Conflict-involvement of male guinea pigs (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cavia aperea</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">porcellus</Emphasis>) as a criterion for partner preference

Polygynous mating systems can inflict considerable costs on males, often causing the emergence of alternative mating strategies to ensure reproductive success. These strategies can lead to different morphs of color, size, or behavior. The present work was done on guinea pigs, a polygynous rodent species. Some males can show a reduced readiness for conflict, perhaps employing an alternative mating strategy. To test this hypothesis, a two-stage experiment was set up, with males (N = 16) and females (N = 16) initially living in isosexual groups. Visual and olfactory contact was possible through a wire mesh. Male agonistic behavior was observed for 15 days, confirming the existence of less-conflict-involved (LCI, N = 7) and more-conflict-involved males (MCI, N = 9). Significant differences were found for a conditional parameter, body mass, and a morphometric one, testis width: LCI consistently surpassed MCI. Hormonally, cortisol was comparable, while testosterone was distinctly higher in MCI. Next, males and females were joined and observed for further 24 days. Males initially lost weight but reached original mass towards the end of the experiment. Testis width patterns were similar. Again, LCI had higher body mass. Cortisol was comparable, but testosterone release 3 days after merging was significantly higher in LCI. Behaviorally, LCI exhibited significantly less male–male aggression and more socio-sexual behavior than MCI. The former were more successful, with 57% capable of accessing females, in contrast to 11% of MCI. The existence of two distinct behavioral phenotypes in guinea pig males suggests that different reproductive strategies may exist in this species.     

Effectiveness of territorial polygyny and alternative mating strategies in northern fur seals, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Callorhinus ursinus</Emphasis>

We conducted a 6-year longitudinal behavioral and genetic investigation of a highly polygynous pinniped, the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), to determine the contribution of terrestrial polygyny to male fertilization success and to assess the occurrence of alternative mating strategies. Genetic samples from 37 adult males, 50 adult females, and 85 pups were collected and genotyped using five polymorphic microsatellite loci. Pup paternity was assigned using Cervus 2.0 at 99% confidence level. Paternity of 83 pups (98%) was assigned to terrestrial males who held territories or stayed temporarily in the study area during the breeding season when fertilization occurred. For 56 pups of which attendance records of their mothers were available, paternity of 45 pups (80%) was assigned to the associate males in whose territory their mothers stayed during the perioestrus period. In addition to defending breeding territories, territorial males have often been observed attempting to forcibly abduct adult females from adjacent territories (female stealing): We observed a total of 95 such cases, in which the stealers had significantly fewer females than the territorial males from whose territories they stole females. Our results indicate that terrestrial resource-defense polygyny is the major mating system in this species and that nonassociated paternity occurs mostly as a result of alternative mating strategies of less successful males. Male northern fur seals thus appear to adopt conditional alternative strategies that depend on their current social status to maximize their life-time reproductive success.     

Estimating the critical phosphorus loading of shallow lakes with the ecosystem model PCLake: Sensitivity, calibration and uncertainty

There is a vast body of knowledge that eutrophication of lakes may cause algal blooms. Among lakes, shallow lakes are peculiar systems in that they typically can be in one of two contrasting (equilibrium) states that are self-stabilizing: a ‘clear’ state with submerged macrophytes or a ‘turbid’ state dominated by phytoplankton. Eutrophication may cause a switch from the clear to the turbid state, if the P loading exceeds a critical value. The ecological processes governing this switch are covered by the ecosystem model PCLake, a dynamic model of nutrient cycling and the biota in shallow lakes. Here we present an extensive analysis of the model, using a three-step procedure. (1) A sensitivity analysis revealed the key parameters for the model output. (2) These parameters were calibrated on the combined data on total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, macrophytes cover and Secchi depth in over 40 lakes. This was done by a Bayesian procedure, giving a weight to each parameter setting based on its likelihood. (3) These weights were used for an uncertainty analysis, applied to the switchpoints (critical phosphorus loading levels) calculated by the model. The model was most sensitive to changes in water depth, P and N loading, retention time and lake size as external input factors, and to zooplankton growth rate, settling rates and maximum growth rates of phytoplankton and macrophytes as process parameters. The results for the ‘best run’ showed an acceptable agreement between model and data and classified nearly all lakes to which the model was applied correctly as either ‘clear’ (macrophyte-dominated) or ‘turbid’ (phytoplankton-dominated). The critical loading levels for a standard lake showed about a factor two uncertainty due to the variation in the posterior parameter distribution. This study calculates in one coherent analysis uncertainties in critical phosphorus loading, a parameter that is of great importance to water quality managers.     

