Recycling and valorization of distilled grape marc through vermicomposting: a pilot-scale study

The present study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of vermicomposting for the valorization of distilled grape marc, one of the main solid by-products of the winery sector during a 56-day pilot-scale trial. The increase in the density and biomass of earthworms (Eisenia andrei) during the earlier stages of the process reflected the suitability of the distilled marc (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Mencía) as feedstock in order to sustain large earthworm populations on a pilot-scale level. Supporting this, from 14 days onwards the pH of Mencía distilled marc fell within weak-alkaline levels and the electrical conductivity was between 0.21 and 0.11 mS cm⁻² providing optimum conditions for earthworm growth. A rapid decrease in microbial activity as well as in the content of total polyphenols, both indicative of stabilized materials was also recorded after 14 days of vermicomposting. Moreover, the content of macro- and micronutrients in the end product matched with those considered to have the quality criteria of a good vermicompost with respect to plant health and safe agricultural use. Altogether, it underlines the feasibility of vermicomposting as an environment-friendly approach for the biological stabilization of distilled grape marc fulfilling both environmental protection and fertilizer production.

     

Decay effects of pollutants on stony materials in the built environment

This review discuss the effects that pollutants have on stony materials applied on the built environment, illustrating different macroscopical products (pathologies) that can affect historical and modern architectural works. The impact of the decay processes is related to the susceptibility of the materials, environmental conditions and the kind of pollutants that degrade building materials. Here are reviewed the main decay processes resulting from the actions of gases, particulate matter and solutions (from wet deposition to capillary rising and including circulating waters such as run-off), showing that besides atmospheric pollution, also pollutants rising from the ground can cause important deterioration on building materials. Following, the use of tracers is considered for the study of pollutant sources and migration, including neoformation minerals (that might also constitute markers of environmental conditions) and chemical tracers, giving special attention to isotopic tracers, namely to proposals regarding the use of some stable and radioactive isotopes for the study of pollutants that have strong potential but have not been tested yet are also presented. At the end of this chapter, some final considerations are made on the problem of durability assessment of materials in the built environment and also on the use of tracers to assess the origin of damaging compounds in the built environment.     

Essential and non-essential heavy metals in skin and muscle tissues of franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) from the southern Argentina coast

Franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei, is a small and ‘vulnerable’ cetacean, which exhibits coastal marine habits according to the IUCN (2008). The aim of this work was to determine the presence of essential (Zn and Cu) and non-essential (Cd, Pb, Cr and Ni) heavy metals in skin (n=33) and muscle (n=36) tissues of franciscana dolphins from southern Buenos Aires, establishing the influence of biological parameters on the accumulation of these pollutants. Histological standardised methods were used to determine both age and sexual maturity of the dolphins. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Zn was 8-fold higher than Ni in the skin. Zn was significantly affected by the age of the specimens and might be influenced by the state of body condition. Ni showed a behaviour pattern similar to that of non-essential heavy metals. The relationship between Ni and Zn concentration determined in skin and muscle might provide a tool for studying the general condition of endangered marine mammal species such as franciscana dolphins.     

Behavioural determinants of gene flow in the bat Miniopterus schreibersii

Dispersal and migratory behaviours are often important determinants of gene flow in wild species, and we have studied their role using ringing-recapture data in the Portuguese population of Miniopterus schreibersii, a cave-dwelling bat that forms large maternity colonies. Juvenile dispersal, usually a major agent of gene flow, appears to be negligible, as young females never settled to give birth in foreign colonies. Likewise, there was virtually no dispersal of adult females to foreign maternity colonies. This strong philopatry virtually eliminated female-mediated gene flow, but we found a great potential for male-mediated gene flow among colonies, as regional migrations temporarily joined both sexes from different colonies in the same roosts, during the mating season. In fact, females from some colonies were more likely to mate with males from foreign colonies than from their own, thus potentially bringing home genes of foreign males. In spite of this abundant gene flow, we found a pattern of isolation by distance and even strong barriers to gene flow, which is explained by the fact that migrations were usually too short to allow direct flow among distant colonies. We concluded that potential gene flow is influenced by the distance between colonies and the availability of mating roosts between them. In addition, we found this flow to be asymmetrical, with a dominant direction from the largest to the smallest colonies. Our ringing-recapture estimates of potential gene flow based on dispersal and migratory behaviour are compatible with the genetic structure of the population for both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Our conclusions have implications for the conservation of bats with a spatial behaviour similar to that of M. schreibersii. Colonies should be managed individually because strict female philopatry not only promotes their isolation but also minimises the contribution of immigration in rescuing declining colonies. Furthermore, the results underline the importance of preserving mating roosts to maintain gene flow among colonies.     

Conservation Biology Framework for the Release of Wild-Born Orphaned Chimpanzees into the Conkouati Reserve, Congo

Abstract: Returning confiscated animals to their native habitats is desirable when it makes a positive contribution to the conservation of the species. Release of captive individuals is complex and controversial, however, particularly when risks are potentially high, as in the case of orphaned apes. We describe the decision-making process that led to the successive release of 20 wild-born orphan chimpanzees (    Pan troglodytes troglodytes ) into the Conkouati Reserve in the Republic of Congo. Recommendations of the Reintroduction Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union's Species Survival Commission were followed closely. The conservation status, ecology, and behavior of wild chimpanzees; the biological, social, economic and political context of the release site; and the health and genetic status of the candidates for release were all taken into account in the planning and execution of the project. Rigorous post-release monitoring of behavior and health allowed documentation of the outcome. The project was of benefit to the chimpanzees that were released but also brought broad benefits to the site through effective protection from poaching and deforestation, and direct and indirect benefits to local people. The genetic and behavioral diversity of chimpanzees require a variety of conservation strategies to reduce threats and maintain as many viable wild populations as possible.     

