Effect of Earthworm(Pheretima sp.) Density on Revegetation of Lead/zinc Metal Mine Tailings Amended with Soil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of earthworm density on the availability of nutrients and heavy metals in metal contaminated soils. Pb/Zn mine tailings were mixed throughly with a red yellow podzolic soil at the ratio (w/w) of 75:25. Earthworms (Pheretima sp.) were introduced to the mixture at four different densities, zero, three, six and nine individuals per pot planted with ryegrass (Loliun multiflorum). The results indicated that earthworm activity significantly enhanced ryegrass shoot biomass. However, as denser earthworm population was introduced, shoot biomass tended to decrease. Earthworm activity significantly increased soil pH and availability of N, P and K in the tailings and soil mixture. There was a general tendency that uptake of Zn by ryegrass increased after earthworm inoculation, although the increase in extractable Zn in tailings and soil mixture was not significant. On the contrary, there seemed to be a lower uptake of Pb by ryegrass under earthworm inoclation, despite the fact that higher extractable Pb concentrations were observed. The present project indicated that the improved growth of ryegrass was due to improved nutrient availability and other soil conditions, by inoculation of earthworms at an appropriate rate. Further studies are needed to illustrate the relationship between metal availability and earthworm activity in the field.     

System dynamics modeling for municipal water demand estimation in an urban region under uncertain economic impacts

Accurate prediction of municipal water demand is critically important to water utilities in fast-growing urban regions for drinking water system planning, design, and water utility asset management. Achieving the desired prediction accuracy is challenging, however, because the forecasting model must simultaneously consider a variety of factors associated with climate changes, economic development, population growth and migration, and even consumer behavioral patterns. Traditional forecasting models such as multivariate regression and time series analysis, as well as advanced modeling techniques (e.g., expert systems and artificial neural networks), are often applied for either short- or long-term water demand projections, yet few can adequately manage the dynamics of a water supply system because of the limitations in modeling structures. Potential challenges also arise from a lack of long and continuous historical records of water demand and its dependent variables. The objectives of this study were to (1) thoroughly review water demand forecasting models over the past five decades, and (2) propose a new system dynamics model to reflect the intrinsic relationship between water demand and macroeconomic environment using out-of-sample estimation for long-term municipal water demand forecasts in a fast-growing urban region. This system dynamics model is based on a coupled modeling structure that takes into account the interactions among economic and social dimensions, offering a realistic platform for practical use. Practical implementation of this water demand forecasting tool was assessed by using a case study under the most recent alternate fluctuations of economic boom and downturn environments.     

Green shipping practices in the shipping industry: Conceptualization, adoption, and implications

There have been increasing concerns about the adverse impacts on the environment caused by cargo movement in international trade. Different stakeholders ranging from shippers and carriers to government bodies and international communities have expressed worries about the environmental impacts brought by shipping related activities. The pollution and waste created in the shipping processes have imposed environmental burdens and accelerated resource depletion. The situation is set to worsen in the face of intensifying trade globalization, which has contributed to sustained growth in international shipping activities. To help protect the environment, many shipping firms have taken the initiative to find ways to lessen the environmental damage of their operations while enhancing their performance. The objective of this study is to examine the environmental awareness and the environmental measures taken in the shipping industry. We propose a conceptual framework for evaluating green shipping practices and develop several propositions stating the conditions under which shipping firms would behave in an environmentally responsible manner. We conclude with managerial and policy implications of the conceptual framework to promote green shipping practices in the shipping industry.     

航运企业风险评估的实施

航运业历来就是一种高风险的行业,随着航运科技和安全管理手段的不断发展,全球航运安全形势呈现了良好的态势,尤其自1998年7月1日国际海事组织公布了以ISO9002为基准的《国际安全管理规则》（ISM CODE）以来,航运业的安全管理进入了国际标准化时代。为进一步完善航运业的标准化管理,国际海事组织在85届海安会上通过了MSC.237（85）决议批准了ISMCODE的修正案,并要求航运企业自2010年7月1日起针对安全和防止污染的任何活动都需要进行风险评估。为保证航运企业能够正确进行安全活动的风险评估,以满足该修正案的要求,应用风险决策法系统分析了航运企业进行船舶、人员和环境风险评估所涉及的各个要素。提出一套合理、实用和系统的航运企业风险评估方法,并对风险评估实施过程需要特别关注的问题进行阐述。对进一步提高船舶安全操作水平有了重要的现实意义。     

"双高"产品名录的制定与农药行业环境保护

论述了<"高污染、高环境风险"产品名录>(以下简称"双高"产品名录)制定的背景、依据与原则,以及演化过程,重点介绍了农药行业"双高"产品名录制定的意义、进展,以及对农药行业发展的影响等.     

