Cesium-137 Concentrations in Sediments and Aquatic Plants from the Pinios River, Thessalia (Central Greece)

The levels of radioactive contamination by artificial radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) were evaluated in sediments and the commonest species of water plants. Specimens were collected from a range of biotopes along the Pinios River and its tributaries, during the years 1998 and 2010. The ¹³⁷Cs concentrations within the above period clearly indicate that this radionuclide still decrease in the River Pinios. A marked decrease is also observed in comparison to our previous results in 1993. ¹³⁷Cs concentration activities in the sediment are higher than in the plant material. In general, roots showed greater ¹³⁷Cs concentration than leaves, while stems showed the lowest concentration. Significant differences in ¹³⁷Cs concentrations were found among different species growing under similar environmental conditions. ¹³⁷Cs content in collected aquatic plants was in the descending order: Ceratophyllum demersum L. > Myriophyllum spicatum L. > Paspalum pasalodes Scribner > Cladophora glomerata L. > Cyperus longus L. > Potamogeton nodosus Poiret. A comparison of the studied stations indicated that the southwest side of Thessalia plain, where the first two initial sampling stations of the Pinios River and the tributaries Enipeas and Kalentzis are situated, was highly contaminated. Low ¹³⁷Cs concentrations were observed in the Titarisios tributary, originated from the northeast part of Thessalia plain, behind Mt. Olympus and the last sampling stations of the Pinios River.     

Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces from Abruzzo and Lazio Regions (Central Italy)

Marginal areas of Central Italy, i.e., areas where socio-economic conditions are weak and agriculture is carried on with traditional farming methods, are known to retain highly interesting local legume populations. The variation within a collection constituted by 44 populations belonging to 19 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces, recently collected in Central Italy, was studied. Most landraces from the Lazio region were collected in the inner valleys of Aniene river basin, those from the Abruzzo region were collected in the Valley Peligna and the basin of the Aterno–Pescara river. Some morphological traits of plant and seeds and the phaseolin pattern were analysed to evaluate the degree of genetic variation among and within the landraces. Both common bean gene pools were represented in the investigated collection, the populations belonging to Andean gene pool were predominant. The landraces ‘Cioncone’, from Lazio and ‘Fagiolo pane aquilano’, from Abruzzo showed the rare A phaseolin type. All the collected data were submitted to cluster analysis. Two main subgroups were identified, the former included mainly populations from Abruzzo region and the latter including all the others. Despite this, a considerable resemblance exists between the common bean landraces from Abruzzo and Lazio, as proved by the low rankings on the tree among the populations. The observed similarity is discussed also on the basis of historical relationships between the two sides of the Apennine ridge. Contribution n. 40 from Institute of Plant Genetics-CNR, Bari, Italy.     

Integrated chemical and biological evaluation of the quality of the River Lambro (Italy)

The aim of this study was to integrate hydrochemical and biological data in order to obtain a picture of the water quality along the River Lambro, considered to be one of the most polluted rivers in Italy. Biological sampling with artificial substrates was undertaken in February and May 1991 together with water sampling. Significant longitudinal variations between stations 1 and 2 were observed for temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen. Station 3 (Villanterio), situated on the southern tributary, showed a higher degree of pollution than the stations along the main course of the Lambro. E.B.I, and B.M.W.P. score gave a similar picture. A multivariate analysis (CCA) of the taxonomical and chemical data showed the greater influence of the environmental parameters conductivity and D.O. on the macroinvertebrate community structure. All the methods confirmed the strong impact of the Milan area on the river; two different environmental situations could be distinguished on the basis of characteristical groups of taxa. The artificial substrates combined with multivariate analysis proved to be a useful combination in the study of this river.     

Short-Term Changes of Response Indicators of Ecosystem Status in Broadleaved Forests in Tuscany (Central Italy)

The status of different response indicators of forest condition were measured and assessed between 1995 and 1997 at 6 Permanent Monitoring Plots (PMPs) in Tuscany (central Italy), where beech, holm oak and Turkey oak are the most frequent tree species. Foliage transparency, leaf damage and crown dieback have changed significantly over the monitoring period. Leaf area, length of the current year shoots, and total leaf area changed as well, but only for Turkey oak. Changes were consistent between and within the plots. Different indices of plant diversity showed marked changes, apparently linked to natural dynamics within individual ecosystems. These rapid and contrasting fluctuations in the various indicators of forest ecosystem make it difficult to derive a synthesis about the general condition of ecosystems and - especially - about the effects of air pollution.     

