Chemical ornaments of male lizards <Emphasis Type="Italic">Psammodromus algirus</Emphasis> may reveal their parasite load and health state to females

Evidence for parasite-mediated sexual selection has been found in many species that use visual ornaments to attract females. However, in many animals, variation in female responses to scents of parasitized males suggests that parasitic infections might also affect information conveyed by pheromones (i.e., chemical ornaments). Thus, pheromones might also function in parasite-mediated sexual selection. We show here that female lizards Psammodromus algirus responded differently to femoral gland secretions of males according to the parasite load and health of these males. Scents of healthier males elicited more tongue flicks (a chemosensory behavior) by females, suggesting that these scents were more attractive. Chemical analyses showed that parasite load and the T-cell-mediated immune response were related to the variability in the proportions of some lipids in secretions of males. Further trials testing the chemosensory responses of females to chemical standards indicated that females actually discriminated the chemicals related to males’ health from other chemicals found in secretions. We suggest that these chemical ornaments may provide reliable information on the health and degree of parasitic infection of a male.     

Fly ash content and distribution in lake sediments around a large power station: inferences from magnetic susceptibility analysis

The bulk magnetic susceptibility of sediments from artificial and natural lakes around a large coal-fired power station in NE Spain has been measured. Higher magnetic susceptibility values are found in lake sediments located SE of the power station. This distribution of susceptibility values is compatible with environmental and meterological studies of emissions from the power station, which indicate a dominant SE plume direction. Mineralogical studies, by means of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, show that the highest susceptibility values found in the sediments are caused by magnetic iron spinels in the fly ash that is transferred to the environment by the power station particulate emissions. After the quantitative mineralogical studies of fly ash, two different methods of fly ash content determination in the sediments have been devised, showing very similar results. The low background magnetic susceptibility of the sediments in the study area and the high susceptibility resulting from the input of magnetic fly ash particles allows both delimitation of the polluted area around the power station, and quantification of the fly ash input into the natural sediments.     

Spatial distribution of the infaunal benthic communities of the Ría de Muros,north-west Spain

Benthic samples were collected at 13 stations in the Ría de Muros, north-west Spain. There are three major communities: (1) in the southern and outer part of the ría, an Amphiura filiformis—Thyone fusus community, inhabiting sandy sediments with low organic content; (2) in the middle part of the ría, and Amphiura chiajei—Maldane glebifex community, inhabiting muddy sediments that are not anoxic (sulphide not detected); (3) in Muros Bay and the inner part of the ría, a Spiochaetopterus costarum community, inhabiting anoxic sediments with high organic content. Biomass is very high (up to 46.2 g ash-free dry wt) in the first two communities. In the Spiochaetopterus costarum community, biomass and diversity are much lower, probably because of oxygen deficiency.     

Ni2+金属结合肽的筛选和序列分析

利用噬菌体随机十二肽库对金属N i2 进行了结合肽筛选,经5轮生物淘洗、噬菌体扩增和DNA测序,获得8条多肽序列,分析发现其中富含组氨酸(4~6个/肽).结果表明,组氨酸的存在对蛋白质和金属N i2 的结合起着关键作用.图1表1参11     

Individual dispersal status influences space use of conspecific residents in the common lizard, Lacerta vivipara

The effects of immigration on the behaviour of residents may have important implications for the local population characteristics. A manipulative laboratory experiment with yearlings of the common lizard (Lacerta vivipara) was performed to test whether the introduction of dispersing or philopatric individuals influences the short-term spacing behaviour of resident individuals. Staged encounters were carried out to induce interactions within dyads. The home cage of each responding individual was connected by a corridor to an unfamiliar “arrival cage” to measure the latency to leave their own home cage after each encounter. Our results showed that the time that pairs spent in close proximity was longer when a dispersing individual was introduced in the home cage. The latency to leave the home cage was longer after the introduction of a dispersing individual. These response variables were not influenced by the relative body sizes of contestants nor by the level of aggression towards each other. In contrast, the aggressive response was significantly influenced by the residency asymmetry established experimentally (“owner” of the home cage vs introduced individual). Our results suggest that the space use by resident individuals is influenced by the dispersal status of conspecifics. The potential ultimate causes driving this effect are discussed.     

