Use Of Bioindicators Research Articles

Parasites as bioindicators of environmental degradation in Latin America: A meta-analysis.

Unregulated economic growth in Latin America has resulted in environmental degradation, including the release of toxic compounds into the environment. One strategy to understand and prevent the outcomes of this harmful environmental degradation is the use of bioindicators. These are free-living or parasite species that respond to habitat alterations with changes in their numbers, physiology or chemical composition. The aim of this review was to determine whether there is evidence of a significant parasite response to environmental damage in Latin America. We collected 26 papers published between 2003 and 2015 and conducted a meta-analysis to test the null hypothesis that there is no significant overall effect of environmental insults on parasites. The meta-analysis showed a low but still significant negative mean overall effect (Hedges' g = -0.221; 95% CI: -0.241 to -0.200; P < 0.0001). However, the magnitudes and directions of the significant effects varied widely. These results suggest that different groups of parasites have distinct responses to various environmental insults and that the groups should be separately analysed after the accumulation of a sufficient number of studies. For future studies on this topic in Latin America, we suggest: (1) using field and experimental approaches to determine the response of parasites to environmental degradation; (2) using an interdisciplinary approach, including different types of biomarkers in both parasites and individual hosts to generate long-term datasets in polluted and reference areas; (3) conducting studies on parasites as accumulation bioindicators.

Environmental control on a land–sea transitional setting: integrated sedimentological, geochemical and faunal approaches

Because of their location at the interface between sea and emerged lands, so-called transitional environments are characterized by strong spatial and temporal variability in terms of sedimentological, physicochemical, and geochemical parameters. An increasing number of studies put forward the use of bioindicators as a tool for environmental monitoring. However, the sensitivity to these environmental parameters is commonly tested separately, even though it is known that interactions are numerous within this complex ecosystem. An integrated methodological study was conducted in Lake Varano (Italy). On the basis of 45 spatially distributed samples throughout the area and selected environmental parameters (trace elements, organic matter, clay mineral assemblages, grain size of sediment, and water characteristics), four factors are identified. The Lake Varano ecosystem is predominantly influenced by terrigenous inputs (first-order factor). The clastic fractions of the sediments supply a large range of trace elements, occasionally in relatively high concentrations. Under such circumstances, despite occasionally exceeding of threshold limits, the trace element pollution can generally be ruled out. The organic content combined with depth is the second key factor. In Lake Varano, the organic content is high and may lead to seasonal eutrophication. As a third-order factor, although only analyzed once, oxygen, ORP, salinity, and pH gradients show that foraminiferal diversity is positively influenced by more saline conditions. The fourth-order factor is the sediment size. To conclude, this paper illustrates the interest in and need to conduct a detailed, integrated, sedimentological study of a site prior to any examination of its ecological status (possible occurrences of sources of pollution).

An integrated approach for wind fields assessment in coastal areas, based on bioindicators, CFD modeling, and observations

Wind-deformed trees can be good bioindicators of the mean wind speed and prevailing wind directions. The current research used bioindicators, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and linear models to assess the wind fields in the windy coastal area of Cascais/Portugal. The main objectives of this research are to assess mean speed and directions of winds by using bioindicators and modeling techniques and to correlate both results in order to assess the best methods. The results obtained with the bioindicators showed that carpeting, the most severe deformation, was observed near the shoreline showing that the highest wind speeds are felt in this sector. Inland, where the winds have lower mean speeds, flagging forms are more frequent. When correlated with the bioindicators, the linear model gave better results than CFD models. We can conclude that in areas with good wind potential, the use of bioindicators can be a good alternative in the absence of wind data.

