Industrial transformation and shrimp aquaculture in Thailand and Vietnam: pathways to ecological,social, and economic sustainability?

Shrimp aquaculture in Vietnam is in the process of being transformed into a major industry around the intensification of the production system. The experiences of other countries in the region, especially in Thailand where high input production systems dominate, suggests that now is a critical time for intervention to redirect industry into pathways that are more sustainable ecologically, socially, and economically. In Thailand, years of experience with intensified systems and a complex industrial organization has not led to sustainable solutions. The challenge here is for society to regain control and then to redirect the transformation along more efficient and benign pathways. Our analyses suggest that current pathways in both countries are unlikely to lead to a sustainable industry. A complete transformation of the way shrimp are grown, fed, processed, distributed, and regulated is needed.     

Life history consequences of variation in age at primiparity in northern elephant seals

Summary The age when female northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, bear their first young varies from 2 to 6 years. At Año Nuevo, California, a group of 77 females, primiparous at age 3, had a lower survivorship rate to each successive year up to age 8 than a group of 98 females that deferred initial pupping until age 4. The difference in survivorship appears to be due to the greater relative energetic costs of gestation and lactation incurred by the earlier breeding females during a period in their development when growth is rapid. An alternate hypothesis for the difference in survivorship — that young primiparous females are in poor condition from birth-is untenable; females that pupped early in life were larger at weaning age (a correlate of condition) than females that were primiparous 1 year later.Models based on the data show that differential survival of seals that vary in age at primiparity has important consequences for population growth and life history strategies. The effect of age at primiparity on the rate of increase of populations varies with colony density and juvenile survivorship. The optimal life history strategy for female elephant seals under most conditions existing today, including those at Ano Nuevo during the study period, is to bear the first offspring at age 4. Primiparity at age 3 is projected to be favored when harem density is very low and weaning success and juvenile survivorship are high; postponement of first breeding to age 5 is expected at high harem densities with intense competition for breeding space. Offprint requests to: B.J. Le Boeuf     

Utrastructural study of oogenesis and oocytic degeneration in Pecten maximus from the Bay of St. Brieuc

An ultrastructural study of oocytic development enabled the identification of changes occurring during oogenesis in Pecten maximus collected from the Bay of St. Brieuc, France, in 1987. Auxiliary cells, closely associated with developing oocytes were observed. Each oocyte seems to be associated with only one secretory cell, which is characterised by an abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum at the onset of vitellogenesis. Contact between this cell and a developing oocyte is maintained by a desmosome-like junction which can be observed when the vitelline coat is formed. These auxiliary cells seem to play a trophic role in vitellogenesis, and may be involved in the formation of the vitelline coat of the oocytes. Oocytic degeneration is discussed in detail; in this species, it is a continuous phenomenon of varying intensity throughout the year. The ultrastructural changes resulting in lysis of the oocyte are described, and the evolution of atretic oocytes is examined.     

WATER ALLOCATION POLICY MODELING FOR THE DONG NAI RIVER BASIN: AN INTEGRATED PERSPECTIVE1

Abstract: Recent water sector reforms and increased scarcity and vulnerability of water resources, combined with declining public funding available for large scale infrastructure investment in the sector, have led to a greater awareness by the Government of Vietnam for the need to analyze water resource allocation and use in an integrated fashion, at the basin scale, and from a perspective of economic efficiency. In this study we focus on the development, application, and selected policy analyses using an integrated economic hydrologic river basin model for the Dong Nai River Basin in southern Vietnam. The model framework depicts the sectoral structure and location of water users (agriculture, industry, hydropower, domestic, and the environment) and the institutions for water allocation in the basin. Water benefit functions are developed for the major water uses subject to physical limitations and to constraints of system control and policy. Based on this modeling framework, we will analyze policies that can affect water allocation and use at the basin level, including both basin-specific and general macroeconomic policies.     

外源硫酸盐介入下沉积物磷释放、解磷微生物及磷酸酶活性的变化

人类生产活动导致湖泊水体硫酸盐浓度日益增加,硫酸盐与沉积物中磷之间的关系引起关注.该研究以武汉东湖水和沉积物为研究对象进行实验室模拟,研究为期近一年且温度变化的条件下外源硫酸盐对沉积物释磷及微生物的作用.结果表明,硫酸盐输入使沉积物pH和氧化还原电位(E h)总体呈降低趋势.外源硫酸盐促进了沉积物磷的释放,输入硫酸盐(S500)与对照(CK)之间的上覆水存在显著差异(p0.01),S500的上覆水中总磷浓度最高值达0.33 mg·L-1,为对照的2倍.湖泊沉积物中有机磷解磷菌的数量高于无机磷解磷菌,上层沉积物解磷菌的数量和沉积物总磷的含量之间呈负相关.S500的沉积物中磷酸二酯酶活性高于磷酸单酯酶活性,且不同分层沉积物磷酸单酯酶活性和磷酸二酯酶活性之间的正相关性达到显著水平.温度升高,磷酸酶的活性逐渐增强,促使沉积物内源磷释放量增加.     

