The ongoing changes in the extent and the properties of sea ice, associated with the warming climate, are affecting the polar ecosystem and the interactions between the atmosphere, sea ice and the underlying waters. How sea ice biogeochemistry will change in the foreseeable future is currently uncertain, but is a crucial problem to tackle.<p>To better understand how sea ice biogeochemistry could change, we investigated the factors regulating the distribution of some dissolved compounds (e.g. nutrients, dissolved organic matter (DOM)) and gaseous compounds (e.g. Ar, O2, N2, CH4) in sea ice, from ice growth to ice decay. The results were obtained from a 19-day indoor experiment in Hamburg (Germany) and a five-month-long field survey in Barrow (Alaska). They were then compared to the physical properties of the ice (temperature, salinity, and other derived parameters such as brine volume fraction) and different biological parameters (bacterial activity, bacterial abundance, chlorophyll-a and phaeopigments).<p>Our work indicates that the physical properties of sea ice exert a strong influence on the distribution of the biogeochemical compounds in the ice, through their impact on brine dynamics, gas bubble formation and ice permeability. We have described 4 stages of brine dynamics, which affect the distribution of the dissolved compounds (e.g. silicate and DOM) in sea ice. However, inert gas (Ar) shows a different dynamic in comparison to the dissolved compounds, indicating a different transport pathway. We suggest that the formation of gas bubbles in sea ice is responsible for that different transport pathway, because gas bubbles should move upward owing to their buoyancy in comparison to brine, while dissolved compounds are drained downward due to gravity. Our observations further indicate that the critical permeability threshold for the upward gas bubble transport should range between 7.5 and 10 % of brine volume fraction, which is higher than the 5 % suggested for the downward brine transport. Increasing ice permeability and prolonged gas exchange tend to draw gas concentrations toward their solubility values, except when the under-ice water is supersaturated relative to the atmosphere (e.g. CH4) or when in-situ production occurs in sea ice (e.g. O2).<p>Because ammonium and O2 obviously accumulate in the ice layers where convection is limited, we suggest that the changes of these biogeochemical compounds in sea ice depend on the competing effect between the physical transport and the biological activity; the biological impact on these biogeochemical compounds in sea ice is obvious when the biological production rate exceeds largely the physical transport rate. We further discussed on the potential of using Ar and N2 as inert tracers to correct the physical controls on O2 and to determine the net community production in sea ice.<p>In addition to the physical and biological controls, the chemical properties of some biogeochemical compounds (e.g. nitrate, ammonium, DOM) may further influence their distribution in sea ice; further investigations are however needed to confirm this.<p>Finally, based on our findings, we present an update of the processes regulating the distribution of gases in sea ice, with references to recent observations supporting each of the process. We also provide some insights on how sea ice biogeochemistry could change in the future and the research priorities for an accurate quantification of these changes.<p><p>Les changements dans l’extension et les propriétés de la glace de la mer, liés au réchauffement climatique, affectent l’écosystème polaire, ainsi que les interactions entre l’atmosphère, la glace de mer et l’eau sous-jacente. Cependant, des incertitudes subsistent quant aux changements potentiels qui affecteront la biogéochimie de la glace de mer dans un futur proche.<p>Afin de mieux comprendre les changements potentiels qui affecteront la biogéochimie de la glace de mer, nous avons étudié les facteurs qui influencent la distribution de certains composés dissouts (e.g. nutriments, matière organique dissoute (DOM)) et gazeux (e.g. Ar, O2, N2, CH4) au sein de la glace de mer, depuis la croissance de la glace, jusqu’à sa fonte. Les résultats ont été obtenus à partir d’une expérience de 19 jours dans un bassin expérimental à Hambourg (Allemagne) et une étude de terrain de 5 mois à Barrow (Alaska). Ils ont été ensuite comparés aux propriétés physiques de la glace (température, salinité et autres paramètres dérivés) et à des paramètres biologiques (activité bactérienne, abondance bactérienne, chlorophylle-a et phaeopigments).<p>Nos travaux ont montré que les propriétés physiques de la glace exercent une forte influence sur la répartition des composes biogéochimiques dans la glace de mer, à travers leur impact sur la dynamique des saumures, la formation de bulles de gaz et la perméabilité de la glace. Nous avons décrit 4 stades dans la dynamique des saumures qui influencent la distribution des composés dissouts (e.g. silice et DOM) dans la glace. Cependant, le gaz inerte étudié (Ar) montre une dynamique différente de celle des composés dissouts, indiquant un mécanisme de transport différent. Nous suggérons que la formation de bulles de gaz dans la glace de mer est le mécanisme responsable de cette différence, parce que les bulles de gaz devraient migrer vers le haut, à cause de leur différence de densité par rapport aux saumures, alors que les saumures sont drainées vers le bas à cause de la gravité. Nos observations montrent également que le seuil critique de perméabilité pour l’ascension des bulles de gaz devrait se trouver entre 7.5 et 10 % de volume relatif en saumure ;seuil qui est plus élevé que les 5 % suggérés pour le transport de saumure vers le bas. L’augmentation de la perméabilité de la glace et les échanges de gaz prolongés tendent à amener les concentrations de gaz vers leur valeur de solubilité, sauf lorsque l’eau sous-jacente présente une sursaturation parrapport à l’atmosphère (e.g. CH4), ou lorsque une production in-situ se produit au sein de la glace (e.g. O2).