Bacterial accumulation by Branchiomma luctuosum (Annelida: Polychaeta): a tool for biomonitoring marine systems and restoring polluted waters

In this study, we examined the bacterial accumulation in the filter feeder polychaete Branchiomma luctuosumGrube (Sabellidae). Analyses were performed on worm homogenates from 'unstarved' and 'starved' individuals, and seawater from the same sampling site (Gulf of Taranto, Western Mediterranean, Italy). Densities of culturable heterotrophic bacteria (22 degrees C), total culturable bacteria at 37 degrees C and halophilic vibrios at 22 and 35 degrees C were measured on Marine Agar 2216, Plate Count Agar and thiosulphate-citrate-bile-salt-agar (TCBS) plus 2% NaCl, respectively. Total and faecal coliforms as well as faecal streptococci were determined by the Most Probable Number method. Results showed that B. luctuosum is able to accumulate all the considered six microbiological groups with a higher efficiency for autochthonous bacteria. The analysis also indicated that bacterial groups differ in their resistance to digestion by B. luctuosum. Our data suggest the potential role of B. luctuosum as an useful bioindicator to assess low levels of microbiological water pollution as well as bioremediator of microbial polluted waters.     

Stable isotope and trace element status of subsistence-hunted bowhead and beluga whales in Alaska and gray whales in Chukotka

Tissues of bowhead, beluga, and gray whales were analyzed for Ag, Cd, Cu, Se, Zn, THg and MeHg (belugas only). Delta15N and delta13C in muscle were used to estimate trophic position and feeding habitat, respectively. Trace element concentrations in tissues were significantly different among whale species. Hepatic Ag was higher in belugas than bowheads and gray whales. Gray whales had lower Cd concentrations in liver and kidney than bowhead and belugas and a sigmoid correlation of Cd with length was noted for all whales. Renal and hepatic Se and THg were higher in belugas than in baleen whales. The hepatic molar ratio of Se:THg exceeded 1:1 in all species and was negatively correlated to body length. Hepatic and renal Zn in subsistence-harvested gray whales was lower than concentrations for stranded whales. Se:THg molar ratios and tissue concentrations of Zn may show promise as potential indicators of immune status and animal health.     

Biomarkers in croakers Micropogonias furnieri (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) from polluted and non-polluted areas from the Patos Lagoon estuary (Southern Brazil): evidences of genotoxic and immunological effects

Biomarkers of exposure and effect of pollutants were analyzed in croakers Micropogonias furnieri (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) captured in winter and summer in a polluted and in a non-polluted site at the Patos Lagoon estuary (Southern Brazil). Catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities (exposure biomarkers) and lipid peroxidation (effect biomarker) were analyzed in liver samples. Other two effect biomarkers were also studied: blood cells DNA damage (through comet assay and micronucleus test) and respiratory burst measurements. In a broad view, results point to an important seasonal variation of the biochemical biomarkers analyzed. However, data obtained clearly indicate that croakers collected in winter at the polluted site were subjected to a level of clastogenic agents sufficient to generate irreversible genetic damages (mutations) and impair the fish immune system.     

Reconstruction of the eruptive activity on the NE sector of Stromboli volcano: timing of flank eruptions since 15 ka

A multidisciplinary geological and compositional investigation allowed us to reconstruct the occurrence of flank eruptions on the lower NE flank of Stromboli volcano since 15 ka. The oldest flank eruption recognised is Roisa, which occurred at ~15 ka during the Vancori period, and has transitional compositional characteristics between the Vancori and Neostromboli phases. Roisa was followed by the San Vincenzo eruption that took place at ~12 ka during the early stage of Neostromboli period. The eruptive fissure of San Vincenzo gave rise to a large scoria cone located below the village of Stromboli, and generated a lava flow, most of which lies below sea level. Most of the flank eruptions outside the barren Sciara del Fuoco occurred in a short time, between ~9 and 7 ka during the Neostromboli period, when six eruptive events produced scoria cones, spatter ramparts and lava flows. The Neostromboli products belong to a potassic series (KS), and cluster in two differently evolved groups. After an eruptive pause of ~5,000 years, the most recent flank eruption involving the NE sector of the island occurred during the Recent Stromboli period with the formation of the large, highly K calc-alkaline lava flow field, named San Bartolo. The trend of eruptive fissures since 15 ka ranges from N30°E to N55°E, and corresponds to the magma intrusions radiating from the main feeding system of the volcano.     

Testing the anelastic nonhydrostatic model EULAG as a prospective dynamical core of a numerical weather prediction model Part II: Simulations of supercell

The anelastic nonhydrostatic model EULAG is a candidate for the future dynamical core of a numerical weather prediction model. Achieving such an objective requires a number of experiments focused on testing correctness of the solutions and robustness of the solver. In the spirit of this idea, a set of tests related to standard atmospheric problems was performed, of which the two regarding development and evolution of a supercell were employed as benchmarks of moist dynamics of the model. Their results are discussed in this paper. Development and evolution of a stormsystem with a set of characteristic features such as stormsplitting along with the generation of horizontal vorticity and cold pool formation is investigated. In addition, the influence of domain geometry, boundary conditions and subgrid-scale mixing is examined.     

