Carotenoid-based colouration and ultraviolet reflectance of the sexual ornaments of grouse

Among the most familiar sexual signals are red, yellow, and orange sexual traits pigmented by carotenoids. Many birds can detect near-ultraviolet (UV) light, and UV signals can play key roles in mate choice. Grouse (Tetraonidae) exhibit bright carotenoid-dependent sexual ornaments, their supra-orbital combs, which to humans appear orange-red. Combs also reflect in the UV, which is not visible to humans but is likely to be visible to grouse. In male red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus, we show that comb UV reflectance decreases with increasing comb size and redness. By removing the epidermis of combs, where carotenoid pigments are, we show that the UV reflectance is a property of the dermis, underneath the red pigmented epidermis. Carotenoid pigmentation of combs acted as a mask to reduce reflectance by the dermis in the range 400–550 nm and in the UV, 300–400 nm. Patagium skin (non-ornamental skin under the wing) also reflects in the UV, but epidermis removal on this bare part tended to reduce UV reflectance, whereas removal of the red epidermis of combs increased UV reflectance. Males in better condition (greater body mass relative to size) had bigger and redder combs, but with less UV. Thus, carotenoid pigments of grouse combs are deposited on a white background with significant UV reflectance, which can influence how the signal is perceived by conspecifics. Carotenoid-based traits exhibit UV reflectance in a number of species, but how UV reflectance and carotenoid pigmentation influence colour remains little known for integumentary ornaments compared to plumage traits. UV vision is not uncommon in birds and other animals, so future studies should investigate how UV reflectance influences the perception of carotenoid-based signals of quality.     

Contribution of the Natura 2000 Network to Biodiversity Conservation in Italy

Abstract:  The Natura 2000 network is the most important conservation effort being implemented in Europe. Nevertheless, no comprehensive and systematic region—or nationwide evaluation of the effectiveness of the network has been conducted. We used habitat suitability models and extent of occurrence of 468 species of vertebrates to evaluate the contribution of the Natura 2000 network to biodiversity conservation in Italy. We also estimated the population size of 101 species inside the Natura 2000 network to assess its capacity to maintain or improve the population status of listed species. In general the Italian Natura 2000 did not seem to integrate existing protected areas well. The Natura 2000 network increased from 11% to 20% the area devoted to conservation in Italy and the coverage provided to areas with high biodiversity. Nevertheless, some areas with high numbers of species were devoid of conservation areas, and more than 50% of the highly irreplaceable areas were not considered in the system. Moreover, the Natura 2000 network cannot maintain 44–80% (depending on the taxa considered) of the species in a "favorable conservation status" under World Conservation Union Red List criteria. The Natura 2000 network is probably stronger than the results of our analyses suggest. The system is based on a site-specific expert-based strategy and is driven by direct and detailed knowledge of local diversity. Nevertheless, if Natura 2000 is taken to represent the final point of all the EU conservation policies, it will inevitably fail. Its role in conservation could be enhanced by integrating the Natura 2000 system into a more general strategy that considers natural processes and the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying these processes.     

钛酸铋光催化降解水中酸性大红的研究

采用异丙醇助水热法制备了钛酸铋光催化剂,UV-vis漫反射测试表明其光吸收带较TiO2发生了红移,通过多点BET法计算出其比表面积为14.16m2/g,平均孔径为21.05nm。以酸性大红为模拟污染物,在三相内循环流化床光催化反应器中进行光催化反应,研究了废水的pH值以及钛酸铋投加量对酸性大红脱色率的影响。结果表明:废水的pH=3.0,催化剂投加量为0.1g/L是最佳反应条件;当流量为10L/h时,连续运行3h后,酸性大红染料的去除率可达92.0%;当处理水量增大时,经过两级处理,酸性大红染料的总去除率仍可达到94.4%。     

废啤酒酵母吸附去除水溶液中活性红4

用废啤酒酵母作生物吸附剂吸附水溶液中活性红4(RR4),并对吸附性能进行了评价。通过电位滴定和FTIR分析表明废啤酒酵母上主要存在磺酸基、羧基及氨基等官能团。对溶液pH值、RR4浓度和吸附时间等因素对吸附的影响进行了研究,结果表明:废啤酒酵母对RR4的吸附速率快,320min即可达到吸附平衡;酸性条件利于吸附,碱性条件下则会发生解吸附,pH=11条件下解吸附率高于86%;等温吸附数据符合Langmuir模式,pH=2条件下废啤酒酵母对RR4的最大吸附量为103.36mg/g。     

超声辅助纳米铁降解酸性红G的实验研究

通过硼氢化纳还原法制备了铁纳米颗粒,并用十二烷基硫酸钠对其进行保护。所得铁纳米颗粒大小在13nm左右,体心立方相。对比了在机械搅拌和超声辅助条件下纳米铁对酸性红G的降解率,超声条件下纳米铁和微米铁对酸性红G的降解率,以及纳米铁投加量、pH值对酸性红G降解率的影响。结果表明,超声辅助下,pH=6～7时,4min内纳米铁对酸性红G有较高的降解率。机理分析表明超声辅助条件下纳米铁对酸性红G的降解主要是超声分散下纳米铁的还原作用得到提高以及纳米铁氧化产物的絮凝作用。     

