“Pheromones and Animal Behaviour” - Communication by Smell and Taste”

Summary.  ((no summary.))A corrected version of the appendix is available for free download from     

Identification of Tsuga Germplasm by Morphological Characters and RAPD Markers

Germplasm collection is important to preserve and maximize genetic diversity for germplasm conservation. Tsuga dumosa （ D. Don） Eichler in Engler ＆ Prantl. and T. chinensis var. forrestii （Downie） Silba germplasm was collected from three localities in China： Mt. Yulong, Wenfeng Temple and Mt. Dishiergu, Yunnan Province. Accessions were identified based on morphological characters and RAPD markers. The shapes of the apices and margins of needles were examined, and the length and width of needles, cones and seeds from accessions of mature plants were used to compare the morphological differences and to identify the germplasm. Molecular markers generated by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA （RAPD） were also used to characterize the taxa. Although the clustering based on RAPD markers was inconsistent with the morphological characters of the needles, based on the overall morphological characters and on RAPD markers, the accessions from Mt. Yulong and Wenfeng Temple were identified as T. chinertsis var. forrestii, and those from Mt. Dishiergu identified as T. dumosa. Taxonomic identification of the accessions was made based on morphology and by RAPD markers concurred. The results indicate that the shapes of the apices and margins of needles particularly from young plants could not be used as a possible key to identify T. dumosa and T. chinertsis var. forrestii. Fig 6, Tab 3, Ref24     

Cleanup by solid‐phase extraction and HPLC of organochlorine insecticides and PCBS in various nonfatty and fatty samples

An accurate, simple and cheap extraction and cleanup procedure for capillary GC analysis of organo‐chlorine insecticides (OCs) in vegetables (cabbage and carrots) at the ng/g level, and for soil at the μg/g level is presented. The cleanup is carried out on solid‐phase extraction (SPE) cartridges, filled with 500 mg silica, 1 g of deactivated Florisil (10% w/w water), and 100 mg of anhydrous sodium sulphate. Recoveries >90% are obtained. The cleanup of OCs in fatty samples on an HPLC LiChrosorb Si 100 column is evaluated for subsequent capillary GC analysis. Fractionation of OCs and Aroclor 1254 and 1260 on an HPLC Nucleosil 100 column appears to be satisfactory.     

Biosorption of Cr（VI） by carbonized Eupatorium adenophorum and Buckwheat straw： thermodynamics and mechanism

High quality and low cost carbon can be prepared from Eupatorium adenophorum （E. adenophorum） and Buckwheat straw. The biosorbent was used for Cr（VI） removal. The effect of experimental parameters, such as pH, sorbent dosage and temperature were examined and the optimal experimental condition was determned. Solution pH is found influencing the adsorp- tion. Cr（VI） removal efficiency is found to be maximum （98%） at pH= 1. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were applicable to the adsorption process and their constants were evaluated. The adsorption data obtained agreed well with the Langmuir sorption isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacities for Cr（VI） ranged from 46.23 to 55.19mg.g^-1 for temperature between 298 K and 308 K under the condition of pH = 1.0. Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy change （AG）, enthalpy （AH） and entropy （AS） indicate a spontaneous, endothermic and increased randomness nature of Cr（VI） adsorption. Studies found that the raw E. adenophorum and buckwheat straw mixed materials with simple treatment had a high efficiency for the removal of Cr（VI） and would be a promising adsorbent.     

Characterization and distribution of mineral content in fine and coarse airborne particle fractions by neutron activation analysis∗

Nowadays, much attention is devoted to the study of toxic elements at trace and sub-trace levels in the investigation of particulate matter composition, especially in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. Furthermore, it should be considered that the behavior knowledge is an other important task for understanding such species. Finally, the determination of particular elements with a few data in literature can assume relevant importance in industrial processes (Pd, Rh, Ir, etc. for catalytic pot, Sm, Ce, Eu, etc. for optical fibers and electronic process). In this article, we apply a nuclear technique, i.e. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, for the study of metal composition in fine and coarse fractions. This nuclear technique allows the determination of about 25 elements: for some of them, this is the first determination in the ambient air of Rome. The investigation was performed in a reserved area in downtown Rome during a 15-day intensive campaign. The sampled filters were irradiated at the nuclear reactor Triga Mark II (ENEA-Casaccia Laboratories) at neutron flux of 2.6?×?10¹²?n?cm^?2?s^?1 for 32.55?h. The measurements of the γ-ray allow the qualitative and quantitative analysis. The element levels in fine and coarse fractions will be shown with the correlations among some elements being more interesting in the toxicological field: basically, the concentrations are very low.     

