scholarly journals John Philip Grime. 30 April 1935 — 19 April 2021

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 249-270
Author(s):  
Simon Pierce ◽  
Jason D. Fridley
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
International Association ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Plant Ecology ◽  
Functional Ecology ◽  
Full Professor ◽  
Royal Netherlands Academy

John Philip ‘Phil’ Grime developed fundamental theory in plant ecology that emerged from a lifetime of fieldwork and experimental studies in the Sheffield region, South Yorkshire, UK. His approach was an unusual combination of observation, experiment and theory: he conducted detailed, intensive observations of natural communities, alongside experimental manipulation of those communities and simulated ‘microcosms’ in the service of formulating general rules (‘strategies’) by which plants evolve with respect to their environment. In this way, Grime was one of several key figures that propelled plant ecology away from descriptive methods focusing on vegetation composition and toward a science more integrated with other fields, including evolutionary biology and Earth science. Grime's investigative approach was an inspiration for the modern field of global change biology, and, by focusing on understanding the contrasting roles species and their traits play in the functioning of ecosystems, marked the beginning of the field of plant functional ecology. For much of his career Grime held the post of full professor (and in retirement, emeritus professor of ecology) at the University of Sheffield, where he also served as the director of the Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology and of the Buxton Climate Change Impacts Laboratory. Awarded an honorary doctorate by Radboud University (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) and a foreign membership of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Grime was the first person awarded the Alexander von Humboldt Award of the International Association for Vegetation Science.

The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) – infrastructure underpinning Earth science

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basara Miyahara ◽  
Laura Sánchez ◽  
Martin Sehnal
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transport ◽  
Gravity Field ◽  
Reference Frames ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
International Association ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Core Element ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Surface Kinematics

<p>The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) is the contribution of Geodesy to the observation and monitoring of the Earth System. Geodesy is the science of determining and representing the shape of the Earth, its gravity field and its rotation as a function of time. A core element to reach this goal are stable and consistent geodetic reference frames, which provide the fundamental layer for the determination of time-dependent coordinates of points or objects, and for describing the motion of the Earth in space. Traditionally, geodetic reference frames have been used for surveying, mapping, and space-based positioning and navigation. With modern instrumentation and analytical techniques, Geodesy is now capable of detecting time variations ranging from large and secular scales to very small and transient deformations with increasing spatial and temporal resolution, high accuracy, and decreasing latency. GGOS has been working closely with components of International Association of Geodesy (IAG) to provide consistent and openly available observations of the spatial and temporal changes of the shape and gravity field of the Earth, as well as the temporal variations of the Earth’s rotation. These efforts make available a global picture of the surface kinematics of our planet, including the ocean, ice cover, continental water, and land surfaces, as well as estimates of mass anomalies, mass transport, and mass exchange in the System Earth. Surface kinematics and mass transport together are the key to global mass balance determination, and are an important contribution to understanding the energy budget of our planet. In order to play its vital role, GGOS has following missions; a) to provide the observations needed to monitor, map, and understand changes in the Earth’s shape, rotation, and mass distribution, b) to provide the global geodetic frame of reference that is the fundamental backbone for measuring and consistently interpreting key global change processes and for many other scientific and societal applications, c) to benefit science and society by providing the foundation upon which advances in Earth and planetary system science and applications are built. For the mission, GGOS works tighter with components of the IAG, more specifically, IAG Services, IAG Commissions and IAG Inter-Commission Committees. The IAG Services provide the infrastructure and products on which all contributions of GGOS are based, and the IAG Commissions and IAG Inter-Commission Committees provide expertise and support to address key scientific issues within GGOS. Together with the IAG components, GGOS provides the fundamental infrastructure underpinning Earth sciences and their applications.</p>

Gender and Political Cognition: Integrating Evolutionary Biology and Political Science

1989 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger D. Masters
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Scientific Explanation ◽  
Cultural Anthropology ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Cognitive Reactions ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior ◽  
Political Cognition

Although men and women often differ in political attitudes and behavior, there is no widely accepted scientific explanation of such phenomena. After surveying evidence concerning gender differences in the fields of social psychology, ethology, neurology, cultural anthropology, and political science, five hypotheses concerning the way males and females respond to social cues are derived from the neo-Darwinian theory of natural selection. The predicted differences in the mode of political cognition are then shown to be consistent with findings from experimental studies of emotional and cognitive reactions to televised facial displays of political leaders.

