Loss of an ecological baseline through the eradication of oyster reefs from coastal ecosystems and human memory

Oyster reefs form over extensive areas and the diversity and productivity of sheltered coasts depend on them. Due to the relatively recent population growth of coastal settlements in Australia, we were able to evaluate the collapse and extirpation of native oyster reefs (Ostrea angasi) over the course of a commercial fishery. We used historical records to quantify commercial catch of O. angasi in southern Australia from early colonization, around 1836, to some of the last recorded catches in 1944 and used our estimates of catch and effort to map their past distribution and assess oyster abundance over 180 years. Significant declines in catch and effort occurred from 1886 to 1946 and no native oyster reefs occur today, but historically oyster reefs extended across more than 1,500 km of coastline. That oyster reefs were characteristic of much of the coastline of South Australia from 1836 to 1910 appears not to be known because there is no contemporary consideration of their ecological and economic value. Based on the concept of a shifted baseline, we consider this contemporary state to reflect a collective, intergenerational amnesia. Our model of generational amnesia accounts for differences in intergenerational expectations of food, economic value, and ecosystem services of nearshore areas. An ecological system that once surrounded much of the coast and possibly the past presence of oyster reefs altogether may be forgotten and could not only undermine progress towards their recovery, but also reduce our expectations of these coastal ecosystems. La Pérdida de una Línea de Base Ecológica por Medio de la Erradicación de Arrecifes de Ostión de los Ecosistemas Costeros y la Memoria Humana     

SUBSURFACE QUALITY TRANSFORMATIONS DURING THE INITIATION OF A NEW STABILIZATION LAGOON1

ABSTRACT Raw sewage was metered into a newly-constructed lagoon of the Pima County Department of Sanitation, Tucson, Arizona. Seepage losses were calculated from data on inflow, evaporation and change in storage. Water samples were obtained from shallow suction cups, a 40 ft. and a 60 ft. PVC well and a 100 ft. access tube, all located inside the lagoon. Samples from these wells, together with water samples from the lagoon, were examined for conform organisms and various physical and chemical constituents. Of special concern were transformations in nitrogen. Estimated seepage rates in the lagoon during inundation ranged from 0.20 ft. per day to 0.10 ft. per day. Water level observations in wells reflected the percolation of effluent to the water table, 70 ft. below land surface. Initially, the nitrate ion levels in the suction cup samples were high, manifesting the leaching of indigenous soil nitrogen. With the onset of anaerobic conditions at the base of the lagoon, nitrification was inhibited at the soil surface and ammonia became the predominant form of nitrogen in the soil solution. Sorption of ammonium ion appeared to occur on clay particles in a soil zone of high cation exchange capacity. There were no undesirable microbial or chemical effects of recharge from lagoon seepage on native groundwater quality.     

Elevated mid-trimester hCG and maternal lupus anticoagulant

An association is described between women with lupus anticoagulant and abnormal prenatal serum screening results. Three cases of positive second-trimester serum screening for Down syndrome, with karyotypically normal fetuses, in women demonstrated to have lupus anticoagulant are presented. Serum screening positivity was principally due to a disproportionately elevated maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) level. In each case, early, severe intrauterine growth restriction was documented, with only one fetus surviving the neonatal period. As maternal lupus anticoagulant may have a profoundly adverse effect on the course of pregnancy, we suggest that an elevated hCG level on prenatal screening prompt consideration of maternal lupus anticoagulant testing if ultrasonography demonstrates an otherwise normal singleton gestation and the fetal karyotype is normal.     

A nutrient-transfer model to explain the fate of phosphorus and sulphur in a Grazed Hill-Country pasture

