Cofoundress relatedness and group productivity in colonies of social <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dunatothrips</Emphasis> (Insecta: Thysanoptera) on Australian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia</Emphasis>

Facultative joint colony founding by social insects provides opportunities to analyze the roles of genetic and ecological factors in the evolution of cooperation. Although cooperative nesting is observed in range of social insect taxa, the most detailed studies of this behavior have been conducted with Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps). Here, we show that foundress associations in the haplodiploid social thrips Dunatothrips aneurae (Insecta: Thysanoptera) are most often comprised of close relatives (sisters), though groups with unrelated foundresses are also found. Associations among relatives appear to be facilitated by limited female dispersal, which results in viscous population structure. In addition, we found that per capita productivity declined with increasing group size, sex ratios were female-biased, and some female offspring apparently remained in their natal domicile for some time following eclosion. D. aneurae thus exhibits a suite of similarities with eusocial Hymenoptera, providing evidence for the convergent evolution of associated social and life-history traits in Hymenoptera and Thysanoptera.     

Why do not all workers work? Colony size and workload during emigrations in the ant Temnothorax albipennis

Here, we study distribution of workload and its relationship to colony size among worker ants of Temnothorax albipennis, in the context of colony emigrations. We find that one major aspect of workload, number of items transported by each worker, was more evenly distributed in larger colonies. By contrast, in small colonies, a small number of individuals perform most of the work in this task (in one colony, a single ant transported 57% of all items moved in the emigration). Transporters in small colonies carried more items to the new nest per individual and achieved a higher overall efficiency in transport (more items moved per transporter and unit time). Our results suggest that small colonies may be extremely dependent on a few key individuals. In studying colony organisation and division of labour, the amount of work performed by each individual, not just task repertoire (which tasks are performed at all), should be taken into account.     

Assessing carrying capacities of coastal areas in France

This paper provides the methodological framework for carrying capacity assessment through a set of indicators, as implemented in a French case study. The approach aims to help the State and local governments of coastal areas facing population growth and important touristic flows to undergo a local development strategy that does not imperil their territorial strategic resources. This work shows how situations of dysfunction or saturation points have interlinked consequences on environmental, social and economic resources, justifying a crosswise assessment.     

我国旅游研究20年（1993—2013年）——基于NSSFC旅游项目反映的学术态势

基于大数据的视角对1993—2013年我国国家社科基金旅游项目进行了全样本统计和研究,并采用SPSS17.0软件对项目负责人、负责人所在单位、单位所在省市进行了描述性分析和聚类分析,同时借助ROSTCM6软件对项目主题进行了语义网络分析,全面展示了国家社科基金旅游项目反映的我国旅游发展格局,系统认识和评价国家社科基金旅游项目对我国旅游研究的贡献有一定的指导作用。     

Using social network and stakeholder analysis to help evaluate infectious waste management: A step towards a holistic assessment

Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a solid waste management scheme requires an accurate analysis and integration of several determining features. In addition to the technical aspects, any such system shows a complex interaction of actors with varying stakes, decision-making power and influence, as well as a favourable or disabling environment. When capitalizing on the knowledge and experience from a specific case, it is also crucial that experts do not “forget” or underestimate the importance of such social determinants and that they are familiar with the methods and tools to assess them. Social network analysis (SNA) and stakeholder analysis (SA) methods can be successfully applied to better understand actors’ role and actions, analyse driving forces and existing coordination among stakeholders, as well as identify bottlenecks in communication which affect daily operations or strategic planning for the future way forward. SNA and SA, appropriately adjusted for a certain system, can provide a useful integration to methods by assessing other aspects to ensure a comprehensive picture of the situation. This paper describes how to integrate SNA and SA in order to survey a solid waste management system. This paper presents the results of an analysis of On-Nuch infectious waste incinerator in Bangkok, Thailand. Stakeholders were interviewed and asked to prioritize characteristics and relationships which they consider particularly important for system development and success of the scheme. In such a way, a large quantity of information about organization, communication between stakeholders and their perception about operation, environmental and health impact, and potential alternatives for the system was collected in a systematic way. The survey results suggest that stakeholders are generally satisfied with the system operation, though communication should be improved. Moreover, stakeholders should be strategically more involved in system development planning, according to their characteristics, to prevent negative reactions.     

辽宁省近50年降水量的突变特征及变化趋势分析

首先采用Pettitt方法对辽宁省21个气象站1958年一2008年51年的降水量序列进行突变分析,结果显示54476和54486两测站的年降水量序列分别在1996年和1998年存在显著的突变且通过了显著性水平检验,其它测站的降水量序列均未检测出显著的突变年份。根据累积距平曲线分析辽宁省51年的年均降水量在时间尺度上大致分为三个阶段：1958年一1975年为降水量增加阶段,1975年一1996年为降水量稳定阶段,1996年一2008为降水量减少阶段。最后应用Morlet小波分析对辽宁省年均降水量进行周期分析,结果表明降水在大尺度时间上存在约24年的周期震荡,在小尺度时间上存在约9年的周期震荡。     

