Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) are not susceptible to stimulating effects of 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone on reproductive organs

The secondary plant metabolite 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) is abundant in vegetative parts of monocotyledons emerging in spring. This grazing protective has been shown to promote gonadal growth and, thus enable precise alignment of reproductive activity with favorable environmental conditions in a variety of seasonally breeding rodent species. Feeding and breeding ecology make the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) a potential candidate using 6-MBOA as an acute environmental cue to optimize reproductive timing when photorefractoriness induces reproductive recrudescence. Therefore, four different experiments were designed to examine whether the hamsters’ reproductive organs are responsive to oral 6-MBOA administration under different photoperiodic conditions. Only under a long photoperiod, we found a slight increase in uterine weights. In a short photoperiod, 6-MBOA-treated hamsters showed a slight body weight gain without a change in uterine weights. However, these marginal effects are likely not to be of ecophysiological significance for reproductive timing. The results are in agreement with the common view that the annual changes in photoperiod length are not only the predominant environmental cue for Djungarian hamsters, but are also sufficient to synchronize reproductive efforts with favorable breeding conditions in highly predictable climates like the continental Asian steppes.     

Phase relations between a circadian rhythm and its zeitgeber within the range of entrainment

The regular day-night changes in tissues, physiologic functions, and behavior of organisms are based on endogenous rhythmic processes which under constant conditions continue with periods slightly deviating from 24h. These ‘arcadian’ rhythms have properties of self-sustained oscillators. Under natural conditions, circadian rhythms are synchronized (entrained) to 24 h by periodic factors in the environment, the so-called ‘Zeitgebers’. In the laboratory, circadian rhythms can also be entrained to periods other than 24 h within certain limits. Data on the phase relationship between the circadian rhythm and an entraining light-dark cycle for vertebrates, insects, plants, and unicellular organisms are reviewed.     

When a year takes 18 months: evidence for a strong circannual clock in a shorebird

During the last three of 20 years kept as a pet, a red knot (Calidris canutus) went through two complete 'circannual' cycles of body mass and plumage. With a record cycle length of 18 months, this individual shorebird provides evidence for an exceptionally strong circannual clock system. The absence of synchronisation to outdoor but visible periodic cues suggests that the constant, socially-induced, day-night environment was of overriding importance. So far, only for songbirds is there firm experimental evidence that annual cycles are orchestrated by an endogenous circannual clock system. In constant environments the circannual cycles of these passerines tend to have periods that are shorter, rather than longer, than a year.     

Where clocks are redundant: weak circadian mechanisms in reindeer living under polar photic conditions

Biological rhythms are a result of interplay between endogenous clocks and the ambient light–dark (LD) cycle. Biological timing in resident polar organisms presents a conundrum because these experience distinct daily LD cycles for only a few weeks each year. We measured locomotor activity in reindeer, Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus (SR, n = 5 and 6) and R. tarandus tarandus (NR, n = 6), ranging freely at 78 and 70°N, respectively, continuously throughout 1 year using data loggers. NR, but not SR, are gregarious which enabled us to examine the integrated effects of differences in social organisation and the photic environment at two different latitudes on the organisation of activity. In both sub-species, ultradian bouts of activity and inactivity alternated across the 24-h day throughout the year. This pattern was modified by the LD cycle in NR but barely at all in SR. Periodogram analysis revealed significant ultradian rhythmicity in both sub-species; the frequency of daily cycles of activity increased from three per day in winter to nearly five in summer. We conclude that this increase, and a concomitant increase in the level of daily activity, reflected the seasonal increase in the animals’ appetite and the quality of their forage. Secondly, the combination, most evident in SR, of a weak photic response, weak circadian mechanisms and a weak social synchronization reduces the constraints of biological timing in an environment which is effectively non-rhythmic most of the year and permits expression of the basic ultradian pattern of ruminant activity. Third, the weaker 24-h rhythmicity in SR compared to NR indicates a latitudinal decrease in circadian organization and photic responsiveness in Rangifer.     

Chronotype differences in Drosophila are enhanced by semi-natural conditions

Morning and evening chronotypes of sleep/wake cycles in humans are often metaphorically termed as ‘larks’ and ‘owls’. We derived Drosophila populations early and late, displaying lark- and owl-like emergence chronotypes by imposing selection for adult emergence during morning and evening hours. Preference for morning and evening emergence in these populations was accompanied by divergence in their circadian period (τ) and photic phase response curve. To test if lark- and owl-like emergence chronotypes displayed by these flies under weak environmental cycles of the laboratory would also persist in nature where several zeitgebers are present in the strongest form, we examined the emergence rhythm of early and late flies under semi-natural conditions. The early and late flies not only continued to exhibit divergent emergence waveforms under semi-natural conditions, the differences became even more prominent. However, phases of early and late emergence waveforms did not match natural morning and evening transitions, unlike that observed under laboratory conditions. These results thus provide evidence consistent with the notion that chronotypes are the result of interactions between circadian clocks and natural environmental cycles.     

Persistence of Eclosion Rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster After 600 Generations in an Aperiodic Environment

 The ubiquity of circadian rhythms suggests that they have an intrinsic adaptive value (Ouyang et al. 1998; Ronneberg and Foster 1997). Some experiments have shown that organisms have enhanced longevity, development time or growth rates when maintained in environments whose periodicity closely matches their endogenous period (Aschoff et al. 1971; Highkin and Hanson 1954; Hillman 1956; Pittendrigh and Minis 1972; Went 1960). So far there has been no experimental evidence to show that circadian rhythms per se (i.e. periodicity itself, as opposed to phasing properties of a rhythm) confer a fitness advantage. We show that the circadian eclosion rhythm persists in a population of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster maintained in constant conditions of light, temperature, and humidity for over 600 generations. The results suggest that even in the absence of any environmental cycle there exists some intrinsic fitness value of circadian rhythms. Received: 2 November 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 22 April 1999     

The carbon budget of California

The carbon budget of a region can be defined as the sum of annual fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) greenhouse gases (GHGs) into and out of the regional surface coverage area. According to the state government's recent inventory, California's carbon budget is presently dominated by 115 MMTCE per year in fossil fuel emissions of CO₂ (>85% of total annual GHG emissions) to meet energy and transportation requirements. Other notable (non-ecosystem) sources of carbon GHG emissions in 2004 were from cement- and lime-making industries (7%), livestock-based agriculture (5%), and waste treatment activities (2%). The NASA-CASA (Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach) simulation model based on satellite observations of monthly vegetation cover (including those from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, MODIS) was used to estimate net ecosystem fluxes and vegetation biomass production over the period 1990–2004. California's annual NPP for all ecosystems in the early 2000s (estimated by CASA at 120 MMTCE per year) was roughly equivalent to its annual fossil fuel emission rates for carbon. However, since natural ecosystems can accumulate only a small fraction of this annual NPP total in long-term storage pools, the net ecosystem sink flux for atmospheric carbon across the state was estimated at a maximum rate of about 24 MMTCE per year under favorable precipitation conditions. Under less favorable precipitation conditions, such as those experienced during the early 1990s, ecosystems statewide were estimated to have lost nearly 15 MMTCE per year to the atmosphere. Considering the large amounts of carbon estimated by CASA to be stored in forests, shrublands, and rangelands across the state, the importance of protection of the natural NPP capacity of California ecosystems cannot be overemphasized.     

古交矿区大气污染的模式预测及其与实测值的比较

本文采用商斯烟羽模式或变天气条件烟团模式(点源),结合ATDL模式(面源),预测了古交煤矿区域各关心位置的大气污染物(SO_2、尘等)的年均浓度,典型日浓度、最大小时浓度,并利用相关系数r、符合指数d等统计学指标与实测值作了统计比较,结果表明,模式基本可行,但计算日均浓度的体源烟团模式,其性能明显优于计算年均浓度的高斯烟羽模式。     

316(b) and Quad Cities Station,Commonwealth Edison Company

Quad Cities Station is a 1630 MW_e dual reactor facility located on the Upper Mississippi River approximately 30 miles north of Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois. As designed, the Station utilizes river water at the rate of 2270 cfs in an open-cycle mode of operation. From the 316(b) perspective, numerous agencies and intervenors expressed major concern regarding the potential adverse impacts of open-cycle entrainment and impingement effects on the River’s highly valued and diverse fishery. As a result, the fishery has been monitored continuously since 1971 through field surveys directed at measurements of community composition and relative abundance, as well as fish impingement surveys of the Station’s intake. From 1972 to 1983 the Station operated in a closed-cycle or partial closed-cycle mode.Regulatory relief and intervenor approval for open-cycle operation were not granted until 1984, following several years of intensive studies directed at entrainment/impingement and methods to reduce impingement. Beginning in 1978, the freshwater drum was selected as the indicator species most likely to manifest changes in population characteristics potentially resulting from open-cycle operation. Population levels (numbers and biomass), growth, fecundity, sex ratios and survival were all monitored to determine if compensatory responses occurred within the population following increases in impingement under open-cycle operation. Included in the agreement that allowed the return to open-cycle operation was a commitment to construct and operate a fish production facility to mitigate for potential impacts.After 14 years of monitoring under open-cycle operation, there have been no measurable changes in the local fishery and, specifically, none within the freshwater drum population. Naturally occurring environmental conditions have more profound influences on this dynamic and resilient fishery than operation of a large generation facility. Station operation is relatively constant from year to year and impingement monitoring may actually be the most accurate monitoring activity. Fluctuations in annual impingement projections are reflections of conditions within the river and the fishery’s response to them. Increases or decreases in fish numbers impinged at the Station in any given year are primarily due to fluctuations in the fishery and the effects of existing environmental variables and not to Station operation. The fishery fluctuations are reflections of conditions within the river and the fishery’s response to them.     