Age-Dependent Bioaccumulation of Organochlorine Compounds in Fish and their Selective Biotransformation in Top Predators from Lake Maggiore (Italy)

Fish and piscivorous bird eggs collected in 2003 from Lake Maggiore (Italy), were analysed for PCB and DDT contamination. Lake Maggiore has been severely polluted by DDT through production of the pesticide within its catchment. Although agricultural application of DDT was banned in Italy in the 1978, industrial production continued until 1996, with enough contamination of water and soil for serious bioaccumulation in the lake biota. PCB and DDT concentrations in a whitefish (Coregonus macrophthalmus Nusslin 1882) were seen to be dependent on season and fish age, but not on sex. The average increase of the lipid-normalised concentration of DDTs and PCBs was two-fold across season and also across age, resulting in an overall increase of four fold. The seasonal variation was related to the eco-physiological cycle of the fish and to the contamination dynamic of the lake, while the effect of the fish age was explained on the base of biomagnification-related mechanisms. A fugacity model was applied to predict the age-dependent bioaccumulation potential of PCBs, whose concentrations were rather stable in recent years in the lake. Predicted values for compounds with negligible biotransformation were in good agreement with experimental data (calculated vs. experimental mean difference of 14%), and a relationship between the increase of experimental age-dependent concentration and K _ow was observed. The good correspondence between the predicted and the measured values for most PCB congeners confirmed the general inability of fishes to biotransform these compounds. On the contrary, the importance of biotransformation processes was recognised in birds; eggs of a fish eating bird (Podiceps cristatus) from the same area selectively bioaccumulated p,p′-DDE. For PCBs, congener 149 appears to be completely metabolized by the bird species, and congeners 95, 101, 132, 151 and 174 were reduced as well. The role of the meta–para free position on at least one phenyl ring of PCB congeners in biotransformation processes was confirmed.     

Simulation of soil types in Teramo province (Central Italy) with terrain parameters and remote sensing data

Soil surveys are an essential source of information for land management although a limited budget often reduces the amount of data available. Even if the dataset is limited, geostatistics can provide a valid estimation tool through a weighted moving average interpolation (kriging). Often, however, the spatial variability of soil properties appears smoothed and short range variability is underestimated by this kind of interpolation technique. A more realistic distribution of a given variable on the territory can be obtained through models based on stochastic simulation.     

Geomorphic features of a badland (biancane) area (Central Italy): characterisation, distribution and quantitative spatial analysis

The biancana landscapes, rather common in several Italian areas, have a very complex morphology. Different geomorphic features often occur along the same hillslope. From a morphological survey of an experimental site in southern Tuscany, the forms were classified, and their distribution analysed. Spatial analysis of the biancane provided insights into the range of forces responsible for their formation and evolution. The results confirm an evolutionary trend from an original gently sloping surface to a complex biancana landform, emphasising a trend from the taller bean forms to the terminal soufflé-like and cone forms. The presence of scarp and sliding forms in the most sloping areas and along the residual surfaces supports the hypothesis of a process influenced by base level, acting initially by small mass movements. Spatial analysis did not reveal any systematic trend in the variability of the erosional features along the slopes. Variographic analysis showed that selected morphological attributes are spatially auto-correlated over a short range, suggesting that the erosive processes responsible for morphogenic evolution of biancane act mostly on a local scale. The strong geometric anisotropy detected in directions parallel to the main jointing systems also indicated a broader scale tectonic control of biancane evolution, probably in an early stage of their formation.     

