Search results for "Biomonitoring"
showing 10 items of 200 documents
Towards a quality assessment of freshwater ecosystems through the morphological analysis of phytoplankton.
2012
Among the organisms living at low Reynolds numbers, those belonging to the ecological group of phytoplankton offer an amazing morphological diversity and all the scientists involved in phytoplankton research have commonly observed that they may express a quite high variability, both intra- and inter-specific, in their size and morphology. These features have been traditionally used just for taxonomic classification. However, the ecological value of morphological descriptors in phytoplankton is increasingly used to investigate their abilities in resource (light and nutrients) uptake as a result of natural selection and competition. At the same time, the analysis of suitable morphology and si…
Macroalgae transplant to detect the occurrence of anthropogenic nutrients in seawater of highly tourist beaches in Mediterranean islands
2020
In the Mediterranean region, islands are among the most important tourist destinations, being sites of considerable naturalistic, historical and cultural importance. This is highly beneficial for local economies, but may also represent a threat for the environment, especially during the peak season (i.e. summer). Indeed, the sharp demographic increase concentrated in a relatively short period may negatively affect the quality of coastal marine systems and the provision of ecosystem services, producing in turn negative feedbacks on tourism industry. Nevertheless, the assessment of the environmental impact of tourism on coastal seawater has been seldom addressed. Here, we show the results of …
Beyond the mean: A comparison of trace- and macroelement correlation profiles of two lacustrine populations of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii
2018
In invertebrate biomonitors of chemical pollution, emphasis has been generally given to mean accumulation patterns and how they reflect varying environmental levels of contamination. Intra-population variability, and how it relates with individual phenotypic traits, has received less attention. Here, a set of analytes including trace elements (B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn), macroelements (C, Ca, K, Mg, N, Na), and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) was measured in two populations of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii from Lake Trasimeno and Lake Bolsena (Central Italy). The influence of location, sex, body size, and condition factor was assessed; in ad…
Effect of different substrata on rhizome growth, leaf biometry and shoot density of Posidonia oceanica
2013
The effects of different substratum typologies on Posidonia oceanica growth and morphology were estimated in four Sicilian meadows using Generalized and Linear Mixed Models combined with retrodating and biometric analyses. Substratum exerted a multiple effect, resulting in different biometric features for P. oceanica shoots settled on rock from those growing on sand and matte. On rock, values for growth rate, leaf length and shoot surface were lower than those on other substrata, with 42%, 23% and 32% the highest degree of difference respectively. The present study may have interesting methodological consequences for the comprehensive understanding of the causative variables potentially aff…
The use of moss-bags technique for volcanic aerosols investigation on Mt. Etna (Italy)
2014
Explosive eruptions and volcanic passive degassing inject large quantities of gas and particles into the atmosphere that are ultimately deposited at the Earth’s surface through wet or dry deposition processes, affecting the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the biosphere. Mount Etna (Italy) is one of the most prodigious and persistent sources of gases and particles to the troposphere. Volcanic emissions were studied at Etna volcano by using moss-bags technique. Mosses (Sphagnum species) were exposed around the volcano at different distances from the active vents to evaluate the impact of its emissions into the atmosphere and in the local surrounding. The results confirmed the huge amount of s…
Comprehensive analytical strategy for biomonitoring of pesticides in urine by liquid chromatography–orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry
2014
In this study we propose an analytical strategy that combines a target approach for the quantitative analysis of contemporary pesticide metabolites with a comprehensive post-target screening for the identification of biomarkers of exposure to environmental contaminants in urine using liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS). The quantitative method for the target analysis of 29 urinary metabolites of organophosphate (OP) insecticides, synthetic pyrethroids, herbicides and fungicides was validated after a previous statistical optimization of the main factors governing the ion source ionization and a fragmentation study using the high energy collision disso…
Biomonitoring with cryptogams near the power station of la Robla (Leon, Spain)
2007
The present monitoring study was undertaken to analyze the impact of atmospheric pollution on the lichens found near a power station in northern Spain. Data from 565 releves gathered on 113 sites were analyzed. In areas near the power station the lichen species belong to the Xanthorion community. In areas away from the power station and that are not under the influence of dominant winds, the lichenic diversity increases and the species present belong to the Parmelion community. In intermediate areas between the two, there is a great increase in lichen diversity, in these areas there is a replacement of the species that typically belong to the Xanthorion community, by species typical of the …
La biomonitorización de sustancias tóxicas en muestras biológicas de población general
2016
ResumenLa biomonitorización de sustancias tóxicas ha sido incorporada por buena parte de los países más desarrollados, con el objetivo de conocer sus concentraciones en muestras biológicas. Estas sustancias se incorporan al organismo por medio de diferentes exposiciones ambientales. La vigilancia en muestras biológicas debe permitir conocer sus valores en grupos vulnerables y su evolución en el tiempo, comparar con los valores observados en otros países, identificar grupos que presenten valores altos o de riesgo, y promover la investigación. Su finalidad más clara es la de servir como instrumento para el diseño de políticas que permitan poner en marcha medidas de actuación en diversos secto…
The role of natural science collections in the biomonitoring of environmental contaminants in apex predators in support of the EU’s zero pollution am…
2022
Movalli, Paola et al.
Characterisation and distribution of deposited trace elements transported over long and intermediate distances in north-eastern France using Sphagnum…
2015
Abstract Trace elements in the form of particulate matter can be transported downwind from their emission sources and may have negative effects on human health and ecosystems. The transport of trace elements is often studied by monitoring their accumulation in mosses. The aim of this study was to characterise and describe the distribution of deposited trace elements transported over long and intermediate distances in north-eastern France, a location far from the main emission sources. We analysed the trace element accumulation in Sphagnum capillifolium in 54 ombrotrophic peatlands distributed in six regions of France (Alps, Jura, Massif Central, Morvan, Rhone corridor and Vosges). The conce…