In recent years, growing interest has focused on determining the performance of materials and evaluating the service life of structures exposed to various environmental forces. In this context, the determination of the aggressive potential of marine salts on mortars used as external renders is critical. The present study aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution of marine salts relative to distance from the sea. This was done by monitoring the deposition rate of chlorides and sulfates in wet candle sensors, located at nine stations scattered around the Metropolitan Region of Salvador, state of Bahia, Brazil. The study also determined the effectiveness of water-soluble salts at penetrating three different types of mortars of varying cement content via deposition and diffusion. The methodology employed enabled an evaluation of the efficiency of the monitoring sensors' measurement of the aggressiveness potential of local marine aerosol, and determination of the comparative performance of the three mortars tested, from the standpoint of resistance to salt penetration. The type and amount of salts captured both in solution and in powder samples extracted from the mortars were determined by ion chromatography. The analysis of the various types of mortars tested indicated which types are more resistant to the aggressive potential of the region's marine aerosol and the distance from the shore where local buildings are liable to be most strongly affected. 相似文献
Background, aim, and scope Selenium (Se) has been shown to reduce mercury (Hg) bioavailability and trophic transfer in aquatic ecosystems. The study
of methylmercury (MeHg) and Se bioaccumulation by plankton is therefore of great significance in order to obtain a better
understanding of the estuarine processes concerning Hg and Se accumulation and biomagnification throughout the food web. In
the western South Atlantic, few studies have documented trace element and MeHg in fish tissues. No previous study about trace
elements and MeHg in plankton has been conducted concerning tropical marine food webs. Se, Hg, and MeHg were determined in
two size classes of plankton, microplankton (70–290 μm) and mesoplankton (≥290 μm), and also in muscle tissues and livers
of four fish species of different trophic levels (Mugil liza, a planktivorous fish; Bagre spp., an omnivorous fish; Micropogonias furnieri, a benthic carnivorous fish; and Centropomus undecimalis, a pelagic carnivorous fish) from a polluted estuary in the Brazilian Southeast coast, Guanabara Bay. Biological and ecological
factors such as body length, feeding habits, and trophic transfer were considered in order to outline the relationships between
these two elements. The differences in trace element levels among the different trophic levels were investigated.
Materials and methods Fish were collected from July 2004 to August 2005 at Guanabara Bay. Plankton was collected from six locations within the bay
in August 2005. Total mercury (THg) was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) with sodium borohydride
as a reducing agent. MeHg analysis was conducted by digesting samples with an alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution followed
by dithizone-toluene extraction. MeHg was then identified and quantified in the toluene layer by gas chromatography with an
electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Se was determined by AAS using graphite tube with Pin platform and Zeeman background correction.
Results and discussion Total mercury, MeHg, and Se increased with plankton size class. THg and Se values were below 2.0 and 4.8 μg g−1 dry wt in microplankton and mesoplankton, respectively. A large excess of molar concentrations of Se in relation to THg was
observed in both plankton size class and both fish tissues. Plankton presented the lowest concentrations of this element.
In fish, the liver showed the highest THg and Se concentrations. THg and Se in muscle were higher in Centropomus undecimalis (3.4 and 25.5 nmol g−1) than in Micropogonias furnieri (2.9 and 15.3 nmol g−1), Bagre spp (1.3 and 3.4 nmol g−1) and Mugil liza (0.3 and 5.1 nmol g−1), respectively. The trophic transfer of THg and Se was observed between trophic levels from prey (considering microplankton
and mesoplankton) to top predator (fish). The top predators in this ecosystem, Centropomus undecimalis and Micropogonias furnieri, presented similar MeHg concentrations in muscles and liver. Microplankton presented lower ratios of methylmercury to total
mercury concentration (MeHg/THg) (34%) than those found in mesoplankton (69%) and in the muscle of planktivorous fish, Mugil liza (56%). The other fish species presented similar MeHg/THg in muscle tissue (of around 100%). M. liza showed lower MeHg/THg in the liver than C. undecimalis (35%), M. furnieri (31%) and Bagre spp. (22%). Significant positive linear relationships were observed between the molar concentrations of THg and Se in the
muscle tissue of M. furnieri and M. liza. These fish species also showed significant inverse linear relationships between hepatic MeHg and Se, suggesting a strong
antagonistic effect of Se on MeHg assimilation and accumulation.
