Qualifying irrigation system sustainability by means of stakeholder perceptions and concerns: lessons from the Segarra‐Garrigues Canal,Spain

When planning interventions, water and land resource managers increasingly need to take the opinions of stakeholders into account. In the present study, stakeholders’ concerns in a multifunctional water system are assessed, with a focus on the debate about the sustainability of irrigation projects in stressed and competing water contexts. The selected case study pertains to the Segarra‐Garrigues irrigation canal (Spain), the promotion of which has generated social debate and mobilization, as well as pronouncements from European authorities for ensuring its environmental sustainability. Data was collected through semi‐structured interviews and analysed by means of a new codification system for identifying the affinities and conflicts arising from existing water demands. Results show that sustainability concepts are more present in civil society than in public administration and private services or the rural community. However, social sustainability and environmental sustainability are a priority for most stakeholders, while the economic perspective of sustainable development has been conditioned by the first two. These results can be used by relevant authorities as a first step in customizing their interventions, as they provide a clear initial idea of what stakeholder priorities are in the framework of sustainable development.     

Watering the garden: preferences for alternative sources in suburban areas of the Mediterranean coast

Gardening has become a relevant contributor to the quality of life of suburbanites, as a source of leisure, to build a relationship with nature or to express a particular social identity. Nevertheless, water scarcity in the Mediterranean region has increased concerns about how demand should be managed to face future uncertainties, and watering the gardens has become an element for discussion in urban planning. This contribution presents the findings of a survey of permanent residents and secondary homeowners (n?=?230) in the suburban areas surrounding the city of Girona in the northeast of Catalonia (Spain). The area is a popular national and international tourist destination and a preferred place for second-home owners. We explore the main socio-demographic drivers for choosing an alternative watering source and we analyse if water-harvesting tank sizes properly meet net irrigation requirements. Results show that many water-harvesting tanks are oversized. The percentage of unemployed or retired household members, the estimated irrigation water needs of the garden and the education level directly influence the search for alternative sources of water. Moreover, social variables like interest in gardening, water conservation attitudes and household income indirectly influence the search for alternative sources of water.     

Detection of metallothionein in the intestinal mucosa and brain with 109cadmium∗

Metallothionein (MT) has a great capacity of binding metal ions showing an interesting connection with metal toxicology, as a biochemical marker for environmental metal pollution.

To normal male Wistar rats (200±10 g) and other groups with ferropenic anemia, are administered 1 mg Cd/Kg/day, during 6 days, and MT labelled with the administration 2 h before sacrifice of 3 μCi ¹⁰⁹CdCl₂, also through intragastric catheter. The MT concentration in the intestinal mucosa is expressed in μg MT/g fresh tissue, being for control rats 1.4 ± 0.5; for rats administered with 6 doses of Cd 2.5 ± 0.6 (P<0.05); with ferropenic anemia 4.3±0.7 (P<0.001), and for anemic rats treated with 6 doses Cd 12 + 0,3 (P<0.001) μg MT/g fresh tissue respectively. PAGE 15% T, 2% C_Bis show for intestinal mucosa 2 MT peaks and for brain 3 MT peaks. Anemia induce MT accumulation and increases cadmium incorporation, being anemic subjects eligibles to be submitted first to control and detoxication than the rest of the population, and also MT should be studied as biochemical marker of the pollution.     

Ozone exposure induces the activation of leaf senescence-related processes and morphological and growth changes in seedlings of Mediterranean tree species

Four Mediterranean tree taxa, Quercus ilex subsp. ilex, Quercus ilex subsp. ballota, Olea europaea cv. vulgaris and Ceratonia siliqua, were exposed to different ozone (O(3)) concentrations in open top chambers (OTCs) during 2 years. Three treatments were applied: charcoal-filtered air (CF), non-filtered air (NF) and non-filtered air plus 40 ppb(v) of O(3) (NF +). The photochemical maximal efficiency, Fv/Fm, decreased in NF + plants during the second year of exposure, especially during the most stressful Mediterranean seasons (winter and summer). An increase of delta(13)C was found in three of the four studied species during the first year of exposure. This finding was only maintained in C. siliqua during the second year. Decreases in the chlorophyll content were detected during the first year of fumigations in all the species studied, but not during the second year. The NF + treatment induced changes in foliar anatomical characteristics, especially in leaf mass per area (LMA) and spongy parenchyma thickness, which increased in some species. A reduction in N content and an increase in delta(15)N were found in all species during the second year when exposed in the NF + OTCs, suggesting a change in their retranslocation pattern linked to an acceleration of leaf senescence, as also indicated by the above mentioned biochemical and anatomical foliar changes. The two Q. ilex subspecies were the most sensitive species since the changes in N concentration, delta(15)N, chlorophyll, leaf area, LMA and biomass occurred at ambient O(3) concentrations. However, C. siliqua was the most responsive species (29% biomass reduction) when exposed to the NF + treatment, followed by the two Q. ilex subspecies (14-20%) and O. europaea (no significant reduction). Ozone resistance of the latter species was linked to some plant traits such as chlorophyll concentrations, or spongy parenchyma thickness.