Nest separation and the dynamics of the Gestalt odor in the polydomous ant Cataglyphis iberica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

In the polydomous ant species Cataglyphis iberica, nests belonging to the same colony are completely separated during hibernation. In order to examine whether this separation induces changes both in the hydrocarbon profile and in recognition ability between adult nestmates, we separated groups of workers for several months under two different conditions: at hibernation temperature and at room temperature. At room temperature, recognition remained unchanged but separation led to longer mutual antennations relative to non-separated controls. When half of a colony was placed under hibernation conditions, antennal interactions also increased in duration and a few aggressive interactions emerged between separated ants. This aggressiveness never reached the intercolonial level observed in this species. In both cases, the hydrocarbon profiles showed differences between individuals after separation while remaining homogeneous within each nest. This chemical modification may induce the longer antennations observed. After separated groups were reunited, individuals recovered their previous antennation pattern and a convergence in hydrocarbon profiles was again observed. These concurrent observations suggest that hydrocarbons are transferred between nestmates. In C. iberica, the formation of the colonial odor seems to follow the “Gestalt” model which allows all satellite nests of a colony to have a common colonial odor. In the field, temporary nest isolation during hibernation may induce divergence between satellites. The role of adult transport in connecting nests during the active season to obtain an efficient Gestalt odor is discussed. Received: 16 June 1997 / Accepted after revision: 25 October 1997     

Novel brominated flame retardants: a review of their analysis, environmental fate and behaviour

This review summarises current knowledge about production volumes, physico-chemical properties, analysis, environmental occurrence, fate and behaviour and human exposure to the "novel" brominated flame retardants (NBFRs). We define the term NBFRs as relating to BFRs which are new to the market or newly/recently observed in the environment. Restrictions and bans on the use of some polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) formulations, in many jurisdictions, have created a market for the use of NBFRs. To date, most data on NBFRs have arisen as additional information generated by research designed principally to study more "traditional" BFRs, such as PBDEs. This has led to a wide variety of analytical approaches for sample extraction, extract purification and instrumental analysis of NBFRs. An overview of environmental occurrence in abiotic matrices, aquatic biota, terrestrial biota and birds is presented. Evidence concerning the metabolism and absorption of different NBFRs is reviewed. Human exposure to NBFRs via different exposure pathways is discussed, and research gaps related to analysis, environmental sources, fate, and behaviour and human exposure are identified.     

Accumulation of lead and cadmium in the marine prosobranch Nerita saxtilis, chemical analysis, light and electron microscopy.

The potential value of the marine prosobranch Nerita saxtilis as an efficient biological monitor to heavy metal pollution in the Red Sea was investigated. Storage ability of lead and cadmium was compared in shell, headfoot and digestive gland of the marine snail N. saxtilis collected from Al-Hamrauin area at El-kuseir (lead, 300.35 +/- 28.53 microg/l, 1,716 +/- 16.14. cadmium 20.01 +/- 1.8 microg/l, 161.72 +/- 21.4 mean +/- S.D. for water and sediment, respectively) relative to that of inhabiting marine water and sediment employing atomic absorption spectrometry to determine the organ with highest capability of heavy metal accumulation. The influence of metal storage on light microscopic structure of that organ was investigated. Also, the ultrastructure localization of storage sites in the same organ was determined employing transmission electron microscopy. The digestive gland was shown to accumulate both metals at conccntrations that are several orders of magnitude higher than those in the surrounding marine water. The bioaccumulation capability of lead and cadmium was ranked in the following order; digestive gland > headfoot > shell for lead and digestive gland > shell > headfoot for cadmium. In spite of its evident highest metal storage capability, no histopathological changes were observed in the digestive gland of that marine prosobranch. Enlarged electron dense vesicles and many granules were observed in ultrathin sections in digestive cells of these snails and are suggested to be the sites of storage of detoxified metals. The results of that finding indicate the possibility of using the marine prosobranch N. saxtilis as biomonitor for heavy metal contaminants in the Red Sea.     

Continuous adsorptive removal of glimepiride using multi-walled carbon nanotubes in fixed-bed column

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Water pollution by emerging pollutants such as pharmaceutical and personal care products is one of today’s biggest challenges. The presence of...     

Organochlorines and PCBs in Tilapia zillii from Lake El-Manzala, Egypt

A freshwater fish species, Tilapia zillii, from Lake El-Manzala was analysed for concentrations of several organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) in liver, gonads, mesenteric fat, flesh, and digestive tract in mature fish during the breeding season. PCBs and OCs were calculated in ng g^-1 dry weight (dw) in homogenized samples. The obtained results revealed differences in lipid content between these different organs. The females showed a higher lipid content than did males. There was a significant positive correlation between the lipid content and the concentrations of detected organochlorines and PCBs. The results are concomitant with the lipophilicity of studied compounds. However, the recorded concentrations of these studied pollutants still do not exceed the international hazardous levels.     

