Mound building in Ilyoplax pingi (Crustacea: Brachyura: Ocypodidae)

The ocypodid crab Ilyoplax pingi, observed in Kanghwa I., Korea in 1992, builds a mound at the burrow entrance, by piling mud dug out from the burrow. The mounds were made by both waving and non-waving males, and by both ovigerous and non-ovigerous females. The burrow diameter at the widest part tended to be larger in crabs with mounds than in crabs without mounds, whereas the burrow depth was not different between them. The mound density increased in the late exposure period, when the crabs' surface activities declined. Mound removal and rebuilding experiments revealed that the presence of the mounds has the effect of keeping neighboring crabs away.     

Restoring coastal wetlands that were ditched for mosquito control: A preliminary assessment of hydro-leveling as a restoration technique

The wetlands surrounding Tampa Bay, Florida were extensively ditched for mosquito control in the 1950s. Spoil from ditch construction was placed adjacent to the wetlands ditches creating mound-like features (spoil-mounds). These mounds represent a loss of 14% of the wetland area in Tampa Bay. Spoil mounds interfere with tidal flow and are locations for non-native plants to colonize (e.g., Schinus terebinthifolius). Removal of the spoil mounds to eliminate exotic plants, restore native vegetation, and re-establish natural hydrology is a restoration priority for environmental managers. Hydro-leveling, a new technique, was tested in a mangrove forest restoration project in 2004. Hydro-leveling uses a high pressure stream of water to wash sediment from the spoil mound into the adjacent wetland and ditch. To assess the effectiveness of this technique, we conducted vegetation surveys in areas that were hydro-leveled and in non-hydro-leveled areas 3 years post-project. Adult Schinus were reduced but not eliminated from hydro-leveled mounds. Schinus seedlings however were absent from hydro-leveled sites. Colonization by native species was sparse. Mangrove seedlings were essentially absent (≈2 m⁻²) from the centers of hydro-leveled mounds and were in low density on their edges (17 m⁻²) in comparison to surrounding mangrove forests (105 m⁻²). Hydro-leveling resulted in mortality of mangroves adjacent to the mounds being leveled. This was probably caused by burial of pneumatophores during the hydro-leveling process. For hydro-leveling to be a useful and successful restoration technique several requirements must be met. Spoil mounds must be lowered to the level of the surrounding wetlands. Spoil must be distributed further into the adjacent wetland to prevent burial of nearby native vegetation. Finally, native species may need to be planted on hydro-leveled areas to speed up the re-vegetation process.     

蚯蚓-稻壳炭联合堆肥对工业污泥中重金属的影响研究

蚯蚓堆肥相关研究多集中在生活污泥方面,对工业污泥的探索较少。该研究以马鞍山某钢铁污水处理站污泥为例,添加不同比例稻壳炭(2%、4%、8%),设置污泥单独堆肥、稻壳炭与污泥堆肥以及蚯蚓-稻壳炭联合污泥堆肥试验,探索蚯蚓与稻壳炭联合堆肥对工业污泥中重金属形态和生物有效性的影响。研究表明,(1)相比污泥单独堆肥,稻壳炭联合污泥堆肥能增加污泥pH、EC、TP和降低TOC、TN,而蚯蚓联合稻壳炭堆肥污泥可增加TN,并进一步增加污泥EC、TP,显著降低污泥的pH、TOC。(2)稻壳炭堆肥中重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd含量因浓缩效应而上升;而蚯蚓联合稻壳炭堆肥,重金属含量显著下降,添加4%稻壳炭时,重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd质量分数达到最小值,分别为856.64、137.10、158.92、15.48mg·kg-1。(3)重金属形态分析表明,随着稻壳炭比例增加,稻壳炭堆肥中重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd的交换态和碳酸盐结合态转化为残渣态及铁锰氧化态的比例增大,添加8%稻壳炭时DTPA提取的有效态重金属质量分数最低,分别为705.72、47.95、50.43、4.47 mg·kg-1;蚯蚓-稻壳炭联合堆肥会使得污泥中重金属交换态、碳酸盐结合态、铁锰结合态和有机结合态均向残渣态转化,添加4%稻壳炭与蚯蚓的协同转化能力最大,Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd有效态重金属质量分数分别为629.84、38.63、36.76、1.63mg·kg-1,说明稻壳炭添加入蚯蚓堆肥可进一步降低工业污泥中重金属有效性,使重金属钝化。本研究可为稻壳炭联合蚯蚓堆肥处理工业污泥提供参考和科学依据。     

