Understanding implications of consumer behavior for wildlife farming and sustainable wildlife trade

Unsustainable wildlife trade affects biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities dependent upon those resources. Wildlife farming has been proposed to promote sustainable trade, but characterizing markets and understanding consumer behavior remain neglected but essential steps in the design and evaluation of such operations. We used sea turtle trade in the Cayman Islands, where turtles have been farm raised for human consumption for almost 50 years, as a case study to explore consumer preferences toward wild‐sourced (illegal) and farmed (legal) products and potential conservation implications. Combining methods innovatively (including indirect questioning and choice experiments), we conducted a nationwide trade assessment through in‐person interviews from September to December 2014. Households were randomly selected using disproportionate stratified sampling, and responses were weighted based on district population size. We approached 597 individuals, of which 37 (6.2%) refused to participate. Although 30% of households had consumed turtle in the previous 12 months, the purchase and consumption of wild products was rare (e.g., 64–742 resident households consumed wild turtle meat [i.e., 0.3–3.5% of households] but represented a large threat to wild turtles in the area due to their reduced populations). Differences among groups of consumers were marked, as identified through choice experiments, and price and source of product played important roles in their decisions. Despite the long‐term practice of farming turtles, 13.5% of consumers showed a strong preference for wild products, which demonstrates the limitations of wildlife farming as a single tool for sustainable wildlife trade. By using a combination of indirect questioning, choice experiments, and sales data to investigate demand for wildlife products, we obtained insights about consumer behavior that can be used to develop conservation‐demand‐focused initiatives. Lack of data from long‐term social–ecological assessments hinders the evaluation of and learning from wildlife farming. This information is key to understanding under which conditions different interventions (e.g., bans, wildlife farming, social marketing) are likely to succeed.     

Distribution of Iron, Manganese, Zinc and Atrazine in Groundwater in Parts of Palar and Cheyyar River Basins, South India

A study was carried out in a part of Palar and Cheyyar river basin to evaluate the current status of iron, manganese, zinc and atrazine concentrations, their origin and distribution in groundwater. Groundwater samples were collected during post-monsoon (March 1998 and February 1999) and pre-monsoon (June 1999) periods from 41 sampling wells distributed throughout the study area. The groundwater samples were analyzed for trace metals using AAS and atrazine using HPLC. The concentration of the trace elements in groundwater is predominant during pre-monsoon period. Distribution pattern indicates that the concentration of these elements increases from west to northeast and towards Palar river. Lower concentrations in the central part may be due to recharge of fresh water from the lakes located here. During most of the months, as there is no flow in Palar river, the concentrations of trace elements in groundwater are high. Drinking water standards indicate that Mn and Zn cross the permissible limit recommended by EPA during the pre-monsoon period. A comparison of groundwater data with trace element chemistry of rock samples shows the abundance of trace elements both in the rock and water in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn and Fe > Zn > Mn. This indicates that iron in groundwater is derived from lithogenic origin. Further, Fe, Mn and Zn have good correlation in rock samples, while it is reverse in the case of water samples, indicating the non-lithogenic origin of Mn and Zn. Atrazine (a herbicide) was not detected in any of the groundwater samples in the study area, perhaps due to low-application rate and adsorption in the soil materials.     

Bioindicator organisms: Heavy metal pollution evaluation in the Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea—Italy)

Trace metal concentrations of mercury, cadmium, lead and chromium in Patella caerulea, and Mullus barbatus were investigated to provide information on pollution of Ionian Sea, since these metals have the highest toxic potential. High chromium levels (0.47–0.97 g g^–1 ww) were registered in limpet samples collected from two station near the Gulf of Taranto, while elevated concentration of mercury (0.31–1.50 g g^–1 ww) were found in mullet specimens from Sicily. The metal concentrations recorded at the clean stations may be considered as useful background levels to which to refer for comparison within the Mediterranean area. On the contrary, the high levels of chromium and mercury found respectively in the areas near the Gulf of Taranto and at Capo Passero being of concern in terms of environmental health need frequent monitoring.     

