Luca Palmeri

Space and Time

Ecological Processes Handbook, 2013

Models for wetland planning, design and management

pixelrauschen.de

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The Ecosystem as an Object for Research

An integrated approach to prevent the erosion of salt marshes in the lagoon of Venice

The loss of coastal habitats is a widespread problem in Europe. To protect the intertidal salt ma... more The loss of coastal habitats is a widespread problem in Europe. To protect the intertidal salt marshes of the lagoon of Venice from the erosion due to natural and human causes which is diffusely and intensely impacting them, the European Commission has funded the demonstrative project LIFE VIMINE. LIFE VIMINE aims to protect the most interior, hard-to-access salt marshes in the northern lagoon of Venice through an integrated approach, whose core is the prevention of erosion through numerous, small but spatially-diffuse soil-bioengineering protections works, mainly placed through semi-manual labour and with low impact on the environment and the landscape. The effectiveness of protection works in the long term is ensured through routine, temporally-continuous and spatially-diffuse actions of monitoring and maintenance. This method contrasts the common approach to managing hydraulic risk and erosion in Italy which is based on large, one-off and irreversible protection actions. The sust...

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Ecological Processes: An Overview

A Long-Term Assessment of the Population Dynamics

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$Research paper thumbnail of Volar fixation of distal radial fracture using compression plate: clinical and radiographic evaluation of 20 patients$

Volar fixation of distal radial fracture using compression plate: clinical and radiographic evaluation of 20 patients

MUSCULOSKELETAL SURGERY, 2012

Distal radius fractures can be treated with different methods, depending on the type of fracture ... more Distal radius fractures can be treated with different methods, depending on the type of fracture and, on our experience, according to the Fernandez algorithm. The report presents our experience treating distal radius fractures using a volar plate. We reviewed retrospectively 20 patients treated, during a period of 3 years (May 2008-May 2011) at our center, for unstable distal radius fractures using a volar plate. All patients were reviewed by thorough clinical examination and standard radiographs of the operated wrist. For the clinical evaluation, we used Mayo Wrist Score and DASH Score. At review, the injured wrist had recovered an average range of motion in flexion-extension of 120°, and the grip strength was an average of 50% compared to contralateral side. Overall, results at Mayo Wrist Score were good to excellent in 30%, satisfactory in 55%, and poor in 15%; results at DASH Score were good to excellent in 90%, satisfactory in 10% with no poor case. The majority of patients were fully satisfied with the results (65%), 20% of patients were partially satisfied, 5% were poorly satisfied, and 10% were not satisfied. At review, 4 patients reported the presence of transient paresthesia localized to the first three rays of the hand. At radiographic evaluation, the majority of patients had a radial tilt between 20 and 23, ulnar variance between 0 and 3, and dorsal tilt between 9 and 14. The treatment of unstable distal radius fractures with a volar plate provided stable internal fixation and allowed early function and was associated with a low complication rate.

Amsterdam–Boston–London–New York–Oxford–Paris–Philadelphia–San Diego–St. Louis

Metabolic Scaling Regularity in Aquatic Ecosystems

We tested the hypothesis that ecosystem metabolism follows a quarter power scaling relation, anal... more We tested the hypothesis that ecosystem metabolism follows a quarter power scaling relation, analogous to organisms. Logarithm of Biomass/Production (B/P) to Trophic Level (TL) relationship was estimated to 98 trophic models of aquatic ecosystems. A normal distribution of the slopes gives a modal value of 0.64, which was significantly different of the theoretical value of 0.75 (p<0.05). After correction for transfer efficiency among trophic levels a modal value of 0.726 was obtained through a least squares algorithm which was not significantly different from the theoretical one (p>0.05). We also tested for error in both variables, Log (B/P) and TL, through a Reduced Major Axis regression with similar results, with a modal value of 0.756 (p>0.05). We also explored a geographic distribution showing no significant relation (p>0.05) to latitude and between different regions of the world. We conclude that: a) ecosystem metabolism follows the quarter-power scaling rule; b) tra...

