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Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff,...
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Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 15504

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mauro Marini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Research Council, CNR-IRBIM, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 2, 60125 Ancona, Italy
Interests: chemical processing in soil; groundwater and sea water of organic and inorganic compounds and pollutants; biogeochemical processes in the sea water column and in the sediment; interactions of pollutants and xenobiotics in marine sediments and in the fishes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Tomás Ángel DelValls

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Ecotoxicology, Santa Cecília University (UNISANTA), Boqueirão 11045-907, Brazil
Interests: environment teaching and learning; environmental impact assessment; environmental analysis; environmental pollution; environmental monitoring; water chemistry; heavy metals; heavy metal pollution; environment; water quality assessment; environmental impact risk assesment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a new Collection titled “Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems”.

This Special Issue will describe the sources, inputs, adverse effects and accumulation of pollutants found in aquatic ecosystems and organisms. Additionally, it will focus on defining the route of metabolites, whether through decomposition or accumulation, and their behavior to enhance the knowledge on the effects of aquatic ecosystem pollutants and their fate, including their mobility through the food chain, eventually reaching humans. The research results included will offer insights into the pollutant load in the sea, identifying the contribution of rivers, rainfall, etc., and the impact on marine organisms. We aim to increase knowledge on the pollution of aquatic ecosystems, the resilience of marine organisms to pollutants and their contamination, highlighting also adverse climate-change-related effects.

In addition, papers detailing new approaches and technologies designed to combat pollution and climate change’s effects on aquatic ecosystems are welcome.

Some topics of interest to be covered by the Special Issue include:

  • Implications of anthropogenic effects on aquatic ecosystems;
  • How climate changes modify surface water regimes and the runoff of contaminants into the sea;
  • Adverse effects of pollutants in aquatic ecosystems on the environmental matrix and organisms;
  • The influence of climate change on the seasonal behavior of pollutants;
  • Decontamination of industrial or contaminated waters as sources of pollution in aquatic ecosystems;
  • Water bodies and transitional waters;
  • Estuarine pollution and its influence on seawater contamination;
  • Preventing climate-change-related desalinization and brine production in sources of water;
  • Fecal pollution contamination during and after rainfall events;
  • Pollutants and human health risk assessment;
  • Emerging climate-change-related contaminants and their effects on aquatic ecosystems;
  • CO2 acidification and its impact as a consequence of global warming;
  • Water supplies under conditions of scarcity, and impacts of desalinization and brine.

The aim of this Collection is to provide a venue for networking and communication between Applied Sciences and scholars in the field of environmental sciences. We hope to establish a collection of papers that will be of interest to scholars in the field. Contributions in the form of full papers, reviews, and communications about related topics are very welcome.

Dr. Mauro Marini
Prof. Dr. Tomás Ángel DelValls
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • anthropization
  • water chemistry
  • water and sediment ecotoxicology
  • water runoff
  • climate changes’ effects
  • cloudburst
  • fish contaminants
  • torrential rain
  • CO2 acidification
  • weight-of-evidence approaches
  • contamination and pollution
  • sediment pollution
  • dredged material and rare earth element mining
  • desalinization and brine mining
  • emerging contaminants
  • circular economy
  • European green deal
  • sustainable development goals

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 207 KiB  
Editorial
Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behavior and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems
by Mauro Marini and T. Ángel DelValls
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 2823; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app14072823 - 27 Mar 2024
Viewed by 351
Abstract
This Special Issue addresses topics related to the sources of pollutants and their diffusion in ecosystems and aquatic organisms [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

