Ecological features of using boilers with fluidized combustion bed in muncipal sector

Powietrze atmosferyczne na terenie Śląska zostało silnie zanieczyszczone przez procesy przemysłowe w ciągu ostatniego stulecia. Artykuł wskazuje na korzyści wynikające ze stosowania spalania fluidalnego. Wspomniane korzyści mają charakter ekologiczny - możliwość utylizacji różnych paliw, w tym biomasy oraz paliw niskiej jakości przy zachowaniu surowych norm emisyjnych. Opisano sposób redukcji emisji podstawowych zanieczyszczeń. Stosowanie palenisk fluidalnych umożliwia poczynienie wielu oszczędności: od przygotowania paliwa, przez wysoko sprawne przetwarzanie energii.The Silesian atmosphere has been polluted since last century with the industrial processes. The article shows profits coming off using fluidal combustion. Refered profits has an ecological character - it's possible to utilize different fuels: biomass and waste fuels with keeping rigour emission norms. The ways of reduction basic pollution substances were described. Using fluidized combustions makes possible savings on preparing fuel and transforming energy

Strong phylogenetic constraint on transition metal incorporation in the mandibles of the hyper-diverse Hymenoptera (Insecta)

In several groups of insects, body structures related to feeding and oviposition are known to have a hardened cuticle by incorporation of transition metals. However, a functional link between metal enrichment and ecological pressures (i.e., adaptation) has been only rarely shown, opening the possibility that in some lineages, the evolutionary history may account for most of the observed variation (i.e., phylogenetic constraint). Here, we addressed this question in the hyper-diverse Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants, and sawflies), in which Zn and/or Mn have been found enriching the mandibles of a number of species. Across 87 species spanning most of the extant superfamilies, we found Zn enrichment to be widespread (57 species). Although lacking in the most primitive “Symphyta”, our ancestral state reconstruction was not conclusive in determining whether Zn enrichment was a derived state for the complete order, but it was clearly the ancestral state for the Apocrita, where it was lost in few lineages, notably in Aculeata (where it was then reacquired at least three times). Mn, on the other hand, occurred very rarely in mandibles (10 species). Our comparative analysis revealed a strong phylogenetic effect explaining most Zn % and Mn % variation in mandibles. Additionally, species with herbivorous larvae were less prone to have Zn (but not Mn) than those with carnivorous larvae, although a causal effect of diet on this trait was unlikely. Furthermore, species emerging from concealed vs. unconcealed development sites have similar likelihood to have metal-enriched mandibles. Evolutionary history seems to constrain metal enrichment in hymenopteran mandibles, yet the few observed losses and regains of this trait during evolution claim for deeper investigations on the role of alternative, here untested, ecological pressures