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Michelangeli M, Martin JM, Robson S, Cerveny D, Walsh R, Richmond EK, Grace MR, Brand JA, Bertram MG, Ho SSY, Brodin T, Wong BBM. Pharmaceutical Pollution Alters the Structure of Freshwater Communities and Hinders Their Recovery from a Fish Predator. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:13904-13917. [PMID: 39049184 PMCID: PMC11308527 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are under threat from rising pharmaceutical pollution. While such pollutants are known to elicit biological effects on organisms, we have limited knowledge on how these effects might cascade through food-webs, disrupt ecological processes, and shape freshwater communities. In this study, we used a mesocosm experiment to explore how the community impacts of a top-order predator, the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), are mediated by exposure to environmentally relevant low (measured concentration: ∼10 ng/L) and high concentrations (∼110 ng/L) of the pervasive pharmaceutical pollutant fluoxetine. We found no evidence that exposure to fluoxetine altered the consumptive effects of mosquitofish on zooplankton. However, once mosquitofish were removed from the mesocosms, zooplankton abundance recovered to a greater extent in control mesocosms compared to both low and high fluoxetine-exposed mesocosms. By the end of the experiment, this resulted in fundamental differences in community structure between the control and fluoxetine-treated mesocosms. Specifically, the control mesocosms were characterized by higher zooplankton abundances and lower algal biomass, whereas mesocosms exposed to either low or high concentrations of fluoxetine had lower zooplankton abundances and higher algal biomass. Our results suggest that fluoxetine, even at very low concentrations, can alter aquatic communities and hinder their recovery from disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Michelangeli
- School
of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan 4111, Australia
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Jake M. Martin
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
- Department
of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 114 18, Sweden
| | - Stephanie Robson
- Water
Studies Centre, School of Chemistry, Monash
University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Daniel Cerveny
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- University
of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection
of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center
of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zatisi 728/II, Vodnany 389 25, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Walsh
- Australian
Waterlife, 55 Vaughan
Chase, Wyndham Vale, Victoria 3024, Australia
| | - Erinn K. Richmond
- Environmental
Protection Authority Victoria, EPA Science, Macleod, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Michael R. Grace
- Water
Studies Centre, School of Chemistry, Monash
University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Jack A. Brand
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, U.K.
| | - Michael G. Bertram
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
- Department
of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 114 18, Sweden
| | - Susie S. Y. Ho
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
| | - Bob B. M. Wong
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
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2
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Peller T, Altermatt F. Invasive species drive cross-ecosystem effects worldwide. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1087-1097. [PMID: 38503866 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02380-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Invasive species are pervasive around the world and have profound impacts on the ecosystem they invade. Invasive species, however, can also have impacts beyond the ecosystem they invade by altering the flow of non-living materials (for example, nutrients or chemicals) or movement of organisms across the boundaries of the invaded ecosystem. Cross-ecosystem interactions via spatial flows are ubiquitous in nature, for example, connecting forests and lakes, grasslands and rivers, and coral reefs and the deep ocean. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the cross-ecosystem impacts invasive species have relative to their local effects. By synthesizing emerging evidence, here we demonstrate the cross-ecosystem impacts of invasive species as a ubiquitous phenomenon that influences biodiversity and ecosystem functioning around the world. We identify three primary ways by which invasive species have cross-ecosystem effects: first, by altering the magnitude of spatial flows across ecosystem boundaries; second, by altering the quality of spatial flows; and third, by introducing novel spatial flows. Ultimately, the strong impacts invasive species can drive across ecosystem boundaries suggests the need for a paradigm shift in how we study and manage invasive species around the world, expanding from a local to a cross-ecosystem perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianna Peller
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
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3