Biodegradation of 3,5-dimethyl-2,4-dichlorophenol in saline wastewater by newly isolated Penicillium sp. yz11-22N2

In this study,the performance of 3,5-dimethyl-2,4-dichlorophenol(DCMX) degradation by a screened strain was investigated.18 S r DNA and the neighbor-joining method were used for identification of the isolated strain.The results of phylogenetic analysis and scanning electron micrographs showed that the most probable identity of the screened strain should be Penicillium sp.Growth characteristics of Penicillium sp.and degradation processes of DCMX were examined.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the inoculated DCMX solution was recorded,which supported the capacity of DCMX degradation by the screened Penicillium sp.Under different salinity conditions,the highest growth rate and removal efficiency for DCMX were obtained at p H 6.0.The removal efficiency decreased from 100%to 66% when the DCMX concentration increased from 5 to 60 mg/L,respectively.Using a Box–Behnken design,the maximum DCMX removal efficiency was determined to be 98.4%.With acclimation to salinity,higher removal efficiency could be achieved.The results demonstrate that the screened Penicillium sp.has the capability for degradation of DCMX.     

The Fate of Mengovirus on Fiberglass Filter of Air Handling Units

One of the most important topics that occupy public health problems is the air quality. That is the reason why mechanical ventilation and air handling units (AHU) were imposed by the different governments in the collective or individual buildings. Many buildings create an artificial climate using heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. Among the existing aerosols in the indoor air, we can distinguish the bioaerosol with biological nature such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Respiratory viral infections are a major public health issue because they are usually highly infective. We spend about 90% of our time in closed environments such as homes, workplaces, or transport. Some studies have shown that AHU contribute to the spread and transport of viral particles within buildings. The aim of this work is to study the characterization of viral bioaerosols in indoor environments and to understand the fate of mengovirus eukaryote RNA virus on glass fiber filter F7 used in AHU. In this study, a set-up close to reality of AHU system was used. The mengovirus aerosolized was characterized and measured with the electrical low pressure impact and the scanner mobility particle size and detected with RT-qPCR. The results about quantification and the level of infectivity of mengovirus on the filter and in the biosampler showed that mengovirus can pass through the filter and remain infectious upstream and downstream the system. Regarding the virus infectivity on the filter under a constant air flow, mengovirus was remained infectious during 10 h after aerosolization.     

Overstorey tree density and understorey regrowth effects on plant composition,stand structure and floristic richness in grazed temperate woodlands in eastern Australia

As natural woodlands decline in both extent and quality worldwide, there is an increasing recognition of the biodiversity conservation value of production landscapes. In low-input, low-productivity grazing systems in Australia, the modification of natural woodlands through overstorey tree and woody regrowth removal are vegetation management options used by landholders to increase native grass production for livestock grazing; however, there is little empirical evidence to indicate at what tree densities biodiversity attributes are compromised. We examined the effects of overstorey tree density and understorey regowth on the floristic composition, stand structure and species richness of eucalypt woodlands in a grazing landscape in the Traprock region of southern Queensland, Australia. We sampled 47 sites stratified according to vegetation type (Eucalyptus crebra/Eucalyptus dealbata woodland; Eucalyptus melliodora/Eucalyptus microcarpa grassy woodland), density of mature trees (<6 trees/ha; 6–20 trees/ha; >20 trees/ha), and presence/absence of regrowth. Distinct patterns in composition were detected using indicator species analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling, with low density areas compositionally indistinguishable, although distinct from other land management units. Within vegetation type, medium tree density woodlands were compositionally similar to high density and reference woodlands. Species richness ranged from 18 to 67 species per 500 m² across all sites. No differences in total or native species richness were detected across management units; however, some differences in exotic species richness were detected. Differences in grass cover existed between low and high density management units, yet no difference in grass cover was evident between low and medium density management units. Our results suggest that medium tree densities may provide biodiversity benefits concordant with more natural areas, yet not adversely impact on pasture production. Retaining trees in grazing landscapes provides significant landscape heterogeneity and important refuges for species that may be largely excluded from open grassland habitats. Maintaining a medium density of overstorey trees in grazed paddocks can provide both production and biodiversity benefits.     

徐州市农村地表水环境现状及污染防治

通过对徐州市农村地表水环境现状的调查,简要分析了徐州市农村地表水环境的污染状况、污染成因,并提出现阶段农村水污染的治理建议和发展方向.