Washington State Department of Ecology

Abstract As populations expand in the coastal zone and climate change increases the risk of coastal flooding and erosion hazards, there is a growing need to understand how coastal dunes will evolve into the future. In recent decades, the development and extension of numerical models for dune evolution have demonstrated capabilities to successfully replicate ecomorphodynamic interactions at various spatial or temporal scales. Here, we compare the ability of two numerical models, the analytical Dune Response Tool (DRT) [1] and the process-based AeoLiS model [2], to replicate historical dune growth along a rapidly prograding section of coast in Long Beach, WA. After calibrating coefficients in the erosion and accretion modules of the analytical model, the DRT accurately reproduced historical dune evolution using minimal computational resources. AeoLiS was also able to reproduce patterns in dune growth when detailed field observations and a shoreline change rate module were added to the model. The final DRT profile does not perfectly mimic detailed topographic patterns observed in the field, but it has a lower RMSE than results from AeoLiS. Moreover, DRT’s efficiency and minimal calibration requirements make it an easily implementable tool. In contrast, AeoLiS requires extensive field observations as inputs for accurate hindcasts, but the final result better matches the observed complex dune evolution. Both the DRT and AeoLiS models have the potential to offer valuable insight into predicted dune evolution and the coastal protective services dunes may provide in the future.

The use of digital technologies in education has been on the rise in recent years. This study examines the impact of virtual laboratories on student performance and motivation in chemistry classes. The study participants were students from several educational institutions in Kazakhstan who were randomly assigned to use either virtual laboratories or traditional learning methods. Data were collected through tests and self-report measures of motivation and mental well-being. Following the intervention, the mean knowledge score of the intervention group was 78.1 ± 5.8, and it was 64.3 ± 5.9 in the control group. The intervention group resulted in significant improvements from the scores of 4.2 and 3.1 in intrinsic motivation and amotivation to the scores of 6.3 and 2.1, respectively. The present findings can be used by chemistry teachers and educational institutions when integrating virtual laboratories into chemistry education as a means of improving student performance and motivation.

Abstract A growing body of mostly observational research has examined how β ‐diversity and its turnover and nestedness components respond to environmental gradients across taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional dimensions. To our knowledge, this is the first manipulative investigation to assess how two major environmental influences—nutrient enrichment and herbivory—control β ‐diversity and its components across dimensions in phototrophs. We used algal data from field and laboratory experiments, manipulating herbivory and/or the number of added nutrients (NAN), which ranged from zero to three (N, P and Fe) or four (N, P, Fe and Mn). We compared control/nutrient treatment communities with control communities and non‐grazed with grazed communities in terms of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity. Taxonomic and phylogenetic β ‐diversity ( β Sor ) was partitioned into turnover ( β Sim ) and nestedness ( β Nes ) components. We proposed a novel partitioning approach for functional β ‐diversity, outperforming the conventional approach, which calculates β Sor , β Sim and β Nes . Instead, we used Bray–Curtis distances derived from the number of taxa within morpho‐functional groups and calculated overall functional β ‐diversity ( β BC ) and its balance ( β Bal ) and gradient ( β Gra ) components. We developed three hypotheses predicting that (i) β Nes and β Gra would rise at higher NAN because of increased taxonomic richness, and phylogenetic and functional diversity (hypothesis 1); (ii) grazing would either reduce (hypothesis 2a) or elevate β Nes and β Gra (hypothesis 2b) depending on the balance between extinction of grazer‐sensitive taxa versus establishment of grazer‐resistant taxa; and (iii) the relative importance of β Nes and β Gra would depend on NAN and dimension (hypothesis 3). Our results supported Hypotheses 1, 2b and 3. Synthesis . Across dimensions, enrichment with multiple nutrients elevated biodiversity, the nestedness and gradient components of β ‐diversity and often, the overall β ‐diversity. Herbivory contributed to this increase by promoting grazer‐resistant but competitively inferior taxa. Thus, streams with higher levels of both micro‐ and macronutrients and unimpacted herbivorous fauna may represent biodiversity hotspots and targets for conservation. The relative importance of β Nes and β Gra increased with NAN and at the functional dimension, β Gra was the dominant component. Therefore, shorter environmental gradients may promote turnover, while longer gradients, colonization/extinction, the latter becoming particularly prominent at the functional dimension.

