Provenance and threat-sensitive predator avoidance patterns in wild-caught Trinidadian guppies

The antipredator behaviour of prey organisms is shaped by a series of threat-sensitive trade-offs between the benefits associated with successful predator avoidance and a suite of other fitness-related behaviours such as foraging, mating and territorial defence. Recent research has shown that the overall intensity of antipredator response and the pattern of threat-sensitive trade-offs are influenced by current conditions, including variability in predation risk over a period of days to weeks. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that long-term predation pressure will likewise have shaped the nature of the threat-sensitive antipredator behaviour of wild-caught Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Female guppies were collected from two populations that have evolved under high- and low-predation pressure, respectively, in the Aripo River, Northern Mountain Range, Trinidad. Under laboratory conditions, we exposed shoals of three guppies to varying concentrations of conspecific damage-released chemical alarm cues. Lower Aripo (high-predation) guppies exhibited the strongest antipredator response when exposed to the highest alarm cue concentration and a graded decline in response intensity with decreasing concentrations of alarm cue. Upper Aripo (low-predation) guppies, however, exhibited a nongraded (hypersensitive) response pattern. Our results suggest that long-term predation pressure shapes not only the overall intensity of antipredator responses of Trinidadian guppies but also their threat-sensitive behavioural response patterns.     

Chemical ecology involved in invasion success of the cuckoo bumblebee <Emphasis Type="Italic">Psithyrus vestalis</Emphasis> and in survival of workers of its host <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombus terrestris</Emphasis>

In bumblebees all species of the subgenus Psithyrus are social parasites in the nests of their Bombus hosts. In the bumblebee B. terrestris we investigated how colony size influences survival rates of nest entering females of the social parasite Psithyrus vestalis. Furthermore, we studied whether the host worker’s dominance status and age are reflected in its individual scent and whether Psithyrus females use volatiles to selectively kill host workers. The survival rate of Psithyrus vestalis females drops from 100%, when entering colonies with five workers, to 0% for colonies containing 50 host workers. Older host workers, born before the nest invasion, were selectively killed when Psithyrus females entered the nest. In contrast, all workers born after the nest invasion survived. The host workers’ dominance status and age are reflected by their individual odours: newly emerged workers produced a significantly lower total amount of secretions than 4-day-old workers. In chemical analyses of female groups we identified saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, aldehydes, and unsaturated wax-type esters of fatty acids. In a discriminant function analysis different worker groups were mainly separated by their bouquets of hydrocarbons. Killed workers release significantly more scent and of a different chemical composition, than survivors. Survivors alter scent production and increase it beyond the level of the killed workers within 1 day of the invasion. The Psithyrus female clearly maintains reproductive dominance utilizing these differences in the odour bouquets as criteria for killing workers that compete for reproduction.     

The impact of chemical lateral boundary conditions on CMAQ predictions of tropospheric ozone over the continental United States

A sensitivity study is performed to examine the impact of lateral boundary conditions (LBCs) on the NOAA-EPA operational Air Quality Forecast Guidance over continental USA. We examined six LBCS: the fixed profile LBC, three global LBCs, and two ozonesonde LBCs for summer 2006. The simulated results from these six runs are compared to IONS ozonesonde and surface ozone measurements from August 1 to 5, 2006. The choice of LBCs can affect the ozone prediction throughout the domain, and mainly influence the predictions in upper altitude or near inflow boundaries, such as the US west coast and the northern border. Statistical results shows that the use of global model predictions for LBCs could improve the correlation coefficients of surface ozone prediction over the US west coast, but could also increase the ozone mean bias in most regions of the domain depending on global models. In this study, the use of the MOZART (Model for Ozone And Related chemical Tracers) prediction for CMAQ (Community Multiscale Air Quality) LBC shows a better surface ozone prediction than that with fixed LBC, especially over the US west coast. The LBCs derived from ozonesonde measurements yielded better O₃ correlations in the upper troposphere.     

Integrating lean principles and fuzzy bow-tie analysis for risk assessment in chemical industry

In this research, a framework combining lean manufacturing principles and fuzzy bow-tie analyses is used to assess process risks in chemical industry. Lean manufacturing tools and techniques are widely used for eliminating wastes in manufacturing environments. The five principles of lean (identify value, map the value stream, create flow, establish pull, and seek perfection) are utilized in the risk assessment process. Lean tools such as Fishbone Diagram, and Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) are used for risk analysis and mitigation. Lean principles and tools are combined with bow-tie analysis for effective risk assessment process. The uncertainty inherent with the risks is handled using fuzzy logic principles. A case study from a chemical process industry is provided. Main risks and risk factors are identified and analyzed by the risk management team. Fuzzy estimates are obtained for the risk factors and bow-tie analysis is used to calculate the aggregated risk probability and impact. The risks are prioritized using risk priority matrix and mitigation strategies are selected based on FMEA. Results showed that the proposed framework can effectively improve the risk management process in the chemical industry.     

Preparing for major terrorist attacks against chemical clusters: Intelligently planning protection measures w.r.t. domino effects

Chemical industrial areas or so-called chemical clusters consist of hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of chemical installations situated next to each other. Such areas can thus be seen as the summation of a large number of structures exhibiting danger to a certain degree for initiating or continuing accident domino effects or knock-on effects. In this article, an approach to investigate in a systemic way the vulnerability of each installation within the larger chemical cluster context, is developed. Our suggested method results in a prioritization of chemical installations with respect to their vulnerability for domino effects. The method can be used for intelligently designed protection of chemical industrial areas against terrorist attacks.     

