Structural effects of reedbed grazing and its cessation on reed-nesting songbird densities

Reedbeds are crucial breeding habitats for vulnerable songbird species.Irrespective of their protection status,these habitats may be threatened by organic matter accumulation,progressively leading to structural homoge-nization and habitat succession towards woodland.Managers prevent excessive litter build-up with various in-terventions opening-up the reedbeds,such as grazing,which may be detrimental or suitable for some reed bird species.We assessed the effects of extensive grazing by horses and its cessation in the medium and long terms on reedbed structure,and the consequences on reed-nesting songbird densities in Estagnol Nature Reserve,a pro-tected wetland near the French Mediterranean coast.We compared reedbed structural features between grazed,newly ungrazed and old-ungrazed plots.During nine years,we censused four songbird species in spring and collected water level data in the same survey plots.Grazing reduced reedbed extent,rejuvenated the vegetation with more short green stems on a thinner litter,and produced higher structural heterogeneity and discontinuity compared to long-lasting non grazing.Newly ungrazed plot showed intermediate effects.All surveyed songbird total densities were similar among plots while species numbers and densities differed.Grazed reedbed was more attractive to Moustached Warblers(Acrocephalus melanopogon)and Great Reed Warblers(Acrocephalus arundi-naceus),likely due to the large edges and the high vegetation structural heterogeneity.However,Moustached Warblers were more negatively affected by higher water level in grazed reedbed,presumably because flooding prevents litter foraging.The newly ungrazed reedbed was not preferred by any species.All warbler species were found under low density in the old-ungrazed reedbed,where Reed Buntings(Emberiza schoeniclus)were exclu-sively found.Food availability related to thick litter layer may explain this predilection.Common Reed Warblers(Acrocephalus scirpaceus)were found everywhere in similar densities.We conclude that reedbed management by extensive horse grazing and also its long-term cessation may benefit several songbird species.Within a context of wetland degradation and disappearance,both management strategies are useful to establish and maintain suitable habitats for reed-nesting songbird communities.

Chemical substances present in discharge water generated by laundry industry:Analytical monitoring

To our knowledge,precise data concerning the pollution in terms of qualitative and quantitative fluctuations in discharge water from the laundry sector have seldom been reported.This study investigated the chemical composition of the discharge water from a laundry industry.Over 160 chemical substances and 15 standard water parameters were monitored.The results showed that the discharge water presented both inorganic and organic polycontamination with a high degree of qualitative and quantitative variability.However,of all monitored substances,only five metals(Al,Cu,Fe,Sr,and Zn),five minerals(P,Ca,K,Na,and S),and alkylphenols were systematically present and quantifiable.For a daily average water flow of 129 m^(3),the released metal flux was 356 g/d.Substances,such as trichloromethane,brominated diphenyl ether(BDE)47,and fluorides,were occasionally found and quantified.Other substances,such as chlorophenols,organo-tins,and pesticides were never identified.All the samples had quantifiable levels in the chemical oxygen demand(COD),biological oxygen demand(BOD),and hydrocarbons.Only the concentrations of Zn(8.3 g/d),Cu(21.4 g/d),and BOD(57.4 g/d)were close to or above the regulatory values:74.0 g/d for Zn,9.0 g/d for Cu,and 57.0 kg/d for BOD.The data obtained from this study are useful to the choice of additional treatments for the reduction of pollutant fluxes.

A review of major non-sulfide zinc deposits in Iran

The numerous non-sulfide zinc ore deposits were the historical basis for the development of zinc mining in Iran.They include the Mehdiabad,Irankouh and Angouran world-class deposits,as well as the Zarigan and Haft-har deposits.These deposits were formed by supergene oxidation of primary sulfide minerals during the complex interplay of tectonic uplift,karst development,changes in the level of the water table,and weathering.Zn(Pb)carbonates,Zn-hydrosilicates and associated hydrated phases directly replace the primary ore bodies or fill cavities along fractures related to uplift tectonics.Direct replacement of primary sulfides is accompanied by distal precipitation of zinc non-sulfide minerals in cavities or internal sediments filling.The mineralogy of the non-sulfide mineralization in all six deposits is generally complex and consists of smithsonite,hydrozincite,and hemimorphite as the main economic minerals,accompanied by iron and manganese oxy-hydroxides and residual clays.Commonly,non-sulfide minerals in these deposits consist of two types of ore:red zinc ore(RZO),rich in Zn,Fe,Pb-(As)and white zinc ore(WZO),typically with very high zinc grades but low concentrations of iron and lead.Typical minerals of the RZO are Fe-oxyhydroxides,goethite,hematite,hemimorphite,smithsonite and/or hydrozincite and cerussite.Common minerals of the WZO are smithsonite or hydrozincite and only minor amounts of Fe-oxyhydroxides and hemimorphite.

