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Pawlowski J, Cermakova K, Cordier T, Frontalini F, Apothéloz-Perret-Gentil L, Merzi T. Assessing the potential of nematode metabarcoding for benthic monitoring of offshore oil platforms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:173092. [PMID: 38729369 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173092] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Environmental DNA metabarcoding is gaining momentum as a time and cost-effective tool for biomonitoring and environmental impact assessment. Yet, its use as a replacement for the conventional marine benthic monitoring based on morphological analysis of macrofauna is still challenging. Here we propose to study the meiofauna, which is much better represented in sediment DNA samples. We focus on nematodes, which are the most numerous and diverse group of meiofauna. Our aim is to assess the potential of nematode metabarcoding to monitor impacts associated with offshore oil platform activities. To achieve this goal, we used nematode-optimized marker (18S V1V2-Nema) and universal eukaryotic marker (18S V9) region to analyse 252 sediment DNA samples collected near three offshore oil platforms in the North Sea. For both markers, we analysed changes in alpha and beta diversity in relation to distance from the platforms and environmental variables. We also defined three impact classes based on selected environmental variables that are associated with oil extraction activities and used random forest classifiers to compare the predictive performance of both datasets. Our results show that alpha- and beta-diversity of nematodes varies with the increasing distance from the platforms. The variables directly related to platform activity, such as Ba and THC, strongly influence the nematode community. The nematode metabarcoding data provide more robust predictive models than eukaryotic data. Furthermore, the nematode community appears more stable in time and space, as illustrated by the overlap of nematode datasets obtained from the same platform three years apart. A significative negative correlation between distance and Shannon diversity also advocates for higher performance of the V1V2-Nema over the V9. Overall, these results suggest that the sensitivity of nematodes is higher compared to the eukaryotic community. Hence, nematode metabarcoding has the potential to become an effective tool for benthic monitoring in marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Pawlowski
- Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland; ID-Gene ecodiagnostics, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland.
| | - K Cermakova
- ID-Gene ecodiagnostics, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | - T Cordier
- NORCE Climate and Environment, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS, Norway
| | - F Frontalini
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy
| | | | - T Merzi
- TotalEnergies OneTech, Centre Scientifique et Technique Jean Feger, Pau, France
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2
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Francescangeli F, Ferraro L, Frontalini F, Da Prato S, Rubino F. Exploring the underwater life in transitional environments: Benthic foraminifera, ostracods, and dinoflagellate cysts - Biotic trends and EcoQS assessment in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian sea, southern Italy). MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 198:106545. [PMID: 38749196 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Coastal areas have historically thrived as centers of human activities due to their resources, economic opportunities, and natural allure. The rapid growth of coastal populations has however brought forth a multitude of challenges to tackle, with pollution emerging as a significant and far-reaching issue. Our study focuses on the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy), a lagoon-like coastal basin (separated in two sub-basins) that, since decades, has been heavily affected by human activities and aquaculture, leading to environmental deterioration. Although past studies have looked at environmental conditions in the Mar Piccolo from a chemical perspective, the biological component (e.g., biological indicators) has been mostly neglected. In this study, we firstly aim to examine the distribution and diversity of foraminifera, ostracods, and dinoflagellate cysts in December 2016 and compare our findings with data collected in December 2011. Foraminiferal and ostracod communities exhibit similar patterns in the two sampling campaigns, while the communities of encysted dinoflagellates show differences concerning both densities and diversity. Then, we evaluate the Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) using ecological indices. While the indices in the inner basin appear to reflect an actual ecological degradation, they yield conflicting results in the outer basin. In the outer basin, indeed, the indices overestimate the EcoQS. This study highlights the potential of these indices for characterizing the EcoQS but emphasizes the need for improvements in their reliability. This research also contributes to a more holistic understanding of environmental condition in the Mar Piccolo and underscores the importance of integrating biological quality elements into ecosystem management and remediation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Francescangeli
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700, Fribourg/Freiburg, Switzerland
| | - L Ferraro
- Institute of Marine Sciences, CNR Calata Porta di Massa, 80133, Naples, Italy.
