Utilizing in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study sublethal stress in aquatic organisms

In vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is a powerful technique for characterizing the sublethal actions of physical and chemical stressors in live, intact organisms. In particular, 31P NMR is ideal for observing perturbations to cellular energetics since critical metabolite concentrations, including phosphagens, ATP and inorganic phosphate (Pi), can be measured non-invasively and in real time. This technique's versatility is demonstrated not only in the diversity of organisms that can be studied, but also in its broad-ranging applicability to environmental research. Illustrative studies include the actions of copper in adult red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and changes in energetically important metabolites in developing medaka embryos (Oryzias latipes). Advantages and disadvantages of in vivo NMR will be discussed.     

Projected sea level rise in Florida

Future sea level rise will lead to salt water intrusion, beach/dune recession, and many other coastal problems. This paper addresses a data based forecasting approach to provide relative sea level rise estimates at locations in Florida where historical water level data exist. Many past estimates of sea level rise have treated the rise as a linear straight line trend over the historical data set. The present paper has allowed for acceleration (or deceleration) in sea level rise to account for the possibility of anthropogenic global warming and consequent higher (than linear straight line) future sea levels similar to values noted by global climatic modelers. Results of the present analysis show sea level rise for Florida being higher than past straight line trend results.     

Even–odd analysis on a complex shoreline

An even–odd signal decomposition is performed on a complex shoreline having a longshore sediment transport gradient. The expected impact of erosion due to a navigation channel and structures is discussed and implications of the transport gradient on the decomposed shoreline signal are noted.     

High spatial resolution Galactic 3D extinction mapping with IPHAS

We present an algorithm (MEAD, for 'Mapping Extinction Against Distance') which will determine intrinsic  ( r '− i ')  colour, extinction, and distance for early-A to K4 stars extracted from the IPHAS   r '/ i '/Hα  photometric data base. These data can be binned up to map extinction in three dimensions across the northern Galactic plane. The large size of the IPHAS data base (∼200 million unique objects), the accuracy of the digital photometry it contains and its faint limiting magnitude  ( r '∼ 20)  allow extinction to be mapped with fine angular (∼10 arcmin) and distance (∼ 0.1 kpc) resolution to distances of up to 10 kpc, outside the solar circle. High reddening within the solar circle on occasion brings this range down to ∼2 kpc. The resolution achieved, both in angle and depth, greatly exceeds that of previous empirical 3D extinction maps, enabling the structure of the Galactic Plane to be studied in increased detail. MEAD accounts for the effect of the survey magnitude limits, photometric errors, unresolved interstellar medium (ISM) substructure and binarity. The impact of metallicity variations, within the range typical of the Galactic disc is small. The accuracy and reliability of MEAD are tested through the use of simulated photometry created with Monte Carlo sampling techniques. The success of this algorithm is demonstrated on a selection of fields and the results are compared to the literature.     

Sensitivity of coastal waters to anthropogenic trace metal emissions

Trace metal concentrations in the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Scotian Shelf and their sensitivity to changes in the composition of the major contributor of fresh water, the St. Lawrence River, are assessed. Comparison of the levels of trace metals in eastern Canadian coastal waters with those in other coastal waters of the world reveals that the former area generally has lower trace metal concentrations and is, therefore, probably less contaminated than elsewhere. The increased anthropogenic activity in the St. Lawrence drainage basin required to increase the levels of trace metals in receiving coastal waters by detectable amounts is discussed. We demonstrate that faster and more reliable warning of changes due to anthropogenic activity will be revealed through river monitoring than through monitoring of coastal waters. Changes in the marine environment can then be assessed through a thorough understanding of the geochemical behaviour of trace metals in nearshore waters.     

A portable shear box for testing rock joints

Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering - The authors describe their early work on the development and operation of a portable shear box for testing rock joints. Experiences with sampling, roughness...     

Pollutant transport in a shallow unconfined aquifer in Perry,Ohio

The groundwater system in northern Perry Township in Lake County, Ohio, is a shallow, unconfined aquifer consisting of periglacial lake beach deposits and less permeable lacustrine plain deposits. Groundwater flow is generally toward Lake Erie from south to north and is controlled by the top of the Ashtabula Till, but strong, local variations are caused by northward flowing streams During the study period, water levels in most wells exhibited a seasonal fluctuation of less than 0 3 m from their mean values. The areal distributions of chloride and nitrate concentrations indicate that road salt runoff easily infiltrates the aquifer and that nitrate may be sourced from fertilizer application. Ground-water flow and solute transport models indicate that in excess of 27 years are required to obtain chemical steady-state under hydrologic steady-state conditions. The simulations also demonstrate that nitrate loading must occur in more than one cultivated field in order to obtain the observed wide-spread nitrate distribution.     

Public Support for Land Acquisition: A Key Instrument for Successful Land Conservation,Governance and Management

While it is recognized that protected areas are important for biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing, governments struggle to establish and/or enlarge protected areas. Land acquisition and the challenges encountered by governing institutions in funding protected area systems expansion is discussed in this paper using the Capital Regional District (CRD) Land Acquisition Fund as a case study. We briefly discuss land acquisition in British Columbia and in the CRD, and offer an overview of the CRD Land Acquisition Fund and the public participation process that led to its establishment. We emphasize the importance of developing political and citizen support, and a shared vision about expanding protected areas systems - a key element for nearly doubling the parkland base of CRD Regional Parks in less than 20?years. We conclude by offering the lessons learned through the case study and provide guidance for policy and governance directions with regard to land acquisition.