A schematic sampling protocol for contaminant monitoring in raptors

Birds of prey, owls and falcons are widely used as sentinel species in raptor biomonitoring programmes. A major current challenge is to facilitate large-scale biomonitoring by coordinating contaminant monitoring activities and by building capacity across countries. This requires sharing, dissemination and adoption of best practices addressed by the Networking Programme Research and Monitoring for and with Raptors in Europe (EURAPMON) and now being advanced by the ongoing international COST Action European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility. The present perspective introduces a schematic sampling protocol for contaminant monitoring in raptors. We provide guidance on sample collection with a view to increasing sampling capacity across countries, ensuring appropriate quality of samples and facilitating harmonization of procedures to maximize the reliability, comparability and interoperability of data. The here presented protocol can be used by professionals and volunteers as a standard guide to ensure harmonised sampling methods for contaminant monitoring in raptors.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01341-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Degradation of organic pollutants in Mediterranean forest soils amended with sewage sludge

The degradation of two groups of organic pollutants in three different Mediterranean forest soils amended with sewage sludge was studied for nine months. The sewage sludge produced by a domestic water treatment plant was applied to soils developed from limestone, marl and sandstone, showing contrasting alkalinity and texture. The compounds analysed were: linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) with a 10–13 carbon alkylic chain, and nonylphenolic compounds, including nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates with one and two ethoxy groups (NP1EO + NP2EO). These compounds were studied because they frequently exceed the limits proposed for sludge application to land in Europe. After nine months, LAS decomposition was 86–96%, and NP + NP1EO + NP2EO decomposition was 61–84%, which can be considered high. Temporal trends in LAS and NP + NP1EO + NP2EO decomposition were similar, and the concentrations of both types of compounds were highly correlated. The decomposition rates were higher in the period of 6–9 months (summer period) than in the period 0–6 months (winter + spring period) for total LAS and NP + NP1EO + NP2EO. Differences in decay rates with regard to soil type were not significant. The average values of decay rates found are similar to those observed in agricultural soils.     

Two and three-dimensional shoreline behaviour at a MESO-MACROTIDAL barred beach

The present work investigates cross-shore shoreline migration as well as its alongshore variability (with deformation) on timescales of days to years using 6 years of time-averaged video images. The variability of the shoreline is estimated through empirical statistical methods with comprehensive reference to three scales of variability. At the meso-to macro-tidal barred Biscarrosse beach, shoreline responds in decreasing order at seasonal (winter/summer cycles, 52%), event (storms, 28%) and inter-annual scales. Whereas seasonal evolution is dominated by wave climate modulation, short-term evolution is influenced by tidal range and surf-zone sandbar characteristics. The influence of tide range and sandbars increases when timescale decreases. This is even more the case for the alongshore deformation of the shoreline which is dominated by short-term evolution. An EOF analysis reveals that the first mode of shoreline change time series is associated with cross-shore migration and explains 58% of the shoreline variability. The rest of the modes are associated to deformation which explain 42% of shoreline variability.     

Ecosystem service provision,management systems and climate change in Valsaín forest,central Spain

This study addresses the impact of climate change and management approach on the provision of four ecosystem services (ES) (timber production, protection against gravitational hazards, carbon sequestration and biodiversity) in Valsaín forest in central Spain. The hybrid forest patch model PICUS v1.6 was used to simulate the development of 24 representative stand types over 100 years (2010–2110) in a full factorial simulation experiment combining three management regimes [“business as usual” management (BAU) and two alternatives to BAU (AM1 and AM2)], a no-management scenario (NOM) and six climate scenarios (historic climate represented by the period 1961–1990 and five transient climate change scenarios). Simulations indicated relatively small differences as regards the impact of the different management alternatives (BAU, AM1 and AM2) on the provision of ES as well as a clear improvement in biodiversity, protection and carbon storage under the no-management regime (NOM). Although timber production indicators were the most sensitive to climate change scenarios, biodiversity-related indicators responded fastest to the management regimes applied. Indicators of protection against rockfall and landslides were affected by both management and climate change. The results indicate substantial vulnerability of ES provisioning under the more extreme climate change scenarios at low elevations (1250 m). At higher elevations, the productivity of Scots pine stands may show a moderate decrease or increase, depending on the climate change scenario.     

Accounting for the Impact of Management Scenarios on Typha Domingensis (Cattail) in an Everglades Wetland

Environmental Management - The coupled regional simulation model, and the transport and reaction simulation engine were recently adapted to simulate ecology, specifically Typha domingensis...     

Ozone Predictions in Atlanta,Georgia: Analysis of the 1999 Ozone Season

ABSTRACT

Ozone prediction has become an important activity in many U.S. ozone nonattainment areas. In this study, we describe the ozone prediction program in the Atlanta metropolitan area and analyze the performance of this program during the 1999 ozone-forecasting season. From May to September, a team of 10 air quality regulators, meteorologists, and atmospheric scientists made a daily prediction of the next-day maximum 8-hr average ozone concentration. The daily forecast was made aided by two linear regression models, a 3-dimensional air quality model, and the no-skill ozone persistence model. The team's performance is compared with the numerical models using several numerical indicators. Our analysis indicated that (1) the team correctly predicted next-day peak ozone concentrations 84% of the time, (2) the two linear regression models had a better performance than a 3-dimensional air quality model, (3) persistence was a strong predictor of ozone concentrations with a performance of 78%, and (4) about half of the team's wrong predictions could be prevented with improved meteorological predictions.     

