Valuing non-market benefits derived from allotments in southeast England: A contingent valuation study

The English derive a wide range of values from allotments, but nearly 35% of allotments have disappeared in the last 20 years. The real value of allotments has probably been underestimated. The contingent valuation method (CVM) was used to give a monetary value to benefits derived from allotments by allotment holders and local residents. The study was conducted in southeast England (Wye and Ashford, Kent and Greater London). A postal survey with open-ended questions was filled in by 124 allotment holders and 74 residents. Respondents were asked to express their maximum willingness to pay for allotments (WTP) and the minimum willingness to accept (WTA) compensation for loss of allotments. The mean annual WTP for keeping allotments of allotment holders were £78.93, £35.64 and £79.43, and for local residents were £41.66, £46.14 and £283.57, in Wye, Ashford and London, respectively. The allotment holders' WTP was strategically more than WTA compensation and they were only willing to pay rent for using allotments, not for retaining them.     

Book Reviews

INTERACTIONS OF PLANT RESISTANCE AND PARASITOIDS AND PREDATORS OF INSECTS by D. J. Boethel and R. D. Eikenbary, Editors. 224 pp. Ellis Horwood Limited 1986. ISBN 0-85312-836-7, £32.50.

ORGANIC TRACE ANALYSIS, by Klaus Beyermann, Translation editor: R. A. Chalmers. Ellis Horwood, Chichester. £35-00. ISBN 0853126380.

CADMIUM IN THE ENVIRONMENT. Part II: Health Effects. Edited by Jerome O. Nriagu. 908p. Wiley-Interscience, New York and Chichester. £85.00. I.S.B.N. 0-471-0554.     

Book Reviews

HUMIC SUBSTANCES by G.G. Choudhry. 185 pp. University of Amsterdam Gordon & Breach Science Publishers: New York, London, Paris. $44. ISBN 0-677-06440-3

ENERGY AND CHEMISTRY Edited by R. Thompson. Royal Society of Chemistry, 1981. Special Publication No. 41, 359pp., £11.50, Soft Cover ISBN 0-85186-845-2.

SALT MARSH ECOLOGY Tertiary Level Biology Series by Steven P. Long and Christopher F. Mason. 160 pp. Blackie: Glasgow, 1983. Limp £7.95, Cased £16.95. ISBN 0-216-91439-6 ISBN 0-216-91438-8 Pbk.     

Book review

Environmental Management, (3 Volumes) Editors B. Nath, L. Hens and D. Devuyst (Brussels, Vubpress: 1993. Approx. 890 Pp. Paperback) (£25 Per Volume) Isbn 90 5487 035 4-6

The Chemistry and Deposition of Nitrogen Species in the Troposphere, Editor A. T. Cocks, Publisher Royal Society of Chemistry, 1993, X + 134pp., Isbn 0 85186 355 8, Price £35.00.     

A review of: “Ecological Physical Chemistry”

C. Rossi & E. Tiezzi (Ed). 651 pp. Elsevier, 1991. ISBN 0444874305, £225.50 US.     

Book Reviews

SOVIET SCIENCE REVIEWS–SECTION B., CHEMISTRY REVIEWS. Edited by M. E. Vol'pin. Volume 5. Organofluorine Chemistry pp 397. Volume 6. Organophosphorous Chemistry pp 442. OPA Ltd., for Harwood Academic Publishers, 1984. $170 each. Hardback. ISBN 3-7186-0139-7 and ISBN 3-7186-0139-7.

CURRENT TOPICS IN CHINESE SCIENCE-SECTION B., CHEMISTRY. Volume 2, pp 572 and Volume 3, pp 563. Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, 1984. $64 and $68 both soft covers. ISBN 0-677-06230-3 and ISBN 0-677-40385-2.

