Seven Years of Change Following Liming of Sphagnum Communities in Sector Vii of the Loch Fleet Catchment

In 1986, application of lime within the upper wetland area of sector VII of the Loch Fleet catchment initiated numerous unscheduled small-scale experiments on the vegetation of this heterogeneous terrain. Vegetation changes and erosion were monitored in permanent or relocated plots established in 1987 and 1989 and re-surveyed in 1993, seven years after liming.

The most striking early effect, possibly occurring within a few weeks of lime application, was the death of Sphagnum papillosum carpet in soakways within the 2.5 ha area. Some patches of dead material were washed away, but bare surfaces were generally colonised by vascular plants, notably Juncus bulbosus. Effects in moorland and bog communities with dwarf shurbs were more subtle, involving reduction in Sphagnum cover and expansion of Erica teralix, Molinia caerulea, sedges and Narthecium ossifragum, but little change in the frequency of occurrence of Calluna vulgaris.     

Trace elements in wild grasses: a phytoavailability study on a remediated field

There have been significant efforts to establish a widely usable method for the prediction of trace element bioavailability in soil. In this work, we used extraction with 0.01 M CaCl₂ and 0.05 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to estimate bioavailable concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in a soil moderately contaminated with trace elements 1 and 2 years after the application of three amendments. The experiment took place in a field plot of a soil affected by the toxic spill of the Aznalcóllar mine. Four treatments were established: three with amendments (biosolid compost, sugar beet lime, and a combination of leonardite plus sugar beet lime) and a control without amendment. Trace element concentrations of two representative species in each year (Lamarckia aurea and Poa annua in 2004 and Lamarckia aurea and Bromus rubens in 2005) were analyzed. The results showed a positive effect of the amendments both on soil and vegetation. Trace element concentrations in plants growing in the amended subplots were lower than those in plants from nonamended subplots. As a rule, concentrations of CaCl₂-soluble Cd, Cu, and Zn in soil were positively correlated with trace elements in plants, whereas EDTA extraction was scarcely correlated with plant concentration. For species of grasses, especially L. aurea, CaCl₂ seems to be a more suitable extractant to predict trace element bioavailability in this contaminated soil.     

Studies on the content and nature of the phycocolloid from Corynomorpha prismatica (Rhodophyta,Cryptonemiales)

The phycocolloid from the red seaweed Corynomorpha prismatica J. Agardh (Cryptonemiales, Crateloupiaceae) has been investigated and found to show positive optical rotation ([] _D ²⁵ + 83^o), to be soluble in potassium chloride solution, to have a total sulphate content of 18.6±1.2% in unmodified gel and 15.0±0.9% in gel modified with lime. Total phycocolloid yields of 17.6±1.6% and 32.2±3.0% were obtained in gel extraction without lime and with lime added, respectively. The infrared spectra of the phycocolloid showed a broad absorption band at 860 to 800 cm^-1 and lacked single sharp peaks at 805 cm^-1. The phycocolloid was concluded to be a carrageenan akin to the lambda-type.     

Estimation and validation of biomass of a mountainous agroecosystem by means of sampling,spectral data and QuickBird satellite image

Biomass estimation in agroecosystems (AESs) is important to understand their role in carbon exchange for a sustainable environment. We used field spectra and sampled biomass of an AES including cultivated and abandoned croplands to develop a simple biomass estimation model. The digital number (DN) of a QuickBird (QB) satellite image was converted to a reflectance factor using the dark object subtraction method and the spectral reflectance of asphalt. The relationship between the reflectance factor of field-based spectra and the QB image obtained in early July 2007 was insignificant in the blue (R ² = 0.15) and green (R ² = 0.18) bands but was significant (p < 0.05) in the red (R ² = 0.57) and near-infrared (NIR, R ² = 0.45) bands in the AES. Better correlations were obtained between field-based and QB-based vegetation indices (VIs). The best correlations were obtained with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (R ² = 0.97, p < 0.001) and the ratio vegetation index (RVI) (R ² = 0.99, p < 0.001). Biomass was significantly correlated with both field-based NDVI and RVI (R ² = 0.79 and 0.72, respectively, p < 0.001). Although RVI saturated at higher biomass densities (>600 g m^?2), NDVI showed a linear relationship. Other field-based VIs showed poorer correlations with biomass. The model was evaluated by incorporating it into high-resolution QB images to obtain the observed biomass. The relationship between field-estimated and QB-observed biomass appeared to be a one-to-one linear relationship (R ² = 0.79). Thus, models using field spectra and sampled biomass can be applied to QB images for remote estimation of biomass in an AES.     

