Observations on life cycle of certain spiders from Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu

Survey was conducted, in the different forests ecosystems of Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu in Nilgris, Coimbatore, Erode, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli districts to collect the adult spiders and study them taxonomically. Fifty-six species of spider collections were made. From the fifty six, biology was studied for six spider species, such as Micrommata virescens n.sp., Oxyopes javanus, Peucetia virridana, Agelena kariansholensis n.sp., Heteropoda venatoria and Olios hampsoni. Biology studies with Peucetia virridana and Micrommata virescens showed that both species took more than 350 days to complete their life cycles. Heteropoda venetoria and Oxyopes javanus took more than 250 days to complete their life cycle. Agelena kariansholensis took 381 days and Olios hampsoni took 345 days to complete their life cycles. 30% of Peucetia virridana and more than 20% of Heteropoda venatoria and Micrommata virescens and 7% of Oxyopes javanus developed into adults in captivity.     

Alternative contracting strategies for controlling costs and avoiding performance disputes on remediation projects

It is critical that all participants in the remediation effort develop comprehensive contracting strategies aimed at controlling remediation costs and avoiding performance disputes. Initially, greater emphasis should be placed on negotiated, cost-type contracts that fairly address the allocation of risk between contractor and owner. This article examines the use of this contracting method and discusses industry studies on contract risk allocation, reviewing several typical contract clauses. Moreover, the participants in the remediation process should commit to the use of partnering as a framework for contract performance, as well as alternative dispute resolution techniques to swiftly settle disagreements. Through partnering, the owner and contractor work cooperatively throughout performance, rather than focus solely on their contractual rights and remedies. The article examines the mechanics of the partnering process, identifying the critical stakeholders as well as potential pitfalls, and relates industry applications. Relying on an extension of the partnering concept to the resolution of performance disputes, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques are designed to encourage negotiated settlements of disputes. The article examines various ADR methods, including the use of a dispute escalation network, job-site dispute resolution, and post-performance ADR techniques.     

Vertical and horizontal structure in the picoplankton communities of a coastal upwelling system

The distribution of prokaryotic and eukaryotic picoplankton in the west coast upwelling-region off the South Island of New Zealand was investigated during midwinter (1988) the time of year when several commercially important fish species migrate into the region to breed. Picoplanktonic cells were major contributors to the autotrophic biomass, with > 80% of the particulate nitrogen and 39 to 55% of the total chlorophylla contained in the <2µm size-fraction. The prokaryotic picoplankton concentrations ranged from 6.3 × 10⁵ to 2.1 × 10⁷ cell l^–1, and the eukaryotic picoplankton between 3.9 × 10⁵ to 1.2 × 10⁷ cells l^–1. Picoplankton numbers increased with distance offshore to a maximum of ~ 3.0 × 10⁷ cells l^–1 at ~ 35 km from the coast, and then diminished towards the outer shelf and open ocean. The ratio of prokaryotic to eukaryotic cells varied between 1.01 and 4.71 in the mixed layer. Both groups declined substantially beneath the pycnocline, with no evidence of deep maxima. Prokaryotic cells dominated the planktonic cell concentrations at all but two stations, but eukaryotic cells dominated picoplankton biovolume as a result of their larger average cell size. The prokaryotic to eukaryotic picoplankton cell-number ratios in this system were considerably lower than often recorded elsewhere, and were inversely correlated with nitrate concentration. These observations show that a eukaryoticdominated picoplankton community makes a substantial contribution to autotrophic biomass in this nutrient-rich upwelling system, and may thereby play a major role in the food-web dynamics of this coastal fishery.     

Upstream Channel Changes Following Dam Construction and Removal Using a GIS/Remote Sensing Approach1

Abstract: This study used an innovative GIS/remote sensing approach to study historical river channel changes in the Huron River, a wandering gravel‐bedded river in northern Ohio. Eight sets of historical aerial photographs (1958‐2003) span the construction of a low‐head dam (1969), removal of the spillway (1994), and removal of the dam itself (2002). Construction of the dam modified stream gradients >4 km upstream of the small impounded reservoir. This study tracked changes in the polygon size, shape, and centroid position of 12 sand‐gravel bars through a study reach 0.2‐4.1 km upstream of the dam. These bars were highly responsive, tending to migrate obliquely downstream and toward the outer bank at rates up to 9 m/year. Historical changes in the size and position of the bars can be interpreted as the downstream translation of one or more sediment waves. Prior to dam construction, a sediment wave moved downstream through the study reach. Following construction of the dam, this sediment wave became stationary and degraded in situ by dispersion. The growth of bars throughout the study reach during this time interval resulted in a progressive increase in channel sinuosity. Removal of the spillway rejuvenated downstream translation of a sediment wave through the study reach and was followed by a reduction in channel sinuosity. These results illustrate that important geomorphologic changes can occur upstream of low‐head dams. This may be a neglected area of research about the effects of dams and dam removals.     

