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Vendrell-Puigmitja L, Proia L, Espinosa C, Barral-Fraga L, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Osorio V, Casas C, Llenas L, Abril M. Hypersaline mining effluents affect the structure and function of stream biofilm. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 843:156966. [PMID: 35760177 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The salinisation of freshwater ecosystems is a global environmental problem that threatens biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and human welfare. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of a realistic salinity gradient on the structure and functioning of freshwater biofilms. The salinity gradient was based on the real ion concentration of a mining effluent from an abandoned mine in Germany. We exposed biofilm from a pristine stream to 5 increasing salinities (3 to 100 g L-1) under controlled conditions in artificial streams for 21 days. We evaluated its functional (photosynthetic efficiency, nutrient uptake, and microbial respiration) and structural responses (community composition, algal biomass and diatom, cyanobacteria and green algae metrics) over time. Then we compared their responses with an unexposed biofilm used as control. The functionality and structure of the biofilm exposed to the different salinities significantly decreased after short-term and long-term exposure, respectively. The community composition shifted to a new stable state where the most tolerant species increased their abundances. At the same time, we observed an increase in the community tolerance (measured as Pollution-Induced Community Tolerance) along the salinity gradient. This study provides relevant information on the salt threshold concentrations that can substantially damage algal cells (i.e., between 15 and 30 g L-1). The results provide new insights regarding the response and adaptation of stream biofilm to salinity and its potential implications at the ecosystem level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Vendrell-Puigmitja
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Ctra de Roda 70, 08500 Vic, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Proia
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Ctra de Roda 70, 08500 Vic, Spain.
| | - Carmen Espinosa
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Ctra de Roda 70, 08500 Vic, Spain; Aigües de Vic S.A., Carrer de la Riera, 08500 Vic, Spain
| | - Laura Barral-Fraga
- LDAR24-Laboratoire Départemental d'Analyse et de Recherche de la Dordogne, 24660 Coulounieix-Chamiers, France; Grup de recerca en Ecologia aquàtica continental (GRECO), Departament de Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Grup de recerca FEHM (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victoria Osorio
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Carme Casas
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Ctra de Roda 70, 08500 Vic, Spain
| | - Laia Llenas
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Ctra de Roda 70, 08500 Vic, Spain
| | - Meritxell Abril
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Ctra de Roda 70, 08500 Vic, Spain
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Carles L, Wullschleger S, Joss A, Eggen RIL, Schirmer K, Schuwirth N, Stamm C, Tlili A. Impact of wastewater on the microbial diversity of periphyton and its tolerance to micropollutants in an engineered flow-through channel system. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 203:117486. [PMID: 34412020 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play an important role in retaining organic matter and nutrients but to a lesser extent micropollutants. Therefore, treated wastewater is recognized as a major source of multiple stressors, including complex mixtures of micropollutants. These can potentially affect microbial communities in the receiving water bodies and the ecological functions they provide. In this study, we evaluated in flow-through channels the consequences of an exposure to a mixture of stream water and different percentages of urban WWTP effluent, ranging from 0% to 80%, on the microbial diversity and function of periphyton communities. Assuming that micropollutants exert a selective pressure for tolerant microorganisms within communities, we further examined the periphyton sensitivity to a micropollutant mixture extracted from passive samplers that were immersed in the wastewater effluent. As well, micropollutants in water and in periphyton were comprehensively quantified. Our results show that micropollutants detected in periphyton differed from those found in water, both in term of concentration and composition. Especially photosystem II inhibitors accumulated in periphyton more than other pesticides. Although effects of other substances cannot be excluded, this accumulation may have contributed to the observed higher tolerance of phototrophic communities to micropollutants upon exposure to 30% and 80% of wastewater. On the contrary, no difference in tolerance was observed for heterotrophic communities. Exposure to the gradient of wastewater led to structural differences in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. For instance, the relative abundance of cyanobacteria was higher with increasing percentage of wastewater effluent, whereas the opposite was observed for diatoms. Such results could indicate that differences in community structure do not necessarily lead to higher tolerance. This highlights the need to consider other wastewater constituents such as nutrients and wastewater-derived microorganisms that can modulate community structure and tolerance. By using engineered flow-through channels that mimic to some extent the required field conditions for the development of tolerance in periphyton, our study constitutes a base to investigate the mechanisms underlying the increased tolerance, such as the potential role of microorganisms originating from wastewater effluents, and different treatment options to reduce the micropollutant load in effluents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Carles
