Long-term Consequences of Upstream Impoundment

1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey E. Petts

Since 1970 a large number of environmental problems have been identified as resulting from the long-term effects of human impacts. Consideration of human activity within the environment as three orders of impact, provides a basic framework for the appreciation and evaluation of long-term problems. Consequent upon dam construction, major changes of flood magnitude and frequency and of the quantity and calibre of sediment loads (first-order impacts), will induce the readjustment of channel morphology and ecology (second-order impacts). However, the macrophytic and macro-invertebrate population, for example, are also adjusted to channel morphology—particularly channel shape and substrate composition—so that further readjustments of the macrophyte and macro-invertebrate populations may be effected by changes of channel form (third-order impacts).

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 326-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATTI TIKKANEN ◽  
ATTE KORHOLA ◽  
HEIKKI SEPPÄ ◽  
JUHANI VIRKANEN

Ecological impacts of urbanization are receiving increasing scientific attention, yet few data sets permit long-term effects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to be assessed. Töölönlahti Bay, in the centre of Helsinki, Finland, provided on opportunity to characterize recent human impacts especially by means of chemical and biostratigraphical analyses of a sediment core. Periods of coniferous forest, forest clearance, urbanization and the development of parks, can be distinguished in the pollen record of the core. Palynological diversity was highest before the forest clearance at the turn of the century. The character of the sediment and the water have changed substantially in response to rapid population growth, the construction of sewage systems and building within the catchment of the bay. This is reflected in marked increases in organic matter, phosphorus and heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb) concentrations between 1890 and 1960, accompanied by a rapid increase in diatom species indicative of eutrophication and a decline in diatom species diversity.Since the cessation of waste-water disposal in the 1960s, concentrations of a number of pollutants have declined and water quality has gradually improved, but conditions are still affected by internal and atmospheric loadings. As a consequence of land uplift (2 mm per year) and the rapid sedimentation rate (6 mm per year), the volume of the bay is decreasing. Within 200 years, the shallow bay, which is skirted by extensive parks and famous cultural buildings such as the Finlandia and the Opera Houses, will fill with sediment unless it is dredged.


Author(s):  
John S. Gray ◽  
Michael Elliott

Given the discussion above regarding natural changes in the marine benthos, we should now consider the human-mediated (anthropogenic) changes and the response of benthic systems to human impacts. From the 1960s to the 1980s the general opinion seemed to be that pollution (considered in the next chapter) was the most important marine problem, but we now realize that habitat change and habitat loss are of greater concern: see, for example, the Quality Status Report 2000 (OSPAR 2000). One of the greatest effects on the integrity of the seabed and hence its biota is now known to be caused by bed trawling. This has now generated an enormous literature, and the reader is directed to Daans and Eleftheriou (2000) and Hollingworth (2000) for more details. We can take this information and summarize the overall ecosystem effects of fisheries in detailed flow diagrams (referred to as ´horrendograms´!) to show the interlinked and complex nature of the impact—the effects trawling are included here, but see also those in McLusky and Elliott (2004) (e.g. Fig. 8.1). Historically, the effects of trawling on benthos caused concern as early as 1376 when a petition was made to the English parliament by fishermen concerned over the damage done to the seabed and fisheries by bottom trawling (De Groot 1984). This was despite the gear used by sailing vessels in those days being relatively light and towed at slow speeds and in shallow water only. When steam trawlers were developed in the early 1900s, everything changed. The weight and size of trawls increased and use of tickler chains (mounted on the bottom rope to disturb bottom-living fish upwards and into the trawl net) were of great concern, although studies done in the 1970s to allay the fears of fishermen did not find long-term effects on macrobenthos (Jones 1992). At the end of World War II the otter trawl was developed and its use became widespread. This and the beam trawl (see Fig. 8.4) were (and still are) the types of gear most widely used to fish the seabed.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-420
Author(s):  
J. Grindlay

A two-level dissipative quantum-mechanical system subjected to a small applied multimode electric field plus a feedback term proportional to the induced dipole moment is discussed. The long-term behaviour of the induced dipole moment and of the upper level occupation probability is represented by a series expansion in terms of the applied electric-field amplitudes. First-order and third-order internal, external, and intrinsic polarizabilites are introduced and calculated for the model. Certain ratios of third-order to first-order polarizabilities are shown to have a common value for the internal, external, and intrinsic cases. Clausius–Mossotti relations for the linear and third-order susceptibilities are derived.


