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Soerensen AL, Benskin JP, Faxneld S. Four Decades of Spatiotemporal Variability of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in the Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10806-10816. [PMID: 38829301 PMCID: PMC11192033 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c03031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Temporal and spatial variability of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in herring, cod, eelpout, and guillemot covering four decades and more than 1000 km in the Baltic Sea was investigated to evaluate the effect of PFAS regulations and residence times of PFASs. Overall, PFAS concentrations responded rapidly to recent regulations but with some notable basin- and homologue-specific variability. The well-ventilated Kattegat and Bothnian Bay showed a faster log-linear decrease for most PFASs than the Baltic Proper, which lacks a significant loss mechanism. PFOS and FOSA, for example, have decreased with 0-7% y-1 in the Baltic Proper and 6-16% y-1 in other basins. PFNA and partly PFOA are exceptions and continue to show stagnant or increasing concentrations. Further, we found that Bothnian Bay herring contained the highest concentrations of >C12 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), likely from rivers with high loads of dissolved organic carbon. In the Kattegat, low PFAS concentrations, but a high FOSA fraction, could be due to influence from the North Sea inflow below the halocline and possibly a local source of FOSA and/or isomer-specific biotransformation. This study represents the most comprehensive spatial and temporal investigation of PFASs in Baltic wildlife while providing new insights into cycling of PFASs within the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne L. Soerensen
- Department
of Environmental Monitoring and Research, Swedish Museum of Natural History, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonathan P. Benskin
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Suzanne Faxneld
- Department
of Environmental Monitoring and Research, Swedish Museum of Natural History, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden
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Helmerson C, Weist P, Brieuc MSO, Maurstad MF, Schade FM, Dierking J, Petereit C, Knutsen H, Metcalfe J, Righton D, André C, Krumme U, Jentoft S, Hanel R. Evidence of hybridization between genetically distinct Baltic cod stocks during peak population abundance(s). Evol Appl 2023; 16:1359-1376. [PMID: 37492148 PMCID: PMC10363836 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Range expansions can lead to increased contact of divergent populations, thus increasing the potential of hybridization events. Whether viable hybrids are produced will most likely depend on the level of genomic divergence and associated genomic incompatibilities between the different entities as well as environmental conditions. By taking advantage of historical Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) otolith samples combined with genotyping and whole genome sequencing, we here investigate the genetic impact of the increased spawning stock biomass of the eastern Baltic cod stock in the mid 1980s. The eastern Baltic cod is genetically highly differentiated from the adjacent western Baltic cod and locally adapted to the brackish environmental conditions in the deeper Eastern basins of the Baltic Sea unsuitable for its marine counterparts. Our genotyping results show an increased proportion of eastern Baltic cod in western Baltic areas (Mecklenburg Bay and Arkona Basin)-indicative of a range expansion westwards-during the peak population abundance in the 1980s. Additionally, we detect high frequencies of potential hybrids (including F1, F2 and backcrosses), verified by whole genome sequencing data for a subset of individuals. Analysis of mitochondrial genomes further indicates directional gene flow from eastern Baltic cod males to western Baltic cod females. Our findings unravel that increased overlap in distribution can promote hybridization between highly divergent populations and that the hybrids can be viable and survive under specific and favourable environmental conditions. However, the observed hybridization had seemingly no long-lasting impact on the continuous separation and genetic differentiation between the unique Baltic cod stocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Helmerson
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary SynthesisDepartment of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Peggy Weist
- Thünen Institute of Fisheries EcologyBremerhavenGermany
| | - Marine Servane Ono Brieuc
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary SynthesisDepartment of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Institute of Marine ResearchBergenNorway
| | - Marius F. Maurstad
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary SynthesisDepartment of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | | | - Jan Dierking
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research KielGermany
| | | | - Halvor Knutsen
- Institute of Marine ResearchBergenNorway
- Centre for Coastal ResearchUniversity of AgderKristiansandNorway
| | - Julian Metcalfe
- Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture ScienceLowestoftUK
| | - David Righton
- Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture ScienceLowestoftUK
| | - Carl André
- Department of Marine Sciences – TjärnöUniversity of GothenburgStrömstadSweden
| | - Uwe Krumme
- Thünen Institute of Baltic Sea FisheriesRostockGermany
| | - Sissel Jentoft