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Simon Wullschleger
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Joss
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Rik I L Eggen
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nele Schuwirth
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Stamm
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Tlili
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
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Weitere M, Altenburger R, Anlanger C, Baborowski M, Bärlund I, Beckers LM, Borchardt D, Brack W, Brase L, Busch W, Chatzinotas A, Deutschmann B, Eligehausen J, Frank K, Graeber D, Griebler C, Hagemann J, Herzsprung P, Hollert H, Inostroza PA, Jäger CG, Kallies R, Kamjunke N, Karrasch B, Kaschuba S, Kaus A, Klauer B, Knöller K, Koschorreck M, Krauss M, Kunz JV, Kurz MJ, Liess M, Mages M, Müller C, Muschket M, Musolff A, Norf H, Pöhlein F, Reiber L, Risse-Buhl U, Schramm KW, Schmitt-Jansen M, Schmitz M, Strachauer U, von Tümpling W, Weber N, Wild R, Wolf C, Brauns M. Disentangling multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors in a lotic ecosystem using a longitudinal approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 769:144324. [PMID: 33482551 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Meeting ecological and water quality standards in lotic ecosystems is often failed due to multiple stressors. However, disentangling stressor effects and identifying relevant stressor-effect-relationships in complex environmental settings remain major challenges. By combining state-of-the-art methods from ecotoxicology and aquatic ecosystem analysis, we aimed here to disentangle the effects of multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors along a longitudinal land use gradient in a third-order river in Germany. We distinguished and evaluated four dominant stressor categories along this gradient: (1) Hydromorphological alterations: Flow diversity and substrate diversity correlated with the EU-Water Framework Directive based indicators for the quality element macroinvertebrates, which deteriorated at the transition from near-natural reference sites to urban sites. (2) Elevated nutrient levels and eutrophication: Low to moderate nutrient concentrations together with complete canopy cover at the reference sites correlated with low densities of benthic algae (biofilms). We found no more systematic relation of algal density with nutrient concentrations at the downstream sites, suggesting that limiting concentrations are exceeded already at moderate nutrient concentrations and reduced shading by riparian vegetation. (3) Elevated organic matter levels: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and stormwater drainage systems were the primary sources of bioavailable dissolved organic carbon. Consequently, planktonic bacterial production and especially extracellular enzyme activity increased downstream of those effluents showing local peaks. (4) Micropollutants and toxicity-related stress: WWTPs were the predominant source of toxic stress, resulting in a rapid increase of the toxicity for invertebrates and algae with only one order of magnitude below the acute toxic levels. This toxicity correlates negatively with the contribution of invertebrate species being sensitive towards pesticides (SPEARpesticides index), probably contributing to the loss of biodiversity recorded in response to WWTP effluents. Our longitudinal approach highlights the potential of coordinated community efforts in supplementing established monitoring methods to tackle the complex phenomenon of multiple stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Weitere
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Rolf Altenburger
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Christine Anlanger
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martina Baborowski
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ilona Bärlund
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Liza-Marie Beckers
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany, PAI
| | - Dietrich Borchardt
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany, PAI; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lisa Brase
- Helmholtz Centre Geesthacht - HZG, Department of Aquatic Nutrient Cycles, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Wibke Busch
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antonis Chatzinotas
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Microbiology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Leipzig University, Institute of Biology, Talstrasse 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Björn Deutschmann
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jens Eligehausen
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany; University of Kassel, Department of Landscape Ecology, Gottschalkstr. 26A, 34127 Kassel, Germany
| | - Karin Frank
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Ecological Modelling, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Graeber
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christian Griebler
- Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; University of Vienna, Department for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Jeske Hagemann
