Effects of ultraviolet radiation on the abundance,diversity and activity of bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton: insights from microcosm studies

The effects of ultraviolet-B (0.4 W m⁻²) radiation on the abundance, diversity and heterotrophic metabolism of bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton communities from Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) were assessed and compared to those of freshwater communities from Lake Vela (Portugal) in microcosm experiments. Exposure to 9 h of artificial ultraviolet radiation (UVR) led to 24–33% reduction in bacterial abundance and up to a 70% decrease in bacterial diversity. Maximum extracellular enzyme activity and monomer incorporation rates were reduced by 16–90% and 80–100%, respectively. Recovery of bacterial activity during post-UV dark incubations ranged from 10 to 100% for extracellular enzyme activity and 40% for monomer incorporation rates. In general, the heterotrophic activity of bacterioneuston was more inhibited by UVR than that of bacterioplankton. However, DGGE profiles revealed greater UVR-induced reductions in the diversity of bacterioplankton compared to bacterioneuston. The similarity between bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton communities in samples collected at early morning was lower than at noon (pre-exposed communities) and increased upon experimental irradiation, possibly indicating selection for UV-resistant bacteria. The observation that UV exposure resulted in enhanced reduction of bacterioneuston activity, but a lower reduction in bacterial diversity accompanied by enhanced dark recovery potential compared to bacterioplankton, indicates re-directioning of bacterioneuston metabolism towards stress defence/recovery strategies rather than the sustained heterotrophic metabolism. Our results indicate that UVR can significantly decrease the abundance, diversity and activity of bacteria inhabiting the surface and sub-surface layers of freshwater and estuarine systems with potentially important impacts on the biogeochemical cycles in these environments.     

The Bizielle vein (valle de Gistain): A case of iron oxide transformations at the Pyrenees of Spain

The Bizielle vein has some unique features among the Pyrenean alpine veins that allow us to address the question of the nature of iron oxides transformations under low temperature hydrothermal conditions, which is well known to prevailed over wide areas of western Europe between early Triassic to early Cretaceous times. Isotopic studies indicate a deep-seated origin of the ore-forming fluids and suggest that the metals were leached from the Variscan basement (mainly from granites). Isotopic geothermometry and regional evidences point to a 250 °C and reducing fluid, being SH₂ the predominant S specie. Under such conditions, the proposed in situ deposition of hematite is a consequence of Fe carbonates dissolution and oxidation involving dissolution/precipitation processes in the sense of Putnis. Non-redox model is a quite plausible origin for subsequent hematite to magnetite conversion.     

Contaminated soils and sediments associated with Zn ore metallurgy near the São Francisco River,Minas Gerais (Brazil)

Draining through industrial areas of the Minas Gerais mining state (Brazil), some tributaries of the São Francisco River constitute a potential environmental hazard for this great river and threaten the quality of the regional soils for agriculture and other activities. Extensive geochemistry and mineralogy of sediments, soils and alluvial plains from six selected areas within the Consciência drainage basin close to an important Zn-extraction plant, have been carried out. In this report, detailed mineralogy of those samples and supporting geochemical data are discussed, taking into account their specific climactic and environmental context. Petrographic and electron microprobe characterization of the sand-grained fraction of these materials was complemented by XRD on their finer fraction: the main contaminant minerals are willemite (one of the Zn ores used in the industrial plant) and jarosite, though their contents are quite variable in the studied areas and also with depth; minor amounts of Zn-, Pb-, Cd-, and Mn-bearing mineral phases are also frequent, usually as inclusions in willemite or in polycrystalline clasts, or adsorbed on the finer materials, such as clay minerals and associated Fe-hydroxides. Mineralogical contamination is responsible for high metal contents in the soils and sediments of the areas closer to the plant (e.g. Zn ? 2000 mg kg^?1 and Cd ? 20 mg kg^?1, which are the Intervention Values for Industrial Areas) and the greatest contamination risks are related to the more labile phases that circulate throughout the alluvial plains, the shallow sediments and the stream bed. Monitoring the mineral/chemical contamination and its extent also constitutes a useful basis for future proposals to remediate and recover this industrial area in order to decrease medium- and long-term negative impacts of metal contamination on the local and downstream environments.     

Stratigraphy and architecture of the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation,Ischigualasto Provincial Park,San Juan,Argentina

The Ischigualasto Formation in northwestern Argentina contains abundant fluvial channel sandstones, overbank mudstones, and paleosols that were deposited in a northwest-trending continental-rift basin during Late Triassic time. In the study area the formation progressively thins from ～700 m in the west to ～400 m in the east, over a distance of 7 km. This thinning is accompanied by a relative decrease in the abundance of fluvial channel sandstones and an increase in mud-rich overbank deposits and paleosols. While preserved channel deposits in the formation are highly variable in terms of their size and stratigraphic distribution, four general channel forms can be recognized based on their overall cross sectional geometry and internal sedimentary structures. Of these, the dominant channel-body types are interpreted as the deposits of sandy multi-channel fluvial systems. The internal stratigraphic architecture of the Ischigualasto Formation indicates that during deposition, the central part of the basin was the location of a long-lived, north flowing, fluvial channel belt that received relatively continuous channel and proximal overbank deposition. To the east, however, channel-related deposition was more infrequent, resulting in enhanced pedogenic modification of alluvial deposits. The overall thickness and facies trends observed in the Ischigualasto Formation most likely correspond to variations in fault-related accommodation development within the basin during the time of deposition.     