Organochlorine Compounds (pesticides and PCBs) in Scats of the European Otter (Lutra lutra) from an Actual Expanding Population in Central France

Scats of the European otter (Lutra lutra) were sampled along the Allier river (France) catchment for organochlorine toxic compounds (nine pesticides and 16 PCBs congeners) measurement. From early 2004 to June 2005, 90 sites of 40 rivers were twice investigated, and 71 scats samples collected, in four geographical areas being naturally re-colonized by the species since its legal protection. Detectable pesticides and PCBs were found in 100% of the samples. Mean values reached 2.72 and 13.58 mg kg^?1 (lipid weight) for pesticides and PCBs, respectively. Amounts were significantly different between the four areas investigated. A significant increase in medium and absolute values is noted by going downstream of the catchment. Potential medium- and long-term consequences on the observed population increase are discussed.     

Decomposition of Emergent Aquatic Plant (Cattail) Litter Under Different Conditions and the Influence on Water Quality

Decomposition of aquatic plant might generate a significant influence on the receiving water body. In this study, decomposition of emergent aquatic plant (cattail) litter was investigated under different conditions to determine the influencing level of the decomposition process on the water quality. Different litter addition rates (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 g L^?1), temperature changes, sediment additions, and kinestates (static and dynamic conditions) were selected as the influencing factors for the decomposition process. The results suggested that the decomposition process could be all accelerated when conducted at a higher litter addition rate, under a cold condition, with sediment addition or on dynamic condition, respectively. Additionally, the maximum ratio of releasing carbon to nitrogen (C/N) was increased when the decomposition process was conducted with a higher litter addition rate, under a cold condition (31.0), with sediment addition (24.6) and on a dynamic condition (28.0), respectively, and the C/N ratios were all higher than that with only 0.5 g L^?1 litter addition (24.5), suggesting that lowering of water temperature, sediment addition, and increasing of oxygen might also enhance the C/N. The high C/N released during the decomposition process implied that the cattail litter might be utilized as the potential organic carbon source for nitrogen removal in the CW system.     

Direct and indirect evaluation of denudation rates in Central Italy

This paper presents the main results of a series of geomorphological studies, aimed to the quantitative direct and indirect evaluation of denudation processes in Central Italy. These studies, which started in some sample areas since long ago, were further deepened and extended to a wider number of drainage basins, representative of a variety of morphostructural conditions.     

Use of Anguilla anguilla for Biomonitoring Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Brackish and Riverine Waters in Central and Southern Italy

One of the aims of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/CE is to assess the ecological status of water bodies in Europe in relation to priority contaminants, including some persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Recognizing the benefits of measuring hydrophobic compounds in biota tissues rather than in water, we used the European eel Anguilla anguilla in the present study as a bioindicator species for monitoring POPs in freshwater/brackish environments. We present the results of a contamination analysis of eels carried out in three Italian sites representative of different pollution levels: the last part of Tevere River, which flows through a very urbanized and industrialized area, Caprolace Lake and Lesina Lagoon, inside two different protected national parks. A very high pollution variability was recorded within each group of eels, in particular for those caught at Caprolace Lake. Due to this high variability, inter-population comparisons were carried out only between eels collected in Tevere River and Lesina Lagoon. PCBs values in Lesina Lagoon were two orders of magnitude lower than those measured in Tevere River, while no significant differences were found for levels of DDT compounds. Our results confirm the suitability of the eel as an indicator of persistent bioaccumulative pollutants in brackish environments and rivers where it can be easily caught, but we are sceptical of its use in deep lakes where its capture might be problematic considering standard operation procedures for fish sampling.     

Cyclic influences on the heavy metal chronology in a Central Mediterranean area (Palermo Gulf,Italy)

Purpose  

The evaluation of long-term heavy metal concentrations in the Gulf of Palermo (Italy) has been carried out in order to investigate how changes of pollution levels in the last 50 years can be reflected in marine sediments. Measurements of Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn concentrations were performed on dated fractions of a sediment core. Time series analysis has allowed to obtain information on the chronology of the heavy metal pollution of the area and to identify seasonal components and trends.     

Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction of Lago Di Albano (Central Italy) during the Late Pleistocene Using Fossil Ostracod Assemblages

A fine resolution study on fossil ostracods in late glacial sediments from Lago di Albano was performed within the framework of the European project PALICLAS. Four cores from two coring sites were analysed. At Site 1, located at 70 m depth, cores PALB94 1E and PALB94 1C were collected, while cores PALB94 6A and PALB94 6B were collected at Site 6 at 30 m depth. The autoecology of the ostracod species, cluster analysis, PCA and CA ordination numerical analyses were performed in order to identify changes in environmental conditions within the sedimentary record. Three assemblages were recognized: (a) dominated byC. neglecta representing sublittoral environments, (b) dominated byC. neglecta accompanied byPotamocypris spp. related to spring influx and (c) dominated byCyclocypris sp. associated with littoral and relatively warmer conditions. A reconstruction of lake water level, oxygen concentration near the bottom and lake productivity , based on ostracod autoecology and supported by fossil pigment data, was accomplished. Sharp fluctuations in water level and productivity seem to indicate climatic oscillations between ca 30 to ca 17 kyr BP.     

Tiber River Quality in the Stretch of a Sewage Treatment Plant: Effects of River Water or Disinfectants to Daphnia and Structure of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Community

The evaluation of Tiber River quality, in a stretch including a sewage treatment plant, has been carried out by the contemporary evaluation of water effect on Daphnia and benthic macroinvertebrates community structure. To achieve a good status of a river water by the end of 2015, as provided in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC, is necessary to know the quality starting point. To this end, several endpoints are expected by the WFD, including Daphnia toxicity test and macroinvertebrate community analysis. River water sampling was conducted in the four seasons, from upstream to downstream a sewage treatment plant. I endpoint. At the outfall of the sewage treatment plant, river water showed very high acute toxicity to Daphnia only in summer; some toxic effect can be found also upstream in spring. Results at the outfall were consistent with the hypothesis that disinfectants, mainly used in summer to treat discharging waters, are responsible of river water acute toxicity: Daphnia tests with each disinfectant (NaClO, PAA, ClO₂) showed high toxicity. River waters were also utilized in Daphnia reproduction tests. Samples at the outfall (excluding the summer one, undoubtedly toxic) caused slight reduction in survival and fecundity. Disinfectants were also checked in reproduction tests. Still at NOEC_24h, they caused a significant toxicity on both death rate and reproduction. II endpoint. Macroinvertebrate benthic community composition was evaluated upstream and downstream the sewage treatment plant, on these data Extended Biotic Index (EBI), was determined to get a score as quality class. A reduction of water quality score was found downstream the plant, one season delayed (autumn) respect the acute test on Daphnia. Effect of disinfectant discharge, river dilution capability on a short spatial scale and use of different endpoints are discussed in term of river stretch quality.     

Genesis of a polycyclic Terra Rossa (Chromic Cambisol on Rhodic Nitisol) at the Poggio del Comune in Central Italy

A polycyclic Terra Rossa (Chromic Cambisol on Rhodic Nitisol) was studied with the aim of characterizing pedogenetic processes and relating the most evolved term of a previously defined catena with its parent material. Results obtained by field, chemical, micromorphological, sedimentological and mineralogical techniques evidenced how the profile was lithologically and pedologically discontinuous. While the lower part of the profile was related to the underneath limestone, the upper part showed evidence of allochthonous aeolian addition. From a pedogenetic point of view, the existence of two different kinds of processes was revealed. The deepest horizons exhibited fully expressed nitic properties and a strong kaolinitization, whereas the upper horizons were less weathered, showing only rubefaction and slight lessivage, while the formation and hydroxy-interlayering of vermiculite was the dominant process in the clay minerals. The study revealed that Terra Rossa can differ not only in age and parent material, but also in evolutive process, so that quite different, and even contrasting, products of the pedogenesis can be present.     

漂浮栽培水生植物对入滇河流污水中磷的去除效果研究

利用水生植物净化富营养化水体是污染水体生物治理的途径之一,为了找出适宜在水体中生长并对磷的去除效果较好的植物,选择5个品种的水稻以及空心菜、茭白和水花生为供试水生植物,通过静态水培试验,研究了各植物在富营养化水体中的生长状况,以及对水体中磷的去除效果。结果表明,在不添加任何植物营养的条件下,植物在富营养化水体中均能正常生长;有植物处理系统对水体中总磷（TP）、水溶性总磷（DTP）的去除效果显著高于无植物对照;有植物处理系统TP的去除率为53.28%～84.07%,DTP的去除率为44.99%～88.81%;无植物对照TP的去除率为32.57%,DTP的去除率为37.51%。植物组织所累积的磷占各自系统去除量的21.54%～75.32%,植物的吸收作用是磷去除的主要途径。水稻功米1号的经济产量最高,为616.28 g.m-2,组织所累积的磷占系统去除量也是最大,为75.32%。在所有供试植物中,水稻功米1号对富营养化水体既有较好的净化效果,又能获得一定的经济产量,是最优的净化植物,同时也是最适宜在水体中生长的水稻品种。     

