ACIDIFICATION AND FISH OCCURRENCE IN THE UPPER CHEAT RWER DRAINAGE,WEST VIRGINIA1

ABSTRACT: The decline of many fish populations within the mid-Appalachian region has been attributed to stream acidification as a result of acid precipitation. Many previous attempts to examine relationships between fish occurrence and acidification have been hindered by a lack of data on water quality and fish distributions. To assess relationships between water quality and bedrock type in the upper Cheat River drainage, we used EPA STORET water quality data (1969–1993) and calculated mean pH and mean alkalinity of streams associated with four bedrock types (Hampshire, Chemung, Mauch Chunk, and Pottsville). We examined the relationship between fish occurrence and bedrock type for 53 headwater streams. We found that acidity in headwater streams associated with Pottsville and Mauch Chunk groups often exceeded biological thresholds for acid-sensitive fish species (pH < 5.5). Streams associated with the Pottsville group typically had fewer cyprinid species and fewer total species than those associated with Mauch Chunk, Chemung, and Hampshire bedrock types. The congruent occurrence of streams with low buffering capacity, streams with pH > 5.5, and streams with low fish species richness indicate that acidification has influenced fish distributions in the upper Cheat River drainage.     

江西云山木本植物资源的区系地理分布

本文研究了云山木本植物资源的地理分布和区系特点,对合理利用和保护该地区植物资源提出了几项切实可行的措施。     

四川水稻气候生态类型分异及区划

本文根据中国光温生态试验资料及四川水稻品比试验与气象观测的历史资料,讨论了早、中稻感温性和对温度的适应性,分析了播期、纬度、海拔等因素与稻种需求积温量的关系,以水稻品种类型对热量的适应性指标为依据,考虑四川水稻气候生态的差异性,划分出水稻综合气候生态类型区。     

贡嘎山东麓海螺沟的温泉资源

海螺沟作为冰川旅游区已于1987年10月正式向国内外开放。温泉对该区来说是非常重要的旅游资源,也是主要能源之一,对它的研究具有重大旅游和经济价值。本文研究了海螺沟温泉的成因、水化学特性、微量成分的浓度和分布及其毒性指标等,并在此基础上对其作出评价。从温泉的产出条件、化学组成、物理性状和未受污染等因素综合分析,认为海螺沟温泉是保持原始本底的受活动构造控制的深成热矿泉水,可浴可饮、可综合利用。     

Laying the foundation for a comprehensive program of restoration for wildlife habitat in a riparian floodplain

We analyzed the past and current distribution and abundance of vegetation and wildlife to develop a wildlife habitat restoration plan for the Sweetwater Regional Park, San Diego County, California. Overall, there has been a substantial loss of native amphibians and reptiles, including four amphibians, three lizards, and 11 snake species. The small-mammal community was depauperate and dominated by the exotic house mouse (Mus musculus) and the native western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis). It appeared that either house mice are exerting a negative influence on most native species or that they are responding positively to habitat degradation. There has apparently been a net loss of 13 mammal species, including nine insectivores and rodents, a rabbit, and three large mammals. Willow (Salix) cover and density and cottonwoods (Populus fremontii) had the highest number of positive correlations with bird abundance. There has been an overall net loss of 12 breeding bird species; this includes an absolute loss of 18 species and a gain of six species. A restoration plan is described that provides for creation and maintenance of willow riparian, riparian woodland, and coastal sage scrub vegetation types; guides for separation of human activities and wildlife habitats; and management of feral and exotic species of plants and animals.     

Livestock grazing and habitat for a threatened species: Land-use decisions under scientific uncertainty in the White Mountains,California, USA

The North Fork of Cottonwood Creek, in the White Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California, is a critically important refuge for the Paiute cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki seleniris), a federally listed threatened species. Habitat for these fish appears to be limited by excessive levels of fine sediment in the channel, and livestock grazing of riparian meadows has been implicated in delivery of sediment to the channel. However, the relationships between land use and sediment yield have not been conclusively determined, in large part because there are no historically ungrazed sites to serve as long-term controls. Accordingly, land-use decisions must be made under scientific uncertainty. To reduce erosion and sedimentation in the stream, the Forest Service spent approximately US$260,000 from 1981 to 1991 to repair watershed damage from livestock grazing, prevent livestock from traversing steep banks, and limit livestock access to the channel. Throughout this period, livestock grazing has continued on these lands, yielding less than $12,000 in grazing fees. In revising its Allotment Management Plan for the basin, the Forest Service rejected the “no-grazing” alternative because it was inconsistent with its Land and Resource Management Plan, which specifies there is to be no net reduction of grazing. Joint appointment with the University of California White Mountain Research Station, East Line Street, Bishop, California 93518, USA.     

Thermodynamic-dynamic analysis of gamma type free-piston stirling engine charged with hydrogen gas as working fluid

ABSTRACT

In this study, the combined thermodynamic and dynamic model of a new concept of gamma type free-piston Stirling engine is conducted. The engine consists of two identical displacer cylinders, a power cylinder, a linear alternator, and three-cushion pistons. Two displacer cylinders are symmetrically positioned on each side of the power cylinder for minimizing the rotational vibrations. Hydrogen is used as the working gas and the effect of gas temperature on the specific heat capacity is considered. The analysis carried out in this study involves the prediction of the thermodynamic-dynamic performance characteristics of the engine. In the thermodynamic section of the analysis, the working space of the engine is divided into 31 nodal volumes and the gas pressures in nodal volumes are assumed to be equal to each other. The conservation of mass and energy equations is obtained for each nodal volume. Instantaneous gas temperatures of nodal volumes are calculated by the first law of thermodynamics given for the unsteady open systems. The dynamic section of the analysis involves the motion equations of displacer, power and cushion pistons. The motion equations are derived using the Newton method. In the calculations done for variable specific heat capacity, it has been determined that there is 1% cyclic work reduction compared to the constant heat capacity. It is estimated that the maximum effective power that can be produced by the linear alternator will be around 1.6 kW. The working frequency range of the proposed engine is found to be suitable to generate electrical power.     

EFFECTS OF WOODY VEGETATION ON SANDY LEVEE INTEGRITY1

he influence of woody vegetation on the reliability of a sandy levee was investigated using field data in seepage and slope stability analyses. Field data were collected from selected sites within a 10-km segment of a channel levee on the Sacramento River near Elkhorn, California. Root architecture and distribution were determined using the profile-wall method in which root cross sections were exposed in the vertical wall of an excavated trench. Transects running both parallel and perpendicular to the crest of the levee were excavated at six sites. Each site was dominated by different plant species: five sites were adjacent to trees or woody shrubs, while one supported only herbaceous growth. Lateral plant roots were primarily restricted to, and modified, the near-surface soil horizons to a depth of approximately 1 meter. Root area ratios (RARs) did not exceed 2.02 percent and generally decreased exponentially with depth. At depths greater than 20 cm, mean RARs for sites dominated by wood species were not significantly different from the mean RAB for the herbaceous site. No open voids clearly attributable to plant roots were observed. Roots reinforced the levee soil and increased shear resistance in a measurable manner. Infinite slope and circular arc stability analyses were performed on the landward and riverward slopes under different hydraulic loading conditions. Infinite slope analyses indicated increasing root area ratio from 0.01 percent to 1 percent increased the factor of safety from less than one to more than seven. Circular arc analyses indicated that even the lower measured root concentrations sufficed to increase safety factors for arcs with maximum depths of about 1 m from less than one to about 1.2. Our findings suggest that allowing woody shrubs and small trees on levees would provide environmental benefits and would enhance structural integrity without the hazards associated with large trees such as wind-throwing.