Degradation Kinetics of Perchlorate in Sediments and Soils

This study investigated the intrinsic perchlorate (ClO₄ ^-)degradation kinetics of sediments and soils from multiple sites in microcosm studies, including the influence of varying nitrate concentration (NO₃ ^--N from 1 to 22.8 ppm) and up to 300 ppm sulfate. The first-order degradation rates and lag times of both ClO₄ ^- and NO₃ ^- degradation were site-specific and dependent on environmental conditions such as organic substrate availability, nitrate, initial ClO₄ ^- concentration, and prior ClO₄ ^- exposure. At an initial ClO₄ ^- concentration of 5 ppm, ClO₄ ^- degradation rates ranged from 0.13 to 0.46 day^-1, and lag times of ClO₄ ^- degradation ranged from 0 to 60.0 days; while NO₃ ^- degradation occurred at rates ranging from 0.03 to 1.42 day^-1, with lag times ranging from 0 to 29.7 days. Under the same treatment conditions, NO₃ ^- degradation rates were relatively higher than that of ClO₄ ^-. Perchlorate degradation rates remained constant at both lower (0.5 ppm) and higher (5 ppm) ClO₄ ^- concentrations. Generally, ClO₄ ^- rates were affected by the availability of organic substrate, which was represented here by Total Volatile Solids (TVS) of sediments and soils, and not by NO₃ ^-. Nitrate did increase the lag time of ClO₄ ^- degradation, which may account for the persistence of ClO₄ ^- in the environment, especially when ClO₄ ^- is typically ppb levels in the environment compared to ppm levels of NO₃ ^-. This study showed rapid intrinsic ClO₄ ^- degradation in sediments and soils of contaminated sites, and highlighted the potential for natural attenuation of ClO₄ ^- in the environment.     

湿地植物通气组织和渗氧对其重金属吸收和耐性研究进展

湿地植物具有强大的通气组织和根部渗氧能力特征,使得其根际微环境处于氧化状态从而适应湿地土壤浸水的环境。近年来,湿地植物通气组织和渗氧在重金属吸收和耐性研究方面已引起了人们的关注,并对此进行了相关的研究。本文分别对湿地植物通气组织和渗氧特征,通气组织和渗氧对重金属吸收和耐性影响、对根际微环境影响等方面的研究进展和存在问题进行了综述,并提出了该领域未来可能的研究方向。认为针对从通气组织和渗氧角度出发研究湿地植物重金属耐性机理,应重点对湿地植物根际重金属的环境化学行为展开深入研究,在研究方法和手段上应注重新技术的开发与应用。     

Selenium Removal from Irrigation Drainage Water Flowing Through Constructed Wetland Cells with Special Attention to Accumulation in Sediments

A flow-through experimental wetland system has been under investigation since 1996 to remove selenium (Se) fromagricultural drainage water in the Tulare Lake Drainage Districtat Corcoran, California, U.S.A. The system consists of ten cellswhich have dimensions of 15 × 76 m continuously flooded andvarious substrates planted. The objectives of this article are topresent the overall performance in Se removal after establishingthe wetland for three years, and to examine factors affecting Seremoval with special attention to accumulation in the sediments.In 1999, The wetland cells reduced Se from inflow water by 32 to65% in concentration and 43 to 89% in mass. Vegetationplays an important role in Se removal as non-vegetated cellshowed the least removal of Se. The inflow drainage water wasdominated by selenate (Se(VI), 91%) with smaller percentages ofselenite (Se(IV), 7%) and organic Se (org-Se(II-), 2%). Theoutflow water from the cells contained an average of 47% Se(VI),32% Se(IV) and 21% org-Se indicating reduction processesoccurring in the wetland cells. The surface sediment appears as alarge sink of Se removal. The highest Se concentration was foundin fallen litter, followed by the fine organic detrital layer onthe sediment surface. The sediment Se concentration dramaticallydecreased with increasing sediment depth. The mass distribution of Se, however, was sediment (0-20 cm) > fine detrital matter >fallen litter. Fractionation of surface sediment (0-5 cm) reveals that elemental Se was the largest fraction (ave. 47%) followedby organic matter-associated Se (34%). Soluble, adsorbed, and carbonate-associated Se accounted for 1.2, 3.1 and 2.5% ofthe total sediment Se, respectively. The major Se sink mechanism in the cells is the reduction of selenate to elemental Se andimmobilization into the organic phase of the sediments.     

