Microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus as renewable biomass feedstock for electricity generation in microbial fuel cells （MFCs）

Renewable algae biomass, Scenedesmus obliquus, was used as substrate for generating electricity in two chamber microbial fuel cells （MFCs）. From polarization test, maximum power density with pretreated algal biomass was 102mW·m^2 （951mW·m^3） at current generation of 276mA·m^-2. The individual electrode potential as a function of current generation suggested that anodic oxidation process of algae substrate had limitation for high current generation in MFC. Total chemical oxygen demand （TCOD） reduction of 74% was obtained when initial TCOD concentration was 534mg · L^-1 for 150 h of operation. The main organic compounds of algae oriented biomass were lactate and acetate, which were mainly used for electricity generation. Other byproducts such as propionate and butyrate were formed at a negligible amount. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy （EIS） analysis pinpointed the charge transfer resistance （112Ω ） of anode electrode, and the exchange current density of anode electrode was 1214 nA·cm^-2.     

Heavy metal accumulation and changes in metabolic parameters in Cajanas cajan grown in mine spoil

The extent of accumulation of some heavy metals in root and aerial plant parts, total chlorophyll, protein and yield of C. cajan exposed to mine spoil were investigated. Chlorophyll and protein level on the control site increased from the basal level to 1.49 fold and 1.92 fold respectively on 150 d and attained a plateau within 210 d. The maximum decline in leaf protein and yield in selected mine spoil has been observed 37% (18.46 mg g(-1) fresh wt) and 76% at 150 d and maintained a slight decline when duration was extended up to 210 d as compared to control. Whereas in case of photo pigment content (Chlorophyll a and b) the maximum reduction was almost 42% (0.786 mg g(-1) fresh wt) during 210 d from its basal level. Plant tissues have accumulated maximum level of selected cations in control and mine spoil in the order (Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cd). Metal accumulation in different plant parts was observed in the decreasing order roots > shoots > leaves > seeds. Invariably high accumulation of such cations in roots overshoots indicated accumulation, retention or restricted translocation from root to shoot. The metal share of seed varied from 1.3-39.5 fold as compared to their respective controls but their amount was quite below the toxic range. Thus the present work explores the metal accumulation in the plant tissues.     

Glutathione and cysteine biosynthesis in two varieties of Abelmoschus esculentus in response to mine spoil

The extent of accumulation of some heavy metals and glutathione and cysteine levels in the roots and aerial plant parts in two genotypically different varieties of A. esculentus (KS404 and BO2) exposed to mine spoil were investigated. Glutathione (GSH) level in both the varieties on control sites increased from basal level to 155.15 nmol g(-1) dry weight (d.wt.), almost 1.5 fold on 30 day and attained a plateau within 60 day Mine spoil exposure of both the varieties decreased glutathione 1.13 fold (89.2 nmol g(-1) dry weight) during 60 day from its basal level. GSH concentration in shoots of these varieties increased accompanying growth contrary to roots where it finally declined 2 fold. Cysteine content in control plants increased 2 fold (31.6 nmol g(-1) dry weight) on 30 day and finally declined 1.38 fold (22.35 nmol g(-1) dry weight, at 60 day). Both the varieties, when exposed to mine spoil, showed enhanced cysteine content almost 2 fold during 30 day (50.95 nmol g(-1) dry weight) but failed to increase further Forshoots in both the varieties challenged with mine spoil, cysteine maxima reached late (15.2 nmol g(-1) dry weight, at 40 day) relative to control but the levels declined subsequently (11.85 nmol g(-l) dry weight). Contrary to GSH, cysteine content in roots of both the varieties responded positively to mine spoil as apparent from the 2.23 fold increase during 30 d than basal level although it lowered to a level of 12.85 nmol g(-1) dry weight finally at 60 day. Both the varieties accumulated almost maximum level of selected cations (Fe > Mn> Zn> Cu > Ni) during 30 day, but BO2 variety was significantly superior in this regard. Invariably high accumulation of such cations in roots over shoots indicated accumulation, retention or restricted translocation from root to shoot. The metal share of the edible part was just 6% of the plant load. Thus, present work reflects a genotypic differences in metal accumulation and that affected the major non-enzymatic traits or synthesis of sulthydryl compounds as well. The present results also indicate that metal tolerance is in part associated with anti-oxidant system activity.     

