Deconstructing compassionate conservation

Compassionate conservation focuses on 4 tenets: first, do no harm; individuals matter; inclusivity of individual animals; and peaceful coexistence between humans and animals. Recently, compassionate conservation has been promoted as an alternative to conventional conservation philosophy. We believe examples presented by compassionate conservationists are deliberately or arbitrarily chosen to focus on mammals; inherently not compassionate; and offer ineffective conservation solutions. Compassionate conservation arbitrarily focuses on charismatic species, notably large predators and megaherbivores. The philosophy is not compassionate when it leaves invasive predators in the environment to cause harm to vastly more individuals of native species or uses the fear of harm by apex predators to terrorize mesopredators. Hindering the control of exotic species (megafauna, predators) in situ will not improve the conservation condition of the majority of biodiversity. The positions taken by so-called compassionate conservationists on particular species and on conservation actions could be extended to hinder other forms of conservation, including translocations, conservation fencing, and fertility control. Animal welfare is incredibly important to conservation, but ironically compassionate conservation does not offer the best welfare outcomes to animals and is often ineffective in achieving conservation goals. Consequently, compassionate conservation may threaten public and governmental support for conservation because of the limited understanding of conservation problems by the general public.     

APPLICABILITY OF THE t-TEST FOR DETECTING TRENDS IN WATER QUALITY VARIABLES1

ABSTRACT: A major concern in managing water resources is whether or not water quality variables have changed over time or space. The two-sample Student's t-test is probably the most commonly used statistical test for this purpose. Given that the underlying assumptions of the test may often be violated by water quality variables, a major concern regarding applicability of the test arises. This paper reviews and synthesizes available information in order to examine the effects of non-normality, unequal variances, serial dependence, and seasonality on the performance of the two-sample t-test. The results suggest the t-test is robust for non-normal distributions if the distributions have the same shape (either symmetric or skewed) and sample sizes are equal. The t-test is also robust for unequal variances if the sample sizes are equal. The t-test appears not to be robust when: 1) samples come from two distributions of different shape, 2) samples have unequal variances and unequal sample sizes, 3) serial dependence in observations is present, or 4) seasonal changes, in concentration are present and not removed.     

Planning & urban change in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has undergone revolutionary change to its economy since 1973, followed more recently by serious economic problems. The largely peripheral effects of urban planning upon the transformation of Jeddah from medieval town to international city are considered. The main urban problems and opportunities facing the city are identified, and the paper concludes with a question against the relevance of ‘Western’ notions of planning to another culture undergoing dynamic urban change.     

Adherence of Sulfur Dioxide Concentrations in the Vicinity of a Steam Plant to Plume Dispersion Models

Air monitoring data for a calendar year at one of the TVA power plants has been used to evaluate the appropriateness of the Sutton, the Bosanquet and Pearson, and the USPHS-TVA atmospheric dispersion models to predict ground level concentrations of sulfur dioxide from emission and meterological data. Aerometric data included one half hourly average sulfur dioxide concentrations, recorded by four Thomas autometers, and the necessary meterological parameters for the solving of atmospheric dispersion models. Based on these meterological parameters and observed plume rise data, over 4000 one half hourly average maximum and minimum expected ground line sulfur dioxide concentrations were predicted for each of the above dispersion models by the use of computer techniques. The plant is a line source; however, an empirical correction was applied to emission data to reduce them to emissions for an equivalent point source. The predicted sulfur dioxide levels for each of the dispersion models were compared to the measured levels throughout the year. Three different sets of diffusion coefficients were applied to the Sutton model and successful predictions, according to a criterion utilizing an acceptable range of concentration, varied from 66 to 93%. The Bosanquet and Pearson model produced successful predictions 90% of the time, while the USPHS-TVA model was successful 94% of the time.Unsuccessful predictions were primarily overestimates.     

Aggressive brood defense by females in the stomatopod Gonodactylus bredini

Summary Defense behavior by brooding Gonodactylus bredini females was studied in staged fights against conspecific challengers. Females brooding eggs were more successful at defending their dwelling cavities than were nonreproductive females. Females caring for larvae were no more successful at cavity defense than were controls.Brooding females do not defend cavities by using more aggressive acts or by engaging in longer fights than nonreproductive females. The increase in defense success seems to be due to a greater willingness to continue a contest after being struck by a challenger. Also, brooding females make more frequent use of threats, in particular the Meral Spread display, than controls.Females defend cavities as vigorously as if they still had eggs 4 or 5 days after their eggs have been removed. Within the first 24 h after oviposition, a female's success at defending a cavity is greatly reduced compared to that of a female just 1 day later.     

