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Present results showed that Hilsa shad had low nucleotide diversity (0.001809–0.008811) like most of the Clupeiforms, e.g., Elongate ilisha (0.001–0.010), Tapertail anchovy (0.0011–0.0029) in Yangtze river and Japanese anchovy (0.0014–0.0090)44,45,46. Sea fish population had higher genetic diversity than anadromous population within same species or among same group47. Although, Hilsa and Kelee shad belonged to the same subfamily Dorosomantinae but Hilsa shad is anadromous in nature and Kelee shad is exclusively marine48. Because of this habit, nucleotide diversity of Hilsa shad was lower than Kelee shad (Hilsa kelee) (0.010337–0.014690)49. Correspondingly, marine Pacific herring (0.020)50 also had higher nucleotide diversity than Hilsa shad. There were several researchers also reported low nucleotide diversity of Hilsa shad population in the Hoogli, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra river of India10,17,18. Low genetic diversity suggested that only small portion of the total population had the scope of successful spawning. That might be associated with their long anadromous breeding migration journey. At that time huge numbers of individuals were caught in their long migratory routes by the fishermen. Frequent changing of spawning pattern is another reason of unsuccessful spawning51. Therefore, Government of Bangladesh should place some safety and protection actions including, public conscious, restriction on fishing gear, Hilsa fisheries management activities and proper timing of the fishing ban period.Previous studies on genetic population structure of T. ilisha were mostly based on allozymes, allele frequencies, microsatellite DNA markers and mitochondrial DNA regions: Cytochrome b (CytB), ATPase 6&8 (ATPase), 12 s and 16 s rRNA10,15,16,17,18. However, genomic data is more powerful marker than previous markers to present the history, evolution, population status and phylogeny of a fish. Recently, A study discover the population genomics and structure of Hilsa shad in Bangladesh waters based on genomic data at NGS platform by NextRAD sequencing, however they mistakenly assigned samples collected from the confluent of the Meghna River as the north-eastern riverine group19,20. Our study was also based on genomic data at the NGS platform. Conversely, we collected sequence data of 4434 nuclear genes applying a cross-species gene enrichment method22, to examine the genetic diversity and population status of hilsa shad from the Bay of Bengal, its estuaries and all possible lotic and lentic waters and two migratory cohorts.. This study provided a solid estimation of the population status of Hilsa shad using genome-wide data and to infer its genetic diversity.Result of the maximum likelihood IQtree and the population structure suggested that the fresh, estuarine and marine water of Bangladesh have a single population of Hilsa shad. In-addition DAPC, dendrogram and network on SNP loci analysis also represented the same trend. In the phylogenetic tree, samples of all locations were mixed together without making any specific cluster. In the population structure analysis, a single population was present with some admixtured individuals bearing small portion of genes from other group. Pairwise FST value between most locations were poor with non-significant P value (P  > 0.05), that support the deprived local population differences and homogeneity of this fish population throughout our studied locations. The hilsa shad population in Bangladesh might retrieve from a collapsed population. Once upon a time (upto first half of 1990s), this fish was most available and cheap fish in Bangladesh. Because of overexploitation and lack of proper management, the fish population was collapsed more than one decade. After that period, because of fishing ban period and public consciousness (first imposed in 2011), the population started to increase. Hilsa fish production in Bangladesh has doubled in a decade from 2006–2007 (279,189 MT) to 2017–2018 (517,189 MT)4,64. This fact probably caused low genetic diversity and divergence among populations of hilsa shad in the Bangladesh waters.Bangladesh has diversified fresh water habitats for Hilsa shad migration including main river system, coastal and freshwater small rivers, hill stream rivers, haors etc. but anadromous migration of this shad starts from same marine water body, the Bay of Bengal, which is their living ground. Furthermore, this fish has highly migratory nature among marine, estuarine and fresh water bodies. Therefore, it is difficult to draw a conclusion that there is more than one population in this water system. Low variation among groups and among population within groups also did not support more than one population. FST