Spatio-temporal analysis of alpine ecotones: A spatial explicit model targeting altitudinal vegetation shifts

There is general agreement in literature that Alpine vegetation belt ecotones have shown a trend of upward migration in the last few decades. Despite the potential of such shifts as indicators of global change effects in mountain ecosystems, there are relatively few works focused on their assessment in a systematic and spatially explicit way. In this work our aim is to quantify the altitudinal shifts and analyse the spatial pattern dynamics of mountain ecotones. We developed a novel procedure to delineate the current and former state of three characteristic mountain ecotones, which we formalised as forest, tree and tundra lines. Our approach is based on the recognition of altitudinal extreme outposts identified with ecotone locations at a slope scale. The integration of multi-temporal datasets allows the identification and quantification of altitudinal advances and retreats in the outpost locations for a given period. We tested the method in a section of the Italian Alps for the period 1957-2003. Results show a general trend of an increase in altitude for the three ecotones, despite the occurrence of occasional decreases. We estimate decadal altitude increments of 25 m for forest line, 13 m for treeline and 11 m for tundra line. We also identified changes in ecotone spatial morphology between the two dates, with significant implications in connectivity and colonisation dynamics.     

Integrated assessment of agricultural policies with dynamic land use change modelling

With about half of its territory being farmed, agriculture is the main land use in the European Union (EU). As over 10% of the total EU manufacturing output comes from the agri-food sector, it also is an economic factor of great importance. Moreover, EU policy in this sector has far-reaching consequences ranging from the EU's status as a global trade partner to landscape preservation and development. The LUMOCAP Policy Support System is targeted towards policy makers in the European Commission (EC) and its Member States (MS) and aims to provide support in the field of sustainable agricultural and rural development. To this end it incorporates an integrated model with socio-economic and bio-physical processes, operating at different spatial scales. For supporting integrated assessment, a large number of policy levers is included as inputs for these models and outputs are transformed into policy-relevant social, economic and environmental indicators. The whole system is framed in a flexible, modular and easy to use software package that is useable for process experts and policy-analysts alike.This paper describes the integrated model, the individual models and a first calibration of the system. It demonstrates the system's behaviour for typical scenario runs and concludes with a reflection on the current status of the system and some recommendations for further development.     

A female-specific attractant for the codling moth,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Cydia pomonella</Emphasis>, from apple fruit volatiles

Host plant-derived esters were investigated as potential female-specific attractants for the codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.), a key pest of apples worldwide. The behavioural effects of single and combined volatile compounds and of a natural odour blend were examined using olfactometry and wind-tunnel bioassays. The apple-derived volatile butyl hexanoate attracted mated females while it was behaviourally ineffective for males over a dosage range of more than three orders of magnitude in olfactometer assays. Female CM preferred this kairomone to the headspace volatiles from ripe apples. Both no-choice and choice trials in the wind-tunnel suggested that female moths might be effectively trapped by means of this compound. In contrast, headspace volatiles collected from ripe apple fruits as well as a blend containing the six dominant esters from ripe apples were behaviourally ineffective. A female-specific repellency was found for the component hexyl acetate in the olfactometer, but this ester had no significant effect in the wind-tunnel. Butyl hexanoate with its sex-specific attraction should be further evaluated for monitoring and controlling CM females in orchards.     

Azo dye biodegradation by microbial cultures immobilized in alginate beads

Microbial degradation of azo dyes usually starts in anaerobic conditions with a reductive cleavage of the azo bond, followed by an aerobic step necessary for the degradation of the aromatic amines formed. Because some reductive processes take place also in presence of molecular oxygen, a one-step azo dye degrading process has been investigated. A microbial consortium able to degrade ethyl orange in aerobic conditions has been selected and immobilized in alginate beads coated with polyacrylamide resin. Different concentrations of ethyl orange have been completely degraded in the presence of 1% glucose or starch as cosubstrates, and different beads preparation procedures have been studied to determine the best condition for microbial degradation. The catalytic activity of the immobilized consortium improved during five serial processes carried out for 30 days at room temperature. Three pure cultures were then isolated from the consortium. The one with the greatest degrading activity, a filamentous fungus, had a degradative capacity similar to that of the whole consortium.     

