Avoidance bio-assays may help to test the ecological significance of soil pollution

We measured the short-term (100 min) avoidance of a soil heavily polluted by hydrocarbons by the soil springtail Folsomia candida, at six rates of dilution in a control, unpolluted soil. We compared the results with those of long-term (40-day) population tests. Five strains were compared, of varying geographical and ecological origin. When pure, the polluted soil was lethal in the long-term and avoided in the short-term by all strains. Avoidance tests, but not population tests, were able to discriminate between strains. Avoidance thresholds differed among strains. Two ecological consequences of the results were discussed: (i) toxic compounds may kill soil animals or deprive them from food, resulting in death of populations, (ii) pollution spots can be locally deprived of fauna because of escape movements of soil animals. Advantages and limitations of the method have been listed, together with proposals for their wider use in soil ecology and ecotoxicology.     

Reproductive,growth and life-history contrasts between two species of grapsid crabs,Sesarma cinereum and S. reticulatum

Two grapsid crabs, Sesarma cinereum (Bosc) and S. reticulatum (Say), were studied in the region of Beaufort, North Carolina, USA, during the summers of 1977, 1983, and 1984. The two grapsid species showed differences in social organization, habitat preferences, and number and size of first-stage larvae. We analyzed several other characters (growth rates, size at sexual maturity, reproductive effort per clutch) to determine if these differences could be related to a coherent pattern of life-history trends. While some relationships between characters were consistent with those found among other crab species, few seemed peculiarly matched to the ecological contrasts represented by our species. Our results suggest that other factors (phyletic predisposition; decoupling of selection between larval and adult stages; equally adaptive alternatives) may obscure the rules governing relationships between life-history characters and evolutionary trends.     

Ozone measurements in South Carolina using passive samplers

Passive samplers with two different collection substrates were used to obtain an average ozone concentration for 1 month during the summer of 2002 for each South Carolina county. One sampler contained a filter coated with indigo carmine, whose color fades when exposed to ozone. The fading was measured by reflectance spectroscopy. The other sampler contained filters that were coated with nitrite, which is oxidized to nitrate when exposed to ozone. The nitrate was measured by ion chromatography. Calibration curves were developed for the two methods by comparing color fading from indigo carmine and nitrate ion concentration from the nitrite filter with ambient ozone concentration measured by a co-located reference continuous UV ozone analyzer. These curves were used to calculate integrated ozone concentrations for samplers distributed across South Carolina. Using the indigo carmine method, the average ozone concentrations ranged from 21 to 64 ppb (average = 46 +/- 7.9 ppb, n = 58) across the 46 counties in the state during one summer month of 2002. Concentrations for the same time period from the nitrite-coated filters ranged from 23 to 62 ppb (average = 41 +/- 8.1 ppb, n = 58). Also for the same time period, the 23 continuous UV photometric ozone monitors operated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control at sites within 10 miles of some of the passive monitors showed ozone concentrations ranging from 28 to 50 ppb (average = 39 +/- 6.3 ppb, n = 22).     

Determination of atmospheric nitrogen input to Lake Greenwood,South Carolina--I. PM measurements

The Reedy River branch of Lake Greenwood, SC, has repeatedly experienced summertime algal blooms, upsetting the natural system. This lake's shallow depth makes It susceptible to atmospheric influence. A series of experiments were carried out in order to investigate the effect of atmospheric nitrogen deposition into the lake. Nitrogen was examined because of the insignificant phosphorus dry atmospheric flux and the unique nutrient demands of the dominant algae (Pithophora oedogonia) contributing to the blooms. In this paper, results are presented, of the experimental measurement of coarse and fine atmospheric concentrations of atmospheric particulate nitrogen adjacent to and in the watershed of the Reedy River (downtown Greenville) and Lake Greenwood. Experiments were carried out during four 24-hr periods in January 2001 and again during four 24-hr periods in March 2001. Results are presented here for atmospheric particulate nitrogen as well as other constituents of the airborne aerosol. Mass concentrations of PM2.5 averaged 14.0 and 21 microg/m3 for Lake Greenwood and downtown Greenville, respectively. Mass concentrations of total suspended particulates (TSP) averaged 22.6 and 38.5 microg/m3 for Lake Greenwood and downtown Greenville, respectively. This ambient aerosol concentration was apportioned to its chemical constituents, and the greatest contributors to PM2.5 mass were organics (45 and 42% for downtown Greenville and the lake, respectively) and sulfate (14.1 and 19.7% for downtown Greenville and the lake, respectively). The information gathered here, despite its episodic nature, is important not only in determining atmospheric nitrogen but also in documenting the composition of aerosol in South Carolina, which so far has not been studied. In a companion paper, results for gaseous pollutants as well as thermodynamic modeling of the aerosol and nitrogen flux determinations are presented.     