Proposing "analogy experiment" as a sub-category of "analog experiment" in earth science

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mie Ichihara
Keyword(s):  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Natural Phenomena ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Experimental Systems ◽  
Analog Experiment ◽  
Education And Outreach ◽  
Analog Experiments

<p>In the earth and planetary sciences, the term "analog experiment" indicates laboratory experiments that use analog materials to investigate natural processes. Scaled experiments constitute a representative sub-category of analog experiments. They are designed to have the same dominant dimensionless parameter in the same range as the targeted natural processes. Other primary uses of analog experiments are education and outreach. Reproducing similar phenomena in front of the audience is useful in explaining the essence of the complex dynamics of natural processes. However, it is often the case that we do not fully understand the physics of the experimental systems or the targeted natural phenomena. In such cases, especially when the process is complex, it is difficult to guarantee the scaling similarity. When we take such laboratory phenomena as a research subject of earth science, we encounter critical comments about the scaling issue.</p><p>Nevertheless, I think it scientifically important to consider questions like follows. What is the mechanism of the experimental phenomena? Why the behaviors of the experiment look similar to the natural phenomena? To what extent the laboratory and the natural systems are similar. To indicate experimental studies to elucidate these questions, I would like to define "analogy experiment" as a new sub-category of analog experiments.  Some recent experiments are presented as examples.</p>

scholarly journals Baby fish working out: an epigenetic source of adaptive variation in the cichlid jaw

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1860) ◽  
pp. 20171018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinan Hu ◽  
R. Craig Albertson
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Mechanical Load ◽  
Skeletal Development ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Adaptive Variation ◽  
Skeletal Morphology ◽  
Trophic Morphology ◽  
Evo Devo ◽  
Working Out

Understanding the developmental processes that underlie the production of adaptive variation (i.e. the ‘arrival of the fittest’) is a major goal of evolutionary biology. While most evo-devo studies focus on the genetic underpinnings of adaptive phenotypic variation, factors beyond changes in nucleotide sequence can also play a major role in shaping developmental outcomes. Here, we document a vigorous but enigmatic gaping behaviour during the early development of Lake Malawi cichlid larvae. The onset of the behaviour precedes the formation of bone, and we predicted that it might influence craniofacial shape by affecting the mechanical environment in which bone develops. Consistent with this, we found that both natural variation and experimental manipulation of this behaviour induced differential skeletal development that foreshadows adaptive variation in adult trophic morphology. In fact, the magnitude of difference in skeletal morphology induced by these simple shifts in behaviour was similar to those predicted to be caused by genetic factors. Finally, we demonstrate that this mechanical-load-induced shift in skeletal development is associated with differences in ptch1 expression, a gene previously implicated in mediating between-species differences in skeletal shape. Our results underscore the complexity of development, and the importance of epigenetic ( sensu Waddington) mechanisms in determining adaptive phenotypic variation.

scholarly journals Differential effects of steroid hormones on levels of genetic variance in a wild bird: possible mechanism of maternal-effects x genetic variance interaction?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Szymon Marian Drobniak ◽  
Joanna Sudyka ◽  
Mariusz Cichoń ◽  
Aneta Arct ◽  
Lars Gustafsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Hormones ◽  
Maternal Effects ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Quantitative Traits ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Evolutionary Potential ◽  
Blue Tits ◽  
Rearing Effects

Genetic variation is one of the key concepts in evolutionary biology and an important prerequisite of evolutionary change. Still, we know very little about processes that modulate its levels in wild populations. In particular – we still are to understand why genetic variances often depend on environmental conditions. One of possible environment-sensitive modulators of observed levels of genetic variance are maternal effects. In this study we attempt to experimentally test the hypothesis that maternally-transmitted agents (e.g. hormones) may influence the expression of genetic variance in quantitative traits in the offspring. We manipulated the levels of steroid hormones (testosterone and corticosterone) in eggs laid by blue tits in a wild population. Our experimental setup allowed for full crossing of genetic and rearing effects with the experimental manipulation. We observed, that birds treated with corticosterone exhibited a significant decrease in genetic variance of tarsus length. We also observed less pronounced, marginally significant effects of hormonal administration on the patterns of genetic correlations between traits expressed under varying pre-hatching hormonal conditions. Our study indicates, that maternally transmitted substances such as hormones may have measurable impact on the levels of genetic variance – and hence, on the evolutionary potential of quantitative traits.

