Sedimentary organic matter and bacterial community in microtidal mixed beaches of the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean)

The quantity and quality of organic matter, and bacterial density and frequency of dividing cells were investigated in six microtidal mixed beaches of the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean) to evaluate their main trophodynamic features. Concentrations of biopolymeric carbon (average 88.5?±?89.0 µgC/g) and the protein:carbohydrate ratio (on average lower than 1) were very low and classified these beaches as highly oligotrophic. The study of biochemical composition highlighted the nature of organic matter as being mainly refractory; furthermore, the quantitative differences observed along the across-beach gradient together with the unchanged pattern in qualitative features suggest that the organic matter in Ligurian beaches is prevalently of marine origin. This implies a negligible contribution of allochtonous and anthropogenic terrestrial input or in situ autochthonous production. Bacterial density displayed values ranging from 0.1–9.0 cell?×?10⁸/g DW in the top 2?cm layer and showed a significant correlation with the quantity of organic matter. In addition, the frequency of dividing cells showed a positive correlation with the protein:carbohydrate ratio, suggesting that the biochemical composition of organic matter also has an influence on the active bacterial fraction. Because of the exposed nature, a strong coupling was found between the beach and the marine systems, and this seems to be of fundamental importance in terms of material and energy supply for the beach ecosystem. A shortage within this linkage was observed in summer owing to the strong environmental constrains leading to a sort of “beach desertification” and to a marked oligotrophy. Summer also has an effect of smoothing for spatial variability occurring within the biochemical and microbiological variables among the different beaches. The linkage observed between the sea and the land is the main factor controlling the origin and nature of sediment organic matter in these beaches also regulating bacterial abundances and the frequency of dividing cells.     

Orientation of the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca: cue-conflict experiments during spring migration

Hierarchical relationships among different compass systems in long-distance migrants are still a matter for discussion because different studies have led to highly variable and apparently contradictory results. We carried out cue-conflict experiments during spring migration on pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae). Birds were exposed to a conflict between celestial and magnetic information by altering the polarized light pattern or magnetic field. The polarization pattern was shifted (±90°) with filters, whereas the magnetic field was altered (+90°) through Helmholtz coils. Birds were tested in modified Emlen funnels both before and after the cue conflict; during the tests, only the natural magnetic field was available. This protocol was designed to test whether the experimental birds recalibrated their magnetic compass on the directional information derived from the light polarization pattern when the region near the horizon was visible during the conflict. Contrary to this expectation, we did not record any significant shift in magnetic orientation after one or repeated exposures to the cue conflict. Our results support earlier studies, which suggest that the magnetic field is the primary compass cue during the migratory period.     

预制床法生物修复胜利油田含油污泥的研究

针对胜利油田滨一污水站产生的含油污泥,建立了面积2400 m2的预制床处理工程,使用石油降解菌菌剂对含油量为110 160mg(以每千克烘干含油污泥计)的污泥进行了生物修复,经过160 d的处理后,含油污泥中石油降解率可达52.75%.针对北方冬季低温的特点,在处理场中建立了温室保温措施.温室内外修复效果的比较表明,在冬季采取适当的保温措施可以明显提高污泥中石油烃类的降解率.     

Biogeochemical assessment of the urban area in Moscow

The biogeochemical and ecological assessment of the industrial city territory including urban soils and trees was carried out. Chemical (macroelement and microelement) composition of the city soils, morphological and biochemical properties of the linden leaves, possible impact of de-icing salts on soil and tree state, the correlation between the content of trace elements, and the S-containing plant compounds (phytochelatins) were included in the assessment. It was found that concentrations of trace elements in the soils near road with intensive traffic are changed from the soils, located at a distance of 40–50 m from the road. They have higher concentrations of As, Fe, Mn, Se, and Sr and lower concentration of Zn. The linden leaves from the roadside were characterized by the increase in As, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Cr and sharp decrease in the Mn and Sr concentrations. The analysis of soil water extracts showed a slight decrease of pH and low content of Ca, Mg, K, and Na for the distant sites. The phytochelatin test of linden leaves was weakly effective as well as asymmetry degree study of leaf lamina. The main differences were observed in the damage symptoms of leaves (chlorosis and necrosis) and the content of pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids). The biochemical and ecological assessment of soils and trees showed relatively satisfactory ecological state of the investigated area in Moscow. The data obtained shows the weak local impact of the application of de-icing salts and automobile emissions.     