Accelerating effect of sodium chloride on mexiletine adsorption onto activated charcoal

The effective use of activated charcoal as an oral adsorbent for primary treatment of acute poisoning was investigated in vitro by evaluating the characteristics of mexiletine, an anti-arrhythmic drug, adsorbed onto activated charcoal in the presence of sodium chloride solutions at various concentrations. The equilibrium amount of mexiletine adsorbed onto activated charcoal was increased by the addition of sodium chloride. In particular, there was a marked increase in the amount adsorbed from a solution of lower mexiletine concentration. The removal rate is another important factor in the evaluation of activated charcoal, and a rapid decrease of mexiletine concentration by the addition of sodium chloride was recognized. The acceleration of mexiletine adsorption onto activated charcoal by the addition of sodium chloride was due to the occurrence of salting-out. It could be concluded that the administration of activated charcoal suspended in saline solution was more effective in the primary treatment of acute poisoning by mexiletine overdose.     

Animal-sediment relations in Cape Cod Bay,Massachusetts II. Reworking by Molpadia oolitica (Holothuroidea)

Populations of Molpadia oolitica (Holothuroidea) were sampled over an area of 440 km² in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, USA. This species occurs in silt-clay muds in densities of 2 to 6/m², and is limited to depths greater than 22 m where the highest annual temperature does not exceed 10°C. M. oolitica lives within the mud, with its anterior end located approximately 20 cm below the surface. This species ingests only fine-grained particles at depth in the sediment, and deposits uncompacted feces at the surface, producing a fecal mound around the anal opening. This reworking produces vertical sediment sorting, high sediment-water content, and topographic relief of the sea floor. The fecal cones of M. oolitica provide a relatively stable surface for settlement and growth of the suspension feeders Euchone incolor (polychaete), Aeginina longicornis (amphipod), and Thyasira gouldi (bivalve) Uncompacted feces, accumulated in depressions between the mounds, form an unstable substratum frequently resuspended by tidal flow. Suspension feeders are absent from intercone areas.Contribution No. 236 of the Systematics-Ecology Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA.     

Territorial defense and advertisement by footdrumming in bannertail kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis) at high and low population densities

Summary Behaviors associated with territorial defense of large dirt mounds by bannertail kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis) at high and low population densities are reported. Rats were observed for 640 h during three summers and one spring from 1980–1982 in SE Arizona.Bannertail kangaroo rats defended their territories by footdrumming, as a long-distance warning signal, and chasing as a closer-distance threat. They footdrummed on or near their mounds spontaneosly during the night, in response to neighbors' footdrums, and durint mound challenges. There were no sexual differences in footdrumming, and juveniles frequently performed the behavior. The low frequency sounds were within the auditory sensitivities of the rats and footdrumming patterns differed somewhat between individuals. A playback experiment provided preliminary evidence that rats can differentiate between the footdrums of neighbors and strangers. When a bannertail visited the mound of another bannertail the mound owner actively defended its mound and immediately chased the visitor away. Fighting and mound challenges occurred infrequently, and the uniformly dispersed distribution of mounds suggested an effort by rats to avoid mutual interference.When population densities were high, dispersing juveniles built new mounds, consequently, distances between mounds decreased. Rats responded by tolerating closer neighbors, spending more time active on their mounds, and visiting neighboring mounds less. Adults increased footdrumming rates at high population densities, but juveniles footdrummed at high rates regardless of the population size.     

