Academic literature on the topic 'The Many-Coloured Land'

Abstract Many theoretical studies have suggested that disruptive selection plays an important role in phenotypic divergence, but few studies have determined the action of disruptive selection on phenotypic divergence via field studies. This study investigated the effect of disruptive selection on shell colour polymorphism in the Japanese land snail Euhadra peliomphala simodae to determine whether extreme phenotypes of snail shell colour are favoured over intermediate phenotypes. We conducted field surveys on an oceanic island with black, yellow and intermediate-coloured E. p. simodae snails. We captured and marked ~1800 individual snails and monitored their survival over 18 months. We quantified shell colours against images and examined the frequency distribution of shell colour variation. The variation exhibited a bimodal distribution with a far lower frequency of intermediate-coloured snails than of black or yellow snails. The population sizes of the three snail groups fluctuated synchronously with the changing seasons. Bayesian estimates showed lower survival rates for juvenile intermediate-coloured snails than for juvenile black and yellow snails, implying there was disruptive selection associated with shell colour. We suggest this disruptive selection may have resulted in the evolutionary divergence of the snail’s shell colour within the lineage having high shell colour variation.

To a casual observer, Canada may appear to be very much like the United States, to which it is attached by a long and undefended land border. A more detailed inspection, however, indicates that Canada is different. The differences can be seen in many aspects, and have coloured the development of academic disciplines and the character of intellectual debate, including studies of China.

At EVIKA, we have been preserving potato varieties, breeding lines and land-races in vitro as meristem plants for more than 30 years. Various experiments have been conducted to determine the effects of medium components, growth conditions and other factors on regeneration and the sub-culturing interval of in vitro plants. Based on these experiments, the optimal preservation medium and long-term preservation conditions in vitro for many varieties have been developed. Every 3.0-3.5 months, the potato plants regenerated from meristems are transferred onto growth-regulator-free propagation medium. At present, there are 454 potato varieties, breeding materials, land-races and 1026 meristem clones in our gene bank. The interest in varieties as genetic resources and in those with coloured flesh tubers is increasing. In EVIKA’s test field we have been testing meristem clones of variety ‘Blue Congo’. We have demonstrated the use of that variety for making salads; baked, boiled, mashed potato and even for French fries. In addition, the use of the genetic resources was started in a farm, where. 2000 kg seed tubers were produced from 4580 meristem plants of variety ‘Väike verev’ in 2012. The main interests are: dark yellow flesh, content of antioxidants and use as a source for functional diet.

Water meadows or flooded meadows are known from many European countries. A historical irrigation system—catchworks—was identified in only one locality in Slovakia. This article brings a methodical approach to the identification of catchworks on mountain slopes. The main aim was to delineate catchworks using terrain and land use geospatial data intended to supplement existing data on catchworks from the field survey. The identification of shallow and narrow channels in the field is difficult, and their detection in a digital terrain model (DTM) and orthomosaic photos is also challenging. A detailed DTM elaborated from laser scanning data was not available. Therefore, we employed break lines of a Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) model created by EUROSENSE Ltd. 2017, Bratislava, Slovakia. to determine microtopographic features on mountain slopes. Orthomosaics with adjusted red (R) green (G) and blue (B) band thresholds (digital numbers) in a time sequence of 16 years (2002–2018) and the Normalized Green-Red Difference Index (NGRDI) (2018) determined vital herbaceous vegetation and higher biomass. In both cases, the vegetation inside wet functional catchworks was differently coloured from the surroundings. In the case of dry catchworks, the identification relied only on microtopography features. The length of catchworks mapped in the field (1939.12 m; 2013) was supplied with potential catchworks detected from geospatial data (2877.18; 2018) and their total length in the study area increased above 59.74% (4816.30 m). Real and potential catchworks predominantly occupied historical grassland (meadows and pastures) (1952–1957) (4430.31; 91.99%). This result corresponds with the findings of foreign studies referring that catchworks on mountain slopes were related to livestock activities. They are important elements of sustainable land use with a water retention function in traditional agricultural landscapes.

