A geochemical study of overbank sediments in an urban area (Madrid,Spain)

Overbank and stream sediments have been studied in the Community of Madrid. Four vertical profiles have been sampled corresponding to Guadarrama, Jarama, and finally Manzanares River, where two profiles have been studied upstream (El Pardo profile) and downstream (Rivas profile) Madrid city. Sieved samples (<63 µm) were subjected to total (ICP-MS/ICP-OES and INAA) and partial analysis (ICP-MS). AMS radiocarbon dating techniques revealed a young age (170 ± 40 years BP) at 2.40–2.65 m depth for Rivas profile. It has not been possible to detect pristine or pre-industrial overbank sediments, since in the rest of the studied profiles, anthropogenic wastes were found even in the lower levels. Three main sources of sediment have been detected in the area. Granitic and arkosic geology, located in the northern part of Madrid (U, Th, W, K, Na, or rare earth elements); clays located in the southeast of Madrid (Ni, Cr, or V), and finally an anthropogenic source has been identified (Au, Ag, Pb, Zn, or Sb) in Rivas profile. The influence of the anthropogenic activity has been established based on the contents distribution of contaminant elements in the profile. This can be associated to the growth of industrial activities and population in the city of Madrid during the last decades. The comparison of the profiles by a k-means cluster analysis showed some similarities for these samples that could have analogous sources (anthropogenic and geological).     

Ultraviolet reflectance influences female preference for colourful males in the European serin

Avian plumage colouration is one of the most impressive displays in nature and is frequently used as sexual signal. There is now considerable evidence that females consistently prefer males with the most elaborated colour displays. Bird colour vision expands into the ultraviolet (UV) range, which prompted several studies to test the importance of UV in mate choice, revealing that females are affected by the UV light component. These studies were mostly performed on structural plumage, whereas carotenoid-based plumage was rarely considered, although it also has a typical reflection peak in the UV. Our study tested the female choice over male yellow colouration, and whether it is influenced by UV removal, in the European serin (Serinus serinus), a sexually dichromatic cardueline finch, with males showing a conspicuous carotenoid-based yellow plumage. We shows that females preferred yellower males and that male attractiveness was lost when the UV colouration was blocked, with either of the UV-blocking techniques used. The results of our study indicate that the UV component of carotenoid colouration is important in the female mate assessment in serins and highlights the importance of considering colour perception in avian mate choice.     

Urinary arsenic levels influenced by abandoned mine tailings in the Southernmost Baja California Peninsula,Mexico

Gold has been mined at San Antonio-El Triunfo, (Baja California Sur, Mexico) since the 18th century. This area has approximately 5,700 inhabitants living in the San Juan de Los Planes and El Carrizal hydrographic basins, close to more than 100 abandoned mining sites containing tailings contaminated with potentially toxic elements such as arsenic. To evaluate the arsenic exposure of humans living in the surrounding areas, urinary arsenic species, such as inorganic arsenic (iAs) and the metabolites mono-methylated (MMA) and di-methylated arsenic acids (DMA), were evaluated in 275 residents (18–84 years of age). Arsenic species in urine were analyzed by hydride generation-cryotrapping-atomic absorption spectrometry, which excludes the non-toxic forms of arsenic such as those found in seafood. Urinary samples contained a total arsenic concentration (sum of arsenical species) which ranged from 1.3 to 398.7 ng mL^?1, indicating 33 % of the inhabitants exceeded the biological exposition index (BEI = 35 ng mL^?1), the permissible limit for occupational exposure. The mean relative urinary arsenic species were 9, 11 and 80 % for iAs, MMA and DMA, respectively, in the Los Planes basin, and 17, 10 and 73 %, respectively, in the El Carrizal basin. These data indicated that environmental intervention is required to address potential health issues in this area.     

