Recreational water quality analyses of the Colorado River corridor in Grand Canyon.

We intensively examined the recreational water quality of the Colorado River and 26 tributaries in Grand Canyon National Park over four consecutive summers. Highly ephemeral precipitation cycles and arid watershed hydrologies were the principal factors influencing water quality. Fecal coliforms (FC) in the river and in most tributaries were less than or equal to 10 FC 100 ml-1 and less than or equal to 20 FC 100 ml-1, respectively, during drought cycles. During rainfall cycles, FC densities were highly variable and often exceeded recreational contact standards. FC were not found to vary significantly in response to diurnal fluctuations in river stage height which resulted from hydroelectric stream flow regulation. River and tributary bottom sediments harbored FC in densities averaging 10 to 100 times those in the overlying waters. Sediment FC densities were not found to be reliable indicators of overlying water quality when storm flow and nonstorm flow periods were compared.     

The influence of rainfall on the incidence of microbial faecal indicators and the dominant sources of faecal pollution in a Florida river

AIMS: An assessment of microbial densities in an urbanized Florida watershed was performed during a period of changing rainfall patterns to investigate the role of climate coupled with urbanization in declining water quality. METHODS AND RESULTS: Concentrations of traditional and alternative faecal indicators were assessed by standard methods over 24 months. Sources of faecal contamination were determined by antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA) of faecal coliform (FC) bacteria. Composite indices of indicator organisms based on a suite of microbial measurements were used to quantify pollution impacts in the river. ARA results found that FC from wild animal sources dominated during the drought, and the relative frequency of FC from human sources increased after cumulative rainfall increased to near-normal levels. CONCLUSIONS: Changes observed in faecal indicator densities and in FC sources during changing rainfall patterns strongly suggest a role of precipitation on the sources and extent of microbial pollution in urbanized coastal watersheds. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Bacterial source tracking coupled with a composite index of microbial contamination resulted in a more complete picture of microbial pollution within the river, as opposed to the general practice of reliance on one indicator organism. Improved land use decisions in urban areas are necessary to insure maintenance of coastal environmental health under changing climate patterns and population density.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区典型流域土地利用/土地覆被变化水文动态响应

以黄土高原第三副区桥子东、西沟流域为例,分析了土地利用／土地覆被变化的水文动态响应。研究结果表明：土地利用／土地覆被对年径流有显著影响,治理流域较未治理流域在丰水年、平水年和枯水年的径流系数分别减少约50％、85％和90％;流域土地利用后期（1995～2004年）较前期（1986～1994年）多年平均径流系数下降73．6％,且随降雨增多,土地利用与植被变化对径流的响应增强。土地利用／土地覆被变化对径流量的影响具有季节性特征,治理与非治理流域多年平均最大月径流系数减少时期与流域最大地表覆盖期具有一致性,即5月份径流系数减少值最大;同一降水条件下流域两期土地利用的产流量仅在生长季具有明显的差异。流域洪水径流量与场降雨量和30min最大雨强有较好的相关关系,场降雨量与30min雨强对治理流域洪水流量的影响要强于非治理流域;暴雨在达到一定强度后,对比流域的洪峰流量差异减小,即森林植被对洪水的影响减弱。经洪水频率分析,认为流域前后两期土地利用若具有相同频率的降雨强度,则一定频率范围内洪峰流量对土地利用与植被变化产生明显响应。     

Survival and enumeration of the fecal indicators Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Escherichia coli in a tropical rain forest watershed.

The density of Bifidobacterium spp., fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and total anaerobic bacteria, acridine orange direct counts, percentages of total bacterial community activity and respiration, and 12 physical and chemical parameters were measured simultaneously at six sites for 12 months in the Mameyes River rain forest watershed, Puerto Rico. The densities of all bacteria were higher than those reported for uncontaminated temperate rivers, even though other water quality parameters would indicate that all uncontaminated sites were oligotrophic. The highest densities for all indicator bacteria were at the site receiving sewage effluent; however, the highest elevation site in the watershed had the next highest densities. Correlations between bacterial densities, nitrates, temperature, phosphates, and total phosphorus indicated that all viable counts were related to nutrient levels, regardless of the site sampled. In situ diffusion chamber studies at two different sites indicated that E. coli could survive, remain physiologically active, and regrow at rates that were dependent on nutrient levels of the ambient waters. Bifidobacterium adolescentis did not survive at either site but did show different rates of decline and physiological activity at the two sites. Bifidobacteria show promise as a better indicator of recent fecal contamination in tropical freshwaters than E. coli or fecal coliforms; however, the YN-6 medium did not prove to be effective for enumeration of bifidobacteria. The coliform maximum contaminant levels for assessing water usability for drinking and recreation appear to be unworkable in tropical freshwaters.     

