Time stress,predation risk and diurnal–nocturnal foraging trade-offs in larval prey

Insect larvae increase in size with several orders of magnitude throughout development making them more conspicuous to visually hunting predators. This change in predation pressure is likely to impose selection on larval anti-predator behaviour and since the risk of detection is likely to decrease in darkness, the night may offer safer foraging opportunities to large individuals. However, forsaking day foraging reduces development rate and could be extra costly if prey are subjected to seasonal time stress. Here we test if size-dependent risk and time constraints on feeding affect the foraging–predation risk trade-off expressed by the use of the diurnal–nocturnal period. We exposed larvae of one seasonal and one non-seasonal butterfly to different levels of seasonal time stress and time for diurnal–nocturnal feeding by rearing them in two photoperiods. In both species, diurnal foraging ceased at large sizes while nocturnal foraging remained constant or increased, thus larvae showed ontogenetic shifts in behaviour. Short night lengths forced small individuals to take higher risks and forage more during daytime, postponing the shift to strict night foraging to later on in development. In the non-seasonal species, seasonal time stress had a small effect on development and the diurnal–nocturnal foraging mode. In contrast, in the seasonal species, time for pupation and the timing of the foraging shift were strongly affected. We argue that a large part of the observed variation in larval diurnal–nocturnal activity and resulting growth rates is explained by changes in the cost/benefit ratio of foraging mediated by size-dependent predation and time stress.     

Rates of Movement of Threatened Bird Species between IUCN Red List Categories and toward Extinction

Abstract:  In recent centuries bird species have been deteriorating in status and becoming extinct at a rate that may be 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than in prehuman times. We examined extinction rates of bird species designated critically endangered in 1994 and the rate at which species have moved through the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List categories of extinction risk globally for the period 1988–2004 and regionally in Australia from 1750 to 2000. For Australia we drew on historical accounts of the extent and condition of species habitats, spread of invasive species, and changes in sighting frequencies. These data sets permitted comparison of observed rates of movement through the IUCN Red List categories with novel predictions based on the IUCN Red List criterion E, which relates to explicit extinction probabilities determined, for example, by population viability analysis. The comparison also tested whether species listed on the basis of other criteria face a similar probability of moving to a higher threat category as those listed under criterion E. For the rate at which species moved from vulnerable to endangered, there was a good match between observations and predictions, both worldwide and in Australia. Nevertheless, species have become extinct at a rate that, although historically high, is 2 (Australia) to 10 (globally) times lower than predicted. Although the extinction probability associated with the critically endangered category may be too high, the shortfall in realized extinctions can also be attributed to the beneficial impact of conservation intervention. These efforts may have reduced the number of global extinctions from 19 to 3 and substantially slowed the extinction trajectory of 33 additional critically endangered species. Our results suggest that current conservation action benefits species on the brink of extinction, but is less targeted at or has less effect on moderately threatened species.     

温度对奶牛粪便温室气体排放的影响

采用封闭罐-气相色谱法对4种不同温度处理下奶牛粪便温室气体排放速率进行测定.结果表明,温度是影响奶牛粪便温室气体排放的主要因子,温度较低时奶牛粪便温室气体排放速率低,而且随着奶牛粪便处理温度升高而增大.在5、15、25和35℃4个处理中,奶牛粪便CO2排放速率两两之间差异显著;CH4排放速率除了5和15℃处理差异不显著之外,其他两两处理之间差异显著;35℃处理时N2O排放速率与其他温度的排放速率差异均显著,其他两两处理之间差异不显著.     

阿特拉津对铜绿微囊藻和四尾栅藻生长的影响

在实验室内利用MA培养液培养,通过测定藻生长量和叶绿素a含量,研究不同浓度下的阿特拉津对铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和四尾栅藻(Scenedesmus quadricauda)生长的影响,并以藻细胞数表示的最大比生长率为指标,评价2种藻对阿特拉津的敏感性.结果表明,在0.001～5.000 mg·L-1质量浓度范围内,阿特拉津对铜绿微囊藻和四尾栅藻的生长表现出低浓度刺激、高浓度抑制的效应,且阿特拉津对四尾栅藻的刺激效应明显大于铜绿微囊藻.     

