Changes in bird‐migration patterns associated with human‐induced mortality

Many bird populations have recently changed their migratory behavior in response to alterations of the environment. We collected data over 16 years on male Great Bustards (Otis tarda), a species showing a partial migratory pattern (sedentary and migratory birds coexisting in the same breeding groups). We conducted population counts and radio tracked 180 individuals to examine differences in survival rates between migratory and sedentary individuals and evaluate possible effects of these differences on the migratory pattern of the population. Overall, 65% of individuals migrated and 35% did not. The average distance between breeding and postbreeding areas of migrant individuals was 89.9 km, and the longest average movement of sedentary males was 3.8 km. Breeding group and migration distance had no effect on survival. However, mortality of migrants was 2.4 to 3.5 times higher than mortality of sedentary birds. For marked males, collision with power lines was the main cause of death from unnatural causes (37.6% of all deaths), and migratory birds died in collisions with power lines more frequently than sedentary birds (21.3% vs 6.3%). The percentage of sedentary individuals increased from 17% in 1997 to 45% in 2012. These results were consistent with data collected from radio‐tracked individuals: The proportion of migratory individuals decreased from 86% in 1997–1999 to 44% in 2006–2010. The observed decrease in the migratory tendency was not related to climatic changes (temperatures did not change over the study period) or improvements in habitat quality (dry cereal farmland area decreased in the main study area). Our findings suggest that human‐induced mortality during migration may be an important factor shaping the migration patterns of species inhabiting humanized landscapes.     

Using a Bayesian network to clarify areas requiring research in a host–pathogen system

Bayesian network analyses can be used to interactively change the strength of effect of variables in a model to explore complex relationships in new ways. In doing so, they allow one to identify influential nodes that are not well studied empirically so that future research can be prioritized. We identified relationships in host and pathogen biology to examine disease‐driven declines of amphibians associated with amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). We constructed a Bayesian network consisting of behavioral, genetic, physiological, and environmental variables that influence disease and used them to predict host population trends. We varied the impacts of specific variables in the model to reveal factors with the most influence on host population trend. The behavior of the nodes (the way in which the variables probabilistically responded to changes in states of the parents, which are the nodes or variables that directly influenced them in the graphical model) was consistent with published results. The frog population had a 49% probability of decline when all states were set at their original values, and this probability increased when body temperatures were cold, the immune system was not suppressing infection, and the ambient environment was conducive to growth of B. dendrobatidis. These findings suggest the construction of our model reflected the complex relationships characteristic of host–pathogen interactions. Changes to climatic variables alone did not strongly influence the probability of population decline, which suggests that climate interacts with other factors such as the capacity of the frog immune system to suppress disease. Changes to the adaptive immune system and disease reservoirs had a large effect on the population trend, but there was little empirical information available for model construction. Our model inputs can be used as a base to examine other systems, and our results show that such analyses are useful tools for reviewing existing literature, identifying links poorly supported by evidence, and understanding complexities in emerging infectious‐disease systems.     

Understanding the Lessons and Limitations of Conservation and Development

Abstract: The lack of concrete instances in which conservation and development have been successfully merged has strengthened arguments for strict exclusionist conservation policies. Research has focused more on social cooperation and conflict of different management regimes and less on how these factors actually affect the natural environments they seek to conserve. Consequently, it is still unknown which strategies yield better conservation outcomes? We conducted a meta‐analysis of 116 published case studies on common resource management regimes from Africa, south and central America, and southern and Southeast Asia. Using ranked sociodemographic, political, and ecological data, we analyzed the effect of land tenure, population size, social heterogeneity, as well as internally devised resource‐management rules and regulations (institutions) on conservation outcome. Although land tenure, population size, and social heterogeneity did not significantly affect conservation outcome, institutions were positively associated with better conservation outcomes. There was also a significant interaction effect between population size and institutions, which implies complex relationships between population size and conservation outcome. Our results suggest that communities managing a common resource can play a significant role in conservation and that institutions lead to management regimes with lower environmental impacts.     

Upgrading of organic waste: production of the copolymer poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate by Ralstonia eutrophus with organic waste as sole carbon source

Two types of fermented organic waste (trade and industry waste and fruit and vegetable waste) were successfully used as a sole carbon source to produce poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) by Ralstonia eutrophus (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) via oxygen limitation.The production of PHBV could be optimized by optimizing the oxygen transfer through the fermentor. Thereby, a peak concentration of 1.1 g PHBV per liter cell suspension, 40 w% of cell dry weight, was obtained at an aeration rate of 0.24 mol O₂/h·kg biomass. The yield of PHBV on the fatty acid concentration in the organic waste was 0.16 g polymer/g volatile organic matter. The process obtained, compares well with the commercial production process of PHBV based on glucose.     

