Response to perceived predation threat in fiddler crabs: trust thy neighbor as thyself?

Prey require information if they are to respond to predation threat in a risk-sensitive manner. One way that individuals can obtain this information is through the predator-mediated, threat-induced behavior of conspecifics. We examined such a possibility in a refuge-seeking species, the sand fiddler crab (Uca pugilator). Crabs were either exposed directly to a simulated predation threat (a moving cylinder) or the threat-induced response of a near neighbor. We found that fiddler crabs responded to the flight of their neighbors even when they, themselves, were not privy to the stimulus that induced their neighbors response. However, the wider range of behaviors exhibited by these crabs—which included no reaction, freezing, running back to the burrow entrance, and burrow retreat—suggest that non-threatened crabs either (1) perceived the gravity of the predation threat differently from their directly threatened neighbors and/or (2) engaged in behaviors that allowed them to acquire further information in the face of uncertainty. Conspecific behaviors also had an effect on the hiding duration of crabs, with individuals hiding longer if they saw both the predation threat and the flight of their neighbor. Our results suggest that cues provided by conspecifics can play an important role in guiding the antipredator response of refuge-seeking prey.     

Information transfer and gain in flocks: the effects of quality and quantity of social information at different neighbour distances

We assessed experimentally how the quality and quantity of social information affected foraging decisions of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) at different neighbour distances, and how individuals gained social information as a function of head position. Our experimental set up comprised three bottomless enclosures, each housing one individual placed on a line at different distances. The birds in the extreme enclosures were labelled senders and the one in the centre receiver. We manipulated the foraging opportunities of senders (enhanced, natural, no-foraging), and recorded the behaviour of the receiver. In the first experiment, receivers responded to the condition of senders. Their searching rate and food intake increased when senders foraged in enhanced conditions, and decreased in no-foraging conditions, in relation to natural conditions. Scanning was oriented more in the direction of conspecifics when senders behaviour departed from normal. In the second experiment, responses were dose dependent: receivers increased their searching rate and orientated their gaze more towards conspecifics with the number of senders foraging in enhanced food conditions. In no-foraging conditions, receivers decreased their searching and intake rates with the number of senders, but no variation was found in scanning towards conspecifics. Differences in foraging and scanning behaviour between enhanced and no-foraging conditions were much lower when neighbours were separated farther. Overall, information transfer within starling flocks affects individual foraging and scanning behaviour, with receivers monitoring and copying senders behaviour mainly when neighbours are close. Information transfer may be related to predation information (responding to the vigilance of conspecifics) and foraging information (responding to the feeding success of conspecifics). Both sources of information, balanced by neighbour distance, may simultaneously affect the behaviour of individuals in natural conditions.Communicated by H. Kokko     

An Integrated Model of Public Contact Planning for Conservation Management

/ Public contact is a vital component of any program to manage natural resources. A well-planned public contact program uses a variety of strategies to create a sympathetic and environmentally aware public and to meet specific management-related objectives. A methodology is proposed that can be applied to planning public contact at any level, from media design for a specific project to corporate strategies for communication. The methodology integrates management-driven, client-driven and resource-driven planning to provide the connections essential to effective communication.KEY WORDS: Planning; Public contact; Interpretation; Conservation; Management     

Public participation in plastics recycling schemes

Without public contributions, recycling from domestic waste would not be possible. In order to support recycling projects it is important to try to understand who recycles, how they recycle, and why they recycle. This paper presents the results of a structured survey of 500 members of the public served by schemes to collect plastics waste for recycling. Data were gathered on the characteristics, behaviours and motivations of recyclers. The authors also sought to discover how the public perceive plastics compared to other materials, and as a recyclable material. Responses were collected in such a way that the awareness of the recyclability of materials could be compared with the recycling behaviour of respondents. An element of comparison was introduced between those served by a system of bottle banks (bring scheme) and those covered by a household collection (collect scheme). The survey results are reported and their implications for the management of post-consumer plastics waste collection schemes are discussed.     

对排海污染物实行“纳污区”管理探讨

我国近海是经济增长和发展最重要和最集中的区域。然而,随着沿海工业的发展,大量未经处理的陆源污染物随间排海,沿岸水域形成“黑潮”、“赤潮”致使我国近海海域污染加剧,生态平衡失调,严重影响了海域资源环境的可持续发展。     

论中国环境影响评价中公众参与的一般模式

公众参与在环境影响评价中的作用是不可替代的,并成为各国环评的基本内容.环评中公众参与的一般模式包括公众享有环境知情权和参与决策权、合适的公众参与的主体范围、明确的公众参与环评的程序和方法以及公众参与环评的保障机制.为更好地发挥环评的作用,应当从实体和程序两方面对法规加以完善.还应在信息公开、立法的完善和配套制度的建立等方面完善环评中的公众参与制度.     

宿迁市公众环境意识调查研究

采用问卷调查与社会访问相结合的方法,对江苏省宿迁市居民的环境意识进行了调查。统计结果表明宿迁市居民对当地环境处于基本满意阶段,并认为政府对环境保护工作比较重视;宿迁市公众具备了一定的环境保护基础知识．但是环境意识比较低,环境保护行为相对滞后,需要政府加以引导,加强环境宣传教育,提高民众的环境意识。     

沙颍河流域行政单元的排污权初始分配研究

初始排污权的有效分配是排污权交易制度实施的基础,结合中国现行行政特征,以行政单元作为排污权初始分配主体开展排污权初始分配研究。具体是：以沙颍河流域为例,根据淮河水利委员会制定的沙颍河流域水功能区划及COD、氨氮限排总量要求,以COD、氨氮作为排污权初始分配的客体,通过等比例削减方法对沙颍河流域内的行政单元进行了排污权初始分配,得到了流域内各市县级行政单元的COD、氨氮初始排放权,并在此基础上从政策可行性、区域合作性及上下游城市的协调性等方面提出了开展排污权初始分配的若干建议。     

基于DEM的小流域石漠化成因的坡度分析——以贵州连续性石灰岩地区为例

本文选择三个典型的连续性石灰岩为基底、不同地貌区域的小流域为研究对象,通过DEM数据源在GIS软件上提取坡度信息,对其石漠化分布与坡度间的相关性进行分析。结果表明从高原区到峡谷区,石漠化的发生在面积上大体相当,强度上则愈加严重。连续性石灰岩地区各坡度上都存在生态恶化的隐患,但坡度对于其生态的恢复并不是明显的限制因素。轻度石漠化和中度石漠化的面积比在坡度的等级由低到高的过程中存在着中间的高峰值。轻、中度石漠化在高原区和峡谷区中集中于15~35°坡度;斜坡区则集中在35~45°间。强度石漠化在高原区和斜坡区中25°以上的坡度中集中分布、峡谷区则在坡度15~45°内。在喀斯特地区的低坡度上要注意人为活动的合理性。     

条件价值评估法研究居民改善空气质量需求

采用条件价值评估方法,调查了北京市居民改善空气质量的支付意愿,初步分析居民对空气质量这种公共环境物品的需求状况,探讨了影响居民对公共环境物品需求的人口和社会经济因素.研究结果表明,居民的经济状况是影响对公共环境物品需求的重要因素,居民的经济状况比较好则对公共环境物品的需求越高,但是支付意愿与家庭收入弹性<1.随着教育水平的提高,对公共环境物品的需求也增加.另外,性别和健康状况也影响居民对公共环境物品的需求.从政策实施的角度来看,政府必须完善人们对公共环境物品需求偏好的表达机制,才能制定政策实现公共环境物品的有效供给.