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Huber ED, Hintz LL, Wilmoth B, McKenna JR, Hintz WD. Coping with stress: Salt type, concentration, and exposure history limit life history tradeoffs in response to road salt salinization. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 949:174998. [PMID: 39053528 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174998] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Substantial increases in the salinity of freshwater ecosystems has occurred around the globe from causes such as climate change, industrial operations, and the application of road deicing salts. We know very little about how plastic responses in life history traits or rapid evolution of new traits among freshwater organisms could promote stability in ecological communities affected by salinization. We performed a cohort life history analysis from birth to death with 180 individuals of a ubiquitous freshwater zooplankter to understand how life history traits are affected by exposure to two common salt types causing salinization-sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl2)-across two environmentally relevant concentrations. We also tested if a multi-generational exposure history to high salinity altered life-history responses. We tracked and measured lifespan, time to maturation, brood size, brood interval, and body size. We found smaller brood sizes but slightly longer lifespans occurred at a low concentration of NaCl (230 mg Cl-/L). The longer lifespans led to more, albeit smaller broods, which generated a similar lifetime reproductive output compared to the no-salt control populations. At higher concentrations of NaCl and CaCl2, we found lifetime reproductive output was reduced by 23 % to 83 % relative to control populations because no tradeoff among life history traits occurred. In CaCl2, we observed shorter life spans, longer time intervals between smaller broods, and smaller body sizes leading to reduced lifetime reproductive output. We also found that a multi-generational exposure to the salt types did not convey any advantages for lifetime reproductive output. In some cases, the exposure history worsened the life history trait responses suggesting maladaptation. Our findings suggest that life history tradeoffs for freshwater species can occur in response to salinization, but these tradeoffs will largely depend on salt type and concentration, which will have implications for biodiversity and ecological stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Huber
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, OH, USA
| | - Leslie L Hintz
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, OH, USA
| | - Bayley Wilmoth
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, OH, USA
| | - Jorden R McKenna
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, OH, USA
| | - William D Hintz
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, OH, USA.
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Miess S, Dzialowski AR. Salt Belt Index (SBI): A biotic index for streams within the North American "salt belt," with proposed baseline chloride thresholds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 941:173726. [PMID: 38839006 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Road salt (commonly NaCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2) is widely used in the northern United States as a deicing agent for roadways and other byways. Millions of tons of road salt are used annually in the United States, resulting in drastic increases in freshwater salinity. This study aims to determine the chloride optima and tolerance ranges of macroinvertebrates using publicly accessible stream monitoring data from the US EPA. We assigned taxa region-specific tolerance values, which we then used to calculate the Salt Belt Index (SBI). In addition to the SBI, we determined new, region-specific, chronic Cl- thresholds, determined using threshold indicator taxa analysis (TITAN). Using generalized linear models, we found the SBI was highly accurate at estimating chloride concentration (mg/L Cl-) across the salt belt states. Macroinvertebrate community richness exhibited a significant negative relationship with increasing chloride concentrations. Newly proposed chloride thresholds, based on the richness-chloride relationship, were far lower than current thresholds. The SBI was able to differentiate between Low-, Medium-, and High-Impact sites, grouped based on proposed chloride thresholds. Based on our findings, it is clear current salinity thresholds are too high, and management practices should factor in regional variability, taxon-specific physiology, and historical instream chemistry when implementing salinity thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Miess
- Oklahoma State University Department of Integrative Biology, 501 Life Science West, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74079, United States of America.
| | - Andrew R Dzialowski
- Oklahoma State University Department of Integrative Biology, 501 Life Science West, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74079, United States of America
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Cochran JK, Orr SE, Funk DH, Figurskey AC, Reiskind MH, Buchwalter DB. Variation in Freshwater Insect Osmoregulatory Traits: A Comparative Approach. ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 97:164-179. [PMID: 38875141 DOI: 10.1086/730689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
AbstractFreshwater salinity regimes vary naturally and are changing in response to anthropogenic activities. Few insect species tolerate saline waters, and biodiversity losses are associated with increasing salinity in freshwater. We used radiotracers (22Na, 35SO4, and 45Ca) to examine ion uptake rates across concentration gradients in mayflies (Ephemeroptera), caddis flies (Trichoptera), and mosquitoes (Diptera) and made observations for some traits in seven other taxa representing mayflies, stone flies (Plecoptera), true flies (Diptera), and true bugs (Hemiptera). We further assessed the permeability of the cuticle to 3H2O influx and 22Na efflux when faced with deionized water in these same taxa. We hypothesized a relationship between uptake rates and reported saline tolerances, but our data did not support this hypothesis, likely because acclimatory responses were not part of this experimental approach. However, we found several common physiological traits across the taxa studied, including (i) ionic uptake rates that were always positively correlated with dissolved concentrations, (ii) generally low Ca uptake rates relative to other freshwater taxa, (iii) greater Na loss than Na uptake in dilute conditions, (iv) ion uptake that was more variable in ion-rich conditions than in dilute conditions, and (v) 3H2O influx that occurs quickly (but this rapidly exchangeable pool of body water accounts for a surprisingly small percentage of the water content of species tested). There remains much to learn about the physiology of these important organisms in the face of changing salinity regimes worldwide.
