1
|
Cappucci U, Proietti M, Casale AM, Schiavo S, Chiavarini S, Accardo S, Manzo S, Piacentini L. Assessing genotoxic effects of plastic leachates in Drosophila melanogaster. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142440. [PMID: 38821133 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142440] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Plastic polymers were largely added with chemical substances to be utilized in the items and product manufacturing. The leachability of these substances is a matter of concern given the wide amount of plastic waste, particularly in terrestrial environments, where soil represents a sink for these novel contaminants and a possible pathway of human health risk. In this study, we integrated genetic, molecular, and behavioral approaches to comparatively evaluate toxicological effects of plastic leachates, virgin and oxodegradable polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), in Drosophila melanogaster, a novel in vivo model organism for environmental monitoring studies and (eco)toxicological research. The results of this study revealed that while conventional toxicological endpoints such as developmental times and longevity remain largely unaffected, exposure to plastic leachates induces chromosomal abnormalities and transposable element (TE) activation in neural tissues. The combined effects of DNA damage and TE mobilization contribute to genome instability and increase the likelihood of LOH events, thus potentiating tumor growth and metastatic behavior ofRasV12 clones. Collectively, these findings indicate that plastic leachates exert genotoxic effects in Drosophila thus highlighting potential risks associated with leachate-related plastic pollution and their implications for ecosystems and human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Cappucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mirena Proietti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Assunta Maria Casale
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Schiavo
- ENEA, Department for Sustainability, Division Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Capital, P. le E. Fermi 1, 80055 Portici, Na, Italy
| | - Salvatore Chiavarini
- ENEA, Department for Sustainability, Division Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Capital, P. le E. Fermi 1, 80055 Portici, Na, Italy
| | - Sara Accardo
- ENEA, Department for Sustainability, Division Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Capital, P. le E. Fermi 1, 80055 Portici, Na, Italy
| | - Sonia Manzo
- ENEA, Department for Sustainability, Division Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Capital, P. le E. Fermi 1, 80055 Portici, Na, Italy.
| | - Lucia Piacentini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xie L, Slotsbo S, Damgaard C, Holmstrup M. Exposure to teflubenzuron reduces drought tolerance of collembolans. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142448. [PMID: 38823429 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142448] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSIs) are commonly used insecticides compromising cuticle formation and structure in arthropods. Arthropods rely on intact cuticles to maintain water balance and cellular homeostasis to survive in different weather conditions. We hypothesized that physiological impacts of CSIs may make arthropods more vulnerable to harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme heat, cold or drought. The aim of this study was to investigate if pre-exposure to teflubenzuron (a common CSI) would influence Folsomia candida's (Collembola: Isotomidae) sensitivity to natural stressors. Here, we exposed adult collembolans to teflubenzuron through food for two weeks, then survivors were immediately divided into three groups for subsequent acute heat, cold, and drought exposure. After acute exposure to these natural stressors, the collembolans were moved to optimal conditions for a one-week recovery period during which their survival, time to regain reproduction, and egg production were examined. We analyzed the interaction between effects of teflubenzuron and natural stressors using a multiplicative model. No interaction between effects of teflubenzuron and heat was observed in any test endpoints. A synergistic interaction between effects of teflubenzuron and cold was observed in the time to regain reproduction. Both survival and egg production, on the other hand, showed synergistic interaction between effects of teflubenzuron and drought, as well as a tendency for longer reproduction recovery times. Our results suggest that pre-exposure to teflubenzuron reduces drought tolerance in F. candida, while its impact on heat or cold tolerance is minor or absent. This study is among the first to explore the combined effects of CSI and natural stressors on soil arthropods, providing more insight on potential risks posed by such chemicals in the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Xie
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Section for Terrestrial Ecology, C.F. Møllers Allé 4, Building 1120, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Stine Slotsbo
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Section for Terrestrial Ecology, C.F. Møllers Allé 4, Building 1120, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Christian Damgaard
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Section for Terrestrial Ecology, C.F. Møllers Allé 4, Building 1120, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Martin Holmstrup
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Section for Terrestrial Ecology, C.F. Møllers Allé 4, Building 1120, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fernández Ajó A, Teixeira C, M D de Mello D, Dillon D, Rice JM, Buck CL, Hunt KE, Rogers MC, Torres LG. A longitudinal study of endocrinology and foraging ecology of subadult gray whales prior to death based on baleen analysis. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 352:114492. [PMID: 38479678 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Individual-level assessments of wild animal health, vital rates, and foraging ecology are critical for understanding population-wide impacts of exposure to stressors. Large whales face multiple stressors, including, but not limited to, ocean noise, pollution, and ship strikes. Because baleen is a continuously growing keratinized structure, serial extraction, and quantification of hormones and stable isotopes along the length of baleen provide a historical record of whale physiology and foraging ecology. Furthermore, baleen analysis enables the investigation of dead specimens, even decades later, allowing comparisons between historic and modern populations. Here, we examined baleen of five sub-adult gray whales and observed distinct patterns of oscillations in δ15N values along the length of their baleen plates which enabled estimation of baleen growth rates and differentiation of isotopic niche widths of the whales during wintering and summer foraging. In contrast, no regular patterns were apparent in δ13C values. Prolonged elevation of cortisol in four individuals before death indicates that chronic stress may have impacted their health and survival. Triiodothyronine (T3) increased over months in the whales with unknown causes of death, simultaneous with elevations in cortisol, but both hormones remained stable in the one case of acute death attributed to killer whale predation. This parallel elevation of cortisol and T3 challenges the classic understanding of their interaction and might relate to increased energetic demands during exposure to stressors. Reproductive hormone profiles in subadults did not show cyclical trends, suggesting they had not yet reached sexual maturity. This study highlights the potential of baleen analysis to retrospectively assess gray whales' physiological status, exposure to stressors, reproductive status, and foraging ecology in the months or years leading up to their death, which can be a useful tool for conservation diagnostics to mitigate unusual mortality events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Fernández Ajó
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA.
| | - Clarissa Teixeira
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - Daniela M D de Mello
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508090, SP, Brazil
| | - Danielle Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - James M Rice
- Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - C Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Kathleen E Hunt
- George Mason University & Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Matthew C Rogers
- NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center Auke Bay Laboratories, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
| | - Leigh G Torres
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Arranz P, De la Cruz-Modino R, Sprogis KR. Investigating the effects of underwater noise from two vessels on the behaviour of short-finned pilot whales. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 199:106574. [PMID: 38833806 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Multiple whale-watching vessels may operate around cetaceans at any one time, and targeted animals may experience underwater noise effects. We hypothesised that the cumulative noise of two vessels with low source levels (SLs) will elicit lower behavioural disturbance in short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) compared to a single vessel with a higher SL. We measured the behaviour of whales during 26 controls (stationary vessel >300 m) and 44 treatments off Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). Treatments consisted of vessel approaches mimicking whale-watch scenarios (distance ∼60 m, speed 1.5 kn). Approaches with two simultaneous vessels, with maximum cumulative mid and low-frequency (0.2-110 kHz) weighted source levels (SLsMF-LF) 137-143 dB, did not affect mother-calf pairs' resting, nursing, diving, respiration rate or inter-breath interval. However, a louder single vessel approach with twin petrol engines at SLsMF-LF 139-151 dB significantly decreased the proportion of time resting for the mother. The results suggest that if a single or two vessels are present, if the cumulative SL is < 143 dB, the behavioural disturbance on the whales will be negligible. By examining noise effects from multiple vessels on the behaviour of pilot whales, the importance of incorporating a noise threshold into whale-watching guidelines was emphasised.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Arranz
- Departmento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
| | - R De la Cruz-Modino
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Social y Turismo, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
| | - K R Sprogis
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Great Southern Marine Research Facility, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
van Kouwen LAH, Kraak MHS, van der Lee GH, Verdonschot PFM. Four decades of region- and species-specific trends in lowland stream Ephemeroptera abundance. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171619. [PMID: 38471583 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171619] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Lowland stream ecosystems are under threat from climate change, industrialization, urbanization, and intensive agriculture. Since the 1980s, improvements in water quality have led to an increase in lowland stream biodiversity. Despite restoration efforts, however, further recovery is often hampered by the presence of region-specific (combinations of) stressors, and species-specific stressor responses. Identification of these stressors may not be achieved by the analysis of abundance data over large areas for entire communities or species assemblages. Therefore, our study introduces an alternative in-depth approach, selecting Ephemeroptera as a model organism group and analyzing 41 years of species abundance data across distinct geographical regions. Our findings revealed that 15 Ephemeroptera species had already disappeared before 1985, emphasizing the importance of evaluating an extended historical period when analyzing biodiversity trends. While biodiversity was generally characterized by an initial recovery that stagnated over time, the analysis of the past 41 years of Ephemeroptera abundance data revealed strong differences in species' abundance trends between periods, regions, and species. Certain species were likely to have benefitted from local restoration measures in specific geographical regions, while others may have declined due to the presence of region-specific stressors. Our approach underscores the importance of studying the development of region- and species-specific stream biodiversity trends over time to aid the selection of the appropriate restoration measures to recover lowland stream biodiversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leon A H van Kouwen
- HAS green academy, 's-Hertogenbosch 5223 DE, Netherlands; Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, Netherlands.