A nutrient-transfer model was developed using a mass balance approach to explain the variations in the amounts of soil phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) found across a range of slopes and aspects in four 10-ha farmlets located in summer-moist hill-country pastures in the southern North Island of New Zealand. The farmlets were continuously grazed by sheep for a period of 12 years, during which time they received a total of 115, 187, 387, 603 and 126, 201, 405, 630 kg ha⁻¹ of P and S, respectively, as single superphosphate (SSP). The model takes account of the effect of topography and local climate on stock behaviour, herbage accumulation and its nutrient content, pasture utilization and the uneven nutrient return through excreta.The developed P model was reliable. The predictions of the transfer model explained 95% of variation in soil P amounts (0–150 mm depth) between farmlets (n=4), 89% of variation between slope units (n=12) and 79% between slope-aspect units (n=36) across all farmlets. When S input parameters were substituted for P parameters, the model was unable to predict the measured soil S levels in any of the four farmlets. Unlike P, S is subject to losses by leaching from these soils. The differences between predicted and measured soil S amounts were used to estimate S leaching losses and pinpoint areas from where they occurred.The concept of modelling the fate of P in P and S fertilized systems and then using the calculated nutrient-transfer functions of the model to evaluate the fate of S provides invaluable information for developing strategies for improving the efficiency of S fertilizer use.     

Chromosome mosaicism and maternal cell contamination in chorionic villi

While chorionic villus sampling allows both early and rapid prenatal diagnosis of chromosome disorders, the accuracy of this technique has not been fully established. Maternal cell contamination and pseudomosaicism represent two major sources of diagnostic error. Combined use of both direct chromosome preparations and villus cultures is important in overcoming these problems. Direct preparations of villus tissue allow recognition of maternal cell contamination of villus cultures. Conversely, villus cultures yield higher resolution chromosomes and may be helpful in differentiating between true versus pseudomosaicism when two or more cell lines are identified in direct chromosome preparations. Preliminary data suggest that analysis of direct preparations from multiple individually processed villus fragments may also be of value in this regard. Until more experience is gained, mid-trimester amniocentesis should be offered to CVS patients when mosaicism is encountered.     

Apparent non-mosaic trisomy 16 in chorionic villi: Diagnostic dilemma or clinically significant finding?

A case is presented in which apparent non-mosaic trisomy 16 was found in chorionic villi (direct and culture) obtained from a patient undergoing first-trimester prenatal diagnosis. The fetal karyotype subsequently was determined to be 46,XX by follow-up amniocentesis. Serial ultrasonographic examinations revealed placental sonolucencies and intrauterine growth retardation. At 37 weeks, a small-for-gestational-age female was delivered by Caesarean section for fetal distress. Postnatal cytogenetic studies revealed a normal female karyotype in cord blood and mosaic trisomy 16 in plaental tissues. These findings suggest that in cases where aneuploidy is confined to placental tissues, it may have biological significance, as evidenced by the apparent placental dysfunction and poor fetal growth in this case.     

Factors affecting heavy-duty diesel vehicle emissions

Societal and governmental pressures to reduce diesel exhaust emissions are reflected in the existing and projected future heavy-duty certification standards of these emissions. Various factors affect the amount of emissions produced by a heterogeneous charge diesel engine in any given situation, but these are poorly quantified in the existing literature. The parameters that most heavily affect the emissions from compression ignition engine-powered vehicles include vehicle class and weight, driving cycle, vehicle vocation, fuel type, engine exhaust aftertreatment, vehicle age, and the terrain traveled. In addition, engine control effects (such as injection timing strategies) on measured emissions can be significant. Knowing the effect of each aspect of engine and vehicle operation on the emissions from diesel engines is useful in determining methods for reducing these emissions and in assessing the need for improvement in inventory models. The effects of each of these aspects have been quantified in this paper to provide an estimate of the impact each one has on the emissions of diesel engines.     

Noble metal catalysts for methane removal

Using a bench-scale rig, the activities of Pt, Pd and Pt+Pd catalysts supported on gamma-Al(2)O(3) and on TiO(2) (anatase) for the complete oxidation of methane (300 ppmv) in air have been measured as a function of temperature; values of T(10), T(50) and T(90) together with the Arrhenius parameters (activation energy and pre-exponential factor) are reported. Pt is less active than Pd when deposited on the surface of the TiO(2), but more active when deposited on gamma-Al(2)O(3), however when combined, the Pt+Pd mixture is more active than either metal individually. The T(10) for Pt+Pd/gamma-Al(2)O(3) was being as low as 228 degrees C. The significance of the Arrhenius parameters, for metal containing catalysts is that they exhibit compensation with increasing activation energy, while securing a more rapid increase in conversion from 0% to 100% when the temperature is increased.