Effects of subchronic exposure to carbofuran on antioxidant defence system and malondialdehyde levels in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The present study focused on the assessment of oxidative stress induction by pesticides such as carbamates which are widely used as insecticides and nematicides and contaminate aquatic ecosystems on certain biomarkers in liver of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Biomarkers selected for stress monitoring were malondialdehyde (MDA), an index of lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant defence system enzymes, mainly catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities in liver of fish exposed to 0, 10, 50, or 100?µg?L^?1 of carbofuran for 4, 15, or 30 days. Oxidative stress was found in liver of common carp exposed to carbofuran which was manifested by a decrease in CAT and GR activities after 4 and 30 days of exposure. An adaptive response was probably produced since at day 15 no modifications in the CAT activity and increased GR activity were observed. In addition, a decrease in MDA content with the highest concentration of carbofuran used was found after 30 days of exposure. However, no significant changes were found in GST activity showing a varied response. The results concerning oxidative and antioxidant profiles indicate that subchronic exposure to the insecticide carbofuran is capable of inducing oxidative stress in fish.     

A compass for sustainable development

A response to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Consultation from the Institute of Biology, the Association of Applied Biology, the British Crop Protection Council, the British Ecological Society, the British Electrophoresis Society, the British Grassland Society, and the Institute of Horticulture     

Approaches for quantifying reactive and low-volatility biogenic organic compound emissions by vegetation enclosure techniques - part B: applications

The focus of the studies presented in the preceding companion paper (Part A: Review) and here (Part B: Applications) is on defining representative emission rates from vegetation for determining the roles of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions in atmospheric chemistry and aerosol processes. The review of previously published procedures for identifying and quantifying BVOC emissions has revealed a wide variety of experimental methods used by various researchers. Experimental details become increasingly critical for quantitative emission measurements of low volatility monoterpenes (MT) and sesquiterpenes (SQT). These compounds are prone to be lost inadvertently by uptake to materials in contact with the sample air or by reactions with atmospheric oxidants. These losses become more prominent with higher molecular weight compounds, potentially leading to an underestimation of their emission rates. We present MT and SQT emission rate data from numerous experiments that include 23 deciduous tree species, 14 coniferous tree species, 8 crops, and 2 shrubs. These data indicate total, normalized (30 degrees C) basal emission rates from <10 to 5600ngCg(-1)h(-1) for MT, and from <10 to 1150ngCg(-1)h(-1) for SQT compounds. Both MT and SQT emissions have exponential dependencies on temperature (i.e. rates are proportional to e(betaT)). The inter-quartile range of beta-values for MT was between 0.12 and 0.17K(-1), which is higher than the value commonly used in models (0.09K(-1)). However many of the MT emissions also exhibited light dependencies, making it difficult to separate light and temperature influences. The primary light-dependent MT was ocimene, whose emissions were up to a factor of 10 higher than light-independent MT emissions. The inner-quartile range of beta-values for SQT was between 0.15 and 0.21K(-1).     

Circumpolar terrestrial arthropod monitoring: A review of ongoing activities,opportunities and challenges,with a focus on spiders

The terrestrial chapter of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP) has the potential to bring international multi-taxon, long-term monitoring together, but detailed fundamental species information for Arctic arthropods lags far behind that for vertebrates and plants. In this paper, we demonstrate this major challenge to the CBMP by focussing on spiders (Order: Araneae) as an example group. We collate available circumpolar data on the distribution of spiders and highlight the current monitoring opportunities and identify the key knowledge gaps to address before monitoring can become efficient. We found spider data to be more complete than data for other taxa, but still variable in quality and availability between Arctic regions, highlighting the need for greater international co-operation for baseline studies and data sharing. There is also a dearth of long-term datasets for spiders and other arthropod groups from which to assess status and trends of biodiversity. Therefore, baseline studies should be conducted at all monitoring stations and we make recommendations for the development of the CBMP in relation to terrestrial arthropods more generally.     