Approaching the binding between Cu(II) and aerobic granules by a modified titration and µ-XRF

Interactions between metals and activated sludge can substantially affect the fate and transport of heavy metals in wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, it is important to develop a simple, fast and efficient method to elucidate the interaction. In this study, a modified titration method with a dynamic mode was developed to investigate the binding of Cu(II), a typical heavy metal, onto aerobic granules. The titration results indicated that pH and ionic strength both had a positive effect on the biosorption capacity of the granular sludge. The µ-XRF results demonstrated that the distribution of metals on the granular surface was heterogeneous, and Cu showed strong correlations and had the same “hot spots” positions with other metal ions (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe etc.). Ion exchange and complexing were the main mechanisms for the biosorption of Cu(II) by aerobic granules. These results would be beneficial for better understanding of Cu(II) migration and its fate in wastewater treatment plants.     

Arsenic and chromate removal from water by iron chips—Effects of anions

The purpose of this study is to estimate the removal efficiency of As and Cr (VI) by one kind of industrial waste — iron chips, as well as to estimate the effects of typical inorganic anions (sulfate, phosphate, and nitrate), and typical organic anions (citrate, oxalate, and humate) on As or Cr (VI) removal. The results showed that 98% of As (V) and 92% of As (III) could be removed from aqueous phase by the iron chips within 60 min. Compared with As species, Cr (VI) was removed much more rapidly and efficiently with 97% of Cr (VI) being removed within 25 min. The removal efficiency for arsenic was in the order: As (III) (sulfate), As (III) (nitrate) or As (III), As (III) (humate), As (III) (oxalate), As (III) (citrate), As (III) (phosphate), and for chromate was in the order: Cr (VI) (sulfate), Cr (VI) (phosphate) or Cr (VI) (nitrate) or Cr (VI) (oxalate), Cr (VI), Cr (VI) (citrate), Cr (VI) (humate). In all the treatments, pH level increased with time except for As (III), the removal of which was either without anions or in the presence of humate or nitrate.     

Vitamins E and C reduce oxidative stress and mitochondrial permeability transition caused by camptothecin – an in vitro study

Camptothecin (CPT), a broad spectrum antineoplastic agent, is known to induce oxidative stress and mitochondria are among the main sources of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). We investigated the merit of vitamins E and C supplementation on CPT-induced mitochondrial alterations in vitro. Following treatment of isolated liver mitochondria with CPT, we assessed the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (MPT), concentration of malondialdehyde, antioxidants and activities of the enzymes of the respiratory chain and Krebs cycle. Our results provide evidence that CPT caused mitochondrial swelling, increased lipid peroxidation and transition of mitochondrial permeability. The CPT lowered the levels of reduced mitochondrial thiols suggesting that thiol oxidation is the mechanism underlying CPT-induced MPT. Identical experiments were also performed after preincubating the mitochondria with vitamins E and C. It was found that vitamins E and C pretreatment inhibited the deleterious effects of CPT and loss of enzyme activity was restored by antioxidant supplementation. Our results suggest that the toxicity of CPT was mediated by an increase in ROS production by mitochondria. However, the addition of vitamins E or C ameliorated the oxidative stress. We propose that an attempt to counteract the deleterious consequences of chemotherapy with nutritional therapies may be a rational approach in superior patient care especially in a disease like cancer.     

