The ‘Pacific Adaptive Capacity Analysis Framework’: guiding the assessment of adaptive capacity in Pacific island communities

Regional Environmental Change - Community-based adaptation (CBA) is becoming an increasingly popular approach to climate change adaptation in the Pacific islands region. Building adaptive capacity...     

Climatic risks and impacts in South Asia: extremes of water scarcity and excess

Regional Environmental Change - This paper reviews the current knowledge of climatic risks and impacts in South Asia associated with anthropogenic warming levels of 1.5–4 °C...     

Removal of petroleum tar from bird feathers utilizing magnetic particles

A previously reported acute temperature dependency for the effective removal of tarry residue from feather clusters, utilising magnetic particles, has also been demonstrated to occur for the plumage of whole birds, whereby a maximum removal of up to 96% may be achieved. The experimental design allows an approximate equilibrium constant, for the distribution of contaminant between the residue and the magnetic particles, to be estimated at each temperature. This allows the thermodynamics of the process to be examined via application of the van't Hoff equation, suggesting an explanation for the phenomenon.     

Practical experience using transabdominal chorionic villus biopsies taken after 16 weeks' gestation for rapid prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities

Placental biopsy was performed on 81 patients at greater than 16 weeks' gestation. The major indication for such biopsies was an increased risk of chromosomal abnormality because of either abnormal ultrasound findings or late presentations for advanced maternal age. Six abnormal karyotypes resulting in elective termination were found. The use of rapid karyotyping by this procedure as an alternative to amniocentesis or fetal blood sampling is discussed.     

Phenotypic plasticity in Scenedesmus incrassatulus (Chlorophyceae) in response to heavy metals stress

The microalgae genus Scenedesmus is commonly found in freshwater bodies, wastewater facilities and water polluted with heavy metals. Phenotypic plasticity in Scenedesmus has been documented in response to a wide variety of conditions; however, heavy metals have not been comprehensively documented as phenotypic plasticity inducers. In this study, we report the phenotypic plasticity of Scenedesmus incrassatulus (a non-spiny, four-cell coenobium forming species) in response to EC₅₀ value of copper, cadmium and hexavalent chromium. S. incrassatulus was grown in batch cultures in the presence of each metal. Chlorophyll-a content, cell size, parameters derived from the schematic energy-flux model for photosystem II, and morphotype expressions were recorded. Divalent cation metals induced unicellular forms, and hexavalent chromium produced out-of-shape coenobia corresponding to various stages of autospore formation. The changes induced by divalent metals were interpreted as phenotypic plasticity, because they were always associated to population doublings and were reversible when toxicant pressure was removed (only for Cu). Copper was the best inductor of unicellular forms and also affected significantly all the photosynthetic parameters measured. The developed morphotypes could confer ecological advantages to S. incrassatulus in metal stressed environments.     

Rutabaga roots, a rich source of oviposition stimulants for the cabbage root fly

Summary. Two recently identified compounds ("CIFs"), present on the leaf surface of Brassica oleracea (cabbage), are the strongest oviposition stimulants known for the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum. Cabbage leaves contain these compounds in extremely low concentrations, and the amount of CIFs obtained from purifying leaf extracts was so small that it limited further research. We were able to purify far more of these two compounds from the roots of Brassica napus var. napobrassica (rutabaga). Apart from being a richer source of CIFs, rutabaga roots are considerably easier to collect and process than leaves. In addition, we isolated and identified a new CIF compound from the roots that is also very active in stimulating oviposition in the cabbage root fly. Received 26 May 2000; accepted 26 July 2000     

The use of the oyster Saccostrea glomerata as a biomonitor of trace metal contamination: intra-sample, local scale and temporal variability and its implications for biomonitoring

Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb and Se concentrations were measured in the bivalve mollusc Saccostrea glomerata(Iredale and Roughly) from two uncontaminated locations, Clyde River Estuary, Batemans Bay and Moona Moona Creek, Jervis Bay, to determine natural variability of metals associated with mass, gender, age, tissue type and site within location. Trace metals were also measured in the Clyde River Estuary over an 11 year period and in five other NSW estuaries (Hastings River, Hunter River, Georges River, Tillgerry Creek and Lake Pambula) over a 13-month period to determine temporal variability and if diploid and triploid oysters accumulate trace metals differently. There were few significant relationships between trace metal concentrations and mass and no significant differences in trace metal concentrations between female and male oysters. Younger oysters (1.3 years) had significantly higher copper concentrations and higher trace metal variability than mature oysters (3 years). Different tissues have different trace metal concentrations with muscle tissues having lower concentrations. Considerable inherent variability occurs in oyster cohorts. Analysing specific tissues did not reduce variability of trace metal concentrations. Comparison of trace metal concentrations at two sites within the Clyde Estuary showed a significant difference in zinc concentrations. Cu, Cd, Zn and Se concentrations were generally higher and less variable in triploids than diploids. Pb had a variable pattern of accumulation with no consistent elevation in diploids or triploids. Inter annual variability of trace metal concentrations was considerable and trace metal concentrations also fluctuated throughout an annual cycle with no clear seasonal trends. Measurement of trace metals at known contaminated locations showed that Saccostrea glomerata accumulates metals in response to contamination. Saccostrea glomerata meet most of the requirements to be a biomonitor of trace metal contamination as they are abundant, sessile/sedentary, easy to identify, provide sufficient tissue for analysis, and accumulate trace metals in response to contamination. However, as trace metal concentrations can vary with mass, age, estuary position, ploidy type and temporally, care must be taken to collect individual organisms of similar mass, age and ploidy type to minimise variability, and from similar consistent positions and times to allow for seasonal changes in environmental conditions. Trace metal concentration variability is higher in young animals, thus to reduce variability, older mature animals could be selected. However, with immature oysters there are no complications because of the effects of spawning i.e. sudden loss of trace metals or body mass.     

Turn down the heat: regional climate change impacts on development

Regional Environmental Change -     

Visions for the North Sea: The Societal Dilemma Behind Specifying Good Environmental Status

We augment discussions about the Good Environmental Status of the North Sea by developing two extreme visions and assessing their societal benefits. One vision (‘Then’) assumes restoration of benthic functioning; we contend that trawling had already degraded the southern North Sea a century ago. Available information is used to speculate about benthic functioning in a relatively undisturbed southern North Sea. The second vision (‘Now’) draws on recent benthic functioning. The supply of five ecosystem services, supported by benthic functioning, is discussed. ‘Then’ offers confidence in the sustainable supply of diverse services but restoration of past function is uncertain and likely to be paired with costs, notably trawling restraints. ‘Now’ delivers known and valued services but sustained delivery is threatened by, for example, climate change. We do not advocate either vision. Our purpose is to stimulate debate about what society wants, and might receive, from the future southern North Sea.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0536-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.