| | - Michiel H S Kraak
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, Netherlands
| | - Gea H van der Lee
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen 6708 PB, Netherlands
| | - Piet F M Verdonschot
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, Netherlands; Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen 6708 PB, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Brown M, Jenkins J, Kolden C. Decreased air quality shows minimal influence on peak summer attendance at forested Pacific West national parks. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 358:120702. [PMID: 38631165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Wildfires are increasing in duration and intensity across the United States' Pacific West region, resulting in heightened particulate matter from smoke in the atmosphere. Levels of peak particulate matter are concurrent to peak visitor attendance at National Parks, given seasonal alignment with summer vacation travel and heightened forest fire conditions. Particulate matter threatens visitor health and safety and contributes to poor visibility and a deteriorated visitor experience. To assess visitation response to diminished air quality, we utilized wildfire-generated particulate matter (PM2.5) data in conjunction with monthly attendance records for three ecoregions containing eight national parks in Washington, Oregon, and California from 2009 to 2019. We analyzed daily PM2.5 levels from data gridded at the 10 km scale for National Park Service units by Level III forest ecoregions within the National Park Service's Pacific West Unit. Data were then compared to normalized monthly visitation trends for each of the ecoregions using two statistical methods Kendall's Tau and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc Tukey tests. Results demonstrate that attendance at these national parks does not decrease in response to increased PM2.5 levels. Instead, we see several statistically significant increases in attendance across these ecoregions during periods of reduced air quality. Of 115 shifts between air quality categories during the busy season of July to September, there are no significant decreases in attendance as air quality worsens. These findings suggest that visitors are willing to tolerate reduced air quality compared to other factors such as temperature or precipitation. Given that park units within each ecoregion feature diverse historical contexts, varied built environments, and unique ecological systems, our discussion specifically addresses managerial concerns associated with maintained high levels of visitation during suboptimal, and potentially dangerous, conditions. There is substantial need for specific, scalable approaches to mitigate adverse health and experiential impacts as visitors are exposed to increased risks during a range of exertional activities associated with diverse settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Brown
- Environmental Systems, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95340, USA.
| | - Jeffrey Jenkins
- Management of Complex Systems, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95340, USA
| | - Crystal Kolden
- Management of Complex Systems, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95340, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
De Bonville J, Côté A, Binning SA. Thermal tolerance and survival are modulated by a natural gradient of infection in differentially acclimated hosts. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 12:coae015. [PMID: 38629117 PMCID: PMC11020239 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Wild ectotherms are exposed to multiple stressors, including parasites, that can affect their responses to environmental change. Simultaneously, unprecedented warm temperatures are being recorded worldwide, increasing both the average and maximum temperatures experienced in nature. Understanding how ectotherms, such as fishes, will react to the combined stress of parasites and higher average temperatures can help predict the impact of extreme events such as heat waves on populations. The critical thermal method (CTM), which assesses upper (CTmax) and lower (CTmin) thermal tolerance, is often used in acclimated ectotherms to help predict their tolerance to various temperature scenarios. Despite the widespread use of the CTM across taxa, few studies have characterized the response of naturally infected fish to extreme temperature events or how acute thermal stress affects subsequent survival. We acclimated naturally infected pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) to four ecologically relevant temperatures (10, 15, 20 and 25°C) and one future warming scenario (30°C) for 3 weeks before measuring CTmax and CTmin. We also assessed individual survival the week following CTmax. Parasites were counted and identified following trials to relate infection intensity to thermal tolerance and survival. Interestingly, trematode parasites causing black spot disease were negatively related to CTmax, suggesting that heavily infected fish are less tolerant to acute warming. Moreover, fish infected with yellow grub parasites showed decreased survival in the days following CTmax implying that the infection load has negative survival consequences on sunfish during extreme warming events. Our findings indicate that, when combined, parasite infection and high prolonged average temperatures can affect fish thermal tolerance and survival, emphasizing the need to better understand the concomitant effects of stressors on health outcomes in wild populations. This is especially true given that some parasite species are expected to thrive in warming waters making host fish species especially at risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy De Bonville
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie et en Environnement Aquatique (GRIL), Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Av.Théres̀e-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, QC, H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Ariane Côté
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie et en Environnement Aquatique (GRIL), Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Av.Théres̀e-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, QC, H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Sandra A Binning
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie et en Environnement Aquatique (GRIL), Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Av.Théres̀e-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, QC, H2V 0B3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Feyrer LJ, Stanistreet JE, Moors-Murphy HB. Navigating the unknown: assessing anthropogenic threats to beaked whales, family Ziphiidae. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240058. [PMID: 38633351 PMCID: PMC11021932 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
This review comprehensively evaluates the impacts of anthropogenic threats on beaked whales (Ziphiidae)-a taxonomic group characterized by cryptic biology, deep dives and remote offshore habitat, which have challenged direct scientific observation. By synthesizing information published in peer-reviewed studies and grey literature, we identified available evidence of impacts across 14 threats for each Ziphiidae species. Threats were assessed based on their pathways of effects on individuals, revealing many gaps in scientific understanding of the risks faced by beaked whales. By applying a comprehensive taxon-level analysis, we found evidence that all beaked whale species are affected by multiple stressors, with climate change, entanglement and plastic pollution being the most common threats documented across beaked whale species. Threats assessed as having a serious impact on individuals included whaling, military sonar, entanglement, depredation, vessel strikes, plastics and oil spills. This review emphasizes the urgent need for targeted research to address a range of uncertainties, including cumulative and population-level impacts. Understanding the evidence and pathways of the effects of stressors on individuals can support future assessments, guide practical mitigation strategies and advance current understanding of anthropogenic impacts on rare and elusive marine species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Feyrer
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaB2Y 4A2, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova ScotiaB3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Joy E. Stanistreet
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaB2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Hilary B. Moors-Murphy
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaB2Y 4A2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Penczykowski RM, Fearon ML, Hite JL, Shocket MS, Hall SR, Duffy MA. Pathways linking nutrient enrichment, habitat structure, and parasitism to host-resource interactions. Oecologia 2024; 204:439-449. [PMID: 37951848 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05469-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Human activities simultaneously alter nutrient levels, habitat structure, and levels of parasitism. These activities likely have individual and joint impacts on food webs. Furthermore, there is particular concern that nutrient additions and changes to habitat structure might exacerbate the size of epidemics and impacts on host density. We used a well-studied zooplankton-fungus host-parasite system and experimental whole water column enclosures to factorially manipulate nutrient levels, habitat structure (specifically: mixing), and presence of parasites. Nutrient addition increased infection prevalence, density of infected hosts, and total host density. We hypothesized that nutrients, mixing, and parasitism were linked in multiple ways, including via their combined effects on phytoplankton (resource) abundance, and we used structural equation modeling to disentangle these pathways. In the absence of the parasite, both nutrients and mixing increased abundance of phytoplankton, whereas host density was negatively related to phytoplankton abundance, suggesting a mixture of bottom-up and top-down control of phytoplankton. In the presence of the parasite, nutrients still increased phytoplankton abundance but mixing no longer did, and there was no longer a significant relationship between host density and phytoplankton. This decoupling of host-resource dynamics may have resulted from reduced grazing due to illness-mediated changes in feeding behavior. Overall, our results show that the impact of one human activity (e.g., altered habitat structure) might depend on other human impacts (e.g., parasite introduction). Fortunately, carefully designed experiments and analyses can help tease apart these multifaceted relationships, allowing us to understand how human activities alter food webs, including interactions between hosts and their parasites and resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Penczykowski
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
| | - Michelle L Fearon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jessica L Hite
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Marta S Shocket
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Spencer R Hall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Meghan A Duffy
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Jarvis L, Rosenfeld J, Gonzalez-Espinosa PC, Enders EC. A process framework for integrating stressor-response functions into cumulative effects models. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167456. [PMID: 37839475 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167456] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Stressor-response (SR) functions quantify ecological responses to natural environmental variation or anthropogenic stressors. They are also core drivers of cumulative effects (CE) models, which are increasingly recognized as essential management tools to grapple with the diffuse footprint of human impacts. Here, we provide a process framework for the identification, development, and integration of SR functions into CE models, and highlight their consequential properties, behaviour, criteria for selecting appropriate stressors and responses, and general approaches for deriving them. Management objectives (and causal effect pathways) will determine the ultimate stressor and target response variables of interest (i.e., individual growth/survival, population size, community structure, ecosystem processes), but data availability will constrain whether proxies need to be used for the target stressor or response variables. Available data and confidence in underlying mechanisms will determine whether empirical or mechanistic (theoretical) SR functions are optimal. Uncertainty in underlying SR functions is often the primary source of error in CE modelling, and monitoring outcomes through adaptive management to iteratively refine parameterization of SR functions is a key element of model application. Dealing with stressor interactions is an additional challenge, and in the absence of known or suspected interaction mechanisms, controlling main effects should remain the primary focus. Indicators of suspected interaction presence (i.e., much larger or smaller responses to stressor reduction than expected during monitoring) should be confirmed through adaptive management cycles or targeted stressor manipulations. Where possible, management decisions should selectively take advantage of interactions to strategically mitigate stressor impacts (i.e., by using antagonisms to suppress stressor impacts, and by using synergisms to efficiently reduce them).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Jarvis
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ontario & Prairie Region, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada.
