Cortinarius sarcoflammeus sp. nov, a new species of subgenus Dermocybe (Agaricales) growing in Sphagnum bogs

 Cortinarius sarcoflammeus is proposed as a new species belonging to subgenus Dermocybe, on the basis of its morphological, chemical and ecological characters. The strong red-orange colour of the context and stipe base, large spores, sphagnicolous habitat and high dermorubin content are characteristic for the new species. Holotypes of C. huronensis and C. huronensis var. olivaceus have been examined for comparison, and their differences discussed. Photographs and line drawings of C. sarcoflammeus are added. Received February 13, 2001 Accepted March 23, 2001     

Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Finnish Energy System, 1900–2003

In producing power, humans move the nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from their long‐term geological and biological stocks and release or emit them in soil, water, and the atmosphere. In Finland, peat combustion is an important driver of N and P fluxes from the environment to human economy. The flows of N and P in the Finnish energy system were quantified with partial substance flow analysis, and the driving forces of emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) were analyzed using the ImPACT model. In the year 2000 in Finland, 140,000 tonnes of nitrogen entered the energy system, mainly in peat and hard coal. Combustion released an estimated 66,000 tonnes of N as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and nitrous oxides (N2O) and another 74,000 tonnes as elemental N2. Most of the emissions were borne in traffic. At the same time, 6,000 tonnes of P was estimated to enter the Finnish energy system, mostly in peat and wood. Ash was mainly used in earth construction and disposed in landfills; thus negligible levels of P were recycled back to nature. During the twentieth century, fuel‐borne input of N increased 20‐fold, and of P 8‐fold. In 1900–1950, the increasing use of hard coal slowly boosted N input, whereas wood fuels were the main carrier of P. Since 1970, the fluxes have been on the rise. NOx emissions leveled off in the 1980s, though, and then declined in conjunction with improvements in combustion technologies such as NOx removal (de‐NOx) technologies in energy production and catalytic converters in cars.     

Peat,zeolite and basalt as adsorbents of ammoniacal nitrogen during manure decomposition

The effectiveness of sphagnum peat, zeolite (clinoptilonite) and basalt in reducing ammonia losses during aerobic manure decomposition was determined in an incubation experiment. Peat placed in the spent air-stream adsorbed all of the ammonia volatilized during the first 8 days of decomposition, and reduced overall ammonia losses by 59%. Zeolite reduced total ammonia losses by 16%, and basalt by 6%.All adsorbents were considerably less effective in reducing ammonia losses when mixed with the manure. Reductions in ammonia losses of 24% and 1.5% were obtained with the peat and zeolite, respectively. The addition of basalt increased losses.Ammonia and ammonium adsorption isotherms were determined for the three materials. The adsorption capacities and affinity terms of the adsorbents calculated from the isotherms, reflected their ability to reduce ammonia losses in the incubation experiment. Zeolite had both the highest affinity for ammonium and the highest ammonium adsorption capacity. The peat had a very high affinity for ammonia and a high adsorption capacity (23.4 mg NH₃–N g^–1), whereas zeolite and basalt had a much lower adsorption capacity (1.8 and 0.05 mg NH₃–N g^–1, respectively) compared with their capacity to adsorb ammonium (18.1 and 0.18 mg NH₄–N g^–1).     

Effects of gravel size and peat material concentrations on embryo survival and alevin emergence of brown trout,Salmo trutta L.

Embryo survival and alevin emergence pattern of brown trout were studied in simulated redds with different homogeneous gravel sizes and different concentrations of peat material. Optimal survival (95%) occurred in 18 mm gravel and survival decreased with decreasing gravel size. High concentrations (40%) of peat material resulted in low survival (65%). The proportion of premature emerging alevins increased in finer gravels and at high peat concentrations. Premature alevins had a large yolk sac and are probably very vulnerable to predators.     

