Preparation of high molecular weight DNA from hermatypic corals and its use for DNA hybridization and cloning

Previous attempts to extract high molecular weight DNA from hermatypic corals have failed because the starting material was mature tissue. The following paper describes the isolation of DNA from coral sperm which is of high molecular weight, and is suitable for DNA hybridization, digestion with restriction endonucleases and cloning. Gross DNA hybridization and hybridization with cloned repetitive DNA was used to investigate relatedness amongst members of the scleractinian coral family Acroporidae. Acropora formosa and A. pulchra were found to share a common (highly homologous) DNA sequence repeat; a related but less homologous sequence was present in A. latistella, and no homologous sequence was detected in Montipora digitata. These results imply a close taxonomic relationship between A. formosa and A. pulchra, and suggest that molecular criteria of this sort will be extremely useful in coral taxonomy.     

Filling the Gaps in the Risks vs. Benefits of Mammalian Adult-Cell Cloning: Taking Bernard Rollin's Philosophy Its Next Step

A critique is made of Bernard Rollin's examination of the ethics of cloning adult mammalian cells. The primary concern is less to propound an anticloning or procloning position than to call for full exploration of the ethical complexities before a rush to judgment is made. Indeed, the ethical examination in question rushes toward an ethical position in such a way that does not appear consistent with Rollin's usual methodology. By extending this methodology – which entails full weighing of benefits and costs – it becomes apparent that there are real potential risks to this type of cloning in both animals and humans, besides the possible benefits, and that the scientific, political, philosophical, and broader academic communities should explore these risks and benefits extensively. Rollin's usual methodological call for hesitation before risks would translate into hesitation before the ethical risks of adult mammalian cell cloning instead of his paper's curiously laissez-faire stance.     

Perspectives of a large scale environmental survey for chlorinated dioiins: water analyses

During 1983 and 1984, The Dow Chemical Company conducted a study to determine the extent of dioxin contamination at its Midland, Michigan plant and the surrounding area. The primary objectives of this study were to identify, rank order, and when possible quantify potential sources of dioxins to the environment and also to determine the extent of contamination in areas affected by the Dow facility. Early in the study, it was estimated that approximately 0.6g/year of 2378-TCDD was being emitted in 2.5 × 10¹⁰L of wastewater effluent. Data will describe observed sources of TCDD (both current and historical), environmental levels, existing water treatment methods, control measures taken, and future improvements on the water system to reduce TCDD in the effluent.     

Equilibrium nonaqueous phase liquid pool geometry in coarse soils with discrete textural interfaces

This paper presents a model for the geometry of nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) pools and mounds in homogeneous soils and soils with discrete textural interfaces. It is shown that the concepts of capillary pressure-saturation curve hysteresis and entry pressures are integral to the complete conceptualization of pool and mound geometry. Unless hysteresis is included in the analysis, light NAPL (LNAPL) in homogeneous soils cannot exist in pools at all, and dense NAPL (DNAPL) will not mound on horizontal textural interfaces unless lateral confining boundaries are present. The proposed model also implies that remobilization of DNAPL pools will occur at lower hydraulic gradients than those predicted with previous models. Comparing predicted and experimental DNAPL and LNAPL pool thicknesses and the location of an LNAPL lens with respect to the top of the capillary fringe validate the model.     

Irrigation runoff insecticide pollution of rivers in the Imperial Valley, California (USA)

The Alamo and New Rivers located in the Imperial Valley, California receive large volumes of irrigation runoff and discharge into the ecologically sensitive Salton Sea. Between 1993 and 2002 we conducted a series of studies to assess water quality using three aquatic species: a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia), a mysid (Neomysis mercedis), and a larval fish (Pimephales promelas). Although no mortality was observed with the P. promelas, high-level toxicity to the invertebrate species was documented in samples from both rivers during many months of each year. Toxicity identifications and chemical analyses identified the organophosphorus insecticides (OP), chlorpyrifos and diazinon, as the cause of C. dubia toxicity. The extent of the C. dubia mortality was highly correlated with quantities of these OPs applied in the river watersheds. C. dubia mortality occurred during more months of our 2001/2002 study than in the 1990s investigations. During 2001/2002, the extensive C. dubia mortality observed in New River samples was caused by OP insecticide pollution that originated from Mexico. Mortality to N. mercedis in New River samples was likely caused by contaminants other than OP insecticides. Our studies document OP insecticide-caused pollution of the Alamo River over a 10-year period and provide the necessary information for remediation efforts.     

Use of hydrophilic and hydrophobic microfiltration membranes to remove microorganisms and organic pollutants from primary effluents.

Primary-effluent wastewater from the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (Pennsylvania) was used as a surrogate for combined-sewer-overflow waters contained in the sewershed. Pathogens contained in combined-primary-effluent wastewaters or combined-sewer overflows (CSOs) may pose a human-health threat to those coming in contact with such receiving waters. Polymeric ultra- and nano-membranes can be used to capture these microorganisms from CSOs. This research investigates the ability of polymeric hydrophobic and hydrophilic membranes, ranging in pore size from 0.2 to 0.8 microm, to remove pathogen-indicator organisms (Escherichia coli, enterococcus, and fecal coliforms). Membranes, with pore size 0.45 microm and smaller, were able to reduce the bacteria levels to nondetectable levels, with the sole exception of one membrane with pore size 0.3 microm.     

