Mesoporous WO3-graphene photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue dye under visible light illumination

Advanced oxidation technologies are a friendly environmental approach for the remediation of industrial wastewaters. Here, one pot synthesis of mesoporous WO_3 and WO_3-graphene oxide(GO) nanocomposites has been performed through the sol–gel method. Then, platinum(Pt) nanoparticles were deposited onto the WO_3 and WO_3-GO nanocomposite through photochemical reduction to produce mesoporous Pt/WO_3 and Pt/WO_3-GO nanocomposites. X-ray diffraction(XRD) findings exhibit a formation of monoclinic and triclinic WO_3 phases. Transmission Electron Microscope(TEM) images of Pt/WO_3-GO nanocomposites exhibited that WO_3 nanoparticles are obviously agglomerated and the particle sizes of Pt and WO_3 are ~ 10 nm and 20–50 nm, respectively. The mesoporous Pt/WO_3 and Pt/WO_3-GO nanocomposites were assessed for photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue(MB) as a probe molecule under visible light illumination.The findings showed that mesoporous Pt/WO_3, WO_3-GO and Pt/WO_3-GO nanocomposites exhibited much higher photocatalytic efficiencies than the pure WO_3. The photodegradation rates by mesoporous Pt/WO_3-GO nanocomposites are 3, 2 and 1.15 times greater than those by mesoporous WO_3, WO_3-GO, and Pt/WO_3, respectively. The key factors of the enhanced photocatalytic performance of Pt/WO_3-GO nanocomposites could be explained by the highly freedom electron transfer through the synergetic effect between WO_3 and GO sheets, in addition to the Pt nanoparticles that act as active sites for O2 reduction, which suppresses the electron hole pair recombination in the Pt/WO_3-GO nanocomposites.     

Sustainable method towards magnetic ordered mesoporous polymers for efficient Methylene Blue removal

The difficulty in achieving high removal efficiency for contaminants in textile wastewater over a wide range of pH impedes the progress of its treatment technique greatly. Herein, a facile and sustainable strategy was adopted for constructing magnetic ordered mesoporous polymers (M-OMPs) without the assistance of organic solvent and catalyst. The prepared M-OMPs were endowed with high special surface area and good superparamagnetism simultaneously, and exhibited high removal efficiency (>99%) for Methylene Blue (MB) within a short time (10 min) at a concentration of 50 mg/L. What's more, high removal efficiency was achieved over a wide range of pH 2-12 and the adsorption capacity for MB on M-OMPs was substantially retained even after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles, further demonstrating the application potential of M-OMPs in the decontamination of textile wastewater.     

What limits predator detection in blue tits (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Parus caeruleus</Emphasis>): posture,task or orientation?

To detect threats and reduce predation risk prey animals need to be alert. Early predator detection and rapid anti-predatory action increase the likelihood of survival. We investigated how foraging affects predator detection and time to take-off in blue tits (Parus caeruleus) by subjecting them to a simulated raptor attack. To investigate the impact of body posture we compared birds feeding head-down with birds feeding head-up, but could not find any effect of posture on either time to detection or time to take-off. To investigate the impact of orientation we compared birds having their side towards the attacking predator with birds having their back towards it. Predator detection, but not time to take-off, was delayed when the back was oriented towards the predator. We also investigated the impact of foraging task by comparing birds that were either not foraging, foraging on chopped mealworms, or foraging on whole ones. Foraging on chopped mealworms did not delay detection compared to nonforaging showing that foraging does not always restrict vigilance. However, detection was delayed more than 150% when the birds were foraging on whole, live mealworms, which apparently demanded much attention and handling skill. Time to take-off was affected by foraging task in the same way as detection was. We show that when studying foraging and vigilance one must include the difficulty of the foraging task and prey orientation.Communicated by P.A. Bednekoff     

4种不同生境的蟹类金属硫蛋白cDNA的克隆与比较

利用Carcinus maenas金属硫蛋白氨基酸序列资料，用全简并引物从鳃组织总RNA中扩增并克隆了首个甲壳类金属硫蛋白cDNA片段序列，3'-RACE获得了其编码区全长cDNA。之后，用部分简并的引物扩增并克隆了其它3种国内常见蟹类的金属硫蛋白cDNA编码区全长序列。序列分析结果表明，几种蟹的金属硫蛋白cDNA序列存在差异，推知的氨基酸序列也不完全相同，比较不同蟹的cDNA和氨基酸序列数据不能证明不同生态环境对金属硫蛋白的分子进化起重要作用。图4表1参15     

Effects of Exurban Development and Temperature on Bird Species in the Southern Appalachians

Land‐use dynamics and climatic gradients have large effects on many terrestrial systems. Exurban development, one of the fastest growing forms of land use in the United States, may affect wildlife through habitat fragmentation and building presence may alter habitat quality. We studied the effects of residential development and temperature gradients on bird species occurrence at 140 study sites in the southern Appalachian Mountains (North Carolina, U.S.A.) that varied with respect to building density and elevation. We used occupancy models to determine 36 bird species’ associations with building density, forest canopy cover, average daily mean temperature, and an interaction between building density and mean temperature. Responses varied with habitat requirement, breeding range, and migration distance. Building density and mean temperature were both included in the top occupancy models for 19 of 36 species and a building density by temperature interaction was included in models for 8 bird species. As exurban development expands in the southern Appalachians, interior forest species and Neotropical migrants are likely to decline, but shrubland or edge species are not likely to benefit. Overall, effects of building density were greater than those of forest canopy cover. Exurban development had a greater effect on birds at high elevations due to a greater abundance of sensitive forest‐interior species and Neotropical migrants. A warming climate may exacerbate these negative effects. Efectos del Desarrollo Exurbano y de la Temperatura sobre Especies de Aves en las Apalaches del Sur     

