The Visibility of Sound: Acoustic Archaeology in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Waterfalls are documented among Indigenous peoples as settings for the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and locations sacred to life transitions. Eastern Woodlands ethnographic literature identifies waterfalls as places where life emerges in the presence of danger, requiring the acknowledgement of those who travel near them. In the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, ceramic-bearing Middle and Late Woodland sites near named waterfalls are associated with small sites located outside the topographic parameters of modeled site locations and containing non-local or unique objects. Sound mapping with calibrated decibel meters, survey-grade GPS, and inverse distance weighted interpolation demonstrate a correspondence between the location of the small sites and natural sound magnification. The small sites and the deposited objects may represent the offerings of travelers made aware of the sacred/dangerous place by the sound of the waterfall. Acoustic archaeology is introduced as a practice that takes into consideration sensory experience as central to place identity.

Distribution of clones among hosts for the lizard malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum

Background Malaria parasites reproduce asexually, leading to the production of large numbers of genetically identical parasites, here termed a clonal line or clone. Infected hosts may harbor one or more clones, and the number of clones in a host is termed multiplicity of infection (MOI). Understanding the distribution of parasite clones among hosts can shed light on the processes shaping this distribution and is important for modeling MOI. Here, I determine whether the distribution of clones of the lizard malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum differ significantly from statistical distributions commonly used to model MOI and logical extensions of these models. Methods The number of clones per infection was assessed using four microsatellite loci with the maximum number of alleles at any one locus used as a simple estimate of MOI for each infection. I fit statistical models (Poisson, negative binomial, zero-inflated models) to data from four individual sites to determine a best fit model. I also simulated the number of alleles per locus using an unbiased estimate of MOI to determine whether the simple (but potentially biased) method I used to estimate MOI influenced model fit. Results The distribution of clones among hosts at individual sites differed significantly from traditional Poisson and negative binomial distributions, but not from zero-inflated modifications of these distributions. A consistent excess of two-clone infections and shortage of one-clone infections relative to all fit distributions was also observed. Any bias introduced by the simple method for estimating of MOI did not appear to qualitatively alter the results. Conclusions The statistical distributions used to model MOI are typically zero-truncated; truncating the Poisson or zero-inflated Poisson yield the same distribution, so the reasonable fit of the zero-inflated Poisson to the data suggests that the use of the zero-truncated Poisson in modeling is adequate. The improved fit of zero-inflated distributions relative to standard distributions may suggest that only a portion of the host population is located in areas suitable for transmission even at small sites (<1 ha). Collective transmission of clones and premunition may also contribute to deviations from standard distributions.

Individual and group parameters of Rumex alpinus L. (Polygonaceae) as an indicator of the degree of disturbance to the Carpathian highmountain meadow ecosystems