THE EXPORT OF HAZARD. Transnational Corporations and Environmental Control Issues. edited by Jane H. Ives. 229 pp. Routledge and Kegan Paul: Boston, London and Henley. £14.95. ISBN 07102 0072 2

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY by Peter O'Neill. 232 pp. Allen and Unwin 1985. ISBN 0-04-551085-7, £20. ISBN 0-04-551086-5 Pbk, £8.95.     

Book Reviews

D. I. Wilson and A. N. Clarke (1994) Hazardous Waste Site Soil Remediation. 567 Pp. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York (Isbn 0-8247-8980-6), Price £ 108.85.

Symposium Mediterranean Seas 2000, Norberto F.-R. Della Croce (Editor), 489 Pp. Istituto Scienze Ambientali Marine 1993.

Organic Substances in Soil and Water: Natural Constituents and Their Influences On Contaminant Behaviour. Edited By A. J. Beck, K. C. Jones, M. H. B. Hayes and U. Mingelgrin. Published By the Royal Society of Chemistry (Special Publication No. 135), 1993, Isbn 0-85186-635-2, 200pp. Price £55.00

Chemical Fate and Transport in the Environment, H. F. Hemond and E. J. Fechner, Publ. Academic Press Inc., London, 1994. Isbn 0-12-340270-0, 338 Pp., $49.95

Biodegradation and Bioremediation, Alexander, A. (1994) 302 Pp. Academic Press Inc., San Diego, Isbn 0-12-049860-X, £38.00.     

Book reviews

ACID RAIN, A REVIEW OF THE PHENOMENON IN THE EEC AND EUROPE, by Environmental Resources Limited for the Commission of the European Communities, 159 pages (including a summary, an introduction, findings and conclusions and 13 pages with newest references), 24 figures and 14 tables, stiff paper cover, format 302×212 mm, EUR 8684, ISBN 0 86010 501 6, Graham & Trotman Limited, Sterling House, 66 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE, U.K. (1983), £12.50.

STONE DECAY AND CONSERVATION, Atmospheric Pollution, Cleaning, Consolidation and Protection, MATERIAL SCIENCE MONOGRAPHS 11, by Giovanni G. Amoroso and Vasco Fassina, 453 pages (including 301 figures, 72 tables, and a subject index of five pages; references are added to each of the five parts), linen, format 249×174 mm, ISBN 0 444 42146 7, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam and New York (1983) USS 97.75 or Dfl. 230.‐ or SFr. 170.‐

WEATHERING OF POLYMERS, by Anthony Davies and David Sims, Waltham Abbey, Essex, U.K., 294 pages (including 96 figures, 62 tables, an index of 6 pages; and references (mostly from 1972 to 1979, a few newer ones) added to each chapter), linen, format 230×149 mm, ISBN 0 85334 226 1, Applied Science Publishers, London and New York (1983), £35, (plus £1.75 post/packing).     

A review of: “Environmental Analysis Using Chromatography Interfaced with Atomic Spectroscopy”

Edited By Roy M. Harrison and Spyridon Rapsomanikis. Published By Ellis Horwood Ltd, Chichester: Price £59.50. 12 Chapters, 370 Pages.     

Estimating the Value of Non‐Use Benefits from Small Changes in the Provision of Ecosystem Services

Abstract: The unit of trade in ecosystem services is usually the use of a proportion of the parcels of land associated with a given service. Valuing small changes in the provision of an ecosystem service presents obstacles, particularly when the service provides non‐use benefits, as is the case with conservation of most plants and animals. Quantifying non‐use values requires stated‐preference valuations. Stated‐preference valuations can provide estimates of the public's willingness to pay for a broad conservation goal. Nevertheless, stated‐preference valuations can be expensive and do not produce consistent measures for varying levels of provision of a service. Additionally, the unit of trade, land use, is not always linearly related to the level of ecosystem services the land might provide. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a method to estimate the value of a marginal change in the provision of a non‐use ecosystem service—in this case conservation of plants or animals associated with a given land‐cover type. Our method serves as a tool for calculating transferable valuations of small changes in the provision of ecosystem services relative to the existing provision. Valuation is achieved through stated‐preference investigations, calculation of a unit value for a parcel of land, and the weighting of this parcel by its ability to provide the desired ecosystem service and its effect on the ability of the surrounding land parcels to provide the desired service. We used the water vole (Arvicola terrestris) as a case study to illustrate the method. The average present value of a meter of water vole habitat was estimated at UK£12, but the marginal value of a meter (based on our methods) could range between £0 and £40 or more.     