| | - Jordan Rosenfeld
- UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; B.C. Ministry of Environment, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Pedro C Gonzalez-Espinosa
- Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus, Simon Fraser University, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Technology and Science Complex 1, 643A Science Rd, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Eva C Enders
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre, 490 de la Couronne Street, Quebec City, QC G1K 9A9, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ostrowski A, Connolly RM, Brown CJ, Sievers M. Stressor fluctuations alter mechanisms of seagrass community responses relative to static stressors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:165865. [PMID: 37516181 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165865] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems are increasingly affected by multiple anthropogenic stressors that contribute to habitat degradation and loss. Natural ecosystems are highly dynamic, yet multiple stressor experiments often ignore variability in stressor intensity and do not consider how effects could be mediated across trophic levels, with implications for models that underpin stressor management. Here, we investigated the in situ effects of changes in stressor intensity (i.e., fluctuations) and synchronicity (i.e., timing of fluctuations) on a seagrass community, applying the stressors reduced light and physical disturbance to the sediment. We used structural equation models (SEMs) to identify causal effects of dynamic multiple stressors on seagrass shoot density and leaf surface area, and abundance of associated crustaceans. Responses depended on whether stressor intensities fluctuated or remained static. Relative to static stressor exposure at the end of the experiment, shoot density, leaf surface area, and crustacean abundance all declined under in-phase (synchronous; 17, 33, and 30 % less, respectively) and out-of-phase (asynchronous; 11, 28, and 39 % less, respectively) fluctuating treatments. Static treatment increased seagrass leaf surface area and crustacean abundance relative to the control group. We hypothesised that crustacean responses are mediated by changes in seagrass; however, causal analysis found only weak evidence for a mediation effect via leaf surface area. Changes in crustacean abundance, therefore, were primarily a direct response to stressors. Our results suggest that the mechanisms underpinning stress responses change when stressors fluctuate. For instance, increased leaf surface area under static stress could be caused by seagrass acclimating to low light, whereas no response under fluctuating stressors suggests an acclimation response was not triggered. The SEMs also revealed that community responses to the stressors can be independent of one another. Therefore, models based on static experiments may be representing ecological mechanisms not observed in natural ecosystems, and underestimating the impacts of stressors on ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andria Ostrowski
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia.
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Christopher J Brown
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Michael Sievers
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Pirotta E, Fernandez Ajó A, Bierlich KC, Bird CN, Buck CL, Haver SM, Haxel JH, Hildebrand L, Hunt KE, Lemos LS, New L, Torres LG. Assessing variation in faecal glucocorticoid concentrations in gray whales exposed to anthropogenic stressors. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad082. [PMID: 38026800 PMCID: PMC10660368 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how individual animals respond to stressors behaviourally and physiologically is a critical step towards quantifying long-term population consequences and informing management efforts. Glucocorticoid (GC) metabolite accumulation in various matrices provides an integrated measure of adrenal activation in baleen whales and could thus be used to investigate physiological changes following exposure to stressors. In this study, we measured GC concentrations in faecal samples of Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) collected over seven consecutive years to assess the association between GC content and metrics of exposure to sound levels and vessel traffic at different temporal scales, while controlling for contextual variables such as sex, reproductive status, age, body condition, year, time of year and location. We develop a Bayesian Generalized Additive Modelling approach that accommodates the many complexities of these data, including non-linear variation in hormone concentrations, missing covariate values, repeated samples, sampling variability and some hormone concentrations below the limit of detection. Estimated relationships showed large variability, but emerging patterns indicate a strong context-dependency of physiological variation, depending on sex, body condition and proximity to a port. Our results highlight the need to control for baseline hormone variation related to context, which otherwise can obscure the functional relationship between faecal GCs and stressor exposure. Therefore, extensive data collection to determine sources of baseline variation in well-studied populations, such as PCFG gray whales, could shed light on cetacean stress physiology and be used to extend applicability to less-well-studied taxa. GC analyses may offer greatest utility when employed as part of a suite of markers that, in aggregate, provide a multivariate measure of physiological status, better informing estimates of individuals' health and ultimately the consequences of anthropogenic stressors on populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Alejandro Fernandez Ajó
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - KC Bierlich
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Clara N Bird
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - C Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 S. Beaver St., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Samara M Haver
- Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystem and Resources Studies, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 104 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Joseph H Haxel
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Coastal Sciences Division, 1529 W. Sequim Bay Rd., Sequim, WA 98362, USA
| | - Lisa Hildebrand
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Kathleen E Hunt
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation & Department of Biology, George Mason University, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Leila S Lemos
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st St, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Leslie New
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ursinus College, 601 E Main St, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - Leigh G Torres
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kashiwabara L, Pirard L, Debier C, Crocker D, Khudyakov J. Effects of cortisol, epinephrine, and bisphenol contaminants on the transcriptional landscape of marine mammal blubber. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2023; 325:R504-R522. [PMID: 37602383 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00165.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Top ocean predators such as marine mammals are threatened by intensifying anthropogenic activity, and understanding the combined effects of multiple stressors on their physiology is critical for conservation efforts. We investigated potential interactions between stress hormones and bisphenol contaminants in a model marine mammal, the northern elephant seal (NES). We exposed precision-cut adipose tissue slices (PCATS) from blubber of weaned NES pups to cortisol (CORT), epinephrine (EPI), bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), or their combinations (CORT-EPI, BPA-EPI, and BPS-EPI) ex vivo and identified hundreds of genes that were differentially regulated in response to these treatments. CORT altered expression of genes associated with lipolysis and adipogenesis, whereas EPI and CORT-EPI-regulated genes were associated with responses to hormones, lipid and protein turnover, immune function, and transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of gene expression, suggesting that EPI has wide-ranging and prolonged impacts on the transcriptional landscape and function of blubber. Bisphenol treatments alone had a weak impact on gene expression compared with stress hormones. However, the combination of EPI with bisphenols altered expression of genes associated with inflammation, cell stress, DNA damage, regulation of nuclear hormone receptor activity, cell cycle, mitochondrial function, primary ciliogenesis, and lipid metabolism in blubber. Our results suggest that CORT, EPI, bisphenols, and their combinations impact cellular, immune, and metabolic homeostasis in marine mammal blubber, which may affect the ability of marine mammals to sustain prolonged fasting during reproduction and migration, renew tissues, and mount appropriate responses to immune challenges and additional stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Kashiwabara
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, United States
| | - Laura Pirard
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la Neuve, Belgium
| | - Cathy Debier
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la Neuve, Belgium
| | - Daniel Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California, United States
| | - Jane Khudyakov
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
de Jersey AM, Lavers JL, Zosky GR, Rivers-Auty J. The understudied global experiment of pollution's impacts on wildlife and human health: The ethical imperative for interdisciplinary research. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 336:122459. [PMID: 37633432 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
The global impact of pollution on human and wildlife health is a growing concern. The health impacts of pollution are significant and far-reaching yet poorly understood as no one field of research has the practices and methodologies required to encapsulate the diversity of these consequences. This paper advocates that interdisciplinary research is essential to comprehend the full extent of the impact of pollution. Medical and ecological research play a key role in investigating the health consequences of the pollution crisis, yet the wildlife experience is often neglected. This paper outlines how applying advanced techniques and expertise adapted in medical research to wildlife exposed to pollutants offers a unique perspective to understanding the full diversity of impacts to health. The challenges that impede the progress of this research include the lack of support for interdisciplinary research among funding streams, limitations in field-specific techniques, and a lack of communication between researchers from different disciplines. Of awarded funding from major national research councils across Australia, Europe, and the United States of America, only 0.5% is dedicated to pollution focused research. This is inclusive of laboratory equipment, mitigation strategies, quantification of environmental samples and health consequences research. Of that, 0.03% of funding is awarded to explaining the wildlife experience and documenting the health consequences observed despite being model organisms to environmentally and biologically relevant models for pollution exposure. This calls for a coordinated effort to overcome these hurdles and to promote interdisciplinary research in order to fully comprehend the consequences of pollution exposure and protect the health of humans, wildlife, and the environment. An interdisciplinary approach to this problem is timely given the magnitude of negative health consequences associated with exposure, the number of pollutants already present within the environment and the continual development of new compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alix M de Jersey
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Lavers
- Bird Group, The Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 6AP, United Kingdom; Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, 11A Shelden Road, Esperance, Western Australia, 6450, Australia.