Individual (height of flowering shoot, length of rhizome segments and their number on a growth axis) and group parameters (cover, density of immature individuals, flowering and vegetative shoots) of a clonal tall-herb species Rumex alpinus were studied in the populations undergoing different stages of anthropogenic succession in the Carpathians. The species can form dense Rumiceta alpini ruderal communities on the manured soil near the livestock camps. Rumex alpinus has a long life span and thick long-living rhizomes in which the segments’ size reflects the viability of the individual in previous years. The studied parameters characterize the extent of disturbance in grassland ecosystems on different stages of their anthropogenic or restoration succession. A significant number of immature individuals of seed origin proves the young age of a population and indicates the degrading vector of changes in ecosystems. However, the individuals of seed origin (particularly, immature) are almost or completely missing in the established dense Rumiceta alpini because clonal reproduction prevails there. The highest individual and group parameters of R. alpinus have been registered in the sites that are manured. Cessation of anthropogenic impact results in thinning out of populations and their gradual decline. Annual increments of rhizomes demonstrate a successive increase in the invasive populations and decrease in the regressive ones. R. alpinus is also a component of some native undisturbed communities where it shows moderate viability of individuals and low population density. Thus, high values of individual and group parameters of this species indicate significant disturbance of the area and its low conservation value, while its infrequent occurrence only in some solitary small sites can reflect an absence or low level of devastation of a mountain grassland ecosystem. Keywords: anthropogenic impact, succession, rhizome segments, mountain meadows,Rumicetum alpini Вивчено індивідуальні (висоту генеративного пагона, довжину сегментів кореневища та їхню кількість на осі наростання) і групові параметри (проєктивне покриття,щільність імматурних особин, генеративних і вегетативних пагонів) клонального високотравного виду – Rumex alpinus у популяціях, що перебувають на різних стадіях антропогенної сукцесії в Карпатах. Цей вид здатний утворювати зімкнені рудеральні угруповання – щавельники (Rumiceta alpini) на угноєному ґрунті біля стійбищ худоби. Видові властивий тривалий онтогенез і наявність довговічних масивних кореневищ, у яких розмір сегментів відображає життєвість особини у минулі роки. Досліджені показники характеризують ступінь антропогенних змін у лучних екосистемах Карпат на різних етапах їх дигресивно-демутаційних перетворень. Значна кількість імматурних особин насіннєвого походження свідчить про молодий вік популяції і служить індикатором дигресивного спрямування змін в екосистемі. Натомість, у сформованих щільних щавельниках особини насіннєвого походження (зокрема імматурні) майже або цілком відсутні, оскільки у самовідновленні переважає вегетативне розмноження. Найвищі індивідуальні і групові параметри R. alpinus відзначено на площах, що зазнають підживлення гноївкою. Припинення господарського впливу призводить до розрідження популяцій та їх поступового згасання. В інвазійних популяціях відзначено послідовне збільшення річних приростів кореневищ, натомість у регресивних – їхнє скорочення. Rumex alpinus є також компонентом деяких корінних непорушених угруповань, де виявляє невисоку життєвість особин і низьку щільність популяцій. Отже, високі значення індивідуальних і групових показників цього виду є індикатором значного порушення території та її низької цінності з природоохоронної точки зору, натомість його нечасте трапляння лише на окремих невеликих ділянках може свідчити про відсутність або незначний ступінь девастації гірської лучної екосистеми. Ключові слова: антропогенний вплив, сукцесія, сегменти кореневища, гірські луки, Rumicetum alpini

Predictors of the long-term conservation value of sites in a mechanistic metacommunity model

Conserving biodiversity often requires assessment of which sites should be prioritised for protection. Sites are often selected based on area or connectivity, with the assumption that a site's long-term conservation value, as defined by the number of regional species extinctions its removal causes, is smallest for small, disconnected sites. In a simulation study of a mechanistic metacommunity model we find across the parameter range studied that site area is a good predictor of biomass loss following site removal but an insufficient predictor of the long-term species losses incurred as a result. We show that, out of five conceptually distinct predictors tested, including biodiversity, area and connectivity measures, the strongest predictor of long-term species loss (conservation value) is compositional distinctness (average between-site Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) of the impacted community. In extreme cases, small sites located in highly distinct habitats can lead to more species loss when removed than large sites located in more common habitats. Fitting our model to observation data on Andean diatoms and Brazilian lichen-fungi, we show that compositional distinctness exceeds area (total biomass) as a predictor of long-term species losses in the empirically relevant parameter range. Since conservation is primarily concerned with maintaining biodiversity, as opposed to undifferentiated biomass, our results robustly demonstrate that site area alone is not sufficient to gauge conservation priorities; comparative assessment of the community composition of sites is essential.

Validation of Inundation Damage Reduction by a Pump Gate with the New Type of Horizontal Axial Submersible Pump

Compared to pumping stations, pump gates have small sites and are constructed for a low cost over a short period of time. A new type of horizontal axial submersible pump that is optimal for pump gates has recently been developed. Since the new type of pump can be operated at full speed regardless of water level, it is possible to conduct standby operations in preparation for stormwater runoff inflows. In a simulation comparing the conventional pumps and the new type of pump, there was no serious inundation condition in the new pump up to 70 mm/h, which is 140% of the design’s rainfall intensity. As a result, it was clarified that standby operations can keep the peak water level low and maximize the water storage capacity of the drainage channel.

