A matéria orgânica particulada (MOP) é a principal fonte de energia em ecossistemas lóticos, podendo ser gerada dentro ou fora do ecossistema. Os processos de produção e decomposição são particularmente importantes para a ciclagem dos nutrientes no ecossistema, afetando as relações entre biodiversidade e suas funções e propriedades. No Brasil existem poucas informações sobre a dinâmica deste material orgânico nos sistemas aquáticos, apesar das grandes dimensões das bacias hidrográficas brasileiras, e da associação destas com a vegetação ripária. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo a avaliação dos efeitos dos fatores reguladores da decomposição de matéria orgânica alóctone em sistemas aquáticos, bem como os padrões de retenção, acúmulo de detritos e ciclagem de nutrientes em três rios localizados em áreas distintas, sendo dois em área florestada conservada e outro localizado em área de pastagem. Os resultados obtidos contradizem as duas hipóteses iniciais na qual a espécie de gramínea C4 (B. brizantha), devido a alta relação C:N, alto teor de lignina e baixa concentração de nitrogênio, apresentaria menores taxas de decomposição quando comparada a espécie C3 (M. schottiania) e que a decomposição de ambas as espécies seria maior no rio situado na áreas de pastagem, devido a maior temperatura causada pela maior incidência de sol neste área, que estimularia a atividade microbiana e, portanto a decomposição do resíduo. A temperatura, frequentemente relatada na literatura como principal parâmetro ambiental regulador da decomposição, não se mostrou determinante no processo de decomposição, uma vez que as maiores de perda dos detritos ocorrem no rio situado na floresta, onde os menores valores de temperatura da água foram encontrados. Sendo assim, outros fatores se mostraram mais atuantes neste processo, como as características dos substratos e a concentração de nitrato dissolvido na água. Com relação à decomposição das espécies, a B. brizantha, apesar de nutricionalmente pobre, com baixa concentração inicial de nitrogênio e alta razão C:N, foi a espécie que teve maior perda de massa nos três rios analisados, devido sua baixa concentração de lignina, composto mais recalcitrante encontrado no tecido vegetal. A lignina também se mostrou determinante na dinâmica de perdas dos demais nutrientes das duas espécies, visto que este composto pode interagir com demais constituintes celulares, formando complexos que \"mascaram\" a decomposição dos compostos mais lábeis. Sendo assim, a interação entre quantidade de nutrientes e a forma na qual este estão disponíveis será de extrema importância para a definição da velocidade de decomposição dos detritos foliares no meio ambiente / The particulate organic matter (POM) is the main energy source in stream ecosystems, which may be generated inside or outside the ecosystem. The production and decomposition processes are particularly important for nutrient cycling at the ecosystem, affecting the relationships between biodiversity and its functions and properties. In Brazil, there is little information on the dynamics of organic matter in aquatic systems, besides the great dimensions of Brazilian watersheds, and its association of those with riparian vegetation. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of factors that regulate decomposition of allochthonous organic matter in aquatic systems, as well as the patterns of retention, accumulation of debris and nutrient cycling in three rivers located in different areas, two in a preserved forest area and one in a pasture area. Our results contradict the two initial hypothesis that decomposition would be slower for C4 plants (grass), due its higher C:N, higher lignin content and low nitrogen ratios, in any environment, and that decomposition rates would be faster in the pasture streams due to the higher water temperature caused by the high incidence of sun in this area, which would stimulate microbial activity, and thus the decomposition of the residue. Temperature, commonly reported in the literature as the main environmental regulator of decomposition, was not decisive in the decomposition process, since the larger losses of mass leaf occurred at the river located at the forest, where the lowest water temperature values were found. Therefore, other factors were more effective to determine the decomposition process, such as the characteristics of the substrate and the concentration of dissolved nitrate in the water. Regarding the differences at the decomposition rates of the species, B. brizantha, although nutritionally poor, with low initial nitrogen concentration and high C: N ratio, was the species with greater weight loss at the three rivers studied, due to its low lignin concentration, which is the most recalcitrant compound found in the plant tissue. Lignin also influenced the dynamic of nutrient losses of the two species, since this compound can interact with other cellular constituents, preventing the decomposition of the most labile compounds. Thus, the balance between the amount of nutrients and the form in which they are available will be extremely important to define the decomposition rate of leaf litter at the environment

