Young-boy networks without kin clusters in a lek-mating manakin

I use 10 years of data from a long-term study of lek-mating long-tailed manakins to relate the social network among males to their spatial and genetic structure. Previously, I showed that the network connectivity of young males predicts their future success. Here, I ask whether kinship might shape the organization of this “young-boy network”. Not surprisingly, males that were more socially distant (linked by longer network paths) were affiliated with perch zones (lek arenas) that were further apart. Relatedness (r) among males within the network decreased as social distance increased, as might be expected under kin selection. Nevertheless, any role for indirect inclusive fitness benefits is refuted by the slightly negative mean relatedness among males at all social distances within the network (overall mean r = −0.06). That is, relatedness ranged from slightly negative (−0.04) to more negative (−0.2). In contrast, relatedness in dyads for which at least one of the males was outside the social network (involving at least one blood-sampled male not documented to have interacted with other banded males) was slightly above the random expectation (mean r = 0.05). The slight variations around r = 0 among males of different categories likely reflect dispersal dynamics, rather than any influence of kinship on social organization. Relatedness did not covary with the age difference between males. These results, together with previous results for lack of relatedness between alpha and beta male partners, refute any role for kin selection in the evolution of cooperative display in this lek-mating system. This contribution is part of the special issue “Social Networks: new perspectives” (Guest Editors: J. Krause, D. Lusseau, and R. James).     

Development of clade-specific Symbiodinium primers for quantitative PCR (qPCR) and their application to detecting clade D symbionts in Caribbean corals

We developed quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to distinguish each of the four clades (A–D) of dinoflagellate endosymbionts (genus Symbiodinium) commonly found in Caribbean corals. We applied these primer sets, which target portions of the multi-copy ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene family, to assess the presence/absence of symbionts in clade D (as indicated by the detection of clade D DNA). We detected these symbionts in five of six Caribbean host species/genera (21% of samples analyzed, N = 10 of 47 colonies), from which clade D had rarely or never been observed. This suggests that Symbiodinium in clade D are present in a higher diversity of coral species than previously thought. This qPCR-based approach can improve our understanding of the total microbial diversity associated with corals, particularly in hosts thought to be relatively specific, and has many other potential applications for studies of coral reef ecology and conservation.     

Effect of Cd on accumulation and loss of 210Po in the mussel Mytilus edulis

As a result of ²¹⁰Po's previously identified association with sulphur-rich proteins, metallothioneins could have a significant effect on the behaviour and fate of ²¹⁰Po in molluscs. Starved control and cadmium-exposed mussels, Mytilus edulis, were fed ²¹⁰Po-labelled algae (Isochrysis galbana) for 5 d and then allowed to depurate in clean sea water. Cadmium-exposed M. edulis accumulated less ²¹⁰Po in the digestive gland and the remainder of the tissue than control mussels, although this was due to a decrease in tissue weight. More than 40% of ²¹⁰Po was identified as being associated with high molecular weight and heat-treated cytosol proteins in M. edulis. Mussels in a starved state are known to recycle as much as 90% of their amino acids. It is proposed that ²¹⁰Po associated with these and other proteins is recycled, explaining why no significant loss of ²¹⁰Po was observed from the remainder of the tissue in either control or Cd-exposed mussels. Cadmium-induced metallothioneins had no effect on the distribution of ²¹⁰Po in M. edulis; <5% associated with the cytosolic fraction was considered to principally contain metallothioneins. It is suggested that ²¹⁰Po's apparent relationship with metallothioneins is coincidental rather than connected with its role in the regulation of metals. Received: 30 March 1998 / Accepted: 3 August 1998     

MEAD (part II)-Predictions of radioactivity concentrations in the Irish Sea

The predictions from MEAD, a model that simulates the transport of radionuclides in the marine environment, are presented for the Irish Sea. MEAD predictions for (137)Cs and Pu(alpha) are presented following discharges from BNFL Sellafield and the predictions compared to measured data from near the discharge location and further a field in the Irish Sea. The model performs well in most circumstances given the uncertainties involved in both modelling and data collection although some inconsistencies in the predictions are found. MEAD is also compared to other models of radionuclide transport in the Irish Sea.     

