Lagoon Research Articles

Identificación y valoración de los Servicios Ecosistémicos del Parque Regional de las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia, España) basado en encuestas a los usuarios

El Parque Regional de las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar es un humedal salino situado al norte de la restinga que cierra el Mar Menor (Región de Murcia). Forma parte de la Red Natura 2000, y está declarado Zona de Especial Conservación y Zona de Especial Protección para las Aves, además de ser un importante enclave de producción de sal y turístico. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar una valoración preliminar de los servicios ecosistémicos del Parque Regional mediante la realización de encuestas pre-test a los usuarios del espacio protegido. Para ello se utilizaron métodos de preferencias declaradas: el método de Valoración Contingente y la Valoración por Experimentos de Elección. Se realizaron 262 encuestas pre-test a turistas entre agosto y diciembre de 2019, las cuáles orientaron la redacción de las encuestas finales. Además, se definieron los servicios ecosistémicos que ofrece el Parque Regional mediante el análisis de la Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services en su última versión V5.1, obteniendo 32 tipos de servicios ecosistémicos que serán valorados en las encuestas finales con cuatro opciones de respuesta.

The impact of combining data sets of fluorescence excitation - emission matrices of dissolved organic matter from various aquatic sources on the information retrieved by PARAFAC modeling

Despite that fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) has been widely used in the investigation of Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter (FDOM) in aquatic systems, the proper performance of PARAFAC analysis on datasets originating from various sources is not to be taken for granted. In this study, we examine the impact of the co-analysis of datasets from various natural water systems located in the same geographical region in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. For this purpose three datasets were formed representative of open sea waters (SW), rivers and streams (RV) and lagoons (LG). The Excitation Emission Matrices (EEMs) derived from fluorescence analysis were subjected to individual PARAFAC analysis per dataset as well as combined analyses i.e.: SWRV, SWLG, RVLG, ALL (SW-RV-LG). We evaluated the reliability of the components that were validated in the combined models through the investigation of model’s residuals and components correlation. We also assessed the similarity of the common identified components among models in regards of: (a) spectral position, by calculating the Tucker congruence coefficient (TCC) of the excitation and emission loadings of the PARAFAC components, and (b) fluorescence intensity, through regression analysis of Fmax, among models. Our analysis showed that for natural waters of various sources within the same geographical region, combined PARAFAC modeling can have both negative as well as positive impact. In the case of the combined SWLG and RVLG models, the PARAFAC analysis was able to resolve the fulvic component that was initially observed only in the LG dataset and thus a new component for SW and RV datasets was resolved. The fulvic-like component was actually identified for the first time in the open sea using the combined datasets. Moreover in the combined SWRV analysis tyrosine-like component was resolved which was found initially only in the RV dataset. Contrary, tyrosine-like component was lost in the combined RVLG dataset. We also show that the resolution of extra components in a combined analysis is not always a good fit for the dataset and the model should be assessed in terms of residuals prior acceptance. Finally, our study proposes that the similarity of the common components between combined and individual models is largely dependent on the similarity between the components of the individual models and that the estimation of the Fmax of a component is probably less affected by data diversity compared to the estimation of its spectral position.

A new member of the morphometrics jungle to better monitor vulnerable lagoons

A recommendation of: Celine Lacaux, Agnes Desolneux, Justine Gadreaud, Bertrand Martin-Garin and Alain Thiery Hough transform implementation to evaluate the morphological variability of the moon jellyfish (Aurelia spp.) 10.1101/2020.03.11.986984

The Effect of Outdoor Exploration on the Scientific Attitude andPerception of Elementary Pre-Service Teachers - Focused on Birdwatching and Lagoon Exploration -

The Effect of Outdoor Exploration on the Scientific Attitude andPerception of Elementary Pre-Service Teachers - Focused on Birdwatching and Lagoon Exploration -

