Integrated Deep Soil N and Groundwater Isotope Investigation of N Sources Captured by Municipal Wells

Identification of major nitrate sources that adversely impact groundwater quality in municipal well capture zones in areas of emerging nitrate contamination is essential to minimize leaching and prevent exceedance of the nitrate drinking water standard. Vertical profiles of nitrate leachate in deep soils provide an estimate of the amount of nitrate in transit beneath irrigated, row-cropped fields; depths of peak leachate; and the approximate rate of downward movement. Profiles of pore-water soil-nitrate concentrations in thick 60-feet (~18 m), fine-textured soils near Hastings, Nebraska clearly indicate that considerably more nitrate leached beneath furrow-irrigated than center-pivot irrigated fields. Peak leaching appeared to correlate with recorded periods of poor weather conditions during some growing seasons and may best be controlled by “spoon feeding” fertilizer to the crop through the sprinkler irrigation system at times of nutrient need. The presence of trace levels of atrazine and deethylatrazine to 60 feet (18 m) in core samples indicates that larger, more complex anthropogenic molecules also leach through the fine-textured soils. The light δ¹⁵N_NO3 values in the surficial groundwater beneath fertilized and irrigated cropland indicate that ammonium fertilizer is a major N source and suggest that the natural soil-N contribution is negligible. δ¹⁵N_NO3 values were most enriched in irrigation wells located within municipal well capture zones downgradient of a large feedlot. Dual isotope method (DIM) δ¹⁵N_NO3 and δ¹⁸O_NO3 values suggest that the Hastings’ municipal wells farther downgradient are contaminated with a mixture of nitrate from manure and commercial ammonium-based fertilizer. DIM values indicate an absence of denitrification, which has implications for long-term management of the water resources.     

Mineralogical approaches to sourcing pipes and figurines from the eastern woodlands,U.S.A.

Provenance studies of stone artifacts often rely heavily upon chemical techniques such as neutron activation analysis. However, stone specimens with very similar chemical composition can have different mineralogies (distinctive crystalline structures as well as variations within the same mineral) that are not revealed by multielemental techniques. Because mineralogical techniques are often cheap and usually nondestructive, beginning with mineralogy allows the researcher to gain valuable information and then to be selective about how many samples are submitted for expensive and somewhat destructive chemical analysis, thus conserving both valuable samples and funds. Our University of Illinois team of archaeologists and geologists employs Portable Infrared Mineral Analyzer (PIMA) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Sequential acid dissolution/XRD/Inductively coupled plasma (SAD‐XRD‐ICP) analyses. Two case studies of Hopewellian pipes and Mississippian figurines illustrate this mineralogical approach. The results for both studies identify sources relatively close to the sites where the artifacts were recovered: Sterling, Illinois (rather than Ohio) for the (Hopewell) pipes and Missouri (rather than Arkansas or Oklahoma) for the Cahokia figurines. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Influence of landscape restoration and degradation on storm surge and waves in southern Louisiana

The purpose of this investigation was to examine storm surge and wave reduction benefits of different environmental restoration features (marsh restoration and barrier island changes), as well as the impact of future wetland degradation on local surge and wave conditions. Storm surge simulations of two representative hurricanes were performed using the ADCIRC storm surge model with the inclusion of radiation stress gradients from the STWAVE nearshore wave model. Coupled model simulations were made for a number of landscape configurations that involved both restored and degraded wetland features. The impact of barrier island condition on hurricane surge and waves was also evaluated. Effects of landscape features were represented by changes in elevation and frictional resistance. Restoration and degradation of marsh resulted in decreases (for restoration cases) and increases (for degradation cases) in both surge and waves. The magnitude of change was correlated with the magnitude of the horizontal extent and elevation changes in the marsh. In general, the wave change patterns are consistent with the water level changes. Deflation of the Chandeleur Islands (barrier island chain) resulted in slightly increased surge. Results suggest that coastal marsh does have surge and wave reduction potential. Results also indicate that the impact of the landscape features is amplified in areas where there are levee “pockets.” Barrier islands and coastal ridges reduce wave heights, even if in a degraded condition and thus can reduce wave energy in wetland areas, protecting them from erosion.     

