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Lv L, Feng W, Cai J, Zhang Y, Jiang J, Liao D, Yan C, Sui Y, Dong X. Enrichment characteristics of microplastics in Antarctic benthic and pelagic fish and krill near the Antarctic Peninsula. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175582. [PMID: 39159696 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
Global microplastic pollution has garnered widespread attention from researchers both domestically and internationally. However, compared to other regions worldwide, little is known about microplastic pollution in the marine ecosystems of the Antarctic region. This study investigated the abundance and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in the gills and intestines of 15 species of Antarctic fish and Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). The results indicate that the abundance of MPs in Antarctic fish and E. superba ranged from 0.625 to 2.0 items/individual and 0.17 to 0.27 items/individual, with mean abundances of 0.93 ± 0.96 items/individual and 0.23 ± 0.44 items/individual, respectively. Antarctic fish ingested significantly more MPs than E. superba. There was no significant difference in the abundance of MPs between the gills and intestines of Antarctic fish. However, the quantity of pellet-shaped MPs in the gills was significantly higher than in the intestines. The depth of fish habitat influenced the quantity and size of MPs in their bodies, with benthic fish ingesting significantly fewer MPs than pelagic fish. Pelagic fish ingested significantly more MPs sized 1-5 mm than benthic fish. Additionally, analysis of the characteristics of MPs revealed that fiber-shaped MPs were predominant in shape, with sizes generally smaller than 0.25 mm and 0.25-0.5 mm. The predominant colors of MPs were transparent, red, and black, while the main materials were polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Compared to organisms from other regions, the levels of MPs in Antarctic fish and E. superba were relatively low. This study contributes to a better understanding of the extent of MP pollution in Antarctic fish and E. superba, aiding human efforts to mitigate its impact on the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlan Lv
- College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224,000, PR China
| | - Wanjun Feng
- College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224,000, PR China
| | - Jiaying Cai
- College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224,000, PR China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224,000, PR China
| | - Jiacheng Jiang
- College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224,000, PR China
| | - Dagui Liao
- College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224,000, PR China
| | - Cong Yan
- College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224,000, PR China
| | - Yanming Sui
- College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224,000, PR China
| | - Xuexing Dong
- College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224,000, PR China
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2
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Shi D, Ma Y, Zhu J, Zhang L, Cai M. Occurrence, sources and transport of triazine herbicides in the Antarctic marginal seas. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 207:116820. [PMID: 39126778 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
The extensively applied triazine herbicides are easily transported by ocean currents over long distances. This study analyzed ten triazine herbicides in the Antarctic marginal seas and the Southern Indian Ocean during the austral summer for the first time, addressing their largely unexplored behavior in remote marine environments. The total triazine herbicides showed great spatial heterogeneity, with a range of 20-790 pg/L and an average of 31 ± 66 pg/L. The waterborne transport of triazine herbicides in the Antarctic was affected by hydrological processes, especially the blocking and accumulation effect of the polar front. Variations in sea ice extent and temperature were also important influencing factors, resulting in elevated triazine herbicides in surface seawater of East Antarctica, but reduced levels in West Antarctica. Furthermore, the source apportionment results indicated that approximately 55 % of the herbicides originated from sugarcane cultivation, 28 % from algaecide use, and 16 % from corn and sorghum farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Shi
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxin Ma
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China; Ministry of Natural Resources Key Laboratory for Polar Science, Polar Research Institute of China, 451 Jinqiao Road, Shanghai 200136, China.
| | - Jincai Zhu
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Lihong Zhang
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Minghong Cai
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China; Ministry of Natural Resources Key Laboratory for Polar Science, Polar Research Institute of China, 451 Jinqiao Road, Shanghai 200136, China
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3
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Rondon R, Cárdenas CA, Cosseau C, Bergami E, Balbi T, Corsi I, González-Aravena M. Physiological and molecular effects of contaminants of emerging concerns of micro and nano-size in aquatic metazoans: overview and current gaps in Antarctic species. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-34457-6. [PMID: 39066941 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34457-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Although Antarctica is the most isolated continent on Earth, its remote location does not protect it from the impacts of human activities. Antarctic metazoans such as filter-feeding invertebrates are a crucial component of the Antarctic benthos. They play a key role in the benthic-pelagic carbon flux in coastal areas by filtering particles and planktonic organisms from the sediment-water interface. Due to their peculiar ecological niche, these organisms can be considered a wasp-waist in the ecosystem, making them highly sensitive to marine pollution. Recently, anthropogenic particles such as micro-nanoplastics and manufactured nanoparticles (MNP) have been classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) due to their small size range, which also overlaps with the preferred particle size ingested by aquatic metazoans. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that some species such as Antarctic krill can ingest, transform, and release MNPs, making them newly bioavailable for other Antarctic filter-feeding organisms. Similarly, the production and use of anthropogenic MNP are rapidly increasing, leading to a growing presence of materials, such as nano-sized metal-oxides, in the environment. For these reasons, it is important to provide evidence of the adverse effects of such emerging contaminants at sub-lethal concentrations in environmental risk assessments. These contaminants may cause cascade effects with consequences not only on individuals but also at the community and ecosystem levels. In this review, we discuss the state-of-the-art knowledge on the physiological and molecular effects of anthropogenic MNP in Antarctic aquatic metazoans. We further highlight the importance of identifying early biomarkers using sessile metazoans as sentinels of environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Rondon
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile.
