West Plain Research Articles

A GIS-expert-based approach for groundwater quality monitoring network design in an alluvial aquifer: a case study and a practical guide.

Groundwater quality monitoring is a critical part of water management in all groundwater basins. In order to be effective and to meet the required needs, groundwater quality monitoring networks (GQMNs) must be designed to be able to operate long-term and economically without minimal disruption. The analytical hierarchical process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision-making program, was used to design a GQMN for an alluvial aquifer located in the Islam Abad plain west of Kermanshah province, Iran. This semi-arid area is subject to groundwater depletion and water quality changes. The model used 8 primary criteria sub-divided with 5 sub-criteria based on a combination of empirical data and expert opinion. The primary criteria included density of wells, well discharge, well depth, water quality (conductivity), flow direction, annual groundwater extraction, water level declines, and accessibility. The model showed that 59 of 254 production wells in the basin could provide optimal monitoring locations. When a second screening of the wells was used to determine constraints (physical conditions of the wells and pumps, owner permission of use, type of the pump, etc.), the number of wells was reduced to 13 wells. An initial round of water sampling and chemical analysis demonstrated that the design of the GQMN met the goals of the water management agency of the region.

Facies Distribution of Borehole DC01 in the West Coastal Plain of Bohai Bay Since MIS3 Using Clayey Water Electric Conductivity and Grain Size Analysis

Zhang, L.P.; Fang, J.; Wang, F.; Shang, Z.W.; Li, J.F.; Chen, Y.S., and Tian, L.Z., 2020. Facies distribution of borehole DC01 in the west coastal plain of Bohai Bay since MIS3 using clayey water electric conductivity and grain size analysis. In: Guido Aldana, P.A. and Kantamaneni, K. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Coastal Management, and Marine Science Technology. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 104, pp. 795–803. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.To investigate the sedimentary evolution in the West Coastal Plain of the Bohai Bay since Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS3), clayey water electric conductivity, grain size, and foraminifera species were measured. According to the AMS14C ages, borehole DC01 was divided into eight units: Unit I (30–29 m), watercourse sediment formed earlier than 46 ka cal BP; Unit II (29–22.4 m), flood plain sediment formed in 45.8 ka cal BP; Unit III (22.4–14.5 m), sediment affected by the storm surge and formed in 45.8–11.2 ka cal BP; Unit IV (14.5–12.6 m), tidal creek sediment representing the rising sea-level in the postglacial period; Unit V (12.6–9.5 m), watercourse-flood plain sediment; Unit VI (9.5–8.34 m), the salt marsh layer affected by seawater that formed during 8.3–7.5 ka cal BP; Unit VII (8.34–3.6 m), watercourse sediment; Unit VIII (3.6–1 m), flood plain with multiple currents that formed in about 3.7 ka cal BP. Studies show that borehole DC01 was affected by seawater twice. (1) The tidal creek sediment and the salt marsh sediment from the postglacial period to 7.5 ka cal BP, which was affected by seawater, represents the rising sea-level and the maximum period of the Holocene MIS1 transgression in the western plain of the Bohai Bay. (2) The storm surge sediment in 45.8 ka cal BP, which was affected by seawater during the MIS3, when the Paleoshorelines were located 20-45 km from borehole DC01.

Inferencing the land subsidence in the Nile Delta using Sentinel-1 satellites and GPS between 2015 and 2019

