Evaluation of the trade-off between water use efficiency and nutrient use efficiency in two semiarid coniferous tree species growing on an organic amended metalliferous mine tailing substrate.

We evaluated the ecophysiological responses of two semiarid coniferous tree species, Pinus halepensis and Tetraclinis articulata, growing on a nutrient-poor metalliferous mine tailings substrate to organic amendments (biochar and/or organic municipal waste). The trees were grown in mesocosms under irrigated conditions for 20 months. Then, a comprehensive characterization of soil and plant parameters (including stable isotopes) was carried out.

Evaluation of the rhizospheric microbiome of the native colonizer Piptatherum miliaceum in semiarid mine tailings.

The study of the rhizospheric microbiome in native plants should be a prerequisite before carrying out the phytomanagement of mine tailings. The goal of this work was to evaluate the rhizospheric microbiome of Piptatherum miliaceum in semiarid mine tailings. A comprehensive edaphic characterization was performed including the description of soil microbial composition in the rhizosphere of P.

Biochar and urban solid refuse ameliorate the inhospitality of acidic mine tailings and foster effective spontaneous plant colonization under semiarid climate.

Phytomanagement is considered a suitable option in line with nature-based solutions to reduce environmental risks associated to metal(loid) mine tailings. We aimed at assessing the effectiveness of biochar from pruning trees combined with compost from urban solid refuse (USR) to ameliorate the conditions of barren acidic (pH ~5.5) metal(loid) mine tailing soils (total concentrations in mg kg: As ~220, Cd ~40, Mn ~1800, Pb ~5300 and Zn ~8600) from Mediterranean semiarid areas and promote spontaneous plant colonization.

Effects on metal availability of the application of tree biochar and municipal waste biosolid in a metalliferous mine tailings substrate.

The phytostabilization of mine tailings requires a previous assessment of the effects of soil amendments on metal mobility. The goal of this work was to evaluate the response of metal availability (both labile and potentially available pools) to the addition of two organic amendments (a municipal waste biosolid and a tree biochar), separately and in combination, in a mine tailings substrate. For this purpose, a comprehensive comparison among several single extraction procedures and a sequential extraction procedure was performed.

A critical assessment on the short-term response of microbial relative composition in a mine tailings soil amended with biochar and manure compost.

Phytomanagement of tailings requires the use of soil conditioners to favour plant establishment, but their benefits on soil microbial composition need to be assessed. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of two organic amendments, manure compost and biochar, on soil bacterial and fungal composition at metallic mine tailings. The addition of compost caused stronger effects in most of soil parameters and microbial composition than biochar, especially at the initial stage of the experiment.

Edaphic factors determining the colonization of semiarid mine tailings by a ruderal shrub and two tree plant species: Implications for phytomanagement.

Phytomanagement has been considered a feasible technique to decrease the environmental risks associated to mine tailings and its implementation relies on a suitable plant species selection. The goal of this study was to identify the edaphic factors, including microbiology, affecting the establishment of plant species with contrasting growth patterns during the phytomanagement of mine tailings. For this purpose, a comprehensive rhizosphere characterization was performed in an early ruderal colonizer, Zygophyllum fabago and two late successional tree species, Pinus halepensis and Tetraclinis articulata, growing at a mine tailings pile in southeast Spain.

The importance of edaphic niches functionality for the sustainability of phytomanagement in semiarid mining impacted ecosystems.

Mining activities on metal sulphide ores are considered one of the most environmentally damaging anthropogenic activities worldwide, mainly due to the production of metal(loid)- enriched tailings. The objective of the work was to elucidate which factors, including edaphic, vegetation and microbiological aspects, determine soil functionality in the phytomagement of mine tailings piles in semiarid areas. For this purpose, a field study was conducted using a transect experimental design in a former mining area located in southern Spain.

Effects of a soil organic amendment on metal allocation of trees for the phytomanagement of mining-impacted soils.

The suitable application of phytomanagement by phytostabilisation using plant tree species in metal-polluted soils requires an assessment of the fate of metals in biological tree compartments. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of an urban compost amendment on metal allocation in two evergreen tree species (Pinus halepensis and Tetraclinis articulata) growing in a metal-enriched polluted substrate. A comprehensive characterisation of edaphic parameters and metal speciation was carried out.

