Reduction of Methane Released from Palm Oil Mill Lagoon in Malaysia and Its Countermeasures

Palm oil industry in Malaysia is one of the potential candidates for the CDM project because large amount of methane is emitted from the lagoons and open digesting tank of the wastewater treatment system. Therefore the first objective of the project is to investigate the actual GHG emission from the lagoons and open digesting tank in palm oil mills in order to establish the baseline for CDM project. Results indicated that methane contribution to biogas released from the open digesting tank and lagoon systems were 35% and 45%, respectively. These values are much lower than the reported value of 65% obtained by complete anaerobic condition of lab-scale experiments. Based on actual methane release measurement and information gathered from palm oil mill about wastewater treatment, significant amount of methane emission to the atmosphere can be reduced with the installation of new closed digesting tank system converted from the open digesting tank such as just by covering it with applying CDM. It is estimated that a total of RM2.6 million could be obtained from the selling of electricity generated from biogas generation and Certified Emission Reduction(CER). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

生物炭复合菌剂促进堆肥腐熟及氮磷保留

为减少堆肥的氮素损失并提升磷素有效性,通过堆肥试验研究了添加生物炭复合菌剂对猪粪堆肥腐熟度及氮磷保留的影响.结果表明,在42d堆肥中,对照（CK）、生物炭（B）、菌剂（M）和生物炭菌剂（BM）4个处理组均达到了畜禽粪便无害化卫生要求标准.BM处理组的NH₃和N₂O释放累积量为2.36和0.93g,显著低于CK（8.01和1.31g）,且总氮含量达23.78g/kg,显著高于CK（18.36g/kg）.堆肥结束时,CK、B、M和BM处理的TP含量分别为16.41,17.16, 18.51及19.16g/kg,且BM组OP含量增加77.60%,显著高于CK（50.66%）.堆肥后,磷素有效性增加,并以M和BM的变化趋势最为显著,各处理的缓效磷和有效磷所占比例加合顺序为：BM（42.94%） > M（39.80%） > B（37.29%） > CK（31.51%）.研究表明,生物炭复合菌剂在促进堆肥腐熟和氮磷保留中具有良好的效果.     

Groundwater dependent ecosystems. Part I: Hydroecological status and trends

Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) include valuable ecosystems such as springs, wetlands, rivers, lakes and lagoons. The protection of these systems and services they provide is highlighted by international agreements, i.e. Ramsar convention on wetlands, and regional legislation, i.e. the European Water Framework Directive. Groundwater provides water, nutrients and a relatively stable temperature. However, the role of groundwater in surface ecosystems is not fully understood. The ecosystem can depend on groundwater directly or indirectly, and the reliance can be continuous, seasonal or occasional. This has implications for the vulnerability of ecosystems, as some may be easily affected by external pressure. Conceptual models and quantitative assessments of how groundwater interacts with the environment are needed. GDEs are also threatened by different land use activities and climate change. Hence, we need to understand how GDEs are affected by changes in groundwater quantity and quality, as severe groundwater changes have been observed in many regions. This study examines key aspects of GDEs (hydrogeology, geochemistry and biodiversity) in order to improve conceptual understanding of the role of groundwater in such ecosystems. The status and baseline of different types of GDEs are discussed, with particular emphasis on past evidence of environmental change and potential thresholds and threats in GDEs in various parts of Europe with different land use, climate and geology.     

Groundwater dependent ecosystems. Part II. Ecosystem services and management in Europe under risk of climate change and land use intensification

Groundwater in sufficient amounts and of suitable quality is essential for potable water supplies, crop irrigation and healthy habitats for plant and animal biocenoses. The groundwater resource is currently under severe pressure from land use and pollution and there is evidence of dramatic changes in aquifer resources in Europe and elsewhere, despite numerous policy measures on sustainable use and protection of groundwater. Little is known about how such changes affect groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs), which include various aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems above ground and inside the aquifer. Future management must take this uncertainty into account. This paper focuses on multiple aspects of groundwater science, policy and sustainable management. Examples of current management methods and practices are presented for selected aquifers in Europe and an assessment is made of the effectiveness of existing policies such as the European Water Framework Directive and the Habitat Directive in practice and of how groundwaters and GDEs are managed in various conditions. The paper highlights a number of issues that should be considered in an integrated and holistic approach to future management of groundwater and its dependent ecosystems.     

