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Permanent artificial lighting systems in tourist underground environments promote the proliferation of photoautotrophic biofilms, commonly referred to as lampenflora, on damp rock and sediment surfaces. These green-colored biofilms play a key role in the alteration of native community biodiversity and the irreversible deterioration of colonized substrates. Comprehensive chemical or physical treatments to sustainably remove and control lampenflora are still lacking. This study employs an integrated approach to explore the biodiversity, eco-physiology and molecular composition of lampenflora from the Pertosa-Auletta Cave, in Italy. Reflectance analysis showed that photoautotrophic biofilms are able to absorb the totality of the visible spectrum, reflecting only the near-infrared light. This phenomenon results from the production of secondary pigments and the adaptability of these organisms to different metabolic regimes. The biofilm structure mainly comprises filamentous organisms intertwined with the underlying mineral layer, which promote structural alterations of the rock layer due to the biochemical attack of both prokaryotes (mostly represented by Brasilonema angustatum) and eukaryotes (Ephemerum spinulosum and Pseudostichococcus monallantoides), composing the community. Regardless of the corrosion processes, secondary CaCO3 minerals are also found in the biological matrix, which are probably biologically mediated. These findings provide valuable information for the sustainable control of lampenflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to "long‐range atmospheric transport" can reach forest soil in areas far from anthropogenic activities. Information on microorganisms able to metabolize different PAHs helps in developing bioremediation strategies. We focused on the degradation of different molecular weight PAHs (phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene) in a biological natural attenuation process. Data on microbial biomass, growth, and enzyme activities, monitored along 360 days in mesocosms with forest soils (holm oak, black pine, and beech) artificially contaminated with the three PAHs, were analyzed by machine learning techniques, a powerful and novel approach in soil microbial ecology, still scantly employed. Nonlinear statistical learning methods (random forests) and linear‐based classifiers (linear discriminant analysis) were applied to identify which variables were able to separate distinct groups, independently from time. Random forest was also applied to evaluate the importance of each variable in determining the PAH degradation. Nonlinear statistical learning methods more accurately found patterns related to PAH exposure in soil microbial community than the linear‐based classifier. The role of fungi and their related enzymatic activities, laccase in holm oak and peroxidase in beech soil, in phenanthrene and pyrene degradation has been identified, suggesting the importance of myco‐remediation in contaminated‐site restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to validate the use of compost in soil PAH bioremediation, the degradation of anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene was monitored in soils artificially contaminated and incubated in mesocosms under controlled conditions. The dynamics observed in compost amended soil were compared to those observed in soil added with a fungal consortium and untreated soil. At the same time, three microbial enzyme activities usually involved in PAH degradation (laccase, o-diphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities) were monitored. Both PAHs decreased along the time in the three mesocosms, with anthracene, with lower molecular weight, degrading with a higher rate and reaching lower residual values than benzo(a)pyrene. Although at the end of incubation, the residual values of investigated PAHs are similar in the three mesocosm types, PAH dynamics showed a higher degradation rate in the early stage in mesocosms added with the fungal mycelium and amended with compost. Among the three enzyme activities, only peroxidase showed higher values in treated than untreated mesocosms. Considering the ameliorating effects of compost on degraded soils, its use can be suggested in PAH bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are worldwide contaminants that, due to their long-range transport, can accumulate far from the emission sources, e.g. in forest soils. Since changes in soil microbial community can have an impact on ecosystem processes (e.g. nutrient cycling, decomposition, stress stability), studies on the succession of indigenous microbial community following exposure to PAHs are important. Most of these studies are limited to soils aged contaminated with PAHs, since our aim was to fill the knowledge gap on recent PAH contamination. To this aim, soils from three forest systems (holm oak, black pine and beech) were spiked with 3 PAHs (phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[ a ]pyrene) and incubated under controlled conditions in mesocosm. During the first year after incubation, changes in the activity and biomass of the soil microbial community were estimated by analysing phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), fungal biomass (ergosterol content), and fungal and bacterial growth. Findings demonstrated that PAHs affected the soil microbial community structure. Actinomycetes, fungi and Gram+-bacteria were initially resistant to PAH contamination in all the forest systems, whereas for fungi a recovery was observed at the end of incubation, such as ergosterol and growth, in holm oak and beech soils. PAH spikes seemed to have an overall negative effect on bacteria and Gram- groups in all the soils at the beginning of incubation. Considering the values of metabolic activity index (MAI), the composition of the microbial community did not seem to be resistant to the addition of PAHs. However, the soil under beech showed a slightly better resistance to contamination. Furthermore, the community structure did not appear to change in relation to the PAH considered. Overall, in the microbial community of holm oak and beech soils, different groups were able to quickly recover from the new soil conditions. • The native microbial community of forest soils is not resistant to PAH addition. • Community under holm oak and beech select taxa capable of recovering to contamination. • Holm oak and beech forests highly preserve soil ecological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important crops in the world and represents a key crop in southern Italy. With the aim to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of tomato fruits in relation to NPK and compost fertilisation, the concentrations of the main nutrients, toxic elements, primary metabolites and total phenols were determined in two varieties (Lido and San Marzano). Each variety was cultivated in a different experimental field, subjected to different agronomic techniques. RESULTS Concentrations of toxic elements (Cd and Pb) were below the limits indicated by the EU Regulation (2011) in all the fruits analysed. Moreover, fruits obtained from San Marzano plants grown on organic amended soils showed a better overall quality than those obtained on mineral fertilised soil, being