An R package for simulating metapopulation dynamics and range expansion under environmental change

The metapopulation paradigm is central in ecology and conservation biology to understand the dynamics of spatially-structured populations in fragmented landscapes. Metapopulations are often studied using simulation modelling, and there is an increasing demand of user-friendly software tools to simulate metapopulation responses to environmental change. Here we describe the MetaLandSim R package, mwhich integrates ideas from metapopulation and graph theories to simulate the dynamics of real and virtual metapopulations. The package offers tools to (i) estimate metapopulation parameters from empirical data, (ii) to predict variation in patch occupancy over time in static and dynamic landscapes, either real or virtual, and (iii) to quantify the patterns and speed of metapopulation expansion into empty landscapes. MetaLandSim thus provides detailed information on metapopulation processes, which can be easily combined with land use and climate change scenarios to predict metapopulation dynamics and range expansion for a variety of taxa and ecological systems

Phosphogypsum weathering and implications for pollutant discharge into an estuary

Approximately 100 million tons of phosphogypsum were stockpiled onto marsh soils of the Tinto River estuary (Huelva, SW Spain). This study focuses on the hydraulic response of the phosphogypsum stack to the different weathering agents, as well as on the hydrochemical behavior of highly acidic and polluted effluents from its leaching during different hydrological conditions. To address these issues, a CTD-Diver was installed in a bore-hole within a phosphogypsum stack profile, which recorded the variations in the water-table of the stack, and edge outflows samples were collected around the perimeter of the stack during four sampling periods in different seasons. During dry periods, the water-table of the stack remains almost static and is controlled only by the tide oscillations. However, during rainy events this water-level rapidly increases up to 20 cm and subsequently decreases, defining peaks that coincide with the rainfalls. Having a hydraulic connection to the sea and groundwater flow in conduits, the phosphogypsum stack behaves as an anthropogenic karstic-coastal aquifer. Regarding the hydrochemical behavior of the edge outflows, the concentrations of most pollutants (e.g., PO4, Al, As, Cd or U) showed a slight decrease from the dry-warm to the rainy period. These leachates releases high concentrations of contaminants to the estuary, e.g., PO4, As and U (average values of 5000, 6.9 and 3.0 t/yr, respectively). The results obtained in this study could contribute to the development of effective treatment systems for leachates from phosphogypsum stack of Huelva and to minimize their impact on the surrounding estuarine environment.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, the European Regional Development Fund and the University of Huelva under the research projects TRAMPA (MINECO; PID2020-119196RB-C21), VALOREY (MINECO; RTI 2018-101276-JI00) and EMFHA-SIST (FEDER; UHU-486 1253533). C.R C´anovas thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Postdoctoral Fellowship granted under application reference RYC2019- 027949-I. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva/ CBUA. We would also like to thank Dr. Huaming Guo (Editor-in-Chief) and two anonymous re-viewers for the support and comments that significantly improved the quality of the original paper

Sistemas Complejos: Un modelo de mapas logísticos acoplados

Se introducen los conceptos de sistema y sistema complejo, así como de red compleja y ofrecen características y ejemplos ilustrativos de los mismos.´Se introduce un transfondo matemático para su estudio, incluyendo bases de teoría de grafos y sistemas dinámicos. Se estudia la dinámica del mapa logístico y se procede a construir un acoplado de mapas de este tipo siguiendo una estructura de red cualquiera, siguiendo los pasos de un artículo escrito por el director del proyecto. Estudiamos la dinámica del nuevo sistema. Se hace particular hincapié en la biestabilidad, una propiedad que el sistema presenta independientemente de la red escogida para construir el acoplado. Para finalizar se incluyen resultados propios sobre puntos fijos del sistema en ciertas redes y medidas computacionales de parámetros cuyo estudio queda pendiente

Evidence of rare earth elements origin in acid mine drainage from the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW Spain)

