Non-productive Areas Research Articles

Biodiversity and multiple ecosystem functions in an organic farmscape

To increase ecosystem services provided by their lands, farmers in the United States are managing non-production areas to create a more biodiverse set of habitats and greater landscape heterogeneity. Relatively little is known, however, of the actual environmental outcomes of this practice, termed ‘farmscaping’. We inventoried communities of plant and soil organisms and monitored indicators of ecosystem functions in six distinct habitats of an organic farm in California's Central Valley to better understand the ecological costs and benefits of farmscaping. A riparian corridor, hedgerows, a system of drainage ditches, and tailwater ponds supported different plant life history/functional groups and greater native plant diversity than the two production fields. Differences were less pronounced for belowground organisms, i.e., nematode functional groups, microbial communities (based on phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis) and earthworm taxa. Partial ordination analysis showed that environmental variables, rather than spatial location, explained much of the distribution of soil and plant taxa across the farmscape. Riparian and hedgerow habitats with woody vegetation stored 18% of the farmscape's total carbon (C), despite occupying only 6% of the total area. Infiltration rates in the riparian corridor were >230% higher than those observed in the production fields, and concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soil solution were as much as 65% higher. The tailwater pond reduced total suspended solids in irrigation runoff by 97%. Drainage ditches had the highest N 2O-N emissions (mean values of 16.7 μg m −2 h −1) and nitrate (NO 3 −-N) leaching (12.1 g m −2 year −1 at 75 cm depth). Emissions of N 2O-N and leaching of NO 3 −-N were, however, quite low for all the habitats. Non-production habitats increased biodiversity (particularly plants) and specific ecosystem functions (e.g. water regulation and carbon storage). Extrapolating relative tradeoffs to the entire farmscape showed that greater habitat enhancement through farmscaping could increase both biodiversity and multiple ecosystem functions of agricultural lands with minor loss of production area.

Policy directions for agricultural land use in Australia and other post-industrial economies

Farming has been the basis to work, culture and social forces for millennia. It still dominates the lives of most of the world's poorer people, but in post-industrial western countries agriculture's contribution to national economies is now minor. Nevertheless, most OECD countries’ agricultural policies are aimed at maintaining the size of this sector even where this conflicts with its economic significance or adversely affects the environment. Australia has a first world economy, but a third world export profile, with 20% of its export value derived from agriculture. Although it is efficient in agricultural man-power, this sector consumes 70% of the water and 60% of the land resources of the continent to produce food for an estimated 55 million people. Agricultural policies maintain the productivity of the sector, but are ineffective in stemming the associated environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and rural population decline. As in other post-industrial societies, Australia needs to re-define what its agriculture sector represents, environmentally and socially. This will require greater reappraisal of property rights, public and private benefits and legal structures supporting both. More effective alternative policies are needed for large tracts of unproductive farmland where environmental and social decline are endemic. This paper explores alternative options that offer more balanced prospects in the face of current paradoxes, including paying farmers directly for stewardship services, providing better incentives for retiring non-productive areas from agricultural land use, and retiring watersheds, streamlines and other areas of essential environmental function from agricultural production for better biodiversity conservation.

Beryllium Surface Levels in a Military Ammunition Plant

This study evaluated the presence of beryllium surface contamination in a U.S. conventional munitions plant as an indicator of possible past beryllium airborne and skin exposure and used these measurements to classify job categories by potential level of exposure. Surface samples were collected from production and nonproduction areas of the plant and at regional industrial reference sites with no known history of beryllium use. Surface samples of premoistened wiping material were analyzed for beryllium mass content using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and results expressed as micrograms of beryllium per 100 square centimeters (μ g/100 cm 2 ). Beryllium was detected in 87% of samples collected at the munitions plant and in 72% of the samples collected at regional reference sites. Two munitions plant samples from areas near sanders and grinders were above 3.0 μ g/100 cm 2 (U.S. Department of Energy surface contamination limit). The highest surface level found at the reference sites was 0.44 μ g/100 cm 2 . Workers in areas where beryllium-containing alloy tools were sanded or ground, but not other work areas, may have been exposed to airborne beryllium concentrations above levels encountered in other industries where metal work is conducted. Surface sampling provided information useful for categorizing munitions plant jobs by level of past beryllium airborne and skin exposure and, subsequently, for identifying employees within exposure strata to be screened for beryllium sensitization.

