Analysis of bicycle crashes in Sweden involving injuries with high risk of health loss

Objective: The objectives of the present article were to (a) describe the main characteristics of bicycle crashes with regard to the road environment, crash opponent, cyclist, and crash dynamics; (b) compare individuals who describe their health after the crash as declined with those who describe their health as not affected; and (c) compare the number of injured cyclists who describe their health as declined after the crash with the predicted number of permanent medical impairments within the same population.

Methods: A sample of individuals with specific injury diagnoses was drawn from the Swedish Traffic Accident Data Acquisition (STRADA) database (n?=?2,678). A survey form was used to collect additional information about the crash and the health-related outcomes. The predicted number of impaired individuals was calculated by accumulating the risk for all individuals to sustain at least a 1% permanent medical impairment, based on the injured body region and injury severity.

Results: Nine hundred forty-seven individuals (36%) responded, of whom 44% reported declined health after the crash. The majority (68%) were injured in single bicycle crashes, 17% in collisions with motor vehicles, and 11% in collisions with another cyclist or pedestrian. Most single bicycle crashes related to loss of control (46%), mainly due to skidding on winter surface conditions (14%), followed by loss of control during braking (6%). There was no significant difference in crash distribution comparing all crashes with crashes among people with declined health. The predicted number of impaired individuals (n?=?427) corresponded well with the number of individuals self-reporting declined health (n?=?421).

Conclusions: The types of crashes leading to health loss do not substantially differ from those that do not result in health loss. Two thirds of injuries leading to health loss occur in single bicycle crashes. In addition to separating cyclists from motorized traffic, other preventive strategies are needed.     

Seasonal variability of intertidal bacterial metabolism and growth efficiency in an exposed sandy beach during low tide

Benthic gross primary production (GPP) and community respiration (BCR) were regularly measured on sandy beach sediment during low tide in a megatidal ecosystem. These measurements were assessed during 2 years in situ within a benthic chamber simultaneously with bacterial production (BP). Results suggested that community respiration in Wimereux sandy beach sediments was probably dominated by bacterial respiration and that the estimated benthic bacterial growth efficiency (BGE) was highly variable. Although temperature significantly controlled both BP and BCR during low tide at the annual scale, the temperature effect on BGE was not significant. The instability and sediment erosion caused by the wave action and the tidal cycle were thus thought to influence the BGE. Since the sampling site is regularly affected by Phaeocystis foam deposit (enhancing the BCR and decreasing the BGE), and since GPP rates were highly variable and supported by high assimilation numbers (i.e., >1 mgC mgChla ⁻¹ h⁻¹), phytoplankton organic matter deposit following the immersion of the study site was thought to explain the BGE variability.     

Ontogenetic diel vertical migration of the planktonic copepod Calanus sinicus in the Inland Sea of Japan

The ontogenetic diel vertical migration of the planktonic copepod Calanus sinicus was investigated in the Inland Sea of Japan in November 1988 and March 1989, when the water temperature was weakly stratified in a reversed manner. In both investigations a pronounced ontogenetic difference in vertical distribution was found. Spawning always occurred during nighttime, being confined to the upper 40 m water column in November but to the layer below 35 m in March. The distribution of pre-feeding nauplius stages, NI and NII, was more or less similar to that of the eggs. The first-feeding NIII performed a marked upward migration, and late nauplius stages (NIV to NVI) and early copepodite stages (CI and CII) continuously aggregated in the upper water column where phytoplankton was abundant. CIII to CVI (adult female and male) tended to disperse in the whole water column. In November, however, they avoided the upper 10 m strate during daytime and some individuals migrated upward to the surface during nighttime. In March, CV and CVI aggregated in the layer between 5 and 15 m deep in the daytime and migrated both upward and downward at dusk, resulting in homogeneous distributions during the nighttime.     

