An efficient and simple method for measuring (226)Ra using the scintillation cell in a delayed coincidence counting system (RaDeCC)

A delayed coincidence counter (RaDeCC), developed to determine ultra-low levels of (223)Ra (half life = 11.1 days) and (224)Ra (half life = 3.6 days) in seawater, was adapted to measure (226)Ra (half life = 1622 years). After pre-concentration of Ra from seawater onto MnO(2)-coated fiber we show in this study that the (226)Ra activity can be determined using the RaDeCC's ability to record alpha decay of its daughters as total counts. For sufficient ingrowth of (222)Rn, the Mn-fiber is hermetically sealed in a column for a few days. Then, the ingrown (222)Rn is circulated through the RaDeCC air-loop system followed by shutting down of the pump and closure of the scintillation cell for equilibration. Counting may be completed within a few hours for seawater samples. Sample measurements with this method agreed well with data obtained using gamma-ray spectrometry. This proves that a set of Ra isotopes ((223)Ra, (224)Ra, and (226)Ra), commonly used for geophysical studies such as mixing rates of different water masses and submarine groundwater discharge, can be efficiently and rapidly measured using the RaDeCC.     

Radon concentration measurements in mofettes from Harghita and Covasna counties, Romania

In the Harghita volcanic range (Romania) there are many occurrences of dry CO(2) emanations, called mofettes. The emanating gas with high carbon dioxide content has a proved curative effect. The gas also contains important quantities of radon. Since the mofettes are used in curative purposes in several illnesses, in most of the cases without medical supervising, has been proposed to determine the radon activity concentration in some of the most frequented mofettes from Romania. The seasonal variations have also been monitored and were calculated the effective doses received by the patients during a cure. The radon activity concentrations' levels above the mofettes indoor air range between 548 and 10 717Bq/m(3) while within the gas pools' values between 3210 and 32 781Bq/m(3) have been measured. The effective dose received by the patients during a cure is between 0.0086 and 0.16mSv. No major seasonal variations of the radon activity concentrations levels have been pointed out so far in the studied mofettes.     

Characteristics of the contact zone of three chromosome races of the common shrew <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorex araneus</Emphasis> L. (Mammalia) as indices of interpopulation competition

The distribution of three chromosome races (Moscow, Western Dvina, and Seliger) of the common shrew Sorex araneus L. in the zone of contact between their ranges in the Valdai Heights (32°00′ E, 57°00′ N) is discussed. The area co-inhabited by all the three races is extremely small. Representatives of all the three races have been captured on only one trap line, although there are no obstacles to the expansion of shrews. The extremely small area co-inhabited by the three races, as well as the strictly parapatric distribution of the Moscow and Western Dvina races, may be related with competition forms such as avoidance of contacts and separation of ecological niches.     

2016-2018年西宁市颗粒物来源及输送差异分析

利用HYSPLIT模式计算了2016—2018年西宁市逐日72 h气团后向轨迹,采用聚类分析方法,结合同期颗粒物PM₁₀和PM_2.5质量浓度数据,分析逐年和3年平均西宁市颗粒物输送特征及差异,运用潜在源贡献因子分析法（PSCF）和浓度权重轨迹分析法（CWT）对影响西宁市PM₁₀和PM_2.5质量浓度的污染潜在源区及不同潜在源区贡献进行了分析.结果表明,2016—2018年,西宁市颗粒物最主要输送路径源自青海北部的聚类2、甘肃中部的聚类6和甘肃东部的聚类8,占同期总轨迹比例分别为28.1%、27.4%和27.5%;3年平均则源自青海北经青海东折回西宁的聚类2,占比45.3%.最主要输送路径对应颗粒物质量浓度最低,输送距离较短、垂直高度较低、气团移速较慢;影响气团由西北向偏东转变,3年平均则以西北气团为主.2018年源自甘肃经青海东至西宁的短距离输送处于突出地位,所含轨迹占总轨迹的比例高达49.6%.PM₁₀和PM_2.5主要输送路径和污染路径由较长距离向较短距离过渡,较长距离输送路径出现比例逐年较小.PM_2.5/PM₁₀小于0.3时,主要输送路径与PM₁₀污染轨迹有很好的对应关系;PM_2.5/PM₁₀大于0.6时,主要输送路径与PM_2.5污染轨迹有较好的对应关系.PSCF和CWT分析发现,影响西宁市颗粒物质量浓度的主要污染潜在源区分布在新疆南部和青海北部,对PM₁₀质量浓度贡献大于100 μg·m^-3,对PM_2.5质量浓度贡献大于45 μg·m^-3.潜在源区分布年变化差异明显,2016年最广,2018年最小.印度北部主要贡献源区虽分布范围逐年减小,但在2017年局部贡献增大,对PM₁₀贡献超250 μg·m^-3,对PM_2.5贡献超60 μg·m^-3.主要贡献区周边区域及西宁至兰州一带为中等贡献源区,对PM₁₀贡献为50~100 μg·m^-3,对PM_2.5贡献为15~45 μg·m^-3.     