<p>Etant donné que l’ammonium et O2 s’accumulent clairement dans les couches de glace où la convection est limitée, nous suggérons que les variations de ces composés biogéochimiques dans la glace dépendent de la balance entre le transport physique et l’activité biologique ;l’impact de cette dernière sur les composés biogéochimiques est particulièrement visible lorsque le taux de production biologique du composé excède largement la vitesse d’élimination du composé par le transport physique. Nous avons ensuite discuté du potentiel d’utiliser Ar et N2 comme traceurs inertes pour corriger l’impact des processus physiques sur les variations de O2, afin de déterminer la production communautaire nette dans la glace de mer.<p>Les propriétés chimiques de certains composés biogéochimiques (e.g. nitrate, ammonium, DOM) pourraient également influencer leur répartition au sein de la glace de mer, en plus des processus physiques et biologiques. Cependant, il est nécessaire d’avoir plus d’études à ce sujet pour confirmer cela.<p>Enfin, sur base de nos résultats, nous présentons une mise à jour des processus qui régulent la répartition des gaz dans la glace de mer, avec des références à des observations récentes qui illustrent chacun des processus. Nous donnons également un aperçu des changements qui pourraient affecter la biogéochimie de la glace de mer à l’avenir, et des pistes de recherches pour une quantification précise de ces changements. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Ce travail a pour objectif principal l'étude des interactions entre les compartiments procaryotiques des zones méso- et bathypélagique avec les différentes fractions du carbone organique dissout (DOC) océanique. Des mesures d'assimilation de monomères (3H-Glucose), de dégradation de molécules complexes (3H-EPS et HMW-DOC), et de production hétérotrophe procaryotique (PHP/3H-Leucine) ont été réalisées le long de la colonne d'eau en Mer Méditerranée Nord Occidentale (Golfe du Lion, sites DYFAMED, ANTARES) et en Océan Atlantique Nord-Est (site PAP). Au cours des ces études, toutes les mesures réalisées au-delà de 1000 m de profondeur ont été effectuées dans des conditions in situ de haute pression hydrostatique (> à 10 MPa, HP) et comparées à des mesures réalisées sous pression atmosphérique (0,1 MPa, ATM). Cette double mesure détermine le rôle de la pression hydrostatique sur les activités microbiennes profondes via un rapport Pe pour pressure effect (= mesure HP / mesure ATM). Les résultats démontrent que les activités microbiennes mesurées en conditions HP sont plus importantes qu'en conditions ATM en période de stratification des eaux, (Pe moyen de 4,01, n=120), et confirment la capacité des procaryotes du domaine océanique profond à dégrader des molécules organiques complexes. Par ailleurs et à une échelle cellulaire, les populations métaboliquement actives du milieu profond dégradent les 3H-EPS à une vitesse 6 fois plus rapide que leur homologue de surface, indiquant la capacité des procaryotes autochtones profonds à dégrader des molécules plus complexes en conditions de haute pression. / This main objective of this work is the study of interactions between prokaryotic compartments of meso-and bathypelagic zones with different size classes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Several measurements of monomers assimilation (3H-Glucose), of complex molecules degradation (3H-EPS and HMW-DOC) and prokaryotic heterotrophic production were realized through the water column of NW Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lion, DYFAMED and ANTARES station) and NE Atlantic Ocean (PAP site). During these studies, all measurements realized below 1000 m depth, were carry out under in situ condition of hydrostatic pressure (> 10 MPa, HP) and compared to their decompressed counterpart measurements, realized at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa, ATM). These coupled measurements determine the role of hydrostatic pressure on deep sea microbial activity following the Pressure effect (Re) ration (=HP measurement / ATM measurement). The results show that microbial activities measured under HP condition during stratified water period, were more important than those measured under ATM condition (mean Pe = 4.01, n=120), and confirm the abilities of deep sea prokaryotes to degrade complex organic molecules. Moreover, the cell-specific activity of deep sea prokaryotes in 3H-EPS degradation are 6 time more active than the surface, indicating the ability of autochthonous deep sea prokaryotes to degrade complex molecules under high conditions of pressure.

