Name: quantifying corticolous arthropods using sticky traps
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Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantifying Corticolous Arthropods Using Sticky Traps at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service for funding this project through USFS Agreement 13-CS-11090800-022. Support for ECZ was provided by NSF-DBI-1263050. ECZ assisted in the development of the research concept, collected all field data, conducted laboratory analysis, and produced the original manuscript. MWE assisted in the development of the research concept and study design, assisted in directing field data collection and laboratory analysis, and heavily edited the manuscript. KPS assisted with study design, directed the field and laboratory work, assisted with data analysis, and reviewed the manuscript.

1. Placement of a trap on the tree
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	<li>Measure the diameter of a tree at breast height. At breast height in each cardinal direction, for an area the size of the pre-manufactured sticky trap (glue board), use a bark shaver to remove bark until an area the size for the sticky trap is smooth enough to staple the sticky trap onto the tree so that there is no space for arthropods to crawl under the trap. Label the back of the trap using a dark colored permanent marker with the date, trap number, location and other per...

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Although alternative techniques such as suction or sweep nets have been used, most previously published attempts at quantifying arthropods on tree boles used some version of either quantifying arthropods by visually inspecting tree boles in the field, using chemical pesticides to kill arthropods in a specified area then quantifying the recovered arthropods, or placing funnel traps or a sticky substance directly onto the tree19,23,25</...

