Founders, Feminists, and a Fascist -- Some Notable Women in the Missouri Section of the MAA

In the history of the Missouri Section of the MAA, some of the more interesting people who influenced the growth and development of the section through the years were and are women. In this chapter, we discuss the contributions of a few (certainly not all) of these women to the Missouri Section and mathematics as a whole, including Emily Kathryn Wyant (founder of KME), Margaret F. Willerding (who dealt with sexism in the 1940s), Maria Castellani (an official in Mussolini’s Italy before coming to America), and T. Christine Stevens (co-founder of Project NExT). Without them, and others like them, both mathematics and the Missouri Section of the MAA would be poorer

Epibenthic and mobile species colonisation of a geotextile artificial surf reef on the south coast of England

With increasing coastal infrastructure and use of novel materials there is a need to investigate the colonisation of assemblages associated with new structures, how these differ to natural and other artificial habitats and their potential impact on regional biodiversity. The colonisation of Europe’s first artificial surf reef (ASR) was investigated at Boscombe on the south coast of England (2009–2014) and compared with assemblages on existing natural and artificial habitats. The ASR consists of geotextile bags filled with sand located 220m offshore on a sandy sea bed at a depth of 0-5m. Successional changes in epibiota were recorded annually on differently orientated surfaces and depths using SCUBA diving and photography. Mobile faunal assemblages were sampled using Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV). Distinct stages in colonisation were observed, commencing with bryozoans and green algae which were replaced by red algae, hydroids and ascidians, however there were significant differences in assemblage structure with depth and orientation. The reef is being utilised by migratory, spawning and juvenile life-history stages of fish and invertebrates. The number of non-native species was larger than on natural reefs and other artificial habitats and some occupied a significant proportion of the structure. The accumulation of 180 benthic and mobile taxa, recorded to date, appears to have arisen from a locally rich and mixed pool of native and non-native species. Provided no negative invasive impacts are detected on nearby protected reefs the creation of novel yet diverse habitats may be considered a beneficial outcome

Ineffective natural attenuation of degradable organic compounds in a phenol-contaminated aquifer

Two detailed vertical profiles through a complex plume of phenolic contaminants in a Triassic sandstone aquifer show that natural attenuation by biodegradation and dispersion is active but very slow. The plume has a microbially active aerobic and NO3 reducing fringe that is less than 2 m thick at both 150 and 350 m downstream of the source. The anaerobic core has evidence of active bacterial populations and degradation at total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations up to at least 1400 mg/L (1800 mg/L total phenolics), although gross half-lives are more than 50 years. There is evidence from the same locations of Mn, Fe, and SO4 reduction, with the latter inhibited by the pollutant matrix and not significant at concentrations more than 1000 mg/L TOC. Degradation of these contaminants in this aquifer is influenced by a range of environmental factors, including the chemical toxicity and pH of the contaminant matrix, and inputs of electron acceptors into the plume by dispersion. The results show that the plume is likely to grow under the present conditions, despite the biodegradable nature of the organic pollutants and availability of suitable electron acceptors. Vertical profiles have proved a cost-effective method of understanding the evolution of the plume

The Artificial Surf Reef.

<p><b>(a)</b> South-eastern corner of the Artificial Surf Reef in June 2010. The upper red alga turf is dominated by non-native alga <i>Asparagopsis armata</i> (Falkenbergia stage). Close to the sea bed the reef is scoured, with scattered ascidians including <i>Styela clava</i>.; <b>(b)</b> Greater pipefish (<i>Syngnathus acus</i>) amongst red alga <i>Asparagopsis armata</i>. Photos (c-e) from point on south-east corner: <b>(c)</b> 4/6/2011 with <i>Ulva lactuca</i>, <i>Cladostephus spongiosus</i>, <i>Halurus flosculosus</i>; <b>(d)</b> 7/9/2012 with <i>Cryptopleura ramosa</i>, filamentous red algae and bryozoans) <b>(e)</b> 12/9/2013 with <i>Gracilaria gracilis</i> and <i>Asparagopsis armata</i> (Falkenbergia stage) (All photos KC, except photo (b) S Trewhela).</p

Results of pairwise comparison of benthic assemblages between surface orientation and depth ranges on the surf reef in 2012.

<p>Results of pairwise comparison of benthic assemblages between surface orientation and depth ranges on the surf reef in 2012.</p

Epibenthic assemblages present on vertical and horizontal surfaces across the three depth ranges (0–1.9, 2–3.9, 4–5.9m) in 2012.

<p>Epibenthic assemblages present on vertical and horizontal surfaces across the three depth ranges (0–1.9, 2–3.9, 4–5.9m) in 2012.</p

Study region.

<p>South coast of England showing location of the Boscombe Artificial Surf Reef (ASR) and other artificial and natural habitats.</p

Mean abundance of species pairs of Pelagic adults (European bass, Grey mullet, Territorial adults (Corkwing wrasse, 2-spotted goby, Migratory (Black bream and Spiny spider crab) and Juvenile (Black bream and bib) in early, mid and late summer 2013.

<p>Data collected from BRUV surveys. Error bars show SE.</p

CAP ordination showing variability of samples across the different sites and habitats.

<p>Overlaid Spearman rank species correlations (> 0.4) species vectors. Discriminant analysis is based on 4 PCO axes accounting for 98% variability within the data.</p