Television viewing behaviour and associations with food habits in different countries

OBJECTIVE: Several environmental factors influence adolescents' food habits and television (TV) viewing is thought to be one of these factors. The purpose of the present study was to describe sociodemographic differences in TV viewing and to examine associations of TV viewing with the consumption of sweets, soft drinks, fruit and vegetables in different countries. METHODS: Data were collected from 162,305 young people completing the 2001/02 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey, a World Health Organization cross-national study on health and health behaviours among 11-, 13- and 15-year-old school pupils. Analyses of variance were used to examine sociodemographic differences in TV viewing and logistic regression analyses to examine associations between TV viewing and food habits. RESULTS: Large differences were found between countries in reported daily TV viewing time, from an average of 2.0 h in Switzerland to 3.7 h in Ukraine. The results indicate that those most likely to watch TV are boys, 13-year-olds and pupils of lower socio-economic status. Those who watched more TV were more likely to consume sweets and soft drinks on a daily basis and less likely to consume fruit and vegetables daily, although the latter associations were not so apparent among Central and Eastern European countries. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high TV viewing rates among adolescents and the association with less healthy food options, many young people are at increased risk of overweight or obesity. Interventions to modify TV viewing behaviour are needed. The findings underscore the importance of tackling socio-economic differences.     

The simultaneous analysis of mixed discrete and continuous outcomes using nonlinear threshold models

Mixed discrete and continuous outcomes are commonly measured on each experimental unit in dose-response studies in toxicology. The dose-response relationships for these outcomes often have dose thresholds and nonlinear patterns. In addition, the endpoints are typically correlated, and a statistical analysis that incorporates the association may result in improved precision. We propose an extension of the generalized estimating equation (GEE) methodology to simultaneously analyze binary, count, and continuous outcomes with nonlinear threshold models that incorporates the intra-subject correlation. The methodology uses a quasi-likelihood framework and a working correlation matrix, and is appropriate when the marginal expectation of each outcome is of primary interest and the correlation between endpoints is a nuisance parameter. Because the derivatives of threshold models are not continuous at each point of the parameter space, we describe the necessary modifications that result in asymptotically normal and consistent estimators. Using dose-response data from a neurotoxicity experiment, the methodology is illustrated by analyzing five outcomes of mixed type with nonlinear threshold models. In this example, the incorporation of the intra-subject correlation resulted in decreased standard errors for the threshold parameters.     

Critical Loads of Acidity to Protect and Restore Acid-Sensitive Streams in Virginia and West Virginia

The purpose of the research described here is to apply a new approach for generating aquatic critical load (CL) and exceedance calculations for an important acid-sensitive region of the eastern USA. A widespread problem in regional aquatic acidification CL modeling for US ecosystems has been the lack of site-specific weathering data needed to derive accurate model CL estimates. A modified version of the steady-state water chemistry CL model was applied here to estimate CL and exceedances for streams throughout acid-sensitive portions of Virginia and West Virginia. A novel approach for estimating weathering across the regional landscape was applied, based on weathering estimates extracted from a well-tested, process-based watershed model of drainage water acid?Cbase chemistry and features of the landscape that are available as regional spatial data coverages. This process allowed extrapolation of site-specific weathering data from 92 stream watersheds to the regional context in three ecoregions for supporting CL calculations. Calculated CL values were frequently low, especially in the Blue Ridge ecoregion where one-third of the stream length had CL?<?50?meq/m²/year to maintain stream ANC at 50???eq/L under steady-state conditions. About half or more of the stream length in the study region was in exceedance of the CL for long-term aquatic resource protection under assumed nitrogen saturation at steady state. Land managers and air quality policy makers will need this information to better understand responses to air pollution emissions reductions and to develop ecoregion-specific air pollution targets.     

Genetic diversity among watermelon (Citrullus lanatus and Citrullus colocynthis) accessions

