Lévy walk patterns in the foraging movements of spider monkeys (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ateles geoffroyi</Emphasis>)

Scale invariant patterns have been found in different biological systems, in many cases resembling what physicists have found in other, nonbiological systems. Here we describe the foraging patterns of free-ranging spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in the forest of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico and find that these patterns closely resemble what physicists know as Lévy walks. First, the length of a trajectorys constituent steps, or continuous moves in the same direction, is best described by a power-law distribution in which the frequency of ever larger steps decreases as a negative power function of their length. The rate of this decrease is very close to that predicted by a previous analytical Lévy walk model to be an optimal strategy to search for scarce resources distributed at random. Second, the frequency distribution of the duration of stops or waiting times also approximates to a power-law function. Finally, the mean square displacement during the monkeys first foraging trip increases more rapidly than would be expected from a random walk with constant step length, but within the range predicted for Lévy walks. In view of these results, we analyze the different exponents characterizing the trajectories described by females and males, and by monkeys on their own and when part of a subgroup. We discuss the origin of these patterns and their implications for the foraging ecology of spider monkeys.Communicated by D. Watts     

Coordinating a group departure: who produces the piping signals on honeybee swarms?

A swarm of honeybees provides a striking example of an animal group performing a synchronized departure for a new location; in this case, thousands of bees taking off at once to fly to a new home. However, the means by which this is achieved remain unclear. Shortly before takeoff, one hears a crescendo of a high-pitched mechanical signal—worker piping—so we explored the role of this signal in coordinating a swarm’s mass takeoff. Specifically, we examined whether exclusively nest site scouts produce the worker piping signal or whether it is produced in a relay or chain reaction fashion. We found no evidence that bees other than the scouts that have visited the swarm’s chosen nest site produce piping signals. This absence of relay communication in piping suggests that it is a signal that only primes swarms for takeoff and that the release of takeoff is triggered by some other signal or cue; perhaps the takeoff of bees on the swarm periphery as they reach flight temperature in response to piping.     

Gap-Crossing Decisions by the Red Squirrel, a Forest-Dependent Small Mammal

Abstract:  Forest-associated species in fragmented landscapes must traverse potentially inhospitable gaps to move between habitat patches. Although conservation biologists advocate connecting patches with corridors or improving the matrix to make it suitable for movement, little is known about the factors influencing gap-crossing decisions for most species. We investigated gap crossing by the red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) in logged landscapes in southeastern Alaska, where the species avoids microhabitats associated with gaps created by clearcutting. We released individuals across clearcuts and determined the routes they took home with tracking spools and radio telemetry. Of 36 adult red squirrels translocated across six clearcuts, 14 crossed clearcuts to reach home. Squirrels were more likely to cross clearcuts if the detour efficiency (distance to home crossing gap divided by distance of forested detour) was low, indicating an ability to compare distances along alternate routes and travel costs or risks in different habitats. No other landscape metrics, such as gap size or crossing distance, predicted crossing behavior. Red squirrels of low body mass were more likely to cross clearcuts, where the probability of encountering conspecifics is low. Distance predicted route choice for squirrels detouring around clearcuts. Indirect evidence suggests that perceived predation risk, energetic costs, or both are higher in clearcuts. Detour efficiency reportedly influences the gap-crossing decisions of some forest-associated birds, but this is the first demonstration of its role in gap-crossing decisions by a mammal.     

新构造运动对安徽土壤分布的影响

安徽地跨亚热带与温带,过渡性特征明显,境内有山地,丘陵和平原,自然地理景观复杂多样,各区域由于所处大地构造单元不同,其新构造运动的表现形式也不同,它制约着区域地貌的发育,成土母质类型和地面气候状况,从而影响了该区域土壤的分布特征。     

Representativity and univocity of traffic signs and their effect on trajectory movement in a driving simulation task: Warning signs

Objective: The effect of traffic signs on the behavior of drivers is not completely understood. Knowing about how humans process the meaning of signs (not just by learning but instinctively) will improve reaction time and decision making when traveling. The economic, social, and psychological consequences of car accidents are well known.

Methods: This study sounds out which traffic signs are more ergonomic for participants, from a cognitive point of view, and determines, at the same time, their effect in participants' movement trajectories in a driving simulation task.

