Spatiotemporal coupling/decoupling of planktonic larvae and benthic settlement in decapods in the Scottish east coast

Settlement patterns and the relationship between meroplanktonic larvae and settlement in decapods were studied on the Scottish east coast. Artificial settlement substrates (ASS), deployed at two locations (sandy vs. rocky sea substrates), were employed to collect megalopae and newly settled juveniles. Abundance of meroplanktonic larvae was used as an indicator of larval supply. The results showed a clear seasonality in settlement rates, and in some cases, significant differences between sites were detected. Nevertheless, the interference of the ASS with the surrounding habitat limits the study of spatial variability in settlement rates. Significant cross-correlation was found between the abundance of megalopae and juveniles in the collectors and planktonic larval abundance a month earlier. For individual species, this relationship was observed only in Pisidia longicornis. Complexities caused by the great variety of pre- and post-settlement processes, alongside effects of secondary dispersals of early juveniles may have obscured the relationship between meroplanktonic larvae and juveniles in other species.     

环境因素对六氯苯厌氧降解活性的影响

在厌氧污泥具备了较好的六氯苯（HCB）降解能力的基础上,采用标准血清瓶实验方法考察了反应温度、初始pH、摇床转速和营养元素等环境因素对厌氧污泥降解HCB活性的影响。实验设计的反应温度为25、30、35和40℃;初始pH为5.0、6.0、7.0和8.0;摇床转速为0和150r·min-1;营养元素有葡萄糖和维生素b12。用HCB浓度随时间的减少来表征微生物对其的降解活性。结果表明,反应温度对HCB的降解速率有很大影响,适宜温度为35℃左右。初始pH对HCB降解活性没有显著影响,但显示出有随初始pH增大而HCB降解活性增加的趋势。与静置条件相比,一定的混合作用有利于提高HCB的降解活性。有葡萄糖存在条件下,维生素b12对HCB的降解活性有明显的促进作用。温度及外加碳源（葡萄糖）是影响HCB厌氧降解活性的重要因素,并推测葡萄糖在HCB降解过程中提供电子供体方面发挥了重要作用。     

Analytical solution for estimating storage efficiency of geologic sequestration of CO2

During injection of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into deep saline aquifers, the available pore volume of the aquifer may be used inefficiently, thereby decreasing the effective capacity of the repository for CO₂ storage. Storage efficiency is the fraction of the available pore space that is utilized for CO₂ storage, or, in other words, it is the ratio between the volume of stored CO₂ and the maximum available pore volume. In this note, we derive and present simple analytical expressions for estimating CO₂ storage efficiency under the scenario of a constant-rate injection of CO₂ into a confined, homogeneous, isotropic, saline aquifer. The expressions for storage efficiency are derived from models developed previously by other researchers describing the shape of the CO₂-brine interface. The storage efficiency of CO₂ is found to depend on three dimensionless groups, namely: (1) the residual saturation of brine after displacement by CO₂; (2) the ratio of CO₂ mobility to brine mobility; (3) a dimensionless group (which we call a “gravity factor”) that quantifies the importance of CO₂ buoyancy relative to CO₂ injection rate. In the particular case of negligible residual brine saturation and negligible buoyancy effects, the storage efficiency is approximately equal to the ratio of the CO₂ viscosity to the brine viscosity. Storage efficiency decreases as the gravity factor increases, because the buoyancy of the CO₂ causes it to occupy a thin layer at the top of the confined formation, while leaving the lower part of the aquifer under-utilized. Estimates of storage efficiency from our simple analytical expressions are in reasonable agreement with values calculated from simulations performed with more complicated multi-phase-flow simulation software. Therefore, we suggest that the analytical expressions presented herein could be used as a simple and rapid tool to screen the technical or economic feasibility of a proposed CO₂ injection scenario.     

Extinction of a Species of Land Snail Due to Infection with a Microsporidian Parasite

Snails of the genus Partula are highly endangered, with many species occurring solely in captivity. Captive populations experience periodic crashes, some of which have resulted in extinction. Pathologic investigations of the last individuals of a species that had undergone such a crash ( Partula turgida ) showed infection with a protozoan parasite as the cause of death. The parasite was identified as a member of the microsporidian genus Steinhausia , other members of which are known to cause mortality in aquatic pulmonate snails. We believe this is the first definitive report of an infectious disease causing the extinction of a species.

Extinción de una especie de Caracol Terrestre Debido a una Infección por un Parásito Microsporidio

Los caracoles del género Partula estan altamente amenazados junto con muchas especies existiendo únicamente en cautividad. Las poblaciones cautivas experimentan colapsos periódicos, algunos de los cuales han resultado en extinciones. Investigaciones patológicas de los últimos individuos de una especie que ha pasado por este tipo de colapso ( Partula turgida ) muestran infecciones de un protozoario parásito como la causa de su muerte. El parásito ha sido identificado como un miembro del género Steinhausia , otros miembros de este género han sido identificados como los causantes de mortalidades en caracoles pulmonados acuáticos. Creemos que este es un reporte definitivo de una enfermedad infecciosa causante de la extinción de una especie.     

