Global pilot study for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) using PUF disk passive air samplers

Polyurethane foam (PUF) disks were deployed at global background sites, to test logistical issues associated with a global monitoring network for persistent organic pollutants (POPs). alpha-HCH, exhibited relatively high and uniform concentrations (17-150 pg/m3) at temperate and arctic sites with elevated concentrations associated with trans-Pacific inflow. Concentrations were much lower (<5 pg/m3) in Bermuda, Chile and Cape Grim. Concentrations for gamma-HCH, the main component of lindane, were spatially similar to the alpha-HCH pattern but lower in magnitude (typically, <10 pg/m3). Chlordane concentrations (sum of cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane and trans-nonachlor) were also low (<10 pg/m3). Dieldrin concentrations were in the range 2-25 pg/m3 at most sites but elevated in Bermuda. Back trajectories suggest that advection from Africa and the US may contribute. Endosulfan, a popular current-use pesticide, exhibited highest concentrations ranging from tens to hundreds of pg/m3. There was good agreement between duplicate samplers at each site and PUF disk-derived air concentrations agreed with high volume data. Few logistical/analytical problems were encountered in this pilot study.     

Measuring sustainable development knowledge,attitudes, and behaviors: evidence from university students in Mexico

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Current trends such as imminent overpopulation and the take-make-waste economic model are largely responsible for the planet’s dire situation....     

Oily substances from gastral intersegmental glands of the antPachycondyla tridenta (Ponerinae): Lack of pheromone function in tandem running and antibiotic effects but further evidence for lubricative function

Summary Gas chromatographic analyses of volatizable material from gaster intersegmental complex glands ofP. tridentata revealed the presence of linoleic acid, palmitic acid, methyl oleate, and several long-chain hydrocarbons as major constituents, which form an oily fluid mixture. The nest relocation communication ofP. tridentata is tandem running. Tandem following is mediated by pheromones as demonstrated by dummy experiments with isolated gasters and thoraces and with glass balls. The secretions of all gaster complex glands, as well as hind gut contents and metapleural gland secretions, were unable to evoke tandem following. Morphology and position of the glands, lack of pheromonal function, oily properties, low volatility, and lack of antibiotic effects of these secretions strongly suggest a function as lubricants for the ants' gastral segments.     

Removal of carbofuran is not affected by co-application of chlorpyrifos in a coconut fiber/compost based biomixture after aging or pre-exposure

Biomixtures constitute the biologically active part of biopurification systems(BPS), which are used to treat pesticide-containing wastewater. The aim of this work was to determine whether co-application of chlorpyrifos(CLP) affects the removal of carbofuran(CFN)(both insecticide/nematicides) in a coconut fiber–compost–soil biomixture(FCS biomixture), after aging or previous exposure to CFN. Removal of CFN and two of its transformation products(3-hydroxycarbofuran and 3-ketocarbofuran) was enhanced in pre-exposed biomixtures in comparison to aged biomixtures. The co-application of CLP did not affect CFN removal, which suggests that CLP does not inhibit microbial populations in charge of CFN transformation.Contrary to the removal behavior, mineralization of radiolabeled14C-pesticides showed higher mineralization rates of CFN in aged biomixtures(with respect to freshly prepared or pre-exposed biomixtures). In the case of CLP, mineralization was favored in freshly prepared biomixtures, which could be ascribed to high sorption during aging and microbial inhibition by CFN in pre-exposure. Regardless of removal and mineralization results, toxicological assays revealed a steep decrease in the acute toxicity of the matrix on the microcrustacean Daphnia magna(over 97%) after 8 days of treatment of individual pesticides or the mixture CFN/CLP.Results suggest that FCS biomixtures are suitable to be used in BPS for the treatment of wastewater in fields where both pesticides are employed.     

Spatio-temporal change of ecosystem services as a key to understand natural resource utilization in Southern Chile

Regional Environmental Change - The understanding of how ecosystem services are distributed across the landscape and their change over time provides key information to manage multi-functional...     

Changes in Microbial Community Structure and Soil Biological Properties in Mined Dune Areas During Re-vegetation

The aim of this study was to describe the impact of re-vegetation on the restoration of microbial community structure and soil microbiological properties in sand dunes that had been affected by mining activity. Soil samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons from a chronosequence (1, 9, 21 years) of re-vegetated dunes using a single preserved dune as a reference. The composition of the fatty acid methyl esters and soil microbial properties were evaluated. The results showed that the changes in microbial community structure were related to seasonal variations: biomarkers of Gram-positive bacteria were higher than Gram-negative bacteria during the dry season, showing that this group of organisms is more tolerant to these stressful conditions. The microbial community structure in the natural dune was less affected by seasonal variation compared to the re-vegetated areas, whereas the opposite was observed for microbiological properties. Thus, in general, the proportion of saprobic fungi was higher in the natural dune, whereas Gram-negative bacteria were proportionally more common in the younger areas. Although over time the re-vegetation allows the recovery of the microbial community and the soil functions, these communities and functions are different from those found in the undisturbed areas.     

Chemische Oszillationen und Strukturen als Grundlage einer zeitlichen und räumlichen Organisation

Temporal and spatial coordination of many subprocesses is necessary for the evolution and preservation of living structures. It is likely that oscillatory chemical and biochemical reactions mimic principles of this coordination, since they also develop integrated spatiotemporal structures. The basic properties of such reactions are described, and a microbiological example is used to demonstrate that these phenomena may be important to morphogenesis.     

Uncommon formation of two antiparallel sperm bundles per cyst in tenebrionid beetles (Coleoptera)

Several species of Tenebrionidae are stored-grain pests. Since they belong to a specious family, the systematics of these beetles is still in doubt. In insects, spermatogenesis and the spermatozoa exhibit great diversity, and are therefore commonly used in phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses. During the spermatogenetic process in these organisms, the cells originating from a single spermatogonium develop synchronically in groups referred to as cysts. At the end of this process, there is usually only one sperm bundle per cyst, with all the cells in the same orientation. This paper details the spermiogenesis of the tenebrionid beetles Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas confusa, Tribolium castaneum and Palembus dermestoides using whole mount and histological sections of the cysts. In these species, spermatogenesis is similar to that which occurs in most insects. However, during spermiogenesis, the nuclei of the spermatids migrate to two opposite regions at the periphery of the cyst, leading to the uncommon formation of two bundles of spermatozoa per cyst. This feature is possibly an apomorphy for Tenebrionidae.