Exploring Chemical Variables in Ligustrum lucidum Ait. F. Tricolor (Rehd.) Rehd. in Relation to Air Pollutants and Environmental Conditions

Ligustrum lucidum Ait. f. tricolor (Rehd.) Rehd. in relation to atmospheric pollutants in Córdoba city, Argentina. The study area receives regional pollutants and was categorized taking into account traffic level, industrial density, type of industry, location of the sample point in relation to the street corner, treeless condition, and topographic level. Dried weight/fresh weight ratio (DW/FW) and specific leaf area (SLA) were calculated, and concentrations of chlorophylls, carotenoids, total sulfur, soluble proteins, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydroperoxy conjugated dienes (HPCD) were determined in leaf samples. Sulfur content correlates positively with traffic density and SLA correlates negatively with some combinations of the categorical variables; MDA correlates positively with topographic level and total protein concentration correlates negatively with treeless condition. On the basis of our results, traffic, location of trees, type of industry, situation of a tree with respect to others, and topographic level are the environmental variables to bear in mind when selecting analogous sampling points in a passive monitoring program. An approximation to predict tree injury may be obtained by measuring DW/FW ratio, proteins, pigments, HPCD, and MDA as they are responsible for the major variability of data.     

Variability of nitrate concentration in nitrogen-depleted subtropical surface waters

Recent improvements in the analytical determination of nitrate and nitrite allow measurements of nanomolar concentrations in nitrogen-depleted surface waters, revealing variability not previously observable. The new methods allow direct observation of net nitrate consumption and production measured as changes in nitrate concentration over time in incubated samples of seawater. We find that nitrate concentrations in nitrogendepleted surface waters show regional differences, and sometimes diel differences. The variability in nitrate concentration reflects differences in atmospheric inputs, in physical forcing, as well as in the biological processes of nitrate uptake and nitrification. Examples are shown from the Southern California Bight (1986–1987), the equatorial Pacific (February–March, 1988), and the eastern subtropical Atlantic (March–April, 1989).     

Spectroscopy properties and optimization for the detection of mercury（Ⅱ） with series hydroxyl-porphyrins

结合紫外分光光度法研究系列羟基卟啉与汞离子的显色反应,并优化其检测条件.在pH=7.5的条件下,以N,N-二甲基甲酰胺（DMF）作为溶剂,加入0.4 mL表面活性剂Tween-80,系列羟基卟啉与Hg2＋发生配位反应,发现其最大吸收峰与卟啉环上（meso）位苯基对位上的羟基数目相关.热力学研究表明,单羟基卟啉化合物对Hg2＋检测效果最好,形成1∶1配位化合物,检测限可达0.042μg.L-1,且在0—50 mg.L-1范围内符合比尔定律.     

Contrasts in Livelihoods and Protein Intake between Commercial and Subsistence Bushmeat Hunters in Two Villages on Bioko Island,Equatorial Guinea

Across West and Central Africa, wildlife provides a source of food and income. We investigated the relation between bushmeat hunting and household wealth and protein consumption in 2 rural communities in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. One village was dedicated to commercial hunting, the other trapped game primarily for food. We tested whether commercial‐hunter households were nutritionally advantaged over subsistence‐hunter households due to their higher income from the bushmeat trade and greater access to wild‐animal protein. We conducted bushmeat‐offtake surveys in both villages (captures by hunters and carcasses arriving to each village). Mammals (including threatened primates: black colobus [Colobus satanas], Preussi's guenon [Allochrocebus preussi], and russet‐eared guenon [Cercopithecus erythrotis]), birds, and reptiles were hunted. The blue duiker (Philantomba monticola), giant pouched rat (Cricetomys emini), and brush‐tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus) contributed almost all the animal biomass hunted, consumed, or sold in both villages. Monkeys and Ogilbyi's duikers (Cephalophus ogilbyi) were hunted only by commercial hunters. Commercial hunters generated a mean of US$2000/year from bushmeat sales. Households with commercial hunters were on average wealthier, generated more income, spent more money on nonessential goods, and bought more products they did not grow. By contrast, households with subsistence hunters spent less on market items, spent more on essential products, and grew more of their own food. Despite these differences, average consumption of vegetable protein and domestic meat and bushmeat protein did not differ between villages. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the socioeconomic and nutritional context of commercial and subsistence bushmeat hunting to correctly interpret ways of reducing their effects on threatened species and to enable the sustainable offtake of more productive taxa. Contrastes en el Sustento y la Ingesta de Proteínas entre Carne de Caza de Subsistencia y Comercial en Dos Aldeas en Isla Bioko, Guinea Ecuatorial     

Trace element contents in fine particulate matter (PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>) in urban school microenvironments near a contaminated beach with mine tailings,Chañaral,Chile

Air quality in schools is an important public health issue because children spend a considerable part of their daily life in classrooms. Particulate size and chemical composition has been associated with negative health effects. We studied levels of trace element concentrations in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in indoor versus outdoor school settings from six schools in Chañaral, a coastal city with a beach severely polluted with mine tailings. Concentrations of trace elements were measured on two consecutive days during the summer and winter of 2012 and 2013 and determined using X-ray fluorescence. Source apportionment and element enrichment were measured using principal components analysis and enrichment factors. Trace elements were higher in indoor school spaces, especially in classrooms compared with outdoor environments. The most abundant elements were Na, Cl, S, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, Ti, and Si, associated with earth’s crust. Conversely, an extremely high enrichment factor was determined for Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr; heavy metals associated with systemic and carcinogenic risk effects, whose probably origin sources are industrial and mining activities. These results suggest that the main source of trace elements in PM_2.5 from these school microenvironments is a mixture of dust contaminated with mine tailings and marine aerosols. Policymakers should prioritize environmental management changes to minimize further environmental damage and its direct impact on the health of children exposed.     

