Dead wood volume to dead wood carbon: the issue of conversion factors

Requirements for emission reporting under the Kyoto protocol demand an estimate of the dead wood carbon pool in forests. The volume of dead wood consists of coarse woody debris, smaller woody debris and dead roots. The measurement of dead wood volume was included in the most recent National Forest Inventory in Switzerland. To convert dead wood volume into carbon two conversion factors are required: (a) carbon (C) concentration and (b) wood density. So far internationally accepted default values for C concentration (50%) and for wood density (density of alive trees) were used as default values to estimate dead wood carbon, since local measurements were lacking. However, in a field study at 34 sites in Switzerland, the C concentration and density of CWD from Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica of four decay classes were measured recently. The results showed that C concentration in CWD differed significantly between species but did not change due to decay class. The density of CWD decreased significantly with an increase in decay class and it also differed between species. The decrease in CWD density was more pronounced for F. sylvatica than for P. abies. We assessed correlations between climate attributes and CWD density using regression analysis. The modeled densities and measured C concentrations were then expanded with the help of CWD volume data from the NFI3. Spruce CWD and thus spruce CWD carbon is much more abundant in Swiss forests than beech CWD carbon. The majority of spruce CWD is located in the Alps and Pre-Alps. The CWD volume from P. abies was 10 times higher than that from F. sylvatica. Thus, changes in conversion factors for P. abies CWD affected the overall estimate of dead wood carbon in Swiss forests much more than changes in conversion factors for F. sylvatica CWD. Current improvements in CWD conversion factors decreased the estimated amount of spruce CWD carbon by 23.1% and that of beech by 47.6%. The estimated amount of CWD carbon in Swiss forests is decreased by 31%. Since improved estimation methods are currently not applied to smaller woody debris and dead root material, the estimated amount of dead wood carbon is only reduced by 15%. Improving conversion factors for all dead wood fractions would presumably decrease the amount of dead wood carbon by additional 16

Coherent control of solid state nuclear spin nano-ensembles

Detecting and controlling nuclear spin nano-ensembles is crucial for the further development of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and for the emerging solid state quantum technology. Here we present the fabrication of a $\approx$ 1 nanometre thick diamond layer consisting of $^{13}$C nuclear spins doped with Nitrogen-Vacancy centres (NV) embedded in a spin-free $^{12}$C crystal matrix. A single NV in the vicinity of the layer is used for polarization of the $^{13}$C spins and the readout of their magnetization. We demonstrate a method for coherent control of few tens of nuclear spins by using radio frequency pulses and show the basic coherent control experiments - Rabi oscillations, Ramsey spectroscopy and Hahn echo, though any NMR pulse sequence can be implemented. The results shown present a first steps towards the realization of a nuclear spin based quantum simulator

Leaf-applied sodium chloride promotes cadmium accumulation in durum wheat grain

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in durum wheat grain is a growing concern. Among the factors affecting Cd accumulation in plants, soil chloride (Cl) concentration plays a critical role. The effect of leaf NaCl application on grain Cd was studied in greenhouse-grown durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. durum, cv. Balcali-2000) by immersing (10 s) intact flag leaves into Cd and/or NaCl-containing solutions for 14 times during heading and dough stages. Immersing flag leaves in solutions containing increasing amount of Cd resulted in substantial increases in grain Cd concentration. Adding NaCl alone or in combination with the Cd-containing immersion solution promoted accumulation of Cd in the grains, by up to 41%. In contrast, Zn concentrations of grains were not affected or even decreased by the NaCl treatments. This is likely due to the effect of Cl complexing Cd and reducing positive charge on the metal ion, an effect that is much smaller for Zn. Charge reduction or removal (CdCl2 0 species) would increase the diffusivity/lipophilicity of Cd and enhance its capability to penetrate the leaf epidermis and across membranes. Of even more significance to human health was the ability of Cl alone to penetrate leaf tissue and mobilize and enhance shoot Cd transfer to grains, yet reducing or not affecting Zn transfer