The problem of how to select and synthesize glaciological and hydrological information for the map of South Spitsbergen is discussed. The area of interest covers aproximately 1700 km2, but not all of it has been explored equally well so far. The map is under preparation for printing. It is one of a series of environmental maps of Hornsund at 1:75 000. Geomorphology and geology have been completed already. The general objective was to reveal the spatial differentiation of glacial and hydrological phenomena in the vicinity of the Hornsund Fiord but particular interest was focused on providing synthesized information about glacial and hydrological phenomena and processes, which had been considered in the context of natural hydrological basins.The result is a specification of the phenomena represented in the map. It had been divided into five parts; (1)elements of geomorphology, geology (lithology) and topography (basemap);(2)features of glaciers and glacial phenomena on land;(3)physical and chemical properties of on-land streams and glacier streams;(4)features of marine environment and Hornsund Fiord bottom (during contruction); and(5)general characterization and classification of phenomena occurring in hydrological basins.The first is of a general nature. Parts two, three and four include detailed, analytical information. Part five comprises synthesized data.The glaciers of Hornsund are specified by morphological classification, according to PSFG of the IAHS, by the position of the mean firn line and major glacier zones, and by the pattern of the ice flow-lines, along with some information on the velocity of flow. Thermal classification of the glaciers, and data on the oscillations of the glacier fronts in the 20th century are presented.Of the Hornsund glaciers, Werenskioldbreen (approximately 27 km2)has been exposed in the map at 1.25 000. It has roused the interest of many investigators and is amongst the best explored examples. The available set ot data pertaining to this glacier consists predominantly of analytical, quantifying information, e.g. on the changes of the glacier surface altitude which occurred from 1957 to 1983, on the net balance at selected points of the glacier, on the pattern of englacial and subglacial channels, on the discharge in glacial streams, and on the quantity and degree of mineralization and chemical content of glacial streams, etc.The result is a coloured map which aims at representing, in a systematic and synthesized manner, contemporary phenomena and processes associated with the glaciers and the water system of the Hornsund Fiord basin.

The problem of how to select and synthesize glaciological and hydrological information for the map of South Spitsbergen is discussed. The area of interest covers aproximately 1700 km2, but not all of it has been explored equally well so far. The map is under preparation for printing. It is one of a series of environmental maps of Hornsund at 1:75 000. Geomorphology and geology have been completed already. The general objective was to reveal the spatial differentiation of glacial and hydrological phenomena in the vicinity of the Hornsund Fiord but particular interest was focused on providing synthesized information about glacial and hydrological phenomena and processes, which had been considered in the context of natural hydrological basins. The result is a specification of the phenomena represented in the map. It had been divided into five parts; (1) elements of geomorphology, geology (lithology) and topography (basemap); (2) features of glaciers and glacial phenomena on land; (3) physical and chemical properties of on-land streams and glacier streams; (4) features of marine environment and Hornsund Fiord bottom (during contruction); and (5) general characterization and classification of phenomena occurring in hydrological basins. The first is of a general nature. Parts two, three and four include detailed, analytical information. Part five comprises synthesized data. The glaciers of Hornsund are specified by morphological classification, according to PSFG of the IAHS, by the position of the mean firn line and major glacier zones, and by the pattern of the ice flow-lines, along with some information on the velocity of flow. Thermal classification of the glaciers, and data on the oscillations of the glacier fronts in the 20th century are presented. Of the Hornsund glaciers, Werenskioldbreen (approximately 27 km2)has been exposed in the map at 1.25 000. It has roused the interest of many investigators and is amongst the best explored examples. The available set ot data pertaining to this glacier consists predominantly of analytical, quantifying information, e.g. on the changes of the glacier surface altitude which occurred from 1957 to 1983, on the net balance at selected points of the glacier, on the pattern of englacial and subglacial channels, on the discharge in glacial streams, and on the quantity and degree of mineralization and chemical content of glacial streams, etc. The result is a coloured map which aims at representing, in a systematic and synthesized manner, contemporary phenomena and processes associated with the glaciers and the water system of the Hornsund Fiord basin.