The Nile Delta is home to half of Egypt's population and has ample agricultural, industrial, and cultural resources, yet the land subsides in response to many natural and anthropogenic impacts.We report the recent subsidence rate and patterns in the Nile Delta using the synthetic aperture radar Sentinel-1 data of 144 images obtained between 2015 and 2019, based on coherence small baseline subset interferometry of ~2900 interferograms. We distinguished three patterns of deformation due to three different physical mechanisms: 1) The land subsides with rates ranging from −12 to −20 mm/year in major cities (such as Zagazig, Mit Ghamr, Tanta, Mansoura and Mahla) due to urban-induced loading; 2) A subsidence rate ranges between −3 and −8 mm/year along the coastal margins due to natural sediment dewatering and compaction. This rate is consistent with the global positioning system rate of −3.5 mm/year and 3) A subsidence rate ranges from −20 to −16 mm/year and −6 to −12 mm/year in newly reclaimed lands on the west and east of the delta's flood plains, respectively, due to groundwater overexploitation. Our findings, in contrast with results from previous studies of regional deformation mainly felt to be controlled by natural processes, demonstrate a localized subsidence and predominant anthropogenic control on the land deformation and call for revisiting sea level rise-related flooding models in the Nile Delta. In light of the new findings, the authorities should take necessary measures to reduce the ongoing land subsidence through enforcement of urban planning policies in the delta's flood plain and development of a sustainable management strategy for groundwater extraction.

Maximizing crops yield net benefit in a groundwater-irrigated plain constrained to aquifer stable depletion using a coupled PSO-SWAT-MODFLOW hydro-agronomic model

Groundwater is a strategic resource for irrigated agriculture particularly in arid regions. Management of groundwater resources is essential to preserve sustainability while conserving economic interests. In this research, crops areas and water depletion by wells in an agricultural plain are optimized. This done by a novel hydro-agronomic-based simulation-optimization approach in which SWAT as the agronomic and MODFLOW as the groundwater simulation models are coupled with the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Maximization of the net benefit gained from crops production is defined as the objective function. The decision variables are cultivation area for four major irrigated crops and irrigation depths (groundwater withdrawals). Groundwater depletion for irrigation is limited to a pre-defined value as the stability level. The PSO-SWAT-MODFLOW model is applied for Asemanabad plain in west of Iran. Results show that by optimum crops area and irrigation planning the agricultural net benefit is increased significantly comparing the present situation existing in the plain while the aquifer’s depletion remains in the stable range. By sensitivity analyses, it is found that the crops’ price has a major effect on the optimum cropping pattern and water consumption while improvement of the irrigation efficiency has a negligible impact on the plain’s optimum agricultural net benefit.

Cystic Fibrosis Sputum Reflections from the Pre‐Modulator Age

Toward the understanding and improvement of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway health, our laboratories have studied the tracheobronchial mucous glycoproteins (mGP) of individuals with and without CF. With the increased mucus viscosity and charged character of the mGP oligosaccharide species, obstructions in the CF gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts readily occur and lead to malnutrition, frequent and persistent pulmonary infections with opportunistic pathogens, and COPD. With new medications (“modulators”) targeting the basic defects, we anticipate marked improvements in CF airway health. With respect for the current airway clearance challenges faced by many with CF, we reflect on our experiences in handling sputum specimens over the years as we processed them toward mGP oligosaccharide structural elucidation. These studies provided opportunities for microscopic, chemical and biochemical observations about CF sputum relative to non‐CF sputum and insights about sputa heterogeneity of an individual. Toward improving therapeutic strategies, here we briefly report these observations. Microscopically, dense CF sputum typically depicted a neutrophil inflammatory response with large numbers of clumped neutrophils, many with degenerating nuclei, and much cellular debris, whereas non‐CF purulent sputa commonly displayed abundant mucous material and scattered inflammatory cells. Average chemical compositions of >1000 sputa (213 non‐purulent, NP; 322 purulent, P; and 468 CF), showed for CF less water content per specimen and greater dry weight (NP, P, CF respectively: water mg/mL 959, 939, 862; macromolecular dry weight [MDW] mg/mL 43, 61, 98 respectively). CF sputa possessed a higher % of MDW as lipid and DNA than non‐CF sputa and surprisingly, decreased total carbohydrate (CHO), (NP, P, CF respectively: lipid 25, 31, 34 % MDW; DNA 0.01, 1.4, 2.7 % MDW, with CF DNA ranging 0.1 – 9.1% MDW; CHO 21, 20, 14 % MDW.) Sputa of 4 CF patients collected over 5 days of hospitalization, showed >35% reduction in sputa DNA content regardless of initial DNA % MDW at admission. Sputa solubilization with guanidinium HCl showed no correlation of lipid content to hours to complete solubilization (hS); a trend to longer times with increased glycoprotein content (GP); and a marked impact of DNA content on solubilization. With CF focus, GP, DNA content, and hS were determined for 77 CF sputa. Rather than linear concentration trends, there were scattered relationships of % MDW of DNA and of GP. 3D graphical analysis revealed longer solubilization times (i.e. 10–20 h) when both mucins and DNA were in significant quantity, than specimens of high levels of DNA with little GP (i.e. 4–8h). Compiling these types of observations, we see CF sputa, over the population, and for a given individual, reflect a heterogenous spectrum of DNA‐mucin relative concentrations. As therapeutic strategies continue to evolve for the mobilization of the viscous obstructive materials, these data suggest that approaches which address both the DNA and mucous glycoprotein components will be the most beneficial in the ever‐changing airway dynamic. As COPDs share many features with CF, these CF sputum reflections may also guide airway clearance strategies in general.Support or Funding InformationUniversity of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Chemical Laboratories; Cystic Fibrosis Associations of Missouri and West Plains.

