Forum with Parliament Members : Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination ; Audio Recordings of the Proceedings Auteur(s) : Caribbean IRN Résumé : From the PNCR, GAP MPs free to vote conscience on gay rights bill
By Johann Earle
Stabroek News
June 11, 2003
The PNCR will allow its members to vote their conscience on the controversial Constitution (Amendment) Act of 2001 which seeks to prevent discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and other grounds.
A number of religious organisations are opposed to the passage of the bill because it includes sexual orientation as one of the grounds. They are concerned that it could lead to a legalisation of homosexual relations and demands for recognition of gay marriages among other things.
PNCR Member of Parliament (MP) Vincent Alexander told a forum at the National Library on Saturday, that the Bill did not seek to legalise homosexuality, but to ensure that persons would not be discriminated against based on their sexual preferences.
He was one of two parliamentarians who showed up - the other being PNCR member, Myrna Peterkin.
The forum was organised by Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), a group comprising fifteen students from the University of Guyana which was formed about two weeks ago.
Alexander expects the vote on the bill to come up before the National Assembly in a matter of months.
Paul Hardy, Leader of the Guyana Action Party (GAP), told Stabroek News that his party would not be using the so-called parliamentary whip. He added that GAP took a decision that every member should vote according to his or her own conscience. “We have no right to deny the rights of others based on sexual orientation. [The Bill] will guarantee rights to the homosexual.” GAP is in Parliament as part of an alliance with the Working People’s Alliance. GAP/WPA has two MPs.
The bill was met with rejection from some members of the religious community in 2001 and as a result of this, the President did not assent to it.
In a statement on Monday, the Central Islamic Organisa-tion of Guyana (CIOG) said that it stood in firm opposition to the Bill. The CIOG says the general purpose of the bill may be commendable and that the organisation’s objection is not based on a willingness to promote discrimination. Rather, the CIOG said, it was based on the fact that specific legal protection on the basis of sexual orientation without definition or qualification gives tacit legitimacy to practices which are considered criminal in Islam. “It is foreseeable that such a legal nod of approval (subtle as it may be) of these practices may pave the way for greater social (or even legal) acceptability in the future which, from the perspective of all Muslims including those in Guyana, is an undesirable and sinful outcome,” the CIOG statement said.
At Saturday’s event, Muslim teacher Moulana Mohamed Ali Zenjibari spoke of instances of abuse, discrimination and harsh penalties meted out to gay and lesbian persons in countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia and noted that the Quran did not sanction such punishments for homosexual behaviour.
President of the CIOG, Fazeel Ferouz told Stabroek News that a meeting to discuss a strategy with regards to the bill was planned for tomorrow with various religious groups.
Stabroek News tried to get a comment on the issue from the PPP/C but to no avail.
ROAR leader, Ravi Dev said that his party was now having discussions on the issue. ROAR feels that it is an important question which has to do with morality and should be discussed across the country. He added legislators had to be in tune with their constituents on the issue.
SASOD is lobbying for the legislation through the sensitisation of MPs.
Keimo Benjamin, a law student at UG, gave a presentation based on the jurisprudential aspects of the discussion on sexual orientation. He argued that morality should not be the only guiding principle on which to base the laws. Sexual activities between two consenting male adults in private could not be equated with a violation of a person’s rights, he said, making the point that the thrust of his presentation was not whether homosexuality was wrong, but whether it violated the rights of others. He said that the attitudes of some towards this subject were based on preconceived notions and prejudices. He cited studies to show that the suppression of certain perceived deviant sexual impulses in persons might do more harm than good. One Harvard University study of teens who said they were gay indicated that those teens were three times more likely to commit suicide.
Vidyaratha Kissoon, of Help and Shelter, in his contribution on Saturday, expressed his displeasure at the low turnout at the forum and urged the parliamentarians who showed up to take the message to their colleagues. He noted that because of homophobia, the numerical minority was terrified of speaking out against instances of discrimination. Gays and lesbians in Guyana were subjected to ridicule and abuse, and walk the streets at night not looking for sex necessarily, but for the companionship of persons who empathise with them.
During his presentation, Joel Simpson, another member of SASOD, outlined a number of changes made within national jurisdictions that had international implications. One such crucial change was South Africa’s 1996 adoption of a new constitution, making that country the first in the world to expressly include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination. It was the first time a developing country had taken the lead with respect to the rights of sexual minorities.
He also said that according to Douglas Sanders, a Canadian jurist, the rights of homosexual, bisexual or transsexual men and women had never been officially recognised by the United Nations, despite the fact that international laws on the issue began to emerge at the close of the Second World War.
Simpson said that under Article 170 (5), as amended by Section 8 of the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 4) Act 2000, the President is required to assent to any bill which is returned by the National Assembly unaltered after a two-thirds majority within 90 days of its presentation to him. To the parliamentarians present, Simpson stressed that the onus was now on them to adequately represent their constituents which include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual Guyanese.
http://www.landofsixpeoples.com/news301/ns306115.htm
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Vote on sexual orientation should be a matter of conscience - MP Alexander
By Esther Elijah
Guyana Chronicle
June 8, 2003
PEOPLE’S National Congress (PNC/R) Member of Parliament Mr. Vincent Alexander, said the Opposition will vote on “conscience” when the piece of legislation on sexual orientation is again brought before the National Assembly.
“With specific reference to my party, when this Bill gets back to the Parliament in the spirit of the arguments here, we will not use the `whip’. Our party will not say we have to vote for the provision (in the Sexual Orientation Bill). We will allow our members to vote as a matter of conscience,” he told participants gathered in the Conference Room of the National Library.
“We feel this is a matter of conscience. You may end up with a collective position but you have to deal with us individually,” Alexander said at a poorly attended public consultation aimed at gaining support for sexual orientation to be considered a fundamental right in Guyana.
Alexander, one of the main persons who sat on the Constitutional Reform Commission that addressed this controversial clause, said the legislation was not meant to legalise homosexual activities in Guyana.
“It was intended to ensure that persons who have an orientation - a way of thinking - which may or may not lead to a certain activity, to not be discriminated against, in terms of their rights,” he explained.
Alexander noted that very often, discussions on the sexual orientation provision in the Bill have led to seepages into other areas where debates centre on the “right to be homosexual.”
“I am saying the Bill does not comment on that… However, law is peculiar, especially in a Common Law system. Once you venture out and change the law, very often you open other windows which we cannot definitively say exist or does not exist in advance,” he said.
“The fear of some people is that the legislators might say one thing and the Courts will eventually say something else. While some people can’t argue against the law, per say, they will say this has opened a window of opportunity not meant to be opened. So, it is better to stay without a window than open it and then have a possibility of something you didn’t intend to happen - happening sometime in the future.”
Alexander added: “I want to say I’ve found this activity to have been rich from the perspective of the amount of research which was done by student (speakers). Without any comment as to whether I agree with the arguments, I would wish that much more research on other issues be done by students, and that at the University (of Guyana) students would find it convenient to have forums on other issues, with the same depth of research for their own intellectual development.”
Alexander and other Opposition M.P, Lurlene Nestor were the only three Parliamentarians in attendance at the session organised by the recently formed `Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination’ (SASOD), a group that has a membership of 15 mostly University of Guyana (UG) students from various faculties.
SASOD was established two weeks ago.