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Duchet C, Grabicová K, Kolar V, Lepšová O, Švecová H, Csercsa A, Zdvihalová B, Randák T, Boukal DS. Combined effects of climate warming and pharmaceuticals on a tri-trophic freshwater food web. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 250:121053. [PMID: 38159539 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.121053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Multiple anthropogenic stressors influence the functioning of lakes and ponds, but their combined effects are often little understood. We conducted two mesocosm experiments to evaluate the effects of warming (+4 °C above ambient temperature) and environmentally relevant concentrations of a mixture of commonly used pharmaceuticals (cardiovascular, psychoactive, antihistamines, antibiotics) on tri-trophic food webs representative of communities in ponds and other small standing waters. Communities were constituted of phyto- and zooplankton and macroinvertebrates (molluscs and insects) including benthic detritivores, grazers, omnivorous scrapers, omnivorous piercers, water column predators, benthic predators, and phytophilous predators. We quantified the main and interactive effects of warming and pharmaceuticals on each trophic level in the pelagic community and attributed them to the direct effects of both stressors and the indirect effects arising through biotic interactions. Warming and pharmaceuticals had stronger effects in the summer experiment, altering zooplankton community composition and causing delayed or accelerated emergence of top insect predators (odonates). In the summer experiment, both stressors and top predators reduced the biomass of filter-feeding zooplankton (cladocerans), while warming and pharmaceuticals had opposite effects on phytoplankton. In the winter experiment, the effects were much weaker and were limited to a positive effect of warming on phytoplankton biomass. Overall, we show that pharmaceuticals can exacerbate the effects of climate warming in freshwater ecosystems, especially during the warm season. Our results demonstrate the utility of community-level studies across seasons for risk assessment of multiple emerging stressors in freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Duchet
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Kateřina Grabicová
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, CZ-389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Kolar
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Lepšová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Švecová
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, CZ-389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Andras Csercsa
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Zdvihalová
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Randák
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, CZ-389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - David S Boukal
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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4
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Papaioannou C, Geladakis G, Kommata V, Batargias C, Lagoumintzis G. Insights in Pharmaceutical Pollution: The Prospective Role of eDNA Metabarcoding. TOXICS 2023; 11:903. [PMID: 37999555 PMCID: PMC10675236 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11110903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution is a growing threat to natural ecosystems and one of the world's most pressing concerns. The increasing worldwide use of pharmaceuticals has elevated their status as significant emerging contaminants. Pharmaceuticals enter aquatic environments through multiple pathways related to anthropogenic activity. Their high consumption, insufficient waste treatment, and the incapacity of organisms to completely metabolize them contribute to their accumulation in aquatic environments, posing a threat to all life forms. Various analytical methods have been used to quantify pharmaceuticals. Biotechnology advancements based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, like eDNA metabarcoding, have enabled the development of new methods for assessing and monitoring the ecotoxicological effects of pharmaceuticals. eDNA metabarcoding is a valuable biomonitoring tool for pharmaceutical pollution because it (a) provides an efficient method to assess and predict pollution status, (b) identifies pollution sources, (c) tracks changes in pharmaceutical pollution levels over time, (d) assesses the ecological impact of pharmaceutical pollution, (e) helps prioritize cleanup and mitigation efforts, and (f) offers insights into the diversity and composition of microbial and other bioindicator communities. This review highlights the issue of aquatic pharmaceutical pollution while emphasizing the importance of using modern NGS-based biomonitoring actions to assess its environmental effects more consistently and effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charikleia Papaioannou
- Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (C.P.); (G.G.); (V.K.)
| | - George Geladakis
- Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (C.P.); (G.G.); (V.K.)
| | - Vasiliki Kommata
- Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (C.P.); (G.G.); (V.K.)
| | - Costas Batargias
- Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (C.P.); (G.G.); (V.K.)
