Metals in the soil of urban cemeteries in Carazinho (South Brazil) in view of the increase in deaths from COVID-19: projects for cemeteries to mitigate environmental impacts

Environment, Development and Sustainability - The increasing mortality of COVID-19 can aggravate soil contamination by metals, harmful to the health of the population, requiring new projects for...     

Copper and lead ion removal from wastewater using fava d’anta fodder (Dimorphandra gardneriana Tulasne)

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The contamination of bodies of water by potentially hazardous elements has in recent decades become an environmental problem that poses serious risks to...     

Bioremediation of shrimp biofloc wastewater using clam,seaweed and fish

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioremediation of effluents in the biofloc culture of shrimp juveniles using clams, seaweed and fish. Four treatments were considered: CLT – without bioremediating organisms; AB – using Anomalocardia brasiliana; GB – using Gracilaria birdiae and ON – using Oreochomis niloticus with 2.5?kg wet weight per m³ of shrimp effluent. In the AB treatment, significant differences were observed in the effluent at the end of the experiment (96?h) for values of nitrite-nitrogen, nitrate, alkalinity, TSS and orthophosphate. The ISS and VSS levels recorded for the AB treatment varied respectively from 336 to 127?mg?L^?1, and from 505 to 130?mg?L^?1, with a corresponding gradual reduction of approximately 62% and 74% at the end of the experiment. The use of a clam species to treat effluents in a biofloc system with salinity near 25?g?L^?1 reduced waste solids and increased the nitrification process from 72 to 96?h, indicating that this clam can be used as a bioremediator and contributes to effluent treatment in shrimp.     

Magnetic properties of the microorganism Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis

Magnetotactic microorganisms use the interaction of internal biomineralized nanoparticles with the geomagnetic field to orientate. The movement of the magnetotactic multicellular prokaryote Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis under an applied magnetic field was observed. A method using digital image processing techniques was used to track the organism trajectory to simultaneously obtain its body radius, velocity, U-turn diameter, and the reorientation time. The magnetic moment was calculated using a self-consistent method. The distribution of magnetic moments and radii present two well-characterized peaks at (9 ± 2) × 10⁻¹⁵ and (20 ± 3) × 10⁻¹⁵ A m² and (3.6 ± 0.1) and (4.3 ± 0.1) μm, respectively. For the first time, simultaneous determination of the distribution of the organism radii and magnetic moment was obtained from the U-turn method by a new digital imaging processing. The bimodal distributions support an organism reproduction process model based on electron microscopy observations. These results corroborate the prokaryote multicellular hypothesis for Candidatus M. multicellularis.     

Correction to: Management of food waste in restaurants by way of circular practices

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Food waste is a serious problem worldwide. There is a lot of waste in the food sector, while we still have a significant percentage of people who...     

Spatial Distribution of Soil Attributes in the Concórdia River Watershed in Southern Brazil

Using geographic information system, soil sampling, and statistical analysis to map anthropogenic effects on soil     

Rain forest fragmentation and the proliferation of successional trees

The effects of habitat fragmentation on diverse tropical tree communities are poorly understood. Over a 20-year period we monitored the density of 52 tree species in nine predominantly successional genera (Annona, Bellucia, Cecropia, Croton, Goupia, Jacaranda, Miconia, Pourouma, Vismia) in fragmented and continuous Amazonian forests. We also evaluated the relative importance of soil, topographic, forest dynamic, and landscape variables in explaining the abundance and species composition of successional trees. Data were collected within 66 permanent 1-ha plots within a large (approximately 1000 km2) experimental landscape, with forest fragments ranging from 1 to 100 ha in area. Prior to forest fragmentation, successional trees were uncommon, typically comprising 2-3% of all trees (> or =10 cm diameter at breast height [1.3 m above the ground surface]) in each plot. Following fragmentation, the density and basal area of successional trees increased rapidly. By 13-17 years after fragmentation, successional trees had tripled in abundance in fragment and edge plots and constituted more than a quarter of all trees in some plots. Fragment age had strong, positive effects on the density and basal area of successional trees, with no indication of a plateau in these variables, suggesting that successional species could become even more abundant in fragments over time. Nonetheless, the 52 species differed greatly in their responses to fragmentation and forest edges. Some disturbance-favoring pioneers (e.g., Cecropia sciadophylla, Vismia guianensis, V. amazonica, V. bemerguii, Miconia cf. crassinervia) increased by >1000% in density on edge plots, whereas over a third (19 of 52) of all species remained constant or declined in numbers. Species responses to fragmentation were effectively predicted by their median growth rate in nearby intact forest, suggesting that faster-growing species have a strong advantage in forest fragments. An ordination analysis revealed three main gradients in successional-species composition across our study area. Species gradients were most strongly influenced by the standlevel rate of tree mortality on each plot and by the number of nearby forest edges. Species-composition also varied significantly among different cattle ranches, which differed in their surrounding matrices and disturbance histories. These same variables were also the best predictors of total successional-tree abundance and species richness. Successional-tree assemblages in fragment interior plots (>150 m from edge), which are subjected to fragment area effects but not edge effects, did not differ significantly from those in intact forest, indicating that area effects per se had little influence on successional trees. Soils and topography also had little discernable effect on these species. Collectively, our results indicate that successional-tree species proliferate rapidly in fragmented Amazonian forests, largely as a result of chronically elevated tree mortality near forest edges and possibly an increased seed rain from successional plants growing in nearby degraded habitats. The proliferation of fast-growing successional trees and correlated decline of old-growth trees will have important effects on species composition, forest dynamics, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling in fragmented forests.     

Preparation and characterization of biochar from cement waste for removal of rhodamine B dye

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Cement waste (CW) is one of the main environmental problems in the cement industry due to the high amount that is used and its incorrect disposal....     

PBAT-based Microfiltration Membranes Using Porogen Saturated Solutions: Architecture,Morphology, and Environmental Profile

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - There is a scientific consensus that the use of membranes for water filtration presents itself as a promising research area for removing a wide range of...