Colonisation process of vegetative fragments of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Posidonia oceanica</Emphasis> (L.) Delile on rubble mounds

Seagrass colonise new areas via the dispersion of seeds or vegetative fragments. Independent of the manner of colonization, habitat requirements need to be met for the successful establishment of seagrasses. Here we report on the colonization process of Posidonia oceanica in a highly disturbed area: a gas pipeline trench at Capo Feto (SW Sicily, Italy). A trench dredged through a P. oceanica bed was back-filled with rubble added from dump barges leading to the formation of a series of rubble mounds on the seabed. Over time, these mounds became colonised with P. oceanica. I>. In order to understand the pattern of P. oceanica colonization, shoot density was quantified over 3 years (2001–2003) on different mound locations (crests, sides, valleys). Seagrass coalescence was observed only in valleys between mounds where shoot density averaged 133±50 shoots m⁻², while values for sides and crests were significantly lower (30.5±14 and 5.8±2.6 shoots m⁻², respectively). Although sediment accumulated on both crests and valleys, a significantly thicker sediment layer was recorded in the valleys (9.8±0.4 cm) than on crests (1.1±0.2). Plaster dissolution rate (an indicator of the hydrodynamic regime) tended to decrease from crests to valleys but even in the valleys, the currents were still higher than in the adjacent vegetated control location. This pattern was constant over time and depths. This is the first study to report on P. oceanica vegetative recruitment on artificial rubble after a disturbance event. It appears that the valleys between the rubble mounds are suitable for seagrass recruitment as sediment deposited between the rubble provides the necessary resources for plant settlement and growth. Once the seagrass patches are established, they may start a positive feedback of attenuation of currents, sediment accumulation and seagrass patch expansion.     

Preparation,characterization and toxic activity of oxovanadium(IV) mixed-ligand complexes

New oxovanadium(IV) mixed-ligand complexes of the general composition [VO(L)(A)], where KHL?=?potassium salt of salicylideneglycine, A¹?=?bis(benzylidene)ethylenediamine, A²?=?bis (acetophenone)ethylenediamine, A³?=?di(2-pyridyl)amine, A⁴?=?bis(benzylidene)-1,8-diaminonaphthalene, A⁵?=?thiophene-o-carboxaldene-aniline, A⁶?=?thiophene-o-carboxaldene-p-anisidine, have been synthesized by the interaction of these ligands with vanadyl sulphate. The mixed-ligand complexes have been characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, electronic and infrared spectra. An octahedral structure has tentatively been assigned to all of the mixed-ligand complexes. The mixed-ligand complexes show higher toxic activity against the Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Serratia mercescen as compared to the ligands, vanadyl sulphate and control (dimethyl sulphoxide). The mixed-ligand complexes were also tested against a standard drug (tetracycline).     

Role of food subsidies and habitat structure in influencing benthic communities of shell mounds at sites of existing and former offshore oil platforms

Mussels (Mytilus californianus, M. galloprovincialis) and other organisms sloughed from offshore oil platforms provide a food subsidy to benthic consumers and alter underlying soft bottom habitat by creating hard substrate. The removal of overlying platforms eliminates this food subsidy, but large shell mounds remain. The distribution, abundance, and population characteristics of mobile macroinvertebrates differed among shell mounds beneath existing offshore oil platforms, shell mounds at the former sites of offshore oil platforms, and soft bottom. Predatory and omnivorous echinoderm and mollusk species were more abundant and generally larger on shell mounds under platforms than on shell mounds without platforms. Omnivorous and deposit feeding echinoderms were the most abundant macroinvertebrate taxa sampled on mound-only sites. The brown rock crab (Cancer antennarius), known to have a strong preference for hard substrate, was significantly more abundant on shell mounds, with or without platforms, than adjacent soft bottom sites. Results suggest that the effects of platform removal differed among benthic species according to trophic level, degree of mobility, and substrate preference. Although the shell mound habitat persists after removal of platform structures, species abundance and the composition of the associated benthic community is altered by removal of the platform structure.Communicated by P.W. Sammarco, Chauvin     

Socio-economic predictors of domestic wood use in an Atlantic forest area (north-east Brazil): a tool for directing conservation efforts

