Economic costs of protecting islands from invasive alien species

Biological invasions represent a key threat to insular systems and have pronounced impacts across environments and economies. The ecological impacts have received substantial focus, but the socioeconomic impacts are poorly synthesized across spatial and temporal scales. We used the InvaCost database, the most comprehensive assessment of published economic costs of invasive species, to assess economic impacts on islands worldwide. We analyzed socioeconomic costs across differing expenditure types and examined temporal trends across islands that differ in their political geography—island nation states, overseas territories, and islands of continental countries. Over US$36 billion in total costs (including damages and management) has occurred on islands from 1965 to 2020 due to invasive species’ impacts. Nation states incurred the greatest total and management costs, and islands of continental countries incurred costs of similar magnitude, both far higher than those in overseas territories. Damage-loss costs were significantly lower, but with qualitatively similar patterns across differing political geographies. The predominance of management spending differs from the pattern found for most countries examined and suggests important knowledge gaps in the extent of many damage-related socioeconomic impacts. Nation states spent the greatest proportion of their gross domestic products countering these costs, at least 1 order of magnitude higher than other locations. Most costs were borne by authorities and stakeholders, demonstrating the key role of governmental and nongovernmental bodies in addressing island invasions. Temporal trends revealed cost increases across all island types, potentially reflecting efforts to tackle invasive species at larger, more socially complex scales. Nevertheless, the already high total economic costs of island invasions substantiate the role of biosecurity in reducing and preventing invasive species arrivals to reduce strains on limited financial resources and avoid threats to sustainable development goals.     

An adaptive annual rhythm in the sex of first pigeon eggs

When the reproductive value of male and female offspring varies differentially, parents are predicted to adjust the sex ratio of their offspring to maximize their fitness (Trivers and Willard, Science 179:90–92, 1973). Two factors have been repeatedly linked to skews in avian offspring sex ratio. First, laying date can affect offspring sex ratio when the sexes differ in age of first reproduction, such that the more slowly maturing sex is overproduced early in the season. Second, position of the egg in the laying sequence of a clutch may affect sex ratio bias since manipulating the sex of the first eggs may be least costly to the mother. We studied both factors in two non-domesticated pigeon species. Both the Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) and the Rock pigeon (Columba livia) have long breeding seasons and lay two-egg clutches. In the field, we determined the sex of Wood pigeon nestlings. In Rock pigeons, housed in captivity outdoors, we determined embryo sex after 3 days of incubation. On the basis of their sex-specific age of first reproduction, we predicted that males, maturing at older age than females, should be produced in majority early and females later in the year. This was confirmed for both species. The bias was restricted to first eggs. Rock pigeons produced clutches throughout the year and show that the sex of the first egg followed an annual cycle. To our knowledge, this study presents the first evidence of a full annual rhythm in adaptive sex allocation in birds. We suggest that this reflects an endogenous seasonal program in primary sex ratio controlled by a preovulatory mechanism.     

Defining and achieving sustainable development

SUMMARY

This paper analyses the fundamental problems of defining and achieving sustainable development. A common core of the various definitions of sustainability circulating is identified. Economic and scientific approaches to operationalize sustainability generally lead to management rules, which — if obeyed — should guarantee sustainability. Since it is not possible to precisely predict the future, this scientific—technical—economic route to sustainability may fail. A second, ethical way, to sustainability which interprets sustainability as an ideal for fair play is introduced. How the two different ways may complement one another with a three-step hierarchy of political goals is elucidated.     

从全局审视EHS系统 避免信息孤岛

本文通过诠释EHS集成解决方案架构的路线图,告诉我们,EHS应被视为生产链和运营流程的一部分,而不仅仅是公司信息化建设中的一座孤岛。公司要想卓越地安全运营,其安全管理信息化就必须从全局去审视,它不仅应像神经元网络一样,具有灵活度和敏捷度,更要渗透到"个人",如此才能创建出公司整体的安全文化。     

Pseudomonas lemoignei has five poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) (PHA) depolymerase genes: A comparative study of bacterial and eukaryotic PHA depolymerases

