Action of soil microorganisms on PCL and PHBV blend and films

Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) PCL/PHBV (4:1) blend films were prepared by melt-pressing. The biodegradation of the films in response to burial in soil for 30 days was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). The PHBV film was the most susceptible to microbial attack, since it was rapidly biodegraded via surface erosion in 15 days and completely degraded in 30 days. The PCL film also degraded but more slowly than PHBV. The degradation of the PCL/PHBV blend occurred in the PHBV phase, inducing changes in the PCL phases (interphase) and resulting in an increase of its crystalline fraction.     

Epiphytic lichen diversity in central European oak forests: Assessment of the effects of natural environmental factors and human influences

We investigated lichen diversity in temperate oak forests using standardized protocols. Forty-eight sites were sampled in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The effects of natural environmental predictors and human influences on lichen diversity (lichen diversity value, species richness) were analysed by means of correlation tests. We found that lichen diversity responded differently to environmental predictors between two regions with different human impact. In the industrial region, air pollution was the strongest factor. In the agricultural to highly forested regions, lichen diversity was strongly influenced by forest age and forest fragmentation. We found that several natural factors can in some cases obscure the effect of human influences. Thus, factors of naturality gradient must be considered (both statistically and interpretively) when studying human impact on lichen diversity.     

Theory of planned behaviour, identity and intentions to engage in environmental activism

This study incorporated identity constructs into the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to investigate intentions to engage in environmental activism. First year students and participants of a students of sustainability conference (n=169) were administered a questionnaire survey that measured standard TPB constructs as well as environmental group membership and self-identity as an environmental activist. Consistent with predictions, environmental group membership and self-identity were positive predictors of intentions. Thus, greater involvement in environmental groups and a stronger sense of the self as an environmental activist were associated with stronger intentions to engage in environmental activism. There was also evidence that self-identity was a stronger predictor of intentions for participants with low rather than high environmental group membership. In accordance with the standard TPB model, participants with more positive attitudes toward and a greater sense of normative support for environmental activism also had greater intentions to engage in the behaviour. The implications for groups seeking to harness support for activities to protect the environment are discussed.     

Wissenschaftstheoretische Grundlagen der Beobachtung von GVO-Umweltwirkungen

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund und Ziel  Die Exposition gentechnisch ver?nderter Kulturpflanzen erfordert die Beobachtung ihrer Umweltwirkungen. Ziel der Beitragsserie über die Beobachtung ?kologischer Wirkungen von GVO ist es, den hierzu erreichten Stand der Wissenschaft vorzustellen. Da bei einem Bundesl?nder und ggf. europ?ische Staaten übergreifenden Monitoring besonders auf methodisch vergleichbare und r?umlich aussagekr?ftige Daten zu achten ist, werden in diesem einführenden Beitrag wissenschaftstheoretische und statistische Grundlagen des Monitoring sowie die Standardisierung der Beobachtungsverfahren behandelt. Schwerpunkte  Im Mittelpunkt stehen zun?chst ?kologische Anforderungen an das GVO-Monitoring. Um mit GVO ggf. zusammenh?ngende Umweltver?nderungen ermitteln zu k?nnen, ist eine Eingliederung in bestehende Umweltbeobachtungsprogramme erforderlich. GVO-Exposition und-Wirkung sind aufeinander bezogen über die Organisationsstufen ?kologischer Systeme hinweg zu erfassen. Ein effizientes und suffizientes Monitoring bedarf eines wissenschaftstheoretisch und statistisch soliden Designs. Deshalb werden einem weiteren Schwerpunkt dieses Beitrags wissenschaftstheoretische Grundlagen der Hypothesenbildung und-prüfung behandelt. Hierfür bedarf es Daten, die mehreren, im Einzelnen behandelten Qualit?tskriterien entsprechen müssen. Eines dieser Kriterien ist die r?umliche und zeitliche Verallgemeinerungsf?higkeit der Monitoring-Befunde, die in dem dritten Schwerpunkt des Beitrags dargestellt wird. Schlussfolgerungen  Für die Prüfung von Hypothesen über Umweltfolgen von GVO sind konsequent ?kosystemforschung und Monitoring eng miteinander zu vernetzen. Denn sie erfüllen komplement?re Funktionen, die für das Monitoring der Umweltwirkungen von GVO von gro?er praktischer und wissenschaftlicher Bedeutung sind. Empfehlungen  Das GVO-Monitoring sollte in bestehende Programme der ?kosystemforschung und der Umweltbeobachtung eingebettet werden und die ?kologischen Organisationsstufen sowie GVO-Exposition und-Wirkung einschlie?en. Die Lokalisierung der Messorte sollte die erwartete Exposition oder Wirkung berücksichtigen. Perspektiven  Weitere Beitr?ge dieser Serie werden die Messplanung, das Pollenmonitoring und die r?umliche Verallgemeinerung von Ergebnissen standortspezifischer Messungen oder Modellierungen behandeln.

