Conservation and the 4 Rs,which are rescue,rehabilitation, release,and research

Vertebrate animals can be injured or threatened with injury through human activities, thus warranting their “rescue.” Details of wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, release, and associated research (our 4 Rs) are often recorded in large databases, resulting in a wealth of available information. This information has huge research potential and can contribute to understanding of animal biology, anthropogenic impacts on wildlife, and species conservation. However, such databases have been little used, few studies have evaluated factors influencing success of rehabilitation and/or release, recommended actions to conserve threatened species have rarely arisen, and direct benefits for species conservation are yet to be demonstrated. We therefore recommend that additional research be based on data from rescue, rehabilitation, and release of animals that is broader in scope than previous research and would have community support.     

Nanoregulation along the product life cycle in the EU,Switzerland, Thailand,the USA,and intergovernmental organisations,and its compatibility with WTO law

Abstract

Due to vast research programmes of industrial countries during the last two decades, our knowledge about the intrinsic properties of nanomaterials has increased considerably. However, ‘nanoregulation’ lags behind this progress. Key elements of nanoregulation are definition/scope and safety/consumer information. Safety information along the nano life-cycle is vital for the nanoparticle producer down to the industrial downstream user (product producer). However, nanodeclaration (in the sense of a label on the product for consumers) is not yet widely spread, in different geographic regions for different reasons. This is a case study for the EU, Switzerland, Thailand, the USA, and Intergovernmental Organisations. In addition, this study investigates inter- and governmental activities and the relationship between nanodeclaration and WTO rules. Non-compliance with WTO rules is a pretext for not introducing nanodeclaration in products. It is concluded that WTO rules do not exclude nanodeclaration.     

Coastal dune development and morphological changes along the littorals of Garigliano,Italy, and Elis,Greece, during the Holocene

Geomorphological and sedimentological studies were carried out along the Garigliano and Elis littorals with the aim to highlight if similar geoenvironmental features are controlled by same coastal processes. Actually, both sites are in Mediterranean climate regions very far each other, modeled by western winds and storms, characterized by wide sandy coastal dunes parallel to the present shoreline, with abundant pumices, and locally anthropized. The Garigliano littoral is characterized by Holocene dune and Pleistocene aeolian deposits. The beach is bounded landwards by a dune system emplaced during the Holocene. Geoarchaeological surveys highlighted the presence of a Roman road which cut the dune, with age older than Graeco-Roman Period. Since the end of the 1950’s, strong littoral retreat affected the beach-dune system, partly due to human activity. The coastland of Elis is characterized by Quaternary marine deposits. Three significant morphogenetic phases occurred during the Holocene. During the last phase, from Graeco-Roman Period to current, shoreline retreat and deposition of aeolian sands occurred. Geoarchaeological evidences suggest that this phase is related to a sea-level lowstand followed by a slow sea-level rise up to the present position, and by humid-temperate climate. Geomorphological surveys of the dunes of Garigliano and Elis, each other compared, suggest that the main phases of their development are related to the effects of climatic conditions, sea-level changes, and secondly to the recent anthropization. The coarse pumices found on both beaches of Campania and Peloponnese regions show the same mineralogical and petrographic features, so we assumed that they likely originated from the Aeolian Arc, southern Italy, which have same composition. These pumices reached the studied coasts by flotation, under the influence of winds and marine surface currents from the southwest-southeast and northwest-west respectively, participating to local coastal processes and representing a good geoindicator of long-distance drift. Precisely for these morphologically converging aspects, such distant sites have been selected and compared.     

Logging, Conifers, and the Conservation of Crossbills

A survey of the forestry literature shows that as the age and area of coniferous forests decline, decreased conifer seed production and increased frequencies of cone failures can be expected. This would, in turn, cause declines in crossbills ( Loxia ), which specialize on the seeds held in conifer cones. In western North America, at least five different species of Red Crossbills ( L. curvirostra ) have recently been distinguished (Groth 1990); each specializes on a different species or even a single variety of conifer (Benkman 1993). Measures for conserving this diversity of crossbills include protecting mature and old-growth stands, and increasing rotation ages throughout the range of each of the required conifers. These recommendations are not unique to crossbills, but rather the loss of crossbill diversity is another reason to employ such measures.     

