Images of nature: collaboration at the intersection of nature, art and technology

This paper argues that interdisciplinary collaboration between the sciences, the arts/humanities and engineering will provide innovative responses to important changes in our natural environment. Specifically, it will introduce ??Images of Nature??, a case study on creative collaboration and a multi-level research project at Purdue University, headed by Prof. Shannon McMullen and Prof. Fabian Winkler. By bringing together scientists, engineers and artists, ??Images of Nature?? aims to convey the significance of new understandings of nature in images and tangible artifacts (e.g., data visualization, functional devices, generative and kinetic installations) for the public. It is our hope that this project will be the starting point for a flexible network connecting science, engineering and the arts on Purdue??s West Lafayette campus to enrich STEM education and provide a local model for STE(A)M (STEM disciplines plus Art), which emphasizes creativity and innovation; critical thinking and problem solving; flexibility and adaptability; cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration in the context of our changing natural environment.     

Particulate Air Pollution In the United States

A study was conducted to identify, characterize, and quantify the national particulate air pollution problem from stationary sources. Particulate emissions from stationary sources were determined from data on emission factors, grain loadings, and material balances. The principal method used for establishing the tonnage emitted by an industry utilized uncontrolled emission factors. Total tonnage emitted by a given industry was calculated from four quantities: (1) an emission factor for the uncontrolled source; (2) the total tonnage processed per year by the industry; (3) the efficiency of control equipment used; and (4) the percentage of production capacity equipped with control devices.

Particulate emissions from stationary sources in the United States currently total approximately 18 X 10⁶ ton/yr. The major stationary sources of particulates include electric power generation plants, the crushed stone industry, the forest products industry, agriculture and related operations, the cement industry, and the iron and steel industry.

Three methods were developed to project the total quantity of particulate pollutants emitted up to the year 2000. In making these forecasts, these factors were considered (1) changes in production capacity; (2) improvements in control devices; and (3) regulatory action to enforce installation of control equipment.

These forecasts indicate that particulate emissions can be reduced from the current level of 18 X 10⁶ ton/yr to 3 X 10⁶ ton/yr by 2000 based on the most optimistic forecast. The projections also suggest that major reductions of particulate matter will most likely occur by installation of control equipment on uncontrolled sources and by shifts to more efficient types of collection equipment on existing controlled sources.     

天目湖沙河水库热分层变化及其对水质的影响

为揭示亚热带水库热分层的季节性变化特征、影响因素及水质效应,以最大水深11 m的江苏溧阳天目湖沙河水库为例,基于对水库坝前区(TM1)3~11月逐时的水温监测及对该水库2009~2016年相关水质和气象指标监测,分析了该水库热分层的形成和消失时间、驱动因素及其对水质的影响.结果表明,天目湖沙河水库呈典型的亚热带单循环混合模式:春季随着太阳辐射的增强,水温逐渐升高,当表层水温升至21℃左右时,热分层稳定形成,在整个5~9月期间水体热分层十分稳定;秋季随着太阳辐射的减弱,水温逐渐降低,当表层水温降至19℃左右时,热分层基本消失,在10~4月期间水体呈混合状态.热分层期间,表层和底层的水温差随太阳辐射的增强而增加;日均气温超过30℃的情况下,水体热分层更加稳定;夏季强降雨过程降低了水体表层的温度、减弱了上层5 m水体的温度分层,但对5 m以下深度的热分层状况基本无影响.水温分层对水库水质产生一定的影响:热分层期间,底层水体处于厌氧状态,底层水体氨氮浓度明显增加;热分层消失后,底层水体溶解氧、总磷及悬浮颗粒物含量均增加.研究表明,对于四季分明的亚热带中等深度的水库而言,水体热分层主要受太阳辐射的控制,稳定的热分层有利于蓝藻门相关种属藻类的生长,热分层形成及消散阶段改变了沉积物的营养盐释放及供给水体的强度,对水体水质形成冲击.在水库水质监控及生态保护管理中,应关注热分层过程的不利影响,并探索相关灾害的防控技术.     

Polychlorinated naphthalenes and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls in tissues of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the northern Gulf of Alaska

Blubber, liver and kidney samples of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the northern Gulf of Alaska were collected during 2000-2001 for the analysis of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (CoplPCBs). On the lipid weight (lw) base, the total concentrations of PCNs (Sigma PCNs) ranged from 0.3 to 27 ng/g lw, and the total concentrations of CoplPCBs (Sigma CoplPCBs) were 3.6-546 ng/g lw in all the tissue samples. Di-ortho PCBs and mono-ortho PCBs were dominant followed by non-ortho PCBs and PCNs. Sigma Mono-ortho PCBs and Sigma di-ortho PCBs in nursing seals were apparently lower than those in male adult seals, but Sigma PCNs and Sigma non-ortho PCBs in female adults were not significantly different from those in male adults. Differences in PCNs and CoplPCBs congener profiles in female and male adult seals are apparently related to their chemical structure and properties, animal's developmental stages and physiological conditions. A large quantity of mono-ortho and di-ortho PCBs might be transferred to newborns from the nursing seals during lactation, while non-ortho PCBs and PCNs were relatively accumulative in the mother seals. Sigma PCNs and Sigma CoplPCBs in the harbor seals correlated with ages, gender, body weight and blubber thickness, but the blubber Sigma PCNs and Sigma CoplPCBs in Kodiak Island and Southern Alaska Peninsula (KIAP) did not significantly differ from those in Prince William Sound (PWS). In addition to the new PCB data, this first report on PCN contamination in Alaskan harbor seal tissues is useful for the wildlife and ecosystem management and human health protection.     

