Dispersal and Use of Corridors by Birds in Wooded Patches on an Agricultural Landscape

Dispersal behavior has important effects on the persistence and recolonization of populations, but is one of the least understood traits of most organisms. Knowledge of patterns of fledgling, natal, and breeding dispersal of birds in a patchy environment will assist in decisions regarding reserve design and protection or construction of corridors. I present data on movement patterns of three migratory bird species, American Robin ( Turdus migratorius ), Brown Thrasher ( Toxostoma rufum ), and Loggerhead Shrike ( Lanius ludovicianus ). These birds are relatively common breeders in south-central North Dakota (U.S.) in riparian woodlands and in shelterbelts (woodlots planted as windbreaks in the open agricultural environment). Field assistants and I individually marked and monitored the movements of more than 500 adults breeding in a network of shelterbelts across an 8 × 11 km study area. Most movement occurred at relatively short distances within a shelterbelt. Movements by adults between shelterbelt sites, although rare, occurred significantly more frequently between sites connected by a wooded corridor than between unconnected sites. For robins, there were on average 2.5 dispersal events between each pair of connected sites, but only 0.17 dispersal events between each pair of unconnected sites (Mann-Whitney test, significant at p < 0.009). Because unconnected and connected sites were similar in average area (1.7 to 1.9 ha), distance to next wooded habitat, and tree-species composition, this result provides a test of the hypothesis that organisms disperse preferentially along connecting corridors.     

Chemische Reaktionen von chlorvinylarsinverbindungen (Lewisite)

2-Chlorovinylarsine dichloride (Lewisite I) and 2,2′-dichlorodivinylarsine chloride (Lewisite II) react by room temperature rapidly and quantitatively with dithiols in a substitution reaction. The derivatives were identified with mass spectrometry. They can be detected with GC/ECD. This reactions can be used for the gas chromatographic detection of Lewisites in water and soil samples.     

Determination of chemical warfare agents in soil and material samples

A gas Chromatographic method for the determination of phenylarsenic compounds (sternutators) and their metabolites in soil and material samples is described. The chemical warfare agents (CWA), but not their hydrolysis and oxidation products, can be detected with GC/ECD. After derivatization with thiols or dithiols, the sum of diphenylarsenic and phenylarsenic compounds can be determined with GC/ECD. The comparison of the analytical results with and without derivatization shows that the sternutators in the investigated samples are metabolized in part.     

UV–Vis LED-assisted photo-Fenton process for mineralization of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide: optimization using desirability function

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study presents the results obtained for the optimization of the mineralization of losartan (LOS) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) using the...