Integrated farming systems for improving soil carbon balance in the southern Amazon of Brazil

Regional Environmental Change - Integrated farming systems (IS) are one of the main strategies of the Brazilian government to reduce or compensate for carbon emissions from agriculture with...     

Carbon-optimised land management strategies for southern Amazonia

Regional Environmental Change -     

Recovery of ammonium ion as struvite from flue gas scrubbing wastewater

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Direct disposal of flue gas scrubbing-derived waste water with a high level (9000–10,000 mg/L) of ammonium ion (NH4 +) into aquatic...     

Heavy metal content of edible plants collected close to an area of intense mining activity (southern Portugal)

The Neves-Corvo mining complex (MC) situated in southern Portugal exploits one of the most world’s important copper deposits. Agricultural soils surrounding the MC, used by the inhabitants for crop production, contain excessive amounts of As, Cu, Pb, and Zn. Thus, a potential risk to human consumption exists if edible plants grow on these substrata. Arsenic and Pb were not detected in edible samples collected near the MC and 5 km away, but in the leaves—structural or adsorbed onto the surface. In general, Zn was the most mobile element in both contaminated and reference areas as seen by the bioaccumulation factors (BAF). The tolerable upper intake (TUI) values for Cu are a reason of concern, since in 57.1% of the cases, the TUI values are above the recommended upper limit of 5 mg/day, in the case of Ficus carica, Cucurbita pepo, and Phaseolus vulgaris, whereas in 28.6% of the cases, the TUI values are near this limit (C. pepo and Citrus x sinensis). The consumption of such vegetables from these areas must be banned or strongly reduced, since long-term accumulation of Cu can cause a chronic toxicity in humans.     

Cultivable microbiome and its resistance to antimicrobials isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zaprionus indianus</Emphasis>

The objective of this study was to identify Z. indianus in PEJC and PESCAN. Listed are the following methods: to isolate bacteria from the integument of the Z. indianus species collected and to check the resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics. Collections of Z. indianus were performed in four seasons of the two parks. The results obtained suggest that the low amount of Z. indianus collected can be justified by environmental factors such as high average temperature and low average humidity. It is noted that there is a predominance of bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family found in both the PEJC and the PESCAN. The antibiogram performed for the isolated PEJC bacteria shows statistical significance when comparing the edge and inside values of the park. Studies with fungi were also carried out, and it was evidenced that Trichophyton spp. was the genus that most inhabited the two environments studied. The ability of fluconazole and ketoconazole to inhibit fungal growth was also investigated, and considering the concentration tested may suggest that they have good action spectra. Plasmid profile data show that 60% of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have plasmids. The values found show that Z. indianus can act as vectors of microorganisms that affect the healthy animals and humans and that these organisms may be influenced by seasons.     

Implications of future bioclimatic shifts on Portuguese forests

As climate is an important driver of vegetation distribution, climate change represents an important challenge to forestry. We (1) identify prevailing bioclimatic conditions for 49 relevant forest species in Portugal and (2) assess future shifts under climate change scenarios. We compute two bioclimatic indices (aridity and thermicity) and a new composite index, at ~1 km spatial resolution, and overlap with the species’ current ranges. Locations are based on a digital inventory, while climate parameters for both recent-past (1950–2000) and future climates (2041–2060), under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, are provided by a multi-model ensemble of climate simulations. Results for future scenarios highlight an overall warming and drying trend. Supramediterranean and mesomediterranean climates will be significantly reduced, while thermomediterranean climates will dramatically increase, from their almost absence in current conditions to an area coverage of ~54 % in 2041–2060 for RCP8.5. There is also a clear shift from hyper-humid and humid to sub-humid and from the latter to semi-arid climates (area coverage of ~13 % in 2041–2060 for RCP8.5). Lower thermomediterranean sub-humid to semi-arid zones will cover the southern half of Portugal. These projections identify the most vulnerable (e.g. Betula pubescens, Quercus pyrenaica and Castanea sativa) and the most adapted (e.g. Quercus suber, Q. rotundifolia, Ceratonia siliqua, Pinus pinea, Quercus coccifera) species in future climates. Current bioclimatic zones associated with Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus pinaster, economically relevant species, will be moderately reduced and relocated. Possible adaptation measures are discussed to improve forest resilience to climate change, while maintaining its economic and environmental benefits.     

Molecular changes of aquatic humic substances formed from four aquatic macrophytes decomposed under different oxygen conditions

Aquatic macrophytes’ decomposition is a source of recalcitrant carbon in the long term contributing to humic substances (HS) formation. Understanding the influence of plant detritus quality and oxygen availability over molecular changes of these compounds provides ecological information related to their cycling. This study described the molecular variation of dissolved HS from Eichhornia azurea, Egeria najas, Oxycaryum cubense and Salvinia molesta decomposition under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The aquatic HS formed from the four aquatic macrophytes showed similar features (e.g. molecular weight and aromaticity). This fact indicates little influence of the detritus quality or availability of oxygen on the fulvic acids (FA) and humic acid characteristics. Under aerobic condition a decrease in the polysaccharides content in FA occurred. HS from E. najas were related to less-recalcitrant features, while HS from S. molesta were related to recalcitrant.     

Polarographic determination of the stability constant of the ternary complex formed between cocaine and cobalt thiocyanate

The interactions between cocaine -- Co(II) and thiocyanate (or dimethylglyoxime) have been studied by electrochemical means, assuming the existence of a ternary complex with the stoichiometry [(H₂O)₃Co(SCN)(C₁₇H₂₁NO₄)]⁺ and the absence of similar ternary species containing dimethylglyoxime. The formation constant of the complex has been evaluated by polarographic titrations because of the irreversibility of electrochemical processes. This relatively small value of 2.37 × 10⁵ is in agreement with the experimental conditions at which Scott's method is typically carried out to detect cocaine in solid samples by reaction with Co(II) thiocyanate.     

Toxic atmospheric pollutants from crematoria ovens: characterization,emission factors,and modeling

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Human remains and corpses’ cremation is an increasing practice worldwide alternative to burials, which have increased their cost and reduced...     

Ecotoxicological evaluation of fungicides used in viticulture in non-target organisms

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The effect of fungicides, commonly used in vine cultures, on the health of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems has been poorly studied. The objective...