Variation in ozone concentration in relation to local climate in south-west Sweden

Ozone (O₃) concentration and air temperature/relative humidity were monitored using diffusive samplers (weekly, 3 m above ground) and Tinytag loggers (10 min sampling, 1 m above ground, self-ventilating radiation shields), respectively, in the forested landscape of south-west Sweden, 40 km north-east of Gothenburg. Two forest sites were included, one at a hilltop (175 m a.s.l.), and one in a nearby (～1 km) valley (110 m a.s.l.). In addition, a valley site (～3 km from the forest sites, 60 m a.s.l.) in an agricultural landscape was included, where ozone was measured using both a UV-based monitor and diffusive sampling. At the agricultural site measurements of temperature and relative humidity were made using a radiation shield with forced ventilation and with Tinytags, as on the forest sites, in addition to observations of wind speed and the vertical temperature gradient. Furthermore, comparison with O₃ concentrations at urban and coastal sites in the region was made. The temperature dependent, systematic error of using a self-ventilating radiation shield was estimated and corrected for. It was found that the elevated forested site experienced higher O₃ concentrations and lower evening cooling rates in calm situations as compared to the forest site in the valley and in particular as compared to the agricultural site. This can be explained by a stronger coupling with the planetary boundary layer at the elevated site and more pronounced night-inversions at the valley sites. The difference in weekly O₃ concentration between the two forested sites was correlated with the difference in average minimum night-time temperature. The coastal site had the highest ozone concentrations, related largely, but not fully, to higher night-time O₃ concentrations. The urban site showed a depression in O₃ concentration associated with the combination of large NO emissions and slow air mixing during the morning traffic rush hours.     

Changes in attitudes toward wolves in Croatia

Against a background of an evolving wolf policy process we carried out personal structured interviews with residents of three regions within Croatian wolf range in 1999 (n = 1209) and repeated the study, using the same methodology in 2003 (n = 1172). We documented a change in public support for wolf conservation and support for control of wolves. The change was a result of a real change in attitudes and not of a change in the age structure of the sampled population. The changes were documented in the two southern regions, Lika and Dalmatia, with attitudes shifting towards a more neutral viewpoint, as there was a decrease in support for wolf conservation and a decrease in support to control wolves. It seems that different birth cohorts react differently to conservation activities. In 1999, the younger cohort groups may have been influenced more by the legal protection campaign. The older cohorts reacted more sympathetically to livestock concerns and thus held stronger negative attitudes toward wolves. Using human dimensions research as an evaluative tool can help large carnivore managers be more adaptive and thus effective in their management solutions.     

Current trends in conservation education in Japan

Conservation education (CE) is an important component of environmental education. Its goal is to teach the theory and practice of preservation and restoration of biodiversity affected by human activities so that people can increase their awareness of conservation issues and change their attitudes and behavior to promote environmental conservation.This paper describes two successful case studies to highlight trends in CE in Japan. One case is a project implemented to create “agricultural wetlands” that resulted in the establishment of a Ramsar Convention site comprised of a restored wetland and its adjacent rice paddy in a rural area near Sendai City in northern Japan. Rice paddy fields are a major component of Satoyama, which are traditional agricultural ecosystems in Japan and occupy 40% of the undeveloped landscape in Japan (Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, 2007. Third National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan. Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, Tokyo). Restoration of Satoyama and wetlands by local citizens is a key component of CE practices in Japan, where practical, hands-on, community-based learning is important. The second CE project, geared toward university students and citizens in Yokohama, restored degraded dragonfly ponds and created butterfly biotope in the second largest city in Japan. Restoration of habitat that is centered around highly visible, popular species such as dragonflies and butterflies also benefits other, less prominent species that share these habitats, yet allows residents to easily monitor the benefits of the project.     

热带地区玄武岩发育土壤中的生物硅及其发生学意义

运用重液分离法对海南岛北部不同喷发期玄武岩发育的7个土壤剖面生物硅进行了分离和测定,发现生物硅的含量变幅为2.9～54.0 g kg-1,其中最小值出现在发育时间较长的HE11剖面的B2层,最大值出现在发育时间较短的HE09剖面的表层。生物硅的剖面分布特征和有机碳、总氮比较相似,呈现出随土壤深度的增加含量逐渐降低的趋势,在0～40 cm范围之内这种现象更明显。生物硅和总硅之间极显著相关性表明生物硅土壤硅循环中起着主要作用。随着风化强度的提高,黏粒含量的增加,土壤pH逐渐降低,土壤中的生物硅含量有逐渐下降的趋势。初步认为:在土壤发育的初期阶段,来自原生矿物的直接风化释放的溶解硅有利于生物硅在土壤中保存和积聚。而随着土壤的进一步发育,原生矿物的逐渐被分解,土壤的pH下降和黏粒含量进一步增加,土壤中的生物硅也会被溶解、利用,结果是其含量逐渐下降。至发育的高级阶段,土壤中的硅进一步淋失,pH和黏粒含量逐渐趋于稳定。在陆地生物"泵"作用下,生物成因硅会被植物循环利用并维持在一个含量相对稳定的状态。     