Survival and enumeration of the fecal indicators Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Escherichia coli in a tropical rain forest watershed

The density of Bifidobacterium spp., fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and total anaerobic bacteria, acridine orange direct counts, percentages of total bacterial community activity and respiration, and 12 physical and chemical parameters were measured simultaneously at six sites for 12 months in the Mameyes River rain forest watershed, Puerto Rico. The densities of all bacteria were higher than those reported for uncontaminated temperate rivers, even though other water quality parameters would indicate that all uncontaminated sites were oligotrophic. The highest densities for all indicator bacteria were at the site receiving sewage effluent; however, the highest elevation site in the watershed had the next highest densities. Correlations between bacterial densities, nitrates, temperature, phosphates, and total phosphorus indicated that all viable counts were related to nutrient levels, regardless of the site sampled. In situ diffusion chamber studies at two different sites indicated that E. coli could survive, remain physiologically active, and regrow at rates that were dependent on nutrient levels of the ambient waters. Bifidobacterium adolescentis did not survive at either site but did show different rates of decline and physiological activity at the two sites. Bifidobacteria show promise as a better indicator of recent fecal contamination in tropical freshwaters than E. coli or fecal coliforms; however, the YN-6 medium did not prove to be effective for enumeration of bifidobacteria. The coliform maximum contaminant levels for assessing water usability for drinking and recreation appear to be unworkable in tropical freshwaters.     

基于HEC-HMS模型的八一水库流域洪水重现期研究

不透水率是不透水层面积与总用地面积的比值,它是研究城市水文的一个重要指标.以福州市晋安区八一水库流域为例,应用WMS 7.1软件构建流域结构,将流域分为A,B两个子流域,基于相关数据建立HEC-HMS水文模型对降雨-径流进行模拟,从而构建起不透水率与洪水重现期的关系.结果表明:(1)随着城市化的进程,19a间全流域不透水率持续增长,变化区间在5％-10％之内;(2)子流域A重现期为100、50、25年一遇的洪水随着不透水率的增长,分别提前了20、8、3a;(3)子流域B的重现期为100、50、25年一遇的洪水随着不透水率的增长,分别提前了25、10、4a.     

Survival of Candida albicans in tropical marine and fresh waters

A survey of Candida albicans indicated that the organism was present at all sites sampled in a rain forest stream and in near-shore coastal waters of Puerto Rico. In the rain forest watershed no relationship existed between densities of fecal coliforms and densities of C. albicans. At two pristine sites in the rain forest watershed both C. albicans and Escherichia coli survived in diffusion chambers for extended periods of time. In near-shore coastal waters C. albicans and E. coli survival times in diffusion chambers were enhanced by effluent from a rum distillery. The rum distillery effluent had a greater effect on E. coli than on C. albicans survival in the diffusion chambers. These studies show that neither E. coli nor C. albicans organisms are good indicators of recent fecal contamination in tropical waters. It further demonstrates that pristine freshwater environments and marine waters receiving organic loading in the tropics can support densities of C. albicans which may be a health hazard.     

Survival of Candida albicans in tropical marine and fresh waters.

A survey of Candida albicans indicated that the organism was present at all sites sampled in a rain forest stream and in near-shore coastal waters of Puerto Rico. In the rain forest watershed no relationship existed between densities of fecal coliforms and densities of C. albicans. At two pristine sites in the rain forest watershed both C. albicans and Escherichia coli survived in diffusion chambers for extended periods of time. In near-shore coastal waters C. albicans and E. coli survival times in diffusion chambers were enhanced by effluent from a rum distillery. The rum distillery effluent had a greater effect on E. coli than on C. albicans survival in the diffusion chambers. These studies show that neither E. coli nor C. albicans organisms are good indicators of recent fecal contamination in tropical waters. It further demonstrates that pristine freshwater environments and marine waters receiving organic loading in the tropics can support densities of C. albicans which may be a health hazard.     