Exposure to elevated ozone levels differentially affects the antioxidant capacity and the redox homeostasis of two subtropical Phaseolus vulgaris L. varieties

Ozone (O₃) has become one of the most toxic air pollutants to plants worldwide. However, investigations on O₃ impacts on crops health and productivity in South America countries are still scarce. The present study analyzed the differences on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant system in foliar tissue of two subtropical Phaseolus vulgaris varieties exposed to high O₃ concentration. Both varieties were negatively impacted by the pollutant, but the responses between each variety were quite distinct. Results revealed that Irai has higher constitutive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ascorbate (AsA) concentration, but lower total thiol levels and catalase immunocontent. In this variety catalase protein concentration was increased after O₃ exposure, indicating a better cellular capacity to reduce hydrogen peroxide. On the opposite, Fepagro 26-exposed plants increased ROS generation and AsA concentration, but had the levels of total thiol content and catalase protein unchanged. Furthermore, O₃ treatment reduced the levels of chlorophylls a and b, and the relationship analysis between the chlorophyll ratio (a/b) and protein concentration were positively correlated indicating that photosynthetic apparatus is compromised, and thus probably is the biomass acquisition on Fepagro 26. Differently, O₃ treatment of Irai did not affect chlorophylls a and b content, and loss on the protein content was lower. Altogether, these data suggest that early accumulation of ROS on Fepagro 26 are associated with an insufficient leaf antioxidant capacity, which leads to cell structure disruption and impairs the photosynthesis. Irai seems to be more tolerant to O₃ toxic effects than Fepagro 26, and the observed differences on O₃ sensitivity between the two varieties are apparently based on constitutive differences involved in the maintenance of intracellular redox homeostasis.     

Evaluating pollution-related damage and restoration success in urban forests with participatory monitoring and digital tools

Peri-urban forest monitoring requires indicators of vegetation damage. An example is the sacred fir (Abies religiosa) forests surrounding Mexico City, which have been heavily exposed to tropospheric ozone, a harmful pollutant, for over 4 decades. We developed a participatory monitoring system with which local community members and scientists generated data on ozone tree damage. Santa Rosa Xochiac rangers (13) used the digital tool KoboToolBox to record ozone damage to trees, tree height, tree ages, tree condition, tree position, and whether the tree had been planted. Thirty-five percent of the trees (n = 1765) had ozone damage. Younger trees had a lower percentage of foliage damaged by ozone than older trees (p < 0.0001), and asymptomatic trees tended to be younger (p < 0.0001). Symptomatic trees were taller than asymptomatic trees of the same age (R²_c = 0.43, R²_m = 0.27). Involving local communities facilitated forest monitoring and using digital technology improved data quality. This participatory system can be used to monitor forest condition change over time and thus aids restoration efforts driven by government or local communities’ interests, facilitating local decision-making.     

Environmental education for small- and medium-sized enterprises: methodology and e-learning experience in the Valencian region

The last decades have shown an increasing social demand for environmental awareness, which firms are inevitably required to adapt to. More and more, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are finding it necessary to train their staff in environmental issues if they wish to survive in a market where it is no longer sufficient to excel in price competitiveness exclusively, but where quality, service and environmental standards also play an important role.     

Biological endpoints, enzyme activities, and blood cell parameters in two anuran tadpole species in rice agroecosystems of mid-eastern Argentina

Different biological variables of tadpoles, including survival, development and growth rates, and biomarkers [cholinesterases, glutathione-S-transferases (GST), and blood cell morphology] were evaluated in two anuran species, Scinax squalirostris (Hylidae) and Leptodactylus mystacinus (Leptodactylidae), using in situ experimental chambers in a rice field (RF) sprayed with insecticide Lambda-cyhalothrin (LTC) by aircraft in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. We found a significant decrease in body weight (0.62?±?0.04 g) of L. mystacinus and an increased development rate of S. squalirostris in individuals from RF (41?±?1; Gosner) with respect to individuals from the reference site (RS: 0.93?±?0.04 g and 37?±?0; respectively). In S. squalirostris, individuals from RF mean values of butyrylcholinesterase activities decreased at 48 (4.09?±?0.32 nmol min^-1 mg^-1 of TP) and 96 h (3.74?±?0.20 nmol min^-1 mg^-1 of TP), whereas inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was observed at 96 h (47.44?±?2.78 nmol min^-1 mg^-1 of TP). In L. mystacinus from RF, an induction of acetylcholinesterase activity was observed at 96 h (36.01?±?1.09 nmol min^-1 mg^-1 of TP). Glutathione-S-transferase levels varied between species, being higher in L. mystacinus individuals but lower in S. squalirostris from RF at 48 (272.29 ±11.78 and 71.87?±?1.70 nmol min^-1 mg^-1 of TP; respectively) and 96 h (279.25?±?13.06 and 57.62?±?4.58 nmol min^-1 mg^-1 of TP, respectively). Blood cell parameters revealed a lower number of mitotic cells (MC: 0.36?±?0.31%o for S. squalirostris and 0.08?±?0.05 %o for L. mystacinus) and higher number of eosinophils (E: 3.45?±?1.75 %o for S. squalirostris and 7.64?±?0.98 %o for L. mystacinus) in individuals from the RF than in individuals from the RS (MC: 2.55?±?0.74 %o for S. squalirostris and 1.87?±?0.72%o for L. mystacinus; and E: 0.13?±?0.09 for S. squalirostris and 3.20?±?0.80 for L. mystacinus). Overall, our results demonstrate the existence of apparent differences in sensitivity between species in a series of sublethal responses to short-term exposure in RF after the application of Lambda-cyhalothrin. We suggest that the integral use of biological endpoints (development and growth) together with biomarkers (cholinesterase, GST, and blood cell parameters) may be a promising integral procedure for investigating pesticide exposure in wild frog populations.