Bryophytes and their distribution in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales

The bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) that occur in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales (latitude 33˚–34˚ S, longitude 151˚–151˚40’ E) are listed and information is provided on their distribution in the region. Species lists are based on herbarium specimens and field collections. 348 bryophyte taxa have been recorded from 70 families, including 225 moss taxa (in 108 genera from 45 families), 120 liverwort taxa (in 51 genera from 24 families) and 3 hornwort taxa (in 3 genera from one family). The moss families with most taxa are the Pottiaceae (with 23 taxa in 13 genera), Bryaceae (with 15 taxa in 3 genera) and Fissidentaceae (with 13 taxa). The largest genera are Fissidens (13 taxa), Campylopus (9) and Macromitrium (8). The liverwort family with the most taxa is Lepidoziaceae, with 29 taxa in 10 genera. The largest liverwort genera are Frullania (11 taxa) and Riccardia (8). The species lists include collections from both bushland and urban areas. Natural features of the Blue Mountains, including topography, altitude, climate and vegetation appear to be important factors influencing the number of bryophyte species recorded from each location. The number of collections from particular locations has been considerably influenced by ease of access, particularly proximity to roads, public transport and railway stations. The species lists include many records from areas that were not accessible to the early collectors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries such as Wollemi National Park, Gardens of Stone National Park, Newnes Plateau and Kanangra-Boyd National Park

Methods for the recovery of nutrients and energy from swine manure. 1. Biogas.

The recovery of nutrients from pig manure (300 l/day discharged by 100 pigs) during digestion for biogas production amounted to 1435 kg N, 350 kg P and 490 kg K per year. When spread on the 15.26 ha of land required to grow the corn and soybean for the pig ration, each hectare would receive 94 kg N, 23 kg P and 32 kg K per year. The energy value of the recovered fertilizer represents 4.4% of the total energy input of the pig production system. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission

Environmental Bacteriophage Detection on Coastal Carolina University Campus

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. These viruses are found ubiquitously in the environment and are more abundant than any living organism on Earth, including bacteria. Eleven sites are designated for weekly sample collection on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Water samples are filtered and amplified using strains of E. coli B and E. coli K12 to allow potential coliphages in the sample to proliferate to detectable levels. Plaque assays are used as a microbial screen for the presence of bacteriophage. Samples that test positively using the microbial test are analyzed through a molecular test using PCR to identify the viral families and identify the coliphage. The results of this study illustrate the presence of bacteriophage on Coastal Carolina’s campus and the identification of at least one of the desired viral families.The purpose of this study was to utilize bacteriophage as an environmental indicator of the presence of harmful bacteria in waterways on the campus of Coastal Carolina University and to identify bacteriophage that could be used to control bacterial blooms