Trends in Sulfur Emission-Induced Effects in Northern Europe

Fennoscandia is subjected to a considerable anthropogenic load, where S still is a notable contributor. At the same time, the region is very sensitive to acidifying depositions. The Regional Acidification Information and Simulation model (RAINS) was applied for a regional assessment of S deposition and loads in Fennoscandia from 1960 through 1995. Different variants of sources were considered: 1) all Europe, 2) north-west Russia (the Kola, Karelia and Leningrad county), and 3) the Nordic countries (Finland, Norway, Sweden). This allowed their contribution to the deposition pattern of the region to be assessed. The percentage of the ecosystems where the critical load had been exceeded was calculated for each year. For a more detailed assessment of the influence of the sources of the Kola region, estimations on the basis of local and meso-scale models were made. Comparative analysis of the calculations for the domestic and all the European sources revealed a dominating effect of S deposition from west and central Europe (Europe minus Fennoscandia) in general. The calculations showed a high, but local impact of the Kola sources on northern parts of the Fennoscandian region.     

天津半干旱地区不同种植年限菜田土壤微生物变化特征的研究

对天津周边半干旱地区不同种植年限的菜田土壤微生物状况调查研究表明 ,该地区土壤微生物以细菌为主 ,夏季微生物总量大大高于冬季 ;随着种菜年限的增加 ,耕层和亚耕层微生物总量都有增加趋势 ,其中细菌和放线菌增加明显 ,真菌有下降趋势 ;真菌类群分析表明 ,少数纤维素分解菌 ,如青霉 (Penicillium)、木霉 (Trichoderma)等为优势菌 ,而糖和木质素分解菌仅占少数。用尖孢镰刀霉 (Fusariumuoxysporum)、大肠杆菌 (Escherichia coli)接种不同种菜年限土壤 ,检测土壤拮抗菌状况发现 ,拮抗菌仅在种植年限长的老菜田的放线菌中发现。表明北方半干旱地区菜田土壤细菌为优势菌 ,主要存在于土壤微孔隙中 ;而适于生活在土壤疏松大孔隙中的真菌数量极少。应注意土壤结构的改良 ,为丰富土壤微生物提供良好的生态环境     

Annual variations in soil erodibility in Georgia

The annual changes in the soil erodibility as a function of time can be described by a polynomial of the fourth power. In western Georgia, the soil erodibility varies from 134% of the mean annual value in April to 18% in August within the piedmont hilly zone and from 159% (in April) to 54% (in June) in the mountain-forest zone. It is demonstrated that the soil erodibility during the growing period can be calculated from the polynomial of the fourth power with the use of data on the mean annual and monthly air temperatures and the mean annual soil erodibility (the K factor).     

珠江三角洲平原不同种植年限土壤铁氧化物特征研究

珠江三角洲平原具有上千年的围垦历史,其土壤发生演变过程深受人为作用影响,开展此区域不同种植年限土壤中铁氧化物形态特征和分布规律的研究,能够揭示人为耕种下土壤发生演变过程。以珠江三角洲平原不同种植年限的土壤剖面为对象,研究了滨海沉积物、河流冲积物和三角洲沉积物发育的土壤及黏粒中全铁、游离铁含量变化及其影响因素。结果表明:随着种植年限的增加,河流冲积物、三角洲沉积物发育土壤中游离铁(Fe_d)向土体下部淀积深度逐渐增加,黏粒中游离铁(Fe_(d(clay)))含量在水耕氧化还原层中呈减小趋势,而滨海沉积物发育的土壤Fe_d含量及淀积深度均有所减小。随着种植年限的增加,滨海沉积物发育的土壤全铁(Fe_t)和游离铁(Fe_d)在黏粒中的富集程度呈增大趋势,而河流冲积物、三角洲沉积物发育的土壤Fe_t和Fe_d富集程度逐渐减小。土壤Fe_d与Fe_t、黏粒游离铁(Fe_(d(clay)))与黏粒全铁(Fe_(t(clay)))均呈极显著正相关;全铁富集率(Fe_(t(clay))/Fe_t)、游离铁富集率(Fe_(d(clay))/Fe_d)均与Fe_(t(clay))、Fe_(d(clay))、黏粒铁游离度(Fe_(d(clay))/Fe_(t(clay)))呈极显著正相关,与Fe_t、Fe_d、土壤铁游离度(Fe_d/Fe_t)、黏粒含量呈极显著负相关,且Fe_(t(clay))/Fe_t与Fe_(d(clay))/Fe_d呈极显著正相关,表明土壤铁氧化物在黏粒中的富集以Fe_d为主,且铁氧化物的富集程度受土壤黏粒含量的影响。     