Retention of 137cesium in acid sulphate soils of South Central Thailand

Adsorption and desorption of ¹³⁷Cs by acid sulphate soils from the Nakhon Nayok province, South Central Plain of Thailand located near the Ongkarak Nuclear Research Center (ONRC) were investigated using a batch equilibration technique. The influence of added limestone (12 and 18 tons ha^?1) on ¹³⁷Cs adsorption–desorption was studied. Based on Freundlich isotherms, both adsorption and desorption of ¹³⁷Cs were nonlinear. A large portion (98.26–99.97%) of added ¹³⁷Cs (3.7?×?10³?7.03?×?10⁵ Bq l^?1) was sorbed by the soils with or without added lime. The higher lime treatments, however, favoured stronger adsorption of ¹³⁷Cs as compared with soil with no lime, which was supported by higher K _ads values. The addition of lime, the cation exchange capacity and pH of the soil increased and hence favoured the stronger adsorption of ¹³⁷Cs. Acid sulphate soils with a high clay content, medium to high organic matter, high CEC, and predominant clay types consisting of a mixture of illite, kaolinite, and montmorillonite were the main soil factors contributing to the high ¹³⁷Cs adsorption capacity. Competing cations such as NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ had little influence on ¹³⁷Cs adsorption as compared with liming, where a significant positive correlation between K _ads and soil pH was observed. The ¹³⁷Cs adsorption–desorption characteristics of the acid sulphate soils studied exhibited a very strong irreversible sorption pattern. Only a small portion (0.09–0.58%) of ¹³⁷Cs adsorbed at the highest added initial ¹³⁷Cs concentration was desorbed by four successive soil extractions. Results clearly demonstrated that Nakhon Nayok province acid sulphate soils have a high ¹³⁷Cs adsorption capacity, which limits the ¹³⁷Cs bioavailability.     

Some direct observations on the ecology and behaviour of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus

A detailed investigation of a small area of sea bed occupied by the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus (L.) was carried out by diving and television observations at depths of 30 m in Loch Torridon, Scotland. The density of burrows was 1/2 m², but only a proportion of these were occupied by N. norvegicus. Although about 70% of the larger burrows were occupied by N. norvegicus, giving a density of 1 lobster/8 m², very few juveniles (carapace length less than 30 mm) were found in the area. Many of the small burrows were occupied by the gobiid fish Lesueurigobius friesii (Collett). There was evidence that N. norvegicus frequently change their burrows, and fighting for burrows was observed. N. norvegicus remain within their burrows during the day, emerge around sunset to forage for food during the night, and then return to their burrows at dawn. This, and other aspects of their burrowing behaviour, have a marked effect on the commercial trawl catches of N. norvegicus which show large seasonal and diurnal variations in size and sex composition.     

Fuzzy logic-based modeling of the impact of industrial activities on the environmental status of an industrial estate in Nigeria

Industrial growth is being attributed with adverse environmental effects and has necessitated stricter environmental management policies. Formulating such policies is limited by the difficulty in understanding the trends of monitoring data. This study is aimed at the application of fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA) to integrate environmental contaminants in Agbara industrial estate, Nigeria, to measure the extent of impact of industrial activities on the host community. Samples of water, plants (Pteridium aquilinum, Sacciolepis africana, and Panicum maximum), soil, and sediments were collected within the estate. Water samples were analyzed for quality parameters using standard methods. Metals (Co, Cr, Cd, Cu, and Mn) were investigated in all the samples using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The data were modeled with FCA. The results showed Cr as the major contaminant (34–252?µgL^?1). High phosphate contributed to large plant growth in the area. FCA results showed that water samples were in the pristine classification; sediment samples were extremely impacted. The vegetation growth and the sediment precipitation were responsible for the cleaning-up of the pollutants discharged downstream. The FCA of the plants indicated high metal bioaccumulation and not only showed the plants’ phyto-remediation potential but also that the metals may pose threats to human health through the food web. The activities in the estate are contributing contaminants to the environment with potential negative effects.     

