Anticipation and tracking of pulsed resources drive population dynamics in eastern chipmunks

Pulsed systems are characterized by boom and bust cycles of resource production that are expected to cascade through multiple trophic levels. Many of the consumers within pulsed resource systems have specific adaptations to cope with these cycles that may serve to either amplify or dampen their community-wide consequences. We monitored a seed predator, the eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), in an American beech (Fagus grandifolia) dominated forest, and used capture-mark-recapture analyses to estimate chipmunk vital rates and relate them to interannual variation in beech seed production. The summer activity and reproduction of adults anticipated autumn beech production, with high activity and intense reproduction occurring in summers prior to beech masts. Chipmunks also reproduced every spring following a beech mast. However, adult survival was independent of beech production. In contrast, juvenile survival was lower in years of mast failure than in years of mast production, but their activity was consistently high and independent of beech production. Population growth was strongly affected by the number of juveniles and therefore by beech seed production, which explains nearly 70% of variation in population growth. Our results suggest that a combination of resource-dependent reproduction and variable activity levels associated with anticipation and response to resource pulses allows consumers to buffer potential deleterious effects of low food abundance on their survival.     

Evaluation of bangkok sewage sludge for possible agricultural use.

Bangkok (Thailand) covers more than 1500 km2 and has 10 million inhabitants. The disposal of wastewater is creating huge problems of pollution. The estimated amount of sewage sludge was estimated to be around 108 tonnes dry matter (DM) per day in 2005. In order to find a lasting way of disposal for this sewage sludge, the suitability of the sludge produced from three waste-water treatment plants for use as fertilizing material was investigated. Monthly samplings and analysis of sewage sludge from each plant showed that the composition of sludge varied according to the area of collection and period of sampling, and there was no link to rainfall cycle. Plant nutrient content was high (i.e. total N from 19 to 38 g kg(-1) DM) whereas organic matter content was low. The concentrations of heavy metals varied between sludge samples, and were sometimes higher than the E.U. or U.S. regulations for sewage sludge use in agriculture. Faecal coliforms were present in the sludge from one of the plants, indicating a possible contamination by night soil. In order to decrease this potentially pathogenic population the sewage sludge should be heated by composting. As the C/N ratio of sewage sludge was low (around 6) some organic by-products with high carbon content could be added as structural material to enhance the composting.     

Selectivity of Nano Zerovalent Iron in In Situ Chemical Reduction: Challenges and Improvements

Nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) is a promising remediation technology utilizing in situ chemical reduction (ISCR) to clean up contaminated groundwater at hazardous waste sites. The small particle size and large surface area of nZVI result in high reactivity and rapid destruction of contaminants. Over the past 20 years, a great deal of research has advanced the nZVI technology from bench‐scale tests to field‐scale applications. However, to date, the overall number of well‐characterized nZVI field deployments is still small compared to other alternative remedies that are more widely applied. Apart from the relatively high material cost of nZVI and questions regarding possible nanotoxicological side effects, one of the major obstacles to the widespread utilization of nZVI in the field is its short persistence in the environment due to natural reductant demand (NRD). The NRD for nZVI is predominantly due to reduction of water, but other reactions with naturally present oxidants (e.g., oxygen) occur, resulting in situ conditions that are reducing (high in ferrous iron phases and H₂) but with little or no Fe(0). This article reviews the main biogeochemical processes that determine the selectivity and longevity of nZVI, summarizes data from prior (laboratory and field) studies on the longevity of various common types of nZVI, and describes modifications of nZVI that could improve its selectivity and longevity for full‐scale applications of ISCR. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Etiology of fatal thoracic aortic injuries: Secondary data analysis

Objectives: Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death in the United States (US). Thoracic aortic dissection due to blunt trauma remains a major injury mechanism, and up to 90% of these injuries result in death on the scene. The objective of this study is to understand the modern risk factors and etiology of fatal thoracic aortic injuries in the current US fleet.

Methods: Using a unique, linked, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and Multiple Cause of Death (MCOD) database from 2000–2010, 144,169 drivers over 16 years of age who suffered fatal injuries were identified. The merged database provides an unparalleled fidelity for identifying thoracic aortic injuries due to motor vehicle accidents. Thoracic aortic injuries were defined by ICD-10 codes S250. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models for presence of any thoracic aortic injuries were fitted. Age, gender, BMI weight categories, vehicle class, model year, crash type/direction, severity of crash damage, airbag deployment location, and seatbelt use, fatal injury codes, and location of injury were considered. Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) are calculated.

Results: There were 2953 deaths (2.10%) related to thoracic aortic injuries that met the inclusion criteria. Nearside crashes were associated with an increased odds (OR = 1.42, 1.1-1.83), while rollover crashes (OR =.44,.29-.66) were associated with a reduced odds of fatal thoracic aortic injury. Using backward selection on the full multivariate model, the only significant model effects that remained were vehicle type, crash type, body region, and injury type.