Copper-algae interactions: Inheritance or adaptation?

This study evaluated the responses of wild, adult plants of Enteromorpha compressa, and their progeny, to various copper concentrations. Experiments were designed to test the hypotheses that: 1) individuals of E. compressa from Caleta Palito, a copper-enriched coastal locality, tolerate higher copper concentrations than those from a place with no history of copper pollution and 2) such copper tolerance is under genetic control and therefore, was an inherited character. Our results indicate that algae which inhabit a copper-enriched environment tolerate higher concentrations of copper than those from waters with low copper concentrations. On the other hand, our results suggest that generalizations regarding heritability of the tolerance to copper do not apply to the Chilean E. compressa, as no differences in growth or rhizoid production were found between the progeny from Caleta Palito and Caleta Zenteno. These findings are an indication that heritability and adaptation may represent alternative strategies used by different populations of the same algal species to tolerate copper.     

Levels and chemical composition of PM in a city near a large Cu-smelter in Spain

A long-term series (2001-2008) of chemical analysis of atmospheric particulate matter (PM(10) and PM(2.5)) collected in the city of Huelva (SW Spain) is considered in this study. The impact of emission plumes from one of the largest Cu-smelters in the world on air quality in the city of Huelva is evidenced by the high daily and hourly levels of As, other potentially toxic elements (e.g. Cu, Zn, Cd, Se, Bi, and Pb) in particulate matter, as well as the high levels of some gaseous pollutants (NO(2) and SO(2)). Mean arsenic levels in the PM10 fraction were higher than the target value set by European Directive 2004/107/EC (6 ngAs m(-3)) for 1(st) January 2013. Hourly peak concentrations of As and other metals and elements (Zn, Cu, P and Se) analyzed by PIXE can reach maximum hourly levels as high as 326 ngAs m(-3), 506 ngZn m(-3), 345 ngCu m(-3), 778 ngP m(-3) and 12 ngSe m(-3). The contribution of Cu-smelter emissions to ambient PM is quantified on an annual basis in 2.0-6.7 μg m(-3) and 1.8-4.2 μg m(-3) for PM(10) and PM(2.5), respectively. High resolution outputs of the HYSPLIT dispersion model show the geographical distribution of the As ambient levels into the emission plume, suggesting that the working regime of the Cu-smelter factory and the sea breeze circulation are the main factors controlling the impact of the Cu-smelter on the air quality of the city. The results of this work improve our understanding of the behaviour of industrial emission plumes and their impact on air quality of a city, where the population might be exposed to very high ambient concentrations of toxic metals during a few hours.     

Mapping Hotspots of Threatened Species Traded in Bushmeat Markets in the Cross–Sanaga Rivers Region

Bushmeat markets exist in many countries in West and Central Africa, and data on species sold can be used to detect patterns of wildlife trade in a region. We surveyed 89 markets within the Cross–Sanaga rivers region, West Africa. In each market, we counted the number of carcasses of each taxon sold. During a 6‐month period (7594 market days), 44 mammal species were traded. Thirteen species were on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List or protected under national legislation, and at least 1 threatened species was traded in 88 of the 89 markets. We used these data to identify market groups that traded similar species assemblages. Using cluster analyses, we detected 8 market groups that were also geographically distinct. Market groups differed in the diversity of species, evenness of species, and dominant, prevalent, and characteristic species traded. We mapped the distribution of number of threatened species traded across the study region. Most threatened species were sold in markets nearest 2 national parks, Korup National Park in Cameroon and Cross River in Nigeria. To assess whether the threatened‐species trade hotspots coincided with the known ranges of these species, we mapped the overlap of all threatened species traded. Markets selling more threatened species overlapped with those regions that had higher numbers of these. Our study can provide wildlife managers in the region with better tools to discern zones within which to focus policing efforts and reduce threats to species that are threatened by the bushmeat trade. Mapeo de Sitios Críticos para Especies Amenazadas Comercializadas en Mercados de Vida Silvestre en la Región de los Ríos Cross‐Sanaga     

大孤山铁矿边坡爆破损伤分区研究

露天矿生产爆破,特别是靠帮爆破在边坡中形成的爆破损伤区对其稳定性具有很大的影响。本文针对大孤山铁矿露天爆破开采的实际情况,建立了极限平衡数值分析模型及峰值速度衰减公式。利用数值分析软件Geoslope对边坡靠帮爆破过程中岩体损伤范围进行了研究,主要分析了在爆破-200--212m水平时,爆破震动对边坡岩体的影响,并利用萨道夫斯基公式和PPV安全判据对爆区周围岩体损伤范围进行了计算。结果表明距离炮孔6.2m以内范围为完全破碎区,6.2-12.4m为岩体重度损伤区,12.4-19.7m为轻微损伤区。数值分析表明距爆源同一距离的岩体质点峰值速度随深度的增加而减小,爆破区周围震动波速成漏斗形分布,同实际爆破情况吻合。