Rehabilitation of the chernoistochinskii drinking water system,Nizhnii Tagil,Russia

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) performed a reservoir diagnosis and developed low-cost recommendations to improve drinking water quality for the city of Nizhnii Tagil, Russia. Despite widespread regional pollution, water quality within the drinking water supply source can be summarized as generally good. Sampling and analysis efforts did not reveal appreciable amounts of hazardous chemicals or metals. The major water quality problem stems from an abundance of blue-green algae during the summer months, causing drinking water taste and odor problems and filter clogging at the water treatment plant. City water treatment officials also frequently experience difficulties with maintaining an effective disinfection residual in the distribution system because it spans more than 30 kilometers in length. Regrowth of microorganisms in the distribution system often causes coliform bacteria counts to exceed standards. The implementation of a watershed protection and management program, and the installation of a new disinfection system, to purify drinking water and to reduce bacterial growth in the distribution system should improve drinking water quality for the city residents.     

A test for phylogenetic constraints on behavioral adaptation in a spider system

Summary A population of a desert spider species (Agelenopsis aperta) that is located in an unusually favorable thermal and feeding environment (AZ riparian), fails to exhibit territorial, foraging and antipredatory behaviors that are appropriate to its environment. Study of the behavior of this spider species is extended to another population that occupies a similar environment but where there is not potential gene flow from individuals occupying more arid habitats (TX riparian). The two populations are shown to experience similar prey availabilities and predation pressures when compared to a third more arid population (NM desert grassland). Analyses of the relevant behavior patterns demonstrate that the TX riparian population is well-adjusted to the ameliorated conditions. Thus, phylogenetic constraints do not appear to underlie the observed maladaptive behavior of the AZ riparian population and credibility is given to potential gene flow influences.     

Introduction: Natural Capital, Poverty and Development

Can development occur without running down natural resources in an unsustainable way? The concept of natural capital offers a way for those with divergent views (ecologists and economists for example) to discuss this difficult question. Four aspects are examined in detail. First, the role of institutions in facilitating sustainable development is discussed, with examples from forestry. Then examples from (eco)tourism illustrate the potential – and limits – of applicability of the concept. Measurement issues for natural capital are then considered in detail. Finally, the concept is applied to agricultural strategy in fragile lands, where the tradeoff between the environment and development is likely to be most severe. Some implications for future research and policy are developed.     

Book reviews

The Garden City Utopia

Robert Beevers. The Macmillan Press, 1988. £27.50. 206 pages.

Cost‐Benefit Analysis in Urban and Regional Planning

J. A. Schofield. Allen and Unwin, London, 1987. 249 pages. £30 hardback.

The Milton Park Affair — Canada's largest citizen‐developer confrontation

Claire Helman. Véhicule Press, Montréal, 1987. $12.95.

Regenerating the Inner City, Glasgow's Experience

Edited by David Donnison and Alan Middleton. Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., London, 1987. £12.95.

Community Architecture

Nick Wates and Charles Knevitt. Penguin Books, London, 1987. £4.95.     

Connecticut statewide sTEP wave evaluation

INTRODUCTION: Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs (sTEPs) are a proven method to change motorists' behavior. Since 1997, the Connecticut DOT's Division of Highway Safety has organized a statewide seat belt enforcement program, with sTEP waves every three or four months. To date, 28 waves have been implemented. METHOD: Pre-wave and post-wave seat belt observation surveys are conducted by both state and municipal police across the state. Survey results, as well as a summary of all enforcement activity during the wave, are submitted for evaluation. RESULTS: Connecticut seat belt use has continued to rise from one wave to the next in a predictable "saw blade" pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The data clearly demonstrate that agencies that have participated in a greater number of waves have experienced the greatest increase in belt use. Belt use has not yet plateaued and additional sTEP enforcement seems indicated. However, evidence from other states suggests that a plateau may occur somewhere in the mid 80% range. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Should this occur, Connecticut will work toward strengthening the round the clock model, emphasizing the importance of aggressive primary enforcement.     

The measurement of experienced burnout

A scale designed to assess various aspects of the burnout syndrome was administered to a wide range of human services professionals. Three subscales emerged from the data analysis: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Various psychometric analyses showed that the scale has both high reliability and validity as a measure of burnout.     

Invasion in a diversity hotspot: exotic cover and native richness in the Californian serpentine flora

Exotic species have been observed to be more prevalent in sites where the richness of native species is highest, possibly reflecting variation among sites in resources, propagule supply, heterogeneity, or disturbance. However, such a pattern leaves unclear whether natives at species-rich sites are subject to especially severe impacts from exotics as a result. We considered this question using path models in which relationships between exotic cover and native richness were evaluated in the presence of correlated environmental factors. At 109 sites on serpentine soils across California, USA, exotic cover was positively correlated with total native herbaceous richness and was negatively correlated with the richness of both serpentine-endemic and rare native herbs. However, in path models that accounted for the influences of soil chemistry, disturbance, overstory cover, and regional rainfall and elevation, we found no indication that exotic cover reduced any component of native herb richness. Rather, our results indicated similarities and differences in the conditions favoring exotic, native, endemic, and rare species. Our results suggest that, in spite of some localized impacts, exotic species are not exerting a detectable overall effect on the community richness of the unique native flora of Californian serpentine.     

First Jurassic Choristodera from Asia

Although choristoderes have a good Lower Cretaceous record in Asia, they have never previously been recorded from Jurassic deposits. Here we describe fragmentary vertebral material referable to Choristodera indet. from the Middle Jurassic Balabansai Svita of the Fergana Valley, Kyrgyzstan. This provides a significant range extension for the group in Asia and shows that choristoderes already had a Pan-Laurasian distribution in the Jurassic.     

Cadmium accumulation and its influence on lipid peroxidation and antioxidative system in an aquatic plant, Bacopa monnieri L

Bacopa monnieri L. plants exposed to 10, 50, 100 and 200 microM cadmium (Cd) for 48, 96 and 144 h were analysed with reference to the accumulation of metal and its influence on various enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), photosynthetic pigments and protein content. The accumulation of Cd was found to be increased in a concentration and duration dependent manner with more Cd being accumulated in the root. TBARS content of the treated roots and leaves increased with increase in Cd concentration and exposure periods, indicating the occurrence of oxidative stress. Induction in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guiacol peroxidase (GPX) was recorded in metal treated roots and leaves of B. monnieri. In contrast, a significant reduction in catalase activity in Cd treated B. monnieri was observed. An increase was also noted in the levels of cysteine and non-protein thiol contents of the roots of B. monnieri followed by a decline. However, in leaves, cysteine and non-protein thiol contents were found to be enhanced at all the Cd concentrations and exposure periods. A significant reduction in the level of ascorbic acid was observed in a concentration and duration dependent manner. The total chlorophyll and protein content of B. monnieri decreased with increase in Cd concentration at all the exposure periods. Results suggest that toxic concentrations of Cd caused oxidative damage as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation and decreased chlorophyll and protein contents. However, B. monnieri is able to combat metal induced oxidative injury involving a mechanism of activation of various enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants.