Search

Changes in land use affect the ecosystems integrity by modifying a wide variety of physical-chemical and biological aspects. The objective of this study was to compare physicochemical parameters and taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities between sites located in the plains of Tucuman province, in territories with agricultural use and reference sites with a greater forested area. Four sampling sites were selected: Río Chico and Río Marapa (forest use), and Río Balderrama and Río Seco (agricultural use). Between October and November 2017, physical and chemical variables of the water were measured with a multiparametric probe in the field, and the concentration of nutrients and ions was determined at the laboratory. Quantitative samples of benthic macroinvertebrates were collected with a D-net. For the functionality analysis, a table of four biological traits with their respective modalities, information that was coded using fuzzy methodology. The structure and composition of the assemblages were evaluated according to range-abundance curves. Environmental and biological data between sites were compared using multivariate analysis techniques. The sites subjected to agricultural use were characterized by higher nutrient values (phosphate, ammonium, and nitrate), lower dissolved oxygen values, less uniformity, Oligochaeta dominance and uniformity of biological traits. The reference sites reflected higher levels of dissolved oxygen and conductivity, greater evenness and greater variety of functional traits. The species richness was similar between the two types of cover. Replacement of forest cover by agriculture could affect the ecological diversity of rivers, even from a relatively low difference in coverage percentages. Due to the evidenced relationship between the types of cover, physical-chemical parameters of the water and the taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates, these organisms stand out as bioindicators of environmental quality of rivers in Tucumán plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gaceta Médica de México is the property of Publicidad Permanyer SLU and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and aims: Environmental pollution can affect tree health and biodiversity of microorganisms, among them fungi, existing in the bark. Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. is the most cultivated tree in Buenos Aires city. The purposes of this work were to screen the micromycetes present in green-ash wood and bark, to determine if the micromycetes most frequently associated with ash bark produce lignocellulolytic enzymes, to describe the anatomical changes they caused in wood and to evaluate their tolerance to Cu and Pb as indicators of environmental polution. M&M: Barks and wood were collected along an urban-periurban gradient. The decay caused in vitro in green-ash wood by the most frequently isolated micromycetes was evaluated, anatomical characters were described. The production of lignocellulolytic enzymes by these fungi and their tolerance to Cu and Pb was assessed. Results: Diplodia sp., Fusicoccum sp. and Sordaria sp. were the most frequently found micromycetes in green-ash bark, whereas Alternaria sp., Diplodia sp. and Phialophora sp. were isolated from wood. None of them caused symptoms of soft rot. They colonized ash wood in vitro but neither important wood weight losses were detected (3-5% after 6 months) nor micro anatomical relevant changes. Cellulolytic activity was produced by all the assayed micromycetes. All of them were able to grow with the addition of 250 mg/Kg of Cu or 1000 mg/Kg of Pb. Conclusions: The micromycetes most frequently isolated did not affect tree health. Their tolerance to high concentrations of heavy metals suggests their potential as biomonitors of environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Enough scientific evidence is available on the harmful effects of air pollution on the health of human beings, fauna, flora, and ecosystems in general. The mechanical and electronical monitoring networks are the first option for the air quality diagnosis, but they do not allow a direct and precise assessment of the impacts in living organisms that may result from the exposure to air pollutants. Objective: To evaluate the changes in the composition of corticulous lichen communities as a response to various stress factors in areas with different levels of air quality to diagnose the state of pollution or intervention in an area with a more complete option. Methods: Air quality contrasts and changes in richness and coverage of corticulous lichens in response to different stress factors, such as land use and distance to roads, in three different biomonitoring areas, were evaluate using GIS, and the data are presented in an easy-to-understand grey scale coded isoline map. Results: Indicators such as lichen coverage (R= -0.4) and richness (R= -0.7) are inverse correlated with PM2.5 concentrations in each area. A total of 110 lichen species were identified, being Phaeophyscia chloantha (Ach.) Moberg and Physcia poncinsii Hue the most frequent species (present in 38 and 33 % of the 86 sampled phorophytes, respectively). The intra-area relationships of lichen richness exhibit significant relationships with regards to the land use and distance to roads (with correlations coefficients greater than 0.5) and the Simpson index was higher than 0.9, in places with better conditions in terms of air quality and microenvironments, likewise the resistance factors calculated suggest that the most sensitive species can be found in environments with a lesser degree of disturbance. Conclusion: These evaluations represent more criteria elements for the diagnosis of the environmental health in the biomonitoring areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the factors with a bigger influence on the chemical characteristics of metal in solution is the level of acidity. Solution pH affects the cell wall metal-binding sites and the metal ion chemistry in water. This study evaluated the effect of pH on the bioaccumulation capacity in the red algae B. calliptera (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae) exposed to different pH ranges. Algae thalli were subjected to different concentrations of mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb), at concentrations from 0.1 to 10 mg/L for Hg and from 0.1 to 15 mg/L for Pb, respectively, during the following exposure times: 0, 12, 24 and 96 hours for each ion. Metal concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry according to standard APHA methods. The highest accumulation rates were found when the algae were exposed to pH 8 (for both Hg and Pb), which is a level very close to that measured in the study area. The metal concentration in the algae increased linearly until 48 hrs, a time where a greater accumulation efficiency was evident. The present study allowed to identify the potential use of the alga B. calliptera as a bioindicator species for heavy metals in estuarine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del hábitat en la aplicación de índices bióticos (BI) basados en macroinvertebrados bentónicos. Se muestrearon dos hábitats, (macrófitas y sedimentos), en dos sitios del río Dulce (Cuenca Salí-Dulce, Argentina): S1 (27° 31’ 5.82” S, 64° 52’ 41.37” O) y S2 (27° 28’ 36.21” S, 64°49’ 30.30” O). El muestreo se realizó con caudal bajo, octubre/2015. Se midió pH, conductividad eléctrica (CE µS/cm), temperatura (T °C), sólidos suspendidos totales (SST mg/L), oxígeno disuelto (OD mg/L) y demanda biológica de oxígeno (DBO5 mg/L). Los macroinvertebrados se filtraron con red de nylon de 250 µm y se identificaron al nivel taxonómico requerido para la aplicación de los IB. Se analizaron riqueza taxonómica y diversidad. Se aplicaron tres IB: el IBMWP, el BMWP’ adaptado al río Salí y el IMRP desarrollado para la ecoregión Pampa de Argentina. También se aplicó el ASPT asociado con los BMWP’. Los parámetros físicos y químicos mostraron buena calidad del agua, con un pH promedio de 8,57; CE 773 µS/cm; T 19,5°C; SST 9,27 mg/L; OD 7,49 mg/L y DBO5 3,29 mg/L. Los taxones registrados fueron 34 y la diversidad fue mayor en las macrófitas que en los sedimentos. Los IB mostraron resultados diferentes según el hábitat donde se aplicaron. Las macrófitas contribuyeron con el doble de taxones a los IB, en comparación con los sedimentos. Los valores de ASPT correspondieron a calidad del agua impactada. El IMRP fue el más inclusivo en cantidad de taxones para el cálculo. La conclusión es que el tipo de hábitats influye en la aplicación de los IB.