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The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) approach for integrated catchment-coastal zone management: preliminary application to the Po catchment-Adriatic Sea coastal zone system

Regional Environmental Change, 2005

The European Water Policy and, in particular, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC intr... more The European Water Policy and, in particular, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC introduced the necessity to evaluate new methodological approaches for the development of Water Management Strategies oriented to support Sustainable Development. In the context of the EUROCAT Project, the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework was identified as a possible analysis framework for the development of management strategies according to the European Water Policy. An ad-hoc DPSIR framework was developed for the Po River Catchment and the North Adriatic coastal zone in order to elaborate possible strategies for controlling and/or reducing eutrophication. This approach combines socio-economic analysis with spatial analysis of pollutant transport and impact on the catchment-coastal zone system. The preliminary evaluation of the DPSIR approach highlighted the fact that the major Driving forces are agriculture and livestock activities and the civil and industrial secto...

Uptake and translocation of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) in red chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) under various treatments with pre-contaminated soil and irrigation water

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), particularly short-chained ones, have high potential for crop uptak... more Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), particularly short-chained ones, have high potential for crop uptake, posing a threat to human health in contaminated areas. There is a scarcity of studies using contaminated water as the medium for PFAAs delivery to crops, and a lack of data on the partitioning of PFAA mixtures in growing media. In this context, a controlled experimental study was carried out in a greenhouse to investigate the uptake of a PFAA mixture into red chicory, a typical crop from a major PFAA contamination hot-spot in northern Italy, under treatments with environmentally relevant concentrations in spiked irrigation water and soil, separately and simultaneously. To our knowledge, this is the first study involving multiple exposure media and laboratory adsorption/desorption batch tests as a way of assessing the decrease in the bioavailability of PFAAs from soil. Exposure concentrations for each of the 9 utilized PFAAs were 0, 1, 10 and 80 µg/L in irrigation water and 0, 100 and ...

Electronic Nose Aided Verification of an Odour Dispersion Model for Composting Plants’ Applications

The dispersion of odour from a composting plant was calculated with the CALPUFF modeling system, ... more The dispersion of odour from a composting plant was calculated with the CALPUFF modeling system, where site specific meteorology and geophysical informations were taken into account. The odour emissions, both from forced and free‐convection sources, were measured by means of dynamic olfactometry and implemented in the model. The results obtained from the model were verified with a MOS sensor based Electronic Nose equipped with a preconcentrator, placed in two target sites 50 m and 250 m far from the plant. Odour episodes, detected by electronic nose, were compared with model’s forecast; a procedure for tuning the model parameters is needed, in order to reproduce Electronic Nose measurements.

Impacts of Climate Change on Water Quality

Water Science and Technology Library, 1996

ABSTRACT In this chapter we present the result of two model exercises aiming at simulating the im... more ABSTRACT In this chapter we present the result of two model exercises aiming at simulating the impact of climate change onto two classes of surface aquifers: lakes and rivers. Subchapter 3.1 focuses on the impact of global warming on the thermal structure of two Italian South alpine lakes: Lake Como and Pusiano. Long term hydrodynamic simulations (1953-2050) were performed using the hydrodynamic model DYRESM (Dynamic Reservoir Simulation Model). DYRESM simulations were forced with downscaled regional climate scenarios undertaken within CIRCE. Our model simulations projected a yearly average temperature increase of 0.04°C y-1 for the period 1970-2000 and 0.03°C y-1 for the period 2001-2050 (A1b IPCC scenario). These results are in line with those detected in long term research studies carried out world-wide. This temperature increase is first responsible for a general increase of the water column stability and for a reduction of the mass transfer between deep and surface waters with direct implications on the oxygen and nutrient cycles. The magnitude of the temperature increase is also sufficient to impact on the growth of phytoplankton populations and it is likely one of the concurrent causes promoting the massive cyanobacteria blooms, recently detected in the two Italian case studies and in different lake environments in Europe. Subchapter 3.2 approaches the problem of establishing a methodology to estimate the average yearly nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) river loads under present climate conditions and under the forcing of climate change. The case study is the Po River the largest hydrological basin in Italy and the third tributary of the Mediterranean semi-enclosed basin. The methodology developed in this study is based on a hierarchy of different numerical models which allowed to feed the MONERIS model (MOdeling Nutrient Emissions into River System) with the necessary meteorological and hydrological forcing. MONERIS was previously calibrated (1990-1995) and validated (1996-2000) under past conditions and then run under current condi-tions to define a control experiment (CE). Current nutrient loads have been esti-mated in 170,000 and 8,000 t y-1 respectively for nitrogen and phosphorus. Ap-proximately 70% of the nitrogen load is from diffuse sources while 65% of the phosphorus load originates from point sources. Nutrient loads projections at 2100 (under different IPCC scenarios) allowed to estimate that both nitrogen and phos-phorus loads are strictly dependent on the resident population which is responsible of a 61% and 41% increase respectively for nitrogen and phosphorus. Projected nutrient load variations were found to be negligible when holding the resident population constant. Finally the phosphorus load is markedly influenced by the efficiency of the waste water treatment plants (WWTPs).

