Effects of heavy metal pollution on germination and early seedling growth in native and invasive Spartina cordgrasses

Seed germination and seedling establishment are the stages most sensitive to abiotic stress in the plant life cycle. We analyzed the effects of copper, zinc and nickel on seed germination and early seedling growth of native Spartina maritima and invasive S. densiflora from polluted and non-polluted estuaries. Germination percentages for either species were not affected by any metal at any tested concentration (up to 2000 μM). However, the increase in metal concentration had negative effects on S. densiflora seedlings. The primary effect was on radicle development, representing initial seedling emergence. Spartina densiflora seedlings emerging from seeds from Tinto Estuary, characterized by high bioavailable metal loads, showed higher tolerance to metals than those from less polluted Odiel and Piedras Estuaries. Comparing our results to metal concentrations in the field, we expect S. densiflora seedling development would be negatively impacted in the most metal-polluted areas in Odiel and Tinto Estuaries.We thank the management and staff of the Odiel Marshes Natural Park for their collaboration. We also thank the editor and reviewer for comments that helped us improve the manuscript. M.D. Infante- Izquierdo acknowledges to Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte of Spanish Government for the FPU Grant (Ref. FPU14/06556)

Seed Viability, Spikelet Dispersal, Seed Banks and Seed Storage Requirements for Native and Invasive Cordgrasses (Genus Spartina) in Southwest Iberian Peninsula

Seed banks play an important role in determining the spatial and temporal distribution of halophytes in salt marshes. We tested the ability of native Spartina maritima and invasive S. densiflora spikelets to disperse by flotation on water with different salinity concentrations, and the longevity of spikelet viability relative to environmental conditions including dry or wet storage at low or moderate temperatures, and aqueous salinity concentrations from fresh to sea water. We quantified pre-dispersal seed production and pre- and post-dispersal focal Spartina spp. presence in seed banks along intertidal gradients within salt marshes at the Gulf of Cádiz (Southwest Iberian Peninsula). Spartina densiflora spikelets, especially from middle and high elevation marshes, showed greater ability than S. maritima to remain afloat, which suggests this species could be dispersed over longer distances. Wet-stored Spartina seeds were able to maintain viability for months, while seeds under dry storage rapidly lost viability. This decline was most significant for S. maritima, and for seeds stored at moderate temperatures. Storage of spikelets under wet and cold conditions optimized spikelet viability. Native S. maritima did not establish transient or persistent seed banks, while invasive S. densiflora established transient seed banks mainly at higher marsh elevations. Our results on the dynamics of seed dispersal and seed banks and seedling recruitment provide fundamental knowledge that can be applied for conservation of native S. maritima, management of invasive S. densiflora, and ecological restoration of tidal salt marshes.Funding for open access publishing: Universidad de Sevilla / CBUA Open Access funding enabled and organized by Universidad de Sevilla. M.D. Infante-Izquierdo acknowledges to Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte of Spanish Government for the FPU Grant (FPU14/06556)

Temporal and spatial patterns of airborne pollen dispersal in six salt marsh halophytes

Pollination is a key process in the life cycle of most plant species, but very little is known about airborne pollen dispersal in salt marsh anemophilous halophytes. We analyzed the temporal and spatial dynamics of airborne pollen dispersal, using portable volumetric pollen traps, for six anemophilous Chenopodiaceae halophytic species in tidal salt marshes. In addition, we studied the effects of air temperature and wind speed on airborne pollen dispersal. Our study shows high levels of temporal and spatial constraint on airborne pollen dispersal. We recorded the lowest airborne pollen concentrations at air temperatures lower than 22 °C and wind speeds higher than 6 m s−1. These environmental conditions set up a narrow temporal pollination window during morning hours. We also recorded severe spatial limitation for pollen dispersal in three of the six halophytes studied, which presented airborne pollen concentrations that were 9 to 53 times smaller only 5 m away from source populations than within those populations. These results show that even related species colonizing the same ecosystem may show contrasted airborne pollen spatial dispersal dynamics that depend on several environmental factors. This should be taken into account for estimates of vegetation composition based on pollen production in aerobiological and paleopalinological studies. The restricted airborne pollen dispersal recorded would promote geitonogamy and limit interpopulation genetic exchange to the dispersal of their hydrochorous fruits.The authors thank the Directorate of the Natural Parks for supporting field work conducted in this study. María Dolores Infante- Izquierdo thanks Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (Spain) for a predoctoral fellowship (FPU-2015)

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Population Dynamic of the Annual Halophyte Salicornia ramosissima in Salt Pans: Towards a Sustainable Exploitation of Its Wild Populations

