Into the Field: Naturalistic Education and the Future of Conservation

Abstract:  Some educational psychologists and researchers have argued that there are multiple ways of being intelligent. In the early 1980s, Howard Gardner presented a theory of multiple intelligences by proposing that humans can be described not by a single kind of intelligence, or intelligence quotient score, but rather by a variety of kinds of intelligence. This idea of considering multiple views of intelligence has helped educators look at intelligence from a less rigid, more expansive perspective. I considered how the relatively new concept of naturalistic intelligence, which is the cognitive potential to process information that is exhibited by expert naturalists, might influence the design of undergraduate biology curricula. Naturalistic intelligence can be fostered in undergraduate biology students by emphasizing the need for well-rounded scientific naturalists; developing curricula that involves students in outdoor inquiry-based projects; and helping students learn how to observe both the natural world and their own learning, skills that are essential to developing expert naturalistic knowledge. Professors, graduate students, and administrators can improve the naturalistic intelligence of undergraduate biology students by giving these students opportunities to be involved in outdoor research. Time spent outdoors alone and among people with expertise in natural history, ecology, and conservation biology will have important influences on the knowledge and skills biology undergraduates learn, the careers they pursue, and the contributions they make to conserving Earth's biodiversity.     

水解酸化-地下渗滤技术处理生活污水的工艺研究

为优化水解酸化-地下渗滤系统(Hydrolytic Acidifi-cation-Subsurface Wastewater Infiltration System,HA-SWIS)工艺参数,提高分散式污水处理效果,通过控制HA水力停留时间(Hydraulic Retention Time,HRT)、搅拌速度、SWIS水力负荷(Hydraulic Load Rate,HLR)及干湿比,考察系统COD、NH4+-N、TN和TP的去除效果。由于温度控制在18～22℃,忽略温度对COD、NH4+-N、TN和TP去除效果的影响。结果表明,随优化参数改变,HA-SWIS联合工艺去除污染物效果存在显著性差异(p <0. 05)。当HA搅拌速度为15 r/min、HRT为2 h时,SWIS的HLR为0. 08～0. 12 m3/(m2·d),干湿比为1∶1～2∶1时,联合工艺对COD、NH4+-N、TN和TP的去除效率最高,分别为92. 0%、78. 6%、65%和92. 7%。该装置占地小,基建费用低,无需药剂投入,每吨水处理费用0. 46元/t,处理水质可回用,满足景观水要求(GB/T 18921—2002),适用于管网不完善地区。     

The Austrian P budget as a basis for resource optimization

Phosphorus (P) is a finite and non-substitutable resource that is essential to sustaining high levels of agricultural productivity but is also responsible for environmental problems, e.g., eutrophication. Based on the methodology of Material Flow Analysis, this study attempts to quantify all relevant flows and stocks of phosphorus (P) in Austria, with a special focus on waste and wastewater management. The system is modeled with the software STAN, which considers data uncertainty and applies data reconciliation and error propagation. The main novelty of this work lies in the high level of detail at which flows and stocks have been quantified to achieve a deeper understanding of the system and to provide a sound basis for the evaluation of various management options. The budget confirms on the one hand the dependence of mineral P fertilizer application (2 kg cap⁻¹ yr⁻¹), but it highlights on the other hand considerable unexploited potential for improvement. For example, municipal sewage sludge (0.75 kg cap⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and meat and bone meal (0.65 kg cap⁻¹ yr⁻¹) could potentially substitute 70% of the total applied mineral P fertilizers. However, recycling rates are low for several P flows (e.g., 27% of municipal sewage sludge; 3% of meat and bone meal). Therefore, Austria is building up a remarkable P stock (2.1 kg P cap⁻¹ yr⁻¹), mainly due to accumulation in landfills (1.1 kg P cap⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and agricultural soils (0.48 kg P cap⁻¹ yr⁻¹).     

