Size,spatial, and bathymetrical distribution of the ascidian Halocynthia papillosa in Mediterranean coastal bottoms: benthic–pelagic coupling implications

Benthic suspension feeders are abundant in Mediterranean coastal environments, though most of them are threatened due to overexploitation, climate change impacts, and unregulated diving or fishing practices. Little is known about most of the coastal communities in terms of large-scale distribution and realistic benthic–pelagic coupling implications, which are keys to understand and manage those threatened ecosystems. The active suspension feeder Halocynthia papillosa (one of the most common ascidian species of the Mediterranean Sea) was selected as a model organism to help to understand the ecological role in benthic–pelagic coupling processes and its importance as a carbon sink (an essential ecosystem service). The spatial and bathymetrical distribution of this organism has been studied using remotely operated vehicle video transects. The species was distributed throughout the study area, with a maximum density of 4 specimens m^?2. The highest abundances and the biggest sizes were observed on the range of 20–50 m depth. The role as carbon and nitrogen sink of this suspension feeder has been quantified coupling distribution data with existing in situ studies of feeding and respiration. Along the 1.24 ha of the study area, H. papillosa yearly ingested 519.4 g C and 31.4 g N and retained 20.2 g C. As long as the physiological data are known, this new methodology could be very useful in assessing bentho–pelagic links and the capacity of being C and N sinks of a wide range of species. This new approach may be essential for the future management of benthic communities.     

Assessment of the Water Quality of the River Arno in the Area of Florence,Italy

The quality of the waters collected from R. Arno was examined in the period September 1988 to December 1989. A first campaign in September/October 1988, during a period of low water, gives a general picture of pollution conditions along the river from the source to the mouth. the river appears to be heavily polluted immediately downstream of Florence and in the area of the textile industry.

In the second campaign, through the whole year 1989, particular attention has been given to the Florence area; the most significant results, compared with those from a previous investigation carried out in 1971, show only a small reduction of the pollution load, due to the shortage and inadequacy of wastewater depuration. Some considerations are reported on pollution drop with full spate.     

Nutrient distribution in locations of the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic sea) suspected of pollution

Nutrients (ammonium‐nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate and dissolved silica) as well as some chemical‐physical parameters (temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and total suspended matter) were determined in filtered seawater samples taken at the surface, at middle depth and at the bottom, in 6 open‐sea locations of the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) close to pipeline exits that discharge wastewaters from treatment plants. The collected data allow a comparison of the quality of these open‐sea waters with coastal waters and constitute a reference for successive monitoring in these locations suspected of pollution. A multivariate statistical analysis by the principal component method shows that the considered ecosystem can be modeled with two factors: the first one is referenced to the marine environment, in particular to the decomposition of the organic debris in deep water; whereas the second factor is referenced to the input of freshwaters in the Gulf, driving nitrates from agricultural lands.     

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell diseases using oligonucleotide ligation assay coupled with laser-induced capillary fluorescence detection

Prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell diseases has been available for several years, and our laboratory has performed over 1000 prenatal diagnoses. However, currently available techniques are labor-intensive and time-consuming, and thus the diagnosis is delayed, making the mother's decision difficult. We describe a rapid, high-throughput technique based on the ligation assay coupled with automated capillary fluorescence detection. This new approach allows the diagnosis of both Hgb S and Hgb C to be available in a few hours. We have utilized this technique in 30 prenatal diagnoses and found it to be in complete agreement with the standard diagnoses. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New stem-sauropodomorph (Dinosauria,Saurischia) from the Triassic of Brazil

Post-Triassic theropod, sauropodomorph, and ornithischian dinosaurs are readily recognized based on the set of traits that typically characterize each of these groups. On the contrary, most of the early members of those lineages lack such specializations, but share a range of generalized traits also seen in more basal dinosauromorphs. Here, we report on a new Late Triassic dinosaur from the Santa Maria Formation of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. The specimen comprises the disarticulated partial skeleton of a single individual, including most of the skull bones. Based on four phylogenetic analyses, the new dinosaur fits consistently on the sauropodomorph stem, but lacks several typical features of sauropodomorphs, showing dinosaur plesiomorphies together with some neotheropod traits. This is not an exception among basal dinosaurs, the early radiation of which is characterized by a mosaic pattern of character acquisition, resulting in the uncertain phylogenetic placement of various early members of the group.     

Temporal distribution patterns of metals in water,sediment, and components of the trophic structure in a tropical coastal lagoon of the Gulf of Mexico

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Trophic transfer and bioaccumulation of trace metals have a profound impact on the structure and function of coastal areas; however, the metal...     

Applications of Cr-rich composted tannery sludge in the soil decrease microbial biomass and select specific bacterial groups

The tannery industries generate a solid waste known as tannery sludge, which is composed of organic and inorganic compounds, mainly chromium (Cr). When Cr is not removed from the tannery sludge, this solid waste is metal-rich and its application could affect the soil microorganisms. Alternatively, the composting of the tannery sludge can contribute to decreasing the concentration of Cr in the composted tannery sludge (CTS). However, in some cases, the concentration of Cr remains high in the CTS. During the last 10 years, the Cr-rich CTS has been successively applied in the soil, and its effect on soil microbial properties was verified. Here, we discuss the effect of successive applications of Cr-rich CTS on soil microbes. Interestingly, the findings have shown that successive applications of Cr-rich CTS selected specific soil microbial groups with potential functions. In addition, the studies added a new focus to further research evaluating the potential effect of successive applications of Cr-rich CTS on the rare microbial community.

     

The Potential of Cleaner Fermentation Processes for Bioplastic Production: A Narrative Review of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and Polylactic Acid (PLA)

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Synthetic plastics generate major problems in landfills after their consumption for occupying high volumes and difficult the decomposition of other organic...