Evaluation of Garden Crop Mercury Uptake and Potential Exposure from Consumption of Garden Crops Grown on Floodplain Soils

ABSTRACT

This study investigated Hg uptake from soil into garden crops to help assess the significance of human consumption of crops as a potential route of exposure to Hg. Locations for both a floodplain and a control garden were identified within the Augusta Forestry Center near Crimora, VA, USA, which is about 16 river-km downstream from the city of Waynesboro, along the South River. The floodplain garden had measured soil Hg concentrations ranging from 4.2 to 78 mg Hg kg^?1 dry weight basis in the surface to 15-cm deep layer. A total of 139 samples from the floodplain garden from 17 different crops were analyzed for Hg. All crop samples (except for nine) had less than 0.1 μg Hg g^?1 wet weight basis (ww). Many samples were less than the method detection limit (MDL) of 0.003 μg Hg g^?1 ww. Based on the measured Hg concentrations and several conservative assumptions (e.g., Hg assumed present when less than MDL; 100% consumption from the geographical area in which study was conducted; and 100% bioavailable Hg as methyl Hg), consumption of crops with these Hg levels is not expected to be a significant route of Hg exposure.     

Some correlates of density in an urban Blackbird Turdus merula population

Capsule Blackbird density within a town is related to the proportion of gardens, open space and housing density within individual developments.     

Of Cecropias,Snarks and Boojums

We reply to Webber et al. (2011 Webber, BL, Born, C, Conn, BJ, Hadiah, JT and Zalamea, P-C. 2011. What is in a name? That which we call Cecropia peltata by any other name would be as invasive?. Plant Ecology & Diversity, 3: 241–245.  [Google Scholar]). Our study, Sheil and Padmanaba (2011 Sheil, D and Padmanaba, M. 2011. Innocent invaders? A preliminary assessment of Cecropia, an American tree, in Java. Plant Ecology & Diversity, 3: 231–240.  [Google Scholar]), was a preliminary assessment of the alien Neotropical tree Cecropia around Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. We highlighted the need for low-cost assessment approaches for addressing alien species and considered what might be achieved by local actors with limited resources. We successfully characterised the local distribution of Cecropia and identified, addressed and illustrated various concerns. Based on these results we asked how such studies might be useful and how they could be improved. Webber et al. criticise our study but fail to engage with its goals. Certainly, low-input local approaches lack the sophistication and rigour of larger international efforts, but such comparisons are unhelpful. Aside from a number of misunderstandings, we find Webber et al.’s principal arguments overstated, and unsupported by published information. The evidence that Cecropia causes harm is unconvincing; species-level identification is overemphasised; and the insistence on completing detailed research before considering management options is problematic. We offer some positive conclusions and repeat our plea for the development of effective low-input methods for evaluating and addressing naturalised organisms.     

苏州文人园林曲桥路径对视线引导的实验研究

选取3处苏州园林的曲桥路径,现场邀请游人取景拍照,获取其游园过程中关注景物、视线方向等信息,结合路径与景物关系,通过实验方法分析曲桥路径中游人赏景的视觉行为特征。通过定量分析发现,苏州文人园林中曲桥转折间带来的空间位置变化影响着人们的视觉行为,其中景物视距与方向对人们的观景兴致存在显著影响,视距在3~33 m时,游人观景兴致最佳;同时路径方向与观景方向的垂直关系、路径对景物的指向关系可增强游人对相应景观的观赏兴致,曲桥中对垂直与指向关系的运用存在一定的规律。     

Chelate-assisted phytoextraction of lead using Fagopyrum esculentum: laboratory vs. field experiments

Abstract

The development of more sustainable remediation techniques has been receiving greater attention, as an alternative to soil excavation plan in urban gardens. An in situ phytoextraction experiment with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) was performed with a 5?mmol kg^?1 citric acid (CA) application. Joint experiments under laboratory conditions were conducted using various cultivars of F. esculentum in two soils with a Pb contamination of either geogenic or anthropogenic origin and various chelate concentrations. Results show that a minimum dose of 50?mmol kg^?1 of CA is required to lower soil pH and raise the concentration of mobile Pb–CaCl₂ for both soils. Consequently, Pb shoot uptake is increased from 6.3 to 8.9 times depending on soil type. Phytoextraction efficiency is found to be 1.3 to 2.0 times higher in the anthropogenic contaminated soil than in the soil with geogenic Pb. A scale effect has also been identified since Pb root accumulation under laboratory conditions was 2.4 times higher than in the field experiment. Despite an increase in the Pb extraction rate with CA, buckwheat appears to lack the efficiency needed to remove Pb in moderately contaminated soils. The calculated remediation period would last 166?years to remove the mobile Pb fraction.     