characterised by lower N (attributed to lower nitrate and nitrite concentrations), lower Cd, and higher soluble sugar concentrations. Higher concentrations of soluble sugars in fruits from organic amended soils were also observed in the Lido variety. CONCLUSIONS The agricultural use of quality compost represents an effective strategy to obtain high quality products in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in topsoil and in Quercus ilex L. leaves from holm oak woodlands located along urbanization gradients (urban, periurban and extraurban sites) in two Italian regions (Campania and Tuscany). In each sampling site, the metal bioavailability factors (MBFs) and the pollutant bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were calculated to estimate the fraction of each total metal concentration in soil potentially available to root uptake and to know the fate of both HMs and PAHs in the plant–soil system. In general, the results indicated a low atmospheric deposition of pollutants and, in some cases, leaves and soils accumulated higher HM and PAH concentrations in the most urbanized areas. Correlation analyses showed that in each sampling site topsoil and leaves were exposed to the same atmospheric inputs of HMs and PAHs, although to a different extent. Notwithstanding the MBFs and BAFs differed between the two regions for the most HMs, they did not show a clear pattern in relation to the urbanization gradient. However, some information could be deduced by these ratios: the high BAF calculated for Mn shows that the foliar uptake plays an important role in accumulation of this metal. Moreover, for PAHs the different values of BAFs among low and high molecular weight compounds suggest their different fate, the first accumulated in leaves by stomata and the latter preferentially deposited on topsoil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant biodiversity and intra-population genetic variability have not yet been properly exploited in the framework of phytoremediation and soil reclamation. For this reason, iron and other metal accumulation capacity of two Cu and Zn tolerant poplar clones, namely AL22 ( Populus alba L.) and N12 ( Populus nigra L.), was investigated in a pot experiment. Cuttings of the two clones were planted in iron rich soil collected from an urban-industrial area. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn were analysed in leaves (at different times), as well as in stems and in roots (at the end of the experiment), both in control plants and in plants grown on a soil whose Fe availability was artificially enhanced. Results showed that Cd and Zn were preferentially accumulated in leaves, whereas Cu, Fe and Pb were mainly accumulated in roots. The main differences in metal accumulation between clones were related to Cd (about tenfold higher concentrations in N12) and Cu (higher concentrations in AL22). Once soil Fe availability was enhanced, the uptake and accumulation of all metals declined, with the exception of Fe at the first sampling time in AL22 leaves. The different behaviour of the two poplar clones suggests that a thoughtful choice should be made for their use in relation to soil heavy metal remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of compost for soil amendment is a promising agricultural practice environmentally and economically viable. In the framework of a wide research project designed to evaluate the effects of soil amendment with municipal solid waste compost in comparison with traditional mineral fertilization practices, 54 different cultivars (Cvs) of potatoes were AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) molecularly fingerprinted. The seven most genetically biodiverse potato Cvs were used to establish an experimental field in southern Italy. The field area was divided into two portions fertilized with compost (20 Mg ha-1) or with ammonium sulphate (200 kg ha-1). No significant differences in productivity, organoleptic characteristics and element concentrations were observed between the potato tubers obtained with both kinds of soil fertilization, while the tubers grown on compost amended soil showed, on average, higher K concentrations with respect to those grown on mineral fertilised soil. cDNA-AFLP (complementary DNA-AFLP) and MSAP (methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism) analyses were carried out on both leaves and tubers of one selected Cv to estimate if any transcriptome alterations or epigenetic modifications were induced by the two kinds of fertilization, however no variations were detected. Chemical and biological soil qualities (i.e., microbial respiration, FDA hydrolysis, alkaline and acid phosphatase) were assessed on soil samples at the start of the experiment and at the end of potato crop cycle. No significant differences in soil pH and limited ones, in the available fraction of some trace elements, were observed; while conductivity was much higher for the compost amended portion of the experimental field. Microbial respiration, FDA hydrolysis and acid phosphatase activities were significantly increased by compost amendment, in comparison with mineral fertilization. Finally, a sensory panel of potato Cvs detected no significant differences among qualitative descriptors and among potatoes coming from the two differently fertilized soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf nutrient concentrations and the N-to-nutrient ratios were analyzed to evaluate the nutritional status of holm oaks ( Quercus ilex L.) experiencing various anthropogenic pressures. Leaves (1 year old) of Q. ilex and surface soil (0-5 cm) surrounding the trees were collected at seven natural and seven urban sites in Campania Region (Southern Italy) and analyzed for the concentrations of macro (C, N, P, S) and micronutrients (Mn, K, Na, Cu, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn). The available soil fraction of micronutrients was also evaluated. The nutrients showed different concentration ranges for the natural and the urban sites in the soil (total and available) and in the leaves, that we reported separately. Organic-matter content and macronutrient concentrations were higher in the natural soils, while the highest leaf N, S, and P concentrations were found at some urban sites. Concentrations of Cu, Na and Zn both in leaves and soil, and Mg and Fe in leaves from the urban sites appeared to be affected by air depositions. Manganese was the only micronutrient to show higher concentrations at the natural than at the urban sites, both in soil and leaves. For this nutrient, in addition, a relationship between leaf and available soil concentrations was found at the natural sites. The ratios between the concentrations of N and each studied nutrient in the leaves highlighted a different nutritional status between the plants from the natural and urban sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We determined the effects of tropospheric ozone on the chemical composition of Quercus ilex L. leaves and their decomposition, with a view to assessing the influence of ozone on nutrient cycling and the sustainability of Mediterranean holm oak forests. Forming one of the most widespread thermophilous vegetation communities in the area, Q. ilex is a dominant and widespread evergreen oak in the Mediterranean, where concentrations