I-C-SEA Change: A participatory tool for rapid assessment of vulnerability of tropical coastal communities to climate change impacts

We present a synoptic, participatory vulnerability assessment tool to help identify the likely impacts of climate change and human activity in coastal areas and begin discussions among stakeholders on the coping and adaptation measures necessary to minimize these impacts. Vulnerability assessment tools are most needed in the tropical Indo-Pacific, where burgeoning populations and inequitable economic growth place even greater burdens on natural resources and support ecosystems. The Integrated Coastal Sensitivity, Exposure, and Adaptive Capacity for Climate Change (I-C-SEA Change) tool is built around a series of scoring rubrics to guide non-specialists in assigning scores to the sensitivity and adaptive capacity components of vulnerability, particularly for coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove habitats, along with fisheries and coastal integrity. These scores are then weighed against threat or exposure to climate-related impacts such as marine flooding and erosion. The tool provides opportunities for learning by engaging more stakeholders in participatory planning and group decision-making. It also allows for information to be collated and processed during a “town-hall” meeting, facilitating further discussion, data validation, and even interactive scenario building.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-015-0652-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Effect of surfactant-coated iron oxide nanoparticles on the effluent water quality from a simulated sequencing batch reactor treating domestic wastewater

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of commercially available engineered iron oxide nanoparticles coated with a surfactant (ENP_Fe-surf) on effluent water quality from a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor as a model secondary biological wastewater treatment. Results showed that ∼8.7% of ENP_Fe-surf applied were present in the effluent stream. The stable presence of ENP_Fe-surf was confirmed by analyzing the mean particle diameter and iron concentration in the effluent. Consequently, aqueous ENP_Fe-surf deteriorated the effluent water quality at a statistically significant level (p < 0.05) with respect to soluble chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, and apparent color. This implied that ENP_Fe-surf would be introduced into environmental receptors through the treated effluent and could potentially impact them.     

Vulnerability of human environment to risk: case of groundwater contamination risk

Based on a theoretical revision of the social vulnerability concept, this article proposes a scheme of vulnerability indicators within the human environment focused on different aetiology risks. An adaptation of this generic scheme of vulnerability factors is set for the specific field of aquifer contamination risk, as well as a methodology for its analysis. Finally, model application examples are given for the Sierra de Líbar and Sierra de Mijas carbonate aquifers and the Vélez River detrital aquifer, all of which are located in the south of Spain. Obtained cartography results show a range of utilities for risk mitigation and permit appropriate spatial discrimination for its performance over different scales. The exposure and vulnerability of the groundwater contamination risk concept is evaluated in specific maps, taking into account the resident population as well as their assets.     

Conservation Biology Framework for the Release of Wild-Born Orphaned Chimpanzees into the Conkouati Reserve, Congo

Abstract: Returning confiscated animals to their native habitats is desirable when it makes a positive contribution to the conservation of the species. Release of captive individuals is complex and controversial, however, particularly when risks are potentially high, as in the case of orphaned apes. We describe the decision-making process that led to the successive release of 20 wild-born orphan chimpanzees (    Pan troglodytes troglodytes ) into the Conkouati Reserve in the Republic of Congo. Recommendations of the Reintroduction Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union's Species Survival Commission were followed closely. The conservation status, ecology, and behavior of wild chimpanzees; the biological, social, economic and political context of the release site; and the health and genetic status of the candidates for release were all taken into account in the planning and execution of the project. Rigorous post-release monitoring of behavior and health allowed documentation of the outcome. The project was of benefit to the chimpanzees that were released but also brought broad benefits to the site through effective protection from poaching and deforestation, and direct and indirect benefits to local people. The genetic and behavioral diversity of chimpanzees require a variety of conservation strategies to reduce threats and maintain as many viable wild populations as possible.     

Physioecology of zooplankton. I. Effects of phytoplankton concentration,temperature, and body size on the growth rate of Calanus pacificus and Pseudocalanus sp.

