DBAPEEQA. Artículos del Departamento de Biología Animal, Ecología, Parasitología, Edafología y Química Agrícola

Restauración de antiguas minas de carbón a cielo abierto en el suroeste de Asturias : un modelo hacia la sostenibilidad

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

[SPA]El cierre de minas de carbón en el suroccidente de Asturias dejó un paisaje degradado con suelos empobrecidos y ecosistemas fragmentados. Para su restauración, se proponen soluciones basadas en la naturaleza (SBN) y economía circular. Se evalúa la efectividad de enmiendas como compost, residuos industriales inertes y biochar en la recuperación del suelo y la revegetación, tanto en laboratorio como en parcelas piloto en la mina de Tormaleo (Ibias). Los resultados indican mejoras en la fertilidad del suelo, regeneración vegetal, secuestro de carbono y fortalecimiento de servicios ecosistémicos. Estas estrategias pueden replicarse en otros entornos mineros, consolidando prácticas sostenibles para la restauración ambiental y la transición ecológica

Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This Reprint compiles recent research on the remediation and improvement of soils through the application of by-product amendments. The contributions address the dual challenge of soil degradation and waste overproduction by exploring how organic and industrial residues can be repurposed to restore soil health and enhance fertility. The articles cover a wide range of contexts, from contaminated mine soils to agricultural lands, and assess impacts on nutrient availability, microbial communities, crop productivity, and pollutant mitigation. Several studies also integrate techniques such as phytoremediation and vermicomposting. This Reprint highlights interdisciplinary approaches that connect biotechnology, ecology, and sustainable waste management, offering practical perspectives for regenerative agriculture and circular economy strategies.

Estimating Mercury and Arsenic Release from the La Soterraña Abandoned Mine Waste Dump (Asturias, Spain): Source-Term Reconstruction Using High-Accuracy UAV Surveys and Historical Topographic Data

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

[EN]The waste dump from the abandoned La Soterraña mine, a former mercury extraction site, contains high concentrations of mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As), which pose a significant environmental risk due to direct exposure to the environment. Given the site’s topography and slope, surface runoff has been identified as the primary mechanism for the dispersal of these toxic elements into nearby watercourses. This study quantifies the amount of Hg and As released into fluvial systems through surface runoff from the waste dump. Historical topographic data, Airborne Laser Exploration Survey public data from the National Plan for Aerial Orthophotographs (1st PNOA-LiDAR) of the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, and high-precision photogrammetric drone surveys were utilized, with centimeter-level accuracy achieved using airborne GNSS RTK positioning systems on the drone. The methodology yields reliable results when comparing surfaces generated from topographic data collected with consistent methodologies and standards. Analysis indicates an environmental release exceeding 1000 kg of mercury (Hg) and 12,000 kg of arsenic (As) between 2019 and 2023, based on high spatial resolution data (GSD = 8 cm). These findings highlight a sustained temporal contribution of chemical contaminants, which imposes serious environmental and biological health risks due to persistent exposure to toxic elements.

From waste to solution: Valorisation of a dolomite by-product for degraded soil rehabilitation

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

[Acidic, metal(loid)-contaminated soils require scalable circular solutions; the efficacy of a finely milled dolomite by-product, alone or co-applied with vermicompost (VC) or biochar (B), was assessed as amendments to rehabilitate an Iberian mine-impacted soil and to enable phytostabilisation with Lolium multiflorum. In a greenhouse pot trial comparing five amended treatments (SD, SV, SB, SVD, SBD) against an unamended control, soil chemistry (pH, C/N, available P, CEC, Al saturation), TCLP-extractable Cu–Zn–As, plant biomass, and multivariate response (PCA) were quantified. Dolomite sharply neutralised acidity (pH 3.1→8.3–8.5), increased CEC (23.0→65.5–81.9 cmol(+)/kg), and reduced Al saturation (11.2 % → ~0.02 %), with large decreases in TCLP-Cu fell to <10 mg/kg in dolomite-containing treatments and to <3 mg/kg with VC formulations; Zn was suppressed to <65 mg/kg except where liming counteracted B effects. Arsenic showed a distinct pattern: VC increased TCLPAs in close association with available P, whereas dolomite alone or with B kept As below detection—most plausibly via Ca/Mg-driven (co)precipitation of sparingly soluble arsenate/phosphate phases; notably, SVD < SV for As, indicating partial mitigation by dolomite. Vegetation failed in the control but established across all amended soils, with biomass maximized under VC. Overall, the results indicate that dolomite by-product particularly in combination with VC provides a circular, field-relevant route to restore soil function and reduce bioavailable Cu and Zn by >90 % while sustaining plant establishment; given VC-linked As mobilization, co-amendment with Fe-rich sorbents and prudent P management are recommended to minimize risk in practical applications.

