RothCUK – a dynamic modelling system for estimating changes in soil C from mineral soils at 1-km resolution in the UK

We describe the development and application of an integrated data and modelling system for estimating soil carbon (C) fluxes from mineral soils caused by changes in climate, land use and land management at 1‐km resolution in the UK (RothCUK). The system was developed with the aim of improving methods for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol accounting and integrates national scale data sets of soil properties, land use and climate with the Rothamsted carbon model (RothC). A preliminary estimate of soil C fluxes because of land use change (LUC) over the period 1990–2000 is presented as an example application of the system. RothCUK shows LUC to be a net source of CO₂ from 1990 to 2000 although the RothC estimate was smaller (6488 kt C) than the estimate from the single exponential model (SEM) method currently used to calculate C fluxes due to LUC for the UK National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (mean: 9412 kt C). Based on previous studies, an uncertainty range in our estimates of ±50–100% seems plausible. In agreement with the SEM, RothCUK suggests that the largest single contributor to soil C fluxes from LUC was conversion of grassland to arable land. Differences between the results may be attributed to differences in the two models and the assumptions and underlying data used in making the calculations. The RothCUK system provides a powerful method for estimating changes in soil C stocks, enabling areas and management systems with particularly large changes in soil C stocks to be located at fine resolution.     

Microbiology of roots infected with the take-all fungus (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici) in phased sequences of winter wheat

Bacteria with possible relevance to the growth of the take-all fungus were counted from surfaces of lesioned and healthy roots of wheat growing in soil from a field monoculture system. Numbers showed short-term seasonal and long-term monocultural changes, which seemed to be genuinely associated with the monoculture. Bacteria were more numerous on lesioned than healthy roots. Only bacteria inhibitory to growth of Gaeumannomyces graminis on agar and Pseudomonas spp showed consistent changes irrespective of the source of the roots. Relationships were considered between the microflora on lesioned tissue and (a) severity of disease on roots supplying the lesions, and (b) infection produced on axenic seedlings inoculated with the lesioned tissue. Only total bacterial counts on the lesions from tillering and mature plants were positively correlated with disease on the donor roots. Only inhibitory bacteria on lesions from tillering and mature plants were positively correlated with disease on test seedlings. Pseudomonas spp showed no correlations. Interpretation of data differed with age of plant and the sequence in the monoculture from which plants or soil came.     

Acute and genetic toxicity of municipal landfill leachate

The large number of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and the many hazardous materials which they contain pose a serious environmental threat to our groundwater reserves. The present study was conducted to assess the environmental hazards that four MSW landfill leachates pose to the groundwater. Genetic toxicities of the landfill leachate and groundwater samples were assessed using the Salmonella/microsome (Ames test) mutagenicity bioassay, the Bacillus subtilis DNA repair bioassay, and the diploid Aspergillus nidulans chromosome damage bioassay. Acute toxicities of the leachate samples were assessed using the Microtox test. The leachate and groundwater samples were also analyzed for organic constituents using gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The chemical data were used to calculate the estimated cumulative cancer risk for each sample. All leachate samples were acutely toxic, and three of the four leachate samples were genetically toxic. Two of the four leachate samples and the groundwater sample contained concentrations of USEPA priority pollutants in excess of promulgated standards for potable water. Two of the leachates had mean estimated cumulative cancer risks on the same order of magnitude (10^?4) as leachates from co-disposal and hazardous waste landfills. The use of a battery of acute and genetic toxicity bioassays, chemical analysis, and an estimated cancer risk calculation resulted in evidence that MSW landfill leachates are as acutely and chronically toxic as co-disposal and hazardous waste landfill leachates.     

Toad on the road: Use of roads as dispersal corridors by cane toads (Bufo marinus) at an invasion front in tropical Australia

Determining the factors that influence the rate of spread of invasive species is an important goal for conservation biology. If invasive species utilize specific landscape features as dispersal corridors, control programs can target such corridors. Radio-telemetry was used to determine landscape level factors that influence dispersal of an introduced anuran species (the cane toad) at an invasion front in tropical Australia. Most radio-tracked toads moved along roads and cleared fencelines, avoiding heavily vegetated habitat; they typically sheltered overnight close to these open corridors, returning to the road each evening to recommence dispersal. Surveys of the compass orientation of dispersing toads on roads showed that most animals were oriented along the main axis of the road (and thus, travelling along the road) rather than moving across it. To test the hypothesis that use of roads enables toads to disperse more rapidly than would be possible across more thickly vegetated sites, locomotor performance of toads was quantified under field conditions. As predicted, toads rapidly slowed down in dense roadside vegetation but continued to move rapidly through open areas. These results suggest that simple habitat manipulations of roadside verges might help to reduce the rate of dispersal of cane toads across tropical Australia.     

