Extractions and analyses of reactive phosphorus in the Bering Sea from IODP Holes 323-U1341A and 323-U1341B

To reconstruct the cycling of reactive phosphorus (P) in the Bering Sea, a P speciation record covering the last ~ 4 Ma was generated from sediments recovered during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 323 at Site U1341 (Bowers Ridge). A chemical extraction procedure distinguishing between different operationally defined P fractions provides new insight into reactive P input, burial and diagenetic transformations. Reactive P mass accumulation rates (MARs) are ~ 20-110 µmol/cm2/ka, which is comparable to other open ocean locations but orders of magnitude lower than most upwelling settings. We find that authigenic carbonate fluorapatite (CFA) and opal-bound P are the dominant P fractions at Site U1341. An overall increasing contribution of CFA to total P with sediment depth is consistent with a gradual "sink switching" from more labile P fractions (fish remains, Fe oxides, organic matter) to stable authigenic CFA. However, the positive correlation of CFA with Al content implies that a significant portion of the supposedly reactive CFA is non-reactive "detrital contamination" by eolian and/or riverine CFA. In contrast to CFA, opal-bound P has rarely been studied in marine sediments. We find for the first time that opal-bound P directly correlates with excess silica contents. This P fraction was apparently available to biosiliceous phytoplankton at the time of sediment deposition and is a long-term sink for reactive P in the ocean, despite the likelihood for diagenetic re-mobilisation of this P at depth (indicated by increasing ratios of excess silica to opal-bound P). Average reactive P MARs at Site U1341 increase by ~ 25% if opal-bound P is accounted for, but decrease by ~ 25% if 50% of the extracted CFA fraction (based on the lowest CFA value at Site U1341) is assumed to be detrital. Combining our results with literature data, we present a qualitative perspective of terrestrial CFA and opal-bound P deposition in the modern ocean. Riverine CFA input has mostly been reported from continental shelves and margins draining P-rich lithologies, while eolian CFA input is found across wide ocean regions underlying the Northern Hemispheric "dust belt". Opal-bound P burial is important in the Southern Ocean, North Pacific, and likely in upwelling areas. Shifts in detrital CFA and opal-bound P deposition across ocean basins likely occurred over time, responding to changing weathering patterns, sea level, and biogenic opal deposition.

(Figure 1 and 2) Phosphorus pools in the investigated sediments quantified by SEDEX sequential extraction and distribution of recovered 33P spike between sedimentary P pools after incubation

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for life. In the ocean, phosphorus burial regulates marine primary production**1, 2. Phosphorus is removed from the ocean by sedimentation of organic matter, and the subsequent conversion of organic phosphorus to phosphate minerals such as apatite, and ultimately phosphorite deposits**3, 4. Bacteria are thought to mediate these processes**5, but the mechanism of sequestration has remained unclear. Here, we present results from laboratory incubations in which we labelled organic-rich sediments from the Benguela upwelling system, Namibia, with a 33P-radiotracer, and tracked the fate of the phosphorus. We show that under both anoxic and oxic conditions, large sulphide-oxidizing bacteria accumulate 33P in their cells, and catalyse the nearly instantaneous conversion of phosphate to apatite. Apatite formation was greatest under anoxic conditions. Nutrient analyses of Namibian upwelling waters and sediments suggest that the rate of phosphate-to-apatite conversion beneath anoxic bottom waters exceeds the rate of phosphorus release during organic matter mineralization in the upper sediment layers. We suggest that bacterial apatite formation is a significant phosphorus sink under anoxic bottom-water conditions. Expanding oxygen minimum zones are projected in simulations of future climate change**6, potentially increasing sequestration of marine phosphate, and restricting marine productivity.