Author(s):  
T. M. Seed ◽  
M. H. Sanderson ◽  
D. L. Gutzeit ◽  
T. E. Fritz ◽  
D. V. Tolle ◽  
...  

The developing mammalian fetus is thought to be highly sensitive to ionizing radiation. However, dose, dose-rate relationships are not well established, especially the long term effects of protracted, low-dose exposure. A previous report (1) has indicated that bred beagle bitches exposed to daily doses of 5 to 35 R 60Co gamma rays throughout gestation can produce viable, seemingly normal offspring. Puppies irradiated in utero are distinguishable from controls only by their smaller size, dental abnormalities, and, in adulthood, by their inability to bear young.We report here our preliminary microscopic evaluation of ovarian pathology in young pups continuously irradiated throughout gestation at daily (22 h/day) dose rates of either 0.4, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 R/day of gamma rays from an attenuated 60Co source. Pups from non-irradiated bitches served as controls. Experimental animals were evaluated clinically and hematologically (control + 5.0 R/day pups) at regular intervals.


Author(s):  
D.E. Loudy ◽  
J. Sprinkle-Cavallo ◽  
J.T. Yarrington ◽  
F.Y. Thompson ◽  
J.P. Gibson

Previous short term toxicological studies of one to two weeks duration have demonstrated that MDL 19,660 (5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,4-dihydro-2,4-dimethyl-3Hl, 2,4-triazole-3-thione), an antidepressant drug, causes a dose-related thrombocytopenia in dogs. Platelet counts started to decline after two days of dosing with 30 mg/kg/day and continued to decrease to their lowest levels by 5-7 days. The loss in platelets was primarily of the small discoid subpopulation. In vitro studies have also indicated that MDL 19,660: does not spontaneously aggregate canine platelets and has moderate antiaggregating properties by inhibiting ADP-induced aggregation. The objectives of the present investigation of MDL 19,660 were to evaluate ultrastructurally long term effects on platelet internal architecture and changes in subpopulations of platelets and megakaryocytes.Nine male and nine female beagle dogs were divided equally into three groups and were administered orally 0, 15, or 30 mg/kg/day of MDL 19,660 for three months. Compared to a control platelet range of 353,000- 452,000/μl, a doserelated thrombocytopenia reached a maximum severity of an average of 135,000/μl for the 15 mg/kg/day dogs after two weeks and 81,000/μl for the 30 mg/kg/day dogs after one week.


2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
MITCHEL L. ZOLER
Keyword(s):  

VASA ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drinda ◽  
Neumann ◽  
Pöhlmann ◽  
Vogelsang ◽  
Stein ◽  
...  

Background: Prostanoids are used in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon and acral perfusion disorders secondary to collagenosis. In subjective terms, intravenous administration of these agents produces success in more than 50% of patients. The therapeutic outcome of clinical administration of alprostadil or iloprost may vary from individual to individual. Patients and methods: The following variables were analysed in a cross-over study in 27 patients with collagenosis and Raynaud’s phenomenon: plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation (rheological variables), partial pressure of oxygen and laser Doppler flowmetry in the finger region, and lymphocyte phenotyping and interleukin (IL) determinations (immunological variables). Results: Laser Doppler flowmetry revealed significant differences between patients with secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon and a control group of 25 healthy subjects. Laser Doppler readings did not change significantly as a result of the treatments. Therapy with iloprost produced a reduction in IL-1beta, L-selectin (CD 62 L) and IL-6. Conclusion: The change in immunological variables due to iloprost may explain the long-term effects of prostaglandins in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon. From our results it is not possible to infer any preference for iloprost or alprostadil.


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