Mid-21st century climate and weather extremes in Cyprus as projected by six regional climate models

We present climate change projections and apply indices of weather extremes for the Mediterranean island Cyprus using data from regional climate model (RCM) simulations driven by the IPCC A1B scenario within the ENSEMBLES project. Daily time-series of temperature and precipitation were used from six RCMs for a reference period 1976–2000 and for 2026–2050 (‘future‘) for representative locations, applying a performance selection among neighboring model grid-boxes. The annual average temperatures of the model ensemble have a ±1.5°C bias from the observations (negative for maximum and positive for minimum temperature), and the models underestimate annual precipitation totals by 4–17%. The climatological annual cycles for the observations fall within the 1σ range of the 6-model average, highlighting the strength of using multi-model output. We obtain reasonable agreement between models and observations for the temperature-related indices of extremes for the recent past, while the comparison is less good for the precipitation-related extremes. For the future, the RCM ensemble shows significant warming of 1°C in winter to 2°C in the summer for both maximum and minimum temperatures. Rainfall is projected to decrease by 2–8%, although this is not statistically significant. Our results indicate the shift of the mean climate to a warmer state, with a relatively strong increase in the warm extremes. The precipitation frequency is projected to decrease at the inland Nicosia and at the coastal Limassol, while the mountainous Saittas could experience more frequent 5–15 mm/day rainfall. In future, very hot days are expected to increase by more than 2 weeks/year and tropical nights by 1 month/year. The annual number of consecutive dry days shows a statistically significant increase (of 9 days) in Limassol. These projected changes of the Cyprus climate may adversely affect ecosystems and the economy of the island and emphasize the need for adaptation strategies.     

Ecosystem services and hydroelectricity in Central America: modelling service flows with fuzzy logic and expert knowledge

Because ecosystem services are generally not produced and used in the same place, their assessment should consider the flows of services from ecosystems to users. These flows depend on the characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems and users, the spatial relationships between them, and the presence of filters or barriers between ecosystems and users. The objective of this paper is to map the ecosystem services provided to the Costa Rican and Nicaraguan hydroelectric sectors, which are crucial sectors for national sustainable development and depend directly on hydrological ecosystem services. The paper presents an approach for modelling the flows of multiple services from diverse ecosystems to diverse users through different kinds of filters in a landscape. The approach uses expert knowledge and fuzzy numbers to handle uncertainties. The analyses for Costa Rica and Nicaragua show how the approach helps identify priority areas for the conservation and restoration of forests for the services they provide to the hydroelectric sector. As such, it is a useful tool for defining spatially targeted policies for the conservation of ecosystem services and for involving the users of ecosystem services in ecosystem management.     

Integrated biological responses of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to analyze water quality in regions under anthropogenic influence

This study analyzed water quality in regions around Patos lagoon (Southern Brazil) that are under anthropogenic pressure. Water samples were collected from five different sites, including one used as a source for human consumption (COR) and others known to be influenced by human activities (IP). Danio rerio (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) organisms were exposed for 24 h to these water samples, plus a control group. It was observed that: (1) reactive oxygen species levels were lower in COR and IP than in the control group; (2) glutamate-cysteine ligase (catalytic subunit) expression was higher in COR than in other sites; (3) exposure to all water samples affected long-term memory (LTM) when compared to control group. Thus, some water samples possess the ability to modulate the antioxidant system and to induce a decline in cognitive functions, as measured by LTM. The obtained results indicate that a combination of variables of different organization level (molecular, biochemical and behavioral) can be employed to analyze water quality in impacted regions.     

A biology-based dynamic approach for the reconciliation of acute and chronic toxicity tests: application to Daphnia magna

There is the need to integrate existing toxicity data in a coherent framework for extending their domain of applicability as well as their extrapolation potential. This integration would also reduce time and cost-consuming aspects of these tests and reduce animal usage. In this work, based on data extracted from literature, we have assessed the advantages that a dynamic biology-toxicant fate coupled model for Daphnia magna could provide when assessing toxicity data, in particular, the possibility to obtain from short-term (acute) toxicity test long-term (chronic) toxicity values taking into account the inherent variability of D. magna populations and the multiple sources of data. The results show that this approach overcomes some of the limitations of existing toxicity tests and that the prediction errors are considerably reduced when compared with the factor from 2 to 5 obtained using acute-to-chronic ratios.     

Applicability of microwave-assisted extraction combined with LC-MS/MS in the evaluation of booster biocide levels in harbour sediments

A new sample treatment method for the determination of four common booster biocides (Diuron, TCMTB, Irgarol 1051 and Dichlofluanid) in harbour sediment samples has been developed that uses liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after microwave-assisted extraction, followed by clean-up and a solid phase extraction preconcentration step (MAE-SPE). The effects of different variables on MAE-SPE were studied. The recoveries obtained were greater than 75%, and the relative standard deviation was less than 7%. The detection limits ranged between 0.1 and 0.3 ng g⁻¹. The developed methodology was successfully applied to the evaluation of the presence of booster biocides in sediment samples from different harbours and marinas of Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands, Spain).     

