Studies on the Effects of Saline Aerosols of Cooling Tower Origin on Plants

A research program was undertaken to develop information that could be used to estimate the risk of adverse effects of saline cooling tower drift on native and cultivated flora in the Indian Point, New York area. Eleven species of woody plants were exposed at 85 % relative humidity to a saline mist with 95% of the particles between 50 and 150 nm in diameter. Three biological factors—stage of development, species, and phenotype—determined the susceptibility of plants to saline aerosols when the occurrence of any lesion on the foliage was used as a measure of response. The effects of stage of development on the incidence and severity of foliar lesions depended upon the kind of plant. In deciduous woody species, the youngest leaves were most susceptible, but in conifers, the year-old needles were most susceptible. Canadian hemlock was the most susceptible species and witch hazel was the least susceptible. Median effective doses for these two species, although undetermined, could be more than 100-fold different (less than 2.4, the lowest used, and greater than 264 ng CI cm^-2, respectively). Other species, ranked in decreasing order of susceptibility were: white ash, white flowering dogwood, forsythia, chestnut oak, silk tree, black locust, red maple, eastern white pine, and golden rain free. Phenofypic variation within a species was not so great—within a 10 to 20-fold increase in dose the incidence of injury went from 0 to 100%. Exposures with bush bean showed that the relative humidity (RH) during or after the exposure period affected the incidence of saline induced foliar injury. A change from 50 to 85% RH doubled the effectiveness of the saline mist. It was also found that compared to particles between 50 and 150 jum in diameter, an increase in the fraction of particles above 150 /xm increased the toxicity of the mist.     

THE ENGINEER'S ROLE IN WATER RESOURCES PLANNING1

Engineers have traditionally led the planning effort in water resources developments. The engineer's leadership role in water resources, as well as in many other planning activities, has been challenged by technical and scientific people as well as by the general public for insensitivity to social, aesthetic, ecological, and political problems created by planning. The paper draws attention to the fact that the engineer cannot continue to expect the role of leadership to fall to him unless he prepares himself properly for that role. However, it is brought out that the engineer, by his education and training, is still the best qualified among all the representatives of the various disciplines associated with water resources planning to lead the planning effort if he prepares himself for the task. The requirements for preparation for leading water resources planning are outlined.     

Mitochondrial DNA variation and population structure in the spiny lobster Panulirus argus

Adult spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) were collected from nine locations throughout the tropical and subtropical northwest Atlantic Ocean and examined for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation. 187 different mtDNA haplotypes were observed among the 259 lobsters sampled. Haplotype diversity was calulated to be 0.986 and mean nucleotide sequence-diversity was estimated to be 1.44%; both of these values are among the highest reported values for a marine species. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and phenetic clustering both failed to reveal any evidence of genetic structure within and among populations of P. argus. The present data are consistent with high levels of gene flow among populations of P. argus resulting from an extended planktonic larval stage and strong prevailing ocean currents.     

Responses of plants to simulated saline drift as affected by species and conditions of exposure

In exposures to simulated saline drift generated from a 0.6% (w/w) chloride (Cl)-solution, under controlled environmental conditions, the median effective doses for the occurrence of any salt-induced foliar injury (expressed as microgCl cm(-2) deposited in six hours) were: 2.9 for Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis [L.] Carr.); 10.3 for white flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.); 43.5 for potato (Solanum tubersum L. cv Superior); 44.2 for northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.); 65.1 for sweet corn (Zea mays L. cv Golden Cross Bantam); and, 123 for bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv Pinto). Response of bean was a function of total deposition and independent of its rate with multiple (one per day) 6-h exposures but not with exposures less than 6 h where toxicity (per mass of Cl) increased with an increase in the rate of deposition. Toxicity of particles increased with an increase in the concentration of Cl in the solution (1.6 or 5.0% w/w) from which they were generated with bush bean but not with hemlock. Post-exposure periods that cycled between 50 and 855% relative humidity (RH) produced a greater incidence of salt-induced foliar injury than did a regime of constant 85% RH.