Honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera) maintain temperatures of 35-36°C in their brood nest because the brood needs high and constant temperature conditions for optimal development. We show that incubation of the brood at the level of individual honeybees is done by worker bees performing a particular and not yet specified behaviour: such bees raise the brood temperature by pressing their warm thoraces firmly onto caps under which the pupae develop. The bees stay motionless in a characteristic posture and have significantly higher thoracic temperatures than bees not assuming this posture in the brood area. The surface of the brood caps against which warm bees had pressed their thorax were up to 3.2°C warmer than the surrounding area, confirming that effective thermal transfer had taken place. 相似文献
In the framework of this study, nitrogen fluxes on a limestone site are investigated. The major goals are the assessment of the nitrogen status, the estimation of the nitrogen budget and the evaluation of the nitrogen saturation. The investigation area, the intensive investigation plot and the research equipment are described. 相似文献
In Austria, the impact of sulphur has been assessed since 1985 with the help of the Austrian Bioindicator Grid on 760 sample plots with Picea abies as the main tree species (90%). The annual sampling allows a precise evaluation of the temporal and regional development of the impact of sulphur on the basis of legal standards. Despite the reduction of SO2 emissions in Austria, the legal standard is still exceeded on 8% of the plots. These plots are mainly located near large Austrian emittors, but also in areas affected by transboundary sulphur emissions from neighbouring countries. The present paper describes how the Bioindicator Grid can be applied for the control of legal requirements to enact effective clean air measures in Austria and take supportive measures that reduce the impact of sulphur from emittors in neighbouring countries. 相似文献
The intensive investigation site ‘Mühleggerköpfl’ in the North Tyrolean Limestone Alps can be classified as a clean-air area site. The mean concentrations of NOx are far below the effect-related limit value of the WHO (30 μg NOx m−3). The gravitational depositions in the open field (bulk deposition) ranged from 10.8 to 14.7 kg N ha−1 a−1 (throughfall: 11.3 to 12.3 kg N ha−1 a−1) in the measuring years 1998 to 2000. Compared to these data, depositions in other forested areas of the Austrian Alps amounted to up to 30 kg N ha−1 a−1. The gravitational depositions (bulk deposition) alone - without considering dry and occult deposition - slightly exceeded the lower limit of Critical Loads for coniferous and deciduous forests (> 10 kg N ha−1 a−1), but were below the Critical Loads for calcareous forests (15–20 kg N ha−1 a−1).
This 3-year study was designed to examine variation in plasma sex steroids, phallus size, and the standard error (S.E.) associated with these endpoints in juvenile alligators collected from 3 sites within the Kissimmee-Everglades drainage (Florida, USA) with varying concentrations of sediment organochlorine contaminants. We hypothesized that decreased plasma sex steroid concentrations and phallus size would be observed in the higher contaminant site when compared to the intermediate and lower contaminant sites. Furthermore, we hypothesized that greater S.E. associated with these endpoints would be observed for the populations from more contaminated sites. We found that differences existed with females from the higher contaminant site exhibiting lower plasma estradiol-17beta (E2) and testosterone (T) concentrations. Males from the higher contaminant site exhibited smaller phallus sizes than males from the intermediate and lower contaminant sites. Smaller phallus size in this case differed from that reported in Lake Apopka male alligators [Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 116 (1999) 356] in that a significant positive relationship between body size and phallus size existed. No difference among sites was observed in plasma T for males. Lower S.E. was associated with E2 and T concentrations in females from the higher contaminant site and in phallus size in males from the higher contaminant site. This pattern was opposite to what we had hypothesized. We concluded that variation in plasma E2 and T concentrations, phallus size, and the S.E. associated with these endpoints exists among the 3 sites with the patterns matching the patterns of organochlorine contamination, although S.E. patterns were opposite to what was predicted. 相似文献
Background Worldwide, large amounts of sediments have to be dredged annually from waterways and harbours. These sediments are sometimes
polluted with a variety of toxic compounds. In some countries, including Belgium, the load with the biocide tributyltin (TBT)
from ship coatings prohibits the dumping of harbour sludge into the sea. Land-based dumping is a commonly used alternative.
Objective This research investigated the feasibility to use land-deposited harbour sludge for plant production. In a field trial, the
growth of 38 more or less salt-tolerant plant species on low and high TBT-contaminated sediments was studied. The elimination
of TBT from sludge with and without vegetation was compared. The uptake of TBT and its degradation products di- and monobutyltin
(DBT and MBT) into harvest products under field conditions was determined.