Potential of windrow food and green waste composting in Tunisia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Solid waste management and disposal is one of the most significant challenges facing urban communities around the world. There is a wide range of...     

Chromium geochemistry in coastal environment of the Western Harbour,Egypt: water column,suspended matter and sediments

The distribution of Cr between water, total suspended matter (TSM) and sediments in the maine harbour in Egypt (Western Harbour), has been studied in two surveys. Dissolved Cr displayed a negative association with salinity, indicating land sources outlets as a major source of inputs for it. The Harbour presents higher Cr concentrations in dissolved form above the background (0.17 μg/L) concentration for total dissolved Cr. The most important factors controlling the distribution of particulate Cr in the Western Harbour are the depositional from several activities inside the Harbour, as well as different charges from several landbased sources along its southern edge. Chromium was associated in decreasing amount in the: residual >oxidizable-organic >acid reducible >exchangeable fractions of the analyzed sediments. Therefore, the results indicate that Cr in sediments from W.H is not available for exchange and/or release into the marine environment.     

Mercury removal from aqueous solution using petal-like MoS2 nanosheets

• Synthesized few-layered MoS₂ nanosheets via surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method. • Synthesized MoS₂ nanosheets show petal-like morphology. • Adsorbent showed 93% of mercury removal efficiency. • The adsorption of mercury is attributed to negative zeta potential (-21.8 mV). Recently, different nanomaterial-based adsorbents have received greater attention for the removal of environmental pollutants, specifically heavy metals from aqueous media. In this work, we synthesized few-layered MoS₂ nanosheets via a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method and utilized them as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of mercury from aqueous media. The synthesized MoS₂ nanosheets showed petal-like morphology as confirmed by scanning electron microscope and high-resolution transmission electron microscopic analysis. The average thickness of the nanosheets is found to be about 57 nm. Possessing high stability and negative zeta potential makes this material suitable for efficient adsorption of mercury from aqueous media. The adsorption efficiency of the adsorbent was investigated as a function of pH, contact time and adsorbent dose. The kinetics of adsorption and reusability potential of the adsorbent were also performed. A pseudo-second-order kinetics for mercury adsorption was observed. As prepared MoS₂ nanosheets showed 93% mercury removal efficiency, whereas regenerated adsorbent showed 91% and 79% removal efficiency in the respective 2^nd and 3^rd cycles. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was found to be 289 mg/g at room temperature.     

Can machines recognise stress in plants?

In this paper we show that chlorophyll a fluorescence signals analysed with the self-organizing map (SOM) can be used as a routine tool for the monitoring and classification of pea varieties (Pisum sativum) according to their degree of resistance against drought stress. Fluorescence kinetics measurements were obtained from non-stressed plants. The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability of artificial intelligence techniques in eco-physiological research. Our goal is to provide a fast tool that will contribute to the knowledge needed to develop strategies that would help to decrease the impact of environmental stress in agriculture and forestry.     

Shell disturbances and butyltins burden in commercial bivalves collected from the Bizerta lagoon (northern Tunisia)

Shell disturbances and soft tissues butyltin burden were investigated in commercial bivalves Lithophaga lithophaga, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Solen marginatus and Crassostrea gigas from the Bizerta lagoon. Shell disturbances were found in all bivalves, being scarce in S. marginatus. In the internal valve of L. lithophaga, burrowing annelids and sipunculids living inside galleries were observed, while in the external valve, brown-blackish or white stains were found. In M. galloprovincialis, a yellowish mass located at the shell anterior side was found fixed firmly to the pearly layer by a hard brownish structure covering some annelid elliptic eggs. In the internal shell layer of some specimens collected in April, embryos belonging to tubiculous annelids at various developmental stages were observed. In C. gigas, shell thickening was revealed in some specimens corresponding to white doughy deposits at the internal valve and between shell layers. In S. marginatus, only one specimen showing a cavity at the posterior site was found. Total butyltin concentrations in the studied bivalves varied between 30 and 245?ng/g dry weight with tributyltin (TBT) being the predominant compound. The highest concentration was recorded in L. lithophaga collected from the Bizerta Bay and the lowest concentration in S. marginatus from Maghraoua. This study provided baseline data that could serve for long-term monitoring of TBT pollution in Tunisia, since legislation to reduce the use of TBT-based antifouling paints has not been introduced yet.