Terrestrial arthropods play an important role in our environment. In addition to being of scientific interest in their own right, arthropods can be both detrimental and beneficial to other trophic levels (i.e., crops, horticultural plants, native vegetation, and food for insectivorous organisms1,2,3,4). Thus, understanding the factors that influence arthropod community development and abundance is critical to farmers5, pest control managers6, foresters4, plant biologists7, entomologists8, and wildlife and conservation ecologists that study community dynamics and manage insectivorous organisms9. Arthropod communities vary in species composition and abundance both temporally and spatially across a variety of ecological landscapes including plant communities, plant species, and across various regions of individual plants. For example, studies have demonstrated significant differences in arthropod community metrics between the roots, bole and stems, and foliage, within the same individual tree10,11. These findings are not surprising considering that different parts of the same plant, e.g., leaves versus barks of a tree, provide different resources for which arthropods have adapted to exploit. Thus, each part of the plant can support a different arthropod community. Because foliage dwelling arthropods can have such a large socioeconomic and environmental impact, substantial effort has been expended to measure community metrics using both qualitative and quantitative approaches12. Alternatively, much less effort has been expended to develop approaches of quantifying corticolous (bark-dwelling) arthropod communities.
Like foliage-dwelling arthropod communities, corticolous arthropod communities can be important from both a socioeconomic and environmental viewpoint. Some forest diseases that are caused or facilitated by corticolous arthropods can be detrimental to economically viable timber harvest4. Additionally, corticolous arthropods can be an important component of the food chain in forest communities13,14. For example, forest dwelling arthropods are the primary food source for many insectivorous bark gleaning song birds15,16. Thus, understanding the factors that influence communities of corticolous arthropods is of interest to foresters and both basic and applied ecologists.
Understanding factors that influence arthropod community composition and abundance often requires the capture of individuals. Capture techniques can generally be categorized into qualitative techniques that only detect presence of a species for estimates of species range, richness, and diversity17, or semi-quantitative and quantitative techniques that allow for an index or estimate of abundance and density of individuals within a taxonomic group18,19. Semi-quantitative and quantitative techniques allow researchers to estimate or at least consistently sample a specified sample area and estimate probability of detection or assume detection probability is non-directional and adequate as to not obscure the researcher&#39;s ability to detect spatial or temporal variation in abundance. Semi-quantitative and quantitative techniques for quantifying corticolous arthropods include suction or vacuum sampling of a specific area20,21,22, systematic counting of visible arthropods18,23, sticky traps24, various funnel or pot-type traps8,25, and entrance or emergent holes26,27.
A number of spatial and temporal factors are thought to lead to variation in corticolous arthropod communities11,14,28,29. For example, texture of tree bark is thought to influence the community structure of tree-dwelling arthropods14. Because of the more diverse surface area of the trunks of trees with more furrowed bark, trees with more furrowed bark are thought to support a greater diversity and abundance of arthropods14.
With this article we report a new semi-quantitative approach of enumerating corticolous arthropods that could be used to describe and test hypotheses regarding variation in corticolous arthropod communities across time and space with adequate precision to detect differences among tree species. Using sticky traps attached to the trunks of trees, we compared the abundance, total length (a surrogate for body mass), richness, and diversity of the arthropod community on the bole of white oak (Quercus alba), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) trees, trees that vary in bark texture.
This study was conducted in the Ozark and Shawnee Hills ecological sections of the Shawnee National Forest (SNF) in southwestern Illinois. During July 2015, we identified 18 (9 dominated by oak/hickory and 9 dominated by beech/maple) sites with the USFS stand cover map for the SNF (allveg2008.shp) in ArcGIS 10.1.1. In the xeric sites, the dominant species were pignut hickory and white oak and in mesic sites, the dominant species were American beech, sugar maple, and tulip poplar. To compare bole arthropod community among tree species, at each data collection site, we identified the three of the five (white oak, pignut hickory, sugar maple, American beech and tulip poplar) focal species trees &#62;17 cm diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) closest to the center of a 10 m radial circle. If fewer than three appropriate trees were present, the circle was expanded and the closest tree fitting the criteria was selected. For each tree chosen, we installed four sticky traps at breast height, one facing in each cardinal direction: north, south, east and west.
We collected arthropod data from the boles of 54 individual trees (12 pignut hickories, 15 white oaks, 8 American beeches, 12 sugar maples, and 7 tulip poplars) among the 18 sites. We grouped arthropods according to a simplified guild classification by diagnostic morphological characteristics indicative of closely related orders from current phylogenetic records, similar to that of &#34;operational taxonomic units&#34;30,31 (Appendix A). Based on this classification, we captured representatives of 26 guilds in our traps that were each in place for 9 days (Appendix A). Because our study focused on trophic interactions between tree species, corticolous arthropods, and bark-gleaning birds, we removed all arthropods smaller than 3 mm from analysis because their importance as a food resource is minimal for bark-gleaning birds. We used a mixed model that included either arthropod length (surrogate to body mass), abundance, Shannon diversity and, richness as the dependent variable, tree species and effort (proportion of tree covered with traps) as fixed variables, and site as a random variable. Because all traps from a single tree were combined as one sample, individual trees were not included as a random variable.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Straight Draw Bark Shaver, 8&#34;</td>
			<td>Timber Tuff</td>
			<td>TMB-08DS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PRO SERIES Bulk Mouse &#38; Insect Glue Boards</td>
			<td>Catchmaster</td>
			<td>#60m</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Staple gun</td>
			<td>Stanley</td>
			<td>TR45D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

quantifying corticolous arthropods using sticky traps

Terrestrial arthropods play an important role in our environment. Quantifying arthropods in a way that allows for a precise index or estimate of density requires a method with high detection probability and a consistent sampling area. We used manufactured sticky traps to compare abundance, total length (a surrogate for biomass), richness, and Shannon diversity of corticolous arthropods among the boles of 5 tree species. Efficacy of this method was adequate to detect variation in corticolous arthropods among tree species and provide a standard error of the mean that was &#60;20% of the mean for all estimates with sample sizes from 7 to 15 individual trees of each species. Our results indicate, even with these moderate sample sizes, the level of precision of arthropod community metrics produced with this approach is adequate to address most ecological questions regarding temporal and spatial variation in corticolous arthropods. Results from this method differ from other quantitative approaches such as chemical knockdown, visual inspection, and funnel traps in that they provide an indication of corticolous arthropod activity over a relatively long-term, better including temporary bole residents, flying arthropods that temporarily land on the tree bole and crawling arthropods that use the tree bole as a travel route from the ground to higher forest foliage. Furthermore, we believe that commercially manufactured sticky traps provide more precise estimates and are logistically simpler than the previously described method of directly applying a sticky material to tree bark or applying a sticky material to tape or other type of backing and applying that to the tree bark.