不同品种和生长期嘉宝果叶片酚类及挥发性物质研究

为研究不同品种和生长期嘉宝果叶片酚类及挥发性物质的含量和组成,分别通过比色法、水蒸气蒸馏法和顶空-气相色谱/质谱联用技术,对沙巴、四季早生、福冈等9个品种嘉宝果老/嫩叶的总酚、总黄酮、精油含量和挥发性成分进行测定。结果表明,沙巴嫩叶的总酚含量(31.87%)最高;阿根廷嫩叶总黄酮含量(24.81%)最高;沙巴老叶精油含量(2.78‰)最高,其次为沙巴嫩叶(2.42‰)。老叶中相对含量在0.05%以上的挥发性化合物有31~44种,均以萜类为主;嫩叶中相对含量在0.05%以上的化合物有28~40种,同样以萜类为主。除沙巴、阿根廷、大红钻老/嫩叶和福冈老叶外,其余老/嫩叶均以倍半萜为优势成分。沙巴老叶主要成分为α-蒎烯、桉叶油醇;沙巴嫩叶为β-蒎烯和α-蒎烯;阿根廷老/嫩叶、大红钻嫩叶和白艾斯老叶为β-蒎烯;福冈老/嫩叶为β-石竹烯;四季早生、大巨红晶、艾斯卡老/嫩叶为β-胡椒烯;乔尼尔老/嫩叶为β-石竹烯、β-胡椒烯。主成分分析结果表明,单萜含氧衍生物、α-蒎烯、单萜烯、β-蒎烯、α-芹子烯是导致不同品种间嘉宝果老叶香气差异的主要物质;倍半萜烯、单萜烯、β-蒎烯、α-蒎烯、β-石竹烯是导致不同品种间嘉宝果嫩叶香气差异的主要物质。综上,沙巴嫩叶总酚含量最高,精油含量较高,活性挥发性物质蒎烯(α-蒎烯+β-蒎烯)相对含量高达62.41%,在抗菌、抗炎、抗氧化、抗肿瘤等方面有潜在的利用价值,在医药领域有极大的研究价值和开发潜力。     

Copper,Cadmium, and Zinc Concentrations in Juvenile Chinook Salmon and Selected Fish-Forage Organisms (Aquatic Insects) in the Upper Sacramento River,California

This study assessed the downstream extent andseverity of copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn)contamination from acid mine drainage on juvenile chinook salmon(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and aquatic insects over aroughly 270-km reach of the Sacramento River below KeswickReservoir. During April–May 1998, salmon were collected fromfour sites in the river and from a fish hatchery that receiveswater from Battle Creek. Salmon from river sites were examinedfor gut contents to document their consumption of variousinvertebrate taxa, whereas salmon from river sites and thehatchery were used for metal determinations. Midge(Chironomidae) and caddisfly (Trichoptera) larvae and mayfly(Ephemeroptera) nymphs were collected for metal determinationsduring April–June from river sites and from Battle and Buttecreeks. The fish hatchery and Battle and Butte creeks served asreference sites because they had no history of receiving minedrainage. Salmon consumed mostly midge larvae and pupae (44.0%,damp-dry biomass), caddisfly larvae (18.9%), Cladocera (5.8%),and mayfly nymphs (5.7%). These results demonstrated thatinsects selected for metal determinations were important as fishforage. Dry-weight concentrations of Cu, Cd, and Zn weregenerally far higher in salmon and insects from the river thanfrom reference sites. Within the river, high metalconcentrations persisted as far downstream as South Meridian (thelowermost sampling site). Maximum concentrations of Cd (30.7 μg g^-1) and Zn (1230 μg g^-1),but not Cu (87.4 μg g^-1), in insects exceeded amounts that other investigators reported as toxic when fed for prolonged periods to juvenile salmonids.