Potential terrain controls on soil color, texture contrast and grain-size deposition for the original catena landscape in Uganda

Inspired by the catena concept, we returned to the landscape of origin for this idea in central Uganda and applied quantitative soil-landscape-modeling techniques to the study of soil formation. In particular, we employed Generalized Least Squares (GLS) regression to identify potential terrain (and other) controls on surface texture with the goal of explaining texture contrast formation for well-drained red soils, and fluvial deposition for yellow-gray lowland soils. Well-drained red soils and poorly drained yellow-gray soils were identified using a high-resolution spectroradiometer and soil redness was highly correlated with a measure of elevation above the valley floor. For the yellow-gray soils, sand content and sand grain size increased with greater slope gradient and in converging areas—evidence supporting fluvial control of surface soil composition. For red soils, texture contrast increased on lower backslopes, decreased over ferricrete-rich parent material, and had no significant association with either infiltration- or runoff-influenced locations. Surprisingly, texture contrast was also reduced or even inverted on fine scale convexities (<18 m in diameter). These findings were consistent with the following theoretical processes: (1) sand deposition on lower-backslopes, increasing texture contrast; (2) ferricrete weathering at the soil surface, reducing texture contrast; and (3) texture contrast inversion through termite turbation. A number of techniques proved useful in this study: (a) the use of GLS regression supported the interpretation of model coefficients in an explicitly spatial context; (b) thin-plate splines provided a flexible means of controlling the spatial scale of terrain index computation; and (c) the development of a new downslope-looking Elevation Above Stream (EASy) terrain index provided a powerful tool for the identification of poorly drained soils—a tool that could have applications in a variety of landscapes and environments. Overall, we found that the catena concept as a soil-terrain-modeling approach worked best on lower, less well-drained, depositional landscape components. For the well-drained portion of this landscape, there was little evidence to suggest that soil formation was controlled by hillslope hydrology as proposed by the catena concept. The catena concept interpreted in a broad sense challenges pedologists to explicitly link soil geographic patterns with specific soil forming processes and environmental controls—an approach that proved valuable in this study.     

Fish species identification using PCR-RFLP analysis and lab-on-a-chip capillary electrophoresis: application to detect white fish species in food products and an interlaboratory study

Identification of 10 white fish species associated with U.K. food products was achieved using PCR-RFLP of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Use of lab-on-a-chip capillary electrophoresis for end-point analysis enabled accurate sizing of DNA fragments and identification of fish species at a level of 5% (w/w) in a fish admixture. One restriction enzyme, DdeI, allowed discrimination of eight species. When combined with NlaIII and HaeIII, specific profiles for all 10 species were generated. The method was applied to a range of products and subjected to an interlaboratory study carried out by five U.K. food control laboratories. One hundred percent correct identification of single species samples and six of nine admixture samples was achieved by all laboratories. The results indicated that fish species identification could be carried out using a database of PCR-RFLP profiles without the need for reference materials.     

Variation of glucosinolates in vegetable crops of Brassica oleracea

Glucosinolates were evaluated in 5 groups and 65 accessions of Brassica oleracea (50 broccoli, 4 Brussels sprouts, 6 cabbage, 3 cauliflower, and 2 kale) grown under uniform cultural conditions. Glucosinolates and their concentrations varied among the different groups and within each group. The predominant glucosinolates in broccoli were 4-methylsulfinylbutyl glucosinolate (glucoraphanin), 3-butenyl glucosinolate (gluconapin), and 3-indolylmethyl glucosinoate (glucobrassicin). Glucoraphanin concentration in broccoli ranged from 0.8 micromol g(-1) DW in EV6-1 to 21.7 micromol g(-1) DW in Brigadier. Concentrations of the other glucosinolates in broccoli varied similarly over a wide range. In Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale, the predominant glucosinolates were sinigrin (8.9, 7.8, 9.3, and 10.4 micromol g(-1) DW, respectively) and glucobrassicin (3.2, 0.9, 1.3, and 1.2 micromol g(-1) DW, respectively). Brussels sprouts also had significant amounts of gluconapin (6.9 micromol g(-1) DW). Wide variations in glucosinolate content among genotypes suggest differences in their health-promoting properties and the opportunity for enhancement of their levels through genetic manipulation.