MODELING A CONCRETE BLOCK IRRIGATION DIVERSION SYSTEM1

ABSTRACT: Concrete block irrigation diversion systems have been proposed as alternatives to permanent dams of concrete or rock or temporary gravel berms. Permanent dams can cause stream channel instability, bank erosion, sediment pollution, ice flow blockage, and safety problems for recreational floating craft. Temporary berms can require substantial streambed disturbance and can promote sediment pollution, stream bank instability, and bank erosion. A design procedure was developed based on a model of the hydraulic performance of concrete block diversion systems. The procedure was used to model a site on the Gallatin River in Montana. The method relies on HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center -River Analysis System) software combined with analytical techniques in an iterative scheme. The hydraulic performance of different diversion configurations (the existing heavy-rock diversion system, concrete blocks oriented parallel to flow, and concrete blocks oriented diagonally) was assessed using the model under a range of flow rates. The minimum diversion dimensions (length, number, and size of blocks) that maintained block stability while diverting the requisite flow were determined for each model run. At the Gallatin River site, the block system oriented parallel to flow required less diversion material than the diagonal orientation. The recommended diversion length was 51.8 m (170 ft). Trapezoidal blocks with a top width of 20.3 cm (8 in), a height of 45.7 cm (18 in), and side slopes of 2 vertical to 1 horizontal were specified. This configuration minimizes the total block mass, diverts the required flow, and has a factor of safety of 2.0 against block displacement.     

Disease resistance in a weaver ant, <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Polyrhachis dives</Emphasis>, and the role of antibiotic-producing glands

Parasites represent one of the main threats to all organisms and are likely to be particularly significant for social animals because of the increased potential for intragroup transmission. Social animals must therefore have effective resistance mechanisms against parasites and one of the most important components of disease resistance in ants is thought to be the antibiotic-producing metapleural gland. This gland is ancestral in ants, but has been lost secondarily in a small number of species. It is unknown whether these evolutionary losses are due to a reduction in parasite pressure or the replacement of the gland’s function with other resistance mechanisms. Here we used the generalist entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium to compare the disease resistance of a species of a weaver ant, Polyrhachis dives, which has lost the metapleural gland, with that of the well-studied leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior and two other ant species, Myrmica ruginodis and Formica fusca, all of which have metapleural glands. The P. dives weaver ants had intermediate resistance when kept individually, and similar resistance to A. echinatior leaf-cutting ants when kept in groups, suggesting that the loss of the metapleural gland has not resulted in weaver ants having reduced disease resistance. P. dives weaver ants self-groomed at a significantly higher rate than the other ants examined and apparently use their venom for resistance, as they had reduced resistance when their venom gland was blocked and the venom was shown in vitro to prevent the germination of fungal spores. Unexpectedly, the leaf-cutting ant A. echinatior also had reduced resistance to Metarhizium when its venom gland was blocked. It therefore appears that the evolutionary loss of the metapleural gland does not result in reduced disease resistance in P. dives weaver ants, and that this at least in part may be due to the ants having antimicrobial venom and high self-grooming rates. The results therefore emphasise the importance of multiple, complementary mechanisms in the disease resistance of ant societies.     

Differing rates of extra-group paternity between two populations of the Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)

Extra-pair paternity (EPP) is a common feature of the mating systems of many birds. The rate of EPP may vary between species, races and populations. A comparison of extra-group paternity (EGP) rates was made between two races of a group-living passerine, the Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), to determine if similar mating systems were being employed. The two populations had similar social structure, but differed in group size and dispersal. It was predicted that dispersal differences would have a profound effect on the rate of EGP between the populations, as the population with the lower rate of dispersal and higher chance of breeding with a close relative would engage in EGPs more frequently. Eight microsatellite loci were used to determine parentage in the white-backed Australian magpie (G. t. tyrannica). The rate of EGP was found to be 44%. Dispersal rates were estimated from observational data. Over half of the juvenile magpie cohort from the previous breeding season left the territorial group. These results contrast sharply with the results found by other researchers in a population of western Australian magpies (G. t. dorsalis). In this population, 82% EGP is recorded and dispersal of juveniles is close to nil. The results indicate that dispersal rate is a potentially important predictor of rates of extra-group fertilisations between populations of this species, and suggest that females maximise their reproductive output by avoiding breeding with close kin.Communicated by M. Soler     