Synthesis of Poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) in Simulated Microgravity: An Investigation of Aeration Profiles in Shake Flask and Bioreactor

The microbial strain Azotobacter vinelandii UWD was grown under conditions of simulated microgravity in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Bioreactor. Bacterial growth in simulated microgravity differed significantly from that observed in conventional shake flask experiments: Cells tended to grow in a cluster-like pattern and polymer production started immediately after exposing them to conditions of simulated microgravity, and no lag time was observed. It was imperative to differentiate between the effects derived from microgravity and those imposed by the altered oxygen supply in the bioreactor. Aeration conditions were studied in both reactor types and a gas supply profile was developed for the bioreactor. This supply profile allowed for similar amounts of dissolved oxygen in the bioreactor and the shake flask in the initial stage of the fermentation and, therefore, for an evaluation of the effects of microgravity on biopolyester-producing bacteria. Since the optical density that is conventionally used as a measure for the cell growth could not be used due to the cluster-like growth pattern of the cells, it was determined that bacterial growth behavior in the bioreactor can be monitored through glucose or oxygen consumption.     

艰氮和限磷对活性污泥合成聚羟基烷酸的影响

聚羟基烷酸（PHA）是微生物在不平衡营养条件下贮存的一种胞内聚合物,限磷和限氮两种方式均有助于活性污泥中的混合菌群合成PHA,研究考察了两种不同方式下活性污泥合成PHA的情况。实验结果表明,当C：N为125时,活性污泥中PHA的合成量达到细胞干重的59％;当c：P为750时,活性污泥积累的最大PHA含量占细胞干重的37％,说明限氮和限磷两种方式对活性污泥合成PHA均有很大影响,且限氮方式更有效。     

有机质含量及其组分对洱海沉积物磷吸附-释放影响

研究了洱海不同湖区沉积物有机质含量、组分及其吸附-释放磷的特征,试图揭示有机质含量及组分对沉积物磷吸附-释放行为的影响机制.结果表明,洱海沉积物磷释放潜能随着沉积物中有机质(TOM)含量的增加而增大,而沉积物磷的最大释放速率(V释,max)和最大释放量(Q释,max)随沉积物中轻组有机质(LFOM)含量的增加而增大,释放平衡时间随活性有机质(ASOM)含量的增加而缩短,磷释放强度随LFOM占TOM比例的增加而减弱.沉积物磷的最大吸附速率(V吸,max)、最大吸附量(Q吸,max)和吸附效率随沉积物TOM含量的增加而增大,吸附平衡时间随TOM含量的增加而缩短,吸附强度随ASOM含量的增加而增强,吸附-解析平衡浓度(EPC0)随ASOM含量的增加而降低.沉积物磷释放后再吸附过程中磷释放的Q释,max和再吸附的V吸,max随TOM含量的增加而增大,当TOM含量相当时,则随沉积物ASOM含量的增加而降低,再吸附强度随沉积物中LFOM含量的增加而降低.沉积物磷吸附释放容量随有机质总量的增加而增加,吸附释放平衡浓度随有机质活性的增加而降低,释放强度和速率随有机质分解程度的增加而降低,吸附强度和速率随有机质活性的增加而增加.     

磷酸铵镁沉淀法脱除生活污水中氮磷的研究

针对低有机物高氨氮浓度的生活污水,经UASB处理后的厌氧废水,氮含量较高,磷基本未除去,处理出水效果欠佳的情况,提出磷酸铵铗沉淀法脱除生活污水中的磷以及部分氨氮。初步确定了影响磷酸铵镁沉淀反应因素为pH值,Mg^2＋：PO4^3-：NH4^＋,反应时间t。最优反应条件为：pH=8．5,Mg^2＋：PO4^3-：NH4^＋=1．2：1：1,反应时间t=1min。磷的去除率可高达94．0％,氨氮的去除率达71．5％,为低浓度的生活污水的后续生物处理创造了良好的条件。     

