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Hermann M, Polazzo F, Cherta L, Crettaz-Minaglia M, García-Astillero A, Peeters ETHM, Rico A, Van den Brink PJ. Combined stress of an insecticide and heatwaves or elevated temperature induce community and food web effects in a Mediterranean freshwater ecosystem. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 260:121903. [PMID: 38875860 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Ongoing global climate change will shift nature towards Anthropocene's unprecedented conditions by increasing average temperatures and the frequency and severity of extreme events, such as heatwaves. While such climatic changes pose an increased threat for freshwater ecosystems, other stressors like pesticides may interact with warming and lead to unpredictable effects. Studies that examine the underpinned mechanisms of multiple stressor effects are scarce and often lack environmental realism. Here, we conducted a multiple stressors experiment using outdoor freshwater mesocosms with natural assemblages of macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton, macrophytes, and microbes. The effects of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid (1 µg/L) were investigated in combination with three temperature scenarios representing ambient, elevated temperatures (+4 °C), and heatwaves (+0 to 8 °C), the latter two having similar energy input. We found similar imidacloprid dissipation patterns for all temperature treatments with lowest average dissipation half-lives under both warming scenarios (DT50: 3 days) and highest under ambient temperatures (DT50: 4 days) throughout the experiment. Amongst all communities, only the zooplankton community was significantly affected by the combined treatments. This community demonstrated low chemical sensitivity with lagged and significant negative imidacloprid effects only for cyclopoids. Heatwaves caused early and long-lasting significant effects on the zooplankton community as compared to elevated temperatures, with Polyarthra, Daphnia longispina, Lecanidae, and cyclopoids being the most negatively affected taxa, whereas Ceriodaphnia and nauplii showed positive responses to temperature. Community recovery from imidacloprid stress was slower under heatwaves, suggesting temperature-enhanced toxicity. Finally, microbial and macrofauna litter degradation were significantly enhanced by temperature, whereas the latter was also negatively affected by imidacloprid. A structural equation model depicted cascading food web effects of both stressors with stronger relationships and significant negative stressor effects at higher than at lower trophic levels. Our study highlights the threat of a series of heatwaves compared to elevated temperatures for imidacloprid-stressed freshwaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Hermann
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Francesco Polazzo
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Cherta
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Melina Crettaz-Minaglia
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ariadna García-Astillero
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Edwin T H M Peeters
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Andreu Rico
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paul J Van den Brink
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Lares BA, Vignatti AM, Echaniz SA, Cabrera GC, Jofré FC, Gutierrez MF. Sensitivity of Daphnia spinulata Birabén, 1917 to glyphosate at different salinity levels. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:35308-35319. [PMID: 38727975 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33586-2] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Daphnia spinulata Birabén, 1917 is an endemic cladoceran species, frequent in the zooplankton communities of the shallow lakes of the Pampean region of Argentina. These lakes have varying salinity levels and, being located in agricultural areas, are frequently subject to pesticide pollution. This study aimed to determine the effects of the herbicide glyphosate (Panzer Gold®) in combination with different salinity levels on the biological parameters of D. spinulata and its recovery ability after a short exposure. Three types of assays were performed: an acute toxicity test, a chronic assessment to determine survival, growth and reproduction, and recovery assays under optimal salinity conditions (1 g L-1). The LC50-48 h of glyphosate was 7.5 mg L-1 (CL 3.15 to 11.72). Longevity and the number of offspring and clutches were significantly reduced due to the combined exposure of glyphosate and increased salinity. The timing of the first offspring did not recover after glyphosate exposure. Our results reveal that D. spinulata is sensitive to the herbicide Panzer Gold® at concentrations well below those indicated in the safety data sheet of this commercial formulation, which causes stronger negative effects in conditions of higher salinity. Further research is needed to shed light on the sensitivity of this cladoceran to glyphosate and its variability under other interactive stress factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betsabé Ailén Lares
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina.
