Mating success and fidelity to territories in a fallow deer lek: a female removal experiment

A lek is a clump of male territories that females visit only for mating; it is quite a rare mating system among mammals. As we wanted to investigate the role of past male mating success on their fidelity to lek territories, we displaced fallow deer females by a lek (Lek A), i.e. we removed the resources for rutting males. They moved to a new area followed by some of the territorial males (mobile males) where they established a new lek (Lek B). Other males (faithful males) stayed on Lek A. The former had lower mating success and dominance ranking in the early, undisturbed part of the rut. After disturbance, the MS of faithful males was much reduced, while that of mobile males was higher on Lek B than it had been on Lek A. We then disturbed Lek B. Females returned to Lek A, and the mating success of faithful males reverted to its original level. Past mating success was the main factor predicting whether a male was faithful or mobile. We illustrated for the first time the importance of past experience in promoting lek fidelity; this experiment gives an insight into the mechanisms leading to the traditional use of leks.     

Ion mobility based on column leaching of South African gold tailings dam with chemometric evaluation

New column leaching experiments were designed and used as an alternative rapid screening approach to element mobility assessment. In these experiments, field-moist material was treated with an extracting solution to assess the effects of acidification on element mobility in mine tailings. The main advantage of this version of column leaching experiments with partitioned segments is that they give quick information on current element mobility in conditions closely simulating field conditions to compare with common unrepresentative air-dried, sieved samples used for column leaching experiments. Layers from the tailings dump material were sampled and packed into columns. The design of columns allows extracting leachates from each layer. The extracting solutions used were natural (pH 6.8) and acidified (pH 4.2) rainwater. Metals and anions were determined in the leachates. The concentrations of metals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Al, Cr, Ni, Co, Zn, and Cu) in sample leachates were determined using ICP OES. The most important anions (NO3-, Cl-, and SO4(2)-) were determined using the closed system izotacophoresis ITP analyser. The chemical analytical data from tailings leaching and physico-chemical data from field measurements (including pH, conductivity, redox potential, temperature) were used for chemometric evaluation of element mobility. Principal factor analysis (PFA) was used to evaluate ions mobility from different layers of tailings dump arising from varied pH and redox conditions. It was found that the results from the partitioned column leaching illustrate much better complex processes of metals mobility from tailings dump than the total column. The chemometric data analysis (PFA) proofed the differences in the various layers leachability that are arising from physico-chemical processes due to chemical composition of tailings dump deposit.     

Studies on the lipid metabolism of some oceanic crustaceans

Mid-water, oceanic crustaceans were either fed food labelled with (¹⁴C) palmitic acid under controlled conditions, or injected directly with (¹⁴C) palmitic acid. Lipid classes and their constituent fatty acids and fatty alcohols were subsequently separated and assayed for radioactivity. Significant levels of radioactivity were present in the 16:0¹ alcohols and 18:1 acids of wax esters, and in the 16:0/16:1, 18:0/18:1, 20:5 and 22:6 acids of both triglycerides and phospholipids. It was concluded that these crustaceans were capable of biosynthesis of wax esters and higher polyunsaturated fatty acids.     

A performance-based system for the long-term management of municipal waste landfills

Landfills have been the dominant alternative for disposal of solid waste and there are tens of thousands of closed landfills throughout the world that require a long-term management strategy. In contrast to approaches based on time or target values, this paper describes a performance-based methodology for evaluation of post-closure care (PCC). Using the methodology, critical components of PCC at a landfill, including leachate and gas management, groundwater monitoring and cover integrity, are considered to determine whether a landfill meets defined conditions for functional stability and can transition from regulated PCC to a post-regulatory custodial care program representing de minimus care activities only. The methodology is predicated on understanding the biological, chemical, and physical behavior of a landfill and the presence of sufficient data to verify expected trends in landfill behavior. If an evaluation suggests that a change can be made to PCC, the landfill owner must perform confirmation monitoring and then surveillance monitoring at a decreasing frequency to verify that the change is protective of human health and the environment. A hypothetical case study showed that using the methodology to evaluate site-specific PCC requirements could result in increased environmental protection at comparable cost by spending available funds where they are most needed.     

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Urban Atmospheres in Ontario

A comprehensive program comprising the collection of particulate samples at some 20 sampling sites throughout the Province of Ontario afforded seasonal or monthly composites of airborne particulates which were extracted for determinations of polynuclear hydrocarbons. Results indicated that concentrations of airborne carcinogens or potential carcinogens in urban air throughout Ontario are much lower than values reported in the literature for urban atmospheres in England. The project served as a test of the practicability of methods recommended for extractive, chromatographic, and spectroscopic aspects of a complex routine, and the experience gained should be useful as a guide in the ultimate establishment of standardized methods. The work has identified areas in the province where more detailed sampling would be useful, and has indicated analytical problems requiring investigation.     

Penetration and Duration of Oxidant Air Pollution in the South Coast Air Basin of California

On June 18, 19, and 20, 1970, two aircraft, a rawinsonde, two pibal stations, and four ground stations provided simultaneous samples of total oxidant, temperature, and winds up to 8000 ft in an area extending from Santa Monica, Calif., east to Redlands and north across the San Bernardino Mountains. It was shown that photochemical oxidant formed in the marine layer is vented up the slopes and over the crest of the San Bernardino Mountains during the day. Layers of high oxidant concentrations were detected above the inversion base, suggesting that some pollution is vented up the slopes and subsequently advected back to the south. The diurnal changes in the temperature inversion also contribute to the high concentration found above the inversion base. These processes result in multi-layers of pollution. The study suggests that oxidant air pollution is transported up to 80 mi to forested mountains, where severe damage to conifer species has been documented.     

Rollback Modeling: Basic and Modified

The rollback or proportional model is widely used in pollution control calculations and included in the guidelines for preparing and evaluating state implementation plans. Its basis and limitations are not widely known or understood. In this paper, the basis and limitations of rollback are listed and discussed, and extensions of basic rollback are proposed.     

The UK landfill tax and the landfill tax credit scheme: operational weaknesses

The UK Landfill Tax and the related Landfill Tax Credit Scheme have now been in operation since October 1996. There have been a number of reviews to assess its operation and effectiveness that have led to some minor amendments. However, there continue to be concerns about operational weaknesses of the tax and the credit scheme. In particular, there is the risk that the tax may be evaded and there are fears that a lack of transparency and independence may undermine the fundamental principles of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. Following a recent report, the Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has set up an inquiry. This paper looks at some of the specific concerns that have been raised and the implications for waste management.