落叶林在瑞典针叶林区乡村中的分布

在自然林火不再发生的同时,人们为了促进针叶树木的生长清除了落叶树种,并人为地将丰饶的森林变成了农地,由此,欧洲北部原有的针叶林景观发生了很大变化,一些地区的落叶林成分大大减少.然而,在乡村中落叶树种和落叶林得以保存下来,在一些弃耕的农田中也通过自然更新产生了新的落叶林木.我们在研究中做出以下假设,不同地区落叶林目前的分布格局与乡村中农业区和非农业区的分布相关,这种分布的形成又与当地的自然条件和以土地利用变化的形式表现的近期经济发展密切相关.我们的研究对象包括了瑞典北方针叶林和半北方针叶林区域中的6个地点--北博滕(Norrbotten)、翁厄曼兰(Angermanland)、耶姆特兰(Jamtland)、达拉纳(Dalarna)、Bergslagen和斯莫兰(Smaland),分析了乡村内农业区和非农业区中落叶林的空间分布.在每个地区,选择了6个以乡村为中心的5×5km样带.研究结果表明,在不同地区乡村中的不同景观区域,落叶林的分布和组成存在着明显差异.从单个乡村来看,翁厄曼兰中DEC(即落叶林成分)所占的比例平均最高(17%),而耶姆特兰则最低(2%).然而,农业区内和非农业区内DEC的数量却存在着规律性的地区差异,DEC在南方农业区内(斯莫兰)所占的比例最高,北方通常很低.对比之下,非农业区内DEC的数量在北方最高.相对较多的DEC出现在农业大量减少的地区的森林边缘地带(翁厄曼兰、达拉纳、Bergslagen).由于乡村在与落叶林有关的生物多样性中有着重要作用,因此本项研究的结果表明了对整个景观中的落叶林进行综合管理的必要性.通过本项研究,我们还可以看到卫星遥感数据可用于分析景观尺度上落叶树木和林分的空间分布.为了进行更为深入的研究,我们需要改进的专题分辨率以区分落叶林具相关生物特性意义的林分质量.     

Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Differences in Results of Quantitative Winter Studies on Selected Species of Corvids in Urban Green Areas

Russian Journal of Ecology - Winter quantitative studies on the Rook Corvus frugilegus, Hooded Crow Corvus cornix and Jackdaw Corvus monedula were conducted independently by two observers in the...     

Cities of the future—bionic systems of new urban environment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The concepts of the cities we know nowadays, and which we are accustomed to, change at a very rapid pace. The philosophy of their design is also...     

Mine rescuers’ heat load during the expenditure of physical effort in a hot environment,using ventilated underwear and selected breathing apparatus

Mine rescuers’ heat load under the same physical effort load (25% of the maximal oxygen uptake), using three types of breathing apparatus, in newly developed heat-removing underwear and outerwear was assessed for typical work conditions of mine rescuers, under milder and harsher ambient conditions of 32 and 38?°C, respectively, both at relative humidity of 85% and air velocity of 1.0?m/s. Expending physical effort at the same load while using different kinds of breathing apparatus resulted in a similar heat load. Under both milder and harsher ambient conditions, heat storage and sweating intensity were greater than the average limit value recommended by hygienic standards, which indicates that the use of breathing apparatus significantly hinders heat exchange with the environment. The developed clothing for mine rescuers was highly rated, and was considered by most people to be better than that used currently.     

Toxicity of aqueous mixture of phenol and chlorophenols upon photosensitized oxidation initiated by sunlight or vis-lamp

It is well established that aquatic wildlife in marine and freshwater of the European Union is exposed to natural and synthetic endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) which are able to interfere with the hormonal system causing adverse effects on the intact physiology of organisms. The traditional wastewater treatment processes are inefficient on the removal of EDCs in low concentration. Moreover, not only the efficiency of treatment must be considered but also toxicological aspects. Taking into account all these aspects, the main goal of the study was to investigate the photochemical decomposition of hazardous phenolic compounds under simulated as well as natural sunlight from the toxicity point of view. The studies were focused on photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol as well as mixture of phenol, 2-chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol. Photosensitized oxidation process was carried out in homogeneous and heterogeneous system. V. fischeri luminescence inhibition was used to determine the changes of toxicity in mixture during simulated and natural irradiation. The photodegradation was carried out in three kinds of water matrix; moreover, the influence of presence of inorganic matter on the treatment process was investigated. The experiments with natural sunlight proved applicability of photosensitive chitosan for visible-light water pollutant degradation. The results of toxicity investigation show that using photosensitive chitosan for visible-light, the toxicity of reaction mixture towards V. fischeri has significantly decreased. The EC₅₀ was found to increase over the irradiation time; this increase was not proportional to the transformation of the parent compounds.     

