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Seasonal Dynamics Of Karst Surface Dissolution Based On A Limestone Tables Experiment (Slovak Karst), Alena Gessert, Zdenko Hochmuth

International Journal of Speleology

Chemical denudation in karst is the basic process of karst relief formation. However, it is influenced by many factors of varying intensity that depend on the climatic conditions and characteristics of each given location. Based on measurable results of weight loss of limestone tablets, we monitored the intensity of chemical denudation in two areas of the Slovak Karst, Silica Plateau and Jasov Plateau that are situated in the most developed karst plateau region of Slovakia. Both experimental sites are similar in terms of geographical conditions, thus comparable between them. In each locality, we placed three sets of standardized tablets at …

Archean (3.3 Ga) Paleosols And Paleoenvironments Of Western Australia, Gregory J. Retallack, Mark D. Schmitz

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Pilbara craton of northwestern Australia is known for what were, when reported, the oldest known microfossils and paleosols on Earth. Both interpretations are mired in controversy, and neither remain the oldest known. Both the microfossils and the paleosols have been considered hydrothermal artefacts: carbon films of vents and a large hydrothermal cupola, respectively. This study resampled and analyzed putative paleosols within and below the Strelley Pool Formation (3.3 Ga), at four classic locations: Strelley Pool, Steer Ridge, Trendall Ridge, and Streckfuss, and also at newly discovered outcrops near Marble Bar. The same sequence of sedimentary facies and paleosols was …

Dual Activation Of Peroxymonosulfate Using Mnfe2O4/G‑C3N4 And Visible Light For The Efficient Degradation Of Steroid Hormones: Performance, Mechanisms, And Environmental Impacts, Kitipong Poomipuen, Chainarong Sakulthaew, Chanat Chokejaroenrat, Athaphon Angkaew, Kanidrawee Techauay, Thapanee Poompoung, Kanokwan Teingtham, Piyaporn Phansak, Piyangkun Lueangjaroenkit, Daniel D. Snow

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Single activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in a homogeneous system is sometimes insufficient for producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) for water treatment applications. In this work, manganese spinel ferrite and graphitic carbon nitride (MnFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄; MnF) were successfully used as an activator for PMS under visible light irradiation to remove the four-mostdetected- hormone-contaminated water under different environmental conditions. The incorporation of g-C₃N₄ in the nanocomposites led to material enhancements, including increased crystallinity, reduced particle agglomeration, amplified magnetism, improved recyclability, and increased active surface area, thereby facilitating the PMS activation and electron …

Microplastics Distribution Within Western Arctic Seawater And Sea Ice, Alessandra D’Angelo, Nicole Trenholm, Brice Loose, Laura Glastra, Jacob Strock, Jongsun Kim

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a global environmental concern, exhibiting wide distribution within marine ecosystems, including the Arctic Ocean. Limited Arctic microplastic data exist from beached plastics, seabed sediments, floating plastics, and sea ice. However, no studies have examined microplastics in the sea ice of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area, and few have explored Arctic marginal seas’ water column. The majority of the microplastic data originates from the Eurasian Arctic, with limited data available from other regions of the Arctic Ocean. This study presents data from two distinct campaigns in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago …

Draft Genome Of Methanol-Oxidizing Methylobacterium Fujisawaense Strain Lac1, Jooho Chung, Jinha Kim, John C. Blazier, Myung Hwangbo, Kung-Hui Chu

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

We report the draft genome of Methylobacterium fujisawaense LAC1 isolated from an acidic aquifer in Indian Head, MD, USA. The genome contains 5,883,000 bp and has a GC content of 70% with 5,434 protein-encoding genes with functional assignments. This strain can grow on methanol with lanthanum, a rare earth element.