Development of a combined isotopic and mass-balance approach to determine dissolved organic carbon sources in eutrophic reservoirs

A combined mass-balance and stable isotope approach was set up to identify and quantify dissolved organic carbon (DOC) sources in a DOC-rich (9 mg L⁻¹) eutrophic reservoir located in Western France and used for drinking water supply (so-called Rophemel reservoir). The mass-balance approach consisted in measuring the flux of allochthonous DOC on a daily basis, and in comparing it with the effective (measured) DOC concentration of the reservoir. The isotopic approach consisted, for its part, in measuring the carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C values) of both allochthonous and autochthonous DOC sources, and comparing these values with the δ¹³C values of the reservoir DOC. Results from both approaches were consistent pointing out for a DOC of 100% allochthonous origin. In particular, the δ¹³C values of the DOC recovered in the reservoir (−28.5 ± 0.2‰; n = 22) during the algal bloom season (May-September) showed no trace of an autochthonous contribution (δ¹³C in algae = −30.1 ± 0.3‰; n = 2) being indistinguishable from the δ¹³C values of allochthonous DOC from inflowing rivers (−28.6 ± 0.1‰; n = 8). These results demonstrate that eutrophication is not responsible for the high DOC concentrations observed in the Rophemel reservoir and that limiting eutrophication of this reservoir will not reduce the potential formation of disinfection by-products during water treatment. The methodology developed in this study based on a complementary isotopic and mass-balance approach provides a powerful tool, suitable to identify and quantify DOC sources in eutrophic, DOC-contaminated reservoirs.     

TiO₂-based nanoparticles released in water from commercialized sunscreens in a life-cycle perspective: structures and quantities

This work investigates the physical-chemical evolution during artificial aging in water of four commercialized sunscreens containing TiO₂-based nanocomposites. Sunscreens were analyzed in terms of mineralogy and TiO₂ concentration. The residues formed after aging were characterized in size, shape, chemistry and surface properties. The results showed that a significant fraction of nano-TiO₂ residues was released from all sunscreens, despite their heterogeneous behaviors. A stable dispersion of submicronic aggregates of nanoparticles was generated, representing up to 38 w/w% of the amount of sunscreen, and containing up to 30% of the total nano-TiO₂ initially present in the creams. The stability of the dispersion was tested as a function of salt concentration, revealing that in seawater conditions, a major part of these nano-TiO₂ residues will aggregate and sediment. These results were put in perspective with consumption and life cycle of sunscreens to estimate the amount of nano-TiO₂ potentially released into AQUATIC environment.     

Validation of an analytical method for the quantification of pyrethrins on lemons and apricots using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

An analytical procedure has been developed for the determination of natural pyrethrins (pyrethrin I, pyrethrin II, jasmolin I, jasmolin II, cinerin I and cinerin II) in lemon and apricot. The QuEChERS method, which stands for quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe was used for extraction. Analysis of the extract was performed by liquid-chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry. The ions prominent in the ESI spectra were [M+H]+ for the six compounds. A Zorbax SB-C18 column was used with a programmed gradient mobile phase consisting of (A) water containing 0.1% formic acid and 5 mM ammonium formate and (B) ACN. The method was linear within the investigated concentration range, displaying a calibration curve correlation factor of 0.99. The coefficients of variation obtained (RSD) were below 20% and the recoveries were in the 70-110% range.     

Determination of sixteen pesticides in peppers using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A method for the detection and quantification of 16 pesticides: flufenoxuron, fenoxycarb, dimethomorph, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, lufenuron, thiacloprid, thiabendazole, thiophanate-methyl, spinosad, fenbutatin oxide, methoxyfenozide, oxamyl, clothianidin, thiamethoxam and carbendazim has been developed based on high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pesticide residues were extracted from the samples according to the QuEChERS method which stands for quick, essay, cheap, effective, rugged and safe. Homogenised analytical portions (10 g ± 0.1) of samples of peppers were spiked at two levels (10 and 100 μg kg?1) with a small volume of an appropriate standard mixture solution containing each pesticide. Analyses were performed using electrospray ionization (ESI) and a MSD trap system. Chromatography separation was achieved using a ZORBAX SB-C18 3.5 μm particle size analytical column, 2.1 × 50 mm from Agilent, with gradient elution at a flow-rate of 0.4 mL/min with mobile phases: waters-0.1 % HCOOH-5 mM HCOONH? and MeOH-5 mM HCOONH?. The method has been validated based on the SANCO European Guidelines. Under the optimized conditions the recoveries (n = 7) were in the range 70-110 % with satisfactory precision (CV ≤ 20 %). A linear dynamic range was obtained over a range of concentrations from 10 to 100 μg kg?1 for each of the analytes, with correlation coefficients >0.997.     

Accumulation,biotransformation, and biochemical responses after exposure to arsenite and arsenate in the estuarine polychaete <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Laeonereis acuta</Emphasis> (Nereididae)

Introduction  

This study aimed to analyze antioxidant responses and oxidative damage induced by two inorganic forms of arsenic (As; As^III and As^V) in an estuarine polychaete species, Laeonereis acuta (Nereididae). The capacity of arsenic biotransformation was also evaluated through the methylation process considering the activity of a key enzyme involved in the metabolization process.