Fatty acid profiles of juvenile salmon indicate prey selection strategies in coastal marine waters

Juvenile salmon exhibit high growth rates upon their arrival into the marine environment. Dietary changes from freshwater and estuarine habitats to those derived from the marine environment may play an important role in ultimate adult survival. We measured the total lipid and fatty acid (FA) composition of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon (O. kisutch), and 18 of their potential prey items sampled from coastal waters during their first few months at sea. Coho salmon had significant reductions in their lipid content (% wet weight) between May and June, likely due to early marine growth. We did not find a significant drop between May and June Chinook salmon lipid content, which may indicate an earlier ontogenetic selection to marine prey that are higher in lipids and essential fatty acids (EFAs). Juvenile salmon ate prey of both high and low lipids. Significant FA compositional changes occurred for both coho and Chinook salmon between May and June. In May, the FA profile of juvenile salmon, especially coho salmon, did not resemble their prey items; however, in June, there was a strong correlation between salmon and their common fish prey as determined by gut content analysis. Significant increases in the level of EFAs, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) accounted for the majority of the monthly differences in salmon tissue FA composition. In order for juvenile salmon to adequately meet their physiological requirements, they may have adapted to select advantageous prey with higher levels of EFAs, especially DHA, in order to rapidly increase their growth and ultimate survival.     

Comparison of the role of the sea club-rush Scirpus maritimus and the sea rush Juncus maritimus in terms of concentration, speciation and bioaccumulation of metals in the estuarine sediment

The capability of Scirpus maritimus and of Juncus maritimus to accumulate metals and the role of each plant on the physico-chemical composition of sediments, from Douro river estuary (NW Portugal), were investigated through a year of plants' life. The contents of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined (by atomic absorption spectrophotometry) in sediment, rhizosediments (those in contact with each plant roots and rhizomes) and different tissues of S. maritimus and of J. maritimus. Both plants influenced the sediment composition (concentrating metals around its roots) and were able to bioaccumulate Cd, in spite of some seasonal variations in the metal levels in the system (both in rhizosediments and plants' roots). Therefore, both plants showed to have potential for Cd phytostabilization. S. maritimus could also concentrate Pb in its roots, probably by sorption on the root surface in (hydr)oxide forms, therefore, denoting capability for Pb phytostabilization.     

Phytoplankton distribution across the southeast Adriatic continental and shelf slope to the west of Albania (spring aspect)

We present the first insight to the oceanography of the southeastern Adriatic Sea, where coastal water influenced by Albanian rivers comes into contact with the inflowing oligotrophic Eastern Adriatic Current (Ionian Surface Water and Levantine Intermediate Water). A distinct plankton distribution was observed on each side of the shelf break hydrographic boundary in May 2009, during gradual warming of the surface waters. The prochlorophytes accumulated along the nutricline above the shelf and continental slope. The phosphorus limited inshore waters were dominated by a small diatom Chaetoceros circinalis, dinoflagellates, cryptophytes, autotrophic picoplankton, and heterotrophic nanoplankton. The offshore surface layer was characterized by bigger nanoplankton (coccolithophorids, green flagellates). Low nutrient concentrations influence relatively low productivity not only above the Albanian shelf but also further to the north along the Montenegrine and Croatian coastal Adriatic Sea.     

Development and Testing of a Portable Wind Sensitive Directional Air Sampler

Abstract

This paper reports on the performance of the Kimoto 180 sampler and the Wedding ambient PM10 beta gauge sampler. Monodisperse ammonium fluorescein test particles were generated in the laboratory and used to determine the penetration curve of the Kimoto 180 cyclonic inlet. It was found that the actual DpaSOof the Kimoto 180 inlet, 3.5 (xm, is much lower than the designated standard value, 10 um. In the field test, the two beta gauge samplers were collocated with an Andersen SA1200 high-volume sampler to compare their measured daily average PM10 concentrations.

