Controlling factors of phytoplankton seasonal succession in oligotrophic Mali Ston Bay (south-eastern Adriatic)

Fine spatial and temporal phytoplankton variability in Mali Ston Bay has been observed for the first time based on physicochemical properties and small herbivorous zooplankton. Extensive year-through research was conducted during 2002 at Usko station which is traditionally an area of intensive shellfish farming. The Neretva River inflow, submarine springs (“vruljas”) and precipitation are additional sources of nutrients in the bay. Temperature and salinity, combined with total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) were observed to be the most important environmental factors driving the succession of phytoplankton communities. Orthophosphate was a potential limiting factor for phytoplankton development. The nanophytoplankton abundances, as well as the microphytoplankton diatoms are controlled by herbivorous zooplankton grazing (‘top-down’ control) more than other groups of microphytoplankton. Nanophytoplankton dominated phytoplankton abundance and its most intensive development was recorded in winter and spring, while increase in microphytoplankton abundance occurred in spring and autumn. Diatoms dominated microphytoplankton abundance mostly in winter and autumn, while dinoflagellates dominated in spring and summer. Considering the number of taxa and abundance, dinoflagellates were the dominant microphytoplankton group during the year and were the main component of the spring blooms. At that time, in conditions of elevated temperature (>16 °C), decreased salinity (34–36) and increased concentrations of TIN, blooms of harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum were recorded for the first time in the bay. The results showed a significant difference in environmental conditions, as well as in the annual phytoplankton succession and community structure, as compared with studies carried out more than 20 years ago in this area.     

Coupled human and natural systems

Humans have continuously interacted with natural systems, resulting in the formation and development of coupled human and natural systems (CHANS). Recent studies reveal the complexity of organizational, spatial, and temporal couplings of CHANS. These couplings have evolved from direct to more indirect interactions, from adjacent to more distant linkages, from local to global scales, and from simple to complex patterns and processes. Untangling complexities, such as reciprocal effects and emergent properties, can lead to novel scientific discoveries and is essential to developing effective policies for ecological and socioeconomic sustainability. Opportunities for truly integrating various disciplines are emerging to address fundamental questions about CHANS and meet society's unprecedented challenges.     

Multi-elements atmospheric deposition study in Albania

For the first time, the moss biomonitoring technique and inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometric (ICP-AES) analytical technique were applied to study multi-element atmospheric deposition in Albania. Moss samples (Hypnum cupressiforme) were collected during the summer of 2011 and September–October 2010 from 62 sites, evenly distributed over the country. Sampling was performed in accordance with the LRTAP Convention–ICP Vegetation protocol and sampling strategy of the European Programme on Biomonitoring of Heavy Metal Atmospheric Deposition. ICP-AES analysis made it possible to determine concentrations of 19 elements including key toxic metals such as Pb, Cd, As, and Cu. Cluster and factor analysis with varimax rotation was applied to distinguish elements mainly of anthropogenic origin from those predominantly originating from natural sources. Geographical distribution maps of the elements over the sampled territory were constructed using GIS technology. The median values of the elements in moss samples of Albania were high for Al, Cr, Ni, Fe, and V and low for Cd, Cu, and Zn compared to other European countries, but generally were of a similar level as some of the neighboring countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania. This study was conducted in the framework of ICP Vegetation in order to provide a reliable assessment of air quality throughout Albania and to produce information needed for better identification of contamination sources and improving the potential for assessing environmental and health risks in Albania, associated with toxic metals.     

Selective sorptive removal of Methyl Red from individual and binary component solutions by mesoporous organosilicas of MCM-41 type

Organosilicas with chemically immobilized 3-aminopropyl and Methyl Red-containing surface groups were prepared by sol-gel condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane in the presence of dye as part of the mixed micelles or dye-containing silane as silica source. The hexagonally arranged mesoporous structure of synthesized materials was confirmed by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption, x-ray diffraction, and TEM studies. Chemical composition of MCM-41-type organosilicas was established by FT-IR spectroscopy and chemical analysis of surface layer. Sorption of Methyl Red by organosilicas was studied from diluted phosphate buffer solutions in dependence of medium pH, duration of contact, and equilibrium concentration of dye. It was found that effective removal of Methyl Red takes place at pH values within a range of 2.5?5. Kinetic curves of Methyl Red sorption on organosilicas were analyzed by the Lagergren, Ho-McKey, and Weber-Morris kinetic models. It was found that the pseudo-second-order model fits the kinetics of Methyl Red sorption on all synthesized materials and the intraparticle diffusion is not the only one mechanism controlling the rate of Methyl Red sorptive removal. The parameters of equilibrium sorption of Methyl Red on organosilicas of MCM-41 type were calculated using Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller models. Sorption of acid dyes with geometry similar or substantially different from Methyl Red on mesoporous silicas was studied from single and binary component mixtures in aqueous solutions with pH 4.8 and 5.5. It was found that selective sorption process is highly dependent on the structural characteristics and protolytic state of silica surface as well as acid dye.     

Photochemical degradation of nonylphenol in aqueous solution：The impact of pH and hydroxyl radical promoters

The degradation of nonylphenol (NP) in aqueous solution with UV, H₂O₂/UV, and Fenton/photo-Fenton processes was studied. The efficacy of direct and hydrogen peroxide photolysis proved to be dependent on the pH value. The addition of H₂O₂ to UV treatment improved NP degradation. The application of UV photolysis and the H₂O₂/UV system at pH 7 resulted in low pseudo first-order rate constants at 10^-4 sec^-1. In the experiments at elevated pH values the pseudo-first order rate constants increased to 10^-3 sec^-1. The efficacy of the Fenton process was lower in comparison with UV and hydrogen peroxide photolysis. The addition of UV irradiation to the H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ system substantially improved NP degradation efficacy. In terms of performance, the photo-Fenton process was similar to the H₂O₂/UV process. The most favourable process for complete nonylphenol degradation considering both operational cost and treatment efficacy was H₂O₂/UV at pH 11 and 250 mol/L H₂O₂.     

Accumulation and Depuration Kinetics of Rotavirus in Mussels Experimentally Contaminated

Bivalve mollusks as filter-feeders concentrate in their digestive tissue microorganisms likely present in the harvesting water, thus becoming risky food especially if consumed raw or poorly cooked. To eliminate bacteria and viruses eventually accumulated, they must undergo a depuration process which efficacy on viruses is on debate. To better clarify the worth of the depuration process on virus elimination from mussels, in this study we investigated rotavirus kinetics of accumulation and depuration in Mytilus galloprovincialis experimentally contaminated. Depuration process was monitored for 9 days and virus residual presence and infectivity were evaluated by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, cell culture and electron microscopy at days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 of depuration. Variables like presence of ozone and of microalgae feeding were also analyzed as possible depuration enhancers. Results showed a two-phase virus removal kinetic with a high decrease in the first 24 h of depuration and 5 days necessary to completely remove rotavirus.