Oxidative DNA damage levels and catalase activity in the clam Ruditapes decussatus as pollution biomarkers of Tunisian marine environment

Levels of the oxidative DNA damage 7, 8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and catalase (CAT) activity were measured in the digestive gland and gills of clams Ruditapes decussatus, related to the presence of pollutants along Tunisian marine environment. Increased levels of CAT were observed in tissues of clams from all the sites studied, compared to control values, and elevated 8-oxodG levels were observed at specific sites. Results obtained in this work indicate that the measurement of 8-oxodG levels and CAT activity in tissues of R. decussatus is promising in pollution monitoring studies of the Tunisian marine environment.     

Identification of Tsuga Germplasm by Morphological Characters and RAPD Markers

Germplasm collection is important to preserve and maximize genetic diversity for germplasm conservation. Tsuga dumosa （ D. Don） Eichler in Engler ＆ Prantl. and T. chinensis var. forrestii （Downie） Silba germplasm was collected from three localities in China： Mt. Yulong, Wenfeng Temple and Mt. Dishiergu, Yunnan Province. Accessions were identified based on morphological characters and RAPD markers. The shapes of the apices and margins of needles were examined, and the length and width of needles, cones and seeds from accessions of mature plants were used to compare the morphological differences and to identify the germplasm. Molecular markers generated by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA （RAPD） were also used to characterize the taxa. Although the clustering based on RAPD markers was inconsistent with the morphological characters of the needles, based on the overall morphological characters and on RAPD markers, the accessions from Mt. Yulong and Wenfeng Temple were identified as T. chinertsis var. forrestii, and those from Mt. Dishiergu identified as T. dumosa. Taxonomic identification of the accessions was made based on morphology and by RAPD markers concurred. The results indicate that the shapes of the apices and margins of needles particularly from young plants could not be used as a possible key to identify T. dumosa and T. chinertsis var. forrestii. Fig 6, Tab 3, Ref24     

Effects of Invasive Parasites on Bumble Bee Declines

Abstract: Bumble bees are a group of pollinators that are both ecologically and economically important and declining worldwide. Numerous mechanisms could be behind this decline, and the spread of parasites from commercial colonies into wild populations has been implicated recently in North America. Commercial breeding may lead to declines because commercial colonies may have high parasite loads, which can lead to colonization of native bumble bee populations; commercial rearing may allow higher parasite virulence to evolve; and global movement of commercial colonies may disrupt spatial patterns in local adaptation between hosts and parasites. We assessed parasite virulence, transmission mode, and infectivity. Microparasites and so‐called honey bee viruses may pose the greatest threat to native bumble bee populations because certain risk factors are present; for example, the probability of horizontal transmission of the trypanosome parasite Crithidia bombi is high. The microsporidian parasite Nosema bombi may play a role in declines of bumble bees in the United States. Preliminary indications that C. bombi and the neogregarine Apicystis bombi may not be native in parts of South America. We suggest that the development of molecular screening protocols, thorough sanitation efforts, and cooperation among nongovernmental organizations, governments, and commercial breeders might immediately mitigate these threats.     

Lethal levels of hypoxia for gulf coast estuarine animals

There is increasing concern about eutrophication and subsequent hypoxia problems in estuaries. The US Environmental Protection Agency has developed Water Quality Criteria (WQC) for dissolved oxygen (DO) in saltwater for Cape Cod, MA to Cape Hatteras, NC but inadequate data exists for development of such criteria for other coastal geographic areas. We performed acute tests with two species of crustaceans and seven species of estuarine fishes native to the Gulf of Mexico to complement the data base for northeastern species. Flow-through tests were conducted for either 24- or 48-h at test temperatures from 24 to 28°C and at salinities from 20 to 31.5‰. Estimated 24-h LC50 values obtained for crustaceans ranged from 1.36 mg/l for adult pink shrimp to 1.56 mg/l for 10-day-old mysids. Similarly, estimated LC50 values for fish ranged from 1.34 mg/l in one of the three tests with pinfish to 2.22 mg/l in one of the two tests with scaled sardines. The majority of mortality attributable to low DO concentrations in our experiments usually occurred within the first 4 h of exposure. LC50 values for the species tested are below the WQC recommended protective limit of 2.3 mg/l for juvenile and adult animals.     

Comparison of the MOVES2010a,MOBILE6.2, and EMFAC2007 mobile source emission models with on-road traffic tunnel and remote sensing measurements

The Desert Research Institute conducted an on-road mobile source emission study at a traffic tunnel in Van Nuys, California, in August 2010 to measure fleet-averaged, fuel-based emission factors. The study also included remote sensing device (RSD) measurements by the University of Denver of 13,000 vehicles near the tunnel. The tunnel and RSD fleet-averaged emission factors were compared in blind fashion with the corresponding modeled factors calculated by ENVIRON International Corporation using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) MOVES2010a (Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator) and MOBILE6.2 mobile source emission models, and California Air Resources Board's (CARB's) EMFAC2007 (EMission FACtors) emission model. With some exceptions, the fleet-averaged tunnel, RSD, and modeled carbon monoxide (CO) and oxide of nitrogen (NO_x) emission factors were in reasonable agreement (±25%). The nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) emission factors (specifically the running evaporative emissions) predicted by MOVES were insensitive to ambient temperature as compared with the tunnel measurements and the MOBILE- and EMFAC-predicted emission factors, resulting in underestimation of the measured NMHC/NO_x ratios at higher ambient temperatures. Although predicted NMHC/NO_x ratios are in good agreement with the measured ratios during cooler sampling periods, the measured NMHC/NO_x ratios are 3.1, 1.7, and 1.4 times higher than those predicted by the MOVES, MOBILE, and EMFAC models, respectively, during high-temperature periods. Although the MOVES NO_x emission factors were generally higher than the measured factors, most differences were not significant considering the variations in the modeled factors using alternative vehicle operating cycles to represent the driving conditions in the tunnel. The three models predicted large differences in NO_x and particle emissions and in the relative contributions of diesel and gasoline vehicles to total NO_x and particulate carbon (TC) emissions in the tunnel.