Thermal treatment of plasma-synthesized goethite improves Fenton-like degradation of orange II dye

Various iron oxides are used for Fenton reactions to degrade organic pollutants. The degradation efficiency may be improved by transforming an iron oxide phase to another. Here, we report on the transformation of goethite into hematite by thermal treatment at 400 °C. The products were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and N₂-physisorption. The catalytic activities were measured for orange II bleaching at initial concentration of 25 mg L^?1, pH 3, catalyst concentration of 0.2 g L^?1; 5 mM H₂O₂, 30 °C. Results show that the synthesized goethite was successfully transformed into hematite, and the specific surface area of the material increased from 134 to 163 m² g^?1. The bleaching efficiency of the orange II dye reached 100 % for the hematite product, versus 78 % for goethite. Therefore, a moderate thermal treatment of a plasma-synthesized goethite improves the catalytic oxidation of organic pollutants.     

Book reviews

PROGRESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS AND CARCINOGENESIS, PROGRESS IN MUTATION RESEARCH, VOLUME 2, by A. Kappas, Biology Department, Nuclear Research Center Democritus, Athens (Greece), 205 pages (including 49 tables, 69 figures, concluding remarks of 3 pages, and a subject index of 3 pages), linen, format 246×171 mm, ISBN 0–444–80334–3, Elsevier/North‐Holland, Biomedical Press, Amsterdam 1981, USS 76.50, hfl. 180.00

CHEMICAL MUTAGENESIS, HUMAN POPULATION MONITORING, AND GENETIC RISK ASSESSMENT, PROGRESS IN MUTATION RESEARCH, VOLUME 3, by K, C. Bora, G. R. Douglas and E. R. Nestmann, Environmental Health Directorate, Ottawa (Canada), 364 pages (including 103 tables, 45 figures, an appendix of seven pages with the Report of the WHO Consultation on Genetic Monitoring for Environmental Effects, and a subject index of 20 pages), linen, format 246 ×171 mm, ISBN 0–444–80352–1, Elsevier/North‐Holland, Biomedical Press, Amsterdam 1982 USS 80.75, hfl. 190.00.

AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY, Volume 1 of a Series, by Lavern J. Weber, Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, 238 pages (including 35 tables, 18 figures, and a subject index of 13 pages), linen, format 243 × 163 mm, ISBN 0–89004–439–2, Raven Press, New York 1982, US$ 36.72.

CARDIOVASCULAR TOXICOLOGY, TARGET ORGAN TOXICOLOGY SERIES, by Ethard W. van Stee, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA, 400 pages (including 17 tables, 58 figures, and a subject index of 12 pages), linen, format 243 × 163 mm, ISBN 0–89004–576–3, Raven Press, New York 1982, USS 61.20.     

Transformations of pentachlorophenol

ANALYTICAL METHODS IN HUMAN TOXICOLOGY, Part 1, edited by A. S. Curry, Reading, U.K., 319 pages (including 91 figures, 28 tables, references added to each chapter, and a subject index of 19 pages), hard cover, format 242 × 160 mm, ISBN 3–527–26284–9, Verlag Chemie GmbH, Weinheim, Deerfield Beach (Florida), and Basle (1985), DM 148.00, US$65.00.

TOXICOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF METALS IN HUMANS (INCLUDING FEASIBILITY AND NEED), by Bonnie L. Carson (Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, Missouri), Harry V. Ellis III (PRC Engineering, Chicago, Illinois), and Joy L. McCann (Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, Missouri), 328 pages (including one table on human low‐level exposure to metals: exposure levels, biological effects, concentrations in biological media; including also references for each of 69 metals and a valuable index of 24 pages), hard cover, format 236 × 161 mm, ISBN 0–87371–072‐X, Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118 (1986), £45.95.

PHOTOMETRIC METHODS IN INORGANIC TRACE ANALYSIS (Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry Volume XX), by Endre Upor, M. Mohai and Gy Novak, Mecsek Ore‐Mining Enterprise, Pecs, Hungary (translated and revised), 404 pages (including 9 figures, 44 tables, a list of 50 pages (appendix) of the most important reagents, and an index of 6 pages), cloth, format 229 × 157 mm, ISBN 0–444–99588–9, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam and Akadémiai Kiadò, Budapest (1985), hfl 300.00, US$111.00.

CONCEPTS IN MARINE POLLUTION MEASUREMENTS, edited by Harris H. White, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Rockville, Maryland 20852, 743 pages (including 153 figures, 51 tables, references added to each paper, and an index of 7 pages), cloth, format 236 × 162mm, ISBN 0–943676–18–5, Maryland Sea Grant Publication, College Park, Maryland 20742 (1984), US$12.50.

DETERMINATION OF ORGANIC SUBSTANCES IN WATER, Volume 1, by Thomas Roy Crompton, 560 pages (including 260 figures, 167 tables, references added to the four chapters, and an index of 12 pages), hard cover, format 236 × 161 mm, ISBN 0–471–90468–6, John Wiley &; Sons, Chichester, New York, Toronto, and Singapore (1985), £49.95.

MARINE AND ESTUARINE GEOCHEMISTRY, by Anne C. Sigleo, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, and Akihiko Hattori, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 331 pages (including 121 tables, 60 figures, references added to each chapter, and an index of 3 pages), hard cover, format 235 × 160 mm, ISBN 0–87371–007‐X, Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118 (1985), £35.90.

INDOOR AIR AND HUMAN HEALTH, by Richard B. Gammage and Stephen V. Kaye, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37831, 430 pages (including 54 figures, 91 tables, references added to each chapter, a summary and conclusions of 5 pages, and an index of 6 pages), hard cover, format 242 × 164 mm, ISBN 0–87371–006–1, Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118 (1985), £35.90.

INDUSTRIAL EXPOSURES IN ALUMINIUM PRODUCTION, COAL GASIFICATION, COKE PRODUCTION, AND IRON AND STEEL FOUNDING, POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC COMPOUNDS PART 3, IARC Monograph No. 34 on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans, by G. Matanoski et al., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, 219 pages (including 7 figures, 49 tables, two appendices on chemicals considered in the volume, and already evaulated earlier, a glossary of two pages, and a cumulative index to IARC Monographs 1 to 34 of 21 pages), soft bound, format 240 × 179 mm, ISBN 92–832–1234–7, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon and Geneva (1984), SFr. 48.00, US$20.00.

BITUMENS, COAL‐TARS AND DERIVED PRODUCTS, SHALE‐OILS AND SOOTS, POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC COMPOUNDS PART 4, IARC Monograph No. 35 on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans, by E. Bingham et al., University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, 271 pages (including 10 figures, 61 tables, glossaries, and a cumulative index to IARC Monographs 1 to 35 of 21 pages), soft bound, format 240 × 179mm, ISBN 92–832–1235–5, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon and Geneva (1985), SFr. 70.00, US$25.00.

THE ROLE OF CHEMICALS AND RADIATION IN THE ETIOLOGY OF CANCER, Volume 10 of Carcinogenesis—A Comprehensive Survey, by Eliezer Huberman and Susan H. Barr, Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois 60439, 538 pages (including 173 figures, 72 tables, references added to each chapter, an index of 10 pages), linen, format 241 × 167 mm, Raven Press, New York City 10036 (1985), US$76.00.

CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS, SECOND EDITION, ACS Monograph 182, by Charles E. Searle, University of Birmingham, England, 1412 pages (including 61 figures and schemes, 178 tables, many formulae, references added to each contribution, an author index of one page, and an excellent subject index of 38 pages), linen, format 235 × 163 mm, ISBN 0–8412–0869–7, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC 20036 (1984), US$155.95 (in U.S.A. and Canada US$129.95).

ALIPHATIC AND POLYHALOGENATED CARCINOGENS, CHEMICAL INDUCTION OF CANCER VOLUME IIIB (STRUCTURAL BASES AND BIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS), by Joseph C. Arcos et al., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, 598 pages (including 23 figures, 77 tables, references added to each section, updating notes, 4 updating appendices, and an index of 28 pages), linen, format 234 × 164 mm, ISBN 0–12–059323, Academic Press, Inc., Orlando, Florida 32887, and London NW1 7DX, U.K. (1985), US$98.50.

ADVANCES IN HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT FOR SYSTEMIC TOXICANTS AND CHEMICAL MIXTURES, Toxicology and Industrial Health Series Volume 1 (number 4), by Jerry F. Stara and Linda S. Erdreich, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, 364 pages (including 34 figures, 76 tables, references and discussion remarks after the contributions, a list of participants of 3 pages, and an index of 14 pages), cloth, format 261 × 186 mm, ISBN 0–911131–90–6, Princeton Scientific Publishing Co., Inc., Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (1985), £53.35.

REPRODUCTIVE HAZARDS OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS (an evaluation of animal and human data), by Susan M. Barlow and Frank M. Sullivan, Guy's Hospital Medical School, University of London, U.K., 610 pages (including 3 tables, references (up to 1979, and an index of 11 pages), hard cover, format 235 × 159 mm, ISBN 0–12–078960–4, Academic Press Inc., London, New York and Orlando (1984), USS75.00.

MAXIMUM CONCENTRATIONS AT THE WORKPLACE AND BIOLOGICAL TOLERANCE VALUES FOR WORKING MATERIALS, Reports No. XX and XXI of the Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Prof. Dr Dietrich Henschler, University of D‐8700 Würzburg), 92 resp. 94 pages, paper board, format 240 × 170 mm, ISBN 3–527–27332–8 resp. 3–527–27340–9, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft D‐6940 Weinheim (1984 resp. 1985).     

Diurnal rhythm of the bioluminescent field in the ocean epipelagic zone

Characteristics of the diurnal rhythm of the bioluminescence field are analyzed on the basis of experimental data obtained in the region around Kamchatka peninsula (50°31′N; 163°50′E). The feasibility of reconstructing the nocturnal structure of the bioluminescence field by measurements made at other times of the day has been demonstrated. Diurnal rhythm parameters for the bioluminescent field of several other studied areas of the ocean have been defined. The temporal parameters feature linear latitudinal dependence. At the equator the boundaries of morning and evening transition periods are 05:06 to 07:30 and 17:48 to 19:54 hrs, respectively. In the Barents Sea in spring these boundaries are 02:42 to 04:06 and 19:48 to 21:12 hrs. Boundary times of diurnal rhythm do not deviate from the linear regression by more than 10%. Received: 21 August 1998 / Accepted 4 March 1999     

Genetic structure of natural populations of California red abalone (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis rufescens</Emphasis>) using multiple genetic markers

Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit one (COI) sequence, nuclear microsatellites, and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) were used to evaluate connectivity among nine red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) populations sampled between August 1998 and November 2003 along approximately 1,300 km of California coastline from Crescent City (41°46′N, 124°12′W) to San Miguel Island (34°02′N, 120°22′W). COI sequences and microsatellite genotypes did not show significant genetic divergence among nine sampled populations. A subset of five populations spanning the geographic range of the study was scored for 163 polymorphic AFLP markers. Of these, 41 loci showed significant divergence (P < 0.001) among populations. Still, no AFLP markers were diagnostic for any of the study populations, and assignment tests did not consistently assign individuals to the correct population. Although the AFLP data are the first to suggest there is significant genetic differentiation among California red abalone populations, the discordance between the different genetic markers needs further study before unambiguous conclusions can be drawn with respect to connectivity among the populations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Book Reviews