Arsenic mineralization,source, distribution,and abundance in the Kutahya region of the western Anatolia,Turkey

Environmental exposure to arsenic (As) in the Kutahya region of the western Anatolia, Turkey has been reported to cause various types of arsenic-associated skin disorders (Dogan, Dogan, Celebi, & Baris, 2005). A geological and mineralogical study was conducted to find the sources and distribution of the As. Geogenic (background) levels were measured in samples collected from various sources in the Gediz, Simav, Tavsanli, Emet, Yoncali, Yenicekoy, and Muratdagi areas of the Kutahya region. Based on this analysis, we determined that natural sources are a domineering factor affecting the distribution of As, which was found: (1) mainly in evaporitic minerals, including colemanite (269–3900 ppm) and gypsum (11–99,999 ppm), but also in alunite (7–10 ppm) and chert (54–219 ppm); (2) in secondary epithermal gypsum, which has a high concentration of As in the form of realgar and orpiment along fracture zones of Mesozoic and Cenozoic carbonate aquifers; (3) in rocks, including limestone/dolomite (3–699 ppm) and travertine (5–4736 ppm), which are relatively more enriched in As than volcanics (2–14 ppm), probably because of secondary enrichment through hydrological systems; (4) in coal (1.9–46.5 ppm) in the sedimentary successions of the Tertiary basins; (5) in thermal waters, where As is unevenly distributed at concentrations varying from 0.0–0.9 mg/l. The highest As concentrations in thermal water (Gediz and Simav) correlate to the higher pH (7–9.3) and T (60–83°C) conditions and to the type of water (Na–HCO₃–SO₄ with high concentration of Ca, Mg, K, SiO₂, and Cl in the water). Changes in pH can be related to some redox reactions, such as the cation exchange reactions driving the dissolution of carbonates and silicates. Fe-oxidation, high pH values (7–9.3), presence of other trace metals (Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Al), increased salinity (Na, Cl), high B, Li, F, and SiO, high Fe, SO₄ (magnetite, specularite-hematite, gypsum), and graphite, and the presence of U, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, and B, especially in the Emet, Gediz, and Simav areas, are the typical indicators for the geothermally affected water with high As content. A sixth source of As in this region is the ground (0.0–10.7 mg/l) and the surface waters (0.0022–0.01 mg/l), which are controlled by water–rock interaction, fracture system, and mixing/dilution of thermal waters. The high As concentration in groundwater corresponds to the areas where pathological changes are greatest in the habitants. Arsenic in ground water also effects ecology. For example, only Juriperus oxycedrus and J. varioxycedrus types of vegetation are observed in locations with the highest concentration of As in the region. Branches and roots of these plants are enriched in As.     

Light, sediment, temperature, and the early life-history of the habitat-forming alga Cystoseira barbata

Recruitment is essential for the maintenance of populations, but far more is typically known about the more easily-observed adult stages than their smaller, often microscopic early life-history counterparts. This discrepancy can be particularly problematic for populations of foundation species that create biogenic habitat for a multitude of other taxa, but are themselves prime candidates for exploitation, fragmentation, and loss, and therefore become the focus of restoration efforts partly or fully dependent on recruitment. The purpose of this study was to improve ecological understanding for early life-history stages of the habitat-forming marine alga Cystoseira barbata (Stackhouse) C. Agardh (Fucales: Sargassaceae), member of a genus that has experienced considerable fragmentation and population decline on European coasts. Using experimental manipulations of water temperature, light intensity, and sediment accumulation, we observed that sediment virtually precluded recruitment of C. barbata, and greatly impacted the survival of recently settled germlings (up to ~83% mortality). Stronger intensities of light facilitated the growth of germlings, including the capacity for ~50% of them to outgrow detrimental sediment and survive. Temperature (10 vs. 16°C) had no effect on early recruitment, survival, or growth. This information helps to identify likely causes and locations of recruitment failure, and by extension, the conditions needed (either naturally or through human intervention) to facilitate recruitment and possible habitat restoration. Ultimately, this knowledge can increase our capacity to predict population persistence and the likely success of restoration efforts.     

Research progress on distribution,sources, identification,toxicity, and biodegradation of microplastics in the ocean,freshwater, and soil environment

• Microplastics are widely found in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. • Cleaning products and discarded plastic waste are primary sources of microplastics. • Microplastics have apparent toxic effects on the growth of fish and soil plants. • Multiple strains of biodegradable microplastics have been isolated. Microplastics (MPs) are distributed in the oceans, freshwater, and soil environment and have become major pollutants. MPs are generally referred to as plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter. They consist of primary microplastics synthesized in microscopic size manufactured production and secondary microplastics generated by physical and environmental degradation. Plastic particles are long-lived pollutants that are highly resistant to environmental degradation. In this review, the distribution and possible sources of MPs in aquatic and terrestrial environments are described. Moreover, the adverse effects of MPs on natural creatures due to ingestion have been discussed. We also have summarized identification methods based on MPs particle size and chemical bond. To control the pollution of MPs, the biodegradation of MPs under the action of different microbes has also been reviewed in this work. This review will contribute to a better understanding of MPs pollution in the environment, as well as their identification, toxicity, and biodegradation in the ocean, freshwater, and soil, and the assessment and control of microplastics exposure.