Solitary nesting as an alternative breeding tactic in colonial nesting bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)

Colonial breeding can evolve in response to benefits afforded by clumped individuals, such as reduced predation and increased ease of assessing potential mates. However, colonial breeding can also impose costs such as increased disease transmission or increased cuckoldry. Here, we investigate solitary nesting as a potential alternative breeding tactic in colonial breeding bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus). Most male bluegill, termed parentals, compete for nesting sites in colonies and then court and spawn with females and provide sole care of the eggs. Although nesting in a colony results in reduced predation and fungal infection of broods, it comes at a cost of increased parasitism by specialized cuckolder males that do not nest. We found that 4.5% of parentals forgo spawning in a colony and instead construct nests solitarily. Solitary males were of similar size and age to colonial males, but were in significantly better condition. Solitary males obtained as many eggs as males nesting in the center of colonies, and significantly more than males nesting on the periphery of colonies. Thus, females do not appear to discriminate against solitary males. Solitary males had smaller ear tabs, a presumed sexually selected character used by parental males in intrasexual competition, than colonial males. Tracking data revealed consistency in nesting tactic (but not nest position within the colony) between spawning attempts. We suggest that solitary nesting represents either a facultative decision made by parental males in top condition at the onset of breeding, or a life history decision to forgo spawning in colonies.Communicated by K. Lindström     

Orientation of juvenile barn swallows (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hirundo rustica</Emphasis>) tested in Emlen funnels during autumn migration

Although hirundines have been used extensively in homing experiments, to date no investigation of their migratory orientation has been carried out, despite the well-known migratory habits of many species of this family. This paper reports on a study of the orientation of the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), a typical diurnal trans-Saharan migrant. Modified Emlen funnels were used to verify the suitability of this species for cage experiments and investigate the role of visual and magnetic cues during the birds first migratory journey. Juvenile swallows were mist-netted at a roost site in central Italy and then tested in a site 19 km apart. Orientation experiments were performed under four experimental conditions: natural clear sky and simulated overcast, in both local and shifted magnetic fields (magnetic North=geographical West). Under clear sky, the swallows tended to orient phototactically toward the best-lit part of the funnel and failed to respond to the magnetic field shift. Under overcast conditions, they oriented northward and modified their directional choices as expected in response to the shifted magnetic North. On the whole, our data indicate that swallows can use magnetic information for compass orientation. Possible explanations for the northward orientation of birds tested under overcast conditions are discussed.Communicated by W. Wiltschko     

Distribution patterns of meiofauna associated with a sublittoral<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Laminaria</Emphasis> bed in the Cantabrian Sea (north-eastern Atlantic)

This study deals with meiofauna associated with a sublittoral population of the kelp Laminaria ochroleuca located on the northern coast of Spain. By sampling once a year over a 4-year period, we examined patterns of faunal distribution as a function of some environmental factors at the meso-scale level (depth, and exposure to waves and surge). We also examined the relationship between L. ochroleuca abundance (as dry weight biomass and number of plants per sampling quadrat) and abundance and diversity of meiofauna. Finally, we investigated patterns of within-plant distribution (algal frond vs. algal holdfast), using also the meiofauna of the adjacent bottom as a referent to estimate the level of "phytal dependence" of the meiofauna collected on L. ochroleuca. We found that the bulk of permanent meiofauna consisted of nematodes, copepods, mites, polychaetes, tanaids and ostracods, with copepods being predominant on the fronds of the alga and nematodes in the holdfasts. The temporary meiofauna consisted of juvenile amphipods, bivalves and gastropods, together with barnacle nauplii and cyprids. Abundance and major composition of meiofaunal taxa were unrelated to both depth and hydrodynamic exposure of the sampling quadrats. However, we detected significant qualitative and quantitative faunal differences as a function of microhabitat. All meiofaunal groups were more abundant in holdfast samples than in frond and bottom samples. The gross taxonomic composition of meiofauna in bottom samples was similar to that in holdfast samples, but substantially different from that of meiofauna associated with the fronds. The L. ochroleuca holdfasts, in which dense aggregations of meiofauna can occur, appear to function as ecotone between phytal and rocky-bottom microhabitats. All together, our results suggest that the distribution of meiofauna within the Laminaria bed is mostly affected by factors operating at the microhabitat level rather than the meso-scale level.Communicated by L. Hagerman, Helsingør     

Öko-Audit eines Bio-Agrar-Betriebes

Environmental impacts of a farm which is managed in accordance with ecological criteria is assessed. To this end the ecoaudit ordinance of the European Union 1836/93/EWG is used as guiding principle. This article focuses on methods and results of the impact assessment (chapter 2, 3) and the recommendations derived from that (chapter 4). Before that, objectives of investigation (chapter 1.1), key topics of the assessment ordinance are summarised (chapter 1.2), and finally the farm and the main fields of investigation are described (chapter 1.3). The density of complex hedge rows, as one from 21 assessment criteria, exceeds the limit of tolerance. The investigation underlines the need for further methodological harmonisation.     

