Shrub communities as inhibitors of plant succession in southern Quebec

The purpose of our research was to identify shrub species growing in southern Quebec that inhibit ecological succession in power-line corridors. Results are presented in three parts. First, clonal characteristics that allowed the establishment of stable communities were identified. Second, successional vector analysis identified those species that have the potential to inhibit succession. In poorly drained sites those species wereCornus stolonifera, C. obliqua, Salix petiolaris, andSpiraea alba. In well-drained sites, those species wereZanthoxylum americanum, Rubus idaeus, Spiraea alba, Rhus typhina, andThuja occidentalis. Third, analysis of variance showed that there is a significantly larger number of tree seedlings found in adjacent herbaceous communities than found under the dense cover ofCornus stolonifera, C. obliqua, Salix petiolaris, Spiraea alba, Rhus typhina, Rubus idaeus, Thuya occidentalis, andZanthoxylum americanum. These results indicate that the planting of selected shrub species could, through biological control, delay reforestation.     

Setting Realistic Recovery Targets for Two Interacting Endangered Species,Sea Otter and Northern Abalone

Failure to account for interactions between endangered species may lead to unexpected population dynamics, inefficient management strategies, waste of scarce resources, and, at worst, increased extinction risk. The importance of species interactions is undisputed, yet recovery targets generally do not account for such interactions. This shortcoming is a consequence of species‐centered legislation, but also of uncertainty surrounding the dynamics of species interactions and the complexity of modeling such interactions. The northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) and one of its preferred prey, northern abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana), are endangered species for which recovery strategies have been developed without consideration of their strong predator–prey interactions. Using simulation‐based optimization procedures from artificial intelligence, namely reinforcement learning and stochastic dynamic programming, we combined sea otter and northern abalone population models with functional‐response models and examined how different management actions affect population dynamics and the likelihood of achieving recovery targets for each species through time. Recovery targets for these interacting species were difficult to achieve simultaneously in the absence of management. Although sea otters were predicted to recover, achieving abalone recovery targets failed even when threats to abalone such as predation and poaching were reduced. A management strategy entailing a 50% reduction in the poaching of northern abalone was a minimum requirement to reach short‐term recovery goals for northern abalone when sea otters were present. Removing sea otters had a marginally positive effect on the abalone population but only when we assumed a functional response with strong predation pressure. Our optimization method could be applied more generally to any interacting threatened or invasive species for which there are multiple conservation objectives. Definición de Metas de Recuperación Realistas para Dos Especies en Peligro Interactuantes, Enhydra lutris y Haliotis kamtschatkana     

Homing pigeons do extract directional information from olfactory stimuli

Summary Two groups of pigeons were kept from fledging time in two cages fully exposed to winds. From time to time, the cage containing experimentals was additionally exposed to an artificial air current coming from a specific direction and carrying a scent of benzaldehyde. When both groups were exposed to benzaldehyde scent during transportation and at the release site, the control birds flew homeward, whereas the experimentals oriented in the direction roughly opposite that from which they were used to perceiving the benzaldehyde at the loft. When benzaldehyde was not applied, experimental pigeons were homeward oriented like controls.     

Cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome in a father and a female fetus: early prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis and autosomal dominant transmission

Ultrasonography in a female fetus revealed cystic cervical hygroma, severe micrognathia, and vertebral and upper limb anomalies suggestive of cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome (CCMS) which was diagnosed ultrasonographically at 16 weeks' gestation. The father is affected and presents with a Pierre Robin sequence, short stature and typical costovertebral anomalies. CCMS is a rare and severe disorder. The high frequency of sporadic cases, vertical transmission, and the excess of sibs affected via horizontal transmission suggest dominant autosomal mutation with possible germinal mosaicism. The vertical familial case detailed in the present report is a reminder of the high risk when one parent or one sibling is affected and the extreme variability of phenotype and costal ossification. Early prenatal ultrasound diagnosis is possible in a severely affected fetus. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2,3,7,8-Substituted PCDDs and PCDFs in sea lion (Otaria flavescens) skin biopsies from two South-western Atlantic populations

Congener specific 2,3,7,8-chlorinated PCDDs and PCDFs were determined in skin biopsies taken from sea lions (Otaria flavescens) living in two areas of the South-western Atlantic on the coast of Argentina (Mar del Plata and Punta Bermeja). This is the first report on PCDDs and PCDFs in sea lion skin biopsies from the southern hemisphere. Differences were found in the congener pattern according to the sampling area. Animals living in the polluted area (Mar del Plata harbour) had detectable levels of all seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners. Sea lions living in a control environment (Punta Bermeja, Patagonia) only exhibited 5 detectable congeners out of all seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners. However, total levels were low in both colonies studied. These data are consistent with previous work which has indicated that dioxins occur at relatively low levels in marine mammals, possibly due to rapid catabolism or elimination.     