城市化对苏州地区土壤多样性的影响

利用1984、1995、2000和2003年4期TM遥感资料,对苏州地区快速城市化背景下土壤多样性时空动态变化特征进行了定量分析和研究.结果表明,苏州地区粘壤质普通简育水耕人为土和粉砂粘壤质普通简育水耕人为土分布面积最广,近20年来面积比重分别减少了5.11%和3.14%,是苏州地区城市扩张用地的主要土壤类型;金阊区、平江区、沧浪区是苏州地区城市扩张的中心,3个时期中土壤多样性变化都很激烈,其中平江区的粘壤质普通简育滞水潜育土、太仓市的砂质石灰性斑纹湿润正常新成土90%以上的土壤表面已经变为城镇用地,濒临消失.城市化对土壤多样性的影响极显著,是苏州地区土壤多样性变化的一个首要驱动因子.     

Substantial variation in leaf senescence times among 1360 temperate woody plant species: implications for phenology and ecosystem processes

Background and Aims Autumn leaf senescence marks the end of the growing season in temperate ecosystems. Its timing influences a number of ecosystem processes, including carbon, water and nutrient cycling. Climate change is altering leaf senescence phenology and, as those changes continue, it will affect individual woody plants, species and ecosystems. In contrast to spring leaf out times, however, leaf senescence times remain relatively understudied. Variation in the phenology of leaf senescence among species and locations is still poorly understood.Methods Leaf senescence phenology of 1360 deciduous plant species at six temperate botanical gardens in Asia, North America and Europe was recorded in 2012 and 2013. This large data set was used to explore ecological and phylogenetic factors associated with variation in leaf senescence.Key Results Leaf senescence dates among species varied by 3 months on average across the six locations. Plant species tended to undergo leaf senescence in the same order in the autumns of both years at each location, but the order of senescence was only weakly correlated across sites. Leaf senescence times were not related to spring leaf out times, were not evolutionarily conserved and were only minimally influenced by growth habit, wood anatomy and percentage colour change or leaf drop. These weak patterns of leaf senescence timing contrast with much stronger leaf out patterns from a previous study.Conclusions The results suggest that, in contrast to the broader temperature effects that determine leaf out times, leaf senescence times are probably determined by a larger or different suite of local environmental effects, including temperature, soil moisture, frost and wind. Determining the importance of these factors for a wide range of species represents the next challenge for understanding how climate change is affecting the end of the growing season and associated ecosystem processes.     

Extracellular peptidases of insect-associated fungi and their possible use in biological control programs and as pathogenicity markers

This review deals with characteristics of peptidases of fungi whose life cycles are associated with insects to varying degrees. The review examines the characteristic features of the extracellular peptidases of entomopathogenic fungi, the dependence of the specificity of these peptidases on the ecological characteristics of the fungi, and the role of peptidases in the development of the pathogenesis. Data on the properties and physiological role of hydrolytic enzymes of symbiotic fungi in “fungal gardens” are also considered in detail. For the development of representations about mechanisms of control over populations of insect pests, special attention is given to analysis of possibilities of genetic engineering for the creation of entomopathogens with enhanced virulence. Clarification of the role of fungi and their secreted enzymes and careful environmental studies are still required to explain their significance in the composition of the biota and to ensure widespread adoption of these organisms as effective biological control agents. The systematization and comparative analysis of the existing data on extracellular peptidases of insect-associated fungi will help in the planning of further work and the search for markers of pathogenesis and symbiosis.     

上海苏州河治理中鱼类多样性及群落结构变化

为了评估近20年来上海苏州河环境综合整治过程中鱼类多样性的变化状况, 本文于2019年6月(夏季)和9月(秋季)对苏州河13个断面的鱼类样本进行了采集, 对鱼类多样性和群落结构作了分析。结果显示, 2次采集共获得鱼类样本10,102号, 隶属于8目15科37属45种。夏季和秋季, 上游8个断面的鱼类均为36种, 下游5个断面则为12种和15种。从上游到下游, Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')、Margalef种类丰富度指数(D)和Simpson优势度指数(C)总体呈逐渐降低的趋势。相对重要性指数(IRI)显示, 夏秋两季上游断面共同的优势种为似鳊(Pseudobrama simoni), 下游为鲫(Carassius auratus)和泥鳅(Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)。丰度生物量曲线表明, 全河段鱼类群落结构总体上并不稳定, 特别是夏季的下游河段。Cluster聚类和非参数多维标度排序分析可明显将鱼类群落分为上游群组(I)与下游群组(II), 似鳊、泥鳅、鲫、光泽黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus nitidus)和兴凯鱊(Acheilognathus chankaensis)等是造成群组间差异性的主要分歧种。与2001年的43种、2006年的28种相比, 本次调查的物种数出现了明显回升, 特别是下游河段。这种上游鱼类向下游迁移的趋势, 预示着下游中心城区与上游郊区河段的水质差别正在缩小, 水生态系统恢复迹象明显。本文认为, 上下游之间鱼类群落结构差异的缩小以及翘嘴鲌(Culter alburnus)、红鳍原鲌(Cultrichthys erythropterus)、棒花鱼(Abbottina rivularis)、子陵吻虾虎鱼(Rhinogobius giurinus)等在下游河段的出现, 可作为苏州河综合整治效果的重要生态标志。