TRANSFORMAÇÕES GEOMORFOLÓGICAS NA CIDADE DO RIO DE JANEIRO DURANTE OS SÉCULO XIX E XX

As transformações ocorridas ao longo dos séculos XIX e XX no relevo da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, vinculadas às necessidades de expansão de seu sítio urbano, levaram a uma mudança significativa de sua paisagem natural. O artigo aqui apresentado procura discutir algumas das alterações ocorridas calcadas nos conceitos de paisagem e de relevos tecnogênicos, procurando evidenciar alterações provenientes das intervenções e alterações morfológicas associadas à política de uso e ocupação do terreno. A base metodológica está pautada em análises da produção bibliográfica sobre a evolução urbana e de imagens e registros fotográficos históricos capazes de demonstrarem alterações antrópicas no terreno. Com isso, procuramos elucidar como a cidade foi sendo transformada e expandida, principalmente, através de inúmeros aterros (sobre ecossistemas de manguezais, lagoas e áreas pantanosas), reconhecidos aqui como tipologias de relevo tecnogênico denominado de “terrenos construídos (“made ground”) no campo das pesquisas científicas.

Environmental pollution caused by the manure storage

The purpose of this work was to compare the quality indicators of manure with different ways of its removal and storage for pollution of the environment. The research was carried out at three farms with different variants of removal, storage and processing of manure: using deep, unchangeable for a long time straw litter, processing of manure in a bioreactor-fermenter and sedimentation in open-air lagoons. By the amount of NPK content per 1 kg of fertilizer, the highest rates were observed for the deposition on the deep litter – 7.69 g. The least of these elements was in the fertilizer obtained as a result of storage in the lagoon – 6.16 g. At the variant of manure processing in the bioreactor-fermenter intermediate indicators – 6.69 g were observed. The highest manure moisture index was for storage in the lagoon – 17.71% and 1.38% more compared with the option on deep litter and bioreactor-fermenter. The lowest amount of weed seeds was deposited on deep litter – 79 units/ml, which is 24 and 38 units/ml more than for processing in a bioreactor-fermenter and storage in the lagoon. The indicator of germination of weeds, which is very important in terms of the future use of manure in organic fertilizers, in general, for all variants of storage (processing) had positive indicators. The germination index of weeds under storage on deep litter was 5.72%, which is 3.14 and 4.42% less than by processing in a bioreactor-fermenter and in a lagoon. The largest emissions of N2O (nitrogen oxide) were 40712.45 kg at manure storage in the lagoon, which is 39781.88 kg more than at the variants of deep-litter storage and bioreactor-fermenter.

Estudio de la población de carpincho (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) en el área natural protegida "El Morejón", Campana (Buenos Aires)

En la Argentina, la Ecorregion Pampeana presenta bajo nivel de proteccion debido a su alto valor economico y al dominio privado. El reemplazo de sus ambientes naturales por usos productivos causo la retraccion numerica de especies como el carpincho (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), que habita sus humedales. Los aspectos biologicos y ecologicos de esta especie permanecen poco estudiados en la provincia de Buenos Aires. En consecuencia, los objetivos de este estudio fueron estimar las abundancias real y relativa, la densidad y el tamano poblacional, y determinar la estructura de la poblacion, el patron de actividad de los individuos en las dos lagunas presentes en el area natural protegida “El Morejon”, partido de Campana, Buenos Aires. Para ello, a lo largo del ano 2014 se realizaron relevamientos de transectas de rastros y trampas camara en las cuatro estaciones. A pesar de estar inmersa en un area urbanizada e industrializada, se obtuvo un tamano poblacional mayor al esperado. Se estimo la presencia de un promedio de 15 individuos en la Laguna 1 y 154 en la 2, en areas de uso estimadas de 3 y 10 ha, respectivamente. Durante el invierno se registro el mayor numero de individuos, y en otono, primavera y verano, los menores. Es posible que esto se asocie a la movilidad de los individuos en busca de alimento. Estos resultados son relevantes para una planificacion correcta de medidas de manejo, y confirman la importancia de que existan reservas privadas que conserven el ecosistema natural de la region.

