Predatory insects as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution

Heavy metal concentrations of different predatory insects were studied near by a steel factory and from control sites. Waterstriders (Gerridae), dragon fly larvae (Odonata), antlion larvae (Myrmeleontidae) and ants (Formicidae) were analyzed by AAS. In most cases the metal concentrations were higher near the factory, but e.g. waterstriders had higher cadmium concentrations in control area. Discriminant analysis clearly reveals that all these insect groups can be used as heavy metal indicators. However, the commonly used ants were the least effective in indicating the differences between the factory and control sites. Waterstriders are good in detecting differences in iron and manganese, but seem to be poor in accumulating nickel and lead. Antlions are efficient in detecting differences in iron. Antlions and ants are effective in accumulating manganese; as well antlions are efficient in accumulating cadmium. Waterstriders are poor in accumulating lead, but antlions and ants are effective.     

Delayed maturation in plumage colour: Evidence for the female-mimicry hypothesis in the kestrel

Summary In many sexually dichromatic species, young males have female-like plumage during their first potential breeding year. The female-mimicry hypothesis (FMH) supposes that by possessing female-like plumage young males deceive older conspicuous males into believing that they are females, thus reducing competition from adult males. The status-signalling hypothesis (SSH) supposes that adult males can distinguish sex, but postulates that young males reduce competition from adult males by reliably signaling low status with their dull plumage. We tested these hypotheses in the European kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Female-like young males settled to breed closer to adult males than did other adult males (Figs. 1a, b). By settling near adult males, young males seemed to increase their chance of mating with adult females. Adult female-young male pairs had better reproductive success than yearling-yearling pairs. These results suggest that there is an adaptive value in possessing a female-like plumage colour in the breeding season. To test the FMH, we measured sexual preference of adult males when adult females and young males were simultaneously shown in an aviary. Adult males were unable to recognize sex, because in half the cases they preferred young males (Fig. 3). However, when adult males and females were shown simultaneously, males preferred females (Fig. 2). Our results support the FMH rather than the SSH, because young males successfully deceived older males by their plumage.     

Do dominants have higher heterozygosity? Social status and genetic variation in brown trout, Salmo trutta

A key question of evolutionary importance is what factors influence who becomes dominant. Individual genetic variation has been found to be associated with several fitness traits, including behaviour. Could it also be a factor influencing social dominance? We investigated the association between social status and the amount of intra-individual genetic variation in juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta). Genetic variation was estimated using 12 microsatellite loci. Dominant individuals had higher mean heterozygosity than subordinates in populations with the longest hatchery background. Heterozygosity–heterozygosity correlations did not find any evidence of inbreeding; however, single-locus analysis revealed four loci that each individually differed significantly between dominant and subordinate fish, thus giving more support to local than general effect as the mechanism behind the observed association between genetic diversity and a fitness-associated trait. We did not find any significant relation between mean d ² and social status, or internal relatedness and social status. Our results suggest that individual genetic variation can influence dominance relations, but manifestation of this phenomenon may depend on the genetic background of the population.     

Global energy and emissions scenarios for effective climate change mitigation—Deterministic and stochastic scenarios with the TIAM model

The achievement possibilities of the EU 2 °C climate target have been assessed with the ETSAP TIAM global energy systems model. Cost-effective global and regional mitigation scenarios of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and F-gases were calculated with alternative assumptions on emissions trading. In the mitigation scenarios, an 85% reduction in CO₂ emissions is needed from the baseline, and very significant changes in the energy system towards emission-free sources take place during this century. The largest new technology groups are carbon-capture and storage (CCS), nuclear power, wind power, advanced bioenergy technologies and energy efficiency measures. CCS technologies contributed a 5.5-Pg CO₂ annual emission reduction by 2050 and 12 Pg CO₂ reduction by 2100. Also large-scale forestation measures were found cost-efficient. Forestation measures reached their maximum impact of 7.7 Pg CO₂ annual emission reduction in 2080. The effects of uncertainties in the climate sensitivity have been analysed with stochastic scenarios.     