Implications: Although advances have been made to mobile source emission models over the past two decades, the evidence that mobile source emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in urban areas were underestimated by as much as a factor of 2–3 in past inventories underscores the need for on-going verification of emission inventories. Results suggest that there is an overall increase in motor vehicle NMHC emissions on hot days that is not fully accounted for by the emission models. Hot temperatures and concomitant higher ratios of NMHC emissions relative to NO_x both contribute to more rapid and efficient formation of ozone. Also, the ability of EPA's MOVES model to simulate varying vehicle operating modes places increased importance on the choice of operating modes to evaluate project-level emissions.     

Analysis of Organophosphorus Pesticides in Whole Milk by Solid Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography Method

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) was used for the extraction of residual coumaphos and dichlorvos in whole milk. The residues were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography equipped with nitrogen phosphorus detector (GC-NPD). A manual SPME holder with a 100-μm polyacrylate fiber was used. The optimized conditions for extraction by SPME method were: sample agitation, absorption temperature of 30°C, absorption time of 40 min, desorption time of 10 min, and sample volume was 16.0 mL in the vial. Under these conditions, the calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.17 μgL^?1 to 1.75 μgL^?1 for coumaphos and 0.69 μgL^?1 to 6.90 μgL^?1 for dichlorvos. Precision was good with RSD values of 13% for coumaphos and 14% for dichlorvos. The detection limits (LOD) were 0.060 μgL^?1 for dichlorvos and 0.052 for coumaphos. The quantification limits (LOQ) were 0.086 μgL^?1 for dichlorvos and 0.066 μgL^?1 for coumaphos. The results obtained in this study suggest that SPME is a suitable technique for residual pesticide analysis of milk. The data demonstrate that particular OP pesticides used in dairy farming in the region of Minas Gerais were found to contaminate cow whole milk, and the residues are not removed by treating the milk by boiling.     

Corporate Social Responsibility and development in Africa: Redefining the roles and responsibilities of public and private actors in the mining sector

This paper revisits the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), suggesting the usefulness of adopting a holistic and historical perspective. It underlines the importance of taking into account the evolving regulatory frameworks within which mining activities take place in order to consider the changing roles played by the various actors involved, whether multilateral, national or local, public or private. In this broad context it then becomes possible to revisit issues of legitimacy, responsibility, and accountability, which CSR strategies aim to address. The article draws attention to the shortcomings of strategies, whether bilateral or multilateral, public or private, which, in an attempt to respond to problems of risk and legitimacy faced by mining companies, have put forward measures in the name of CSR that do not address the origins that give rise to such problems and, in so doing, tend to mask the very nature of the difficulties at hand. The analysis leads to quite different conclusions as compared to those that result from the adoption of a shorter term and investment-led perspective.     

The accumulation and effects of environmental contaminants on snakes: a review

In any ecological risk assessment, afull complement of the relevant members of theecosystems being studied should be considered. Reptiles in general, and snakes in particular, areimportant although often neglected components ofterrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and should beincluded in any study on environmental contamination. By neglecting reptiles, the risks posed by aparticular contaminant cannot be fully assessed. Since all snakes are secondary, tertiary, and toppredators, they are susceptible to the bioaccumulationof environmental contaminants. Their unique lifehistories make their roles in food webs diverse andimportant, and they are crucial to the properfunctioning of many ecological processes. We reviewand summarize organic and inorganic contaminant andradionuclide/radiation residue and lethal andsublethal effects data for snakes to stress theimportance of snakes and encourage their inclusion inecological risk assessments, to demonstrate thepaucity of available contaminant data on snakes andreveal the main information gaps, to encourage furtherecotoxicological studies on snakes, and to facilitatethe use of existing snake contaminant data inecological risk assessments. This review is the mostcomprehensive review currently available on theeffects on and accumulation of environmentalcontaminants in snakes.     

Subpopulation structure of caribou (Rangifer tarandus L.) in arctic and subarctic Canada

Effective management and conservation of species, subspecies, or ecotypes require an understanding of how populations are structured in space. We used satellite-tracking locations and hierarchical and fuzzy clustering to quantify subpopulations within the behaviorally different barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus), Dolphin and Union island caribou (R. t. groenlandicus x pearyi), and boreal (R. t. caribou) caribou ecotypes in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada. Using a novel approach, we verified that the previously recognized Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Qamanirjuaq, and Lorillard barren-ground subpopulations were robust and that the Queen Maude Gulf and Wager Bay barren-ground subpopulations were organized as individuals. Dolphin and Union island and boreal caribou formed one and two distinct subpopulation, respectively, and were organized as individuals. Robust subpopulations were structured by strong annual spatial affiliation among females; subpopulations organized as individuals were structured by migratory connectivity, barriers to movement, and/or habitat discontinuity. One barren-ground subpopulation used two calving grounds, and one calving ground was used by two barren-ground subpopulations, indicating that these caribou cannot be reliably assigned to subpopulations solely by calving-ground use. They should be classified by annual spatial affiliation among females. Annual-range size and path lengths varied significantly among ecotypes, including mountain woodland caribou (R. t. caribou), and reflected behavioral differences. An east-west cline in annual-range sizes and path lengths among migratory barren-ground subpopulations likely reflected differences in subpopulation size and habitat conditions and further supported the subpopulation structure identified.