Descriptive sensory analysis is essential to understanding how differing varietals, viticultural techniques, enological techniques, vintage, regions, etc. impact the sensory characteristics found in wines. These studies analyzed the sensory impacts of vine age, whole cluster and stem addition influences, the frequency of cap management regimes, and selected fermentation variables, on 2019 Zinfandel, 2020 Syrah, 2020 Tannat, 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2021 Graciano wines respectively, from the Central Coast of California, USA. The investigation of Old vine Zinfandel indicated that these wines were defined as complex due to the wide variety of descriptors used to characterize them, having high color saturation and long length, while the Young vine wines were described as considerably less aromatically diverse, yet being defined by high intensity wet topsoil and pomegranate aromas. Acknowledging the absence of literature on classifying Californian Tannat, descriptors such as high color saturation, purple hue, cooked blue fruit, violet, raisin, bitterness, and astringency may serve as descriptors to these uncommon wines. Regarding stem addition, Dried stem wines exhibited the highest color saturation, purple hue, and astringency intensities in both the Syrah and Tannat wines. Generally, the Green stem wines were less lifted, however the presence of stems added a sense of freshness. The Whole cluster and Control wines generally opposed each other. With reference to cap management, as punch down (PD) increased, perceptions of the overall astringency, bitterness, and velvety characteristics increased. Concerning the various fermentation variables, dirty (unwashed grapes prior to fermentation) wines were described by the earthy aroma, washed (washed grapes prior to fermentation) wines by the floral aroma, and spontaneous (uninoculated) wines by the fruity aromas; however, fruity was the predominant aroma across most wines.

Conventional methods for health assessment of wild-caught and stranded seals were used to describe the disease status of harbor seals in California. Clinical chemistry, infectious disease prevalence, immune function, and contaminant data were collected to evaluate harbor seal health with data collected from three groups of seals. Wild-caught seals of all ages were sampled at two locations: San Francisco Bay (a heavily urbanized estuary) and Tomales Bay (a less developed control site). Stranded seals entered rehabilitation from a more extensive portion of the California coast which included the locations where seals were caught. Hematology reference intervals were generated to provide a baseline for health assessment among the seals. Individual variability in blood variables among seals was affected by age, sex, location, and girth. Disease surveillance focused on pathogens known to cause lesions in harbor seals, zoonoses, and those with terrestrial sources. Specific pathogens of interest were E coli, Clostridium perfringens, Vibrio spp, Campylobacter spp, Salmonella, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, avian influenza virus, Brucella, Leptospira spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis neurona, and Neospora caninum, Leptospira spp, and phocine and canine distemper virus. There was evidence of exposure to all pathogens except for phocine distemper virus. Simple measures of immune response were used to evaluate the immune function of harbor seal pups in rehabilitation that had evidence of previous bacterial infection. The swelling response to a subcutaneous injection of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was positively associated with growth rate, possibly illustrating the energetic trade-offs between growth and immunity. Blubber contaminant concentrations (PCBs, DDTs, PBDEs, CHLDs, and HCHs) in harbor seal pups were grouped by extent of suckling and strand location. The ratio of PCB:DDT was increased in San Francisco Bay and decreased in Monterey Bay compared with other locations along the coast. Pups that weaned in the wild, lost weight and then stranded had the highest contaminant levels, equivalent to the concentrations detected in stranded adult harbor seals. Dispersal and survival were monitored by satellite telemetry in harbor seal pups released from rehabilitation and recently weaned wild-caught pups to assess the effect of condition, health, and contaminant levels on survival probability. Increased contaminant levels and decreased thyroxine (T4) were associated with decreased survival probability. Increased mass, particularly among the rehabilitated pups, was associated with increased survival probability. This study demonstrates that health and survival of harbor seals pups along the central California coast are impacted by human activities such as contaminant disposal, pathogen pollution and boat traffic, although the variability in individual health measures requires carefully designed studies to detect these effects.

Soil erosion is a major issue that threatens to undermine our current system of agriculture. Due to the fact that this system is in turn the number one cause of erosion, agricultural practices in the United States need to be rethought. This study explores how traditional ideas of erosion risks are related to observed erosion on organic strawberry farms along California’s Central Coast. In addition, diversified farming systems are addressed as a possible solution for the current unsustainability of our farming practices. The data from this research suggest that diversity of crops on farms could be linked to less soil erosion. These results are promising for the future of diversification as a new framework for agriculture.

