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Faculty Research
Graduate Student Research
For more information on the research you see here, please see our FY 2006 Annual Report.
Faculty Research
Female Hormones in Surface Water of Central/Northern New Jersey: Impacts of Combined Sewer Overflows vs. Treated Wastewater Discharge
Associate Professor Weilin Huang with Professor Peter Strom
Department of Environmental Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
We proposed to detect and quantify female hormones ― a major class of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) ― in the surface water of Central/Northern New Jersey. This study is especially important for densely populated Central/Northern New Jersey where treated wastewater (TWW) is a major component of surface water and combined sewer overflows (CSO) have caused substantial problems in several watersheds. Low but constant contamination with female hormones in surface water may adversely affect the reproductive behavior of animals such as fish, posing large ecological risks. Our study would provide data on the level and the source (TWW vs. CSO) of female hormone contamination in the watersheds of Central/Northern New Jersey. It could help determine whether future effort is needed, and which source ― TWW or CSO ― we should pay most attention to for reducing the ecological impact of the female hormones in these watersheds.
The specific objectives of this study are to:
1) collect water and colloid samples from two watersheds of North/Central New Jersey during and after major storms;
2) analyze the female hormones in the samples following published laboratory procedures and with liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS);
3) quantify the loading of the hormones from different sources to the studied watersheds.
We have completed the analytical method development and the results showed that three estrogen compounds can be separated and quantified with both LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. After validating the two methods with field samples, we will conduct systematic water sampling and analyze the chemicals with either or both methods.
Contact information:
Dr. Weilin Huang
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (732) 932-9800 X6206; Fax: (732) 932-8644
Email: whuang@envsci.rutgers-edu
Dr. Peter Strom
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (732) 932-9800 X6216; Fax: (732) 932-8644
Email: strom@envsci.rutgers.edu
Integrated Assessment of Economic and Water Quality Impacts of Agricultural Best Management Practices in Upper Cohansey River Watershed
Assistant Professor Zeyuan Qiu 1 with Assistant Professor Christopher Obropta 2
1Dept. of Chemistry and Environmental Science
New Jersey Institute of Technology
2Dept. of Environmental Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
The goal of this research is to provide a science-based information analysis to policy makers who want to maximize water quality benefits while minimizing economic costs when implementing multiple conservation practices in a watershed. The supporting objectives are (1) to estimate the economic and water quality impacts of various agricultural best management practices (BMPs) being implemented in the Neshanic River watershed. The working hypothesis of this objective is that there is a poor understanding of the costs and water quality benefits of BMPs being implemented; and a detailed information on costs and benefits of BMPs is essential to understand the linkages between BMPs and water quality effects in a watershed scale; and (2) to evaluate the potential of controlling agricultural pollution to achieving locally defined water quality goals through optimal placement of BMPs in the watershed by integrating the results of the estimated costs and water quality benefits in the first objective with an optimization programming model. The working hypothesis of the objective is that spatial variability of natural resource conditions in a watershed has profound impacts on the water quality of conservation practices at the watershed scale.
Contact Information:
Assistant Professor Zeyuan Qiu
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Telephone: (973) 596-5357; Fax: (973) 596-3586
Email: qiuz@njit.edu
Assistant Professor Christopher Obropta
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (732) 932-9800 x6209; Fax: (732) 932-8644
Email: obropta@envsci.rutgers.edu
Graduate Student Research
The Potential Impact of the Asian Isopod, Synidotea laevidorsalis (Miers 1881), on the Delaware Bay, USA
Sean Boyd with Dr. David Bushek
Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
The non-indigenous isopod Synidotea laticauda1 was first documented in Delaware Bay in 1999 and recent data indicates extremely high seasonal abundances. These observations suggest a potentially strong impact on the local ecosystem. To better understand the extent of any impact and the potential for further spread we need to know how S. laticauda is distributed in Delaware Bay and how its niche characteristics are likely to influence further establishment. This study is the first to address issues relating to the presence of S. laticauda in Delaware Bay, and was conducted during its establishment rather than after the fact.
The specific objectives of this study were:
1. Catalogue the distribution and abundance of S. laticauda with respect to environmental parameters of the isopod
2. Determine environmental tolerances to temperature and salinity as a mechanism for identifying potential limits to its aquatic distribution
3. Identify potential food resources for S. laticauda in Delaware Bay
4.
