Extinction Rate Estimates for Plant Populations in Revisitation Studies: Importance of Detectability

Abstract:  Many researchers have obtained extinction-rate estimates for plant populations by comparing historical and current records of occurrence. A population that is no longer found is assumed to have gone extinct. Extinction can then be related to characteristics of these populations, such as habitat type, size, or species, to test ideas about what factors may affect extinction. Such studies neglect the fact that a population may be overlooked, however, which may bias estimates of extinction rates upward. In addition, if populations are unequally detectable across groups to be compared, such as habitat type or population size, comparisons become distorted to an unknown degree. To illustrate the problem, I simulated two data sets, assuming a constant extinction rate, in which populations occurred in different habitats or habitats of different size and these factors affected their detectability. The conventional analysis implicitly assumed that detectability equalled 1 and used logistic regression to estimate extinction rates. It wrongly identified habitat and population size as factors affecting extinction risk. In contrast, with capture-recapture methods, unbiased estimates of extinction rates were recovered. I argue that capture-recapture methods should be considered more often in estimations of demographic parameters in plant populations and communities.     

植物根际微生态区域中铝的环境行为研究进展

铝毒是酸性土壤(pH<5.0)中影响植物生长的重要因素.根系环境中的铝离子可影响矿物营养的获取,增加植物对铝胁迫的风险.植物通过根系分泌有机酸、生物酶和其他物质来解除或减轻铝的毒害.从铝胁迫对根系分泌系统的影响、根际微环境中铝的毒理效应和根际微环境中铝的抗毒机制等3个方面对植物根际微生态区域中铝的环境行为研究进展进行了综述,并对今后该领域的研究方向进行了展望.     

韶钢水泥厂的粉尘污染及综合防治措施

韶钢水泥厂在进行干法生产时,会产生大量的粉尘,严重影响生产和厂区周围居民的正常生活,危害严重。通过一些综合防治措施,不仅保护了环境,而且还可回收数量可观的有价原料、成品或半成品。     

吐氏酸废液资源化技术的研究

研究了用化学萃取法回收吐氏酸废母液中染料中间体的多种影响因素,静态试验表明：通过萃取工艺,吐氏酸废母液中的染料中间体回收率可达９０％以上,萃余液中ＣＯＤｃｒ在５００～３０００ｍｇ／Ｌ之间;该工艺可使废母液中的回收物浓缩５～１０倍,根据静态试验得出的工艺参数,进行了动态模拟试验,取得了与静态试验非常接近的结果,为以后的示范工程提供了可靠的设计依据。     

Degradation of Starch–Calcium Carbonate Disposable Packaging in a Solid Waste Composting Facility

The compostability of starch–CaCO₃ disposable packaging was examined in a source-separated municipal solid waste (MSW) composting facility located in East Hampton, NY. Source-separated MSW:starch–CaCO₃ container mixtures of 0 (control), 5, and 20% (by volume) were prepared as feedstock for composting. Compost samples were collected weekly or biweekly during the composting process and examined for fragments of the starch–CaCO₃ containers. Changes in compost quality due to the presence of starch–CaCO₃ containers were assessed by measuring the nutrient and metal content of the three resultant MSW:starch–CaCO₃ composts. Finally, plant growth studies were conducted to examine the composts for possible plant growth inhibition due to the deterioration of the starch–CaCO₃ containers. Results showed that portions of the starch–CaCO₃ containers were not identified in any of the 5 and 20% sieved and characterized compost fractions > 1.3 cm following 1–3 weeks of composting. Mechanical agitation of the waste along with optimum composting conditions were sufficient to initiate the rapid degradation of the starch–CaCO₃ composites. Degradation of starch–CaCO₃ containers did not affect compost nutrient and trace element content. Grass biomass measurements were performed once weekly over 28 days for grass grown in control (0%), 5%, and 20% starch–CaCO₃-containing compost:soil mixtures. Significant differences in grass biomass for these compost:soil mixtures were measured only for the 0 and 20% starch–CaCO₃-containing compost:soil mixtures at 28 days (9.07 vs 11.05 g, respectively; P = 0.046).     

我国农药工业三废治理方法

详细介绍了我国农药生产中排放的废水、废气、废渣的常用治理技术,通过改进生产工艺和回收利用减少三废的实例,以及主要品系农药生产废水治理方法选择的思路。     

The effects on waste reduction and recycling rates when different components of the waste stream are counted

States differ in the components or solid waste management activities which they include when determining solid waste reduction and recycling rates. Thus, when attempting to draw comparisons among states, confusion arises in two ways: (1) use of two types of rates; and (2) use of different components or activities when calculating a given rate. This paper presents a mathematical basis for understanding the impacts on rate calculations when variations occur in the components and activities included in those calculations. Estimates of the incremental changes occurring in the rate calculations when incineration or selected components such as yard waste, construction and demolition wastes, and junked automobiles, are added to a base of municipal solid waste constituents are found using national data. Finally, the achieved rates reported by states counting different combinations are compared.     

Environmental Management of Human Waste Disposal for Recreational Boating Activities

/ A methodology to estimate the number of pump-out facilities and dump stations required to service human waste disposal for recreational power boating activities in Pennsylvania during the 1994 boating season is described. Study results suggest that a total of 39 additional pump-out stations and 13 dump stations may be required on seven major waterbodies: The Three Rivers Area, Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay, Raystown Lake, the Susquehanna River, the Delaware River, Lake Wallenpaupack, and the Kinzua Reservoir. Suggestions for improving the methodology are provided. KEY WORDS: Human waste; Recreation; Power boating; Waste facilities; Waste disposal; Pennsylvania     

Public participation in plastics recycling schemes

Without public contributions, recycling from domestic waste would not be possible. In order to support recycling projects it is important to try to understand who recycles, how they recycle, and why they recycle. This paper presents the results of a structured survey of 500 members of the public served by schemes to collect plastics waste for recycling. Data were gathered on the characteristics, behaviours and motivations of recyclers. The authors also sought to discover how the public perceive plastics compared to other materials, and as a recyclable material. Responses were collected in such a way that the awareness of the recyclability of materials could be compared with the recycling behaviour of respondents. An element of comparison was introduced between those served by a system of bottle banks (bring scheme) and those covered by a household collection (collect scheme). The survey results are reported and their implications for the management of post-consumer plastics waste collection schemes are discussed.     

石化废水深度处理回用工艺设计

化工废水中含有机物、烃类、石油类、重金属等有毒有害物质,成分复杂,难于生物降解,并且对微生物代谢产生抑制和毒害作用.文章通过研究石化废水二级生化处理后回用的工艺技术,提出以絮凝、氧化、膜分离等组合工艺为主体的石化废水深度处理流程,并对设计参数、工艺调试进行优化分析,为石化废水处理回用开辟途径.