Production of micro-cuttings from acorns to test the plasticity of response to contrasting soil water regimes

We collected acorns from selected Quercus robur and Quercus petraea mother trees growing at sta- tions with different depths to the water table. We produced pairs of micro-cuttings from these single acorns. The obtained pairs of cuttings represented phenotypes of high similarity according to photosynthetic parameters. These pairs of cuttings were used to test the plasticity of response to contrasting water regimes. For each pair, one cutting was submitted to drought and the other was submitted to waterlogging. Drought response was recorded according to gas exchange traits （stomatal closure and water use effi- ciency）. The response to waterlogging was recorded according to the capacity to form hypertrophied lenticels and to maintain the CO2 assimilation rate. Intermediary phenotypes presenting both high water use efficiency and the capacity to develop hypertrophied lenticels were expected.

Analytical Monitoring of the Chemicals Present in the Discharge Water Generated by the Surface Treatment Industry

Industrial discharge water, and especially that from the surface treatment industry (ST), contains non-negligible amounts of pollutants even though the legislation is fully respected. In spite of this, no detailed studies list the exact chemical composition of these effluents. The present study reports the results of analyses performed over a 6-month period involving 15 standard water parameters. Over 160 substances including 33 metals, 58 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 24 chlorophenols (CPs), 16 alkylphenols (APs), 5 chloroanilines (CAs) and 7 polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) were monitored. The industrial effluents presented polycontamination involving metals, minerals and organics with a high degree of qualitative and quantitative variability. Of the 160 substances monitored, 46 were regularly found: 25 inorganics including 8 metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn) and 21 organics (4 PAHs, 10 VOCs, 4 CPs and 3 APs). Eighteen were systematically presented at quantifiable levels.

Cryptic diversity within three South American whip spider species(Arachnida, Amblypygi)

DEAR EDITOR,Cryptic diversity(CD),the presence of highly divergent phylogenetic lineages within closed morphological species,has been documented for many taxa.Great arachnid orders such as Araneae or Scorpiones are well studied and many cases of CD have been described therein;to date,however,related research on smaller arachnid orders,such as whip spiders(Amblypygi),remains lacking.

气候变化下维管植物对大气碳同化和泥炭碳分解的调控作用

气候变化可以通过促进维管植物的生长来改变泥炭地植物群落的组成。然而,这种植被变化如何影响泥炭地碳动态仍然不清楚。为了评估植被变化对碳吸收和释放的影响,我们在两处以泥炭藓为主的泥炭地上进行了维管植物去除实验,这两处泥炭地代表了沿气候梯度下自然植被演替的不同阶段。对净生态系统CO_(2)交换量的周期性测量表明,维管植物在确保净碳吸收潜力方面发挥着关键作用,尤其是在气候变暖的情况下。然而,维管植物的存在也增强了生态系统呼吸量,通过利用呼吸作用产生的CO_(2)中放射性碳(bomb-^(14)C)特征的季节变化,我们证明根际激发效应增强了泥炭碳的异养分解。观察到的泥炭碳分解的根际激发效应与溶解有机物的更高度腐殖化相匹配,在植物的生长季之后仍然很明显。我们的研究结果强调了根际激发效应在泥炭地中的相关性,特别是在评估与气候变化相关的植被群落组成发生变化的泥炭地未来碳汇功能时。

Toward a unified model of Altaids geodynamics:Insight from the Palaeozoic polycyclic evolution of West Junggar(NW China)

The Altaid tectonic collage extends over Central Asia, exposing numerous accretionary orogens that can account for the Palaeozoic continental crust growth. A pluridisciplinary approach, using geochronological, geochemical, structural and palaeomagnetic tools was carried out to unravel the architecture and the evolution of West Junggar （Northwestern China）, a segment of the Altaid Collage. A polycyclic geodynamic evolution is inferred and includes： （1） an Early Palaeozoic cycle, characterized by the closure of two oceanic basins bounded by island-arc systems; （2） an Early Devonian subduction jamming resulting in a minor-scale collision documented by thrusting, syntectonic sedimentation and subsequent crutal thinning associ- ated with alkaline magmatism; （3） a Late Palaeozoic cycle, driven by the evolution of two opposite subduction zones devel- oped upon the Early Palaeozoic basement. Detailed structural analysis and paleomagnetic data provide constraints for the late evolution of Junggar in the frame of the development of the Late Palaeozoic Kazakh orocline, which led to oblique subduction and transpression in the West Junggar accretionary complex. Progressive buckling of the Kazakh orocline further resulted in Late Carboniferous to Permian wrench tectonics, and lateral displacement of lithotectonic units. Block rotations that continued after the Late Triassic are due to diachronous intraplate reactivation. This scenario mirrors the Palaeozoic geodynamics of the Altaid Collage. Multiple Early Palaeozoic collisions of intra-oceanic arcs and micro continents have contributed to the formarion of the Kazakhstan Microconrinent. Since the Late Palaeozoic, subductions formed around this microcontinent and the final oblique closure of oceanic domains resulted in the transcurrent collage of Tarim and Siberia cratons. Palaeozoic strike-slip faults were later reactivated during Mesozoic intracontinental tectonics.

