Using fisher-contributed secondary fins to fill critical shark-fisheries data gaps

Developing-world shark fisheries are typically not assessed or actively managed for sustainability; one fundamental obstacle is the lack of species and size-composition catch data. We tested and implemented a new and potentially widely applicable approach for collecting these data: mandatory submission of low-value secondary fins (anal fins) from landed sharks by fishers and use of the fins to reconstruct catch species and size. Visual and low-cost genetic identification were used to determine species composition, and linear regression was applied to total length and anal fin base length for catch-size reconstruction. We tested the feasibility of this approach in Belize, first in a local proof-of-concept study and then scaling it up to the national level for the 2017–2018 shark-fishing season (1,786 fins analyzed). Sixteen species occurred in this fishery. The most common were the Caribbean reef (Carcharhinus perezi), blacktip (C. limbatus), sharpnose (Atlantic [Rhizoprionodon terraenovae] and Caribbean [R. porosus] considered as a group), and bonnethead (Sphyrna cf. tiburo). Sharpnose and bonnethead sharks were landed primarily above size at maturity, whereas Caribbean reef and blacktip sharks were primarily landed below size at maturity. Our approach proved effective in obtaining critical data for managing the shark fishery, and we suggest the tools developed as part of this program could be exported to other nations in this region and applied almost immediately if there were means to communicate with fishers and incentivize them to provide anal fins. Outside the tropical Western Atlantic, we recommend further investigation of the feasibility of sampling of secondary fins, including considerations of time, effort, and cost of species identification from these fins, what secondary fin type to use, and the means with which to communicate with fishers and incentivize participation. This program could be a model for collecting urgently needed data for developing-world shark fisheries globally. Article impact statement: Shark fins collected from fishers yield data critical to shark fisheries management in developing nations.     

Heterogeneity of soil surface ammonium concentration and other characteristics, related to plant specific variability in a Mediterranean-type ecosystem

Heterogeneity and dynamics of eight soil surface characteristics essential for plants—ammonium and nitrate concentrations, water content, temperature, pH, organic matter, nitrification and ammonification rates—were studied in a Mediterranean-type ecosystem on four occasions over a year. Soil properties varied seasonally and were influenced by plant species. Nitrate and ammonium were present in the soil at similar concentrations throughout the year. The positive correlation between them at the time of greatest plant development indicates that ammonium is a readily available nitrogen source in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. The results presented here suggest that plant cover significantly affects soil surface characteristics.     

Phosphorus fractionation in volcanic lake sediments (Azores - Portugal)

The phosphorus distribution in volcanic sediments of three lakes that are under different anthropogenic pressures in S?o Miguel island (Azores - Portugal) was evaluated using a sequential extraction scheme. The P-fractionation scheme employs sequential extractions of sediment with NH4Cl, bicarbonate-dithionite (BD), NaOH (at room temperature), HCl and NaOH (at 85 degrees C) to obtain five P-fractions. The P-fractionation shows that in lakes with higher trophic status (Lake Furnas and Lake Sete Cidades), the NaOH extracted P is the dominant fraction, that contribute with more than 50% to total sedimentary phosphorus. The rank order of P-fractionation for these two lakes was NaOH>NaOH (85 degrees C)>HCl>BD>NH4Cl for Furnas lake and NaOH>HCl>NaOH (85 degrees C)>NH4Cl>BD for Sete Cidades lake. On the other hand, the trend of P contribution in the oligotrophic lake Fogo shows that the most inert P pools have the higher concentrations, with more than 50% of the P contribution from the last extraction step with NaOH at 85 degrees C. For this lake, the rank order of P-fractionation was NH4Cl>BD>NaOH>HCl>NaOH (85 degrees C). The Phosphorus Maximum Solubilization Potential (P-MSP) was also calculated and the results show that for the more bio-available P-fractions (first and second extraction step), the P-MSP values for Furnas and Sete Cidades lakes are sensibly higher than the results obtained in Fogo lake, an indication of the non-point diffuse load discharged in the first ones.     

Diquat associated with copper sources for algae control: Efficacy and ecotoxicology

