Linking trophic positions and flow structure constraints in ecological networks: Energy transfer efficiency or topology effect?

In the present work we investigate whether the distribution of energy flows in ecosystems responds to criteria of trophic organization. We analyzed weighted and unweighted food webs estimating, for each node, trophic position (TP), Shannon's index of inflow diversity (H) and individual contribution to the whole average mutual information (AMI). Finally, we performed the same analysis on simulated webs that were constructed using the following criteria: (a) preserving topology and varying link strength; (b) modifying position of links and their intensities.     

Impact of bias in predicted height on tree volume estimation: A case-study of intrinsic nonlinearity

Bias originating from intrinsic nonlinearity in nonlinear models is caused by excess curvature in the solution locus of parameter estimates derived from least squares procedures. Bias due to intrinsic nonlinearity varies according to sample size as well as model specification. This paper analyses consequences of fractionising data into smaller sub-samples. Based on measurements of stem diameter and total tree height from the first Danish national forest inventory, it is demonstrated how data splitting at random may cause the intrinsic nonlinear curvature to exceed the critical F-value. Application of a Taylor-series expansion shows that, for all practical purposes, the bias in predictions of individual tree volume (based on stem diameter and tree height) is negligible. To minimize residual variance, intrinsic curvature and, in turn, prediction bias, it is recommended that data be stratified according to site conditions, stand characteristics or other relevant criteria. Finally, the preferred model should exhibit close-to-linear behaviour.     

Rarefaction and nonrandom spatial dispersion patterns

Rarefaction estimates how many species are expected in a random sample of individuals from a larger collection and allows meaningful comparisons among collections of different sizes. It assumes random spatial dispersion. However, two common dispersion patterns, within-species clumping and segregation among species, can cause rarefaction to overestimate the species richness of a smaller continuous area. We use field studies and computer simulations to determine (1) how robust rarefaction is to nonrandom spatial dispersion and (2) whether simple measures of spatial autocorrelation can predict the bias in rarefaction estimates. Rarefaction does not estimate species richness accurately for many communities, especially at small sample sizes. Measures of spatial autocorrelation of the more abundant species do not reliably predict amount of bias. Survey sites should be standardized to equal-sized areas before sampling. When sites are of equal area but differ in number of individuals sampled, rarefaction can standardize collections. When communities are sampled from different-sized areas, the mean and confidence intervals of species accumulation curves allow more meaningful comparisons among sites. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Reproductive status influences group size and persistence of bonds in male plains zebra (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Equus burchelli</Emphasis>)

Animal groups arise from individuals’ choices about the number, characteristics, and identity of associates. Individuals make these choices to gain benefits from their associations. As the needs of an individual change with its phenotype, so too we expect the nature of its associations to vary. In this paper, we investigate how the social priorities of male plains zebra (Equus burchelli) depend on reproductive state. An adult male is either a bachelor, and lacking mating access, or a stallion defending a harem. Multiple harems and bachelor males aggregate in larger herds. Herds frequently split and merge, affording males opportunities to change associates. Over a 4-year period, we sampled the herd associations in a population of 500–700 zebras. To isolate the effects of reproductive state on male social behavior, we account for potential confounding factors: changes in population size, grouping tendencies, and sampling intensity. We develop a generally applicable permutation procedure, which allows us to test the null hypothesis that social behavior is independent of male status. Averaging over all individuals in the population, we find that a typical bachelor is found in herds containing significantly more adults, bachelors, and stallions than the herds of a typical stallion. Further, bachelors’ bonds with each other are more persistent over time than those among stallions. These results suggest that bachelors form cohesive cliques, in which we may expect cooperative behaviors to develop. Stallion–stallion associations are more diffuse, and less conducive to long-term cooperation. This contribution is part of the special issue “Social Networks: new perspectives” (Guest Editors: J. Krause, D. Lusseau and R. James).     

一种新型旋风气幕式排风罩数值模拟研究

利用Fluent计算流体力学软件对新型旋风气幕式排风罩工作流场及有害物分布进行了数值模拟,并与传统排风罩进行了对比。结果表明:旋转射流屏蔽作用下的抽吸流场具有中部压力较低和提高抽吸能力的作用;新型旋风气幕式排风罩不仅能有效地控制有害物扩散,而且可以实现远距离捕集有害物及以较小的排风速度排放有害物。     

广州市室内尘土中多溴联苯醚的分布特点及来源

随机采集了广州市46个家庭和12个办公室内尘土样品,同时采集了17个室外尘土样品、2个电视机和2个电脑尘土样品并分析了室内尘土中多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的含量、单体分布及来源.结果表明,家庭尘土中∑10PBDEs(BDE28,47,66,85,99,100,153,154,183,209之和)的含量为 564.3~9654ng/g,中值和均值分别为 2686,3407ng/g;办公室尘土中∑10PBDEs 的含量为 1737~4408ng/g,中值和均值分别为3133,3179ng/g.室内尘土中PBDEs的最主要单体为BDE209,分别占家庭尘土和办公室尘土∑10PBDEs的97.4%和99.0%.BDE47、99和183在室内尘土中含量也较高.大多数室内尘土中∑10PBDEs的含量高于室外,说明室内可能有重要的PBDEs释放源.室内尘土中PBDEs的主要工业品来源为十溴联苯醚,五溴联苯醚次之,八溴联苯醚较少.     