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Environmental monitoring of ecological impacts of GMOs

Goal, Scope and Background  The release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may result in ecological impacts to be monitored. This series presents the state-of-art concerning the environmental monitoring of ecological impacts of GMOs. Since this monitoring is conducted by several authorities, the methodical comparability and spatial validity of the monitoring data is crucial. Thus, the respective fundamentals of philosophy of science and of statistics as well as the methodical standardisation form the focus of this article. Main Features  At first, the monitoring requirements will be described from the viewpoint of ecology. Consequently, the GMO monitoring needs to be integrated into existing programmes. Exposure and effects of GMOs have to be monitored across the hierarchy of ecological organisation. For monitoring to be efficient and sufficient, the design must be founded in terms of philosophy of science and statistics. Hence the fundamentals concerning the verification of hypotheses represent another feature of this article. The data used for the verification of hypotheses must comply with quality criteria. One of these criteria is the spatial and temporal extrapolation of the monitoring results, which is the third feature in this introductory article. Conclusions  The evaluation of hypotheses on GMO impacts requires the linkage to ecosystems research and environmental monitoring. These both are, in terms of methodology, complementary and of significant technical and scientific value for GMO monitoring. Recommendations  GMO-monitoring should closely be connected with ecosystems research and environmental monitoring. The levels of ecological organisation should be covered as well as the exposure and the effects of GMOs. The expected GMO exposure and effects should be considered by localising the monitoring sites. Perspectives  Further articles of this series will deal with network designing, GMO pollen monitoring and extrapolation of site-specific measurements and modelling results.

     

Modeling the formation and fate of odorous substances in collection systems.

A conceptual model that simulates the formation and fate of odorous substances in branched collection systems is presented. The model predicts the activity of the relevant biomass phenotypes under aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic conditions in force mains and gravity sewers. The formation and fate of individual, malodorous substances in the bulk water, biofilms, and sediments are modeled. The release of odorous compounds from the bulk water to the sewer gas phase, their fate in the gas phase, and their subsequent release into the urban atmosphere is simulated. Examples of model application include the prediction of hydrogen sulfide and malodorous fermentation products from force mains and gravity sewers.     

Distributions,Land-source Input and Atmospheric Fluxes of Methane in Jiaozhou Bay

CH₄ concentrations in both the surface and bottom waters of Jiaozhou Bay were determined during four surveys in 2003, which showed variability with both seasons and tidal cycles. Atmospheric fluxes of CH₄ in Jiaozhou Bay showed obvious seasonal and spatial variations, with the highest values occurring in summer and the lowest in winter. The annual emission of CH₄ from Jiaozhou Bay was estimated to be . CH₄ in the water column of Jiaozhou Bay was found to come from several land-sources including riverine water input, sewage water input and groundwater input. The spatial and temporal variation in distributions and atmospheric fluxes of CH₄ in Jiaozhou Bay was influenced mainly by the input of polluted river waters and the sewage effluents along the eastern coast, which highlights the effects of human impacts on CH₄ emission rates.