Saline Environment

Los ecosistemas acuáticos salinos son especialmente habituales en las regiones de clima árido y semiárido del planeta. Así, en España, se concentran muchos de los ambientes salinos europeos. La salinidad supone un factor limitante, por ello es frecuente encontrar en estos medios una baja riqueza de grupos taxonómicos y especies. Sin embargo, los organismos que ocupan estos ecosistemas presentan un alto grado de singularidad, lo que les hace ser mecedores de medidas de gestión y conservación. Los ecotipos de ríos mediterráneos establecidos hasta hoy para la implementación de la Directiva Marco del Agua, no contemplan la diversidad de los ríos salinos presentes en España, al estar todos incluidos en el tipo ramblas o ríos mediterráneos muy mineralizados. Por tanto, resulta imprescindible llevar a cabo una tipificación específica de estos ambientes en la Península Ibérica que reconozca su diversidad. En este trabajo se identificaron tipos de ríos salinos en función de sus comunidades de macroinvertebrados acuáticos y de variables abióticas. Así, a partir de la clasificación biótica, se obtuvieron tres tipos de ríos salinos que se caracterizan por presentar comunidades de macroinvertebrados, especialmente de coleópteros acuáticos, bien definidas según la salinidad de sus aguas: ríos hiposalinos (3-20 g/l), ríos meso-hipersalinos (>20-100 g/l) y ríos hipersalinos extremos (>100 g/l). La tipificación abiótica, con la incorporación de variables de presión antropogénica, reflejó una clasificación de los ríos salinos ibéricos en función de su estado de degradación más que por las características físicas y ambientales de estos sistemas. Del análisis conjunto de las variables bióticas y abióticas resultaron tres tipos de ríos con un buen estado de conservación (de referencia) y tres tipos de ríos degradados.

Anthropology of salt: holistic view, saturated model (Romania). Alexianu, Marius-Tiberiu 4. Representations of salt in historical cartography-heritage and environmental strategies-The Portuguese cadastre since 18 th century (Portugal). Inês Amorin 5. Salt and the diffusion of the Cucuteni culture in Southeastern Transylvania-The Ariușd cultural group (Romania). Andrei Asăndulesei, Codrin Gabriel Alexianu, Ștefan Caliniuc 6. Romanian toponymy of salt in Eastern Transylvania (Romania). Mihaela Asăndulesei 7. Las salineras de Maras en el contexto de la economía patrimonial: sistemas tradicionales de producción de sal y usos turísticos (Cusco, Perú). Oriol Beltrán 8. Gallerias: Qanat Karez irrigation systems as the original purpose built salt leaching ancient technology specifically designed for use in endorheic sabkha basins (Israel). David Bloch 9. Recent insights regarding salt sources: a case study in Northern Moldavia (Romania). Neculai Bolohan, Dănuț Vasile Mutescu 10. The Lion Salt Works : The Role of a Charitable Trust in a Complex Restoration Project (England). Martin P.

Anthropology of salt: holistic view, saturated model (Romania). Alexianu, Marius-Tiberiu 4. Representations of salt in historical cartography-heritage and environmental strategies-The Portuguese cadastre since 18 th century (Portugal). Inês Amorin 5. Salt and the diffusion of the Cucuteni culture in Southeastern Transylvania-The Ariușd cultural group (Romania). Andrei Asăndulesei, Codrin Gabriel Alexianu, Ștefan Caliniuc 6. Romanian toponymy of salt in Eastern Transylvania (Romania). Mihaela Asăndulesei 7. Las salineras de Maras en el contexto de la economía patrimonial: sistemas tradicionales de producción de sal y usos turísticos (Cusco, Perú). Oriol Beltrán 8. Gallerias: Qanat Karez irrigation systems as the original purpose built salt leaching ancient technology specifically designed for use in endorheic sabkha basins (Israel). David Bloch 9. Recent insights regarding salt sources: a case study in Northern Moldavia (Romania). Neculai Bolohan, Dănuț Vasile Mutescu 10. The Lion Salt Works : The Role of a Charitable Trust in a Complex Restoration Project (England). Martin P.