Dasyatis guttata é a espécie de raia mais abundante na Baía de Todos os Santos (BTS, Nordeste do Brasil), com um descarregamento pesqueiro atingindo a ordem de 900 t ao ano. A espécie também representa um dos principais componentes do nécton da BTS. Apesar dessa importância econômica e ecológica, não há informações sobre a dinâmica temporal e espacial, ecologia e biologia da espécie e a importância do uso dessa baía para a espécie. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever a utilização da BTS pela raia D. guttata, durante seu ciclo de vida (isto é, se a área é utilizada pela espécie para a reprodução, crescimento e alimentação), além de investigar a relação entre os conhecimentos tradicionais dos pescadores, com as informações biológicas e ecológicas das espécies obtidas nesse estudo e as informações da literatura. Para isso, foram acompanhados, mensalmente, descarregamentos de D. guttata em duas localidades da BTS, entre janeiro de 2012 e janeiro de 2013. Dos descarregamentos pesqueiros, foi registrada a biomassa total descarregada, local de captura do pescado e esforço pesqueiro. Informações temporais e espaciais foram obtidas para verificar o padrão de distribuição e abundância dessa espécie com esses fatores. De alguns exemplares, para análise dos dados biológicos, foram obtidos dados biométricos, órgão reprodutor e digestório e um conjunto de cinco vértebras. Questionário etnobiológico foi aplicado para descrever o conhecimento tradicional do pescador sobre percepções ambientais e ecológicas sobre BTS e D. guttata. Os resultados indicaram associação entre a abundância de D. guttata e a área de captura, a maré e a estações do ano. As fêmeas (31 e 105 cm de largura de disco, LD) foram significativamente maiores que os machos (16,5 - 78 cm LD). Tomando os dois sexos juntos, da moda ocorreu entre 43,5 e 52,5 cm de LD. Houve diferença significativa na proporção de macho e fêmea, sendo superior para fêmea. Verificou-se variação espacial por classe de tamanho, com maior proporção de exemplares jovens na porção noroeste da BTS, sugerindo uma provável área de berçário. As fêmeas (L50=60,4) atingem a primeira maturidade reprodutiva com valores superiores aos machos (L50=41,9). Detectou-se que essa espécie se reproduz ao longo do ano. A maior proporção de fêmeas grávidas, a presença dos maiores embriões, e dos maiores valores médios da relação gonadossomática e hepatossomática, no verão e primavera, indicam dois pico de cópula e o parto nesse período. Há indícios que a vitelogênese ocorra simultaneamente à gestação. A fecundidade uterina foi registrada de 3,5 embriões/gestação e a fecundidade ovariana de 2,7 ovócitos/gestação. Dasyatis guttata é um mesopredador generalista, consumindo uma ampla variedade de presas e, principalmente, os crustáceos Thalassinidea e Alpheidae. A ordem de importância desses itens principais é alterada significativamente com a estação do ano e a classe de tamanho. Houve alometria significativamente negativa entre a relação do peso do indivíduo com a LD, que indica um ganho de massa proporcionalmente menor com o aumento de LD. As fêmeas apresentaram maior tamanho máximo estimado e crescimento mais lento, comparado aos machos (fêmeas: LD∞=169,8, k=0,03; machos: LD∞=80,3, k=0,07). O conhecimento etnoecológico dos pescadores foi consistente os dados de literatura e aos aqui obtidos. As informações geradas neste trabalho podem contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do papel de D. guttata na BTS e podem ser utilizadas em modelagens ecológicas e pesqueiras. Tais informações estão disponíveis para o uso às diferentes instituições ligadas à pesca local para elaboração de planos de ordenamento pesqueiro e de conservação da espécie. / Dasyatis guttata is the most abundant stingray in Todos os Santos Bay (TSB, Northeast of Brazil), with fisheries landings up to 900t per year. It is also one of the most important nekton components of the TSB. Despite such an economic and ecological importance, there is no information about spatiotemporal dynamic, ecology and biology of the species, and information about the importance of this bay for this species. The aim of the present study was to describe the use of this bay by Dasyatis guttata in its life cycle, that is, if this bay is used for