| | - F Frontalini
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Urbino University, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - S Da Prato
- Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, CNR Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Rubino
- Institute for Water Research, CNR, via Roma 3, 74123, Taranto, Italy
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3
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Golikova E, Varfolomeeva MA, Kursheva A, Morgunova I, Aristov D, Renaud PE, Granovitch A, Korsun S. Measuring ecological quality status in low-diversity Arctic intertidal foraminiferal assemblages using a diversity-based index. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116473. [PMID: 38820879 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116473] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
EcoQS assessment of the marine intertidal zone based on its fauna is challenging because the assemblages have a low diversity and consist of stress tolerant species. The new approach we propose is to pool foraminiferal diversity (effective number of species exp(H'bc)) across the whole intertidal zone including the salt marsh and tidal flat. In seven fjordheads studied in northern Fennoscandia, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations indicated low levels of pollution (EcoQSPAH Excellent to Moderate). Jadammina or Balticammina dominated the salt marsh, Elphidium albiumbilicatum, Elphidium williamsoni, Elphidium clavatum, and Buccella frigida occurred in the tidal flat. Ovammina opaca thrived in both belts. While foraminiferal test abnormalities are often proposed to measure pollution impacts, we did not detect any correlation with PAHs. EcoQS based on foraminiferal diversity (EcoQSforam Excellent to Good) matched EcoQS based on PAHs suggesting that pooled foraminiferal diversity reliably measures intertidal EcoQS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Golikova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Marina A Varfolomeeva
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna Kursheva
- Academician I.S. Gramberg All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the Ocean (FSBI "VNIIOkeangeologia"), 190121, Angliyskiy Av. 1, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Inna Morgunova
- Academician I.S. Gramberg All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the Ocean (FSBI "VNIIOkeangeologia"), 190121, Angliyskiy Av. 1, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Dmitry Aristov
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya emb. 1, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Paul E Renaud
- Akvaplan-niva, Fram Centre for Climate and Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Andrei Granovitch
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergei Korsun
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nakhimovskiy pr. 36, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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Greco M, Al-Enezi E, Amao A, Francescangeli F, Cavaliere M, Bucci C, Toscanesi M, Trifuoggi M, Pawlowski J, Frontalini F. Deciphering the impact of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) on benthic foraminiferal communities: Insights from Cell-Tracker Green staining and eDNA metabarcoding. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 466:133652. [PMID: 38309158 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133652] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates the ecotoxicological effects of BDE-209, a persistent organic pollutant (POP) prevalent in Kuwait's coastal-industrial areas, on benthic foraminiferal communities. We conducted a mesocosm experiment in which we exposed benthic foraminiferal communities sampled from the coastal-industrial areas of Kuwait to a gradient of BDE-209 concentrations (0.01 to 20 mg/kg). The impact of exposure was assessed using live-staining and metabarcoding techniques. Despite the significantly different taxonomic compositions detected by the two techniques, our results show that BDE-209 significantly affects foraminiferal communities, with moderately high concentrations leading to reduced α-diversity and considerable taxonomic shifts in both molecular and morphological assemblages. At concentrations of 10 and 20 mg/kg, no living foraminifera were detected after 8 weeks, suggesting a threshold for their survival under BDE-209 exposure. The parallel responses of molecular and morphological communities confirm the reliability of both assessment methods. This study is the first to investigate the reaction of eukaryotic communities, specifically foraminifera, to POPs such as BDE-209, generating valuable insights that have the potential to enhance field studies and aid the refinement of sediment quality guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Greco
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Eqbal Al-Enezi
- Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait.
| | - Abduljamiu Amao
- Center for Integrative Petroleum Research, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, P.O. Box 5070, 31261 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Fabio Francescangeli
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg/Freiburg, Switzerland.
| | - Marco Cavaliere
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Urbino University, Campus Scientifico, via Ca le Suore 2/4, 61029 Urbino, Italy.
| | - Carla Bucci
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Urbino University, Campus Scientifico, via Ca le Suore 2/4, 61029 Urbino, Italy.
| | - Maria Toscanesi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Marco Trifuoggi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Jan Pawlowski
- ID-Gene ecodiagnostics Ltd, 109 ch. du Pont-du-Centenaire, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland; Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, Sopot 81-712, Poland.
| | - Fabrizio Frontalini
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Urbino University, Campus Scientifico, via Ca le Suore 2/4, 61029 Urbino, Italy.
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Damasceno FL, Alves Martins MV, Frontalini F, Pawlowski J, Cermakova K, Angeles IB, Costa Santos LG, Filho JGM, Francescangeli F, Senez-Mello TM, Castelo WFL, Rebouças RC, Duleba W, Mello E Sousa SHD, Laut L, Antonioli L. Assessment of the ecological quality status of the Sepetiba Bay (SE Brazil): When metabarcoding meets morphology on foraminifera. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 195:106340. [PMID: 38232436 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106340] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, the region surrounding Sepetiba Bay (SB; SE Brazil) has become a hub of intense urban expansion and economic exploitation in response to ore transport and industrial and port activities. As a result, contaminants have been introduced into the bay, leading to an overall worsening of the environmental quality. The present work applies for the first time a foraminiferal morphology-based approach (M) and eDNA-based metabarcoding sequencing (G), along with geochemical data to assess the ecological quality status (EcoQS) in the SB. Principal component analysis shows that the eDNA and morphospecies diversity as well as most of the taxa relative abundance decline in response to the environmental stress (ES) gradient related to total organic carbon (TOC) and metal pollution. Based on ecological indices, Exp(H'bc) (G), Exp(H'bc) (M), foraminifera ATZI marine biotic index (Foram-AMBI), Foram Stress Index (FSI), and geochemical indices (TOC and Potential Ecological Risk Index), the lowest values of EcoQS (i.e., bad to moderate) are inferred in the innermost part of the SB. Despite minor discrepancies among the six EcoQS indices, an agreement has been found for 63% of the stations. To improve the agreement between the ecological indices, it is necessary to fill the gap in species ecology; information on the ecology of many species is still unknown. This work reinforces the importance of molecular analysis and morphological methods in environmental impact studies and confirms the reliability of foraminiferal metabarcoding in EcoQS assessment. This is the first study evaluating the EcoQS in the South Atlantic by using combined foraminiferal eDNA metabarcoding with morphological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrício Leandro Damasceno
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, CEP: 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Maria Virgínia Alves Martins
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, CEP: 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade de Aveiro, GeoBioTec, Departamento de Geociências, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Fabrizio Frontalini
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", 61029, Urbino, Italy.
