Spatial Extent Of Degraded Sediment Quality In Puget Sound (Washington State, U.S.A.) Based Upon Measures Of The Sediment Quality Triad

A survey was designed and conducted to determine the severity, spatial patterns, and spatial extent of degraded sediment quality in Puget Sound (Washington State, USA). A weight of evidence compiled from results of chemical analyses, toxicity tests, and benthic infaunal analyses was used to classify the quality of sediments. Sediment samples were collected from 300 locations within a 2363 km² area extending from the US/Canada border to the inlets of southern Puget Sound and Hood Canal. Degraded conditions, as indicated with a combination of high chemical concentrations, significant toxicity, and adversely altered benthos, occurred in samples that represented about 1% of the total area. These conditions invariably occurred in samples collected within urbanized bays and industrial waterways, especially near the urban centers of Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, and Bremerton. Sediments with high quality (as indicated by no toxicity, no contamination, and the presence of a relatively abundant and diverse infauna) occurred in samples that represented a majority (68%) of the total study area. Sediments in which results of the three kinds of analyses were not in agreement were classified as intermediate in quality and represented about 31% of the total area. Relative to many other estuaries and marine bays of the USA, Puget Sound sediments ranked among those with minimal evidence of toxicant-induced degradation.     

Nitrogen Removal by Stormwater Management Structures: A Data Synthesis

A comprehensive synthesis of data from empirically based published studies and a widely used stormwater best management practice (BMP) database were used to assess the variability in nitrogen (N) removal performance of urban stormwater ponds, wetlands, and swales and to identify factors that may explain this variability. While the data suggest that BMPs were generally effective on average, removal efficiencies of ammonium (NH₄), nitrate (NO₃), and total nitrogen (TN) were highly variable ranging from negative (i.e., BMPs acting as sources of N) to 100%. For example, removal of NO₃ varied from (median ±1 SD) ?15 ± 49% for dry ponds, 32 ± 120% for wet ponds, 58 ± 210% for wetlands, and 37 ± 29% for swales. Across the same BMP types, TN removal was 27 ± 24%, 40 ± 31%, 61 ± 30%, and 50 ± 29%. NH₄ removal was 9 ± 36%, 29 ± 72%, 31 ± 24%, and 45 ± 34%. BMP size, age, and location explained some of the variability. For example, small and shallow ponds and wetlands were more effective than larger, deeper ones in removing N. Despite well‐known intra‐annual variation in N fluxes, most measurements have been made over short time periods using concentrations, not flow‐weighted N fluxes. Urban N export is increasing in some areas as large storms become more frequent. Thus, accounting for the full range of BMP performance under such conditions is crucial. A select number of long‐term flux‐based BMP studies that rigorously measure rainfall, hydrology, and site conditions could improve BMP implementation.     

An aggregation pheromone of Sitona lineatus

The Science of Nature -     

Ecosystem Impacts of Geoengineering: A Review for Developing a Science Plan

Geoengineering methods are intended to reduce climate change, which is already having demonstrable effects on ecosystem structure and functioning in some regions. Two types of geoengineering activities that have been proposed are: carbon dioxide (CO(2)) removal (CDR), which removes CO(2) from the atmosphere, and solar radiation management (SRM, or sunlight reflection methods), which reflects a small percentage of sunlight back into space to offset warming from greenhouse gases (GHGs). Current research suggests that SRM or CDR might diminish the impacts of climate change on ecosystems by reducing changes in temperature and precipitation. However, sudden cessation of SRM would exacerbate the climate effects on ecosystems, and some CDR might interfere with oceanic and terrestrial ecosystem processes. The many risks and uncertainties associated with these new kinds of purposeful perturbations to the Earth system are not well understood and require cautious and comprehensive research.     

Influence of Indigenous Knowledge and Scientific Climate Forecasts on Arable Farmers’ Climate Adaptation Methods in the Rwenzori region,Western Uganda

Environmental Management - This paper investigates the influence of using indigenous forecasts (IF) and scientific forecasts (SF) on arable farmers’ adaptation methods in the Rwenzori region,...     

Air Quality Criteria—Toxicological Appraisal for Oxidants,Nitrogen Oxides,and Hydrocarbons

The ultimate aim of toxicological studies is to determine the effects of pollutants on the health and welfare of human beings. To get this it is essential to conduct animal studies to evaluate the potential toxicity of different pollutants. Toxicological appraisal of the photochemical oxidant type of air pollution shows: (1) The effects are primarily on the lungs and the senses. (2) There is impairment of pulmonary function in humans at concentrations found in polluted air. (3) Both ozone and nitrogen dioxide tend to oxidize in animals the lung tissue for a time. This process creates agents which have the potential for cross-linking structural proteins, and this process initiates inflammation which accelerates cell turnover rates. Both crosslinking and cell turnover rates are factors in aging, which may thus be accelerated by years of repeated exposure to oxidants. (4) Long-term exposure to low levels of nitrogen dioxide can produce pre-emphasematous lesions in the lungs of rats and mice. Studies with other species are needed. (5) Ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and dilute irradiated car exhausts increase susceptibility to respiratory infection.

The constant search for more sophisticated and sensitive techniques to detect subtle changes indicative of pre-disease conditions should not be relaxed. Such techniques will provide chronic disease predictors of great relevance as air quality criteria.     

Familial congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Prenatal diagnosis,management, and outcome

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a developmental defect of as yet unknown aetiology which accounts for 8 per cent of all major congenital anomalies and is associated with up to 80 per cent mortality despite optimal postnatal treatment. The risk of recurrence of CDH for future sibs after one affected infant is about 2 per cent. A multifactorial/threshold inheritance pattern with an observed high male:female sex ratio is currently favoured for the rare occurrence of familial CDH, although other modes of inheritance have also been described. We report three cases of familial CDH, two of whom were brother and sister sibs and the third was a first cousin, born within 18 months of each other. The diagnosis was by ultrasound and there were several factors predicting a poor outcome. The mortality in this group was 100 per cent. The prenatal diagnosis, treatment options, the unusual genetic aspects, outcome, and the pathology involved are discussed.     

Adaptive Targeting: Engaging Farmers to Improve Targeting and Adoption of Agricultural Conservation Practices

Targeting of agricultural conservation practices to cost‐effective locations has long been of interest to watershed managers, yet its implementation cannot succeed without meaningful engagement of agricultural producers who are decision makers on the lands they farm. In this study, we engaged 14 west‐central Indiana producers and landowners in an adaptive targeting experiment. Interviews carried out prior to targeting provided rich spatial information on existing conservation practices as well as producers' preferences for future conservation projects. We targeted six of the most accepted conservation practices using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool and spatial optimization using a genetic algorithm approach. Fairly optimal conservation scenarios were possible with even the most limiting constraints of farmer‐accepted practices. We presented in follow‐up interviews a total of 176 conservation practice recommendations on 103 farm fields to 10 farmers whose lands were targeted for conservation. Primary findings indicated producers were interested in the project, were open to hearing recommendations about their lands, and expressed a high likelihood of adopting 35% of targeted recommendations. Farmers generally viewed the interview process and presentation of results quite favorably, and the interviews were found to build trust and make the targeting process more acceptable to them.