A survey of potato aphides in the South-Western Agricultural Advisory Province

The results of a survey of aphis populations on potatoes in Devon and Cornwall; with special reference to Myzus persicae Sulz. , during the years 1937-41 are given. One or more counts were made by the standard method at 107 centres to determine population index figures. The results are summarized in the form of a map. The highest index figure obtained during the 5 years was 609, and only on six other occasions was the figure of 100 exceeded; of these centres only one was situated in the area considered to be especially favourable to seed production, and this centre was a market garden. The distribution of the various species of potato aphides is discussed, together with their fluctuations from year to year; special reference is made to M. persicae and M. ornatus. Observations on the parasitism of M. persicae are described. The relationship of the proximity of winter hosts, altitude and of meteorological conditions, to the populations of M. persicae is discussed. The conditions for the production of seed potatoes in Devon and Cornwall are summarized. An account is given of those areas in Devon and Cornwall deemed suitable for seed production. A short account of the formation of a 'Seed Potato Growers' Association' in Devon and Cornwall has been added.     

Shape variation in the rough periwinkle Littorina saxatilis on the west and south coasts of Britain

Variation in the shape of the shell in Littorina saxatilis Olivi has been shown to be due largely to the same variables on both the west and the south coasts of Britain, and it exhibits various clines. Two important aspects are the size of the aperture, which becomes relatively larger from the Isle of Man southwards to Cornwall and eastwards from Devon to the Isle of Wight, and the jugosity of the shell, which increases with distance from Cornwall both northwards as far as the Isle of Man and eastwards as far as Kent. Superimposed on the clines are domains of shape, notably one in Lewis/Harris, where the shells have a relatively large aperture, which is long and narrow, coupled with a rather globose second whorl. The local and geographical aspects of shell shape variation are discussed.     

Comparative Statistical Study of the Cornwall, LKB, and Micromedic Dispensers

The working precisions of the 5.0-ml-capacity Cornwall, the LKB 2075, and the Micromedic model 25000 dispensers were compared, and the bias of the LKB dispenser was contrasted with that of the Micromedic dispenser. Three technologists used six Cornwall dispensers, three LKB units with four different pumps, and three Micromedic units with six different pumps to dispense (in 1.0-ml amounts) sucrose solution adjusted to match the normal viscosity of serum. Under these conditions, the LKB dispenser was approximately 30% more precise than the Micromedic dispenser, which was approximately four times as precise as the Cornwall dispenser. Although the left pump site of the Micromedic was slightly more precise than the LKB, overall the Micromedic was less precise than the LKB. Moreover, the LKB was easier to use than the Micromedic.     

Spatio-temporal analysis of cetacean strandings and bycatch in a UK fisheries hotspot

Marine vertebrate strandings data can provide insights into the long-term dynamics of cetacean populations, and the threats they face. We investigate whether the spatio-temporal patterns of cetacean strandings around Cornwall, SW Britain, have changed in the past century. Analysis of strandings from 1911 to 2006 (n = 2,257) show that, since the mid-1970s, the relative frequency of strandings of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and pilot whales (Globicephala melas) has increased significantly. Seasonal peaks in strandings frequencies are apparent, between December and March for harbour porpoises and common dolphins, and between November and January for pilot whales. There were significant positive trends in the number of common dolphin and harbour porpoise strandings, as a proportion of total strandings, over time. Strandings of common dolphins, porpoises and all other species occur more frequently on the south coast of Cornwall. A total of 415 cetaceans were subject to full veterinary necropsy to determine cause of death, between 1990 and 2006, and 253 (61%) of these individuals were determined to have died due to bycatch in fishing gear. Analyses of industrialised fishing pressure in UK waters show the seas around Cornwall to be one of the most heavily fished areas of the UK. We suggest a number of factors that could be responsible for the recent increases in cetacean strandings in southwest UK waters in recent years, including survey effort, as well as abundance and range shifts that are potentially linked with climate change. Although detectable levels of bycatch rate have not increased over time, fisheries interactions are in significant part responsible for mortality patterns and are worthy of more detailed investigation. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Spatiotemporal and teratological analyses of diatom assemblages from sediments contaminated with industrial effluents in the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall (Ontario,Canada)

Hydrobiologia - Throughout the twentieth century, waterfront industries in Cornwall (Ontario, Canada) discharged significant quantities of mercury (Hg) and other industrial effluents to the St....     

Costs of health care: experience of one department of rheumatology.

Little or no information exists about the costs of providing services in the National Health Service. A study was commissioned to measure the costs of running the department of rheumatology in Cornwall. The results emphasised the relative cheapness of outpatient care compared with inpatient care.     

The helminth parasites of the badger (Meles meles) in Cornwall

The helminth parasites of 118 badgers from Cornwall are recorded. Nematode infestations are common. The five species found are Capillaria? erinacei, Molineus patens, Uncinaria stenocephala, Aelurostrongylus falciformis and Strongyloides sp. Cestode infestations appear to be rare, the species recorded being Mesocestoides lineatus and Dilepis undula. Similarly only a single trematode, Ityogonimus lorum, is recorded.     

