A new, simple and accurate method is introduced for determining H(2)CO(3)(*) alkalinity in fresh waters dominated by the carbonate weak-acid system. The method relies on a single H(3)PO(4) dosage and two pH readings (acidic pH value target: pH~4.0). The computation algorithm is based on the concept that the overall alkalinity mass of a solution does not change upon the addition of a non-proton-...

A new UV submersible spectroradiometer has been employed to determine the diffuse attenuation coefficient for irradiance in the clearest natural waters [K(w)(lambda)] with emphasis on the spectral region from 300 to 400 nm. K(w)(lambda) can be related to the inherent optical properties of pure water, in particular the total absorption coefficient a(w)(lambda) and the molecular scattering coeffi...

One of the more fascinating phenomena in nature is animal mass migrations and in oceans and freshwaters, diel variations in depth distribution of zooplankton are a phenomenon that has intrigued scientists for more than a century. In our study, we show that zooplankton are able to assess the threat level of ultraviolet radiation and adjust their depth distribution to this level at a very fine tu...

Agriculture currently consumes 70% of the world's developed fresh water supplies. By improving the productivity of water used for agriculture by 40%, it is possible to reduce the amount of additional freshwater withdrawals needed to feed the world's growing population to 0.

While the bulk of human exposure to mercury is through the consumption of marine fish, most of what we know about mercury methylation and bioaccumulation is from studies of freshwaters. We know little of where and how mercury is methylated in the open oceans, and there is currently a debate whether methylmercury concentrations in marine fish have increased along with global anthropogenic mercur...

In fishes, alterations to the natural flow regime are associated with divergence in body shape morphology compared with individuals from unaltered habitats. However, it is unclear whether this morphological divergence is attributable to evolutionary responses to modified flows, or is a result of phenotypic plasticity. Fishes inhabiting arid regions are ideal candidates for studying morphologica...