Approaches To Assessing Nutrient Coupling In Open Ocean Datasets, James M. Moore, Claire P. Till

IdeaFest: Interdisciplinary Journal of Creative Works and Research from Cal Poly Humboldt

Nutrient coupling describes a process where the biogeochemical cycles of two elements are linked by being incorporated similarly into biomass. This paper uses data from the GEOTRACES GP16 cruise (Eastern Pacific Zonal Transect) to investigate the relationship between certain macronutrients generally coupled to trace elements in terms of their oceanic distributions with the notable exception of in an oxygen minimum zone: cadmium-phosphate and zinc-silicate. There are many methods applied to oceanographic data to correlate analyte concentrations; while they are often presented independently in literature, here we attempt to use them in conjunction for a more thorough interpretation. By compiling 1) …

Elevated Risk Of Compound Extreme Precipitation Preceded By Extreme Heat Events In The Upper Midwestern United States, Manas Khan, Rabin Bhattarai, Liang Chen

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Compound extreme events can potentially cause deadlier socio-economic consequences. Although several studies focused on individual extreme climate events, the occurrence of compound extreme events is still not well studied in the upper Midwestern United States. In this study, compound extreme precipitation preceded by extreme hot day events was investigated. Results showed a strong linkage between extreme precipitation events and extreme hot days. A significant increasing trend was noticed mainly in Iowa (10.1%), northern parts of Illinois (5.04%), and Michigan (5.04%). Results also showed a higher intensity of extreme precipitation events preceded by an extremely hot day compared to the intensity …

Water-Energy-Food Linkages In Community Smallholder Irrigation Schemes: Center Pivot Irrigation In Rwanda, Ankit Chandra, Derek M. Heeren, Lameck O. Odhiambo, N. Brozovic

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Water, energy, and food are linked in intricate ways in irrigated agriculture and understanding the interplay of these components is crucial for sustainable and profitable crop production, particularly in smallholder setting such as in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluates water-energy-food linkages, engineering and economic performance, irrigation decision making, and challenges faced around water management in a community-based mechanized irrigation scheme in Rwanda. The research is the first to analyze such as scheme, which uses technology typically used by large farmers in a smallholder setting. The study investigates the variation in water requirements and the relationship and impacts of this variability …

Fire Effects On Soil Organic Matter In The Creek Fire, Gracie E. Doolin

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

Wildfires have increased in frequency and severity over the past few decades due to the increased concertation of CO2 emissions from anthropogenic influence. Soil carbon (C) sequestration has been identified as a climate change mitigation strategy; however, the influx of large-scale wildfires has accelerated landscape processes such as erosion, reducing soil aggradation, and soil C and nitrogen (N) protection. This trend is highlighted by the Creek Fire that occurred in September 2020 and burned 379,895 acres in the Sierra National Forest. This research is designed to close the knowledge gap regarding the impact of burn severity on soil organic matter …

Is Macroporosity Controlled By Complexed Clay And Soil Organic Carbon?, Aaron N. Koop, Daniel R. Hirmas, Sharon A. Billings, Li Li, Alejandro Cueva, Xi Zhang, Hang Wen, Attila Nemes, Lígia F. T. Souza, Hoori Ajami, Alejandro N. Flores, Aoesta K. Rudick, Annalise Guthrie, Lola M. Klamm, Micah Unruh, Pamela L. Sullivan

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Multi-scale evidence of rapid, climate-induced soil structural changes occurring at yearly to decadal timescales is mounting. As a result, it has become increasingly important to identify the properties and mechanisms controlling the development and maintenance of soil structure and associated macroporosity. This is especially relevant since macroporosity has disproportionate effects on saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) which strongly influences water storage and flux, thus, affecting the water cycle. In this study, we use decision trees and piecewise linear regression to assess the influence of soil and climate properties on effective porosity (EP; a proxy of macroporosity) in both …

Advances And Perspectives Of Using Stable Isotope Probing (Sip)-Based Technologies In Contaminant Biodegradation, Jinha Kim, Myung Hwangbo, Chih-Hsuan Shih, Kung-Hui Chu

