Response of Lupinus albus to Pb–EDTA indicates relatively high tolerance

White lupin plants were grown in hydroponics with 0, 90 and 180 µmol L^?1 Pb(II) ethylenediaminetetraacetate complex for 30 days. Pb distribution (shoot/root ratio) was 0.34 and 0.46 for both Pb treatments. In the shoots, no decrease in biomass nor in photosynthetic pigment levels and no changes in the concentrations of malondialdehyde and glutathione were detected. In the roots, malondialdehyde increased by 20%, glutathione 2–3.6 times and phytochelatin concentrations 4–5 times. The high tolerance of white lupin makes it a valuable plant for phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soil.     

小麦和水稻对纳米硒的吸收和转运

通过水培试验,研究了不同粒径纳米硒(Se NPs)和不同p H条件对小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)及水稻(Oryza sativa L.)吸收、转运硒的影响.结果表明,小麦和水稻对不同粒径(50、100和150 nm) Se NPs的吸收规律不同. 24 h和72 h处理下,小麦根系对3种粒径Se NPs的吸收无显著差异,但其地上部中的硒含量(以干重计,下同)在50 nm Se NPs处理下达到最高,分别为(1. 89±0. 47)μg·g-1和(5. 18±1. 51)μg·g-1.硒在小麦体内的转运系数也在50 nm Se NPs处理24 h时显著高于其他粒径Se NPs处理2. 38倍(P 0. 05).对于水稻而言,50 nm Se NPs处理24 h时根系中的硒含量分别比100 nm和150 nm Se NPs处理增加了11. 18%和41. 81%,但在72 h时3种粒径Se NPs处理间根系对硒的吸收无显著差异.同时,硒在水稻中的地上部含量和转运系数也在50 nm Se NPs处理达到了最大值.另外,p H条件也会影响植物对硒的吸收和转运. Se NPs处理24h时,小麦根系在p H为6时对硒的吸收量最大,并高于亚硒酸盐处理89. 47%,但在p H为4时小麦对硒的转运能力最强.水稻在p H较低时(p H为3. 5和5. 5),对Se NPs的吸收量显著低于亚硒酸盐,且Se NPs在p H为3. 5时更易转运.以上结果表明水稻和小麦均可以吸收Se NPs,并且在p H较低的环境下Se NPs粒径越小越容易在植物体内转运.     

The Thermodynamic Performance of a Double-Acting Traveling-Wave Thermoacoustic Engine with Liquid-Water Piston

A double-acting traveling-wave thermoacoustic engine with liquid-water piston (DTTELP) was proposed by the authors. This article conducted numerical simulation on its performance for the cases of with and without acoustical loads. The effects of mean working pressure and water-piston mass on its non-load performance were firstly discussed. Then, the output performance of this novel thermoacoustic engine under fixed heating temperature was analyzed. Also, influences of different heating temperatures on the performance of this engine were discussed. According to the simulation, the novel double-acting thermoacoustic heat engine (TTHE) is very efficient and a maximum thermal efficiency can reach about 51% when the heating temperature is 1500 K.     

单一与复合胁迫下油菜对镉、铅的吸收效应

以干旱区绿洲灰漠土为供试土壤,油菜(Brassica campestris L.)为供试植物,通过盆栽试验研究了Cd/Pb单一和复合胁迫下其在油菜体内的吸收和富集特征,并解析了油菜条件下Cd、Pb的交互作用.结果表明,Cd/Pb单一和复合胁迫下油菜体内Cd、Pb的含量均随着其胁迫浓度的增大而增大,但复合胁迫下油菜对Cd、Pb的吸收互为拮抗作用(Cd最大胁迫浓度<7mg.kg-1,Pb最大胁迫浓度<1 500 mg.kg-1);Cd单一胁迫下油菜对其富集能力和其在油菜体内的迁移能力均随着其胁迫浓度的增加呈现先增大后减小的趋势,Pb单一胁迫下油菜对其富集能力和其在油菜体内的迁移能力则均随着其胁迫浓度的增加而持续减小;复合胁迫降低了油菜对Cd、Pb的富集能力和Pb在油菜体内的迁移能力,但提高了Cd在油菜体内的迁移能力;油菜对Cd的吸收能力和其在油菜体内的迁移能力均远远大于Pb;油菜对重金属Cd、Pb的吸收和迁移模式均符合二次方程.     

