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Ecological behavior and effects of energy related pollutants. Progress report, June 1976--August 1977. [SO2 impact on survival and stability of plant species; fallout /sup 137/Cs transfer processes in Southeastern Coastal Plain ecosystem] [electronic resource]

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Bibliographic Details
Online Access:	Online Access (via OSTI)
Format:	Government Document Electronic eBook
Language:	English
Published:	Oak Ridge, Tenn. : distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Department of Energy, 1977.
Subjects:	Fruit Trees. Maximum Permissible Exposure. Plants. Population Dynamics. Reproduction. Sulfur Dioxide. Toxicity. Terrestrial Ecosystems. Revegetation. Aquatic Ecosystems. Radionuclide Migration. Cesium 137. Environmental Transport. South Carolina. Alkali Metal Isotopes. Beta Decay Radioisotopes. Beta-Minus Decay Radioisotopes. Biomass. Cesium Isotopes. Chalcogenides. Ecosystems. Energy Sources. Isotopes. Mass Transfer. North America. Nuclei. Odd-Even Nuclei. Oxides. Oxygen Compounds. Pollution. Radioisotopes. Renewable Energy Sources. Safety Standards. Standards. Sulfur Compounds. Sulfur Oxides. Surface Waters. Trees. Usa. Years Living Radioisotopes. Environmental Sciences. Applied Life Sciences. Radiation, Thermal, And Other Environ. Pollutant Effects On Living Orgs. And Biol. Mat..

Description
Abstract:	The impact of SO/sub 2/ on the survival and stability of plant populations and communities was studied. The results to date have an important bearing on the adequacy of current permissible ambient air levels for SO/sub 2/. Atmospheric SO/sub 2/ concentrations at near permissible levels had a significant adverse effect on sexual reproduction processes, which results in a reduced number of viable seeds, in all 8 populations tested. Implications for both natural and agricultural plant species and possible significant losses of fruit production are discussed. An ecological implication of the invisible effect of fruit and seed mortality is postulated since the life cycle of many insects and the trophic relations of numerous animals depend, at least in part, on fruit production by trees and shrubs. Hence, there is a potential for disruptive effects on ecosystem level processes. Results are also reported from four systems-oriented studies within the Lower Three Runs Creek Watershed, Savannah River Plant, to examine fallout /sup 137/Cs transfer processes in ecological systems characteristic of the Southeastern Coastal Plain. These studies were carried out within the stream and its floodplains, within floodplains along the stream gradient, in upland aquatic systems (Carolina Bays), and in the upland scrub-oak forest system. Results are discussed.
Item Description:	Published through SciTech Connect. 10/25/1977. "oro-2412-85" Platt, R.B.; Ragsdale, H.L.; Murdy, W.H.; Shure, D.J. Emory Univ., Atlanta, Ga. (USA). Department of Biology.
Physical Description:	Pages: 138 : digital, PDF file.