Clustering of aerosols in atmospheric turbulent flow

A mechanism of formation of small-scale inhomogeneities in spatial distributions of aerosols and droplets associated with clustering instability in the atmospheric turbulent flow is discussed. The particle clustering is a consequence of a spontaneous breakdown of their homogeneous space distribution due to the clustering instability, and is caused by a combined effect of the particle inertia and a finite correlation time of the turbulent velocity field. In this paper a theoretical approach proposed in Elperin et al. (2002) Phys Rev E 66:036302 is further developed and applied to investigate the mechanisms of formation of small-scale aerosol inhomogeneities in the atmospheric turbulent flow. The theory of the particle clustering instability is extended to the case when the particle Stokes time is larger than the Kolmogorov time scale, but is much smaller than the correlation time at the integral scale of turbulence. We determined the criterion of the clustering instability for the Stokes number larger than 1. We discussed applications of the analyzed effects to the dynamics of aerosols and droplets in the atmospheric turbulent flow.     

Hull fouling on commercial ships as a vector of macroalgal introduction

Hull fouling is thought to have been the vector of introduction for many algal species. We studied ships arriving at a Mediterranean harbour to clarify the present role of commercial cargo shipping in algal introductions. A total of 31 macroalgal taxa were identified from 22 sampled hulls. The majority of records (58%) were of species with a known cosmopolitan geographical distribution. Due to a prevalence of cosmopolitan species and a high turnover of fouling communities, species composition of assemblages did not appear to be influenced by the area of origin, length of ship or age of coating. In the light of the present results, hull fouling on standard trading commercial vessels does not seem to pose a significant risk for new macroalgal species introductions. However, a high proportion of non-cosmopolitan species found on a ship with non-toxic coating may modify this assessment, especially in the light of the increasing use of such coatings and the potential future changes in shipping routes.     

The effect of ambient temperature on forager sound production and thoracic temperature in the stingless bee, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melipona panamica</Emphasis>

Foragers of the stingless bees genus Melipona may produce intranidal sounds that are correlated with food location and quality. In this study, we provide the first detailed analysis of pulsed sounds produced by Melipona panamica foragers while feeding on a carbohydrate food source. We trained foragers to a 2.5-M sucrose feeder under normal, ambient temperature (23–33°C) and lower temperature (11–25°C) conditions. We recorded forager sounds under both conditions and tested the effect of temperature of the thorax, feeder plate, and air on sound temporal characteristics. Forager energetic expenditure and the number of pulses per visit were significantly higher in the cold condition than in the normal condition. Foragers spent a longer time at the feeder under the cold condition than during the normal condition. Interpulse durations were significantly shorter in the cold condition than in the normal condition and became progressively and significantly shorter at the end of each performance. Thus, pulse production increased before departure. Foragers increased their thoracic temperatures above ambient at all experimental air temperatures. Under chilled conditions, foragers had a significantly greater difference between thorax temperature and ambient air temperature than under normal conditions. Foragers must achieve a minimum flight muscle temperature before take-off, and thus forager sounds may be linked to muscle warm-up.     

Differences in acoustic directionality among vocalizations of the male red-winged blackbird (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agelaius pheoniceus</Emphasis>) are related to function in communication

Studies of animal acoustic communication have found that the frequency and temporal structure of acoustic signals can be shaped by selection for efficient communication. The directionality of acoustic radiation may also be adapted for communication, but we know relatively little about how directionality varies with signal function, sender morphology, and the environment in which the sound is transmitted. We tested the hypothesis that the directionality of a vocalization is adapted to its function in communication. This hypothesis predicts that vocalizations that are directed to multiple conspecifics (e.g., advertisements and alarms) will be relatively omnidirectional because this will maximize the number of neighbors and mates that receive the signal, and that vocalizations directed to particular individuals will be relatively directional because this will maximize detection of the signal by the targeted receiver and minimize eavesdropping. To test these predictions, we measured the directionality and amplitude of red-winged blackbird (Agelaius pheoniceus) vocalizations in the field by recording vocalizations simultaneously on eight calibrated microphones encircling the bird. We found significant variation in directionality among vocalizations. Supporting our predictions, we found that the most omnidirectional vocalizations were those used to alert conspecifics to danger, and the most directional vocalizations are those used during courtship and solicitation of copulation, when the costs of eavesdropping are likely to be high. These results suggest that the directionality of red-winged blackbird vocalizations is shaped by selection for effective communication. This study is the first to provide statistical support for the hypothesis that directionality is related to the function of a signal in communication.     

