Bioaugmentation for the enhancement of hydrocarbon phytoremediation by rhizobacteria consortium in pilot horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands

The development of the bioaugmentation during the phytoremediation of contaminated water with diesel in pilot horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands was investigated for 63 days. The objective of this study was to examine the enrichment of rhizobacteria in a pilot-scale system for efficient treatment of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) effluent. A consortium of three rhizobacteria strains (Bacillus aquimaris, Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus), which were able to utilize hydrocarbon compounds as sole carbon sources, was injected into the constructed wetlands (batchwise operation) planted with Scirpus grossus. The TPH removals from water, without or with the addition of rhizobacteria, were found to be 72 and 84%, while from sand was found to be 59 and 77%, for each treatment, respectively. These results showed that the rhizobacteria strains could enhance S. grossus growth by decreasing diesel stress and protecting S. grossus against diesel, with 12 and 18% additional TPH removal from water and sand, respectively. Our results demonstrate that S. grossus is potential to improve the phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminants through inoculation with effective rhizobacterial strains.     

Antioxidants and chromium reductases by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penibacillus</Emphasis> species enhance the growth of soybean under chromium stress

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is used in various industries, but its improper and uncontrolled discharge contaminates the environment. In order to circumvent chromium toxicity, several physicochemical and biological strategies have been employed. Among biological approach, microbes convert toxic Cr(VI) to less soluble Cr(III) form and hence can be used to detoxify/remove Cr(VI) from contaminated environment. Considering these, present study was designed to assess the effect of chromium reductases and antioxidants secreted by Penibacillus species to detoxify Cr(VI) and concurrently to augment soybean growth. Bacterial strains (MAI1 and MAI2) were identified as Penibacillus sp. using 16S rRNA gene. Penibacillus species reduced Cr(VI) significantly at pH 7. Maximum Cr(VI) was reduced at 50 and 100 µg/ml of Cr(VI) concentrations. Penibacillus sp. also reduced Cr(VI) significantly at 25 and 35 °C as well as 1 g sodium alginate in 1 g polyvinyl alcohol. Bacterial strains reduced Cr(VI) into Cr(III) which were detected as 33 ± 1 and 35 ± 1 µg/ml in supernatant and 67 ± 2.5 and 65 ± 1 µg/ml in cell debris, respectively, after 120 h. Chromium reductase found in cell-free extract reduced almost all Cr(VI) compared to those observed in cell debris. Both malondialdehyde and antioxidant levels were increased with gradual increase in Cr(VI) concentration. Penibacillus species inoculated soybean plants had better growth and photosynthetic pigments under Cr(VI) stress.     

Surface modification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nizimuddinia zanardini</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stoechospermum marginatum</Emphasis> using 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide to improve heavy metals biosorption from water

Surface modification of two algal biomasses, Nizimuddinia zanardini and Stoechospermum marginatum, using 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide ligand was performed to investigate the consequences on the adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solution. Stabilization of amino group of 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide on the surface of biomasses was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Chemical modification was found to exert significant positive effects on biosorption. Adsorption capacities for Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(VI) using modified N. zanardini were observed to be 19.3, 16.75 and 15.75 mg/g, respectively, compared to 17.48, 14.18 and 11.85 mg/g for raw N. zanardini biomass. Also, adsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(VI) by the modified S. Marginatum was found to be 17.54, 15.62 and 14.77 mg/g, respectively, in comparison with that of the raw biomass which were 16.86, 12.9 and 11.2 mg/g. The obtained results of the equilibrium adsorption were studied through different isotherm models of Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin, where the Langmuir model was observed to agree well with the results. Prevalent kinetic models including pseudo-second order and intra-particle diffusion were applied, and the pseudo-second order was found to describe the adsorption kinetics data adequately. Intra-particle model was also utilized in order to show penetration of metal ions, where it was realized that the biosorption took place in two or three steps including film diffusion, molecular diffusion and chemical reaction.     