蒽的不完全臭氧氧化及中间产物特性分析

对蒽进行了臭氧不完全氧化实验研究,利用HPLC、UV、TOC监测了臭氧氧化过程中发生的变化.结果表明,蒽被臭氧降解时有中间产物生成,臭氧可以与中间产物继续作用,但是难以使之矿化.另外,氧化体系中水溶性有机物的TOC变化及其对活性污泥OUR的影响结果表明,臭氧氧化改善了蒽的可生化降解性.因此,臭氧氧化与生物降解组合技术,有望成为处理废水中蒽的经济有效方法.     

氨法脱硫反应特性的化学动力学分析

对采用氨法脱除烟气中SO2过程的反应特性进行了热力学和动力学分析．结果显示,氨法脱硫反应活化能较低,只要温度控制适当,氨法脱硫具有很高的平衡常数(或转化率)和良好的动力学特性．同时,根据实验结果拟合整理出了实验温度范围内氨法脱硫反应的Arrhenius方程,分析了温度对氨法脱硫反应速率的具体影响．     

厌氧颗粒污泥膨胀床原理特征分析

从污泥床层流态、生化反应动力学、体系物相平衡角度分析了以循环为特征的厌氧颗粒污泥膨胀床反应器的结构特点,基质代谢和酸碱平衡特征,进而得出:高面积(H /A)和回流比(R)是实现反应器较高上升流速的结构和运行指标;回流引起反应器基质代谢特征的变化,同时使反应器处理增强;厌氧颗粒污泥膨胀床的运行方式对调解、平衡系统的碱度、pH值起着积极的作用。     

发展阻燃型HIPS纳米复合材料的研究

本文运用一步熔融共混法制备了含有十溴联苯醚（DBDPO）或十溴二苯乙烷（DBDPE）和C16改性蒙脱土（MMT）的高抗冲聚苯乙烯（HIPS）复合材料,并采用X射线衍射（XRD）、透射电镜（TEM）、UL 94垂直燃烧和锥型量热等试验手段对其燃烧性能和相态进行了表征.结果标明,DBDPO/E存在时仍可获得具有插层结构的HIPS纳米复合材料.由于十溴和蒙脱土两种体系间的良好协同效应,这些材料的阻燃性提高、燃烧后的热释放速率下降.文中对其潜在机理进行了探讨.这种协同效应可用于指导发展环保性和阻燃性兼顾的HIPS纳米复合材料.     

丁酸型发酵生物制氢反应器的运行特性研究

采用连续流搅拌槽式反应器(CSTR),利用厌氧活性污泥以糖蜜废水为底物发酵产氢,探讨了丁酸型发酵生物制氢反应器稳定运行的工程控制参数,并运用变性梯度凝胶电泳技术(denaturinggradientgelelectrophoresis,DGGE)对微生物菌群结构稳定性进行了分析.研究表明,在污泥接种量(SS)为15g·L-1、温度为(35±1)℃、容积负荷为40kg·m-3·d-1、水力停留时间(HRT)为4h条件下,可以获得CSTR丁酸型发酵的最大产氢速率2 37m3·(m3·d)-1.此时系统的pH、氧化还原电位(ORP)分别在5 2～5 5、-480～-500mV之间.液相末端发酵产物中乙酸和丁酸、乙醇、丙酸、戊酸的含量分别占挥发酸总含量的70%,20%,7%,6%.气相中的氢气含量在30%～40%之间.根据PCR DGGE指纹图谱显示此时期丁酸型发酵优势菌群在反应器内结构保持稳定.     

密切值法和污染损失率法在水环境质量评价中的应用与比较

简要论述了近几年应用较多的密切值评价法和污染损失率法的应用原理与评价过程,并以兰州黄河水质断面监测结果为实例计算,排序评价结果显示与指数评价结果具有良好的一致性,最后分析指出两种评价方法的计算特点及应用价值。