Ana T. Luís

Heavy metal pollution downstream the abandoned Coval da Mó mine (Portugal) and associated effects on epilithic diatom communities.

This study examined trace-element concentrations in 39 sediment samples collected in the vicinity of the abandoned Coval da Mó mine, and evaluated the anthropogenic contaminant effects and other environmental variables in the taxonomic composition, structure and morphological changes of benthic diatom communities. The results show the existence of extremely high contamination in Pb, Zn and Cd (the mean values exceed the background values 376, 96 and 19 times, respectively) on the first 2.5 km in the water flow direction. Also Co, Cu, Mn and Ni are present in high concentrations. Dilution by relatively uncontaminated sediment reduces metal concentrations downstream, but Zn concentrations increase downstream Fílvida stream, as a result of several factors such as sewage and agriculture. To evaluate the biological effects caused by Pb, Cd and Zn, three sites were selected. In the stressed environment, near the mining area (C232), diatoms were extremely rare, however there was a slight recovery at site C79 located 2km downstream. Fragilaria capucina var. rumpens, Fragilaria cf. crotonensis and Achnanthidium minutissimum showed abnormal valves which may be related to high levels of metals. Six km downstream, in Fílvida stream (C85), an increase in species richness and diversity was registered while the relative percentage of valve teratologies was lower. In the absence of OM, nutrients and low pH the diatom community patterns must be attributed to the metal concentration at some sites. Considering that community diversity can be affected by abiotic and biotic variables and valve deformations are caused by a small number of variables, basically metals, and acid conditions, we consider the presence of teratologies as an indication of the presence of metals.

Optimization of the replica molding process of PDMS using pennate diatoms

Biomimetic fabrication of nanostructured materials has recently attracted the attention of researchers as a cost-effective and easily applicable method of nanotexturing. Different techniques and materials have been used in order to replicate natural patterns, among which polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS Sylgard 184?) was recently used to replicate the micro- and nanoscale patterns from centric diatoms. In this paper, we test the reproducibility and precision of this approach using various morphologically different diatom species trying to optimize the molding parameters. The optimization process is focused on immobilization of diatoms on the glass support, which serves as a master for templating, as well as on the parameters of PDMS fabrication such as the ratio of the curing agent and elastomer, use of vacuum, curing time and temperature. The results indicate that higher ratios of curing agent and elastomer, longer curing time and lower temperature are the most favorable conditions to obtain negative diatom replicas of good quality with features of 50?nm. Although this method can give very precise results producing high-resolution molds with all micro- and nanostructures replicated, we revealed some limitations regarding the size and morphology of the species used. These results indicate that large round and flat diatom species seem to be more suitable for the cast molding.

Integrating geochemical (surface waters, stream sediments) and biological (diatoms) approaches to assess AMD environmental impact in a pyritic mining area: Aljustrel (Alentejo, Portugal)

Aljustrel mines were classified as having high environmental hazard due to their large tailings volume and high metal concentrations in waters and sediments. To assess acid mine drainage impacted systems whose environmental conditions change quickly, the use of biological indicators with short generation time such as diatoms is advantageous. This study combined geochemical and diatom data, whose results were highlighted in 3 groups: Group 1, with low pH (1.9-5.1) and high metal/metalloid (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn; 0.65-1032 mg/L) and SO4 (405-39124 mg/L) concentrations. An acidophilic species, Pinnularia aljustrelica, was perfectly adapted to the adverse conditions; in contrast, teratological forms of Eunotia exigua were found, showing that metal toxicity affected this species. The low availability of metals/metalloids in sediments of this group indicates that metals/metalloids of the exchangeable fractions had been solubilized, which in fact enables metal/metalloid diatom uptake and consequently the occurrence of teratologies; Group 2, with sites of near neutral pH (5.0-6.8) and intermediate metal/metalloid (0.002-6 mg/L) and SO4 (302-2179 mg/L) concentrations; this enabled the existence of typical species of uncontaminated streams (Brachysira neglectissima, Achnanthidium minutissimum); Group 3, with samples from unimpacted sites, showing low metal/metalloid (0-0.8 mg/L) and SO4 (10-315 mg/L) concentrations, high pH (7.0-8.4) and Cl contents (10-2119 mg/L) and the presence of brackish to marine species (Entomoneis paludosa). For similar conditions of acidity, differences in diversity, abundance and teratologies of diatoms can be explained by the levels of metals/metalloids.

Photosynthetic activity and ecology of benthic diatom communities from streams affected by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in pyritic mines

The authors are grateful to the Biology and Geosciences Departments of University of Aveiro, Portugal and to the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Portugal (grant number SFRH/ BD/36137/2007) for their financial support during this study. We thank Helena Novais for the valuable help with the software (ArcGis) to do the sites’ location map. We thank the two anonymous reviewers and the editor for critical comments on the manuscript.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) application to diatom study: review and perspectives

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows high image resolution, based on slight differences in surface height and on imaging transparent structures, thus, is an excellent type of microscopy for imaging nano-sized objects, such as diatoms. Currently and since 1992, the number of publications applying AFM on diatom studies has increased significantly. Our study considers different aspects related with AFM and diatom samples preparation, AFM types and its application in studies of taxonomy, biomineral formation, ultrastructure, mucilage layers, and micromechanical properties. We also present new AFM data highlighting the taxonomical importance of Amphipleura pellucida. From our knowledge, it is the first general review that compiles all the works carried out on Atomic force microscopy (AFM) applied to diatoms, highlighting the AFM advantages regarding the study of these microorganisms as a whole.

Negative pH values in an open-air radical environment affected by acid mine drainage. Characterization and proposal of a hydrogeochemical model

This paper presents the finding of a singular environment polluted by acid mine drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. This situation is regulated by particular conditions, thus the analysed values can be considered as extreme, not only because of the high concentrations of toxic elements, but also due to the extreme low pH, reaching an average negative pH of -1.56, never found before in open-air environments contaminated by acid mine drainage. Concentrations up to 59 g/L of Fe, 2.4 g/L of Al, 740 mg/L of As, 4.3 mg/L of Co, 5.3 mg/L of Ge, 4.8 mg/L of Sb, inter alia, can be found dissolved in these polluted waters. The main aims of the present work are the physicochemical characterization and the toxicity assessment of these radical polluted waters. In addition, a hydrogeochemical model of the system will be proposed, which justifies the extreme pH value and the extraordinarily high concentrations of toxic elements, even for acid mine drainage polluted environments. Extreme acidity and metal and sulphate concentrations in the Radical Environment are due to several processes of different nature, mainly driven by the geochemistry of the minerals presents in the endorheic character of the basin. The extremely acidic nature of these waters control the Fe species present in them, being FeHSO4+ the mainly Fe specie representing 94% of total. High toxicity of these waters has been detected due to the absence of any diatoms species.