Sand-supported bio-adsorbent column of activated carbon for removal of coliform bacteria and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> from water

New bio-adsorbent carbon materials were synthesized from the leaves and veins of Mucuna pruriens and Manihot esculenta plants, which are locally available in abundance. The synthesized carbons were activated using 0.01N HNO₃. Surface area of the activated carbons from M. pruriens and M. esculenta plants was found to be quite high, i.e., 918 and 865 m²/g, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the carbons reflects complex disorganized surface structures of different open pore sizes, shapes and dimensions. These properties of the newly synthesized activated carbons led to the development of a sand-supported carbon column, for its possible use in the removal of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli (E. Coli) from raw water samples. The removal percentage of E. coli was found to be 100% with both the types of carbon adsorbents, as confirmed from the McCardy most probable number table. Similarly, the removal percentage of coliform bacteria was found to be 99 and 98.7% by M. pruriens and M. esculenta carbon columns, respectively. These activated carbons synthesized from locally available plants possess the characteristics of good low-cost adsorbents which can be easily used for the removal of bacteria from water by adsorption method.     

Chromium(VI) adsorption by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Codium tomentosum</Emphasis>: evidence for adsorption by porous media from sigmoidal dose–response curve

Adsorption of Cr(VI) using native and chemically modified marine green macroalgae Codium tomentosum biomass and its adsorption kinetics were studied under specific conditions. Maximum Cr(VI) removal occurred at pH 2 for both untreated and acid-treated biomass. However, base-treated biomass exhibited maximum adsorption at pH 6 due to the hydrolysis of methyl esters present in the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin molecules resulting in carboxyl groups (COO^?) on the surface. The effect of adsorbent dose revealed that untreated and acid-treated biomass follows Henry’s linear isotherm, while base-treated biomass exhibited sigmoidal curve indicating energetic heterogeneity on the adsorbing surface. The monolayer adsorption capacity of untreated, acid-treated and base-treated biomasses was 5.032 ± 0.644, 5.445 ± 0.947, 3.814 ± 0.559 mg g^?1, respectively. Adsorption was found to follow Ho and McKay’s pseudo-second-order kinetic model with decreasing pseudo-second-order rate constant (K ₂, g mg^?1 min^?1) of 0.088 ± 0.037 (acid-treated), 0.019 ± 0.003 (untreated) and 0.012 ± 0.003 (base-treated).     

Effects of common reed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis>) expansions on nitrogen dynamics of tidal marshes of the northeastern U.S.

Several recent studies indicate that the replacement of extant species withPhragmites australis can alter the size of nitrogen (N) pools and fluxes within tidal marshes. Some common effects ofP. australis expansion are increased standing stocks of N, greater differentiation of N concentrations between plant tissues (high N leaves and low N stems), and slower whole-plant decay rates than competing species (e.g.,Spartina, Typha spp.). Some of the greater differences between marsh types involveP. australis effects on extractable and porewater pools of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and N mineralization rates. Brackish and salt marshes show higher concentrations of DIN in porewater beneathSpartina spp. relative toP. australis, but this is not observed in freshwater tidal marshes whenP. australis is compared withTypha spp. or mixed plant assemblages. With few studies of concurrent N fluxes, the net effect ofP. australis on marsh N budgets is difficult to quantify for single sites and even more so between sites. The magnitude and direction of impacts ofP. australis on N cycles appears to be system-specific, driven more by the system and species being invaded than byP. australis itself. WhereP. australis is found to affect N pools and fluxes, we suggest these alterations result from increased biomass (both aboveground and belowground) and increased allocation of that biomass to recalcitrant stems. Because N pools are commonly greater inP. australis than in most other communities (due to plant and litter uptake), one of the most critical questions remaining is “From where is the extra N inP. australis communities coming?” It is important to determine if the source of the new N is imported (e.g., anthropogenic) or internallyproduced (e.g., fixed, remineralized organic matter). In order to estimate net impacts ofP. australis on marsh N budgets, we suggest that further research be focused on the N source that supports high standing stocks of N inP. australis biomass (external input versus internal cycling) and the relative rates of N loss from different marshes (burial versus subsurface flow versus denitrification).     

Assessment of potential sediment contamination using screening methods (XRF,TGA/MS) taking into account principles of green chemistry,Eastern Slovakia

Mining and milling of metal ores coupled with industries have bequeathed many countries the legacy of wide distribution of metal contaminants in sediments. The aim of this study was to assess potential sediment contamination via useful screening methods (XRF, CHNS, TGA/MS). The sediments were collected from the water reservoir Krompachy Eastern Slovakia in April 2015. Within the frame of evaluation it was found that the concentrations of the study elements (Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd) exceeded some of the MPC, TV and IV values. Sample c was the most polluted by metals, which evident according to it’s the highest CHNS proportion as well as the highest clay and silt proportion. In the samples studied the best correlation was confirmed between weight losses in the temperature range (400–620 °C) and the following metal concentrations: Cu (r = 0.89), Zn (r = 0.88), As (r = 0.93), Hg (r = 0.83), Pb (r = 0.87). The greatest proportions of m/z 44, m/z 18 were detected at temperatures (400–620 °C) associated with decomposition of minerals such as siderite, barite, and exothermic loss of more refractory aromatic C took also place.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melandrium album</Emphasis> in trace elements biomonitoring and air pollution tolerance index study

