A practical look at the variable area transect

The variable area transect (VAT) is a plotless density estimator that has received little attention in the ecological literature despite having potentially robust estimation properties. VAT allows for density estimations without the lengthy search times associated with other plotless density estimators. In spite of this, little has been written about the effect of varying transect widths on its density estimation properties or on the practical implementation of the VAT in field settings. An artificial population sampler was used to examine the effect of transect width on density estimates obtained using the VAT. Three transect widths were chosen corresponding to the mean object size, the largest object size, and twice the size of the largest object. Transect width had a marked effect on the quality of the density estimation, with the largest transect width resulting in significant negative biases in estimation. For the narrowest width, most estimates were within 10% of the true value for a nonrandomly distributed population. The practical considerations of choosing a VAT transect width are enumerated.     

Fetal arthrogryposis multiplex congenita/fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS)—Aetiology,diagnosis, and management

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) refers to an aetiologically heterogenous condition, which consists of joint contractures affecting two or more joints starting prenatally. The incidence is approximately one in 3000 live births; however, the prenatal incidence is higher, indicating a high intrauterine mortality. Over 320 genes have been implicated showing the genetic heterogeneity of the condition. AMC can be of extrinsic aetiology resulting from intrauterine crowding secondary to congenital structural uterine abnormalities (eg, bicornuate or septate uterus), uterine tumors (eg, fibroid), or multifetal pregnancy or intrinsic/primary/fetal aetiology, due to functional abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction, muscles, bones, restrictive dermopathies, tendons and joints. Unlike many of the intrinsic/primary/fetal causes which are difficult to treat, secondary AMC can be treated by physiotherapy with good response. Primary cases may present prenatally with fetal akinesia associated with joint contractures and occasionally brain abnormalities, decreased muscle bulk, polyhydramnios, and nonvertex presentation while the secondary cases usually present with isolated contractures. Complete prenatal and postnatal investigations are needed to identify an underlying aetiology and provide information regarding its prognosis and inheritance, which is critical for the obstetrical care providers and families to optimize the pregnancy management and address future reproductive plans.     

Experienced males have higher mating success than virgin males despite fitness costs to females

It is generally assumed that mating history has potentially important effects on the mating biology of insects, and differences in mating success of males, in relation to their mating history, have been commonly documented in Lepidoptera. Mating success of male European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis, in relation to their mating history, and consequent fitness parameters for their female mates, were investigated. Mating experience significantly increased mating success for O. nubilalis males. Mating with experienced males significantly reduced lifetime fecundity and longevity of females. Sperm depletion, transfer of less nutritive substances or more toxic substances may explain the female response to mating with experienced males. Male persistence or some other compensatory mechanism may account for female acceptance of experienced males.     

Farmers’ attitudes about farming and the environment: A survey of conventional and organic farmers

Farmers have been characterized as people whose ties to the land have given them a deep awareness of natural cycles, appreciation for natural beauty and sense of responsibility as stewards. At the same time, their relationship to the land has been characterized as more utilitarian than that of others who are less directly dependent on its bounty. This paper explores this tension by comparing the attitudes and beliefs of a group of conventional farmers to those of a group of organic farmers. It was found that while both groups reject the idea that a farmer’s role is to conquer nature, organic farmers were significantly more supportive of the notion that humans should live in harmony with nature. Organic farmers also reported a greater awareness of and appreciation for nature in their relationship with the land. Both groups view independence as a main benefit of farming and a lack of financial reward as its main drawback. Overall, conventional farmers report more stress in their lives although they also view themselves in a caretaker role for the land more than do the organic farmers. In contrast, organic farmers report more satisfaction with their lives, a greater concern for living ethically, and a stronger perception of community. Finally, both groups are willing to have their rights limited (organic farmers somewhat more so) but they do not trust the government to do so.     

