Does Macroalgae Invasion Alter Macroinvertebrate or Macrophyte Communities in Wetland Habitats?

Macroinvertebrates play an important role in maintaining ecosystem functionality. Processes such as nutrient cycling, and primary productivity are directly linked to macroinvertebrates and their value as a food source for higher trophic levels is undeniable. Therefore, disruptions to co-evolutionary adaptations between macroinvertebrates and native macrophytes remain a concern. This study investigated patterns in macroinvertebrate richness, abundance, and functional feeding group representation, as well as plant richness and total biomass across five sites in upstate New York with varying dominance by the non-native macroalgae, Starry Stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa). As N. obtusa proportional biomass increased, other plant community biomass declined at two of the five locations. Starry Stonewort mass had no impact on macrophyte richness. Macroinvertebrate richness declined as N. obtusa biomass increased at two of the five sampled waterways, but increased with total vegetative biomass at one site. Functional feeding group representation differed among the sample locations, but only predators showed a significant decline as percent N. obtusa biomass increased. Increasing Starry Stonewort mass may facilitate Dreissena polymorpha expansion. These findings suggest that this non-native macroalgae may alter some, though not all, plant and macroinvertebrate community metrics

The Potential of GIS to Visualize and Map Sewage Discharge Reports

Alexander Krest, GEG525: Fundamentals of GISFaculty Mentor(s): Professor Tao Tang, Geography and Planning Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) are detrimental events that at times release hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated and partially treated sewage per month into WNY waterways. These discharges pose a multi-dimensional threat, impacting local economies, regional ecology, and public health, among other things. Unfortunately, despite a couple highly publicized events, there is still a lack of attention paid to this issue. In 2013, New York State passed Assembly Bill A10585A, more commonly known as the Sewage Pollution Right to Know Act, which requires publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities to report discharges of untreated or partially treated sewage to the DEC. While this legislation is a step in the right direction, the sheer number of incidences, coupled with varied reporting strategies and messy database configuration make the prospects of working with this data quite intimidating, especially for those not accustomed to the field. Looking at sewage discharge reports for Erie County for the month of September 2019, this project aimed to gauge the potential of displaying this data through GIS applications for public, municipal, and scientific consumption. The results of this undertaking produced a map that--while relatively easily understandable when compared to the traditional Excel format in which the data is often presented--was limited in the scope of true representation of sewage discharges. However, the use of GIS certainly has the potential to aid municipalities and citizens in visualizing regional sewage discharges.https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/srcc-sp21-physgeosci/1010/thumbnail.jp

Does Macroalgae Invasion Alter Macroinvertebrate and or Macrophyte Communities in Wetland Habitats?

Understanding the role of non-native taxa in contemporary communities remains a critical area of research in ecology. While many studies have demonstrated broad changes in macrophyte communities following invasions, each new invader potentially creates consequences for the recipient community and the functional processes within it. Additionally, it remains unclear whether interactions between macroinvertebrates and vegetation also change after the arrival of non-native plants. Macroinvertebrates play an important role in maintaining ecosystem functionality, therefore disruptions to co-evolutionary adaptations between macroinvertebrates and native macrophytes remain a concern. This study investigates patterns in macroinvertebrate richness, abundance, functional feeding group representation, as well as plant richness and total biomass across five sites in upstate New York with varying dominance by the non-native macroalgae, Starry Stonewort. As N. obtusa proportional biomass increased within a site, both plant community richness and biomass declined (P \u3c 0.001). Similarly, macroinvertebrate richness declined as the proportion on N. obtusa biomass increased (P = 0.026). The predator functional feeding group declined significantly (P = 0.044) as percent N. obtusa biomass increased, whereas other functional feeding groups were not significantly impacted. Findings suggest that this non-native macroalgae may alter some, though not all, plant and macroinvertebrate community metrics

The cyclometalated nickel complex [(Phbpy)NiBr] (Phbpy(-)=2,2 '-bipyridine-6-phen-2-yl) - Synthesis, spectroscopic and electrochemical studies

The new organometallic nickel complex [(Phbpy)NiBr] containing the anionic tridentate N,N,C ligand 6-(phen-2-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine (Phbpy) was synthesised from PhbpyBr and [Ni(COD)(2)] in excellent yields and was fully characterised (MS, NMR, single crystal XRD). [(Phbpy) NiBr] was reacted with (CF3)SiMe3 giving the CF3 complex [(Phbpy)Ni(CF3)]. Both new complexes were studied in detail by electrochemical (CV) and spectroelectrochemical (UV/vis/NIR absorption) methods. For both complexes the first one-electron reduction and the first oxidation of the Br complex occur fully reversible in the CV, while spectroelectrochemistry shows decomposition reactions. The CF3 complex is unstable in solution producing 2-CF3-Phbpy. Reactivity patterns for these reactions were discussed, also in comparison with the non-cyclometalated complex [(bpy)Ni(Mes)Br]. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Heteroleptic Complexes of the Tridentate Pyridine-2,6-di-tetrazolate Ligand

