Bacterial Degradation of Vegetable Oils

Following initial experiments presented elsewhere (2IOPS), the bacterial degradation of two vegetable oils was investigated in some detail. the number of aerobic and anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria, oil degrading and sulphate reducing bacteria were quantified during simulated spills on a salt marsh. the sediment fatty acid composition was also studied using GC-MS analysis. Degradation of linseed and sunflower oils was concomitant with an increase in the numbers of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Fatty acids analysis revealed preferential degradation of the principal components of the oils (18:3ω3 for linseed oil and 18:2ω6 for sunflower oil). the presence of several isomers of the usual polyunsaturated fatty acids was also detected. the identification of some of these new fatty acids has been carried out. Possible pathways of degradation of these vegetable oils are suggested.     

Effects of a participatory bird census project on knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of coffee farmers in Colombia

This study presents an evaluation of a participatory bird census (PBC) project that has been administered to coffee farmers in Colombia. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate the effect of the PBC project on conservation knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of coffee farmers and (2) to learn about the barriers farmers perceive toward adopting conservation practices. We conducted 261 interviews on four groups to control for the effects of involvement with an environmental coffee certification program (Rainforest Alliance??RA) and the PBC project. The four groups were (1) non-PBC participant, non-RA certified; (2) PBC participant, non-RA certified; (3) non-PBC participant, RA certified; and (4) PBC participant, RA certified. PBC participant/RA and PBC participant/non-RA were more knowledgeable about migratory and threatened birds. PBC participant/RA, PBC participant/non-RA, and non-PBC participant/RA groups believed they had the skills to perform bird conservation practices on their farms. A majority of respondents indicated that they were performing bird conservation practices and had positive attitudes toward birds. Farmers believed that lack of environmental awareness and lack of knowledge were the main barriers to perform bird conservation practices. Evaluating participatory programs with Colombian farmers can reveal environmental literacy improvements, but self-reported surveys may not be adequate to ascertain attitude changes and adoption of conservation practices. Direct observations on individual farms would be required to determine the impacts on such outreach efforts. Bird conservation seems popular with Colombian coffee farmers, and outreach programs that give detailed biodiversity management information could help aid bird conservation efforts on coffee farms.     

Genetic structuring of immature loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean Sea reflects water circulation patterns

The analysis of mitochondrial DNA in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from eight foraging grounds in the Mediterranean and the adjoining Atlantic revealed deep genetic structuring within the western Mediterranean. As a consequence, the foraging grounds off the North-African coast and the Gimnesies Islands are shown to be inhabited mainly by turtles of the Atlantic stocks, whereas the foraging grounds off the European shore of the western Mediterranean are shown to be inhabited mainly by turtles from the eastern Mediterranean rookeries. This structuring is explained by the pattern of sea surface currents and water masses and suggests that immature loggerhead sea turtles entering the western Mediterranean from the Atlantic and the eastern Mediterranean remain linked to particular water masses, with a limited exchange of turtles between water masses. As the north of the western Mediterranean comprises mostly individuals from the highly endangered eastern Mediterranean rookeries, conservation plans should make it a priority to reduce the mortality caused by incidental by-catch in these areas.     

Persistence of MS-2 Bacteriophage Within Eastern Oysters

Male-specific bacteriophages have been proposed as human enteric virus indicators for shellfish. In this study, Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were individually exposed to 5.6 × 10¹⁰ PFU of MS-2 for 48 h at 15 °C followed by collective maintenance in continuously UV-sterilized seawater for 0–6 weeks at either 7, 15, or 24 °C. Initial contamination levels of MS-2 were >6 log PFU. Assessment of weekly declines of viable MS-2 indicated that cooler temperatures dramatically enhanced the persistence of MS-2 within oyster tissues. At 3 weeks, the average log PFU reductions for MS-2 within oysters were 2.28, 2.90, and 4.57 for oysters held at 7, 15, and 24 °C, respectively. Fitting temporal survival data with linear and nonlinear Weibull models indicated that the Weibull model best fit the observed reductions. In total, these data can serve as a guideline for regulatory agencies regarding the influence of water temperature on indicator phage after episodic sewage exposure.     

