Salt marsh plants (Juncus maritimus and Scirpus maritimus) as sources of strong complexing ligands

This work aimed to evaluate, in vitro, the capability of roots of salt marsh plants to release strong Cu-complexing ligands and to ascertain whether Cu contamination would stimulate ligands' exudation or not. The sea rush Juncus maritimus and the sea-club rush Scirpus maritimus, both from the lower Douro river estuary (NW Portugal), were used. Plants were collected seasonally, four times a year in 2004, during low tide. After sampling, plant roots were washed for removal of adherent particles and immersed for 2 h in a solution that matched salinity (3) and pH (7.5) of the pore water from the same location and spiked with Cu²⁺ in the range 0–1600 nM to obtain plant exudates. In the final solutions as well as in sediment pore water total dissolved Zn and Cu, Cu-complexing ligand concentrations and the respective conditional stability constants (K_CuL^′) values were determined by voltammetry. This study demonstrated that plants are able to release, in a short period of time, relatively high amounts of strong Cu-complexing ligands (56–265 nmol g_root⁻¹), which differed among plants and sampling site but were independent of the season. Cu contamination did not stimulate exudation of Cu-complexing ligands. On the other hand, in media contaminated with Cu both plants accumulated relatively high amounts (29–83%) of the initially dissolved Cu, indicating that they have alternative internal mechanisms for Cu detoxification. Cu exchange between roots and medium (either accumulation in contaminated medium or release in the absence of Cu) was more intense for S. maritimus than for J. maritimus. It was observed that exudate solutions obtained in the absence of added Cu and sediment pore water (the densities of roots observed inside the salt marsh where comparable to those used in the in vitro experiments), displayed similarities in terms of total dissolved metals, Cu-complexing ligands concentrations, values of K_CuL^′ (12 < log K_CuL^′ < 14), as well as patterns of variation among seasons (only observed for Zn). These results are novel and point out that salt marsh plants may be the source at least partially of the strong organic ligands found in the sediment pore water in shallow marginal areas. The capability of salt marsh plants to release strong organic ligands into the environment, conjugated with their known capacity to oxidize anaerobic sediment around roots, indicate that these plants can play a role in controlling metal speciation in the water/sediment interface.     

Geophysical fingerprints of hyper-extended,exhumed and embryonic oceanic domains: the example from the Iberia–Newfoundland rifted margins

This study investigates the magnetic and gravity signatures and associated seismic character of hyper-extended, exhumed and embryonic oceanic domains along the conjugate Iberia–Newfoundland rifted margins. As these margins have been drilled down to basement along their distal parts, it is possible to explore and test different geophysical techniques and interpretations. The aims of this work are twofold: (1) to investigate the location and nature of the two main marginal boundaries—the necking zone and the J Anomaly, which define the limits of major domains; and (2) to map the lateral variations of gravity and magnetic signatures and their detailed correlation with seismic data, from the proximal margin until the first unequivocal oceanic magnetic anomaly (e.g. C34 Anomaly). The results point out that the J Anomaly corresponds to a first-order tectono-magmatic boundary, with a basement formed by polyphase magmatism. It marks the boundary between the exhumed mantle domain, with little magmatic additions, from a domain oceanwards that reveals comparable trends, frequencies and a general magnetic pattern at both sides of the Atlantic, suggesting a coeval evolution. We propose that the domain between the J and the C34 Anomalies was formed by an embryonic spreading system, with intermittent budgets of magma, similar to those observed at very slow spreading systems. The J Anomaly may thus correspond to the location of lithospheric breakup though its origin and the nature of the domain oceanwards remains to be constrained.     

Mechanical Behavior of Clayey Soil Reinforced with Recycled Tire Rubber Using Chips and Fibers

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - The volume of discarded tires continues to increase each year, becoming a major topic of concern for society. Motivated by this environmental issue, this...     

U-Pb SHRIMP zircon dating of andesite from the Dolomite area (NE Italy): geochronological evidence for the early onset of Permian Volcanism in the eastern part of the southern Alps

