Multi-temporal land use and cover changing analysis: the environmental impact in Mediterranean area

ABSTRACT

Human activity shapes the levels of anthropogenic pressure that depend on the land management method adopted. This has a fundamental role in the transformation of traditional landscapes. This study focuses on a representative region of the Mediterranean area with the objective to analyse the landscape’s dynamics, to detect the spatial arrangement of class patches, to identify the main agroecosystem characters and to provide a framework to assess ecosystems services. In order to assess land use/land cover changes and landscape persistence, the period between 1960 and 2012 was analysed, taking into consideration the years 1960, 2000 and 2012 using comparable land use maps. Land use and land cover analysis show an urban area growth of 24% during 2000–2012 and of 523% over between 1960 and 2012. The very high levels of land abandonment up to the year 2000 (+7216%) have reversed their trend between 2000 and 2012 (?95%). The orchards showed a relevant increase, particularly after 2000, while the vineyards were linked to the highest value of surface erosion (?74%). The outcomes showed that urban settlements can damage the ecological network with negative effects on the landscape’s environmental sustainability in proximity of significant urban centres. Instead, the ecological network is well preserved and highly associated to the agricultural areas when there is the persistence of many land uses and low urban density, despite the presence of dynamic changes.     

Spatio-temporal variability of polychaete colonization at volcanic CO2 vents indicates high tolerance to ocean acidification

Ocean acidification is predicted to have negative effects on marine biota, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and changes in marine ecosystem structure and function. However, some species and life stages may be capable of thriving in low pH conditions, either due to their natural ability to tolerate stressful low pH–high pCO₂ conditions and/or alteration of species interactions caused by changes in pH profiles, or due to evolutionary trade-offs. A better understanding of which species may be capable of tolerating ocean acidification can guide future research into the mechanisms for physiological and ecological resilience to future carbon dioxide (CO₂) conditions. We investigated the colonization of selected polychaete species along a pH gradient originating from shallow, coastal volcanic CO₂ vents (Ischia, Italy). Colonization was quantified by exposing artificial invertebrate collectors attached to the substratum for 30 days during different periods of the year (late spring, fall and late winter). Three species, Amphiglena mediterranea, Platynereis dumerilii and Syllis prolifera, were present and abundant along the gradient throughout the year. All three species were significantly more abundant in the most acidified areas, confirming their high tolerance and capacity to cope with very low pH. Abundances of all three species were compared to data previously collected via collectors suspended in the water column. More individuals were found in the collectors attached to the substratum, suggesting that abundances may have previously been underestimated. This is likely due to the close proximity of these collectors with the natural rocky substratum. All three species exhibited similar temporal variability, consistent with their life cycle and reproductive biology. Our results demonstrate high tolerance of the species for low and variable pH and corroborate their use as robust models to explore the capacity to cope with low pH–high pCO₂ conditions, both in the natural vent systems and in the laboratory.     

Urban sprawl into Natura 2000 network over Europe

Urban growth is a major threat to biodiversity conservation at the global scale. Its impacts are expected to be especially detrimental when it sprawls into the landscape and reaches sites of high conservation value due to the species and ecosystems they host, such as protected areas. I analyzed the degree of urbanization (i.e., urban cover and growth rate) from 2006 to 2015 in protected sites in the Natura 2000 network, which, according to the Habitats and Birds Directives, harbor species and habitats of high conservation concern in Europe. I used data on the degree of land imperviousness from COPERNICUS to calculate and compare urban covers and growth rates inside and outside Natura 2000. I also analyzed the relationships of urban cover and growth rates with a set of characteristics of Natura sites. Urban cover inside Natura 2000 was 10 times lower than outside (0.4% vs. 4%) throughout the European Union. However, the rates of urban growth were slightly higher inside than outside Natura 2000 (4.8% vs. 3.9%), which indicates an incipient urban sprawl inside the network. In general, Natura sites affected most by urbanization were those surrounded by densely populated areas (i.e., urban clusters) that had a low number of species or habitats of conservation concern, albeit some member states had high urban cover or growth rate or both in protected sites with a large number of species or habitats of high conservation value. Small Natura sites had more urban cover than large sites, but urban growth rates were highest in large Natura sites. Natura 2000 is protected against urbanization to some extent, but there is room for improvement. Member states must enact stricter legal protection and control law enforcement to halt urban sprawl into protected areas under the greatest pressure from urban sprawl (i.e., close to urban clusters). Such actions are particularly needed in Natura sites with high urban cover and growth rates and areas where urbanization is affecting small Natura sites of high conservation value, which are especially vulnerable and concentrated in the Mediterranean region.     

