Temporal variation in size-assortative mating and male mate choice in a spider with amphisexual care

Males should be more selective when they have a high investment in reproduction, especially in species with biparental or paternal care. In this context, male mate choice can promote size-assortative mating (SAM) when (1) large males win intrasexual disputes, (2) large females are more fecund, and (3) males prefer larger females to smaller ones. In the spider Manogea porracea, males exhibit high reproductive investment by building their webs above those of females and exhibiting extended care of offspring in the absence of females. Under these circumstances, we expect the occurrence of SAM and male preference for large females. Herein, we performed observations and experiments in the field to evaluate the hypotheses that (1) M. porracea mates assortatively by size and (2) SAM is influenced by male mate choice. Furthermore, we measured variables that could affect mating patterns, the sex ratios, and densities of both sexes. Pairing in M. porracea was positively size-assortative in 2012, but not in 2013. Large males won most disputes for mates and preferred larger females, which produced more eggs. The inconsistency in detection of SAM was due to population dynamics, namely variations in sex ratio and population density across the breeding season. Furthermore, we found that the significance of male mate choice on sexual selection of body size in M. porracea strongly depends on the competition intensity for mating opportunities. The traditional sexual selection hypothesis of SAM needs to be reviewed and must include measures of competition intensity.     

达里诺尔湖近2400年以来Hg元素含量变化及环境意义

汞（Hg）元素作为一种全球性循环元素,对环境的影响正逐渐成为人们关注的焦点之一.为揭示寒旱区达里诺尔湖沉积物的Hg污染历史及人类活动对湖泊沉积物中Hg污染的影响,通过采集湖泊沉积物岩芯（编号DL1）,在建立DL1岩芯沉积地层年代框架的基础上,结合沉积物粒度特征、总有机质（TOC）含量等指标参数的变化,对DL1岩芯记录的地质历史上的Hg含量变化特征及环境意义进行了综合分析.结果显示,沉积物记录的Hg元素污染具有明显的阶段性变化特征：2400~1400 cal.a BP,Hg含量呈逐渐降低趋势,期间降水量呈逐步减少趋势,区域气候显著干旱;1400~200 cal.a BP,Hg含量相对稳定,呈小幅度波动变化,对应了区域气候的干-湿交替;近200 cal.a BP以来,Hg含量明显增加,这可能是受人类活动影响的结果.整体上,地质历史上DL1沉积物中Hg含量变化受气候干冷-暖湿交替周期性变化影响较大.而近200 cal.a BP来Hg与TOC等指标间显著正相关,则显示了沉积物中有机质可能吸附了大量的Hg元素,使其呈顶端富集趋势,进而对湖泊水生态环境造成影响.     

近年来珠三角地区大气中痕量氟氯烃(CFCs)的浓度水平与变化特征

用预浓缩-GC/MS方法研究了珠江三角洲大气中的CCl3F、CFC-12、CFC-113和CFC-114等4种痕量氟氯烷烃气体。结果表明,2005年珠江三角洲背景点鼎湖山大气中CFC-12和CFC-11的年平均浓度高于全球本底站,说明珠三角地区还存在一定CFC-11和CFC-12的排放源;CFC-113浓度水平则与全球本底站点浓度接近,且CFC-113和CFC-114在广州城区与鼎湖山差别不显著,表明区内其排放源强度应很小。观测日内广州和鼎湖山大气中四种CFCs的日变化幅度均较小,无明显的昼夜变化规律。广州市CFCs总体呈夏秋高、冬春低的特征,与城区致冷设备高温季节使用频率较大有关;鼎湖山则呈冬春高、夏秋低的特征,主要受扩散作用和季风的影响。初步分析显示,从1997年到2005年,CFC-11、CFC-12和CFC-114浓度总体呈现先上升后缓慢降低的趋势,而CFC-113的浓度一直逐年下降。     

藻毒素生物降解技术的研究进展

藻毒素是湖泊水华现象滋生的有害有毒污染物,它严重恶化了饮用水水源地的水质。有效控制水华爆发及去除藻毒素是环境科学领域的一个难题。近些年来,利用生物降解技术去除藻毒素已经取得了显著的效果。笔者对国内外利用生物降解技术去除微囊藻毒素的最新研究进展进行了综述,并提出了控制藻毒素的新途径。     

高压储氢系统泄漏爆炸事故的动力学演化

为研究燃料氢气泄漏、爆炸的特性和规律,预防高压储氢系统中氢气泄漏爆炸事故发生,以加氢站为背景,数值仿真45 MPa高压储罐氢气泄漏并引发爆炸事故,分析泄漏爆炸动力学性质以及爆炸波在非均匀氢气浓度中的传播机制。同时,基于泄漏爆炸事故演化的力学机理,开展氢气泄漏爆炸动态风险分析,针对氢气不同泄漏量,建立泄漏扩散形成的气云体积、气云爆炸产生的冲击波与空间x,z方向上危害距离之间关系。研究结果表明：氢气泄漏过程中,气云氢气浓度变化与流场雷诺数具有较好一致性;氢气扩散受到高压储氢罐周围装置影响,流场中氢气浓度分布不均匀;当发生燃烧爆炸事故时,冲击波参数和湍动能变化梯度大;得到复杂布局区域冲击波超压峰值与比例距离之间关系式,其相比于理论方法更精细、计算结果更准确。研究结果可为降低高压储氢系统泄漏爆炸事故后果、采取有效防护措施提供一定依据。     

亲历巴基斯坦地震救援(二)

应巴基斯坦政府的请求,第二批中国国际救援队队员,带着祖国人民的重托于2005年10月28日中午12时乘包机飞往巴基斯坦执行以医疗救助为主的救援任务。这时距我们第一批国际救援队队员归来仅仅8天的时间。 10月28日下午三点半,我们抵达伊斯兰堡机场,中国驻巴基斯坦张春祥大使、巴劳工部部长和有关人员在机场迎接我们,随后妥善安排了卸货、人员运送车辆等。我还是负责全体救援队员     

江西星子镇沙岭沙山顶部一处红色砂层的粒度分析及释光年代研究

鄱阳湖作为我国最大淡水湖,其周边分布若干沙山。此前研究多认为这些沙山为风成堆积的产物。选取星子镇沙岭沙山顶部（吴淞高程约58.3 m）一处红色砂层（含泥质团块）为研究对象,开展粒度分析和释光测年,以进一步揭示其形成环境和年代。粒度结果为：（1）以中粗砂为主;（2）粒度分选性差;（3）频率分布曲线显示该红色砂层包含多峰;（4）概率累积曲线显示该红色砂层包含1个推移组分、2个跃移组分和4个悬移组分;（5）萨胡判别公式值均>-2.74。之后,对红色砂层下伏泥层、红色砂层和红色砂层上覆黄色砂层开展石英单颗粒释光测年,其年代分别为：(24.7±2.1) ka、(24.0±2.4) ka和(22.4±3.9) ka。研究表明该红色砂层虽然形成于MIS2阶段,但其不是干旱环境下的风成沉积砂层。     

Revalorization of Macadamia nutshell residue as a filler in eco-friendly castor polyol-based polyurethane foam

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The use of lignocellulosic fibers as fillers in polymer matrices has aroused the interest of the scientific community and industrial sectors. In...     

Production of new concrete with leather tannery waste used as partial replacement of the natural sand

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Leather production is a technology that boosts the economy because of its versatility and durability. However, the wastes generated throughout the...     

Recycling potential of MWCNTs/HDPE nanocomposite filament: 3D printing and mechanical characterization

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Fused filament fabrication (FFF) based additive manufacturing (AM) process is a widely used and emerging manufacturing process for...