Biosystematics and conservation biology: critical scientific disciplines for the management of insect biological diversity

Biosystematics and conservation biology are critical scientific disciplines that underpin the management of biological diversity. This is because biosystematics provides two basic elements that are fundamental to conservation management: the circumscription of species and the spatial distribution of species. These elements in turn allow conservation biologists to determine the components of biodiversity, such as local species richness (α-diversity), composition and community structure, patterns of spatial turnover and heterogeneity (β-diversity), levels of endemism, and location of ‘biodiversity hotspots’. This information ultimately provides a framework for systematic conservation planning for the management of biological diversity and natural resources. In this review, drawing on examples of Australian diurnal Lepidoptera (butterflies and day-flying moths), we discuss three areas of conservation biology that are crucial for insect biodiversity conservation: (1) inventory and estimation of faunal richness; (2) monitoring for conservation management and the selection and use of bioindicators; and (3) assessment of conservation status and recovery of threatened species. We then explore the capacity of biosystematics to complement and enhance these programmes. Major challenges for biosystematics are to catalogue and map the Earth's known species, to discover and describe new or as-yet-unknown species, to reconstruct the evolutionary history or tree of life and to incorporate phylogenetic diversity (taxonomic distinctiveness) as a component of biodiversity into conservation planning and practical nature conservation. The first two tasks, which need to be completed relatively urgently in an era of biodiversity crisis and a limited and declining pool of taxonomic expertise, are required in order to optimise conservation effort of the world's biodiversity. It is recommended that to overcome the taxonomic impediment for insect conservation taxonomic attention should focus on a limited set of ‘priority’ taxa, and the rate at which new species are discovered and described needs to be accelerated (by at least an order of magnitude). An agenda for future research in biosystematics and conservation biology is proposed as a guideline for biodiversity conservation for Australian entomology.

Mangrove rehabilitation in high erosion areas: Assessment using bioindicators

This study identifies a potentially effective rehabilitation technique for implementation in high erosion areas through the use of bioindicators. This is significant given that one third of mangroves have been cleared globally with clearing continuing at a rate of 1–2% per annum. There have been various attempts to rehabilitate degraded mangrove forests, however the success or failure of these is mostly unclear due to a lack of assessment. The two rehabilitation techniques assessed in this study were a basic fence system and another more elaborate fence technique designed by the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve Project (KGBRP), Vietnam. The assessment was conducted by comparing vegetation and faunal communities in rehabilitation areas to those in adjacent old-growth areas. The indicators included: tree and understory plant diversity and density; forest cover and the density of crabs, mudskippers and gastropods. The results show the KGBRP rehabilitation fence technique delivered tree diversity, plant diversity, tree density and forest cover that most closely resembled old-growth areas. This suggests that the additional protection provided by the KGBRP fence was instrumental in achieving these results. In terms of total mudskipper, Boleophthalmus spp., Periophthalmodon spp. and ocypodid crab density, the KGBRP rehabilitation was most similar to the old-growth areas. This similarity is thought to be related to the comparable forest cover at these sites. The density of large crab holes was much higher in old-growth areas than in basic or KGBRP rehabilitation areas. The disparity between large crab hole density at KGBRP rehabilitation and old-growth areas, despite similar levels of forest cover, is thought to be linked to the immaturity of the KGBRP rehabilitation sites. As the KGBRP rehabilitation is most similar in terms of vegetation and faunal communities to the old-growth areas, it appears to be the most successful rehabilitation.

Surveillance of Azole Resistance Among Candida spp. as a Strategy for the Indirect Monitoring of Freshwater Environments

The growing pollution mainly caused by the discharge of industrial, sanitary, and agricultural wastes has become one of the main current environmental issues. Thus, the use of bioindicators has become an important tool for investigating environmental imbalance. In this context, microorganisms have shown to be important for the identification of altered environments because of their ubiquity and their ability to grow in inhospitable habitats. Yeasts of the genus Candida are potential bioindicators because of their ability to survive in contaminated freshwater environments. Besides, they are more frequently recovered than fecal coliforms. It is noteworthy that the nonspecific activity of efflux pumps, which help in cellular detoxification processes, may be associated with the presence of chemical compounds in contaminated environments. Thus, the activity of efflux pumps may be the main mechanism involved in the resistance to azole derivatives in Candida spp. and the assessment of their activity may also be a tool for environmental monitoring. As a result, the phenotypical and molecular evaluation of this antifungal resistance in Candida species has been pointed as a promising tool for monitoring the quality of aquatic environments. Hence, the objective of this study was to collect and systematize data pointing to an alternative use of Candida spp. as bioindicators by assessing the occurrence of azole resistance among environmental Candida as a strategy to monitor the quality of freshwater environments.

