Geological and hydrochemical prerequisites of unexpectedly high biodiversity in spring ecosystems at the landscape level

This study explores the factors affecting the biodiversity of diatoms, vegetation with focus on bryophytes, and invertebrates with focus on water mites, in a series of 16 spring-habitats. The springs are located primarily from the mountainous part of the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Apennines, Italy), and two pool-springs from agricultural and industrial lowland locations. Overall, data indicate that biological diversity (Shannon-Wiener, α-diversity) within individual springs was relatively low, e.g.: S_diatoms = 0-46, S_water-mites = 0-11. However, when examined at the regional scale, they hosted a very high total number of taxa (γ-diversity; S_diatoms = 285, S_water-mites = 40), including several new or putatively-new species, and many Red-List taxa. This pattern suggested there is high species turnover among springs, as well as high distinctiveness of individual spring systems. A key goal was to assess the hydrogeological and hydrochemical conditions associated with this high regional-pool species richness, and to provide a guide to future conservation strategies. There was a striking variety of geological conditions (geodiversity, captured mainly with lithotype and aquifer structure) across the study region, which led to wide variation in the hydrosphere, especially in conductivity and pH. Agriculture and industrial activities (anthroposphere) in the lowlands resulted in nutrient enrichment and other forms of pollution. Across all 16 spring-systems, several hydrogeological conditions most strongly influenced the presence or absence of particular biota and were determinants of species importance: spring-head morphology, hydroperiod, discharge, current velocity, and elemental concentration. These findings have important practical consequences for conservation strategies. Our data show that it is imperative to protect entire regional groups of springs, including representatives of the different ecomorphological spring types, lithologies, and degrees of human influence. These findings suggest that springs, when studied from an ecohydrogeological perspective, are excellent systems in which to further investigate and understand geo-biodiversity relationships.

Microencapsulation by spray-drying of polyphenols extracted from red chicory and red cabbage: Effects on stability and color properties

The research of antioxidants and natural pigments to replace synthetic molecules is increasingly considering wastes from plant food supply chains. Red chicory (RCH) and red cabbage (RCA) are rich sources of polyphenols (PP), especially anthocyanins, well know natural pigments possessing strong antioxidant capacity and beneficial health effects. The aim of this work was to compare different solvents for PP extraction and to evaluate the effect of spray-drying encapsulation using modified starch on PP, antioxidant capacity (AOC) and color properties. Methanol:water (70:30) showed the best extraction capacity, while ethanol:water (70:30) extracts displayed the highest thermal stability. Ethanol:water extracts were spray-dried with a yield of 95-99% for both crops, while the efficiency of PP encapsulation was 79% (RCA) and 88% (RCH). Encapsulation improved retention of PP and AOC upon thermal treatment (RCH: 20-30%, RCA: 44-55%) without altering color properties. This process can be employed for the development of functional foods and supplements.

Effects on the accumulation of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc of adding the two inorganic forms of selenium to solution cultures of Zea mays

The addition of selenate or selenite to common fertilizers for crop production could be an effective way of producing selenium-rich food and feed. However, this would be feasible only if the increase in plant selenium (Se) content did not negatively influence the uptake of other essential elements. We therefore need to understand the interactions between Se and other major and trace elements during uptake by the plant. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of inorganic forms of Se on the accumulation of selected macronutrients (Ca and Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu). Those essential elements are involved in the oxidative balance of cells. Zea mays seedlings were grown hydroponically in growth chambers in nutrient solutions to which we added 10, 50 or 1000 μg.L(-1) of selenate and/or selenite. Cation accumulation was significantly affected by the addition of 50 μg.L(-1) or 1000 μg.L(-1) Se, but not by the presence of 10 μg.L(-1) of Se in the nutrient solution. The highest concentration (1000 μg.L(-1)) of Se in the nutrient solution affected the accumulation of essential cations in Zea mays: selenate tended to increase the accumulation of Mg, Zn and Mn, whereas a selenate/selenite mixture tended to decrease the accumulation of Ca, Mg, Zn and Mn. Only Fe accumulation was unaffected by Se whatever its form or concentration. Selenium may also affect the distribution of cations on Zea mays. For example, levels of Mg and Zn translocation to the shoots were lower in the presence of selenite.

Achnanthidium minutissimum (Bacillariophyta) valve deformities as indicators of metal enrichment in diverse widely-distributed freshwater habitats

In the presence of different environmental stressors, diatoms can produce frustules presenting different types of deformities. Metals and trace elements are among the most common causes of these teratological forms. Metal enrichment in water bodies can be attributed to the geological setting of the area or to pollution. The widespread benthic diatom Achnanthidium minutissimum (ADMI) is one of the most metal-tolerant species. In the present study, ADMI teratologies were defined from samples taken from eight very diverse, widely-distributed inland-water habitats: streams affected by active and abandoned mining areas, a metal-contaminated stream, a spring in an old chalcopyrite mine, a mineral-water fountain, and a sediment core taken from a lake affected by metal contamination in the past. Deformed frustules of ADMI were characterised mainly by one (sometimes two) more or less bent off ending, conferring to the specimens a cymbelloid outline (cymbelliclinum-like teratology, CLT). Marked teratologies were distinguished from slight deformities. Hydrochemical analyses, including metals and trace elements, were carried out and enrichment factors (EF) relative to average crustal composition were calculated. To improve our knowledge on the potential of different metals and trace elements to trigger the occurrence of ADMI CLT, we carefully selected 15 springs out of 110 (CRENODAT dataset) where both ADMI and above-average metal or metalloid concentrations occurred, and re-analysed these samples. The results from the eight widely-distributed core sites as well as from the 15 selected CRENODAT springs led to the hypothesis that two metals (copper and zinc) and a metalloid (antimony) were the most likely triggers of ADMI CLT formation. From a quantitative point of view, it is worth noting that the lowest concentrations triggering ADMI CLT can be fairly low, particularly in the case of copper contamination. The antimony-rich site was characterised by a marked-teratology variant where both ends of ADMI were bent off.

