Phytoremediation: An alternative for decontamination of soil and water in wetland environments?

My research focuses on the restoration of degraded environments, based on the ability of organisms and the ecosystem to regenerate and stabilize. My interest in these issues is due to current concerns about the negative impact generated by industrial development and population growth, which results in habitat degradation through the loss of its diversity and productivity. I have focused on wetlands due to their great ecological and economic importance. My goal is to know the effectiveness of plants in removing inorganic contaminants such as heavy metals. This is known as phytoremediation.

In recent years, the study of phytoremediation has been of interest in environmental restoration because it has low operating and maintenance costs, and creates a landscape that is more aesthetic and environmentally friendly. However, this technique has been questioned because it is still in the experimental stage with some limitations that make it a slow and difficult to implement; its efficiency has rarely been demonstrated under field conditions. Also, only a few species can accumulate metals and many metals cannot be absorbed by any plant species.

Many researchers propose the use of herbaceous species in management plans because they are known to accumulate large amounts of metals in their biomass. After the plants accumulate metal, they are removed from the remediated site. However this might not be effective in the long-term because of the generation of a high amount of waste. As an alternative, trees have been proposed for remediation. Although trees can´t accumulate high concentrations of metals in their tissues or their accumulation period is longer, they may have a higher tolerance to stress and possibly higher productivity. In this case, the recommendation is to not remove the trees and have them assist in the regeneration and survival of the ecosystem. This would also give other benefits to the ecosystem such as decreasing biomagnification of contaminants through the food chain by accumulating many of these metals in the roots and helping maintain soil structure.

Although various alternatives for decontamination of metals in ecosystems are sought, these elements are not biodegradable and cannot be completely eliminated from the environment, so that the search for species that can coexist with metal and help maintain the structure of ecosystems could increase the prospects for success of phytoremediation processes.

God´s will

In most laboratories and research centers it is a fact that facilities are in good enough condition to maintain equipment and reagents in a state useful for research.

Here, in CICY –  “where we end up living” – often we don’t have the best conditions. Whether a power failure occurs, a storm causes a fire, or there are constant changes in voltage, you have to live in fear that equipment may not operate properly or in permanent paranoia regarding the status of reagents.

So until working conditions improve, we continue being fearful of the vagaries of the god of thunder. We will be looking for ways to appease his anger and win her favors.

My life in CICY

By Lía Valencia

CICY (Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, or Yucatan Center for Scientific Research) comprises six units with very diverse research areas. I am currently in the biotechnology unit, conducting research in pharmaceutical biotechnology. Specifically, I study the, isolation, structural elucidation and biological activity of plant metabolites looking for compounds with potential for treatment of cancer.

Besides being a research center, CICY seeks to involve the community in scientific diffusion and cultural events through programs like “Talento CICY”, “CICY Casa Abierta”, guided tours in CICY´s botanical garden and “Cine-Foro CICY”, among others.

In my leisure time I like to walk in the botanical garden, where it possible to get in touch with nature, watching the plants and animal such as squirrels and birds. Also, I like to watch art films projected in Cine-Foro CICY.

Therefore CICY is a center for scientific research, that disseminates knowledge, promotes harmony between society and environment, along with promoting a cultural environment.

So, you come from where?

About being a transplant in Merida

My name is Eduardo, and I’ve been living in Merida for the last four years, during which I have studied and worked at CICY. I was born and raised in Colima, a very small state on the Pacific coast, all the way across the country. When I decided to come to Merida to get a Masters degree everyone was kind of shocked, including me. It was a big deal, as I was now leaving my parents house, my family and my friends to live in a city (Merida) and in a state (Yucatan) of which I knew virtually nothing about and where I knew no one.

With a very rich history, a distinct (and tasty) cuisine, a very peculiar dialect of Spanish and a history of isolation from the rest of Mexico, Merida can be hard for newcomers. Fortunately for me, the locals are very friendly, and a very high percentage of the researchers and students at CICY are from other parts of México and even from other countries. Actually the first friends I made here were all foreigners, transplants just like me. Eventually I got local friends and even a girlfriend, and stayed here for more time than I originally planned. Why, you may ask? There are a number of reasons: I’ve become very fond of this land, its people and their culture, and of course its nature, which I continue to study as a PhD student. It hasn’t been easy all the time, but I surely have enjoyed it.

So here are some words of advice for newcomers. I’ll try to make it as general as I can, as I think it can be useful for students moving to other places:

1. Making friends with other foreigners is cool and maybe easier, but becoming friends (or at least acquaintances) with local people will enable you to learn about the local culture, and places and make the best of your stay.
2. Learn the dialect, try it, don’t be afraid of using the words the locals use, it’ll make things easier later on. Learn the proper pronunciation and don’t sound as if you are making fun.
3. Try the local food, bur PLEASE, go easy with it, at least at the beginning, I think this is self explanatory.
4. Be humble, and be patient: I get it, you think you come from the most wonderful city or town, but the locals may be proud people, its better to show respect and to not get them fed up; and for those who, like me, come from a small and little known place, you’re gonna be asked where exactly your state is located, or what there is to see, etc.
5. TRY TO ENJOY IT.

Bienvenidos a Biolblogia

This is our first blog entry!

Beforehand, thanks to all the readers for visiting us!

In the entries that will be posted here, we intend to talk about relevant scientific issues, local or global, and express our views on various aspects of science literacy. Recently there has emerged an important issue: scientific communication using Web sites and blogs.

Currently, the Internet has become a space where multiple communities of different languages and cultures build new forms of expression, conversation and knowledge. Websites and blogs have diversified into a range of genres and applications in different environments such as education, politics, and journalism.

Many scientific announcements that are now on the Internet have been written by experts. These announcements tend to use simple language and short and direct paragraphs that bring the reader closer. So, these sites become an excellent means to publicize science to non-specialist readers. This translation of scientific language to ordinary language allows the research activity to become closer to society.

However, many bloggers are not experts. They subjectively discuss, analyze and disseminate papers. Therefore, bloggers filter information giving an added value (their own criticisms and contributions) that facilitates the use of scientific information. An important role of “science bloggers”  is to validate the information in the original papers.