scholarly journals Adaptive plasticity – its definition, measurement, and importance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Brooker ◽  
Lawrie K Brown ◽  
Timothy S. George ◽  
Robin J. Pakeman ◽  
Sarah Palmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Plant Ecology ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Plant Fitness ◽  
First Line ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Plant Sciences ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Climate Change Resilience

Plasticity is a widely used concept in plant sciences, but there is inconsistency over its interpretation and measurement. One aspect of plasticity – adaptive plasticity – may be particularly important in shaping plant fitness and reproductive success and represents the first line of a plants defence to environmental change. Here, we define adaptive plasticity, highlight its importance to plant growth and survival, and suggest appropriate approaches for its measurement. We argue that a focus on adaptive plasticity could help address some fundamental challenges in plant ecology and evolutionary biology, including developing insight into climate-change resilience of natural populations and crops.

scholarly journals Simulation testing of mechanisms for inducing the formation of the contractile ring in cytokinesis.

1989 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 2215-2223 ◽  
Author(s):  
A K Harris ◽  
S L Gewalt
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Mitotic Apparatus ◽  
Induction Process ◽  
Simulation Testing ◽  
Spherical Cells ◽  
Cortical Contractility ◽  
The Right

There is persuasive evidence that the role of the mitotic apparatus (MA) in cytokinesis is to control the location of the cleavage furrow. The geometric aspects of this interaction between the MA and the cortex are complex and, thus, computer simulation can be a useful means for testing hypotheses about the induction process. White and Borisy (1983. J. Theor. Biol. 101:289-316) used computer simulations to show that long-range signals from the asters, varying inversely as various powers of distance, produce summed effects that are minima at the equator of spherical cells. Their results have seemed to support the "polar relaxation" class of hypotheses, in which the effect of the asters is to weaken cortical contractility so that contraction becomes maximized at the equator because it is least inhibited there. However, the experimental studies of Rappaport and Rappaport (1988. J. Exp. Zool. 247:92-98) indicate that the asters actually strengthen cortical contractility. In this paper, we use computer simulation to determine how signals from the MA will need to vary in effect as functions of distance to cause cortical contractility to become maximized where the furrows are to be induced. Although we confirm that inverse power inhibitory signals could induce equatorial furrows in spherical cells, we also find that this ability is destroyed by flattening, constricting, or distorting cells into cylinders, geometries for which Rappaport's experiments show furrows form (1986. Int. Rev. Cytol. 105:245-281). We then show that stimulatory signals of the right kind would induce furrows at the locations observed, in spherical cells as well as cells distorted by experimental manipulation. These signals must be constant out to a threshold distance but decrease abruptly beyond that distance. We also show that this ability depends on having the "drop-off" threshold occur at just the right distance relative to the dimensions of the cell and separation of the asters.

scholarly journals Early warning signals and the prosecutor's fallacy

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1748) ◽  
pp. 4734-4739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Boettiger ◽  
Alan Hastings
Keyword(s):  
Early Warning ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Statistical Error ◽  
Warning Signal ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Critical Transition ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Warning Signals ◽  
Early Warning Signals

Early warning signals have been proposed to forecast the possibility of a critical transition, such as the eutrophication of a lake, the collapse of a coral reef or the end of a glacial period. Because such transitions often unfold on temporal and spatial scales that can be difficult to approach by experimental manipulation, research has often relied on historical observations as a source of natural experiments. Here, we examine a critical difference between selecting systems for study based on the fact that we have observed a critical transition and those systems for which we wish to forecast the approach of a transition. This difference arises by conditionally selecting systems known to experience a transition of some sort and failing to account for the bias this introduces—a statistical error often known as the prosecutor's fallacy. By analysing simulated systems that have experienced transitions purely by chance, we reveal an elevated rate of false-positives in common warning signal statistics. We further demonstrate a model-based approach that is less subject to this bias than those more commonly used summary statistics. We note that experimental studies with replicates avoid this pitfall entirely.

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