Modelling the cross-shore profiles of sand beaches using artificial neural networks

Abstract

Artificial neural networks (ANN) have been widely used successfully to solve coastal engineering problems. In this article, they are used to model the cross-shore profile of sandy beaches taking into account the possible effect of marine vegetation (Posidonia oceanica). Sixty ANNs were generated by modifying both the inputs and the number of neurons in the hidden layer. The best results were obtained with the following inputs: wave height perpendicular to the coast and the associated period and probability of occurrence, median sediment size, profile slope, and energy reduction factor due to P. oceanica. With these inputs and 10 neurons in the hidden layer, a mean absolute error of 0.22?m during training and 0.21?m during the test was obtained, which represents an improvement of 81.2% and 55.5% compared to models without and with P. oceanica.     

Late Holocene history of the floodplain lakes of the Cauca River, Colombia

We conducted a paleolimnological investigation of late Holocene deposits on a distal, constrained floodplain of the Cauca River, northern Colombia, i.e. the La Caimana sedimentary succession. The record starts sometime between 4,500 and 4,000 cal yr BP, when the first high-energy fluvial events inundated an ancient soil surface. From that time until about 3,260 cal yr BP, a stable and probably seasonal flooding regime was established on the floodplain. From ~3,260 to ~2,800 cal yr BP, ephemeral and shallow swamps developed on the floodplain. Their formation and duration depended on their connection with the Cauca River. From ~2,800 to ~2,400 cal yr BP, fluvial influence became more dominant, establishing a semi-permanent connection between the river and the floodplain. From ~2,400 to 1,400 cal yr BP, episodic formation of ephemeral swamps occurred. During this stage, floodplain lakes displayed high salinity and nutrient concentrations, and possibly alkaline conditions as a consequence of reduced water volume when the connection with the river was reduced or lost completely. A change in the hydrological regime occurred from ~1,400 to ~850 cal yr BP, when high-energy fluvial events were punctuated by periods of reduced flooding that enabled soil formation. Generally, connection with the Cauca River resulted in lake waters with low salinity and nutrient concentration, whereas loss of connection with the river led to lakes with greater salinity and nutrient content. Paleocurrent analyses indicate that flows came predominantly from the Cauca River, suggesting the lakes were formed by the impoundment of La Caimana Creek. The sedimentary succession of La Caimana offers a unique, high-resolution record of the evolution and dynamics of an ancient floodplain of the Cauca River and its aquatic ecosystems.     

The definition of potential infiltration areas in Guaratinguetá watershed, Paraíba do Sul Basin, Southeastern Brazil: an integrated approach using physical and land-use elements

This work describes the methodological approach used for mapping the potential infiltration areas of the Guaratinguetá watershed (160?km²), situated in Southeastern Brazil. The method is considered a qualitative approach, which takes into account thematic maps (geology, pedology, geomorphology, and land use/land cover) and the precipitation spatial distribution. A group of experts in Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering has applied an infiltration potential scale factor that ranges from 5 (highest influence) to 1 (lowest influence). The final infiltration map was produced using several ArcGIS^? tools. The results showed that the most suitable (very high) infiltration areas represent only around 7% of the watershed area, which are associated with smooth and gentle hills, fluvial Tertiary sediments and yellow oxisols. However, growing impacts caused by land farming and urban developments require urgent planning for this region. Areas with high to moderate capacity of infiltration represent around 56% of the watershed and are found in the domain of igneous-metamorphic rocks associated with steep hill-slopes and relatively well-preserved forest fragments. This region requires a land-use strategy, such as reforestation programs, in order to increase the infiltration capacity of the watershed.     

Retrograde alterations of phyllosilicates in low-grade metapelite: a case study from the Szendr? Paleozoic, NE-Hungary

Frequently, at temperatures lower than the metamorphic peak conditions, slates undergo mineral transformations, usually mediated by fluids. We have studied core material of an epizonal slate series (Szendr? Mountains, NE-Hungary) to reconstruct the post-metamorphic lower-T hydrothermal alterations using petrographic, X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe methods, and transmission electron microscopy. The borehole crosscuts an upper part of the ca. 600?C800?m Lower-Carboniferous flysch-like Szendr? Phyllite Formation. The samples were metamorphosed reaching epizonal conditions with a mineral assemblage characterized by quartz, muscovite, chlorite and albite. Even in the freshest samples, break-up and loosening of the regional metamorphic structure was observed, with cracks parallel to or crossing the cleavage. In the upper part, chlorite and albite are almost absent, while the presence of paragonite, mixed Na?CK mica, and mixed-layered minerals with smectitic component are characteristic. Goethite, halloysite, and subordinate kaolinite are present in the most altered sample (13.0?m in the profile) which may indicate the position of the fissures in which the circulation of the post-metamorphic fluids was the most intense. Muscovite is the only mica from the lower part of the profile and chlorite becomes a significant constituent, whereas paragonite, halloysite, and kaolinite are missing. Discrete smectite is present in all the samples in spite of being incompatible with the prograde evolution of the sequence. The interleaved smectite layers in chlorite and muscovite/chlorite mixed-layers show at the lattice level textural characteristics indicative of a later alteration process. After the metamorphic peak at epizonal conditions, the introduction of hot fluids through the fractures gave rise to the crystallization of Na?CK white micas and muscovite/chlorite under anchizonal conditions. In a final stage of the hydrothermal process, the cooling of the circulating fluids favored the formation of halloysite and kaolinite in the areas near to the fissures, smectites in the samples far away from the fractures, and locally, goethite. The Fe₂O₃ content increasing upwards indicates oxidizing conditions in the late stage of hydrothermal activity and/or eventually, an influence of a younger near-surface weathering.