CARCINOGENESIS AND MUTAGENESIS, by Myron A. Mehlman, Morris F. Cranmer and Raymond E. Shapiro, from the Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology (Official Organ of the American College of Toxicology), 388 pages and 135 tables and figures, 1977, linen, format 261 × 178 mm, ISBN 0–930376–02–1, printed by Pathotox Publishers, Inc., Park Forest South, Illinois 60466, $23.00

WASTE TREATMENT AND UTILIZATION (Theory and Practice of Waste Management) by Murray Moo‐Young and Grahame J. Farquhar, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; 574 pages, 211 illustrations and 513 literature references, linen, format 256 × 182mm, ISBN 0–08–023831–9, printed by Pergamon Press Ltd., Oxford OX3 OBW, England 1979, US$ 70.00 or £32.00.

HANDBOOK ON THE TOXICOLOGY OF METALS by Lars Friberg (S‐10401 Stockholm), Gunnar F. Nordberg (DK‐5000 Odense) and Velimir B. Vouk (WHO, CH‐1211 Geneva), and sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1979, 709 pages, linen, format 246 × 173 mm, ISBN 0–444–80075–1, printed by Elsevier/North‐Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam NL, $117.00/Dfl. 240.00     

Timing of metamorphosis and larval segregation of the Atlantic eels Anguilla rostrata and A. anguilla, as revealed by otolith microstructure and microchemistry

Otolith microstructure and microchemistry were examined in juveniles of American (Anguilla rostrata) and European (A. anguilla) eels. Otolith increment width markedly increased from age 132 to 191 d (156 ± 18.9 d; mean ± SD) in A. rostrata and 163 to 235 d (198 ± 27.4 d; mean ± SD) in A. anguilla, both of which were coincident with drastic decreases in otolith Sr:Ca ratios, suggesting that metamorphosis from leptocephalus to glass eel began at those ages in each species. The duration of metamorphosis was estimated to be 18 to 52 d from otolith microstructure, for both species studied. Ages at recruitment were 171 to 252 d (206 ± 22.3 d; mean ± SD) in A. rostrata and 220 to 281 d (249 ± 22.6 d; mean ± SD) in A. anguilla. In these two species, positive linear relationships were found in ages between the beginning of metamorphosis and recruitment, suggesting that early metamorphosing larvae recruited at younger ages. Duration of the leptocephalus stage to recruitment in A. anguilla was about 40 d longer than that in A. rostrata. The geographical segregation between the two species in the Atlantic Ocean seems to be involved in the differences in the duration of the leptocephalus stage (age at metamorphosis). Received: 8 November 1999 / Accepted: 8 May 2000     

Abstracts to forthcoming papers

RECOMMENDED HEALTH‐BASED LIMITS IN OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HEAVY METALS, Technical WHO‐Report 647 of a WHO Study Group (Chairman: Professor R. L. Zielhuis, University of Amsterdam) in English, French and Spanish, 1980, 116 pages, no index, many valuable literature references added to each chapter, stiff paper cover, format 200 × 140 mm, ISBN 92–4–120647–0, WHO—Health &; Biomedical Information Programme, CH‐1211 Geneva 27, SFr. 8‐

POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT: SOURCES, FATES AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS, Dr. Jerry M. Neff, Texas A &; M University, College Station, Texas, U.S.A., 262 pages (including a bibliography with literature references of 27 pages, a glossary of abbreviations of two pages and an index of 4 pages), 30 figures, 89 tables, linen, format 230 × 148 mm, ISBN 0–85334–832–4, Elsevier's Applied Science Publishers Ltd., Barking, Essex IG11 OSA, England 1979, £22.50.