Development of ground vegetation under exotic tree plantations on restored coal mine spoil land in a dry tropical region of India

Restoration of mine spoil is a prime need for coal industry. The study of ground cover vegetation provides essential information about the species diversity and their successional trends during the restoration. The present study was conducted to analyze the structure and biomass accumulation of ground vegetation developing in different plantation stands of an opencast coal mine spoil in a dry tropical region. Different plantation stands showed variations in species diversities. Exotic herbs were more dominant in comparison to native herbs. Pennisetum pedicillatum, an exotic herb showed maximum Importance Value Index in most of the plantation stands. Total number of species varied between 12-18 in different plantation stands. Speces richness and evenness increased with increasing age of the plantations. Variations in total biomass accumulation of ground vegetation were also significant among different plantations. These results suggest that reforestation programme with exotic species on coal mine spoil has been successful in colonization of ground vegetation under different plantations. Gravellia pteridifolia plantations showed most successful ground cover among different plantation stands.     

The influence of acidic mine and spoil drainage on water quality in the mid-Wales area

The many abandoned base metal mines of the mid-Wales ore field are sources of extensive pollution. Some of the mineralised veins contain large amounts of pyrite and marcasite and oxidative weathering of these produces sulphuric acid resulting in very acidic mine drainage waters. In addition, the spoil tips associated with these mines can contain abundant iron sulphides. Drainage waters from these sources have pH values as low as 2.6 and are heavily contaminated with metals such as Al, Zn, Cd and Ni.Two of the main rivers of the area, the Rheidol and Ystwyth, intercept heavily contaminated acidic drainage which has a marked effect on water quality. The Rheidol contains over 100 g L^–1 Zn for 16 km downstream of the acid water influx. This level is over three times the recommended EEC limit for Zn in salmonoid waters of low hardness.     

Fishing as a Supergame

This paper considers how cooperative solutions to games of sharing fish resources can be supported by threat strategies. With highly mobile fish stocks, the number of agents compatible with a cooperative self-enforcing solution is not very high for reasonable values of the discount rate, but sensitive to changes in the discount rate and costs and to cost heterogeneity. With migrating stocks, where growth and reproduction depend on how much all agents leave behind after harvesting, the likelihood of a cooperative, self-enforcing equilibrium is increased. With a dominant player and a competitive fringe the rents and optimum stock level of the dominant player fall quickly as the share of the competitive fringe increases.     

Fluorosis caused by indoor coal combustion in China: discovery and progress

In this study, investigations into endemic fluorosis were conducted and fluorine concentration in environmental samples determined. In an indoor coal-combustion-type fluorosis area, local clay was used to mix with coal for indoor combustion. There are two key steps in the procedure of the indoor transition of fluorine: indoor wet corns and vegetables strongly absorbed fluorine from indoor air; and fluorine strongly accumulated in clay, which was mixed with coal for combustion. Therefore, with the increasing of the percentage of clay in the clay-mixed coal as well as corn in foodstuff, the ratio of fluorosis will be increased.     

不同作物原料热裂解生物质炭对溶液中Cd2＋和Pb2＋的吸附特性

选择由小麦秸秆、玉米秸秆和花生壳经350-500℃热裂解制成的生物质炭,研究生物黑炭对水溶液中Cd2＋和Pb2＋的吸附特性,分析了pH值、吸附时间、溶液初始质量浓度、生物质炭粒径和投加量对吸附效果的影响。结果表明：生物质炭对Cd2＋和Pb2＋的吸附约10 min即达平衡;3种生物质炭对Cd2＋和Pb2＋的等温吸附均可用Langmuir方程和Freundlich方程拟合,玉米秸秆炭对Cd2＋和Pb2＋的最大吸附量远大于小麦秸秆炭和花生壳炭;在生物黑炭投加量为150 mg（6 g.L-1）时,3种生物黑炭对溶液Cd2＋的去除率均在90%以上,玉米秸秆炭对溶液Pb2＋的去除率达90.30%,而小麦秸秆炭和花生壳炭的去除率仅为52%和47%,玉米秸秆炭有望成为处理重金属污染废水的新型吸附材料。     

Calcein as a marker in experimental studies newly-hatched gastropods

A nontoxic method of marking juvenile animals is a prerequisite for many field studies investigating growth and survivorship in marine invertebrates. This study investigates the effectiveness of low concentrations of calcein in marking hatchling snails (Nucella ostrina), the durability of the calcein mark, and the effects of marking on survivorship and growth. I also describe an inexpensive means of visualizing the calcein mark under a dissecting microscope. Results demonstrate that calcein provides a long-lasting, readily detected fluorescent shell mark that can be used to measure shell growth accurately. In addition, marking with calcein did not affect survivorship or growth, and had no size-dependent effects on growth or survivorship. Received: 13 October 1999 / Accepted: 18 June 2000     

Ecological Sustainability as a Conservation Concept

Neither the classic resource management concept of maximum sustainable yield nor the concept of sustainable development are useful to contemporary, nonanthropocentric, ecologically informed conservation biology. As an alternative, we advance an ecological definition of sustainability that is in better accord with biological conservation: meeting human needs without compromising the health of ecosystems. In addition to familiar benefit-cost constraints on human economic activity, we urge adding ecologic constraints. Projects are not choice-worthy if they compromise the health of the ecosystems in which human economic systems are embedded. Sustainability, so defined, is proffered as an approach to conservation that would complement wildlands preservation for ecological integrity, not substitute for wildlands preservation.     