Based on the mixed model results, the model that included tree species best explained variation in total arthropod length, abundance, and diversity, neither of independent variables explained substantial variation in richness, although the models that included tree species trapping effort were competitive with the null model (Table 1). In addition, proportion of the tree trapped appears to have no influence on abundance, total length, and Shannon diversity, with only mini...

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Quantifying Corticolous Arthropods Using Sticky Traps

We describe a semi-quantitative approach of measuring characteristics of corticolous (bark-dwelling) arthropod communities. We placed commercially manufactured sticky traps on tree boles to estimate abundance, total length (a surrogate to biomass), richness, and Shannon diversity for comparison among tree species.

Terrestrial arthropods play an important role in our environment. Quantifying arthropods in a way that allows for a precise index or estimate of density ...

This protocol can be used to estimate short and long term community structure of corticolous arthropods. This technique is useful for capturing both flying and crawling arthropods and facilitates easy laboratory analysis. To begin this procedure measure the diameter of a tree at breast height.Use a bark shaver to begin removing the bark at this height in each cardinal direction in an area the size of the pre-manufactured sticky trap. Continue shaving until the area is smooth enough to staple the sticky trap onto the tree with minimal space underneath that arthropods could crawl into. Next use a dark colored permanent market to label the back of the trap with the date, trap number, location, and any other pertinent information.To trap both flying and crawling arthropods open and remove the sides and cover up the sticky trap by cutting the cardboard along the edge of the sticky material. To exclude flying arthropods from landing directly on the trap open the trap as directed on the box. Place one trap on each previously shaved location so that the openings are oriented vertically to maximize the capture of arthropods crawling up and down the tree boles.For traps with the tops removed to capture both flying and crawling arthropods orient the traps so that the end where the opening was is oriented vertically to maintain trapping consistency. Then staple the traps to the tree by placing one staple at each corner and one staple in the center bottom and one in the center top of the trap starting with the bottom right corner and working clockwise. Take care to ensure that the entire bottom and top of each trap is flush against the tree to minimize arthropods crawling underneath.Leave the traps in place for the desired amount of time making sure to leave all traps for the same amount of time. After the desired amount of time has passed cover the entire trap except for the staples with polymer cellulose film. Remove each trap by taking a large flat screwdriver and prying each staple partially from the tree.Then use large needle-nose pliers or a similar grasping tool to pull the staples from the tree. Alternatively to exclude flying arthropods close the trap following the directions on the back of the box. Place the traps in a rigid box to transport them back to the laboratory for analysis.If traps are to be stored for more than 12 hours place them in a freezer to preserve their contents. Using a dissection scope examine the contents of a trap recording the number of individuals to the desired taxonomic level. Use the recorded data to estimate richness, diversity indices, or abundance.If estimated biomass is desired measure the length and width of the arthropods to the nearest millimeter and use published length and width biomass regressions to estimate biomass. Subtract the total width of the traps from the measured diameter for each tree to estimate trapping effort for each tree. As the samples from multiple traps on the same tree are not independent either sum all of the samples from the same tree or include an individual tree as a random variable in all analysis to avoid pseudo-replication.Based on the mixed model results the model that included tree species best explained variation and total arthropod length, abundance, and diversity. Neither of the independent variables explained substantial variation in richness, although the models that included tree species trapping effort were competitive with the null model. In addition proportion of the tree trapped appears to have no influence on abundance, total length, and Shannon diversity with only minimal influence on richness.The standard error of the main for total arthropod length varied from four percent of the mean in tulip poplar to 17%in sugar maple. Abundance had similar levels of variation within species where the standard error of the mean is seven percent in tulip poplar and 18%in sugar maple. Conversely variability in arthropod richness and diversity was much lower within species of tree.In that the standard error of the mean of richness ranged from four percent of the mean for pignut hickory to nine percent of the mean in American beach. While diversity ranged from four percent of the mean in American beach to seven percent of the mean in tulip poplar. When shaving the bark from the tree be certain to shave the area as smooth as possible and minimize any gaps between the tree and the edge of the trap.