With the exception of members of the press, the consultation only managed to attract 11 persons, a handful of who were SASOD members.
While congratulating the students for an “insightful” presentation, Nestor pointed out that whether or not she chooses to agree with their position is “another issue” and she is entitled to her “own view”.
“The issue of sexual orientation is very `toucheous’ …while we agree with the human rights provisions and all that as a society, we must also revert to our own society. Some of the very critical questions that I would want to ask is whether or not at the society (level) we are ready for that kind of thing,” she remarked.
“We cannot, at (any) time, ignore the religious groups in our society. If we look at statistics going back to 1992 from a survey done by the Bureau of Statistics, we would see that a small section of the Guyanese population might be considered as people who do not subscribe to a religious view. While the laws are not necessarily based on moral values, we must acknowledge the fact that we might want to revert to many of the cases that (concern) laws that protect public morality.”
Nestor told the speakers at the consultation these were some of the issues that they needed to deal with.
She highlighted, too, that what must be examined is the effects of same-sex marriages on society and how this issue must be tackled.
“These are some of the things we should consider and I don’t think you dealt with that in the presentations,” Nestor stated, adding that the issues must be addressed “frontally.”
“Do we think that with the coming to being of this Bill that there might be quite a number of challenges to the Constitution in relation to the same issue of a man marrying a man? What do we do at the society (level)? Do we recognise that?” were the questions directed at the five speakers at the session.
Nestor continued: “There is some argument that says, `Oh the Bill does not promote homosexuality or does not encourage a man to marry (another) man, but if you look at Section (15) that talks about `non-discrimination’ then how can we not, with the passage of this Bill, allow a man not to marry (another) man.”
According to Nestor, matters of this nature constitute some of the “inconsistencies” of the Bill.
On the argument raised by presenters at the session on who determines what is morality, Nestor said in the concept of democracy it is the people who are the determinants based on a “line of thinking.”
She also rebutted on grounds that put the spotlight on teachers who may have been caught “interfering” with their young students and who may subsequently be dismissed from their jobs.
“Could you imagine such a person interfering with a boy below age 10 - and by virtue of the fact that the Bill is there, the judges (in the case) will have to use their discretion in terms of what happens. We will have more Constitutional changes and problems (arising with the passage of the Bill).”
SASOD member and law student, Joel Simpson, in reply, said he doesn’t think any homosexual in Guyana wants to “run into a church and ask that people marry them or anything of that sort.”
At one point likening the church to a “club”, Simpson claimed the church has the right to exclude whomever it wants. He further stated that in accordance with the Constitution, people of the same sex do not currently have the right to marry, and will also not be able to do such an act with the passage of the Bill.
However, Simpson said it is possible that the law, with the passage of the Bill, would have to recognise same-sex domestic partnerships in relation to employment benefits, sharing of properties, etc.
Simpson said he believes there should be a realm of “public” and “private” morality between consenting adults, and implied that the Bill did not fully give “rights” to homosexuals.
But, Nestor interjected: “I am informing you further…that the Sexual Orientation provision has, in fact, in some way recognised the rights of homosexuals and we must accept that.”
Meanwhile, there was no vocal Christian representative(s) at the consultation and apart from the two Opposition representatives none other participant gave comments or directed questions at the presenters.
Other speakers in support of the sexual orientation clause were: Moulana Mohammed Ali Zenjiban, Assistant Director of the International Islamic College; Denuka Radzik from Red Thread, Keimo Benjamin, UG law student and Vidyartha Kissoon from Help & Shelter.
The Sunday Chronicle has been reliably informed that the Georgetown Ministers Fellowship, representing groups of Christian leaders staunchly against sexual orientation as a right in Guyana, have recently prepared a detailed 16-page document outlining issues arising from research to further boost their argument against the inclusion of the clause.
The document is yet to be made public.
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Copy of resignation letter from John F. Stevens to President Theodore Roosevelt Auteur(s) : Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943 ( Author, Primary ) Résumé : (Biographical) From Wikipedia: John Frank Stevens (25 April 1853 – 2 June 1943) was an American engineer who built the Great Northern Railway in the United States and was chief engineer on the Panama Canal between 1905 and 1907. Biography: Stevens was born in rural Maine, near West Gardiner to John Stevens, a tanner and farmer, and Harriet Leslie French. He attended Maine State Normal School (now the University of Maine at Farmington) for two years. At the conclusion of his schooling in 1873, bleak economic conditions held little promise of a job, and he chose to go west. Entry into the field of civil engineering evolved from his experience in the Minneapolis city engineer's office. For two years he carried out a variety of engineering tasks, including surveying and building railroads, and at the same time gained experience and an understanding of the subject. He became a practical engineer, self-taught and driven by a self-described "bull-dog tenacity of purpose." In 1878 Stevens married Harriet T. O'Brien. They had five children, two of whom died in infancy.
By the age of 33, in 1886, Stevens was principal assistant engineer for the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway, and in charge of building the line from Duluth, Minnesota to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Although a large part of his work involved surveying, he assisted in all phases of railroading: reconnaissance, locating, organizing, and construction.
In 1889, Stevens was hired by James J. Hill as a locating engineer for the Great Northern Railway.
Stevens earned wide acclaim in 1889 when he explored Marias Pass, Montana, and determined its practicability for a railroad. Stevens was an efficient administrator with remarkable technical skills and imagination. He discovered Stevens Pass through the Cascade Mountains, set railroad construction standards in the Mesabi Range of northern Minnesota, and supervised construction of the Oregon Trunk Line. Hill promoted him to chief engineer in 1895, and later to general manager. During his time at the Great Northern, Stevens built over a thousand miles of railroad, including the original Cascade Tunnel. Stevens Pass in the Cascade Range was named for him. (Most other Pacific Northwest landmarks with the word "Stevens" are named after Isaac Stevens, who is of no relation.)
Panama Canal:
Stevens left the Great Northern in 1903 for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, where he was promoted to vice-president. Then, in 1905, at Hill's recommendation, he was hired by Theodore Roosevelt as chief engineer on the Panama Canal.
Stevens' primary achievement in Panama was to build the infrastructure needed for the completion of the canal. "The digging," he said, "is the least thing of all." He proceeded immediately to build warehouses, machine shops, and piers. Communities for the personnel were planned and built to include housing, schools, hospitals, churches, and hotels. He authorized extensive sanitation and mosquito-control programs that eliminated yellow fever and other diseases from the Isthmus. Reflecting his background, he saw the early stage of the canal project itself as primarily a problem in railroad engineering, which included rebuilding the Panama Railway and devising a rail-based system for disposing of the soil from the excavations. Stevens argued the case against a sea level canal like the French had tried to build. He successfully convinced Theodore Roosevelt of the necessity of a high-level canal built with dams and locks.
Resignation:
Stevens resigned suddenly from the Canal project in 1907 to Roosevelt's great annoyance, as the focus of the work turned to construction of the canal itself. As a railroad engineer, Stevens had little expertise in building locks and dams, and probably realized he was no longer the best person for the remainder of the job. Stevens would also have been aware that the original great Cascade Tunnel, for which he was responsible, was in hindsight built in error too close to the ruling grade and was perhaps turning from a credit to a debit. The true reasons for his resignation have never been known.
