Phanogenia gracilis sensu lato is a shallow-water crinoid distributed throughout the Indo-western Pacific. The taxonomy of P. gracilis s.l. is clouded by the presence of two distinct morphotypes, each differing in morphology and ecology. The goal was to determine
the taxonomic status of P. gracilis s.l. using partial gene sequences of two mitochondrial DNA genes, cytochrome oxidase c subunit I and NADH dehydrogenase subunit
II, in conjunction with morphological and ecological data. The molecular phylogenies revealed three lineages separated by
5.0–6.6% corrected genetic distance, which is consistent with the genetic distances among other echinoderm species. Neither
morphotype was monophyletic, nor was any examined morphological character exclusive to any one lineage. Discriminant function
analysis (DFA) of the morphological and ecological data yielded significant results when grouping P. gracilis by morphotype and by clades recovered in the phylogenetic analyses, but grouping by sample locality was rejected. Although
DFA results of grouping by clade were significant, jackknife support was weak, while only correctly grouping specimens by
their respective clades 65% of the time. The results suggest the possibility of cryptic species, but additional molecular
and morphological data are needed to confirm this. This study demonstrates the need to reevaluate the taxonomy of crinoid
species and their respective diagnostic characters. 相似文献
Information and communications technology (ICT), primarily mobile telephones and social media, is increasingly important in crisis and disaster response in developing countries. This fact raises an important question: in an information environment that includes traditional media such as radio and television, who are the people that trust information from ICT enough to act on it during a disaster? Drawing on a case study of and original survey data from the island nation of the Independent State of Samoa, this paper yields insights into who uses new technologies, particularly mobile telephones, to make decisions at the local level during crises such as natural disasters, as well as the socio‐political factors that motivate their behaviour. The results add to the growing pool of knowledge on utilisation of ICT and new technologies in developing countries for disaster response, and provide practical information on the social and political factors that lead people to trust different information sources and media. 相似文献
Post-treatment impacts of a novel combined hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidation and WOx/ZrO2 catalysis used for the removal of 1,4-dioxane and chlorinated volatile organic compound (CVOC) contaminants were investigated in soil and groundwater microbial community. This treatment train removed ~90% 1,4-dioxane regardless of initial concentrations of 1,4-dioxane and CVOCs. The Illumina Miseq platform and bioinformatics were used to study the changes to microbial community structure. This approach determined that dynamic shifts of microbiomes were associated with conditions specific to treatments as well as 1,4-dioxane and CVOCs mixtures. The biodiversity was observed to decrease only after oxidation under conditions that included high levels of 1,4-dioxane and CVOCs, but increased when 1,4-dioxane was present without CVOCs. WOx/ZrO2 catalysis reduced biodiversity across all conditions. Taxonomic classification demonstrated oxidative tolerance for members of the genera Massilia and Rhodococcus, while catalyst tolerance was observed for members of the genera Sphingomonas and Devosia. Linear discriminant analysis effect size was a useful statistical tool to highlight representative microbes, while the multidimensional analysis elucidated the separation of microbiomes under the low 1,4-dioxane-only condition from all other conditions containing CVOCs, as well as the differences of microbial population among original, post-oxidation, and post-catalysis states. The results of this study enhance our understanding of microbial community responses to a promising chemical treatment train, and the metagenomic analysis will help practitioners predict the microbial community status during the post-treatment period, which may have consequences for long-term management strategies that include additional biodegradation treatment or natural attenuation.