A surge response function approach to coastal hazard assessment. Part 2: Quantification of spatial attributes of response functions

In response to the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, surge risk assessment approaches have been re-evaluated to develop more rapid, reliable methods for predicting the risk associated with extreme hurricanes. Here, the development of dimensionless surge response functions relating surge to hurricane meteorological parameters is presented. Such response functions present an opportunity to maximize surge data usage and to improve statistical estimates of surge probability by providing a means for defining continuous probability density functions. A numerical modeling investigation was carried out for the Texas, USA coastline to develop physical scaling laws relating storm surge response with hurricane parameters including storm size, intensity, and track. It will be shown that these scaling laws successfully estimate the surge response at any arbitrary location for any arbitrary storm track within the study region. Such a prediction methodology has the potential to decrease numerical computation requirements by 75% for hurricane risk assessment studies.     

The morphology and behaviour of larvae of some intertidal sponges

The morphology, swimming behaviour, settlement preferences and behaviour of five species of Demospongiae are described. The sponges, Haliclona sp., Microciona coccinea, Ophlitaspongia seriata, Mycale macilenta, and Halichondria moorei, are all common in the intertidal region in the north of New Zealand. The view is put forward that larval behaviour must be interpreted in terms of the known ecological situation of the adult sponge.     

Fish effects on charophyte establishment in a shallow,eutrophic New Zealand lake

Fish exclosures were deployed within shallow, eutrophic Lake Rotoroa, Hamilton, New Zealand to assess the influence of an alien‐dominated fish population on establishment by charophytes. Replicated mesh exclosures were placed at sites differing in wave exposure and received transplanted charophyte oospores and plants, with identical material placed outside. Charophyte establishment from oospores and plant biomass were greater inside exclosures compared with outside. Wave exposure did not depress germling response and the effect of fish exclosures on charophyte establishment was least apparent at the most exposed site. Exclosures did not have a statistically significant influence on the light climate, and epiphytic algal development was similar or higher inside the exclosures. However, sediment mobilisation was lower inside the exclosures. Results suggest that fish were primarily responsible for the poor performance of unprotected charophytes in Lake Rotoroa, with fish effects on plants operating via direct disturbance or grazing.     

Non-Energy Resources,Connecticut Coastal Waters,Year 9 and 10 Activities

The Connecticut effort in year 9 of the Continental Margins Program concentrated on a 13.6-mi2 area south of the Housatonic River. This area was chosen for a side-scan sonar survey because it lies on and adjacent to the bathymetric expressions of two fairly large, subcropping, potential sources of coarse material. Previous seismic work in the area indicated that outcrops or subcrops of these potential source deposits could be delineated using their bathymetric expression. Owing to the limited resolution of the seismic data, a correlation between bottom type and underlying source deposits could not be made with the seismics alone. Results from the November 1993 side-scan survey show that although the source deposits have discernible bathymetric expressions, they are not cropping out as much as expected. As a result, bottom type is not necessarily determined by subcropping deposits in this particular area. Year 10 work was concentrated in Fishers Island Sound, where three areas of potential interest for near-shore gravel resources had previously been identified. These areas were surveyed, during the spring of 1996, using the RoxAnn Seabed Classification System. A small video camera and a Van Veen grab sampler were used to calibrate and verify the RoxAnn data. Although previous sampling had indicated the presence of gravel or gravelly sediment in all of the survey areas, the RoxAnn results showed less gravel than anticipated. Vibrant eelgrass beds and other habitat indicators were detected in all of the survey areas. Given the variable sediment results, and the high habitat potential of the areas surveyed, the likelihood of developing a sand and gravel supply from the near shore of Fishers Island Sound appears quite low.     

