For distinguishing the periodicity of strong earthquakes on the time scale of decades, we generalized the Rydelek-Sacks test (R) delek. Sacks. 1989) to explore whether a time series is modulated by a periodic process ...For distinguishing the periodicity of strong earthquakes on the time scale of decades, we generalized the Rydelek-Sacks test (R) delek. Sacks. 1989) to explore whether a time series is modulated by a periodic process or not. Thetest is conducted by comparing the total phasor of seismicity with that produced by a random Brownian motion.The phdse angle is defined by the origin time of earthquakes relative to a reference time scale. Using this methodwe tested two hypotheses in geodynamics and earthquake prediction study. One is the hypothesis of Romanowicz( 1993 ) who proposed that the great earthquakes alternate in a predictable fashion between strike-slip and thrustingmechanisms oil a 20~30 years cycle. The other hypothesis is that the strong earthquakes in and around China havean active period of about ten years. The test obtains a negative conclusion for the former hypothesis and a positiveconclusion for the latter at the 93% confidence level.展开更多
The responses of ground-dwelling birds to heat and cold stress encompass a variety of behavioural,physiological and even morphological mechanisms.However,the role of glabrous skin in this respect has been marginally a...The responses of ground-dwelling birds to heat and cold stress encompass a variety of behavioural,physiological and even morphological mechanisms.However,the role of glabrous skin in this respect has been marginally addressed so far.The Helmeted Guineafowl(Numida meleagris)is a landfowl distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa with eight traditionally recognised extant subspecies.Among the most prominent morphological traits underlying intraspecific variability are size and pigmentation of the bare throat skin(or sack),which might be related to the different habitats and environmental conditions across its wide range.In order to explore the Helmeted Guineafowl range-wide sack variation and pigmentation in relation to thermoregulation and sexual signalling,we collected morphometric and environmental information for N.m.coronata integrating field data with the inspection of photographic material encompassing seven subspecies and environmental information from their habitats.Field data evidenced that sack size was significantly correlated with ambient temperature,thus pointing to a likely involvement of the throat sack in thermoregulation.When the pictorial data from all subspecies were pooled,sack size correlated negatively with biomass,rainfall and humidity,while a positive correlation was found with annual solar irradiation.Sack size correlated positively with monthly temperature variation among the bluethroated subspecies from southern Africa as opposed to the black-throated subspecies ranging north to Zambia and Mozambique.Still,in this latter group the sack was often larger during winter months,possibly to maximise solar radiation absorbance.Noteworthy,sack size was related to sex dimorphism in two subspecies.Sack morphology and colour in the Helmeted Guineafowl likely modulate body temperature by evaporative cooling or heating upon needs,but in some subspecies it is also seemingly related to sexual signalling.Additional studies are needed to fully understand the multifunctionality of this important morphological feature in this species.展开更多
文摘For distinguishing the periodicity of strong earthquakes on the time scale of decades, we generalized the Rydelek-Sacks test (R) delek. Sacks. 1989) to explore whether a time series is modulated by a periodic process or not. Thetest is conducted by comparing the total phasor of seismicity with that produced by a random Brownian motion.The phdse angle is defined by the origin time of earthquakes relative to a reference time scale. Using this methodwe tested two hypotheses in geodynamics and earthquake prediction study. One is the hypothesis of Romanowicz( 1993 ) who proposed that the great earthquakes alternate in a predictable fashion between strike-slip and thrustingmechanisms oil a 20~30 years cycle. The other hypothesis is that the strong earthquakes in and around China havean active period of about ten years. The test obtains a negative conclusion for the former hypothesis and a positiveconclusion for the latter at the 93% confidence level.
基金funded by a research grant from the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology,University of Cape Town,South Africa[REF.B 717]Partial support was provided by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology[FCT fellowships PTDC/BAA-AGR/28866/2017 and CEECIND/04084/2017]the Spanish Government,Ministry of Universities(“María Zambrano”–Next Generation EU)。
文摘The responses of ground-dwelling birds to heat and cold stress encompass a variety of behavioural,physiological and even morphological mechanisms.However,the role of glabrous skin in this respect has been marginally addressed so far.The Helmeted Guineafowl(Numida meleagris)is a landfowl distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa with eight traditionally recognised extant subspecies.Among the most prominent morphological traits underlying intraspecific variability are size and pigmentation of the bare throat skin(or sack),which might be related to the different habitats and environmental conditions across its wide range.In order to explore the Helmeted Guineafowl range-wide sack variation and pigmentation in relation to thermoregulation and sexual signalling,we collected morphometric and environmental information for N.m.coronata integrating field data with the inspection of photographic material encompassing seven subspecies and environmental information from their habitats.Field data evidenced that sack size was significantly correlated with ambient temperature,thus pointing to a likely involvement of the throat sack in thermoregulation.When the pictorial data from all subspecies were pooled,sack size correlated negatively with biomass,rainfall and humidity,while a positive correlation was found with annual solar irradiation.Sack size correlated positively with monthly temperature variation among the bluethroated subspecies from southern Africa as opposed to the black-throated subspecies ranging north to Zambia and Mozambique.Still,in this latter group the sack was often larger during winter months,possibly to maximise solar radiation absorbance.Noteworthy,sack size was related to sex dimorphism in two subspecies.Sack morphology and colour in the Helmeted Guineafowl likely modulate body temperature by evaporative cooling or heating upon needs,but in some subspecies it is also seemingly related to sexual signalling.Additional studies are needed to fully understand the multifunctionality of this important morphological feature in this species.