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Moyano Salcedo AJ, Prat N, Bertrans-Tubau L, Piñero-Fernandez M, Cunillera-Montcusí D, López-Doval JC, Abril M, Proia L, Cañedo-Argüelles M. What happens when salinization meets eutrophication? A test using stream microcosms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168824. [PMID: 38030007 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168824] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient and salt pollution often co-occur in rivers and streams due to human activities (e.g., agriculture, urbanization). Thus, understanding the interactive effects of nutrients and salinity on freshwater ecosystems is critical for environmental management. We experimentally assessed the interactive effects of nutrient and salt pollution on stream microcosms using biofilm and macroinvertebrates as model systems. Six treatments were performed in triplicate: control (C: N-NH4+ = 0.05; P- PO43- = 0.037; Cl- = 33.5 mg L-1), intermediate nutrient (IN: N-NH4+ = 0.4; P- PO43- = 0.271; Cl- = 33. 5 mg L-1), high nutrient (HN: N-NH4+ = 0.84; P- PO43- = 0.80; Cl- = 33.5 mg L-1), salt (S: N-NH4+ = 0.05; P- PO43- = 0.037; Cl- = 3000 mg L-1), salt with intermediate nutrient (SIN: N-NH4+ = 0.4; P- PO43- = 0.27; Cl- = 3000 mg L-1) and salt with high nutrient (SHN: N-NH4+ = 0.84; P- PO43- = 0.80; Cl- = 3000 mg L-1). After 14 days of exposure, biofilm chlorophyll-a increased across all treatments, with cyanobacteria replacing diatoms and green algae. Treatments with no added nutrients (C and S) had more P uptake capacity than the rest. The indicator species analysis showed 8 significant taxa, with Orthocladius (Orthocladius) gr. Wetterensis and Virganytarsus significantly associated with the salinity treatment. Overall, salt pollution led to a very strong decline in macroinvertebrate richness and diversity. However, salt toxicity seemed to be ameliorated by nutrient addition. Finally, both structural equation models and biotic-abiotic interaction networks showed that complex biological interactions could be modulating the response of the biological communities to our treatments. Thus, our study calls for species-level assessments of salt and nutrient effects on river ecosystems and advocates for better management of co-occurring pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Javier Moyano Salcedo
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Geohazards and Civil Engineering Research Group, Department of Civil Engineering, Saint Thomas Villavicencio University, C/22 No 1a, 500003 Villavicencio, Colombia; Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Carrer de Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Narcís Prat
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lluís Bertrans-Tubau
- BETA Technological Center, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martí Piñero-Fernandez
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Cunillera-Montcusí
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; WasserCluster Lunz - Biologische Station GmbH, Lunz am See, Austria
| | - Julio C López-Doval
- BETA Technological Center, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Abril
- BETA Technological Center, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Proia
- BETA Technological Center, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Carrer de Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
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Dornelas ASP, Pestana JLT, de Souza Saraiva A, Barbosa RS, Cavallini GS, Gravato C, da Maia Soares AMV, Sarmento RA. The combined effects of microbial insecticides and sodium chloride on the development and emergence of Chironomus xanthus. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:2255-2263. [PMID: 36775861 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7407] [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: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Freshwater organisms are facing increasing salinity levels, not only due to natural environmental processes, but also human activities, which can cause several physiological adaptations to osmotic stress. Additionally, these organisms might also have to deal with contamination by microbial insecticides. Our main goal was to use Chironomus xanthus to assess the chronic effects of increasing the salinity and commercial formulations of the microbial insecticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis subs. kurstaki (Btk) and Beauveria bassiana (Bb) as active ingredients, respectively. RESULTS A significant interaction of growth was observed between the biopesticide based on Bb and NaCl on the larvae of C. xanthus. Single exposure to NaCl and each one of the formulations demonstrated deleterious impacts not only on larval development, but also on the emergence success and emergence time of this nontarget insect, with potential consequences for freshwater ecosystems due to cascading effects. CONCLUSION The chronic effects induced by both bioinsecticides show that these formulations can have environmental impacts on nontarget freshwater insects. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - João L T Pestana
- Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | - Rone Silva Barbosa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, 77402-970, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil
| | - Grasiele Soares Cavallini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, 77402-970, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil
| | - Carlos Gravato
- Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Renato Almeida Sarmento
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, 77402-970, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil
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Huber ED, Wilmoth B, Hintz LL, Horvath AD, McKenna JR, Hintz WD. Freshwater salinization reduces vertical movement rate and abundance of Daphnia: Interactions with predatory stress. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 330:121767. [PMID: 37146869 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Contaminants in human-dominated landscapes are changing ecological interactions. The global increase in freshwater salinity is likely to change predator-prey interactions due to the potential interactive effects between predatory stress and salt stress. We conducted two experiments to assess the interactions between the non-consumptive effects of predation and elevated salinity on the abundance and vertical movement rate of a common lake zooplankton species (Daphnia mendotae). Our results revealed an antagonism rather than a synergism between predatory stress and salinity on zooplankton abundance. Elevated salinity and predator cues triggered a >50% reduction in abundance at salt concentrations of 230 and 860 mg Cl-/L, two thresholds designed to protect freshwater organisms from chronic and acute effects due to salt pollution. We found a masking effect between salinity and predation on vertical movement rate of zooplankton. Elevated salinity reduced zooplankton vertical movement rate by 22-47%. A longer exposure history only magnified the reduction in vertical movement rate when compared to naïve individuals (no prior salinity exposure). Downward movement rate under the influence of predatory stress in elevated salinity was similar to the control, which may enhance the energetic costs of predator avoidance in salinized ecosystems. Our results suggest antagonistic and masking effects between elevated salinity and predatory stress will have consequences for fish-zooplankton interactions in salinized lakes. Elevated salinity could impose additional energetic constraints on zooplankton predator avoidance behaviors and vertical migration, which may reduce zooplankton population size and community interactions supporting the functioning of lake ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Huber
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, Ohio, USA
| | - Bayley Wilmoth
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, Ohio, USA
| | - Leslie L Hintz
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, Ohio, USA
| | - Alexander D Horvath
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, Ohio, USA
| | - Jorden R McKenna
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, Ohio, USA
| | - William D Hintz
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, The University of Toledo, 6200 Bay Shore Rd., Oregon, Ohio, USA.
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Kaushal SS, Mayer PM, Likens GE, Reimer JE, Maas CM, Rippy MA, Grant SB, Hart I, Utz RM, Shatkay RR, Wessel BM, Maietta CE, Pace ML, Duan S, Boger WL, Yaculak AM, Galella JG, Wood KL, Morel CJ, Nguyen W, Querubin SEC, Sukert RA, Lowien A, Houde AW, Roussel A, Houston AJ, Cacopardo A, Ho C, Talbot-Wendlandt H, Widmer JM, Slagle J, Bader JA, Chong JH, Wollney J, Kim J, Shepherd L, Wilfong MT, Houlihan M, Sedghi N, Butcher R, Chaudhary S, Becker WD. Five state factors control progressive stages of freshwater salinization syndrome. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS 2023; 8:190-211. [PMID: 37539375 PMCID: PMC10395323 DOI: 10.1002/lol2.10248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Factors driving freshwater salinization syndrome (FSS) influence the severity of impacts and chances for recovery. We hypothesize that spread of FSS across ecosystems is a function of interactions among five state factors: human activities, geology, flowpaths, climate, and time. (1) Human activities drive pulsed or chronic inputs of salt ions and mobilization of chemical contaminants. (2) Geology drives rates of erosion, weathering, ion exchange, and acidification-alkalinization. (3) Flowpaths drive salinization and contaminant mobilization along hydrologic cycles. (4) Climate drives rising water temperatures, salt stress, and evaporative concentration of ions and saltwater intrusion. (5) Time influences consequences, thresholds, and potentials for ecosystem recovery. We hypothesize that state factors advance FSS in distinct stages, which eventually contribute to failures in systems-level functions (supporting drinking water, crops, biodiversity, infrastructure, etc.). We present future research directions for protecting freshwaters at risk based on five state factors and stages from diagnosis to prognosis to cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujay S. Kaushal
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Paul M. Mayer
- Pacific Ecological Systems Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Gene E. Likens