| | - Jan Pawlowski
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; ID-Gene ecodiagnostics, Chemin du Pont-du-Centenaire 109, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland; Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 81-712 Sopot, Poland.
| | - Kristina Cermakova
- ID-Gene ecodiagnostics, Chemin du Pont-du-Centenaire 109, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland.
| | - Inès Barrenechea Angeles
- Department of Geosciences, The Arctic University of Norway, Dramsvegen 201, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway.
| | | | | | - Fabio Francescangeli
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg/Freiburg, Switzerland.
| | - Thaise M Senez-Mello
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, CEP: 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Wellen Fernanda Louzada Castelo
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, CEP: 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Renata Cardia Rebouças
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, CEP: 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Wania Duleba
- Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades da Universidade de São Paulo. Rua Arlindo Bettio, 1000, Vila Guaraciaba, São Paulo - SP, Brazil.
| | - Silvia Helena de Mello E Sousa
- Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP). Address: Pça. do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Lazaro Laut
- Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - UNIRIO, Av. Pasteur 458, s. 500, Urca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Luzia Antonioli
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, CEP: 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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6
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Barrenechea Angeles I, Nguyen NL, Greco M, Tan KS, Pawlowski J. Assigning the unassigned: A signature-based classification of rDNA metabarcodes reveals new deep-sea diversity. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298440. [PMID: 38422100 PMCID: PMC10903905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental DNA metabarcoding reveals a vast genetic diversity of marine eukaryotes. Yet, most of the metabarcoding data remain unassigned due to the paucity of reference databases. This is particularly true for the deep-sea meiofauna and eukaryotic microbiota, whose hidden diversity is largely unexplored. Here, we tackle this issue by using unique DNA signatures to classify unknown metabarcodes assigned to deep-sea foraminifera. We analyzed metabarcoding data obtained from 311 deep-sea sediment samples collected in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, an area of potential polymetallic nodule exploitation in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Using the signatures designed in the 37F hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene, we were able to classify 802 unassigned metabarcodes into 61 novel lineages, which have been placed in 27 phylogenetic clades. The comparison of new lineages with other foraminiferal datasets shows that most novel lineages are widely distributed in the deep sea. Five lineages are also present in the shallow-water datasets; however, phylogenetic analysis of these lineages separates deep-sea and shallow-water metabarcodes except in one case. While the signature-based classification does not solve the problem of gaps in reference databases, this taxonomy-free approach provides insight into the distribution and ecology of deep-sea species represented by unassigned metabarcodes, which could be useful in future applications of metabarcoding for environmental monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inès Barrenechea Angeles
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Geosciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ngoc-Loi Nguyen
- Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland
| | - Mattia Greco
- Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Spanish National Research Council, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Koh Siang Tan
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jan Pawlowski
- Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland
- ID-Gene Ecodiagnostics Ltd., Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
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Singer D, Fouet MPA, Schweizer M, Mouret A, Quinchard S, Jorissen FJ. Unlocking foraminiferal genetic diversity on estuarine mudflats with eDNA metabarcoding. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:165983. [PMID: 37543334 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165983] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Environmental biomonitoring is a prerequisite for efficient evaluation and remediation of ecosystem degradation due to anthropogenic pressure or climate change. Estuaries are key habitats subject to multiple anthropogenic and natural stressors. Due to these multiple stressors, the detection of anthropogenic pressure is challenging. The fact that abundant natural stressors often lead to negative quality assessments has been coined the "estuarine quality paradox". To solve this issue, the application of molecular approaches with successful bioindicators like foraminifera is promising. However, sampling protocols, molecular procedures and data analyses need to be validated before such tools can be routinely applied. We conducted an environmental DNA survey of estuarine mudflats along the French Atlantic coast, using a metabarcoding approach targeting foraminifera. Our results demonstrate that estuarine environments have only a few active OTUs dominating the community composition and a large stock of dormant or propagule stages. This last genetic diversity components constitute an important reservoir, with different species which can potentially develop in response to the temporal variability of the multiple stressors. In fact, different OTUs were dominant in the studied estuaries. Our statistical model shows that the physical and chemical characteristics of the sediment and the climatic conditions explain only 43 % of the community composition variance. This suggests that other, less easily quantifiable factors, such as the history and use of the estuaries or the ecological drift could play an important role as well. Environmental DNA biomonitoring opens new perspectives to better characterize the genetic diversity in estuaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Singer
- Université d'Angers, Nantes Université, Le Mans Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences, LPG UMR 6112, 49000 Angers, France; Changins College for Viticulture and Enology, University of Sciences and Art Western Switzerland, Route de Duillier 60, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland.
