Hysteresis in Reversal of Central European Mountain Lakes from Atmospheric Acidification

Extremely high emissions of S and N compounds in Central Europe (both 280 mmol m^-2 yr^-1) declined by 70and 35%, respectively, during the last decade. Decreaseddeposition rates of SO₄ ^-2, NO₃ ^-, and NH₄ ⁺ in the region paralleled emission declines. The reduction in atmospheric inputs of S and N to mountain ecosystemshas resulted in a pronounced reversal of acidification in the Tatra Mountains and Bohemian Forest lakes. Between the 1987–1990and 1997–1999 periods, concentrations of SO₄ ^-2 and NO₃ ^- decreased (average ± standard deviation) by 22±7 and 12±7 mol L^-1, respectively, in theTatra Mountains, and by 19±7 and 15±10 mol L^-1, respectively, in the Bohemian Forest. Their decrease was compensated in part (1) by a decrease in Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ (17±7 mol L^-1) and H⁺ (4±6 mol L^-1), and an increase in HCO₃ ^-(10±10 mol L^-1) in the Tatra Mountains lakes, and (2) by a decrease in Al (7±4 mol L^-1), Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ (9±6 mol L^-1), and H⁺ (6±5 mol L^-1), in Bohemian Forest lakes. Despite the rapid decline in lake water concentrations of SO₄ ^-2 and NO₃ ^- in response to reduced S and N emissions, their present concentrations in some lakes are higher than predictionsbased on observed concentrations at comparable emission rates during development of acidification. This hysteresis in chemical reversal from acidification has delayed biological recovery of the lakes. The only unequivocal sign of biological recovery hasbeen observed in erné Lake (Bohemian Forest) where a cladoceran species Ceriodaphnia quadrangular has recentlyreached its pre-acidification abundance.     

The territorial flight of male houseflies (Fannia canicularis L.)

Summary The heart rate (HR) of three male and five female European blackbirds (Turdus merula) was monitored by radiotelemetry under three conditions: in a dark cage, in a lighted cage, and in an outdoor aviary. In all three, the response to recorded bird song was tested.The resting HR in the cage ranged from 4.8 to 6.3 beats per second. The HR of all the birds changed in response to playback of conspecific song as well as of the songs of other species. In 68% of trials a typical biphasic HR curve was obtained, with acceleration followed by deceleration (Fig. 2). The time from stimulus onset to the second curve inflection (t _iII) averaged 15–18 s; this was significantly longer for conspecific than for heterospecific song. The parameter t _iII was used as a basic measure of the response.The reaction of the males was longer-lasting than that of the females. The possibility that this reflects the territorial role of the songs is discussed. Response durations were longest in the dark cage, and shortest in the aviary. The reason is thought to be the gradation in total stimulus input available to the bird.The results suggest that the HR response consists of an unspecific component (acceleration) plus a component specific to bird sounds (deceleration). At this fundamental level of stimulus processing it is possible to study reactions to single strophes not only in males, as with more traditional methods, but also in females and young birds.     

Lethal fighting between honeybee queens and parasitic workers (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis>)

Pheromonal signals associated with queen and worker policing prevent worker reproduction and have been identified as important factors for establishing harmony in the honeybee (Apis mellifera) colony. However, "anarchic workers", which can evade both mechanisms, have been detected at low frequency in several honeybee populations. Worker bees of the Cape honeybee, Apis mellifera capensis, also show this anarchistic trait but to an extreme degree. They can develop into so called "pseudoqueens", which release a pheromonal bouquet very similar to that of queens. They prime and release very similar reactions in sterile workers to those of true queens (e.g. suppress ovary activation; release retinue behavior). Here we show in an experimental bioassay that lethal fights between these parasitic workers and the queen (similar to queen–queen fights) occur, resulting in the death of either queen or worker. Although it is usually the queen that attacks the parasitic workers and kills many of them, in a few cases the workers succeeded in killing the queen. If this also occurs in a parasitized colony where the queen encounters many parasitic workers, she may eventually be killed in one of the repeated fights she engages in.     