Population dynamics of Aeromonas spp. in an urban river watershed

Density of Aeromonas spp. at one site in the Buffalo River and at four sites on its upstream tributaries was followed from June 1992–June 1993. Membrane filtration counts of Aeromonas during the summer ranged between 18 and 4000 ml⁻¹, which were one to two logs higher than faecal coliform and faecal streptococci densities. Aeromonas spp. in the Buffalo River, and faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci, and the heterotrophic plate count throughout the watershed, increased by approximately one log during summer rainstorms. However, Aeromonas spp. increased only by a factor of two during rainstorms at the upstream sites. Aeromonas spp. showed a strong positive correlation with both indicator bacteria and total suspended solids at the upstream sites during the summer but not the winter. Correlations between Aeromonas and indicator bacteria remained strong in the Buffalo River during the winter, signifying that different conditions exist in the Buffalo River and its upstream tributaries. The strong correlation between Aeromonas spp. and indicator bacteria in the Buffalo River suggest that, in the absence of media capable of the quantitative recovery of potentially pathogenic aeromonads, standard faecal coliform analyses may adequately assess public health risks from Aeromonas spp. in an urban river used for recreational purposes.     

Fish assemblage of a Pampasic stream (Buenos Aires,Argentina): temporal variations and relationships with environmental variables

In the Argentine Pampa fertile soils were originally covered by grasslands, but at present are intensively cultivated. We assessed the specific composition of the fish assemblage of El Pescado stream and compared it with that recorded in 1991–1993, when land use in the watershed consisted in natural pastures. The persistence of the fish assemblage between the two studies was rather high: 0.76. Abundance, biomass and species richness were higher during drought periods. Connectivity with the huge Río de la Plata hydrographic system seems the most important contribution to the high and stable species richness of El Pescado stream.     

Sources and species of cryptosporidium oocysts in the Wachusett Reservoir watershed

Understanding the behavior of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the environment is critical to developing improved watershed management practices for protection of the public from waterborne cryptosporidiosis. Analytical methods of improved specificity and sensitivity are essential to this task. We developed a nested PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay that allows detection of a single oocyst in environmental samples and differentiates the human pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum from other Cryptosporidium species. We tested our method on surface water and animal fecal samples from the Wachusett Reservoir watershed in central Massachusetts. We also directly compared results from our method with those from the immunofluorescence microscopy assay recommended in the Information Collection Rule. Our results suggest that immunofluorescence microscopy may not be a reliable indicator of public health risk for waterborne cryptosporidiosis. Molecular and environmental data identify both wildlife and dairy farms as sources of oocysts in the watershed, implicate times of cold water temperatures as high-risk periods for oocyst contamination of surface waters, and suggest that not all oocysts in the environment pose a threat to public health.     

Simulation of climate‐tick‐host‐landscape interactions: Effects of shifts in the seasonality of host population fluctuations on tick densities

Tick vector systems are comprised of complex climate‐tick‐host‐landscape interactions that are difficult to identify and estimate from empirical observations alone. We developed a spatially‐explicit, individual‐based model, parameterized to represent ecological conditions typical of the south‐central United States, to examine effects of shifts in the seasonal occurrence of fluctuations of host densities on tick densities. Simulated shifts in the seasonal occurrence of periods of high and low host densities affected both the magnitude of unfed tick densities and the seasonality of tick development. When shifting the seasonal densities of all size classes of hosts (small, medium, and large) synchronously, densities of nymphs were affected more by smaller shifts away from the baseline host seasonality than were densities of larval and adult life stages. When shifting the seasonal densities of only a single size‐class of hosts while holding other size classes at their baseline levels, densities of larval, nymph, and adult life stages responded differently. Shifting seasonal densities of any single host‐class earlier resulted in a greater increase in adult tick density than when seasonal densities of all host classes were shifted earlier simultaneously. The mean densities of tick life stages associated with shifts in host densities resulted from system‐level interactions of host availability with tick phenology. For example, shifting the seasonality of all hosts ten weeks earlier resulted in an approximately 30% increase in the relative degree of temporal co‐occurrence of actively host‐seeking ticks and hosts compared to baseline, whereas shifting the seasonality of all hosts ten weeks later resulted in an approximately 70% decrease compared to baseline. Differences among scenarios in the overall presence of active host‐seeking ticks in the system were due primarily to the degree of co‐occurrence of periods of high densities of unfed ticks and periods of high densities of hosts.     

