L'impacte ambiental del Pla Hidrològic en el tram final de l'Ebre

En aquest article es presenta una síntesi de les alteracions que produeixen les detraccions d’aigua dels rius sobre el cicle de l’aigua i ecosistemes associats. En concret, s’analitzen els impactes ambientals que pot ocasionar el transvasament d’aigua de l’Ebre, previst en el Pla Hidrològic Nacional, sobre els hàbitats i biotes fluvials, la desembocadura. l’ecosistema marí i els usos actuals del medi. Així mateix, es valoren les alternatives i els estudis necessaris per a minimitzar l’ afecció.En este artículo se presenta una síntesis de las alteraciones que producen las detracciones de agua de los ríos sobre el ciclo del agua y ecosistemas asociados. En concreto, se analizan los impactos ambientales que puede ocasionar el trasvase de agua de la cuenca del Ebro, previsto en el Plan Hidrológico Nacional, sobre los hábitats y biotas fluviales, la desembocadura, el ecosistema marino y los usos actuales del medio. Asimismo, se valoran las alternativas y los estudios necesarios para minimizar la afección.This article provides a synthesis of the modifications caused by river water extractions to the water cycle and associated ecosystems. Specifically, it analyses the potential environmental impacts of water transfer in the Ebro basin, as anticipated under the Hydrological Plan, on the river habitats and biotas, the river mouth, the marine ecosystem and the current uses of the environment. Alternatives and studies required to minimise the impact are also presented

Helios modulates the maturation of a CA1 neuronal subpopulation required for spatial memory formation

Currently, molecular, electrophysiological and structural studies delineate several neural subtypes in the hippocampus. However, the precise developmental mechanisms that lead to this diversity are still unknown. Here we show that alterations in a concrete hippocampal neuronal subpopulation during development specifically affect hippocampal-dependent spatial memory. We observed that the genetic deletion of the transcription factor Helios in mice, which is specifically expressed in developing hippocampal calbindin-positive CA1 pyramidal neurons (CB-CA1-PNs), induces adult alterations affecting spatial memory. In the same mice, CA3-CA1 synaptic plasticity and spine density and morphology in adult CB-CA1-PNs were severely compromised. RNAseq experiments in developing hippocampus identified an aberrant increase on the Visinin-like protein 1 (VSNL1) expression in the hippocampi devoid of Helios. This aberrant increase on VSNL1 levels was localized in the CB-CA1-PNs. Normalization of VSNL1 levels in CB-CA1-PNs devoid of Helios rescued their spine loss in vitro. Our study identifies a novel and specific developmental molecular pathway involved in the maturation and function of a CA1 pyramidal neuronal subtype

L'impacte ambiental del Pla Hidrològic en el tram final de l'Ebre

En aquest article es presenta una síntesi de les alteracions que produeixen les detraccions d’aigua dels rius sobre el cicle de l’aigua i ecosistemes associats. En concret, s’analitzen els impactes ambientals que pot ocasionar el transvasament d’aigua de l’Ebre, previst en el Pla Hidrològic Nacional, sobre els hàbitats i biotes fluvials, la desembocadura. l’ecosistema marí i els usos actuals del medi. Així mateix, es valoren les alternatives i els estudis necessaris per a minimitzar l’ afecció.En este artículo se presenta una síntesis de las alteraciones que producen las detracciones de agua de los ríos sobre el ciclo del agua y ecosistemas asociados. En concreto, se analizan los impactos ambientales que puede ocasionar el trasvase de agua de la cuenca del Ebro, previsto en el Plan Hidrológico Nacional, sobre los hábitats y biotas fluviales, la desembocadura, el ecosistema marino y los usos actuales del medio. Asimismo, se valoran las alternativas y los estudios necesarios para minimizar la afección.This article provides a synthesis of the modifications caused by river water extractions to the water cycle and associated ecosystems. Specifically, it analyses the potential environmental impacts of water transfer in the Ebro basin, as anticipated under the Hydrological Plan, on the river habitats and biotas, the river mouth, the marine ecosystem and the current uses of the environment. Alternatives and studies required to minimise the impact are also presented

Procambarus clarkii as a bioindicator of heavy metal pollution sources in the lower Ebro River and Delta

In the Ebro River basin, point and diffuse pollution of heavy metals stems mainly from industry and agriculture. Bioaccumulation patterns were examined under different pollution sources (point and diffuse) using levels of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) in abdominal muscle tissue of Procambarus clarkii. P. clarkii captured under point source effects presented the highest concentrations of Hg, Pb and As; and were related with distance to the source of industrial waste sediments. Mean Hg levels in crayfish exposed to point sources of metals significantly exceeded legal allowed values established by the European Union legislation. In the Ebro Delta, high levels of As, Cr, Cu and Zn were associated with traditional agriculture activity (diffuse pollution) as well. These results demonstrate the potential of P. clarkii to bioaccumulate heavy metals from both point and diffuse sources and hence potentially transfer these metals to higher trophic levels.This study was carried out with the financial support of Spanish Ministry of Environment and the Catalan Water Agency (ACA), Government of Catalonia (MOBITROF project) as well to Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, research project CGL2006-01487, Plan National I+D+I). We thank Lluís Llornet, David Mateu, Mireia San Lorenzo and Melissa Faria for field and laboratory assistance. Dr. Katherine Sharpe helped to improve the English and provided useful comments on a previous version of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

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Reptes i propostes per a un sistema alimentari productiu, sostenible, resilient, saludable, responsable i d’accés universal a Cataluny