Subsequent career:
Following the collapse of Imperial Russia in 1917, leaders of the provisional government appealed to President Wilson for help with their transportation systems. Stevens was selected to chair a board of prominent U.S. railroad experts sent to Russia to rationalize and manage a system that was in disarray; among his work was on the Trans-Siberian Railway. After the overthrow of the provisional government, the board's work ceased. Stevens remained in Allied-occupied Manchuria and in 1919 headed the Inter-Allied Technical Board charged with the administration and operation of the Chinese Eastern and Siberian railways. He remained in an advisory capacity until occupying Allied troops were withdrawn; he finally left in 1923. After his return to the United States Stevens continued to work as a consulting engineer, ending his career in Baltimore in the early 1930s. He was awarded the Franklin Institute's Franklin Medal in 1930. He then retired to Southern Pines, North Carolina, where he died at the age of 90 in 1943. Digital version only, no paper copy in collection archives. Droits : This item is presumed to be in the public domain. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not claim any copyright interest in this item. Users of this work have responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions may require permission of the copyright holder. The Smathers Libraries would like to learn more about this item and invite individuals or organizations to contact Digital Services (UFDC@uflib.ufl.edu) with any additional information they can provide. http://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00029596/00001 | Partager |
Mexico in revolution Auteur(s) : Blasco Ibâaänez, Vicente, 1867-1928 Livingston, Arthur, 1883- Padin, Josâe, 1886- Éditeur(s) : E.P. Dutton E.P. Dutton ( New York ) Résumé : (Statement of Responsibility) by V. Blasco Ibaänez; tr. by Arthur Livingston and Josâe Padin. "The various articles in this volume were written, on my return from Mexico, for the New York times, the Chicago tribune and other important newspapers in the United States." Mexico Mexico 00529603 20012284 | Partager |
Impact of erosion, sedimentation, and structural heritage on the structure and kinematics of orogenic wedges: Analog models and case studies Auteur(s) : Malavieille, Jacques Auteurs secondaires : Géosciences Montpellier ; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Geological Society of America Résumé : orogenic wedges Interaction between surface and tectonic processes plays a key role in the structural evolution, kinematics, and exhumation of rocks in orogenic wedges. The deformation patterns observed in analog models show that strain partitioning has a strong impact on the vertical component of displacement of tectonic units, which in return favors erosion in domains of important uplift. Partitioning is controlled by tectonic processes and by climate-dependent surface processes, including erosion and sedimentation. The effects of partitioning include localization of deformed domains, exhumation above areas of deep underplating, and steady-state maintenance of wedges for long time periods. Simple models illustrate well how the morphostructural evolution of mountain belts is determined by these complex interactions. ISSN: 1052-5173 hal-00558931 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00558931 DOI : 10.1130/GSATG48A.1 | Partager |
The significant contribution of FADs to Solomon Taiyo Limited's fishing operations Auteur(s) : Sibisopere, M Éditeur(s) : Pêche thonière et dispositifs de concentration de poissons, Caribbean-Martinique, 15-19 Oct 1999 Résumé : From 1972, when Solomon Taiyo Limited (stl) started a pole-and-line fishing operation, to 1980, stl vessels had been catching tuna almost exclusively from surface free-swimming schools. In 1981, a fad programme group purse-seining fishing operation, using the Filipino "payao" model, was put in place. Results were excellent and STL vessels quickly adapted their fishing methods to make the best use of fads. STL slightly modified the original payao design to better suit its own needs and nowadays, about 90% of the group purse seine catch, i.e. 5,800 t annually, and around 60-70% of the pole-and-line catch, i.e. about 15,000 t annually, come from fad fishing. fads bring benefits not only to stl but also to the rural communities of the region. For stl, it allows savings on the operational costs, especially those of pole-and-line fishing operations, reduction of searching time and a better regularity of fish landings. For the rural communities, it gives better returns to bait-ground owners through royalties paid by stl for their baitfishing boats and it allows local fishing communities (known as canoe-fishermen) to increase their catches using fishing methods (artisanal) such as trolling and midwater handlines set around fads. This provides fish for family consumption and a source of income from fish sold. Overall, the importance of fads to stl's fishing operation, and therefore to the local economy as a whole, is high, although no precise value can be attached to it. Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00042/15307/12643.pdf http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00042/15307/ | Partager |
« Je navigue dans deux temps » : errance spatiale et identitaire dans L’énigme du retour de Dany Laferrière Auteur(s) : Aline Helm, Yolande Éditeur(s) : Université des Antilles Études caribéennes Résumé : Le roman de Laferrière présente un récit qui tient plus de la mémoire, de l’imaginaire que de la « réalité » et ce, dans un « Tiers-espace », dans une situation d’« entre-pluralités ». Cette étude se fonde sur les composantes suivantes : le métissage culturel et la subjectivité, l’exil et le marronnage ainsi que le corps de la « mèr/e » comme « lieu » d’intersection des cultures. Nous aborderons aussi la question du style de l’auteur afin de démontrer la correspondance entre l’écriture et le signifié du texte-signifiant. Les représentations du départ, du retour et du détour ponctuent le récit dans une structure spatio-temporelle complexe, hybride et fluide. L’identité culturelle et métisse du narrateur projette une acceptation de l’autre dans sa différence à la fois banale et sublime. This literary analysis focuses on how the narrator of The Enigma of the Return navigates through various spaces (Canada and Haiti) and time in order to “relearn” and “relive” the memories of his childhood and the death of his father. The return and the détour function and are intertwined in a real and in a fiction world, and in the sacred present moment. The oceanic metaphors and the fragmented style also emphasize the narrator’s desire to accentuate the “contre idéologie” of writing. The narrator displays an original “cohabitation” with the notion of “exile”. The nomadism, the long return, and the many “détours” have a goal: to bring the father back to his native land through an enigmatic prose and rhythm… a long peregrination which allows peace and identity to merge: the cyclic end of the voyage is completed. Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess urn:doi:10.4000/etudescaribeennes.11332 http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/11332 | Partager |
Tourist Perceptions of Beach Cleanliness in Barbados: Implications for Return Visitation Auteur(s) : Schuhmann, Peter W. Éditeur(s) : Université des Antilles Études caribéennes Résumé : The quality of the natural environment is inexorably linked to tourism in the Caribbean. Tourists are attracted to the beauty of the Caribbean coastal and marine environment, generating significant economic activity and employment. The resulting development and concentration of human activities in the coastal zone may have deleterious effects on environmental quality and tourists’ willingness to return. Using a survey administered to over 2,000 tourists in Barbados, this work examines tourist perceptions of beach quality and encounters with beach litter. The relationship between the quality of the coastal environment and the probability of return visitation is empirically investigated. Results demonstrate a clear link between viewing beach litter and the perceived quality of beaches and that tourists who stayed beachfront or in large hotels encountered significantly less beach litter and had higher ratings of beach quality. The amount of litter viewed and stated perceptions of beach quality are significantly associated with the probability of return visitation, especially for first-time visitors. Results of this study suggest that targeted beach clean-up efforts may enhance the probability of return visitation and create significant economic value. La qualité de l'environnement naturel est inexorablement liée au tourisme dans les Caraïbes. Les touristes sont attirés par la beauté de la côte des Caraïbes et du milieu marin, stimulant l'activité économique et l'emploi. Le développement qui en résulte et la concentration des activités humaines dans la zone côtière peuvent avoir des effets délétères sur la qualité de l'environnement et de la volonté des touristes à revenir. L'utilisation d'un sondage mené auprès de plus de 2.000 touristes à la Barbade examine les perceptions touristiques de la qualité des plages et des rencontres avec des déchets sur les plages. La relation entre la qualité de l'environnement côtier et la probabilité du retour des visiteurs est une étude empirique. Les résultats montrent un lien clair entre la visualisation des déchets sur les plages, la qualité perçue des plages et le lieu de séjour des touristes en bord de mer, dans les grands hôtels, selon la qualité plus ou moins élevées de la plage. La quantité de litière vue et la déclaration du degré de qualité des plages perçue sont significativement associées à la probabilité de retour des visiteurs, en particulier pour les primo-visiteurs. Les résultats de cette étude suggèrent que les efforts de nettoyage sur les plages cibles peut augmenter la probabilité de retour de visiteurs et de créer une valeur économique significative. Barbade Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess urn:doi:10.4000/etudescaribeennes.5251 http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/5251 | Partager |