Two Mosses from Scotland,New to the British Isles

Abstract

Ditrichum cornubicum sp. nov. is a small plant with obtuse leaf apices, and tubers on the rhizoids, and has been assigned to Ditrichum somewhat tentatively because female inflorescences and sporophytes are unknown. It has been gathered in two areas in Cornwall where copper and tin were formerly extracted, and its habitat is described.     

Survey of equipment in general practice.

Partners in general practice have to buy any equipment they want themselves. As a result partners in high investing practices have lower net incomes. Of the 297 practices in Devon and Cornwall, 265 responded to a questionnaire listing 115 possible items of practice equipment. Overall, practices seemed to be fairly well equipped. Key findings were that 193 of those who responded had an electrocardiograph, 206 had a kit for minor operations, 119 owned a computer, and less than one third owned a microscope. Most of these practices were high investors. There seems to be a shift away from some traditional instruments towards expensive information technology. Government policies are encouraging the use of computers and such equipment, though funds are not necessarily being made available for this purpose.     

Isolation and characterization of Brucella from the lungworms of a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Adult female nematodes identified as Pseudalius inflexus were collected from the lungs of a juvenile male harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) found dead on a beach in Cornwall, UK. Classic and molecular typing methods, immunologic and electron microscopy immunolabeling techniques, provided evidence of Brucella sp. infection within the uterine tissue of nematodes of this marine mammal. This finding presents further evidence to suggest parasites should be considered as a potential means of transfer of bacterial infection in marine mammals and highlights the zoonotic implications for humans exposed to marine mammals through occupation or leisure.     

An Archaeology of Supernatural Places: The Case of West Penwith

This article interprets 'natural' features of the landscape unaltered by human agency – hills, rock outcrops, and solution basins – in West Penwith, Cornwall, and discusses their significance in relation to Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Age monuments, cairns, and enclosures. We argue that 'nature' provides a fundamental conceptual resource for understanding cultural form, and that 'natural' architecture had a super-natural significance for prehistoric populations. Its meanings were intricately linked to elemental processes involving metaphorical relationships between water and fire, stone, sea, and the passage of the sun in the heavens.     

The first record of Brown Skua Catharacta antarctica in Europe

Evidence from mtDNA suggests that two skuas, one discovered in the Scilly Islands Cornwall in October 2001, the other in Glamorgan in February 2002, belong to the Brown Skua group Catharacta antarctica – a species not previously recorded in the North Atlantic. These molecular data do not exclude the possibility of either bird being a hybrid between Brown Skua and South Polar Skua C. maccormicki , but population estimates suggest that this is unlikely. More importantly, biometrics show that the Glamorgan bird is much smaller than hybrids but matches Falkland Skua C. a. antarctica . The distributions of C. antarctica subspecies at sea are not well known, but the discovery of two of these birds in the UK suggests that they may wander more extensively than previously thought.     

Butterflies on the brink: habitat requirements for declining populations of the marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) in SW England

1. The marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia is one of our most endangered butterflies, and the only to be protected under European legislation as well as British. It persists in fragile subpopulations threatened by habitat fragmentation and degradation. 2. A combination of swaling and cattle grazing are accepted to be best practice for managing wet, unimproved grasslands??the favoured habitat for E. aurinia in Cornwall. These two well-endorsed methods of management were used to increase and improve the quality of habitat for E. aurinia over a 5 years period, 2004?C2008, at a stronghold network of habitat patches in mid Cornwall, south-west England. 3. Analyses of adult and larval densities over 5 years in fifty-four transects across nine sites found E. aurinia to favour habitat patches with higher densities of the larval food plant (Devil??s-bit scabious Succisa pratensis), higher sward height in autumn, and intermediate optimum levels of stock grazing. 4. Main findings indicated most sites experienced significant declines in numbers. Unfavourable weather in the last 2 years of monitoring was likely to have had a significant impact on the response of individual subpopulations to habitat management though poor recovery rates may also reflect a time-lag in colonisation events after habitat improvement has occurred. 5. Habitat management produced an improvement, albeit an inconsistent improvement in habitat variables across patches??S. pratensis shows a clear recovery at some sites. Autumn sward height increased significantly at one site, and a quadratic relationship between stock grazing and important habitat variables has been found which will aid further improvement over all sites for the long term persistence of E. aurinia.     

The occurrence of Mycoplasma phocicerebrale, Mycoplasma phocidae, and Mycoplasma phocirhinis in grey and common seals (Halichoerus grypus and Phoca vitulina) in the United Kingdom

Following the isolation of Mycoplasma phocicerebrale from the flipper wound of a grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) in Cornwall, UK, surveillance for Mycoplasma species was extended to include other seals rescued or found dead around the UK. Mycoplasma phocicerebrale was frequently detected from the teeth of seals and from infected wounds and respiratory tracts. Mycoplasma phocirhinis, Mycoplasma phocidae, and some unidentified Mycoplasma species were also detected. Mycoplasma phocicerebrale and M. phocidae were the only bacteria consistently identified from the wound infections, but their role in respiratory and other diseases remains unknown, as other bacteria were also isolated from respiratory sites.     

