4629 research outputs found
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Organic enrichment negatively impacts meiobenthic copepods on Argentinean coasts
No full textOrganic enrichment is a growing threat to coastal environments, yet its effects on meiobenthic copepods in marine sediments remain poorly understood. In this large-scale observational study conducted in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, we evaluated the impact of riverine input—particularly the organic matter transported by rivers—on the structure of meiobenthic copepod communities. We hypothesized that the amount of organic matter and other abiotic factors, influenced by river discharge, modify environmental conditions and affect copepod abundance and richness. Sampling was conducted in low intertidal zones associated with the mouth of eight rivers on three dates between 2019 and 2020. At each site, we collected samples at three coastal positions—river mouth, 200 m west, and 200 m east—to assess copepod richness and abundance, organic matter content, temperature, pH, salinity, and grain size. Our findings indicate that riverine input played a key role in shaping copepod community structure, with temperature emerging as the primary environmental driver of community composition. Organic matter content and salinity were also critical abiotic variables influencing abundance and richness. Salinity modulated the effect of organic matter, with negative impacts on abundance becoming more pronounced under high-salinity conditions. These patterns support the hypothesis that organic enrichment negatively impacts meiobenthic copepod communities, as even slight increases in organic matter content were linked to decreases in both abundance and richness.This study was funded by the Universidad Nacional del Sur (PGI: 24/B319) and by CONICET (PIP 2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
A methodology for the realistic assessment of 3D point clouds of fruit trees in full 3D context
No full textThe aim of this paper is to address the lack of standard methodologies for the assessment of 3D point clouds. We present a methodology to realistically assess the accuracy of 3D point clouds, enabling the evaluation in a full 3D context rather than based on isolated points. Additionally, it introduces three significant innovations: a) it bridges the gap related to the unknown error of the reference ground-truth point cloud; b) it provides separate metrics for location error and reconstruction error; and c) it introduces a procedure to compute the location error that eliminates the bias in the selection of point-pair picking between the DGT points and their corresponding pairs in the point cloud being assessed.
The geometry and structure of trees are related to the vegetative parameters and productivity in fruit orchards. In consequence, obtaining a precise and accurate geometric characterization of canopies is of interest for implementing site-specific management strategies that optimize input rates and minimize the costs and environmental risks of agricultural operations. Among the different sensing technologies, sensors based on the principle of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) have emerged as the primary choice for accurate geometric characterization of orchards. However, to make informed orchard management decisions based on LiDAR-derived geometric and structural data, it is essential to assess the accuracy of LiDAR-based scanning systems. Unfortunately, there is currently a lack of standard methodologies to evaluate the accuracy of LiDAR-based systems in agricultural environments. This research paper presents a novel methodology to assess the location error and the reconstruction error of 3D point clouds in full 3D context. The methodology involves comparing LiDAR-derived point clouds to an accurate high-resolution 3D digital ground truth (DGT) obtained using digital photogrammetric techniques. One of the main difficulties when using a reference point cloud to assess point cloud errors is the selection of the points to be compared so that they can be considered as corresponding point pairs. When developing the methodology, four procedures of point pair selection and distance calculation were compared. The best performing procedure was selected and proposed as a standard for accuracy assessment of 3D point clouds. The proposed procedure minimizes the error attributed to the selection of the corresponding point pairs between the assessed point cloud and the reference DGT point cloud. Subsequently, the proposed methodology was tested and validated by assessing the accuracy of 46 different point clouds.
