Radioactive trace in semi natural grassland. Effect of 40K in soil and potential remediation

The uptake of radionuclides by plant roots constitutes the main pathway for the migration of radiocaesium from soil to humans, via food chain. In this study we assessed radiocaesium uptake by plant in order to piece together information on factors affecting uptake processes, particularly K supply and differential uptake among different plant species. Soil contaminated by the Chernobyl accident and forage from a semi-natural alpine grassland, situated in Tarvisio , Italy , were sampled during 1999. Under field conditions, 137Cs uptake for Graminaceae and Taraxacum officinale seem to behave in a comparable way. Higher 40K soil activity concentration leads to a lower 137Cs plant uptake, suggesting an inhibitory pattern of potassium on radiocaesium plants uptake. For forage samples, a similar tendency was observed. We analyzed the influence of the ratio of 137Cs/ 40K in soil on 137Cs plant uptake. Under field conditions, the ratio observed varied in a range of 0.5 to 1.3. For most of the species, at higher 40K soil concentration a lower 137Cs uptake was observed, a fact that reflects the resulting effect of the complexity of factors controlling ion absorption from soil

Radioactive trace in semi natural grassland. Effect of 40K in soil and potential remediation

The uptake of radionuclides by plant roots constitutes the main pathway for the migration of radiocaesium from soil to humans, via food chain. In this study we assessed radiocaesium uptake by plant in order to piece together information on factors affecting uptake processes, particularly K supply and differential uptake among different plant species. Soil contaminated by the Chernobyl accident and forage from a semi-natural alpine grassland, situated in Tarvisio, Italy, were sampled during 1999. Under field conditions, 137 Cs uptake for Graminaceae and Taraxacum officinale seem to behave in a comparable way. Higher 40K soil activity concentration leads to a lower 137Cs plant uptake, suggesting an inhibitory pattern of potassium on radiocaesium plants uptake. For forage samples, a similar tendency was observed. We analyzed the influence of the ratio of 137Cs/ 40K in soil on 137Cs plant uptake. Under field conditions, the ratio observed varied in a range of 0.5 to 1.3. For most of the species, at higher 40K soil concentration a lower 137Cs uptake was observed, a fact that reflects the resulting effect of the complexity of factors controlling ion absorption from soil

Educación Ambiental basada en la transmisión de saberes. Prevención de problemas ambientales futuros y salud

  La actividad de extensión universitaria realizada articula la docencia de cursos de grado (Ecología y Educación Ambiental, Profesorado en Biología) y temáticas de investigación sobre ecología aplicada, transfiriendo e intercambiando con la sociedad saberes locales y regionales. La investigación en “Ecología de bosques nativos del Chaco Arido”, conduce a una mayor comprensión y conocimiento del sistema que nos permite aportar información y solución a diferentes problemáticas planteadas por la sociedad. El objetivo propuesto fue mejorar la calidad y equidad en la educación para hacer frente a la desigualdad desde sectores rurales y del interior de la provincia. Esta práctica se desarrolló en Pizarras de Bajo de Véliz (Centro Educativo Escuela Granadero M.Rodríguez, CE-Esc.Nro.409), mediante convocatoria SPU (Res.97/03), posteriormente con proyectos de extensión (UNSL) y proyecto financiado por el Fondo para las Américas. Experiencias educativas desarrolladas: a).-Capacitación. Se propuso utilizar el bosque nativo como laboratorio didáctico. Cursos: Ecosistemas y Paisajes. Uso turístico-científico. I.-Aspectos Ecológicos y Florísticos. II.-Aspectos Paisajísticos y Faunísticos. Se tuvo un fuerte impacto regional, aprobaron 110 participantes, (guardaparques -Parque Bajo de Véliz y Reserva El Rincón-, guías de turismo, técnicos municipales y docentes de diferentes CE). Esta actividad permitió aportar experiencia y conocimientos universitarios brindando herramientas para revalorizar el entorno y poder mejorar la calidad educativa. b).-Transmisión de saberes a alumnos y pobladores para mejorar su calidad de vida, particularmente de ambientes rurales. Huerta orgánica. Propagación de especies nativas. Realizamos 8 talleres con alumnos (CE-Esc.Nro.409), adecuando las actividades a los distintos niveles. Estas fueron utilizadas por los docentes como Trabajo Práctico de contenidos curriculares. La construcción del invernadero y las actividades asociadas permitió trascender el ámbito académico, propiciando el interés de los alumnos para obtención de recursos familiares. c).-Salud y rescate de oficio: Carpintería. Se realizaron 10 talleres, participando 30 alumnos (CE-Esc.Nro.409); un 50% de las reuniones fueron acompañados por padres y Guardaparques. d).-Jornadas de Concientización Ambiental Urbana (2005-2006-2007) y Rural (2008–2009). Se concientizó a diferentes actores sociales sobre problemáticas ambientales y de salud con un enfoque urbano, rural y áreas protegidas. Impacto: si cada asistente lleva la información abordada a su casa ó los docentes a otros CE, se logra una amplificación significativa. En el marco de los proyectos de extensión ejecutados se concretó una transferencia de conocimientos y una interacción enriquecedora con la sociedad, quienes revalorizaron su entorno, permitiéndonos restituir a la sociedad los beneficios de la formación recibida en la universidad pública

