scholarly journals Investigating the Mineral Composition of Peat by Combining FTIR-ATR and Multivariate Analysis

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1084
Author(s):  
Antonio Martínez Cortizas ◽  
Lourdes López-Merino ◽  
Noemí Silva-Sánchez ◽  
Jenny K Sjöström ◽  
Malin E Kylander

The mineral content of peat has received little attention until the last few decades, when peat cores have been increasingly used to study past dust deposition. Paleodust deposition is commonly reconstructed through elemental datasets, which are used to infer deposition rates, storminess patterns, mineral composition, source identification, and fertilization effects. To date, only a few studies have directly analyzed the mineralogy (by XRD and SEM) and particle size of peat mineral matter, and the conducted studies have usually been constrained by the need to remove a large amount of organic matter, which risks altering the mineral component. One alternative is to use quick, nondestructive techniques, such as FTIR-ATR, that require little sample preparation. In this study, we analyzed by FTIR-ATR both the bulk peat and ash fractions of a sequence taken in a minerogenic mire that covered a wide inorganic matter content range (6%–57%). Aided by principal component analysis on transposed IR spectral data, we were able to identify the main minerals in bulk peat and ash, quartz, mica (likely muscovite), K feldspar (likely microcline), and plagioclase (likely anorthite), which are consistent with the local geology of the mire catchment. Changes in mineral composition during the last ca. 2800 years were coeval with previously reconstructed environmental changes using the same core. Our results suggest that FTIR-ATR has great potential to investigate peat mineral matter and the processes that drive its compositional change.

2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 2237-2245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edney Pereira da Silva ◽  
Carlos Bôa-Viagem Rabello ◽  
Luiz Fernando Teixeira Albino ◽  
Jorge Victor Ludke ◽  
Michele Bernardino de Lima ◽  
...  

This research aimed at generating and evaluating prediction equations to estimate metabolizable energy values in poultry offal meal. The used information refers to values of apparent and true metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn and TMEn) and for chemical composition of poultry offal meal. The literature review only included published papers on poultry offal meal developed in Brazil, and that had AMEn and TMEn values obtained by the total excreta collection method from growing broiler chickens and the chemical composition in crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), mineral matter (MM), gross energy (GE), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P). The general equation obtained to estimate AMEn values of poultry offal meal was: AMEn = -2315.69 + 31.4439(CP) + 29.7697(MM) + 0.7689(GE) - 49.3611(Ca), R² = 72%. For meals with high fat contents (higher than 15%) and low mineral matter contents (lower than 10%), it is suggest the use of the equation AMEn = + 3245.07 + 46.8428(EE), R² = 76%, and for meals with high mineral matter content (higher than 10%), it is suggest the equations AMEn = 4059.15 - 440.397(P), R² = 82%. To estimate values of TMEn, it is suggested for meals with high mineral matter content the equation: TMEn = 5092.57 - 115.647(MM), R² = 78%, and for those with low contents of this component, the option is the equation: TMEn = 3617.83 - 15.7988(CP) - 18.2323(EE) - 96.3884(MM) + 0.4874(GE), R² = 76%.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 751
Author(s):  
Jenny R. Allen ◽  
Jeffrey C. Cornwell ◽  
Andrew H. Baldwin

Persistence of tidal wetlands under conditions of sea level rise depends on vertical accretion of organic and inorganic matter, which vary in their relative abundance across estuarine gradients. We examined the relative contribution of organic and inorganic matter to vertical soil accretion using lead-210 (210Pb) dating of soil cores collected in tidal wetlands spanning a tidal freshwater to brackish gradient across a Chesapeake Bay subestuary. Only 8 out of the 15 subsites had accretion rates higher than relative sea level rise for the area, with the lowest rates of accretion found in oligohaline marshes in the middle of the subestuary. The mass accumulation of organic and inorganic matter was similar and related (R2 = 0.37). However, owing to its lower density, organic matter contributed 1.5–3 times more toward vertical accretion than inorganic matter. Furthermore, water/porespace associated with organic matter accounted for 82%–94% of the total vertical accretion. These findings demonstrate the key role of organic matter in the persistence of coastal wetlands with low mineral sediment supply, particularly mid-estuary oligohaline marshes.


The Holocene ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 095968362199464
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Marcisz ◽  
Krzysztof Buczek ◽  
Mariusz Gałka ◽  
Włodzimierz Margielewski ◽  
Matthieu Mulot ◽  
...  