Conservation Planning as a Transdisciplinary Process

Abstract: Despite substantial growth in the field of conservation planning, the speed and success with which conservation plans are converted into conservation action remains limited. This gap between science and action extends beyond conservation planning into many other applied sciences and has been linked to complexity of current societal problems, compartmentalization of knowledge and management sectors, and limited collaboration between scientists and decision makers. Transdisciplinary approaches have been proposed as a possible way to address these challenges and to bridge the gap between science and action. These approaches move beyond the bridging of disciplines to an approach in which science becomes a social process resolving problems through the participation and mutual learning of stakeholders. We explored the principles of transdisciplinarity, in light of our experiences as conservation‐planning researchers working in South Africa, to better understand what is required to make conservation planning transdisciplinary and therefore more effective. Using the transdisciplinary hierarchy of knowledge (empirical, pragmatic, normative, and purposive), we found that conservation planning has succeeded in integrating many empirical disciplines into the pragmatic stakeholder‐engaged process of strategy development and implementation. Nevertheless, challenges remain in engagement of the social sciences and in understanding the social context of implementation. Farther up this knowledge hierarchy, at the normative and purposive levels, we found that a lack of integrated land‐use planning and policies (normative) and the dominant effect of national values (purposive) that prioritize growth and development limit the effectiveness and relevance of conservation plans. The transdisciplinary hierarchy of knowledge highlighted that we need to move beyond bridging the empirical and pragmatic disciplines into the complex normative world of laws, policies, and planning and become engaged in the purposive processes of decision making, behavior change, and value transfer. Although there are indications of progress in this direction, working at the normative and purposive levels requires time, leadership, resources, skills that are absent in conservation training and practice, and new forms of recognition in systems of scientific reward and funding.     

Breeding Birds as a Farm Product

Abstract: Since the 1950s, meadowbird populations have been under increasing threat from radical changes in farming practices. We studied the possibilities for conserving meadowbirds on modern, intensive dairy farms in the Netherlands. Here, the conventional strategy for the conservation of meadowbirds is to restrict farming intensity and compensate farmers for their production losses. To increase the breeding success of meadowbirds, however, dairy farmers can fine-tune farming practices to yearly and local circumstances. Because this fine-tuning is difficult to enforce by legislation, we propose that farmers be paid for clutches bred on their land. Thus, farmers are paid for what they produce, but not restricted in their farming practices. The results of the first small-scale experiments, in which breeding success was compared between farms where farmers were paid for meadowbird clutches and farms where farmers were not paid, are encouraging. Breeding success of meadowbirds was significantly higher where farmers were paid than where they were not ( breeding success of Lapwing [   Vanellus vanellus ]: 64.7% on paid farms, 48.2% on unpaid farms; Black-tailed Godwit [   Limosa limosa ]: 63.1% paid, 39.3% unpaid). The effects on meadowbird populations could not yet be detected. The per-clutch payment system is less expensive than compensation for income losses: paying for clutches costs 40 Euro per clutch, whereas compensating for income losses costs 100–400 Euro per clutch (1 Euro is approximately equal to 1 U.S. dollar). Farmers are enthusiastic, and the system encourages cooperation between farmers and nature conservationists.     

Respiration as a function of oxygen concentration in intertidal barnacles

Respiration as a function of oxygen concentration was studied in two species of intertidal barnacles: Balanus amphitrite amphitrite ¹ (Darwin) and B. tintinnabulum tintinnabulum (L.). A critical oxygen tension was observed in both species below which the respiratory regulation broke down. In B. amphitrite amphitrite the critical oxygen tension was 2.5 ml O₂/l, and in B. tintinnabulum tintinnabulum 3.5 ml O₂/l. Species differences and habitat relations were observed in both species in their respiratory adaptation to oxygen concentration. B. amphitrite amphitrite which inhabits oxygen-deficient areas was able to regulate to much lower concentrations than B. tintinnabulum tintinnabulum which inhabits oxygen-rich open intertidal regions.     

Fecal DDA as a biomarker of DDT exposure in chickens

Despite the largely theoretical risks for human morbidity from exposure to DDT (p, p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), the reality that it is inexpensive and highly effective in reducing morbidity and mortality from malaria vectors has encouraged its continued use. Here we present data indicating that domestic fowl are potentially excellent sentinel species for detecting possible human exposures to DDT. In addition to measuring residues of DDT in chicken blood or eggs, a potential alternate analyte indicative of recent DDT exposure is the definitive metabolic product DDA (2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)acetic acid) in feces.