| | - Marie P A Fouet
- Université d'Angers, Nantes Université, Le Mans Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences, LPG UMR 6112, 49000 Angers, France
| | - Magali Schweizer
- Université d'Angers, Nantes Université, Le Mans Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences, LPG UMR 6112, 49000 Angers, France
| | - Aurélia Mouret
- Université d'Angers, Nantes Université, Le Mans Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences, LPG UMR 6112, 49000 Angers, France
| | - Sophie Quinchard
- Université d'Angers, Nantes Université, Le Mans Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences, LPG UMR 6112, 49000 Angers, France
| | - Frans J Jorissen
- Université d'Angers, Nantes Université, Le Mans Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences, LPG UMR 6112, 49000 Angers, France
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8
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Ferraro A, Marino E, Trancone G, Race M, Mali M, Pontoni L, Fabbricino M, Spasiano D, Fratino U. Assessment of environmental parameters effect on potentially toxic elements mobility in foreshore sediments to support marine-coastal contamination prediction. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115338. [PMID: 37516094 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115338] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) presence in marine sediments can significantly affect the environmental quality and negatively influence economy and recreational activities in related areas. Accordingly, contamination monitoring and control in the marine environment is a fundamental task. In this work, four PTEs behavior (i.e. As, Hg, Pb, and Zn) in sandy foreshore sediments (SFSs) was thoroughly investigated at different pH, redox potential and temperature conditions of the marine water. For all the tests, the released As was 2.7-6 times higher than its initial concentration in water. Nonetheless, final mass balances showed that preferential release in the liquid phase occurred for Pb and Hg (up to 10 % and 9.1 %, respectively). Moreover, final Zn and Hg content increase in SFSs labile fractions indicated their higher bioavailability after the tests. The obtained results outline an approach useful to predict the contaminants behavior in marine matrices and support environmental monitoring and preservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Ferraro
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy.
| | - Emanuele Marino
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Claudio 21, Naples 80125, Italy
| | - Gennaro Trancone
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Claudio 21, Naples 80125, Italy
| | - Marco Race
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Via di Biasio 43, Cassino 03043, Italy
| | - Matilda Mali
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Ludovico Pontoni
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Claudio 21, Naples 80125, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Fabbricino
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Claudio 21, Naples 80125, Italy
| | - Danilo Spasiano
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Umberto Fratino
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
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9
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Nunes M, Alves Martins MV, Frontalini F, Bouchet VMP, Francescangeli F, Hohenegger J, Figueira R, Senez-Mello TM, Louzada Castelo WF, Damasceno FL, Laut L, Duleba W, Mello E Sousa SHD, Antonioli L, Geraldes MC. Inferring the ecological quality status based on living benthic foraminiferal indices in transitional areas of the Guanabara bay (SE Brazil). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 320:121003. [PMID: 36623785 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Using benthic foraminifera, we evaluate the ecological quality status (EcoQS) of transitional waters of the Guanabara Bay (SE Brazil) by applying the diversity-based index exp (H'bc) and the sensitivity-based Foram-AMBI for the first time in South America. The Guanabara Bay was selected for this study as it is one of the largest transitional ecosystems in the State of Rio de Janeiro and has been severely impacted by anthropogenic activities. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were assessed by sequential chemical extraction in three phases (i.e., dissolved in water, adsorbed on organic matter, and Mn oxy-hydroxides). Total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) signatures of organic matter were analyzed to trace environmental stress. The Ammonia/Elphidium ratio suggests hypoxic conditions at most of the sampled sites. Principal component analysis identifies the first component as environmental stress underlying organic matter and PTE enrichment (in all three phases), which is positively related to Foram-AMBI and negatively to exp (H'bc). The exp (H'bc) and Foram-AMBI indices reveal that stations near the Governador Island and Niterói margin have the worst EcoQS, showing medium to extreme pollution. Additionally, Foram-AMBI and exp (H'bc) provide a congruent EcoQS classification for ∼64% of the sites. Although these results are promising, they suggest that a significant effort should be made to obtain better knowledge of foraminiferal ecological requirements to employ benthic foraminifera as a biomonitoring and management method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcia Nunes
- Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Faculdade de Geologia, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 2020A, Maracanã, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Maria Virgínia Alves Martins
- Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Faculdade de Geologia, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 2020A, Maracanã, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade de Aveiro, GeoBioTec, Departamento de Geociências, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Fabrizio Frontalini
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", 61029, Urbino, Italy.