Nutrient load generated by storm event runoff from a golf course watershed

Turf, including home lawns, roadsides, golf courses, parks, etc., is often the most intensively managed land use in the urban landscape. Substantial inputs of fertilizers and water to maintain turf systems have led to a perception that turf systems are a major contributor to nonpoint source water pollution. The primary objective of this study was to quantify nutrient (NO(3)-N, NH(4)-N, and PO(4)-P) transport in storm-generated surface runoff from a golf course. Storm event samples were collected for 5 yr (1 Apr. 1998-31 Mar. 2003) from the Morris Williams Municipal Golf Course in Austin, TX. Inflow and outflow samples were collected from a stream that transected the golf course. One hundred fifteen runoff-producing precipitation events were measured. Median NO(3)-N and PO(4)-P concentrations at the outflow location were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than like concentrations measured at the inflow location; however, median outflow NH(4)-N concentration was significantly less than the median inflow concentration. Storm water runoff transported 1.2 kg NO(3)-N ha(-1) yr(-1), 0.23 kg NH(4)-N ha(-1) yr(-1), and 0.51 kg PO(4)-P ha(-1) yr(-1) from the course. These amounts represent approximately 3.3% of applied N and 6.2% of applied P over the contributing area for the same period. NO(3)-N transport in storm water runoff from this course does not pose a substantial environmental risk; however, the median PO(4)-P concentration exiting the course exceeded the USEPA recommendation of 0.1 mg L(-1) for streams not discharging into lakes. The PO(4)-P load measured in this study was comparable to soluble P rates measured from agricultural lands. The findings of this study emphasize the need to balance golf course fertility management with environmental risks, especially with respect to phosphorus.     

A 396-YEAR RECONSTRUCTION OF PRECIPITATION IN SOUTHERN JORDAN1

ABSTRACT: Water resources are the lifeblood of the Near East region. Careful planning and management of water resources in dry land regions requires information on the likelihood of extreme events, especially prolonged drought. It is essential to understand the variability of climate on time scales of decades to centuries to assign reasonable probabilities to such events. Tree-ring analysis is one way to increase our knowledge of the climate variability beyond the short period covered by the instrumental data. In this paper, we reconstruct October-May precipitation from a Juniperus phoenicia tree-ring chronology in southern Jordan to gain a long-term (A.D. 1600–1995) perspective on runs of dry years and on time series fluctuations in precipitation averaged over several years. The reconstruction equation derived by regression of log-transformed precipitation on tree-ring indices explains 44 percent of the variance of observed precipitation. The longest reconstructed drought, as defined by consecutive years below a threshold of 217.4 mm, was four years, compared with three years for the 1946–95 instrumental data. A Monte Carlo analysis designed to account for uncertainty in the reconstruction indicates a lower than 50 percent chance that the region has experienced drought longer than five years in the past 400 years.     

ASSESSING RELATIVE RISKS TO AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS: A MID-APPALACHIAN CASE STUDY1

ABSTRACT: Aquatic monitoring aims to assess the condition of aquatic habitats and biota. To make statements about condition, the range of human activities and the risks they pose to aquatic ecosystems must be identified. Assessing relative risk and placing sample sites on a human disturbance gradient is necessary for interpreting biological response and distinguishing human disturbance from natural controls in aquatic systems. We describe a process that uses readily available sources, such as topographic maps, aerial photographs, and field information, to identify and prioritize stream reach and watershed stressors for 102 streams in the mid-Appalachian region of the United States. All perceptible human alterations to riparian and upland areas along with their number, type, intensity, and extent of impact were recorded and ranked; a relative risk index was developed to assign scores to the watersheds. The resulting risk index scores were consistent with measures of stream condition based on water chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrates. The risk index gives a cost-effective, regional picture of the relative risk of impairment to aquatic ecosystems in the mid-Appalachian region of the USA and could be modified for other regions or ecosystem types.     