Drivers of risk perceptions about the invasive non-native plant Japanese knotweed in domestic gardens

How people perceive risks posed by invasive non-native plants (INNP) can influence attitudes and consequently likely influence behavioural decisions. Although some drivers of risk perception for INNP have been identified, research has not determined those for INNP in domestic gardens. This is concerning as domestic gardens are where people most commonly encounter INNP, and where impacts can be particularly acute. Using a survey approach, this study determined the drivers of perceptions of risk of INNP in domestic gardens and which risks most concern people. Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica, in Cornwall, UK, where it is a problematic INNP in domestic gardens, was used as a case study. Possible drivers of risk were chosen a priori based on variables previously found to be important for environmental risks. Participants perceived Japanese knotweed to be less frequent on domestic property in Cornwall if their occupation involved the housing market, if they had not had Japanese knotweed in their own garden, if they did not know of Japanese knotweed within 5 km of their home, or if they were educated to degree level. Participants who thought that the consequences of Japanese knotweed being present on domestic property could be more severe had occupations that involved the housing market, knew of Japanese knotweed within 5 km of their home, or were older. Although concern about the damage Japanese knotweed could do to the structure of a property was reported as the second highest motivation to control it by the majority of participants, the perception of threat from this risk was rated as relatively low. The results of this study have implications for policy, risk communication, and garden management decisions. For example, there is a need for policy that provides support and resources for people to manage INNP in their local area. To reduce the impact and spread of INNP we highlight the need for clear and accurate risk communication within discourse about this issue. The drivers identified in this study could be used to target awareness campaigns to limit the development of over- or under-inflated risk perceptions.     

Nitrogen accumulation in kaolin mining wastes in cornwall

Summary Nitrogen accumulation was studied in mica and sand mining wastes of Cornwall after twelve forage legume varieties were established with the use of lime and fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium. In the finetextured mica waste legume productivity and nitrogen accumulation were similar to those for upland pastures in Cornwall; but legume growth was limited by summer drought on the coarse-textured sand waste. Native perennial legumes well adapted to the British climate were the most productive and showed the highest potential for nitrogen fixation. More than 500 kg N/ha accumulated during the 2-year period whenTrifolium pratense andLotus corniculatus were established on mica waste, and more than 250 kg N/ha was accumulated by these legumes on sand waste.Trifolium pratense andLotus corniculatus were persistent on both the mica and sand waste, andMedicago lupulina showed an unusually high tolerance for competition from invading and sown grass on the sand waste.Trifolium repens andT. hybridum are recommended for waste sites where grazing is a part of management.Nitrogen accumulation on mica waste was consistent with N fixation rates expected from climatic conditions. Nitrogen fixation by free-living bacteria is limited by the low organic matter content of the wastes. The nitrogen fixation potential by legumes on sand wastes has been underestimated because leaching losses were not adequately evaluated. Since nitrogen accumulation rates by earlyTrifolium pratense andT. repens were 70 percent higher than the maximum rate estimated for natural legumesi.e. (Ulex europaeus) on sand waste, the use of forage legumes should reduce reclamation time considerably. re]19760512Department of Botany Liverpool University     

The status of the Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus in the UK and the Channel Islands in 1998

A survey of breeding Cirl Buntings in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands was undertaken in 1998. An estimated 453 (95% CI, 415–504) territories were recorded in 103 tetrads in Devon. This amounts to an increase of 29% in the Devon population since the last full survey in 1993, when 352 territories were recorded in 95 tetrads. In addition, nine territories were located on the island of Jersey in 1998 although none were found elsewhere. In 1993 there were 18 singing males on Jersey with a further two in both Cornwall and Somerset. The Cirl Bunting population in Devon seems to be consolidating rather than expanding as the only significant increase in numbers between 1993 and 1998 was from those tetrads occupied in both years. This paper also summarizes the results of surveys during 1989–97 and assesses the changes in the Cirl Bunting population over that period.     

Spatial Covariance between Aesthetic Value & Other Ecosystem Services

Mapping the spatial distribution of ecosystem goods and services represents a burgeoning field of research, although how different services covary with one another remains poorly understood. This is particularly true for the covariation of supporting, provisioning and regulating services with cultural services (the non-material benefits people gain from nature). This is largely because of challenges associated with the spatially specific quantification of cultural ecosystem services. We propose an innovative approach for evaluating a cultural service, the perceived aesthetic value of ecosystems, by quantifying geo-tagged digital photographs uploaded to social media resources. Our analysis proceeds from the premise that images will be captured by greater numbers of people in areas that are more highly valued for their aesthetic attributes. This approach was applied in Cornwall, UK, to carry out a spatial analysis of the covariation between ecosystem services: soil carbon stocks, agricultural production, and aesthetic value. Our findings suggest that online geo-tagged images provide an effective metric for mapping a key component of cultural ecosystem services. They also highlight the non-stationarity in the spatial relationships between patterns of ecosystem services.