Effect of Family Support on the Success of Translocated Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs

Abstract:  Translocation has become a widely used conservation tool but remains only marginally successful. High mortality is often attributed to predation, but for highly social species, founder group composition may also play a critical role in postrelease survival. I compared the fitness of black-tailed prairie dogs translocated with or without their family groups. Animals in the family translocated groups were individually marked and observed until coterie membership was determined. Nonfamily translocated animals were trapped without regard to family membership. I measured fitness by retrapping all marked animals remaining at release sites in the summer following release. Family translocated animals were five times more likely to survive and had significantly higher reproductive success than those translocated without families. Predation was an important impediment of translocation success, but family translocation significantly reduced the success of predators on newly established prairie dog colonies. Postrelease survival was also affected by the timing of release, but appeared to be more important for juveniles than adults. These results demonstrate the importance of considering familiarity when translocations are required. More broadly, these results illustrate the value of applying animal behavior to conservation efforts and suggest that other species dependent on social interactions for survival and reproduction may benefit substantially from the maintenance of social groups during translocations.     

Uptake, translocation, and debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in maize

Uptake, translocation and debromination of three polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), BDE-28, -47 and -99, in maize were studied in a hydroponic experiment. Roots took up most of the PBDEs in the culture solutions and more highly brominated PBDEs had a stronger uptake capability. PBDEs were detected in the stems and leaves of maize after exposure but rarely detected in the blank control plants. Furthermore, PBDE concentrations decreased from roots to stems and then to leaves, and a very clear decreasing gradient was found in segments upwards along the stem. These altogether provide substantiating evidence for the acropetal translocation of PBDEs in maize. More highly brominated PBDEs were translocated with more difficulty. Radial translocation of PBDEs from nodes to sheath inside maize was also observed. Both acropetal and radial translocations were enhanced at higher transpiration rates, suggesting that PBDE transport was probably driven by the transpiration stream. Debromination of PBDEs occurred in all parts of the maize, and debromination patterns of different parent PBDEs and in different parts of a plant were similar but with some differences. This study for the first time provides direct evidence for the acropetal translocation of PBDEs within plants, elucidates the process of PBDE transport and clarifies the debromination products of PBDEs in maize.     

Nonylphenol photodegradation by novel ternary MIL-100（Fe）/ZnFe2O4/PCN composite under visible light irradiation via double charge transfer process

Nonylphenol（NP） residues, as a typical endocrine disrupting chemical（EDC）, frequently exist in sewage, surface water, groundwater and even drinking water, which poses a serious threat to human health due to its bioaccumulation. In order to remove NP, a series of MIL-100（Fe）/Zn Fe₂O₄/flake-like porous carbon nitride（MIL/ZC） was synthesized through in-situ synthesis at room temperature. High performance of ternary MIL/ZC is used to degrade NP under visible light irradiation. ...     

Evaluating Wolf Translocation as a Nonlethal Method to Reduce Livestock Conflicts in the Northwestern United States

Abstract:  Successful nonlethal management of livestock predation is important for conserving rare or endangered carnivores. In the northwestern United States, wolves ( Canis lupus ) have been translocated away from livestock to mitigate conflicts while promoting wolf restoration. We assessed predation on livestock, pack establishment, survival, and homing behavior of 88 translocated wolves with radiotelemetry to determine the effectiveness of translocation in our region and consider how it may be improved. More than one-quarter of translocated wolves preyed on livestock after release. Most translocated wolves (67%) never established or joined a pack, although eight new packs resulted from translocations. Translocated wolves had lower annual survival (0.60) than other radio-collared wolves (0.73), with government removal the primary source of mortality. In northwestern Montana, where most wolves have settled in human-populated areas with livestock, survival of translocated wolves was lowest (0.41) and more wolves proportionally failed to establish packs (83%) after release. Annual survival of translocated wolves was highest in central Idaho (0.71) and more wolves proportionally established packs (44%) there than in the other two recovery areas. Translocated wolves showed a strong homing tendency; most of those that failed to home still showed directional movement toward capture sites. Wolves that successfully returned to capture sites were more likely to be adults, hard (immediately) rather than soft (temporarily held in enclosure) released, and translocated shorter distances than other wolves that did not return home. Success of translocations varied and was most affected by the area in which wolves were released. We suggest managers translocating wolves or other large carnivores consider soft releasing individuals (in family groups, if social) when feasible because this may decrease homing behavior and increase release-site fidelity.