Climate change is expected to increase the precipitation ~30% in higher latitudes during the next century, increasing the land runoff via rivers to aquatic ecosystems. The Baltic Sea will receive higher river discharges, accompanied by larger input of allochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) from terrestrial ecosystems. The salinity will decrease due to freshwater dilution. The allochthonous DOM constitute a potential growth substrate for microscopic bacterioplankton and phytoplankton, which together make up the basal trophic level in the sea. The aim of my thesis is to elucidate the bacterial processing of allochthonous DOM and to evaluate possible consequences of increased runoff on the basal level of the food web in the Baltic Sea. I performed field studies, microcosm experiments and a theoretical modeling study. Results from the field studies showed that allochthonous DOM input via river load promotes the heterotrophic bacterial production and influences the bacterial community composition in the northern Baltic Sea. In a northerly estuary ~60% of bacterial production was estimated to be sustained by terrestrial sources, and allochthonous DOM was a strong structuring factor for the bacterial community composition. Network analysis showed that during spring the diversity and the interactions between the bacteria were relatively low, while later during summer other environmental factors regulate the community, allowing a higher diversity and more interactions between different bacterial groups. The influence of the river inflow on the bacterial community allowed “generalists” bacteria to be more abundant than “specialists” bacteria.    Results from a transplantation experiment, where bacteria were transplanted from the northern Baltic Sea to the seawater from the southern Baltic Sea and vice versa, showed that salinity, as well as the DOM composition affect the bacterial community composition and their enzymatic activity. The results showed that α-proteobacteria in general were favoured by high salinity, β-proteobacteria by low salinity and terrestrial DOM compounds and γ-proteobacteria by the enclosure itself. However, effects on the community composition and enzymatic activity were not consistent when the bacterial community was retransplanted, indicating a functional redundancy of the bacterial communities.  Results of ecosystem modeling showed that climate change is likely to have quite different effect on the north and the south of the Baltic Sea. In the south, higher temperature and internal nutrient load will increase the cyanobacterial blooms and expand the anoxic or suboxic areas. In the north, climate induced increase in riverine inputs of allochthonous DOM is likely to promote bacterioplankton production, while phytoplankton primary production will be hampered due to increased light attenuation in the water. This, in turn, can decrease the production at higher trophic levels, since bacteria-based food webs in general are less efficient than food webs based on phytoplankton. However, complex environmental influences on the bacterial community structure and the large redundancy of metabolic functions limit the possibility of predicting how the bacterial community composition will change under climate change disturbances.

A large river system typically derives the majority of its biomass from production within the floodplain. The Neches River in the Big Thicket National Preserve is a large blackwater river that has an extensive forested floodplain. Organic carbon was analyzed within the floodplain waters and the river (upstream and downstream of the floodplain) to determine the amount of organic carbon from the floodplain that is contributing to the nutrient dynamics in the river. Dissolved organic carbon was significantly higher at downstream river locations during high discharge. Higher organic carbon levels in the floodplain contributed to increases in organic carbon within the Neches River downstream of the floodplain when Neches River discharges exceeded 10,000 cfs. Hurricane Rita passed through the Big Thicket National Preserve in September 2005. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations recorded after Hurricane Rita in the Neches River downstream of the floodplain were significantly higher than upstream of the floodplain. Dissolved organic carbon was twice as high after the hurricane than levels prior to the hurricane, with floodplain concentrations exceeding 50 ppm C. The increase in organic carbon was likely due to nutrients leached from leaves, which were swept from the floodplain trees prior to normal abscission in the fall. A continuum of leaf breakdown rates was observed in three common floodplain species of trees: Sapium sebiferum, Acer rubrum, and Quercus laurifolia. Leaves collected from blowdown as a result of Hurricane Rita did not break down significantly faster than leaves collected prior to abscission in the fall. Processing coefficients for leaf breakdown in a continuously wet area of the floodplain were significantly higher than processing coefficients for leaf breakdown on the floodplain floor. The forested floodplain of the Neches River is the main contributor of organic carbon. When flow is greater than 10,000 csf, the floodplain transports organic carbon directly to the river, providing a source of nutrition for riverine organisms and contributing to the overall health of the ecosystem.

