CONSEQUENCES OF SINGULAR ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS ON THE CYCLE OF METALS IN COASTAL LAGOONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE INCORPORATION OF METALS BY PRIMARY PRODUCERS

Coastal areas are valuable and sensitive environments subjected to great anthropogenic pressure. Among these pressures, metal pollution is of priority concern as these pollutants can reach concentrations that exceed the levels established to protect sensitive organisms in the ecosystem. In coastal lagoons, shallow systems with a reduced exchange with the open sea, metal concentrations are one or two orders of magnitude higher than in open-waters. In addition, these systems are subjected to physicochemical variations that can alter the biogeochemical cycling of the metals. Singular environmental events such as strong winds cause metal resuspension, torrential rain events provoke the entrance of solutes and pollutants, and phytoplankton blooms dramatically increase the concentration of organic matter. These events provoke alterations in the concentration and speciation of metals in the water column. This will have a direct impact in the organisms living in the area, since metal toxicity and bioavailability depends on the chemical speciation. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is the most important variable influencing metal speciation and bioavailability in seawater. However, the effects of DOM on metal bioavailability have not been yet unravelled and contrasting results have been reported, some showing that DOM protects against metal toxicity and others showing the opposite. The present study was designed to study how the biogeochemical cycling of trace metals in the water column of coastal lagoons is influenced by these singular environmental events and how this affects the incorporation of metals by the primary producers, in this case, microalgae, with particular focus on the effect of dissolved organic matter on metal biouptake. The proposed work combines field sampling and analytical work in the Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain). This project will substantially contribute to widen our knowledge about the behaviour of metals in coastal areas and to determine how the presence of DOM affects their toxicity

An extensive K-bentonite as an indicator of a super-eruption in northern Iberia 477 My ago

Zircon and monazite ID-TIMS U-Pb dating of four Lower Ordovician altered ash-fall tuff beds (K-Bentonites) in NW Iberia provided coetaneous ages of 477.5±1, 477±1.3 Ma, 477.2±1.1 Ma and 477.3±1 Ma, with a pooled concordia age of 477.2±0.74 Ma. A conservative estimation of the volume and mass of the studied K-bentonite beds (using data from the Cantabrian Zone) returns a minimum volume for the preserved deposits of ca. 37.5 km3 (Volcanic Explosivity Index - VEI = 6, Colossal). When considering other putative equivalent beds in other parts of Iberia and neighbouring realms the volume of ejecta associated to this event would make it reach the Supervolcanic-Apocalyptic status (VEI=8, >1000 km3). Contrary to most cases of this kind of gargantuan eruption events, the studied magmatic event took place in relation to continental margin extension and thinning and not to plate convergence. We speculate that a geochronologically coincident large caldera event observed in the geological record of NW Iberia could be ground zero of this super-eruption

Обширные отложения K-бентонитов как индикатор супервзрыва в северной Иберии на уровне 477 миллионов лет назад

Zircon and monazite ID-TIMS U-Pb dating of four Lower Ordovician altered ash-fall tuff beds (K-Bentonites) in NW Iberia provided coetaneous ages of 477.5±1, 477±1.3 Ma, 477.2±1.1 Ma and 477.3±1 Ma, with a pooled concordia age of 477.2±0.74 Ma. A conservative estimation of the volume and mass of the studied K-bentonite beds (using data from the Cantabrian Zone) returns a minimum volume for the preserved deposits of ca. 37.5 km3 (Volcanic Explosivity Index - VEI = 6, Colossal). When considering other putative equivalent beds in other parts of Iberia and neighboring realms the volume of ejecta associated to this event would make it reach the Supervolcanic-Apocalyptic status (VEI=8, >1000 km3). Contrary to most cases of this kind of gargantuan eruption events, the studied magmatic event took place in relation to continental margin extension and thinning and not to plate convergence. We speculate that a geochronologically coincident large caldera event observed in the geological record of NW Iberia could be ground zero of this super-eruption

COPPER AND LEAD COMPLEXATION BY DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER IN MAR MENOR COASTAL LAGOON

Mar Menor coastal lagoon is a shallow system with a reduced exchange with the open sea, that is affected by several anthropogenic pressures, mainly agriculture and mining. The mining sierra of Cartagena-La Unión has been historically discharging mining waste rich in heavy metals in the south area of Mar Menor, resulting in high metal concentrations in sediments (García and Muñoz-Vera., 2015). The nutrients reaching the lagoon, together with the high temperatures, also provoke phytoplankton blooms that lead to high concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM). It is well known that total metal concentrations are not good predictors of their bioavailability, and metal speciation should be taken into account. The presence of ligands, such as DOM in the water, may form metal-DOM complexes and protect against the deleterious effects of metals. The present study aims at studying the effect of DOM on the speciation of dissolved metals (Cu and Pb) in Mar Menor waters. With that aim, filtered water was sampled at five sites in Mar Menor lagoon at several sampling periods. Metal concentration was analysed by ICP-MS with Argon gas dilution, DOC was analysed in a carbon-specific infrared gas analyser and optical characterization of DOM was obtained from absorbance and fluorescence spectra. Complexiometric titrations of Cu and Pb were performed by anodic stripping voltammetry following Durán and Nieto (2011). Preliminary results show that Cu and Pb concentrations in Mar Menor waters are higher than in other coastal areas, especially in the south area of the lagoon, reaching concentrations of tens of nanomolar. DOC concentrations are also very high in Mar Menor waters, leading to high complexation capacities for Cu, therefore protecting aquatic biota from the deleterious effects of Cu. Pb, on the contrary, is poorly complexed by DOM, and almost all dissolved Pb is present in inorganic forms