| | - Graeme R Zosky
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| | - Jack Rivers-Auty
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Costa DP, Favilla AB. Field physiology in the aquatic realm: ecological energetics and diving behavior provide context for elucidating patterns and deviations. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245832. [PMID: 37843467 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Comparative physiology has developed a rich understanding of the physiological adaptations of organisms, from microbes to megafauna. Despite extreme differences in size and a diversity of habitats, general patterns are observed in their physiological adaptations. Yet, many organisms deviate from the general patterns, providing an opportunity to understand the importance of ecology in determining the evolution of unusual adaptations. Aquatic air-breathing vertebrates provide unique study systems in which the interplay between ecology, physiology and behavior is most evident. They must perform breath-hold dives to obtain food underwater, which imposes a physiological constraint on their foraging time as they must resurface to breathe. This separation of two critical resources has led researchers to investigate these organisms' physiological adaptations and trade-offs. Addressing such questions on large marine animals is best done in the field, given the difficulty of replicating the environment of these animals in the lab. This Review examines the long history of research on diving physiology and behavior. We show how innovative technology and the careful selection of research animals have provided a holistic understanding of diving mammals' physiology, behavior and ecology. We explore the role of the aerobic diving limit, body size, oxygen stores, prey distribution and metabolism. We then identify gaps in our knowledge and suggest areas for future research, pointing out how this research will help conserve these unique animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Costa
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Arina B Favilla
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Merrill GB, Hermabessiere L, Rochman CM, Nowacek DP. Microplastics in marine mammal blubber, melon, & other tissues: Evidence of translocation. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122252. [PMID: 37541381 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Marine mammals consume large quantities of microplastic particles, likely via trophic transfer (i.e., through prey who have consumed plastic) and direct consumption from seawater or sediment. Microplastics have been found in the stomachs, gastro-intestinal tracts, and feces of cetaceans and pinnipeds. Translocation of ingested microplastics has been documented in other organs of several aquatic species, but has not been examined in marine mammals. Marine mammals have highly specialized lipid-rich tissues which may increase susceptibility to lipophilic microplastics. Here we demonstrate the occurrence of microplastics, ranging in size, mass concentration, and particle count concentration from 24.4 μm - 1387 μm, 0.59 μg/g - 25.20 μg/g, and 0.04 - 0.39 particles/g, respectively, in four tissues (acoustic fat pad, blubber, lung, & melon) from twelve marine mammal species inclusive of mysticetes, odontocetes, and phocids. Twenty-two individuals were examined for microplastics using a combination of Raman spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Overall, 68% of individuals had at least one microplastic particle in at least one of the four tissue types, with the most common polymer and shape observed being polyethylene and fibers, respectively. These findings suggest some proportion of ingested microplastics translocate throughout marine mammal bodies posing an exposure risk to both marine mammals and people. For people, exposure could be directly through consumption for those who rely on marine mammals as food and indirectly to peoples globally who consume the same prey resources as marine mammals. Some individuals examined represent samples obtained over two decades ago, suggesting that this process, and thus exposure risk, has occurred for some time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greg B Merrill
- Duke University Marine Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, United States.
| | - Ludovic Hermabessiere
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Douglas P Nowacek
- Duke University Marine Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gayford JH, Pearse WD, De La Parra Venegas R, Whitehead DA. Quantifying the behavioural consequences of shark ecotourism. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12938. [PMID: 37679396 PMCID: PMC10485054 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39560-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Shark populations globally are facing catastrophic declines. Ecotourism has been posited as a potential solution to many of the issues facing shark conservation, yet increasingly studies suggest that such activity may negatively influence aspects of shark ecology and so further pressure declining populations. Here we combine UAV videography with deep learning algorithms, multivariate statistics and hidden Markov models (HMM) to quantitatively investigate the behavioural consequences of ecotourism in the whale shark (Rhincodon typus). We find that ecotourism increases the probability of sharks being in a disturbed behavioural state, likely increasing energetic expenditure and potentially leading to downstream ecological effects. These results are only recovered when fitting models that account for individual variation in behavioural responses and past behavioural history. Our results demonstrate that behavioural responses to ecotourism are context dependent, as the initial behavioural state is important in determining responses to human activity. We argue that models incorporating individuality and context-dependence should, wherever possible, be incorporated into future studies investigating the ecological impacts of shark ecotourism, which are only likely to increase in importance given the expansion of the industry and the dire conservation status of many shark species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joel H Gayford
- Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Shark Measurements, London, UK.
| | - William D Pearse
- Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Schäfer RB, Jackson M, Juvigny-Khenafou N, Osakpolor SE, Posthuma L, Schneeweiss A, Spaak J, Vinebrooke R. Chemical Mixtures and Multiple Stressors: Same but Different? ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:1915-1936. [PMID: 37036219 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5629] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems are strongly influenced by multiple anthropogenic stressors, including a wide range of chemicals and their mixtures. Studies on the effects of multiple stressors have largely focussed on nonchemical stressors, whereas studies on chemical mixtures have largely ignored other stressors. However, both research areas face similar challenges and require similar tools and methods to predict the joint effects of chemicals or nonchemical stressors, and frameworks to integrate multiple chemical and nonchemical stressors are missing. We provide an overview of the research paradigms, tools, and methods commonly used in multiple stressor and chemical mixture research and discuss potential domains of cross-fertilization and joint challenges. First, we compare the general paradigms of ecotoxicology and (applied) ecology to explain the historical divide. Subsequently, we compare methods and approaches for the identification of interactions, stressor characterization, and designing experiments. We suggest that both multiple stressor and chemical mixture research are too focused on interactions and would benefit from integration regarding null model selection. Stressor characterization is typically more costly for chemical mixtures. While for chemical mixtures comprehensive classification systems at suborganismal level have been developed, recent classification systems for multiple stressors account for environmental context. Both research areas suffer from rather simplified experimental designs that focus on only a limited number of stressors, chemicals, and treatments. We discuss concepts that can guide more realistic designs capturing spatiotemporal stressor dynamics. We suggest that process-based and data-driven models are particularly promising to tackle the challenge of prediction of effects of chemical mixtures and nonchemical stressors on (meta-)communities and (meta-)food webs. We propose a framework to integrate the assessment of effects for multiple stressors and chemical mixtures. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1915-1936. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralf B Schäfer
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Univerität Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | | | - Noel Juvigny-Khenafou
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Univerität Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Stephen E Osakpolor
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Univerität Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Leo Posthuma
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anke Schneeweiss
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Univerität Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Jürg Spaak
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Univerität Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Rolf Vinebrooke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Krull M. Mercury Exposure and Habitat Fragmentation Affect the Movement, Foraging Behavior, and Search Efficiency of the Marsh Periwinkle (Littorina irrorata). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:1971-1981. [PMID: 36524861 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5545] [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: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The interactions between habitat fragmentation and other stressors are considered a key knowledge gap. The present study tested the hypotheses that mercury enhances the effects of fragmentation by (1) reducing the cumulative daily movement of organisms, (2) shifting their foraging behavior, and (3) altering the vertical movement of the marsh periwinkle (Littoraria irrorata) in a field experiment. Random walk simulations were used to access how changes in movement affect the search efficiency of organisms in the long term. Eighteen 1.5 m2 plots were constructed in a salt marsh where landscapes characteristics were manipulated to reach three different levels of habitat cover. Daily movement of 12 marked control and mercury-exposed snails were measured in each plot. Bayesian models were used to analyze the data and evidence ratios were used to test the hypotheses. The results showed that the effects of fragmentation were consistent in both control and exposed treatments, with an increase in the cumulative displacement of organisms. However, mercury significantly reduced the movement of organisms in all levels of fragmentation, shifting their foraging behavior (evidence ratio > 1000). Exposed snails were more likely to be found inactive in comparison with the control treatment (evidence ratio > 1000). Fragmentation also reduced the vertical movement of organisms in both treatments. In contrast, mercury increased the vertical movement of organisms (evidence ratio > 1000). The search efficiency of organisms also increased in a highly fragmentated landscape, suggesting that changes in foraging behavior are likely due to reduced resources and consequently increase in foraging effort. The present study shows that mercury exposure can enhance the effects of habitat fragmentation by changing organisms' movement, foraging behavior, and search efficiency. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1971-1981. © 2022 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Krull
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Müncheberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Greenhough H, Vignier J, Peychers C, Smith KF, Kenny NJ, Rolton A. Exposure to Alexandrium spp. impairs the development of Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) embryos and larvae. HARMFUL ALGAE 2023; 127:102465. [PMID: 37544681 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2023.102465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The green-lipped mussel (GLM) Perna canaliculus is an economically, ecologically, and culturally important species in Aotearoa New Zealand. Since 2011, harmful algal blooms (HABs) of Alexandrium spp. have occurred annually in the Marlborough Sounds, the largest GLM aquaculture region in New Zealand. Across a similar timeframe, there has been a severe reduction in wild spat (juvenile mussel) catch. This research investigated the effects of Alexandrium pacificum (which produces paralytic shellfish toxins; PSTs) and A. minutum (a non-producer of PSTs) on the development of four GLM larval life stages (gametes, embryos, D-stage and settlement). Early life stages of GLM were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of Alexandrium spp. as whole cell, lysate and filtrate treatments. A 48-h exposure of embryos to whole A. pacificum cells at 500 cells mL-1 caused lysis of embryos, severe abnormalities, and reduced development through to veliger (D-stage) larvae by 85%. GLM growth was impaired at cell concentrations as low as 250 cells mL-1 during a 4-day exposure of D-stage larvae to both Alexandrium spp. Exposure of GLM to both whole and lysed treatments of Alexandrium spp. at 500 cells mL-1 resulted in halved larval growth rates (2.00 µm day-1 vs 4.48 µm day-1 in the control) and growth remained impeded during a 4-day recovery period. Both A. pacificum and A. minutum were found to negatively impact D-larvae. Both whole-cell and lysed-cell treatments of A. pacificum had similar negative effects, suggesting that Alexandrium spp. toxicity to D-larvae is independent of PSTs. Additionally, cell membrane-free treatments of A. pacificum had no negative effects on embryo development, indicating that cell surface-associated bioactive compounds may be responsible for the observed negative effects during this early life stage. Conversely, non-PST-producing A. minutum was toxic to D-stage larvae but not to embryos; larval growth was reduced following a brief 1 h exposure of sperm to cell membrane-free treatments of A. pacificum. No effects were recorded in GLM larvae exposed during settlement, highlighting the potential for differences in susceptibility of early life stages to Alexandrium spp. exposure and the influence of exposure durations. In the wild, blooms of Alexandrium spp. can persist for several months, reaching cell densities higher than those investigated in the present study, and as such may be detrimental to the vulnerable early life stages of GLM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Greenhough
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, 7010, Nelson, New Zealand; Department of Biochemistry Te Tari Matū Koiora, University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand.
