Natural resource depletion and the economic performance of local districts: suggestions from a within-country analysis

SUMMARY

Studying the interactions among ecological factors and economic performance measured at the local scale is necessary to suggest policies able to mitigate natural resource depletion in complex ecosystems, like those in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship among natural resource depletion due to land degradation (LD) and some economic characteristics of local labour systems in Italy, a country where many areas, especially southern regions, are vulnerable. LD was estimated using an environmental sensitive area index, covering the national territory at a fine scale, which takes into account ecological factors such as climate, soil and vegetation. Economic indicators used here consider per capita income, land productivity, production and labour productivity by sector (agriculture, industry and services). A regression analysis was built-up at the LLS scale using an index change over time (1990–2000) as dependent variable and economic variables as predictors. A principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to synthesise the outputs of the regression analysis. Results indicate a negative relationship among per capita income and LD over the whole study area. However, other variables showed a significant correlation with the dependent variable, highlighting the importance of local factors to increase land vulnerability. In order to clarify the contribution of economic factors to natural resource depletion it is necessary to drive integrate policies to combat LD in dry Mediterranean areas.     

Egg antimicrobials, embryo sex and chick phenotype in the yellow-legged gull

Maternal effects through albumen quality are largely unexplored, despite the fundamental role that albumen exerts as source of proteins and water, as well as for antimicrobial defence of the embryo. We analysed the variation of two major albumen antimicrobials, avidin and lysozyme, by extracting samples from freshly laid eggs of the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) and by correlating their levels to egg features. Lysozyme concentration increased along the laying sequence, while avidin concentration decreased. Both antimicrobials declined during the season. In addition, avidin concentration declined from first- to last-laid male eggs, whereas the opposite was true among the female eggs. We also analysed chick body mass and size and immune response, in relation to albumen antimicrobial levels in their original egg while controlling for potential covariation between egg quality and rearing conditions by cross-fostering eggs between nests. Tarsus length decreased with avidin concentration, particularly early in the season. Avidin concentration negatively predicted tarsus length of chicks and the phytohaemagglutinin response of females, but not males. However, chick phenotype did not covary with lysozyme albumen concentration. This is the first study where maternal effects mediated by albumen antimicrobials are investigated in relation to both sex and egg features in any wild bird species. Whether the observed patterns of variation in antimicrobial concentration are the by-product of maternal physiological constraints, or reflect adaptive allocation strategies, cannot be ascertained. The covariation between chick cell-mediated immunity and albumen avidin concentration might be causal, according to the documented effects of albumen proteins on immunity in other species.     

Periodic inspection on crop sprayers: results according to age of sprayers

The objectives of the IPP Project--Periodic Inspection on Crop Sprayers--are to develop methods for sprayer certification, analyze quality on spray operation, propose an inspection system for crop sprayers in Brazil, improve environmental quality on spray operation, and reduce costs on chemical control for plant protection systems. Periodic inspections on crop sprayers are performed in several countries and are compulsory in most of them, and it is becoming an important tool for improvement and optimization of use of chemicals. The IPP Project in Brazil is funded by FAPESP--Funda??o de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de S?o Paulo. The results so far showed that all the sprayers presented failures. However, most of them could be approved with minor services. As an example, 56.6% of the sprayers with more than 2 years of use presented leaks, 47% of them had damaged hoses and 80.5% presented bad tips (nozzles). These results indicate the need for better procedures of use and maintenance of sprayers, justifying the periodic inspection system.     

First principles of the MameLuke multi-actor modelling framework for land use change, illustrated with a Philippine case study

This paper presents the first principles of the MameLuke framework, an agent-based modelling framework for studying environmental issues and land use and cover change (LUCC). The MameLuke framework enhances the understanding of the relationship between societal processes and LUCC by modelling individual and group decisions and human-environment interactions. The framework allows for the transformation of real-life stories into computerised models following a predetermined sequence. By doing so, the framework allows for a truly integrative approach, because it is not bound to any particular scientific discourse. Even better, the framework enables its users to combine scientific discourses regarding human decisions and behaviour on multiple scales and levels. The agents (actors and locations) in the framework are heterogeneous. This heterogeneity of agent behaviour is established by dividing the agents into categories. If an agent is a member of an agent category or combination of categories, it has access to a defined set of implementable actions. The actions are constructed out of potential option paths (POPs) and potential option nodes (PONs). The whole of POPs represent a theoretical construct of agent behaviour and decisions that the framework user wishes to explore. The POP defines a sequence of PONs. The PON is a transaction interface between an initialising agent and a recipient agent where they exchange material and immaterial capital. This paper explains the basic architecture of the MameLuke framework and shows its applicability with a model of a Philippine case study. This case study concerns the dynamics of migration and deforestation. It is part of a larger study on land use change in the San Mariano watershed area at the forest fringe of the Sierra Madre mountains in the Philippines.     