The accumulation efficiency of selected trace elements in the leaves of Melandrium album and Robinia pseudoacacia grown on heavy metal contaminated sites in comparison with a non-contaminated one was evaluated. The study was undertaken to calculate air pollution tolerance index and to determine the contents of selected metabolites: glutathione, non-protein thiols, ascorbic acid, chlorophyll and the activity of antioxidant enzymes: guaiacol peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Such estimations can be useful in better understanding of plants defense strategies and potential to grow in contaminated environments. The results in the most contaminated site revealed higher contents of metals in M. album leaves, especially Zn, Cd and Pb (3.4, 6 and 2.3 times higher, respectively) in comparison with the R. pseudoacacia. Better accumulation capacity found in M. album was shown by metal accumulation index values. The plants could be used as indicators of Zn, Cd (both species) and Pb (M. album) in the soil. Glutathione content (in both species) and peroxidase activity (in M. album), general markers of heavy metals contamination, were increased in contaminated sites. In most cases in contaminated areas R. pseudoacacia had decreased ascorbic acid and chlorophyll levels. Opposite tendency was recorded in M. album leaves, where similar or higher contents of the above-mentioned metabolites were found. In our study, M. album and R. pseudoacacia proved to be sensitive species with the air pollution tolerance index lower than 11 and can be recommended as bioindicators.     

Peri-Gondwana Late Early–Middle Cambrian trilobites from the Kuhbanan Formation in Dahu section,Kerman Province,Iran

Outcropped of the Kuhbanan Formation at Dahu, near Zarand, about 63 km north of Kerman, Iran contains peri-Gondwana trilobites. In this study, 185 trilobite samples including six species and genera were identified and described from Dahu section. This trilobite’s assemblage including Redlichia noetlingi, Redlichia sp., Kermanella kuhbananensis, Kermanella lata lata, Kermanella lata minuta, Iranoleesia pisiformis, and Iranaspis sp. based on occurrence of the trilobite fauna a late Early to Middle Cambrian (Series 2–3) is suggested for this strata. These trilobite fauna help confirm conclusions from recent geological studies that place the Kerman Basin of Iran during the Cambrian.     

Chemical treatment of teff straw by sodium hydroxide,phosphoric acid and zinc chloride: adsorptive removal of chromium

In this study, teff (Eragrostis tef) straw has been chemically treated and tested as an adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal. Chemically treatment of teff straw was done by NaOH, H₃PO₄ and ZnCl₂ solutions. Scanning electron micrograph and X-ray diffraction were used for anatomical characterization, whereas Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used for surface change characterization of adsorbents. Effects of different experimental parameters like pH (2–12), initial Cr(VI) concentration (100–900 mg/L), adsorbent dose (2.5–20 g/L), contact time (15–360 min) and temperature (288–318 K) were studied. Temperature increment was found to stimulate the adsorption process. Langmuir isotherm was found to give better representation over wide range of temperature for untreated, H₃PO₄- as well as ZnCl₂-treated teff straw, and Freundlich isotherm best represented the isotherm data for NaOH-treated teff straw. Maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of untreated, NaOH-, H₃PO₄- and ZnCl₂-treated teff straw was found to be 86.1, 73.8, 89.3 and 88.9 mg/g, respectively. Respective values of average effective diffusion coefficient (D _e) were found to be 2.8 × 10^?13, 2.59 × 10^?14, 1.32 × 10^?13 and 1.14 × 10^?13 m²/s, respectively. The negative value of ΔG _o for all the adsorbents indicates Cr(VI) spontaneous adsorption. Isosteric heat of adsorption (ΔH _st,a) was found to vary with surface coverage (θ). ΔH _st,a increased for untreated, H₃PO₄- and ZnCl₂-treated teff straw, and decreased steadily with θ for NaOH-treated teff straw.     

