Effects of Coastal Lighting on Foraging Behaviorof Beach Mice

Abstract:  Introduction of artificial light into wildlife habitat represents a rapidly expanding form of human encroachment, particularly in coastal systems. Light pollution alters the behavior of sea turtles during nesting; therefore, long-wavelength lights—low-pressure sodium vapor and bug lights—that minimize impacts on turtles are required for beach lighting in Florida (U.S.A.). We investigated the effects of these two kinds of lights on the foraging behavior of Santa Rosa beach mice (  Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus ). We compared patch use and giving-up densities of mice for experimental food patches established along a gradient of artificial light in the field. Mice exploited fewer food patches near both types of artificial light than in areas with little light and harvested fewer seeds within patches near bug lights. Our results show that artificial light affects the behavior of terrestrial species in coastal areas and that light pollution deserves greater consideration in conservation planning.     

Stability of a Coal Waste Artificial Reef

The feasibility of using U.K. coal-fired power station waste materials for artificial reef production is being examined. in June, 1989, an experimental artificial reef was constructed in Poole Bay, off the central south coast of the U.K., using three different mixtures of pulverised fuel ash (PFA), flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) gypsum and slurry, stabilized with cement and formed into blocks. Fifty tonnes of 40 × 20 × 20 cm blocks were formed into eight conical reef units replicating three different PFA/gypsum mixtures and one concrete control. the reef structure is 10m below chart datum on a flat sandy sea-bed.

Combustion of coal concentrates the heavy metal content in the resultant ash. the purpose of stabilization of the ash as blocks is twofold: to immobilize heavy metals (or other components) and to provide hard substratum for the attachment of organisms. to examine the effectiveness of this stabilization and hence the environmental compatibility of the block materials, heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, Zn) content of the blocks has been monitored routinely over two years, to determine leaching rates. Sectional profiles indicate partial replacement of calcium content by magnesium. Associated with this there has also been some redistribution of heavy metals. Only in the case of cadmium has there been a detectable loss from the surface of blocks. Chromium and manganese concentrations appear to have increased. the metal content of the reef epibiota (including ascidians, Ascidia mentula; hydroids, Halecium spp.; bryozoans, Bugula spp. and red algae) growing on the ash blocks has been compared to that of epibiota attached to the concrete controls and surrounding sea-bed. to date no evidence of excess bioaccumulation of metals has been detected.

The physical integrity of the ash reef blocks has been maintained. There is evidence that the blocks are increasing in compressive strength.

An indication of the fishery enhancement potential of the experimental structure is given by the presence of eight commercially fished species (crustaceans and molluscs) including lobsters (Homarus gammarus).     

Effect of Climatic Factors on the Growth of Representatives of the Genus Pinus (Pinaceae) under Conditions of Introduction

Four introduced and one aboriginal species of the genus Pinus L. have been studied in the middle taiga subzone of southern Karelia. Significant interspecific differences in the dates of onset, cessation, and peak of the growth of shoots and needles have been revealed. It has been shown that their annual increment depends on the rate of growth, rather than on its duration. The dynamics of shoot and needle growth in introduced and aboriginal species, though largely similar, differ in some respects. These differences reflect species-specific responses to hydrothermal conditions in a certain growing season.     

Analysis of Environmental and Socio-economic Determinants Affecting Population Longevity Level at County Level in China

INTRODUCTIONIn recent thirty years, due to the decreasing fertility andincreasing life expectancy, China's population is aging ata very rapid pace and the elderly population size is keepingon growing. During the dramatic aging progress, the oldestold group in China is catching our eyes. More and moreold people of China are becoming the oldest old. Theextremely old population (aged 80 and above) is increasingat 5.1% annually, while the old population above 65 isincreasing at 2.9%, and the…     

黑河流域底栖动物群落结构及水质评价

为了解黑河流域上中游底栖动物群落结构特征及其与环境因子之间的关系,于2018年8月对研究区域17个采样点的底栖动物和水体理化指标进行调查研究.共鉴定出底栖动物43种,其中节肢动物34种（79.1%）,软体动物7种（16.3%）,环节动物2种（4.6%）;就整个研究区域而言,优势种为大蚊（Tipulidae）、豆娘幼虫（Damselfly）、水蜘蛛（Argyroneta）、耳萝卜螺（Radix auricularia）、琥珀螺（Suecinea sp.）、白旋螺（Gyraulusalbus）,干、支流优势种分布趋势为干流（6种）优于支流（5种）;底栖动物平均密度和平均生物量分别为77ind/m²和3.7423g/m²现存量存在显著空间差异,整体上干流（1032ind/m²、60.0963g/m²）大于支流（276ind/m²、3.5233g/m²）,物种数干流（36种）大于支流（15种）;单因素方差分析显示,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数及Pielou均匀度指数分布特征为干流大于支流.黑河流域上游支流和中游干流不同河段底栖动物物种组成呈空间异质性,而多样性指数对物种组成依赖性强,但因黑河流域底栖动物物种组成受自然因素和人类活动双重影响程度差异较大,使得Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数及Pielou均匀度指数不适合黑河水质评价.依据BI指数和综合污染指数评价表明,黑河上游支流水质优于中游干流.根据底栖动物与环境因子之间的相关矩阵分析并结合RDA分析表明：BOD₅、水温（WT）、电导率（EC）、DO、溶解性总固体（TDS）、COD_Mn及盐度是影响底栖动物群落结构的主要环境因子.     

