Spatial distribution of main forest soil groups in Croatia as a function of basic pedogenetic factors

The model of spatial distribution of main forest soil groups in Croatia was developed as a function of basic pedogenetic factors: lithological substratum, macroclimate and relief. Used data about soil group, lithological substratum, terrain slope and aspect were collected on 1881 soil profiles. Macroclimatic data were estimated for each soil profile by spatial interpolation between meteorological stations. Feedforward neural networks were used as modelling tool. The final model has total classification correctness of 63.5% for training data set and 62.3% for independent test data set. The best result (86.4%) was achieved for fluvisols which are strongly spatially correlated with alluvial sediment in a flood plains. The worst result was achieved for luvisol (14.2%) which mainly comprised very old soils, probably developed under pedogenetic factors different from actual. The model was applied on entire Croatian territory aiming at construction of potential spatial distribution of main forest soils (without human impact), which was compared by the potential spatial distribution of major forest types modelled independently.     

Predominance of clade D <Emphasis Type="Italic">Symbiodinium</Emphasis> in shallow-water reef-building corals off Kish and Larak Islands (Persian Gulf,Iran)

Scleractinian coral species harbour communities of photosynthetic taxa of the genus Symbiodinium. As many as eight genetic clades (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H) of Symbiodinium have been discovered using molecular biology. These clades may differ from each other in their physiology, and thus influence the ecological distribution and resilience of their host corals to environmental stresses. Corals of the Persian Gulf are normally subject to extreme environmental conditions including high salinity and seasonal variation in temperature. This study is the first to use molecular techniques to identify the Symbiodinium of the Iranian coral reefs to the level of phylogenetic clades. Samples of eight coral species were collected at two different depths from the eastern part of Kish Island in the northern Persian Gulf, and Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Partial 28S nuclear ribosomal (nr) DNA of Symbiodinium (D1/D2 domains) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were analyzed using single stranded conformational polymorphism and phylogenetic analyses of the LSU DNA sequences from a subset of the samples. The results showed that Symbiodinium populations were generally uniform among and within the populations of eight coral species studied, and there are at least two clades of Symbiodinium from Kish and Larak islands. Clade D was detected from eight of the coral species while clade C was found in two of species only (one species hosted two clades simultaneously). The dominance of clade D might be explained by high temperatures or the extreme temperature variation, typical of the Persian Gulf. Publication of this article was held up owing to technical problems. The publisher apologizes sincerely for this lengthy delay.     

Split-second escape decisions in blue tits (Parus caeruleus)

Bird mortality is heavily affected by birds of prey. Under attack, take-off is crucial for survival and even minor mistakes in initial escape response can have devastating consequences. Birds may respond differently depending on the character of the predator's attack and these split-second decisions were studied using a model merlin (Falco columbarius) that attacked feeding blue tits (Parus caeruleus) from two different attack angles in two different speeds. When attacked from a low attack angle they took off more steeply than when attacked from a high angle. This is the first study to show that escape behaviour also depends on predator attack speed. The blue tits responded to a high-speed attack by dodging sideways more often than when attacked at a low speed. Escape speed was not significantly affected by the different treatments. Although they have only a split-second before escaping an attack, blue tits do adjust their escape strategy to the prevailing attack conditions.     

Predictions by the Odor From Feedlots, Setback Estimation Tool (OFFSET) compared with observations by neighborhood monitors

A comparison between predicted and observed odor intensities at 20 neighborhood residences in the vicinity of seven various livestock farms in five different Minnesota counties was made to evaluate the Odor From Feedlots, Setback Estimation Tool (OFFSET) developed by the University of Minnesota. Observations by neighborhood monitors suggest that the OFFSET-predicted separation distances for annoyance-free frequencies of 99, 98, and 97% are large enough. The observations additionally indicate that predicted distances to obtain 94 and 91% annoyance-free frequencies may be large enough for some farms, but for other farms, greater distances may be needed. For two farms in the study, no significant difference between all of the observed and predicted intensities could be found. At four sites, a significant difference was found, and at three of these the difference was considerable. Odor emission rates used in the OFFSET model seem to describe the average emission fairly well for many odor sources, but improvement may be needed for some types of sources. Possible reasons for observations of annoying odor when not predicted include fluctuations in the odor emissions, wind speed fluctuations, topographic variation between sites, sensitivity differences by neighborhood monitors, and background emissions from other sources.     