quantifying-corticolous-arthropods-using-sticky-traps

Research

JoVE Journal

Environment

Administering and Detecting Protein Marks on Arthropods for Dispersal Research

Monitoring arthropod movement is often required to better understand associated population dynamics, dispersal patterns, host plant preferences, and other ecological interactions. Arthropods are usually tracked in nature by tagging them with a unique mark and then re-collecting them over time and space to determine their dispersal capabilities. In addition to actual physical tags, such as colored dust or paint, various types of proteins have proven very effective for marking arthropods for ecological research. Proteins can be administered internally and/or externally. The proteins can then be detected on recaptured arthropods with a protein-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Here we describe protocols for externally and internally tagging arthropods with protein. Two simple experimental examples are demonstrated: (1) an internal protein mark introduced to an insect by providing a protein-enriched diet and (2) an external protein mark topically applied to an insect using a medical nebulizer. We then relate a step-by-step guide of the sandwich and indirect ELISA methods used to detect protein marks on the insects. In this demonstration, various aspects of the acquisition and detection of protein markers on arthropods for mark-release-recapture, mark-capture, and self-mark-capture types of research are discussed, along with the various ways that the immunomarking procedure has been adapted to suit a wide variety of research objectives.

Proteins are often used to mark arthropods for dispersal research. Methods for administering internal and external protein marks on arthropods are demonstrated. Protein mark detection techniques, either through indirect or sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), are also illustrated.

Monitoring arthropod movement is often required to better understand associated population dynamics, dispersal patterns, host plant preferences, and other ...

Modification and Application of a Leaf Blower-vac for Field Sampling of Arthropods

Rice fields host a large diversity of arthropods, but investigating their population dynamics and interactions is challenging. Here we describe the modification and application of a leaf blower-vac for suction sampling of arthropod populations in rice. When used in combination with an enclosure, application of this sampling device provides absolute estimates of the populations of arthropods as numbers per standardized sampling area. The sampling efficiency depends critically on the sampling duration. In a mature rice crop, a two-minute sampling in an enclosure of 0.13 m2 yields more than 90% of the arthropod population. The device also allows sampling of arthropods dwelling on the water surface or the soil in rice paddies, but it is not suitable for sampling fast flying insects, such as predatory Odonata or larger hymenopterous parasitoids. The modified blower-vac is simple to construct, and cheaper and easier to handle than traditional suction sampling devices, such as D-vac. The low cost makes the modified blower-vac also accessible to researchers in developing countries.

Assessment of arthropod abundance in crops is critical for investigating population dynamics and species interactions. Here we describe the modification and application of a leaf blower-vac for suction sampling of arthropods in rice.

Rice fields host a large diversity of arthropods, but investigating their population dynamics and interactions is challenging. Here we describe the ...

Protocols for Quantifying Transferable Pesticide Residues in Turfgrass Systems

Plant canopies in established turfgrass systems can intercept an appreciable amount of sprayed pesticides, which can be transferred through various routes onto humans. For this reason, transferable pesticide residue experiments are required for registration and re-registration by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Although such experiments are required, limited specificity is required pertaining to experimental approach. Experimental approaches used to assess pesticide transfer to humans including hand wiping with cotton gloves, modified California roller (moving a roller of known mass over cotton cloth) and soccer ball roll (ball wrapped with sorbent strip) over three treated turfgrass species (creeping bentgrass, hybrid bermudagrass and tall fescue maintained at 0.4, 5 and 9 cm, respectively) are presented. The modified California roller is the most extensively utilized approach to date, and is best suited for use at low mowing heights due to its reproducibility and large sampling area. The soccer ball roll is a less aggressive transfer approach; however, it mimics a very common occurrence in the most popular international sport, and has many implications for nondietary pesticide exposure from hand-to-mouth contact. Additionally, this approach may be adjusted for other athletic activities with limited modification. Hand wiping is the best approach to transfer pesticides at higher mowing heights, as roller-based approaches can lay blades over; however, it is more subjective due to more variable sampling pressure. Utility of these methods across turfgrass species is presented, and additional considerations to conduct transferable pesticide residue research in turfgrass systems are discussed.