The use of pelagic fish as proxies of environmental contamination: a case study with sardine populations

Event Abstract Back to Event The use of pelagic fish as proxies of environmental contamination: a case study with sardine populations Bruno S. Nunes1*, Rita Travasso2, Fernando Gonçalves2 and Bruno B. Castro2 1 Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Laboratório Associado (CESAM - LA), Department of Biology, Portugal 2 Universidade de Aveiro, Department of Biology, Portugal The use of bioindicators to analyze marine ecosystems contamination is often made difficult due to the absence of appropriate species. Pelagic fish species, captured by commercial fishing fleets around the world, can be successfully used to assess contaminant levels, by determining their body burden in specific compounds. However the study of biological responses elicited by such compounds, through the analysis of biomarkers, is highly dependent on the physiological and reproductive status of the organisms. Such confounding factors elicit seasonal fluctuations that difficult the extrapolation of data. Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) is a marine species common in the North Atlantic Ocean, being easily available through commercial fisheries. The present work intended to explore the potential of this species in biomonitoring studies, by simultaneously using enzymatic biomarkers and condition indices determined in fish landed in three commercial harbors along the west coast of Portugal. This strategy allowed devising spatial and temporal patterns in the sardine metapopulation. Results evidenced significant variability in both biochemical and physiological profiles of the fish, which were coherent among all sampling sites. Throughout the year, large seasonal differences for most markers were reported, which were strongly linked to the reproductive cycle and its physiological consequences (acquisition of energy, mobilization of energy reserves, etc.). It was possible to conclude that seasonality acts as a strong factor underlying chronological physiological adaptations, influencing biochemical markers that are usually employed as indicators of contamination. These effects can limit the usefulness of such a biomarker approach unless seasonality is not accounted for, and if no background values are known from previous studies. In this sense, studies such as this are pivotal to establish a baseline for biomonitoring studies. Also, despite the difficulty in interpreting the obtained biomarker profiles, our data suggest that S. pilchardus may be a successful candidate species to serve as bioindicator in oceanic biomonitoring studies. The use of individuals captured by commercial fisheries is a promising approach for environmental assessments, and studies on other pelagic species should follow. Keywords: Sardine, biomarkers, seasonality and natural variation, physiology and reproduction, Diffuse pollution, biomonitoring Conference: XV European Congress of Ichthyology, Porto, Portugal, 7 Sep - 11 Sep, 2015. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Physiology, Behavior and Toxicology Citation: Nunes BS, Travasso R, Gonçalves F and Castro BB (2015). The use of pelagic fish as proxies of environmental contamination: a case study with sardine populations. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XV European Congress of Ichthyology. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2015.03.00225 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 15 Dec 2015; Published Online: 15 Dec 2015. * Correspondence: Dr. Bruno S Nunes, Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Laboratório Associado (CESAM - LA), Department of Biology, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal, nunes.b@ua.pt Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Bruno S Nunes Rita Travasso Fernando Gonçalves Bruno B Castro Google Bruno S Nunes Rita Travasso Fernando Gonçalves Bruno B Castro Google Scholar Bruno S Nunes Rita Travasso Fernando Gonçalves Bruno B Castro PubMed Bruno S Nunes Rita Travasso Fernando Gonçalves Bruno B Castro Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

ABSORÇÃO DE CHUMBO ANTRÓPICO POR POPULAÇÕES DE LIQUENS DO GÊNERO USNEA EM ÁREA INDUSTRIAL

The industrial emissions of lead, from mainly mergers, causing a secondary increase in concentration of the atmosphere, degrading the quality of the environment and hence interfering with the human health. The use of bioindicators has been an important tool in the assessment of air quality, since these organisms have close relations with ecophysiological atmosphere and high degree of accumulation of pollutants. The aim of this study was to quantify the absorption of anthropogenic lead in populations of lichens of the genus Usnea near a grinding of automotive batteries, located in the municipality of Santa Maria - RS. The work was conducted by exposing lichens of the genus Usnea, coming from native area, nearby the company, during the winter and spring of 2010. Quantification of lead was performed by optical emission spectrometry. The quantitative analysis indicated high levels of lead absorbed by the lichen community, evidencing the origin of atmospheric pollution. This result confirms the ineffectiveness of measures to control the emission of pollutants.

