Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT; Thunnus thynnus) is a migrating species straddling the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It is assumed that this species is divided
into a western and an eastern stock, which spawn in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea, respectively. To learn more
about the reproductive behavior of the eastern BFT stock, we tracked gonadal development in adult fish that were sampled between
April and July during three consecutive years (2003–2005). Sampling campaigns were carried out using common fishing methods
at selected locations within the Mediterranean Sea, namely Levantine Sea, Malta, and Balearic Islands. An additional sampling
point, Barbate, was situated northwest of the Straits of Gibraltar along the Atlantic coast. Morphometric parameters such
as the total body mass (MB) and the weights of the gonads (MG) were recorded, and the respective gonadosomatic index (GSI) values were calculated. The data collected revealed two important
trends: (1) GSI values are higher in fish caught in the eastern rather than the western locations across the Mediterranean
Sea, and (2) the GSI reaches maximum values between late May and early June in Levantine Sea (eastern Mediterranean Sea),
and only 2 and 4 weeks later in the central (Malta) and western (Balearic Islands) locations, respectively. The advanced gonadal
development in BFT correlates well with higher sea surface temperatures. Our findings also distinguish the northern Levantine
Sea BFT population (mean MB 78.41 ± 4.13 kg), and the Barbate BFT population with the greatest MB (all fish sampled > 100 kg). These data reflect a situation in which the eastern Mediterranean basin may function as a habitat
for young BFT, until they gain a larger MB and are able to move to the Atlantic Ocean. However, the existence of genetically discrete BFT populations in the Mediterranean
Sea cannot be ruled out. 相似文献
Rainwater and surface water from four sites in Germany (Bavaria and Lower Saxony) were analyzed for atrazine by enzyme immunoassay from June 1990 until October 1992. The limit of quantification of the immunoassay was 0.02 μg/L with a middle of the test at 0.2 μg/L. About 60 % of the samples contained measurable amounts of atrazine. Seasonal trends were observed, with the highest concentration in the summer months of up to 4 μg/L for rainwater and up to 15 μg/L for surface waters. The highest concentrations were found in agricultural areas, while in the investigated national parks up to 0.56 μg/L could be detected in rain water. This points to long-range atmospheric transport from agricultural areas to pristine national parks. Samples from forest stands usually showed higher atrazine concentrations than samples from open fields. Deposition rates of 10 – 50 μg/m2 · yr were observed in the national parks and 10–180 μg/m2 · yr at the agricultural sites. Comparison of results obtained by enzyme immunoassay and GC/MS showed a good correlation of r = 0.95. 相似文献
The ability of individual species to tolerate or accumulate heavy metal pollutants has been investigated widely. Although invasive species may become established more easily in disturbed environments, relatively little is known about how an ability to tolerate pollutants might give invasive species a competitive advantage. This study is part of a series of experiments investigating native and invasive species interactions with chemical pollution and other forms of disturbance. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of lead on the growth of Lythrum salicaria. We exposed plants to different concentrations of lead and measured different growth parameters, such as biomass, length, leaf number, and biomass allocation to roots. For most measures, plants grown in lead-free conditions were larger than plants exposed to lead. Plants in the low (500 mg/l) and medium (1,000 mg/l) lead treatments did not differ from each other, while plants in the high (2,000 mg/l) lead treatment were significantly smaller. However, the biomass allocation to roots was not significantly different among treatments. Although their growth is affected, individuals of Lythrum salicaria demonstrated tolerance to lead contamination, which may aid in their colonization in lead-polluted wetlands. 相似文献
Stable isotopic signatures of landfill leachates are influenced by processes within municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills mainly depending on the aerobic/anaerobic phase of the landfill. We investigated the isotopic signatures of δ13C, δ2H and δ18O of different leachates from lab-scale experiments, lysimeter experiments and a landfill under in situ aeration. In the laboratory, columns filled with MSW of different age and reactivity were percolated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In landfill simulation reactors, waste of a 25 year old landfill was kept under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The lysimeter facility was filled with mechanically shredded fresh waste. After starting of the methane production the waste in the lysimeter containments was aerated in situ. Leachate and gas composition were monitored continuously. In addition the seepage water of an old landfill was collected and analysed periodically before and during an in situ aeration.We found significant differences in the δ13C-value of the dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13C-DIC) of the leachate between aerobic and anaerobic waste material. During aerobic degradation, the signature of δ13C-DIC was mainly dependent on the isotopic composition of the organic matter in the waste, resulting in a δ13C-DIC of ?20‰ to ?25‰. The production of methane under anaerobic conditions caused an increase in δ13C-DIC up to values of +10‰ and higher depending on the actual reactivity of the MSW. During aeration of a landfill the aerobic degradation of the remaining organic matter caused a decrease to a δ13C-DIC of about ?20‰. Therefore carbon isotope analysis in leachates and groundwater can be used for tracing the oxidation–reduction status of MSW landfills.Our results indicate that monitoring of stable isotopic signatures of landfill leachates over a longer time period (e.g. during in situ aeration) is a powerful and cost-effective tool for characterising the biodegradability and stability of the organic matter in landfilled municipal solid waste and can be used for monitoring the progress of in situ aeration. 相似文献