A matéria orgânica particulada (MOP) é a principal fonte de energia em ecossistemas lóticos, podendo ser gerada dentro ou fora do ecossistema. Os processos de produção e decomposição são particularmente importantes para a ciclagem dos nutrientes no ecossistema, afetando as relações entre biodiversidade e suas funções e propriedades. No Brasil existem poucas informações sobre a dinâmica deste material orgânico nos sistemas aquáticos, apesar das grandes dimensões das bacias hidrográficas brasileiras, e da associação destas com a vegetação ripária. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo a avaliação dos efeitos dos fatores reguladores da decomposição de matéria orgânica alóctone em sistemas aquáticos, bem como os padrões de retenção, acúmulo de detritos e ciclagem de nutrientes em três rios localizados em áreas distintas, sendo dois em área florestada conservada e outro localizado em área de pastagem. Os resultados obtidos contradizem as duas hipóteses iniciais na qual a espécie de gramínea C4 (B. brizantha), devido a alta relação C:N, alto teor de lignina e baixa concentração de nitrogênio, apresentaria menores taxas de decomposição quando comparada a espécie C3 (M. schottiania) e que a decomposição de ambas as espécies seria maior no rio situado na áreas de pastagem, devido a maior temperatura causada pela maior incidência de sol neste área, que estimularia a atividade microbiana e, portanto a decomposição do resíduo. A temperatura, frequentemente relatada na literatura como principal parâmetro ambiental regulador da decomposição, não se mostrou determinante no processo de decomposição, uma vez que as maiores de perda dos detritos ocorrem no rio situado na floresta, onde os menores valores de temperatura da água foram encontrados. Sendo assim, outros fatores se mostraram mais atuantes neste processo, como as características dos substratos e a concentração de nitrato dissolvido na água. Com relação à decomposição das espécies, a B. brizantha, apesar de nutricionalmente pobre, com baixa concentração inicial de nitrogênio e alta razão C:N, foi a espécie que teve maior perda de massa nos três rios analisados, devido sua baixa concentração de lignina, composto mais recalcitrante encontrado no tecido vegetal. A lignina também se mostrou determinante na dinâmica de perdas dos demais nutrientes das duas espécies, visto que este composto pode interagir com demais constituintes celulares, formando complexos que \"mascaram\" a decomposição dos compostos mais lábeis. Sendo assim, a interação entre quantidade de nutrientes e a forma na qual este estão disponíveis será de extrema importância para a definição da velocidade de decomposição dos detritos foliares no meio ambiente / The particulate organic matter (POM) is the main energy source in stream ecosystems, which may be generated inside or outside the ecosystem. The production and decomposition processes are particularly important for nutrient cycling at the ecosystem, affecting the relationships between biodiversity and its functions and properties. In Brazil, there is little information on the dynamics of organic matter in aquatic systems, besides the great dimensions of Brazilian watersheds, and its association of those with riparian vegetation. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of factors that regulate decomposition of allochthonous organic matter in aquatic systems, as well as the patterns of retention, accumulation of debris and nutrient cycling in three rivers located in different areas, two in a preserved forest area and one in a pasture area. Our results contradict the two initial hypothesis that decomposition would be slower for C4 plants (grass), due its higher C:N, higher lignin content and low nitrogen ratios, in any environment, and that decomposition rates would be faster in the pasture streams due to the higher water temperature caused by the high incidence of sun in this area, which would stimulate microbial activity, and thus the decomposition of the residue. Temperature, commonly reported in the literature as the main environmental regulator of decomposition, was not decisive in the decomposition process, since the larger losses of mass leaf occurred at the river located at the forest, where the lowest water temperature values were found. Therefore, other factors were more effective to determine the decomposition process, such as the characteristics of the substrate and the concentration of dissolved nitrate in the water. Regarding the differences at the decomposition rates of the species, B. brizantha, although nutritionally poor, with low initial nitrogen concentration and high C: N ratio, was the species with greater weight loss at the three rivers studied, due to its low lignin concentration, which is the most recalcitrant compound found in the plant tissue. Lignin also influenced the dynamic of nutrient losses of the two species, since this compound can interact with other cellular constituents, preventing the decomposition of the most labile compounds. Thus, the balance between the amount of nutrients and the form in which they are available will be extremely important to define the decomposition rate of leaf litter at the environment

Tα στερεά απορρίμματα (marine litter) στο θαλάσσιο περιβάλλον (ακτές, πυθμένας, υδάτινη στήλη) αποτελούν πλέον ένα σοβαρό περιβαλλοντικό πρόβλημα για τον παγκόσμιο ωκεανό. Παρά τη σοβαρότητα του προβλήματος μόλις την τελευταία δεκαετία η διεθνής επιστημονική κοινότητα προσεγγίζει με σοβαρότητα το θέμα το οποίο έχει πλέον ενταχθεί στην Ευρωπαϊκή Στρατηγική για τη Θάλασσα (Marine Strategy, Task 10). To Ε.ΘΑ.ΓΕ.Φ.Ω ήδη από το 2008 συντονίζει την Πανελλήνια Εκστρατεία Καθαρισμού των Ελληνικών Ακτών που οργανώνει το Δίκτυο MED SOS. Στο πλαίσιο της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας αναπτύχθηκαν δύο δράσεις: (α) η επεξεργασία δεδομένων που προέκυψαν από τη συμπλήρωση μεγάλου αριθμού Φύλλων Καταγραφής που συμπλήρωσαν χιλιάδες εθελοντές στο πλαίσιο της Πανελλήνιας Εκστρατείας καθαρισμού ακτών για το έτος 2012 και (β) η διαχρονική παρακολούθηση δύο ακτών της Δυτικής Μάνης όσον αφορά στο ρυπαντικό τους φορτίο. Η ταξινόμηση των στερεών απορριμμάτων βασίσθηκε στο υλικό κατασκευής και στην αρχική τους χρήση. Συνολικά 43 ακτές μελετήθηκαν με βάση την επεξεργασία των Φύλλων Καταγραφής και διαπιστώθηκε ότι το πλαστικό είναι το αφθονότερο (43,27%) από τα υλικά των απορριμμάτων ενώ το χαρτί παρουσιάζει αξιοσημείωτα σημαντικό ποσοστό (18,37%), στοιχείο που αποδεικνύει πρόσφατη ρύπανση, λόγω του μικρού χρονικού διαστήματος που χρειάζεται για να αποσυντεθεί. Η πολυδιάστατη στατιστική ανάλυση έδειξε ότι η κυρίαρχη πηγή ρύπανσης είναι η αναψυχή ενώ ακολουθούν ως πηγές η οικιακή, η οικοδομική και η αλιευτική δραστηριότητα. Επιπλέον η επεξεργασία αυτή επέτρεψε τον καθορισμό της επίδρασης της κάθε πηγής σε κάθε ακτή. Ο καθορισμός, με στατιστικά αξιόπιστα κριτήρια, των πηγών ρύπανσης κάθε ακτής από στερεά απορρίμματα αποτελεί τη βάση για τον σχεδιασμό κάθε στρατηγικής για τη μείωση του ρυπαντικού φορτίου στην παράκτια ζώνη. / Nowadays, marine litter is one of the most important environmental problems in the global ocean. In spite of the importance of the problem, only the last ten years has the international science society been approaching this issue with seriousness. Marine litter is integrated in the European Marine Strategy (Marine Strategy, Task 10). The laboratory of the University of Patras (Ε.ΘΑ.ΓΕ.Φ.Ω) has been coordinating the Panhellenic Cleaning Beaches Campaign since 2008. This Campaign is held by MED SOS. Within this study two actions had being developed: (a) the processing of the data that came from thousands of volunteers who worked in the context of the Cleaning Campaign in 2012 and (b) the longitudinal monitoring of the pollution load of two coasts in the Messinian Gulf. The marine litter’s classification was based on their material and their initial use. 43 beaches were studied and the results showed that the most plenty material was plastic (43,27%). Moreover, paper presents noticeable percentage (18,37%), which demonstrates recent pollution. Factor Analysis showed that the main pollution source is leisure, second is building activity, third is fishing and last is domestic activity. Furthermore, this processing led to the determination of each pollution source in every beach. The determination of pollution sources constitutes the basis for the planning of the pollution load’s reduce strategy for the coastal zone.