Impact of Surface Processes on the Growth of Orogenic Wedges: Insights from Analog Models and Case Studies1 Auteur(s) : Malavieille, Jacques Konstantinovskaya, Elena Auteurs secondaires : Géosciences Montpellier ; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Eau Terre Environnement - INRS (INRS-ETE) ; Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique [Québec] (INRS) Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica Résumé : Interaction between surface processes and deep tectonic processes plays a key role in the structural evolution, kinematics and exhumation of rocks in orogenic wedges. The deformation patterns observed in analogue models applied to natural cases of present active or ancient mountain belts reflect several first order processes that result of these interactions. Internal strain partitioning due to mechanical behaviour of a thrust wedge has a strong impact on the vertical component of displacement of tectonic units that in return favour erosion in domains of important uplift. Such strain partitioning is first controlled by tectonic processes, but surface processes exert a strong feed back on wedge dynamics. Indeed, material transfer in thrust wedges not only depends on its internal dynamics, it is also influenced by climate controlled surface processes involving erosion and sedimentation. Effects of erosion are multiple: they allow long term localization of deformed domains, they favour important exhumation above areas of deep underplating and combined with sedimentation in the foreland they contribute to maintain the wedge in a critical state for long time periods. The simple models illustrate well how mountain belts structure, kinematics of tectonic units and exhumation are determined by these complex interactions. ISSN: 0016-8521 hal-00561361 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00561361 DOI : 10.1134/S0016852110060075 | Partager |
Arboreal ants use the "Velcro(R) principle" to capture very large prey. Auteur(s) : Dejean, Alain Leroy, Céline Corbara, Bruno Roux, Olivier Céréghino, Régis Orivel, Jérôme Boulay, Raphaël Auteurs secondaires : Ecologie des forêts de Guyane (ECOFOG) ; Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) - Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - AgroParisTech - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Laboratoire Microorganismes : Génome et Environnement (LMGE) ; Université Blaise Pascal - Clermont-Ferrand 2 (UBP) - Université d'Auvergne - Clermont-Ferrand I (UdA) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement - ECOLAB (ECOLAB) ; Institut National Polytechnique [Toulouse] (INP) - Université Paul Sabatier - Toulouse 3 (UPS) - Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Dpto. Sanidad Animal ; Universidad de León [León] Departamento de Biologıa Animal ; Universidad de Granada (UGR) Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science Résumé : International audience Plant-ants live in a mutualistic association with host plants known as "myrmecophytes" that provide them with a nesting place and sometimes with extra-floral nectar (EFN) and/or food bodies (FBs); the ants can also attend sap-sucking Hemiptera for their honeydew. In return, plant-ants, like most other arboreal ants, protect their host plants from defoliators. To satisfy their nitrogen requirements, however, some have optimized their ability to capture prey in the restricted environment represented by the crowns of trees by using elaborate hunting techniques. In this study, we investigated the predatory behavior of the ant Azteca andreae which is associated with the myrmecophyte Cecropia obtusa. We noted that up to 8350 ant workers per tree hide side-by-side beneath the leaf margins of their host plant with their mandibles open, waiting for insects to alight. The latter are immediately seized by their extremities, and then spread-eagled; nestmates are recruited to help stretch, carve up and transport prey. This group ambush hunting technique is particularly effective when the underside of the leaves is downy, as is the case for C. obtusa. In this case, the hook-shaped claws of the A. andreae workers and the velvet-like structure of the underside of the leaves combine to act like natural Velcro that is reinforced by the group ambush strategy of the workers, allowing them to capture prey of up to 13,350 times the mean weight of a single worker. ISSN: 1932-6203 hal-00818187 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00818187 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00818187/document https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00818187/file/Dejean2010_Arboreal.pdf DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0011331 | Partager |
Marine cage fish farming Auteur(s) : Espeut, P. Harache, Yves Lemarie, Gilles Ricard, Jean-marc Résumé : Marine capture fisheries in Jamaica is primarily artisanal in nature ansd is conducted maiinly by fishermen operating from canoes. Approximately 95% of these fishermen operate on the coastal shelf and its associated banks. The commercial species harvested comprise bottom-dwelling, coral reef species and free swimming species of finfish. Other fishery resources of commercial value include marine shrimp, conch and lobsters. Catch statistics are not available for all species, but the Department of Fisheries reports a slight decline in fishery production with production decreasing from 16 milion lbs in 1990, despite the fact that fishing efforts have doubled. Over this period the number of registered fishermen has grown from 12 000 to 16 000, al of whom are engaged in full-time fishing. There arealso part-time fishermen who are not registered. The decline in fish catch is accompanied by a decrease in fish size and quality, suggesting that the fisheries are under pressure and have already exceeded optimum production in relation to vailable resources. As a result the economic returns to fishermen are declining. There are also other problems, such as high incidence of conflicts among fishermen at sea, the high cost of purchasing boats, outboard engine fuel, and equipment, with together with the dangers involved in fishing offshore (piracy, and praedial larceny) create serious social ans economic difficulties for fishermen. Notwithstanding, there is an apparent move on the part of the fishermen to leave the industryor to seek alternative forms of employment. In fact, the Department ofFisheries reports that it is still reciving applications for new licences to operate fishing boats. This is probably due to the fact that where the basis of a community is fishing, it becomes difficult to introduce alternative forms of employment, such as cottage industries, village crafts and other trades. In 1987 the Jamaica Department of Fisheries prepared a Management plan which proposed several conservation measures to promote the efficient use of fisheries resources and to control the development of the Fishery in such a way that the country would receive highest benefits. Adequate attention was given to limitations on fishing gear, institution of closed seasons and related legislation. Strategies to diversify the marine fishing were also proposed. The 1990 five year Devlopment Plan for marine fisheries also focuses on proper resource management in order to reverse trends associated with the overexploitation of marine resources. According to the plan, emphasis will be placed on inland fisheries and mariculture in order to reduce pressure on the fisheries. Inland fisheries in the form of freshwater fish fanning has expanded significantly over the past 10 years with production increasing from less than 0,5 million lbs. in 1980 to in excess of 6.0 million lbs. in 1989. However, some