Restoring Rivers One Reach at a Time: Results from a Survey of U.S. River Restoration Practitioners

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72915/1/j.1526-100X.2007.00244.x.pd

Translational models for vascular cognitive impairment: a review including larger species.

BACKGROUND: Disease models are useful for prospective studies of pathology, identification of molecular and cellular mechanisms, pre-clinical testing of interventions, and validation of clinical biomarkers. Here, we review animal models relevant to vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). A synopsis of each model was initially presented by expert practitioners. Synopses were refined by the authors, and subsequently by the scientific committee of a recent conference (International Conference on Vascular Dementia 2015). Only peer-reviewed sources were cited. METHODS: We included models that mimic VCI-related brain lesions (white matter hypoperfusion injury, focal ischaemia, cerebral amyloid angiopathy) or reproduce VCI risk factors (old age, hypertension, hyperhomocysteinemia, high-salt/high-fat diet) or reproduce genetic causes of VCI (CADASIL-causing Notch3 mutations). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that (1) translational models may reflect a VCI-relevant pathological process, while not fully replicating a human disease spectrum; (2) rodent models of VCI are limited by paucity of white matter; and (3) further translational models, and improved cognitive testing instruments, are required

Watershed urbanization alters the composition and function of stream bacterial communities.

Watershed urbanization leads to dramatic changes in draining streams, with urban streams receiving a high frequency of scouring flows, together with the nutrient, contaminant, and thermal pollution associated with urbanization. These changes are known to cause significant losses of sensitive insect and fish species from urban streams, yet little is known about how these changes affect the composition and function of stream microbial communities. Over the course of two years, we repeatedly sampled sediments from eight central North Carolina streams affected to varying degrees by watershed urbanization. For each stream and sampling date, we characterized both overall and denitrifying bacterial communities and measured denitrification potentials. Denitrification is an ecologically important process, mediated by denitrifying bacteria that use nitrate and organic carbon as substrates. Differences in overall and denitrifying bacterial community composition were strongly associated with the gradient in urbanization. Denitrification potentials, which varied widely, were not significantly associated with substrate supply. By incorporating information on the community composition of denitrifying bacteria together with substrate supply in a linear mixed-effects model, we explained 45% of the variation in denitrification potential (p-value<0.001). Our results suggest that (1) the composition of stream bacterial communities change in response to watershed urbanization and (2) such changes may have important consequences for critical ecosystem functions such as denitrification

Placing Stream Restoration in Georgia in a National Perspective

Proceedings of the 2003 Georgia Water Resources Conference, held April 23-24, 2003, at the University of Georgia.We are assessing the nature of the science underlying ecological restoration activities using stream ecosystems as model restoration systems and considering river restoration in Georgia, the Southeast, and the United States. We are assembling a data set that spans multiple ecoregions and many different types of restoration activities performed by diverse groups with various stakeholder interests. Data gathering is focused on several nodes, one of which is in Georgia. Specifically, the data set addresses: what kinds of restoration activities, at what scale, and by what means have taken place; how goals were set and success measured in these restoration efforts; the extent to which scientific criteria were used; the extent to which adaptive management was an explicit component of the restoration activity; and the extent to which scientists formed partnerships with restoration practitioners in order to use restoration projects as opportunities for scientific experimentation. The goal of the project is to facilitate the linkage between the practice of ecological restoration and the science of restoration ecology; we will attempt to establish standards for data gathering to scientifically assess restoration methods and success. We seek information on restoration projects in Georgia

Appendix B. Physical data for study sites collected during Summer 2006.

Physical data for study sites collected during Summer 2006

Appendix A. Chemical and physical characteristics for summer 2006 and winter 2007 sampling days.

Chemical and physical characteristics for summer 2006 and winter 2007 sampling days

Appendix B. Example habitat transition maps and photos for study site block 1.

Example habitat transition maps and photos for study site block 1

Appendix C. Study site species lists.

Study site species lists

Appendix A. Study site UTM coordinates.

Study site UTM coordinates