Given the excessive use pressure on forests, characterisation of the major users of forest resources can help guide conservation efforts. This study examines whether socio-economic variables explain domestic wood use in an area of Atlantic forest in the community of Três Ladeiras (Pernambuco, north-east Brazil). Socio-economic data were collected from 62 households, and geometric measurements of wood products in each household were taken to calculate the wood volume. An informant in each household indicated the average replacement time for each type of wood use. Data were analysed for static volume (wood volume found at the time of the visit) and dynamic volume (rate of wood consumption, calculated as the ratio between volume and replacement time). Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the relationships between wood volume (static and dynamic) and the number of species used; independent variables including monthly family income, number of residents, average age of heads of the household, age of oldest household member, average residence time of heads of the household, average education level of heads of the household and education level of the most educated household member. Monthly income was inversely related to the static wood volume (adjusted R ² = 17.6%, p < 0.001), rate of wood consumption (adjusted R ² = 23.0%, p < 0.001) and number of species used (adjusted R ² = 22.3%, p < 0.001) and was the most important predictive variable for these three outcomes. Other factors such as average education level and average age of heads of the household were also explanatory variables of the total rate of wood consumption, as these two variables, together with monthly family income, explain 31.3% of the total dynamic volume. Given the high importance of income in our study, we suggest that future conservation strategies give special attention to the poorest members of the community.     

Interference by wood ant influences size selection and retrieval rate of prey by Formica fusca

Summary Dominance relations between the territorial wood ant Formica polyctena and the submissive F. fusca generate testable predictions on the mechanisms of their coexistence. Here I tested the influence of interference competition by the dominant F. polyctena on the foraging of F. fusca. In the presence of F. polyctena, the activity and the retrieval rate of items of F. fusca decreased significantly. When F. fusca were given a choice between small chironomids and flies a hundred times heavier they selected nearly always flies in the absence of wood ants; when disturbed F. fusca took proportionately more chironomids. In nature, irrespective of distance from the wood-ant mound the size distribution of potentially available food items was the same. F. fusca collected smaller items close to the wood-ant mound, where the density of interfering wood ants was high, than far from it. Also, F. polyctena carried larger protein items from the outskirts of its territory than from the center. The items of F. fusca were on average smaller than those of F. polyctena although the item-size overlap was substantial. When encountering a F. polyctena, those F. fusca workers carrying a fly always lost their booty to the dominant but always managed to bring the chironomids to the nest. F. fusca and F. polyctena were equally efficient in detecting single chironomids placed on the surface of ground, but the presence of either species decreased the discovery rate of the other. This implies mutual exploitation competition between the species for the locally most abundant protein resource. F. polyctena found single flies faster than F. fusca. In an earlier study I showed that close to the wood-ant mound the colony size and production of sexual offspring of F. fusca were reduced. I suggest that the suppressed colony success of F. fusca is attributable to the diminished size and decreased retrieval rate of prey items close to the woodant mound abounding with interfering wood-ant foragers.     

Chemical Stability of Capped Dredged Material Disposal Mounds in Long Island Sound, Usa

Geochemical analysis and visual inspection of cores collected from capped dredged material mounds revealed that in many cores, cap material was clearly distinguishable, both visually and chemically, from mound material. Contaminated dredged sediments were disposed in Long Island Sound eleven and seven years prior to sampling, and capped with uncontaminated dredged sediments. Core data provided no conclusive evidence of physical disturbance of, or chemical migration from, the contaminated mound sediments. Obvious chemical gradients of contaminant concentrations, which we propose are indicators of chemical migration, were not detected in the cores. Heterogeneity of the cap and mound sediments in some cores made the interface less distinct. We postulate that the preservation of spatial variability of sediment texture and associated contaminants observed within dredged material mounds is a result of the dredging process. Preservation of the textural and contaminant history of dredged sediments within finegrained cohesive cap materials provides evidence of the absence of physical or chemical disturbance.     

