Accumulation of Mn and Pb in linden (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) bark and wood

As an indicator of environmental pollution, we collected tree rings and bark of linden (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) from four sampling locations in Serbia. Mn and Pb were determined with a spectrochemical method that has an argon-stabilized U-shaped DC arc with aerosol supply as excitation source. Increased concentrations of Mn in linden tree rings and bark were found at the Debeli Lug location, where the Mn transfer factors were largest. The availability of Mn in soil and tree rings was greatly influenced by pH. Since 1950, Mn level decreased more noticeably on acidic soils. Higher concentrations of Pb were found in linden tree rings and bark at the locations Fru?ka Gora and Zemun. Proximity of the road to Novi Sad at both sites may be a possible reason for this. The Pb transfer factor was highest at Fru?ka Gora. The ratio of bioavailable elements in soil for Mn and Pb were also calculated. Close correlations between Mn and Pb concentrations in linden tree rings and the ratio of bioavailable elements in soil were seen at all four locations.     

Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in the Wastewater and Rivers of Tapachula,a Migratory Hub in Southern Mexico

Food and Environmental Virology - The COVID-19 pandemic has been monitored by applying different strategies, including SARS-CoV-2 detection with clinical testing or through wastewater-based...     

Biomonitoring in the protected areas of the Czech Republic

The purpose of the biomonitoring project in the Nature Conservancy in the Czech Republic is to obtain information on long-term development of some selected living components of ecosystems in protected areas. A survey of methods was conducted to select the monitoring areas as well as to study birds, epigean, vegetation and water communities (a minimal programme). A system for the monitoring areas and data storage and processing (to gather a body of evidence) was established. Simultaneously, close linkage with abiotic factor monitoring is planned. The project has been carried out by the Czech Institute for Nature Conservation.     

Plant Bioassays for an in Situ Monitoring of Air Near an Industrial Area and a Municipal Solid Waste – ŽILINA (SLOVAKIA)

The process of a bioindication of genotoxic effects of complex mixtures on the environment using higher plants is very appropriate and effective. We present the results of an in situ indication of the genotoxic effects of polluted environment near Žilina city. For a more complex monitoring we used: the Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) assay, the Tradescantia microspore test and an evaluation of the abortivity of the pollen grains of native plant species. We found significant differences in the frequency of the micronuclei when using the Trad-MCN test in local of Dubeň. The Tradescantia pollen abortivity test showed significant differences in the frequency of the abortive pollen grains between the exposed groups and the control group. By using native plant species in the pollen abortivity test we found significant differences in both of the two locations for the four following species during two consecutive years: Artemisia vulgaris, Melilotus albus, Trifolium pratense, Typha latifolia.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air on small spatial and temporal scales – I. Levels and variabilities

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured together with inorganic air pollutants at two urban sites and one rural background site in the Banja Luka area, Bosnia and Hercegovina, during 72 h in July 2008 using a high time resolution (5 samples per day) with the aim to study the spatial and temporal variabilities and to explore the significance of averaging effects inherent to 24 h-sampling. Measurement uncertainty was quantified on basis of three independent side-by-side samplers, deployed at one of the sites.PAH abundances in the urban and rural environments differed largely. Levels at the urban sites exceeded the levels at the rural site by >100%. The discrepancy was largely dominated by emission of 3–4 ring PAHs in the city, while 5–6 ring PAHs were more evenly distributed between city sites and the hill site. During the night a higher fraction of the semivolatile PAHs might have been stored in the soil or sorbed to surfaces. PAH patterns were undistinguishable across the three sites. However, concentrations of more particle-associated substances differed significantly between the urban sites than between one of the urban sites and the rural site (3σ uncertainty). Time-averaging (on a 24 h-basis) would have masked the significant inter-site differences of half of the substances which were found at different levels (on a 4 h-basis).     

