Corrigendum to ‘Vermiculations from karst caves: The case of Pertosa-Auletta system (Italy)’. (Catena (2019) 182 (104178) (S0341816219303200), (10.1016/j.catena.2019.104178))

The authors regret the presence of incomplete information in the author affiliations (reported correctly above) and in the acknowledgments of the original article (provided in the amended version below). The authors are obliged to Mr. Vincenzo Manisera, speleologist of the MIdA Foundation, for sharing his experiences and for his invaluable help in all the field activities, to Dr. Sacha A. Berardo (University of Salerno, Italy) for the language editing, and to the two anonymous reviewers, who provided helpful comments and suggestions. Funding was provided by the Spanish project MINECO CGL2016-75590-P with ERDF funds, by the MIdA Foundation, which generously supported the whole project, and by the University of Salerno, which provided facilities for carrying out the research. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused

Microbial Community Characterizing Vermiculations from Karst Caves and Its Role in Their Formation

The microbiota associated with vermiculations from karst caves is largely unknown. Vermiculations are enigmatic deposits forming worm-like patterns on cave walls all over the world. They represent a precious focus for geomicrobiological studies aimed at exploring both the microbial life of these ecosystems and the vermiculation genesis. This study comprises the first approach on the microbial communities thriving in Pertosa-Auletta Cave (southern Italy) vermiculations by next-generation sequencing. The most abundant phylum in vermiculations was Proteobacteria, followed by Acidobacteria > Actinobacteria > Nitrospirae > Firmicutes > Planctomycetes > Chloroflexi > Gemmatimonadetes > Bacteroidetes > Latescibacteria. Numerous less-represented taxonomic groups (< 1%), as well as unclassified ones, were also detected. From an ecological point of view, all the groups co-participate in the biogeochemical cycles in these underground environments, mediating oxidation-reduction reactions, promoting host rock dissolution and secondary mineral precipitation, and enriching the matrix in organic matter. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy brought evidence of a strong interaction between the biotic community and the abiotic matrix, supporting the role of microbial communities in the formation process of vermiculations

Geomicrobiology of a seawater-influenced active sulfuric acid cave.

Fetida Cave is an active sulfuric acid cave influenced by seawater, showing abundant microbial communities that organize themselves under three main different morphologies: water filaments, vermiculations and moonmilk deposits. These biofilms/deposits have different cave distribution, pH, macro- and microelement and mineralogical composition, carbon and nitrogen content. In particular, water filaments and vermiculations had circumneutral and slightly acidic pH, respectively, both had abundant organic carbon and high microbial diversity. They were rich in macro- and microelements, deriving from mineral dissolution, and, in the case of water filaments, from seawater composition. Vermiculations had different color, partly associated with their mineralogy, and unusual minerals probably due to trapping capacities. Moonmilk was composed of gypsum, poor in organic matter, had an extremely low pH (0\u20131) and low microbial diversity. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, the microbial composition of the biofilms/deposits included autotrophic taxa associated with sulfur and nitrogen cycles and biomineralization processes. In particular, water filaments communities were characterized by bacterial taxa involved in sulfur oxidation and reduction in aquatic, aphotic, microaerophilic/anoxic environments (Campylobacterales, Thiotrichales, Arenicellales, Desulfobacterales, Desulforomonadales) and in chemolithotrophy in marine habitats (Oceanospirillales, Chromatiales). Their biodiversity was linked to the morphology of the water filaments and their collection site. Microbial communities within vermiculations were partly related to their color and showed high abundance of unclassified Betaproteobacteria and sulfur-oxidizing Hydrogenophilales (including Sulfuriferula), and Acidiferrobacterales (including Sulfurifustis), sulfur-reducing Desulfurellales, and ammonia-oxidizing Planctomycetes and Nitrospirae. The microbial community associated with gypsum moonmilk showed the strong dominance (>60%) of the archaeal genus Thermoplasma and lower abundance of chemolithotrophic Acidithiobacillus, metal-oxidizing Metallibacterium, Sulfobacillus, and Acidibacillus. This study describes the geomicrobiology of water filaments, vermiculations and gypsum moonmilk from Fetida Cave, providing insights into the microbial taxa that characterize each morphology and contribute to biogeochemical cycles and speleogenesis of this peculiar seawater-influenced sulfuric acid cave