ABSTRACTAimCo‐occurrence networks can be described in terms of topology (i.e., size and connectance) and node degree distribution (NDD). The NDD represents the frequency distribution of nodes (species) with k number of connections (degree). The shape of the NDD, single‐scale, scale‐free (power‐law) or broad‐scale, reveals if there are species with many connections to other species (high‐degree nodes), which may have important ecological functions. However, it remains unknown how spatial extent and environmental conditions impact network topology and the NDD shape and whether these relationships depend on species dispersal capacity.LocationContinental United States of America.TaxaStream diatoms and fish.MethodsWe constructed landscape windows ranging in spatial extent from 160,000 to 2,560,000 km2. For each window, we calculated environmental heterogeneity and median environmental conditions and generated correlation‐based co‐occurrence networks. We evaluated the topology and NDD shape of each network. To each NDD, we fit six statistical models, classified as single‐scale, power‐law or broad‐scale. Contingency table analysis, redundancy analyses and variance partitioning tested the sources of variability in network topology and/or NDD shape.ResultsThe NDDs were almost exclusively fit either by single‐scale + broad‐scale models or broad‐scale models. As spatial extent increased, network size increased, connectance decreased, and the NDD shifted in an organism‐specific manner. In both groups, network responses to spatial extent were attributed primarily to variability in climatic heterogeneity followed by urban development in diatoms.Main ConclusionsSpatial extent determined co‐occurrence network properties primarily via climatic and land use factors. Broad‐scale NDDs, indicating the presence of high‐degree nodes, were more common in the well‐dispersed diatoms than in the more poorly dispersing fish. Furthermore, these NDDs increased in frequency with spatial extent and climatic heterogeneity in diatoms but decreased in fish. High‐degree nodes are likely climatic generalists in diatoms but keystone or more dispersive species in fish.

Coastal jetties are commonly used throughout the world to stabilize channels and improve navigation through inlets. These engineered structures form artificial boundaries to littoral cells by reducing wave-driven longshore sediment transport across inlet entrances. Consequently, beaches adjacent to engineered inlets are subject to large gradients in longshore transport rates and are highly sensitive to changes in wave climate. Here, we quantify annual beach and nearshore sediment volume changes over a 9-yr time period along 80 km of wave-dominated coastlines in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Beach and nearshore monitoring during the study period (2014–2023) reveal spatially coherent, multi-annual patterns of erosion and deposition on opposing sides of two engineered inlets, indicating a regional reversal of longshore-transport direction. A numerical wave model coupled with a longshore transport predictor was calibrated and validated to explore the causes for the observed spatial and temporal patterns of erosion and deposition adjacent to the inlets. The model results indicate that subtle but important changes in wave direction on seasonal to multi-annual time scales were responsible for the reversal in the net longshore sediment transport direction and opposing patterns of morphology change. Changes in longshore transport direction coincided with a reversal in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) climate index, suggesting large-scale, multi-decadal climate variability may influence patterns of waves and sediment dynamics at other sites throughout the Pacific basin.

