Stratigraphy and land use of the Post-Diamond Hill Paleosol,western Oregon

The Post-Diamond Hill Paleosol generally underlies Late Pleistocene sediments of the Willamette Formation. However, in numerous localities in the Willamette Valley, reddish gray clay paleosols either outcrop at the surface or occur within soil profile depth. Then they are part of soils of the modern landscape. Where the paleosols outcrop, the soils are mostly Typic Pelloxererts in the fine, montmorillonitic, mesic family. Because of the nature of the paleosols, these soils are poorly suited for nearly all intensive uses; the dominant use is hay and pasture.     

Germination and growth of Glomus caledonius spores: The effects of inhibitors and nutrients

Spores of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal endophyte Glomus caledonius (Nicol. and Gerd.) Trappe and Gerdemann readily germinated in the absence of soil or host roots. Hyphal growth was improved by incorporation of nutrients into the medium and by the addition of pieces of cotyledon from boiled seeds, but was still dependent on the spore reserves. The response of ungerminated and pregerminated spores to inhibitors of protein and nucleic acid synthesis (cycloheximide, actinomycin D, proflavine hemisulphate, 5-fluorouracil and ethidium bromide) resembled those of saprophytic fungi more than other obligate biotrophs.     

Interactions between Escherichia coli and allophane—I. Adsorption

Sorptive interactions between Escherichia coli (ATCC 11303B) and a purified allophane clay fraction were studied quantitatively using electronic particle counting and electrophoresis. Adsorption was influenced by pH and ions present at the allophane surface. These effects could be rationalized by considering changes in the net surface charge of the components. Electronic particle counting studies at pH 5.5 and above gave adsorption isotherms that obeyed single-term Langmuir kinetics. At pH 4.5, a more complex two-step isotherm was obtained, which was attributed to aggregation of unadsorbed cells by Al solubilized from the allophane surface.     

Fusarium species in soil,thatch and crowns of Poa pratensis turfgrass treated with fungicides

Little information exists concerning the effects of long-term fungicide programs on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of fusaria in turfgrasses and in turfgrass soils. These effects were studied on Poa pratensis L, turfgrasses at three locations, using 14 fungicides, one nematicide, and five mixed fungicide programs. Some fungicides increased the numbers of fusaria in soil and thatch, some had no effect, and others greatly reduced the numbers. Changes in Fusarium species' compositions occurred independently from the changes in propagule numbers. The proportion of Fusarium-colonized turfgrass crowns was generally higher in fungicide-treated than in nontreated turfgrasses.     

Phytotoxins from anaerobically decomposing wheat straw

Phytotoxicity was demonstrated in the aqueous extract of wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) straw suspensions. When extracts were incubated under anaerobic conditions, the development of phytotoxicity was greater at 20°C than at 10°C. The toxic products formed during incubation depended upon the incubation medium. Acetic and butyric acids were the major toxins produced in liquid straw fermentations during the first 2 weeks. However, after that time the acids did not account for the total toxicity, suggesting formation of unidentified phytotoxins. Acetic, propionic and butyric acids were the toxins formed in sand culture. The development and accumulation of phytotoxins were favored where the sand-straw mixtures were water-saturated. The implications of these findings to wheat cultural practice is discussed.     

Aquatic turtles of Amazonia: An endangered resource

Turtles have long served man as an important food resource in Amazonia. During the colonial period, Portuguese traders disturbed nesting beaches on a large scale in search of eggs which were converted into oil for cooking and lighting. Exploitation was increasingly intense by the end of the 19th century and turtle populations had declined drastically. Although legislation has been passed to protect them, enforcement is lax and turtles face increasing pressure from man not only for food but as a result of habitat disturbance.     

The Prince Edward Islands: A sanctuary for seabirds in the Southern Ocean

This paper reviews the breeding distribution and numerical status of selected species of seabirds at 23 oceanic island groups in the Southern Ocean (between latitudes 35 and 70°S), based on census data and population estimates which have become available through increased scientific endeavour in the region during the last 15 years or so. The paper focuses on the avifauna of the Prince Edward islands, in the southern Indian Ocean, and points to the importance of these islands as a breeding station and sanctuary for seabirds. Only one oceanic island group, the Crozets, contains more species of breeding seabirds than the Prince Edward islands. Substantial segements (about 10% and greater) of the world breeding populations of the king and macaroni penguins, and the wandering, grey-headed, yellow-nosed and sooty albatrosses are based at the Prince Edward group. We recommend that Prince Edward Island (sensu stricto) should be a wilderness area, and that development at Marion Island should be kept to an absolute minimum.     

Proposals for a Sangay National Park in Ecuador

This paper describes the main features of the Sangay wilderness area in the Ecuadorian Andes. It is a region of great diversity with life zones ranging from tundra to subtropical rain forest. The conservation value of the area is assessed and the feasibility of protection determined. Boundaries based mainly on the limits of human interference are put forward with management proposals for its establishment as a National Park.     

Effects of repeated use of an area of heather Calluna vulgaris (L.) hull moor at Kindrogan,Scotland, for teaching purposes

A triangular plot of heather moor at Kindrogan was used for teaching botanical analysis for eight years, using the same set of random coordinates to locate sample points. Because of the method of point location, there was a gradient of trampling pressure across the plot, and there were also parts of the plot that were never analysed. At the end of the eight-year period heather cover and mean height were found to have declined with increasing levels of trampling. Mean numbers of species/m² did not however decline, and were actually minimal on untrampled ground. With moderate levels of trampling, quadrats that had been analysed for eight years contained more heather litter than those that had not been analysed before. No decline in species frequencies was found in previously analysed quadrats. The value of the plot for teaching purposes does not seem to have declined, and may have actually increased over the period of use.