Metal leaching and toxicity of denitrifying woodchip bioreactor outflow—Potential reuse application

The denitrifying woodchip bioreactor is designed to remediate nitrate-rich water, including those produced from aquaculture effluents. Reuse of treated bioreactor outflows in recirculating aquaculture would offer considerable water savings and valuable alkalinity recuperation. However, such bioreactors may leach detrimental wood-bound contaminants, preventing outflow reuse. To determine water reuse potential, woodchip media from two hardwood species (white ash, Fraxinus americana; Norway maple, Acer platanoides) were evaluated for 206 d under a range of operating conditions (start-up, steady-state, reducing conditions, and drying-rewetting cycles) for a spectrum of potentially harmful dissolved contaminants. Aerated outflows also were evaluated for acute and chronic toxicity to the biologically sensitive invertebrate Ceriodaphnia dubia. Dissolved metal leaching subsided within the first few weeks of operation, though initial concentrations of copper and zinc were detected at concentrations of concern. Elevated concentrations of tannins-lignin and total ammonia nitrogen were detected throughout the study and were influenced by operational phase. Acute toxicity was not generally detected, though chronic toxicity was observed during drying-rewetting cycles in the maple outflows. The measured toxicity was not correlated with water chemistry, indicating an additive effect of several toxicants. Overall, significant differences in outflow water quality between ash and maple wood species were negligible. Results indicated that bioreactor outflows may be applicable for aquacultural reuse, though reusing outflows immediately following start-up or restarting after a dry period would not be recommended.     

Evaluation on the fitness and population projection of Nilaparvata lugens in response to elevated CO2 using two-sex life table

Abstract

The life history and fitness of Nilaparvata lugens being reared under ambient level (current CO₂ concentration), medially elevated (550?µL/L) and highly elevated (750?µL/L) CO₂ concentration for long-term generation were compared using two-sex life table instead of traditional age-specific life table. The results showed that significantly longer larval duration and lower fecundity of N. lugens were observed in 750?µL/L relative to 550?µL/L treatment (P?<?0.05). Accordingly, 550?µL/L CO₂ significantly enhanced population parameters of N. lugens, including significantly higher intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate (λ) and net reproductive rate (R_O), but not for 750?µL/L CO₂. Taken together, N. lugens performs enhanced development rate, fecundity and survival in individual life history and higher potential in population multiplication under 550?µL/L CO₂ level, while only indicates the less enhanced development rate and survival without significant increased capacity of population expansion under 750?µL/L CO₂ level. These results should facilitate predicting the fitness and potential population damage of N. lugens, which is valuable for the integrated control of N. lugens in the future increasing CO₂ concentration.     

Substrate composition determines emergence success and development of European nase larvae (Chondrostoma nasus L.)

European nase (Chondrostoma nasus) is a specialist riverine fish, characterised by a complex life cycle making it vulnerable to habitat degradation. Recent findings indicate that, analogously to salmonids, the interstitial zone quality may pose a serious bottleneck for successful recruitment of this species. In this study, nase eggs were exposed to different substrate qualities. First, standardised substrate mixtures with differing fine sediment additions were used. Second, we tested different homogenous gravel fractions for their influence on egg development and emergence success. In both setups, substrate composition significantly affected emergence success, timing of emergence and larvae size at emergence. In the substrate mixtures, emergence was most successful in substratum with no fine sediment addition (98%) and decreased to 55% in substratum with 20% fine sediment addition. Emergence was most successful in the coarsest fraction (93%) and decreased to 47% in the finest fraction. Over all treatments, the time between hatching and emergence from substrate differed by up to 156 degree days, thereby indicating that free embryos of nase use the shelter of the interstitial zone for early ontogeny. These results suggest that a loose and porous stream bed can positively contribute to the development success of eggs and larvae and thereby potentially improve the recruitment of nase populations. It is thus important to consider the substrate and interstitial conditions in the conservation and restoration management of this rheophilic cyprinid.     