Molecular composition of sedimentary humic acids from South West Iberian Peninsula: A multi-proxy approach

The molecular structural features of humic acid (HA) fractions isolated from recent sediments from the estuaries and continental platform along the Huelva littoral (SW Iberian Peninsula, Spain) were studied using complementary analytical tools. The approach included elemental analysis, solid state, ¹³C cross polarisation magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹³C CP-MAS NMR), pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and stable C and N isotopic composition (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N). The results point to the presence of vascular plant matter contributing to all the HAs, even those far from the coastal area. A contribution of lignocellulose material was detected from ¹³C NMR signals at 152 ppm (O-aryl C), 55 ppm (methoxyl C) and 33 ppm (alkyl chain) and confirmed by the presence of lignin derived structures (methoxy phenols) in the pyrolysis chromatograms. Nevertheless, the HAs from the westernmost part of the continental platform had the lowest aromatic and the highest C-alkyl abundance (¹³C NMR spectroscopy). These data, combined with low C/N and high H/C values, a relative enrichment in δ¹³C and the presence in the pyrolysates of conspicuous n-alkyl nitrile and amide series, together with n-alkane/ene homologues, pointed towards a relevant marine (autochthonous) contribution to this sedimentary organic matter (OM). In contrast, HAs from sediments collected from the Tinto-Odiel River mouth and Guadiana Estuary areas revealed a major input of terrestrial OM. In general, the data support the idea that the HAs still contain valuable information about the signature of aliphatic and aromatic biomacromolecules contributing to the deposited OM.     

A new probabilistic seismic hazard study of Spain

In this paper, we present a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) for mainland Spain that takes into account recent new results in seismicity, seismic zoning, and strong ground attenuation not considered in the latest PSHA of the Spanish Building Code. Those new input data have been obtained as a three-step project carried out in order to improve the existing hazard map for mainland Spain. We have produced a new earthquake catalogue for the area, in which the earthquakes are given in moment magnitude through specific deduced relationships for our territory based on intensity data (Mezcua et al. in Seismol Res Lett 75:75–81, 2004). In addition, we included a new seismogenetic zoning based on the recent partial zoning studies performed by different authors. Finally, as we have developed a new strong ground motion model for the area García Blanco (2009), it was considered in the hazard calculation together with other attenuations gathered from different authors using data compatible with our region. With this new data, a logic tree process is defined to quantify the epistemic uncertainty related to those parts of the process. A sensitivity test has been included in order to analyze the different models of ground motion and seismotectonic zonation used in this work. Finally, after applying a weighting scheme, a mean hazard map for PGA, based on rock type condition for 10% exceedance probability in 50 years, is presented, including 15th and 85th percentile hazard maps. The main differences with the present official building code hazard map are analyzed.     

Unstable flow,magma mixing and magma-rock deformation in a deep-seated conduit: the Gil-Márquez Complex,south-west Spain

The Gil-Marquez Complex is an exceptional outcrop of plutonic rocks ranging in composition from diorites to granites emplaced into Devonian terrigenous metasediments of the southernmost part of the Hercynian basement of Iberia. A combined study of this complex, including field geology, petrology, structural geology and geochemistry, reveals that it represents an ancient conduit of magma transport through the continental crust. This conduit allowed the intrusion of magmas of contrasted compositions. Two end-members and several hybrids are identified. The first end-member is a biotite granite and the second is a basaltic magma generated by partial melting of a depletedmantle source. Both magmas rose through a common channel in which favorable conditions for unstable flow and magma mixing occurred. The observed relations in the Gil-Márquez Complex show that mixing in conduits may be an important mechanism for producing homogeneous hybrid magmas.     

Temporal evolution of a three component system: the island of Lipari (Aeolian Arc,southern Italy)

The volcanic products from Lipari define an evolutionary trend with a high gradient of K-enrichment, similar to the calc-alkaline to potassic volcanism of other islands in the Aeolian arc. Stratigraphic reconstruction of the island based on field and geochronological data indicate that the volcanic activity can be subdivided in two stages. The first stage, from 223 to 42 ka, consists of six eruptive cycles and is characterized by basalts and basalt-andesites showing progressive increase in both SiO₂ and K₂O contents with time. The second stage consists of four cycles erupted since 42 ka and is marked by an apparent rejuvenation of the geochemical system with the appearance of the first rhyolitic products. Fractional crystallization, assimilation and mixing models suggest that the geochemistry of Lipari volcanism evolved with time by a complex interplay between two mantle-derived components, one sub-alkaline and the other alkaline, in addition to crustal melts and/or crustally-derived materials. A petrogenetic model in which fractional crystallization was subordinate to mixing best fits the geochemical data and petrographic observations of macro- and microscopic features. Melts from the crustal and mantle end-members are almost always present in the system but the relative proportions appear to vary with time. The sub-alkaline mantle component (source of Tyrrhenian tholeiites) is an important contributor to the early evolution of the volcanism in Lipari; input from the alkaline mantle component (source of the Roman Comagmatic Province) increases with time, and the crustal component becomes dominant in the later activity. The preferred petrogenetic model for the temporal evolution of the volcanic system in Lipari involves melting initially caused by an increase in the thermal input related to the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea and/or to subduction processes. The quick rise of the isotherms and almost contemporaneous melting of source materials with different compositions favored complex mixing during ascent of the melts.