Carbon Aerogel Coated Air-cathode Bioelectrochemical System for Simultaneous Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal

The modern bio-electrochemical technologies can convert the energy stored in the chemical bonds of biodegradable organic materials into renewable electrical bioenergy through the catalytic reactions of the microorganisms while treating the wastewaters. The present research has been conducted to study the efficiency of the single-chamber bio electrochemical system with carbon aerogel catalyst as a new, simple and inexpensive approach to remove and recover the valuable but polluting nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from municipal wastewaters and also determines the optimal conditions to scale up the system in countries with hot, dry climates. In the present study, the bacterial consortium was isolated from the sediments of local lagoons, and the municipal wastewater was used as the substrate. During the six months of cell operation, the effluent of BES showed a 54.9% decrease in nitrate concentration and a 59.8% decrease in total N and 90% of phosphate removed from wastewater, the total nitrogen and total phosphate concentration in effluent were 28.9 ± 24.3 mg/l. and 13 ± 46.8 mg/l, respectively. The maximum removal of COD was 80%, and the maximum power density was 1.82mW/m2. Carbon aerogel as a novel material with suitable absorbance and resistance to oxidation by urban wastewater pH can be coated on electrodes to facilitate the Oxidation Reduction reactions and electricity transmission

Estudios de arqueología distribucional en Monte Loayza (Costa Norte de Santa Cruz, Patagonia)

Fil: Zubimendi, Miguel Angel. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Division Arqueologia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina

Determination of Ice Regime in the Curonian Lagoon using Satellite Data

Determination of Ice Regime in the Curonian Lagoon using Satellite Data

Desire and the Politics of Africanfuturism

We do not want to rule, colonize, conquer or take. We just want a home. What is it you want? —Okorafor, Lagoon, 2014You know the story, as they tell it. The aliens arrive, bringing confusion an...

Diversity of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria in anaerobic lagoons and facultative stabilization pond used in treatment of sewage

The objective of this study was to identify the anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria in the anaerobic lagoons and facultative stabilization pond of the Vale do Ribeira, Cajati, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and their correlation with physical and chemical parameters of the ponds’ water. The samples were collected seasonally (spring, summer, autumn and winter) in the sub-surface, intermediate layer and sediment-water interface. We used the PCR/DGGE with puf M 557FGC and puf M 750R primers specific to the reaction center of the photosynthetic phototrophic bacteria for their identification. The amplification products were separated by electrophoresis on denaturing gradient gel. From the bands cut out and sequenced from DGGE, the identified bacteria were Rhodopseudomonas palustris (99% similarity), Chromatium sp . (92%), Thiocapsa sp. (90%), Rhodospirillum sp. (95%), Roseobacter sp. (93%) and other uncultured bacteria.

Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy-an underdiagnosed disease: case report

The aim of this study is to relate the condition of paraplegia due to schistosomal myeloradiculopathy with an initial diagnosis of polyradiculoneuropathy in a patient from an endemic area This disease is the most severe and disabling ectopic form of Schistosoma mansoni infection being underreported of unknown prevalence and underestimated morbidity Its recognition and the early institution of treatment play a fundamental role in the prevention of severe and irreversible injuries as well as in the recovery of affected people usually young people in full production phase The diagnosis of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy is based on epidemiology clinical findings regarding neurological conditions and evidence of Schistosome mansoni in laboratory tests such as serological techniques or stool parasitological examination and other causes for the condition should be excluded In the case described the patient reported swimming in a lagoon in Sergipe an endemic zone which makes the epidemiology speak strongly in favor of the diagnostic hypothesis The clinical presentation presented by the patient is very similar to that of this myeloradiculopathy and that Schistosoma eggs were found in the feces and the serology and cerebrospinal fluid analysis CSF serology were positive for this parasite It is noteworthy that magnetic resonance imaging is a very sensitive propaedeutic method for the evaluation of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy although the diagnosed alterations are not specific for this disease The changes observed on magnetic resonance imaging MRI regress in parallel with the clinical improvement of the patient after treatment with schistosomicides and corticosteroids as can be observed in this case Finally the treatment was done with praziquantel ivermectin and corticosteroid therapy in association with motor physiotherapy The patient presented clinical improvement but maintained mild motor deficit

