Interventions for Reducing Extinction Risk in Chytridiomycosis‐Threatened Amphibians

Wildlife diseases pose an increasing threat to biodiversity and are a major management challenge. A striking example of this threat is the emergence of chytridiomycosis. Despite diagnosis of chytridiomycosis as an important driver of global amphibian declines 15 years ago, researchers have yet to devise effective large‐scale management responses other than biosecurity measures to mitigate disease spread and the establishment of disease‐free captive assurance colonies prior to or during disease outbreaks. We examined the development of management actions that can be implemented after an epidemic in surviving populations. We developed a conceptual framework with clear interventions to guide experimental management and applied research so that further extinctions of amphibian species threatened by chytridiomycosis might be prevented. Within our framework, there are 2 management approaches: reducing Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (the fungus that causes chytridiomycosis) in the environment or on amphibians and increasing the capacity of populations to persist despite increased mortality from disease. The latter approach emphasizes that mitigation does not necessarily need to focus on reducing disease‐associated mortality. We propose promising management actions that can be implemented and tested based on current knowledge and that include habitat manipulation, antifungal treatments, animal translocation, bioaugmentation, head starting, and selection for resistance. Case studies where these strategies are being implemented will demonstrate their potential to save critically endangered species. Intervenciones para Reducir el Riesgo de Extinción en Anfibios Amenazados por la Quitridiomicosis     

营养盐水平对念珠藻胞外有机物产生的影响

以我国湖泊典型固氮蓝藻发状念珠藻(Nostoc flagelliforme)为研究对象,考察了氮、磷营养盐对发状念珠藻生长特性及其胞外有机物产生的影响.采用藻细胞浓度计数法表征发状念珠藻生长特性;分别采用溶解性有机碳(DOC)、三维荧光光谱(EEM)和紫外-可见光谱法,从总量和主要物质方面分析了发状念珠藻胞外有机物的产生规律.结果表明,在不同氮、磷营养水平下,发状念珠藻的4个关键生长时期基本相同,氮是控制发状念珠藻生长的关键营养控制要素;氮营养元素浓度的增高,有利于发状念珠藻产生胞外有机物,其产生量逐渐增大,而磷营养元素浓度的增高对胞外有机物产生量贡献较小,氮营养盐是发状念珠藻产生胞外有机物的关键限制因子;通过EEM谱图分析,发状念珠藻胞外有机物主要以类氨基酸类物质和类富里酸物质为主.以磷为控制营养盐时,类富里酸是主要的胞外有机物之一,以氮为控制营养盐时,类富里酸产生量极低;作为主要的胞外有机物,蛋白质和碳水化合物的产生规律显著不同,其中蛋白质含量显著高于碳水化合物含量.     

ZnOOH/O3催化臭氧化体系去除水中痕量对氯硝基苯

以实验室制备的羟基化锌（ZnOOH）为催化剂,考察了其催化臭氧化去除水中痕量对氯硝基苯（ppCNB能力.本实验条件下,蒸馏水中反应20　min时,催化臭氧化比单独臭氧化对pCNB的去除率提高了51 .3个百分点;催化过程遵循自由基反应机理,催化剂表面结合的羟基基团有利于催化反应;pCNB的去除效果随催化剂投量的增加而更佳,催化剂重复使用3次后,催化效果基本没有变化,水中的重碳酸盐以及缓冲溶液中的磷酸盐可以明显降低催化活性,中性条件下,催化作用最佳.     

内分泌干扰物在城市污水处理厂中的行为和归趋：综述

内分泌干扰物作为一类新型污染物,由于其在环境水体中微量的浓度即可对野生动物产生内分泌干扰效应,因此引起了人们的广泛关注.本文以两类主要内分泌干扰物(即类固醇雌激素和酚类内分泌干扰物)作为研究对象,综述了它们在城市污水处理厂中的浓度水平以及相应的去除效率,并探讨了不同生物处理工艺、运行操作条件等对去除效率的影响.此外,通...     