The effect of a reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus to eutrophic and mesotrophic conditions towards silver nanoparticle (AgNP) on freshwater green algae species

We investigated the sensitivity of algae towards silver nanoparticles with OECD test medium and lower nutrient concentrations under standard test conditions to improve comparability and to exclude any other confounding factor aside nutrient levels. Two unicellular freshwater microalgae Desmodesmus subspicatus and Raphidocelis subcapitata were chosen due to their status as standard test organisms for the algae growth inhibition test and the response to changes in nutrient supply was compared. The original medium was used as the reference (standard). For the other four media, the amount of either nitrogen or phosphorus in the medium was lowered from half (50%) to one-fourth (25 %) of that of the OECD guideline, resulting in the following media: 50% N, 25% N, 50% P and 25% P medium. As test substance, the OECD reference material NM-300K was used. For this reason, the characterization of AgNP was done using DLS and Absorption spectra (UV/vis). Actual silver concentrations and ionic silver concentrations were measured at the highest test concentration used (100 µg Ag L-1) in R. subcapitata treatments only to reduce the number of samples. All tests were run according to the OECD guideline 201 with sterilized 50 mL cell culture flask. Each medium was tested using the test conditions for culturing with 3 replicates. Test concentrations for both algae species were 0, 25, 50 and 100 µg Ag L-1 for OECD, 50% P and 25% P while for both N reductions, the silver concentrations were 0, 10, 25 and 100 µg Ag L-1. Samples for determining the algal density were taken at every 24 h.

Geochemistry of tephra from Lake Ohrid

Here we present a tephrostratigraphic record (core Co1202) recovered from the northeastern part of Lake Ohrid (Republics of Macedonia and Albania) reaching back to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6. Overall ten horizons (OT0702-1 to OT0702-10) containing volcanic tephra have been recognised throughout the 14.94 m long sediment succession. Four tephra layers were visible at macroscopic inspection (OT0702-4, OT0702-6, OT0702-8 and OT0702-9), while the remaining six are cryptotephras (OT0702-1, OT0702-2, OT0702-3, OT0702-5, OT0702-7 and OT0702-10) identified from peaks in K, Zr and Sr intensities, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and washing and sieving of the sediments. Glass shards of tephra layers and cryptotephras were analysed with respect to their major element composition, and correlated to explosive eruptions of Italian volcanoes. The stratigraphy and the major element composition of tephra layers and cryptotephras allowed the correlation of OT0702-1 to AD 472 or AD 512 eruptions of Somma-Vesuvius, OT0702-2 to the FL eruption of Mount Etna, OT0702-3 to the Mercato from Somma-Vesuvius, OT0702-4 to SMP1-e/Y-3 eruption from the Campi Flegrei caldera, OT0702-5 to the Codola eruption (Somma-Vesuvius or Campi Flegrei), OT0702-6 to the Campanian Ignimbrite/Y-5 from the Campi Flegrei caldera, OT0702-7 to the Green Tuff/Y-6 eruption from Pantelleria Island, OT0702-8 to the X-5 eruption probably originating from the Campi Flegrei caldera, OT0702-9 to the X-6 eruption of generic Campanian origin, and OT0702-10 to the P-11 eruption from Pantelleria Island. The fairly well-known ages of these tephra layers and parent eruptions provide new data on the dispersal and deposition of these tephras and, furthermore, allow the establishment of a chronological framework for core Co1202 for a first interpretation of major sedimentological changes.

Phosphorus geochemistry of eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean sediments

We determined phosphorus (P) concentrations in Leg 138 sediment samples from Sites 844, 846, and 851, using a sequential extraction technique to identify the P associated with five sedimentary components. Total concentrations of P (sum of the five components) ranged from 4 to 35 µmol P/g sediment, with mean values relatively similar between the three sites (11, 14, and 12 for Sites 844,846, and 851, respectively). Authigenic/biogenic P was the most important component in terms of percentage of total P (about 75%), with iron-bound P (13%), adsorbed P (2%-9%), and organic P (4%) of secondary importance; detrital P was a minor P sink (1%) in these sediments. Profiles of adsorbed P and iron-bound P show decreasing concentrations with age, indicating that these components have been affected by diagenesis and reorganization of P. A peak in iron-bound P may reflect higher fluxes of hydrothermally derived Fe to eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean sediments from 11 to 8 Ma. Lower detrital P values for western Site 851 reflect a greater distance of this site from a terrigenous source area, compared to that of Sites 844 and 846. Phosphorus mass accumulation rates (P-MARs; units of µmol P/cm**2/k.y.) were calculated using total P concentrations (not including the minor and oceanically unreactive detrital P component) and sedimentation rates and dry-bulk densities averaged over time intervals of 0.5 m.y. P-MARs generally decrease from 17 Ma to the present. Eastern transect Sites 844 and 846 display a decrease in P-MARs from about 30 to 10 in the interval from 17 to 8 Ma, while western transect Site 851 is highly variable during this interval. P-MARs increase to about 45 and stay relatively high from 8 to 6 Ma, then decrease toward the present to some of the lowest values of the record (about 10). The general trend of high P-MARs at about 6 Ma and decreasing values toward the present is correlated with other geochemical and sedimentary trends through this interval and may reflect (1) a change in net sediment and P burial, (2) a reorganization of fluxes with no change of net burial, or (3) a combination of the two.