The recent discovery of the 31-km-wide Hiawatha impact crater has raised unanswered questions about its age, impactor and highly unusual organic carbon component. Previous research suggests a fractionated iron meteorite impactor, a probable maximum 3–2.4 Ma impact age and a possible Younger Dryas impact age. The first objective in this study has been to investigate a possible link between the Cape York meteorites and the Hiawatha impact crater by comparing the chromium isotopic signature in chromite from a Cape York meteorite with the chromium isotopic signature in potential chromite from the Hiawatha impactor. The second objective has been to investigate a possible Hiawatha signature in the Younger Dryas deposits from Baffin Bay. The third objective has been to study the organic carbon component in impactites derived from the Hiawatha impact crater. Heavy mineral grains were separated from glaciofluvial sediment which contains Hiawatha impactite grains. Not a single chromite grain was found and the possible link to the Cape York meteorites could not be tested. The petrographic examination of Younger Dryas marine deposits resulted in absence of impact-related Hiawatha grains. A petrological investigation revealed that organic carbon was likely found in five of six variably shocked impactites derived from the Hiawatha impact crater. The character of the organic carbon varies between the samples and also within individual samples. Vitrinite reflectance measurements of the organic carbon in two impactites yielded low reflectance values compared to charcoalification experiments of wood. Organic particles with different reflectance in the same sample suggest that the particles had different impact histories prior to settling and becoming a rock. Diagnostic conifer cellular texture was found in at least one of the samples. The character of the organic particles in the impactites supports the suggestion in a previous study that the sources of the Hiawatha organic carbon component are unmetamorphosed surficial deposits containing dead conifer tree trunks and fine-grained layered clay and organic matter.  In this study it is concluded that the apparent absence of chromite in the examined glaciofluvial sediment sample corroborates the significance of previous research which suggests that the Hiawatha impactor was an iron meteorite. The apparent absence of impact related grains in the Younger Dryas deposits suggests that although a Younger Dryas age for the Hiawatha impact crater is less likely now, the possibility remains open. The organic carbon with diagnostic conifer cellular texture in the Hiawatha impactites corroborates the conclusion in a previous study that the Hiawatha impact-related organic carbon component stems from local, thermally degraded conifer trees with a probable age of ca. 3–2.4 Ma. It is also concluded that the relatively low reflectance values of the organic carbon in the Hiawatha impactites seem to be related to the short duration of the high-temperature excursion during the hypervelocity impact event.

[pt] O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a concentração de metais, compostos orgânicos e inorgânicos por suspensão aquosa e análise dos metais por abertura ácida presentes nas amostras de PM10 coletadas em áreas urbanas, industrial e rural da Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro. A concentração de PM10 foi determinada por análise gravimétrica. Espécies inorgânicas e orgânicas presentes nos extratos aquosos foram determinadas por cromatografia de íons e carbono orgânico total (TOC). Os extratos ácidos, e também os aquosos, foram analisados por ICP-MS (espectrometria de massa com plasma indutivamente acoplado) e por ICP OES (espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma indutivamente acoplado) para determinar a concentração de metais. As correlações entre as concentrações de PM10 e de metais foram avaliadas, considerando os dados meteorológicos para cada ponto de coleta e origem das massas de ar. Os resultados mostraram que as concentrações médias de PM10 foram de 36 micrograma m-3 na área rural, 50 micrograma m-3 na área urbana e 74 micrograma m-3 na área industrial. A concentração de PM10 medida na área industrial ultrapassou, em geral, o limite estabelecido pela resolução CONAMA, de 50 micrograma m-3. O teor de metais apresentou maior concentração na área industrial, sendo predominantes ferro, zinco, alumínio, titânio, manganês, cromo, níquel, cádmio e chumbo. Na área de maior tráfego, foi detectada a maior concentração de cobre e vanádio. As espécies iônicas foram maiores na área urbana, devido à proximidade do oceano. Na área rural, menores concentrações de espécies antropogênicas, como sulfato, nitrato e alguns metais (Pb, Cr, V e Ni) foram medidas. Assim, as concentrações das espécies estudadas são influenciadas pelas características locais. Porém, também foi observado a influencia do transporte de poluentes de longa distância, como queimadas e poeiras dos desertos do continente africano. Os percentuais dos extratos ácido/aquoso demonstraram que os