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5
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Duchet C, Hou F, Sinclair CA, Tian Z, Kraft A, Kolar V, Kolodziej EP, McIntyre JK, Stark JD. Neonicotinoid mixture alters trophic interactions in a freshwater aquatic invertebrate community. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 897:165419. [PMID: 37429477 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoids are increasingly and widely used systemic insecticides in agriculture, residential applications, and elsewhere. These pesticides can sometimes occur in small water bodies in exceptionally high concentrations, leading to downstream non-target aquatic toxicity. Although insects appear to be the most sensitive group to neonicotinoids, other aquatic invertebrates may also be affected. Most existing studies focus on single-insecticide exposure and very little is known concerning the impact of neonicotinoid mixtures on aquatic invertebrates at the community level. To address this data gap and explore community-level effects, we performed an outdoor mesocosm experiment that tested the effect of a mixture of three common neonicotinoids (formulated imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam) on an aquatic invertebrate community. Exposure to the neonicotinoid mixture induced a top-down cascading effect on insect predators and zooplankton, ultimately increasing phytoplankton. Our results highlight complexities of mixture toxicity occurring in the environment that may be underestimated with traditional mono-specific toxicological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Duchet
- Puyallup Research & Extension Center, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, USA; Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Fan Hou
- Center for Urban Waters, Tacoma, WA 98421, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Cailin A Sinclair
- Puyallup Research & Extension Center, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, USA
| | - Zhenyu Tian
- Center for Urban Waters, Tacoma, WA 98421, USA; Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma, WA 98421, USA
| | - Alyssa Kraft
- Puyallup Research & Extension Center, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, USA
| | - Vojtech Kolar
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Edward P Kolodziej
- Center for Urban Waters, Tacoma, WA 98421, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma, WA 98421, USA
| | - Jenifer K McIntyre
- Puyallup Research & Extension Center, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, USA
| | - John D Stark
- Puyallup Research & Extension Center, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, USA
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6
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Chen M, Jin X, Guo C, Liu Y, Zhang H, Wang J, Dong G, Liu N, Guo W, Giesy JP, Wu F, Xu J. Micropollutants but high risks: Human multiple stressors increase risks of freshwater ecosystems at the megacity-scale. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132497. [PMID: 37688870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Micropollutants in water environments have attracted widespread attention, but how human and natural stressors influence the risks of micropollutants has not been comprehensively revealed. A megacity-scale study of the ecological risks of micropollutants in the surface water of Beijing, China is presented to illustrate the magnitudes of the influences of multiple anthropogenic and natural stressors. A total of 133 micropollutants representing typical land use patterns in Beijing, were quantified with the mean concentration range of ND (not detected) to 272 ng·L-1. The micropollutant concentrations in the south were obviously higher than those detected in the northern areas, and neonicotinoid pesticides showed the highest mean concentration of 311 ng·L-1. The chronic and acute risks of micropollutants to algae, invertebrates, and fishes were determined, and herbicides, organophosphorus esters, and insecticides account for the primary risks to algae, invertebrates, and fishes, respectively. The cropland and impervious cover cause the differences in the pollution and risks of micropollutants. The land use in riparian zones greater than 2 km shows a great influence on the chronic chemical risks (CCRs) for the three groups of species, indicating that too local scale does not explain the local pollution status. Climate conditions and human land use are important drivers explaining the CCRs to which various trophic levels of species are exposed. Results demonstrate that multiple categories of micropollutants pose adverse risks to freshwater in the megacity of Beijing, while climate conditions, pollution discharge, and human land use induce the chemical risk of micropollutants to aquatic organisms, and the land use in different riparian zones show different effects on the risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaowei Jin
- China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Changsheng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Junxia Wang
- China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Guihua Dong
- China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Na Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Beijing Hydrological Center, Beijing 100089, China
| | - John P Giesy
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48895, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798-7266, USA
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Jian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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7