The conclusions regarding the accuracy, applicability, and practical utility of the proposed methodology are supported by the determination of reconstruction errors and location errors in 46 point clouds obtained with the 3 different MTLS systems operated with different settings. The proposed methodology will be very useful for scanning system manufacturers, researchers, advisors and eventually advanced farmers to quantify the errors committed when characterizing tree canopies. This is crucial to enable accurate management operations in the framework of Precision Agriculture based on canopy variability. Furthermore, the methodology is expected to facilitate the design of new applications requiring high accuracy to be implemented in the near future.The present study is part of the PAgPROTECT project PID2021-126648OB-I00 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE. This work was also partly funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/European Union NextGeneration/PRTR (grant TED2021-131871B-I00 [DIGIFRUIT project]).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Life cycle assessment of the Brazilian minipig bred for biomedical research and education: A case study
No full textMinipigs are gaining significant momentum in biomedical research due to advantages that make them an excellent model for studying human physiology and disease. However, the environmental impacts related to producing and maintaining these animals have received limited attention, as the primary focus has been on complying with strict animal welfare protocols. This paper aimed to estimate the environmental impacts related to the production of a specific breed of miniature pigs in Brazil (Minipig-br1). The methodology used in the study consisted of a life cycle assessment (LCA), considering the full spectrum of the impact categories while focusing on discussing impact categories relevant to pig production systems. The inventory was based on input-output data collected throughout 2022 and was performed at the company Minipig Research and Development in Sao Paulo countryside. A cradle-to-farm gate LCA was performed, also including transportation of the minipigs to the hospital in the capital megacity. Minipigs-br1 was raised on the farm and delivered to the hospital for two purposes: research and education. An economic allocation was applied to estimate the environmental impacts related to each type of use. The functional unit was one live animal delivered to the hospital gate for use in research and education. From the cradle to the hospital gate, a minipig delivered for education emitted 95 kg CO₂ eq. while a minipig used for research emitted 221 CO₂ eq. The main environmental hotspots were feeding the minipigs and manure management with approximately 65 % and 30 %, respectively. Mitigation options are discussed, focusing on input substitution of feed ingredients, system redesign, transport of minipigs, and manure treatment strategies.GFDA thanks to Federal University of Sao Carlos for the capacitation leave and to IRTA for hosting at Torre Marimon from 23 of March to 15 of June 2023. M.N. thanks the Ramon y Cajal grant (RYC 2020) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Social Fund, “ESF Investing in your future”.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Green solutions for treating groundwater polluted with nitrates, pesticides, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes for drinking water production
No full textThe present study evaluates for the first time the seasonal performance of an innovative green groundwater treatment. The pilot plant combines microalgae-bacteria treatment and a cork-wood biofilter to reduce nitrates, pesticides, antibiotics (ABs), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from groundwater. Groundwater had nitrate concentrations ranging from 220 to 410 mg/L, while ABs (sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones) and pesticides (triazines) were detected at concentrations ranging from a few ng/L to 150 ng/L. Only the gene targets sul1, tetM and the class 1 integron-integrase gene (intl1) were detected in the groundwater. The microalgae-biofilter treatment system effectively removed 15%–98% of nitrates, depending on the season, and consistently eliminated over 90% of ABs and pesticides year-round. Among the components of the treatment system, the microalgal system was the most effective at removing ABs and pesticides. However, the cork-wood biofilter showed superior performance in reducing the bacterial load in groundwater, achieving more than a 1-log reduction in the absolute abundance of genes such as sul1 and intl1. The accumulation of ABs and pesticides in microalgae biomass was minimal or undetectable (<20 ng/g of fresh weight). Overall, our results indicate that the microalgae-biofilter treatment plant is an effective solution for significantly reducing nitrates, antibiotics, and pesticides from groundwaters, while also producing a valuable biomass, and meeting drinking water standards during warmer months.The authors are grateful for the financial support of the European Union through the project LIFE SPOT (LIFE18 ENV/ES/000199). J. Subirats was funded by the Beatriu de Pinós 2021 grant program (BP 00121). IDAEA-CSIC is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Project CEX2018-000794-S). IRTA thanks the financial support of CERCA program (Generalitat de Catalunya). Some of the IRTA authors of this study belong to the Consolidated Research Group of Sustainability in Biosystems, funded by the AGAUR (Generalitat de Catalunya; ref. 2021 SGR 01568). Finally, the authors wish to thank Yolanda Rodríguez, from IRTA, and Enric García, for their valuable help in the sampling process, chemical sample analysis and the molecular biology analyses.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Advancing without transforming: unveiling the socio-environmental contradictions in the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador
No full textAlthough the 2008 Ecuadorian Constitution introduced Buen Vivir and the Rights of Nature, unsustainable socio-environmental dynamics persist. Why have deep socio-environmental shifts towards just sustainability not materialized in Ecuador? This study argues that the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador is grounded in theories, concepts, frameworks, and philosophies that entail inherent socio-environmental tensions and contradictions which have impeded the realization of the Constitution’s transformative socio-environmental objectives. By applying a qualitative content analysis method, the results show key tensions between Buen Vivir and development, (neo)extractivism, and sustainability, as well as between the Rights of Nature and both commodification and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the Constitution leaves unchallenged the roles of the State and technology within capitalist structures, thus neglecting deeper systemic leverage points such as reconfiguring power, shifting goals, or altering institutional rules. These contradictions are illustrated through Ecuador’s recent hydropower development, which transgressed the rights to Buen Vivir and the Rights of Nature.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
NIR-HSI for the non-destructive monitoring of in-bag hazelnut oxidation
No full textThis study explores the application of Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging (NIR-HSI) as a non-destructive
method for monitoring the oxidation of hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) stored under different atmospheric condi-
tions (air, nitrogen, and vacuum) and light exposures, directly inside plastic bags, without the need for packaging
removal nor sample preparation. Hazelnuts were imaged over a 78-day storage period, and data were analysed
using ANOVA-Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA) to quantify the effects of time, atmosphere, and light on
oxidation. Individual hazelnuts within each bag were segmented for analysis to study inter-hazelnut variability.
Images were studied individually to detect oxidation patterns on the surface. Results indicate that time is the
primary driver of oxidation, as expected, with atmosphere and light significantly impacting oxidation rates.
Vacuum storage was most effective at reducing oxidation, while light exposure under ambient conditions
accelerated oxidation via photooxidation. Sensory analysis confirmed that spectroscopic indicators of oxidation
corresponded to perceptible sensory changes, validating NIR-HSI as a reliable tool for assessing hazelnut quality.Grant URV Martí i Franqués – Banco Santander (2021PMF-BS-12; J. Ezenarro). Grant URV-IRTA Martí i Franqués (2023PMF-PIPF-49; I. Saouabi). Chemometrics and Sensorics for Analytical Solutions (CHE- MOSENS, ref.2021 SGR 00705, Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya)info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Utilizing conductive materials for reducing methane emissions in postharvest paddy rice soil microcosms
No full textPaddy fields are a major anthropogenic source of global methane (CH4) emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG). This study aimed at gaining insights of different organic and inorganic conductive materials (CMs) – biochar, fungal melanin, and magnetite – to mitigate CH4 emissions, and on their influence on key microbial populations, mimicking the postharvest season throughout the degradation of rice straw in microcosms under anaerobic conditions encompassing postharvest paddy rice soils from the Ebro Delta, Spain. Results showed that fungal melanin was the most effective CM, significantly reducing CH4 emissions by 29 %, while biochar amendment also reduced emissions by 10 %. Magnetite slightly increased CH4 production (3 %), but this result was non-significant compared to unamended control microcosms. All treatments (with and without CM) displayed the acetoclastic methanogenesis pathway according to isotopic signature of δ13C-CH4, δ13C-CO2 and δ2H-CH4. In the presence of CMs, the archaeal populations showed a major abundance of Methanobacteria, Methanosarcina, and Bathyarchaeia. Furthermore, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LefSe) revealed specific positive linkages between fungal melanin and electroactive bacteria like Geobacter, biochar with Clostridia, and magnetite with Thiobacillus, and specifically related with archaea, particularly Bathyarchaeia. Biochar may diversify volatile fatty acids (VFA) utilization leading to a final mitigation of cumulative CH4 emissions through complex microbial interactions in the later stages of incubation. In contrast, fungal melanin increased VFA production, while delaying CH4 production, and may have diverted the electron flow towards melanin quinone reduction, suppressing methanogenesis by oxidizing organic compounds. These results suggest that CMs might facilitate specific potential direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) between syntrophic electroactive bacteria (i.e. Geobacter, Clostridia) and electroactive methanogens such as Methanosarcina and Methanobacteria, but also with alternative microbial populations with the potential for hampering methanogenesis in a certain extent.This research was funded by the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PID2019-111572RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, MIC-RICE project), and the Consolidated Research Group SOSBIO (ref. 2021 SGR 01568 Generalitat de Catalunya). The support of the CERCA Programme from the Generalitat de Catalunya is also acknowledged. Cristy Medina-Armijo was the recipient of the fellowship Agencia Nacional de investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) from Chile.