Amsterdam Research Initiative for Sub-surface Taphonomy and Anthropology (ARISTA) - A taphonomic research facility in the Netherlands for the study of human remains.

A taphonomic research facility for the study of human remains was recently realized in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to systematically investigate the decomposition of the human body under known conditions. Governmental authorization was obtained to make use of the body donation program of the Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location Academic Medical Center, for this specific purpose. In contrast to the small number of comparable initiatives elsewhere, this facility specifically allows for the study of buried bodies e.

The enhancing effect of afforestation over secondary succession on soil quality under semiarid climate conditions.

Semiarid climate conditions hamper natural re-vegetation, leaving the soil vulnerable to erosion after the cessation of agriculture. Therefore, soil and landscape protective measures, especially afforestations, have been implemented in the Mediterranean region since the early 20th century. This study aims to determine the long term impact of afforestation on soil functioning, in comparison with natural re-vegetation (secondary succession) on abandoned fields and semi-natural vegetation.

Emerging contaminants related to the occurrence of forest fires in the Spanish Mediterranean.

Forest fires can be a source of contamination because, among others, of the use of chemicals to their extinction (flame retardants, FRs), or by the production of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from high temperature alteration of organic matter. Up to our knowledge, this study is the first to assess the direct (PAHs 16 on the USA EPA's priority list), and indirect [tri- to hepta- brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)] contamination related to forest fires. The abundance and distribution of these contaminants were monitored on two Mediterranean hillslopes, one burned and one unburned, near Azuébar (SE Spain).

Soil organic carbon redistribution by water erosion--the role of CO2 emissions for the carbon budget.

A better process understanding of how water erosion influences the redistribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) is sorely needed to unravel the role of soil erosion for the carbon (C) budget from local to global scales. The main objective of this study was to determine SOC redistribution and the complete C budget of a loess soil affected by water erosion. We measured fluxes of SOC, dissolved organic C (DOC) and CO2 in a pseudo-replicated rainfall-simulation experiment.