Conservation and Management for Multiple Species: Integrating Field Research and Modeling into Management Decisions

Multiple-species reserves aim at supporting viable populations of selected species. Population viability analysis (PVA) is a group of methods for predicting such measures as extinction risk based on species-specific data. These methods include models that simulate the dynamics of a population or a metapopulation. A PVA model for the California gnatcatcher in Orange County was developed with landscape (GIS) data on the habitat characteristics and requirements and demographic data on population dynamics of the species. The potential applications of this model include sensitivity analysis that provides guidance for planning fieldwork, designing reserves, evaluating management options, and assessing human impact. The method can be extended to multiple species by combining habitat suitability maps for selected species with weights based on the threat faced by each species, and the contribution of habitat patches to the persistence of each species. These applications and extensions, together with the ability of the model to combine habitat and demographic data, make PVA a powerful tool for the design, conservation, and management of multiple species reserves.     

Metal contents in the groundwater of Sahebgunj district, Jharkhand, India, with special reference to arsenic

A detailed study has been presented on groundwater metal contents of Sahebgunj district in the state of Jharkhand, India with special reference to arsenic. Both tubewell and well waters have been studied separately with greater emphasis on tubewell waters. Groundwaters of all the nine blocks of Sahebgunj district have been surveyed for iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc in addition to arsenic. Normal distribution statistic, exploratory data analysis and robust Z-score analysis have been employed to find out the distribution pattern, localisation of data, outliers and other related information. Groundwaters of three blocks of Sahebgunj, namely, Sahebgunj, Rajmahal and Udhawa have been found to be alarmingly contaminated with arsenic present at or above 10 ppb. Arsenic distribution patterns in these blocks are highly asymmetric in nature with the common feature of increasing width from first to fourth quartile. A very broad fourth quartile in each case represents a long asymmetric tail on the right of the median. Tubewell waters of at least two more blocks require regular monitoring to identify the outbreak of arsenic at the onset. Groundwaters of Sahebgunj district in general contain high iron and manganese. It is by and large soft in nature. Well waters have been found to be better with regard to arsenic but iron and manganese contents do not vary significantly. Normal distribution analysis (NDA), box and whisker (BW) plot and Z-score analysis together can provide a reasonably complete statistical picture of metal contents in Sahebgunj district groundwaters.     

Heavy metals alter photosynthetic pigment profiles as well as activities of chlorophyllase and 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) in Amaranthus lividus seedlings

Varied concentrations of PbCl2 and CdCl2 in the germinating media reduced the total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in primary leaves of Amaranthus lividus seedlings (168 h old). When chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents were measured separately, greater loss of chl b than chl a under the identical conditions of heavy metal treatment was observed In addition, the loss of total chlorophyll was more than carotenoids under the same magnitude of heavy metal treatment. The effect of heavy metal treatment at germination stage was further studied on chlorophyll accumulation in primary leaves in relation to the activities of 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and chlorophyllase. The activities of ALAD gradually diminished in response to both the heavy metals in a concentration-guided manner, while the activities of chlorophyllase did not exhibit any significant change.     

Evaluation and standardisation of a simple HG-AAS method for rapid speciation of As(III) and As(V) in some contaminated groundwater samples of West Bengal, India

A simple HG-AAS technique has been evaluated and standardised for rapid speciation of As(III) and As(V) in a number of contaminated groundwater samples of West Bengal, India. Citric acid has been used for selective hydride formation of As(III). The sensitivity of the evaluated HG-AAS method is 7.91 mg(-1)l, standard deviation, 0.001 and detection limit, 0.4 microg l(-1). As(III) sensitivity remains constant in the sample pH range of 2.3-10.6. Concomitant mineral matrix of the water samples did not interfere with arsenic determination. Eight out of ten groundwater samples analysed for As(IlI)and As(V) contain more As(III), which lies in the range of 54-350 ppb. As(III) estimation in drinking water along with total arsenic should be invoked as a policy for a realistic risk assessment of the contaminated water.     

Statistical Optimization of Polyhydroxybutyrate Production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus Pumilus</Emphasis> H9 Using Cow Dung as a Cheap Carbon Source by Response Surface Methodology

A gram positive bacterium (designated strain H9) found to be a potential polyhydroxybutyrate (biodegradable polymer) producer was isolated from the soil samples of a stress prone environment (municipal waste areas). This bacterium was identified as Bacillus pumilus H9 from its morphological, physiological and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. A four-factor central composite rotary design was employed to optimize the medium and to find out the interactive effects of four variables, viz. concentrations of cow dung, sucrose, peptone and pH on PHB production. Using response surface methodology, a second-order polynomial equation was obtained by multiple regression analysis and a yield of 2.47 g/L of PHB dry weight was achieved from the optimized medium at pH 7. Here, we report cow dung as a cheap carbon source for the production of PHB. Further, phbA, phbB and phbC genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction which confirms the bacterium to be able to produce polyhydroxybutyrate.     

