Screening of wood rotting fungi potentially useful for the degradation of organic pollutants

Many papers have shown that white rot fungi can degrade aromatic pollutants under laboratory conditions, but few report field scale trials. Here we report the first steps in the development of a remediation system for Greek conditions. A review of the available organochlorine compound pollution information in Greece is presented. White rot fungi isolated from sites in Greece have been screened for growth rate and ligninolytic activity, using decolourisation of the dye Poly R-478 as an indicator of enzyme activity. Use of white rot fungi under field conditions in Greece will require bioaugmentation to be effective at high temperatures and low water activity for much of the year. The most potent strains have been selected under a range of conditions and have been challenged with priority pollutants to determine their degradative ability under laboratory conditions and subsequently ex situ in soil.     

加强矿产资源开发中对环境的保护与治理

矿产资源开发对促进国民经济的发展具有重要的作用,但与此同时也带来不少环境问题,如破坏土地和生态环境,在矿石采选冶中产生“三废”对周围环境严重污染,破坏水资源平衡,引发地质灾害等。因此,现在必须高度重视并加强矿产资源开发中对环境的保护与治理,使矿产资源开发与矿山环境保护协调发展。首先,应制订并实施各地区的矿产开发规划,根据环境容量等调整矿业布局和矿业结构,严格对矿山环境进行监测、监管;其次,应加强对矿山环境的调查和评价,加强矿山环境保护的科技研究,提高矿山环境防治技术水平并加速技术推广;最后,应加强矿山环境保护的宣传教育,使矿山环境在全体公民的参与和监督下得到有效的保护。     

Mollusc feeding guilds on sandy beaches in São Paulo State,Brazil

The feeding guilds of four communities of molluscs living in the intertidal zone of Enseada in Caraguatatuba Bay and Barra Velha and Araçá beaches along the São Sebastião Channel were identified. Three-letter codes were assigned to each feeding guild, identifying the feeding habit, mobility patterns related to feeding, and food-capturing structures. Data were obtained from qualitative analyses of the digestive tract contents and from observations on the feeding behaviour of the gastropod Olivella minuta and the bivalves Tagelus plebeius, Macoma constricta, Tellina lineata, and T. versicolor. These data were complemented by published information on the feeding of congeneric or confamilial species. Six feeding guilds were identified. The SDS (suspension-feeder, discreetly motile, inhalant siphon and ctenidia) and DDS (deposit-feeder, discreetly motile, inhalant siphon and ctenidia) groups were more abundant. Suspension-feeding bivalves showed higher Trophic Importance Index (TI) values in all the study areas. Deposit-feeders showed high TI values only at Barra Velha beach. The species in the SDS feeding guild tended to occur in areas with lower salinity and moderately to well-sorted sediments with very fine sand predominating. The distribution of the feeding guilds correlated best with salinity, particle size distribution, and the contents of silt-clay and organic matter in the sediment.Communicated by P.W. Sammarco, Chauvin     

The effects of compost prepared from waste material of banana plants on the nutrient contents of banana leaves

In this study, the possible utilization of removed shoots and plant parts of banana as compost after fruit harvest were investigated. Three doses (15-30-45 kg plan(-1)) of the compost prepared from the clone of Dwarf Cavendish banana were compared with Farmyard manure (50 kg plant(-1), Mineral fertilizers (180 g N + 150 g P + 335 g K plant(-1)) and Farmyard manure + Mineral fertilizers (25 kg FM + 180 g N + 150 g P + 335 g K plant(-1)) which determined positive effects on the nutrient contents of banana leaves. The banana plants were grown under a heated glasshouse and in a soil with physical and chemical properties suitable for banana growing. The contents of N, P, K and Mg in compost and in farmyard manure were found to be similar. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of leaves in all applications except control, and Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu contents in all applications were determined between optimum levels of reference values. There were positive correlations among some nutrient contents of leaves, growth, yield and fruit quality characteristics. Farmyard manure, Farmyard manure + Mineral fertilizers and 45 kg plant(-1) of compost increased the nutrient contents of banana leaves. According to obtained results, 45 kg plant(-1) of compost was determined more suitable in terms of economical production and organic farming than the other fertiliser types.     