Changes in dry weight and in weight-specific growth rates were measured for copepodite stages of Calanus pacificus Brodsky and Pseudocalanus sp. cultured under various combinations of phytoplankton concentration and temperature. Mean dry weight of early copepodites was relatively unaffected by either food concentration or temperature, but mean dry weight of late stages increased hyperbolically with food concentration and was inversely related to temperature. The food concentration at which maximum body weight was attained increased with increasing temperature and body size, and it was considerably higher for C. pacificus than for Pseudocalanus sp. This suggests that final body size of small species of copepods may be determined primarily by temperature, whereas final body size of large species may be more dependent on food concentration than on temperature. Individual body weight increased sigmoidally with age. The weight-specific growth rate increased hyperbolically with food concentration. The maximum growth rate decreased logarithmically with a linear increase in body weight, and the slope of the lines was proportional to temperature. The critical food concentration for growth increased with body size proportionally more at high than at low temperature, and it was considerably higher for C. pacificus than for Pseudocalanus sp. Because of these interactions, early copepodites optimized growth at high temperature, even at low food concentrations, but under similar food conditions late stages attained higher growth at low temperature. The same growth patterns were found for both species, but the rates were significantly higher for the larger species, C. pacificus, than for the smaller one, Pseudocalanus sp. On the basis of findings in this study and of analyses of relationships between the maximum growth rate, body size, and temperature from other studies it is postulated (1) that the extrapolation of growth rates from one species to another on the basis of similarity in body size is not justified, even for taxonomically related species; (2) that the allometric model is inadequate for describing the relationship between the maximum weight-specific growth rate and body size at the intraspecific level; (3) that the body-size dependence of this rate is strongly influenced by temperature; and (4) that species of zooplankton seem to be geographically and vertically distributed, in relation to body size and food availability, to optimize growth rates at various stages of their life cycles.Contribution No. 1127 from the Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA     

Primary prevention of neural tube defects with folic acid supplementation: Cuban experience

Folic acid (5 mg) was given daily, for not less than one menstrual period before conception and until the tenth week of pregnancy, to 81 women (FS) with a history of a previous neural tube defect (NTD) birth. There was no NTD recurrence among this group or among the offspring of a further 20 women (PS) whose folic acid supplementation fell short of the full regime. In another 114 women who became pregnant without folic acid supplementation (US), there were four NTD recurrences (3.5 per cent). Our results suggest that folic acid supplementation might be an effective method of primary prevention of neural tube defects.     

Organic tracers identification as a convenient strategy in industrial landfills monitoring

Today, a significant environmental problem is due to the presence of industrial landfills, some of them old, which can release toxic compounds into the environment (Chemosphere 42 (2001) 415; Chemosphere 31 (1995) 3455). The identification of directly linked to the leachate tracers of contamination in the wells around the landfills, as early markers of a potential risk for the environment and/or man, is a good strategy for an early evaluation of contamination. Our protocol developed for wells water characterization is based on solid phase extraction combined with GC-MS and HPLC-MS/MS.In this way a list of organic contaminants of a specific industrial landfill is obtained, giving a solid basis also for the risk assessment. Here we present some specific examples and the use of these pollutants for environmental monitoring.     

Kinetic evaluation of H2S and NH3 biofiltration for two media used for wastewater lift station emissions

In this study, biofiltration using a natural wood chip medium and a commercial biofiltration medium was evaluated for the removal of moderate concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (up to 100 parts per million by volume [ppmv]) in the presence of significant concentrations of ammonia (NH3). These levels were chosen as representative of wastewater lift station emissions in the Brownsville, TX, area. NH3-removing portions of the biofilms may compete with H2S-removing portions and inhibit H2S removal. H2S process removal efficiencies for the commercial and natural media ranged from 90 to 96% depending on inlet loading and media type and bed height. Kinetic analysis of the H2S removal process followed apparent first-order reaction behavior. The average first-order reaction rates were 0.03 sec(-1) for the commercial medium and 0.09 sec(-1) for the natural medium. Pressure drops across the columns ranged from 0.41 in. H2O/ft for the commercial medium to 1.41 in. H2O/ft for the natural medium. NH3 gas levels of up to 80 ppmv did not affect the H2S removal process efficiency, and calculated kinetic rate constants for H2S removal remained almost the same. The NH3 gas also was removed simultaneously with the H2S up to 98% removal efficiency by the commercial medium.