Lichen Diversity and Lichen Transplants as Monitors of Air Pollution in a Rural Area of Central Italy

The results of a biomonitoring study carried out in the Municipality of Colle di Val d'Elsa (central Italy), using the diversity of epiphytic lichens and the accumulation of selected elements in thalli of the lichen Evernia prunastri transplanted in two urban sites are reported. The results indicate that the survey area suffers from different types of pollution. The main air pollutants are NO _X and Pb. Vehicular traffic and domestic heating are the main sources of the former, and traffic and a crystal factory of the latter. Furthermore, most study area is eutrophicated due to diffuse agricultural activities and the presence of pig and sheep stockfarms.     

Monitoring of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, dioxin-like PCBs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in food and feed samples from Ismailia city, Egypt

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been determined using GC/HRMS in food (butter, seafood and meat) and feed samples (chicken, cattle and fish) purchased from Ismailia city, Egypt. PCDD/F concentrations in food samples ranged between 0.12 and 3.35 pg WHO TEQ/g wet w, while those in feed samples were between 0.08 and 0.2 pg WHO TEQ/g dry w. Levels of PCB TEQ ranged from 0.14 to 3.2 pg/g wet w in the food samples. The feed samples have an average of 0.35 pg PCB TEQ /g dry w. In this study, butter samples showed the highest contamination levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs. The PCBs contribution to the total TEQ was on average 63% in seafood and on average 49% for meat and butter. The highest contamination levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were found in butter samples. The butter TEQ content is several times higher than that reported in all EU countries and exceeded the EU limits, while the PCDD/F levels in seafood and the feed samples is far below the current EU limit. Generally, congener profiles in the food samples reflect the non-industrialized nature of the city and suggest solid waste burning as a significant source of emission. Nevertheless, the profiles for butter suggest an impact from various sources. In the case of the sum of 16 PAH contamination levels in food samples were in the range of 11.7-154.3 ng/g wet w and feed samples had a range of 116-393 ng/g dry w. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) has been detected in the range of 0.05-3.29 ng/g wet w in the food samples; butter showed the highest contamination which exceeded the EU standard set for fats and oil. Fingerprints of PAHs suggested both petrogenic and pyrolytic sources of contamination.     

Tracing groundwater circulation in a valuable mineral water basin with geochemical and isotopic tools: the case of FERRARELLE,Riardo basin,Southern Italy

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The Riardo basin hosts groundwater exploited for the production of high quality, naturally sparkling, bottled water (e.g., Ferrarelle water), and circulating...     

Improving supplementary feeding in species conservation

Supplementary feeding is often a knee‐jerk reaction to population declines, and its application is not critically evaluated, leading to polarized views among managers on its usefulness. Here, we advocate a more strategic approach to supplementary feeding so that the choice to use it is clearly justified over, or in combination with, other management actions and the predicted consequences are then critically assessed following implementation. We propose combining methods from a set of specialist disciplines that will allow critical evaluation of the need, benefit, and risks of food supplementation. Through the use of nutritional ecology, population ecology, and structured decision making, conservation managers can make better choices about what and how to feed by estimating consequences on population recovery across a range of possible actions. This structured approach also informs targeted monitoring and more clearly allows supplementary feeding to be integrated in recovery plans and reduces the risk of inefficient decisions. In New Zealand, managers of the endangered Hihi (Notiomystis cincta) often rely on supplementary feeding to support reintroduced populations. On Kapiti island the reintroduced Hihi population has responded well to food supplementation, but the logistics of providing an increasing demand recently outstretched management capacity. To decide whether and how the feeding regime should be revised, managers used a structured decision making approach informed by population responses to alternative feeding regimes. The decision was made to reduce the spatial distribution of feeders and invest saved time in increasing volume of food delivered into a smaller core area. The approach used allowed a transparent and defendable management decision in regard to supplementary feeding, reflecting the multiple objectives of managers and their priorities.     

Adaptations to semi-terrestrial life in embryos of East African mangrove crabs: a comparative approach

In this experimental study, we compared the embryonic respiration rate in air and water of six East African sesarmid species with intertidal, supratidal and arboreal habits, to highlight possible adaptations in embryonic metabolism to their different lifestyles. The embryos of all analysed crabs showed bimodal respiration, but we did not find a trend towards an enhanced embryonic oxygen uptake in air from the intertidal to the arboreal and supratidal species. However, the late-stage embryos of the most land-adapted species, Chiromantes spp., showed an enhanced metabolism when immersed in sea water that we interpreted as an adaptive recovery mechanism to cope with the storage of by-products due to marine-based metabolic pathways during long emersion periods. Thus, we showed that the embryos of land-adapted species, although still strongly water dependent, are well adapted to semi-terrestrial habitats and represent a minor limiting factor for females, which are not restricted in their emersion period by the oxygen requirements of their embryos.