Effectiveness of Africa's tropical protected areas for maintaining forest cover

The effectiveness of parks for forest conservation is widely debated in Africa, where increasing human pressure, insufficient funding, and lack of management capacity frequently place significant demands on forests. Tropical forests house a substantial portion of the world's remaining biodiversity and are heavily affected by anthropogenic activity. We analyzed park effectiveness at the individual (224 parks) and national (23 countries) level across Africa by comparing the extent of forest loss (as a proxy for deforestation) inside parks to matched unprotected control sites. Although significant geographical variation existed among parks, the majority of African parks had significantly less forest loss within their boundaries (e.g., Mahale Park had 34 times less forest loss within its boundary) than control sites. Accessibility was a significant driver of forest loss. Relatively inaccessible areas had a higher probability (odds ratio >1, p < 0.001) of forest loss but only in ineffective parks, and relatively accessible areas had a higher probability of forest loss but only in effective parks. Smaller parks less effectively prevented forest loss inside park boundaries than larger parks (T = ?2.32, p < 0.05), and older parks less effectively prevented forest loss inside park boundaries than younger parks (F_2,154 = ?4.11, p < 0.001). Our analyses, the first individual and national assessment of park effectiveness across Africa, demonstrated the complexity of factors (such as geographical variation, accessibility, and park size and age) influencing the ability of a park to curb forest loss within its boundaries.     

Applications of Very High‐Resolution Imagery in the Study and Conservation of Large Predators in the Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean is one of the most rapidly changing ecosystems on the planet due to the effects of climate change and commercial fishing for ecologically important krill and fish. Because sea ice loss is expected to be accompanied by declines in krill and fish predators, decoupling the effects of climate and anthropogenic changes on these predator populations is crucial for ecosystem‐based management of the Southern Ocean. We reviewed research published from 2007 to 2014 that incorporated very high‐resolution satellite imagery to assess distribution, abundance, and effects of climate and other anthropogenic changes on populations of predators in polar regions. Very high‐resolution imagery has been used to study 7 species of polar animals in 13 papers, many of which provide methods through which further research can be conducted. Use of very high‐resolution imagery in the Southern Ocean can provide a broader understanding of climate and anthropogenic forces on populations and inform management and conservation recommendations. We recommend that conservation biologists continue to integrate high‐resolution remote sensing into broad‐scale biodiversity and population studies in remote areas, where it can provide much needed detail. Aplicaciones de Imágenes de Muy Alta Resolución en el Estudio y Conservación de Grandes Depredadores en el Océano Antártico     

Implications of Macroalgal Isolation by Distance for Networks of Marine Protected Areas

The global extent of macroalgal forests is declining, greatly affecting marine biodiversity at broad scales through the effects macroalgae have on ecosystem processes, habitat provision, and food web support. Networks of marine protected areas comprise one potential tool that may safeguard gene flow among macroalgal populations in the face of increasing population fragmentation caused by pollution, habitat modification, climate change, algal harvesting, trophic cascades, and other anthropogenic stressors. Optimal design of protected area networks requires knowledge of effective dispersal distances for a range of macroalgae. We conducted a global meta‐analysis based on data in the published literature to determine the generality of relation between genetic differentiation and geographic distance among macroalgal populations. We also examined whether spatial genetic variation differed significantly with respect to higher taxon, life history, and habitat characteristics. We found clear evidence of population isolation by distance across a multitude of macroalgal species. Genetic and geographic distance were positively correlated across 49 studies; a modal distance of 50–100 km maintained F_ST < 0.2. This relation was consistent for all algal divisions, life cycles, habitats, and molecular marker classes investigated. Incorporating knowledge of the spatial scales of gene flow into the design of marine protected area networks will help moderate anthropogenic increases in population isolation and inbreeding and contribute to the resilience of macroalgal forests. Implicaciones del Aislamiento por Distancia de Macroalgas para Redes de Áreas Marinas Protegidas     

