Phylogeography of two Atlantic squirrelfishes (Family Holocentridae): exploring links between pelagic larval duration and population connectivity

Genetic surveys of reef fishes have revealed high population connectivity within ocean basins, consistent with the assumption that pelagic larvae disperse long distances by oceanic currents. However, several recent studies have demonstrated that larval retention and self-recruitment may be higher than previously expected. To assess connectivity in tropical reef fishes, we contribute range-wide mtDNA surveys of two Atlantic squirrelfishes (family Holocentridae). The blackbar soldierfish, Myripristis jacobus, has a pelagic juvenile phase of about 58 days, compared to about 71 days (~22% longer) in the longjaw squirrelfish, Holocentrus ascensionis. If the pelagic duration is guiding dispersal ability, M. jacobus should have greater population genetic structure than H. ascensionis. In comparisons of mtDNA cytochrome b sequences from 69 M. jacobus (744 bp) and 101 H. ascensionis (769 bp), both species exhibited a large number of closely related haplotypes (h=0.781 and 0.974, π=0.003 and 0.006, respectively), indicating late Pleistocene coalescence of mtDNA lineages. Contrary to the prediction based on pelagic duration, M. jacobus has much less population structure (φ_ST=0.008, P=0.228) than H. ascensionis (φ_ST=0.091, P<0.001). Significant population partitions in H. ascensionis were observed between eastern, central and western Atlantic, and between Brazil and the Caribbean in the western Atlantic. These results, in combination with the findings from 13 codistributed species, indicate that pelagic larval duration is a poor predictor of population genetic structure in Atlantic reef fishes. A key to understanding this disparity may be the evolutionary depth among corresponding taxonomic groups of “reef fishes”, which extends back to the mid-Cretaceous and encompasses enormous diversity in ecology and life history. We should not expect a simple relationship between pelagic larval duration and genetic connectivity, among lineages that diverged 50–100 million years ago.     

A longitudinal assessment of the aquatic macroinvertebrate community in the channelized lower Missouri River

We conducted an aquatic macroinvertebrate assessment in the channelized reach of the lower Missouri River, and used statistical analysis of individual metrics and multimetric scores to identify community response patterns and evaluate relative biological condition. We examined longitudinal site differences that are potentially associated with water qualityrelated factors originating from the Kansas City metropolitan area, using data from coarse rock substrate in flowing water habitats (outside river bends), and depositional mud substratein slack water habitats (dike fields). Three sites above rivermile (RM) 369 in Kansas City (Nebraska City, RM = 560; St. Joseph, RM = 530; Parkville, RM = 377) and three below (Lexington, RM = 319; Glasgow, RM = 228; Hermann, RM = 94) were sampled with rock basket artificial substrates, a qualitative kicknet method, and the Petite Ponar. We also compared the performance of the methods used. A total of 132 aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa were collected from the lower Missouri River; one third of these taxa belonged to the sensitiveEPOT insect orders (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Odonata, and Trichoptera). Rock baskets had the highest mean efficiency (34.1%) of the methods, and the largest number of taxa was collected by Ponar (n = 69) and kicknet (n = 69) methods. Seven of the 15 metrics calculated from rock basket data, and five ofthe nine metrics calculated from Ponar data showed highly significant differences (ANOVA, P < 0.001) at one or more sitesbelow Kansas City. We observed a substantial reduction in net-spinning Trichoptera in rock habitats below Kansas City (Lexington), an increase in relative dominance of Oligochaeta in depositional habitats at the next site downstream (Glasgow), and lower relative condition scores in rock habitat at Lexingtonand depositional habitat at Glasgow. Collectively, these data indicate that some urban-related impacts on the aquatic macroinvertebrate community are occurring. Our results suggest that the methods and assessment framework we used in this studycould be successfully applied on a larger scale with concurrentwater and sediment chemistry to validate metrics, establish impairment levels, and develop a specific macroinvertebrate community index for the lower Missouri River. We recommend accomplishing this with longitudinal multi-habitat sampling at a larger number of sites related to all potential sources of impairment, including major tributaries, urban areas, and point sources.     

Towards a Simple Indicator of Biodiversity

Policy makers in Canada have suggested that the scientific community should develop an indicator of biodiversity change that can be implemented quite quickly without a major new investment in monitoring systems. We propose that such an indicator can be developed from the theory of species gradients in community ecology. The term 'species gradients' refers to the increasing diversity of species through time under stable conditions, and the increasing diversity of species with the increased use of available resources. This theory is reviewed under four different headings: evolutionary ecology, the energy theory, the resource productivity theory and the thermodynamic mechanism. The theoretical arguments provide a basis to propose detection of the 'leaky ecosystem' as an indicator of biodiversity. We propose that it is possible to detect the leaky energetics of ecosystems by means of routinely available observations of outgoing longwave radiation.     