Sources and Species of Cryptosporidium Oocysts in the Wachusett Reservoir Watershed

Understanding the behavior of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the environment is critical to developing improved watershed management practices for protection of the public from waterborne cryptosporidiosis. Analytical methods of improved specificity and sensitivity are essential to this task. We developed a nested PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay that allows detection of a single oocyst in environmental samples and differentiates the human pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum from other Cryptosporidium species. We tested our method on surface water and animal fecal samples from the Wachusett Reservoir watershed in central Massachusetts. We also directly compared results from our method with those from the immunofluorescence microscopy assay recommended in the Information Collection Rule. Our results suggest that immunofluorescence microscopy may not be a reliable indicator of public health risk for waterborne cryptosporidiosis. Molecular and environmental data identify both wildlife and dairy farms as sources of oocysts in the watershed, implicate times of cold water temperatures as high-risk periods for oocyst contamination of surface waters, and suggest that not all oocysts in the environment pose a threat to public health.     

Response of land use/coverage change to hydrological dynamics at watershed scale in the Loess Plateau of China

In this study Qiaozidong and Qiaozixi watersheds in Loess Plateau were selected as the case to investigate the effects of land use/coverage change on hydrological dynamics. The results showed that the runoff coefficient of controlled watershed reduced by about 50%, 85%, 90%, respectively, in wet, normal and dry years in comparison with that of uncontrolled watershed. The average runoff coefficient reduced by 73.6% during the period of 1995–2004 compared with that in the previous period of 1986–1994 for land use in controlled watershed. And the impacts of land use and vegetation changes on runoff were strengthened in response to the increasing rainfall. Additionally, the impacts of land use/coverage change on runoff yield are characterized by seasonal fluctuation. The maximum monthly runoff reduction in the both watersheds occurred in May, which was consistent with the period of the maximum land coverage appeared. Finally, when the rainfall intensity reached a certain threshold, the variance of flood peak in two watersheds reduced, which showed that the effects of forest on flood weakened. The flood peak discharge frequencies indicated that peak discharge would respond to the land use and vegetation change obviously on condition that there were the same frequencies of rainfall intensity in the earlier and later periods.     

In situ survival of Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli in a tropical rain forest watershed.

For 12 months, Vibrio cholerae and fecal coliform densities were monitored along with nine other water quality parameters at 12 sites in a rain forest watershed in Puerto Rico. Densities of V. cholerae and fecal coliforms were not significantly correlated, even though the highest densities of both bacteria were found at a sewage outfall. High densities of V. cholerae were also found at pristine sites at the highest point in the watershed. The density of Escherichia coli and V. cholerae in membrane diffusion chambers did not change significantly during the course of two such studies. Physiological activity, as measured by electron transport system activity and relative nucleic acid composition, indicated that both E. coli and V. cholerae remained active. This study suggests that V. cholerae is indigenous to tropical fresh waters and that assays other than those that detect fecal coliforms or E. coli must be used for assessing public health risk in tropical waters.     

In situ survival of Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli in a tropical rain forest watershed

For 12 months, Vibrio cholerae and fecal coliform densities were monitored along with nine other water quality parameters at 12 sites in a rain forest watershed in Puerto Rico. Densities of V. cholerae and fecal coliforms were not significantly correlated, even though the highest densities of both bacteria were found at a sewage outfall. High densities of V. cholerae were also found at pristine sites at the highest point in the watershed. The density of Escherichia coli and V. cholerae in membrane diffusion chambers did not change significantly during the course of two such studies. Physiological activity, as measured by electron transport system activity and relative nucleic acid composition, indicated that both E. coli and V. cholerae remained active. This study suggests that V. cholerae is indigenous to tropical fresh waters and that assays other than those that detect fecal coliforms or E. coli must be used for assessing public health risk in tropical waters.     