Assessment of natural or enhanced in situ bioremediation at a chlorinated solvent-contaminated aquifer in Italy: a microcosm study

A microcosm study was used to assess the potential for in situ natural or enhanced bioremediation at a chloroethane- (i.e., tetrachloroethane, TeCA) and chloroethene-contaminated (i.e., tetrachloroethene, PCE; trichloroethene, TCE) groundwater in Northern Italy. All the live microcosms were positive for dechlorination, indicating the presence of an active native dechlorinating population in the subsurface. All the tested electron donors (i.e., yeast extract, lactate, butyrate, hydrogen) promoted enhanced dechlorination of chlorinated contaminants. Lactate- and butyrate-amended microcosms performed the best, and also dechlorinated the solvents past cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE). The microcosm bioaugmented with a PCE-dechlorinating mixed culture containing Dehalococcoides spp. dechlorinated groundwater contaminants to DCE, vinyl chloride (VC), and ethene (ETH). In conclusion, results from this microcosm study indicate the potential for enhancing full dechlorination at the contaminated site, through a proper addition of a suitable electron donor (e.g., lactate or butyrate) and/or through bioaugmentation with a Dehalococcoides-containing culture.     

Cholesterol,beta-sitosterol,ergosterol, and coprostanol in agricultural soils

In this work we analyzed the sterol content of agricultural soils. Three eukaryotic sterols, cholesterol, beta-sitosterol, and ergosterol were chosen as representative of the animal, plant, and fungal kingdoms, while coprostanol was validated as a marker of human fecal matter contamination. Three soils subjected to different treatments (sewage sludge application, irrigation by saline waters, and contamination by industrial and municipal wastes) were sampled and their sterol content was measured and compared with adjacent untreated soils. The effects of time, location, and treatment were evaluated by means of a number of statistical techniques. Beta-sitosterol concentration varied from 0.9 to 30 mg kg(-1). Lesser values were measured in Cremona (2.1 mg kg(-1)) than in Bari (4.0 mg kg(-1)) and Naples (10.9 mg kg(-1)) soils. No significant effects were detected for cholesterol and ergosterol. Coprostanol was present after sewage sludge disposal and contamination by industrial and municipal wastes, while it was absent in the soil treated with saline water and in the adjacent untreated soil. Coprostanol concentration did not vary much within site and time of sampling, with a mean value of 0.2 mg kg(-1). We confirmed coprostanol as a useful persistent marker of human fecal matter contamination. Multivariate analysis highlighted a clear distinction between the eukaryotic sterols and coprostanol. In addition, a different behavior between ergosterol and cholesterol on one side and beta-sitosterol on the other was detected. This preliminary work suggests that sterols deserve a deeper study of their use as indicators in agricultural soils.     

Field intercomparison of precipitation measurements performed within the framework of the Pan European Intensive Monitoring Program of EU/ICP Forest

A 6-month field intercomparison study on precipitation measurements was performed at Schagerbrug near the west coast in the Netherlands. Twenty bulk sampling systems and two wet-only samplers were evaluated on accuracy, sampling strategy and performance under field conditions. Bulk precipitation fluxes of NO3-, NH4+, H+ and Kjeldahl-N generally could be determined with a greater accuracy than bulk precipitation fluxes of SO4(2-), Na+, Cl-, Mg2+, Ca2+, Alkalinity and H+. Bulk precipitation fluxes of K+ generally had the lowest accuracy. Only 20% of the sampling systems differed less than 10% from the best estimate, whereas most systems (60%) differed more than 20% from the best estimate. The inaccuracy induced by the sampling system appeared to be much larger than that resulting from the analysis of the samples by different laboratories as determined by ring-tests.     

Proposal for new quantitative eco-design indicators: a first case study

Eco-design is a valuable approach in order to reduce the environmental impact associated with a product system, by introducing environmental considerations early on in its design. Different strategies are possible for the implementation of eco-design, depending on the intended goals as well as the characteristics of the products. The present work proposes a series of eco-design indicators and tests to what extent the application of these simple indicators provides a reliable indication of the reduction of environmental impact, as measured by commonly employed Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) indicators. The product chosen for the case study was a water source heat pump. Two of the newly-developed indicators were applied and compared to LCIA indicators, focussing on design for disassembly and for recycling. A good and robust correlation was found, providing support to the thesis that these simple eco-design indicators can be used as a proxy to quickly and effectively gauge the environmental improvements introduced in a product system at the design stage.     

Genotypic and phenotypic diversity in populations of plant-probiotic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> spp. colonizing roots

Several soil microorganisms colonizing roots are known to naturally promote the health of plants by controlling a range of plant pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. The use of theses antagonistic microorganisms, recently named plant-probiotics, to control plant-pathogenic fungi is receiving increasing attention, as they may represent a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. Many years of research on plant-probiotic microorganisms (PPM) have indicated that fluorescent pseudomonads producing antimicrobial compounds are largely involved in the suppression of the most widespread soilborne pathogens. Phenotype and genotype analysis of plant-probiotic fluorescent pseudomonads (PFP) have shown considerable genetic variation among these types of strains. Such variability plays an important role in the rhizosphere competence and the biocontrol ability of PFP strains. Understanding the mechanisms by which genotypic and phenotypic diversity occurs in natural populations of PFP could be exploited to choose those agricultural practices which best exploit the indigenous PFP populations, or to isolate new plant-probiotic strains for using them as inoculants. A number of different methods have been used to study diversity within PFP populations. Because different resolutions of the existing microbial diversity can be revealed depending on the approach used, this review first describes the most important methods used for the assessment of fluorescent Pseudomonas diversity. Then, we focus on recent data relating how differences in genotypic and phenotypic diversity within PFP communities can be attributed to geographic location, climate, soil type, soil management regime, and interactions with other soil microorganisms and host plants. It becomes evident that plant-related parameters exert the strongest influence on the genotypic and phenotypic variations in PFP populations.