Top 10 biogeosciences.net Competitors

biogeosciences-discuss.net

Abstract. Stable isotope analysis has become one of the most widely used techniques in ecology. However, uncertainties about the effects of sample preservation and pre-treatment on the ecological interpretation of stable isotope data and especially on Bayesian stable isotope mixing models remain. Here, Bayesian mixing models were used to study how three different preservation methods (drying, freezing, formalin) and two pre-treatments (acidification, lipid removal) affect the estimation of diet composition for two benthic invertebrate species (Limecola balthica, Crangon crangon). Furthermore, commonly used mathematical lipid normalization and formalin correction were applied to check if they improve the model results. Preservation effects were strong on model outcomes for frozen as well as formalin preserved L. balthica samples, but not for C. crangon. Pre-treatment effects varied with species and preservation method and neither lipid normalization nor mathematical formalin correction consistently resulted in improved model outcomes. Our analysis highlights that particularly small changes in δ15N introduced by different preservation and pre-treatments display a so far unrecognized source of error in stable isotope studies. We conclude that mathematical correction of stable isotopes data should be avoided for Bayesian mixing models and that previously unaddressed effects of sample preservation (especially those arising from preservation by freezing) have potentially biased our understanding of the utilization of organic matter in aquatic food webs.

atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net

Abstract. For the first time in spring 1999 the ground-based UV-visible zenith-sky measurements of stratospheric gases were performed at Environment Canada's Arctic Stratospheric Ozone Observatory (ASTRO) located at Eureka, Nunavut, Canada (80.05° N, 86.42° W, 610 m a.s.l.). The University of Toronto UV-visible ground-based spectrometer (UT-GBS) has been deployed for nine years afterwards at Eureka to measure ozone and NO2 total columns by using sunlight scattered from the zenith sky during spring, when the conditions leading to polar ozone depletion develop. During spring 2000, elevated OClO slant column densities were also measured for the first time. First dedicated analysis of UT-GBS measurements applying two independent differential optical absorption spectroscopy algorithms was performed on spectra recorded during spring 2000. The resulting ozone and NO2 total columns agreed to 4% and 5% or better, respectively. Also, first four years of UT-GBS results (1999–2003) were compared with those made by ozonesondes and by the Meteorogical Service of Canada Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (MSC FTS) at ASTRO, which has been operated by Canada's Department of Environment for measuring the total columns of several stratospheric gases. The comparison of UT-GBS and MSC FTS ozone total columns proved to be better than 5% for the periods when both instruments were viewing similar air masses.

atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net

Abstract. Long-term monitoring at sites with relatively low particulate pollution could provide an opportunity to identify changes in pollutant concentration and potential effects of current air quality policies. In this study, 9-year sampling of PM10 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter below 10 µm) was performed in a rural background site in France (Observatoire Pérenne de l'Environnement or OPE) from 28 February 2012 to 22 December 2020. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) method was used to apportion sources of PM10 based on quantified chemical constituents and specific chemical tracers analysed on collected filters. Oxidative potential (OP), an emerging health metric that measures PM capability to potentially cause anti-oxidant imbalance in the lung, was also measured using two acellular assays: dithiothreitol (DTT) and ascorbic acid (AA). The sources of OP were also estimated using multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis. In terms of mass contribution, the dominant sources are secondary aerosols (nitrate- and sulfate-rich) associated with long-range transport (LRT). However, in terms of OP contributions, the main drivers are traffic, mineral dust, and biomass burning factors. There is also some OP contribution apportioned to the sulfate- and nitrate-rich sources influenced by processes and ageing during LRT that could have encouraged mixing with other anthropogenic sources. The study indicates much lower OP values than in urban areas. A substantial decrease (58 % reduction from the year 2012 to 2020) in the mass contributions from the traffic factor was found, even though this is not clearly reflected in its OP contribution. Nevertheless, the findings in this long-term study at the OPE site could indicate effectiveness of implemented emission control policies, as also seen in other long-term studies conducted in Europe, mainly for urban areas.

biolsci.org

international peer-reviewed journal publishes multidisciplinary research papers in general biology, biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology and related areas.

biol.tsukuba.ac.jp

筑波大学生物学類では、基礎科目・専門科目の講義や実験・実習を通して、生態系や生物進化の成り立ち、生き物の体や細胞の仕組み、遺伝子や生体物質の機能等を学び、生命現象の本質に関する基本的理解を目指します。