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Publications

Showing 29001 – 29020 of 30315 publications

Response of guanacosLama guanicoeto changes in land management in Península Valdés, Argentine Patagonia: conservation implications

Península Valdés — 2011 — WHE65C85901A0

Guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in Península Valdés, Argentina, showed a three-fold increase in abundance within three years following the removal of sheep from a private wildlife reserve. This rapid response suggests that guanacos, even at high densities, are less damaging to vegetation than sheep. The study compared guanaco populations and plant cover inside and outside the reserve, revealing higher guanaco numbers and greater grassland coverage in areas where sheep were excluded. While management changes led to significant local increases in guanaco populations, the researchers emphasize that large-scale protection is necessary for the long-term persistence of wild guanaco populations. The findings highlight the potential for sustainable coexistence between livestock production and wildlife conservation in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Response of non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) to 15 years of harvest in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park — 2011 — WHE7BF8801180

A 15-year gill-netting program targeting non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Yellowstone Lake, USA, failed to achieve population suppression or eradication despite removing nearly 450,000 individuals. While the lake trout population's growth rate remains positive but reduced compared to pre-harvest levels, current fishing efforts are insufficient to curb reproduction and ensure long-term decline. The study highlights that increasing mortality of sexually mature lake trout could enhance suppression effectiveness, underscoring the challenges of restoring a large, remote ecosystem with a simple fish assemblage through targeted apex predator removal.

Response of stream invertebrate communities to vegetation damage from overgrazing by exotic rabbits on subantarctic Macquarie Island

Macquarie Island — 2011 — WHE58E70E4BA9

A significant decline in stream invertebrate taxa and abundance on Macquarie Island, attributed to vegetation damage from overgrazing by exotic rabbits, was documented between 1992 and 2010. Taxa richness dropped by 25–36%, and ordination analysis revealed marked compositional shifts, particularly at sites with moderate or severe grazing impacts. The study suggests that altered organic material input into streams, due to vegetation damage, may have driven these changes. If such degradation persists without refuges, stream invertebrate communities could undergo permanent alteration, posing risks to the island's delicate ecosystem.

Restructuring Governance in Contemporary Urban China: perspectives on state and society

Longmen Grottoes — 2011 — WHE74325550D7

Heritage governance in urban China operates as a dynamic, interactive process that derives legitimacy from multiple sources without systematic bias against any social group. This insight emerges from an empirical evaluation of the Longmen Grottoes' nomination and preservation, required for its UNESCO World Heritage status. The study examines four varied approaches to state-society relations, applying them to the case of Luoyang's local political system. It reveals that governance in this context is resourceful and adaptive, contrasting with traditional models that assume systematic bias or top-down control.

Results of the struggle at ancient Ephesus: natural processes 1, human intervention 0

Ephesus — 2011 — WHEFF54EBD665

Ancient Ephesus, once a bustling coastal city, faced insurmountable challenges from natural sediment deposition that ultimately led to the abandonment of its harbours. Despite repeated human interventions—such as the construction of moles to prevent siltation—the Küçük Menderes River's sediment load inexorably filled the Gulf of Ephesus, forcing inhabitants to relocate harbours westward over centuries. This study reveals that natural processes consistently outpaced human efforts, using a combination of geomorphological data, subsurface geological analysis, archaeological excavations, and ancient texts. Sediment coring and palaeogeographical studies traced shifting river courses, floodplain changes, and anthropogenic deposits, demonstrating the futility of large-scale engineering in combating estuarine infilling. The findings underscore the vulnerability of coastal settlements to long-term natural dynamics, even with advanced intervention strategies.

