Eutrophication and macroalgal blooms in temperate and tropical coastal waters: Nutrient enrichment experiments with Ulva spp.

Receiving coastal waters and estuaries are among the most nutrient-enriched environments on earth, and one of the symptoms of the resulting eutrophication is the proliferation of opportunistic, fast-growing marine seaweeds. Here, we used a widespread macroalga often involved in blooms, Ulva spp., to investigate how supply of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), the two main potential growth-limiting nutrients, influence macroalgal growth in temperate and tropical coastal waters ranging from low- to high-nutrient supplies. We carried out N and P enrichment field experiments on Ulva spp. in seven coastal systems, with one of these systems represented by three different subestuaries, for a total of nine sites. We showed that rate of growth of Ulva spp. was directly correlated to annual dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations, where growth increased with increasing DIN concentration. Internal N pools of macroalgal fronds were also linked to increased DIN supply, and algal growth rates were tightly coupled to these internal N pools. The increases in DIN appeared to be related to greater inputs of wastewater to these coastal waters as indicated by high δ15N signatures of the algae as DIN increased. N and P enrichment experiments showed that rate of macroalgal growth was controlled by supply of DIN where ambient DIN concentrations were low, and by P where DIN concentrations were higher, regardless of latitude or geographic setting. These results suggest that understanding the basis for macroalgal blooms, and management of these harmful phenomena, will require information as to nutrient sources, and actions to reduce supply of N and P in coastal waters concerned.Fil: Teichberg, Mirta. Leibniz Center For Tropical Marine Research; AlemaniaFil: Fox, Sophia E.. Marine Biological Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Olsen, Ylva S.. Bangor University; Reino UnidoFil: Valiela, Ivan. Marine Biological Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Martinetto, Paulina Maria del Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Iribarne, Oscar Osvaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Muto, Elizabeti Yuriko. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Petti, Monica A.V.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Corbisier, Thaïs N.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Soto-Jiménez, Martín. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Páez-Osuna, Federico. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Castro, Paula. University Of Coimbra; BrasilFil: Freitas, Helena. University Of Coimbra; BrasilFil: Zitelli, Andreina. Università Iuav Di Venezia; ItaliaFil: Cardinaletti, Massimo. Gruppo Veritas; ItaliaFil: Tagliapietra, Davide. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Itali

Transducción de señales en agrobacterium

Fil: Martinetto, Horacio E.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Leaf compressions from the late miocene sections of NW Italy: Research on an efficient, easy and quick consolidation treatment

Compressions of fossil leaves on marl blocks soaked with water are tricky palaeobotanic findings to deal with. In fact, this peculiarity makes the findings exposed to serious degradation: the evaporation of water causes shrinkage of the matrix and the leaf leading to fragmentation, delamination and exfoliation of the fossil, until its final disappearance. The aim of this research was to identify a consolidation method which satisfies museum needs and can be utilised for all conditions of hydration of the object. Following a survey of several natural science museums in Northern Italy, Paraloid(TM) B72 and PEG4000 along with other resins never previously used on this kind of fossil were tested. At the end of the research, two products gave adequate or good results, preserving the leaf from further degradation whatever the hydration condition of the object: the acrylic resin Paraloid(TM) B72 and a polyurethane resin

Hidden paleosols on a high-elevation Alpine plateau (NW Italy): Evidence for Lateglacial Nunatak?

Alpine soils can provide valuable paleo-environmental information, representing a powerful tool for paleoclimate reconstruction. However, since Pleistocene glaciations and erosion-related processes erased most of the pre-existing landforms and soils, reconstructing soil and landscape development in high-mountain areas can be a difficult task. In particular, a relevant lack of information exists on the transition between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM ~21,000 yr BP) and the Holocene (~11,700 yr BP), with this climatic shift that plays a crucial role for environmental thresholds identification. The present study aims at reconstructing the history and origin of hidden paleosols inside periglacial blockstreams and blockfields on a high-elevation Alpine plateau (Stolenberg Plateau) above 3000 m a.s.l., in the Northwestern Italian Alps. The results indicate that these soils recorded the main warming climatic phases occurred from the end of the LGM until the Late Holocene ~4000 yr BP. Our reconstructions, together with the high carbon stocks of these paleosols, suggest that during warming phases the environmental conditions on the Plateau were suitable for plant life and pedogenesis, already since 22,000–21,000 yr BP. These paleosols reasonably evidence the existence of a Lateglacial Nunatak representing, to our knowledge, one of the first documented relict non-glacial surfaces in the high-elevated European Alps. Thus, the Stolenberg Plateau provides important information about past climate and surface processes since the end of LGM, suggesting new perspectives on the long-term landscape evolution of the high European Alps