Use of Central Stonerollers (Cyprinidae: Campostoma anomalum) from Tennessee as a Bioindicator of Metal Contamination

We compared the levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium in a small species of fish (Central stonerollers, Campostoma anomalum) collected from East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC) and a reference site in eastern Tennessee. Stonerollers are minnows in the Cyprinidae family that serve as prey for many carnivores in aquatic systems. Fish were collected from East Fork Poplar Creek within the U.S. Department of Energy's Y-12 National Security Complex, part of the Oak Ridge Reservation, and from a reference stretch of the Little River in East Tennessee. Whole fish were homogenized for analysis. Concentrations of all metals (except arsenic) were significantly higher in stonerollers from EFPC compared to the reference site. Mercury levels in minnows from EFPC averaged 0.4 ppm (μg/g), four times higher than the average for fish in the U.S. in general. This was higher than levels in fish from the nearby Clinch River and higher than fillets of white bass (Morone chrysops) from the same creek. Most metal levels were inversely related to size and weight of the stonerollers, perhaps due to growth dilution.     

A comparison of antimony and lead profiles over the past 2500 years in Flanders Moss ombrotrophic peat bog, Scotland

Two cores collected in 2001 and 2004 from Flanders Moss ombrotrophic peat bog in central Scotland were dated (14C, 210Pb) and analysed (ICP-OES, ICP-MS) to derive and compare the historical atmospheric deposition records of Sb and Pb over the past 2500 years. After correction, via Sc, for contributions from soil dust, depositional fluxes of Sb and Pb peaked from ca. 1920-1960 A.D., with >95% of the anthropogenic inventories deposited post-1800 A.D. Over the past two centuries, trends in Sb and Pb deposition have been broadly similar, with fluctuations in the anthropogenic Sb/Pb ratio reflecting temporal variations in the relative input from emission sources such as the mining and smelting of Pb ores (in which Sb is commonly present, as at Leadhills/Wanlockhead in southern Scotland), combustion of coal (for which the Sb/Pb ratio is approximately an order of magnitude greater than in Pb ores) and exhaust emissions (Pb from leaded petrol) and abrasion products from the brake linings (Sb from heat-resistant Sb compounds) of automobiles. The influence of leaded petrol has been most noticeable in recent decades, firstly through the resultant minima in Sb/Pb and 206Pb/207Pb ratios (the latter arising from the use of less radiogenic Australian Pb in alkylPb additives) and then, during its phasing out and the adoption of unleaded petrol, complete by 2000 A.D., the subsequent increase in both Sb/Pb and 206Pb/207Pb ratios. The extent of the 20th century maximum anthropogenic enrichment of Sb and Pb, relative to the natural Sc-normalised levels of the Upper Continental Crust, was similar at approximately 50- to 100-fold. Prior to 1800 A.D., the influence of metallurgical activities on Sb and Pb concentrations in the peat cores during both the Mediaeval and Roman/pre-Roman periods was discernible, small Sb and Pb peaks during the latter appearing attributable, on the basis of Pb isotopic composition, to the mining/smelting of Pb ores indigenous to Britain.     

Metal Levels in Tissues of Florida Gar (Lepisosteus Platyrhincus) from Lake Okeechobee

There is considerable concern about the effects of contaminants on organisms at higher trophic levels, as well as interest in developing bioindicators of ecological health. In this article we examine the levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in the gonads, liver and muscle of Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) from Lake Okeechobee in south-central Florida. Gar are top-level predators in freshwater ecosystems. We expected that there would be differences in metal levels as a function of tissue, and predicted differences as a function of sex, size, and location around the lake. There were significant differences among tissues for all metals, but there were few differences as a function of size and gender, which may relate to the generally low levels of metals. Mercury levels were significantly higher in gar collected from the north, and arsenic levels were significantly higher in the gar collected from the south. All metal levels in the muscle of gar collected from Lake Okeechobee were similar to, or lower than those generally reported from other areas of the United States. Thus, although the levels of mercury from the Everglades to the south of Lake Okeechobee are sufficiently high to result in human fish consumption advisories, there are none for Lake Okeechobee. The mercury levels in fish muscle from Lake Okeechobee are lower than from many waters in the U.S. and do not pose a problem for humans. However, liver levels average over the 0.5 microg g(-1) level considered safe for human consumption, and might pose a problem for non-human consumers that eat the fish whole.     