Retrofitting Aachen Cathedral with an Innovative Flexible Textile Reinforced Mortar Bandage / Innovative und denkmalgerechte Verstärkung des Aachener Doms mit einer flexiblen, textilbewehrten Rissbandage

Aachen Cathedral — 2011 — WHE4136CE0E7E

A groundbreaking method for retrofitting historic structures using flexible textile-reinforced mortar bandages has been successfully applied to Aachen Cathedral. This innovative approach demonstrates significant potential for strengthening masonry while preserving its aesthetic and structural integrity. The study involved the application of a lightweight, flexible reinforcement system that effectively bridges cracks and enhances load-bearing capacity without altering the monument's visual character. By combining modern materials with traditional conservation techniques, this method offers a sustainable solution for the long-term preservation of cultural heritage sites facing structural deterioration.

Retrospective validation of a lava-flow hazard map for Mount Etna volcano

Mount Etna — 2011 — WHE2B37D88D94

A retrospective validation method for long-term lava-flow hazard maps at Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, demonstrates that such maps can accurately predict areas at risk of destructive volcanic processes. The study divided the volcano into ten probability classes based on simulated lava-flow paths and found strong agreement between predicted and actual lava-flow coverage post-1981 using two fitting scores. The approach involved identifying high-probability vent regions, characterizing eruption types for numerical simulations with the MAGFLOW model, and computing eruptive probabilities to construct the hazard map.

Review of Nepticulidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) occurring in the Curonian Spit (Baltic Coast of Lithuania)

Curonian Spit — 2011 — WHEB9B661ACEA

A comprehensive review identifies 24 species of Nepticulidae (leaf-mining moths) from the Curonian Spit, Lithuania, associated with host plants across eight families. Notably, over half of these species are linked to Betulaceae and Rosaceae plants, reflecting their ecological significance. The study categorizes their distribution into nine chorological groups, revealing a mix of broad Palaearctic and European ranges alongside more restricted Sub-Baltic distributions. Rare species, such as Stigmella zelleriella, were documented in sand dunes, with illustrations provided for adults and male genitalia. This taxonomic list, supplemented by host-plant data and leaf-mine photographs, advances our understanding of nepticulid biodiversity in this UNESCO-listed coastal ecosystem.

Review Of The Characteristics Of Mahan Garden:One Type Of Persian Gardens

The Persian Garden — 2011 — WHE4F2A233F22

Persian gardens, rooted in Iran's cultural imagination of paradise, exemplify ingenious landscaping adapted to arid climates. A study analyzing Mahan Prince Garden reveals that elements like soil, water, plants, and layout coalesce into a distinct Persian garden style. The research employs descriptive analysis, drawing from examples, documents, and library studies, to highlight how these gardens balance aesthetic beauty with practical sustainability in water-scarce regions. This approach underscores the significance of Persian horticultural artistry in transforming harsh environments into lush, symbolic landscapes.

Review of the lizard fauna of Jordan

Wadi Rum Protected Area — 2011 — WHE318C322EB6

Jordan's lizard fauna is highly diverse, representing 55.5% of the country's terrestrial herpetofauna, with Arabian species dominating (43%). The study reveals that Wadi Rum and the Badia region in southern Jordan serve as a biogeographical filter, hosting species primarily of Arabian affinities that do not extend westward. These areas are part of the Levantine land bridge, facilitating isolation among congeneric species like Ptyodactylus, which may have driven evolutionary divergence. Additionally, Jordan marks the southern limit for some Palaearctic lizard species, such as Lacerta media and Pseudopus apodus, highlighting its role in connecting Mediterranean and Arabian ecosystems. The research synthesizes distributional data to elucidate biogeographical patterns and evolutionary dynamics in this ecologically significant region.

Review: Modernism after Wagner by Juliet Koss

Margravial Opera House Bayreuth — 2011 — WHEFBC382AAF9

Richard Wagner's influence on opera, theater, and art theory remains profound, with his original Bayreuth Festival Theatre serving as a foundational model for modern productions. Designed by Otto Brückwald (exterior) and Karl Brandt (interior), the theatre embodied Wagner’s vision of the Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art), drawing from Gottfried Semper’s architectural principles. Juliet Koss’s Modernism after Wagner explores how this integration of arts—first theorized by Wagner but rooted in Semper’s ideas—shaped modernist movements, particularly in German culture. The book analyzes the enduring legacy of Bayreuth’s design and its impact on subsequent theatrical and artistic innovations.