Surface and subsurface manifestations of gas movement through a N–S transect of the Gulf of Mexico

Large volumes of gas have vented through a north–south transect of the offshore northern Gulf of Mexico. An overview of surface and subsurface manifestations of this gas venting is presented. This gas movement has caused extensive alteration of reservoir oils to the north of the transect which are estimated to have equilibrated with, or been gas washed by, as much as 30 volumes of gas for every volume of oil. This gas washing entrains and carries upward the most volatile oil components depositing them in either shallower reservoirs or venting them to the overlying sediments and the water column. A significant amount of this gas bypasses the reservoirs and vents upward into the overlying sediments and waters. In spite of the significant amounts of the gas involved, the venting at the seafloor appears to occur primarily through highly localized faults and fractures. This gas discharge is spatially and temporally heterogeneous, making it difficult to estimate the actual hydrocarbon fluxes involved. This upward gas movement leaves characteristic signatures at the sediment water interface including carbonate pavements in older seep areas, and chemosynthetic biological communities, methane hydrates, and gas seeps in more recent long-term seep areas. In some cases where gas venting is very recent, massive disruption of surface and subsurface sediments is observed to be occasionally accompanied by mud volcanoes. Venting can be vigorous enough to produce methane gas bubbles, which appear to be injected rapidly into surface waters and which may constitute a significant source of methane, a greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere. In the northern Gulf of Mexico, gas venting is sometimes accompanied by natural oil slicks at the sea surface, which can be tracked for many miles in non-productive areas. These gas-venting signatures are not unique to the Gulf of Mexico; similar seep features are observed in sediments worldwide. The widespread occurrence of these seep features, which may or may not be related to subsurface oil and gas deposits, may explain why use of surface seeps has often proved to be so controversial in oil exploration. Indeed, most seeps are probably not linked with economic subsurface petroleum reservoirs. The relationships between surface seep features and productive subsurface reservoirs along a N–S transect of the northern Gulf of Mexico are presented as an example of how all surface and subsurface geochemical, geological, geophysical data might be used together to better constrain interpretations regarding the nature and dynamics of subsurface oil and gas deposits and their plumbing in frontier areas.

Evaluation of self-reported skin problems among workers exposed to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) at a foam manufacturing facility.

Toluene diisocyanate, or TDI (CAS 584-84-9) is a well-known asthmagen and respiratory irritant. TDI is also known for its ability to irritate the skin and mucous membranes. To further investigate the dermal effects of TDI, NIOSH investigators conducted a cross-sectional study at a flexible foam manufacturing plant. A total of 114 workers participated in the study. Participants completed a medical questionnaire, provided blood for antibody testing to TDI and other allergens, and a subset of participants reporting skin symptoms underwent skin patch testing to a standard diisocyanate panel. Production line workers were more than twice as likely to report skin problems as those working in nonproduction areas (PRR = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.14-16.32; P = 0.02). Age, gender and duration of employment at the plant were comparable among participants working in production and nonproduction areas. Of the 100 participants who provided blood samples for antibody testing, specific IgG antibody to TDI was detected in two individuals, and none of the samples demonstrated specific IgE antibody to TDI. Of the 26 workers who underwent skin patch testing, none developed reactions to the diisocyanate allergens. These results suggest that the skin symptoms among study participants represent an irritant rather than an immunologic reaction to TDI, or to an unidentified allergen present in the foam.