Conservation and management of marine biodiversity depends on biomonitoring of marine habitats, but current approaches are resource‐intensive and require different approaches for different organisms. Environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from water samples is an efficient and versatile approach to detecting aquatic animals. In the ocean, eDNA composition reflects local fauna at fine spatial scales, but little is known about the effectiveness of eDNA‐based monitoring of marine communities at larger scales. We investigated the potential of eDNA to characterize and distinguish marine communities at large spatial scales by comparing vertebrate species composition among marine habitats in Qatar, the Arabian Gulf (also known as the Persian Gulf), based on eDNA metabarcoding of seawater samples. We conducted species accumulation analyses to estimate how much of the vertebrate diversity we detected. We obtained eDNA sequences from a diverse assemblage of marine vertebrates, spanning 191 taxa in 73 families. These included rare and endangered species and covered 36% of the bony fish genera previously recorded in the Gulf. Sites of similar habitat type were also similar in eDNA composition. The species accumulation analyses showed that the number of sample replicates was insufficient for some sampling sites but suggested that a few hundred eDNA samples could potentially capture >90% of the marine vertebrate diversity in the study area. Our results confirm that seawater samples contain habitat‐characteristic molecular signatures and that eDNA monitoring can efficiently cover vertebrate diversity at scales relevant to national and regional conservation and management. Article impact statement: Environmental DNA provides habitat‐characteristic molecular signatures and can be used efficiently to map marine biodiversity at large spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La degradación de los sistemas ribereños, por causa de las actividades humanas, ha permitido el desarrollo de numerosos métodos que evalúan la severidad de los impactos antropogénicos. Los protocolos de biomonitoreo, empleando macroinvertebrados acuáticos, son usados mundialmente en estas evaluaciones. No obstante, estos métodos tienen la desventaja que solo evalúan el canal del río, ignorando la zona ribereña adyacente. Otros métodos consideran, en su evaluación, las características físicas de ambas zonas, pero ignoran la biota del lugar. Las arañas ribereñas se han discutido como potenciales bioindicadores dado que podrían proveer una alternativa más holística para evaluar los sistemas ribereños. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar si los cambios en las comunidades de arañas ribereñas podrían utilizarse para separar lugares con diferentes niveles de impacto. Se correlacionó el porcentaje de cobertura vegetal y diferentes protocolos de biomonitoreo, con métricas de riqueza y abundancia de arañas a lo largo de un gradiente urbano. Se encontraron diferencias en la composición de la comunidad de arañas entre lugares, con una tendencia general de menor riqueza y menor abundancia en los sitios más impactados. La abundancia de las arañas se correlacionó significativamente con el porcentaje de cobertura vegetal y la riqueza de familias se correlacionó con dos de los protocolos de monitoreo usados. Estos hallazgos respaldan la utilización de las comunidades de arañas como indicadoras de disturbio en los ecosistemas ribereños de Puerto Rico. Sugerimos incorporar las comunidades de arañas ribereñas en futuros protocolos de biomonitoreo para asegurar una visión más holística de las condiciones de los lugares evaluados.

