1
|
Méndez-López M, Gómez-Armesto A, Alonso-Vega F, Pontevedra-Pombal X, Fonseca F, de Figueiredo T, Arias-Estévez M, Nóvoa-Muñoz JC. The role of afforestation species as a driver of Hg accumulation in organic horizons of forest soils from a Mediterranean mountain area in SW Europe. Sci Total Environ 2022; 827:154345. [PMID: 35257764 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Forest areas are a primary sink of atmospheric mercury (Hg) within terrestrial ecosystems, whereas forest vegetation plays a key role in atmospheric Hg transfer to soil horizons. This study assessed variations in total Hg contents (HgT) and accumulation (HgRes) in the soil organic horizons of a forest area in NE Portugal, where post-wildfire afforestation led to the substitution of the native deciduous species (Quercus pyrenaica) by fast-growing coniferous species (Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus nigra). The study also evaluated, for each species, the links between Hg contents and other biophilic elements of soil organic matter (C, N, S) present in organic subhorizons (OL, OF, OH). Mean HgT in the organic horizons of the different tree species follow the sequence: P. nigra (88 μg kg-1) < Q.pyrenaica (101 μg kg-1) <P. menziesii (141 μg kg-1). The highest HgRes for the entire organic horizon was found under P. menziesii (471 μg m-2), followed by P. nigra (253 μg m-2) and Q. pyrenaica (189 μg m-2). Among the organic subhorizons, values of HgT and HgRes follow the sequence OL < OF < OH, which is consistent with the degree of organic matter humification. Indeed, HgT and HgRes correlated significantly with the C/N and C/S ratios for all species and organic subhorizons, suggesting that the quality of organic matter may influence strongly the Hg fate in these forest soils. Soils from P. menziesii plots have shown an HgRes 2.5 times higher than in plots dominated by the native Q. pyrenaica. Hg accumulation in the organic horizons, promoted in the coniferous species, may increase the risk of Hg mobilization due to wildfires and forest management practices. Therefore, forest management plans should select cautiously the tree species for afforestation in order to minimize adverse environmental effects caused by changes in the biogeochemical cycle of contaminants such as Hg.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Méndez-López
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain.
| | - A Gómez-Armesto
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - F Alonso-Vega
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - X Pontevedra-Pombal
- Departamento de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Lope Gómez de Marzoa s/n, 15786 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - F Fonseca
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Sta Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - T de Figueiredo
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Sta Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - M Arias-Estévez
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - J C Nóvoa-Muñoz
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gómez-Armesto A, Méndez-López M, Pérez-Rodríguez P, Fernández-Calviño D, Arias-Estévez M, Nóvoa-Muñoz JC. Litterfall Hg deposition to an oak forest soil from southwestern Europe. J Environ Manage 2020; 269:110858. [PMID: 32561026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Litterfall constitutes one of the main vectors for mercury (Hg) transfer to forested ecosystems, so we studied the deposition of Hg through senescent vegetation (oak leaves, twigs and miscellaneous) in a deciduous forest plot of Southwest Europe dominated by Quercus robur in 2015 and 2016. Total Hg concentrations increased in the following order: bole wood (1.4 μg kg-1) < bark (8.3 μg kg-1) < twigs (12.2 μg kg-1) < miscellaneous (36.0 μg kg-1) < oak leaves (39.3 μg kg-1) < mineral soil (42.4 μg kg-1) < Oi horizons (48.7 μg kg-1) < Oe + Oa horizons (71.6 μg kg-1). Mercury accumulation rates in oak leaves during the growing season were 0.15-0.18 μg kg-1 day-1. Mercury deposition fluxes were 26 and 21 μg m-2 yr-1 for 2015 and 2016, respectively, with oak leaves being the fraction that contributed the most. Mercury determination in litterfall sorted biomass fractions lead to a more accurate estimation of the total annual Hg deposition fluxes through litterfall. Higher Hg content was obtained for organic horizons (average of 60.2 μg kg-1) than for mineral soil (mean of 42.4 μg kg-1), but the soil Hg pool was higher in the latter. The results confirmed the necessity of taking into account the Hg pool in the deeper mineral soil layers as they accumulate substantial quantities of Hg associated to organic C and Al compounds, preventing its mobilization to other compartments of the terrestrial ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Gómez-Armesto
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain.
| | - M Méndez-López
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - P Pérez-Rodríguez
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - D Fernández-Calviño
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - M Arias-Estévez
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - J C Nóvoa-Muñoz
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Méndez-López M, Moreno-Serna V, Inostroza-Rivera R, Ramos A, Molero L, Bonardd S, Diaz Diaz D, Leiva A, Saldías C. Optical and electronic activities of biobased films of chitosan/POTE containing gold nanoparticles: Experimental and theoretical analyses. Eur Polym J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2018.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
4
|
Méndez-López M, Méndez M, Arias J, Arias JL. Effects of a high protein diet on cognition and brain metabolism in cirrhotic rats. Physiol Behav 2015; 149:220-8. [PMID: 26048304 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neurological complication observed in patients with liver disease. Patients who suffer from HE present neuropsychiatric, neuromuscular and behavioral symptoms. Animal models proposed to study HE resulting from cirrhosis mimic the clinical characteristics of cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and require the administration of hepatotoxins such as thioacetamide (TAA). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a high protein diet on motor function, anxiety and memory processes in a model of cirrhosis induced by TAA administration. In addition, we used cytochrome c-oxidase (COx) histochemistry to assess the metabolic activity of the limbic system regions. Male rats were distributed into groups: control, animals with cirrhosis, Control rats receiving a high protein diet, and animals with cirrhosis receiving a high protein diet. Results showed preserved motor function and normal anxiety levels in all the groups. The animals with cirrhosis showed an impairment in active avoidance behavior and spatial memory, regardless of the diet they received. However, the animals with cirrhosis and a high protein diet showed longer escape latencies on the spatial memory task. The model of cirrhosis presented an under-activation of the dentate gyrus and CA3 hippocampal subfields and the medial part of the medial mammillary nucleus. The results suggest that a high protein intake worsens spatial memory deficits shown by the TAA-induced model of cirrhosis. However, high protein ingestion has no influence on the COx hypoactivity associated with the model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Méndez-López
- Department of Psychology, University of Zaragoza, Campus Ciudad Escolar s/n., 44003 Teruel, Spain.