of tropospheric ozone are particularly high. The dynamics of carbon, nitrogen, lignin and cellulose concentrations were monitored for six months during the decomposition of leaves from plants subjected to controlled ozone exposure in open-top chambers. Ozone-exposed leaves, compared to unexposed leaves, showed no significant differences in C, N, lignin and cellulose concentrations prior to the incubation in mesocosms. However, during decomposition, leaves from plants exposed to ozone lost C significantly more slowly and showed a higher C/N ratio than unexposed leaves. Ozone exposure significantly slowed down the decomposition rate, indicating a negative effect of tropospheric ozone on nutrient cycling, which may reduce long-term sustainability of the holm oak forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The temporal dynamics of some trace elements in two different types of Mediterranean soils were studied in order to evaluate the possible long-term contamination following compost amendments. Total and available (DTPA-extractable) concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined. The study was carried out on two agricultural soils in Campania region (southern Italy), a Sandy Loam Calcaric Cambisol (SG) and a Clay Gleyc Luvisol (CO), during 3years of organic amendment with compost. The compost, produced from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and urban yard trimmings, in accordance with the Italian law for agricultural use, was applied at annually rates of 15, 30, and 45tha−1 (on dry weight basis). Wide variations in total and available Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations were observed over time, but appeared to be in many cases unrelated to the treatments, occurring also in control plots. After 3years of compost application the amended SG soil showed the highest and significant increase in total Cd and Zn concentrations; in addition, the available Cd, Pb and Zn concentrations increased in accordance with the compost rates. The CO soil, characterized by a higher clay content, lower organic matter content and lower cation exchange capacity, exhibited a lower increase in available metal fractions. Our findings show that compost amendment affects more the available than the total metal concentrations in the two types of soils studied and thus it is important into legislations that metal “bioavailability” may be considered in defining threshold metal values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Ni, Pb, S, V and Zn concentrations were determined during a whole seasonal cycle in leaves and in water and sediment roots of the aquatic macrophyte Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel from three sites in the Lake Averno (Naples, Italy), a volcanic lake contaminated by trace elements. At the beginning of the research, elemental analysis was also performed on lake sediments, that showed different trace-element concentrations depending on the sites. N, K, S and Mg contents in leaves and roots were of the same order of magnitude, whereas trace-element concentrations in roots were at least one order of magnitude higher than in leaves and increased with ageing, the maximum values being recorded in winter, at the end of the life cycle. N and K concentrations fluctuated during the seasonal cycle, with the highest values recorded during the phase of vegetative activity of the plants, whilst S and Mg contents showed no seasonal variation. Sediment roots, arising from the lower, chlorophyll-less parts of the culms and growing in the bottom sediments, were distinct from water roots, emerging from the green parts of the culms and floating in water, for their particularly prominent aerenchyma, a feature probably related to oxygen limitation. The two root types showed a different capacity to accumulate macro and trace elements. The results confirm P. australis as a particularly suitable plant for phytoremediation of polluted wetlands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A bioaccumulation study was performed on Lake Averno, a volcanic lake close to Naples (southern Italy), to ascertain the degree of trace element contamination. Good information to assess spatial gradients of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V and Zn contamination was provided by analysing Phragmites communis roots, Najas marina shoots, Potamogeton pectinatus leaves and surface sediments of Lake Averno collected from July 1999 to July 2000 at three sites in the littoral zone. The highest concentrations of the trace elements were measured in sediments and plants from the site where a nearby sewage outfall channel reaches the lake, the lowest at the site below woodland. Significant correlations were found between sediment and plant element concentrations. For almost all the elements, values 2–4-fold higher were found for the site affected by the sewage effluent. Among the plant species, Ph. communis is the most useful species in biomonitoring studies due to its ability to accumulate trace elements in the roots and its collectability throughout the year. Given the absence of systematic water quality monitoring, trace elements in plants, rather than sediments, provide a cost-effective means for assessing trace element accumulation in aquatic systems during plant organ lifespan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, soil organic matter (SOM), as well as the structure and function of soil microbial communities in three forest systems (holm oak, black pine and beech) widely distributed in the Mediterranean area, were analyzed to assess the effects of different canopies on microbial community. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, combined with Thermal analyses, was used to characterize SOM, in order to obtain information on its quality and stability. Soil microbial communities were analyzed through the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profile, ergosterol, hydrolase, laccase and peroxidase activities, fungal and bacterial growth. Soil under pine and beech contained more recalcitrant SOM, in respect to the soil under holm oak, characterized by more labile SOM. The PLFA analysis showed a different structure of the edaphic microbial community of the three forests. Soils under pine was characterized by the greatest abundance of fungal biomass and high peroxidase activity likely in relation to the presence in this soil of more recalcitrant compounds, mainly decomposed by fungi. Overall, pine and beech forests represent important carbon sinks with larger amounts of recalcitrant organic matter in their soils. • Pine and beech forests store stable carbon stock in their soil organic matter. • Soil under pine mainly hosts a fungal community. • Stability of soil organic matter affects its utilization by fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial degradation is the main responsible for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) removal from contaminated soils, and the understanding of this process is pivotal to define effective bioremediation approaches. To evaluate the contribution of several microbial groups in soil anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene degradation, the analysis of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles and machine learning techniques were employed. To this end, PLFAs