Heavy metal concentrations in feathers of common loons (Gavia immer) in the Northeastern United States and age differences in mercury levels

Feathers serve as a useful, non-destructive approach for biomonitoring some aspects of environmental quality. Birds can eliminate over 90% of their body burden of mercury by sequestration in growing feathers, and they molt their feathers at least annually. Thus mercury concentrations should not vary in avian feathers as a function of age. We tested the null hypothesis that there are no age differences in the concentrations of mercury, lead, cadmium, selenium, copper, chromium and manganese in the feathers of immature and adult common loons Gavia immer from the Northeastern United States where the species is declining. Adults had significantly higher mean levels of mercury (20245 ppb) than immature loons (9677 ppb), but there were no age-related differences for other elements. Even with the small number of immatures, females had significantly higher levels of mercury than males, although the gender difference was not significant for adults.     

Heavy metal and selenium levels in feathers of herring gulls (Larus argentatus): Differences due to year,gender, and age at Captree,Long Island

The concentrations of heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese) and selenium in the feathers of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) from a nesting colony at Captree, Long Island, New York were examined from 1989 to 1993 to determine if there were differences from year to year, and between males and females, adult and young, and dead versus live gulls. Variation in metal levels in regression models was explained by age (all metals), year (all except manganese), and whether the feathers were from live or dead birds (all except lead and chromium). The feathers of adults had significantly higher levels of mercury, lead and manganese than those of young, but lower levels of selenium and cadmium than those of young. Levels in down and fledgling feathers were similar for lead, cadmium and selenium, but fledgling feathers had higher levels for mercury, chromium, and manganese. There were no gender differences in metal levels for adult feathers except for lead (females had higher levels). Levels of mercury and manganese were higher in feathers of live adults whereas levels of cadmium and selenium were higher in the feathers of dead adults.     

Perceptions about Environmental Use and Future Restoration of an Urban Estuary

Recent interest in restoring urban ecosystems has engendered studies on public perceptions of these ecosystems and future land use. This paper examines the perceptions of people using the waterfront area of the New York/New Jersey harbour estuary about their use of the area, and how this environment could be improved. Pollution was viewed as the most important problem in New Jersey, and removing pollution was rated the most important way to improve the waterfront habitat. Using the remaining undeveloped area for natural habitat and to improve quality of life were rated as the most important uses of the waterfront. People valued the waterfront for walking, providing open green space, and as a place to commune with nature without people. Management options people favoured were removing pollution and cleaning up rubbish and adding educational signs and information brochures about the remaining, natural habitat. Age, income and education influenced which activities people said they undertook. For improvements to the waterfront: Hispanics rated adding educational signs and creating information brochures higher, Blacks rated building promenades as more important, and Asians and Whites rated improving habitat for birds and butterflies more important than others. The data indicate that the public has a firm understanding of the big picture (pollution in the region and locally), habitat improvement, and of the small improvements that can be done locally. Planners and managers could move forward on three fronts: source reduction, wildlife habitat improvement, and amenity (signs, brochures, cleaning up rubbish) development. Understanding how people use an environment, and wish to improve it, can provide valuable information for future restoration and management of urban environments generally, as well as for structuring a citizen advisory committee.     

Prevalence of Human Parainfluenza Viruses and Noroviruses Genomes on Office Fomites

