Soil Respiration and Carbon Storage of an Acrisol Under Forest and different Cultivations in rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Soil respiration rates of a clay-loam textured Acrisol under different uses (Atlantic forest, manioc, horticulture and pasture) from Rio de Janeiro State were measured. The relationship between carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and soil physico-chemical properties were investigated. Rates of CO₂ emission of two sites (Atlantic forest and horticulture) were also evaluated in different seasons in 1997 and 1998. In the forest site, monthly means of measured respiration rates showed good correlation with soil temperature in the range 19.6–24.1°C (r² = 0.89). In the horticulture site, no change was observed with soil moisture alone, in the range 3.0–13.2 wt%. In the horticulture soil, even when the surface soil was very dry, respiration rates increased in the hot, wetter summer but remained higher than the mean flux from forest soil. The CO₂ emission flux of the Acrisol under different use showed good correlation with soil temperature (r² = 0.72) and moisture (r² = 0.61).     

Trace zinc and copper concentration in roadside surface soils and vegetation—measurement of local atmospheric pollution in Alice, South Africa

Surface soil and grass samples were collected from ten locations perpendicular to a major road in Alice and were analyzed for zinc and copper. The results revealed an association between zinc concentration and distance from road traffic. An association was also revealed between soil zinc and grass zinc which suggests same source for the metal in samples. The results for copper did not show any correlation between sample concentration and distance from road traffic. Neither did it show any correlation between soil zinc and soil copper or between grass zinc and grass copper which suggests different sources for the elements.     

Occurrence of carcinogenic amino-alpha-carbolines in some environmental samples

The carcinogenic amino-alpha-carbolines, 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole and AalphaC, have been measured in airborne particles, rain water, soil and cigarette-smoke-polluted indoor air by high-performance liquid chromatography. These carcinogens were found in all kinds of environmental samples examined, although MeAalphaC was not detected in soil. Considering the present results, together with the previous findings that these carcinogens were present in foodstuffs, cigarette smoke and diesel-exhaust particles, amino-alpha-carbolines are likely to be ubiquitous environmental pollutants. Our data also support the hypothesis that amino-alpha-carbolines are formed through combustion of various materials such as food, grass and petroleum.     

Ethical issues concerning potential global climate change on food production

Burning fossil fuel in the North American continent contributes more to the CO₂ global warming problem than in any other continent. The resulting climate changes are expected to alter food production. The overall changes in temperature, moisture, carbon dioxide, insect pests, plant pathogens, and weeds associated with global warming are projected to reduce food production in North America. However, in Africa, the projected slight rise in rainfall is encouraging, especially since Africa already suffers from severe shortages of rainfall. For all regions, a reduction in fossil fuel burning is vital. Adoption of sound ecological resource management, especially soil and water conservation and the prevention of deforestation, is important. Together, these steps will benefit agriculture, the environment, farmers, and society as a whole.     

Two methods to define and compute visual buffer strips in a forested environment

Several approaches can be used to define and construct visual buffer strips around proposed new facility sites in a forested environment. A visual buffer strip of a given value, defines a region around an object within which the probability of an unblocked view of all or portions of it by an observer are less than the buffer strip probability value. Two primary approaches are used to define visual buffer strips that take into account the size of the vegetative elements and their individual effects on visibility. Several variations and combinations of the approaches are possible. One approach defines a visual buffer strip based on the average probability of a clear view of points along the object by an observer; the other approach is based on the visibility of the feature as a whole. The computation and construction of visual buffer strips based on these two concepts are presented. Comparisons of the two approaches for specific feature shapes are also described.     

EFFECTS OF LOMA PRIETA EARTHQUAKE ON SURFACE WATERS IN WADDELL VALLEY1

ABSTRACT: Waddell Creek is a perennial stream near Santa Cruz, California, which discharges into the Pacific Ocean about 38 km from the epicenter of the Loma Prieta earthquake (October 17, 1989, M 7.1). The earthquake caused no significant changes or damage to structures or surface features in the area, but was followed by an order of magnitude transient increase in discharge of Waddell Creek and nearby springs. The transients approximate a step rise followed by an exponential recession with time constants of from 37 to 59 days. The flow recession pattern of Waddell Creek was obscured by heavy rains after about 50 days; however, the springs maintained an exponential recession with minimal rain interference for periods of several time constants, then abruptly ceased flowing. A comparison of the pre-quake and post-quake chemical signature of one of the springs shows only minor changes in water chemistry indicating a common source for pre- and post-quake waters. Increased permeability of the subsurface ground material appears to be the most probable cause of the hydrologic changes. Post-seismic reduction of permeability has not been observed or inferred.     

Improving the sludge conditioning potential of moringa seed

In the search for a cheaper material to effectively condition sludge, oil-free moringa seed was prepared and tested. A Soxhlet apparatus was used to extract the oil from moringa seed (Moringa oleifera). The oil-free seed (marc) has been found to have higher conditioning potential than the ordinary moringa seed. However, the traditional ferric chloride is still a better sludge conditioner than moringa seed marc. For the digested domestic sludge used, optimum conditioning dosages were found to be 0.6, 0.80, and 1.10% of the total solids for ferric chloride, marc of the moringa seed, and ordinary moringa seed, respectively. Since little or no operational material is lost in the extraction process, the moringa seed marc is a promising conditioner in place of the ordinary seed.     

Metallothioneins and cadmium uptake by the liver in Bufo arenarum

Bufo arenarum females were treated daily with 0.5 mg Cd kg(-1) during 10 days to evaluate the uptake of this heavy metal and the induction of metallothionein synthesis in the liver. The liver incorporated 26% of the Cd administered, about 6.5 times higher than the average uptake of the other tissues of B. arenarum. Three protein fractions from the B. arenarum liver bound Cd, and were induced by this xenobiotic up to approx. 24 times above the basal level of these proteins.     

Role of interaction between selenium and organic matters on causes of Kaschin-Beck disease

Influences of organic matters of soil and water on speciation and biological utilization of selenium are discussed. Humic acid is found to be the main pool of selenium in soil and affects the bio-availability of the element in soil-plant system. Fulvic acid from drinking water inhibits the absorption of selenium taken from diet. The relationship between high content of organic matters of water and selenium deficiency on the causes of KBD could be reflected in the limited synthesis of glutathione peroxidase, which is generally stimulated by fulvic acid from drinking water.