Determination of atmospheric nitrogen input to Lake Greenwood, South Carolina: part 2--Gaseous measurements and modeling

The Reedy River branch of Lake Greenwood, SC, has repeatedly experienced summertime algal blooms, upsetting the natural system. A series of experiments were carried out to investigate atmospheric nitrogen (N) input into the lake. N was examined because of the insignificant phosphorus dry atmospheric flux and the unique nutrient demands of the dominant algae (Pithophora oedogonia) contributing to the blooms. Episodic atmospheric measurements during January and March 2001 have shown that the dry N flux onto the lake ranged from 0.9 to 17.4 kg N/ha-yr, and on average is caused by nitric acid (HNO3; 31%), followed by nitrogen dioxide (NO2; 23%), fine ammonium (NH4+; 20%), coarse nitrate (NO3-; 16%), fine NO3 (5%), and coarse NH4+ (5%). Similar measurements in Greenville, SC (the upper watershed of the Reedy River), showed that the dry N deposition flux there ranged from 1.4 to 9.7 kg N/ha-yr and was mostly caused by gaseous deposition (40% NO2 and 40% HNO3). The magnitude of this dry N deposition flux is comparable to wet N flux as well as other point sources in the area. Thermodynamic modeling showed low concentrations of ammonia, relative to the particulate NH4+ concentrations.     

Applying outcome evaluation and measures to environmental management programs

Environmental program and audit procedures primarily focus on solving perceived immediate problems and do not provide a context within which to evaluate the work and its importance for the decision maker. Outcome evaluation offers a theory-based model for designing long-term solutions based on stakeholder expectation and, ultimately, ownership of the performance changes. Problem identification as well as the development of actions and their measurement are done with the full participation of those responsible for the implementation of the changes. Ownership of the results is reinforced and, significantly, the decision maker and other interested parties can measure the value or the importance of the work. This article describes how outcome evaluation can be an important tool for federal environmental managers who must respond to the Government Performance and Results Act (1993) and privatesector companies. Used in combination with traditional environmental practices, outcome evaluation can contribute to both the design and the implementation of a successful environmental management program.     

Defining disaster resilience: comparisons from key stakeholders involved in emergency management in Victoria,Australia

Three years after the introduction of the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience there remains no unanimously adopted definition of disaster resilience within Australia's emergency management sector. The aim of this study is to determine what the concept means to key stakeholders in the emergency management sector in the Australian State of Victoria, and how these conceptualisations overlap and diverge. Via an online survey, 113 people were asked how they define disaster resilience in their work in the emergency management sector. A data mining software tool, Leximancer, was employed to uncover the relationships between the definitions provided. The findings show that stakeholders see resilience as an ‘ability’ that encompasses emergency management activities and personal responsibility. However, the findings also highlight some possible points of conflict between stakeholders. In addition, the paper outlines and discusses a number of potential consequences for the implementation and the success of the resilience‐based approach in Australia.     

Home range and habitat use of juvenile Atlantic green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) on shallow reef habitats in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Many animals, including sea turtles, alter their movements and home range in relation to the particular type and quality of the habitat occupied. When sufficient resources are available, individuals may develop affinities to specific areas for activities, such as foraging and (or) resting. In the case of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas L.), after a number of years in the open ocean, juveniles recruit to shallow-water developmental habitats where they occupy distinct home ranges as they feed and grow to maturity. Our goal was to study the habitat use and home range movements of juvenile green turtles along a shallow, worm-rock reef tract in Palm Beach, Florida. Six turtles, measuring from 27.9 to 48.1 cm in straight carapace length and from 7.2 to 12.6 kg in mass, were tracked via ultrasonic telemetry from August to November 2003. Upon capture, each turtle’s esophagus was flushed via lavage to determine recently ingested foods. In addition, four turtles were recaptured and fitted with a time-depth recorder to study dive patterns. Home range areas measured with 100% minimum convex polygon and 95% fixed kernel estimators varied from 0.69 to 5.05 km² (mean=2.38±1.78 km²) and 0.73 to 4.89 km² (mean=2.09±1.80 km²), respectively. Home ranges and core areas of turtles were largely restricted to the reef tract itself, and showed considerable overlap between food and shelter sites. The mean number of dives during daylight hours (0600–1800 hours) was 84±5.0 dives, while the mean during night hours (1800–0600 hours) was 39±3.0 dives. Dives during the day were shallower (mean=3.20±1.26 m) than dives at night (mean=5.59±0.09 m). All six turtles were found to have a mixed diet of similar macroalgae and sponge fragments. Our results reveal that juvenile green turtles occupy stable home ranges along the nearshore worm-rock reefs of Southeast Florida, during the summer and fall. Determining which habitats are used by green turtles will assist conservation managers in their global effort to protect this endangered species.     

印染行业清洁生产技术

论述了目前印染行业水污染的现状及原因，指出调整产业结构、应用新工艺、大力提倡节约用水、清沽生产将是印染行业实现可持续发展的必由之路。