Nutrient limitation determines the suitability of a municipal organic waste for phytomanaging metal(loid) enriched mine tailings with a pine-grass co-culture.

The suitable phytomanaging of mine tailings not only requires an improvement of soil fertility but also the assessment of the biotic interactions between the selected plant species. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an organic amendment on the response of two plant species of contrasting habit, a tree, Pinus halepensis and a grass, Piptatherum miliaceum growing on a metal(loid)-contaminated substrate collected from mine tailings. Pots containing single plant individuals or their combination, with and without organic amendment (at 10% rate), were established and grown in a greenhouse for 13 months.

Biochar from sewage sludge and pruning trees reduced porewater Cd, Pb and Zn concentrations in acidic, but not basic, mine soils under hydric conditions.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of biochar from sewage sludge -BSS- and from pruning trees -BPT- (addition dose of 6% d.w.) to immobilise metals in acidic (pH ∼ 4.

Seasonal ionomic and metabolic changes in Aleppo pines growing on mine tailings under Mediterranean semi-arid climate.

Aleppo pine is the most abundant conifer species in Mediterranean basin. Knowledge of adaptive mechanisms to cope with different environmental stresses simultaneously is necessary to improve its resilience to the predicted climatic changes and anthropogenic stressors, such as heavy metal/metal(loid)s (HMMs) pollution. Here, one year-old needles and rhizosphere soil samples from five mining and non-mining (NM) populations of Aleppo pines grown spontaneously in SE Spain were sampled in two consecutive years during spring and summer.

Importance of intra- and interspecific plant interactions for the phytomanagement of semiarid mine tailings using the tree species Pinus halepensis.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of plant interactions (intra- and interspecific) on the growth and metal(loid) uptake of the tree species Pinus halepensis to determine its suitability for the phytomanagement of semiarid mine tailings. The pioneer tailings colonizer grass Piptatherum miliaceum was selected for assessing interspecific interactions. The experiment was conducted following a pot experimental design employing mine tailings soil.

Parkinsonian motor impairment predicts personality domains related to genetic risk and treatment outcomes in schizophrenia.

Identifying endophenotypes of schizophrenia is of critical importance and has profound implications on clinical practice. Here we propose an innovative approach to clarify the mechanims through which temperament and character deviance relates to risk for schizophrenia and predict long-term treatment outcomes. We recruited 61 antipsychotic naïve subjects with chronic schizophrenia, 99 unaffected relatives, and 68 healthy controls from rural communities in the Central Andes.

Phosphorus retention and fractionation in an eutrophic wetland: A one-year mesocosms experiment under fluctuating flooding conditions.

This study aimed to evaluate the response of salt marshes to pulses of PO-enriched water, with and without the presence of Phragmites australis. A one-year mesocosms experiment was performed in simulated soil profiles (fine-textured surface layers and sandy subsurface layers) from a coastal salt marsh of the Mar Menor lagoon under alternating flooding-drying conditions with eutrophic water, under low (1.95 mg L P-PO) and high (19.

Seasonal changes in antioxidative/oxidative profile of mining and non-mining populations of Syrian beancaper as determined by soil conditions.

Soil pollution by heavy metals/metalloids (HMMs) is a problem worldwide. To prevent dispersion of contaminated particles by erosion, the maintenance of a vegetative cover is needed. Successful plant establishment in multi-polluted soils can be hampered not only by HMM toxicities, but also by soil nutrient deficiencies and the co-occurrence of abiotic stresses.

Evaluation of the environmental plasticity in the xerohalophyte Zygophyllum fabago L. for the phytomanagement of mine tailings in semiarid areas.

Phytomanagement by phytostabilisation of metal(loid)-enriched mine tailings in semiarid areas has been proposed as a suitable technique to promote a self-sustainable vegetal cover for decreasing the spread of polluted particles by erosion. The goal of this work was to evaluate the contribution of a pioneer plant species (Zygophyllum fabago) in ameliorating the soil conditions at two mine tailings piles located in a semiarid area in Southeast Spain. The ecophysiological performance of this plant species compared to a control population was assessed by analysing the nutritional and ecophysiological status.

The potential use of Piptatherum miliaceum for the phytomanagement of mine tailings in semiarid areas: Role of soil fertility and plant competition.

Phytomanagement in terms of phytostabilisation has been proposed as a suitable technique to decrease the environmental risks of metal(loid) enriched mine tailings. Nevertheless, at these sites some issues must be solved to assure the long-term establishment of vegetation (e.g.

Antimony retention and release from drained and waterlogged shooting range soil under field conditions.

Many soils polluted by antimony (Sb) are subject to fluctuating waterlogging conditions; yet, little is known about how these affect the mobility of this toxic element under field conditions. Here, we compared Sb leaching from a calcareous shooting range soil under drained and waterlogged conditions using four large outdoor lysimeters. After monitoring the leachate samples taken at bi-weekly intervals for >1.

The efficacy of targeted health agents education to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis in a rural population.

The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is a key determinant in the severity of symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. DUP is a modifiable factor that if reduced can improve patient outcome and treatment response. We sought to decrease DUP in rural Argentina by instituting annual training of local health agents to better identify signs of mental illness and offer earlier intervention.

Metal(loid) allocation and nutrient retranslocation in Pinus halepensis trees growing on semiarid mine tailings.

The goal of this study was to evaluate internal metal(loid) cycling and the risk of metal(loid) accumulation in litter from Pinus halepensis trees growing at a mine tailing disposal site in semiarid Southeast Spain. Internal nutrient retranslocation was also evaluated in order to gain insight into the ability of pine trees to cope with the low-fertility soil conditions at the tailings. We measured metal(loid) concentrations in the foliage (young and old needles), woody stems and fresh leaf litter of pine trees growing on tailings.

Usefulness of pioneer vegetation for the phytomanagement of metal(loid)s enriched tailings: grasses vs. shrubs vs. trees.

The goal of this work was to assess the selection of the most suitable combination of plant species for the phytomanagement of mine tailings, by comparing among different plant life-forms (grasses, shrubs and trees). A comparison on induced rhizosphere changes generated by four plant species (the grass Piptatherum miliaceum, the shrub Helichrysum decumbens, and the trees, Pinus halepensis and Tetraclinis articulata) and high density vegetation patches (fertility islands) at a mine tailing located at Southeast Spain and the description of their physiological status employing stable isotopes analyses were carried out. The edaphic niches for plant growth were determined by salinity, organic matter and total soil nitrogen while metal(loid)s concentrations played a minor role.

Nitrate removal from eutrophic wetlands polluted by metal-mine wastes: effects of liming and plant growth.

Wetlands are highly effective systems in removing large amounts of N from waters, preventing eutrophication processes. However, when wetlands are polluted by metal-mine wastes their capacity to act as green filters may be diminished. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of liming and plants (Sarcocornia fruticosa and Phragmites australis) on the removal of NO3(-) from eutrophic water in slightly acidic, wetland soils polluted by metal-mine wastes.

The importance of edaphic niches and pioneer plant species succession for the phytomanagement of mine tailings.

Phytomanagement in terms of phytostabilisation is considered a suitable method to decrease environmental risks of metal(loid) enriched mine tailings. The goal of this study was to identify plant-favourable edaphic niches in mine tailings from a semiarid area, in order to obtain relevant information for further phytostabilisation procedures. For this purpose, a transect-designed sampling from non-disturbed soils to two mine tailings was performed, including the description of soil and plant ecology gradients.

When liming and revegetation contribute to the mobilisation of metals: learning lessons for the phytomanagement of metal-polluted wetlands.

The aim of this study was to identify the effectiveness of liming in combination with vegetation for the recovery of slightly acidic, saline soils of eutrophic wetlands affected by mine wastes, under fluctuating flooding conditions. Simulated soil profiles were constructed and four treatments were assayed under greenhouse conditions: control, only plant, only liming, and liming and plant. The plant species was the halophyte Sarcocornia fruticosa.