Changes in the activity budgets of yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) during sexual consortships

Summary The energetic cost of guarding estrous females has been assumed to be a potentially major factor in limiting the duration of male consortships in a number of polygamous species. This issue has been examined in the present study by assessing changes in the usual activity budgets of 13 male and 20 female yellow baboons which occurred during their consortships.The percent of time adult males spent feeding was strongly related to their agonistic rank: Higher-ranking males fed proportionately more than lower-ranking males while not in consort, and they showed a relatively greater decrease in feeding time during consortships.The proportion of time females spent feeding was related to their agonistic rank and (to a lesser degree) to their parity. Higher-ranking females fed more than lower-ranking females outside of consortships, and showed a relatively greater decrease in time spent feeding while in consort. Nulliparous females tended to feed more than parous females while not in consort; during consortships, the feeding time of nulliparous females decreased, while that of parous females increased slightly.The activity of male and female consort partners was most coordinated during the fertile cycle stage of the female partner, and least coordinated once the female had passed the fertile stage.Although reductions in feeding time during consortships were generally much more pronounced in males than in females, neither males nor females appeared to attain the undisturbed optimal feeding level for their sex while in consort.     

Single-step nested multiplex PCR to differentiate between various bivalve larvae

A nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has been developed that allows the discrimination between six bivalve larvae common to Danish coastal waters (Cerastoderma edule, Macoma balthica, Mytilus edulis, Spisula subtruncata, Ensis americanus and members of the order Myoida). This assay involves the simultaneous use of a pair of general universally targeted 18S rRNA gene primers, five specific 18S rRNA gene targeted oligonucleotide primers internal (nested) to the universal primer pair and one species-specific primer that is not nested (Mya). The specificity of each primer was evaluated in silico, empirically, and verified further by sequencing of amplification products from single larvae collected from plankton samples. Identification of individually isolated bivalve larvae from plankton samples was based on the size of the PCR product produced by the specific primers after visualisation by agarose gel electrophoresis. Preliminary studies indicated that this method was suitable for use with freshly collected and preserved larvae, and is therefore suitable for field application.Communicated by M. Kühl, Helsingør     

Reproductive consequences of maternal care patterns during estrus among free-ranging rhesus monkeys

Summary We examined the hypothesis that among free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), maternal care patterns during estrus influence chances of conception independently of variation in the timing of the postpartum resumption of mating. We observed 24 multiparous mothers and their infants before and during the 1990 mating season. When mothers resumed mating, they abruptly sought less contact with their infants. Infants responded by increasing the rates with which they emitted distress calls and attempted to make nipple contact. High levels of maternal rejection and low levels of maternal nipple contact initiation during the mother's first estrus were associated with low suckling frequencies and high chances of conception. Although demanding infants had some success in gaining access to the nipples of reluctant mothers during estrus, mothers' chances of conception were unrelated to measures of infant demand or distress calling. Individual differences in maternal behavior regulating access to the nipple during estrus were unrelated to those shown previously. During estrus, mothers appeared to regulate nipple contact according to their infant's age and perhaps other factors related to its vulnerability. Correspondence to: C.M. Berman     

Northern hemisphere concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide since 1800: Results from the Mt. Logan and 20D ice cores

Concentrations of CH₄ and N₂O have been determined in bubbles extracted from the Mt. Logan (Yukon) and 20D (south Greenland) ice cores. The enclosure dates of the trapped gas samples range from 1802 to 1960; thus these data help to document the anthropogenic increases of these two greenhouse gases in the Northen Hemisphere atmosphere. In general, the new data are in accord with previous ice core studies showing accelerating increases in concentration of both gases since 1900. The Mt. Logan records appear to be the first for any trace gases from alpine glacial ice. The present data set is too sparse to be conclusive, but suggests generally higher CH₄ concentrations over south Greenland than Mt. Logan, particularly for the 1850 - 1900 period.     

全球生物多样性评估方法及研究进展

评估和预测全球生物多样性丧失趋势及其对人类福祉的影响,是当前国际生物多样性研究的重要方向之一。结合全球生物多样性评估的最新研究进展,对全球生物多样性评估的内涵、方法和成果进行了阐述。驱动力-压力-状态-影响-响应(DPSIR)概念框架是当前生物多样性评估项目主要使用的评估框架。按照评估目的的不同,可将生物多样性评估方法划分为指标评估、模型模拟和情景分析3种主要方法,其中全球2010年目标评估指标框架、全球环境综合评估模型(IMAGE)/全球生物多样性评估模型(GLOBIO)组合以及政府间气候变化专门委员会(IPCC)的《排放情景特别报告》(SRES)以及千年生态系统评估(MA)、全球环境展望(GEO)和世界经济合作组织(OECD)环境展望等项目建立的情景模式是全球评估项目中主要采用的评估方法。多个全球评估项目的研究结果表明,全球生物多样性丧失趋势没有得到有效遏制,在21世纪,其速度将进一步加快。在今后的研究中,仍需在理解生物多样性、生态系统服务和人类福祉之间的关系,全球2020年评估指标框架,以及发展基于多情景、多模型和多生态系统的综合评估方法等方面进行深入探讨。中国应认真总结全球生物多样性评估理论和方法方面的研究经验,加强中国2020年目标评估指标体系和中国生物多样性监测网络建设,发展适合中国区域特点的具有自主知识产权的生物多样性综合评估模型和情景分析方法,定期对全国生物多样性进行综合评估,切实掌握全国生物多样性现状及变化趋势,为中国生物多样性保护和管理决策提供服务。     