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
The hidden cost of illicit trade: Evaluating the physiological health of smuggled European glass eels (Anguilla anguilla)
No full textEuropean eel is considered a “critically endangered” species due to its population decline (c.a. 98 %) in all European waters, primarily because human activities. The eel life cycle is very complex as it includes long migrations, and although aquaculture can help in repopulation, at this time artificially raised eel larvae have little survival. Therefore, to reverse this situation, in 2007 the EU adopted the Eel Regulation, starting a series of plans to improve the conservation and the recovery of the eel population, which included a ban on importing and exporting eels in all EU countries. However, an illegal global market and food fraud developed, turning Europe into the source of the international illegal eel trade. This study reports the evaluation of the welfare consequences of the illegal transport of European glass eels using their epithelial mucus, one of the most promising tools for studying endangered fish species. We also aimed to determine the recovery time required in controlled conditions before their release to the Ebro River. The results showed that high metabolite and cortisol levels were observed in mucus. In addition, the defensive capacity against possible bacterial infections was also affected due to the transport conditions as bacterial co-culture with mucus analysis indicated. Regarding the recovery time, we analysed the same parameters as for the initial transport point resulting in a stabilisation of stress parameters and an increased defensive capacity from day 3 to the final release, but the best results were observed after 2 months under optimal conditions. These findings suggest that transport stress is critical for the survival of glass eels, and the stress and defensive capacities analysis suggests the need for a recovery period prior to release. This approach represents a valuable contribution both for species subject to illegal trade and for the conservation of endangered species.The present study has been financed by the ANGUILLAMED project, which has been made possible through the Interreg VI-A Spain, France, Andorra (POCTEFA 2021–2027) (UE) programme.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Nutrient addition increases insect herbivory in Nothofagus antarctica on North-Patagonian forests
No full textThe change in nutrient availability in the soil can affect key functions of forest ecosystems, such as insect herbivory. Although insect herbivory is particularly relevant because it can impact on the growth and mortality of forest plant species, the evidence of the impacts of fertilizers addition on herbivory patterns is limited. In this study, we specifically evaluated how herbivory frequency on the timber species Nothofagus antarctica is affected by the addition of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and their combinations to the soil, using a long term full-factorial field experiment in a North-Patagonian Forest (Argentina). Our study investigated the effects of fertilizers (N, P, and K) on herbivory frequency and leaf nutrient concentrations of the studied species. We found that the addition of fertilizers to the soil increased herbivory frequency, which was mediated by increases in leaf nutrient concentrations. Furthermore, we observed that interactions between fertilizers in leaf nutrient concentrations generally produced increases in herbivory, both in the amount of leaf consumed and in the foliar damage percentage. These findings suggest that fertilization can have complex effects on plant-herbivore interactions, and that the specific effects may depend on the identity of the nutrients that combined, the plant species, and the level of nutrient availability. Our results provide evidence that changes in soil nutrient availability are important in forest ecosystems, and that should be considered to develop effective management strategies for the sustainable use of natural resources in Patagonian forests.This study was supported by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (FONCYT, PICT-2018-00941 and PICT-2019-0393), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET, PIP 2020) and Universidad Nacional de Río Negro (UNRN-PI 40-B-892). Lucía C. Martínez has a doctoral fellowship granted by CONICET. N. Pérez-Méndez is supported by a Spanish "Ramón y Cajal" fellowship (RYC-2021-033599-I)info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
L’oli s’ha gelat dins de l’ampolla!
No full textA tots ens ha passat alguna vegadainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio