Lipids in atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) eggs from planktonic samples in Northern Norway

Fertilized Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) eggs in different developmental stages (Days 0 to 18) were sampled from plankton in North Norway in February 1986 and analysed for lipid classes and fatty acid content. In unfertilized ovulated eggs taken from ripe fish caught in 1983/1984, polar and neutral lipids comprised ca. 71 and 30% of the total lipids, respectively, decreasing and increasing to 67 and 33%, respectively, in Stage III (11 to 18 d old) fertilized eggs. Of the polar lipids, phosphatidylcholine decreased markedly from 62% in unfertilized ovulated eggs to ca. 40% in Stage I (0 to 3 d old) fertilized eggs, while phosphatidylethanolamine increased from ca. 7 to 33%. Triacylglycerols, the major neutral lipids, increased from ca. 13% in unfertilized ovulated eggs to 16% in Stage III fertilized eggs. The total lipid in Stage I fertilized eggs had relatively low levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with (n-3) PUFA accounting for only ca. 25% of the total fatty acids. The (n-3) PUFA increased to ca. 40% of the total fatty acids in Stage III, while the (n-3): (n-6) ratio increased from 4.1 to 7.0.     

Mapping Conflicts Between Biodiversity and Human Needs in Langtang National Park, Nepal

We mapped areas of congruence and conflict between the objectives of protecting red pandas ( Ailurus fulgens ) and meeting the claims and needs of people who live in and around Langtang National Park, Nepal. Semi-structured interviews were used to solicit information on land-use practices, and spatial information technology (sketch maps, satellite images, geographical information systems) was used to place these practices in a spatial context and to model the effects of grazing. Spatial information technology was useful for delineating areas where conflicts occur between the objectives of preserving biodiversity and meeting the needs of local residents. Despite the fact that villagers recognize pasture boundaries, rules and regulations govern pasture management, and sanctions are imposed on violators, over 60% of the red panda's habitat is heavily grazed, and all available land within the study site suitable for grazing is already being used. The study suggests that common property management of natural resources to protect biodiversity (i.e., red pandas) and meet the needs of local people at the same time will be difficult.     

Comparison of dissolved-organic-carbon residuals from air- and pure-oxygen-activated-sludge sequencing-batch reactors.

Literature shows that full-scale pure-oxygen activated sludge (O2-AS) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) generate effluents with higher dissolved-organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and larger high-molecular-weight fractions compared to air-activated-sludge (Air-AS) WWTP effluents. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate how gas supplied (air vs. pure oxygen) to sequencing-batch reactors affected DOC transformations. The main conclusions of this paper are (a) O2-AS effluent DOC is more refractory than air-AS effluent DOC; and (b) O2-AS systems may have higher five-day biochemical oxygen demand removals than air-AS systems; however, in terms of COD and DOC removal, air-AS systems are better than O2-AS systems. Analysis of a database from side-by-side O2- and air-AS pilot tests from literature supported these observations.     

Transformation of molecular weight distributions of dissolved organic carbon and UV-absorbing compounds at full-scale wastewater-treatment plants.

The molecular-weight distribution (MWD) of wastewater dissolved-organic carbon (DOC) was determined in samples from seven full-scale wastewater-treatment plants (WWTPs) that use different biological treatments (air activated sludge [air-AS], pure-oxygen AS [O2-AS], and trickling filters). The research objective was to determine how different biological treatments influenced the MWD of wastewater DOC. Primary sedimentation effluent DOC from most of the WWTPs exhibited a skewed distribution toward the low-molecular-weight fraction (MWF) (40 to 50%, < 0.5 K Daltons [KDa]). The Air-AS effluent DOC exhibited a centrally clustered distribution, with the majority of DOC in the intermediate MWF (0.5 to 3 KDa). The O2-AS effluent DOC exhibited a skewed distribution toward the high MWF (> 3 KDa). The removal of DOC by air- and O2-AS bacteria followed trends predicted by a macromolecule degradation model. Trickling-filter effluent DOC exhibited a skewed distribution toward the high MWF (50% DOC, > 3 KDa).     