- Experimental Set-up. Sediments dredged in May 2003 from the brackish waters of the port of Antwerp were analysed in the laboratory
for soil texture, pH, electroconductivity, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, ammonium, nitrate, total nitrogen, chloride,
sulphur and the organotins TBT, DBT and MBT. The sediments were lagooned for one year to dewater, desalinate and improve their
structure. Salt-tolerant domestic and wild plants were selected and sown in May 2004. In August 2004, plants were harvested
and the produced biomass was determined. Samples were taken from vegetated and non-vegetated top and bottom sediments and
from plants growing above soil and analysed for TBT, DBT and MBT.
Results The fresh sediments showed a good supply with nutrients and a neutral pH, but were rather saline (EC 14 mS cm-1 of the saturated
paste extract). The salinity decreased to 3.7 mS cm-1 during lagoonation. The high and the low contaminated sediment had initially
43 and 1.6 mg TBT kg-1 dry weight, respectively. Besides TBT, several other contaminants were present in the sediments at
critical levels. The biomass production of the plant species from the field trial ranged from 0.2 to 13 tons dry mass per
hectare. Plants performing excellently were barley, sorghum, rape seed, a clover/grass mix and reed. If at all, a positive
influence of TBT on plant growth was seen. TBT was degraded significantly faster (>40%) below barley. The uptake of TBT, DBT
and MBT into stem and leaves of reed, grass and clover was very low, but measurable and not related to concentrations in soil.
No uptake of TBT or its metabolites into corn of barley was found.
Discussion This study confirmed former results: the toxicity of TBT to higher plants is low, and even high levels in soils would not
be a hindrance for crop production. The removal of TBT seemed to be increased by both lagooning and plant growth, although
the target values for sea dumping in use in certain European countries were not reached. A plausible explanation for the faster
degradation of TBT under vegetation is that oxygen is a limiting factor, and plants dewater the soil, thus aerating it. The
uptake of the organotins TBT, DBT and MBT into harvest products is probably due to attached soil particles.
Conclusions To summarize, barley was the optimal species: it grew very well despite the salinity of the dredged sediments, it had a significantly
positive effect on TBT removal; it showed no measurable uptake of TBT or the other butyltins into the harvested product; and
it is a cash crop well established in European agriculture.
Outlook The amounts of dredged sediments are high, and good soils are becoming increasingly rare. The feasibility of using dredged
sediments for non-food production, such as energy crops, should be investigated by a critical risk assessment. 相似文献
Scope The German Federal Environmental Agency has put into operation a new modular mesocosm system consisting of eight outdoor and eight indoor ponds and streams in order to investigate fate and effects of chemicals and municipal wastewater in aquatic ecosystems. General design and special characteristics are given to demonstrate the wide range of possibilities for experimental research. - General design. Each of the 16 streams with riffle and pool sections can be varied in length up to 106 m. The streams can be run as circular or flow-through systems at a flow velocity of 0.02 to 0.6 m/s. Physico-chemical standard parameters are measured on-line. The 16 ponds, which can be connected to the stream systems, are equipped with drainage and pore water-sampling devices for simulating processes in the littoral zone including influent and effluent ground water flow. Perspectives Since the highly flexible and controllable construction also allows treating a wide range of hydrological and ecological experiments external institutions are invited to submit proposals. 相似文献
This paper examines the legitimacy, viability and efficiency of the European Union Solidarity Fund by asking whether the Fund
meets its stated purpose of providing solidarity within the EU, whether it is sufficiently capitalized and if it promotes
disaster risk reduction in Europe. In examining these questions, we make use of ADAM models of disaster risks throughout Europe.
We conclude that the Solidarity Fund falls short on all three counts, and we suggest possible alternatives. Most far-reaching,
we explore whether the EUSF could support insurance systems in Europe by, among other possible activities, capitalizing national
public-private insurance programs and providing support for government risk transfer. This would leverage the Fund’s capital
and would overcome barriers to the provision of private and public sector insurance in uncertain catastrophe markets. It would
also make insurance more affordable to Europe’s most vulnerable communities. Finally, it would reduce the disincentives for
risk reduction inherent in post-disaster assistance. 相似文献