Epidemiologic Analysis of Factors Associated with Local Disappearances of Native Ranid Frogs in Arizona

Abstract:  We examined factors that may independently or synergistically contribute to amphibian population declines. We used epidemiologic case–control methodology to sample and analyze a large database developed and maintained by the Arizona Game and Fish Department that describes historical and currently known ranid frog localities in Arizona, U.S.A. Sites with historical documentation of target ranid species ( n = 324) were evaluated to identify locations where frogs had disappeared during the study period (case sites) and locations where frog populations persisted (control sites). Between 1986 and 2003, 117 (36%) of the 324 sites became case sites, of which 105 were used in the analyses. An equal number of control sites were sampled to control for the effects of time. Risk factors, or predictor variables, were defined from environmental data summarized during site surveys and geographic information system data layers. We evaluated risk factors with univariate and multifactorial logistic-regression analyses to derive odds ratios (OR). Odds for local population disappearance were significantly related to 4 factors in the multifactorial model. Disappearance of frog populations increased with increasing elevation (OR = 2.7 for every 500 m, p < 0.01). Sites where disappearances occurred were 4.3 times more likely to have other nearby sites that also experienced disappearances (OR = 4.3, p < 0.01), whereas the odds of disappearance were 6.7 times less (OR = 0.15, p < 0.01) when there was a source population nearby. Sites with disappearances were 2.6 times more likely to have introduced crayfish than were control sites (OR = 2.6, p = 0.04). The identification of factors associated with frog disappearances increases understanding of declines occurring in natural populations and aids in conservation efforts to reestablish and protect native ranids by identifying and prioritizing implicated threats.     

Acid Deposition in the Tuscan Appennines During the Dry Period 1988-89

The typical parameters of acid precipitation are evaluated in the forest of Vallombrosa (Tuscan Appennines) during the dry period 1988-89. Individual rain events (dry and wet deposition) were sampled in a clearing of the forest and below the canopy of an evergreen tree as well as a deciduous broadleaf tree.

In atmospheric precipitation the pH values usually vary around 4.4, with neutralization in the hot season due to calcareous material from distant sources. Relatively large concentrations of Pb and Cd are found in rain, but only in a small amount in canopy leachate. Aluminium, manganese and iron are more significantly washed off than Pb and Cd.     

芦苇植株对湿地温室气体排放的影响及其日变化特征

利用静态箱-气相色谱法对夏季(7月、8月和9月)长江河口湿地芦苇植被CO_2、CH_4和N_2O的叶面通量、茎秆扩散速率以及沉积物通量的日变化进行研究。结果显示,通过芦苇叶片排放的N_2O与CH_4的量分别为2.99μg/(m~2·h)和15.36μg/(m~2·h),CO_2则呈现白天吸收(-120.86 mg/(m~2·h))、夜间排放(69.39 mg/(m~2·h))的特点。芦苇茎秆N_2O、CH_4和CO_2平均扩散速率分别为1.96μg/h、142.45μg/h和10.69 mg/h,沉积物平均排放通量为N_2O 8.18μg/(m~2·h)、CH_41.58 mg/(m~2·h)、CO_2169.66 mg/(m~2·h)。芦苇茎秆和沉积物界面CH_4和CO_2的排放均呈现出明显的"单峰型"昼夜变化规律,其排放峰值集中在日照及温度最高的9:00至15:00。芦苇植株是影响温室气体排放变化的因素之一。芦苇植株在光合作用下吸收CO_2并促进CH_4的排放,而芦苇发达的根系及茎秆是温室气体排放的主要途径。同时,Pearson相关性分析表明温度对芦苇群落CH_4和NO2的排放影响显著,但与CO_2通量的相关性不明显。土壤氧化还原电位对3种气体的排放均有显著影响。     

Formation and Emission of N2O and CH4 from Compost Heaps of Organic Household Waster

Composting can be a source of N₂O andCH₄ production. In this investigation, differentcompost heaps of organic household waste weremonitored with the focus on potential formation ofCH₄ and N₂O in the heaps and emission ofthese gases from the heaps. The studied compost heapshad different compost ages, turning intervals andcompost sizes. The analysed compost gases containedbetween 1–3421 L of N₂O-N L^-1 and 0–470 mL of CH₄ L^-1. The emission rates ofN₂O and CH₄ from the compost heaps werebetween 1–1464 mg N₂O m^-2 day^-1 and0–119 000 mg CH₄ m^-2 day^-1. These verylarge differences in compost gas composition andemission indicate the importance of compostmanagement. The results also give an understanding ofwhere in the composting process an increasing emissionof N₂O and CH₄ can occur.     