Economic assessment of the negative impacts of ozone on crop yields and forest production. A case study of the estate Ostads Säteri in southwestern Sweden

Ground level ozone concentrations, in combination with the prevailing climate, at the estate Ostads S?teri in southwestern Sweden were estimated to reduce the yield of wheat and potato ranging between 5% and 10%. Occasionally, in years with the highest ozone concentrations and/or climatic conditions favoring high rates of ozone uptake to the leaves, yield loss levels above 10% may occur. Based on simple extrapolation, these ozone-induced reductions of crop yields at Ostads S?teri represent a potential total annual yield loss in Sweden in the range of 24.5 million Euro for wheat and 7.3 million Euro for potato, respectively. A simulation of forest growth at Ostad S?teri predicted that prevailing mean ozone exposure during 1993-2003 had the potential to reduce forest growth by 2.2% and the economic return of forest production by 2.6%. Using this value for extrapolation to the national level, the potential annual economic loss for Sweden due to negative impacts of ozone on forest production would be in the range of 56 million Euro (2004 prices).     

Synthesis of effects in four Arctic subregions

An assessment of impacts on Arctic terrestrial ecosystems has emphasized geographical variability in responses of species and ecosystems to environmental change. This variability is usually associated with north-south gradients in climate, biodiversity, vegetation zones, and ecosystem structure and function. It is clear, however, that significant east-west variability in environment, ecosystem structure and function, environmental history, and recent climate variability is also important. Some areas have cooled while others have become warmer. Also, east-west differences between geographical barriers of oceans, archipelagos and mountains have contributed significantly in the past to the ability of species and vegetation zones to relocate in response to climate changes, and they have created the isolation necessary for genetic differentiation of populations and biodiversity hot-spots to occur. These barriers will also affect the ability of species to relocate during projected future warming. To include this east-west variability and also to strike a balance between overgeneralization and overspecialization, the ACIA identified four major sub regions based on large-scale differences in weather and climate-shaping factors. Drawing on information, mostly model output that can be related to the four ACIA subregions, it is evident that geographical barriers to species re-location, particularly the distribution of landmasses and separation by seas, will affect the northwards shift in vegetation zones. The geographical constraints--or facilitation--of northward movement of vegetation zones will affect the future storage and release of carbon, and the exchange of energy and water between biosphere and atmosphere. In addition, differences in the ability of vegetation zones to re-locate will affect the biodiversity associated with each zone while the number of species threatened by climate change varies greatly between subregions with a significant hot-spot in Beringia. Overall, the subregional synthesis demonstrates the difficulty of generalizing projections of responses of ecosystem structure and function, species loss, and biospheric feedbacks to the climate system for the whole Arctic region and implies a need for a far greater understanding of the spatial variability in the responses of terrestrial arctic ecosystems to climate change.     

Social identity and applicant attraction: Exploring the role of multiple levels of self

Applicant attraction is a critical objective of recruitment. Common predictor variables of applicant attraction are limited in that they do not provide a comprehensive understanding of the process that shapes the perceptions and beliefs of job applicants about the firms for which they aspire to work for. Because individuals have the inherent desire to expand and enhance their social identities (e.g., personal, relational, and collective identities), they are likely to be attracted to organizations that allow them to do so. Building on recent work on levels of self, our paper suggests that social identities mediate the relation between currently established predictor variables of applicant attraction (e.g., compensation, type of work, and organizational image) and important applicant attraction outcomes. Common predictor variables of applicant attraction can lead to the activation, evaluation, and identification processes described by social identity theory. A theoretical framework is presented that illustrates the mediating influence of social identity on the relations between common predictor variables and applicant attraction outcomes. This framework may lead to more effective recruitment strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Learning from accidents – What more do we need to know?

A model of experience feedback (the CHAIN model) that emphasizes the whole chain from initial reporting to preventive measures is used to identify important research needs in the field of learning from accidents. Based on the model, six quality criteria for experience feedback after an accident or incident are presented. Research on experience feedback from accidents is reviewed. The overall conclusion is that the discipline of experience feedback has not been sufficiently self-reflective. The process of experience feedback can and should be applied to experience feedback itself, but that is rarely done. Evaluation studies are needed that provide hard (evidence-based) information about the effects of various methodologies and organizational structures. Four types of studies are particularly important for the development of evidence-based accident investigation practices: (1) studies of the effects and the efficiency of different accident investigation methods, (2) studies of the dissemination of conclusions from accident investigation, (3) follow-up studies of the extent to which accident investigation reports give rise to actual preventive measures, and (4) studies of the integration of experience feedback systems into overall systems of risk management.