Mountain cartography: revival of a classic domain

The abstract representation of landscape objects such as mountain peaks, valleys, river networks, lakes, cultivated land and nonproductive areas (forests, pastures, boulder fields, glaciers), settlement areas, infrastructure and traffic networks has been the main concept behind all kind of maps for a long time. For over 300 years, mountain regions became an appropriate subject to be extensively explored and mapped. Together with the growing importance of mountainous areas, the demand for adequate cartographic representations with respect to its contents, graphic design and the presentation media has given new life to a classic domain of cartography: Mountain cartography. This paper gives an overview of the development and the current state of mountain cartography. After a brief description of the beginnings and the historic achievements, basic concepts of cartography such as map purpose, data management, cartographic design and map production and their application in modern mountain cartography are summarised. The paper then provides an overview of different kinds of cartographic representations in mountain cartography like topographic maps, maps derived from Geographical Information Systems (GIS) data, image maps, animations, perspective views and personalised maps. Finally, selected examples of modern mountain map applications are presented.

Mechatronics Technology Which Assists Human Life from Nursing to Amusement

Mechatronics technology will be utilized in increasingly more areas of human life in the 21st century. The authors have conducted research into developing medical support devices that utilize mechatronics technology. We have also manufactured performance robots to participate in various robot contests. Mechatronics technology is becoming in for human activities in both production and nonproduction areas. In this paper, we report on the utilization of mechatronics technology through concrete examples of research performed by the authors. We are also engaged in developing nursing devices that utilize advanced technology and have been conducting welding experiments in space, which are necessary for the development of space stations. These research activities help us to predict the direction of technology in the 21st century.

Temperature–depth relationships based on log data from the Los Azufres geothermal field, Mexico

Equilibrium temperatures based on log data acquired during drilling stops in the Los Azufres geothermal field were used to study the relationship between temperature, depth and conductive heat flow that differentiate production from non-production areas. Temperature and thermal conductivity data from 62 geothermal wells were analyzed, displaying temperature–depth, gradient–depth, and ternary temperature–gradient–depth plots. In the ternary plot, the production wells of Los Azufres are located near the temperature vertex, where normalized temperatures are over 0.50 units, or where the temperature gradient is over 165°C/km. In addition, the temperature data were used to estimate the depth at which 600°C could be reached (5–9 km) and the regional background conductive heat flow (≈ 106 mW/m 2). Estimates are also given for the conductive heat flow associated with the conductive cooling of an intrusive body (≈ 295 mW/m 2), and the conductive heat flow component in low-permeability blocks inside the reservoir associated with convection in limiting open faults (from 69 to 667 mW/m 2). The method applied in this study may be useful to interpret data from new geothermal areas still under exploration by comparing with the results obtained from Los Azufres.

Positional accuracy of boundaries between clearcuts and mature forest stands delineated by means of aerial photointerpretation

Four skilled interpreters delineated 48 boundaries between mature forest stands and clear-felled or nonproductive areas using black and white and color infrared aerial photographs. The positions of the boundaries were compared with ground-truth points located along the boundaries. On average, the interpreters located the boundaries 1.22-2.44 m inside the mature forest stands. Film type, focal length, location of the boundaries within different parts of the stereo models, and the height of the trees along the boundaries did not affect the interpretations significantly. Shadows caused by the trees, which is a hinderance to ground visibility, seriously affected the interpretation. The interpreters placed the boundaries 0.62 m farther inside the mature stands for boundaries covered by shadow than for boundaries without shadows.

Elevated serum liver enzymes in coke oven and by-product workers.