A Study on Transfer Factors of 60Co and 65Zn from Soil to Plants in the Tropical Environment of Bangladesh

Soil to plant transfer factor (TF) of⁶⁰Co and ⁶⁵Zn was determined fromradioisotope experiments on plants grown in pots underoutdoor ambient tropical conditions for three growingseasons (1995–1998). The TFs were obtained fordifferent plants/crops such as, rice, bean, peanutspineapple, cabbage, tomato, spinach and grass. Theaverage TF values of ⁶⁰Co are found to be 0.087,0.15, 0.12, 0.67, 0.28, 0.79, 1.03 and 0.34respectively for the above mentioned plants/crops. Incase of ⁶⁵Zn, the average TF values are found tobe 2.24, 1.17, 0.89, 1.09, 0.78, 1.34, 2.92 and 1.78,respectively, for the above mentioned plants/crops. Thedata will be useful to assess the radiation exposureto man associated with the releases of radionuclidesfrom nuclear facilities by means of radiologicalassessment models that require transfer factors asinput parameters to predict the contamination ofradionuclides in foodchain.     

凡口铅锌矿床地球化学特征及成矿作用分析

凡口铅锌矿床是发育于碳酸盐岩建造中的海底热泉喷溢沉积矿床,以“一大二富三集中”的特点和典型的地质地球化学特征吸引着中外矿床地质工作者。常量元素和矿化元素的分布、矿物包裹体特征、稀土元素组成和硫同位素组成反映出该矿床与外生作用有关。铅同位素组成具有壳源和下地壳来源铅的特征,矿物包裹体水氢、氧同位素组成表明,成矿溶液可能与深层建造水有关,后期与大气降水有关。矿区主要矿层经历海底热泉喷溢沉积-成岩的演化。     

抚顺地区大气总悬浮微粒的元素富集特征及污染来源研究

本文采用Ｘ射线荧光法分析了抚顺地区采暖期与非采暖期大气总悬浮微粒中Ａｓ等２０种元素的浓度水平，用富集因子法，因子分析法及多元回归法识别该地区的主要污染源，并估算它们对总悬浮微粒的贡献，其贡献率为：煤炭燃烧２６．９％〈冶金工业２６．８％，风砂土壤２２．０％；汽车燃油６．７％，其它污染源１７．６％。     

光化学反应的环境效应

光化学反应具有良好的环境效应，本文概述了有机合成和环境化学中光化学反应对环境的影响。     

城市化与国民经济发展之关系的理论分析

城市化水平与人均国民生产总值的统计关系在８０年代被建立,从理论上分析这个统计关系能加深对城市与经济发展之关系的理解。从经济学的要素替代和需求收入弹性原理概括了城市化的发展机制,认为任何一个国家或地区的城市化都遵从它。并构造了全国人均国民生产总值与城市人均国民生产总值、乡村人均国民生产总值、城市化水平的关系,它是普适的。如果假设城市、乡村人均国民生产总值的增长分别引起的全国人均国民生产总值的增长总是占据了一个不变的份额,同时,城市人均国民生产总值与乡村人均国民生产总值之差与全国人均国民生产总值成正比,那么,就可以据此演绎出这个统计关系。第二个前提暗示了一个城乡发展差距的倒“Ｕ”字型过程     

大运河常州段水质变化及其影响因素

根据目前已建立的基本水质数据库，对大运河常州段的水质现状和趋势作了分析。利用质量平衡，建立了污染物量和水质之间的直观关系，发展了繁忙的机动船只动输运河产生油污染的同时，会对水体中溶解氧产生有的贡献。