Genetic relationship between offspring and guardian adults of a rhacophorid frog and its care effort in response to paternal share

The rhacophorid frog, Kurixalus eiffingeri, is one of only a few frog species that exhibits polyandry and paternal care of eggs. Previous studies predicted that multiple paternity within an egg clutch could influence the degree of paternal care and reproductive strategies. We used microsatellite DNA markers to assess the prevalence of multiple paternity within egg clutches and the relationship between male paternal care and the percent of male’s genetic contribution to the clutch, i.e., paternal share. We conducted field observations of paternal care and collected tissues from both male frogs and tadpoles for parentage analyses. Our results showed that at least five out of 31 egg clutches had multiple paternity. Attending males were always the genetic fathers of some, if not all of the eggs in the clutch they guarded. All egg clutches except one were attended by one male frog but the attending male did not necessarily sire the majority of offspring. Multiple paternity in all cases consisted of two fathers and one mother and most likely resulted from synchronous polyandry. Paternal care effort correlated significantly with the male’s genetic contribution to the clutch, suggesting that male frogs adjust the effort expended in care in response to paternal share. In addition, our results suggest that externally fertilizing species with parental care and multiple paternity may develop novel reproductive and behavioral strategies to safeguard their parental investment and overcome sperm competition.     

Trap barricading and decorating by a well-armored sit-and-wait predator: extra protection or prey attraction?

Animals may build multiple structures to provide benefits to counter the costs of building. Many orb web spiders add multiple structures, e.g., barricading barrier webs and silk decorations, to their webs and these structures have been hypothesized to function to deter predators or attract prey. The heavily armored spiny spiders construct barrier webs around their orb webs and decorate them with conspicuous silk tufts. Why these organisms, already well protected by a thick cuticle and spines, make the extra investment of building barrier webs and adding conspicuous silk decorations is not known. We predicted that these structures function to both attract prey and deter predators. Field experiments were conducted in two consecutive years using orb webs built by the East Asian spiny spider Thelacantha brevispina. We either (1) concealed the decoration, (2) removed the barrier webs, or (3) left the decorations and barrier webs intact. We found year and treatment to interactively influence prey interception rates. In 2010, but not in 2009, we found prey interception with T. brevispina webs to be greater when the decorations were conspicuous than when they were concealed suggesting that the decorations may lure prey. Prey interception was lower when the barrier webs were present without decorations compared to when they were absent without decorations. The prey-attracting function of the decorations thus may counter the reduction in prey interception incurred by adding a barrier web. Predatory wasp interactions were not influenced by any of our treatments, probably because the spiders’ thick cuticle is the primary means of protection from wasps. Bird predation events, while rare, occurred only when decorations were concealed or the barrier webs were removed. It is therefore plausible that the tuft decorations both lure prey and deter birds.     

北京建成区道路绿化空间结构和行道树健康状况

采用实地普查测量方法,定量研究了北京建成区188条道路行道树的树种结构、径级分布、立木层次和健康状况。结果表明,国槐（Sophora japonica）、毛白杨（Populus alba）、银杏（Ginkgo biloba）是建成区主要行道树种,使用量分别占研究区树木总株数的54．7％、13．7％和7．4％。建成区树木...     

贵州浓香型白酒大曲中霉菌的18S rDNA系统发育分析

从贵州某名酒厂大曲中分离到104株丝状真菌(霉菌),通过形态特征和生理特性检测等传统鉴定方法,初步把形态和生理生化特征一致的霉菌归类为14个大类群;并采用18S rDNA序列分析,进一步把菌株归类为MJ-I至MJ-V五个类群,随后构建系统发育树.结果表明,样品中的霉菌以曲霉属(Aspergillus)为主,占总分离菌数...     

沙罗竹人工林生长与立地条件的关系研究

对广东省罗定市泗纶镇沙罗竹人工林生长与地形因子和土壤理化性质之间的关系进行了分析研究。结果表明,地形部位、坡型、坡向、土壤质地、立竹密度等对沙罗竹平均胸径有显著影响;沙罗竹平均胸径与土壤水分、有机质、全氮、速效氮、速效磷、有效硅质量分数呈显著正相关关系。回归分析结果表明,土壤有机质、速效氮、速效磷、有效镁质量分数及其组合是影响沙罗竹生长的主要养分因子。研究结果对沙罗竹林地选择和制定营林管理措施具有科学指导意义。