freshwater fish farmers are already experiencing serious competition for water usage and, to a lesser extent for land from crop-producing farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture is of the view that marine cage culture technologically has the potential for introduction in Jamaica . This technologyhas been successfully developed in Norway and the technology is currentlty being experimentally utilized in several countries in the area. The technology, if widely utilized in Jamaica, couls significantly reduce pressure on fisheries, making fishing more cost effective and improve the economic returns to fishermen. Already there exist some technical and institutional capabilities in Jamaica to support commercial development of marine cage culture. The Department of Fisheries has highly trained personnel in aquaculture and marine fisherie, some of whom are directly responsible for the success of freshwater fish fanning. In adition, the Marine Laboratory at the Univesity of the West Indies (UWI) is caarying research on hatchery facilities for marine cage farming. The Department of Fisheries will seek the collaboration ofg the marine unit at UWI which could provide fingerlings of selected marine species for cage 1 Les pêcheries de captage marin en Jamaïque sont principalement de nature artisanale et elles sont dirigées principalement par les pêcheurs qui travaillent depuis des canoës. Environ 95 % de ces pêcheurs travaillent sur la plaine côtière et ses bancs associés. Les espèces commerciales récoltées comprennent les espèces benthiques, les espèces de corail et les espèces de poisson marin de nage libre. D'autres ressources de pêcheries de valeur commerciale comprennent la crevette, la conque et le homard. Les statistiques des pêches ne sont pas disponibles pour toutes les espèces, mais le Département des Pêcheries fait état d'une légère réduction de production de pêcheries, la production se réduisant de 16 millions de livres en 1990, en dépit du fait que les efforts de la pêche ont doublé. Sur cette période le nombre de pêcheurs inscrits a augmenté de 12 000 à 16 000, dont tous sont occupés à plein temps à la pêche. Il y a aussi des pêcheurs à mi-temps qui ne sont pas inscrits. La réduction des pêches est accompagnée d'une réduction de la taille et la qualité des poissons, ce qui implique que les pêcheries sont sous pression et qu'elles ont déjà dépassé la production optimum par rapport aux ressources disponibles. En conséquence, les rendements pour les pêcheurs sont en baisse. Il y a aussi d'autres problèmes, tels qu'un taux élevé de conflits entre les pêcheurs en mer, le coût élevé pour acheter les bateaux, le combustible pour les moteurs hors-bord, et le matériel, ainsi que les dangers impliqués dans la pêche offshore (le piratage, et le vol prédial) ont créé de graves problèmes sociaux et économiques pour les pêcheurs. Néanmoins, il y a une tendance évidente chez les pêcheurs de quitter l'industrie ou de chercher du travail dans d'autres domaines. En fait, le Département des Pêcheries signale qu'il continue de recevoir des demandes de nouveaux permis pour opérer les bateaux de pêche. Ceci est probablement attribuable au fait que là où la base d'une communauté est la pêche, il est difficile d'y introduire des formes alternatives de travail, telles que l'industrie artisanale, l'artisanat de village ou d'autres métiers. Le Département des Pêcheries de la Jamaïque a préparé en 1987 un Projet de gestion qui proposait plusieurs mesures de conservation afin d'encourager l'utilisation efficace des ressources des pêcheries et de contrôler le développement de la Pêcherie de manière que le pays touche le plus de bénéfices. Une attention adéquate a été prêtée aux limitations sur les engins de la pêche, l'établissement de saisons de clôture et les législations associées. Des stratégies pour diversifier la pêche marine ont aussi été proposées. Le Plan de développement quinquennal de 1990 pour les pêcheries marines met l'accent aussi sur la gestion de ressources appropriée afin de faire reculer les tendances associées à la surexploitation des ressources marines. Selon le plan, l'accent sera mis sur les pêcheries intérieures et la mariculture afin de réduire la pression sur les pêcheries. Les pêcheries intérieures, sous la forme de l'élevage de poissons en eau douce, ont pris leur essor sur les 10 dernières années avec une production qui s'est élevée de moins de 0,5 millions de livres en 1980 pour atteindre en 1989 plus de 6.0 millions de livres. Cependant, certains pisciculteurs en eau douce expérimentent déjà une concurrence sérieuse avec les agriculteurs pour l'usage de l'eau et, dans une moindre mesure, de la terre. Le Ministère de l'Agriculture est de l'avis que l'élevage en cage marine a technologiquement le potentiel d'être introduit en Jamaïque. La technologie a été développée avec réussite en Norvège et plusieurs pays dans la région utilisent actuellement la technologie expérimentalement. La technologie, si elle était utilisée en Jamaïque, pourrait réduire de façon significative la pression sur les pêcheries, ce qui rendrait la pêche plus économique et améliorerait les rendements aux pêcheurs. Certaines capacités techniques et institutionnelles existent déjà en Jamaïque qui pourraient soutenir le développement de l'élevage en cage marine. Le Département des Pêcheries a un personnel bien formé en aquaculture et pêcherie marine, dont certains qui sont directement responsables du succès de la pisciculture en eau douce. Par ailleurs, le Laboratoire Marin à l'Université des Antilles (UWI) mène des recherches sur les installations d'écloseries pour l'élevage en cage marine. Le Département des Pêcheries demandera la collaboration de l'unité marine à l'UWI qui pourra fournir des saumoneaux d'espèces marines sélectionnées pour la cage 1. Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/1993/rapport-1918.pdf http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/1918/ | Partager |
Altruism during predation in an assassin bug Auteur(s) : Dejean, Alain Revel, Messika Azémar, Frédéric Roux, Olivier Auteurs secondaires : Ecologie des forêts de Guyane (ECOFOG) ; Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) - Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - AgroParisTech - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement - ECOLAB (ECOLAB) ; Institut National Polytechnique [Toulouse] (INP) - Université Paul Sabatier - Toulouse 3 (UPS) - Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique [Québec] (INRS) Maladies infectieuses et vecteurs : écologie, génétique, évolution et contrôle (MIVEGEC) ; Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]) Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag Résumé : International audience Zelus annulosus is an assassin bug species mostly noted on Hirtella physophora, a myrmecophyte specifically associated with the ant Allomerus decemarticulatus known to build traps on host tree twigs to ambush insect preys. The Z. annulosus females lay egg clutches protected by a sticky substance. To avoid being trapped, the first three instars of nymphs remain grouped in a clutch beneath the leaves on which they hatched, yet from time to time, they climb onto the upper side to group ambush preys. Long-distance prey detection permits these bugs to capture flying or jumping insects that alight on their leaves. Like some other Zelus species, the sticky substance of the sundew setae on their forelegs aids in prey capture. Group ambushing permits early instars to capture insects that they then share or not depending on prey size and the hunger of the successful nymphs. Fourth and fifth instars, with greater needs, rather ambush solitarily on different host tree leaves, but attract siblings to share large preys. Communal feeding permits faster prey consumption, enabling small nymphs to return sooner to the shelter of their leaves. By improving the regularity of feeding for each nymph, it likely regulates nymphal development, synchronizing molting and subsequently limiting cannibalism. ISSN: 0028-1042 hal-01091981 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01091981 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01091981/document https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01091981/file/Dejean_11543.pdf DOI : 10.1007/s00114-013-1091-9 | Partager |
