Phosphorus Retention of a Permeable Reactive Barrier Surpassed by an Unvegetated Artificial Pond

An artificial pond bisected by a phosphorus (P) retentive permeable reactive barrier (PRB) alongside Forrest Highway, Coolup, Western Australia was designed to remove P from farmland runoff. The pond bed was made of subsoil and road construction materials likely to have a relatively high P sorption capacity, and there was no vegetation in the bed of the pond. Flow through the pond was intercepted by the PRB, constructed from a mixture of sand, coarse crushed limestone, and bauxite residue (with 10% phospho-gypsum). The effectiveness of P removal and the impact of the PRB was measured by comparing the concentration of contaminants immediately either side of the PRB with established standards, and against background levels in runoff from surrounding farmland. Using coarse limestone to increase flow through the PRB failed where permeability was insufficient to avoid overtopping of the PRB and the wall had to be lowered to allow by-pass and avoid collapse. The PRB was effective in removing total P (TP); however, the influent TP concentration was low (mean 0.19 mg L -1 ) because most P entering from farmland was retained in the shallow pond upstream of the PRB. Despite this, TP removal by the PRB was 53% (2009–2012). Occasionally, in spring when the pond was stagnant and anaerobic, P was released from the PRB. This minor P release coincided with a minor release of iron, consistent with anaerobic conditions found in the PRB. Although not designed to do so, the shallow pond upstream of the PRB reduced the TP concentration from farmland by 85% (mean 1.26 mg L -1 down to 0.19 mg L -1 ), mainly by reducing filterable reactive P concentration. Some elements (arsenic, cobalt, conductivity, fluoride, manganese, molybdenum, pH, selenium, uranium and vanadium) were increased by flow through the PRB, but were low relative to surrounding waters and environmental standards

Differing Fine-Scale Responses of Vegetation and Bare Soil to Moisture Variation in a Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Underlie Landscape-Scale Responses Observed from Remote Sensing

Pinyon juniper woodlands in the American southwest face an uncertain ecological future with regard to climate altered precipitation. Although satellite remote sensing will be relied upon to assess the overall health of these plant communities more fine scaled information is needed to elucidate the mechanisms shaping the broader scaled regional assessments. We conducted a study to assess the NDVI response at the plant canopy level (insitu sensors placed over the canopies) of three tree and one shrub species to changes in precipitation, reference evapotranspiration and soil volumetric water content. Landsat data was used to compare stand integrated and satellite NDVI values. We also provided supplemental water in the amount of 10.85 cm over the study period to additional trees and shrubs which also had insitu NDVI sensors placed over their canopies. NDVI at the canopy level separated statistically by species and when contrasted with bare soil (p<0.001). Spring early summer dry down events were inversely related to increasing ETref-precipitation with a steeper dry down slope in the first year associated with no rainfall occurring in May and June. All three-tree species did not show any significant difference in canopy NDVI based on supplemental water, however the shrub species did reveal a significant response to water (p<0.001). Although all of the three-tree species revealed a one-month period in which they responded to precipitation in July of the first year after 11.2 cm of precipitation, no immediate (day of or next day) response was observed to precipitation or supplemental water events. Snowberry was unique in its NDVI response during the spring green up period in the second year revealing a highly linear shift over a 40-day period with a clear separation between treatments (p<0.001) with those plants receiving supplemental water having a higher more positive slope. Landsat NDVI values revealed an inverse sinusoidal relationship with ETref-precipitation (R2=0.59 p=0.012). Landsat values (0.19+/- 0.01) were found to have no significant difference with bare soil NDVI (0.17+/- 0.01) but were significantly different from all four tree and shrub species. Integrated NDVI based on sensor weighted % cover estimates (0.37+/-0.03) were nearly double Landsat values (0.19+/-0.01). Both NDVI values of pinyon pine and Utah juniper were found to be linear correlated with Landsat NDVI in the second Year (R2>0.75, p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that 95% of the variation in Landsat NDVI in the second year could be accounted for based on bare soil NDVI and pinyon pine NDVI (p<0.001). et al., NDVI interspace (bare soil) of pinyon juniper woodlands dominated the nature of the Landsat curve. Our results demonstrate the value of ground sensors to help fill the gap between what can be inferred at the forest canopy level and what is occurring at the plant level.

The Efficiency of Motorcycle Use in Illegal Bushmeat Transportation in Western Serengeti, Tanzania

Bushmeat is an important source of protein, as well as economic income for communities in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. This study was conducted in north-western Serengeti, Tanzania, from July to September of 2019. Two villages were sampled for distance calculation: Kowak and Robanda. The snowballing technique was the sampling design adopted. Trained assistants identified at least one bushmeat vendor in each village to be interviewed, who was thereafter asked to identify another vendor known to him/her. The number of days spent delivering bushmeat packages to the illegal market (an average of 200 km) from the bushmeat source was 16.8 days when using donkeys, 6.8 days when using bicycles, and 2.0 days when using motorcycles. Motorcycles were 8.4 and 3.4 times more efficient than donkeys and bicycles, respectively. Bicycles were 2.5 times more efficient than donkeys. The mean weights of bushmeat packages delivered by donkeys were 188.4 kg and 109.0 kg when using bicycles. Motorcycles delivered 185.0 kg of bushmeat per trip. The mean weights carried by donkeys and motorcycles were 1.7 times higher than those of bicycles. The mean depletion rates of motorcycles were 92.5 kg of bushmeat per day for a distance of 200 km. Bicycles depleted 16.0 kg, while donkeys only depleted 11.2 kg per day to the market. The use of motorcycles in bushmeat transportation increased the efficiency in delivering illegal bushmeat to predetermined illegal markets, and thus resulted in a high depletion rate. Wildlife authorities should introduce patrol systems that include the control of motorcycles close to protected areas. There should be day and night checkpoints in various places, such as large bridges that cannot be avoided and along rural pathways.