Effects of benzo[a]pyrene toxicity on morphology and ultrastructure of Hordeum sativum

Many studies have been devoted to investigation of toxic benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) compound, but studies involving changes at the cellular level are insufficient to understand the mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) effect on plants. To study the toxicity of BaP, a model vegetation experiment was conducted on cultivation of spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum) on artificially polluted BaP soil at different concentrations. The article discusses the intake of BaP from the soil into the plant and its effect on the organismic and cellular levels of plant organization. The BaP content in the organs of spring barley was determined by the method of saponification. With an increase in the concentration of BaP in the soil, its content in plants also rises, which leads to inhibition of growth processes. The BaP content in the green part of Hordeum sativum increased from 0.3 µg kg^?1 in control soil up to 2.6 µg kg^?1 and 16.8 µg kg^?1 under 20 and 400 ng/g BaP applying in soil, as well as in roots: 0.9 µg kg^?1, 7.7 µg kg^?1, 42.8 µg kg^?1, respectively. Using light and electron microscopy, changes in the tissues and cells of plants were found and it was established that accumulation of BaP in plant tissues caused varying degrees of ultrastructural damage depending on the concentration of pollutant. BaP had the greatest effect on the root, significant changes were found in it both at histological and cytological levels, while changes in the leaves were observed only at the cytological level. The results provide significant information about the mechanism of action of BaP on agricultural plants.

     

The potential to encode sex,age, and individual identity in the alarm calls of three species of Marmotinae

In addition to encoding referential information and information about the sender’s motivation, mammalian alarm calls may encode information about other attributes of the sender, providing the potential for recognition among kin, mates, and neighbors. Here, we examined 96 speckled ground squirrels (Spermophilus suslicus), 100 yellow ground squirrels (Spermophilus fulvus) and 85 yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) to determine whether their alarm calls differed between species in their ability to encode information about the caller’s sex, age, and identity. Alarm calls were elicited by approaching individually identified animals in live-traps. We assume this experimental design modeled a naturally occurring predatory event, when receivers should acquire information about attributes of a caller from a single bout of alarm calls. In each species, variation that allows identification of the caller’s identity was greater than variation allowing identification of age or sex. We discuss these results in relation to each species’ biology and sociality.     

Methylmercury genotoxicity: a novel effect in human cell lines of the central nervous system

Methylmercury is an important source of environmental contamination and the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the main target organs. Methylmercury genotoxicity was already demonstrated in peripherical tissues but was never detected in the brain. Thus, the objective of this work was to verify its genotoxic effect using brain cell lines. Glioblastoma (U373) and neuroblastoma (B103) human cell lines were exposed to methylmercury (0-10 microM). By measuring cellular viability, concentrations inducing <20% of cellular death (P<0.05) were selected: 1 and 0.1 microM. To detect micronuclei, 200,000 cells were treated with methylmercury for 24 h, and then incubated with cytochalasin B (2 microg/ml) for 72 h (U373) or 48 h (B103). The binucleation index, frequency of micronucleated cells, micronucleation index, metaphasic index and index of nucleoplasmic bridges were determined. Statistical analysis showed indices and percentages significantly higher (P<0.05) in methylmercury-treated cells. Each cell line was shown to be differently sensitive to each biomarker of genotoxic damage, which seems to indicate the existence of different mechanisms of toxicity. This work demonstrates, for the first time, MeHg ability to provoke genotoxicity in cells of brain origin with relatively low levels of exposure.