Wilson Disease Protein ATP7B Utilizes Lysosomal Exocytosis to Maintain Copper Homeostasis

SummaryCopper is an essential yet toxic metal and its overload causes Wilson disease, a disorder due to mutations in copper transporter ATP7B. To remove excess copper into the bile, ATP7B traffics toward canalicular area of hepatocytes. However, the trafficking mechanisms of ATP7B remain elusive. Here, we show that, in response to elevated copper, ATP7B moves from the Golgi to lysosomes and imports metal into their lumen. ATP7B enables lysosomes to undergo exocytosis through the interaction with p62 subunit of dynactin that allows lysosome translocation toward the canalicular pole of hepatocytes. Activation of lysosomal exocytosis stimulates copper clearance from the hepatocytes and rescues the most frequent Wilson-disease-causing ATP7B mutant to the appropriate functional site. Our findings indicate that lysosomes serve as an important intermediate in ATP7B trafficking, whereas lysosomal exocytosis operates as an integral process in copper excretion and hence can be targeted for therapeutic approaches to combat Wilson disease

Improved isolation of cadmium from paddy soil by novel technology based on pore water drainage with graphite-contained electro-kinetic geosynthetics

Novel soil remediation equipment based on electro-kinetic geosynthetics (EKG) was developed for in situ isolation of metals from paddy soil. Two mutually independent field plot experiments A and B (with and without electric current applied) were conducted. After saturation using ferric chloride (FeCl3) and calcium chloride (CaCl2), soil water drainage capacity, soil cadmium (Cd) removal performance, energy consumption as well as soil residual of iron (Fe) and chloride (Cl) were assessed. Cadmium dissolved in the soil matrix and resulted in a 100% increase of diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extracted phyto-available Cd. The total soil Cd content reductions were 15.20% and 26.58% for groups A and B, respectively, and electric field applications resulted in a 74.87% increase of soil total Cd removal. The electric energy consumption was only 2.17 kWh/m3 for group B. Drainage by gravity contributed to > 90% of the overall soil dewatering capacity. Compared to conventional electro-kinetic technology, excellent and fast soil water drainage resulted in negligible hydrogen ion (H+) and hydroxide ion (OH−) accumulation at nearby electrode zones, which addressed the challenge of anode corrosion and cathode precipitation of soil metals. External addition of FeCl3 and CaCl2 caused soil Fe and Cl residuals and led to 4.33–7.59% and 139–172% acceptable augments in soil total Fe and Cl content, correspondingly, if compared to original untreated soils. Therefore, the novel soil remediation equipment developed based on EKG can be regarded as a promising new in situ technology for thoroughly isolating metals from large-scale paddy soil fields

Phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites: Eco-environmental concerns, field studies, sustainability issues and future prospects

Environmental contamination due to heavy metals (HMs) is of serious ecotoxicological concern worldwide because of their increasing use at industries. Due to non-biodegradable and persistent nature, HMs cause serious soil/water pollution and severe health hazards in living beings upon exposure. HMs can be genotoxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic in nature even at low concentration. They may also act as endocrine disruptors and induce developmental as well as neurological disorders and thus, their removal from our natural environment is crucial for the rehabilitation of contaminated sites. To cope with HM pollution, phytoremediation has emerged as a low-cost and eco-sustainable solution to conventional physico-chemical cleanup methods that require high capital investment and labor alter soil properties and disturb soil microflora. Phytoremediation is a green technology wherein plants and associated microbes are used to remediate HM-contaminated sites to safeguard the environment and protect public health. Hence, in view of the above, the present paper aims to examine the feasibility of phytoremediation as a sustainable remediation technology for the management of metals-contaminated sites. Therefore, this paper provides an in-depth review on both the conventional and novel phytoremediation approaches, evaluate their efficacy to remove toxic metals from our natural environment, explore current scientific progresses, field experiences and sustainability issues and revise world over trends in phytoremediation research for its wider recognition and public acceptance as a sustainable remediation technology for the management of contaminated sites in 21st century