In Niger, the Expected Futur Climate Will Provide Better Conditions than the Current One to Diospyros Mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC. Rich.

The human use of plant resources and land to face increasing population needs in Africa to the regression or even the disappearance of some useful multi-purpose species such as Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. Ex A. Rich. Increasing climatic variability is an additional threat for these species. The present study aims to identify the areas that are potentially favorable to D. mespiliformis conservation or regeneration in Niger and to analyze the impact of the current climate change. Thus to assess the D. mespiliformis distribution areas, the geographic coordinates of D. mespiliformis, the bioclimatic data, the soil and vegetation cover were collected and used to modeling based on the principle of maximum entropy (MaxEnt). The soil cover, annual cumulated precipitations and the average temperature are the most determining variables. This study also shows that the ecological niche of D. mespiliformis is located in the Central and Eastern bioclimates, within which almost 3% of the surface is very favorable under the current climate conditions and may reach 3. 94 % under 2050 ones after. These results indicate that the climate change expected in Niger is expected to be more favorable to the studied species than the current climate conditions. This represents an opportunity for its domestication.

Reduction of Some Heavy Metals in Fibre Cement Roofing Sheet Waste-Contaminated Soil by Consortium of Bacteria and Fungi

Reduction of Some Heavy Metals in Fibre Cement Roofing Sheet Waste-Contaminated Soil by Consortium of Bacteria and Fungi

Classification of Sanitation Services and Students’ Sanitation Practices among Schools in Lagos, Nigeria

The paucity of information on the number of accessible sanitation facilities in secondary schools in developing countries has hindered efforts in attaining sustainable development in this area. Therefore, this study was designed to bridge that gap. The cross-sectional study utilized a 4-stage sampling technique to select 386 students from schools in Badagry, Lagos. Pre-tested questionnaire and observational checklists were used to obtain data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression at 5% level of significance. Respondents’ mean age was 15.8±1.5 years and 55.2% were female. On-site observation revealed that all the schools had improved sanitation facilities, while 37% of the available toilet compartments were inaccessible to the students. Majority (85%) of the facilities provided limited service, while 15% provided basic service. The student to toilet ratio for the public school girls and boys were 3191:1 and 642:1 respectively, while the private school had a ratio of 257:1 and 289:1 for girls and boys respectively. Some of the sanitation practices observed in the schools were open defecation (35.4%), toilet avoidance (21%), and prolonged urine and feacal retention (57.4%). Students from the public school were about 3 times more likely to practice open defecation (OR=2.87; CI=1.160-7.095). Also, male students were more likely to practice open defecation (OR=1.72; CI=1.125-2.615). All the schools did not meet the school sanitation standard of 1 toilet to 30 boys/girls set by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Sustainable sanitation-interventions and maintenance schemes are required to safeguard the health of the students and the community at large.

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environment and Natural Resources Research, Vol. 10, No. 3

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environment and Natural Resources Research, Vol. 10, No. 3, 2020

Cigarette Butt Disposal Behavior: A Case Study of a Public Beach on Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA

Improperly discarded cigarette butts are a substantial environmental problem. This study explored factors influencing cigarette butt discarding behavior on a public beach on Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA. A mixed-mode design utilized quantitative and qualitative data to study improper cigarette butt disposal. We surveyed smokers regarding their place attachment, environmental attitudes, environmental awareness, and habit as predictors of improper cigarette butt disposal. Environmental attitudes, environmental awareness, and habits were significant predictors of improper cigarette butt disposal behavior. A qualitative inquiry further explored the phenomenon of cigarette butt disposal from the smokers’ perspectives. Interviews illustrated that “improper disposers” experienced themes involving uncertainty that cigarette butts are litter, a lack of knowledge, problems with cigarette butt receptacles currently in place, the requirement of a conscious choice about how and where to discard a butt, and statements that contradicted the behavior observed. Themes that emerged from interviews with “proper disposers” included cigarette butts are clearly litter, awareness of social constructs that disapprove of smokers and their behavior, awareness of the cumulative effects of cigarette butts on the beach, minimal obstacles to discarding properly, and feelings of personal responsibility. Implications of the study results are discussed.

Modeling Unsaturated Zone Water Movement in the Floodplain Wetlands of the Volta Basin

The unsaturated zone of floodplain wetlands in the White Volta River basin provides an inextricable link between basin hydrology and the sustenance of plant growth. The HYDRUS-1D model was used to derive water budgets and to estimate fluxes to understand the hydrological complexities of these wetland systems. The model result indicates Spatio-temporal variation in the volume of vertical fluxes. In 2005, the estimate for average simulated flux was 0.29 cm/month in June and 1.23 cm/month in July. Consequently, the hydraulic head increased from 138.94 m to 139.30 m for the period from June to July 2005. For all sample sites, the increase in hydraulic head occurs within July and October, coinciding with high surface water fluxes. From the calculated water balance, the average monthly estimate of bottom flux was 0.01 cm/month for 2004 and 1.1 cm/month for 2005. The flow through the unsaturated zone and discharging into the subsurface water system has a high dependency on both the soil structure and the volume of water infiltrating through the surface; the highest discharge is within the period of highest water input.

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environment and Natural Resources Research, Vol. 10, No. 2

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environment and Natural Resources Research, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2020