Safety compliance climate concerning risk assessment and preventive measures in EU legislation: A Finnish survey

The aim of the present study is to explore the process dynamics of the safety compliance climate and work relationships, including their antecedents and consequences. After investigating the many dimensions of safety compliance climate and of work relationships, the study concludes that a multi-component measure is needed to fully assess all of their dimensions. With respect to the impacting positively on safety compliance legislation, the present study found the following factors: “contribution measures”, “concrete preventive measures” and “risk assessment process”. For risk assessment factors on safety compliance the study identified “planning, guidelines, policy, management”, “prioritization of proactive measures”, “results in cooperation and information” and “active use of risks assessment document”. In a regression model for the workers, both risk assessment process and contribution measures had a statistically highly significant (p < 0.001) effect on concrete preventive measures. In the regression analysis of the employers risk assessment process had a statistically significant (p < 0.01) effect and contribution measures had a statistically highly significant (p < 0.001) effect on concrete preventive measures.     

Bioaccumulation of cadmium,lead and zinc in liver and kidney of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from NW Spain: influence of gender and age

Cd, Pb, and Zn were quantified in liver and kidney of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) which were hunted during the 2003–2011 hunting seasons in Galicia (NW Spain). The effects of age and gender were evaluated to determine whether these variables should be included in future biomonitoring studies. The concentrations of hepatic and renal Cd (average 0.6 and 1.3 µg/g) and Pb (0.8 and 0.06 µg/g, respectively) were similar to background levels, with no known toxicological relevance. Similarly, the average levels of Zn in liver and kidney (77 and 17 µg/g) were in the range of physiological levels for canids. Although no significant gender-dependent variations were observed, the effect of aging was evident: the levels of hepatic Pb and both hepatic and renal Cd were higher in adults than in juveniles. Age should be included as a parameter during future biomonitoring programs focusing on trace metal bioaccumulation in red foxes.     

The potential of marine live-bait introductions into oceanic islands

The likely introduction of non-indigenous species into the coastal ecosystems of oceanic islands through live-bait utilizations was studied. A store survey identified the species that are traded as live fishing-bait. Only Polychaeta species were identified as imported live-bait on São Miguel Island and all specimens were identified as Perinereis linea. Reponses to surveys of 77 anglers showed that: 44 % harvest from native sources, 44 % buy live-bait and 12 % do both; 56 % of the anglers’ fish on a weekly basis; 31 % dispose of the bait into the sea. A field survey at five sites where fishing rods are routinely utilized was developed to investigate if the non-indigenous polychaetes sold as fishing-bait are already established in the natural environment of the Azores archipelago. Three species of Nereididae were identified: the native Neanthes nubila and P. oliveirae and the cryptogenic P. cultrifera. The escalating utilization of live-bait argues for a change in the habits of fishermen with respect to the discarding of leftover bait, as the higher the volume of discards the higher becomes the probability of non-indigenous species establishment successes, especially on oceanic islands characterized by vulnerable ecosystems with simpler trophic webs.     

Copper and lead ion removal from wastewater using fava d’anta fodder (Dimorphandra gardneriana Tulasne)

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The contamination of bodies of water by potentially hazardous elements has in recent decades become an environmental problem that poses serious risks to...     

Evaluating surrogates of genetic diversity for conservation planning

Protected-area systems should conserve intraspecific genetic diversity. Because genetic data require resources to obtain, several approaches have been proposed for generating plans for protected-area systems (prioritizations) when genetic data are not available. Yet such surrogate-based approaches remain poorly tested. We evaluated the effectiveness of potential surrogate-based approaches based on microsatellite genetic data collected across the Iberian Peninsula for 7 amphibian and 3 reptilian species. Long-term environmental suitability did not effectively represent sites containing high genetic diversity (allelic richness). Prioritizations based on long-term environmental suitability had similar performance to random prioritizations. Geographic distances and resistance distances based on contemporary environmental suitability were not always effective surrogates for identification of combinations of sites that contain individuals with different genetic compositions. Our results demonstrate that population genetic data based on commonly used neutral markers can inform prioritizations, and we could not find an adequate substitute. Conservation planners need to weigh the potential benefits of genetic data against their acquisition costs.