Demographic consequences of anthropogenic influences: Florida black bears in north-central Florida

Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation poses a serious threat to conservation of large carnivores, due to their extensive movements and potential conflicts with humans. We studied the population ecology of Florida black bears (Ursus americanus floridanus) for 6 years in two study areas in north-central Florida: Ocala National Forest (ONF), a contiguous forested habitat, and an adjacent residential community of Lynne, a fragmented habitat with substantial human activities. We estimated age-specific survival and fecundity rates of bears using data from radio-collared bears, and parameterized and analyzed stage-structured matrix population models for the two study sites and also for data pooled from both sites. Annual survival rates of adult females were lower in Lynne (0.776 ± 0.074) than in ONF (0.966 ± 0.023). While cub survival rates were higher in Lynne (0.507 ± 0.135) than in ONF (0.282 ± 0.109), the rates at both sites were substantially lower than those reported for other black bear populations. Age-specific fecundities did not vary between sites. The asymptotic population growth rate for ONF was greater than one, whereas that for Lynne was less than one. Our results suggest that anthropogenic influences (primarily road density and vehicular traffic, through their effect on adult survival) can substantially affect the population dynamics of Florida black bears and other large carnivores with large home ranges. We recommend efforts such as constructing highway underpasses, which could reduce road-related mortalities, to ensure long-term persistence of Florida black bears facing threats from rapidly increasing human influences.     

解冻期覆盖盐渍土地表对土壤盐分和水分的影响

选择春季土壤解冻期,用塑料薄膜、麦草和沙子覆盖盐渍土地面,改良盐碱地。结果表明,覆盖对土壤盐分表聚和水分蒸发损失具有明显的抑制作用。塑料薄膜采用全地面覆盖,麦草适用量为2934．8k／hm^2沙子的适宜覆盖厚度为4cm。     

Uptake and phytotransformation of o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDT by axenically cultivated aquatic plants

The uptake and phytotransformation of o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDT were investigated in vitro using three axenically cultivated aquatic plants: parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), duckweed (Spirodela oligorrhiza), and elodea (Elodea canadensis). The decay profile of DDT from the aqueous culture medium followed first-order kinetics for all three plants. During the 6-day incubation period, almost all of the DDT was removed from the medium, and most of it accumulated in or was transformed by these plants. Duckweed demonstrated the greatest potential to transform both DDT isomers; 50-66% was degraded or bound in a nonextractable manner with the plant material after the 6-day incubation. Therefore, duckweed also incorporated less extractable DDT (32-49%) after 6 days than did the other plants. The capacity for phytotransformation/binding by elodea is between that of duckweed and parrot feather; approximately 31-48% of the spiked DDT was degraded or bound to the elodea plant material. o,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDD are the major metabolites in these plants; small amounts of p,p'-DDE were also found in duckweed (7.9%) and elodea (4.6%) after 6 days. Apparently, reduction of the aliphatic chlorine atoms of DDT is the major pathway for this transformation. This study, which provides new information on plant biochemistry as related to pollutant accumulation and phytotransformation, should advance the development of phytoremediation processes.     

Ion beam spectroscopy of solids and surfaces

Ion beams are important new probes for characterizing the chemistry and structure of a wide variety of materials. When beams of particles with energies of approximately 1000 electron volts are used, as in secondary ion mass spectrometry, it is possible to detect ions ejected from the top layer of the material with sensitivities we below the picogram level. A number of theoretical developments now permit analysis of the geometry of adsorbed atoms and molecules on surfaces from the angular distributions of the ejected particles. Much surface chemical information can also be deduced from ejected molecular cluster ions. In addition, the observation of clusters with weights up to nearly 20,000 atomic mass units promises to expand applications of mass spectrometry to the analysis of biomolecules and the sequencing of proteins.     

Voyager telecommunications: the broadcast from jupiter

Sweeping past Jupiter, the Voyager 1 spacecraft presages a new era in the exploration of the solar system. Not since the TV return from Apollo has a spacecraft returned information of such volume and pictures of such startling clarity. Yet this feat was accomplished from a distance 1770 times as great as that of the lunar adventure. The communication system responsible for this remarkable achievement is a oompilation of elements ranging from tiny integrated circuits to enormous ground antennas. This article seeks to describe the way in which data are returned from these fascinating, faraway bodies and to convey the excitement of the engineering work that supports our scientific endeavors.