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Xie M, Lv M, Zhao Z, Li L, Jiang H, Yu Y, Zhang X, Liu P, Chen J. New insights of bacterial and eukaryotic phenotypes on the plastics collected from the typical natural habitat of the endangered crocodile lizard. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 280:116541. [PMID: 38848637 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116541] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Although accumulating evidence indicates that endangered animals suffer from plastic pollution, this has been largely overlooked. Here, we explored the bacteria and eukaryotes living in the plastics gathered from the natural habitat of the highly endangered crocodile lizard. The results demonstrated that the bacterial and eukaryotic communities on plastics formed a unique ecosystem that exhibited lower diversity than those in the surrounding water and soil. However, microbes displayed a more complex and stable network on plastic than that in water or soil, implying unique mechanisms of stabilization. These mechanisms enhanced their resilience and contributed to the provision of stable ecological services. Eukaryotes formed a simpler and smaller network than bacteria, indicating different survival strategies. The bacteria residing on the plastics played a significant role in carbon transformation and sequestration, which likely impacted carbon cycling in the habitat. Furthermore, microbial exchange between plastics and the crocodile lizard was observed, suggesting that plastisphere serves as a mobile gene bank for the exchange of information, including potentially harmful substances. Overall, microbes on plastic appear to significantly impact the crocodile lizard and its natural habitat via various pathways. These results provided novel insights into risks evaluation of plastic pollution and valuable guidance for government efforts in plastic pollutant control in nature reserves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujiao Xie
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Mei Lv
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Zhiwen Zhao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Linmiao Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Haiying Jiang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Yepin Yu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Xiujuan Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Jinping Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China.
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Gallitelli L, Cesarini G, Sodo A, Cera A, Scalici M. Life on bottles: Colonisation of macroplastics by freshwater biota. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162349. [PMID: 36813195 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
While rivers are known to be the main vectors of plastics to the sea, it seems surprising that studies on interactions (e.g. colonisation/entrapment and drift) between macroplastics and biota continue to remain largely neglected, notwithstanding they represent unexpected threats to freshwater biota and riverine habitats. To fill these gaps, here we focused on the colonisation of plastic bottles by freshwater biota. To do so, we collected 100 plastic bottles from the River Tiber in summer 2021. Overall, 95 bottles were colonised externally and 23 internally. Specifically, biota mainly occurred within and outside the bottles rather than plastic pieces and organic debris. Moreover, while bottles were externally covered mainly by vegetal organisms (i.e. macrophytes), they internally entrapped more animal organisms (i.e. invertebrates). The taxa most occurring within and outside the bottles belonged to pool and low water quality-associated taxa (e.g. Lemna sp., Gastropoda, and Diptera). In addition to biota and organic debris, plastic particles also occurred on bottles reporting the first observation of 'metaplastics' (i.e. plastics encrusted on bottles). Furthermore, we observed a significant positive correlation between the colonising taxa abundance and the bottle degree degradation. In this regard, we discussed how bottle buoyancy may change due to the organic matter on the bottle, affecting bottle sinking and transport along rivers. Our findings might be crucial for understanding the underrepresented topic of riverine plastics and their colonisation by biota, given that these plastics may act as vectors and cause biogeographical, environmental, and conservation issues to freshwater habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - G Cesarini
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - A Sodo
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - A Cera
- Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University, 1088 Komaki, Ueda, Nagano 386-0031, Japan
| | - M Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
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Ferri V, Crescia P, Battisti C. Discarded bottles entrap endemic small mammals species in a large Mediterranean island. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:57164-57173. [PMID: 36864338 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26133-y] [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: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
We examined the entrapment effect of discarded bottles on small mammals, along a road network located in North-Western Sardinia (Italy). On 162 bottles, 49 (> 30%) contained at least one animal specimen (invertebrate or vertebrate) and 26 (16%) entrapped 151 small mammals: insectivorous shrews (Soricomorpha) were more frequently recorded. Larger bottles (66 cl.) showed a higher number of entrapped mammals, but difference was not significant when compared to smaller bottles (33 cl.). Our data highlighted as abandoned bottles represent a threatening factor for small mammals on a large Mediterranean island with over-represented endemic shrews (predators of high trophic level) attracted by insects entrapped in bottles. Correspondence analysis suggest a weak segregation between bottles of different size, related to the abundance of the most entrapped species, the Mediterranean shrew (Crocidura pachyura). This still neglected type of litter, reducing number and biomass of insectivorous mammals of high trophic level and high ecological value may affect the food web in terrestrial insular communities, yet impoverished for biogeographical reasons. However, discarded bottles may represent as low-cost surrogate pitfall traps useful to improve knowledge in poor studied areas. Following the DPSIR (Driving force, Pressure, State, Impact, Response) approach as a framework to select indicator, we suggest as the effectiveness of removal clean-ups could be monitored using both the density of discarded bottles (as indicator of threat pressure) and the abundance of entrapped animals (as indicator of impact on small mammals).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Ferri
- GNML Gruppo Naturalistico della Maremma Laziale, Local. Lido Dei Pini S.N.C., 01016, Tarquinia, Italy
| | - Paolo Crescia
- GNML Gruppo Naturalistico della Maremma Laziale, Local. Lido Dei Pini S.N.C., 01016, Tarquinia, Italy
| | - Corrado Battisti
- Torre Flavia' LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana di Roma, Protected Areas Service, Via G. Ribotta 41, 00144, Rome, Italy.