Alternatives assessment is a methodology used to identify, evaluate, and compare potential chemical and nonchemical solutions with a substance of concern. It is required in several chemicals management regulatory frameworks, with the objective of supporting the transition to safer chemistry and avoiding regrettable substitutions. Using expert input from symposium presentations and a discussion group hosted by the Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment, four case examples of the use of alternatives assessment in regulatory frameworks were evaluated and compared: (1) the US Environmental Protection Agency Significant New Alternatives Policy (USEPA SNAP), (2) authorization provisions in the EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, (3) the California (CA) Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Program, and (4) the Safer Products for Washington (WA) Program. Factors such as the purpose of the alternatives assessment, the timeline of actions, who completes the assessment, the role of stakeholder engagement, and the regulatory response options for each policy are outlined. Through these presentations and expert discussions, four lessons learned about the use of alternatives assessments in regulatory policy emerged: (1) the goal and purpose of the regulatory framework significantly affects its ability to result in safer substitution, (2) existing frameworks struggle with data access and insufficient stakeholder engagement, (3) some frameworks lack clear decision rules regarding what is a safer and feasible alternative, and (4) regulatory response options provide limited authority for enforcement and do not adequately address options where alternatives are unavailable or limited. Five recommendations address these lessons as well as how the application of alternatives assessment in regulatory settings could have greater impact in the future. This synthesis is not meant to be a comprehensive policy analysis, but rather an assessment based on the perspectives from experts in the field, which should be supplemented by formal policy analysis as policies are implemented over time. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1035-1045. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), one of the marine carbon dioxide removal strategies, is gaining importance in its role towards alleviating the consequences of climate change as well as mitigating against ocean acidification (OA). OAE is based on adding alkalinity to open-ocean and coastal marine systems through a variety of different approaches, which raises carbonate chemistry parameters (such as pH, total alkalinity, aragonite saturation state), and enhances the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. There are large uncertainties in both short-and longterm outcomes related to potential environmental impacts, which would ultimately decide on the success of OAE as a climate strategy. This paper represents a synthesis effort, leveraging on the OA studies, data, observed patterns and generalizable responses. We propose a conceptual framework of categorized responses that are predicted under OAE implementation. The synthesis was done using raw experimental OA data based on 96 collected studies, capturing the responses of eleven biological groups (coralline algae, corals, dinoflagellates, mollusks, gastropods, pteropods, coccolithophores, annelids, crustacean, echinoderms, and foraminifera), using regression analyses to predict biological responses and thresholds to NaOH or Na2CO3 additions. Predicted responses were categorized into six different categories (linear positive and negative, threshold positive and negative, parabolic and neutral) to delineate species-and group-specific responders: 40% of species are predicted to respond positively (N=38), 20% of species negatively (N=20), and 40% (N=38) were found to demonstrate a neutral response upon alkalinity addition. For negatively impacted species, biological thresholds corresponding to 10 to 500 µmol/kg NaOH addition were found, occurring at much lower values than previously expected. Such lower threshold values represent realistic conditions related to OAE field deployments but contrast with the conditions where current OAE lab experiments are conducted. We thus explicitly emphasize the importance of including much lower additions of alkalinity in experimental trials to realistically evaluate in situ biological responses. Due to practicality and high correlation with Ωar, we propose using the TA:DIC ratio as a helpful proxy to explore regional applications and biological response to OAE. The ultimate goal of the study is to provide a framework that can serve as a tool for predicting biological responses and thresholds to delineate OAE risks, guide and prioritize future OAE biological research and regional OAE monitoring efforts. With 60% of species showing nonneutral response, a precautionary approach for OAE implementation is warranted, identifying the conditions where potential negative ecological outcomes could happen, which is key for scaling up while also avoiding potential risks.

