Understanding Fish Behavior,Distribution, and Survival in Thermal Effluents Using Fixed Telemetry Arrays: A Case Study of Smallmouth Bass in a Discharge Canal During Winter

Advances in telemetry have facilitated the continuous monitoring of fish position and movement. At present, there are few examples where this approach has been applied to environmental monitoring or assessment. Here we 1) present a case study that used a fixed antenna array and continuously scanning coded receiving system to monitor the movement of radio-tagged smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in a thermal discharge canal on Lake Erie during the winter of 1998/1999, and 2) evaluate the use of fixed telemetry arrays for environmental monitoring. Although the number of radiotagged bass in the canal decreased gradually over time, fish spent the majority of the winter in the canal. When in the canal, bass selected areas upstream of the tempering pumps where water was the warmest. This region was also high in habitat complexity, had adequate velocity refuges, and abundant forage. Despite residing in the thermal effluent throughout the winter, none of the fish monitored were observed to participate in reproductive activities in the canal in the Spring. Interestingly, during a biofouling chlorination pulse in May, 50% of radiotagged fish still residing in the canal left and did not return during the monitoring period. Utility infrastructure accessible to fish, including thermal effluents, should be considered as fish habitat and managed accordingly to minimize mortality and sublethal effects on resident and transient fish. Fixed telemetry arrays that permit the continuous monitoring of fish behavior as described in this paper are widely applicable to many issues in environmental management, monitoring, and conservation.     

Spatial Modeling of Harvest Constraints on Wood Supply Versus Wildlife Habitat Objectives

We studied the effects of spatial and temporal timber harvesting constraints on competing objectives of sustaining wildlife habitat supply and meeting timber harvest objectives in a boreal mixedwood forest. A hierarchical modeling approach was taken, where strategic and tactical level models were used to project blocking and scheduling of harvest blocks. Harvest block size and proximity, together with short- and long-term temporal constraints, were adjusted in a factorial manner to allow creation of response–surface models. A new measure of the habitat mosaic was defined to describe the emergent pattern of habitat across the landscape. These models, together with multiple linear regression, were used to provide insight on convergence or divergence between spatial objectives. For example, green-up delay (defined as time required before a harvest block adjacent to a previously logged block can be scheduled for harvest) had an adverse effect on the amount of annual harvest area that could be allocated and blocked spatially, and habitat supply responded in an opposite direction to that of wood supply, where caribou, moose wintering, and marten habitat supply increased when harvest blocks were further apart, maximum block size smaller, and both a green-up delay and mesoscale stratification were applied. Although there was no solution space free of conflicts, the analysis suggests that application of the mesoscale stratification, together with a diversity of harvest block sizes and a between-harvest block proximity of 250 m, will perform relatively well with respect to wood supply objectives, and at the same time create a less fragmented landscape that better reflects natural forest patterns.     

Assessment of the Water Quality of Troia for the Multipurpose Usages

The aim of this study was to determine the origin and quality of waters in Troia. For this purpose total of 25 water samples including 2 springs, 14 surfaces and 9 groundwaters, were collected at eight different times. Global positioning system (GPS) was used to determine to coordinates of sampling points. The concentration of 6 minor elements (B, Cu, F, Fe, Pb and Zn), 9 major anions and cations (Na(+), Ca(2+), K(+), Mg(2+), SO(4)(2-), PO(4)(3-), HCO(3)(-), Cl(-) and, CO(3)(2-)) were determined by spectrometric, colorimetric and volumetric methods. Water pH, EC, DO, ORP and TDS were measured in situ using probes. The data showed that the concentrations of most of minor elements were below the EPA and TSE limits except Pb which ranged between 0.001 and 4.832 mg L(-1). Statistically significant relationships (P<0.01 and r>0.70) were observed between Fe and Cu, Cu and K(+), Cu and Ca(2+), B and Na(+), Na(+) and K(+). Assessing the water based on irrigation using Wilcox model showed that some well waters were not suitable for irrigation. Troia water was found to be highly corrosive and the average corrosion coefficients varied from 0.5 to 4.6. According to the Piper and Schoeller diagrams results, the water in Troia was classified as mixed water type.     

Analysis of Heavy Metals in the Endometrial Tissue Using Electron Microscope

Objective This study was done to estimate whether heavy metals in the air may affect endometrial chemical composition. Materials and Methods A total of 30 albino Wistar rats were employed and randomly divided into three groups. The rats of Group 1 and 2 were acutely and sub-chronically exposed to the gas form of heavy metals, respectively. Group 3 was used as a control group. Endometrial tissue worth of heavy metals of the groups was measured in through using scanning electron microscope. Results A statistically no significant difference was found for endometrial chemical composition of all of the heavy metals (chrome, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc and lead) between group 1 and 2 (p > 0.05). On the other hand, there was statistically significant difference for all of the heavy metals between group 1 and group 3 (p < 0.05), while there was statistically significant difference for chrome, manganese, iron, cobalt and nickel (p < 0.05), but zinc and lead (p > 0.05) between group 2 and 3. Conclusion Air pollutants of Pb and Zn resulting mostly from combustion of fossil fuels and certain special industrial process in Kirikkale may be a risk factor for the high pregnancy loses by changing endometrial homeostasis.     