The Capacity of Australia's Protected‐Area System to Represent Threatened Species

Abstract: The acquisition or designation of new protected areas is usually based on criteria for representation of different ecosystems or land‐cover classes, and it is unclear how well‐threatened species are conserved within protected‐area networks. Here, we assessed how Australia's terrestrial protected‐area system (89 million ha, 11.6% of the continent) overlaps with the geographic distributions of threatened species and compared this overlap against a model that randomly placed protected areas across the continent and a spatially efficient model that placed protected areas across the continent to maximize threatened species’ representation within the protected‐area estate. We defined the minimum area needed to conserve each species on the basis of the species’ range size. We found that although the current configuration of protected areas met targets for representation of a given percentage of species’ ranges better than a random selection of areas, 166 (12.6%) threatened species occurred entirely outside protected areas and target levels of protection were met for only 259 (19.6%) species. Critically endangered species were among those with the least protection; 12 (21.1%) species occurred entirely outside protected areas. Reptiles and plants were the most poorly represented taxonomic groups, and amphibians the best represented. Spatial prioritization analyses revealed that an efficient protected‐area system of the same size as the current protected‐area system (11.6% of the area of Australia) could meet representation targets for 1272 (93.3%) threatened species. Moreover, the results of these prioritization analyses showed that by protecting 17.8% of Australia, all threatened species could reach target levels of representation, assuming all current protected areas are retained. Although this amount of area theoretically could be protected, existing land uses and the finite resources available for conservation mean land acquisition may not be possible or even effective for the recovery of threatened species. The optimal use of resources must balance acquisition of new protected areas, where processes that threaten native species are mitigated by the change in ownership or on‐ground management jurisdiction, and management of threatened species inside and outside the existing protected‐area system.     

铁矿区水环境样品对秀丽隐杆线虫的毒性研究

矿区环境问题是近年来各研究领域关注的焦点。为探究矿区水环境潜在的生物安全性问题,以安徽省霍邱县大型铁矿区地表水体为研究对象,以秀丽隐杆线虫作为实验动物模型,并以其生长和生殖发育作为生物检测终点,考察了线虫对该矿区周边5个地表水样品的毒性效应的响应。结果表明,矿区水环境样品对线虫的生长和生殖发育具有明显的损伤效应,且这种损伤效应的大小与水样采集点距离采矿区的远近以及水样中主要污染物的含量密切相关。进一步通过主成分分析发现,总铁、可溶性铁、铜、铬和砷是环境水样造成线虫毒性效应的主要影响因子。上述研究结果为铁矿区水环境生物安全性的监测和评价提供了一种新的技术方法和新的视角,并为铁矿区健康风险规避提供新的思路和理论基础数据。     

Long-term stability and risk assessment of copper and cadmium in a smelter-impacted soil treated by four amendments

In an effort to address public concerns of the long-term stability and ecological risk reduction of Cu and Cd in a farmland located at the Guixi, Jiangxi Province, China, containing ～ 800?mg?kg^?1 Cu and 0.8?mg?kg^?1 Cd soil, were treated in situ by attapulgite, apatite, montmorillonite and lime at the rate: 10, 10, 10 and 4?g?kg^?1 soil, respectively. Field experiment consisted of 2?×?3-m plots arranged in a randomised complete block design with each treatment. Soil and plant samples were collected in sixth years post-treatments and analysed for Cu and Cd bioaccessibility, chemical fraction and Cu, Cd concentration in plant tissue. The results indicated that the apatite and lime treatments significantly reduced bioaccessible and exchangeable fractions Cu and Cd in the soil at sixth years post the treatments. Cu and Cd concentration in plant tissue was positively related to the bioaccessibility of Cu and Cd. The treatment used 10?g apatite kg^?1 soil appeared to be most effective for overall risk reduction. The Cu and Cd stabilisation and risk reduction by the apatite treatments were accomplished by the induced transformation of labile Cu and Cu species to relatively insoluble forms. This study illustrated that in situ Cu and Cd stabilisation by apatite would be long-term and ecologically safe, which could safeguard human health and ecosystem from Cu and Cd contamination in mining areas.     