Application of organic geochemistry to the characterization of hydrochar and biochar: Insights into composition and optimization

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

[EN]Hydrothermal carbonization has garnered significant attention in recent studies due to potential applications of the hydrochar produced, which overlap with those of torrefied biochar, including soil improvement, carbon sequestration, and energy production. However, unlike the relatively uniform properties of biochar, hydrochar characteristics can vary greatly depending on the feedstock used. Advanced characterization techniques are essential to better understand these materials and enhance their practical applications. Research on hydrochar requires a multi-faceted approach, including molecular-level studies, to optimize production processes and identify specific applications. In this regard, analytical methods commonly used in organic geochemistry could play a crucial role in deepening our knowledge of hydrochar and biochar. Thus, this study evaluates the properties and key characteristics of five types of hydrochar and a reference biochar using a range of advanced analytical techniques. Among these, HAWK® pyrolysis with flame ionization and infra-red detectors (Py-FID/IRD) — typically employed in petroleum geochemistry — has proven to be a rapid and effective method for assessing some key properties and facilitating quick comparisons. Additionally, thermal desorption and pyrolysis analysis followed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (TD-Py-GC-MS) provided detailed molecular characterizations of the hydrochars. These findings demonstrate that traditional techniques used in fossil fuel and environmental geochemistry are equally applicable in this field. Consequently, these techniques offer valuable insights into hydrochar composition, addressing critical knowledge gaps and leveraging advanced geochemical methods to assist in optimizing carbonaceous materials for practical applications including production of biofuels and platform chemicals for bio-refining.

Unraveling the dynamic interplay of microbial communities associated to Lupinus angustifolius in response to environmental and cultivation conditions

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

[EN]Microorganisms form dynamic communities with plants, providing benefits such as nutrient acquisition and stress resilience. Understanding how these microorganisms are affected by environmental factors such as growth conditions and soil characteristics are essential for harnessing these communities for sustainable agriculture practices and their response to climate change. The microbiome associated to Lupinus angustifolius, a legume native in Europe, with a high protein value and stress resilience was characterized for the first time. Using 16S rRNA gene and ITS amplicon sequencing, we characterized the compositional and temporal changes of the bacterial and fungal communities associated to the soil, rhizosphere, and plant compartments where Lupinus angustifolius grows naturally. Our results suggest that the main difference in the soil microbial communities is related to the edaphic properties, although environmental factors such as temperature, humidity or rainfall also influenced the composition of the soil microbial communities. We also characterized the bacterial communities associated with the rhizosphere, roots, nodules, and leaves of wild plants collected in the field and compared them against plants obtained under greenhouse conditions. In the plant compartments, the bacterial composition appeared to be more affected by the growing conditions (field vs greenhouse), than by soil characteristics or location. These results can be used to identify key taxa that may play crucial roles in the development and adaptation of the host plant and its associated microbiota to environmental changes and highlight the importance of characterizing the plant microbiomes in their natural habitats. Soil, influenced by climatic seasons, shapes the plant microbiome assembly. Lupinus recruits a core microbiome across rhizosphere, roots, nodules, and leaves, that is stable across locations. However, cultivation conditions may alter microbiome dynamics, impacting the adaptability of its components. Wild plants show a resilient and adaptable microbiome while germination and cultivation in greenhouse conditions alter its composition and vulnerability.