Cadmium contents of cultivated soils exposed to contamination in Poland

Cadmium was measured in soils limed with industrial solid wastes, in cultivated lands located near waste yards and in soils of allotment gardens exposed to contamination. The median level and range of cadmium in soils of varying exposure to contamination was respectively: 0.3 mg kg^–1 and 0.01–107 mg kg^–1, 0.2 mg kg^–1 and 0.02–2,198 mg kg^–1, 0.4 mg kg^–1 and 0.05–161 mg kg ^–1. Cadmium levels exceeded the value of 3 mg kg^–1 considered permissible for arable soils in the samples of soils limed with wastes from the chemical industry (2.4%), the mining industry and metallurgy sites (2.1 %), in 12.4% samples of soils located in the neighbourhood of industrial waste storage yards and in 17.2% samples of soils from allotment gardens located on lands formerly used for waste storage.     

传统农业区土地利用对土壤氮素季节动态变化的影响——以官厅水库上游延庆盆地为例

土地利用对土壤养分时空动态变化的影响,不仅影响到土壤中养分元素的利用效率,同时会影响到养分流失的危险性和区域非点源污染的形成。本文通过野外采样分析,按照不同时期对官厅水库上游延庆盆地内的玉米地、蔬菜地、果园、其他经济类用地的土壤全氮含量进行了测定;分析了不同农业用地影响下土壤氮素的季节动态变化特征和土壤垂直剖面变化。结果发现:(1)0～40cm是玉米地养分活跃层;蔬菜地的养分含量在0～10cm土层变化最剧烈;果园整个剖面上养分变化均较剧烈;其它经济用地在25～40cm土层养分变化较大;(2)果园和蔬菜地是研究区内养分活动最活跃的土地利用方式,蔬菜地的表层养分流失风险性最高,对于地表水和地下水具有很高的潜在影响;果园在整个剖面上养分变化较大,其发生养分的淋溶流失的风险性最高;玉米和其他经济用地养分变化不大。研究结果建议,传统农业区在开展农业结构调整时,尤其是将传统的农作物种植改为蔬菜地和果园时,必须加强对农田生态系统研究,实施严格的科学管理,提高养分的利用效率,降低对环境的影响。     

应用在线传感器实现前置反硝化工艺生物脱氮的过程控制

为了实现前置反硝化工艺硝化反硝化反应的过程控制,系统地研究了硝化反硝化过程中DO、pH和ORP的变化规律,并考察了它们作为硝化反硝化过程控制参数的可行性.结果表明,pH值在缺氧区的变化分为下降型和上升型,从而指示系统反硝化反应进行的程度以及内循环回流量是否充足;缺氧区末端ORP值和硝酸氮浓度具有较好的相关性;好氧区第1格室的DO浓度可以指示进水氨氮负荷高低;pH值在好氧区的变化也可分为下降型和上升型,可指示系统硝化反应进行的程度、曝气量和碱度是否充足;好氧区末端ORP值与出水氨氮、硝酸氮浓度具有很好的相关性.在此基础上建立了硝化反硝化反应在线控制系统,从而实现曝气量、内循环回流量和外碳源投加量的在线控制,提高系统出水水质、降低运行费用.图7表1参8     

小陇山森林生态系统服务功能价值评估

小陇山林区位于秦岭西端,甘肃省东南部,是黄河、长江中上游地区重要的水源涵养林,对维护黄河、长江流域水生态安全具有重要的战略地位.采用市场价值法、替代费用法等对小陇山林区森林生态系统服务功能价值进行定量评估.结果表明,小陇山林区森林生态系统服务功能年均总价值为40.236亿元,其中直接经济价值为2.204亿元,水源涵养、水土保持、大气组分调节、生物多样性保护及病虫害防治、休闲娱乐等生态功能价值为38.032亿元,直接经济价值与生态功能价值的比值为1∶ 17.26.在发展当地经济的过程中,必须从整个生态系统的角度出发,优先认识到该地区森林的生态功能价值,从而科学、合理地保护和利用森林资源.     

北京市与香河县大气臭氧及氮氧化合物的变化特征

于2005年春、夏之交,在北京市及河北省香河县两地同时开展了臭氧和氮氧化合物的连续监测.结果表明,香河县和北京市的臭氧统计日变化形式基本一致,北京市大气臭氧平均浓度比香河低,分别为28×10-9V/V和43×10-9V/V;大气中0x浓度北京市高于香河县,分别为72×10-9V/V和60×10-9V/V.观测期间,两地臭氧的月最高值出现时间一致,其中6月21日北京市的臭氧浓度最高达到200×10-9V/V,香河县也达到149×10-9V/V.在三次臭氧严重超标事件发生的前一天,两地都伴随有氮氧化合物的高浓度积累;南风时北京市和香河县的Ox浓度都比平均值高25%.