| | - César A Cárdenas
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile
- Millenium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
| | - Céline Cosseau
- IHPE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Université de Perpignan "Via Domitia", Perpignan, France
| | - Elisa Bergami
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giuseppe Campi 213/D, Modena, Italy
| | - Teresa Balbi
- Department of Earth Environment & Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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4
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Jeunen GJ, Mills S, Lamare M, Duffy GA, Knapp M, Stanton JAL, Mariani S, Treece J, Ferreira S, Durán-Vinet B, Zavodna M, Gemmell NJ. Unlocking Antarctic molecular time-capsules - Recovering historical environmental DNA from museum-preserved sponges. Mol Ecol Resour 2024:e14001. [PMID: 39051108 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.14001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Marine sponges have recently emerged as efficient natural environmental DNA (eDNA) samplers. The ability of sponges to accumulate eDNA provides an exciting opportunity to reconstruct contemporary communities and ecosystems with high temporal and spatial precision. However, the use of historical eDNA, trapped within the vast number of specimens stored in scientific collections, opens up the opportunity to begin to reconstruct the communities and ecosystems of the past. Here, we define the term 'heDNA' to denote the historical environmental DNA that can be obtained from the recent past with high spatial and temporal accuracy. Using a variety of Antarctic sponge specimens stored in an extensive marine invertebrate collection, we were able to recover information on Antarctic fish biodiversity from specimens up to 20 years old. We successfully recovered 64 fish heDNA signals from 27 sponge specimens. Alpha diversity measures did not differ among preservation methods, but sponges stored frozen had a significantly different fish community composition compared to those stored dry or in ethanol. Our results show that we were consistently and reliably able to extract the heDNA trapped within marine sponge specimens, thereby enabling the reconstruction and investigation of communities and ecosystems of the recent past with a spatial and temporal resolution previously unattainable. Future research into heDNA extraction from other preservation methods, as well as the impact of specimen age and collection method, will strengthen and expand the opportunities for this novel resource to access new knowledge on ecological change during the last century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gert-Jan Jeunen
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sadie Mills
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Miles Lamare
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Grant A Duffy
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Michael Knapp
- Coastal People: Southern Skies Centre of Research Excellence, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jo-Ann L Stanton
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Jackson Treece
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sara Ferreira
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Monika Zavodna
- Otago Genomics Facility, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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5
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González-Aravena M, Galbán-Malagón C, Castro-Nallar E, Barriga GP, Neira V, Krüger L, Adell AD, Olivares-Pacheco J. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater Associated with Scientific Stations in Antarctica and Possible Risk for Wildlife. Microorganisms 2024; 12:743. [PMID: 38674687 PMCID: PMC11051888 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Before December 2020, Antarctica had remained free of COVID-19 cases. The main concern during the pandemic was the limited health facilities available at Antarctic stations to deal with the disease as well as the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Antarctic wildlife through reverse zoonosis. In December 2020, 60 cases emerged in Chilean Antarctic stations, disrupting the summer campaign with ongoing isolation needs. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the wastewater of several scientific stations. In Antarctica, treated wastewater is discharged directly into the seawater. No studies currently address the recovery of infectious virus particles from treated wastewater, but their presence raises the risk of infecting wildlife and initiating new replication cycles. This study highlights the initial virus detection in wastewater from Antarctic stations, identifying viral RNA via RT-qPCR targeting various genomic regions. The virus's RNA was found in effluent from two wastewater plants at Maxwell Bay and O'Higgins Station on King George Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, respectively. This study explores the potential for the reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to Antarctic wildlife due to the direct release of viral particles into seawater. The implications of such transmission underscore the need for continued vigilance and research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristóbal Galbán-Malagón
- GEMA, Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile;
- Anillo en Ciencia y Tecnología Antártica POLARIX, Santiago 8370146, Chile;
- Institute for Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Eduardo Castro-Nallar
- Anillo en Ciencia y Tecnología Antártica POLARIX, Santiago 8370146, Chile;
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Talca, Campus Talca, Talca 3481118, Chile
- Centro de Ecología Integrativa, Universidad de Talca, Campus Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | - Gonzalo P. Barriga
- Laboratorio de Virus Emergentes, Programa de Virología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile;
| | - Víctor Neira
- Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile;
| | - Lucas Krüger
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas 6200985, Chile;
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago 7750000, Chile
| | - Aiko D. Adell
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago 9350841, Chile;
- Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance, MICROB-R, Santiago 7550000, Chile
| | - Jorge Olivares-Pacheco
- Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance, MICROB-R, Santiago 7550000, Chile
- Grupo de Resistencia Antimicrobiana en Bacterias Patógenas y Ambientales, GRABPA, Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile
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6
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Gutiérrez J, González-Acuña D, Fuentes-Castillo D, Fierro K, Hernández C, Zapata L, Verdugo C. Antibiotic resistance in wildlife from Antarctic Peninsula. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170340. [PMID: 38278249 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Although considered one of the most pristine ecosystems, Antarctica has been largely influenced by human activities during the last 50 years, affecting its unique biodiversity. One of the major global threats to health is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may be actively transferred to wildlife. We cultured and tested for antibiotic resistance in 137 cloacal and fresh fecal samples of several avian and marine mammal species from the Antarctic Peninsula, the most impacted area in Antarctica. Alarmingly, 80 % of the isolates showed antibiotic resistance, either phenotypically or genotypically. Most of the resistant bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus species, are part of local gastrointestinal microbiota. Penguins and pinnipeds harbored a great diversity of antibiotic resistance and must be eligible as sentinels for future studies. These results show that antibiotic resistance has rapidly transferred to bacteria in Antarctic wildlife, which is a global matter of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefina Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Center of Surveillance and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | | | - Danny Fuentes-Castillo
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Karina Fierro
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Carlos Hernández
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Loreto Zapata
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Claudio Verdugo
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Center of Surveillance and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
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7
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Kumar V, Karam Q, Shajan AB, Al-Nuaimi S, Sattari Z, El-Dakour S. Transcriptome analysis of Sparidentex hasta larvae exposed to water-accommodated fraction of Kuwait crude oil. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3591. [PMID: 38351213 PMCID: PMC10864312 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53408-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have been shown to significantly affect marine life. Water pollution and oil spills are particularly deleterious to the fish population, especially during their larval stage. In this study, Sobaity-sea bream Sparidentex hasta (Valenciennes, 1830) larvae were exposed to serial dilutions of water-accommodated fraction of Kuwait crude oil (KCO-WAF) for varying durations (3, 6, 24, 48, 72 or 96 h) in acute exposure regime. Gene expression was assessed using RNA sequencing and validated through RT-qPCR. The RNA sequencing data were aligned to the sequenced genome, and differentially expressed genes were identified in response to treatment with or without KCO-WAF at various exposure times. The highest number of differentially expressed genes was observed at the early time point of 6 h of post-exposure to KCO-WAF. The lowest number of differentially expressed genes were noticed at 96 h of treatment indicating early response of the larvae to KCO-WAF contaminant. The acquired information on the differentially expressed genes was then used for functional and pathway analysis. More than 90% of the differentially expressed genes had a significant BLAST match, with the two most common matching species being Acanthopagrus latus and Sparus aurata. Approximately 65% of the differentially expressed genes had Gene Ontology annotations, whereas > 35% of the genes had KEGG pathway annotations. The differentially expressed genes were found to be enriched for various signaling pathways (e.g., MAPK, cAMP, PI3K-Akt) and nervous system-related pathways (e.g., neurodegeneration, axon guidance, glutamatergic synapse, GABAergic synapse). Early exposure modulated the signaling pathways, while KCO-WAF exposure of larvae for a longer duration affected the neurodegenerative/nervous system-related pathways. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed the differential expression of genes at each time point. These findings provide insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of the deleterious effects of acute exposure to oil pollution-on marine fish populations, particularly at the early larval stage of Sparidentex hasta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Kumar
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait.
