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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2007.12.011 Byline: Chris Gibson (a), Rae Dufty (b), Samantha Phillips (c), Heather Smith (a) Keywords: Neoliberalism; Counter-geographies; Community activism; Local politics; Agricultural research facilities; Northern Rivers region; New South Wales; Australia Abstract: This paper discusses an example of community action mounted in a rural region of New South Wales, Australia, in response to proposals by the State Government to rationalise agricultural research stations operated by the Department of Primary Industries. Informed by a Foucaultian understanding of power and the concept of governmentality, neoliberalism is theorised as being the broad governmental context in which rationalisation proposals were put forward. Recent literature drawing on this theoretical perspective has emphasised that neoliberalism is enacted through a relationship of power, and is not monolithic or inevitable. Neoliberalism is always negotiated by those seeking to govern and those who are the object of such governmental actions. This paper analyses how plans to rationalise publicly funded agricultural research stations were opposed by those seeking to keep research facilities open in the case study area. The paper discusses the methods and scope of community action and, drawing on interviews, identifies a series of discourses articulated by campaigners. Non-local actors were depicted as uncaring and insensitive. In contrast, campaigners discussed the emergence of a 'city-country divide' in domestic politics; the need for specialist agricultural knowledge given the region's unique geographical location; and local impacts of an economic, social and emotional nature. Central were discourses of maintaining community, tradition, and continuity in unique local places defined by their climate, biophysical environment and economy. These were 'counter-geographies' that sought (successfully, it would transpire) to disrupt the state's imagined geography of a homogenous and flexible administrative space in which research services could be relocated wherever most efficient. Important too were embodied resistances to the way rural industries and people were subjected. Campaigners refused to accept preferred codes of neoliberal behaviour (particularly mobility and rationality) and instead demanded respect for their careers, families and communities. Important considerations are suggested for further research on impacts and negotiations of neoliberalism. This study particularly highlights the successes -- as well as contradictions and limitations -- of arguments that construct rural places as socialised, unique and unfairly treated (by governments), in opposition to metropolitan dominance and 'placeless' neoliberalism. Author Affiliation: (a) GeoQuest Research Centre, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia (b) Geography & Planning, School of Behavioural, Cognitive & Social Sciences, University of New England, NSW, Australia (c) School of Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, UNSW, Australia Article Note: (footnote) [star] In this paper the terms 'rural', 'regional' and 'non-metropolitan' are used interchangeably to refer to Australian locations outside capital cities and other major urban centres (such as the Gold Coast and Newcastle).

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2006.08.010 Byline: Matthew T. Cottrell (a), Rex R. Malmstrom (a), Victoria Hill (b), Alex E. Parker (a), David L. Kirchman (a) Abstract: The goal of this study was to explore how net community production (NCP) is influenced by the relationship between primary production and community respiration in the western Arctic Ocean. Plankton NCP and respiration were determined by measuring changes in oxygen in light and dark bottle incubations, respectively. Rates of NCP averaged over shelf, slope and basin waters were positive in summer 2002 (57[+ or -]191mmolO.sub.2 m.sup.-2 d.sup.-1) and spring 2004 (85[+ or -]86mmolO.sub.2 m.sup.-2 d.sup.-1) and negative in summer 2004 (-25[+ or -]176mmolO.sub.2 m.sup.-2 d.sup.-1). Determinations of NCP obtained from bottle incubations were similar to rates inferred from in situ changes in dissolved inorganic carbon. An examination of the spatial variability of primary production and community respiration indicated that respiration is distributed more uniformly than primary production. A spatial offset between photosynthesis and respiration from the shelf to the Arctic basin was present in spring 2004, but was not seen at other times. NCP and the potential for export appear to be dependent on an uncoupling of primary production and community respiration. NCP continued into the summer after the stock of NO.sub.3.sup.- had been depleted. Our data suggest that the uniform distribution of respiration relative to primary production is an important factor influencing NCP and the potential for export in the western Arctic. Author Affiliation: (a) College of Marine and Earth Studies, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE 19958, USA (b) Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA Article History: Received 15 March 2006; Revised 21 August 2006; Accepted 25 August 2006

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2005.05.009 Byline: Xose Anxelu G. Moran (a), Marta Estrada (b) Abstract: There is a large gap in our knowledge of winter pelagic primary production in offshore Mediterranean waters, despite the widespread observation of phytoplankton blooming during that season. On two cruises performed in the NW region in March 1999 and January-February 2000, primary production was estimated by means of concurrent in situ incubations and photosynthesis-irradiance (P-E) experiments with the.sup.14C technique. Although the water column was generally well-mixed below the euphotic zone, photosynthetic parameters displayed vertical differences within the mixed layer, indicating that photoacclimation rates were faster than mixing. Their values were similarly variable during both cruises, except for the maximum chlorophyll a-normalized photosynthetic rate (P.sub.m.sup.B), which was significantly higher in March. A strong relationship was found between the two methods of estimating integrated primary production rates (log P-E PP.sub.int=0.36+0.87log in situ PP.sub.int; r.sup.2=0.88, p Author Affiliation: (a) Instituto EspaA[+ or -]ol de Oceanografia, Centro Oceanografico de Xixon, Camin de L'Arbeyal s/n, E-33212 Xixon, Spain (b) Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Ciencies del Mar, CSIC, Pg. Maritim, 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain Article History: Received 15 November 2004; Revised 30 March 2005; Accepted 31 May 2005

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2004.09.003 Byline: C. Mark Moore, Mike I. Lucas, Richard Sanders, Russell Davidson Keywords: Phytoplankton; Fluorescence; Photosynthesis; Pigments; Spring bloom; Fast repetition rate fluorometry; Northeast Atlantic Ocean Abstract: Phytoplankton physiological data collected throughout the Iceland Basin and Rockall Trough during the North Atlantic spring bloom from May to June 2001 are presented. Physiological parameters including the maximum photochemical quantum efficiency (F.sub.v /F.sub.m) and the functional absorption cross section of photosystem II (I.sub.PSII) were measured using fast repetition rate fluorometry. Information on the taxonomic and pigment characteristics of the phytoplankton populations was also collected, with pigment data being used to reconstruct absorption spectra. Significant changes in the physiological properties of PSII were found to be associated with the progression of the spring bloom from diatom to flagellate domination. Changes in both community composition and physiology were in turn correlated with environmental parameters. Lower F.sub.v /F.sub.m, higher I.sub.PSII and corresponding decreases in cell size were associated with the observed decrease of nutrients that accompanied increasing stratification. Differences in I.sub.PSII were primarily associated with the changing pigment composition of the phytoplankton populations, with the largest changes appearing to be governed by the amount of absorption by photosynthetic carotenoids. The physiological state of PSII was thus found to be an indicator of bloom status and community structure in this productive temperate region principally as a result of taxon specific variability. Author Affiliation: Southampton Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK Article History: Received 2 June 2003; Revised 11 March 2004; Accepted 24 September 2004

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.19070.x Byline: Simon Chamaille-Jammes, William J. Bond Abstract: The current dramatic increase in atmospheric CO.sub.2 concentration favours C.sub.3 versus C.sub.4 photosynthesis, and although other aspects of environmental conditions come into play, it implies an uncertain future for C.sub.4 grasses. If it has been suggested that the poor quality of C.sub.4 grasses contributed to large mammalian herbivores declines as C.sub.4 grasslands spread from the late Miocene, these investigations of the past have not been matched by a similar attention focused on the future implications of C.sub.4 to C.sub.3 shifts. Here we discuss how these may affect grazing systems, also considering other aspects of C.sub.3/C.sub.4 differences (productivity, phenology) which might affect herbivore performance. Current knowledge suggests that important changes in herbivore performance could be observed, but is too fragmentary to allow general quantitative conclusions. We urge plant and herbivore ecologists to collectively address these limitations, as the future of grazing systems has important implications for biodiversity and human livelihoods. Author Affiliation: (1)Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, FR-34293 Montpellier Cedex, France (2)Dept of Botany, Univ. of Cape Town, 7700 Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa Article History: Paper manuscript accepted 23 August 2010 Article note: S. Chamaille-Jammes, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, FR-34293 Montpellier Cedex, France. E-mail: simon.chamaille@cefe.cnrs.fr