Landslide mountain fens formed in landslide depressions are dynamic environments as their development is disturbed by a number of factors, for example, landslides, slopewash, and surface run-off. These processes lead to the accumulation of mineral material and wood in peat. Disturbed peatlands are interesting archives of past environmental changes, but they may be challenging for providing biotic proxy-based quantitative reconstructions. Here we investigate long-term changes in testate amoeba communities from two landslide mountain fens – so far an overlooked habitat for testate amoeba investigations. Our results show that abundances of testate amoebae are extremely low in this type of peatlands, therefore not suitable for providing quantitative depth-to-water table reconstructions. However, frequent shifts of dominant testate amoeba species reflect dynamic lithological situation of the studied fens. We observed that high and stable mineral matter input into the peatlands was associated with high abundances of species producing agglutinated (xenosomic) as well as idiosomic shells which prevailed in the testate amoeba communities in both analyzed profiles. This is the first study that explores testate amoebae of landslide mountain fens in such detail, providing novel information about microbial communities of these ecosystems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 200-210
Author(s):  
Antônio Italcy de Oliveira Júnior ◽  
Luiz Alberto Ribeiro Mendonça ◽  
Sávio de Brito Fontenele ◽  
Adriana Oliveira Araújo ◽  
Maria Gorethe de Sousa Lima Brito

ABSTRACT Soil is a dynamic and complex system that requires a considerable number of samples for analysis and research purposes. Using multivariate statistical methods, favorable conditions can be created by analyzing the samples, i.e., structural reduction and simplification of the data. The objective of this study was to use multivariate statistical analysis, including factorial analysis (FA) and hierarchical groupings, for the environmental characterization of soils in semiarid regions, considering anthropic (land use and occupation) and topographic aspects (altitude, moisture, granulometry, PR, and organic-matter content). As a case study, the São José Hydrographic Microbasin, which is located in the Cariri region of Ceará, was considered. An FA was performed using the principal component method, with normalized varimax rotation. In hierarchical grouping analysis, the “farthest neighbor” method was used as the hierarchical criterion for grouping, with the measure of dissimilarity given by the “square Euclidean distance.” The FA indicated that two factors explain 75.76% of the total data variance. In the analysis of hierarchical groupings, the samples were agglomerated in three groups with similar characteristics: one with samples collected in an area of the preserved forest and two with samples collected in areas with more anthropized soils. This indicates that the statistical tool used showed sensitivity to distinguish the most conserved soils and soils with different levels of anthropization.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Ford ◽  
Heyo Van Iten ◽  
George R. Clark

AbstractTransmitted light and scanning electron imaging of sectioned specimens ofConulariaandParaconularia, prepared using HCl etching and critical point drying, revealed that their periderm is composed of extremely thin (approximately 0.5–3 µm), variably distinct microlamellae that are alternately organic poor and organic rich. Organic-rich microlamellae are cross-connected by slender strands of organic matter originally embedded in calcium phosphate, which in etched specimens has been dissolved. Microlamellae may be organized in thicker (approximately 5–75 µm) layers, or macrolamellae, that vary in color and organic matter content, possibly owing to changes in the ambient paleoenvironment. Thickening of the periderm to form transverse ribs and internal carinae was achieved through gradual thickening of individual microlamellae. In the core of the transverse ribs and internal carinae the distinction between organic-rich and organic-poor microlamellae may be reduced, owing to organic material becoming dominant over (former) mineral matter or vice versa. Combined with observations of plicated aperture closure in thin-walled conulariids, includingArchaeoconularia slateri(Reed, 1933) (Upper Ordovician, Scotland) showing smooth folding of midline carinae through angles greater than 90°, these results suggest a structure and original flexibility in the organic-rich biocomposite forming the conulariid periderm that supports its homology to the chitinous lamellar periderm of coronate scyphozoans.


Author(s):  
Pavel Veselý

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of sheep pasture on the content of minerals in growth of the Mohelenska Serpentine Steppe National Nature Reserve.Merino sheep pastured on the steppe in 1997–1998, electrical fencer was used. There were 6.8–9.4 sheep per 1 ha in 1997 and 6.7–8.7 sheep per 1 ha in 1998 on the pasture area 4.25 and 6 ha. Samples of steppe growth were taken from five locations with typical fytocenological composition for particular area of steppe. Samples were taken each two weeks during vegetative season from area 3x1 m2. The contents of Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe in dry matter were evaluated. The changes in the content of the nutrients were evaluated depending on the location before, after and during pasture. The values of nutrients were compared with content of these nutrients in meadow and pasture growths (noted in European databases).The content of Ca was from 2.23 to 4.06 g/kg of dry matter. Pasture decreased the variability of location in Ca content and there were significant decreases of Ca content on two locations (P < 0.01). Low content of Ca in steppe growth due to pasture significantly decreased on these locations in comparison with Ca content in pasture growth on no-serpentine soil. The content of P was from 2.23 to 4.06 g/kg of dry matter. Pasture did not affect the variability of location and on one location pasture significantly increased its content (P < 0.01). Despite it the content of P in dry matter was markedly lower than in pasture growths.The content of Na was from 43.88 to 113.97 mg/kg of dry matter. Pasture did not affect the variability of location and its content. The content of Na was markedly lower in steppe growth in comparison with pasture growths. Pasture also did not affect the content of K, which was from 9.96 to 18.10 g/kg of dry matter. But pasture increased the variability of location. The content of K in steppe growth was low in comparison with pasture growths. The content of Mg was from 2.14 to 4.64 g/kg of dry matter. On two locations the content of Mg increased due to pasture (P < 0.05). The content of Mg in steppe growth was comparable with its content in pasture growths. The content of Mn was from 27.55 to 41.32 mg/kg of dry matter and the content of Zn from 12.05 to 26.64 mg/kg of dry matter. Pasture increased the variability of location in both these nutrients. The effect of the pasture on their contents was not (P < 0.05). In steppe growth the content of Mn was markedly lower in comparison with pasture growths and the content of Zn was lower in comparison with pasture growths. The contents of Cu and Fe were from 1.81 to 5.94 mg/kg of dry matter and from 76.1 to 263.2 mg/kg of dry matter. Pasture increased variability of location in the content of Cu and decreased its content in three locations (P < 0.05). The content of Fe was not affected by pasture (P < 0.05). The contents of Cu and Fe were lower in comparison with pasture growths on no-serpentine soils.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1309
Author(s):  
Veronika Kharzinova ◽  
Arsen Dotsev ◽  
Anastasiya Solovieva ◽  
Olga Sergeeva ◽  
Georgiy Bryzgalov ◽  
...  

