Metal and metalloid contamination in roadside soil and wild rats around a Pb-Zn mine in Kabwe, Zambia

Metal (Cr, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni) and metalloid (As) accumulation was studied in roadside soil and wild rat (Rattus sp.) samples from near a Pb-Zn mine (Kabwe, Zambia) and the capital city of Zambia (Lusaka). The concentrations of the seven metals and As in the soil samples and Pb in the rat tissue samples were quantified using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and As in Kabwe soil were much higher than benchmark values. Geographic Information System analysis indicated the source of metal pollution was mining and smelting activity. Interestingly, the area south of the mine was more highly contaminated even though the prevailing wind flow was westward. Wild rats from Kabwe had much higher tissue concentrations of Pb than those from Lusaka. Their body weight and renal Pb levels were negatively correlated, which suggests that mining activity might affect terrestrial animals in Kabwe.     

Why are Prices in Wild Catch and Aquaculture Industries so Different?

Through a comparative analysis of prices in capture fisheries and aquaculture sectors, the objectives of this paper are a) to investigate three the trends in prices of forage catches to feed the aquaculture species, b) to analyze the amount of fish species need to feed aquaculture species in order to assess the level of efficiency in resource use, and c) to examine the degree of economic concentration either in wild-catch industry and aquaculture sectors. The results show that prices of cultivated species are higher than prices of the same species when harvested from the sea. We explain this fact by the interplay of three forces. First, the amount of wild fish to feed aquaculture species continues to improve over time. Second, the pressure of fishing activities has not been reduced since catches of most forage fishes are declining, which induce higher prices of capture species that feed aquaculture production. Third, the level of seafood market concentration is significantly higher in aquaculture than in wild catches, which generates higher prices in aquaculture.     

集约化养殖畜禽粪便农用对土壤次生盐渍化的影响评估

针对畜禽粪便中盐分残留问题,在江苏省采集分析了180个粪便样品,通过基于GIS的空间分析与基于土壤盐分累积模型的模拟预测,评估了粪便农用对土壤次生盐渍化的潜在影响.结果表明,江苏省目前畜禽粪便中盐分含量较高,最高(以干粪计)达24.2 g·kg-1;南通、盐城、连云港等沿海地区与徐州、宿迁、淮安等徐淮地区为畜禽粪便农用造成土壤次生盐渍化的高风险区;施用畜禽粪便对露天种植的土壤次生盐渍化没有显著影响,而对温室土壤影响较大,在畜禽粪便盐分含量较高(以干粪计,24.2 g·kg-1),中、高施肥量条件下[以干粪计,65～100 t/(hm2·a)],施用纯有机肥2～8 a温室土壤盐分含量增加1.0～2.5 g·kg-1,土壤可达轻度、中度甚至强度盐渍化土程度.     

西南丘陵区保护性耕作下小麦农田土壤呼吸及影响因素分析

为了探讨保护性耕作对旱作农田土壤呼吸的影响,采用LI6400-09呼吸室在重庆北碚西南大学试验农场对平作(T)、垄作(R)、平作+覆盖(TS)、垄作+覆盖(RS)这4种处理下的西南紫色土丘陵区小麦/玉米/大豆套作体系中小麦作物生长季节的土壤呼吸及其水热生物因子进行了测定和分析.结果表明,小麦生殖生长阶段农田土壤呼吸速率变化范围为1.100～2.508μmol.(m2.s)-1,各处理的土壤呼吸速率差异显著,表现为RS>R>TS>T.各处理10 cm土层的土壤温度表现为T>R>TS>RS.土壤呼吸与土壤温度的关系符合指数函数,Q10值分别为1.25、1.20、1.31和1.26.5 cm土层的土壤含水量高低排序为TS>RS>T>R.土壤水分与土壤呼吸以抛物线曲线拟合最好,说明存在土壤呼吸最强的土壤含水量点,本研究得出小麦生殖生长阶段在土壤含水量的响应阈值为14.80%～17.47%.土壤动物中优势类群为弹尾目和螨目,与土壤呼吸存在一定相关性,对照处理和垄作下相关性高,而秸秆覆盖的处理土壤呼吸与土壤动物没有明显的相关性.     

畜牧业生产对生态环境的污染及其防治

畜禽粪尿、畜牧场的污水和臭气以及由排泄物残留而来的矿物元素和其它废充物给生态环境带来直接污染；由农畜产品残留而来的农药、重金属元素、抗生素、激素和霉菌素等给生态环境带来间接污染。这些污染物通过污染土壤、水源和大气而危害农作物生产和人畜健康，甚至诱发严重的畜产品污染事件。为防止畜牧业污染，必须制订一个正确的畜牧业发展战略。采取有效的防治对策，并开发应用防治技术，建立综合式生态农业生产体系，从而达到畜牧业的持续发展。     

