直接高压放电降解水中苯酚的效果

采用直接高压放电降解水中含有苯酚,自行设计加工了线筒式放电反应器,考察了氧气鼓入量、反应器压力、溶液初始pH对苯酚降解效果的影响.结果表明:在所设计的放电反应器中,放电电极直径为0.6 mm、地极直径29 mm或者38 mm,电压8～10 kV,电流4～14 mA,气体鼓入量为60 mL·min-1、溶液初始pH为9左右时,在180 min之内水中苯酚降解达到90%以上.同时发现溶液电导率具有相对应的变化趋势.     

脉冲电化学氧化处理低浓度氨氮废水

大量未经处理的氨氮废水肆意排放,严重破坏生态环境和危害人类身体健康.本文设计了连续流循环装置,并采用脉冲电流替代直流电流处理低浓度氨氮废水,考察了脉冲电化学氧化法处理低浓度氨氮废水的优化工艺条件,研究了脉冲电流对氯离子添加量、能耗的影响.最佳工艺条件为:初始氨氮浓度为60 mg·L~(-1),氯离子浓度为120 mg·L~(-1),电流密度为70 m A·cm~(-2),初始pH值为9,溶液初始温度为20℃,脉冲频率为5000 Hz,占空比为50%.电解240 min后废水中氨氮的去除率达85.01%.结果表明,每处理1 t氨氮,脉冲电化学氧化法的氯离子添加量为2.35 t,直流电化学氧化法的氯离子添加量为2.73 t,脉冲比直流电化学氧化氨氮的能耗节约26.20%.采用脉冲电化学氧化法处理低浓度氨氮废水,可减少氯离子添加量,降低能耗,为电化学氧化法处理废水提供了新思路.     

超声波诱导降解甲胺磷的研究

本文报道了功率超声诱导化学降解低浓度甲胺磷农药模拟废水的新方法.考察了声强、辐射时间、介质温度、初始pH值、外加Fe2+或H2O2等因素对其超声化学降解的影响.试验结果表明,甲胺磷水溶液的初始浓度为1.0×10-4mol.l-1, pH0为2.5,介质温度30℃,Fe2+加入量为50mg.l-1,溶液中充入氧气饱和,经80W.cm-2功率超声辐射2h,其CODCr平均去除率达99.3%,甲胺磷的平均降解率为99.6%.     

电液压脉冲放电等离子体降解TNT废水的研究

用电液压脉冲放电等离子体实验平台和大容量反应器对TNT废水进行处理,在放电电压为24-48kV,废水体积为7-12L,TNT初始浓度为41.67-90mg·l-1,电极为尖-尖式,间距为3-8mm的条件下,增加放电次数、升高放电电压和增加电极绝缘层长度都能提高TNT降解率,而提高溶液的电导率会降低TNT降解率.在一定的放电电压下,电极间距有一个最佳值;投加铁屑可明显提高TNT降解率,投加铁屑时,G值最高可达1.34×10-1 molecules·h-1·eV-1.     

电絮凝法去除模拟废水中的PFOS和PFOA

由于全氟化合物(PFCs)具有持久性、生物富集性和多种毒性,近年来人们日益关注广泛存在于工业废水、生活污水、以及天然水体中的全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)和全氟辛酸(PFOA)污染.本研究通过周期换向电絮凝法对模拟废水中的PFOS和PFOA污染进行高效处理,并对处理条件和吸附机理进行深入探讨.鉴于其去除效果会受到不同因素的影响,为明确最优参数,本研究着眼于以下影响因素:电极材料、电流密度、pH值、电解质的浓度与种类、极板间距、换相时间、转速、污染物的初始浓度等,同时采用控制变量法研究不同条件下溶液中PFOS和PFOA的去除率.由实验结果可知,在使用Al-Zn电极、添加0.035 mol·L~(-1)的NaCl、电流密度调整为25 mA·cm~(-2)、初始pH值控制在7左右、电极间距为2 cm、换向时间为10 s、转速为600 r·min~(-1)的条件下,PFOS和PFOA的去除效果最佳.     

铝电极-低压脉冲电解含油废水影响因素

高压脉冲电源耗电量大,反应器绝缘安全要求高,不利于工业化应用.为了降低电耗、电极损失,采用铝电极-低压脉冲电解方法,对难降解的含油废水去油影响因素进行了单因子试验研究.结果表明:该方法对质量浓度为95.0 mg·L-1的含油废水中油的去除率超过65%.油去除率随电解时间、电压增加而增大,电解时间达到50 min、电压大于7 V以后受油分子扩散浓度影响而增加缓慢;适宜占空比、脉冲频率即可发挥脉冲作用,消除钝化效果,又可增强电解效果;体系pH值对电解影响较大,碱性条件有较好的电解效果;适量增加电解质用量可以提高油去除率;电极间距主要影响电耗,随间距减小耗电量增加.     

