Weather variability permitted within amphibian monitoring protocol and affects on calling Hylidae

Anuran populations are sensitive to changing environmental conditions and act as useful indicators. Presently, much information collected concerning frog populations comes from volunteers following the North American Amphibian Monitoring Protocol. Does weather variability allowed within protocol affect the abundance of calling frogs? For 10 years, Credit Valley Conservation (Ontario, Canada) has been collecting anuran data concerning nine frog species employing three frog monitoring runs. Records include frog abundance by protocol code and five weather variables. Antecedent precipitation and temperature were determined from the nearest weather station. Locations with large source populations of two Hylidae species were selected (spring peeper calling in April and gray tree frog in May). Spearman correlations suggested there were no significant relationships between calling abundance of Hylidae species and ambient wind speed or humidity. However, gray tree frogs were temperature sensitive and calling was significantly related to increased water and air temperatures as well as day time high temperatures over the previous 2 weeks. Both species of calling Hylidae were affected by the volume and timing of precipitation (though, in different ways). Gray tree frogs seem to prefer drier conditions (when temperatures are significantly warmer) while spring peepers prefer to call during, or closely following, precipitation. Monitors targeting gray tree frog should track local weather conditions and focus on evenings when it is (a) warmer than the minimum temperatures and (b) drier than suggested by the protocol. It is recommended that an additional monitoring run could be added to reduce detection variability of this species.     

The effect of absorbent grid preparation method on precision and accuracy of ambient nitrogen dioxide measurements using Palmes passive diffusion tubes

A few studies have suggested that the precision and accuracy of measurement of NO(2) by Palmes-type passive diffusion tube (PDT) are affected by the method of preparation of the triethanolamine (TEA) absorbent coating on the grids. Theses studies have been quite limited in extent and have tended to evaluate PDT accuracy as zero bias between PDT NO(2) value and the exposure-averaged NO(2) determined by co-located chemiluminescence analyser. This ignores the well-documented intrinsic systematic biases on PDT-derived NO(2), such as within-tube chemistry and exposure-duration nitrite loss, which may lead to non-zero bias values irrespective of effects of TEA absorbent preparation method on PDT accuracy. This paper reports on a statistical analysis of a large dataset comprising 680 duplicated PDT exposures spanning 146 separate exposure periods, spread over five urban exposure locations and a number of years. In each exposure period, PDTs prepared by between four and six different grid preparation methods were simultaneously compared. The preparation methods used combinations of the following: acetone or water as the TEA solvent; 20% or 50% as %TEA in the solution; and application of TEA solution by dipping grids for several minutes in the solution before drying and tube assembly, or by pipetting 50 microL of solution directly onto grids already placed in the PDT cap. These represent the range of preparation procedures typically used. Accuracy was evaluated as maximised nitrite capture within an exposure. Data were analysed by general linear modelling including examination of interaction between different aspects of grid preparation method. PDT precision and accuracy were both significantly better, on average, when the PDT grids were prepared by dipping in TEA solution, and neither solvent or %TEA used for the dipping solution were important. Where PDT preparation by pipetting TEA solution onto grids is to be used, better performance was obtained using 20% TEA in water. A systematic positive bias in PDT measure of NO(2), consistent with within-tube oxidation of NO to NO(2) and independent of preparation method, was again evident in this work.     

Natural formation and degradation of chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines in forest soil--challenges to understanding