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina.
| | - Alicia María Vignatti
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
| | - Santiago Andrés Echaniz
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Cecilia Cabrera
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
| | - Florencia Cora Jofré
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
- Instituto de Ciencias de La Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa (CONICET-UNLPam), Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
| | - María Florencia Gutierrez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología, CONICET-UNL, Paraje El Pozo, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Escuela Superior de Sanidad "Dr. Ramón Carrillo" (FBCB-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Gutierrez MF, Andrade VS, Flores-Mendez DN, Frau D, Licursi M, Negro L. The relative importance of salinization in lowland stream zooplankton: Implications of the ecosystem nutrient status. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169240. [PMID: 38072253 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Salinization of aquatic systems is predicted to increase due to climate and land use changes. Nevertheless, community responses may be different according to the ecosystem characteristics and contextual scenarios. Small flowing waters are particularly vulnerable to salinization, which may impact on the biodiversity and ecosystem processes, but this remains unclear. We conducted a study in 42 lowland streams characterized by overall high nutrient levels along a salinity gradient between 2 and 160 g L-1 to analyze changes in zooplankton structural and functional metrics, and the grazing effects of zooplankton on phytoplankton affecting the energy transfer. Generalized additive models revealed that the analyzed metrics were relatively influenced by salinity, with factors related to trophic conditions playing an important role as well. Total abundance and biomass decreased along the salinity gradient while increasing at intermediate soluble reactive phosphorous concentrations (SRP) in the former and with a linear increase in the SRP in the latter case. Taxonomic richness decreased with salinity and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, with species replacement toward saline-tolerant ones according to the compositional and optimums analyses. In opposite, functional richness did not display any specific trend within the environmental gradients. This explains why zooplankton compositional changes were not reflected into shifts in the grazing pattern on phytoplankton, which was in turn driven by SRP and dissolved oxygen concentrations. Further research is a critical requirement in these poorly studied ecosystems for planning mitigation actions to the co-occurrence of eutrophication and salinization in a fast changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Florencia Gutierrez
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Escuela Superior de Sanidad "Dr. Ramón Carrillo" (UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Victoria Soledad Andrade
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Daniel Nino Flores-Mendez
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego Frau
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Magdalena Licursi
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Leandro Negro
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Escuela Superior de Sanidad "Dr. Ramón Carrillo" (UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
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Martínez-Megías C, Mentzel S, Fuentes-Edfuf Y, Moe SJ, Rico A. Influence of climate change and pesticide use practices on the ecological risks of pesticides in a protected Mediterranean wetland: A Bayesian network approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163018. [PMID: 36963680 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Pollution by agricultural pesticides is one of the most important pressures affecting Mediterranean coastal wetlands. Pesticide risks are expected to be influenced by climate change, which will result in an increase of temperatures and a decrease in annual precipitation. On the other hand, pesticide dosages are expected to change given the increase in pest resistance and the implementation of environmental policies like the European ´Farm-to-Fork` strategy, which aims for a 50 % reduction in pesticide usage by 2030. The influence of climate change and pesticide use practices on the ecological risks of pesticides needs to be evaluated making use of realistic environmental scenarios. This study investigates how different climate change and pesticide use practices affect the ecological risks of pesticides in the Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain), a protected Mediterranean coastal wetland. We performed a probabilistic risk assessment for nine pesticides applied in rice production using three climatic scenarios (for the years 2008, 2050 and 2100), three pesticide dosage regimes (the recommended dose, and 50 % increase and 50 % decrease), and their combinations. The scenarios were used to simulate pesticide exposure concentrations in the water column of the rice paddies using the RICEWQ model. Pesticide effects were characterized using acute and chronic Species Sensitivity Distributions built with toxicity data for aquatic organisms. Risk quotients were calculated as probability distributions making use of Bayesian networks. Our results show that future climate projections will influence exposure concentrations for some of the studied pesticides, yielding higher dissipation and lower exposure in scenarios dominated by an increase of temperatures, and higher exposure peaks in scenarios where heavy precipitation events occur right after pesticide application. Our case study shows that pesticides such as azoxystrobin, difenoconazole and MCPA are posing unacceptable ecological risks for aquatic organisms, and that the implementation of the ´Farm-to-Fork` strategy is crucial to reduce them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Martínez-Megías
