Do the dominant plant species impact the substrate and vegetation composition of post-coal mining spoil heaps?

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Ecological Engineering on 03/12/2019, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.105685 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version�� 2019 Dominant species influence both species and functional composition of the vegetation as well as soil properties of the substrate. However, knowledge about the role played by dominant species in the process of shaping their habitat within post-industrial ecosystems is still limited. We aimed to assess the impact of four dominant species (Calamagrostis epigejos, Daucus carota, Poa compressa and Tussilago farfara) on soil abiotic and biotic properties, and to detect differences in species and functional composition of the vegetation types studied. We hypothesized that (1) dominant species of higher mean biomass cause lower aboveground biodiversity and (2) dominant species of higher mean biomass have a higher impact than the others on soil properties. We measured soil chemistry (TOC, N, P, K, Na, Mg content, EC, pH and enzyme activities) as well as biomass, species diversity and functional diversity of vegetation on 15 study plots (28.3 m2) for each species studied. The DCA analysis revealed a clear distinction between the patches dominated by studied species. Vegetation patches dominated by Calamagrostis epigejos were correlated with amount of biomass, canopy height CWM and specific leaf CWM. Patches dominated by Daucus carota were related to the light requirements (EIV-L), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and K content. The vegetation patches dominated by Poa compressa were related to dehydrogenase activity, higher Mg content and species richness of the vegetation patches. The highest TOC content was recorded for T. farfara substrates, and the lowest for C. epigejos substrates. The content of potassium does not differ statistically significantly in the substrates from sites dominated by D. carota and P. compressa. The highest values of Mg content were recorded for D. carota and were statistically different from Poa compressa sites, while the higher phosphorus content (statistically significantly different) was recorded for patches dominated by T. farfara and P. compressa. Despite our assumptions, the species with the highest mean biomass (Calamagrostis epigejos) did not cause lower species or functional diversity. In contrast, Tussilago farfara has the highest impact on postindustrial site habitats on coal mine heaps, as extreme values of four soil substratum parameters were recorded on these plots. This species also decreased both species and functional diversity of vegetation. The knowledge about relationship existing between plants (aboveground vegetation) and soil organisms seems important in order to undertake suitable reclamation measures and to restore variety of functions as well as to create diverse vegetation based on native species.Published versio

On the Use of Field RR Lyrae as Galactic Probes. I. The Oosterhoff Dichotomy Based on Fundamental Variables

We collected a large data set of field RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) by using catalogs already available in the literature and Gaia DR2. We estimated the iron abundances for a subsample of 2382 fundamental RRLs (ΔS method: Ca ii K, Hβ, Hγ, and Hδ lines) for which there are publicly available medium-resolution SDSS-SEGUE spectra. We also included similar estimates available in the literature, ending up with the largest and most homogeneous spectroscopic data set ever collected for RRLs (2903). The metallicity scale was validated by using iron abundances based on high-resolution spectra for a fundamental field RRL (V Ind), for which we collected X-shooter spectra covering the entire pulsation cycle. The peak ([Fe/H] =-1.59 ± 0.01) and the standard deviation (σ = 0.43 dex) of the metallicity distribution agree quite well with similar estimates available in the literature. The current measurements disclose a well-defined metal-rich tail approaching solar iron abundance. The spectroscopic sample plotted in the Bailey diagram (period versus luminosity amplitude) shows a steady variation when moving from the metal-poor ([Fe/H] =-3.0/-2.5) to the metal-rich ([Fe/H] =-0.5/0.0) regime. The smooth transition in the peak of the period distribution as a function of the metallicity strongly indicates that the long-standing problem of the Oosterhoff dichotomy among Galactic globular clusters is the consequence of the lack of metal-intermediate clusters hosting RRLs. We also found that the luminosity amplitude, in contrast with period, does not show a solid correlation with metallicity. This suggests that period-amplitude-metallicity relations should be cautiously treated

Proceedings of the Conference on Nuclear Data Evaluation Methods and Procedures

Separate abstracts were prepared for five of the 15 papers and entered in the data base; ten papers were previously entered. (WHK

Proceedings of the Conference on Nuclear Data Evaluation Methods and Procedures

Separate abstracts were prepared for 9 of the 21 papers and entered in the data base; 11 papers were previously included. (WHK

ENDF-201 Supplement 1. ENDF/B-V. 2 Summary Documentation. Third Edition

The purpose of the present publication is to provide the summary documentation for Revision 2 of the General Purpose File of ENDF/B-V. Revision 2 embodies a series of updates for important materials in the ENDF/B-V libraries in advance of the more comprehensive changes that will accompany a complete version change to ENDF/B, Verison VI. The summary documents for the evaluations that were completely or extensively modified during Revision 2 are provided. Less extensive changes made to other evaluations are also documented. Modifications made to the fission energy release parameters for fissionable nuclei are described. Finally, a series of modifications made to the covariance files of the major fissionable nuclei, including cross correlation information, is summarized. (LEW