Morphological variability of Cardaminopsis halleri (L.) Hayek from selected habitats in the Silesian Upland (Southern Poland)

Cardaminopsis halleri, a known hyperaccumulator, shows considerable morphological variability in the territories with a high level of heavy metal (Zn, Cd, Pb) pollution. Therefore, the presented studies were designed as an attempt to explain the scope and causes of observed variability. Plants from Cardaminopsis halleri populations was collected in the vegetation seasons of 2003 and 2004 in the vicinity of two sources of zinc and lead pollution and from two control localities. For each individual, 15 quantitative variables (traits) and 12 qualitative ones were analysed. Statistically significant differences were shown for qualitative and quantitative traits, attesting to high morphological variability between the investigated populations of Cardaminopsis halleri. Populations exposed to strong heavy metal pollution were characterised by significantly smaller size of rosette and stem leaves in comparison to control populations. Chromosome numbers of all individuals in the studied populations is the same (2n = 16), which proves that the observed differences are not a result of polyploidy. The populations from Bieszczady (control localities) differ significantly from the populations from Silesia with regard to a number of qualitative and quantitative characteristics. High heavy metal pollution is one of important factors which influence the morphological variability of investigated Cardaminopsis halleri populations

Quantitative determination of minerals and anthropogenic particles in some Polish peat occurrences using a novel SEM point-counting method

A method is proposed for determining the mineral composition of peat using scanning electron microscope. In an illustrative example, five groups of particles occurring in amounts of >0.05 % are distinguished in peat from Puścizna Mała bog in the Carpathian foreland, Poland. These are spheroidal aluminosilicate particles (SAP), feldspars, nondescript aluminosilicates (mainly clays), silica (quartz and opaline silica), and Fe(hydro)oxides. Two more site-specific groups (barite and ZnS) are distinguished in highly polluted fens (Bagno Bruch and Bagno Mikołeska) near a zinc smelter in Upper Silesia. At Bagno Bruch, peat contents of predominantly authigenic ZnS microspheroids range up to 1.1 %. SAP originating from coal-burning power stations account for maximum concentrations of <21–39 % of the inorganic fraction in the studied mires. SAP concentrations vary with depth, and mean spheroid diameters with distance from emission sources. A distinct feature of SAP is their common enrichment in Ti what questions the use of Ti as a proxy for soil dust in fly ash polluted bogs. As amounts of anthropogenic magnetic spherules, less abundant than SAP in all mires, relate to water table level position, they are unsuitable as tracers of air pollution. The proposed method is recommended for application with peats having ash contents > ~4 %

Urban Hourly Water Demand Prediction Using Human Mobility Data

The efficient management of a water supply system requires precise water demand forecasts as inputs. This paper compares existing prediction methods and improves their performance by integrating human-related factors with water consumption in an urban area. Furthermore, a framework for processing and transforming mobility data into time-series is presented. Results show that using human mobility data improves forecasting accuracy reaching 87.6%

Heavy metal accumulation in two peat bogs from Southern Poland

The dynamic changes in selected heavy metal concentrations were analyzed in two ombrotrophic peat bogs from southern Poland: Puścizna Mała (PK) and Puścizna Krauszowska (PM). The highest contents of Pb and Zn occur at the top of profiles examined: 115.36 mg/kg (PM1), 90.61 mg/kg (PM2), 182.40 mg/kg (PK1), 121.68 mg/kg (PK2) and 127.43 mg/kg (PM1), 89.73 mg/kg (PM2), 170 mg/kg (PK1), 130.4 mg/kg (PK2), respectively. Concentrations of copper are similar to those of local soils varying from 9.4 to 12.8 mg/kg. Cadmium strongly varies with depth, which indicates distinct mobility of this element. Two peaks of elevated Fe concentrations are observed at the top and bottom of the Puścizna Mała profile, while the maximum in Puścizna Krauszowska was at the top of the peat bog. The Ti content distinctly varies with depth and correlates with the ash content (R2 = 0.91-0.99). The strongest and positive correlation is observed between Zn-Pb and Ti-Pb contents. The significant differences of metal concentrations are noted between the profiles, which is probably connected with a rate of peat accumulation and plant composition of the profiles investigated, as well as with their disturbance by human activity

Geographical drivers of geochemical and mineralogical evolution of Motianling peatland (Northeast China) exposed to different sources of rare earth elements and Pb, Nd, and Sr isotopes

