Demographic Analysis of Tree Colonization in a20-Year-Old Right-of-Way

Past tree colonization dynamics of a powerline-right-of-way (ROW) corridor in the Haut-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec was studied based on the present age distribution of its tree populations. This colonization study spans 20 years, from 1977 (ROW clearance) to 1996. The sampled quadrats were classified into six vegetation types. Tree colonization dynamics were interpreted in each type, and three distinct patterns were identified. (1) Communities adapted to acidic conditions were heavily colonized by Acer rubrum, at least for the last 12 years. (2) Communities adapted to mesic or to hydric conditions were more intensely colonized in the period 1985-1987 than in the following 9 years; this past success in tree colonization may have been caused by herbicide treatments, which could have facilitated tree establishment by damaging the herbaceous and shrub vegetation. (3) Cattail, vine-raspberry, and reed-dominated communities contained few tree individuals, with almost all trees establishing between 1979 and 1990; those three vegetation types appear as the most resistant to tree invasion in the ROW studied. This study supports the need for an integrated approach in ROW vegetation management, in which the selection of vegetation treatment methods would depend on the tree colonization dynamics in each vegetation type. Minimizing disturbances inflicted on ROW herbaceous and shrub covers should be the central strategy because disturbances jeopardize natural resistance to future tree invasion, except in communities adapted to acidic conditions where the existing vegetation does not prevent invasion by A. rubrum. Many trees are surviving the successive cutting operations by producing new sprouts each time, particularly in communities adapted to mesic and hydric conditions. In these cases, mechanical cutting should be replaced by a one-time stump-killing operation, to avoid repeated and unsuccessful treatments of the same individuals over time.     

Habitat segregation mediates predation by the benthic fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cottus gobio</Emphasis> on the exotic amphipod species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gammarus roeseli</Emphasis>

Predation is often considered as one of the most important biotic factor determining the success of exotic species. The freshwater amphipod Gammarus roeseli has widely colonized Western Europe, where it is frequently found in sympatry with the native species (Gammarus pulex). Previous laboratory experiments revealed that G. roeseli may have an advantage over G. pulex through differential predation by native fish (brown trout). Morphological anti-predator defences (spines) were found responsible for lower rates of predation on the invasive G. roeseli. Here, using both field surveys and laboratory experiments, we tested if a differential of predation exists with other fish predators naturally encountered by gammarids. The main predators present in our field site were nocturnal benthic feeders (mainly bullheads, Cottus gobio). Fish diet analysis showed that, compared to its global availability in the river, G. roeseli was less consumed than G. pulex. In the field, however, G. roeseli was found mainly in the aquatic vegetation whereas G. pulex was found in all habitat types. Laboratory experiments in microcosms revealed that G. roeseli was less prone to predation by C. gobio only when vegetation was present. Depending on the type of predator, the differential of predation could therefore be mediated by antipredator behaviour, and a better usage of refuges, rather than by morphological defences.     

纳米材料对藻细胞毒性效应及致毒机理

纳米材料因其独特的性质被广泛应用于生物医疗、光学工程、催化等领域。随着纳米材料的生产量逐年增大,越来越多的纳米粒子被释放到水生生态环境中,其生态毒性效应影响也备受人们的关注。本文根据纳米材料的分类总结了不同种类纳米材料对水生生态系统的初级生产者藻类的毒性效应,归纳了纳米材料影响藻类毒性大小的主要因素,如纳米材料的物理化学性质、水体性质和藻种等,并探讨了纳米材料对藻类的致毒机理,如金属离子溶出、氧化损伤和遮光效应等,最后总结展望了纳米毒理学研究的发展方向,以期为纳米材料对藻类的毒性研究提供一定的理论依据。     

微塑料对环境中有机污染物吸附解吸的研究进展

微塑料已成为新的全球性环境污染问题。作为强吸附剂,微塑料可以吸附共存的有机污染物,进而改变其环境行为和毒性;也可以通过解吸作用促进污染物在不同介质中的迁移。因而,微塑料与有机污染物的相互作用强度和机理是全面评估两者的环境风险和深度研究微塑料毒性机制的必要信息。目前微塑料研究处于快速发展的起始阶段,加之微塑料本身成分、粒径、表面风化情况的复杂性及共存有机污染物的多样性使两者的相互作用十分复杂,亟需理清微塑料吸附解吸作用的影响因素和相关机制。因而,本文详细综述了微塑料对有机污染物吸附解吸作用的研究进展,并着重从微塑料性质(成分、粒径和表面风化)、有机污染物性质和水环境介质性质方面探讨了吸附的影响因素和相互作用机制,希望为微塑料吸附有机污染物及吸附的后续影响研究提供借鉴与参考。     

