These patches are generally remnants of once larger habitat areas, formed by uninterrupted and low-intensity management for centuries, but then later being isolated and fragmented into smaller pieces.
Unlike most other asteroids, which are fragments of once larger bodies, Vesta is thought to have survived as a protoplanet since its formation at the beginning of the solar system (see the Perspective by Binzel, published online 20 September).
Sander and colleagues [6] noted the high rates of erosion in the badlands near Coll de Nargó, and suggested that clutches of less than three eggs represented eroded remnants of once larger clutches.
My friend and former colleague Mark Stanway, who has died aged 61 of complications arising from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, was one of a once large, now shrinking, cadre of journeymen journalists.
In many parts of the world, once large and continuous forests have been replaced by a mosaic of isolated forest fragments embedded in an agricultural or urban landscape matrix.
Moreover, since it is a soil-borne fungus, spores stay in the soil for 10-12 years, making it difficult to get rid of -- even once large cardamoms have been replanted.
Still, these results are some of the best evidence yet that there were once large bodies of liquid water on the surface of Mars, the researchers said.
Conversely, the once large number of non-authoritarians who formerly supported Republicans had largely shifted their support to Team Blue.
Frankly, it is difficult to see what he did to become president of the once largest automaker in the world.
Once large numbers of prairie dogs start dying, it is likely too late.