During the twentieth century, the 20,000 hectares commons surrounding the village of Paulshoek as well as the neighbouring privately-owned farms have been significantly influenced by evolving land-use practices driven largely by socio-economic and political change in the broader Namaqualand and South African region. Land-use practices in the communal lands of Namaqualand were based initially on transhumant pastoralism, then on extensive dryland cropping associated with livestock production under restricted mobility, and more recently on a sedentarized labour reserve where agricultural production now forms a minor part of the local economy. For the first half of the twentieth century, farmers on communal and privately-owned farms shared similar transhumant pastoral practices and both moved across unfenced farm boundaries. By the middle of the century, however, fence-lines were established and commercial farming on privately-owned farms was increasingly managed according to rangeland science principles. As the population grew in the communal areas, families gravitated to new ‘service’ villages such as Paulshoek and became increasingly dependent on migrant labour and state welfare. While the majority of former croplands are now fallow, many of them for decades or more, communal livestock populations have remained relatively high, fluctuating with rainfall. The impact of this history of land use can be compared with that of neighbouring privately-owned farms where low stocking rates, coupled with a variety of state subsidies, have had a very different environmental outcome. This article charts the environmental transformations that have occurred in the area of Paulshoek as a direct result of the region's political history and the evolution of the regional economy. We present a variety of evidence drawn from archival sources, oral history, repeat aerial and ground photography, and detailed climate, cropping and livestock records to show that events far beyond the borders of Namaqualand's communal areas have had a profound influence on their environments.

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Today we have diverse and high-quality bases for the planning of high alpine tours. Most widely used are topographic maps, tour guides and online portals. In combination with a topographic map or a map extract, photos and topos, the textual description of a tour guide gives us a comprehensive and detailed picture of our planned high alpine tour. However, this picture can still be improved. The character of a high alpine tour is determined by many criteria. Some of the most important ones can be examined with a topographic map:</p><ul><li>Length of the tour (distances, total time)</li><li>Altitude profile (in relation to sea level, differences in altitude)</li><li>Steepness and exposure of the terrain (steep faces, ridges)</li><li>Land cover (rock, glacier, moraine, meadows, forest)</li></ul><p>Other important criteria of a high alpine tour are described textually in tour guides and tour reports on the Internet.</p><p>Some of these criteria or properties remain unchanged over a long time, others can change within hours. Unchanging properties are for instance the</p><ul><li>Difficulties in climbing (according to international UIAA scale)</li><li>Stability or fragility of the rocks</li><li>Clarity of the terrain (structure, important for pathfinding)</li></ul><p>Slowly changing properties are the</p><ul><li>Condition of glaciers (snow cover, crevasses, retreat)</li><li>Stability of slopes (glacial moraines)</li><li>Degree of protection (security hooks, safety rods, fixed ropes, rappelling points)</li><li>Marking of the route (Steinmänner, coloured markings)</li><li>Number of rope teams on the route (potential waiting times, traffic jams, oncoming traffic)</li></ul><p>Suddenly changing properties are the</p><ul><li>Weather conditions (temperature, wind, clouds, rain- or snowfall, sight, insolation)</li><li>Conditions on the terrain (fresh snow, moisture, icing of the rocks)</li><li>Rock or ice fall</li></ul></p>From the cartographic perspective, in particular the unchanging or slowly changing properties are of interest. How can these properties be mapped in an accurate and comprehensible way?</p><p>This presentation focuses on potential enhancements of topographic maps, topos and tour guides, to map the above-named unchanging or slowly changing properties of high alpine tours. In this context, the avoidance of overcrowding of the already dense topographic maps is an important requirement, especially for the printed versions of these maps. In interactive online maps, the new map content can be added with a new map layer. Tour guides often include extracts of a topographic map, where requirements and constraints for new map content may be not as strong as in the original printed version. The potential for enhancements of the existing planning bases for high alpine tours is considerable. Due to global warming, route conditions are changing quickly. Unexpected situations on high alpine tours emphasize the necessity of an enhancement or supplement of the existing cartographic representations.</p>

