Article
Environmental Sciences
Noelia Cruz-Perez, Juan C. Santamarta, Alejandro Garcia-Gil, Jesica Rodriguez-Martin, Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm, Anastasia Hernandez-Aleman, Maite M. Aldaya
Summary: This study examines the water footprint of different water collection and wastewater treatment facilities in the Canary Islands and finds high percentages of drinking water losses, with wells and distribution networks having the largest blue water footprint. Wastewater treatment plants also contribute to the gray water footprint. To reduce the water footprint, it is essential to optimize water resource utilization, improve infrastructure, and implement a circular economy.
Article
Economics
Yazan Qiblawey, Abdulrahman Alassi, Mohammed Zain ul Abideen, Santiago Banales
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the sustainability challenges faced by the Canary Islands power systems and presents the results of a techno-economic evaluation of increasing renewable energy utilization. The findings show that increasing renewable energy integration can reduce costs and carbon emissions, and electrical interconnection can further increase renewable energy penetration.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Natalia Martin-Carrillo, Edgar Baz-Gonzalez, Katherine Garcia-Livia, Virginia Amaro-Ramos, Nestor Abreu-Acosta, Jordi Miquel, Estefania Abreu-Yanes, Roman Pino-Vera, Carlos Feliu, Pilar Foronda
Summary: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic parasite that causes eosinophilic meningitis in humans. It has spread to all continents except Antarctica and has been detected in the Canary Islands. In a recent study, the presence of A. cantonensis was confirmed in various animal species on different islands in the Canary Archipelago, highlighting the potential risk it poses to public health.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Filip Verloove, Rainer Otto, Steven Janssens, Sang-Tae Kim
Summary: A cryptic invader of the genus Persicaria has been identified in the damper, northern parts of La Palma and Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. This species, previously thought to be an Old World weed, has been determined to belong to the New World native weed P. hydropiperoides. The morphology and taxonomy of the species, as well as its distribution and naturalization in the Canary Islands, have been thoroughly discussed and illustrated. The taxonomic position of a southern 'race' of P. hydropiperoides, referred to as a distinct species P. persicarioides, has also been investigated, leading to the proposal of a new combination at varietal rank. Additionally, a molecular phylogenetic analysis has been conducted, providing further insights into the genetic relationships of this species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alberto Navarro, Octavio Perez Luzardo, May Gomez, Andrea Acosta-Dacal, Ico Martinez, Jorge Felipe de la Rosa, Ana Macias-Montes, Alejandro Suarez-Perez, Alicia Herrera
Summary: Plastic pollution is a current environmental problem in the Canary Islands. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating the impact of plastics on the local avifauna. In this study, the gastrointestinal tracts of 88 birds from 14 species were examined for plastic ingestion, and their livers were analyzed for the presence of various organic pollutants. The results reveal a high frequency of plastic ingestion in Cory's shearwaters, with most of the ingested items originating from fishing gear. Furthermore, the presence of organic pollutants such as PCBs, PAHs, and OCPs was detected in all or most of the samples. These findings highlight the threats posed by plastic debris and organic pollutants to seabirds in this region.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ivan Cabrera-Perez, Jean Soubestre, Luca D'Auria, David Martinez van Dorth, Juanjo Ledo, Perla Pina-Varas, German Cervigon-Tomico, German D. Padilla, Jose Barrancos, Nemesio M. Perez
Summary: This study used Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) for the first time on Gran Canaria island to analyze the geological structures and geothermal potential. The findings revealed five velocity anomalies related to the island's geology and geothermal potential. Two high-velocity anomalies in the central part of the island were interpreted as intrusive volcanic bodies from the island's early stages. Three low-velocity zones were identified, potentially associated with recent volcanic activity. The study also observed a spatial correlation between anomalies in electrical conductivity and lateral gradients in the S-wave velocity model, providing evidence of hydrothermal circulation and thermal anomalies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Levi Garcia-Romero, Teresa Carreira-Galban, Jose Angel Rodriguez-Baez, Pablo Mayer-Suarez, Luis Hernandez-Calvento, Amalia Yanes-Luque
Summary: The current sea level rise and an increase in the frequency and severity of sea storm events will have important environmental impacts on coastal tourist areas in oceanic islands. This study analyzes the current and future conditions of southwest sea storm events and their effects on tourist zones using mapping and high-resolution data. The results show an increase in the frequency of events, especially since the 1990s.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nauzet Hernandez-Hernandez, Yeray Santana-Falcon, Sheila Estrada-Allis, Javier Aristegui
Summary: This study highlights the importance of submesoscale features in impacting the distribution and variability of phytoplankton in the ocean. Observational evidence is lacking for the complexity of short-term phytoplankton distribution and variability, which has been mainly inferred from theoretical and modeling approaches. The results suggest that both temporal and spatial variability may equally contribute to the total variance of picoplankton community in the mixed layer, with time being the principal contributor to variance in the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM).
