Recovery of insular seabird populations years after rodent eradication

Seabirds have been particularly affected by invasive non-native species, which has led to the implementation of numerous eradication campaigns for the conservation of these keystone and highly vulnerable species. Although the benefits of eradication of invasive non-native species for seabird conservation have been demonstrated, the recovery kinetics of different seabird populations on islands after eradication remains poorly evaluated. We conducted long-term monitoring of the number of breeding pairs of seven seabird species on a small atoll, Surprise Island, New Caledonia (southwestern tropical Pacific). Marine avifauna of the island were surveyed yearly 4 years before to 4 years after rodent eradication (conducted in 2005), and we conducted multiple one-time surveys from ∼10 years before and ∼15 years after eradication. We sought to determine how different seabird species responded to the eradication of invasive rodents in an insular environment. Three species responded positively (two- to 10-fold increase in population size) to eradication with differences in lag time and sensitivity. The number of breeding pairs increased (effect sizes = 0.49–0.95 and 0.35–0.52) for two species over 4 years post-eradication due to immigration. One species had a longer (at least 5 years) response time than all others; breeding pairs increased for over 10 years after eradication. Long-term sampling was necessary to observe the responses of the seabird populations on the island because of the delayed response of a species to eradication not visible in the first years after eradication. Our results confirmed the positive effects of eradication of invasive non-native species on seabirds and emphasize the importance of mid- and long-term pre- and posteradication surveys to decipher the mechanisms of seabird recovery and confirm the benefits of eradication for conservation purposes.     

Cover Crops and Water Quality

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - This work deals with the regulation of water pollution caused by the use of nitrogen in agriculture. We investigate the policy instruments that should be...     

Social demand for multiple benefits provided by Aleppo pine forest management in Catalonia,Spain

This paper estimates the social demand for key benefits provided by Aleppo pine forests in Catalonia that can be enhanced by management. These so-called externalities are the side effects of forest management on citizens’ welfare and can be either positive or negative. The externalities addressed are: biodiversity (measured as the number of tree species), accessibility for practicing recreational activities, CO₂ sequestration and annual burned area by wildfires. By the use of a choice experiment, an economic valuation method, we estimate in a joint manner people’s preferences for these externalities and show that there is a social demand for their enhanced provision. Based on these estimates, we construct three hypothetical scenarios reflecting the range of likely outcomes of different management strategies and calculate the social demand for these scenarios. Results show that the highest gains in terms of social benefits are obtained under a scenario that minimizes the burned area (2044.23 €/ha year). Our estimates show that an increase in the investment in forest management is in line with the social demand for forest benefits and the social support that exists for a related cost increase for inhabitants.     

Comparison of advanced oxidation processes and identification of monuron photodegradation products in aqueous solution

The photodegradation of monuron (3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) in aqueous solutions under simulated solar irradiation has been conducted by different advanced oxidation processes (UV/H(2)O(2), UV/H(2)O(2)/Fe(2+), UV/H(2)O(2)/TiO(2), UV/TiO(2), dark H(2)O(2)/Fe(3+)). The degradation rates were always higher for the homogeneous catalysis in photo-Fenton reactions (UV/H(2)O(2)/Fe(2+)) compared to the heterogeneous photocatalytic systems (TiO(2)/UV and UV/H(2)O(2)/TiO(2)). Optimal concentrations of Fe(2+) and H(2)O(2) for the abatement of the herbicide in the photo-Fenton system were found to be 1 mM Fe(II) and 10 mM H(2)O(2). Several intermediary products were identified using large volume injection micro-liquid chromatography with UV detection (mu-LC-UV), mu-LC-MS and GC-MS techniques and a degradation mechanism has been proposed.     