- University of Alcalá, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona KM 33.600, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Av. Punto Com 2, Alcalá de Henares 28805, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sophie Mentzel
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
| | - Yasser Fuentes-Edfuf
- Department of Strategy, IE Business School, IE University, Paseo de la Castellana 259 E., 28046 Madrid, Spain
| | - S Jannicke Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
| | - Andreu Rico
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Av. Punto Com 2, Alcalá de Henares 28805, Madrid, Spain; Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, c/ Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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5
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Hermann M, Peeters ETHM, Van den Brink PJ. Heatwaves, elevated temperatures, and a pesticide cause interactive effects on multi-trophic levels of a freshwater ecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 327:121498. [PMID: 36965684 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Climate impacts of elevated temperatures and more severe and frequent weather extremes like heatwaves are globally becoming discernible on nature. While a mechanistic understanding is pivotal for ecosystem management, stressors like pesticides may interact with warming, leading to unpredictable effects on freshwater ecosystems. These multiple stressor studies are scarce and experimental designs often lack environmental realism. To investigate the multiple stressor effects, we conducted a microcosm experiment for 48 days comprising benthic macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton, macrophytes, and microbes. The fungicide carbendazim (100 μg/L) was investigated combined with temperature scenarios representing elevated temperatures (+4 °C) or heatwaves (+0 to +8 °C), both applied with similar energy input on a daily fluctuating ambient temperature (18 °C ± 1.5 °C), which served as control. Measurements showed the highest carbendazim dissipation in water under heatwaves followed by elevated and ambient temperatures. Average carbendazim concentrations were about 50% in water and 16% in sediment of the nominal concentration. In both heated cosms, zooplankton community dynamics revealed an unexpected shift from Rotifera to Cladocera and Copepoda nauplii, indicating variations in their thermal sensitivity, tolerance and resilience. Notably, warming and heatwaves shaped community responses similarly, suggesting heat intensity rather than distribution patterns determined the community structure. Heatwaves led to significant early and longer-lasting adverse effects that were exacerbated over time with Cladocera and Copepoda being most sensitive likely due to significant carbendazim interactions. Finally, a structural equation model demonstrated significant relationships between zooplankton and macrophytes and significantly negative carbendazim effects on zooplankton, whereas positive on macroinvertebrate abundances. The relationship between macroinvertebrate feeding and abundance was masked by significantly temperature-affected microbial leaf litter decomposition. Despite the thermal tolerance of zooplankton communities, our study highlights an increased pesticide threat under temperature extremes. More intense heatwaves are thus likely to cause significant alterations in community assemblages which will adversely affect ecosystem's processes and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Hermann
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700, AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Edwin T H M Peeters
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700, AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Paul J Van den Brink
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700, AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700, AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
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6
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López-Valcárcel ME, Del Arco A, Parra G. Sublethal exposure to agrochemicals impairs zooplankton ability to face future global change challenges. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162020. [PMID: 36773907 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Intensive agriculture is characterized by the application of multiple stressors that damage aquatic systems. Currently, ecotoxicological evaluations are considered insufficient to understand the environmental risks of stressor mixtures and their consequences in ecosystems. In addition, future global change scenarios could alter the predicted effects of agrochemicals in aquatic systems based on single exposures, making it necessary to consider the history of environmental disturbances that may result in vulnerability to subsequent environmental changes. The objectives of this study were to induce disturbance histories by exposure to sublethal glyphosate concentrations in microcosms and to assess whether this disturbance results in vulnerable populations using Daphnia magna as the target species. Populations were considered vulnerable if their sensitivity to new stressors (inanition, temperature and salinity) was higher than that of undisturbed populations. To induce disturbance history, microcosm aquatic communities (two cladocerans