SchussenAktivplus: reduction of micropollutants and of potentially pathogenic bacteria for further water quality improvement of the river Schussen, a tributary of Lake Constance, Germany

The project focuses on the efficiency of combined technologies to reduce the release of micropollutants and bacteria into surface waters via sewage treatment plants of different size and via stormwater overflow basins of different types. As a model river in a highly populated catchment area, the river Schussen and, as a control, the river Argen, two tributaries of Lake Constance, Southern Germany, are under investigation in this project. The efficiency of the different cleaning technologies is monitored by a wide range of exposure and effect analyses including chemical and microbiological techniques as well as effect studies ranging from molecules to communities

Le maïs aurait-il voyagé hors du continent américain avant 1493 ? Mise en évidence à Java central (Indonésie) grâce à l’étude pollinique de sédiments de l’Holocène supérieur

Lors de l’étude palynologique de trois sondages proches de sites archéologiques dans les Gunung Sewu (Java, Indonésie) nous avons pu mettre en évidence l’apparition d’une céréale et sa mise en culture après brûlis. L’étude morphométrique et surtout de l’exine au MEB permettent de rapprocher le pollen de cette graminée fossile de celui du maïs. Notons de plus que ces gros grains de pollen de maïs se rencontrent sans discontinuité du moment de leur apparition jusqu’au sommet des sondages et qu’actuellement, dans cette région, la principale graminée cultivée est le maïs. Dans notre hypothèse, les datations obtenues pour la base de cette culture laissent supposer que celui-ci serait présent à Java avant la date admise pour son importation sur l’île par les Portugais.Chacornac-Rault Magali, Sémah Anne-Marie. Le maïs aurait-il voyagé hors du continent américain avant 1493 ? Mise en évidence à Java central (Indonésie) grâce à l’étude pollinique de sédiments de l’Holocène supérieur. In: Plantes et animaux voyageurs. Actes du 130e Congrès national des sociétés historiques et scientifiques, « Voyages et voyageurs », La Rochelle, 2005. Paris : Editions du CTHS, 2010. pp. 80-94. (Actes des congrès nationaux des sociétés historiques et scientifiques, 130-11

Impact of insecticide exposure on the predation activity of the European earwig Forficula auricularia

International audienceThe European earwig Forficula auricularia is an effective predator in apple orchards. It is therefore crucial to study whether insecticides affect this natural pest control agent. Predation activity, i.e., the number of aphids eaten in 24 h, was determined under laboratory conditions after exposure of fourth-instar nymphs and adult earwigs to widely used insecticides (acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, deltamethrin, and spinosad), which were applied at the normal application rates. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities were also measured as indicators of pesticide exposure. Predation activity decreased significantly in nymphs exposed to spinosad (62 %) and chlorpyrifos-ethyl (98 %) compared with controls. A similar response was found for both esterase activities. Spinosad had a stronger effect on AChE (-33 %) whereas chlorpyrifos-ethyl affected CbE activity preferentially (-59 %). Spinosad (20 % of controls), acetamiprid (28 %), and chlorpyrifos-ethyl (66 %) also significantly decreased the predation behavior of adult male but not female (5 to 40 %) earwigs. Adult AChE and CbE activities were also significantly reduced (28 to 67 % of controls) in pesticide-exposed earwigs. Our results suggest that earwigs should be included in the environmental risk assessment framework for authorization of newly marketed plant protection products. Their predation behavior appears to be a sensitive and complementary biomarker

Études palynologique et paléoenvironnementale de sondages holocènes dans les Gunung Sewu (Java, Indonésie) (reconstitution de l'environnement, impacts climatiques et anthropiques. Mise en évidence de la néolithisation)