| | - Vincent M P Bouchet
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte D'Opale, IRD, UMR8187, LOG, Laboratoire D'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station Marine de Wimereux, F 59000, Lille, France.
| | - Fabio Francescangeli
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin Du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg/Freiburg, Switzerland.
| | - Johann Hohenegger
- Universität Wien, Institut für Paläontologie, Althanstrasse 17, A 1090, Wien, Austria.
| | - Rubens Figueira
- Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Address: Pça. Do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, São Paulo, 05508 120, Brazil.
| | - Thaise M Senez-Mello
- Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Faculdade de Geologia, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 2020A, Maracanã, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Marine Geology Lab, LAGEMAR, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Wellen Fernanda Louzada Castelo
- Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Faculdade de Geologia, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 2020A, Maracanã, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Fabrício Leandro Damasceno
- Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Faculdade de Geologia, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 2020A, Maracanã, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Lazaro Laut
- Universidade Federal Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, UNIRIO, Laboratório de Micropaleontologia, Av. Pasteur 458, S. 500, Urca, Rio de Janeiro, 22290-240, Brazil.
| | - Wania Duleba
- Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades da Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Arlindo Bettio, 1000, Vila Guaraciaba, São Paulo - SP, Brazil.
| | - Silvia Helena de Mello E Sousa
- Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP), Address: Pça. Do Oceanográfico, 191, Butantã, São Paulo, 05508 120, Brazil.
| | - Luzia Antonioli
- Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Faculdade de Geologia, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 2020A, Maracanã, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Mauro César Geraldes
- Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Faculdade de Geologia, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 2020A, Maracanã, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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10
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Barrenechea Angeles I, Romero-Martínez ML, Cavaliere M, Varrella S, Francescangeli F, Piredda R, Mazzocchi MG, Montresor M, Schirone A, Delbono I, Margiotta F, Corinaldesi C, Chiavarini S, Montereali MR, Rimauro J, Parrella L, Musco L, Dell'Anno A, Tangherlini M, Pawlowski J, Frontalini F. Encapsulated in sediments: eDNA deciphers the ecosystem history of one of the most polluted European marine sites. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 172:107738. [PMID: 36641836 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Anthropocene is characterized by dramatic ecosystem changes driven by human activities. The impact of these activities can be assessed by different geochemical and paleontological proxies. However, each of these proxies provides only a fragmentary insight into the effects of anthropogenic impacts. It is highly challenging to reconstruct, with a holistic view, the state of the ecosystems from the preindustrial period to the present day, covering all biological components, from prokaryotes to multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we used sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) archives encompassing all trophic levels of biodiversity to reconstruct the two century-natural history in Bagnoli-Coroglio (Gulf of Pozzuoli, Tyrrhenian Sea), one of the most polluted marine-coastal sites in Europe. The site was characterized by seagrass meadows and high eukaryotic diversity until the beginning of the 20th century. Then, the ecosystem completely changed, with seagrasses and associated fauna as well as diverse groups of planktonic and benthic protists being replaced by low diversity biota dominated by dinophyceans and infaunal metazoan species. The sedaDNA analysis revealed a five-phase evolution of the area, where changes appear as the result of a multi-level cascade effect of impacts associated with industrial activities, urbanization, water circulation and land-use changes. The sedaDNA allowed to infer reference conditions that must be considered when restoration actions are to be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Barrenechea Angeles
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, 13, rue des Maraîchers, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | | | - Marco Cavaliere
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Università of Urbino "Carlo Bo", 61029 Urbino, Italy.
| | - Stefano Varrella
- Department of Materials, Environmental Sciences and Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | | | - Roberta Piredda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Bari, Italy.
| | | | | | - Antonio Schirone
- ENEA, Department of Sustainability, Marine Environment Research Centre S. Teresa, 19032 Pozzuolo di Lerici, Italy.
| | - Ivana Delbono
- ENEA, Department of Sustainability, Marine Environment Research Centre S. Teresa, 19032 Pozzuolo di Lerici, Italy.
| | | | - Cinzia Corinaldesi
- Department of Materials, Environmental Sciences and Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | | | | | - Juri Rimauro
- ENEA, Department of Sustainability, CR Portici, 80055, Portici, Naples, Italy.
| | - Luisa Parrella
- ENEA, Department of Sustainability, CR Portici, 80055, Portici, Naples, Italy.
| | - Luigi Musco
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Antonio Dell'Anno
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | | | - Jan Pawlowski
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland; ID-Gene ecodiagnostics Ltd, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland; Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 81-712 Sopot, Poland.
| | - Fabrizio Frontalini
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Università of Urbino "Carlo Bo", 61029 Urbino, Italy.