Improving the Management of a Semi-Arid Agricultural Ecosystem through Digital Mapping of Soil Properties: the case of Salamanca (Spain)

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

[EN]Soil protection and the increase and intensification of agricultural production require detailed knowledge of soil properties and their variability. On the other hand, the complexity associated with traditional soil mapping processes can lead to the implementation of inappropriate agricultural practices that degrade this resource. Therefore, it is necessary to use mapping techniques to provide more detailed information to farmers and managers. In this study, the geostatistical technique ordinary kriging was used to map the distribution of the most important edaphic properties (texture, nutrients content -N, P, K-, pH, organic carbon, water retention, COLE, carbonate content, and cation exchange capacity) from known sampled points, which allows inferring the value and distribution of the different edaphic parameters studied along the agricultural fields. The results obtained show after validation that the analysis of semivariograms is suitable for evaluating the distribution of the main soil parameters on a large scale, since it faithfully reflects their distribution and makes the ordinary kriging tool a suitable method for optimizing the resources available in soil mapping processes. In addition, the knowledge of these distributions made it possible to establish different recommendations for improving the management of the agricultural ecosystem, which will guarantee a higher agricultural yield as well as a better protection of the analyzed soils.

Diversity and dominance in bird assemblages across habitats in the Ñeembucú wetlands complex

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

[EN] Understanding how diversity responds to habitat heterogeneity in a landscape is a central issue for implementing effective conservation plans. In this study, we analyzed how the composition and abundance of neotropical bird assemblages vary among habitats in the Ñeembucú Wetlands Complex, the largest wetland system in Paraguay. Bird surveys were conducted during 1 year within dominant habitats in the landscape: riparian forests, natural grasslands, savannas, and anthropized sites. The Ñeembucú Wetlands Complex showed a high bird richness (209 species) that contrasted with a pattern of dominance by a small set of 16 species that comprised half of the abundance. This set of oligarchic species consists of generalist species that exploited a wide variety of habitats and were well adapted to human disturbance, contributing to an important overlap in the composition of assemblages. However, despite this overall similarity, there is still significant differentiation in bird assemblages, especially between habitats with the most contrasting vegetation physiognomy. Riparian forests and savannas showed higher diversity values than the more structurally homogeneous grasslands. Also, all natural habitats showed, in general, higher diversity values than anthropized sites. Oligarchic species had higher importance in anthropized environments, which also had the most uneven distribution of abundance between species, indicating the dominance by a smaller number of species and the loss of ecological diversity as farmland and urban development increase.

Imported Mansonella perstans infection in Spain

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

[EN] Background: Mansonella perstans infection can be considered one of the most neglected tropical infectious diseases. Very few studies have reported on the clinical picture caused by infection with this nematode. Therefore, our study was aimed to describe the clinical patterns and treatment of imported M. perstans infection by migrants from Africa. Methods: The present study evaluated a large cohort of migrants who have been diagnosed, examined and treated for imported M. perstans infection at a Spanish reference center (Hospital Carlos III Tropical Medicine Unit, Madrid, Spain) over a 19-year period. Most patients voluntarily attend the emergency unit or are referred from primary care or general hospitals in Madrid. Chi-square test was used to compare the association between categorical variables. The continuous variables were compared by Student’s t-test or the Mann–Whitney test. The corresponding regression models were used for multivariate analysis. Results: Five hundred three cases of migrants from tropical and subtropical areas with M. perstans infection were identified. Two hundred sixty-four patients were female (52.5%). The mean age (± SD) was 44.6 ± 18.2 years (range: 16–93 years). The mean time (± SD) between the arrival in Spain and the first consultation was 8.6 ± 18.0 months. The major origin of the patients was Equatorial Guinea (97.6%). Regarding the clinical picture, 257 patients were asymptomatic (54.7%) and 228 were symptomatic (45.3%); 190 patients had pruritus (37.8%), 50 (9.9%) had arthralgia, 18 patients had Calabar-like swelling (3.6%), and 15 (3%) had abdominal pain. Four hundred forty-two (87.9%) migrants had hyper-IgE, and 340 (67.6%) had eosinophilia. One hundred ninety-five patients had coinfections with other filarial nematodes (38.8%), and 308 migrants had only M. perstans infection (61.2%). Four hundred thirty-seven cases (86.9%) had been treated with anti-filarial drugs; 292 cases were treated with one antifilarial drug, and 145 cases were treated with combined anti-filarial therapy. Additionally, 20 (4%) cases received steroids and 38 (7.6%) cases received antihistamines. Conclusions: A long series of M. perstans infections is presented in sub-Saharan immigrants whose data indicate that it should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with pruritus or analytical alterations such as eosinophilia or hyper-IgE presentation, and they also have a high number of coinfections with other microorganisms whose treatment needs to be protocolized. Keywords: Mansonellosis, Mansonella perstans, Clinical study, Immigrant, Imported diseases, Spain

