Distinguishing modes of dissolved organic carbon production in marine macrophytes by tracer kinetic analysis

Tracer kinetic analysis of radioisotope incorporation into dissolved organic compounds reveals two distinct patterns of photosynthate release by macroalgae. In experiments employing Sargassum lacerifolium, dissolved organic carbon was produced at a constant rate during light incubations. Steady state rates of production were never achieved in experiments employing either Ecklonia radiata (Turn.) J. Agardh. or Ulva lactuca L. Analysis of the time-varying radioactivity curves obtained in experiments using these algae always resulted in models consistent with dissolved organic carbon production being an autocatalytic process. Preincubation of U. lactuca in the dark resulted in a diminished (ca. 40%) rate of dissolved organic carbon production during the subsequent light incubations. In no case did the radioisotope content of the dissolved organic carbon approach a limiting value, indicating that in contrast to phytoplankton, uptake rates of photosynthate by macroalgae are always less than the rates of production.     

Glucosephosphate isomerase genotype frequencies,homozygous excess and size relationships in the sand flounder Rhombosolea plebeia

Genetic variation was studied at two polymorphic loci for 3 yr (November 1978–February 1982) in juvenile sand flounder (Rhombosolea plebeia) in Wellington Harbour, New Zealand. The Gpi-1 locus showed a heterogeneity in genotype frequencies, but this was not clearly related to season or to fish length. At the Gpi-2 locus, genotype frequencies were dependent upon length and showed a significant excess of homozygotes in juveniles but not in adults. This latter phenomenon has been reported previously in several species of marine molluscs, and so may be common to marine organisms producing large numbers of pelagic larvae. Reasons for the excess of homozygotes are discussed, and it is suggested that assortative mating is the most likely explanation and that this is an area of marine population genetic research which has been over-looked.     

Reducing phosphorus runoff from swine manure with dietary phytase and aluminum chloride

Phosphorus (P) runoff from fields fertilized with swine (Sus scrofa) manure has been implicated in eutrophication. Dietary modification and manure amendments have been identified as best management practices to reduce P runoff from manure. This study was conducted to compare the effects of dietary modification and aluminum chloride (AlCl3) manure amendments on reducing P in swine manure and runoff. Twenty-four pens of nursery swine were fed either a normal diet or a phytase-amended diet. Each pen was connected to a separate manure pit, which was treated with AlCl3 to give final concentrations in the liquid manure of 0 (control), 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75% (v/v). Manure was collected and applied to plots cropped with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and simulated rainfall was applied at 50 mm h(-1), sufficient to generate a minimum of 30 min of continuous runoff. Samples of manure and runoff were analyzed for P and Al concentrations. Phytase reduced manure soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) by 17%, while AlCl3 reduced manure SRP by as much as 73% compared with normal manure. Phosphorus runoff was reduced from 5.7 to 2.6 mg P L(-1) (a 53% reduction) using AlCl3. The mean SRP concentration in runoff from phytase diets without AlCl3 was 7.1 mg P L(-1) during the first rainfall simulation. When phytase and AlCl3 were used together, both manure SRP and P runoff were reduced more than if either treatment were used without the benefit of the other. Use of AlCl3 did not increase soluble Al in manure or Al lost in runoff. Results from this study indicate that producers should use dietary manipulation with phytase and AlCl3 manure amendments to reduce potential P losses from fields fertilized with swine manure.     

Overland and near-surface transport of Cryptosporidium parvum from vegetated and nonvegetated surfaces

Understanding microbial pathogen transport patterns in overland flow is important for developing best management practices for limiting microbial transport to water resources. Knowledge about the effectiveness of vegetative filter strips (VFS) to reduce pathogen transport from livestock confinement areas is limited. In this study, overland and near-surface transport of Cryptosporidium parvum has been investigated. Effects of land slopes, vegetation, and rainfall intensities on oocyst transport were examined using a tilting soil chamber with two compartments, one with bare ground and the other with brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) vegetation. Three slope conditions (1.5, 3.0, and 4.5%) were used in conjunction with two rainfall intensities (25.4 and 63.5 mm/h) for 44 min using a rainfall simulator. The vegetative surface was very effective in reducing C. parvum in surface runoff. For the 25.4 mm/h rainfall, the total percent recovery of oocysts in overland flow from the VFS varied from 0.6 to 1.7%, while those from the bare ground condition varied from 4.4 to 14.5%. For the 63.5 mm/h rainfall, the recovery percentages of oocysts varied from 0.8 to 27.2% from the VFS, and 5.3 to 59% from bare-ground conditions. For all slopes and rainfall intensities, the total (combining both surface and near-surface) recovery of C. parvum oocysts was considerably less from the vegetated surface than those from the bare-ground conditions. These results indicate that the VFS can be a best management practice for controlling C. parvum in runoff from animal production facilities.     

Accumulation of perchlorate in aquatic and terrestrial plants at a field scale

Previous laboratory-scale studies have documented perchlorate ClO(-)(4) uptake by different plant species, but less information is available at field scale, where ClO(-)(4) uptake may be affected by environmental conditions, such as distance to streams or shallow water tables, exposure duration, and species. This study examined uptake of ClO(-)(4) in smartweed (Polygonum spp.) and watercress (Nasturtium spp.) as well as more than forty trees, including ash (Fraxinus greggii A. Gray), chinaberry (Melia azedarach L.), elm (Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.), willow (Salix nigra Marshall), mulberry [Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent.], and hackberry (Celtis laevigata Willd.) from multiple streams surrounding a perchlorate-contaminated site. Results indicate a large potential for ClO(-)(4) accumulation in aquatic and terrestrial plants, with ClO(-)(4) concentration in plant tissues approximately 100 times higher than that in bulk water. Perchlorate accumulation in leaves of terrestrial plants was also dependent on species, with hackberry, willow, and elm having a strong potential to accumulate ClO(-)(4). Generally, trees located closer to the stream had a higher ClO(-)(4) accumulation than trees located farther away from the stream. Seasonal leaf sampling of terrestrial plants indicated that ClO(-)(4) accumulation also was affected by exposure duration, with highest accumulation observed in the late growing cycle, although leaf concentrations for a given tree were highly variable. Perchlorate may be re-released into the environment via leaching and rainfall as indicated by lower perchlorate concentrations in collected leaf litter. Information obtained from this study will be helpful to understand the fate of ClO(-)(4) in macrophytes and natural systems.     