Usefulness of Bioindicators and Biomarkers in Pollution Biomonitoring

We have different possibilities and tools to assess the impact of pollution on marine ecosystems. The ecotoxicological approaches are based on the use of biomonitors and biomarkers. They aim to study the effect of toxic chemicals on the biological organisms especially at the population, community and ecosystem levels. The ultimate goal of ecotoxicology is to be able to predict the effects of pollution so that the most efficient and effective action to prevent or remediate any detrimental effect. In order to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on the aquatic ecosystem and to insure compliance with regulation or guidelines, we use biomonitoring. This kind of approach is based on the use of biological responses in order to assess anthropogenic changes in the environment. Biomonitoring involves the use of indicator species such as filter feeding mollusk bivalves. These organisms tend to accumulate pollutants in their tissues without showing any apparent detrimental effect. Moreover, they could reflect the real bio available fraction of the pollutant. In order to have an early warning system predicting the pollution effects even at low levels, biomarkers were extensively studied. Some of them were validated in both field and in vivo conditions. In the present paper, the usefulness of bioindicators and biomarkers in pollution monitoring are discussed. An overview of results from case studies dealing with in situ, in vivo and transplantation experiments is presented.

Microbial characteristics of soils depending on the human impact on archaeological sites in the Northern Caucasus

Anthropogenic impact in prehistoric settlements results in a considerable alteration of soil microbial communities depending on intensity and the character of human activities. This paper present a case study from a Late Bronze Age settlement located in the high-mountain part of the North Caucasus (Russia). The site represents a community, which presumably specialized in intensive livestock herding. Samples from settlement soils anthropogenically affected in the past and unmodified background soils were taken and studied. Of particular interest were divergences in soil microbial communities, expected to indicate different activities and animal presence in the site. The total microbial biomass, their respiratory activity, the biomass of fungal mycelium and the proportion of dark-colored hyphae were determined, as well as the quantitative state of keratinophilic fungi.The microbial characteristics vary considerably within the settlement locations, and contrast sharply with the reference soils exterior to the archaeological site. The cultural layer has higher percentage of active metabolizing microorganisms, whereas the total microbiological biomass is considerably lower than in the unmodified soils from the surroundings. A determining factor to transform the respiratory activity of microorganisms, in both qualitative and quantitative aspects, is the composition of the organic material which has been accumulated in the ground as a result of various human activities in the past. The cultural layers contain microorganisms, which can be reactivated when glucose is added. In the anthropogenically unmodified soils surrounding the prehistoric settlement, in contrast, 97% of the cells cannot be reactivated. Based on the mycological characteristics of the studied cultural layers and unmodified soils, in particular with regard to the total biomass of fungi mycelium, the dark pigmented fungal biomass, and the existence of keratin-decomposing soil fungi, detailed information about activity areas and their specific usage is given. The use of bio-indicators allows not only diagnosing anthropogenic impact in soils as such, but also significantly complements description of cultural layers of activity areas in the settlement, specifying their purpose. The paper presents the microbiological analyses applied and, moreover, discusses the potential of this approach as a non-destructive prospecting method on archaeological sites.