Effects of ash application on cadmium concentration in small mammals

In order to assess the effects of wood ash application to forests on small mammals, we collected bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) and common shrews (Sorex araneus) from a forest area in southern Finland. Part of the sample population was from sites that had been treated with ash 1.5 years earlier, part from untreated control sites. The ash increased the soil pH and gave an average cadmium load in soil of 44 g ha(-1). When comparing treated and control areas, we found slightly but significantly lower Cd concentrations in vole muscle, liver, and kidney from treated plots, whereas the Cd concentrations in shrew tissues were greater in animals from treated plots. In voles we detected an increase in Cd concentrations during the 45-d sampling period in treated and untreated plots. The relative weight of kidneys was greater from the ash-treated areas than untreated areas for both voles and shrews. The difference in Cd concentrations between the voles and shrews could be explained by the different food habits.     

Biomass-based carbon capture and utilization in kraft pulp mills

Corporate image, European Emission Trading System and Environmental Regulations, encourage pulp industry to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Kraft pulp mills produce CO₂ mainly in combustion processes. The largest sources are the recovery boiler, the biomass boiler, and the lime kiln. Due to utilizing mostly biomass-based fuels, the CO₂ is largely biogenic. Capture and storage of CO₂ (CCS) could offer pulp and paper industry the possibility to act as site for negative CO₂ emissions. In addition, captured biogenic CO₂ can be used as a raw material for bioproducts. Possibilities for CO₂ utilization include tall oil manufacturing, lignin extraction, and production of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), depending on local conditions and mill-specific details. In this study, total biomass-based CO₂ capture and storage potential (BECCS) and potential to implement capture and utilization of biomass-based CO₂ (BECCU) in kraft pulp mills were estimated by analyzing the impacts of the processes on the operation of two modern reference mills, a Nordic softwood kraft pulp mill with integrated paper production and a Southern eucalyptus kraft pulp mill. CO₂ capture is energy-intensive, and thus the effects on the energy balances of the mills were estimated. When papermaking is integrated in the mill operations, energy adequacy can be a limiting factor for carbon capture implementation. Global carbon capture potential was estimated based on pulp production data. Kraft pulp mills have notable CO₂ capture potential, while the on-site utilization potential using currently available technologies is lower. The future of these processes depends on technology development, desire to reuse CO₂, and prospective changes in legislation.

     

Management of biomass residues generated from palm oil mill: Vermicomposting a sustainable option

Solid waste management is one of the challenging problems worldwide and it is becoming more complex by the increase in population and subsequently the waste generated. In Malaysia, among industrial solid waste palm oil mill waste (POMW) contributes the highest share. Wastes from the oil palm mill includes palm oil mill effluent (POME), decanter cake, empty fruit bunches, seed shells and the fibre from mesocarp. Generally most of the waste generated is either disposed of via open dumping or used as fertilizers as such or as animal feed. Land application of POMW and POME is very common practice as it contains numbers of plant nutrients. Direct application of POMW into agricultural soil can result in a number of problems such as water pollution, leaching etc. To deal with these problems, vermicomposting of palm oil mill waste may be a sustainable waste management option.There are number of researches going on management of biomass residues from palm oil mill, but very few works are going on vermicomposting of these agro-industrial waste. Vermicomposting of POMW can be a good practice as it will also be helpful in recycling the useful plant nutrients and it is better than that of composting process. Present review deals with the various aspects of vermicomposting of POMW and its importance. Review also put forward the effect of potential application of vermicompost on plant growth. On the whole it looks for the possibility of vermicomposting of waste from palm oil mill as a sustainable waste management alternative.     

Modifications of photochemical efficiency,cellular viability and total phenolic content of Prosopis glandulosa leaves exposed to copper

The effects of copper (Cu²⁺) on photochemical efficiency, cellular viability and total phenolic content in Prosopis glandulosa leaves were evaluated after 4, 8 or 12 h exposure to 0.1, 10 or 100 mM Cu²⁺ using the tissue tolerance test. The results showed that significant reductions (p<0.003) of photochemical efficiency in P. glandulosa leaves were found after 8 h exposure to 100 mM Cu²⁺ compared with controls leaves. The results also showed a significant increase (p<0.05) on electrolyte leakage values in P. glandulosa leaves after 4 h exposure to 100 mM Cu²⁺ compared with control leaves. Total phenolic content in P. glandulosa leaves only differed significantly when exposed 12 h to the highest concentration of Cu²⁺. These results suggest that Cu²⁺ can produce reactive oxygen species that may form hydroxyl radicals that damage proteins and lipids, which in turn causes loss of integrity and reduce photochemical efficiency of leaves. In conclusion, the photochemical efficiency and cellular viability analyses can be used as useful physiological tools to assess early changes in photosynthetic performance of P. glandulosa in response to copper pollution.