Cette étude permet de mieux connaître la néolithisation de la région de Punung (Java) et d'évaluer les actions anthropiques sur l'environnement, les plantes exploitées et les modes de culture. Elle apporte grâce à l'analyse pollinique des informations sur la composition de la végétation et sur l'évolution du climat. Elle a été complétée par l'analyse phytolithique donnant des informations sur l'écologie des graminées et sur les plantes cultivées, et par l'analyse des microcharbons de bois montrant des phases d'incendies. On note ainsi pour l'activité de l'homme une culture de riz assez ancienne, l'action de préserver et d'aider les plantes utiles, et plus récemment la mise en culture d'une graminée après brûlis (maïs?). La complémentarité des analyses utilisées menées dans des marais non loin de sites archéologiques livrent des résultats importants sur l'environnement et le climat contemporains d'une activité humaine émergeante et surtout sur les pratiques agricoles néolithiquesThe aim of this study is to better understand the neolithisation of Punung area (Java), to apprehend the anthropic actions on the environment, to know the exploitation of plants and the modes of culture. This study shows with pollen analysis some information in the landscape composition and in the climatic parameters. This analysis is completed by charcoal analysis, which highlights fire stage, and phytolith analysis, which specifies Poaceae ecology, and the presence of plants that are economically important. At the anthropic level, we note an old rice culture, the conservation, selection and the development aid of useful plants and more recently the bringing under graminaceous cultivation (maize?) after clearing with fire. The complementarity of the analyses carried out in swamp sediments, not far from archaeological sites, deliver important results on knowledge of the environment and the contemporary climate of an emerging anthropic activity and on Neolithic agricultural practicesPARIS-Museum Hist.Naturelle (751052304) / SudocSudocFranceF

Tissue distribution, characterization and in vitro inhibition of B-esterases in the earwig Forficula auricularia

International audienceTrue acetylcholinesterase located in the head as a membrane-bound enzyme in earwig. High carboxylesterase isoenzymes could play important role in detoxification. In vitro strongest inhibitory effect of chlorpyrifos-oxon on carboxylesterase. Different pesticides effects on male and female for carboxylesterase but not acetylcholinesterase. Carboxylesterase could be complementary biomarkers of pesticides exposure in earwig. a b s t r a c t Earwigs are important natural enemies of numerous pests in pome fruit orchards worldwide. Studying the effects of agricultural practices on these biological control agents is important for understanding its vulnerability in the field. The aim of this study was to characterize the B-esterase activities in the European earwig Forficula auricularia and to evaluate in vitro its sensitivity to organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was mainly measured with 1.5 mM acetylthi-ocholine as the substrate in the microsomal fraction of earwig heads (70% of total AChE activity). Carboxylesterase (CbE) activities were measured with three substrates [5 mM 4-nitrophenyl acetate (4-NPA), 1 mM 4-nitrophenyl valerate (4-NPV), and 2 mM a-naphtyl acetate (a-NA)] to examine different isoenzymes, which were present mainly in the cytosolic fraction (about 70–88% of total activities) of all earwig tissues. CbE activity was higher than AChE activity, especially with a-NA, then 4-NPA and lastly 4-NPV. Chlorpyrifos-oxon an organophosphate, and carbaryl a carbamate pesticide, inhibited AChE and CbE activities in a concentration-dependent manner. Earwig CbE activities showed a stronger sensitivity to organophosphate than AChE, with the strongest effect for chlorpyrifos-oxon on male carboxylesterase activities. CbE and AChE showed about the same sensitivity to carbamate pesticides regardless of sex. These results suggest that B-type esterases in the European earwig F. auricularia are suitable biomarkers of pesticide exposure

Late Holocene paleoenvironment in northern New Caledonia, southwestern Pacific, from a multiproxy analysis of lake sediments

Lithostratigraphic and palynological analysis of two cores recovered from the 'Grand Lac' (New Caledonia), combined with 35 C-14 AMS dates, yields a paleoenvironmental record spanning the last 2000 yr. The lithology is represented mainly by clayey or laminated layers. A catastrophic event, which is marked by very coarse deposits, occurred probably between ea 1070-960 cal yr B.P. and possibly is associated with an unusually severe La Nina event. Before and after this event, a similar combination of the two main sediment types is recorded. The repeated alternation of laminated and clayey layers is interpreted as the response to local hydrologic forcing, which may reflect a shift from relatively wet to relatively drier conditions, respectively. Variable amount of micro-charcoal is detected all along the profile. Without additional evidence, notwithstanding the initial local human settlement documented since ca 2900 C-14 yr B.P., micro-charcoal occurrence and variability cannot be linked directly to an anthropogenic origin. No distinct palynological zonations in relation to the lithology are observed, and the vegetation changes may only represent minor transitions across environmental limits. (c) 2006 University of Washington. All rights reserved