Shell choice in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Pagurus longicarpus</Emphasis> hermit crabs: does predation threat influence shell selection behavior?

Pagurus longicarpus hermit crabs depend on empty gastropod shells for protection against predation. Hermit crabs avoid gastropod shells in which holes have been drilled by naticid gastropods, and hermit crabs forced to occupy drilled shells are more vulnerable to predation by green crabs, Carcinus maenas. In this study, we examined the effect of predator cues on P. longicarpus shell investigation behavior and shell choice. In paired laboratory shell choice trials, we examined hermit crab response to green crab chemical cues. We compared hermit crabs from two sites differing in the percentage of Littorina littorea shells with drill holes. The percentage of time hermit crabs spent occupying intact shells increased significantly in the presence of predator cues. The effect of predator cues on the amount of time hermit crabs spent investigating shells differed between individuals from the two sites. Predator effluent had a marginal effect on the proportion of hermit crabs initially choosing intact shells and within 15 min most hermit crabs in both treatments occupied intact shells due to shell switching. These results indicate that predation cues alter P. longicarpus shell choice behavior favoring intact shells, which provide greater protection. In summary, predation appears to be a key factor influencing hermit crab shell selection behavior.Communicated by T. Czeschlik     

Restoring grassland savannas from degraded pinyon-juniper woodlands: effects of mechanical overstory reduction and slash treatment alternatives

Although the distribution and structure of pinyon-juiper woodlands in the southwestern United States are thought to be the result of historic fluctuations in regional climatic conditions, more recent increases in the areal extent, tree density, soil erosion rates and loss of understory plant diversity are attributed to heavy grazing by domestic livestock and interruption of the natural fire regime. Prior to 1850, many areas currently occupied by high-density pinyon-juniper woodlands, with their degraded soils and depauperate understories, were very likely savannas dominated by native grasses and forbs and containing sparse tree cover scattered across the landscape. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mechanical overstory reduction and three slash treatment alternatives (removal, clustering and scattering) followed by prescribed fire as techniques for restoring grassland savannas from degraded woodlands. Plant cover, diversity, biomass and nutrient status, litter cover and soil chemistry and erosion rates were measured prior to and for two years following experimental treatment in a degraded pinyon-juniper woodland in central New Mexico. Treatment resulted in a significant increase in the cover of native grasses and, to a lesser degree, forbs and shrubs. Plant species richness and diversity increased most on sites where slash was either completely removed or scattered to serve as a mulch. Although no changes in soil chemistry or plant nutrient status were observed, understory biomass increased over 200% for all harvest treatments and was significantly greater than controls. While treatment increased litter cover and decreased soil exposure, this improvement did not significantly affect soil loss rates. Even though all slash treatment alternatives increased the cover and biomass of native grasses, scattering slash across the site to serve as a mulch appears most beneficial to improving plant species diversity and conserving site resources.     

Cholesterol,beta-sitosterol,ergosterol, and coprostanol in agricultural soils

In this work we analyzed the sterol content of agricultural soils. Three eukaryotic sterols, cholesterol, beta-sitosterol, and ergosterol were chosen as representative of the animal, plant, and fungal kingdoms, while coprostanol was validated as a marker of human fecal matter contamination. Three soils subjected to different treatments (sewage sludge application, irrigation by saline waters, and contamination by industrial and municipal wastes) were sampled and their sterol content was measured and compared with adjacent untreated soils. The effects of time, location, and treatment were evaluated by means of a number of statistical techniques. Beta-sitosterol concentration varied from 0.9 to 30 mg kg(-1). Lesser values were measured in Cremona (2.1 mg kg(-1)) than in Bari (4.0 mg kg(-1)) and Naples (10.9 mg kg(-1)) soils. No significant effects were detected for cholesterol and ergosterol. Coprostanol was present after sewage sludge disposal and contamination by industrial and municipal wastes, while it was absent in the soil treated with saline water and in the adjacent untreated soil. Coprostanol concentration did not vary much within site and time of sampling, with a mean value of 0.2 mg kg(-1). We confirmed coprostanol as a useful persistent marker of human fecal matter contamination. Multivariate analysis highlighted a clear distinction between the eukaryotic sterols and coprostanol. In addition, a different behavior between ergosterol and cholesterol on one side and beta-sitosterol on the other was detected. This preliminary work suggests that sterols deserve a deeper study of their use as indicators in agricultural soils.     