Characterisation of road sediments near Bordeaux with emphasis on phosphorus

Road sediments from the region of Bordeaux (France) were analysed for trace metals, hydrocarbons (including Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs) and phosphorus. The aim of the study was to assess their potential risk for the environment. The sediments were collected by means of a sweeper. The particles are mostly sandy clay loam and silty clay loam with 5.6-8.3% CaO. Heavy metal concentrations are generally below the French and Dutch standards for polluted soils, but a few samples have higher concentrations, e.g., 547 mg kg(-1) for Zn, and 222 mg kg(-1) for Pb. PAH concentrations are above the Dutch target value for polluted soils, and could be a threat to the environment: pyrene (2600 microg kg(-1)) and fluoranthene (1400 microg kg(-1)) have the highest concentrations, whereas chrysene (340 microg kg(-1)) has the lowest. Consequently, these sediments must be considered as waste according to the French circular no 2001-39 from 18 June 2001 and cannot be disposed of anywhere. The Standards Measurements and Testing (SMT) protocol for sequential extraction of phosphorus in sediments was used to determine the forms of phosphorus in the samples. Total phosphorus concentration is 620 mg kg(-1) on average, with a maximum of 933 mg kg(-1); organic phosphorus content is low (36 mg kg(-1) on average). The protocol could be slightly amended, especially with regards to organic phosphorus at low concentrations and could then be used for the determination of phosphorus in other materials such as sludge from detention ponds.     

Climate change mitigation strategies in the forest sector: biophysical impacts and economic implications in British Columbia,Canada

Managing forests to increase carbon sequestration or reduce carbon emissions and using wood products and bioenergy to store carbon and substitute for other emission-intensive products and fossil fuel energy have been considered effective ways to tackle climate change in many countries and regions. The objective of this study is to examine the climate change mitigation potential of the forest sector by developing and assessing potential mitigation strategies and portfolios with various goals in British Columbia (BC), Canada. From a systems perspective, mitigation potentials of five individual strategies and their combinations were examined with regionally differentiated implementations of changes. We also calculated cost curves for the strategies and explored socio-economic impacts using an input-output model. Our results showed a wide range of mitigation potentials and that both the magnitude and the timing of mitigation varied across strategies. The greatest mitigation potential was achieved by improving the harvest utilization, shifting the commodity mix to longer-lived wood products, and using harvest residues for bioenergy. The highest cumulative mitigation of 421 MtCO₂e for BC was estimated when employing the strategy portfolio that maximized domestic mitigation during 2017–2050, and this would contribute 35% of BC’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target by 2050 at less than $100/tCO₂e and provide additional socio-economic benefits. This case study demonstrated the application of an integrated systems approach that tracks carbon stock changes and emissions in forest ecosystems, harvested wood products (HWPs), and the avoidance of emissions through the use of HWPs and is therefore applicable to other countries and regions.     

Multiple paternity in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Rana dalmatina</Emphasis>, a monogamous territorial breeding anuran

Polyandry and sperm competition in anurans have rarely been documented. We investigated the genetic paternity inferred from allozyme variations in 650 tadpoles from four natural ponds in a territorial breeding anuran, Rana dalmatina. Multiple paternity was demonstrated, although R. dalmatina is regarded as a monogamous species. Polyandrous mating was not a common event, occurring only in 17.9% of clutches, with no significant differences among clutches. The proportions of tadpoles fathered by a second male did not significantly differ among ponds, showing that multipaternity was not restricted to a single site. Such a polyandry may result from synchronous multiple amplexus and should reduce the heterozygote deficit related to the breeding-pond fidelity usually exhibited by most anurans.     

Impact of vegetation types on the floristic diversity,the availability and the ecological characteristics of five woody species stands used in the management of hypertension and diabetes in southern Burkina Faso

Environment, Development and Sustainability - The use of modern drugs to manage hypertension and diabetes is enough expensive and requires constant monitoring of the patient due to the chronicity...