Factors of Dynamics of Plankton Crustacean Communities under Eutrophic Conditions

Russian Journal of Ecology - It has been shown that the main drivers of the dynamics of cladoceran and copepod abundances can be predators (fish), the quantity and/or quality of food in terms of...     

The Ratio between Chronographic and Geographic Variation in the Morphofunctional Features of Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Shreb.) in the South of Its Range

Russian Journal of Ecology - A simultaneous analysis of the chronographic variation of the mandible of bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Shreb.) in three longitudinally distant populations that...     

玉米浸泡液制备苏云金杆菌生物杀虫剂的影响因素研究

以玉米淀粉生产过程中的浸泡液为培养基,摇瓶发酵培养苏云金杆菌生物杀虫剂,通过一系列单因子试验,考察了不同培养条件(种子液的种龄、接种量、浸泡液的含固率、初始pH值、摇床转速、发酵温度及发酵时间)对苏云金杆菌在玉米浸泡液中的生长(菌数增长与芽孢形成)以及发酵液的生物毒效的影响.研究表明,在最佳摇瓶培养条件(种子液种龄10 h,接种量2%,浸泡液含固量3%,初始pH值7.0～7.5,摇床转速200 r/min,发酵温度30℃)下发酵48 h,活菌数和活芽孢数分别可达到7.9×108 CFU/mL和5.5×108 CFU/mL,毒力效价为698.0 IU/μL.本试验可为生物农药的工业化生产提供实用参数.     

Distributions of heavy metals in the surface sediments of the Gulf of Saros, NE Aegean Sea

The Gulf of Saros in the northeastern Aegean Sea (Turkey) is a relatively unpolluted marine environment. There is almost no industry and only small settlements in the surrounding region. The main sources of fresh water and sediment to the Gulf are the Meric River in the northwest and the Kavak Creek in the east. It has an asymmetric bathymetry with a 10-km-wide shelf to the north and up to 15-km-wide, 700-m-deep trough in the south. Water circulation in the Gulf is characterized by longshore currents and anticyclonic eddies. The Black Sea waters, leaving the Sea of Marmara through the Canakkale Strait, are known to enter the southern Gulf during the summer. The surface sediments on the northern shelf consist mainly of sand, whereas those on the slope and the deep trough are mainly silt and clay. The ranges of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, and Hg contents of the surface sediments from the Gulf of Saros are 0.25 4.60%, 114 1740 ppm, 6-44 ppm, 23-154 ppm, 2-80 ppm, 14-145 ppm, and 10-130 ppb, respectively. These values are low compared to those from the other neighboring marine environments, indicating the pristine nature of the Gulf in terms of metal pollution. However, most metal and organic carbon (Corg) distributions in the Gulf sediments show the effect of anthropogenic and natural inputs to the northwestern and eastern shelf areas from the Meric River and the Kavak Creek and to the deep trough from the Black Sea waters.     

Distribution and possible source of trace elements in the sediment cores of a tropical macrotidal estuary and their ecotoxicological significance

The paper presents the first document regarding concentration, distribution and possible sources of selected trace elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, Al, B and Ba) in core sediments (<63 micro particle size) from the lower stretch of Hugli (Ganges) estuary, northeast coast of Bay of Bengal by ICP-AES and EDXRF to evaluate geochemical processes influencing their distribution and possible environmental consequences. The levels of elements showed a wide range of variations in different core depths, in upper and lower intertidal zones as well as among three sampling stations. The most interesting feature of the study is the downward increase of concentrations of majority of the elements reaching overall maximum values at a depth of 20-28 cm in upper littoral zone of the site located in the extreme downstream stretch of the estuary. Values of organic carbon showed very strong positive correlations with most of the elements as revealed by correlation matrix (r) values. The interelemental relationship revealed the identical behavior of element during its transport in the estuarine environment. The overall variation in concentration can be attributed to differential discharge of untreated effluents originating from industrial, agricultural, and aquacultural sources as well as from domestic sewage along with the fishing and boating activities. The resulting compositional dataset was tested by principal component analyses and cluster analyses. Pollution load index (PLI) and index of Geoaccumulation (Igeo) revealed overall low values but the enrichment factors (EFs) for Pb were typically high for all the stations. The mean concentrations of Zn and to some extent Cu exceeded the Effects Range-Low (ER-L) values in the majority of the cases indicating that there may be some ecotoxicological risk to organisms living in sediments. The concentration of the trace elements reported in this work is useful as baselines for comparison in future sediment quality studies.     

The Use of Natural Taraxacum officinale Wigg. Populations for Assessing the State of Technogenically Disturbed Areas

Russian Journal of Ecology -     

Management of an Agroecosystem

Agroecosystems (AESs) are autotrophic ecosystems managed by man. The goal of the management is to obtain the maximum possible amount of high-quality agricultural products while preserving agricultural resources, primarily the soils and biodiversity. The main components of the management of AES structures and functions, including primary and secondary biological production, the ratio between the energy flows in the plant–man and plant–livestock–man food chains, the efficiency of energy transfer in the plant–livestock link, and conservation of agricultural resources, are considered.     

Overview of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects of Pollution in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Nigeria

Pollution has taken on a global dimension, and the effects are most obvious in developing countries. The effects take a toll on human health, animals, and vegetation, as well as on soil, air, and water quality. The objective of this article is to discuss the current relationships among pollution, environmental quality, and human health within the frame of anthropogenic activities in developing countries. In addition to personal observations, we review relevant literature on conditions throughout the developing world and case studies on conditions and activities in Nigeria. Key findings show the significant, adverse contributions to human health and environmental risk from current waste generation and handling practices, indoor and outdoor air pollution, wastewater and effluent generation and disposal, the hazardous nature and pollution potential of wastes, and the human behaviors that contribute to pollution in developing countries. There is an urgent need to create awareness among the various segments of society of the human health hazards posed by pollution as well as a need for the comprehensive development and enforcement of appropriate policies to prevent a descent into an abyss of deteriorating human and environmental health.