bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ranging behaviour of Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres from an endangered population in Namibia
Authors: Bamford Andrew J. , Diekmann Maria , Monadjem Ara , Mendelsohn John 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is an obligate cliff-nesting vulture endemic to southern Africa. Its range and population size have declined markedly over the last century. Namibia has just one colony, located on the cliffs of the Waterberg Plateau, with a population estimated to be eight adult birds, including two females. The species is regarded as Critically Endangered in Namibia, and establishing a secure breeding population may require intensive management. Data on movements, foraging range and behaviour of Cape Vultures, important in any management programme, have been lacking. Five adult males and one immature were captured near the Waterberg site and fitted with satellite-tracking devices. Only two of the adult vultures still roosted on the cliffs and only one of those exclusively; the other individuals roosted in trees. Three individuals were observed building and attending to nests in trees, and, for one of these, the partner was identified as an African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus). The foraging range of the adult birds was large compared with other studies of this species. Most foraging took place on freehold farms. All adults avoided areas of communally owned land where wild ungulates are uncommon, thus further decreasing their potentially available food supply. Two ‘vulture restaurants’, feeding sites specifically for vultures, within the foraging range of the adult birds accounted for a large proportion of their time spent on the ground. The ranging behaviour of adult vultures varied throughout the year, and was apparently related to their nesting behaviour.
Quantifying the illegal parrot trade in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, with emphasis on threatened species
Authors: Herrera Mauricio , Hennessey Bennett 
Published: December 2007

AbstractWe monitored the illegal pet trade in Los Pozos pet market from August 2004 to July 2005. As indicated in Bolivian law, all unauthorized trade in wild animal species is illegal, especially species considered threatened by IUCN. During this period, we recorded 7,279 individuals of 31 parrot species, including four threatened species, two of which were being transported from Brazil through Bolivia to markets in Peru. The most frequently sold species was the Blue-fronted Parrot Amazona aestiva with 1,468 individuals observed during our study, the majority of which (94%) were believed to have been captured in the wild. Most of the purchased birds remain within Bolivia, while the more expensive, threatened species frequently head to Peru; some individuals may even reach Europe. We believe our study describes only a small proportion of the Bolivian parrot trade, underscoring the potential extent of the illegal pet trade and the need for better Bolivian law enforcement.ResumoMonitoreamos el comercio ilegal de aves en el mercado de mascotas de Los Pozos, desde agosto de 2004 a julio de 2005. De acuerdo a lo que establece la ley boliviana, todo comercio no autorizado de animales salvajes es ilegal, especialmente de especies consideradas Amenazadas por la IUCN. Durante este periodo, grabamos 7.279 individuos de 31 especies de loros, incluyendo 4 especies amenazadas, de las cuales dos fueron transportadas desde Brasil a través de Bolivia hacia mercados en Perú. La especie más frecuentemente vendida fue el Loro Frente Azul Amazona aestiva, con 1.468 individuos observados durante nuestro estudio, de los cuales creemos que un 94% ha sido capturado en su hábitat natural. La mayoría de la compra de aves permanece dentro de Bolivia, mientras que las más caras especies amenazadas, se dirigen a Perú; algunos individuos pueden incluso alcanzar Europa. Creemos que nuestro estudio describe sólo un pequeão porcentaje del comercio de loro boliviano, subrayando el grado potencial del comercio ilegal de mascotas y la necesidad de una mejor aplicación de la ley boliviana.
Range expansion, density and conservation of the Araucaria Tit-spinetail Leptasthenura setaria (Furnariidae) in Argentina: the role of araucaria Araucaria angustifolia (Araucariaceae) plantations
Authors: Cabanne Gustavo Sebastián , Zurita Gustavo Andrés , Seipke Sergio Hugo , Bellocq María Isabel 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe Araucaria Tit-spinetail Leptasthenura setaria (Furnariidae) is a globally Near Threatened species. Its habitat, the araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia) rainforest of south-east Brazil and north-east Argentina, is highly fragmented and reduced to nearly 10% of its original range. The species has also been recorded in commercial araucaria plantations that comprise about 80% of its suitable habitat in Argentina. This situation provides an opportunity for the conservation of the Araucaria Tit-spinetail in a human-modified landscape. We assessed the occurrence of the species in the region and estimated its density and total population size in araucaria plantations in Argentina. We discuss the value of plantations in the conservation of the bird, and evaluate its conservation status in Argentina using IUCN criteria. The density of the tit-spinetail in araucaria plantations, estimated by a distance sampling method, was 9 birds ha−1. The overall population size in commercial plantations appears to be large (>7,000 birds), showing that araucaria plantations play an important role in the conservation of the bird. However, plantations must not replace the native araucaria forest because the former are an intrinsically fragmented habitat influenced primarily by economic factors and forestry practices. The long-term conservation and restoration of araucaria rainforest in Argentina and Brazil must be guaranteed to conserve the Araucaria Tit-spinetail and other species associated with this rainforest. Based on the restricted and very fragmented habitat, the Araucaria Tit-spinetail should be regarded as Vulnerable in Argentina.
Alvin explores the deep northern Gulf of Mexico Slope
Authors: Roberts Harry , Carney Robert , Kupchik Mathew , Fisher Charles , Nelson Kim , Becker Erin , Goehring Liz , Lessard‐Pilon Stephanie , Telesnicki Guy , Bernard Bernie , Brooks James , Bright Monika , Cordes Erik , Hourdez Stephane , Hunt Jesse , Shedd William , Boland Gregory , Joye Samantha , Samarkin Vladimir , Bernier Meaghan , Bowles Marshall , MacDonald Ian , Niemann Helge , Petersen Cindy , Morrison Cheryl , Potter Jeremy 
Published: December 2007

