Assessing Lead Risks at Non-Residential Hazardous Waste Sites

In 1996, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) developed the Adult Lead Methodology (ALM) to provide an interim approach to assessing risks from non-residential exposures to lead. Because such exposures often involve occupational activities of adults, the ALM was directed at assessing soil-related lead risks to adults. Consistent with other approaches used in Superfund risk assessment, the ALM was designed to predict quasi-steady state blood lead concentrations (PbB) that might result from soil exposure. These predictions are converted to a risk estimate, expressed as the probability of exceeding a PbB level of concern. To examine the assumptions and variables in the ALM that have become available since 1996, a comparison was made of the attributes of seven alternative research models for which adequate documentation is available to understand and implement each approach. Several of these models have been used in regulatory decision-making; however, the USEPA has officially embraced none for general use. This analysis suggests that the ALM can continue to serve as a reasonable tool for assessing risks associated with non-residential exposures to soil. Under certain circumstances other models may be more applicable (i.e., for assessing acute or intensive exposures); however, the ALM is recommended for the majority of risk assessment applications.     

Migration patterns and navigation cues of Atlantic salmon post-smolts migrating from 12 rivers through the coastal zones around the Irish Sea

The freshwater phase of the first seaward migration of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is relatively well understood when compared with our understanding of the marine phase of their migration. In 2021, 1008 wild and 60 ranched Atlantic salmon smolts were tagged with acoustic transmitters in 12 rivers in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Large marine receiver arrays were deployed in the Irish Sea at two locations: at the transition of the Irish Sea into the North Atlantic between Ireland and Scotland, and between southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, to examine the early phase of the marine migration of Atlantic salmon smolts. After leaving their natal rivers' post-smolt migration through the Irish Sea was rapid with minimum speeds ranging from 14.03 to 38.56 km.day⁻¹ for Atlantic salmon smolts that entered the Irish Sea directly from their natal river, to 9.69–39.94 km.day⁻¹ for Atlantic salmon smolts that entered the Irish Sea directly from their natal estuary. Population minimum migration success through the study area was strongly correlated with the distance of travel, populations further away from the point of entry to the open North Atlantic exhibited lower migration success. Post-smolts from different populations experienced different water temperatures on entering the North Atlantic. This was largely driven by the timing of their migration and may have significant consequences for feeding and ultimately survivorship. The influence of water currents on post-smolt movement was investigated using data from previously constructed numerical hydrodynamic models. Modeled water current data in the northern Irish Sea showed that post-smolts had a strong preference for migrating when the current direction was at around 283° (west-north-west) but did not migrate when exposed to strong currents in other directions. This is the most favorable direction for onward passage from the Irish Sea to the continental shelf edge current, a known accumulation point for migrating post-smolts. These results strongly indicate that post-smolts migrating through the coastal marine environment are: (1) not simply migrating by current following (2) engage in active directional swimming (3) have an intrinsic sense of their migration direction and (4) can use cues other than water current direction to orientate during this part of their migration.     

基于斑块评价的三峡库区腹地坡耕地优化调控方法与案例研究

三峡库区腹地坡耕地大量存在,且25°的陡坡耕地实现全部退耕还林难度很大,同时还存在农户自发弃耕撂荒现象。有必要深入探讨库区腹地不同地域特征下坡耕地优化调控的理论与方法。在充分考虑坡耕地的分布现状和未来发展趋势的前提下,设定了坡耕地优化调控的6个原则,提出空间优化适宜性评价和农户对坡耕地资源的需求压力数量评价相结合的坡耕地综合优化调控方法。选取库区腹地典型流域草堂溪流域进行案例研究。根据草堂溪流域特点以及坡耕地分布特征,从坡耕地可达性、生态功能和坡改梯适宜性3方面选取相关指标作为格局适宜性调控体系,选取耕地压力指数和果园对农户需求的补充能力作为数量调控体系。综合优化将研究区坡耕地分为优化利用型、重点整治型、逐步退耕型和优先退耕型4种类型,结合研究区坡耕地特点在保持耕地压力不增加、减少陡坡不适宜耕地和土壤侵蚀的前提下设置了4种退耕情景。最后根据农户自发撂荒地的空间分布特征,验证了评价指标体系建立的合理性和正确性。     