Conclusions Differences found among the concentrations THg, MeHg, and Se in microplankton, mesozooplankton, and fishes were probably related
to the preferred prey and bioavailability of these elements in the marine environment. The increasing concentration of MeHg
and Se at successively higher trophic levels of the food web of Guanabara Bay corresponds to a transfer between trophic levels
from the lower trophic level to the top-level predator, suggesting that MeHg and Se were biomagnified throughout the food
web. Hg and Se were positively correlated with the fish standard length, suggesting that larger and older fish bioaccumulated
more of these trace elements. THg, MeHg, and Se were a function of the plankton size.
Recommendations and perspectives There is a need to assess the role of selenium in mercury accumulation in tropical ecosystems. Without further studies of
the speciation of selenium in livers of fishes from this region, the precise role of this element, if any, cannot be verified
in positively affecting mercury accumulation. Further studies of this element in the study of marine species should include
liver samples containing relatively high concentrations of mercury. A basin-wide survey of selenium in fishes is also recommended. 相似文献
Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This work presents a bibliographic review of the literature regarding the simultaneous removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and... 相似文献
Natural products may be applied in a wide range of domains, from agriculture to food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, the antioxidant properties and the capacity to inhibit some enzymatic activities of Euphorbia resinifera and Euphorbia officinarum aqueous extracts and honeys were assessed. The physicochemical characteristics were also evaluated. Higher amounts of iron, copper and aluminium were detected in E. officinarum honey, which may indicate environmental pollution around the beehives or inadequate storage of honey samples. This honey sample showed higher amounts of total phenols and better capacity for scavenging superoxide anion free radicals and DPPH free radicals as compared with E. resinifera honey, but poorer capacity for inhibiting lipoxygenase, acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase. The ratio plant mass:solvent volume (1:100) and extraction time (1 - 2 h) were associated with higher total phenols and better antioxidant activities and lipoxygenase, acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities, regardless of the plant species. The aqueous extracts had systematically higher in vitro activities than the respective honey samples.
The attraction of sexual partners is a vital necessity among insects, and it involves conflict of interests and complex communication systems among male and female. In this study, we investigated the developing of sexual attractiveness in virgin queens (i.e., gynes) of Melipona flavolineata, an eusocial stingless bee. We followed the development of sexual attractiveness in 64 gynes, belonging to seven age classes (0, 3, 6, 9, 15, 18 days post-emergence), and we also evaluated the effect of different social interactions (such as competition between queens and interactions with workers) on the development of attractiveness in other 60 gynes. We used the number of males that tried to mate with a focal gyne as a representative variable of its sexual attractiveness. During the essays, each gyne was individually presented to 10 sexually mature males, and during 3 min, we counted the number of males that everted their genitalia in response to the presence of a gyne. Here, we show that M. flavolineata gynes are capable to (i) maintain their sexual attractiveness for long periods through adult life, (ii) they need a minimum social interaction to trigger the development of sexual attractiveness, and (iii) that gynes express this trait only within a social context. We conclude that the effective occurrence of matings is conditional on potential social interactions that gynes experienced before taking the nuptial flight, when they are still in the nest. These findings bring insights into the factors determining reproductive success in social insects. 相似文献
Recent studies suggest that many organisms actively colonize the subterranean environment to avoid climatic stress, exploit new ecological opportunities and reduce competition and predation. Terrestrial salamanders are known to colonize the more stable subterranean habitats mainly to escape external climatic extremes, while the role of predation avoidance remains untested. To better understand the importance of predation, we used clay models of the cave salamander Speleomantes strinatii to compare the predation occurring in woodland and subterranean habitats. Models were positioned in three forests and in three caves in NW Italy. One-hundred eighty-four models were retrieved from the field and 59 (32%) were attacked by predators. Models were attacked on their head more often than expected by chance and, therefore, were perceived by predators as real prey items. In the woodlands, clay models showed a four-time higher probability of being attacked in comparison to caves, suggesting a different level of potential predation risk in these surface habitats. These findings are one of the first experimental evidences that, in terrestrial ecosystems, predation avoidance may contribute to the salamander underground colonization process. 相似文献
Many small terrestrial vertebrates exhibit limited spatial movement and are considerably exposed to changes in local environmental variables. Among such vertebrates, amphibians at present experience a dramatic decline due to their limited resilience to environmental change. Since the local survival and abundance of amphibians is intrinsically related to the availability of shelters, conservation plans need to take microhabitat requirements into account. In order to gain insight into the terrestrial ecology of the spectacled salamander Salamandrina perspicillata and to identify appropriate forest management strategies, we investigated the salamander’s seasonal variability in habitat use of trees as shelters in relation to tree features (size, buttresses, basal holes) and environmental variables in a beech forest in Italy. We used the occupancy approach to assess tree suitability on a non-conventional spatial scale. Our approach provides fine-grained parameters of microhabitat suitability and elucidates many aspects of the salamander’s terrestrial ecology. Occupancy changed with the annual life cycle and was higher in autumn than in spring, when females were found closer to the stream in the study area. Salamanders showed a seasonal pattern regarding the trees they occupied and a clear preference for trees with a larger diameter and more burrows. With respect to forest management, we suggest maintaining a suitable number of trees with a trunk diameter exceeding 30 cm. A practice of selective logging along the banks of streams could help maintain an adequate quantity of the appropriate microhabitat. Furthermore, in areas with a presence of salamanders, a good forest management plan requires leaving an adequate buffer zone around streams, which should be wider in autumn than in spring. 相似文献
We compiled details of over 8000 assessments of protected area management effectiveness across the world and developed a method
for analyzing results across diverse assessment methodologies and indicators. Data was compiled and analyzed for over 4000
of these sites. Management of these protected areas varied from weak to effective, with about 40% showing major deficiencies.
