Soot-water distribution coefficients for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polybrominated diphenylethers determined with the soot cosolvency-column method

For many types of hydrophobic compounds, sorption non-linearity and solid-water distributions in the field well above expectations from organic matter partitioning models have lead to the proposition that strong adsorption to soot surfaces may not be limited to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons but may extend as a significant process for many aromatic compound classes. Here, the soot-water distribution coefficients (Ksc) were determined with the soot cosolvency-column method for homolog series of five polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), five polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and for two polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). All compounds exhibited significantly stronger association with soot carbon than expected from estimates of their bulk organic-carbon normalized partition coefficients (Koc). The Ksc/Koc ratios (at aqueous concentrations of around 0.1-1 microg/l) were for PCDDs (up to tetrachlorination) 19-130 (median 25), for PCDFs (also up to tetrachlorination) 150-490 (median 300), and for both the tetra- and pentabrominated PBDEs a factor of 60. The particularly strong soot sorption for the PCDFs is of similar enhancement factors as previously elucidated for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Compound-class specific correlations between log Ksc and octanol-water partition coefficients (log Kow) were significant for both PCDDs and PCDFs (and with R2 > 98%). These may prove useful for anticipating variable fractions of dissolved exposures between different environmental regimes and putative remediation objects.     

Begging signals more than just short-term need: cryptic effects of brood size in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)

The begging of nestling birds is known to reliably signal short-term nutritional need, which is used by parents to adjust rates of food delivery and patterns of food distribution within broods. To test whether begging signals reflect more than just short-term feeding history, we experimentally created 18 "small" (4-nestling) and 18 "large" (8-nestling) broods in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca). Compared to small broods, large broods were provisioned by parents at a greater rate, but at a lower visit rate per nestling and with no obvious differences in load mass per visit. However, lower rates of food mass delivery per nestling in large broods did not result in any measurable reduction in nestling growth (i.e. "long-term need") or in any increase in the begging effort per individual nestling whilst in the nest. Mid-way through the nestling period we also used hand-feeding laboratory trials to assess in more detail individual begging behaviour and digestive performance of the three mid-ranking nestlings from each brood. More food items were required at the start of each trial to satiate nestlings from large broods, but despite this initial control for "short-term need", nestlings from large broods went on to beg at consistently higher rates and at different acoustic frequencies. Large brood nestlings also produced smaller faecal sacs, which were quantitatively different in content but did not differ in frequency. We suggest that different nutritional histories can produce cryptic changes in nestling digestive function, and that these can lead to important differences in begging signals despite controlling for short term need.     

A behavioral study of the beetle Tenebrio molitor infected with cysticercoids of the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta

The host–parasite relationship, Tenebrio molitor–Hymenolepis diminuta, was analyzed. The learning behavior of infected and uninfected (control) beetles in a T-maze was compared. The infected beetles moved much slower in the T-maze than the controls. The infected beetles reached the same level of learning as the controls. However, they needed more trials than the controls. The effect of the infection was already distinct after the first week and even higher after the second week. This indicates that the initial phase of infection caused stress in the beetles. Longer infection did not worsen their ability to learn. Thus, the parasites clearly changed the behavior of their intermediate host and probably made them more susceptible to their final host, the rat.     

MEAD: an interdisciplinary study of the marine effects of atmospheric deposition in the Kattegat

This paper summarises the results of the EU funded MEAD project, an interdisciplinary study of the effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the Kattegat Sea between Denmark and Sweden. The study considers emissions of reactive nitrogen gases, their transport, transformations, deposition and effects on algal growth together with management options to reduce these effects. We conclude that atmospheric deposition is an important source of fixed nitrogen to the region particularly in summer, when nitrogen is the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth, and contributes to the overall eutrophication pressures in this region. However, we also conclude that it is unlikely that atmospheric deposition can, on its own, induce algal blooms in this region. A reduction of atmospheric nitrogen loads to this region will require strategies to reduce emissions of ammonia from local agriculture and Europe wide reductions in nitrous oxide emissions.     

