The Contribution of Habitat Loss to Changes in Body Size, Allometry, and Bilateral Asymmetry in Two Eleutherodactylus Frogs from Puerto Rico

Abstract:  Amphibian populations have been declining worldwide and the exact mechanisms underlying these changes are not well understood. We examined environmentally induced phenotypic changes that may reflect ongoing stresses on individuals and therefore their ability to persist in increasingly changing landscapes. Specifically, we evaluated the contribution of habitat loss on the size, allometry, and levels of fluctuating asymmetry of Eleutherodactylus antillensis and E. coqui , 2 common species that are endemic to Puerto Rico. We x-rayed frogs collected at 9 sites that differed in the amount of forest cover and measured their snout-vent, radio-ulna, femur, and tibio-fibula lengths. E. antillensis and E. coqui were smaller in the highly disturbed (≤20% forest cover) than in the intermediately (20–70% forest cover) and little-disturbed (≥70% forest cover) landscapes. In E. antillensis but not in E. coqui , the slope and intercept of the curves relating snout-vent length with the length of the 3 bones differed with degree of forest cover, suggesting an effect of habitat loss on body shape. In E. antillensis and E. coqui , differences between right and left sides corresponded to true fluctuating asymmetry; however, only the radio-ulna length of E. coqui showed a trend toward an increase in fluctuating asymmetry with habitat loss. Because body size scales with a variety of physiological, life history, and ecological traits, conservation programs aimed at monitoring morphological changes in amphibians may help in understanding the mechanisms that contribute to their persistence in changing environments.     

Diversity and organizational innovation: The role of employee involvement

This study examined the interactive effects of workplace diversity and employee involvement on organizational innovation. Using a sample of 182 large Canadian organizations, we found a three‐way interaction between level of employee involvement, variation in involvement, and racioethnic diversity on innovation. In organizations with high levels of employee involvement, high variation in involvement was associated with higher involvement levels among racioethnic minorities, resulting in a stronger association between diversity and innovation. Furthermore, the association between White employee involvement and innovation was significantly more positive under the condition of high involvement among racioethnic minority group members. Thus, ensuring high levels of involvement among members of historically marginalized racioethnic groups enhances the innovation effects of employee empowerment systems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biodiversity Consequences of Genetic Variation in Bark Characteristics within a Foundation Tree Species

Abstract: The developing field of community genetics has the potential to broaden the contribution of genetics to conservation biology by demonstrating that genetic variation within foundation plant species can act to structure associated communities of microorganisms, invertebrates, and vertebrates. We assessed the biodiversity consequences of natural patterns of intraspecific genetic variation within the widely distributed Australian forest tree, Eucalyptus globulus. We assessed genetic variation among geographic races of E. globulus (i.e., provenances, seed zones) in the characteristics of tree‐trunk bark in a 17‐year‐old common garden and the associated response of a dependent macroarthropod community. In total, 180 macroarthropod taxa were identified following a collection from 100 trees of five races. We found substantial genetically based variation within E. globulus in the quantity and type of decorticating bark. In the community of organisms associated with this bark, significant variation existed among trees of different races in composition, and there was a two‐fold difference in species richness (7–14 species) and abundance (22–55 individuals) among races. This community variation was tightly linked with genetically based variation in bark, with 60% of variation in community composition driven by bark characteristics. No detectable correlation was found, however, with neutral molecular markers. These community‐level effects of tree genetics are expected to extend to higher trophic levels because of the extensive use of tree trunks as foraging zones by birds and marsupials. Our results demonstrate the potential biodiversity benefits that may be gained through conservation of intraspecific genetic variation within broadly distributed foundation species. The opportunities for enhancing biodiversity values of forestry and restoration plantings are also highlighted because such planted forests are increasingly becoming the dominant forest type in many areas of the world.     

季节变动预测方法浅析

本文客观分析了普遍存在的季节变动国现象，探寻了季节变动国现象的变化规律，并地一步该规律进行了预测，并提出了切实可行的方法。     

城市不同功能区地表灰尘重金属时空动态变化

以贵阳市交通区-城市广场-文教区-住宅区-城中村地表灰尘为研究对象,对不同月份地表灰尘进行跟踪采样分析,研究不同功能区地表灰尘重金属质量比的时空变化特征,并通过内梅罗指数法对灰尘重金属累积程度进行评价。结果表明:1)As、Cd和Pb月质量比最低值出现在6—7月,而Cu、Ni和Zn月质量比最低值出现在11月上旬,各元素月质量比最高值出现的月份不尽相同,但以11—12月为主;2)春冬季地表灰尘重金属质量比高于夏秋季;3)灰尘中Ni、Zn质量比随时间和区域的变化最小,As、Cd、Cu和Pb质量比随时间和区域的变化较大,这4种元素在城市广场累积最重;4)人类活动是影响地表灰尘重金属迁移和累积的重要因素之一,温度、降雨、街道形状和地理位置也是影响地表灰尘重金属含量的因素。     