Chemical Stability of Capped Dredged Material Disposal Mounds in Long Island Sound,Usa

Geochemical analysis and visual inspection of cores collected from capped dredged material mounds revealed that in many cores, cap material was clearly distinguishable, both visually and chemically, from mound material. Contaminated dredged sediments were disposed in Long Island Sound eleven and seven years prior to sampling, and capped with uncontaminated dredged sediments. Core data provided no conclusive evidence of physical disturbance of, or chemical migration from, the contaminated mound sediments. Obvious chemical gradients of contaminant concentrations, which we propose are indicators of chemical migration, were not detected in the cores. Heterogeneity of the cap and mound sediments in some cores made the interface less distinct. We postulate that the preservation of spatial variability of sediment texture and associated contaminants observed within dredged material mounds is a result of the dredging process. Preservation of the textural and contaminant history of dredged sediments within finegrained cohesive cap materials provides evidence of the absence of physical or chemical disturbance.     

Rafting of reef corals and other organisms at Kwajalein Atoll

Studies conducted at Kwajalein Atoll (9°N; 168°E) in early 1988 reveal that marine organisms are commonly rafted into the area on drift pumice, drift wood and other flotsam. Coralskeletons on pumice provide the most useful quantitative data because they persist after rafted motile organisms have departed and rafted sessile forms have decomposed or been scavenged. The estimated minimum number of pumice fragments carrying corals into Kwajalein Atoll during its geological history is on the order of 10⁹, with a more realistic estimate in excess of 10¹¹. The estimated number of coral colonies rafted into the atoll would probably have to be increased several-fold if rafting on floating organic materials such as wood, charcoal, nuts and seeds could be determined. In the present study, a typical sample of beached pumice from Kwajalein Atoll contained 10³ coral colonies per m³ of bulk pumice fragments. Major pumice rafting episodes frequently result from volcanic eruptions. Estimates based on the observed K wajalein coral fouling rate and literature values for drift pumice production suggest that 10⁵ colonies could be rafted through the tropics by the smallest reported pumice-producing events and up to 10¹² colonies for large events. In the present study, most of the rafted corals that were recovered belong to species of the genus Pocillopora, but speccics of Porites and Millepora were also collected. Analysis of surface-current data and reported drift patterns for pumice, logs, drift bottles and wrecks suggests that movement of rafted corals and drifting larvae is predominantly from peripheral areas of low coral-species diversity into centers of high coral diversity. Coral diversity centers might be viewed as areas of coral species accumulation rather than centers of coral species origin.     

Sorption of Cu and Zn by bone charcoal

Bone charcoal is being developed as a treatment for decontaminating polluted water. In particular, its potential to adsorb metal species from contaminated water supplies is being examined. In this study, bone charcoal was used in batch and column experiments designed to investigate the sorption of two cationic metals Cu and Zn. The data from batch experiments fitted the Langmuir isotherm and so theoretical maximum binding capacities could be obtained. These values were compared with experimental values derived from the column experiments. The mechanisms involved in the immobilisation were also investigated.     

A comparative evaluation of wet digestion and dry ashing methods for the determination of some major and minor nutrients in composted manure

The analytical results of 53 manure samples determined by wet digestion and dry ashing procedures were compared in order to evaluate their relative suitability for recovering different nutrient elements in manure and manure compost. Wet digestion recovered greater amounts of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in more samples than dry ashing. Nutrient contents in the samples were highly variable, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 38% for magnesium (Mg) to 161% for copper (Cu) analyzed by the wet digestion procedure, and from 47% to 138% for Mg and Cu analyzed by the dry ashing procedure. The mean values of P, K, Ca, Mn, and Zn averaged for the 53 samples were significantly higher using wet digestion than dry ashing procedure, but both procedures recovered comparable amounts of iorn (Fe), Mg, and Cu. Correlations analysis between both procedures for each element showed reasonable to fair agreements for Ca (R ²?=?0.93), K (R ²?=?0.93), P (R ²?=?0.90), Mg (R ²?=?0.84), Fe (R ²?=?0.87), Mn (R ²?=?0.73), and Cu (R ²?=?0.66), but poor agreement for Zn (R ²?=?0.44). The low agreement between procedures for Zn suggests that wet digestion, which gave a higher recovery, should be a preferred procedure for analyzing Zn in manures.     

