Hermaphroditism in brown shrimp: lessons from field data and modelling

This study was undertaken to further clarify whether the brown shrimp, Crangon crangon (Linnaeus 1758), is a gonochorist, a facultative or an obligate hermaphrodite. Juvenile shrimps were sampled from intertidal habitats along the German Wadden Sea coast with a push net and from a power plant water inlet to quantify the share of primary females. Length-based sex ratios were determined for about 27,000 individuals using external characteristics. Observed sex ratios were mainly female-biased, and also large males occurred regularly in the catch. This indicates that sex at hatch is not male as would be characteristic for an obligate protandric hermaphrodite and that not all male shrimps change sex. A cohort-based computer simulation, including sex-specific growth rates, mortality and seasonally varying recruitment, generated sex ratios comparable to the field. The observed decline in the proportion of males with increasing size can be explained solely by faster growth of females without involving hermaphroditism. Based on temperature-dependent growth and moult rates as well as length-specific numbers of eggs per female, the potential egg production of primary and secondary females was modelled, yielding contributions of secondary females of <1%. Sex change in C. crangon has previously been observed and may be interpreted as an evolutionary relict of this species having evolved in a habitat characterized by lower population densities, lower predation levels and increased longevity compared to today’s living conditions in North Sea coastal waters.     

Arsenaufnahme von Wildpflanzen auf einem kampfstoffkontaminierten Rüstungsaltlastenstandort

The risk assessment of former ammunition factories, where chemical weapons consisting of diphenylarsenic compounds have been produced or stored is difficult because of the lack of data concerning bioavailability and metabolism of the residues of these sternutators. In order to estimate the contamination of fodder plants by typical pollutants of the former Heeresmunitionsanstalt Löcknitz, the total concentration of arsenic was determined in 186 samples of wild plants. The total arsenic concentration in plants of high feed value did not exceed 1 ppm, whereas 15% of the samples of plants of middle and little value in regard to animal fodder showed arsenic concentrations above 1ppm. The uptake of arsenic by wild plants, however, appears to be comparably low taken the high-grade contamination of the soil into account. A final toxicological evaluation of the risk potential is not yet possible because it requires the characterization of the anorganic and organic arsenic compounds in these plants.     

PAHs in the urban air of Sarajevo: levels,sources, day/night variation,and human inhalation risk

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic pollutants derived from pyrolysis and pyrosynthesis processes. Industrial activity, motor vehicle emission, and domestic combustion are the main sources of PAHs in the urban atmosphere. In this work, samples collected during the day and night in the urban area of Sarajevo are analyzed separately for gaseous and particle-bound PAHs; the possible origin of PAHs at the receptor site was suggested using different methods applied to the solid phase and to the total PAHs (gaseous + particulate phase). Finally, the risk level in Sarajevo associated to the carcinogenic character of the studied PAHs has been assessed. The result of this study suggests that (a) the total PAH concentrations were higher than those reported in other European cities; (b) the PAH daytime concentrations are higher than nocturnal concentrations: the sum of the PAH day/night ratios is 1.52 (gas) and 1.45 (particle phase); (c) stationary combustion and traffic were suggested to be the main sources of PAHs; (d) the average particle-bound benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) concentration (5.4 ng/m³) is higher than EU target annual value (1 ng/m³); and (e) PAH cancer risk exceeds the carcinogenic benchmark level recommended by the EPA mainly due to BaP during both the day and night periods.     

Trust,but verify: social media models for disaster management

A lack of trust in the information exchanged via social media may significantly hinder decisionmaking by community members and emergency services during disasters. The need for timely information at such times, though, challenges traditional ways of establishing trust. This paper, building on a multi‐year research project that combined social media data analysis and participant observation within an emergency management organisation and in‐depth engagement with stakeholders across the sector, pinpoints and examines assumptions governing trust and trusting relationships in social media disaster management. It assesses three models for using social media in disaster management—information gathering, quasi‐journalistic verification, and crowdsourcing—in relation to the guardianship of trust to highlight the verification process for content and source and to identify the role of power and responsibilities. The conclusions contain important implications for emergency management organisations seeking to enhance their mechanisms for incorporating user‐generated information from social media sources in their disaster response efforts.     

Neutral poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in air and seawater of the North Sea

Concentrations of neutral poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), such as fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FASAs), perfluoroalkane sufonamidoethanols (FASEs), and fluorotelomer acrylates (FTACs), have been simultaneously determined in surface seawater and the atmosphere of the North Sea. Seawater and air samples were taken aboard the German research vessel Heincke on the cruise 303 from 15 to 24 May 2009. The concentrations of FTOHs, FASAs, FASEs, and FTACs in the dissolved phase were 2.6–74, <0.1–19, <0.1–63, and <1.0–9.0 pg L^?1, respectively. The highest concentrations were determined in the estuary of the Weser and Elbe rivers and a decreasing concentration profile appeared with increasing distance from the coast toward the central part of the North Sea. Gaseous FTOHs, FASAs, FASEs, and FTACs were in the range of 36–126, 3.1–26, 3.7–19, and 0.8–5.6 pg m^?3, which were consistent with the concentrations determined in 2007 in the North Sea, and approximately five times lower than those reported for an urban area of Northern Germany. These results suggested continuous continental emissions of neutral PFASs followed by transport toward the marine environment. Air–seawater gas exchanges of neutral PFASs were estimated using fugacity ratios and the two-film resistance model based upon paired air–seawater concentrations and estimated Henry's law constant values. Volatilization dominated for all neutral PFASs in the North Sea. The air–seawater gas exchange fluxes were in the range of 2.5?×?10³–3.6?×?10⁵ pg m^?2 for FTOHs, 1.8?×?10²–1.0?×?10⁵ pg m^?2 for FASAs, 1.1?×?10²–3.0?×?10⁵ pg m^?2 for FASEs and 6.3?×?10²–2.0?×?10⁴ pg m^?2 for FTACs, respectively. These results suggest that the air–seawater gas exchange is an important process that intervenes in the transport and fate for neutral PFASs in the marine environment.     