Subduction-triggered magmatic pulses: A new class of plumes? Auteur(s) : Faccenna, Claudio Becker, Thorsten W. Lallemand, Serge Lagabrielle, Yves Funiciello, Francesca Piromallo, Claudia Auteurs secondaires : Géosciences Montpellier ; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier Résumé : International audience A variety of atypical plume-like structures and focused upwellings that are not rooted in the lower mantle have recently been discussed, and seismological imaging has shown ubiquitous small-scale convection in the uppermost mantle in regions such as the Mediterranean region, the western US, and around the western Pacific. We argue that the three-dimensional return flow and slab fragmentation associated with complex oceanic subduction trajectories within the upper mantle can generate focused upwellings and that these may play a significant role in regional tectonics. The testable surface expressions of this process are the outside-arc alkaline volcanism, topographic swell, and low-velocity seismic anomalies associated with partial melt. Using three-dimensional, simplified numerical subduction models, we show that focused upwellings can be generated both ahead of the slab in the back-arc region (though -five times further inward from the trench than arc-volcanism) and around the lateral edges of the slab (in the order of 100 km away from slab edges). Vertical mass transport, and by inference the associated decompression melting, in these regions appears strongly correlated with the interplay between relative trench motion and subduction velocities. The upward flux of material from the depths is expected to be most pronounced during the first phase of slab descent into the upper mantle or during slab fragmentation. We discuss representative case histories from the Pacific and the Mediterranean where we find possible evidence for such slab-related volcanism. ISSN: 0012-821X hal-00553075 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00553075 DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2010.08.012 | Partager |
Tourists’ Weather Perceptions and Weather Related Behavior. A Qualitative Pilot Study with Holiday Tourists to Martinique Auteur(s) : Lohmann, Martin C. Hübner, Anna Éditeur(s) : Université des Antilles Études caribéennes Résumé : This study explores weather perceptions, evaluations and behavior of holiday-tourists to the French Caribbean island of La Martinique. Herein, the importance of selected weather parameters for a ‘typical’ summer holiday, for the choice that was made in coming to Martinique and for planned activities is examined. 32 snapshot interviews were held in two brief time periods within a month. Results illustrated slight differences in climate preferences for respondents depending whether they come from a cold or from a warm climate country, that activity patterns seemed overall little influenced by changing weather conditions and that the experienced weather, which was marked by heavy rains in the first data collection period and by changeable weather in the second, appeared to take only a limited impact on return intentions. Albeit the limited possibility of a pilot study to produce valid and reliable findings, variables and factors which are critical to consider when examining weather perceptions and behaviors have been pointed out and presented in a conceptual model for further research. Cette étude explore les perceptions et les évaluations des conditions météorologiques et les comportements des vacanciers sur l'île de la Martinique. A ce sujet, l´étude examine l'influence de certains paramètres météorologiques sélectionnés sur des vacances d'été «typiques», sur le choix de la destination Martinique et sur les activités envisagées sur lieu. 32 interviews instantanées ont eu lieu en deux courtes périodes de temps pendant un mois. Les résultats illustraient qu´il y avait de légères différences concernant les préférences climatiques selon que les répondants venaient d'un pays au climat froid ou chaud, que les schémas d'activité semblaient généralement peu influencés par les changements météorologiques et que le temps - marquées par de fortes pluies dans la première période de la collecte de données et par un temps variable dans la seconde période - semblait n´avoir qu´un impact limité sur les intentions à revenir à la Martinique. Bien que l´étude pilote n´ait que des possibilités limitées de fournir des résultats valides et fiables, elle identifie les variables et les facteurs qui sont essentiels à considérer lors d´un projet de recherche qui examine la perception des conditions météorologiques par les touristes et les comportements qui en résultent. Ces facteurs sont présentés dans un modèle conceptuel. Martinique Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess urn:doi:10.4000/etudescaribeennes.5323 http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/5323 | Partager |
Simulating human mobility and information diffusion Auteur(s) : Collard, Martine Collard, Philippe Stattner, Erick Auteurs secondaires : Laboratoire de Mathématiques Informatique et Applications (LAMIA) ; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) Laboratoire d'Informatique, Signaux, et Systèmes de Sophia-Antipolis (I3S) / Groupe SCOBI ; Modèles Discrets pour les Systèmes Complexes (MDSC) ; Laboratoire d'Informatique, Signaux, et Systèmes de Sophia Antipolis (I3S) ; Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (UNS) ; Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (UNS) ; Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Laboratoire d'Informatique, Signaux, et Systèmes de Sophia Antipolis (I3S) ; Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (UNS) ; Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (UNS) ; Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) IEEE/ACM Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Résumé : International audience Human spatial motions determine geographic social contacts that influence the way an information is spread on a population or a community. As mobility is a transverse dimension to social practices it is important to better understand its role. With the Eternal-Return model we propose, we simulate an artificial world populated by heterogeneous agents who differ in their mobility. We have chosen a multi-agent framework perspective for this simulation. We endow the agents with simple rules on how to move around the space and how to establish proximity-contacts. This allows to distinguish different kinds of mobile agents, from sedentary ones to travelers. To summarize the dynamics induced by mobility over time, we define the mobility-based Social Proximity Network as being the network of all distinct contacts between agents. Its properties give insight in the process of information spreading. We conduct simulations to understand how an information can be broadcast when agent-nodes are in motion. IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining Niagara falls, Canada hal-00874344 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00874344 | Partager |
Quelque contribution à l'optimisation de constellations de satellites Auteur(s) : Enguerran, Grandchamp Auteurs secondaires : Laboratoire de Mathématiques Informatique et Applications (LAMIA) ; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse - INPT Joseph Noailles Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Résumé : Half-way between optimization and astronautic, this research study deals with satellites constel- lations design problems. In order to find the required number of satellites and to correctly set their position, such are the technical challenges of this thesis. To minimise the cost and reduce the time such are the economical challenges the space industries are confronted in a daily manner. The major difficulties of these problems are the size and the characteristics of the search space The irregularity of the criterions The mathematical and physical heterogeneity of parameters forbids the use of classical algorithms The evaluation of a solution, which uses a time consuming evalua- tion without returning pertinent information about the good or bad properties of the constellations, forbid a massive exploration of the search space. From this constatation and several preliminary studies a new approach is born. Based on a better use of the simulation and on a simplification of the criterions, the algorithm is composed of several levels and uses different optimization techniques it integrates a knowledge database on the orbits and a numerical optimization process both orchestrated by a metaheuristic algorithm. This new approach tries to bypass the main drawbacks of the field with a decomposition of the problem. A mi-chemin entre l optimisation et l astronautique ce travail de recherche s attaque au problème du design de constellations de satellites Déterminer le nombre de satellites nécessaires pour ré- pondre à un besoin et les positionner de manière correcte tels sont les enjeux techniques de cette thèse Minimiser les coûts et les délais tels sont les enjeux économiques auxquels est confronté le domaine spatial au quotidien Les difficultés majeures de ce problème sont d une part la taille et les caractéristiques de l espace de recherche; D autre part la non-régularité des critères utilisés et la nature mathématique et phy- sique hétérogène de l ensemble des paramètres (paramètres entiers et paramètres réels) interdisant l utilisation d algorithmes classiques; Enfin l évaluation des solutions qui met en oeuvre une simu- lation coûteuse en temps et en calculs sans retourner d information pertinente sur les bonnes ou mauvaises propriétés de la constellation évaluée interdit une exploration massive de l espace de recherche De ces constatations et de diverses études préliminaires est née une nouvelle approche Basé sur une meilleure exploitation de la simulation et sur une simplification des critères utilisés l algorithme composé de plusieurs niveaux met en oeuvre plusieurs techniques d optimisation En intégrant une base de connaissance sur les orbites et une méthode numérique de recherche d optimum le tout or- chestré par un algorithme métaheuristique cette nouvelle approche tente de résoudre les difficultés intrinsèques au domaine d application en décomposant le problème. https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00634769 tel-00634769 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00634769 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00634769/document https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00634769/file/grandchamp_phd_2001.pdf | Partager |