metais extraídos de forma mais eficiente foram V e Ni (maior que 45 porcento), enquanto que os menos extraídos foram Al e Fe (menor que 3 porcento), conforme o esperado. A fração aquosa é importante para avaliar a biodisponibilidade de metais associados a danos à saúde. / [en] The scope of this study was to measure the concentration of metals and organic and inorganic anions in aqueous and acid extracts of PM10 samples collected in urban, industrial and rural zones of Rio de Janeiro. PM10 concentration was determined by gravimetric analysis and the organic and inorganic species in the aqueous extracts were determined by ion chromatography and total organic carbon (TOC). The aqueous and acid extracts were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and by ICP OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), in order to determine metal content. Correlations between PM10 and metal concentrations were evaluated, considering meteorological data for each site. Results showed that the average PM10 concentrations were 36 microgram m-3; 50 microgram m-3 and 74 microgram m-3 at the rural, downtown and industrial sites, respectively. The measured PM10 concentration in the industrial site exceeded the limit allowed by the Brazilian law, which is 50 microgram m-3. While industrial area had the highest concentrations of metals, such as Fe, Zn, Al, Ti, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb, the highest concentrations of Cu and V were found in areas with higher traffic densities. Ionic species had higher concentrations in the urban site due to the proximity to the ocean. The lowest concentrations of species from anthropogenic sources, such as sulfate, nitrate and some metals (Pb, Cr, V and Ni) were measured in the rural area. Hence, studied species concentrations are influenced by site locations, but the influence by the transportation of long distance pollutants, such as biomass burning and dust from African deserts was also observed. The acid/aqueous percentiles showed that the most efficiently extracted metals in the aqueous phase were V and Ni (greater than 45 percent) while the less efficiently extracted were Al and Fe (less than 3 percent), as expected. The aqueous fraction is important to evaluate the bioavailability of metals that are associated to damage to the human health.

No description available.

MSCAGR ( Soil Science) / Department of Soil Science / See the attached abstract below

No description available.

La coltivazione dei sistemi colturali poliennali su terreni marginali combina la produzione sostenibile di biomassa per diversi utilizzi a benefici di carattere ambientale come il sequestro del C atmosferico nel suolo. La limitata longevità di questi sistemi colturali (10-20 anni), fornisce la possibilità di sfruttarli come una tecnica temporanea per rigenerare la fertilità dei terreni marginali e di studiare il loro effetto nel lungo periodo sul carbonio del suolo. Con questa tesi, avevo l'obiettivo di studiare l'effetto della riconversione a coltura annuali dei sistemi agricoli poliennali sul carbonio del suolo: per raggiungere questo obiettivo, ho combinato ad una meta-analisi di letteratura sull'effetto della riconversione, con un esperimento di campo di lungo periodo, un esperimento di incubazione in laboratorio e l'uso di un modello matematico del carbonio del suolo. L'uso combinato di questi approcci mi ha permesso di mostrare il potenziale che i sistemi colturali poliennali hanno nel sostenere il sequestro del C ne suolo anche dopo la loro riconversione. Quindi i sistemi colturali poliennali sono una pratica sostenibile promettente che può essere integrata in rotazioni agricole di 13 anni sui terreni marginali del nord d'Italia per ripristinare il carbonio del suolo. / The cultivation of perennial cropping systems on marginal lands combines the production of sustainable biomass for multiple uses with environmental benefits such as carbon (C) sequestration in soil. In this thesis, we studied the effect of perennial cropping system on soil C considering the scenario of perennial cropping systems reversion to arable land. The limited longevity (10-20 years) of perennial cropping systems, gives the possibility of using these crops as a temporary- option to restore soil fertility of marginal lands and to study the long-term legacy of these cropping systems on soil C. In this thesis I aimed to study the effect of perennial cropping systems reversion to arable land on soil C: to achieve this objective, I combined a literature meta-analysis on the effect of reversion of perennial cropping systems on soil C, with a long-term field experiment on perennial cropping systems, an incubation experiment and the use of a process-based soil C model. The combined use of these approaches gave me the chance to show the potential of perennial cropping systems to support C sequestration even after their reversion. Therefore, perennial cropping systems are a promising sustainable practice which could be integrated on a 13-year agricultural rotation on marginal lands of northern Italy to restore soil C.