Male-male interference competition decreases spawning rate in the European bitterling (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodeus sericeus</Emphasis>)

We investigated the consequences of male-male interference competition associated with alternative male mating tactics in a freshwater fish, the European bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus). Male bitterling defend territories around living mussels and attract females to lay their eggs in the gill cavities of mussels. We experimentally manipulated spawning-site abundance and male density at two spatial scales. We showed that the total number of eggs spawned by females was constrained by the number of mussels available for oviposition. The effect was mediated by behavioral interactions among competing males because of variation in the Operational Sex Ratio (OSR) in close proximity to a mussel and not by a direct limitation in mussel capacity to accommodate the eggs. Both total and local male densities affected spawning behavior, and interacted in their effect on female spawning rate. Territorial male aggression caused courtship interruptions that prolonged the time until successful spawning and increased with male density. However, territoriality broke down at the highest male density, with a consequent stabilizing effect on spawning rate.Communicated by J. Krause     

Leaching of lead metallurgical slag in citric solutions--implications for disposal and weathering in soil environments

Metallurgical slags from primary lead smelting were submitted to a 30-day batch leaching procedure in 20 and 8 mM citric solutions in order to determine the kinetics of release of Pb, Cu, Zn and As. The experiment was coupled with the PHREEQC-2 speciation-solubility modelling and mineralogical study of newly formed products (SEM/EDS, XRD, TEM/EDS and Raman spectrometry). A strong scavenging of metals and metalloids from the 8 mM citric leachate was observed due to the formation of newly formed products. The secondary precipitate consisted of well-developed calcite (CaCO3) crystals and amorphous organo-mineral matrix composed of hydrous ferric oxides and amorphous SiO2. Metals (Pb, Zn, Cu) and arsenic released into the solution were subsequently bound onto the newly formed product (adsorption on oxides) or trapped within the calcite structure (Zn, Mn). Similar scavenging mechanism can be taken into account in real soil systems with lower concentration of citric acid. Then, the covering of slag dumps with a thick soil layer and subsequent re-vegetation might be a possible scenario for slag management on some metallurgical sites.     

Some questions regarding problem definition in coastal management research

The aim of this paper is to explore the issue of problem definition in coastal (zone) management, with particular emphasis on social and institutional aspects. Do the existing scientific theories provide the necessary tools for open formulation of questions or problem definition, without preconceived ideas? Or are they rigid frameworks, which lead our curiosity along well-paved trails to predetermined results? Formulation of the right questions is probably the most important step in arriving at relevant answers.     

Analyses of cyanobacterial toxins (microcystins,cylindrospermopsin) in the reservoirs of the Czech Republic and evaluation of health risks

Massive cyanobacterial water blooms and production of toxins (cyanotoxins) have become a worldwide problem. In this report, we present results of cyanotoxins analyses (peptide microcystins, alkaloid cylindrospermopsin) in the Czech Republic reservoirs using HPLC-PDA and ELISA. Our study suggests the occurrence of cylindrospermopsin in the Czech Republic for the first time (particularly, in water blooms containing Aphanizomenon klebahnii). We also discuss human health risks associated with microcystins in relation to the drinking water guideline value of 1.0 μg/l as recommended by the World Health Organization.     

Species diversity modulates predation

Predation occurs in a context defined by both prey and non-prey species. At present it is largely unknown how species diversity in general, and species that are not included in a predator's diet in particular, modify predator-prey interactions. Therefore we studied how both the density and diversity of non-prey species modified predation rates in experimental microcosms. We found that even a low density of a single nonprey species depressed the asymptote of a predator's functional response. Increases in the density and diversity of non-prey species further reduced predation rates to very low levels. Controls showed that this diversity effect was not due to the identity of any of the non-prey species. Our results establish that both the density and diversity of species outside a predator's diet can significantly weaken the strength of predator-prey interactions. These results have major implications for ecological theory on species interactions in simple vs. complex communities. We discuss our findings in terms of the relationship between diversity and stability.     

Assessing Aerobic Biodegradability of Plastics in Aqueous Environment by GC-Analyzing Composition of Equilibrium Gaseous Phase

Testing biodegradability of plastics under varied conditions of the environment as well as under laboratory conditions in accordance with valid international standards is very laborious, lengthy and often also economically demanding. For this reason, applicability was verified of gas chromatography to analyze gaseous phase when investigating the biodegradation course of plastics in an aqueous environment as an alternative to customary employed methods. A mathematical model of acid–basic CO₂ equilibrium in a gas–liquid system was worked out, enabling to determine quantity of produced CO₂ through chromatographic analysis of gaseous phase, in dependence on ratio of liquid and gas phase volumes (V _l/V _g) and on actual pH of liquid phase. Experimental conditions for organizing the tests were optimized. A ratio that proved suitable was V _l/V _g ≅ 0.1 at pH ≈ 7.1 of liquid phase. Under these test conditions, biodegradability of model samples, PHB, Gellan gum and Xanthan gum, was explored; course of biodegradation was studied through produced CO₂ (values ) determined by analyzing gaseous phase through gas chromatography on the one hand, and through customary “titration” procedure on the other. With water-soluble polymers, the decrement in dissolved organic carbon (values D _DOC) was also studied. Difference between values does not exceed 5%. The procedures in question are alternative “substituting” procedures for observing course of aerobic biodegradation of substances in an aqueous environment.     

Temporal changes of 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb activity concentrations in surface air at Monaco and their correlation with meteorological parameters

Results of analysis of ⁷Be, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb on aerosol filters carried out from 1998 to 2010 in Monaco show that a weak correlation between activity concentrations of these radionuclides in the atmosphere and meteorological parameters has been found for ⁷Be and temperature (r = 0.50), ²¹⁰Pb and temperature and humidity (r = 0.43 and 0.41, respectively), and ¹³⁷Cs and precipitation (r = 0.51). The minimum and maximum ⁷Be activity concentrations were observed during 2000 and 2009, corresponding with the maximum and minimum solar activity, respectively. The maximum ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration found in May-June 1998 was due to the accident at Algeciras in Spain. The deposition velocities of ⁷Be, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb depended on the precipitation rate, and attained maximum values during dry seasons. The investigated radionuclides may be used as atmospheric tracers, especially in long-term periods.     

Monitoring and assessment of radionuclide discharges from Temelín Nuclear Power Plant into the Vltava River (Czech Republic)

The paper summarizes impacts of the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) on the Vltava and Labe River basins. The study is based on the results of long-term monitoring carried out before the plant operation (1989–2000), and subsequently during the plant operation (2001–2005). In the first period, the main objective was to determine background radionuclide levels remaining in the environment after global fallout and due to the Chernobyl accident. A decrease in the concentrations of ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs, which was observed before the plant operation, continued also during the subsequent period. Apart from tritium, the results of the observation did not indicate any impacts of the plant on the concentrations of activation and fission products in the hydrosphere. The annual average tritium concentrations in the Vltava River were in agreement with predicted values. The maximum annual average tritium concentration (13.5 Bq L⁻¹) was observed in 2004 downstream from the wastewater discharge in the Vltava River at Solenice. Estimated radiation doses for adults due to intakes of river water as drinking water contaminated by tritium are below 0.1 μSv y⁻¹.