and one microalgae) were exposed to two glyphosate sublethal concentrations (below the No Observed Effect Concentration, NOEC values for D. magna, 0.1 and 1 mg L-1) in microcosms under controlled conditions in a culture chamber for 48 days. After this period, no significant differences were observed with respect to the control microcosms in the selected parameters (cladoceran abundance, microalgae cell abundance, microalgae colony formation, pH and dissolved oxygen). To test vulnerability, our target D. magna populations, which were previously exposed to different glyphosate treatments, were subjected to inanition, elevated temperature and salinity. Our results showed that D. magna populations with disturbance history performed worse in all the scenarios compared to the populations from undisturbed conditions. These results underscore the need to study how environmental disturbance history influences population responses to new and future stressors. Moreover, our findings raise concern regarding the sublethal effects of pesticides on aquatic populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Eugenia López-Valcárcel
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Campus de Las Lagunillas S/n, E-23071 Jaén, Spain.
| | - Ana Del Arco
- Limnological Institute, University of Konstanz, Mainaustraße 252, 78464 Konstanz, Egg, Germany.
| | - Gema Parra
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Campus de Las Lagunillas S/n, E-23071 Jaén, Spain.
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Martínez-Megías C, Rico A. Biodiversity impacts by multiple anthropogenic stressors in Mediterranean coastal wetlands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 818:151712. [PMID: 34800444 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mediterranean coastal wetlands are considered biodiversity hot-spots and contain a high number of endemic species. The biodiversity of these ecosystems is endangered by several pressures resulting from agricultural and urban expansion, climate change, and the alteration of their hydrological cycle. In this study we assess the state-of-the-art regarding the impact of several stressor groups on the biodiversity of Mediterranean coastal wetlands (i.e., lagoons, marshes, estuaries). Particularly, we describe the impacts of eutrophication, chemical pollution, invasive species, salinization, and temperature rise, and analyze the existing literature regarding the impact of multiple stressors on these ecosystems. Our study denotes a clear asymmetry both in terms of study areas and stressors evaluated. The majority of studies focus on lagoons and estuaries of the north-west parts of the Mediterranean basin, while the African and the Asian coast have been less represented. Eutrophication and chemical pollution were the most studied stressors compared to others like temperature rise or species invasions. Most studies evaluating these stressors individually show direct or indirect effects on the biodiversity of primary producers and invertebrate communities, and changes in species dominance patterns that contribute to a decline of endemic populations. The few available studies addressing stressor interactions have shown non-additive responses, which are important to define appropriate ecosystem management and restoration measures. Finally, we propose research needs to advance our understanding on the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on Mediterranean coastal wetlands and to guide future interventions to protect biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Martínez-Megías
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; University of Alcalá, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona KM 33.600, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andreu Rico
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, c/ Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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8
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A Literature Review of Wetland Treatment Systems Used to Treat Runoff Mixtures Containing Antibiotics and Pesticides from Urban and Agricultural Landscapes. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13243631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Wetland treatment systems are used extensively across the world to mitigate surface runoff. While wetland treatment for nitrogen mitigation has been comprehensively reviewed, the implications of common-use pesticides and antibiotics on nitrogen reduction remain relatively unreviewed. Therefore, this review seeks to comprehensively assess the removal of commonly used pesticides and antibiotics and their implications for nitrogen removal in wetland treatment systems receiving non-point source runoff from urban and agricultural landscapes. A total of 181 primary studies were identified spanning 37 countries. Most of the reviewed publications studied pesticides (n = 153) entering wetlands systems, while antibiotics (n = 29) had fewer publications. Even fewer publications reviewed the impact of influent mixtures on nitrogen removal processes in wetlands (n = 16). Removal efficiencies for antibiotics (35–100%), pesticides (−619–100%), and nitrate-nitrogen (−113–100%) varied widely across the studies, with pesticides and antibiotics impacting microbial communities, the presence and type of vegetation, timing, and hydrology in wetland ecosystems. However, implications for the nitrogen cycle were dependent on the specific emerging contaminant present. A significant knowledge gap remains in how wetland treatment systems are used to treat non-point source mixtures that contain nutrients, pesticides, and antibiotics, resulting in an unknown regarding nitrogen removal efficiency as runoff contaminant mixtures evolve.