Investigation of subsidence phenomenon and impact of groundwater level drop on alluvial aquifer, case study: Damaneh-Daran plain in west of Isfahan province, Iran

The subsidence phenomenon is influenced by several factors, the most important of which is the overutilization of alluvial aquifers or reduced aquifer recharge as a result of climate change and drought. Alluvial Damaneh-Daran aquifer in central Iran is an unconfined aquifer. But due to its lithological diversity, behave similarly to a confined aquifer. Therefore, the aquifer is susceptible to subsidence. The subsidence in the study area was investigated using a hybrid numerical approach. Therefore, the rate of subsidence in the aquifer was first determined by the radar interferometer method. Then, to investigate the effecting parameters on subsidence, a groundwater model was constructed that showed a negative water budget. The fifty percent exploitation decrease scenario from the aquifer showed the significant and considerable effect of reducing pumping on the decrease in subsidence. Therefore, it was concluded that one of the primary and compelling reasons for the subsidence event in the Damaneh-Daran alluvial aquifer was the overexploitation of the aquifer. Given the lack of suitable and portable water resources in the catchment, changing the pattern of cultivation and optimal utilization of groundwater resources is a management strategy to control the current trend of overuse of aquifer and subsidence events.

Role of Quaternary glacial-outburst megaflood paleochannel deposits in a basalt-dominated aquifer system in the West Plains area of eastern Washington, USA

Approximately 2 km2 of sand- and gravel-rich Pleistocene glacial-outburst megaflood sediment has accumulated in a series of five subparallel paleochannels that are an important component of a basalt-dominated aquifer system on the semiarid, ~450-km2 West Plains area. Located near Spokane, Washington (USA), the West Plains paleochannel deposits have been used for artificial storage and recovery wells and for planned and passive stormwater disposal in this rapidly growing area. Recent recognition of perfluorooctanoic acid contamination and excessive drawdowns have led to the closure of multiple municipal wells on the West Plains, highlighting the challenges of developing a sustainable groundwater supply in this complex aquifer system. Geologic and hydrogeologic data, from more than 1,400 water-well reports, surface exposures, existing groundwater geochemistry reports, and modeling, reveal the interconnections between the paleochannel deposits and surrounding basalt flows in three dimensions (3D). Initially incised into the Miocene Columbia River Basalt and excavated by Pleistocene glacial-outburst megaflooding, the West Plains paleochannels are projected in unprecedented 3D. This study’s modeled interactions between the more highly hydraulically conductive (100×) paleochannel sedimentary deposits and surrounding basalt beds provide insight into 14C ages and tritium values that had been measured previously. Sediment-filled closed depressions at the bases of the paleochannels, which are features likely formed by turbulent bursts (‘kolks’) during peak megaflood flows, are potentially promising groundwater storage sites. However, because of the relatively higher permeability of the unconfined paleochannel deposits, the closed depressions also are potential conduits for infiltration of contamination to deeper parts of the aquifer system.