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of a series of heteroleptic complexes of the tridentate pyridine-2,6-di-(5-tetrazolate) (pydtz(2-)) with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) and pyridine (Py) and H2O as coligands is reported. Single crystal XRD data reveals the formation of octahedrally configured complexes [Co(pydtz)(H2O)(Py)(2)], [Co(pydtz)(H2O)(2)(Py)]2H(2)O, [Ni(pydtz)(Py)(3)]2Py, and [Zn(pydtz)(H2O)(Py)(2)]Py, and a markedly Jahn-Teller distorted octahedral structure for [Cu(pydtz)(H2O)(2)(Py)]. Magnetic measurements reveal a S = 3/2 high-spin configuration for the Co(II) complex [Co(pydtz)(H2O)(Py)(2)], an S = 1 ground state for the Ni(II) derivative and S = 1/2 Cu(II) ions for [Cu(pydtz)(H2O)(2)(Py)], the latter is supported by electron-paramagnetic-resonance spectroscopy. The crystalline materials are subject to severe corrosion as revealed by powder XRD and DSC-TG experiments. H2O and pyridine co-crystallisates and coligands are easily cleaved. At the same time DSC-TG reveal very high stability of the [M(pydtz)] fragments with exothermic decomposition at T > 300 degrees C. As a consequence, in pyridine solution in all cases the species [M(pydtz)(Py)(3)] are observed. Ultraviolet-visible light absorption spectroscopy reveals a strong ligand field procured by the pydtz(2-) ligand and electrochemical measurements suggest very strong sigma-donation but only weak -accepting abilities of pydtz(2-) compared to the isostructural terpy (2,2';6',2''-terpyridine) ligand

Tetraorganopnictonium and Alkali Metal Salts of Pyridine-2,6-di-tetrazolate

Alkali metal (Na, K) and tetraorganopnictonium (AsPh4, PPh4) salts were prepared from 2,6-bis(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyridine (H(2)pydtz) and characterized by multinuclear NMR, IR, and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy. Single crystal XRD of (AsPh4)(2)(pydtz)center dot 5H(2)O reveals isolated pydtz(2-) dianions sandwiched between two AsPh4+ cations and an interesting hydrogen bridging network comprising the five co-crystallized water molecules and the three pydtz N atoms. (PPh4)(2)(pydtz)center dot 5H(2)O is isostructural to (AsPh4)(2)(pydtz)center dot 5H(2)O as revealed from powder XRD measurements and corresponding Rietveld fits. The crystal structure of the mixed salt Na-3(PPh4)(pydtz)(2)center dot 12H(2)O reveals pi-stacking interaction of the pydtz(2-), a polymeric chain of water molecules and Na+ cations in an extended hydrogen bonding and Na+-coordinating network. PPh4+ cations interact solely through their positive charge. The alkali metal salts were soluble in water, alcohols, and DMF, whereas the pnictonium salts were additionally soluble in less polar solvents such as acetone, DMSO, CH2Cl2, or THF

Five Coordinate Platinum(II) in [Pt(bpy)(cod)(Me)][SbF6]: A Structural and Spectroscopic Study

The five coordinate organoplatinum complex [Pt(bpy)(cod)(Me)][SbF6] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine) was obtained reacting [Pt(cod)(Me)Cl] with Ag[SbF6] and bpy and characterized by multiple spectroscopy (IR and NMR) and single crystal XRD. Although the application of the τ values for the discrimination between trigonal bipyramidal vs. square pyramidal coordination fails, the molecular structure can be unequivocally described as basally-distorted trigonal bipyramidal. Detailed multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in solution at ambient temperature gives strong evidence for the same structure; corresponding low-temperature measurements down to −70 °C revealed no marked dynamic processes

Syntheses and coordination chemistry of perfluoroaryl-1H-tetrazoles

Attempts to prepare fluorinated 5-aryl-1H-tetrazoles by various methods were successful for (3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)tetrazole (BTFTH) and in part for 5-pentafluoropenyltetrazole (F(5)PhTetH) and 5-(tetrafluoro-4-pyridinyl)tetrazole (F(4)PyTetH). For BTFTH, several different methods gave satisfactory yields and purity. For the other compounds, the same methods allowed only the observation of the desired species in very small quantities in ill-defined reaction product mixtures with azidodefluorination being the dominant side reaction. Negative ionising MS proved to be superior to other MS methods showing clean elimination of mainly N-2 and CF2 from the tetrazolate anions. From BTFTH, the Cu complex [(BTFT)(2)Cu(Py)(2)](n) could be obtained and fully characterised, including crystal structure determination (for the complex and the ligand). Magnetic and EPR data for the polymeric [(BTFT)(2)Cu(Py)(2)](n) suggest that the superexchange (SE) between the Cu2+ ions (S = 1/2) is negligible. This can be understood by examining the crystal structure and the details of the possible SE path. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

[2 x 2] Molecular Grids of Ni(II) and Zn(II) with Redox-Active 1,4-Pyrazine-Bis(thiosemicarbazone) Ligands

Tetranuclear complexes [M-4(L-R)(4)] with M = Ni(II) or Zn(II), with a [2 x 2] grid-type structure, were assembled in good yields and purity from the easily accessible but unprecedented pyrazine-bridged bis(thiosemicarbazone) protoligands (ligand precursors) H2LR (1,4-pyrazine-2,5-bis(R-carbaldehyde-thiosemicarbazone); R = Me, Et, Pr-i, or Ph). The complexes were characterised in solution by NMR, MS, IR, and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and (spectro)electrochemical methods. HR-MS spectra unequivocally reveal that the tetranuclear species are very stable in solution and any measurements represent these species. Only at higher temperatures (fragmentation in solution: MS and in the solid: TG-DTA) or upon the addition of protons (acidic UV-Vis titrations) can the tetrameric entities be decomposed. Single crystal XRD measurement remained preliminary. Rapid loss of co-crystallised solvent molecules within the [2 x 2] grid-type structures resulted in crystals of very poor quality, but the results were qualitatively in line with spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and quantum chemical (DFT) calculations. IR and NMR spectroscopy point clearly to a thiolate coordination of dianionic (deprotonated) ligands. The electrochemistry reveals four electronically coupled and reversible one-electron reductions centred largely at the pyrazine bridges. EPR and UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical measurements in combination with DFT calculation support the assignment