Methane hydrate formation studies in saline environment show that activated carbons are excellent host structures able to promote the water-to-hydrate conversion. Under confinement conditions, methane hydrate formation takes place at mild temperatures (-10ºC), low pressures (< 6 MPa), with extremely fast kinetics (within minutes) and with a large adsorption capacity (up to 66 wt.% CH 4 for seawater, i.e. a 128% improvement compared to the dry carbon). Similar studies using ultrapure water give rise to a total methane adsorption capacity of 93 wt.%, i.e. entropic effects exerted by salt play a crucial role in the methane hydrate nucleation and growth. Synthesized methane hydrates exhibit a sI crystal structure and a stoichiometry that mimics natural hydrates. These findings open the gate towards the application of activated carbons with a highly developed nanoporous network as host structure for offshore methane storage in marine reservoirs.

The calculation of evaporation (Ev) is a fundamental process on the planning of investment for nonmetallic mining in salt flats. Dispose to reliable estimates of evaporation allows to reduce one of the main uncertainties of the flow models in this type of basin. This paper focuses on the calculation of Ev in the Tres Quebradas salt flat, Catamarca (Argentina), applying Priestley-Taylor model whit satellite data. Study area comprises the Tres Quebradas and Verde lagoons, and a central evaporite zone. Satellite data (CERES and OLI-LandSat 8), meteorological information, brine density measurements, evaporation measurements, and spectral signatures to calculations were used. The lagoons evaporation was estimated and by means of a Class A evaporation pan validated. The evaporation control in evaporite zones also was studied using a phreatic level function. Ev values of 1302 mm year–1 and 1249 mm year–1 for the Tres Quebradas and Verde lagoons were obtained, respectively, similar to Class...

In this study we aimed to analyse the structure and diversity of overall bacterial community and its resistance determinants from nickel-contaminated soil in Slovakia by both, cultivation-dependent and independent approaches. The phylogeny was reconstructed using partial sequences of 16S rRNA (16S rDNA) and heavymetal resistance genes from separated isolates and bacterial clones. A total of 518 bacterial sequences obtained from both, isolates and clones, represented 266 species belonging to 8 bacterial phyla: Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Proteobacteria (α-, β-and γclasses), Verrucomicrobia, and one yet unclassified group. In addition, among isolates and clones, 49 different nccA-like genes were found in the final output. Majority of them were assigned to a system of transmembrane metal pumps. Our results demonstrate the fact that the nickel-contaminated soil is able to present very specific heavy-metal resistant bacterial community which can be used in different bioremediation processes.

The calculation of evaporation (Ev) is a fundamental process on the planning of investment for nonmetallic mining in salt flats. Dispose to reliable estimates of evaporation allows to reduce one of the main uncertainties of the flow models in this type of basin. This paper focuses on the calculation of Ev in the Tres Quebradas salt flat, Catamarca (Argentina), applying Priestley-Taylor model whit satellite data. Study area comprises the Tres Quebradas and Verde lagoons, and a central evaporite zone. Satellite data (CERES and OLI-LandSat 8), meteorological information, brine density measurements, evaporation measurements, and spectral signatures to calculations were used. The lagoons evaporation was estimated and by means of a Class A evaporation pan validated. The evaporation control in evaporite zones also was studied using a phreatic level function. Ev values of 1302 mm year–1 and 1249 mm year–1 for the Tres Quebradas and Verde lagoons were obtained, respectively, similar to Class...