盘锦“红海滩”退化初探

本文采用海水监测、翅碱蓬野外调查及盆栽试验和室内分析方法,研究了盘锦"红海滩"翅碱蓬群落的退化死亡原因,特别是翅碱蓬退化死亡与土壤盐分的关系。结果表明,翅碱蓬适宜的土壤盐分含量在10g/kg至16g/kg之间,初步认为由于滩涂土壤盐分升高产生的盐害是引起盘锦"红海滩"翅碱蓬群落退化死亡的主要原因。     

Effects of Amazonian flying rivers on frog biodiversity and populations in the Atlantic rainforest

Given the speed at which humans are changing the climate, species with high degrees of endemism may not have time to avoid extinction through adaptation. We investigated through teleconnection analysis the origin of rainfall that determines the phylogenetic diversity of rainforest frogs and the effects of microclimate differences in shaping the morphological traits of isolated populations (which contribute to greater phylogenetic diversity and speciation). We also investigated through teleconnection analysis how deforestation in Amazonia can affect ecosystem services that are fundamental to maintaining the climate of the Atlantic rainforest biodiversity hotspot. Seasonal winds known as flying rivers carry water vapor from Amazonia to the Atlantic Forest, and the breaking of this ecosystem service could lead Atlantic Forest species to population decline and extinction in the short term. Our results suggest that the selection of morphological traits that shape Atlantic Forest frog diversity and their population dynamics are influenced by the Amazonian flying rivers. Our results also suggest that the increases of temperature anomalies in the Atlantic Ocean due to global warming and in the Amazon forest due to deforestation are already breaking this cycle and threaten the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest hotspot.     

烟台四十里湾赤潮发生与生态环境污染研究

烟台四十里湾海域为赤潮频发区,就赤潮发生的区域分布与其生态环境污染进行探讨研究,以引起社会有关方面正确认识和评价水产养殖业对海洋环境的影响。结果显示: (1)1998~2008年间排入四十里湾的各类污染物总量以贝类养殖排泄物居首,赤潮发生的几率及范围与贝类养殖面积、N、P和C排泄物年际变化有直接必然关系; (2)湾内初级生产力较高,由贝类养殖排泄转化的无机碳占湾内基础物质总量的65%~90％; (3)湾内赤潮生物16种,优势种有红色裸甲藻、中肋骨条藻、海链藻,红色裸甲藻是该湾引起赤潮最常见的赤潮生物种; (4)四十里湾最大流发生在养马岛以外的东北水域,流速值在17~20cm/s 左右,养马岛西南端流速最低,仅为4~5cm/s左右,受水建工程和筏式养殖的干扰,养殖区内流速有所减缓,不利于污染物扩散。研究表明,特定的地理环境及物质条件十分适合藻类的生长繁殖,一旦遇到适宜的水文气象条件,赤潮藻即有骤然快速增殖而形成赤潮。     

A strategy for the next decade to address data deficiency in neglected biodiversity

Measuring progress toward international biodiversity targets requires robust information on the conservation status of species, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species provides. However, data and capacity are lacking for most hyperdiverse groups, such as invertebrates, plants, and fungi, particularly in megadiverse or high-endemism regions. Conservation policies and biodiversity strategies aimed at halting biodiversity loss by 2020 need to be adapted to tackle these information shortfalls after 2020. We devised an 8-point strategy to close existing data gaps by reviving explorative field research on the distribution, abundance, and ecology of species; linking taxonomic research more closely with conservation; improving global biodiversity databases by making the submission of spatially explicit data mandatory for scientific publications; developing a global spatial database on threats to biodiversity to facilitate IUCN Red List assessments; automating preassessments by integrating distribution data and spatial threat data; building capacity in taxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity monitoring in countries with high species richness or endemism; creating species monitoring programs for lesser-known taxa; and developing sufficient funding mechanisms to reduce reliance on voluntary efforts. Implementing these strategies in the post-2020 biodiversity framework will help to overcome the lack of capacity and data regarding the conservation status of biodiversity. This will require a collaborative effort among scientists, policy makers, and conservation practitioners.     

Geochemical forms of trace metals in mangrove sediments—Red Sea (Egypt)

Seven sediment samples from mangrove sediments of the Red Sea were taken in order to evaluate the possible contamination of the sediments by trace metals (iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)). Sequential extraction techniques were performed to study the different geochemical forms of these metals. X-ray diffraction analysis has been performed to correlate the mineralogical composition with the geochemical forms of the studied elements. The results of Fe and Mn contents indicate that they are in large part from lithogenous origin. The elevated concentrations are associated with the residual form ranged from 70 to 93% for Fe and 46 to 70% for Mn. The percentage of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in the non-residual form was much greater than that of the residual fractions. This reflects the high mobility and bioavailability of these metals in mangrove sediments of the Red Sea. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of silicate components including quartz, feldspars and clay minerals in some locality. Non-silicate components recorded in the study area as calcite as well as, Mg-calcite. Quantitatively both components i.e. silicate and carbonate varied according to their source material.