Employee reactions to corporate social responsibility: an organizational justice framework

We seek to bridge the macro concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with micro research in organizational justice. A theoretical model is presented whereby employees' perceptions of CSR impact their subsequent emotions, attitudes, and behaviors, mediated by instrumental, relational, and deontic motives/needs, as well as moderated by organizations' social accounts. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of satellite populations of emerald ash borer on projected economic costs in U.S. communities, 2010-2020

The invasion spread of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is characterized by the formation of satellite populations that expand and coalesce with the continuously invading population front. As of January 2010, satellite infestations have been detected in 13 states and two Canadian provinces. Understanding how newly established satellite populations may affect economic costs can help program managers to justify and design prevention and control strategies. We estimate the economic costs caused by EAB for the 10-yr period from 2010 to 2020 for scenarios of fewer EAB satellite populations than those found from 2005 to 2010 and slower expansion of satellite populations found in 2009. We measure the projected discounted cost of treatment, removal, and replacement of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) growing in managed landscapes in U.S. communities. Estimated costs for the base scenario with the full complement of satellites in 2005-2010 and no program to mitigate spread is $12.5 billion. Fewer EAB satellites from 2005 to 2010 delay economic costs of $1.0 to 7.4 billion. Slower expansion of 2009 satellite populations delays economic costs of $0.1 to 0.7 billion. Satellite populations that are both distant from the core EAB infestation and close to large urban areas caused more economic costs in our simulations than did other satellites. Our estimates of delayed economic costs suggest that spending on activities that prevent establishment of new satellite EAB populations or slow expansion of existing populations can be cost-effective and that continued research on the cost and effectiveness of prevention and control activities is warranted.     

Genetic caste determination in harvester ants: possible origin and maintenance by cyto-nuclear epistasis

While reproductive caste in eusocial insects is usually determined by environmental factors, in some populations of the harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex barbatus and P. rugosus, caste has been shown to have a strong genetic component. This system of genetic caste determination (GCD) is characterized by between-caste nuclear variation and high levels of mitochondrial haplotype variation between alternative maternal lineages. Two previous genetic models, involving a single nuclear caste-determining locus or interactions between two nuclear loci, respectively, have been proposed to explain the GCD system. We propose a new model based on interactions between nuclear and mitochondrial genes that can better explain the co-maintenance of distinct nuclear and mitochondrial lineages. In our model, females with coevolved cyto-nuclear gene complexes, derived from intra-lineage mating, develop into gynes, while females with disrupted cyto-nuclear complexes, derived from inter-lineage mating, develop into workers. Both haplodiploidy and inbreeding facilitate the buildup of such coevolved cyto-nuclear complexes within lineages. In addition, the opportunity for both intra-lineage and inter-lineage mating in polyandrous populations facilitates the accumulation of gyne-biasing genes. This model may also help to explain the evolution of workerless social, parasites. We discuss similarities of GCD and cytoplasmic male sterility in plants and how worker production of males would affect the stability of GCD. Finally, we propose experiments and observations that might help resolve the origin and maintenance of this unusual system of caste determination.     

Linking movement, diving, and habitat to foraging success in a large marine predator

Establishing where and when predators forage is essential to understanding trophic interactions, yet foraging behavior remains poorly understood in large marine carnivores. We investigated the factors leading to foraging success in gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Northwest Atlantic in the first study to use simultaneous deployments of satellite transmitters, time depth recorders, and stomach-temperature loggers on a free-ranging marine mammal. Thirty-two seals were each fitted with the three types of instrumentation; however, complete records from all three instruments were obtained from only 13 individuals, underscoring the difficulty of such a multi-instrument approach. Our goal was to determine the characteristics of diving, habitat, and movement that predict feeding. We linked diving behavior to foraging success at two temporal scales: trips (days) and bouts (hours) to test models of optimal diving, which indicate that feeding can be predicted by time spent at the bottom of a dive. Using an information-theoretic approach, a Generalized Linear Mixed Model with trip duration and accumulated bottom time per day best explained the number of feeding events per trip, whereas the best predictor of the number of feeding events per bout was accumulated bottom time. We then tested whether characteristics of movement were predictive of feeding. Significant predictors of the number of feeding events per trip were angular variance (i.e., path tortuosity) and distance traveled per day. Finally, we integrated measures of diving, movement, and habitat at four temporal scales to determine overall predictors of feeding. At the 3-h scale, mean bottom time and distance traveled were the most important predictors of feeding frequency, whereas at the 6-h and 24-h time scales, distance traveled alone was most important. Bathymetry was the most significant predictor of feeding at the 12-h interval, with feeding more likely to occur at deeper depths. Our findings indicate that several factors predict feeding in gray seals, but predictor variables differ across temporal scales such that environmental variation becomes important at some scales and not others. Overall, our results illustrate the value of simultaneously recording and integrating multiple types of information to better understand the circumstances leading to foraging success.     

