Threshold management in a coupled economic–ecological system

Economic analysis of optimal ecosystem management in the presence of a threshold has typically ignored the potential for induced behavioral responses. This paper contributes to the literature on non-convex ecosystem management by considering the implications of a particular behavioral response in a regional economy – that of amenity-led growth – to changes in ecosystem services generated by a lake ecosystem subject to a eutrophication threshold. The essential policy challenge is to achieve optimal levels of lake nutrients and urbanization given that improvements to water quality will induce additional migration and urbanization in the region with attendant ecological impacts. We show that policies that ignore the recursive relationship between urbanization and water quality unintentionally exacerbate boom-bust cycles of regional growth and decline and risk pushing the system towards long-run economic decline. In contrast, the optimal policy accounts for the behavioral feedbacks to improved ecosystem services, and balances regional growth and ecological degradation.     

Obstetrical outcomes following amniocentesis performed after 24 weeks of gestation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

To evaluate obstetrical outcomes for women having late amniocentesis (on or after 24 weeks). Electronic databases were searched from inception to January 1st, 2023. The obstetrical outcomes evaluated were gestational age at delivery, preterm birth (PTB) < 37 weeks, PTB within 1 week from amniocentesis, premature prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM), chorionamnionitis, placental abruption, intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) and termination of pregnancy (TOP). The incidence of PTB <37 weeks was 4.85% (95% CI 3.48–6.56), while the incidence of PTB within 1 week was 1.42% (95% CI 0.66–2.45). The rate of pPROM was 2.85% (95% CI 1.21–3.32). The incidence of placental abruption was 0.91% (95% CI 0.16–2.25), while the rate of IUFD was 3.66% (95% CI 0.00–14.04). The rate of women who underwent TOP was 6.37% (95%CI 1.05–15.72). When comparing amniocentesis performed before or after 32 weeks, the incidence of PTB within 1 week was 1.48% (95% CI 0.42–3.19) and 2.38% (95% CI 0.40–5.95). Amniocentesis performed late after 24 weeks of gestation is an acceptable option for patients needing prenatal diagnosis in later gestation.     

Patterns of seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) flowering in the Western Mediterranean

The intensive reconstructive sampling (1957–2004, 39 localities), a systematic direct observation (1992–2004, 1 locality) and particular direct observations (66 localities) of Posidonia oceanica meadows were analysed together with temporal series of flowering available in the literature (19 localities). This allowed the examination of temporal and spatial variability in annual flowering prevalence (FP, the fraction of meadows flowering in a given year) and of annual meadow flowering intensity (FI, number of inflorescences per shoot) for the period 1979–2004 across the Western Mediterranean, as well as spatial variability of flowering frequency (FF, the fraction of years that a given meadow has flowered) and shoot flowering probability (Pf, fraction of flowering stalks appeared per annual segment). Each year, on an average 17% of the investigated meadows flowered, ranging from 3 to 86% of meadows among the years. The highest annual FP and FI values were obtained in 2003 (FP=0.86 and mean FI=0.23±0.03 inflorescences shoot⁻¹). A secondary peak of FP and mean FI occurred 9 years earlier, in 1994 (FP=0.44 and mean FI=0.08±0.02). Both peaks of flowering occurred after hot summers. Flowering synchrony in particular years across the Western Mediterranean and clines of increased meadow flowering frequency towards the North and East, suggests the existence of large-scale environmental mechanisms controlling the floral induction. On the other hand, meadow FF and Pf were highly heterogeneous among and within the meadows, indicating that local factors also may play a significant role in flowering induction. When flowering, the Western Mediterranean meadows showed an average 0.11±0.02 inflorescences shoot⁻¹, but FI greatly varied among and along the series (from 0.002 to 0.54 inflorescences shoot⁻¹) and decreased significantly with depth but was independent of meadow shoot density and meadow latitude or longitude. The shoot flowering probability was quite low (0.007±0.002 inflorescences shoot⁻¹ year⁻¹) and exponentially increased with shoot age.     