Evaluation of a simultaneous sampling method of PAHs, PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in ambient air

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was signed in May 2001 by 127 countries. Currently, 12 substances are regulated by the convention, and the work on finding new candidate chemicals to the convention has started. Among these 12 substances, dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are the objects of this study. There are no European standard methods for the simultaneous determination of these microorganic compounds, together with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air--they must be referred to three different methods developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The quali-quantitative analysis of these microorganic pollutants is an important challenge due to the low concentrations at which they may be present. In this study, the development of a simplified, alternative, fast and affordable sampling method for the determination of PAHs, PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in ambient air was performed. The sampling time was extended from 24 h to 7 d in order to enrich the sample, to fall within the instrumental limits of detection and to reduce the number of samples to be processed and, therefore, errors that may arise. First of all, experiments with labelled standards were conducted in the research area of Montelibretti (rural station, which is sited about 20 km northeast of Rome), with the purpose of optimizing sampling efficiency. Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of these compounds in the air of a suburban area with small industrial plants in order to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed sampling method system, by comparing concentrations of native compounds acquired during simultaneous daily and weekly sampling.     

Pesticide removal from waste spray-tank water by organoclay adsorption after field application to vineyards

Purpose

The main objective of this work was to develop and test a pilot scheme for decontaminating pesticide-containing water derived from pesticide mixtures used to protect vineyards, in which the scheme comprises adsorption by an organoclay and includes a system where an enhanced or rapid microbial degradation of the adsorbed residues can occur.

Methods

In laboratory experiments, the Freundlich adsorption coefficients of formulations of two fungicides, penconazole and cyazofamid, onto the organoclay Cloisite 20 A were measured in order to predict the efficiency of this organoclay in removing these fungicides from the waste spray-tank water. Subsequently, the adsorption tests were repeated in the pilot system in order to test the practical operation of the depuration scheme.

Results

The adsorption tests with the pilot system show 96% removal of both fungicides over a few hours, similar to the efficiency of removal predicted from the laboratory adsorption tests. The formulation type may influence the efficiency of clay recovered after adsorption. Regarding the waste disposal, for instance, the organoclay composted after the treatment, cyazofamid showed significant dissipation after 90?days, whereas the dissipation of penconazole was negligible.

Conclusion

The depuration scheme developed showed to be efficient for decontaminating pesticide-containing water derived from vineyards, but additional treatments for the adsorbed residues still appear to be necessary for persistent pesticides. However, future decontamination research should be attempted for water contaminated with pesticides containing antifoaming agents in their formulations, in which case the present pilot system could not be applied.     

PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in human milk and estimation of infants' daily intake: a review

This paper reviews the recent scientific literature on PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in human milk. All the papers reporting levels of these contaminants in human breast milk published from January 2000 to January 2009 and available on the www.sciencedirect.com web site were identified and included. The aim was (1) to study levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in human milk in mothers from different geographical areas and assess infant exposure to these contaminants; (2) to study the effect of variables such as the mother’s age, number of deliveries, dietary and smoking habits and her own nutrition in infancy, and the environment, on levels of the contaminants in breast milk; (3) to study time patterns, and (4) to identify data gaps.     

Sorption and photodegradation of chlorpyrifos on riparian and aquatic macrophytes

Surface water bodies may become contaminated via spray drift following pesticide application. In this investigation, the photodegradation and sorption of chlorpyrifos was studied in four riparian macrophytes representative of Mediterranean flora (Phragmites australis, Iris pseudacorus, Equisetum pratense and Typha latifolia). The results of experiments with both the active ingredient and the formulation DURSBAN 48® EC confirm the ability of these species to interact with chemicals such as chlorpyrifos. The maximum sorption of chlorpyrifos at equilibrium was observed in Phragmites australis (22%). And, the maximum instantaneous sorption of chlorpyrifos was observed in the dried biomass of Phragmites australis (49%). The epicuticular waxes present on leaves influence photodegradation processes, resulting in a decrease in chlorpyrifos persistence depending on the nature of the extract. The half-life of chlorpyrifos residues in leaf waxes decreased from 34 to 99 minutes when irradiated.