The adaptive significance of acoustic spacing in male bushcrickets Tettigonia viridissima: a perturbation experiment

Summary A perturbation experiment was carried out in which the spacing between singing male bushcrickets, Tettigonia viridissima, was artificially manipulated. The experiment entailed releasing virgin females into an area in which caged males were either spaced evenly or in which a proportion of the males were clumped. There was large variation among males in the proportion of time spent singing (range 39–91% of total singing time). Singing activity was correlated with male body weight, but was not influenced by male spacing. Out of a total of 108 females released during the experiment, the majority (N=90) moved from their release points onto the cage of one of the closest singing males. More distant signalers sometimes attracted females when one of the closest males did not sing, or sang very little, during the period in which females were moving. When clumped, males were less successful in attracting females than when regularly spaced within the experimental area. Therefore, within a homogeneous habitat in which females are randomly distributed, male mating success will be maximized when males space out as far as possible from their competitors. As predicted, a regular dispersion of signaling males is the pattern observed in the preferred microhabitats of this species in nature. Offprint requests to: T. Eiriksson     

Effectiveness of Scat‐Detection Dogs in Determining Species Presence in a Tropical Savanna Landscape

Abstract: Most protected areas are too small to sustain populations of wide‐ranging mammals; thus, identification and conservation of high‐quality habitat for those animals outside parks is often a high priority, particularly for regions where extensive land conversion is occurring. This is the case in the vicinity of Emas National Park, a small protected area in the Brazilian Cerrado. Over the last 40 years the native vegetation surrounding the park has been converted to agriculture, but the region still supports virtually all of the animals native to the area. We determined the effectiveness of scat‐detection dogs in detecting presence of five species of mammals threatened with extinction by habitat loss: maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), puma (Puma concolor), jaguar (Panthera onca), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), and giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus). The probability of scat detection varied among the five species and among survey quadrats of different size, but was consistent across team, season, and year. The probability of occurrence, determined from the presence of scat, in a randomly selected site within the study area ranged from 0.14 for jaguars, which occur primarily in the forested areas of the park, to 0.91 for maned wolves, the most widely distributed species in our study area. Most occurrences of giant armadillos in the park were in open grasslands, but in the agricultural matrix they tended to occur in riparian woodlands. At least one target species occurred in every survey quadrat, and giant armadillos, jaguars, and maned wolves were more likely to be present in quadrats located inside than outside the park. The effort required for detection of scats was highest for the two felids. We were able to detect the presence for each of five wide‐ranging species inside and outside the park and to assign occurrence probabilities to specific survey sites. Thus, scat dogs provide an effective survey tool for rare species even when accurate detection likelihoods are required. We believe the way we used scat‐detection dogs to determine the presence of species can be applied to the detection of other mammalian species in other ecosystems.     

Screening for plants and rhizospheral fungi with bioremediation potency of petroleum-polluted soils in a Tehran oil refinery area

The contamination of soils by toxic and/or hazardous organic pollutants, especially with crude oil, is a widespread problem. This study was conducted in a petroleum-contaminated area in a Tehran oil refinery to find petroleum-resistant plants and their rhizospheral fungal strains with bioremediation potency. The plants growing in the oil-polluted area were collected and determined taxonomically. Root samples of the plant species were collected from a polluted area and fungal strains determined by laboratory methods and taxonomical keys. The growth ability of the isolated fungal strains was studied in media containing 1%–15% crude oil. Results showed that seven plant species were of the highest density in the contaminated area: Alhagi persarum, Hordeum marinum, Peganum harmala, Phragmites australis, Prosopis farcta, Salsola kali, and Senecio glaucus. The root-associated fungi were isolated and showed that the fungal variation in the oil-polluted area is higher than that in a non-polluted area. The growth assay of isolated fungal strains showed that all studied fungal strains were able to form colonies at the applied concentrations but Alternaria sp. and Rhizopus sp. were the most resistant ones. Some plants were resistant to oil pollution, which also had positive effects on the fungal strains.     