Ultrastructural,biochemical, and immunological characterization of two populations of the mytilid mussel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathymodiolus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">azoricus</Emphasis> from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: evidence for a dual symbiosis

A recently described species of mytilid mussel, Bathymodiolus azoricus Von Cosel et al., 1999, was observed to be the dominant organism at the hydrothermal vents off the Azores, at both the Lucky Strike and Menez Gwen sites. Evidence suggests this species of Bathymodiolus represents yet another example of the intriguing dual symbiosis known in three other species of deep-sea mytilid mussels. Transmission electron micrographs (TEM) show the majority of gill bacteriocytes in mussels sampled from both populations to contain two distinct symbiont morphotypes. One morphotype is characterized by large size (mean diameter, 1.25 µm), coccoid shape, and stacked intracytoplasmic membranes that are consistent with the morphology of type I methanotrophs. The second morphotype is smaller (mean diameter, 0.35 µm) and was observed in coccoid or rod shapes. Immunoblots revealed the presence of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) and methanol dehydrogenase (MeDH) in both populations of mussels. Activities of these enzymes, as well as sulfate adenylyl transferase (ATP sulfurylase) and adenylyl sulfate reductase (APS reductase), were detected in gill extracts. The activities measured for the two populations were highly variable, though the population sampled from Lucky Strike showed higher RubisCO activity. Stable carbon isotope values (Lucky Strike, '¹³C=-32.6ǂ.3‰; Menez Gwen, '¹³C=-22.8ǂ.4‰) are in the range of previously reported stable carbon isotope measurements for mytilid mussels hosting a dual symbiosis. Collectively, these results provide evidence for the activity of both sulfur-oxidizing and methane-oxidizing metabolic pathways in B. azoricus. Furthermore, evidence for a greater dependence on methanotrophy in the Menez Gwen mussel population is offered by analysis of cell counts from TEMs. Higher methanotroph numbers, and putatively activity, in this population of mussels are further supported by published geochemical data indicating higher methane concentrations in the vent fluids at Menez Gwen. This finding suggests that environmental conditions may regulate a balance between the physiological activities of different symbiont populations associated with these mussels. The existence of a dual symbiosis could thus confer greater environmental tolerance and increased niche space to the mytilid host in the stochastic hydrothermal vent habitat.     

Calanoid copepod eggs in sea-bottom muds. IV. Effects of some environmental factors on the hatching of resting eggs

During cadmium uptake by the shore crab Carcinus maenas (L.), cadmium appears in both haemolymph and urine within 1 h, and comes into equilibrium with the haemolymp after some 60 h. The equilibrium concentration for haemolymph cadmium is always considerably less than that of the external medium, whether the latter is close to background level or at the artificially high concentration of 2.2 mg l^-1. Despite earlier evidence that cadmium entering the haemolymph is mainly bound to protein, current results show most of this to be freely labile and quickly displaced by cadmium taken up subsequently. There is some evidence to suggest that cadmium is passed on from the haemolymph to the hepatopancreas. A large proportion of whole-body cadmium is adsorbed onto the exoskeleton and gills. The comparatively rapid efflux of ¹⁰⁹Cd from loaded crabs over a period of 1 week is mainly due to desorption of this cadmium from the outer body surface.     

Carbon-dioxide production and metabolic parameters in the ophiurid Ophiothrix fragilis

As part of the evaluation of fluxes between the water column and a rich benthic community of the Dover Strait (Eastern English Channel), laboratory measurements of oxygen consumption were carried out on a common ophiurid, Ophiothrix fragilis (Abildgaard), from February 1993 to February 1995. The mean O₂-consumption rate was evaluated at 0.31 mg O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹ (ash-free dry weight). Simultaneous measurements of O₂ consumption and CO₂ production using the pH-alkalinity method revealed an average respiratory quotient of 0.69 proved suitable for converting oxygen demand to carbon flux. A seasonal trend in respiration data was demonstrated by sinusoidal curves fitted to O₂-uptake and CO₂-release data as a function of time. The influence on respiration rate of two seasonal parameters (temperature and food availability) is discussed; linear regression indicated a highly significant relationship between O₂ consumption (or CO₂ production) and temperature; both O₂-consumption and CO₂-production rates decreased with starvation. The average O:N ratio was estimated at 8.46, close to the theoretical value when proteins constitute the catabolic substrate. The annual carbon respired by the O. fragilis community examined and the estimated annual primary production by phytoplankton indicate that the respiration of the O. fragilis community could supply 35% of phytoplankton carbon requirements. Received: 1 August 1996 / Accepted: 4 September 1996