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11
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Dias HQ, Sukumaran S. Are genomic indices effective alternatives to morphology based benthic indices in biomonitoring studies? Perspectives from a major harbour and marine protected area. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114586. [PMID: 36652865 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114586] [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: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ecological assessments are currently being conducted by traditional morpho-taxonomical identification techniques that are time-consuming and often inaccurate. Biomonitoring programs are increasingly being complemented by the more rapid and efficient DNA barcoding approach. We compared the congruency of morpho-taxonomic (AMBI - AZTI's Marine Biotic Index) and genomic (gAMBI) benthic indices in ecological quality status (EcoQS) assignation in Mumbai harbour and Malvan Marine Protected area (MPA). The study, first of its kind to adopt the gAMBI tool in the selected milieu, contributed substantial number of macrobenthic cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) sequences that were previously unavailable in the reference library, adding sufficient genetic resources for establishing ecostatus. AMBI and gAMBI values based on presence/absence data related significantly with those derived from abundance data matrices. Taxonomic and genomic indices derived ecostatus corresponded sufficiently well despite minor discrepancies, underscoring the viability of gAMBI as a superior alternative to AMBI in monitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidy Q Dias
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre Andheri (W), Mumbai 400 053, India
| | - Soniya Sukumaran
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre Andheri (W), Mumbai 400 053, India.
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12
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Fajemila OT, Martínez-Colón M, Spezzaferri S. Spatial distribution of pollution levels and assessment of benthic foraminifera in Apapa-Badagry Creek, Nigeria. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 185:114359. [PMID: 36435017 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114359] [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: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Apapa and Badagry creeks in Nigeria are a corridor of long-term anthropogenic activities, including mangrove removal, urban expansion, and industrialization. Consequently, this uncontrolled development led to the release of untreated effluents and wastes, which resulted in sediment and water quality degradation. This area has the highest degree of pollution (Enrichment and Contamination Factors) especially north of Tincan Island where potentially toxic element (PTE) depocenters occur. Our data shows that salinity and pH are the two main factors favoring foraminiferal distributions, but the sediments in the depocenters with the highest degree of PTE pollution are barren of foraminifera. Bioavailable sediment-bound PTEs have been found to negatively impact the assemblage distribution and diversity. It is important to highlight that dissolved phosphorous was the only PTE that negatively impacted species richness. This study highlights the significance of implementing PTE bioavailability as an integral part of ecosystem functioning in all nearshore environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Silvia Spezzaferri
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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13
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Huang N, Gao K, Yang W, Pang H, Yang G, Wu J, Zhang S, Chen C, Long L. Assessing sediment organic pollution via machine learning models and resource performance. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 361:127710. [PMID: 35905877 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127710] [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: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Due to the potential ecological risks of organic pollution in sediments, aquatic ecosystems are currently facing substantial environmental threats. Assessing and controlling sediment pollution has become a huge challenge. Therefore, this study proposes a novel strategy for predicting organic pollution indicators for sediment, as well as an effective resource-utilization method. Contaminated sediments were converted into catalysts for sulfate radical advanced oxidation technologies by a one-step calcination method. The results revealed that the catalyst excelled in activating peroxymonosulfate to degrade tetracycline via a non-radical pathway. Most importantly, a predictive model of organic pollution indicators was established by machine learning. This study provides a novel approach for resource utilization and a strategy for assessing organic pollution in sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Huang
- Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Kai Gao
- School of Cyber Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Weiming Yang
- Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Han Pang
- Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Gang Yang
- Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Shirong Zhang
- Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Lulu Long
- Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China.