value between most of the locations was poor with non-significant P value, which suggested that the population differences were not significant. Although in some cases, P value was significant but due to their poor FST value that did not provide strong support of local population differences. Here present findings of this study were supported by the findings of some previous researchers who represented the single gene pool or stock of this species in the Bay of Bengal with a substantial gene flow18,52,53.All of the spawning grounds of Hilsa shad were identified in the coastal areas of Bangladesh especially at the lower stretches of the Meghna, the Tetulia, the Ander Manik and the Shahabazpur River e.g., Hatia (Moulavir char) Sandwip (Kalir char) and Bhola (Dhal char and Monpura)6,21. However, migratory plan is mainly initiated during the spawning season, which is activated with follow of fresh water runoff from the inland rivers, and naturally it occurs with the commencement of the south-west monsoon and consequent flooding of all the major rivers draining down to the upper Bay of Bengal and there are no considerable differences in any context. Isolation of spawning ground is an important factor for population differentiation11. Due to presence of un-alienated spawning grounds, it is less feasible to draw population differences of Hilsa shad in the upper streams of different rivers and in their living ground, Bay of Bengal. Therefore, the unique spawning grounds and sole major migratory down-stream route strengthen the presence of single population in all over the Bangladesh water without any significant population clusters. Without specify exact spawning grounds for every cluster, it is unrealistic to draw several clusters in this population.Hilsa population studies in Indian part across the Hoogli, the Bhagirathi, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra Rivers also suggested single and genetically homogeneous population in Indian part10,17,18. Hilsa shad population of the Hoogli-Bhagirathi river system and Hilsa stock of Bangladesh water used same natal habitat, Bay of Bengal. Moreover, the River Ganges is the upstream of the Padma River (Bangladesh) and the Bhagirathi River (India) as well as the Brahmaputra is the upstream of the Jamuna River (Bangladesh). Most of the Hilsa shad of River Ganges comes from the Padma River and as the same way the Brahmaputra river has no other significant source of this fish except the Jamuna River. So genetic homogeneity and unique population across these rivers of Indian part also supported the Hilsa shad’s single population in the Bangladesh water.Nevertheless, Rahman and Naevdal (2000) based on allozymes and muscle proteins as well as Mazumder and Alam (2009) based on mitochondrial D-loop region figured out more than one Hilsa population in Bangladesh waters15,54. Rahman and Naevdal (2000) mentioned two populations: 1. Marine and 2. Estuary and fresh water but they processed without explaining how this highly migratory species was separated into two distinct cohorts. Mazumder and Alam (2009) divided the population into two clusters like previous study but poor pairwise FST value between two groups showed that there were no differences between fresh water and marine-estuarine locations. Recently Asaduzzaman et al. (2020) reported three clusters in the Hilsa population in Bangladesh waters, first one was in marine and estuarine waters and another two belonged to north–western riverine (turbid freshwater) and north-eastern riverine (clear freshwater) ecotypes20. Existing of a single population, the most likely assumption from the present research varied with their findings. Our result suggested that as a highly migratory species, Hilsa shad is incapable to belong to more than one population when sampled at different sections of their migration route. Our postulation is the presence of single cluster in the Bangladesh water because all water bodies are almost connected to each other, raising high rate of gene flow and created large population size. Western and eastern river systems of Bangladesh have immaterial dissimilar water quality (e.g., turbidity) but this is not enough to make population differences of Hilsa shad since they migrate and start their life from same spawning grounds and used almost same route across the lower stream and coastal estuaries during their breeding migration. Asaduzzaman et al. (2020) reported that samples of the Meghna river (MR) was included in the north-eastern riverine (clear freshwater) ecotypes by DAPC and neighbor-joining tree analysis20. However, their sample collection site (MR) was located in the common migratory route for north–western riverine (turbid freshwater) and north-eastern riverine (clear freshwater) ecotypes. Therefore, this