6 research outputs found
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Interactive Water Quality Data Visualization: Case Study Longhorn Stream Team
Water quality monitoring can provide a real-time indicator as to the health and quality of a precious natural resource yet it is difficult to effectively communicate data and inspire action beyond the scientific arena. An interactive web application was developed using R Shiny to bridge this knowledge gap, visualizing existing data points collected by citizen scientists of the Longhorn Stream Team.Geography and the Environmen
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Restoration of Nitrogen Cycling in a Degraded Shrubland Ecosystem
Effects on native ecosystems caused by human disturbance or non-native species invasions can persist far longer than the initial activity, particularly if soil properties such as nutrients are altered. Soil legacy effects present a complex challenge for restoration, because both plants and microbes play important roles in soil biogeochemical cycling. We examined whether nitrogen cycling could be restored by removing non-native vegetation and inoculating degraded sites with native soil microbial communities. These strategies were applied in degraded Florida shrublands that were mildly disturbed or entirely converted to pasture, or undisturbed native control sites. We measured inorganic nitrogen pools, gross rates of nitrogen mineralization, and gross rates of nitrogen consumption 2 years after the treatments were implemented. Gross rates were quantified using the pool dilution technique. We found that gross N mineralization rates, gross N consumption rates, and N pool sizes increased with increasing disturbance. In disturbed sites, non-native vegetation removal and microbial addition individually decreased gross rates, and effectively restored native N conditions. In pastures, the combination of both treatments was most effective, but resulted in an elevated inorganic nitrate pool. Disturbance compounded by non-native invasion increases soil legacy effects by altering soil nutrient dynamics, but responds proportionally to a restoration scheme to reapproximate native N cycling rates.Plan II Honors Progra
The azo dyes Disperse Red 1 and Disperse Orange 1 increase the micronuclei frequencies in human lymphocytes and in HepG2 cells
The use of azo dyes by different industries can cause direct and/or indirect effects oil human and environmental health due to the discharge of industrial effluents that contain these toxic compounds. Several studies have demonstrated the genotoxic effects of various azo dyes, but information on the DNA damage caused by Disperse Red 1 and Disperse Orange 1 is unavailable, although these dyes are used in dyeing processes in many countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mutagenic activity of Disperse Red 1 and Disperse Orange 1 using the micronucleus (MN) assay in human lymphocytes and in HepG2 cells. In the lymphocyte assay. it was found that the number of MN induced by the lowest concentration of each dye (0.2 mu g/mL) was similar to that of the negative control. At the other concentrations, a dose response MN formation was observed up to 1.0 mu g/mL. At higher dose levels, the number of MN decreased. For the HepG2 cells the results were similar. With both dyes a dose dependent increase in the frequency of MN was detected. However for the HepG2, the threshold for this increase was 2.0 mu g/mL, while at higher doses a reduction in the MN number was observed. The proliferation index was also calculated in order to evaluate acute toxicity during the test. No differences were detected between the different concentrations tested and the negative control. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirao PretoUniversidade de Sao Paulo (USP)FAPESPCAPE