Using circuit theory to model connectivity in ecology, evolution, and conservation

Connectivity among populations and habitats is important for a wide range of ecological processes. Understanding, preserving, and restoring connectivity in complex landscapes requires connectivity models and metrics that are reliable, efficient, and process based. We introduce a new class of ecological connectivity models based in electrical circuit theory. Although they have been applied in other disciplines, circuit-theoretic connectivity models are new to ecology. They offer distinct advantages over common analytic connectivity models, including a theoretical basis in random walk theory and an ability to evaluate contributions of multiple dispersal pathways. Resistance, current, and voltage calculated across graphs or raster grids can be related to ecological processes (such as individual movement and gene flow) that occur across large population networks or landscapes. Efficient algorithms can quickly solve networks with millions of nodes, or landscapes with millions of raster cells. Here we review basic circuit theory, discuss relationships between circuit and random walk theories, and describe applications in ecology, evolution, and conservation. We provide examples of how circuit models can be used to predict movement patterns and fates of random walkers in complex landscapes and to identify important habitat patches and movement corridors for conservation planning.     

Characterization of gaseous pollutant and particulate matter emission rates from a commercial broiler operation part I: Observed trends in emissions

This paper characterizes the emission rates of size fractionated particulate matter, inorganic aerosols, acid gases, ammonia and methane measured over four flocks at a commercial broiler chicken facility. Mean emission rates of each pollutant, along with sampling notes, were reported in this paper, the first in a series of two. Sampling notes were needed because inherent gaps in data may bias the mean emission rates.The mean emission rates of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were 5.0 and 0.78 g day^?1 [Animal Unit, AU]^?1, respectively, while inorganic aerosols mean emission rates ranged from 0.15 to 0.46 g day^?1 AU^?1 depending on the season. The average total acid gas emission rate was 0.43 g day^?1 AU^?1 with the greatest contribution from nitrous and nitric acids and little contribution from sulfuric acid (as SO₂).Ammonia emissions were seasonally dependent, with a mean emission rate of 66.0 g day^?1 AU^?1 in the cooler seasons and 94.5 g day^?1 AU^?1 during the warmer seasons. Methane emissions were relatively consistent with a mean emission rate of 208 g day^?1 AU^?1.The diurnal pattern in each pollutant’s emission rate was relatively consistent after normalizing the hourly emissions according to each daily mean emission rate. Over the duration of a production cycle, all the measured pollutants’ emissions increased proportionally to the total live mass of birds in the house, with the exception of ammonia.Interrelationships between pollutants provide evidence of mutually dependent release mechanisms, which suggests that it may be possible to fill data gaps with minimal data requirements. In the second paper (Roumeliotis, T.S., Dixon, B.J., Van Heyst, B.J. Characterization of gaseous pollutants and particulate matter emission rates from a commercial broiler operation part II: correlated emission rates. Atmospheric Environment, 2010.), regression correlations are developed to estimate daily mean emission rates for data gaps and, using the normalized hourly diurnal patterns from this paper, emission factors were generated for each pollutant.     

深圳市显著排放VOCs的园林植物调查与分析

对深圳地区的主要园林树种、地带性植被的代表种共计158种植物释放的生物源的挥发性有机物（biogenic volatileorganic compounds,BVOCs）采用流动式、封闭式采样法采样,运至美国进行GC-MS分析测量.结果表明,短穗鱼尾葵（Caryotamitis）、海红豆（Adenanthera pavonina var.microsperma）、杧果（Mangifera indica）、海漆（Excoecoria agalloch）等31种植物具有释放异戊二烯的能力;另有鸡蛋果（Passiflora edulis）、小琴丝竹（Bambusa glaucescens cv.silverstripe）、山苍子（Litsea cubeba）、大型双子铁（Dioon spinulosum）等52种植物具有释放单萜烯类化合物的能力.对红树植物的测量表明,该类植物普遍具有释放单萜烯的能力.上述结果为建立深圳及周边地区的环境质量模型提供了重要数据,同时也可为我国热带亚热带城市大面积绿化以及经济林、生态林和防护林等的树种选择提供参考.     