Peat and water chemistry at Big Run Bog,a peatland in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia,USA

At Big Run Bog, aSphagnum-dominated peatland in the unglaciated Appalachian Plateau of West Virginia, significant spatial variation in the physical and chemical properties of the peat and in surface and subsurface (30 cm deep) water chemistry was characterized. The top 40 cm of organic peat at Big Run Bog had average values for bulk density of 0.09 g · cm^–3, organic matter concentration of 77%, and volumetric water content of 88%. Changes in physical and chemical properties within the peat column as a function of depth contributed to different patterns of seasonal variation in the chemistry of surface and subsurface waters. Seasonal variation in water chemistry was related to temporal changes in plant uptake, organic matter decomposition and element mineralization, and to varying redox conditions associated with fluctuating water table levels. On the average, total Ca, Mg, and N concentrations in Big Run Bog peat were 33, 15, and 1050 mol · g^–1, respectively; exchangeable Ca and Mg concentrations were 45 and 14 eq · g^–1 , respectively. Surface water pH averaged 4.0 and Ca⁺⁺ concentrations were less than 50 eq · L^–1 . These chemical variables have all been used to distinguish bogs from fens. Physiographically, Big Run Bog is a minerotrophic fen because it receives inputs of water from the surrounding forested upland areas of its watershed. However, chemically, Big Run Bog is more similar to true ombrotrophic bogs than to minerotrophic fens.     

Iron toxicity and other chemical soil constraints to rice in highland swamps of Burundi

Iron toxicity is suspected to be a major nutritional disorder in rice cropping systems established on flooded organic soils that contain reductible iron. A pot trial was carried out to assess Fe toxicity to rice in flooded Burundi highland swamp soils with a wide range of organic carbon contents. Soil and leaf analyses were performed and total grain weight was determined. Clear Fe toxicity was diagnosed, based on leaf Fe content at panicle differentiation. Leaf Fe contents higher than 250 g g^–1 dry matter induced lower Mg (and probably Mn) uptake, and a 50% total grain weight reduction. These features were associated with exchangeable Fe equivalent fractions higher than 86%. Besides, several non-Fe toxic soils exhibited an Mg-Mn imbalance.     

Peatlands as scientific archives of past biodiversity

Peat bogs preserve past biodiversity in a way which is unique among ecosystems, but the full realization of this, and the exploitation of the various records which are archived in the stratified layers of peat, is only now beginning. Present knowledge of peat formation in ombrotrophic or rain-fed bogs is reviewed and the many advantages of such systems as proxy-data sources are summarized. Some results of recent work involving pollen analysis and human impact, pollution histories, volcanic ash layers, plant macrofossils and the prospects for a detailed proxy-climate record are presented. The present vegetation of such bogs is only a very partial view of their past biodiversity; the conservation of the peat that remains must have a high priority.     

Forest development during 6,300–3,000 yBP (Early to Late Jomon Periods) at the Akayama Site,central Japan

Fossil wood assemblages deposited during 6.300–3.000 yBP, are studied at the Akayama Site, central Japan. Layer III containing fossil woods was divided into three subunits according to intercalating tephras, and total 3618 fossil woods were studied. In the composition, deciduous broad-leaved trees dominated, accompanied by some evergreen conifers. In the diameter distribution, nine taxa accounted for nearly 90% of individuals exceeding 10 cm in diameter. Spatial distribution of nine major and three minor taxa and that of thick individuals clarified the following points: 1)Fraxinus established a lowland forest during 5,000–4,500 yBP, accompanied byAlnus sect.Gymnothyrsus, Acer andAesculus turbinata; 2) small trees ofAlnus sect.Gymnothyrsus extensively intermingled in the lowlandFraxinus forest during 4,500–3,000 yBP; 3)Quercus sect.Prinus and Castanea crenata constituted escarpment forests during 6,300–3,000 yBP; 4)Carpinus sect.Eucarpinus became a major component during 5,000–4,500 yBP, andOstrya japonica replacedCastanea crenata during 4,500–3,000 yBP. Comparison with the other five contemporaneous fossil wood assemblages shows prevalence ofFraxinus-dominant forests during the Late to Latest Jomon Periods in the southern part of the Kanto Plain.