天津半干旱地区不同种植年限菜田土壤微生物变化特征的研究

对天津周边半干旱地区不同种植年限的菜田土壤微生物状况调查研究表明 ,该地区土壤微生物以细菌为主 ,夏季微生物总量大大高于冬季 ;随着种菜年限的增加 ,耕层和亚耕层微生物总量都有增加趋势 ,其中细菌和放线菌增加明显 ,真菌有下降趋势 ;真菌类群分析表明 ,少数纤维素分解菌 ,如青霉 (Penicillium)、木霉 (Trichoderma)等为优势菌 ,而糖和木质素分解菌仅占少数。用尖孢镰刀霉 (Fusariumuoxysporum)、大肠杆菌 (Escherichia coli)接种不同种菜年限土壤 ,检测土壤拮抗菌状况发现 ,拮抗菌仅在种植年限长的老菜田的放线菌中发现。表明北方半干旱地区菜田土壤细菌为优势菌 ,主要存在于土壤微孔隙中 ;而适于生活在土壤疏松大孔隙中的真菌数量极少。应注意土壤结构的改良 ,为丰富土壤微生物提供良好的生态环境     

The seasonal variation in soil water acid neutralizing capacity in peaty podzols in Mid-Wales

Between 1985 and 1990, bulk precipitation and soil solution from the organic (Oh) and mineral (Bs) horizons of a well developed podzol were regularly sampled at a moorland catchment in Mid-Wales. Samples were analysed for pH, major cations, major anions, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) was estimated by the charge balance method. Average monthly ANC of soil solutions from the Oh horizon varied seasonally, with a maximum in July and a minimum in February. In contrast, H⁺ concentrations varied little. Solute deposition, dominated by sodium and chloride, also varied seasonally with a winter maximum, which is reflected in the soil solution chemical composition. In the Oh horizon during winter, the increase in base cation (Na) concentrations led to release of H⁺ through ion exchange. ANC declined in the absence of any buffering mechanism. In summer, the depletion of exchangeable acidity that occurred in winter, was replenished by H⁺ produced by the dissociation of organic acids. During this period, organic anions contribute to an increase in ANC, while H⁺ concentrations remained similar to those in winter. These processes probably influenced the acidity and ANC of Bs horizon soil solutions but to a lesser extent than in the Oh horizon. Other mechanisms such as weathering and ion exchange involving H⁺ and Al may buffer solution acidity in the mineral soil.     

Trace metals in precipitation in Sweden

Trace metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) concentrations in atmospheric precipitation have been routinely monitored in Sweden since the autumn of 1983. Concentrations are highest in southern Sweden and decrease northward. It is postulated that the long range transport of anthropogenic pollutants from the rest of Europe is the major source of Cd, Pb, and Zn in precipitation. Evidence for this hypothesis is that enrichment factors indicate anthropogenic origin, and Swedish atmospheric emissions of Zn and Cd are 2 to 3 times smaller than deposition fluxes. Also, Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations are correlated in both space and time and are also well correlated with exSO₄ ⁺, a substance known to be of anthropogenic origin transported long distances.     

Movement of ammonium in paddy soils in Taiwan

The movement of ammonium due to diffusion in paddy soils in Taiwan was investigated in the laboratory. The movement of ammonium in flooded soils was inversely proportional to the concentration of ammonium in the soil solution, which was a function of the quantity of ammonium present, the content of solid matter in a unit volume of soil (bulk density), and the adsorptive property of soil. Although there was a considerable variation in the value of both the ammonium adsorption and bulk density of soils, the adsorptive property was more variable. Therefore, the adsorptive property seemed to be the most influencial factor on the movement of ammonium in flooded soils, where the property had a close relation to the cationexchange capacity.