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a worldwide pollution problem of watersheds. In addition to toxic metal(oid)s and acidity, many elements of economic interest are released into the environment, which make AMD a potential strategic secondary source of these elements such as rare earth elements (REE). Despite the importance of these metals, their origin in AMD is still uncertain. Recent hypotheses suggest preferential leaching of REE-enriched minerals as a possible source. Leaching tests with H2SO4 have been developed to simulate the interaction under AMD formation conditions with sulfide bodies and host rocks from two representative mining areas in the Iberian Pyrite Belt: the Perrrunal and Poderosa mines (SW of Spain). The REE patterns and Ce and Eu anomalies of the rock leachates have confirmed the geochemical relationship between the AMD and certain country rocks (felsic and mafic volcanics, and shales). A detailed chemical and mineralogical study has confirmed the existence of a diversity of minerals with high concentrations of REE. Thus, the minerals with the highest REE contents are also those with the fast dissolution kinetics under acid conditions: REE phosphates (monazite and xenotime type) and carbonates (parisite type). Finally, petrographic evidence of the selective leaching of these minerals clearly supports these minerals as the main source of REE in the AMD.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the research project TRAMPA (MINECO; PID2020-119196RB-C21). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA

Passive remediation of mine waters from Parys Mountain (Wales): Laboratory column experiments

This study evaluates the effectiveness of dispersed alkaline substrate (DAS) technology to treat highly acidic and contaminated leachates from the oxidation of sulfide-rich mining wastes under wet temperate oceanic climate conditions. To address this issue, leachates from the abandoned mine at Parys Mountain (NW Wales) were passed through two sets of multistep columns filled with a mixture of a fine-grained alkaline reagent (i.e., limestone, MgO, or BaCO3) scattered in an inert matrix. The set of columns with the limestone-DAS plus MgO-DAS combination achieved a near total removal of Fe, Al, Zn, Cu, Mn, As, Co, Cd, and Ni. However, the elimination of SO4 was not significant (around 7%). The limestone-DAS plus BaCO3-DAS combination also achieved a high effectiveness for base metal/loids, allowing the removal of Fe, Al, Zn, Cu, As, and Cd with rates of nearly 100%. In addition, the system with the BaCO3-step had a higher effectiveness in eliminating SO4 (around 53%) than the combined treatment with the MgO-step. According to PHREEQC code calculations, the precipitation of oxyhydroxy-sulfates (i.e., schwertmannite and basaluminite) and carbonate (i.e., malachite, hydrozincite and calcite) phases may have controlled the solubility of pollutants during the passive treatment. The chemical compositions of the treated waters complied with the threshold values defined by irrigation standards, except for Mn in the BaCO3-DAS output.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva/CBUA

Wildfire effects on the hydrogeochemistry of a river severely polluted by acid mine drainage

This study evaluates for the first time the impact of a large wildfire on the hydrogeochemistry of a deeply AMDaffected river at the beginning of the wet season. To accomplish this, a high-resolution water monitoring campaign was performed within the basin coinciding with the first rainfalls after summer. Unlike similar events recorded in AMD-affected areas, where dramatic increases in most dissolved element concentrations, and decreases in pH values are observed as a result of evaporitic salts flushing and the transport of sulfide oxidation products from mine sites, a slight increase in pH values (from 2.32 to 2.88) and decrease in element concentrations (e.g.; Fe: 443 to 205 mg/L; Al: 1805 to 1059 mg/L; sulfate: 22.8 to 13.3 g/L) was observed with the first rainfalls after the fire. The washout of wildfire-ash deposited in the riverbanks and the drainage area, constituted by alkaline mineral phases, seems to have counterbalanced the usual behavior and patterns of the river hydrogeochemistry during autumn. Geochemical results indicate that a preferential dissolution occurs during ash washout (K > Ca > Na), with a quick release of K followed by an intense dissolution of Ca and Na. On the other hand, in unburnt zones parameters and concentrations vary to a lesser extent than burnt areas, being the washout of evaporitic salts the dominant process. With subsequent rainfalls ash plays a minor role on the river hydrochemistry. Elemental ratios (Fe/SO4 and Ca/Mg) and geochemical tracers in both ash (K, Ca and Na) and AMD (S) were used to prove the importance of ash washout as the dominant geochemical process during the study period. Geochemical and mineralogical evidences point to intense schwertmannite precipitation as the main driver of reduction in metal pollution. The results of this study shed light on the response of AMD-polluted rivers to certain climate change effects, since climate models predict an increase in the number and intensity of wildfires and torrential rain events, especially in Mediterranean climates.This research was supported by the AIHODIEL project (PYC20 RE 032 UHU) within the 2020 call for grants for the implementation of projects of collaborative interest in the field of innovation ecosystems co-financed by the FEDER program in Andalucía for the period 2014-2020. Jonatan Romero is financed by a FPU program of the Spanish Ministry of Education of Vocational Training (FPU20/04441). C.R Cánovas thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Postdoctoral Fellowship granted under application reference RYC2019–027949-I. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA. The authors gratefully appreciate the constructive comments and suggestions from the editor Mark van Loosdrecht and two anonymous reviewers

