Seven Years of Change Following Liming of Sphagnum Communities in Sector Vii of the Loch Fleet Catchment

In 1986, application of lime within the upper wetland area of sector VII of the Loch Fleet catchment initiated numerous unscheduled small-scale experiments on the vegetation of this heterogeneous terrain. Vegetation changes and erosion were monitored in permanent or relocated plots established in 1987 and 1989 and re-surveyed in 1993, seven years after liming.

The most striking early effect, possibly occurring within a few weeks of lime application, was the death of Sphagnum papillosum carpet in soakways within the 2.5 ha area. Some patches of dead material were washed away, but bare surfaces were generally colonised by vascular plants, notably Juncus bulbosus. Effects in moorland and bog communities with dwarf shurbs were more subtle, involving reduction in Sphagnum cover and expansion of Erica teralix, Molinia caerulea, sedges and Narthecium ossifragum, but little change in the frequency of occurrence of Calluna vulgaris.     

Incorporating evolutionary processes into population viability models

We examined how ecological and evolutionary (eco‐evo) processes in population dynamics could be better integrated into population viability analysis (PVA). Complementary advances in computation and population genomics can be combined into an eco‐evo PVA to offer powerful new approaches to understand the influence of evolutionary processes on population persistence. We developed the mechanistic basis of an eco‐evo PVA using individual‐based models with individual‐level genotype tracking and dynamic genotype–phenotype mapping to model emergent population‐level effects, such as local adaptation and genetic rescue. We then outline how genomics can allow or improve parameter estimation for PVA models by providing genotypic information at large numbers of loci for neutral and functional genome regions. As climate change and other threatening processes increase in rate and scale, eco‐evo PVAs will become essential research tools to evaluate the effects of adaptive potential, evolutionary rescue, and locally adapted traits on persistence.     

Validation and use of in vivo solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) for the detection of emerging contaminants in fish

A variety of emerging chemicals of concern are released continuously to surface water through the municipal wastewater effluent discharges. The ability to rapidly determine bioaccumulation of these contaminants in exposed fish without sacrificing the animal (i.e. in vivo) would be of significant advantage to facilitate research, assessment and monitoring of their risk to the environment. In this study, an in vivo solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) approach was developed and applied to the measurement of a variety of emerging contaminants (carbamazepine, naproxen, diclofenac, gemfibrozil, bisphenol A, fluoxetine, ibuprofen and atrazine) in fish. Our results indicated in vivo SPME was a potential alternative extraction technique for quantitative determination of contaminants in lab exposures and as well after exposure to two municipal wastewater effluents (MWWE), with a major advantage over conventional techniques due to its ability to non-lethally sample tissues of living organisms.     

Seven Years of Change Following Liming of Sphagnum Communities in Sector Vii of the Loch Fleet Catchment

In 1986, application of lime within the upper wetland area of sector VII of the Loch Fleet catchment initiated numerous unscheduled small-scale experiments on the vegetation of this heterogeneous terrain. Vegetation changes and erosion were monitored in permanent or relocated plots established in 1987 and 1989 and re-surveyed in 1993, seven years after liming.

The most striking early effect, possibly occurring within a few weeks of lime application, was the death of Sphagnum papillosum carpet in soakways within the 2.5 ha area. Some patches of dead material were washed away, but bare surfaces were generally colonised by vascular plants, notably Juncus bulbosus. Effects in moorland and bog communities with dwarf shurbs were more subtle, involving reduction in Sphagnum cover and expansion of Erica teralix, Molinia caerulea, sedges and Narthecium ossifragum, but little change in the frequency of occurrence of Calluna vulgaris.     

Effect of Cattle Grazing and Seedling Size on the Establishment ofAraucaria cunninghamiiin a Silvo-pastoral System in Northeast Australia

A study was undertaken to assess the effect of tree age at which grazing commenced and seedling size on the establishment ofAraucaria cunninghamii(hoop pine) trees in a silvo-pastoral system on the Atherton Tablelands of northeast Australia. Grazing with dairy cattle commenced at three ages after tree planting: (1) 2 weeks; (2) 6 months and (3) 18 months. Seedlings of two size classes, small (15 cm tall and 18 months old) and large (45 cm tall and 27 months old), were used. Trees were measured for survival and height, and assessed for physical damage and development of multi-stems at ages 6, 12 and 24 months. Results showed that tree survival and height did not differ significantly with age at which grazing commenced and that grazing did not cause unacceptable mortality, damage or reduction in height growth ofA. cunninghamii. The lack of cattle impact was mainly becauseA. cunninghamiihas a special morphological feature, prickly needles, which discourages cattle from physical contact. Although tree height ofA. cunninghamiivaried significantly between the two seedling sizes, the difference became smaller as the trees grew. It is suggested that for the establishment ofA. cunninghamiiin silvo-pastoral systems, grazing can be allowed almost immediately after tree planting, providing an appropriate stocking rate is used. There are no apparent advantages in using larger, compared with smaller, seedlings.     

