Inorganic mercury and methylmercury in surface sediments and mussel tissues from a microtidal lagoon (Bizerte, Tunisia)

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of mercury compounds in marine sediments and mussel tissues collected in the lagoon of Bizerte, Tunisia, during two seasons (summer and winter). Inorganic mercury (Hg²⁺) concentrations in sediments were found to be highly variable, ranging from 0.04 nmol.g¹ to 3.22 nmol.g⁻¹ (dry weight) with a mean value of 0.52 nmol.g⁻¹. Anthropogenic sources of Hg²⁺, most probably metallurgy or tire production industries, have been evidenced. The mean concentration of monomethylmercury (MeHg⁺) in the surface sediments is 2.32 pmol g⁻¹ ranging from below the detection limit (0.45 pmol.g⁻¹) to 14.6 pmol.g⁻¹. No significant variation was observed between winter and summer seasons for both mercury species concentration in the sediments. The Hg²⁺ concentrations in mussel tissues are also variable, ranging from 0.007 to 1.347 nmol.g⁻¹ (dry weight). The mean concentration is 0.70 nmol.g⁻¹. In these tisssues, Hg²⁺ is generally the major compound, making up ca. 88% of total mercury concentrations. However, methylmercury concentrations are significant and homogeneous, ranging from 62 to 121 pmol.g⁻¹ (mean 96 pmol.g⁻¹). The results suggest that a fraction of the inorganic mercury load in the sediments of the lagoon undergoes methylation pathways. MeHg⁺ produced is assimilated in the mussels more readily than Hg²⁺.     

The reproductive dilemmas of queenless red dwarf honeybee (Apis florea) workers

Honeybee (Apis) workers cannot mate, but retain functional ovaries. When colonies have lost their queen, many young workers begin to activate their ovaries and lay eggs. Some of these eggs are reared, but most are not and are presumably eaten by other workers (worker policing). Here we explore some of the factors affecting the reproductive success of queenless workers of the red dwarf honeybee Apis florea. Over a 2-year period we collected 40 wild colonies and removed their queens. Only two colonies remained at their translocated site long enough to rear males to pupation while all the others absconded. Absconding usually occurred after worker policing had ceased, as evidenced by the appearance of larvae. Dissections of workers from eight colonies showed that in A. florea, 6% of workers have activated ovaries after 4 days of queenlessness, and that 33% of workers have activated ovaries after 3 weeks. Worker-laid eggs may appear in nests within 4 days and larvae soon after, but this is highly variable. As with Apis mellifera, we found evidence of unequal reproductive success among queenless workers of A. florea. In the two colonies that reared males to pupation and which we studied with microsatellites, some subfamilies had much higher proportions of workers with activated ovaries than others. The significance of absconding and internest reproductive parasitism to the alternative reproductive strategies of queenless A. florea workers is discussed.     

Effects of adsorption interferents on removal of reactive red 195 dye in wastewater by chitosan

Reactive Red 195, which is an azoic anionic dye characterized by the presence of five sulfonic groups and one azoic group, is efficiently removed using chitosan. The increasing chitosan dose had a dramatic positive impact on the achieved color removal, there was approximately a linear relationship between chitosan dose and color removal of dye before color removal reach maximum. Also, the increase of dye concentration led to the increase of chitosan dosage in order to get the same color remova l.92 mg/L of chitosan dosage was sufficient to achieve complete remove of dye at initial concentration of dye at 200 mg/L. For the higher concentrations of dye, high dosages were necessary to reach complete color removal. On the other hand, the use of adsorption interferents（Fe^2＋ , Na^＋ , HCO3^- and others） can be interesting, addition of ions had effect on the color removal of Reactive Red 195. Comparing with blank, addition of chemical species approximately decreased the color removal except Na^＋ and combination of Fe^2＋ ＋ HCO3^- . However, comparing with Fe^2＋ alone and HCO3^- alone, combination of Fe^2＋ ＋ HCO3^- increased the color removal.     