Managing Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is a severe and growing urban challenge, particularly in post-conflict countries. Though Kosovo has significantly rebuilt and developed after the Liberation War, these initiatives have accompanied suboptimal waste management. This research evaluates CDW management in Kosovo by assessing current practices and operations vis-a-vis the legal framework and EU requirements. It identifies instruments and policies capable of ameliorating gaps and proposes a more sustainable and circular CDW management system for Kosovo. Information was primarily collected during on-site visits to Pristina and the surroundings by a cohort of Urban Management Students from the Technische Universität Berlin, students from Kosovo, and the local office of the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ. The analysis identified gaps in Kosovo's CDW management and its observance and enforcement of existing CDW legislation, including an ambiguous licensing system impeding sustainable demolition, storage, and transport; the absence of approved CDW storage options leading to uncontrolled disposal; and an underdeveloped market for recycling and reuse, deterring stakeholders from further pursuit of circular practices. These gaps were compounded by poor recordkeeping, obscuring precise information on CDW streams. Possible instruments and incentives to support Kosovo's transition to a more sustainable CDW management system were then identified.
Sites polluted with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) constitute a worldwide problem. In this work, chemical reactions for binding TNT to amino-compounds are proposed as an initial step for developing new remediation techniques to clean-up groundwater and soils contaminated with TNT. Indeed, addition of aniline and an amino acid-like cysteine caused a decrease in free TNT of 86% and 68-100%, respectively. Using 13C-NMR spectroscopy, it was shown that TNT chemically forms a Meisenheimer complex with cysteine and aniline in 1/1 (by vol.) H2O/d6-acetone. 相似文献
A review of ozone pollution in Italy shows levels largely above the thresholds established by EU regulation for vegetation and human health protection. The Italian air quality monitoring network appears quantitatively inadequate to cover all the territorial surface, because of scarcity and unequal distribution of monitoring sites. By applying the integrated assessment model RAINS-Italy to the year 2000, the whole of Italy exceeds the AOT40 critical level for forest, while Northern and central areas show strong potential of O3 impact on human health with ∼11% of territory >10 O3-induced premature deaths. Two scenarios for the year 2020, the Current Legislation and the Maximum Technical Feasible Reduction, show a reduction of AOT40Forest by 29% and 44%, SOMO35 by 31% and 47%, and O3-induced premature deaths by 32% and 48%, compared to 2000. RAINS-Italy can be used to improve the map quality and cover areas not reached by the national monitoring network. 相似文献
Increasingly, performance measurement is being used to hold federal agencies accountable, represent environmental progress, and evaluate the effectiveness of environmental programs. The need to track measurable outputs has created a tendency to present programmatic progress solely by quantifiable data, despite the inherent complexity of natural resource management. Wetlands and fire management programs are two specific environmental arenas that have come to overemphasize the tracking of acreage numbers to validate existing policy direction. In both of these arenas, we find the definition and categorization of "countable" acres to be inconsistent and unreliable. We explore this systemic flaw for both wetlands and fire programs and describe its implications for environmental policy and natural resource management more broadly. We conclude with recommendations for improved performance measurement in these arenas. 相似文献
The redevelopment of brownfields has become a central component of government efforts to revitalize many US cities. While the focus of these efforts has concentrated on promoting industrial and commercial redevelopment, some cities have started to also consider converting brownfields into parks and open space as part of a more comprehensive renewal strategy. Based on a survey of 20 case studies, this paper identifies and discusses: (1) the primary issues involved in brownfield greening projects; (2) the benefits of such projects; and (3) the specific planning processes involved. The overall conclusion drawn from the survey is that numerous renewal‐oriented benefits can ensue from greening projects, if there is extensive stakeholder commitment devoted to deal with its financial and development‐oriented challenges. 相似文献
The model polyurethane foam and model compact polyurethane material were prepared and then decomposed by means of natural
oils. Castor oil and fish oil based polyol were used in this study. Optimal conditions for the polyurethane decomposition
were found. Temperature 250 °C was necessary for efficient polyurethane decomposition by castor oil whereas 200 °C is sufficient
in the case of fish oil based polyol. Prepared products have hydroxyl number in the range of 95–168 mg KOH g−1. During the polyurethane decomposition no cleavage of double bonds in the fatty acid chains of castor oil and fish oil based
polyol was observed. 相似文献