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> This study reports on an historical investigation of map-making practice and achievement from the late 18th century, and attempts to reconstruct the practices and outcomes of an innovative surveying and mapping exercise, using historical data and contemporary geospatial data handling. The episode involves the processing of data captured as part of an extensive project by the then (British) Astronomer Royal, Maskelyne, in the mid 1770s, to measure the gravitational attraction and density of the earth.</p><p>This experiment was conducted on the isolated mountain of Schiehallion in Central Scotland, and resulted in several differing approaches to calculating the mass of the mountain, and determining and interpreting the resultant effect on gravity measurements on its slopes. In order to do this, an accurate determination of “the figure and dimensions of the hill” (Maskelyne, 1775) was required. The survey work was undertaken under Maskelyne’s supervision by his previous assistant, Barrow, and local surveyor, Menzies.</p><p>The data collected included astronomical observations to establish latitudinal positions, lengths of fixed base lines (one to the north of the mountain and one to the south), a standard traverse around the mountain to establish fixed points, and transects/vertical profiles radiating from those points. The land surveying techniques were known and widely used, although at the time having only been recently documented, in the book ‘A Treatise on Mensuration’. This was published in 1770 by Charles Hutton (1737-1823) a Newcastle-born mathematician, and was the first volume on surveying written in English. In 1773 Hutton had moved south to become Professor of Mathematics at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and became known to the Royal Society which asked him to process Maskelyne’s data.</p><p>The original field observations (Figure 1), were published in Hutton’s extensive account of his work (Hutton, 1778), which also explained how he was to calculate the mass of the mountain, dividing the landscape into a set of vertical prisms collectively defining the mountain’s shape. Smallwood (2007) describes how Hutton’s volume calculations, along with rock, geology and gravity information, can help estimate earth density.</p><p>The prisms, arranged as circular sections (some individually coloured in Figure 2 to exemplify), had their heights calculated with reference to the height points within them. Clearly, however, some prisms had no heights associated with them. Hutton devised a method of interpolation of prism height for those which had no height data by creating a surface defined by contours: “I fell upon the following method … by which I was enabled to proceed in the estimation of the altitudes both with much expedition and a considerable degree of accuracy. This method was the connecting together by a faint line all the points which were of the same relative altitude: by so doing, I obtained great number of irregular polygons lying within and at some distance from, one another, and bearing a considerable degree of resemblance to each other: these polygons were the figures of so many level or horizontal sections of the hills, the relative altitudes of all the parts of them being known; and as every base or little space had several of them passing through it, I was thereby able to determine the altitude belonging to each space with much ease and accuracy.”</p><p>Although isolines were long established on some maps, and isobaths (depth curves), in particular, were visible on some hydrographic charts from the early 18th century, Hutton has some claim to be the first to use lines of equal altitude (contours) on land-based maps. Unfortunately, despite describing the method of using a ‘faint line’ to elucidate the contours, no graphical artefact exists: there is no evidence that Hutton, or anyone associated with the gravity project, ever published the contour map of Schiehallion.</p><p>Elsewhere in his account of the data processing (Hutton, 1778), significant doubts are expressed about the accuracy and validity of some of the observations, and there is the possibility that Hutton blocked publication of the contour map because of inaccurate observation or conflicting calculations.</p><p>However, the presentation of the full set of observations should allow for a reconstruction of the missing contour map. Processing and visualisation has already been undertaken manually by Johnson (Figure 3).</p><p>An attempt was also made to use standard land surveying software to handle the field observations to calculate and map the data. The Star*NET package (Microsurvey, 2018) has been applied to the traverse observations, using techniques of least squares to obtain the most precise positioning of the surrounding stations. The LSS package (McCarthy Taylor, 2018) is used to enter the tacheometric detailing observations, and create an accurate digital terrain model based on the observed data from over 240 years ago. The contour lines derived from this model will be compared with current survey data provided by the British Ordnance Survey, and with satellite derived digital elevation datasets. It is hoped that data manipulation can be undertaken to successfully create a contour map which Charles Hutton would have been happy to publish.</p>

Background: Background: SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a nationally representative online survey conducted several weeks on the pandemic, this paper explores how South Africans responded to the compliance regulations laid down by the national government and factors associated with individuals’ confidence in their community adhering to lockdown regulations. Methods: The study was conducted using a closed-ended questionnaire on a data-free online platform. Additionally, a telephonic survey was included to accommodate individuals who do not have access to smart-phones. The study population consisted of respondents who were 18 years and older and living in South Africa (n=19 933). Data were benchmarked to the 2019 midyear population estimates. Descriptive statistics and bivariate logistic regression are presented. Results: Over a quarter (26.1%) of respondents reported that they had not left home, indicating compliance with the COVID-19 control regulations, and 55.3% who did leave their homes did so to purchase essential items. A small proportion (1.2%) reported that they had visited friends. People, classified as coloured, those who were more literate (those with secondary, matric and tertiary education status), those residing in disadvantaged areas (informal settlements, townships, rural areas and farms), and those who perceived their risk of contracting COVID-19 as moderate and high, reported not being confident of their community adhering to lockdown. Conclusion: Communication strategies must be employed to ensure that important information regarding the pandemic be conveyed in the most important languages and be dispatched via various communication channels to reach as many people as possible.

This thesis is an exploration of ancestral narratives in the fiction of Thomas Keneally and Christopher Koch. Initially, ancestry in literature creates an historical relationship which articulates the link between the past and the present. In this sense ancestry functions as a type of cultural memory where various issues of inheritance can be negotiated. However, the real value of ancestral narratives lies in their power to aid in the construction of both personal and communal identities. They have the potential to transform these identities, to transgress “natural” boundaries and to reshape conventional identities in the light of historical experience. For Keneally, ancestral narratives depict national forbears who “narrate the nation” into being. His earlier fictions present ancestors of the nation within a mythic and symbolic framework to outline Australian national identity. This identity is static, oppositional, and characterized by the delineation of boundaries which set nations apart from one another. However, Keneally’s more recent work transforms this conventional construction of national identity. It depicts an Irish-Australian diasporic identity which is hyphenated and transgressive: it transcends the conventional notion of nations as separate entities pitted against one another. In this way Keneally’s ancestral narratives enact the potential for transforming identity through ancestral narrative. On the other hand, Koch’s work is primarily concerned with the intergenerational trauma causes by losing or forgetting one’s ancestral narrative. His novels are concerned with male gender identity and the fragmentation which characterizes a self-destructive idea of maleness. While Keneally’s characters recover their lost ancestries in an effort to reshape their idea of what it is to be Australian, Koch’s main protagonist lives in ignorance of his ancestor’s life. He is thus unable to take the opportunity to transform his masculinity due to the pervasive cultural amnesia surrounding his family history and its role in Tasmania’s past. While Keneally and Koch depict different outcomes in their fictional ancestral narratives they are both deeply concerned with the potential to transform national and gender identities through ancestry.

The remote, beautiful and poorly known rainforests of Cape York Peninsula tell a special story about Australia’s historic and present-day connections to New Guinea. Life in the Cape York Rainforest highlights these connections by examining the fascinating biology of some of the most spectacular animals shared between the two regions. The author recounts his own ground-breaking research on ‘cross-dressing’ Eclectus parrots, musical palm cockatoos and multi-coloured pythons, together with the exotic lifestyles of other animals, while painting the bigger picture of the past when Australia and New Guinea were joined by extensive land bridges. Australia’s disconnection from New Guinea is probably only temporary, and even today many bird species continue to fly the short distance between the two landmasses. Whether just browsing the beautiful photos and informative captions, or reading it in its entirety, readers will gain a greater understanding of the unique attributes of our Cape York rainforests. The book provides an excellent resource for biologists and environmentalists with an interest in the Top End and New Guinea, tourists to Cape York, conservationists and policy makers, and amateur naturalists, especially ornithologists and herpetologists.