Оценка экологического состояния агрогенных почв Западно-Приморской равнины на примере Михайловского муниципального района

Оценка экологического состояния агрогенных почв Западно-Приморской равнины на примере Михайловского муниципального района

Spatial and Temporal Variations in Vegetation Cover and Responses to Climatic Variables in the Daqing River Basin, North China

Cui, H.; Xiao, W.; Zhou, Y.; Hou, B; Lu, F., and Pei, M., 2019. Spatial and temporal variations in vegetation cover and responses to climatic variables in the Daqing River Basin, North China. In: Guido-Aldana, P.A. and Mulahasan, S. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources and Exploration. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 93, pp. 450–459. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.The establishment of Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province has gained immense attention from the whole scientific community. The Daqing River Basin (DRB), where the New Area is located, has become a new focus of hydrological scientists. The vegetation cover plays a key role in hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, serving as a reference to understand the ecological environment and water circulation status of the watershed. To analyse the current situation of climate and vegetation changes in the DRB, kriging interpolation, moving average, trend analysis of Theil–Sen median, and Mann-Kendall statistical test were used based on ground-based observation data and Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data. The annual mean values of NDVI showed a significant upward trend from 2000 to 2015. The fluctuations in seasonal NDVI values followed this trend correspondingly to various extents. The variations in NDVI value positively correlated with those in temperature, both on the annual scale and during summer seasons (P ≤ 0.05). A large improvement in the vegetation cover of DRB was observed (54.21% of the areas), mainly distributed in the northeast of Mountainous Areas of Daqing River Basin and West Plain of Baiyangdian Lake. The findings might be helpful to understand the water and energy flux cycling in the changing environment of this region, providing guiding information on river basin management and the planning and construction of New Area.

Chemical Properties of Forest Soils from Romania West Plain

The present paper characterizes the soils from Romania�s West Plain from a chemical property point of view, based on data from forest management plans. As such, for each forest district, soil samples from characteristic forest areas are gathered once at ten years and then analyzed. In this manner, soil reaction, base saturation degree, total cationic exchange capacity, humus content and total nitrogen where analyzed and compared with results of soil analysis from other Romanian areas.

Assessment of vulnerability to pollution and seawater intrusion of groundwater in the anthropized reclamation area of Arborea (W. Sardinia)

The phenomenon of seawater intrusion is one of the major problems in Sardinian coastal aquifers (Italy). In particular, it has been detected in the reclamation area of Arborea plain (west Sardinia) where intensive agriculture and dairy farming are the mainstays of the local economy.In this research SINTACS and GALDIT vulnerability indexes and the numerical model for simulating groundwater flow have been applied for evaluating respectively the intrinsic vulnerability to pollution, seawater intrusion and groundwater flow for a typical Mediterranean phreatic sandy aquifer such as Arborea plain aquifer.This research may offer a valuable contribution to the team of existing tools in the field of seawater intrusion and groundwater quality modelling.

Assessing the Value of Soil Inorganic Carbon for Ecosystem Services in the Contiguous United States Based on Liming Replacement Costs

