The herbicide 2,4-D [2,4-(dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid] is one of the most widely used pesticides in the Canadian prairies and is frequently detected as a ground and surface water contaminant. The objective of this paper was to determine the magnitude and extent of variation of 2,4-D mineralization in a cultivated undulating prairie landscape. Microcosm incubation experiments, using a 4 × 3 × 2 factorial experimental design (soil moisture, 4 levels: 60, 85, 110, 135% of field capacity; slope position, 3 levels: upper-, mid- and lower-slopes; soil depth, 2 levels: 0–5 and 5–15 cm), were used to assess 2,4-D mineralization. The first-order mineralization rate constant (k1) varied from 0.03 to 0.22 day? 1, while total 2,4-D mineralization varied from 31 to 52%. At near-saturated conditions (110 and 135% of field capacity), the onset of 2,4-D degradation was delayed in soil obtained from the upper- and mid-slopes but not in soils obtained from the lower-slope position. The k1 and total 2,4-D mineralizationwas significantly influenced by all three factors and their interactions. The Freundlich sorption coefficient of 2,4-D ranged from 0.83 to 2.46 ug 1–1/ng? 1 mL1/n and was significantly influenced by variations in soil organic carbon content across slope positions. The infield variability of 2,4-D sorption and mineralization observed across slope positions in this undulating field was comparable in magnitude and extent to the regional variability of 2,4-D sorption and mineralization observed in surface soils across Manitoba. The large variability of 2,4-D mineralization and sorption at different slope positions in this cultivated undulating field suggests that landform segmentation models, which are used to delineate slope positions, are important considerations in pesticide fate studies. 相似文献
We investigated the concentrations of 22 essential and non-essential elements among a community of Procellariiformes (and their prey) to identify the extent to which trophic position and foraging range governed element accumulation. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) was used to characterise trophic (δ15N) and spatial patterns (δ13C) among species. Few consistent patterns were observed in element distributions among species and diet appeared to be highly influential in some instances. Arsenic levels in seabird red blood cells correlated with δ15N and δ13C, demonstrating the importance of trophic position and foraging range for arsenic distribution. Arsenic concentrations in prey varied significantly across taxa, and in the strength of association with δ15N values (trophic level). In most instances, element patterns in Procellariiformes showed the clearest separation among species, indicating that a combination of prey selection and other complex species-specific characteristics (e.g. moult patterns) were generally more important determining factors than trophic level per se. 相似文献
The
spatial pattern of ecosystem function can affect ecosystem conservation. Ecosystem functions are often heterogeneous spatially due to physical and biological factors. We can influence ecosystem functions by changing the spatial patterns of the physical and biological elements of an ecosystem and regulating their combinations. The variation–position effect highlights a phenomenon resulting from the spatial pattern of ecosystem function. The effect shows that the identical variation of a factor may produce different effects on the overall situation when this variation occurs in a different spatial position. In a watershed of the Yangtze River, water retention is a primary ecosystem function. The variation–position effect for water retention capacity occurs in the watershed because of the spatial heterogeneity in vegetation, soil, and slope. The change of vegetation that occurs in a complex can affect the overall situation of water retention, and the effect can be different due to the change occurring in the
position holding different vegetation-soil-slope complex. To improve the ecosystem in the watershed and to meet the social needs for the ecosystem function of water retention, a strategy called ecosystem function and spatial pattern-based forest extension was proposed to conserve forests. The implementation of the strategy enables the watershed to attain the maximum effective increase in water retention capacity. 相似文献
ABSTRACT: The effects of the selections of plotting position formulae and class division schemes on goodness of fit tests are investigated for the extreme-value type-1 distribution using annual flood and annual maximum daily rainfall data. It was found that the plotting position formulae have a minor influence on the tests which involve their use, while the class division schemes may have a pronounced effect on the X2-test. The study also recommended the maximum likelihood method for fitting purposes and a new test which is independent of the afore-mentioned selections for judging the goodness of fit. 相似文献
ABSTRACT: Flood frequency analyses are frequently being made using widely available computer programs. Serious errors can result from blind acceptance of such results. Visual interpretation of observed flood series can be used for evaluation on frequency paper with compatible scales. Such frequency papers are presented in the paper. In ephemeral streams, more infrequent floods may constitute a separate set from the more frequent floods because (a) runoff producing storms cover only a portion of the contributing area, (b) transmission losses in the normally dry streambed may reduce the peak flow, and (c) some runoff may be stored in stock water ponds which therefore leads to partial area runoff. The Cunnane plotting position used in this paper is superior to the more widely used Weibull equation, having a mathematically sound basis for locating observed floods on an assumed probability. 相似文献
Objective: The lower extremity of the occupant represents the most frequently injured body region in motor vehicle crashes. Knee airbags (KABs) have been implemented as a potential countermeasure to reduce lower extremity injuries. Despite the increasing prevalence of KABs in vehicles, the biomechanical interaction of the human lower extremity with the KAB has not been well characterized. This study uses computational models of the human body and KABs to explore how KAB design may influence the impact response of the occupant's lower extremities.
Methods: The analysis was conducted using a 50th percentile male occupant human body model with deployed KABs in a simplified vehicle interior. The 2 common KAB design types, bottom-deploy KAB (BKAB) and rear-deploy KAB (RKAB), were both included. A state-of-the-art airbag modeling technique, the corpuscular particle method, was adopted to represent the deployment dynamics of the unfolding airbags. Validation of the environment model was performed based on previously reported test results. The kinematic responses of the occupant lower extremities were compared under both KAB designs, 2 seating configurations (in-position and out-of-position), and 3 loading conditions (static, frontal, and oblique impacts). A linear statistical model was used to assess factor significance considering the impact responses of the occupant lower extremities.
Results: The presence of a KAB had a significant influence on the lower extremity kinematics compared to no KAB (P <.05) by providing early restraint and distributing contact force on the legs during airbag deployment. For in-position occupants, the KAB generally tended to decrease tibia loadings. The RKAB led to greater lateral motion of the legs compared to the BKAB, resulting in higher lateral displacement at the knee joint and abduction angle change (51.2 ± 21.7 mm and 15° ± 6.0°) over the dynamic loading conditions. Change in the seating position led to a significant difference in occupant kinematic and kinetic parameters (P <.05). For the out-of-position (forward-seated) occupant, the earlier contact between the lower extremity and the deploying KAB resulted in 28.4° ± 5.8° greater abduction, regardless of crash scenarios. Both KAB types reduced the axial force in the femur relative to no KAB. Overall, the out-of-position occupant sustained a raised axial force and bending moment of the tibia by 0.8 ± 0.2 kN and 21.1 ± 8.7 Nm regardless of restraint use.
Conclusions: The current study provided a preliminary computational examination on KAB designs based on a limited set of configurations in an idealized vehicle interior. Results suggested that the BKAB tended to provide more coverage and less leg abduction compared to the RKAB in oblique impact and/or the selected out-of-position scenario. An out-of-position occupant was associated with larger abduction and lower extremity loads over all occupant configurations. Further investigations are recommended to obtain a full understanding of the KAB performance in a more realistic vehicle environment. 相似文献