Revisión bioestratigráfica de las pizarras del Ordovícico Medio en el noroeste de España (zonas Cantábrica, Asturoccidental-leonesa y Centroibérica septentrional)

A complete review of more than one hundred Middle Ordovician fossil localities, distributed within the north western part of the Hesperian Massif, shows that the sedimentation of the dark shales (Luarca Fo rmation and equivalents) that overlie Arenig quartzites with Cruziana (the 'Armorican Quartzite' facies) was not as uniform as it has been supposed for the whole NW Spain. These shales were mainly deposited during the Oretanian in the West Asturian-Leonese Zone and in nort h e rn Central-Iberian Zone (Domain of the Ollo de Sapo Antiform). In these zones, the top of the unit is close to the Oretanian/Dobrotivian boundary, without any fossils with proved Dobrotivian age. In the Cantabrian Zone, clay sedimentation started in the latest Oretanian and continued during the Dobrotivian. Several local or regional stratigraphic gaps are proposed and characterized for the whole study area. In addition, the most recent paleog e ographical reconstructions proposed are discussed, in accordance with new paleoecological and paleobiog e ographical data. These data indicate that sedimentation took place in open shelf areas, relative ly deeper than in the southern Central Iberian shelf, and with trough areas where some mesopelagic elements are recorded. We identified a total of 97 different fossil taxa (67 from Oretanian rocks and 45 from Dobrotivian rocks), remarkable among which are the first known appearance of certain trilobites and ostracodes, the latest record of other taxa, and also the presence of some taxa in common with Avalonia and Baltica, that were previously unknown from any area of SW Europe

Identification of two new intimin types in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Stool specimens of patients with diarrhea or other gastrointestinal alterations who were admitted to Xeral-Calde Hospital (Lugo, Spain) were analyzed for the prevalence of typical and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). Atypical EPEC strains (eae+ bfp–) were detected in 105 (5.2%) of 2015 patients, whereas typical EPEC strains (eae+ bfp+) were identified in only five (0.2%) patients. Atypical EPEC strains were (after Salmonella) the second most frequently recovered enteropathogenic bacteria. In this study, 110 EPEC strains were characterized. The strains belonged to 43 O serogroups and 69 O:H serotypes, including 44 new serotypes not previously reported among human EPEC. However, 29% were of one of three serogroups (O26, O51, and O145) and 33% belonged to eight serotypes (O10:H–, O26:H11, O26:H–, O51:H49, O123:H19, O128:H2, O145:H28, and O145:H–). Only 14 (13%) could be assigned to classical EPEC serotypes. Fifteen intimin types, namely, α1 (6 strains), α2 (4 strains), β1 (34 strains), ξR/β2 (6 strains), γ1 (13 strains), γ2/θ (16 strains), δ/k (5 strains), ε1 (9 strains), νR/ε2 (5 strains), ζ (6 strains), ι1 (1 strain), μR/ι2 (1 strain), νB (1 strain), ξB (1 strain), and ο (2 strains), were detected among the 110 EPEC strains, but none of the strains was positive for intimin types μ1, μ2, λ, or μB. In addition, in atypical EPEC strains of serotypes O10:H–, O84:H–, and O129:H–, two new intimin genes (eae-νB and eae-ο) were identified. These genes showed less than 95% nucleotide sequence identity with existing intimin types. Phylogenetic analysis revealed six groups of closely related intimin genes: (i) α1, α2, ζ, νB, and ο; (ii) ι1 and μR/ι2; (iii) β1, ξR/β2B, δ/β2O, and κ; (iv) ε1, ξB, η1,η2, and νR/ε2; (v) γ1, μB, γ2, and θ; and (vi) λ. These results indicate that atypical EPEC strains belonging to large number of serotypes and with different intimin types might be frequently isolated from human clinical stool samples in Spain. [Int Microbiol 2006; 9(2):103-110

Virulence genes and intimin types of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from cattle and beef products in Argentina