An attempt to reconstruct 2700 years of seismicity using deep-sea turbidites offshore eastern Taiwan Auteur(s) : Lehu, Remi LALLEMAND, Serge Ratzov, Gueorgui Babonneau, Nathalie Hsu, Shu-kun Lin, Andrew t. DEZILEAU, Laurent Auteurs secondaires : National Central University, Zhongli Géosciences Montpellier ; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Dynamique de la Lithosphere ; Géosciences Montpellier ; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Géoazur (GEOAZUR) ; Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (UNS) ; Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Risques ; Géosciences Montpellier ; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier Résumé : International audience The Taiwan area, where the Philippine Sea Plate collides with Eurasia, is one of the most seismically active areas in the world and has been consequently struck repeatedly by destructive earthquakes. To better constrain the occurrence of large earthquakes, we have conducted two cruises in 2012 and 2013 from which five piston, gravity and box-cores were retrieved from selected sites in targeted areas that contain continuous and accurate turbidite deposition offshore eastern Taiwan. Forty-seven turbidite layers deposited between 675 BC and 2012 AD have been described in the cores with facies varying from silty clay to coarse sand. We modeled each turbidite layer using the sedimentation rate deduced from radiocarbon age measurements performed on planktonic foraminifers. Precise dating based on 210Pb–137Cs chronology provided ages for the XXth century turbidites. Coring sites' locations, biotic association within turbidites beds and seismic calibration over the instrumental period, suggest that earthquakes are the most likely triggering mechanisms of turbidity currents over the last 2700 years. Calibration of correlations between turbidites and instrumental earthquakes allowed us to determine the minimum magnitude of recorded events (Mw = 6.8) and the maximum distance between the epicenter and the slope failure. Turbidites' synchroneity between cores has been tested but results showed that this criterion cannot be used in our study area because of the high level of seismicity, i.e., a M > 6.8 earthquake recurrence interval much smaller than the uncertainty on radiocarbon ages. The excellent accuracy of dating allows correlating all the turbidites deposited since 1920 with instrumental earthquakes. For each core, we established a return time ranging between 112 and 147 years for the period pre-1900 and ~ 27 and 34 years for the period post-1900. The discrepancy between pre-1900 and post-1900 recurrence either suggests, that slope stability varies, with higher slope instability after 1900 possibly due to increased sediment delivery by rivers. ISSN: 0040-1951 hal-01467627 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01467627 DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2016.04.030 | Partager |
Ecological and economic viability for the sustainable management of mixed fisheries Auteur(s) : Gourguet, Sophie Éditeur(s) : University of Tasmania, Université de Bretagne Occidentale Résumé : Empirical evidence and the theoretical literature both point to stock sustainability and the protection of marine biodiversity as important fisheries management issues. Decision-support tools are increasingly required to operationalize the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. These tools need to integrate (i) ecological and socio-economic drivers of changes in fisheries and ecosystems; (ii) complex dynamics; (iii) deal with various sources of uncertainty; and (iv) incorporate multiple, rather than single objectives. The stochastic co-viability approach addresses the trade-offs associated with balancing ecological, economic and social objectives throughout time, and takes into account the complexity and uncertainty of the dynamic interactions which characterize exploited ecosystems and biodiversity. This thesis proposes an application of this co-viability approach to the sustainable management of mixed fisheries, using two contrasting case studies: the French Bay of Biscay (BoB) demersal mixed fishery and the Australian Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF). Both fisheries entail direct and indirect impacts on mixed species communities while also generating large economic returns. Their sustainability is therefore a major societal concern. A dynamic bio-economic modelling approach is used to capture the key biological and economic processes governing these fisheries, combining age- (BoB) or size- (NPF) structured models of multiple species with recruitment uncertainty, and multiple fleets (BoB) or fishing strategies (NPF). Economic uncertainties relating to input and output prices are also considered. The bioeconomic models are used to investigate how the fisheries can operate within a set of constraints relating to the preservation of Spawning Stock Biomasses (BoB) or Spawning Stock Size Indices (NPF) of a set of key target species, maintenance of the economic profitability of various fleets (BoB) or the fishery as a whole (NPF), and limitation of fishing impacts on the broader biodiversity (NPF), under a range of alternative scenarios and management strategies. Results suggest that under a status quo strategy both fisheries can be considered as biologically sustainable, while socio-economically (and ecologically in the NPF case) at risk. Despite very different management contexts and objectives, viable management strategies suggest a reduction in the number of vessels in both cases. The BoB simulations allow comparison of the trade-offs associated with different allocations of this decrease across fleets. Notably, co-viability management strategies entail a more equitable allocation of effort reductions compared to strategies aiming at maximizing economic yield. In the NPF, species catch diversification strategies are shown to perform well in controlling the levels of economic risk, by contrast with more specialized fishing strategies. Furthermore analyses emphasize the importance to the fishing industry of balancing global economic performance with inter-annual economic variability. Promising future developments based on this research involve the incorporation of a broader set of objectives including social dimensions, as well as the integration of ecological interactions, to better address the needs of ecosystem-based approaches to the sustainable harvesting of marine biodiversity. L’objectif général de la thèse est de modéliser les principaux processus biologiques et économiques régissant des pêcheries multi-espèces et multi-flottilles afin de proposer des stratégies viables pour la gestion durable de ces pêcheries mixtes, dans un contexte stochastique et multiobjectif. Plus spécifiquement, cette thèse utilise des analyses de co-viabilité stochastique pour étudier les arbitrages entre des objectifs contradictoires de gestion (conservation, et viabilité économique et sociale) des pêcheries mixtes. Deux pêcheries mixtes sont analysées dans cette thèse: la pêcherie française mixte démersale du golfe de Gascogne et la pêcherie crevettière australienne du Nord (NPF). Ces deux pêcheries sont multi-espèces, et utilisent des stratégies multiples de pêche, induisant des impacts directs et indirects sur les écosystèmes. Cette thèse propose une application de la co-viabilité stochastique à ces deux cas, en prenant en compte leur histoire, leur contexte socio-politique et les différences dans les stratégies et objectifs de gestion. Les résultats suggèrent que le status quo peut être considéré comme une stratégie biologiquement durable mais socio économiquement à risque dans les deux pêcheries (ainsi qu’à risque écologique dans le cas de la pêcherie australienne). Les simulations réalisées pour le golfe de Gascogne permettent de comparer les arbitrages associés à différentes réductions de capacités par flottille et de montrer qu’il existe des solutions de gestion permettant la co-viabilité du système (viabilité biologique des différentes espèces considérées et viabilité socio-économique des flottilles) contrairement à des stratégies de gestion mono-spécifiques ou basées sur la maximisation de la rente. Dans la pêcherie crevettière australienne, l’analyse montre que les stratégies de diversification permettent de limiter le risque économique contrairement aux stratégies plus spécialisées. Droits : UBO, Univ. Tasmania http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00206/31731/30134.pdf http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00206/31731/ | Partager |