Life History as a Predictor of Salamander Recovery Rate from Timber Harvest in Southern Appalachian Forests,U.S.A

Forest management often represents a balance between social, economic, and ecological objectives. In the eastern United States, numerous studies have established that terrestrial salamander populations initially decline in abundance following timber harvest, yet the large‐scale and long‐term consequences are relatively unknown. We used count data from terrestrial survey points to examine the relation between salamander abundance and historic timber harvest while accounting for imperfect detection of individuals. Overall, stream‐ and terrestrial‐breeding salamanders appeared to differ by magnitude of population decline, rate of population recovery, and extent of recolonization from surrounding forest. Specifically, estimated abundance of both species groups was positively associated with stand age and recovery rates were predicted to increase over time for red‐legged salamanders (Plethodon shermani) and decrease in stream‐breeding species. Abundance of stream‐breeding salamanders was predicted to reach a peak by 100 years after timber harvest, and the population growth rate of red‐legged salamanders was predicted to undergo a significant increase 100 years after harvest. Estimated abundance of stream‐breeding salamanders in young forest stands was also negatively associated with the distance to adjacent forest, a result that suggests immigration has a role in the recovery of these species. Our results indicate that salamander abundance in young forest stands may be only modestly lower than in more mature forest but that full recovery from timber harvest may take a substantial amount of time and that species life history may affect patterns of recovery. Historia de Vida como un Vaticinador de la Tasa de Recuperación de una Salamandra a la Colecta de Madera en los Bosques del Sur de los Apalaches, E.U.A     

强化土著微生物处理硝基苯和苯胺污染地下水

以硝基苯、苯胺为主要污染物的污染地下水为研究对象,加入激活剂(乳糖、Na2HPO4、乳糖+Na2HPO4、乙醇、牛肉膏、蛋白胨)激活土著微生物,并考察其对土著微生物生长及硝基苯、苯胺降解效果的影响。加入激活剂3d后测各个水样的脱氢酶活性,对培养9d后的水样进行气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)分析。结果表明,加入乳糖的水样中,其微生物相对增长率达157.2%,硝基苯、苯胺的相对去除率分别为14.90%和0.79%;加入Na2HPO4和乙醇的水样中,其微生物增长和硝基苯、苯胺降解情况均没有明显变化;加入乳糖+Na2HPO4的水样中,微生物相对增长率达180.3%,硝基苯、苯胺的相对去除率分别为24.20%和1.21%;加入牛肉膏的水样中,微生物的相对增长率为830.7%,硝基苯、苯胺的相对去除率分别为99.99%和99.67%;加入蛋白胨的水样中,其微生物相对增长率为686.0%,硝基苯、苯胺的相对去除率分别为99.33%和58.94%。GC/MS分析结果表明,加入激活剂后对氯苯胺、1-甲基-4-硝基苯等其他有机物的降解率均有提高。由此可见,通过激活土著微生物修复有机物污染地下水是可行的。     

结构滞回阻尼比计算方法的改进研究∗

目前计算结构滞回阻尼比常用的方法是能量比法，该方法在给定滞回模型的基础上采用滞回耗能与结构总弹性应变能的比值求得结构滞回阻尼比，但该方法是建立在简谐激励下结构稳态响应的基础之上，对于真实地震下结构滞回阻尼比计算并不完全适用。考虑到这一不足，本文提出一种新的迭代计算结构滞回阻尼比的方法，在Carlos提出的结构滞回阻尼比计算方法的基础上，考虑地震激励频率对阻尼比的影响，通过改进Carlos迭代计算方法，得到了考虑地震激励频率影响的滞回阻尼比计算公式，通过该公式分析得出了不同延性系数和周期比对滞回阻尼比的影响规律，结果表明不同延性系数的结构滞回阻尼比会随着周期比的增大先增大再减小。本研究可为结构进入非线性状态后减震结构总体阻尼比的计算提供理论依据。     