Fungi have been an important source for producing a wide range of secondary metabolites of widely differing chemical structures, as well as biological activities. Many of their metabolites now play a major role in pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. A number of fungi were isolated from soil and leaf litter collected from Arthur’s Pass, West Coast and Kaituna Valley using a particle filtration technique. Fungi were selected based on their unusual morphology or observed cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity for large scale culture and extraction. A pale yellow compound was isolated from cytotoxic extracts from the culture of Aspergillus versicolor. This compound was identified as sterigmatocystin and the identity confirmed by UV profile and mass spectrometry. Five compounds were isolated from extracts prepared from two different species of Penicillium of which three were active against P388 cells (mycophenolic acid, cycloaspeptide A and mevastatin), one was active against dermatophytes (griseofulvin) and one was not active (3,4,6,8-tetrahydroxy-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin). Two compounds were isolated from extracts prepared from two different species of Phoma. A dark red compound was found to be novel and showed activity against P388 cells and Bacillus subtilis. A second compound also showing cytotoxicity was identified as the known compound phomenone. A further new compound was isolated from extracts of an identified dematiaceous fungus. This alkyl glucoside, however, was not bioactive.

No description available.

Decomposition of organic matter is a critical component in global biogeochemical cycling. While decomposition rates have been robustly predicted for mesic systems, modeling decomposition dynamics in drylands has proven to be problematic, reflecting a need to account for processes that may be unique to dryland systems: low and spatially variable vegetation cover, high rates of soil movement, and high levels of radiant energy exposure at the soil surface. Recent empirical evidence suggests that the discrepancies between measured and predicted decomposition rates in drylands may be due to the greater influence of abiotic drivers, such as soil-litter mixing (SLM) and solar radiation, on plant litter decomposition relative to more mesic systems. UV-driven photodegradation may dominate until SLM reaches a threshold, at which point litter is shielded from radiation and microbial processes become predominant. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to examine the influence of SLM and solar radiation on decomposition of foliar and woody plant litter in a dryland ecosystem undergoing woody plant encroachment. A series of four complimentary experiments sought to quantify the effects of these abiotic drivers on decomposition in relation to variables such as vegetation patch type (e.g., beneath a shrub canopy, in a grass patch, on bare ground), radiant energy regime (e.g., full sun vs. shade), geomorphic surface (e.g., sandy, Holocene-age vs. clay-rich, Pleistocene-age soils), seasonality of litter fall (e.g., summer vs. winter), and litter quality (e.g., grass, shrub leaf, woody). Results indicate that interactions between SLM and photodegradation are complex and mediated by variations in ground cover which influence the local radiant energy environment and the movement of soil across the landscape by wind and water. Decomposition rates were significantly influenced by SLM, UV radiation, radiant energy regime, vegetation structure, and initial litter quality. While these results confirmed the importance of SLM and photodegradation as dryland decomposition drivers, they also reinforced the need for additional research to further clarify the relative importance of these processes under field conditions, particularly the interplay between UV radiation and SLM and their relative influence on biotic and abiotic decomposition processes. Given the changes in climate and vegetation projected for drylands, it is critical to further elucidate the influence of these processes on dryland biogeochemical cycling, as their effects may be magnified or dampened under future conditions. A deeper understanding of the processes driving biogeochemical cycling that may be unique to systems undergoing shifts in plant lifeform composition will allow us to better account for the fate of carbon in these globally important ecosystems.

