Reproductive periodicity,spawning and development of the deep-sea scleractinian coral <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flabellum angulare</Emphasis>

Increasing threats to deep-sea corals highlight the need to expand knowledge of these taxa so that conservation measures can be developed. The present study focused on the reproductive patterns of the deep-sea solitary coral Flabellum angulare. A series of samples (n = 398) collected in 2006–2008 in the northwest Atlantic at depths of 925–1,430 m revealed that gametogenesis was synchronous among males and females and fluctuated seasonally. Initiation of gamete synthesis was estimated to be in August–September and spawning in June. Further analysis and daily monitoring of 30–60 individuals maintained in a flow-through mesocosm showed that gamete release occurred in March–June with a peak in May. Release of oocytes coincided with rising seawater temperatures and high deposition rates indicative of elevated water column productivity. Oocytes (900–1,200 μm diameter) were released through the oral cavity, generally in bundles of 3–5 surrounded by mesenterial filaments and attached to a thread (30–50 mm long). As oocytes became free in the water column, ovulation occurred followed by fertilization. Eggs/embryos initially remained on the tentacles of the spawner before either falling onto the substratum or floating to the surface. The embryos developed into planula larvae measuring 2–3 mm in length within about 24 h. Together, these findings shed new light on the strategies used by deep-sea corals to maximize their reproductive success.     

Evidence for the stratification of hydrocarbons in the epicuticular wax layer of female Megacyllene robiniae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Contact pheromones mediate mate recognition and play important roles in mating systems of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). One common bioassay of contact chemoreception in cerambycids involves presenting a freeze-killed female to a male in a Petri dish arena. If the male attempts to mate with the female carcass, it confirms that mate recognition signals are present and intact and behavior is not involved. Cuticular hydrocarbons are then stripped from the female with successive solvent washes, rendering her unattractive to males and also resulting in a crude extract containing the cuticular hydrocarbons. To test the bioactivity of the crude extract, the same female is then treated with the extract and presented again to the male. Males of some species, including Megacyllene robiniae (F?rster), respond less readily to reconstituted females than to those same beetles before they were solvent-extracted. In the present study, we test the hypothesis that the contact pheromone of M. robiniae, Z9:C₂₅, exists as a layer on the surface of the epicuticle. We used solid phase microextraction (SPME) to sample cuticular hydrocarbons of female beetles after they were freeze-killed, solvent washed, and treated with crude cuticular extracts. We found that extracting cuticular hydrocarbons from females and applying the resulting crude extract back onto the solvent-washed cadaver scrambles the wax layer and decreases the abundance of the contact pheromone presented on the surface of the insect.     

"What Works Well; What Needs Improvement": lessons in public consultation from British Columbia's resource planning processes

Resource planning and management in British Columbia, Canada, has been steadily moving towards more active public participation. While government agencies have long been required to consult the general public during the course of land or resource use planning, the 1990s brought in a period of more intense public involvement. In terms of resource planning, this led to the creation of several new planning processes. Given that there is now considerable experience with the Commission on Resources and Environment (CORE) and the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) processes, it is time for an appraisal. In particular, the paper examines the public's perceptions of these processes with respect to 'what works well' and 'what needs improvement'. The results highlight a number of areas to which process designers and managers should direct attention. There are three key items of note. First, there are generally low levels of awareness by respondents of public consultation processes in their community. Second, there is a need for access to timely, relevant and readable information throughout the course of the process in order to keep participants and the public as up-to-date as possible. Finally, there must be greater clarity about the process itself, including mandates, participants and decision-making powers.     

Chemical and Biological Reduction of PCE by Pneumatic Fracturing and Injection of ZVI in Saprolite

This article presents a case study of the source‐area treatment of tetrachloroethene (PCE) in a low‐permeability formation using zero‐valent iron (ZVI). Evidence of the stimulation of biological reduction processes within the treatment zone occurred. Pneumatic fracturing and injection of microscale ZVI slurry in the overburden and weathered bedrock zones was performed at a commercial brownfields redevelopment site in Maryland. A 20,000‐square‐foot source area impacted with PCE at concentrations greater than 15,000 µg/L was treated at depths ranging from 10 to 70 feet bgs. An average ZVI dosage of 0.0024 iron‐to‐soil mass ratio within the overburden zone led to a 75 percent decrease in PCE mass in less than one year. For the weathered bedrock zone, an average 0.0045 iron‐to‐soil mass ratio resulted in a 92 percent decrease in PCE mass during the same period. The reducing environment and hydrogen generated by the ZVI may have stimulated Dehalobacter populations, as evidenced by concentrations up to 10⁴ cells per milliliter measured within the treatment area despite a groundwater pH as high as 9. The biological reductive dechlorination of the chlorinated ethenes explains the temporary increase in trichloroethene and cis‐1,2‐dichloroethene concentrations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The guessing of mine safety signs meaning: effects of user factors and cognitive sign features

This study investigated the effects of user factors and cognitive sign features on the guessability of mine safety signs. Sixty na?ve participants guessed the meanings and rated the cognitive sign features of 42 Mainland Chinese mine safety signs. The results showed that some user factors were significant predictors of guessing performance, while some were not. As expected, guessability scores varied significantly with the cognitive sign features of familiarity, concreteness, simplicity, meaningfulness and semantic closeness. The findings emphasize the need to create awareness of the importance of mine safety and promote understanding of mine safety sign meanings amongst people in their work environments. To design more user-friendly mine safety signs, industrial designers should develop and evaluate signs with consideration of the significant user factors and the 5 sign features tested here.