Soil databases are very important for assessing ecosystem services at different administrative levels (e.g., state, region etc.). Soil databases provide information about numerous soil properties, including soil inorganic carbon (SIC), which is a naturally occurring liming material that regulates soil pH and performs other key functions related to all four recognized ecosystem services (e.g., provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services). However, the ecosystem services value, or “true value,” of SIC is not recognized in the current land market. In this case, a negative externality arises because SIC with a positive value has zero market price, resulting in the market failure and the inefficient use of land. One potential method to assess the value of SIC is by determining its replacement cost based on the price of commercial limestone that would be required to amend soil. The objective of this study is to assess SIC replacement cost value in the contiguous United States (U.S.) by depth (0–20, 20–100, 100–200 cm) and considering different spatial aggregation levels (i.e., state, region, land resource region (LRR) using the State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) soil database. A replacement cost value of SIC was determined based on an average price of limestone in 2014 ($10.42 per U.S. ton). Within the contiguous U.S., the total replacement cost value of SIC in the upper two meters of soil is between $2.16T (i.e., 2.16 trillion U.S. dollars, where T = trillion = 1012) and $8.97T. States with the highest midpoint total value of SIC were: (1) Texas ($1.84T), (2) New Mexico ($355B, that is, 355 billion U.S. dollars, where B = billion = 109) and (3) Montana ($325B). When normalized by area, the states with the highest midpoint SIC values were: (1) Texas ($2.78 m−2), (2) Utah ($1.72 m−2) and (3) Minnesota ($1.35 m−2). The highest ranked regions for total SIC value were: (1) South Central ($1.95T), (2) West ($1.23T) and (3) Northern Plains ($1.01T), while the highest ranked regions based on area-normalized SIC value were: (1) South Central ($1.80 m−2), (2) Midwest ($0.82 m−2) and (3) West ($0.63 m−2). For land resource regions (LRR), the rankings were: (1) Western Range and Irrigated Region ($1.10T), (2) Central Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range Region ($926B) and (3) Central Feed Grains and Livestock Region ($635B) based on total SIC value, while the LRR rankings based on area-normalized SIC value were: (1) Southwest Plateaus and Plains Range and Cotton Region ($3.33 m−2), (2) Southwestern Prairies Cotton and Forage Region ($2.83 m−2) and (3) Central Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range Region ($1.59 m−2). Most of the SIC is located within the 100–200 cm depth interval with a midpoint replacement cost value of $2.49T and an area-normalized value of $0.34 m−2. Results from this study provide a link between science-based estimates (e.g., soil order) of SIC replacement costs within the administrative boundaries (e.g., state, region etc.).

Imaging Multi-Age Construction Settlement Behaviour by Advanced SAR Interferometry

This paper focuses on the application of Advanced Satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (A-DInSAR) to subsidence-related issues, with particular reference to ground settlements due to external loads. Beyond the stratigraphic setting and the geotechnical properties of the subsoil, other relevant boundary conditions strongly influence the reliability of remotely sensed data for quantitative analyses and risk mitigation purposes. Because most of the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) measurement points (Persistent Scatterers, PSs) lie on structures and infrastructures, the foundation type and the age of a construction are key factors for a proper interpretation of the time series of ground displacements. To exemplify a methodological approach to evaluate these issues, this paper refers to an analysis carried out in the coastal/deltaic plain west of Rome (Rome and Fiumicino municipalities) affected by subsidence and related damages to structures. This region is characterized by a complex geological setting (alternation of recent deposits with low and high compressibilities) and has been subjected to different urbanisation phases starting in the late 1800s, with a strong acceleration in the last few decades. The results of A-DInSAR analyses conducted from 1992 to 2015 have been interpreted in light of high-resolution geological/geotechnical models, the age of the construction, and the types of foundations of the buildings on which the PSs are located. Collection, interpretation, and processing of geo-thematic data were fundamental to obtain high-resolution models; change detection analyses of the land cover allowed us to classify structures/infrastructures in terms of the construction period. Additional information was collected to define the types of foundations, i.e., shallow versus deep foundations. As a result, we found that only by filtering and partitioning the A-DInSAR datasets on the basis of the above-mentioned boundary conditions can the related time series be considered a proxy of the consolidation process governing the subsidence related to external loads as confirmed by a comparison with results from a physically based back analysis based on Terzaghi’s theory. Therefore, if properly managed, the A-DInSAR data represents a powerful tool for capturing the evolutionary stage of the process for a single building and has potential for forecasting the behaviour of the terrain–foundation–structure combination.

Dissecting the physiological and anatomical basis for high yield potential in HD 2967

The wheat genotype, HD 2967 is a popular wheat variety both in North West Plain Zone and North East Plain Zone due to its high yield potential, disease resistance and grain quality parameters. It has been proposed to study the yield attributing traits associated with this genotype. HD 2967 has 98 days of heading, 143 days of maturity, 102 cm plant height, 105 productive tillers per meter along with a 1000-grain weight of 36g. HD 2967 was found superior, for traits like stomatal conductance (gs) and water use efficiency (WUE). The Assimilation rate (A) was also significantly higher than other genotypes. Traits associated with sink strength, like number of tillers, grain filling percentage per spike (91.7%), grain number per spike (59) and grain weight per spike (2.22) were also found at par with other high yielding varieties.