高黎贡山自然保护区西坡垂直带蚂蚁群落研究

首次研究了高黎贡山自然保护区西坡垂直带蚂蚁群落及共物种多样性。在北段和中北段随海拔升高优势种数目增加,而在南段随海拔升高优势种数目递减。在北段和中北段海随海拔升高优势种所占百分比递减,而在南段随海拔升高优势种所占比例递增。在西坡４个地段均呈现随海拔升高种数目和密度递减的基本规律。北段和中北段随海拔升高优势度指数降低,中南段和南段随海拔升高优势度指数增大。北段随海拔升高多样性指数递增,中北段多样性指数缺乏规律性,中南段和南段随海拔升高多样性指数递减。北段、中北段和中南段均呈现随海拔升高无效度指数递增规律,而南段表现出随海拔升高均匀度指数递减的相反情况。西坡４个地段垂直带上,蚂蚁群落之间的相似系数几乎均在０．００－０．２５,处于极不相似水平,只有１个系数超过此范围,我们认为在原始植被状态下,高黎贡山自然保护区西坡蚂蚁群落的基本规律是随着海拔升高。优势种数目递减,优势种所占比 递增,物种数目递减,优势度指数递增,多样性指数递减,均匀度指数递减。山体中部和下部植被的毁坏导致了实际调查中出现的反常情况。     

基于RS、GIS的天目山自然保护区植被空间分布规律研究

以RS、GIS技术为工具。将天目山自然保护区的TM遥感影像进行处理与分类得到该区的植被分布图。利用GIS空间分析功能。研究了天目山自然保护区内各植被类型空间分布规律。重点研究了其中的一种植被类型。研究结果定量描述了自然保护区内各植被类型的高程、坡向、坡度分布,给出科学的统计结果。总结了研究区内植被类型的空间分布规律,把对植被类型的空间分布规律的定性理解转为定量描述,结合实际给出了理论解释。为自然保护区的规划、管理和保护提供了科学依据。     

Discriminant analysis of Lepidopteran prey characteristics and their effects on the outcome of bird-feeding trials

Discriminant analysis was used to analyse the results of 348 bird-feeding trials conducted from 1982 to 1985 in Leverett, Massachusetts. Four size classes, seven appearance categories, and five larval host types, based on 163 species of moths and butterflies used as prey in two or more trials, were selected as predictor variables to discriminate between prey taken and not taken by birds. Discriminant analysis of individual feeding trials correctly classified 97.5 percent of prey taken or not-taken and ranked the predictor variables according to their relative importance in determining prey acceptability. Characteristics most acceptable to birds were: (1) large size, (2) bark-like appearance, (3) warning colouration, (4) woody generalist, (5) dead-leaf-like appearance, (6) woody specialist, and (7) medium size. Characteristics least acceptable to birds were: (1) small size, (2) mimetic appearance, (3) butterfly appearance, (4) herbaceous specialist food type, (5) black-and-white appearance, (6) extra large size, and (7) overall generalist feeder. A summary of the analyses includes a discriminant function based on lepidopteran characteristics that can be used to predict the prey acceptability of species not used in this study. A multiple regression analysis of prey taken revealed that size alone and larval host type combined with other prey characteristics were the most important variables in determining the selection of prey regardless of their abundance in the trials.     

Chloroplast position and photosynthetic characteristics in two monostromatic species,Monostroma angicava and Protomonostroma undulatum (Ulvophyceae), having a shared ecological niche

Monostroma angicava and Protomonostroma undulatum are monostromatic green benthic algae (Ulvophyceae), which grow together in the same intertidal habitat of Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan, during the spring season. Commonly, both species have a single chloroplast with one pyrenoid per cell. The parietal chloroplast is located on the periphery of the thallus in both species, although the location of the chloroplast differs in the two. In M. angicava , the chloroplast was observed to be arranged on one‐side of the thallus surface, whereas, in P. undulatum , it was dispersed and randomly located on either side of the thallus or on the lateral face. The density of chlorophylls (Chls) assessed from the absorption spectra of the thallus and its solvent extract was higher in M. angicava , which appeared dark‐green in color, than in the light‐green colored P. undulatum . The maximum photosynthetic rate per thallus area (μmol O₂ m^?2 s^?1) was higher in M. angicava , whereas, per total chlorophyll content (μmol O₂ g Chl a + Chl b ^?1 s^?1) was higher in P. undulatum . Both species showed similar efficiency of photosynthesis at light‐limiting conditions. The efficiency of light absorption by photosystem II (PSII ) in P. undulatum was higher than M. angicava , whereas the photoprotective response was higher in M. angicava . This indicates that more energy is utilized in M. angicava to protect its PSII due to the chloroplast position, which has more direct exposure to light and, therefore, lowers the efficiency of light absorption by PSII . The higher density of chlorophylls in M. angicava could explain higher photosynthesis per thallus area, whereas, higher efficiency of light absorption by PSII in P. undulatum could explain higher photosynthesis per total chlorophyll content. The differences in light absorption efficiency and quantum efficiency of PSII might be an important ecological strategy in these two species for their coexistence in the intertidal area.     