Evaluation of the water genotoxicity from Santos Estuary (Brazil) in relation to the sediment contamination and effluent discharges

The genotoxic activity of water samples collected in 9 different sites within the area of the Santos estuary was preliminary evaluated, and related to previous data on the genotoxicity of sediments and the contents of PAHs in both water and sediment samples. The liquid discharge of a steel mill (coke plant), known to be mutagenic, was chemically analyzed to determine its PAH content. For the water evaluation we employed the Salmonella/microsome assay with the strains TA98 and TA100 with and without S9 mix in the plate incorporation method. The water was filtered with an AP20 membrane before being extracted with XAD4 at natural and acidic pH. The industrial effluent was filtered in 0.45 microm membranes before being extracted with the liquid/liquid method. Both membranes containing the particulate material were extracted using ultrasonication. PAHs were found associated with the suspended particles present in the industrial effluent in accordance with mutagenicity data previously reported. In relation to the estuarine waters, sites 1 and 5 presented low levels of mutagenic activity only in the filtered water (liquid fraction) extracts. At site 3, both the filtered water and particulate solids presented also low mutagenicity. Results show that the mutagenic activity observed in water could not be directly related to the genotoxic activity and PAHs contents of the bottom sediments.     

Ammonia emission factors for N fertilizers applied to two contrasting grassland soils

Ammonia volatilization from nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied throughout the year to two soil types was measured using a system of small wind tunnels. Losses from urea ranged from 12 to 46% of the applied N. Small losses, averaging <1%, were measured from ammonium nitrate (AN) and calcium nitrate applications. Factors influencing these losses are discussed. Using these results and those from other workers, emission factors for urea and AN applications to grassland in the UK were determined as 23.0 and 1.6% of the applied N, respectively. Emission factors for these fertilizers when applied to arable land were estimated as 11.8 and 0.8%, respectively. The emission factor for all other applied N (as straight and compound fertilizers) was assumed to be similar to that for AN. Calculations showed that fertilizer applications to agricultural land in the UK contributes 34 kt NH3-N per year, equivalent to 17% of the total annual NH3 emission.     

Nitrate in shallow groundwater in typical agricultural and forest ecosystems in China, 2004-2010

The nitrate-nitrogen(NO 3-N) concentrations from shallow groundwater wells situated in 29 of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network field stations,representing typical agroand forest ecosystems,were assessed using monitoring data collected between 2004 and 2010.Results from this assessment permit a national scale assessment of nitrate concentrations in shallow groundwater,and allow linkages between nitrate concentrations in groundwater and broad land use categories to be made.Results indicated that most of the NO 3--N concentrations in groundwater from the agroand forest ecosystems were below the Class 3 drinking water standard stated in the Chinese National Standard:Quality Standard for Ground Water(≤ 20 mg/L).Over the study period,the average NO 3--N concentrations were significantly higher in agro-ecosystems(4.1 ± 0.33 mg/L) than in forest ecosystems(0.5 ± 0.04 mg/L).NO 3-N concentrations were relatively higher(> 10 mg N /L) in 10 of the 43 wells sampled in the agricultural ecosystems.These elevated concentrations occurred mainly in the Ansai,Yucheng,Linze,Fukang,Akesu,and Cele field sites,which were located in arid and semiarid areas where irrigation rates are high.We suggest that improvements in N fertilizer application and irrigation management practices in the arid and semi-arid agricultural ecosystems of China are the key to managing groundwater nitrate concentrations.