reproduction, growth and feeding, and to investigate the relation of the fisherman\'s biological and ecological traditional knowledge on this stingray with those obtained in this study and available in the literature. Landings survey of D. guttata was carried out monthly in two localities of TSB, between January 2012 and January 2013. The total landed weight and the site of the captures in the TBS were registered in each survey. Biometric data, reproductive and digestive organs and about five vertebras centrum were obtained during the landings. Ethnobiological questionaries were applied for describe the environmental and biological perception of the fisherman in relation of TSB and D. guttata. Several temporal and spatial data were taken and used as predictor variables to verify the species distribution and abundance pattern. Results indicated a relationship between the D. guttata abundance and the local capture, tide and season. The females (31 - 105 cm Disc Width, DW) was significantly bigger than males (16.5 - 78 cm DW). Taken both sexes together, one fashion was verified between 43.5 e 52.5 cm DW. There were significant differences in proportion between male and female, being the females more numerous than males. Spatial variation of DW class was verified, with greater proportions of small-sized individuals in Northwest of TSB, suggesting a nursery area there. The females (L50=60.4) reached the first maturity with a size larger than that for males (L50=41.9). Reproduction is continuous throughout the year. Summer and spring are the most important mating and breeding season, as revealed by the higher proportion of gravid females, the biggest embryos, and highest median values of gonadosomatic and hepatossomatic relations. Uterine fecundity was 3.5 embryos/birth and the ovarian fecundity was 2.7 oocyte/birth. Dasyatis guttata is a generalist mesopredator, feeding upon a wide range of prey items, and mostly on the crustaceans Thalassinidea and Alpheidae. The ranking importance of these food items changed significantly with season and ray size. There are negative allometry between the weight and DW, indicating that, in TBS, the species gains proportionally smaller mass with increasing in DW. Females attained sizes larger than males and exhibited lower growth coefficients than those of males (females: DW∞=169.8, k=0.03; males: DW∞=80.3, k=0.07). The fishermen\'s ethnobiological knowledge was consistent with that from literature and obtained here. The information generated in this study contributes to a better understanding of the role of D. guttata in BTS and could be used in ecological and fisheries modeling. They are available for the use in fisheries-related institutions for the development of fishery management plans and conservation of the species in BTS.

Recent excavations at the site of Huaca 20, a sector of the Maranga Complex, have uncovered a shing settlement from the Late/Terminal Lima period. e spatial analysis of the residential areas and the activities performed there permits an understanding of the social dynamics of the group of sherfolk in the greater context of the Maranga Complex.Moreover, a detailed study of the material culture and shing gear helps to understand subsistence practices and daily performance in this settlement. e analysis of earlier and later shing settlements located in the Rímac Valley and inthe nearby littoral zones contributes to interpretations of the cultural trajectory of these shing communities that are usually consider to be marginal groups. / Los recientes trabajos efectuados en el sitio Huaca 20, un segmento del gran Complejo Maranga de la cultura Lima, nos ha permitido identicar un barrio de pescadores del periodo Lima Tardío y Lima Terminal. El análisis espacial de susviviendas, las actividades desarrolladas en su interior, la cultura material registrada y los implementos de pesca presentes, nos permiten inferir sobre la dinámica social de este grupo en el contexto del Complejo Maranga. Más importante aún, haciendo un recuento de las características generales de las comunidades de pescadores del valle del Rímac y otros cercanos, podemos realizar una comparación diacrónica y bosquejar la trayectoria cultural de estos grupos de pescadores generalmente considerados marginales.