Three-year lifecycle,large body,and very high threshold temperature in the cricket <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gryllus argenteus</Emphasis> for special adaptation to desiccation cycle in Malawi

In temperate climates, the initiation and termination of diapause synchronize the stress-tolerant stage with the stressful season and reproduction with the non-stressful season in many insects. Synchronization is often regulated by photoperiodism.Voltinism and the ultimate size of adults are also important determinants for their lifecycle, and different diapause stages and voltinism patterns are known in crickets.Here, we investigated the life history of the African cricket Gryllus argenteus from Malawi, which is a typical arid tropical highland. The climate is characterized by alternating arid and wet seasons, each of which lasts for half a year, and where the available heat mass is much less than lowlands at the same latitude. We first measured the nymphal duration at each rearing temperature and calculated the lower developmental threshold (t ₀) to be 20.19 °C based on Ikemoto and Takai (2000) and 19.38 °C based on a conventional line-fitting method. These values are very high relative to many other insects. The local temperature in winter does not fall below 15 °C, but this is much higher than the lethal limit. This suggested that critical stress in this locality was not coldness but low precipitation in winter. We estimated, based both on local temperature change and the Ikemoto and Takai’s t ₀, that G. argenteus required 3 years to complete its lifecycle unlike wet lowland species, where univoltinism or multi-voltinism are commonplace. Photoperiodism was observed in this species, but due to a lag between annual cycles in photoperiod, temperature, and humidity, photoperiodism alone cannot atune their lifecycle with local conditions.Synchronization in this species was achieved by three different adaptations: photoperiodism, high t ₀, and large body size, which give it a long lifecycle. Although the species cannot achieve a univoltine lifecycle because of its high t₀ value, it can escape from dry season by entering diapause at moderate temperatures, probably thereby achieving adaptive synchrony of lifecycle with both favorable and unfavorable seasons. A comparison between a conventional photothermogram and a newly formulated photohydrogram or photohygrogram demonstrates that even though sufficient heat is available, scarcity of water and thus scarcity of foliage should force the cricket to maintain diapause at intermediate temperature. The results suggested that high t ₀, large body size, and multi-ennial lifecycle mutually affect each other and formulate a unique adaptation under such an extreme environment.     

基于气象分型的大气环境允许排放量测算方法

本文提出一种基于气象条件分型的城市大气环境允许排放量测算方法,该方法基于环境空气质量和颗粒物组分数据,对气象条件进行分污染天气类型的二次转化规律研究,并确定不同天气类型下的迁移扩散系数.基于扩散理论,建立了污染物排放强度、不同天气类型迁移扩散系数和目标控制浓度之间的关系,在特定区域排放布局和排放方式基本不变的前提下,测算不同天气类型达空气质量标准下的一次PM_2.5,PM₁₀,NO_x和SO₂的允许排放量.以沧州市为例,结合空气质量从优到严重污染程度将对应气象要素依次划分为7种天气类型,测算7种天气类型达空气质量目标下的主要污染物允许排放量.基于2018年基准年的排放量,在天气类型7最不利气象条件下,沧州市一次PM_2.5,PM₁₀,NO_x和SO₂排放量削减率应分别在82.62%,81.17%,75.05%和74.54%以上,才能达到空气质量标准.结果表明,不利气象条件下大气环境允许排放量很小,需要更大力度减少污染物排放,才能避免发生重污染天气.     

