Terpenoid marker compounds derived from biogenic precursors in volcanic ash from Mount St. Helens,Washington

A volcanic-ash sample obtained after the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington, was analyzed for cyclic terpenoid organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-computer techniques. Various tricyclic diterpenoid acids and hydrocarbons were identified including dehydroabietic acid, dehydroabietin, dehydroabietane, simonellite, and retene. Preliminary evidence indicates that these compounds were derived from forest soils or atmospheric aerosols or both in the vicinity of coniferous forests. A diagenetic scheme involving three possible pathways for the conversion of abietic acid to retene is presented.     

Saguaro Distribution under Nurse Plants in Arizona's Sonoran Desert: Directional and Microclimate Influences*

The saguaro cactus, an icon of the American southwestern desert, defines the extent of the Sonoran Desert through portions of its range. Saguaros rely upon nurse plants for establishment and survival in the harsh temperature and moisture regime of the desert. Freezing temperatures limit the range of the saguaro to the north in Arizona. However, nurse plants extend the range of saguaros by providing more moderate conditions beneath their canopies. This study focuses on precisely these small, highly localized temperature variations, which, we suggest, are linked to regional‐scale patterns of distribution of the species, particularly in marginal, cold‐limited locales. We sampled 291 saguaros over thirty populations in Arizona, in the northern portion of their range. Saguaros establish under the south side of their nurse's canopy in the coldest parts of their range more often than expected, while a significant distributional bias is not observed in those in warmer, more moderate plots. To further investigate air temperature as a possible factor in the directional bias of saguaro establishment, we collected microclimate data under the north and south sides of the canopies of two common nurse plants, Cercidium microphyllum (a tree) and Ambrosia deltoidea (a shrub) in Phoenix, Arizona. South sides of nurses have significantly higher minimum temperatures than do the north sides. Survivorship in the coldest areas appears to be greatest under the south side of a nurse's canopy, where warmer wintertime microclimatic conditions occur. We suggest that within‐canopy microclimatic variability under a single nurse plant may be reflected in regional distributional and in the survivorship patterns of saguaros throughout Arizona.     

Comparing different methods of bed shear stress estimates in simple and complex flow fields

Bed shear stress is a fundamental variable in river studies to link ?ow conditions to sediment transport. It is, however, dif?cult to estimate this variable accurately, particularly in complex ?ow ?elds. This study compares shear stress estimated from the log pro?le, drag, Reynolds and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) approaches in a laboratory ?ume in a simple boundary layer, over plexiglas and over sand, and in a complex ?ow ?eld around de?ectors. Results show that in a simple boundary layer, the log pro?le estimate is always the highest. Over plexiglas, the TKE estimate was the second largest with a value 30 per cent less than the log estimate. However, over sand, the TKE estimate did not show the expected increase in shear stress. In a simple boundary layer, the Reynolds shear stress seems the most appropriate method, particularly the extrapolated value at the bed obtained from a turbulent pro?le. In a complex ?ow ?eld around de?ectors, the TKE method provided the best estimate of shear stress as it is not affected by local streamline variations and it takes into account the increased streamwise turbulent ?uctuations close to the de?ectors. It is suggested that when single‐point measurements are used to estimate shear stress, the instrument should be positioned close to 0·1 of the ?ow depth, which corresponds to the peak value height in pro?les of Reynolds and TKE shear stress. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A method for distinguishing the females and late copepodites of three species of Boeckella

Consistent differences in the morphology of the last metasomal segment and genital segment were found among adult female Boeckella triarticulata, B. dilatata, and B. hamata. These differences are taxonomically useful in collections where males are sparse. Distinguishing features used to classify CIII‐CV B. triarticulata, B. dilatata, and B. hamata of co‐occurring populations to species are also described. The diagnostic features of both adult female and copepodites may be used at low magnifications.