The study of the characteristics of the Late Archaic Period societies on the North-Central Coast probably is one of the most important areas of archaeological research in the last ten years. This paper evaluates the quality of the current archaeological data. A review of the reported information reveals a need to establish a more precise characterization of the architectural designs and construction processes that shaped the conspicuous public buildings of this period. Also revealed is the need to refine the occupational sequences of the Late Archaic architectural complexes of the North-Central Coast, which is necessary for a better understanding of the processual characteristics of their cultural development. As a beginning point, data recovered from excavations in the site of Cerro Lampay, a small architectural compound of the Fortaleza Valley, are studied. Information from Cerro Lampay is compared with published data from other sites, including Áspero, Chupacigarro, Caral, Caballete, and Porvenir. / La naturaleza de las sociedades del Periodo Arcaico Tardío en la costa norcentral ha sido, probablemente, uno de los temas más recurrentes en los últimos 10 años. Para contribuir a esta discusión, se hace necesaria una evaluación de la calidad de la base empírica existente hasta el día de hoy en el registro arqueológico. Una revisión de los datos documentados revela la necesidad de establecer con mayor precisión las características del diseño arquitectónico y el proceso constructivo de los conspicuos edificios públicos de este periodo. Además, muestra que es necesario el afinamiento de las secuencias ocupacionales de los distintos complejos arquitectónicos del Periodo Arcaico Tardío en la costa norcentral como requisito para entender las características procesales del desarrollo cultural que allí se dio. Esta revisión parte de los datos recuperados en las excavaciones en Cerro Lampay, un pequeño conjunto arquitectónico del valle de Fortaleza. Esta información es comparada con la de otros sitios, como Áspero, Chupacigarro, Caral, Caballete y Porvenir.

The Cerro Blanco site, located in the lower Nepeña Valley, is a ceremonial center of the Formative Period, which has been considered, without adequate substantiating data, to have been influenced by the Chavín culture. In this brief paper, a local chronology, complemented with data from the nearby site of Huaca Partida, will be presented in an attempt to establish Cerro Blanco within an interregional chronological frame. On the basis of the new archaeological evidence, this broad synchronic comparison suggests an episode of intensive trans-regional interaction. In this context, Cerro Blanco emerges as an essential site for understanding social dynamics during the Andean Formative Period. / El sitio de Cerro Blanco, ubicado en el valle bajo de Nepeña, es un centro ceremonial del Periodo Formativo que, desde su descubrimiento a inicios del siglo XX, ha sido considerado receptor de la influencia chavín, aunque sin ofrecerse las explicaciones apropiadas al respecto. En este breve ensayo se presenta, en primer lugar, una secuencia local complementada con los datos del sitio vecino de Huaca Partida y, luego, se trata de ubicar dicha secuencia dentro de un marco cronológico interregional. Esta comparación sincrónica sobre la base de las nuevas evidencias pone en relieve un episodio de intensiva interacción transregional ocurrido durante el Periodo Formativo, en cuyo marco Cerro Blanco de Nepeña surge como uno de los sitios clave para entender la dinámica de esta etapa prehispánica.

Dasyatis guttata é a espécie de raia mais abundante na Baía de Todos os Santos (BTS, Nordeste do Brasil), com um descarregamento pesqueiro atingindo a ordem de 900 t ao ano. A espécie também representa um dos principais componentes do nécton da BTS. Apesar dessa importância econômica e ecológica, não há informações sobre a dinâmica temporal e espacial, ecologia e biologia da espécie e a importância do uso dessa baía para a espécie. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever a utilização da BTS pela raia D. guttata, durante seu ciclo de vida (isto é, se a área é utilizada pela espécie para a reprodução, crescimento e alimentação), além de investigar a relação entre os conhecimentos tradicionais dos pescadores, com as informações biológicas e ecológicas das espécies obtidas nesse estudo e as informações da literatura. Para isso, foram acompanhados, mensalmente, descarregamentos de D. guttata em duas localidades da BTS, entre janeiro de 2012 e janeiro de 2013. Dos descarregamentos pesqueiros, foi registrada a biomassa total descarregada, local de captura do pescado e esforço pesqueiro. Informações temporais e espaciais foram obtidas para verificar o padrão de distribuição e abundância dessa espécie com esses fatores. De alguns exemplares, para análise dos dados biológicos, foram obtidos dados biométricos, órgão reprodutor e digestório e um conjunto de cinco vértebras. Questionário etnobiológico foi aplicado para descrever o conhecimento tradicional do pescador sobre percepções ambientais e ecológicas sobre BTS e D. guttata. Os resultados indicaram associação entre a abundância de D. guttata e a área de captura, a maré e a estações do ano. As fêmeas (31 e 105 cm de largura de disco, LD) foram significativamente maiores que os machos (16,5 - 78 cm LD). Tomando os dois sexos juntos, da moda ocorreu entre 43,5 e 52,5 cm de LD. Houve diferença significativa na proporção de macho e fêmea, sendo superior para fêmea. Verificou-se variação espacial por classe de tamanho, com maior proporção de exemplares jovens na porção noroeste da BTS, sugerindo uma provável área de berçário. As fêmeas (L50=60,4) atingem a primeira maturidade reprodutiva com valores superiores aos machos (L50=41,9). Detectou-se que essa espécie se reproduz ao longo do ano. A maior proporção de fêmeas grávidas, a presença dos maiores embriões, e dos maiores valores médios da relação gonadossomática e hepatossomática, no verão e primavera, indicam dois pico de cópula e o parto nesse período. Há indícios que a vitelogênese ocorra simultaneamente à gestação. A fecundidade uterina foi registrada de 3,5 embriões/gestação e a fecundidade ovariana de 2,7 ovócitos/gestação. Dasyatis guttata é um mesopredador generalista, consumindo uma ampla variedade de presas e, principalmente, os crustáceos Thalassinidea e Alpheidae. A ordem de importância desses itens principais é alterada significativamente com a estação do ano e a classe de tamanho. Houve alometria significativamente negativa entre a relação do peso do indivíduo com a LD, que indica um ganho de massa proporcionalmente menor com o aumento de LD. As fêmeas apresentaram maior tamanho máximo estimado e crescimento mais lento, comparado aos machos (fêmeas: LD∞=169,8, k=0,03; machos: LD∞=80,3, k=0,07). O conhecimento etnoecológico dos pescadores foi consistente os dados de literatura e aos aqui obtidos. As informações geradas neste trabalho podem contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do papel de D. guttata na BTS e podem ser utilizadas em modelagens ecológicas e pesqueiras. Tais informações estão disponíveis para o uso às diferentes instituições ligadas à pesca local para elaboração de planos de ordenamento pesqueiro e de conservação da espécie. / Dasyatis guttata is the most abundant stingray in Todos os Santos Bay (TSB, Northeast of Brazil), with fisheries landings up to 900t per year. It is also one of the most important nekton components of the TSB. Despite such an economic and ecological importance, there is no information about spatiotemporal dynamic, ecology and biology of the species, and information about the importance of this bay for this species. The aim of the present study was to describe the use of this bay by Dasyatis guttata in its life cycle, that is, if this bay is used for reproduction, growth and feeding, and to investigate the relation of the fisherman\'s biological and ecological traditional knowledge on this stingray with those obtained in this study and available in the literature. Landings survey of D. guttata was carried out monthly in two localities of TSB, between January 2012 and January 2013. The total landed weight and the site of the captures in the TBS were registered in each survey. Biometric data, reproductive and digestive organs and about five vertebras centrum were obtained during the landings. Ethnobiological questionaries were applied for describe the environmental and biological perception of the fisherman in relation of TSB and D. guttata. Several temporal and spatial data were taken and used as predictor variables to verify the species distribution and abundance pattern. Results indicated a relationship between the D. guttata abundance and the local capture, tide and season. The females (31 - 105 cm Disc Width, DW) was significantly bigger than males (16.5 - 78 cm DW). Taken both sexes together, one fashion was verified between 43.5 e 52.5 cm DW. There were significant differences in proportion between male and female, being the females more numerous than males. Spatial variation of DW class was verified, with greater proportions of small-sized individuals in Northwest of TSB, suggesting a nursery area there. The females (L50=60.4) reached the first maturity with a size larger than that for males (L50=41.9). Reproduction is continuous throughout the year. Summer and spring are the most important mating and breeding season, as revealed by the higher proportion of gravid females, the biggest embryos, and highest median values of gonadosomatic and hepatossomatic relations. Uterine fecundity was 3.5 embryos/birth and the ovarian fecundity was 2.7 oocyte/birth. Dasyatis guttata is a generalist mesopredator, feeding upon a wide range of prey items, and mostly on the crustaceans Thalassinidea and Alpheidae. The ranking importance of these food items changed significantly with season and ray size. There are negative allometry between the weight and DW, indicating that, in TBS, the species gains proportionally smaller mass with increasing in DW. Females attained sizes larger than males and exhibited lower growth coefficients than those of males (females: DW∞=169.8, k=0.03; males: DW∞=80.3, k=0.07). The fishermen\'s ethnobiological knowledge was consistent with that from literature and obtained here. The information generated in this study contributes to a better understanding of the role of D. guttata in BTS and could be used in ecological and fisheries modeling. They are available for the use in fisheries-related institutions for the development of fishery management plans and conservation of the species in BTS.