Optimal colonization and growth of marine benthic diatoms on artificial substrata: protocol for a routine use in bioindication

Benthic diatoms growing on hard substrata are used for their bioindication ability in freshwater quality monitoring. Artificial substrata are needed in cases where any natural substrate is present or to achieve similar sampling conditions between sites. Prior to use marine benthic diatoms for monitoring, a standardized protocol for sampling on artificial substrata must be set up. Two major types of information are required: (1) the time needed for a diatom community to be well developed and mature (climax stage); (2) the optimal growth conditions, given that the substrataum nature and texture are important parameters for the initial phase of biofilm development and can influence the future diatom assemblage. Three substrataum types were tested: frosted Plexiglass®, frosted glass, and rough enameled tiles. They were submerged for 8 weeks and sampled weekly. The experiment was conducted at five sites of distinct morphology and water chemistry, along the coastal area of Martinique Island, French West Indies. Development of diatom community was studied through biofilm dry weight, valve density, species richness, and species relative abundances. Globally, substratum type had no significant effect on any parameter. Frosted Plexiglass® was found to be the most interesting substratum because of higher valve densities and practical use. The asymptotic phase of biofilm development was encountered between 5 and 8 weeks depending on site and parameter. A compromise between community development and vandalism or loss through time was fixed to 5 weeks. This period is longer than for stream environments and is valid for tropical oligotrophic marine environments.

The Effects of the Conversion of a Primary to a Secondary Tropical Lowland Forest on Bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) Foraging Behavior in Costa Rica: A Possible Indicator of Ecosystem Condition

The use of bioindicators of habitat condition can help to better understand the effects of tropical forest degradation and the efficacy of strategies used in the restoration of these lands. The differences in feeding behavior of the ponerine ant Paraponera clavata may serve as such an indicator. The findings from the current study showed that P. clavata in an undisturbed primary forest returned to the nest with prey, nectar, and plant materials, while none of the ants within a 14 year old regenerating secondary forest returned with prey or nectar, few with plant materials, and most of the returns were unsuccessful in their foraging. This suggests a difference in P. clavata feeding behavior and/or food selection is occurring in the disturbed habitat; that P. clavata from the primary forest nest examined in the current study are feeding at a higher trophic level; and that the ants in the primary forest appeared to be more successful and efficient foragers than those in the secondary forest. Future studies should involve more comparisons of P. clavata foraging behavior in second- ary to primary forests to determine if the patterns described in this current study are consistent with disturbance in these tropical forests in order to evaluate the possibility of this use of P. clavata as a valuable tool for bioindicators of habitat damage.

Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the spider webs in the vicinity of road traffic emissions

Studies focused on the possible use of spider webs as environmental pollution indicators. This was a first time ever attempt to use webs as indicators of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution. The aim of the study was (a) to evaluate whether webs are able to accumulate PM-associated road traffic emissions and be analyzed for organic toxics such as PAHs, (b) to assess if the distance from emission sources could have an influence on the accumulation level of pollutants, and (c) to determine types of pollution sources responsible for a structure of monitoring data set. Webs of four species from the family Agelenidae were sampled for PAHs presence. Data from vehicle traffic sites (i.e., road tunnel, arterial surface road, underground parking) and from railway traffic sites (i.e., two railway viaducts) in the city of Wroclaw (Southwest of Poland) showed a significantly higher mean concentrations of PAHs than the reference site 1 (municipal water supply works). We also found a significant differences at sites differed by the distance from emission sources. The result of PCA analysis suggested three important sources of pollution. We conclude that spider webs despite of some limitations proved useful indicators of road traffic emissions; they could be even more reliable compared to use of bioindicators whose activity is often limited by a lack of water and sun.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11356-013-2092-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Metal accumulation in sediments and biota in Malta Reservoir (Poland)

AbstractMunicipal water reservoirs improve urban landscape architecture, providing water for various domestic uses. At the same time, they are under strong human impact affecting water quality and biological conditions. We investigated the level of metal accumulation (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn) in sediments as well as mussels Anodonta anatina and Unio tumidus and common reed Phragmites australis collected from 8 sampling sites at Malta Reservoir (Poznań, Poland) just before the complete drainage of the lake in November, 2012. In all investigated samples metal concentrations ranked in decreasing order: Fe&gt;Mn&gt;Zn&gt;Cu&gt;Cr&gt;Ni&gt;Pb&gt;Co&gt;Cd. Accumulation of toxic metals in roots of P. australis was higher than in soft tissues of mussels although it did not exceed phytotoxic levels. Roots of P. australis accumulated high levels of Cr (mean 9.7 μg g-1) and Ni (mean 5.7 μg g-1). U. tumidus accumulated higher concentrations of Cr (mean 1.1 μg g-1) than A. anatina indicating potential use in bioindication of this metal. The present study provides the most recent information on metal content in sediments and biota in Malta Reservoir and, further, suggests that this reservoir is capable of accumulating toxic elements from preceding water bodies (Lake Swarzędz) and surrounding residential areas.

