 a outubro, 2001 na Reserva Biológica do Lami (RBL), Rio Grande do Sul. Os indivíduos capturados foram sexados e tiveram o cefalotórax medido. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se o modelo de von Bertalanffy. A curva de crescimento para machos e fêmeas são descritas, respectivamente, pelas equações Wt = 1.303 [1 - e-0.00941 (t + 50.37)] e Wt = 1.682 [1 - e -0.00575 (t + 59.13)]. As curvas mostraram crescimento diferencial entre os sexos, onde as fêmeas atingem o maior Wµ com uma taxa de crescimento menor. Com base nas curvas de crescimento também foi possível estimar a expectativa de vida para machos e fêmeas