- DOI: http:/dx.doi.org/10.1065/espr2005.06.262 Goal, Scope and Background The anthropogenic environmental emissions of chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines have been under scrutiny in recent years because the two compound groups are suspected to contribute to forest dieback and stratospheric ozone destruction, respectively. The two organochlorine groups are linked because the atmospheric photochemical oxidation of some volatile organochlorine compounds is one source of phytotoxic chloroacetic acids in the environment. Moreover, both groups are produced in higher amounts by natural chlorination of organic matter, e.g. by soil microorganisms, marine macroalgae and salt lake bacteria, and show similar metabolism pathways. Elucidating the origin and fate of these organohalogens is necessary to implement actions to counteract environmental problems caused by these compounds. Main Features While the anthropogenic sources of chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines are relatively well-known and within human control, knowledge of relevant natural processes is scarce and fragmented. This article reviews current knowledge on natural formation and degradation processes of chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines in forest soils, with particular emphasis on processes in the rhizosphere, and discusses future studies necessary to understand the role of forest soils in the formation and degradation of these compounds. Results and Discussion Reviewing the present knowledge of the natural formation and degradation processes of chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines in forest soil has revealed gaps in knowledge regarding the actual mechanisms behind these processes. In particular, there remains insufficient quantification of reliable budgets and rates of formation and degradation of chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines in forest soil (both biotic and abiotic processes) to evaluate the strength of forest ecosystems regarding the emission and uptake of chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines, both on a regional scale and on a global scale. Conclusion It is concluded that the overall role of forest soil as a source and/or sink for chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines is still unclear; the available laboratory and field data reveal only bits of the puzzle. Detailed knowledge of the natural degradation and formation processes in forest soil is important to evaluate the strength of forest ecosystems for the emission and uptake of chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines, both on a regional scale and on a global scale. Recommendation and Perspective As the natural formation and degradation processes of chloroacetic acids and volatile organochlorines in forest soil can be influenced by human activities, evaluation of the extent of this influence will help to identify what future actions are needed to reduce human influences and thus prevent further damage to the environment and to human health caused by these compounds.     

Characterisation of potentially genotoxic compounds in sediments collected from United Kingdom estuaries

The mutagenic activity bioassay Mutatox was used to assess the mutagenic activity associated with sediments collected from five UK estuaries. Assays were performed on extracts of sediment pore water and residual particulate material isolated from sediment samples collected from the rivers Tyne, Tees, Mersey, and Thames as well as Southampton Water. No mutagenic activity was associated with the pore water extracts, however, 7 of the 28 organic solvent extracts of sediment particulate material contained potential genotoxins. By using Mutatox in association with bioassay-directed fractionation, attempts were made to identify the mutagenic compounds present in the extracts. The fractionation procedure used normal phase solid phase extraction, C18 reverse phase HPLC and cyano/amino bonded silica normal phase HPLC. GC-MS (EI and NICI) analysis was used to identify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), alkyl substituted PAH, nitro-polycyclic aromatic compounds (nitro-PACs), polycyclic aromatic ketones, oxygenated-PACs, and other known mutagens contributing to the genotoxicity measured in the samples. Some potentially genotoxic compounds remain unidentified.     

Evaluation of method of preparation of passive diffusion tubes for measurement of ambient nitrogen dioxide

This study was carried out in response to suggestions that the measurement of NO(2) by Palmes-type passive diffusion tubes (PDT) is affected by the method of preparation of the triethanolamine (TEA) absorbent coating on the grids. The following combinations of factors were investigated: TEA solvent (acetone or water), volume composition of TEA in solvent (50% or 20%), and grid coating method (dipping in solution prior to assembly or pipetting solution on after assembly). Duplicate PDTs prepared by each of the 8 methods were exposed in parallel, in urban air, for a total of 80 separate 1 week exposures. NO(2) concentrations derived from PDTs prepared by pipetting methods were significantly less precise than concentrations from dipping methods, with mean RSDs for duplicate measurements of 13.8% and 8.5%, respectively (n= 316 each category). Pipetting methods using solutions of 50% TEA composition were particularly imprecise (mean RSD 17.2%). Data from PDTs prepared by pipetting methods were systematically more poorly correlated with each other and with data from co-located chemiluminescence analysers, than corresponding data from PDTs prepared by dipping methods, indicating that more consistent accuracy was also obtained by the latter PDTs. The statistical evidence suggested that PDTs prepared by pipetting 50% TEA in water generally gave lower NO(2) concentrations. Although this is in agreement with a previous study, it is also possible that such an observation here may be a statistical artefact given the demonstrably poorer precision of this method. The general tendency of PDTs to show positive bias in NO(2) measurement in urban air in 1 week exposures was again evident in this study (mean biases at roadside and urban centre locations of +35% (n= 475) and +18% (n= 112), respectively) consistent with augmentation of within-tube NO(2) flux by chemical reaction between co-diffusing NO and O(3). Overall, it is recommended that the pipetting method of PDT grid preparation is avoided, or at least investigated further, because of the apparent degradation in precision and accuracy of NO(2) measurement. Potential reasons for the effect are discussed.     

