The hydrozoan coral<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Millepora dichotoma</Emphasis>: speciation or phenotypic plasticity?

This article describes ecological and biological differences between two morphs of the Red Sea fire coral Millepora dichotoma. The species is divided into two main morphs: branching and encrusting, which were found to differ both in color and morphology. Each morph has two or more sub-morphs. A total of 372 M. dichotoma colonies were examined in a census at two study sites in the Gulf of Elat. Colony size and abundance of the two morphs were found to differ significantly between sites. Experimental examination of each morph's morphological plasticity revealed different growth rates and difference in growth plasticity between the branching and the encrusting morph. Most of the fragments from the branching colonies (94%) attached to experimentally placed Plexiglas substrate, compared with much less attachment by the encrusting fragments (11%). The growth form of the branching morph on the Plexiglas switched to encrusting, spreading over and covering the substrate. When the new encrusting colony reached the edge of this substrate, it started to produce tips, and returned to growth in the classic branching form. The encrusting morph did not change its growth form. Following attachment of the original fragments of the branching morph to the substrate, 8.1% of them produced new tips. When the original branches were removed, after converting to encrusting growth form, 19% of the fragments produced new tips. The capsule size of nematocysts of the two morphs was also significantly different (t-test, P<0.05). Molecular data (ITS region) clearly demonstrate that these two M. dichotoma morphs differ considerably. Molecular evidence (srRNA) from the symbiotic zooxanthellae also shows a different pattern of clades in the hosts. The ecological, biological and molecular data thus attest to the two morphs being distinguishable. Contrary to previous reports, we consequently suggest that the two morphs of M. dichotoma found in the Gulf of Elat are actually two distinct species.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

Prevalence of Human Parainfluenza Viruses and Noroviruses Genomes on Office Fomites

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of office fomites in respiratory (human parainfluenza virus 1—HPIV1, human parainfluenza virus 3—HPIV3) and enteric (norovirus GI—NoV GI, norovirus GII—NoV GII) viruses transmission by assessing the occurrence of these viruses on surfaces in office buildings. Between 2016 and 2017, a total of 130 surfaces from open-space and non-open-space rooms in office buildings located in one city were evaluated for HPIV1, HPIV3, NoV GI, and NoV GII viral RNA presence. Detection of viruses was performed by RT-qPCR method. Study revealed 27 positive samples, among them 59.3% were HPIV3-positive, 25.9% HPIV1-positive, and 14.8% NoV GII-positive. All tested surfaces were NoV GI-negative. Statistical analysis of obtained data showed that the surfaces of office equipment including computer keyboards and mice, telephones, and desktops were significantly more contaminated with respiratory viruses than the surfaces of building equipment elements such as door handles, light switches, or ventilation tracts (χ ² p = 0.006; Fisher’s Exact p = 0.004). All examined surfaces were significantly more contaminated with HPIVs than NoVs (χ ² p = 0.002; Fisher’s Exact p = 0.003). Office fomites in open-space rooms were more often contaminated with HPIVs than with NoVs (χ ² p = 0.016; Fisher’s Exact p = 0.013). The highest average concentration of HPIVs RNA copies was observed on telephones (1.66 × 10² copies/100 cm²), while NoVs on the light switches (1.40 × 10² copies/100 cm²). However, the Kruskal–Wallis test did not show statistically significant differences in concentration levels of viral RNA copies on surfaces between the all tested samples. This study unequivocally showed that individuals in office environment may have contact with both respiratory and enteric viral particles present on frequently touched surfaces.     

The Problem of the Question About Animal Ethics: Discussion with Mark Coeckelbergh and David Gunkel

In this article I discuss the thesis put forward by David Gunkel and Mark Coeckelbergh in their essay Facing Animals: A Relational, Other-Oriented Approach to Moral Standing. The authors believe that the question about the status of animals needs to be reconsidered. In their opinion, traditional attempts to justify the practice of ascribing rights to animals have been based on the search for what is common to animals and people. This popular conviction rests on the intuition according to which we tend to treat better those beings that are closer to us and resemble man in one way or the other. The attempts to ascribe a special status to animals are therefore based on the question “What properties does the animal have?”. However, the question is not well formulated because it leads to a number of ontological and epistemological problems. The question should rather be “What are the conditions under which an entity becomes a moral subject?”. Whilst fully subscribing to the suggestion, I cannot agree to the way the question is understood by both authors. I will demonstrate that the question opens up a transcendental dimension of reflections and may provide a clear justification of the need to engage in animal ethics. To do so, I will separate the easy and hard problems of animal ethics and use a different approach from the one suggested by Gunkel and Coeckelbergh to demonstrate how the need to pursue animal ethics may be justified.     