Bioindicators and Biomarkers

The health of an ecosystem can be examined through the use of bioindicators (BI), while the health of a human being can be determined using some molecules such as biomarkers (BM). BI are complete organisms or part of them that can be measured to detect changes in the environment, the presence of pollution and its effect on the ecosystem, as well as the observation of the progress of environmental clean-up. On the other hand, specific kinds of BI are the BM, which are biomolecules, secondary metabolites or measurable parameters used in medical research and practice to provide an insight into the mechanics and course of a disease. In general BM are classified into three groups: exposure, effects or susceptibility, and their role depends on the sensitivity, specificity, reliability and reproducibility of the methods used in the determination of the target molecule selected to be an specific BM, and it has to be validated under the development of guidelines, supported with good laboratory practice, epidemiological studies and clinical trials. BM can be used to detect subclinical stages, to become a diagnostic tool, to observe the efficacy of the treatment or monitoring the different stages on the development of the pathology.

Microfauna communities as performance indicators for an A/O Shortcut Biological Nitrogen Removal moving-bed biofilm reactor

The microfauna communities present in the mixed liquor and biofilm of an Anoxic/Oxic Shortcut Biofilm Nitrogen Removal moving-bed biofilm process were characterised in order to optimise process control through the use of bioindicators. The system operated at high ammonium concentrations, with an average of 588 ± 220 mg N–NH4+ L−1 in the influent, 161 ± 80 mg L−1 in the anoxic reactor and 74 ± 71.2 mg L−1 in the aerobic reactor. Up to 20 different taxa were identified, including ciliates (4), flagellates (11), amoebae (4) and nematodes (1). Compared to conventional wastewater treatment processes (WWTPs), this process can be defined as a flagellates-predominant system with a low diversity of ciliates. Flagellates were mainly dominant in the mixed liquor, demonstrating high tolerance to ammonium and the capacity for survival over a long time under anoxic conditions. The data obtained provide interesting values of maximum and minimum tolerance ranges to ammonium, nitrates and nitrites for the ciliate species Cyclidium glaucoma, Colpoda ecaudata, Vorticella microstoma-complex and Epistylis cf. rotans. The last of these was the only ciliate species that presented a constant and abundant population, almost exclusively in the aerobic biofilm. Epistylis cf. rotans dynamics showed a high negative correlation with ammonium variations and a positive correlation with ammonium removal efficiency. Hence, the results indicate that Epistylis cf. rotans is a good bioindicator of the nitrification process in this system. The study of protozoan communities in unexplored WWTPs sheds light on species ecology and their role under conditions that have been little studied in WWTPs, and could offer new biological management tools.

Metal accumulation and distribution in the organs of Typha latifolia L. (cattail) and their potential use in bioindication

The content of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co and Cr in different organs of Typha latifolia L., from 14 sites selected within five small ponds near Olesno in southwest Poland, were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Three groups of metals, each with different accumulation pattern within the plant were distinguished in this study. Pb, Cu, Co and Zn were found to be the least mobile and shown the following accumulation scheme: roots > rhizomes > lower leave part > top leave part > stems. By contrast Mn, a metal which is easily transported in plants exhibited the following accumulation scheme: roots > top leave part > lower leave part > rhizomes > stems. Ni, Cr and Fe were accumulated by the cattail as follows: roots > rhizomes > top leave part > lower leave part > stems. A detectable concentration of Cd was found in the organs of the plant showing the following distribution pattern: roots > rhizomes > stems. The fact that T. latifolia had the highest proportion of all the metals studied in its roots suggests an existence of some kind of protection barrier preventing toxic compounds from permeating to rhizomes and aerial parts of the plant from its roots. T. latifolia can be used in bioindication of Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu and Co.