Selenite precipitation by a rhizospheric strain of Stenotrophomonas sp. isolated from the root system of Astragalus bisulcatus: a biotechnological perspective

A bacterial strain (SeITE02), related to the species Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and resistant to selenite (SeIV) up to 50 mM in the growth medium, was isolated from rhizospheric soil of a selenium hyperaccumulator plant, the legume Astragalus bisulcatus. The influence of SeIV on the active growth of this Se-tolerant bacterial strain has been investigated in oxic conditions, along with the isolate's ability to reduce selenite to elemental selenium (Se(0)). Interestingly, concentrations of 0.5 mM SeIV were wholly reduced by strain SeITE02 in liquid culture within 52 h. Moreover, 87% of SeIV added to the growth medium at the initial concentration of 2.0 mM underwent again reduction in 120 h. Actually, a selenite-mediated induction of a sort of adaptive response to detrimental SeIV effects magnified the efficiency of SeITE02 in reducing this toxic oxyanion. Furthermore, the SeIV influence on cell morphology of strain SeITE02 was evidenced by phase-contrast and electron microscopy analyses. In particular, transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis of S. maltophilia strain SeITE02, grown in presence of SeIV, showed electron-dense Se(0) granules either in the cell cytoplasm or in the extracellular space. Therefore, the capability of strain SeITE02 to quickly reduce soluble and harmful SeIV to insoluble and unavailable Se(0) may be looked at as a promising exploitable option for the setup of low-cost biological treatments tailored to manage contamination in selenium-laden effluents.     

Daphnia emergence: a sensitive indicator of fire-retardant stress in temporary wetlands

Fire-retardant formulations are increasingly used by fire managers to control wildland fires. Their extensive use requires an assessment of their impacts in those ecosystems that could be affected by them. Recent studies indicate the potential for environmental impacts when accidentally delivered to surface waters. Yet the response of temporary wetlands, such as vernal pools, typical in Mediterranean areas, is unknown. This study reports on the emergence response of a wetland population of Daphnia curvirostris Eylmann (Cladocera, Crustacea) from sediments that were treated with a commercial fire retardant (Fire-Trol 934). Three application levels were used: 1, 3 and 5 L m(-2). The low and medium levels are in the range of manufacturer's recommendations of use in the field based on the fuel characteristics. The high level simulates local elevated concentrations that may result from inhomogeneous retardant delivery. Results indicate that emergence success decreases with increasing application rate, leading to a complete failure with application levels of 5 L m(-2). This suggests that benthic-pelagic interactions in temporary wetlands-often the primary way by which recolonization of isolated wetlands occurs-can be significantly impacted by fire retardants once they fill with fall/winter rains, thereby serving as a sensitive indicator of fire-retardant contamination. Results highlight a research need for establishing of criteria for effective, but environmentally safe use of fire retardants in the environment.     

Quantitative determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in marine organisms analysed by high resolution gas chromatography selected ion monitoring

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in the selected ion monitoring mode was used to measure PCB contamination in some marine organisms collected in Augusta Bay (Sicily, Italy). Quantitation was based on previously published data relative to the molecular ion analytical response of some single polychlorinated biphenyls to electron impact mass spectrometry detection. By this approach it was possible to measure the level of each polychlorinated biphenyl group having the same number of chlorine atoms. High concentrations of PCBs (2.3 to 6.1 ppm) were found in the edible part of some samples.The PCB composition pattern showed that contamination was generally due to hexachlorobiphenyls and to lesser extent to penta and hepta-chlorobiphenyls. Octa and tetra-chlorobiphenyls were present at high molar percentages in only a few samples.     

Work ability of workers in different age groups in a public health institution in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the associations between demographics, work, lifestyle, housework, and the work ability of workers. METHODS: Employees between the ages of 20 and 69 (N = 651), employed at a Brazilian public institution, responded to a questionnaire on demographics, work, lifestyle characteristics, and work ability. RESULTS: Work ability decreased significantly with age among the women. The younger group had higher scores on the work ability index than the older age groups, except for mental resources. The logistic regression analysis showed that higher age, lower education, and long work history at the institution were significantly associated with reduced work ability. CONCLUSIONS: The progressive aging, the low level of education, and the long duration work in the studied institution were related to a reduction in work ability, which increases the risk of work disability or early retirement.     

Study of a surface coating present on a Renaissance Piety from the Museum of Ancient Art (Castello Sforzesco,Milan)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The surface coating present on a marble Piety dating to the Renaissance period and stored at the Castello Sforzesco-Museum of Ancient Art (Milan,...     

Evaluating surrogates of genetic diversity for conservation planning

Protected-area systems should conserve intraspecific genetic diversity. Because genetic data require resources to obtain, several approaches have been proposed for generating plans for protected-area systems (prioritizations) when genetic data are not available. Yet such surrogate-based approaches remain poorly tested. We evaluated the effectiveness of potential surrogate-based approaches based on microsatellite genetic data collected across the Iberian Peninsula for 7 amphibian and 3 reptilian species. Long-term environmental suitability did not effectively represent sites containing high genetic diversity (allelic richness). Prioritizations based on long-term environmental suitability had similar performance to random prioritizations. Geographic distances and resistance distances based on contemporary environmental suitability were not always effective surrogates for identification of combinations of sites that contain individuals with different genetic compositions. Our results demonstrate that population genetic data based on commonly used neutral markers can inform prioritizations, and we could not find an adequate substitute. Conservation planners need to weigh the potential benefits of genetic data against their acquisition costs.