Nest-size variation reflecting anti-predator strategies in social spider mites of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Stigmaeopsis</Emphasis> (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The social spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) of Stigmaeopsis weave dense nests on the underside of host leaves. Four species occur on the leaves of bamboo in Japan: Stigmaeopsis longus, S. celarius, S. takahashii and S. saharai. We initially reconfirmed the occurrence of distinct variation in nest size among the species. Based on the hypothesis that this variation plays a role in protecting the spider mites from predators, we looked at the behavior of the natural enemies that occur on the host plants along with members of Stigmaeopsis. We found considerable variation in the ability of nests to protect the spider-mite eggs. The smallest nests protected the eggs against three predators, whereas the largest nests protected the eggs against only one predator species. So, decreases in nest size increased egg defense. Thus we concluded that nest-size variation reflects a strategy for reducing predation.Communicated by D. Gwynne     

重金属和多环芳烃复合污染对土壤酶活性的影响及定量表征

以土壤脲酶和脱氢酶为探针物质，室内培养条件下较为系统地研究了重金属（Cd、Zn、Pb）和多环芳烃（菲、荧蒽、苯并a芘）复合污染对土壤酶活性的影响及其定量表征、结果表明，复合投加上述污染物能使土壤酶活性受到不同程度的抑制，其中，脱氢酶最为敏感，其活性是表征重金属和多环芳烃复合污染的一项重要的参考指标．对复合污染模型的建立与分析表明，土壤环境中，重金属和多环芳烃复合污染的类型和强度与污染物的浓度和复合污染时间密切相关．影响土壤脲酶活性的主要因子依次为：Cd〉Zn与苯并a芘的交互作用〉Zn〉Pb〉Zn和菲的交互作用，影响土壤脱氢酶活性的主要因子依次为：Cd和Zn的交互作用〉Cd〉Zn〉苯并a芘〉Cd和菲的交互作用，其中，Zn和苯并a芘相互作用对脲酶活性以及Cd和Zn交互作用对脱氢酶活性的影响均表现为拮抗作用，Zn和菲，Cd和菲之间的交互作用，无论是对脲酶还是脱氢酶均表现为协同作用，图1表3参18     

The use of marked point processes in ecological and environmental forest studies

The paper presents new applications of marked point processes in forestry. The tools are pair correlation functions and mark connection functions. Studies of the structures of even-aged pine forests in Siberia show a tendency of development from clustering in young stands towards random distribution in elder stands for the trunk positions. The tree tops as the movable parts of trees are still more regular in old forests. Furthermore, in Siberian fir forests interesting tendencies of attraction between members of several tree classes are detected. Finally, studies of the distribution of damaged trees in some central European forests show that there the damaged trees appear as singletons; dominating trees are preferentially damaged.     

Assessing competition between Steller sea lions and the commercial groundfishery in Alaska: A bioenergetics modelling approach

In the last three decades the western stock of the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) has declined by more than 85%. Nutritional stress resulting in increased juvenile mortality is one of the leading hypotheses to account for this decline. Competition between Steller sea lions and the commercial groundfishery for walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) has been proposed as a mechanism underlying the nutritional stress. In order to examine the competition component of the nutritional stress hypothesis, we developed a bioenergetics-based model to project the population trends of Steller sea lions under various scenarios of continued groundfish harvest. Annual energy budgets were calculated for the Gulf of Alaska population of Steller sea lions, and compared with projected available energy from walleye pollock under a variety of harvest scenarios. Model simulations produced 50-year Steller sea lion population projections consistent with current trends, as well as with published projections for stable and increasing populations from stable age distribution life table models. Model simulations were unable to produce energy deficits sufficient to account for the decline in Steller sea lions, but do suggest areas where existing data need supplementing.     

Impact of emission reduction on aerosol-radiation interaction during heavy pollution periods over Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in China

In December 2015, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region experienced several episodes of heavy air pollution. The government immediately issued emergency control measures to reduce the pollution, which provided a good opportunity to explore the impact of emission reduction on aerosol-radiation interaction. In this study, four tests were conducted, including the base1 simulation with emission reduction and aerosol-radiation interaction on, the base2 simulation with emission reduction and aerosol-radiation interaction off, the scenario1 simulation without emission reduction and aerosol-radiation interaction on and the scenario2 simulation without emission reduction and aerosol-radiation interaction off. We find that the aerosol-radiation interaction decreased the downward shortwave radiation and the temperature at 2 m, reduced the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) in the region, and increased the relative humidity at 2 m, which is favorable for pollution accumulation. Our results revealed that the interaction effect due to emission reductions increased downward shortwave radiation by an average of 0–5 W/m², leading to increase in surface temperature of 0–0.05°C, increase in the daytime mean PBL high of 0–8 m, and decrease in daytime mean relative humidity at 2 m of 0.5%. We found that if there were aerosol-radiation interaction, it would enhance the effectiveness of emission control measures on air pollution control. The enhance of PM_2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 µm), PM₁₀ (particulate matter less than 10 µm), and NO₂ (nitrogen dioxide) emission reduction effects reached 7.62%, 6.90%, 11.62%, respectively, over this region.     