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Almeida RA, Fajgenblat M, Lemmens P, De Meester L. Pesticide exposure enhances dominance patterns in a zooplankton community. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2900. [PMID: 37335538 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2900] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to pesticides can profoundly alter community dynamics. It is expected that dominance patterns will be enhanced or reduced depending on whether the dominant species is less or more sensitive to the pesticide than the subdominant species. Community dynamics are, however, also determined by processes linked to population growth as well as competition at carrying capacity. Here, we used a mesocosm experiment to quantify the effect of chlorpyrifos exposure on the population dynamics of four cladoceran species (Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulicaria, Daphnia galeata and Scapholeberis mucronata) in mixed cultures, testing for direct effects of chlorpyrifos and indirect effects mediated by interactions with other species on the timing of population growth and dominance at carrying capacity. We also quantified whether the pesticide-induced changes in community dynamics affected top-down control of phytoplankton. By adding a treatment in which we used different genotype combinations of each species, we also tested to what extent genetic composition affects community responses to pesticide exposure. Immobilization tests showed that D. magna is the least sensitive to chlorpyrifos of the tested species. Chlorpyrifos exposure first leads to a reduction in the abundance of D. galeata to the benefit of D. pulicaria, and subsequently to a reduction in densities of D. pulicaria to the benefit of D. magna. This resulted in D. magna being more dominant in the pesticide than in the control treatment by the end of the experiment. There was no effect of genotypic differences on community patterns, and top-down control of phytoplankton was high in all treatments. Our results suggest that in this community dominance patterns are enhanced in line with the observed among-species differences in sensitivity to the pesticide. Our results also show that the development of the community in pesticide treatment is a complex interaction between direct and indirect effects of the pesticide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela A Almeida
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maxime Fajgenblat
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Data Science Institute (DSI), Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and statistical Bioinformatics (I-BioStat), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Pieter Lemmens
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leibniz Institute für Gewasserökologie und Binnenfischerei (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Luc De Meester
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leibniz Institute für Gewasserökologie und Binnenfischerei (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
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8
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Silva CJM, Machado AL, Campos D, Rodrigues ACM, Patrício Silva AL, Soares AMVM, Pestana JLT. Microplastics in freshwater sediments: Effects on benthic invertebrate communities and ecosystem functioning assessed in artificial streams. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 804:150118. [PMID: 34798725 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The high levels of microplastics (MPs) found in freshwaters, particularly in riverine sediments, may impose a threat to the macroinvertebrate communities with possible consequences at ecosystem-level. The present study aimed to assess the effects of a mixture of different sizes of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on the composition and structure of macroinvertebrate communities and key-functions, such as primary production and leaf litter decomposition. MPs were mixed in the sediment at three different concentrations (0.1, 1, and 10 g kg-1) already found in freshwater sediments to enhance the relevance of the work. After eight days of exposure to PE-MPs, the observed changes in macroinvertebrate community structure were mostly due to the reduction in the abundance of deposit-feeders and grazers that were reduced by ca 31-50% and 34-39%, in the two highest MPs concentrations respectively, in comparison with the control treatment after 8 days of exposure. MPs internal concentrations were detected only in organisms exposed to plastic particles within artificial streams with chironomids and mayflies presenting higher MPs internal levels (average of 115 particles/individual found in chironomids, 166/individual for Baetis sp. and 415 particles/individual for Ephemerella sp.) suggesting higher ingestion of plastic microparticles. Nevertheless, the alterations in the community structure did not translate into impairments in the functional endpoints analysed, leaf litter decomposition and primary production, that were expected due to possible sub-lethal effects (e.g., feeding inhibition) on detritivores and grazers. This study represents one of the few assessments of MPs effects on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate community structure and the first that simultaneously considered ecosystem-level functional endpoints. Further research combining different microplastics and longer exposure periods are needed to raise knowledge on potential ecological consequences of MPs to freshwaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J M Silva
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Machado
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Diana Campos
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Andreia C M Rodrigues
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana L Patrício Silva
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
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9
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Bordalo MD, Machado AL, Campos D, Coelho SD, Rodrigues ACM, Lopes I, Pestana JLT. Responses of benthic macroinvertebrate communities to a Bti-based insecticide in artificial microcosm streams. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 282:117030. [PMID: 33831627 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bioinsecticides based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) are increasingly being applied directly into aquatic compartments to control nuisance mosquitoes and blackflies and are generally considered environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides. Bti-based insecticides are considered highly selective, being Diptera-specific, and supposedly decompose rapidly in the environment. Nevertheless, their safety to non-target species and freshwater ecosystems has been questioned by recent studies, which in fact document possible indirect effects in aquatic food webs such as the decrease of prey availability to predators. This work aimed to evaluate the potential effects of a Bti-based insecticide (VectoBac® 12AS) on a freshwater macroinvertebrate community and on stream ecological functions by using artificial microcosm streams. Artificial microcosm streams were colonized with a macroinvertebrate community plus periphyton collected in a stream together with Alnus glutinosa leaf packs. They were exposed for 7 days to different Bti treatments (0, 12, 120, 1200 μg/L), which are within the recommended concentrations of application in aquatic compartments for blackfly and mosquito control. Besides invertebrate community structure and abundance, effects were evaluated regarding leaf decomposition and primary production as measures of ecosystem functioning. Community structure was significantly altered in all Bti treatments after 7 days of exposure, mostly due to a decline in chironomids, followed by oligochaetes, which both belong to the deposit-feeders' functional group. Direct effects on oligochaetes are surprising and require further research. Also, reductions of leaf decomposition due to Bti-induced sublethal effects on shredders (reduced feeding) or mortality of chironomids (that can also feed on coarse organic matter) observed in our study, represent potential indirect effects of Bti in aquatic ecosystems. Our short-exposure experiment evidenced some negative effects on stream benthic invertebrate communities and on ecosystem functioning that must be considered whenever Bti is used in water bodies for blackfly or mosquito control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D Bordalo
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Ana L Machado
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Diana Campos
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sónia D Coelho
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Andreia C M Rodrigues
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
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10
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Sánchez-Bayo F. Indirect Effect of Pesticides on Insects and Other Arthropods. TOXICS 2021; 9:177. [PMID: 34437495 PMCID: PMC8402326 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9080177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Pesticides released to the environment can indirectly affect target and non-target species in ways that are often contrary to their intended use. Such indirect effects are mediated through direct impacts on other species or the physical environment and depend on ecological mechanisms and species interactions. Typical mechanisms are the release of herbivores from predation and release from competition among species with similar niches. Application of insecticides to agriculture often results in subsequent pest outbreaks due to the elimination of natural enemies. The loss of floristic diversity and food resources that result from herbicide applications can reduce populations of pollinators and natural enemies of crop pests. In aquatic ecosystems, insecticides and fungicides often induce algae blooms as the chemicals reduce grazing by zooplankton and benthic herbivores. Increases in periphyton biomass typically result in the replacement of arthropods with more tolerant species such as snails, worms and tadpoles. Fungicides and systemic insecticides also reduce nutrient recycling by impairing the ability of detritivorous arthropods. Residues of herbicides can reduce the biomass of macrophytes in ponds and wetlands, indirectly affecting the protection and breeding of predatory insects in that environment. The direct impacts of pesticides in the environment are therefore either amplified or compensated by their indirect effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Sánchez-Bayo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Eveleigh, NSW 2015, Australia
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11
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Oliveira dos Anjos TB, Polazzo F, Arenas‐Sánchez A, Cherta L, Ascari R, Migliorati S, Vighi M, Rico A. Eutrophic status influences the impact of pesticide mixtures and predation on Daphnia pulex populations. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4046-4057. [PMID: 33976793 PMCID: PMC8093730 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pesticides, nutrients, and ecological stressors such as competition or predation co-occur in freshwater ecosystems impacted by agriculture. The extent to which combinations of these stressors affect aquatic populations and the role of nutrients availability in modulating these responses requires further understanding. In this study, we assessed how pesticides affecting different taxonomic groups and predation influence the response of Daphnia pulex populations under different trophic conditions. An outdoor experiment was designed following a factorial design, with the insecticide chlorpyrifos, the herbicide diuron, and the predation by Notonecta sp. individuals as key stressors. The single impact of each of these stressors, and their binary and tertiary combinations, was evaluated on D. pulex abundance and population structure under mesotrophic and eutrophic conditions for 21 days. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models estimated by means of a novel Bayesian shrinkage technique. Our study shows a significant influence of each of the evaluated stressors on D. pulex abundance; however, the impacts of the herbicide and predation were lower under eutrophic conditions as compared to the mesotrophic ones. We found that binary stressor interactions were generally additive in the mesotrophic scenario, except for the herbicide-predation combination, which resulted in synergistic effects. The impacts of the binary stressor combinations in the eutrophic scenario were classified as antagonistic, except for the insecticide-herbicide combination, which was additive. The tertiary interaction resulted in significant effects on some sampling dates; however, these were rather antagonistic and resembled the most important binary stressor combination in each trophic scenario. Our study shows that the impact of pesticides on freshwater populations depends on the predation pressure, and demonstrates that the combined effect of pesticides and ecological stressors is influenced by the food availability and organism fitness related to the trophic status of freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talles Bruno Oliveira dos Anjos