| | - Qusaie Karam
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Anisha B Shajan
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Sabeeka Al-Nuaimi
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Zainab Sattari
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Saleem El-Dakour
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait
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Ibañez AE, Mills WF, Bustamante P, Morales LM, Torres DS, D' Astek B, Mariano-Jelicich R, Phillips RA, Montalti D. Deleterious effects of mercury contamination on immunocompetence, liver function and egg volume in an antarctic seabird. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140630. [PMID: 37939926 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140630] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a globally important pollutant that can negatively impact metabolic, endocrine and immune systems of marine biota. Seabirds are long-lived marine top predators and hence are at risk of bioaccumulating high Hg concentrations from their prey. Here, we measured blood total mercury (THg) concentrations and relationships with physiology and breeding parameters of breeding brown skuas (Stercorarius antarcticus) (n = 49 individuals) at Esperanza/Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Mean blood THg concentrations were similar in males and females despite the differences in body size and breeding roles, but differed between study years. Immune markers (hematocrit, Immunoglobulin Y [IgY] and albumin) were negatively correlated with blood THg concentrations, which likely indicates a disruptive effect of Hg on immunity. Alanine aminotransferase (GPT) activity, reflecting liver dysfunction, was positively associated with blood THg. Additionally, triacylglycerol and albumin differed between our study years, but did not correlate with Hg levels, and so were more likely to reflect changes in diet and nutritional status rather than Hg contamination. Egg volume correlated negatively with blood THg concentrations. Our study provides new insights into the sublethal effects of Hg contamination on immunity, liver function and breeding parameters in seabirds. In this Antarctic species, exposure to sublethal Hg concentrations reflects the short-term risks which could make individuals more susceptible to environmental stressors, including ongoing climatic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés E Ibañez
- Sección Ornitología, Div. Zool. Vert. Museo de la Plata (FCNyM-UNLP-CONICET), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - William F Mills
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Lara M Morales
- Sección Ornitología, Div. Zool. Vert. Museo de la Plata (FCNyM-UNLP-CONICET), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego S Torres
- Sección Ornitología, Div. Zool. Vert. Museo de la Plata (FCNyM-UNLP-CONICET), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Beatriz D' Astek
- Sección Ornitología, Div. Zool. Vert. Museo de la Plata (FCNyM-UNLP-CONICET), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rocío Mariano-Jelicich
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), UNMdP-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Richard A Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Diego Montalti
- Sección Ornitología, Div. Zool. Vert. Museo de la Plata (FCNyM-UNLP-CONICET), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto Antártico Argentino, San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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9
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Korejwo E, Panasiuk A, Wawrzynek-Borejko J, Jędruch A, Bełdowski J, Paturej A, Bełdowska M. Mercury concentrations in Antarctic zooplankton with a focus on the krill species, Euphausia superba. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167239. [PMID: 37742970 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167239] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The Antarctic is the most isolated region in the world; nevertheless, it has not avoided the negative impact of human activity, including the inflow of toxic mercury (Hg). Hg deposited in the Antarctic marine environment can be bioavailable and accumulate in the food web, reaching elevated concentrations in high-trophic-level biota, especially if methylated. Zooplankton, together with phytoplankton, are critical for the transport of pollutants, including Hg to higher trophic levels. For the Southern Ocean ecosystem, one of the key zooplankton components is the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, the smaller euphausiid Thysanoessa macrura, and the amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii - a crucial food source for most predatory fish, birds, and mammals. The main goal of this study was to determine the Hg burden, as well as the distribution of different Hg forms, in these dominant Antarctic planktonic crustaceans. The results showed that the highest concentrations of Hg were found in T. gaudichaudii, a typically predatory taxon. Most of the Hg in the tested crustaceans was labile and potentially bioavailable for planktivorous organisms, with the most dangerous methylmercury (MeHg) accounting for an average of 16 % of the total mercury. Elevated Hg concentrations were observed close to the land, which is influenced by the proximity to penguin and pinniped colonies. In areas near the shore, volcanic activity might be a possible cause of the increase in mercury sulfide (HgS) content. The total Hg concentration increased with the trophic position and ontogenetic stage of predation, specific to adult organisms. In contrast, the proportion of MeHg decreased with age, indicating more efficient demethylation or elimination. The Hg magnification kinetics in the study area were relatively high, which may be related to climate-change induced alterations of the Antarctic ecosystem: additional food sources and reshaped trophic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Korejwo
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Department of Marine Chemistry, and Biochemistry, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland.
| | - Anna Panasiuk
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography Laboratory of Marine Plankton Biology, Division of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Justyna Wawrzynek-Borejko
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Division of Marine Ecosystems Functioning, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Jędruch
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Department of Marine Chemistry, and Biochemistry, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
| | - Jacek Bełdowski
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Department of Marine Chemistry, and Biochemistry, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
| | - Alicja Paturej
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Division of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Magdalena Bełdowska
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Division of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
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Farman M, Shehzad A, Nisar KS, Hincal E, Akgul A, Hassan AM. Generalized Ulam-Hyers-Rassias stability and novel sustainable techniques for dynamical analysis of global warming impact on ecosystem. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22441. [PMID: 38105260 PMCID: PMC10725897 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49806-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine structure changes as a result of climate change, with potential biological implications for human societies and marine ecosystems. These changes include changes in temperatures, flow, discrimination, nutritional inputs, oxygen availability, and acidification of the ocean. In this study, a fractional-order model is constructed using the Caputo fractional operator, which singular and nol-local kernel. A model examines the effects of accelerating global warming on aquatic ecosystems while taking into account variables that change over time, such as the environment and organisms. The positively invariant area also demonstrates positive, bounded solutions of the model treated. The equilibrium states for the occurrence and extinction of fish populations are derived for a feasible solution of the system. We also used fixed-point theorems to analyze the existence and uniqueness of the model. The generalized Ulam-Hyers-Rassias function is used to analyze the stability of the system. To study the impact of the fractional operator through computational simulations, results are generated employing a two-step Lagrange polynomial in the generalized version for the power law kernel and also compared the results with an exponential law and Mittag Leffler kernel. We also produce graphs of the model at various fractional derivative orders to illustrate the important influence that the fractional order has on the different classes of the model with the memory effects of the fractional operator. To help with the oversight of fisheries, this research builds mathematical connections between the natural world and aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Farman
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Mathematics, Near East University, Cyprus, Turkey.
- Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon.
- Institute of Mathematics, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan.
| | - Aamir Shehzad
- Institute of Mathematics, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
| | - Kottakkaran Sooppy Nisar
- Department of Mathematics, College of Science and Humanities in Alkharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Evren Hincal
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Mathematics, Near East University, Cyprus, Turkey
| | - Ali Akgul
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Mathematics, Near East University, Cyprus, Turkey
- Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Mathematics, SIIRT University, Cyprus, Turkey
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11
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Hughes KA, Boyle CP, Morley-Hurst K, Gerrish L, Colwell SR, Convey P. Loss of research and operational equipment in Antarctica: Balancing scientific advances with environmental impact. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 348:119200. [PMID: 37832295 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Antarctica has been subject to widespread, long-term and on-going human activity since the establishment of permanent research stations became common in the 1950s. Equipment may become intentionally or inadvertently lost in Antarctic marine and terrestrial environments as a result of scientific research and associated support activities, but this has been poorly quantified to date. Here we report the quantity and nature of equipment lost by the UK's national operator in Antarctica, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Over the 15-year study period (2005-2019), 125 incidents of loss were reported, with c. 23 tonnes of equipment lost of which 18% by mass was considered hazardous. The geographical distribution of lost equipment was widespread across the BAS operational footprint. However, impacts are considered low compared to those associated with research station infrastructure establishment and operation. To reduce environmental impact overall, we recommend that, where possible, better use is made of existing research station capacity to facilitate field research, thereby reducing the need for construction of new infrastructure and the generation of associated impacts. Furthermore, to facilitate reporting on the state of the Antarctic environment, we recommend that national Antarctic programmes reinvigorate efforts to comply with Antarctic Treaty System requirements to actively record the locations of past activities and make available details of lost equipment. In a wider context, analogous reporting is also encouraged in other pristine areas subject to new research activities, including in other remote Earth environments and on extra-terrestrial bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Hughes
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK.
