Scaling range sizes to threats for robust predictions of risks to biodiversity

Assessments of risk to biodiversity often rely on spatial distributions of species and ecosystems. Range‐size metrics used extensively in these assessments, such as area of occupancy (AOO), are sensitive to measurement scale, prompting proposals to measure them at finer scales or at different scales based on the shape of the distribution or ecological characteristics of the biota. Despite its dominant role in red‐list assessments for decades, appropriate spatial scales of AOO for predicting risks of species’ extinction or ecosystem collapse remain untested and contentious. There are no quantitative evaluations of the scale‐sensitivity of AOO as a predictor of risks, the relationship between optimal AOO scale and threat scale, or the effect of grid uncertainty. We used stochastic simulation models to explore risks to ecosystems and species with clustered, dispersed, and linear distribution patterns subject to regimes of threat events with different frequency and spatial extent. Area of occupancy was an accurate predictor of risk (0.81<|r|<0.98) and performed optimally when measured with grid cells 0.1–1.0 times the largest plausible area threatened by an event. Contrary to previous assertions, estimates of AOO at these relatively coarse scales were better predictors of risk than finer‐scale estimates of AOO (e.g., when measurement cells are <1% of the area of the largest threat). The optimal scale depended on the spatial scales of threats more than the shape or size of biotic distributions. Although we found appreciable potential for grid‐measurement errors, current IUCN guidelines for estimating AOO neutralize geometric uncertainty and incorporate effective scaling procedures for assessing risks posed by landscape‐scale threats to species and ecosystems.     

Effects of age and sex ratios on offspring recruitment rates in translocated black rhinoceros

Success of animal translocations depends on improving postrelease demographic rates toward establishment and subsequent growth of released populations. Short‐term metrics for evaluating translocation success and its drivers, like postrelease survival and fecundity, are unlikely to represent longer‐term outcomes. We used information theory to investigate 25 years of data on black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) translocations. We used the offspring recruitment rate (ORR) of translocated females—a metric integrating survival, fecundity, and offspring recruitment at sexual maturity—to detect determinants of success. Our unambiguously best model (AICω = 0.986) predicted that ORR increases with female age at release as a function of lower postrelease adult rhinoceros sex ratio (males:females). Delay of first postrelease reproduction and failure of some females to recruit any calves to sexual maturity most influenced the pattern of ORRs, and the leading causes of recruitment failure were postrelease female death (23% of all females) and failure to calve (24% of surviving females). We recommend translocating older females (≥6 years old) because they do not exhibit the reproductive delay and low ORRs of juveniles (<4 years old) or the higher rates of recruitment failure of juveniles and young adults (4–5.9 years old). Where translocation of juveniles is necessary, they should be released into female‐biased populations, where they have higher ORRs. Our study offers the unique advantage of a long‐term analysis across a large number of replicate populations—a science‐by‐management experiment as a proxy for a manipulative experiment, and a rare opportunity, particularly for a large, critically endangered taxon such as the black rhinoceros. Our findings differ from previous recommendations, reinforce the importance of long‐term data sets and comprehensive metrics of translocation success, and suggest attention be shifted from ecological to social constraints on population growth and species recovery, particularly when translocating species with polygynous breeding systems.     

A spatial approach to combatting wildlife crime

Poaching can have devastating impacts on animal and plant numbers, and in many countries has reached crisis levels, with illegal hunters employing increasingly sophisticated techniques. We used data from an 8‐year study in Savé Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe, to show how geographic profiling—a mathematical technique originally developed in criminology and recently applied to animal foraging and epidemiology—can be adapted for use in investigations of wildlife crime. The data set contained information on over 10,000 incidents of illegal hunting and the deaths of 6,454 wild animals. We used a subset of data for which the illegal hunters’ identities were known. Our model identified the illegal hunters’ home villages based on the spatial locations of the hunting incidences (e.g., snares). Identification of the villages was improved by manipulating the probability surface inside the conservancy to reflect the fact that although the illegal hunters mostly live outside the conservancy, the majority of hunting occurs inside the conservancy (in criminology terms, commuter crime). These results combined with rigorous simulations showed for the first time how geographic profiling can be combined with GIS data and applied to situations with more complex spatial patterns, for example, where landscape heterogeneity means some parts of the study area are less likely to be used (e.g., aquatic areas for terrestrial animals) or where landscape permeability differs (e.g., forest bats tend not to fly over open areas). More broadly, these results show how geographic profiling can be used to target antipoaching interventions more effectively and more efficiently and to develop management strategies and conservation plans in a range of conservation scenarios.     