Reacción leucemoide por cáncer de cabeza y cuello. A propósito de un caso

The leukemoid reaction is defined as a count of mature leukocytes greater than 50 x 109 cells/L. It is described a rare case of leukemoid reaction presented as paraneoplastic manifestation associated with epidermoid head and neck cancer, and which has been diagnosed after excluding other causes, and which implies a worse prognosis of the disease. The production mechanism is unknown although the current theories point to the production of stimulatory cytokines in the bone marrow.La reacción  leucemoide se define como un recuento de leucocitos maduros superior a 50 x 109 células/L. Describimos un caso poco frecuente de reacción leucemoide como manifestación paraneoplásica asociada a cáncer epidermoide de cabeza y cuello, diagnosticada al excluir otras causas y que conlleva un peor pronóstico de la enfermedad. El mecanismo de producción es desconocido, aunque las teorías actuales apuntan a la producción de citocinas estimulantes de la médula ósea

Pericarditis purulenta por Staphylococcus aureus sin foco en paciente con neoplasia pancreática

We present the case of a patient with a short-term fever and dyspnea, diagnosed with purulent pericarditis with bacteremia associated with Staphylococcus aureus, and no primary infectious focus found. As a casual finding, a pancreatic neoplasm was detected. After undergoing surgery, he developed hemodynamic instability and poor evolution despite intensive measures and died during the postoperative period.Presentamos el caso de un varón con cuadro febril y disnea de corta duración, diagnosticado de pericarditis purulenta con bacteriemia asociada por Staphylococcus aureus, en el que no se encontró foco primario infeccioso. Como hallazgo casual, se le diagnosticó de neoplasia pancreática. Tras someterse a intervención quirúrgica, comenzó con inestabilidad hemodinámica y mala evolución a pesar de las medidas intensivas, y falleció durante el posoperatorio

Effects of estuarine water mixing on the mobility of trace elements in acid mine drainage leachates

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under the research project TRAMPA (PID2020-119196RB- C21). C.R. C´anovas, A. Parviainen and M.D. Basallote also acknowledge the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Postdoctoral Fellowships granted under application references RYC2019-027949-I, IJCI-2016-27412 and IJC2018-035056-I, respectively. We would also like to thank Dr. Geoff MacFarlane for the editorial handling and two anonymous reviewers for the support and comments that significantly improved the quality of the original paper. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva/CBUA.This research reports the effects of pH increase on contaminant mobility in acid mine drainage from the Iberian Pyrite Belt by seawater mixing in the laboratory, simulating the processes occurring in the Estuary of Huelva (SW Iberian Peninsula). Concentrations of Al, Fe, As, Cu and REY in mixing solutions significantly decreased with increasing pH. Schwertmannite precipitation at pH 2.5–4.0 led to the total removal of Fe(III) and As. Subsequently, iron-depleted solutions began to be controlled by precipitation of basaluminite at pH 4.5–6.0, which acted as a sink for Al, Cu and REY. Nevertheless, as the pH rises, schwertmannite becomes unstable and releases back to solution the previously retained As. Moreover, other elements (S, Zn, Cd, Ni and Co) behaved conservatively in mixing solutions with no participation in precipitation processes. Some toxic elements finally end up to the Atlantic Ocean contributing to the total pollutant loads and environmentally threatening the coastal areas