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14
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Al-Enezi E, Francescangeli F, Balassi E, Borderie S, Al-Hazeem S, Al-Salameen F, Boota Anwar A, Pawlowski J, Frontalini F. Benthic foraminifera as proxies for the environmental quality assessment of the Kuwait Bay (Kuwait, Arabian Gulf): Morphological and metabarcoding approaches. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155093. [PMID: 35421459 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The rapid urbanization and industrialization of Kuwait and the consequent effluent discharges into marine environments have resulted in a degradation of water and sediment quality in the coastal marine ecosystems such as in the Kuwait Bay. This study investigates the ecological response of benthic foraminifera (protists) to environmental stress in the Kuwait Bay. The traditional morphological approach was compared to the innovative environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to evaluate the ecological quality status (EcoQS). Forty-six surface sediment samples were collected from selected stations in the Kuwait Bay. To detect the pollution gradient, environmental parameters from water (e.g., salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen) and sediment (e.g., grain-size, trace metals, total organic carbon, total petroleum hydrocarbons) were measured at each station. Although the foraminiferal assemblages were different in the morphological and molecular datasets, the species turnover was congruent and statistically significant. Diversity-based biotic indices derived from both morphological and metabarcoding approaches, reflect the environmental stress gradient (i.e., organic and metal contaminations) in the Kuwait Bay. The lowest values of EcoQS (i.e., bad to poor) are found in the innermost part (i.e., Sulaibikhat Bay and Ras Kazmah), while higher EcoQS values occur in the outer part of the bay. This study constitutes the first attempt to apply the foraminiferal metabarcoding to assess the EcoQS within the Arabian Gulf and presents its advantages compared to the conventional morphological approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eqbal Al-Enezi
- Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat 13109, Kuwait
| | - Fabio Francescangeli
- Centre for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Institute for Geology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg/Freiburg, Switzerland.
| | - Eszter Balassi
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Urbino University, 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Sandra Borderie
- Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg/Freiburg, Switzerland
| | - Shaker Al-Hazeem
- Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat 13109, Kuwait
| | - Fadila Al-Salameen
- Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat 13109, Kuwait
| | - Ahmad Boota Anwar
- Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat 13109, Kuwait
| | - Jan Pawlowski
- ID-Gene ecodiagnostics Ltd, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland; Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
| | - Fabrizio Frontalini
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Urbino University, 61029 Urbino, Italy
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15
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Greco M, Lejzerowicz F, Reo E, Caruso A, Maccotta A, Coccioni R, Pawlowski J, Frontalini F. Environmental RNA outperforms eDNA metabarcoding in assessing impact of marine pollution: A chromium-spiked mesocosm test. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 298:134239. [PMID: 35292278 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Environmental (e)DNA metabarcoding holds great promise for biomonitoring and ecotoxicological applications. However, few studies have compared the performance of eDNA versus eRNA metabarcoding in assessing organismal response to marine pollution, in experimental conditions. Here, we performed a chromium (Cr)-spiked mesocosm experimental test on benthic foraminiferal community to investigate the effects on species diversity by analysing both eDNA and eRNA metabarcoding data across different Cr concentrations in the sediment. Foraminiferal diversity in the eRNA data showed a significant negative correlation with the Cr concentration in the sediment, while a positive response was observed in the eDNA data. The foraminiferal OTUs exhibited a higher turnover rate in eRNA than in the eDNA-derived community. Furthermore, in the eRNA samples, OTUs abundance was significantly affected by the Cr gradient in the sediment (Pseudo-R2 = 0.28, p = 0.05), while no significant trend was observed in the eDNA samples. The correlation between Cr concentration and foraminiferal diversity in eRNA datasets was stronger when the less abundant OTUs (<100 reads) were removed and the analyses were conducted exclusively on OTUs shared between eRNA and eDNA datasets. This indicates the importance of metabarcoding data filtering to capture ecological impacts, in addition to using the putatively active organisms in the eRNA dataset. The comparative analyses on foraminiferal diversity revealed that eRNA-based metabarcoding can better assess the response to heavy metal exposure in presence of subtle concentrations of the pollutant. Furthermore, our results suggest that to unlock the full potential for ecosystem assessment, eDNA and eRNA should be studied in parallel to control for potential sequence artifacts in routine ecosystem surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Greco
- Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 81-712, Sopot, Poland.
| | - Franck Lejzerowicz
- Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Emanuela Reo
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Genève, Switzerland.
| | - Antonio Caruso
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Antonella Maccotta
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | | | - Jan Pawlowski
- Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 81-712, Sopot, Poland; Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Genève, Switzerland; ID-Gene Ecodiagnostics, Chemin du Pont-du-Centenaire 109, CH-1228, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland.
| | - Fabrizio Frontalini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate, University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy.
