Air quality and PM10-associated poly-aromatic hydrocarbons around the railway traffic area: statistical and air mass trajectory approaches

Diesel engine railway traffic causes atmosphere pollution due to the exhaust emission which may be harmful to the passengers as well as workers. In this study, the air quality and PM₁₀ concentrations were evaluated around a railway station in Northeast India where trains are operated with diesel engines. The gaseous pollutant (e.g. SO₂, NO₂, and NH₃) was collected and measured by using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The advanced level characterizations of the PM10 samples were carried out by using ion chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry , X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy techniques to know their possible environmental contaminants. High-performance liquid chromatography technique was used to determine the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to estimate the possible atmospheric pollution level caused by the rail traffic in the enclosure. The average PM₁₀ concentration was found to be 262.11 µg m⁻³ (maximum 24 hour) which indicates poor air quality (AQI category) around the rail traffic. The statistical and air mass trajectory analysis was also done to know their mutual correlation and source apportionment. This study will modify traditional studies where only models are used to simulate the origins.

     

Social lateralization in wild Asian elephants: visual preferences of mothers and offspring

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology - Due to the reduced conspicuousness of female signals, their evolution has traditionally been interpreted as a by-product of sexual or natural selection in...     

Short- and long-term responses of nourishments: Barra-Vagueira coastal stretch,Portugal

Dredged material resulting from deepening and maintenance activities of the Aveiro Harbor inlet channel, northwestern coast of Portugal, has been used to mitigate the erosion trend recorded on nearby beaches (from Barra to Costa Nova Beach) through direct placement of sand by using standard dredge equipment. The disposal activities of dredged material have been undertaken at two main sites: between the south breakwater and the 1st groin of Costa Nova (dumping area 1, DA1) and between the 3rd and the 5th groin of Costa Nova (dumping area 2, DA2).The sand was placed in the nearshore, between the ?2 and ?7 m Chart Datum, CD, contours.In this study, short- and long-term coastal morphologic changes in the sea bottom, in response to several nourishment operations and to the incoming waves, within the dumping area boundaries are investigated based on a data set of hydrographic surveys collected annually, just before and after the nourishments, between 2009 and 2015. Preliminary results describing the main morphologic changes, evolution trends, sediment budget variations, and nourishments performance are discussed using mainly Geographic Information System techniques. Overall, the analysis demonstrates that the short-term losses in the dumping areas (one month of interval) can reach 50% of the nourished volume, revealing a significant movement of the fill material towards offshore. Seasonal variations promoting cross-shore material exchange can also prevail and misrepresent the sediment balances, if the monitoring area is not comprehensive. Furthermore, some bathymetric analysis suggested that longshore transport gradients have moved the fill material from Barra beach to downdrift areas. All the obtained results contribute to the ongoing discussion about the effectiveness of nearshore sand placements especially in context of an energetic environment.     

Vulnerability associated with “symptoms similar to those of mercury poisoning” in communities from Xingu River,Amazon basin

The Brazilian Amazon is known to be a region with high levels of mercury (Hg) in the environment and studies point to an association between high levels of natural mercury in the mother rock and the vast number of clandestine gold mines. Other studies already report the contamination of fish in this region, as well as high levels of Hg in biological material from environmentally exposed populations. On the other hand, this is one of the least developed regions of the planet and it is necessary to understand the vulnerability factors in these populations that may be intoxicated by this element. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the vulnerability factors in communities from Xingu River—Amazon basin probably exposed to Hg. A cross-selection study in two cities localized in Xingu River was conducted, and the sample contained was 268 individuals. sociodemographic questions, lifestyle, diet habits and health conditions were collated. The majority of the sample was female, between 30 and 59 years old, had less than 3 years of educational level and lived in the local of study more than 240 months. There was regular fish consumption (95.9%), principally carnivorous species (80.5%). The visual problem has a highest prevalence (43.3%) between the health problems and about the symptoms of Hg intoxication, memory loss (42.9%), weakness (35.1%), fatigue (34.3%), mood changes (28.7%) and difficulties in concentration (27.2%) was most reported. The female sex, age over 60, educational level below 3 years of study, did not had flush toilet, smoke and least one chronic non-communicable disease represent higher probability to had symptoms of Hg intoxication. Lack of access to health services, low education level and income evidence the susceptibility of this community to diseases and injuries. The vulnerable groups identified in this study should be a priority in public health and environmental health policies.     