and PAH concentrations were analysed, along 274 days of incubation in mesocosms, in soils artificially contaminated with anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene, subjected to different treatments: untreated soil and soils treated with biowaste compost or fungal consortium. Random forest models, figuring anthracene or benzo[a]pyrene concentrations as dependent variables and PLFAs as predictors, were then built to evaluate the contribution of each variable in PAH degradation. PLFA profiles varied substantially among soil treatments and along time, with the increase of Actinomycetes in soils added with fungi and other Gram+ bacteria in compost amended soils. The former, together with fungi, are primarily responsible for anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene degradation in both treated soils, a process in which also metanotrophs and other Gram+ and Gram- bacteria participate. In untreated soil, the cooperation of a multitude of different microorganisms was, instead, responsible for PAH removal, a process with lower efficiency in respect to treated soils. • The role of PLFA-identified microbial groups in PAH degradation was clarified. • Random forests accurately modeled the PAH-PLFA relationships. • The same microbial groups degrade PAHs in soils added with fungi or biowaste compost. • Fungi and Actinomycetes mainly degrade PAHs in soils added with fungi or compost. • Several microbial groups, each with limited role, degrade PAHs in untreated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Understanding and quantifying the seasonal patterns in biodiversity of phytobenthos, macro‐zoobenthos and fishes in Mediterranean coastal lagoons, and the species dependence upon environmental factors. Location: The study was carried out in the "Stagnone di Marsala e Saline di Trapani e Paceco," the largest coastal lagoon system in the central Mediterranean Sea (Sicily, Italy), a Special Protection Area located along one of the central ecological corridors joining Africa and Europe. Methods: The coastal lagoon system was selected as a model ecosystem to investigate the seasonal variations in biodiversity indices and dominance–diversity relationships in phytobenthos, macro‐zoobenthos and fishes, and how seasonal variations in temperature, salinity, depth, inorganic and organic suspended matter affect the abundance of the species constituting these communities. Models of ecosystem structure, describing the interactions among functional groups and environmental variables, were also developed using confirmatory path analysis and artificial neural networks to exemplify their application in predicting temperature‐driven alterations. Results: Wide seasonal variations in biodiversity indices and dominance–diversity relationships across the communities of the coastal lagoon system were observed, driven by the dynamics in climate and resource availability. The effects of the environmental variables on taxon abundances varied in relation to the community, with the widest responses elicited in phytobenthos and fishes. Temperature was the main variable affecting taxon abundances in macro‐zoobenthos and was also the major driver of shallow water ecosystem structure. Main conclusions: This research shed light on the seasonal variations in biodiversity of Mediterranean coastal lagoons, elucidating also the tight dependence of phytobenthos, macro‐zoobenthos and fish diversity upon environmental factors. The findings and the methodological approach proposed may be crucial in developing models able to predict future climate‐driven alterations in communities inhabiting these important and threatened ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The populations of Soldanella (Primulaceae) of the southern Apennines (Italy) are unique within the genus for their distribution and ecology. Their highly fragmented distribution range, with three main metapopulations on some of the highest mountains (Gelbison, Sila and Aspromonte massifs) of the area, poses intriguing questions about their evolutionary history and biogeography, and about the possibility of local endemisms. Aims and methods: In order to clarify the phylogeny and biogeography of the three metapopulations of Soldanella in the southern Apennines, attributed to S. calabrella to date, and to identify possible local endemisms, a comparative approach based on the study of molecular, morphological and ecological characteristics of the populations was employed. Specifically, one nuclear (total ITS) and two plastid (rbcL and trnL) markers were used for the phylogenetic analyses, performed through both maximum likelihood and Bayesian techniques. Among the morphological features, the glandular hair and leaf biometric traits were analysed, and the environment in which the populations grew was characterised for altitude, forest canopy composition and soil pH, C, N and organic matter. Results and conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the lineage of Soldanella of southern Italy diverged from the Carpathians lineage during theMiddle Pleistocene, and underwent an evolutionary radiation during the Late Pleistocene. The populations of the Sila and Aspromonte massifs diverged from the populations of the Gelbison massif around 380000 years ago and are probably undergoing a progressive differentiation due to their isolation. The populations on the Gelbison massif, moreover, have different morphological features from those of the Sila and Aspromonte massifs and a different ecological niche. The molecular, morphological and ecological data clearly demonstrate that the metapopulation of Soldanella on the Gelbison massif belongs to a new taxonomic unit at the species level, which we name Soldanella sacra A. & L. Bellino from the name of the massif on which it was discovered, the "Holy Mountain". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litter decomposition is an important process affecting the carbon balance of forest ecosystems. In the Mediterranean area, seasonal changes, local climate variations and structural characteristics of forest stands may have a remarkable effect on decomposition rates. In this study, we developed a semi-empirical model for assessing the early-stage litter degradation dynamics over two years (2011-2012) in three sites located along a north-south transect in central Italy (Umbria, Lazio and Campania) and covered by sub-Mediterranean mixed woods. Adequate time-depending functions modeling the seasonal fluctuations of decomposition rates were developed and combined with suitable algorithms taking into account the effect of local climatic conditions. Leaf litter was split into the labile (easy-degraded) and recalcitrant subcomponents. The effects of temperature and moisture were modeled by specific equations and decomposition rates by time-depending functions. Equations were calibrated on field experimental data obtained by the litterbag method at the three study sites. Model validation revealed an excellent correlation between observed and predicted values (R2 between 0.89 and 0.95), indicating the accuracy of the model in predicting differences in decomposition rates among different local climatic conditions. The simple structure and the reliability of predictions are important characteristics of the model developed, that may be considered an