Radioactive trace in semi natural grassland. Effect of 40K in soil and potential remediation

The uptake of radionuclides by plant roots constitutes the main pathway for the migration of radiocaesium from soil to humans, via food chain. In this study we assessed radiocaesium uptake by plant in order to piece together information on factors affecting uptake processes, particularly K supply and differential uptake among different plant species. Soil contaminated by the Chernobyl accident and forage from a semi-natural alpine grassland, situated in Tarvisio , Italy , were sampled during 1999. Under field conditions, 137Cs uptake for Graminaceae and Taraxacum officinale seem to behave in a comparable way. Higher 40K soil activity concentration leads to a lower 137Cs plant uptake, suggesting an inhibitory pattern of potassium on radiocaesium plants uptake. For forage samples, a similar tendency was observed. We analyzed the influence of the ratio of 137Cs/ 40K in soil on 137Cs plant uptake. Under field conditions, the ratio observed varied in a range of 0.5 to 1.3. For most of the species, at higher 40K soil concentration a lower 137Cs uptake was observed, a fact that reflects the resulting effect of the complexity of factors controlling ion absorption from soil

Genetic differentiation of Rosa rubiginosa L. in two different Argentinean ecoregions

We analyzed genetic differentiation of Rosa rubiginosa by RAPD from populations growing in two Argentinean ecoregions, Chaco Serrano and Patagonian Steppe. Leaf material was collected during the spring and summer of 2006. UPGMA dendrogram and PCoA clearly suggest a geographical differentiation of the provenances of R. rubiginosa populations. AMOVA analyses revealed high genetic variation within populations (71%) and low variation between populations (29%), in agreement with values estimated by the Shannon-Weaver index. Genetic differentiation between populations estimated by AMOVA was φPT = 0.29 (P < 0.001). Nei's Gst (0.2205) was lower for interpopulation variation. The low interpopulation value obtained suggests genetic homogeneity between the populations. The presence of specific monomorphic bands accounts for the genetic differentiation between populations. The high percentage of within-population genetic diversity suggests the introduction of genetic variation into both ecoregions. From the present results we can conclude that we observed two independently established populations with high similarity between them and a strong intrapopulation differentiation. The empty niche hypothesis for explainging invasion success might explain the invasiveness of R. rubiginosa in Argentinean ecoregions.Fil: Aguirre, Gerardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Ciuffo, Gladys Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Ciuffo, Liliana Eugenia del Carmen. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentin