Dwarf mistletoe-pandora moth interaction and its contribution to ponderosa pine mortality in Arizona

The interaction between Southwestern dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobtum vaginalum subspecies cryptopodum, infestation and defoliation by the pandora moth, Coloradia pandora pandora , on the Kaibab Plateau in Arizona was evaluated. Heavy defoliation of ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, in 1979 and 1981 resulted in mortality of individual trees in areas of heavy dwarf mistletoe infestation. Postmortem evaluation of ponderosa pines indicated that dead trees had a significantly higher dwarf mistletoe rating than did nearby paired live trees. Of 25 tree pairs evaluated, only two live trees had higher dwarf mistletoe ratings than the paired dead tree. Mean dwarf mistletoe ratings were:live trees 2.9, dead trees 4.6 (6 class dwarf mistletoe rating system). Implications for management of the pandora moth are discussed

The Transiting System GJ1214: High-Precision Defocused Transit Observations and a Search for Evidence of Transit Timing Variation

Aims: We present 11 high-precision photometric transit observations of the transiting super-Earth planet GJ1214b. Combining these data with observations from other authors, we investigate the ephemeris for possible signs of transit timing variations (TTVs) using a Bayesian approach. Methods: The observations were obtained using telescope-defocusing techniques, and achieve a high precision with random errors in the photometry as low as 1mmag per point. To investigate the possibility of TTVs in the light curve, we calculate the overall probability of a TTV signal using Bayesian methods. Results: The observations are used to determine the photometric parameters and the physical properties of the GJ1214 system. Our results are in good agreement with published values. Individual times of mid-transit are measured with uncertainties as low as 10s, allowing us to reduce the uncertainty in the orbital period by a factor of two. Conclusions: A Bayesian analysis reveals that it is highly improbable that the observed transit times is explained by TTV, when compared with the simpler alternative of a linear ephemeris.Comment: Submitted to A&

High-precision photometry by telescope defocussing. III. The transiting planetary system WASP-2

We present high-precision photometry of three transits of the extrasolar planetary system WASP-2, obtained by defocussing the telescope, and achieving point-to-point scatters of between 0.42 and 0.73 mmag. These data are modelled using the JKTEBOP code, and taking into account the light from the recently-discovered faint star close to the system. The physical properties of the WASP-2 system are derived using tabulated predictions from five different sets of stellar evolutionary models, allowing both statistical and systematic errorbars to be specified. We find the mass and radius of the planet to be M_b = 0.847 +/- 0.038 +/- 0.024 Mjup and R_b = 1.044 +/- 0.029 +/- 0.015 Rjup. It has a low equilibrium temperature of 1280 +/- 21 K, in agreement with a recent finding that it does not have an atmospheric temperature inversion. The first of our transit datasets has a scatter of only 0.42 mmag with respect to the best-fitting light curve model, which to our knowledge is a record for ground-based observations of a transiting extrasolar planet.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 9 pages, 3 figures, 10 table

OGLE-2009-BLG-092/MOA-2009-BLG-137: A Dramatic Repeating Event With the Second Perturbation Predicted by Real-Time Analysis

We report the result of the analysis of a dramatic repeating gravitational microlensing event OGLE-2009-BLG-092/MOA-2009-BLG-137, for which the light curve is characterized by two distinct peaks with perturbations near both peaks. We find that the event is produced by the passage of the source trajectory over the central perturbation regions associated with the individual components of a wide-separation binary. The event is special in the sense that the second perturbation, occurring $\sim 100$ days after the first, was predicted by the real-time analysis conducted after the first peak, demonstrating that real-time modeling can be routinely done for binary and planetary events. With the data obtained from follow-up observations covering the second peak, we are able to uniquely determine the physical parameters of the lens system. We find that the event occurred on a bulge clump giant and it was produced by a binary lens composed of a K and M-type main-sequence stars. The estimated masses of the binary components are $M_1=0.69 \pm 0.11\ M_\odot$ and $M_2=0.36\pm 0.06\ M_\odot$, respectively, and they are separated in projection by $r_\perp=10.9\pm 1.3\ {\rm AU}$. The measured distance to the lens is $D_{\rm L}=5.6 \pm 0.7\ {\rm kpc}$. We also detect the orbital motion of the lens system.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Taxonomic studies of dwarf mistletoes (\u3ci\u3eArceuthobium\u3c/i\u3e ssp.) parasitizing \u3ci\u3ePinus strobiformis\u3c/i\u3e

Analysis of morphological characters of Arceuthobium apachecum and A. blumeri indicates there are several geographically consistent differences between these taxa, which supports their current classification at the specific level. Shoot height and perianth lobe number exhibited considerable geographic variation, and some morphological characters examined were continuous. Peak flowering and seed dispersal periods for these species differed slightly Altitudinal, seasonal, and latitudinal variations in flowering and seed dispersal were detected and may be responsible for the differences in phenology between these taxa

