The effect of elevated UV-B (280–320 nm) radiation levels on Silene vulgaris: A comparison between a highland and a lowland population

Highland (altitude 1600 m above sea level) and lowland (altitude −2 m below sea level) populations of the perennial herb Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, were tested on their response to elevated levels of UV-B radiation. Highland populations typically receive high natural UV-B fluxes, whereas lowland populations receive a lower natural UV-B dose. Adaptation to high UV-B levels of the highland population is to be expected. Experimental comparison of growth rates, gas exchange rates, transpiration and biochemical parameters using adult plants as well as seedlings did not show a difference in the response to elevated UV-B levels between the two populations. Individuals of both populations were relatively insensitive to elevated UV-B radiation. The response of alpine and lowland populations of Silene vulgaris is discussed in relation to the dispersal of this species after the last ice age.     

Bimodality of the combined removal and signs-of-activities estimator for sampling closed animal populations

The possibility of a bimodal log-likelihood function arises with certain data when the combined removal and signs-of-activities estimator is used. Bimodal log-likelihoods may, in turn, yield disjoint confidence intervals for certain confidence levels. The hypothesis that bimodality is caused by the violation of the equal catchability assumption of the removal model, leading to the combination of contradictory data/models in the combined estimator is set forth. Simulations exploring the effect of the violation of removal model assumptions on estimation and inference showed that the assumption of unequal capture probability influenced the frequency of bimodal likelihoods; similarly, extreme parameter values for probability of capture influenced the number of excessively large confidence intervals produced. A sex-specific combined estimator is developed as a remedial model tailored to the problem. The simulations suggest that both the signs-of-activities estimator and the sex-specific estimator perform equally well over the range of simulations presented, though the signs-of-activities estimator is easier to implement.     

Anreicherung,verteilung, umwandlung und ausscheidung von DDT-14C bei Solea solea (Pisces: Soleidae)

Common soles Solea solea (L.) are extremely suitable for studying the fate of pesticides in marine fish by means of laboratory experiments involving small-sized, accurately controlled, closed aquarium systems. In 5 different experiments, a total of 16 fishes of Age Group I were maintained in water of 10°C and 20‰ S continuously filtered through charcoal, and given oral doses of 0.85 μg DDT-¹⁴C up to 5 times/week. A total application of 1.7, 17 or 35 μg DDT-¹⁴C, corresponding to 3, 28, or 57 experimental days, resulted in 72, 60 or 43% DDT-¹⁴C accumulation. After feeding with 17 μg unlabelled DDT over a period of 4 weeks and final feeding with 1.7 μg ¹⁴C-labelled DDT for 2 days, S. solea displayed the same percentage (74%) of accumulated DDT-¹⁴C as after feeding with 1.7 μg DDT-¹⁴C without prior feeding. Therefore, the decreasing accumulation percentages with inereasing doses, i.e., with longer application periods, are due to elimination during the application period. During a period of 2 months in pesticide-free water, S. solea eliminated 62% of the DDT-¹⁴C which it had accumulated after feeding with 17 μg DDT-¹⁴C over a period of 4 weeks. The gastro-intestinal tract is assumed to be a major route of DDT elimination. Independent of dosage, there was a characteristic distribution pattern of accumulated DDT: brain, liver and gastro-intestinal tract ranked highest, while the concentration in skeletal muscle was lowest. Even during the elimination period the pattern appeared unchanged. DDE, DDD and a polar component occurred as metabolites, but in all organs more than 80% of the accumulated DDT remained unchanged. Percentages of metabolites were higher in liver and gastro-intestinal tract than in skeletal muscle. Prolonged exposure to DDT in the diet induced DDT transformation in the gastro-intestinal contents, most probably in the bacterial flora of the gut.     