Comparative study of the microstructural and magnetic properties of fly ashes obtained from different thermal power plants in West Bengal, India

This paper deals with the physical nature of the fly ashes obtained from two thermal power plants, situated in West Bengal, India. The fly ash samples are characterized by using comprehensive techniques with an emphasis on their ultrafine nature. The particle sizes of the samples are estimated using scanning electron microcopy (SEM) and found to lie within 0.18–5.90 μm. For morphology and compositional analysis, we also use SEM coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. From X-ray study of the fly ashes the nature of conglomeration is seen to be crystalline, and the major components are mullite (Al₆Si₂O₁₃) and quartz (SiO₂). The magnetic measurement of the fly ash samples was carried out by SQUID magnetometer. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra are obtained using a conventional constant-acceleration spectrometer with a ⁵⁷Co/Rh Mössbauer source. The hyperfine parameters obtained, in general, support the findings as made from XRD analysis and provide a quantitative measure of different iron ions present in the samples. The paper presents experimental data on the physical aspects of the fly ash samples of the thermal power plants which comprise coarse, fine, and ultrafine magnetic particulate materials and attempts to provide an exhaustive analysis.     

Protein-Polymer Grafts via a Soy Protein Derived Macro-RAFT Chain Transfer Agent

Methodology to produce materials derived from renewable resources is of great importance in decreasing both environmental impact as well as dependence on fossil fuels. We report a straightforward method of polymer grafting to soy protein hydrolysates, which are available in surplus. Benzylthiocarbonate moieties were installed on the protein surface via amidation of free amino groups, creating a protein macro chain transfer agent (CTA) for reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization. We found that subjection of this soy protein macro-CTA (SP-CTA) to RAFT polymerization conditions with polar acrylate monomers resulted in protein-polymer nanometer-scale particles with solubility properties dictated by monomer polarity. Polymer grafting, particle size and polymerization were characterized by elemental analysis, transmission electron microscopy and gel permeation chromatography. We anticipate that this method of grafting will be of use in generation of new materials based on renewable resources.     

Detecting Extinction Risk from Climate Change by IUCN Red List Criteria

Anthropogenic climate change is a key threat to global biodiversity. To inform strategic actions aimed at conserving biodiversity as climate changes, conservation planners need early warning of the risks faced by different species. The IUCN Red List criteria for threatened species are widely acknowledged as useful risk assessment tools for informing conservation under constraints imposed by limited data. However, doubts have been expressed about the ability of the criteria to detect risks imposed by potentially slow‐acting threats such as climate change, particularly because criteria addressing rates of population decline are assessed over time scales as short as 10 years. We used spatially explicit stochastic population models and dynamic species distribution models projected to future climates to determine how long before extinction a species would become eligible for listing as threatened based on the IUCN Red List criteria. We focused on a short‐lived frog species (Assa darlingtoni) chosen specifically to represent potential weaknesses in the criteria to allow detailed consideration of the analytical issues and to develop an approach for wider application. The criteria were more sensitive to climate change than previously anticipated; lead times between initial listing in a threatened category and predicted extinction varied from 40 to 80 years, depending on data availability. We attributed this sensitivity primarily to the ensemble properties of the criteria that assess contrasting symptoms of extinction risk. Nevertheless, we recommend the robustness of the criteria warrants further investigation across species with contrasting life histories and patterns of decline. The adequacy of these lead times for early warning depends on practicalities of environmental policy and management, bureaucratic or political inertia, and the anticipated species response times to management actions. Detección del Riesgo de Extinción a partir del Cambio Climático por medio del Criterio de la Lista Roja de la UICNKeith et al.     

Fire Management,Managed Relocation,and Land Conservation Options for Long‐Lived Obligate Seeding Plants under Global Changes in Climate,Urbanization, and Fire Regime

Most species face multiple anthropogenic disruptions. Few studies have quantified the cumulative influence of multiple threats on species of conservation concern, and far fewer have quantified the potential relative value of multiple conservation interventions in light of these threats. We linked spatial distribution and population viability models to explore conservation interventions under projected climate change, urbanization, and changes in fire regime on a long‐lived obligate seeding plant species sensitive to high fire frequencies, a dominant plant functional type in many fire‐prone ecosystems, including the biodiversity hotspots of Mediterranean‐type ecosystems. First, we investigated the relative risk of population decline for plant populations in landscapes with and without land protection under an existing habitat conservation plan. Second, we modeled the effectiveness of relocating both seedlings and seeds from a large patch with predicted declines in habitat area to 2 unoccupied recipient patches with increasing habitat area under 2 projected climate change scenarios. Finally, we modeled 8 fire return intervals (FRIs) approximating the outcomes of different management strategies that effectively control fire frequency. Invariably, long‐lived obligate seeding populations remained viable only when FRIs were maintained at or above a minimum level. Land conservation and seedling relocation efforts lessened the impact of climate change and land‐use change on obligate seeding populations to differing degrees depending on the climate change scenario, but neither of these efforts was as generally effective as frequent translocation of seeds. While none of the modeled strategies fully compensated for the effects of land‐use and climate change, an integrative approach managing multiple threats may diminish population declines for species in complex landscapes. Conservation plans designed to mitigate the impacts of a single threat are likely to fail if additional threats are ignored. Manejo de Incendios, Reubicación Administrada y Opciones de Conservación de Suelo para Plantas de Vida Larga con Sembrado Obligado bajo los Cambios Globales en el Clima, la Urbanización y el Régimen de Incendios