玄武湖蓝藻水华成因探讨

为了解南京玄武湖蓝藻水华的成因,对玄武湖长期监测资料进行了分析和现场调查。结果表明,玄武湖鲢鳙急剧减少中断了正常的食物链,使浮游植物的牧食压力降低,在东南湖回水的诱因作用下,发生了以微囊藻为优势种群的蓝藻水华。指出,玄武湖蓝藻水华的发生进程表明,东南湖回水可能是蓝藻水华发生的诱因,生态失衡是蓝藻水华发生的主要原因,蓝藻水华的暴发与富营养化程度无显著相关性,其暴发加重了玄武湖富营养化程度。     

Temporal constraints and female preference for burrow width in the fiddler crab, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Uca mjoebergi</Emphasis>

We studied sampling behaviour and mate choice in the fiddler crab Uca mjoebergi. Once a female selects a mate, she copulates in his burrow and remains there until releasing her aquatic larvae. U. mjoebergi occurs in habitats that are inundated only by the highest amplitude spring tides. Females can only release their larvae during these tides, and release before or after will result in complete failure of reproductive effort. Matings occur over a 5-day period near the end of neap tides. Our results suggest that within the mating period, females adjust their larval developmental rates by selecting specific burrows in which to incubate their clutches. We found that at the start of the mating period, females chose larger males as mates. Since male size was positively correlated to burrow width, females were selecting wide burrows and effectively incubating at lower temperatures. This would slow down the developmental rates of larvae. In contrast, females that mated late in the mating period selectively chose small males. By incubating in narrower, warmer burrows, these females may increase the developmental rates of larvae. We propose that females are selecting burrows to influence incubation rate and ensure timely release of their larvae. Female U. mjoebergi appear to adjust their preference for the direct benefits of mate choice to increase their reproductive success.     

螃蟹活动对闽江河口互花米草沼泽湿地土壤温室气体排放通量的影响

于2015年1月（冬季）、4月（春季）、6月（夏季）和9月（秋季）,以闽江河口互花米草沼泽湿地为研究区,采用静态箱与气相色谱结合的方法,研究螃蟹对湿地土壤CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放通量及综合增温潜势的影响。研究表明：温室气体排放季节变化较为显著,CO₂、CH₄排放通量最大值均出现在夏季,N₂O排放通量最大值出现在秋季,CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放通量最小值均出现在春季。与无螃蟹组相比,高潮滩和中潮滩螃蟹组CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放通量均值都增大,其中高潮滩螃蟹组CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放通量依次增大了46.36%、66.67%和69.66%,中潮滩螃蟹组CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放通量依次增大了53.57%、142.97%、73.08%。相关性分析结果表明：土壤CO₂排放通量与土壤温度显著正相关（n=96,p＜0.05）,CH₄和N₂O排放通量与土壤温度显著正相关（n=96,p＜0.01）;N₂O排放通量与土壤pH显著正相关（n=96,p＜0.01）,与土壤含水量显著正相关（n=96,p＜0.05）。综上所述,螃蟹活动对闽江河口互花米草沼泽湿地土壤的干扰促进了温室气体的排放,为有效调节湿地碳、氮固持作用和湿地生态系统科学管理提供了参考。     

Hydromorphological and socio-cultural assessment of urban rivers to promote nature-based solutions in Jarabacoa,Dominican Republic

In Latin America and the Caribbean, river restoration projects are increasing, but many lack strategic planning and monitoring. We tested the applicability of a rapid visual social–ecological stream assessment method for restoration planning, complemented by a citizen survey on perceptions and uses of blue and green infrastructure. We applied the method at three urban streams in Jarabacoa (Dominican Republic) to identify and prioritize preferred areas for nature-based solutions. The method provides spatially explicit information for strategic river restoration planning, and its efficiency makes it suitable for use in data-poor contexts. It identifies well-preserved, moderately altered, and critically impaired areas regarding their hydromorphological and socio-cultural conditions, as well as demands on green and blue infrastructure. The transferability of the method can be improved by defining reference states for assessing the hydromorphology of tropical rivers, refining socio-cultural parameters to better address river services and widespread urban challenges, and balancing trade-offs between ecological and social restoration goals.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01565-3.     

Removal of an anionic dye (Acid Blue 92) by coagulation–flocculation using chitosan

Chitosan (a biopolymer) is an aminopolysaccharide that can be used for the treatment of colored solutions by coagulation–flocculation (as an alternative to more conventional processes such as sorption). Acid Blue 92 (a sulfonic dye) was selected as a model dye for verifying chitosan's ability to treat textile wastewater. A preliminary experiment demonstrated that chitosan was more efficient at color removal in tap water than in demineralized water, and that a substantially lower concentration of chitosan could be used with tap water. Dye removal reached up to 99% under optimum concentration; i.e., in terms of the acidic solutions and the stoichiometric ratio between the amine groups of the biopolymer and the sulfonic groups in the dye. The flocs were recovered and the dye was efficiently removed using alkaline solutions (0.001–1 M NaOH solutions) and the biopolymer, re-dissolved in acetic acid solution, was reused in a further treatment cycle.