Transferable pesticide residue experiments in turfgrass systems are integral components of human risk exposure assessments. Experimental approaches to measure transferable residues should be adjusted to the human interaction of interest and turfgrass system dynamics. Three transferable pesticide residue protocols are presented and the suitability across three turfgrass systems is discussed.

Plant canopies in established turfgrass systems can intercept an appreciable amount of sprayed pesticides, which can be transferred through various routes ...

Building Double-decker Traps for Early Detection of Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), the most destructive forest insect to have invaded North America, has killed hundreds of millions of forest and landscape ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees. Several artificial trap designs to attract and capture EAB beetles have been developed to detect, delineate, and monitor infestations. Double-decker (DD) traps consist of two corrugated plastic prisms, one green and one purple, attached to a 3 m tall polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe supported by a t-post. The green prism at the top of the PVC pipe is baited with cis-3-hexenol, a compound produced by ash foliage. Surfaces of both prisms are coated with sticky insect glue to capture adult EAB beetles. Double-decker traps should be placed near ash trees but in open areas, exposed to sun. Double-decker trap construction and placement are presented here, along with a summary of field experiments demonstrating the efficacy of DD traps in capturing EAB beetles. In a recent study in sites with relatively low EAB densities, double-decker traps captured significantly more EAB than green or purple prism traps or green funnel traps, all of which are designed to be suspended from a branch in the canopy of ash trees. A greater percentage of double decker traps were positive, i.e., captured at least one EAB, than the prism traps or funnel traps that were hung in ash tree canopies.

Effective traps to attract and capture the emerald ash borer (EAB) are a key element of detecting and managing this invasive pest. Double-decker traps, placed in full sun near ash trees, incorporate visual and olfactory cues and were more likely to capture EAB than other trap designs in field trials.

Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), the most destructive forest insect to have invaded North America, has killed hundreds of millions ...

Development of New Methods for Quantifying Fish Density Using Underwater Stereo-video Tools

The use of video camera systems in ecological studies of fish continues to gain traction as a viable, non-extractive method of measuring fish lengths and estimating fish abundance. We developed and implemented a rotating stereo-video camera tool that covers a full 360 degrees of sampling, which maximizes sampling effort compared to stationary camera tools. A variety of studies have detailed the ability of static, stereo-camera systems to obtain highly accurate and precise measurements of fish; the focus here was on the development of methodological approaches to quantify fish density using rotating camera systems. The first approach was to develop a modification of the metric MaxN, which typically is a conservative count of the minimum number of fish observed on a given camera survey. We redefine MaxN to be the maximum number of fish observed in any given rotation of the camera system. When precautions are taken to avoid double counting, this method for MaxN may more accurately reflect true abundance than that obtained from a fixed camera. Secondly, because stereo-video allows fish to be mapped in three-dimensional space, precise estimates of the distance-from-camera can be obtained for each fish. By using the 95% percentile of the observed distance from camera to establish species-specific areas surveyed, we account for differences in detectability among species while avoiding diluting density estimates by using the maximum distance a species was observed. Accounting for this range of detectability is critical to accurately estimate fish abundances. This methodology will facilitate the integration of rotating stereo-video tools in both applied science and management contexts.

We describe a new method for counting fishes, and estimating relative abundance (MaxN) and fish density using rotating stereo-video camera systems. We also demonstrate how to use distance from camera (Z distance) to estimate species-specific detectability.

The use of video camera systems in ecological studies of fish continues to gain traction as a viable, non-extractive method of measuring fish lengths and ...