Estimation of future nutrient enrichment in Europe��s regional seas

Uptake and translocation of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in hydroponically grown red chicory (Cichorium intybus L.): Growth and developmental toxicity, comparison with growth in soil and bioavailability implications

Science of The Total Environment

Uptake and translocation of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) in red chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) under various treatments with pre-contaminated soil and irrigation water

Science of The Total Environment

Deriving predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) for emerging contaminants in the river Po, Italy, using three approaches: Assessment factor, species sensitivity distribution and AQUATOX ecosystem modelling

Environment international, Jan 20, 2018

Over the past decades, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) found in environmental matrice... more Over the past decades, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) found in environmental matrices worldwide have raised concerns due to their toxicity, ubiquity and persistence. A widespread pollution of groundwater and surface waters caused by PFASs in Northern Italy has been recently discovered, becoming a major environmental issue, also because the exact risk for humans and nature posed by this contamination is unclear. Here, the Po River in Northern Italy was selected as a study area to assess the ecological risk posed by perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), a class of PFASs, considering the noticeable concentration of various PFAAs detected in the Po waters over the past years. Moreover, the Po has a large environmental and socio-economic importance: it is the largest Italian river and drains a densely inhabited, intensely cultivated and heavily industrialized watershed. Predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) were derived using two regulated methodologies, assessment factors (AFs...

A GIS-Based Score System for Siting and Sizing of Created or Restored Wetlands: Two Case Studies

Water Resources Management, Jul 31, 2002

... The nutrient loads in both case studies are gener-ated by diffuse sources from agricultural l... more

Metabolic scaling regularity in aquatic ecosystems

We tested the hypothesis that ecosystem metabolism follows a quarter power scaling relation, anal... more We tested the hypothesis that ecosystem metabolism follows a quarter power scaling relation, analogous to organisms. Logarithm of Biomass/Production (B/P) to Trophic Level (TL) relationship was estimated to 98 trophic models of aquatic ecosystems. A normal distribution of the slopes gives a modal value of 0.64, which was significantly different of the theoretical value of 0.75 (p<0.05). After correction for transfer efficiency among trophic levels a modal value of 0.726 was obtained through a least squares algorithm which was not significantly different from the theoretical one (p>0.05). We also tested for error in both variables, Log (B/P) and TL, through a Reduced Major Axis regression with similar results, with a modal value of 0.756 (p>0.05). We also explored a geographic distribution showing no significant relation (p>0.05) to latitude and between different regions of the world. We conclude that: a) ecosystem metabolism follows the quarter-power scaling rule; b) transfer efficiency between TL plays a relevant role characterizing local attributes to ecosystem metabolism; and c) there is neither latitudinal nor geographic differences. These findings confirm the existence of a metabolic scaling regularity in aquatic ecosystems.

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An ecosystem model of the lower Po river for use in ecological risk assessment of xenobiotics

Ecological Modelling, 2016

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Papers by Luca Palmeri

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