人工饲粮对幼年工蜂生长发育及生理代谢的影响

本试验利用液相色谱-质谱联用技术(LC-MS)对幼年工蜂进行代谢组学分析,旨在探究不同人工饲粮对幼年工蜂生长发育及生理代谢的影响,为蜂王邮寄的人工饲粮配制提供一定理论依据。试验选取1日龄的意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera ligustica)300只,分为5组,分别饲喂5种人工饲粮,每组30只工蜂。对照组饲粮:蔗糖粉∶蜂蜜=3∶1;试验组A饲粮:蔗糖粉∶蜂粮∶蜂蜜=6∶5∶1;试验组B饲粮:蔗糖粉∶蜂粮∶蜂蜜=6∶3∶1;试验组C饲粮:蔗糖粉∶花粉∶蜂蜜=6∶5∶1;试验组D饲粮:蔗糖粉∶花粉∶蜂蜜=6∶3∶1。用5种人工饲粮进行室内喂养,记录蜜蜂7 d内的死亡数量;解剖试验组A和对照组第1、3、5、7天的工蜂咽下腺,测定其平均重量、颜色和饱满度;采用LC-MS方法检测试验组A和对照组蜜蜂饲喂7 d后的代谢物差异,对检测数据进行模式识别分析,筛选并鉴别差异代谢物。结果表明:1)对照组和试验组A蜜蜂第1~5天时均没有出现死亡,在第6和7天时试验组A蜜蜂死亡数量均显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。试验组B、C、D的蜜蜂在6 d内全部死亡。2)试验组A第7天时的蜜蜂咽下腺平均重量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),咽下腺颜色为全部乳白色,且咽下腺小体饱满。3)采用主成分分析(PCA)、偏最小二乘法判别方法(PLS-DA)和正交偏最小二乘方-判别分析(OPLS-DA)分析代谢组数据,结果显示试验组A和对照组明显分离,共鉴定出23个差异代谢物,包括氨基酸、脂类、糖类等,其中有10种代谢物上调,13种代谢物下调。差异代谢物通路分析发现,差异极显著的通路有牛磺酸和亚牛磺酸生物合成通路、赖氨酸降解通路、戊糖磷酸盐代谢通路、戊糖和葡萄糖醛酸相互转化通路(P<0.01),差异显著的通路有氨基酸的生物合成通路,色氨酸代谢通路,碳代谢通路,丁酸代谢通路,丙氨酸、天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢通路,丙酮酸代谢通路(P<0.05)。由此可见,试验组A的饲粮更适合蜜蜂工蜂的生长发育和生存,在邮寄环境中可代替常用的炼糖饲粮。     

茶道哲学的工夫境界与生命体验

工夫境界是研究中国哲学的核心内容之一。以工夫境界解读中国茶道哲学,有助于进一步理解中国茶道哲学的工夫与境界。中国茶道哲学的核心在"和"。茶人通过一系列的工夫持守,力求进入到"和"境界。在"和"的工夫境界观照下,茶人的生命体验与心灵体验高度凝结,进以凸显中国哲学与文化中独有的"天人合一"思想,使中国茶道哲学思想提升了又一高度。     

九连山国家森林公园负氧离子浓度时空变化及影响要素研究

负氧离子不仅对空气质量具有改善作用，而且对人体健康起到重要的影响。通过连续观测九连山国家森林公园空气负氧离子浓度，分析负氧离子浓度的时空变化规律及与各气象要素之间的相互关系。结果表明，九连山国家森林公园负氧离子浓度水平达到Ⅰ级标准，对人体健康极有利。原始阔叶林中负氧离子浓度明显高于人工林中负氧离子的浓度，且原始阔叶林和人工林中负氧离子浓度都呈现夏秋高于冬春，夏季最高，冬季最低；早晚浓度明显高于白天浓度的规律。因此九连山国家森林公园适合出游时间为夏秋季，且上午或傍晚最佳。此外，负氧离子的浓度与空气温度、湿度以及降水量都有明显的相关性，同时也受其他气象因素的影响。这些结果可以为推进森林旅游业的建设提供科学支持，特别是自然保护区内负氧离子资源和旅游产品的开发。     

