Using forest inventory data to assess fisher resting habitat suitability in California.

The fisher (Martes pennanti) is a forest-dwelling carnivore whose current distribution and association with late-seral forest conditions make it vulnerable to stand-altering human activities or natural disturbances. Fishers select a variety of structures for daily resting bouts. These habitat elements, together with foraging and reproductive (denning) habitat, constitute the habitat requirements of fishers. We develop a model capable of predicting the suitability of fisher resting habitat using standard forest vegetation inventory data. The inventory data were derived from Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA), a nationwide probability-based sample used to estimate forest characteristics. We developed the model by comparing vegetation and topographic data at 75 randomly selected fisher resting structures in the southern Sierra Nevada with 232 forest inventory plots. We collected vegetation data at fisher resting locations using the FIA vegetation sampling protocol and centering the 1-ha FIA plot on the resting structure. To distinguish used and available inventory plots, we used nonparametric logistic regression to evaluate a set of a priori biological models. The top model represented a dominant portion of the Akaike weights (0.87), explained 31.5% of the deviance, and included the following variables: average canopy closure, basal area of trees <51 cm diameter breast height (dbh), average hardwood dbh, maximum tree dbh, percentage slope, and the dbh of the largest conifer snag. Our use of routinely collected forest inventory data allows the assessment and monitoring of change in fisher resting habitat suitability over large regions with no additional sampling effort. Although models were constrained to include only variables available from the list of those measured using the FIA protocol, we did not find this to be a shortcoming. The model makes it possible to compare average resting habitat suitability values before and after forest management treatments, among administrative units, across regions and over time. Considering hundreds of plot estimates as a sample of habitat conditions over large spatial scales can bring a broad perspective, at high resolution, and efficiency to the assessment and monitoring of wildlife habitat.     

Quecksilbergasfeinreinigung mittels metall- und salzpartikelbelegter Trägermaterialien (G/S-Reaktor) Ökotoxizität von Quecksilber und seiner Verbindungen

Waste and process gases from thermal power and metallurgical plants or such products from alkali-chloride industries contain metallic, inorganic and organic mercury. Widespread processes applied to remove the greatest amount of mercury are absorption and adsorption. Caused by the lowering of the emission limit from 200 to 50 μg/m³ [STP] by national and European legislators, considerable efforts have been made to enhance the efficiency of the main separation units of flue gas cleaning plants by applying the appropriate technological measures. This article is focused on the removal of mercury from waste gases. The state of engineering is described, especially with regard to enhancing the efficiency of separation in the raw gas, in wet, dry and quasi-dry processes as well as in tail-end process units. Specially impregnated ceramic carriers can be used for the selective separation of metallic, inorganic and organic mercury. Amalgamation has been investigated as a possible separation mechanism both experimentally and in theory. Using the ceramic reactor, removal rates for gaseous mercury and its compounds can be achieved which are even lower than 50 μg/m³ [STP]. The technology, the separation mechanisms and the ecological advantages through the use of ceramic reactors are presented in the article as well.     

Preliminary patterns of distribution and abundance of loggerhead sea turtles,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Caretta caretta</Emphasis>, around Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve,Spanish Mediterranean

Aerial surveys were conducted to estimate the abundance and distribution of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve and surrounding waters (western Mediterranean). Four surveys were carried out during 2000 and 2001, following the line transect methodology. Loggerheads appeared to be present at high densities in the area throughout the whole year, although density varied between seasons, being more abundant during the spring. Mean density in the study area was 0.322 turtles/km² (range 0.200–0.516) and the mean abundance was 1,324 turtles (range 825–2,124). The turtles were distributed homogeneously throughout the study area, we found no difference in loggerhead density between the water around the reserve and that in the rest of the study area. Current conservation measures planned by the local authorities, which include increasing the area of the reserve, would be very positive for the conservation of this stock.Communicated by S.A. Poulet, Roscoff     

Decolorization of synthetic dyes using a copper complex with glucaric acid

Selected azo, acridine, triphenyl methane, anthraquinone and thiazine-based dyes were decolorized using a catalytic system consisting of Cu(II)/glucaric acid/H(2)O(2). More than 90% decolorization was obtained with 100 ppm Acridine Orange, Azure B, Chicago Sky Blue, Crystal Violet, Methyl Orange, Poly B-411, Reactive Black 5, Reactive Blue 2, and Remazol Brilliant Blue R within 24 h. Seventy to eighty percent decolorization was achieved within the first 6 h. The decolorizaton was not affected by pH. The involvement of hydroxyl radicals produced in the system in the decolorization of the dye molecules was confirmed by electron spin resonance study.     

Estimation of the contribution of a municipal waste incinerator to the overall emission and human intake of PCBs in Wilrijk, Flanders

The contribution of the emission of PCBs by a municipal waste incinerator in Wilrijk, a relatively industrialized district in the largest city of Flanders, to the total emission to air and to the total human intake was estimated. Therefore it was compared to the emission of PCBs by evaporation from PCB containing applications (transformers, capacitors, paint, ink, etc.) and to the intake of PCBs with food. As there was a lack of PCB data from the incinerator, the PCB emission concentration was estimated using three different approaches. A PCB measurement of the incinerator emission, performed later on, fell within the predicted range of 0.0004-0.005 ng TEQ/Nm3. Emission of PCBs from PCB containing applications and intake from food were deduced from information available on Flemish and European level. The results indicate a PCB contribution from the incinerator to local emissions between 0.3% and 3% of the emission from PCB containing applications and a contribution to human intake less than 6 x 10(-4)% of the intake from food.     