Condensation nucleus size distribution at Mawson,Antarctica: Microphysics and chemistry

This work examines the annual evolution of the condensation nucleus (CN) size distribution and its relationship with other aerosol microphysical and chemical parameters in the lower atmosphere over Antarctica. Good agreement is observed between the seasonal cycles of aerosol volume and non-sea-salt sulfate. Changes between periods with strong bimodality and periods with a weak or missing nucleus mode are interpreted in terms of a seasonally varying precursor sulfur source strength and aerosol surface area. Although there are very limited measurements of SO₂ concentration for this region, conditions under which these are consistent with the observed SO₄ levels are considered. Overall, the observed relationships between microphysical and chemical properties of the aerosol strongly support the notion that the dominant source of nuclei in remote southern locations, including Antarctica, is maritime and that these nuclei result from the oxidation of dimethyl sulfide to methane sulfonate and sulfate.     

Photoperiod affects daily torpor and tissue fatty acid composition in deer mice

Photoperiod and dietary lipids both influence thermal physiology and the pattern of torpor of heterothermic mammals. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that photoperiod-induced physiological changes are linked to differences in tissue fatty acid composition of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus (∼18-g body mass). Deer mice were acclimated for >8 weeks to one of three photoperiods (LD, light/dark): LD 8:16 (short photoperiod), LD 12:12 (equinox photoperiod), and LD 16:8 (long photoperiod). Deer mice under short and equinox photoperiods showed a greater occurrence of torpor than those under long photoperiods (71, 70, and 14%, respectively). The duration of torpor bouts was longest in deer mice under short photoperiod (9.3 ± 2.6 h), intermediate under equinox photoperiod (5.1 ± 0.3 h), and shortest under long photoperiod (3.7 ± 0.6 h). Physiological differences in torpor use were associated with significant alterations of fatty acid composition in ∼50% of the major fatty acids from leg muscle total lipids, whereas white adipose tissue fatty acid composition showed fewer changes. Our results provide the first evidence that physiological changes due to photoperiod exposure do result in changes in lipid composition in the muscle tissue of deer mice and suggest that these may play a role in survival of low body temperature and metabolic rate during torpor, thus, enhancing favourable energy balance over the course of the winter.     

Assessing the inter-annual variability of separation distances around odour sources to protect the residents from odour annoyance

In recent years, there has been a growing concern about potential impacts on public health and wellbeing due to exposure to environmental odour. Separation distances between odour-emitting sources and residential areas can be calculated using dispersion models, as a means of protecting the neighbourhood from odour annoyance. This study investigates the suitability of using one single year of meteorological input data to calculate reliable direction-dependent separation distances. Accordingly, we assessed and quantified the inter-annual variability of separation distances at two sites with different meteorological conditions, one in Brazil and the other in Austria. A 5-year dataset of hourly meteorological observations was used for each site. Two odour impact criteria set in current regulations were selected to explore their effect on the separation distances. The coefficient of variation was used as a statistical measure to characterise the amount of annual variation. Overall,for all scenarios, the separation distances had a low degree of inter-annual variability(mean coefficient of variation values from 8% to 21%). Reasonable agreements from year to year were therefore observed at the two sites under investigation, showing that one year of meteorological data is a good compromise to achieve reliable accuracy. This finding can provide a more cost-effective solution to calculate separation distances in the vicinity of odour sources.     

长三角地区地表干湿状况及极端干湿事件特征研究

利用Penman-Monteith模型及1957—2014年长三角地区43个气象站点逐日降水、气温、风速、日照时数及空气相对湿度实测数据,对参考作物蒸散量、地表湿润指数和极端干旱/湿润事件进行了计算和统计。运用线性回归、Trend-free pre-whitening (TFPW) Mann-Kendall趋势检验、Morlet小波分析等方法,分析了研究区地表湿润指数及极端干湿事件的时空分布特征。结果显示：1）近58 a长三角地区年及季节平均湿润指数在空间上呈南高北低分布格局;2）年湿润指数呈波动下降趋势,变化倾向率为-0.021/10 a,气候趋于干旱化。湿润期集中在20世纪80、90年代。突变年为2003年,并存在多个振荡周期。四季中,春秋季气候趋于干旱化,冬夏季反之。年际湿润指数变异系数和变化趋势存在明显的空间差异;3）年极端干旱事件发生频率呈波动上升趋势,年极端湿润事件则呈现微弱的下降趋势,均存在空间差异。     

建设项目碳排放评价技术方法及案例研究

将碳排放因素纳入建设项目环评,对其进行项目层面的控制,有利于促进碳减排和低碳经济的发展。文章尝试构建了建设项目碳排放环评体系,通过对某污水处理厂工艺流程中的碳源分析,确定评价范围,核算情景年份下的碳排放量,综合分析碳排放对环境、经济及社会的影响,最后探讨了协同减排效应,并制定跟踪评价计划。研究表明该污水处理厂在情景年份下,随着污水处理量的增加,碳排放量逐年上升。     

