Estrogen content and relative performance of Japanese and British sewage treatment plants and their potential impact on endocrine disruption.

Both the UK and Japan are densely populated islands with relatively short rivers. Therefore, both countries are likely to be highly exposed to contaminants emanating from their human populations. This review considered how effective the different sewage treatment facilities of the two countries are at removing steroid estrogens from the effluent. The methods of estrogen analysis in sewage effluent, the number and importance of different sewage treatment types, and their apparent effectiveness at removing estrogens were all considered. In both countries, the activated sludge treatment was dominant in terms of people served and water discharged. The analytical techniques used by those studying estrogen concentrations in effluents in both countries were broadly similar. Activated sludge plant (ASP) effluent in the UK typically contained around 2 ng/L estradiol (E2) and 8 ng/L estrone (E1), while Japanese ASPs typically reported E2 as below detection, and 10 ng/L E1 in their effluents. When estrogenic bioassays were used in Japan, they typically record an estrogenic potency of 10 ng/L E2 equivalents. Even taking into account ethinylestradiol (EE2) (not found in Japanese effluents), the overall estrogenicity of British sewage effluents would appear to be the same as that of Japanese sewage effluents (around 10 ng/L E2 equivalents). This suggests that the ASPs serving the large urban communities in Japan and the UK would have effluent of similar estrogenic potencies. Less information is available about the more numerous biological (trickling) filter plants (BFP) in the UK and oxygen ditches (OD) in Japan which tend to serve smaller, more rural communities. The available data would suggest that the BFPs are significantly less efficient than the ODs at removing E1. This would suggest that in similar circumstances, British headwaters (where this sewage treatment plant (STP) type is often found) might be more at risk from endocrine disruption than their Japanese counterparts. Overall, the apparently higher incidence of endocrine disruption in British wild fish than in Japanese wild fish cannot be attributed to differences in the efficiency of their respective STPs.     

Zoogeographical aspects of rocky-intertidal molluscan fauna of the Pacific coasts of Japan

Intertidal molluscan faunas were studied on the exposed rocky shores of the Pacific coasts of Japan (excluding Hokkaido) to determine distribution patterns and latitudinal gradients of taxa. Collections were made at spring low tide in 1980. Five types of distribution patterns were found: tropical, tropical-temperate, warm-temperate, temperate, and boreal. Many examples of parallel species displacement, the term which Thorson (1957) proposed and generalized, were found. Latitudinal gradients of molluscan taxon were observed. Frequency of the Archaeogastropoda in gastropods increases northward, while frequency of the Mesogastropoda and the Neogastropoda decreases. Frequency of predatory gastropods decreases northward, and that of herbivorous ones increases. Commonness indices show that the molluscan fauna of the study sites situated within the wide area between the Kanto and Kyushu are closely related with each other, and they can be regarded as one province. The Tohoku district is less related with this region, and the Okinawa district is the least related.     

Relationship between the growth and survival of larval Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis

We tested the hypothesis that a large body size and rapid growth rate affect the survival of larval Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis (PBT), and analyzed larval growth in relation to environmental conditions. Seven high density larval patches of PBT were tracked with reference buoys in the northwestern Pacific Ocean for 28–171 h in May–June from 2004 to 2008. The otolith radii and daily growth rates of the survivor larvae (collected on later tracking days of each tracking session) tended to be larger and more rapid, respectively, than those of original larvae (collected on earlier tracking days). A large body size was found to positively affect the survival of larval PBT, as did a rapid growth rate, even at an early larval stage (7 days after hatching). Generalized linear modeling showed that the otolith radius was influenced positively by the sea temperature, stratification parameter and food density, while the growth rate was influenced positively by the sea temperature and food density.     