流域尺度水土保持生物措施减沙效益研究

1　引　　言黄土高原位于黄河中游 ,流经黄土高原的 9大支流进入河口镇至花园口的中游河段 ,总径流量为 187× 10 8ｍ3 ,输沙量占黄河流域总沙量的 90 % .建国以来以修建梯田坝地、造林种草、建谷坊、调整种植结构为主的水土保持工程、生物治理长年不懈 ,其目的在于减水减沙 ,改善流域生态环境 .但是 ,除部分中小尺度流域进入生态、经济效益良性循环的轨道外 ,大部分地区生态环境仍然十分脆弱 ,部分地区有恶化之势 .因此 ,定量评价水土保持工程、生物措施的治理效益是广为关注的研究课题 ,虽相关的研究成果不少 ,但是绝大部分工作是评价水土…     

A morphometric examination of type II alveolar epithelial cells in normal and isolated-perfused dog lungs

The volume densities of type II alveolar cell cytoplasmic organelles and alveolar surface densities were estimated by established stereologic procedures. The morphometric measurements were obtained from normal dog lungs (in situ) and isolated dog lungs perfused for 30-minute, 1-hour, and 2-hour periods. The type II cell lamellar body volume densities and the alveolar surface densities progressively decreased as the times of perfusion were increased. The volume densities of the granular and agranular endoplasmic reticulum progressively increased during the periods of perfusion. These morphometric parameters from lungs in situ and isolated lungs suggest that changes occur in pulmonary surfactant synthesis and activity during perfusion. It is further postulated that progressive increases in the rates of surfactant removal and/or inactivation during perfusion may contribute to spontaneous edema in lungs isolated for periods exceeding two hours. The morphologic and physiologic integrity of isolated perfused lung preparations, widely used as models of lungs in vivo, in situ requires further evaluation.     

避灾露营对城市公共绿地土壤呼吸的短期影响

2008年5月12日四川汶川发生里氏8．0级大地震后,城市居民大规模在公共绿地上露宿避灾,而这些强人为干扰活动对绿地植被和土壤影响的科学研究却十分少。选择不同时间露营点和出入帐棚必经的践踏区域,测量土壤CO2通量的变化及相关环境因子（空气温湿度、土壤容重、孔隙度和微生物生物量等）。结果发现土壤CO2通量明显地受露营和人为践踏的影响,露营和人为践踏区土壤CO2通量明显地低于对照区。随着露营的增加,土壤CO2通量呈现先降低（大约10d后）后略有增加（大约20d后）,后期又下降的趋势（大约25d后）。在露营区,土壤紧实和遮荫是土壤CO2通量减少的两个主要过程,在早期,严重遮荫后引起根系呼吸下降是主要过程,而在后期,随着人入睡帐棚次数的增加,土壤紧实是控制土壤CO2通量的主要过程;而在践踏区,踩踏引起土壤紧实是土壤呼吸下降的主要原因。因此地震露营避灾后退化草坪恢复的一个关键措施是松土改善土壤的物理状况。     

Large prey for small cubs - on crucial resources of a boreal red fox population

Many studies of red fox Vulpes vulpes diet have indicated a higher frequency of large prey in the diet of cubs at dens in relation to that of adults From time to time this finding has been questioned as an artifact due to the different types of sampling In this paper I suggest that the observations were correct and reflected optimal behaviour of a central place forager I compared the diet of foxes by analyses of 112 cub scats collected at breeding dens and 168 adult scats collected during the same periods The study was performed in a boreal environment, characterised by cyclically fluctuating vole populations According to theory the diets should converge when voles become plentiful During a year of low, but increasing, vole densities, a significantly higher proportion of large prey was found in the sample from cubs than from adults This was not the case during the peak and the decline year, when the presumably easily available voles appeared frequently in the scats of both cubs and adults I argue that the availability of large prey during the first year of increasing vole densities might determine territory sue and hence also average population density of foxes throughout the whole cycle in boreal foxes