Landmark memories are more robust when acquired at the nest site than en route: experiments in desert ants

Foraging desert ants, Cataglyphis fortis, encounter different sequences of visual landmarks while navigating by path integration. This paper explores the question whether the storage of landmark information depends on the context in which the landmarks are learned during an ant's foraging journey. Two experimental set-ups were designed in which the ants experienced an artificial landmark panorama that was placed either around the nest entrance (nest marks) or along the vector route leading straight towards the feeder (route marks). The two training paradigms resulted in pronounced differences in the storage characteristics of the acquired landmark information: memory traces of nest marks were much more robust against extinction and/or suppression than those of route marks. In functional terms, this result is in accord with the observation that desert ants encounter new route marks during every foraging run but always pass the same landmarks when approaching the nest entrance.     

Inter and intra-population variation in shoaling and boldness in the zebrafish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Danio rerio</Emphasis>)

Population differences in anti-predator behaviour have been demonstrated in several species, although less is known about the genetic basis of these traits. To determine the extent of genetic differences in boldness (defined as exploration of a novel object) and shoaling within and between zebrafish (Danio rerio) populations, and to examine the genetic basis of shoaling behaviour in general, we carried out a study that involved laboratory-raised fish derived from four wild-caught populations. Controlling for differences in rearing environment, significant inter-population differences were found in boldness but not shoaling. A larger shoaling experiment was also performed using one of the populations as the basis of a North Carolina type II breeding design (174 fish in total) to estimate heritability of shoaling tendency. A narrow-sense heritability estimate of 0.40 was obtained, with no apparent dominance effects.     

Framing the Long-Term <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Situ</Emphasis> Liability Issue for Geologic Carbon Storage in the United States

This paper examines how legal standards of liability may apply to geologic carbon storage. The liability regime governing geologic carbon storage will shape the technology's cost-effectiveness and overall attractiveness. We classify potential sources of liability into operational, in situ, and climate liability. As a first step, we explore in situ liability in the United States. After summarizing legal standards of liability including negligence, breach of implied warranty, strict liability, and product liability, we discuss how liability may be addressed at the level of the federal government, state government, industry, and the firm. Finally, we address the implications of judicial treatment of liability for carbon storage, including the apportionment of liability and the adequacy of current regulations.     

机械强化污泥回流式一体化活性污泥法的运行机理研究

活性污泥通过机械搅拌强化污泥内循环回流,提高了污泥的活性,并且使污泥浓度可达到4.5kg/m3,用该机械强化污泥回流式一体化活性污泥法处理小区生活污水,当水力停留时间为3h,溶解氧为2.2mg/L,机械搅拌速度为250r/min时,CODcr、氨氮去除率均可达到83% 以上,出水达到国家污水排放一级标准.该一体化活性污泥法简单易行,运行成本低,投资小,操作维护方便,是生活小区生活污水适宜的处理工艺技术.     

厌氧预处理-序批式生物膜反应器处理染料废水研究

通过对实际染料废水进行厌氧预处理之后,采用序批式生物膜反应器对其作进一步去除CODCr和脱N处理.实验结果表明:厌氧预处理能够破坏染料分子结构,将废水中的难降解物质转化为易降解物质,为后续的好氧处理提供可能性和易降解性;序批式生物膜反应器采用好氧-缺氧-好氧的运行方式,能够实现在对CODCr去除的同时,实现脱N效果;在此基础上,求得所讨论的生物膜系统在好氧段由扩散作用所控制的CODCr和NH 4-N生化反应动力学模型.     

水量衡算条件下人工湿地对有机物的去除研究

构建了芦苇和无植物2种人工湿地，在系统水量衡算的基础上比较了2种湿地对生活污水中有机物的去除效果。结果证明，在植物收割后的冬季，芦苇湿地对有机物的去除率低于无植物湿地系统约2％；在其他季节，芦苇湿地对污水CODcr的去除率比无植物湿地高出3.3％-5％。但对BOD5的去除率却比无植物湿地低了1.9％-2.7％。因此，芦苇湿地对有机物的去除效果比无植物湿地高，但提高不多。比较了2种系统的氧化还原电位，芦苇湿地比无植物湿地的高（P〈0.05），这种提高主要集中在湿地水面以下约10cm的深度；从整个湿地床体来看。2块连续运行的潜流水平湿地内部氧化还原状态大部分相同。主要是厌氧状态。比较了2种人工湿地基质中降解有机物的细菌，放线菌和真菌的数量，二者没有明显的差别。考察了湿地进水有机负荷与去除量的关系，二者呈现显著的线性相关性（R^2〉0.99）。     

Mitigation of the Impact of Tropical Cyclones in Northern Australia through Community Capacity Enhancement

Community mitigation of hazard impact requires hazard knowledge and preparedness on the part of the members of diverse and complex communities. Longitudinal research in the tropical cyclone prone north of Australia has gathered extensive datasets on community awareness, preparedness and knowledge, in order to contribute to education campaigns and mitigation strategies. Data have been used to identify issues of vulnerability to cyclones and capacity to deal with the hazard. This has been developed as a community vulnerability and capacity model that may be applied to diverse communities in order to assess levels of capability to mitigate and deal with the cyclone hazard. The model is presented here in a simplified form as its development is evolving and ongoing.     

多级模糊模式识别方法用于湖泊水质评价

进行模糊综合评估的应用与研究很多，在那些方法中主要应用最大隶属度原则进行最后的评定，但是湖泊水质评价涉及到多样点多项指标等多因素，一般模糊综合评价方法中的最大隶属度原则不能适用。本文利用多级模糊模式识别方法的基本理论，通过多目标优选，给出了更加合理、科学的评价模型；利用该模型我们对武汉市东湖水质监测结果做出了较为合理的评价。     

黔中岩溶地区草地下土壤CO_2含量的变化特征

全球碳循环中,CO_2的未知汇可能是陆地生态系统中某一部分,如土壤。土壤中CO_2的含量是大气的几倍至近百倍,它的吸收与释放将影响大气中的CO_2浓度。岩溶地区占全球陆地面积的1/15。对典型的岩溶地区——黔中某地土壤的CO_2进行了四季及昼夜的采样测定,结果表明,该地地表大气的CO_2含量具有季节变化的特征。土壤气中的CO_2浓度为大气CO_2浓度的几倍至一百多倍;自地表向下,随着土壤深度的增大,CO_2浓度升高。土壤CO_2含量的季节变化及昼夜变化,与土壤中CO_2来源和温度等因子变化有关。