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Jenna E. Reimer
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Carly M. Maas
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Megan A. Rippy
- Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory, The Charles E. Via Jr Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Manassas, Virginia
- Center for Coastal Studies, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Stanley B. Grant
- Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory, The Charles E. Via Jr Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Manassas, Virginia
- Center for Coastal Studies, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Ian Hart
- Chatham University, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Ruth R. Shatkay
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Barret M. Wessel
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Christine E. Maietta
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Michael L. Pace
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Shuiwang Duan
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Walter L. Boger
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Alexis M. Yaculak
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Joseph G. Galella
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Kelsey L. Wood
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Carol J. Morel
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - William Nguyen
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Shane Elizabeth C. Querubin
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Rebecca A. Sukert
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Anna Lowien
- Environmental Science & Policy Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Alyssa Wellman Houde
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Anaïs Roussel
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Andrew J. Houston
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Ari Cacopardo
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Cristy Ho
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | | | - Jacob M. Widmer
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Jairus Slagle
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - James A. Bader
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Jeng Hann Chong
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Jenna Wollney
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Jordan Kim
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Lauren Shepherd
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Matthew T. Wilfong
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Megan Houlihan
- Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Nathan Sedghi
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Rebecca Butcher
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Sona Chaudhary
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - William D. Becker
- Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
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Fulton SG, Stegen JC, Kaufman MH, Dowd J, Thompson A. Laboratory evaluation of open source and commercial electrical conductivity sensor precision and accuracy: How do they compare? PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285092. [PMID: 37141332 PMCID: PMC10159144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Variation in the electrical conductivity (EC) of water can reveal environmental disturbance and natural dynamics, including factors such as anthropogenic salinization. Broader application of open source (OS) EC sensors could provide an inexpensive method to measure water quality. While studies show that other water quality parameters can be robustly measured with sensors, a similar effort is needed to evaluate the performance of OS EC sensors. To address this need, we evaluated the accuracy (mean error, %) and precision (sample standard deviation) of OS EC sensors in the laboratory via comparison to EC calibration standards using three different OS and OS/commercial-hybrid (OS/C) EC sensors and data logger configurations and two commercial (C) EC sensors and data logger configurations. We also evaluated the effect of cable length (7.5 m and 30 m) and sensor calibration on OS sensor accuracy and precision. We found a significant difference between OS sensor mean accuracy (3.08%) and all other sensors combined (9.23%). Our study also found that EC sensor precision decreased across all sensor configurations with increasing calibration standard EC. There was also a significant difference between OS sensor mean precision (2.85 μS/cm) and the mean precision of all other sensors combined (9.12 μS/cm). Cable length did not affect OS sensor precision. Furthermore, our results suggest that future research should include evaluating how performance is impacted by combining OS sensors with commercial data loggers as this study found significantly decreased performance in OS/commercial-hybrid sensor configurations. To increase confidence in the reliability of OS sensor data, more studies such as ours are needed to further quantify OS sensor performance in terms of accuracy and precision across different settings and OS sensor and data collection platform configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie G Fulton
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - James C Stegen
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States of America
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Matthew H Kaufman
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States of America
| | - John Dowd
- Geology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Aaron Thompson
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
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9
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Structural diagnosis of benthic invertebrate communities in relation to salinity gradient in Baltic coastal lake ecosystems using biological trait analysis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12750. [PMID: 35882939 PMCID: PMC9325777 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17002-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This study is based on biological trait analysis (BTA), which provides a link between the distribution and biological characteristics of species. The paper investigates differences in the structure and functional diversity of benthic fauna in terms of seven biological traits (mobility, habitat, feeding type, habitat modification, body form, body size and feeding apparatus) in nine Baltic coastal lakes whose salinity ranged from 0.1 to 7.3 PSU. Mobile organisms were more common in lakes with higher salinity, while sessile and semi-mobile species preferred low-salinity or freshwater environments. There were also noticeable differences connected with feeding type: collectors and scrapers were more common in brackish lakes, and collectors were significantly dominant in freshwater and transitional ones. This indicates that Baltic coastal lakes are inhabited by similar species of benthic fauna, but that certain biological traits occur with different frequencies. We therefore identified features that may affect the functioning of coastal lakes with a relatively narrow salinity gradient (0.1–7.3 PSU). It seems to confirm the possibility of using BTA methods to determine key characteristics that are helpful for understanding the differences between aquatic ecosystems. The results may provide a basis for further research on changes in the functional diversity of lakes along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, particularly in view of climate change, given their being small, shallow and less resilient lakes.
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10
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Po BHK, Wood CM. Transepithelial potential remains indicative of major ion toxicity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after 4-day pre-exposure to major salts. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 246:106132. [PMID: 35286992 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106132] [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: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The Multi-Ion Toxicity (MIT) Model uses electrochemical theory to predict the transepithelial potential (TEP) across the gills as an index of major ion toxicity in freshwater animals. The goal is to determine environmental criteria that will be protective of aquatic organisms exposed to salt pollution. In recent studies, TEP disturbances above baseline (ΔTEP) during short-term exposures to major ions have been proven as indicative of their toxicity to fish, in accord with the MIT model. However, the acute 1-h exposures used in these previous studies might not be realistic relative to the 24 h or 96 h test periods used for toxicity assessment. To address this temporal inconsistency, the current study investigated both the TEP responses to serial concentrations of 10 major salts (NaCl, Na2SO4, NaHCO3, KCl, K2SO4, KHCO3, CaCl2, CaSO4, MgCl2, MgSO4) and plasma ion levels in juvenile rainbow trout after they had been pre-exposed to 50% of the 96h-LC50 levels of these same salts for 4 days. The pre-exposures caused no mortalities. In general, plasma ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-) were well-regulated; however, pre-exposure to sulfate salts resulted in the greatest number of alterations in plasma ion levels. TEP responses remained largely similar to those of naïve trout (without salt pre-exposure). All salts caused hyperbolic concentration-dependent increases in TEP that were well-described by the Michaelis-Menten equation. In the pre-exposed trout, the variation of ∆TEP at the 96h-LC50 concentrations was only 2.2-fold, compared to nearly 28-fold variation among the molar concentrations of the various salts at the 96h-LC50s, identical to the conclusion for naïve trout. Overall, the results remove the temporal inconsistency of previous tests and remain supportive of the MIT model. In addition, the recorded alterations in certain plasma ions, baseline TEP, and Michaelis-Menten constants improve our knowledge on specific physiological responses after extended major ion exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverly H K Po
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4.
| | - Chris M Wood
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4; Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1.