(Table 1) Phosphorus and carbon chemistry of ODP Holes 169-1033B and 169-1034B

Uncertainty currently exists about the removal of carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) from the oceanic reservoir, especially in low oxygen settings. In this paper, the cycling of C and P is examined in sediments from the anoxic Saanich Inlet, cored by Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 169S in 1996 at two sites. Although Corg/Porg ratios are high and increase with depth in the Saanich Inlet, this effect is due largely to a remobilization of P from an organic matter sink to an authigenic sink. Reducible sedimentary components act as temporary shuttles in this process even in this anoxic setting, with the ultimate burial sink for the remobilized P being carbonate fluorapatite. The effective Corg/Preactive molar ratio appears to be about 150-200, indicating some preferential loss of P compared to C during organic matter degradation, but not approaching previously reported values of over 3000 in black shales. Reactive P accumulation rates in this basin range from 10,000-60,000 µmol/cm**2/kyr, greatly exceeding the range of 500-8000 µmol/cm**2/kyr found in most continental-margin settings, including regions of modern phosphogenesis. The initiation of marine sedimentation in the Saanich Inlet occurred after deglaciation, and the high rates of P burial seen here may provide an end-member example of the effects of sea level and margin sedimentation on the distribution of P within the marine P cycle.

Geological investigation of a section at Kulyumbe river in Siberia

An integrated, high-resolution chemostratigraphic (C, O and Sr isotopes) and magnetostratigraphic study through the upper Middle Cambrian - lowermost Ordovician shallow-marine carbonates of the northwestern margin of the Siberian Platform is reported. The interval was analysed at the Kulyumbe section, which is exposed along the Kulyumbe River: an eastern tributary of the Enisej River. It comprises the upper Ust'-Brus, Labaz, Orakta, Kulyumbe, Ujgur, and lower Iltyk formations and includes the Steptoean positive carbon isotopic excursion (SPICE) studied here in detail from upper Cambrian carbonates of the Siberian Platform for the first time. The peak of the excursion, showing d13C positive values as high as +4.6? and least-altered 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.70909, is reported herein from the Yurakhian Horizon of the Kulyumbe Formation. The stratigraphic position of the SPICE excursion does not support traditional correlation of the boundary between the Orakta and Labaz formations at Kulyumbe River with its supposedly equivalent level in Australia, Laurentia, South China, and Kazakhstan, where the Glyptagnostus stolidotus and G. reticulatus biozones are known to immediately precede the SPICE excursion and span the Middle-Upper Cambrian boundary. The Cambrian-Ordovician boundary is probably situated in the middle Nyajan Horizon of the Iltyk Formation, in which carbon isotope values show a local maximum below a decrease in the upper part of the Nyajan Horizon, attributed herein to the Tremadocian. A refined magnetic polarity sequence shows that the geomagnetic reversal frequency was very high during the Middle Cambrian at 5-10 reversals per Ma, assuming a total duration of ~10 Ma and up to 100 magnetic intervals in the Middle Cambrian. By contrast, the sequence attributed herein to the Upper Cambrian on chemostratigraphic grounds contains only 10-11 magnetic intervals. Preprint in Open Access hdl:10013/epic.30209.d001

Dissolved Iron, Aluminium, and Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus in the (Sub-)Tropical Atlantic Surface Ocean