宏观市场环境对BOT模式投资污水处理行业的影响研究

污水处理BOT投资模式是一种国际流行的公共基础设施建设融资方式。鉴于国内污水处理市场化程度较低、污水处理率及处理效率不高等压力,政府正通过调整行业政策,不断鼓励社会资本以BOT模式进入污水处理行业。污水处理市场前景与商机方面,中国污水处理市场发展空间巨大。市场环境方面,宏观经济发展速度对污水处理行业发展的影响不大;中国各项产业政策均有利于污水处理市场化发展;而且行业综合风险较低。投资收益方面,市政公用设施的性质特点,决定了污水处理行业投资收益率不高但长期稳定。总结来看,宏观市场环境将越来越有利于以BOT模式投资污水处理市场,BOT模式投资是可行的。     

活性炭再生及其在水处理中的应用

活性炭的再生方法有很多,如热再生法、生物再生法、化学溶液再生法、湿式氧化再生法、超临界萃取再生法、电化学再生法、超声波再生法、微波辐照再生法等。不同的方法有不同的特点适用于不同的工业废水处理。     

废纸造纸废水处理工程应用

报道了自制混凝剂产品处理废纸造纸废水的工程应用情况。经过 1年多的运行结果表明 ,当进水CODCr、悬浮物浓度分别为 972mg/L、82 5mg/L以及色度为 3 0 0倍时 ,采用该工艺处理后 ,CODCr去除率平均为 95 .7% ,SS去除率平均为 98.9% ,色度去除率平均为 99.3 % ,出水水质远低于国家一级排放标准 (GB3 5 44 - 92 ) ,并且工厂实践表明 ,对生产有显著的效益 ,从而证明该方法对于废纸造纸废水的处理是可行的。该处理工艺设备简单 ,系统运行稳定 ,操作方便 ,成本低     

A/O工艺处理城市生活工业综合污水的耐受性研究

针对目前城市污水处理厂进水水质以生活污水为主转向以难生物处理的工业废水为主的现状,进行了A/O工艺的耐受性试验.结果表明:随着工业废水比例的增加,厌氧、好氧污泥活性都显著下降,厌氧污泥的耐受性较高;随着运行时间的延长,两类污泥的活性逐步得到不同程度的恢复;工业废水比例越高,活性恢复所需时间越长;两类污泥的协同代谢作用保证了出水效果.A/O工艺所能耐受的进水中制药废水、印染废水和生活污水的分配比(体积比)为3∶3∶4.     

某化工园区污水处理厂Fenton处理方案的比较研究

利用GC-MS分析了某化工园区污水厂一期（化工）进水中的有机物组分,并通过活性污泥呼吸抑制实验评估其微生物毒性及对现有生化处理系统的影响。在此基础上,对Fenton试剂后置深度处理和前置预处理2个方案开展比较研究。结果表明,一期进水含多种难降解有机物,对生活污泥表现出微生物毒性,但对园区污水厂污泥无明显呼吸抑制作用。Fenton试剂后置处理生化出水,当进水COD-1,在pH为3.5左右,H2O2投加量为5 mmol·L-1,Fe2+/H2O2摩尔比为1：2的条件下,出水COD可稳定低于60 mg·L-1,处理成本不含污泥处置费低于1.8元·t-1水,难降解组分从18种减少为4种。而Fenton试剂前置预处理化工废水时,废水B/C在几种Fenton药剂组合下均未能达到0.3以上,无法得到理想的可生化性提高效果。因此推荐该化工园区污水厂采用Fenton试剂后置处理工艺为主的提标改造方案。     

Friedel化合物对VO_4~(3-)的吸附及其作用机制

为了解Friedel化合物作为吸附剂去除水中VO43-的应用潜能,研究了Friedel化合物对VO34-的吸附动力学和吸附等温线,并结合吸附产物的XRD和红外光谱分析探讨了Friedel化合物的吸附作用机理.结果表明:Friedel化合物对VO34-有较高的吸附容量和吸附速率,其吸附等温线符合Langmuir等温吸附模型(R20.93),理论吸附容量为72.40mg.g-1.Friedel化合物对VO34-的吸附作用机理为层间离子交换和表面吸附.