Identify potential predators of S. laticauda in Delaware Bay
Synidotea laticauda was documented along portions of both the New Jersey and Delaware coastlines of Delaware Bay. However, they were only present in areas where the salinity was between 2 and 20 psu and were generally associated with anthropogenic structures, particularly marinas. Isopods were not observed along the Atlantic coast of New Jersey. At the present time it is unlikely that the northern range of S. laticauda in the bay will expand into freshwater portions of the estuary. Isopods experienced very little mortality at 5ºC; however, high mortality was experienced above 30ºC. The normal upper temperature limit for Delaware Bay appears to be close to upper limit for this isopod, but is not likely to be limiting.
Several trophic interactions between S. laticauda and the biota of Delaware Bay were identified through this study. Single-choice feeding trials identified nine different native fauna and flora that were readily consumed and establish S. laticauda as an omnivore capable of exploiting multiple food resources within the Bay. Gut content analysis of fish collected from the Maurice and Nantuxent Rivers indicate that at least four predatory species may consume S. laticauda, although the isopod did not appear to be an important component of their diets.
1During the course of this research the taxonomic classification of the species investigated was changed from S. laevidorsalis to S. laticauda
Contact Information:
Sean Boyd
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
E-mail: boyd@hsrl.rutgers.edu
Dr. David Bushek
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (856) 785-0074 x4327; Fax: (856) 785-1544
Email: bushek@hsrl.rutgers.edu
Advancing the characterization of fractured bedrock aquifers using electrical geophysical methods: application to water resources evaluation in the New Jersey Highlands
DeBonne N. Wishart with Associate Professor Lee Slater
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Rutgers University - Newark
This project initiates hydrogeophysical research in the New Jersey Highlands directed towards improving water resources management and reducing aquifer vulnerability in the region. Rather than relying solely on traditional collinear (symmetric) azimuthal resistivity surveys alone to characterize fracture anisotropy as was done in previous investigations, asymmetric azimuthal arrays of ASP and ARS measurements are coupled with hydrologic measurements to characterize fractures at the laboratory and extended to the field scale. Two-thirds of the research completed has allowed us to (1) improve the effectiveness of electrical geophysical methods in the hydrogeologic characterization of fractured bedrock aquifers, (2) devise a method to delineate hydraulically-active fractures, (3) extend bench-scale laboratory research to the field sites, and (4) apply methods to improve understanding of fracture geometry in the north New Jersey Highlands. The program of research investigates how integrated geoelectric measurements can be used to distinguish hydraulically-conductive fractures and to infer direction (and possibly rates) of groundwater flow based on the electrokinetic phenomena associated with “streaming" or self potential (SP).
The results of laboratory investigations suggest that azimuthal SP measurements can potentially advance the geoelectrical characterization of hydraulic anisotropy in fractured rocks. Laboratory ASP surveys on a fracture block model show that ASP measurements are capable of distinguishing hydraulically-active fractures from electrically-conductive fractures, and are diagnostic of flow direction and flow rates in fractures. In contrast, electrical resistivity measurements that are sensitive to the anisotropy in electrical current flow through fractures may not necessarily be equivalent to groundwater flow as previously indicated by earlier authors.
Recent laboratory data shows that the polarity of the SP anomaly associated with a fracture set indicates the direction of groundwater flow within the fracture set. Limited data obtained from field study sites (primarily surface water flow directions) is consistent with this being borne out at these field sites. These data suggest simple field-scale electrical measurements can define not just hydraulic anisotropy, but delineate the direction of groundwater flow.
These results show distinct differences between ARS and ASP surveys and highlight apparent advantages of ASP.
In conclusion, preliminary field measurements in a fractured rock environment suggest that this work could improve the characterization of fracture systems in bedrock aquifers and promote understanding of regional groundwater resources in fracture-dominated systems required for the design of groundwater remediation strategies.
Contact Information:
DeBonne N. Wishart
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Rutgers University - Newark
Email: natwish@andromeda.rutgers.edu
Associate Professor Lee Slater
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Rutgers University - Newark
Telephone: (973) 353-5109; Fax: (973) 353-1965
Email: lslater@andromeda.rutgers.edu
Nitrate removal in urban wetlands: examining the roles of vegetation, soils, and hydrology in the creation of 'hot spots' and 'hot moments' of denitrification
Monica Marie Palta with Professor Joan Ehrenfeld
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
The scale at which “hot spots” and “hot moments” of nitrogen (N) removal occur via denitrification has not been well-defined, and there has been little work relating plant biology, hydrologic regime, and soils with N removal function in floodplain restoration efforts. The role of riparian vegetation, particularly Phragmites australis, in nitrate (NO3-) removal from surface and groundwater in particular is poorly understood. Additionally, differences in hydrologic conditions and soils between wetland areas may lead to differences in N removal ability of Phragmites.