Evaluation of pesticides and metals in fish of the Dniester River, Moldova

The Dniester River is one of the largest rivers in Eastern Europe and receives input from numerous anthropogenic activities. In October 2001, fish samples (Abramis brama, Rutilus rutilus heckeli, Perca fluviatilis, Chondrostoma nasus, Carassius auratus gibelio, and Cyprinus carpio) were collected and analyzed for metals and various pesticides. Maximum total DDT pesticide concentrations were between 27.7 and 34.2 ng/g wet weight in muscles and gonads, respectively. DDE isomers comprised up to 70% of total DDT measurement in fish tissues, indicating historical rather than recent DDT pollution. Chlordane and lindane were also detected in amounts up to 37 and 76 ng/g wet weight in gonads, respectively. Among organophosphorous pesticides, malathion showed extremely high concentrations--3 microg/g wet weight in muscles and 46 microg/g wet weight in gonads, indicating recent exposure. Copper concentrations in muscles (1.8-7.2 microg/g) exceeded Threshold Effect Concentrations for copper in fish. Detection of high concentrations of malathion and copper in fish tissues indicated potential anthropogenic stress for more sensitive aquatic biota, likely from agricultural sources in the Dniester River.     

Evidence of the involvement of plant ligno-cellulosic structure in the sequestration of Pb: an X-ray spectroscopy-based analysis

European walnut (Juglans regia) plants were grown in pots, on peat soil contaminated with lead (Pb), for four years. European walnut was chosen because it grows in Mediterranean climates, it yields a high biomass, and a fine quality wood. In the above ground parts Pb concentration was 1000 times lower than in roots: in 50 g roots there was 450 mg of Pb. Microanalysis of roots found in periderm more than 50% of the total root Pb. Pb L(III) EXAFS spectroscopy was performed on: root powder from Pb-exposed plants, Pb-impregnated cellulose and lignin. Comparison of plant material with lignin and cellulose helped to envisage a plant disposal strategy for Pb. This may consist in establishing links with large organic molecules, which are abundant constituents of cell walls. EXAFS spectroscopy evidenced the presence of Pb-O bindings within the ligno-cellulosic structure in roots. Lead was scantly conveyed to the shoots, giving to walnut plants an added asset in Pb phytostabilization.     

Altai pika (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ochotona alpina</Emphasis>) alarm calls: individual acoustic variation and the phenomenon of call-synchronous ear folding behavior

Non-hibernating pikas collect winter food reserves and store them in hay piles. Individualization of alarm calls might allow discrimination between colony members and conspecifics trying to steal food items from a colony pile. We investigated vocal posture, vocal tract length, and individual acoustic variation of alarm calls, emitted by wild-living Altai pikas Ochotona alpina toward a researcher. Recording started when a pika started calling and lasted as long as possible. The alarm call series of 442 individual callers from different colonies consisted of discrete short (0.073–0.157 s), high-frequency (7.31–15.46 kHz), and frequency-modulated calls separated by irregular intervals. Analysis of 442 discrete calls, the second of each series, revealed that 44.34% calls lacked nonlinear phenomena, in 7.02% nonlinear phenomena covered less than half of call duration, and in 48.64% nonlinear phenomena covered more than half of call duration. Peak frequencies varied among individuals but always fitted one of three maxima corresponding to the vocal tract resonance frequencies (formants) calculated for an estimated 45-mm oral vocal tract. Discriminant analysis using variables of 8 calls per series of 36 different callers, each from a different colony, correctly assigned over 90% of the calls to individuals. Consequently, Altai pika alarm calls are individualistic and nonlinear phenomena might further increase this acoustic individualization. Additionally, video analysis revealed a call-synchronous, very fast (0.13–0.23 s) folding, depression, and subsequent re-expansion of the pinna confirming an earlier report of this behavior that apparently contributes to protecting the hearing apparatus from damage by the self-generated high-intensity alarm calls.     