About 3 billion new tires are produced each year and about 800 million tires become waste annually. Global dependence upon tires produced from natural rubber and petroleum-based compounds represents a persistent and complex environmental problem with only partial and often-times, ineffective solutions. Tire emissions may be in the form of whole tires, tire particles, and chemical compounds, each of which is transported through various atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic routes in the natural and built environments. Production and use of tires generates multiple heavy metals, plastics, PAH's, and other compounds that can be toxic alone or as chemical cocktails. Used tires require storage space, are energy intensive to recycle, and generally have few post-wear uses that are not also potential sources of pollutants (e.g., crumb rubber, pavements, burning). Tire particles emitted during use are a major component of microplastics in urban runoff and a source of unique and highly potent toxic substances. Thus, tires represent a ubiquitous and complex pollutant that requires a comprehensive examination to develop effective management and remediation. We approach the issue of tire pollution holistically by examining the life cycle of tires across production, emissions, recycling, and disposal. In this paper, we synthesize recent research and data about the environmental and human health risks associated with the production, use, and disposal of tires and discuss gaps in our knowledge about fate and transport, as well as the toxicology of tire particles and chemical leachates. We examine potential management and remediation approaches for addressing exposure risks across the life cycle of tires. We consider tires as pollutants across three levels: tires in their whole state, as particulates, and as a mixture of chemical cocktails. Finally, we discuss information gaps in our understanding of tires as a pollutant and outline key questions to improve our knowledge and ability to manage and remediate tire pollution.

Benthic macroinvertebrate taxa vary in their sensitivities to water quality and habitat conditions, contributing to their extensive use as ecological indicators. As climate change and landscape alteration increasingly impact stream temperatures, interest is growing in expanding our knowledge of how macroinvertebrates are affected by current and future thermal conditions. Using samples from 3501 sites, we evaluated relationships between macroinvertebrate taxa and modeled stream temperatures across Oregon and Washington, in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. We used Maximum Weekly Maximum Temperature (MWMT) values from the NorWeST temperature dataset, which is the same metric used for numeric water temperature standards in Oregon and Washington. MWMT captures peak thermal stress, when cold-water adapted aquatic biota are closest to their upper physiological limits. For each macroinvertebrate taxon, we characterized relationships between MWMT and their distributions with three measures: 1) central thermal tendency, based on weighted average (WA) optima calculations and relative abundance data; 2) lower and upper thermal limits, based on the 10th and 90th percentiles of taxon occurrence, using presence data; and 3) thermal sensitivity curve shape, based on Generalized Additive Model (GAM) plots. We assigned 521 taxa, from species to phyla, to seven thermal preference categories, ranging from cold and warm stenotherms (narrow range) to eurythermal (wide range). Thermal sensitivity and variability within each taxonomic group were identified for establishing taxonomic targets for regional monitoring programs. We also developed the Macroinvertebrate Thermal Tolerance Index (MTTI) to represent the assemblage-level response to available thermal habitats, using WA optima and relative abundances for 324 taxa. The MTTI model had a strong relationship with modeled temperatures (R2 = 0.68) and a root-mean-square-error of 2.5 °C. Our work builds on previous regional and national efforts to identify thermal indicator taxa by using modeled stream network temperatures and a thermal metric that corresponds directly to regional water temperature standards. Both the taxa thermal preferences and the MTTI can be used to help identify causes of biological impairment, prioritize restoration and protection actions, and monitor assemblage-wide changes in thermal tolerance over time.

Coastal morphological changes can be assessed using shoreline position observations from space. However, satellite-derived waterline (SDW) and shoreline (SDS; SDW corrected for hydrodynamic contributions and outliers) detection methods are subject to several sources of uncertainty and inaccuracy. We extracted high-spatiotemporal-resolution (~50 m-monthly) time series of mean high water shoreline position along the Columbia River Littoral Cell (CRLC), located on the US Pacific Northwest coast, from Landsat missions (1984–2021). We examined the accuracy of the SDS time series along the mesotidal, mildly sloping, high-energy wave climate and dissipative beaches of the CRLC by validating them against 20 years of quarterly in situ beach elevation profiles. We found that the accuracy of the SDS time series heavily depends on the capability to identify and remove outliers and correct the biases stemming from tides and wave runup. However, we show that only correcting the SDW data for outliers is sufficient to accurately measure shoreline change trends along the CRLC. Ultimately, the SDS change trends show strong agreement with in situ data, facilitating the spatiotemporal analysis of coastal change and highlighting an overall accretion signal along the CRLC during the past four decades.