Trophic segregation between sexes in the Black Skimmer revealed through the analysis of stable isotopes

The degree of individual or gender variation when exploiting food resources is an important aspect in the study of foraging ecology within a population. Previous information on non-breeding skimmers obtained through conventional methodologies suggested sex-related differences in prey species. In this study, stable isotope techniques were used to investigate the intraspecific segregation in diet and foraging habits of the Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger intercedens) at Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon (37°40′S, 57°22′W), Argentina. These results were compared with contemporary data on the trophic composition obtained by conventional methodologies. Blood samples were taken from birds captured with mist-nets during their non-breeding season. The isotopic signatures of skimmers showed a diet mainly composed of marine prey with some degree of estuarine fish intake. When comparing diet between sexes, males showed enrichment in ¹⁵N compared to females, while no differences were observed in ¹³C. The use of mixing models revealed differences in the relative composition of prey in the diet of male and female skimmers. This study highlights stable isotope analysis as a valuable tool to test inter-individual differences and sexual segregation in trophic ecology of Black Skimmers as compared to conventional methodologies. The results show a trophic segregation in the Black Skimmer during the non-breeding season that can be explained by differences in prey species and larger prey sizes of male skimmers. Our findings have significant implications for conservation since any environmental change occurring at wintering areas might have profound effects on several avian life-history traits, and could be different for males and females due to trophic segregation.     

Use of beryllium-7 to document soil redistribution following forest harvest operations

Rapid and reliable methods for documenting soil erosion associated with forest harvest operations are needed to support the development of best management practices for soil and water conservation. To address this need, the potential for using 7Be measurements to estimate patterns and amounts of soil redistribution associated with individual post-harvest events was explored. The 7Be technique, which was originally developed for use on agricultural land, was employed to estimate soil redistribution associated with a period of heavy rainfall within a harvested forest area located in the Lake Region of Chile (39 degrees 44'7' S, 73 degrees 10'39' W; 22% slope; and mean annual rainfall 2300 mm yr(-1)). The results provided by the 7Be technique were validated against direct measurements of soil gain or loss during the same period obtained using erosion pins. The information produced by the two approaches was similar. The results of this study demonstrate the potential for using 7Be measurements to document event-based erosion in recently harvested forest areas.     

Exploring sustainability and green banking disclosures: a study of banking sector

Environment, Development and Sustainability - This study examines the sustainability and green banking performance of Indonesian banking sectors from their disclosures in sustainability reports...     

Assessment of soils contamination with veterinary antibiotic residues in Northern Poland using developed MAE-SPE-LC/MS/MS methods

Among the wide range of compounds reaching the soil are the veterinary antimicrobials. Since no regulations regarding acceptable levels of drug concentrations in the environment exist, monitoring tests, particularly concerning soils, are carried out very rarely. This study presents a preliminary assessment of the contamination of agricultural soils in Northern Poland with seven antimicrobial veterinary medicines which has never been carried out before. Veterinary drugs were detected in 54% of the examined soil samples; the most commonly detected drugs were sulfonamides and trimethoprim. The highest indicated concentrations refer to enrofloxacin (57.0 μg kg^?1) and trimethoprim (47.8 μg kg^?1). The presence of these target drugs in the soil environment confirms the need for further monitoring studies. The analytical methods developed in this study are an excellent tool to achieve this goal and allow an estimation of the risk connected with the presence of veterinary antimicrobials in soils.

     

Planning nature-based solutions: Principles,steps, and insights

Nature-based solutions (NBS) find increasing attention as actions to address societal challenges through harnessing ecological processes, yet knowledge gaps exist regarding approaches to landscape planning with NBS. This paper aims to provide suggestions of how planning NBS can be conceptualized and applied in practice. We develop a framework for planning NBS by merging insights from literature and a case study in the Lahn river landscape, Germany. Our framework relates to three key criteria that define NBS, and consists of six steps of planning: Co-define setting, Understand challenges, Create visions and scenarios, Assess potential impacts, Develop solution strategies, and Realize and monitor. Its implementation is guided by five principles, namely Place-specificity, Evidence base, Integration, Equity, and Transdisciplinarity. Drawing on the empirical insights from the case study, we suggest suitable methods and a checklist of supportive procedures for applying the framework in practice. Taken together, our framework can facilitate planning NBS and provides further steps towards mainstreaming.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01365-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Comparison of Outdoor and Classroom Ozone Exposures for School Children in Mexico City