Results: Results point out that the signs least representative of their meaning produce a greater deviation from the center of the road than the most representative ones.

Conclusions: This study encourages both an in-depth analysis of the effect on movement of roadside signs and the study of how this effect can be modified by the context in which these signs are presented (with the aim to move the research closer to and analyze the data in real contexts). The goal is to achieve clarity of meaning and lack of counterproductive effects on the trajectory of representative signs (those that provoke fewer mistakes in the decision task).     

受限空间烟气运动的盐水模拟原理

考虑烟气的浮力作用，合理地选取流场的特征参数，将烟气运动和盐水运动的基本方程无量纲化，分析两者之间的相似性，得到４个定性相似准则，其中Ｒｅ数是最主要的相似准则．并举例说明缩尺的盐水模拟实验可以满足相似准则。     

地质动力区划预测煤与瓦斯突出

为了确定煤与瓦斯突出矿井的突出危险区域,威胁区域和安全区域,提出基于地质动力区划的多因素模式识别概率预测方法预测煤与瓦斯突出的新思路。以鸡西滴道矿立井为研究对象,利用地质动力区划方法确定不同尺度和级别构造运动的特征,建立板块构造学说与矿井工程实际的联系,将对矿井煤与瓦斯突出产生影响的因素为参数,采用多因素模式识别概率预测方法划分研究区域内的危险区域。研究表明该方法对煤与瓦斯突出区域预测的合理性与有效性,可以在实际工程中应用推广。     

环境风对高层建筑楼梯井内火灾烟气运动特性的影响

环境风会影响高层建筑楼梯井内火灾烟气的运动特性.以广州市某地真实高层建筑楼梯井为原型,采用理论分析和数值模拟相结合的方法,利用火灾动力学仿真软件FDS建立该16层高层建筑楼梯井全尺寸FDS数值模型,对环境风作用下高层建筑楼梯井内火灾烟气运动规律展开数值模拟研究,分析不同窗户开合状态、不同风向和不同风速条件下环境风对高层...     

Adsorption and movement of carbaryl in soils: A verification of cosolvent theory and comparison of batch equilibrium and soil thin layer chromatography results

Batch equilibrium and soil thin layer chromatography (TLC) techniques were used to investigate the influence of different volume fractions of organic cosolvents (acetone and methanol) on the adsorption and movement of carbaryl in four different types of Indian soils. L-shaped isotherms were obtained for both the cosolvent–water mixtures at all f _s values and were in close agreement with the Freundlich equation. Higher adsorption was observed on F.R.I. soil (FSL) followed by Alampur soil (ASL), Kalai soil (KL), and Bhoran soil (BSL) at all f _s values for both the cosolvent systems as was anticipated from the K and K _D values. The K and K _D values also confirmed that carbaryl adsorption was higher in methanol–water mixture than acetone–water mixture and decreased with increasing f _s values. The frontal R _f values obtained from soil TLC studies were inversely proportional to the K and K _D values for both the cosolvent systems. The higher K and K _D values and lower R _f values in methanol–water mixtures relative to acetone–water mixtures for all the soils indicated that acetone had a greater potential for ground water contamination compared to methanol. The adsorption data were used to evaluate the cosolvent theory for describing adsorption of carbaryl in acetone–water and methanol–water mixtures. The aqueous phase partition coefficients, K _DW (mol g^?1), normalized with respect to f _oc for carbaryl was evaluated by extrapolating f _s → 0.     

潜叶虫潜道图像分析

为通过潜叶虫潜食叶片所留下的潜道分析其分类、行为和生态,应用Getdata图形数字化软件和R语言,提取线形潜道的数字化图像,并获得各种图像形状参数,如平均转角、转角集中度、分维D、直线度ST、蜿蜒度SN等.结果发现:大多数潜道的平均转角较小(不超过±25.0°),转角集中度较高(>0.600),说明潜食方向大多保持为前进方向;多数潜道的ST在0.010到0.300之间,数值极小,而SN一般都超过0.600,表明多数潜叶昆虫潜道的蜿蜒程度非常大;米楮上两种潜叶蛾的潜道形状参数如D和ST存在显著差异.