Analysis of land use change in Mangrove of the Barra San José, Chiapas, Mexico

Mangroves are the most productive ecosystems in the world, since they provide ecosystem services, are biological filters, stabilize the coastline and are the habitat of important fishing species and migratory birds nest. However, the inadequate implementation of agricultural, livestock and tourism development policies has implied the loss of biodiversity, habitat fragmentation and deforestation. The objective of this work is to evaluate the dynamics of changes in mangrove cover and land use in Barra San José, Chiapas, Mexico, in the period 1978-2017. The detection of the changes was carried out by means of a post-classificatory multitemporal study, through the superposition of digital cartographic bases of land use of the series III and VI of the INEGI. Maps of change processes, deforestation rates, and change matrices were obtained. The results indicate a loss of 574 ha of Mangroves in 39 years, with a deforestation rate of -0.41%, where human settlements and agriculture accounted for 90% of the changes. The conversion of Mangroves to grasslands was very marked, showing the fragmentation and loss of habitat to which the forests are exposed in the study area. The results of this analysis should be considered in the establishment of management and conservation policies for this ecological region.

COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MESENTERIAL LYMPH NODES IN VULPES LAGOPUS

Lymph nodes are an active biological filters in which pathogens are retained and phagocy-tosed. Lymph nodules are dynamic structures of the lymph nodes. They form and disappear depend-ing on the presence of stress factors of various natures. The article presents the parameters of mes-enteric lymph nodes of carnivores in comparison with regional lymph nodes

Degradation of Multiple Peptides by Microcystin-Degrader Paucibacter toxinivorans (2C20)

Since conventional drinking water treatments applied in different countries are inefficient at eliminating potentially toxic cyanobacterial peptides, a number of bacteria have been studied as an alternative to biological filters for the removal of microcystins (MCs). Here, we evaluated the degradation of not only MCs variants (-LR/DM-LR/-RR/-LF/-YR), but also non-MCs peptides (anabaenopeptins A/B, aerucyclamides A/D) by Paucibactertoxinivorans over 7 days. We also evaluated the degradation rate of MC-LR in a peptide mix, with all peptides tested, and in the presence of M. aeruginosa crude extract. Furthermore, biodegradation was assessed for non-cyanobacterial peptides with different chemical structures, such as cyclosporin A, (Glu1)-fibrinopeptide-B, leucine-enkephalin, and oxytocin. When cyanopeptides were individually added, P. toxinivorans degraded them (99%) over 7 days, except for MC-LR and -RR, which decreased by about 85 and 90%, respectively. The degradation rate of MC-LR decreased in the peptide mix compared to an individual compound, however, in the presence of the Microcystis extract, it was degraded considerably faster (3 days). It was noted that biodegradation rates decreased in the mix for all MCs while non-MCs peptides were immediately degraded. UPLC–QTOF–MS/MS allowed us to identify two linear biodegradation products for MC-LR and MC-YR, and one for MC-LF. Furthermore, P. toxinivorans demonstrated complete degradation of non-cyanobacterial peptides, with the exception of oxytocin, where around 50% remained after 7 days. Thus, although P. toxinivorans was previously identified as a MC-degrader, it also degrades a wide range of peptides under a range of conditions, which could be optimized as a potential biological tool for water treatment.

Particulate Matter Accumulation on Apples and Plums: Roads Do Not Represent the Greatest Threat

Particulate matter (PM) is a mixture of solid and liquid substances of organic and inorganic character suspended in air. Plants are used as biological filters of air. However, PM can be deposited on their edible parts, with a negative effect on people’s health. The aim of this study was to document the PM accumulation on apples and plums harvested from orchards located alongside roads with differing amounts of traffic. Plums accumulated more PM than apples. The deposition of PM on apples increased during fruit development and was highest at harvest. The impact of road type, traffic intensity, and distance from the road on PM accumulation on fruit was small. The least PM was adsorbed by apples harvested from an orchard located close to a road with the highest traffic, while in the case of plums, no effect of the road on PM deposition was recorded. The amount of PM accumulated on fruits depended on the species (fruit morphology, harvest period), activities undertaken in the orchard (early pruning exposes fruits to PM, ecological preparations increase fruit viscosity), and sources of pollution other than the roads located close to the orchard. Washing fruits with water removed half of the accumulated PM.

Environmental risk assessment of intensive beekeeping integrated with aquaponic system

The paper main objectives are to identify an analysis model for development of integrated aquaponics with intensive beekeeping. The socio-economic environmental impact assessment provides the opportunity to analyze the determinants of public attitude towards the use of multifunctional aquapson. In relation to the other agricultural production branches, beekeeping integrated into aquaponic systems is an environmentally friendly technology that does not use additional energy supply within the integrated production system and also recycles waste water from aquaculture through mechanical, biological filters and plant roots.

Comparison of Different Biofilter Media During Biological Bed Maturation Using Common Carp as a Biogen Donor

This experiment analysed the operation of submerged and dripping biological filters with three types of filling: commercial fitting HXF12KLL (CF), two innovative polypropylene aggregates (PPA) and polyethylene screw caps for PET bottles (PSC). The experiment determined the time needed to reach full filter functionality at the maturation stage, the time needed to start successive stages of the nitrification process and the maximum concentration of each nitrogen compound in water in the recirculation systems. The filter operation characteristics after the maturation stage were also examined. These issues are crucial during the preparation and launch of new aquaculture facilities. A literature analysis indicated that the ability of biological filters to oxidise nitrogen compounds is affected by a number of factors. Studies conducted at various centres have covered selected aspects and factors affecting the effectiveness of biological filters. During this study, the model fish common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was used. The current experiment involved examination of biological filter maturation and operation during the carp fry rearing stage, which allowed the biofilter operation characteristics to be determined. At the third day of the experiment, the ammonium concentration reached approximately 3 mg NH4-N/dm3. It remained at this level for 10 days and later decreased below 0.25 mg NH4-N/dm3. The maximum nitrite concentration ranged from 11.7 mg/dm3 to 20.9 mg NO2-N/dm3 within 9 to 20 days and later decreased with time. Nitrate concentrations were seen to increase during the experiment. The all applied biofilter media showed possibility to be used in commercial aquaculture systems.