site should be representing the samples of both ecotypes rather than specific one.If we draw several specific populations or clusters in the upper streams of Bangladesh that means we had the scope to find this shad in the freshwater all over the year round. However, in the freshwater of Bangladesh, this fish was available in the summer (June–October) and winter season (January-March) only; these were related to their summer and winter migration respectably55. If one or two groups of this fish, continue their complete lifecycle in the freshwater (Western/Eastern part of Bangladesh) that states the assurance of continuous supply of this fish almost year round. However, the original scenario does not support this hypothesis. Finally we can conclude that, only one population of this fish inhabit in the Bangladesh waters without any instance of different populations and clusters (2–4) but in some specific locations, they had some particular characteristics. The Bay of Bengal is their main living ground, at the time of their breeding they come to the freshwater upper streams, spawn in the estuaries and finally return to the sea. Therefore, using all the same ecosystems (sea, estuary and freshwater rivers) in a cyclic fashion is essential to support their life cycle, which certainly pushes all the individuals to belong a unique population.In the population structure analysis, only one population of Hilsa shad was identified with some admixtured individuals (32%) containing partial genes from other population in the water bodies of Bangladesh. The mentioned other population might not represent the Hilsa population of the Hoogly and Bhagirathi river system, India because, the Hilsa shads of both migratory routes of Bangladesh and India showed genetic homogeneity10,17. The Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers of Indian part are the upstream of the Padma and the Jamuna river of Bangladesh and might be belonged to the same population. However, Hilsa population of the Arabian Sea was genetically heterogeneous from the Bay of Bengal18 and those different population genes of admixtured individuals might come from the Arabian Sea by oceanographic dispersion. Once (almost 18,000 years ago) the Arabian Sea had a close connection with the Bay of Bengal through the Laccadive Sea, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay. Therefore, this likely was an easy way for oceanographic dispersion of Hilsa shad between these two water bodies. After that period, a bridge of limestone shoals, coral reefs and tombolo called as ‘Ram Bridge’ or ‘Adam’s Bridge’ (about 48 km) originated between Pamban Island off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, India, and Mannar Island, off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka 56,57. Sarker et al. (2020) also mentioned that type of oceanographic dispersion between these two water bodies for another Clupeid fish species, Hilsa kelee49. The Irrawaddy, the Naaf and the Sittang River of Myanmar were also regarded as another important route for Hilsa migration6,58. There is also a possibility of inflowing of these different genes of other population from such population. Still there is no population structure study was conducted in the Myanmar part. Therefore, there is no scope to compare those admixtured individuals with the Hilsa population of Myanmar. However, for completing the full scenario, the Hilsa population of Myanmar also claims research attention in population genomics field.In the present study, Samples of both migration cohorts (summer and winter) were studied. The maximum likelihood IQ tree, population structure and DAPC suggested that samples of both migration cohorts were homogenous. Similarly, Jhingran and Natarajan (1969) and Ramakrishnaiah (1972) also did not find any significant temporal population differences in their previous studies59,60. Dwivedi (2019) found morphometric variations between seasonal migrants of Hilsa shad from Hooghly estuary, India using geometric morphometrics (GM) data61. They explained that these morphotypes might be related to the food availability and temperature fluctuation of summer and winter season but they did not incorporate that to the genetic level of the population. Quddus et al. (1984) reported two seasonal migratory populations of Hilsa shad in Bangladesh water based on spawning, fecundity and sex ratio8. Based on our findings and previous studies we can conclude these mentioned seasonal cohorts might be associated with their food availability and breeding rather than genome level.Hill stream river and haor were two important and unique ecosystems for fish diversity in Bangladesh, they belong to the unique characteristics in the ecological factors as well as fish diversity62,63. Infrequently Hilsa