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-5871.2008.00551.x Byline: STEPHEN R. HOON (1), ANDREW D. THOMAS (1), PATRICIA E LINTON (1) Keywords: soil CO flux; drylands; photosynthetically active radiation; soil respiration chambers; cyanobacterial soil crusts; Kalahari Abstract: Abstract This paper describes the design features and capabilities of a portable automated in-situ closed chamber (ISCC) for the quantification of CO.sub.2 fluxes in dryland soils where both photosynthetic and respiratory components may be associated with a cyanobacterial crust. The processes of CO.sub.2 flux in dryland soils are briefly described in order to clarify the conditions that make quantification of these fluxes problematic. The instrumentation currently available for in-situ soil CO.sub.2 flux measurements is then reviewed demonstrating their inadequacies for the dryland environment. The ISCC described here is a member of the closed or enrichment class of soil respiration chambers. The ISCC, however, features an optical window possessing high (>90%) transmission in the photosynthetic active region (PAR) of the solar irradiance spectrum, permitting observations of photosynthesis. The ISCC possesses automatic venting and purging so that gaseous concentrations inside the chamber do not change from ambient sufficiently to significantly affect diffusion. The ISCC features both active and passive cooling employing internal solid-state Peltier coolers and external aluminised Mylar respectively. This avoids severe disturbance of the microclimate within the chamber due to admission of high fluxes of PAR and permits in-situ operation under a wide range of ambient field temperatures (~ -5 to 40[degrees]C). Sensors internal to the chamber monitor temperature, relative humidity, irradiance and pressure. In this implementation the ISCC is coupled to a portable gas chromatograph (Agilent GC-3000) to sample the chamber atmosphere. Indicative data for Kalahari Sand soils of Botswana are presented as an illustration of the general performance characteristics. Author Affiliation: (1)Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK. Article History: Received 27 September 2007; Revised 16 April 2008; Accepted 30 April 2008 Article note: (*) Corresponding author. Email: s.hoon@mmu.ac.uk

The genus Litsea (Lauraceae) comprises eight species in the American Continent collectively known as 'laurel'. Here, we review their botany, ethnobotany, ecology, chemistry and pharmacology to promote their international recognition, and to outline their use as condiments and as potential sources of novel phytomedicines. 'Laurel' leaves are widely used as a spice and in traditional medicine throughout Mexico and Central America. The leaves of these species are harvested mainly from wild populations in temperate forests. The most used and studied species is L. glaucescens, which is listed as endangered in Mexico. Its leaves are traded throughout the country and even exported. However, in an international context, they are considered substitutes for the Mediterranean 'bay leaf' (Laurus nobilis). Several folk medicinal applications of L. glaucescens and other species of Litsea have been experimentally validated in vitro. Although most active principles are yet to be discovered, some species may be suitable to develop new phytomedicines, especially as antidepressants and anti-inflammatory. However, research on the systematics, phytochemistry, ecology and genetics of the American species of Litsea is scarce. Further research will allow the development of such phytomedicines through the rational exploitation of natural populations or the establishment of plantations, thus avoiding 'laurel' to follow the fate of numerous Mesoamerican floristic resources which have been depleted, while their economic and medicinal potential remained largely untapped. Keywords Bay leaf * Ethnopharmacology * Non-timber forest products * Phytochemistry * Sustainable harvest, Introduction The spice known as 'bay leaf' is well known worldwide and is obtained from Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae), a tree native to the Mediterranean region in Europe. Besides its [...]

Byline: H. Nursu'aidah, M.R. Motior, A.M. Nazia and M.A. Islam ABSTRACT Long bean (Vigna unguiculata) and mung bean (Vigna radiata) response to fertilization was studied through greenhouse experiments conducted at [...]

Byline: X. H. Wang, Y. P. Song, J. Ren , T. K. Liu, X. L. Hou, and Y. Li ABSTRACT Non-heading Chinese cabbage is one of the main vegetables in [...]