Review: Objects of Translation: Material Culture and Medieval "Hindu-Muslim" Encounter by Finbarr B. Flood

Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi — 2011 — WHEA80CBFA7BF

Finbarr B. Flood's 'Objects of Translation' offers a groundbreaking analysis of the material culture and architectural history of medieval Hindu-Muslim encounters, particularly focusing on the Qutb Minar complex in Delhi. The study challenges traditional narratives by examining objects such as coins, ivories, and robes of honor, revealing their roles in cultural dynamics and political economies across the Indus basin from the 8th to 13th centuries. Flood's rigorous art historical analysis is enriched by contemporary theoretical frameworks, providing a nuanced understanding of how these artifacts shaped Indo-Islamic art and architecture. The work stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, blending historical geography, cultural dynamics, and architectural studies to illuminate the complexities of medieval encounters in South Asia.

Revised population estimate and trends for the Endangered Northern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi at Tristan da Cunha

Gough and Inaccessible Islands — 2011 — WHE1F61EB7A92

A critical population assessment of the Endangered Northern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi) at Tristan da Cunha reveals that over 65% of the global population resides in this remote South Atlantic archipelago, with breeding numbers estimated at 168,700 pairs across four islands. The study, the first to update counts since 1973 for Middle Island, found stable populations over three decades, contrasting with broader declines observed elsewhere. Researchers employed comprehensive aerial and ground surveys in 2009, providing a baseline for conservation efforts at this UNESCO-listed site, which is vital for the species' survival.

Revision of Coprosma (Rubiaceae, tribe Anthospermeae) in the Marquesas Islands

Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands — 2011 — WHE45C0288F09

A revision of the genus Coprosma (Rubiaceae) in the Marquesas Islands reveals three newly described species: Coprosma fatuhivaensis, C. meyeri, and C. temetiuensis. These additions bring the total number of Coprosma species in the region to six, making it the sixth largest lineage after genera like Psychotria, Cyrtandra, and Bidens. Four of these species are classified as Critically Endangered (CR), while two are Endangered (EN). The study provides detailed descriptions, illustrations, conservation assessments, and a key for identification. It builds upon earlier work during the preparation of the Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands, offering critical insights into the biodiversity and conservation status of this remote Polynesian archipelago.

Revision of Kadua (Rubiaceae) in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, with description of the new species K. lichtlei

Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands — 2011 — WHE0F1EE4BE03

A revision of the genus Kadua (Rubiaceae) in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, reveals three newly described species: Coprosma fatuhivaensis, Coprosma meyeri, and Coprosma temetiuensis. This expansion brings the total number of Coprosma species in the archipelago to six, making it the sixth largest lineage after Psychotria (9 spp.), Cyrtandra (8 spp.), Bidens (8 spp.), Melicope (7 spp.), and Ixora (7 spp.). The study provides detailed descriptions, illustrations, conservation assessments, and specimen citations for these species. Notably, four of the Coprosma species are classified as Critically Endangered (CR), while two are Endangered (EN). Amended descriptions and a key to the species are also included, contributing significantly to the understanding of the Marquesas Islands' vascular flora.

Revision of the position of the Ordovician–Silurian boundary in southern Ontario: regional chronostratigraphic implications of δ13C chemostratigraphy of the Manitoulin Formation and associated strata

Anticosti — 2011 — WHEC8B1AFF08C

A significant revision of the Ordovician–Silurian boundary position is proposed based on δ13C chemostratigraphy from southern Ontario, suggesting the Manitoulin Formation is latest Ordovician (Hirnantian) rather than earliest Silurian. The study identified a Hirnantian isotope carbon excursion (HICE) in the upper Queenston Formation to lower-middle Manitoulin Formation, supporting this conclusion and aligning with biostratigraphic data from conodonts and brachiopods. Notably, the HICE is absent on Manitoulin Island but present in the Bruce Peninsula and adjacent regions, indicating age variations across the area. This challenges the traditional boundary placement at the base of the Manitoulin Formation, instead suggesting it lies near the base of the overlying Cabot Head Formation. These findings have major implications for interpreting the geologic history and marine depositional patterns of the latest Ordovician in North America.