The need for constructing endangered fish habitats that conform to climate-driven flow changes in a western U.S. river

Warmwater fish habitat in the San Juan River of the southwestern United States has been reduced by over 30% as a result of water depletion, reservoir inundation, and cold-water dam releases combined with drought-related changes in hydrology. This reduction and a suite of other factors have contributed to declines in native fish populations including the federally endangered Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) and Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus). Conservation efforts for these species include determining flow needs; protecting, managing, and augmenting habitats; and stocking hatchery fish. But the young of stocked fish have low survival due largely to a paucity of nursery habitat not being reformed and maintained under current conditions. Flow recommendations for Navajo Dam releases designed to mimic the river's natural hydrograph have not been met due to water shortages, and the desired outcomes of increased channel complexity and enhanced fish habitat have not been observed. Forecasted hydrology that includes ongoing drought shows that achieving the flow targets through further dam reoperations is unlikely. Mechanical construction of early life-stage habitats is a highly recommended complement to flow management for offsetting the effects of flow reduction and habitat loss. Habitats with features that are effective and resilient under a range of flows are important in counterbalancing the effects of climate change.     

厌氧混合培养条件下六氯苯生物降解的外加碳源必要性

采用标准血清瓶实验探讨了厌氧污泥对六氯苯(HCB)的降解活性以及各种环境因素的影响.结果表明,经过14d的HCB驯化,厌氧污泥具备了较好的降解HCB能力;反应温度对HCB的降解速率有很大影响,适宜温度为35℃左右;葡萄糖、甲酸、乙酸、丙酸和丁酸等有机碳源的存在明显促进了HCB的厌氧降解,其中甲酸和乙酸的加入极其重要;根据实验结果推测出,产甲烷过程对HCB的生物降解发挥了重要作用.     

基于环境监测的矿井通风三维仿真辅助决策系统设计

为优化金属矿山矿井通风系统及辅助决策设计,弥补常用矿井通风仿真解算软件在环境监测、实时解算和辅助决策方面的不足,基于矿井通风理论、环境监测、计算机与通信技术开发矿井通风三维仿真辅助决策系统。提出通过利用实时监测到的井下通风环境参数（风量、风速等）和已存储在系统数据库里的巷道参数,实现对矿井通风网络实时解算,并将其应用到山金阿尔哈达矿井通风系统中。结果表明:矿井通风三维仿真辅助决策系统同步实现了山金阿尔哈达矿井通风系统的环境监测、风网实时解算和三维仿真模拟,提高了其矿井通风管理水平,为矿井通风系统改造优化设计和矿井向深部中段延伸时的通风系统设计提供辅助决策依据。     

自适应神经网络在确定落煤残存瓦斯量中的应用

落煤残存瓦斯量的确定是采掘工作面瓦斯涌出量预测的重要环节，它直接影响着采掘工作面瓦斯涌出量预测的精度，并与煤的变质程度、落煤粒度，原始瓦斯含量、暴露时间等影响因素呈非线性关系，人工神经网络具有表示任意非线性关系和学习的能力，是解决复杂非线性，不确定性和时变性问题的新思想和新方法，基于此，作提出自适应神经网络的落煤残丰瓦斯量预测模型，并结合不同矿井落煤残存瓦斯量的实际测定结果进行验证研究，结果表明，自适应调整权值的变步长BP神经网络模型预测精度高，收敛速度快，该预测模型的应用可为采掘工作面瓦斯涌出量的动态预测提供可靠的基础数据，为采掘工作面落煤残存瓦斯量的确定提出了一种全新的方法和思路。     

PREDICTING STORMFLOW AND PEAKFLOW FROM SMALL BASINS IN HUMID AREAS BY THE R-INDEX METHOD1

ABSTRACT: A relatively simple nonlinear equation was fitted to 468 stormflows larger than 0.05 area inches on 11 forested basins from New Hampshire to South Carolina, providing a predictive method for use on forest and wildlands in humid regions. Stormflow in area inches (Q?) was: where R is the mean value of Q/P for all P larger than one inch, P is storm rainfall in inches, and I is the initial flow rate in ft³/sec/mi². S.E. was 0.3 inch of stormflow. Peakflow was similarly estimated, S.E. 26 ft³/sec/mi². The R-index method is proposed as a practical tool in forest and wildland management. Similar to the SCS runoff curve number method, the R-index method requires no prior assumptions about infiltration capacities of forest lands, but calls for the mapping of all first-order streams for the average storage capacity index R, i.e., the mean hydrologic response of the source areas. Tested against the runoff curve method on four independent basins, predictions by the R-index method were considerably more accurate when field information normally available to planners and managers was used in both methods.