Specific Features of Wild Boar,Sus scrofa,Rooting Activity at the Northern Boundary of Its Range in Western Siberia

Russian Journal of Ecology -     

The Edge Effect on the Herb–Dwarf Shrub Layer of Urbanized Southern Taiga Forests

Russian Journal of Ecology - We estimated when the edge effect appears in the herb–dwarf shrub layer of pine forests near Yekaterinburg (Central Urals; Southern Taiga subzone) on 14 transects...     

The socio-economic vulnerability of the Australian east coast grazing sector to the impacts of climate change

Regional Environmental Change - Research that projects biophysical changes under climate change is more advanced than research that projects socio-economic changes. There is a need in adaptation...     

Comparative Analysis of Variation in Ecological Forms of Altai Osman, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreoleuciscus potanini</Emphasis> (Cyprinidae), in Lakes Ayrag,Khyargas, and Nogon (Western Mongolia)

Analysis of variation in morphological characters of Potanin Altai osman, Oreoleuciscus potanini, from two freshwater and one brackish water lakes of Western Mongolia has shown that specimens of different ecological forms—herbivorous and piscivorous—form two integral and, at the level under consideration, internally indivisible units in the system of phenetic diversity of the species O. potanini.     

Holocene Dynamics of Vegetation and Ecological Conditions in the Center of the East European Plain

Changes in the vegetation and fire regimes in the central East European Plain during the second half of the Holocene have been reconstructed based on the results of paleobotanical analysis and radiocarbon dating of material from a section of peat deposit in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve. It has been shown that birch–pine forests were widespread in the region between 7000 and 5000 yr BP, with the frequency of fires in that period being high (the fire return interval ranged from 10–20 to 100 years). Beginning from 5000 yr BP and to the early 20th century, broadleaf forests were dominant, with the fire return interval increasing to 300–500 years or longer.     

Assessment of the State of Lung Lichen, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lobaria pulmonaria</Emphasis> (L.) Hoffm., in Forest Communities with Different Times Since Disturbance in the Northeast of European Russia

Quantitative parameters of cenopopulations of Lobaria pulmonaria, an endangered cyanolichen, have been studied in spruce phytocenoses of Karelia recovering after disturbance through the successional stage of aspen stands for a period ranging from 80 to 450 years. The results show that, as the time since disturbance increases, the total number of L. pulmonaria thalli and the number of colonized substrate units increase as well, with no stabilization of these parameters being observed in the series of communities studied. The total area of thalli in the phytocenoses is restored within approximately 200 years after the last disturbance. In old-growth forests (>400 years), L. pulmonaria thalli colonize a broad spectrum of tree species in different life states, including lower branches of young spruce trees. Even if they serve as temporary substrates, this can markedly strengthen the potential of the species for further expansion within the community in case of shortage in the main phorophyte (aspen). Thus, the proportion of regressive populations decreases, while that of colonizing populations increases, which is indicative of successful reproduction of the species.