Forest-dweller demographics in West Kalimantan,Indonesia

This study sought to ascertain, from census and other data, the number of people living on state-claimed forest land (SCFL) in West Kalimantan in the outer islands of Indonesia. One aim was to determine why data collection is problematic. In 1990 the outer islands accounted for 38% of total population, 93% of its land mass, and 98% of its forests. 72% of the land mass of the outer islands was designated SCFL. Kalimantan has 38.5 million hectares of SCFL, while West Kalimantan has 9.2 million hectares, or 63% of the land area of the province. In 1990, 3.2 million people lived in West Kalimantan. Two sets of forest cover maps and census statistics at the village level were integrated into the geographic information system (GIS) technology by district and regency boundaries and the location of villages. The fieldwork was conducted in Sengah Temila District in Pontianak Regency and Simpang Hulu District in Ketapang Regency. Four methods were used to estimate forest populations: 1) estimating gross population density, 2) mapping forest villages, 3) adjusting density to account for uneven population distribution, and 4) estimating population densities for specific villages and generalizing to the province level. Methods 3 and 4 gave the most reasonable estimates. Population varied from 650,000 to 1 million. Government census statistics proved to be accurate representations of human population. The 1:50,000 scale of topological maps of West Kalimantan correctly identified the location of villages listed in the census. The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry's forest-planning maps and the RePPProT maps both reported similar SCFL. The GIS technology was useful in integrating data from several sources. The lack of knowledge was not due to political or institutional interests.     

Trends in spatial and temporal levels of persistent organic pollutants in Lake Erie sediments

A Lake Erie sediment survey was conducted in 1997 to characterize spatial trends in contamination, and for comparison with a 1971 survey to assess any changes in environmental quality since the advent of measures to reduce contaminant sources. Contaminant data for some contaminant classes in 1971 was based on analysis of frozen archived samples, thereby allowing a direct comparison between surficial sediment contamination in 1971 and 1997 based on modern analytical methods. Lake-wide contaminant concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine compounds including hexachlorobenzene and the DDT compounds in 1997 were substantially lower, compared to levels in samples collected in 1971. Lake-wide average sediment PCB levels were found to have decreased roughly 70% from 136 ng/g in 1971 to 43 ng/g in 1997. Similarly, reductions in other compound classes ranged from 40% to 80%. In 1997, some individual contaminants classes including PCBs exhibited a spatial trend toward increasing sediment contamination from the eastern basin to the western basin, and from the north-central basin to the south-central basin. Levels of organic contaminants in sediments in some areas of Lake Erie still exceeded the strictest Canadian Federal and Ontario Provincial guidelines. However, exceedances of guidelines describing contaminated environments in 1997 were predominantly restricted to the western basin and near-shore sites in the southern part of the central basin.     

Monitoring requirements for groundwaters under the influence of reclaimed water

Monitoring groundwaters under the influence of reclaimedwater must consider the major constituents of concern inreclaimed water. This research focused on the fate ofdissolved organic carbon and nitrogen species at field siteslocated throughout the Southwestern United States. Awatershed approach was developed to predict the fate ofdissolved organic carbon as a function of the drinking waterdissolved organic carbon concentration and the totaldissolved solids concentration in the reclaimed water. Extensive characterization of the dissolved organic carbonrecovered from groundwaters under the influence of reclaimedwater was done. With the exception of fluorescencespectroscopy, the dissolved organic carbon present ineffluent organic matter was similar in structure, characterand reactivity as compared to natural organic matter. Evidence for sustainable nitrogen removal mechanisms duringgroundwater recharge with reclaimed water was obtained. Theautotrophic reaction between ammonia and nitrate appears to amechanism for the removal nitrogen in a carbon-depletedenvironment. The monitoring tools and methodologiesdeveloped in this research can be used to assure protectionof public health and determine the sustainability of indirectpotable reuse projects.