冰箱CFCs及其替代物的温室效应比较

估算了 1980年到 2 0 2 5年国内家用冰箱用 CFCs及其替代物的年排放量 ,结果表明 CFC- 12和CFC- 11较高的排放期在 2 0 0 8年至 2 0 2 4年 ,年排放量在 2 96 9吨到 5 879吨 ODS之间 (以 CFC- 11为参照 ) ,CFCs的替代物的排放量在 2 0 2 5年后会继续增加。本文推导了 CFCs、HFC- 134a和 HCFC- 141b的年累积滞留量和以 CO2 为参考气体的当量变暖指数 (EWI,Equivalent Warm ing Index)的计算公式。计算结果表明它们的年累积滞留量和 WEI从 1980年到 2 0 2 5年一直在增加 ,2 0 2 5年后前者开始下降 ,后二者继续增加。与 CFCs、HFC-134a和 H CFC- 141b的 WEI相比较碳氢化合物的 WEI可忽略不计 ,与 CFCs相比较 ,HFC- 134a和 HCFC- 141b的 EWI仍不可忽略     

Benefits and costs of controlling three allergenic alien species under climate change and dispersal scenarios in Central Europe

Climate change is likely to exacerbate the negative effects of invasive alien species (IAS) as it will foster their further spread. This paper analyses the potential socio-economic effects of three emerging IAS (giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida; annual wormwood, Artemisia annua; and burweed marshelder, Iva xanthiifolia), which are known to cause substantial harm to human health and to have negative effects on agricultural production. The novelty of the study consists in an integrated approach that combines several aspects of IAS research and management. We model the future spread of the study species in Central Europe by the year 2050 under several climate change, management and spread scenarios. The costs and benefits of controlling the expansion of these IAS are based on this forecast. The results show that an early and coordinated response to the spread of these IAS yields substantial net benefits under all scenarios. Under the conditions of moderate climate change (+1.5 °C), discounted net benefits range from €19 to €582 million. Assuming more severe climate change (+2.4 °C), total savings over the full period are projected to add up to €1063 million. These large socio-economic benefits provide compelling evidence that public authorities should act preventively to restrict the spread of these three IAS.     

主要农业气象灾害风险评估技术及其应用研究

基于灾害风险分析的原理,论文提出了我国几种主要农业气象灾害风险评估的技术方法。包括一年生农作物、多年生果树减产率序列的构建技术,不同致灾因子、致灾指标序列的构建技术,灾害风险估算模型的构建技术;致灾损失(减产率)的风险评估技术,致灾指标的风险评估技术,减灾措施降低灾害风险的评估技术。通过对1961～2000年逐日气象资料与产量、灾情资料的相关分析研究,筛选出适用于北方地区冬小麦干旱、东北地区玉米和水稻冷害、江淮地区冬小麦和油菜涝渍、华南地区香蕉和荔枝寒害风险评估的主要致灾因子、致灾等级、致灾指标及其对应的减产率。以北方地区冬小麦干旱、华南地区香蕉和荔枝寒害风险评估为例,给出了针对一年生农作物、多年生果树不同承灾体类型的风险概率估算方法及其风险等级划分。结果表明:北方地区冬小麦干旱、华南地区香蕉和荔枝寒害风险概率分布有着很好的连片性和区域性。北方地区冬小麦全生育期内,自然水分亏缺的风险概率很高,随着灌溉次数的增加,缺水率的风险概率逐渐降低。一般在轻旱年灌水1～2次、中旱年灌水2～3次、重旱年灌水3次之后,大部分地区都能基本满足冬小麦的需水要求,缺水率出现的概率已经很小。     

棘洪滩水库典型风况分析及其应用研究

棘洪滩水库的源水是水库流场变化的主要动力,风力状况也是影响棘洪滩水库流场况变化的重要因素,当水库处于非调水期,风力状况的作用尤为明显。本论文整理了棘洪滩水库1989-2008年20年间气象资料,统计得出水库年际和四个季度的风向、风力变化情况。结果表明,棘洪滩水库常年盛行风向是南风和西北风。春季和冬季以西北风为主,夏季和秋季以东风和东南风为主。通过sMs软件建立的水质模型可以验证,不同的风向与风力大小对水库流场的变化有着显著的影响。