Frequency of tail loss does not reflect innate predisposition in temperate New Zealand lizards

Caudal autotomy (tail shedding) is a defence mechanism against predation which is used by lizards when other tactics, such as crypsis and escape, prove ineffective. The speed at which autotomy occurs has important implications for survival, and the accuracy of tail loss is of consequence for an individual’s future fitness. Autotomy is shaped by both taxon-specific tail morphology as well as environmental factors such as predator history, and it can be difficult to distinguish between these processes. In this study, the frequency of tail-regeneration observed (field rate of autotomy), latency (speed of autotomy in the laboratory) and accuracy of tail loss were measured in six lizard species from two families (Scincidae and Diplodactylidae). The field rate and latency of autotomy was similar among all species except for the large nocturnal skink Oligosoma macgregori, which was less likely to autotomise. Latency and field rates of autotomy were not correlated, implying that the field rates of autotomy are related to predation attacks, social interactions, or some other environmental factor, rather than an innate disposition to autotomy. Further study, for example comparing populations with low and high predation pressure, will help to explain which of these factors are influencing autotomy rates.     

Influence of cation type, ionic strength, and pH on solubilization and mobilization of residual hydrocarbon by a biosurfactant

This study investigated the effect of cation type, ionic strength, and pH on the performance of an anionic monorhamnolipid biosurfactant for solubilization and removal of residual hexadecane from sand. Three common soil cations, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺, were used in these experiments and hexadecane was chosen to represent a nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) less dense than water. Results showed that hexadecane solubility in rhamnolipid solution was significantly increased by the addition of Na⁺ and Mg²⁺. Addition of up to 0.2 mM Ca²⁺ also increased hexadecane solubility. For Ca²⁺ concentrations greater than 0.2 mM there was little effect on hexadecane solubility due to competing effects of calcium-induced rhamnolipid precipitation and enhanced hexadecane solubilization. Efficiency of NAPL solubilization can be expressed in terms of molar solubilization ratios (MSR). The results showed that MSR values for hexadecane in rhamnolipid solutions increased 7.5-fold in the presence of 500 mM Na⁺, and 25-fold in the presence of 1 mM Mg²⁺. The presence of cations also reduced the interfacial tension between rhamnolipid solutions and hexadecane. For example, an increase in Na⁺ from 0 to 800 mM caused a decrease in interfacial tension from 2.2 to 0.89 dyn cm⁻¹. Similarly, decreasing pH caused a reduction in interfacial tension. The lowest interfacial tension value observed in this study was 0.02 dyn cm⁻¹ at pH 6 in the presence of 320 mM Na⁺. These conditions were also found to be optimal for removal of hexadecane residual from sand columns, with 58% of residual removed within three pore volumes. The removal of residual NAPL from the packed columns was primarily by mobilization, even though solubilization was significantly increased in the presence of Na⁺.     

Bird Species Assemblages as Indicators of Biological Integrity in Great Basin Rangeland

The study evaluates the potential for bird species assemblages to serve as indicators of biological integrity of rangelands in the Great Basin in much the same way that fish and invertebrate assemblages have been used as indicators in aquatic environments. Our approach was to identify metrics of the bird community using relatively simple sampling methods that reflect the degree of rangeland degradation and are consistent over a variety of vegetation types and geographic areas. We conducted the study in three range types (i.e., potential natural plant community types) in each of two widely separated areas of the Great Basin: south-eastern Idaho (sagebrush steppe range types) and west-central Utah (salt-desert shrub range types). Sites were selected in each range type to represent three levels of grazing impact, and in Idaho included sites modified for crested wheatgrass production. Birds were sampled by point counts on 9 100-m radius plots at 250-m spacing on each of 20 sites in each area during the breeding season. In sagebrush-steppe, 964 individuals in 8 species of passerine birds were used in analyses. Five metrics were significantly related to impact class, both when analyzed within range type and when analyzed with all range types combined. Species richness, relative abundance of shrub obligate species, and relative abundance of Brewer's sparrow were generally lower for the higher impact classes, whereas the reverse was true for dominance by a single species and for relative abundance of horned larks. In contrast, total number of individuals did not differ significantly as a function of impact class. In salt-desert shrub, a total of 843 birds in 4 species were included in analyses, 98% of which were horned larks. None of the metrics identified above was significantly related to impact class. Two metrics for breeding birds in sagebrush steppe (species richness and dominance) showed little overlap between values for the extremes of impact class, and thus they have potential as indicators of biological integrity. However, the sensitivity of these metrics appears to be greatest at the high impact end of the spectrum, which suggests they may have limited utility in distinguishing between sites having light and moderate impact.     

Mass mortality and slow recovery of Diadema antillarum: Could compromised immunity be a factor?

Long-spined sea urchins (Diadema antillarum-a) began dying in January 1983 and over the next year virtually disappeared from the Caribbean. Decades later, Diadema densities remain low, with only very limited recovery in some areas. Ecological extinction of Diadema is a factor in the transformation of coral to barren algae-covered rock that has occurred in the Caribbean during the past 25 years. Working with sea urchins collected from St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, we asked whether the immune system of Diadema differs from those of other common Caribbean urchins that did not experience the die-off. Using isolated coelomocytes, we tested humoral responses of the urchins with classic stimulators in numerous humoral immune assays. All coelomocytes responded to stimulators—with one notable and statistically significant exception—D. antillarum did not respond to lipopolysaccharide. Our results indicate that Diadema may have a weakness in its humoral defense response that is independent of local stressors and may help explain why Caribbean Diadema was vulnerable to the 1983 epidemic and has shown slow and limited recovery since then.