Alum split applications strengthened phosphorus fixation and phosphate sorption in high legacy phosphorus calcareous soil

High phosphorus (P) saturation arising from historic P inputs to protected vegetable fields (PVFs) drives high P mobilisation to waterbodies. Amendment of soils with alum has shown potential in terms of fixing labile P and protecting water quality. The present 15 month pot experiment investigated P stabilisation across single alum application (Alum-1 treatment, 20 g alum/kg soil incorporated into soil before the maize was sown), alum split applications (Alum-4 treatment, 5 g alum/kg soil incorporated into soil before each crop was sown i.e. 4 × 5 g/kg) and soil only treatment (Control). Results showed that the Alum-1 treatment caused the strongest stabilisation of soil labile P after maize plant removal, whereas the P stabilisation effect was gradually weakened due to the transformation of soil non-labile P to labile P and the reduced active Al³⁺ in soil solution. For the Alum-4 treatment, soil labile P decreased gradually with each crop planting and was lower than the Alum-1 treatment at the end of the final crop removal, without any impairment on plant growth. The better P stabilisation at the end of Alum-4 treatment was closely correlated with a progressive supply of Al³⁺ and a gradual decrease of pH, which resulted in higher contents of poorly-crystalline Al, Fe and exchangeable Ca. These aspects were conducive to increasing the soil P stabilisation and phosphate sorption. In terms of management, growers in continuous cropping systems could utilise split alum applications as a strategy to alleviate P losses in high-P enriched calcareous soil.     

Soil Vapor Extraction and Chemical Oxidation to Remediate Chlorinated Solvents in Fractured Crystalline Bedrock: Pilot Study Results and Lessons Learned

A pilot study was completed at a fractured crystalline bedrock site using a combination of soil vapor extraction (SVE) and in‐situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) with Fenton's Reagent. This system was designed to destroy 1,1,1‐trichloroethane (TCA) and its daughter products, 1,1‐dichloroethene (DCE) and 1,1‐dichloroethane (DCA). Approximately 150 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were oxidized in‐situ or removed from the aquifer as vapor during the pilot study. Largely as a result of chemical oxidation, TCA concentrations in groundwater located within a local groundwater mound decreased by 69 to 95 percent. No significant rebound in VOC concentration was observed in these wells. Wells located outside of the groundwater mound showed less dramatic decreases in VOC concentration, and the data show that vapor stripping and short‐term groundwater migration following the oxidant injection were the key processes at these wells. Although the porosity of the aquifer at the site is on the order of 2 percent or less, the pilot study showed that SVE could be an effective remedial process in fractured crystalline rock. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Visual impact assessment: A neglected component of environmental impact statements in Ireland?

This paper documents the results of an analysis of Visual Impact Assessments (VIA) within a sample of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) in Ireland. The standard of VIA conducted within the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for three categories of development; piggeries, quarries and urban developments between 1997 and 1999 are evaluated. The extent to which VIA have complied with the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines and disparities between the results for each development category are examined. The survey concluded that (i) the standard of VIA is less comprehensive than might be expected, and (ii) the use of visualization techniques for VIA could be substantially improved.     

Polarisation vision: overcoming challenges of working with a property of light we barely see

In recent years, the study of polarisation vision in animals has seen numerous breakthroughs, not just in terms of what is known about the function of this sensory ability, but also in the experimental methods by which polarisation can be controlled, presented and measured. Once thought to be limited to only a few animal species, polarisation sensitivity is now known to be widespread across many taxonomic groups, and advances in experimental techniques are, in part, responsible for these discoveries. Nevertheless, its study remains challenging, perhaps because of our own poor sensitivity to the polarisation of light, but equally as a result of the slow spread of new practices and methodological innovations within the field. In this review, we introduce the most important steps in designing and calibrating polarised stimuli, within the broader context of areas of current research and the applications of new techniques to key questions. Our aim is to provide a constructive guide to help researchers, particularly those with no background in the physics of polarisation, to design robust experiments that are free from confounding factors.     

Gametogenesis in Harmothoe imbricata (Polychaeta: Polynoidae)

The processes of gametogenesis in Harmothoe imbricata are described and illustrated. For most of their development the gametes are attached to the walls of segmental blood vessels. In males, only meiosis and sperm differentiation occur while the cells are free in the coelom. In females, oocytes are only released into the coelom briefly, after vitellogenesis has been completed. H. imbricata thus differs from most polychaete species so far described — where in males the spermatogonia divide mitotically to form rosettes after they have been released into the coelom, and in females the whole of vitellogenesis occurs after release of oocytes into the coelom. The oocytes of H. imbricata enter the first metaphase of meiosis before they are shed at spawning. The elongated head of the sperm in H. imbricata is atypical of polychaetes in general.