Using radon-222 as indicator for the evaluation of the efficiency of groundwater remediation by in situ air sparging

A common approach for remediation of groundwater contamination with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is contaminant stripping by means of in situ air sparging (IAS). For VOC stripping, pressurized air is injected into the contaminated groundwater volume, followed by the extraction of the contaminant-loaded exhaust gas from the vadose soil zone and its immediate on-site treatment. Progress assessment of such remediation measure necessitates information (i) on the spatial range of the IAS influence and (ii) on temporal variations of the IAS efficiency. In the present study it was shown that the naturally occurring noble gas radon can be used as suitable environmental tracer for achieving the related spatial and temporal information. Due to the distinct water/air partitioning behaviour of radon and due to its straightforward on-site detectability, the radon distribution pattern in the groundwater can be used as appropriate measure for assessing the progression of an IAS measure as a function of space and time. The presented paper discusses both the theoretical background of the approach and the results of an IAS treatment accomplished at a VOC contaminated site lasting six months, during which radon was applied as efficiency indicator.     

Impact of the global economic crisis on metal levels in particulate matter (PM) at an urban area in the Cantabria Region (Northern Spain)

Air pollution by particulate matter is well linked with anthropogenic activities; the global economic crisis that broke out in the last year may be a proper indicator of this close relationship. Some economic indicators show the regional effects of the crisis on the Cantabria Region. The present work aims to evaluate the impact of the economic crisis on PM10 levels and composition at the major city of the region, Santander. Some metals linked to anthropogenic activities were measured at Santander and studied by Positive Matrix Factorization; this statistical analysis allowed to identify three main factors: urban background, industrial and molybdenum-related factor. The main results show that the temporal trend of the levels of the industrial tracers found in the present study are well agree with the evolution of the studied economic indicators; nevertheless, the urban background tracers and PM10 concentration levels are not well correlated with the studied economic indicators.     

The varying roles of the dimensions of affluence in air pollution: a regional STIRPAT analysis for Germany

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - STIRPAT models investigate the impacts of population, affluence, and technology on the environment, with most STIRPAT studies revealing positive...     

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in urban and rural precipitation in Germany

The use of the oxygenate methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in gasoline has led to detectable concentrations in urban and rural air up to 160 ppbV. Results from MTBE measurement in precipitation have not been reported so far. In the present study, 120 samples of precipitation collected at 17 sampling locations all over Germany have been analyzed for their MTBE content. Analysis is performed by a combination of headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A 75 μm poly(dimethylsiloxane)/Carboxene fiber and a cryostat is used for SPME. The detection limit is 10 ng/l. In precipitation samples, MTBE was detected in wintertimes only with a maximum concentration of 85 ng/l. Measurement at Frankfurt/M City from 6 September 2000 to 12 March 2001 provided for 49% of the data concentrations in the range of 30–85 ng/l (n=17). Sampling in winter 2000/2001 at several German cities and rural locations showed that MTBE is more often detectable in urban (86%, n=78) than in rural (18%, n=42) precipitation. By comparing the results with corresponding temperatures and amounts of precipitation it can be concluded that the detection of MTBE in urban precipitation is observed at ambient temperatures lower than about 10–15°C. Moreover, the first precipitation after a dry period accumulates more MTBE than precipitation during or at the end of a wet period (wash-out effect). Highest concentrations occurred in snow samples. Corresponding mean air equilibrium concentrations of 0.04 ppbV (urban samples) and 0.01 ppbV (rural samples) are calculated. This is about one magnitude lower than year round and summertime measurements in the US and in Switzerland. Urban runoff (n=12) and corresponding precipitation sampling indicate that urban runoff might be composed of about 20% MTBE that is already transported by air and precipitation, whereas about 80% may be attributed to direct uptake of vehicle emissions and leakage near the road during precipitation.     

How honeybees perceive communication dances,studied by means of a mechanical model

Summary A mechanical model of a dancing honeybee was used to investigate the role of various components of the wagging dance in the transfer of information to follower bees. The model simulates the dance, carries a scent, and has an acoustic near-field similar to that of live dancers. The movements of the model are controlled by a computer, and selected components of the dance can be manipulated independently of others. The number of bees approaching scented baits at various distances and directions from the hive was observed, both during simulated normal dances and dances in which different components provided potentially conflicting information about the location of the food. The results indicate that the wagging run is the master component of the dance. The figure-of-eight dance path does not seem to convey information. Both sound and wagging must be present in the dance, but no specific roles were found for these components. Both sound and wagging convey information about distance and direction, and they appear to be largely redundant. Offprint requests to: A. Michelsen