Estimating the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) for the State of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil, from 2002 to 2016, as a tool for public policy decision making

Environment, Development and Sustainability - This paper estimates the genuine progress indicator (GPI) for the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil, from 2002 to 2016 as an alternative indicator...     

Does hedgerow management on organic farms benefit small mammal populations?

Organic farming is a whole-farm management approach believed to encourage biodiversity by excluding the input of agrochemicals and introducing specific management regimes for non-crop habitats. We examined the impact of the hedgerow management regime encouraged for organic farms on small mammal populations, since small mammal numbers influence a range of species at higher trophic levels and, in particular, are key to the conservation of a range of mammalian and avian predators. We compared differences in management and structure of non-crop habitats at the farm-scale between organic and conventional farms, and used within-farm variations in hedgerow size to predict the effect of hedgerow size on small mammals on both farm types. There were no significant differences in the proportion of non-crop habitats between organic and conventional farms, although management differences produced larger hedgerows on organic farms and greater diversity of hedgerow growth stages. However, a difference in hedgerow size between the farm types did not have a significant effect on small mammal abundance or diversity. We conclude that increased hedgerow size is not benefiting small mammal populations on organic farms: significant gains in small mammal numbers may be more effectively achieved by increasing the area of non-crop habitats rather than by improving management regimes.     

Diel and seasonal changes in the distribution of fish on a southeast Brazil sandy beach

The effect of diel and seasonal changes in the distribution of fishes on a subtropical sandy beach on the southeastern coast of Brazil were studied. Seine netting was carried out on both seasonal and diel scales between July 1998 and June 1999. A total of 46 fish species was recorded, six being numerically dominant: Anchoa tricolor, Gerres aprion, Harengula clupeola, Atherinella brasiliensis, Mugil liza and Diapterus rhombeus. Seasonal changes in abundance of dominant species were detected. Species dominant in winter were Anchoa tricolor, H. clupeola and Atherinella brasiliensis; in spring, Anchoa tricolor and G. aprion; in summer G. aprion and D. rhombeus; and in autumn M. liza and H. clupeola. Overall, diel patterns did not reveal any significant trends; however, if we consider each season separately, an increase in A. tricolor abundance was recorded during the day in winter/spring, being replaced at night by H. clupeola in winter, and by G. aprion in spring. Increases in number of individuals and biomass at sunset, and decreases during the night were recorded. The winter/spring inshore/offshore movements at diel scale performed by the three most abundant species demonstrate that diel fluctuation acts more at a species-specific level than at a structural one; in summer there was no evidence of diel movements due to a heavy influx of G. aprion and D. rhombeus, which use the area throughout day and night, increasing overall abundance. Seasonal movements seems to be related to ontogenetic change in species, while diel movements in the fish assemblage seem to be more related to physiological requirements, such feeding activity of each particular species, than to physico-chemical conditions.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

The Impact of Biodegradable Plastics in the Properties of Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Since biodegradable materials are unwittingly mixed with synthetic materials, this work aimed to study the feasibility of reliably identifying some...     

Different evolutionary histories in two sympatric limpets of the genus Nacella (Patellogastropoda) in the South-western Atlantic coast

The phylogeography of two sympatric Magellanic limpets of the genus Nacella was studied. The historical and contemporary processes underlying their intraspecific patterns in Argentina were inferred using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene. Results indicate different evolutionary histories in the two species. A recent geographic and demographic expansion ~11,000?years ago, with absence of current genetic structuring, is proposed for Nacella magellanica. In contrast, the phylogeographic pattern showed noticeable phylogenetic and geographic discontinuities in Nacella deaurata; slow continuous population size growth with current low levels of gene flow among its populations was also observed, indicating demographic equilibrium. The beginning of divergence between these closely related limpets was estimated at about 270,000?years ago with very little or none gene flow occurring after their splitting. These contrasting historic patterns could be related to distinctive responses to climate changes associated with Pleistocene glaciations, as a result of differences in their ecological traits.     