Threat-sensitive anti-predator defence in precocial wader, the northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Birds exhibit various forms of anti-predator behaviours to avoid reproductive failure, with mobbing—observation, approach and usually harassment of a predator—being one of the most commonly observed. Here, we investigate patterns of temporal variation in the mobbing response exhibited by a precocial species, the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). We test whether brood age and self-reliance, or the perceived risk posed by various predators, affect mobbing response of lapwings. We quantified aggressive interactions between lapwings and their natural avian predators and used generalized additive models to test how timing and predator species identity are related to the mobbing response of lapwings. Lapwings diversified mobbing response within the breeding season and depending on predator species. Raven Corvus corax, hooded crow Corvus cornix and harriers evoked the strongest response, while common buzzard Buteo buteo, white stork Ciconia ciconia, black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus and rook Corvus frugilegus were less frequently attacked. Lapwings increased their mobbing response against raven, common buzzard, white stork and rook throughout the breeding season, while defence against hooded crow, harriers and black-headed gull did not exhibit clear temporal patterns. Mobbing behaviour of lapwings apparently constitutes a flexible anti-predator strategy. The anti-predator response depends on predator species, which may suggest that lapwings distinguish between predator types and match mobbing response to the perceived hazard at different stages of the breeding cycle. We conclude that a single species may exhibit various patterns of temporal variation in anti-predator defence, which may correspond with various hypotheses derived from parental investment theory

Particulate matter from both heavy fuel oil and diesel fuel shipping emissions show strong biological effects on human lung cells at realistic and comparable in vitro exposure conditions

Background: Ship engine emissions are important with regard to lung and cardiovascular diseases especially in coastal regions worldwide. Known cellular responses to combustion particles include oxidative stress and inflammatory signalling. Objectives: To provide a molecular link between the chemical and physical characteristics of ship emission particles and the cellular responses they elicit and to identify potentially harmful fractions in shipping emission aerosols. Methods: Through an air-liquid interface exposure system, we exposed human lung cells under realistic in vitro conditions to exhaust fumes from a ship engine running on either common heavy fuel oil (HFO) or cleaner-burning diesel fuel (DF). Advanced chemical analyses of the exhaust aerosols were combined with transcriptional, proteomic and metabolomic profiling including isotope labelling methods to characterise the lung cell responses. Results: The HFO emissions contained high concentrations of toxic compounds such as metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and were higher in particle mass. These compounds were lower in DF emissions, which in turn had higher concentrations of elemental carbon (“soot”). Common cellular reactions included cellular stress responses and endocytosis. Reactions to HFO emissions were dominated by oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, whereas DF emissions induced generally a broader biological response than HFO emissions and affected essential cellular pathways such as energy metabolism, protein synthesis, and chromatin modification. Conclusions: Despite a lower content of known toxic compounds, combustion particles from the clean shipping fuel DF influenced several essential pathways of lung cell metabolism more strongly than particles from the unrefined fuel HFO. This might be attributable to a higher soot content in DF. Thus the role of diesel soot, which is a known carcinogen in acute air pollution-induced health effects should be further investigated. For the use of HFO and DF we recommend a reduction of carbonaceous soot in the ship emissions by implementation of filtration devices

Phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites: Eco-environmental concerns, field studies, sustainability issues and future prospects

Environmental contamination due to heavy metals (HMs) is of serious ecotoxicological concern worldwide because of their increasing use at industries. Due to non-biodegradable and persistent nature, HMs cause serious soil/water pollution and severe health hazards in living beings upon exposure. HMs can be genotoxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic in nature even at low concentration. They may also act as endocrine disruptors and induce developmental as well as neurological disorders and thus, their removal from our natural environment is crucial for the rehabilitation of contaminated sites. To cope with HM pollution, phytoremediation has emerged as a low-cost and eco-sustainable solution to conventional physico-chemical cleanup methods that require high capital investment and labor alter soil properties and disturb soil microflora. Phytoremediation is a green technology wherein plants and associated microbes are used to remediate HM-contaminated sites to safeguard the environment and protect public health. Hence, in view of the above, the present paper aims to examine the feasibility of phytoremediation as a sustainable remediation technology for the management of metals-contaminated sites. Therefore, this paper provides an in-depth review on both the conventional and novel phytoremediation approaches, evaluate their efficacy to remove toxic metals from our natural environment, explore current scientific progresses, field experiences and sustainability issues and revise world over trends in phytoremediation research for its wider recognition and public acceptance as a sustainable remediation technology for the management of contaminated sites in 21st century