operative alternative to other currently used methods aimed at assessing CO2 release and carbon balance of forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caves are usually oligotrophic ecosystems, where the organic matter represents a limiting factor to the hypogeal community and sediments are often a significant energy source. With a view to identifying the energy input influencing the ecological processes occurring in caves, as well as the potential alteration sources of the natural equilibriums, geochemical features of several typologies of clastic sediments from the Pertosa-Auletta Cave (Italy) were investigated. The collected sediments, analyzed for a number of chemical (organic matter, Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Zn concentrations) and mineralogical (quartz, calcite, dolomite, clay minerals) characteristics, showed a different composition. Overall, their origin is supposed to be allochthonous, related to the important fluviokarst activities interesting the cave in the past, whereas the abundance of calcitic and dolomitic compounds can be autochthonous, being the carbonate the main host rock. The highest concentrations of organic matter, together with C, Cu, Mo, N, P, Pb, S and Zn, highlighted in one sample composed mainly of bats guano, revealed an important bioavailable energy input as well as a pollutant accumulation, mainly of anthropogenic origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb were measured in leaves of Quercus ilex L. and in the soils collected from 15 sites of the Campania Region of Italy of two different typologies (anthropic and remote), in order to evaluate: (1) the effect of translocation and/or direct deposition from air on leaf element concentrations; and (2) the suitability of the studied matrices as pollution monitors. The available fractions of the studied elements in the soils were also measured. The accumulation factor (anthropic/remote sites) was calculated to evaluate the element accumulation, both in leaves and soils, at the anthropic sites compared to the remote sites. The concentration factor (leaf/soil) was used to investigate the translocation of the element from soil to leaves. Cd and Cr soil contents at the remote sites were higher than at the anthropic ones; in contrast, at the latter, Cd and Cr leaf concentrations were higher than at the remote sites. Cu and Pb concentrations were greater both in the soils and in the leaves of the anthropic sites as compared to the remote ones. The differences between the two site typologies were statistically different with the exception of Cu soil contents. The concentrations of Cu and Pb in the leaves and in the soils were significantly correlated. Available Cd, Cu and Pb fractions were significantly correlated to the total soil contents. Moreover, available Cu in the soil was significantly correlated to Cu leaf concentrations. All the studied elements appear to be taken up in relevant measure directly from the air at the anthropic sites. The translocation from roots to leaves could be relevant only for Cu. Q. ilex leaves appear better biomonitors than soil in the investigated area. The soil background contents of all the studied elements hid the input of trace elements from the air. In addition, soil contents reflect a mixture of past and recent inputs, whereas leaf contents reflect the element inputs for a known exposure time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Biowaste compost promoted crop yields equal to or higher than chemical fertilizers. • Biowaste compost can plays a pivotal role in soil fertility of horticultural vegetable cropping systems. • Risk of NO3 leaching is equally low for both chemical fertilizers and composts. • SOC content at 10 g kg−1 corresponded to a degraded soil fertility. • SOC in a range12-14 g kg−1 enhanced soil autonomy from chemical fertilizers. The intensification of agriculture has been distorting the perception of fertility, with a great attention on its chemical component, reinforced by the use of chemical fertilizers as a major option to manage soil fertility. The consequent decline in soil organic matter content is a threat to the sustainability of intensive agricultural systems. Improving soil quality by increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) is seen as a potential way of improving crop yield and quality. In this paper, we studied the effects of two compost-based fertilization strategies on soil fertility and on yields of the following seven vegetable crops: eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), Endive (Cichorium endivia L.), Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten Exfarw), Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L), Onion (Allium cepa L. var. cepa), Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L), Fennel (Pheniculum vulgare L). The results of a seven-year experiment carried out under open field conditions in Southern Italy are presented. Four different fertilization treatments were applied: a) unfertilized control (CNT) b) supplying of mineral N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O by chemical fertilizers (CF); c) biowaste compost amendment at 30 Mg ha−1 year−1 as dry matter (d.m.) (≈ 8.4 Mg ha−1 organic C) in the first three years, and 15 Mg ha−1 year−1 as d.m. (≈ 4.2 Mg ha−1 organic C) from the fourth year onwards (Com); d) biowaste compost application of 15 Mg ha−1 year−1 as d.m. integrated with ½ of mineral N supplied in the mineral fertilization (ComN). We demonstrated that the loss of the productive ability in unfertilized control corresponded to SOC concentration ≤ 1%, the same occurred with CF fertilization where, however, the addition of chemical fertilizers concealed soil degradation. On the contrary, SOC concentration ranging between 1.2 and 1.4% in compost amended treatments granted vegetable crops yields always higher than or similar to mineral fertilization. Such SOC concentrations were far from the 2% threshold considered as the minimum SOC concentration of not degraded soil. SOC content increased 8.1 and 5.7 Mg ha−1 due to Com and ComN strategies. The supplying of 4-5 Mg C ha−1 year−1 as in ComN resulted in a positive efficiency (15%) in stabilizing C in soil compared to the supplying of higher doses as in Com. As concerns the risks of groundwater pollution due to N-NO 3 releases in amended soils, we ascertained in three annual monitoring campaigns that releases measured in the 0-30 cm soil layer did not exceed values of 20-25 mg kg−1 considered as the treshold above which vegetable crop response to additional fertilization was unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbiota associated with vermiculations from karst caves is largely unknown. Vermiculations are enigmatic deposits forming worm-like patterns on cave walls all over the world. They represent a precious focus for geomicrobiological studies aimed at exploring both the microbial life of these ecosystems and the vermiculation genesis. This study comprises the first approach on the microbial communities thriving in Pertosa-Auletta Cave (southern Italy) vermiculations by next-generation sequencing. The most abundant phylum in vermiculations was Proteobacteria, followed by Acidobacteria > Actinobacteria > Nitrospirae > Firmicutes > Planctomycetes > Chloroflexi > Gemmatimonadetes > Bacteroidetes > Latescibacteria. Numerous less-represented taxonomic groups (< 1%), as well as unclassified ones, were also detected. From an ecological point of view, all the groups co-participate in the biogeochemical cycles in these underground environments, mediating oxidation-reduction reactions, promoting host rock dissolution and secondary mineral precipitation, and enriching the matrix in organic matter. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy brought evidence of a strong interaction between the biotic community and the abiotic matrix, supporting the role of microbial communities in the formation process of vermiculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper is an essential element for all living organisms; however, it becomes toxic at high concentrations due to its ability to participate in many redox reactions. This vital micronutrient balance plays an important role in the battle between host and pathogen, due to its use by the host to intoxicate pathogens. In this study, we explore the effects of copper deprivation on Helicobacter infection in mice using the copper chelator tetrathiomolybdate. Our results reveal that Helicobacter infection significantly reduces copper concentration in mice stomachs without affecting its circulating levels. Moreover, in copper‐deprived mice, bacteria hardly colonize the epithelium and mice show less gastric damage in comparison with the infected ones. However, when the copper chelator is administered after infection, the condition of the mouse stomachs declines. This could be explained by the lower copper availability in tetrathiomolybdate‐treated mice, which would reduce macrophages' action against the pathogen. In this scenario, we observe that the protective factor trefoil factor 1 is induced upon copper‐deprived conditions, probably contributing to the inefficacy of infection, whereas, when the chelator is administered after infection, the gene is already silenced by bacteria and cannot be restored. In conclusion, our data suggest that Helicobacter takes advantage of gastric copper reducing its availability for the host and that copper levels have an impact on the outcome of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetida Cave is an active sulfuric acid cave influenced by seawater, showing abundant microbial communities that organize themselves under three main different morphologies: water filaments, vermiculations and moonmilk deposits. These biofilms/deposits have different cave distribution, pH, macro- and microelement and mineralogical composition, carbon and nitrogen content. In particular, water filaments and vermiculations had circumneutral and slightly acidic pH, respectively, both had abundant organic carbon and high microbial diversity. They were rich in macro- and microelements, deriving from mineral dissolution, and, in the case of water filaments, from seawater composition. Vermiculations had different color, partly associated with their mineralogy, and unusual minerals probably due to trapping capacities. Moonmilk was composed of gypsum, poor in organic matter, had an extremely low pH (0–1) and low microbial diversity. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, the microbial composition of the biofilms/deposits included autotrophic taxa associated with sulfur and nitrogen cycles and biomineralization processes. In particular, water filaments communities were characterized by bacterial taxa involved in sulfur oxidation and reduction in aquatic, aphotic, microaerophilic/anoxic environments (Campylobacterales, Thiotrichales, Arenicellales, Desulfobacterales, Desulforomonadales) and in chemolithotrophy in marine habitats (Oceanospirillales, Chromatiales). Their biodiversity was linked to the morphology of the water filaments and their collection site. Microbial communities within vermiculations were partly related to their color and showed high abundance of unclassified Betaproteobacteria and sulfur-oxidizing Hydrogenophilales (including Sulfuriferula), and Acidiferrobacterales (including Sulfurifustis), sulfur-reducing Desulfurellales, and ammonia-oxidizing Planctomycetes and Nitrospirae. The microbial community associated with gypsum moonmilk showed the strong dominance (>60%) of the archaeal genus Thermoplasma and lower abundance of chemolithotrophic Acidithiobacillus, metal-oxidizing Metallibacterium, Sulfobacillus, and Acidibacillus. This study describes the geomicrobiology of water filaments, vermiculations and gypsum moonmilk from Fetida Cave, providing insights into the microbial taxa that characterize each morphology and contribute to biogeochemical cycles and speleogenesis of this peculiar seawater-influenced sulfuric acid cave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution by metal and metalloid ions is one of the most widespread environmental concerns. They are non-biodegradable, and, generally, present high water solubility facilitating their environmental mobilisation interacting with abiotic and biotic components such as adsorption onto natural colloids or even accumulation by living organisms, thus, threatening human health and ecosystems. Therefore, there is a high demand for effective removal treatments of heavy metals, making the application of adsorption materials such as polymer-functionalized nanocomposites (PFNCs), increasingly attractive. PFNCs retain the inherent remarkable surface properties of nanoparticles, while the polymeric support materials provide high stability and processability. These nanoparticle-matrix materials are of great interest for metals and metalloids removal thanks to the functional groups of the polymeric matrixes that provide specific bindings to target pollutants. This review discusses PFNCs synthesis, characterization and performance in adsorption processes as well as the potential environmental risks and perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemometric analysis applied to diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is increasingly proposed as an effective and accurate methodology to predict soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Its effectiveness, however, largely varies in relation to the calibration techniques and the specific soil properties. In addition, the calibration of UV-Vis-NIR spectra usually requires large datasets, and the identification of techniques suitable to deal with small sample sizes and high dimensionality problems is a primary challenge. In order to investigate the predictability of many soil chemical and biological properties from a small dataset and to identify the most suitable techniques to deal with this type of problems, we analysed 20 top soil samples of three different forests (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus cerris and Quercus ilex) in southern Apennines (Italy). Diffuse reflectance spectra were recorded in the UV-Vis-NIR range (200-2500 nm) and 22 chemical and biological properties were analysed. Three different calibration techniques were tested, namely the Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR), the combinations wavelet transformation/Elastic net and wavelet transformation/Supervised Principal Component (SPC) regression/ Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), a kind of preconditioned LASSO. Calibration techniques were applied to both raw spectra and spectra