九龙江西陂库区沉积物甲藻孢囊萌发增殖研究

甲藻孢囊在甲藻的生命史中扮演着重要的角色,本文研究了九龙江西陂库区沉积物甲藻孢囊对温度和营养盐的萌发响应.结果显示,西陂库区沉积物中,甲藻门的丰度占微藻总丰度的1.9%~6.1%,主要为拟多甲藻属(Peridiniopsis);硅藻门的丰度占微藻总丰度的81.8%~91.8%,绿藻门的丰度占微藻总丰度的6.1%~13.2%,其他门类的藻类较少.实验模拟条件下,较高的温度能促进甲藻孢囊的萌发,甲藻孢囊在20℃有更高的萌发率,不同温度下甲藻孢囊最终的萌发率差别不大,高温能促进甲藻孢囊的萌发,同样也有助于蓝藻和绿藻的萌发增殖,从种间竞争角度来看,15℃温度相对较低但更有利于甲藻孢囊萌发并增殖占据优势.以单磷酸腺苷(Adenosine Monophosphate,AMP)作为有机磷源能促进孢囊的萌发,提高甲藻孢囊的萌发速率,但不能提高孢囊的最终萌发率.     

Estimation of Emissions of γ-Hexachlorcyclohexane from the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Ecosystem Using a Coupled Efficient Kalman Filter–Atmospheric Transport–Soil Model

An efficient linear Kalman filter has been combined with a coupled atmospheric transport and soil–air exchange model to determine organochlorine pesticides emissions on the regional scale. In this study, results of -HCH emissions from the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence ecosystem, estimated from the coupled model, are presented and discussed. A source receptor technique is used to identify a priori the locations of emission sources of -HCH, the emissions are then updated through a Kalman filtering procedure which minimizes the weighted difference between the predicted mixing ratios from the coupled model and the measured concentrations over the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence river region. Two experiments using the inverse algorithm are carried out. In the first experiment, the coupled atmospheric transport and soil–air exchange model is implemented to predict -HCH air and soil concentrations. Emissions are then updated every 12 days using the updated soil concentrations and emission factors. However, the updated emissions are not input into the coupled atmospheric transport and soil–air exchange model. On the other hand, in the second experiment the updated emissions are fed back to the coupled model, so that the model is reinitialized in each 12 days. The results from the inverse technique for the year 1995 have been compared with grided -HCH emission inventory in Canada, generated by emission factors. It is shown that the estimated emissions of -HCH are consistent with the measured emissions. It is found that the St. Lawrence valley has larger emissions of -HCH than the Great Lakes region, indicating an opposite distribution to the emission usage inventory, but in agreement with the measured -HCH concentration.     

蓝藻腐解对水中营养盐影响的模拟研究

为研究不同密度藻类腐解过程对水体营养盐再分配的影响,在太湖藻类聚集区采集沉积物柱状样进行室内加藻模拟实验,共设置B、C、D 3组加藻密度分别为2500、7500和15000 g·m-2的处理组,监测蓝藻腐解过程中上覆水体的溶解氧(DO)、氧化还原电位(Eh)、氨氮(NH_4~+-N)、总氮(TN)及总磷(TP)等理化指标的变化情况.结果表明,蓝藻腐解会使水体DO和Eh迅速下降,最终分别维持在0.1 mg·L~(-1)左右和-300~-400 mV之间,水体处于厌氧强还原状态;同时,厌氧强还原条件又加速了蓝藻死亡腐解过程,促进了藻体营养盐向上覆水的扩散,B、C、D组营养盐含量分别于实验第6、第10和第14 d达到峰值,TN平均增长速率分别为26.67、43.41和67.82 mg·L~(-1)·d~(-1),TP平均增长速率分别为3.30、5.53和8.35 mg·L~(-1)·d~(-1),NH_4~+-N浓度最大值分别为对照组的7、51、125倍,水体形成明显的氮磷污染负荷,且蓝藻衰亡导致的上覆水TN浓度升高持续时间较TP浓度升高持续时间要长.研究表明,蓝藻水华腐解过程中向上覆水体释放了大量的有机物和可溶性营养盐,降低了水体透明度,加剧了水体富营养化状况,诱发湖泛发生,也为蓝藻水华再次爆发提供了物质基础.