Monitoring effects of remediation on natural sediment recovery in Sydney Harbour, Nova Scotia

Chemical contaminants were assessed in Sydney Harbour, Nova Scotia during pre-remediation (baseline) and 3 years of remediation of a former coking and steel facility after nearly a century of operation and historical pollution into the Sydney Tar Ponds (STP). Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, metals, and inorganic parameters measured in sediments and total suspended solids in seawater indicate that the overall spatial distribution pattern of historical contaminants remains unchanged, although at much lower concentrations than previously reported due to natural sediment recovery, despite remediation activities. Measured sediment deposition rates in bottom-moored traps during baseline were low (0.4–0.8 cm?year^?1), but during dredging operations required for construction of new port facilities in the inner Sydney Harbour, sedimentation rates were equivalent to 26–128 cm year^?1. Measurements of sediment chemical contaminants confirmed that natural recovery rates of Sydney Harbour sediments were in broad agreement with predicted concentrations, or in some cases, lower than originally predicted despite remediation activities at the STP site. Overall, most measured contaminants in sediments showed little temporal variability (4 years), except for the detection of significant increases in total PAH concentrations during the onset of remediation monitoring compared to baseline. This slight increase represents only a short-term interruption in the overall natural recovery of sediments in Sydney Harbour, which were enhanced due to the positive impacts of large-scale dredging of less contaminated outer harbor sediments which were discharged into a confined disposal area located in the inner harbor.     

Can urban tree roots improve infiltration through compacted subsoils for stormwater management?

Global land use patterns and increasing pressures on water resources demand creative urban stormwater management. Strategies encouraging infiltration can enhance groundwater recharge and water quality. Urban subsoils are often relatively impermeable, and the construction of many stormwater detention best management practices (D-BMPs) exacerbates this condition. Root paths can act as conduits for water, but this function has not been demonstrated for stormwater BMPs where standing water and dense subsoils create a unique environment. We examined whether tree roots can penetrate compacted subsoils and increase infiltration rates in the context of a novel infiltration BMP (I-BMP). Black oak (Quercus velutina Lam.) and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) trees, and an unplanted control, were installed in cylindrical planting sleeves surrounded by clay loam soil at two compaction levels (bulk density = 1.3 or 1.6 g cm(-3)) in irrigated containers. Roots of both species penetrated the more compacted soil, increasing infiltration rates by an average of 153%. Similarly, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) trees were grown in CUSoil (Amereq Corp., New York) separated from compacted clay loam subsoil (1.6 g cm(-3)) by a geotextile. A drain hole at mid depth in the CUSoil layer mimicked the overflow drain in a stormwater I-BMP thus allowing water to pool above the subsoil. Roots penetrated the geotextile and subsoil and increased average infiltration rate 27-fold compared to unplanted controls. Although high water tables may limit tree rooting depth, some species may be effective tools for increasing water infiltration and enhancing groundwater recharge in this and other I-BMPs (e.g., raingardens and bioswales).     

The reproductive consequences of male cooperation in the red howler monkey: paternity exclusion in multi-male and single-male troops using genetic markers

Summary Variance in male reproductive success in single and multi-male red howler (Alouatta seniculus) troops was examined through paternity exclusion using genetic markers. Coalitions of relatives were compared to coalitions of non-relatives with regard to duration, stability, and number of offspring expected for each participant based on paternity exclusion results. No evidence of paternity by males living outside of the troop was found. In multi-male troops, only the dominant male was found to father offspring conceived during his tenure. This was the only male observed to mount females. In both troops examined genetically wherein a status change had occurred, paternity changed with status. Coalitions of relatives and potential relatives lasted significantly longer than coalitions of non-relatives, and experienced fewer status changes between males. A direct advantage of forming a coalition for both dominant and subordinate red howler males resulted from the superior competitive ability of coalitions over single males in establishing and maintaining tenure in the limited number of female troops in the population. Although the mating success of a subordinate male in a coalition appears to be extremely low, his chances of achieving membership in a bisexual troop as a single male may be even lower. Since the majority of troops in the population during any given year were multi-male or age-graded male (85%–96%), the number of troops that a single male would be able to invade unaided was very small. A subordinate male may be able to assume dominance, particularly if he is a subadult. In coalitions in which males are related, the subordinate male will further benefit from inclusive fitness. A dominant male that forms a coalition with a relative can expect to have longer reproductive tenure than in a troop with a non-relative, thereby producing more offspring and directly enhancing his fitness. Anecdotal evidence suggests that males choose relatives over non-relatives as coalition partners when possible.     