Relationships between runoff and land degradation on non-cultivated land in the Middle Hills of Nepal

SUMMARY

Rainfall-surface water runoff relationships have been examined for 912 rainfall events during the 1992 and 1993 monsoon seasons on 15 erosion plots on a variety of non-cultivated land uses in the Middle Hills, Nepal. Vegetation cover and type examined ranged from grassland and relatively undisturbed mixed broadleaf forest to subtropical Sal forest, in various states of degradation, and bare ground. Runoff was frequently generated on most plots and often by relatively small rainfall amounts (less than 5 mm) and low rainfall intensities (3 mm/h). Ground cover and canopy cover were significant factors in determining amounts of runoff. Runoff coefficients ranged from 1–2% under grassland and mixed broadleaf forest to 57–64% on the bare sites. Coefficients for Sal forest were between these two extremes; specific values depended on the level of degradation induced by human activity. The most degraded forest sites experienced runoff coefficients of 33%. Ground cover beneath the trees, especially leaf litter, was more effective in reducing runoff than the amount of canopy cover. Canopy cover was more effective during the less intense storms but was ineffective when the rainfall intensity was high. The results suggest that a minimum ground cover of 60% will keep runoff to within 10% of total rainfall amounts for most normal monsoons in the Middle Hills. This will also reduce the risk of gullying and surface soil erosion. It is the nature of the forest that is important and not its total area. In the study area, although the total area under forest had not changed, some of the forest had become more degraded with a corresponding increase in mean runoff rates. Increased runoff can occur even if the area under forest increases. Estimates of levels of degradation based solely on changing forest areas are likely to be inaccurate.     

Relatedness and avoidance of inbreeding in the lizard, Tiliqua rugosa

Two potential mechanisms for reducing the level of inbreeding, sex-biased dispersal and kin avoidance, were examined in the Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa. The home range centres, and the genotypes at four polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci were determined for adult lizards in a 70-ha study area near Mount Mary, South Australia. From estimates of genetic relatedness, females were as closely related to other females as they were to males, both within the whole study area, and within home ranges. Similarly, males were as closely related to other males as they were to females. This suggests that dispersal in the population is not sex-biased. Sleepy lizards form monogamous pairs during the spring. Partners were less closely related to each other than to other potential partners in the home range area. This suggests active choice of unrelated partners. The mechanism for recognising related from unrelated individuals is unknown, but the behaviour could reduce inbreeding. Received: 7 November 1998 / Accepted: 30 May 1999     

Concentrations of arsenic and heavy metals in vegetation at two abandoned mine tailings in South Korea

Untreated abandoned mines may result in hazards to ecosystems due to dispersion of various toxic elements such as arsenic (As) and lead (Pb). Phytoremediation is an alternative of remediation for large scale mine dumps. Plant species were sampled from two abandoned gold (Au) mines in South Korea. Plant samples were digested following the guidelines of US EPA Method 3050 (US-EPA, 1996) and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations and bioaccumulation factors of plants are reported and out-performing species are summarized. Poplar trees (Populus davidiana) growing on the Myoungbong tailings were suggested to be a potential species for revegetation of large scale Au mine tailings. Arsenic accumulations of bracken ferns (Pteridium aquilinum) sampled from the Duckum tailings were far lower than those of the reported hyperaccumulators, but the possible chronic adverse effects on residents through daily diet are of concern.     

How does burrowing by the isopod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Limnoria agrostisa</Emphasis> (Crustacea: Limnoriidae) affect the leaf canopy of the southern Australian seagrass <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amphibolis griffithii</Emphasis>?

In south-western Australia, the isopod Limnoria agrostisa commonly burrows into leaf clusters and immature shoots of Amphibolis griffithii. The isopod also burrows into the sheath and rhizomes of Posidonia species. In A. griffithii, the isopod consumes new tissue within the sheath, damaging or destroying the meristem. This results in malformation of new leaves or destruction of whole leaf clusters with the potential to reduce the photosynthetic area of a shoot. The isopod has been found in all but one meadow of A. griffithii examined over 1,000 km of the Western Australian coastline. It was present throughout the year and showed little variation in abundance. Young were produced year round, but were more abundant in the summer months. Females, 3.5 mm in length or larger, produced 2–5 young that were brooded within the leaf cluster or base of an immature shoot. Within a meadow, 40–70% of shoots and 10–20% of leaf clusters were damaged by isopods. Seasonal trends were not consistent, but damage appeared to be higher in summer when isopod abundance was higher. Approximately 40% of clusters were destroyed by isopod damage. Isopods attack shoots of all ages, but damage was often located on apical clusters. There was no evidence that isopod damage initiated branching or leaf cluster formation. Estimations of clusters damaged or destroyed may be conservative, as only those clusters remaining on a shoot could be counted, and cluster loss could not be quantified. Examination of defoliated stems on upright shoots and horizontal rhizomes indicated that many were destroyed by isopods. The effect of L. agrostisa although substantial appears to be a feature of healthy seagrasses throughout southern Australia.     