Se evaluó la influencia de la transformación antropogénica del paisaje por actividades pecuarias sobre la composición y especificidad de las comunidades de ectoparásitos asociadas a murciélagos, en ranchos ganaderos del estado de Veracruz. Se compararon sitios con diferente nivel de transformación del paisaje que incluyeron producciones bajo sistemas de pastoreo en acahual, silvopastoril y pastizal. Se capturaron 944 murciélagos de 23 especies en ocho unidades de producción pecuaria. Se realizó la identificación taxonómica de 1 433 ectoparásitos de 35 especies obtenidos a partir de 428 hospederos. Se realizaron análisis de diversidad taxonómica y especificidad filogenética entre las asociaciones murciélago-ectoparásito. La composición de las comunidades de ectoparásitos asociadas con Artibeus jamaicensis mostró diferencias significativas entre los tres niveles de transformación del paisaje. El acahual, que es el paisaje con menor transformación antropogénica, presentó los valores más altos de diversidad de especies de murciélagos y de ectoparásitos. La filoespecificidad de los estréblidos no presentó cambios significativos entre los diferentes tipos de paisaje del estudio. La consideración de factores antropogénicos que afecten la riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de los ectoparásitos, así como la relación filogenética con sus hospederos es esencial para profundizar en el estudio de las asociaciones hospedero-parásito.

