Types of Ectomycorrhiza as Pollution Stress Indicators: Case Studies in Slovenia

Mycorrhiza is the main spatial and temporal linkage between different constituents in a forest ecosystem. The functional compatibility and stress tolerance of ectomycorrhizal types is species specific, and therefore the information on the ectomycorrhizal community structure can add to the understanding of processes in forest ecosystems and can also be applied as tools for bioindication of pollution stress in forest soils. We have studied the effects of pollution (N and S) on trees and forest soils by: (1) quantification of ECM types diversity as in situ indicators in forest stands, (2) determination and quantification of pollution-sensitive or -insensitive ECM types as passive monitors, (3) root growth and development of ECM on nonmycorrhizal spruce seedlings, planted at the studied sites (active monitors), and (4) ECM infection (a bioassay based on mycorrhizal inoculum potential) of seedlings in an experimental set-up as ex situ testers. ECM species richness for Norway spruce trees (Picea abies) showed higher values in unpolluted sites than in polluted ones, while the differences were not significant for European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica). As pollution-sensitive or -insensitive ECM species in spruce forests, we suggest Hydnum rufescens (sensitive) and Paxillus involutus (unsensitive). Mycorrhizal potential in Norway spruce seedlings as a bioassay for soil N and S pollution was effective, and is suggested as an additional, standardized and widely comparable system in bioindication of soil pollution.     

Stakeholders' expectations from the agri-environmental programme in Slovenia and Croatia

The agri-environmental programme (AEP) is the European Union policy instrument used for the delivery of environmental services expected by the society, but societal expectations for these environmental services are insufficiently assessed. In order to realistically meet the expectations of AEP, this research utilises analytical hierarchy process based web survey to assess the importance that various societal stakeholders in the European countries of Slovenia and Croatia give to specific environmental services and to also identify the agricultural practices that have the greatest potential to realise the expectations that society values the most. All stakeholders (overall group) from Slovenia and Croatia ranked water quality and availability as the first most important environmental service, and reduction of pesticides as the most important agricultural practice to deliver societal expectations. The results indicate that there is similar demand for environmental services in these two countries that differ in their agricultural settings.     

Kinetic sodium analyses in the crab Carcinus mediterraneus

Kinetic analyses were made of the stable sodium and radioactive sodium (²²Na) in some tissues of the crab Carcinus mediterraneus CSRN. Fast ²²Na outflux constant is increased in gills, hepatopancreas, hemolymph, digestive tract and muscles. In the reproductive organs the values of the sodium outflux constant are lower. The values of the fast outflux rates (t=20°C) of sodium amount, in the whole animal, to 22.5 M Na/g/h, in the hemolymph, to 69.3 M Na/g/h; the slow outflux rates have much lower values (0.02 to 0.13 M Na/g/h). Moulting crabs show a rate of sodium outflux 6 times greater than that of intermoulting individuals.     

Natural bitumens versus oil pollution in the Vlasina lake peat

Free and associated bitumens were isolated by sequential extraction from Vlasina lake peat (SE Serbia) and were investigated in order to differentiate between oil pollution and natural bitumens. Four peat samples were collected at different depths, on a peat island. Gas chromatographic (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed the presence of three markedly different bitumen fractions. Here we show that the free bitumens are representing the native peat bitumens. The two associated bitumens are mainly the products of bacterial rework of organic substance, which were then trapped by two differing mechanisms. The bitumens characteristics and association features exclude a contribution of oil pollution.Selected article from the Regional Symposium on Chemistry and Environment Krusevac, Serbia, June 2003, organised by Dr. Branimir Jovancicevic.     

A GIS-based approach to spatio-temporal analysis of environmental pollution in urban areas: A case study of Prague's environment extended by LIDAR data

Environmental pollution of urban areas is one of key factors that state authorities and local agencies have to consider in the decision-making process. To find a compromise among many criteria, spatial analysis extended by geostatistical methods and dynamic models has to be carried out. In this case, spatial analysis includes processing of a wide range of air, water and soil pollution data and possibly noise assessment and waste management data. Other spatial inputs consist of data from remote sensing and GPS field measurements. Integration and spatial data management are carried out within the framework of a geographic information system (GIS). From a modeling point of view, GIS is used mainly for the preprocessing and postprocessing of data to be displayed in digital map layers and visualized in 3D scenes. Moreover, for preprocessing and postprocessing, deterministic and geostatistical methods (IDW, ordinary kriging) are used for spatial interpolation; geoprocessing and raster algebra are used in multi-criteria evaluation and risk assessment methods. GIS is also used as a platform for spatio-temporal analyses or for building relationships between the GIS database and stand-alone modeling tools. A case study is presented illustrating the application of spatial analysis to the urban areas of Prague. This involved incorporating environmental data from monitoring networks and field measurements into digital map layers. Extra data inputs were used to represent the 3D concentration fields of air pollutants (ozone, NO₂) measured by differential absorption LIDAR. ArcGIS was used to provide spatial data management and analysis, extended by modeling tools developed internally in the ArcObjects environment and external modules developed with MapObjects. Ordinary kriging methods were employed to predict ozone concentrations in selected 3D locations together with estimates of variability. Higher ozone concentrations were found above crossroads with their heavy traffic than above the surrounding areas. Ozone concentrations also varied with height above the digital elevation model. Processed data, spatial analysis and models are integrated within the framework of the GIS project, providing an approach that state and local authorities can use to address environmental protection issues.     

Reductive dechlorination of chlorinated methanes and ethanes by reduced iron (II) porphyrins

The reaction of a reduced iron (II) porphyrin with a series of chlorinated methanes and ethanes was examined under neutral conditions in buffered aqueous solutions containing an excess of the reducing agent. Carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and 1,1,1-trichloroethane were reduced to lower chlorinated homologs, while methylene chloride, 1,1,2-trichloroethane and 1,1-dichloroethane did not appear to be degraded in this system.     

Application of machine learning methods to palaeoecological data

A palaeoecological study was conducted to investigate past environmental conditions and vegetation dynamics around the southwestern Ljubljana Moor. In order to find potential regularities and/or dependencies among co-existent plant species through time, different machine learning methods were applied to pollen records from the cores taken at Bistra and Ho?evarica. The data comprised relative pollen frequencies of the most common plant genera/families at particular core depths that correspond to particular ages in the Early and Mid Holocene periods. The applied methods include equation discovery and hierarchical clustering. Both methods have found plausible and explainable relationships among identified plant genera/families.