EVALUATION OF THE CARCINOGENIC RISK OF CHEMICALS TO HUMANS: SOME METALS AND METALLIC COMPOUNDS, World Health Organization/International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC Monograph, Volume 23, Lyon 1980, 438 pages (including a preamble and general remarks of 26 pages and a cumulative index for volumes 1–23 (only 4 references related to volume 23) of 20 pages), 36 tables, many valuable literature references added to each chapter, stiff paper cover, format 240 × 180 mm, ISBN 92–832–1223–1, WHO—Health &; Biomedical Information Programme, CH‐1211 Geneva 27, US $30.‐ or SFr. 50.‐     

Spatial variation of phosphorus fractionation in the coral reef sediments of Lakshadweep Archipelago,Indian Ocean

Surface sediments were collected from the shore and lagoons of Kavaratti, Kadamat and Agatti islands of Lakshadweep Archipelago during May 2015 and analysed for the spatial distribution of the micronutrient element, phosphorus. Phosphorus was separated by sequential extraction procedure into five fractions – exchangeable (Ex-P), iron bound, (Fe-P), calcium bound (Ca-P), organic and residual fractions (OP) and total phosphorus (TP). The average relative contribution of each P species to TP was: OP?>?Ca –P?>?Ex – P?>?Fe – P. The high concentration of organic and residual phosphorus (87–96%) compared to inorganic phosphorus is particularly evident at stations characterised by higher total phosphorus concentrations. Among the three forms of IP in the sediments, Ca-P was dominant at all stations. The OC/OP ratio ranged from 3 to 163 in the sediments, suggesting that the organic matter in sediments had been subjected to degradation. Hence, the major contribution towards organic and residual phosphorus form is from the residual fraction comprising biologically resistant or non-available phosphorus form composed of refractory materials. The concentration of phosphorus reported in the present study is higher than that of the earlier studies in Lakshadweep, indicating a terrestrial and anthropogenic in?uence on the sediment.     

Ecophysiological constraints associated with aggression,and evolution toward pacifism in Spalax ehrenbergi

Evolution from a solitary way of life to sociality involves changes in the modalities of within-population aggression. This paper is concerned with environmental causes of variation in aggression within the complex of mole-rat species Spalax ehrenbergi. We focus on physiological constraints associated with aggressive behaviour, i.e. those resulting from emotional arousal and thus stress. Aggression, social stress sensitivity and urine osmolarity were studied in males of two chromosomal species of Spalax ehrenbergi, 2n = 52 (occurring in cool humid areas) and 2n = 60 (occurring in warm arid zones). Males with 2n = 52 reached a higher level of within-population aggression during a 3-round tournament (an average, 488 ± 140 acts) than males with 2n = 60 (163 ± 54 acts). The species with 2n = 52 displayed a higher corticosterone response after a social encounter (in average, 5.15 ± 0.54 μg/100 ml) than that with 2n = 60 (3.0 ± 0.3 μg/100 ml) whereas resting levels of this hormone were low and not different between the two species. Urine osmolarity was significantly higher in males with 2n = 60 (331.9 ± 18.6 mmol/kg) than males with 2n = 52 (267.3 ± 10.9 mmol/kg). Considering the overall general trend urine osmolarity tended to be negatively related to the level of aggression, while corticosterone levels tended to vary positively with aggressiveness (Fig. 3). Our results allow further discussion of the hypothesis that high levels of aggression could be selected against in arid habitats due to their physiological correlates (decrease in water economy, increased corticosterone leading to potential energy mobilisation and loss). We propose that behavioural ecophysiology could have contributed to the radiation of the S. ehrenbergi superspecies into increasingly arid environments, and may favour evolution toward social tolerance. Received: 10 June 1995/Accepted after revision: 25 October 1995