A historical view of alveolar echinococcosis, 160 years after the discovery of the first case in humans： part 1. What have we learnt on the distribution of the disease and on its parasitic agent？

Since the first 2 cases observed in southern Germany and the correct identification of a parasite at the origin of the disease by the famous scientist Rudolf Virchow in 1855, the borders of the endemic area of alveolar echinococcosis （AE） have never stopped to expand. The parasite was successively recognized in Switzerland, then in Russia, Austria and France which were long considered as the only endemic areas for the disease. Cases were disclosed in Turkey in 1939; then much attention was paid to Alaska and to Hokkaido, in Japan. The situation totally changed in 1991 after the recognition of the Chinese endemic areas by the international community of scientists. The world map was completed in the beginning of the 21st century by the identification of AE in most of the countries of central/eastern Europe and Baltic States, and by the recognition of cases in central Asia. Up to now, the disease has however never been reported in the South hemisphere and in the United Kingdom. In the mid-1950s, demonstration by Rausch and Schiller in Alaska, and by Vogel in Germany, of the distinction between 2 parasite species responsible respectively for cystic echinococcosis （＂hydatid disease＂） and AE put an end to the long-lasting debate between the ＂dualists＂, who believed in that theory which eventually proved to be true, and the ＂unicists＂, who believed in a single species responsible for both diseases. At the end of the 20th century, molecular biology fully confirmed the ＂dualist＂ theory while adding several new species to the initially described E. granulosus; within the past decade, it also confirmed that little variation existed within Echinococcus （E.） multilocularis species, and that AE-Iooking infection in some intermediate animal hosts on the Tibetan plateau was indeed due to a new species, distinct from E. multilocularis, named E. shiquicus. Since the 1970s, the unique ecological interactions between the landscape, the hosts, and E. multilocularis have progressively been delineated. The important role of the rodent/lagomorph reservoir size for the maintenance of the parasite cycle has been recognized within the last 2 decades of the 20th century. And the discovery of a close relationship between high densities of small mammals and particularities in land use by agriculture/forestry has stressed the responsibility of political/economic decisions on the contamination pressure. Urbanization of foxes in Europe and Japan and the major role of dogs in China represent the new deals at the beginning of the 21 st century regarding definitive hosts and prevention measures.

Metals and metalloid bioconcentrations in the tissues of Typha latifolia grown in the four interconnected ponds of a domestic landfill site

The uptake of metals in roots and their transfer to rhizomes and above-ground plant parts（stems, leaves） of cattails（Typha latifolia L.） were studied in leachates from a domestic landfill site（Etueffont, France） and treated in a natural lagooning system. Plant parts and corresponding water and sediment samples were taken at the inflow and outflow points of the four ponds at the beginning and at the end of the growing season. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn in the different compartments were estimated and their removal efficiency assessed, reaching more than 90% for Fe, Mn and Ni in spring and fall as well in the water compartment. The above-and below-ground cattail biomass varied from 0.21 to 0.85, and 0.34 to 1.24 kg dry weight/m^2, respectively, the highest values being recorded in the fourth pond in spring 2011. The root system was the first site of accumulation before the rhizome, stem and leaves. The highest metal concentration was observed in roots from cattails growing at the inflow of the system＇s first pond. The trend in the average trace element concentrations in the cattail plant organs can generally be expressed as： Fe 〉 Mn 〉 As 〉 Zn 〉 Cr 〉 Cu 〉 Ni 〉 Cd for both spring and fall. While T. latifolia removes trace elements efficiently from landfill leachates, attention should also be paid to the negative effects of these elements on plant growth.

