A bird’s eye view over ecosystem services in Natura 2000 sites across Europe

Recent ‘New Conservation’ approaches called for more ecosystem services (ES) emphasis in conservation. We analysed data from 3757 Natura 2000 special protection areas (SPAs) and translated positive and negative impacts listed by conservation managers into indicators of the use of nine provisioning, regulating and cultural ES. Overall, the use of ES is considered by SPA managers to affect conservation goals more negatively than positively. ES associated with livestock keeping and fodder production are recorded as having the highest fraction of positive impacts on SPAs, ranging from 88% and 78% in the Boreal biogeographic region to 20% and 6% in the Mediterranean. The use of ES varied according to dominant habitat class, highlighting the dependence of specific ES on associated ecosystem functions. For instance, fibre production was the predominant ES throughout forest habitats while crop, fodder and livestock exhibit similar patterns of dominance across agricultural landscapes. In contrast, the use of wild food and recreation activities are seen as causing mainly negative effects across all habitats. Our analysis suggests that most uses of ES result in negative effects on conservation goals. These outcomes should be considered when implementing future conservation strategies

On-Orbit Performance of the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) Satellite

Launch of the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) has been followed by an extensive period of calibration and characterization as part of the preparation for normal satellite operations. Major tasks carried out during this period include initial coalignment, focusing and characterization of the four instrument channels, and a preliminary measurement of the resolution and throughput performance of the instrument. We describe the results from this test program, and present preliminary estimates of the on-orbit performance of the FUSE satellite based on a combination of this data and prelaunch laboratory measurements.Comment: 8 pages, including 3 figures. This paper will appear in the FUSE special issue of ApJ Letter

Morphologic and Kinematic Characteristics of Elite Sprinters

The purpose of the study was to ascertain the basic morphologic and kinematic characteristics of elite sprinters. The sample included 24 sprinters, with times over a 100 m distance between 10.21 s and 11.19 s. Morphologic characteristics of the sprinters were measured with a test battery of 17 measures, obtained according to the methodology prescribed by the International Biologic Programme (IBP). The kinematic variables were obtained from a flying start 20 m run and a 20 m run with a low start, with the technology of a contact carpet (ERGO TESTER – Bosco). Stride frequency and length, duration of contact and flight phases were registered. Time parameters were measured with a system of infrared photocells (BROWER Timing System). T-test showed that elite sprinters do not differ significantly in morphologic characteristics (p > 0.05) from the 100 m results point of view. However, statistically significant differences were obtained in starting acceleration and maximal velocity. The most important kinematic parameters for generating differences between the elite sprinters are contact time and stride frequency