Transformation of phenol, catechol, guaiacol and syringol exposed to sodium hypochlorite

Germs, xenobiotics and organic matter that influence the colour, turbidity and organoloeptic properties of water are removed by chlorination. Unfortunately, chlorine oxidants including sodium hypochlorite, used in water treatment induce processes that partly convert the treated compounds to unwanted chlorinated derivatives. The purpose of this work was to analyse the efficiency of transformation of phenol, catechol, guaiacol and syringol exposed to sodium hypochlorite and determine the intermediates formed during oxidative conversion of these compounds. The analysis was performed in aerobic conditions, both in acidic (pH 4.0) and alkaline (pH 8.0) medium. The effectiveness of transformation was slightly higher in acidic in comparison to alkaline conditions. Some chlorophenols, such as 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol were determined as the products of phenol conversion. Chlorophenols were also formed during catechol, guaiacol and syringol transformation by replacement of hydroxy and methoxy residues by chlorine atoms. Moreover, some chlorocatechols and chlorinated methoxyphenols were determined during catechol and methoxyphenols transformations. Higher concentrations of chlorinated compounds were observed in the alkaline environment during phenol transformation. Conversion of catechol and methoxyphenols generated higher amounts of chlorinated intermediates in the acidic medium. In samples carboxylic acids like acetic and formic acids were determined. The formation of these compounds was the result of the cleavage of aromatic structure of phenols.     

Numerical simulation of stratified flow around a tall building of a complex shape

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - Results of large-eddy simulations of stably stratified atmospheric flow around an isolated, complex-shaped tall building are presented. The study focuses on the...     

The differences in phenolic content in rivers exposed and non-exposed to anthropogenic contamination

The purpose of the work was to determine the differences in a kind, number and concentrations of phenol, chlorophenols, chlorocatechols chlorinated methoxyphenols (chloroguaiacols, chlorosyringols) and 3,4,5-trichloroveratrole in the drainage of the Dzierzazna river, the flow non-exposed to anthropogenic contamination and in the Ner river, the flow exposed to anthropogenic pollution. The samples of water were collected in the Dzierzazna river in the Swoboda locality, the inflow of the Dzierzazna river - the Ciosenka river and, also, in the spring situated in Ciosny Sady locality. Water of the Ner river was collected in points near ?ód?, Konstantynów, Poddebice and Dabie towns. The compounds were condensed (adsorbed) and eluted with methylene chloride on octadecyl C18 layer in a Baker Separex system. The obtained eluent was separated using the method of gas chromatography and analysed using mass spectrometry technique. In samples collected from the drainage of the Dzierzazna river phenol, chlorophenols, guaiacol, trichloroguaiacol, tetrachloroguaiacol, trichlorosyringol and 3,4,5-trichloroveratole were determined. As no anthropogenic sources are situated within the drainage of the Dzierzazna river, we may suppose that most of the determined compounds are mainly of natural origin. No or trace concentrations of chlorinated methoxyphenols were noted in the water of the Ner river, but a higher number, and concentrations of chlorophenols and additionally chlorocatechols were determined in this flow. It is also apparent that changes in a number and concentrations of phenols in the water of the Ner river did not prove a seasonal character, which was typical of the Dzierzazna drainage waters.     

Kinetic and dynamic aspects of soil-plant-snail transfer of cadmium in the field

The proper use of bioaccumulation in the assessment of environmental quality involves accounting for chemical fluxes in organisms. Cadmium (Cd) accumulation kinetics in a soil-plant-snail food chain were therefore investigated in the field under different soil contamination (from 0 to 40 mg kg(-1)), soil pH (6 and 7) and season. Allowing for an accurate and sensitive assessment of Cd transfer to snails, toxicokinetics appears an interesting tool in the improvement of risk assessment procedures and a way to quantify metal bioavailability for a defined target. On the basis of uptake fluxes, snails proved to be sensitive enough to distinguish moderate soil contaminations. The soil pH did not appear, in the range studied, as a modulating parameter of the Cd transfer from soil to snail whereas the season, by influencing the snail mass, may modify the internal concentrations. The present data specifying a time integrated assessment of environmental factors on metal bioavailability and transfer to terrestrial snails should ensure their rational use in environmental biomonitoring.     

Effect of Polonite used for phosphorus removal from wastewater on soil properties and fertility of a mountain meadow

Reactive filter materials used for phosphorus (P) removal from wastewater can be disposed of as soil amendments after treatment, thus recycling P and other macro- and micro-nutrients to plants. In addition, materials with a high pH and Ca content, such as Polonite, are potential soil conditioners, which can be particularly beneficial for acid soils. Polonite previously used for on-site wastewater treatment was applied as a soil amendment to a mountain meadow. The amendment significantly increased soil pH and decreased the hydrolytic acidity, thus reducing Al toxicity risks. The effects were comparable to those of liming. No difference in yield and P uptake by meadow plants was observed. The uptake of metals was lower for amended soils, especially the uptake of Mn. Using Polonite after wastewater treatment as a soil amendment is thus a viable disposal alternative that can replace liming, when necessary, being capable of recycling P and other nutrients to meadow plants.     

RECOTOX,a French initiative in ecotoxicology-toxicology to monitor,understand and mitigate the ecotoxicological impacts of pollutants in socioagroecosystems

RECOTOX is a cross-cutting initiative promoting an integrated research to respond to the challenges of monitoring, understanding, and mitigating environmental and health impacts of pesticides in agroecosystems. The added value of RECOTOX is to develop a common culture around spatial ecotoxicology including the whole chain of pressure-exposure-impact, while strengthening an integrated network of in natura specifically equipped sites. In particular, it promotes transversal approaches at relevant socioecological system scales, to capitalize knowledge, expertise, and ongoing research in ecotoxicology and, to a lesser extent, environmental toxicology. Thus, it will open existing research infrastructures in environmental sciences to research programs in ecotoxicology of pesticides.