The biosphere 2 project and its potential role in assisting space exploration
Abstract Space Biospheres Ventures is developing technologies for its Biosphere 2 project — a 3 acre materially closed ecological system with human habitat, intensive agriculture and five wilderness biomes — and other life-support testbeds for space habitats in microgravity and the Moon and Mars, as well as for ecological research pertinent to the biosphere of Earth. These include soil bed reactors for air purification and biomass production; aquatic waste processing systems; real-time analytic systems; and computer systems of control and management. A space policy pursuing joint Earth and ‘space biospheres’ objectives and implications is discussed.
Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
General Principles: Wastewaters: A Perspective (A.J. Smith). Wetlands Ecosystems: Natural Water Purifiers? (D.A. Hammer and R.K. Bastian). Hydrologic Factors in Wetland Water Treatment (R.H. Kadlec). Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Freshwater Wetland Soils (S.P. Faulkner and C.J. Richardson). Wetland Vegetation (G.R. Guntenspergen, F. Stearns, and J.A. Kadlec). Wetlands Microbiology: Form, Function, Processes (R.J. Portier and S.J. Palmer). Wetlands: The Lifeblood of Wildlife (J.S. Feierabend). Case Histories: Constructed Free Surface Wetlands to Treat and Receive Wastewater: Pilot Project to Full Scale (R.A. Gearheart, F. Klopp, and G. Allen). The Iselin Marsh Pond Meadow (T.E. Conway and J.M. Murtha). Integrated Wastewater Treatment Using Artificial Wetlands: A Gravel Marsh Case Study (R.M. Gersberg, S.R. Lyon, R. Brenner, and B.V. Elkins). Sewage Treatment by Reed Bed Systems: The Present Situation in the United Kingdom (P.F. Cooper and J.A. Hobson). Aquatic Plant/Microbial Filters for Treating Septic Tank Effluent (B.C. Wolverton). Creation and Management of Wetlands Using Municipal Wastewater in Northern Arizona: A Status Report (M. Wilhelm, S.R. Lawry, and D.D. Hardy). Land Treatment of Municipal Wastewater on Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge for Wetland/Crane Habitat Enhancement: A Status Report (J.W. Hardy). Waste Treatment for Confined Swine with an Integrated Artificial Wetland and Aquaculture System (J.J. Maddox and J.B. Kingsley). Treatment of Acid Drainage with a Constructed Wetland at the Tennessee Valley Authority 950 Coal Mine (G.A. Brodie, D.A. Hammer, and D.A. Tomljanovich). Constructed Wetlands for Treatment of Ash Pond Seepage (G.A. Brodie, D.A. Hammer, and D.A. Tomljanovich). Use of Wetlands for Treatment of Environmental Problems in Mining: Non-Coal-Mining Applications (T.R. Wildeman nad L.S. Laudon). Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment at Amoco Oil Company's Mandan, North Dakota Refinery (D.K. Litchfield and D.D. Schatz). Utilization of Artificial Marshes for Treatment of Pulp Mill Effluents (R.N. Thut). Use of Artificial Wetlands for Treatment of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Leachate (N.M. Trautmann, J.H. Martin, Jr., K.S. Porter, and K.C. Hawk, Jr.). Use of Wetlands for Urban Stormwater Management (E.H. Livingston). Design, Construction and Operation: Use of Wetlands for Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Disposal-Regulatory Issues and EPA Policies (R.K. Bastian, P.E. Shanaghan, and B.P. Thompson). States' Activities, Attitudes and Policies Concerning Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment (R.L. Slayden, Jr. nad L.N. Schwartz). Human Perception of Utilization of Wetlands for Waste Assimilation, or How Do You Make A Silk Purse Out of A Sow's Ear? (R.C. Smardon). Preliminary Considerations Regarding Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment (R.K. Wieder, G. Tchobanoglous, nad R.W. Tuttle). Selection and Evaluation of Sites for Constructed Wastewater Treatment Wetlands (G.A. Brodie). Performance Expectations and Loading Rates for Constructed Wetlands (J.T. Watson, S.C. Reed, R.H. kadlec, R.L. Knight, and A.E. Whitehouse). Ancillary benefits of Wetlands Constructed Primarily for Wastewater Treatment (J.H. Sather). Overview from Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (R.D. Hoffman). Configuration and Substrate Design Considerations for Constructed Wetlands Wastewater Treatment (G.R. Steiner and R.J. Freeman, Jr.). Hydraulic Design Considerations and Control Structures for Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment (J.T. Watson and J.A. Hobson). California's