Agriculture is the major contributor of nitrogen to ecosystems, both by organic and inorganic fertilizers. Percolation of nitrate to groundwater and further transport to surface waters is assumed to be one of the major pathways in the fate of this nitrogen. The quantification of groundwater and associated nitrate flux to streams is still challenging. In particular because we lack understanding of the spatial distribution and temporal variability of groundwater and associated NO3- fluxes. In this preliminary study we will focus on the identification and quantification of groundwater and associated nitrate fluxes by combining high resolution distributed fiber-optic temperature sensing (DTS) with in situ UV photometry (ProPS). DTS is a new technique that is capable to measure temperature over distances of km with a spatial resolution of ca1 m and an accuracy of 0.01 K. It has been applied successfully to identify and quantify sources of groundwater discharge to streams. ProPS is a submersible UV process photometer, which uses high precision spectral analyses to provide single substance concentrations, in our case NO3-, at minute intervals and a detection limit of less than 0.05 mg l-1 (ca.0.01 mg NO3--Nl-1). We will conduct field experiments using artificial point sources of lateral inflow to test DTS and ProPS based quantification approaches and estimate their uncertainty. The selected study area is the Schwingbach catchment in Hessen, Germany, which has a good monitoring infrastructure. Preliminary research on hydrological fluxes and field observations indicate that the catchment favors the intended study.
The sorption of anions in geotechnical multibarrier systems of planned high level waste repositories (HLWR) and of non-ionic and organic pollutants in conventional waste disposals are in the center of recent research. In aquatic systems, persistent radionuclides such as 79Se, 99Tc, 129I exist in a form of anions. There is strongly increasing need to find materials with high sorption capacities for such pollutants. Specific requirements on barrier materials are long-term stability of adsorbent under various conditions such as T > 100 C, varying hydrostatic pressure, and the presence of competing ions. Organo-clays are capable to sorb high amounts of cations, anions and non-polar molecules simultaneously having selectivity for certain ions. This project is proposed to improve the understanding of sorption and desorption processes in organo-clays. Additionally, the modification of material properties under varying chemical and thermal conditions will be determined by performing diffusion and advection experiments. Changes by sorption and diffusion will be analyzed by determining surface charge and contact angles. Molecular simulations on models of organo-clays will be conducted in an accord with experiments with aim to understand and analyze experimental results. The computational part of the project will profit from the collaboration of German partner with the group in Vienna, which has a long standing experience in a modeling of clay minerals.
Shallow groundwater of the huge deltaic systems of Asia like the Red River Delta in Vietnam is often enriched in inorganic arsenic (As), threatening the health of millions of residents. The massive abstraction of groundwater in these areas locally causes an irreversible mixing of arsenic-free groundwater resources with arsenic-rich groundwater. Increased concentrations of competitive anions, especially phosphate (PO43-), decrease the immobilization capacity of the sediments. During transport, the mobility of dissolved As in local aquifers is strongly influenced by adsorption to sedimentary and ubiquitously occurring iron(oxyhydr)oxides. Additionally, arsenic-rich groundwater is often enriched in reduced iron (Fe2+) as well, which is capable to react with iron(oxyhydr)oxides, thereby inducing mineral transformations. Such transformations permanently affect the arsenic adsorption and immobilization capacity of the sediments.Within the scope of this research project, the underlying mechanisms related to As transport and the resulting threat to arsenic-free groundwater resources will be characterized in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). The research concept aims at assessing the complex interactions within the arsenic-iron-phosphate-system under field conditions at a study site next to the Red River. First, filtration experiments using local groundwater enriched in As and PO43- will be used to determine the As adsorption capacity of different and previously geochemically characterized iron(oxyhydr)oxides. In a second step, sample carrier containing As loaded iron(oxyhydr)oxides will be introduced into surface near aquifer parts of the study site (via existing groundwater monitoring wells). These samples will be exposed to local groundwater characterized by increased As, Fe2+ and PO43- concentrations for the following nine months. Using the in situ exposition of predefined iron(oxyhydr)oxides, it will be possible to distinguish potential mineral transformations and their influences on the As immobilization capacity of the respective iron(oxyhydr)oxides. By combining the results and outcomes of the field experiments, new and important conclusions regarding the mobility of As can be drawn. The data can be used to create a hydrochemical transport model describing reactive As transport within the investigation area. In addition, the results of the in situ exposition experiments will allow to draw conclusions in respective to the long term As immobilization capacity of different iron(oxyhydr)oxides, which is an essential information regarding in situ decontamination techniques.