Many of the world's productive deepwater hydrocarbon basins experience significant and ongoing vertical migration of fluids and gases to the modern seafloor. These products, which are composed of hydrocarbon gases, crude oil, formation fluids, and fluidized sediment, dramatically change the geologic character of the ocean floor, and they create sites where chemosynthetic communities supported by sulfide and hydrocarbons flourish.Unique fauna inhabit these sites, and the chemosynthetic primary production results in communities with biomass much greater than that of the surrounding seafloor.
Atlantic tropical cyclones revisited
Authors: Mann Michael E. , Emanuel Kerry A. , Holland Greg J. , Webster Peter J. 
Published: December 2007

Vigorous discussions have taken place recently in Eos [e.g., Mann and Emanuel, 2006; Landsea, 2007] and elsewhere [Emanuel, 2005; Webster et al., 2005; Hoyos et al., 2006; Trenberth and Shea, 2006; Kossin et al., 2007] regarding trends in North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) activity and their potential connection with anthropogenic climate change. In one study, for example [Landsea, 2007], it is argued that a substantial underestimate of Atlantic tropical cyclone counts in earlier decades arising from insufficient observing systems invalidates the conclusion that trends in TC behavior may be connected to climate change. Here we argue that such connections are in fact robust with respect to uncertainties in earlier observations.Several recent studies have investigated trends in various measures of TC activity. Emanuel [2005] showed that a measure of total power dissipation by TCs (the power dissipation index, or PDI) is highly correlated with August‐October sea surface temperatures (SST) over the main development region (MDR) for Atlantic TCs over at least the past half century. Some support for this conclusion was provided by Sriver and Ruber [2006]. Webster et al. [2005] demonstrated a statistically significant increase in recent decades in both the total number of the strongest category cyclones (categories 4 and 5) and the proportion of storms reaching hurricane intensity. Hoyos et al. [2006] showed that these increases were closely tied to warming trends in tropical Atlantic SST, while, for example, the modest decrease in vertical wind shear played a more secondary role. Kossin et al. [2007] called into question some trends in other basins, based on a reanalysis of past TC data, but they found the North Atlantic trends to be robust.
Electromagnetic induction in the Earth
Authors: Fergurson Ian , Slater Lee , Queralt Pilar , Ledo Juanjo 
Published: December 2007

Measurements of electrical properties of the Earth using electromagnetic induction (EM) can elucidate geological structures and processes ranging from meter to mantle scale. The 18th International Workshop on Electromagnetic Induction in the Earth (EMIW) highlighted how recent theoretical and instrumental advances are being applied in high‐quality EM induction studies from around the world, at lithospheric, crustal, and near‐surface scales.Important aspects of the lithospheric and crustal studies presented included the demonstration of the increased resolution provided by dense two‐dimensional magnetotelluric (MT) profiles and three‐dimensional grids, the common use of the improved impedance tensor decomposition method to correct regional MT responses, widespread consideration of implicitly anisotropic materials within multidimensional MT models, and, in the numerical modeling field, the increased use of unstructured meshes. Review papers provided an overview of the large‐scale EM surveys and spatial variations in the European lithosphere and addressed the role of EM in monitoring seismic and volcanic crustal processes.
More about AGU's digital library
Authors: Holoviak Judy C. 
Published: December 2007

Many members and institutions have asked when they will have electronic access to AGU journals published before the mid‐1990s. The answer is 2008.AGU's digital library, which will come online in 2008, will include all articles published in 11 AGU journals from 1896 (for the predecessor to the Journal of Geophysical Research) through 2002 as well as articles from several hundred books that were published before 2003. AGU has not granted permission to any other organization to make this material available electronically in any form.
Satellite remote sensing for global landslide monitoring
Authors: Hong Yang , Adler Robert E. , Huffman George J. 
Published: December 2007