Decreasing phosphorus runoff losses from land-applied poultry litter with dietary modifications and alum addition

Phosphorus (P) losses from pastures fertilized with poultry litter contribute to the degradation of surface water quality in the United States. Dietary modification and manure amendments may reduce potential P runoff losses from pastures. In the current study, broilers were fed a normal diet, phytase diet, high available phosphorus (HAP) corn diet, or HAP corn + phytase diet. Litter treatments were untreated control and alum added at 10% by weight between flocks. Phytase and HAP corn diets reduced litter dissolved P content in poultry litter by 10 and 35%, respectively, compared with the normal diet (789 mg P kg(-1)). Alum treatment of poultry litter reduced the amount of dissolved P by 47%, while a 74% reduction was noted after alum treatment of litter from the HAP corn + phytase diet. The P concentrations in runoff water were highest from plots receiving poultry litter from the normal diet, whereas plots receiving poultry litter from phytase and HAP corn diets had reduced P concentrations. The addition of alum to the various poultry litters reduced P runoff by 52 to 69%; the greatest reduction occurred when alum was used in conjunction with HAP corn and phytase. This study demonstrates the potential added benefits of using dietary modification in conjunction with manure amendments in poultry operations. Integrators and producers should consider the use of phytase, HAP corn, and alum to reduce potential P losses associated with poultry litter application to pastures.     

Valuation of commercial central Himalayan medicinal plants

This study estimates the national-level annual volume and value of commercial medicinal plant harvest in Nepal. Data were collected using open-ended questionnaires administered to local medicinal plant traders (n=149) in 15 districts in Nepal and regional wholesalers (n=53) in India. The annual trade volume is estimated to range from 7000 to 27 000 tons, with 14 500 tons harvested in the case year 1997-1998. The corresponding annual export value, calculated using regional wholesaler purchasing prices in the main markets in India, is estimated at US dollars 7-30 million, with a value of US$16 million in 1997-1998. Around 10% of rural households are involved in commercial harvesting. Lower ecological zones dominate supplies in both volume and value terms; herbs constitute the most important life form in value terms. Around 36% of volume and 51% of value derive from destructive harvesting. It is argued that annual volume and value figures are likely to be conservative estimates. The implications of findings for Himalayan medicinal plant conservation and trade are briefly discussed.     

Trace Metal Concentrations in an Intensive Agricultural Watershed in British Columbia,Canada1

Abstract: Effects of agricultural intensification and a naturally occurring landslide of asbestos material upon water and sediment quality in a transboundary watershed were investigated. The water and sediments of the Sumas River watershed were analyzed for copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) concentrations in 1993/1994 and 2003/2004 and differences within sites over time were examined. Based upon a review of the literature, Cu and Zn were used as indicators of agricultural impacts while Cr and Ni were used as indicators of impacts from an asbestos landslide. Animal unit equivalents (AUEs) were calculated on a per area basis as an indicator of livestock density using detailed statistical census data. Whatman #42 filtered metals, bioavailable metals, and sediment‐bound metals (in the <63 μm fraction) were determined at 22 sites along the mainstem and tributaries, including two reference sites. Temperature, pH, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were also measured. The bioavailable metal fraction was determined using the diffusive gradient thin film technique (DGT). Sediment‐bound results were compared with British Columbia’s Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines (ISQGs) and Severe Effects Levels (SELs). A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine if the concentrations of metals changed significantly within sites between 1993/1994 and 2003/2004. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to determine relationships between trace metals, water quality parameters, and AUEs/hectare. The results indicate that Cu and Zn levels in sediments increased significantly to concentrations above the ISQGs of 35.7 mg/kg and 123 mg/kg, respectively from 1993/1994 to 2003/2004 in streams, where associated land use was dominated by intensive agriculture. Higher AUEs/hectare were significantly correlated with greater bioavailable levels of Zn as well as higher sediment‐bound Zn concentrations. Neither Cu nor Cr were detected by the DGTs on any of the sampling occasions. The Cr and Ni sediment concentrations were highest in Swift Creek, the headwater tributary affected by the natural landslide of asbestos material, and decreased in the Sumas River downstream from the point of input. Cr and Ni concentrations have increased in the mid‐region of the Sumas River since 1993/1994, suggesting downstream movement of the asbestos material over time. DGT results indicated that bioavailable Zn is significantly positively correlated to sediment‐bound Zn and livestock density, and bioavailable Ni is significantly correlated to sediment‐bound Ni.     

Investigation of the phylogenetic relationships between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diuris fragrantissima</Emphasis> and its closest relatives using AFLPs

This study investigated the genetic relationships between the rare terrestrial orchid Diuris fragrantissima and three closely related purple flowered species using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms. The purple-flowered species were found to form individual phenetic clusters confirming recognition of D. fragrantissima at the rank of species. Levels of genetic variation were lower within D. fragrantissima than within its closest relatives but were higher than expected for severely bottlenecked species. Gene flow was detected among all species (Nm = 2.34) and populations (Nm = 0.65) however low among population gene flow indicates that populations may be at risk of divergence. This study has implications for the conservation of D. fragrantissima.