Primary databases for forest ecosystem management-examples from Ontario and possibilities for Canada: NatGRID

This paper identifies some scientific impediments to ecosystem management and describes bio-physical databases required to help systematically and empirically address the ecological sustainability challenge. Examples are drawn from ongoing work in Ontario. This work has implications for efforts in ecological land classification, landscape ecology, more efficient locating of research and monitoring plots, wildlife management and ultimately trade-off analyses. We conclude with the recommendation that the key primary databases, as currently evolving for Ontario, could and should be developed nationally, thereby creating a NatGRID database, i.e., Nationally Georeferenced Resource Information for Decision-making. NatGRID could be used to help address, in a more quantitative manner, fundamental questions regarding ecological sustainability and trade-offs in forest management.     

Measurement error causes scale-dependent threshold erosion of biological signals in animal movement data.

Recent advances in telemetry technology have created a wealth of tracking data available for many animal species moving over spatial scales from tens of meters to tens of thousands of kilometers. Increasingly, such data sets are being used for quantitative movement analyses aimed at extracting fundamental biological signals such as optimal searching behavior and scale-dependent foraging decisions. We show here that the location error inherent in various tracking technologies reduces the ability to detect patterns of behavior within movements. Our analyses endeavored to set out a series of initial ground rules for ecologists to help ensure that sampling noise is not misinterpreted as a real biological signal. We simulated animal movement tracks using specialized random walks known as Lévy flights at three spatial scales of investigation: 100-km, 10-km, and 1-km maximum daily step lengths. The locations generated in the simulations were then blurred using known error distributions associated with commonly applied tracking methods: the Global Positioning System (GPS), Argos polar-orbiting satellites, and light-level geolocation. Deviations from the idealized Lévy flight pattern were assessed for each track after incrementing levels of location error were applied at each spatial scale, with additional assessments of the effect of error on scale-dependent movement patterns measured using fractal mean dimension and first-passage time (FPT) analyses. The accuracy of parameter estimation (Lévy mu, fractal mean D, and variance in FPT) declined precipitously at threshold errors relative to each spatial scale. At 100-km maximum daily step lengths, error standard deviations of > or = 10 km seriously eroded the biological patterns evident in the simulated tracks, with analogous thresholds at the 10-km and 1-km scales (error SD > or = 1.3 km and 0.07 km, respectively). Temporal subsampling of the simulated tracks maintained some elements of the biological signals depending on error level and spatial scale. Failure to account for large errors relative to the scale of movement can produce substantial biases in the interpretation of movement patterns. This study provides researchers with a framework for understanding the limitations of their data and identifies how temporal subsampling can help to reduce the influence of spatial error on their conclusions.     

Effect of mercury on the survival,respiration, and growth of postlarval white shrimp,Penaeus setiferus

The results of toxicity experiments have shown that a level of 17 ppb ionic mercury is acutely toxic (96-h LC₅₀) to postlarval white shrimp (Penaeus setiferus). In addition, the size of the shrimp, within the range tested (7 to 35 mm) did not significantly alter the toxicity values of mercury to this species. Fifty-seven days pre-exposure to low levels of mercury (0.5 and 1.0 ppb) had no effect on the acute toxicity (96-h LC₅₀) of mercury to the shrimp. The effect of chronic exposure to low levels of mercury on the respiratory rate, growth, and molting rate of postlarval P. setiferus was studied, and the results showed that 60 days exposure to 0.5 and 1.0 ppb mercury did not significantly affect any of these parameters for the postlarvae.     

Introduction-global to local: Ecological Land Classification

Ecological Land Classification (ELC) is a scientific endeavour which attempts to organize, stratify and evaluate ecosystems (and complexes of ecosystems) for the purposes of land resource management. Since ecosystems themselves are not easily defined in practical terms, ELC is likewise not a trivial concept. Nonetheless, ELC is a prerequisite for ecosystem management and the conservation of biological diversity simply because ecosystems must be described, characterized and spatially-located before they can be managed. Regarding the current status and future direction of ELC, mainly in relation to forest management: 1) approaches to ELC construction and utilization have shifted considerably over the past 2 decades; 2) there appears to be a current consensus regarding basic approaches to ELC; 3) spatial scale is a critical variable that must be addressed by ELCs; 4) ELCs must strive to more directly address management objectives; 5) natural ecosystem functions need to be better integrated within ELC frameworks; and, 6) the need for quality, georeferenced ELC-related data will continue to grow.     

Soil remediation techniques at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. A critical review

The objective of this critical review is to address soil remediation techniques at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites with regard to the following areas: 1) important regulatory and technical issues and information needs concerning soil remediation at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites; 2) approaches for selection of remediation techniques; and 3) the current state of knowledge regarding soil remediation techniques, including applications and limitations. The areas identified above are addressed with regard to current information, selected milestone publications, and specific applications of technologies to provide a synthesis of the topic. The information concerning current issues, approaches, and soil remediation techniques presented was critically reviewed in order to: 1) identify deficiencies in current approaches; 2) develop a conceptual framework for remediation; and 3) recommend improved approaches for selection of remediation technologies.     

Accumulation of 14C-trinitrotoluene and related nonextractable (bound) residues in Eisenia fetida

To determine if trinitrotoluene (TNT) forms nonextractable residues in earthworms and to measure the relative degree of accumulation as compared to TNT and its deaminated metabolites, Eisenia fetida was exposed to ¹⁴C-TNT using dermal contact to filter paper or exposure to soil. Nonextractable residues made up 32-68% of total body burden depending on exposure media and depuration time. Parent TNT accounted for less than 3% of radioactivity, while ADNTs accounted for 7-38%. Elimination half-lives were 61-120 h for TNT, ADNTs, and DANTs, which was significantly lower than the half-lives found for nonextractable residues, 201-240 h. However, over 80% of the nonextractable residue was solubilized using weak acid (pH 2). Based on our findings that TNT accumulation occurs primarily as nonextractable residues, which have a longer half-life, and that nonextractable residues can be solubilized, we propose that nonextractable residues could be used as a selective biomarker for assessing TNT contamination.     

Soil Remediation Techniques at Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites

The A&WMA Critical Review entitled “Soil Remediation Techniques at Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites” was presented by Ronald C. Sims, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. Dr. Sims presented his review at the 83rd Air & Waste Management Association Annual Meeting, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in June 1990. Prepared discussions presented during the Critical Review session are published here, along with some closing remarks by Dr. Sims. Ronald Harkov, Chairman of the Critical Review Subcommittee of the Publications Committee, served as moderator of the 1990 A&WMA Critical Review session.