This project took advantage of a 17 ha site (Teaneck Creek Conservancy, Bergen County) in which monospecific Phragmites stands are located on adjacent patches of clayey, silty, and organic soils. The presence of these adjacent patches enabled the researcher to isolate the effects of soil type and soil-generated differences in hydrology on the spatial and temporal distribution of “hot spots” and “hot moments” of NO3- removal. The goal was to determine the temporal and spatial variability in denitrification within and among replicate areas within each of these three soil types, thus both helping to define the dimensions of “hot spots” and “hot moments” in N removal and examining the drivers behind such phenomena.
The hypotheses were (1) there will be significant differences in both spatial and temporal variability among the three soil types that will be correlated with their hydraulic properties, thus demonstrating that differences in soil texture are a source of patchiness in dentrification within wetlands; (2) further, the high water retention capacity of the clay soils will result in less within-patch variability and less variability over time than in the silty soil or peaty soil, thus resulting in larger “spots” and longer “moments” in the clays and smaller “spots” and shorter “moments” in the silt and peat; (3) finally, the dimensions of both “spots” and “moments” will be correlated with the abundance and distribution of organic matter available in the soil.
The subset of data processed and analyzed thus far largely supports the hypotheses originally proposed. Significant differences in denitrification rate were found between soil types (indicating “hot spots”) and between and within seasons (indicating “hot moments”). Further, these differences do appear to be driven, at least in part, by moisture conditions, which influence nitrification rates; the latter is a key process driving denitrification. This study therefore provides important evidence that differences in soil texture are a source of patchiness in denitrification within wetlands, and that restoration projects aiming for higher levels of denitrification within wetlands must carefully consider texture and drainage of wetland soils in their design.
Contact Information:
Monica Marie Palta
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (732) 932-1050
E-mail: mpalta@eden.rutgers.edu
Professor Joan Ehrenfeld
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (732) 932-1081; Fax: (732) 932-8746
E-mail: ehrenfel@rci.rutgers.edu
Cranberry Agriculture as Wildlife Habitat in the Pine Barrens Wetland Ecosystem
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
As the need for agricultural development continues to grow, it is imperative to maintain or increase the ecological function of agroecosystems while minimizing negative influences on the surrounding environment. The cranberry farms located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey provide an excellent opportunity to study this issue. Cranberries have been cultivated in this area for about 150 years. The 3,600 acres of active farms, as well as numerous abandoned bogs, are embedded in the riverine wetlands, where a great variety of lowland plants and animals live. This is a unique opportunity to study wildlife distribution in farmland habitat as well as the response of animal communities to plant succession after agricultural abandonment.
Objective1. To study bird and frog distributions within the farm with different habitat factors (vegetation, hydrology and landscape factors).
Objective2. To study the seedbank composition in cranberry beds with different water-table depth, and their germination under different hydrological conditions.
Contact Information:
Ai Wen
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (732) 932-1050
Email: aiwen@eden.rutgers.edu
Professor David Ehrenfeld
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (732) 932-9553
Enhancing the remediation of Trichloroethene (TCE) using double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNT)
Sarat Kannepalli with Assistant Professor Donna E. Fennell
Department of Environmental Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
The chlorinated organic solvent trichloroethene (TCE) is one of the most commonly detected groundwater contaminants. Widespread application in vapor degreasing of fabricated metal parts (80% use) and in the production of organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals (5% use), resulted in increased production from 260,000 lbs in 1981 to 320 million lbs in 1991.
The low viscosity, low interfacial tension with water, high volatility and existence as a non-aqueous-phase liquid make many physical and chemical methods of TCE remediation either ineffective or uneconomical. Furthermore, many hydro-geologic formations make remediation difficult. Reliable, cost effective methods for remediation of TCE contaminated groundwater are still needed.
The proposed research aimed to combine chemical-physical concentration and sequestration using carbon nanotubes and subsequent biodetoxification by dechlorinating bacteria to increase the efficiency of TCE removal from groundwater. The specific objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) What is the sorptive capacity of double walled carbon nanotubes (DWNT) for TCE? and (2) Is carbon nanotube-sequestered TCE bioavailable to dehalogenating bacteria? We hypothesized that TCE sorbed on DWNT is bioavailable to bacteria and this sorption/concentration may increase the dechlorinating efficiency of the bacteria. If feasible, a more efficient remediation technology for TCE contaminated groundwater may be developed.
Contact Information:
Sarat Kannepalli
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (732) 932-5546; Fax: (732) 932-8644
Email: skannepalli@envsci.rutgers.edu
Assistant Professor Donna E. Fennell
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Telephone: (732) 932-9800 x6204; Fax: (732) 932-8644
Email: fennell@envsci.rutgers.edu
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