Conclusions: The increased prevalence of fatal thoracic aortic injury in nearside crashes, increasing age, and vehicle type provide some insight into the current US fleet. Important factors, including model year, had significantly lower levels of the injury in univariate analysis, demonstrating the effect of safety improvements in newer model vehicles. Further study of this fatal injury is warranted, including comparisons of those who survive the injury.     

Importance of legislation for maintaining forests on private properties in the Brazilian Cerrado

Environment, Development and Sustainability - This paper evaluates compliance with environmental laws in the municipality of Sorriso and the impact of changing legislation on vegetation. To verify...     

Cocoa Intensification Scenarios and Their Predicted Impact on CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Emissions,Biodiversity Conservation,and Rural Livelihoods in the Guinea Rain Forest of West Africa

The Guinean rain forest (GRF) of West Africa, identified over 20 years ago as a global biodiversity hotspot, had reduced to 113,000 km² at the start of the new millennium which was 18% of its original area. The principal driver of this environmental change has been the expansion of extensive smallholder agriculture. From 1988 to 2007, the area harvested in the GRF by smallholders of cocoa, cassava, and oil palm increased by 68,000 km². Field results suggest a high potential for significantly increasing crop yields through increased application of seed-fertilizer technologies. Analyzing land-use change scenarios, it was estimated that had intensified cocoa technology, already developed in the 1960s, been pursued in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon that over 21,000 km² of deforestation and forest degradation could have been avoided along with the emission of nearly 1.4 billion t of CO₂. Addressing the low productivity of agriculture in the GRF should be one of the principal objectives of REDD climate mitigation programs.     

Profiling climate change vulnerability of forest indigenous communities in the Congo Basin

The livelihood strategies of indigenous communities in the Congo Basin are inseparable from the forests, following their use of forest ecosystem goods and services (FEGS). Climate change is expected to exert impacts on the forest and its ability to provide FEGS. Thus, human livelihoods that depend on these FEGS are intricately vulnerable to climate impacts. Using the livelihood strategies of the two main forest indigenous groups; the Bantus and Pygmies, of the high forest zone of southern Cameroon; this paper examines the nature and pattern of their vulnerability to different climate risks as well as highlights how place of settlement in the forest contributes to the vulnerability of people in forest systems. Forests provide different capitals as FEGS and make direct and indirect contributions to livelihoods which are exploited differently by the two indigenous groups. The results show that vulnerability of forest communities is structured by lifestyle, culture and the livelihood strategies employed which are largely shaped by the place of settlement in the forest. The Pygmies living within the forests are engaged in nomadic gathering and foraging of non-timber forest resources. The Bantus prefer forest margins and are mostly preoccupied with sedentary farming, using the forest as additional livelihood opportunity. The contrasting lifestyles have implications on their vulnerability and adaptation to climate impacts which need to be taken into considerations in planning and implementation of national climate change adaptation strategies.     

Chemical composition of the NH3-HNO3-H2SO4-NaCl system in the atmosphere of Athens,Greece

This paper presents a procedure for estimating the distribution of ionic material in the NH₃-HNO₃-H₂SO₄-NaCl system and applies this procedure in a particular case. The data used were measurements of HNO₃, NH₃, NO ₃ ^– , SO ₄ ^– , NH ₄ ⁺ Cl^– and Na⁺ performed during February 1989 – February 1990 in a central Athens street with high traffic density. According to the procedure, ions combine in the following manner: Na⁺ combines preferentially with SO ₄ ^– , then with NO ₃ ^– , followed by NH ₄ ⁺ with the remaining SO ₄ ^– and then with the remaining NO ₃ ^– to form bisulphates, sulphates and nitrates. The combination procedure showed that the main constituents of the NH₃-HNO₃-H₂SO₄-NaCl system are primarily (NH₄)₂SO₄ and, to a lesser extent, NH₄NO₃ and NH₄HSO₄, with mean and maximum concentrations, during morning hours, (NH₄)₂SO₄: 14.5 (max 46.8), NH₄NO₃: 2.97 (max 23) and NH₄HSO₄: 1.78 (max 40.6) µg m^–3. Lower concentations of Na₂SO₄, NaHSO₄, NaNO₃ and NH₄Cl and very low concentrations of H₂SO₄ are also present, depending on the availability of NaCl. It became apparent from the ionic distribution that there is sufficient NH₃ to neutralize the H₂SO₄ and HNO₃. It was also shown that a significant fraction of the HNO₃, especially on days with high pollution, occurs as aqueous NO ₃ ^– . A number of empirical equations have been proposed, which enable the approximate estimation of the constituents of the NH₃-HNO₃-H₂SO₄-NaCl system from air pollution monitoring data and meteorological parameters.