Aktionsplan Mittelspecht Schweiz

ENGLISH: The Swiss Action Plan for the Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius describes the framework (i.e. the aims, strategies, measures, protagonists and their roles, etc.) for the conservation of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker in Switzerland. In view of the present state of the population, this means halting its decline in numbers by maintaining existing habitats and connecting them to a network of newly created ones, such as oak plantations. The action plan also reviews the present situation of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker in Switzerland and the actions that have already been undertaken or are underway to stop its decline. DEUTSCH: Der Aktionsplan Mittelspecht Schweiz beschreibt Rahmenbedingungen (Ziele, Strategien, Massnahmen, Rolle der Akteure etc.) zur Erhaltung und Förderung dieser gefährdeten Vogelart in der Schweiz. Ausgehend vom heutigen Bestand geht es darum, die Abnahme der Gesamtpopulation zu stoppen, die bestehenden Lebensräume zu erhalten und zusätzliche zusammenhängende und vernetzte Lebensräume (z. B. Eichenflächen) zu schaffen. Ferner gibt der Aktionsplan einen Überblick über die aktuelle Situationdes Mittelspechts in der Schweiz und über die bisherigen und laufenden FRANCAIS: Le plan d’action Pic mar Suisse décrit les conditions-cadre (objectifs, stratégies, mesures, rôles des acteurs etc.) de la protection de cet oiseau menacé en Suisse.Il s’agit, à partir des effectifs actuels, d’interrompre la régression de la populationde l’espèce, de conserver les habitats existants et de créer de nouveaux habitats favorables suffisamment étendus et interconnectés, par exemple des chênaies. Le plan d’action fournit aussi un aperçu de la situation actuelle du Pic mar en Suisse et des activités passées et en cours concernant l’espèce. ITALIANO: Il piano d’azione svizzero per il Picchio rosso mezzano descrive le condizioni generali (obiettivi, strategie, misure, ruolo degli attori ecc.) che garantiscono la conservazione e la promozione di questa specie volatile minacciata in Svizzera. Partendo dagli effettivi attuali si tratta di arrestare la diminuzione della popolazione complessiva, di conservare gli habitat esistenti e di creare altri habitat collegati (ad es. querceti). Il piano d’azione fornisce inoltre un quadro sia della situazione attuale del Picchio rosso mezzano in Svizzera sia delle attività già realizzate e di quelle ancora in corso

Salinity increases cadmium uptake by wheat and Swiss chard from soil amended with biosolids

Soil salinity has been shown to significantly increase cadmium (Cd) concentrations in crops grown on soils fertilised with phosphatic fertilisers containing Cd. However, the effect of soil salinity on plant availability of Cd derived from biosolids is unknown. This paper reports the influence of increasing chloride (Cl) (NaCl) concentrations in soil solution on the phytoavailability of Cd in soils amended with biosolids (equivalent to 50 t/ha). Wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Halberd) and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris cv. Foodhook Giant) were grown in biosolids-amended soil and watered daily with a dilute NaCl solution (0–27.4 mМ). After 30 days, plant shoots were analysed for Cd and soil solution was displaced. Major cations and anions in soil solution were determined and Cd speciation was calculated with the computer program GEOCHEM-PC. Cadmium concentrations in soil solution and shoots of wheat and Swiss chard plants increased linearly with increasing Cl concentration in soil solution of the biosolids-amended soil. The activity of CdCl+ species correlated best with the Cd uptake of both plant species. Increases in shoot Cd concentrations were unrelated or only weakly correlated to the activity of the free Cd2+ ion in solution. It was concluded that chloro-complexation of Cd increased the phytoavailability of Cd in biosolids-amended soil.</jats:p