Causes, consequences and ‘solutions’: science and climate change in the news discourse of Clarín

El público general accede al conocimiento científico sobre el cambio climático fundamentalmente a través de los medios de comunicación, que construyen discursos con la facultad de cuestionar o legitimar a la ciencia climática, y la posibilidad de acciones ante la problemática. Asumiendo tal premisa, este artículo analiza los marcos o frames del discurso informativo producidos por el diario de referencia en Argentina, Clarín, durante un periodo de cinco años (2009-2013). Puntualmente se describen los marcos sobre el consenso científico respecto de las causas, consecuencias –impactos y riesgos- y sobre el rol de la ciencia ante las respuestas o “soluciones” frente al cambio climático. Los avances de investigación indican que el fenómeno ha sido representado como un problema causado por las actividades humanas, que sus consecuencias negativas ya se registran alrededor del mundo –y también en Argentina-, que representa un riesgo para la humanidad en general y para los grupos sociales vulnerables en particular, pero que puede ser mitigado. En definitiva, se trata de un discurso que reconoce el consenso científico y que legitima al cambio climático como un problema que demanda la acción política.The general public access to scientific knowledge on climate change mainly through the media, which construct discourses with the power to question or legitimize climate science, and therefore the possibility of action against the problem. Assuming this premise, this article analyzes the frames of news discourse produced by the reference newspaper in Argentina, Clarín, for a period of five years (2009-2013). Specifically frames on the scientific consensus on the causes, consequences -impacts and risks- and the role of science for the answers or “solutions” to climate change are described. Advances of research suggests that climate change has been represented as a problem caused by human activities, and their negative consequences are recognized around the world -and also in Argentina-, thus, this problem represents a risk to humanity in general and particularly for vulnerable social groups, but it can be mitigated. In short, it is a discourse that recognizes the scientific consensus and legitimizes climate change as a problem that demands political action.Fil: González Alcaraz, Luis Jaime. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnológico Rosario; Argentin

Work-flow to establish a conceptual model of soil-plant relationships in salt marshes: a case study in SE Spain

In this study we describe the steps followed to elaborate a conceptual model of soil-plant relationships in a salt marsh: 1) identify vegetation distribution; 2) obtain soil data; 3) study the characteristics of the salinity; 4) analyze the relationships among soil factors; 5) understand soil-plant relationships; 6) elaborate the conceptual model

Dynamics of nitrogen, phosphorus and metals in eutrophic wetlands affected by mine wastes. Effects of liming on plant growth and metals mobility

The Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain) is one of the largest coastal lagoons of the Mediterranean basin (135 km2 surface). The lagoon and its associated wetlands are affected by eutrophic water of agricultural and urban origin, with high loads of nitrogen and phosphorus, and by metal mine wastes carried by the surface watercourses coming from the former mining area of Sierra de Cartagena-La Unión. The objectives of this work were: 1) To study the biogeochemical processes related to the dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil-water-plant system of eutrophic wetlands polluted by metal mine wastes, in order to identify their possible role as sinks or sources of both nutrients, and 2) To assay the effect of liming, presence of plants, and hydric/flooding conditions on metals mobility in the soil-water-plant system of eutrophic wetlands polluted by metal mine wastes, in order to identify the advantages and drawbacks of these conventional remediation treatments. To achieve these objectives, three experimental studies were performed under greenhouse conditions. In the experiments, soils polluted by metal mine wastes from the Marina del Carmolí and the Lo Poyo salt marshes, and plant species typical of these environments (Sarcocornia fruticosa and Phragmites australis) were used. In addition, eutrophic water from local surface watercourses and eutrophic water synthetically prepared were employed. In the first experiment, loam soils from the Marina del Carmolí (pH~7.8) and sandy-loam soils from the Lo Poyo salt marsh (pH~6.2) were used. Three pot treatments were assayed: S. fruticosa, P. australis, and bare soil. The pots were flooded for 15 weeks with eutrophic water, and pH, Eh, and the concentrations of NO3-, PO43-, and water-soluble organic carbon in the soil solution were regularly monitored. Before and after the flooding period, a soil P-fractionation was performed. -In relation to N dynamics, the NO3- concentrations in the soil solution decreased between 70 and 90% by the second day of flooding, except in the unvegetated pots with the soil of pH~6.2. Denitrification was the main mechanism associated to the removal of NO3-. The role of vegetation in improving the rhizospheric environment was relevant in the soil of pH~6.2 because higher sand content, lower pH, and higher soluble metal concentrations might strongly hinder microbial activity. -In relation to P dynamics, the PO43- concentrations in the soil solution decreased between 80 and 90% after three hours of flooding, with and without vegetation. The Fe/Mn/Al oxides and the Ca/Mg compounds played an important role in soil P retention. In the pots with S. fruticosa, the reductive conditions induced P release from metal oxides and P retention to Ca/Mg compounds. In turn, P. australis may have favoured the release of P from carbonates, which was transferred to Fe/Mn/Al compounds. In the second experiment, soils with fine texture from the Marina del Carmolí (in this case of pH~6.4) and sandy soils from the Lo Poyo salt marsh (in this case of pH~3.1) were used. Each type of polluted soil was mixed with a lime amendment (dose of 20 g kg-1), assaying two treatments: non-limed and limed soil. Cuttings of S. fruticosa were planted in pots prepared with the soil treatments. The pots were irrigated for 10 months with eutrophic water and soluble metal concentrations (Al, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Zn) and plant survival, plant biomass, and plant metal content were determined. The lime amendment decreased the concentrations of soluble metals and favoured the growth of S. fruticosa, enhancing the capacity of the plant to phytostabilise metals in roots. In the third experiment, soils with fine texture from the Marina del Carmolí (in this case of pH~6.4) and sandy soils from the Lo Poyo salt marsh (in this case of pH~3.1) were used. Each type of polluted soil was mixed with a lime amendment (dose of 20 g kg-1). Simulated soil profiles (60 cm depth) were constructed and four treatments were assayed: without liming + without plant, without liming + with plant, with liming + without plant, and with liming + with plant. The plant species employed was S. fruticosa. Three horizons were differentiated in the soil profiles: A (never under water), C1 (alternating flooding-drying conditions), and C2 (always under water). The pH, Eh, and soluble metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) were measured regularly at each depth for 18 weeks. At the end of the experiment a soil metal-fractionation was applied. The lime amendment favoured the growth of S. fruticosa, an increase in pH, and a drop in Eh. -In relation to Fe dynamics, liming decreased Fe solubility, mainly in the soil of pH~3.1, but also facilitated a drop in Eh, favouring the dissolution of amorphous Fe oxides and hence increasing the concentration of soluble Fe. The plant rhizosphere contributed to the decrease of Eh and actively re-distributed the dissolved Fe along the soil profiles. -In relation to Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn dynamics in the soil of pH~6.4, the lime amendment was effective for immobilising Mn, Zn, and Cd, but not Cu and Pb. The growth of S. fruticosa counteracted the effect of liming, strongly increasing the concentrations of soluble metals and distributing them through the soil profiles. -In relation to Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn dynamics in the soil of pH~3.1, liming was effective for immobilising Zn, Cu, and Pb, but not Mn and Cd. The amendment increased the contents of Zn, Mn, and Cd bound to potentially-mobilisable soil fractions at the expense of the most-environmentally-inert fractions. In conclusion, the choice of the most appropriate phytomanagement techniques for recovering eutrophic wetlands polluted by metal mine wastes depends on the particular characteristics of the soil-water-plant system, the hydric/flooding regime, and the type of pollutant (nitrogen, phosphorus, and metals).Universidad Politécnica de Cartagen

La estructura especular en el relato LXII de L'Heptaméron.

Sin resume

Variations in Plant Zonation and Cover as Indicators of long-term changes in soil conditions: a case study in a mediterranean coastal salt marsh

This study summarizes the changes (1991-2004) in plant distribution and cover in relation to soil factors in a salt marsh impacted by surplus of water from agricultural origin. An elevation of the groundwater level was observed, which led to a homogenization in the saline gradient. The changes were reflected in a shift in vegetation distribution which included the disappearance of most of the zonation observed in 1991

Metal mobility assessment in semiarid mine tailings amended with biochar and urban compost: results of a bioassay employing a pioneer plant species

