Body condition and parasite intensity correlates with escape capacity in Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis)

Preys require effective anti-predator traits to escape from predator attacks, whereas predators focus on individuals that have lower fitness. This fitness reduction is due to the effects of many regulatory forces such as parasites. We directly observed in the field the escape performance of the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) against coursing predators (measured as the time to be taken by greyhounds) and examined the relationships between parasite loads and duration of escape behaviours to test the hypothesis that predators would more easily catch substandard individuals. We found a negative relationship between the hare’s escape duration and parasite burdens in various taxa (Taenia pisiformis cisticercus, intestinal Coccidia) as well as with parasite diversity. Moreover, the escape duration of the hares is related positively to their condition. In the particular case of T. pisiformis cisticercus, we found a negative relationship with body condition, suggesting that its effect on anti-predation ability could be mediated by direct spoliation of host resources and/or by increasing requirements for anti-parasite defence. As parasite loads were not directly manipulated, experimental studies are needed to elucidate any causal links between parasite and anti-predatory capacity in Iberian hares.     

Is there a different response to winds during migration between soaring and flapping raptors? An example with the Montagu’s harrier and the lesser kestrel

During migrations, birds have to cope with varying meteorological conditions, which shape their migratory routes and affect their performance. Amongst these, wind is the main meteorological agent influencing behaviour of birds in their migration journeys. Here we analyze the effect of winds during migrations of adult individuals of two raptor species tracked with satellite telemetry, the Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus) and the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni). While harriers use mostly soaring flight, kestrels principally use flapping flight and thus, wind can differently affect these birds. We found that both forward and perpendicular winds significantly affected the movements of the Montagu’s harrier, which were drifted from their intended direction but also took advantage of tailwinds. On the contrary, lesser kestrels moved more regardless of forward winds, despite they were highly drifted by crosswinds. Our results also support that the drifting effect of winds at the onset of the spring migration may explain the loop migration observed for both species, with birds compensating later the effect of crosswinds to arrive to their breeding areas. Results presented here illustrate how winds can differently affect migrating birds according to their flight modes.     

New Probit equations for the calculation of thermal effects on humans

In this paper new Probit equations are proposed to estimate damage produced by thermal radiation on humans (for first- and second-degree burns). They are compared to empirical threshold values and also to existing Probit equations. Results obtained are in good agreement with previous empirical experience. They also provide better estimations than existing equations. When an analysis is performed to study the evolution in the percentage of affected people by different degrees of damages, results show that proposed equations produce more consistent results than existing equations.     

A method for the assessment of long-term changes in carbon stock by construction of a hydropower reservoir

Sustainability of hydropower reservoirs has been questioned since the detection of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which are mainly composed of carbon dioxide and methane. A method to assess the impact on the carbon cycle caused by the transition from a natural river system into a reservoir is presented and discussed. The method evaluates the long term changes in carbon stock instead of the current approach of monitoring and integrating continuous short term fluxes. A case study was conducted in a subtropical reservoir in Brazil, showing that the carbon content within the reservoir exceeds that of the previous landuse. The average carbon sequestration over 43 years since damming was 895 mg C m\(^{-2}\mathrm{{day}}^{-1}\) and found to be mainly due to storage of carbon in sediments. These results demonstrate that reservoirs have two opposite effects on the balance of GHGs. By storing organic C in sediments, reservoirs are an important carbon sink. On the other hand, reservoirs increase the flux of methane into the atmosphere. If the sediments of reservoirs could be used for long term C storage, reservoirs might have a positive effect on the balance of GHGs.     

Emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from gasohol and ethanol vehicles

The exhaust emission of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) considered toxic to human health were investigated on two spark ignition light duty vehicles, one being gasohol (Gasohol, in Brazil, is the generic denomination for mixtures of pure gasoline plus 20–25% of anhydrous ethyl alcohol fuel (AEAF).)-fuelled and the other a flexible-fuel vehicle fuelled with hydrated ethanol. The influence of fuel type and quality, aged lubricant oil type and use of fuel additives on the formation of these compounds was tested using standardized tests identical to US FTP-75 cycle. PAH sampling and chemical analysis followed the basic recommendations of method TO-13 (United States. Environmental Protection Agency, 1999. Compendium Method TO-13A – Determination of polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in Ambient Air Using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (CG/MS). Center for environmental research information, Cincinnati, p. 78), with the necessary modification for this particular application.Results showed that the total PAH emission factor varied from 41.9 μg km^?1 to 612 μg km^?1 in the gasohol vehicle, and from 11.7 μg km^?1 to 27.4 μg km^?1 in the ethanol-fuelled vehicle, a significant difference in favor of the ethanol vehicle. Generally, emission of light molecular weight PAHs was predominant, while high molecular weights PAHs were not detected. In terms of benzo(a)pyrene toxicity equivalence, emission factors varied from 0.00984 μg TEQ km^?1 to 4.61 μg TEQ km^?1 for the gasohol vehicle and from 0.0117 μg TEQ km^?1 to 0.0218 μg TEQ km^?1 in the ethanol vehicle.For the gasohol vehicle, results showed that the use of fuel additive causes a significant increase in the emission of naphthalene and phenanthrene at a confidence level of 90% or higher; the use of rubber solvent on gasohol showed a reduction in the emission of naphthalene and phenanthrene at the same confidence level; the use of synthetic oil instead of mineral oil also contributed significantly to a decrease in the emission of naphthalene and fluorene. In relation to the ethanol vehicle, the same factors were tested and showed no statistically significant influence on PAH emission.     

Evaluation of a low-cost adsorbent for removal of toxic metal ions from wastewater of an electroplating factory

In this study, sugar cane residue or bagasse was used for removal of toxic metal ions from wastewater of an electroplating factory located in northeast Brazil. Prior acid treatment increased the adsorption efficacies in batch wise experiments. The microstructure of the material before and after the treatment was investigated by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Column operations showed that removals of Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ from wastewater (in the absence of cyanide) were 95.5%, 96.3.0%, and 97.1%, respectively. Regeneration of the adsorbent obtained in acid indicated that the efficiencies decreased only after the fourth cycle of re-use. Acid-treated sugar cane bagasse can be considered a viable alternative to common methods to remove toxic metal ions from aqueous effluents of electroplating industries.     

Increased biodegradability of Ultracid in aqueous solutions with solar TiO2 photocatalysis

A study of solar TiO(2) photocatalytic degradation of the insecticide Ultracidtrade mark, a commercial formulation containing methidathion as the active ingredient, is described. Total elimination of methidathion can be achieved in less than 2h of irradiation, although longer solar exposures are needed for complete mineralisation of the solution (7-8h). Activated sludge respirometry shows that when methidathion is eliminated, the solution is detoxified, so further irradiation does not seem necessary. A Zahn-Wellens test also indicates improved biodegradability of the treated sample after abatement of the active ingredient. Finally, analysis of the ions formed indicates that the thiophosphate moiety of the molecule is preferentially attacked in the early stages of the reaction, while the thiadiazole ring is more sluggish to the effect of TiO(2)-photocatalysis.     

On the performance of Fe and Fe,F doped Ti-Pt/PbO2 electrodes in the electrooxidation of the Blue Reactive 19 dye in simulated textile wastewater

The electrochemical performance of pure Ti–Pt/β-PbO₂ electrodes, or doped with Fe and F (together or separately), in the oxidation of simulated wastewaters containing the Blue Reactive 19 dye (BR-19), using a filter-press reactor, was investigated and then compared with that of a boron-doped diamond electrode supported on a niobium substrate (Nb/BDD). The electrooxidation of the dye simulated wastewater (volume of 0.1 l, with a BR-19 initial concentration of 25 mg l⁻¹) was carried out under the following conditions: current density of 50 mA cm⁻², volume flow rate of 2.4 l h⁻¹, temperature of 25 °C and electrode area of 5 cm². The performances of the electrodes in the dye decolorization were quite similar, achieving 100% decolorization, and in some cases 90% decolorization was achieved by applying only ca. 0.3 A h l⁻¹ (8 min of electrolysis). The reduction of the simulated wastewater organic load, monitored by its total organic carbon content (TOC), was greater for the Ti–Pt/β-PbO₂–Fe,F electrode obtained from an electrodeposition bath containing 1 mM Fe³⁺ and 30 mM F⁻. In this case, after 2 h of electrolysis the obtained TOC reduction was 95%, while for the pure β-PbO₂ and the Nb/BDD electrodes the reductions were 84% and 82%, respectively.     