Mechanics of wood and trees : some new highlights for an old story Auteur(s) : Thibaut, Bernard Gril, Joseph Fournier, Meriem Auteurs secondaires : Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil (LMGC) ; Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Mécanique de l'Arbre et du Bois (MAB) ; Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil (LMGC) ; Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Ecologie des forêts de Guyane (ECOFOG) ; Ecole Nationale du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts (ENGREF) - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) - Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Résumé : The main aspects of wood mechanics are approached through the role played by wood as the building material of the tree. The main concepts used by nature: progressive setting up of tree weight and architecture, multifunctional role of wood and adaptability to hazard and long-term evolution, are clarified together with their consequence on the multilayered, anisotropic nature of wood. The technological choices of the plant world as the cellular structure, the use of composite with oriented fibres and hydro-carbonated polymers, as well as the systematic prestressing of every new layer, bear obvious consequences on the type of mechanical behaviour of wood. The local control of the level of prestressing through minor modifications of the cell-wall biosynthesis allows the tree to adapt to conditions of light exploration that will evolve according to time and risk occurrence. This analysis of wood genesis process permits in return to improve our understanding of the mechanical behaviour of the material in relation with the parameters of the microstructure. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences Série 2 hal-01032151 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032151 DOI : 10.1016/S1620-7742(01)01380-0 | Partager |
Record of extreme events in marine sediments offshore eastern Taiwan ; Enregistrement des évènements extrêmes dans les sédiments, à l'est de Taiwan Auteur(s) : Lehu, Rémi Auteurs secondaires : Géosciences Montpellier ; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS) - Université de Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Montpellier II - Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc Serge Lallemand Shu-Kun Hsu Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Résumé : Taiwan is a young mountain belt, known as one of the most active area in the world. Since the beginning of the 20th century more than twenty _ Mw 7 earthquakes have struck the island. However, the occurrence of larger events (_Mw 8) is still a matter of debate. In this framework it is of key importance to obtain longer record in order to evaluate the occurrence of large past earthquakes. The sub-aqueous paleoseismology, based on the record of the sedimentary gravity deposits, appears as a serious alternative to approach this thematic and is a rapidly advancing field that has the potential to illuminate the long-term history of seismicity.The first part of this work was to investigate the present sedimentary systems off east Taiwan, essential to understand the morphosedimentary features, sedimentary facies and processes governing the evolution of the submarine slope, and the controlling factors of the recent sedimentation. Our results showed that the offshore slope east Taiwan is affected by a variety of sedimentary systems and processes, and that turbidity currents appear as the main erosional processes covering nearly 60% of the sedimentary record. Turbidity currents are generated by distinct controlling factors such as tectonic and climatic activity that enabled us to define twoend-members relative to turbidity currents initiation: Turbidity currents preconditioned by tectonic activity and triggered by earthquakes shaking and likely deposited into intra-slope basin and turbidity currents driven by climatic activity such as extreme floods or typhoons, generated in basin directly connected with onland rivers.The second part consisted to apply a paleoseismic approach, based on turbidites record, at two time-scales. First, we tested and validated the method by correlating turbidites deposits with instrumental earthquakes. Then, once calibrated we extended the time-series back in time. We dated the three most recent turbidites layers circa 2001 ± 3 AD, 1950 ± 5 AD and 1928 ± 10 AD. Using empirical relationship that link peakground acceleration, distance and magnitude to calibrate the seismic sources, we correlate these three turbidites with instrumental earthquakes: the Chengkong Earthquake 12/10/2003 (Mw 6.8), the 11/24/1951 Taitung Earthquake (Mw 7.1) and the 9/4/1935 Lutao Earthquake (Mw 7.0) respectively. Applying criteria to discriminating the different triggering mechanisms for turbidity current generation, we propose that earthquakes are the main triggering mechanisms. Dating and age modeling provided a part of the chronology of extreme events since the last 3000 years and allowed us to estimate return time for earthquakes Mw _ 6.8.This work represents a good starting-point for future investigations in order to better assess Holocene time series of extreme events. La chaine de Taïwan représente l’une des zones les plus actives au monde. Depuis le début du XXe siècle, plus d’une vingtaine de séismes _Mw 7 ont affecté l’île. Cependant la probabilité d’occurrence de séismes plus importants (_Mw 8) est toujours matière à débat. Dans un tel contexte, il apparait donc important d’obtenir des enregistrements plus anciens pour évaluer l’occurrence de tels évènements. La paléosismologie marine, basée sur l’enregistrement des dépôts issus de la sédimentation gravitaire, apparait comme une alternative sérieuse afin d’illuminer l’histoire de la sismicité sur des périodes anciennes. Ce travail de thèse apporte de nouvelles contraintes sur l’histoire sismique au large, à l’est de Taïwan, au cours des derniers 3000 ans.La première partie de ce travail consiste à caractériser les systèmes sédimentaires récents. Cette étape fut essentielle pour la compréhension des processus, faciès sédimentaires et les facteurs de contrôle de la sédimentation qui régissent l’évolution de la pente sous-marine. Ces résultats ont montré que l’Est de Taïwan est caractérisé par une grande variabilité de processus et que les courants de turbidité dominent l’enregistrement sédimentaire.Les courants de turbidité sont générés par deux facteurs distincts : l’activité tectonique/sismique et l’activité climatique. La deuxième partie de ce travail est consacrée à l’approche paléosismique en utilisant les dépôts de turbidités comme marqueurs des paléoséismes. Pour ce faire, nous avons dans un premier temps testé et validé l’approche à l’échelle du siècle dernier. Ensuite une fois calibré, nous avons pu étendre les séries temporelles à l’échelle de l’Holocène. Nous avons daté les trois plus récents évènements turbiditiques autour de 2001 ± 3 AD, 1950 ± 5 AD et 1928 ± 10 AD. En utilisant des relations empiriques intégrant magnitude, distance et valeur du "peak ground acceleration", nous avons pu calibrer la source sismique et ainsi corréler ces trois turbidites à trois séismes instrumentaux : le séisme de Chengkong (12/10/2003) (Mw 6.8), le séisme de Taitung (11/24/1951) (Mw 7.1) et le séisme de Lutao (9/4/1935) (Mw 7.0). Au-delà du siècle dernier, les datations et modèles d’âges nous permettent d’établir une partie de la chronologie des évènements extrêmes sur une période de 3000 ans et d’estimer un temps de retour pour des évènements de l’ordre _Mw 7. Les résultats ont toutefois montré que ces temps de retour sont nettement supérieurs à ceux connus sur le siècle dernier, ce qui suggère que tous les séismes ne sont pas enregistrés par les dépôts sédimentaires marins. Ce travail de thèse a donc permis de montrer que les dépôts issus de la sédimentation évènementielle peuvent être considérés comme marqueurs de la sismicité et que cette approche peut constituer un outil complémentaire pour les études portant sur le risque sismique. https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01661529 NNT : 2014MON20133 tel-01661529 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01661529 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01661529/document https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01661529/file/55796_LEHU_2014_archivage_cor.pdf | Partager |