Impact of irrigation on oxygen flux into the sediment: intermittent pumping by Callianassa subterranea and “piston-pumping” by Lanice conchilega

O₂-flux into sediments attributed to the pumping behaviour of two macrofauna species, Callianassa subterranea (Decapoda) and Lanice conchilega (Polychaeta) was investigated. Samples were obtained from the North Sea near Helgoland in 1989 and 1990. The two species were found to transport roughly similar amounts (3 mmolm^-2d^-1) of oxygen into the sediment although they displayed markedly different pumping behaviours. Irrigation by C. subterranea was intermittent and characterized by regularly recurring breathing currents which lasted 2.6 min and were separated by 40-min pauses. In addition to this regular intermittent irrigation, an irregular mode was observed. C. subterranea constructed a complex burrow system. At least half of the burrow wall was not in contact with oxygenated water, however, and thus not effective as additional interface for O₂-exchange. Sediment expelled from the burrow increased the total oxygen uptake (TOU) relative to the surrounding sediment surface. L. conchilega moved water much more frequently (every 4 min) than C. subterranea. We suggest that L. conchilega acted as a piston when moving in its tube, exchanging burrow water with the overlying water. This mechanism, termed piston-pumping, is also potentially important in other smaller tube dwelling organisms. At a shallow water station in the southern North Sea 21 ind of C. subterranea constructed 1.6 m² burrow surface per m². L. conchilega (300 ind m^-2) created only 0.37 m²m^-2 tube surface. On the basis of the abundance and oxygen transport associated with pumping activity, it is calculated that the two species increase TOU by 85% compared to O₂-flux across the sediment-water interface.     

A predator’s body coloration enhances its foraging profitability by day and night

Few predators forage by both day and night. It remains unknown, however, how the costs and benefits of foraging or signaling are partitioned in animals that forage at all times. The orb-web spider Cyrtophora moluccensis is brightly colored and forages by day and night. We determined the benefits reaped when it forages by both day and night by estimating the biomass of prey caught in their webs. Additionally, we quantified whether the spider’s presence influences the number of prey caught by day and night and whether its colorful body is visible to diurnal and/or nocturnal insects using diurnal and nocturnal insect vision models. We found that approximately five times the biomass of prey was caught in C. moluccensis’ webs by night than by day. Hemipterans, hymenopterans, and dipterans were predominantly caught by day, while lepidopterans (moths) were predominately caught by night. Accordingly, we concluded that foraging by night is more profitable than foraging by day. We predicted that other benefits, for example, energetic advantages or enhanced fecundity, may promote its daytime activity. Foraging success was greater by day and night when the spider was present in the web than when the spider was absent. We also found that parts of the spider’s body were conspicuous to diurnal and nocturnal insects, possibly through different visual channels. The colorful body of C. moluccensis, accordingly, appears to influence its foraging success by attracting prey during both the day and night.     

Simultaneous removal of arsenate and fluoride from water by AI-Fe （hydr）oxides

A1-Fe （hydr）oxides with different A1/Fe molar ratios （4：1, 1：1, 1：4, 0：1） were prepared using a co- precipitation method and were then employed for simultaneous removal of arsenate and fluoride. The 4A1 ： Fe was superior to other adsorbents for removal of arsenate and fluoride in the pH range of 5.0-9.0. The adsorption capacity of the A1-Fe （hydr）oxides for arsenate and fluoride at pH 6.50.3 increased with increasing A1 content in the adsorbents. The linear relationship between the amount of OH released from the adsorbent and the amount of arsenate or fluoride adsorbent by 4A1 ： Fe indicated that the adsorption of arsenate and fluoride by A1- Fe （hydr）oxides was realized primarily through quantita- tive ligand exchange. Moreover, there was a very good correlation between the surface hydroxyl group densities of A1-Fe （hydr）oxides and their adsorption capacities for arsenate or fluoride. The highest adsorption capacity for arsenate and fluoride by 4A1 ： Fe is mainly ascribed to its highest surface hydroxyl group density besides its largest pHpzc. The dosage of adsorbent necessary to remove arsenate and fluoride to meet the drinking water standard was mainly determined by the presence of fluoride since fluoride was generally present in groundwater at much higher concentration than arsenate.     

Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by eight strains of microalgae and their growth characteristics in Penaeus vannamei sewage北大核心CSCD

Microalgae are the most important primary productive forces in shrimp aquaculture systems. Microalgae not only provide oxygen and natural food for aquaculture objects, but they also absorb nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to reduce water eutrophication. However, there are great differences in N and P absorption among different strains of microalgae. To maintain the sustainable development of shrimp aquaculture, the growth performances of eight microalgal strains in Penaeus vannamei sewage and N and P removal rates were investigated under laboratory conditions. The results indicated that the eight microalgal strains could reduce the N and P content in P. vannamei sewage to some extent. Microcystis aeruginosa, Chlamydomonas sp., and Chlorella pyrenoidosa grew very well, with average growth rates of 0.309 3, 0.246 9, and 0.215 5, respectively. There were significant differences in the removal efficiency among the different strains. The removal rates of total N by M. aeruginosa, Chlamydomonas sp., and C. pyrenoidosa were 74%, 69%, and 60%, respectively, at the end of the experiment, which were higher than the other species. M. aeruginosa and Chlamydomonas sp. had better total P removal efficiency than those of the other microalgal strains and removal rates were greater than 60%, and the second highest total P removal efficiency was by C. pyrenoidosa. Different types of microalgal strains had different absorption rates of different morphological nitrogen. M. aeruginosa and Chlamydomonas sp. had the highest nitrate nitrogen removal rate (approximately 70%). Chlamydomonas sp. had a fast and persistent removal rate of ammonia nitrogen, with the removal rate being as high as 100%. The removal efficiency of M. aeruginosa and C. pyrenoidosa were a little slower, and those of Scenedesmus obliquus, Synedra sp., and Navicula graciloides were the slowest. After 16 d, the removal rate reached more than 90%. Cryptomonas obovate and C. pyrenoidosa displayed the best removal rate of nitrite nitrogen, and the removal rate reached 80% on day 8, and the removal rate of C. obovata was more persistent. These results can provide scientific reference for the orientation and use of microalgae to remove pollutants in tailings water from shrimp aquaculture systems. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Assessing heavy-metal contamination and sources by GIS-based approach and multivariate analysis of urban–rural topsoils in Wuhan,central China

Nine potentially harmful heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, Ni, and Zn) were measured in 477 topsoil samples collected from urban–rural areas in the city of Wuhan in order to identify their concentrations and possible sources, and characterize their spatial variability for risk assessment. Results showed that in most rural areas heavy-metal concentrations in soil were similar to their natural background values, but Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn concentrations were relatively higher in densely populated districts and around industrial facilities. Multivariate analyses (correlation matrix, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis) indicated that Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn were mainly derived from anthropogenic inputs, and Co, Cr, and Mn were controlled by natural source, whereas Ni appeared to be affected by both anthropogenic and natural sources. The result of risk assessment indicated that nearly 48% of the study area suffered from moderate to severe contamination.     

Evidence for covalently bonded chlorine–fullerene formed by ozonation and chlorination at room temperature

This article reports for the first time that fullerene (nC₆₀) can form chlorinated disinfection by-products in aqueous systems at ambient temperature. The ability of nC₆₀ to form colloidal suspensions in aqueous media increases the chance that these particles will migrate in the environment and then in drinking water supply systems. Since nC₆₀ is not completely removed by conventional water treatment, any residual nC₆₀ is likely to be oxidized during disinfection process. While the ozonation of nC₆₀ has been studied, little is known about the reaction between nC₆₀ and chlorine. To address this issue, we subjected aqueous nC₆₀ suspensions to chlorination and sequential ozonation/chlorination at ozone dosages of 4.5, 10, 15 and 24 mg O₃/mg nC₆₀. The morphology and physicochemical properties of oxidized nC₆₀ aggregates were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV–visible absorption spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We found that while the particles in the as-prepared nC₆₀ were predominantly spheres, the ozonation of nC₆₀ resulted in the formation of irregularly shaped aggregates. The concentration of atomic carbon found by XPS in the nC₆₀ samples decreased from 92 % for the as-prepared nC₆₀ to 50 % for the aggregates ozonated at 24 mg O₃/mg nC₆₀ and then chlorinated at 68 mg Cl₂/L and allowed to react for 100 min. The presence of Cl atoms covalently bonded to C atoms was confirmed by XPS peaks corresponding to a binding energy (E _b) of 200.1–202.4 eV. This demonstrates the need to better assess and monitor the formation of potentially toxic chlorinated disinfection by-products from carbon nanomaterials during water treatment.     

