scholarly journals The biogeochemistry and ecological impact of Westland petrels (Procellaria westlandica) on terrestrial ecosystems

Author(s):  
David Hawke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 3721-3727 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Wang ◽  
T. W. Ng ◽  
Q. Zhang ◽  
X. B. Yang ◽  
R. A. Dahlgren ◽  
...  

Abstract. C1/C2 organohalogens (organohalogens with one or two carbon atoms) can have significant environmental toxicity and ecological impact, such as carcinogenesis, ozone depletion and global warming. Natural halogenation processes have been identified for a wide range of natural organic matter, including soils, plant and animal debris, algae, and fungi. Yet, few have considered these organohalogens generated from the ubiquitous bacteria, one of the largest biomass pools on earth. Here, we report and confirm the formation of chloroform (CHCl3) dichloro-acetonitrile (CHCl2CN), chloral hydrate (CCl3CH(OH)2) and their brominated analogues by direct halogenation of seven strains of common bacteria and nine cellular monomers. Comparing different major C stocks during litter decomposition stages in terrestrial ecosystems, from plant litter, decomposed litter, to bacteria, we found increasing reactivity for nitrogenous organohalogen yield with decreasing C/N ratio. Our results raise the possibility that natural halogenation of bacteria represents a significant and overlooked contribution to global organohalogen burdens. As bacteria are decomposers that alter the C quality by transforming organic matter pools from high to low C/N ratio and constitute a large organic N pool, the bacterial activity is expected to affect the C, N, and halogen cycling through natural halogenation reactions.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 289
Author(s):  
Alan J. Lappin ◽  
Chloe M. Scammell ◽  
Lauren M. Carr ◽  
Catherine E. Meathrel

The growing realization that humanity?s wellbeing and longevity are directly related to the ecological health of our planet has led to an explosion of legislation and regulations in recent times. Ecological impact assessments (EcIAs) are an important part, and becoming an intrinsic step in future developments, especially during the planning process. In Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Assessments for Ecological Impact Assessment emphasis is placed on conducting vertebrate fauna assessments to support EcIAs in Western Australia. We congratulate Dr. Scott A Thompson and Dr. Graham G Thompson for writing this highly practical book. Dr. Scott Thompson is a Senior Environmental Scientist for an environmental consulting firm, with strong interest in vertebrate surveys. Dr. Graham Thompson is a member of the Centre of Ecosystem Management and a partner in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Together, they incorporate their knowledge to produce a book that effectively addresses a number of key issues associated with EcIAs.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 6777-6792
Author(s):  
J. J. Wang ◽  
T. W. Ng ◽  
Q. Zhang ◽  
X. B. Yang ◽  
R. A. Dahlgren ◽  
...  

Abstract. C1/C2 organohalogens (organohalogens with one or two carbon atoms) can have significant environmental toxicity and ecological impact, such as carcinogenesis, ozone depletion and global warming. Natural halogenation processes have been identified for a wide range of natural organic matter, including soils, plant and animal debris, algae, and fungi. Yet, few have considered these organohalogens generated from the ubiquitous bacteria, one of the largest biomass pools on Earth. Here, we report and confirm the formation of chloroform (CHCl3) dichloro-acetonitrile (CHCl2CN), chloral hydrate (CCl3CH(OH)2) and their brominated analogues by direct halogenation of seven strains of common bacteria and nine cellular monomers. Comparing different major C stocks during litter decomposition stages in terrestrial ecosystems, from plant litter, decomposed litter, to bacteria, increasing reactivity for nitrogenous organohalogen yield was observed with decreasing C/N ratio. Our results raise the possibility that natural halogenation of bacteria represents a significant and overlooked contribution to global organohalogen burdens. As bacteria are decomposers that alter the C quality by transforming organic matter pools from high to low C/N ratio and constitute a large organic N pool, the bacterial activity is expected to affect the C, N, and halogen cycling through natural halogenation reactions.


1999 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 751-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Buchmann

2020 ◽  
Vol 637 ◽  
pp. 195-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM DeRoy ◽  
R Scott ◽  
NE Hussey ◽  
HJ MacIsaac

The ecological impacts of invasive species are highly variable and mediated by many factors, including both habitat and population abundance. Lionfish Pterois volitans are an invasive marine species which have high reported detrimental effects on prey populations, but whose effects relative to native predators are currently unknown for the recently colonized eastern Gulf of Mexico. We used functional response (FR) methodology to assess the ecological impact of lionfish relative to 2 functionally similar native species (red grouper Epinephelus morio and graysby grouper Cephalopholis cruentata) foraging in a heterogeneous environment. We then combined the per capita impact of each species with their field abundance to obtain a Relative Impact Potential (RIP). RIP assesses the broader ecological impact of invasive relative to native predators, the magnitude of which predicts community-level negative effects of invasive species. Lionfish FR and overall consumption rate was intermediate to that of red grouper (higher) and graysby grouper (lower). However, lionfish had the highest capture efficiency of all species, which was invariant of habitat. Much higher field abundance of lionfish resulted in high RIPs relative to both grouper species, demonstrating that the ecological impact of lionfish in this region will be driven mainly by high abundance and high predator efficiency rather than per capita effect. Our comparative study is the first empirical assessment of lionfish per capita impact and RIP in this region and is one of few such studies to quantify the FR of a marine predator.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-105
Author(s):  
Herawati Herawati ◽  
Muhammad Arsyad Thaha ◽  
Chairul Paotonan

Abstrak Wilayah pesisir merupakan pertemuan antara wilayah laut dan wilayah darat, dimana daerah ini merupakan daerah interaksi antara ekosistem darat dan ekosistem laut yang sangat dinamis dan saling mempengaruhi. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menentukan material lokal yang potensial dapat digunakan sebagai bahan bangunan pelindung pantai dan memilih tipe bangunan pelindung pantai yang sesuai kondisi hidro-oseanografi di lokasi studi dengan metode Analythic Hierarchy Process. Lokasi penelitian berada di Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara, tepatnya di Pulau Kabaena, Kecamatan Kabaena Barat Desa Sikeli kabupaten Bombana. Pulau Kabaena memiliki luas 873 km2. Secara geografis terletak antara 4°22’ 59,4” - 5°28’ 26,7” Lintang Selatan serta antara 121°27’46,7”-122°09’,4” Bujur Timur. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan perairan disepanjang tanjung perak sangat mempengaruhi hidro-oseonografi disekitar pantai desa Sikeli. Kondisi ini berpengaruh terhadap pola pergerakan arus dan tinggi gelombang datang disekitar pantai desa Sikeli. Tinggi gelombang rata-rata yang paling besar merambat dari arah barat sebesar 0.49 m dengan presentase kajadian sebesar 32.42 %, disusul arah barat laut sebesar 0.39 m (20.56 %), arah tenggara sebesar 0.31 m (8.72 %) arah barat daya sebesar 0.31 m (7.99 %), arah utara sebesar 0.20 m (6.94 %), arah timur sebesar 0.15 m (11.81 %), arah selatan sebesar 0.12 m (3.42 %), dan arah timur laut sebesar 0.11 m (8.15 %). Pengambilan keputusan untuk memilih tipe bangunan pelindung pantai dengan metode AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) untuk penanganan abrasi pesisir pantai desa Sikeli berbasis bahan lokal diperoleh bahwa alternatif bangunan dengan nilai keterpilihan yang tertinggi adalah detached breakwater (0,4432) disusul groin (0,2479), sea-wall (0,1700) dan revetment (0.1389). Detached breakwater berfungsi untuk menahan laju sedimen kearah laut, mengurangi ketinggian dan meredam energi gelombang dan tidak dibangun sepanjang garis pantai yang akan dilindungi sehingga kapal nelayan dapat ditambat dipesisir pantai dengan aman. Abstract The Selection Type of Coastal Protection Structures in Sikeli Village Based on Local Materials. The coastal area is a meeting point between the sea and land areas, where this area is an area of interaction between terrestrial ecosystems and marine ecosystems which are very dynamic and influence each other. The purpose of this research is to determine local materials that can be used as coastal protection materials and to select the type of coastal protection that is suitable for the hydro-oceanographic conditions in the study location using the Analythic Hierarchy Process method. The research location is in Southeast Sulawesi Province, precisely on Kabaena Island, Kabaena Barat District, Sikeli Village, Bombana Regency. Kabaena Island has an area of 873 km2. Geographically it is located between 4° 22' 59.4"- 5° 28' 26.7" South Latitude and between 121° 27' 46.7 "-122° 09' 4" Longitude East. The results showed that the waters along Tanjung Perak greatly affect the hydro-oseonography around the coast of Sikeli village. This condition affects the current movement pattern and the height of the incoming waves around the coast of Sikeli village. The largest average wave height propagating from the west is 0.49 m with a kajadian percentage of 32.42%, followed by the northwest direction of 0.39 m (20.56%), southeast direction of 0.31 m (8.72%) to the southwest of 0.31 m (7.99%), to the north of 0.20 m (6.94%), to the east of 0.15 m (11.81%), to the south of 0.12 m (3.42%), and to the northeast of 0.11 m (8.15%). The decision to choose the type of coastal protection using the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method for the coastal abrasion management model in Sikeli village based on local materials was obtained that the alternative building with the highest electability value was the detached breakwater (0.4432) followed by groins (0.2479), sea-wall (0.1700) and revetment (0.1389). The detached breakwater model which functions to restrain the sediment rate towards the sea, reduce the height and reduce wave energy and is not built along the coastline which will be protected so that fishing boats can be moored to the coast safely.


2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1401-1405
Author(s):  
Mihaela Budianu ◽  
Brindusa Mihaela Robu ◽  
Matei Macoveanu

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea Barbett ◽  
Edward Stupple ◽  
Michael Sweet ◽  
Miles Richardson

The planet is facing an anthropogenic mass extinction of wildlife, which will have a grave impact on the environment and humans. Widespread human action is needed to minimize the negative impact of humans on biodiversity and support the restoration of wildlife. In order to find effective ways to promote pro-nature conservation behaviours to the general population, there is a need to provide a list of behaviours which will have worthwhile ecological impact and are worth encouraging. In a novel collaboration between psychologists and ecologists, 70 experts from practical and academic conservation backgrounds were asked to review and rate 48 conservation related behaviours. According to their judgement, this short paper presents a ranked list of pro-nature conservation behaviours for the public in the UK and similar landscapes. This includes behaviours people can engage in in their homes, their gardens, on their land, and in their roles as citizens.


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