Peacocks orient their courtship displays towards the sun

We studied two courtship displays of male peafowl (Pavo cristatus), focusing particularly on male orientation relative to the position of the sun. During the “wing-shaking” display, females were generally behind the displaying male, and male orientation with respect to the position of the sun was not significantly different from random. However, during the pre-copulatory “train-rattling” display, males were on average directed at about 45° to the right of the sun azimuth with the female positioned directly in front, suggesting that this behaviour is involved in the communication of a visual signal. A model presentation experiment confirmed that courting peacocks were more likely to perform the train-rattling display when the female was on the sunny side of their erect train, but more likely to perform wing-shaking behaviour when the female was on the shaded side of the male. This study underscores the importance of visual signalling in peafowl courtship, and we suggest that an angle of about 45° relative to the sun may allow males to enhance the appearance of their iridescent eyespot feathers. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Relationships between hope,optimism, and conservation engagement

The loss and degradation of nature can lead to hopelessness and despair, which may undermine engagement in conservation actions. Emerging movements, such as that behind the organization Conservation Optimism, aim to avert potential despair of those involved in conservation. Some argue that fostering positive states, such as hope or optimism, can motivate engagement and action; however, others question whether fostering hope or optimism may inadvertently undermine perceived gravity of conservation challenges. We examined this issue by quantifying dispositional hope and optimism with a representative sample of Australians (n = 4285) and assessing their relationship with indicators of conservation engagement. We used the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia as a case study. We asked participants what they could do to help the GBR, then classified their responses into 2 outcome variables: identifying climate actions (i.e., actions that tackle the main threat to the reef) and identifying plastic actions (i.e., actions that are popular among community members). We also quantified likelihood of performing these actions and appraisals of both threats and actions. One dimension of hope, hope pathways (defined by Snyder's hope theory as knowing different ways to act), was associated with greater capacity to identify climate-related behaviors (odds ratio [OR] = 1.44) and plastic reduction behaviors (OR = 1.22) and greater likelihood of adopting climate-related actions (β = 0.20). Optimism was associated with recognition of plastic reduction behaviors only (OR = 1.22). Neither hope nor optimism undermined appraisal of conservation threats. The effects of optimism were mediated by reduced action futility, and effects of hope pathways were mediated by stronger perceptions of threats to the reef (threat appraisal) and confidence in performing useful actions (coping appraisal). Our findings suggest that dispositional hope can strengthen, rather than undermine, appraisal of conservation challenges and solutions and thereby increase conservation engagement.     

土壤中咪唑啉酮类除草剂的分析及归趋研究

咪唑啉酮类除草剂具有较长的残留活性,研究其在土壤中的环境行为具有重要的意义.介绍了咪唑啉酮类除草剂的特性,评述了咪唑啉酮类除草剂在土壤中的前处理方法和分析方法以及该类除草剂在土壤中的吸附、降解和迁移特性,并针对目前的状况和存在的问题提出了今后的研究方向.     

水中氯代酸性除草剂衍生气相色谱法主要要素探讨

建立了衍生气相色谱-负化学源质谱检测水中氯代酸性除草剂的方法,从四个方面对氯代酸性除草剂衍生气相色谱法中主要要素分析:针对不同需求选择确定萃取模式、萃取溶剂、酸度、浓缩方式等;对不同衍生方式进行比较,分析了辅助条件的必要性;针对衍生产物的不同选择离子源;标准物质的合理使用。     

Rac-及S-异丙甲草胺对2种微藻毒性特征影响研究

应用急性毒性试验方法,在对映体水平上研究了除草剂Rac-及S-异丙甲草胺对斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)和普通核小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)的急性毒性特征及腐殖酸对除草剂毒性的影响.结果表明,Rac-及S-异丙甲草胺的急性毒性与浓度及暴露时间呈正相关,Rac-及S-异丙甲草胺对微藻细胞的急性毒性存在立体选择性差异.Rac-异丙甲草胺对普通核小球藻和斜生栅藻的EC50,96 h分别是S-异丙甲草胺的2.25和1.81倍,S-异丙甲草胺对微藻细胞的生态毒性较大,而斜生栅藻对Rac-及S-异丙甲草胺的敏感性更强,且Rac-及S-异丙甲草胺对斜生栅藻和普通核小球藻的急性毒性存在一定的线性相关性.腐殖酸的加入能够改变Rac-及S-异丙甲草胺对微藻细胞生态毒性,对S-异丙甲草胺的生态毒性的影响更为明显(P<0.05).     