Genetic diversity was estimated among 42 U.S. PlantIntroduction (PI) accessions of the genusCitrullus (of these, 34 PIs are reported tohave disease resistance), and 5 watermelon cultivars, using 30RAPD primers. These primers produced 662 RAPD markers that could berated with high confidence. Based on these markers, geneticsimilarity coefficients were calculated and a dendrogram wasconstructed using the unweighted pair-group method witharithmetic average (UPGMA). The analysis delineated threemajor clusters. The first cluster consisted of a group of fivewatermelon cultivars, a group of C.lanatus var. lanatusaccessions, and a group of C.lanatus var. lanatusaccessions that contained some C.lanatus var. citroidesgenes. The second cluster consisted of the C.lanatus var. citroidesaccessions, while the third cluster consisted of theC. colocynthis accessions.The two C. lanatus clustersdifferentiated from each other and from the C.colocynthis cluster at the level of 58.8%and 38.9% genetic similarity, respectively. Assessment ofgenetic diversity among accessions that have been reported to havedisease resistance indicated that resistance to either anthracnose,downy mildew, powdery mildew, or watermelon mosaic virus is foundamong all major groups of Citrullus PIs.Additionally, resistance to gummy stem blight or Fusarium wilt mayexist among C. lanatus var.citroides PIs. This study demonstrates thatmolecular markers can be useful in assessing genetic diversity, andin sorting Citrullus PIs into phylogeneticgroups prior to their evaluation for disease or pestresistance.     

Response of Winter Manure Application on Surface Runoff Water Quantity and Quality from Small Watersheds in South Dakota

Manure application on frozen soil, which is a common practice in the upper Midwest of USA, results in degraded soil and water quality. During snowmelt or precipitation events, water runoff carries nutrients into nearby streams and impairs the water quality. There is a need, therefore, to identify improved management of manure application in the soils. This study was conducted to assess water quality impacts associated following manure application during winter months when soil is completely covered with snow. The study site included three watersheds, named south (SW), east (CW), and north (NW) managed with a corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation located in South Dakota. The SW and NW were used as treatment, and CW as the control watershed. The treatments included manure application on the upper half of the SW and lower half of the NW, and CW received no manure application. This study showed that manure improved soil properties including infiltration rate and organic matter. Nitrogen and phosphorus losses in the surface runoff were higher from NW compared to that of SW. The CW had similar nutrient losses compared to the NW with slight differences. It can be concluded that maintaining a setback distance can help in improving the environmental quality as well as managing the agricultural wastes during the winter months.     

Subsurface drip irrigation for corn production: a review of 10 years of research in Kansas

Kansas State University initiated studies in 1989 to develop the methodology for successful application of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) for corn production on the deep silt loam soils of the Central Great Plains, USA. Irrigation water use for corn can be reduced by 35–55% when using SDI compared with more traditional forms of irrigation in the region. Irrigation frequency has not been a critical issue when SDI is used for corn production on the deep silt loam soils of the region. A dripline spacing of 1.5 m has been found to be most economical for corn grown in 0.76 m spaced rows. Nitrogen fertigation was a very effective management tool with SDI, helping to maximize corn grain yield, while obtaining high efficiencies of nitrogen and water use. The research SDI systems have been utilized since 1989 without replacement or major degradation. SDI systems lasting 10–20 years are cost competitive for corn production with the more traditional forms of irrigation in the Great Plains for certain field sizes.Communicated by P. Thorburn     

A new approach and case study for estimating extent and rates of habitat loss for ecological communities

The pace and magnitude of biodiversity loss has led to wide recognition that efforts to conserve individual species must be complemented by assessment and planning at community and ecosystem levels. Emerging protocols for assessing the conservation status of communities include as central criteria the current extent, historical reduction and contemporary rate of decline in geographic distribution. Estimation of these parameters is confronted by methodological challenges, data limitations and uncertainties that may vary from case to case. We describe an approach to these issues comprising five steps: (1) classification of the community using an analysis of data from systematic ground surveys; (2) mapping to produce a contemporary baseline distribution (1980s); (3) interpolation to produce a historical distribution (pre-European settlement); (4) interpretation of satellite imagery to update the distribution (various dates up to 2004) and (5) assessment of change in extent over historical and contemporary time scales incorporating plausible bounds of uncertainty around best estimates. The bounds can be based on areas for which image interpretation produces uncertain diagnosis of clearing and differences between credible alternative base maps of the same area. We demonstrated the approach using a case study of Coolibah-Black Box Woodland, a declining semi-arid woodland community in Australia and found that 61% (plausible range 50-67%) of the woodland community had been cleared since European settlement and that during 1998-2004 the community continued to decline on average by 135.3(±21.7) km² each year, or 1.7(±0.3)% of each previous year’s distribution, apparently accelerating in recent years. Strengths of the approach include the use of biological data (cf. remote sensing) to distinguish the target assemblage from others, the use of historical and contemporary base lines to examine change over different time scales, and the use of bounded estimates to incorporate uncertainty into the assessment.