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Gallitelli L, Battisti C, Scalici M. Dunal plants intercepting macrolitter: Implications for beach clean-ups. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114585. [PMID: 36638716 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114585] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Coastal vegetation intercepts macroplastics and, consequently, it may represent a reservoir of anthropogenic litter and organic wrack. We aimed at investigating (i) the abundance variation of macrolitter from the beach to foredune and backdune (three cross-shore plots over 20 long-shore sectors) and (ii) the role of the halo-psammophilous plants and Phragmites australis reedbed in intercepting the macrolitter, respectively, in the foredunes and backdunes. The vegetation in the foredunes (mainly halo-psammophilous species) acted as a first interception belt for macrolitter, while the bigger litter reached the backdunes. Our results might be of great concern with implications for beach clean-ups - which must also be mainly focused in foredunes and backdunes, however warning operators in advance that they could damage the vegetation by trampling on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Rome Tre, Rome, Italy.
| | - Corrado Battisti
- "Torre Flavia" LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Protected Areas Service, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Rome, Italy.
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Saltzman J, Graham J, Wester J, White ER, Macdonald CC. #Sawfish: Social media to assess public perceptions, behaviors, and attitudes towards a critically endangered species. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.987909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring population size and dynamics of threatened or low-density species is often both logistically difficult and costly. Recently, social media has emerged as a new tool for species monitoring. In this study, we expand on the use of social media posts as a tool to monitor the spatial and temporal distribution and public perceptions toward the smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata. We recorded 442 encounters with smalltooth sawfish from 2018 to 2021 in the form of Instagram posts. We identified locations of encounters within the following regions: Florida Keys, Everglades, South Florida (Miami/Fort Lauderdale), Caloosahatchee River, Bahamas, Upper Charlotte Harbor, Port St. Lucie, Ten Thousand Islands, Tampa, Naples, and Cape Canaveral. We found the greatest number of encounters occurred in the Florida Keys. In addition to spatiotemporal analysis, we used the captions of the posts to assess public attitudes and behaviors toward this charismatic species. This revealed individuals who encounter sawfish feel in general positive about their experience (over half described their encounter using positive language). We also found that sawfish were frequently caught as bycatch when other species (e.g., shark, tarpon, bonefish) were being targeted. Notably, in 12.6% of cases where sawfish were caught, they were being directly targeted. We also identified specific problematic or illegal handling behaviors from image and caption analysis. In addition to captured sawfish, we found sawfish are also frequently observed by beachgoers, boaters, and divers— however, in many cases these encounters may not be reported.
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Kolenda K, Kuśmierek N, Kujawa K, Smolis A, Wiśniewski K, Salata S, Maltz TK, Stachowiak M, Kadej M. Bottled & canned - Anthropogenic debris as an understudied ecological trap for small animals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 837:155616. [PMID: 35504387 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155616] [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: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, littering is one of the biggest challenges that environmental conservation is facing. Although beverage containers, such as bottles and cans, belong to the most common threats in this context, their effect on animals has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to assess the diversity and mortality level of the animal taxa entering discarded containers and to investigate which container features influence the number and functional composition of the trapped animals. The study was conducted in 10 urban woodlands in the city of Wrocław, Poland. In total, 939 open containers were collected. In 56% of them, a total number of 10,162 dead individuals (10,139 invertebrates and 23 vertebrates) was found. The most common amongst them were insects (orders: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera), malacostracans (Isopoda), arachnids (Opiliones, Sarcoptiformes) and gastropods (Stylommatophora). The number of dead animals was affected positively by the container capacity and was significantly higher in glass and plastic bottles when compared to aluminium cans. At the same time, the presence of a neck negatively affected the number of dead animals. Container capacity was also positively correlated with the abundance of the most common functional groups: predators, phytophages and saprophages. Moreover, colourless and green, but not brown, containers were a significant predictor for the abundance of the latter two groups. Our study revealed that discarded containers constitute an ecological trap for many groups of animals. There is an urgent need to reduce the amount of rubbish in the environment by, for example, the implementation of regional and international regulations addressing the problem of littering, or organising repeated clean-up and educational activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Kolenda
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 21, PL-50-335 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Natalia Kuśmierek
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63, PL-51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kujawa
- Statistical Analysis Centre, Wrocław Medical University, Marcinkowskiego 2-6, PL-50-368 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Adrian Smolis
- Department of Invertebrate Biology, Evolution and Conservation, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 65, PL-51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Konrad Wiśniewski
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology and Earth Sciences, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Arciszewskiego 22a, PL-76-200 Słupsk, Poland
| | - Sebastian Salata
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Taxonomy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 65, PL-51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tomasz K Maltz
- Museum of Natural History, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 21, PL-50-335 Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Marcin Kadej
- Department of Invertebrate Biology, Evolution and Conservation, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 65, PL-51-148 Wrocław, Poland
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Soorangkattan S, Nalluchamy KD, Arumugam S, Sivagnanam C, Thulasinathan B, Ramu SM, Alagarsamy A, Muthuramalingam JB. Studies on the influence of natural resource utilization by humans on foraging behavior of honey bees at rural ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:33942-33956. [PMID: 33661494 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13192-2] [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: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Human utilization of natural resources acts as a main driver in altering the ecosystem service and functions. Apart from indirect influence, these human activities also tempt for the behavioral shift in insects especially in honey bees. The foraging behavior of honey bees from the natural floral resources to the man-made food sources eventually degrade the ecosystem's services and cause declining of the honey bee population. Understanding this foraging behavior of bees could help in opting for viable conservation measures for honey bees. In order to understand the influence of human utilization of natural resources on the foraging behavior of bees and its negative impacts on the bee population, the study was carried out in the sites where humans collect palm sap. Palm sap collectors used different containers (mud pots and pet bottles) to collect the palm sap from Borassus flabellifer. The number of containers per tree, volume of palm sap per container/tree, bee visiting frequency, and bee mortality per container/tree were measured at different ecosystems. Palm saps were collected freshly and volatile compounds of samples were identified using FT-IR and GC-MS analysis. The identified volatile compounds were used to study the interaction between volatile compounds and odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) of honey bees for understanding the foraging behavior of bees using in silico approach. Our results clearly showed that bee visitation frequency was directly correlated (0.94) with bee mortality in palm sap in different study sites. The average number of bee mortality was recorded as 491.2 ± 23.48 bees per container/tree/day. GC-MS analyses revealed the presence of 35 volatile compounds in collected palm sap from different study sites. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were performed for all 35 palm volatile compounds OBPs of honey bees to analyze their binding affinities. Docking studies showed that 1-methylbutylmandelate and 6-(hydroxymethyl)-1,4,4-trimethylbicyclo [3.1.0] hexan-2-ol have high binding affinity with OBP residues of bees. These volatile compounds might act as an attractant for bee populations for their foraging behavior. Based on this study, we conclude that human utilization of palm sap has created new ecological niches which highly alters the foraging behavior of bees and results in declining bee populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saravanan Soorangkattan
- Department of Botany, The Madura College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625011, India.
- Department of Botany, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | | | - Sudha Arumugam
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr.Umayal Ramanathan College for Women, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Chandrasekaran Sivagnanam
- Department of Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | | | - Arun Alagarsamy
- Department of Microbiology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
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