Geochemistry and mineralogy of the shallow subsurface Red Sea coastal sediments, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia: provenance and paleoenvironmental implications

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the shallow subsurface sediments retrieved from a short sediment core (2.05 m long) collected from the tidal flat south of Al-Kharrar Lagoon, Rabigh area, Saudi Arabia, are presented to determine the impact of temporal change of depositional environment and distinguish the principal control(s) on their chemical composition. The sediments are dominantly siliciclastic, consisting of two vertically stacked sedimentary facies: lagoonal (LG) gray silt-rich mud to argillaceous very fine sand at the base and intertidal flat (TF) brown mud and argillaceous very fine-grained sands at the top. The sediments of the two facies are similar in their mineralogical and chemical composition except for slight vertical variations in the relative abundance of minerals and concentrations of major oxides and trace elements. The mineralogical composition is dominated by quartz, feldspars, and plagioclase with less abundant clay minerals and hornblende, all of detrital origin. In addition, traces of high and low Mg-calcite, dolomite, and gypsum were recognized. Geochemically, the sediments are first-cycle and compositionally immature. The Al2O3/ TiO2 ratios range from 9.4 to 17 and from 13 to 15.4 for the sediments of the LG and TF facies, respectively. These values suggest an intermediate igneous source rock of the Birak group that belongs to the oceanic island arc of the Hijaz Terrane, western Arabian Shield. The average values of paleoweathering indices CIA, CIW, and PIA are <50, suggesting unweathered to poorly weathered source rock that is consistent with the late Holocene arid climate. Although the redox-sensitive V and Cr in the sediments of LG facies are slightly enriched relative to the average shale, the values of the V/Cr ratio are generally <2, suggesting deposition under oxic conditions. The chemical characteristics of the sediments are primarily controlled by the composition of source rock and to a lesser extent by hydraulic sorting during transportation and deposition.

Camping Area and Dock with Viewpoint to Promote Sustainable Ecotourist in the Ticcllacocha Lagoon, Tanta-Peru

Camping Area and Dock with Viewpoint to Promote Sustainable Ecotourist in the Ticcllacocha Lagoon, Tanta-Peru

New records of polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) from three locations of Oaxaca, Mexico

Introduction: The knowledge of polychaetes from Oaxaca, Mexico, is represented by 41 families and 241 species, nevertheless, 148 species are considered questionable. The majority of taxonomic studies of polychaetes in Oaxaca have taken placed on estuarine zones or commercial ports, sidelining other marine ecosystems. Objective: To identify the polychaeta-fauna from three different marine ecosystems in Oaxaca, Mexico. Methods: Specimens analyzed came from the Sección de poliquetos de la Colección Científica at the Laboratorio de Sistemática de Invertebrados Marinos, Universidad del Mar. The material deposited in the collection was collected between 2007-2017; additionally, new collect were realized in 2017. For each locality, the family and species richness were estimated using the accumulation function of linear dependence model. Results: One hundred lots and 273 specimens were revised. Seventy-one taxa, belonging to 47 genera and 21 families were identified, only twenty of these taxa are confirmed species (28 %). Chacahua Lagoon had the highest richness and relative abundance with 37 taxa and 149 specimens, Agua Blanca was identified 21 taxa and 92 specimens, and from San Agustín 19 taxa and 32 specimens. Sabellariidae had the highest relative abundance (58 specimens), while Phyllodocidae presented the highest species richness (12 species). Conclusions: This study adds 75 new records of taxa of polychaetes to the coast Oaxaca, which increase the knowledge in this animal group, now represented by 304 species, belonging to 154 genera and 42 families.