Quantifying Plant Soluble Protein and Digestible Carbohydrate Content, Using Corn (Zea mays) As an Exemplar

Elemental data are commonly used to infer plant quality as a resource to herbivores. However, the ubiquity of carbon in biomolecules, the presence of nitrogen-containing plant defensive compounds, and variation in species-specific correlations between nitrogen and plant protein content all limit the accuracy of these inferences. Additionally, research focused on plant and/or herbivore physiology require a level of accuracy that is not achieved using generalized correlations. The methods presented here offer researchers a clear and rapid protocol for directly measuring plant soluble proteins and digestible carbohydrates, the two plant macronutrients most closely tied to animal physiological performance. The protocols combine well characterized colorimetric assays with optimized plant-specific digestion steps to provide precise and reproducible results. Our analyses of different sweet corn tissues show that these assays have the sensitivity to detect variation in plant soluble protein and digestible carbohydrate content across multiple spatial scales. These include between-plant differences across growing regions and plant species or varieties, as well as within-plant differences in tissue type and even positional differences within the same tissue. Combining soluble protein and digestible carbohydrate content with elemental data also has the potential to provide new opportunities in plant biology to connect plant mineral nutrition with plant physiological processes. These analyses also help generate the soluble protein and digestible carbohydrate data needed to study nutritional ecology, plant-herbivore interactions and food-web dynamics, which will in turn enhance physiology and ecological research.

Quantifying Plant Soluble Protein and Digestible Carbohydrate Content, Using Corn Zea mays As an Exemplar

The protocols described herein provide a clear and approachable methodology for measuring soluble protein and digestible (non-structural) carbohydrate content in plant tissues. The ability to quantify these two plant macronutrients has significant implications for advancing the fields of plant physiology, nutritional ecology, plant-herbivore interactions and food-web ecology.

Elemental data are commonly used to infer plant quality as a resource to herbivores. However, the ubiquity of carbon in biomolecules, the presence of ...

Design and Use of an Apparatus for Quantifying Bivalve Suspension Feeding at Sea

As shellfish aquaculture moves from coastal embayments and estuaries to offshore locations, the need to quantify ecosystem interactions of farmed bivalves (i.e., mussels, oysters, and clams) presents new challenges. Quantitative data on the feeding behavior of suspension-feeding mollusks is necessary to determine important ecosystem interactions of offshore shellfish farms, including their carrying capacity, the competition with the zooplankton community, the availability of trophic resources at different depths, and the deposition to the benthos. The biodeposition method is used to quantify feeding variables in suspension-feeding bivalves in a natural setting and represents a more realistic proxy than laboratory experiments. This method, however, relies upon a stable platform to satisfy the requirements that water flow rates supplied to the shellfish remain constant and the bivalves are undisturbed. A flow-through device and process for using the biodeposition method to quantify the feeding of bivalve mollusks were modified from a land-based format for shipboard use by building a two-dimensional gimbal table around the device. Planimeter data reveal a minimal pitch and yaw of the chambers containing the test shellfish despite boat motion, the flow rates within the chambers remain constant, and operators are able to collect the biodeposits (feces and pseudofeces) with sufficient consistency to obtain accurate measurements of the bivalve clearance, filtration, selection, ingestion, rejection, and absorption at offshore shellfish aquaculture sites.

A flow-through device for using the biodeposition method to quantify filtration and feeding behavior of bivalve mollusks was modified for shipboard use. A two-dimensional gimbal table built around the device isolates the apparatus from boat motion, thereby allowing the accurate quantification of bivalve filtration variables at offshore shellfish aquaculture sites.

As shellfish aquaculture moves from coastal embayments and estuaries to offshore locations, the need to quantify ecosystem interactions of farmed bivalves ...