Inorganic nitrogen depletion restricts productivity in much of the low-latitude oceans, generating a selective advantage for diazotrophic organisms capable of fixing atmospheric dinitrogen (N2). However, the abundance and activity of diazotrophs can in turn be controlled by the availability of other potentially limiting nutrients, including phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe). Here we present high-resolution data (~0.3°) for dissolved iron, aluminum, and inorganic phosphorus that confirm the existence of a sharp north-south biogeochemical boundary in the surface nutrient concentrations of the (sub)tropical Atlantic Ocean. Combining satellite-based precipitation data with results from a previous study, we here demonstrate that wet deposition in the region of the intertropical convergence zone acts as the major dissolved iron source to surface waters. Moreover, corresponding observations of N2 fixation and the distribution of diazotrophic Trichodesmium spp. indicate that movement in the region of elevated dissolved iron as a result of the seasonal migration of the intertropical convergence zone drives a shift in the latitudinal distribution of diazotrophy and corresponding dissolved inorganic phosphorus depletion. These conclusions are consistent with the results of an idealized numerical model of the system. The boundary between the distinct biogeochemical systems of the (sub)tropical Atlantic thus appears to be defined by the diazotrophic response to spatial-temporal variability in external Fe inputs. Consequently, in addition to demonstrating a unique seasonal cycle forced by atmospheric nutrient inputs, we suggest that the underlying biogeochemical mechanisms would likely characterize the response of oligotrophic systems to altered environmental forcing over longer timescales.

Pelagic phosphorus accumulation in the Pacific Ocean

As a limiting nutrient to marine life, phosphorus (P) is an effective tracer of today's marine productivity. The distribution of P in marine sediments likewise tracks the history of marine productivity because of its relative insolubility in seawater. CaCO3, biogenic opal, terrigenous sediment, and total P have been measured in cores from nine Pacific sites (Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) 65, 66, 310, 77, 62, 572, 463, 586, and GPC-3) and one subantarctic (DSDP 266) site. These sites were specifically chosen to provide information on biota burial flux changes with time for sedimentary sinks that represent key oceanographic variables, i.e., rate of upwelling, water depth, and carbonate dissolution gradient. The accumulation rates of these components for the last 10 Ma were then calculated from determined core age versus depth plots, core bulk density, and porosity data. The accumulation of P weakly correlates with that of CaCO3, moderately with that of total sediment, and very strongly with carbonate-free accumulation. Two prominent peaks for all components occur at 2-3 Ma and 5-6 Ma, and record the chemical loading of dissolved CaCO3, SiO2, and P from glacially emergent continental shelves. These results indicate that continental shelf phosphorites form during interglacially high sea levels and correspond to low deep-sea P accumulation rates, whereas glacially lowered sea levels allow for shelf bypassing and greater deep-sea P accumulation rates.

Foliar phosphorus application enhances nutrient balance and growth of phosphorus deficient sugarcane

Although it is well known that nutrient imbalance in shoot tissues may impair plant performance, the interactive effect between foliar phosphorus (P) application and varying P availability in the rooting medium on the nutritional status of sugarcane has not been well studied. To fill this research gap, four sugarcane varieties (IAC91-1099, IACSP94-2101, IACSP94-2094 and IACSP95-5000) were evaluated using a combination of two concentrations of P in nutrient solution (P-deficient, PD = 0.02 mmol L^(−1) and P-sufficient, PS = 0.5 mmol L^(−1)) and foliar P application (none and 0.16 mol L^(−1)). The spray was applied until drip point three times during the experiment with 15 days intervals, after which the plants were harvested to quantify growth and shoot concentration of nitrogen (N), P, magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S) and manganese (Mn). The responses of sugarcane plants to foliar P spray at different levels of P supply in the rooting medium was not genotype-dependent. It was demonstrated for the averaged values across varieties, that foliar P application enhanced sugarcane performance under low P, as revealed by improvements of leaf area and dry matter production of shoot and root of PD plants. Under P limitation we also observed diminished shoot concentration of N, P, Mg, S and increased concentration of Mn. However, foliar P spray increased the concentrations of N, P, S and reduced shoot Mn. Furthermore, shoot P:N, P:Mg, P:S, P:Mn and Mg:Mn concentration ratios exhibited a positive relationship with shoot dry matter production. In conclusion, low P supply in the rooting medium impairs nutrient balance in shoot tissues of sugarcane at early growth; however, this effect was ameliorated by foliar P application which merits further study under field conditions.

