Abstract We report records on habitat characteristics and environmental parameters found associated with adult specimens of the predacious diving beetle genus Heterosternuta Strand identified in aquatic macroinvertebrate community samples collected from reaches of 80 wadeable stream sites during years 2002 through 2018 and first documentation on occurrence of Heterosternuta wickhami (Zaitzev) in Missouri, USA.

Abstract Bacillus subtilis is capable of swarming motility on semisolid surfaces. Here we characterize the swarming phenotype of a mutant in the gene of unknown function, yozG in the undomesticated strain 3610. The yozG mutant was unable to swarm. Swarming could be restored to the mutant by overexpression of the swarming regulator gene swrA or by overexpression of the flagella and chemotaxis operon. In addition, we were able to isolate two genetic suppressors of the yozG mutant that could also restore swarming. yozG is necessary for swarming in B. subtilis and likely acts upstream of the swarming regulator, SwrA.

Abstract Urbanization has caused large-scale changes in wildlife distributions. Populations and communities of small mammals can be good indicators of ecosystem health as they indicate change in vegetation diversity and structure. We surveyed small mammals in Kirksville, Missouri – a small isolated city within a landscape matrix of savanna and oak-hickory woodlands (Quercus spp. and Carya spp.). We trapped thirteen Peromyscus spp. and three Blarina brevicauda. Overall small mammal occupancy (95% CI) was 0.318 (0.131-0.589). Our results indicated that occupancy was constant across all variables and locations; however, future research is needed to better understand if there are indeed habitat covariates that have an effect on Peromyscus spp. occupancy, such as distance to green space or number of dumpsters in the area. Urban planners should be aware of the long-term effects of drought and of the isolation of small mammal populations. Future research should consider what urban variables may keep these small mammals in these isolated areas (i.e., nutrition, habitat requirements, and barriers of migration). This information will help improve management programs aimed at regulating small mammal populations and distributions in cities.

Abstract First records of occurrence of the midge genus Kloosia Kruseman in Missouri are reported based upon aquatic macroinvertebrate community samples collected during April 2012 and October 2015 from reaches of Grindstone Creek in Dekalb County and South Blackbird Creek in Schuyler County in the Central Dissected Till Plains. Select physical and water quality characteristics from the reaches are also provided.

Abstract During 2012-2014, we evaluated macroinvertebrate communities in streams draining the non-connected stormwater management region (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4) within the Kansas City metropolitan area utilizing the Missouri bioassessment protocols. Trends in aquatic life impairment status based on Missouri's Macroinvertebrate Stream Condition Index (MSCI), as well as richness and abundance of EPT indicator metrics (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera), were compared between rural control sites and both transitional and urban stream sites representing varying stages of land use conversion. As compared to non-urban control sites, EPT taxa richness was significantly lower at MS4 urban sites during all three years (p = 0.007 – 0.013) and MS4 transitional sites during one of three years (p=0.48). EPT abundance (%) was significantly lower at MS4 urban sites during all years (p = 0.008 – 0.013) and MS4 transitional sites during one of three years (p=0.34). Mean EPT abundances ranged between 0.6% - 10.3% at urban MS4 sites, and always exceeded 18% at control sites. Both EPT richness and abundance were lower at the MS4 control site but means for EPT and other core metrics at this site were most often similar to non-urban control sites based on analysis of variance (ANOVA). MS4 transitional sites with active development in their watersheds were partially-supporting in their impairment status, and EPT metrics had lower means and generally more variability than control sites. Temporal trends indicate non-urban control and MS4 control sites consistently meet fully-supporting impairment status based on overall MSCI scores, but no study sites currently meet regional expectations (as defined by state reference streams) for either of the EPT metrics. Results indicate that Missouri and Kansas biocriteria for both EPT metrics are not consistently being met at any stream sites in the Kansas City metro area, including fully-supporting control sites and MS4 streams that receive stormwater runoff in watersheds with urban development that is well-established or currently transitioning to urban or suburban land uses.

Abstract Controlled subsurface drainage irrigation systems promote crop productivity; however, these land management systems also allow an efficient pathway for the transport of elements from soils to surface water resources. The nitrate and macro-element effluent concentrations from tile-drainage involving a 40 ha controlled subsurface drainage irrigation system are described and compared to soil nitrate availability. Soil nitrate concentrations generally show an increase immediately after soil nitrogen fertilization practices and are sufficiently abundant to promote their transport from the soil resource to the tile-drain effluent waters. The data indicates that: (1) the transport of nitrate-N in tile-drain effluent waters is appreciable; (2) denitrification pathways effectively reduce a portion of the soil nitrate-N when the controlled drainage system establishes winter-early spring anoxic soil conditions, and (3) the best strategy for reducing nitrate-N concentrations in tile-drain effluent waters is adjusting N fertilization rates and the timing of their application. The development of bioreactors for simulating wetland conditions may further limit nitrate concentrations in surface waters because of soil drainage.

PATTERNS AND SOIL NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS

Recent articles on soil erosion sound the alarm regarding the large amount soil that is being lost due to modern agricultural practices, and there is a general concern that we may be destroying our sand and soil resources at rates that greatly exceed generation and preservation rates. There is also a general concern in the sand and aggregate industry as to whether sand is a renewable natural resource. The paper is unique and important to soil science as well as geology because it pulls together data from diverse sources in an attempt to summarize global rates of sand and soil generation from parent material, rates of sand consumption by humans, and rates of sand loss to humans through erosion and transportation to the oceans. While there is considerable literature on rates of soil erosion, there is remarkably little literature on rates of sand or soil generation from parent materials. Where rate numbers were found they were commonly local, and not global. They were commonly highly variable, and many conversions were required to put them in common, global units. Through a number of assumptions and calculations, the following conclusions have been made for global sand rates. (1) Sand is being generated from primordial granites at rates estimated at 1.6 billion tons/year. (2) Sand is being generated from soils at rates that range between 0.06 and 450 billion tons/year globally with an average of the most reasonable sources at 5.0 billion tons/year. (3) Sand today, through erosion and natural causes, is lost to the oceans at rates estimated at 4.8 billion tons/year. (4) Modern erosion rates are considered to be an order of magnitude greater than pre-human erosion rates, or about 0.5 billion tons/year. (5) Construction grade sand is currently mined at approximately 4.5 billion tons/year and industrial grade sand is consumed at about 0.2 billion tons/year for a total human usage estimated at 4.7 billion tons/year. Thus, total sand consumption by humans is slightly less than global generation rates, and an argument can be made that sand is a renewable natural resource. However, if modern rates of erosion and loss to the oceans are considered, then we are losing considerable ground with regard to total sand and soil availability.