污泥臭氧原位减量工艺中四环素及大环内酯类抗生素的去除

建立了一套中试规模的污泥臭氧原位减量(SOR)系统,通过长期(111 d)运行考察了其对四环素、土霉素、强力霉素和阿奇霉素的去除效果.结果表明,SOR工艺可以实现剩余污泥零排放,化学需氧量和氮的去除性能与常规厌氧/缺氧/好氧(A/A/O)工艺接近,但除磷性能有所下降.SOR工艺出水中目标抗生素浓度与常规A/A/O工艺无明显差别,而污泥中目标抗生素含量明显低于常规A/A/O工艺.质量衡算表明,目标抗生素在A/A/O及SOR工艺中的输入输出均渐趋平衡;SOR工艺进水中91.2%～98.1%的目标抗生素被臭氧降解,而常规A/A/O工艺进水中82.3%～91.2%的目标抗生素随剩余污泥排放.因此,SOR工艺可以同步削减污水处理厂中剩余污泥及抗生素向环境中的排放.     

Demographic Consequences of Terrestrial Habitat Loss for Pool‐Breeding Amphibians: Predicting Extinction Risks Associated with Inadequate Size of Buffer Zones

Abstract: Much of the biodiversity associated with isolated wetlands requires aquatic and terrestrial habitat to maintain viable populations. Current federal wetland regulations in the United States do not protect isolated wetlands or extend protection to surrounding terrestrial habitat. Consequently, some land managers, city planners, and policy makers at the state and local levels are making an effort to protect these wetland and neighboring upland habitats. Balancing human land‐use and habitat conservation is challenging, and well‐informed land‐use policy is hindered by a lack of knowledge of the specific risks of varying amounts of habitat loss. Using projections of wood frog (Rana sylvatica) and spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) populations, we related the amount of high‐quality terrestrial habitat surrounding isolated wetlands to the decline and risk of extinction of local amphibian populations. These simulations showed that current state‐level wetland regulations protecting 30 m or less of surrounding terrestrial habitat are inadequate to support viable populations of pool‐breeding amphibians. We also found that species with different life‐history strategies responded differently to the loss and degradation of terrestrial habitat. The wood frog, with a short life span and high fecundity, was most sensitive to habitat loss and isolation, whereas the longer‐lived spotted salamander with lower fecundity was most sensitive to habitat degradation that lowered adult survival rates. Our model results demonstrate that a high probability of local amphibian population persistence requires sufficient terrestrial habitat, the maintenance of habitat quality, and connectivity among local populations. Our results emphasize the essential role of adequate terrestrial habitat to the maintenance of wetland biodiversity and ecosystem function and offer a means of quantifying the risks associated with terrestrial habitat loss and degradation.     

Biodiversity and Conservation of Plants in Brazil

Abstract:  With more than 56,000 species (excluding fungi), Brazil has one of the richest floras in the world—nearly 19% of the world flora. Our knowledge of the diversity and status of nonvascular plants in Brazil is still fragmentary, although localized studies on algae have revealed loss of species resulting from environmental pollution. Emphasis on local floral surveys, rather than wider taxonomic studies, has obscured estimates of national totals for most taxonomic groups. Knowledge of angiosperms, especially monocotyledons (of which 45% of the species are endemic), is more complete than most. For this group figures are more reliable, with some distribution patterns, endemism levels, and centers of diversity identified. Much, however, still awaits discovery. Coordinated efforts to catalog Brazil's flora are in progress and include projects such as the conservation priority-setting workshops of the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, which have identified key conservation areas in the major biomes; development of threatened species lists for plants; and the assembly of type data on species of northeastern Brazil through the Darwin Initiative—all of which greatly assist in increasing our knowledge. These initiatives also underline the urgent need to expand the numbers and geographic spread of projects on plant systematics and taxonomy in Brazil, a measure that demands adequate provision of funding and training programs for plant specialists. Finally, Brazil's environmental agency (IBAMA) could play a proactive role in opening protected areas under its jurisdiction, thereby facilitating botanical research by university departments and research institutes.