Coke oven and by-product workers are potentially exposed to coke oven emissions (COE), which contain hundreds of chemicals and are primarily composed of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and volatile organic compounds. Some of these compounds are hepatotoxins. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between work in coke oven and by-product plants and serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), the most commonly performed liver-function tests. The exposed group was composed of current workers who had been employed at least 3 months in the two coke-operation work areas, including one coke oven plant and one by-product plant (Area I: n = 117; Area II: n = 96) of a large steel company in Taiwan. Control subjects (Area III: n = 131), not visiting either coke-operation area in the last 3 months, were collected from the administrative and nonproduction areas in the same company. PAH exposure, as a surrogate of COE, was measured monthly by PM-10 size-selective high-volume-area air samplers in or around these three areas between June and December 1990, as well as between November 1992 and June 1993. The mean total respiratory particulate PAH exposure levels (< 10 microns) between November 1992 and June 1993 in Area I, II, and III were 6.8 x 10(3), 2.1 x 10(3), and 6.5 x 10(1) ng/m3, respectively. AST, ALT, and hepatitis B surface antigen tests were performed in 1994. Workers who showed either AST or ALT levels greater than reference levels (abnormal > 25 IU/L) were regarded as showing "elevated liver enzyme levels." Workers in Area I had AST levels that were 17% higher (95% confidence interval [CI], 3% to 32%]) and ALT levels that were 35% higher (95% CI, 10% to 65%)] than those in Area III after controlling for appropriate confounders. The adjusted odds ratio (Area I vs Area III) for elevated liver enzymes was 4.4 (95% CI, 1.5 to 13.4). In addition, coke oven (n = 91) and by-product workers (n = 26) from Area I had ALT levels 37% and 45% higher, respectively, compared with control subjects from Area III, after adjusting for appropriate confounders. Similar effects are also seen for AST. Workers in Area II had slightly, but not significantly, elevated AST and ALT levels. These results indicate that workers most heavily exposed to COE exhibit elevated aminotransferase levels.

Soil Parameters Related to Crop Growth Variability in Western Niger, West Africa

AbstractA study was carried out to determine soil morphological and chemical properties that influence short‐range variability in the growth of millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] in western Niger. Paired productive and adjacent nonproductive sites within millet fields were evaluated along transects in three soil‐geomorphic regions. Transects totaled &gt;300 km in length. Mean depth to subsoil of productive sites ranged from 17.06 cm in the sand valley transect to 19.98 cm in the Dallol Bosso transect. These were different from the topsoil depths of the adjacent nonproductive sites within the respective transects, which ranged from 7.8 to 12.9 cm. Productive sites were located in microtopographic “high” positions relative to nonproductive sites. The mean relief differential between productive and nonproductive sites was 6.13 cm. Vesicular crusts 2 to 5 cm thick and exposed Bt horizon crusts (2.5YR 4/6) were mostly associated with nonproductive sites. The acidity parameters were highly intercorrelated in all transects. Mean pH of soils associated with productive growth of millet ranged from 5.8 to 6.3, compared with 5.4 to 6.0 in the nonproductive areas. Mean exchangeable acidity in the nonproductive sites ranged from 0.2 to 0.36 cmolc kg‐1, about three times higher than the mean in the productive areas. Bray‐1 P levels to a depth of 30 cm did not differ between paired sites in any of the transects. Microtopography was the most important factor influencing millet growth variability in western Niger because it directly influenced the factors related to crust formation and determined the depth to acidic, Al‐rich, P‐deficient subsoil that impeded millet growth and development.

炭酸塩岩貯留岩の特性評価 地震探査データと坑井データによるケーススタディー

A detailed delineation of structural configuration for the 3DA structure, which is located in the Gulf of Moattama, offshore Myanmar, was required for the current evaluation work. For this study, 650 kilometers of 2-D seismic data covering the structure were reprocessed and acoustic velocity measurements of the well core samples were made.The reprocessing and reinterpretation provided more reliable structural map and porosity distribution map of the reservoir of the 3DA structure. The structure composed of a carbonate build up exhibits a four-way closure. AVO analysis was applied to define a productive area from non-productive area of the structure. Also, seismic interval velocities were used to produce an average porosity map of the gas-bearing carbonate reservoir of the structure. The results made it possible to obtain more reliable estimation of the rock volume and the porosity distribution for the 3DA structure.