Lipid storage and composition in tropical surgeonfishes (Teleostei: Acanthuridae)

The lipid composition of tropical marine reef fishes is poorly known, despite their use as food by local human populations and recent interest in health-related benefits of fish lipids. We examined the composition of lipids from epaxial muscle, liver, and two storage sites [mesenteries surrounding the gut (intraperitoneal fat, IPFs) and retroperitoneal fat bodies (FBs) posterior to the peritoneal cavity] in three species of surgeonfishes from Ishigaki Island, Japan: Naso lituratus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Acanthurus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758), and A. bariene (Lesson, 1830). Triacylglycerols dominated all samples of neutral lipid and constituted ≥ 99% of FBs and IPFs. Polar lipids generally contained large fractions of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. Quantified fatty acids ranged in length from C₁₄ to C₂₄. C₁₆ fatty acids prevailed (>35% of neutral fatty acids, >23% of polar fatty acids), although C₁₈ (>16 and >14%, respectively) and C₂₀ acids (>8 and >19%, respectively) were also common. Saturated fatty acids, dominated by palmitic acid (16:0), comprised 38.7 to 50.7% of acids from neutral lipids and 30.8 to 41.1% from polar lipids. The most common monounsaturated acids were 18:1n9 and 20:1n9. Polyunsaturated acids were prevalent in polar lipids (especially 20:4n6, 20:5n3, 22:2n3, 22:5n3, 22:5n6 and 22:6n3). Common polyunsaturated acids of neutral lipids were 18:2n6, 18:4n3, several n-3 and n-6 C₂₀ acids, 22:2n3 and 22:5n3. IPF and FB were almost identical across species, and lipids of fat bodies (IPFs, FBs) were more similar to those of muscle than those of liver for all three species. The FBs appear to constitute an accessory storage site, which overcomes constraints on lipid storage imposed by a small, inflexible abdominal cavity that contains both viscera and consistently voluminous gut contents. Fatty acid signatures indicate that largely overlooked epiphytic or epilithic diatoms contribute significantly to lipid acquisition. The combination of large quantities of both saturated and n-3 and other polyunsaturated fatty acids in surgeonfishes, in contrast to low saturates and high polyunsaturated acids in lipids of commercially important cool-water fishes, suggests that a study of dietary effects of fish lipids on human inhabitants of the tropics may be instructive insofar as human health and nutrition are concerned. Received: 16 March 1998 / Accepted: 6 August 1998     

PROCESS DOMAINS AND THE RIVER CONTINUUM1

ABSTRACT: The concept of process domains is proposed as an alternative to the River Continuum Concept for the influence of geomorphic processes on aquatic ecosystems. Broadly defined, the Process Domain Concept is a multi-scale hypothesis that spatial variability in geomorphic processes governs temporal patterns of disturbances that influence ecosystem structure and dynamics. At a coarse scale, regional climate, geolog vegetation, and topography control the suite of geomorphic processes that are distributed over a landscape. Within the broad context so defined, stream channel classification can guide identification of functionally similar portions of a channel network, but the response of otherwise similar reaches can depend upon their geologic and geomorphic context. Within geomorphic provinces defined by differences in topography, climate history, and tectonic setting, areas with generally similar geology and topography define lithotopo units, which are useful for stratifying different suites of dominant geomorphic processes. Process domains are spatially identifiable areas characterized by distinct suites of geomorphic processes, and the Process Domain Concept implies that channel networks can be divided into discrete regions in which community structure and dynamics respond to distinctly different disturbance regimes. The concepts of process domains and lithotopo units provide both a framework for the application of patch dynamics concepts to complex landscapes and a context for addressing the effects of watershed processes on the ecology of mountain drainage basins.     

meteorological program for limiting power plant stack emission

This paper is directed to those individuals concerned with preserving the local air quality in areas affected by power plant operations. A meteorological forecast and field measurement program has been developed by the Tennessee Valley Authority for limiting stack emissions at the Paradise Steam Plant to preserve the air quality during adverse atmospheric dispersion conditions. Meteorological and plume dispersion criteria, developed from analysis of prior experience, govern the program. The criteria values are designed for limiting surface sulfur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations below an established threshold level.

Daily forecasts of vertical wind and temperature distribution, maximum surface temperature, and sky condition are issued each afternoon by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service, Knoxville, Tennessee. Through use of power plant computer facilities, the forecast data are processed to determine quantitative criteria values. If the values indicate that the threshold level may be exceeded, an Air Pollution Control Notice (APCN) is issued that afternoon for the period 0900–1400 CST the following day, which is the expected period of maximum SO₂, surface concentrations. The APCN specifies the allowable SO₂ emission rate, in terms of megawatt load generation, which should prevent surface SO₂ concentrations from exceeding the established threshold level. Confirmation or cancellation of the APCN is made the following morning, based on plant-site meteorological field measurements taken at 0700–0730 CST. If confirmed, plant load generation is reduced to the designated level by 0900 CST and is continued no later than 1400 CST during the expected period of maximum SO2 surface concentrations.

The APCN conditions identified with the newer and larger TV A power plants with high stacks are associated with one principal regional weather pattern—a large surface high-pressure system, with weak-to-moderate anticyclonic circulation and pronounced stability throughout the lowest few thousand meters. With the limited mixing layer, or sometimes referred to as trapping- or capping-type dispersion associated with this weather condition, relatively high surface concentrations may persist 2–5 hours between 0900–1400 CST.