Reproductive biology of the common shrimp Crangon crangon (Decapoda: Crangonidae) in the central Irish Sea

Aspects of the reproductive biology of the common shrimp Crangon crangon (L.) were studied in Port Erin Bay, Isle of Man, Irish Sea. Size at sexual maturity was determined from the proportions of ovigerous females and of females with maturing ovaries. The size at which 50% of females are mature is estimated (±95% confidence intervals) as 12.5±0.48 mm carapace length. Based on the proportions of ovigerous females and of mature females, the main breeding season was from January to June. Mean ovarian dry weights indicated two broods (winter and summer), with females bearing winter broods (WB) having higher gonad indices than those with summer broods (SB). WB females with non-eyed eggs and with eyed eggs differed in the regression of ovarian dry weight on carapace length, indicating preparation for laying a second brood. In both broods the moult stages of berried females were related to egg stage. Moulting will occur following the release of the brood. During embryonic development, mean egg length and egg volume were larger in all stages, and the mean dry weight of individual eggs of all stages heavier, in WB than in SB; there was no difference in egg number, however. Consequently, reproductive investment, the proportion of female weight devoted to egg production, was 67% higher in WB (0.20±0.04) than in SB (0.12±0.03). There is a significant effect of egg volume on brood weight, but not on egg number. In both broods, egg number was a negatively allometric function of female body size in non-eyed eggs and an isometric function of female body size in eyed eggs. Brood mortality during incubation was higher in SB (17%) than WB (10%). Differences in the reproductive variables and investment between the two broods of C. crangon are discussed in the light of reproductive strategies and life history.Communicated by J.P. Thorpe, Port Erin     

Horizontal distribution of butyltins in surface sediments from an enclosed bay system, Korea

Tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT), and monobutyltin (MBT) compounds were quantitatively determined from surface sediment samples (total 59 stations) covering a whole basin where harbors, shipyards, and aquaculture farms were located. Butyltin compounds were detected from all the stations covering 640 km(2) of an enclosed bay system. TBT concentrations ranged from 4 to 382 ng/g as tin on a dry weight basis, and total butyltin concentrations, from 27 to 1763 ng/g. Horizontal distribution of TBT concentration showed apparent negative gradients from harbors and shipyards, indicating that its contamination was closely related to boating and dry-docking activities. However, TBT concentrations were decreased steeply from source areas. Elevated DBT and MBT levels in creeks imply the possible input of DBT from industrial wastewater. Total butyltin concentrations in sediments are significantly correlated with particulate organic carbon concentration for the subset of stations that are distant from source areas.     

Meteorological effects on the evolution of high ozone episodes in the greater Seoul area

Three high O3 episodes--7 days in 1992 (July 3-July 9), 9 days in 1994 (July 21-July 29), and another 3 days in 1994 (August 22-August 24)--were selected on the basis of morning (7:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.) average wind direction and speed and daily maximum O3 concentrations in the greater Seoul, Korea, of 1990-1997. To better understand their characteristics and life cycles, surface data from the Seoul Weather Station (SWS) and surface and 850-hPa wind field data covering northeast Asia around the Korean Peninsula were used for the analysis. In the July 1992 episode, westerly winds were most frequent as a result of the influence of a high-pressure system west of the Korean Peninsula behind a trough. In contrast, in the July 1994 episode, easterly winds were most frequent as a result of the effect of a typhoon moving north from the south of Japan. Despite different prevailing wind directions, the peak O3 concentrations for each episode occurred when a sea/land breeze developed in association with weak synoptic forcing. The August 1994 episode, which was selected as being representative of calm conditions, was another typical example in which a well-developed     

Balancing Forest‐Regeneration Probabilities and Maintenance Costs in Dry Grasslands of High Conservation Priority

Abstract: Abandonment of agricultural land has resulted in forest regeneration in species‐rich dry grasslands across European mountain regions and threatens conservation efforts in this vegetation type. To support national conservation strategies, we used a site‐selection algorithm (MARXAN) to find optimum sets of floristic regions (reporting units) that contain grasslands of high conservation priority. We sought optimum sets that would accommodate 136 important dry‐grassland species and that would minimize forest regeneration and costs of management needed to forestall predicted forest regeneration. We did not consider other conservation elements of dry grasslands, such as animal species richness, cultural heritage, and changes due to climate change. Optimal sets that included 95–100% of the dry grassland species encompassed an average of 56–59 floristic regions (standard deviation, SD 5). This is about 15% of approximately 400 floristic regions that contain dry‐grassland sites and translates to 4800–5300 ha of dry grassland out of a total of approximately 23,000 ha for the entire study area. Projected costs to manage the grasslands in these optimum sets ranged from CHF (Swiss francs) 5.2 to 6.0 million/year. This is only 15–20% of the current total estimated cost of approximately CHF30–45 million/year required if all dry grasslands were to be protected. The grasslands of the optimal sets may be viewed as core sites in a national conservation strategy.     