The bulk density of flooded soils in the field could be reproduced in glass tubes under percolating condition in the laboratory. The values of bulk density determined on paddy soils after harvesting or on air-dry soils were considerably different from those in the flooded soils in the field. A simple determination method of bulk density was proposed for paddy soils.     

Quantifying Fine-Scale Variability in Pollutant Deposition in Complex Terrain using 210Pb Inventories in Soil

The accumulation of 210Pb in organic material within the surface (0 to 20 cm depth) horizons of soil is used to quantify local variability in the atmospheric inputs through wet deposition, cloud droplet deposition and dry deposition of aerosols. The method has been applied to quantify the long-term (~50 yr) average enhancement in deposition as a consequence of orographic effects on a 800 m mountain in southwest Scotland. The 210Pb inventory increases by a factor of 2.5 up the hillslope and is comparable to the modeled increase in wet deposition of major ions, and larger than the increase in rainfall with altitude by a factor of two. A second study site examined the increase in deposition beneath a Norway spruce canopy relative to open grassland at an elevation of 450 m in the Scottish Borders. The inventory of 210Pb under the forest canopy exceeded that in the grassland by approximately 35%, in good agreement with deposition estimates obtained from a continuous record of cloud frequency and meteorological variables.     

Seasonal variation of radon daughters in outdoor air in Montreal

The concentration of Rn daughters in outdoor air in Montreal was measured 222 times over a 1 yr period from April 1988 to March 1989. The values measured display a mean of 4.4 Bq m^?3, a median of 2.6 Bq m^?3, a mode of 2.2 Bq m^?3 and a standard deviation of 4.4 Bq m^?3. The concentrations show a pronounced seasonal variation. They are highest in summer and lowest in winter. It is believed that this behavior is due to the cold climate. The histogram of concentrations has a coefficient of skewness of 2.3 and a coefficient of kurtosis of 9.7.     

Gender-related differences in stereoselective degradation of flutriafol in rabbits

The stereoselective pharmacokinetics of flutriafol were investigated in male and female adult Japanese white rabbits. Following intravenous administration of rac-flutriafol to rabbits at 5 mg/kg (bd wt), the concentrations of the enantiomers in plasma were determined by a HLPC-UV method using a CDMPC-CSP chiral column. R-Flutriafol exhibited a shorter distribution half-life but a longer elimination half-life than the S-isomer. In female rabbits, the distribution half-lives of R- and S-flutriafol were found to be 0.09 and 0.18 h, respectively, significantly shorter than those in male rabbits, but the volume of distribution and elimination half-life for flutriafol enantiomers in both sexes of rabbit showed no significant differences. Female rabbits had a higher clearance for both flutriafol enantiomers. The protein binding value was high for both isomers, with enantioselectivity, but no gender difference. It was an important factor in modulating the disposition of flutriafol. Flutriafol concentrations in kidney, liver, fat, and lung were higher than in other tissues at 10 h after administration, and the concentrations of R-flutriafol were higher in all tissues than those of its antipode. However, gender difference in flutriafol residues in tissues was not observed. It is concluded that the stereoselectivity of flutriafol on distribution and elimination in rabbits mainly depends upon gender.     

Application of GIS in plant conservation programmes in Portugal

A plant conservation programme is a complex process that requires several sets of studies. The relationships between plant location and its environment play an important role. Nowadays, the use of a GIS constitutes an essential complement for these studies that allows the incorporation of space and the analysis of these ecological interactions. GIS is being used at the Lisbon University Botanical Garden as a tool for conservation programmes on several plant groups and situations. Four case studies are presented in this work: (1) comparing ecological patterns between local and regional scale for the endangered bryophyte Bruchia vogesiaca Schwaegr.; (2) selecting protected areas according to habitat suitability—the case of endangered Portuguese bryophytes; (3) analysing the impact of the alien Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N. E. Br. on endemic plant species at the Berlengas Natural Reserve; and (4) ecogeographical survey for selection of sites for seed collection in order to guarantee a representative sample of the existing genetic diversity. Finally, this work discusses how the implementation of a GIS can help to optimise results and fieldwork effort.     

