CHANNELIZATION AND INVERTEBRATE DRIFT IN SOME IOWA STREAMS1

ABSTRACT: Habitat diversity and invertebrate drift were studied in a group of natural and channelized tributaries of the upper Des Moines River during 1974 and 1975. Channelized streams in this region had lower sinuosity index values than natural channel segments. There were significant (P=O.05) positive correlations between channel sinuosity and the variability of water depth and current velocity. Invertebrate drift density, expressed as biomass and total numbers, also was correlated with channel sinuosity. Channelization has decreased habitat variability and invertebrate drift density in streams of the upper Des Moines River Basin and probably has reduced the quantity of water stored in streams during periods of low flow.     

Future markets: An alternative for stabilizing secondary materials markets?

The authors present an economic justification for extramarket intervention in the markets for secondary materials and briefly discuss the possible impacts of futures trading on the cash market for a commodity. These impacts are applied to the markets for secondary materials and the potential effects are assessed. They conclude with a rationale for public participation in initiating a scrap futures market.     

ESTIMATING THE SUSPENDED SEDIMENT LOAD IN RESERVOIRS1

ABSTRACT: The total suspended sediment loads of four north Mississippi reservoirs were determined from measurements of concentrations of suspended sediment in a vertical profile at several locations on each reservoir made during the year. These data were combined with the stage-height and known stage-volume relationships for each reservoir in a numerical integration to determine the total suspended sediment in the water body. Total suspended sediments were estimated using the product of the suspended sediment concentration in the surface water by the appropriate reservoir volume. The averaged ratios of the estimated to measured suspended sediment loads for each reservoir exceeded 0.90. Since the concentration of suspended sediments in surface waters of north Mississippi reservoirs has been shown as highly correlated with spectral reflectance, estimating the total suspended sediment of these reservoirs using remotely sensed spectral reflectance data is possible.     

RESERVOIR SEDIMENTATION1

ABSTRACT: Reservoirs, as well as lakes and estuaries, are subject to sediment accumulation. The rate at which sedimentation occurs is accelerated or diminished by man's activities. Acceptable rates of sedimentation are considered on the basis of costs of sediment storage and removal and a review of reservoirs constructed with sediment removal capabilities is given. The rates of reservoir sedimentation in the United States are summarized based on reliable data obtained from all sizes of reservoirs. Problems confronting the engineer concerning reservoir construction and maintenance are discussed on the basis of these data.     

Effects of cattle,sheep and deer grazing on soil physical quality and losses of phosphorus and suspended sediment losses in surface runoff

Livestock grazing and treading is strongly linked to a decrease in freshwater quality and promotes eutrophication. A two-year field trial was carried out to investigate the influence cattle, sheep and deer have on soil physical quality and the loss of phosphorus (P) and suspended sediment (SS) in surface runoff. Surface runoff plots (4 m long by 1 m wide) were installed within areas designated as stock or ungrazed (control). Surface runoff was collected and analysed for concentrations and loads of P fractions (dissolved reactive P-DRP, dissolved unreactive P-DUP, total dissolved P-TDP, particulate P-PP and total P-TP) and SS. Grazed at equivalent stocking density, soil physical samples (macroporosity, bulk density, and saturated hydraulic conductivity K_sat) were taken after each grazing event (n = 11). Soil physical data indicated differences between cattle, sheep and deer with cattle having greater negative effects. However, these differences had no impact on P and SS losses between stock types in surface runoff. Significant relationships showed that an increase in macroporosity, K_sat, and time (days) since grazing decreased concentrations and loads of P and SS losses. A separate rainfall simulation study also revealed that an increase in simulated cattle treading intensity increased the volume of surface runoff and SS losses. Most surface runoff (> 90%) occurred in winter when soil moisture was at or above field capacity. A seasonal effect was observed and showed that although the greatest P loads occurred in winter, the greatest P concentrations occurred in summer months, under infiltration-excess conditions. These summer losses could pose a risk to receiving waterways because increased light and warmth may induce an algal response compared to winter. While there is limited scope to manage for infiltration-excess surface runoff losses from pasture, with most runoff occurring in winter, these findings reinforce the use of mitigation strategies such as restricted or nil grazing in winter when soil moisture has reached field capacity to minimise P and SS loss to surface water, regardless of stock type.     

Behavior of a hammerhead ribozyme in aqueous solution at medium to high temperatures

The “RNA world” hypothesis proposes that—early in the evolution of life—RNA molecules played important roles both in information storage and in enzymatic functions. However, this hypothesis seems to be inconsistent with the concept that life may have emerged under hydrothermal conditions since RNA molecules are considered to be labile under such extreme conditions. Presently, the possibility that the last common ancestor of the present organisms was a hyperthermophilic organism which is important to support the hypothesis of the hydrothermal origin of life has been subject of strong discussions. Consequently, it is of importance to study the behavior of RNA molecules under hydrothermal conditions from the viewpoints of stability, catalytic functions, and storage of genetic information of RNA molecules and determination of the upper limit of temperature where life could have emerged. In the present work, self-cleavage of a natural hammerhead ribozyme was examined at temperatures 10–200?°C. Self-cleavage was investigated in the presence of Mg²⁺, which facilitates and accelerates this reaction. Self-cleavage of the hammerhead ribozyme was clearly observed at temperatures up to 60?°C, but at higher temperatures self-cleavage occurs together with hydrolysis and with increasing temperature hydrolysis becomes dominant. The influence of the amount of Mg²⁺ on the reaction rate was also investigated. In addition, we discovered that the reaction proceeds in the presence of high concentrations of monovalent cations (Na⁺ or K⁺), although very slowly. Furthermore, at high temperatures (above 60?°C), monovalent cations protect the ribozyme against degradation.