| | - Julien Vignier
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, 7010, Nelson, New Zealand
| | - Carol Peychers
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, 7010, Nelson, New Zealand
| | - Kirsty F Smith
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, 7010, Nelson, New Zealand
| | - Nathan J Kenny
- Department of Biochemistry Te Tari Matū Koiora, University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Anne Rolton
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, 7010, Nelson, New Zealand.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Barratclough A, Ferguson SH, Lydersen C, Thomas PO, Kovacs KM. A Review of Circumpolar Arctic Marine Mammal Health-A Call to Action in a Time of Rapid Environmental Change. Pathogens 2023; 12:937. [PMID: 37513784 PMCID: PMC10385039 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The impacts of climate change on the health of marine mammals are increasingly being recognised. Given the rapid rate of environmental change in the Arctic, the potential ramifications on the health of marine mammals in this region are a particular concern. There are eleven endemic Arctic marine mammal species (AMMs) comprising three cetaceans, seven pinnipeds, and the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). All of these species are dependent on sea ice for survival, particularly those requiring ice for breeding. As air and water temperatures increase, additional species previously non-resident in Arctic waters are extending their ranges northward, leading to greater species overlaps and a concomitant increased risk of disease transmission. In this study, we review the literature documenting disease presence in Arctic marine mammals to understand the current causes of morbidity and mortality in these species and forecast future disease issues. Our review highlights potential pathogen occurrence in a changing Arctic environment, discussing surveillance methods for 35 specific pathogens, identifying risk factors associated with these diseases, as well as making recommendations for future monitoring for emerging pathogens. Several of the pathogens discussed have the potential to cause unusual mortality events in AMMs. Brucella, morbillivirus, influenza A virus, and Toxoplasma gondii are all of concern, particularly with the relative naivety of the immune systems of endemic Arctic species. There is a clear need for increased surveillance to understand baseline disease levels and address the gravity of the predicted impacts of climate change on marine mammal species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Barratclough
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - Steven H. Ferguson
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada;
| | - Christian Lydersen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway; (C.L.); (K.M.K.)
| | - Peter O. Thomas
- Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Room 700, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
| | - Kit M. Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway; (C.L.); (K.M.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Fernandez Ajó A, Pirotta E, Bierlich KC, Hildebrand L, Bird CN, Hunt KE, Buck CL, New L, Dillon D, Torres LG. Assessment of a non-invasive approach to pregnancy diagnosis in gray whales through drone-based photogrammetry and faecal hormone analysis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230452. [PMID: 37476509 PMCID: PMC10354484 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of baleen whales' reproductive physiology is limited and requires long-term individual-based studies and innovative tools. We used 6 years of individual-level data on the Pacific Coast Feeding Group gray whales to evaluate the utility of faecal progesterone immunoassays and drone-based photogrammetry for pregnancy diagnosis. We explored the variability in faecal progesterone metabolites and body morphology relative to observed reproductive status and estimated the pregnancy probability for mature females of unknown reproductive status using normal mixture models. Individual females had higher faecal progesterone concentrations when pregnant than when presumed non-pregnant. Yet, at the population level, high overlap and variability in progesterone metabolite concentrations occurred between pregnant and non-pregnant groups, limiting this metric for accurate pregnancy diagnosis in gray whales. Alternatively, body width at 50% of the total body length (W50) correctly discriminated pregnant from non-pregnant females at individual and population levels, with high accuracy. Application of the model using W50 metric to mature females of unknown pregnancy status identified eight additional pregnancies with high confidence. Our findings highlight the utility of drone-based photogrammetry to non-invasively diagnose pregnancy in this group of gray whales, and the potential for improved data on reproductive rates for population management of baleen whales generally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A. Fernandez Ajó
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - E. Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - K. C. Bierlich
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - L. Hildebrand
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - C. N. Bird
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| | - K. E. Hunt
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, Department of Biology, George Mason University, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - C. L. Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 South Beaver Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - L. New
- Ursinus College, 601 East Main Street, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - D. Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 South Beaver Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - L. G. Torres
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Fort J. Contaminant-by-environment interactive effects on animal behavior in the context of global change: Evidence from avian behavioral ecotoxicology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163169. [PMID: 37003321 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The potential for chemical contaminant exposure to interact with other stressors to affect animal behavioral responses to environmental variability is of mounting concern in the context of anthropogenic environmental change. We systematically reviewed the avian literature to evaluate evidence for contaminant-by-environment interactive effects on animal behavior, as birds are prominent models in behavioral ecotoxicology and global change research. We found that only 17 of 156 (10.9 %) avian behavioral ecotoxicological studies have explored contaminant-by-environment interactions. However, 13 (76.5 %) have found evidence for interactive effects, suggesting that contaminant-by-environment interactive effects on behavior are understudied but important. We draw on our review to develop a conceptual framework to understand such interactive effects from a behavioral reaction norm perspective. Our framework highlights four patterns in reaction norm shapes that can underlie contaminant-by-environment interactive effects on behavior, termed exacerbation, inhibition, mitigation and convergence. First, contamination can render individuals unable to maintain critical behaviors across gradients in additional stressors, exacerbating behavioral change (reaction norms steeper) and generating synergy. Second, contamination can inhibit behavioral adjustment to other stressors, antagonizing behavioral plasticity (reaction norms shallower). Third, a second stressor can mitigate (antagonize) toxicological effects of contamination, causing steeper reaction norms in highly contaminated individuals, with improvement of performance upon exposure to additional stress. Fourth, contamination can limit behavioral plasticity in response to permissive conditions, such that performance of more and less contaminated individuals converges under more stressful conditions. Diverse mechanisms might underlie such shape differences in reaction norms, including combined effects of contaminants and other stressors on endocrinology, energy balance, sensory systems, and physiological and cognitive limits. To encourage more research, we outline how the types of contaminant-by-environment interactive effects proposed in our framework might operate across multiple behavioral domains. We conclude by leveraging our review and framework to suggest priorities for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Grunst
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France.