Uncertainty analysis of predicted disturbance from off-road vehicular traffic in complex landscapes at fort hood

The US Army Engineering Research Development Center (ERDC) uses a modified form of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to estimate spatially explicit rates of soil erosion by water across military training facilities. One modification involves the RUSLE support practice factor (P factor), which is used to account for the effect of disturbance by human activities on erosion rates. Since disturbance from off-road military vehicular traffic moving through complex landscapes varies spatially, a spatially explicit nonlinear regression model (disturbance model) is used to predict the distribution of P factor values across a training facility. This research analyzes the uncertainty in this model's disturbance predictions for the Fort Hood training facility in order to determine both the spatial distribution of prediction uncertainty and the contribution of different error sources to that uncertainty. This analysis shows that a three-category vegetation map used by the disturbance model was the greatest source of prediction uncertainty, especially for the map categories shrub and tree. In areas mapped as grass, modeling error (uncertainty associated with the model parameter estimates) was the largest uncertainty source. These results indicate that the use of a high-quality vegetation map that is periodically updated to reflect current vegetation distributions, would produce the greatest reductions in disturbance prediction uncertainty.     

LONG-TERM EQUILIBRIUM PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATIONS IN THE EVERGLADES AS PREDICTED BY A VOLLENWEIDER-TYPE MODEL1

ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic phosphorus loading, mainly from the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), is believed to be the primary cause of eutrophication in the Everglades. The state of Florida has adopted a plan for addressing Everglades eutrophication problems by reducing anthropogenic phosphorus loads through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in agricultural watersheds and the construction of stormwater treatment areas (STAs). Optimizing the effectiveness of these STAs for reducing phosphorus concentrations from agricultural runoff is a critical component of the District's comprehensive Everglades protection effort. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a simple tool that can be used to estimate STAs’performance and evaluate management alternatives considered in the Everglades restoration efforts. The model was tested at two south Florida wetland sites and then was used to simulate several management alternatives and predict ecosystem responses to reduced external phosphorus (P) loadings. Good agreement between model predictions at the two wetland sites and actual observations indicated that the model can be used as a management tool to predict wetlands’response to reductions in external phosphorus load and long-term P levels in aquatic ecosystems. Model results showed that lowering P content of the Everglades Protection Area (EPA) depends on reducing P loads originating from EAA discharges, not from rainfall. Assuming no action is taken (e.g., no BMPs or STAs implemented), the steady state model predicted that the average concentration within the modeled area of the marsh would reach 20 μg L^?1 within five years. With an 85 percent reduction in P loading, the steady-state model predicted that Water Conservation Area 2A (WCA-2A) P concentration will equilibrate at approximately 10 μ L^?1, while elimination of all loadings is projected to further reduce marsh P to values less than 10 μg L^?1.     

都市扩张与土地资源利用集约化：关于上海市城市发展模式的研究

随着我国经济的持续高速增长,人口向城市,尤其是大城市集中的趋势越来越明显,城市规模正在迅速膨胀。具体说来,主要体现在以下三个方面－城市占地面积的扩张;城市人口的膨胀;城市经济实力的增长。     

燃烧尾气中NOx选择性还原反应催化剂研究进展

介绍了从燃烧尾气中脱除ＮＯｘ的一系列选择性催化还原体系,其特色为能在氧浓度在较高条件下,利用燃烧尾气中未反应的有机物作还原剂,高选择性地与ＮＯｘ反应,其中负载Ｃｕ的ＺＳＭ－５催化剂有很高的活性,阐述了工业应用中存在的问题及对策。     

Oil Funding and International Financial Arrangements

The traditional source of funds for exploration and development of petroleum resources has been privately-owned petroleum companies. However, many of these same companies have recently borrowed heavily to finance their acquisitions of other petroleum companies. This may limit the ability of those companies to finance future exploration and development efforts, particularly in developing countries. Special financial arrangements may be needed if the funds required are to be available. The form of such arrangements is discussed, and emphasis is placed on the need to reconcile the differing needs of borrowers and lenders.     

我国城市污水工业回用的现状及存在问题的探讨

略述了近几年来我国城市污水工业回用的一些成功经验 ,提出了城市污水工业回用中存在的几个主要问题及其对策 ,展望了我国在这一领域的发展前景。