| | - Claire P Boyle
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Kate Morley-Hurst
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Laura Gerrish
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Steve R Colwell
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK; Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa; Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
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12
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Darham S, Zakaria NN, Zulkharnain A, Sabri S, Khalil KA, Merican F, Gomez-Fuentes C, Lim S, Ahmad SA. Antarctic heavy metal pollution and remediation efforts: state of the art of research and scientific publications. Braz J Microbiol 2023; 54:2011-2026. [PMID: 36973583 PMCID: PMC10485231 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-00949-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In Antarctica, human activities have been reported to be the major cause of the accumulation of heavy metal contaminants. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of publications on heavy metal contamination in Antarctica from year 2000 to 2020 was performed to obtain an overview of the current landscape in this line of research. A total of 106 documents were obtained from Scopus, the largest citation database. Extracted data were analysed, and VOSviewer software was used to visualise trends. The result showed an increase in publications and citations in the past 20 years indicating the rising interest on heavy metal contamination in the Antarctic region. Based on the analysis of keywords, the publications largely discuss various types of heavy metals found in the Antarctic water and sediment. The analysis on subject areas detects multiple disciplines involved, wherein the environmental science was well-represented. The top countries and authors producing the most publication in this field were from Australia, China, Brazil and Chile. Numerous efforts have been exercised to investigate heavy metal pollution and its mitigation approaches in the region in the past decades. This paper not only is relevant for scholars to understand the development status and trends in this field but also offers clear insights on the future direction of Antarctic heavy metal contamination and remediation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syazani Darham
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nur Nadhirah Zakaria
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Azham Zulkharnain
- Department of Bioscience and Engineering, College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, 307 Fukasaku, Minuma-Ku, Saitama, 337-8570, Japan
| | - Suriana Sabri
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Khalilah Abdul Khalil
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, School of Biology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Faradina Merican
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Pulai Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Claudio Gomez-Fuentes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Magallanes, Avda. Bulnes 01855, Punta Arenas, Chile
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda. Bulnes 01855, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Sooa Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hoseo University, Asan-Si 31499, Chungnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Siti Aqlima Ahmad
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda. Bulnes 01855, Punta Arenas, Chile.
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13
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Pala N, Jiménez B, Roscales JL, Bertolino M, Baroni D, Figuerola B, Avila C, Corsolini S. First evidence of legacy chlorinated POPs bioaccumulation in Antarctic sponges from the Ross sea and the South Shetland Islands. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 329:121661. [PMID: 37085102 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Antarctica is no longer pristine due to the confirmed presence of anthropogenic contaminants like Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Benthic organisms are poorly represented in contamination studies in Antarctica although they are known to bioaccumulate contaminants. Sponges (Phylum Porifera) are dominant members in Antarctic benthos, both in terms of abundance and biomass, and are an important feeding source for other organisms, playing key functional roles in benthic communities. To the best of our knowledge, legacy chlorinated POPs such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and their metabolites have never been investigated in this Phylum in Antarctica. The aim of this work was to evaluate the bioaccumulation of PCBs, HCB, o,p'- and p,p'-DDT and their DDE and DDD isomers in 35 sponge samples, belonging to 17 different species, collected along the coast of Terra Nova Bay (Adèlie Cove and Tethys Bay, Ross Sea), and at Whalers Bay (Deception Island, South Shetland Islands) in Antarctica. Lipid content showed a significant correlation with the three pollutant classes. The overall observed pattern in the three study sites was ΣPCBs>ΣDDTs>HCB and it was found in almost every species. The ΣPCBs, ΣDDTs, and HCB ranged from 54.2 to 133.7 ng/g lipid weight (lw), from 17.5 to 38.6 ng/g lw and from 4.8 to 8.5 ng/g lw, respectively. Sponges showed contamination levels comparable to other Antarctic benthic organisms from previous studies. The comparison among sponges of the same species from different sites showed diverse patterns for PCBs only in one out of four cases. The concentration of POPs did not vary significantly among the three sites. The predominance of lower chlorinated organochlorines in the samples suggested that long-range atmospheric transportation (LRAT) could be the major driver of contamination as molecules with a high long range transport potential (e.g. low chlorinated PCBs, HCB) prevails on heavier ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Pala
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Begoña Jiménez
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose L Roscales
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marco Bertolino
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Davide Baroni
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Blanca Figuerola
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Conxita Avila
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona & Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Simonetta Corsolini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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14
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Depta J, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P. The Phenomenon of Antibiotic Resistance in the Polar Regions: An Overview of the Global Problem. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:1979-1995. [PMID: 37034396 PMCID: PMC10081531 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s369023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance is a global problem in human and animal health. This leads to a reduction in the therapeutic effectiveness of the measures used so far and to the limitation of treatment options, which may pose a threat to human health and life. The problem of phenomenon of antibiotic resistance affects more and more the polar regions. This is due to the increase in tourist traffic and the number of people staying at research stations, unmodernised sewage systems in inhabited areas, as well as the migration of animals or the movement of microplastics, which may contain resistant bacteria. Research shows that the presence of antibiotic resistance genes is more dominant in zones of human and wildlife influence than in remote areas. In a polluted environment, there is evidence of a direct correlation between human activity and the spread and survival of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Attention should be paid to the presence of resistance to synthetic and semi-synthetic antibiotics in the polar regions, which is likely to be correlated with human presence and activity, and possible steps to be taken. We need to understand many more aspects of this, such as bacterial epigenetics and environmental stress, in order to develop effective strategies for minimizing the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Studying the diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in regions with less anthropogenic activity could provide insight into the diversity of primary genes and explain the historical evolution of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Depta
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, 71-412, Poland
| | - Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, 71-412, Poland
- Correspondence: Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej, Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, 71-412, Poland, Tel +48 91 444 15 15, Email
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15
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da Silva JRMC, Bergami E, Gomes V, Corsi I. Occurrence and distribution of legacy and emerging pollutants including plastic debris in Antarctica: Sources, distribution and impact on marine biodiversity. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114353. [PMID: 36436273 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114353] [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: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Since the first explorers reached Antarctica, their activities have quickly impacted both land and sea and thus, together with the long-range transport, hazardous chemicals began to accumulate. It is commonly recognized that anthropogenic pollution in Antarctica can originate from either global or local sources. Heavy metals, organohalogenated compounds, hydrocarbons, and (more recently) plastic, have been found in Antarctic biota, soil sediments, seawater, air, snow and sea-ice. Studies in such remote areas are challenging and expensive, and the complexity of potential interactions occurring in such extreme climate conditions (i.e., low temperature) makes any accurate prediction on potential impacts difficult. The present review aims to summarize the current state of knowledge on occurrence and distribution of legacy and emerging pollutants in Antarctica, such as plastic, from either global or local sources. Future actions to monitor and mitigate any potential impact on Antarctic biodiversity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Roberto Machado Cunha da Silva
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science / CEBIMar (Centro de Biologia Marinha), University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05509900, Brazil.
