Analysis of the Article About Responses of Consumers after Flood in the Mississippi River Basin - Research Paper Example

The main point of this research for this peer review states that disturbance resulting from unpredicted flood events within the area of research are likely to result in the alteration of the trophic dynamics of the river floodplain systems by creating shifts in the composition of the organic matter that is available for consumers (Delong et al, 2001).

This implies that there is a likelihood of the upper Mississippi River basin experiencing changes in its ecosystems depending on the responses of consumers and food resources to a high magnitude, unpredicted flood. The evidence for this research was based on Laboratory experiments. To determine the authenticity of the main hypothesis of this research work, samples were collected from the upper Mississippi River near the city of Louisiana Missouri (Delong et al, 2001). This area was used to act as a representative of the river floodplain features of the upper part of the Mississippi River and it is characterized by a broad channel with several side channels and backwaters.

Samples representing the potential nutrient sources and consumers were collected from all three rivers in October 1993 and July 1994 for analysis of the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (Delong et al, 2001). Statistical analysis was done on the collected samples using pair-wise comparison. The results indicated there were few inter-annual differences for each river n regard to the sources of the organic matter and the consumers.

The results obtained from this research imply that the consumers continued to rely on the sources of organic matter that would be used in the absence of the unpredicted 1993 flood (Delong et al, 2001). It is proposed that the trophic structure did not change in response to flooding in the Missouri River because both rivers exhibited the same trends observed in the Ohio River. In the article “Pesticide and PCB residues in the upper Snake River ecosystem, Southeastern Idaho, following the collapse of the Teton Dam 1976” by Perry, J. A. (1979), the main point is that following the collapse of the Teton Dam in 1976, the result has been a rise in the levels of pesticides and PCB recorded in the upper Snake River ecosystem Southeastern Idaho (Perry, J. A., 1979).

It is important to point out that the upper Snake River area is primarily agricultural. Different types of pesticides are used and after the flooding event, there was great destruction of different farm facilities. This research paper aims to address the results of a one-time effort to perform sampling to determine the magnitude of the chemical contamination. The evidence for this research was collected through laboratory experiments where all the samples were collected along the river in September and October 1976 from 13 stations.

Sediments were collected from the top of 3-4 cm of soil at each of the 13 sites. About 300 samples of fish, waterfowl, plankton, and sediments were collected. The residues of the pesticides were measured in terms of the wet weight. Plankton and drift were collected with a 13 cm diameter plankton net (Perry, J. A., 1979). Fishes and birds were collected by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The main implications of this research are that the undeveloped areas showed higher levels of contaminants than the other industrialized areas.

The Pre-flood data on a whole-fish basis only showed that no human health hazard due to pesticide levels exists in this portion of the Snake River. The rocky mountain whitefish had as high as 2650 µg/kg total DDT and 1400 µg/kg PCBs (Perry, J. A., 1979). These levels of PCB and DDT were high approaching the optimal level of 2,000 µg/kg FDA which is the proposed tolerance level but these results were below the 5,000 µg/kg present tolerance. The levels of dieldrin were low and traces of organophosphates were undetectable.

Combining the main points of the two peer reviews, we can come up with a single statement and state that The resulting disturbance from unpredicted flood events alters the trophic dynamics of the river floodplain systems and creates shifts in the composition of the organic matter that available for consumers yet following the collapse of the Teton Dam in 1976, there has been a rise in the levels of pesticides and PCB recorded in the upper Snake River ecosystem

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 8: 139-159.2. State the main point of your first reference. Disturbance resulting from unpredicted flood events normally alters the trophic dynamics of the river floodplain systems by creating shifts in the composition of the organic matter that is available for consumers. 3. State the main point of your second reference. Following the collapse of the Teton Dam in 1976, there has been a rise in the levels of pesticides and PCB recorded in the upper Snake River ecosystem in Southeastern Idaho. 4. What TYPE of evidence is provided to support the main point of the first reference?

Choose one or more of the following: Laboratory experiment(s)Samples were collected for the upper Mississippi River near the city of Louisiana Missouri. This area was used to act as a representative of the river floodplain features of the upper part of the Mississippi River and it is characterized by a broad channel with several side channels and backwaters. Samples representing the potential nutrient sources and consumers were collected from all three rivers in October 1993 and July 1994 for analysis of the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. 5. What TYPE of evidence is provided to support the main point of the first reference?

Choose one or more of the following: Laboratory experiment(s)All the samples were collected along the river in September and October 1976 from 13 stations. Sediments were collected from the top of 3-4 cm of soil at each of the 13 sites. Plankton and drift were collected with a 13 cm diameter plankton net.6. What are the implications of the main point of the first reference? Implications will usually be stated under summary or conclusions in peer-reviewed papers. “The findings of past studies relating to large-magnitude flood events in the upper Mississippi River system, therefore, strengthen the conclusion that the flood served to enhance rather than change the trophic structure within these river-floodplain ecosystems.” 7. What are the implications of the main point of the second reference?

Implications will usually be stated under summary or conclusions in peer-reviewed papers. An undeveloped area showed higher levels of contaminants than an industrialized. Pre-flood data on a whole-fish basis shows that no human health hazard due to pesticide levels exists in this portion of the Snake River.8. Combine or contrast the two references’ main points to form your main point.