城市污泥应用于边坡植被恢复对地表水环境的影响

将城市污泥应用于生态恢复因能避开粮食作物食物链而具有良好前景,但其对地表水环境影响仍不十分清楚.本文将城市污泥与建筑垃圾按1∶1体积比混合为生长基质,覆盖在模拟的煤矸石边坡上,播种8种乡土木本植物,对生长季植物生长情况以及坡面地表水和下渗水的电导率、p H、氮磷钾、重金属、多环芳烃等含量进行分析.结果表明:坡面植物生长良好,平均覆盖度达60%;地表水和下渗水的p H值近中性,变化不大,而电导率、氮磷钾、重金属和多环芳烃含量均较高,其中,氮、磷含量在整个生长季超过国家地表水环境质量Ⅴ类水质标准;7月重金属含量最高,其中,As含量只达地表水环境质量Ⅳ~Ⅴ类标准,其余重金属含量多达Ⅱ~Ⅳ标准;随着夏季雨水淋洗增加以及植物-土壤系统对化学物质的吸收、降解和固着作用,地表水和下渗水的电导率、氮磷钾、重金属和多环芳烃含量均显著下降,生长季后期重金属含量达到地表水环境质量Ⅱ~Ⅲ类标准,多环芳烃含量减少约一半.将城市污泥直接应用在煤矸石边坡生态恢复中有利于植物生长,植物-土壤系统使得生长基质中的有害物含量逐渐降低,对地表水环境的负影响主要表现为氮、磷的富营养化,但总体上其环境安全性可控.     

摩天岭北坡森林木本植物叶性状在物种和群落水平沿海拔梯度的变化

该研究采用样线和样地相结合的方法,对甘肃省白水江国家级自然保护区摩天岭北坡大垭子梁森林不同海拔(1 600~2 100m)的植物群落进行野外调查、采样分析,并运用线性回归分析、Pearson相关性分析及曲线拟合分析方法,研究木本植物的比叶面积(SLA)、叶干物质含量(LDMC)、叶碳氮磷含量(LCC、LNC、LPC)及其计量比(C/N、C/P、N/P)等叶性状变化特征,以及在物种和群落水平随海拔梯度的变化趋势和相关性。结果表明:(1)摩天岭北坡大垭子梁山地森林为落叶阔叶林带,共有木本植物13科23种,其中乔木6种,灌木17种,且整体上灌木种类较为丰富。此外,有些物种在不同海拔间都有分布,如华北落叶松(Larix principis-rupprechtii)、胡枝子(Lespedeza bicolor)等,反映出不同植物对于异质环境的适应。(2)8个叶功能性状中变异系数最小的是LCC(4.6%),属于弱变异,最大的是SLA(42.1%),其他叶性状都属于中等变异,表明在其他叶性状的协同作用下,使得木本植物的碳获取保持在一定的水平以确保群落的稳定性。(3)叶片功能性状间的关联性普遍存在,是植物适应环境的一种对策.该研究表明SLA-LNC以及LNC-LPC在物种和群落水平上的相关性及其相关程度均一致,而其他叶性状间相关关系则有所不同,这为以后进行大尺度研究时对叶性状的选择提供了一定的依据。(4)叶性状随海拔的变化趋势,除C/N和N/P在物种和群落水平上变化趋势不一致外,其他各个性状随海拔的总体变化趋势基本一致,但显著程度只有LNC一致外其他均不同,反映了木本植物的不同叶片功能性状对海拔造成的不同环境的适应。