The Athesian Volcanic District (AVD), a thick sequence of andesitic to rhyolitic lava and ignimbrite, overlies both the Variscan basement of the Dolomites and, where present, the continental basal conglomerate of Upper Carboniferous(?) to Early Permian age. This volcanic activity is known to mark the margin of the intra-Pangea megashear system between Gondwana and Laurasia, the onset age of which is determined in this study.SHRIMP U-Pb dating on zircon from Ponte Gardena/Waidbruck (Isarco/Eisack valley) basaltic andesite yields an age of 290.7 ± 3 Ma, providing the oldest record of andesite volcanic activity yet documented in the AVD. Two younger dates (279.9 ± 3.3 and 278.6 ± 3.1 Ma) obtained for the andesitic necks of M. dei Ginepri (Eores/Aferer valley) and Col Quaternà (western Comelico), respectively, probably represent a second pulse of andesite magmatic activity.Near Chiusa/Klausen, the volcanoclastic deposits at the bottom of the Funes/Villnöss valley volcano-sedimentary complex only contain detrital zircons, dated at 469 ± 6 Ma; these probably derive from erosion of Paleozoic porphyroids. Other zircons from the same sediments and inherited cores of magmatic andesite crystals give Paleoproterozoic (1953.6 ± 22.1, 1834.6 ± 69.3, 1773.6 ± 25.1 Ma), Early Neoproterozoic (1015 ± 14 Ma) and Late Neoproterozoic (728.4 ± 9.6, 687.6 ± 7.6 Ma) ages. These ancient detrital and inherited zircon ages fit the model that envisages the Dolomite region as being tectonically coherent with Africa, at least until the Lower Permian.     

Identification of Anomalous Aluminium Contents in Surface and Ground Water in the Alba Territory (NW Italy)

Aluminium was determined in surface and ground waters in the Alba region of NW Italy to provide information on natural and anthropogenic sources of contamination. Determinations were made by a spectrophotometric method based on the aluminium-pyrocatechol complex. The total aluminium content of waters was determined as well as the toxic form of monomeric aluminium, obtained from samples that had been passed through 0.20 μm cellulose filters to remove colloidal and particulate material. Results were correlated with mortality data associated with Alzheimer's disease. There appeared to be a correlation between mortality data and areas having the highest aluminium content of water.     

Der nacheiszeitliche Bergsturz im Kandertal (Schweiz): Alter und Auswirkungen auf die damalige Umwelt

Zusammenfassung. Beim Bau des neuen AlpTransit Lötschberg Basistunnels wurden unter murgangartig verschwemmten Ablagerungen der alten Bergsturzmasse des Kandertals Stillwasserablagerungen mit zahlreichen organischen Resten und Torflagen gefunden. Die ¹⁴C-datierten Resultate der Pollen, Makrorest-, Holz- und Holzkohleanalysen ermöglichten eine Rekonstruktion der lokalen bis regionalen Umweltgeschichte. Ein Gewässer, vermutlich ein kleiner See, begann beim Tellenfeld in Frutigen um 8800 kal. Jahre v. Chr. zu verlanden. In der näheren Umgebung wuchs von 8800 v. Chr. bis 8000 v. Chr. ein Föhrenwald (Pinus silvestris), der reichlich mit Hasel (Corylus avellana) und anderen wärmeliebenden Gehölzen (Ulmen, Linden, Eichen; Ulmus, Tilia, Quercus) und Birken (Betula) durchsetzt war. Diese für die Nordalpen sehr frühe Bedeutung der Hasel ist durch ¹⁴C-datierte Corylus-Nussfragmente (9310±50 ¹⁴C BP, 8722–8337 v. Chr.) belegt. Nach 8500 v. Chr. drängte die Hasel die Waldföhre allmählich zurück. Auf Grund der paläoökologischen Resultate muss angenommen werden, dass die Wälder um 7600 v. Chr. durch ein katastrophales Ereignis stark gestört wurden. Als Reaktion darauf kam es zu einer starken Zunahme der Waldbrände und es breiteten sich zuerst Farne und Gräser sowie wenig später Waldföhren aus. Das Gewässer wurde um 7100 v. Chr. durch verschwemmtes Bergsturzmaterial zerstört. Der geomorphologische Befund deutet darauf hin, dass diese Ereignisse in engem Zusammenhang mit dem Hauptbergsturz im Kandertal stehen, der aussergewöhnliche Ausmasse hatte (ca. 800 Millionen m³). Die Zerstörung der lokalen ökosysteme als Folge des Bergsturzes um 7600–7100 v. Chr. fiel in ein frühes holozänes Wärme- und Sonneneinstrahlungsmaximum, in dem es, wie vorgängige Untersuchungen in den Alpen und in anderen Gebirgen belegen, zu überdurchschnittlich vielen Hanginstabilitäten kam.