Calcium carbonate often precipitates in anaerobic reactors treating wastewater with high calcium content. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of wastewater composition on calcium carbonate precipitation in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors. Two laboratory-scale UASB reactors were operated with calcium-containing influents using acetate and carbohydrate as substrate, respectively. There was an obvious accumulation of inorganic precipitate observed in the biogranules. Observations via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the acclimated biogranules in the two reactors differed in microstructure. Calcium carbonate was found to have precipitated on the surface of acetate-degrading biogranules, but precipitated at the core of the carbohydrate-degrading biogranules. The results indicated that substrates had significant influence on the location of calcium carbonate precipitation in anaerobic granular sludge, which was expected due to the different methanogens distribution and pH gradient within the granular sludge degrading various substrates. Moreover, the location of calcium carbonate precipitation substantially affected the specific methanogenic activity (SMA) of the granular sludge. The SMA of the acetate-degrading biogranules dropped from \(1.96 gCOD_{CH_4 } \cdot gVSS^{ - 1} \cdot d^{ - 1} \) to \(0.61 gCOD_{CH_4 } \cdot gVSS^{ - 1} \cdot d^{ - 1} \) after 180-d of operation in the reactor. However, the SMA of the carbohydrate-degrading biogranules was not adversely affected by calcium carbonate precipitation. 相似文献
The differential allocation hypothesis proposes that females mated to attractive males should invest more resources in their offspring than those mated to less-attractive males, whereas the compensation hypothesis posits that females mated to less-attractive males should invest more resources in their offspring to compensate for lower-quality young. We tested these hypotheses by manipulating attractiveness of male house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) prior to female arrival by adding extra nest sites to territories of some males while leaving control males with only a single nest site. Females laid their eggs sooner in the nests of attractive males, and attractive males were more likely to retain their territory over successive broods and were marginally more likely to obtain a mate for a second brood later in the season than were control males, thereby confirming the effect of our manipulation on male attractiveness. Experimentally enhanced attractiveness also led to increased hematocrit in males. However, there were no consistent differences in the number, size, or quality of eggs laid by females mated to attractive and control males, nor were there any differences in the size, health state, or immune function of nestlings produced from these eggs. There was also no effect of treatment on the number of nestlings surviving to fledging. Collectively, these results are inconsistent with both the differential allocation hypothesis and the compensation hypothesis. Future studies should consider the possibility that the criteria used by females in selecting a mate may vary temporally and be more flexible than generally thought. 相似文献
Ambient airborne particulate matter (PM) in southwestern North America consists of naturally derived desert dust, plus anthropogenic inputs from several sources. Epiphytic lichens (Usnea sp.) in this region are a useful biomonitor for the airborne PM because they derive nutrients and moisture largely from incorporated atmospheric aerosols, and not by absorption from the host tree limb from which they are suspended. Using a broad-based sampling strategy from southern Chihuahua, Mexico, to northern New Mexico, USA, we show that select elemental abundance ratios and lead isotopes from epiphytic lichens are useful for distinguishing between sources of airborne PM, and for gauging anthropogenic inputs into desert ecosystems. Abundance patterns of the trace elements La, Nd, and Sm in the lichens suggest origination from continental crust, but rare earth elements display a pronounced enrichment relative to the major element Fe by a factor of about 5. This enrichment appears related to geologic weathering, aeolian transport, and grain-size biases toward trace-element-rich mineral grains in the arid setting. Using the metal Pb as an indicator of human inputs, epiphytic lichens typically show Pb enrichments by a factor of about 25–60 over typical upper crustal values. Regional-scale differences in Pb isotope ratios of these lichens relate to different pollutant sources in southwestern North America. 相似文献
Invasive species can dramatically alter ecosystems, but eradication is difficult, and suppression is expensive once they are established. Uncertainties in the potential for expansion and impacts by an invader can lead to delayed and inadequate suppression, allowing for establishment. Metapopulation viability models can aid in planning strategies to improve responses to invaders and lessen invasive species’ impacts, which may be particularly important under climate change. We used a spatially explicit metapopulation viability model to explore suppression strategies for ecologically damaging invasive brown trout (Salmo trutta), established in the Colorado River and a tributary in Grand Canyon National Park. Our goals were to estimate the effectiveness of strategies targeting different life stages and subpopulations within a metapopulation; quantify the effectiveness of a rapid response to a new invasion relative to delaying action until establishment; and estimate whether future hydrology and temperature regimes related to climate change and reservoir management affect metapopulation viability and alter the optimal management response. Our models included scenarios targeting different life stages with spatially varying intensities of electrofishing, redd destruction, incentivized angler harvest, piscicides, and a weir. Quasi-extinction (QE) was obtainable only with metapopulation-wide suppression targeting multiple life stages. Brown trout population growth rates were most sensitive to changes in age 0 and large adult mortality. The duration of suppression needed to reach QE for a large established subpopulation was 12 years compared with 4 with a rapid response to a new invasion. Isolated subpopulations were vulnerable to suppression; however, connected tributary subpopulations enhanced metapopulation persistence by serving as climate refuges. Water shortages driving changes in reservoir storage and subsequent warming would cause brown trout declines, but metapopulation QE was achieved only through refocusing and increasing suppression. Our modeling approach improves understanding of invasive brown trout metapopulation dynamics, which could lead to more focused and effective invasive species suppression strategies and, ultimately, maintenance of populations of endemic fishes. 相似文献