Foraging behaviour and habitat use by Antechinus flavipes and Sminthopsis murina (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in response to predation risk in eucalypt woodland

We examined the foraging behaviour and habitat use of two species of small Australian mammal (Antechinus flavipes and Sminthopsis murina) in response to predation risk in remnant eucalypt woodland. Predation risk was manipulated by providing refuge in the form of ground level wire netting to reduce risks from avian and mammalian predators. Giving-up-densities (GUD) using artificial food trays (20 mealworms in 1.5 l vermiculite) quantified the foraging behaviour in response to predation risk, by measuring the quitting harvest rate. Both A. flavipes and S. murina had lower GUDs (number of mealworms remaining) under the netting than in the open, most likely because these areas have lower predation risk. Animals also made greater visits to tracking tunnels under the netting compared to in the open. Tracking animal movements using fluorescent pigments also revealed preference for natural microhabitats that were structurally complex with animals moving most where logs and rock crevices were present. These results suggest that small mammals may use habitat structure to reduce their risks of predation. If future studies are able to demonstrate commensurate population-level responses, manipulation of habitat may be a useful management option to complement the direct control of exotic predators such as foxes and feral cats.     

A nitrogen dynamic hydroponic culture on performance and quality of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)

Abstract

In view of the unreasonable application of chemical fertilizers in agriculture and the groundwater pollution caused by nitrogen (N) leaching, a nitrogen dynamic hydroponic culture was used to simulate the dynamics variation of ammonium nitrogen (NH₄-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) in the leaching loss soil. Solutions with different ratio of NO₃-N and NH₄-N (100:0, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70 and 0:100) were prepared as well as the same solutions that not containing NO₃-N .Water spinach was chosen to culture in the two solutions that differ from NO₃-N every two (E2) or five days (E5) to observe the growth, quality and nutrient solution uptake. In terms of the growth, uptake of N source, N use efficiency and the chemical indicators, plants grown in the balanced solution all showed the best results. The nitrogen dynamic hydroponic culture showed some differences between E2 and E5 in some aspects. Under the same N source level, plants in E2 showed a better growth and higher NO₃-N uptake than E5. On the other hand, the uptake of NH₄-N seemed to be affected significantly by the interchanged frequency, which showed the same variations of glutamine synthetase activity. The activity of nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase showed the coexist of NO₃-N and NH₄-N could play synergistic effect. It is not recommended to supplement NO₃-N frequently in the case of N leaching loss, which has little impact on the growth and may lead to the hard taste and groundwater pollution.     

Macromolecular Features of Amaranth Starch

High-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), static light scattering (SLS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques were used for the structural characterization of amaranth starch, solubilized in water by microwave heating in a high-pressure vessel. Apparent average molar mass (M _w) gyration radius (R _G), and hydrodynamic radius (R _H) values were obtained from Berry and Zimm treatment of light-scattering data. When heating time increased from 35 to 90 sec, the M _w, R _G, and R _H decreased, demonstrating a possible polymer degradation due to temperature. Apparent M _r values from HPSEC at 35 sec (27 ± 2 × 10⁷ g/mol) and 50 sec (20 ± 2 × 10⁷ g/mol) were lower than those determined by SLS (35 sec = 69 × 10⁷ g/mol, 50 sec = 56 × 10⁷ g/mol). However, at 70 and 90 sec, the inverse pattern was obtained. The fractal dimensions (d′_f) from HPSEC study for samples dissolved for 35 (3.26), 50 (3.24), and 70 sec (3.14) are characteristic of a particle that has the internal structure of hard sphere, and for samples dissolved for 90 sec (2.19), are characteristic of a fully swollen, randomly branched macromolecule. From SLS, d′_f decreased with increasing treatment time (d′_f = 2.44, 2.18, 1.50, and 1.03 for 35, 50, 70, and 90 sec, respectively). The particle-scattering factors and Kratky plots, well-suited for studying the internal structure of a macromolecule, showed a sample degradation when treatment time increased. Results from DLS showed bimodal distributions with differences in the peak locations when treatment time increased. The ratio of R _G to R _H (ρ) for samples analyzed were between 0.88 and 1.3; these values are characteristic of a sphere or globular structure.     

商陆(Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.)的锰耐性和超积累

超积累植物的确证对成功实施重金属污染环境植物修复是必不可少的。通过野外调查和营养液培养试验 ,研究超积累植物商陆 (PhytolaccaacinosaRoxb )的锰富集特性 ,结果表明 ,商陆对生长介质中的Mn具有很强的耐性和累积能力。商陆在锰含量高达 114× 10 3 mgkg-1的尾矿废弃地上依然生长良好 ,叶锰含量最高达 19 3× 10 3 mgkg-1。温室培养条件下 ,当生长介质中Mn浓度为 8 0 0 0mmolL-1时 ,虽然其生物量与对照相比有所降低 ,但植株仍能生长。随着生长介质中Mn浓度的升高 ,商陆叶和茎的Mn含量逐渐增加 ,生物富集系数则逐渐降低 ,但是地上部分锰积累量则先增加后减少。当Mn浓度为 5 0 0 0mmolL-1时 ,商陆地上部分锰积累量达到最大值 2 5 8 2mgplant-1;当Mn浓度为 12 0 0 0mmolL-1时 ,商陆仍能完成整个生命周期 ,叶锰含量达到最大值 36 4× 10 3 mgkg-1,生物富集系数为 5 5。不同锰供应水平下 ,商陆吸收的锰有87%～ 95 %被转移到地上部分。这进一步验证商陆的锰超积累特性 ,为利用超积累植物对大面积污染土壤实施植物修复提供了有力证据 ,对锰污染土壤和水体实施植物修复具有很大的应用前景     