| | - Melissa L Grunst
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Munné-Bosch S, Villadangos S. Cheap, cost-effective, and quick stress biomarkers for drought stress detection and monitoring in plants. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 28:527-536. [PMID: 36764869 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The detection and monitoring of drought stress in plants growing in their natural habitat are essential for the study of plant stress physiology. However, with the advent of plant phenotyping and new -omics technologies, the application of simple, cheap, cost-effective, quick, and practical methods to assess drought stress in plants seems more challenging than ever, particularly in low-income countries. Here, currently available methods that do not require specialized equipment, but reliably detect and monitor drought stress in plants at low cost will be discussed. This will not only boost research on plant stress physiology in low-income countries but will also help several laboratories with very limited resources around the globe to perform high-quality research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Munné-Bosch
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Faculty of Biology, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, E-08028, Spain; Institute of Research in Biodiversity (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Faculty of Biology, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, E-08028, Spain.
| | - Sabina Villadangos
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Faculty of Biology, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, E-08028, Spain; Institute of Research in Biodiversity (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Faculty of Biology, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, E-08028, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Peterson SH, Ackerman JT, Holser RR, McDonald BI, Costa DP, Crocker DE. Mercury Bioaccumulation and Cortisol Interact to Influence Endocrine and Immune Biomarkers in a Free-Ranging Marine Mammal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:5678-5692. [PMID: 36996077 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08974] [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: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mercury bioaccumulation from deep-ocean prey and the extreme life history strategies of adult female northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) provide a unique system to assess the interactive effects of mercury and stress on animal health by quantifying blood biomarkers in relation to mercury (skeletal muscle and blood mercury) and cortisol concentrations. The thyroid hormone thyroxine (tT4) and the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) were associated with mercury and cortisol concentrations interactively, where the magnitude and direction of the association of each biomarker with mercury or cortisol changed depending on the concentration of the other factor. For example, when cortisol concentrations were lowest, tT4 was positively related to muscle mercury, whereas tT4 had a negative relationship with muscle mercury in seals that had the highest cortisol concentrations. Additionally, we observed that two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (tT3) and reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), were negatively (tT3) and positively (rT3) associated with mercury concentrations and cortisol in an additive manner. As an example, tT3 concentrations in late breeding seals at the median cortisol concentration decreased by 14% across the range of observed muscle mercury concentrations. We also observed that immunoglobulin M (IgM), the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 (IL-6), and a reproductive hormone, estradiol, were negatively related to muscle mercury concentrations but were not related to cortisol. Specifically, estradiol concentrations in late molting seals decreased by 50% across the range of muscle mercury concentrations. These results indicate important physiological effects of mercury on free-ranging apex marine predators and interactions between mercury bioaccumulation and extrinsic stressors. Deleterious effects on animals' abilities to maintain homeostasis (thyroid hormones), fight off pathogens and disease (innate and adaptive immune system), and successfully reproduce (endocrine system) can have significant individual- and population-level consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Peterson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California 95620, United States of America
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California 95620, United States of America
| | - Rachel R Holser
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
| | - Birgitte I McDonald
- Moss Landing Marine Labs, San Jose State University, Moss Landing, California 95039, United States of America
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States of America
| | - Daniel E Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California 94928, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
van Moorsel SJ, Thébault E, Radchuk V, Narwani A, Montoya JM, Dakos V, Holmes M, De Laender F, Pennekamp F. Predicting effects of multiple interacting global change drivers across trophic levels. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:1223-1238. [PMID: 36461630 PMCID: PMC7614140 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Global change encompasses many co-occurring anthropogenic drivers, which can act synergistically or antagonistically on ecological systems. Predicting how different global change drivers simultaneously contribute to observed biodiversity change is a key challenge for ecology and conservation. However, we lack the mechanistic understanding of how multiple global change drivers influence the vital rates of multiple interacting species. We propose that reaction norms, the relationships between a driver and vital rates like growth, mortality, and consumption, provide insights to the underlying mechanisms of community responses to multiple drivers. Understanding how multiple drivers interact to affect demographic rates using a reaction-norm perspective can improve our ability to make predictions of interactions at higher levels of organization-that is, community and food web. Building on the framework of consumer-resource interactions and widely studied thermal performance curves, we illustrate how joint driver impacts can be scaled up from the population to the community level. A simple proof-of-concept model demonstrates how reaction norms of vital rates predict the prevalence of driver interactions at the community level. A literature search suggests that our proposed approach is not yet used in multiple driver research. We outline how realistic response surfaces (i.e., multidimensional reaction norms) can be inferred by parametric and nonparametric approaches. Response surfaces have the potential to strengthen our understanding of how multiple drivers affect communities as well as improve our ability to predict when interactive effects emerge, two of the major challenges of ecology today.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia J. van Moorsel
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Department of GeographyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Elisa Thébault
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Université Paris Est Créteil, Université Paris Cité, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris (iEES‐Paris)ParisFrance
| | - Viktoriia Radchuk
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
| | - Anita Narwani
- Department of Aquatic EcologyEawagDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - José M. Montoya
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology StationCNRSMoulisFrance
| | - Vasilis Dakos
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM)Université de Montpellier, IRD, EPHEMontpellierFrance
| | - Mark Holmes
- Namur Institute for Complex Systems (naXys), Institute of Life, Earth, and Environment (ILEE), Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Frederik De Laender
- Namur Institute for Complex Systems (naXys), Institute of Life, Earth, and Environment (ILEE), Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Frank Pennekamp
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Grémillet D, Kato A, Bustamante P, Albert C, Brisson-Curadeau É, Clairbaux M, Cruz-Flores M, Gentès S, Perret S, Ste-Marie E, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Fort J. Mercury Contamination Challenges the Behavioral Response of a Keystone Species to Arctic Climate Change. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2054-2063. [PMID: 36652233 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08893] [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] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Combined effects of multiple, climate change-associated stressors are of mounting concern, especially in Arctic ecosystems. Elevated mercury (Hg) exposure in Arctic animals could affect behavioral responses to changes in foraging landscapes caused by climate change, generating interactive effects on behavior and population resilience. We investigated this hypothesis in little auks (Alle alle), a keystone Arctic seabird. We compiled behavioral data for 44 birds across 5 years using accelerometers while also quantifying blood Hg and environmental conditions. Warm sea surface temperature (SST) and low sea ice coverage reshaped time activity budgets (TABs) and diving patterns, causing decreased resting, increased flight, and longer dives. Mercury contamination was not associated with TABs. However, highly contaminated birds lengthened interdive breaks when making long dives, suggesting Hg-induced physiological limitations. As dive durations increased with warm SST, subtle toxicological effects threaten to increasingly constrain diving and foraging efficiency as climate change progresses, with ecosystem-wide repercussions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Grunst
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle FR-17000, France
| | - Melissa L Grunst
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle FR-17000, France
| | - David Grémillet
- CEFE, UMR 5175, CNRS─Université de Montpellier─Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier─EPHE, Montpellier 34090, France
- Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Akiko Kato
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois 79360, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle FR-17000, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, Paris 75005, France
| | - Céline Albert
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle FR-17000, France
| | - Émile Brisson-Curadeau
- McGill University─Macdonald Campus, 21111 Lakeshore Dr, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Manon Clairbaux
- School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T23 N73K, Ireland
- MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork P43 C573, Ireland
| | - Marta Cruz-Flores
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle FR-17000, France
| | - Sophie Gentès
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle FR-17000, France
| | - Samuel Perret
- CEFE, UMR 5175, CNRS─Université de Montpellier─Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier─EPHE, Montpellier 34090, France
| | - Eric Ste-Marie
- McGill University─Macdonald Campus, 21111 Lakeshore Dr, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | | | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle FR-17000, France
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Pirotta E, Schick RS, Hamilton PK, Harris CM, Hewitt J, Knowlton AR, Kraus SD, Meyer‐Gutbrod E, Moore MJ, Pettis HM, Photopoulou T, Rolland RM, Tyack PL, Thomas L. Estimating the effects of stressors on the health, survival and reproduction of a critically endangered, long‐lived species. OIKOS 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Robert S. Schick
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke Univ. Durham NC USA
| | - Philip K. Hamilton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Catriona M. Harris
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Joshua Hewitt
- Dept of Statistical Science, Duke Univ. Durham NC USA
| | - Amy R. Knowlton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Scott D. Kraus
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Erin Meyer‐Gutbrod
- School of Earth, Ocean and Environment, Univ. of South Carolina Columbia SC USA
| | | | - Heather M. Pettis
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Theoni Photopoulou
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | | | - Peter L. Tyack
- School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Inst., Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Booth CG, Guilpin M, Darias-O’Hara AK, Ransijn JM, Ryder M, Rosen D, Pirotta E, Smout S, McHuron EA, Nabe-Nielsen J, Costa DP. Estimating energetic intake for marine mammal bioenergetic models. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coac083. [PMID: 36756464 PMCID: PMC9900471 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioenergetics is the study of how animals achieve energetic balance. Energetic balance results from the energetic expenditure of an individual and the energy they extract from their environment. Ingested energy depends on several extrinsic (e.g prey species, nutritional value and composition, prey density and availability) and intrinsic factors (e.g. foraging effort, success at catching prey, digestive processes and associated energy losses, and digestive capacity). While the focus in bioenergetic modelling is often on the energetic costs an animal incurs, the robust estimation of an individual's energy intake is equally critical for producing meaningful predictions. Here, we review the components and processes that affect energy intake from ingested gross energy to biologically useful net energy (NE). The current state of knowledge of each parameter is reviewed, shedding light on research gaps to advance this field. The review highlighted that the foraging behaviour of many marine mammals is relatively well studied via biologging tags, with estimates of success rate typically assumed for most species. However, actual prey capture success rates are often only assumed, although we note studies that provide approaches for its estimation using current techniques. A comprehensive collation of the nutritional content of marine mammal prey species revealed a robust foundation from which prey quality (comprising prey species, size and energy density) can be assessed, though data remain unavailable for many prey species. Empirical information on various energy losses following ingestion of prey was unbalanced among marine mammal species, with considerably more literature available for pinnipeds. An increased understanding and accurate estimate of each of the components that comprise a species NE intake are an integral part of bioenergetics. Such models provide a key tool to investigate the effects of disturbance on marine mammals at an individual and population level and to support effective conservation and management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cormac G Booth
- Corresponding author: SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK.
