Slaughter weight rather than sex affects carcass cuts and tissue composition of Bisaro pigs

Carcass cuts and tissue composition were assessed in Bisaro pigs (n=64) from two sexes (31 gilts and 33 entire males) reared until three target slaughter body-weights (BW) means: 17 kg, 32 kg, and 79 kg. Dressing percentage and backfat thickness increased whereas carcass shrinkage decreased with increasing BW. Slaughter weight affected most of the carcass cut proportions, except shoulder and thoracic regions. Bone proportion decreased linearly with increasing slaughter BW, while intermuscular and subcutaneous adipose tissue depots increased concomitantly. Slaughter weight increased the subcutaneous adipose tissue proportion but this impaired intramuscular and intermuscular adipose tissues in the loin primal. The sex of the pigs minimally affected the carcass composition, as only the belly weight and the subcutaneous adipose tissue proportions were greater in gilts than in entire males. Light pigs regardless of sex are recommended to balance the trade-offs between carcass cuts and their non-edible compositional outcomes.Work included in the Portuguese PRODER research Project BISOPORC – Pork extensive production of Bísara breed, in two alternative systems: fattening on concentrate vs chesnut, Project PRODER SI I&DT Medida 4.1 “Cooperação para a Inovação”. The authors are grateful to Laboratory of Carcass and Meat Quality of Agriculture School of Polytechnic Institute of Bragança ‘Cantinho do Alfredo’. The authors are members of the MARCARNE network, funded by CYTED (ref. 116RT0503).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Transport of persistent organic pollutants: Another effect of microplastic pollution?

International audienc

Microplastic pollution of worldwide lakes

International audienc

MicroPlasticRivers : Développement d’une méthodologie harmonisée de mesure des concentrations et des flux de micro-plastiques sur le continuum Rhône-Méditerranée

To date, there is no permanent monitoring system for measuring the concentrations and flows of microplastics transported by rivers. Research teams use different sampling and/or laboratory methodologies, making it difficult to compare results and establish spatial or temporal trends on the scale of a large catchment area. The aim of the MicroPlasticRivers project is to compare methodologies for measuring concentrations and flows of microplastics in rivers, from sampling to extraction and identification in the laboratory, and to propose harmonised methodologies. This study was carried out on the continuum of the Rhône River and its tributaries, which benefits from a network of long-term measurement stations (Rhône Sediment Observatory - OSR). Control samples of suspended solids (SS) were prepared and shared in order to evaluate the preparation and analytical methods (µFTIR) and to compare the results in terms of detection and characterisation of microplastics. Several surface water sampling methods (nets, pumping, continuous centrifuge, particles trap) were used simultaneously at several stations under contrasting hydrological conditions. The results obtained enabled to assess the methodological and environmental factors likely to explain the variability of the concentrations observed.A ce jour, il n’existe pas de surveillance pérenne pour la mesure des concentrations et flux de microplastiques transportés par les rivières. Les équipes de recherche emploient des méthodologies d’échantillonnage et/ou de laboratoires différentes, rendant ardue la comparaison des résultats et l’établissement de tendances spatiales ou temporelles à l’échelle d’un grand bassin versant. Le projet MicroPlasticRivers a pour objectif de comparer des méthodologies de mesure des concentrations et flux de microplastiques dans les rivières, depuis l’échantillonnage jusqu’à l’extraction et l’identification en laboratoire, et de proposer des méthodologies harmonisées. Cette étude a été réalisée sur le continuum du Rhône et ses affluents, qui bénéficie d’un réseau de stations de mesure sur le long terme (Observatoire des Sédiments du Rhône - OSR). Des échantillons « contrôles » de matières en suspension (MES) ont été préparés et partagés entre laboratoires afin d’évaluer les méthodes de préparation et d’analyse (µFTIR) et de comparer les résultats en termes de détection et de caractérisation des microplastiques. Plusieurs méthodologies de prélèvement des eaux de surface (filets, pompage, centrifugeuse en continu, piège à particules) ont été mises en œuvre simultanément sur plusieurs stations dans des conditions hydrologiques contrastées. Les résultats obtenus permettent d’évaluer les facteurs méthodologiques et environnementaux susceptibles d’expliquer la variabilité des concentrations observées

MicroPlasticRivers : développement d’une méthodologie harmonisée de mesure des concentrations et des flux de micro-plastiques sur le continuum Rhône-Méditerranée

