Complex size-dependent habitat associations in potamodromous fish species

Knowledge of the distribution of species life stages at multiple spatial scales is fundamental to both a proper assessment of species management and conservation programmes and the ability to predict the consequences of human disturbances for river systems. The habitat requirements of three native cyprinid species—the Iberian barbel Barbus bocagei Steindachner, the Iberian straight-mouth nase Pseudochondrostoma polylepis (Steindachner), and the Northern straight-mouth nase Pseudochondrostoma duriense (Coelho)—were examined at 174 undisturbed or minimally disturbed sites in 8 river catchments across western Iberia, by modelling occurrence and counts of species life stages at two spatial scales—large (regional) and instream (local)—using hurdle models. All the life stages of the barbel showed a negative association with upstream high-gradient river reaches, whereas juvenile P. duriense favoured such areas. Stream width and openness were negatively related with the occurrence of juvenile and small adult barbel, but not with large adults. Juvenile nase, on the other hand, were found to be mainly confined to fast-flowing habitats with high instream cover and coarser substrata. Advanced life stages of the barbel were mainly associated with the “pure” regional and shared components, whereas the purely local attributes accounted for much of the model variation among nases, in particular juveniles, and juvenile barbel. The results of this study are useful for setting or refining management goals, and highlight the need to separately consider life stages when performing conservation-related studies of species distribution.     

Recovery of macrobenthos in defaunated tropical estuarine sediments

In the estuarine environment, hypoxia and/or anoxia have become a major cause of benthic defaunation and are strongly associated with increased eutrophication. Mesoscale field experiments were carried out to examine the recolonization and recovery time of macrobenthos after defaunation. Azoic sediments were achieved by covering four areas with polyethylene sheeting. Temporal changes and depth distribution of macrobenthos within the defaunated sediments were compared with those in undisturbed natural sediments at the same site. Within 3 days, annelids appeared as the first immigrants. After 153 days, the process of recovery had not yet been completed in terms of species richness. Whereas diversity and evenness showed no significant differences between treatments during the entire experiment, multivariate analyses proved that differences between treatments were still significant 93 days after the start of the experiment.     

Numerical analysis of an embankment built on soft soil reinforced with deep mixing columns: Parametric study

The behaviour of an embankment built on normally consolidated soft soil reinforced with deep mixing columns is studied using a coupled soil–water formulation. The numerical predictions are analysed in terms of settlements, increments in vertical effective stresses and excess pore pressures. Firstly, the effectiveness of the use of deep mixing columns is studied. Afterwards, a parametric analysis is performed to study the influence on the soil-columns system of the replacement ratio (columns’ spacing), the deformability of the embankment and columns, and the coefficient of vertical permeability of the columns.     

Free Eu(III) Determination by Donnan Membrane Technique with Electrochemical Detection: Implementation and Evaluation

Aquatic Geochemistry - The aim of this study was to develop an analytical method to determine free concentrations of Europium (Eu(III)) in natural waters. Europium(III) in solution was detected...     

Analysis of the 1 November 2015 heavy rainfall episode in Algarve by using weather radar and rain gauge data

The trigger for the study presented in this paper was the extreme rain event of 1 November 2015 in Algarve region. The main objective was the analysis and improvement of the precipitation field using a radar–rain gauge merging method. Ordinary kriging with radar-based error correction has been applied to hourly values of precipitation from both sensors. The merging technique allowed keeping the better radar spatial pattern, being the respective estimates corrected by the rain gauges observations. The procedure led to a reduction in the errors of the precipitation estimates, evaluated by cross-validation, when compared to univariate interpolation of rain gauge observation or radar rain product. Finally, some discussion is also added on the problematic of flooding in urban areas, especially those with absent or deficient urban planning.     

Pennsylvanian glacimarine sedimentation in the Cushamen Formation,western North Patagonian Massif

The metasedimentary sequence of the Cushamen Formation in the western North Patagonian Massif is540 m thick and comprises six sedimentary lithofacies associations related to a glacimarine environment.Four of these lithofacies represent distal glacimarine environments, whereas another one was deposited in proximal glacimarine environments, and the last includes subglacial environments. The organization and configuration of these lithofacies associations represent the advance and retreat of the glacier masses. The maximum glacial advance is correlatable with the G2 glacial interval of the Pennsylvanian Pampa de Tepuel, Las Salinas and Valley Chico, formations of the Extraandean Chubut, and the southern part of Neuquen Cordillera. Contemporaneously, in southern Chile there are marine and glacimarine sediments. The chronostratigraphic relationships between the Silurian to Permian units allow five paleogeographic stages to be distinguished. The middle Silurian-late Devonian igneous rocks represent the first magmatic stage. The second stage, which is transitional to the first, is represented by a marine basin that includes the late Devonian-early Carboniferous Esquel and Rio Pescado formations and the Llanquihue Complex. The third stage(early-late Carboniferous) includes granitoids of the second magmatic event that partially overlapped the first magmatic igneous belt. The fourth stage belongs to the late Carboniferous sedimentation of the Cushamen and equivalent formations. The extended early Permian magmatism was the last Paleozoic event in the studied area.     

Use of radon isotopes,gamma radiation and dye tracers to study water interactions in a small stream in Brazil

In this study, natural (²²²Rn) and fluorescent (uranin) tracers were used to investigate the interactions between surface and subsurface waters in a small hydrographical basin located in the southeast region of Brazil. Levels of ²²²Rn were measured in 117 water samples with the use of an alpha solid-state detector. After the identification of the probable discharge sections along the stream, a measurement of the natural flows, upstream and downstream of these sections, was done with the use of a fluorimeter and fluorescent tracers. Also, scanning was done to verify a correlation between the natural gamma radiation and the ²²²Rn in the areas where its activity was higher. The results showed some sections where the ²²²Rn activity is more significant and contributed to the growth of the flows along the stream. It was possible to confirm a correlation between the discharge sections and the natural gamma radiation, what can be used as a preliminary approach to finding these sections in scenarios similar to the one studied here.     

Planning the Colca Canyon and the Valley of the Volcanoes National Park in South Peru

The economic development of the Rio Colca region and related infrastructure endangers the environment of the deepest canyon worldwide. The unique values of the Colca Valley and Canyon and its tributary Valley of the Volcanoes are summarised. They include a magnificent, deep section of the orogenic belt 100 km long, different geological formations, active faults, a variety of fold structures, young volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, several ecological zones and the largest condor habitat in the Andes. Based on the observed land use, development and regional planning, the threats and conflict areas are outlined. Studies performed by the Polish Scientific Expedition to Peru since 2003 add greatly to the knowledge of geology, landscape and pioneering biota development of the area and its importance to the world heritage of nature. They are aimed to give scientific background to the project of the Canyon Colca and Valley of the Volcanoes National Park. The article gives the proposed limits of the park and its buffer zones, categories of protection zones compatible with the SINANPE system of Peru and suggestions on tourist accessibility. The strict protection zone should cover the most inaccessible part of the area where human economic activity practically does not exist. Traditional farming and animal husbandry, wildlife, cultural tourism and some forms of adventure tourism will be allowed in the zone of special usage. The new park would strengthen the relatively poor system of the protected areas in the Arequipa Department, increase tourist attractiveness and determine constraints for sustained regional development. The expected actions of the park authority and local governments are specified.