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11
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Leite T, Branco P, Ferreira MT, Santos JM. Activity, boldness and schooling in freshwater fish are affected by river salinization. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:153046. [PMID: 35032527 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are experiencing increasing anthropogenic pressures and salinity has shown to affect freshwater fish behaviour, potentially disrupting ecological processes. In this study, the aim was to determine the sub-lethal effects of salinization on freshwater fish behaviour, using a widespread native cyprinid species, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) as the model species. Behavioural trials in a mesocosms setting were performed to assess the effects of three levels of a salinity gradient - control (no salt added to the water, 0.8 mS/cm), low (9 mS/cm), and high concentration (18 mS/cm) - on fish routine activity, shoal cohesion and boldness. Upon increasing the salinity levels in the flume-channels, fish showed a significant reduction on their i) swimming activity (76% of searching behaviour in the control vs. 57% in high salinity), and ii) shoal cohesion (0.95 shoal cohesion ratio in the control vs. 0.76 in high salinity), while iii) an increase of bolder individuals, measured by a higher number of attempts to escape the altered environment (106 total jumps in the control vs. 262 in high salinity), was simultaneously observed. Behavioural changes in fish can reflect shifts in ecological condition. Thus, the behavioural responses of fish caused by salinization stress should be further researched, in addition to the interaction with other environmental stressors, in order to understand the true scope of the consequences of salinization for fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Leite
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Paulo Branco
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Maria Teresa Ferreira
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - José Maria Santos
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
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12
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13
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Castillo AM, De León LF. Evolutionary mismatch along salinity gradients in a Neotropical water strider. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5121-5134. [PMID: 34025996 PMCID: PMC8131768 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of local adaptation is crucial for the in situ persistence of populations in changing environments. However, selection along broad environmental gradients could render local adaptation difficult, and might even result in maladaptation. We address this issue by quantifying fitness trade-offs (via common garden experiments) along a salinity gradient in two populations of the Neotropical water strider Telmatometra withei-a species found in both fresh (FW) and brackish (BW) water environments across Panama. We found evidence for local adaptation in the FW population in its home FW environment. However, the BW population showed only partial adaptation to the BW environment, with a high magnitude of maladaptation along naturally occurring salinity gradients. Indeed, its overall fitness was ~60% lower than that of the ancestral FW population in its home environment, highlighting the role of phenotypic plasticity, rather than local adaptation, in high salinity environments. This suggests that populations seemingly persisting in high salinity environments might in fact be maladapted, following drastic changes in salinity. Thus, variable selection imposed by salinization could result in evolutionary mismatch, where the fitness of a population is displaced from its optimal environment. Understanding the fitness consequences of persisting in fluctuating salinity environments is crucial to predict the persistence of populations facing increasing salinization. It will also help develop evolutionarily informed management strategies in the context of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anakena M. Castillo
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de DrogasInstituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT‐AIP)PanamáPanamá
- Department of BiotechnologyAcharya Nagarjuna UniversityGunturIndia
| | - Luis F. De León
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de DrogasInstituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT‐AIP)PanamáPanamá
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Massachusetts BostonBostonMAUSA
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14
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Bray JP, O'Reilly-Nugent A, Kon Kam King G, Kaserzon S, Nichols SJ, Nally RM, Thompson RM, Kefford BJ. Can SPEcies At Risk of pesticides (SPEAR) indices detect effects of target stressors among multiple interacting stressors? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 763:142997. [PMID: 33250249 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides are increasingly recognised as a threat to freshwater biodiversity, but their specific ecological effects remain difficult to distinguish from those of co-occurring stressors and environmental gradients. Using mesocosms we examined the effects of an organophosphate insecticide (malathion) on stream macroinvertebrate communities concurrently exposed to a suite of stressors typical of streams in agricultural catchments. We assessed the specificity of the SPEcies At Risk index designed to determine pesticide effects in mesocosm trials (SPEARmesocosm). This index determines the log abundance proportion of taxa that are considered physiologically sensitive to pesticides. Geographic variation in pesticide sensitivity within taxa, coupled with variation between pesticides and the effects of co-occurring stressors may decrease the accuracy of SPEARmesocosm. To examine this, we used local pesticide sensitivity assessments based on rapid toxicity tests to develop two new SPEAR versions to compare to the original SPEARmesocosms index using mesocosm results. We further compared these results to multivariate analyses and community indices (e.g. richness, abundance, Simpson's diversity) commonly used to assess stressor effects on biota. To assess the implications of misclassifying species sensitivity on SPEAR indices we used a series of simulations using artificial data. The impacts of malathion were detectable using SPEARmesocosm, and one of two new SPEAR indices. All three of the SPEAR indices also increased when exposed to other agricultural non-pesticide stressors, and this change increased with greater pesticide concentrations. Our results support that interactions between other non-pesticide stressors with pesticides can affect SPEAR performance. Multivariate analysis and the other indices used here identified a significant effect of malathion especially at high concentrations, with little or no evidence of effects from the other agricultural stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P Bray
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Andrew O'Reilly-Nugent
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - Sarit Kaserzon
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Susan J Nichols
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ralph Mac Nally
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia; School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ross M Thompson
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ben J Kefford
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
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15
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Dornelas ASP, Sarmento RA, Saraiva AS, Barbosa RS, Vieira MM, Gravato C, Soares AMVM. Effects of two biopesticides and salt on behaviour, regeneration and sexual reproduction of the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 404:124089. [PMID: 33049628 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microbial insecticides are being used as ecologically-friendly alternatives to traditional insecticides. However, their effects have been poorly investigated on non-target freshwater species, with exception of a few insect species. Moreover, combined effects of microbial insecticides with other environmental stressors, such as salinity, have never been investigated. Thus, our goal was to assess the effects of Bac-Control® (based in Bacillus thuringiensis - Btk) and Boveril® (based in Beauveria bassiana - Bb) with increasing salinities (NaCl) on freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina. It has been reported that increased salinity levels affect freshwater organisms compromising their survival by triggering adaptation processes to cope with osmotic stress. Our results showed delayed regeneration, decreased locomotion and feeding on planarians exposed to NaCl, whereas their sexual reproduction was not affected. Both microbial insecticides impaired feeding, locomotor activity, regeneration, and sexual reproduction of planarians. Planarians exposed to microbial insecticides compromised their progeny. Therefore, microbial insecticides might not be ecologically friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides. Interestingly, harmful effects of microbial insecticides with increasing salinities showed an inadequate response of planarians to cope with induction of their immune response and osmoregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline S P Dornelas
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, 77402-970 Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil
| | - Renato A Sarmento
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, 77402-970 Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil
| | - Althiéris S Saraiva
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano - Campus Campos Belos (Laboratório de Conservação de Agroecossistemas e Ecotoxicologia), Campos Belos, 73840-000 Goiás, Brazil
| | - Rone S Barbosa
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, 77402-970 Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil
| | - Mayane M Vieira
- Curso de Química Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77410-530 Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil
| | - Carlos Gravato
- Faculdade de Ciências & CESAM, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, 77402-970 Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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16
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Niedrist GH, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Cauvy-Fraunié S. Salinization of Alpine rivers during winter months. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:7295-7306. [PMID: 33029775 PMCID: PMC7840655 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11077-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Human-induced (i.e., secondary) salinization affects aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning worldwide. While agriculture or resource extraction are the main drivers of secondary salinization in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, the application of deicing road salt in winter can be an important source of salts entering freshwaters in cold regions. Alpine rivers are probably affected by salinization, especially in highly populated mountain regions, although this remains to be explored. In this study, we analyzed multi-year conductance time series from four rivers in the European Alps and demonstrated that the application of deicing road salt is linked to peaking rivers' salinity levels during late winter/early spring. Especially in small catchments with more urban surfaces close to the rivers, conductance increased during constant low-flow periods in late winter and was less correlated with discharge than in summer. Thus, our results suggest that small rivers highly connected to urban infrastructures are prone to considerable salinity peaks during late winter/early spring. Given the low natural level of salinities in Alpine rivers, the aquatic biodiversity might be significantly affected by the recorded changes in conductance, with potential consequences on ecosystem functioning. Thereby, we urge the research community to assess the impact of secondary salinization in Alpine rivers and call for an implementation of management practices to prevent the degradation of these pristine and valuable ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg H Niedrist
- Department of Ecology, River and Conservation Research, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management group (FEHM), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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17
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Zhao Q, Zhang Y, Guo F, Leigh C, Jia X. Increasing anthropogenic salinisation leads to declines in community diversity, functional diversity and trophic links in mountain streams. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 263:127994. [PMID: 32828062 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic salinisation is becoming an increasing global issue for freshwater ecosystems, leading to serious biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. While the effect of anthropogenic salinisation on freshwater ecosystems has been intensively studied in recent years, most studies focus on salinisation effects on the individual or single groups of organisms without considering the effect on the ecosystem levels, such as diversity and trophic links. Therefore, we conducted a long-term field survey from May 2009 to August 2016 at 405 sites in northeast China to investigate the effect of a gradient of salinisation on community diversity, functional diversity and trophic links in mountain streams. Samples of water chemistry, periphyton, macroinvertebrates and fish were collected. Our results showed that as anthropogenic salinisation increased, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3- and SO42- exhibited significant increases (p < 0.05). These increased ions caused decreases in taxonomic evenness and biotic integrity, but an increase in the beta diversity for periphyton and macroinvertebrates, and a slight increase in the evenness of fish. The increased salinisation resulted in the extirpation of salt-sensitive taxa and declines in macroinvertebrate functional richness and functional redundancy, which consequently led to simplified trophic links. Our results implied that if salt-tolerant taxa in high salinisation sites were not functionally redundant with less tolerant taxa, alterations of their functional composition probably decrease the stability of ecosystem functions. Overall, our study suggests that the ongoing anthropogenic salinisation is posing serious threats to biodiversity and trophic links in river ecosystems, and should be considered in future river restoration and biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhao
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250358, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
| | - Fen Guo
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China.