The Potential Use of Biogeochemistry in the Detection of Petroleum Microseepage (1)

Biogeochemistry was applied to the indirect detection of petroleum microseepage in the vicinity of Eagle Springs oil field, Railroad Valley, Nevada, and Cave Canyon field, Paradox basin, Utah. Trace elements were measured in native vegetation over and surrounding areas of production at the test sites. The oxidation of microseepage in the upper part of the soil column is postulated to cause an increase in plant uptake of transition trace elements such as iron, manganese, and vanadium, and a decrease in plant uptake of alkaline earth elements such as calcium, strontium, and barium. Compared to nonproductive areas, an increase in uptake of transition trace elements and a decrease in alkaline earth elements was observed in Fourwing saltbush over Eagle Springs field. The postulated increase in uptake of transition trace elements and decrease in alkaline earth elements was not as apparent in Big sagebrush nor in Utah juniper over the Cave Canyon field. The observation of the postulated effects on vegetation at Eagle Springs may be due to the relatively large rates of microseepage independently observed using other methods, and the extensive faulting in Railroad Valley. The weaker response observed at Cave Canyon may reflect the lack of faulting and the retention of light hydrocarbons in the reservoir. Another possible reason for weak response is that the available plant species at Cave Canyon do not exhibit the effect at the lower soil pH measured in the area. At low pH and low Eh, the solubility of transition elements in soil pore waters and plant uptake is increased. Due to the high soil pH of the Railroad Valley area, the uptake of alkaline earth elements should be decreased where microseepage is occurring because of crystallizat on of carbonate minerals.

Effects of Weather on the Breeding Ecology of Vesper Sparrows in Iowa Crop Fields

-Vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) territory characteristics and breeding success in row-crop fields were measured during one growing season with more than normal, and one with less than normal, rainfall. Crops were planted earlier and cultivated more often, and crop canopy closure occurred sooner in the drier year. During the wetter year, territories were smaller and included more agriculturally nonproductive areas. The more frequent cultivations and shorter breeding season (due to earlier canopy closure) during the drier year reduced the breeding success of the vesper sparrow in comparison to the wet year. In neither year was breeding success sufficient to maintain population levels.

Byssinosis in a textile factory in Cameroon: a preliminary study.

To assess the risk of byssinosis in a cotton textile factory in Cameroon a preliminary study was conducted on a random sample of 125 men from production areas and 68 men from non-production areas. Symptoms were assessed by a questionnaire, which also included questions regarding sleep; peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) was measured with a miniature peak flow meter at the end of a working day and total dust concentrations were assessed by static and personal sampling with Casella dust samplers giving values of 6.4 +/- 2.6 mg/m3 (m +/- SD) in production areas and 1.7 +/- 0.7 mg/m3 in control areas. Exposed subjects had significantly more symptoms (particularly in smokers) and lower PEF values than controls (408 +/- 961/min v 468 +/- 701/min, p less than 0.001). Twenty three exposed subjects (18%) reported chest tightness on returning to work after the weekly break (compared with one control, p less than 0.01). Subjects with byssinosis had lower PEF values than those without chest tightness (356 +/- 501/min v 426 +/- 951/min, p less than 0.01), more chronic bronchitis (52% v 6%, p less than 0.001), they were more often smokers (61% v 31%, p less than 0.05), and came generally, though not exclusively, from the opening carding spinning department with the highest concentrations of total dust (8 +/- 2 mg/m3) and an estimated prevalence of byssinosis of 28%. There were no significant differences in sleep related symptoms between the exposed and controls, though the 23 subjects with byssinosis tended to report more snoring (48%), early morning headache (48%), and sleep improvement over the working week (44%) than all the other subjects (28%, 24%, and 24% respectively, p less than 0.1).