Lezhnytsia, “Chub” site – an example of functioning of a settlement microregion of the funnel beaker culture in Ukraine

The aim of this article is an attempt to reconstruct the settlement network and settlement conditions for the Funnel Beaker Culture (FBC) site «Chub» in Lezhnytsia near Ivanychi, in the Volhynian Upland. The excavation research carried out in this place in 1933-1934 and in 1962 uncovered the vast FBC settlement with stable dwelling and farm buildings (7 immovable constructions in total). The collection of movable artefacts allows us to relate the functioning of the settlement to the last quarter of the fourth thousandBC and makes it parallel with the sites type Gródek II, Zymne II in the Volhynian Upland and Vynnyky, site «Lysivka» and Mali Hrybovychi, site «Chorna Hora» in Roztocze. Due to the amount of exploration studies and information obtained about the microregion around Lezhnytsia, it is one of the best archaeologically recognized areas in Ukraine. Favourable environmental conditions (soil, river network system) and the presence of natural resources (flint and copper) had a great impact on the settlement concentration there. Speaking ofthe sites, their various functions have been discovered (settlements, camps, traces of economic activity, mass finds of flint artefacts). Regarding the preserved layout of the FBC settlement points around Lezhnytsia, certain features of spatial organization can be found. As for the central parts of the analyzed area, there are settlements together with a large number of single finds («treasures» of flint blades) in their vicinity, as well as smaller settlements. They are accompanied by small sites that were probably only used occasionally or temporally. These systems resemble structures known from other areas of Ukraine (Vynnyky, Zymne) and the upper Vistula basin of that period. The TRB communities living in the Lezhnytsia region, due to the network of trade connections, played an important role in the cultural transformations in the fourth thousand BC. Their effect was the distribution of local West Volhynian flint of the Turonian period to the western regions of the TRB range (i.e. to the Vistula basin) and the cultural elements related to the Baden culture in eastern areas (a central part of the Horyn basin). Key words: Funnel Beaker Culture, Volhynian Upland, microregional studies.

Concentrated lunar resources: imminent implications for governance and justice

Numerous missions planned for the next decade are likely to target a handful of small sites of interest on the Moon's surface, creating risks of crowding and interference at these locations. The Moon presents finite and scarce areas with rare topography or concentrations of resources of special value. Locations of interest to science, notably for astronomy, include the Peaks of Eternal Light, the coldest of the cold traps and smooth areas on the far side. Regions richest in physical resources could also be uniquely suited to settlement and commerce. Such sites of interest are both few and small. Typically, there are fewer than ten key sites of each type, each site spanning a few kilometres across. We survey the implications for different kinds of mission and find that the diverse actors pursuing incompatible ends at these sites could soon crowd and interfere with each other, leaving almost all actors worse off. Without proactive measures to prevent these outcomes, lunar actors are likely to experience significant losses of opportunity. We highlight the legal, policy and ethical ramifications. Insights from research on comparable sites on Earth present a path toward managing lunar crowding and interference grounded in ethical and practical near-term considerations. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades'.

A case study in competing methane regulations: Will Canada’s and Alberta’s contrasting regulations achieve equivalent reductions?

The Canadian federal government and the Province of Alberta (the dominant oil and gas producing province) have released competing methane regulations for the oil and gas sector intended to take effect between January 2020–2023. Provisions in Canadian law could allow the provincial regulations to take precedent, but only if they are deemed to be equivalent in effect. This paper presents a comprehensive technical comparison of these upcoming regulations by considering potential site-by-site mitigation impacts on active oil and gas facilities in Alberta in 2018. This analysis was made possible by first creating a detailed inventory using recent pneumatic device count data and current production and activity data, which allowed detailed site-level calculations of regulatory impacts on a monthly basis as required by the regulations. The federal regulations are found to be stronger, achieving ~26% more methane mitigation at full implementation. Key differences are in limits on pneumatic pump emissions, vented emissions, and expected reductions in fugitive emissions through leak detection and repair surveys. The full analysis was repeated using production and inventory data for 2012 and 2017 to examine sensitivities to changing production patterns and facilitate comparisons to the 2012 baseline referenced in federal policy targets for methane reduction. The results were robust in all scenarios. Through a “Potential to Emit” threshold, the federal regulations also impact slightly fewer sites overall by exempting small sites handling limited gas volumes, while achieving greater overall methane reductions. Relative to a 2012 baseline, if fully implemented in 2018 the federal regulations would just reach the bottom of the 40–45% methane reduction target through a combination of past reductions (13%) and additional regulated mitigation (27%). However, recent trends in emissions from mined oil sands operations in particular (which are not affected by these regulations) suggests the 40–45% reduction goal for the overall sector may not be achieved by the 2025 target. Different scenarios to make the regulations equivalent are briefly discussed where the contrast in achieved mitigations for different key sources is important case study data for design of effective and efficient methane regulations.