Are soil mite assemblages structured by the identity of native and invasive alien grasses?

Associations between plants and animals in aboveground communities are often predictable and specific. This has been exploited for the purposes of estimating the diversity of animal species based on the diversity of plant species. The introduction of invasive alien plants into an ecosystem can result in dramatic changes in both the native plant and animal assemblages. Few data exist at the species level to determine whether belowground animal assemblages share the same degree of association to plants. The hypotheses that soil mites (Acari) form assemblages specifically associated with different native grass species in an unmanipulated natural ecosystem and that invasive alien grasses will impact soil mite assemblage composition in this setting were tested. Soil mites sampled beneath five native and two invasive alien species of grasses at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas, USA, were similarly abundant, species rich, diverse, and taxonomically distinct. No mite species had affinities for a specific grass species. There was no evidence from analysis of similarity, canonical correspondence analysis, or a nonparametric assemblage analysis that the assemblage composition of soil mites was specific to grass species. Results suggest that soil mite assemblages were more related to characteristics of the plant assemblage as a whole or prevailing soil conditions. The most recent invasive alien grass did not support a successionally younger mite fauna, based on the ratio of mesostigmatid to oribatid mites, and neither of the two invasive grasses influenced mite assemblage structure, possibly because they had not yet substantially altered the soil environment. Our results suggest that extrapolations of soil mite diversity based on assumptions of plant specificity would be invalid.     

Overturning conclusions of Lévy flight movement patterns by fishing boats and foraging animals

A surprisingly diverse variety of foragers have previously been concluded to exhibit movement patterns known as Lévy flights, a special type of random walk. These foragers range in size from microzooplankton in experiments to fishermen in the Pacific Ocean and the North Sea. The Lévy flight conclusion implies that all the foragers have similar scale-free movement patterns that can be described by a single dimensionless parameter, the exponent micro of a power-law (Pareto) distribution. However, the previous conclusions have been made using methods that have since been shown to be problematic: inaccurate techniques were used to estimate micro, and the power-law distribution was usually assumed to hold without testing any alternative hypotheses. Therefore, I address the open question of whether the previous data still support the Lévy flight hypothesis, and thus determine whether Lévy flights really are so ubiquitous in ecology. I present a comprehensive reanalysis of 17 data sets from seven previous studies for which Lévy flight behavior had been concluded, covering marine, terrestrial, and experimental systems from four continents. I use the modern likelihood and Akaike weights approach to test whether simple alternative models are more supported by the data than Lévy flights. The previously estimated values of the power-law exponent micro do not match those calculated here using the accurate likelihood approach, and almost all of them lie outside of the likelihood-based 95% confidence intervals. Furthermore, the original power-law Lévy flight model is overwhelmingly rejected for 16 out of the 17 data sets when tested against three other simple models. For one data set, the data are consistent with coming from a bounded power-law distribution (a truncated Lévy flight). For three other data sets, an exponential distribution corresponding to a simple Poisson process is suitable. Thus, Lévy flight movement patterns are not the common phenomena that was once thought, and are not suitable for use as ecosystem indicators for fisheries management, as has been proposed.     