Climate warming induced a stretch of the breeding season and an increase of second clutches in a passerine breeding at its altitudinal limits

The increase in the average air temperature due to global warming has produced an early onset of the reproduction in many migratory birds of the Paleartic region.According to the“mismatch hypothesis”this response can lead to a decrease in the breeding output when the conditions that trigger the departure from the wintering areas do not match the availability of food resources in the breeding ground.We used 653 brooding events registered during the period 1991–2013 to investigate the link between climatic variables and individual breeding performance of a partially migratory passerine,the Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia,breeding at the altitude limit of its distribution.The laying date(LD)of the earliest first clutch was associated with local spring(minimum)temperatures but did not show a significant trend during the period considered.The LD of the latest first clutch had a positive and statistically significant trend,unrelated to local covariates and resulting in a longer breeding season(1.5 days/year).A longer breeding season allowed birds to produce more second clutches,which proportion increased from 0.14 to 0.25.The average breeding success was also positively correlated with the average temperature in July and with the duration of the breeding season.Contrary to expectations,the most important climate-dependent effect was a stretch of the breeding season due to a significant increase of the LD of the latest first-clutches rather than an earlier breeding onset.We show how climate changes act on bird populations through multiple paths and stress the need to assess the link between climatic variables and several aspects of the breeding cycle.

Heavy metal concentrations inLiza aurata(Risso,1810)captured from the Kerkennah Islands(Gulf of Gabes)and associated health risks

Objective:To determine the concentration of heavy metals(Cd,Cu,Fe,Ni,Pb and Zn)in the liver,gills and muscle of Liza aurata(L.aurata)collected from the Kerkennah Islands.The target hazard quotient was also used as an indicator of human health risks associated with fish consumption.Methods:The sample was collected from Kerkennah Islands(Gulf of Gabes,Tunisia).Heavy metals in L.aurata tissues(gills,liver and muscle)were analysed with an atomic absorption spectrometer(PerkinElmer).Results:As expected,muscle always possessed the lowest concentrations of all metals.The maximum concentrations of Cd(0.52 mg/kg wet weight),Cu(5.43 mg/kg wet weight),Fe(115.27mg/kg wet weight)and Zn(112.20 mg/kg wet weight)were measured in the liver,while the highest Ni(1.54 mg/kg wet weight)and Pb(1.43 mg/kg wet weight)were recorded in gills.The target hazard quotient through consumption of fish and calculated by adding the inividual target hazard quotient was below 1,indicating that there was no significant potential health risk associated with consumption of L.aurata.Conclusions:L.aurata from the Kerkennah Islands may be suitable for human consumption.

Temporo-spatial dynamics and behavioural patterns of 2012 cholera epidemic in the African mega-city of Conakry,Guinea

Background:Cholera is endemic in Guinea,having suffered consecutive outbreaks from 2004 to 2008 followed by a lull until the 2012 epidemic.Here we describe the temporal-spatial and behavioural characteristics of cholera cases in Conakry during a three-year period,including the large-scale 2012 epidemic.Methods:We used the national and African Cholera Surveillance Network(Africhol)surveillance data collected from every cholera treatment centre in Conakry city from August 2011 to December 2013.The prevalence of suspect and confirmed cholera cases,the case fatality ratio(CFR),and the factors associated with suspected cholera were described according to three periods:pre-epidemic(A),epidemic 2012(B)and post epidemic(C).Weekly attack rates and temporal-spatial clustering were calculated at municipality level for period B.Cholera was confirmed by culture at the cholera national reference laboratory.Results:A total of 4559 suspect cases were reported:66,4437,and 66 suspect cases in periods A,B and C,respectively.Among the 204 suspect cases with culture results available,6%,60%,and 70%were confirmed in periods A,B,and C,respectively.With 0.3%,the CFR was significantly lower in period B than in periods A(7.6%)and C(7.1%).The overall attack rate was 0.28%in period B,ranging from 0.17%to 0.31%across municipalities.Concomitantly,a cluster of cases was identified in two districts in the northern part of Conakry.At 14%,rice water stools were less frequent in period A than in period B and C(78%and 84%).Dehydration(31%vs 94%and 89%)and coma(0.4%vs 3.1%and 2.9%)were lower during period B than in periods A and C.The treatment of drinking water was less frequent in period A,while there were more reports of recent travel in period C.Conclusions:The epidemic dynamic and the sociological description of suspect cases before,during,and after the large-scale epidemic revealed that the Vibrio cholerae was already present before the epidemic.However,it appeared that infected individuals reacted differently in terms of disease severity as well as their access to treated water and travel habits.Such an in-depth description of cholera epidemics should be systematically carried out in cholera endemic settings in order to prioritize higher risk areas,identify transmission factors,and optimize preventive interventions.

Chaos in DNA evolution

In this paper, we explain why the chaotic mutation （CM） model of J. M. Bahi and C. Michel （2008） simulates the genes mutations over time with good accuracy. It is firstly shown that the CM model is a truly chaotic one, as it is defined by Devaney. Then, it is established that mutations occurring in genes mutations have indeed a same chaotic dynamic, thus making relevant the use of chaotic models for genomes evolution. Transposition and inversion dynamics are finally investigated.