| | - M Méndez
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo s/n., 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
| | - J Arias
- Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n., 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - J L Arias
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo s/n., 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Méndez-López M, Méndez M, Sampedro-Piquero P, Arias JL. Spatial learning-related changes in metabolic activity of limbic structures at different posttask delays. J Neurosci Res 2012; 91:151-9. [PMID: 23073928 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2012] [Revised: 07/29/2012] [Accepted: 07/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the functional contribution of brain limbic system regions at different moments after the acquisition of a short-term spatial memory task performed in the Morris water maze. Adult male Wistar rats were submitted to a matching-to-sample procedure with a hidden platform. The trials were made up of two daily identical visits to the platform, sample (swim-1) and retention (swim-2). To study oxidative metabolic activity, we applied cytochrome oxidase (COx) histochemistry. Densitometric measurements were taken at 1.5, 6, 24, and 48 hr posttask. An untrained group was added to explore the COx changes not specific to the learning process. The brain regions studied showed a different pattern of metabolic activity at different time points after the spatial memory task. Specifically, a significant increase of COx was found in the septal dentate gyrus, anteromedial thalamus, medial mammillary nucleus, and entorhinal cortex at early moments after learning. The entorhinal cortex maintained an increase of COx at later stages of the posttask period. In addition, an increase of COx activity was found in the supramammillary nucleus and the retrosplenial, perirhinal, and parietal cortices a long time after learning. These findings suggest that diencephalic and cortical regions are involved in this spatial learning and contribute at different moments to process this information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Méndez-López
- Departamento de Psicología y Sociología, Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, Teruel, Spain.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Méndez M, Méndez-López M, López L, Aller MA, Arias J, Arias JL. Portosystemic hepatic encephalopathy model shows reversal learning impairment and dysfunction of neural activity in the prefrontal cortex and regions involved in motivated behavior. J Clin Neurosci 2011; 18:690-4. [PMID: 21371891 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2010.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2010] [Revised: 09/15/2010] [Accepted: 09/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neurological complication that affects attention and memory. Experimental animal models have been used to study HE, the most frequent being the portacaval shunt (PCS). In order to investigate learning impairment and brain functional alterations in this model, we assessed reversal learning and neural metabolic activity in a PCS rat model. PCS and sham-operated rats were tested for reversal learning in the Morris water maze. Brains were then processed for cytochrome oxidase (CO) histochemistry. The PCS group had reversal learning impairment and a reduction in CO activity in the prefrontal cortex, ventral tegmental area and accumbens shell nucleus. These results suggest that this model of portosystemic HE shows learning impairments that could be linked to dysfunction in neural activity in the prefrontal cortex and regions involved in motivated behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Méndez
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n. 33003, Oviedo, Spain.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cimadevilla J, Méndez-López M, Méndez M, Arias J. Interhippocampal transfer in passive avoidance task modifies metabolic activity in limbic structures. Hippocampus 2010; 21:48-55. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
|
8
|
Aller M, Vara E, García C, Méndez M, Méndez-López M, Mejía I, López L, Arias J, Arias J. Prehepatic portal hypertension worsens the enterohepatic redox balance in thioacetamide-cirrhotic rats. Pathophysiology 2008; 15:233-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pathophys.2008.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2008] [Accepted: 09/19/2008] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
|
9
|
Méndez-López M, Méndez M, Sánchez-Patán F, Casado I, Aller MA, López L, Corcuera MT, Alonso MJ, Nava MP, Arias J, Arias JL. Partial portal vein ligation plus thioacetamide: a method to obtain a new model of cirrhosis and chronic portal hypertension in the rat. J Gastrointest Surg 2007; 11:187-94. [PMID: 17390171 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-006-0063-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
To obtain a new model of chronic portal hypertension in the rat, two classical methods to produce portal hypertension, partial portal vein ligation and the oral administration of thioacetamide (TAA), have been combined. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1 (control; n = 10), 2 [triple partial portal vein ligation (TPVL); n = 9], 3 (TAA; n = 11), and 4 (TPVL plus TAA; n = 9). After 3 months, portal pressure, types of portosystemic collateral circulation, laboratory hepatic function tests (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) and liver histology were studied. The animals belonging to group 2 (TPVL) developed extrahepatic portosystemic collateral circulation, associated with mesenteric venous vasculopathy without hepatic destructurization or portal hypertension. Animals from group 3 (TAA) developed cirrhosis and portal hypertension but not extrahepatic portosystemic collateral circulation, or mesenteric venous vasculopathy. Finally, the animals from group 4 (TPVL + TAA) developed cirrhosis, portal hypertension, portosystemic collateral circulation, and mesenteric venous vasculopathy. The association of TPVL and TAA can be used to obtain a model of chronic portal hypertension in the rat that includes all the alterations that patients with hepatic cirrhosis usually have. This could, therefore, prove to be a useful tool to study the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in these alterations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Méndez-López
- Psychobiology Department, Psychology School, University of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|