Nest and maternal origin can influence morphology and locomotor performance of hatchling green turtles (Chelonia mydas) incubated in field nests

In numerous laboratory experiments involving the incubation of reptile eggs, both the maternal origin of eggs and the incubating environment (nest effect) have been demonstrated to influence hatchling phenotype. Although different hatchling phenotypes have been reported from natural nests, the separate effects of maternal origin and nest on hatchling phenotype in natural nests have not been demonstrated because in natural nests the two effects are confounded with each other. Here, we use a split clutch design to experimentally separate nest effects from maternal origin effects in field nests of green turtles (Chelonia mydas). We found both maternal origin and nest to influence hatchling morphology and locomotor performance in some but not all field nests. By using egg mass (maternal origin effect) and nest temperature (nest effect) in multiple regression analysis, we found maternal origin had a greater influence than nest temperature on the morphological attributes of hatchling mass and carapace size, but nest temperature had a greater influence than maternal origin on the performance attributes of self-righting time, self-righting propensity, swim thrust during the first 30 min of swimming, and power stroke rate during the first 30 min of swimming.     

Assessing high impacts of climate change: spatial characteristics and relationships of hydrological ecosystem services in northern Japan (Teshio River watershed)

Ecosystem services (ESs) provide information on the tendency of ecosystems to reach and form a state of equilibrium. The process of ES changes is important in order to identify the climate change-related causes that occur regionally to globally. ES-based management plays an important role in mitigation strategies for the negative impact of global climate change on ecosystem. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate spatial characteristics and relationships among these multiple services from different spatial scales which could aid in multiple ES sustainable development from local to global scales. In this study, we developed a framework for analyzing the spatial characteristics and interactive relationships of multiple ESs. We analyzed the spatial distributions of six hydrological ESs that are important in the northernmost part of Japan (Teshio River watershed) by using hydrology and nutrient model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool, SWAT) under baseline climate conditions and climate change derived from the global circulation model (GCM). We then explored the spatial characteristic scales of ESs by multiscale analysis (lacunarity estimation) to reveal provision flow and spatial distribution characteristics for hydrological ESs. We observed a strong relationship between the spatial characteristics of land uses and ES provision. The spatial characteristics of individual hydrological ESs were totally different and had different spatial homogeneity and cluster (indicated by initial lacunarity index and lacunarity dimension). The results also showed trade-offs between inorganic nutrient retention (provision ESs) and organic nutrient and sediment retentions (regulating ESs), and synergies between organic nutrient retention and sediment retention under all climate change scenarios. The different stakeholders will take different mitigation programs (e.g., establishing riparian vegetation, planning nutrient management practices, and integrating climate change model into systematic conservation planning of ESs) to avoid negative impacts of climate change on ESs. Application of this proposed framework to study the spatial characteristics and relationships of hydrological ESs under climate change could provide understanding on the impact of climate change on ES changes and solutions to mitigate strategies to cope with those changes in the future.     

Nature of Atmospheric Aerosols over the Desert Areas in the Asian Continent: Chemical State and Number Concentration of Particles Measured at Dunhuang,China

Measurements of aerosol were made in August and October 2001, and January 2002, at Dunhuang, China (40°00N, 94°30E), to understand the nature of atmosphericparticles over the desert areas in the Asian continent. Balloon-borne measurements with an optical particle counter suggested that particle size and concentration had a noticeable peak in size range of super micron in not only the boundary mixing layer but also the free troposphere. Thickness of the boundary mixing layer, from distributions of particle concentration, was about 4 km in summer (17 August 2001), about2.5 km in fall (17 October 2001), and about 3 km in winter (11 January 2002), which suggest active mixing of particles near the boundary in summer. Number-size distribution of particleshowed a noticeable peak in the super micron particles size range inthe mixing boundary layer: 0.4–2 particles cm^-3 at diameter>1.2 m in summer, 0.05–4 particles cm^-3 at diameter >1.2 m in fall, and 0.1–5 particles cm^-3 at diameter>1.2 m in winter. In winter strong inversion of atmospherictemperature was found in the height range from the boundary to about 3 km and vertical distribution of particle concentration well corresponded with the temperature distribution. Chemical elements of individual aerosols, which were collectedin the boundary layer atmosphere at Dunhuang (18 October 2001) were analyzed with an electron microscope equipped with EDX. Thosesingle particle analysis suggested that most of the particles with supermicron size were soil particles, and those particles had littlesulfate on its surface. This is a very important different point,comparing with the chemical state of soil particles, which weretransported from the desert area of China to Japan, and showed frequentlythe existence of sulfate on the particle surface. Therefore, it isstrongly suggested that dust particles can be chemically modifiedduring their long-range transport from desert areas to Japan.     

