A REACTION–DIFFUSION EQUATION MODELING THE INVASION OF THE ARGENTINE ANT POPULATION,LINEPITHEMA HUMILE,AT JASPER RIDGE BIOLOGICAL PRESERVE

Abstract A continuous reaction–diffusion model is developed for the invasive Argentine ant population within a preserve in northern California. The model is a second‐order partial differential equation incorporating a logistic growth term. The dispersal distance traveled during the reproductive process of budding is used to estimate the diffusion coefficient. The model has two homogeneous steady states, one occurring at the propagation front where the Argentine ant population does not yet exist and one occurring where the population has reached carrying capacity. The traveling wave solutions of the model depict the population density for a given time and location. Using current research, parameter values for the model are estimated and a traveling wave solution for the average parameter values is numerically demonstrated.     

PIV measurements of turbulent jets issuing from triangular and circular orifice plates

The present study experimentally investigated the near-field flow mixing characteristics of two turbulent jets issuing from equilateral triangular and circular orifice plates into effectively unbounded surroundings,respectively.Planar particle image velocimetry(PIV) was applied to measure the velocity field at the same Reynolds number of Re=50,000,where Re = UeDe /with Ue being the exit bulk velocity and the kinematic viscosity of fluid,D e the equivalent diameters.The instantaneous velocity,mean velocity,Reynolds stresses were obtained.From the mean velocity field,the centreline velocity decay rate and half-velocity width were derived.Comparing the mixing characteristics of the two jets,it is found that the triangular jet has a faster mixing rate than the circular counterpart.The triangular jet entrainments with the ambient fluid at a higher rate in the near field.This is evidenced by a shorter unmixed core,faster Reynolds stress and centreline turbulence intensity growth.The primary coherent structures in the near field are found to break down more rapidly in the triangular jet as compared to the circular jet.Over the entire measurement region,the triangular jet maintained a higher rate of decay and spread.Moreover,all components of Reynolds stress of the triangular jet appear to reach their peaks earlier,and then decay more rapidly than those of the circular jet.In addition,the axis-switching phenomenon is observed in the triangular jet.     

REVERSIBLE EPR PHOTOSIGNALS IN CHARGE-TRANSFER-COMPLEXES

Abstract— Various organic solutions were irradiated in a search for rapidly reversible EPR photosignals. Using an averaging technique, the rise and decay of the photosignals of CT-complexes formed between chloranil and organic solvents were shown to be of the order of tens of msec. However, the mechanism involved could not be fully elucidated without additional data such as those obtained from flash photolysis and other techniques.     

POPULATION‐LEVEL ANALYSIS AND VALIDATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL‐BASED CUTTHROAT TROUT MODEL

ABSTRACT. An individual‐based model of stream trout is analyzed by testing its ability to reproduce patterns of population‐level behavior observed in real trout: (1) “self‐thinning,” a negative power relation between weight and abundance; (2) a “critical period” of density‐dependent mortality in young‐of‐the‐year; (3) high and age‐specific inter‐annual variability in abundance; (4) density dependence in growth; and (5) fewer large trout when pool habitat is eliminated. The trout model successfully reproduced these patterns and was useful for evaluating their theoretical basis. The model analyses produced new explanations for some field observations and indicated that some patterns are less general than field studies indicate. The model did not reproduce field‐observed patterns of population variability by age class, discrepancies potentially explained by site differences, predation mortality being more stochastic than the model assumes, or uncertainty in the field study's age estimates.     

Recent Development on the Conservation Property of Chimera

An estimate on the conservation error due to the non-conservative data interpolation scheme for overset grids is given in this paper. It is shown that the conservation error is a first-order term if second-order conservative schemes are employed for the Chimera grids and if discontinuities are located away from overlapped grid interfaces. Therefore in the limit of global grid refinement, valid numerical solutions should be obtained with a data interpolation scheme. In one demonstration case the conservation error in the original Chimera scheme was shown to affect flow even without discontinuities on coarse to medium grids. The conservative Chimera scheme was shown to give significantly better solutions than the original Chimera scheme on these grids with other factors being the same.     

HOW BIG AND HOW CLOSE? HABITAT PATCH SIZE AND SPACING TO CONSERVE A THREATENED SPECIES

Abstract. We present results of a spatially explicit, individual‐based stochastic dispersal model (HexSim) to evaluate effects of size and spacing of patches of habitat of Northern Spotted Owls (NSO; Strix occidentalis caurina) in Pacific Northwest, USA, to help advise recovery planning efforts. We modeled 31 artificial landscape scenarios representing combinations of NSO habitat cluster size (range 4–49 NSO pairs per cluster) and edge‐to‐edge cluster spacing (range 7–101 km), and an all‐habitat landscape. We ran scenarios using empirical estimates of NSO dispersal dynamics and distances and stage class vital rates (representing current population declines) and under adult survival rates adjusted to achieve an initially stationary population. Results suggested that long‐term (100‐yr) habitat occupancy rates are significantly higher with habitat clusters supporting ≥25 NSO pairs and ≤15 km spacing, and with overall landscapes of ≥35–40% habitat. Although habitat provision is key to NSO recovery, no habitat configuration provided for long‐term population persistence when coupled with currently observed vital rates. Results also suggested a key role of floaters (unpaired, nonterritorial, dispersing owls) in recolonizing vacant habitat, and that the floater population segment becomes increasingly depleted with greater population declines. We suggest additional areas of modeling research on this and other threatened species.     

ANALYSIS OF SENSITIVITY AND UNCERTAINTY IN AN INDIVIDUAL‐BASED MODEL OF A THREATENED WILDLIFE SPECIES

Sensitivity analysis—determination of how prediction variables affect response variables—of individual‐based models (IBMs) are few but important to the interpretation of model output. We present sensitivity analysis of a spatially explicit IBM (HexSim) of a threatened species, the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO; Strix occidentalis caurina) in Washington, USA. We explored sensitivity to HexSim variables representing habitat quality, movement, dispersal, and model architecture; previous NSO studies have well established sensitivity of model output to vital rate variation. We developed “normative” (expected) model settings from field studies, and then varied the values of ≥ 1 input parameter at a time by ±10% and ±50% of their normative values to determine influence on response variables of population size and trend. We determined time to population equilibration and dynamics of populations above and below carrying capacity. Recovery time from small population size to carrying capacity greatly exceeded decay time from an overpopulated condition, suggesting lag time required to repopulate newly available habitat. Response variables were most sensitive to input parameters of habitat quality which are well‐studied for this species and controllable by management. HexSim thus seems useful for evaluating potential NSO population responses to landscape patterns for which good empirical information is available.