| | - Elisa Bergami
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Vicente Gomes
- Department of Biological Oceanography, Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, São Paulo, SP 05508-120, Brazil
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
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16
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Bergami E, Ferrari E, Löder MGJ, Birarda G, Laforsch C, Vaccari L, Corsi I. Textile microfibers in wild Antarctic whelk Neobuccinum eatoni (Smith, 1875) from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114487. [PMID: 36265599 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Antarctica has been affected directly and indirectly by human pressure for more than two centuries and recently plastic pollution has been recognized as a further potential threat for its unique biodiversity. Global long-range transport as well as local input from anthropogenic activities are potential sources of plastic pollution in both terrestrial and marine Antarctic territories. The present study evaluated the presence of microplastics in specimens of the Antarctic whelk Neobuccinum eatoni, a key species in benthic communities of the Ross Sea, one of the largest marine protected areas worldwide. To this aim, a thermo-oxidative extraction method was applied for microplastic isolation and quantification, and polymer identification was performed by manual μ-FTIR spectroscopy. Textile (semi-)synthetic or composite microfibers (length range: 0.8-5.7 mm) were found in 27.3% of whelk specimens, suggesting a low risk of bioaccumulation along Antarctic benthic food webs in the Ross Sea. Their polymer composition (of polyethylene terephthalate and cellulose-polyamide composites) matched those of outdoor technical clothing in use by the personnel of the Italian "Mario Zucchelli" station near Terra Nova Bay in the Ross Sea. Such findings indicate that sewage from base stations may act as potential local sources of textile microplastic fibers in this remote environment. More in-depth monitoring studies aiming at defining the extent of microplastic contamination related to such sources in Antarctica are encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bergami
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - E Ferrari
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - M G J Löder
- Department of Animal Ecology I and BayCEER, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - G Birarda
- SISSI-Chemical and Life Science Branch, Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.S. 14 Km 163.5, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - C Laforsch
- Department of Animal Ecology I and BayCEER, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - L Vaccari
- SISSI-Chemical and Life Science Branch, Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.S. 14 Km 163.5, 34149, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - I Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
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17
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Microplastic Interactions and Possible Combined Biological Effects in Antarctic Marine Ecosystems. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010162. [PMID: 36611770 PMCID: PMC9817852 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are the most remote regions on Earth, and their quite pristine environmental conditions are increasingly threatened by local scientific, tourism and fishing activities and long-range transport of persistent anthropogenic contaminants from lower latitudes. Plastic debris has become one of the most pervasive and ubiquitous synthetic wastes in the global environment, and even at some coastal Antarctic sites it is the most common and enduring evidence of past and recent human activities. Despite the growing scientific interest in the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the Antarctic environment, the lack of standardized methodologies for the collection, analysis and assessment of sample contamination in the field and in the lab does not allow us to establish their bioavailability and potential impact. Overall, most of the Southern Ocean appears to be little-affected by plastic contamination, with the exception of some coastal marine ecosystems impacted by wastewater from scientific stations and tourist vessels or by local fishing activities. Microplastics have been detected in sediments, benthic organisms, Antarctic krill and fish, but there is no clear evidence of their transfer to seabirds and marine mammals. Therefore, we suggest directing future research towards standardization of methodologies, focusing attention on nanoplastics (which probably represent the greatest biological risks) and considering the interactions of MPs with macro- and microalgae (especially sea-ice algae) and the formation of epiplastic communities. In coastal ecosystems directly impacted by human activities, the combined exposure to paint chips, metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), contaminants of emerging interest (CEI) and pathogenic microorganisms represents a potential danger for marine organisms. Moreover, the Southern Ocean is very sensitive to water acidification and has shown a remarkable decrease in sea-ice formation in recent years. These climate-related stresses could reduce the resilience of Antarctic marine organisms, increasing the impact of anthropogenic contaminants and pathogenic microorganisms.
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18
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Bottari T, Nibali VC, Branca C, Grotti M, Savoca S, Romeo T, Spanò N, Azzaro M, Greco S, D’Angelo G, Mancuso M. Anthropogenic microparticles in the emerald rockcod Trematomus bernacchii (Nototheniidae) from the Antarctic. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17214. [PMID: 36241682 PMCID: PMC9568522 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21670-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic microparticles (AMs) were found for the first time in specimens of Trematomus bernacchii collected in 1998 in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) and stored in the Antarctic Environmental Specimen Bank. Most of the identified AMs were fibers of natural and synthetic origin. The natural AMs were cellulosic, the synthetic ones were polyester, polypropylene, polypropylene/polyester, and cellulose acetate. The presence of dyes in the natural AMs indicates their anthropogenic origin. Five industrial dyes were identified by Raman spectroscopy with Indigo occurring in most of them (55%). Our research not only adds further data to the ongoing knowledge of pollution levels in the Antarctic ecosystem, it provides an interesting snapshot of the past, highlighting that microplastics and anthropogenic fiber pollution had already entered the Antarctic marine food web at the end of the '90 s. These findings therefore establish the foundations for understand the changes in marine litter pollution over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Bottari
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM) – CNR, Messina, Italy ,grid.6401.30000 0004 1758 0806Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Biology, Ecology and Marine Biotechnology, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina, Italy
| | - Valeria Conti Nibali
- grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Physical Science and Earth Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Caterina Branca
- grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Physical Science and Earth Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Marco Grotti
- grid.5606.50000 0001 2151 3065Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Serena Savoca
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM) – CNR, Messina, Italy ,grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Department of Biomedical, Dental, and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Teresa Romeo
- grid.6401.30000 0004 1758 0806Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Biology, Ecology and Marine Biotechnology, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina, Italy ,grid.423782.80000 0001 2205 5473Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Milazzo, ME Italy
| | - Nunziacarla Spanò
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM) – CNR, Messina, Italy ,grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Department of Biomedical, Dental, and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Silvestro Greco
- grid.6401.30000 0004 1758 0806Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources Department (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Biology, Ecology and Marine Biotechnology, Calabrian Researches Centre and Marine Advanced Infrastructures (CRIMAC), Amendolara, CS Italy
| | - Giovanna D’Angelo
- grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Physical Science and Earth Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy ,grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), Messina, Italy
| | - Monique Mancuso
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM) – CNR, Messina, Italy ,grid.6401.30000 0004 1758 0806Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Biology, Ecology and Marine Biotechnology, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina, Italy
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19
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DNA metabarcoding data reveals harmful algal-bloom species undescribed previously at the northern Antarctic Peninsula region. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03084-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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20
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Lozoya JP, Rodríguez M, Azcune G, Lacerot G, Pérez-Parada A, Lenzi J, Rossi F, de Mello FT. Stranded pellets in Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, Antarctica): New evidence of Southern Ocean connectivity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:155830. [PMID: 35561917 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plastic and microplastic debris is transported by ocean currents over long distances, reaching remote areas, far from its original source. In Polar Regions, microplastics (MPs) can come from local activities or be transported from lower latitudes, with the former being the likely and major source. Although historically Antarctica was considered isolated from the global ocean, there is recent evidence of materials and organisms being transported in and out of the Southern Ocean, despite its multi-front structure. During the austral summer of 2019, beach surveys were conducted on the NW coast of the Fildes Peninsula (King George Island). The beach was characterised, and the first 2 cm of sediment from 5 quadrants (50 × 50 cm) along 100 m of the highest strandline were collected. Large microplastics (LMPs) and mesoplastics (MesoPs) were isolated, counted, measured, weighed and classified by shape. Polymer composition was analysed by FTIR and ageing estimated by Carbonyl Index. We found 293 items of LMPs (188 items) and MesoPs (105 items), with a total average density (±SD) of 234.4 ± 166 items m-2. Foams (130.4 ± 76.3), fragments (58.4 ± 56.0) and pellets (44.0 ± 50.5) were the most abundant shapes. The main polymers found were polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene. We found pellets among the MesoPs, being the first record for beaches in Antarctica. The presence of these primary MPs south of 62°S not only alerts about their possible direct consequences on Antarctic ecosystems, but also gives empirical evidence for the passive entry of plastic debris from lower latitudes through cross-frontal exchanges, providing new evidence of a global connectivity of the Southern Ocean. Despite increasing research, knowledge of plastics dynamics and their impact in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica is still limited but certainly necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Lozoya
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Cachimba del Rey entre Bvar. Artigas y Av. Aparicio Saravia, 20000 Maldonado, Uruguay.