Prenatal diagnosis of morquio's disease type a (n-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulphate sulphatase deficiency)

Prenatal monitoring of three pregnancies at risk of Morquio's disease type A by determination of N-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulphate sulphatase activity in cultured amniotic cells is reported. In one pregnancy prenatal diagnosis of one affected fetus was made. Enzyme determinations in tissues of the aborted fetus confirmed the prenatal diagnosis.     

Summer air quality over an artificial lake

In the summer of 1998, the air quality (indicators: CO, NO, NO₂, O₃) above the water surface of the Lake Balderey (Essen, Ruhr area, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany), an artificial lake used for recreation purposes, was measured using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) remote measurement methods. The lake, with an area of 3 km² was created by damming the Ruhr and is surrounded by higher ground. In calm, bright weather conditions, this location results in a low-exchange situation (formation of temperature inversions, cold air dynamics) with a sustained impact on pollutant concentrations over the lake. The results of trace substance measurements (1/2 h mean values) were compared with values from comparison stations (suburban, high traffic and forest) located outside the area of the lake. In general, it was found that mean CO and NO concentrations over the lake were very low (0.3 ppm and 7.5 ppb, respectively). NO₂ values (15 ppb) were some 3.5 times higher than those recorded at the forest station and O₃ values, at 27 ppb, almost reached the same level as at the forest station (30 ppb). Mass flow densities as a function of wind direction, diurnal courses, differences between weekdays and weekends and comparisons with air quality standards are presented for the lake station.     

SO2-4/TiO2对SO2-C7H16-TiO2复相光化学反应的影响

研究了TiO2与SO2,C7H16复相光化学反应的光催化活性.在SO2-C7H16-O2-TiO2光催化反应过程中,TiO2表面可形成SO2-4/TiO2结构,它的存在可提高庚烷的光催化氧化速率,利用IR和XPS研究了反应过程中TiO2表面形成的SO2-4/TiO2结构.     

一种新去整合素Adinbitor的表达、序列分析及其对C6神经胶质瘤细胞凋亡的诱导

Adinbitor为一通过基因工程方法获得的来自于中国白眉蝮蛇毒腺的去整合素家族的新成员 .从蝮蛇毒腺中提取总RNA进行RT -PCR扩增 ,获得了 2 19bp的白眉蝮蛇去整合素基因 .cDNA测序及由此推导的氨基酸序列结果显示 ,Adinbitor为含有 73个氨基酸的多肽 ,其中包括 12个半胱氨酸 ,并具有去整合素的特征模序 -RGD .对此去整合素基因进行克隆、转化与诱导后 ,得到了该蛋白的可溶性高效表达 .经组氨酸亲和层析纯化 ,获得了分子量Mr为 9×10 3 的均质融合蛋白 ,并将其命名为adinbitor.序列分析表明 ,adinbitor与已发表于GENBANK上的整合素序列有很高的同源性 ,其中同源性最高的是南韩的saxatilin ,二者的蛋白质同源性高达 91.78% .活性测定结果表明 ,Adinbitor能有效地诱导神经胶质瘤细胞C6的细胞凋亡 ,有希望成为一种抗癌新药 .图 5参 15     

地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis)对 Cr6+的吸附动力学研究

从污染土壤中分离出地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacilluslicheniformis),利用其死菌体对Cr6 溶液进行吸附动力学研究.在Ci=300mg/L、pH=2.5和θ=50℃条件下,吸附120min获得最大吸附量60.5mg/g.应用Langmuir和Freundlich吸附等温线研究,结果表明,Langmuir吸附等温线更为适合.动力学研究显示,地衣芽孢杆菌对Cr6 的吸附动力学可以用拟二级速度方程进行描叙.图3表4参14     

碘化物-罗丹明6G体系共振瑞利散射法测定痕量铅

在稀磷酸介质中 ,铅 (Ⅱ )与过量的I-离子形成 [PbI4]2 -配阴离子 ,并进一步与罗丹明 6G(Rh6G )形成离子缔合配合物 ,产生强烈的共振瑞利散射 (RRS )光谱 ,最大RRS波长位于 315nm 对共振瑞利散射光谱特性、主要影响因素和反应的最佳条件进行了研究 ,在 4 0× 10 -5%D 2 0× 10 -4μg·ml-1范围内 ,共振瑞利散射强度与铅的浓度成线性关系 ,实验结果表明 ,铅的检出限为 3 5× 10 -5μg·ml-1,可用于自来水中痕量铅的测定     

Degradation of the herbicide imazapyr by Fenton reactions

The degradation of the herbicide imazapyr has been carried out by three advanced oxidation processes involving iron ions as catalysts: Fentons reagent, photo-Fenton and electro-Fenton. We show that all processes are rapid and efficient. The kinetic rate constant was found to be k=5.4×10⁹ M^–1 s^–1. The mineralization of imazapyr is almost complete using the photo-Fenton and electro-Fenton processes.