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Peter Herzsprung
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Lake Research, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Henner Hollert
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Pedro A Inostroza
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany, PAI
| | - Christoph G Jäger
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany; Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences, Centre for Research, Development and Technology Transfer, Hochschulstraße 1, 83024 Rosenheim, Germany
| | - René Kallies
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Microbiology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Norbert Kamjunke
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Karrasch
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sigrid Kaschuba
- Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Andrew Kaus
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Klauer
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Economics, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kay Knöller
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Catchment Hydrology, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Matthias Koschorreck
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Lake Research, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany, PAI
| | - Julia V Kunz
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marie J Kurz
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Hydrogeology, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias Liess
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research -UFZ, Department of System-Ecotoxicology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), Aachen, Germany
| | - Margarete Mages
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christin Müller
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Catchment Hydrology, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Matthias Muschket
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany, PAI
| | - Andreas Musolff
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Hydrogeology, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Helge Norf
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Florian Pöhlein
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Lake Research, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lena Reiber
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research -UFZ, Department of System-Ecotoxicology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), Aachen, Germany
| | - Ute Risse-Buhl
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Karl-Werner Schramm
- Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Molecular EXposomics, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Technische Universität München, Department für Biowissenschaftliche Grundlagen, Weihenstephaner Steig 23, 85350 Freising, Germany
| | - Mechthild Schmitt-Jansen
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Schmitz
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ulrike Strachauer
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Wolf von Tümpling
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Nina Weber
- Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Romy Wild
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christine Wolf
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Economics, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mario Brauns
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department River Ecology, Brückstr. 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
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Vendrell-Puigmitja L, Llenas L, Proia L, Ponsa S, Espinosa C, Morin S, Abril M. Effects of an hypersaline effluent from an abandoned potash mine on freshwater biofilm and diatom communities. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 230:105707. [PMID: 33302174 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105707] [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: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Potash abandoned mines cause severe environmental damage to their bordering environment, with significant impacts on freshwater ecosystems mostly through uncontrolled discharge of hypersaline effluents. This study aimed to evaluate the ecological impact caused by a hypersaline effluent from an abandoned potash mine (Menteroda, Germany) on freshwater biofilms and, specifically, on diatom communities. Biofilm from a pristine stream was exposed under controlled conditions in microcosms to a mining effluent (ME), and its structural (algal biomass, community composition, diatom metrics) and functional (photosynthetic activity, nutrient uptake) responses were evaluated over time and compared with unexposed biofilms used as control. Biofilm exposed to ME showed drastic functional responses after one day of exposure, with a significant decrease in photosynthetic efficiency and nutrient uptake, that were recovered over time. Biofilm exposed to ME showed a progressive increase in diatom metrics (abundance, density and growth rate) over time, compared to the control. However, a significant decrease in diatom species diversity, richness and cell size was also observed in biofilm exposed to ME. This study revealed that the ME affected the biofilm causing short-term functional responses, which were recovered simultaneously with a drastic diatom community structure shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Vendrell-Puigmitja
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, C. de la Laura 13, 08500, Vic, Spain.
| | - Laia Llenas
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, C. de la Laura 13, 08500, Vic, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Proia
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, C. de la Laura 13, 08500, Vic, Spain
| | - Sergio Ponsa
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, C. de la Laura 13, 08500, Vic, Spain
| | - Carmen Espinosa
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, C. de la Laura 13, 08500, Vic, Spain; CERM, Center for the Study of Mediterranean Rivers, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Manlleu, Spain
| | - Soizic Morin
- UR EABX, INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux, Cestas, France
| | - Meritxell Abril
- BETA Tech Center, TECNIO Network, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, C. de la Laura 13, 08500, Vic, Spain
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De Castro-Català N, Dolédec S, Kalogianni E, Skoulikidis NT, Paunovic M, Vasiljević B, Sabater S, Tornés E, Muñoz I. Unravelling the effects of multiple stressors on diatom and macroinvertebrate communities in European river basins using structural and functional approaches. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 742:140543. [PMID: 32721725 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Rivers suffer from more severe decreases in species diversity compared to other aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems due to a variety of pressures related to human activities. Species provide different roles in the functioning of the ecosystem, and their loss may reduce the capacity of the ecosystems to respond to multiple stressors. The effects on diversity will differ based on the type, combination and severity of stressors, as well as on the characteristics of the community composition and tolerance. Multiple trait-based approaches (MTBAs) can help to unravel the effects of multiple stressors on communities, providing a mechanistic interpretation, and, thus, complementing traditional biodiversity assessments using community structure. We studied the relationships between diversity indexes and trait composition of macroinvertebrate and diatom communities, as well as environmental variables that described the hydrological and geomorphological alterations and toxic pollution (pesticides and pharmaceuticals) of three different European river basins: the Adige, the Sava, and the Evrotas. These river basins can be considered representative cases of different situations in European freshwater systems. Hydrological variables were the main drivers determining the community structure and function in the rivers, for both diatoms and macroinvertebrates. For diatom communities, pharmaceutical active compound (PhAC) toxic units were also identified as a very important driver of diversity changes, explaining up to 57% of the variance in taxonomic richness. For macroinvertebrates, river geomorphology was an important driver of structural changes, particularly affecting Plecoptera richness. In addition, PhAC and pesticide toxic units were also identified as stressors for macroinvertebrate communities. MTBA provided a detailed picture of the effects of the stressors on the communities and confirmed the importance of hydrological variables in shaping the functional attributes of the communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria De Castro-Català
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Sylvain Dolédec
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Eleni Kalogianni
- Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavissos, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Th Skoulikidis
- Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavissos, Greece
| | - Momir Paunovic
- University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković (IBISS), Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Božica Vasiljević
- University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković (IBISS), Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sergi Sabater
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Girona, Spain; Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | | | - Isabel Muñoz
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Liu B, Chen S, Liu H, Guan Y. Blue-green algae enhanced performance of diatom-based multimetric index on defining lake condition under high level of human disturbance. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 730:138846. [PMID: 32388363 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Degradation of lake conditions could result from many stressors generated by human disturbance. Accurately defining lake ecological condition by multimetric index (MMI) method is of great importance for tracking source of stressors and lake management. For algal assessment, seldom have structural and functional attributes of soft-bodied planktonic algae metrics, one important dimension of biological condition, been used to develop MMI in conjunction with diatom metrics. Another thing is that some researchers found MMI method does not perform well in mid- and high-disturbed lakes. To test the aforementioned questions, we used data sets of the 2007 National Lake Assessment project of the USEPA to develop MMIs with and without using soft-bodied planktonic algae metrics for plains and lowlands area (PLNLOW, high disturbed region of the US) and across the conterminous US. Compared to site groups modeled by single diatom assemblages, we found integrating soft-bodied planktonic algae metric (especially blue-green algae metric) into developing MMIs can significantly improve performance of MMI in PLNLOW region. The separation powers of MMIs of five level III ecoregions, developed by incorporating blue-green algae metric, are consistently higher than those developed by single diatom assemblages (p-value = 0.029). However, when blue-green algae metric was applied to develop MMI along with diatom metrics in the national scale assessment, performances of MMIs are similar to that developed by diatom metrics (0.14 < p-value < 0.86). Different performance of MMIs developed by integrating blue-green algae metric at different spatial scales indicated the usefulness of blue-green algae metric in ecological assessment in mid- and high- disturbed lakes and a tiered approach for using diatom and blue-green algae metric in ecological assessment. We suggest using blue-green algae metric in combined with diatom metric to develop MMI when lakes are mid- and high-disturbed, while a routine diatom assessment would be enough for minimally disturbed sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Shuo Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Hui Liu
- College of Pharmacy Science, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Yueqiang Guan
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
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7
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Polst BH, Anlanger C, Risse-Buhl U, Larras F, Hein T, Weitere M, Schmitt-Jansen M. Hydrodynamics Alter the Tolerance of Autotrophic Biofilm Communities Toward Herbicides. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2884. [PMID: 30564205 PMCID: PMC6288176 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple stressors pose potential risk to aquatic ecosystems and are the main reasons for failing ecological quality standards. However, mechanisms how multiple stressors act on aquatic community structure and functioning are poorly understood. This is especially true for two important stressors types, hydrodynamic alterations and toxicants. Here we perform a mesocosm experiment in hydraulic flumes connected as a bypass to a natural stream to test the interactive effects of both factors on natural (inoculated from streams water) biofilms. Biofilms, i.e., the community of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms and their extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in association with substratum, are key players in stream functioning. We hypothesized (i) that the tolerance of biofilms toward toxicants (the herbicide Prometryn) decreases with increasing hydraulic stress. As EPS is known as an absorber of chemicals, we hypothesize (ii) that the EPS to cell ratio correlates with both hydraulic stress and herbicide tolerance. Tolerance values were derived from concentration-response assays. Both, the herbicide tolerance and the biovolume of the EPS significantly correlated with the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), while the diversity of diatoms (the dominant group within the stream biofilms) increased with flow velocity. This indicates that the positive effect of TKE on community tolerance was mediated by turbulence-induced changes in the EPS biovolume. This conclusion was supported by a second experiment, showing decreasing effects of the herbicide to a diatom biofilm (Nitzschia palea) with increasing content of artificial EPS. We conclude that increasing hydrodynamic forces in streams result in an increasing tolerance of microbial communities toward chemical pollution by changes in EPS-mediated bioavailability of toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian H Polst
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.,WasserCluster Lunz, Lunz, Austria
| | - Christine Anlanger
- Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Magdeburg, Germany.,Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Ute Risse-Buhl
- Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Floriane Larras
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Hein
- Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.,WasserCluster Lunz, Lunz, Austria
| | - Markus Weitere
- Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mechthild Schmitt-Jansen
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
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8
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Berger E, Frör O, Schäfer RB. Salinity impacts on river ecosystem processes: a critical mini-review. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 374:rstb.2018.0010. [PMID: 30509912 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In many dry parts of the world, salinization of water resources threatens freshwater biodiversity and the livelihood of people. However, ecological impact studies remain scarce. Here, we review field-observations of salinity impacts on ecosystem processes such as leaf decomposition, metabolism, biomass production and nutrient cycling, with a special emphasis on dryland ecosystems. In addition, we discuss the potential linkages of these processes to ecosystem service delivery-the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems-as additional nature conservation arguments and the challenges associated with this endeavour.This article is part of the theme issue 'Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Berger
- Department of Quantitative Landscape Ecology, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Oliver Frör
- Department of Environmental Economics, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- Department of Quantitative Landscape Ecology, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829 Landau, Germany
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9
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Feckler A, Rakovic J, Kahlert M, Tröger R, Bundschuh M. Blinded by the light: Increased chlorophyll fluorescence of herbicide-exposed periphyton masks unfavorable structural responses during exposure and recovery. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2018; 203:187-193. [PMID: 30153560 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In surface waters within agricultural catchments, periphyton - i.e., biofilms containing algae, heterotrophs, and associated detritus - is subjected to multiple stressors including herbicides. Although herbicide effects on periphyton are frequently studied, the focus has been on photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides while other modes of toxic action have received little attention. Against this background, a 21-days-lasting bioassay was conducted, during which mature periphytic communities were exposed to the carotenoid-biosynthesis-inhibiting herbicide diflufenican for 12 days (up to 10 μg/L; n = 4), followed by a 9-days-lasting recovery phase in herbicide-free medium. Variables related to periphytic functioning (photosynthetic efficiency and non-photochemical quenching) and structure (pigment concentrations, biomass, and algal community structure) were quantified every third day during both experimental phases. Exposure to ≥ 0.2 μg diflufenican/L resulted in 20-25% and 25-30% lowered carotenoid and chlorophyll a concentrations, respectively, likely explained by a reduced algal biovolume as well as diflufenican's mode of toxic action and thus a shift towards a higher heterotrophy of the communities. Despite these adverse effects on the photosynthetic apparatus, the photosynthetic efficiency increased by up to ∼15% under diflufenican exposure judged on higher chlorophyll fluorescence. This may be explained by an up to ∼60% reduced non-photochemical quenching as well as binding of diflufenican to the pigment-protein membrane complex of the photosystem II, two processes causing higher chlorophyll fluorescence. Additionally, phototrophs may have actively increased energy assimilation to cope with higher energy demands under chemical stress. Although periphyton showed some recovery potential following the exposure phase, observed as increasing chlorophyll a concentrations and non-photochemical quenching, periphyton may not be able to quickly recover from stress given the persistent increase in the photosynthetic efficiency. While the processes underlying the observed effects yet remain speculative, the results suggest a shift towards a higher degree of heterotrophy in periphytic communities ultimately increasing the importance of heterotrophic ecosystem functions at impacted sites over the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Feckler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Jelena Rakovic
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7014, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Kahlert
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rikard Tröger
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mirco Bundschuh
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany.