Lettuce plants as bioaccumulators of trace elements in a community of central Italy

A survey, based on the use of vascular plants to describe the distribution of selected elements (21 in total) was performed in 11 sites in the area of Castelfiorentino (Tuscany, Central Italy) differing for land use, from urban to industrial and rural areas. Lettuce plants grown under standardized conditions were positively used as biodeposimeters of airborne trace elements. Washing was found to be highly significant in reducing concentrations of many elements in the samples, suggesting a general surface contamination of leaves. The typical crustal element Al showed good correlations with Co, Fe, Li and V; on the contrary, Zn and Cd were intercorrelated and showed no connection with crustal indicators. Lead was still a relevant environmental presence, as the experiments were carried out before the ban of leaded gasoline. Source apportionment by factor analysis put in evidence a major contribution of crustal materials, followed by man-related activities; a minor role was ascertained for marine aerosol. A comparison was made between analytical data of lettuce plants grown in our experimental sites and a bulk of commercial lettuce purchased at a local supermarket. It should be stressed how Cu concentrations of commercial material were significantly higher than those found in our plants; this is likely caused by phytosanitary treatments.     

Effects of Amazonian flying rivers on frog biodiversity and populations in the Atlantic rainforest

Given the speed at which humans are changing the climate, species with high degrees of endemism may not have time to avoid extinction through adaptation. We investigated through teleconnection analysis the origin of rainfall that determines the phylogenetic diversity of rainforest frogs and the effects of microclimate differences in shaping the morphological traits of isolated populations (which contribute to greater phylogenetic diversity and speciation). We also investigated through teleconnection analysis how deforestation in Amazonia can affect ecosystem services that are fundamental to maintaining the climate of the Atlantic rainforest biodiversity hotspot. Seasonal winds known as flying rivers carry water vapor from Amazonia to the Atlantic Forest, and the breaking of this ecosystem service could lead Atlantic Forest species to population decline and extinction in the short term. Our results suggest that the selection of morphological traits that shape Atlantic Forest frog diversity and their population dynamics are influenced by the Amazonian flying rivers. Our results also suggest that the increases of temperature anomalies in the Atlantic Ocean due to global warming and in the Amazon forest due to deforestation are already breaking this cycle and threaten the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest hotspot.     

Remediation of PCB‐Contaminated Soil Using Extraction and Destruction: Bench‐Scale Test

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a persistent environmental issue worldwide. This study summarizes the results obtained from a bench‐scale test of remediating PCB‐impacted soil. The research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of extracting the PCB Aroclor 1260 from soil, transferring it to a liquid matrix, and then treating the PCB‐containing liquid using an Activated Metal Treatment System, a technology developed by NASA based on zero valent magnesium (ZVMg). The soil was from a former electrical plant area impacted by PCBs. The initial concentration of untreated soil contained an average of 4.7 ± 0.15 mg/kg of Aroclor 1260. The results showed that the mass transfer phenomena is possible using ethanol as a liquid matrix, reaching transfer results up to 93 percent. The ZVMg enabled the destruction of the Aroclor 1260, which reached 20 percent without any buildup of undesirable by‐products, such as less chlorinated PCBs.  ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Printed wiring boards for mobile phones: characterization and recycling of copper

The popularization of mobile phones, combined with a technological evolution, means a large number of scrap and obsolete equipment are discarded every year, thereby causing economic losses and environmental pollution. In the present study, the printed wiring boards scrap of mobile phones were characterized in order to recycle some of the device components, using techniques of mechanical processing, hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy. The use of the techniques of mechanical processing (milling, particle size classification, magnetic and electrostatic separation) was an efficient alternative to obtain a concentrated fraction (mainly iron in the magnetic fraction and copper in the conductive fraction) and another fraction containing polymers and ceramics. At the end of mechanical processing, a concentrated fraction of metals could be obtained with an average concentration of 60% copper. This concentrated fraction in metals was dissolved in aqua regia and sent to electrowinning to recover 92% of the dissolved copper. The obtained cathodes have a copper content above 95%, which demonstrates the technical feasibility of recovery of copper using the techniques of mechanical processing, hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy.