Primate responses to changing environments in the anthropocene

Most primates have slow life-histories and long generation times. Because environmental change is occurring at an unprecedented rate, gene-based adaptations are unlikely to evolve fast enough to offer successful responses to these changes. The paper reviews the most common types of habitat/landscape alterations, the extent of human-primate interactions, and the impact of climate change. It demonstrates how understanding behavioural flexibility as a response to environmental change will be crucial to optimize conservation efforts by constructing informed management plans. Comparisons across species, space, and time can be used to draw generalizations about primate responses to environmental change while considering their behavioural flexibility

Caractérisation des phénomènes d'auto-floculation, de bio-floculation et de co-floculation des microalgues dans un chenal algal à haut rendement (synthèse bibliographique)

Auto-flocculation, bio-flocculation and co-flocculation of microalgae. A review. Recovery of microalgae is one of the main technological and economic concerns in a High Rate Algal Pond because of the small size, the negative surface charges and the low density of these microalgae. Usual recovery techniques (e.g. centrifugation) carry prohibitive energy costs with respect to the final value of products. Moreover, efficient recovery techniques (i.e., those that are natural, sustainable and low cost) are of great interest in waste water treatment processes. In this article, a literature review is conducted in order to identify the theories and mechanisms of three methods used for microalgae recovery (i.e. auto-flocculation, bio-flocculation and co-flocculation), and the characterization of physico-chemical conditions necessary for their implementation. This review could advance the current knowledge regarding some of the processes discussed in the literature and provide a basis for the optimal management of reactors in order to achieve efficient results using these methods

Apport du traitement d'images dans le suivi de l'influence des teneurs en nutriments sur la croissance des lentilles d'eau (Lemna minor)

Contribution of image processing in monitoring the influence of nutrients on the growth of duckweed (Lemna minor). The growth of duckweed (Lemna minor) is an important component in the treatment process in wastewater floating macrophyte ponds. An excess or shortage of this biomass may be responsible for the dysfunction of such ponds. Modeling these duckweed ponds through mass balances based on Petersen's matrix may be helpful in facilitating the optimal management of such facilities. This study sought to assess the efficiency of digital image processing in the growth monitoring of Lemna minor under different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus. The experiments were carried out in a growth chamber (phytotron) using an experimental pilot involving initial fresh Lemna minor biomass (1 g), nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations varying between 5 and 64 mg N-NH4+·l-1, and 1 and 24 mg P-PO43-·-1, respectively. Digital image processing was achieved in addition to gravimetric methods (fresh weight and/or dry weight). Our results showed that the image processing method allowed a continuous and non-destructive monitoring of duckweed biomass. The growth of Lemna minor progressively decreased when nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were greater than 16 mg N-NH4+·l-1 and 6 mg P-PO43-·-1. The maximum growth rates μmax were of the order of 0.07 d-1. The kinetic constants KS and KI were respectively 3.83 mg·l-1 and 204 mg·l-1 for nitrogen, and 1.26 mg·l-1 and 13.3 mg·l-1 for phosphorus. Such results are interesting as they could contribute to the optimal management of Lemna minor and the modeling of biological reactors