A study into the parameters affecting selected reaction monitoring of 2,3,7,8-TCDD

The use of high resolution (10,000 resolving power) coupled gas chromatography - mass spectrometry is a well established technique in the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) but in the case of heavily contaminated stack samples interferences can still occur. A complementary technique that offers high specificity is selected reaction monitoring (SRM).A study has been made into the effects that affect the metastable dissociation of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in the first field free region (FFR1) of a magnetic sector mass spectrometer, and monitored using SRM.Monatomic, diatomic and polyatomic gases have been investigated in the collision chamber of the mass spectrometer, as have the effects of electron energy, source temperature and trap current on the dissociation, and optima conditions determined for them.     

Genetic evidence for hybridisation between Haliotis rubra and H. laevigata

Seventeen abalone whose appearance was intermediate between the two commonly fished species in south-eastern Australia, blacklip (Haliotis rubra) and greenlip (H. laevigata), were collected between 1986 and 1989. Protein electrophoresis revealed that rare, morphologically intermediate abalone are predominantly F₁ hybrids; others are backcross individuals. There is also evidence of possible local introgression of H. rubra genes into H. laevigata and vice versa in sympatric populations. These two species exhibit marked morphological, behavioural and genetic differences, and yet hybridisation, although rare, occurs in at least several regions of sympatry. The commonly invoked explanations for the breakdown of species barriers, environmental disturbance and rarity of one of the parent species, do not appear applicable, unless microhabitat separation creates local rarity of one species. The frequency of hybridisation is discussed in relation to regional biogeography.     

Herbivory in the gammarid amphipod Aora typica: relationships between consumption rates, performance and abundance across ten seaweed species

This paper reveals a substantial capacity for herbivory of seaweeds in the gammarid amphipod Aora typica, adults eating seven of ten taxonomically and morphologically diverse seaweed species offered to them in a no-choice assay. The green algae Ulva spathulata and Enteromorpha intestinalis were consumed at the highest rates in both no-choice (2.3–2.5 mg blotted weight individual⁻¹ day⁻¹) and multiple-choice assays (0.5–1.3 mg blotted weight individual⁻¹ day⁻¹). Adult A. typica collected from two different species of brown seaweeds had very similar feeding preferences to each other. Juvenile A. typica grew to reproductive maturity on the green algae E. intestinalis and U. spathulata, and the brown algae Carpophyllum maschalocarpum and Ecklonia radiata. In common with previous studies on members of other amphipod families, survivorship of juvenile amphipods was positively correlated with feeding preferences of adults across seaweed species (r ²=0.43, P=0.04). However, densities of A. typica on seaweeds in the field (excluding the intertidal E. intestinalis and U. spathulata) were not significantly correlated with feeding preferences of adults (r ²=0.07, P=0.5) or survivorship of juveniles (r ²=0.17, P=0.31). This suggests that either host seaweeds are not a major dietary component of these amphipods in nature, or that the host’s value as a food source is overridden by other properties such as the degree of shelter it affords from larger consumers. This study provides the first demonstration that a member of the cosmopolitan amphipod family Aoridae is capable of consuming a diverse range of seaweeds.     

Analysis of target and nontarget pollutants in aqueous leachates from the hazardous waste site Stringfellow, California, via ion chromatography - particle beam and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatography particle beam mass spectrometry (PB/MS is a powerful tool for the analysis of target pollutants but complementary methods are required for nontarget compounds. Preliminary data are presented on an anion exchange chromatography PB/MS based method for the detection of the target compound 4-chlorobenzene sulfonic acid (a contamlnant found in hazardous waste leachates) and also for nontarget pollutants in aqueous leachate samples from the Stringfellow hazardous waste site in California. Anion exchange chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry yields qualitative and quantltative elemental analysis showing the presence or absence of key heteroatoms in organic pollutants including chlorine, other halogens, phosphorus and sulfur.     

The degradation of dyestuffs: Part I Primary biodegradation under anaerobic conditions

The paper describes a method for measuring the primary biodegradability of water soluble dyestuffs under anaerobic conditions and gives the results obtained on 22 dyes of commercial significance.     

Rick-sensitive foraging in common shrews: an interruption model and the effects of mean and variance in reward rate

Summary A model of risk-sensitive foraging based on a continuously foraging but interruptable predator is developed and tested in a simple choice experiment using common shrews.Given a choice of two feeding stations, shrews behaved in accordance with the broad predictions of the model. Having been trained below their estimated food requirement, shrewss preferred the station y elding the higher mean reward rate, but prefereence for a constant (constant reward rate) or risky variable reward rate) station was influenced by experience of variance in reward rate at the risky station.Preference was influenced most clearly by experience of reward rate variance during tests rather than training.     

Coupling ecology and GIS to evaluate efficacy of marine protected areas in Hawaii.