渭北不同园龄苹果园土壤团聚体状况及演变趋势研究

为了探索果业生产和果园管理措施对土壤质量的影响,选取了渭北旱源苹果主产区彬县10a幼龄和21a老龄苹果园0~40 cm土壤为研究对象,以农田为对照,采用干筛法和湿筛法研究了不同种植年限果园土壤团聚状况与演变趋势。结果表明:渭北地区土壤机械稳定性团聚体以0.25 mm微团聚体为优势级别,仅0~20 cm处随园龄递增果园土壤团聚化趋势较为明显,0.25 mm土壤团聚体含量(DSAC0.25)、平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD)均显著增大,团聚体分形维数(D)递减,但是,10~0.25 mm和5~1 mm最有价值团聚体和团聚体系数(KCTP)均在递减。渭北土壤水稳性团聚组成中约60%为0.25 mm微团聚体,在0~30 cm处土壤水稳性团聚体的MWD、GMD和WSAC0.25呈现为农田(对照CK)10a果园21a果园,随园龄递增有明显增大趋势。0.25 mm团聚体的破坏率(PAD0.25)随园龄增加显著增大,递增幅度随土层深度增加而递减。相关分析表明,土壤总有机碳(TOC)、颗粒态有机碳(POC)与机械稳定性团聚体各项指标呈极显著相关,土壤碳酸钙含量、黏粒含量与水稳定团聚体多项指标呈极显著相关,PAD0.25与土壤理化性质呈显著相关。研究表明,果树种植在表观上明显提高了渭北地区表层0~20 cm土壤机械稳定性大团聚体数量,增强了土壤抗风蚀能力,但却显著降低了土壤团聚体的农艺质量及其稳定性,果园土壤团聚体的农艺质量显著退化与有机物及碳酸钙含量递减有着直接关系。     

Soil quality assessment in semiarid rangeland in Iran

Abstract. We examined the use of soil quality (SQ) assessment to predict soil productivity and stability as a component of site potential for rangelands. Two minimum sets of data were compared for the SQ assessment within an area of relatively uniform climate. Data set 1 consisted of total soil N, topsoil depth, effective profile depth (EPD), and grade of structure, thus incorporating only soil chemical and physical properties. Data set 2 included exchangeable soil potassium, EPD, soil water retention capacity at wilting point, a soil slake test, and a nutrient cycling index. The interrelationships between soil properties and plant growth characteristics (i.e. total and herbage yield) were investigated and interpreted by statistical analysis and expert knowledge. By performing multiple regressions for each data set against the plant growth characteristics, we identified the contribution of each data set variable to the variability in plant characteristics and, thus, the predictive potential of each variable and data set. Within data set 1, EPD was important and in data set 2 the nutrient cycling index, which is a landscape function index derived from soil surface attributes, played the most important role in predicting potential. Principal component analysis was used to provide weighting factors for each indicator. We then transformed and combined observed indicator values for each data set using weighting factors and scoring functions into an additive soil quality index (SQI) varying in value from 0 to 1. The SQIs, with values greater than 0.8, provide optimum conditions for high yield.     

Folate in wheat genotypes in the HEALTHGRAIN Diversity Screen

As part of the diversity screen of the HEALTHGRAIN project, the total folate contents of bread wheat (130 winter and 20 spring wheat genotypes), durum wheat (10 genotypes), earlier cultivated diploid einkorn and tetraploid emmer wheat (5 genotypes of each), and spelt (5 genotypes), grown in the same location in a controlled manner, were determined by a microbiological assay. The total folate contents ranged from 364 to 774 ng/g of dm in winter wheat and from 323 to 741 ng/g of dm in spring wheat, thus showing a marked variation. The highest mean for total folate content was measured in the durum wheat genotypes, whereas the earlier cultivated diploid and tetraploid wheat genotypes and spelt were shown to possess comparable or even higher folate contents than bread wheat. HPLC analysis of selected genotypes showed that 5-formyltetrahydrofolate was the major vitamer. The data provide a basis for breeding wheat genotypes with improved folate content.     

Temporal variation in soil microbial communities in Alpine tundra

Temporal variation in soil microbial communities was studied at a mid-alpine environment in Latnjajaure, northern Sweden, using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. The results show two seasonal shifts in microbial composition. The first shift was associated with snowmelt and mainly related to a decrease in fungal PLFAs, accompanied by an increase in branched 17:0 and methylated PLFAs (biomarkers for Gram-positive- and actinobacteria, respectively), resulting in a decrease in the ratio of fungi-to-bacteria. The second shift occurred across the growing season, and was associated with a switch from shorter to longer PLFAs and an increase in 18:1ω7 (biomarker for Gram-negative bacteria). Vegetation, snow cover dynamics, and N turnover seem to be of minor importance to broad-scale microbial community structure in this area.