- IMDEA Water InstituteScience and Technology Campus of the University of AlcaláAlcalá de HenaresSpain
- University of Koblenz‐LandauLandau in der PfalzGermany
| | - Francesco Polazzo
- IMDEA Water InstituteScience and Technology Campus of the University of AlcaláAlcalá de HenaresSpain
| | - Alba Arenas‐Sánchez
- IMDEA Water InstituteScience and Technology Campus of the University of AlcaláAlcalá de HenaresSpain
| | - Laura Cherta
- IMDEA Water InstituteScience and Technology Campus of the University of AlcaláAlcalá de HenaresSpain
| | - Roberto Ascari
- Department of Economics, Management and StatisticsUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Sonia Migliorati
- Department of Economics, Management and StatisticsUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Marco Vighi
- IMDEA Water InstituteScience and Technology Campus of the University of AlcaláAlcalá de HenaresSpain
| | - Andreu Rico
- IMDEA Water InstituteScience and Technology Campus of the University of AlcaláAlcalá de HenaresSpain
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ValenciaPaternaSpain
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12
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Allen J, Gross EM, Courcoul C, Bouletreau S, Compin A, Elger A, Ferriol J, Hilt S, Jassey VEJ, Laviale M, Polst BH, Schmitt-Jansen M, Stibor H, Vijayaraj V, Leflaive J. Disentangling the direct and indirect effects of agricultural runoff on freshwater ecosystems subject to global warming: A microcosm study. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 190:116713. [PMID: 33302039 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems are exposed to multiple stressors such as agricultural run-off (ARO) and climate-change related increase of temperature. We aimed to determine how ARO and the frequency of its input can affect shallow lake ecosystems through direct and indirect effects on primary producers and primary consumers, and whether warming can mitigate or reinforce the impact of ARO. We performed a set of microcosm experiments simulating ARO using a cocktail of three organic pesticides (terbuthylazine, tebuconazole, pirimicarb), copper and nitrate. Two experiments were performed to determine the direct effect of ARO on primary producers (submerged macrophytes, periphyton and phytoplankton) and on the grazing snail Lymnaea stagnalis, respectively. Three different ARO concentrations added as single doses or as multiple pulses at two different temperatures (22°C and 26°C) were applied. In a third experiment, primary producers and consumers were exposed together to allow trophic interactions. When functional groups were exposed alone, ARO had a direct positive effect on phytoplankton and a strong negative effect on L. stagnalis. When exposed together, primary producer responses were contrasting, as the negative effect of ARO on grazers led to an indirect positive effect on periphyton. Periphyton in turn exerted a strong control on phytoplankton, leading to an indirect negative effect of ARO on phytoplankton. Macrophytes showed little response to the stressors. Multiple pulse exposure increased the effect of ARO on L. stagnalis and periphyton when compared with the same quantity of ARO added as a single dose. The increase in temperature had only limited effects. Our results highlight the importance of indirect effects of stressors, here mediated by grazers and periphyton, and the frequency of the ARO input in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joey Allen
- Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France; Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, F-57000 Metz, France.
| | | | - Camille Courcoul
- Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Stéphanie Bouletreau
- Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Arthur Compin
- Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Arnaud Elger
- Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jessica Ferriol
- Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Sabine Hilt
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vincent E J Jassey
- Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Martin Laviale
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, F-57000 Metz, France
| | - Bastian H Polst
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Dept of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mechthild Schmitt-Jansen
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Dept of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Herwig Stibor
- Department of Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Joséphine Leflaive
- Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
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13
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Abstract
Indirect effects in ecotoxicology are defined as chemical- or pollutant-induced alterations in the density or behavior of sensitive species that have cascading effects on tolerant species in natural systems. As a result, species interaction networks (e.g., interactions associated with predation or competition) may be altered in such a way as to bring about large changes in populations and/or communities that may further cascade to disrupt ecosystem function and services. Field studies and experimental outcomes as well as models indicate that indirect effects are most likely to occur in communities in which the strength of interactions and the sensitivity to contaminants differ markedly among species, and that indirect effects will vary over space and time as species composition, trophic structure, and environmental factors vary. However, knowledge of indirect effects is essential to improve understanding of the potential for chemical harm in natural systems. For example, indirect effects may confound laboratory-based ecological risk assessment by enhancing, masking, or spuriously indicating the direct effect of chemical contaminants. Progress to better anticipate and interpret the significance of indirect effects will be made as monitoring programs and long-term ecological research are conducted that facilitate critical experimental field and mesocosm investigations, and as chemical transport and fate models, individual-based direct effects models, and ecosystem/food web models continue to be improved and become better integrated.