In order to properly determine the efficacy of marine protected areas (MPAs), a seascape perspective that integrates ecosystem elements at the appropriate ecological scale is necessary. Over the past four decades, Hawaii has developed a system of 11 Marine Life Conservation Districts (MLCDs) to conserve and replenish marine resources around the state. Initially established to provide opportunities for public interaction with the marine environment, these MLCDs vary in size, habitat quality, and management regimes, providing an excellent opportunity to test hypotheses concerning MPA design and function using multiple discrete sampling units. Digital benthic habitat maps for all MLCDs and adjacent habitats were used to evaluate the efficacy of existing MLCDs using a spatially explicit stratified random sampling design. Analysis of benthic cover validated the a priori classification of habitat types and provided justification for using these habitat strata to conduct stratified random sampling and analyses of fish habitat utilization patterns. Results showed that a number of fish assemblage characteristics (e.g., species richness, biomass, diversity) vary among habitat types, but were significantly higher in MLCDs compared with adjacent fished areas across all habitat types. Overall fish biomass was 2.6 times greater in the MLCDs compared to open areas. In addition, apex predators and other species were more abundant and larger in the MLCDs, illustrating the effectiveness of these closures in conserving fish populations within their boundaries. Habitat type, protected area size, and level of protection from fishing were all important determinates of MLCD effectiveness with respect to their associated fish assemblages. Although size of these protected areas was positively correlated with a number of fish assemblage characteristics, all appear too small to have any measurable influence on the adjacent fished areas. These protected areas were not designed for biodiversity conservation or fisheries enhancement yet still provide varying degrees of protection for fish populations within their boundaries. Implementing this type of biogeographic process, using remote sensing technology and sampling across the range of habitats present within the seascape, provides a robust evaluation of existing MPAs and can help to define ecologically relevant boundaries for future MPA design in a range of locations.     

Group-living in cliff swallows as an advantage in avoiding predators

Summary Cliff swallows (Hirundo pyrrhonota) in SW Nebraska, USA, nest in colonies and associate in groups away from their colonies. The degree to which group-living in this species affords advantages in the avoiding of predators was examined. The distance from the colony at which a snake predator was detected increased with colony size. In flocks away from the colonies, group vigilance increased, but the time that each individual spent vigilant decreased, with flock size. As a result, birds in large flocks had more time for preening and mud-gathering. Cliff swallows did not effectively mob predators and thus were unable to deter predators regardless of group size. Nesting within each colony was highly synchronous, but when the effects of ectoparasites on nesting success were removed, individuals nesting during the peak breeding period were no more successful than those nesting before or after the peak. This suggests that swamping of predators is unlikely in cliff swallow colonies. Nests at the edges of colonies were more likely to be preyed upon than nests nearer the center, suggesting that colonial nesting conferred some selfish herd benefits. Overall reproductive success did not vary with colony size. While cliff swallows receive some anti-predator benefits by living in groups, the avoidance of predators is probably not a major selective force for the evolution of coloniality in this species.     

Structure and evolution of song form in the wrens Thryothorus sinaloa and T. felix

Summary The songs of two species of wrens, Thryothorus sinaloa and T. felix, are less similar than previously believed. We have found that song structure, bout patterning, and other aspects of singing behavior are widely divergent between the two species, which are sympatric over much of their ranges. The nature of these differences supports the hypothesis of contrast reinforcement in bird song. Further evidence is provided by essentially parallel differences in another pair of sympatric species, T. pleurostictus and T. maculipectus. A cluster analysis of song form of the above four species plus one other, T. ludovicianus, suggests that those species which are allopatric are the most similar in song form, while sympatric species are the most dissimilar. We relate various features of singing behavior in the two species to some aspects to their ecology, and examine relationships among various song parameters within the genus Thryothorus. The parallel differences in pairs of sympatric Thryothorus in structure of song units, temporal organization of song, and duetting, along with the close correlation of groups of song parameters in the five species of Thryothorus leads us to propose that strategies or adaptive complexes of singing characteristics may exist in the genus.     

Spatial organization and behaviour of badgers <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Meles meles)</Emphasis> in a moderate-density population

Badgers are carnivores that show considerable variation in their social and spatial organization. At the westernmost part of their range, in Britain and Ireland, variation in spatial organization appears to be determined by the availability of resources. However, the majority of studies has focussed at one end of the social/spatial spectrum, where population densities are high and adjacent territories are contiguous and non-overlapping. To examine whether the same limiting factors appear to apply across a wider range of badger densities, we established a study site in a predominantly coniferous habitat within an upland area of northeast England, where population densities were predicted to be low. Seasonal home ranges of individual badgers were largest in autumn, followed by summer and spring, then winter. This pattern is reflective of the likely seasonal changes in food availability within the area, as opposed to being related to breeding patterns. There were also significant correlations between territory size and the number of grassland patches (positive) and the proportion of grassland (negative), which are consistent with predictions from the Resource Dispersion Hypothesis. Although badgers at the site were living at low to moderate densities relative to many other studied populations in Britain, they showed patterns of spatial organization that were close to those of high-density populations. The nature of the relationship between resource availability and abundance patterns is likely to have important consequences for the conservation and management of badgers and other species that show flexible spatial organization.