Halophyte species growing under stressful conditions, such as the annual species of the Salicornia genus, have been recognized as a source of metabolites of pharmacological and nutraceutical interest. Therefore, planning the extraction of individual plants from wild populations in a sustainable way is especially important in the case of annual species. We studied the environmental matrix and population dynamic of four Salicornia ramosissima populations growing at two elevations in salt pans under a Mediterranean climate. In elevated areas, S. ramosissima populations presented maximum plant densities of between 628–6288 plants m−2 that remained almost constant until fruiting. In contrast, populations in depressed zones presented five-times greater soil-seed-bank densities and maximum plant densities than populations in elevated zones. In this context, populations in depressed zones lost c. 60% of their maximum plant densities from the end of spring and through summer. In whatever way the environmental matrix seemed to control the population dynamic of S. ramosissima in depressed zones, the effects of a stressful environment would interact with plant densities. In this sense, we recorded the density-dependent mortality for the densest population (max. 51,558 plants m−2 ). Our results are useful for planning a sustainable harvesting of natural populations of S. ramosissimaThe authors thank the Directorate of the Natural Parks for supporting field work conducted in this study. María Dolores Infante-Izquierdo thanks Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (Spain) for a predoctoral fellowship (FPU-2015

Intratussock tiller distribution and biomass of Spartina densiflora Brongn in an invaded salt marsh

Las interacciones de las plantas clonales con el medio ambiente están fuertemente condicionadas por sus arquitecturas. Sin embargo, son escasos los estudios detallados de la arquitectura de especies con crecimiento clonal en "falange", a pesar del éxito ecológico que poseen, reflejado en su distribución geográfica y capacidad de colonización. En este estudio analizamos la distribución de tallos y la biomasa de los clones de Spartina densiflora, una especie sudamericana clonal con crecimiento en "falange" invasora del Golfo de Cádiz (Suroeste de la Península Ibérica). La aparición de degeneración en el centro de los clones ("dye-back"), la densidad de necromasa y la altura media de los tallos vivos se relacionaron directamente con el tamaño del clon. Se registraron densidades de tallos vivos (10000 tallos m-²) y valores de biomasa aérea (12000 g m-²) muy elevadas en comparación con otras especies de Spartina con crecimiento clonal en "guerrilla". Sin embargo, las altas densidades de biomasa subterránea (4800 g m-²) fueron similares a las de otras especies. Características del crecimiento clonal de S. Densiflora, como una densidad elevada de tallos altos y biomasa subterránea muy alta, junto con un funcionamiento integrado entre ramets, prevendrían la colonización del interior de sus clones por parte de otras especies, lo cual contrasta con los procesos de facilitación descritos en su hábitat original.The interaction of clonal plants with the environment is strongly conditioned by their architecture. Despite their success regarding geographical distribution and capacity of colonization, there are few detailed studies on clonal growth of "phalanx" species. We analysed intratussock tiller distribution and biomasa of the South American "phalanx" clonal alien, Spartina densiflora, in an invaded salt marsh located in the Golf of Cadiz (SW Iberian Peninsula). Appearance of central die-back, necromass biomasa and mean live tiller height showed a direct relationship with tussock size. Intra-tussock densities of live tillers (10000 Ciller m-²) and above-ground biomass (12000 g D W m-²) were higher Chan in other Spartina species with "guerrilla' clonal growth. However, below-ground biomasa values (4800 g D W m2) were similar. Clonal growth traits, as high denaities of live large tiller and high below-ground biomass, together with so integrated clonal functioning would prevent the colonization by other species of S. densiflora tussocks in the studied European invaded salt marsh, in contrast with the facilitation processes described in its original habitat

Distribución de metales pesados en sedimentos de las Marismas del Odiel (Huelva, SO. España)

Se ha analizado la distribución y contenido total de metales pesados (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni y Pb) en sedimentos de las Marismas del Odiel (SO España). Las concentraciones de estos elementos, obtenidas por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica, fueron muy elevadas para la mayoría de los elementos analizados. Su distribución no es homogénea, ni presenta un patrón geográfico marcadamente definido, pudiéndose encontrar altos niveles repartidos por toda la marisma. Existe cierto gradiente topográfico, con mayores concentraciones en puntos de menor cota. Los puntos de muestreo más aislados de la incidencia mareal y los más expuestos a mar abierto registraron los niveles más bajosAtomic absorption spectroscopy has permitted the determination of the content of heavy metals and their distribution in sediments of the Odiel Saltmarhes (SWSpain). A very high metal concentration has been found in most of the samples investigated but their distribution is non-homogeneous and this prevents establishing a geographical pattern. Nevertheless, a certain topographic gradient can be observed: lower levels present the highest concentrations whereas areas unaccessible by tide fluctuations or those exposed to the sea present the lowest index of contaminatio

Metal effects on germination and seedling development in closely-related halophyte species inhabiting different elevations along the intertidal gradient

Seed germination and seedling establishment are very sensitive plant stages to metal pollution. Many halophyte species colonizing salt marshes are able to germinate and establish in highly contaminated habitats and low marsh halophyte species seem to show higher tolerance to metals than high marsh species. We analyzed the effects of copper, zinc and nickel in concentrations up to 2000 μM on seed germination and seedling growth in two closely related species of Sarcocornia, S. perennis, a low marsh species, and S. fruticosa, a high marsh species. Germination of both halophytes was not affected by any metal concentration, and their seedling growth, mainly radicle length, was reduced by increasing metal concentrations. Seedlings of S. perennis showed higher tolerance to the three metals than those of S. fruticosa. Our results are useful for designing ecotoxicological bioassays and planning phytoremediation projects in salt marshesThe authors thank the Directorate of the Odiel Marshes Natural Park for collaboratio