NANOINSULATE will develop durable, robust, cost-effective opaque and transparent vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) incorporating new nanotechnology-based core materials (nanofoams, aerogels, aerogel composites) and high-barrier films that are up to four times more energy efficient than current solutions. These new systems will provide product lifetimes in excess of 50 years suitable for a variety of new-build and retrofit building applications. Initial building simulations based on the anticipated final properties of the VIPs indicate reductions in heating demand of up to 74Prozent and CO2 emissions of up to 46Prozent for Madrid, Spain and up to 61Prozent and 55Prozent respectively for Stuttgart, Germany for a building renovation which reduces the U-value of the walls and roof from 2.0 W m-2 K-1 to 0.2 W m-2 K-1. This reduction could be achieved with NANOINSULATE products that are only 25 mm thick, giving a cost-effective renovation without the need of changing all the reveals and ledges. Similarly, significant reductions in U-values of transparent VIPs (3 W m-2 K-1 to 0.5 W m-2 K-1) are shown by substituting double glazed units in existing building stock. Six industrial & four research based partners from seven EU countries will come together to engineer novel solutions capable of being mass produced. Target final manufacturing costs for insulation board (production rates above 5 million m2/year) are less than 7 m-2 for a U-value of 0.2 W m-2 K-1. NANOINSULATE will demonstrate its developments at construction sites across Europe. A Lifecycle Assessment, together with a safety and service-life costing analysis, will be undertaken to prove economic viability. NANOINSULATE demonstrates strong relevance to the objectives and expected impacts of both the specific call text of the Public-Private Partnership Energy-efficient Buildings topic New nanotechnology-based high performance insulation systems for energy efficiency within the 2010 NMP Work Programme and the wider NMP & Energy Thematic Priorities. Prime Contractor: Kingsplan Research and Developments Ltd.; Kingscourt; Irland.
Objective: Metal oxide and metal NPs are particularly dangerous for two reasons: their special catalytic activity coming from the properties of their nanointerface may interfere with numerous intracellular biochemical processes and the decomposition of NPs and the ion leakage could heavily interfere with the intracellular free metal ion homeostasis, which is essential for cell metabolism. A very specific problem is the difficulty of localizing and quantifying them in cells. Obtaining dose effect relationships is not simple, because of the unknown amount of material present in affected cells. The following main points will be addressed in this proposal: - Design and synthesis of metal oxide and metal NPs, which can be traced by SPECT, PET, and fluorescence techniques and the appropriate characterization of these NPs. - Application of label-free techniques, such as IBM and EM to ensure that the radioactive and fluorescent constituents do not modify the cytological and organismic response by themselves. - Characterization of the uptake, distribution kinetics and NP release at the level of the organism. - Study of the interaction of NPs with plasma components forming complexes with NPs and the assessment of their possible impact on the uptake compared with that of bare or capped particles. - Quantification and localization of metallic NPs in immune competent cells is a key task for the establishment of proper dose-response correlations. A technique applicable with living cells as ultimate control will be IBM, capable of detecting single metal NPs in cells at different depths. - Development of sophisticated cell physiological approaches focusing on the determination of oxidative activity, cytokine production and adaptive processes concerning signalling pathways beyond standard vitality tests. The research project will indicate toxic levels of various NPs and sub-toxic effects will be investigated by analysing the signalling response of immune cells.
Understanding the drivers behind the loss of biodiversity currently observed is of major importance in the context of the global change discussion. For studies of biodiversity at broad spatial scales, satellite remote sensing is the premier source of information, as it is uniquely capable of covering large areas of the Earth at high temporal resolution. The underlying assumption is that satellite-derived geophysical surface parameters, such as vegetation greenness, are related to biodiversity. For that purpose, concepts such as the Dynamic Habitat Index (DHI) were recently developed. The DHI combines information on the overall greenness, the base level of vegetation cover, and vegetation seasonality at a certain location. By comparing the annual DHI with a long term mean, areas undergoing disturbances or recovery events can be delineated, which are indicative of changes in species composition and diversity. The concept of the DHI was developed for data obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) post-2000. However, for climate change impact studies a longer time series is desirable. The only sensor system suitable for such applications is the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), which has been in orbit on various platforms since the early 1980ies. The purpose of this project was to develop a methodology to derive long term information on habitat conditions at continental scales based on historical satellite data. In particular, the goal was to adopt the principle of the DHI as developed for the MODIS sensor to an AVHRR archive at 1 km spatial resolution over Canada and to analyze long term variations in the DHI. In a first project phase, an AVHRR data set of vegetation greenness, generated in the framework of the project, was validated against the reference MODIS product. The results demonstrated a very good agreement between both data sets for a wide range of vegetation types and on various spatial and temporal scales. A historical baseline of habitat conditions post-1987 based on the DHI was subsequently generated based on the long term AVHRR data. The analysis of the DHI showed that certain areas, particularly northern parts of the Province of Quebec as well as southwestern Canada, experienced significant changes over the past two decades, which may have had significant impacts on species diversity and abundance in these areas. In the future, the methods developed in the framework of this project may be used to obtain information on long term variations in habitat conditions in areas covered by other historical satellite archives, e.g., for Europe based on an AVHRR archive hosted at the University of Bern.
Most plants rely on insects for their pollination, protection (e.g., from herbivores) and/or seed dispersal, and have formed a mutually beneficial interaction, or mutualism. The current research investigates the evolution of plant traits involved in plant-insect mutualisms. In particular, it focuses on the evolution of extrafloral nectaries (EFNs): secretory structures on plant parts outside the flower, which offer carbohydrate-rich, water-based secretions (=nectar) to ants in return for their protection from herbivores (i.e. protective mutualisms). EFNs occur in some ferns and over hundred families of flowering plants, especially the legume family. However, their phylogenetic distribution within families, morphological diversity and evolution, and evolutionary role are poorly understood. Also EFN plant-ant interactions are known to shape entire tropical and savannah-like ecosystems, but their unexpected occurrence in deserts - where plants need to manage water carefully - has been studied only in a few cacti. This study investigated the diversity and evolution of EFNs at three different levels: (1) in the Leguminosae, the third largest and second economically most important angiosperm family, which also dominates many kinds of vegetation worldwide; (2) in the legume genus Senna, a case study where EFNs represent a key innovation (see past SNF project by B. Marazzi); and (3) in Sonoran Desert plants. Current results show that EFNs occur in species of over 130 legume genera (over twice as many as in the last published account of EFNs in this family). They are particularly abundant in the subfamily Mimosoideae, and may have evolved independently at least 30 times in the family. This incredible number of origins suggests the action of some evolutionary (perhaps genetic) precursor that allowed some clades to evolve EFNs more 'easily' given ceartin selective regimes. Most legume EFNs occur on the (typically pinnate) leaves, less often on stipules and different parts of inflorescences. In Senna, ancestral leaf EFNs appear to have evolved first between the proximal pair of leaflets only (some 40 Million years ago), and later also between the other pairs of leaflets (several times) or only at the base of the leaf stalk (once). In the Sonoran Desert area (including also mountain habitats), EFNs may occur in species from up to 32 families, in several cacti and in particular Leguminosae, dominant in this vegetation. EFNs have apparently been reduced but have been retained in a functional state (i.e., secreting nectar) in most desert legumes, and are thus capable of participating in protective mutualisms with desert ants. This research shows that EFNs are more widespread in plants than previously thought, suggesting that we may have underestimated the role of protective ant-plant interactions in shaping ecosystem ecology and evolution
Limiting the input of toxic trace elements into soils is an important task in achieving sustainability of agricultural land use. Excessive accumulation of trace elements in soils is a major issue world-wide. In the EU agriculture is currently under particular pressure to meet stricter standards of sustainability including zero accumulation of contaminants in soils. Monitoring element accumulation in soils by means of element balancing is a very efficient method to gather the information needed to prevent or at least to limit and control soil pollution at an early stage before critical levels are reached, to prioritize decisions on abatement actions and to guide remedial actions. While methods have been developed and are continuously improved to assess element balances in European agro-ecosystems at the farm scale, there is a lack of similar models that are applicable to agricultural systems at regional scales, capable to deal with the problem of a complex data acquisition from very diverse information sources, account for dynamic feedbacks between system components and adequately address spatial redistribution of elements through processes such as erosion. The objective of this project is to develop a model for the assessment of regional element balances that has these capabilities and can deal with spatial data through combination with a GIS. For this purpose we propose to extend the existing regional mass balance model PROTERRA-S with respective dynamic features and to couple it with a GIS. Accounting for the different agricultural, socio-economic and bio-physical subsystems is a challenge that requires a modular approach with high flexibility. The generalized model will be calibrated and tested in a case study of the Swiss Canton Thurgau, for which comprehensive data bases have been already compiled and are available.
Do genetically modified strawberries pose a threat to wild varieties? Do genetically modified strawberries pose a threat to wild varieties? Strawberries are an important niche product in Switzerland. Breeders are experimenting with genetic engineering methods to enhance the marketability of this product. There are risks inherent in this approach since the transfer of modified genes to wild strawberries could endanger the continued existence of the wild varieties. Background Transgenic varieties of strawberry with higher yields and enhanced root development already exist. The first release trials have already begun in Italy. However, if transgenic varieties of strawberry cross-breed with wild ones, there may be negative effects. The hybrids produced in this way are often sterile, yet by back-crossing with wild types or by producing prolific numbers of offshoots they can penetrate the native flora and displace it. Objectives This project has two basic goals. First, it seeks to assess the extent to which transgenic strawberries are capable of cross-breeding with their wild relatives. Second, it seeks to investigate the possible ecological impact of such crossbreeding under various environmental conditions in order to assess the risks associated with cultivating transgenic strawberries in the open. Methods Greenhouse experiments with honey bees, the most important pollinators of strawberries, will be carried out to show whether and how efficiently natural pollination occurs between transgenic and wild strawberries. Genetic methods will be used to determine how frequently foreign pollination between cultivated and wild strawberries has already occurred in the open in the past. The possible ecological implications of this will be quantified using life history data such as growth and competitive pressure. In these experiments, transgenic and artificially cross-bred strawberries from the laboratory will be planted in various soils. Significance The cultivation of transgenic plants is associated with potential risks for their wild relatives. Scientists have warned that the latter could become extinct as a result of undesirable cross-breeding. However, to date the true extent of these risks has barely been investigated. This project aims to close this gap by generating basic data with transgenic and wild strawberries as model organisms. These data could ultimately be relevant for other related crop plants such as apple trees or cherry trees.
Recent reports have shown that a number of xenobiotics in the environment are able of interfering with the normal endocrine function in animals and also in humans. Suspected effects of such compounds, often referred to as endocrine disruptors (EDs) or endocrine active chemicals (EACs), in humans include decreased sperm counts, increased cases of breast, testicular and other forms of reproductive cancers, genital abnormalities (e.g. hypospadia, cryptorchidism), premature puberty in females, and increased cases of endometriosis. In contrast to these suspicious cases in humans there is convincing evidence for chemically-induced endocrine disruption from wildlife studies. However, the overwhelming majority of investigations on effects of EACs is laboratory based and focuses on vertebrates while much less has been done in the field to address potential population-level effects. More detailed information about the effects on and mechanisms of action in invertebrates has only been obtained from a few cases although invertebrates represent more than 95Prozent of the known species in the animal kingdom. The limited number of examples for endocrine disruption in invertebrates is partially due to the fact that their hormonal systems are rather poorly understood in comparison with vertebrates. Deleterious endocrine changes following an exposure to certain compounds may therefore easily be missed or simply be unmeasurable at present, even though a number of field investigations and laboratory studies show that endocrine disruption has probably occurred. The example of tributyltin (TBT) compounds and their masculinising effects in more than 150 species of prosobranch molluscs shows that apparently trivial biochemical changes can have drastic effects up to the community level by a final sterilisation of affected females with a consequent demise and local extinction of populations. However, with the exception of TBT in marine prosobranchs, it has never been convincingly shown that EACs are capable to exert such far-reaching effects in field populations and pose a risk for their survival at environmentally relevant concentrations. The objective of the proposed project is: (1) to analyse the degree to which aquatic wildlife in central Europe is exposed to EACs in its natural habitat by assessing the well-defined effects in the test with Potamopyrgus antipodarum and (2) to evaluate the potential role of EACs for population declines of sensitive aquatic wildlife species with the example of prosobranch snails by correlating effect data with results from analyses of the macrozoobenthic community.
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