草甘膦毒性研究进展

随着现代农业的飞速发展,农药的应用越来越广泛。而目前草甘膦是使用最广泛、用量最大的除草剂种类之一,其在环境中的大量残留给环境带来了巨大潜在风险。介绍了草甘膦对靶标生物（植物）的制毒机理和非靶标生物（如：水生生物、两栖类动物、土壤生物和哺乳动物）的生态毒性,总结了草甘膦在群落、个体、细胞和分子水平上的生态毒性。综合国内外最新的研究表明：草甘膦制剂具有低毒性,且毒性要远远高于草甘膦酸的毒性,农药草甘膦制剂对非光合生物产生毒性的原因主要是由于表面活性剂的存在。而大多研究都表明,不同的草甘膦制剂及其组成成分毒性强弱为表面活性剂〉草甘膦制剂〉草甘膦酸〉草甘膦异丙胺盐,而草甘膦酸产生的毒性原因主要和其产生的酸性物质有关,并认为在当前的使用品种和剂量的状况下,草甘膦对人类的危害风险是很低的。最后,分析了草甘膦在土壤中与无机重金属共存的的生态毒性研究现状,认为由于草甘膦分子结构中含有磷酸基、羧基、氨基等配位基团,能够与土壤或水体中金属离子发生络合反应,使得重金属在一定程度上能够降低草甘膦的除草效率,草甘膦一定程度上也能够降低重金属对生物的毒性和有效性,此外对今后的研究重点进行了展望。     

用键合硅柱和色谱技术分析水中快杀稗残留

本文提供了两种简便、快速、灵敏、经济的快杀稗残留分析方法。用C_8键合硅柱萃取、富集水中的快杀稗,与MTBSTFA衍生,用GC-FID测定。添加回收率为90—108％,检测极限为1ppb。HPLC法,水样不必净化可直接测定,检测极限为20ppb。水样浓度过低时,需用C_8键合硅柱萃取,富集后用HPLC测定,20ppb的添加回收率为101.3％,可检测到2ppb。     

Degradation characteristics of metribuzin in soils within the Nzoia River Drainage Basin,Kenya

Metribuzin, a triazinone herbicide, is heavily used within the expansive Nzoia River Drainage Basin in Kenya for the optimization of sugarcane yields. For field experiments, soils were spiked with metribuzin and amended with filter mud compost and Tithonia diversifolia leaves. Soils with history of metribuzin application (48 months) were also spiked with metribuzin but not amended with the organic materials. Degradation of metribuzin for the three variants was followed for a period of 102 days. Repeated exposure of metribuzin to soil and addition of filter mud compost to soil enhances the degradation of metribuzin with half dissipation times of 31 and 25 days. In soil amended with Tithonia diversfolia leaves, the half dissipation time was 32 days while in the control (unamended non history soil), it was 36 days. Laboratory studies showed that soil sterilization slowed the degradation of metribuzin, with a half dissipation time of 154 days. This confirmed that metribuzin was biochemically degraded in soil by an adapted community of microbes.     

Triangulation theory applied to conflict over hormone herbicide drift in Natal,South Africa

Policies that arise out of conflict or collaboration between specific interest groups and government agencies are often explained by theoretical constructs that fall under the umbrella of group theory. Triangulation theory is one of these constructs and serves to explain the mutuality of interests that exist between government agencies and interest groups expressed as points linking geometric forms. Conflict tends to occur when competing interest groups are excluded from the linkage, in this case between the opponents and proponents of hormone herbicides in the Tala area in Natal, South Africa. In opposition to the use of hormone herbicides were vegetable farmers and their supporters: in linked support were agricultural interest groups who used hormone herbicides, the manufacturers of the herbicides, and the government agency responsible for agriculture. Because of the influence exerted through mutual support by the proponents of hormone herbicides, the formulation of policy decisions directed towards the resolution of the conflict was delayed. When the minister of agriculture finally intervened, the policy decisions were designed to secure the support of those opposing the use of hormone herbicides by introducing issues that cut across those maintaining the discord.     

Predicting herbicides concentrations in paddy water and runoff to the river basin

This study was conducted to investigate the dissipation pattern and runoff of herbicides to the river basin from the paddy fields. Pesticide paddy field model(PADDY) was applied to predict herbicide concentration in paddy fields. A field study was conducted in a paddy farm of Higashi Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan in the year of 2003 paddy season. The herbicides were mefenacet, thiobencarb, and bensulfuron methyl. The sample water was analyzed by using gas chromatography and HPLC after solid phase extraction. Predicted dissipation rate of thiobencarb in paddy water was higher( DT50=4.36) than that measured, with a lower k value(-0.069). Two weeks after application no thiobencarb was detected in the drainage channel and down stream. In the down stream, thiobencarb was detected until 3d after application, with a range of 0.02% to 0.08% of applied herbicide. The predicted dissipation rate(k) and half-life (DT50) of mefenacet was not significantly different from that of measured. In the drainage channel, upstream and downstream mefenacet was found during the whole study period. In downstream, the maximum concentration of mefenacet was present 0.6l % of applied in the paddy field on 3DAH. The dissipation rate(k) of BSM varied from -0.0860 to -0.1059 to with half-life(DT50) 3.5 and 2.84 d. In upstream water, no BSM was detected except trace amounts(0.01μg/L) at 3d after application. However, in the drainag echannel 8%, 6% and 1.58% of applied BSM was present at 0, 1 and 3 d after application respectively. In the down stream, the highest concentration was 1.06%, shortly after application.