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10
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Cochero J, Licursi M, Gómez N. Effects of pulse and press additions of salt on biofilms of nutrient-rich streams. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 579:1496-1503. [PMID: 27916312 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic and pulse increments of salinity can cause different consequences on the aquatic communities, and its effects are related to factors such as the magnitude, frequency and ionic composition, as well as on the baseline salt concentrations in the water. The aim of this study was to explore the responses of the biofilms from a nutrient-rich stream to both pulse and chronic additions of salt, along with their recovery after the stressor had been removed. For this purpose, a microcosm study was conducted exposing biofilms to water enriched with sodium chloride in two treatments (press and pulse), and comparing the changes in the biofilm with control microcosms without salt additions. The experiment lasted 72h, and the variables measured included bacterial density, chlorophyll-a concentration, community composition, total carbohydrate content, oxygen consumption and the percentage of nuclear alterations in diatoms. Both treatments resulted in a decrease in the bacterial density of the biofilm and in oxygen consumption; the chronic treatment in particular also caused an increased percentage of nuclear abnormalities in the diatom assemblage. The biofilm recovered to control levels after the treatments had been discontinued for 72h. We concluded that the biofilms can be altered significantly under both chronic and pulse additions of salt even after a short-term exposure, and that the community can recover if the stressor is withdrawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Cochero
- Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet", Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 1900 La Plata, Argentina; CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Argentina.
| | - Magdalena Licursi
- Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet", Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 1900 La Plata, Argentina; CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Argentina; Instituto Nacional de Limnología, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo s/n, CP 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Nora Gómez
- Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet", Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 1900 La Plata, Argentina; CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Argentina
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11
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Tang T, Stevenson RJ, Infante DM. Accounting for regional variation in both natural environment and human disturbance to improve performance of multimetric indices of lotic benthic diatoms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:1124-1134. [PMID: 27134128 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Regional variation in both natural environment and human disturbance can influence performance of ecological assessments. In this study we calculated 5 types of benthic diatom multimetric indices (MMIs) with 3 different approaches to account for variation in ecological assessments. We used: site groups defined by ecoregions or diatom typologies; the same or different sets of metrics among site groups; and unmodeled or modeled MMIs, where models accounted for natural variation in metrics within site groups by calculating an expected reference condition for each metric and each site. We used data from the USEPA's National Rivers and Streams Assessment to calculate the MMIs and evaluate changes in MMI performance. MMI performance was evaluated with indices of precision, bias, responsiveness, sensitivity and relevancy which were respectively measured as MMI variation among reference sites, effects of natural variables on MMIs, difference between MMIs at reference and highly disturbed sites, percent of highly disturbed sites properly classified, and relation of MMIs to human disturbance and stressors. All 5 types of MMIs showed considerable discrimination ability. Using different metrics among ecoregions sometimes reduced precision, but it consistently increased responsiveness, sensitivity, and relevancy. Site specific metric modeling reduced bias and increased responsiveness. Combined use of different metrics among site groups and site specific modeling significantly improved MMI performance irrespective of site grouping approach. Compared to ecoregion site classification, grouping sites based on diatom typologies improved precision, but did not improve overall performance of MMIs if we accounted for natural variation in metrics with site specific models. We conclude that using different metrics among ecoregions and site specific metric modeling improve MMI performance, particularly when used together. Applications of these MMI approaches in ecological assessments introduced a tradeoff with assessment consistency when metrics differed across site groups, but they justified the convenient and consistent use of ecoregions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; Center for Water Sciences, Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - R Jan Stevenson
- Center for Water Sciences, Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Dana M Infante
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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12