The contribution of community wisdom to conservation ecology

Scientists have traditionally collected data on whether a population is increasing, decreasing, or staying the same, but such studies are often limited by geographic scale and time frame. This means that for many species, understanding of trends comes from only part of their ranges at particular periods. Working with citizen scientists has the potential to overcome these limits. Citizen science has the added benefit of exposing citizens to the scientific process and engaging them in management outcomes. We examined a different way of using citizen scientists (instead of data collection). We asked community members to answer a question directly and thus examined whether community wisdom can inform conservation. We reviewed the results of 3 mail‐in surveys that asked community members to say whether they thought koala populations were increasing, decreasing, or staying the same. We then compared the survey results with population trends derived from more traditional research. Population trends identified through community wisdom were similar to the trends identified by traditional research. The community wisdom surveys, however, allowed the question to be addressed at much broader geographical scales and time frames. Studies that apply community wisdom have the benefit of engaging a broad section of the community in conservation research and education and therefore in the political process of conserving species.     

The Influence of Study Species Selection on Estimates of Pesticide Exposure in Free-Ranging Birds

Field studies of pesticide effects on birds often utilize indicator species with the purpose of extrapolating to other avian taxa. Little guidance exists for choosing indicator species to monitor the presence and/or effects of contaminants that are labile in the environment or body, but are acutely toxic, such as anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) insecticides. Use of an indicator species that does not represent maximum exposure and/or effects could lead to inaccurate risk estimates. Our objective was to test the relevance of a priori selection of indicator species for a study on pesticide exposure to birds inhabiting fruit orchards. We used total plasma ChE activity and ChE reactivation to describe the variability in anti-ChE pesticide exposure among avian species in two conventionally managed fruit orchards. Of seven species included in statistical analyses, the less common species, chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina), showed the greatest percentage of exposed individuals and the greatest ChE depression, whereas the two most common species, American robins (Turdus migratorius) and gray catbirds (Dumatella carolinensis), did not show significant exposure. Due to their lower abundance, chipping sparrows would have been an unlikely choice for study. Our results show that selection of indicator species using traditionally accepted criteria such as abundance and ease of collection may not identify species that are at greatest risk. Our efforts also demonstrate the usefulness of conducting multiple-species pilot studies prior to initiating detailed studies on pesticide effects. A study such as ours can help focus research and resources on study species that are most appropriate.     

Resilience: A New Consideration for Environmental Remediation in an Era of Climate Change

There has been a growing movement within the environmental industry to develop more sustainable approaches in environmental remediation. These have generally included carbon footprint analysis, life cycle assessment, and best management practices to reduce the overall net environmental, social, and economic impacts of investigation and remediation activities. One of the foundational reasons net environmental impacts are currently evaluated is to identify and, subsequently, reduce contributions to climate change, primarily greenhouse gas emissions. While this trend toward sustainability and reduction in impact to the global environment is both important and admirable, the approach to remediation design and long‐term planning now needs to evolve further to better incorporate climate resilience into sustainable remediation design and implementation: designing remediation solutions that account for the projected impacts of climate change, as well as have the capacity to adapt to changing conditions. As a global population, we are now beyond the point of being able to prevent climate change and instead need to plan for adapting to it. In remediation, the effects of climate change create both risks and opportunities which should be considered during remedial design and long‐term planning. Responsible parties may see the push for—and management of—these considerations through their internal corporate risk management. The authors of this paper propose a simple framework for climate adaptation and resilience evaluations and plan development for remediation projects. ©2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