建立组织外植体的共培养模型(in vitro)用于预测内分泌干扰效应(in vivo)：以黑头软口鲦(Pimephales promelas)的下丘脑-垂体-性腺（HPG）轴内分泌干扰作用为例

内分泌干扰物 （Endocrine Disrupting Compounds, EDCs）可以通过干扰下丘脑-垂体-性腺（HPG）轴来影响生殖系统。虽然目前已有筛选内分泌干扰物的体外检测方法,但这些方法在用于体内实验时却有着不稳定的准确性。本文记录了以黑头呆鱼（Pimephales promelas）的下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴与肝（HPG-L）的共培养组织作为组织外植体来模拟体内反应的结果。我们对成年鱼的大脑（下丘脑）,垂体,性腺和肝进行了单独和共同培养的检测来确定可以在体内重复的情况与组合。只有共培养体表现出去甲雄三烯醇酮对于雌二醇,睾酮和卵黄生成素生成趋势的影响。较低的暴露剂量会抑制激素生成,而较高的暴露剂量则会促进激素生成,形成U型作用曲线。这些数据表明下丘脑-垂体-性腺-肝轴的全部组织的共同培养可以作为体内实验与体外实验的连接,从而预测在完整生物体内内分泌系统的扰乱。本实验中以组织为基础的下丘脑-垂体-性腺-肝系统作为一个灵活的体内系统的解构版本得到了更好的实验控制。通过分离、审查和重组需要的组织,我们能够检测到生物系统功能与对于内分泌干扰物反应中的微小变化。
精选自Theresa K. Johnston, Edward Perkins, Duncan C. Ferguson, Donald M. Cropek. Tissue explant co-culture model of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver axis of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) as a predictive tool for endocrine disruption. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 35, Issue 10, pages 2530–2541, October 2016. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3415
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3415/full
     

Genetic structure of rhinoceros auklets,Cerorhinca monocerata,breeding in British Columbia,Alaska, and Japan

Data from eight microsatellite markers screened in 246 rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) from across the North Pacific revealed multiple genetic groups. The east (North America) to west (Japan) split was clearly evident in all analyses. Within the eastern Pacific, a minimum of three genetic groups are present. Surprisingly, rhinoceros auklets from Triangle Island, British Columbia, were genetically isolated from other nearby populations, including the breeding colony on Pine Island (~100 km to the east). A fourth genetic cluster (Chowiet Is) was detected using principal coordinate’s analysis; however, sample sizes were limited. Patterns of differentiation correspond to nonbreeding distributions with the eastern and western Pacific birds spending time off the west coast of North America and Japan, respectively, and may represent historical isolation in separate refugia during the Pleistocene glaciations. The patterns of genetic structure result from a combination of historical and contemporary factors influencing dispersal of rhinoceros auklets.     

Sorption mechanisms of cephapirin, a veterinary antibiotic, onto quartz and feldspar minerals as detected by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate sorption mechanisms of cephapirin (CHP), a veterinary antibiotic, onto quartz (SiO₂) and feldspar (KAlSi₃O₈) at different pH. Sorption occurs by electrostatic attraction, monodentate and bidentate complexation. The zwitterion (CHP^o) adsorbs to a quartz⁽⁺⁾ surface by electrostatic attraction of the carboxylate anion group (-COO⁻) at low pH, but adsorbs to a quartz⁽⁻⁾ surface through electrostatic attraction of the pyridinium cation, and possibly COO⁻ bridge complexes, at higher pH. CHP⁻ bonds to quartz⁽⁻⁾ surfaces by bidentate complexation between one oxygen of -COO⁻ and oxygen from carbonyl of an acetoxymethyl group. On a feldspar^(+/−) surface, CHP^o forms monodentate complexes between CO, and possible -COO⁻ bridges and/or electrostatic attachments to localized edge (hydr)oxy-Al surfaces. CHP⁻ adsorbs to feldspar⁽⁻⁾ through monodentate CO complexation. Similar mechanisms may operate for other cephalosporins. Results demonstrate, for the first time, that Raman techniques can be effective for evaluating sorption mechanisms of antibiotics.     

Understanding the Ecology of Blue Elderberry to Inform Landscape Restoration in Semiarid River Corridors

Societal constraints often limit full process restoration in large river systems, making local rehabilitation activities valuable for regeneration of riparian vegetation. A target of much mitigation and restoration is the federally threatened Valley elderberry longhorn beetle and its sole host plant, blue elderberry, in upper riparian floodplain environments. However, blue elderberry ecology is not well understood and restoration attempts typically have low success rates. We determined broad-scale habitat characteristics of elderberry in altered systems and examined associated plant species composition in remnant habitat. We quantified vegetation community composition in 139 remnant riparian forest patches along the Sacramento River and elderberry stem diameters along this and four adjacent rivers. The greatest proportion of plots containing elderberry was located on higher and older floodplain surfaces and in riparian woodlands dominated by black walnut. Blue elderberry saplings and shrubs with stems <5.0 cm in diameter were rare, suggesting a lack of recruitment. A complex suite of vegetation was associated with blue elderberry, including several invasive species which are potentially outcompeting seedlings for light, water, or other resources. Such lack of recruitment places increased importance on horticultural restoration for the survival of an imperiled species. These findings further indicate a need to ascertain whether intervention is necessary to maintain functional and diverse riparian woodlands, and a need to monitor vegetative species composition over time, especially in relation to flow regulation.