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of office fomites in respiratory (human parainfluenza virus 1—HPIV1, human parainfluenza virus 3—HPIV3) and enteric (norovirus GI—NoV GI, norovirus GII—NoV GII) viruses transmission by assessing the occurrence of these viruses on surfaces in office buildings. Between 2016 and 2017, a total of 130 surfaces from open-space and non-open-space rooms in office buildings located in one city were evaluated for HPIV1, HPIV3, NoV GI, and NoV GII viral RNA presence. Detection of viruses was performed by RT-qPCR method. Study revealed 27 positive samples, among them 59.3% were HPIV3-positive, 25.9% HPIV1-positive, and 14.8% NoV GII-positive. All tested surfaces were NoV GI-negative. Statistical analysis of obtained data showed that the surfaces of office equipment including computer keyboards and mice, telephones, and desktops were significantly more contaminated with respiratory viruses than the surfaces of building equipment elements such as door handles, light switches, or ventilation tracts (χ ² p = 0.006; Fisher’s Exact p = 0.004). All examined surfaces were significantly more contaminated with HPIVs than NoVs (χ ² p = 0.002; Fisher’s Exact p = 0.003). Office fomites in open-space rooms were more often contaminated with HPIVs than with NoVs (χ ² p = 0.016; Fisher’s Exact p = 0.013). The highest average concentration of HPIVs RNA copies was observed on telephones (1.66 × 10² copies/100 cm²), while NoVs on the light switches (1.40 × 10² copies/100 cm²). However, the Kruskal–Wallis test did not show statistically significant differences in concentration levels of viral RNA copies on surfaces between the all tested samples. This study unequivocally showed that individuals in office environment may have contact with both respiratory and enteric viral particles present on frequently touched surfaces.     

Useful indicators of urban sustainability: Some methodological issues

This paper considers methodological questions concerning indicators of sustainability, which have arisen in the course of an EPSRC-supported project investigating a systems approach to assessing the sustainability of cities. The project aimed: (a) to develop a methodology, the Reference Sustainability System (RSS), for representing the energy, resource and material flows, on which the environmental sustainability of cities depends; (b) to show how this methodology could contribute to a more systematic assessment of the potential of technological and resource management strategies to enhance urban sustainability. Systems models of the material or resource flows caused by the household demand for paper, energy, water and bottled water have been constructed. The project has highlighted the complexity of assessing the contributions of specific technologies and strategies to enhanced sustainability. Particular issues raised include the relative merits and problems of using externality valuation methods compared to physical indicators, the difficulties of aggregating environmental impacts, the question of where system boundaries should be drawn in a life cycle analysis, and the need to consider both distant and local impacts which arise from the end-use demands of urban populations. The paper explores these issues, through the use of modelling results from the case studies. Particular emphasis is placed on the communication of research results to policy makers, interested organisations and the public, drawing on recent experience with the dissemination of results from the project's first case study relating to waste-paper management options.     

The effects of male–male contests and female eavesdropping on female mate choice and male mating success in the jumping spider, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thiania bhamoensis</Emphasis> (Araneae: Salticidae)

In experiments that comprised of three phases (fight, choice, and mating) under “seen” and “unseen” conditions, we examined the effects of the outcomes of male–male contests and female eavesdropping on female mate choice and male mating success in the fighting spider, Thiania bhamoensis (Salticidae). The results revealed female eavesdropping on agonistic interactions. Females that had watched an aggressive interaction showed no distinctive preference for the winner over the loser, but they preferred the loser when they had not observed a fight. Winners, however, achieved a greater mating success than did losers during the mating phase. Gaining access to females was based on the insistence of the winners in courtship in terms of the number of quivers, rather than on the fighting behavior of the males. Hence, the outcome of male–male contests may not be an important determinant of a male’s mating success in T. bhamoensis. Instead, courtship display plays an important role in determining the success of male mating in this species. This study also suggests that female mate preference may not be a good indicator of eventual female mate choice and male mating success. Thus, a causal relationship between female mate preference and male mating success cannot be inferred. Joanna P. Y. Chan, Pei Rong Lau, and Ai Jie Tham contributed equally.     

Dragon’s blood secretion and its ecological significance

Dragon’s blood is the name given to a red exudate produced by some plant species belonging to the genera Daemonorops, Dracaena, Croton and Pterocarpus. These are endemic to various parts of the globe. It is classified as a resin or latex depending on its mode of secretion and its chemical composition, which is species specific. This red substance functions in defence and is produced (a) constitutively and stored in preformed anatomical structures, or (b) by induction in response to traumatic events, such as mechanical injury, pathogen attack or invasion by insects. Apart from its defensive role in plants, dragon’s blood is also a valuable natural resource renowned since antiquity for its diverse medicinal properties and uses in art. Despite the great importance of dragon’s blood, our knowledge of the biological basis for its secretion is still incomplete. This review summarizes recent advances in the study of the anatomical basis for its secretion, and discusses its classification and ecological function. Bringing some clarity to these issues may also help in the commercial sourcing of dragon’s blood.