廊道效应与城市景观结构

根据景观学原理，本文将城市廊道分为两类，人工廊道与自然廊道，并着重分析城市廊道的场效应，研究表明，廊道效应产生的实质在于廊道效益是距离的函数，因而可用指数衰减曲线表示，从理论上分析，人工廊道与自然廊道场效应的分界点即综合效益极大点，自然廊道在两条人工廊之间存在的合理依据是：至少存在两个分别与两条指数衰减曲线相交的综合效益极值点。根据廊道效应原 文对北京古代传统规划格局进行分析，发生在天人鸽 与择中     

A Natural Experiment on the Impact of Overabundant Deer on Forest Invertebrates

Abstract:  In large parts of North America and Europe, deer overabundance threatens forest plant diversity. Few researchers have examined its effects on invertebrate assemblages. In a natural experiment on Haida Gwaii (British Columbia, Canada), where Sitka black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis ) were introduced, we compared islands with no deer, with deer for fewer than 20 years, and with deer for more than 50 years. We sampled invertebrates in three habitat categories: forest edge vegetation below the browse line, forest interior vegetation below the browse line, and forest interior litter. In forest edge vegetation, invertebrate abundance and species density decreased with increasing length of browsing history. In forest interior vegetation, decrease was significant only on islands with more than 50 years of browsing. Insect abundance in the vegetation decreased eightfold and species density sixfold on islands browsed for more than 50 years compared with islands without deer. Primary consumers were most affected. Invertebrates from the litter showed little or no variation related to browsing history. We attributed the difference between vegetation-dwelling and litter-dwelling invertebrates to differences in the effect of browsing on their habitat. In the layer below the browse line deer progressively removed the habitat. The extent of litter habitat was not affected, but its quality changed. We recommend more attention be given to the effect of overabundant ungulates on forest invertebrate conservation with a focus on edge and understory vegetation in addition to litter habitat.     

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯对KM小鼠神经行为学的影响及芒果苷的拮抗作用

探究邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)对小鼠神经行为学影响的剂量-反应关系,以及芒果苷(MAG)的拮抗作用。36只性成熟雄性KM小鼠随机分为4组:(1)生理盐水组,(2) 5 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组,(3) 25 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组,(4)125 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组,实验周期28d。应用国际通用的高架十字迷宫(EPM)和旷场实验(OFT)检测DBP暴露后KM小鼠的神经行为学变化;通过脑组织病理学切片,检测KM小鼠的靶组织脑海马CA1区病理变化;通过测定活性氧(ROS)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)、丙二醛(MDA)、DNA-蛋白质交联系数(DPC),检测KM小鼠的脑海马组织氧化损伤水平。以MAG作为抗氧化剂,36只KM小鼠随机分为4组:(1)生理盐水组,(2) 50 mg·kg~(-1)MAG组;(3) 125 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组;(4) MAG+DBP组,进行神经行为测试,同时评估各组KM小鼠脑海马组织氧化损伤。与对照组比较,随着DBP暴露剂量的升高,125 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组KM小鼠进入开放臂次数减少,停留时间偏短,运动距离较短,运动轨迹偏离中央区域;脑海马CA1区锥体神经细胞排列紊乱,细胞形态肿胀变形,树突缩短甚至消失;且脑系数下降,ROS、MDA含量及DPC系数逐渐上升,GSH含量逐渐降低,且差异均有统计学意义(P0.05, P0.01);加入拮抗剂MAG处理后,与125 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组比较,MAG+DBP组小鼠神经行为学出现一定程度的缓解,脑海马CA1区病理程度减轻,脑系数上升,ROS、MDA含量及DPC系数出现一定程度的下降,GSH含量出现一定程度的上升,且差异均有统计学意义(P0.05, P0.01)。DBP所致小鼠的神经行为学变化可能与脑海马组织的氧化损伤有关; MAG可通过降低小鼠脑组织氧化应激水平,对DBP暴露所致的小鼠神经行为学影响起到一定的保护作用。     

The Behaviour of Selenium in Geological Processes

Selenium contents were analyzed from a total of 244 soil samples collected over different rock types at a sampling density of one sample per 4km² around Geita gold mining areas, Northwestern Tanzania. Comparisons using literature survey contents of selenium in geological materials and some implications on the selenium in soils are compiled and discussed. Most selenium occurs as simple selenides in small quantities in low temperature hydrothermal deposits devoid of sulphur. It has been observed that to a large extent selenium content is increased more than most trace elements in the upper parts of the Earth perhaps through extraterrestrial deposition. In deep-seated rocks selenium is associated with sulphur but being volatile selenium and sulphur do not behave according to the crystallochemical law. Due to the higher stability of S⁶⁺, Se⁴⁺ and Se⁰ separate during migration. Thus, selenium is especially found in deep-seated plutonic rocks where large magma bodies cooled slowly and sulphur is available to precipitate sulphides. Selenium, which occurs with sulphides, is inhomogeneously deposited into continental margins. It is increased during magmatic differentiation and is highest in basic rocks. In magmatic and metamorphic conditions, selenium is found in the crystal structures of sulphides while in pneumatolytic and hydrothermal processes, it is relatively enriched into the late differentiates compared to sulphur. In metamorphic rocks selenium is more widely distributed. Selenium content in soils in the investigated area varies from (0.3–0.5gg^–1) in laterite and in black cotton soil 0.4gg^–1. Of all volcanic rocks selenium is highest in volcanogenic rocks especially the basalts. Surface waters are enriched in selenium, which they leach from volcanic materials. Selenium in sediments containing clay and organic matter is elevated but the content decreases with increased metamorphism. Selenium in volcanic areas can be used as a pathfinder in prospecting for volcanogenic ore deposits. S/Se ratios are distinct in different rock types and can thus be used to elucidate the origin of rocks, ores, and sediments.     

Leaching of aluminium from cookwares -- a review

Concern over the possible relation between environmental aluminium exposure and Alzheimer's disease has prompted studies of all forms of human intake of this element including that from foods. Aluminium cookware, apart from other sources of dietary aluminium, is considered to be a potential source of this metal to human beings. Various research groups have carried out aluminium leaching experiments with food, beverages and water under different experimental conditions modified by varying the level of pH, chloride, fluoride, citrate, acetate etc. The results reported by different workers show marked discrepancies in levels of leached aluminum. The apparent reason for such discrepancy in levels of aluminum leached can be attributed to factors such as non-systematic and non-uniform experimental designs, non-standard conditions maintained during the experiments and choice of method for aluminium analysis. In order to assess accurately the contribution of aluminium ingestion by human beings through aluminium cookware, the present review emphasises the need of i) standard size aluminium plates obtained from the same lot for one set of experimentations; ii) real life cooking conditions to highlight the role of various complexing species present in food e.g. citrate, oxalate, acetate, tartrate etc.; iii) role of chemistry of aluminium in presence of acidic, basic and neutral cooking medium and iv) strict analytical control in the estimation of aluminium. Results of a systematic study by the authors conducted on the abovementioned lines are also described.     

Long-Term Landscape Change and Bird Abundance in Amazonian Rainforest Fragments

Abstract:  The rainforests of the Amazon basin are being cut by humans at a rate >20,000 km²/year, leading to smaller and more isolated patches of forest, with remaining fragments often in the range of 1–100 ha. We analyzed samples of understory birds collected over 20 years from a standardized mist-netting program in 1– to 100-ha rainforest fragments in a dynamic Amazonian landscape near Manaus, Brazil. Across bird guilds, the condition of second growth immediately surrounding fragments was often as important as fragment size or local forest cover in explaining variation in abundance. Some fragments surrounded by 100 m of open pasture showed reductions in insectivorous bird abundance of over 95%, even in landscapes dominated by continuous forest and old second growth. These extreme reductions may be typical throughout Amazonia in small (≤10 ha), isolated fragments of rainforest. Abundance for some guilds returned to preisolation levels in 10- and 100-ha fragments connected to continuous forest by 20-year-old second growth. Our results show that the consequences of Amazonian forest loss cannot be accurately described without explicit consideration of vegetation dynamics in matrix habitat. Any dichotomous classification of the landscape into "forest" and "nonforest" misses essential information about the matrix.     