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

Denitrification is the primary biogeochemical process removing reactive nitrogen from the biosphere. The quantitative evaluation of this process has become particularly relevant for assessing the anthropogenic-altered global nitrogen cycle and the emission of greenhouse gases (i.e., N2O). Several methods are available for measuring denitrification, but none of them are completely satisfactory. Problems with existing methods include their insufficient sensitivity, and the need to modify the substrate levels or alter the physical configuration of the process using disturbed samples.This work describes a method for estimating sediment denitrification rates that combines coring, acetylene inhibition, and microsensor measurements of the accumulated N2O. The main advantages of this method are a low disturbance of the sediment structure and the collection of a continuous record of N2O accumulation; these enable estimates of reliable denitrification rates with minimum values up to 0.4-1 &#181;mol N2O m-2 h-1. The ability to manipulate key factors is an additional advantage for obtaining experimental insights. The protocol describes procedures for collecting the cores, calibrating the sensors, performing the acetylene inhibition, measuring the N2O accumulation, and calculating the denitrification rate. The method is appropriate for estimating denitrification rates in any aquatic system with retrievable sediment cores. If the N2O concentration is above the detection limit of the sensor, the acetylene inhibition step can be omitted to estimate the N2O emission instead of denitrification. We show how to estimate both actual and potential denitrification rates by increasing nitrate availability as well as the temperature dependence of the process. We illustrate the procedure using mountain lake sediments and discuss the advantages and weaknesses of the technique compared to other methods. This method can be modified for particular purposes; for instance, it can be combined with 15N tracers to assess nitrification and denitrification or field in situ measurements of denitrification rates.

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

This method estimates sediment denitrification rates in sediment cores using the acetylene inhibition technique and microsensor measurements of the accumulated N2O. The protocol describes procedures for collecting the cores, calibrating the sensors, performing the acetylene inhibition, measuring the N2O accumulation, and calculating the denitrification rate.

Denitrification is the primary biogeochemical process removing reactive nitrogen from the biosphere. The quantitative evaluation of this process has ...

A Method for Quantifying Foliage-Dwelling Arthropods

Terrestrial arthropods play an important role in our environment. Quantifying arthropods in a way that allows for a precise index or estimates of density requires a method with high detection probability and a known sampling area. While most described methods provide a qualitative or semi-quantitative estimate adequate for describing species presence, richness, and diversity, few provide an adequately consistent detection probability and known or consistent sampling areas to provide an index or estimate with adequate precision to detect differences in abundance across environmental, spatial, or temporal variables. We describe how to quantify leaf-dwelling arthropods by sealing the leaves and end of branches in a bag, clipping and freezing the bagged material, and rinsing the previously frozen material in water to separate arthropods from the substrate and quantify them. As we demonstrate, this method can be used at a landscape scale to quantify leaf-dwelling arthropods with adequate precision to test for and describe how spatial, temporal, environmental, and ecological variables influence arthropod richness and abundance. This method allowed us to detect differences in density, richness, and diversity of leaf-dwelling arthropods among 5 genera of trees commonly found in southeastern deciduous forests.

We describe how to quantify leaf dwelling arthropods by sealing the leaves and end of branches in a bag, clipping and freezing the bagged material, and rinsing the previously frozen material in water to separate arthropods from the substrate for quantification.

Terrestrial arthropods play an important role in our environment. Quantifying arthropods in a way that allows for a precise index or estimates of density ...

Enhanced Oil Recovery using a Combination of Biosurfactants

Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds capable of reducing the surface tension between two phases of different polarities. Biosurfactants have been emerging as promising alternatives to chemical surfactants due to less toxicity, high biodegradability, environmental compatibility and tolerance to extreme environmental conditions. Here, we illustrate the methods used for screening of microbes capable of producing biosurfactants. The biosurfactant producing microbes were identified using drop collapse, oil spreading, and emulsion index assays. Biosurfactant production was validated by determining the reduction in surface tension of the media due to growth of the microbial members. We also describe the methods involved in characterization and identification of biosurfactants. Thin layer chromatography of the extracted biosurfactant followed by differential staining of the plates was performed to determine the nature of the biosurfactant. LCMS, 1H NMR, and FT-IR were used to chemically identify the biosurfactant. We further illustrate the methods to evaluate the application of the combination of produced biosurfactants for enhancing residual oil recovery in a simulated sand pack column.

We illustrate the methods involved in screening and identification of the biosurfactant producing microbes. Methods for chromatographic characterization and chemical identification of the biosurfactants, determining the industrial applicability of the biosurfactant&#160;in enhancing residual oil recovery are also presented.

Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds capable of reducing the surface tension between two phases of different polarities. Biosurfactants have been ...