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Stable isotope probing (SIP) is a powerful tool to study microbial community structure and function in both nature and engineered environments. Coupling with advanced genomics and other techniques, SIP studies have generated substantial information to allow researchers to draw a clearer picture of what is occurring in complex microbial ecosystems. This review provides an overview of the advances of SIP-based technologies over time, summarizes the status of SIP applications to contaminant biodegradation, provides critical perspectives on ecological interactions within the community, and important factors (controllable and non-controllable) to be considered in SIP experimental designs and data interpretation. Current trend and …

Evaluation And Description Of Nature-Based Engineering Stream Restoration Through Dutton Shadyside Park, Julie Wildschut, Andrea Lubberts, David P. Warners, Haley Weesies

Faculty and Professional Research

As land uses change over time, from wetlands and forests to agricultural fields, suburban neighborhoods, and commercial areas, stormwater runoff increases in volume and moves more rapidly into nearby streams. This altered hydrology conveys pollutants directly to local waterways and increases erosion, resulting in deeply entrenched channels with steep banks lacking vegetation. Plaster Creek, located near Grand Rapids, MI, is an example of such an impaired stream, having become channelized and separated from adjacent floodplain habitat along much of its 26-mile length. As part of a Michigan EGLE 319 grant, Plaster Creek Stewards, an initiative of Calvin University, used nature-based …

Factors Affecting California Grassland Biodiversity: Two Case Studies, Nora Bales

Master's Theses

Biodiversity loss over the last century has been significant and is projected to increase. Biodiversity loss is accelerating due to climate change and habitat loss and degradation. Biodiversity supports key ecosystem services including pollination services, climate regulation, and water filtration. Biodiversity conservation is a top priority for land managers and researchers, however many ecological studies with practical applications lack a thorough understanding of the soil environment in their study system. We conducted two case studies integrating soil and plant data to answer management questions. The first case study investigated the relationship between a threatened plant, Hooveria purpurea var. purpurea and …

A Multiproxy Approach To Deciphering The Geochemical Evolution Of Cold Seep Environments, Robert Seth Wood

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The environmental and biological factors that influence the precipitation and composition of geologic proxies are often assumed to be minimally variable relative to the spatial and temporal domain of individual samples (ca. millimeters to centimeters). While this presumption may apply to many pelagic environments, it may not be appropriate for methane cold seep sites. Methane cold seeps are localized environments that can transport large quantities of dissolved methane - a potent greenhouse gas - toward the seafloor and, in turn, sustain high rates of anaerobic oxidation of methane by sulfate reduction (AOM-SR). The concurrent transport of anoxic seep fluids, diffused …

Chloeia Rozbaczyloi, A New Species Of Polychaete (Archinominae: Amphinomidae) And First Record Of The Family For The Nazca Ridge, Southeastern Pacific Ocean, Juan I. Cañete, María S. Romero, Erin E. Easton, Ariadna Mecho, Javier Sellanes

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Highlights

• A new species of amphinomid polychaete, Chloeia rozbaczyloi sp. nov. is described.

• The new species inhabits poorly explored seamounts of the remote Nazca Ridge off Chile.

• This finding constitutes the first report of the genus Chloeia for Chilean waters.

• Genetic data for Chloeia rozbaczyloi sp. nov is provided.

• The new species is reported for seamounts lying within the recently created Nazca Desventuradas Marine Park.