Use of bioindicators to evaluate air quality and genotoxic compounds in an urban environment in Southern Brazil

Biological indicators are widely used to monitor genotic compounds and air quality in urban environments. Parmotrema tinctorum and Teloschistes exilis have been used to verify the presence of pollutants and analyze morphophysiological alterations in the thallus of species caused by their action. Species were exposed for seven months, in an urban area, in southern Brazil. Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of PM10 organic extracts were assessed in the Salmonella/microsome assay at two stations. High concentrations of S, Pb, Cr, Zn and Hg were registered in the last period of exposure and more significant morphophysiological damages were verified in the lichens. Generally a higher mutagenic activity is observed in organic extracts of airborne particulate matter during the first months and in the third period of exposure of lichens. In addition, nitro compounds was detected through nitro-sensitive strains. Lichens and mutagenic biomarkers enabled the evaluation of air quality and the presence of environmentally-aggressive compounds.

Preferences of common Central European millipedes for different biotope types (Myriapoda, Diplopoda) in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany)

Knowledge of habitat preferences of myriapod species is essential for their optimal use in bioindication and biological soil assessment. To increase our knowledge a sampling project was started in Saxony-Anhalt (Eastern Germany) more than 20 years ago. The narrowly defined geographic area was selected for the study because the fauna of this Central European German region represents to a high degree the whole of the Central European fauna. The millipede fauna at 175 sites belonging to 12 biotope types was sampled by pitfall trapping and identified to species. According to plant associations, these sites could be divided into four groups differing in moisture and into two groups differing in the level of vegetation cover. Considering the distribution pattern of 28 selected millipede species in each of these groups (weighted percentage), ecological categories of these species could roughly be distinguished. &ldquo;Main Preferences&rdquo; separated open land or woodland species and hygrobiont or xerobiont species. The number (and quality) of the occupied biotope types allowed assessment as stenotopic or eurytopic species (&ldquo;General Preferences&rdquo;). If available, a &ldquo;Special Preference&rdquo; for a preferred biotope type was recognised. For several species, the results are compared with those in the literature.

Detailed chronology of mid-altitude fluvial system response to changing climate and societies at the end of the Little Ice Age (Southwestern Alps and Cévennes, France)

Over a historical timescale, landscapes have been strongly affected by fluctuations in climate and by the impact of human societies. This study examines the historical evolution of mid-altitude fluvial systems in the Western Alps and Cévennes (SE Massif Central) in the context of marked climate and anthropogenic change at the end of the Little Ice Age (late 19th century). This work contributes to the reconstruction of river paleodynamics by investigating the nature and chronology of geomorphological changes in upper river basins. In order to produce a detailed reconstruction of hydromorphological changes, we combined two approaches: the study of historical archives and the use of bioindicators (the dating of terraces using dendrochronology and of silt benches using lichenometry in order to reconstruct the evolution of the river channels). The 19th century is a particularly propitious period for the study of surface dynamics because archives have preserved a wealth of qualitative and quantitative data concerning rivers (economic statistics, meteorological and hydrological observations, illustrative documents, descriptions by contemporary observers). It is also a period for which reliable dating methods are available for detrital deposits in rivers. The period provides new information on how the transition between the Little Ice Age and current climate conditions affected the evolution of drainage basins and stream channels by highlighting a succession of phases in the erosive process (e.g., the preparatory role of the drought of 1830–1838 in the erosion crisis of 1855–1870) and refining the chronology of events (very early onset of riverbed incision). The results highlight the effect of climate (small hydroclimatic fluctuations), amplified by strong anthropization, on the rhythm of landscape change and on the relative stabilization of the landscape at the end of the 19th century. In addition, the synchronization of phenomena on the two sides of the Rhone Valley shows that these changes took place on a regional scale.