. . . Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): AMS-CLASSIFICATION. Introduction by the Organisers Physical Sciences and, in particular, Mechanics, have always played an important role as a source of inspiration for Mathematics. They have suggested fundamental problems, and stimulated the development of new techniques and tools. Now it is a a particularly exciting time for the interaction of M...

THE dermal plicae folds or ridges of the metamorphosed anuran constitute striking integumentary structures. In most anurans two sets of dermal plicae are present, viz. a dorso-lateral set which run posterior from the dorso-posterior border of each eye to a point just lateral to the urostyle prominence, and a lateral pair originating near the external nares of either side and thence running post...

Higher plants are exposed to a multitude of fungi and bacteria, which are present in the surrounding phyllosphere and rhizosphere and which may also grow inside the shoot and the root. Compounds, known to act as hormones in higher plants, are produced by many of these microorganisms and are often functionalized in “friendly” or “hostile” interaction with the respective host plant. A large numbe...

Pistachio orchards were selected and evaluated for damage caused by either scrub jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) or American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos). The distribution of damage caused by each species was evaluated and quantified. The percentage of trees damaged by scrub jays ranged from 58% to 99% and tended to be distributed randomly throughout the. orchard. In orchards with crow damage, ...

We investigated arboreal removal and insect damage to acorns in an undisturbed oak woodland in central coastal California. Arboreal seed removal was determined for four to eight individual Quercus lobata trees over a period of 14 years by comparing visual estimates of the acorn crop with the number of acorns caught in seed traps. Insect damage was assessed by sampling acorns from trees of all t...