Edible Invertebrates Among Amazonian Indians: A Critical Review of Disappearing Knowledge

For the indigenous populations of Amazonia, invertebrates constitute an important component of the diet. We have information on entomophagy for 39 ethnic groups, about 21,4 per cent of the 182 groups known in the Amazon Basin, but the use of this non conventional food resource is probably much more widespread. We present here a data-base of all the information available for each ethnic group regarding the species included in the diet, the scientific and the ethno name if known, the stage of life-cycle consumed, the manner of preparation and, when known, the host plant. This data-base lists 115 species scientifically identified and 131 ethno names. In addition, we have information about other 384 ethno names, with unsecure link to the Linnean taxonomy suggesting that local knowledge is very extensive. The data-base represents not only an easy to consult resource, but also a support for further research. The knowledge of the relations between indigenous populations and ecosystem is indeed the base for the natural and cultural biodiversity preservation.     

Trace element contamination in the mine-affected stream sediments of Oued Rarai in north-western Tunisia: a river basin scale assessment

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - High-quality and accurate environmental investigations are essential for the evaluation of contamination and subsequent decision-making processes. A...     

Distribution and mobility of metals in contaminated sites. chemometric investigation of pollutant profiles

The distribution and mobility of heavy metals in the soils of two contaminated sites in Piedmont (Italy) was investigated, evaluating the horizontal and vertical profiles of 15 metals, namely Al, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe. La, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zn and Zr. The concentrations in the most polluted areas of the sites were higher than the acceptable limits reported in Italian and Dutch legislations for soil reclamation. Chemometric elaboration of the results by pattern recognition techniques allowed us to identify groups of samples with similar characteristics and to find correlations among the variables. The pollutant mobility was studied by extraction with water, dilute acetic acid and EDTA and by applying Tessier's procedure. The fraction of mobile species, which potentially is the most harmful for the environment, was found to be higher than the one normally present in unpolluted soils, where heavy metals are, to a higher extent, strongly bound to the matrix.     

Phytotoxicity to and uptake of enrofloxacin in crop plants

Phytotoxicity of enrofloxacin on crop plants Cucumis sativus, Lactuca sativa, Phaseolus vulgaris and Raphanus sativus was determined in a laboratory model: the effect of 50, 100 and 5000 microgl(-1) were evaluated after 30 days exposure by measuring post-germinative growth of primary root, hypocotyl, cotyledons and leaves. Concentrations between 50 and 5000 microgl(-1) induced both toxic effect and hormesis in plants, by significantly modifying both length of primary root, hypocotyl, cotyledons and the number/length of leaves. A toxic effect is induced by high concentration (5000 microgl(-1)), while hormesis occurs at low concentrations (50 and 100 microgl(-1)). A continuum between toxic effect and hormesis is found in the four plant species. Both toxic effect and hormesis can be related to an efficient plant drug uptake, in the order of microgg(-1). Plants are able to metabolize enrofloxacin into ciprofloxacin, as also happens in animals; Cucumis, Lactuca and Phaseolus biologically convert about one quarter of stored enrofloxacin. The ecological implication of enrofloxacin contamination in terrestrial environments is discussed.     

Genetic diagnosis by chorionic villus sampling before 8 gestational weeks: Efficiency,reliability, and risks on 317 completed pregnancies

Transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (TA-CVS) was attempted in 328 high-risk pregnancies at 6–7 weeks of gestation. Sampling was feasible in 97.7 per cent of cases; chorionic tissue specimens of more than 10 mg were obtained in 94.4 per cent ofcases at the first needle insertion and in 100 per cent after a second attempt. Fetal karyotyping succeeded in 99.4 per cent of cases, while no diagnostic failures were reported in enzymatic and DNA analyses. Fetal loss rate in the first 4 weeks after CVS was significantly higher than in the later CVS series (7.2 vs. 2.5 per cent), but 50 per cent of losses were observed within 2 weeks in cases of inviable aneuploidies. A high incidence of severe limb abnormalities (1.6 per cent) was detected in pregnancies intended to continue, confirming the aetiological role of early CVS. Unclear visualization of the placental limits and poor control of the needle path are thought to be the main reasons for the vascular disruption of the chorionic plate, and thereby hypoxic embryo tissue damage. A better selection of cases, together with high-resolution vaginal ultrasound visualization, and analytical techniques requiring a minimal amount of tissue should avoid any teratogenic effect of early CVS.     

Spatial analysis of plant detritus processing in a Mediterranean river type: the case of the River Tirso Basin,Sardinia, Italy

The river continuum concept represents the most general framework addressing the spatial variation of both structure and function in river ecosystems.In the Mediterranean ecoregion,summer drought events and dams constitute the main sources of local disturbance to the structure and functioning of river ecosystems occurring in the river basin.In this study,we analysed patterns of spatial variation of detritus processing in a 7th order river of the Mediterranean ecoregion(River Tirso,Sardinia0Italy)and in three 4th order sub-basins which were exposed to different summer drought pressures.The study was carried out on phragmites australis and Alnus glutionsa leaf detritus at 31 field sites in seasonal field experiment Detritus processing rates were higher for Alnus glutionsa than for Phragmites australis plant detritus.Processing rates of Alnus glutionsa leaves varied among seasons and study sites from 0.006d^-1 to 0.189d^-1 and those of Phragmites australis leaves ranged from 0.0008d^-1 to 0.102d^-1,with the lowest values occurring at sites exposed to summer drought.Seasons and sites accounted for a significant proportion of such variability.Alder detritus decay rates generally decreased with increasing stream order,while reed detritus decay rates generallyincreased on the same spatial gradient.Summer drought events affected these spatial patterns of variation by influencing significantly the decay rates of both plant detritus.The comparisons among and within sub-basins showed strong negative influence of summer drought on detritus processing rates.Similarly,in the entire River Tirso basin decay rates were always lower at disturbed than at undisturbed sites for each stream order;decay rates of reed detritus remained lower at those sites even after the end of the disturbance events,while alder decay rates recovered rapidly from the summer drought perturbations.The different recovery of the processing rates of the two leaves could also explain the different patterns of spatial variation observed between the two leaves.     

Silvicultural management in maintaining biodiversity and resistance of forests in Europe-the Mediterranean region

Outstanding features of Mediterranean forest area are highlighted with a special reference to biodiversity and connections with forest management. The naturally originated and anthropogenic progress of the mosaic-like evolution, as well as the man-induced factors and natural constraints are described. The past and present close linkages between management and biodiversity are then analysed by means of a few, outstanding cases typical of the geographical region. The management shift on increasing economically marginal forest area (abandonment) appears to be the major force currently driving connections with inherent and associated biodiversity. The goals following the new-established environmental roles of forests have shifted towards adaptive management, namely the implementation of locally tailored rules in accordance with prominent forest functions. Key priorities to face up to the new scenarios are then discussed.Economic and policy implications are addressed with reference to multipurpose forestry and the related annual flow of outputs. It is shown the role of water-related services, as well the provision of various non-wood forest products and public goods in addition to wood and other traditional forest outputs. Reference is also made to the dualism between the Northern and the South-Eastern Mediterranean countries due to different level of economic development (and pressure of forest resources) together with very different institutional structures, i.e. public ownership in Southern and South-Eastern Mediterranean countries. Nevertheless, the situation is going to become more harmonious in the medium run by growing economic development, the affirmation of local rights on forest resources, globalisation and, above all, rural out migration and exchanges of peoples confirming the traditional role of the Mediterranean Region at cross road of South-North and Eastern-Western cultures.