Plant biomonitoring is considered a complementary tool to environmental monitoring, where plant species known as bioindicators can be used in the recognition, detection, monitoring and mapping of air pollutants. In this perspective, the objective of the present work was to identify some plant species of the angiosperm, bryophyte and lichen divisions, which could be used as bioindicators of atmospheric pollution in the Municipality of Camaçari, State of Bahia. The work is a bibliographic and documentary research, whose data collection instruments were based on a literature review and a consultation with public documents such as the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the Department of Informatics of the Unified System of Health (DATASUS), the Reports provided by the Health Department of the Municipality of Camaçari and the publications of the Environment and Water Resources Institute - INEMA The results obtained showed that Tillandsia usneoide, Tradescantia pallida cv, Nicotiana tabacum, Mangiferaindica, Citrus sinensis, Daucus carota, Gladiolus sp and Sphagnum sp would be the most suitable species for the control of air quality in the municipality of Camaçari because of finding climatic factors such as temperature and light more favorable to their development and for achieving greater adaptation and cultivation for soil conditions. In view of the above, we conclude that environmental monitoring through the use of plant species is an adequate method for controlling air quality in the municipality of Camaçari, with benefits not only in economic, environmental and landscape aspects, but also in the planning of public policies that improve the quality of life of citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use change from native forests to agriculture, livestock and exotic forest plantations is a main factor affecting riparian vegetation and aquatic communities. The aim of this study was to assess responses of aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages to riparian cover change in Murocomba protective forest, Valencia, Ecuador. Aquatic macroinvertebrates were collected and physicochemical variables were measured during dry (June-October 2014) and rainy (December-April 2015) seasons along three creeks with different riparian cover: native forests Q1-CBN, pasture for agricultural and livestock activities Q2-CAG, and exotic forest plantations Q3-CPF. According to the Macroinvertebrate Family Biotic Index (FBI) and the Biological Monitoring Working Party Index (BMWP/Col) the best conditions existed in the creek Q1-CBN, while the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera Index (EPT) decreased in the creek Q2-CAG during the rainy season. The Shannon-Weaver index showed higher values in Q1-CBN and Q3-CPF in the dry period, and the dominance increased in the Q3-CPF in rainy season. A total of 6 583 macroinvertebrates were collected. Trichoptera was the most abundant order and Hidropsychidae the most abundant family. The Coleoptera order showed greater abundance in Q1-CBN and Diptera in Q2-CAG, while Hemiptera showed the lowest abundance in Q3-CPF. Psephenidae, Chironomidae, Leptophlebiidae, Veliidae, Simuliidae, Baetidae and Leptohyphidae were associated with the highest values of total dissolved solids and pH, as well as higher values of IBF and lower values of EPT, BMWP, and depth of the channel in Q2-CAG, whereas Leptoceridae, Elmidae, Ptilodactylidae and Philopotamidae were associated with higher values of EPT, BMWP and depth of the channel in Q1-CBN and Q3-CPF. A negative influence of anthropic activities on the physicochemical variables and structure of the macroinvertebrate assemblages was evidenced. This indicates that the riparian vegetation is a factor that determines the establishment and structure of aquatic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El embalse Cabra Corral es el principal sitio de recreación y pesca deportiva del noroeste argentino, existe un gran interés en la preservación de sus condiciones ambientales. El Cabra Corral recibe desde el río Arenales materia orgánica proveniente de efluentes domiciliarios e industriales, como de actividades ganaderas y agrícolas que se desarrollan en el valle de Lerma; también recibe una importante contribución de minerales desde el río Guachipas. En este cuerpo de agua se ha encontrado altos niveles de mercurio y cadmio. Evaluamos las condiciones sanitarias de las poblaciones de Odonthestes bonariensis del embalse Cabra Corral, que presenta un alto impacto antrópico en relación con las poblaciones de otro embalse, el Campo Alegre con menor impacto antrópico. Analizamos marcadores histopatológicos en órganos blanco a fin de establecer si existen diferencias entre los dos cuerpos de agua. Realizamos muestreos bimensuales, se extrajeron muestras de hígado, riñón y branquias, las que se procesaron con técnicas histológicas de rutina; se analizaron muestras de agua para determinar su calidad. En el embalse Cabra Corral encontramos un gran número de histopatologías, el hígado es el órgano más afectado, seguido por el riñón y en menor medida las branquias. En el embalse Campo Alegre, las histopatologías también se hallaron pero en menor proporción. En el Cabra Corral se destacan las parasitosis hepáticas y renales causadas por coccidios asociados a procesos inflamatorios. La identificación y evaluación de los marcadores histopatológicos confirmó que existen marcadas diferencias en el estado de salud de las poblaciones de O. bonariensis entre los dos embalses estudiados.