Identification of polyenic hydrocarbons from the northern winter moth, Operophtera fagata, and development of a species specific lure for pheromone traps

Summary. In order to elucidate the composition of the female sex pheromone of the northern (beech) winter moth, Operophtera fagata Scharf. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), ovipositor extracts of unmated, calling females were analysed by gas chromatography with simultaneous electroantennographic and flame ionization detection (GC-EAD/FID). Male antennal responses indicated three active components, two of which had distinct matching peaks in the FID trace. Using coupled gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS), these two compounds were identified as (9Z)-nonadecene (9Z-19:Hy), and (6Z,9Z)-nonadecadiene (6Z9Z-19:Hy), respectively. The third component, present in very small amounts only, was identified as (1,3Z,6Z,9Z)-nonadecatetraene (1,3Z6Z9Z-19:Hy), known as the sex pheromone of the common winter moth, O. brumata. Field tests revealed that traps baited with 6Z9Z-19:Hy and 1,3Z6Z9Z-19:Hy caugth large numbers of male O. fagata. Both compounds were found to be essential for attraction of O. fagata. In addition, the diene prevented captures of co-occurring O. brumata. In contrast, 9Z-19:Hy neither influenced the attractiveness of the two-component mixture towards O. fagata nor contributed to bait specificity. A binary mixture of 6Z9Z-19:Hy and 1,3Z6Z9Z-19:Hy in a ratio of 10:1, applied to pieces of rubber tubing, constituted a highly attractive and species-specific bait for O. fagata, which can be used for monitoring of the flight of this defoliator pest of deciduous forests.     

Effect of soil properties on degradation and sorption of methyl bromide in soil

Methyl bromide (CH₃Br) is currently the most widely used soil fumigant, and its emission into the atmosphere after application reportedly contributes to ozone depletion in the stratosphere. Irreversible degradation and partially reversible sorption reactions affect the quantity of this furnigant reaching the soil surface and escaping into the atmosphere. Incubation studies in closed headspace vials under controlled conditions showed that degradation of CH₃Br was highly dependent on soil organic matter content, and to a lesser extent, on the moisture level in the soil. Methylation of CH₃Br on organic matter was suggested to be the major reaction that CH₃Br undergoes in the soil environment. Other soil constituents such as clay did not contribute to the degradation under moist or air-dried conditions, though enhanced degradation was observed on oven-dried montmorillonite and kaolinite clays. Within soil profiles, degradation of CH₃Br decreased with soil depth mainly due to the reduction of soil organic matter content with depth. In both Greenfield and Wasco sandy loams, the degradation rate of CH₃Br in soil layers from 0 to 270 cm could be estimated from soil organic matter content. Sorption of CH₃Br on moist soils was generally limited, and varied with soil depth. The degree of sorption could be predicted from soil moisture alone or soil moisture and organic matter content.     

Bioindication of a surplus of heavy metals in terrestrial ecosystems

A survey of the methods of boindication of heavy metals in terrestrial ecosystems and their effectiveness for predicting the consequences of environmental stress on organisms is presented. Two main inputs of heavy metals for terrestrial ecosystems have been considered: airborne and soil-borne. Airborne metals can be monitored due to physical adsorption on plant surfaces or due to chemical exchange processes in cell walls. Active biomonitoring widely uses both aspects, however, without predictive values. Meaningful bioindication of soilborne heavy metals can only be achieved by passive monitoring. Due to the different functions of heavy metals in organisms-micronutrients and trace elements-the knowledge of natural background values is important, considering the qualitative aspects of metals in the soil. In exceptional situations morphological and anatomical changes of plant organs will facilitate bioindication; in every case chemical analysis of the concentration of heavy metals is an essential part of the monitoring program. A long-term exposure of organisms to heavy metals will influence the genetic structure of populations. Therefore measurement of heavy metal tolerance of plants has to be a standard procedure in monitoring programs.     

Octachlorostyrene - a permanent micropollutant in the North Sea

Octachlorostyrene could be identified and quantified in fish, water and sediment of the North Sea and adjacent estuaries by high resolution gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Lipid related octachlorostyrene levels in livers of various fish ranged from 20 to 3700 ng/g lipid. Comparing levels from 1972 and 1983 no remarkable differences could be observed among the samples investigated. In fish livers originating from the Mediterranaen, North Atlantic and the Red Sea octachlorostyrene was not detectable.