Trans-Sahara migrants select flight altitudes to minimize energy costs rather than water loss

Meteorological conditions influence strongly the energy and water budget of birds. By adjusting their flights spatially and temporally with respect to these conditions, birds can reduce their energy expenditure and water loss considerably. By radar, we quantified songbird migration across the western Sahara in spring and autumn. There autumn migrants face the trade-off between (a) favorable winds combined with hot and dry air at low altitudes and (b) unfavorable winds combined with humid and cold air higher up. Thus, it can be tested whether birds may chose altitudes to minimize water loss instead of energy expenditure. We predicted optimal flight altitudes with respect to water loss and energy expenditure based on a physiological flight model when crossing the western Sahara and compared these model predictions spatially and temporally with measured songbird densities. The model aiming for minimal water consumption predicted a mean flight altitude of 3,400 m under autumn conditions. However, 64% of the nocturnal songbird migration flew at altitudes below 1,000 m above ground level profiting from tailwind. This preference for tailwind in autumn, despite the hot and dry air, emphasizes the importance of energy savings and diminishes the significance of possible water stress for the selection of flight altitude. Nevertheless, during daytime, high energy expenditure due to air turbulences and water loss due to warmer air and direct solar radiation prevent songbirds from prolonging their nocturnal flights regularly into the day. Birds crossing the Sahara save water by nocturnal flights and diurnal rests.     

Phosphate recovery with granular acid-activated neutralized red mud: Fixed-bed column performance and breakthrough curve modelling

Granular acid-activated neutralized red mud(AaN-RM) has been successfully prepared with good chemical stability and physical strength.However,its potential for industrial application remains unknown.Therefore,the performance of granular AaN-RM for phosphate recovery in a fixed-bed column was investigated.The results demonstrated that the phosphate adsorption performance of granular AaN-RM in a fixed-bed column was affected by various operational parameters,such as the bed depth,flow rate,initial...     

Nuptial coloration of red shiners (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinella lutrensis</Emphasis>) is more intense in turbid habitats

Communication is shaped and constrained by the signaling environment. In aquatic habitats, turbidity can reduce both the quantity and quality of ambient light and has been implicated in the breakdown of visual signaling. Here, we examined the relationship between turbidity (quantified with long-term data) and the expression of carotenoid-based nuptial coloration in the red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis), a small-bodied cyprinid. Males in more turbid habitats displayed redder fins, and an experimental manipulation of adult diet suggested that carotenoid intake alone did not explain among-population color differences. These results run counter to similar studies where signal expression decreased in turbid conditions, and may be explained by the non-territorial red shiner mating system, interactions between the mechanism of coloration and the signaling environment, or reduced cost of color expression in turbid habitats (e.g., reduced predation risk). Our results highlight how the behavioral and ecological contexts in which signals function can shape evolutionary responses to the environment.     

产酸脱硫反应器中碳硫比对群落生态特征的影响

通过产酸脱硫反应器处理高浓度含硫酸盐废水的连续流试验,从群落动态的角度研究碳硫比(COD/SO₄^2-)从4.2降低到2.0的过程中,pH值、氧化还原电位(ORP)、碱度(ALK)和末端产物(VFAs)组成、优势种群分布等群落生态特征的变化规律试验证明,在此过程中ORP和ALK提高,而pH值和VFAs中乙酸的分布比例降低,群落类型由高碳硫比稳定型转化为低碳硫比亚稳定型,但仍未改变乙酸型顶极群落的典型特征.     

Gamergates in the myrmicine genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metapone</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Gamergates (i.e. mated reproductive workers) are mostly known from ant species within the Ponerinae. We report here the discovery of gamergates in two species of the subfamily Myrmicinae. Until now, mated reproductive females in colonies of myrmicine species have been considered morphologically distinct from the worker caste. However, in two species of the myrmicine Metapone (Metapone madagascarica and a newly discovered, not yet described Metapone species) all workers have six ovarioles and a spermatheca; and some of them are mated. There are no morphological differences between mated and non-mated workers. Field observations and laboratory studies indicate that colonies of the Metapone species can reproduce with gamergates only.     

A study on Se application for improving the soil in the environment at lower Se level

A result that application of sodium selenite or fly ash to some of soilin loess plateau can increase Se content in wheat grain has been demonstrated by the pot and field experiments, and added Se in soil can last its availability for 3 years. So this is a good measure for improving the low Se soils and preventing the Kaschin-Beck disease.     

静态应力降与动态应力降比值方法在东北地区震后趋势判定中的应用

计算静态应力降与动态应力降之比Y值,根据Y值的大小初步判定地震类型,是震后趋势判定的一种新方法,对震后趋势快速判定有一定意义。通过计算我省历年有影响地震的Y值,发现2005年以来黑龙江省及其周边地区中强地震静态应力降与动态应力降之比(Y值)在0.3~0.6之间,总体来说Y值较大,其地震类型以孤立型地震为主,吉林省前郭县地震Y值为0.37,与我省其他中强地震相比,Y值相对较低,初步判定为震群型地震。     

树脂基纳米零价铁复合材料的制备及其去除重金属铅Pb(Ⅱ)的性能研究

凭借着优越的还原活性,纳米零价铁在环境污染治理和修复领域应用广泛。通过将纳米零价铁(n ZVI)颗粒负载到大孔阴离子和阳离子交换树脂上,成功制备出2种树脂基纳米零价铁复合材料。研究了2种复合材料及其载体对水溶液中Pb(Ⅱ)的去除性能,考察了不同载体功能基团对复合材料去除Pb(Ⅱ)性能的影响。结果表明:以大孔阴离子交换树脂为载体的D001-Fe0复合材料因具有离子交换和化学还原双重作用,对Pb(Ⅱ)的去除效率高、速率快。     

Vocal acrobatics in a Chinese frog, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amolops tormotus</Emphasis>

Although amphibians are highly vocal, they generally emit only a limited number of acoustic communication signals. We report here the extraordinarily rich vocal repertoire of Amolops tormotus, a ranid species in China. These frogs produce countless vocalizations, some of which share features of birdsong or primate calls, e.g., ultrasonic frequency components, multiple upward and downward FM sweeps, and sudden onset and offset of selective harmonic components within a call note. Frame-by-frame video analysis of the frog's calling behavior suggests the presence of two pairs of vocal sacs that may contribute to the remarkable call-note complexity in this species. Electronic supplementary material to this paper can be obtained by using the Springer LINK server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00114-002-0335-x.