Scale-invariant movements of fishermen: the same foraging strategy as natural predators.

We analyzed the movement of fishing vessels during fishing trips in order to understand how fishermen behave in space while searching for fish. For that purpose we used hourly geo-referenced positions of vessels, provided by a satellite vessel monitoring system, for the entire industrial fleet (809 vessels) of the world's largest single species fishery (Peruvian anchovy, Engraulis ringens) from December 1999 to March 2003. Observed trajectories of fishing vessels are well modeled by Lévy random walks, suggesting that fishermen use a stochastic search strategy which conforms to the same search statistics as non-human predators. We show that human skills (technology, communication, or others) do not result in the fishermen's spatial behavior being fundamentally different from that of animal predators. With respect to probability of prey encounter, our results suggest that fishermen, on average, evolved an optimal movement pattern (mu = 2.00) among the family of Lévy random walks. This Lagrangian approach opens several perspectives in terms of operational management of the pelagic fish stock.     

Encapsulation in cyclodextrins to widen the applications of essential oils

Environmental Chemistry Letters - There is a growing interest for aromatic and biological properties of essential oils as alternatives to synthetic chemicals and drugs. However, essential oils and...     

pH、溶解氧、叶绿素a之间相关性研究Ⅱ：非养殖水体

利用国内、外近20年的资料和饮用水水源地潘家口水库现场围隔实验结果,分析非养殖水体中pH、溶解氧（DO）和叶绿素a之间的相互关系。结果表明,当水体处于富营养化状态即叶绿素a平均含量高于10μg/L时,pH、DO与叶绿素a呈显著正相关。当叶绿素a平均含量低于10μg/L时,水体交换强或有机重污染的天然水体中DO与叶绿素a...     

Dynamic taxation schemes to manage irrigation-induced salinity

This paper uses a dynamic model to explore the issue of irrigation-induced salinity, which puts irrigation at risk in most irrigated areas throughout the world. We address the design of instruments that an irrigation district board could implement to induce irrigators to take sustainable irrigation decisions. In our approach, the irrigators located above an aquifer participate in the accumulation of groundwater, a stock pollution. We analyse input-based instruments to induce the agents to follow the optimal stock path.     

The presence of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein in earthworms Eisenia fetida has no deleterious effects on their growth and reproduction

Earthworms Eisenia fetida, bred in substances with stover of two genetically-engineered Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corns (5422Bt1 (Event Bt11) and 5422CBCL (MON810)) expressing Cry1Ab and their near-isogenic non-Bt corn (5422), were used to investigate the non-target effects of Bt corn on soil-dwelling organisms. Cry1Ab concentrations in substances, casts and guts of E. fetida were also investigated by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). More than 90% individuals of E. fetida survived over a period of 30 d, irrespective of whether they received Bt corn or non-Bt corn. Compared to 5422 treatments, significantly higher relative growth rate and more number of new offspring and cocoons of E. fetida were found in 5422Bt1 and 5422CBCL treatments. These results were unlikely to be directly caused by Cry1Ab released from Bt corns but rather by differences in other factors of plants such as plant components (soluble sugar, total organic carbon, total protein and available phosphorus of Bt corns were more than 5422). ELISA results indicated immunoreactive Cry1Ab was detectable in substances, and the casts, guts of E. fetida from Bt corns treatments, of which the highest levels were detected in substances under the corresponding experimental conditions. With the increase of treated time, a strong decline was observed in Cry1Ab from substances and casts of E. fetida, whereas Cry1Ab in guts of E. fetida from 5422Bt1 treatments gradually increased and that from 5422CBCL treatments increased between 14 and 30 d. Therefore, the presence of Cry1Ab in E. fetida had no deleterious effects on their growth and reproduction.     

Leaching behaviour of different scrap materials at recovery and recycling companies: Full-, pilot- and lab-scale investigation

Scrap material recovery and recycling companies are confronted with waste water that has a highly fluctuating flow rate and composition. Common pollutants, such as COD, nutrients and suspended solids, potentially toxic metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and poly chlorinated biphenyls can exceed the discharge limits. An analysis of the leaching behaviour of different scrap materials and scrap yard sweepings was performed at full-scale, pilot-scale and lab-scale in order to find possible preventive solutions for this waste water problem. The results of these leaching tests (with concentrations that frequently exceeded the Flemish discharge limits) showed the importance of regular sweeping campaigns at the company, leak proof or covered storage of specific scrap materials and oil/water separation on particular leachates. The particulate versus dissolved fraction was also studied for the pollutants. For example, up to 98% of the polyaromatic hydrocarbons, poly chlorinated biphenyls and some metals were in the particulate form. This confirms the (potential) applicability of sedimentation and filtration techniques for the treatment of the majority of the leachates, and as such the rainwater run-off as a whole.     

厌氧流化床处理白酒废水运行参数的研究

研究了床层膨胀率、HRT、温度以及有机容积负荷冲击等因素对AFB反应器COD去除率的影响。结果显示:温度为32±2℃,进水COD 6 000 mg/L,pH7.2条件下,AFB反应器处理白酒废水的优化运行参数为床层膨胀率为36%,回流比1∶7,水力停留时间8 h,此时废水COD去除率可达80%左右;同时该反应器在有机容积负荷达到36.1 kg COD/(m3.d)时COD去除率明显下降。     

Assessment of low-level metal contamination using the Mediterranean mussel gills as the indicator tissue

Purpose  

The aim of this study was to compare the level of metal contamination in two bays in the middle part of the Eastern Adriatic coastal zone in Croatia using the gills of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis as indicator tissue. Despite the existing sources of contamination, previous studies with caged mussels only indicated moderate metal contamination of the Kaštela Bay, contrary to the Trogir Bay in which marina and shipyard present a probable source of Cu- and Zn-contamination.     

基于石墨烯构建的电化学传感器在环境监测中的应用

综述了基于石墨烯构建的电化学传感器在重金属、有毒气体、农药残留、酚类有机污染物等对环境造成一定危害的物质检测中的应用,并展望了石墨烯电化学传感器在环境监测领域中的发展。