Initial soil development in lignite ash landfills and settling ponds in Saxony‐Anhalt,Germany

Weathering and initial soil formation was investigated on 5 sites of lignite ash disposal differing in age (5 to 30 years) and methods of disposal (landfills and sluicing to settling ponds). Soils developed on lignite ash derived substrates were characterized by low bulk densities (< 0.85 g cm^—3), high contents of gypsum (maximum 27%) and calcium carbonate (maximum 46%), high pH values (7—9), very high contents of organic carbon (about 20%), and high contents of ammonium oxalate soluble Si, Al, and Fe containing compounds. These features depended on the constitution of the lignite and the burning conditions. As the substrates were initially in disequilibrium with their environmental surroundings, they were subjected to rapid weathering. Typical features were the depletion of gypsum and decarbonatization in the topsoils of the profiles. Furthermore, pedogenic organic carbon became enriched by ruderal vegetation despite low contents of plant available P and K and high pH values. The C : N ratios increased with profile depth, which indicated the input of pedogenic OM with low C : N ratios into topsoils and the predominance of lignite with a wide C : N ratio (> 100) in subsoils.     

Comparative activity and stability under salinity conditions of different antimicrobial peptides isolated from aquatic animals

This study reports the in vitro activity of six antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by aquatic animals (most marine invertebrates): tachyplesin (Tach), magainin (Mag), clavanin (Clav), penaeidin (Pen), mytilin (Myt) and antilipopolysaccharide factor (ALF) against marine vibrios, filamentous fungi and yeast. Their stability under salinity conditions and seawater was also examined. The results showed that Mag, Myt and especially Tach and ALF (minimum inhibitory concentration<1.5 μM) had a potent activity against all tested vibrio species, whereas Clav and Pen were ineffective (up to 50 μM). With respect to the antifungal activity, each AMP had a different potency according to the fungal species. In general terms, Tach was the most potent peptide, followed by Mag. Interestingly, Tach, Myt and ALF had a significant effect on the filamentous fungus Fusarium solani that could be pathogenic to marine organisms. All AMPs had a tendency to decrease or lose their activity at high salinity (>225 mM NaCl). Tach and Myt were the most stable peptides, maintaining significant activity under seawater salinity (450 mM). Curiously, all peptides lost their effect under seawater conditions. The results suggest that Tach, ALF and Myt are the most promising candidates for potential therapeutic use in farmed-marine species, because all have a significant and broad antimicrobial activity maintained at high salinity.     

Wading Bird Depredations on Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus in Northwest Mississippi

We interviewed farm managers about their perceptions of wading bird problems and conducted preliminary surveys of wading bird populations at 67 randomly selected channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus pond complexes in northwest Mississippi during December 1995. At a subsample of 24 complexes and 10 other complexes previously surveyed in 1990, we surveyed wading bird populations bimonthly throughout the year in 1996 and observed great blue herons Ardea herodias and great egrets Ardea alba feeding at catfish ponds. Seventy-five percent of farm managers questioned felt that wading birds were causing losses to their fish stocks, and 74% believed the problem was increasing. Consistent with interview results, 88% of the pond complexes surveyed had one or more wading birds present. Despite reported harassment programs by producers, great blue heron densities at 10 complexes previously surveyed in 1990 had increased by more than eightfold in 1996. Great blue heron densities varied with location, season and time of day, but the average 127-ha farm supported about 78 herons and 56 great egrets. Despite similar populations, the potential impact of these two species was quite different. Live catfish, averaging 10.3 cm in length (circa 10 g) comprised only 8% of the egret diet by weight, and most of the fish were obtained from fingerling ponds during periods when these fingerlings may be weakened by the bacterial disease, enteric septicemia of catfish. In contrast, live catfish, averaging 16 cm in length (circa 34 g), comprised 44% of the great blue heron diet by weight. Herons foraged from both fingerling and food fish ponds, primarily in the early morning and evening. Based on average population densities and foraging rates, herons at the average 127-ha farm in northwest Mississippi consumed 114,000 (circa 3,900 kg) catfish, annually. However, further studies are recommended to document production losses.     

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