shad use these two water bodies as their migratory routes. Samples were collected from the Shomeswari River and the Dingapota Haor, Mohanganj as the representatives of hill stream river and haor population respectively. However, Hilsa shad of these two exclusive water bodies were similar to the samples of the some other fresh water bodies (i.e., CM, CN and MG) as they were belonging to the Hilsa population without any admixtured individuals. Samples of SS do not have any significant P value with other locations whereas MO samples had significant P value with five other locations but having poor FST value with three locations (i.e., BL, PP, MG). MO samples had only mentionable FST value with MP (estuarine) and MK (marine), which might be the result of differences in water quality of these two water bodies. In DAPC, phylogenetic tree and in network, the samples of hill stream river and haor failed to make any unique cluster or monophyletic clade that represent they are also the part of single unique Hilsa population of Bangladesh waters.Main migration was occurred through the Meghna river estuary, which is connected to the Padma, Meghna and Jamuna river system. However, there are some other alternative routes through some small coastal rivers e.g., the Pashur, the Bishkhali, the Balaswar, the Kocha river, which are connected to the Padma river through the Modhumati and the Gorai river. These coastal rivers passed through or beside the world largest mangrove forest Sundarban. Thus, these two routes are ecologically different from each other. Samples of these two routes have some genetic differences, because most of the locations (MK, CF and BL with PP and KN) of these two estuarine routes had significant P value, but their FST value was not satisfactorily high to make population differences. Ecological differences of these two routes might be played an important role to create this type of slight differences among them. Therefore, these scenarios were not significant enough to describe noteworthy differences in the population level, but may make a sign of upcoming population differences. More

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Fieldwork and rock sample analysisThe primary objective of our fieldwork was to collect sedimentological data that would allow us to interpret the processes responsible for the deposition of the beds of the Greater Phyllopod Bed. These parameters could then be incorporated into our experimental design and recreation of Burgess Shale-type flows. To understand the complex sedimentary deposits of the Burgess Shale Formation, we targeted individual beds (Fig. 3, Supplementary Figs. 2–5) that were logged at outcrop for informative mm-scale and cm-scale sedimentary structures. Grain size analysis was conducted in the field using a grain-size comparator and hand-lens and during petrographic analysis. The Greater Phyllopod Bed has been logged in considerable detail in the field20,33, and so logs produced from our work can be used to compare to previous studies. Detailed descriptions of the intervals sampled included color, bounding surfaces, micro-sedimentary structures, grain size, and textures. Larger-scale field mapping and analysis of sedimentary architecture were not undertaken and so we were not attempting to answers questions on the relationship of the Cathedral Escarpment to the fossil-bearing deposits or the precise provenance of the organisms.We collected whole-rock samples from the Greater Phyllopod Bed of the Walcott Quarry at stratigraphic heights of 111.6, 136, 149.95, 184.83, and 226.68 cm (labeled Bed A to E, respectively) above the top of the Wash Limestone Member. All sedimentological samples for this study were collected in situ from this location under the Parks Canada collection and research permit (YNP-2015-19297). The permit for our fieldwork allowed us to collect and sample sedimentological material exclusively. These were subsequently sampled for laboratory analysis and thin-section preparation.Petrographic analysis was performed on all samples using a Leica DM750P microscope. Each thin section was scanned with an Epson scanner to observe details of the millimeter-scale structures and textures (Fig. 3, Supplementary Figs. 2–5). Plain and cross-polarized light micrographs were taken of areas of particular sedimentological interest from each thin section and documented along with the petrological analysis. These samples were processed for further geochemical and elemental analysis.Sample analysisX-Ray Diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the mineralogical content of the matrix of Bed A (111.6 cm above the top of the Wash Limestone Member) from the Walcott Quarry. For whole-rock bulk powder analyses, the sample was ground into a powder, and XRD was conducted