Legacies,socio-economic and biophysical processes and drivers: the case of future forest cover expansion in the Polish Carpathians and Swiss Alps

Mountain forest areas are key for providing a wide range of ecosystem services and are hot spots for land use change processes, in particular, increase in forest cover at the expense of mountain pastures and meadows. Mountain forest systems in eastern and western Europe have likely similar future socio-economic situations but significantly different socio-economic history. Using a scenario-based land use modelling approach (Dyna-CLUE framework) we model three scenarios (trend, liberalisation and self-sufficiency) of future land use in the Polish Carpathians and the Swiss Alps, focussing on forest cover change. We find that forest cover increase can be expected to continue in European mountainous regions under all likely scenarios, limited only by relatively strict policy interventions. Biophysical factors, rather than socio-economic ones, are key for defining the suitability for, and therefore likely locations of future forest cover, but land use legacy plays a very important role in the spatial patterns of future forest cover, particularly in eastern Europe.

     

Discrete and time-integrated sampling for chromium load calculations in a watershed with an impoundment reservoir at an exceptionally low water level

Instantaneous (discrete) and time-integrated (composed) samples were collected during a 19-week period in a watershed impacted by discontinuous discharges from local tanneries (Carpathians Mountains, Poland). Existence of the impoundment reservoir in this watershed allowed investigation of its role in chromium transport. In collected samples, dissolved and particulate chromium concentrations were measured to apportion both loads. This study has demonstrated that the impoundment reservoir retains not only particulate but also a dissolved form of chromium and its efficiency reaches 74–94 %. Sampling results proved that chromium contamination in the investigated river is variable and discontinuous. Discrete sampling can lead to an underestimation of chromium contamination level (up to 78 %), especially when illegal/unexpected discharges occur in the watershed. A discrete sampling regime also produces less reliable data for contaminant budget calculations, especially in sites where strong variability of contamination is anticipated, while at the output from reservoirs, the load can be reasonably estimated using this mode of sampling.     

Torpor at high ambient temperature in a neotropical didelphid,the grey short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

The grey short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, has been an established research animal for more than five decades, but relatively, little is known about its thermophysiology. Here we studied core body temperature (T _b) and metabolic rate (MR) of female adult M. domestica housed in the laboratory at an ambient temperature (T _a) of 26 °C. In expanding previous reports, the average recorded core T _b of M. domestica was 34.3 °C. The T _b of an individual M. domestica can drop below 30 °C (minimal T _b: 28.6 °C) accompanied by a reduction in MR of up to 52 % even while having ad libitum access to food. These findings demonstrate for the first time the presence of spontaneous torpor in M. domestica. Metabolic suppression at relatively high T _a and T _b furthermore broadens our perspective on the use of torpor as a metabolic strategy not just restricted to cold climates.     

Influence of humic substances on the toxic effects of cadmium and zinc to the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

A method combining (1 h) algal photosynthesis inhibition tests and tangential-flow ultrafiltration (TFF) technique (cut-off 1 kDa) was used to determine the effect of humic substances (HS) on acute metal toxicity to Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Three "standard" HS (soil and peat humic acids and Suwannee River fulvic acids) at two concentrations (1 and 5 mg/l) and two metals (Zn at 390 microg/l and Cd at 200 microg/l) were studied. Toxicity of Cd and Zn to P. subcapitata was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the presence of humic acids (HA) but not in the presence of Suwannee River fulvic acids (SRFA). Metal partitioning between colloidal (1 microm-1 kDa) and truly dissolved (<1 kDa) fractions was found to match a decrease of metal toxicity in the presence of HA, but not in the presence of SRFA. The results suggested that HA reduced Cd and Zn toxicity in two different ways: (1) HA decrease the amount of free metal ions. Metal-HA complexes are high molecular weight, relatively stable with regard to metal-exchange reactions and consequently the metals were less bioavailable. (2) HA adsorbed onto algal surfaces, shielded the cells from free Cd and Zn ions. Several possible explanations can be postulated to account for the observed SRFA results: (1) Cd- and Zn-SRFA complexes are thought to be labile (i.e. undergo rapid dissociation); (2) SRFA coagulated, presumably during equilibration, and that coagulation altered metal complexing behavior of SRFA; (3) FA has a lower ability to adsorb on cell membranes at pH>7.     

