Comparison of precipitation chemistry measurements obtained by the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network and National Atmospheric Deposition Program for the period 1995–2004

Precipitation chemistry and depth measurements obtained by the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN) and the US National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) were compared for the 10-year period 1995–2004. Colocated sets of CAPMoN and NADP instrumentation, consisting of precipitation collectors and rain gages, were operated simultaneously per standard protocols for each network at Sutton, Ontario and Frelighsburg, Ontario, Canada and at State College, PA, USA. CAPMoN samples were collected daily, and NADP samples were collected weekly, and samples were analyzed exclusively by each network’s laboratory for pH, H^?+?, Ca^2?+?, Mg^2?+?, Na^?+?, K^?+?, $\text{NH}_{4}^{+}$ , Cl^???, $\text{NO}_{3}^{-}$ , and $\text{SO}_{4}^{2-}$ . Weekly and annual precipitation-weighted mean concentrations for each network were compared. This study is a follow-up to an earlier internetwork comparison for the period 1986–1993, published by Alain Sirois, Robert Vet, and Dennis Lamb in 2000. Median weekly internetwork differences for 1995–2004 data were the same to slightly lower than for data for the previous study period (1986–1993) for all analytes except $\text{NO}_{3}^{-}$ , $\text{SO}_{4}^{2-}$ , and sample depth. A 1994 NADP sampling protocol change and a 1998 change in the types of filters used to process NADP samples reversed the previously identified negative bias in NADP data for hydrogen-ion and sodium concentrations. Statistically significant biases (α = 0.10) for sodium and hydrogen-ion concentrations observed in the 1986–1993 data were not significant for 1995–2004. Weekly CAPMoN measurements generally are higher than weekly NADP measurements due to differences in sample filtration and field instrumentation, not sample evaporation, contamination, or analytical laboratory differences.     

Laboratory and field evidence of sex-biased movement in the invasive round goby

Activity levels are modulated by trade-offs between reducing predation risk and the need to move in order to find food or mates. Because these trade-offs affect males and females differently, many species show sex-specific movement, dispersal patterns, and spatial navigation capacities, with the sex that gains the most from territory ownership often dispersing less. Unlike mammals and birds, sex differences in movement among fishes remain poorly studied, and the connections between tests of movement propensity in the laboratory and in the field are rarely made. Here, we examine the differences in movement between male and female round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in both laboratory and field settings. This fish species is invasive in North America and currently undergoing further range expansions. In the laboratory, round goby males were more active and explored a novel environment more readily than did females. A large-scale mark–recapture study in Lake Ontario over two years revealed that males moved more than females between years, but there were no within-year sex differences. Thus, round goby display male-biased movement patterns, providing a comparison point to dispersal patterns in other taxa. Understanding sex-specific movement of round goby in the field will also help predict dispersal and population dynamics, both in areas where round goby have already become established and where they are continuing to invade.     

Biodegradation of PAHs in soil: Influence of chemical structure, concentration and multiple amendment

The influence of PAH chemical structure and concentration, added in either single (75 or 300 mg kg⁻¹) or multiple (2 × 75, 2 × 150 or 4 × 75 mg kg⁻¹) applications as single- or multiple-contaminant systems, on the development of PAH biodegradation in a pristine soil was investigated. Development in microbial catabolic ability was assessed at 0, 28, 56 and 84 d by monitoring ¹⁴C-naphthalene, ¹⁴C-phenanthrene and ¹⁴C-pyrene mineralisation over 14 d in respirometric assays. The presence of other contaminants influenced the ability of the indigenous microflora to mineralise structurally different contaminants over time. ¹⁴C-Naphthalene mineralisation was inhibited by the presence of other contaminants; whereas the presence of naphthalene significantly enhanced rates of mineralisation in multiple-contaminant systems containing ¹⁴C-phenanthrene and ¹⁴C-pyrene. Generally, increasing the number of contaminant applications has implications for catabolic activity of soil microbes. It is suggested the toxic nature of PAHs retarded mineralisation at increased contaminant concentrations.     