Preparation of rare-earth metal complex oxide catalysts for catalytic wet air oxidation

Catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) is one of the most promising technologies for pollution abatement. Developing catalysts with high activity and stability is crucial for the application of the CWAO process. The Mn/Ce complex oxide catalysts for CWAO of high concentration phenol-containing wastewater were prepared by coprecipitation. The catalyst preparation conditions were optimized by using an orthogonal layout method and single-factor experimental analysis. The Mn/Ce serial catalysts were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis and the metal cation leaching was measured by inductively coupled plasma torch-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results show that the catalysts have high catalytic activities even at a low temperature (80°C) and low oxygen partial pressure (0.5 MPa) in a batch reactor. The metallic ion leaching is comparatively low (Mn<6.577 mg/L and Ce<0.6910 mg/L, respectively) in the CWAO process. The phenol, COD_Cr, and TOC removal efficiencies in the solution exceed 98.5% using the optimal catalyst (named CSP). The new catalyst would have a promising application in CWAO treatment of high concentration organic wastewater. Translated from Techniques and Equipment for Environmental Pollution Control, 2005, 6(2): 40–44 [译自: 环境污染治理技术与设备]     

川西北草原土壤硼、锰丰缺状况初探

根据110余个表层土壤样品硼、锰含量的测定结果和土壤缺乏硼、锰的临界值指标,探究了川西北草原土壤中硼、锰的有效性及其丰缺状况.结果表明,本区土壤中全硼全锰含量丰富分别达166.0ppm和736.6ppm,但有效硼和锰的含量仅分别为0.45ppm和5.11ppm,土壤缺乏硼和锰比较普遍.为该区推广施用硼、锰微肥提供了初步的科学依据.     

陆架浅海沉积物-海水界面溶质通量的计算方法及其应用

陆架浅海沉积物—海水界面上的溶解态生源物质通量的准确估算是海洋生态系统动力学研究中的关键性问题之一。由于底栖生物活动以及海流、海浪及潮波与海底地形地物相互作用的影响 ,使得该通量的准确估算十分困难。本文综合分析讨论了近年来提出的各种计算该类通量的物理模型及参数的确定方法 ,并结合在中国黄、东海等陆架浅海水层—底栖生态动力学耦合模型研究的需要 ,比较深入地讨论了应用过程中应该考虑的几个问题     

暴雨后水库中铁、锰超标成因分析

以福建省某水库为例，对南方地区暴雨后水库中铁锰超标现象从外污染源、地下水、土壤、底质多方面进行了分析，找出了该类型水库中铁、锰超标的原因，并提出建议。     

废干电池中锌和汞的分布及其处理

由于民众缺乏环境意识和国家没有相应法规 ,大多数废干电池都随手丢弃 ,回收的废电池处于不同程度的腐蚀状态。介绍了锌、汞在废干电池中的分布状态以及腐蚀对其分布的影响 ,并根据它们的分布特点提出用真空法回收废干电池中的锌、汞。     

辽东湾海冰晶体结构及其内部叶绿素的初步研究

本文介绍了１９９６年冬季首次辽东湾生态环境调查中的海洋背景条件。扼要地阐述了辽东湾海冰一般概况，分析辽东湾冰样晶体结构、存储条件及其与冰内和冰下海水叶绿素之间的关系。辽东湾冰内叶绿素符合其它结冰海区的一般规律。根据辽东湾冰层底部实测盐度变化规律阐明海冰对冰下海水营养盐的贡献。最后对深入开展结冰海区生态环境调查工作的技术、侧重点和意义做了讨论。     

高锰酸钾与接触氧化协同除锰及硬度对除锰效果的影响

针对日益严重的地表水锰污染，本实验采用高锰酸钾与接触氧化的方法协同除锰；通过调配进水中Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺含量模拟我国不同地区硬度差异显著的地表水，探究水体硬度对锰的去除效果的影响.结果表明：Mn²⁺被高锰酸钾氧化并形成"锰质活性滤膜"，可在停药后实现稳定有效除锰.成熟滤池的除锰效果会显著受到硬度的影响，进水硬度在40、200、400 mg·L^-1及700 mg·L^-1（CaCO₃计）时，接触氧化滤池分别在48、56、64 d及72 d实现稳定除锰，而4根滤柱对Mn²⁺去除的极限浓度分别为1.8、1.7、1.2 mg·L^-1及0.7 mg·L^-1.