Rain‐induced landslides rank among the most devastating natural disasters. Nearly every year worldwide they cause billions of dollars in property damage and thousands of deaths.Society has dealt with landslide hazards primarily by trying to locate development away from known hazard zones, but such an approach has limitations. Overpopulation and associated sprawl into hazardous areas, plus environmental impacts such as deforestation and mining, increasingly put large numbers of people at risk from landslides. Yet most developing countries, particularly those in high‐risk areas of the tropics, lack the data infrastructure and analysis capabilities required to minimize injuries and deaths due to landslides. The challenges facing the science community include better understanding the surface and meteorological processes that lead to landslides and determining how new technology and techniques might be applied to reduce the risk of landslides to people across the globe.
Overview of midlatitude ionospheric storms
Authors: Kintner Paul , Coster Anthea , Fuller‐Rowell Tim , Mannucci Anthony J. 
Published: December 2007

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections erupting from the roiling Sun can smash into the Earth's magnetosphere causing geomagnetic storms that penetrate deep into the atmosphere, which can short out satellites, upset radio communications, disrupt navigation, and even damage terrestrial electrical power grids. Though effects on other regions of the atmosphere have been analyzed, the mechanism by which geomagnetic storms influence the ionosphere's middle latitudes remains poorly understood.This brief report provides an overview of current knowledge in midlatitude ionospheric dynamics and disturbances, from the historic record to recent discoveries presented at a January AGU Chapman Conference.
[Comment on “Meeting Ph.D. Graduates' needs in a changing global environment”] Challenges to fostering interdisciplinary graduate education
Authors: Kock Beaudry 
Published: December 2007

C. Susan Weiler's article (“Meeting Ph.D. graduates' needs in a changing global environment,” Eos, 55(13), 149, 151) calling for more care and attention to interdisciplinary graduate education illuminated an important and neglected issue. Weiler makes the excellent point that for society to manage complex natural systems effectively, it is imperative that we establish stronger connections between science and public policy. However, as a nation, the United States lacks the institutional research culture to foster this. Nor are we training sufficient numbers of professionals with the skills to make these connections; and when the small number of truly interdisciplinary scientists emerge annually into the workforce, there are few positions that fit them.I echo Weiler's call for increased interdisciplinary collaboration, and the necessary training to support this increase. However, there are some fundamental obstacles her article does not explore.
New perspectives on African biomass burning dynamics
Authors: Roberts Gareth , Wooster Martin J. 
Published: December 2007

Biomass burning is a key Earth system process and, in particular a major element of the terrestrial carbon cycle and a globally significant source of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols. Smoke emitted during combustion affects air quality, atmospheric chemical composition, and Earths radiation budget [Le Canut et al., 1996]. In terms of carbon emissions, vegetation fires are, globally and on average, believed to generate emissions equivalent to between perhaps one third and one half of those from fossil fuel combustion, and savanna fires are responsible for around 50% of the global vegetation fire carbon release [Williams et al., 2007].At the continental scale, Africa is, on average, the single largest source of biomass burning emissions, responsible for 30–50% of total global annual fuel combustion [Andreae, 1991; van der Werf et al., 2006]. African burning is characterized by two distinct burning seasons: primarily between October and March in the Northern Hemisphere and between June and November in the Southern Hemisphere [Giglio et al., 2006]. In Africa, the vast majority of fires result from anthropogenic burning, associated, for example, with farming and livestock practices. This pattern of human‐initiated ignitions, together with the daily meteorological dynamics of wind and relative humidity, contribute to a strong diurnal variability in the number and extent of fires [Edwards et al., 2006].
Developing Earth and space scientists for the future
Authors: Manduca Cathryn A. , Cifuentes Inés 
Published: December 2007

As the world's largest organization of Earth and space scientists, AGU safeguards the future of pioneering research by ensuring that “the number and diversity of Earth and space scientists continue to grow through the flow of young talent into the field” (AGU Strategic Plan 2008, Goal IV). Achieving this goal is the focus of the AGU Committee on Education and Human Resources (CEHR), one of the Union's three outreach committees.AGU staff and CEHR develop programs to provide members with career advice, strategies to educate students, and up‐to‐date information about workforce and education issues. Through the Geophysical Information for Teachers (GIFT) program, CEHR provides support for K‐12 educators to teach Earth and space science to their students. In collaboration with the Union leadership, the Committee on Public Affairs, and the Public Information Committee, CEHR serves as the public voice for AGU on education and work‐force issues nationally and internationally.
Earlier famine warning possible using remote sensing and models
Authors: Brown Molly E. , Funk Christopher C. , Galu Gideon , Choularton Richard 
Published: December 2007