Esta investigación se realizó en el municipio de Bahía Solano, Colombia y tuvo como objetivos: 1) detectar la circulación de eritrocitos con lesiones nucleares en 55 hembras adultas de tortuga golfina (Lepidochelys olivacea), empleando la inmunotinción de naranja de acridina y 2) correlacionar sus frecuencias con aspectos biométricos y fisiológicos. Se determinó una frecuencia de eritrocitos con micronúcleos (EMN) de 0,6 ± 0,6 y de protuberancias nucleares (EPN) de 2,1 ± 1,9. Mediante un análisis multivariado a través de la correlación de Pearson y de Kruskal-Wallis (p

Con el fin de determinar el impacto del uso del suelo sobre las características bióticas y abióticas de quebradas en la cuenca del río La Vieja, se evaluaron 21 quebradas en los municipios de Alcalá, Ulloa y Cartago (Valle del Cauca). Siete quebradas estaban protegidas por franjas de vegetación ribereña, ocho tenían influencia agrícola y seis influencia ganadera. Se registraron las condiciones de protección y perturbación del hábitat, aspectos físicos del cauce, se tomaron muestras de agua para análisis fisicoquímico y bacteriológico, y se recolectaron macroinvertebrados acuáticos. En las quebradas con influencia ganadera los sólidos disueltos, la alcalinidad, conductividad y fósforo total fueron significativamente mayores, mientras que el oxígeno disuelto fue significativamente menor. Las quebradas agrícolas y protegidas presentaron más sustratos gruesos y más tipos de corriente. Se recolectaron 26 777 macroinvertebrados de 17 órdenes, 72 familias y 95 géneros. Los grupos con mayor abundancia relativa fueron Diptera 62.8%, (Chironomidae 49.6%, Ceratopogonidae 6.7%), Mollusca 18.8% (Hydrobiidae 7.2%, Sphaeriidae 9.6%) y Trichoptera 5.7% (Hydropsychidae 3.7%). Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera y Plecoptera, presentaron mayor abundancia en las quebradas protegidas y con influencia agrícola, mientras los dípteros y moluscos fueron más abundantes en las ganaderas. Las quebradas protegidas y agrícolas presentan mejores condiciones físicas y biológicas que las quebradas con influencia ganadera.

Score-based biotic indices are widely used to evaluate the water quality of streams and rivers. Few adaptations of these indices have been done for South America because there is a lack of knowledge on macroinvertebrate taxonomy, distribution and tolerance to pollution in the region. Several areas in the Andes are densely populated and there is need for methods to assess the impact of increasing human pressures on aquatic ecosystems. Considering the unique ecological and geographical features of the Andes, macroinvertebrate indices used in other regions must be adapted with caution. Here we present a review of the literature on macroinvertebrate distribution and tolerance to pollution in Andean areas above 2 000masl. Using these data, we propose an Andean Biotic Index (ABI), which is based on the BMWP index. In general, ABI includes fewer macroinvertebrate families than in other regions of the world where the BMWP index has been applied because altitude restricts the distribution of several families. Our review shows that in the high Andes, the tolerance of several macroinvertebrate families to pollution differs from those reported in other areas. We tested the ABI index in two basins in Ecuador and Peru, and compared it to other BMWP adaptations using the reference condition approach. The ABI index is extremely useful for detecting the general impairment of rivers but class quality boundaries should be defined independently for each basin because reference conditions may be different. The ABI is widely used in Ecuador and Peru, with high correlations with land-use pressures in several studies. The ABI index is an integral part of the new multimetric index designed for high Andean streams (IMEERA). Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 2): 249-273. Epub 2014 April 01.