Walking when intoxicated: An investigation of the factors which influence individuals’ drink walking intentions

Annually, in Australia, 10-15% of all road-related fatalities involve pedestrians. Of those pedestrians fatally injured, approximately 45% were walking while intoxicated or ‘drink walking’. Drink walking is increasing in prevalence and younger persons may be especially prone to engage in this behaviour and, thus, are at heightened risk of being injured or killed. Presently, limited research is available regarding the factors which influence individuals to drink walk. This study explored young people’s (17-25 years) intentions to drink walk, using an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Participants (N = 215), completed a self-report questionnaire which assessed the standard TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control) as well as the extended constructs of risk perception, anticipated regret, and past behaviour. It was hypothesised that the standard TPB constructs would significantly predict individuals’ reported intentions to drink walk and that the additional constructs would predict intentions over and above the TPB constructs. The TPB variables significantly predicted 63.2% of the variance in individuals’ reported intentions to drink walk, and the additional variables, combined, explained a further 6.1% of the variance. Of the additional constructs, anticipated regret and past behaviour, but not risk perception, were significant predictors of drink walking intentions. As one of the first studies to provide a theoretically-based investigation of factors influencing individuals’ drink walking intentions, the current study’s findings have potentially significant implications for understanding young people’s decisions to drink walk and the design of future countermeasures to ultimately reduce this behaviour.     

Small-scale spatial and temporal patterns of egg production by the temperate loliginid squid<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Sepioteuthis australis</Emphasis>

This study explored the spawning dynamics of southern calamary (Sepioteuthis australis) by estimating small-scale temporal and spatial variability in egg production in an area known to attract spawning aggregations. Surveys of the seagrass beds (Amphibolis antarctica) over 14 months determined the timing and location of egg deposition, as well as estimating total egg production and loss of deposited egg masses from the spawning grounds. Egg laying in the inshore seagrass beds occurred predominantly during the austral spring and early summer. Egg production at one location (Hazards Bay) was very similar between the two years, but at the second location (Coles Bay) egg production was threefold less during the second summer. There was considerable spatial variability in egg production among seagrass beds within a kilometre of each other as well as within 10 km. Variability in the use of seagrass beds by the squid during each summer could not be attributed to differences in seagrass density or vegetation cover. Losses of deposited egg masses in the A. antarctica beds were detected on two occasions. On the first occasion the loss was correlated with storms; however, the second and smaller loss of egg masses was not correlated with storm activity. Information about the spatial and temporal patterns of egg production was used to make recommendations about the use of fishing closures to protect spawning adults from over-fishing.     

Evidence that lipid can be digested by the dumpling squid Euprymna tasmanica, but is not stored in the digestive gland

The aims of this study were to assess quantitatively the enzymatic ability of squid to digest lipids and the ability of the digestive gland to accumulate lipid classes associated with storage. This was achieved through two manipulative experiments using the dumpling squid, Euprymna tasmanica. Firstly, we measured lipase activity and determined the presence and location of lipid vacuoles within the digestive gland; secondly we identified and quantified lipid classes in the digestive gland. Given the levels of lipase activity, we provided evidence for the first time that a squid species is capable of digesting lipid at levels comparable to invertebrates known to use dietary lipid. A poor relationship between feeding activity and lipase secretion suggests that enzyme production is continuous. The second experiment found no evidence that lipid was stored in the digestive gland; most of the lipid present in the gland was either structural or a dietary by-product. The implication of these findings is that for this species lipid is most probably being immediately digested and used for growth and reproduction rather than being stored in the digestive gland. We consider that the role and storage of lipid is likely to vary among different cephalopod species, but not predictably as function of their lifestyle. Therefore, potential locations for lipid storage, other than the digestive gland, need to be considered and using changes in the relative size of the digestive gland as a measure of condition needs to be interpreted with care.     

Production and characterization of bioaerosols for model validation in spacecraft environment

This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of two bioaerosol generation systems(dry and wet generation) for the aerosolization of microorganisms isolated from the International Space Station, and to calibrate the produced bioaerosols to fulfill the requirements of computational fluid dynamics model(CFD) validation. Concentration, stability, size distribution, agglomeration of generated bioaerosol and deposition of bioaerosols were analyzed. In addition, the dispersion of non-viable particles in the air was studied.Experiments proved that wet generation from microbial suspensions could be used for the production of well-calibrated and stabile bioaerosols for model validation. For the simulation of the natural release of fungal spores, a dry generation method should be used. This study showed that the used CFD model simulated the spread of non-viable particles fairly well. The mathematical deposition model by Lai and Nazaroff could be used to estimate the deposition velocities of bioaerosols on surfaces, although it somewhat underestimated the measured deposition velocities.