Comparative genomics of the major parasitic worms

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

[EN] Parasitic nematodes (roundworms) and platyhelminths (flatworms) cause debilitating chronic infections of humans and animals, decimate crop production and are a major impediment to socioeconomic development. Here we report a broad comparative study of 81 genomes of parasitic and non-parasitic worms. We have identified gene family births and hundreds of expanded gene families at key nodes in the phylogeny that are relevant to parasitism. Examples include gene families that modulate host immune responses, enable parasite migration though host tissues or allow the parasite to feed. We reveal extensive lineagespecific differences in core metabolism and protein families historically targeted for drug development. From an in silico screen, we have identified and prioritized new potential drug targets and compounds for testing. This comparative genomics resource provides a much-needed boost for the research community to understand and combat parasitic worms.

A Novel RT-LAMP for the Detection of Different Genotypes of Crimean–Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus in Patients from Spain

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

[EN] Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a potentially lethal tick-borne viral disease with a wide distribution. In Spain, 12 human cases of CCHF have been confirmed, with four deaths. The diagnosis of CCHF is hampered by the nonspecific symptoms, the high genetic diversity of CCHFV, and the biosafety requirements to manage the virus. RT-qPCR and serological tests are used for diagnosis with limitations. Reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) could be an effective alternative in the diagnosis of the disease. However, none of the few RT-LAMP assays developed to date has detected different CCHFV genotypes. Here, we designed a RT-LAMP using a degenerate primer set to compensate for the variability of the CCHFV target sequence. RT-LAMP was performed in colorimetric and real-time tests on RT-qPCR-confirmed CCHF patient samples notified in Spain in 2020 and 2021. Urine from an inpatient was analysed by RT-LAMP for the first time and compared with RT-qPCR. The amplicons obtained by RT-qPCR were sequenced and African III and European V genotypes were identified. RT-LAMP amplified both genotypes and was more sensitive than RT-qPCR in urine samples. We have developed a novel, rapid, specific, and sensitive RT-LAMP test that allows the detection of different CCHFV genotypes in clinical samples. This pan-CCHFV RT-LAMP detected viral RNA for the first time in urine samples. It can be easily performed as a single-tube isothermal colorimetric method on a portable platform in real time and without the need for expensive equipment, thus bringing molecular diagnostics closer to rural or resource-poor areas, where CCHF usually occurs.

Peptides Derived of Kunitz-Type Serine Protease Inhibitor as Potential Vaccine Against Experimental Schistosomiasis

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

[EN] Schistosomiasis is a significant public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, China, Southeast Asia, and regions of South and Central America affecting about 189 million people. Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors have been identified as important players in the interaction of other flatworm parasites with their mammalian hosts. They are involved in host blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, inflammation, and ion channel blocking, all of them critical biological processes, which make them interesting targets to develop a vaccine. Here, we evaluate the protective efficacy of chemically synthesized T- and B-cell peptide epitopes derived from a kunitz protein from Schistosoma mansoni. Putative kunitz-type protease inhibitor proteins were identified in the S.mansoni genome, and their expression was analyzed by RNA-seq. Gene expression analyses showed that the kunitz protein Smp_147730 (Syn. Smp_311670) was dramatically and significantly up-regulated in schistosomula and adult worms when compared to the invading cercariae. T- and B-cell epitopes were predicted using bioinformatics tools, chemically synthesized, and formulated in the Adjuvant Adaptation (ADAD) vaccination system. BALB/c mice were vaccinated and challenged with S. mansoni cercariae. Kunitz peptides were highly protective in vaccinated BALB/c mice showing significant reductions in recovery of adult females (89–91%) and in the numbers of eggs trapped in the livers (77–81%) and guts (57–77%) of mice. Moreover, liver lesions were significantly reduced in vaccinated mice (64–65%) compared to infected control mice. The vaccination regime was well-tolerated with both peptides. We propose the use of these peptides, alone or in combination, as reliable candidates for vaccination against schistosomiasis.

Zoonotic dirofilariases: one, no one, or more than one parasite.