Toxinogenicity and cytotoxicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria,Aspergillus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> moulds isolated from working environments

There is currently limited research available on the secondary metabolites of moulds in workplaces. The aim of this study was to determine the mould contamination in museums (N = 4), composting plants (N = 4) and tanneries (N = 4) and the secondary metabolite profiles of Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium isolates from these workplaces. Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium species were identified using the ITS1/2 sequence of the rDNA region. Mould metabolites were quantitatively analysed on standard laboratory medium and mineral medium containing materials specific to each workplace using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We also examined the cytotoxicity of the moulds using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays. Air microbiological contamination analyses showed a number of microorganisms, ranging from 2.4 × 10³ CFU m^?3 (composting plants) to 6.8 × 10⁴ CFU m^?3 (tanneries). We identified high percentages of Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium moulds (air 57–59%, surfaces 10–65%) in all workplaces. The following moulds were the most cytotoxic (>90%): Alternaria alternata, A. limoniasperae, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium biourgeianum, P. commune and P. spinulosum. The same mould species isolated from different working environments exhibited varying toxigenic and cytotoxic properties. Modifying the culture medium to simulate environmental conditions most often resulted in the inhibition of secondary metabolite production. Moulds isolated from the working environments produced the following mycotoxins (ng g^?1): chanoclavines (0.28–204), cyclopiazonic acid (27.1–1045), fumigaclavines (0.33–10,640,000), meleagrin (0.57–13,393), roquefortins (0.01–16,660), rugulovasines (112–220), viridicatin (0.12–957), viridicatol (4.23–2753) and quinocitrinines (0.07–1104), which may have a negative impact on human health.     

Assessment of bacterial diversity associated with crude oil-contaminated soil samples from Assam

In this study, we are reporting bacterial diversity in crude oil-contaminated soil of Assam, India. Integration of physiological community profiling, culture-dependent and culture-independent (metagenome) approaches, was employed to obtain a complete picture of the total bacterial diversity. Samples collected from 10 sites contaminated with crude oil ranging from 0.22 to 89.36% were analysed, and altogether 160 culturable bacteria were isolated (117 Gram-positive and 43 Gram-negative bacteria). Molecular identification showed the predominance of genera Lysinibacillus, Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas. Conversely, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles of 16S rDNA phylotypes showed the predominance of Sphingomonas, Ralstonia, Sphingobium, Massilia, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. Both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches resulted in 11 genera of which Bacillus and Pseudomonas were the key inhabitants creating most favourable bacterial milieu in the presence of crude oil contaminants. Metabolic fingerprints data depicted in PCA plot demonstrated that sites CTF-D-1 and Core-10 were most diverged. It was further confirmed that variations of bacterial species dominance in different sites were due to origin of hydrocarbon contamination. We here claim that the present findings is a first-hand report on combined physiological community profiling, culture-based and culture-independent approaches in assessing total bacterial diversity in crude oil-contaminated soil of Assam.     

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Limnobium laevigatum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ludwigia peploides</Emphasis>: their phytoremediation potential in water contaminated with heavy metals

Contamination with heavy metals in surface and groundwater is a threat to human health and ecosystems. Due to this, the need arises to remediate water polluted through ecological and profitable technologies, such as phytoremediation. The objective of the work was to evaluate the concentration of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the floating macrophytes Limnobium laevigatum and Ludwigia peploides, after being exposed to contaminated water experimentally. In this way to be able to determine if these plants have mechanisms that allow them to accumulate the metals in the roots and to perform the translocation of these to different vegetative organs, L. laevigatum and L. peploides were placed in solutions contaminated with Pb ([Pb]?=?5 mg/l) and Zn ([Zn]?=?20 mg/l). The concentrations of metals in water, root and leaf samples were evaluated as a function of time (0, 1, 2 and 4 days). The determination of the metals was performed by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique. After 4 days of exposure to Pb and Zn, the plants showed high metal removal efficiencies of water, more to 70% in all cases. Pb was accumulated fundamentally by roots, while Zn was accumulated more in the leaves. In addition, the bioconcentration and translocation factors for each metal were calculated.     

