Redressing cultural erosion and ecological decline in a far North Queensland aboriginal community (Australia): the Aurukun ethnobiology database project

Traditional environmental knowledge (usually imparted orally) is being lost from many regions of the world, requiring novel forms of transmission if this situation is to be redressed. Loss of this knowledge may be a significant contributory factor towards ecological decline. Undoubtedly, disruption to ecosystems and societies that depend on these has impacted on traditional land management practices, with negative ramifications for biodiversity. From an environmental perspective, scientists in northern Australia need to understand traditional Aboriginal methods of ‘caring for country’, such as burning regimes, so that these can be incorporated into strategies today for maintaining Australia’s rich biodiversity. However, information exchange should be two-way: as well as learning from local people, science can in turn benefit people who may have little experience of, for example, invasive species. The challenge is how can the complexity of biological knowledge from within different ontologies be represented and integrated in a way that it can be of use to scientists and local people, in order to ensure a sustainable future? The main aim of this study was to record existing local knowledge of biodiversity for the community of Aurukun (far north Queensland), integrating this knowledge with scientific data, while giving parity to both knowledge systems and protecting intellectual property rights. A cross-cultural collaboration between community members and ethnobiologists resulted in development of the Aurukun Ethnobiology Database. An interdisciplinary approach was taken to effectively model autochthonous biological knowledge and scientific data to create a database with a number of practical applications.     

Cacao in Eastern Guatemala––a sacred tree with ecological significance

Since at least 600 BC, cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) has occupied a place of cultural importance in Mesoamerica. In many Maya groups its importance as a ritual food plant is second only to maize (Zea mays L.). The Ch’orti’ Maya and their culturally non-indigenous Ladino neighbours in Eastern Guatemala continue to use cacao for culinary and ceremonial purposes. Of particular importance are cacao uses in Ch’orti’ rain ceremonies, which are strongly connected to local environmental knowledge. The protection of cacao as a sacred tree may help to limit slash-and-burn maize agriculture to sustainable levels.     

Measurement and modelling of radioxenon plumes in the Ottawa Valley

Since 2001 a real-time radiation monitoring network of Canadian nuclear facilities and major population centres has been implemented for response to nuclear incidents including a possible terrorist attack. Unshielded NaI(Tl) spectroscopic detectors are employed to measure gamma radiation from airborne radioactivity and radioactivity deposited on the ground. These detectors are composed of a standard 3'x3' cylindrical NaI(Tl) spectrometers with data storage and integrated telemetry. Some of the detectors have been deployed in the Ottawa Valley near Chalk River Laboratories and Ottawa, which has a complex radioxenon environment due to the proximity of nuclear power reactors, and medical isotope facilities. Although not a health threat, these releases have provided an opportunity for the Canadian Meteorological Centre and the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique to validate their meteorological models. The meteorological models of the two organizations are in good agreement on the origin and the source terms of these releases.     

Levels and determinants of beta(1-->3)-glucans and fungal extracellular polysaccharides in house dust of (pre-)school children in three European countries

BACKGROUND: Mold growth is believed to be one causative factor underlying the association between dampness in buildings and increased respiratory morbidity. Measurements of beta(1-->3)-glucans and fungal extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) are used as markers of mold exposure in field studies. Little is known about their levels and determinants in homes. OBJECTIVE: To study levels and determinants of beta(1-->3)-glucan and EPS levels in mattress and living room floor dust in three European countries. METHODS: Mattress and living room floor dust was collected in the homes of 1065 German, Dutch, and Swedish (pre-)school children. All samples were analyzed for beta(1-->3)-glucans and EPS in one central laboratory. Determinants were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS: Amounts of dust, EPS and beta(1-->3)-glucan levels differed between countries. Amounts of dust, beta(1-->3)-glucan and EPS levels for mattresses were only weakly correlated with those for living room floors. Floor dust beta(1-->3)-glucan loads, EPS loads and EPS concentrations were strongly correlated with the amount of dust sampled, which is largely determined by the type of floor that was sampled (carpeted floors had 5-20 higher amounts of dust). None of the other determinants was consistently and statistically significantly associated with amounts of dust, beta(1-->3)-glucan and EPS concentrations on floors and mattresses. CONCLUSION: Mattress dust and floor dust are two different measures of exposure to the investigated mold components. Living room floor beta(1-->3)-glucan and EPS loads and EPS concentrations are largely determined by the type of floor sampled. Differences between countries can only partly be explained by the determinants studied.     

Survey of patterns,levels, and trends of perfluorinated compounds in aquatic organisms and bird eggs from representative German ecosystems

Purpose  

Samples from the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) covering particularly the years 1994–1996, 2000–2002, and 2006–2009 were analyzed for perfluorinated compounds (PFC; mainly C4–C13 carboxylic and sulfonic acids) to gain an overview on current PFC levels and patterns in marine, limnetic, and terrestrial biota; to assess their concentrations in different trophic levels; and to investigate whether risk management measures for PFC are successful.     

Stackless Power Plant

When the 230-MW Volklingen power plant entered service in August 1982, it became the first power plant in Europe to desulfurize 100 percent of the flue gas without bypass. The FGD system forms an integral part of the cooling tower, and the flue gas is discharged through the tower. There is no stack. Mathematical models for the dispersal of the mixed emissions from the cooling tower have now been confirmed by readings of ground level concentrations. The dispersion pattern was recorded as part of exhaustive emission readings, which included measurements from powered gliders. It was shown that the dispersal of the desulfurized flue gas encounters more favorable atmospheric conditions than would be the case if it were discharged separately from a stack. One major element is the thermal thrust of the exhaust from the cooling tower. This approach to flue gas discharge reduces costs considerably, eliminating the need for reheating the gases to the 72° C required in West Germany for conventional FGD systems discharging through a stack.     

Response patterns in adult forest trees to chronic ozone stress: identification of variations and consistencies

The responsiveness of adult beech and spruce trees to chronic O(3) stress was studied at a free-air O(3) exposure experiment in Freising/Germany. Over three growing seasons, gas exchange characteristics, biochemical parameters, macroscopic O(3) injury and the phenology of leaf organs were investigated, along with assessments of branch and stem growth as indications of tree performance. To assess response pattern to chronic O(3) stress in adult forest trees, we introduce a new evaluation approach, which provides a comprehensive, readily accomplishable overview across several tree-internal scaling levels, different canopy regions and growing seasons. This new approach, based on a three-grade colour coding, combines statistical analysis and the proficient ability of the "human eye" in pattern recognition.