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Marine
David Castro, Pablo Estevez, Jose Manuel Leao-Martins, Robert W. Dickey, Natalia Garcia-Alvarez, Fernando Real, Pedro Reis Costa, Ana Gago-Martinez
Summary: Ciguatoxins (CTXs) are naturally occurring neurotoxins that can accumulate in fish and cause Ciguatera Poisoning (CP) in seafood consumers. The distribution of ciguatoxic fish is expanding, but the lack of CTX standards and reference materials hinders monitoring efforts. This study presents a protocol for preparing purified C-CTX reference materials to enable continued research and monitoring of the ciguatera hazard.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. Isabel Cadena-Aizaga, Sarah Montesdeoca-Esponda, Zoraida Sosa-Ferrera, Jose Juan Santana-Rodriguez
Summary: This study analyzes the occurrence of organic UV filters in seawater and wastewater samples from three beaches and three wastewater treatment plants in Gran Canaria Island, Spain. It also assesses the potential environmental hazard associated with these compounds and discusses their removal efficiencies in wastewater treatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Ines Galindo, Markes E. Johnson, Esther Martin-Gonzalez, Carmen Romero, Juana Vegas, Carlos S. Melo, Sergio P. Avila, Nieves Sanchez
Summary: This study explores the impact of North Atlantic storms on a Late Pleistocene rocky shoreline formed by basaltic rocks on a volcanic peninsula in Gran Canaria. Results show that wave heights of approximately 4.2 to 4.5 meters eroded the coastline, with larger waves needed to extract the basalt boulders. Fossil marine biota associated with the boulder beds suggest a littoral to very shallow water setting around 125,000 years ago.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
William Hernandez, Javier Doniz-Paez, Nemesio M. Perez
Summary: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) emphasized the need for innovation, sustainability, and accessibility in sun and beach tourist destinations. This study focuses on the geotourism development in La Palma, an island in the Canary Islands, which has faced a tourism crisis exacerbated by the eruption of Tajogaite, Cumbre Vieja in 2021. The research identifies and characterizes points of interest in the two largest population centers, Santa Cruz de La Palma and Los Llanos de Aridane, showcasing the diverse natural and cultural volcanic and non-volcanic heritage of the regions.
Review
Environmental Sciences
J. Mangas, E. Perez-Chacon Espino
Summary: In this study, petrographic analysis was conducted on 50 sandy beach samples from the eastern Canary Islands to determine the composition and origin of the sand grains. The samples contained calcareous bioclasts, lithoclasts, and volcaniclasts, with variations depending on the island's building stages. Calcareous bioclasts were mainly fragments from red coralline algae and molluscs, while lithoclasts were fragments of alkaline rocks from different stages. The intraclasts consisted of fragments from coastal sedimentary rocks. The abundance of these components varied by geographic and geological factors. Overall, the proportions of bioclasts were higher than lithoclasts in La Graciosa, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, while volcaniclasts were more abundant in Gran Canaria. Trachytic-phonolitic sand grains were only found in Gran Canaria. Urban and semi-urban beaches had lower percentages of bioclasts compared to natural beaches.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Marta Lopez-Saavedra, Joan Marti, Jose Luis Rubio, Karim Kelfoun
Summary: Extreme geohazards like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis can cause cascading effects with unpredictable risks, which are often overlooked in hazard assessment. Anticipating and preparing for such extreme events is crucial for maintaining safe and sustainable lifestyles. Volcanic islands, such as Tenerife in the Canary Archipelago, have experienced multiple occurrences of cascading extreme hazards in the past, highlighting the importance of understanding and mitigating the potential consequences.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
S. B. Jagerup, V. R. Troll, H. Geiger, F. M. Deegan, C. Harris, J. C. Carracedo, F. C. Meade, S. Omidian, K. Zaczek, F. M. van der Zwan
Summary: The Gran Canaria eruption produced alkaline magmas with various xenoliths including peridotite nodules, partially melted plutonic and volcanic rock fragments, and felsic quartz-bearing rock fragments. Two groups of xenoliths were identified: one with igneous origin and the other originated from pre-island sedimentary rocks. These xenoliths provide valuable insights into the geological history and magma storage in Gran Canaria.