新安江水库悬浮颗粒物时空分布、沉降通量及其营养盐效应

为分析降雨入流影响下水库悬浮颗粒物的时空分布及沉降特征,在华东地区最大水库新安江水库(千岛湖)的河流区、过渡区和湖泊区(分别对应街口、小金山和大坝这3个水质断面)布设水体沉降物自动捕获器和水质高频自动监测浮标,结合定期水样采集分析,开展了为期1 a的水体颗粒物沉降通量及其营养盐效应观测研究.结果发现,水库水体浊度、悬浮颗粒物浓度(SS)、颗粒物沉降通量与降雨量、入库流量极显著相关(P0.01),其中浊度与SS的相关性最好(R~2=0.86);在降雨较多的春夏季,SS空间差异明显(河流区过渡区湖泊区),而秋冬空间差异不大;颗粒物沉降通量具有明显的时空异质性,空间上河流区过渡区湖泊区[分别为27.82、 4.34和0.26 g·(m~2·d)~(-1)],时间上春夏季秋冬季;结合全湖60个点位四季悬浮物浓度调查估算,全库颗粒物沉降通量为2.57×10~6 t·a~(-1),其中春夏季沉降通量高于秋冬季;街口、小金山和大坝捕获沉降物中颗粒态氮含量(PN)分别为6 812、 15 886和21 986 mg·kg~(-1),磷含量(PP)分别为2 545、 3 269和3 077 mg·kg~(-1),自上游向下递增.统计分析表明,中雨以上降雨过程与河流区浊度增量呈指数相关(R~2=0.81),持续强降雨则对浊度有累加效应,但对过渡区影响不大;SS浓度自河流入库区至下游大坝随距离增加呈较好的指数下降特征(R~2=0.84),降雨较多的春夏季更为明显.结果还表明,新安江水库年均库容淤损率为0.07%,与全国其它大型水库相比较低,但是坝前沉降物营养盐含量较高,具有一定的内源释放风险;管理上应加强流域水土保持治理,降低降雨冲刷对水质的影响;同时关注坝前高营养沉积物的内源释放对水质的影响.     

新安江水库河口区水质及藻类群落结构高频变化

水库库尾区的水环境多变,是水库生态系统突变的重要策源地.为探究大型水库水源地水环境演变特征及其突变的促发机制,以新安江水库为例,通过库尾河口断面18个月水质浮标的高频记录及3 d一次的藻类群落结构人工鉴定数据等,分析了气象水文过程影响下的水库库尾区的水温、溶解氧、浊度及营养盐等环境指标及藻类群落结构的高频变化特征,揭示了降雨、入流及季节温度变化等关键气象水文过程对水库水质及藻类群落结构的影响机制.结果表明:①在27 m深的河流入库区的水体温度和溶解氧存在明显的季节分层,相应水体藻类叶绿素a和营养盐等指标也同步发生分层,水温分层从气温达到14℃以上的3月中旬开始,至气温降至24℃后的10月中旬结束,期间较大降雨和入流多次破坏水温分层;②河道入库区水体氮、磷等营养盐变幅大,总磷浓度变幅为0. 011～0. 188 mg·L~(-1)之间,总氮浓度变幅为0. 75～2. 76 mg·L~(-1)之间,总磷和总氮中的溶解态占比分别为56%及88%,降雨入流对水体营养盐浓度影响巨大,3 d的累积降雨与水体氮、磷浓度显著正相关,3～6月(雨季)的营养盐含量明显高于其他月份(P 0. 001),藻类的季节性增殖反过来也会影响水体总磷浓度;③藻类群落结构及其优势属呈现明显的季节变化,在总体硅藻门类占优的背景下,蓝藻、绿藻、隐藻等在不同季节形成明显峰值,蓝藻在7～10月的夏秋季形成明显的生物量峰值,其峰值形成原因除了高温之外,还与暴雨入流有关.蓝藻主要优势属为束丝藻属(Aphanizomenon spp.)、微囊藻(Microcystis spp.)及颤藻(Oscillatoria spp.)等,绿藻峰值与蓝藻基本同步,优势属为盘星藻属(Pediastrum spp.)和新月藻属(Closterium spp.),隐藻在3～5月形成峰值,优势属为隐藻属(Cryptomonas spp.),硅藻门中的优势属分别为脆杆藻属(Fragilaria spp.)、小环藻属(Cyclotella spp.)、针杆藻属(Synedra spp.)及直链藻属(Melosira spp.)等;④入库流量、温度、水位、透明度、总氮、总磷及氮磷比等均为影响藻类优势属演替的主要因子,秋冬季节的控制因子为气象水文条件,而夏秋季节则受气象水文及营养盐的共同控制.本研究表明强降雨过程能对水库库尾区水环境及水生态系统结构产生巨大冲击,是水库藻类水华发生的可能诱发因子,通过对该过程的规律认识及关键指标监测,能够为水库水源地水质风险提供预警信息.