Salinity Tolerance and Competition Drive Distributions of Native and Invasive Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in the Upper San Francisco Estuary

Both abiotic and biotic factors govern distributions of estuarine vegetation, and experiments can reveal effects of these drivers under current and future conditions. In upper San Francisco Estuary (SFE), increased salinity could result from sea level rise, levee failure, or water management. We used mesocosms to test salinity effects on, as well as competition between, the native Stuckenia pectinata (sago pondweed) and invasive Egeria densa (Brazilian waterweed), species with overlapping distributions at the freshwater transition in SFE. Grown alone at a salinity of 5, E. densa decreased fivefold in biomass relative to the freshwater treatment and decomposed within 3 weeks at higher salinities. In contrast, S. pectinata biomass accumulated greatly (~4× initial) at salinities of 0 and 5, doubled at 10, and was unchanged at 15. When grown together in freshwater, S. pectinata produced 75 % less biomass than in monoculture and significantly more nodal roots (suggesting increased nutrient foraging). At a salinity of 5, a decline in E. densa performance coincided with a doubling of S. pectinata shoot density. Additional experiments on E. densa showed elevated temperature (26 and 30 °C) suppressed growth especially at higher salinities (≥5). We conclude that salinity strongly influences distributions of both species and that competition from E. densa may impose limits on S. pectinata abundance in the fresher reaches of SFE. With a salinity increase of 5, S. pectinata is likely to maintain its current distribution while spreading up-estuary at the expense of E. densa, especially if increased temperature also reduces E. densa biomass.     

Tunisian landfill leachate treatment using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella</Emphasis> sp.: effective factors and microalgae strain performance

The potential of the autoclaved Tunisian landfill leachate treatment using microalgae (Chlorella sp.) cultivation was investigated in this study. Landfill leachate was collected from Borj Chakir landfill, Tunisia. A full factorial experimental design 2² was proposed to study the effects of the incubation time and leachate ratio factors on the organic matter removal expressed in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₄─N) and on the biological response of Chlorella sp. expressed by the cell density and chlorophyll content. All experiments were batch runs at ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C). The Chlorella sp. biomass and chlorophyll a concentrations of 1.2 and 5.32 mg L^?1, respectively, were obtained with 10% leachate spike ratio. The obtained results showed that up to 90% of the ammoniacal nitrogen in landfill leachate was removed in 10% leachate ratio spiked medium with a residual concentration of 40 mg L^?1. The maximum COD removal rate reached 60% within 13 days of incubation time indicating that microalgae consortium was quite effective for treating landfill leachate organic contaminants. Furthermore, with the 10% leachate ratio spiked medium, the maximum lipid productivity was 4.74 mg L^?1 d^?1. The present study provides valuable information for potential adaptation of microalgae culture and its contribution for the treatment of Tunisian landfill leachate.     

Chromium(VI) adsorption from aqueous solution by prepared biochar from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Onopordom Heteracanthom</Emphasis>

In this research, the stems of Onopordom Heteracanthom which is a kind of weed were converted to biochar particles, and their characteristics were investigated. The morphology and purity of these particles were examined by SEM and EDX techniques, respectively. Specific surface area was obtained as 5.73 m² g^?1 by BET method. The biochar particles obtained from Onopordom Heteracanthom were evaluated as an adsorbent to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous environments. The effect of some parameters such as initial concentration of Cr(VI), dosage of adsorbent, and pH were investigated on the adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) onto the adsorbent. The equilibrium data were analyzed by various isotherm models. The results revealed that in this process, the adsorption isotherm and kinetics have more conformity with Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics, respectively. The multi-linearity of the Weber and Morris adsorption kinetic model indicates that the intra-particle diffusion is not merely the rate-controlling step for the whole adsorption process.     

Magnetic properties of surface sediments as proxies of recent anthropogenic pollution in the Anllóns riverbed (NW Spain)

A study of surface sediments from the Anllóns riverbed (northwestern Spain) was conducted to assess the use of their magnetic properties as proxies of recent trace element contamination (i.e., As, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni and Cu). Thermomagnetic curves, hysteresis parameters, specific magnetic susceptibility χ, frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility κ _FD%, magnetic remanence and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization ratios (i.e., S and SIRM/χ) reveal the presence of mostly fine-grained magnetite and maghemite in these samples. The Tomlinson Pollution Load Index (PLI), as well as the magnetic parameters χ, κ _FD%, SIRM/χ and S-ratios, vary more or less in agreement to each other when they are sequentially arranged throughout a 30-km-long transect that goes from the town of Carballo to the river mouth in Ponteceso. From that profile, it is possible to identify an anomaly of χ that lies between two small peaks of the PLI and seems to define a contaminated area probably linked to a diffuse low-impact source of pollution. There is also a conspicuous peak of the PLI that is likely associated to a nearby gold mine. The variations of the κ _FD%’s along the transect are the ones that best reflect the changes in the PLI values, regardless of the level of contamination. This result suggests that adsorption is the main mechanism of trace elements removal by Fe oxides in these samples. Direct signal analyses, used to decompose the isothermal remanent magnetization curves, reveal the presence of four magnetic fractions, with varying relative concentrations all over the profile, namely single-domain magnetite, close to the superparamagnetic threshold (SD/SP) and/or maghemite (\(\log B_{1/2}\) ca 1.2), single-domain magnetite (\(\log B_{1/2}\) ca 2), hematite (\(\log B_{1/2}\) ca 2.5) and goethite (\(\log B_{1/2}\) ca 3.5). Integrating all the available information, it was sketched out a likely sequence of events that included magnetic minerals neoformation in parent soils, their subsequent chemical transformations and the contamination episodes that affected the region.     

