Sentinel Molecular Diagnostics for Crop Agroterrorism

Dr. Joe Eugene LepoCenter for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation

University of West Florida, Pensacola

Tuesday, February 13th, at 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.Ruhl Student Center, Community Room

STSS07 Schedule & Abstract Site (click here)

Wetlands• Characteristic hydric soil and hydrophytic vegetation as

signs of frequent surface saturation or inundation.

• Many types of wetlands: (Dodds, 2002; Table 4.3)– Salt-marshes and (temperate, seawater influence)– Mangrove forests (tropical, seawater influence)– Tidal & non-tidal freshwater marshes– Deepwater (cypress) swamps– Northern (bogs & tundra) wetlands– Riparian forests/wetlands– Man-made (rice paddies & bioremediation)

• Function as nutrient and sediment traps; slow runoff and facilitate recharge; most are highly productive.

Global Distribution

(Matthews, 1993)

Coastal Mangrove

Depressional

Peatland bog

• Wetland ecosystem types are based on hydrologic regime, climate, geomorphology, nutrient input and vegetation. (Dodds, 2002; Table 4.5)

• Geomorphic: Peatlands; Coastal; Riverine; Depressional.

• Hydrologic Regime:– Permanence, predictability (e.g. tidal), seasonality– Primary water source:

• Precipitation; low throughput (ombrotrophic)• Riverine; potentially high throughput (minerotrophic)• Groundwater

• Climate determines the balance of precipitation and evapotranspiration. (E.g., much less precipitation is required for tundra wetlands than that for a tropical savanna wetland.)

Human Impacts on Groundwaters; Streams and Wetlands

• Groundwater or surface pumping:– agriculture – industry – drinking waters.

• Clearing riparian forests & wetlands• Draining and filling for “development”.• Damming and flooding• Diversion channels for water supply.

Levee

Arkansas River (?)

Vanishing Florida Wetlands

Wetland loss from 1780 to1990.70% Riparian Forest lost in USA.

Worldwide estimates are >50%; half due to agriculture.