Threshold concentrations for biological impairment by nutrients are difficult to quantify in lotic systems, yet States and
Tribes in the United States are charged with developing water quality criteria to protect these ecosystems from excessive
enrichment. The analysis described in this article explores the use of the ecosystem model AQUATOX to investigate impairment
thresholds keyed to biological indexes that can be simulated. The indexes selected for this exercise include percentage cyanobacterial
biomass of sestonic algae, and benthic chlorophyll a. The calibrated model was used to analyze responses of these indexes
to concurrent reductions in phosphorus, nitrogen, and suspended sediment in an enriched upper Midwestern river. Results suggest
that the indexes would respond strongly to changes in phosphorus and suspended sediment, and less strongly to changes in nitrogen
concentration. Using simulated concurrent reductions in all three water quality constituents, a total phosphorus concentration
of 0.1 mg/l was identified as a threshold concentration, and therefore a hypothetical water quality criterion, for prevention
of both excessive periphyton growth and sestonic cyanobacterial blooms. This kind of analysis is suggested as a way to evaluate
multiple contrasting impacts of hypothetical nutrient and sediment reductions and to define nutrient criteria or target concentrations
that balance multiple management objectives concurrently.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the authors alone, and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or of the U.S. Government. 相似文献
The rationale for this study came from observing grazing dairy cattle dropping freshly harvested plant material onto the soil surface, hereafter called litter-fall. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines include NO emissions during pasture renewal but do not consider NO emissions that may result from litter-fall. The objectives of this study were to determine litter-fall rates and to assess indicative NO emission factors (EFs) for the dominant pasture species (perennial ryegrass [ L.] and white clover [ L.]). Herbage was vacuumed from intensively managed dairy pastures before and after 30 different grazing events when cows (84 cows ha) grazed for 24 h according to a rotational system; the interval between grazing events ranged from 21 to 30 d. A laboratory incubation study was performed to assess potential EF values for the pasture species at two soil moisture contents. Finely ground pasture material was incubated under controlled laboratory conditions with soil, and the NO emissions were measured until rates returned to control levels. On average, pre- and postgrazing dry matter yields per grazing event were 2516 ± 636 and 1167 ± 265 kg DM ha (±SD), respectively. Pregrazing litter was absent, whereas postgrazing fresh and senesced litter-fall rates were 53 ± 24 and 19 ± 18 kg DM ha, respectively. Annually, the rotational grazing system resulted in 12 grazing events where fresh litter-fall equaed to 16 kg N ha yr to the soil. Emission factors in the laboratory experiment indicated that the EF for perennial ryegrass and white clover ranged from 0.7 to 3.1%. If such EF values should also occur under field conditions, then we estimate that litter-fall induces an NO emission rate of 0.3 kg NO ha yr. Litter-fall as a source of NO in grazed pastures requires further assessment. 相似文献
Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from grazing animal excreta are estimated to be responsible for 1.5 Tg of the total 6.7 Tg of anthropogenic N2O emissions. This study was conducted to determine the in situ effect of incorporating biochar, into soil, on N2O emissions from bovine urine patches and associated pasture uptake of N. The effects of biochar rate (0-30 t ha(-1)), following soil incorporation, were investigated on ruminant urine-derived N2O fluxes, N uptake by pasture, and pasture yield. During an 86-d spring-summer period, where irrigation and rainfall occurred, the N2O fluxes from 15N labeled ruminant urine patches were reduced by >50%, after incorporating 30 t ha(-1) of biochar. Taking into account the N2O emissions from the control plots, 30 t ha(-1) ofbiochar reduced the N2O emission factor from urine by 70%. The atom% 15N enrichment of the N2O emitted was lower in the 30 t ha(-1) biochar treatment, indicating less urine-N contributed to the N2O flux. Soil NO3- -N concentrations were lower with increasing biochar rate during the first 30 d following urine deposition. No differences occurred, due to biochar addition, with respect to dry matter yields, herbage N content, or recovery of 15N applied in herbage. Incorporating biochar into the soil can significantly diminish ruminant urine-derived N2O emissions. Further work is required to determine the persistence of the observed effect and to fully understand the mechanism(s) of the observed reduction in N2O fluxes. 相似文献
Objective: This study investigates the prevalence and characteristics of first drink driving convictions among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians (aged from 14 to 24) and considers some of the risk factors associated with recidivism.
Methods: Convictions recorded between 2006 and 2013 were extracted from the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General database. Convictions were regrouped by gender, age, Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia classification, and sentence severity. Chi-square analyses and logistic regression were conducted to identify group differences in offense characteristics for gender and recidivism (recidivists versus nonrecidivists).
Results: The sample consisted of 1,583 individuals (74.1% males) convicted in the 8-year period. Gender comparisons showed that there was no significant difference in age at time of first offense, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at apprehension, or type of penalty received between males and females. However, males received larger fines and longer periods of license disqualification. Comparisons for reoffending and non-reoffending revealed that males, drivers aged 14–17 years of age and 18 to 20 years of age, and inner regional drivers were more likely to reoffend.
Conclusions: There were limited differences between females and males or recidivists and nonrecidivists at first conviction. Convictions for drink driving may provide an opportunity for early alcohol intervention with Indigenous young drivers (<20 years) because it is likely to be an individual's first alcohol-related conviction. 相似文献
We provided a classification tree modeling framework for investigating complex feeding relationships and illustrated the method
using stomach contents data for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) collected by longline fishing gear deployed off eastern Australia between 1992 and 2006. The non-parametric method is both
exploratory and predictive, can be applied to varying size datasets and therefore is not restricted to a minimum sample size.