About 14% of the surveyed areas showed significant deficiencies across many management effectiveness indicators and hence
lacked basic requirements to operate effectively. Strongest management factors recorded on average related to establishment
of protected areas (legal establishment, design, legislation and boundary marking) and to effectiveness of governance; while
the weakest aspects of management included community benefit programs, resourcing (funding reliability and adequacy, staff
numbers and facility and equipment maintenance) and management effectiveness evaluation. Estimations of management outcomes,
including both environmental values conservation and impact on communities, were positive. We conclude that in spite of inadequate
funding and management process, there are indications that protected areas are contributing to biodiversity conservation and
community well-being. 相似文献
The dissolved labile and labile particulate fractions (LPF) of Cu and Zn were analyzed during different seasons and salinity conditions in estuarine waters of marina, port, and shipyard areas in the southern region of the Patos Lagoon (RS, Brazil). The dissolved labile concentration was determined using the diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT). DGT devices were deployed in seven locations of the estuary for 72 h and the physicochemical parameters were also measured. The LPF of Cu and Zn was determined by daily filtering of water samples. Seasonal variation of DGT–Cu concentrations was only significant (p?<?0.05) at one shipyard area, while DGT–Zn was significant (p?<?0.05) in every locations. The LPF of Cu and Zn concentrations demonstrated seasonal and spatial variability in all locations, mainly at shipyard areas during high salinity conditions. In general, except the control location, the sampling locations showed mean variations of 0.11–0.45 μg?L?1 for DGT–Cu, 0.89–9.96 μg?L?1 for DGT–Zn, 0.65–3.69 μg?g?1 for LPF–Cu, and 1.35–10.87 μg?g?1 for LPF–Zn. Shipyard areas demonstrated the most expressive values of labile Cu and Zn in both fractions. Strong relationship between DGT–Zn and LPF–Zn was found suggesting that the DGT–Zn fraction originates from the suspended particulate matter. Water salinity and suspended particulate matter content indicated their importance for the control of the labile concentrations of Cu and Zn in the water column. These parameters must be taken into consideration for comparison among labile metals in estuaries. 相似文献
ABSTRACT The present work was designed to determine the potential genotoxicity at the vicinity of a solid waste incinerator in the metropolitan area of Sâo Paulo, using the Tradescantia stamen-hair bioassay. Experiments were carried out between December 1998 and April 1999 in four regions (40 pots of plants per site) selected on the basis of their pollution levels predicted by theoretical modeling of the dispersion of the incinerator's plume. The exposure sites were defined as follows: highest level (incinerator); a high level (museum) located 1.5 km from the emission point; a moderate level (school, at a distance of 3.5 km from the incinerator); and a control (at Jaguariuna countryside). The difference in genotoxicity among the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The frequency of mutations observed in the countryside was significantly lower [2.25 ± 1.55, mean ± SD (standard deviation)] than that of the sites close to the incinerator. The frequency of mutations measured at the school (3.70 ± 1.36) was significantly lower than that measured at both the museum (4.89 ± 1.12) and the incinerator (5.69 ± 1.34). In conclusion, we found a positive correlation between the spatial distribution of the emissions of the incinerator located in an urban area and the mutagenic events measured by the Tradescantia stamen-hair assay. The in situ approach employed in this study was simple, efficient, and of low cost. No air or chemical extraction of pollutants was necessary for genotoxicity testing as required by other assays. 相似文献