污水处理厂中红霉素抗药性基因的污染特征及选择性因子

采用固相萃取-高效液相色谱串联质谱(SPE-HPLC-MS/MS)检测分析了上海某污水处理厂中12种不同药品和个人护理品(pharmaceutical and personal care products,PPCPs)的含量水平和分布特征,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法定量检测分析了7种红霉素抗药性基因(ERY-ARGs)在污水处理厂中的分布和丰度变化.结果表明,在污水处理厂中共检出5种PPCPs(包括磺胺甲唑、红霉素、四环素、卡马西平和三氯生),浓度范围分别为24.5~38.7、47.5~49.2、43.1~85.4、2.5~3.9和423.2~8 973.3ng·L-1.两段A/O生物处理工艺对三氯生具有较好的去除效果,但对其余4种PPCPs的去除效果较差.与此同时,目标ERY-ARGs在污水处理厂中均被检出,在原水中的丰度达9.28×103(erm A)~1.83×108(ere A)copies·L-1,虽然两段A/O工艺能够显著降低污水中的ERY-ARGs(1.19 log~3.97 log),但其在最终处理出水中的浓度仍然较高.通过相关性分析可知,ERY-ARGs与红霉素和三氯生之间均具有显著相关性(P<0.05),表明污水处理厂中红霉素对ERY-ARGs的产生和传播具有重要影响,而三氯生对ERY-ARGs可能存在交叉选择性作用.     

城市污泥中温厌氧消化过程中厌氧耐药菌的分布与去除研究

城市污泥中含有大量的耐药菌,具有向环境传播耐药菌与抗性基因的潜在危险,但目前缺乏对城市污泥厌氧消化过程中耐药菌的研究.为此对某城市污水处理厂卵形消化池污泥进行了为期1 a的调查研究,考察了中温厌氧消化过程中四环素类与β-内酰胺类抗生素厌氧耐药菌的污染特征与去除效果,并分析了耐药菌的季节性变化规律.结果表明,厌氧进泥中四环素类耐药菌浓度与耐药率均低于β-内酰胺类.中温厌氧消化过程可以去除1.48~1.64 log单位的耐药菌(P<0.05),但经过厌氧消化后氨苄西林与头孢噻吩耐药率有显著增长(分别增加了12.0%与14.3%,P<0.05).厌氧进泥中耐药菌分布有明显的季节特征,除金霉素耐药菌外,其它耐药菌的浓度均为寒冷季显著高于温暖季(P<0.05).     

非承重草砖墙体的耐火性能试验分析

为研究草砖房的耐火性能,根据目前使用最多的砖混框架结构草砖房的结构特点,采用尺寸为1 000 mm×480 mm×360 mm草砖砌成宽3 000 mm,高3 000 mm,厚400 mm的非承重的草砖墙体作为试验用构件,利用大型垂直构件耐火试验炉,采用标准火灾升温曲线进行升温,对实体构件进行耐火性能试验。采用K型热电偶记录背火面的温升情况,研究其火灾试验过程中的耐火完整性和耐火隔热性,判断其耐火极限。试验结果表明,非承重草砖墙体具有良好的耐火性能,其耐火极限不低于3.0 h。同时,在这种结构的草砖墙体中,草砖外侧的抹灰层有效地阻挡火灾初期火的侵蚀;钢丝网片有效地起到固定草砖的作用;紧密压实的草砖其内部没有足够的可助燃的氧,且草砖表层暴露于火焰中形成炭化层阻止了火焰进一步向其内部蔓延。     

Optimization of the recovery of plastics for recycling by density media separation cyclones

Material recovery processes are presented as the optimum option for recycling plastic wastes as a means of recovering hydrocarbon resources. There exist a large variety of automated material recovery processes for recycling of such wastes but each with significant limitations. Of these, the separation based on differences in densities is advocated as the optimum process either for producing recycled products or preparing wastes for subsequent recovery processing.Density separation processes based on cyclone type density media separation (DMS) is presented as an important, potential method for increasing plastics recycling process capacities. It is demonstrated to have the capacity to separate a significantly larger range of particle sizes than those presently processed industrially. The mathematical relationship for the prediction of quality of typical LARCODEMS type density media separations by particle size and density as expressed by the Ecart Probable is presented.A proposed device configuration is presented for density media separation to optimize the recovery and purity of both density fractions produced. It is also suggested that to be economically viable, a large scale of operation is required for industrial plastics recycling operations recovering and producing a number of different plastics with a purity to be used as a substitute for virgin material.     