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16
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Rostami MA, Frontalini F, Giordano P, Francescangeli F, Alves Martins MV, Dyer L, Spagnoli F. Testing the applicability of random forest modeling to examine benthic foraminiferal responses to multiple environmental parameters. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 172:105502. [PMID: 34638002 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105502] [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: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The main environmental variables controlling benthic foraminiferal distributions were identified and used to assess their influence on ecological indices developed as predictors of Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) in marine ecosystems. Gradient forest and random forest models were applied to assess the predictive value of a selection of abiotic (environmental) and biotic (foraminifera) variables in a costal marine area in the central Adriatic Sea (Italy). This approach yields evidence that the predictor variables sand, silt, Pollution Load Index, and TN have the greatest influence on the distribution of benthic foraminifera in this area. In addition, we identify thresholds for the most important environmental variables that influence ecological indices. These findings contribute to efforts to determine how to best improve sediment quality and environmental stability for marine conservation. Further application of these approaches represents a useful tool for policymakers to survey the diversity of marine organisms and to improve the ability to protect and restore marine ecosystems by identifying predictors of diversity and identifying key thresholds in these predictors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud A Rostami
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
| | - Fabrizio Frontalini
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - Patrizia Giordano
- Istituto di Scienze Polari, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Francescangeli
- University of Hamburg, Institute for Geology, Centre for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Bundesstraße, 55, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria Virginia Alves Martins
- Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), R. São Francisco Xavier, 524, LabMicro 4037F, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Brazil; Aveiro University, Department of Geosciences, GeoBioTec, Campus de Santiago, 3810-197, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Lee Dyer
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Federico Spagnoli
- Istituto per le Risorse Biologiche e le Biotecnologie Marine, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 60125, Ancona, Italy; School of Science and Technology, Geology division, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, Italy
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17
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Distribution Patterns of Benthic Foraminifera in Fish Farming Areas (Corsica, France): Implications for the Implementation of Biotic Indices in Biomonitoring Studies. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13202821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Corsican marine aquaculture is one of the highest contributors of fish production in France, which may result in environmental perturbations caused by organic matter (OM) accumulation under fish farms and impacting natural communities. This study aimed to (1) characterise the environmental conditions at two different fish farms, (2) monitor the response of benthic foraminiferal species to this activity, and (3) assess the accuracy of existing foraminiferal biotic indices. In 2017, sea floor sediment was sampled in transects from two Corsican fish farms for living foraminiferal and sedimentary analyses. Four indices were calculated and compared: exp(H′bc), Foram-AMBI, Foram Stress Index and TSI-Med. A significant increase in total organic carbon (TOC) has been shown, mainly below the fish cages. Communities were characterized by a shift from high density, opportunistic and tolerant species under the cages to lower densities and more sensitive species further away. According to their distribution patterns along the TOC gradient, we propose to update the ecological group classification of seven species to improve Foram-AMBI’s accuracy and sensitivity: Triloculina oblonga and Quinqueloculina lamarckiana to Ecological Group (EG) I; Rosalina bradyi to EGIII; and Bolivina dilatata, Bulimina aculeata and Quinqueloculina stalkeri to EGIV. We recommend prioritising the use of TSI-Med and Foram-AMBI with the updated list to assess ecological quality in coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
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18
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Benthic Foraminiferal Indices and Environmental Quality Assessment of Transitional Waters: A Review of Current Challenges and Future Research Perspectives. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13141898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Transitional waters straddle the interface between marine and terrestrial biomes and, among others, include fjords, bays, lagoons, and estuaries. These coastal systems are essential for transport and manufacturing industries and suffer extensive anthropogenic exploitation of their ecosystem services for aquaculture and recreational activities. These activities can have negative effects on the local biota, necessitating investigation and regulation. As a result of this, EcoQS (ecological quality status) assessment has garnered great attention as an essential aspect of governmental bodies’ legislative decision-making process. Assessing EcoQS in transitional water ecosystems is problematic because these systems experience high natural variability and organic enrichment and often lack information about their pre-human impact, baseline, or “pristine” reference conditions, knowledge of which is essential to many commonly used assessment methods. Here, foraminifera can be used as environmental sentinels, providing ecological data such as diversity and sensitivity, which can be used as the basis for EcoQS assessment indices. Fossil shells of foraminifera can also provide a temporal aspect to ecosystem assessment, making it possible to obtain reference conditions from the study site itself. These foraminifera-based indices have been shown to correlate not only with various environmental stressors but also with the most common macrofaunal-based indices currently employed by bodies such as the Water Framework Directive (WFD). In this review, we firstly discuss the development of various foraminifera-based indices and address the challenge of how best to implement these synergistically to understand and regulate human environmental impact, particularly in transitional waters, which have historically suffered disproportionate levels of human impact or are difficult to assess with standard EcoQS methods. Further, we present some case studies to exemplify key issues and discuss potential solutions for those. Such key issues include, for example, the disparate performance of multiple indices applied to the same site and a proper assignment of EcoQS class boundaries (threshold values) for each index. Disparate aptitudes of indices to specific geomorphologic and hydrological regimes can be leveraged via the development of a site characteristics catalogue, which would enable the identification of the most appropriate index to apply, and the integration of multiple indices resulting in more representative EcoQS assessment in heterogenous transitional environments. In addition, the difficulty in assigning threshold values to systems without analogous unimpacted reference sites (a common issue among many transitional waters) can be overcome by recording EcoQS as an ecological quality ratio (EQR). Lastly, we evaluate the current status and future potential of an emerging field, genetic biomonitoring, focusing on how these new techniques can be used to increase the accuracy of EcoQS assessment in transitional systems by supplementing more established morphology-based methods.
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