Can rare positive interactions become common when large carnivores consume livestock?

Livestock populations in protected areas are viewed negatively because of their interaction with native ungulates through direct competition for food resources. However, livestock and native prey can also interact indirectly through their shared predator. Indirect interactions between two prey species occur when one prey modifies either the functional or numerical responses of a shared predator. This interaction is often manifested as negative effects (apparent competition) on one or both prey species through increased predation risk. But indirect interactions can also yield positive effects on a focal prey if the shared predator modifies its functional response toward increased consumption of an abundant and higher-quality alternative prey. Such a phenomenon between two prey species is underappreciated and overlooked in nature. Positive indirect effects can be expected to occur in livestock-dominated wildlife reserves containing large carnivores. We searched for such positive effects in Acacia-Zizhypus forests of India's Gir sanctuary where livestock (Bubalus bubalis and Bos indicus) and a coexisting native prey (chital deer, Axis axis) are consumed by Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica). Chital vigilance was higher in areas with low livestock density than in areas with high livestock density. This positive indirect effect occurred because lion predation rates on livestock were twice as great where livestock were abundant than where livestock density was low. Positive indirect interactions mediated by shared predators may be more common than generally thought with rather major consequences for ecological understanding and conservation. We encourage further studies to understand outcomes of indirect interactions on long-term predator-prey dynamics in livestock-dominated protected areas.     

Immunocytochemical evidence that symbiotic algae secrete potential recognition signal molecules in hospite

Cnidarian–dinoflagellate symbioses are not well understood at the molecular level. Observed specificity between partners during initiation, establishment, and maintenance of the relationship strongly implies a role for chemical signaling. This report presents biochemical and immunocytochemical evidence for potential signaling molecules, as large molecular weight glycoproteins, secreted by Symbiodinium dinoflagellates both in culture and in symbiosis. Polyclonal antibodies directed against recovered exudate from S. microadriaticum, the natural endosymbiont of Cassiopea xamachana, the upside–down jellyfish, were highly specific in recognizing exudates from Symbiodinium species that can successfully induce developmental metamorphosis in the host but did not recognize exudates from Symbiodinium species that do not. Immunoblot analyses showed S. microadriaticum exudate to be protease sensitive. Release of antigenic material by symbiotic S. microadriaticum was demonstrated through light and electron microscopy using immunogold-labeled anti-S. microadriaticum (anti-Sm-XuLg) antibodies as probes. These secreted, symbiont-derived glycoconjugates may be candidates for interspecific molecular signals.     

Ethical Consumption, Values Convergence/Divergence and Community Development

Ethical consumption is on the rise, however little is known about the degree and the implications of the sometime conflicting sets of values held by the broad category of consumers who report consuming ethically. This paper explores convergence and divergence of ethical consumption values through a study of organic, fair trade, and local food consumers in Colorado. Using survey and focus group results, we first examine demographic and attitudinal correlates of ethical consumption. We then report evidence that while many organic, fair trade, and local food consumers converge around similar values, some Colorado consumers support only local food, while opposing the consumption of organic and fair trade products. Next, we investigate how ethical consumers who converge and diverge frame their commitment to consuming ethically. The discussion and conclusion suggest that community development planners of projects that focus on ethical consumption will need to successfully traverse issues stemming from convergence and divergence to enjoy long-term sustained success.     

Novel manure management technologies in no-till and forage introduction to the special series

Surface application of manures leaves nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) susceptible to being lost in runoff, and N can also be lost to the atmosphere through ammonia (IH3) volatilization. Tillage immediately after surface application of manure moves manure nutrients under the soil surface, where they are less vulnerable to runoff and volatilization loss. Tillage, however, destroys soil structure, can lead to soil erosion, and is incompatible with forage and no-till systems. A variety of technologies are now available to place manure nutrients under the soil surface, but these are not widely used as surface broadcasting is cheap and long established as the standard method for land application of manure. This collection of papers includes agronomic, environmental, and economic assessments of subsurface manure application technologies, many of which clearly show benefits when comparedwith surface broadcasting. However, there remain significant gaps in our current knowledge, some related to the site-specific nature of technological performance, others related to the nascent and incomplete nature of the assessment process. Thus, while we know that we can improve land application of manure and the sustainability of farming systems with alternatives to surface broadcasting, many questions remain concerning which technologies work best for particular soils, manure types, and farming and cropping systems.     

College and university environmental programs as a policy problem (part 1): integrating knowledge, education, and action for a better world?