Operations and support cost model for new product concept development

Predicting the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) of a proposed new product during its concept development phase is required for two reasons. First, it is necessary to demonstrate to either a potential customer (e.g. Government financed programs) or to corporate management that the cost of owning the new product and its value to the owner justify further development. Second, LCC is the basis for trade studies between various engineering alternatives that must be made early in the program in order to avoid wasteful research in nonproductive areas. The most significant portion of LCC is usually the Operating and Support (O&S) cost and yet this is the most difficult cost to predict. Operating and support costs include all costs incurred by their owner between initial purchase and discard or salvage. These costs must be predicted by parametric methods and inflated and/or discounted to their applicable years by means of Engineering Economic Analysis techniques. Separate models must be made for each engineering alternative and the costs converted to a common base (i.e. “now” dollars) for comparison. Martin Marietta, working under contract to the U.S. Navy's Advanced Antiair warfare Working Group (AAWG), has developed a simple O&S cost model to solve this complex problem. The model consists of a three dimensional matrix using LOTUS 1-2-3 software on an IBM PC or PC compatible computer. The model is flexible and detailed enough to be useful in many diverse applications and simple enough to be exercised quickly and at minimum cost.

Breeding Ecology of Vesper Sparrows in Corn and Soybean Fields

The breeding ecology of vesper sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus) was studied along fencerows between corn and soybean fields in central Iowa. Territories included portions of both corn and soybean fields, usually within 80 m of the fencerow. Breeding densities were greater along more shrubby fencerows. Nesting success in corn and soybean fields was low, 9% before 15 June and 28% thereafter. Nest losses resulted primarily from agricultural operations (27 % of all nest losses) and predation (29 % ). Nest predation was higher near agriculturally nonproductive areas. Late in the season, when most of the successful nesting by vesper sparrows occurred, washes were heavily used as nest sites. Nest placement shifted seasonally, probably in response to changes in food availability and cover for nesting activities. Renestings during the middle of the breeding season were farthest from nonproductive areas. Annually, vesper sparrows produced an average of 2.8 young/pair, probably below replacement levels. Vesper sparrow breeding success likely would be greater if the number of tillage operations was reduced and crop residue was retained on the

A Geologic Consideration on the Development of the Volcanic Rock Reservoirs

1. The planning of the development of oil and gas fields as well as the method to be used in such planning are derived from the results of operations research.On the basis of the estimations of reserves and average initial daily production per well, we carry out research for the most appropriate period of recovery and numbers of development wells, and further, we make plans on the arrangement of well, equipment and facilities for production.2. If we can predict the modes for the occurrence of oil and gas, or the distributions of productive and non-productive areas of the fields that are investigated, it contributes to the estimations of reserves and initial daily production per well.The writer considered some volcanic rock reservoirs in Niigata Prefecture for the basic data of the investigations above mentioned.

The clostridial flora of marine sediments from a productive and from a non-productive area.

Samples of marine sediment from the western equatorial Atlantic and Caribbean and from the Peru Current area of the Pacific were examined for Clostridia. Samples of sediment from the Peru Current area contained more species of Clostridia, especially saccharolytic species. Six virulent strains of Clostridium novyi and 14 strains of Clostridium perfringens were isolated from the samples of sediment from the Peru Current area, although none was isolated from sediment samples from the Atlantic and Caribbean. Sediment samples from the latter area contained a higher proportion of frankly proteolytic and amino acid utilizing clostridia.

First migration of petroleum in Akita and Yamagata Prefecture (II)

The first migration, that is, migration of petroleum from the mother rock to the reservoir is more important in Japan than the second migration, because the regional migration is not possible on account of locally limitted distribution of reservoir beds. Assumed that the first migration is caused mainly by compaction of mother rock according to its burial, the quantity of migration can be given by reduction of porosity of the mother rock. Therefore, the conception of “Potential of Migration (PM)”has been defined as the volume of fluids flowing from mother rock into the unit pore space capacity of reservoir rock The value of PM is determined by the volume & porosity of both reservoir and mother rocks, and the porosity of the mother rock before its compaction or burial. After computing each value of PM in various exploration wells, the following fact has been found. In oil productive areas, PM values are larger than 50, whereas in nonproductive areas, they are less than 50. From this fact, the assumption has been recognized as valid that the presence or absence of oil pool is mainly controlled by the condition of first migration.