The aims of this research were to evaluate the efficacy of copper oxychloride (CuCl₂.3Cu(OH)₂), copper hydroxide (Cu(OH)₂) and diquat (1.1′-ethylene-2.2′-bipyridyldiylium dibromide), isolated and in association with 0.1% of both copper sources, in the control of the unicellular algae Ankistrodesmus gracilis and the filamentous algae Pithophora kewesis, and to determine the acute toxicity of the tested chemicals in Hyphressobrycon eques, Pomacea canaliculata, Lemna minor and Azolla caroliniana. The efficacy was estimated by the methods of chlorophyll a and pheophytin a readings, changed into growth inhibition percentage. Both algae were exposed to the following concentrations: 0.2; 0.4; 0.8; 1.2 mg L^?1 of diquat and its association with the copper sources; and 0.1; 0.3; 0.5; 0.7; 1.0 and 1.5 mg L^?1 in the isolated applications of copper hydroxide and copper oxychloride. An untreated control was kept. The acute toxicity was estimatedby 50% lethal concentration (LC50). The copper sources were effective for A. gracilis control, at rates as high as 0.1 mg L^?1 (>95% efficacy). Isolated diquat and its association with copper hydroxide were both effective at rates as high as 0.4 mg L^?1, with 95 and 88% control efficacy, respectively. The copper oxychloride was effective at 0.2 mg L^?1, with 93% efficacy. None of the tested chemicals and associations was effective on P. kewesis control. The most sensitive non target organism to the tested chemicals was L. minor; the less sensitive was H. eques.     

Chemical monitoring of river water bodies in an EU outermost region: examples from the Azores archipelago (Portugal)

Chemical monitoring of water quality on a total of 16 rivers in the Azores archipelago (Portugal), since 2003, made it possible to identify the major pressures and spatial geochemical variations along main course of the rivers. River water pollution is to a large extent associated to point sources, namely domestic wastewater discharges, especially in urban areas, and diffuse sources, associated with pasture land, and explain the high values on BOD(5) and nutrients (P and N). Heavy metals and metalloids, as well as hydrocarbons and pesticides, are generally under the detection limits of the analytical methods. Generally, river water reflects pollution loads according to a simple model, derived from land use in the watershed: in the upper part conditions are pristine, in the intermediate portion of the basin pasture land dominates and near the coast urban discharges are increasingly important. Results stress the role that an approach based on the watershed scale, coupled with land use management measures, are crucial to water management procedures and a successful WFD implementation in small river basin districts like the Azores. The paper also shows the need for full compliance regarding EU directives on urban wastewater and nitrate pollution due to agriculture.     

发光细菌法评价排污口污水中总有机污染物毒性

利用发光细菌发光原理,建立以明亮发光杆菌(photobacterium phosphoreum)T3变种作为毒性测试物种检测环境中总有机污染物毒性的方法,并用该方法评价环渤海排污口总有机物毒性分布状况。测试结果显示,建立的相关方程及相关性显著性检验P0.01,HgCl2 EC50值基本在0.10±0.02 mg/L范围内波动,指标符合方法规定要求,即发光菌监测排污口中总有机污染物毒性测试结果是准确可信的。用发光细菌法评价环渤海20个排污口,其中剧毒占10%,高毒占25%,重毒占5%,中毒占10%,低毒占50%。发光细菌法能客观、快速、准确地反映废水中总有机污染物毒性状况,该方法在水质监测总有机物毒性中有着广泛的应用前景。     

Valorization of winery waste vs. the costs of not recycling

Wine production generates huge amounts of waste. Before the 1990s, the most economical option for waste removal was the payment of a disposal fee usually being of around 3000 Euros. However, in recent years the disposal fee and fines for unauthorized discharges have increased considerably, often reaching 30,000–40,000 Euros, and a prison sentence is sometimes also imposed. Some environmental friendly technologies have been proposed for the valorization of winery waste products. Fermentation of grape marc, trimming vine shoot or vinification lees has been reported to produce lactic acid, biosurfactants, xylitol, ethanol and other compounds. Furthermore, grape marc and seeds are rich in phenolic compounds, which have antioxidants properties, and vinasse contains tartaric acid that can be extracted and commercialized. Companies must therefore invest in new technologies to decrease the impact of agro-industrial residues on the environment and to establish new processes that will provide additional sources of income.     

Arabica-coffee and teobroma-cocoa agro-industrial waste biosorbents,for Pb(II) removal in aqueous solutions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Agro-industrial waste biosorbents of arabica–coffee (WCA) and theobroma–cocoa (WCT) have been characterized and tested to remove Pb(II)...     

广西北部湾海域初级生产力与环境因子相关关系研究

海洋初级生产力（ocean primary productivity,OPP）是评估海洋生态的重要依据,对海洋资源的开发与管理具有重要意义。本研究基于2017年北部湾近岸海域水质监测数据与MODIS海洋水色数据,构建VGPM模型估算广西北部湾海域海洋初级生产力。根据模型估算结果,分析了该海域2017年OPP的时空变化特征与影响OPP的环境因子相关性。结果表明,北部湾海域OPP呈现出冬、春季高和夏、秋季低的时间特征,近岸高、远岸低的空间特征;月平均OPP最高值出现在12月,为2196.23 mg C/(m2/d）;最低值出现在8月,为693.73 mg C/(m2/d）;OPP与光合有效辐射、海表温度呈负相关关系,与盐度呈正相关关系;营养盐相关性分析表明北部湾海域浮游植物生长对亚硝酸盐的需求不高,对正磷酸盐的需求较为明显。