Temporal distribution of cyanobacteria in the coast of a shallow temperate estuary (Río de la Plata): some implications for its monitoring

The aim of this study was to analyze the temporal distribution of phytoplanktonic cyanobacteria in a site located in the freshwater tidal zone near the extraction point for the drinking water supply. Samples were taken considering three timescales as follows: hours, days, and weeks, during the period of highest development of cyanobacteria. The phytoplankton density, microcystin concentration (LR, RR, YR), and chlorophyll-a were related to meteorological variables (wind and temperature), tidal high, and physical-chemical variables (nutrients, pH, conductivity, light penetration). The results obtained in this study showed that the variables that primarily modulate the temporal distribution of cyanobacteria were temperature, pH, light penetration, conductivity, and nutrients (particularly NO₃ ^? and NH₄ ⁺), while the winds and tide had a secondary effect, only evidenced at an hourly scale. Therefore, this timescale would be the most suitable for monitoring cyanobacterial populations, when the amount of cyanobacterial cells exceeds the alert I level proposed by the World Health Organization. This recommendation is particularly important for the water intake zones in Río de la Plata, which are vulnerable to the damage generated by cyanobacteria on the water quality.     

Seasonal trends of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide over North Santa Clara, Cuba

Atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) levels were monitored simultaneously by means of Radiello passive samplers at six sites of Santa Clara city, Cuba, in the cold and the warm seasons in 2010. The dissolved ionic forms of NO₂ and SO₂ as nitrate and sulfite plus sulfate, respectively, were determined by means of ion chromatography. Analysis of NO₂ as nitrite was also performed by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. For NO₂, significant t tests show good agreement between the results of IC and UV–Vis methods. The NO₂ and SO₂ concentrations peaked in the cold season, while their minimum levels were experienced in the warm season. The pollutant levels do not exceed the maximum allowable limit of the Cuban Standard 39:1999, i.e., 40 μg/m³ and 50 μg/m³ for NO₂ and SO₂, respectively. The lowest pollutant concentrations obtained in the warm season can be attributed to an increase in their removal via precipitation (scavenging) while to the decreased traffic density and industrial emission during the summer holidays (e.g., July and August).     

Arsenic contamination and speciation in surrounding waters of three old cinnabar mines

The impact of arsenic pollution in waters from the surroundings of three abandoned Hg mines in Northern Spain, as well as reaching the Caudal River, was evaluated. For assessing the factors controlling arsenic release, an extensive study based on the physicochemical characterization and multivariate statistical analysis of waters upstream and downstream each mine site was performed. Waters downstream of the La Soterra?a mine present the highest arsenic concentrations, up to 38.8 mg L(-1), coming mainly from the solubilisation of calcium, magnesium and strontium arsenates at a pH close to neutral. Although arsenic concentrations downstream of La Pe?a are markedly lower, these values remain too high, indicating that the encapsulation carried out in this spoil heap is insufficient. In addition, the high water flow in this point involves an extremely high input of arsenic to the surroundings (0.3 g s(-1)). Waters close to tailings from Los Rueldos suffer from acid mine drainage, provoking an important solubilisation of arsenic and heavy metals, a situation which is rapidly softened with distance. The study of arsenic speciation reveals the omnipresence of As(v) in waters from the three mines, whereas in La Pe?a low amounts of As(iii) were also detected. Different preservation methods for As speciation were compared, such as the addition of HCl, EDTA and the storage of samples without any additive, and no alteration of samples in any case up to nine months after the collection was observed. A study of seasonal variations of As and the main parameters affecting its concentration and speciation was completed throughout a year, showing no remarkable dependency with rainfall for any studied variable.     

Land cover mapping of the tropical savanna region in Brazil

The Brazilian tropical savanna (Cerrado), encompassing more than 204 million hectares in the central part of the country, is the second richest biome in Brazil in terms of biodiversity and presents high land use pressure. The objective of this study was to map the land cover of the Cerrado biome based on the segmentation and visual interpretation of 170 Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus satellite scenes acquired in 2002. The following land cover classes were discriminated: grasslands, shrublands, forestlands, croplands, pasturelands, reforestations, urban areas, and mining areas. The results showed that the remnant natural vegetation is still covering about 61% of the biome, however, on a highly asymmetrical basis. While natural physiognomies comprise 90% of the northern part of the biome, only 15% are left in its southern portions. Shrublands were the dominant natural land cover class, while pasturelands were the dominant land use class in the Cerrado biome. The final Cerrado’s land cover map confirmed the intensive land use pressure in this unique biome. This paper also showed that Landsat-like sensors can provide feasible land cover maps of Cerrado, although ancillary data are required to help image interpretation.     

Characterization of municipal solid waste from the main landfills of Havana city

The city of Havana, the political, administrative and cultural centre of Cuba, is also the centre of many of the economic activities of the nation: industries, services, scientific research and tourism. All of these activities contribute to the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW), which also impact other Cuban cities. Inadequate handling of waste and the lack of appropriate and efficient solutions for its final disposal and treatment increase the risk and possibility of contamination. The main difficulty in the development of a system of management of MSW lies in the lack of knowledge of the chemical composition of the waste that is generated in the country as a whole, and especially in Havana, where solid waste management decisions are made. The present study characterizes MSW in Havana city during 2004. The Calle 100, Guanabacoa and Ocho Vías landfills were selected for physical-chemical characterization of MSW, as they are the three biggest landfills in the city. A total of 16 indicators were measured, and weather conditions were recorded. As a result, the necessary information regarding the physical-chemical composition of the MSW became available for the first time in Cuba. The information is essential for making decisions regarding the management of waste and constitutes a valuable contribution to the Study on Integrated Management Plan of MSW in Havana.