Voir la fiche projet 2021-n°85 de la Zone Atelier Bassin du Rhône (ZABR) : https://www.zabr.assograie.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C77-MicroPlasticRivers-FicheRecherche.pdfTo date, there is no permanent monitoring system for measuring the concentrations and flows of microplastics transported by rivers. Research teams use different sampling and/or laboratory methodologies, making it difficult to compare results and establish spatial or temporal trends on the scale of a large catchment area. The aim of the MicroPlasticRivers project is to compare methodologies for measuring concentrations and flows of microplastics in rivers, from sampling to extraction and identification in the laboratory, and to propose harmonised methodologies. This study was carried out on the continuum of the Rhône River and its tributaries, which benefits from a network of long-term measurement stations (Rhône Sediment Observatory - OSR). Control samples of suspended solids (SS) were prepared and shared in order to evaluate the preparation and analytical methods (µFTIR) and to compare the results in terms of detection and characterisation of microplastics. Several surface water sampling methods (nets, pumping, continuous centrifuge, particles trap) were used simultaneously at several stations under contrasting hydrological conditions. The results obtained enabled to assess the methodological and environmental factors likely to explain the variability of the concentrations observed.A ce jour, il n’existe pas de surveillance pérenne pour la mesure des concentrations et flux de microplastiques transportés par les rivières. Les équipes de recherche emploient des méthodologies d’échantillonnage et/ou de laboratoires différentes, rendant ardue la comparaison des résultats et l’établissement de tendances spatiales ou temporelles à l’échelle d’un grand bassin versant. Le projet MicroPlasticRivers a pour objectif de comparer des méthodologies de mesure des concentrations et flux de microplastiques dans les rivières, depuis l’échantillonnage jusqu’à l’extraction et l’identification en laboratoire, et de proposer des méthodologies harmonisées. Cette étude a été réalisée sur le continuum du Rhône et ses affluents, qui bénéficie d’un réseau de stations de mesure sur le long terme (Observatoire des Sédiments du Rhône - OSR). Des échantillons « contrôles » de matières en suspension (MES) ont été préparés et partagés entre laboratoires afin d’évaluer les méthodes de préparation et d’analyse (µFTIR) et de comparer les résultats en termes de détection et de caractérisation des microplastiques. Plusieurs méthodologies de prélèvement des eaux de surface (filets, pompage, centrifugeuse en continu, piège à particules) ont été mises en œuvre simultanément sur plusieurs stations dans des conditions hydrologiques contrastées. Les résultats obtenus permettent d’évaluer les facteurs méthodologiques et environnementaux susceptibles d’expliquer la variabilité des concentrations observées

The "Mantamaran", a light, robust, portable and affordable sampler designed for altitudes lake microplastics sampling campaigns

MICRO 2020, Fate and Impact of Microplastics : Knowledge and Responsabilities, Lanzarote, ESPAGNE, 23-/11/2020 - 27/11/202

Determining changes in the sources of fine-grained sediment in a large regulated watershed in British Columbia using the sediment fingerprinting technique

International audienceFine-grained fluvial sediment represents a problem in most watersheds, due to its impact on habitats (e.g.sedimentation) and water quality (e.g. carrier of contaminants). Thus, determining the sources of fine-grained sediment represents an important requirement for watershed management. Sediment source tracing, or sediment fingerprinting, is a tool that offers the potential to identify sediment sources in watersheds. We present results on the sediment sources for fine-grained sediment transported in the Nechako River watershed in British Columbia(BC), Canada.The Nechako watershed (area 52,000 km2), exhibits over∼1400 m of topographic relief, and forms the second largest sub-watershed of the Fraser River Basin. The eastern slopes of the Kitimat Range of BC’s Coast Mountains form the source of the headwaters for the watershed and feed the main stem Nechako River and its tributaries.With the construction of the Kenney Dam, the Skins Lake Spillway, and the Nechako Reservoir in the 1950’s to generate hydroelectricity at the Kemano Powerhouse for ALCAN’s aluminum smelter in Kitimat, the watershed became a regulated river system. Outside of mountain ranges, land use is mainly forested (natural and managed)with some mining and agricultural land near to small towns; there are no main urban areas in the watershed.Fine-grained sediment has been identified as a major problem, particular in terms of its impacts on the habitats of key aquatic species such as salmonids and the Nechako white sturgeon.Time-integrated sediment traps were used to collected samples of fine-grained sediment at numerous sites inthe watershed over a 2-year period. Preliminary results show that geochemical properties have the ability to distinguish between several key source groups, such that a sediment fingerprint can be established to help identify the sources of the contemporary fine-grained sediment. Moreover, to investigate historical changes in sediment origin, sediment cores were collected from floodplains along the lower reaches of the Nechako River and dated using fallout radionuclide measurements. Combining sediment core dating and sediment fingerprinting helps to explain the change in sediment dynamics over the last few decades in this regulated watershed

The "Mantamaran", a light, robust, portable and affordable sampler designed for altitudes lake microplastics sampling campaigns

MICRO 2020, Fate and Impact of Microplastics : Knowledge and Responsabilities, Lanzarote, ESPAGNE, 23-/11/2020 - 27/11/202

Utilisation des Hydrocarbures Aromatiques Polycycliques comme indicateur d’érosion des sols en milieux karstiques de montagne. Application au plateau Révard/Féclaz (massif des Bauges).

National audienc