Assessment of water quality and toxicity of polluted Rivers Fez and Sebou in the region of Fez (Morocco)

Water quality assessment in the region of Fez based on the physicochemical and ecotoxicological investigations is presented. The results indicate that sites located close to the most urbanized and industrialized areas are severely impaired. The major water quality problems are: low dissolved oxygen (DO), high turbidity, organic matter and ammonia contents, severe chromium and copper pollution and high acute and chronic toxicity. This results in the loss of the aquatic life which is still flourishing in the Fez River upstream from the Fez Medina. Remote sites downstream show signs of physicochemical recovery. However, even there, bioassays showed significant acute and chronic toxicity. Well water in the region of Fez has moderately poor water quality with nitrate and metal enrichments. Use of water for drinking or for agriculture from the rivers or from some wells without treatment may expose the population to health risk.     

Impact of three different fungicides on fungal epi- and endophytic communities of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and broad bean (Vicia faba)

In this study, the impacts of three different fungicides to fungal phyllosphere communities on broad bean (Vicia faba, Fabaceae) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, Fabaceae) were analyzed. The fungicides included copper, sulfur, and azoxystrobin. The plants were sowed, grown, and treated under conditions occurring in conventional and organic farming. A culture-based approach was used to identify changes in the phyllosphere fungal community after the treatment. Different effects on species richness and growth index of the epiphytic and endophytic communities for common bean and broad bean could be shown. Treatments with sulfur showed the weakest effect, followed by those based on copper and the systemic azoxystrobin, which showed the strongest effect especially on endophytic communities. The epiphytic fungal community took five weeks to recover after treatment with azoxystrobin. However, the effect of azoxystrobin on the endophytic community lasted more than five weeks. Finally, the data suggest that the surface structure of the host leaves have a huge impact on the mode of action that the fungicides exert.     

Historical record of mercury contamination in sediments from the Babeni Reservoir in the Olt River,Romania

Background, aim and scope

Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous and hazardous contaminant in the aquatic environment showing a strong biomagnification effect along the food chain. The most common transfer path of Hg to humans is contaminated fish consumption. In severely exposed humans, Hg poisoning may lead to damage in the central nervous system. Thus, it is important to examine current and past contamination levels of Hg in aquatic milieu. The Olt River is the largest Romanian tributary of the Danube River. The use of Hg as an electrode in a chlor-alkali plant contributed to the contamination of the aquatic environment in the Rm Valcea region. The purpose of this study was to compare the current state of Hg contamination with the past contamination using a historical record obtained from a dated sediment core from one of the Olt River reservoirs (Babeni) located downstream from the chlor-alkali plant. To our knowledge, no published data on Hg contamination in this region are available. The Babeni Reservoir was selected for this study because it is situated downstream from the chlor-alkali plant, whilst the other reservoirs only retain the pollutants coming from the upstream part of the watershed. Preliminary analyses (unpublished) showed high Hg concentrations in the surface sediment of the Babeni Reservoir. One core was taken in the upstream Valcea Reservoir to provide a local background level of Hg concentrations in sediments.

Results and discussion

Sediment texture was uniform in the cores from both reservoirs. Laminated sediment structure, without any obvious discontinuities, was observed. Hg concentrations in the sediment core from the Valcea Reservoir were low and constant (0.01–0.08 mg/kg). In Babeni Reservoir sediments, Hg concentrations were very high in the deeper core section (up to 45 mg/kg in the longest core) and decreased to lower concentrations toward the top of the cores (1.3–2.4 mg/kg). This decrease probably reflects technological progress in control of emissions from the Hg-cell-based chlor-alkali industry. Two strong peaks could be distinguished in older sediments. The mean rate of sedimentation (5.9 cm/year) was calculated from the depth of the ¹³⁷Cs Chernobyl peak. This was in good agreement with the sedimentation rate estimated at this site from a bathymetric study. Assuming a constant sedimentation rate, the two Hg peaks would reflect two contamination events in 1987 and 1991, respectively. However, it is also possible that the two peaks belong to the same contamination event in 1987 but were separated by a sediment layer richer in sand and silt. This layer had a low Hg concentration, which can be interpreted as a mass deposition event related to a major flood bringing Hg-free sediments.