| | - Catherine Leigh
- Biosciences and Food Technology Discipline, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xiaobo Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
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18
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Dornelas ASP, Sarmento RA, Cavallini GS, da Silva Barbosa R, Vieira MM, de Souza Saraiva A, Bordalo MD, Soares AMVM, Pestana JLT. Lethal and sublethal effects of the saline stressor sodium chloride on Chironomus xanthus and Girardia tigrina. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:34223-34233. [PMID: 32557035 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09556-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Salinization in freshwaters is gradually increasing as a result of human activities and climatic changes. Higher salt content causes stress for freshwater organisms. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is among the most frequently occurring salts in freshwater ecosystems. The objective of the present study was to investigate the lethal and sublethal effects of NaCl on freshwater ecosystems, using as test organism the dipteran Chironomus xanthus and the planarian Girardia tigrina. Acute tests showed that C. xanthus was more sensitive (48-h LC50 (median lethal concentration) of 2.97 g NaCl L-1) than G. tigrina (48-h LC50 of 7.77 g NaCl L-1). C. xanthus larvae growth rate (larvae length and head capsule width) was significantly reduced under exposure to concentrations as low as 0.19 g L-1 NaCl and higher. A delay in the emergence time (EmT50) was also demonstrated for the same concentration. Sublethal NaCl effects in G. tigrina included feeding inhibition (LOEC (lowest observed effect concentration) of 0.4 g L-1), reduced locomotion (LOEC = 0.2 g L-1), and 24-48-h blastema regeneration (LOEC = 0.2 g L-1 and 0.1 g L-1, respectively). The results demonstrated the toxicity of NaCl to C. xanthus and G. tigrina including sublethal effects that can result in negative consequences for populations in natural freshwaters under salinization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Silvestre Pereira Dornelas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus de Gurupi, Gurupi, TO, 77402-970, Brazil
| | - Renato Almeida Sarmento
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus de Gurupi, Gurupi, TO, 77402-970, Brazil.
| | - Grasiele Soares Cavallini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Campus Gurupi, Gurupi, TO, 77402-970, Brazil
| | - Rone da Silva Barbosa
- Curso de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77410-530, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil
| | - Mayane Marques Vieira
- Curso de Química Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77410-530, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil
| | - Althiéris de Souza Saraiva
- Departamento de Agropecuaria (Conservacao de Agroecossistemas e Ecotoxicologia), Instituto Federal de Educacao, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano - Campus Campos Belos, Campos Belos, Goias, 73840-000, Brazil
| | - Maria D Bordalo
- CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus de Gurupi, Gurupi, TO, 77402-970, Brazil
- CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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Mameri D, Branco P, Ferreira MT, Santos JM. Heatwave effects on the swimming behaviour of a Mediterranean freshwater fish, the Iberian barbel Luciobarbus bocagei. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 730:139152. [PMID: 32402977 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Heatwaves, which can be defined as increases of at least 5 °C in air temperature for more than five consecutive days for a specified reference period, are expected to become more frequent under the ongoing climate change, with freshwater organisms being particularly vulnerable to high temperature fluctuations. In Mediterranean-climate areas, depending on the extent of summer droughts and loss of longitudinal connectivity, river segments may become isolated, maintaining fish populations confined to a series of disconnected pools, with no possibility to move to thermal refugia and thus becoming more prone to thermal stress. In this study, we evaluated the effect of a simulated heatwave on the swimming behaviour of juvenile stages of a potamodromous native cyprinid fish, the Iberian barbel Luciobarbus bocagei, under experimental mesocosm conditions. Behavioural traits included fish activity, boldness and shoal cohesion and were continuously measured at a constant flow velocity of 18 cm s-1, which is typical of riffle habitats. Overall, results show that the behaviour of juvenile Iberian barbel is likely to be affected by heatwaves, with fish displaying lower activity and boldness, while no clear difference was observed in shoal cohesion. This study highlights the importance of managing thermal refugia that are crucial for fish to persist in intermittent rivers. Future studies should focus on the interaction of heatwaves with other stressors, such as oxygen depletion, for a broader understanding of the perturbation affecting freshwater fishes under a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mameri
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Paulo Branco
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Teresa Ferreira
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José Maria Santos
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
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20
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Leite T, Santos JM, Ferreira MT, Canhoto C, Branco P. Does short-term salinization of freshwater alter the behaviour of the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei, Steindachner 1864)? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 651:648-655. [PMID: 30245421 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Stream salinization is a great environmental hazard being aggravated by anthropogenic disturbances. Harmful conditions, as increasing salinity in freshwater systems, may negatively affect river fish fauna and possibly influence fish behaviour, such as boldness and/or cerebral lateralization. Salinity has been proven to affect behavioural expression, despite the tolerance of some species. It is thus relevant to study these behaviours, as the salinity exposure effects could represent greater environmental consequences. The impact of salinity stress was evaluated by exposing Iberian barbels, Luciobarbus bocagei (Steindachner, 1864) (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), to three levels of salinity (0.9, 9 and 19 mS/cm, using NaCl) and by conducting boldness and lateralization experiments, regarding population trends. Results show that, with increased salinity, fish diverged to the extremes of the shy-bold gradient, the population was slightly lateralized to the left, and seemed to become more lateralized with increasing salinity. However, there were no statistical differences between the treatments. Fish living in a Mediterranean climate are especially resilient to various stressors, which may confer them additional tolerance, and in this case, acute punctual exposure to increased salinity may not be detrimental for behaviour maintenance. We encourage the expansion of the research to different freshwater fish species that would help to recognise salinity thresholds and use them to implement effective conservation measures and appropriate ecological restoration actions for these sensible systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Leite
- Centre of Functional Ecology (CFE), Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José Maria Santos
- Forest Research Centre (CEF) - School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Maria Teresa Ferreira
- Forest Research Centre (CEF) - School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Cristina Canhoto
- Centre of Functional Ecology (CFE), Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Paulo Branco
- Forest Research Centre (CEF) - School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
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21
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Cañedo-Argüelles M, Kefford B, Schäfer R. Salt in freshwaters: causes, effects and prospects - introduction to the theme issue. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 374:rstb.2018.0002. [PMID: 30509904 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans are globally increasing the salt concentration of freshwaters (i.e. freshwater salinization), leading to significant effects at the population, community and ecosystem level. The present theme issue focuses on priority research questions and delivers results that contribute to shaping the future research agenda on freshwater salinization as well as fostering our capacity to manage salinization. The issue is structured along five topics: (i) the estimation of future salinity and evaluation of the relative contribution of the different drivers; (ii) the physiological responses of organisms to alterations in ion concentrations with a specific focus on the osmophysiology of freshwater insects and the responses of different organisims to seawater intrusion; (iii) the impact of salinization on ecosystem functioning, also considering the connections between riparian and stream ecosystems; (iv) the role of context in moderating the response to salinization. The contributions scrutinise the role of additional stressors, biotic interactions, the identify of the ions and their ratios, as well as of the biogeographic and evolutionary context; and (v) the public discourse on salinization and recommendations for management and regulation. In this paper we introduce the general background of salinization, outline research gaps and report key findings from the contributions to this theme issue.This article is part of the theme issue 'Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- Grup de recerca FEHM (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciència Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ben Kefford