高羊茅对微牛物强化修复石油污染土壤影响的研究

进行了石油污染土壤在外源微生物菌剂和高羊茅协调作用下的强化修复试验，对外源微生物菌剂在不同植被条件下的去除特征进行了分析。分别进行了没有植物、高羊茅草坪、高羊茅草种新育草坪3种不同情况下的降解试验。结果表明，微生物菌剂对石油污染土壤有着良好的降解效果，去除率为36％-43％，而没有微生物菌剂和植被作用下的对照组的去除率仅为5．74％～6．0％；高羊茅草坪能够提高微生物进一步降解的能力，在直接铺草坪的情况下，去除率可以达到51％～62％；在播种高羊茅草种，形成新嫩草坪的情况下，去除率为48％～54％。结果表明，在直接铺高羊茅草坪条件下，微生物菌剂的强化分解作用可以提高41．6％-44．2％，在新嫩草坪作用下能够提高27．9％-30．6％，可以认为高羊茅草坪对于提高微生物菌剂的强化分解有一定的促进作用。在试验过程中还对不同修复的土壤pH值变化特性进行了分析。     

A practical guide to avoid giving up on giving-up densities

The giving-up density (GUD) framework provides a powerful experimental approach with a strong theoretical underpinning to quantify foraging outcomes in heterogeneous landscapes. Since its inception, the GUD approach has been applied successfully to a vast range of foraging species and foraging scenarios. However, its application is not simple, as anyone who has tried to use it for the first time might attest. Limitations of the technique were noted at its conception, yet only the artificiality of the patches, the appropriateness of the food resource, and the possibility of multiple visiting foragers were identified. Here we show the current uses of GUD and outline the practical benefits as well as the often overlooked limitations of the technique. We define seven major points that need to be addressed when applying this methodology: (1) the curvilinearity between harvest rate and energy, (2) the energetic state of the forager, (3) the effect of group foraging, (4) food quality and substrate properties, (5) the predictability of the patch, (6) behavioral traits of the forager, and (7) nontarget species. We also suggest how GUD experiments can be enhanced by incorporating complementary methods (such as cameras) to better understand the foraging processes involved in the GUD itself. We conclude that the benefits of using GUD outweigh the costs, but that its limitations should not be ignored. Incorporating new methods when using GUD can potentially offer novel and important insights into the study of foraging behavior.     

Data model for the collaboration between land administration systems and agricultural land parcel identification systems

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union (EU) has dramatically changed after 1992, and from then on the CAP focused on the management of direct income subsidies instead of production-based subsidies. For this focus, Member States (MS) are expected to establish Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS), including a Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) as the spatial part of IACS. Different MS have chosen different solutions for their LPIS. Currently, some MS based their IACS/LPIS on data from their Land Administration Systems (LAS), and many others use purpose built special systems for their IACS/LPIS. The issue with these different IACS/LPIS is that they do not have standardized structures; rather, each represents a unique design in each MS, both in the case of LAS based or special systems. In this study, we aim at designing a core data model for those IACS/LPIS based on LAS. For this purpose, we make use of the ongoing standardization initiatives for LAS (Land Administration Domain Model: LADM) and IACS/LPIS (LPIS Core Model: LCM). The data model we propose in this study implies the collaboration between LADM and LCM and includes some extensions. Some basic issues with the collaboration model are discussed within this study: registration of farmers, land use rights and farming limitations, geometry/topology, temporal data management etc. For further explanation of the model structure, sample instance level diagrams illustrating some typical situations are also included.     

An integrated approach for studying the land suitability for ecological corridors through spatial multicriteria evaluations

Nature conservation is a very important issue in the sustainability assessments and spatial planning context. Knowledge of the suitability of the land to behave as an ecological corridor thus provides very significant input to land-use planning. Nature conservation and land-use planning are by their nature spatial problems. A family of methods that are rapidly gaining traction for planning and policymaking, named spatial multicriteria evaluations (SMCE), which are based on geographic information systems (GIS) and multicriteria analysis (MCA) coupling, can be an effective support for this area. The present paper proposes the integration of the GIS with a specific MCA technique, named Analytic Network Process to assess the ecological value of the land in the Piedmont Region (northern Italy). The results are obtained in the form of maps to be used as decision variables in planning. The study concludes with some lessons learned during the development of the SMCE and highlights that the applied methodology is an effective tool for decision makers in spatial planning and strategic assessments.