Microhydro electrification and climate change adaptation in Nepal: socioeconomic lessons from the Rural Energy Development Program (REDP)

This article explores the potential for microhydro installations in Nepal to improve adaptive capacity in addition to their ability to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. After explaining its methods of data collection—namely field research and research interviews—the article explores the climate change adaptation benefits of microhydro plants being promoted under the Renewable Energy Development Project (REDP). Besides displacing fossil fuels, in particular kerosene for lighting, microhydro electrification offers an effective way of improving community assets and bolstering social resilience (thereby enhancing the adaptive capacity of communities there). Our own survey of REDP project sites reveals how microhydro units have improved community income levels, equalized gender roles, enhanced access to education and information, and reduced migration patterns. The article concludes by highlighting three key lessons—the role of extensive community mobilization, proactive capacity building for efficient electricity use, and the need for comprehensiveness—for those wishing to adapt to climate change in other rural and developing economies.     

Careers as tournaments: The impact of sex and gendered organizational culture preferences on MBAs' income attainment

Drawing on gender role theory and tournament theory, we examined the effects of sex and organizational culture preferences on the incomes of MBA graduates over an 8‐year period. We found that masculine culture preferences led to higher income 4 years after graduation and, in contrast to previous research, the effect was stronger for women. By 8 years after graduation, however, men's rate of income increase was significantly higher than women's, an effect that was mediated by hours worked per week. These findings clarify some of the conflicting results of previous research on the effects of gender roles on women's careers and suggest that a tournament‐like aspect of careers may account for higher incomes in organizations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rank aggregation of local expert knowledge for conservation planning of the critically endangered saola

There has been much recent interest in using local knowledge and expert opinion for conservation planning, particularly for hard‐to‐detect species. Although it is possible to ask for direct estimation of quantities such as population size, relative abundance is easier to estimate. However, an expert's knowledge is often geographically restricted relative to the area of interest. Combining (or aggregating) experts’ assessments of relative abundance is difficult when each expert only knows a part of the area of interest. We used Google's PageRank algorithm to aggregate ranked abundance scores elicited from local experts through a rapid rural‐appraisal method. We applied this technique to conservation planning for the saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), a poorly known bovid. Near a priority landscape for the species, composed of 3 contiguous protected areas, we asked groups of local people to indicate relative abundances of saola and other species by placing beans on community maps. For each village, we used this information to rank areas within the knowledge area of that village for saola abundance. We used simulations to compare alternative methods to aggregate the rankings from the different villages. The best‐performing method was then used to produce a single map of relative abundance across the entire landscape, an area larger than that known to any one village. This map has informed prioritization of surveys and conservation action in the continued absence of direct information about the saola.     

Ontogeny of early diving and foraging behavior of northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) pups from Bering Island,Russia

The ontogeny of diving and foraging behavior of northern fur seal pups from a stable population on Bering Island, Russia, was recorded with animal-borne instruments during their first few months at sea, a critical period during their first year at sea. Thirty-five pups were instrumented with satellite-linked time-depth recorders and stomach temperature pills. Diving occurred predominantly at night with deeper and longer dives as the pups matured. Mean dive depths were correlated with lunar illumination, whereas mean dive durations were also correlated with time of day and sex. Foraging success did not differ between sexes, and there was no relationship between meal size (as indicated by feeding event duration and minimum stomach temperature) and lunar illumination fraction or maximum foraging depth. Although most pups were able to successfully forage within 3 days of starting their migration, the number of feeding events recorded each day remained low (mean 1.6 events day^?1). There was no indication of an appreciable increase in meal size after the first 2 weeks of the migration despite an increase in dive frequency and depth. The results are consistent with observations that pups do not gain mass during their first year and emphasize the risk of starvation from infrequent foraging in cold water.     

Sunflower Oil Industry By-product as Natural Filler of Biocomposite Foams for Packaging Applications

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The use of agroindustry by-products as reinforcements and/or composites filler is an innovative and economically attractive option that is still under...     

Reinforcement of male mate preferences in sympatric killifish species Lucania goodei and Lucania parva

Reinforcement occurs when reduced hybrid fitness leads to the evolution of a stronger prezygotic isolation. Populations sympatric with closely related species, where hybridization occurs, are predicted to have stronger mate preferences than allopatric populations. The reinforcement of male mate preference is thought to be rarer than the reinforcement of female preference, but this inference may be biased by the lack of studies on male preference. We tested male mate preferences from sympatric and allopatric populations of two closely related species of killifish: Lucania goodei and Lucania parva. We found that sympatric males had greater preferences for conspecific females than allopatric males. Furthermore, conspecific preferences in allopatric populations were weakest when these populations were geographically distant (>50?km) from those of heterospecifics. Our data suggest that reinforcement has contributed to male conspecific preference and speciation in Lucania.     

Rainy River water quality in the vicinity of bleached kraft mills

Water and suspended solids samples were collected at four river stations and from two pulp and paper mill final effluents and analysed for a variety of organic contaminants. Juvenile fish were collected upstream and downstream of the mill discharges. Results showed significant mill inputs of PCBs, PAHs, chlorophenols, dioxins and furans which impacted downstream stations. Juvenile fish analysed downstream of the effluents indicated uptake of PCBs and chlorinated phenols.     

RESEARCH INTO THE EFFECTS OF ARTIFICIAL GROUNDWATER RECHARGE,LEA VALLEY,LONDON ENGLAND1

ABSTRACT: Large-scale groundwater abstraction from the Cretaceous Chalk/Lower Tertiary Basal Sands aquifer system of the London Basin in the last 150 years has developed storage of more than 1000 Mm³. Limited operational recharge was undertaken in the 1950's encouraging further detailed study of the wider possibilities. Following a comprehensive hydrogeological reappraisal, an economic and engineering study and pilot-scale experiments, the Lea Valley has been shown to have the greatest potential for recharge. Artificial recharge into the Chalk at a rate of 9000 m³/d appears possible, through acidised 900 mm diameter boreholes. An understanding of the degree of interconnection between the Chalk and Basal Sands and of the causes of changes in quality of recharged water during storage was shown to be of particular importance to the successful operation of any recharge scheme using this system. A two-layer numerical groundwater model of the 800 km² area and a surface/groundwater simulation model have been used to assist with the design of the 84,000 m³/d prototype scheme, and will also help in assessing its efficiency. The models will ultimately be used to manage the operation of the first stage development, now coming into use.