The combined effect of lead exposure and high or low dietary calcium on health and immunocompetence in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

The widespread contamination by lead and the acidification of the environment ask for a better understanding of the effects of the interaction between lead and calcium on various aspects of health, including disease defense, in wildlife. Here, we investigated the effects of chronic exposure to sublethal levels of lead, combined with high or low dietary calcium, on health and several components of immunity in male and female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Thirty individuals of each sex were randomly assigned to three groups: a control group, a group exposed to lead with an additional calcium source (i.e. grit) and a group exposed to lead without access to an extra calcium source. Lead was administered as lead acetate via the drinking water (20 ppm) for 38 consecutive days. Exposure to lead increased significantly the concentrations of lead in kidney and bone in individuals of the experimental groups. Furthermore, the lack of a calcium supplement significantly enhanced the uptake of lead. Lead did not affect health indices such as hematocrit, spleen mass and body mass, nor the adrenal stress response. Cell-mediated immune responsiveness, assessed by a delayed-type hypersensitivity response to phytohaemagglutinin, was also not affected by lead exposure. On the other hand, lead exposure did significantly suppress the secondary humoral immune response towards sheep red blood cells in females, but only when the additional calcium source was not available. This effect was not found in males, suggesting sexual differences in susceptibility of humoral immunity to lead treatment in zebra finches.     

The reproductive success and quality of blue tits (Parus caeruleus) in a heavy metal pollution gradient

Studying the effects of pollution on the reproductive performance of birds in the natural environment is of increasing importance due to the need to monitor environmental quality biologically. In this study we investigated the reproductive success and the quality of blue tits in four study sites (at 0.1, 1, 2.5 and 4 km from a metallurgic smelter) located within a heavy metal pollution gradient during three consecutive years. At the two sites closest to the pollution source, a significantly higher proportion of females had egg laying interruptions, and the interruptions also lasted longer (although not significantly). Although the hatching success differed significantly among sites, these differences could not be related to differences in pollution levels. Other important breeding parameters such as the start of egg laying, the clutch size and the breeding success did not differ significantly among sites. Our results suggest that exposure to heavy metal pollution did not influence blue tit reproduction in an important way.     

Temporal and spatial relationships in fine particle strong acidity, sulphate, PM1O, and PM2.5 across multiple canadian locations

The Canadian Acid Aerosol Measurement Program (CAAMP) was established in 1992 to gain a better understanding of the atmospheric behaviour of fine particle strong acidity (“acid aerosols”) and to facilitate an assessment of the potential health risks associated with acid aerosols and particles in general. During 1992. 1993 and 1994, annular denuder and filter measurements were taken at four sites in Ontario, two in Quebec, three in the Atlantic Provinces and one in the greater Vancouver area. Mean fine particle sulphate concentrations (SO₄²⁻) were highest in southern Ontario (annual average ranged from 40–70 nmol m⁻³), lowest at a site in the Vancouver area (average = 16 nmol m⁻³) and second lowest in rural Nova Scotia. However, mean fine particle strong acid concentrations (H⁺) were geographically different. The highest mean concentrations were at the east coast sites (annual average of up to 30 nmol m⁻³). Acidities were lower in areas where the fine particle acidity experienced greater neutralization from reaction with ammonia. This included the major urban centres (i.e. Toronto and Montréal) and areas with greater amounts of agricultural activity, as in rural southern Ontario. On average, ambient concentrations of fine and coarse particle mass were larger in the urban areas and also in areas where SO₄²⁻ levels were higher. All the particle components were episodic. However, compared to SO₄²⁻ and fine particles (PM_2.5 or PM_2.1, depending upon inlet design), episodes of H⁺ tended to be less frequent and of shorter duration, particularly in Ontario. Saint John, New Brunswick, had the highest mean annual H⁺ concentration, which was 30 nmol m⁻³. H⁺ episodes (24 h concentration > 100 nmol m⁻³) were also the most frequent at this location. The high levels in Saint John were partially due to local sulphur dioxide sources and heterogeneous chemistry occurring in fog, which, on average, led to a 50% enhancement in sulphate, relative to upwind conditions.There was a substantial amount of intersite correlation in the day to day variations in H⁺, SO₄²⁻ , PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ (fine + coarse particles) concentrations, which is due to the influence of synoptic-scale meteorology and the relatively long atmospheric lifetime of fine particles. Sulphate was the most regionally homogenous species. Pearson correlation coefficients comparing SO₄²⁻ between sites ranged from 0.6 to 0.9, depending on site separation and lag time. In many cases, particle episodes were observed to move across the entire eastern portion of Canada with about a two-day lag between the SO₄²⁻ levels in southern Ontario and in southern Nova Scotia.     

A rule-based screening environmental risk assessment tool derived from EUSES

Within the context and scope of the forthcoming European Union chemical regulations (REACH), there is a need to be able to prioritise the chemicals for evaluation. Therefore, a simple, pragmatic and adequately conservative approach for the identification of substances of very low or no immediate concern at an early stage is presented. The fundamental principles and basic concepts are derived from the EU Technical Guidance Document and EUSES, and are translated into an easy-to-use rule-based system. For this development, the effect on risk characterisation ratios (RCRs) of the key environmental parameters in EUSES was quantified (taking into account several standardised chemical release scenarios). Using statistical analysis, ranges were identified for each key parameter, within which the end result of the assessment was not significantly affected. This information was then translated into a lookup table from which environmental risk characterisation ratios can be directly read as a function of a few parameters.