Photolytic degradation of methyl-parathion and fenitrothion in ice and water: Implications for cold environments

Here we investigate the photodegradation of structurally similar organophosphorus pesticides; methyl-parathion and fenitrothion in water (20 °C) and ice (−15 °C) under environmentally-relevant conditions with the aim of comparing these laboratory findings to limited field observations. Both compounds were found to be photolyzed more efficiently in ice than in aqueous solutions, with quantum yields of degradation being higher in ice than in water (fenitrothion > methyl-parathion). This rather surprising observation was attributed to the concentration effect caused by freezing the aqueous solutions. The major phototransformation products included the corresponding oxons (methyl-paraoxon and fenitroxon) and the nitrophenols (3-methyl-nitrophenol and nitrophenol) in both irradiated water and ice samples. The presence of oxons in ice following irradiation, demonstrates an additional formation mechanism of these toxicologically relevant compounds in cold environments, although further photodegradation of oxons in ice indicates that photochemistry of OPs might be an environmentally important sink in cold environments.     

Inbreeding and Loss of Genetic Variation in a Reintroduced Population of Mauritius Kestrel

Abstract:  Many populations have recovered from severe bottlenecks either naturally or through intensive conservation management. In the past, however, few conservation programs have monitored the genetic health of recovering populations. We conducted a conservation genetic assessment of a small, reintroduced population of Mauritius Kestrel ( Falco punctatus ) to determine whether genetic deterioration has occurred since its reintroduction. We used pedigree analysis that partially accounted for individuals of unknown origin to document that (1) inbreeding occurred frequently (2.6% increase per generation; N _eI= 18.9), (2) 25% of breeding pairs were composed of either closely or moderately related individuals, (3) genetic diversity has been lost from the population (1.6% loss per generation; N _eV= 32.1) less rapidly than the corresponding increase in inbreeding, and (4) ignoring the contribution of unknown individuals to a pedigree will bias the metrics derived from that pedigree, ultimately obscuring the prevailing genetic dynamics. The rates of inbreeding and loss of genetic variation in the subpopulation of Mauritius Kestrel we examined were extreme and among the highest yet documented in a wild vertebrate population. Thus, genetic deterioration may affect this population's long-term viability. Remedial conservation strategies are needed to reduce the impact of inbreeding and loss of genetic variation in this species. We suggest that schemes to monitor genetic variation after reintroduction should be an integral component of endangered species recovery programs.     

过渡带中岳桦种群生态特征的研究

在长白山北坡halt1525m-1775m的岳桦云冷杉森林过渡带和1990m-2170m的岳桦苔原林线过渡带中,沿海拔高度,采用梯度取样方法,进行岳桦种群生态学研究,分析了岳桦种群存活曲线、种群分布格局和种群竞争指数。同时应用分形分析研究了岳桦种群的分形特征。结果表明：依据岳桦种群的存活曲线,在岳桦云冷杉过渡带中岳桦种群处于由衰退型向稳定型发展的阶段,而在岳桦苔原过渡带中则由稳定型向增长型过渡,从种群分布格局指数分析,岳桦在两个过渡带中的分布格局类型都是杂乱无章的,而且都偏离随机分布,处于由一个生态系统向另一个生态系统转换的相变区,从竞争指数和盒维数来看,在岳桦云冷杉过渡带中,这两项指标都是由小到大迅速递增,而在岳桦苔原过渡 情况刚好相反。     

1960~2014年秦岭南北无霜期时空变化特征及对比分析

全球气候变暖背景下,自然生态环境敏感区农业热量资源的时空特征研究具有重要的现实意义。依据1960~2014年秦岭南北47个气象站数据,利用线性趋势、M-K检验和kriging插值法对无霜期时空变化进行分析。结果显示：从时间上看,秦岭南北无霜期随纬度增加而减少,初霜日和无霜期在年际波动中略有下降后快速上升,终霜日在波动中略有上升后快速下降。55年来无霜期呈显著的延长趋势且发生增多突变,秦岭以北、秦岭南坡、汉水流域和巴巫谷地的延长速率分别为0.400 6、0.280 4、0.396 1和0.407 5 d/a,突变年份分别为1999、2002、2001和1990年。从空间上看,无霜期平均值和标准差由南向北增加,80%站点初霜日推后、终霜日提前和无霜期延长。多数无霜期延长是初霜日推后与终霜日提前的共同影响。无霜期在28个站点呈波动变化,19个站点发生突变,突变时间多在1990s~2000s,2000s的突变区域面积最大且集中分布在东北部。分析结果可为气候变化对生态环境和农业生产布局的影响提供参考。     

Importance of conserving large and old trees to continuity of tree-related microhabitats

Protecting structural features, such as tree-related microhabitats (TreMs), is a cost-effective tool crucial for biodiversity conservation applicable to large forested landscapes. Although the development of TreMs is influenced by tree diameter, species, and vitality, the relationships between tree age and TreM profile remain poorly understood. Using a tree-ring-based approach and a large data set of 8038 trees, we modeled the effects of tree age, diameter, and site characteristics on TreM richness and occurrence across some of the most intact primary temperate forests in Europe, including mixed beech and spruce forests. We observed an overall increase in TreM richness on old and large trees in both forest types. The occurrence of specific TreM groups was variably related to tree age and diameter, but some TreM groups (e.g., epiphytes) had a stronger positive relationship with tree species and elevation. Although many TreM groups were positively associated with tree age and diameter, only two TreM groups in spruce stands reacted exclusively to tree age (insect galleries and exposed sapwood) without responding to diameter. Thus, the retention of trees for conservation purposes based on tree diameter appears to be a generally feasible approach with a rather low risk of underrepresentation of TreMs. Because greater tree age and diameter positively affected TreM development, placing a greater emphasis on conserving large trees and allowing them to reach older ages, for example, through the establishment of conservation reserves, would better maintain the continuity of TreM resource and associated biodiversity. However, this approach may be difficult due to the widespread intensification of forest management and global climate change.     

