Level-bottom brachiopod communities in the Middle Devonian of New York

Depositional environments of the Onondaga Limestone from central to southeastern New York are found to be normal, subtidal marine, due to the absence of characteristic supratidal or intertidal sedimentary features and the presence of a typical, diverse, marine level-bottom community framework. Post-mortem transport has not been extensive, as evidenced by low articulation ratios, lack of abraded valves, and complete ontogenetic gradations within species, which precludes large scale winnowing. Sedimentation rates appear to have been greatest in eastern New York where the Onondaga Limestone reaches a thickness almost three times that of the strata in central New York. Shaly beds in the central area represent periods of cessation of carbonate deposition rather than an influx of clastic material. Deposition terminated with the onset of deeper water characterized by a westerly advance of terrigenous sedimentation (the Marceilus Shale of the Hamilton Group). Nine brachiopod communities can be recognized in the Onondaga Limestone. There is a strong correlation between sediment-substrate and community type, reflecting the sedimentologic control of brachiopod community distribution. Sandy facies, cherty limestones and coral biostromes and bioherms are associated with inner-neritic deposition in Edgecliff time; argillaceous lime muds and lime sands are characteristic of mid-neritic deposition in Nedrow to Moorehouse time; and highly argillaceous lime muds are associated with outer-nerittc deposition in Seneca time.     

Population size and trends of the Galápagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus

We applied a capture–mark–resight (CMR) method to estimate the population size of the Galápagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus . In 1999, we estimated 1198 individuals, with lower and upper 95% confidence limits of 1054 and 1403 individuals, respectively, and estimated that approximately 57% of the total population was counted in an annual census. Applying this estimate to the 2003 census, we estimated that the population size for the whole archipelago was 1351 individuals. We also applied the correction factor derived from the 1999 CMR data to other censuses carried out between 1970 and 2003 and estimated a maximum population of about 4000 individuals in 1971 when the highest numbers of Penguins were counted. Although the Penguin population size has fluctuated in the last 33 years, the overall trend shows larger populations in 1970–80 followed by relatively smaller populations and a slow recovery rate in 1983–2003. The data set also shows two major population declines (in 1983 and 1998), which are coincident with El Niño episodes.     

Foraging tactics in alternative heterochronic salamander morphs: trophic quality of ponds matters more than water permanency

1. In lentic freshwater habitats, the composition of animal assemblages shifts along a gradient from temporary to permanent basins. When habitats with different degrees of permanence are at the scale of the home range of species, they constitute alternatives in terms of energy acquisition through feeding. 2. In this context, previous studies showed an advantage of metamorphic over paedomorphic tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) in temporary ponds which are only available to metamorphs. The aim of this study was to establish whether salamanders obtain similar benefits in ponds that do not differ in water permanence and whether salamanders shifted from detrimental to advantageous ponds. To this end, we determined the feeding habits, body condition and movement patterns of the two morphs in a complex of four permanent and four temporary ponds. 3. Consistent with previous studies, metamorphs consumed higher‐quality diets than paedomorphs in term of energy intake. However, these differences occurred because metamorphs consumed fairy shrimp in a single temporary pond. Individual movement patterns confirmed that most of the metamorphs used different aquatic habitats both within and between years and that most of them moved from permanent ponds for breeding towards the most profitable temporary pond in terms of foraging. 4. These results indicate that habitat selection by salamanders is optimal in term of energy intake in metamorphs that use high quality ponds independently of hydroperiod. It seems that both spatial and temporal variation can influence the relative foraging success of each morph.     

MARGARINE: THE DRIVERS OF LIKING AND IMAGE

This paper presents a study of the attributes of margarine, showing the depth of information about consumer perceptions and drivers of liking that emerges from a detailed analysis of relations among attributes. The paper develops three sets of analyses to understand relations among attributes: principal components analysis in order to identify basic dimensions of perception, linear functions relating overall liking to attribute liking or to image ratings in order to identify drivers of liking, and quadratic functions that relate overall liking or image ratings to sensory attribute levels in order to identify optimal sensory levels and to create sensory preference segments. The analyses show how consumer data can generate learning about the consumer perceptions on the one hand, and guidance for product development.     

THE JUST-ABOUT-RIGHT INTENSITY SCALE: FUNCTIONAL ANALYSES AND RELATION TO HEDONICS

This study assessed the meaning of just‐about‐right (JAR) categories when used with a 5‐point intensity scale. The panelists comprised both consumer and in‐house respondents. The JAR categories have various meanings as perceived by the respondents: “prefer product,”“very good,”“I like the product,”“like it very much,”“highly favorable,”“high acceptability,”“desirable like the product,”“best for the situation” and “correct.” Thus, the JAR meanings invoke preference and acceptability. This article presents two additional analyses to help the product tested. One method of analysis divides below‐JAR deviation from the above‐JAR deviation, with standard statistical procedures applied in each data set. The second method introduces the signal‐to‐noise ratio statistic for analyzing the relation of JAR to overall liking. Both analytic methods provide new ways to look at the JAR data, especially with respect to hedonics and product improvement.