To examine the genetic diversity and population structure of domestic reindeer, using the BovineHD BeadChip, we genotyped reindeer individuals belonging to the Nenets breed of the five main breeding regions, the Even breed of the Republic of Sakha, the Evenk breed of the Krasnoyarsk and Yakutia regions, and the Chukotka breed of the Chukotka region and its within-breed ecotype, namely, the Chukotka–Khargin, which is bred in Yakutia. The Chukotka reindeer was shown to have the lowest genetic diversity in terms of the allelic richness and heterozygosity indicators. The principal component analysis (PCA) results are consistent with the neighbor-net tree topology, dividing the reindeer into groups according to their habitat location and origin of the breed. Admixture analysis indicated a genetic structuring of two groups of Chukotka origin, the Even breed and most of the geographical groups of the Nenets breed, with the exception of the Murmansk reindeer, the gene pool of which was comprised of the Nenets and apparently the native Sami reindeer. The presence of a genetic component of the Nenets breed in some reindeer inhabiting the Krasnoyarsk region was detected. Our results provide a deeper insight into the current intra-breeding reindeer genetic diversity, which is an important requirement for future reindeer herding strategies and for animal adaptation to environmental changes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 709
Author(s):  
Christina Giamali ◽  
George Kontakiotis ◽  
Efterpi Koskeridou ◽  
Chryssanthi Ioakim ◽  
Assimina Antonarakou

A multidisciplinary study was conducted in order to investigate the environmental factors affecting the planktonic foraminiferal and pteropod communities of the south Aegean Sea. Aspects of the Late Quaternary paleoceanographic evolution were revealed by means of quantitative analyses of planktonic foraminiferal and pteropod assemblages (including multivariate statistical approach; principal component analysis (PCA)), the oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotopic composition of planktonic foraminifera and related paleoceanographic (planktonic paleoclimatic curve (PPC), productivity (E-index), stratification (S-index), seasonality) indices, extracted by the gravity core KIM-2A derived from the submarine area between Kimolos and Sifnos islands. Focusing on the last ~21 calibrated thousands of years before present (ka BP), cold and eutrophicated conditions were identified during the Late Glacial period (21.1–15.7 ka BP) and were followed by warmer and wetter conditions during the deglaciation phase. The beginning of the Holocene was marked by a climatic amelioration and increased seasonality. The more pronounced environmental changes were identified during the deposition of the sapropel sublayers S1a (9.4–7.7 ka BP) and S1b (6.9–6.4 ka BP), with extremely warm and stratified conditions. Pteropod fauna during the sapropel deposition were recorded for the first time in the south Aegean Sea, suggesting arid conditions towards the end of S1a. Besides sea surface temperature (SST), which shows the highest explanatory power for the distribution of the analyzed fauna, water column stratification, primary productivity, and seasonality also control their communities during the Late Quaternary.


Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 543
Author(s):  
Wei Cheng ◽  
Ruidong Yang ◽  
Qin Zhang

A petrographic coal structure of Late Permian coals from the Liupanshui coalfield, Western Guizhou, SW China, has been distinguished for its novel macro-lithological characteristics. Petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical studies have been conducted for a typical coal sample (No.3 coal, Songhe coalmine, Panzhou County, China) and its geological genesis and significance for coalbed methane (CBM) evaluation is accordingly discussed. It was found that coal is characterized by a banded structure with intensively fractured vitrain sublayers, where a great number of fractures were developed and filled with massive inorganic matter. The study of coal quality, coal petrography, mineralogy and lanthanides and yttrium (REY) geochemistry of the infilling mineral matter (IMM) indicates that this fractured coal structure resulted from the tissues of coal-forming plants or coal matrix shrinkage, as well as the precipitation of calcium rich groundwater and the addition of terrigenous materials. The coal depositional environment and coal-forming plant are considered to have played a role in inducing the special fractures. This provides a scientific reference for the study of CBM for coal with this fractured structure, such as the Late Permian coal from the western border of Guizhou Province, SW China.


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