Comparison of different disinfection processes in the effective removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes

This study compared three different disinfection processes(chlorination, E-beam, and ozone) and the efficacy of three oxidants(H2O2, S2O-8, and peroxymonosulfate(MPS)) in removing antibiotic resistant bacteria(ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs) in a synthetic wastewater. More than30 mg/L of chlorine was needed to remove over 90% of ARB and ARG. For the E-beam method, only1 dose(kGy) was needed to remove ARB and ARG, and ozone could reduce ARB and ARG by more than 90% even at 3 mg/L ozone concentration. In the ozone process, CT values(concentration × time)were compared for ozone alone and combined with different catalysts based on the 2-log removal of ARB and ARG. Ozone treatment yielded a value of 31 and 33(mg·min)/L for ARB and ARGs respectively. On the other hand, ozone with persulfate yielded 15.9 and 18.5(mg·min)/L while ozone with monopersulfate yielded a value of 12 and 14.5(mg·min)/L. This implies that the addition of these catalysts significantly reduces the contact time to achieve a 2-log removal, thus enhancing the process in terms of its kinetics.     

Characteristics of Asian dust transport based on synoptic meteorological analysis over Korea

Classification of synoptic patterns and their correlation with dust events over East Asia were performed by means of cluster analysis. The average linkage and K-means clustering techniques were used to identify two major weather types during Asian dust events (ADEs; total 26 ADEs with 47 dusty days) of six spring seasons from 1996 to 2001. The first weather type mainly influenced neighboring Asian countries and frequently occurred with ADEs (approximately 23% of ADE cases). It mostly occurred under a surface high (low)-pressure system over the west (east) of the Korean peninsula coupled with an upper-level trough and cutoff low passage over the center of the Korean peninsula. It showed strong advection in the middle/ upper troposphere with both a high aerosol index and enhanced coarse particulate matter (PM) loading over Korea. In contrast, the second weather type was mostly associated with long distance or continental-scale transport and occurred less frequently with ADEs (approximately 15%). It appeared with an upper-level trough and a cutoff low vertically connected with a surface low system that was formed by a strong cyclonic vortex over the north of the Korean peninsula. There were weak advection, low aerosol index, and low coarse PM concentration over the Korean peninsula during the second weather type. In addition, it was found to be mostly associated with the trans-Pacific transport of Asian dust to the western coast of North America.     

Expanding the Range of Choice in Water Management: An Evaluation of Policy Approaches

This paper examines the ‘range of choice’ concept in water management. Although many efforts have been made to design policies that broaden the consideration of water resources alternatives, the experiences gained from these policy experiments have not been adequately assessed. What insights might American policy approaches offer for developing countries? To address this question, four general policy types were identified and compared: (1) comprehensive single-objective policies; (2) comprehensive multiple-objective policies; (3) specific non-structural policies; and (4) specific technological policies. Case studies of each approach revealed that effective institutional development occurs when policies are: (1) stated in clear and specific language; (2) modified as experience is gained; (3) adequate in terms of statutory and administrative authority; and (4) subject to an orderly process of public and judicial review. The most successful policy efforts to date have involved specific alternatives, while multiple-objective policies have encountered the most difficulties. Common institutional problems are identified, and their potential relevance for developing countries is discussed.     

Development of intelligent sorting system realized with the aid of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and hybrid preprocessing algorithm-based radial basis function neural networks for recycling black plastic wastes

Plastic recycling has been the key issue for reducing environmental problems and resolving resource depletion. To improve the recovery rate of plastics, the plastic wastes are correctly identified according to their resin type. However, the identification system, which is able to identify black plastics according to not only the type of black plastics but also the grade of resins correctly, has not been introduced. In this paper, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, intelligent algorithms and preprocessing algorithms are used to improve the identification of black plastics such as polypropylene, polystyrene (PS), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy is capable of obtaining the characteristic spectrum regardless of material’s physical state. To extract the new features which are very valuable to improving learning performance, increasing computational efficiency, and building better generalization models from the obtained spectra through laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, the hybrid preprocessing algorithm, composed of principal component analysis and independent component analysis, is used. In addition, the intelligent algorithm named the extended radial basis function neural networks inheriting the advantages of fuzzy theory and neural networks is used to identify black plastic samples into several categories with respect to their resins. The proposed identification system, composed of three parts such as laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, hybrid preprocessing algorithms, and an efficient intelligent classification algorithm, is able to show the synergy effect on the black plastic identification problem. From several experimental results, it can be seen that the identification system based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and the intelligent algorithm is used for identification of black plastics by resin type.     

Comparative study of torrefaction of empty fruit bunches and palm kernel shell

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - This paper describes the effect of torrefaction on the characteristics of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm kernel shell (PKS). The torrefaction...