林丹和呋喃丹对赤子爱胜蚓存活、生长和繁殖能力的影响

采用人工土培养法,通过急性和亚急性暴露实验,研究了林丹和呋喃丹对赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)存活、生长和繁殖能力的影响.结果表明,1)林丹对蚯蚓14d LC50为162.09mg·kg-1,属低等毒性;呋喃丹对蚯蚓14d LC50为3.11mg·kg-1,属中等毒性.2)林丹在急性暴露期显著抑制蚯蚓的生长,在亚急性暴露期低浓度林丹对蚯蚓生长影响不显著,高浓度林丹则显著抑制蚯蚓的生长;呋喃丹在急性和亚急性暴露期对蚯蚓的生长均具有极显著的抑制作用.3)林丹和呋喃丹均可显著抑制蚯蚓的繁殖能力.4)林丹和呋喃丹均可对蚯蚓皮肤结构造成损伤,林丹的损伤程度较严重,呋喃丹相对较弱.5)LC50可以迅速有效地对农药的毒性进行初步判断,而生长抑制率和幼虫孵化数是更加敏感的评估农药对蚯蚓毒性的指标.     

江苏省陆栖濒危脊椎动物物种丰富度及分布格局

采用实地调查与资料收集相结合的方法,以县(市)为基本地理单元建立江苏省陆栖濒危脊椎动物二元分布数据库;基于GIS技术,研究濒危动物物种丰富度格局;依据地理单元中物种组成的相似程度进行聚类分析,探讨江苏省濒危动物相似性分布格局。结果显示,江苏省陆栖濒危脊椎动物共有35科62属83种;西南部丘陵山区、盐城、连云港及启东地区濒危物种丰富度较高,江苏中部地区(主要为泰州和淮安)濒危物种丰富度较低,这与江苏省生物多样性分布热点基本一致,濒危物种丰富度与总物种丰富度之间呈极显著正相关关系(P<0.01,n=73),Pearson相关系数为0.869;依据物种组成相似性,当组间距离分别为23.8、20.6、18.8时,江苏省73个基本单元可聚为3、4、5组,该聚类结果表明江苏省陆栖濒危脊椎动物分布受自然地理亚区、地形地貌以及人为活动的共同影响。     

Risks Associated with Genetic Modification: – An Annotated Bibliography of Peer Reviewed Natural Science Publications

We present an annotated bibliography of peer reviewed scientific research highlighting the human health, animal welfare, and environmental risks associated with genetic modification. Risks associated with the expression of the transgenic material include concerns over resistance and non-target effects of crops expressing Bt toxins, consequences of herbicide use associated with genetically modified herbicide-tolerant plants, and transfer of gene expression from genetically modified crops through vertical and horizontal gene transfer. These risks are not connected to the technique of genetic modification as such, but would be present for any conventionally produced crops with the same heritable traits. In contrast, other risks are a direct consequence of the method used in gene manipulation. These come about because of the unstable nature of the transgene and vectors used to insert it, and because of unpredictable interactions between the transgene and the host genome. The debate over the release of genetically modified organisms is not merely a scientific one; it encompasses economics, law, ethics, and policy. Any discussion on these levels does, however, need to be informed by sound science. We hope that the scientific references provided here will provide a useful starting point for further debate.     

北方农牧交错带降水极值变化空间特征

农牧交错带是我国生态环境脆弱带,以109个气象站1971～1998年间的逐日降水资料,分析了农牧交错带年降水量、侵蚀性降水及暴雨等方面降水极值的时间变化及空间分布。结果显示农牧交错带平均每年发生侵蚀性降水的日数在3.5～17.6d之间,暴雨日数在0～2.6d之间;大部分地区的年降水量、侵蚀性降水量及暴雨量等都呈现不同程度的增加趋势,但暴雨量以及侵蚀性降水量等降水极值指标增加趋势更明显,反映出多数地区降水强度增加、降水侵蚀的潜在能力增强的特征;局部地区的降水极值呈减少趋势。     

北京市畜禽粪便土地利用适宜性分析

以北京市为研究区域,基于GIS下采用权重线性加和模型(WLC),综合自然、环境、社会和经济等多因子.对北京市畜禽粪便土地利用的适宜性进行了定量分析.结果表明,北京市10个郊区县适合施用畜禽粪便的耕地面积为1605.3 km2,占耕地总面积的35.3%,主要分布在北京市的南部、东南部和中部地区.聚类分析将全市郊区划分为东南部、北部、西南部和中部4个区域.东南部和中部远郊平原区比较适合发展畜禽养殖业,目前的养殖量与最大承载量之间尚存在一定空间;但是由于城镇化的加快,可施用粪便的农田与居民区的安全距离成为影响粪便施用的主要因素,需要结合有效的管理措施以避免畜禽粪便土地利用的污染风险.北部和西南部远郊低山丘陵区应适度控制畜禽养殖业的发展,由于北部区县(延庆、怀柔、密云和平谷)河流密集,并分布有北京市的主要地表水源,故与水体的安全距离对该地区的耕地施用粪便有重要影响;应控制和减少土壤沙化及水土流失,同时建立滨岸缓冲带来控制畜禽粪便土地利用对水体的进一步污染,以达到经济发展和环境保护的双重目的.