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Anthropology of salt: holistic view, saturated model (Romania). Alexianu, Marius-Tiberiu 4. Representations of salt in historical cartography-heritage and environmental strategies-The Portuguese cadastre since 18 th century (Portugal). Inês Amorin 5. Salt and the diffusion of the Cucuteni culture in Southeastern Transylvania-The Ariușd cultural group (Romania). Andrei Asăndulesei, Codrin Gabriel Alexianu, Ștefan Caliniuc 6. Romanian toponymy of salt in Eastern Transylvania (Romania). Mihaela Asăndulesei 7. Las salineras de Maras en el contexto de la economía patrimonial: sistemas tradicionales de producción de sal y usos turísticos (Cusco, Perú). Oriol Beltrán 8. Gallerias: Qanat Karez irrigation systems as the original purpose built salt leaching ancient technology specifically designed for use in endorheic sabkha basins (Israel). David Bloch 9. Recent insights regarding salt sources: a case study in Northern Moldavia (Romania). Neculai Bolohan, Dănuț Vasile Mutescu 10. The Lion Salt Works : The Role of a Charitable Trust in a Complex Restoration Project (England). Martin P.

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Background Sundarban is the world&#39;s largest coastal sediment comprising of mangrove forest which covers about one million hectares in the south-eastern parts of India and southern parts of Bangladesh. The microbial diversity in this sediment is largely unknown till date. In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the microbial diversity in this sediment using a cultivation-independent molecular approach. Results Two 16 S rRNA gene libraries were constructed and partial sequencing of the selected clones was carried out to identify bacterial strains present in the sediment. Phylogenetic analysis of partially sequenced 16 S rRNA gene sequences revealed the diversity of bacterial strains in the Sundarban sediment. At least 8 different bacterial phyla were detected. The major divisions of detected bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta), Flexibacteria (CFB group), Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes and G...

Anthropology of salt: holistic view, saturated model (Romania). Alexianu, Marius-Tiberiu 4. Representations of salt in historical cartography-heritage and environmental strategies-The Portuguese cadastre since 18 th century (Portugal). Inês Amorin 5. Salt and the diffusion of the Cucuteni culture in Southeastern Transylvania-The Ariușd cultural group (Romania). Andrei Asăndulesei, Codrin Gabriel Alexianu, Ștefan Caliniuc 6. Romanian toponymy of salt in Eastern Transylvania (Romania). Mihaela Asăndulesei 7. Las salineras de Maras en el contexto de la economía patrimonial: sistemas tradicionales de producción de sal y usos turísticos (Cusco, Perú). Oriol Beltrán 8. Gallerias: Qanat Karez irrigation systems as the original purpose built salt leaching ancient technology specifically designed for use in endorheic sabkha basins (Israel). David Bloch 9. Recent insights regarding salt sources: a case study in Northern Moldavia (Romania). Neculai Bolohan, Dănuț Vasile Mutescu 10. The Lion Salt Works : The Role of a Charitable Trust in a Complex Restoration Project (England). Martin P.

Background Sundarban is the world&#39;s largest coastal sediment comprising of mangrove forest which covers about one million hectares in the south-eastern parts of India and southern parts of Bangladesh. The microbial diversity in this sediment is largely unknown till date. In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the microbial diversity in this sediment using a cultivation-independent molecular approach. Results Two 16 S rRNA gene libraries were constructed and partial sequencing of the selected clones was carried out to identify bacterial strains present in the sediment. Phylogenetic analysis of partially sequenced 16 S rRNA gene sequences revealed the diversity of bacterial strains in the Sundarban sediment. At least 8 different bacterial phyla were detected. The major divisions of detected bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta), Flexibacteria (CFB group), Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes and G...

Background Sundarban is the world&#39;s largest coastal sediment comprising of mangrove forest which covers about one million hectares in the south-eastern parts of India and southern parts of Bangladesh. The microbial diversity in this sediment is largely unknown till date. In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the microbial diversity in this sediment using a cultivation-independent molecular approach. Results Two 16 S rRNA gene libraries were constructed and partial sequencing of the selected clones was carried out to identify bacterial strains present in the sediment. Phylogenetic analysis of partially sequenced 16 S rRNA gene sequences revealed the diversity of bacterial strains in the Sundarban sediment. At least 8 different bacterial phyla were detected. The major divisions of detected bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta), Flexibacteria (CFB group), Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes and G...

