Aerosol Particle Processing and Removal by Fogs: Observations in Chemically Heterogeneous Central California Radiation Fogs

Fog composition and deposition fluxes of fog waterand fog solutes were measured in six radiation fogevents in San Joaquin Valley, California duringwinter 1998/1999. Measurements made at 2 hrintervals with 0.30 m² and 0.06 m² Teflondeposition plates yielded excellent reproducibility(relative standard deviations of 3.8–6.0%) forwater, nitrate, sulfate and ammonium. Water fluxesmeasured at 5 min intervals with a recordingbalance agreed well with the deposition platemeasurements before 8:00 AM. After 8:00 AMevaporation proved problematic. The averagedeposition velocity from the study for fog nitrate(3.8 cm s^-1) was less than those for fogsulfate (5.1 cm s^-1) and ammonium (6.7 cms^-1). All three species generally exhibitedsmaller deposition velocities than fog water. Thespecies dependent trend in deposition velocitieswas consistent with preferential enrichment ofthese species in small fog drops (nitrate > sulfate> ammonium).     

The effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the spatial heterogeneity of alpine grassland vegetation at a small scale on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), China

Understanding the complex effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the composition of vegetation is very important for developing and implementing strategies for promoting sustainable grassland development. The vegetation–disturbance–environment relationship was examined in degraded alpine grasslands in the headwater areas of three rivers on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in this study. The investigated hypotheses were that (1) the heterogeneity of the vegetation of the alpine grassland is due to a combination of biotic and abiotic factors and that (2) at a small scale, biotic factors are more important for the distribution of alpine vegetation. On this basis, four transects were set along altitudinal gradients from 3,770 to 3,890 m on a sunny slope, and four parallel transects were set along altitudinal gradients on a shady slope in alpine grasslands in Guoluo Prefecture of Qinghai Province, China. It was found that biological disturbances were the major forces driving the spatial heterogeneity of the alpine grassland vegetation and abiotic factors were of secondary importance. Heavy grazing and intensive rat activity resulted in increases in unpalatable and poisonous weeds and decreased fine forages in the form of sedges, forbs, and grasses in the vegetation composition. Habitat degradation associated with biological disturbances significantly affected the spatial variation of the alpine grassland vegetation, i.e., more pioneer plants of poisonous or unpalatable weed species, such as Ligularia virgaurea and Euphorbia fischeriana, were found in bare patches. Environmental/abiotic factors were less important than biological disturbances in affecting the spatial distribution of the alpine grassland vegetation at a small scale. It was concluded that rat control and light grazing should be applied first in implementing restoration strategies. The primary vegetation in lightly grazed and less rat-damaged sites should be regarded as a reference for devising vegetation restoration measures in alpine pastoral regions.     

Alpha-fetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase are not predictive of fetal junctional epidermolysis bullosa,Herlitz variant

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa, Herlitz variant (junctional EB-Herlitz) is a lethal autosomal recessive skin disorder currently amenable to prenatal diagnosis only by direct analysis of fetal skin. However, elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein, as well as the presence of acetylcholinesterase in amniotic fluid, have been associated with other severe fetal genodermatoses. Fetal skin samplings were performed in ten pregnancies at risk for fetal junctional EB-Herlitz, with three fetuses affected on the basis of electron microscopic detection of blisters within the lamina lucida and abnormal hemidesmosomes. In neither affected nor unaffected pregnancies were maternal serum or amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels elevated. Moreover, alphafetoprotein levels in both maternal serum and amniotic fluid were not statistically different comparing affected and unaffected fetuses. Acetylcholinesterase was not present in the amniotic fluid samples of the three affected pregnancies. Unlike other severe fetal genodermatoses, neither alpha-fetoprotein nor acetylcholinesterase was predictive of junctional EB-Herlitz.     

Transformation products distribution of atrazine in corn plants treated with radiolabelled herbicide

Roots of whole plants at four leaf stage grown in specialized soil treatment vessels were treated with ¹⁴C-atrazine. Plant tissues were exhaustively extracted with methanol and extracts were separated by preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC). The extracted material was separated in two TLC bands at Rf0.00 and Rf0.18 containing 33% and 67% of plant ¹⁴C-residues, respectively. Methanol extracts of these bands subjected to derivatization, hydrolysis and analysis by TLC, revealed the presence of a number of transformation products consisting of hydroxy analogues of atrazine and their dealkylated metabolites. The transformation products had variable distribution patterns amongst leaf, stalk and root tissues. Diaminohydroxyatrazine, hydroxyatrazine, and deethylhydroxyatrazine were the main ¹⁴C-residues. Stalk tissue contained more ¹⁴C-residues which were largely located at and just below the ligule. The significance of ¹⁴C-residue accumulation at the ligule and the transformation product compartmentalization are discussed.     

Formation of PCDDs and PCDFs by the chlorination of water

Two samples of tab water and double distilled water were chlorinated using chlorine gas. A series of PCDFs could be identified from these experiments, however no PCDDs could be found. The two water samples gave very similar isomeric patterns ( . . tetra-CDFs), however the congener profile (Cl₄ --- Cl₈) was different. These experiments indicate that all products formed by chlorination reactions are potentially contaminated by PCDFs by a specific “chlorine pattern”.     

AQUATIC HABITAT CONDITION INDEX,STREAM TYPE,AND LWESTOCK BANK DAMAGE IN NORTHERN NEVADA1

ABSTRACT: The quality of stream habitat varies for a variety of natural and anthropogenic reasons not identified by a condition index. However, many people use condition indices to indicate management needs or even direction. To better sort natural from livestock influences, stream types and levels of ungulate bank damage were regulated to estimates of aquatic habitat condition index and stream width parameters in a large existing stream inventory data base. Pool/riffle ratio, pool structure, stream bottom materials, soil stability, and vegetation type varied significantly with stream type. Pool/riffle ratio, soil and vegetation stability varied significantly with ungulate bank damage level. Soil and vegetation stability were highly cross-correlated. Riparian area width did not vary significantly with either stream type or ungulate bank damage. Variation among stream types indicates that riparian management and monitoring should be stream type and reach specific.     

LONG-TERM AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION: MAHOGANY CREEK,NEVADA, AS A CASE STUDY1

ABSTRACT: We compared the recovery from abusive grazing of aquatic habitat due to different range management on two geomorphically similar rangeland streams in northwest Nevada. Managers excluded livestock from the Mahogany Creek watershed from 1976 to 1990 while allowing rotation of rest grazing on its tributary Summer Camp Creek. Bank stability, defined as the lack of apparent bank erosion or deposition, improved through the study period on both streams, but periodic grazing and flooding decreased stability more on Summer Camp Creek than flooding alone on Mahogany Creek. Pool quantity and quality on each stream decreased because of coarse woody debris removal and sediment deposition during a drought. Fine stream bottom sediments decreased five years after the removal of livestock, but sedimentation increased during low flows in both streams below road crossings. Tree cover increased 35 percent at both streams. Thus, recovery of stability and cover and decreased sedimentation are compatible with rotation of rest grazing on Summer Camp Creek. Width/depth ratio and gravel/cobble percent did not change because they are inherently stable in this stream type. Management activities such as coarse woody debris removal limited pool recover and road crossings increased sedimentation.