subjected to wavelet shrinkage filtering, in order to evaluate the influence on predictions of spectra denoising. Overall, SPC/LASSO outperformed the other techniques with both raw and denoised spectra. Elastic net produced heterogeneous results, but outperformed SPC/LASSO for total organic carbon, whereas PLSR produced the worst results. Spectra denoising improved the prediction accuracy of many parameters, but worsen the predictions in some cases. Our approach highlighted that: (i) SPC/LASSO (and Elastic net in the case of total organic carbon) is especially suitable to calibrate spectra in the case of small, high dimensional datasets; and (ii) spectra denoising could be an effective technique to improve calibration results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trefoil Factor 1 belongs to a group of small secreted proteins (the Trefoil Factor Family proteins), that are localized within the mucous granules and are expressed and secreted by epithelial cells that line mucous membranes. Trefoil factors are mainly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, where they normally contribute to maintain the integrity of the mucosa. We recently demonstrated a selective binding ability of Trefoil Factor 1 for copper ions, through its carboxy-terminal tail, and we also observed that copper levels influence the equilibrium between the monomeric and homodimeric forms of Trefoil Factor 1, thus modulating its biological activity. Here we report that transcriptional regulation of Trefoil Factor 1 is also affected by copper levels, through the modulated binding of the copper-sensing transcription factor Sp1 onto the responsive elements present in the regulatory region of the gene. In addition we demonstrate that copper overload causes an accumulation of the trefoil protein in the Trans-Golgi Network and that Trefoil Factor 1 levels can influence copper excretion and copper related toxicity. These findings suggest that the protein might play a role in the overall complex mechanisms of copper homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined genetic variation and metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in Leptodon smithii moss collected in holm oak stands at cities, outskirts and remote areas of Campania and Tuscany (Italy) to investigate if anthropogenic pressure (pollutant emissions and land use change) affects moss genetic richness. In both regions, metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations reflected the trend urban > outskirts > remote areas, excepting Tuscany remote site. In both regions, the moss gene diversity increased from urban to remote areas. The findings suggest the extent and the fragmentation of urban green areas, as drivers of moss genetic richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partially mycoheterotrophic (mixotrophic) plants gain carbon from both photosynthesis and their mycorrhizal fungi. This is considered an ancestral state in the evolution of full mycoheterotrophy, but little is known about this nutrition, and especially about the physiological balance between photosynthesis and fungal C gain. To investigate possible compensation between photosynthesis and mycoheterotrophy in the Mediterranean mixotrophic orchid Limodorum abortivum, fungal colonization was experimentally reduced in situ by fungicide treatment. We measured photosynthetic pigments of leaves, stems, and ovaries, as well as the stable C isotope compositions (a proxy for photosynthetic C gain) of seeds and the sizes of ovaries and seeds. We demonstrate that (1) in natural conditions, photosynthetic pigments are most concentrated in ovaries; (2) pigments and photosynthetic C increase in ovaries when fungal C supply is impaired, buffering C limitations and allowing the same development of ovaries and seeds as in natural conditions; and (3) responses to light of pigment and C contents in ovaries shift from null responses in natural conditions to responses typical of autotrophic plants in treated L. abortivum, demonstrating photoadaptation and enhanced use of light in the latter. L. abortivum thus preferentially feeds on fungi in natural conditions, but employs compensatory photosynthesis to buffer fungal C limitations and allow seed development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Copper is an essential yet toxic metal and its overload causes Wilson disease, a disorder due to mutations in copper transporter ATP7B. To remove excess copper into the bile, ATP7B traffics toward canalicular area of hepatocytes. However, the trafficking mechanisms of ATP7B remain elusive. Here, we show that, in response to elevated copper, ATP7B moves from the Golgi to lysosomes and imports metal into their lumen. ATP7B enables lysosomes to undergo exocytosis through the interaction with p62 subunit of dynactin that allows lysosome translocation toward the canalicular pole of hepatocytes. Activation of lysosomal exocytosis stimulates copper clearance from the hepatocytes and rescues the most frequent Wilson-disease-causing ATP7B mutant to the appropriate functional site. Our findings indicate that lysosomes serve as an important intermediate in ATP7B trafficking, whereas lysosomal exocytosis operates as an integral process in copper excretion and hence can be targeted for therapeutic approaches to combat Wilson disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and environment friendly in situ technique for the reclamation of heavy metal-polluted soils. The efficacy of this technique, which relies on tolerant plant species, can be improved by the use of chelating agents. A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the phytoextraction and phytostabilisation capacities of a white poplar (Populus alba L.) clone named AL35 previously selected for its marked tolerance to copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Cuttings were grown on agricultural soil highly contaminated with Cu and Zn, in the presence or not (controls) of a chelant mixture (EDTA/EDDS) known to enhance metal bioavailability and, hence, uptake by plant roots, or the not yet investigated synthetic, highly biodegradable polyaspartic acid (PASP). Both chelant treatments improved the phytostabilisation of Cu and Zn in AL35 plants, whilst the phytoextraction capacity was enhanced only in the case of Cu. Considering that the effectiveness of PASP as phytostabilizer was comparable or better than that of EDTA/EDDS, the low cost of its large-scale chemical synthesis and its biodegradability makes it a good candidate for chelant-enhanced metal phytoextraction from soil while avoiding the toxic side-effects previously described for both EDTA and EDDS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Trefoil protein 1 (TFF1) is a small secreted protein belonging to the trefoil factor family of proteins, that are present mainly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and play pivotal roles as motogenic factors in epithelial restitution, cell motility, and other incompletely characterized biological processes. We previously reported the up-regulation of TFF1 gene in copper deficient rats and the unexpected property of the peptide to selectively bind copper. Following the previous evidence, here we report the characterization of the copper binding site by fluorescence quenching spectroscopy and mass spectrometric