Fine-Scale Spatial Patterns of Mature and Immature Filaments and Bioorganic Compounds of the Rhodophyte Bangia atropurpurea in the Supra- and Eulittoral Zones of a Large Lake(1)

Bangia atropurpurea (Mertens ex Roth) C. Agardh is a freshwater red alga species that is distributed worldwide. B. atropurpurea is highly adaptable due to its stress-tolerance, which ensures survival under desiccation periods and under radiation extremes typical of the supra- and upper eulittoral zones. Whereas a number of previous investigations addressed some of the physiological and biochemical traits involved in stress-tolerance, we studied the spatial arrangement of the mature (multiseriate) and immature (uniseriate) filaments and of selected bioorganic compounds along a gradient defined by distance from the waterline. Substantial physiological and biochemical differences were previously observed among phenological stages in the marine environment. In this study, we showed a nonrandom spatial structure of both phenological stages and photosynthetic pigments and photoprotective compounds, R-phycocyanin and R-phycoerythrin along the supralittoral-eulittoral gradient. This observed pattern strongly suggests a complex interplay between physio-morphological regulation and spatial arrangement of mature and immature filaments in conferring the typical stress tolerance of B. atropurpurea.

Variations à court terme des compartiments planctoniques d'un lac humique du Bouclier canadien

Les variations spatio-temporelles à court terme des compartiments planctoniques ont été étudiées simultanément du 30 juillet au 5 août 1986 dans un lac humique du Bouclier canadien. L'abondance du bactérioplancton fluctue de 1,4 à 1,7.106 cell. ml.-1 (coloration DAPI) ou de 2,7 à 7,7.106 cell. ml-1; (coloration Acridine Orange). La production du bactérioplancton estimée par incorporation de 3H méthyl thimidine, varie de 4 à 24.106 cell. l-1 h-1. Les valeurs d'activité hétérotrophe potentielle bactérienne estimée par assimilation de 14C glucose, s'échelonnent de 0,007 à 0,065 µg C.l-1. h-1. La biomasse pigmentaire (chlore. a et pheopigments) varie de 6,8 à 21,7 mg.m-3 . La production primaire est très faible (max. : 10 mg C. m-3 .h-1; 20 mg C.m-2 .h-1 ) et décroît très rapidement avec la profondeur (25 % à 82 % dans le premier mètre). Le microzooplancton (Rotifères, Bosmina, nauplies) représente plus de 90 % du peuplement zooplanctonique et les taux de broutage global du macrozooplancton sont faibles (25 % j-1). Les compartiments hétérotrophes prédominent dans le métabolisme du lac par rapport au compartiment autotrophe. Les patrons de variation spatiale reflètent la stratification verticale des compartiments et des processus autotrophes et hétérotrophes. Les maxima de photosynthèse, d'ATP et de production bactérienne se situent dans les eaux épilimnétiques tandis que les maxima d'abondance du bactérioptancton et des pigments se rencontrent dans l'hypolimnion. Le zooplancton est plus dense et broute d'avantage dans la strate 1-3 m. Ces variations spatiales semblent influencer l'activité hétérotrophe potentielle du bactérioptancton. Nos résultats montrent aussi des variations temporelles à court terme de la production primaire, de l'assimilation hétérotrophe et du broutage du macrozooplancton. Cette étude préliminaire met en lumière la nécessité de tenir compte des variations à court terme lors des études des relations trophodynamiques dans les écosystèmes planctoniques.

Facilitating parenting skills in vulnerable families

Parents regularly seek advice from their health visitor about how to cope with their child's difficult behaviour. Often the health visitor feels she has nothing constructive to offer, writes Norma Angeli et al. Here they describe how one team of health visitors introduced the STEP positive parenting programme, devised in the US, successfully to help parents from all cultures, classes and backgrounds achieve a better relationship with their child.

Psychiatric morbidity associated with screening for breast cancer

The 28-item GHQ was used to assess psychiatric morbidity in 302 women attending for routine breast cancer screening, 300 women attending for further investigation of a positive screening result and 150 women referred for investigation of breast symptoms. The GHQ-28 was administered on arrival at the relevant clinic and three months later. Medical records were used to determine the outcome of the clinic attendance. Women were classified into routinely screened women, women with false positive screening results, symptomatic women with a benign diagnosis, newly diagnosed cancer patients and previously treated cancer patients. When tested on arrival at the clinic, 25% of routinely screened, 30% of women with false positive results and 35% of symptomatic women with benign conditions were probable cases of psychiatric morbidity. The only statistically significant difference was between the routinely screened and symptomatic benign groups. Levels of anxiety were significantly higher in those with false positive results and in the symptomatic benign group than in the routinely screened. Three months later the prevalence of probable psychiatric morbidity had fallen to 19% in both the routinely screened and those with false positive results but remained significantly higher in the symptomatic benign group (31%). Probable cases of psychiatric morbidity among newly detected cancer patients rose from 34 to 46% over the 3-month period. Among women who had had breast cancer diagnosed in the past prevalence remained at 21%. The prevalence of probable psychiatric morbidity in screened women is similar to that in the general population. Among women referred for further investigation because of a false positive screening result prevalence was only slightly increased and there was no evidence of a sustained increase in anxiety. Provided that delays are kept to a minimum and that women are kept informed, a breast cancer screening programme does not increase psychiatric morbidity. Further research is required in cancer patients to determine whether those diagnosed in asymptomatic women have a higher and more sustained degree of psychiatric morbidity than those diagnosed in women who are aware of symptoms.