Fatty acid profiling as bioindicator of chemical stress in marine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pterocladia capillacea,Sargassum hornschuchii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulva lactuca</Emphasis>

Contaminants are increasing in the aquatic ecosystem due to the development of industrial and agricultural activities. Contaminants include organic pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting compounds, which accumulate in the ecosystem’s primary producers and propagate through the food chain. The total lipid contents and fatty acid profiles in the marine macroalgae Pterocladia capillacea, Ulva lactuca and Sargassum hornschuchii proved to be a good bioindicator to assess contamination levels. The lowest value of the total lipid content was 1.90% obtained in S. hornschuchii under the bisphenol treatment, while the highest value was 4.66% obtained in U. lactuca under exposed to clofibric acid. The fatty acid methyl ester profiles were analysed by using gas chromatography. The total fatty acids varied from 5.85% (U. lactuca after exposure to bisphenol) to 28.38% (P. capillacea treated with clofibric acid). The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was significantly higher in U. lactuca after exposure to acetyl salicylic acid than in the other macroalgae under different treatments.     

The hydraulic retention time on the particle removal efficiency by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphnia magna</Emphasis> filtration on treated wastewater

The study of low-cost techniques for the tertiary treatment of wastewater is of global interest; above all low-energy techniques that do not require the use of chemicals. In this study, a wastewater treatment technology based on the filtration by a zooplanktonic population (Daphnia magna) is studied in controlled laboratory and mesocosm experiments for different hydraulic retention times (HRT). The efficiency of the treatment is evaluated in terms of particle removal efficiency. From laboratory experiments, HRT over 12 h and Daphnia concentrations above 50 individuals l^?1 guarantee a particle removal efficiency greater than 30 %. However, low HRT of 6 h would require Daphnia concentrations above 70 individuals l^?1 in order to obtain a particle removal efficiency of 20 %. The minimum removal efficiency of 2 % was for HRT = 3 h, independent of the Daphnia concentration. In the mesocosm, the growth of Daphnia individuals enhanced Daphnia magna filtering rates and higher removal efficiencies than those in the laboratory for the same HRT range. In the mesocosm experiments E. coli concentrations were reduced to a maximum of 2 logarithmic units. A balance equation model is proposed to predict particle removal efficiencies for varying HRT.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spartina alterniflora</Emphasis> Biomass Allocation and Temperature: Implications for Salt Marsh Persistence with Sea-Level Rise

To predict the impacts of climate change, a better understanding is needed of the foundation species that build and maintain biogenic ecosystems. Spartina alterniflora Loisel (smooth cordgrass) is the dominant salt marsh-building plant along the US Atlantic coast. It maintains salt marsh elevation relative to sea level by the accumulation of aboveground biomass, which promotes sediment deposition and belowground biomass, which accretes as peat. Peat accumulation is particularly important in elevation maintenance at high latitudes where sediment supply tends to be limited. Latitudinal variation in S. alterniflora growth was quantified in eight salt marshes from Massachusetts to South Carolina. The hypothesis that allocation to aboveground and belowground biomass is phenotypically plastic was tested with transplant experiments among a subset of salt marshes along this gradient. Reciprocal transplants revealed that northern S. alterniflora decreased allocation to belowground biomass when grown in the south. Some northern plants also died when moved south, suggesting that northern S. alterniflora may be stressed by future warming. Southern plants that were moved north showed phenotypic plasticity in biomass allocation, but no mortality. Belowground biomass also decomposed more quickly in southern marshes. Our results suggest that warming will lead northern S. alterniflora to decrease belowground allocation and that belowground biomass will decompose more quickly, thus decreasing peat accumulation. Gradual temperature increases may allow for adaptation and acclimation, but our results suggest that warming will lower the ability of salt marshes to withstand sea-level rise.