Indigenous landscape management has transformed ecosystems for millennia, with long-lasting impacts on the productivity and abundance of plant species. While western science based ecological research is beginning to investigate these impacts, less abundant species of cultural importance remain understudied. Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.), an uncommon understory conifer found in old-growth forests of the Northwest Coast of North America, has not received sustained ecological interest despite its importance to Indigenous Peoples throughout its range. In the first chapter, I synthesize the current ethnobotanical and ecological literature discussing Pacific yew to identify knowledge gaps and dominant paradigms that have shaped the study of the species. I find that many mechanisms behind Pacific yew’s habitat selection and ecosystem functions are unknown to western science and that the impacts of Indigenous landscape management are largely unacknowledged within the western scientific literature. In the following chapter, in partnership with the Heiltsuk First Nation, I examine the growth and abundance of Pacific yew on sites that were inhabited intensively by First Nations on the Central Coast of British Columbia for over 10,000 years. I find that habitation histories are not a strong driver of patterns of tree size and that Pacific yew abundance is largely driven by site aspect. These findings shed light on the habitat preferences of Pacific yew, which have rarely been studied in this region. They also illustrate variation in the response of culturally important species to landscape modification and highlight the need for nuanced understanding of the diversity of plant management strategies employed by Indigenous Peoples. This work is part of a broader attempt to incorporate cultural histories and questions into ecological study and to recognize the continuing ecological influences of Indigenous Peoples, who have stewarded their homelands for millennia. / Graduate

The recent excavations of two important areas of the Pachacamac Monumental Sector, the foot of the principal facade of the Old Temple and the area beneath the hall of the main entrance at the Temple of the Sun, have allowed the authors to determine the relative chronology of the first construction at this site during the Early Intermediate Period. The ceramic fragments recovered share similar technological, formal and iconographic characteristics with the Lima Medio ceramics (Lima 4-5 in the Patterson sequence) from Chancay, Chillon and Ancon. This paper concurs with the hypothesis that after the conquest of the lower Rimac and Lurin valleys, there was an emerging regional multi-valley political entity which could relate to a complex chiefdom or an “Andean State.” However, during the Lima occupation of the Pachacamac site there is no evidence of an administrative center with urban residential zones. Instead, Pachacamac seems to have been a low-ranked local ceremonial center compared with the sites of Maranga, Pucllana or Cajamarquilla. / Las excavaciones llevadas a cabo por los autores en dos lugares claves del complejo monumental de Pachacamac, al pie de la fachada sur del Templo Viejo y debajo del vestíbulo de la entrada principal al Templo del Sol, han permitidodeterminar con precisión, la cronología relativa del inicio de obras de construcción, emprendidas durante el Periodo Intermedio Temprano, en el área del famoso santuario, ubicado sobre la margen izquierda del río Lurín, en los suburbios de Lima. El material cerámico asociado a los niveles de ocupación tiene las mismas características tecnológicas, formales e iconográficas que la cerámica Lima Medio (Lima 4-5 según Patterson (2014[1966]) en los valles de Chancay y Chillón, así como en Ancón. Cambios simultáneos, profundos, y de gran escala, se hacen presentes durante las fases Lima Medio en la Costa Central del Perú. Las tecnologías de producción de cerámica, su decoración, las técnicas de construcción, las formas de arquitectura, y los rituales funerarios, originarios de la cuenca de Chillón y de Ancón fueron adoptadas por laspoblaciones de Rímac y Lurín. Estas evidencias hacen reforzar la hipótesis que luego de la conquista de los valles bajos de Rímac y Lurín se está formando una entidad política regional multivalle con características de jefatura compleja y/o del «estado andino». Pachacamac lima no tuvo características de un centro administrativo con zonas urbanas residenciales, sino más bien las de un centro ceremonial local, posiblemente de rango subalterno, a juzgar por la comparación con Maranga, Pucllana y Cajamarquilla.