Diversity trends in Neogene European ungulates and rodents: large-scale comparisons and perspectives

The ungulate and rodent fossil records are often used independently to understand mammalian evolutionary history. Few studies have directly compared both records over long time periods and large geographic areas. Here, we compiled two datasets of European fossil localities containing rodents and/or ungulates over 20 My (Early Miocene–Early Pliocene) and processed the data with the same methodology. We counted the raw diversity and calculated a measure of evenness (Pielou’s index). After controlling for potential biases on diversity estimators, we identify the evenness index as a more reliable estimator bringing interesting insights into the way both mammal groups are structured by biotic or abiotic factors. In this study, we consider that an uneven distribution of the species richness among families, when only some families successfully diversify within the “continental-scale community”, represents a lower adaptability of this community to the environmental context. Pielou’s index is used to estimate this adaptability through time. The responses of ungulates and rodents to environmental changes are very divergent, especially facing the climatic changes known since the Middle Miocene. The general patterns suggest that rodent broad-scale assemblages are affected by all kinds of perturbations, even short biotic and abiotic events, but show a better adaptability when facing long-term abiotic changes. Unlike rodents, the ungulate assemblages show more stability in periods of relative environmental stability but show less adaptability to long-term climatic changes. Life-history traits of mammals can help explain patterns of diversity and biogeography at different spatial scales and may probably partly explain the opposite patterns evidenced here.     

Simultaneous removal of chromium and arsenate from contaminated groundwater by ferrous sulfate: Batch uptake behavior

Chromium and/or arsenate removal by Fe(II) as a function of pH, Fe(II) dosage and initial Cr(VI)/As(V) ratio were examined in batch tests. The presence of arsenate reduced the removal e ciency of chromium by Fe(II), while the presence of chromate significantly increased the removal e ciency of arsenate by Fe(II) at pH 6–8. In the absence of arsenate, chromium removal by Fe(II) increased to a maximum with increasing pH from 4 to 7 and then decreased with a further increase in pH. The increment in Fe(II) dosage resulted in an improvement in chromium removal and the improvement was more remarkable under alkaline conditions than that under acidic conditions. Chromium removal by Fe(II) was reduced to a larger extent under neutral and alkaline conditions than that under acidic conditions due to the presence of 10 mol/L arsenate. The presence of 20 mol/L arsenate slightly improved chromium removal by Fe(II) at pH 3.9–5.8, but had detrimental e ects at pH 6.7–9.8. Arsenate removal was improved significantly at pH 4–9 due to the presence of 10 mol/L chromate at Fe(II) dosages of 20–60 mol/L. Elevating the chromate concentration from 10 to 20 mol/L resulted in a further improvement in arsenate removal at pH 4.0–4.6 when Fe(II) was dosed at 30–60 mol/L.     

Under the shadow of Asian Brown Clouds: Unbalanced regional productivities in China and environmental concerns

China has seen rapid economic growth over the past two decades, but severe environmental problems have accompanied this, such as the looming danger of Asian Brown Clouds. This paper analyzes the regional development of China by examining economic performance and environmental factors. Technical efficiency and productivity changes in 31 regions of China are computed for the period 1997–2001. In the case of regional GDP, the fast-developing eastern (coastal) regions experience higher technical efficiency and productivity growth than the inland central and western regions. When environmental factors are incorporated, the eastern regions still perform better than inland regions, both from static and dynamic analysis. This phenomenon is termed the 'double deterioration' of the inland areas in China. Double deterioration is attributed to the lack of economic resources to replace highly-polluting production equipment and technology in those less developed regions.     