Cumulative reproductive performance effect on overall lifetime productivity in Merino sheep

Reproduction is an important driver of profitability in commercial sheep flocks. Historically, Merino flocks have been run with a fixed age structure, ignoring individual merit and casting for age at a specific age. More recently, research has focussed on utilising the variation within age groups by keeping productive older ewes longer and culling less productive ewes earlier. Previous studies have also examined the effect of age on reproduction and the impact of reproduction status on productivity, but little research has been conducted on cumulative effects of reproductive performance on later productivity, reproduction and health. The present study examined the impact of higher lifetime reproduction on other key production and fitness traits in older ewes run under commercial conditions. Data were collected from two commercial wool-producing properties in the South West Slopes and the Central West Plains of New South Wales during 2009–2011. Reproduction, fleece measurements, bodyweight and condition and dental health were recorded during the study. The results showed that age had a bigger effect on productivity and dental health than did cumulative lifetime reproduction. Environment and genetics determined the level of impact, with minimal loss in productivity from increased age of animals occurring in the South West Slopes flock, whereas the Central West Plains flock would appear to require closer monitoring of productivity as ewes aged. The data collected did not allow separation of the genetic and environmental influences within the study. Retaining animals with a higher reproductive performance past normal culling age does not necessarily result in reduction of productivity or ewe health, but this must be monitored.

Bread wheat cultivar PBW 343 carries residual additive resistance against virulent stripe rust pathotype

ABSTRACTWith continuous outbreaks of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) epidemics and rapid breakdown of deployed resistance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars in North West Plains Zone (NWPZ) in India warrant knowledge and deployment of new and durable sources of resistance to stripe rust. Bread wheat cultivar PBW 343, until recently the most widely cultivated wheat variety in India, is now highly susceptible to stripe rust (score 9 on a 1–9 scale), whereas PBW 621 (score 5.05–5.65) and HD 2967 (score 5.40–6.20) show low levels of resistance. We conducted an experiment, spanning three crop seasons (2013–2014 to 2015–2016), in which parental lines, F1 and F2 populations, F3 and F4 families from two bread wheat crosses, PBW 621/PBW 343 and HD 2967/PBW 343 were generated and evaluated for stripe rust resistance against a virulent pathotype. While the F1 revealed partial dominance, the segregation pattern for stripe rust resistance in F2 and F3 showed transgressive segregation for resistance in both crosses. Chi-square analysis indicated that resistant segregants possessed two genes, one contributed by PBW 621 or HD 2967 (depending on the cross) and the other, unexpectedly but obviously, came from the most susceptible cultivar, PBW 343. Possible genetic mechanisms for this residual resistance and implications for breeding programs are discussed.

Degradation of water quality: the case of plain west of Annaba (northeast Algeria)

AbstractIn the world, the water quality is undergoing deterioration due to urban and industrial wastes, and intensive use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture. Unfortunately, as in most countries of the world, Algeria is experiencing a severe crisis of its environment apart from the problem of depletion of water resources. The plain west of Annaba is particularly subjected to a general industrial pollution. The pollution problem in this region has really started to become worrying not earlier than in 1980, when the economic crisis has led some industrial units to sacrifice the “Environment” criterion for the benefit of the production. We were particularly interested in this work in waters of the superficial aquifer and wadis like Boudjemaa, Bouhdid, Sidi Harb, and Forcha whose waters are most often used to irrigate the surrounding agricultural land. Comparison of analytical results from two periods – 2006–2016 for the: EC, pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, NO2 and 2006–2010 for the: Fe, Cr, Cu2+, Pb+ show a degradation of water quality in this region, which represents a very vulnerable area with a risk to pollution of groundwater.