沈阳大气污染物与气象因素对呼吸疾病门诊数的影响

利用时间序列的半参数广义相加模型,分析沈阳市2015年12月~2016年12月整个观测期间和污染期间大气污染物与气象因素及其交互作用对呼吸系统疾病门诊就诊人数的影响.结果表明：无论是全人群、不同性别、还是不同年龄人群中,HONO对门诊人数的影响均非常显著.最佳滞后时间下,PM₁₀、PM_2.5、SO₂、NO₂、HONO和NH₃的浓度每增加10μg/m³或1个IQR,对应的呼吸系统疾病日门诊人数增加百分比（ER）分别为1.29%（1.18%~1.4%）,1.31%（1.2%~1.43%）,3.28%（3.07%~3.50%）,5.26%（4.91%~5.61%）,12.89%（4.45%~22.01%）和11.09%（9.84%~12.36%）.HONO、NH₃和PM_2.5对女性的影响远比对男性的影响大,污染日当日对门诊量的影响最大;PM_2.5对≥65岁的老人影响大;NH₃、HONO和SO₂对15~65岁人群影响大.污染天气条件下HONO和NO₂对门诊人数影响最高,均为污染日当日对门诊量的影响最大.沙尘天气Ca²⁺等土壤性离子影响最大.多污染物模型中,不同污染物对呼吸疾病的影响具有协同作用或拮抗作用.气温对各呼吸疾病的影响最强,低温和高污染物浓度对呼吸系统疾病门诊人数的影响有交互作用.     

臭氧和干旱交互作用对杨树叶片抗氧化酶活性的影响

地表臭氧(O_3)污染和干旱成为严重威胁植物正常生长的主要环境胁迫因子.本文研究3种O_3浓度(CF:过滤空气O_3;NF:未经过滤的环境空气;NF40:NF+40 nmol·mol-1O_3)和2种水分处理(充分灌溉;干旱,60%灌溉)及其交互作用对敏感性杨树品种‘546’(Populus deltoids cv.55/56×P.deltoides cv.Imperial)叶片饱和光合速率、抗氧化酶活性及可溶性蛋白含量的影响.结果表明,O_3浓度升高显著降低饱和光合速率,干旱处理对饱和光合速率的影响不显著,O_3和干旱的交互作用显著.干旱显著降低过氧化氢酶(CAT)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,且随着处理时间的延长CAT和SOD活性降低显著.处理时间的延长也显著降低抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性,增加了可溶性蛋白含量.过氧化物酶(POD)不受O_3、干旱及O_3与干旱交互作用的显著影响.O_3处理以及O_3与干旱的交互作用均未对抗氧化酶活性产生显著影响.该研究结果为应对环境变化背景下O_3浓度升高与干旱加剧对杨树的伤害提供科学依据.     

Field scale interaction and nutrient exchange between surface water and shallow groundwater in the Baiyang Lake region, North China Plain

Fertilizer input for agricultural food production, as well as domestic and industrial surface water pollutants in the North China Plain, increases pressures on locally scarce and vulnerable water resources. In order to: (a) understand pollutant exchange between surface water and groundwater, (b) quantify nutrient loadings, and (c) identify major nutrient removal pathways by using qualitative and quantitative methods, including the geochemical model PHREEQC, a one-year study at a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) double cropping system in the Baiyang Lake area in Hebei Province, China, was undertaken. The study showed a high influence of low-quality surface water on the shallow aquifer. Major inflowing pollutants into the aquifer were ammonium and nitrate via inflow from the adjacent Fu River (up to 29.8 mg/L NH₄-N and 6.8 mg/L NO₃-N), as well as nitrate via vertical transport from the field surface (up to 134.8 mg/L NO₃-N in soil water). Results from a conceptual model show an excess nitrogen input of about 320 kg/ha/a. Nevertheless, both nitrogen species were only detected at low concentrations in shallow groundwater, averaging at 3.6 mg/L NH₄-N and 1.8 mg/L NO₃-N. Measurement results supported by PHREEQC-modeling indicated cation exchange, denitrification, and anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled with partial denitrification as major nitrogen removal pathways. Despite this current removal capacity, the excessive nitrogen fertilization may pose a future threat to groundwater quality. Surface water quality improvements are therefore recommended in conjunction with simultaneous monitoring of nitrate in the aquifer, and reduced agricultural N-inputs should be considered.