Application of Rice’s theory to recurrence statistics of concentration fluctuations in dispersing plumes

Rice’s theory for the statistical properties of random noise currents has been employed in the context of concentration fluctuations in dispersing plumes. Within this context, the theory has been extended to calculate the distribution of excursion times above a small threshold for arbitrary spacings between an up-crossing and the successive down-crossing. This approach has then been applied to a second-order stochastic model for the evolution of odour concentrations and their time derivative (simple model), and to the superstatistics extension of this model [Reynolds (2007) Phys. Fluids]. In agreement with the measurements of Yee and coworkers [Yee et al. (1993) Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 65, Yee et al. (1994) J. Appl. Meteorol. 33 ], both formulations predict a distribution of excursion times that can be well approximated by a power-law profile with exponent close to −3/2. For the superstatistical model the power-law profile extends over approximately three or more decades, for the simple model this range is smaller. Compared to the simple model, predictions for the superstatistical model are in a better agreement with the measurements.     

Monitoring the toxicity of phenolic chemicals to activated sludge using a novel optical scanning respirometer.

This paper reports the development of optical scanning respirometer for determining the toxicity of chemicals to activated sludge. The respirometer is used to measure the dissolved oxygen concentration by monitoring the luminescence intensity of ruthenium dye immobilized in a polymer film in contact with the wastewater sample. The intensity is related to the extent of oxygen quenching of luminescence. The toxicity of chemicals can be evaluated by measuring the inhibition on respiration rate of microorganism using the scanning respirometer. The IC50 values (concentration of a chemical that exhibits 50% respiration inhibition) of various phenolic chemicals in activated sludge were determined. The performance of this method is compared with other toxicity methods. The experimental results indicate that the reproducibility and sensitivity of this respirometer are reasonably good.     

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS IN STORM FLOW VS. DRY WEATHER DISCHARGES IN CALIFORNIA STORM WATER CONVEYANCES1

ABSTRACT: This research evaluated concentration data for selected water quality parameters in selected California urban separate storm sewer systems during storm event discharges and during dry weather conditions. We used existing monitoring data from multiple regulatory agencies and municipalities originally collected for compliance or local characterization, which allowed systematic assessment of seasonal patterns over a wide region. Long term mean concentration for most parameters in most streams was higher during storm discharges than during dry weather flows to at least 95 percent confidence in 20 of 45 comparative evaluations, and lower statistical confidence in 22 other comparisons. Some regional differences emerged: in four evaluated streams in the San Francisco Bay Area, total concentration of lead, copper and zinc were lower during dry weather than during storm flows to at least 99.9 percent confidence, with only one exception; while the other four evaluated California streams showed the same tendency, but to much lower statistical confidence.     

活性污泥驯化技术与高浓度CTMP废水生物处理的研究

为探讨活性污泥处理高浓度ＣＴＭＰ制浆造纸废水,研究了活性污泥驯化工艺的良性对生物系统污泥沉降性能及处理效果产生的影响。３个月多的运行试验结果表明,改良后的污泥驯化工艺即间歇式与连续式进料相结合的污泥驯化工艺能够明显改善污泥沉降性能,污泥的ＳＶ３０为２９９０－３２０ｍｇ／Ｌ,ＳＶＩ为４８－５５ｍｌ／ｇ,并显著增加处理效果,ＣＯＤ去除率７７％－８５％,ＢＯＤ５去除率９０％－９５％,ＴＳＳ去除率７５％－     

Social influences on expressed willingness to pay: results of a deliberative monetary valuation study in Colombia

Deliberative monetary valuation (DMV) methods can support environmental decision making by enabling the exchange of arguments and information to produce more democratic outcomes. The product of a valuation may be an array of expressions of willingness to pay (WTP) by individuals or a collectively agreed monetary value. Concerns have been raised, however, as to whether this product is an outcome of thoughtful and independent decision-making or influenced by social pressures to conform. Our study examines this issue and addresses concerns about the use of DMV, based on a public deliberation of forest conservation in Colombia. We analyzed the impacts of social conformity on WTP under two different decision scenarios: individual and collective. The results suggest that the impacts of social conformity are greater when a collective decision is required. These findings indicate that tensions between the differing goals of DMV could undermine its democratic promise.