| | | | - Aimee-Kate Darias-O’Hara
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Janneke M Ransijn
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Megan Ryder
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Dave Rosen
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling,
The Observatory, Buchanan
Gardens, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews,
KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Sophie Smout
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Elizabeth A McHuron
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, 3737 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Jacob Nabe-Nielsen
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DK-4000
Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, 130
McAlister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Chan SCY, Karczmarski L, Lin W, Zheng R, Ho YW, Guo L, Mo Y, Lee ATL, Or CKM, Wu Y. An unknown component of a well-known population: socio-demographic parameters of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) at the western reaches of the Pearl River Delta region. Mamm Biol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00335-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
31
|
Lusseau D, Kindt-Larsen L, van Beest FM. Emergent interactions in the management of multiple threats to the conservation of harbour porpoises. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 855:158936. [PMID: 36152860 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158936] [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: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Human activities at sea are intensifying and diversifying. This is leading to more complex interactions of anthropogenic impacts requiring adaptable management interventions to mitigate their cumulative effects on biodiversity conservation and restoration objectives. Bycatch remains the dominant conservation threat for coastal cetaceans. Additionally, the indirect impact of repeated exposure to disturbances, particularly acoustic disturbances, can affect cetacean population growth and therefore conservation objectives. Pingers are used to ensonify nets to provide an effective mitigation of bycatch risk. As those become more prevalent across fisheries at risk to catch for example harbour porpoises, pingers become contributors to the anthropogenic noise landscape which may affect the vital rates of this species as well. Currently, we do not know how to best balance pinger prevalence to minimise both bycatch rate and the population consequences of acoustic disturbance (PCoD). Here we use an agent-based model to determine how pinger prevalence in nets can be adjusted to minimise bycatch rate and noise disturbance propagating to affect population growth for harbour porpoises. We show that counter-intuitively bycatch rate can increase at lower pinger prevalence. When ecological conditions are such that PCOD can emerge, higher prevalence of pingers can lead to indirect effects on population growth. This would result from condition-mediated decreased reproductive potential. Displacing fishing effort, via time-area closure, can be an effective mitigation strategy in these circumstances. These findings have important implications for current management plans which, for practical consideration, may lead to lower overall pinger prevalence at sea. This study also shows that estimating the reproductive potential of the species should be incorporated in bycatch monitoring programmes. We now need to better understand how physiological condition affect reproductive decisions and behavioural responses to noise in cetaceans to better appraise and estimate the cumulative impacts of bycatch and its mitigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Lusseau
- National Institute for Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Lotte Kindt-Larsen
- National Institute for Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Floris M van Beest
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Rosenfeld J, Gonzalez-Espinosa P, Jarvis L, Enders E, Bayly M, Paul A, MacPherson L, Moore J, Sullivan M, Ulaski M, Wilson K. Stressor-response functions as a generalizable model for context dependence. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:1032-1035. [PMID: 36244864 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Defining the context dependence of ecological states or processes is a fundamental goal of ecology. Stressor-response functions are the quantitative representation of context dependence, where the context (environmental contingency) is defined by location on the stressor (x) axis, and represents a unifying concept in biological science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Rosenfeld
- UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4; BC Ministry of Environment, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
| | | | - Lauren Jarvis
- Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Canada, R3T 2N6
| | - Eva Enders
- Institute National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Québec, Canada, G1K 9A9
| | | | - Andrew Paul
- Office of the Chief Scientist, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6H 4P2
| | - Laura MacPherson
- Alberta Environment and Parks, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6H 4P2
| | - Jonathan Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Michael Sullivan
- Alberta Environment and Parks, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6H 4P2
| | - Marta Ulaski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Kyle Wilson
- Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance, Campbell River, BC, Canada, V9A 4X1
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Tyack PL, Thomas L, Costa DP, Hall AJ, Harris CM, Harwood J, Kraus SD, Miller PJO, Moore M, Photopoulou T, Pirotta E, Rolland RM, Schwacke LH, Simmons SE, Southall BL. Managing the effects of multiple stressors on wildlife populations in their ecosystems: developing a cumulative risk approach. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20222058. [PMID: 36448280 PMCID: PMC9709579 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing cumulative effects of human activities on ecosystems is required by many jurisdictions, but current science cannot meet regulatory demands. Regulations define them as effect(s) of one human action combined with other actions. Here we argue for an approach that evaluates the cumulative risk of multiple stressors for protected wildlife populations within their ecosystems. Monitoring effects of each stressor is necessary but not sufficient to estimate how multiple stressors interact to affect wildlife populations. Examining the mechanistic pathways, from cellular to ecological, by which stressors affect individuals can help prioritize stressors and interpret how they interact. Our approach uses health indicators to accumulate the effects of stressors on individuals and to estimate changes in vital rates, driving population status. We advocate using methods well-established in human health and integrating them into ecosystem-based management to protect the health of commercially and culturally important wildlife populations and to protect against risk of extinction for threatened species. Our approach will improve abilities to conserve and manage ecosystems but will also demand significant increases in research and monitoring effort. We advocate for increased investment proportional to the economic scale of human activities in the Anthropocene and their pervasive effects on ecology and biodiversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter L Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.,Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Catriona M Harris
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - John Harwood
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Scott D Kraus
- Anderson-Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick J O Miller
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Michael Moore
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Theoni Photopoulou
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Rosalind M Rolland
- Anderson-Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Samantha E Simmons
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Brandon L Southall
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.,Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Burny C, Nolte V, Dolezal M, Schlötterer C. Genome-wide selection signatures reveal widespread synergistic effects of two different stressors in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221857. [PMID: 36259211 PMCID: PMC9579754 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental evolution combined with whole-genome sequencing (evolve and resequence (E&R)) is a powerful approach to study the adaptive architecture of selected traits. Nevertheless, so far the focus has been on the selective response triggered by a single stressor. Building on the highly parallel selection response of founder populations with reduced variation, we evaluated how the presence of a second stressor affects the genomic selection response. After 20 generations of adaptation to laboratory conditions at either 18°C or 29°C, strong genome-wide selection signatures were observed. Only 38% of the selection signatures can be attributed to laboratory adaptation (no difference between temperature regimes). The remaining selection responses are either caused by temperature-specific effects, or reflect the joint effects of temperature and laboratory adaptation (same direction, but the magnitude differs between temperatures). The allele frequency changes resulting from the combined effects of temperature and laboratory adaptation were more extreme in the hot environment for 83% of the affected genomic regions-indicating widespread synergistic effects of the two stressors. We conclude that E&R with reduced genetic variation is a powerful approach to study genome-wide fitness consequences driven by the combined effects of multiple environmental factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Burny
- Institut für Populationsgenetik, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, Vienna 1210, Austria.,Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna 1210, Austria
| | - Viola Nolte
- Institut für Populationsgenetik, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, Vienna 1210, Austria
| | - Marlies Dolezal
- Plattform Bioinformatik und Biostatistik, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna 1210, Austria
| | - Christian Schlötterer
- Institut für Populationsgenetik, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, Vienna 1210, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Booth CG, Brannan N, Dunlop R, Friedlander A, Isojunno S, Miller P, Quick N, Southall B, Pirotta E. A sampling, exposure and receptor framework for identifying factors that modulate behavioural responses to disturbance in cetaceans. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:1948-1960. [PMID: 35895847 PMCID: PMC9804311 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of behavioural disturbance in cetacean species (e.g. resulting from exposure to anthropogenic sources such as military sonar, seismic surveys, or pile driving) is important for effective conservation and management. Disturbance effects can be informed by Behavioural Response Studies (BRSs), involving either controlled exposure experiments (CEEs) where noise exposure conditions are presented deliberately to meet experimental objectives or in opportunistic contexts where ongoing activities are monitored in a strategic manner. In either context, animal-borne sensors or in situ observations can provide information on individual exposure and disturbance responses. The past 15 years of research have greatly expanded our understanding of behavioural responses to noise, including hundreds of experiments in nearly a dozen cetacean species. Many papers note limited sample sizes, required knowledge of baseline behaviour prior to exposure and the importance of contextual factors modulating behavioural responses, all of which in combination can lead to sampling biases, even for well-designed research programs. It is critical to understand these biases to robustly identify responses. This ensures outcomes of BRSs help inform predictions of how anthropogenic disturbance impacts individuals and populations. Our approach leverages concepts from the animal behaviour literature focused on helping to avoid sampling bias by considering what shapes an animal's response. These factors include social, experience, genetic and natural changes in responsiveness. We developed and applied a modified version of this framework to synthesise current knowledge on cetacean response in the context of effects observed across marine and terrestrial taxa. This new 'Sampling, Exposure, Receptor' framework (SERF) identifies 43 modulating factors, highlights potential biases, and assesses how these vary across selected focal species. In contrast to studies that identified variation in 'Exposure' factors as a key concern, our analysis indicated that factors relating to 'Sampling' (e.g. deploying tags on less evasive individuals, which biases selection of subjects), and 'Receptor' (e.g. health status or coping style) have the greatest potential for weakening the desired broad representativeness of BRSs. Our assessment also highlights how potential biases could be addressed with existing datasets or future developments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cormac G. Booth
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Naomi Brannan
- Southeast Asia Marine Mammal ResearchHong KongHong Kong
| | - Rebecca Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics LaboratoryMoreton Bay Research Station and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Ari Friedlander
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc.AptosCaliforniaUSA,University of California, Institute of Marine ScienceSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | - Saana Isojunno
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Patrick Miller
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Nicola Quick
- School of Biological and Marine SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthUK,Nicholas School of the EnvironmentDuke UniversityBeaufortNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Brandon Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc.AptosCaliforniaUSA,University of California, Institute of Marine ScienceSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental ModellingUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Polst BH, Hilt S, Stibor H, Hölker F, Allen J, Vijayaraj V, Kipferler N, Leflaive J, Gross EM, Schmitt-Jansen M. Warming lowers critical thresholds for multiple stressor-induced shifts between aquatic primary producers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156511. [PMID: 35679921 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In aquatic ecosystems, excessive nutrient loading is a global problem that can induce regime shifts from macrophyte- to phytoplankton-dominated states with severe consequences for ecosystem functions. Most agricultural landscapes are sites of nutrient and pesticide loading, which can interact with other stressors (e.g., warming) in additive, antagonistic, synergistic or reversed forms. The effects of multiple stressors on the resilience of macrophyte-dominated states and on critical thresholds for regime shifts are, however, unknown. We test the effects of individual and combined stressors of warming, nitrate, and various pesticides typically found in agricultural run-off (ARO) on the growth of macrophytes, periphyton, and phytoplankton in microcosms. We applied a one-level replicated design to test whether ARO induces a regime shift and a multifactorial dose-response design to model stressor thresholds and disentangle stressor interactions along a gradient. The individual stressors did not induce a regime shift, but the full ARO did. Nitrate and pesticides acted synergistically, inducing a shift with increasing phytoplankton biomass and decreasing macrophyte biomass. Warming amplified this effect and lowered critical thresholds for regime shifts. Shallow aquatic ecosystems in agricultural landscapes affected by global warming thus increasingly risk shifting to a turbid, phytoplankton-dominated state, and negatively impacting ecosystem service provisioning. Multiple stressor interactions must be considered when defining safe operating spaces for aquatic systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bastian H Polst
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Sabine Hilt
- Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Herwig Stibor
- Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Aquatic Ecology, Munich, Germany
| | - Franz Hölker
- Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Joey Allen
- Université de Lorraine, LIEC UMR 7360 CNRS, Metz, France; Université de Toulouse, Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement UMR 5245 CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Nora Kipferler
- Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Aquatic Ecology, Munich, Germany
| | - Joséphine Leflaive
- Université de Toulouse, Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement UMR 5245 CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Merchant ND, Putland RL, André M, Baudin E, Felli M, Slabbekoorn H, Dekeling R. A decade of underwater noise research in support of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 228:None. [PMID: 36133796 PMCID: PMC9472084 DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Underwater noise from human activities is now widely recognised as a threat to marine life. Nevertheless, legislation which directly addresses this source of pollution is lacking. The first (and currently only) example globally is Descriptor 11 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), adopted by the European Union in 2008, which requires that levels of underwater noise pollution do not adversely affect marine ecosystems. The MSFD has stimulated a concerted research effort across Europe to develop noise monitoring programmes and to conduct research towards specifying threshold values which would define 'Good Environmental Status' (GES) for underwater noise. Here, we chart the progress made during the first decade of Descriptor 11's implementation: 2010-2020. Several international joint monitoring programmes have been established for impulsive and continuous noise, enabling ecosystem-scale assessment for the first time. Research into the impact of noise on individual animals has grown exponentially, demonstrating a range of adverse effects at various trophic levels. However, threshold values for GES must be defined for 'populations of marine animals.' Population-level consequences of noise exposure can be modelled, but data to parameterise such models are currently unavailable for most species, suggesting that alternative approaches to defining GES thresholds will be necessary. To date, the application of measures to reduce noise levels (quieting/noise abatement) has been limited. To address this, the EU in 2021 identified an explicit need to reduce underwater noise pollution in its waters. Delivering on this ambition will require further research focused on the development and implementation of quieting measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D. Merchant
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, UK
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Rosalyn L. Putland
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, UK
| | - Michel André
- Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics, Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mario Felli
- Institute of Marine Engineering (INM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Hans Slabbekoorn
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Turschwell MP, Connolly SR, Schäfer RB, De Laender F, Campbell MD, Mantyka-Pringle C, Jackson MC, Kattwinkel M, Sievers M, Ashauer R, Côté IM, Connolly RM, van den Brink PJ, Brown CJ. Interactive effects of multiple stressors vary with consumer interactions, stressor dynamics and magnitude. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1483-1496. [PMID: 35478314 PMCID: PMC9320941 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Predicting the impacts of multiple stressors is important for informing ecosystem management but is impeded by a lack of a general framework for predicting whether stressors interact synergistically, additively or antagonistically. Here, we use process-based models to study how interactions generalise across three levels of biological organisation (physiological, population and consumer-resource) for a two-stressor experiment on a seagrass model system. We found that the same underlying processes could result in synergistic, additive or antagonistic interactions, with interaction type depending on initial conditions, experiment duration, stressor dynamics and consumer presence. Our results help explain why meta-analyses of multiple stressor experimental results have struggled to identify predictors of consistently non-additive interactions in the natural environment. Experiments run over extended temporal scales, with treatments across gradients of stressor magnitude, are needed to identify the processes that underpin how stressors interact and provide useful predictions to management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mischa P Turschwell
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Naos Marine Laboratories, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa Ancón, Republic of Panama.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- Quantitative Landscape Ecology, iES-Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Frederik De Laender
- Research Unit of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Namur Institute of Complex Systems and Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - Max D Campbell
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.,School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Mira Kattwinkel
- Quantitative Landscape Ecology, iES-Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Michael Sievers
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Roman Ashauer
- Environment Department, University of York, York, UK.,Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle M Côté
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul J van den Brink
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christopher J Brown
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Pirotta E, Booth CG, Calambokidis J, Costa DP, Fahlbusch JA, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA, Harwood J, Hazen EL, New L, Santora JA, Watwood SL, Wertman C, Southall BL. From individual responses to population effects: Integrating a decade of multidisciplinary research on blue whales and sonar. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University College Cork Cork Ireland
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics Washington State University Vancouver WA USA
| | - C. G. Booth
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | | | - D. P. Costa
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - J. A. Fahlbusch
- Cascadia Research Collective Olympia WA USA
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
| | - A. S. Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc. Aptos CA USA
| | - J. A. Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
| | - J. Harwood
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - E. L. Hazen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center Environmental Research Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Monterey CA USA
| | - L. New
- Ursinus College Collegeville PA USA
| | - J. A. Santora
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Ecology Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Santa Cruz CA USA
- Department of Applied Math University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - S. L. Watwood
- Ranges, Engineering and Analysis Department Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport RI USA
| | - C. Wertman
- Ranges, Engineering and Analysis Department Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport RI USA
| | - B. L. Southall
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc. Aptos CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Lonati GL, Zitterbart DP, Miller CA, Corkeron P, Murphy CT, Moore MJ. Investigating the thermal physiology of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis via aerial infrared thermography. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2022. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|