El cálculo de la evaporación (Ev) es un proceso fundamental en la planificación de inversión en minería no metálica en salares. Disponer de estimaciones confiables de la evaporación permite disminuir una de las principales incertidumbres que poseen los modelos de flujo en este tipo de cuencas. El presente trabajo se centra en el cálculo de la Ev en el salar Tres Quebradas, ubicado en la provincia de Catamarca (Argentina), utilizando el modelo de Priestley-Taylor con datos de satélite. La zona de estudio comprende las lagunas Tres Quebradas y Verde, y una zona central de evaporitas. Para los cálculos se utilizan datos de satélite (CERES y OLI-Landsat 8), información meteorológica, medidas de densidad de salmueras, medidas de Ev en Tanque tipo A y firmas espectrales. Se estimó la Ev en las lagunas del salar y se validó con medidas directas de Ev en Tanque. Complementariamente se estudió el control de la evaporación en las evaporitas a partir de una función dependiente de la profundida...

RESUMEN Las actividades asociadas a la agricultura intensiva, y principalmente el uso de agroquimicos, son la causa principal de alteracion y perdida de biodiversidad en los humedales. Los protozoos , por sus requerimientos y sensibilidad a los contaminantes, son muy utiles como indicadores biologicos en sistemas acuaticos. Ademas, la existencia de un banco de semillas de la comunidad protozoaria en los sedimentos, la denominada diversidad criptica, asegura que estos microorganismos puedan emerger y realizar su papel despues de la mencionada alteracion. En este estudio se presentan los resultados preliminares de los efectos toxicos generados por un fertilizante, el nitrato amonico, sobre las tasas de emergencia de los protozoos enquistados o inactivos del banco de semillas. Esta evaluacion se ha llevado a cabo mediante la simulacion de sistema acuatico artificial alterado y la evaluacion de las tasas y patrones de emergencia de organismos presentes en el sedimento siguiendo diferent...

Salinas, or Mediterranean coastal salt marshes, are priceless ecological wetlands, resilient spaces along the coast that have survived over time and hold incalculable cultural, historical, and ethnographic values associated with them. Today, artisanal sea salt production is no longer a profitable business, and in many cases, these spaces become a no-man's-land in-between nature and city, falling victims to pressures of changing land uses and the unsustainable urban growth of the Mediterranean coastal tourism. However, the process of change and abandonment of these former production landscapes presents an opportunity to promote new formulas for spatial tactics, public use and new sustainable futures. A liminal condition full of spatial and formal assets that opens the rising potential of the local economy and the right of the salina's active exploitation, interaction and identification.

The present work characterizes at different levels a number of bacterial strains isolated from porewaters sampled in the vicinity of two French uranium tailing repositories. The 16S rRNA gene from 33 bacterial isolates, corresponding to the different morphotypes recovered, was almost fully sequenced. The resulting sequences belonged to 13 bacterial genera comprised in the phyla Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Further characterization at physiological level and metals/metalloid tolerance provided evidences for an appropriate selection of bacterial strains potentially useful for immobilization of uranium and other common contaminants. By using High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM), this potential ability to immobilize uranium as U phosphate mineral phases was confirmed for the bacterial strains Br3 and Br5 corresponding to Arthrobacter sp. and Microbacterium oxydans, respectively. Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope-High-Angle Annular Dark-Field (STEM-HAADF) analysis showed U accumulates on the surface and within bacterial cytoplasm, in addition to the extracellular space. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) element-distribution maps demonstrated the presence of U and P within these accumulates. These results indicate the potential of certain bacterial strains isolated from porewaters of U mill tailings for immobilizing uranium, likely as uranium phosphates. Some of these bacterial isolates might be considered as promising candidates in the design of uranium bioremediation strategies.