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

[EN]Dirofilaria spp. are vector-borne filarial nematodes that affect a variety of animal species, including humans. Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are the two main zoonotic species, but also other wildlife-associated Dirofilaria species are occasionally reported as causative agents of human dirofilariasis, including Dirofilaria striata, Dirofilaria tenuis, Dirofilaria ursi, Dirofilaria spectans, and Dirofilaria magnilarvata. Since the etiological identity of most of the species mentioned here is arguable, we summarized and critically discussed data concerning infections in humans, focusing on the reliability of Dirofilaria species identification. We advocate the importance of combined morphological and genomic approaches to provide unequivocal evidence for their zoonotic potential and pathogenicity.

Faecal Microbiota Divergence in Allopatric Populations of Podarcis lilfordi and P. pityusensis, Two Lizard Species Endemic to the Balearic Islands

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

[EN] Gut microbial communities provide essential functions to their hosts and are known to influence both their ecology and evolution. However, our knowledge of these complex associations is still very limited in reptiles. Here we report the 16S rRNA gene faecal microbiota profiles of two lizard species endemic to the Balearic archipelago (Podarcis lilfordi and P. pityusensis), encompassing their allopatric range of distribution through a noninvasive sampling, as an alternative to previous studies that implied killing specimens of these IUCN endangered and near-threatened species, respectively. Both lizard species showed a faecal microbiome composition consistent with their omnivorous trophic ecology, with a high representation of cellulolytic bacteria taxa. We also identified species-specific core microbiota signatures and retrieved lizard species, islet ascription, and seasonality as the main factors in explaining bacterial community composition. The different Balearic Podarcis populations are characterised by harbouring a high proportion of unique bacterial taxa, thus reinforcing their view as unique and divergent evolutionary entities.

Coping with drought? Effects of extended drought conditions on soil invertebrate prey and diet selection by a fossorial amphisbaenian reptile

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

[EN] Arid climates are characterized by a summer drought period to which animals seem adapted. However, in some years, the drought can extend for unusually longer periods. Examining the effects of these current extreme weather events on biodiversity can help to understand the effects of climate change, as models predict an increase in drought severity. Here, we examined the effects of “unusual” extended drought on soil invertebrate prey availability and on diet composition (based on fecal contents) and diet selection of a fossorial amphisbaenian, the checkerboard worm lizard Trogonophis wiegmanni. Weather data show interannual variations in summer drought duration. The abundance and diversity of soil invertebrates in spring were high, and similar to those found in a “normal” early autumn, after some rain had ended with the summer drought. In contrast, in years with “unusual” extended drought, abundance, and diversity of soil invertebrates in early autumn were very low. Also, there were seasonal changes in amphisbaenians’ diet; in autumn with drought, prey diversity, and niche breadth decreased with respect to spring and autumns after some rain had fallen. Amphisbaenians did not eat prey at random in any season, but made some changes in prey selection that may result from drought-related restrictions in prey availability. Finally, in spite that amphisbaenians showed some feeding flexibility, their body condition was lower in autumn than in spring, and much lower in autumn with drought. If extended drought became the norm in the future, amphisbaenians might suffer important negative effects for their health state.

Long-Term Seed Dispersal within an Asymmetric Lizard-Plant Interaction

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

[EN] During the last 24 years, the mutualistic interaction between the dead horse arum, Helicodiceros muscivorus, and the Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi, was studied on Aire Island (Balearic Islands, Spain). From a small population of a hundred plants, the dead horse arum expanded extraordinarily throughout the island, reaching the highest known densities of the species and occupying areas of the island where it was not previously present. The current abundance of plants is a direct effect of the frugivorous activity of the Balearic lizard, which is the main, if not the only, effective seed disperser of the plant on Aire Island. However, abiotic factors predominated over biotic factors in driving abundance of plants. Over the years, plant densities varied significantly depending on the aridity of the island, with higher densities recorded in drier years. Lizards’ frugivorous activity and dispersal intensity was inversely correlated with annual rainfall. We found higher dispersal intensity in years with lower rainfall. We propose that the years of lower rainfall are those in which there is a lower prey availability. In such years, lizards compensate the shortage of other trophic resources with a more intense consumption of dead horse arum fruits. The mutualistic interaction is therefore asymmetric, since there is a greater influence of the frugivorous activity of the lizards on the plants than of the plants on lizards. It is, in short, a system chronically out of balance.