A Method for Direct Assessment of the “Non Rainfall” Atmospheric Water Cycle: Input and Evaporation From the Soil

“Non rainfall” atmospheric water (dew, fog, vapour adsorption) supplies a small amount of water to the soil surface that may be important for arid soil micro-hydrology and ecology. Research into the direct effects of this water on soil is, however, lacking due to instrument and technical constraints. We report on the design, development, construction and findings of an automated microlysimeter instrument to directly measure this soil water cycle in Stellenbosch, South Africa during winter. Performance of the microlysimeter was satisfactory and results obtained were compared to literature and fell within the expected range. “Non rainfall” atmospheric water input into bare soil (river sand) was between 0.88 and 1.10?mm per night while evaporation was between 1.39 and 2.71?mm per day. The study also attempted to differentiate the composition of “non rainfall” atmospheric water and results showed that vapour adsorption contributed the bulk of this input.     

全球重要农业文化遗产(GIAHS)经济评估概念框架:以中国稻鱼共生系统为例（英文）

全球重要农业文化遗产(GIAHS)项目是2002年由联合国粮农组织(FAO)发起,旨在建立全球重要农业文化遗产及其有关的景观、生物多样性、知识和文化保护体系,并在世界范围内得到认可与保护,使之成为可持续管理的基础。农业文化遗产地往往被认为比非遗产地更具经济价值,但目前还没有经济学分析来证明这一点,也没有任何针对农业文化遗产地的复杂的经济性能标准来长期监测其经济功能。本研究的目的在于建立一个经济评价方法,可用于遗产地与非遗产地之间比较。为此,本文选择了成本效益分析(CBA)方法。鉴于数据可得性的限制,经济分析的框架应该包括分析的方向、假设和数据要求,由此指导未来对GIAHS的经济评价。本研究选择中国青田稻鱼共生系统作为案例,根据数据可得性并针对不同活动(旅游,国内和国际市场的销售产品)以及相似系统间比较进行计算。     

A record of phosphorus dynamics in oligotrophic lake sediment

Historical phosphorus (P) dynamics were studied using sediment cores from three oligotrophic, acidic lakes in Maine, USA. Long-term oligotrophy of these lakes is consistent with high sediment aluminum (as Al(OH)₃) concentrations, as Al inhibits internal P loading, even under reducing conditions. The role of microbially-mediated reactions in controlling redox conditions was evaluated by estimating microbial biomass and relative abundance of specific functional groups. Sediments were fractionated using a sequential chemical extraction technique and all lakes met criteria for P retention based on threshold sediment concentrations of Al, Fe, and P fractions as determined by (Kopáček et al. (2005) Limnol Oceanogr 52: 1147–1155). Sediment NaOH-extractable molybdate-reactive P (rP) and non-reactive P (nrP) represent P associated with non-reducible phases, and organic matter-related P, respectively. Total P (TP) does not decrease with sediment depth, as is typical of eutrophic lake sediments; however, nrP/TP decreases and rP/TP increases for all three lakes, indicating nrP mineralization without any significant upward diffusion and release into the hypolimnion; i.e. diagenesis of P is conservative within the sediment. Two diagenetic models were developed based on nrP and rP concentrations as a function of sediment age. The first model assumes a first-order decay of nrP, the rate coefficient being a function of time, and represents irreversible nrP mineralization, where the produced PO₄ is permanently sequestered by the sediment. The second model assumes a first-order reversible transformation between nrP and rP, representing biotic mineralization of organic P followed by incorporation of inorganic P into microbial biomass. Both models reflect preservation of TP with no loss to overlying water. The rate coefficients give us insight into qualities of the sediment that have affected mineralization and sequestration of phosphorus throughout the ²¹⁰Pb-dateable history of each lake. Similar models could be constructed for other lakes to help reconstruct their trophic histories. Paleolimnological reconstruction of the sediment P record in oligotrophic lakes shows mineralization of nrP to rP, but unlike the case in eutrophic lake sediments, sediment TP is preserved in these sediments.