Bacterial Degradation of Vegetable Oils

Following initial experiments presented elsewhere (2IOPS), the bacterial degradation of two vegetable oils was investigated in some detail. the number of aerobic and anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria, oil degrading and sulphate reducing bacteria were quantified during simulated spills on a salt marsh. the sediment fatty acid composition was also studied using GC-MS analysis. Degradation of linseed and sunflower oils was concomitant with an increase in the numbers of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Fatty acids analysis revealed preferential degradation of the principal components of the oils (18:3ω3 for linseed oil and 18:2ω6 for sunflower oil). the presence of several isomers of the usual polyunsaturated fatty acids was also detected. the identification of some of these new fatty acids has been carried out. Possible pathways of degradation of these vegetable oils are suggested.     

Locomotion versus spawning: escape responses during and after spawning in the scallop Argopecten purpuratus

The energetic cost of spawning and the endogenous factors that modulate spawning could modify escape response performance, leading to a conflict between the requirements of two fundamental components of fitness: reproduction and survival. We examined whether spawning changed force production during escape responses by the functionally hermaphroditic scallop, Argopecten purpuratus, and whether the response of smooth (tonic) and striated (phasic) muscles differed. Force production during escape responses by mature scallops was compared before induction of spawning, during spawning and after completion of spawning. Maximum tonic force and the area under the force curve (total force recorded) were diminished during gamete release, whereas phasic force production (maximum and mean force) increased after spawning was completed. The number and frequency of phasic contractions did not change during the spawning process, suggesting that spawning did not limit fuel availability for phasic contractions. The decrease in tonic force during spawning and the increased phasic force production after spawning may reflect changes in monoamine levels during gamete release. Whereas the spawning process modified force production during escape responses, the changes would, if anything, enhance escape performance during an initial encounter between a scallop and a predatory sea star.     

Airborne Survey of Major Air Basins in California

An instrumented aircraft has been used to study photochemical air pollution in the State of California. Simultaneous measurements of the most important chemical constituents (ozone, total oxidant, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, as well as several meteorological variables) were made. State-of-the-art measurement techniques and sampling procedures are discussed. Data from flights over the South Coast Air Basin, the San Francisco Bay area, the Salinas Valley, and the Pacific Ocean within 200 miles of the California coast are presented. Pollutants were found to be concentrated in distinct layers up to at least 18,000 feet. In many of these layers, the pollutant concentrations were much higher than at ground level. Furthermore, the presence of stable air very effectively inhibits the dilution of air masses for distances of 30 miles or more. Very low levels of ozone were recorded over the Pacific Ocean and measurements relating to air mass aging were made. The background ozone level for the South Coast Air Basin is estimated to be 0.03 ppm. These findings bring into question the validity of the present practice of depending solely on data from ground-based monitoring stations for predictive models.     

Mechanistics of trichloroethylene mineralization by the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor

The white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor degraded trichloroethylene (TCE), a highly oxidized chloroethene, and produced 2,2,2-trichloroethanol and carbon dioxide as the main products of degradation, based on the results obtained using [13C]-TCE as the substrate. For a range of concentrations of TCE between 2 and 20 mg l(-1), 53% of the theoretical maximum chloride expected from complete degradation of TCE was observed. Laccase was shown to be induced by TCE, but did not appear to play a role in TCE degradation. Cytochrome P-450 appears to be involved in TCE degradation, as evidenced by marked inhibition of degradation of TCE in the presence of 1-aminobenzotriazole, a known inhibitor of cytochrome P-450. Our results suggested that chloral (trichloroacetaldehyde) was an intermediate of the TCE degradation pathway. The results indicate that the TCE degradation pathway in T. versicolor appears to be similar to that previously reported in mammals and is mechanistically quite different from bacterial TCE degradation.