Evaluation of zeolite-sand mixtures as reactive materials protecting groundwater at waste disposal sites

To recognize properties of a mixture of Vistula sand (medium sand acc. to USCS) with Slovak zeolite as reactive materials suitable for permeable reactive barriers proposed for protection of groundwater environment in vicinity of old landfills comprehensive laboratory investigations were performed. The present study investigates the removal of contaminants specific for landfill leachates onto zeolite-sand mixtures containing 20%, 50% and 80% of zeolite (ZS20, ZS50 and ZS80). Taking into account the results of batch tests it was concluded that the Langmuir isotherm best fitted the data. It was observed that the presence of ammonium, calcium and magnesium decreases the removal efficiency of copper by 32%. Column tests of contaminant migration through the attenuation zone of the reactive materials were interpreted using the software package CXTFIT, which solves a one-dimensional advection-dispersion equation. Column test results also indicate the strong influence of the presence of interfering substances on copper immobilisation; dynamic sorption capacities decrees twofold. Throughout the landfill leachate flow through ZS80 sample, a constant reduction of NH+4 (at 100%), K+ (at 93%) and Fe total (at an average of 86%) were observed. There was no reduction in chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand.     

COVID-19: From health crises to food security anxiety and policy implications

Like the rest of the world, African countries are reeling from the health, economic and social effects of COVID-19. The continent’s governments have responded by imposing rigorous lockdowns to limit the spread of the virus. The various lockdown measures are undermining food security, because stay at home orders have among others, threatened food production for a continent that relies heavily on agriculture as the bedrock of the economy. This article draws on quantitative data collected by the GeoPoll, and, from these data, assesses the effect of concern about the local spread and economic impact of COVID-19 on food worries. Qualitative data comprising 12 countries south of the Sahara reveal that lockdowns have created anxiety over food security as a health, economic and human rights/well-being issue. By applying a probit model, we find that concern about the local spread of COVID-19 and economic impact of the virus increases the probability of food worries. Governments have responded with various efforts to support the neediest. By evaluating the various policies rolled out we advocate for a feminist economics approach that necessitates greater use of data analytics to predict the likely impacts of intended regulatory relief responses during the recovery process and post-COVID-19.     

Is small hydropower beautiful? Social impacts of river fragmentation in China’s Red River Basin

Small hydropower (SHP) is promoted as a pro-poor renewable energy source that does not have the negative social impacts of large dams. This article challenges these claims, using data from a household survey in China’s upper Red River Basin. We find that SHP can fragment river systems in ways that reduce irrigation water availability, provoke changes to agricultural practices, and negatively impact river health. These social impacts of river fragmentation mainly occur in villages situated between a plant’s intake and outflow. The frequency of plant water diversions due to continued generation in the dry season significantly predicts all social impacts; installed capacity of the plant and the quality of the village’s irrigation infrastructure predict some impacts. Villages with strong local governance can negotiate with the plant to temporarily halt generation when irrigation water is needed, lessening social impacts. Our findings reveal that SHP plants are not as benign as they are made out to be; they must be built and managed according to community needs.     

小柴旦湖表层沉积物粒度分布特征

柴达木盆地分布着的大量浅水盐湖,是重建过去全球变化的重要载体。盐湖沉积物粒度的测定及其解释对湖水动力学、地貌学和沉积学的研究具有十分重要的意义;粒度作为湖泊沉积物中最直接的物理指标,在不同的湖泊中存在着多解性,因此,系统地研究不同湖泊表层沉积物的粒度空间分布特征十分必要。本文以柴达木盆地的小柴旦湖为研究对象,对湖泊中23个表层沉积物样品进行粒度分析,并结合2个风成砂样品和1个湖泊钻孔样品(XCD3),系统研究其表层沉积物粒度特征,探讨可能影响粒度分布的外力因素。结果表明:(1)在两条采样路线上,样品粒度随水位深度增加逐渐变细,其平均粒径的变化范围自50.2μm至5.3μm,说明小柴旦湖这类小型浅水盐湖的沉积特征符合湖泊中湖滨至湖心沉积物颗粒逐渐变细这一规律;(2)凡是湖泊水深超过200 cm的样品,粒度频率分布曲线具有较高的一致性,表明在小柴旦湖中较细颗粒主要赋存于深水区,指示深水区沉积环境相对稳定;(3)湖滨浅水区沉积物颗粒特征复杂,粒度频率分布曲线呈多峰态,可能受洪积扇、植被和风浪的影响。选取柴旦气象站1956—2013年气象数据中极大风速计算风浪对水体的影响,最大影响深度为0.4 m,说明湖滨深度小于0.4 m的区域受风浪影响。结合湖泊表层沉积物及周围风成砂粒度特征,对小柴旦3(XCD3)钻孔沉积物粒度特征进行分析,发现:钻孔中68—70 cm和77—80 cm层位粒度特征指示水位快速下降,湖泊干涸并沉积风成砂;其余层位均表现为相对稳定的湖相地层,湖泊水位与现代相近。