Four polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) depolymerases were purified from the culture fluid ofPseudomonas lemoignei: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), depolymerase A (M _r , 55,000), and PHB depolymerase B (M _r , 67,000) were specific for PHB and copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) as substrates. The third depolymerase additionally hydrolyzed poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHV) at high rates (PHV depolymerase;M _r , 54,000). The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the three purified proteins, of a fourth partially purified depolymerase (PHB depolymerase C), and of the PHB depolymerases ofComamonas sp. were determined. Four PHA depolymerase genes ofP. lemoignei (phaZ1,phaZ2,phaZ3, andphaZ4) have been cloned inEscherichia coli, and the nucleotide sequence ofphaZ1 has been determined recently (D. Jendrossek, B. Müller, and H. G. Schlegel,Eur. J. Biochem. 218, 701–710, 1993). In this study the nucleotide sequences ofphaZ2 andphaZ3 were determined.PhaZ1,phaZ2, andphaZ4 were identified to encode PHB depolymerase C, PHB depolymerase B, and PHV depolymerase, respectively.PhaZ3 coded for a novel PHB depolymerase ofP. lemoignei, named PHB depolymerase D. None of the four genes harbored the PHB depolymerase A gene, which is predicted to be encoded by a fifth depolymerase gene ofP. lemoignei (phaZ5) and which has not been cloned yet. The deduced amino acid sequences ofphaZ1–phaZ3 revealed high homologies to each other (68–72%) and medium homologies to the PHB depolymerase gene ofAlcaligenes faecalis T₁ (25–34%). Typical leader peptide amino acid sequences, lipase consensus sequences (Gly-Xaa-Ser-Xaa-Gly), and unusually high proportions of threonine near the C terminus were found in PhaZ1, PhaZ2, and PhaZ3. Considering the biochemical data of the purified proteins and the amino acid sequences, PHA depolymerases ofP. lemoignei are most probably serine hydrolases containing a catalytical triad of Asp, His, and Ser similar to that of lipases. A comparison of biochemical and genetic data of various eubacterial and one eukaryotic PHA depolymerases is provided also.Paper presented at the Bio/Environmentally Degradable Polymer Society—Second National Meeting, August 19–21, 1993, Chicago, Illinois.     

Greenhouse gas emission and its potential mitigation process from the waste sector in a large-scale exhibition

As one of the largest human activities, World Expo is an important source of anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas emission (GHG), and the GHG emission and other environmental impacts of the Expo Shanghai 2010, where around 59,397 tons of waste was generated during 184 Expo running days, were assessed by life cycle assessment (LCA). Two scenarios, i.e., the actual and expected figures of the waste sector, were assessed and compared, and 124.01 kg CO₂-equivalent (CO₂-eq.), 4.43 kg SO₂-eq., 4.88 kg NO₃⁻-eq., and 3509 m³ water per ton tourist waste were found to be released in terms of global warming (GW), acidification (AC), nutrient enrichment (NE) and spoiled groundwater resources (SGWR), respectively. The total GHG emission was around 3499 ton CO₂-eq. from the waste sector in Expo Park, among which 86.47% was generated during the waste landfilling at the rate of 107.24 kg CO₂-eq., and CH₄, CO and other hydrocarbons (HC) were the main contributors. If the waste sorting process had been implemented according to the plan scenario, around 497 ton CO₂-eq. savings could have been attained. Unlike municipal solid waste, with more organic matter content, an incineration plant is more suitable for tourist waste disposal due to its high heating value, from the GHG reduction perspective.     

Concept for cost effective improvement of river morphology in the context of the European Water Framework Directive

The EU Water Framework Directive calls for cost effective measures to achieve a “good status” in all European ground, surface and coastal waters. Besides eutrophication, the degradation of hydromorphology is the main reason for failing this objective. In this paper, we conceptualise the interactive decision support process BASINFORM-M for finding proper locations for river restoration. The concept combines the recently proposed “stepping stone approach” from aquatic ecology with elements from cost effectiveness analysis, multi-criteria analysis and participatory approaches. BASINFORM-M exemplifies a shift away from the isolated restoration of single river reaches towards a consideration of functional relationships within river networks.     

Sources of anthropogenic platinum-group elements (PGE): Automotive catalysts versus pge-processing industries

Soil samples from the area of Hanau (Hessen, Germany) were analyzed for anthropogenic platinum-group elements (PGE). The results confirm the existence of two different sources for anthropogenic PGE: 1. automotive catalysts, and 2. PGE-processing plants. Both sources emit qualitatively and quantitatively different PGE spectra and PGE interelemental ratios (especially the Pt/Rh ratio). Elevated PGE values which are due to automotive catalysts are restricted to a narrow-range along roadside soil, whereas those due to PGE-processing plants display a large-area dispersion. The emitted PGE-containing particles in the case of automotive catalysts are subject to transport by wind and water, whereas those from PGE-processing plants are preferably transported by wind. This points to a different aerodynamic particle size. Pt, Pd, and Rh concentrations along motorways are dependent on the amount of traffic and the driving characteristics.