Life history consequences of variation in age at primiparity in northern elephant seals

Summary The age when female northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, bear their first young varies from 2 to 6 years. At Año Nuevo, California, a group of 77 females, primiparous at age 3, had a lower survivorship rate to each successive year up to age 8 than a group of 98 females that deferred initial pupping until age 4. The difference in survivorship appears to be due to the greater relative energetic costs of gestation and lactation incurred by the earlier breeding females during a period in their development when growth is rapid. An alternate hypothesis for the difference in survivorship — that young primiparous females are in poor condition from birth-is untenable; females that pupped early in life were larger at weaning age (a correlate of condition) than females that were primiparous 1 year later.Models based on the data show that differential survival of seals that vary in age at primiparity has important consequences for population growth and life history strategies. The effect of age at primiparity on the rate of increase of populations varies with colony density and juvenile survivorship. The optimal life history strategy for female elephant seals under most conditions existing today, including those at Ano Nuevo during the study period, is to bear the first offspring at age 4. Primiparity at age 3 is projected to be favored when harem density is very low and weaning success and juvenile survivorship are high; postponement of first breeding to age 5 is expected at high harem densities with intense competition for breeding space. Offprint requests to: B.J. Le Boeuf     

Utrastructural study of oogenesis and oocytic degeneration in Pecten maximus from the Bay of St. Brieuc

An ultrastructural study of oocytic development enabled the identification of changes occurring during oogenesis in Pecten maximus collected from the Bay of St. Brieuc, France, in 1987. Auxiliary cells, closely associated with developing oocytes were observed. Each oocyte seems to be associated with only one secretory cell, which is characterised by an abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum at the onset of vitellogenesis. Contact between this cell and a developing oocyte is maintained by a desmosome-like junction which can be observed when the vitelline coat is formed. These auxiliary cells seem to play a trophic role in vitellogenesis, and may be involved in the formation of the vitelline coat of the oocytes. Oocytic degeneration is discussed in detail; in this species, it is a continuous phenomenon of varying intensity throughout the year. The ultrastructural changes resulting in lysis of the oocyte are described, and the evolution of atretic oocytes is examined.     

徐州市农村地表水环境现状及污染防治

通过对徐州市农村地表水环境现状的调查,简要分析了徐州市农村地表水环境的污染状况、污染成因,并提出现阶段农村水污染的治理建议和发展方向.     

苯胺装置火灾爆炸事故的多米诺效应分析

针对一次苯胺装置重大火灾爆炸事故发生经过,分析了其多米诺效应发生的机理,找出了事故扩大的升级因素,计算了相应的多米诺效应破坏概率,并提出了预防事故多米诺效应的安全对策和相应的措施.     

空气中臭氧变化特征分析

利用空气自动监测子站中O3自动监测分析仪,对2007年2月－2008年2月鞍山深沟寺地区进行24小时连续监测,利用连续监测的数据,研究了空气中臭氧全年总体分布、季节变化、日变化规律。结果表明,本地区φ（O3）全年平均值为0．068mg／m^3,φ（O3）月均值在春末夏初季节出现达到最大值,在11月一次年1月出现低值,说明鞍山地区夏季臭氧光化学反应比较强烈。φ（O3）浓度随季节变化明显,春末夏初随日照时间加长而增高,最大月均值和最大日均值均出现在此时期,冬季随日照时间的减短而降低。     

Overstorey tree density and understorey regrowth effects on plant composition,stand structure and floristic richness in grazed temperate woodlands in eastern Australia

As natural woodlands decline in both extent and quality worldwide, there is an increasing recognition of the biodiversity conservation value of production landscapes. In low-input, low-productivity grazing systems in Australia, the modification of natural woodlands through overstorey tree and woody regrowth removal are vegetation management options used by landholders to increase native grass production for livestock grazing; however, there is little empirical evidence to indicate at what tree densities biodiversity attributes are compromised. We examined the effects of overstorey tree density and understorey regowth on the floristic composition, stand structure and species richness of eucalypt woodlands in a grazing landscape in the Traprock region of southern Queensland, Australia. We sampled 47 sites stratified according to vegetation type (Eucalyptus crebra/Eucalyptus dealbata woodland; Eucalyptus melliodora/Eucalyptus microcarpa grassy woodland), density of mature trees (<6 trees/ha; 6–20 trees/ha; >20 trees/ha), and presence/absence of regrowth. Distinct patterns in composition were detected using indicator species analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling, with low density areas compositionally indistinguishable, although distinct from other land management units. Within vegetation type, medium tree density woodlands were compositionally similar to high density and reference woodlands. Species richness ranged from 18 to 67 species per 500 m² across all sites. No differences in total or native species richness were detected across management units; however, some differences in exotic species richness were detected. Differences in grass cover existed between low and high density management units, yet no difference in grass cover was evident between low and medium density management units. Our results suggest that medium tree densities may provide biodiversity benefits concordant with more natural areas, yet not adversely impact on pasture production. Retaining trees in grazing landscapes provides significant landscape heterogeneity and important refuges for species that may be largely excluded from open grassland habitats. Maintaining a medium density of overstorey trees in grazed paddocks can provide both production and biodiversity benefits.     

Study on methane conversion to syngas over nano Pt-CeO2-ZrO2/MgO catalysts: Structure and catalytic behavior of catalysts prepared by using ion exchange resin method

Nano Pt-Ce0₂-Zr0₂/MgO catalysts with 0.8 wt.% Pt, 3.0 wt.% Ce0₂ and 3.0 wt.% Zr0₂ were prepared by wet impregnation mothod. Support MgO was obtained using ion exchange resin method or using commercial MgO. S_BET, XRD, TEM and C0₂-TPD were used to characterize the supports and catalysts. CH₄-C0₂ reforming to synthesis gas was performed to test the catalytic behavior of the catalysts. The catalysts prepared using ion exchange resin exhibited more regular structure, more basic sites and higher stability of Pt and MgO than prepared from commercial MgO. At 1073 K, atmospheric pressure, and at high gas hourly space velocity of 36,000 mL/(g-hr) with a stoichiometric feed of CH₄ and C0₂, the catalyst supported on the MOH(GD)-IE showed a higher and more stable activity for CH₄-C0₂ reforming reaction than the catalyst prepared using commercial MgO. The characterisation results demonstrated that the high activity and stability of the catalyst stem from the high dispersion of Pt, the stable structure and the high resistance to carbon deposition on the catalyst.     

我国硒污染分析与电解锰行业控制对策

硒是生命活动中的重要元素,世界卫生组织(WHO)1973年确认硒是人类生命必须14种微量元素中的第一线微量元素。硒的营养与中毒的界限是所有元素中最小的一个,若不足,则生物效应为"存活,缺乏",若过量,则"毒性,致死"。为了有效提高电解锰生产过程中的电流效率,国内企业广泛使用二氧化硒(SeO2)作为添加剂,导致操作工人长期暴露在硒污染作业环境中,同时锰渣中挟带大量的硒污染物进入到外环境中,存在着严重而明显的环境和生态隐患。因此,研究分析电解锰行业硒污染及其控制技术具有其必要性及重要性。     

某聚合物驱油先导实验职业卫生调查

对某采油厂聚合物驱油先导试验项目进行了职业卫生调查,以明确有害因素存在的岗位部位、种类、危害程度,并对职业病危害控制措施及效果进行调查分析。