Experimental studies on cold survival of enchytraeid cocoons

The effect of different culture methods, cold acclimation and desiccation on the supercooling point (SCP), the melting point (MP) of fluids and the quantity of water freezing (osmotically active water) was investigated in individual cocoons of Enchytraeus crypticus and an undescribed Enchytraeus species using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Both species can be easily cultured in the laboratory in agar where the development and hatching of the worms can be observed. Culture methods (agar with nettle leaves or oats as food and wet filter paper without food supply) had a significant effect on fresh weight and SCP of E. crypticus cocoons. The water content (as a proportion of fresh weight) was slightly lower in the cocoons from the wet filter paper cultures. Acclimation at —3 °C did not affect the supercooling ability of E. crypticus cocoons, whereas the SCP of E. sp.1 cocoons was lowered from a mean of —8.7 to —12.4 °C. The supercooling ability of cocoons of E. crypticus was only slightly increased by desiccation and cold acclimation, but the quantity of frozen water was significantly reduced with acclimation and desiccation (2 and 3 min) at room temperature. The MP values of the cocoon fluids reflected these changes in both species. No cocoons of E. crypticus and E. sp.1 survived desiccation and freezing in our experiments and no worms of Enchytraeus albidus, E. crypticus and Henlea perpusilla survived freezing to —10 or —20 °C.     

Basics of effective erosion control in German agriculture

Present research in Germany on water, wind, and tillage erosion is examined. Existing soil‐protection strategies, laws, and guidelines are outlined. These are the result of extensive scientific investigations and the adoption of existing international knowledge. The most common methodologies currently used in Germany are reviewed. They allow an estimation of the water‐ and wind‐erosion risks as well as methods for their reduction. The results enable an aim‐orientated, site‐specific, risk‐adequate approach to implementing control measures in an easily understood framework. The most important remaining research problems are explained.     

Chemical comparison of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) root powder from three commercial suppliers

The characterization of herbal materials is a significant challenge to analytical chemists. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.), which has been chosen for toxicity evaluation by NIEHS, is among the top 15 herbal supplements currently on the market and contains a complex mixture of indigenous components ranging from carbohydrates and amino acids to isoquinoline alkaloids. One key component of herbal supplement production is botanical authentication, which is also recommended prior to initiation of efficacy or toxicological studies. To evaluate material available to consumers, goldenseal root powder was obtained from three commercial suppliers and a strategy was developed for characterization and comparison that included Soxhlet extraction, HPLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS analyses. HPLC was used to determine the weight percentages of the goldenseal alkaloids berberine, hydrastine, and canadine in the various extract residues. Palmatine, an isoquinoline alkaloid native to Coptis spp. and other common goldenseal adulterants, was also quantitated using HPLC. GC-MS was used to identify non-alkaloid constituents in goldenseal root powder, whereas LC-MS was used to identify alkaloid components. After review of the characterization data, it was determined that alkaloid content was the best biomarker for goldenseal. A 20-min ambient extraction method for the determination of alkaloid content was also developed and used to analyze the commercial material. All three lots of purchased material contained goldenseal alkaloids hydrastinine, berberastine, tetrahydroberberastine, canadaline, berberine, hydrastine, and canadine. Material from a single supplier also contained palmatine, coptisine, and jatrorrhizine, thus indicating that the material was not pure goldenseal. Comparative data for three commercial sources of goldenseal root powder are presented.     

A combined hydraulic and toxicological approach to assess re-suspended sediments during simulated flood events—part II: an interdisciplinary experimental methodology

Purpose

Flood events are expected to increase both in intensity and frequency due to climate change in the near future. From an environmental toxicology perspective, there is concern that such flood events could lead to the remobilization of contaminated sediment layers in rivers. The aim of this pilot study was to establish a novel and interdisciplinary framework combining methods of hydrodynamic engineering and ecotoxicological assessment to enable investigation of the potential risks associated with such remobilization events.

Materials and methods

Formulated sediment was prepared according to OECD guideline 218 and spiked with a mixture of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (phenanthrene, chrysene, pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene) at concentrations of 3.3?C8.3?mg?kg^?1 dry weight. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed as test animals to re-suspended sediments in three out of five experiments. The experiments were carried out in an annular flume designed to investigate transport behaviour of fine-grained sediments. Several physicochemical (e.g. pH) and sedimentological (e.g. turbidity) parameters were measured to characterise environmental conditions and erosion behaviour of sediments. Furthermore, exposure concentrations were measured by means of an in vitro assay (7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD), RTL-W1 cell assay) and chemical analysis.

Results and discussion

Preparation and spiking of large amounts of formulated sediments were feasible but not practical. Successful spiking could be confirmed by the bioanalytical methods with the spiked sediments showing significantly elevated EROD induction compared to control sediments. Conditions within the annular flume remained stable throughout all experiments and were adequate to support rainbow trout. Flood events were successfully simulated, resulting in re-suspension of formulated sediment. Different erosion behaviours of sediments during the simulated flood events were observed and could be associated with changes in microbial composition of sediments due to differences in storage conditions. Therefore, maintaining constant storage conditions of formulated sediments is crucial to enable consistency and comparability among erosion experiments.

Conclusions

This study clearly demonstrated the feasibility of a combined hydro-toxicological approach in support of the investigation of the potential ecotoxicological relevance of sediment re-suspension events. However, based on the results presented here, it is recommended to include additional physicochemical parameters, such as redox potential and conductivity, and to extend the experimental setup to natural sediments and different aquatic organisms. Future studies will use natural sediments containing representative microbial communities and extracellular polymeric substances to enable extrapolation from the annular flume to conditions in natural flowing waters.