Population dynamics of the acorn barnacles, Tetraclita squamosa and Tetraclita japonica (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha), in Hong Kong

Tetraclita squamosa and Tetraclita japonica are common, intertidal barnacles. In Hong Kong, the population dynamics of the two species exhibited spatial and temporal variation on two semi-exposed shores. T. squamosa produced egg masses from May–June and annual settlement and recruitment occurred from June–July. In contrast, settlement and recruitment of T. japonica was sparse from March–May, but intensified in July–October. Mature gonads and egg masses were, however, only present from September–November, suggesting the larvae from the two settlement pulses originated from other locations as well as Hong Kong populations. Settlement intensity and post-recruitment mortality of the two species varied between sites, possibly due to spatial variation in free rock space, physical transport of larvae and abundance of food in the water column.Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hakodate     

The production and secreton of digestive enzymes in the purple seastar Pisaster ochraceus

The purple seastar Pisaster ochraceus contains clearly measurable protease and amylase activity. Centrifuged supernatants of pyloric caeca homogenates undergo a spontaneous threefold increase in protease activity when incubated under toluene for 50 h at 25°C. Amylase activity remains nearly constant over this period. Bovine trypsin at a 1 to 100 ratio (trypsin to supernatant protein) induces a twofold increase in protease activity over that of the control supernatant while having virtually no effect on amylase activity over the control. The data indicate a specific interaction of trypsin with a protease zymogen rather than a conspecific hydrolysis of membrane components or vesicles by trypsin. Two percent Triton X-100 used as a diluent in place of distilled, deionized water causes a sevenfold increase in protease activity and a twofold increase in amylase activity in pyloric caeca supernatants. The use of Triton as a diluent in the preparation of a stomach-tissue supernatant allows quantitative measurement of both protease and amylase activity in that tissue.     

Field Testing the Riparian Ecosystem Management Model on a Riparian Buffer in the North Carolina Upper Coastal Plain

The riparian ecosystem management model (REMM) was field tested using five years (2005‐2009) of measured hydrologic and water quality data on a riparian buffer located in the Tar‐Pamlico River Basin, North Carolina. The buffer site received NO₃‐N loading from an agricultural field that was fertilized with inorganic fertilizer. Field results showed the buffer reduced groundwater NO₃‐N concentration moving to the stream over a five‐year period. REMM was calibrated hydrologically using daily field‐measured water table depths (WTDs), and with monthly NO₃‐N concentrations in groundwater wells. Results showed simulated WTDs and NO₃‐N concentrations in good agreement with measured values. The mean absolute error and Willmott's index of agreement for WTDs varied from 13‐45 cm and 0.72‐0.92, respectively, while the root mean square error and Willmott's index of agreement for NO₃‐N concentrations ranged from 1.04‐5.92 mg/l and 0.1‐0.86, respectively, over the five‐year period. REMM predicted plant nitrogen (N) uptake and denitrification were within ranges reported in other riparian buffer field studies. The calibrated and validated REMM was used to simulate 33 years of buffer performance at the site. Results showed that on average the buffer reduced NO₃‐N concentrations from 12 mg/l at the field edge to 0.7 mg/l at the stream edge over the simulation period, while the total N and NO₃‐N load reductions from the field edge to the stream were 77 and 82%, respectively.     

Reducing Livestock Effects on Public Lands in the Western United States as the Climate Changes: A Reply to Svejcar et al

Svejcar et al. (Environ Manage, 2014) offered several perspectives regarding Beschta et al. (Environ Manage 51:474–491, 2013)—a publication that addressed the interacting ecological effects of climate change and domestic, wild, and feral ungulates on public lands in the western United States (US)—by largely focusing on three livestock grazing issues: (1) legacy versus current day impacts; (2) grazing as a fire reduction tool; and (3) the complexity of grazing. Regarding these issues, we indicate that (1) legacy effects to western ecosystems were indeed significant and contemporary livestock use on public lands generally maintains or exacerbates many of those effects; (2) livestock grazing has been a major factor affecting fire frequency, fire severity, and ecosystem trajectories in the western US for over a century; and (3) the removal or reduction of grazing impacts in these altered ecosystems is the most effective means of initiating ecological recovery. Svejcar et al. (Environ Manage, 2014) offer no evidence that livestock use is consistent with the timely recovery of grazing-degraded uplands, riparian areas, or stream systems. We thus conclude that public-land ecosystems can best persist or cope with a changing climate by significantly reducing ungulate grazing and related impacts.     