土壤溶解有机碳的研究进展

系统地综述了DOC的来源、组成、性质、影响因素、环境效应及测定方法等。尽管关于土壤DOC的研究目前还不完善,至今对DOC的组成、性质等问题都不是很清楚,但现有的研究已经表明,DOC是土壤圈中一种非常活跃的化学物质,它对土壤中化学物质的溶解、吸附、解吸、迁移和毒性等行为均有显著的影响。     

Effects of elevated yolk testosterone levels on survival, growth and immunity of male and female yellow-legged gull chicks

Androgen hormones of maternal origin contained in the eggs of avian species are considered to have positive effects on offspring characteristics and performance. However, negative consequences have also been reported, suggesting that mothers may experience a trade-off between beneficial and detrimental effects of egg androgens to offspring fitness. We studied the effects of elevated yolk testosterone (T) concentration on survival, development and phenotype of male and female yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) chicks by injecting egg yolks with physiological doses of the hormone. Elevated yolk T resulted in a male-biased post-hatching sex ratio, T-treated clutches producing a greater proportion of males compared to control ones at day 4 post-hatching, likely resulting from a reduction of female embryonic survival, whereas no effect of hormone treatment on hatching success or short-term chick survival was observed. In addition, T depressed post-hatching body mass in both sexes but had no effects on the intensity of the cell-mediated immune response or skeletal growth. No sex differences in egg characteristics or chick phenotype were detected. Time to hatching was not affected by T, but females originating from first laid eggs hatched earlier than males of the same laying order, independently of hormone treatment. However, the implications of sex differences in hatching times are unclear in the study species. Taken together, our results suggest that female yellow-legged gulls may be constrained in transferring androgens to their eggs by negative consequences on the viability of female offspring and growth of chicks of the two sexes.     

Female house martins (Delichon urbica) reduce egg androgen deposition in response to a challenge of their immune system

Female birds deposit in the yolks of eggs substantial amounts of androgens, such as testosterone and androstenedione. These androgens have been shown to speed up nestling development, induce a fast development of ornaments and increase dominance in adults. Experiments in several species have reported that females invest greater amounts of androgens in the eggs fathered by attractive males, suggesting that yolk androgen is a costly investment for either the offspring or the mother. There is some evidence that nestling immunocompetence may be partially suppressed by high levels of yolk androgens, but it is not known whether this is also the case for females. We tested this hypothesis in the house martin by inducing an immune challenge through an injection of sheep red blood cells, a standard challenge of the humoral immune system. Experimental birds laid eggs with lower amounts of yolk androstenedione than controls, and there was a similar non-significant trend for testosterone. Furthermore, the probability of laying a replacement clutch was higher for birds that had laid a first clutch with relatively high levels of yolk testosterone. These results suggest that yolk androgen deposition is limited by immune costs in the female, and that only females in good condition may afford to invest high levels of androgen in eggs in this species.     

Demographic Responses by Birds to Forest Fragmentation

Abstract:  Despite intensive recent research on the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on bird populations, our understanding of underlying demographic causes of population declines is limited. We reviewed avian demography in relation to habitat fragmentation. Then, through a meta-analysis, we compared specific demographic responses by forest birds to habitat fragmentation, providing a general perspective of factors that make some species and populations more vulnerable to fragmentation than others. We obtained data from the scientific literature on dispersal, survival, fecundity, and nesting success of birds. Birds were divided into subgroups on the basis of region, nest site, biogeographical history, and migration strategy. Species most sensitive to fragmentation were ground- or open-nesters nesting in shrubs or trees. Residents were equally sensitive to fragmentation in the Nearctic and Palearctic regions, but Nearctic migrants were more sensitive than Palearctic migrants. Old World species were less sensitive than New World species, which was predicted based on the history of forest fragmentation on these two continents. Pairing success was the variable most associated with fragmentation, suggesting an important role of dispersal. Fledgling number or condition, timing of nesting, and clutch size were not associated with sensitivity to fragmentation, suggesting that negative fragmentation effects on birds do not generally result from diminished food resources with increasing level of fragmentation. Future studies on demographic responses of birds to habitat fragmentation would be more effective if based on a combination of measures that can distinguish among the demographic mechanisms underlying population changes related to habitat fragmentation.