Lack of population structure in the fiddler crab Uca annulipes along an East African latitudinal gradient: genetic and morphometric evidence

Phylogeographic patterns in Uca annulipes sampled from 30 locations across an East African latitudinal gradient were investigated using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I sequences and analysed together with patterns of morphometric differentiation. Four hundred and four specimens along the east African coast were sampled, and 18 haplotypes were encountered. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity values were very low and the phylogenetic analysis did not reveal any clear phylogeographic structure. Furthermore, the analysis of molecular variance and pairwise Φ _ST values showed no significant spatial population differentiation. Mismatch analyses and tests of neutrality supported the hypothesis that this species has undergone a fairly recent demographic expansion. Our results, therefore, failed to demonstrate significant geographical structure in the pattern of genetic variation, indicating that populations of U. annulipes are capable of extensive gene flow among mangroves along the coast. The genetic structure of this species could be panmictic due to a high amount of gene flow along the geographical gradient in study during the planktonic larval phase, when larvae are carried along stream by the dominant currents. Moreover, the morphometric analysis performed did not reveal differences of shape differentiation according to a geographical pattern, although significant differences among the sampling areas were found.     

Do great tits rely on inadvertent social information from blue tits? A habitat selection experiment

Sympatric species sharing requirements are competitors, but recent evidence suggests that heterospecifics may also be used as a source of information. The heterospecific habitat copying hypothesis proposes that individuals of one species might use information inadvertently produced by the breeding performance of individuals of other species to assess habitat quality whenever the two species share needs. In this study, we provide the first experimental test of this hypothesis by examining whether the manipulated reproductive success of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) is used as heterospecific inadvertent social information (ISI) in breeding-habitat selection by sympatric great tits (Parus major). The reproductive success of blue tits was manipulated 1year at the scale of patches by transferring nestlings from decreased to increased patches. No evidence was found of great tits using the reproductive success of blue tits as a source of heterospecific ISI. However, dispersal decisions by adult great tits correlated with information on con- and heterospecific densities, which constitute other sources of ISI. As density and breeding performance are tightly intertwined forms of information, the difficulty in distinguishing between them might lead great tits to use heterospecific ISI more in the form of density than breeding performance when making dispersal decisions.     

Predator–prey fuzzy model

In this work we have used fuzzy rule-based systems to elaborate a predator–prey type of model to study the interaction between aphids (preys) and ladybugs (predators) in citriculture, where the aphids are considered as transmitter agents of the Citrus Sudden Death (CSD). Simulations were performed and a graph was drawn to show the prey population, the potentiality of the predators, and a phase-plane. From this phase-plane, a classic model of the Holling–Tanner type is fitted and its parameters were found. Finally, we have studied the stability of the critical points of the Holling–Tanner model.     

Influence of territoriality on adult density in two rockfishes of the genus Sebastes

Nonterritorial Sebastes carnatus and S. chrysomelas existed, along with territorial individuals, at 3 tagging sites off southern California, USA, which were monitored for nearly 1 yr. To test the hypothesis that territoriality affected adult density in these species, territorial fish were removed and the subsequent utilization of vacated territories by other fish was monitored. Intrusion of other fish into vacated territories increased significantly in 90% of the removals. Other fish colonized both the feeding and sheltering parts of the vacated territories, indicating that the previous owners had successfully defended both parts of their territories. Many of the colonizers had already possessed territories; they expanded their territories or moved into presumably better havitat. Several previously-nonterritorial fish also moved into vacated areas, and at least some of them appeared to establish territories. These fish, then, had previously been capable of establishing territories, but were prevented from doing so by resident territory holders. Thus territoriality, rather than such other factors as predation or low recruitment, limited the number of territorial fish at each site. However, territorial fish did not inhibit the settlement of larval recruits, and the relative mortality rates of older territorial vs nonterritorial fish were not determined. Thus the question of whether territoriality was a major factor controlling total density remains unresolved.     

Electrochemical removal of synthetic textile dyes from aqueous solutions using Ti/Pt anode: role of dye structure

In this work, the efficiency of electrochemical oxidation (EO) was investigated for removing a dye mixture containing Novacron Yellow (NY) and Remazol Red (RR) in aqueous solutions using platinum supported on titanium (Ti/Pt) as anode. Different current densities (20, 40 and 60 mA cm^?2) and temperatures (25, 40 and 60 °C) were studied during electrochemical treatment. After that, the EO of each of these dyes was separately investigated. The EO of each of these dyes was performed, varying only the current density and keeping the same temperature (25 °C). The elimination of colour was monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy, and the degradation of organic compounds was analysed by means of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Data obtained from the analysis of the dye mixture showed that the EO process was effective in colour removal, in which more than 90 % was removed. In the case of COD removal, the application of a current density greater than 40 mA cm^?2 favoured the oxygen evolution reaction, and no complete oxidation was achieved. Regarding the analysis of individual anodic oxidation dyes, it was appreciated that the data for the NY were very close to the results obtained for the oxidation of the dye mixture while the RR dye achieved higher colour removal but lower COD elimination. These results suggest that the oxidation efficiency is dependent on the nature of the organic molecule, and it was confirmed by the intermediates identified. Figure

Chemical structures of a NY and b RR