Assessment of Sedimentation in a Coastal Lagoon: Chantuto-Panzacola, Mexico

ABSTRACT Guevara, J.S.; Silva, R., and Lithgow, D., 2019. Assessment of sedimentation in a coastal lagoon: Chantuto-Panzacola, Mexico. In: Silva, R.; Martinez, M.L.; Chavez, V., and Lithgow, D. (ed...

Levulinic Acid Production from the Green Macroalgae Chaetomorpha Linum and Valonia Aegagropila Harvested in the Orbetello Lagoon

In recent years, the replacement of fossil resources with renewable ones has received great interest, especially as regards the production of new valuable bio-products and bio-fuels, in order to replace the traditional petroleum-based ones. In this context, the exploitation of waste biomasses into added-value bio-chemicals is strongly encouraged. Among these ones, the algae ones are attracting considerable attention, in particular macroalgae which cause eutrophication problems in estuaries and lagoons, due to the drastic reduction of dissolved oxygen during their decomposition. This is true for Orbetello lagoon (Italy), where a large amount of algal biomasses is removed every year through an expensive practice, with consequent environmentally serious disposal problems. In this work, for the first time, the acid-catalyzed conversion of two different macroalgae harvested in Orbetello lagoon, Chaetomorpha linum (Muller) Kutzing and Valonia aegagropila C. Agardh, into levulinic acid was studied and optimized, adopting a one-pot hydrothermal treatment, under microwave heating and in the presence of aqueous diluted mineral acids, H2SO4 and HCl. Levulinic acid is a versatile platform chemical, classified by the United States Department of Energy as one of the top-12 promising bio-based building blocks. The effect of the main reaction parameters to give levulinic acid was investigated and discussed, in particular the type and concentration of the acid catalyst, the temperature and the reaction time. The highest levulinic acid yields of 19 wt% for Chaetomorpha linum and 16 wt% for Valonia aegagropila, calculated respect to the weight of the starting dried biomass, were reached. The achieved results are very promising and confirm the significant potential of these green algae as renewable starting feedstocks for levulinic acid production.

Restoration of a New Zealand Lagoon: Evaluation of Two Years of Introduced Fish Control Trials

Restoration of a New Zealand Lagoon: Evaluation of Two Years of Introduced Fish Control Trials

Environmental Health Assessment Using Sentinel Species near Placencia Lagoon, Belize

Unexplained bird deaths discovered around Placencia Lagoon, Belize over a 2-year period sparked an investigation into the environmental health of the lagoon and two of its major tributaries. In this study, conducted from January 23 to February 28, 2018, we assessed avian health within two commercial aquaculture facilities, each with a substantial outflow into the lagoon; a shrimp farm and a tilapia farm. Birds were chosen as our study subjects not only because of previous bird deaths, but also as sentinel species to assess overall possible contamination. Both facilities had previously been affected by die-offs of their cultivated product. The variety of sampled bird species, both year-round and winter residents, fed on small fish, airborne insects, mud-dwelling invertebrates and/or plant material, i.e. seeds and fruits, thereby sampling air, soil and water as possible bioaccumulation vectors. We trapped birds in, or nearby outflow containment ponds which emptied into the lagoon. Additionally, we assessed avian health at two reference locations on Placencia Penninsula, not known for avian health problems. Birds from multiple families representing different ecological niches were captured using two net types. We conducted standard ornithological assessments, measured hematocrit, made an evaluation of ectoparasite load and types, and for shorebirds, examined fecal swabs for parasites. Measured values were compared to published data and a previously established database from data collected elsewhere in the Caribbean. For each of the major sites, an extensive period of evaluation was later followed with a shorter, second evaluation at each location. Except for a single, second-year, Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) evaluated one day at the close of the study, 257 birds were found to be healthy on all parameters including hematocrit and parasite load. We observed that the pelican had not been present previously and inferred that its health problems were acquired at another site. This conclusion was corroborated by the concurrent discovery of dead or dying pelicans along the Belize coast near the end of this investigation.