Projected impact of climate change on the effectiveness of the existing protected area network for biodiversity conservation within Yunnan Province, China

Climate change is projected to impact on biodiversity conservation and the effectiveness of the existing protected area network in biologically rich Yunnan Province of southwestern China. A statistically derived bioclimatic stratification is used to analyze projected bioclimatic conditions across Yunnan by the year 2050. The multi-model approach is based on an ensemble of CIMP5 Earth System Models, downscaled to a set of 1 km2 resolution climate projections (n = 63), covering four representative concentration pathways (RCP). Nine bioclimatic zones, composed of 33 strata, are currently found within Yunnan. By 2050, the mean elevation of these zones is projected to shift upwards by an average of 269 m, with large increases in area of the warmer zones, and decreases in the colder, higher elevation zones. Temperate and alpine areas of high biodiversity value are at risk. Displacement in the geographic distribution of bioclimatic conditions is likely to have substantial impact across all bioclimatic zones, vegetation types, and habitats currently found in Yunnan. On average, across all RCPs, 45% of the total combined area of the protected area network will shift to a completely different zone, with 83% shifting to a different strata. The great majority of protected area will experience substantially changed, spatially shifted, and novel bioclimatic conditions by 2050. The spatial displacement and upwards shifting of bioclimatic conditions indicates a prolonged period of significant ecological perturbation, which will have a major impact upon the conservation effectiveness of the established protected area network, and other conservation efforts across Yunnan

Effect of silicone rinses on barnacle glue transglutaminase activity.

<p>30 second, 60 µl methanol rinses were conducted, 10 rinses were pooled, dried completely, and residual was resuspended in 10 µl 100% methanol before adding assay buffer. Each individual barnacle was tested with all four silicones. Individual data, expressed as percent change in OD₄₅₀ from control, and group mean (± SEM) are shown. The control is barnacle glue incubated with 10 µl 100% methanol and assay buffer only, without silicone residual. * Indicates a significant difference from control (paired t-test: p<0.05).</p

Effect of silicone rinses on barnacle glue trypsin activity.

<p>30 second, 60 µl methanol rinses were conducted, 10 rinses were pooled, dried completely, and residual was resuspended in 10 µl 100% methanol before adding assay buffer. Each individual barnacle was tested with all four silicones. Individual data, expressed as percent change in OD₄₀₅ from control, and group mean (± SEM) are shown. The control is barnacle glue incubated with 10 µl 100% methanol and assay buffer only, without silicone residual.</p

Gas chromatogram and tentative peak assignment (NIST database) for compounds present on Dow Corning Silastic T2^® silicone.

<p>Samples were obtained by 30 second, 30 µl methanol rinses. Panels had been conditioned in flowing seawater and then used as barnacle growth substrates, immersed in seawater, for an approximate total of 1½ years before use in this analysis.</p

Gas-chromatographic retention times of peaks with characteristic mass fragments belonging to poly(oligomethylsiloxanes) and amino-substituted polysilaxanes in dry and wet surface swabs obtained from model polysiloxane coatings.

<p>The samples under investigation were characterized by high (H) and low (L) molecular weight (MW), polymerized with the addition of low (L) and high (H) amounts of cross linker (CL), and with (+) or without (−) the addition of silicone oil (Oil). Different organosiloxanes with similar mass-to-charge fragments (73, 147, 221, 281, 355, 429) are denoted by (▪)†. Characteristic mass fragments in different polysilaxanes were □ (351, 379); ○ (87, 115, 351, 379, 437); • (87, 115, 277, 421); ▴ (87, 115, 337, 481); ◊ (87, 115, 439, 583). † As polydimethylsiloxanes of different ring size show almost identical mass fragmentation patterns the exact elucidation of repeat units (<i>n</i>) was not possible.</p

Gas chromatogram and tentative peak assignment (NIST database) for compounds present on International Paints Veridian^® silicone.

<p>Samples were obtained by 30 second, 30 µl methanol rinses. Panels had been conditioned in flowing seawater and then used as barnacle growth substrate, immersed in seawater for an approximate total of 1½ years before use in this analysis.</p

Effect of silicone oil and PDMS oligomers on purified trypsin and transglutaminase activity from porcine and guinea pig, respectively.

<p>Silicone oil (viscosity 40–50 cSt) and low, medium and high molecular weight PDMS oligomers (viscosity 700–800, 1000, and 5000 cSt respectively) were tested alone and in combination. Components were dissolved in methanol, the methanol was then dried completely, and residual was resuspended directly in assay buffer. Data are expressed as percent change in OD₄₀₅ (trypsin) or OD₄₅₀ (transglutaminase) from control. Means and SEM are shown. The control is purified enzyme incubated with assay buffer only, without silicone components. * Indicates a significant difference from control (Dunn's method post-hoc analysis: p<0.05). n = 10 replicates for individual components, 5 replicates for combinations.</p

Dynamic surface deformation of silicone elastomers for management of marine biofouling: laboratory and field studies using pneumatic actuation

<div><p>Many strategies have been developed to improve the fouling release (FR) performance of silicone coatings. However, biofilms inevitably build on these surfaces over time. Previous studies have shown that intentional deformation of silicone elastomers can be employed to detach biofouling species. In this study, inspired by the methods used in soft-robotic systems, controlled deformation of silicone elastomers <i>via</i> pneumatic actuation was employed to detach adherent biofilms. Using programmed surface deformation, it was possible to release > 90% of biofilm from surfaces in both laboratory and field environments. A higher substratum strain was required to remove biofilms accumulated in the field environment as compared with laboratory-grown biofilms. Further, the study indicated that substratum modulus influences the strain needed to de-bond biofilms. Surface deformation-based approaches have potential for use in the management of biofouling in a number of technological areas, including in niche applications where pneumatic actuation of surface deformation is feasible.</p></div

Effects of Toxic Leachate from Commercial Plastics on Larval Survival and Settlement of the Barnacle <i>Amphibalanus amphitrite</i>

Plastic pollution represents a major and growing global problem. It is well-known that plastics are a source of chemical contaminants to the aquatic environment and provide novel habitats for marine organisms. The present study quantified the impacts of plastic leachates from the seven categories of recyclable plastics on larval survival and settlement of barnacle <i>Amphibalanus</i> (=<i>Balanus</i>) <i>amphitrite</i>. Leachates from plastics significantly increased barnacle nauplii mortality at the highest tested concentrations (0.10 and 0.50 m²/L). Hydrophobicity (measured as surface energy) was positively correlated with mortality indicating that plastic surface chemistry may be an important factor in the effects of plastics on sessile organisms. Plastic leachates significantly inhibited barnacle cyprids settlement on glass at all tested concentrations. Settlement on plastic surfaces was significantly inhibited after 24 and 48 h, but settlement was not significantly inhibited compared to the controls for some plastics after 72–96 h. In 24 h exposure to seawater, we found larval toxicity and inhibition of settlement with all seven categories of recyclable commercial plastics. Chemical analysis revealed a complex mixture of substances released in plastic leachates. Leaching of toxic compounds from all plastics should be considered when assessing the risks of plastic pollution

Modification of Silicone Elastomer Surfaces with Zwitterionic Polymers: Short-Term Fouling Resistance and Triggered Biofouling Release

We present a method for dual-mode-management of biofouling by modifying surface of silicone elastomers with zwitterionic polymeric grafts. Poly­(sulfobetaine methacrylate) was grafted from poly­(vinylmethylsiloxane) elastomer substrates using thiol−ene click chemistry and surface-initiated, controlled radical polymerization. These surfaces exhibited both fouling resistance and triggered fouling-release functionality. The zwitterionic polymers exhibited fouling resistance over short-term (∼hours) exposure to bacteria and barnacle cyprids. The biofilms that eventually accumulated over prolonged-exposure (∼days) were easily detached by applying mechanical strain to the elastomer substrate. Such dual-functional surfaces may be useful in developing environmentally and biologically friendly coatings for biofouling management on marine, industrial, and biomedical equipment because they can obviate the use of toxic compounds