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Ralf Schäfer
- Department of Quantitative Landscape Ecology, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829 Landau, Germany
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22
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Kaushal SS, Likens GE, Pace ML, Haq S, Wood KL, Galella JG, Morel C, Doody TR, Wessel B, Kortelainen P, Räike A, Skinner V, Utz R, Jaworski N. Novel 'chemical cocktails' in inland waters are a consequence of the freshwater salinization syndrome. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 374:20180017. [PMID: 30509916 PMCID: PMC6283973 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Widespread changes in water temperatures, salinity, alkalinity and pH have been documented in inland waters in North America, which influence ion exchange, weathering rates, chemical solubility and contaminant toxicity. Increasing major ion concentrations from pollution, human-accelerated weathering and saltwater intrusion contribute to multiple ecological stressors such as changing ionic strength and pH and mobilization of chemical mixtures resulting in the freshwater salinization syndrome (FSS). Here, we explore novel combinations of elements, which are transported together as chemical mixtures containing salts, nutrients and metals as a consequence of FSS. First, we show that base cation concentrations have increased in regions primarily in North America and Europe over 100 years. Second, we show interactions between specific conductance, pH, nitrate and metals using data from greater than 20 streams located in different regions of the USA. Finally, salinization experiments and routine monitoring demonstrate mobilization of chemical mixtures of cations, metals and nutrients in 10 streams draining the Washington, DC-Baltimore, MD metropolitan regions. Freshwater salinization mobilizes diverse chemical mixtures influencing drinking water quality, infrastructure corrosion, freshwater CO2 concentrations and biodiversity. Most regulations currently target individual contaminants, but FSS requires managing mobilization of multiple chemical mixtures and interacting ecological stressors as consequences of freshwater salinization.This article is part of the theme issue 'Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujay S Kaushal
- Department of Geology, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Gene E Likens
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Michael L Pace
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shahan Haq
- Department of Geology, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Kelsey L Wood
- Department of Geology, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Joseph G Galella
- Department of Geology, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Carol Morel
- Department of Geology, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Thomas R Doody
- Department of Geology, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Barret Wessel
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - Antti Räike
- Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Ryan Utz
- Chattham University, Gibsonia, PA, USA
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23
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Bray JP, Reich J, Nichols SJ, Kon Kam King G, Mac Nally R, Thompson R, O'Reilly-Nugent A, Kefford BJ. Biological interactions mediate context and species-specific sensitivities to salinity. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 374:rstb.2018.0020. [PMID: 30509919 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxicants have both sub-lethal and lethal effects on aquatic biota, influencing organism fitness and community composition. However, toxicant effects within ecosystems may be altered by interactions with abiotic and biotic ecosystem components, including biological interactions. Collectively, this generates the potential for toxicant sensitivity to be highly context dependent, with significantly different outcomes in ecosystems than laboratory toxicity tests predict. We experimentally manipulated stream macroinvertebrate communities in 32 mesocosms to examine how communities from a low-salinity site were influenced by interactions with those from a high-salinity site along a gradient of salinity. Relative to those from the low-salinity site, organisms from the high-salinity site were expected to have greater tolerance and fitness at higher salinities. This created the potential for both salinity and tolerant-sensitive organism interactions to influence communities. We found that community composition was influenced by both direct toxicity and tolerant-sensitive organism interactions. Taxon and context-dependent responses included: (i) direct toxicity effects, irrespective of biotic interactions; (ii) effects that were owing to the addition of tolerant taxa, irrespective of salinity; (iii) toxicity dependent on sensitive-tolerant taxa interactions; and (iv) toxic effects that were increased by interactions. Our results reinforce that ecological processes require consideration when examining toxicant effects within ecosystems.This article is part of the theme issue 'Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects'.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Bray
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - J Reich
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - S J Nichols
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - G Kon Kam King
- Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy.,Collegio Carlo Alberto, Moncalieri, Italy
| | - R Mac Nally
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - R Thompson
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - A O'Reilly-Nugent
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - B J Kefford
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
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24
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Entrekin SA, Clay NA, Mogilevski A, Howard-Parker B, Evans-White MA. Multiple riparian-stream connections are predicted to change in response to salinization. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 374:20180042. [PMID: 30509922 PMCID: PMC6283969 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Secondary freshwater salinization, a common anthropogenic alteration, has detrimental, lethal and sub-lethal effects on aquatic biota. Ions from secondary salinization can become toxic to terrestrial and aquatic organisms when exposed to salinized runoff that causes periodic high-concentration pulses. Gradual, low-level (less than 1000 ppm salinity) increases in salt concentrations are also commonly documented in regions with urbanization, agriculture, drilling and mining. Despite widespread low-level salt increases, little is known about the biological and ecological consequences in coupled riparian-stream systems. Recent research indicates lethal and even sub-lethal levels of ions can subsidize or stress microbial decomposer and macroinvertebrate detritivores that could lead to alterations of three riparian-stream pathways: (i) salinized runoff that changes microbial decomposer and macroinvertebrate detritivore and algae performance leading to changes in composition and processing of detrital pools; (ii) riparian plant salt uptake and altered litter chemistry, and litterfall for riparian and aquatic detritivores and their subsequent enrichment, stimulating decomposition rates and production of dissolved and fine organic matter; and (iii) salt consumption in salinized soils could increase riparian detritivore growth, decomposition and dissolved organic matter production. Subsidy-stress and reciprocal flows in coupled riparian-stream connections provide frameworks to identify the extent and magnitude of changes in detrital processing from salinization.This article is part of the theme issue 'Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally A Entrekin
- Department of Biology, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR 72035, USA
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Natalie A Clay
- School of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272, USA
| | | | - Brooke Howard-Parker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
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25
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Lind L, Schuler MS, Hintz WD, Stoler AB, Jones DK, Mattes BM, Relyea RA. Salty fertile lakes: how salinization and eutrophication alter the structure of freshwater communities. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lovisa Lind
- Department of Biological Sciences; Darrin Fresh Water Institute; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180 USA
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science; Umeå University; 90187 Umeå Sweden
| | - Matthew S. Schuler
- Department of Biological Sciences; Darrin Fresh Water Institute; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180 USA
| | - William D. Hintz
- Department of Biological Sciences; Darrin Fresh Water Institute; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180 USA
| | - Aaron B. Stoler
- Department of Biological Sciences; Darrin Fresh Water Institute; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180 USA
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Stockton University; Galloway New Jersey 08205 USA
| | - Devin K. Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences; Darrin Fresh Water Institute; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180 USA
- Department of Integrative Biology; University of South Florida; Tampa Florida 33620 USA
| | - Brian M. Mattes
- Department of Biological Sciences; Darrin Fresh Water Institute; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180 USA