Copyright of Acta Biológica Colombiana is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Biologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Actualidades Biológicas is the property of Universidad de Antioquia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We set out to understand how urbanization affects streams in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. Paired t-tests and linear regressions were used to compare physico-chemical stream habitat variables (i.e., temperature, turbidity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH) and benthic macroinvertebrate community structure (i.e., density, taxonomic richness, Shannon-Weiner diversity) and function (functional feeding groups (FFG]) in four watersheds with urban and reference sites. We then calculated indices of biotic integrity for habitat (rapid visual assessment protocol (RVAP]) and benthos (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera richness (EPT], family biotic index (FBI], rapid bioassessment protocol (RBP] and biotic monitoring Patagonian streams (BMPS]). Results indicated that urbanization negatively impacted these streams' underlying ecological condition, decreasing benthic biodiversity and dissolved oxygen, while increasing conductivity and turbidity. FFG assemblage was similar between both sites, but urbanization increased the existing dominance of collector-gatherers. Additionally, urban sites presented lower values in three of the benthic macroinvertebrate indices (EPT, RBP, BMPS, but not FBI) and also for habitat (RVAP). These data fill an existing gap in stream ecology for southern Patagonia and are useful to create monitoring tools. By incorporating urbanization as a driver of ecosystem change, managers and planners will be better able to confront the issue of sustainable development in this region, which is considered one of the most pristine wilderness areas remaining on the planet but whose human population is concentrated in a few densely populated urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) activity has been proposed as a biomarker of susceptibility to the presence of potentially damaging xenobiotics in aquatic organisms. The aim of this work was to measure GST activity in the liver of Sciades herzbergii (catfish) in order to evaluate the biochemical effects of pollutants. The catfish samples were collected along known pollution gradients areas (A1) and from areas regarded as relatively free of anthropogenic input (A2), in São Marcos Bay, São Luis de Maranhão, Brazil. The variables analyzed in fish were: length, weight, gonadal stages, gonadosomatic index and GST activity. The databases from this analysis were compiled, and generalized linear models were used to analyze the dependence of enzyme activity on the areas of sampling and on selected biological parameters of fish. A significant difference was observed in GST activity in the liver of S. herzbergii in the comparison between fish from the contaminated site and those from the reference site (P < 0.05). Morphometric (length and weight) parameters and gonadosomatic index of collected fish were significant in the linear model of GST activity only in the reference site. These results may be due to the activity pattern of the enzyme, which increases with the sexual maturity of the animals in healthy environments. In the contaminated area (A1) these correlations do not exist, probably as a result of the energy used in the biotransformation of the various contaminants.

Guribu catfish (Sciades herzbergii) is a resident species in estuaries of Maranhão, Brazil. The aim of this work was to determine the feasibility of integrated analysis of the branchial lesions and gonadosomatic index of Sciades herzbergii in order to evaluate the effects of pollutants in São Marcos' Bay. The first site (S1) is located near the Ilha dos Caranguejos and was used as a reference area for being an environmental protection area. The second site (S2) is located near the ALUMAR/ALCOA port, and was used as a potentially polluted area. Fish were collected at each site, forty-eight in S1 and forty in S2. Gills were fixed in 10% formalin, and usual histological techniques were used in the first right gill arch, with inclusion in paraffin and sections of 5 µm thickness. There were no histopathological changes in animals captured at the reference site. However, in those catfish collected in the potentially contaminated area it was observed several branchial lesions, such as lifting of the lamellar epithelium, fusion of some secondary lamellae, hypertrophy of epithelial cells and lamellar aneurysm. The analysis using the gonadosomatic index (GSI) showed significant differences, being higher in fish analyzed from the reference area (P < 0.05). The branchial lesions and GSI were sensitive for monitoring environmental impacts of different locations at São Marcos' Bay, Maranhão, Brazil.

Las acciones para detener el deterioro de los ecosistemas dulceacuícolas del centro del México requieren herramientas de biomonitoreo que permitan el análisis de su integridad biológica. En este trabajo se analizó la viabilidad del uso de dos índices biológicos de integridad (IBI) con base en las comunidades de peces en ambientes lóticos y lénticos en la subcuenca del Río Angulo (Cuenca del Lerma-Chapala). Utilizando datos provenientes de recolectas independientes durante dos años consecutivos e información sobre los atributos ecológicos para cada una de las especies, se calcularon los valores de dos IBI en 16 sistemas lénticos y lóticos. Se estimó también la calidad ambiental a través de la evaluación de la calidad del agua y del hábitat en cada sitio. Se encontró integridad biótica pobre, regular y buena. El estudio no mostró sitios con buena calidad ambiental. Los valores de los IBI presentaron correlaciones altas y significativas con aquellos derivados de metodologías independientes de evaluación ambiental. Los IBI reflejaron de forma fehaciente las condiciones ambientales en la mayoría de los sitios de estudio. Con este análisis se logró la expansión de área de uso del IBI para ambientes lóticos y una validación inicial del IBI para ambientes lénticos. Estos resultados sugieren que las herramientas pueden ser utilizadas en futuros esfuerzos de conservación en cuerpos dulceacuícolas en la cuenca del Medio Lerma.