Activity rhythms of two cirolanid isopods from an exposed microtidal sandy beach in Uruguay

Activity rhythms of two cirolanid isopods, Excirolana armata and Excirolana braziliensis, were studied based on both seasonal field observations and laboratory experiments, at an exposed microtidal sandy beach in Uruguay. The natural emergence patterns of both species were observed in the field for 1 year, twice in each season, and correlated to sea level, expected tidal cycles and diel cycles. Laboratory experiments were carried out in order to detect endogenous rhythms of activity and observe how emergence of both species was affected by changes in light and/or sediment thixotropy. We also compared behavioral strategies of sympatric species that occupy different beach levels. Sea level (and thus swash zone position) during field sampling did not follow expected tidal cycles for most sampling occasions. E. armata was observed in activity most of the time, but activity only correlated with sea level on three out of eight occasions, and only once was correlated to expected tidal cycle. Laboratory results showed that emergence under constant conditions was rare; changes in sediment thixotropy stimulated emergence, but the response was not cyclical; light had little effect on this response. On the other hand, E. braziliensis was fairly scarce in the water column, but swimming individuals were observed always during the night. They displayed an endogenous circadian activity pattern in the laboratory which augmented in response to changes in sediment thixotropy. The natural light/dark cycle modulated both spontaneous and response emergence by increasing day/night differences in activity. In this study E. armata, a midlittoral species more exposed to sea level variations, seemed to rely entirely on different physical and/or biological cues to trigger emergence at the appropriate time. E. braziliensis, found mostly in the upper intertidal zone, emerged in a circadian rhythm, which was stimulated by changes in sediment thixotropy and reinforced by light cycles. The results of this study led us to conclude that on microtidal, unpredictable beaches, local physical and biological factors can combine to determine different activity strategies in organisms from different intertidal levels. Received: 23 March 2000 / Accepted: 30 August 2000     

Multimethod,multistate Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach for use in regional monitoring of wolves

In many cases, the first step in large‐carnivore management is to obtain objective, reliable, and cost‐effective estimates of population parameters through procedures that are reproducible over time. However, monitoring predators over large areas is difficult, and the data have a high level of uncertainty. We devised a practical multimethod and multistate modeling approach based on Bayesian hierarchical‐site‐occupancy models that combined multiple survey methods to estimate different population states for use in monitoring large predators at a regional scale. We used wolves (Canis lupus) as our model species and generated reliable estimates of the number of sites with wolf reproduction (presence of pups). We used 2 wolf data sets from Spain (Western Galicia in 2013 and Asturias in 2004) to test the approach. Based on howling surveys, the naïve estimation (i.e., estimate based only on observations) of the number of sites with reproduction was 9 and 25 sites in Western Galicia and Asturias, respectively. Our model showed 33.4 (SD 9.6) and 34.4 (3.9) sites with wolf reproduction, respectively. The number of occupied sites with wolf reproduction was 0.67 (SD 0.19) and 0.76 (0.11), respectively. This approach can be used to design more cost‐effective monitoring programs (i.e., to define the sampling effort needed per site). Our approach should inspire well‐coordinated surveys across multiple administrative borders and populations and lead to improved decision making for management of large carnivores on a landscape level. The use of this Bayesian framework provides a simple way to visualize the degree of uncertainty around population‐parameter estimates and thus provides managers and stakeholders an intuitive approach to interpreting monitoring results. Our approach can be widely applied to large spatial scales in wildlife monitoring where detection probabilities differ between population states and where several methods are being used to estimate different population parameters.