Abstract

The amphinomid polychaete Chloeia rozbaczyloi sp. nov., collected from seamounts of the Nazca Ridge (NR), northwest of Desventuradas islands, southeastern Pacific Ocean, is described. The new species was observed on only two of seven …

Reply To: Contribution Of Carbon Inputs To Soil Carbon Accumulation Cannot Be Neglected, Feng Tao, Benjamin Z. Houlton, Serita D. Frey, Johannes Lehmann, Stefano Manzoni, Yuanyuan Huang, Lifen Jiang, Umakant Mishra, Bruce A. Hungate, Michael W. I. Schmidt, Markus Reichstein, Nuno Carvalhais, Philippe Ciais, Ying-Ping Wang, Bernhard Ahrens, Gustaf Hugelius, Toby D. Hocking, Xingjie Lu, Zheng Shi, Kostiantyn Viatkin, Ronald Vargas, Yusuf Yigini, Christian Omuto, Ashish A. Malik, Guillermo Peralta, Rosa Cuevas-Corona, Luciano E. Di Paolo, Isabel Luotto, Cuijuan Liao, Yi-Shuang Liang, Vinisa S. Saynes, Xiaomeng Huang, Yiqi Luo

Faculty Publications

In the accompanying Comment1, He et al. argue that the determinant role of microbial carbon use efficiency in global soil organic carbon (SOC) storage shown in Tao et al. (2023)2 was overestimated because carbon inputs were neglected in our data analysis while they suggest that our model-based analysis could be biased and model-dependent. Their argument is based on a different choice of independent variables in the data analysis and a sensitivity analysis of two process-based models other than that used in our study. We agree that both carbon inputs and outputs (as mediated by microbial processes) matter when predicting SOC …

Saturating Growth Rate Against Phosphorus Concentration Explained By Macromolecular Allocation, Gabrielle Armin, Jongsun Kim, Keisuke Inomura

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The saturating relationship between phytoplankton growth rate and environmental nutrient concentration has been widely observed, yet the mechanisms behind the relationship remain elusive. Here, we use a mechanistic model of phytoplankton and show that the saturating relationship between growth rate and phosphorous concentration can be interpreted by intracellular macromolecular allocation. At low nutrient levels, the diffusive nutrient transport linearly increases with the phosphorous concentration, while the internal phosphorous requirement increases with the growth rate, leading to a non-linear increase in the growth rate with phosphorous. This increased phosphorous requirement is due to the increased allocation to biosynthetic and photosynthetic molecules. …

Evaluation Of Site-Specific, Zone Management In Northeast Arkansas Cotton, Nelson Ray Benson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Temporal and spatial variations in crop performance are common in agricultural production fields in northeastern Arkansas. With the alluvial soils of the Mississippi Delta region, within-field soil texture can range from coarse sand to heavy clay. Such variability influences chemical and physical soil properties that affect yield potential of the region’s commercial cropping systems. With advances in precision management, delineating large commercial fields into zones of homogenous production potential could increase profitability and improve efficiency. Standardized criteria for defining homogeneity within potential delineation zones have not been developed or field-tested in the region, which includes Mississippi County, Arkansas, the largest …

The Patchwork Governance Of Ecologically Available Water: A Case Study In The Upper Missouri Headwaters, Montana, United States, Amanda E. Cravens, Julia B. Goolsby, Theresa Jedd, Deborah J. Bathke, Shelley Crausbay, Ashley E. Cooper, Jason Dunham, Tonya Haigh, Kimberly R. Hall, Michael J. Hayes, Jamie Mcevoy, Rebecca L. Nelson, Markéta Poděbradská, Aaron Ramirez, Elliot Wickham, Dionne Zoanni

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Institutional authority and responsibility for allocating water to ecosystems (“ecologically available water” [EAW]) is spread across local, state, and federal agencies, which operate under a range of statutes, mandates, and planning processes. We use a case study of the Upper Missouri Headwaters Basin in southwestern Montana, United States, to illustrate this fragmented institutional landscape. Our goals are to (a) describe the patchwork of agencies and institutional actors whose intersecting authorities and actions influence the EAW in the study basin; (b) describe the range of governance mechanisms these agencies use, including laws, policies, administrative programs, and planning processes; and (c) assess …

