Traces of DU in samples of environmental bio-monitors (non-flowering plants, fungi) and soil from target sites of the Western Balkan region

This paper reports results of gamma and alpha spectrometric measurements for mosses, lichens, fungi and soil samples from areas in the Balkans targeted by depleted uranium (DU). Samples were collected in 2002 and 2003 in the vicinity of several villages, principally Han Pijesak (Bosnia and Herzegovina, hit by DU in 1995) and Bratoselce (South Serbia, hit by DU in 1999) and in lesser numbers from Gornja Stubla, Kosovo (which is identified as a high natural radon/thoron area) and Presevo close to the Kosovo border. In the course of gamma spectrometric measurements some results suggested samples with unusual high uranium contents which might be considered to be a signature for the presence of DU, although many samples had very high detection limits. Alpha spectrometric measurements directly proved the presence of DU for five samples, all from directly targeted places. These were samples of mosses, lichens and soil. For some samples homogeneity tests were applied which showed a rather even distribution of DU in these samples. No trace of DU was found in any sample from a dwelling.     

Diurnal vertical migration of Solmissus albescens (Hydromedusae) in the Southern Adriatic

During a study on diurnal vertical migration in the hydromedusa Solmissus albescens (Gegenbaur, 1856), 112 net samples were taken from a depth of 1000 m to the surface. Sampling was performed in July, August, and September, 1969, at a station located 20 miles SSW of Dubrovnik (Yugoslavia). S. albescens migrates vertical distances of over 300 m. No significant influences on migration were noticed due to environmental factors (temperature, salinity, vertical water currents, etc.). The hydromedusa was able to approach surface layers. The recording obtained at various water-depth levels are considered in relation to illumination, mechanisms of evolution, and feeding of S. albescens.     

Direct and indirect trophic interactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aurelia </Emphasis>sp. (Scyphozoa) in a stratified marine environment (Mljet Lakes,Adriatic Sea)

The pattern of diel vertical migration and the trophic interactions of moon jelly (Aurelia sp.) were investigated in the sea lakes of Mljet Island (Adriatic Sea) where this scyphomedusa is present throughout the year. Water column characteristics, plankton and in situ behaviour of Aurelia were followed over several 24-h cycles (6–8 times during each cycle) from the surface to the bottom (44 m). Aurelia exhibited a consistent pattern of diel vertical migration. Most of the time Aurelia were located at the bottom of the thermocline layer at temperatures lower than 19°C. Aurelia migrated towards the surface at dusk when the majority was found within the thermocline or just above it. During the night the medusae sank into the deepest layers below 25 m. The main medusa food items inferred from stomach contents were small adult copepods like Oithona nana and Paracalanus parvus and copepodites of small calanoids and cyclopids. In addition, in situ feeding experiments indicated high clearance rates for nauplii and naked ciliates and clear response of bacterial populations pointing to indirect cascade effects of Aurelia on microbial in addition to classical food web.     

亚热带东部壳斗科6种常绿植物叶的生态解剖

选取亚热带东部替代分布明显的壳斗科6种常绿树种（青冈，小叶青冈，细叶青冈，苦槠，甜槠和石乐）的11个种群叶片进行生态解剖，并用SPSS，DCA和TWINSPAN比较分析，结果表明：（1）尽管6种11个种群叶的结构仍属中生叶型，但有着不同程度的趋旱适应；（2）叶的解剖性状在属间，种间和种群间均存在着不同程度的差异，这是它们适应各自生境的结果，青冈和石栎的种内差异较大，反映出它们对环境变化有较强响应能力；（3）叶片的不同解剖性状在属，种类和种群间的变化并不同步，其中叶片和栅栏组织厚度等性状差异突出，反映它们更易受环境的饰变，是生态适应性状，而海,上角质膜，特别是下表皮厚度等性状差异较小，显示出这些性状的稳定性，可以认为是系统演化性状；（4）苦槠，青冈具有较厚的叶片，栅栏组织，角质膜和发达输导和机械组织，苦槠还具有复表皮，表现出对旱化生境的适应；甜槠尽管具有复表皮和较厚的叶片，但这是海绵组织增厚的结果，是对中生生境的适应；小叶青冈和细叶青冈具有较垢叶片和栅栏组织，角质膜厚度居中等特点，可能是对中山凉湿生境的。图版1图2表2参24     

Modelling spatial distribution of the Croatian marine benthic habitats

Within the framework of the 3-year project “Mapping the habitats of the Republic of Croatia” the marine benthic habitats of the entire Croatian maritory were mapped. The supralittoral and the mediolittoral were mapped as a function of the coastal lithology and the presumed levels of human impact (both in scale of 1:100,000). The infralittoral was mapped on the basis of spatial modelling (using neural networks as a modelling tool, data about habitats collected by fieldwork as the independent variable for training and testing the model, and the digital bathymetrical model, the distance from coast, the second spectral channel of Landsat ETM+ satellite image and the sea bottom sea temperature, salinity and current magnitude, as dependent variables). The circalittoral and the bathyal were mapped by overlapping and reinterpretation of the existing spatial databases (bathymetry and lithology) within the framework of the raster-GIS.     

Study of personal exposure to airborne respirable particles and carbon monoxide

Simultaneous measurements of CO and respirable particles (RP) at outdoor network stations and of personal exposure in a sample of twelve volunteers were carried out during the winter and summer season of 1980/81 in order to evaluate how well personal exposure can be assessed from outdoor network station data.The results have shown that personal exposure of our subjects to both CO and RP is in best correlation with exposure at home where subjects spend in the average nearly 70% of their time. While personal exposure to CO can hardly be related to outdoor CO levels, personal exposure to RP is in fair agreement with simultaneously measured outdoor concentrations in winter (but not in summer). A large intercept on WAE axis of the WAE/RP relationship indicates that a considerable part of personal exposure to RP should be attributed to particles which are not of indoor origin. This part does not follow the seasonal and day-to-day changes in outdoor RP concentration and causes a negative, but highly significant correlation between WAE/RP ratio and RP.