Remote sensing allows scientists to detect slowly evolving natural hazards such as agricultural drought. Famine early warning systems transform these data into actionable policy information, enabling humanitarian organizations to respond in a timely and appropriate manner.These life‐saving responses are increasingly important: In 2006, one out of eight people did not have enough food to eat and 22 million more people became sufficiently undernourished to require intervention, prompting 22 countries to provide $6.5 billion in food aid. Since their inception in the mid‐1980s, the combination of monitoring and mitigation systems has dramatically reduced the number of famines caused by biophysical hazards, such as floods, drought, and pests, that destroy food crops [Murphy and McAfee, 2005]. Yet despite this notable achievement, many countries, mostly in Africa, face chronic and increasing food insecurity.
Mixing and stirring in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Gille Sarah T. , Speer Kevin , Ledwell James R. , Naveira Garabato Alberto C. 
Published: December 2007

The vertical and horizontal mixing of waters within the ocean affects the Earth's climate because it controls the poleward transport of heat and carbon within the ocean, the structure of the large‐scale currents, and the character of water that upwells and interacts with the atmosphere. Particularly in the Southern Ocean, ocean general circulation models can show different behavior depending on the exact representation of mixing. To date, however, measurements of this mixing have not been available because of the remoteness and difficult working conditions in the Southern Ocean.The Diapycnal and Isopycnal Mixing Experiment in the Southern Ocean (DIMES) seeks to understand the regional importance of the Southern Ocean to global circulation by measuring large‐ and small‐scale mixing processes. In the ocean, water moves primarily along surfaces of constant potential density (isopycnals), but it can also mix and change density between these surfaces in what is known as diapycnal mixing. This experiment, a joint effort between U.S. and U.K. scientists, will begin fieldwork in early 2009.
Close encounter with Saturn's Moon Iapetus
Authors: Showstack Randy , Kumar Mohi 
Published: December 2007

Following the Cassini spacecraft's 10 September flyby of Saturn's moon Iapetus, scientists now are examining hundreds of transmitted images of the moon's reflectance, heavily cratered surface, and a 20‐kilometer‐high mountain ridge along the equator that gives Iapetus an irregular walnut‐like shape.Carolyn Porco, Cassini imaging team leader at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo., compared the flyby to something out of the book Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. “Our flight over the surface of Iapetus was like a non‐stop free fall, down the rabbit hole. Very few places in our solar system are more bizarre than the patchwork of pitch dark and snowy bright we've seen on this moon,” she said. The flyby, which brought Cassini just 1640 kilometers above Iapetus's surface—100 times closer than a 2004 encounter by the same spacecraft— will help scientists to better understand the chemical composition of the surface and look for evidence of a faint atmosphere. Iapetus images are available at: http://saturn.jpl .nasa.gov,http://www.nasa.gov/cassini, and http://ciclops.org.
A strategy to deal with harmful algal blooms
Authors: Showstack Randy , Kumar Mohi 
Published: December 2007

A coordinated federal program is needed to develop a strategy for the prevention, control, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms (HABs), according to a 12 September interagency report issued by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. National Science and Technology Council. The congressionally mandated report, “National Assessment of Efforts to Predict and Respond to Harmful Algal Blooms in U.S. Waters,” notes that “the frequency and geographic distribution of HABs have been increasing worldwide.” The report also indicates that all U.S. coastal states have experienced HABs over the last decade and that the blooms appear to be affecting freshwater systems more frequently.NOAA Administrator Conrad C. Lautenbacher said the report “is the first step in developing a national plan to improve those efforts.” The report, which calls for increased availability of probes and for platforms for continuous real‐time monitoring, also notes that newly developed technologies can be used for rapid detection of toxins. In addition, satellite and automated underwater vehicles together with transport models have helped coastal managers to better predict bloom movement. For more information, visit the Web site: http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/docs/iwg4h_prrpt_final.pdf.
DeFries named MacArthur Fellow Ruth DeFries
Authors: Showstack Randy , Kumar Mohi 
Published: December 2007

A professor in the Department of Geography and the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, was named as a MacArthur Fellow, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced on 25 September.An environmental geographer, DeFries, was cited for “combining remote satellite imagery and a deep understanding of the environmental effects of agriculture and urbanization to illuminate key processes transforming our planet.”
Unraveling the causes of radiation belt enhancements
Authors: Liemohn Michael W. , Chan Anthony A. 
Published: December 2007

As technology advances, as society in general and scientists in particular become increasingly reliant on the artificial satellites that circle our planet, and as space agencies worldwide are considering new ways to send humans to the Moon and Mars, better understanding of adverse space weather in the Earth's upper atmosphere is crucial.Critical to the success of satellite and manned spaceflight missions will be their ability to pass safely through Earth's Van Allen radiation belts. Energetic charged particles trapped in the radiation belts are a major source of damaging space weather effects not only on spacecraft and astronauts but also on life and society here on Earth, as such enhancements can create false signals in electronics and outages in vital satellite systems. Thus, understanding the physical processes that enhance the electron and ion content of our radiation belts is a timely and pressing issue.