Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Biogenic volatileorganic compounds (BVOCs) emitted fromaquaticsystems are increasingly recognized for their influence on atmosphericchemistry. However, emissions from freshwater environments, specificallyduring harmful algal bloom (HAB) events, remain poorly quantified.These HAB events are increasing globally in frequency and intensity,driven by climate change, nutrient runoff, and land-use changes. Thisstudy investigates the water-to-air gas exchange rates of BVOCs fromsouthwestern Pennsylvanian freshwater lakes during peak HAB conditions,with a focus on nitrogen-containing compounds that are typically underrepresentedin atmospheric measurements. Using atmospheric pressure, hydroniumchemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS), we measured BVOC emissionsfrom 18 lake samples in the laboratory, capturing real-time fluxesof 900 unique masses. Ammonia, pyrroline, and pyridine consistentlyexhibited the highest emission fluxes across samples. Alkylamineswere less abundant, although they remain atmospherically importantdue to their role in new particle formation. These results representthe first reported real-time freshwater flux measurements of alkylamines,pyrroline, and pyridine, offering new insight into the atmosphericimplications of HABs. Notably, no clear correlation was observed betweenBVOC fluxes and chlorophyll a and phycocyanin concentrations,which were taken to represent the cyanobacterial concentrations inthe samples. This suggests that emissions are influenced by otherbiological or chemical factors not captured in this study. Principalcomponent analysis identified two significant outlier water samples,driven by elevated ammonia, pyrroline, and an unknown compound at124.101 amu, though the underlying cause of these deviations remainsunresolved. The remaining lake emissions were similar. These findingsprovide foundational observations to better understand the role offreshwater system emissions in regional air quality and atmosphericprocesses.

Hydraulic fracturing, a technology initially developed for oil and gas production, has emerged as a valuable tool in environmental remediation. This article explores the use of hydraulic fracturing for enhancing soil and groundwater cleanup processes by improving permeability in low-porosity soils and bedrock. The process involves injecting a pressurized slurry to create fractures, which are then kept open with proppants to facilitate treatment methodologies such as pump and treat, vapor extraction, and biosparging. Two primary applications, soil fracturing and bedrock fracturing, are discussed, highlighting their unique approaches and benefits in improving contaminant removal. The article also addresses the composition and role of fracturing fluids in maintaining environmental safety during remediation operations. By increasing permeability and enabling efficient access to contaminants, hydraulic fracturing serves as a critical tool for advancing in-situ environmental remediation techniques.

This article provides an overview of the developmental trajectory and enduring impact of the Commission on Geoscience Education (COGE) under the auspices of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) from its inception in 1961 to 2024, including its formal establishment in 2004. Originally established as the Commission on Geoscience Education, Training, and Technology Transfer (COGEOTT) in 1990, COGE's evolution is explored against the backdrop of expanding global needs in geoscience education. The Commission's strategic reorientation from purely facilitating scientific conferences to addressing diverse educational demands across developed and developing countries is examined. In its various forms, COGE has consistently advocated improving geoscience education globally, and COGE's significant collaborative ventures, notably with the International Geoscience Education Organisation (IGEO) and the European Geosciences Union (EGU), highlight key achievements such as the formulation of an international geoscience curriculum and impactful educational publications. These collaborative efforts underscore COGE's instrumental role in shaping geoscience education on a global scale. Key independent achievements of the Commission include the establishment of the Geoscience Education Field Officers (GEFO) Program, the creation of the Chris King Medal for excellence in international geoscience education, ongoing partnerships with other global geoscience education organizations, and the recent reinvigoration of a social media presence to increase awareness of its initiatives. Despite these achievements, COGE faces new and persistent challenges, such as resource constraints and adapting to diverse educational systems. The Commission's innovative responses to these challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrate its resilience and commitment to advancing geoscience education globally. This showcases the importance of collaboration and innovation, amidst evolving circumstances.

Since the early 2000s there has been an increase in detection and awareness of per- or polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances chemicals in groundwater and drinking water in the United States. In stark contrast to other known harmful chemical pollutants, little is known yet about the specific epidemiological and toxicological effects of prolonged intake and consumption of PFAS chemicals in environmentally occurring levels. New Hampshire has encountered two high-profile episodes of PFAS contamination with hotspots in Merrimack, NH, because of factory pollution and Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, NH, because of military activity. These instances have brought increased attention to the issue from both the state legislature and residents. The purpose of this study is to gather information on how New Hampshire residents value the removal of PFAS chemicals from their public drinking water systems to reduce the risk of possible negative health outcomes that come with PFAS intake. Using data from an online survey of New Hampshire (NH) residents and employing the contingent valuation method, we used several regression techniques to determine that NH residents are willing to pay an additional $13.07 to their existing water bill to remove the risk of negative health outcomes stemming from PFAS consumption. The most important confounding factor influencing higher willingness-to-pay values was the presence of moderate or major existing health concerns about drinking tap water.

Elucidating genetic diversity within wild forms of modern crops is essential for understanding domestication and the possibilities of wild germplasm utilization. Gossypium hirsutum is a predominant source of natural plant fibers and the most widely cultivated cotton species. Wild forms of G. hirsutum are challenging to distinguish from feral derivatives, and truly wild populations are uncommon. Here we characterize a population from Mound Key Archaeological State Park, Florida using genome-wide SNPs extracted from 25 individuals over three sites. Our results reveal that this population is genetically dissimilar from other known wild, landrace, and domesticated cottons, and likely represents a pocket of previously unrecognized wild genetic diversity. The unexpected level of divergence between the Mound Key population and other wild cotton populations suggests that the species may harbor other remnant and genetically distinct populations that are geographically scattered in suitable habitats throughout the Caribbean. Our work thus has broader conservation genetic implications and suggests that further exploration of natural diversity in this species is warranted.

A range wide status survey of the perforate reindeer lichen (Cladonia perforata) was performed by revisiting known extant and historical sites and searching for new populations. Size of each population was determined and the extent of invasive plant species in the vicinity of Cladonia perforata was also documented. The data was used to update the global and state NatureServe conservation status rank of this species and provide the current information to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Department of Defense (DOD), state agencies, and land managers. Twenty-five existing element occurrence records were updated, and seven new element occurrences were documented. Based on several rank factors such as area of occupancy, number of both viable and protected populations, and threats, the rank of Cladonia perforata was recalculated to G2G3/S2S3 from the previous rank of G1/S1 (NatureServe 2022). This change in rank indicates a reduction in conservation status from Critically Imperiled to Imperiled/Vulnerable.

Daniel Ferrer, directeur émérite au sein de l’Item et co-fondateur de la revue Genesis, est l’un des plus éminents praticiens et théoriciens de l’approche génétique. Si, au fil des années, il a consacré de fines analyses à divers écrivains, notamment Virginia Woolf, William Faulkner, Edgar Allan Poe, Stendhal, Flaubert, Zola, Proust, Barthes ou Hélène Cixous, c’est néanmoins au moderniste irlandais James Joyce (1882-1941) qu’on l’associe spontanément. Association prestigieuse, puisque ce géa...