RESUMEN Las actividades asociadas a la agricultura intensiva, y principalmente el uso de agroquimicos, son la causa principal de alteracion y perdida de biodiversidad en los humedales. Los protozoos , por sus requerimientos y sensibilidad a los contaminantes, son muy utiles como indicadores biologicos en sistemas acuaticos. Ademas, la existencia de un banco de semillas de la comunidad protozoaria en los sedimentos, la denominada diversidad criptica, asegura que estos microorganismos puedan emerger y realizar su papel despues de la mencionada alteracion. En este estudio se presentan los resultados preliminares de los efectos toxicos generados por un fertilizante, el nitrato amonico, sobre las tasas de emergencia de los protozoos enquistados o inactivos del banco de semillas. Esta evaluacion se ha llevado a cabo mediante la simulacion de sistema acuatico artificial alterado y la evaluacion de las tasas y patrones de emergencia de organismos presentes en el sedimento siguiendo diferent...

This study investigated how 0.33% medium carbon steel is affected by induced stress in a saline environment. Three geometries namely U-bend, C-ring and I-shape samples were formed representing varying degrees of stress level induced on the samples. The test specimens were subjected to static loading in saline environment containing 15.0 wt.%, 10.0 wt.% and 3.5 wt.% of sodium chloride (NaCl) for a typical exposure time of 31 days at ambient conditions of temperature and pressure. Weight loss method was used to estimate the corrosion rate in mils per year (mpy). The results of the experiment show that corrosion rate is maximum in samples with the highest stress level and in medium containing highest amount of dissolved chloride ions. The least corrosion rate occurred in samples with the least amount of chloride ions and in a non-stressed condition. It was inferred that the corrosion rate of 0.33%C steels increased with increasing tensile stress and chloride ions content of the medium....

Itinerarios didacticos por tres humedales protegidos de la Region de Murcia: Reserva Natural de Sotos y Bosques de Ribera de Canaverosa; Paisaje Protegido del Humedal de Ajauque y Rambla Salada y Parque Regional de Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar. El objetivo es. Esta serie de Cuadernos del Centro de Recursos de Educacion Ambiental, CREA, incluye otra guia sobre itinerarios didacticos dedicados a las montanas de interior: Parque Regional de Sierra Espuna, Parque Regional de Carrascoy y El Valle, Lugar de Importancia Comunitaria Sierra de Ricote - La Navela.- Las fotografias son de: Miguel Angel Nunez Herrero, Manuel Aguila Guillen, Andres Millan Sanchez, Jose Campillo.

The eastern Arabian Sea has a unique and permanent oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) that extends along the western continental margin of India. The sedi-ment below this region is rich in organic matter. This study describes the bacterial community structure ...

The chemical properties, ecotoxicity, and microbiome of leachates from phytomanaged Cu-contaminated soils were analyzed. The phytomanagement was carried out using Cu-tolerant poplar Populus trichocarpa × deltoides cv. Beaupré and black bent Agrostis gigantea L., aided by soil amendments, i.e., dolomitic limestone (DL) and compost (OM), alone and in combination (OMDL). Plants plus either DL or OMDL amendments reduced in leachates the electrical conductivity, the Cu concentration, and the concentration of total organic C except for the OMDL treatment, and decreased leachate toxicity towards bacteria. Total N concentration increased in the OM leachates. The aided phytostabilization increased the culturable bacteria numbers and the proportion of Cu-resistant bacteria in the leachates, as compared to the leachate from the untreated soil. Phytomanagement also enriched the microbial communities of the leachates with plant beneficial bacteria. Overall, the Cu stabilization and phytomanageme...

BACKGROUND: Sundarban is the world&#x27;s largest coastal sediment comprising of mangrove forest which covers about one million hectares in the south-eastern parts of India and southern parts of Bangladesh. The microbial diversity in this sediment is largely unknown till date. In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the microbial diversity in this sediment using a cultivation-independent

BACKGROUND: Sundarban is the world&#x27;s largest coastal sediment comprising of mangrove forest which covers about one million hectares in the south-eastern parts of India and southern parts of Bangladesh. The microbial diversity in this sediment is largely unknown till date. In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the microbial diversity in this sediment using a cultivation-independent

BACKGROUND: Sundarban is the world&#x27;s largest coastal sediment comprising of mangrove forest which covers about one million hectares in the south-eastern parts of India and southern parts of Bangladesh. The microbial diversity in this sediment is largely unknown till date. In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the microbial diversity in this sediment using a cultivation-independent

Resumen: Se pretende conocer el estado de amenaza actual de Ochthebius montesi, un coleóptero acuático endémico del Sur de la península Ibérica. Para ello, durante el verano de 2003 se visitaron todas las localidades de las que se tenía referencia de la presencia de la especie, con el objetivo de determinar el estado de sus poblaciones, caracterizar los hábitats que ocupa e identificar los impactos a los que se encuentran sometidos. En la actualidad sólo se conoce una población estable de O. montesi, localizada en la Rambla de Algüeda, en Albatera (Alicante). Aparece en arroyos de mineralización media, hipo o mesosalinos, corriente leve, someros y de sustrato margoso-arcilloso. Su hábitat tipo sufre, principalmente, impactos de tipo agrícola, que suponen la invasión de la llanura de inundación, la contaminación difusa y la dulcificación del agua, así como la pérdida del caudal natural por detracción para regadío, con el efecto añadido de estar ubicados en áreas con clima semiárido o árido. La especie no se encuentra incluida en ninguna lista o catálogo de protección, por lo que se propone su inclusión en la lista nacional de especies protegidas, del mismo modo que su presencia en la lista roja de la UICN debería ser considerada. Palabras clave: Ochthebius montesi, endemismo ibérico, rareza, arroyos de mineralización media, vulnerabilidad, conservación. Threat status of Ochthebius montesi (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae), an rare and endemic aquatic beetle from Iberian peninsula Abstract: We want to know the threat status of Ochthebius montesi, an endemic aquatic beetle from the South of Iberian peninsula. For this purpose, during the summer of 2003 we visited all the known localities for this species to determine the status of its population, to characterise their habitat, and to identify the human impacts that suffer. At present, only an stable population of O. montesi was found. It was located at Rambla de Algüeda, in Albatera (Alicante). It occur in low mineralised streams (hypo-or meso-saline streams) with slow and shallow waters, which are generally located in marl and clay substrate. Their habitat type principally suffer, land-crop impacts that affect riparian and flood zone, non point source, water sweetness, and water detraction for irrigation, in a stressed semiarid climate framework. The specie does not appear in any red list or catalogue for conservation, thus, its inclusion in the national red list is proposed, and its presence in the IUCN red list should be considered.

Resumen: Se pretende conocer el estado de amenaza actual de Ochthebius montesi, un coleóptero acuático endémico del Sur de la península Ibérica. Para ello, durante el verano de 2003 se visitaron todas las localidades de las que se tenía referencia de la presencia de la especie, con el objetivo de determinar el estado de sus poblaciones, caracterizar los hábitats que ocupa e identificar los impactos a los que se encuentran sometidos. En la actualidad sólo se conoce una población estable de O. montesi, localizada en la Rambla de Algüeda, en Albatera (Alicante). Aparece en arroyos de mineralización media, hipo o mesosalinos, corriente leve, someros y de sustrato margoso-arcilloso. Su hábitat tipo sufre, principalmente, impactos de tipo agrícola, que suponen la invasión de la llanura de inundación, la contaminación difusa y la dulcificación del agua, así como la pérdida del caudal natural por detracción para regadío, con el efecto añadido de estar ubicados en áreas con clima semiárido o árido. La especie no se encuentra incluida en ninguna lista o catálogo de protección, por lo que se propone su inclusión en la lista nacional de especies protegidas, del mismo modo que su presencia en la lista roja de la UICN debería ser considerada. Palabras clave: Ochthebius montesi, endemismo ibérico, rareza, arroyos de mineralización media, vulnerabilidad, conservación. Threat status of Ochthebius montesi (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae), an rare and endemic aquatic beetle from Iberian peninsula Abstract: We want to know the threat status of Ochthebius montesi, an endemic aquatic beetle from the South of Iberian peninsula. For this purpose, during the summer of 2003 we visited all the known localities for this species to determine the status of its population, to characterise their habitat, and to identify the human impacts that suffer. At present, only an stable population of O. montesi was found. It was located at Rambla de Algüeda, in Albatera (Alicante). It occur in low mineralised streams (hypo-or meso-saline streams) with slow and shallow waters, which are generally located in marl and clay substrate. Their habitat type principally suffer, land-crop impacts that affect riparian and flood zone, non point source, water sweetness, and water detraction for irrigation, in a stressed semiarid climate framework. The specie does not appear in any red list or catalogue for conservation, thus, its inclusion in the national red list is proposed, and its presence in the IUCN red list should be considered.

BACKGROUND: Sundarban is the world&#x27;s largest coastal sediment comprising of mangrove forest which covers about one million hectares in the south-eastern parts of India and southern parts of Bangladesh. The microbial diversity in this sediment is largely unknown till date. In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the microbial diversity in this sediment using a cultivation-independent

Salinas, or Mediterranean coastal salt marshes, are priceless ecological wetlands, resilient spaces along the coast that have survived over time and hold incalculable cultural, historical, and ethnographic values associated with them. Today, artisanal sea salt production is no longer a profitable business, and in many cases, these spaces become a no-man's-land in-between nature and city, falling victims to pressures of changing land uses and the unsustainable urban growth of the Mediterranean coastal tourism. However, the process of change and abandonment of these former production landscapes presents an opportunity to promote new formulas for spatial tactics, public use and new sustainable futures. A liminal condition full of spatial and formal assets that opens the rising potential of the local economy and the right of the salina's active exploitation, interaction and identification.

Salt production, salt trade and salt politics in Scandinavia…. (2nd part) –
Brine concentration by means of blackthorn graduation – Report on the 3rd International Seminar on Portuguese Salt The salt landscape - tradition and innovation – El Gran Lago Salado de Utah, EEUU

The dam of life or dam lifelong. The Aral Sea and the construction of the dam in Berg Strait. Part I (1988-1992) - Acciones de mejora del hábitat y recuperación en salinas del entorno del Mar Menor,—How universal is the protection of salt heritage by UNESCO?

La economía de la sal – Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar, un lugar privilegiado dónde tierra y mar se unen – Progress on the restoration of the Lion Salt Works, Cheshire, England and other research – Riqueza específica de protozoos ciliados en las salinas de interior del alto Guadalquivir – Descripción del procedimiento y tecnología para producir sal en Cáhuil, Barrancas y La Villa (Chile) – The Association to Ascertain the History of Salt

The present study aimed at identifying the soil bacterial communities in the Madhupur Sal and the Sunderban mangrove forests, the two important forests of Bangladesh. Soil bacteria were identified through sequencing of PCR-amplified fragments of bacterial 16S rDNA. The results showed that the bacterial communities of the Madhupur Sal forest soils and that of the Sunderban mangrove forest soils differed in the morphology of the cells. Data presented here also showed that the bacterial communities of the Sunderban mangrove forest soils were more diverse than that of the Madhupur Sal forest soils as revealed by phylogenetic tree analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences.