12 pages, 1493 KiB  
Article
A New Disruptive Technology for Zero-Brine Discharge: Towards a Paradigm Shift
by Estefanía Bonnail, Sebastián Vera and T. Ángel DelValls
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(24), 13092; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app132413092 - 08 Dec 2023
Viewed by 888
Abstract
The desalination of aquifers and seawaters is a viable choice to meet primarily domestic and industrial global water requirements. It removes salts from seawater to obtain freshwater with sufficient quality for different purposes, as well as a highly salt-concentrated waste stream known as [...] Read more.
The desalination of aquifers and seawaters is a viable choice to meet primarily domestic and industrial global water requirements. It removes salts from seawater to obtain freshwater with sufficient quality for different purposes, as well as a highly salt-concentrated waste stream known as brine. This residue is usually returned to the ocean, provoking, among other impacts, changes in temperature, salinity and oxygen and overall local aquatic ecosystem stress, as well as social rejection. Desalination in inland aquifers is more complicated because brine disposal is complicated or impossible. The current study presents a new zero-brine discharge technology able to achieve ecological liquid purification through distillation for the separation of the dissolved solids as crystallized salts (Adiabatic Sonic Evaporation and Crystallization, ASE&C). This new technology was used with seawater and three types of brine to test how it would work when coupled with reverse osmosis desalination plants. Analysis of the byproducts after treatment of the seawater and the different brines are presented here. A basic economic approach to calculating potential revenues is also presented. The results of the analyses revealed a complete depuration of water as distilled water, and crystallized solids with highly concentrated commercial salts (with different composition depending on their origin). The estimated economic value of annual revenue (taking into account only seven element recoveries and treatment of a volume of 1000 m3/d) for three types of brines ranged between 1 and 11 million euros, compared to between 3.6 and 9.3 million euros when ASE&C is employed with seawater. The treatment of greater volumes for seawater desalination would increase these numbers significantly. ASE&C supposes a solution coupled (or not) to desalination plants to reduce the ecological impacts associated with brine discharges to zero, obtaining two significant commercial byproducts: (seawater: freshwater and commercial elements Br, Ca, Cs, Cl, NaOH, Mg, N, K, Rb, Na, Sr, Li, U, B, Sr, Ga, etc.; aquifers: a larger list than for saltwater, depending on the nature of the water body). It can solve environmental issues associated with brine discharge, with null CO2 emissions (renewable energy) and profitable (i.e., with no costly pretreatment) technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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15 pages, 2293 KiB  
Article
An FTIR and EA-IRMS Application to the Degradation Study of Compostable Plastic Bags in the Natural Marine Environment
by Federico Rampazzo, Nicoletta Calace, Malgorzata Formalewicz, Seta Noventa, Claudia Gion, Lucia Bongiorni, Amelia De Lazzari, Valerio Causin and Daniela Berto
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 10851; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app131910851 - 29 Sep 2023
Viewed by 759
Abstract
The present study aims to explore the degradation process of compostable, starch-based (i.e., Mater-Bi®) shopping bags in the marine environment using isotope ratio mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The mixing model applied to the isotopic data suggested that the [...] Read more.
The present study aims to explore the degradation process of compostable, starch-based (i.e., Mater-Bi®) shopping bags in the marine environment using isotope ratio mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The mixing model applied to the isotopic data suggested that the compostable shopping bags had a mixed composition with a higher percentage of polyesters (61% to 72%). Changes in the isotopic composition over a 73-day period of marine water immersion showed a decrease in the corn starch constituent (of 14% to 13%), with a similar rate in both types of bags in accordance with the evidence derived from the infrared spectra. The time required for complete degradation of the starch fraction was estimated by an isotopic approach from 124 to 180 days, following zero-order kinetics. The coupled application of these two analytical methodologies promises to (i) show complementary evidence regarding the time-course degradability of different polymers via FTIR changes, and (ii) infer potential degradation mechanisms via carbon isotope analyzes. We encourage the use of this information to support advancements in the development of more sustainable-by-design plastic materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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10 pages, 1629 KiB  
Article
Shell Organic Matrix (Conchix) of the Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis L. as the Medium for Assessment of Trace Metals in the Boka Kotorska Bay
by Rajko Martinović, Danijela Joksimović, Ana Perošević-Bajčeta, Ivana Čabarkapa and Hermann Ehrlich
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(13), 7582; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13137582 - 27 Jun 2023
Viewed by 786
Abstract
The content of trace metals, namely Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, and Hg, in four types of media, i.e., soft tissues, shells, and the products of shell demineralization (organic matrix—conchix and extract) of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovicialis L., at three [...] Read more.
The content of trace metals, namely Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, and Hg, in four types of media, i.e., soft tissues, shells, and the products of shell demineralization (organic matrix—conchix and extract) of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovicialis L., at three sites in the Boka Kotorska Bay of the Adriatic Sea were determined. The main aim was to investigate the accumulation patterns of trace metals in conchix and their possible relationship with other tested media. Conchix weight within a group of mussels from Sv. Nedjelja was significantly higher in comparison with the IMB, while conchix % in the shell showed a negative correlation with dry shell weight. The highest metal pollution index (MPI) values found in the soft tissues of mussels from Sv. Nedjelja, Cogi, and the IMB were 2.319, 2.711, and 2.929 µg g−1, respectively. PCA analysis showed similarities in trace metal accumulation in all media except conchix. According to CCA analysis, conchixes were grouped around Cu, Fe, and Hg, while Cd and Zn were in correlation with the soft tissues. Moreover, the shells were in correlation with Mn. Simple isolation with high yield, close contact to the environment in comparison with calcified shell layers, and susceptibility to possible pollution sources due to the accumulation of specific metals are the main reasons to consider conchix of M. galloprovincialis as a medium with potential in trace metal assessments of marine ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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13 pages, 1291 KiB  
Article
Integrated Assessment of CO2-Induced Acidification Lethal and Sub-Lethal Effects on Tropical Mussels Perna perna
by Lorena da Silva Souza, Estefanía Bonnail, Luis Felipe de Almeida Duarte, Augusto Cesar, Inmaculada Riba and Camilo Dias Seabra Pereira
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 7199; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13127199 - 16 Jun 2023
Viewed by 932
Abstract
Leakages of CO2 capture and storage systems from the seabed are able to cause significant adverse biological effects in marine species. Adult mussels were exposed to different CO2 enrichment scenarios (pH from 8.3 to 6.0) for 96 h, and endpoints (lysosomal [...] Read more.
Leakages of CO2 capture and storage systems from the seabed are able to cause significant adverse biological effects in marine species. Adult mussels were exposed to different CO2 enrichment scenarios (pH from 8.3 to 6.0) for 96 h, and endpoints (lysosomal membrane deterioration, lipid peroxidation and primary damages in DNA) were assessed. Mortality and reduced health status can occur after short exposure of the tropical mussel Perna perna to pH levels lower than 7.5. Results pointed out cytogenotoxic effects in the hemolymph and gills after 48 and 96 h of exposure, respectively. These findings should be considered when environmental monitoring approaches are performed in tropical marine areas employing CCS strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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19 pages, 2472 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Accumulation of Trace Metals and Oxidative Stress Response Biomarkers in the Portunid Portunus segnis
by Amel Dghim, Walid Ben Ameur and Ali Annabi
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 7197; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13127197 - 16 Jun 2023
Viewed by 964
Abstract
The invasive blue crab Portunus segnis, which was collected from two sites on the Gulf of Gabès, is the subject of this work. This study is based on demonstrating the accumulation capacity of P. segnis by measuring the concentrations of cadmium, zinc, [...] Read more.
The invasive blue crab Portunus segnis, which was collected from two sites on the Gulf of Gabès, is the subject of this work. This study is based on demonstrating the accumulation capacity of P. segnis by measuring the concentrations of cadmium, zinc, lead, and copper in the gills and hepatopancreas. The enzymatic activities of catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, reduced glutathione, and lipid peroxidase were assessed in this region for the first time. The main results show that the metals have high bioaccumulation potentials in P. segnis tissues between different sites. The possible adaptation of P. segnis in the Gulf of Gabès and the variations in the studied biomarkers and metal concentrations at different sites confirm the usefulness of the invasive blue crab as a sentinel species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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14 pages, 3234 KiB  
Article
Application of Positive Matrix Factorization for Source Apportionment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in the Adriatic Sea, and the Evaluation of PAH-Related Carcinogenic Risks
by Jelena Mandić, Jere Veža and Grozdan Kušpilić
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 6992; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13126992 - 09 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 697
Abstract
Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were studied in 36 sediment samples collected from 29 sites in the central Adriatic Sea. The total concentration of PAH showed high variability, ranging from 42.85 µg kg−1 in open sea sediments to 28,662 µg kg [...] Read more.
Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were studied in 36 sediment samples collected from 29 sites in the central Adriatic Sea. The total concentration of PAH showed high variability, ranging from 42.85 µg kg−1 in open sea sediments to 28,662 µg kg−1 in the sediments of Šibenik Bay. Unsubstituted, parent PAH were dominant PAH compounds in the entire area of Šibenik Bay and most of the stations in the coastal area. In Kaštela Bay, methyl PAH concentrations were higher than the concentrations of unsubstituted PAH, whereas in the sediments along the mid-Adriatic transect, similar concentrations of both PAH fractions were determined. PAH sources were investigated by applying the Positive Matrix Factorization software developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The results indicate the presence of four sources, two of which can be considered petrogenic and two pyrogenic. The contribution of the sources to the total concentration PAH at each station indicates the dominance of pyrogenic sources in Šibenik Bay and at most stations in the coastal area. In the sediments along the mid-Adriatic transversal, as well as in Kaštela Bay, PAHs originate mainly from petrogenic sources. The obtained results show that PMF can be a suitable tool for control of PAH pollution and thus, for the management of various activities in the Adriatic region. Seasonal differences between the contributions of sources in the Kaštela and Šibenik bays indicate that the contribution of traffic to the total concentration of PAH was higher during the tourist season. The carcinogenic risk of PAH determined by toxicity equivalent (TEQ) calculations showed an increased carcinogenic risk in the whole area of Šibenik Bay, regardless of the number of PAH compounds considered for the calculations. A low PAH-related carcinogenic risk was found for the rest of the study area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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12 pages, 2138 KiB  
Article
An Integrated Approach for the Environmental Characterization of a Coastal Area in the Southern Atacama Desert
by Estefanía Bonnail, Edgardo Cruces, Eva Rothäusler, Rómulo Oses, Ayón García, Christopher Ulloa, Nuria Navarro, Yesenia Rojas-Lillo, Álvaro Parra Valdivia, Ricardo Catalán Garrido and Manuel Abad
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6360; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13116360 - 23 May 2023
Viewed by 963
Abstract
Desert areas in northern Chile are highly valuable ecosystems. While human activities are impacting the area in different ways, there are few environmental studies available. The current study analysed the ecological health status (water, sediment, biota) of a northern coastal area in the [...] Read more.
Desert areas in northern Chile are highly valuable ecosystems. While human activities are impacting the area in different ways, there are few environmental studies available. The current study analysed the ecological health status (water, sediment, biota) of a northern coastal area in the Atacama Region, including a national park (with a protected marine area), a tourist and benthic management area, and an industrial area. Results from the physical–chemical characterization and physiological state of organisms of ecological importance (macroalgae and microalgae) were integrated to determine pollution and toxic responses. The results identified high and moderate pollution levels for Bi, Ca, As, Ag and Cd in sediments. The As concentration in sediments is the leading environmental problem, with average values above the threshold effect level, associated with fine sediments. The stations showed increasing contamination and stress from north to south (national park > tourist and benthic management area > industrial area), associated with the proximity to the discharge of mining waste from the Salado River. The national park registered the poorest health status as demonstrated by high Cu bioaccumulation and high photosynthetic stress in the macroalgae and the lowest biomass concentration of the microalgae in water. The tourist and benthic management area demonstrated high As concentrations in sediments and Cd bioaccumulation. The industrial area was the least contaminated area, exhibiting lower photosynthetic stress and bioaccumulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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15 pages, 2025 KiB  
Article
Risk Assessment of a Coastal Ecosystem from SW Spain Exposed to CO2 Enrichment Conditions
by Marina Cunha Passarelli, Estefanía Bonnail, Augusto Cesar and Inmaculada Riba
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5805; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13095805 - 08 May 2023
Viewed by 1210
Abstract
The Weight-of-Evidence (WOE) approach uses multiple lines of evidence to analyze the adverse effects associated with CO2 enrichment in two stations from the Gulf of Cádiz (Spain) with different contamination degrees. Sediment contamination and metal (loid) mobility, toxicity, ecological integrity, and bioaccumulation [...] Read more.
The Weight-of-Evidence (WOE) approach uses multiple lines of evidence to analyze the adverse effects associated with CO2 enrichment in two stations from the Gulf of Cádiz (Spain) with different contamination degrees. Sediment contamination and metal (loid) mobility, toxicity, ecological integrity, and bioaccumulation from the samples exposed to different acidification scenarios (pH gradient from 8.0 to 6.0) were used in the WOE. The experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions using a CO2-bubbling system. Different integration approaches such as multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the results. The results indicated that the adverse biological effects under pH 6.5 were related to the mobility of dissolved elements (As, Fe, Cu, Ni, and Zn). Furthermore, the pH reduction was correlated to the increase of bioaccumulation of As, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Ni in the tissues of mussels at pH 7.0. The noncontaminated sediment showed environmental degradation related to the acidification at pH values of 7.0; whereas the sediment moderately contaminated showed both environmental risks, caused by acidification and the presence and the increase of the bioavailability of contaminants. The WOE approach supposes an effective tool to identify and distinguish the causes of adverse effects related to the enrichment of CO2 in marine environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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13 pages, 1248 KiB  
Article
Sediment Contamination and Toxicity in the Guadalquivir River (Southwest, Spain)
by Inmaculada Riba, Angel Luque-Escalona and Maria Helena Costa
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3585; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13063585 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1127
Abstract
A segment of the Guadalquivir River was assessed between the Alcalá del Río dam and Seville through an integrative sediment quality assessment. Chemical concentrations of metals and toxicity under laboratory conditions were used as lines of evidence. A battery of bioassays with four [...] Read more.
A segment of the Guadalquivir River was assessed between the Alcalá del Río dam and Seville through an integrative sediment quality assessment. Chemical concentrations of metals and toxicity under laboratory conditions were used as lines of evidence. A battery of bioassays with four organisms (the amphipod Ampelisca brevicornis, the bacteria Vibrio fischeri, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, and the oligochaete Tubifex tubifex) exposed to sediment made it possible to determine the potential risk associated. The sediments from Seville and Alcalá del Río showed higher values of the concentration of most metals than the Algaba station, with Cu (35–37 µg/g), Zn (70–75 µg/g), Ni (23–26 µg/g), and Pb (27–30 µg/g) being the most abundant metals. An increasing toxicity gradient was shown downstream among the bioassays with the amphipod A. brevicornis, the fertilization test using the sea urchin P. lividus, and the freshwater worm growth T. tubifex. Conversely, an increasing toxicity gradient was shown upstream in the embryo-larval P. lividus development. The link between sediment contamination and toxicity makes it possible to obtain a gradient of contaminant concentration comparable with nationally and internationally widely accepted sediment quality guidelines in order to establish the risk associated with this area of study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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13 pages, 1260 KiB  
Article
Integrative Assessment of Sediment Quality in the São Francisco River (Mina Gerais, Brazil)
by Inmaculada Riba, Estefanía Bonnail, María José Salamanca, Mercedes Conradi and Maria Helena Costa
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3465; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13063465 - 08 Mar 2023
Viewed by 953
Abstract
The São Francisco River (one of the most important South American rivers) has many contamination sources, but just a few environmental assessments have been conducted. A weight-of-evidence approach identified the pollution sources (industrial activities, mineral processing, fisheries, and tourism) in the river and [...] Read more.
The São Francisco River (one of the most important South American rivers) has many contamination sources, but just a few environmental assessments have been conducted. A weight-of-evidence approach identified the pollution sources (industrial activities, mineral processing, fisheries, and tourism) in the river and the city of Três Marias based on two different lines of evidence: the structure of the benthic community (biological monitoring working party score system, abundance of taxa, number of individuals, Margalef species richness, Pielou evenness, and Shannon–Wiener diversity) and the physicochemical determination of sediments (%fines, TOC, nitrate, ammonium, ammonia, ammoniacal nitrogen, metalloids, and SEM/AVSs). The results show that the wastewater treatment plant was the most important source of pollution. A factory was also detected as a source of contamination, with related adverse effects having been measured downstream. Other sources of contamination and stress were detected in the studied area. The macro-benthic identification study identified three different sentinel species (Tanytarsus sp., Crytochironomus sp., and Polypedilum sp.) for future monitoring assessments of the sediment quality in riverine areas. Thus, an improvement in the management of river effluents and more measures focused on cutting contaminant emissions from the waste treatment plant are recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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16 pages, 4082 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Distributions of Benthic Foraminifera in the Adriatic Sea with Gradient Forest and Structural Equation Models
by Masoud A. Rostami, Fabrizio Frontalini, Eric Armynot du Châtelet, Fabio Francescangeli, Maria Virginia Alves Martins, Rocco De Marco, Enrico Dinelli, Mario Tramontana, Lee A. Dyer, Romain Abraham, Viviane Bout-Roumazeilles, Marion Delattre and Federico Spagnoli
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 794; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13020794 - 06 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1914
Abstract
In the last three decades, benthic foraminiferal ecology has been intensively investigated to improve the potential application of these marine organisms as proxies of the effects of climate change and other global change phenomena. It is still challenging to define the most important [...] Read more.
In the last three decades, benthic foraminiferal ecology has been intensively investigated to improve the potential application of these marine organisms as proxies of the effects of climate change and other global change phenomena. It is still challenging to define the most important factors affecting foraminiferal communities and derived faunistic parameters. In this study, we examined the abiotic-biotic relationships of foraminiferal communities in the central-southern area of the Adriatic Sea using modern machine learning techniques. We combined gradient forest (Gf) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test hypotheses about determinants of benthic foraminiferal assemblages. These approaches helped determine the relative effect of sizes of different environmental variables responsible for shaping living foraminiferal distributions. Four major faunal turnovers (at 13–28 m, 29–58 m, 59–215 m, and >215 m) were identified along a large bathymetric gradient (13–703 m water depth) that reflected the classical bathymetric distribution of benthic communities. Sand and organic matter (OM) contents were identified as the most relevant factors influencing the distribution of foraminifera either along the entire depth gradient or at selected bathymetric ranges. The SEM supported causal hypotheses that focused the factors that shaped assemblages at each bathymetric range, and the most notable causal relationships were direct effects of depth and indirect effects of the Gf-identified environmental parameters (i.e., sand, pollution load Index–PLI, organic matter–OM and total nitrogen–N) on foraminifera infauna and diversity. These results are relevant to understanding the basic ecology and conservation of foraminiferal communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