Assessment of PAHs in water and fish tissues from Great Bitter and El Temsah lakes,Suez Canal,as chemical markers of pollution sources

Sea water and fish tissue samples were collected from nine sampling stations from the Great Bitter and El Temsah lakes in the Suez Canal and analysed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). The compositions of PAH determined in the dissolved fraction of sea water were measured in order to use them as chemical markers for identifying different sources of PAH pollution in this region. PAHs determined in fish tissues were measured for comparison with human health standards as consumption. The total mean PAHs concentrations in the sea water samples ranged from 0.28 to 39.57 μg l^?1 with an overall mean of 10.78 and 12.38 μg l^?1 for El Temsah and Bitter Lakes water, respectively. Total PAHs fractions recorded in muscle tissues of all different Osteicthyes fishes collected from Great Bitter lakes ranged from 5.8 to 218.5 μg g^?1 with an overall mean of 57.98 μg g^?1 during all seasons. However, they ranged from 68 to 623 μg g^?1 with an overall mean of 87.69 μg g^?1 recorded in El Temsah lake during four seasons (2003–2004). Benzo(a)pyrene was the most dominant PAHs found in the sea water samples from both lakes with an average concentration of 3.8 μ g l^?1. Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DBA) was the most dominant PAHs recorded in fish samples. A maximum of 533 μg g^?1 of DBA was recorded in Dahbana sp. collected from Bitter lakes during January 2004. However, a maximum of 68.7 μ g g^?1 was recorded in Liza carinata species collected from El Temsah lake during July, 2004. The simultaneous occurrence of isomer ratios PHE/ANT<10 for all stations indicated that the major PAH input to water was from combustion of fossil fuel (pyrolytic source). The average ratios were 1.21 and 12.9 during winter (January 2004) and 4.3 and 8.63 during spring (April 2004) for all water samples of Great Bitter lakes and El Temsah lake, respectively. In addition, the present data demonstrate that PAHs from fossil fuel sources (MW<178) were the least significant source of PAHs in this region.     

Physicochemical characterization of sediments from Tajan river basin in the northern Iran

Abstract

Continuous monitoring of water quality of freshwater bodies may prevent outbreak of diseases and occurrence of hazards through employment of effective protection measures. The aim of the current investigation was to determine occurrence of water and sediment pollution in Tajan River North Iran which ultimately may be a threat to recreational beaches of Caspian Sea. Water samples were analyzed for various physicochemical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), bicarbonates, sulfates, cations, chlorides and heavy metals. The concentrations of zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Similarly, sediment samples were assessed for physicochemical characteristics including pH, EC, saturation percentage, organic matter, organic carbon, texture and cations. Overall, pH, EC, organic matter, and cation values were within acceptable limits according to USEPA water quality guidelines. However, phosphorus (P) concentration up to 5.6?mg/L was considered as “unsafe” which might result in undesirable eutrophication and increased accumulation of sediment organic content leading to excessive growth of algal species in riverine ecosystem. Heavy metal concentrations of Cd (0.08?ppm) and Pb (3?ppm) were above USEPA threshold limits which may consequently affect sustainability of Tajan River. The unacceptable levels of Cd, Pb and P may produce eutrophication of Caspian Sea coasts and damage the ecosystem.     

Chemical pollution monitoring of the River Pinios (Thessalia--Greece)

The impact of human activities and environmental factors on the fluctuation of chemical and physicochemical parameters along the Pinios River and its tributaries was studied. Their seasonal variations throughout the years 1996-1998 are also presented. Most of the parameters (physical or chemical) measured in this survey exhibited high spatial and temporal variability. High temperatures during the warm period, attributed both to meteorological conditions and to the geographical relief of Thessalia plain, cause a restriction of the water flow, an accumulation of organic matter and the depletion of the dissolved oxygen in the water. Conductivity and hardness are high during the warm and wet period for different reasons. At the seaward part of the river high conductivity and hardness values indicate extended admixture of seawater. COD values fluctuated seasonally. Among the studied stations along the Pinios River the most polluted was the area where the river has passed the city of Larissa.     

Accuracy and traceability concepts applied to environmental speciation analysis

Traceability issues are of increasing concern in all fields where chemical measurements form the basis for decisions. The concepts of accuracy and traceability as applied to environmental analysis are, however, still prone to misunderstandings, which has been recently illustrated by controversial discussions among the analytical community with respect to accuracy and traceability issues in the area of speciation analysis. Analytical techniques used for the determination of chemical species (speciation analysis) are generally based on a succession of steps (e.g. extraction derivatisation, separation, detection) which are all prone to various sources of systematic errors. Many speciation measurement techniques have been studied within the last decade through interlaboratory studies and certification of reference materials. These collaborative efforts have been understood as being directed towards strive for accuracy (trueness and precision). It has been recognised recently that the achievements actually enabled mostly to establish reference points (e.g. certified values in reference materials) which does not necessarily correspond to 'true values' but rather offer a mean for laboratories to compare their data internationally and, hence, achieve traceability. This ambiguity still generates confusion and misunderstandings among the scientific community. This communication discusses this issue, focusing on analytical measurements only. Extending discussions on general traceability issues would imply an examination of steps prior to laboratory work (sampling, storage, etc.) which is beyond the scope of this contribution.     

防化服结构和缝制工艺优化设计研究

本文研究了防化服的设计原则,对我国某型防化服装进行了分析,在腰部、袖型、膝部的结构上进行改进,使服装更趋合理、人性化,更便于作业活动。针对防化服影响防护效果的缝制工艺参数,利用二次通用旋转实验设计,变化机针针号、线迹密度及缝纫线细度三个因素五个水平;针对“三防”面料进行防油、防水、防静电测试,得到防护性能与缝制工艺参数之间的回归方程,并绘出等值曲线图,进一步分析了缝制工艺对面料防油、防水、防静电性能的影响,通过Borda数找出最优缝制工艺参数,并将应用到防化服的加工制作中。