Understanding Trait‐Dependent Community Disassembly: Dung Beetles,Density Functions,and Forest Fragmentation

Abstract: Anthropogenic disturbances such as fragmentation are rapidly altering biodiversity, yet a lack of attention to species traits and abundance patterns has made the results of most studies difficult to generalize. We determined traits of extinction‐prone species and present a novel strategy for classifying species according to their population‐level response to a gradient of disturbance intensity. We examined the effects of forest fragmentation on dung beetle communities in an archipelago of 33 islands recently created by flooding in Venezuela. Species richness, density, and biomass all declined sharply with decreasing island area and increasing island isolation. Species richness was highly nested, indicating that local extinctions occurred nonrandomly. The most sensitive dung beetle species appeared to require at least 85 ha of forest, more than many large vertebrates. Extinction‐prone species were either large‐bodied, forest specialists, or uncommon. These explanatory variables were unrelated, suggesting at least 3 underlying causes of extirpation. Large species showed high wing loading (body mass/wing area) and a distinct flight strategy that may increase their area requirements. Although forest specificity made most species sensitive to fragmentation, a few persistent habitat generalists dispersed across the matrix. Density functions classified species into 4 response groups on the basis of their change in density with decreasing species richness. Sensitive and persistent species both declined with increasing fragmentation intensity, but persistent species occurred on more islands, which may be due to their higher baseline densities. Compensatory species increased in abundance following the initial loss of sensitive species, but rapidly declined with increasing fragmentation. Supertramp species (widespread habitat generalists) may be poor competitors but strong dispersers; their abundance peaked following the decline of the other 3 groups. Nevertheless, even the least sensitive species were extirpated or rare on the smallest and most isolated islands.     

Trisomy 2 due to a 3:1 segregation in an abortion studied by QF-PCR and CGH

Balanced reciprocal translocation is one of the known causes of recurrent spontaneous abortions. Cytogenetic studies of unbalanced miscarriages are difficult due to the growth failure of early loss and usually macerated abortions. We present a molecular study of an abortion in which the father carries a balanced reciprocal translocation t(2;17)(q32.1;q24.3) using QF-PCR and CGH techniques. DNA analysis showed the presence of a trisomy 2 due to a 3:1 interchange segregation. Recombinant events could also be investigated by comparing DNA samples from the family. We propose QF-PCR in addition to CGH as an efficient diagnostic method to improve our knowledge of unbalanced offspring in balanced translocation carriers. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel L1CAM mutation with L1 spectrum disorders

X-linked hydrocephalus, HSAS (hydrocephalus due to stenosis of aqueduct of Sylvius), MASA (mental retardation, aphasia, shuffling gait, and adducted thumbs), and CRASH (corpus callosum hypoplasia, retardation, adducted thumbs, spastic paraplegia, and hydrocephalus) syndromes are allelic disorders. X-linked hydrocephalus and associated phenotypes are due to mutations in the L1CAM gene, which has been identified as a coding neural cell adhesion molecule. We report two cases of L1 spectrum disorders within the same family. The first case was diagnosed by ultrasonographic examination prenatally and the second case was diagnosed postnatally. Both patients and their mothers carry a novel mutation of the L1CAM gene. In this family, nine X-linked hydrocephalus and five female carriers were found in three generations, and molecular genetic analysis was performed to detect the asymptomatic carriers. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Persistence and mobility of 2,4-D in unsaturated soil zone under winter wheat crop in sub-tropical region of India

The present study was undertaken to determine the persistence and mobility of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in unsaturated soil zone under real field conditions for the wheat crop in Roorkee, India. Three experimental plots were chosen in the agricultural field itself to represent the real field conditions in the study area and the potential movement and persistence of herbicide 2,4-D was investigated under three different irrigation treatments. The presence of herbicide along with soil water content was determined in soil at different depths at a temporal scale. The movement of the herbicide was also simulated numerically by solving the coupled soil water content movement and mass transport equations using HYDRUS-1D. The measured soil water content trends and the 2,4-D concentration profiles showed a good agreement with the numerically simulated results. The maximum effect of the herbicide was primarily retained up to 15 cm of the soil profile. The current existing dosage of 0.5 kg ha⁻¹ of pesticide was found to be safe to avoid soil contamination as no residue of 2,4-D was traced at the end of the wheat crop season in any of the plots. Higher concentrations of 2,4-D were also simulated numerically and the simulated results showed that the safe dosage of pesticide application would depend on irrigation treatments.     

Absorption characteristics of new solvent based on a blend of AMP and 1,8-diamino-p-menthane for CO2 absorption

Aqueous 1,8-diamino-p-menthane (KIER-C3) and commercially available amine solutions were tested for CO₂ absorption. A 2-amino- 2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) solution with an addition of KIER-C3 showed 9.3% and 31.6% higher absorption rate for CO₂ than the AMP solution with an addition of monoethanolamine (MEA) and ammonia (NH₃), respectively. The reaction rate constant for CO₂ absorption by the AMP/KIER-C3 solution was determined by the following equation: k_2,AMP/C3 = 7.702×10⁶ exp (-2248.03/T). A CO₂ loading ratio of the AMP/KIER-C3 solution was also 2 and 3.4-times higher than that of the AMP/NH3 solution and the AMP/MEA solution, respectively. Based on the experimental results, KIER-C3 may be used as an excellent additive to increase CO₂ absorption capability of AMP.     