Effectiveness of vegetation‐based biodiversity offset metrics as surrogates for ants

Biodiversity offset schemes are globally popular policy tools for balancing the competing demands of conservation and development. Trading currencies for losses and gains in biodiversity value at development and credit sites are usually based on several vegetation attributes combined to yield a simple score (multimetric), but the score is rarely validated prior to implementation. Inaccurate biodiversity trading currencies are likely to accelerate global biodiversity loss through unrepresentative trades of losses and gains. We tested a model vegetation multimetric (i.e., vegetation structural and compositional attributes) typical of offset trading currencies to determine whether it represented measurable components of compositional and functional biodiversity. Study sites were located in remnant patches of a critically endangered ecological community in western Sydney, Australia, an area representative of global conflicts between conservation and expanding urban development. We sampled ant fauna composition with pitfall traps and enumerated removal by ants of native plant seeds from artificial seed containers (seed depots). Ants are an excellent model taxon because they are strongly associated with habitat complexity, respond rapidly to environmental change, and are functionally important at many trophic levels. The vegetation multimetric did not predict differences in ant community composition or seed removal, despite underlying assumptions that biodiversity trading currencies used in offset schemes represent all components of a site's biodiversity value. This suggests that vegetation multimetrics are inadequate surrogates for total biodiversity value. These findings highlight the urgent need to refine existing offsetting multimetrics to ensure they meet underlying assumptions of surrogacy. Despite the best intentions, offset schemes will never achieve their goal of no net loss of biodiversity values if trades are based on metrics unrepresentative of total biodiversity.     

Exploring nationality and social identity to explain attitudes toward conservation actions in the United States and Australia

Understanding human attitudes toward wildlife management is critical to implementing effective conservation action and policy. Understanding the factors that shape public attitudes toward different wildlife management actions is limited, however, which can result in unpredictable public responses to interventions. We drew on comparisons between residents of 2 countries on separate continents to explore differences in attitudes toward wildlife management and determine factors important in shaping these attitudes. We surveyed representative publics via market research panels in Australia (n = 881 respondents) and the United States (n = 1287). We applied a social-identity approach and demography to identify factors that explained variance between responses about wildlife management. We compared responses between countries overall and within subgroups of respondents who strongly identified as environmentalists, animal rights activists, wildlife conservation advocates, and farmers. We created aggregate scores for the management-related response items per respondent and used regression analyses to identify the relative importance of country, identity, age, and gender in explaining variance between responses. These factors accounted for 15.3% of variance among responses. Australians overall were generally more accepting of lethal wildlife management actions than U.S. respondents. Differences in national attitudes reflected differences between United States and Australian wildlife management and policy, highlighting the importance of understanding social attitudes in shaping conservation policy. Identifying as a farmer followed by identifying as an animal rights activist most shaped attitudes toward wildlife management. Identity-related conflicts could be initiated or exacerbated by conservation interventions that fail to consider identity-related processes.     

Anticipated pharmacological role of Aviptadil on COVID-19

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide that is produced by the lymphoid cells and plays a major role in immunological functions for...     

Integrating life cycle assessment and a farmer survey of management practices to study environmental impacts of peach production in Beijing,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - While intensive peach production has expanded rapidly in recent years, few studies have explored the environmental impacts associated with specific...