using a PANalytical X’Pert3 diffractometer. For clay analysis, we applied the fractions to orientated glass slides. Organics were removed from each sample by H2O2 treatment before disaggregating the material using ultrasonic vibration. The suspended material was decanted from the ultrasonic bath in centrifuge bottles, which were topped up with deionized water so that each bottle weighed within the same gram. The bottles were placed in the centrifuge for two treatments, first at 1000 rpm for 4 min, and then again at 4000 rpm for 20 min. After the first treatment, the supernatant was transferred to new centrifuge bottles. The three lightest bottles were topped up with deionized water in order to reach the weight of the heaviest. The resultant concentrated sample yield ( More

Selection of materials for joint repair of chromium-contaminated soilTable 1 shows the results of the orthogonal test. Range analysis was performed according to the results of Table 1. The range-analysis results are shown in Table 2.Table 1 Orthogonal design scheme and results.Full size tableTable 2 Orthogonal test results range analysis calculation table.Full size tableTable 2 shows that, from the perspective of unconfined compressive strength, the primary and secondary order of the 28 day strength, factors affecting the combined repair of chromium-contaminated soil were cement content → fly-ash synthetic zeolite content → CaS5 content. The best test ratio was: CaS5 content 3 times, synthetic zeolite content 15%, and cement content 20%. The unconfined compressive strength of the contaminated soil after remediation increased with the increase in cement content, but the relationship between the content of CaS5 and synthetic zeolite, and the unconfined compressive strength of the specimen was not very obvious. From the perspective of toxicity leaching, the primary and secondary order of factors affecting the total chromium leaching concentration of the combined remediation of chromium-contaminated soil were cement content → fly-ash synthetic zeolite content → CaS5 content. The primary and secondary order of factors affecting the leaching concentration of Cr(VI) in the combined remediation of contaminated soil were CaS5 content → cement content → fly-ash synthetic zeolite content. The best test ratios of the total chromium and Cr(VI) toxicity leaching test were: CaS5 content is 4 times, synthetic zeolite content 15%, and cement content 20%. Total chromium and Cr(VI) leaching concentration of the chromium-contaminated soil after joint remediation was negatively correlated with the content of CaS5, synthetic zeolite, and cement content. The change of total chromium leaching concentration was most significantly affected by cement content and synthetic zeolite. Second, the change of Cr(VI) leaching concentration was most significantly affected by CaS5 content. From the perspective of leaching concentration, when reducing agent CaS5, adsorbent synthetic zeolite, and curing agent cement were all at maximum, the leaching effect of total chromium and Cr(VI) was best. However, considering the actual engineering cost and dosage of the preparation should be reduced as much as possible for meeting the requirements. Therefore, comprehensive balance analysis determined the optimal ratio for joint repair of chromium-contaminated soil to be 3 times the dosage of CaS5, 15% synthetic zeolite, and cement amount 20%.Strength change of combined repair of chromium-contaminated soil under action of dry–wet cycleThe test compared the variation of unconfined compressive strength with the number of dry and wet cycles under different conditions of chromium content, combined to repair standard specimens of chromium-contaminated soil, and test results are shown in Fig. 1.Figure 1The relationship between unconfined compressive strength and the number of dry wet cycles.Full size imageFigure 1 shows that, in the beginning, the unconfined compressive strength of the combined repair of chromium-contaminated soil increased with the increase in the number of wet and dry cycles. After reaching the maximal value, it gradually decreased as the number of dry–wet cycles continued to increase. In the initial stage of the dry–wet cycle, the unconfined compressive strength of the combined repair of chromium-contaminated soil increased to varying degrees. For 1000 and 3000 mg/kg of chromium-contaminated soil, the peak of the unconfined compressive strength appeared at 2 times during the dry–wet cycle, and the peak of the unconfined compressive strength of 5000 mg/kg chromium-contaminated soil appeared at 4 dry–wet cycles. After that, unconfined compressive strength gradually decreased with the progress of dry–wet cycles, and the decrease rate became slower. From strength-loss analysis, the higher the