Despite significant demographic and preamputation experience differences, few differences in outcomes emerged by etiology group in the first year after amputation. Findings suggest that the year after amputation may be a time of greater change for those with traumatic amputation compared to those with nontraumatic amputation.

No abstract

Flatworms of the genus Macrostomum are voracious predators on newly metamorphosed juvenile freshwater mussels (Unionidae), which require a fish host to transform mussel larvae into free-living juveniles. Toxicity tests were performed with formalin (paracide-F, 37% formaldehyde) to determine the appropriate levels of treatment for eradicating these flatworms from host fish tanks without adversely affecting the culture of juvenile mussels. Results indicate that a 1-h shock treatment of 250 mg/L formalin or a 3-d continuous exposure to 20 mg/L of formalin kills adult Macrostomum but not fish. Observations indicate that a single treatment is insufficient to kill Macrostomum eggs, so a second treatment after 3 d is necessary to kill newly hatched flatworms. Newly metamorphosed freshwater mussels exposed to similar shock and continuous treatments of formalin were also killed. Thus, all host fish introduced for the purpose of mussel production should be quarantined and treated prophylactically to avoid the infestation of mussel culture systems with predacious flatworms.

The benthic ecological impacts of 2 New Zealand ocean outfalls were studied. They are the country's largest (discharging 0.8 m 3 s -1) at Hastings, and longest-established (operating since 1965 and with a present discharge of 0.28 m 3 s -1 ) at Gisbome. Both discharge essentially biodegradable domestic and food-processing-industry wastes. Samples were collected about each outfall and analysed for particle size, oil and grease, readily oxidisable carbon (ROC), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), volatile solids, and macrofauna. Changes in the sediments indicated that the effluents contained inorganic paniculate material in the mud/very fine sand size range. Peaks in concentrations of oil and grease, ROC, TKN, and volatile solids occurred at the diffusers. Numbers of taxa were low near the outfalls, but increased with distance away. Numbers of individuals were also low at the outfalls, increasing within 100 m, before dropping to normal levels. No grossly polluted zone, devoid of macrofauna, was found; however, it appeared that a "polluted" zone occurred within 200 m of the diffusers and a "transitional" zone extended to between 800 and 1600 m from the Gisborne outfall, and 400 and 1600 m at Hastings. Multivariate classification and ordination indicated that over the area sampled, the discharges were the main factor shaping the patterns of community structure.

A severely degraded acid sulfate soil wetland near Cairns, Queensland, has been returned to a functional estuarine habitat using a cost‐effective, low‐technology method based on the reintroduction of tidal water. Gradual increases in tidal inundation, combined with targeted liming of the tidal stream, restored conditions that promoted chemical and microbial processes leading to the rapid recolonisation of mangrove communities and other estuarine flora and fauna. Protocols and understanding developed at East Trinity can be readily applied to other coastal acid sulfate soil sites.