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Sánchez-Bayo F. Indirect Effect of Pesticides on Insects and Other Arthropods. TOXICS 2021; 9:177. [PMID: 34437495 PMCID: PMC8402326 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9080177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Pesticides released to the environment can indirectly affect target and non-target species in ways that are often contrary to their intended use. Such indirect effects are mediated through direct impacts on other species or the physical environment and depend on ecological mechanisms and species interactions. Typical mechanisms are the release of herbivores from predation and release from competition among species with similar niches. Application of insecticides to agriculture often results in subsequent pest outbreaks due to the elimination of natural enemies. The loss of floristic diversity and food resources that result from herbicide applications can reduce populations of pollinators and natural enemies of crop pests. In aquatic ecosystems, insecticides and fungicides often induce algae blooms as the chemicals reduce grazing by zooplankton and benthic herbivores. Increases in periphyton biomass typically result in the replacement of arthropods with more tolerant species such as snails, worms and tadpoles. Fungicides and systemic insecticides also reduce nutrient recycling by impairing the ability of detritivorous arthropods. Residues of herbicides can reduce the biomass of macrophytes in ponds and wetlands, indirectly affecting the protection and breeding of predatory insects in that environment. The direct impacts of pesticides in the environment are therefore either amplified or compensated by their indirect effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Sánchez-Bayo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Eveleigh, NSW 2015, Australia
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Pepi M, Focardi S. Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Aquaculture and Climate Change: A Challenge for Health in the Mediterranean Area. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5723. [PMID: 34073520 PMCID: PMC8198758 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Aquaculture is the productive activity that will play a crucial role in the challenges of the millennium, such as the need for proteins that support humans and the respect for the environment. Aquaculture is an important economic activity in the Mediterranean basin. A great impact is presented, however, by aquaculture practices as they involve the use of antibiotics for treatment and prophylaxis. As a consequence of the use of antibiotics in aquaculture, antibiotic resistance is induced in the surrounding bacteria in the column water, sediment, and fish-associated bacterial strains. Through horizontal gene transfer, bacteria can diffuse antibiotic-resistance genes and mobile resistance genes further spreading genetic determinants. Once triggered, antibiotic resistance easily spreads among aquatic microbial communities and, from there, can reach human pathogenic bacteria, making vain the use of antibiotics for human health. Climate change claims a significant role in this context, as rising temperatures can affect cell physiology in bacteria in the same way as antibiotics, causing antibiotic resistance to begin with. The Mediterranean Sea represents a 'hot spot' in terms of climate change and aspects of antibiotic resistance in aquaculture in this area can be significantly amplified, thus increasing threats to human health. Practices must be adopted to counteract negative impacts on human health, with a reduction in the use of antibiotics as a pivotal point. In the meantime, it is necessary to act against climate change by reducing anthropogenic impacts, for example by reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The One Health type approach, which involves the intervention of different skills, such as veterinary, ecology, and medicine in compliance with the principles of sustainability, is necessary and strongly recommended to face these important challenges for human and animal health, and for environmental safety in the Mediterranean area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milva Pepi
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Fano Marine Centre, Viale Adriatico 1-N, 61032 Fano, Italy;
| | - Silvano Focardi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Università di Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
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