A total of 153 Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates from feces of cattle and beef products (hamburgers and ground beef) in Argentina were characterized in this study. PCR showed that 22 (14%) isolates carried stx1 genes, 113 (74%) possessed stx2 genes and 18 (12%) both stx1 and stx2. Intimin (eae), enterohemolysin (ehxA), and STEC autoagglutinating adhesin (saa) virulence genes were detected in 36 (24%), 70 (46%) and in 34 (22%) of the isolates, respectively. None of 34 saa-positive isolates carried the gene eae, and 31 were ehxA-positive. Fourteen (7 of serotype O26:H11 and 4 of serotype O5:H-) isolates had intimin β1, 16 isolates possessed intimin γ1 (11 of serotype O145:Hand 5 of serotype O157:H7), 5 isolates had intimin type ε1 (4 of serotypes O103:Hand O103:H2), and one isolate O111:H- showed intimin type θ/γ2. Although the 153 STEC isolates belonged to 63 different seropathotypes, only 12 accounted for 58% of isolates. Seropathotype ONT:H- stx2 (18 isolates) was the most common, followed by O171:H2 stx2 (12 isolates), etc. The majority (84%) of STEC isolates belonged to serotypes previously found in human STEC and 56% to serotypes associated with STEC isolated from patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Thus, this study confirms that cattle are a major reservoir of STEC pathogenic for humans. To our knowledge, this is the first study that described the presence of saa gene in STEC of serotypes O20:H19, O39:H49, O74:H28, O79:H19, O116:H21, O120:H19, O141:H7, O141:H8, O174:H21, and ONT:H21. The serotypes O120:H19 and O185:H7 were not previously reported in bovine STEC. [Int Microbiol 2004; 7(4):269-276

Characteristics of the Shiga-toxin-producing enteroaggregative Escherichia coli O104:H4 German outbreak strain and of STEC strains isolated in Spain

A Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strain belonging to serotype O104:H4, phylogenetic group B1 and sequence type ST678, with virulence features common to the enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) pathotype, was reported as the cause of the recent 2011 outbreak in Germany. The outbreak strain was determined to carry several virulence factors of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) and to be resistant to a wide range of antibiotics. There are only a few reports of serotype O104:H4, which is very rare in humans and has never been detected in animals or food. Several research groups obtained the complete genome sequence of isolates of the German outbreak strain as well as the genome sequences of EAEC of serotype O104:H4 strains from Africa. Those findings suggested that horizontal genetic transfer allowed the emergence of the highly virulent Shiga-toxin-producing enteroaggregative E. coli (STEAEC) O104:H4 strain responsible for theoutbreak in Germany. Epidemiologic investigations supported a linkage between the outbreaks in Germany and France and traced their origin to fenugreek seeds imported from Africa. However, there has been no isolation of the causative strain O104:H4 from any of the samples of fenugreek seeds analyzed. Following the German outbreak, we conducted a large sampling to analyze the presence of STEC, EAEC, and other types of diarrheagenic E. coli strains in Spanish vegetables. During June and July 2011, 200 vegetable samples from different origins were analyzed. All were negative for the virulent serotype O104:H4 and only one lettuce sample (0.6%) was positive for a STEC strain of serotype O146:H21 (stx1, stx2), considered of low virulence. Despite the single positive case, the hygienic and sanitary quality of Spanish vegetables proved to be quite good. In 195 of the 200 samples (98%), <10 colony-forming units (cfu) of E. coli per gram were detected, and the microbiological levels of all samples were satisfactory (<100 cfu/g). The samples were also negative for other pathotypes of diarrheagenic E. coli (EAEC, ETEC, tEPEC, and EIEC). Consistent with data from other countries, STEC belonging to serotypeO157:H7 and other serotypes have been isolated from beef, milk, cheese, and domestic (cattle, sheep, goats) and wild (deer, boar, fox) animals in Spain. Nevertheless, STEC outbreaks in Spain are rare

La secuencia magmática Jurásico Superior-Cretácico Superior en la Cordillera Central, República Dominicana: sección cortical de un arco-isla intraoceánico.

The Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous magmatic sequence exposed in the central-western sector of the Cordillera Central Dominican Republic, can be divided in five main lithostratigraphic units formed by plutonio, volcanic, volcanoclastic and sedimentary rocks. All rocks have suffered very heterogeneous ductile deformation and low-grade metamorphism with magmatic textures often preserved. From bottom to top, this magmatic sequence is made up of:: (1) Loma Caribe serpentinized peridotites, (2) the N-MORB volcano-plutonic assemblage of El Aguacate, of ophiolitic affinity, (3) the Duarte Complex oceanic plateau, (4) the arc-related volcanic and volcano-sedimentary sequence of the Tireo Formation, intruded by the Loma de Cabrera Batolith, and (5) the massive basaltic flows of Peña Blanca y Nalga de Maco. It is suggested that the magmatic sequence represents the crustal section of an intra-oceanic island arc, which was built onto a proto-caribbean oceanic crust and an overlying Lower Cretaceous oceanic plateau. The sequence is overlain by Upper Cretaceous basalts of the Caribbean oceanic plateau and limestones