Season, Not Long-Term Warming, Affects The Relationship Between Ecosystem Function And Microbial Diversity, Melissa S. Shinfuku, Luiz A. Domeignoz-Horta, Mallory J. Choudoir, Serita D. Frey, Kristen M. Deangelis

Faculty Publications

Across biomes, soil biodiversity promotes ecosystem functions. However, whether this relationship will be maintained under climate change is uncertain. Here, using two long-term warming experiments, we investigated how warming affects the relationship between ecosystem functions and microbial diversity across seasons, soil horizons, and warming duration. The soils in these warming experiments were heated +5 °C above ambient for 13 or 28 years. We measured seven different ecosystem functions representative of soil carbon cycling, soil nitrogen cycling, or nutrient pools. We also surveyed bacterial and fungal community diversity. We found that the relationship between ecosystem function and bacterial diversity and the …

Grounding Line And Calving Front Retreat In Glomar Challenger Basin And Pennell Trough Of Ross Sea, Antarctica Reconstructed From Diatom Abundances And Assemblages, Jaren Bradford

LSU Master's Theses

Previous studies showed that West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) retreat from the Whales Deep Basin continental shelf edge in eastern Ross Sea was underway by 14.7 ± 0.4 cal kyr BP. Following an ice-shelf breakup at 12.3 ± 0.6 cal kyr BP, a calving cliff margin remained within 60 km of the shelf edge until 11.5 ± 0.3 cal kyr BP. McGlannan et al. (2017) inferred that an ice shelf reformed immediately during a subsequent rapid retreat. That interpretation of grounding-line retreat with an intact ice shelf is being reevaluated by Sivils (in prep.). Here, we conducted a similar synthesis …

Response Of Four Local Cassava Accessions To Bio-Mulch Application Time, Bayu Suwitono, Muhamad Achmad Chozin, Dwi Guntoro, Suwarto

Jurnal Kultivasi

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is widely planted on marginal land with low soil fertility. During the initial growth phase, cassava often loses competition against weeds. Legume cover crops are widely used to increase soil fertility, prevent erosion, and suppress weeds. This study aimed to determine the effect of Arachis pintoi bio-mulch application time on the growth and yield of cassava. This study was conducted using a factorial randomized block design. The first factor was four cassava accessions: Ketan Malang, Genjah Bayam, IR Jonggol, and Mangu. The second factor was six levels of bio-mulch planting time: manual weeding (without bio-mulch applications), …

Effectiveness Of Modified Nitrogen Fertilizer On Soil Chemical Properties And Rice Plant Growth In The Textile Industrial Area, Rija Sudirja, Santi Rosniawaty, Sri Muji Rahayu, Budy Frasetya Taufik Qurrohman

Jurnal Kultivasi

The imbalance of nutrients and heavy metal contamination is a challenge in increasing plant growth surround the textile industry area. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the dosage of Biologically Agent N Organo Mineral Fertilizer (Biomix-N) as a fertilizer and an ameliorant in paddy soil contaminated with textile liquid waste. This study used a randomized block design of eight treatments with four replications. Parameters observed were soil chemical properties after application of Biomix-N (Na-ex, total N, EC, Cd, and pH), rice plant growth (plant height and tiller number), Cd concentration in the plant, and relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE). …

Scaling Up Of Site Carbon Dynamics To Predict The Carbon Dynamics In Kazakhstan, Central Asia, B. K. Wylie, Tagir Gilmanov, S. L. Stensaas, N. Z. Saliendra, D. A. Johnson, K. Akshalov, S. B. Frank, L. Zhang, R. F. Doyle, E. A. Laca, Montague W. Demment

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Climate and management determine whether rangelands are net carbon sources or carbon sinks. Regional carbon dynamics of the Kazakh Steppe has not previously been documented. The objective of this study is to quantify the regional carbon flux dynamics of these extensive steppes.