天山东部雪冰中硝酸根浓度对中亚生物质燃烧的响应研究

研究了天山东部雪冰中NO3-浓度对中亚哈萨克斯坦生物质燃烧的响应情况.在天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川持续采集了52组表层雪与雪坑样本,分析了雪样中NO3-等成分的浓度,运用HYSPLIT模型模拟了空气轨迹,目的是考察雪冰中NO3-与2002年哈萨克斯坦草原大火的关系,探讨由生物质燃烧产生的NO3-在高海拔山岳冰川雪层中的沉...     

天山北坡城市群碳储量时空变化及预测研究

为了有效评估城市群碳储量变化,以天山北坡城市群为研究对象,运用PLUS模型和InVEST模型,动态评估2000～2020年及2030年不同情景下土地利用变化及碳储量变化特征.结果表明,2000～2020年天山北坡城市群碳储量呈现持续增加趋势,且碳储量变化与土地利用变化密切相关,主要表现为2000～2010年林地面积的减少导致其碳储量减少约266×106t,2010～2020年草地面积的增加使其碳储量增加约69.14×10⁶t.2030年自然发展情景、生态保护情景和经济快速发展情景下碳储量预测值分别为8875.88×10⁶t、8895.58×10⁶t和8841.58×10⁶t;经济快速发展情景下碳储量最低,生态保护情景下碳储量最高.土地利用是影响碳储量空间变化分布的第一主导因素,贡献率接近于90%,土地利用强度与碳储量协调性分析与两者双变量空间自相关分析进一步验证了这一结论.土地利用变化在一定程度上能够对碳储量产生积极影响,对于本研究区而言,生态保护发展情景可能更符合未来城市发展模式,研究结果能够为土...     

Lake variability: key factors controlling mercury concentrations in New York State fish

A 4year study surveyed 131 lakes across New York State beginning in 2003 to improve our understanding of mercury and gather information from previously untested waters. Our study focused on largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch, common piscivorous fish shown to accumulate high mercury concentrations and species important to local fisheries. Fish from Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve lakes generally had higher mercury concentrations than those from lakes in other areas of the state. Variability between nearby individual lakes was observed, and could be due to differences in water chemistry, lake productivity or the abundance of wetlands in the watershed. We found the following factors impact mercury bioaccumulation: fish length, lake pH, specific conductivity, chlorophyll a, mercury concentration in the water, presence of an outlet dam and amount of contiguous wetlands.     

The influence of south Foehn on the ozone distribution in the Alpine Rhine valley—results from the MAP field phase

During the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP) special observation period (SOP) between 7 September and 15 November 1999, ground-based and airborne measurements have been conducted in the Rhine valley south of the Lake of Constance to investigate the unstationary aspects of Foehn and related phenomena, like the impact of Foehn on the ozone concentrations in the valley. Foehn events occurred with above-average frequency and high diversity. Foehn induced ozone peaks in October and November are found to be much lower than the September Foehn case of the period. An inversion layer in the lake area with ozone concentrations below 10 ppb often shields the monitoring stations from the Foehn air aloft. Trajectory calculations for the Foehn period between 19 and 24 October 1999 reveal that the Foehn air originated from below 1 to 1.5 km above the Po Basin and the Mediterranean Sea. Tethered balloon soundings in the source area south of the Alps, ozone measurements at the mountain station Jungfraujoch (3580 m a.s.l.) and airborne measurements across the Alpine crests reveal that the ozone levels found in the Foehn air correspond to the concentrations just above the mixing height in the Po Basin and are transported across the Alpine crest within the lowest flow layer.     

秦岭油松林不同坡位土壤CO2、CH4、N2O通量研究

在秦岭南坡火地塘林区天然次生油松林内选取上、中、下3个坡位,采用静态箱-气相色谱法对土壤CO_2、CH_4、N_2O通量进行了1年的监测.结果表明,坡位间土壤质地和水分的差别是引起不同坡位CO_2与N_2O通量差异的主要原因:下坡位土质为壤土,水分适宜,CO_2平均排放量为(156.49±9.72)mg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),CH_4平均吸收量为(77.43±14.27)μg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),都处于3个坡位间最高水平;中坡位土质为粉砂壤土,土壤粒径小,透气性差,CO_2排放量和CH_4吸收量均为3个坡位间的最小值,N_2O平均排放量为(9.57±0.66)μg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),为3个坡位间的最高值,且显著高于上坡位土壤N_2O通量(p0.01);上坡位土质为砂壤土,土壤孔隙度大且地表植被少,N_2O平均排放量为(5.59±0.74)μg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),为3个坡位间的最小值.总体来说,油松林土壤是CO_2、N_2O的排放源,是CH_4的吸收汇.3个坡位CO_2年通量具有明显的季节规律,表现为倒"S"形变化,且与土壤温度显著正相关(p0.01).受冻融循环的影响,N_2O主要在非生长季大量排放;生长季末期,受降雨事件影响,油松林中坡位出现N_2O吸收峰值.生长季上、下坡位CH_4吸收峰值的出现同样伴随着降雨事件的发生,非生长季,中坡位因土壤水分过高而出现短暂的CH_4排放现象.不同坡位土壤温室气体的全球增温潜势(Global Warming Potential,GWP)从大到小依次是上坡位、下坡位和中坡位.