Seeding phenology influences wood mouse seed choices: the overlooked role of timing in the foraging decisions by seed-dispersing rodents

Scatter-hoarding rodents influence the population dynamics of plants by acting as seed predators and dispersers. Therefore, rodent foraging preferences for certain seed traits (species, size, condition) have been extensively studied. However, to what extent these preferences are fixed or they track the temporal changes on seed characteristics due to phenological differences has been seldom explored. We studied the temporal variability in seed preferences by wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), according to phenological changes in seed characteristics of two co-occurring oaks (Quercus ilex and Quercus pubescens). The phenology of acorn abundance and the acorn predation/dispersal patterns by rodents were monitored over an entire seeding season. Results revealed temporal changes in rodent preferences for acorns of the two oaks, matching their different seeding phenology (earlier in Q. pubescens and later in Q. ilex). On the other hand, whatever the species considered, rodents preferred larger and sound acorns along the entire season, although the dispersal of infested ones increased slightly during the peaks of acorn drop. The observed influence of seeding phenology on seed choices by rodents warns about inferring definite conclusions regarding their foraging behavior when arising from short-term experiments. Indeed, this study reveals that foraging preferences may be highly dynamic and context-dependent for some seed traits (e.g., species and condition), rather than fixed behavioral patterns. Plasticity in rodent foraging choices may allow them to successfully exploit different oaks with uncoupled seeding phenologies, while potentially favoring their coexistence.     

Water quality of Lugu Lake: Changes,causes and measurements

Lugu lake is an alpine lake in Yunnan Province in western China. It is famous for its beautiful scenery and the special culture of Mosuo people in this area. The lake is becoming contaminated and eutrophicated because of the huge number of visitors and improvements in agriculture during the last decade. This paper uses the water quality index (WQI) as an indicator to describe trends in contamination of Lugu Lake from 1995 to 2004 and analyses several parameters to determine the causes and consequences of contamination. We found that the dominant cause was pollution from tourism and suggest some feasible measures to prevent further deterioration of the lake water quality.     

Aerogels and metal–organic frameworks for environmental remediation and energy production

Environmental pollution and climate change are requiring new methods to clean pollutants and produce sustainable energy. Aerogels and metal organic frameworks are emerging as advanced porous materials with higher functionality, high surface area, high porosity and flexible chemistry. Aerogels are dried gels prepared using the sol–gel procedure, whereas metal organic frameworks are networks of organic ligands and metal ions connected by coordination bonds. Applications of aerogels include the removal of heavy metals, CO₂ capture and reduction, photodegradation of pollutants, air cleanup and water splitting. This article reviews the synthesis and types of aerogels and metal organic frameworks, and the application to pollutant removal, energy production including hydrogen, methane reforming, CO₂ conversion and NOx removal.     

Exploring the conservation status of an endangered coastal plant over the last nine years: a case study in Andalusia,Spain

Human pressure has been exponentially growing during recent decades in coastal areas, which have led to drastic losses of biodiversity in coastal ecosystems. The current conservation status of many coastal plant species is directly related to a lack of environmental criteria in the urban planning of coastal areas over recent decades. This study aimed to evaluate the evolution, over the last 9 years, of the conservation status of various populations of the endangered plant Glaucium flavum, exploring the extent to which human pressure and different management strategies practiced in the coastal areas where the populations are established have affected the conservation status of the species. The populations analysed have evolved in a different manner over the last 9 years, as have their threat factors, and a relationship was evident between their conservation status and the evolution of these different threat factors. Our results indicate that an appropriate planning of local management actions, such as the installation of walkways or the successful eradication of invasive species, may be determinant factors for successful conservation of the coastal vegetation. The presence of species that are sensitive to slight changes in the ecosystem, and the main factors that govern the plant performance of these species, must be given full consideration in decision-making processes of coastal planning and management.     

造林/再造林CDM项目PDD编写中几个重要问题探讨

造林/再造林CDM项目PDD编写在整个CDM项目的实施上占有举足轻重的地位,由于造林/再造林CDM项目目前还处于起步阶段,其中的很多问题还亟待解决,这就造成了PDD编写中必然会存在很多不确定的问题。在造林/再造林CDM项目PDD编写整个流程中涉及到最重要的环节的问题则是解决其他问题的关键。在这些关键问题中包括三个非常重要的问题：基线,额外性,泄漏。本文对这三个问题分别进行阐述,并试着提出相应的解决方法予以探讨。     

A large-scale outdoor atmospheric simulation smog chamber for studying atmospheric photochemical processes: Characterization and preliminary application

Understanding the formation mechanisms of secondary air pollution is very important for the formulation of air pollution control countermeasures in China. Thus, a large-scale outdoor atmospheric simulation smog chamber was constructed at Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (the CRAES Chamber), which was designed for simulating the atmospheric photochemical processes under the conditions close to the real atmospheric environment. The chamber consisted of a 56-m³ fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) Teflon film reactor, an electrically-driven stainless steel alloy shield, an auxiliary system, and multiple detection instrumentations. By performing a series of characterization experiments, we obtained basic parameters of the CRAES chamber, such as the mixing ability, the background reactivity, and the wall loss rates of gaseous compounds (propene, NO, NO₂, ozone) and aerosols (ammonium sulfate). Oxidation experiments were also performed to study the formation of ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA), including α-pinene ozonolysis, propene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene photooxidation. Temperature and seed effects on the vapor wall loss and SOA yields were obtained in this work: higher temperature and the presence of seed could reduce the vapor wall loss; SOA yield was found to depend inversely on temperature, and the presence of seed could increase SOA yield. The seed was suggested to be used in the chamber to reduce the interaction between the gas phase and chamber walls. The results above showed that the CRAES chamber was reliable and could meet the demands for investigating tropospheric chemistry.     

基于有限元法的双层底板立式储罐可靠性分析

针对双层底板结构储罐上层底板变形过大产生强度失效问题的隐患,通过对装满辛烷的储罐结构力学行为进行有限元分析,研究了不同底板支撑结构形式及不同格栅间距情况下,上层底板的挠度变形及储罐的应力分布情况.研究结果表明在双层底板立式储罐的设计过程中应注重罐壁底部位置加强措施.     

我国硝基苯的海水水质基准及生态风险评估研究

以一种重要的化工原料硝基苯为研究对象,通过收集、筛选我国本土物种的硝基苯海水生物毒性数据,同时针对我国海区生物特点补充8种典型海洋受试生物的毒理学实验,应用物种敏感度分布(SSD)方法推导了用于保护水生生物的我国硝基苯海水水质基准值。在此基础上,尝试应用2种概率生态风险评估方法初步评估了硝基苯在我国东海椒江口水体中的生态风险。研究结果表明,用于保护我国海水生物的硝基苯水质基准高值为1.42 mg·L-1,低值为0.037 mg·L-1,与应用SSD方法推导的硝基苯淡水水质基准差异不大。商值概率分布法和联合概率曲线法的风险表征结果表明,硝基苯对椒江口中的水生生物存在潜在的生态风险,需要管理部门采取一定的风险管控措施。研究结果有望为我国水质基准、生态风险研究及硝基苯的海水水质标准制定提供参考。     

Calcined Oil Shale Semi-coke for Significantly Improved Performance Alginate-Based Film by Crosslinking with Ca2+

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Oil shale semi-coke (OSSC) is the residual solid waste after refining of oil shale, which principally contains organic matter and minerals. The common...     

ZnO-based heterostructures as photocatalysts for hydrogen generation and depollution: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Energy shortage and escalating pollution are major challenges globally. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is one of the most cost-effective methods for producing...