The environmental sciences/studies movement, with more than 1000 programs at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, is unified by a common interest??ameliorating environmental problems through empirical enquiry and analytic judgment. Unfortunately, environmental programs have struggled in their efforts to integrate knowledge across disciplines and educate students to become sound problem solvers and leaders. We examine the environmental program movement as a policy problem, looking at overall goals, mapping trends in relation to those goals, identifying the underlying factors contributing to trends, and projecting the future. We argue that despite its shared common interest, the environmental program movement is disparate and fragmented by goal ambiguity, positivistic disciplinary approaches, and poorly rationalized curricula, pedagogies, and educational philosophies. We discuss these challenges and the nature of the changes that are needed in order to overcome them. In a subsequent article (Part 2) we propose specific strategies for improvement.     

Habitat modification affects recruitment of abalone in central New Zealand

The habitat experienced during early life-history stages can determine the number and quality of individuals that recruit to adult populations. In a field experiment, biogenic habitat complexity was manipulated (presence or absence of foliose macroalgae) at two depths (2–3 m and 5–6 m) and the habitat-dependent effects on recruitment of the black foot abalone (Haliotis iris) were examined at three field sites along the south coast of Wellington, New Zealand (41°20′S, 174°47′E), between July and November 2005. Recruit density (<5 weeks post-settlement) was measured on cobbles covered with crustose coralline algae. Habitats of low complexity (barrens treatments) had consistently greater densities of recruits than habitats of high complexity (algae treatments). However, recruits in algae habitats were larger, and for deep habitats, there was greater survival in algae habitats compared with barrens habitats. While depth had no significant effect on early recruit (<2 weeks post-settlement) density, late recruit (<5 weeks post-settlement) density was greater in shallow habitats, and so it seems recruit survival was greater in shallow habitats. In this experiment, algal habitat complexity had strong effects on early recruit abundance, but habitat-dependent variations in recruit growth and survival may modify initial patterns of abundance and determine recruitment to adult abalone populations.     

三峡库区澎溪河与磨刀溪电导率等水质特征与水华的关系比较

三峡库区北岸最大一级支流自三峡大坝2003年蓄水以来,频繁暴发水华,而毗邻的一级支流磨刀溪却少有水华暴发.本文以澎溪河和磨刀溪作为研究对象,于2014年春季和夏季三峡库区水华高发期对两条河流同时采样,对比分析两条河流水体水质以及叶绿素a(Chl-a)含量的时空变化,探索澎溪河水华暴发机理.结果表明:澎溪河Chl-a含量较磨刀溪高,澎溪河春季Chl-a最大值为60.5μg·L~(-1),夏季Chl-a最大值仅7.8μg·L~(-1);磨刀溪Chl-a变化趋势与澎溪河相反,磨刀溪春季Chl-a含量为2.92μg·L~(-1),夏季Chl-a达到7.48μg·L~(-1).澎溪河与磨刀溪春季和夏季节水体温度分层,为温跃层+滞温层模式,而没有混合层;两条河流Chl-a含量均位于水深10 m温跃层.澎溪河春季总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)平均值为2.305 mg·L~(-1)和0.053 mg·L~(-1),夏季为1.673 mg·L~(-1)和0.097 mg·L~(-1);磨刀溪春季为1.875 mg·L~(-1)和0.075 mg·L~(-1),夏季为1.79 mg·L~(-1)和0.054 mg·L~(-1).TN、TP水平均超过了国际公认发生富营养化的阈值;水体氮磷含量与Chl-a浓度并无显著相关性,营养盐并不是藻类生物量的限制性因素.然而在水体电导率的规律方面,两条河却存在很大的差异;春季,磨刀溪上游上层水体(0~10 m)电导率只有下游和长江干流的75%,来自长江干流的回水可覆盖至磨刀溪中游(断面MD03),与Chl-a在此处密集保持一致;夏季电导率和回水区分布与春季相似.与磨刀溪不同,澎溪河春季上游电导率为下游和干流的150%,长江干流回水可到PX04与PX05之间,上游高电导率对应着高Chl-a含量;澎溪河电导率与藻类生长分布表现出显著正相关关系,水体中除N、P营养盐外的其它离子对澎溪河水华暴发起重要作用.     

Biofiltration of fugitive methane emissions from landfills using scum from municipal wastewater treatment plants as alternative substrate

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Biofilters have been recognized as a key technology in the mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by landfills. This study aimed to evaluate...