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14
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Li F, Altermatt F, Yang J, An S, Li A, Zhang X. Human activities' fingerprint on multitrophic biodiversity and ecosystem functions across a major river catchment in China. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:6867-6879. [PMID: 32936984 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Human-induced global change dramatically alters individual aspects of river biodiversity, such as taxonomic, phylogenetic or functional diversity, and is predicted to lead to losses of associated ecosystem functions. Understanding these losses and dependencies are critical to human well-being. Until now, however, most studies have only looked either at individual organismal groups or single functions, and little is known on the effect of human activities on multitrophic biodiversity and on ecosystem multifunctionality in riverine ecosystem. Here we profiled biodiversity from bacteria to invertebrates based on environmental DNA (hereafter, 'eDNA') samples across a major river catchment in China, and analysed their dependencies with multiple ecosystem functions, especially linked to C/N/P-cycling. Firstly, we found a spatial cross-taxon congruence pattern of communities' structure in the network of the Shaying river, which was related to strong environmental filtering due to human land use. Secondly, human land use explained the decline of multitrophic and multifaceted biodiversity and ecosystem functions, but increased functional redundancy in the riverine ecosystem. Thirdly, biodiversity and ecosystem function relationships at an integrative level showed a concave-up (non-saturating) shape. Finally, structural equation modeling suggested that land use affects ecosystem functions through biodiversity-mediated pathways, including biodiversity loss and altered community interdependence in multitrophic groups. Our study highlights the value of a complete and inclusive assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem functions for an integrated land-use management of riverine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jianghua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Shuqing An
- School of Life Sciences and Institute of Wetland Ecology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China
- Nanjing University Ecology Research Institute of Changshu (NJUecoRICH), Changshu, P. R. China
| | - Aimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China
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15
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Campos D, Machado AL, Cardoso DN, Silva ARR, Silva PV, Rodrigues ACM, Simão FCP, Loureiro S, Grabicová K, Nováková P, Soares AMVM, Pestana JLT. Effects of the organic UV-filter, 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor, on benthic invertebrates and ecosystem function in artificial streams. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 260:113981. [PMID: 32041008 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the last decades, the use of organic ultraviolet-filters (UV-filters) has increased worldwide, and these compounds are now considered emerging contaminants of many freshwater ecosystems. The present study aimed to assess the effects of 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor (4-MBC) on a freshwater invertebrate community and on associated ecological functions. For that, artificial streams were used, and a natural invertebrate benthic community was exposed to sediments contaminated with two concentrations of 4-MBC. Effects were evaluated regarding macroinvertebrate abundance and community structure, as well as leaf decomposition and primary production. Results showed that the macroinvertebrate community parameters and leaf decomposition rates were not affected by 4-MBC exposure. On the other hand, primary production was strongly reduced. This study highlights the importance of higher tier ecotoxicity experiments for the assessment of the effects of low concentrations of organic UV-filters on freshwater invertebrate community structure and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Campos
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Ana L Machado
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Diogo N Cardoso
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita R Silva
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Patrícia V Silva
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Andreia C M Rodrigues
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fátima C P Simão
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Susana Loureiro
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Kateřina Grabicová
- University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zatisi 725/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Nováková
- University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zatisi 725/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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16
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Van Dievel M, Janssens L, Stoks R. Effects of pesticide exposure and predation risk on nutrient cycling and primary production. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 705:135880. [PMID: 31972928 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how pesticides and natural stressors shape ecosystem functions remains a major challenge. A largely overlooked way how stressors may affect nutrient cycling and primary production is through effects on body stoichiometry and the egestion of elements. We investigated how exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos and to predation risk, an abundant natural stressor in aquatic systems, altered the stoichiometry of the bodies and the egested faecal pellets of Enallagma cyathigerum damselfly larvae and how this further cascaded into effects on primary production (algae growth). Chlorpyrifos exposure reduced egestion rates while predation risk had no effect. Chlorpyrifos exposure and predation risk affected both elemental composition of bodies and faecal pellets, and this in an additive way. Chlorpyrifos exposure increased body C(carbon), N(nitrogen), and P(phosphorous) contents, and increased the C content of the faecal pellets. Predation risk induced an increase of the N content, resulting in a decreased C:N ratio, of both the bodies and faecal pellets. The changes in the composition of the faecal pellets caused by predation risk but not by chlorpyrifos exposure increased algae growth under control conditions. This indicated that algae growth was N limited. Our results provide an important proof-of-principle how a stressor may shape nutrient cycling and subsequently primary productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Van Dievel
- Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lizanne Janssens
- Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robby Stoks
- Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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17
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Phillips G, Teixeira H, Poikane S, Salas Herrero F, Kelly MG. Establishing nutrient thresholds in the face of uncertainty and multiple stressors: A comparison of approaches using simulated datasets. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 684:425-433. [PMID: 31154215 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Various methods have been proposed to identify threshold concentrations of nutrients that would support good ecological status, but the performance of these methods and the influence of other stressors on the underlying models have not been fully evaluated. We used synthetic datasets to compare the performance of ordinary least squares, logistic and quantile regression, as well as, categorical methods based on the distribution of nutrient concentrations categorised by biological status. The synthetic datasets used differed in their levels of variation between explanatory and response variables, and were centered at different positions along the stressor (nutrient) gradient. In order to evaluate the performance of methods in "multiple stressor" situations, another set of datasets with two stressors was used. Ordinary least squares and logistic regression methods were the most reliable when predicting the threshold concentration when nutrients were the sole stressor; however, both had a tendency to underestimate the threshold when a second stressor was present. In contrast, threshold concentrations produced by categorical methods were strongly influenced by the level of the stressor (nutrient enrichment, in this case) relative to the threshold they were trying to predict (good/moderate in this instance). Although all the methods tested had limitations in the presence of a second stressor, upper quantiles seemed generally appropriate to establish non-precautionary thresholds. For example, upper quantiles may be appropriate when establishing targets for restoration, but not when seeking to minimise deterioration. Selection of an appropriate threshold concentration should also attend to the regulatory regime (i.e. policy requirements and environmental management context) within which it will be used, and the ease of communicating the principles to managers and stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoff Phillips
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Heliana Teixeira
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Av, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, 9, Portugal
| | - Sandra Poikane
- European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-21027, Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Martyn G Kelly
- Bowburn Consultancy, 11 Monteigne Drive, Bowburn, Durham DH6 5QB, UK; Department of Geography, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
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18
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Zhang X. Environmental DNA Shaping a New Era of Ecotoxicological Research. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:5605-5612. [PMID: 31009204 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems, such as rivers and lakes, are exposed to multiple stressors from anthropogenic activity and changes in climate, which have resulted in a general decrease in biodiversity, alteration of community structures, and can ultimately result in reduction of resources provided by natural ecosystems. Adverse outcomes caused by pollutants to ecosystems are determined not only by toxic properties but also ecological contexts of ecosystems, including indigenous biodiversity and community composition. It is therefore important to identify key factors, such as diversity of species and traits that determine the vulnerability of structures and functions of ecosystems in response to toxic substances. Detection and quantification of biodiversity and its activities using environmental DNA (eDNA) is arguably one of the most important technical advances in ecology in recent years. A huge opportunity has appeared to allow more relevant approaches for assessments of risks posed to ecosystems by toxic substances. eDNA approaches provide effective and efficient tools to evaluate the effects of chemical pollutants on (1) the occurrences and population of wildlife, (2) communities, and (3) the function of ecosystem in the field. Here a conceptual framework of adverse outcome pathways to relate molecular initiating events to apical ecosystem-level responses is proposed to connecting laboratory-based prediction to observations under field conditions. Particularly, future research opportunities on effects on biodiversity, community structure, and ecosystem function by toxic substances will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
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