Seasonal cycles in whole-body proximate composition and energy content of forage fish vary with water depth

Quantifying the nutritional quality of forage fish is integral for understanding upper trophic levels as forage fish are the dominant prey for top predator fish, marine mammals, and sea birds. Many existing reports documenting body composition of forage species are not comparable due to confounding effects. This study systematically assessed the variability in proximate composition and energy content of 16 forage species in southeastern Alaska (57.2626 N/133.7394 W) between 2001 and 2004. Variation in energy and lipid contents was related to habitat, epipelagic planktivores varying most, mesopelagics intermediate, and demersal species relatively invariable. Season was the greatest source of variation as a result of short growing seasons at high latitude and energy allocation strategies for reproduction and growth. Among species that varied seasonally, energy and lipid increased over summer and declined during winter. Annual differences in body composition occurred during periods of peak energy content. Sampling recommendations and guidance for bioenergetics models are provided.     

Decision support tools for collaborative marine spatial planning: identifying potential sites for tidal energy devices around the Mull of Kintyre,Scotland

The expansion of offshore renewable energy production, such as wind, wave and tidal energy, is likely to lead to conflict between different users of the sea. Two types of spatial decision support tools were developed to support stakeholder workshops. A value mapping tool combines regional attributes with local knowledge. A negotiation support tool uses these value maps to support stakeholders in finding acceptable locations for tidal energy devices. Interactive value mapping proved useful to address deficiencies in data and to create credibility for these maps. The negotiation tool helped stakeholders in balancing objectives of the various stakeholders.     

Recycling in Jerusalem: right or privilege?

This study analyses disparities in the provision of environmental services in Jerusalem, specifically through the distribution of recycling bins. The allocation of recycling bins in Jerusalem is uneven. Some neighbourhoods have more than their share of infrastructure, while others do not have any recycling bins at all. The spatial distribution of recycling bins throughout the city is analysed across the ethno-religious and socioeconomic divides, enabling us to determine whether the opportunity to recycle is a right or a privilege. The findings demonstrate that the Arab areas are literally not serviced. Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jewish neighbourhoods are discriminated against unless socioeconomic levels and population size are controlled. Therefore, waste-management policies reproduce social inequalities resulting in environmental injustice. Due to the fact that recycling in Jerusalem is voluntary and not obligatory, and that in general the public wants to recycle, the opportunity to recycle is indeed a privilege.     

Air Pollution and Mortality: The Implications of Uncertainties in Regression Modeling and Exposure Measurement

In a previous paper,¹ we showed that the mean effects on daily mortality associated with air pollution are essentially the same for gases and particulate matter (PM) and are invariant with respect to particle size and composition, based on 27 statistical studies that had been published at that time. Since then, a new analysis² reported stronger mortality associations for the fine fractions of PM obtained from dichotomous samplers, relative to the coarse fractions. In this paper, we show that differential measurement errors known to be present in dichotomous sampler data preclude reliable determination of such statistical relationships by particle size. Further, it is necessary to consider gaseous pollutants simultaneously with particles to provide robust estimates of the responsibilities for the implied daily mortality gradients. Finally, certain regression model specifications may be sensitive to differences in frequency distribution characteristics according to particle size.     

Co-utilisation of CO2 and steelmaking slags for production of pure CaCO3 – legislative issues

The steel industry is characterised by large amounts of CO₂ emissions, but there is no easy means to reduce these emissions. One interesting option for the reduction of CO₂ emissions could be the utilisation of steelmaking slags for carbon dioxide mineralisation. In this option CO₂ is bound with the calcium of the slag material, producing stable carbonate as an end product. The utilisation of steelmaking slags as the raw material for carbon dioxide mineralisation will change the quality of the slags. If, however, this change degrades the slags it could prevent the use of slags in carbon dioxide mineralisation or make it very expensive.The purpose of the research presented here is to evaluate this issue with the help of a case study where the quality of the residual slag from the recently suggested carbonation method was experimentally investigated. The CO₂ mineralisation method, based on steelmaking slags and ammonium salt solutions, was found to change the quality of the slags: the calcium content was reduced, the CaO and Ca(OH)₂ phases were completely dissolved, and the solubility of the V and Cr increased notably. This residual slag would presumably have to be handled as waste. Currently, the steelmaking slag used in the case study is defined as a by-product, but if it is used for CO₂ mineralisation instead of liming its legal status will be re-evaluated. Subsequently, the CO₂ mineralisation process could possibly be defined as an end-of-waste procedure.