Revisiting Quanterness: new AMS dates and stable isotope data from an Orcadian chamber tomb

Heart of Neolithic Orkney — 2011 — WHEEAFC2D689A

New radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis of the Neolithic chamber tomb at Quanterness, Orkney, reveals that burial activity likely spanned from 3510 to 2790 cal BC, with a peak period between 3450 and 2850–2790 cal BC. This tighter chronological framework challenges previous assumptions about the site's stratigraphy, indicating extensive mixing of deposits. Osteological evidence suggests that the human remains were not subjected to excarnation or significant sub-aerial weathering, implying local burial practices rather than secondary deposition from elsewhere. Stable isotope data (δ13C: –20.5 ± 0.4‰; δ15N: 11.1 ± 0.6‰) indicate minimal marine protein consumption despite the site's coastal proximity, with potential diachronic trends hinting at evolving farming practices. These findings contextualize Quanterness within Middle/Late Neolithic Orkney, supporting theories on the emergence of Grooved Ware pottery and the origin of Maes Howe-type passage tombs.

Revue de la typologie des éruptions au Piton de La Fournaise, processus et risques volcaniques associés

Pitons Management Area — 2011 — WHE139342C3F8

A detailed analysis of the Piton de La Fournaise, a basaltic shield volcano on Réunion Island, reveals that while its overall dangerosity is relatively low, historical activity patterns demonstrate phases with potentially destructive eruptions. The study characterizes distinct eruption processes and assesses associated risks to human lives and infrastructure on the volcano's slopes. By synthesizing recent research, it provides insights into the volcanic dynamics that could inform risk management strategies for this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ribāṭ et idéal de sainteté à Kairouan et sur le littoral Ifrīqiyen du iie/viiie au ive/xe siècle d’après le Riyāḍ al-Nufūs d’al-Mālikī

Kairouan — 2011 — WHE92E5D2BC81

A groundbreaking analysis of the Ribāṭ (monastic community) and the ideal of sainthood in Kairouan and the Ifrīqiyen coast reveals how these institutions evolved from the 2nd/8th to the 4th/10th century, with significant implications for understanding Islamic spiritual practices and political dynamics during this period. The study leverages the Riyāḍ al-Nufūs, a biographical dictionary compiled by Abū Bakr al-Mālikī around 1072, which provides rare insights into the social and religious transformations of the time. This work sheds light on the interplay between saintly figures, monastic life, and broader historical events such as the Hilaliene invasion, Zīrīdo-ḥammādide rivalries, and Almoravid expansion, offering a nuanced perspective on the Islamization and Arabization of medieval North Africa.

Riparian Ecosystem Response to Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) Induced Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) Mortality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA

Great Smoky Mountains National Park — 2011 — WHE39F94399A7

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA)-induced mortality of eastern hemlock in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has triggered significant ecological shifts in riparian ecosystems. Impacted streams exhibit reduced canopy coverage, increased light availability, and altered vegetative composition, with red maple, yellow birch, sweet birch, and rosebay rhododendron dominating post-mortality landscapes. Aquatic systems show cooler temperatures during colder months, higher concentrations of nutrients like silicon, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, and copper, as well as increased acid neutralization capacity and pH. While macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance remain largely unaffected, shifts in functional feeding groups (from collector/filter to scraper) and reductions in specific taxa, such as Chironomidae, Ephemeroptera, and Pleuroceridae snails, highlight the ecological disruption caused by hemlock mortality. The study employed a comparative approach, assessing riparian and aquatic impacts across reference sites with initial HWA presence and impacted sites with over 90% hemlock mortality, revealing both short-term and long-term consequences of invasive species on stream ecosystems.