Conclusions

Whilst the chlor-alkali plant partly switched to a cleaner technology in 1999, no obvious decrease of Hg concentrations was observed in recent decade. Results from the sediment core reflected the historical trend of Hg release from the chlor-alkali plant, revealed important contamination episodes and confirmed a legacy of contamination of Hg in recent sediments even if the concentrations of Hg decreased toward the surface due to a more efficient emission control.

Recommendations and perspectives

Although the Hg concentrations in Babeni Reservoir sediments were extremely high in the late eighties and they remain one order of magnitude higher in the surface sediments than in sediments from the upstream reservoir, little is known about the transfer of Hg to the biota and human population. Our initial measurements indicate the presence of monomethyl-Hg (MMHg) in pore water, but further studies are necessary to evaluate fluxes of MMHg at the sediment–water interface. Samples of fish and hair from various groups of the local population were recently collected to evaluate the potential hazard of Hg contamination to human health in the Rm Valcea region.

     

Historical record of mercury contamination in sediments from the Babeni Reservoir in the Olt River, Romania

Background, aim and scope  

Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous and hazardous contaminant in the aquatic environment showing a strong biomagnification effect along the food chain. The most common transfer path of Hg to humans is contaminated fish consumption. In severely exposed humans, Hg poisoning may lead to damage in the central nervous system. Thus, it is important to examine current and past contamination levels of Hg in aquatic milieu. The Olt River is the largest Romanian tributary of the Danube River. The use of Hg as an electrode in a chlor-alkali plant contributed to the contamination of the aquatic environment in the Rm Valcea region. The purpose of this study was to compare the current state of Hg contamination with the past contamination using a historical record obtained from a dated sediment core from one of the Olt River reservoirs (Babeni) located downstream from the chlor-alkali plant. To our knowledge, no published data on Hg contamination in this region are available. The Babeni Reservoir was selected for this study because it is situated downstream from the chlor-alkali plant, whilst the other reservoirs only retain the pollutants coming from the upstream part of the watershed. Preliminary analyses (unpublished) showed high Hg concentrations in the surface sediment of the Babeni Reservoir. One core was taken in the upstream Valcea Reservoir to provide a local background level of Hg concentrations in sediments.     

The use of ALS,botanical, and soil data to monitor the environmental hazards and regeneration capacity of areas devastated by highway construction

The impact of viaduct construction on the vegetation of a river valley was studied in Central Poland (Natura 2000 site PLH100006). The research aimed at assessing the suitability of ALS (airborne laser scanning), soil, and botanical data for monitoring the environmental effects of right-of-way reclamation 1 year after the road construction. Based on the data mentioned above, the following problems were identified: changes in topography and hydrological conditions of the valley as a result of improper land levelling, the use of inadequate soil for reclamation, no spontaneous regeneration of natural vegetation along the entire right-of-way, as well as the abundant occurrence of invasive species. The results of analysis were used to define strategies for mitigation of adverse impacts of the viaduct construction.     

Evaluating rural development in French Regional Nature Parks

Amenities and their management have become central to rural development. In France, Regional Nature Parks (RNPs) pursue sustainable development objectives by protecting and building on local resources. This paper presents an evaluation of the extent to which RNPs are associated with the development of their territories. To establish a control group, RNP municipalities located in two regions (Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes) are matched to other municipalities on the basis of amenity and spatial structure variables. Results do not show a negative impact of parks on the local economy. Moreover, the main positive effect of RNPs is on tourism accommodation and residential employment.