Acrylamide-induced disturbance of the redox balance in the chick embryonic brain

This study was undertaken to determine the redox balance in the developing brain after exposure to acrylamide (ACR), a potent neurotoxin. The studies were performed using an in ovo chick embryo model. The antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPx, CAT, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were used as indicators of the redox balance. Eggs were injected with ACR doses of 40 mg kg^?1 egg mass (2.4 mg egg^?1) on embryonic day 17 (E17). The activity of the antioxidant enzymes and the concentration of GSH were measured at E17, E18, and E19 in the medulla oblongata, cerebrum, cerebellum, and optic lobe. The results indicated a significant decrease in the GSH concentrations in the optic lobe (E19, E20) and cerebrum (E20) of embryos exposed to ACR. The activities of SOD and GPx were significantly increased in the majority of the examined structures after injection of ACR. CAT activity was completely inhibited in the brains of the embryos exposed to ACR compared to that in the brains of the control embryos. Thus, we concluded that ACR exerts a significant influence on the redox balance in the developing brain by impacting the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the levels of GSH.     

Concentration,sources and risk assessment of PAHs in bottom sediments

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aims of the study were to investigate the concentration, sources and ecological risk of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in bottom...     

Changes in the liver proteome in apoE knockout mice exposed to inhalation of silica nanoparticles indicate mitochondrial damage and impairment of ER stress responses associated with microvesicular steatosis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The adverse effects of air pollution on the cardiovascular system have been well documented. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an...     

Degradation of hop bitter acids by fungi

Nine fungal strains related to: Trametes versicolor, Nigrospora oryzae, Inonotus radiatus, Crumenulopsis sororia, Coryneum betulinum, Cryptosporiopsis radicicola, Fusarium equiseti, Rhodotorula glutinis and Candida parapsilosis were tested for their ability to degrade humulones and lupulones. The best results were obtained for T. versicolor culture, in which humulones and lupulones were fully degraded after 4days of incubation in the dark or after 36h in the light. The experiments were performed on a commercial hop extract and on sterilized spent hops.     

PCDDs/PCDFs, dl-PCBs and HCB in the flue gas from coal fired CFB boilers

The aim of the project was to measure the actual emissions of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) from four selected power plants in Poland in order to update the national inventory of PCDDs/PCDFs emission. Relatively low PCDDs/PCDFs as well as dl-PCBs concentrations in flue gas obtained in measurements in this study for four different circulated fluidized bed (CFB) boilers indicate practical absence of any hazards caused by PCDDs/PCDFs emission from these units. The results of PCDDs/PCDFs determination obtained in this study indicate that hard coal combustion in large CFB in the four central heating plants (CHP) is not a significant source of PCDDs/PCDFs emission to the environment even if operated by co-firing of waste coal. PCDDs/PCDFs concentration in flue gases as well as emission factors were recorded in the range of 0.012-0.060ngI-TEQ/m(n)(3) and 7.51-46.4mugI-TEQ/TJ, respectively. Dl-PCBs concentration was practically below the LOQ=0.006ng WHO-PCB TEQ/m(n)(3) in all experiments. HCB concentration as well as emission factors were recorded in the range of 11.5-42.0ng/m(n)(3) and 6.19-26.7mg/TJ, respectively, where the highest value was obtained for co-firing of waste coal, however. Obtained in this work emission factors will be used for national emission inventory purposes instead of the factors proposed by Toolkit or taken from previous measurements. However, consideration should be given to the fact that the measurements in most cases are related to single installations. Therefore, the need for further development of national factors for the power generation industry in Poland is desired.