| | - M Rodríguez
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Ruta nacional N°9 intersección con ruta N°15, Rocha, Uruguay.
| | - G Azcune
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Ruta nacional N°9 intersección con ruta N°15, Rocha, Uruguay.
| | - G Lacerot
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Cachimba del Rey entre Bvar. Artigas y Av. Aparicio Saravia, 20000 Maldonado, Uruguay.
| | - A Pérez-Parada
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Ruta nacional N°9 intersección con ruta N°15, Rocha, Uruguay.
| | - J Lenzi
- Centro de Investigación y Conservación Marina (CICMAR), Uruguay
| | - F Rossi
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Cachimba del Rey entre Bvar. Artigas y Av. Aparicio Saravia, 20000 Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - F Teixeira de Mello
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Cachimba del Rey entre Bvar. Artigas y Av. Aparicio Saravia, 20000 Maldonado, Uruguay.
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21
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Matias RS, Guímaro HR, Bustamante P, Seco J, Chipev N, Fragão J, Tavares S, Ceia FR, Pereira ME, Barbosa A, Xavier JC. Mercury biomagnification in an Antarctic food web of the Antarctic Peninsula. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 304:119199. [PMID: 35337890 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Under the climate change context, warming Southern Ocean waters may allow mercury (Hg) to become more bioavailable to the Antarctic marine food web (i.e., ice-stored Hg release and higher methylation rates by microorganisms), whose biomagnification processes are poorly documented. Biomagnification of Hg in the food web of the Antarctic Peninsula, one of the world's fastest-warming regions, was examined using carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope ratios for estimating feeding habitat and trophic levels, respectively. The stable isotope signatures and total Hg (T-Hg) concentrations were measured in Antarctic krill Euphausia superba and several Antarctic predator species, including seabirds (gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua, chinstrap penguins Pygoscelis antarcticus, brown skuas Stercorarius antarcticus, kelp gulls Larus dominicanus, southern giant petrels Macronectes giganteus) and marine mammals (southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina). Significant differences in δ13C values among species were noted with a great overlap between seabird species and M. leonina. As expected, significant differences in δ15N values among species were found due to interspecific variations in diet-related to their trophic position within the marine food web. The lowest Hg concentrations were registered in E. superba (0.007 ± 0.008 μg g-1) and the highest values in M. giganteus (12.090 ± 14.177 μg g-1). Additionally, a significant positive relationship was found between Hg concentrations and trophic levels (reflected by δ15N values), biomagnifying nearly 2 times its concentrations at each level. Our results support that trophic interaction is the major pathway for Hg biomagnification in Southern Ocean ecosystems and warn about an increase in the effects of Hg on long-lived (and high trophic level) Antarctic predators under climate change in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo S Matias
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Hugo R Guímaro
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005, Paris, France
| | - José Seco
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Chemistry and CESAM/REQUIMTE, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, Scotland, United Kingdom; CIVG - Vasco da Gama Research Center, University School Vasco da Gama - EUVG, Coimbra, 3020-210, Portugal
| | - Nesho Chipev
- Central Laboratory of General Ecology, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 2 Yurii Gagarin Street, Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria
| | - Joana Fragão
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Tavares
- CFE (Centre for Functional Ecology), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, PO Box 3046, 3001-401, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filipe R Ceia
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria E Pereira
- Department of Chemistry and CESAM/REQUIMTE, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Andrés Barbosa
- Departamento de Ecologia Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - José C Xavier
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
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22
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Palmer TA, Klein AG, Sweet ST, Frazier AJ, Montagna PA, Wade TL, Beseres Pollack J. Using epibenthic fauna as biomonitors of local marine contamination adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 178:113621. [PMID: 35421642 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ten benthic fauna taxa in a polluted marine area adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica were deemed to be potential biomonitors because PCBs, DDTs, PAHs, copper, lead and/or zinc in their tissues were significantly higher than in tissues of taxa living in reference areas (p < 0.05). Concentrations of PCBs and DDT were highest in Trematomus (fish). Total PAH concentrations were highest in Alcyonium antarcticum (soft coral), Isotealia antarctica (anemone) and L. elliptica. Copper and lead concentrations were highest in Laternula elliptica (bivalve) and Flabegraviera mundata (polychaete), and lowest in Trematomus and Parbolasia corrugatus (nemertean). However, copper concentrations were even higher in the asteroids Perknaster fuscus antarcticus, Odontaster validus and Psilaster charcoti. Bioaccumulation factors for different species were highest for PCBs and DDT, and lowest for lead. Bioaccumulation of some contaminants are likely prevalent in benthic taxa at McMurdo Station, but concentrations are usually low relative to human consumption standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terence A Palmer
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869, USA.
| | - Andrew G Klein
- Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Stephen T Sweet
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Amanda J Frazier
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Paul A Montagna
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869, USA
| | - Terry L Wade
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Jennifer Beseres Pollack
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869, USA
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23
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Mirzoeva N, Tereshchenko N, Paraskiv A, Proskurnin V, Stetsiuk A, Korotkov A. Metals and metalloids in Antarctic krill and water in deep Weddell Sea areas. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 178:113624. [PMID: 35397343 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The study on the concentration of trace elements in Antarctic krill and in water in the deep areas of the Atlantic sector of the Antarctic was performed. Concentrations of 22 trace elements were studied to determine their spatial distribution in krill, and to assess the accumulation ability of the krill against 8 of them. The trace elements concentration in krill diminished in the following order: Fe > Cu > Zn > Bа > B > Se > As > Cr > Ni > Ag > Li > Mn > V > Mo > Cd > Co > Hg > Be. Concentrations of Pb, Ti, Tl, Sb were below their detection limits. Concentration factors of trace elements by krill varied from n × 102 to n × 104. The Cu and As concentrations in dry krill exceeded their MPC. Concentrations of all trace elements in wet mass of krill were not exceeded established regulative values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Mirzoeva
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Leninsky ave. 38, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Nataliya Tereshchenko
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Leninsky ave. 38, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Artem Paraskiv
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Leninsky ave. 38, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation.