Effect of uranium on growth and reproduction of the marine amphipod Allorchestes compressa

Experiments on growth of the marine amphipod Allorchestes compressa Dana were carried out over four weeks, and both growth and reproduction were studied over three generations, each of which was exposed to uranium for approximately 10 wk. At 0.1 mg l^-1 the uranium increased growth by 23%, as measured by the mean weight after 4 wk, and at 2 mg l^-1 growth was reduced by 28% compared with the control. A. compressa accumulated uranium from sea water with a concentration factor of 10. There was no effect of uranium on the survival of amphipods or their progeny in the multiple-generation experiment, but the numbers of males, the sex ratio, and the respiration rate (measured on males only) at 1mg l^-1 were significantly lower than the control. A. compressa is shown to be a convenient species for the study of toxic effects on growth and reproduction using multiple-generation experiments.     

Awareness of zero tolerance laws in three states

PROBLEM: A prior study indicated that zero tolerance laws differ in their enforceability and likelihood of enforcement, with California's law being easier to enforce than New York's, and New Mexico's being the hardest of all. The question is, do these differences in enforcement affect teenagers' knowledge and perception of these laws? METHOD: A telephone survey was conducted to investigate awareness of the laws among 17-20 year olds in these three states and perceptions of enforcement. RESULTS: Estimated percentages of teenagers who knew of the laws were much higher in New York and California (71% and 65%, respectively) than in New Mexico (34%). Perceptions that police were enforcing the law, that licenses could be suspended, and that penalties were often applied were also lowest in New Mexico. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The potential of zero tolerance laws will not be realized without better awareness among young people. Full enforcement of the laws accompanied by publicity about the enforcement is recommended. Changes to the laws and their application may encourage enforcement efforts.     

Precipitation and river water chemistry of the Piracicaba River basin, southeast Brazil

Annual precipitation and river water volumes and chemistry were measured from 1995 to 1998 in a mesoscale agricultural area of southeast Brazil. Precipitation was mildly acidic and solute concentrations were higher in the west than in the east of the basin. Combustion products from biomass burning, automobile exhaust, and industry typically accumulate in the atmosphere from March until October and are responsible for seasonal differences observed in precipitation chemistry. In river waters, the volume-weighted mean (VWM) concentrations of major solutes at 10 sites across the basin were generally lower at upriver than at downriver sampling sites for most solutes. Mass balances for major solutes indicate that, as a regional entity, the Piracicaba River basin was a net sink of H+, PO4(3-), and NH4+, and a net source of other solutes. The main stem of the Piracicaba River had a general increase in solute concentrations from upriver to downriver sampling sites. In contrast, NO3- and NH4+ concentrations increased in the mid-reach sampling sites and decreased due to immobilization or utilization in the mid-reach reservoir, and there was denitrification immediately downriver of this reservoir. Compared with tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay estuary, the Piracicaba River is affected more by point-source inputs of raw sewage and industrial wastes than nonpoint agricultural runoff high in N and P. Inputs of N and C are responsible for a degradation of water quality at downriver sampling sites of the Piracicaba River drainage, and water quality could be considerably improved by augmenting sewage treatment.     

A Relaxed Eddy Accumulation System for the Automated Measurement of Atmospheric Ammonia Fluxes

A continuous relaxed eddy accumulation system ispresented for the automated measurement of surface/atmosphere exchange fluxes of atmospheric ammonia (NH₃) at a single height. The new system features sampling by parallel plate denuder inlets, online chemical analysis using the conductivity cell of a commercially available NH₃ analyzer and online flux calculation. The effective detection limit of the system for air concentrations is 0.2 g m^-3 and it is estimated to resolve fluxes > ± 20 ng m^-2 s^-1, depending on the NH₃ concentration and turbulence. The performance of the system was tested in two measurement campaigns above agricultural grassland, in which it was compared with a 3-point continuous gradient system. During the first campaign, after urea application of 47 kg N ha^-1 in autumn, the REA system derived fluxes which were on average twice as large as the gradient fluxes, while concentrations agreed closely (on average within 4%). Possible reasons include differences in the footprint and an over-correction of the gradient flux in stable conditions. Due to wet and cold conditions, only 0.3% of the fertilizer N was volatilized as NH₃ during the first week. Results from the deployment of an improved system are presented for a summer day, 6 days after fertilization with calcium ammonium nitrate. The agreement of both concentrations (on average within 13%) and fluxes (26%) was very encouraging and similar to the agreement found between two state-of-the-art gradient systems with online analysis.     

Formaldehyde monitoring in urea-formaldehyde foam-insulated houses in St. John's,Newfoundland, Canada: Correlative field evaluation of a real-time infrared spectrophotometric method

Formaldehyde air levels in a group of houses containing urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, were measured on at least four separate occasions. The NIOSH method and a portable, commercially available single-beam infrared spectrophotometer was used. No correlation was found to exist between the two methods. The formaldehyde air levels were found to be significantly higher in the group of UFFI-insulated houses than in the control group which did not contain UFFI. Large daily variations in the ambient formaldehyde levels could be observed in some selected UFFI houses, attributable to changes in both exterior and, to a lesser extent, interior conditions. In particular, the effect of direct sunlight on UFFI-containing walls is described.