Opportunities for redistributed manufacturing and digital intelligence as enablers of a circular economy

The linear production of consumer goods is characterised by mass manufacture by multinational enterprises and globally dispersed supply chains. The current centralised model has created a distance between the manufacturer and end user, limiting the opportunity for intelligent circular approaches for production and consumption. Through a mixed method approach, opportunities of circularity are explored for the consumer goods sector. The study presents four lenses to analyse three enterprises through a multi-case study approach to explore the potential of digital intelligence and redistributed manufacturing (RDM) as enablers of circular business models. In addition, the study examines whether Discrete Event Simulation can be used to evaluate the circular scenarios identified through quantifying flows of material that determine traditional economic value (cost/tonne). The mixed method approach demonstrates that, a qualitative systemic analysis can reveal opportunities for circularity, gained through implementing ‘digital intelligence’ and distributed models of production and consumption. Furthermore, simulations can provide a quantified evaluation on the effects of introducing circular activities across a supply chain.     

Control strategies for particulate emissions from vehicular diesel exhaust

The advantages and disadvantages of several possible control strategies for particulate emissions from vehicular diesel exhaust are discussed. The evaluation of the potential usefulness of the various control strategies is based on available data concerning the mass loading and particle size distribution and on anticipated control standards. Several studies have been made on devices for removing particulate emissions from vehicular diesel exhaust. These studies, which include the techniques of filtration, wet scrubbers, and electrostatic precipitation, are summarized. A comparison of the various control devices is made based on such factors as size, efficiency, and maintenance requirements.     

Examination of a New Remedial Technology for Capping Contaminated Sediments: Large-Scale Laboratory Evaluation of Sediment Mixing and Cap Resistance to Erosive Forces

The potential effectiveness of a new composite-aggregate capping technology, AquaBlok^TM—in physically isolating contaminated, fine-grained sediments derived from an Ohio, Lake Erie tributary—was evaluated in the laboratory. In particular, large-scale settling-column studies were conducted to determine the degree to which composite-aggregate material penetrates into and/or mixes with the sediment, perhaps affecting the degree to which sediment could be physically isolated through capping. Additionally, large-scale flume studies were conducted to determine resistance of the composite-aggregate material to significant and long-term, fluvial-like erosive forces; the resistance of other potential capping materials was also evaluated for comparison. Experimental results indicate that the composite-aggregate material effectively isolates sediment through the formation of a continuous and relatively erosion-resistant, hydrated capping layer atop the sediments.     

Correlation between bioassay-derived P4501A1 induction activity and chemical analysis of clam (Laternula elliptica) extracts from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Variable levels of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons were measured in clams (Laternula elliptica) collected from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Clams collected in and near Winter Quarters Bay contained high levels of organochlorine compounds, particularly polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A strong gradient has been documented in Winter Quarters Bay that been linked to human activities at McMurdo Station. The activity of clam extracts as inducers of P4501A1-dependent ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was determined using in vitro bioassays utilizing rat hepatoma H4IIE cells. The extracts which exhibited the highest induction activities were those derived from clams collected in contaminated areas. Additionally, there was an excellent linear correlation between induced EROD activity versus total PCB levels (r²=0.96). The complimentary nature of both the analytical and bioanalytical data confirms the utility of the latter assay and provides a method for estimating the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) toxic equivalents in extracts from marine biota.     

Sediment radioisotope dating across a stratigraphic discontinuity in a mining-impacted lake

Application of radioisotope sediment dating models to lakes subjected to large anthropogenic sediment inputs can be problematic. As a result of copper mining activities, Torch Lake received large volumes of sediment, the characteristics of which were dramatically different from those of the native sediment. Commonly used dating models (CIC-CSR, CRS) were applied to Torch Lake, but assumptions of these methods are violated, rendering sediment geochronologies inaccurate. A modification was made to the CRS model, utilizing a distinct horizon separating mining from post-mining sediment to differentiate between two focusing regimes. (210)Pb inventories in post-mining sediment were adjusted to correspond to those in mining-era sediment, and a sediment geochronology was established and verified using independent markers in (137)Cs accumulation profiles and core X-rays.