The low Dpa50 of the Kimoto 180 inlet serves to explain why its daily average PM10 concentrations were much lower than the actual PM10 concentrations found in the field study. In addition, the PM10 concentrations of the Kimoto 180 beta gauge sampler were found to be seriously affected by the water vapor content of the ambient air. In contrast, the daily average PM10 concentrations of the Wedding beta gauge sampler were found to be more accurate, and influences by ambient conditions were insignificant     

Vapor-phase concentrations of PAHs and their derivatives determined in a large city: Correlations with their atmospheric aerosol concentrations

Thirteen PAHs, five nitro-PAHs and two hydroxy-PAHs were determined in 55 vapor-phase samples collected in a suburban area of a large city (Madrid, Spain), from January 2008 to February 2009. The data obtained revealed correlations between the concentrations of these compounds and a series of meteorological factors (e.g., temperature, atmospheric pressure) and physical–chemical factors (e.g., nitrogen and sulfur oxides). As a consequence, seasonal trends were observed in the atmospheric pollutants. A “mean sample” for the 14-month period would contain a total PAH concentration of 13 835 ± 1625 pg m⁻³ and 122 ± 17 pg m⁻³ of nitro-PAHs. When the data were stratified by season, it emerged that a representative sample of the coldest months would contain 18 900 ± 2140 pg m⁻³ of PAHs and 150 ± 97 pg m⁻³ of nitro-PAHs, while in an average sample collected in the warmest months, these values drop to 9293 ± 1178 pg m⁻³ for the PAHs and to 97 ± 13 pg m⁻³ for the nitro-PAHs. Total vapor phase concentrations of PAHs were one order of magnitude higher than concentrations detected in atmospheric aerosol samples collected on the same dates. Total nitro-PAH concentrations were comparable to their aerosol concentrations whereas vapor phase OH-PAHs were below their limits of the detection, indicating these were trapped in airborne particles.     

Electrokinetic enhancement of phenanthrene biodegradation in creosote-polluted clay soil

Given the difficulties caused by low-permeable soils in bioremediation, a new electrokinetic technology is proposed, based on laboratory results with phenanthrene, to afford bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in clay soils. Microbial activity in a clay soil historically polluted with creosote was promoted using a specially designed electrokinetic cell with a permanent anode-to-cathode flow and controlled pH. The rates of phenanthrene losses during treatment were tenfold higher in soil treated with an electric field than in the control cells without current or microbial activity. Results from experiments with Tenax-assisted desorption and mineralization of 14C-labeled phenanthrene indicated that phenanthrene biodegradation was limited by mass-transfer of the chemical. We suggest that the enhancement effect of the applied electric field on phenanthrene biodegradation resulted from mobilization of the PAH and nutrients dissolved in the soil fluids.     

Safety Attitudes and Their Relationship to Safety Training and Generalised Self-Efficacy

This paper studies safety attitudes, their relationship with safety training behaviour, and generalised self-efficacy. From a sociotechnical perspective, training programs might be used as a mechanism for enhancing attitudes, especially to improve safety and occupational health. Also, self-efficacy allows to enhance training effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to validate a safety attitude scale and to examine its relationship to safety training behaviour and self-efficacy in organisational settings. With data from 140 employees, results show a conceptually meaningful 3-factor solution. Hier-archical multiple regression analysis shows a main effect of safety training behaviour and levels of self-efficacy on safety attitude. Study limitations and its implications on safety training design are also discussed.     

Occurrence and ecological risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and cocaine in the urban drainage channels of Santos beaches (São Paulo,Brazil): a neglected,but sensitive issue

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In some Brazilian coastal cities, it is common to observe ‘black tongues’ in beaches, i.e. a mixture of urban runoff and untreated...     

Hemerocallis as bioindicator of fluoride pollution in tropical countries

In the frame of an active monitoring study at the Serra do Mar near the industrial pool of Cubatão, Brazil,Hemerocallis was tested for its suitability as bioindicator of airborne fluoride pollution. In a screening experiment with various cultivars comparison of susceptibility, correlation of visible injury and foliar fluoride concentration as well as comparison with exposure ofGladiolus gave best results for theHemerocallis cultivar ‘Red Moon’. When exposed simultaneously foliar fluoride accumulation ofHemerocallis showed a highly significant linear correlation with fluoride content ofLolium multiflorum, the ‘standardized grass culture’ andGladiolus, well-known bioindicator species for fluoride impact. With respect to the extent of foliar injuryHemerocallis was less sensitive thanGladiolus, in terms of accumulation capacity it ranged betweenLolium andGladiolus. In general, the results of the biomonitoring study proved that the Atlantic Forest vegetation in a valley downwind from the Cubatão fertilizer industries is still suffering from severe fluoride pollution.