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Op De Beeck L, Janssens L, Stoks R. Synthetic predator cues impair immune function and make the biological pesticide Bti more lethal for vector mosquitoes. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 26:355-366. [PMID: 27209779 DOI: 10.1890/15-0326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The control of vector mosquitoes is one of the biggest challenges facing humankind with the use of chemical pesticides often leading to environmental impact and the evolution of resistance. Although to a lesser extent, this also holds for Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), the most widely used biological pesticide to control mosquito populations. This raises the need for the development of integrated pest management strategies that allow the reduction of Bti concentrations without loss of the mosquito control efficiency. To this end, we tested in a laboratory experiment the combined effects of larval exposure to a sublethal Bti concentration and predation risk cues on life history and physiology of larval and adult Culex pipiens mosquitoes. Besides natural predator kairomones and prey alarm cues, we also tested synthetic kairomones of Notonecta predators. Neither Bti nor predation risk cues affected mortality, yet when both stressors were combined mortality increased on average by 133% compared to the treatment with only predation risk cues. This synergistic interaction was also present when Bti was combined with synthetic kairomones. This was further reflected in changes of the composite index of population performance, which suggested lowered per capita growth rates in mosquitoes exposed to Bti but only when Bti was combined with synthetic kairomones. Furthermore, predation risk cues shortened larval development time, reduced mass at metamorphosis in males, and had an immunosuppressive effect in larval and adult mosquitoes which may affect the mosquito vector competence. We provide the first demonstration that synthetic kairomones may generate similar effects on prey as natural kairomones. The identified immunosuppressive effect of synthetic kairomones and the novel lethal synergism type between a biological pesticide and synthetic predator kairomones provide an important proof of principle illustrating the potential of this combination for integrated mosquito control and should in a next step be evaluated under more natural conditions. It may guide novel integrated pest management programs with Bti that incorporate synthetic kairomones and thereby can reduce environmental impact and evolution of resistance creating more efficient and sustainable mosquito control.
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13
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Corcoll N, Casellas M, Huerta B, Guasch H, Acuña V, Rodríguez-Mozaz S, Serra-Compte A, Barceló D, Sabater S. Effects of flow intermittency and pharmaceutical exposure on the structure and metabolism of stream biofilms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 503-504:159-170. [PMID: 25017633 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.06.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Revised: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Increasing concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds occur in many rivers, but their environmental risk remains poorly studied in stream biofilms. Flow intermittency shapes the structure and functions of ecosystems, and may enhance their sensitivity to toxicants. This study evaluates the effects of a long-term exposure of biofilm communities to a mixture of pharmaceutical compounds at environmental concentrations on biofilm bioaccumulation capacity, the structure and metabolic processes of algae and bacteria communities, and how their potential effects were enhanced or not by the occurrence of flow intermittency. To assess the interaction between those two stressors, an experiment with artificial streams was performed. Stream biofilms were exposed to a mixture of pharmaceuticals, as well as to a short period of flow intermittency. Results indicate that biofilms were negatively affected by pharmaceuticals. The algal biomass and taxa richness decreased and unicellular green algae relatively increased. The structure of the bacterial (based on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of amplified 16S rRNA genes) changed and showed a reduction of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) richness. Exposed biofilms showed higher rates of metabolic processes, such as primary production and community respiration, attributed to pharmaceuticals stimulated an increase of green algae and heterotrophs, respectively. Flow intermittency modulated the effects of chemicals on natural communities. The algal community became more sensitive to short-term exposure of pharmaceuticals (lower EC50 value) when exposed to water intermittency, indicating cumulative effects between the two assessed stressors. In contrast to algae, the bacterial community became less sensitive to short-term exposure of pharmaceuticals (higher EC50) when exposed to water intermittency, indicating co-tolerance phenomena. According to the observed effects, the environmental risk of pharmaceuticals in nature is high, but different depending on the flow regime, as well as the target organisms (autotrophs vs heterotrophs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Natàlia Corcoll
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain.