Notice of Release of 'Trailhead II basin wildrye

‘Trailhead II’ basin wildrye ( Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) A. Love [Poaceae]) is a tetraploid basin wildrye release for use in re-vegetation efforts on rangelands of western North America. Trailhead II is the result of 2 cycles of recurrent selection within the basin wildrye cultivar ‘Trailhead’ for rapid seedling emergence from deep seeding. Trailhead II is genetically distinct from Trailhead. Additionally, in comparisons between Trailhead II and Trailhead, Trailhead II possessed higher total emergence and more rapid emergence from deep seeding (7.6 cm [3 in]) and exhibited higher seedling establishment at 3 of 5 field sites where it was evaluated in Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. The release of Trailhead II basin wildrye improves this native germplasm to enhance the success of conservation and re-vegetation plantings in the Intermountain West and Northern Great Plains areas of the US and Canada.

Morphological Description of Digestive Tract in Golden Jackal (Canis Aureus Moreoticus)

The Golden Jackal is continuously spreading throughout central and Eastern Europe. In Romania the living area of ​​this specie is in Dobrogea and Danube Delta, south-eastern Moldova, southern Muntenia and Oltenia, West Plains and some areas in Central Transylvania Plateau. Surprisingly, despite its fast spreading during the last years, this specie has not been of great interests for researchers. Therefore, a proper understanding of the anatomy of this species is required. Using gross dissection of four subjects, this study achieves a detailed description of anatomical particularities of the digestive tract in Golden Jackal. Given the carnivorous diet, the digestive tract anatomy of Golden Jackal is adapted to this type of nutrition. The type of dentition is dyfyodont with strong and conical crown of incisors and canines. The stomach (Gaster ) is elongated without an obvious duodenal ampulla ( Ampula duodeni ). The descending duodenum ansa is not covered by omentum ( Omentum majus ). The jejunum (Jejunum) and ileon ( Ileum ) are long with well represented corresponding mesentery ( Mesenterium ). The cecum ( Caecum ) is small but obvious; the colon has no sacculations and low distinguishable sections, showing only a sigmoid expansion. Para anal glands are well developed. The entire digestive morphology of golden jackal is similar with the digestive morphology of dogs

Application of 2D numerical simulation for the analysis of the February 2014 Bolivian Amazonia flood: Application of the new HEC-RAS version 5

Llanos de Moxos are vast plains in the Bolivian Amazonia that are continually flooded by the Mamore river. The flood lasts for several days affecting important cities like Trinidad, drowning people, drowning cattle and swamping arable land. Because of the cloudy skies, remote sensing observations are limited to some areas and few days. Thus, there is huge uncertainty about characteristics of flood events and possible consequences. Two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulation proved to be an important tool for understanding flood events. The HEC-RAS model is one of the most popular hydraulic models. In 2014 a new version of HEC-RAS (HEC-RAS-v5) was released including 2D capabilities. The present study applied the new HEC-RAS-v5 to simulate the February 2014 flood event in the Bolivian Amazonia. The flood simulated shows good performance when compared with satellite image of the flood event. In addition, the simulation provides information like water depth, flow velocity and a temporal variation of the flood. Specific locations where water begins to overflow were identified. Over most of the flooded area the water velocity is lower than 0.25ms−1. During first ten days of the flood the flood extent increases rapidly. The flood depth allows identifying areas exposed to different hazard levels. The west plain of the Mamore river is the most exposed to the flood; it shows bigger flood extent, longer flood duration and deeper water depth. The flood that threatens the city of Trinidad originates in two locations; one located 32km at the north and other located 10km at the south west. The flood from the north gets close to Trinidad twelve days after it begins to overflow, while the flood from the south gets close to Trinidad seven days after it begins to overflow. Although the flood from the north is deeper than the flood from the south, the flood from the south begins flooded before the north. Thus, water borne and vector borne diseases may originate at the south earlier than the north. The city of San Javier gets covered by flood five days after the water begins to overflow. The study shows the applicability and the value of the 2D capabilities of the new HEC-RAS for flood studies.