abstract: The occurrence of micro-and nanoplastic (MNP) debris in the environment is a research area of considerable public health concern. Various combinations of methods for extraction, isolation, and quantification of MNP have been applied but literature studies evaluating the appropriateness and efficacy of these protocols are lacking. A meta-analysis of the literature (n=134; years 2010-2017) was conducted to inventory and assess the appropriateness of methodologies employed. Some 30.6% of studies employed visual identification only, which carried a calculated misidentification error of 25.8-74.2%. An additional 6.7% of studies reported counts for particles smaller than the cutoff value of the selected collection pore size, and 9.7% of studies utilized extraction solution densities which exclude some of the polymers commonly occurring in the environments investigated. A composite value of data vulnerability of 43.3% was determined for the sample, indicating considerable weaknesses in the robustness of information available on MNP occurrence and type. Additionally, the oxidizing solutions documented in the literature frequently were deemed unsuccessful in removing interfering organic matter. Whereas nanoplastics measuring <1 µm in diameter are likely principal drivers of health risk, polymer fragments reported on in the literature are much larger, measuring 10+ µm in diameter due to lack of standardized methods. Thus, current inventories of MNP in the environmental MNP feature data quality concerns that should be addressed moving forward by using more robust and standardized techniques for sampling, processing and polymer identification to improve data quality and avoid the risk of misclassification. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2018

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1982. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-92). Also available on the World Wide Web.

The environmental impacts of broiler production have recently gained considerable public attention due to concerns regarding the amount of ammonia (NH3) released into the atmosphere from poultry facilities. Sound scientific data are needed to accurately estimate the production of manure waste products and gaseous emissions. This research project was undertaken to quantify nitrogen (N) loss through air emissions from a broiler grow-out facility over 18 consecutive flocks using the mass balance method. Measurement of litter and caked litter (cake) mass at the end of each flock allowed for the calculation of litter and cake production rates for broilers reared on recycled rice hull litter. Nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) content of all litter materials was also measured. Broilers were reared in a research facility under simulated commercial conditions. All input materials (birds, feed, and litter) used in this study were obtained directly from a commercial broiler integrator to assure applicability to the broiler industry. The litter management technique of ??top-dressing?? was also investigated to determine its effects on N emissions and litter and cake production rates. Nitrogen emissions, litter and cake production rates, and nutrient density of litter materials were found to vary significantly between flocks reared at different times of the year. Nitrogen emissions were significantly greater for summer flocks than winter flocks. Average N loss over all 18 flocks was 11.07 g N/kg of marketed broiler (g N/kg). Nitrogen partitioning as a percentage of inputs averaged 15.29, 6.84, 55.52, 1.27, and 21.08% for litter, caked litter, broiler carcasses, mortalities and nitrogen loss, respectively, over all 18 flocks. Litter and cake production was lower in the summer compared to winter. Average litter, cake, and all litter (litter + cake) production was 153.3, 74.8, and 228.2 g of dry litter material/kg of marketed broiler. Litter and cake phosphorus and potassium content was elevated during summer flocks, while litter material N content decreased in summer flocks. Therefore, season of the year is an important factor that scientists and broiler producers must take into account when performing measurements and calculations, sampling litter materials and air emissions, and developing nutrient management plans.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2003. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.