Uranium (U)-tolerant aerobic chemo-heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the sub-surface soils of U-rich deposits in Domiasiat, North East India. The bacterial community explored at molecular level by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) resulted in 51 distinct phylotypes. Bacterial community assemblages at the U mining site with the concentration of U ranging from 20 to 100 ppm, were found to be most diverse. Representative bacteria analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing were affiliated to Firmicutes (51%), Gammaproteobacteria (26%), Actinobacteria (11%), Bacteroidetes (10%) and Betaproteobacteria (2%). Representative strains removed more than 90% and 53% of U from 100 µM and 2 mM uranyl nitrate solutions, respectively, at pH 3.5 within 10 min of exposure and the activity was retained until 24 h. Overall, 76% of characterized isolates possessed phosphatase enzyme and 53% had PIB-type ATPase genes. This study generated baseline information on the diverse indigenous U-tolerant bacteria which could serve as an indicator to estimate the environmental impact expected to be caused by mining in the future. Also, these natural isolates efficient in uranium binding and harbouring phosphatase enzyme and metal-transporting genes could possibly play a vital role in the bioremediation of metal-/radionuclide-contaminated environments.

Halophiles, the most predominant organisms found in the mangrove forest, include varied genera of halophilic bacteria in different environment such as salt lakes, saline soils and salted food. The majority of halophilic microorganisms studied so far produce compounds with great potential in industrial process and they have physiological properties which facilitate its use with commercial aims. In this study of Sunderban soil, focus has been made on the isolation of halophilic organisms and their characterisation. Soils were collected from four different places of Sunderban and were used for physiochemical and microbiological analysis. Qualitative screenings of the isolates were done and three among them was selected having moderately good growth which was further optimised in different growth media. Characterisation of the isolates were done and based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing phylogenetic tree were constructed. The isolates showed multiple heavy metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance. The organisms were further tested for EPS as well as various extracellular enzyme productions thereby exploring their usage for various biotechnological purposes.

El carácter erosivo de las lluvias torrenciales que caracterizan a las zonas áridas y semiáridas del sureste ibérico (precipitaciones inferiores a los 250 mm) determina la formación de redes de drenaje altamente jerarquizadas donde los cauces presentan una circulación hídrica de naturaleza temporal o efímera. En este tipo de cauces, denominados "ramblas" en la franja mediterránea española, es frecuente la aparición de pequeños humedales asociados a sus lechos de inundación, como consecuencia del afloramiento de aguas subterráneas, y constituyendo elementos diversificadores del paisaje de indudable valor ecológico (González-Bernáldez, 1990).

Las salmueras de la laguna La Playa (Zaragoza), de tipo Na-Cl y pH neutro, alcanzan elevadas concentraciones durante su ciclo evaporativo (con valores de fuerza iónica superiores a 10 molal). En este trabajo se estudia la evolución geoquímica de estas salmueras determinando, mediante el código PHRQPITZ, las actividades iónicas y los índices de saturación mineral en una serie de muestras temporalmente distribuidas a lo largo de su pauta evaporativa.

The bacterial diversity of chronically oil polluted retention basin sediment located in 27 the Berre lagoon (Etang-de-Berre, France) was investigated. This study combines chemical 28 and molecular approaches in order to define how in situ petroleum hydrocarbon 29 contamination level affects bacterial community structure of subsurface sediment. 30 Hydrocarbon content analysis revealed clearly a gradient of hydrocarbon contamination in 31 both water and sediment following the basin periphery from the pollution input to the lagoon 32 water. The nC17 and pristane concentrations suggested alkane biodegradation in the 33 sediments. These results combined with those of Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length 34 Polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of the 16S rRNA genes indicated that bacterial 35 communities structure was obviously associated with the gradient of oil contamination. The 36 analysis of bacterial community composition revealed dominance of bacteria related to the 37 Proteobacteria phylum (Gamma-, Delta-, Alpha-, Epsilon-and Betaproteobacteria)