Dermal Insecticide Residues from Birds Inhabiting an Orchard

The US Environmental Protection Agency conducts risk assessments of insecticide applications to wild birds using a model that is limited to the dietary route of exposure. However, free-flying birds are also exposed to insecticides via the inhalation and dermal routes. We measured azinphos-methyl residues on the skin plus feathers and the feet of brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) in order to quantify dermal exposure to songbirds that entered and inhabited an apple (Malus x domestica) orchard following an insecticide application. Exposure to azinphos-methyl was measured by sampling birds from an aviary that was built around an apple tree. Birds sampled at 36 h and 7-day post-application were placed in the aviary within 1 h after the application whereas birds exposed for 3 days were released into the aviary 4-day post-application. Residues on vegetation and soil were also measured. Azinphos-methyl residues were detected from the skin plus feathers and the feet from all exposure periods. Our results underscore the importance of incorporating dermal exposure into avian pesticide risk assessments.     

垃圾填埋气对植物生长影响初探

以11种上海常见绿化植物的盆栽幼苗为对象,在上海顾村垃圾填埋场就填埋气对这些植物幼苗生长和生理特征的影响进行了初步分析和比较。研究测定的形态指标和生理指标主要包括：生长势、存活率、株高变化、叶绿素含量和脯氨酸含量。结果表明：1）距离填埋气排放口越近的植物生长越差,存活率越低,株高变矮。2）距离填埋气排放口越近的植物叶绿素含量越小,脯氨酸含量越高。3）狗牙根（Cynodon dactylon）、构树（Broussonetia papyrifera）等植物出现了受害后的恢复性生长,暗示了其对垃圾填埋气良好的适应性,而蚊母树（Distylium racemosum）存活率低且生长势差,暗示了其对垃圾填埋气的极度不适应。本研究的结果可以为在高浓度填埋气环境下对垃圾填埋场进行近自然植被恢复提供一定的研究基础。     

城市绿地土壤呼吸时空变异及其影响因素

2012年7月-2012年12月,采用LI—COR-8100测定了柳树、圆柏和杏树3种北京绿化树木的土壤呼吸速率,并分析了生物因子和非生物因子对土壤呼吸的影响。结果表明：3个树种的土壤呼吸速率平均值为：柳树3．53μmol／（m2·s）,圆柏2．68μmol（m2·s）,杏树2．38μmol／（m2·s）;3种树木土壤呼吸速率呈现相似的月动态,与温度呈极显著指数相关,而与土壤水分相关性不显著。8月柳树和圆柏的土壤呼吸显著高于杏树;9月柳树的土壤呼吸显著高于圆柏和杏树;10—11月3种树木之间差异性不显著。8—9月土壤呼吸速率和温度、树木胸径、总碳、总氮、有机碳及硝态氮显著相关,而与碳氮比、叶面积指数呈极显著负相关。逐步回归分析表明,8—9月间3种树木的土壤呼吸主要受到树木胸径和叶面积指数的影响,模型解释率为42．0％（p=0．001）。     

Spawning and development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Osedax</Emphasis> boneworms (Siboglinidae,Annelida)

We report observations on spawning and early development in bone-eating worms of the genus Osedax. Individual females of Osedax rubiplumus were observed at 1820 m depth freely spawning hundreds of oocytes, and females of an undescribed species, Osedax “orange collar”, were observed spawning in laboratory aquaria. Cytological and molecular analysis of the spawned oocytes of two Osedax species revealed no evidence for the bacterial endosymbionts that the female worms require for their nutrition, suggesting that the bacteria must be acquired later from the environment, as they are in other siboglinids. Individual O. “orange collar” females released an average of 335 (±130) eggs per day, but the number of oocytes spawned per day varied greatly, suggesting that not all the females spawned daily. Fertilization rates of the spawned oocytes varied from 0 to 100%, though most females showed nearly 100% fertilization rates. Oocytes spawned in the laboratory at 4–6°C were negatively buoyant. If fertilized, these oocytes extruded polar bodies and then after at least four hours cleaved unequally. Subsequent cleavages occurred in a spiral pattern at roughly 2-h intervals, resulting in free-swimming trochophore larvae after 24 h. These lecithotrophic trochophores swam for 9–16 days before settling with several hooked chaetae, similar to those of dwarf Osedax males. The larval life span of the Osedax species studied in the laboratory appears to be shorter than in closely related Vestimentifera. Osedax rubiplumus, on the other hand, has much larger oocytes and so may have greater dispersal potential than these other Osedax species. The high fecundity and apparently continuous reproduction of Osedax boneworms permits the opportunistic exploitation of sunken vertebrate bones. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Impact of host community composition on Lyme disease risk

The drivers of variable disease risk in complex multi-host disease systems have proved very difficult to identify. Here we test a model that explains the entomological risk of Lyme disease (LD) in terms of host community composition. The model was parameterized in a continuous forest tract at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies (formerly the Institute of Ecosystem Studies) in New York State, U.S.A. We report the results of continuing longitudinal observations (10 years) at the Cary Institute, and of a shorter-term study conducted in forest fragments in LD endemic areas of Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, USA. Model predictions were significantly correlated with the observed nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) in both studies, although the relationship was stronger in the longer-term Cary Institute study. Species richness was negatively, albeit weakly, correlated with NIP (logistic regression), and there was no relationship between the Shannon diversity index (H') and NIP. Although these results suggest that LD risk is in fact dependent on host diversity, the relationship relies explicitly on the identities and frequencies of host species such that conventional uses of the term biodiversity (i.e., richness, evenness, H') are less appropriate than are metrics that include species identity. This underscores the importance of constructing interaction webs for vertebrates and exploring the direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic stressors on host community composition.