Satellite tracking experiments on the navigational ability and migratory behaviour of the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta

Four loggerhead females (Caretta caretta) were caught when emerging at their nesting beach on the Natal coast, prevented from egg laying and displaced along the coast 38 to 70 km from the capture site. They were then released either on the shore or 37 km offshore. The successful journeys back to the capture area and the successive migrations were tracked by satellite. In compensating for the displacement, loggerheads showed a capability of true navigation. The 545 to 1000 km long migratory journeys of three turtles were followed along the Mozambique coast up to the feeding grounds. Migratory speed was similar at night and during the day. During the trip, submergences were shorter and more frequent than during the stay at the feeding grounds. Received: 17 March 1997 / Accepted: 21 April 1997     

Regional features of the radial growth of larch in north central Siberia according to millennial tree-ring chronologies

A 1138-year tree-ring chronology has been constructed for the region of the Bol’shoi Avam River (the Putoran Plateau). Its comparison with millennial chronologies for the Taimyr Peninsula and Mangazeya has shown that all these chronologies are fairly synchronous with respect to both high-frequency (annual) and low-frequency (long-term) components, although each has its specific regional features. The results of dendroclimatic analysis provide evidence for the prevailing influence of air temperature in July (compared to that in June) on the radial growth of larch in the middle reaches of the Bol’shoi Avam. Consistent long-term changes in radial tree increment (and in summer air temperature) in a large sector of the Subarctic over the past 1000 years have been revealed.     

APPLICATION OF CROP YIELD FUNCTIONS IN RESERVOIR OPERATION1

ABSTRACT: A model is developed for real-time operation of an irrigation reservoir with the objective of maximizing the value of multiple crop yields during a growing season. The model employs monthly additive and product forms of crop yield functions for dry matter and grain crops, respectively. The resulting nonlinear optimization model uses a log transform to reduce nonlinearities in the model. An application of the proposed model is compared to a common operating rule used in simulation models. The proposed model results were better in terms of net benefits from crop yields. The model uses GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System) language. It requires an IBM-compatible microcomputer and is suitable for use by a reservoir manager.     

Before and After Integrated Catchment Management in a Headwater Catchment: Changes in Water Quality

Few studies have comprehensively measured the effect on water quality of catchment rehabilitation measures in comparison with baseline conditions. Here we have analyzed water clarity and nutrient concentrations and loads for a 13-year period in a headwater catchment within the western Waikato region, New Zealand. For the first 6 years, the entire catchment was used for hill-country cattle and sheep grazing. An integrated catchment management plan was implemented whereby cattle were excluded from riparian areas, the most degraded land was planted in Pinus radiata, channel banks were planted with poplar trees and the beef cattle enterprise was modified. The removal of cattle from riparian areas without additional riparian planting had a positive and rapid effect on stream water clarity. In contrast, the water clarity decreased in those sub-catchments where livestock was excluded but riparian areas were planted with trees and shrubs. We attribute the decrease in water clarity to a reduction in groundcover vegetation that armors stream banks against preparatory erosion processes. Increases in concentrations of forms of P and N were recorded. These increases were attributed to: (i) the reduction of instream nutrient uptake by macrophytes and periphyton due to increased riparian shading; (ii) uncontrolled growth of a nitrogen fixing weed (gorse) in some parts of the catchment, and (iii) the reduction in the nutrient attenuation capacity of seepage wetlands due to the decrease in their areal coverage in response to afforestation. Our findings highlight the complex nature of the water quality response to catchment rehabilitation measures.