PCDD/PCDF, dl-PCB and PBDE serum levels of Slovak general population

Blood serum specimens from 81 non-occupationally exposed adults residing in four areas close to municipal and waste incinerators as well as metallurgical industry plant and 44 adult subjects coming from control area of Slovakia were analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). The concentration of total WHO(98)TEQ PCDD/F/dl-PCBs in whole group of donors from areas where known sources causing dioxin contamination are present was significantly higher than in control group of donors (p<0.001). Correlation between the age of donors and PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels was confirmed (Spearman's r(PCDD/Fs)=0.543, r(dl-PCBs)=0.521, p<0.001). Furthermore, this study presents first results concerning the PBDE congeners in human serum of Slovak general population. The total concentration (congeners 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183) in control group was approximately 1.5-times higher in comparison to that of residents coming from areas with supposed environmental pollution. The most abundant congeners in all samples were BDE-47 and BDE-153 with median values of 0.24 ng g(-1) lipid and 0.23ngg(-1) lipid, respectively. The positive association between PBDE values and age of donors was not found.     

On multiple objective optimization in aquatic ecosystems

Optimal control criteria and hierarchical dynamic control have been designed for a class of structural nonlinear predator-prey models (nutrient-herbivore-predator). The optimal open-loop control of the class of models considered is described. The optimal control design is realized using the hierarchical coordination strategies which are mathematically based on the gradient approach for the interaction prediction principle.     

A Myanmar amber cockroach with protruding feces contains pollen and a rich microcenosis

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the mechanisms responsible for maintenance of host-specific gentes in the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). Some of them expect that when adult cuckoos return to lay their eggs to their natal site (natal philopatry hypothesis) or habitat in which they were reared (habitat-imprinting hypothesis), there is a higher probability of finding nests of the host species by which they were reared. Since published evidence is ambiguous, we here evaluate the natal philopatry and habitat-imprinting hypotheses using information on habitat homogeneity and cross-continental long-term ringing data. We found no evidence for the natal philopatry hypothesis—instead of returning to their natal site, juvenile cuckoos exhibited longer dispersal movements than adults, and the difference was even larger in comparison with a wide array of cuckoo host species. On the contrary, we found support for the habitat-imprinting hypothesis—juvenile cuckoos followed similar levels of natal habitat homogeneity at 5- and 25-km scale when returning to breed in the next years. Our results suggest that preference for the particular habitat structures may help cuckoos to find appropriate hosts.

     

The Quality of Water Resources in Dalmatia

The purpose of this study was to monitor and record the specific characteristics and properties of most of the important water resources in Dalmatia located in Southern Croatia for a period of 5 years (1998–2002) according to established standards for drinking water. The paper presents a detailed account of their chemical content, the classification and the concentration of salts. The bacteriological pollution levels are indicated by the total coliform bacterial levels (MPN coli/100 mL). The water characteristics are expressed by coefficients, which represent the ratios between water ingredients. The Ca/Mg eq ratio, SO₄/Cl eq ratio and K₁, K₂ for bicarbonate hardness were calculated. The hygienic characteristics of the water samples were expressed by the total coliform bacteria estimation (MPN coli/100 mL), the permanganate consumption (KMnO₄) and biological oxygen demand (BOD₅). Karst waters in Dalmatia are moderately hard, the SO₄/Cl ratio is 0.38–1.6, non-corrosive (K₁ lower than 0.2) and not significantly mineralised (< 500 mg/L minerals). Sulphate waters are generally hard, the SO₄/Cl ratio is higher than 1.6, K₁ is 0.2–0.65. Marine waters are quite hard or hard, particularly at the river estuaries, the SO₄/Cl ratio is lower than 0.38, and K₁ is higher than 0.65. The groundwater and springs in Dalmatia are less polluted than surface waters. A majority of these have a geometric average value of MPN coli < 150/100 mL of water observed in 24 of 42 locations studied. The highest bacteriological pollution was found in nine locations where MPN coli > 1000/100 mL and moderate pollution was found in nine locations where MPN coli is between 150 and 1000/100 mL of water. The physical and chemical parameters determined for the most sources in Dalmatia are safe below the international permissible limits.