12 pages, 1454 KiB  
Review
The Role of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Eutrophication of the Northern Adriatic Sea: History and Future Scenarios
by Mauro Marini and Federica Grilli
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9267; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13169267 - 15 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1888
Abstract
In the last two decades of the 21st century, a gradual decrease in nitrogen and phosphorus has been observed along the coastal area of the Northern Adriatic Sea. This depletion is attributed to reduced river flows. Studies conducted over the past four decades [...] Read more.
In the last two decades of the 21st century, a gradual decrease in nitrogen and phosphorus has been observed along the coastal area of the Northern Adriatic Sea. This depletion is attributed to reduced river flows. Studies conducted over the past four decades have indicated that the N/P ratio in the open sea is unlikely to undergo significant change. In fact, it tends to increase due to the unique characteristics of the Northern Adriatic Sea, which experiences slow water turnover and is influenced by strong winds. Additionally, the Northern Adriatic Sea receives a substantial amount of freshwater from rivers, accounting for about one-third of the total freshwater flow into the Mediterranean. These rivers carry nutrient loads that contribute to the high productivity and abundance of fish in this sea, making it one of the most productive areas in the Mediterranean. It has been observed that the cessation of anthropogenic phosphorus input, which has been regulated since the late 1980s with legislation limiting its use in detergents, has significantly affected the trophic chain. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the eutrophication trend in the Northern Adriatic Sea, highlighting the importance long-term data series. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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Review
The Role of Sediment Records in Environmental Forensic Studies: Two Examples from Italy of Research Approaches Developed to Address Responsibilities and Management Options
by Luca Giorgio Bellucci and Silvia Giuliani
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 6999; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13126999 - 09 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 817
Abstract
The coupling of scientific evidence from sediment cores with historical information represents an effective way to reconstruct and quantify recent anthropogenic impacts in transitional and marine-coastal areas. These are both key points pertaining to studies that aim at establishing the responsibility for envi [...] Read more.
The coupling of scientific evidence from sediment cores with historical information represents an effective way to reconstruct and quantify recent anthropogenic impacts in transitional and marine-coastal areas. These are both key points pertaining to studies that aim at establishing the responsibility for envi ronmental pollution. Good practices for the selection of sampling sites and specific survey techniques are fundamental to understand pollution histories and dynamics, together with reliable dating methods and analytical procedures. In addition, a certain degree of flexibility and willingness to explore different research pathways is necessary, particularly when unexpected questions arise from scientific data or from requests posed by authorities in charge of preliminary investigations or court debates. In this paper, two different study cases are reviewed, and the approaches developed to tackle with specific issues are presented. Its main purpose is both to explain study paths undertaken to answer challenging scientific-legal questions and to provide examples for developing countries that present similar risks of uncontrolled industrialization. Results were used in preliminary investigations or court debates for the attribution of responsibility for environmental pollution to past or present industrial managements. In addition, they were fundamental for other studies aiming at implementing models that simulate the fate and distribution of contaminants and human exposure. In the Augusta Harbor, an integrated approach merged archive information, bathymetry, and high-resolution seismic profiles with the results of an independent tracer (hexachlorobenzene, HCB). This approach helped attribute the presence of high surficial Hg concentrations to resuspension and redistribution of deep sediments caused by dredging and maritime traffic and not to active outfalls. In the Venice Lagoon, an extensive literature search supported analytical results for the correct identification of industrial processes responsible for the contamination by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) in the canals of the Porto Marghera Industrial Area. In addition, sedimentary profiles of PCDD/Fs in local salt marshes (“barene”) recorded well the events relative to the industrial development and management of the area reported by historical documents, confirming their potential for this kind of investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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