Se realizó el biomonitoreo de los trabajadores de la planta formuladora de plaguicidas de Managua con el objetivo de conocer si la manipulación de plaguicidas, descritos como mutágenos químicos potenciales, había causado efecto genotóxico. Se estudió el daño primario al ADN mediante el ensayo cometa y el daño cromosómico mediante aberraciones cromosómicas en linfocitos y micronúcleos en células exfoliadas de la mucosa bucal. Para los análisis de los datos se utilizaron el porcentaje de ADN en la cola, el porcentaje de células con aberraciones cromosómicas y el porcentaje de células con micronúcleos. Las frecuencias de aberraciones cromosómicas y de células con micronúcleos tanto en el grupo expuesto como en el grupo control se encuentran dentro del intervalo reportado para muestras de la población cubana. Los valores del porcentaje de ADN en la cola analizados por el ensayo cometa en el grupo expuesto no mostraron diferencias significativas antes y después de la jornada laboral. Los resultados analizados evidencian que la manipulación de plaguicidas por este grupo de trabajadores no ha inducido daño genético detectable por los métodos empleados.A biomonitoring of workers of the pesticide formulation plant from Managua municipality to know if the manipulation of pesticides described as potential chemical mutagens, had a genotoxic effect was carried out. The primary damage of DNA was studied by means of the comet assay and the chromosomal damage by chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes and micronuclei in exfoliated cells of oral mucosa. For data analysis the DNA percentage in tail, the percentage of cells with chromosomal aberration and the percentage of cells with micronuclei were used. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations and of cells with micronuclei, both, in the exposed group and in the control one are within the interval reported for samples of Cuban population. The values of DNA percentage in tail, analyzed by comet assay in exposed group not showed significant differences before and after working day. The results analyzed demonstrate that manipulation of pesticides by this group of workers has not provoked any genetic damage perceptible by methods used.

Copyright of Innotec is the property of Laboratorio Tecnologico del Uruguay and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bistua: Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Básicas is the property of Facultad de Ciencias Basicas de la Universidad de Pamplona and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Dentro de los macroinvertebrados que habitan los ambientes dulceacuícolas, los insectos son el grupo biológico más idóneo para determinar la calidad del agua de los ecosistemas, ya sean lénticos o lóticos. Considerando la sensibilidad y la tolerancia intrínsecas de los insectos acuáticos, en este estudio se aplicó el índice biótico de Hilsenhoff (IBH, 1988) en las porciones alta, media y baja de 3 ríos perennes: Copalita, Zimatán y Coyula, Oaxaca. El IBH mostró en los 3 casos una calidad del agua de buena a muy buena.Within the macroinvertebrates that inhabit in freshwaters, the insects are more suitable the biological group to establish the water quality of the lotic and lentic ecosystems. Considering the sensibility and tolerance intrinsic properties of the aquatic insects, in this study Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI, 1988) was applied in the high, medium and low portions of 3 perennial rivers: Copalita, Zimatán and Coyula, Oaxaca, Mexico. The HBI showed in the 3 cases a good to very good water quality.

A methodology to calculate numeric values of primary indication values for ahypothetical taxon in relation to one or several hypothetical environmental factors in agiven regions, is proposed. Primary indication numeric values correspond to theminimum tolerance (Tm) of any taxon to one or several environmental factors expressedby an environmental quality index. These values are obtained for each taxon basis of thefifth percentile of the normal adjusted distribution curve, using the abundance of eachtaxon in samples taken at ten intervals or classes in the environmental scale of eachfactor or group of factors on the corresponding quality index.