ALTERNATIVES FOR SALINITY MANAGEMENT IN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN1

ABSTRACT The Colorado River Basin faces the dilemma of an increasing demand for water while presently struggling with salinity concentrations approaching critical levels for some water uses. Based upon projected development salinity concentrations are predicted to exceed 1200 mg/1 at Imperial Dam by the year 2010. Annual losses to the basin economy associated with increased salinity will exceed $50 million by the year 2010. Although methods of controlling salt discharges are relatively unrefined, certain conclusions, based upon Bayesian statistical methods, can be reached. Five basic alternatives for coping with the problem are presented and evaluated in this paper: (1) do nothing; (2) adopt arbitrary salinity standards; (3) limit development; (4) control salt discharges at a cost equal to the cost of doing nothing, or (5) minimize total costs to the basin. Total costs associated with any given alternative, or the given salinity resulting, are the sum of salinity detriments (cost to users for water of increased salinity plus economic multiplier effects) plus the cost of constructing salt discharge control works. These impacts upon basin economy and Colorado River water quality for each alternative are presented and related to questions of equity which will play a role in arriving at any long-term solution to the Basin's problem.     

A study of exposure standards in Russia and the role of occupational hygiene

This paper is the result of an investigation carried out in February 1997, which set out to learn about the development and application of occupational health standards, and in turn approaches to occupational environmental monitoring, in Russia, and to see how these were similar to, or different from, what takes place in other countries. The enquiry involved face-to-face meetings with senior Russian occupational health scientists and officials. It was confirmed that Russian occupational exposure standards are very stringent and provide a very high level of protection of workers. However, they are difficult to enforce, and it is suggested that the development of a strong and distinctive occupational hygiene discipline and profession in Russia would provide a "bridge" to enable more effective implementation and interpretation of those standards.     

New insights on the systematics,palaeoecology and palaeobiology of a plesiosaurian with soft tissue preservation from the Toarcian of Holzmaden,Germany

The Posidonienschiefer Formation (Toarcian) of Holzmaden, Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany has yielded several excellently preserved plesiosaurian specimens and received considerable research attention. The plesiosaurians found within these deposits are always significantly outnumbered by ichthyosaurs, and close examination of these rare specimens is crucial to a better understanding of the diversity and palaeoecology of Plesiosauria in this very peculiar ecosystem. The plesiosaurian specimen SMNS 51945 found in this area is a juvenile individual consisting of a partial, crushed skull and an exquisitely preserved post-cranial skeleton. Its anatomical characters seem to differ from the long-necked plesiosauroids Microcleidus brachypterygius and Seeleyosaurus guilelmiimperatoris that are the most abundant taxa within the plesiosaurian assemblage. The post-cranial skeleton preserves very likely soft tissues composed of buff-coloured and dark-coloured structures around the vertebral column and hindlimb of the animal. A network of buff-coloured fibres located posterior to the hindlimb most likely represents phosphatised collagen fibres as already found in some ichthyosaur specimens, confirming that wing area in plesiosaurians was much larger than that suggested by skeletal remains alone. The specimen also contains gastroliths (sand-sized grains mainly composed of quartz) in the stomach cavity suggesting the animal spent at least some of its time in shallow coastal waters, tens or hundreds of kilometres from the final place of burial.     

Field evidence for non-host predator avoidance in a manipulated amphipod

Manipulative parasites are known to alter the spatial distribution of their intermediate hosts in a way that enables trophic transmission to definitive hosts. However, field data on the ecological implications of such changes are lacking. In particular, little is known about the spatial coexistence between infected prey and dead-end predators after a parasite-induced habitat shift. Here, we used an Amphipoda (Gammarus roeseli)–Acanthocephala (Polymorphus minutus) association to investigate how infection with a manipulative parasite affects the predation risk by non-hosts within the invertebrate community. First, we collected invertebrates by sampling various natural habitats and calculated the distribution amplitude of amphipods according to their infection status. Infection with P. minutus significantly reduced the habitat breadth in G. roeseli, parasitised individuals being mainly found in floating materials whereas uninfected ones were widespread throughout the sampled habitats. Second, to test if these changes also affect the risk for P. minutus to be ingested by non-hosts, we estimated the predation risk experienced by G. roeseli within the macro-invertebrate community. The habitat overlap between potential invertebrate predators and G. roeseli showed that the spatial probability of encounter was lower for P. minutus-infected amphipods than for uninfected conspecifics. For the first time, to our knowledge, a study used ecological tools to bring field evidence for the spatial avoidance of dead-end predators in a manipulated amphipod.