Artificial Diet Influences Population Growth of the Root Maggot Bradysia impatiens (Diptera: Sciaridae)

In order to investigate the effects of artificial diets on the population growth of root maggot Bradysia impatiens, its population growth parameters were assayed on eight artificial diets (Diet 1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, and D8). Results showed that developmental duration from egg to pupa was successfully completed on all eight artificial diets. However, the egg to pupal duration was shortest, while the survival rate of four insect stages was lowest when B. impatiens was reared on D1. When B. impatiens was reared on D7 and D8, the survival rate, female longevity, and female oviposition were higher than those reared on other diets. When B. impatiens was reared on D7, the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m = 0.19/d), net reproductive rate (R₀ = 39.88 offspring per individual), and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.21/d) were higher for its population growth with shorter generation time (T = 19.49 d) and doubling time (Dt = 3.67 d). The findings indicate that the D7 artificial diet is more appropriate for the biological parameters of B. impatiens and can be used an indoor breeding food for population expansion as well as further research. We propose that vitamin C supplement added to the D7 is critical for the improvement of the B. impatiens growth.     

草地贪夜蛾对小麦和玉米的产卵选择性及其种群生命表

为明确草地贪夜蛾对小麦的产卵选择性及其是否对小麦安全生产构成威胁,本研究以玉米和小麦作为测试寄主,比较分析了草地贪夜蛾对两种作物不同部位的产卵选择性,并利用两性生命表方法研究了取食小麦、玉米对其生命参数的影响。结果表明:草地贪夜蛾更喜欢在玉米上产卵,其在玉米、小麦叶片、玉米和小麦茎秆上的产卵量存在显著差异(df=102,F=15.593,P<0.05),以玉米叶片背面卵块数量(7.11±1.55)块/笼最高;草地贪夜蛾取食小麦可以完成生活史,但幼虫存活率、化蛹率、羽化率和世代存活率低于取食玉米。取食玉米的幼虫发育历期为(16.31±0.15)d,显著高于取食小麦的(14.66±0.12)d,蛹期、蛹重、产卵前期、成虫寿命和世代周期无显著差异。取食小麦羽化出的雌虫寿命、平均单雌产卵量显著高于取食玉米,分别为(16.39±0.40)d、(976.31±57.21)粒和(14.64±0.32)d、(831.57±30.55)粒。生命表参数显示取食玉米的净增殖率为363.14,显著高于小麦的258.63,但内禀增长率、周限增长率和平均世代周期无显著差异。研究结果为草地贪夜蛾在小麦上的预测预报和有效防控提供了基础数据。     

Artificial Feeding and Laboratory Rearing of Endangered Saproxylic Beetles as a Tool for Insect Conservation

Conservation of threatened animals is frequently limited by lack of knowledge about their ecological preferences, and often artificial feeding is one of the few chances to save endangered species. We investigated the possibility to artificially feed two endangered flat bark beetles dependent on dead wood for their diet—namely, Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) and Cucujus haematodes Erichson, 1845—by examining their dietary preferences, life cycle duration, and survival in laboratory conditions. Individuals of the two species were caught in the wild and larvae and adults were fed in laboratory conditions by live or dead prey. Three species of saproxylic beetles: two cerambycids (Acanthocinus griseus Fabricius, 1793 and Rhagium inquisitor Linnaeus, 1758), one scolytid (Ips sexdentatus Börner, 1776) one tenebrionid (Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758)) one dipteran (Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826)) and one ant (Lasius sp. Fabricius, 1804) were used as prey, with minced meat as a control. Our results indicated high survival and no difference in prey choice between the two flat beetle species. Larvae and adults preferred dead prey, but no significant preference was detected among dead prey taxa, supporting the hypothesis that the two species are opportunistic scavengers. Comparing data with previous results, both species and their developmental stages should be classified as obligate saproxylic organisms with preference to the dead and decaying organic material. Successful artificial feeding and rearing of these endangered species, followed by the release in the wild through rescue or reintroduction programs, therefore appear relevant for their protection and future conservation.