Water quality monitoring is used to determine the impact of human activities on the environment. We evaluated water quality in the Água Boa stream, located within the municipality of Dourados, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, by analyzing physico-chemical, chemical, and microbiological parameters, as well as chlorophyll concentrations. Five sets of water samples were collected between December 2012 and November 2013 from three locations within the stream. The results showed the presence of Escherichia coli and antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas spp. strains and high concentrations of organic matter (total dissolved solids), inorganic species (Mg, Ca, and Fe), and agrochemical residues (thiamethoxam). The main stream water contaminants are derived from urban, industrial, and agricultural activities within the watershed. Given the presence of contaminants, it is important that such findings are disseminated in order to highlight the risks that contact with this water may pose to human health. To preserve the environment and improve site conditions, people would need to participate by demanding that normative national and international standards be respected and that the situation be supervised by the competent governmental agencies; this would make it possible to reverse or minimize contamination problems within the Água Boa stream.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inorganic parameters in the water of the Texcoco river. Sampling took place at 10 sites along the watershed (between 2500 and 2240 m above sea level) during the four seasons of the year for three years, with repetitions. The diagnostic parameters and methods used were, for potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium, the internal method MI-AM-011 (atomic absorption); phosphates with MI-FQUAR-012, chlorides NMX-AA-073-1981, electrical conductivity and nitrogen of nitrates NOM-AA-93-1984 and NOM-AA-79-1986, pH NMX-AA-08-1980. The three-year average concentrations of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, nitrates, and electrical conductivity were low. However, the concentrations of sodium and electrical conductivity were close to medium quality. The concentrations of sodium during Years 2 and 3 were classified as medium. The concentration of phosphates was high. Electrical conductivity during Years 1 and 3 were classified as medium. The concentrations of sodium and electrical conductivity in Seasons 1 and 4 grade a medium quality. The concentration of phosphates during the four seasons and three years were classified as high. Variability of cations and anions at different times of the year was an almost generalized behavior and statistically significant.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of exposure to low water hardness (0, 25 and 50mg CaCO3L-1) into the 6.0-8.0 pH range to silver catfish juveniles (Rhamdia quelen) survival and growth after 32 days. Juveniles kept at zero water hardness presented higher mortality at pH 7.0 and 8.0 than those submitted to other treatments. Weight of juveniles exposed to pH 6.0 and zero water hardness was significantly higher than those kept at the same water hardness and other pH. Survival and growth of juveniles exposed to 25 and 50mg CaCO3 L-1 was not affected in the 6.0-8.0 pH range. Therefore, the best water hardness for silver catfish juveniles growth is 25-50mg CaCO3 L-1 and at low water hardness (next zero) pH must be reduced.<br>O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos da exposição em baixas durezas da água (0; 25 e 50mg CaCO3 L-1) na faixa de pH 6,0-8,0 no crescimento e na sobrevivência de juvenis de jundiás (Rhamdia quelen). Os juvenis foram expostos aos tratamentos durante 32 dias. Os indivíduos mantidos em dureza zero da água apresentaram maior mortalidade em pH 7,0 e 8,0 do que aqueles submetidos aos outros tratamentos. O peso dos juvenis expostos ao pH 6,0 com zero dureza da água foram significativamente maiores do que aqueles mantidos na mesma dureza e em outras faixas de pH. A sobrevivência e o crescimento dos indivíduos expostos em 25 e 50mg CaCO3L-1 não foi afetado na faixa de pH 6,0-8,0. Portanto, a melhor dureza da água para o crescimento e de juvenis de jundiá é 25-50mg CaCO3 L-1 e em baixa dureza da água (próxima a zero) o pH deve ser reduzido.

[SPA] La tesis doctoral pretende estudiar los mecanismos fisiológicos y moleculares que influyen en el turgor y la firmeza de los frutos, así como en su vida útil. Pudiendo identificar a nivel agronómico la existencia o no de marcadores moleculares, se adaptará la nutrición de Calcio y Boro en el árbol para incidir en la firmeza de los frutos que, en su caso, repercutirá en la calidad del producto final. Se ensayarán de forma directa en campo diversos tratamientos foliares comprobando su eficacia, lo cual nos permitirá mejorar la calidad de los frutos con el consiguiente incremento de su vida útil. [ENG] The doctoral thesis aims to study the physiological and molecular mechanisms that influence the turgor and firmness of the fruits, as well as their shelf life, identifying at the agronomic level the existence or not of molecular markers, the nutrition of Calcium and Boron will be adapted to the tree nutrition to influence the firmness of the fruits and the quality of the final product. Therefore, different foliar treatments will be directly tested in the field, checking their effectiveness, which it will allow to improve fruit quality and increase their shelf life. | Francisco José Quirante Moya ha sido financiado por CEBAS-CSIC en el marco de un contrato CDTI con referencia 090202190226- FÉNIX FRESH.

The geochemical and isotopic composition of surface waters and groundwater in the Velenje Basin, Slovenia, was investigated seasonally to determine the relationship between major aquifers and surface waters, water–rock reactions, relative ages of groundwater, and biogeochemical processes. Groundwater in the Triassic aquifer is dominated by HCO₃–, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺and δ¹³CDICindicating degradation of soil organic matter and dissolution of carbonate minerals, similar to surface waters. In addition, groundwater in the Triassic aquifer has δ¹⁸O and δD values that plot near surface waters on the local and global meteoric water lines, and detectable tritium, likely reflecting recent (<50 years) recharge. In contrast, groundwater in the Pliocene aquifers is enriched in Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, and Si, and has high alkalinity and δ¹³CDICvalues, with low SO₄²–and NO₃–concentrations. These waters have likely been influenced by sulfate reduction and microbial methanogenesis associated with coal seams and dissolution of feldspars and Mg-rich clay minerals. Pliocene aquifer waters are also depleted in¹⁸O and²H, and have³H concentrations near the detection limit, suggesting these waters are older, had a different recharge source, and have not mixed extensively with groundwater in the Triassic aquifer.

The City of Manson, Iowa (USA), lies near the center of the Manson Impact Structure (MIS), a 37-km diameter impact crater that formed about 74 million years ago. The MIS is present at the bedrock surface, but it is completely buried by 20–90 m (70–300 ft) of glacial till and displays no surface expression. Groundwater samples were collected from Manson’s municipal well and nearby domestic wells to assess the sustainability of unusually soft water that typifies the central peak of the Manson Impact Structure. Groundwater quality indices from the various aquifer sources were distinctly different, with groundwater from the central peak of the crater exhibiting low Ca (<22 mg/L) and alkalinity (<127 mg/L as CaCO₃), and high concentrations of fluoride (>3.7 mg/L; max = 10.0 mg/L) and certain trace elements (e.g. Li, Mo, W). In contrast, groundwater collected from wells in overlying Quaternary aquifers was very hard (high Ca and Mg), with high alkalinity (>261 mg/L as CaCO₃), sulfate (58–485 mg/L) and occasionally nitrate-N (up to 6 mg/L). Age-dating techniques using³H,¹⁴C, and³⁶Cl suggested water older than 35,000 years to possibly as old as 1,000,000 years within the central peak aquifer, but indicated recent water in overlying aquifers. Pumping of the Manson municipal wells appears to be mining old water of the central peak aquifer and drawing modern water containing elevated hardness and nitrate-N down into the aquifer. The Manson example illustrates a source-water challenge of balancing aquifer quality with sustainability.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os teores de matéria orgânica, cálcio e magnésio e a drenagem do perfil como indicadores de restrições ao uso da terra em duas bacias contíguas.