Sometimes less is more: Directed coping with interpersonal stressors at work

Within the coping literature, researchers have long been interested in identifying ways in which individuals can improve their coping efforts, making them more effective and thereby reducing the harmful effects of stressful encounters. Although Lazarus and Folkman's transactional model has greatly advanced understanding of the coping process, there continues to be methodological and conceptual challenges that have hindered understanding of the mechanisms behind effective coping. Addressing these issues in the use of a novel approach of analyzing variation in coping (i.e., directed coping) at both the coping event and person coping levels, the current study examined the process of coping with work stress and the beneficial coping outcomes associated with using a directed coping strategy. A total of 143 nurses completed up to 12 weekly surveys online, reporting on weekly stressful interpersonal conflicts and how they coped with them. Results from multilevel analyses supported predictions that greater directed coping at both the level of the coping event and person is associated with improvements in occupational health outcomes even after controlling for other coping factors. Implications of these results are discussed in relation to future research on coping effectiveness and workplace applications. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

贵阳市城区大气颗粒物PM_(2.5)的污染特征与季节变化规律

于2013年6月至2014年5月在贵阳市城区设置采样点,利用国产武汉天虹智能采样器连续一年采集大气颗粒物(PM2.5)样品共357个,采用HOBO U30气象仪同步记录气象数据。气象数据分析表明贵阳市春、秋和冬季均为东北风,夏季多南风且风速较大,全年以东北风为主。结合气象数据分析了贵阳市市区PM2.5污染特征并初步讨论其来源。结果表明:PM2.5日浓度范围为4~193μg/m3,平均值为70±33μg/m3,日超标率为46%。以季节来看,夏季PM2.5浓度最低,冬季最高,秋、春季次之。PM2.5主要来源于工业排放与燃煤污染。与国内其它城市研究相比,处于轻度污染水平。     

金华市街道灰尘磁化率时空变化研究

对不同时空条件下的金华市二环以内的街道灰尘样品的磁化率进行了研究.结果表明,金华市街道灰尘磁化率均值349.67×10-8 m3/kg,冬、春、夏各个季节的平均值:322.55×10-8 m3/kg、358.16×10-8 m3/kg和368.31×10-8 m3/kg,指示了其均具有磁性增强效应,且其值相近;春、夏两个季节街道灰尘磁化率的高值区分布结构相似,模型参数分析表明,区域因素为影响其值的主因;街道灰尘磁化率高值区与城区工业区大体吻合分布,工业区是主要的区域因素。     

淀浦河近十年水质评价及变化趋势研究

针对区域地表水污染特征,采用综合污染指数法,评价了淀浦河中上游段2005年-2014年间水质达标情况,计算了主要污染物的污染负荷,运用季节性肯达尔趋势检验分析了淀浦河中上游段水质变化趋势.结果表明,近十年来淀浦河中上游段水质均未达到规划水质要求,但总体水质呈改善趋势,水质以轻度污染为主,各主要污染物中,氨氮的污染负荷最大,总磷次之,呈现以氨氮和总磷为主的富营养化污染特征,研究结果为淀浦河的水质改善和水环境的污染防治等工作提供了重要依据.     

广西钦州湾营养状况季节分析与评价研究

根据2009年1月、4月、8月和11月对钦州湾海域调查结果,分析并评价了该海域营养状况的季节变化。结果表明,钦州湾海域总溶解无机氮(DIN)含量范围在0.023 mg/L~1.750 mg/L,硅酸盐(SiO3-Si)含量范围在0.027 mg/L~3.900 mg/L,磷酸盐(PO4-P)含量范围在0.001 mg/L~0.158 mg/L。NO3-N是DIN的主要存在形式,占62%~78%。不同的营养盐季节分布有所差异。DIN季节分布表现为夏季春季秋季冬季;PO4-P季节分布为春季秋季冬季夏季;SiO3-Si季节变化为夏季秋季春季冬季。从营养结构看,与Justic'等提出的营养盐化学计量限制标准比较符合P限制条件,PO4-P可能成为浮游植物生长的潜在限制因子。按照营养状态指数值,钦州湾海域春季、夏季和秋季表层海水处于富营养化状态,钦州湾内湾富营养化程度高,一旦水文气象条件适宜,从春季到秋季该区域随时都会发生赤潮灾害的可能。