Eco-labelling: success or failure?

Eco-labelling was identified in Agenda 21 as a way of encouraging consumers to alter their consumption patterns and to make wiser use of resources and energy in the drive for sustainable development into the next century. A European-wide eco-labelling scheme was introduced by the European Commission (EC) in 1992 as part of its fifth and most recent Environmental Action Plan, the focus of which is also sustainability. The EC eco-labelling scheme aims to promote products with reduced environmental impacts throughout their life cycle and to provide consumers with better information about the environmental impact of products. This paper assesses whether eco-labelling is an effective means of improving the environment, using the eco-labelling of paper products as a case study. Paper products are examined because the development of their ecolabelling criteria has been a particularly complex and contentious issue. Moreover, although criteria have now been adopted for three groups of paper products, controversy has dominated the criteria-setting process and debate continues about the relevance of the selected criteria. It is concluded that while the concept of eco-labelling is good, the practical application of the concept is not straightforward. Furthermore, at present, there is little evidence of eco-labelling benefitting the environment.     

Keeping pace with forestry: Multi-scale conservation in a changing production forest matrix

The multi-scale approach to conserving forest biodiversity has been used in Sweden since the 1980s, a period defined by increased reserve area and conservation actions within production forests. However, two thousand forest-associated species remain on Sweden’s red-list, and Sweden’s 2020 goals for sustainable forests are not being met. We argue that ongoing changes in the production forest matrix require more consideration, and that multi-scale conservation must be adapted to, and integrated with, production forest development. To make this case, we summarize trends in habitat provision by Sweden’s protected and production forests, and the variety of ways silviculture can affect biodiversity. We discuss how different forestry trajectories affect the type and extent of conservation approaches needed to secure biodiversity, and suggest leverage points for aiding the adoption of diversified silviculture. Sweden’s long-term experience with multi-scale conservation and intensive forestry provides insights for other countries trying to conserve species within production landscapes.

     

Metal leaching from MSWI bottom ash as affected by salt or dissolved organic matter

In order to manage municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash safely, risk assessments, including the prediction of leaching under different field conditions, are necessary. In this study, the influence of salt or dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the influent on metal leaching from MSWI bottom ash was investigated in a column experiment. The presence of salt (0.1M NaCl) resulted in a small increase of As leaching, whereas no impact on leachate concentration was found when lakewater DOM (35.1mg/l dissolved organic carbon) was added. Most of the added DOM was retained within the material. Further, X-ray spectroscopy revealed that Cu(II) was the dominating form of Cu and that it probably occurred as a CuO-type mineral. The Cu(2+) activity in the MSWI bottom ash leachate was most likely determined by the dissolution of CuO together with the formation of Cu-DOM complexes and possibly also by adsorption to (hydr)oxide minerals. The addition of lake DOM in the influent resulted in lower saturation indices for CuO in the leachates, which may be due to slow CuO dissolution kinetics in combination with strong Cu-DOM complexation.     

Ensemble Modeling of the Baltic Sea Ecosystem to Provide Scenarios for Management

We present a multi-model ensemble study for the Baltic Sea, and investigate the combined impact of changing climate, external nutrient supply, and fisheries on the marine ecosystem. The applied regional climate system model contains state-of-the-art component models for the atmosphere, sea ice, ocean, land surface, terrestrial and marine biogeochemistry, and marine food-web. Time-dependent scenario simulations for the period 1960–2100 are performed and uncertainties of future projections are estimated. In addition, reconstructions since 1850 are carried out to evaluate the models sensitivity to external stressors on long time scales. Information from scenario simulations are used to support decision-makers and stakeholders and to raise awareness of climate change, environmental problems, and possible abatement strategies among the general public using geovisualization. It is concluded that the study results are relevant for the Baltic Sea Action Plan of the Helsinki Commission.