Abstract

To evaluate methods of reducing exposure of school children in southwest Mexico City to ambient ozone, outdoor ozone levels were compared to indoor levels under three distinct classroom conditions: windows/doors open, air cleaner off; windows/doors closed, air cleaner off; windows/ doors closed, air cleaner on. Repeated two-minute average measurements of ozone were made within five minutes of each other inside and outside of six different school classrooms while children were in the room. Outdoor ozone two-minute average levels varied between 64 and 361 ppb; mean outdoor levels were above 160 ppb for each of the three conditions. Adjusting for outdoor relative humidity, for a mean outdoor ozone concentration of 170 ppb, the mean predicted indoor ozone concentrations were 125.3 (±5.7) ppb with windows/doors open; 35.4 (±4.6) ppb with windows/ doors closed, air cleaner off; and 28.9 (±4.3) ppb with windows/ doors closed, air cleaner on. The mean predicted ratios of indoor to outdoor ozone concentrations were 0.71 (±0.03) with windows/doors open; 0.18 (±0.02) ppb with windows/doors closed, air cleaner off; and 0.15 (±0.02) ppb with windows/doors closed, air cleaner on. As outdoor ozone concentrations increased, indoor ozone concentrations increased more rapidly with windows and doors open than with windows and doors closed. Ozone exposure in Mexican schools may be significantly reduced, and can usually be kept below the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 80 ppb, by closing windows and doors even when ambient ozone levels reach 30Q ppb or more.     

Controlling enzymatic activity by immobilization on graphene oxide

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) has been applied as a matrix for enzyme immobilization. The protein adsorption capacity of GO is much higher than of other large surface area carbonaceous materials. Its structure and physicochemical properties are reported beneficial also for enzymatic activity modifications. The experimental proof was done here that GO-based biocatalytic systems with immobilized catalase are modifiable in terms of catalyzed reaction kinetic constants. It was found that activity and stability of catalase, considered here as model enzyme, closely depend on enzyme/GO ratio. The changes in kinetic parameters can be related to secondary structure alterations. The correlation between enzyme/GO ratio and kinetic and structure parameters is reported for the first time and enables the conscious control of biocatalytic processes and their extended applications. The biological activity of obtained biocatalytic systems was confirmed in vitro by the use of functional test. The addition of immobilized catalase improved the cells’ viability after they were exposed to hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl-hydroperoxide used as source of reactive oxygen species.     

Negative interactions between two SW Atlantic intertidal crabs in soft-bottom habitats

The intertidal crabs Chasmagnathus granulatus and Cyrtograpsus angulatus coexist across the SW Atlantic intertidal. Previous studies in this region suggest that C. granulatus displace C. angulatus in soft sediment, where C. granulatus build burrows (“burrowing beds”). We examined variation in abundance, size-frequency distribution, sex ratio, incidence of autotomies, and diet of both species in C. granulatus crab beds and adjacent areas without burrows. We also experimentally tested the hypothesis that in the absence of C. granulatus, C. angulatus will build burrows. Only large sized individuals of C. angulatus venture into C. granulatus crab beds. The sex ratio of C. angulatus was always biased towards females, with higher bias outside crab beds (1:8 outside, 1:2 inside). Although the items consumed in the crab beds did not differ from those consumed outside, the males of C. angulatus had a higher frequency of empty stomachs in crab beds. The incidence of limb autotomies of C. angulatus was higher outside C. granulatus crab bed areas. After a long rainy period in which C. granulatus was absent from these areas, the pattern of habitat use of C. angulatus changed. During this period C. angulatus showed higher abundance in the areas, where C. granulatus previously constructed burrows, and there were no differences between areas in any of the measured parameters. In the absence of C. granulatus, C. angulatus built their own burrows and never used C. granulatus burrows. The interaction between C. granulatus and C. angulatus may be a good example of competitive exclusion, when the shared resource is the access to surface soft-sediment.