chromium content was, the greater the change in strength loss. After 16 wet and dry cycles, the strength-loss rates of 1000, 3000, and 5000 mg/kg chromium-contaminated soil were 17.95%, 22.27%, and 28.73%, respectively, and strength loss was within 30%, showing better water stability21,22.From analysis of the strength-change process, after 28 days of curing for the joint repair of chromium-contaminated soil, the physical and chemical interaction between cement hydrate and soil in the repair preparation was still occurring, as was the strength increase and dry–wet cycle caused by its hydration products. The weakening effect on strength is a dynamic equilibrium process of mutual decline and growth, and the equilibrium state of the two reaction degrees directly affected the strength of solidified chromium-contaminated soil23. In the initial stage of the dry–wet cycle, the strength increase caused by the interaction between remediation agent and chromium-contaminated soil continued. At that time, the destructive effect of the dry–wet cycle on the joint repair of chromium-contaminated soil was not significant in comparison. As the number of dry–wet cycles increased, hydration products formed and became stable. Dry shrinkage and wet expansion cause internal stress in the joint repair of chromium-contaminated soil, and the soil has cracks due to internal stress changes. A dry–wet cycle has a relatively destructive effect that is gradually noticeable and resulting in a decrease in strength. After many instances of drying and wetting, the strength of repairing chromium-contaminated soil was decreased and stabilized.Figure 1 also shows that, compared with low-content chromium-contaminated soil, the high-content chromium-contaminated-soil solidified body strength peak appeared later, and the peak value was low. This is because the higher the chromium ion content was, the more serious the delay of the hydration reaction of the repair agent was, and the more obvious the weakening effect on the strength of the cured body was, which is not conducive to strength growth. The weakening effect of the dry–wet cycle on strength continued to exist, which led to the repaired contaminated soil with a high content of chromium having lower strength.Toxic-leaching changes of combined remediation of chromium-contaminated soil under dry–wet cycleThe experiment compared the variation of hexavalent chromium and total chromium leaching concentration with the number of dry–wet cycles in standard specimens of the combined repair of chromium-contaminated soil under different chromium-content conditions of the contaminated soil. Test results are shown in Fig. 2.Figure 2Effect of drying–wetting cycle timeson leaching concentration of Cr.Full size imageFigure 2 shows that the leaching concentration of Cr(VI) and total chromium decreased in the initial stage of the dry–wet cycle of the remediation of chromium-contaminated soil. After that, as the number of dry–wet cycles increased, leaching concentration also increased, but the content was low (1000 mg/kg). The medium content (3000 mg/kg) of chromium-contaminated soil Cr(VI) and total chromium leaching concentration fluctuated slightly, and the change was relatively stable, while the high content of chromium-contaminated soil (5000 mg/kg) Cr(VI) leaching the concentration fluctuated greatly, and total chromium increased significantly. Compared with the low-content chromium-contaminated soil, the leaching concentration of the solidified body of high-content chromium-contaminated soil was higher.In the beginning of the dry–wet cycle, the physical and chemical interaction between the cement hydrate and the soil in the repair preparation was still happening. The fly-ash synthetic zeolite had the adsorption effect of metal chromium ions and hydroxide precipitation in the alkaline environment. The formation of chromium ions could meet the requirements of curing/stabilizing chromium ions, and heavy-metal chromium ions are not easy to leach. With the increase in the number of dry–wet cycles, a series of evolutionary processes occurred, such as the expansion of local microcracks, the increase in macropores, the appearance of internal cracks in the contaminated soil, and the appearance of cracks and peeling phenomena on the outside of the contaminated-soil damage. At this time, the contact area between the heavy-metal ions in the contaminated soil and the external environment, especially water, increased, which reduced the ability of the repair agent to adsorb and wrap chromium ions, so that chromium ions were easily leached. In the leaching test, the use of the acidic leaching solution also destroyed the pH balance of the repaired chromium-contaminated soil, the hydrated gel was dissolved and desorbed, and the heavy metals