Benthic-pelagic coupling in frontal system areas of the Northern Adriatic Sea: Analysis of the carbon budgets

Sediment samples were collected between 1996 and 1998 during 4 cruises in the northern sector of the Adriatic Sea, facing the Po River outflow. In each sampling period, after identification of the front line, a grid of 6 sampling stations was selected in order to cover: the coastal area (largely affected by river waters), the inner and outer front areas, and the offshore waters. The biochemical composition of sedimentary organic matter (OM, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and photosynthetic pigments) and enzymatic activity rates were studied to provide information on the potential organic matter turnover. Tentative estimates of the organic carbon budgets (input/production versus requirement by benthic consumers) are presented. Benthic carbon requirements, estimated from bacterial plus meiofaunal secondary production, was high (897 r mg r C r m m 2 r d m 1 ). OM concentrations in the Northern and Middle Adriatic Sea displayed high values, proteins being dominant, thus suggesting inputs of freshly produced material to the sea floor. OM turnover was generally rapid (11-30 r d m 1 ) and higher during summer. The uncoupled enzymatic rates ( i.e. faster protein than carbohydrate mobilisation in February, 1997) determined a decrease of the OM quality that plays an important role in biogeochemical cycles and OM diagenesis, limiting bacterial secondary production and sedimentary organic carbon utilisation. These data suggest that the efficiency of the system in the transfer of energy through the food web is generally higher in summer, especially during mucilage production.     

Project house water: a novel interdisciplinary framework to assess the environmental and socioeconomic consequences of flood-related impacts

Protecting our water resources in terms of quality and quantity is considered one of the big challenges of the twenty-first century, which requires global and multidisciplinary solutions. A specific threat to water resources, in particular, is the increased occurrence and frequency of flood events due to climate change which has significant environmental and socioeconomic impacts. In addition to climate change, flooding (or subsequent erosion and run-off) may be exacerbated by, or result from, land use activities, obstruction of waterways, or urbanization of floodplains, as well as mining and other anthropogenic activities that alter natural flow regimes. Climate change and other anthropogenic induced flood events threaten the quantity of water as well as the quality of ecosystems and associated aquatic life. The quality of water can be significantly reduced through the unintentional distribution of pollutants, damage of infrastructure, and distribution of sediments and suspended materials during flood events. To understand and predict how flood events and associated distribution of pollutants may impact ecosystem and human health, as well as infrastructure, large-scale interdisciplinary collaborative efforts are required, which involve ecotoxicologists, hydrologists, chemists, geoscientists, water engineers, and socioeconomists. The research network “project house water” consists of a number of experts from a wide range of disciplines and was established to improve our current understanding of flood events and associated societal and environmental impacts. The concept of project house and similar seed fund and boost fund projects was established by the RWTH Aachen University within the framework of the German excellence initiative with support of the German research foundation (DFG) to promote and fund interdisciplinary research projects and provide a platform for scientists to collaborate on innovative, challenging research. Project house water consists of six proof-of-concept studies in very diverse and interdisciplinary areas of research (ecotoxicology, water, and chemical process engineering, geography, sociology, economy). The goal is to promote and foster high-quality research in the areas of water research and flood-risk assessments that combine and build off-laboratory experiments with modeling, monitoring, and surveys, as well as the use of applied methods and techniques across a variety of disciplines.     

A novel environmental indicator for monitoring of pesticides

The identification of an indicator for monitoring pesticides is a very effective analytical approach because it allows one to schedule and simplify the analytical routine. In this study, a new indicator has been designed, which has to be able to define a scale of priorities in the pesticides monitoring. A starting equation was developed involving the escaping tendency of a given substance from a phase (based on the Mackay model I level). The reliability of the indicator was tested by application to a model system, consisting of a defined and limited area, choosing water as matrix over a period of 6 years. A group of marker compounds was also defined to implement the predictive efficacy of the indicator. The results obtained by modeling were compared to those obtained by experimentation of the same model system. The indicator was subsequently and appropriately modified creating a new equation, including a kinetic factor, which considers the environmental degradation processes. The effect of the rectified indicator was consistent with the sales data list of compounds, when applied to the markers. The indicator developed in this study, tested as a model on specific area-phase-period (Province of Siena, water phase, 2000?C2006), is applicable to any other area-phase-period, adjusting the partition value of the Mackay model for the case under study.