Invertebrados aquáticos no detrito de Salvinia herzogii de la Sota em lagos rasos do sul do Brasil

A colonização por invertebrados aquáticos no detrito de Salvinia herzogii foi estudada em dois lagos rasos subtropicais de diferentes estados tróficos (eutrófico e oligotrófico) localizados no campus Carreiros da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, extremo sul do Brasil. Aproximadamente 6g (peso úmido) de S. herzogii foram incubados em experimentos com litter bags (30 X 20 cm com 10 mm de malha) e a decomposição do detrito acompanhada durante 110 dias (entre setembro de 2008 e janeiro de 2009), período no qual o detrito decompôs-se cerca de 95%. Quatro réplicas foram retiradas após os intervalos de 1, 30, 60, 90 e 110 dias de incubação e o detrito foi limpo em água corrente sob peneira de 250µm de malha para que fossem retidos os organismos e depois fixados em álcool 80%. As plantas depois de limpas foram secas à 60ºC por 72 horas para obtenção do peso seco, depois trituradas, para as análises de nitrogênio e fósforo total e para obtenção do peso seco livre de cinzas, equivalente a porcentagem de massa remanescente (%R). Os invertebrados foram identificados até o menor nível taxonômico possível e depositados na coleção de Invertebrados Límnicos – ICB - FURG. Para cada amostra foram calculadas a riqueza e a densidade de táxons, os índices de diversidade de Shannon - Wiener (H’), homogeneidade de Pielou (J). Para determinar qual grupo de invertebrados foi mais importante para a estruturação da comunidade em cada lago, foi realizada a análise de espécies indicadoras (indicator especies analysis). Um total de 32.399 organismos distribuídos em 38 táxons foram registrados para os lagos estudados. Dezoito táxons foram comuns entre os lagos em cada experimento. Um total de 1.449.612 ind. 100g PS no ambiente eutrófico e 372.380 ind. 100g PS para o ambiente oligotrófico foi registrado (p=0,4771). O táxon mais abundante encontrado para o lago eutrófico foi Goeldichironomus (Chironomidae; 81% de todos os organismos coletados), enquanto queno lago oligotrófico, o táxon mais abundante foi Caenis (Caenidae; 29,1% de todos os organismos coletados). A colonização do detrito foi rápida, nas primeiras 24 horas foram registrados 10 táxons nos lagos eutrófico e oligotrófico, sendo os predadores o grupo dominante (52 e 70%, respectivamente) neste período. Durante o período do experimento,no lago eutrófico, os coletores-catadores foram os mais abundantes (91,2 % do número total de organismos), seguido de coletores-filtradores (4,7 %) e predadores (3,5 %). No lago oligotrófico, os coletores-catadores foram os mais abundantes (34,1 % do número total de organismos), seguido de predadores (26,8 %), raspadores (24,9 %) e fragmentadores (10,5 %). O Índice de diversidade acompanhou os aumentos de densidade durante os experimentos, sendo que o valor máximo observado foi no lago oligotrófico(H’=2,31) no 60º dia de incubação, enquanto que o menor valor foi registrado para o lago eutrófico (H’=0,19) no 110º dia de incubação. A taxa de decomposição de S. herzogii foi diferente no lago eutrófico (k = 0,019; R2 = 0,88) e oligotrófico (k = 0,021; R2 = 0,81),porém essa diferença não foi significativa (ANCOVA; F = 6,38 e p = 0,6755).

Trapping phosphorus (III) into polyoxometalates: synthesis, characterisation and electronic behaviour study

The introduction of electronically-active heteroanions into polyoxometalates (POMs) is one of the emerging topics in this field. The novel clusters have shown unprecedented intramolecular electron-transfer features that can be directly mediated by the incorporated heteroanions. In this thesis, we will focus on the study of phosphite (HPO32-) as new non-traditional heteroanions, discover HPO32- templated nanostructures, investigate their electronic behaviours as well as understand the self-assembly process of HPO32--templated species. The thesis starts with incorporating HPO32- into POM cages. The feasibility of this work was illustrated by the successful trapping of HPO32- into a “Trojan Horse” type {W18O56} nanocage. The reactivity of embedded {HPO3} was fully studied, showing the cluster undergoes a structural rearrangement in solution whereby the {HPO3} moieties dimerise to form a weakly interacting (O3PH···HPO3) moiety. In the crystalline state a temperature-dependent intramolecular redox reaction and structural rearrangement occurs. This rearrangement appears to proceed via an intermediate containing two different templates, a pyramidal {HPO3} and a tetrahedral {PO4} moiety. {HPO3} templated POM cages were then vigorously expanded and led to the isolation of five either fully oxidised or mixed-valence clusters trapped with mono-, di-, or tri- {HPO3}. Interestingly, an intriguing 3D honeycomb-like host-guest structure was also synthesised. The porous framework was self-aggregated by a tri-phopshite anion templated {W21} cluster with a {VO4} templated Wells-Dawson type {W18} acting as a guest species within the hexagonal channels. Based on this work, we further extended the templating anions to two different redox-active heteroanions, and discovered a unique mixed-heteroatom templated system built by pairing redox-active {HPIIIO3} with {TeO3}, {SeO3} or {AsO3}. Two molecular systems were developed, ie. “Trojan Horse” type [W18O56(HPO3)0.8(SeO3)1.2(H2O)2]8- and cross-shaped [H4P4X4W64O224]32-/36-, where X=TeIV, SeIV, AsIII. In the case of {W18(HPO3)0.8(SeO3)1.2}, the compound is found to be a mixture of heteroleptic {W18(HPO3)(SeO3)} and homoleptic {W18(SeO3)2} and {W18(HPO3)2}, identified by single crystal x-ray diffraction, NMR as well as high resolution mass spectrometry. The cluster exhibited similar temperature-dependent electronic features to “Trojan Horse” type {W18(HPO3)2O56}. However, due to the intrinsic reactivity difference between {HPO3} and {SeO3}, the thermal treatment leads to the formation of an unusual species [W18O55(PO4)(SeO3)]5-, in which {HPO3} was fully oxidised to {PO4} within the cage, whereas and lone-pair-containing {SeO3} heteroanions were kept intact inside the shell. This finding is extremely interesting, as it demonstrated that multiple and independent intramolecular electronic performance can be achieved by the coexistence of distinct heteroatoms within a single molecule. On the other hand, the cross-shaped [H4P4X4W64O224]32-/36- were constructed by four {W15(HPO3)(XO3)} building units linked by four {WO6} octahedra. Each building unit traps two different heteroatoms. It is interesting to note that the mixed heteroatom species show self-sorting, with a highly selective positional preference. Smaller ionic sized {HPO3} are self-organised into the uncapped side of {W15} cavity, whereas closed side are occupied by larger heteroatoms, which is surprisingly opposed to steric hindrance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are currently underway to have a full understanding of the preference of heteroatom substitutions. This series of clusters is of great interest in terms of achieving single molecule-based heteroatom-dependent multiple levels of electron transfer. It has opened a new way to design and synthesise POMs with higher diversity of electrical states, which may lead to a new type of Q-bits for quantum computing. The third chapter is focused on developing polyoxotungstate building blocks templated by {HPO3}. A series of building blocks, {W15O48(HPO3)2}, {W9O30(HPO3)} {W12O40(HPO3)2} and hexagonal {W6O18(HPO3)} have been obtained. The first four building blocks have been reported with {SeO3} and/or {TeO3} heteroanions. This result demonstrates {HPO3} has a similar reactivity as {SeO3} and {TeO3}, therefore studying the self-assembly of {HPO3}-based building blocks would be helpful to have a general understanding of pyramidal heteroatom-based molecular systems. The hexagonal {W6O18(HPO3)} is observed for the first time in polyoxotungstates, showing some of reactivity difference between {HPO3} and {SeO3} and {TeO3}. Furthermore, inorganic salts and pH values have some directing influence on the formation and transformation of various building blocks, resulting in the discovery of a family of {HPO3}-based clusters with nuclearity ranging from {W29} to {W106}. High resolution mass spectrometry was also carried out to investigate the cluster solution behaviour and also gain information of building block speciation. It is found that some clusters experienced decomposition, which gives rise to potential building blocks accountable for the self-assembly.

Psychosocial stressors perceived in the process of social reintegration and compliance time remaining in prison sentence

Introduction: This study shows the results obtained from evaluating the main psychosocial stressors perceived in the process of social reintegration and their relation to a remaining sentence time in prison. Material and methods: A questionnaire based on an ad hoc design was administered, using a Likert scale, with a total of 383 inmates serving sentences in southeast Spain. Results: Findings show that inmates with a remaining sentence period of more than one year, like those who had served more than a year of their sentence, showed greater concern about possible economic difficulties. Conclusions: The psychosocial stressors studied might provide relevant information to facilitate the process of social reintegration after the completion of a prison sentence.