兰州市大气中苯并(a)芘与儿童尿中1-羟基芘的分析及风险评价

对兰州市不同区域空气中苯并(a)芘和儿童尿液中1-羟基芘同步采样,分别采用气相色谱-质谱联用法和高效液相色谱法进行检测.结果表明:不同区域苯并(a)芘浓度有显著差别,研究区日均浓度约为对照区日均浓度的两倍.冬季大气中的浓度明显高于夏季,其中研究区冬季均值约为夏季的26.46倍,对照区冬季均值约为夏季的29.41倍.儿童尿中1-羟基芘的浓度与空气中苯并(a)芘的浓度呈一致的变化,冬季研究区儿童尿中1-羟基芘的均值为0.86μmol·(mol肌酐)-1,对照区为0.63μmol·(mol肌酐)-1.冬季研究区儿童的终生超额危险度最高,达到2.32×10-4,接近不可接受水平.     

五羰基铁对正辛硫醇中硫的脱除研究

由于能源化石类燃料中均包含不同含量的硫化物,随着人类对这些能源的不断利用,引发的环境污染等问题日趋严重。利用五羰基铁(Fe(CO)5)分解条件温和可控,产物无杂质,分解后的Fe0可以与硫原子原位键合等特点。文章尝试采用Fe(CO)5作为脱硫剂在温和条件下进行脱除正辛硫醇的研究。实验结果表明:随着压强(101~5 067 kPa)、Fe(CO)5加入量(50~250μL)、时间(1~6 h)和温度(0~180℃)的不同,Fe(CO)5脱硫效率具有明显差异,在此基础上得到最佳脱硫条件及最高脱除效率:常压、Fe(CO)5加入量200μL(1.4 mmol)、t=2h和T=140℃时,达到最高硫容3 450 mg/L。分别采用IR、XPS手段对脱硫反应机理进行了探索。IR结果表明:在1 084 cm-1处为硫氧峰,在797 cm-1归属为铁氧峰。XPS结果表明:167.8 eV处可能为S4+,711.6 eV处可能为Fe3+。因此,正辛硫醇脱除的可能机理为巯基断裂,并在空气中与氧结合,最终形成S4+,而Fe(CO)5的Fe经过脱硫之后,在空气中不稳定,最终被氧化成Fe3+。     

西安表土中多环芳烃的污染特征及其来源解析

通过2008年采集西安不同功能区表层土壤样品,运用GC/MS质谱联用仪对美国EPA优控的16种多环芳烃(PAHs)进行定性、定量分析,来探讨西安表层土壤种多环芳烃的污染特征及其来源。结果表明,16种PAHs均被检出,西安表土中ΣPAHs浓度范围为125~9 057 ng/g,平均值为2 727 ng/g,主要以4~6环PAHs为主,共占总量的69%。PAHs的空间分布规律为:工业区>文教区>绿化区>郊区>农村。应用特征比值判断法可知,西安表土中PAHs主要是煤的不完全燃烧和机动车尾气排放所产生的混合源污染。借鉴国外土壤污染标准可知西安城区表土污染较为严重。     

亚硝酸盐型甲烷厌氧氧化微生物特性研究进展

亚硝酸盐型甲烷厌氧氧化(nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation,N-DAMO)是新近发现的生物反应,是偶联碳氮循环的关键环节,是环境领域和微生物领域的重大发现.N-DAMO的发现对于完善碳氮生物地球化学循环、丰富微生物学内容和研发新型生物脱氮除碳工艺均具有巨大的推动作用.催化N-DAMO反应的微生物为Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera(M.oxyfera),其隶属于一新发现的细菌门——NC10门.近年来,M.oxyfera的生物学研究取得了许多突破性进展,如初步探明了其个体形态特征、细胞化学组分特征、富集培养特征、生理生化特征及生态学特征,最突出的例子包括发现了M.oxyfera独特的细胞(星状)形态及特殊的脂肪酸(10Me C16∶1Δ7)组分等.最近,N-DAMO的机制研究方面也有了突破性进展:发现了地球上第4种生物产氧途径.目前认为,M.oxyfera具有内产氧功能,其首先将NO-2还原为NO,然后将2分子NO进行歧化反应生成N2和O2,最后利用生成的O2对甲烷进行氧化.本文系统地介绍了M.oxyfera各方面的微生物特性.     

浙江2001—2016年露天生物质燃烧排放污染物时空格局

生物质露天燃烧排放烟气颗粒物对大气环境、生态系统和人类健康有重要影响. 该研究基于MODIS - MCD64A1数据提取2001—2016年浙江省森林、灌丛、草地火灾面积和作物秸秆火点数据,结合植被类型、生物质密度和燃烧效率,运用排放因子法,估算16年间浙江区域露天生物质燃烧排放污染物总量. 结果表明,2001—2016年浙江区域露天生物质燃烧总量为58.78 mt,其中乔木、灌木、草本、水稻、小麦、玉米、豆类和油菜燃烧总量分别为202.18 kt、10.43 kt、300.10 t、46.66 mt、1.94 mt、2.45 mt、3.45 mt和4.06 mt. 森林和秸秆火次数分别为1783次和23257次,森林火灾多集中在浙江南部区域,秸秆火多集中在浙江北部区域. 森林和草地火灾次数主要集中在3月和10月,作物秸秆火点主要集中在5、7和8月份,占全年75%以上. 各污染物CO₂、CO、NO_x、VOCs、PM_2.5、TC、OC和EC排放总量分别为667.20、26.40、1.13、4.92、5.12、2.85、2.59和0.23 mt. 该研究揭示了浙江地区生物质露天燃烧排放污染物的时空变化,为深入揭示生物质燃烧对区域环境影响提供数据支持.