Organophosphates in aircraft cabin and cockpit air--method development and measurements of contaminants

Methods for measurements and the potential for occupational exposure to organophosphates (OPs) originating from turbine and hydraulic oils among flying personnel in the aviation industry are described. Different sampling methods were applied, including active within-day methods for OPs and VOCs, newly developed passive long-term sample methods (deposition of OPs to wipe surface areas and to activated charcoal cloths), and measurements of OPs in high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) recirculation filters (n = 6). In total, 95 and 72 within-day OP and VOC samples, respectively, have been collected during 47 flights in six different models of turbine jet engine, propeller and helicopter aircrafts (n = 40). In general, the OP air levels from the within-day samples were low. The most relevant OP in this regard originating from turbine and engine oils, tricresyl phosphate (TCP), was detected in only 4% of the samples (min-max 相似文献   

One-Pot Reaction of Waste PET to Flame Retardant Polyurethane Foam,via Deep Eutectic Solvents-Based Conversion Technology

Depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a promising technology for producing recycled monomers. Using a deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based catalyst, the PET glycolysis process produces bis-(2-hydroxyethylene terephthalate) (BHET). This recycled monomer reacts with isocyanate and forms polyurethane foam (PUF). The DES-based one-pot reaction is advantageous because it is a low-energy process that requires relatively lower temperatures and reduced reaction times. In this study, choline chloride/urea, zinc chloride/urea, and zinc acetate/urea based DESs were adopted as DES catalysts for glycolysis. Subsequently, the conversion of PET, BHET yield, and OH values were evaluated. Both filtered and unfiltered reaction mixtures were used as polyols for PUF polymerization after characterization of the acid and hydroxyl values of the polyols, as well as the NCO (–N=C=O) value of isocyanate. In the case of unfiltered reaction mixtures, PUF was obtained via a one-pot reaction, which exhibited higher thermal stability than PUF made from the filtered polyols. This outcome indicated that oligomeric BHET containing many aromatic moieties in unfiltered polyols contributes to the thermal stability of PUF. This environmentally friendly and relatively simple process is an economical approach for upcycling waste PET.

     

Prenatal diagnostic testing for familial dysautonomia using linked genetic markers

Familial dysautonomia (FD), a recessively inherited disease, has been mapped to chromosome 9q31. Highly polymorphic dinucleotide repeat markers flanking the genetic locus and at the same genetic location have been identified. We describe the prenatal diagnosis of FD using linkage and linkage disequilibrium analyses with these markers. Twelve families were analysed for informativeness and of these, seven went on to have prenatal testing (a total of eight fetuses tested). All of these fetuses were predicted to be heterozygous unaffected (FD carriers). Seven fetuses have come to term and are normal. In the absence of a recombinant proband, a panel of three proximal and three distal markers is sufficient to provide informative flanking markers and an 87–96 per cent likelihood of a highly predictive test. In an additional family at 1:4 risk for FD, no DNA was available from the propositus. This family was analysed using linkage disequilibrium to the #18 allele of the tightly linked marker D9S58 in conjunction with linkage analysis using data from two unaffected children. Prenatal diagnosis in this family indicated an affected fetus.     

The effect of temperature and NaCl concentration on the kinetic method of toxicity determination using Vibrio fischeri

In this paper the effect of temperature and NaCl concentration on the kinetic method of toxicity determination using Vibrio fischeri was studied for 50 ppm Zn(2+). This work shows that both NaCl concentration and temperature affect the kinetics of toxicity as well as the luminescence of the bacteria, and hence these are important factors that need to be considered in the development of a miniaturised portable instrument. Furthermore, this work shows that the conditions for which the kinetic test was most sensitive, i.e. exhibited the greatest response, were 23 degrees C and 2% NaCl. However, at these conditions small variations in temperature and NaCl concentration could lead to great errors in the results. Thus 12.5 degrees C and 2% NaCl are preferred as at these conditions the obtained results are more robust. Although at the latter conditions the toxicity rate constant was found to be 5.5 times less than that for 23 degrees C, the value is comparable to that obtained for 15 degrees C. From the data available it was also found that the temperature dependence of the toxicity rate fits the Arrhenius equation, in a behaviour similar to that of simpler chemical reactions.