| | - Vladislav Proskurnin
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Leninsky ave. 38, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Aleksandra Stetsiuk
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Leninsky ave. 38, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Andrey Korotkov
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Leninsky ave. 38, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
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24
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Tejedo P, Benayas J, Cajiao D, Leung YF, De Filippo D, Liggett D. What are the real environmental impacts of Antarctic tourism? Unveiling their importance through a comprehensive meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 308:114634. [PMID: 35151103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Human activities in Antarctica were increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, and tourism was not an exception. The growth and diversification of Antarctic tourism over the last few decades have been extensively studied. However, environmental impacts associated with this activity have received less attention despite an increasing body of scholarship examining environmental issues related to Antarctic tourism. Aside from raising important research questions, the potential negative effects of tourist visits in Antarctica are also an issue discussed by Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties. This study presents the results of a meta-analysis of scholarly publications that synthesizes and updates our current knowledge of environmental impacts resulting from Antarctic tourism. A first publication database containing 233 records that focussed on this topic was compiled and subjected to a general bibliometric and content analysis. Further, an in-depth content analysis was performed on a subset of 75 records, which were focussed on showing specific research on Antarctic tourism impacts. The main topic, methods, management proposals, and research gaps highlighted by the respective authors of these 75 publications were assessed. The range of research topics addressed, the methods used - including the application of established research designs from the field of environmental impact assessment -, and the conclusions reached by the study authors are discussed. Interestingly, almost one third of the studies did not detect a direct relationship between tourism and significant negative effects on the environment. Cumulative impacts of tourism have received little attention, and long-term and comprehensive monitoring programs have been discussed only rarely, leading us to assume that such long-term programs are scarce. More importantly, connections between research and policy or management do not always exist. This analysis highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy to investigate and monitor the environmental impacts of tourism in Antarctica. A first specific research and monitoring programme to stimulate a debate among members of the Antarctic scientific and policy communities is proposed, with the ultimate goal of advancing the regulation and management of Antarctic tourism collaboratively.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Tejedo
- Grupo de Investigación ECOPOLAR - Biología y Ecología en Ambientes Polares, Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, E-28049, Madrid, Spain.
| | - J Benayas
- Grupo de Investigación ECOPOLAR - Biología y Ecología en Ambientes Polares, Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, E-28049, Madrid, Spain.
| | - D Cajiao
- Grupo de Investigación ECOPOLAR - Biología y Ecología en Ambientes Polares, Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, E-28049, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Ecología Aplicada ECOLAP-USFQ, Universidad de San Francisco de Quito, P.O. Box 1712841, Diego de Robles y Pampite, Cumbayá, Ecuador.
| | - Y-F Leung
- Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management and Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, 5107 Jordan Hall, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
| | - D De Filippo
- Laboratorio de Estudios Métricos de la Información (LEMI), Departamento de Biblioteconomía y Documentación, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, E-28903, Getafe, Spain; Research Institute for Higher Education and Science (INAECU) (UAM-UC3M), E-28903, Getafe, Spain.
| | - D Liggett
- Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.
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25
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Ilicic D, Woodhouse J, Karsten U, Zimmermann J, Wichard T, Quartino ML, Campana GL, Livenets A, Van den Wyngaert S, Grossart HP. Antarctic Glacial Meltwater Impacts the Diversity of Fungal Parasites Associated With Benthic Diatoms in Shallow Coastal Zones. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:805694. [PMID: 35308360 PMCID: PMC8931407 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.805694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems are frequently overlooked as fungal habitats, although there is increasing evidence that their diversity and ecological importance are greater than previously considered. Aquatic fungi are critical and abundant components of nutrient cycling and food web dynamics, e.g., exerting top-down control on phytoplankton communities and forming symbioses with many marine microorganisms. However, their relevance for microphytobenthic communities is almost unexplored. In the light of global warming, polar regions face extreme changes in abiotic factors with a severe impact on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Therefore, this study aimed to describe, for the first time, fungal diversity in Antarctic benthic habitats along the salinity gradient and to determine the co-occurrence of fungal parasites with their algal hosts, which were dominated by benthic diatoms. Our results reveal that Ascomycota and Chytridiomycota are the most abundant fungal taxa in these habitats. We show that also in Antarctic waters, salinity has a major impact on shaping not just fungal but rather the whole eukaryotic community composition, with a diversity of aquatic fungi increasing as salinity decreases. Moreover, we determined correlations between putative fungal parasites and potential benthic diatom hosts, highlighting the need for further systematic analysis of fungal diversity along with studies on taxonomy and ecological roles of Chytridiomycota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Ilicic
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Neuglobsow, Germany
| | - Jason Woodhouse
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Neuglobsow, Germany
| | - Ulf Karsten
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jonas Zimmermann
- Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Wichard
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Gabriela Laura Campana
- Department of Coastal Biology, Argentinean Antarctic Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Basic Sciences, National University of Luján, Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alexandra Livenets
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Neuglobsow, Germany
| | | | - Hans-Peter Grossart
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Neuglobsow, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- *Correspondence: Hans-Peter Grossart,
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26
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Maroni PJ, Baker BJ, Moran AL, Woods HA, Avila C, Johnstone GJ, Stark JS, Kocot KM, Lockhart S, Saucède T, Rouse GW, Wilson NG. One Antarctic slug to confuse them all: the underestimated diversity of Doris kerguelenensis. INVERTEBR SYST 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/is21073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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27
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MOREIRA ELIZANDRAR, OTTONI JÚLIAR, DE OLIVEIRA VALÉRIAM, PASSARINI MICHELRODRIGOZ. Potential for resistance to freezing by non-virulent bacteria isolated from Antarctica. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2022; 94:e20210459. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220210459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - JÚLIA R. OTTONI
- Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (UNILA), Brazil
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28
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FONZO CARLADI, ANSALDO MARTIN. Blood biochemistry and antioxidant status altered by anthropogenic impact in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2022; 94:e20210579. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220210579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- CARLA DI FONZO
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología y Ecotoxicología, Argentina
| | - MARTIN ANSALDO
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología y Ecotoxicología, Argentina
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29
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Midthaug HK, Hitchcock DJ, Bustnes JO, Polder A, Descamps S, Tarroux A, Soininen EM, Borgå K. Within and between breeding-season changes in contaminant occurrence and body condition in the Antarctic breeding south polar skua. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 284:117434. [PMID: 34062433 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Antarctic ecosystem represents a remote region far from point sources of pollution. Still, Antarctic marine predators, such as seabirds, are exposed to organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) which may induce adverse health effects. With increasing restrictions and regulations on OHCs, the levels and exposure are expected to decrease over time. We studied south polar skua (Catharacta maccormiciki), a top predator seabird, to compare OHC concentrations measured in whole blood from 2001/2002 and 2013/2014 in Dronning Maud Land. As a previous study found increasing organochlorine concentrations with sampling day during the 2001/2002 breeding season, suggesting dietary changes, we investigated if this increase was repeated in the 2013/2014 breeding season. In addition to organochlorines, we analyzed hydroxy-metabolites, brominated contaminants and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 2013/2014, as well as dietary descriptors of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen, to assess potential changes in diet during breeding. Lipid normalized concentrations of individual OHCs were 63%, 87% and 105% higher for hexachlorobenzene (HCB), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE), and ∑Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), respectively, in 2013/2014 compared to 2001/2002. South polar skuas males in 2013/2014 were in poorer body condition than in 2001/2002, and with higher pollutant levels. Poorer body condition may cause the remobilization of contaminants from stored body reserves, and continued exposure to legacy contaminants at overwintering areas may explain the unexpected higher OHC concentrations in 2013/2014 than 2001/2002. Concentrations of protein-associated PFAS increased with sampling day during the 2013/2014 breeding season, whereas the lipid-soluble chlorinated pesticides, PCBs and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs) showed no change. OHC occurrence was not correlated with stable isotopes. The PFAS biomagnification through the local food web at the colony should be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilde Karin Midthaug
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo (UiO), Pb. 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel J Hitchcock
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo (UiO), Pb. 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fram Centre, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anuschka Polder
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Sébastien Descamps
- Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), Fram Centre, Pb. 6606 Langnes, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Arnaud Tarroux
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fram Centre, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway; Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), Fram Centre, Pb. 6606 Langnes, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Eeva M Soininen
- Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), Fram Centre, Pb. 6606 Langnes, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway; The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Pb. 6050 Langnes, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Katrine Borgå
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo (UiO), Pb. 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway.