沿海省区洪灾脆弱性空间变化的初步探究

目前,脆弱性评估主要有建立指标体系、依据历史灾情和建立灾损曲线三种方法。选取国内评价洪灾脆弱性的典型指标构建指标体系,并采用主成分分析方法从原始数据中提取占总方差85．614％的3个主成分来分析影响洪灾脆弱性的主要因素,并通过聚类分析的方法来反映沿海省区洪灾脆弱性的空间变化。结果表明：人均产值、城镇建成区面积、居民消费水平、人口密度和地均产值等是影响沿海省区洪灾脆弱性的主要因素。最终沿海11个省区根据脆弱性差异聚成4类。     

Nine years after the invasion of Kuwait: the impacts of the Iraqi left-over ordnance

The Iraqi regime occupied the State of Kuwait for seven months. During this period the Iraqi Armed Forces brought into Kuwait massive quantities of army materials. These included heavy military equipment, armoured vehicles, tanks, missiles, munitions and mines. The worst of these were the mines and munitions. During the first five years of liberation, casualties in Kuwait were high and they reached hundreds of cases of both civilians and military personnel. Since 1995, the number of casualties has dropped sharply, largely as a result of the clearing efforts, but casualties are still occurring. This paper describes the type, quantities and distribution of the ordnance within the Kuwaiti desert, together with the clearance efforts. Because of the particularly adverse impacts of land mine use, strict international measures are required to prevent them being made.     

Studies on nest construction and nest microclimate of the Baya weaver, Ploceus philippinus (Linn.)

The nest construction pattern at different stages of nest and variations in the nest microclimate, i.e., temperature and light intensity were assessed in different nests of Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) between November 2002 and March 2003 in Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu, India. The Baya weaver constructed nests in palm (Borassus flabellifer), coconut (Cocos nucifera) and date palm trees (Phoneix psuilla) and majority of the nests were found in the solitary palm. The male bird only involved in the construction and took 18 days to construct a single nest. The birds spent different amount of working hours (in terms of days) for completing various stages of nests viz., wad, ring and helmet stage and in which the 'helmet stage took a maximum of eight days. Furthermore, totally eight active nests were selected and once in a week the variations in the nest microclimate was investigated with reference to atmospheric temperature and light intensity (two active nests) across day throughout the study period. The mean temperature of the nests ranged from 25 degrees C to 29 degrees C and light intensity varied between 25 Lux and 625 Lux. The analysis of variance (ANOVA and ANCOVA) indicated that the nest microclimate varied among the nests in different hr of a day     

Acute toxicity of potassium permanganate to Caspian roach Rutilus rutilus caspicus in two size classes and under different aeration conditions

Caspian roach, Rutilus rutilus caspicus, might experience potassium permanganate (PM) toxicity, because it is common and widely used disinfectant in fish rearing and propagation centers in Iran. Thus, acute toxicity (24-h-LC₅₀) of PM was determined on Caspian roach in two size classes (small and large groups), under aerated and non-aerated conditions, using static non-renewal system. 24-h-LC₅₀ for PM in Caspian roach was 3.2, 3, 3.2, and 2.8?mg?L^?1 in large-aerated, large-non-aerated, small-aerated, and small-non-aerated groups, respectively. Results indicated that aeration was led to decrease in PM toxicity, regardless of size class. However, large fish showed more tolerance to PM toxicity compared to small ones, under non-aerated condition. It is concluded that aeration could decrease the toxicity of PM that seems to be due to the increase in PM degradation, derived from increase in water turbulence. It is suggested that 96-h-LC₅₀ may be more suitable to determine the effects of fish size on PM toxicity than 24-h-LC₅₀.