JOURNAL OF VOLCANOLOGY AND GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bruno Henrique dos Santos Ferreira, Angelica Guerra, Maxwell da Rosa Oliveira, Leticia Koutchin Reis, Andre Aptroot, Danilo Bandini Ribeiro, Leticia Couto Garcia
Summary: The research focused on the impact of fire on the fruiting period of Calliandra parviflora, finding that burnt fruits had greater mass but lower seed germination rates compared to unburnt fruits. However, the fire did not affect the vegetative regeneration ability of the species.
PLANT SPECIES BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Andre Aptroot, Maria Fernanda Souza, Adriano Afonso Spielmann
Summary: Five new species of lichens from the Serra de Maracaju in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, were described in this study, with a further 123 species reported as new to the area, including ten first records for Brazil and 41 first records for the state.
CRYPTOGAMIE MYCOLOGIE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Isaias Oliveira Junior, Andre Aptroot, Marcela Eugenia da Silva Caceres
Summary: This study describes seven new species of pyrenocarpous lichens from Monte Pascoal in Bahia, Brazil, as well as 353 other species. 12 species are reported for the first time in Brazil, and 192 species are first records for Bahia. The findings suggest that there may be many more species in the area yet to be discovered.
Article
Mycology
Andre Aptroot, Lidiane Alves dos Santos, Marcela Eugenia da Silva Caceres
Summary: Saxicolous lichens in the southern reaches of the Caatinga biome in Sergipe, NE Brazil were investigated for the first time, identifying 20 species with three new species described. The study also observed several substrate shifts and ecological adaptations, showcasing the diversity and unique characteristics of these lichens in the region.
CRYPTOGAMIE MYCOLOGIE
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Andre Aptroot, Maria Fernanda Souza
Summary: This passage describes three new species of lichens discovered in the Chapada dos Guimaraes in Mato Grosso, Brazil, as well as 191 additional species reported as new to the state.
CRYPTOGAMIE MYCOLOGIE
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Andre Aptroot, Maria Fernanda Souza
Summary: Four new crustose lichens are described from the coastal area in Parana, Brazil, along with a list of 111 species newly recorded from the state, including nine species first recorded in Brazil. The significance of lichexanthone is discussed in the study.
CRYPTOGAMIE MYCOLOGIE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Maria Fernanda de Souza, Andre Aptroot, Adriano Afonso Spielmann
Summary: The species of Heterodermia in Brazil have been revised, reporting additional species and new species. A key to all accepted species is provided. The split genera proposed recently are not accepted and an additional group is informally recognized.
Review
Mycology
Nalin N. Wijayawardene, Alan J. L. Phillips, Diana Santos Pereira, Dong-Qin Dai, Andre Aptroot, Josiane S. Monteiro, Irina S. Druzhinina, Feng Cai, Xinlei Fan, Laura Selbmann, Claudia Coleine, Rafael F. Castaneda-Ruiz, Martin Kukwa, Adam Flakus, Patricia Oliveira Fiuza, Paul M. Kirk, Kunhiraman C. Rajesh Kumar, Ilesha S. Ieperuma Arachchi, Nakarin Suwannarach, Li-Zhou Tang, Teun Boekhout, Chen Shuhui Tan, R. P. Prabath K. Jayasinghe, Marco Thines
Summary: Asexually reproducing fungi play significant roles in ecosystems and have implications for plant and animal health, food production, biotechnology, and medicine. However, the diversity and extent of asexually reproducing taxa are not well-known. Recent reports suggest that there may be more asexual fungi than sexually-reproducing ones. Evaluating the diversity of different types of fungi, such as speciose and pleomorphic taxa, as well as those from less studied life modes and biodiversity-rich areas, is necessary to obtain more reliable estimates.