Instrument tuning for trace analysis of dioxins and furans for the vg 70s/se gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system using electron impact mode

We present the salient characteristics of tuning procedures that have evolved from our 3 years of experience while producing large amounts of data of the highest quality. Our laboratory routinely analyzes 2,3,7,8‐substituted dioxins and furans at parts per quadrillion levels in 50–100 g of human serum samples using the VG 70S/SE stand‐alone gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system at 10000 resolution (defined by 5% overlap) in the selected ion recording mode. Trace measurement of dioxins and furans in human biological matrices—for example, whole blood, serum, or adipose tissue‐requires reproducible instrument tuning within day as well as among days for quality results. Additionally, instument‐tuning procedures among operators must be reproducible to minimize operator bias because periodically different operators are used. Instrument tuning is highly subjective and argumentive; therefore, to minimize the ambiguity within our laboratory, we have standardized our technique to reproducibly tune the GC/MS system.     

Resource use conflicts in Usangu Plains,Mbarali District,Tanzania

Conflicts over natural resources such as land, water, and forests are ubiquitous. People everywhere have competed for natural resources to enhance their livelihoods. However, the dimensions, level and intensity of conflict vary greatly from one place to another. This study was conducted in Usangu plains, Mbarali district, Tanzania, to investigate resource use conflicts and their underlying causes. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and household survey using a structured questionnaire were the major tools for data collection. Participant observation and secondary data sources were also used to supplement information. The study revealed the existence of resource use conflicts in the area. About 50% of respondents argued that relationships between the various ethnic groups in Usangu plains were bad. Conflicts were centred on competition for water and land. Crop damage was ranked highest (25% of respondents) as a cause behind many conflicts in the area. The study recommends that the government should redefine land tenure and land rights, enhance crop-livestock linkages and carry out a stakeholder analysis in the Usangu plains.     

废线路板粉末中二噁英含量的测定

采用加速溶剂萃取-柱层析-高分辨质谱法检测废线路板粉末样品中17种2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs的含量。采用TRDIOXIN-5MS毛细管色谱柱(60 m×0.25 mm×0.25μm)进行分离和多离子检测(MID)模式进行检测,以保留时间和同位素特征离子丰度比进行定性,用13C标记同位素稀释内标法进行定量。结果表明,17种2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs化合物的标准曲线的线性相关性良好,线性相关系数均大于0.999 9,该方法分析的提取内标的平均回收率范围为37.25%~82.75%,RSD8%,样品中各异构体的加标回收率为112.66%~124.26%,RSD7%。应用该方法检测废线路板粉末样品,回收率在58.67%~123.00%范围内,1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Hp CDF、1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Hp CDD、OCDF、OCDD的质量比分别为2.74、2.50、5.57、16.37 pg/g,TEQ分别为0.027 4、0.025 0、0.005 6、0.016 4 ng/kg。     

环境持久性药物在江苏省地表水中的污染水平、分布特征及生态风险评估

江苏省作为我国的经济大省,对其进行环境持久性药物污染物（EPPPs）的污染特征与生态风险评估研究很有必要.本研究以江苏省1~4级河流和面积≥50 km²的湖泊为研究目标,对EPPPs的污染现状进行检测和分析.结果表明,江苏省地表水中共检出35种EPPPs,浓度范围为66.74~2189.83 ng·L^-1;该研究主要对检出率大于25%的17种EPPPs进行了探讨,其浓度水平为72.48~1142.79 ng·L^-1,浓度均值为345.20 ng·L^-1.EPPPs总浓度水平苏北和苏南浓度水平高于苏中地区.其中扬州市EPPPs浓度全省最高,可能主要污染来源为生活污水、航运污水排放及渔业养殖中的药物使用.EPPPs总浓度整体以京杭运河、废黄河为中线向两侧递减.对17种EPPPs的生态风险评估表明,单一目标药物对江苏省水生态风险较小;采用简单叠加模型计算出的联合毒性风险商范围为0.03~0.52,联合毒性对水生生物表现为低至中等风险.     

波谱分辨率与Chandler摆动的双频现象

地极移动中Chandler摆动有时出现的双频现象，一直为许多学者所关注。分析了IERS新近公布的经统一归算的极移数据，结合频谱分析中分辨率的有关问题，进一步讨论了Chandler摆动的双频现象。分析认为，文中采用的极移资料序列的采样间隔及序列长度已满足分辨Chandler摆动双频的要求。所得结果支持Chandler摆动存在双频的观点，同时给出了该极坐标序列存在的约0．3a至50a间的一些周期的参数。