UV-H2O2工艺对饮用水中 DMP的去除效果和影响因素

采用UV-H2O2工艺对饮用水中内分泌干扰物邻苯二甲酸二甲酯(DMP)的去除进行研究,结果表明,单独的UV或H2O2都不能有效氧化去除DMP;而UV-H2O2联用工艺对饮用水中DMP具有很好的去除效果.在原水DMP浓度为5.1496×10-3mmol·l-1(1.0mg·l-1)左右,UV光强133.9μW·cm-2,H2O2投加量20mg·l-1和反应时间60min条件下,DMP的去除率可达到97.8%.探讨了反应速率常数随影响因素变化的规律,其中H2O2浓度、pH值、DMP初始浓度和本底TOC值对该工艺去除DMP的影响较大.     

基于强度理论及虚拟仿真相结合的行星减速机构可靠性分析

基于破煤理论建立了采煤机的力学模型,采用ADAMS建立采煤机刚柔耦合模型,并解决了边界条件添加、接触法向力提取等技术问题,分析了行星轴、架的可靠性;基于行星减速机构强度校核基本原理,开发了行星齿轮强度校核软件,以虚拟仿真中的动态接触法向力为输入,对某公司两种行星减速机构设计方案中各齿轮的接触应力和弯曲应力进行研究。该方法解决了传统分析中齿轮受力无法确定以及采用有限元软件无法求解齿根弯曲应力、求解接触应力时间过长的不足。结果表明:二级行星减速机构采用4行星轮结构要优于采用3行星轮方案,传动更稳定、可靠。     

火电厂SCR法脱硝催化剂的几个重要指标介绍

以某1000MW机组SCR系统所采用催化剂指标为实例,介绍了火电厂SCR法脱硝中催化剂的作用、成分与种类,重点介绍了催化剂一些重要的物理、化学和性能指标,以及它们对催化剂活性和系统运行的影响。有助于技术人员了解催化剂的关键指标,为催化剂评标、验收以及失效评估工作提供参考。     

基于模糊故障树的海洋立管破坏失效风险分析

针对海洋立管破坏失效事故资料不完备及发生概率缺乏精确值的现状,提出了基于模糊故障树的海洋立管破坏失效风险分析方法。通过对现有的海洋立管破坏失效事故原因的统计分析,建立了以"海洋立管破坏失效"为顶事件的故障树。在对故障树进行定性分析的基础上,得到了引起海洋立管破坏失效的105个各阶最小割集,确定了海洋立管发生破坏失效的主要模式。采用专家判断法与模糊集理论结合的方法对故障树进行了定量分析,评估了故障树底事件的发生概率,并计算了故障树顶事件的发生概率。通过模糊故障树分析得到了海洋立管系统的薄弱环节,从而可以对其采取有效措施,以降低事故发生概率及提高系统可靠性。     

Body feathers as a potential new biomonitoring tool in raptors: a study on organohalogenated contaminants in different feather types and preen oil of West Greenland white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla)

We investigated the variation in concentrations and profiles of various classes of organohalogenated compounds (OHCs) in different feather types, muscle tissue and preen oil from 15 white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) carcasses from Greenland. The influence of moult patterns and potential external contamination onto the feather surface was examined, while the present study is also the first to investigate the use of body feathers for OHC monitoring. Concentrations of sum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in feathers from white tailed eagles ranged from 2.3 ng/g in a primary wing feather to 4200 ng/g in body feathers. Using 300 mg of body feathers, almost 50 different OHCs could be quantified and median concentrations in body feathers were 10 fold higher than concentrations in tail feathers (rectrices) or primary wing feathers. Body feathers could be very useful for biomonitoring taking into account their easy sampling, short preparation time and high levels of OHCs. In addition, the effects of confounding variables such as feather size, moult and age are also minimised using body feathers. Correlations with concentrations in muscle tissue and preen oil were high and significant for all feather types (r ranging from 0.81 to 0.87 for sum PCBs). Significant differences in concentrations and profiles of OHCs were found between different primary feathers, indicating that the accumulation of OHCs in feathers varies over the moulting period (maximum three years). Washing of feathers with an organic solvent (acetone) resulted in a significant decrease in the measured concentrations of OHCs in feathers. However, our results indicated that preen oil is probably not the only contributor to the external contamination that can be removed by washing with acetone. Possibly dust and other particles may be of importance and may be sticking to the preened feathers. Rectrices washed only with water showed high and significant correlations with concentrations in muscle and preen oil as well. Washing with acetone therefore does not seem to be of great influence when relating to internal tissue concentrations. We recommend washing feathers only with distilled water in order to remove dirt and dust particles before analysis.