Strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) contents in the otoliths of yellow and silver European eels [Anguilla anguilla (L.)] collected from coastal waters of the Baltic Sea and a freshwater lake in Sweden were examined by wavelength dispersive
X-ray spectrometry with an electron microprobe. The mean Sr/Ca ratios from elver check to otolith edge were significantly
higher for the eels from coastal waters (5.39 ± 1.09‰) than for those from the lake (0.71 ± 0.89‰). The evidence indicates
that European eels in the Baltic Sea do not necessarily migrate into freshwater streams during the growth phase.
Received: 30 September 1999 / Accepted: 6 April 2000 相似文献
One of the most interesting aspects of the mating system of pied flycatchers is the regular occurrence of polygyny. Here we
present data on the reproductive success of polygynously paired pied flycatcher males compared to monogamous males based on
paternity analyses through DNA fingerprinting. Males paired with two females suffered a higher loss in reproductive output
per female compared to monogamous males due to (1) a greater proportion of unhatched eggs in their broods, (2) greater nestling
mortality and (3) a greater probability of being cuckolded. Nevertheless, the number of fledglings was significantly greater
for polygynous males. Based on the number of nestlings that returned for subsequent breeding seasons, however, the reproductive
success of monogamous and polygynous males did not differ significantly. These data raise the question as to why males attempt
polygyny.
Received: 16 August 1999 / Received in revised form: 15 March 2000 / Accepted: 18 March 2000 相似文献
Abstract: The devastation of island faunas by alien species has been instrumental in raising concerns about the global threat to biological diversity. Colonial nesting species, often restricted to islands, have been affected severely. Eradication of introduced species as a means to alleviate the problem is usually done with little or no understanding of the mechanisms governing interactions between introduced and native species. Such an understanding could help target management action. We analyzed how island area, rock substrate, bird species biology, and presence of an introduced species, the black rat ( Rattus rattus ), interact to explain the distribution and abundance of colonial nesting birds on a set of 72 islands from six archipelagos in the western Mediterranean. Rats were introduced to this region over 2000 years ago, and these communities have had time to reach an equilibrium. Using general linear models, we show that rats have affected species distributions more on the smaller islands and on islands with an acidic or neutral rock substrate; larger bird species are more resistant. On the smaller islands, where rat densities are highest, larger colonial birds are negatively affected. On larger islands, where rat densities are lower and fluctuate form year to year, larger colonial birds can maintain healthy populations despite the presence of rats. Although rats caused local extinction or reduction in bird abundance, the presence of islands varying in size and/or substrate allowed most archipelagos to retain their suite of colonial nesting bird species, despite a presumably reduced abundance for most species. 相似文献
Summary. The stems of many Macaranga ant-plants (Euphorbiaceae) are covered by epicuticular wax crystals rendering the surface very slippery for most insects.
These wax blooms act as selective barriers protecting the symbiotic ant partners, which are specialized “wax-runners”, against
the competition of other ants. Glaucous stems occur almost exclusively among the ant-plants of the genus Macaranga (). We analyzed the cuticular lipids of 16 Macaranga species by GC-MS and investigated the wax crystal morphology using SEM. Presence of crystalline wax blooms was strongly correlated
with high concentrations (52%–88%) of triterpenoids. In contrast epicuticular waxes of glossy Macaranga surfaces contained only 0% to 36% of these dominant components. Therefore we conclude that triterpenoids are responsible
for the formation of the thread-like Macaranga wax crystals. In all Macaranga ant-plants investigated, the principal components were epitaraxerol and taraxerone accompanied by smaller portions of taraxerol,
β-amyrin and friedelin. Only in the case of the non-myrmecophytic M. tanarius did β-amyrin predominate. Moreover, we found that only in M. tanarius, the dense wax crystal lacework is torn into large mosaic-like pieces in the course of secondary stem diameter growth. Both
chemical and macroscopic differences may contribute to a reduced slipperiness of M. tanarius stems and appear to be functionally important. The distribution of wax crystals and their composition amongst different sections
of the genus suggests that glaucousness is a polyphyletic character within Macaranga.
Received 7 October 1999; accepted 3 December 1999 相似文献
The machair sand dune systems of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland are a unique habitat, which is rare within both a global and
European context. Unusually, the machair habitat also represents an agricultural resource that is very important to the Hebridean
people, having been subject to both grazing and cultivation throughout the historical period. Following designation as an
Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) in 1988, the machairs of South Uist have been studied with the aim of understanding the
links between agricultural practice and their plant community and ecosystem dynamics. This research focused primarily on the
effects of cultivation practices and their role in maintaining plant species richness and community and ecosystem stability.
Within two carefully selected areas, the successional plant communities of machair at different stages of recovery following
ploughing and cultivation of cereals and potato patches or ‘lazy beds’ were identified at both a macro- and micro-level. Investigations
of the vegetation recovery processes on turves taken from newly ploughed land indicated that the initial stages of recolonization
are characterized primarily by rapid vegetative reproduction and growth, although re-vegetation by seeds is also an important
factor. The implications of these findings for the long-term management of machair plant communities are discussed and in
particular the need to maintain old cultivation practices such as shallow ploughing. The need for more detailed research into
both seed banks and seed rain and into processes of vegetative reproduction is stressed.
Nomenclature: Clapham et al. (1981) and Stace (1991, 1997) for vascular plants; Hubbard (1984) for grasses; Pankhurst & Mullin (1991) for
the regional flora; Dobson (1992) for lichens; Watson (1981) for mosses and liverworts. 相似文献
Waste-activated sludge (WAS) may be considered a resource generated by wastewater treatment plants and used for biogas-generation but it requires pre-treatment (PT) for enhanced biogas-yields and reduced WAS disposal costs. To date, a number of studies on the optimization of such PT focused on improved biogas yields but neglected inferred energy and resource consumption. Here, we aimed to identify the most promising thermo-chemical PT-strategy in terms of net energy output and cost-efficiency by optimizing PT temperature and the amount and sort of the alkaline reagent used. We compared methane-potentials and disposal costs of untreated and treated WAS and conducted an annual cost-benefit calculation. We defined 70 °C and 0.04 M NaOH as ideal PT-conditions being both, low-energy demanding and efficient. Applying these conditions, enhanced biogas-yields and improved dewaterability led to reduced electricity and disposal costs of 22 and 27%, respectively, resulting in savings of approx. 28% of the yearly WAS-related expenditures of a wastewater treatment plant. Despite multiple benefits in running costs, the implementation of WAS-PT was not recommendable in the presented case study due to high investment costs.
This special issue of Ambio compiles a series of contributions made at the 8th International Phosphorus Workshop (IPW8), held in September 2016 in Rostock, Germany. The introducing overview article summarizes major published scientific findings in the time period from IPW7 (2015) until recently, including presentations from IPW8. The P issue was subdivided into four themes along the logical sequence of P utilization in production, environmental, and societal systems: (1) Sufficiency and efficiency of P utilization, especially in animal husbandry and crop production; (2) P recycling: technologies and product applications; (3) P fluxes and cycling in the environment; and (4) P governance. The latter two themes had separate sessions for the first time in the International Phosphorus Workshops series; thus, this overview presents a scene-setting rather than an overview of the latest research for these themes. In summary, this paper details new findings in agricultural and environmental P research, which indicate reduced P inputs, improved management options, and provide translations into governance options for a more sustainable P use. 相似文献