MOA-2009-BLG-387Lb: A massive planet orbiting an M dwarf

We report the discovery of a planet with a high planet-to-star mass ratio in the microlensing event MOA-2009-BLG-387, which exhibited pronounced deviations over a 12-day interval, one of the longest for any planetary event. The host is an M dwarf, with a mass in the range 0.07 M_sun < M_host < 0.49M_sun at 90% confidence. The planet-star mass ratio q = 0.0132 +- 0.003 has been measured extremely well, so at the best-estimated host mass, the planet mass is m_p = 2.6 Jupiter masses for the median host mass, M = 0.19 M_sun. The host mass is determined from two "higher order" microlensing parameters. One of these, the angular Einstein radius \theta_E = 0.31 +- 0.03 mas, is very well measured, but the other (the microlens parallax \pi_E, which is due to the Earth's orbital motion) is highly degenate with the orbital motion of the planet. We statistically resolve the degeneracy between Earth and planet orbital effects by imposing priors from a Galactic model that specifies the positions and velocities of lenses and sources and a Kepler model of orbits. The 90% confidence intervals for the distance, semi-major axis, and period of the planet are 3.5 kpc < D_L < 7.9 kpc, 1.1 AU < a < 2.7AU, and 3.8 yr < P < 7.6 yr, respectively.Comment: 20 pages including 8 figures. A&A 529 102 (2011

A Morphometric Analysis of Arceuthobium campylopodum and Arceuthobium divaricatum (Viscaceae)

Although the classification of pinyon dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium divaricatum, Viscaceae) has not been controversial to any extent since Engelmann described it in 1878, a recent taxonomic treatment has included this species in western dwarf mistletoe (A. campylopodum). While pinyon dwarf mistletoe is only known to parasitize pinyon pines (Pinus subsection Cembroides), western dwarf mistletoe as it has been known since the late 1800s is a principal parasite of Pinus ponderosa and P. jeffreyi and has never been observed parasitizing pinyon pines. With reservations about the recent classification of pinyon dwarf mistletoe and its treatment under A. campylopodum, we undertook this study to examine in detail the morphological characteristics of pinyon dwarf mistletoe and compare them with those of western dwarf mistletoe. Pinyon and western dwarf mistletoe populations were sampled throughout most of their geographic ranges and morphological traits including plant, flower, fruit, and seed dimensions were measured. Thereafter, we compared morphological characteristics between A. campylopodum and A. divaricatum using univariate and multivariate statistics to determine significant differences among morphologies of both male and female plants. Our analyses clearly demonstrated that pinyon and western dwarf mistletoe are morphologically distinct as originally proposed by G. Engelmann in the late 19th century. Furthermore, the host affinities of the two taxa clearly distinguish them from each other. Therefore, we recommend that A. campylopodum and A. divaricatum continue to be classified as separate species. Morphological differences between these species are summarized and a key is provided for use in their field identification

Poetic Daylight - A pavilion for the perception of daylight

Daylight provides us with an understanding of time and space, specifying where we are in the world, every day. We delight in experiencing the changeability of daylight - from morning to evening perceiving how light and darkness affect the spaces surrounding us. This paper highlights daylight as one of the central elements in architecture, by emphasising its qualitative potentials: creating healthy, aesthetic, and poetic spaces. The setting for this study is a 1:1 pavilion, Poetic Daylight, built for the UIA Conference in Copenhagen. Presenting studies of scale models 1:10 and studies of the built 1:1 pavilion, this study lays out the possibilities and potentials in the use of scale models when designing spaces, with a focus on the qualitative appearances of daylight. Bearing the distinction laid out by Vitruvius in mind, i.e. firmitas, utilitas and venustas, the pavilion focuses on venustas (beauty or delight) in order to form spaces where the atmosphere and the beauty of daylight can be perceived and experienced. The Vitruvian concept of beauty, together with J. J. Gibson's definition of the perception of an environment, constitutes the theoretical framework. The analysis and the description of the three different spaces in the pavilion relates to the theory on defining light as presented by Anders Liljefors in his compendium: "Seende och Ljusstrålning"where he describes seven variables of light and Sophus Frandsen's definition of the four different kinds of shadows. The methodology involves the development of models, observations, and representations. This study shows that using 1:10 scale models in the design process to include qualitative aspects of daylight is practicable and effective, producing tangible and transferable knowledge that will influence the experience and perception of daylight in the built 1:1 pavilion, Poetic Daylight.</p

Window geometry and its effect on the experience of illuminated spaces - A study of three daylit architectural cases

Abstract Looking at the architecture of modern housing in Denmark, it seems to express an understanding that equals more daylight with good daylight. With coated energy glass, the windows have increased in size, making glass into a façade material. This means that windows are no longer just holes in the façade but rather make up the entire façade itself. This changes the spatial relationship between the window design and distribution of daylight within the interior space, though we seldom address this lacking a vocabulary and methods. This paper sets out to investigate and experiment with how we can describe and document this change in daylight conditions and how these influence our visual environment, using photographs to record this. The methodology focusses on observations of daylit spaces in three different housing examples in Copenhagen from the 1800s to today. By observing the three daylit spaces, it becomes clear that differences in the size, shape, and position of window apertures influence the qualities of light in a space significantly. Considering that when it comes to window apertures different designs affect the experience of light in a space significantly, it is important to take this into account when designing with daylight. It is also important from a sustainability point of view to include this awareness in future design approaches.</jats:p