Investigation and modeling of diurnal variation in suburban ambient formaldehyde concentration

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a naturally occurring compound found in ambient air which can induce cancer and sick-building syndrome. It plays an important...     

Very high concentrations of DDE and toxaphene residues in crocodiles from the Ord River, Western Australia: an investigation into possible endocrine disruption

Organochlorine pesticide concentrations, particularly those of the DDT family and of toxaphene, were measured by gas chromatography in samples of liver and body fat taken from Australian freshwater crocodiles Crocodylus johnstoni at three locations along the Ord River in Western Australia. The three sampling sites were the irrigation area, downstream of the irrigation area, and well upstream of the irrigation area; the last site serving as the control. DDT and toxaphene were applied in large and known quantities to cotton grown in the Ord Irrigation Area from 1964 to 1974. Thus the residues in the crocodile tissues are representative of the situation almost thirty years after the use of DDT and toxaphene ceased in the area. Very high concentrations of p,p'-DDE and toxaphene were found in the lipid-rich tissues that were examined. Livers and body fat from estuarine crocodiles Crocodylus porosus from the downstream site were also analysed. As p,p'-DDE and toxaphene are both known to be disruptive of endocrine systems, a range of blood parameters, including estradiol and testesterone concentrations, were also measured for all the animals studied. The ovaries and testes of the freshwater crocodiles were also examined histologically. There were no obvious effects on blood chemistry or gonad histology of the large burden of pesticides and their metabolites carried by exposed animals, although the limited number of samples and the variability of the breeding state of the animals examined may have masked possible effects. The isolation of the area, the accurately known applications of DDT and toxaphene, and the simplicity of the drainage system make the lower Ord River a unique natural laboratory for studying the long term breakdown and effects of pesticides applied in a tropical environment.     

Distribution of inorganic bromine and metals during co-combustion of polycarbonate (BrPC) and high-impact polystyrene (BrHIPS) wastes containing brominated flame retardants (BFRs) with metallurgical dust

This study focused on the thermal degradation of polycarbonate (BrPC) and high-impact polystyrene (BrHIPS), containing different brominated flame retardants. The evolved inorganic bromine was utilized for the separation of metals present in electric arc furnace dust (EAFD). The thermal degradation of BrPC generated inorganic gaseous HBr (69%) and condensable Br₂ (31%). The bromine evolved from BrHIPS was detected almost entirely in a condensed phase as SbBr₃. When mixed with EAFD, the evolved inorganic bromine reacted immediately with the metallic components of zinc and lead, but not with iron. The best bromination efficiencies were obtained during the isothermal heating (80 min at 550 °C) of the mixtures at mass ratios of 6:1 and 9:1 w/w under oxidizing conditions. The achieved brominating rates reached 78 and 81% for zinc and 90 and 94% for lead in 6:1 and 9:1 BrPC:EAFD, respectively, and 47 and 65% for zinc and 67 and 63% for lead in 6:1 and 9:1 BrHIPS:EAFD, respectively. The oxidizing condition favored complete vaporization of the formed bromides.     

Nitrogen footprints: Regional realities and options to reduce nitrogen loss to the environment

Ambio - Nitrogen (N) management presents a sustainability dilemma: N is strongly linked to energy and food production, but excess reactive N causes environmental pollution. The N footprint is an...