Remittances as aid following major sudden‐onset natural disasters

There is a general assumption, based on macroeconomic studies, that remittances will rise following major sudden‐onset natural disasters. This is confirmed by a few assessments involving country‐specific research, and usually short‐term data. This study, questioning conventional wisdom, reviewed and graphed annual and quarterly remittance flows using International Monetary Fund and World Bank data from 2000–14 for 12 countries that confronted 18 major natural disasters. It found that, regardless of event type, annual remittances rose steadily from 2000–14 except for after the 2008–09 financial crisis. Post disaster, there was a quarterly increase in the majority of cases (confirming previous research) but there was seldom an annual increase in the year of the disaster greater than the average annual increase in 2000–14. It appears that remittance senders rush to provide assistance after a natural disaster, but since their own financial situation has not changed, the immediate increase is compensated by a later decrease.     

Changes in flood-plain vegetation and land use along the Missouri River from 1826 to 1972

Changes in vegetation and land use since 1826 were evaluated along the 800 kilometer portion of the Missouri River flood-plain that extends across the State of Missouri using County Land Office Survey records for 1826 and aerial photos for 1937, 1958, and 1972. The combined results show a decline in flood-plain forest coverage from 76% in 1826 to 13% in 1972; cultivated land increased from 18% to 83% during the same time. Uncultivated-unforested areas increased from 6% in 1826 to 27% in 1937, then declined to 1% in 1972; these changes occurred coincident with extensive bank-stabilization and channelization activities initiated in 1912 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Riverbank stabilization activity since that time may account for the increased rate of decline in flood-plain forests from 0.25% per year between 1826 and 1937 to 1.6% per year between 1937 and 1972.The overall species composition of the 1826 flood-plain forests was found to be most similar to mature forest stands evaluated in 1972; similar frequencies in 1826 and 1972 occurred for hackberry (Celtis occidentalis; 80% in 1826, 83% in 1972), elm (Ulmus spp.; 80% and 83%), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis; 57% and 50%). Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), found only in mature flood-plain forests in 1972, was recorded along 54% of the 1826 section lines.These combined data indicate (1) that pre-settlement flood-plain forests were extensive and included frequent, mature stands, (2) that in certain areas substantial portions of the flood-plain were in cultivation prior to extensive riverbank stabilization and channelization, and (3) that increased flood-plain forest clearing occurred coincident with increased bank-stabilization activities.     

COLIFORMS AND WATER QUALITY: USE OF DATA IN PROJECT DESIGN AND OPERATION1

ABSTRACT: Knowledge of coliform transport and disappearance may provide information for project design and operation that minimizes potential water quality problems such as the violation of body contact recreation standards. Storm events were sampled in the Caddo River above DeGray Reservoir, Arkansas, and then tracked through the reservoir using the increased turbidity associated with the storm flows. Fecal coliforms were sampled both in the river and throughout the water column in the reservoir. In general, increased fecal coliform concentrations were closely associated with the increased turbidity resulting from the storm flows. This association existed for all three types of turbidity plume movement - overflow, interflow, and underflow. As the turbidity plume moved down the reservoir, fecal coliform concentrations decreased due to die-off, settling, and dilution. With several assumptions, it is possible to use this information to assist in locating recreational sites in a reservoir or to anticipate possible body contact standard violations at existing recreation sites.     

Distribution and mode of occurrence of selenium in US coals

Selenium excess and deficiency have been established as the cause of various health problems in man and animals. Combustion of fossil fuels, especially coal, may be a major source of the anthropogenic introduction of selenium in the environment. Coal is enriched in selenium relative to selenium's concentration in most other rocks and relative to selenium in the Earth's crust.Data from almost 9,000 coal samples have been used to determine the concentration and distribution of selenium in US coals. The geometric mean concentration of selenium in US coal is 1.7 ppm. The highest mean selenium value (geometric mean 4.7 ppm) is in the Texas Region. Atlantic Coast (Virginia and North Carolina) and Alaska coals have the lowest geometric means (0.2 and 0.42 ppm, respectively). All western coal regions have mean selenium concentrations of less than 2.0 ppm. In contrast, all coal basins east of the Rocky Mountains (except for several small basins in Rhode Island, Virginia, and North Carolina) have mean selenium values of 1.9 or greater.Generally, variations in selenium concentration do not correlate with variations in ash yield, pyritic sulphur, or organic sulphur concentrations. This may be the result of multiple sources of selenium; however, in some non-marine basins with restricted sources of selenium, selenium has positive correlations with other coal quality parameters.Selenium occurs in several forms in coal but appears to be chiefly associated with the organic fraction, probably substituting for organic sulphur. Other important forms of selenium in coal are selenium-bearing pyrite, selenium-bearing galena, and lead selenide (clausthalite). Water-soluble and ion-exchangeable selenium also have been reported.