排水管道沉积物微生物群落及环境因子分析

选取北京市某区的排水管道沉积物进行取样,采用高通量测序手段分析,结果表明变形菌门、广古菌门、拟杆菌门、厚壁菌门是排水管道沉积物微生物中的优势门类;在纲水平上,δ-变形菌纲、甲烷微菌纲、梭菌纲、拟杆菌纲占相对优势;在属水平上,功能性微生物硫酸盐还原菌（SRB）和产甲烷古菌（MA）普遍存在于各处管道.在所选的6段管段中,管段S3、S4处MA的相对丰度分别为20.6%、40.8%,高于其他管段,厌氧产甲烷的潜能较大,有发生可燃气积累的风险;管段S5、S6处的SRB相对丰度分别为9.14%、8.19%,高于其他管段,硫酸盐还原为硫化物的潜能较大,存在管道腐蚀的风险.RDA分析表明污水的DO、水温、硫酸根、TN与管道沉积物中微生物群落存在相关性.     

Dynamic nano-Ag colloids cytotoxicity to and accumulation by Escherichia coli: Effects of Fe3+, ionic strength and humic acid

Released Ag ions or/and Ag particles are believed to contribute to the cytotoxicity of Ag nanomaterials, and thus, the cytotoxicity and mechanism of Ag nanomaterials should be dynamic in water due to unfixed Ag particle:Ag⁺ ratios. Our recent research found that the cytotoxicity of PVP-Ag nanoparticles is attributable to Ag particles alone in 3 hr bioassays, and shifts to both Ag particles and released Ag⁺ in 48 hr bioassays. Herein, as a continued study, the cytotoxicity and accumulation of 50 and 100 nm Ag colloids in Escherichia coli were determined dynamically. The cytotoxicity and mechanisms of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic throughout exposure and are derived from both Ag ions and particles. Ag accumulation by E. coli is derived mainly from extracellular Ag particles during the initial 12 hr of exposure, and thereafter mainly from intracellular Ag ions. Fe³⁺ accelerates the oxidative dissolution of nano-Ag colloids, which results in decreasing amounts of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Na⁺ stabilizes nano-Ag colloids, thereby decreasing the bioavailability of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Humic acid (HA) binds Ag⁺ to form Ag⁺-HA, decreasing ion-related toxicity and binding to the E. coli surface, decreasing particle-related toxicity. HA in complex conditions showed a stronger relative contribution to toxicity and accumulation than Na⁺ or Fe³⁺. The results highlighted the cytotoxicity and mechanism of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic and affected by environmental factors, and therefore exposure duration and water chemistry should be seriously considered in environmental and health risk assessments.     

洞庭湖区南汉垸水体浮游植物群落结构特征及其影响因素

环境要素的变化对浮游植物的群落结构和功能具有重要影响.为揭示洞庭湖南汉垸湖区浮游植物群落结构特征及其影响因素,分别于2017年11月（关泵封水期）和2018年6月（开泵放水期）在洞庭湖区典型堤垸——南汉垸进行了采样调查,并对调查区域内的浮游植物及主要水环境因子进行了系统监测和分析.结果表明:①调查期间共检出浮游植物8门62属,主要隶属于绿藻门（Chlorophyta）、硅藻门（Bacillariophyta）和蓝藻门（Cyanophyta）,浮游植物分布表现出较为显著的时间差异性,11月浮游植物的丰度为8.34×106~3.02×108 L-1,6月为1.13×106~2.04×107 L-1.②Shannon-Wiener多样性指数（H'）介于1.10~3.24之间,Margalef丰富度指数（d）介于1.42~6.40之间,Pielou均匀度指数（J）介于0.48~0.87之间,多样性评价表明,南汉垸整体上介于轻污染与β-中污染之间,局部采样点为α-中污染.③PCA（主成分分析）结果表明,ρ（TN）、ρ（TP）和ρ（NH₄+-N）为南汉垸水体的主要污染因子.④RDA（冗余分析）结果表明,南汉垸浮游植物群落结构分布与pH、ρ（NH₄+-N）及ρ（TN）呈正相关,与WT（水温）呈负相关.研究显示,南汉垸水体介于轻污染与β-中污染之间,营养状态及浮游植物群落结构在时间上差异较大.