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During the construction of the new AlpTransit railway line wetland sediments containing numerous fossils and peat layers were found below rockfall masses transported by debris flows. Radiocarbon-dated results of pollen, macrofossils, wood, and charcoal along with radiocarbon dating analysis were used to reconstruct the environmental history of the site. The wetland, originally probably a small lake, started to accumulate sediments at about 8800 cal. yr BC at Frutigen Tellenfeld. A pine forest (Pinus silvestris) admixed with hazel (Corylus avellana), other thermophilous arboreal taxa (Ulmus, Tilia, Quercus) and birch (Betula) grew in the surroundings of the lake. This very early importance of hazel is documented by ¹⁴C-dated Corylus nut fragments (9310±50 ¹⁴C yr BP, 8722–8337 yr BC). After 8500 BC hazel expanded on the costs of pine. The palaeo records suggest that the forests were severely disturbed by a catastrophic event at around 7600 BC. In response, forest fires strongly increased and ferns and grasses expanded and then pine stands established. At ca. 7100 BC the lake was abruptly destroyed by rockfall masses transported by a debris flow. The geomorphic situation suggests that these events were closely related with the main Kander valley rockfall, which had an exceptional size (800 millions m³). Local environmental catastrophes as a consequence of the rockfall at 7600–7100 BC occurred during an early Holocene thermal and solar irradiation maximum. As documented by previous investigations, this period was characterised by pronounced slope instabilities in the Alps and elsewhere.

Manuskript eingegangen 9. Februar 2004 Revidierte Fassung angenommen 17. Januar 2005     

Altimetry with GNSS-R interferometry: first proof of concept experiment

The Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) concept was conceived as a means to densify radar altimeter measurements of the sea surface. Until now, the GNSS-R concept relied on open access to GNSS transmitted codes. Recently, it has been proposed that the ranging capability of the technique for ocean altimetric applications can be improved by using all the signals transmitted in the bandwidth allocated to GNSS, which includes open access as well as encrypted signals. The main objective of this study is to provide experimental proof of this enhancement through a 2-day experiment on the Zeeland Bridge (The Netherlands). In the experiment, we used a custom built GNSS-R system, composed of high gain GPS antennas, calibration subsystem, and an FPGA-based signal processor which implemented the new concepts, an X-band radar altimeter and a local geodetic network. The results obtained indicate that the new approach produces a significant improvement in GNSS-R altimetric performance.     

Role of environmental factors in affecting macrophyte dominance in transitional environments: The Italian Lagoons as a study case

One of the main challenges to facilitate the classification of water bodies is to identify direct relationships between anthropogenic pressures and the behavior of biological organisms such as macrophytes in different environments including transitional areas. The investigation of many lagoons and ponds described here shows that macrophyte variables and the community composition have strong and univocal relationships with ecological parameters that are a measure of anthropogenic pressure on the ecological status of water bodies. The areas surveyed represent about 78% of the Italian transitional waters (169 sites sampled both in spring and fall). Anthropogenic impacts affect the availability of nutrients in the water column and surface sediments, causing changes in water transparency and phytoplankton concentration (as chlorophyll‐a [Chl‐a]) that act as the main drivers of variation for macrophyte assemblages, changing species dominance and the conditions that govern their presence or absence. The response of macrophytes to anthropogenic pressure is quite similar in all the examined transitional environments, even when the basin morphology, species richness and composition are different. Some taxa and species assemblages are so sensitive to environmental changes that monitoring them can be considered the most suitable and rapid method for assessing the quality of the environment they inhabit.     

Growth and evolution of an emergent tuff cone: Considerations from structural geology, geomorphology and facies analysis of São Roque volcano, São Miguel (Azores)

The syn-eruptive and post-eruptive history of São Roque tuff cone, its geological setting and volcanological features were studied in detail to understand the role played by the different factors that contributed to the morphological evolution of this relatively simple and small volcanic edifice.In addition, attention was also focused on the series of natural changes that affected the tuff cone during the course of the years and that finally led to its structural disassembly. A novel model is proposed to explain this process.The São Roque volcanic centre, located on the island of São Miguel (Azores), consists of two well-consolidated bodies and numerous small islets that formed more than 4700 years ago during the hydromagmatic activity that took place along an intruding dyke, whose NNW–SSE trend is in agreement with the regional tectonic pattern. The eruptive vents probably migrated progressively from SSE to NNW, forming small edifices through the rapid accumulation of sediments during alternating phases of “dry” and “wet” magmatic emissions. Syn-eruptive partial collapses greatly modified the original morphological structure of these edifices, probably allowing sea water to continuously flow into the vents. The complex interaction of these factors controlled the depth of magma fragmentation, producing different types of deposits, in which the ash-lapilli ratio varies considerably. The high-water saturation degree of these deposits caused syn-eruptive and post-eruptive remobilization which resulted in collapses and some small-scale landslides.Post-eruptive, WNW–ESE trending transtensional and extensional tectonic activities operated during the initial dissection of the cone, generating instability. Furthermore, the rapid accumulation of “wet” tephra, and its following consolidation, caused selective collapses that favoured the fragmentation of the deposit and caused the formation of numerous islets separated by radially-arranged channels. Collapses also involved the lava units emplaced in more recent times around the tuff cone, which show that brittle deformation has been significant in the area for a prolonged period.