Applying the triple bottom line: Telework and the environment

The “triple bottom line” approach emphasizes not only economic goals, but social and environmental objectives as well. The “telework” option—in which employees work from home or a satellite office rather than from a central location—would appear to advance all three of these aims. But a close look at the specifics of teleworking makes clear that more data are needed to determine its ultimate impact. Moreover, despite its apparent advantages, teleworking is gaining acceptance less quickly than might be expected. For these reasons, telework offers a fascinating case study in the difficulties of applying the triple bottom line concept.© 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Development of injury criteria for pelvic fracture in frontal crashes

OBJECTIVE: This article assesses the position-dependent injury tolerance of the hip in the frontal direction based on testing of eight postmortem human subjects. METHODS: For each subject, the left and right hemipelvis complex was axially loaded using a previously developed test configuration. Six positions were defined from a seated femur neutral condition, combining flexed, neutral, and extended femur positions with abducted, neutral, and adducted positions. RESULTS: Axial injury tolerances based on peak force were found to be 6,850 +/- 840 N in the extended, neutral position and 4,080 +/- 830 N in the flexed, neutral position. From the flexed neutral orientation, the peak axial force increased 18% for 20 degrees abduction and decreased 6% for 20 degrees adduction. From the extended, neutral orientation, the peak axial force decreased 4% for 20 degrees abduction and decreased 3% for 20 degrees adduction. However, as there is evidence that increases in loading may occur after the initiation of fracture, the magnitude of the peak force is likely related to the extent of injury, not to the initial tolerance. Using the axial femur force at the initiation of fracture (assessed with acoustic crack sensors) as a potentially more relevant indicator of injury may lower the existing injury criteria. This fracture initiation force varied by position from 3,010 +/- 560 N in the flexed, neutral position to 5,470 N in the extended, abducted position. Further, there was a large position-dependent variation in the ratio of fracture initiation force to the peak axial force. The initiation of fracture was 83% of the peak axial force in the extended, abducted position, but the ratio was 34% in the extended, adducted position. CONCLUSIONS: This may have significant implications for the development of pelvic injury criteria by automobile designers attempting to mitigate pelvis injuries.     

Triazine and metolachlor herbicide residues in farm areas of the Lower Fraser valley, British Columbia, Canada

Crop soils, ditch sediments and water flowing from several Lower Fraser River (LFR) farm areas of British Columbia, Canada, to salmon tributary streams of that river were sampled in 2004-2005 to quantify for residues of triazine [atrazine, desethylatrazine (a transformation product of atrazine), propazine, and simazine] and metolachlor (a chloroacetamide) herbicides. Average concentrations [microg kg-1 dry weight (d.w.)] of triazine (10,110) and metolachlor (8,910) herbicides detected in crop soils at the start (May 2004, 2005) of the growing season were about 17 and 6 times, respectively, higher than those found for both herbicide groups during (June-Sept, 2004, 2005) the growing season. In contrast, mean concentrations (microg L-1) of triazines (0.092) and metolachlor (0.014) in permanent ditches adjacent to farms were about 7 and 28 times, respectively, lower at the start than during the growing season. Both herbicide groups in ditch sediments were detected only during the growing season at concentrations averaging about 315 microg kg-1 d.w. The risk potential of these herbicides for non-target aquatic organisms inhabiting permanent farm ditches contiguous to tributary streams of the LFR during the growing season is evaluated and discussed.     

Dissecting the spatial scales of mercury accumulation in Ontario lake sediment

Total mercury concentration was analyzed in 171 lakes from pre-industrial (>30 cm depth; Hg_{pre-industrial}) and present-day sediments (0.5–1 cm; Hg_present-day). Numerous hot or cold spots of sediment mercury enrichment (Hg EF; Hg_{pre-industrial}/Hg_present-day) were evident as determined by local tests of autocorrelation, although in most cases, the maximum correlation among sites was not the nearest neighbor, indicating a strong influence of watershed characteristics. Hg EF was correlated with the area of open water (ha) (r = 0.91, p = 0.035), mine tailings (r = 0.94, p = 0.019), and organic deposits in surficial geology of the watershed (r = −0.91, p = 0.034). Through use of local rather than global regression coefficients, R² increased from 0.20 (p = 0.005) to 0.60 (p = 0.013). A broad spatial pattern (>500 km) observed only in Hg_{pre-industrial} was best explained by mean annual precipitation (shared variance = 3.5%), while finer spatial patterns only observed in Hg_present-day and Hg EF were best explained by pH (average shared variance = 10.8%).