Changes in quality of groundwater with seasonal fluctuations: an example from Ghor Safi area, southern Dead Sea coastal aquifers, Jordan

Introduction The alluvial fan along the eastern and southern m argins of the D ead Sea (hereafter denoted D S) consists of fine to coarse-grained siliclastic sand and pebble-size gravel w ith thin intercalations of lam inated m arl of H olocene age (Pow e…     

北京及近中国海春季沙尘气溶胶浓度变化规律的研究

对北京和近中国海气溶胶观测资料的统计分析表明，沙尘气溶胶浓度呈现显的年示变化，该变化与沙尘源区及主要输送通道上的气象条件密切相关。运用多元线性回归分析结合气溶胶观测资料和气象资料计算了北京春季沙尘气溶胶家度。结果表明１９７１－１９９５年北京春季沙尘气溶胶浓度总体呈递砬趋势，但进入九十年代，这种递减趋势有所减缓。     

黄海北部对虾放流区的浮游植物群落结构

１９９７年８月于黄海北部对虾放流区，共采集到浮游植物３２种，浮游植物细胞数量为１．７３５６×１０５个／ｍ３，其群落结构特征为：（１）本调查区域浮游植物群落结构简单，个别种类优势明显。（２）各纵断面间４个指数值有较大差异，沿岸两个横断面４个指数值较接近。（３）沿岸调查区与远海浮游植物相似性较小．远海各岛间虽然距离较远，但是浮游植物群落相似性比沿岸各断面间要好。     

北黄海北部海域潮余流的模拟研究

基于二维水动力模型,在仅考虑潮流作用条件下,通过计算欧拉余流和拉格朗日余流并结合粒子追踪方法研究了辽宁大连—朝鲜龙渊郡连线北侧的北黄海北部海域的潮余流结构和粒子运移的趋势。结果表明:欧拉余流和拉格朗日余流流速整体较小,呈现由南向北的流向,但在獐子岛及长山群岛的附近岛屿和朝鲜半岛沿岸的海域欧拉余流和拉格朗日余流流速较大。对比粒子追踪计算的结果与欧拉余流和拉格朗日余流的结果表明,流向与粒子运移路径基本一致。该海湾的余流及粒子运动规律特点对辽东半岛东岸及朝鲜半岛西侧海域的排污及污染控制有重要的借鉴意义。     

Distribution and contamination of metals and biogenic elements in sediments from Zhifu Bay of the Yellow Sea, China

Metals and biogenic elements were analyzed from surface sediments of sixteen stations and a 32 cm core collected from Zhifu Bay in July 2009. High concentrations of biogenic silica (BSi) reflected the high diatom productivity in the Bay. Meanwhile, total organic carbon (TOC) in Zhifu Bay was mainly from terrestrial sources. All metals were lower than the marine sediment quality guidelines. Based on the vertical profiles of biogenic elements, there was a clear increase of TOC, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphate (TP) between 1985 and 2000. TN concentrations decreased after the start of the operation of the sewage treatment plant in 1998; however TOC and BSi remained at high levels. Metal concentrations showed a general increase from the bottom to the top of the core. Most anthropogenic metals reached a maximum during 1996 and 2000, and decreased after the startup of the sewage plant; however, they have increased again recently. The results from correlation analysis and principal component analysis show that industrial pollution is the main source of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn contamination in Zhifu Bay, and Yantai Port and ship transportation also contribute a lot to Cd, Cu, Hg, and Pb pollution.     

Quantifying Purported Competition with Individual‐ and Population‐Level Metrics

Abstract: Competitive species interactions may contribute to population declines. Purportedly, Red‐bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus), a common species, and Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis), an endangered species, compete for roosting and nesting cavities in living pine trees. To determine whether behavioral interactions measured at the individual level manifest themselves at the population level, we conducted field experiments designed to test whether the presence of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers resulted in a decrease in fitness to Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers. As part of a 4‐year study examining the nature of interspecific interactions in two populations of Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers (one stable, the Apalachicola Ranger District; one declining, the Wakulla Ranger District) in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida, we conducted a set of Red‐bellied Woodpecker removal experiments. Paradoxically, following the removal of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers, we observed decreases in Red‐cockaded Woodpecker group size, proportion of nests that were successful, and proportion of individuals remaining on territories. Removal of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers may have exaggerated the immigration rate of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers to Red‐cockaded Woodpecker territories. The Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers in the Apalachicola Ranger District likely can withstand pressure from immigrating Red‐bellied Woodpeckers given that their population has remained relatively stable despite the presence of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers. A major factor of population persistence in the Wakulla Ranger District was the high turnover rate of adult female Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers, a phenomenon that was exacerbated by removal of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers. Relying solely on observations of apparently competitive interactions between individuals may not necessarily provide information about population‐level outcomes. Paradoxically, removing species that appear to be competitors may harm species of concern.