Quality of groundwater contaminated by leachates from seven Polish landfills – chemical and ecotoxicological classifications

The article presents the results of screening research on acute toxicity of groundwater contaminated by leachates to the bacterium Vibrio fischeri (ToxAlert 100® test) and crustacean Daphnia magna (Daphtoxkit F? magna test according to PN-EN ISO 6341), as well as on chronic toxicity to D. magna (test according to ISO 10706). The groundwater samples were taken from seven large city landfills in the Pomeranian province (Poland), which were open before 1990 and designed without proper attention to being leak-tight. Due to the lack of either European or Polish classification of ecotoxicological qualities of surface and underground waters, an attempt was made to evaluate the ecotoxicological quality of the examined waters on the basis of the Helsinki Committee's recommendations for industrial effluents, the classification of sediment according to Krebs (Krebs F. The pT-value as a classification index in aquatic toxicology. GIT Edition Umweltanalytik-Umweltschutz 1988;1:57–63) and the classification system of toxicity levels for natural waters and sewers, recently proposed by Persoone et al. (Persoone G, Marsalek B, Blinova, I, Törökne A, Zarina D, Manusadzianas L, Nalecz-Jawecki G, Tofan L, Stepanova N, Tothova L, Kolar B. A practical and user-friendly toxicity classification system with microbiotests for natural waters and wastewaters. Environ. Toxicol. 2003;18 (6):395-402).     

Connectivity between countries established by landbirds and raptors migrating along the African–Eurasian flyway

The conservation of long-distance migratory birds requires coordination between the multiple countries connected by the movements of these species. The recent expansion of tracking studies is shedding new light on these movements, but much of this information is fragmented and inaccessible to conservation practitioners and policy makers. We synthesized current knowledge on the connectivity established between countries by landbirds and raptors migrating along the African–Eurasian flyway. We reviewed tracking studies to compile migration records for 1229 individual birds, from which we derived 544 migratory links, each link corresponding to a species’ connection between a breeding country in Europe and a nonbreeding country in sub-Saharan Africa. We used these migratory links to analyze trends in knowledge over time and spatial patterns of connectivity per country (across species), per species (across countries), and at the flyway scale (across all countries and all species). The number of tracking studies available increased steadily since 2010 (particularly for landbirds), but the coverage of existing tracking data was highly incomplete. An average of 7.5% of migratory landbird species and 14.6% of raptor species were tracked per country. More data existed from central and western European countries, and it was biased toward larger bodied species. We provide species- and country-level syntheses of the migratory links we identified from the reviewed studies, involving 123 populations of 43 species, migrating between 28 European and 43 African countries. Several countries (e.g., Spain, Poland, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo) are strategic priorities for future tracking studies to complement existing data, particularly on landbirds. Despite the limitations in existing tracking data, our data and results can inform discussions under 2 key policy instruments at the flyway scale: the African–Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia.     

Enhancement of MK-7 synthesis by engineered strains of Bacillus subtilis natto that overexpress men genes and by increasing available dissolved oxygen北大核心CSCD

In recent years, researchers have discovered novel physiological functions of vitamin K2. In addition to promoting blood clotting, it can prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease and is expected to treat some tumors and Parkinson’s disease. Bacillus subtilis natto is a probiotic that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a bioproducer of vitamin K2. Its product’s main form is MK-7, which has a long half-life in the human body and high bioavailability. Bacillus subtilis natto displays great potential for large-scale biological preparation of vitamin K2. In this study, the Sipizizen method of Bacillus subtilis transformation was optimized to make it suitable for molecular transformation of Bacillus subtilis natto. Vectors for overexpression of all 8 genes involved in the menadione synthetic pathway were constructed, and changes in MK-7 fermentation yield after transformation of Bacillus subtilis natto were investigated. Three enzymes were found to exert significant effects on MK-7 synthesis, namely isopentenyltransferase (MenA), 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoyl-CoA synthase (MenB), and nornaphthoquinone methyltransferase (MenG). A modified strain (BN-pABG) with higher MK-7 productivity was obtained by concerted overexpression of menA, menB, and menG. In a 5 L bioreactor, MK-7 synthesis was further enhanced by optimizing oxygen supply. The final yield of MK-7 from the modified strain was 62.21 mg/L, 1.26 times higher than that of the original strain. These results show that combined overexpression of menA, menB, and menG strongly promotes MK-7 synthesis by Bacillus subtilis natto, and optimizing the oxygen supply conditions also promotes more robust MK-7 synthesis. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.