电压波形对三维电极法降解苯酚的影响

研究了三维电极在不同电压波形下处理苯酚废水的电能消耗、降解历程以及工艺条件.结果表明,其他处理条件相同时,方波脉冲电压的降解效率比直流电压平均高出10%.随着苯酚去除率从30%增加到90%,方波脉冲电压节省的电能从0.09 k W·h·kg-1苯酚升高到1.54 k W·h·kg-1苯酚.与常规直流电压相比,脉冲电压对粒子电极复极化程度更高,粒子端电压和工作电流都随粒子间距的增大而增大.采用气质联用仪分析,方波脉冲电压能将苯酚降解为丙二酸、丁烯酸等分子量更小的有机物,降解更为彻底.电解处理苯酚废水最佳条件为:方波槽电压15 V、占空比30%、频率2 k Hz、处理时间50 min,此时苯酚最大去除率为89%.     

模拟饮用水消毒过程中高铁酸钾降解吲哚美辛的动力学分析

模拟饮用水消毒过程中高铁酸钾(Fe(Ⅵ))对吲哚美辛(IDM)的降解,考察了Fe(Ⅵ)投加量、IDM初始浓度、溶液pH值、温度等因素对IDM降解速率的影响.实验结果表明,Fe(Ⅵ)可以有效地去除饮用水中的IDM,当Fe(Ⅵ)投加量为0.3 mmol·L~(-1),溶液pH值为7,温度为25℃时,反应20 min后IDM的去除率达到95%,其反应过程符合准一级反应动力学模型;准一级动力学常数与Fe(Ⅵ)的投加量正相关,与IDM的初始浓度负相关;pH值升高会降低反应速率,温度升高会加快反应的进行.将不同温度条件下反应速率常数进行线性拟合,推算出了Fe(Ⅵ)与IDM反应的热力学参数Ea、ΔH和ΔS的值分别为15.79 J·mol~(-1)、13.27 J·mol~(-1)、-183.76 J·mol-1·K~(-1),说明该反应是吸热反应,同时活化能较低也说明了该反应在常规饮用水消毒条件下即可进行.TOC测定实验表明,Fe(Ⅵ)对IDM的矿化效率较低,大部分IDM转化成其它大分子有机物.     

高铁酸钾氧化降解硝基苯水溶液

采用高铁酸钾氧化降解硝基苯水溶液,研究表明,反应时间、pH值、高铁酸钾投加量、硝基苯水溶液浓度4个因素都会对硝基苯的降解效果产生影响.硝基苯水溶液浓度为55mg·l~(-1)时,初始pH=7-9,高铁酸钾投加量n_(k_2FeO_4):n_(C_6H_5NO_2)10:1,反应时间30min为最优反应条件,硝基苯去除率达到85%左右,COD_(Cr)去除率达到55%左右.通过对反应产物的分析,推测硝基苯首先被高铁酸钾氧化为对硝基苯酚,再进一步被氧化开环生成终产物.     

Fenton法降解水中布洛芬

采用Fenton法降解水中布洛芬,考察了H2O2投加量、FeSO.47H2O与H2O2的比值、初始pH、反应时间等因素对布洛芬去除率的影响,通过正交实验确定影响作用大小依次为:[Fe2+]∶[H2O2]的物质的量之比>H2O2的投加量>pH值,最佳的反应工艺条件为:H2O2的投加量为3 mL.L-1,[Fe2+]∶[H2O2]的物质的量之比为1∶10,反应初始pH值为3,反应时间为40 min.在最佳条件下布洛芬的去除率达到86%以上.同时对布洛芬降解反应动力学进行了研究,发现Fenton降解布洛芬符合二级反应动力学规律.     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Threats to intact tropical peatlands and opportunities for their conservation

Large, intact areas of tropical peatland are highly threatened at a global scale by the expansion of commercial agriculture and other forms of economic development. Conserving peatlands on a landscape scale, with their hydrology intact, is of international conservation importance to preserve their distinctive biodiversity and ecosystem services and maintain their resilience to future environmental change. We explored threats to and opportunities for conserving remaining intact tropical peatlands; thus, we excluded peatlands of Indonesia and Malaysia, where extensive deforestation, drainage, and conversion to plantations means conservation in this region can protect only small fragments of the original ecosystem. We focused on a case study, the Pastaza‐Marañón Foreland Basin (PMFB) in Peru, which is among the largest known intact tropical peatland landscapes in the world and is representative of peatland vulnerability. Maintenance of the hydrological conditions critical for carbon storage and ecosystem function of peatlands is, in the PMFB, primarily threatened by expansion of commercial agriculture linked to new transport infrastructure that is facilitating access to remote areas. There remain opportunities in the PMFB and elsewhere to develop alternative, more sustainable land‐use practices. Although some of the peatlands in the PMFB fall within existing legally protected areas, this protection does not include the most carbon‐dense (domed pole forest) areas. New carbon‐based conservation instruments (e.g., REDD+, Green Climate Fund), developing markets for sustainable peatland products, transferring land title to local communities, and expanding protected areas offer pathways to increased protection for intact tropical peatlands in Amazonia and elsewhere, such as those in New Guinea and Central Africa which remain, for the moment, broadly beyond the frontier of commercial development.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.