Geochemical shifts triggered by surface runoff and atmospheric fallout in a Chinese peatland were investigated by using Pb, Sr, and Nd, REE and by SEMmineralogical analysis.Motianling peatland (Northeast China) is located at 1670ma.s.l., near the China–Mongolia border. Based on division of profile into two phases of different trophy, the totalΣREE value determined for the minerotrophic part of the profile (from 62 to 46 cm) varied from 67 to 31 mg·kg−1 and mineralogical analysis revealed the occurrence ofweathered volcanic rocks, supported by a high εNd value (−3.26). After the transition from minerotrophic to more ombrotrophic conditions, the peatland became independent of the local bedrock weathering, which was manifested by a much lower concentration of REE (7–20 mg·kg−1) and lower εNd values (−7.37; −8.11). Moreover, PAAS-normalized pattern of REE distribution in the bottom part revealed the highest Eu/Eu* value (1.24), as well as a slight enrichment in Eu. The anthropogenic effect was visible from 1964, during which period the spheroidal aluminosilicate particles (SAP), produced by coal-fired power-plant activity, appeared for the first time, followed by an abrupt decrease in 206Pb/207Pb isotopic signature to 1.167. The dimensions of SAP (~1.5 μm), as well as the time of first appearance, indicated long-range transport. The REE ratios obtained in this study are characteristic of the eolian deposition signature, which is like the Gobi and northern Chinese deserts. The anthropogenic activity was manifested by a slight enrichment in Gd during reduced delivery of natural dust. Both, North Chinese and Asian part of the Russian industry supply anthropogenic dust. Topography, wind direction, and patterns of precipitation, as well as the initial phases of Asian industrial development, are the most important drivers promoting the deposition of chemical elements

Hydrological dynamics and fire history of the last 1300years in western Siberia reconstructed from a high-resolution, ombrotrophic peat archive

International audienceSiberian peatlands provide records of past changes in the continental climate of Eurasia. We analyzed a core from Mukhrino mire in western Siberia to reconstruct environmental change in this region over the last 1300 years. The pollen analysis revealed little variation of local pine-birch forests. A testate amoebae transfer function was used to generate a quantitative water-table reconstruction; pollen, plant macrofossils, and charcoal were analyzed to reconstruct changes in vegetation and fire activity. The study revealed that Mukhrino mire was wet until the Little Ice Age (LIA), when drought was recorded. Dry conditions during the LIA are consistent with other studies from central and eastern Europe, and with the pattern of carbon accumulation across the Northern Hemisphere. A significant increase in fire activity between ca. AD 1975 and 1990 may be associated with the development of the nearby city of Khanty-Mansiysk, as well as with the prevailing positive Arctic Oscillation

Response to Merritts et al. (2023): The Anthropocene is complex. Defining it is not

Merritts et al. (2023) misrepresent Paul Crutzen’s Anthropocene concept as encompassing all significant anthropogenic impacts, extending back many millennia. Crutzen's definition reflects massively enhanced, much more recent human impacts that transformed the Earth System away from the stability of Holocene conditions. His concept of an epoch (hence the ‘cene’ suffix) is more consistent with the strikingly distinct sedimentary record accumulated since the mid-20th century. Waters et al. (2022) highlighted a Great Acceleration Event Array (GAEA) of stratigraphic event markers that are indeed diverse and complex but also tightly clustered around 1950 CE, allowing ultra-high resolution characterization and correlation of a clearly recognisable Anthropocene chronostratigraphic base. The ‘Anthropocene event’ offered by Merritts et al., following Gibbard et al. (2021, 2022), is a highly nuanced concept that obfuscates the transformative human impact of the chronostratigraphic Anthropocene. Waters et al. (2022) restricted the meaning of the term ‘event’ in geology to conform with usual Quaternary practice and improve its utility. They simultaneously recognized an evidence-based Anthropogenic Modification Episode that is more explicitly defined than the highly interpretive interdisciplinary ‘Anthropocene event’ of Gibbard et al. (2021, 2022). The advance of science is best served through clearly developed concepts supported by tightly circumscribed terminology; indeed, improvements to stratigraphy over recent decades have been achieved through increasingly precise definitions, especially for chronostratigraphic units, and not by retaining vague terminology

Heavy metal accumulation in two peat bogs from southern Poland

The dy namic changes in se lected heavy metal con cen tra tions were an a lyzed in two ombrotrophic peat bogs from south ern Po land: Puoecizna Ma³a (PK) and Puoecizna Krauszowska (PM). The high est con tents of Pb and Zn oc cur at the top of pro files ex am ined: 115.36 mg/kg (PM1), 90.61 mg/kg (PM2), 182.40 mg/kg (PK1), 121.68 mg/kg (PK2) and 127.43 mg/kg (PM1), 89.73 mg/kg (PM2), 170 mg/kg (PK1), 130.4 mg/kg (PK2), re spec tively. Con cen tra tions of cop - per are sim i lar to those of lo cal soils vary ing from 9.4 to 12.8 mg/kg. Cad mium strongly var ies with depth, which in di - cates dis tinct mo bil ity of this el e ment. Two peaks of el e vated Fe con cen tra tions are ob served at the top and bot tom of the Puoecizna Ma³a pro file, while the max i mum in Puoecizna Krauszowska was at the top of the peat bog. The Ti con tent dis tinctly var ies with depth and cor re lates with the ash con tent (R2 = 0.91–0.99). The stron gest and pos i tive cor re la tion is ob served be tween Zn-Pb and Ti-Pb con tents. The sig nif i cant dif fer ences of metal con cen tra tions are noted be tween the pro files, which is prob a bly con nected with a rate of peat ac cu mu la tion and plant com po si tion of the pro files in ves - ti gated, as well as with their dis tur bance by hu man ac tiv ity

Influence of transboundary transport of trace elements on mountain peat geochemistry (Sudetes, Central Europe)

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