养殖鱼塘底泥微生物抗生素耐药基因分布分析

针对水产养殖中抗生素滥用引起微生物耐药基因污染的现象,本实验以杭州市某水产养殖区底泥样品为研究对象,测定了底泥样品中抗生素含量,并从其中分离出74株可培养细菌.采用PCR方法对分离菌株中磺胺类、四环素类、喹诺酮类、氯霉素类抗性基因(antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs)和整合子基因进行了检测.结果表明,除tet A(四环素类)耐药基因未被检出外,其余3种耐药基因及整合子基因均被检出,其中qnr S(喹诺酮类)耐药基因的检出率最高,为50.00%.另外,利用16S r DNA序列分析技术将分离菌株鉴定为12个属、19个种,包括环境中多种常见土著细菌及部分致病菌,其中气单胞菌(Aeromonas spp.)数量最多(29株),占分离菌株的39.19%.掌握水产养殖区中ARGs的污染现状,对控制其传播、保障食品安全和保护微生态环境具有重要指导意义.     

玉门油田污染荒漠土壤石油降解菌多样性

为探索石油污染荒漠土壤石油降解微生物多样性、筛选高效石油降解菌,采用涂布平板法从石油污染荒漠土壤分离具有石油降解能力细菌,采用细菌形态观察和16S rRNA基因序列分析其多样性,并设计特异性引物,对分离细菌降解相关基因进行检测.结果表明,分离的37株细菌分别属于放线菌纲(Actinobacteria)、γ变形菌纲(Gammaproteobacteria)、β变形菌纲(Betaproteobacteria)、芽孢杆菌纲(Bacilli)和α变形菌纲(Alphaproteobacteria),分别占35.14%、32.43%、13.51%、13.51%、5.41%,归属于21个属的34个种类.优势菌属为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、红球菌属(Rhodococcus)、微球菌属(Micrococcus)、寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)、无色杆菌属(Achromobacter)和葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus),占总数的51.35%,其中有36株细菌能以石油为唯一碳源稳定生长,对原油有明显的降解能力.在石油质量浓度为1 500 mg/L的基础培养基中,菌株YM43在培养7 d后对石油的降解率达55.47%,另有8株细菌的降解率不低于30.55%,11株细菌的降解率介于10.05%~28.37%,18株细菌的降解率不高于8.05%. PCR检测表明,有25株细菌含有烷烃单加氧酶基因,6株含芳烃双加氧酶基因,6株含联苯双加氧酶基因,4株含萘双加氧酶基因,3株含甲苯双加氧酶基因,2株含邻苯二酚双加氧酶基因.研究显示,石油污染荒漠土壤中可培养细菌具有高度多样性,分离的菌株有较强的石油降解能力,其降解功能与所存在的降解基因有关.      

Amoxicillin effects on functional microbial community and spread of antibiotic resistance genes in amoxicillin manufacture wastewater treatment system

This study aimed to reveal how amoxicillin(AMX) affected the microbial community and the spread mechanism of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs) in the AMX manufacture wastewater treatment system. For this purpose, a 1.47 L expanded granular sludge bed(EGSB) reactor was designed and run for 241 days treating artificial AMX manufacture wastewater. 454 pyrosequencing was applied to analyze functional microorganisms in the system. The antibiotic genes OXA_(-1), OXA_(-2), OXA_(-10), TEM_(-1), CTX-M_(-1), class I integrons(intI1) and 16 SrRNA genes were also examined in sludge samples. The results showed that the genera Ignavibacterium, Phocoenobacter,Spirochaeta, Aminobacterium and Cloacibacillus contributed to the degradation of different organic compounds(such as various sugars and amines). And the relative quantification of eachβ-lactam resistance gene in the study was changed with the increasing of AMX concentration.Furthermore the vertical gene transfer was the main driver for the spread of ARGs rather than horizontal transfer pathways in the system.