The method uses a bootstrap approach to provide standard errors of predicted prey proportions, variable importance measures
to highlight important variables and partial dependence plots to explore the relationships between explanatory variables and
predicted prey composition. Our results supported previous studies of yellowfin tuna feeding ecology in the region. However,
the method provided a number of novel insights. For example, significant differences were noted in the prey of yellowfin tuna
sampled north of 20°S in summer where oligotrophic waters dominate. The analysis also identified that sea-surface temperature,
latitude and yellowfin size were the most important variables associated with dietary differences. The methodology is appropriate
for delineating ecosystem-level trophic dynamics, as it can easily incorporate large datasets comprising multiple predators
to explore trophic interactions among members of a community. Broad-scale relationships among explanatory variables (environmental,
biological, temporal and spatial) and prey composition elucidated by this method then serve to focus and lend validity to
subsequent fine-scale analyses of important parameters using standard diet methods and chemical tracers such as stable isotopes. 相似文献
We examined the feeding ecology and niche segregation of the ten most abundant fish species caught by longline operations
off eastern Australia between 1992 and 2006. Diets of 3,562 individuals were examined. Hook timer data were collected from
a further 328 fish to examine feeding behaviour in relation to depth and time of day. Prey biomass was significantly related
to predator species, predator length and year and latitude of capture. Although the fish examined fed on a mix of fish, squid
and crustacea, fish dominated the diet of all species except small albacore (Thunnus alalunga) which fed mainly on crustacea and large swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and albacore which fed mainly on squid. Cannibalism was observed in lancetfish (Alepisaurus spp.). Multidimensional scaling identified three species groups based on their diet composition. One group consisted of yellowfin
tuna (T. albacares), striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) and dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus); a second group consisted of bigeye tuna (T. obesus), swordfish and albacore; and a third consisted of southern bluefin tuna (T. maccoyii) and blue shark (Prionace glauca). Of note was the separation of mako shark (Isurus oxyrhynchus) and lancetfish from all other predators. Prey length generally increased with increasing predator length although even large
predators fed on a wide range of prey lengths including very small prey. Overall, differences in prey type and size, feeding
times and depths were noted across the range of species examined to the extent that predators with overlapping prey, either
in type or size, fed at different times of the diel period or at different depths. Taken together these data provide evidence
for feeding niche segregation across the range of oceanic top predators examined. 相似文献
Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Unfortunately, in the original publication of the article, Prof. Yong Sik Ok’s affiliation was incorrectly published. The author’s affiliation is... 相似文献
This study investigated the effects of surface functional groups, cation exchange capacity (CEC), surface charge, sesquioxides and specific surface area (SSA) of three soil clay fractions (SCFs) (kaolinite–illite, smectite and allophane) on the retention of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soils. Physico-chemical properties of the SCFs before and after removing native carbon and/or sesquioxides were characterised, and the DOC adsorption–desorption tests were conducted by a batch method. Native organic carbon (OC)/sesquioxide removal treatments led to a small change in the CEC values of kaolinite–illite, but significant changes in those of smectite and allophane. The net negative surface charge increased in all samples with an increase in pH indicating their variable charge characteristics. The removal of native OC resulted in a slight increase in the net positive charge on soil clay surfaces, while sesquioxide removal increased the negative charge. Changes in the functional groups on the SCF surfaces contributed to the changes in CEC and zeta potential values. There was a strong relationship (R2 = 0.93, p < 0.05) between the Langmuir maximum DOC adsorption capacity (Qmax) and SSA. The Qmax value also showed a moderately strong relationship (R2 = 0.55, p < 0.05) with zeta potential (at pH 7). Qmax was only poorly correlated with CEC and native OC content. Therefore, along with SSA, the surface charge and functional groups of SCFs played the key role in determining the adsorption affinity and hence retention of DOC in soils. 相似文献
Ambio - A horizon scan was conducted to identify emerging and intensifying issues for biodiversity conservation in South Africa over the next 5–10 years. South African biodiversity... 相似文献
Abstract: Small forests in agricultural landscapes are generally thought to be population sinks where the nesting success of Neotropical migrant songbirds is too low to sustain populations. In 1996 and 1997, we assessed the nesting success and productivity of Wood Thrushes ( Hylocichla mustelina ) and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks ( Pheucticus ludovicianus ) in the Region of Waterloo, a highly fragmented agricultural landscape with 14% forest cover in southwestern Ontario. We located 154 Wood Thrush nests and 63 Rose-breasted Grosbeak nests in 26 small forest fragments (3–14 ha) and 15 large fragments (26–140 ha). We used the Mayfield method to determine nesting success. Across all sites nesting success was 51% for Wood Thrushes and 46% for Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Nesting success and productivity rates were used in a simple population growth model that suggested that the Wood Thrushes but not the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were a self-sustaining population. Forest size and distance of nests to the nearest forest edge (measured in five distance classes ranging from 0 to over 100 m) did not significantly affect the nesting success or productivity of either species. Brown-headed Cowbirds ( Molothrus ater ) parasitized 47% of all Wood Thrush nests and 10% of all Rose-breasted Grosbeak nests; parasitism significantly reduced Wood Thrush productivity but not that of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Our findings challenge the prevailing notion that small woodlots in a farmed landscape are invariably habitat sinks and offer additional incentive for habitat protection in settled landscapes where small forest fragments are often all that remain for conservation purposes. 相似文献