Exaggerated orientation scatter of nocturnal passerine migrants close to breeding grounds: comparisons between seasons and latitudes

Using tracking radars, we investigated the variability of flight directions of long-distance nocturnal passerine migrants across seasons (spring versus autumn migration) and sites at the southern (56° N) and northern (68° N) ends of the Scandinavian Peninsula (Lund versus Abisko). Whilst most migrants at Lund are on passage to and from breeding sites in Fennoscandia, the majority of the migrants at Abisko are close to their breeding sites, and migration at Abisko thus to a large degree reflects initial departure from breeding sites (autumn) or final approach to breeding destinations (spring). The radar data were used to test predictions about differences in orientation and wind drift effects between adult and juvenile birds (a large proportion of autumn migrants consists of juvenile birds on their first journey), between situations far away from or near the goals and between different phases of migration (initial departure, en route passage, final approach to goal). The concentrations (both total and within-night concentrations) of flight directions differed significantly between seasons as well as sites, with the highest concentration at Lund in spring (mean vector length of track directions, r = 0.79) and lowest at Abisko during spring (r = 0.35). Partial wind drift and partial compensation were recorded at Lund, with a similar effect size in spring and autumn, whilst possible wind drift effects at Abisko were obscured by the large directional scatter at this site. The results from Lund support the prediction that the high proportion of juveniles in autumn contributes to increase the directional scatter during this season, whilst there was no support for predictions of differential wind drift effects between seasons and situations with different goal distances. The most striking and surprising result was the exceedingly large scatter of flight directions at Abisko, particularly in spring. We suggest that such an exaggerated scatter may be associated with final approach orientation, where migrants reach their specific goals from all various directions by final navigation within a more wide-ranging goal region. The larger scatter of autumn flight directions at Abisko compared to Lund may be due to exploratory flights in variable directions being more common at initial departure from breeding sites than later during migratory passage. These surprising results highlight the importance of studying and analysing orientation during final approach to (and initial departure from) migratory goals for understanding the orientation systems of migratory birds.     

Chromatographic fingerprinting as a means to predict degradation mechanisms

The degradation products of polymers are identifiable by chromatography. The degradation product patterns (or fingerprints) formed depend on the type of polymer, the degradation mechanism(s), and also the type of additive present in the material. The chromatographic fingerprint of biotically aged degradable low-density polyethylene (i.e., LDPE+starch+prooxidant) shows, in particular, the absence of low molecular weight carboxylic acids, which suggests an assimilation of these carboxylic acids by the microorganisms. The degradation products of natural polymers are usually intermediates that are used again in the anabolic cycles. It is possible to transfer the terminology from the natural polymers, where the catabolism of natural polymers consists of three stages, and apply this also to the degradable synthetic polymers. During stage I the natural polymers degrade to their major building blocks (e.g., amino acids, glycerol, hexoses, pentoses, etc.), during stage II these products are collected and converted to a smaller number of even simpler molecules [e.g., acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA)]. In stage III, finally, the acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle, where energy is gained in parallel with the release of CO₂ and H₂O.Presented at the international workshop,Polymers from Renewable Resources and their Degradation, Stockholm, Sweden, November 10–11, 1994.     

An ozone flux-response relationship for wheat

The concentrations of heavy metals in the fine fraction (<63 microm) of 19 surficial sediment samples from the border region of Baja California (Mexico) and California (USA) were determined. The concentration ranges (in microg g(-1)) of the metals were: Cu, 4.9-23; Zn, 39-188; Ni, 16-44; Cr, 56-802; Pb, 6-21; Cd, 0.08-0.64; Ag, 0.01-0.28; and Mn, 392-1506; the intervals (percentage) for Fe and Al were 1.36-4.6 and 3.61-8.55, respectively. The heavy metals in these sediments indicate a relative enrichment of Cr (>3000%), Zn (>350%), Ni (>300%) and Cu (>150%) off the wastewater outfall at Punta Bandera in Tijuana, Baja California, with respect to non-polluted sediments of the region. Pb, Cd and Ag have low concentrations off the same outfall and enrichment factors are generally lower than 300% (Pb) and lower than 150% (Cd and Ag). This suggests that these metals have a different origin, or that they are controlled by a different geochemical mechanism than the former. The concentrations of Mn, Fe and Al occurred within ranges typical for coastal areas and probably reflect the mineralogical composition of the sediments of the region.     

A cumulative ozone uptake-response relationship for the growth of Norway spruce saplings

Norway spruce saplings [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] were exposed during four growing seasons to different ozone treatments in open-top chambers: charcoal filtered air (CF), non-filtered air (NF) and non-filtered air with extra ozone (NF+, 1.4xambient concentrations). The CF and NF+ ozone treatments were combined with phosphorous deficiency and drought stress treatments. The total biomass of the trees was harvested at different intervals during the experimental period. The ozone uptake to current-year needles of the Norway spruce saplings was estimated using a multiplicative stomatal conductance simulation model. There was a highly significant correlation between the reduction of total biomass and the estimated cumulative ozone uptake, which did not vary when different thresholds were applied for the rate of ozone uptake. The reduction of the total biomass was estimated to 1% per 10 mmol m(-2) cumulated ozone uptake, on a projected needle area basis.     