Spatial variability of salinity and alkalinity of a field having salination risk in semi-arid climate in northern Turkey

Spatial variability of salinity and alkalinity is important for site-specific management since they are the most important factors influencing soil quality and agricultural production. The objectives of this study were to analyze spatial variability in salinity and alkalinity and some soil properties affecting salinity and alkalinity, using classical statistics and geostatistical methods, in an irrigated field with low-quality irrigation water diverted from drainage canals. A field of 5 da was divided into 10 m x 10 m grids (5 lines in the east-west direction and 10 lines in the north-south direction). The soil samples were collected from three depths (0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm) at each grid corner. The variation coefficients of OM and sand contents were higher than other soil properties. OM had the maximum variability, with a mean of 1.63% at 0-30 cm depth and 0.71% at 30-60 cm depth. Significant correlations occurred between ESP, EC and each of Ca, Mg, K and CaCO(3) contents of the soils (p<0.01). Experimental semivariograms were fitted to spherical and gaussian models. All geostatistical range values were greater than 36 m. The soil properties had spatial variability at small distances at 60-90 cm depth. EC was variable within short distances at 30-60 cm depth. The nugget effect of ESP increased with soil depth. Kriged contour maps revealed that soils had a salinisation and alkalisation tendency at 60-90 cm depth based on spatial variance structure of the EC and ESP values. Spatial variability in EC and ESP can depend on ground water level, quality of irrigation water, and textural differences.     

Vegetation as an Indicator of Soil Properties and Water Quality in the Akarçay Stream (Turkey)

In this study, the relationship among water quality, soil properties, and plant coverage in the region of the Akarçay stream was examined. Correlation analyses were carried out between soil samples taken from each of four plant communities in the Akarçay basin and water in the Akarçay stream. The four plant communities in the study area are as follows: Limonium lilacinum (Boiss. et Bal.) Wag., Alhagi pseudalhagi (M. Bieb.) Desv. Peganum harmala L., and Hordeum marinum Huds. subsp. marinum. B, Cl, EC, K, Mg, Na, pH, and SO₄ data from both soil and water samples were subjected to statistical analysis, and significant correlations were obtained (p < 0.05). These correlations indicated that the chemical features of the soil had a major effect on water quality. The important parameters were B, Cl, EC, K, Mg, Na, pH, and SO₄ for Limonium lilacinum communities; Ca, K, and pV for Peganum harmala; and B, Cl, Mg, pH, and pV for Alhagi pseudalhagi. There were also statistically significant relationships (p < 0.05) among the parameters examined. These findings strongly suggested that these plant communities can be used as indicators for soil chemistry and water quality.     

Scope for growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mytilus galloprovincialis</Emphasis> (Lmk., 1819) in oligotrophic coastal waters (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea,Italy)

The ‘scope for growth’ (SFG) tool was used to study the growth performance of cultivated populations of Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lmk., 1819) in an oligotrophic area of the Southern Mediterranean Sea. The study was carried out between 1993 and 1996 by using data from four seasonal oceanographic cruises and from growth experiments. Water samples were collected and analysed for total suspended matter (TSM), particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON), particulate lipids, proteins and carbohydrates and chloropigments. The sum of the carbon equivalents of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids is indicated as the total biopolymeric particulate organic carbon (BPC) and was converted into a unit of energy in order to calculate the SFG of a theoretical mussel of 5 cm length. In order to test the performance of mussel growth at two depths (5 and 15 m water depth), mussel body size [as ash free dry weight (AFDW)] and the actual concentrations of BPC were used to calculate the monthly SFG using the physiological energetic relationships suggested in the current literature. Data from the field cruises led us to characterise the study site as ultra-oligotrophic (annual average of chloropigment concentration approximately 0.5 μg L⁻¹). SFG calculations allowed us to identify a site where mussels grown successively were found to reach a commercial size in approximately 12 months. The good agreement obtained between energetic response and subsequent production response suggests that the available energy from particulate food could be fully available for organic production for maintaining “proportionate” growth trajectories, even in a ultra-oligotrophic system.     

Exploring paradoxes in the search for sustainable livelihoods: a case study from Tanzania

Many aspects of the relationship between conservation and livelihoods are well documented in the literature both the positive synergies and the negative implications of pursuing one priority over the other. This paper describes research that explored the specific influences in household decision-making in park adjacent communities in Tanzania to determine whether conservation and sustainable resource utilization was an influencing factor. While conservation did not appear to be a significant influence, productivity of the natural resource base to maintain livelihood activity and well-being was a prime driver of household decisions. However, in articulating the challenges faced by households a number of paradoxes became apparent. This paper highlights four paradoxes from the research relating to: the need for capital to support productivity improvement; the approaches for perceived needed intensification of resource utilization; the dependence on government for solutions; and the assessment process of the range of livelihood options. We present the research findings related to these four paradoxes and present potential actions for resolving these dilemmas.     

Comparison of environmental flow assessment methods with a case study on a runoff river–type hydropower plant using hydrological methods

This paper focuses on the environmental flow assessment (EFA) methods that maintain the river ecosystem and its integrity for hydropower plants (HPP) with their implementations on a run-off river type HPP. EFA is a crucial phenomenon in terms of electricity production and sustaining river integrity simultaneously. The novelty of this study is that it consists both a comparison of widely used preferred EFA methods and a detailed investigation of the river with pre and post-dam flow regimes. The research shows that by expanding the content and scope of the methods, their relative reliabilities increase. However, this situation requires much more expert, money, and time. Apart from most of the relevant literature, pre and post-dam situations are investigated with a flow duration curve (FDC). It is concluded that the dramatic difference between the flow characteristics of pre and post-dam situations affects long-term aquatic life. Furthermore, a case study is conducted using the selected hydrological flow assessment methods, Tennant and Tessman methods, and comparisons are made. The calculated flows are compared with monthly average flow values before dam construction, projected environmental flow data, and the current situation. Accordingly, Tennant’s “good classification” is proposed to determine the environmental flow (EF) for the considered case study.