| | - Maria Casellas
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Belinda Huerta
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Helena Guasch
- Institue of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain
| | - Vicenç Acuña
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Sara Rodríguez-Mozaz
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Albert Serra-Compte
- Institue of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain
| | - Damià Barceló
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Department of Environmental Chemistry (IDEA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Sabater
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Institue of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain
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14
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Segner H, Schmitt-Jansen M, Sabater S. Assessing the impact of multiple stressors on aquatic biota: the receptor's side matters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:7690-7696. [PMID: 24905720 DOI: 10.1021/es405082t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems are confronted with multiple stress factors. Current approaches to assess the risk of anthropogenic stressors to aquatic ecosystems are developed for single stressors and determine stressor effects primarily as a function of stressor properties. The cumulative impact of several stressors, however, may differ markedly from the impact of the single stressors and can result in nonlinear effects and ecological surprises. To meet the challenge of diagnosing and predicting multiple stressor impacts, assessment strategies should focus on properties of the biological receptors rather than on stressor properties. This change of paradigm is required because (i) multiple stressors affect multiple biological targets at multiple organizational levels, (ii) biological receptors differ in their sensitivities, vulnerabilities, and response dynamics to the individual stressors, and (iii) biological receptors function as networks, so that actions of stressors at disparate sites within the network can lead via indirect or cascading effects, to unexpected outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern , PO Box 8466, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland
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15
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Cañedo-Argüelles M, Bundschuh M, Gutiérrez-Cánovas C, Kefford BJ, Prat N, Trobajo R, Schäfer RB. Effects of repeated salt pulses on ecosystem structure and functions in a stream mesocosm. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 476-477:634-42. [PMID: 24503334 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Revised: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Rivers and streams affected by mining activities often receive short-term sharp salinity increases due to water-soluble stockpiled materials being washed into receiving water bodies. We conducted a mesocosm study to explore the response of structural (diatom and stream invertebrate communities) and functional descriptors (chlorophyll a concentration, fungal biomass and leaf decomposition) to repeated short salinity pulses (3h of duration, with nominal electrical conductivities of 5, 10 and 15 mS cm(-1)), mimicking the exposure pattern occurring at salt-mine affected rivers. The experiment was conducted in 12 artificial flow-through stream systems over 16 days. The effect of the salt pulses on the ecosystem structure and functioning did not fully match most of our initial hypotheses, with the community response being weaker than predicted. The diatom community was, however, dominated by salt-tolerant species throughout the experiment, showing no consistent response to the treatment. The invertebrate response was associated with statistically significant changes in community structure (i.e. abundance of the different taxa) but no statistically significant changes in taxa richness. The salt pulses affected some functional descriptors of the ecosystem: fungal biomass exhibited a unimodal response to treatment magnitude, algal growth (i.e. chl a biomass) was hampered with increasing conductivity and leaf decomposition was significantly reduced in the high treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- Freshwater Ecology and Management (F.E.M.) research group, Departament d'Ecologia, Universitat Barcelona, Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Lytle Lab, Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Mirco Bundschuh
- Functional Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany; Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cayetano Gutiérrez-Cánovas
- Aquatic Ecology Group, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional "Campus Mare Nostrum", Spain
| | - Ben J Kefford
- Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Narcís Prat
- Freshwater Ecology and Management (F.E.M.) research group, Departament d'Ecologia, Universitat Barcelona, Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Rosa Trobajo
- Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute for Food and Agricultural Research & Technology (IRTA), Ctra de Poble Nou, Km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Rapita, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- Quantitative Landscape Ecology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829 Landau, Germany
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