| | - Rick A. Relyea
- Department of Biological Sciences; Darrin Fresh Water Institute; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180 USA
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26
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Bazzuri ME, Gabellone NA, Solari LC. The effects of hydraulic works and wetlands function in the Salado-River basin (Buenos Aires, Argentina). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2018; 190:99. [PMID: 29374369 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-6448-7] [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: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Man-made activities exert great influences on fluvial ecosystems, with lowland rivers being substantially modified through agricultural land use and populations. The recent construction of drainage canals in the upper stretch of the Salado-River basin caused the mobilization of huge amounts of salts formerly stored in the groundwater. The main aim of this work was to analyze the effect of the discharges of those canals into the Salado-River water, under different hydrologic conditions, and the role of the wetlands and shallow lakes placed along the canals' system. Physicochemical variables were measured and water samples were taken during times of high water, mean flows, drought, and extreme drought. The environmental variables and the plankton development were related to the hydrologic regime and reached minimum values during floods because of low temperatures and dilution. Local effects on the water's ionic composition became pronounced during droughts because of groundwater input. Nutrient concentrations were mainly associated with point wastewater discharges. Conductivity, ion concentrations, total plankton biomass, and species richness increased in the Salado-River downstream site, after the canals' discharges. The artificial-drainage system definitely promotes the incorporation of salts into the Salado-River basin. In this scenario, a careful hydraulic management is needed to take into account this issue of secondary salinization that threatens the economic exploitation of the region. The wetlands present in this study acted as service environments not only helping to reduce salt, nutrient, and suspended-solid concentrations downstream but also contributing a plethora of species and plankton biomass into the Salado-River main course.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Bazzuri
- Instituto de Limnología Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet, CONICET. FCNyM (UNLP), Boulevard 120 y 62, (1900), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - N A Gabellone
- Instituto de Limnología Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet, CONICET. FCNyM (UNLP), Boulevard 120 y 62, (1900), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - L C Solari
- Instituto de Limnología Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet, CONICET. FCNyM (UNLP), Boulevard 120 y 62, (1900), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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27
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Canhoto C, Simões S, Gonçalves AL, Guilhermino L, Bärlocher F. Stream salinization and fungal-mediated leaf decomposition: A microcosm study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 599-600:1638-1645. [PMID: 28535592 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Salinization is of major global concern due to its effect on stream biota, and ecosystem functions and services. In small streams, litter decomposition is a key ecosystem-level process driven by decomposers, mainly fungi (aquatic hyphomycetes), which link litter and invertebrates. Here we assessed the effects of an environmentally relevant range of salt additions (0, 2, 4, 8, 16gL-1 NaCl) on (1) fungal growth and species-specific reproductive output and (2) fungal mediated-decomposition of Quercus robur leaves. Growth rates of eight out of nine species of aquatic hyphomycetes were negatively affected by salinity at concentrations ≥4gL-1. EC50s were species-specific and ≥7.80gL-1. Distinct thresholds were observed for reproduction: only five species sporulated at 2gL-1, and a single one (Flagellospora curta) sporulated at 4 and 8gL-1 NaCl. Based on these results, we evaluated if tolerant fungal assemblages, with increasingly fewer species (9, 5, 1), were able to maintain similar functional functions and processes at the different salt levels. No significant differences were found in oak mass loss or sporulation rates at 0 or 2gL-1 NaCl; a clear inhibition of both parameters was observed at the highest concentrations (i.e., 4 and 8gL-1 NaCl). Different dominance patterns in multi-species fungal assemblages may determine bottom-up impacts on the stream food webs through effects on detritivore feeding preferences. Specific growth rate, characterized by RNA concentration, was higher in the single species, at the highest salt-concentration, and lower in the 9-species assemblage. Respiration was almost 2-times higher in mixed assemblages without added salt. Under salt-contamination, trade-offs between growth and sporulation seem to guarantee high levels of fungal growth and decomposition, particularly in multi-species assemblages. In the presence of salt contamination, aquatic hyphomycetes, even at reduced diversity, remain important drivers of leaf decomposition and ensure organic matter recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Canhoto
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Sara Simões
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Lúcia Gonçalves
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Lúcia Guilhermino
- ICBAS & CIIMAR, University of Porto, CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Research Group of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health, ICBAS - Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar, Department of Population Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Felix Bärlocher
- Department of Biology, Mt. Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L1G7, Canada
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28
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Cañedo-Argüelles M, Brucet S, Carrasco S, Flor-Arnau N, Ordeix M, Ponsá S, Coring E. Effects of potash mining on river ecosystems: An experimental study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 224:759-770. [PMID: 28057374 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In spite of being a widespread activity causing the salinization of rivers worldwide, the impact of potash mining on river ecosystems is poorly understood. Here we used a mesocosm approach to test the effects of a salt effluent coming from a potash mine on algal and aquatic invertebrate communities at different concentrations and release modes (i.e. press versus pulse releases). Algal biomass was higher in salt treatments than in control (i.e. river water), with an increase in salt-tolerant diatom species. Salt addition had an effect on invertebrate community composition that was mainly related with changes in the abundance of certain taxa. Short (i.e. 48 h long) salt pulses had no significant effect on the algal and invertebrate communities. The biotic indices showed a weak response to treatment, with only the treatment with the highest salt concentration causing a consistent (i.e. according to all indices) reduction in the ecological quality of the streams and only by the end of the study. Overall, the treatment's effects were time-dependent, being more clear by the end of the study. Our results suggest that potash mining has the potential to significantly alter biological communities of surrounding rivers and streams, and that specific biotic indices to detect salt pollution should be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- Aquatic Ecology Group, BETA Tecnio Centre, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Freshwater Ecology and Management (FEM), Departament d'Ecologia, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Sandra Brucet
- Aquatic Ecology Group, BETA Tecnio Centre, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Catalonia, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, ICREA, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Sergi Carrasco
- Aquatic Ecology Group, BETA Tecnio Centre, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Núria Flor-Arnau
- Grup de Recerca Freshwater Ecology and Management (FEM), Departament de Biologia Vegetal (Unitat de Botànica), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marc Ordeix
- CERM, Center for the Study of Mediterranean Rivers, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Passeig del Ter 2, 08560 Manlleu, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sergio Ponsá
- Aquatic Ecology Group, BETA Tecnio Centre, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Catalonia, Spain
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29