Cadmium,copper, and zinc in carrots in Japan

Cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in carrots obtained from different regions throughout Japan were assessed in a baseline study on the contents of trace metals in foods. These three metals were measured by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The geometric mean contents (with one geometric standard deviation indicated in parentheses) of Cd, Cu, and Zn were 0.02 (2.2), 0.7 (2.1), and 2.4 (1.6) mg?kg^?1 wet weight in carrots obtained in Japan. While there was a close relationship among the contents of the three metals in the carrots grown in Cambisols and Gleysols, a significant relationship was recognized only between the contents of Cd and Zn in those grown in Andosols and Fluvic Gleysols. Cd and Zn are classified as 2B metals in the periodic table of elements, and the authors speculate that the similarity of the metal characteristics between Cd and Zn may be responsible for the close relationship in the contents of the two metals, with no relation to the soil type.     

Do bumble bee queens choose nest sites to maximize foraging rate? Testing models of nest site selection

We proposed “foundress-max” hypothesis that a bumble bee foundress chooses her nest site to maximize her energy intake rate from nectar. To examine the hypothesis, we estimated the maximum energy intake rate at each site in the study area and compared the distribution of the maximum energy intake rates with those of actual nest sites. We also calculated rank correlations of the maximum energy intake rate with the number of nest-searching foundresses at 54 sites. The nest locations supported the foundress-max hypothesis, but the number of nest-searching foundresses did not. This could be attributed to the density of food sites: many food sites may attract many foundresses. Therefore, we subsequently proposed “foundress-sum” hypothesis that a foundress chooses her nest site to maximize the sum of energy intake rates. The nest locations supported the foundress-max hypothesis more than the foundress-sum hypothesis. A profitable food site would affect foundresses’ nest site selection.     

Fire Management,Managed Relocation,and Land Conservation Options for Long‐Lived Obligate Seeding Plants under Global Changes in Climate,Urbanization, and Fire Regime

Most species face multiple anthropogenic disruptions. Few studies have quantified the cumulative influence of multiple threats on species of conservation concern, and far fewer have quantified the potential relative value of multiple conservation interventions in light of these threats. We linked spatial distribution and population viability models to explore conservation interventions under projected climate change, urbanization, and changes in fire regime on a long‐lived obligate seeding plant species sensitive to high fire frequencies, a dominant plant functional type in many fire‐prone ecosystems, including the biodiversity hotspots of Mediterranean‐type ecosystems. First, we investigated the relative risk of population decline for plant populations in landscapes with and without land protection under an existing habitat conservation plan. Second, we modeled the effectiveness of relocating both seedlings and seeds from a large patch with predicted declines in habitat area to 2 unoccupied recipient patches with increasing habitat area under 2 projected climate change scenarios. Finally, we modeled 8 fire return intervals (FRIs) approximating the outcomes of different management strategies that effectively control fire frequency. Invariably, long‐lived obligate seeding populations remained viable only when FRIs were maintained at or above a minimum level. Land conservation and seedling relocation efforts lessened the impact of climate change and land‐use change on obligate seeding populations to differing degrees depending on the climate change scenario, but neither of these efforts was as generally effective as frequent translocation of seeds. While none of the modeled strategies fully compensated for the effects of land‐use and climate change, an integrative approach managing multiple threats may diminish population declines for species in complex landscapes. Conservation plans designed to mitigate the impacts of a single threat are likely to fail if additional threats are ignored. Manejo de Incendios, Reubicación Administrada y Opciones de Conservación de Suelo para Plantas de Vida Larga con Sembrado Obligado bajo los Cambios Globales en el Clima, la Urbanización y el Régimen de Incendios     

Sonochemical degradation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins in aqueous solution with Fe(III)/UV system

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TeCDD) was rapidly decreased by sonication in aqueous solution. The degradation efficiency was strongly influenced by ultrasonic power and reaction temperature. An initial 2,3,7,8-TeCDD concentration of 20 ng l(-1) was completely degraded within 60 min under sonochemical conditions using a 20 kHz frequency with a 150 W ultrasound power. The activation energy is 21.9 kJ/mol in the temperature range of 10-40 degrees C, suggesting a diffusion-controlled reaction. To increase the efficiency of 2,3,7,8-TeCDD treatment, degradation system combined ultrasound with Fe(III) (2 x 10(-4)mol l(-1)) and UV irradiation. Both UV and Fe(III) induced Fenton, Fenton-like and photo-Fenton reactions, leading to additional OH radicals and rapid 2,3,7,8-TeCDD removal.