Fish assemblages in seagrass beds are influenced by the proximity of mangrove forests

Mangrove forests and seagrass beds frequently occur as adjacent habitats in the temperate waters of southeastern Australia. At low tide when fish cannot occupy mangroves they might utilise adjacent habitats, including seagrass. We first sampled small fish from seagrass beds close to and far from mangroves in the Pittwater estuary, NSW, Australia. Seagrass beds close to mangroves had a greater density of fish species than beds far from mangroves (close: mean 16.0 species net⁻¹, SE 1.0; far: 13.2, 1.3; P < 0.05). In particular, juvenile fish were in greater densities near to than far from mangroves (close: 5.3, 0.4; far: 3.1, 0.4; P < 0.05). We then sampled the mangrove forests during the high tide and seagrass beds during the low tide, in beds along a continuum of distances from mangroves. Multivariate analysis showed that fish assemblages differed with distance from mangroves, and the differences were attributed to the composition of the fish assemblage (i.e. presence/absence of fish species), not the abundances of individual species. In particular, fish that utilise mangrove forests at high tide were found in greater species densities and species richness in seagrass nearer to mangroves. A negative relationship was found between the density of mangrove-utilising fish species and the distance of the bed from mangroves (R ² = 0.37, P < 0.05). This confirms the important connectivity between mangroves and seagrass for fish in temperate Australian waters.     

Reproduction in short-beaked common dolphins (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Delphinus delphis</Emphasis>) from the western North Atlantic

A single population of short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis Linnaeus) occurs in the western North Atlantic from Florida to Newfoundland. Dolphins killed in a swordfish driftnet fishery between 1989 and 1998 provided samples for the present study. These were combined with additional observations from carcasses collected from stranding programs. Samples were examined from 74 female and 161 male short-beaked common dolphins. A highly significant male bias in the sex ratio of both the bycatch and stranding samples suggests that sex-based habitat partitioning or school segregation occurs in this population. Age was estimated from decalcified thin sections of teeth and testis and ovarian samples were examined both macro- and microscopically. Analyses showed that reproduction was both seasonal and synchronized. Females reached sexual maturation at approximately age eight; males matured at 9.5 years. Conception occurred during July and August (mean day 24 July). Gestation was estimated to last just under a year, so most females gave birth during July and August (mean day 15 July). Annual pregnancy rate was estimated to be between 25 and 33%. Males undergo a fivefold seasonal increase in testes mass and a twofold increase in seminiferous tubule diameter. Peak sperm production potential was observed in July. At the end of the breeding season testis size and activity decreased after August. Male dolphins in this population are hypothesized to engage in some form of sperm competition.     

安全在矿区可持续发展体系中的地位

以矿区可持续发展指标体系为对象,通过对大量的调查统计数据的分类统计排序分析以及模糊聚类分析等,探讨了人们对安全在矿区可持续发展体系中的地位的认识问题,并得出一个重要子集作为矿区可持续发展的重要环节     

长江口湿地资源生物的可持续利用

长江口湿地是我国一块重要的滨海湿地,蕴含了丰富的自然资源,这些自然资源为当地乃至更广领域的经济发展都作出了重要的贡献。本文主要探讨该湿地生态系统中六种具有代表性资源生物的利用现状。这六种资源生物是中华绒螯蟹苗、日本鳗鲡苗、缢蛏、河蚬、芦苇和海三棱草。它们在维持河口生态系统的稳定性和连续性上具有其他许多生物所不可替代的作用。目前由于种种原因,这些资源的持续发展已受到了一定的威胁,造成它们资源现存量下降的主要原因是过度捕捞、受污严重及围垦滩涂等一些因素。如何正确利用和保护这些资源已是一项急待解决的问题,针对这些问题为可持续利用它们提出了一些相应的对策和建议。     

安徽沿江地区的区域发展特点与开发对策

安徽沿江地区虽然交通网络初具规模,城市专业化分工明显经济发展水平较低,属长江干流地区的低谷地带。另外,整个沿江地区应发挥水运与矿产资源的双重优势,促使建材,钢铁,石经等临江工业进一步开并予以合理布局。     

纳米镍/铁和铜/铁双金属对四氯乙烯脱氯研究

以实验室合成的纳米双金属颗粒(Ni/Fe和Cu/Fe)为反应材料,对四氯乙烯(PCE)进行脱氯试验研究.纳米金属颗粒(直径范围在1～100nm)比表面积比微米级铁颗粒高数十倍.结果表明,纳米Ni/Fe和Cu/Fe对四氯乙烯有明显的脱氯作用,且脱氯反应符合准一级反应动力学方程;在作为还原剂的铁表面镀上一薄层起催化作用的金属Ni或Cu,催化剂的存在大大降低脱氯反应活化能,提高了脱氯速率,并减少氯代副产物的产量.与零价铁及微米级双金属系统(Ni/Fe,Cu/Fe)相比,纳米颗粒对PCE的脱氯速率有明显提高,尤其是纳米Ni/Fe,标准化反应速率常数KSA为4.283 mL·m-2·h-1,分别比零价铁和微米级Ni/Fe系统快33.23倍和11.59倍.纳米Cu/Fe标准化反应速率常数KSA为1.194 mL·m-2·h-1,分别比零价铁和微米级Cu/Fe双金属系统快9.26倍和5.24倍.在相同条件下,纳米Ni/Fe脱氯速率常数KSA是纳米Cu/Fe的3.59倍.