Identifying a breeding habitat of a critically endangered fish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acheilognathus typus</Emphasis>, in a natural river in Japan

Freshwater biodiversity has been severely threatened in recent years, and to conserve endangered species, their distribution and breeding habitats need to be clarified. However, identifying breeding sites in a large area is generally difficult. Here, by combining the emerging environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis with subsequent traditional collection surveys, we successfully identified a breeding habitat for the critically endangered freshwater fish Acheilognathus typus in the mainstream of Omono River in Akita Prefecture, Japan, which is one of the original habitats of this species. Based on DNA cytochrome B sequences of A. typus and closely related species, we developed species-specific primers and a probe that were used in real-time PCR for detecting A. typus eDNA. After verifying the specificity and applicability of the primers and probe on water samples from known artificial habitats, eDNA analysis was applied to water samples collected at 99 sites along Omono River. Two of the samples were positive for A. typus eDNA, and thus, small fixed nets and bottle traps were set out to capture adult fish and verify egg deposition in bivalves (the preferred breeding substrate for A. typus) in the corresponding regions. Mature female and male individuals and bivalves containing laid eggs were collected at one of the eDNA-positive sites. This was the first record of adult A. typus in Omono River in 11 years. This study highlights the value of eDNA analysis to guide conventional monitoring surveys and shows that combining both methods can provide important information on breeding sites that is essential for species’ conservation.     

Empirical research on diffusion behavior of leaked gas in the ground

Chemical plants and gas utilities own large underground pipelines to transport material such as combustible gas. For example, city gas utilities in Japan have about 230,000 km of pipelines, even if only the pipelines to deliver gas to their customers are considered. Any accidents involving such pipelines can lead to enormous human and physical damage, and their security is therefore a top-priority issue for utilities. For the safety management of underground pipelines, in addition to assessment of the long-term reliability of pipeline materials, it is extremely important to understand the diffusion behavior of gases in the ground, such as the diffusion range and time, in the case of leakage, and the impact on the surrounding area is a fundamental factor to be considered in the design and maintenance of safe facilities and for emergency response. Although many papers introduce the situations of gas diffusion in the atmosphere such as indoor and outdoor conditions, only fundamental surveys have been conducted on gas diffusion in the ground, and there have been few full-scale empirical studies. This study reports the results of the verification of the diffusion behavior with full-scale gas leakage experiments simulating real underground pipelines, as well as the outcomes of the applicability test of a numerical simulation model investigated and proposed based on the results. This technical knowledge regarding security will contribute to further improvement of safety in the industry.     

Area-specific temporal changes of species composition and species-specific range shifts in rocky-shore mollusks associated with warming Kuroshio Current

Increases of low-latitude species in various sea areas and poleward shifts of ranges of many species have been reported and linked to warming environments. To examine the generality of these trends for mollusks, we conducted 7 quadrat surveys during 1978–2006 on Pacific rocky shores in Japan (26.6–45.0°N). Results showed that the dominance of southern species increased on 11 of the 15 shores in a southern, warming sea area but on only 1 of the 6 shores in a northern area with no warming trend. The latitudes of species ranges increased on average but showed large interspecific variations which showed a weak, positive correlation with interspecific taxonomic distance. The differences of these results from the previously reported trends are discussed in relation to the unique current patterns in our study area and the phylogenetic constraints of species-specific responses to a warming environment.     

Studies on automated survey system of environmental chemicals by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-computer III. Construction of an automated survey system and its application

An automated survey system on the chemicals in environments by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-computer system has been constructed of Three Dimensional Mass Chromatography, Modified Probability Based Matching method, and Self Training Interpretive and Retrieval method. And it was applied to analyze environmental materials, with interesting results.     

(137)Cs concentration in zooplankton and its relation to taxonomic composition in the western North Pacific Ocean

To study the role of zooplankton in the transport of (137)Cs in the ocean, zooplankton samples were collected in October 2005 and June 2006 in the western North Pacific Ocean. The peak zooplankton biomass was observed in the surface layer, and gelatinous plankton was more abundant in October 2005 than in June 2006 reflecting exchange of water masses. The concentrations of (137)Cs in zooplankton varied from 11 to 24 mBq kg wet(-1) and were higher in October 2005 than in June 2006. The elevated abundance of gelatinous zooplankton probably led to higher concentration of (137)Cs in zooplankton in October 2005. Annual export fluxes of (137)Cs by ontogenetic vertical migrant copepods were estimated to be 0.8 and 0.6 mBq m(-2) year(-1) at 200 and 1000 m depths, respectively; this suggested that transport of (137)Cs by zooplankton may be no trivial pathway.     