UV-light induced mineralization of organic matter bound chlorine in Lake Bjän,Sweden--a laboratory study

Surface water and aqueous solutions of isolated organic matter from a humic rich lake in southern Sweden were exposed to artificial UV radiation to investigate the UV light induced influence on organic matter bound chlorine in natural systems. It was found that the photodegradation of organic matter bound chlorine was more pronounced than the photodegradation of organic carbon. After 120 h of irradiation of the isolated organic matter, only 35% of the initial organochlorine was still in the solution compared to about 70% of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC). A similar result was obtained for unfractionated surface water. Furthermore, our results indicate that the loss of organic chlorine was mainly due to a mineralization of organic chlorine into chloride ions. The total decrease of organic chlorine after 120 h was 32 microg Cl(org) l(-1), of which the major part disappeared in the initial irradiation phase. A similar increase was observed in the chloride concentration (34 microg Cl(-) l(-1)).     

Performance of three-phase three-dimensional electrode reactor for the reduction of COD in simulated wastewater-containing phenol

The removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater-containing phenol was investigated using three-phase three-dimensional electrode reactor. Special attention was paid to experimentally probe the performance of the reactor in COD removal in the process of repeated batch runs. The experimental results showed that the reactor could remove COD from phenol-containing wastewater much more efficiently than both granulated activated carbon (GAC) adsorption bed and conventional three-dimensional electrode. For 200th batch run, the three-phase three-dimensional electrode reactor with an airflow of 5 l min(-1) and a cell voltage of 30 V could remove 1350 ppm COD from the wastewater in 30 min while conventional three-dimensional electrode reactor with a same cell voltage and GAC adsorption bed with a same airflow only could remove 610 and 1000 ppm, respectively, at the same reaction duration. Although it was found that COD removal decreased with increasing repeated batch runs in our experimental range, due to adsorption saturation of GAC and electrode passivation, the extent of decrease for the three-phase three-dimensional electrode is much less than those for conventional three-dimensional electrodes and GAC adsorption beds. The passivated reactor could be partly re-activated by electrolysis in the presence of MnO2.     

Recovery of Soil Water,Groundwater, and Streamwater From Acidification at the Swedish Integrated Monitoring Catchments

Recovery from anthropogenic acidification in streams and lakes is well documented across the northern hemisphere. In this study, we use 1996–2009 data from the four Swedish Integrated Monitoring catchments to evaluate how the declining sulfur deposition has affected sulfate, pH, acid neutralizing capacity, ionic strength, aluminum, and dissolved organic carbon in soil water, groundwater and runoff. Differences in recovery rates between catchments, between recharge and discharge areas and between soil water and groundwater are assessed. At the IM sites, atmospheric deposition is the main human impact. The chemical trends were weakly correlated to the sulfur deposition decline. Other factors, such as marine influence and catchment features, seem to be as important. Except for pH and DOC, soil water and groundwater showed similar trends. Discharge areas acted as buffers, dampening the trends in streamwater. Further monitoring and modeling of these hydraulically active sites should be encouraged.     

Estimates of AOT ozone indices from time-integrated ozone data and hourly air temperature measurements in southwest Sweden

Surface ozone concentration and surface air temperature was measured hourly at three coastal sites, four low elevation inland sites and two high elevation inland sites in southwestern Sweden. Diurnal ozone concentration range (DOR) and diurnal temperature range (DTR) were strongly correlated, both spatially and temporally, most likely because both depended on atmospheric stability. Accumulated ozone exposure above a threshold concentration of x nmol mol⁻¹ (AOTx) was estimated from time-integrated ozone concentration (as from diffusive sampling) and measures of ozone concentration variability. Two methods both estimated 24-h AOTx with high accuracy (modelling efficiencies >90% for x ≤ 40 nmol mol⁻¹). Daytime (08:00–20:00) AOTx could not be equally well estimated. Estimates were better for lower AOT thresholds. Diffusive ozone concentration sampling, combined with hourly temperature monitoring, could be a valuable complement to ozone concentration monitoring with continuous instruments.     

Toxicity of anti-fouling paints for use on ships and leisure boats to non-target organisms representing three trophic levels

Leachates of anti-fouling paints for use on ships and leisure boats are examined for their ecotoxicological potential. Paint leachates were produced in both 7‰ artificial (ASW) and natural seawater (NSW) and tested on three organisms, the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, the macroalga Ceramium tenuicorne, and the crustacean Nitocra spinipes. Generally, leaching in ASW produced a more toxic leachate and was up to 12 times more toxic to the organisms than was the corresponding NSW leachate. The toxicity could be explained by elevated concentrations of Cu and Zn in the ASW leachates. Of the NSW leachates, those from the ship paints were more toxic than those from leisure boat paints. The most toxic paint was the biocide-free leisure boat paint Micron Eco. This implies that substances other than added active agents (biocides) were responsible for the observed toxicity, which would not have been discovered without the use of biological tests.