Mantle buffering of the early oceans

Archean calcites and dolomites, if compared to their Phanerozoic counterparts, are enriched in Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, depleted in ¹⁸O, (Na⁺), and contain mantle-like ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and, in associated S phases, mantle-like ³⁴S/³²S. This may be a consequence of massive seawater pumping through, and equilibration with, the coeval basaltic oceanic crust. The exponential decline of oceanic geothermal gradient in the course of terrestrial evolution led to a waning of this “mantle” flux and to the enhancement of the continental river discharge as the controlling factor of seawater composition; the major transition occurring probably during the late Archean — early Proterozoic time interval. Such evolution is consistent with the observed tectonic, sedimentological, geochemical and metallogenic secular patterns and may also provide an alternative, or complementary, inorganic explanation for the development of the post-Archean oxygenic atmosphere.     

Differences in context and function of two distinct waving displays in the fiddler crab, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Uca perplexa</Emphasis> (Decapoda: Ocypodidae)

To respond appropriately to communication signals, animals must have the ability to decipher signal meaning. At a basic level, interpreting the difference between territorial and courtship signals can be vital for the survival and reproduction of social animals. Male and female fiddler crabs communicate with claw-waving displays, but the function of these waves remains uncertain. Species differ in the context in which they wave: Some wave during courtship, some during territorial defence and some during both. In this paper, we provide evidence that males of an Australian species of fiddler crab, Uca perplexa, use two different types of claw waving display, lateral and vertical. Lateral waves are employed solely in a courtship context, whilst vertical waves are employed during courtship as well as territorial interactions. Using video recordings, we show that lateral waves were produced spontaneously (broadcast), and their frequency increased only in the presence of female wanderers. Vertical waves were not broadcast but were elicited by male wanderers during agonistic interactions and female wanderers during close range courtship. Male resident U. perplexa were able to discriminate the sex of wandering crabs on the mudflat at distances of 32 cm. During all resident–wanderer interactions, residents attempted to maintain a position directly between the wanderer and the home burrow and orient themselves to face females and to present the major claw towards males. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the multiple use of waving displays in a fiddler crab species.     

Dioxin-/Furan-“Verbrennungsprofile” in Abgasen aus Hochtemperaturprozessen

Zusammenfassung  Verschiedene Mechanismen in der Abkühlungsphase von Hochtemperaturprozessen führen zur Neubildung von polychlorierten Dibenzo(p) dioxinen (PCDD) und polychlorierten Dibenzofuranen (PCDF) und, unabh?ngig von den jeweiligen Absolutkonzentrationen, zu vergleichbaren PCDD/F-Profilen, also prozentualen Anteilen einzelner Kongenere bzw. Homologengruppen an der Summe der betrachtten 17 Kongenere nach 17. BImSchV bzw. Homologengruppen Tetra-bis Octa CDD/F. Die Charakteristik dieser “Verbrennungs-profile” kann zur Plausibilit?tsprüfung von Messergebnissen sowie zur weitergehenden Deutung und zum Verst?ndnis der ablaufenden Reaktionsmechanismen beitragen. Online-First: 9. M?rz 2000     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediment by salinity and land-use type from Australia

Brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been incorporated in numerous products to reduce flammability. Depending on their bromination, PBDEs are relatively persistent in the environment and have the potential to bioaccumulate through the food web. The present study was initiated to provide a better understanding on the levels and possible origin of PBDEs in the aquatic environment of Australia. PBDEs were detected at 35 out of 46 sites and concentrations were relatively low in the majority of samples analysed. Mean+/-standard deviation and median SigmaPBDE concentrations across all sites were 4707+/-12,580 and 305 pg g(-1) dw, respectively, excluding the limit of detection. At 83% of sites, concentrations were below 1000 pg g(-1) dw, whereas elevated levels were found at sites downstream of STP outfalls and in areas dominated by industrial and urban land-use types. Concentrations of PBDEs differed significantly (p=0.007) among sites according to predominant type of land-use. Significantly (p=0.02) higher SigmaPBDE concentrations were also present in estuarine compared to freshwater environments, while PBDEs were below the limit of detection at the marine site. At most sites, BDE-209 contributed the highest proportion to the SigmaPBDE concentrations. The exception was one site with an elevated concentration of BDE-183. Sampling and analytical variability were investigated as part of this study. Results showed generally satisfactory results for repeat analysis at a different laboratory and low variability among samples collected within 1000 m at low contaminated sites. However, at sites with elevated PBDE levels, sampling variability was high, with several fold to magnitudes of higher concentrations present among replicate sites. Corresponding to findings from elsewhere, these results demonstrate that urban and industrial activities provide the key input sources of PBDEs to the aquatic environment and provide a baseline for further investigation into the specific origin of contamination, as well as information on the background status of aquatic sediment contamination with PBDEs.