analyses. We demonstrate that Cys58 and at least three Glu surrounding residues surrounding it, are essential to efficiently bind copper. Moreover, copper binding promotes the TFF1 homodimerization, thus increasing its motogenic activity in in vitro wound healing assays. Copper levels could then modulate the TFF1 functions in the GI tract, as well as its postulated role in cancer progression and invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chara gymnophylla is a reliable biomonitor of PTEs in freshwater ecosystems. • Chara gymnophylla and Fontinalis antipyretica show different PTE selectivity. • The custom made moss and alga bags are effective and reliable exposure devices. • Variance partitioning sheds light on biomonitor responses to environmental gradients. • Natural and anthropogenic sources can be deduced by PTE spatial variation scales. At the core of the adaptive ecosystem management paradigm, environmental monitoring, especially using biomonitors, mandates the search for tools and approaches to overcome its current limitations, both in terms of novel species and analytical techniques to extract information from the data. In this context, a large field biomonitoring study was performed in order to validate a candidate active biomonitor, the macrophytic alga Chara gymnophylla , using a long-established biomonitor (the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica) as reference, innovative spatial analysis approaches and the area of two of the main freshwater ecosystems of the "Cilento Vallo di Diano e Alburni" National Park as experimental setting. Specifically, the concentrations of 19 potentially toxic elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Si, V, Zn) in 3 alga and 3 moss bags placed in each of 41 sites along the Bussento and Calore Salernitano rivers were analyzed. The coherence of element gradients between biomonitors, the spatial heterogeneity in element distribution and their spatial scales were evaluated using robust multivariate approaches, random models and spectral decomposition of the spatial gradients. Results demonstrate the substantial uniformity in responses between the biomonitors, both showing similar element spatial distributions, within and between-site variability, the same spatial connectivity and spatial variations at similar scales. On the one hand, the approach adopted and the findings obtained allow definitely validating Ch. gymnophylla as a novel active biomonitor of potentially toxic elements in freshwater ecosystems and, on the other hand, deriving clear contamination scenarios, with indication of the alleged sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• M. aquatica is a promising cosmopolitan biomonitor of PTEs in freshwater ecosystems. • M. aquatica roots can accumulate PTEs over wide concentration ranges. • The joint use of two selected hydrophytes enhanced biomonitoring accuracy. • Spatial and temporal PTE concentration gradients were highlighted in a sensitive area. • High Cd, Cr, Ni and Zn concentrations were observed near three karst springs. Environmental monitoring in sensitive areas is crucial to develop and adapt governance policies. In this context, biomonitoring provides information not only on environmental contamination gradients, but also on the actual pollutant bioavailabilities and, using bioaccumulators, on their possible transfer through the food webs. The spatial distribution of suitable bioaccumulators, however, may limit the effectiveness of biomonitoring. To relieve this constraint, we investigated the usefulness of Mentha aquatica as a novel cosmopolitan biomonitor of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in freshwater ecosystems, using Helosciadium nodiflorum , a widely recognized biomonitor, as a reference for environmental concentration gradients. The biomonitors were then employed in deriving spatial gradients of macronutrient (Ca, K, Mg, P, S), micronutrient (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, Ni, Si, V, Zn) and non-essential element (Al, As, Cd, Pb) concentrations in the area of one of the largest Italian national parks. Over two years and a large number of sites, M. aquatica roots provided PTE concentration gradients comparable to those obtained using H. nodiflorum roots, demonstrating their usefulness in PTE biomonitoring and widening the range of suitable biomonitors for freshwater ecosystems. At the same time, the joint use of M. aquatica and H. nodiflorum enhanced the accuracy of concentration gradients measured in two of the main freshwater ecosystems within the "Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni" National Park (southern Italy). The study, performed for two consecutive years over 43 sites along the Bussento and Calore Salernitano rivers, pointed out several criticalities, attributable either to natural or anthropogenic sources. High natural concentrations of Al, As, Na, Si and V were mainly related to local characteristics (proximity to sea, sediment texture) or generalized lithological background (pyroclastic deposits on carbonates), whereas local high concentrations of Co, Fe and Mn were mainly related to direct or indirect anthropogenic sources (proximity to urban centers, wastewater treatment plants). Moreover, unusual high concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni and Zn were observed at three spring mouths, suggesting changes in their bioavailability due to spring water physico-chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike the spectacular speleothems that can often be found in numerous caves, vermiculations are rather unassuming formations, whose origin and evolution still subject of several heated debates. In order to provide a quantitative basis for the understanding of the nature and evolution of vermiculations in karst environments, the geochemical properties of one of the most important karst systems of southern Italy, the Pertosa-Auletta Cave, were studied through a comprehensive approach which included elemental, mineralogical and microscopy analyses. The chemical element abundances, mineral composition and microstructure of the vermiculations covering the entire range of morphologies and colours observed in the case-study cave were investigated, thus providing the first quantitative record of these traits. The vermiculations presented exceptional diversity in their morphology, colour, chemical and mineral composition, with it being due to exogenous determinants such as the deposition of stream sediments or organic matter as well as the development of photoautotrophic communities. They were invariably composed of calcite, associated to quartz as well as clays and other secondary minerals, the formation of which may be biologically mediated. This occurrence, and the evidences of microbial activity observed through dissolution traces, support the possible involvement of biogenic processes in vermiculation development. • Morphology, chemistry and mineralogy of vermiculations have been investigated. • Vermiculations from Pertosa-Auletta Cave exhibit exceptional diversity. • Local and broad-scale factors contribute to vermiculation diversity. • Clays and other minerals on a calcite matrix constitute vermiculations. • Microbial involvement in micro-scale vermiculation traits has been documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]