Article
Plant Sciences
Shirley Cunha Feuerstein, Andre Aptroot, Rosa Mara Borges da Silveira, Robert Luecking, Marcela Eugenia da Silva Caceres
Summary: This study revises the Acanthothecis genus in Brazil and provides an updated world key to the known species. Ten new species and three validated species are described, and a new combination species is proposed.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zacarias Lepista, Andre Aptroot
Summary: Five new species of Graphis genus have been reported in Europe, identified from the Mata Nacional do Bucaco in Portugal. This region is known for its rich and diverse distribution of graphidoid Graphidaceae. The identified species include Graphis dendrogramma, G. duplicata, G. gonimica, G. librata, and G. pyrrhocheiloides. An updated key of Graphis species in Europe is also provided, and all newly reported species are named after tropical species.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amanda Barreto Xavier-Leite, Marcela Eugenia da Silva Caceres, Andre Aptroot, Bibiana Moncada, Robert Lucking, Bruno Tomio Goto
Summary: This study presents a broad molecular-phylogenetic revision of the lichenized family Gomphillaceae, based on newly generated sequences. The study identified new genus-level clades and found that the characteristic asexual anamorph called hypho-phores is diagnostic for many of the recognized clades.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Andre Aptroot
Summary: Lichens were studied in a small area along the Roosevelt River in Amazonas, Brazil. This study identified 25 species that were previously unreported in Brazil, and an additional 190 species that were previously unknown in the Amazonas state. The study also described 24 new species, including Allographa lineatipruinosa, Allographa variopruinata, Arthonia xanthopycnidiata, and others.
MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Mycology
N. N. Wijayawardene, K. D. Hyde, D. Q. Dai, M. Sanchez-Garcia, B. T. Goto, R. K. Saxena, M. Erdogdu, F. Selcuk, K. C. Rajeshkumar, A. Aptroot, J. Blaszkowski, N. Boonyuen, G. A. da Silva, F. A. de Souza, W. Dong, D. Ertz, D. Haelewaters, E. B. G. Jones, S. C. Karunarathna, P. M. Kirk, M. Kukwa, J. Kumla, D. Leontyev, H. T. Lumbsch, S. S. N. Maharachchikumbura, F. Marguno, P. Martinez-Rodriguez, A. Mesic, J. S. Monteiro, F. Oehl, J. Pawlowska, D. Pem, W. P. Pfliegler, A. J. L. Phillips, A. Posta, M. Q. He, J. X. Li, M. Raza, O. P. Sruthi, S. Suetrong, N. Suwannarach, L. Tedersoo, V Thiyagaraja, S. Tibpromma, Z. Tkalcec, Y. S. Tokarev, D. N. Wanasinghe, D. S. A. Wijesundara, S. D. M. K. Wimalaseana, H. Madrid, G. Q. Zhang, Y. Gao, I Sanchez-Castro, L. Z. Tang, M. Stadler, A. Yurkov, M. Thines
Summary: This paper presents an updated classification of the Kingdom Fungi, including fungus-like taxa and fossil fungi. It provides detailed notes for newly introduced taxa and changes made since the previous outline. The paper discusses the latest taxonomic changes in Basidiomycota and broadly explores the classification of Mycosphaerellales. It also discusses problematic genera in Glomeromycota based on phylogenetic analysis.
Article
Mycology
N. N. Wijayawardene, A. J. L. Phillips, S. Tibpromma, D. Q. Dai, L. Selbmann, J. S. Monteiro, A. Aptroot, A. Flakus, K. C. Rajeshkumar, C. Coleine, D. C. Pereira, X. Fan, L. Zhang, S. S. N. Maharachchikumbura, M. F. Souza, M. Kukwa, N. Suwannarach, P. Rodriguez-Flakus, N. Ashtekar, L. Dauner, L. Z. Tang, X. C. Jin, S. C. Karunarathna
Summary: Fungi are essential members of the biosphere, crucial for sustaining ecosystems by maintaining nutrient balance. Despite their abundance in various habitats, many areas remain understudied, highlighting the need for more research to uncover the extent of fungal diversity in these overlooked habitats and biodiversity hotspots.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Achim Edtbauer, Eva Y. Pfannerstill, Ana Paula Pires Florentino, Cybelli G. G. Barbosa, Emilio Rodriguez-Caballero, Nora Zannoni, Rodrigo P. Alves, Stefan Wolff, Anywhere Tsokankunku, Andre Aptroot, Marta de Oliveira Sa, Alessandro C. de Araujo, Matthias Sorgel, Sylvia Mota de Oliveira, Bettina Weber, Jonathan Williams
Summary: The study suggests that cryptogamic organisms such as bryophytes and lichens in tropical forests emit large quantities of sesquiterpenoids and uptake atmospheric oxidation products, playing a significant role in atmospheric chemistry in tropical rainforests.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)