光电催化氧化处理中各类活性物质的氧化机理

为了深入研究其中各类活性物质氧化机理,以难降解的3,4-二甲基苯胺（3,4-DMA）废水作为研究对象,通过研究不同抑制剂条件下的动力学规律,并以贡献度（k_f/K）来量化各活性物质的作用效果,得出氯类活性物质的贡献度为89.03%,羟基自由基（·OH）的贡献度为6.24%,而空穴和阳极直接氧化贡献度可以忽略.采用三聚氰胺法、二甲亚砜（DMSO）法和DPD法定性定量测定了空穴、·OH和自由氯的含量,结果表明：较高浓度的氯化钠降低了空穴和·OH的贡献度;·OH的产量符合零级动力学规律,其产生速率为0.106mg/（L·min）;自由氯的累积浓度分为3个阶段,第3阶段累积速率为0.159mg/（L·min）.自由氯仅占氯类活性物质氧化体系的一小部分,其他含氯氧化物质和氯类自由基的氧化占重要地位.通过GC-MS、UV-vis和TOC检测,发现在反应10.0min前,主要通过氯类活性物质对侧链的快速攻击,使3,4-DMA转化为苯甲醛等易分解的苯环类物质;10.0min后,主要通过·OH对苯环大π键的攻击,使苯环类物质转化为小分子物质,然后继续被·OH氧化直到矿化.     

Evaluating unintended consequences of intentional species introductions and eradications for improved conservation management

Increasingly intensive strategies to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function are being deployed in response to global anthropogenic threats, including intentionally introducing and eradicating species via assisted migration, rewilding, biological control, invasive species eradications, and gene drives. These actions are highly contentious because of their potential for unintended consequences. We conducted a global literature review of these conservation actions to quantify how often unintended outcomes occur and to elucidate their underlying causes. To evaluate conservation outcomes, we developed a community assessment framework for systematically mapping the range of possible interaction types for 111 case studies. Applying this tool, we quantified the number of interaction types considered in each study and documented the nature and strength of intended and unintended outcomes. Intended outcomes were reported in 51% of cases, a combination of intended outcomes and unintended outcomes in 26%, and strictly unintended outcomes in 10%. Hence, unintended outcomes were reported in 36% of all cases evaluated. In evaluating overall conservations outcomes (weighing intended vs. unintended effects), some unintended effects were fairly innocuous relative to the conservation objective, whereas others resulted in serious unintended consequences in recipient communities. Studies that assessed a greater number of community interactions with the target species reported unintended outcomes more often, suggesting that unintended consequences may be underreported due to insufficient vetting. Most reported unintended outcomes arose from direct effects (68%) or simple density-mediated or indirect effects (25%) linked to the target species. Only a few documented cases arose from more complex interaction pathways (7%). Therefore, most unintended outcomes involved simple interactions that could be predicted and mitigated through more formal vetting. Our community assessment framework provides a tool for screening future conservation actions by mapping the recipient community interaction web to identify and mitigate unintended outcomes from intentional species introductions and eradications for conservation.     

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of perfluoroalkyl substances in the human body

Currently, there are limited data on the levels of perfluoroalkyl substances other than perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid in the human body. Most of this information has been extracted from biological monitoring of plasma while the occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances in other human tissues is rarely studied. The objective of the present study was to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to assess the concentration of perfluoroalkyl substances in human tissues, based on an existing model previously validated for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid. Experimental data on concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in human tissues from individuals in Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain) were used to estimate the values of some distribution and elimination parameters needed for the simulation. No significant correlations were found between these parameters and the chain lengths. The model was finally validated for five perfluoroalkyl substances.     

Removal of 17β-estradiol in laccase catalyzed treatment processes

The removal of 17β-estradiol （E2） in laccase catalyzed oxidative coupling processes was systematically studied in this work. We focused on the influence of pH and natural organic matter （NOM） on the performance of the enzymatic treatment processes. It was found that the optimal pH for E2 removal was between 4 and 6. The removal of E2 was slightly inhibited in the presence of NOM. Enzymatic transformation of E2 was second-order in kinetics with first-order to both the concentrations of the enzyme and contaminant. Mass spectrum （MS） analysis suggested that coupling products were formed through radical-radical coupling mechanism. The results of this study demonstrated that laccase catalyzed oxidative coupling process could potentially serve as a treatment strategy to control steroid estrogens.     

挺水植物化感作用抑制藻类生长的机理与应用

根据国内外挺水植物化感作用抑制藻类的研究,对菖蒲等15科20种挺水植物化感抑制水华鱼腥藻等18种水华藻类的作用予以评述;归纳了挺水植物化感作用在影响藻细胞亚显微结构、酶体系活性、呼吸作用、光合作用、细胞膜和细胞内小分子物质的含量等6方面的抑制藻类生长的机理;对移植栽种植物共培养、从植物中提取化感物质和直接施加化感物质等3种类型抑制藻类的应用方式进行概述;结合当前中国水华频发、抑藻和除藻任务繁重的现状,指出存在的主要问题并提出今后研究和应用化感作用抑制藻类的展望。     

海南鹦哥岭的外来植物与生态环境影响评价

通过对鹦哥岭外来植物的调查,以及外来植物区系的种类组成、原产地、生长型、生境和危害程度等的分析,阐明鹦哥岭的外来植物现状及其对当地生态环境的影响。分析表明:共有53种外来植物,约占鹦哥岭种子植物总数的2.73%,主要来自新大陆热带地区(35种)。其中草本(36种)和灌木(13种)占优势,藤本(3种)和小乔木(2种)相对不明显。外来种对鹦哥岭自然生态系统的影响较小,对人为干扰严重的生态系统影响较大。最后对外来植物进行评估,并提出防控措施。