Urban ecosystems and the functional role of vegetation in ecological dynamics

Urban ecosystems differ from the natural ecosystems in their extended input and output environments, dysfunctional matter cycle and large flows of auxiliary energy. These peculiarities in ecosystem processes reflect on, and are determined by, reduced biodiversity and connectivity among habitat patches, exogenous control of ecological successions and high pollutant loads, collectively producing simplified heterotrophic ecosystems with impaired system dynamic stability. Indeed, microclimate and hydrogeological conditions tend to be more severe in urban ecosystems, with heat island effects, higher precipitations and hydrogeological instability in respect to the natural periurban ecosystems. Most of these issues can be traced back to the substantial reduction of soil surfaces and vegetation, i.e. the total assemblage of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees, and to the critical control they exert on ecosystem processes. Indeed, the interaction between soil and vegetation improves the internal cycling of matter, thereby shrinking the input and output matter flows from and to the periurban ecosystems. It forms diversified microhabitats, promoting their colonization by rich communities, thus enhancing biodiversity and increasing system complexity, with direct and indirect promotion of milder climatic and hydrological conditions. Moreover, urban vegetation may be effectively used in biomonitoring and bioremediation, evaluating the presence of anthropogenic pressures and removing inorganic and organic pollutants from contaminated air, water and soil. Overall, the establishment of green areas in urban ecosystems helps thus providing the functions characteristic of natural ecosystems, enhancing human well-being and, ultimately, improving urban sustainability. To reach these goals, however, the understanding of green areas ecology, evolutionary ecology and landscape ecology is crucial in allowing their proper design and management, as well as ensuring the balance among ecological, economic and social requirements. Ultimately, the ecological value of urban vegetation contributes to reach the sustainable development goals included in the United Nations 2030 Agenda, aimed at improving life quality and at maintaining the ecosystem ecological functions on which life depends

Plant-mediated coupling between karst hydrogeology and element dynamics in groundwater dependent ecosystems

Imbalances between fluxes entering and exiting ecosystem components induce complex ecological dynamics and differential allocations of matter - a process exemplified by plants with their accumulation capabilities, affecting the dynamics of elements and their redistribution across trophic levels. At the interface between different ecosystems, such as underground and groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs), their role as integrators and reservoirs of elements may affect system coupling, with the emergence of unique behaviours. Through the study of 19 nutrients and non-essential elements in water, sediments and plants of two pristine freshwater ecosystems of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano (southern Italy), we shed light on the unique interaction between complex karst systems and their GDEs. Indeed, karst flushing and piston-flow effects induce the release of short pulses of water with high concentrations of several elements, especially Cd, Cr, Ni and Zn. Pulses are undetectable in water and do not induce variations in total and bioavailable concentrations in sediments, but elements are accumulated by plants resulting in concentrations several-fold higher than in heavily contaminated rivers. Transient changes in element concentrations can thus affect, through element transfer in trophic webs, GDEs ecological dynamics at longer temporal and spatial scales

Complexity-dependent responses in ecosystem processes to low-frequency electromagnetic disturbance

Through an experimental approach aimed at evaluating the propagation of disturbance across a hierarchical progression of ecological systems, we demonstrated the coupling between low frequency electromagnetic fields (1st mode of Schumann resonances) and system functioning at different levels of complexity. The alterations of ecological dynamics elicited by interfering anthropogenic electromagnetic fields were demonstrated to depend on system complexity, with increasingly clearer responses in moving from organisms to ecosystems. Here, focusing at the ecosystem level, we aimed at evaluating how the complexity of functionally coupled processes may modulate the responses to electromagnetic disturbances. To this end, we studied the effects on litter decomposition of Schumann resonances variably interfered by 7.83 Hz – 15 ± 2 μT artificial fields. To highlight potentially small effects, the study was carried out under controlled conditions for up to 216 days, by exposing litter bags with holm oak leaves in mesocosms for different times (0, 15’, 30’), using a coil purposefully developed via finite element modelling. Decomposition was investigated in terms of rates of mass loss and of involved processes, i.e. microbial activity by means of CO2 evolution and enzyme activities, estimating the effects through Bayesian multilevel modelling. Results highlight that disturbance to Schumann resonances differentially affects enzyme activities and microbial respiration, with the type and amplitude of responses dependent upon process complexity. The interaction among these processes, each with specific dynamics, elicits non-linear, hormetic responses in litter decomposition that are buffered, in terms of amplitude, in respect to the underlying processes. On the one hand, our research confirms the coupling between low frequency electromagnetic fields and the functioning of ecological systems. On the other hand, it sheds light on the role of complexity in modulating the propagation of disturbances among interacting processes and in buffering the effects they may elicit on ecosystem processes