莲花山矿区土壤-农作物系统中重金属调控

以广东省莲花山钨矿区耕地为研究点,研究土壤金属含量分布、形态特征及其调控措施。分析耕地土壤中Zn、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Cd、As含量特征,以碱石灰、MnO2、Fe2O3和钙镁磷肥作为改良剂,对矿区污染耕地土壤进行改良,并种植萝卜Raphanus sativus,分析各改良剂对土壤金属形态及其在土壤-农作物界面迁移的影响。研究表明,矿区耕地土壤酸化, Zn、Mn、Pb、Cd和As超过土壤背景值,其中Cd和As污染严重,分别超过背景值的10.2-16.7倍和1.1-1.3倍。碱石灰有效降低耕地土壤pH值,降低土壤Zn、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Cd可溶态含量,减少其在萝卜中积累。萝卜对Pb、Zn、Cd、Cu、Ni累积量与其可溶态含量相关性显著,与总量相关性不显著。Fe2O3、MnO2、钙镁磷肥对耕地土壤Zn、Cu、Ni、Mn、Pb、Cd 生物有效性及其在农作物中累积量无显著影响。矿区耕地土壤分别添加碱石灰、Fe2O3、MnO2,土壤中砷松散结合态含量降低,农作物砷累积量减少。钙镁磷肥对土壤砷形态无显著影响,但能显著降低萝卜中砷的累积量。碱石灰分别与Fe2O3、MnO2、钙镁磷肥相结合改良耕地土壤,比单一改良剂更能有效降低萝卜中砷的累积量。萝卜中砷累积量与松散结合态存在显著正相关性,与Ca-As存在显著负相关性。碱石灰分别和Fe2O3、钙镁磷肥同时加入土壤,能同时地有效降低Zn、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Cd、As的有效性,及其在农作物累积量,因此,这2种改良方式是莲花山矿区土壤金属固定的有效措施。     

Oviposition by butterflies on young leaves: Investigation of leaf volatiles

Summary Various butterflies select young foliage on which to lay their eggs; volatiles emitted by young and old leaves have been compared (by sorption enrichment, followed by GC-MS) to gauge possible qualitative and quantitative differences between the two age groups. The plants investigated are cabbage (Brassica oleracea), two milkweeds (Asclepias syriaca andA. curassavica), the bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) and the lime (C. aurantiifolia). The chemical compounds identified belong to three classes, isoprenoids, fatty acid derivatives and benzenoids. Quantitative differences were found between young and old leaves, of which a few may be characteristic of young leaves only. Thirty-four single trials withDanaus plexippus exposed to volatiles from young and old leaves are recorded.     

Control of hydrogen sulfide emissions using autotrophic denitrification landfill biocovers: engineering applications

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) emitted from construction and demolition waste landfills has received increasing attention. Besides its unpleasant odor, longterm exposure to a very low concentration of H₂S can cause a public health issue. In the case of construction and demolition (C&D) waste landfills, where gas collection systems are not normally required, the generated H₂S is typically not controlled and the number of treatment processes to control H₂S emissions in situ is limited. An attractive alternative may be to use chemically or biologically active landfill covers. A few studies using various types of cover materials to attenuate H₂S emissions demonstrated that H₂S emissions can be effectively reduced. In this study, therefore, the costs and benefits of H₂S-control cover systems including compost, soil amended with lime, fine concrete, and autotrophic denitrification were evaluated. Based on a case-study landfill area of 0.04 km², the estimated H₂S emissions of 80900 kg over the 15-year period and costs of active cover system components (ammonium nitrate fertilizer for autotrophic denitrification cover, lime, fine concrete, and compost), ammonium nitrate fertilizer is the most cost effective, followed by hydrated lime, fine concrete, and yard waste compost. Fine concrete and yard waste compost covers are expensive measures to control H₂S emissions because of the large amount of materials needed to create a cover. Controlling H₂S emissions using fine concrete and compost is less expensive at landfills that provide on-site concrete recovery and composting facilities; however, ammonium nitrate fertilizer or hydrated lime would still be more cost effective applications.