A New System For Plant Experiments On Biodiversity Or Multi-Species Competition, John Connolly, L. Kirwan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Considerable discussion in recent years has focused on the design of competition and biodiversity experiments (Connolly et al., 2001a; Allison, 1999). Few agronomic experiments with >2 plant species have been conducted in greenhouse conditions (Gibson et al, 1999) or in the field (Connolly et al., 2001b). In many experiments the effects of density and initial species size have been confounded. The effects of species richness and evenness also are confounded frequently. The proposed system provides a framework of design and analysis, in which to address questions of function at community level and of structure and competition at …

Native Grasses Seeded Into A Cool-Season Pasture Encouraged By Low Resource Availability, J. E. Doll, R. L. Cates, R. D. Jackson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Native prairie of the Upper Midwest, which was dominated by warm-season (C₄) grasses, now exists as relatively small relict and restored patches (Curtis 1959). Re-introduction of natives into grazed agroecosystems would promote genetic, species, and landscape diversity. Extensive re-introduction of C₄ grasses will require a shift away from the paradigm of maximizing production because C₄ grasses have higher C:N ratios than C₃ grasses rendering them inferior forage species. Nonetheless, there is great interest amongst the grazing community of the Upper Midwest in establishing native grasses as a means of improving wildlife habitat and increasing belowground …

The Ag-Biota Project: A Preliminary Assessment Of Potential Indicators Of Biodiversity In Agricultural Grasslands, Gordon Purvis, A. Anderson, A. J. Helden, L. Kirwan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In compliance with European commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity within agricultural land is a primary objective of current agri-environmental measures. However, there is a widespread lack of information concerning the effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes in Europe, (Kleijn & Sutherland, 2003). In large part, this is due to uncertainties about selection of appropriate biological indicators of biodiversity (Buchs, 2003; Duelli & Obrist, 2003).

Effects Of Plant Species Diversity In Multifunctional Grasslands On Avian Communities, K. K. Bakker, K. F. Higgins

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasslands, planted or native sod, can provide multiple simultaneous functions (e.g., hay-forage production, biomass fuel products, bird nesting cover, soil and water conservation). Bird use of and abundance in grasslands is dependent on vegetation structure, size, and surrounding landscape (Bakker et al., 2002) but little is known about avian relationships to plant species diversity. We evaluated the relationship between plant species diversity and avian community structure in 5 grassland types. The results have application to grazing, haying, burning, and conservation practices applied to native and sown grassland stands and to conservation strategies for declining grassland bird populations.

Diversity And Adaptation Of Perennial Plants From North Africa: Legumes And Grasses, Aissa Abdelguerfi, M. Laouar, K. Abbas, M. M'Hammedi Bouzina

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A variety of climates, soil types and reliefs characterise North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia). These natural conditions have produced a large diversity of environments, landscapes, plant formations and flora. Several factors have contributed to the spread of a wide floristic variety: the influence of the Mediterranean in the north and in the north-east, the Atlantic in the west, and the Sahara in the south, as well as the presence of mountain ranges, particularly the Rif, the Tell Atlas, the Sahara Atlas, the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas, and the Anti-Atlas. This diversity of landscapes, environments and ecosystems has generated …

Comparison Of Compositional Changes In Multi-Species Grass/Legume Mixture Experiments Across Three Nordic Countries (Iceland, Sweden And Finland) Over Two Years, Caroline Brophy, Anne-Maj Gustavsson, A. Helgadottir, Oiva Nissinen, J. Connolly

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A multi-site experiment was established at 39 sites across Europe, Australia and Canada within COST Action 852 to: (1) assess the benefits of grass/legume mixtures over monocultures, (2) test the stability of mixtures and (3) evaluate the consistency of the observed patterns over broad environmental gradients. This paper compares the results from 3 Nordic sites using the same plant species: Korpa Experimental Station in Iceland, Lapland Research Station in Finland and Piteå in Sweden to investigate if compositional changes in mixtures are consistent across the sites.