三江平原小叶章湿地土壤硫的组成与垂直分布

以三江平原小叶章湿地为对象,对比研究了典型草甸小叶章湿地和沼泽化草甸小叶章湿地土壤硫的组成与垂直分布特征.结果表明,在2种小叶章湿地类型中,土壤总硫含量分别为303.39～520.83和303.74～1 219.81 mg·kg-1,平均值为391.62和513.03 mg·kg-1,均低于世界平均土壤硫含量(700 mg·kg-1).硫主要富集在土壤表层,且主要以有机硫形式存在,有机硫占总硫比例约为90%,而在有机硫中,则以碳键硫所占比例最大,占总硫比例分别为45.34%和37.24%.沼泽化草甸小叶章湿地土壤各形态硫含量及其变异性均高于典型草甸小叶章湿地.在2种湿地土壤中各形态硫都具有明显的垂直分布特征和变异性.土壤有机质含量是影响硫含量的重要因素,同时也受到土壤各粒级含量的影响,并且土壤各形态硫含量之间存在一定的相关关系.     

三峡库区太阳能资源基本特征及其演变

利用1961-2007年的日照时数建模计算了三峡库区的太阳辐射,在此基础上对库区的太阳能资源作了全面分析和评价。结果表明：库区年总辐射量介于3200～4400MJ/m²,与德国等太阳能利用大国相当;“下游多,上游少”是资源空间分布的基本特征,且在秋、冬季差异更为明显;资源的年变化具有“夏大冬小”的特点,同时呈典型“双峰结构”,最大和次大峰值分别出现在8月和5月;库区上游太阳能季节差异大,而中、下游四季差异相对较小;库区太阳辐射以散射辐射为主（平均为64%）,上游尤其明显;1961-2007年,资源量与直射比均呈明显下降趋势,且在夏、冬季下降尤为显著,分析表明这与轻雾日数和霾日数的增加有关;自20世纪90年代初起,资源量开始回升,有利于库区太阳能的开发利用。     

Fluoride distribution in groundwater and survey of dental fluorosis among school children in the villages of the Jhajjar District of Haryana,India

Fluoride concentration of groundwater reserves occurs in many places in the world. A critical area for such contamination in India is alluvial soil of the plain region, consisting of five blocks (Jhajjar, Bahadurgarh, Beri, Matanhail, and Sahalawas) of the Jhajjar District adjacent to the National Capital Territory of India, New Delhi. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between water fluoride levels and prevalence of dental fluorosis among school children of the Jhajjar District of Haryana, India. The fluoride content in underground drinking water sources was found to vary in villages. Hence, the villages were categorized as high-fluoride villages (1.52–4.0 mg F/l) and low/normal-fluoride villages (0.30–1.0 mg F/l). The source of dental fluorosis data was school-going children (7–15 years) showing different stages and types of fluorosis who were permanent resident of these villages. The fraction of dental fluorosis-affected children varied from 30% to 94.85% in the high-fluoride villages and from 8.80% to 28.20% in the low/normal-fluoride villages. The results of the present study revealed that there existed a significant positive correlation between fluoride concentration in drinking water and dental fluorosis in high-fluoride villages (r = 0.508; p < 0.001) and insignificant correlation in low-fluoride villages.     

煤矸石中铅、铬、镉的溶出性能

以滕南煤田某煤矿风化煤矸石为研究对象,应用主成分分析法分析了煤矸石粒径对Pb,Cr,Cd溶出浓度的影响,应用回归分析法分析了浸溶时间与Pb,Cr,Cd溶出浓度的关系特征。实验结果表明：模拟湿地浸溶条件下,煤矸石中Pb,Cd,Cr溶出浓度均超出或接近Ⅲ类水体水质标准,对水环境存在污染风险;煤矸石粒径对Pb,Cd,Cr溶出浓度存在影响,粒径越小则Pb、Cr、Cd溶出浓度越大,粒径小于8.0 cm的煤矸石浸溶贡献较大。建立了表征Pb,Cr,Cd溶出浓度与浸溶时间对数（以10为底）关系的一元三次多项式回归方程,经检验均具有显著性。