Automated data analysis to rapidly derive and communicate ecological insights from satellite-tag data: A case study of reintroduced red kites

Analysis of satellite-telemetry data mostly occurs long after it has been collected, due to the time and effort needed to collate and interpret such material. Delayed reporting reduces the usefulness of such data for nature conservation where timely information about animal movements is required. To counter this problem, we present a novel approach which combines automated analysis of satellite-telemetry data with rapid communication of insights derived from such data. A relatively simple algorithm (based on radial and angular velocity calculated from fixes) allowed instantaneous detection of excursions away from settlement areas and automated calculation of home ranges on the remaining data. Automating the detection of both excursions and home-range calculations enabled us to disseminate ecological insights from satellite-tag data instantaneously through a dedicated web portal. The automated analysis, interpretation, and communication of satellite-tag and other ecological data offer clear benefits to nature conservation research and practice.     

土壤与沉积物中水溶性有机物释放动力学研究

模拟研究了沉积物与草甸沼泽土中水溶性天然有机物从固相向水相释放的动力学过程，探讨了流速、温度和ｐＨ条件对土壤物中水溶性有机物释放速度的影响。研究结果表明，上述过程可以用滞膜模型（单膜）加以描述，释放为典型的一级动力学过程，且草甸沼泽土中水溶性有机物的释放较沉积物快。     

油田含油污泥处理处置技术发展及应用

介绍了油田含油污泥的特征、来源,以及国内外相关法规政策和标准规范的制定情况;分析了含油污泥处置技术的主要研究进展和应用现状;对我国油田含油污泥处理处置技术提出了发展建议。     

浅议环境法的绿色专利

人们通常强调新颖性和经济效用的一个创新,而忽略了对环境造成的影响。这一思想体现到制度设计专利制度。一般来说,如果能够通过三个条件：新颖性、实用性和创新性,可授予专利。这种制度设计制约思维过程中创新者的回报,他们努力发明一件新颖的且有利可图的专利,但是忽略了对环境造成的影响。因此,牺牲的最终是环境。在这项研究中,试图探索一种体制上的补救。在为了改变科技发展的方向,建议完善政策背景下的创新,特别是专利制度。引进一个新的考核标准,绿色专利制度,并探讨其可行性和可能带来的影响。通过把这项环保的关注到专利审查,专利制度可以鼓励创新发明的＂创新,实用和绿色＂的产品以及程序,称之为＂绿色专利＂。     

基于污染场地土壤中重金属人体可给性的健康风险评价

模拟测试土壤中重金属在人体胃肠系统中的溶解量(即人体可给量),并以此作为暴露剂量进行健康风险评估,能在一定程度上克服基于总量评估导致结果过于保守的问题. 该文综述了国内外目前已有的可给性测试方法,着重介绍了PBET(physiologically based extraction test)、SBET(simplified bioaccessibility extraction test)、RIVM(rijksinstituut voor volksgezondheid en milieu)及UBM(the unified bioaccessibility method)这4种常用方法的原理及主要参数取值;对目前测试方法在参数(pH、提取时间、提取液组分)取值、模拟过程与环境(消化过程、模拟环境、食物、微生物)存在的问题进行了分析;进一步介绍了基于重金属人体可给性的健康风险评估方法. 建议应在以下4个方面进一步开展研究:①基于我国人体胃肠生理特征建立土壤中重金属可给性的标准测试方法;②研究影响重金属可给性的关键因素并建立经验预测模型;③结合in vivo测试,验证方法的准确性,耦合结肠癌细胞跨膜转运测试模型,研究测试重金属的人体有效性的标准方法;④建立基于重金属可给性的层次化风险评估方法,完善现有风险评估技术导则.      

湖北省区域可持续发展能力综合评价

从区域可持续发展的观点出发，根据湖北省具体区域特征，通过构建湖北省区域可持续发展指标体系和评估方法，得出湖北省12个地市人口、资源、环境、经济和社会5个系统的可持续发展指数以及区域综合可持续发展指数。从总体上看，湖北省区域可持续发展水平处于偏低水平，其中武汉市是唯一具有强可持续发展能力的城市，但优势地位不明显；其它城市可持续发展5个系统均存在发展不平衡状况，且城市特色不突出。     

Multiple mate choice criteria and the importance of age for male mating success in the microhylid frog, Cophixalus ornatus

We examined multiple mate choice criteria in Cophixalus ornatus, a terrestrial breeding, microhylid frog. Mate choice consisted of three stages: mate attraction (male calling), courtship (male behavior between the call site and the nest), and nest site selection by the female. For male C. ornatus, the possession of a call with low dominant frequency relative to calling neighbors increased the probability that they would attract females. Dominant frequency was negatively correlated with age independent of male mass and snout vent length. When escorting the female from the call site to their nest, males traveled along more convoluted paths than when returning to the nest alone. The convolution of the path was, therefore, considered an aspect of courtship. Females released eggs into nests with structural characteristics typical of nests constructed by older males. Thus, females increased their chances of locating an acceptable nest by preferentially approaching males with lower dominant frequencies. This study is the first to demonstrate that age, independent of mass or snout-vent length, can influence call characteristics in anurans, and it is also the first to demonstrate the importance of male age to female mate choice in an amphibian.     

Rubisco of Dunaliella tertiolecta is redistributed between the pyrenoid and the stroma as a light /shade response

 We used an immunofluorescence technique to investigate the effects of varying light regimes on ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) in individual cells of the chlorophyte Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher. These studies were carried out between September 1995 and February 1996. The population was heterogeneous with respect to Rubisco localization in the pyrenoid, i.e. in some cells Rubisco staining was highly concentrated in the pyrenoid while in others it was evenly distributed throughout the chloroplast stroma. When light intensity was varied sevenfold, the fraction of the cell population that displayed distinct Rubisco staining in the pyrenoid (PR-index) was correlated with light intensity, although the average Rubisco abundance per cell or per total cellular protein appeared fairly constant. In darkness, or when treated with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea (DCMU), the PR-index decreased markedly during the first 4 and 3 h, respectively, and then remained at low levels, while the cell division cycle progression remained unaffected. We conclude that D. tertiolecta probably possesses an adaptive mechanism, i.e. the redistribution of Rubisco between the pyrenoid (probably the active site of Rubisco activation and CO₂ fixation) and the stroma (probably a reservoir of deactivated Rubisco that is readily available for transport to the pyrenoid and activation), to respond to variations in irradiance or photosynthetic inhibition. Our results also suggest that this mechanism is insensitive to slight variations in growth irradiance and to seasonal changes in photoperiod and temperature. Received: 19 August 1996 / Accepted: 12 September 1996     

Influence of hydroxypropylcyclodextrins on the toxicity of mixtures

We studied the influence of hydroxypropylcyclodextrins (HPCDs) on the toxicity of some mixtures. Using the Photobacterium phosphoreum toxicity test, the joint toxicological effect for Mixture I (containing p-nitrobenzaldehyde and 1-nitronaphthalene) and Mixture II (containing p-nitrobenzaldehyde and malononitrile) were determined in water and in aqueous solutions of HPCDs. The results indicate that, although the toxicological joint effect for Mixture I (simple addition) differs from that of Mixture II (synergism), alpha- and beta-HPCD can significantly reduce the toxicity of the test compounds, whereas gamma-HPCD has only a slight effect. Explanations for these observations are given that invoke the molecular structure of the individual chemicals as well as the structures of HPCDs. This provides information to assist the application of HPCDs in remediation of environmental pollution.