Experience with Mosquitos in Aquatic Wastewater Treatment Systems (C.V. Martin and B.F. Eldridge). Constructing the Wastewater Treatment Wetland - Some Factors to Consider (D.A. Tomljanovich and O. Perez). Considerations and Techniques for Vegetation Establishment in Constructed Wetlands (H.H. Allen, G.J. Pierce, and R. Van Wormer). Operations Optimization (M.A. Girts and R.L. Knight). Pathogen Removal in Constructed Wetlands (R.M. Gersberg, R.A. Gearheart, and M. Ives). Monitoring of Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater (D.B. Hicks and Q.J. Stober). Recent Results from the Field and Laboratory: Dynamics of Inorganic and Organic Materials in Wetlands Ecosystems (R.H. Kadlec, W. Grosse, R.L. Davido, T.E. Conway, R. Schultz-Hock, Y.-P. Hsieh, and C.L. Coultas). Efficiencies of Substrates, Vegetation, Water Levels and Microbial Populations (S.C. Michaud, C.J. Richardson, R.S. Hedin, R. Hammack, D. Hyman, R.J. Portier, T.A. DeBusk, P.S. Burgoon, K.R. Reddy, J.B. Kingsley, J.J. Maddox, P.M. Giordano, W. Batal, L.S. Laudon, T.R. Wildeman, and N. Mohdnoordin, and J. Vymazal). Management of Domestic and Municipal Wastewaters (H. Brix, H.-H. Schierup, J. Jackson, A. Wood, L.C. Hensman, K.J. Whalen, P.S. Lombardo, D.B. Wile, T.H. Neel, B.B. james, R. Bogaert, R. Haberl, R. Perfler, T.J. Mingee, R.W. Crites, J.A. Hobson, G. Miller, A.L. Schwartz, R.L. Knight, H.J. Bavor, D.J. Roser, P.J. Fisher, and I.C. Smalls, P.R. Scheuerman, G. Bitton, S.R. Farrah, and C.H. Dill). Treatment of Nonpoint Source Pollutants-Urban Runoff and Agricultural Wastes (G.S. Silverman, E.C. Meiorin, P. Daukas, D. Lowry, W.W. Walker, Jr., L.C. Linker, C.J. Costello, E.F. Lowe, D.L. Stites, and L.E. Battoe). Applications to Industrial and Landfill Wastewaters (M.S. Ailstock, V.G. Guida, I.J. Kugelman, W.W. Staubitz, J.M. Surface, T.S. Steenhuis, J.H. Peverly, M.J. LAvine, N.C. Weeks, W.E. Sanford, R.J. Kopka, and J.N. Dornbush). Control of Acid Mine Drainage Including Coal Pile and Ash Pond Seepage (M. Silver, E.A. Howard, J.C. Emerick, T.R. Wildeman, S.E. Stevens, Jr., K. Dionis, L.R. Stark, E.A. Howard, M.C. Hestmark, and T.D. Margulies, P. Eger, K. Lapakko, R.L. Kolbash, T.L. Tomanoski, J. Henrot, R.K. Wieder, K.P. Heston, M.P. Nardi, W.R. Wenerick, S.E. Stevens, Jr., H.J. Webster, L.R. stark, E. DeVeau, E.L. Snoddy, G.A. Brodie, D.A. Hammer, and D.A. Tomljanovich). Index.
Indian Fig Cactus (Opuntia Ficus-Indica (L.) Miller) in the Americas: an Uncertain History
Abstract: 
 Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller is a globally important cactus species with a long history of human use. In addition to the importance of O. ficus-indica as a food for humans and livestock, it also has long served a role in the production of cochineal, a once important textile dye. This cactus also is intimately interwoven into the story of Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (South American cactus moth), one of the best-known examples of biological weed control. In this regard, O. ficus-indica has been a target weed as well as an unintended host in C. cactorum invasion. Although the distribution and human-assisted movement of this cactus throughout much of the world is well documented, surprisingly little has been written about its history and movement within the Americas. Literature associated with Opuntia and their phytophagous pests in North and South America was examined in an attempt to determine the history of O. ficus-indica in the Americas. Available information suggests with some certainty that O. ficus-indica originated in present-day Mexico, but the timing of its introduction to South America is much less clear. Taxonomic difficulties associated with distinguishing among Opuntia species and the long pre-Columbian history of exchange between South American and Mesoamerican cultures are two primary complicating factors associated with dating the dispersal of this species to South America. Additionally, previous evidence in support of a pre-Columbian introduction to South America relied on questionable identification of insect-based textile dyes. These uncertainties are significant because clearer knowledge of the history of O. ficus-indica introduction to South America could provide a more complete biological and ecological context to efforts at managing this species in its native and introduced ranges, particularly with respect to the threat posed by C. cactorum in North American and Argentinean plantations.