changed, thereby accelerating the leaching of heavy-metal ions24.From analysis of the leaching law shown by the contaminated soil with different chromium content levels, when chromium content in the contaminated soil was low, the remediation agent could effectively solidify/stabilize most of the chromium ions in the soil Cr(VI) and low total chromium leaching. When the chromium content in the contaminated soil was high, the limited content of the repair agent showed an insufficient solidification/stabilization effect of the heavy-metal chromium ions. Because a higher concentration of chromium ions hindered the formation of hydration products of the repair agent, it weakened the adsorption and binding capacity of the hydrated gel. The heavy-metal chromium ions existed in the pores of the contaminated soil in a free state, making the repair agent solidify the chromium ions, the stabilization effect decreased, and the leaching of Cr(VI) and total chromium increased.Overall, the effect of the dry–wet cycle on the joint repair of chromium-contaminated soil was limited, and the joint repair of chromium-contaminated soil had strong resistance to dry–wet cycles, especially the low- and medium-content chromium-polluted soil.Combined repair of quality loss of chromium-contaminated soil under action of dry–wet cyclesThe cumulative mass-loss rate of the sample was calculated from Formula (1), and the result is shown in Fig. 3. With the increase in the number of wet and dry cycles, the cumulative mass-loss rate of the composite preparation to repair chromium-contaminated soil gradually increased; and the higher the chromium content of the contaminated soil was, the greater the cumulative mass-loss rate was. The cumulative mass-loss rate of 16 wet and dry cycles was less than 1%, which shows that the joint repair of chromium-contaminated soil had strong resistance to dry and wet cycles.Figure 3Change of cumulative mass loss rate during dry wet cycle.Full size imageFigure 4 is a photograph of the appearance change of a solidified 5000 mg/kg chromium-contaminated-soil sample after a dry–wet cycle. The soundness-evaluation results of the sample after each dry–wet cycle are shown in Fig. 5.Figure 4Appearance changes of cured chromium contaminated soil samples with dry and wet cycles at (a) 0 times; (b) 2 times; (c) 4 times; (d) 8 times; and (e) 16 times.Full size imageFigure 5Soundness evaluation results of cured chromium contaminated soil samples.Full size imageFigures 4 and 5 show that, after two dry–wet cycles of the joint repair of chromium-contaminated soil, the appearance of the sample did not significantly change, compared with 0 cycles, the surface changed from smooth to rough. Slight cracks appeared from the fourth cycle. Obvious cracks appeared in the sample at the end of the eighth cycle, and a small part of the sample fell off. The sample began to show obvious cracks from the end of the 15th dry–wet cycle, and large pieces of slack simultaneously appeared. The sample was subjected to 16 wet and dry cycles, and soundness was still not at e–h level, indicating that the joint repair of chromium-contaminated soil had strong resistance to dry and wet cycles.Combined repair of chromium-contaminated-soil microstructure changes under action of dry–wet cyclesAfter the joint repair of chromium-contaminated-soil specimens underwent a certain number of wet and dry cycles, the strength, leaching characteristics, and appearance of the specimens significantly changed. From the microstructure, there had to be corresponding changes. Therefore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to further analyze the microstructure changes of specimens with different chromium content levels under the action of different wet and dry cycles, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.Figure 6SEM images of 5000 mg/kg chromium contaminated soil specimens after different dry wet cycles at (a) 0 times; (b) 2 times; (c) 8 times; and (d) 16 times.Full size imageFigure 7XRD pattern of 5000 mg/kg chromium contaminated soil specimen after different dry wet cycles.Full size imageFigure 6 shows that the combined repair of chromium-contaminated soil after 28 days of curing had many pores in the specimen at 0 dry–wet cycles (standard sample), the physical and chemical interaction between the cement hydrate and the soil in the repair preparation still continued, and there were platelike calcium hydroxide crystals on the surface. After two dry–wet cycles, the contaminated soil was denser, and the overall structure was more complete than that in the samples without dry–wet cycles. The plate-shaped calcium hydroxide crystals were reduced, and a large number of fibrous and flocculent hydrated gels could be seen on the surface of the structure. This shows that the reaction between remediation agent and chromium-contaminated soil continued, which is consistent with the law that strength did not drop but rose during the two dry and wet cycles in the unconfined-compressive-strength test. After the test piece had undergone 8 dry–wet cycles, the surface of the test piece not only had a large increase in pores, but also had local cracks, indicating that the structure of the test piece was damaged under the action of the dry–wet cycle, which is consistent with the unconfined compressive strength found in the experiment, coinciding with a sharp drop. After 16 wet and dry cycles, the surface of the specimen not only showed a large number of pores and cracks, but also had obvious roughness. It showed that the dry–wet cycle effect caused the hydration products and cement materials in the soil to be destroyed and dissolved out, and the coupling and supporting forces between soil particles are weakened, and the strength of the soil is reduced accordingly, which was consistent with the macroscopic test results.Figure 7 shows that the main crystal phases of the chromium-contaminated soil were SiO2 and Al2O3 for the samples that did not undergo a dry–wet cycle. A small number of CSH, CAH, Ca(OH)2, and CaCO3 crystals could also be detected from the diffraction peaks. Cr3+ and Cr6+ formed hydroxide precipitates in a highly alkaline environment and wrapped them on the surface of cement, hindering their contact reaction with water. Compared with 0 cycles, SiO2 and Al2O3 in the second cycle were decreased, while the contents of CSH, CAH, Ca(OH)2, and CaCO3 significantly increased. This is because in the process of dry and wet cycles, the sample is fully exposed to moisture and air, so the hydration, depolymerization-cementation, pozzolanic, and carbonation reactions between composite preparation and chromium-contaminated soil continued. After two dry–wet cycles, more hydration products were generated than in the specimens without dry–wet cycles, which filled the pores between the particles of the solidified body, effectively blocking the permeability of the pores, and making the contaminated soil denser, and more structured and complete. At the same time, the full progress of the hydration reaction also delayed the damage rate of the water body to the soil in the dry–wet cycle, so that the soil could maintain a certain strength in the harsh environment, which is consistent with the above-mentioned growth trend of the soil strength. At the same time, the extension of a large amount of fibrous calcium silicate hydrate greatly increased the internal specific surface area of the soil. Free-state Cr3+ and Cr6+ were adsorbed or produced hydroxide precipitation and filled in the pores of the soil, and free ion concentration was also greatly reduced, which is consistent with the above ion-leaching test results. For the specimens with 8 dry and wet cycles, the content of hydration products such as CAH and CSH was reduced. This is due to a series of evolutionary processes such as the expansion of local microcracks, the increase in macropores, the appearance of internal cracks in the contaminated soil, and the appearance of cracks and peeling on the outside of the contaminated soil. Structural integrity was destroyed, and strength was accordingly reduced. By 16 wet and dry cycles, a large amount of fibrous CSH disappeared, which weakened the cementation between soil particles. At this time, the heavy-metal ions originally wrapped in the contaminated soil solidified the body and the external environment, the contact area with the water was increased, the pH value of the environment was decreased, hydrate CSH was decalcified, and Ca/Si ratio was decreased. This reduced the adsorption capacity of the compound formulation to chromium ions, so that chromium ions were dissolved out of the soil. More

Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKHans Bauer & Claudio Sillero-ZubiriEvolutionary Ecology Group, Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, BelgiumHans BauerLaboratory for Applied Ecology, Natural Resource Conservation, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, BeninAristide Comlan TehouDepartment of HydroSciences and Environment, University Iba Der Thiam, Thiès, SénégalMallé GueyeDirection de la Faune, de la Chasse et des Parcs et Réserves, Ministère de l’Environnement de la Salubrité Urbaine et du Développement Durable, Niamey, NigerHamissou GarbaDirection de la Faune et des Chasses, Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable, Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoBenoit DoambaNational Parks Directorate, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Dakar, SenegalDjibril DiouckThe Born Free Foundation, Horsham, UKClaudio Sillero-Zubiri More