Assessment of some physico-chemical parameters of River Ogun (Abeokuta, Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria) in comparison with national and international standards

This study assessed the physico-chemical quality of River Ogun, Abeokuta, Ogun state, Southwestern Nigeria. Four locations were chosen spatially along the water course to reflect a consideration of all possible human activities that are capable of changing the quality of river water. The water samples were collected monthly for seven consecutive months (December 2011 – June 2012) at the four sampling stations. pH, air temperature (℃), water temperature (℃), conductivity (µs/cm) and total dissolved solids (mg/L) were conducted in-situ with the use of HANNA Combo pH and EC multi meter Hi 98129 and Mercury-in-glass thermometer while dissolved oxygen (mg/L), nitrate (mg/L), phosphate (mg/L), alkalinity (mg/L) and hardness (mg/L) were determined ex-situ using standard methods. Results showed that dissolved oxygen, hydrogen ion concentration, total hardness and nitrate were above the maximum permissible limit of National Administration for Food, Drugs and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), European Union (EU) and World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water during certain months of the study period. Results also showed that water temperature and conductivity were within the permissible limits of all the standards excluding FEPA. However, total dissolved solids and alkalinity were within the permissible limits of all the standards. Adejuwon and Adelakun, (2012) also reported similar findings on Rivers Lala, Yobo and Agodo in Ewekoro local government area of Ogun state, Nigeria. Since most of the parameters measured were above the maximum permissible limits of the national and international standards, it can be concluded that the water is unfit for domestic uses, drinking and aquacultural purposes and therefore needs to be treated if it is to be used at all. The low dissolved oxygen values for the first four months was too low i.e. < 5 mg/L. This is most likely as a result of the amount of effluents discharged into the river. To prevent mass extinction of aquatic organisms due to anoxic conditions, proper regulations should be implemented to reduce the organic load the river receives.

内蒙古草原CH4 通量的DNDC 模型模拟

甲烷（CH4）是增温效应仅次于二氧化碳（CO2）的重要温室气体。内蒙古草原是欧亚温带草原的重要类型，具有典型的生态地域代表性。如何理解该区域CH4 交换的时空格局与环境控制、不同土地利用类型的源汇特征以及CH4 通量对气候变化的响应、对于我们进一步理解全球变化与陆地生态系统关系具有十分重要的意义。本研究以内蒙古草原锡林河流域为对象，首次在国内应用DNDC 生物地球化学模型模拟干草原和河漫滩湿地的CH4 通量，预测CH4 循环对未来气候变化的响应，并对该区域干草原的CH4 吸收进行了区域模拟估算。结果表明： 1.在模型中添加植被生长节律与土壤CH4 吸收的关系函数后，DNDC 模型能够准确地模拟锡林河流域干草原CH4 吸收的大小及其年变化。土壤温度、土壤水分和植被生长状况是影响干草原大气CH4 吸收的主要因素。 2.水位，土壤温度，质地和植被生长节律是控制河漫滩湿地CH4 通量的主要因子。根据有限水位测定值估算模拟周期内全部水位数据的方法能够应用于模拟水位相对比较稳定区域的未知时期水位。经过该修正的DNDC 模型能够较为准确的捕获锡林河流域河边湿地的CH4 排放通量的大小及年变化。 3.干草原和湿地年CH4 通量对温度变化敏感，而对降水量变化不敏感，其中湿地比干草原对温度变化的响应更加敏感。 4.温度升高可显著地促进干草原和湿地的日CH4 吸收和排放能力，其CH4 通量的增加均表现出明显的季节性差异。干草原日CH4 通量对降水量增加20% 的响应并不显著，而河漫滩湿地的响应虽显著，变幅却很小且增减程度不同。 5.与2005 年相比，2050 年干草原河漫滩湿地的CH4 吸收和排放量将分别增加10%和77%。锡林河流域CH4 通量对未来气候变化产生正反馈作用，并且湿地CH4 排放对未来气候变化的响应大于干草原CH4 吸收的响应。未来气候变化将增加锡林河流域CH4 源强度。 6. 锡林河流域干草原CH4 吸收量达2.42Gg C•yr-1。干草原CH4 吸收量的空间异质性较大，各栅格单元（0.01 ×0.01 度）的CH4 吸收量变化为0-404.6 kg C，其中大部分区域CH4 吸收量变化在150-250 kg C•yr-1 之间。草甸草原的大气CH4 吸收能力显著高于典型草原。干草原CH4 吸收率平均为2.59 kg C• ha-1 •yr-1。干草原CH4 吸收量的空间异质性是土壤有机质含量、土壤质地、土壤温度湿度，植被类型等因素共同作用的结果，与单一变量的关系并不明显。

Ni-resist iron for propellers

Ni-Resist is the name applied to a group of alloy irons to which a sufficient amount of alloying element (mainly nickel) has been added to produce an austenitic matrix. Because of the alloy content and the austenitic matrix, Ni-Resist irons exhibit much better corrosion resistance and toughness than do ordinary cast irons.

Influence of size, station time and satiation amount on prey handling time in Anabas testudineus (Bloch)

Satiation amount, satiation time and handling time of Anabas testudineus (Bloch), an air breathing predatory fish was experimentally estimated using guppy (Lebistes reticulatus) as prey. Weight of the fish and satiation time influenced prey handling time. As satiation time is related to the level of hunger, level of hunger was found to influence handling time of prey.