Search

This review examines the role of soil and sediment organisms as bioindicators in environmental pollution assessment. As fundamental elements of terrestrial ecosystems, soils harbour a rich and diverse biodiversity that plays a key role in regulating ecological processes. The use of bioindicators provides a sensitive and specific approach to detecting the effects of chemical, biological, and physical pollutants on soil health. The review presents a detailed analysis of the types of contaminants commonly encountered, the soil organisms used as bioindicators, and the criteria for selecting the most appropriate bioindicators. It also discusses assessment methods, including soil sampling and analysis techniques, and the biological and ecological indices used to measure contamination. Regional case studies illustrate the practical application of bioindicators for assessing soil quality in different geographical contexts. The review also highlights current challenges to the use of bioindicators, such as technical limitations and the variability of organism responses, and suggests perspectives for future research, including technological innovation and the integration of bioindicators into environmental policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how tree species respond to drought in their natural environment is needed to predict forest adaptation and management practices under global environmental changes. This study was carried out to determine physiological and biochemical responses to variations in environmental conditions of three provenance of Pinus halepensis. Our study consists in particularly to determine the intra-specific variability in water deficit responses of Aleppo pine using gas exchange measurements and biochemical markers such as proline, soluble sugars content, and chlorophyll pigments. The results showed a significant difference between the three provenances of Aleppo pine. The considerable decrease in photosynthetic capacity during the summer season coincides not only with the reduction of stomatal closure but also with a gradual decline in the content of chlorophyll pigments. In addition, a very important accumulation of proline and sugars in the aerial organs was recorded during the summer season, especially in the Italian provenance. Gas exchange exhibited significant differences (p <.05) among the months studied, with the highest values being for March (with greater water availability). Our results underscore the need to consider seasonal drought tolerance when selecting tree species for specific reforestation sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of geographic origin in mineral compositions on the Q. canariensis acorns. The results showed that there were significant (p < 0.5) differences between populations for macronutrients Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), Potassium (K)) except for Phosphorus (P) and for all studied micronutrients: Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn). Potassuim contents of acorn ranged from 5,638 to 7,667 mg/g MS with highest being for Nefza acorn and lowest for Bni Mtir ones. It is the highest macronutrients for all population. However Iron was the most abandon micronutrient, varied widely from 0,491 mg/g MS (Bni Mtir) to 1,230 mg/g MS (Nefza). No significant differences were recorded for Heavy metal. The concentrations of Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni) and Cobalt (Co) in acorns flour are null. On the other hand Cadmium (Cd) and Copper (Cu) were found but with concentrations which were much lower than that the acceptable limits for herbs and spices by WHO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the role of seeds origin in drought tolerance, the response to water deprivation of cork oak seedlings differing in climatic conditions at their geographical origin was compared. Gaâfour is the provenance from the driest site and Feija is the provenance from the wettest site. Net photosynthesis (An), stomatal conductance (gs) and leaf water potential were measured during dehydration. A delayed decrease in leaf water potential is observed after water withholding in Gaâfour as compared to Feija leaves. At the onset of dehydration, An and gs were higher in Feija. After withholding watering, Gaâfour leaves were able to maintain a higher An and gs than Feija leaves. Most likely, drought tolerance in Gaâfour leaves is associated to their lower gs under wellhydrated conditions. The stomatal density (Ds) and specific leaf area (SLA) were not different in well-watered leaves but, leaf hydraulic conductance was lower in Gaâfour leaves when compared to Feija leaves. Our results suggested that lower stomatal and hydraulic conductances of Gaâfour leaves could be involved in bringing about the better resistance to dehydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]