En ökad levervikt kan ge en indikation på toxisk stress hos fiskar. I denna undersökning jämfördes levervikt hos sandskädda (Limanda limanda) kring utsläppsområdet för pappersmassabruket Södra Cell Värö med ett referensområde ca. 10 km norrut. Det togs även lever- och muskelvävnadsprov för en grundläggande undersökning för närvaro av kadmium. Detta då kadmium tidigare har konstaterats i utsläppsvattnet från det berörda bruket och för att denna tungmetall lätt ansamlas i just levern. Totalt undersöktes 290 individer och 56 vävnadsprov togs från 28 av dessa (14 från utsläppsområdet och 14 från referensområdet). Undersökningen kunde påvisa en signifikant skillnad mellan områdena där en högre levervikt återfanns hos fiskarna kring bruket. Denna skillnad tyder på att det finns en förekomst av toxiska ämnen i området. Undersökningen gällande kadmium gav inga signifikanta resultat, trots det kan närvaro av kadmium inte uteslutas. Vi kan inte heller utesluta andra tungmetaller samt dioxiner och PAH (polycykliska aromatiska kolväten), vilka också kan ge upphov till en ökad vikt och skador på lever. / An increased liver weight can be an indicator of toxic stress of fish. In this study, liver weight of common dab (Limanda limanda) from the area around the effluent of the pulp mill Södra Cell Värö and a reference area approx. 10 kilometers north, were compared. Liver and tissue samples for a basic study for the presence of cadmium were also taken. The reason being that cadmium has been proven present in the effluent water in earlier studies and that this is a heavy metal that easily accumulates in the liver. In total 290 individuals were included in the study and 56 tissue samples were taken from 28 of these (14 from each area). A significant difference between the areas was confirmed with the highest liver weight being within the area of the effluent, suggesting a presence of toxic substances. The result from the study regarding cadmium was deemed inconclusive, and the presence can therefore not be ruled out. The presence of other heavy metals, dioxins and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) can also not be ruled out, as they too can cause an increase in liver weight and damage to the liver.

Surveys and vegetation analyses were used to determine the known distribution and the characteristics of the habitat utilised by Anolis sagrei in Taiwan. Sampled lizards were used for morphological comparisons, and to investigate the reproductive biology of this species in Taiwan. The results of this study indicate that the distribution of A. sagrei in Taiwan is extensive (≥237 ha) in Chiayi City and County (southwestern study site) and scattered (≥8 ha) in Hualien City and County (eastern study site). These lizards were mostly found in open sunny degraded man-made habitats. Although some variations were noted in the comparisons between the A. sagrei collected from the two study sites, it was concluded that the two populations likely have the same founder population. The reproductive biology study indicated that photoperiod and the associated temperatures determine the reproductive cycles in A. sagrei. It also demonstrated that reproduction in this species is energetically demanding. / Nature Conservation / MSc.(Nature Conservation)

Surveys and vegetation analyses were used to determine the known distribution and the characteristics of the habitat utilised by Anolis sagrei in Taiwan. Sampled lizards were used for morphological comparisons, and to investigate the reproductive biology of this species in Taiwan. The results of this study indicate that the distribution of A. sagrei in Taiwan is extensive (≥237 ha) in Chiayi City and County (southwestern study site) and scattered (≥8 ha) in Hualien City and County (eastern study site). These lizards were mostly found in open sunny degraded man-made habitats. Although some variations were noted in the comparisons between the A. sagrei collected from the two study sites, it was concluded that the two populations likely have the same founder population. The reproductive biology study indicated that photoperiod and the associated temperatures determine the reproductive cycles in A. sagrei. It also demonstrated that reproduction in this species is energetically demanding. / Nature Conservation / MSc.(Nature Conservation)