Evaporation characteristics of multi-component liquid

Evaporation rate of multi-component liquid such as motor gasoline is expected to change greatly with progress of evaporation because its composition changes. Therefore it is difficult to predict accurately amount of generated combustible vapor in the case that a multi-component liquid is spilt on a floor. Then, we assumed an evaporation model that composition of the vapor obeys the Raoult's law which considers the activity coefficient. Using the model, we calculated the vapor composition, the vapor pressure and the evaporation rate of the liquid. Then, comparison was done between the calculated values and the measured values obtained in this study. “Weight loss fraction” was used as a parameter signifying the progress of evaporation. The variations of the evaporation property were accurately predicted by the model. We derived a prediction model of the amount of generated combustible vapor from the relation between weight loss fraction and evaporation rate. It was found that the amount of generated vapor was expressed as a logarithmic function of time in case of a five-component liquid. Furthermore, we showed that the predicted flash point of a liquid using the composition obtained from the model was in good agreement with an experimental result.     

Tritium concentrations in the atmospheric environment at Rokkasho, Japan before the final testing of the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant

This study aimed at obtaining background tritium concentrations in precipitation and air at Rokkasho where the first commercial spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Japan has been under construction. Tritium concentration in monthly precipitation during fiscal years 2001-2005 had a seasonal variation pattern which was high in spring and low in summer. The tritium concentration was higher than that observed at Chiba City as a whole. The seasonal peak concentration at Rokkasho was generally higher than that at Chiba City, while the baseline concentrations of both were similar. The reason for the difference may be the effect of air mass from the Asian continent which is considered to have high tritium concentration. Atmospheric tritium was operationally separated into HTO, HT and hydrocarbon (CH₃T) fractions, and the samples collected every 3 d-14 d during fiscal year 2005 were analyzed for these fractions. The HTO concentration as radioactivity in water correlated well with that in the precipitation samples. The HT concentration was the highest among the chemical forms analyzed, followed by the HTO and CH₃T concentrations. The HT and CH₃T concentrations did not have clear seasonal variation patterns. The HT concentration followed the decline previously reported by Mason and Östlund with an apparent half-life of 4.8 y. The apparent and environmental half-lives of CH₃T were estimated as 9.2 y and 36.5 y, respectively, by combining the present data with literature data. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change used the atmospheric lifetime of 12 y for CH₄ to estimate global warming in its 2007 report. The longer environmental half-life of CH₃T suggested its supply from other sources than past nuclear weapon testing in the atmosphere.     

Characteristics of biosolids in dimethyl ether dewatering method

In this study, a method for removing water from biosolids that uses dimethyl ether (DME) as an extractant was considered. This study evaluates the applicability of the DME dewatering method to biosolid cakes by using a DME flow-type experimental apparatus. It was found that a high dewatering ratio is clearly achieved by increasing the liquefied DME/biosolid ratio and lowering the liquefied DME linear velocity. As the liquefied DME/biosolid ratio was increased, the carbon content in dewatered biosolid showed a slight decrease and the TOC concentration in separated liquid increased significantly. Finally, the input energy Es to remove 1 kg of water from the biosolid cake, using both the DME dewatering method and the conventional drying method was estimated. The calculation shows that Es for the DME dewatering process is approximately a third of Es for the conventional thermal drying process.     

Biological solubilization and mineralization as novel approach for the pretreatment of food waste

The performance of a garbage disposal system to solubilize and mineralize food wastes through biological solubilization was evaluated through the examination of the effects of operational conditions like water supply volume, water supply frequency and aeration on the amount of waste solubilized, mineralized and accumulated in the reactor. The biological solubilization process consisted of a solubilization reactor and a circulation tank. Food waste and fresh water were supplied into the solubilization reactor with support media. Wastewater from the solubilization reactor was discharged to the circulation tank and water in the circulation tank was periodically pumped back to the solubilization reactor. In case of the total food waste loading of 16 kg m(3-1) d(-1), little carbon (0-5.7%) accumulated in the reactor as long as the system was kept under aerobic condition through large volume of water supply (higher than 3.5 lh(-1)) or applying aeration in the circulation tank. However, 42% of the loaded carbon accumulated under anaerobic condition in low water supply (less than 1.8 lh(-1)). The rest of the waste was either solubilized or mineralized. The aeration in the circulation tank, therefore, was effective to provide similar solubilization and mineralization as the large volume of water supply. However, frequency of feeding at the large volume of water supply had no significant effect on the amount of waste solubilization and mineralization.