The salamander Ambystoma velasci, known as "Ajolote del Altiplano," is a species native to northeastern Mexico whose current population distribution is unknown. Monitoring by traditional methods has been complex due to its nocturnal habits and mobility. Several reports indicate that biomonitoring of aquatic species can be achieved through detection and quantification techniques based on environmental DNA. This project aims to evaluate the relationship of an abiotic factor, such as temperature, with the rate of environmental DNA production by Ambystoma sp. Individuals were maintained in controlled conditions for fifteen days, taking water samples every third day. The eDNA was purified using a kit, and its quantification was performed by fluorometry and visualized in agarose gels stained with BrEt. It was observed that eDNA production is proportional to seasonal temperature increases in the region of the municipality of Galeana, NL, the natural habitat of the Ajolote del Altiplano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Mexico, there is a paucity of evidence on the magnitude of prenatal exposure to metals., Objective: To estimate the concentration of arsenic, cadmium, manganese and lead in umbilical cord blood (UCB) and its association with maternal blood concentrations during pregnancy and delivery., Material and Methods: Metal concentration in maternal blood was analyzed during pregnancy (n = 901), delivery (n = 732) and in UCB (n = 512) from participants of the PROGRESS cohort residing in Mexico City. The association between concentrations in UCB and maternal biomarkers was analyzed using generalized linear models, adjusted for relevant covariates., Results: Mean concentrations (μg/L) of lead, arsenic and manganese in UCB were 27.14 (25.28-29.14), 0.77 (0.71-0.84) and 42.60 (40.45-44.83), respectively. Cadmium concentration could not be estimated because 86.2% of measurements were below the detection limit. Lead and manganese concentrations in UCB were significantly associated with maternal biomarkers during pregnancy and delivery; at delivery, association was only observed with arsenic., Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to toxic metals in sensitive periods of organogenesis shows a neglected public health problem. Biomonitoring of the population and establishment of regulations aimed at providing care to vulnerable populations is required., (Copyright: © 2023 Permanyer.)

Background: Early childhood lead exposure is associated with numerous adverse health effects. Biomonitoring among susceptible populations, such as children, has not been previously conducted. The aim of the study is to evaluate the blood lead (Pb) and total blood calcium (Ca) levels; blood zinc (Zn) levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to collect healthy children age 1- 36 months (Mean ± SD: 1.5 ± 0.6 age, 60% boys) in the study from January 2010 to September 2011. Results: The overall mean blood Pb levels were 42.18 + 12.13 /¿g/L, the overall mean blood Zn and total blood Ca concentrations were 62.18 ± 12.33 µmol/L and 1.78 ± 0.13 mmol/L, respectively. The prevalence of elevated blood Pb levels in all children was 1.3%. A significant difference was found between female and male subjects for the blood Pb and Zn. After controlling for gender and age, there was a weak positive correlation between total blood Ca and Zn level. Conclusions: The blood Pb levels had a significant negative correlation with total blood Ca level after adjusting for age and gender, and these findings suggest that Pb had effect on positive blood Zn and total blood Ca levels; parents should pay more attention to the nutrition of girls [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ornitologia Colombiana is the property of Asociacion Colombiana de Ornitologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

El efecto de los plaguicidas sobre la salud humana, animal y ambiental es preocupación de la comunidad científica desde hace mucho tiempo. Numerosos estudios reportan que los plaguicidas no son inofensivos y que su uso puede conducir a efectos biológicos dañinos a mediano y a largo plazo, en los grupos humanos y animales expuestos, en el presente o en los descendientes. La importancia en la detección precoz del daño genético radica en que permite tomar las medidas necesarias para disminuir o suprimir la exposición al agente deletéreo cuando aún éste es reversible, y de ese modo prevenir y disminuir el riesgo de desarrollar neoplasias u otras patologías y otras alteraciones. En este trabajo se revisan los principales conceptos en la temática, la utilidad de los estudios de genotoxicidad y se hace referencia a los trabajos realizados en los últimos veinticinco años sobre monitoreo genético de personas expuestas laboralmente a plaguicidas. Los ensayos de genotoxicidad, que incluyen aberraciones cromosómicas, micronúcleos, intercambio de cromátidas hermanas y cometa, deberían ser considerados como herramientas indispensables en la implementación de una vigilancia médica completa en personas potencialmente expuestas a diversos contaminantes ambientales y en especial aquellas que habitan en el mismo lugar con personas que ya han desarrollado algún tipo de neoplasia en edades tempranas, con el fin de prevenir la ocurrencia de tumores de origen ambiental y especialmente laboral.