The primary productivity of marine macrophytes from a rocky intertidal community

This study represents the first report of primary production rates for Southern California intertidal producers. The production rates of 18 marine macrophytes near Wilson Cove, San Clemente Island, are close to those for other marine algal communities. No apparent relationship was revealed between the productivity of an alga and the division to which it belongs; however, productivity was associated with growth form. Encrusting prostrate forms were the lowest producers in terms of g C/m²/h and g C/g dry weight/h; sheet-like and finely-branched forms showed a greater productivity than coarsely-branched forms. Gelidium pusillum and Ulva californica had considerably greater production rates than the other algae measured.     

Current Near‐to‐Nature Forest Management Effects on Functional Trait Composition of Saproxylic Beetles in Beech Forests

With the aim of wood production with negligible negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem processes, a silvicultural practice of selective logging with natural regeneration has been implemented in European beech forests (Fagus sylvatica) during the last decades. Despite this near‐to‐nature strategy, species richness of various taxa is lower in these forests than in unmanaged forests. To develop guidelines to minimize the fundamental weaknesses in the current practice, we linked functional traits of saproxylic beetle species to ecosystem characteristics. We used continental‐scale data from 8 European countries and regional‐scale data from a large forest in southern Germany and forest‐stand variables that represented a gradient of intensity of forest use to evaluate the effect of current near‐to‐nature management strategies on the functional diversity of saproxylic beetles. Forest‐stand variables did not have a statistically significant effect on overall functional diversity, but they did significantly affect community mean and diversity of single functional traits. As the amount of dead wood increased the composition of assemblages shifted toward dominance of larger species and species preferring dead wood of large diameter and in advanced stages of decay. The mean amount of dead wood across plots in which most species occurred was from 20 to 60 m³/ha. Species occurring in plots with mean dead wood >60 m³/ha were consistently those inhabiting dead wood of large diameter and in advanced stages of decay. On the basis of our results, to make current wood‐production practices in beech forests throughout Europe more conservation oriented (i.e., promoting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning), we recommend increasing the amount of dead wood to >20 m³/ha; not removing dead wood of large diameter (50 cm) and allowing more dead wood in advanced stages of decomposition to develop; and designating strict forest reserves, with their exceptionally high amounts of dead wood, that would serve as refuges for and sources of saproxylic habitat specialists. Efectos Actuales del Manejo Casi Natural de Bosques sobre la Composición de Atributos Funcionales de Escarabajos Saproxílicos en Bosques de Haya     

Gut evacuation rates and pigment destruction in the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba

Krill grazing data collected during cruises in the region of the Antarctic Polar Front (S.A. Agulhas Voyage 70) and the South Georgia shelf (R.V. Africana Voyage 119) during the austral summer of 1993 were analyzed to estimate the variability of crucial parameters of the gut fluorescence technique in relation to food availability and krill feeding history. Gut evacuation rates (k) and passage or throughput times (1/k) varied in the ranges of 0.101 to 0.424 h^-1 and 2.3 to 9.9 h and were strongly correlated (p<0.001, r ²=0.98) to krill feeding activity (estimated as initial gut pigment content, G₀) but not to ambient chlorophyll a concentration. A significant differences was found when k values derived from incubations in filtered seawater and low charcoal particle concentrations (0.4 to 0.8 mgl^-1) were compared with values derived from krill fed high concentrations of charcoal (6 mgl^-1). The efficiency of gut pigment destruction was among the highest recorded for zooplankton organisms, 58.1 to 98.4%, and did not covary significantly (p>0.05) with ambient food concentration. However, the pigment lost per individual krill was strongly correlated with the total amount of pigment ingested (p<0.001, r ²=0.99). We suggest that both gut evacuation rates and pigment destruction efficiency may be realistically estimated only when krill is allowed to continue ingesting particles uninterruptedly. Charcoal particle concentration should be equivalent to the in situ wet weight of total seston per unit volume. An objective criterion for the standardization of the measurement and calculation of k values is also proposed.