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Hintz WD, Mattes BM, Schuler MS, Jones DK, Stoler AB, Lind L, Relyea RA. Salinization triggers a trophic cascade in experimental freshwater communities with varying food-chain length. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:833-844. [PMID: 27992971 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The application of road deicing salts in northern regions worldwide is changing the chemical environment of freshwater ecosystems. Chloride levels in many lakes, streams, and wetlands exceed the chronic and acute thresholds established by the United States and Canada for the protection of freshwater biota. Few studies have identified the impacts of deicing salts in stream and wetland communities and none have examined impacts in lake communities. We tested how relevant concentrations of road salt (15, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 mg Cl- /L) interacted with experimental communities containing two or three trophic levels (i.e., no fish vs. predatory fish). We hypothesized that road salt and fish would have a negative synergistic effect on zooplankton, which would then induce a trophic cascade. We tested this hypothesis in outdoor mesocosms containing filamentous algae, periphyton, phytoplankton, zooplankton, several macroinvertebrate species, and fish. We found that the presence of fish and high salt had a negative synergistic effect on the zooplankton community, which in turn caused an increase in phytoplankton. Contributing to the magnitude of this trophic cascade was a direct positive effect of high salinity on phytoplankton abundance. Cascading effects were limited with respect to impacts on the benthic food web. Periphyton and snail grazers were unaffected by the salt-induced trophic cascade, but the biomass of filamentous algae decreased as a result of competition with phytoplankton for light or nutrients. We also found direct negative effects of high salinity on the biomass of filamentous algae and amphipods (Hyalella azteca) and the mortality of banded mystery snails (Viviparus georgianus) and fingernail clams (Sphaerium simile). Clam mortality was dependent on the presence of fish, suggesting a non-consumptive interactive effect with salt. Our results indicate that globally increasing concentrations of road salt can alter community structure via both direct and indirect effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Hintz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180, USA
| | - Brian M Mattes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180, USA
| | - Matthew S Schuler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180, USA
| | - Devin K Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180, USA
| | - Aaron B Stoler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180, USA
| | - Lovisa Lind
- Department of Biological Sciences, Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180, USA
| | - Rick A Relyea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180, USA
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30
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Hintz WD, Relyea RA. Impacts of road deicing salts on the early-life growth and development of a stream salmonid: Salt type matters. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 223:409-415. [PMID: 28131472 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The use of road deicing salts in regions that experience cold winters is increasing the salinity of freshwater ecosystems, which threatens freshwater resources. Yet, the impacts of environmentally relevant road salt concentrations on freshwater organisms are not well understood, particularly in stream ecosystems where salinization is most severe. We tested the impacts of deicing salts-sodium chloride (NaCl), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), and calcium chloride (CaCl2)-on the growth and development of newly hatched rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). We exposed rainbow trout to a wide range of environmentally relevant chloride concentrations (25, 230, 860, 1500, and 3000 mg Cl- L-1) over an ecologically relevant time period (25 d). We found that the deicing salts studied had distinct effects. MgCl2 did not affect rainbow trout growth at any concentration. NaCl had no effects at the lowest three concentrations, but rainbow trout length was reduced by 9% and mass by 27% at 3000 mg Cl- L-1. CaCl2 affected rainbow trout growth at 860 mg Cl- L-1 (5% reduced length; 16% reduced mass) and these effects became larger at higher concentrations (11% reduced length; 31% reduced mass). None of the deicing salts affected rainbow trout development. At sub-lethal and environmentally relevant concentrations, our results do not support the paradigm that MgCl2 is the most toxic deicing salt to fish, perhaps due to hydration effects on the Mg2+ cation. Our results do suggest different pathways for lethal and sub-lethal effects of road salts. Scaled to the population level, the reduced growth caused by NaCl and CaCl2 at critical early-life stages has the potential to negatively affect salmonid recruitment and population dynamics. Our findings have implications for environmental policy and management strategies that aim to reduce the impacts of salinization on freshwater organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Hintz
- Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110, Eighth Street, Troy, NY, USA.
| | - Rick A Relyea
- Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110, Eighth Street, Troy, NY, USA.
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31
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Hubbart JA, Kellner E, Hooper LW, Zeiger S. Quantifying loading, toxic concentrations, and systemic persistence of chloride in a contemporary mixed-land-use watershed using an experimental watershed approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 581-582:822-832. [PMID: 28087074 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A nested-scale experimental watershed study was implemented to quantify loading and persistence of chloride in an urbanizing, mixed-land-use watershed. A Midwest USA (Missouri) watershed was partitioned into five sub-basins with contrasting dominant land use. Streamwater was tested for chloride concentration four days per week from October 2009 through May 2014 at each site. Monitoring sites included co-located gauging and climate stations recording variables at 30-minute intervals. Results indicate significant (p<0.01) differences in chloride concentrations and loading between sites. Loading consistently increased from the forested headwaters (average=507kgday-1) to primarily urban watershed terminus (average=7501kgday-1). Chloride concentrations were highest (average=83.9mgL-1) with the greatest frequency of acutely toxic conditions (i.e. 860mgL-1) mid-watershed. This finding is in-part attributable to the ratio of chloride application to streamflow volume (i.e. increasing flow volume with stream distance resulted in chloride dilution, offsetting increased percent urban land use with stream distance). Results highlight the important, yet often confounding, interactions between pollutant loading and flow dynamics. Chloride peaks occurred during late winter/early spring melting periods, implicating road salt application as the primary contributor to the chloride regime. Floodplain groundwater analysis indicated seasonal sink/source relationships between the stream and floodplain, which could contribute to chronic toxicity and persistent low Cl- concentrations in streamwater year-round. Results hold important implications for resource managers wishing to mitigate water quality and aquatic habitat degradation, and suggest important water quality limitations to stream restoration success in complex urban aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Hubbart
- West Virginia University, Institute of Water Security and Science, Davis College, Schools of Agriculture and Food, and Natural Resources, 3109 Agricultural Sciences Building, Morgantown 26506, WV, USA
| | - E Kellner
- West Virginia University, Institute of Water Security and Science, Davis College, Schools of Agriculture and Food, and Natural Resources, 3109 Agricultural Sciences Building, Morgantown 26506, WV, USA; University of Missouri, School of Natural Resources, 203 ABNR Building, Columbia 65211, MO, USA.
| | - L W Hooper
- Boone County Resource Management, 801 E. Walnut Street, Room 315, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
| | - S Zeiger
- University of Missouri, School of Natural Resources, 203 ABNR Building, Columbia 65211, MO, USA
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32
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Kefford BJ, Buchwalter D, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Davis J, Duncan RP, Hoffmann A, Thompson R. Salinized rivers: degraded systems or new habitats for salt-tolerant faunas? Biol Lett 2016; 12:20151072. [PMID: 26932680 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.1072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic salinization of rivers is an emerging issue of global concern, with significant adverse effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Impacts of freshwater salinization on biota are strongly mediated by evolutionary history, as this is a major factor determining species physiological salinity tolerance. Freshwater insects dominate most flowing waters, and the common lotic insect orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies) are particularly salt-sensitive. Tolerances of existing taxa, rapid adaption, colonization by novel taxa (from naturally saline environments) and interactions between species will be key drivers of assemblages in saline lotic systems. Here we outline a conceptual framework predicting how communities may change in salinizing rivers. We envision that a relatively small number of taxa will be saline-tolerant and able to colonize salinized rivers (e.g. most naturally saline habitats are lentic; thus potential colonizers would need to adapt to lotic environments), leading to depauperate communities in these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Kefford
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - David Buchwalter
- Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Program, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- BETA Technology Centre, Aquatic Ecology Group, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Spain Freshwater Ecology and Management (F.E.M.) Research Group, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Jenny Davis
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Richard P Duncan
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Ary Hoffmann
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ross Thompson
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
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