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary SynthesisDepartment of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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Eero M, Brander K, Baranova T, Krumme U, Radtke K, Behrens JW. New insights into the recent collapse of Eastern Baltic cod from historical data on stock health. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286247. [PMID: 37228079 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) stock is currently in a very poor state, with low biomass and adverse trends in several life history and demographic parameters. This raises concern over whether and to what level recovery is possible. Here, we look for new insights from a historical perspective, extending the time series of various stock health indicators back to the 1940s, i.e. to the beginning of intensive exploitation of the Eastern Baltic cod. The historical data confirm that the stock deterioration in recent years is unprecedented, as all indicators are presently in their worst states on record. Cod body condition and energy reserves were equally low in the 1940s-1950s, accompanied by high parasitic liver worm infection, comparable to that measured in recent years. However, other stock parameters (size structure, size at maturity, stock distribution) are currently in their worst states over the past 80 years. In contrast, the state of cod in the 1970s to early 1990s that is often perceived as a desirable target, was exceptional, with the most favorable indicator levels in the time series. Long-term observation data reveal concurrent or asynchronous trends in different indicators of stock health and to what extent these have coincided with changes in possible external drivers. In this way, the extended time series contribute to ongoing research on understanding the collapse of the cod and its recovery potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Eero
- National Institute for Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Keith Brander
- National Institute for Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tatjana Baranova
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Riga, Latvia
| | - Uwe Krumme
- Thünen Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries, Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Jane W Behrens
- National Institute for Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Orio A, Heimbrand Y, Limburg K. Deoxygenation impacts on Baltic Sea cod: Dramatic declines in ecosystem services of an iconic keystone predator. AMBIO 2022; 51:626-637. [PMID: 34075555 PMCID: PMC8800964 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01572-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The intensified expansion of the Baltic Sea's hypoxic zone has been proposed as one reason for the current poor status of cod (Gadus morhua) in the Baltic Sea, with repercussions throughout the food web and on ecosystem services. We examined the links between increased hypoxic areas and the decline in maximum length of Baltic cod, a demographic proxy for services generation. We analysed the effect of different predictors on maximum length of Baltic cod during 1978-2014 using a generalized additive model. The extent of minimally suitable areas for cod (oxygen concentration ≥ 1 ml l-1) is the most important predictor of decreased cod maximum length. We also show, with simulations, the potential for Baltic cod to increase its maximum length if hypoxic areal extent is reduced to levels comparable to the beginning of the 1990s. We discuss our findings in relation to ecosystem services affected by the decrease of cod maximum length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Orio
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Turistgatan 5, 453 30 Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Yvette Heimbrand
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, 742 42 Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Karin Limburg
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Turistgatan 5, 453 30 Lysekil, Sweden
- College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY USA
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Engelhardt J, Frisell O, Gustavsson H, Hansson T, Sjöberg R, Collier TK, Balk L. Severe thiamine deficiency in eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227201. [PMID: 31895939 PMCID: PMC6939936 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) population has been decreasing in the Baltic Sea for at least 30 years. Condition indices of the Baltic cod have decreased, and previous studies have suggested that this might be due to overfishing, predation, lower dissolved oxygen or changes in salinity. However, numerous studies from the Baltic Sea have demonstrated an ongoing thiamine deficiency in several animal classes, both invertebrates and vertebrates. The thiamine status of the eastern Baltic cod was investigated to determine if thiamine deficiency might be a factor in ongoing population declines. Thiamine concentrations were determined by chemical analyses of thiamine, thiamine monophosphate and thiamine diphosphate (combined SumT) in the liver using high performance liquid chromatography. Biochemical analyses measured the activity of the thiamine diphosphate-dependent enzyme transketolase to determine the proportion of apoenzymes in both liver and brain tissue. These biochemical analyses showed that 77% of the cod were thiamine deficient in the liver, of which 13% had a severe thiamine deficiency (i.e. 25% transketolase enzymes lacked thiamine diphosphate). The brain tissue of 77% of the cod showed thiamine deficiency, of which 64% showed severe thiamine deficiency. The thiamine deficiency biomarkers were investigated to find correlations to different biological parameters, such as length, weight, otolith weight, age (annuli counting) and different organ weights. The results suggested that thiamine deficiency increased with age. The SumT concentration ranged between 2.4–24 nmol/g in the liver, where the specimens with heavier otoliths had lower values of SumT (P = 0.0031). Of the cod sampled, only 2% of the specimens had a Fulton’s condition factor indicating a healthy specimen, and 49% had a condition factor below 0.8, indicating poor health status. These results, showing a severe thiamine deficiency in eastern Baltic cod from the only known area where spawning presently occurs for this species, are of grave concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefin Engelhardt