[SPA] El fitomanejo permite reducir el riesgo ambiental de balsas mineras abandonadas. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la movilidad de metales en balsas mineras enmendadas con biochar y/o compost urbano y la efectividad de las enmiendas reduciendo la toxicidad de la solución edáfica para una planta pionera (Zygophyllum fabago). Se llevó a cabo un experimento en mesocosmos (20 meses) con residuo minero con y sin enmienda. Los mesocosmos se mantuvieron a capacidad de campo con agua de la red y se drenaron en diferentes momentos. Se monitorizó la solución edáfica regularmente (pH, conductividad eléctrica, carbono orgánico soluble –COS--, nitrógeno total soluble –NTS- y metales -Mn, Zn-), al igual que el drenaje. Se realizó un bioensayo con semillas de Z. fabago con la solución edáfica de mitad del experimento (germinación de semillas, crecimiento de plántulas). Los tratamientos con compost urbano mostraron mayor concentración inicial de COS y metales en solución. Se observó un descenso temporal de la concentración de DOC y metales en la solución edáfica debido a su lixiviación en el drenaje. A pesar del mayor contenido de metales, el compost urbano favoreció la elongación de la raíz debido al mayor contenido de COS y NTS en solución. [ENG] Phytomanagement allows to reduce the environmental risks of abandoned mine tailings. The aim of this work was to assess metal mobility in mine tailings amended with biochar and/or urban compost and the effectiveness of these amendments for reducing the toxicity of soil solution to a pioneer plant species (Zygophyllum fabago). A mesocosm experiment was performed (20 months) with mine wastes with and without amendment. Mesocosms were maintained at field capacity with tap water and drained at different times. Soil solution was regularly monitored (pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved organic carbon –DOC-, dissolved total nitrogen –TDN- and metals -Mn, Zn-), as well as drainage. A bioassay with seeds of Z. fabago was performed with midterm soil solution (seed germination, seedling performance). Treatments containing urban compost showed higher initial DOC and metal concentrations in solution. A decrease of DOC and metal concentrations in soil solution with time occurred due to their lixiviation in the drainage water. In spite of the higher metal pool, urban compost favoured root length due to its greater content of DOC and TDN in soil solution.Financial support for this research was provided by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain and FEDER (Project CTM2014-54029-R) and Fundación Séneca de CARM (19248/PI/14). Obdulia Martínez holds a FPI contract from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (BES-2015-075838). Dr. González-Alcaraz holds a Marie Skłodowska-Curie contract (H2020-MSCA-IF-2015, Project ID 704332)

Environment and media agenda

Los medios de comunicación desempeñan un papel relevante en la construcción social de los problemas y cuestiones ambientales, en ello las rutinas productivas de los periodistas son un factor clave. El presente trabajo aborda empíricamente las percepciones de periodistas locales en la ciudad de Rosario, sobre la relevancia de las cuestiones ambientales en la agenda mediática, y los factores que según ellos intervienen para posibilitar u obstaculizar su cobertura periodística e ingreso a la agenda. Como se verá, las percepciones sobre el interés del público, sobre la relevancia del tema en la esfera política, la conflictividad social, la existencia de presiones económicas y la ocurrencia de catástrofes desempeñarían un papel crucial en esos procesos.The media plays an important role in the social construction of environmental problems and issues, in this, production routines of journalists are a key factor. This paper addresses empirically the perceptions of local journalists in the city of Rosario, on the relevance of environmental issues on the media agenda, and the factors involved as to enable them or hinder their coverage. As will be seen, perceptions of the public interest, and the relevance of the topic in the political, as social conflicts, the existence of economic pressures and the occurrence of disasters play a crucial role in these processes.Facultad de Periodismo y Comunicación Socia

Análisis de la variabilidad de la fuerza mediante métodos de cuantificación no lineal para incorporar nuevas herramientas de control de la carga y la fatiga muscular

Según Mujika (2006), la cuantificación del entrenamiento es primordial para evaluar las respuestas a las cargas de trabajo y establecer una relación entre el entrenamiento y el rendimiento conseguido. Por lo tanto, la cuantificación de la carga de entrenamiento es una herramienta muy utilizada por preparadores físicos y entrenadores que buscan la optimización del rendimiento deportivo, ya que permite definir objetivos y controlar la evolución de los jugadores (Hernández, Casamichana, y Sánchez-Sánchez, 2017)

Una anàlisi de la lectura en valencià a secundària

El treball que presentem és una anàlisi de les actuacions del professorat i les actituds de l’alumnat respecte la lectura en valencià. Aquest estudi s’ha fet en l’IES Jaume I d’Ontinyent a partir d’una tècnica analítica mixta. D’una banda, hem usat unes enquestes per extraure la informació referida al tractament de la lectura que fa el professorat, i d’una altra banda, hem realitzat grups de discussió per analitzar el que pensa l’alumnat. Aquestes tècniques d’investigació ens han permés extraure la informació necessària per a comparar-la posteriorment. Els resultats demostren les diferències entre el pensament conservador del professorat en el tractament de la lectura i la innovació que el propi alumnat demana.The present paper is an analysis of the actions of teachers and students' attitudes about reading in Valencian. This study was conducted at IES Jaume I of Ontinyent from a mixed analytical technique. On the one hand, we have used some surveys to extract information regarding the treatment's reading teachers, and elsewhere, we conducted focus groups to analyse what the students think. These research techniques allowed us to extract the necessary information in order to make a comparison between students and teachers beliefs. The results show the differences between conservative thinking of teachers in the treatment of reading and innovation asks the students themselves