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail: (JE); (LB)
| | - Oscar Frisell
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanna Gustavsson
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas Hansson
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rajlie Sjöberg
- Institute of Marine Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Tracy K. Collier
- Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America
| | - Lennart Balk
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail: (JE); (LB)
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Bergström L, Karlsson M, Bergström U, Pihl L, Kraufvelin P. Relative impacts of fishing and eutrophication on coastal fish assessed by comparing a no-take area with an environmental gradient. AMBIO 2019; 48:565-579. [PMID: 30523568 PMCID: PMC6486898 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-018-1133-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the relative impacts of pressures on coastal ecosystems is central for implementing relevant measures to reach environmental management objectives. Here, survey data on the species and size composition of coastal fish are evaluated in relation to fishing and eutrophication, by comparing a long-standing no-take area to an environmental gradient in the Baltic Sea. The no-take area represents an intermediate eutrophication level, but the species composition resembles that seen at low eutrophication in areas with fishing. The catch biomass of piscivores is 2-3 times higher in the no-take area than in the other areas, while the biomass of Cyprinids, generally benefitted by eutrophication, corresponds to that of areas with low eutrophication. The results support that fishing may generate eutrophication-like effects, and, conversely, that no-take areas may contribute to improving environmental status in impacted areas by enhancing piscivores, which in turn may contribute to further improvement in the food web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Bergström
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, 742 42 Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Martin Karlsson
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, 742 42 Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Ulf Bergström
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, 742 42 Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Leif Pihl
- University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg 566, 451 78 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
| | - Patrik Kraufvelin
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skolgatan 6, 742 42 Öregrund, Sweden
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Svedäng H, Hornborg S. Historic changes in length distributions of three Baltic cod ( Gadus morhua) stocks: Evidence of growth retardation. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:6089-6102. [PMID: 28861215 PMCID: PMC5574768 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how combinations of fishing effort and selectivity affect productivity is central to fisheries research. We investigate the roles of fishing regulation in comparison with ecosystem status for Baltic Sea cod stock productivity, growth performance, and population stability. This case study is interesting because three cod populations with different exploitation patterns and stock status are located in three adjacent but partially, ecologically different areas. In assessing stock status, growth, and productivity, we use survey information and rather basic stock parameters without relying on age readings. Because there is an urgent interest of better understanding of the current development of the Eastern Baltic cod stock, we argue that our approach represents partly a novel way of interpreting monitoring information together with catch data in a simplified yet more informative way. Our study reports how the Eastern and Western Baltic cod have gone toward more truncated size structures between 1991 and 2016, in particular for the Eastern Baltic cod, whereas the Öresund cod show no trend. We suggest that selective fishing may disrupt fish population dynamic stability and that lower natural productivity might amplify the effects of selective fishing. In support of earlier findings on a density‐dependent growth of Eastern Baltic cod, management is advised to acknowledge that sustainable exploitation levels for Eastern Baltic cod are much more limited than perceived in regular assessments. Of more general importance, our results emphasize the need to embrace a more realistic view on what ecosystems can produce regarding tractable fish biomass to facilitate a more ecosystem‐based fisheries management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Svedäng
- Department of Aquatic Resources Institute of Marine Research Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Lysekil Sweden.,Present address: Swedish Institute for the Marine Environment (SIME) Gothenburg Swedenand.,Present address: Baltic Sea Centre Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | - Sara Hornborg
- RISE - Research Institutes of Sweden, Agrifood and Bioscience, Sustainable Food Production Gothenburg Sweden
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