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30
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Mishra AK, Singh J, Mishra PP. Microplastics in polar regions: An early warning to the world's pristine ecosystem. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 784:147149. [PMID: 33895505 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The menace of plastic which is polluting the ocean has emerged as a global problem. It is well-known to everyone that the ultimate end for most of the plastic debris is the ocean. The distribution of plastic rubbish in the oceans is strongly influenced by hydrodynamic properties of water. The continuous break down of plastic objects, as a consequence of thermal, chemical and biological processes along with various environmental factors, results into microplastics (MPs). The microplastics are those particles which are deriving pallets of plastic, having length of less than 5 mm or 0.2 in. Nowadays microplastics are everywhere in the waters all around the world. The high dispersion pattern of oceanic currents takes away microplastics in the entire ocean even to remote areas, like the Polar Regions. Microplastics are difficult to remove from the ocean and the ingestion of these particles by several consumers of different trophic levels like benthos, birds, and fishes is a threat to the diverse food webs and ecosystems. Different scientific investigations have ascertained that a significant concentration of MPs are present in various marine ecosystems globally including the Polar region (both Arctic and Antarctic), and in the upcoming future, the condition is expected to get worse. The objective of this review is to establish a baseline evidence for the availability of microplastics in the polar region. For this reason, the state of the art of knowledge on microplastics in Polar Regions was studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit K Mishra
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya 224001, U. P., India
| | - Jaswant Singh
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya 224001, U. P., India.
| | - Pratyush P Mishra
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya 224001, U. P., India
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31
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Christiansen H, Heindler FM, Hellemans B, Jossart Q, Pasotti F, Robert H, Verheye M, Danis B, Kochzius M, Leliaert F, Moreau C, Patel T, Van de Putte AP, Vanreusel A, Volckaert FAM, Schön I. Facilitating population genomics of non-model organisms through optimized experimental design for reduced representation sequencing. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:625. [PMID: 34418978 PMCID: PMC8380342 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07917-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genome-wide data are invaluable to characterize differentiation and adaptation of natural populations. Reduced representation sequencing (RRS) subsamples a genome repeatedly across many individuals. However, RRS requires careful optimization and fine-tuning to deliver high marker density while being cost-efficient. The number of genomic fragments created through restriction enzyme digestion and the sequencing library setup must match to achieve sufficient sequencing coverage per locus. Here, we present a workflow based on published information and computational and experimental procedures to investigate and streamline the applicability of RRS. RESULTS In an iterative process genome size estimates, restriction enzymes and size selection windows were tested and scaled in six classes of Antarctic animals (Ostracoda, Malacostraca, Bivalvia, Asteroidea, Actinopterygii, Aves). Achieving high marker density would be expensive in amphipods, the malacostracan target taxon, due to the large genome size. We propose alternative approaches such as mitogenome or target capture sequencing for this group. Pilot libraries were sequenced for all other target taxa. Ostracods, bivalves, sea stars, and fish showed overall good coverage and marker numbers for downstream population genomic analyses. In contrast, the bird test library produced low coverage and few polymorphic loci, likely due to degraded DNA. CONCLUSIONS Prior testing and optimization are important to identify which groups are amenable for RRS and where alternative methods may currently offer better cost-benefit ratios. The steps outlined here are easy to follow for other non-model taxa with little genomic resources, thus stimulating efficient resource use for the many pressing research questions in molecular ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Christiansen
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Franz M Heindler
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Hellemans
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Quentin Jossart
- Marine Biology Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Henri Robert
- OD Nature, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie Verheye
- OD Nature, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bruno Danis
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marc Kochzius
- Marine Biology Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Frederik Leliaert
- Marine Biology Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Meise Botanic Garden, Meise, Belgium
| | - Camille Moreau
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.,Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC) UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, Dijon, France
| | - Tasnim Patel
- OD Nature, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anton P Van de Putte
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,OD Nature, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium.,Marine Biology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ann Vanreusel
- Marine Biology Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Filip A M Volckaert
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isa Schön
- OD Nature, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
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32
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Cappello S, Caruso G, Bergami E, Macrì A, Venuti V, Majolino D, Corsi I. New insights into the structure and function of the prokaryotic communities colonizing plastic debris collected in King George Island (Antarctica): Preliminary observations from two plastic fragments. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 414:125586. [PMID: 34030422 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In Antarctic regions, the composition and metabolic activity of microbial assemblages associated with plastic debris ("plastisphere") are almost unknown. A macroplastic item from land (MaL, 30 cm) and a mesoplastic from the sea (MeS, 4 mm) were collected in Maxwell Bay (King George Island, South Shetland) and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance geometry (FTIR-ATR), which confirmed a polystyrene foam and a composite high-density polyethylene composition for MaL and MeS, respectively. The structure and function of the two plastic-associated prokaryotic communities were studied by complementary 16S ribosomal RNA gene clone libraries, total bacterioplankton and culturable heterotrophic bacterial counts, enzymatic activities of the whole community and enzymatic profiles of bacterial isolates. Results showed that Gamma- and Betaproteobacteria (31% and 28%, respectively) dominated in MeS, while Beta- and Alphaproteobacteria (21% and 13%, respectively) in MaL. Sequences related to oil degrading bacteria (Alcanivorax,Marinobacter) confirmed the known anthropogenic pressure in King George Island. This investigation on plastic-associated prokaryotic structure and function represents the first attempt to characterize the ecological role of plastisphere in this Antarctic region and provides the necessary background for future research on the significance of polymer type, surface characteristics and environmental conditions in shaping the plastisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Cappello
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Spianata San Raineri 86, Messina 98122, Italy
| | - Gabriella Caruso
- Institute of Polar Sciences (ISP), National Research Council (CNR), Spianata San Raineri 86, Messina 98122, Italy.
| | - Elisa Bergami
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Angela Macrì
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Spianata San Raineri 86, Messina 98122, Italy; Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy
| | - Valentina Venuti
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy
| | - Domenico Majolino
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy
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33
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Adaptive Management of Sustainable Tourism in Antarctica: A Rhetoric or Working Progress? SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13147649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Growth and diversification of tourism activities in Antarctica have not been matched by proactive strategies for planning or management. Recognizing that the adaptive management approach has been effectively implemented in managing tourism in protected areas, we examine to what extent this approach has been incorporated into the Antarctic tourism research and management, and what constraints exist for its implementation. To better understand the extent of literature contributions, we conducted an appraisal of 72 peer-reviewed journal articles published from 1992 to 2020 and Antarctic management documents. From a scientific perspective, researchers have been advocating for adaptive management approaches to Antarctic tourism and have applied different elements, particularly ecological assessments, design of management measures, monitoring, and regulatory mechanisms. However, these contributions have not been necessarily translated into management policy and regulations. We acknowledge that full implementation of an adaptive management approach is not easily achievable due to the unique Antarctic regime. However, we argue that comprehensive site-specific and regional adaptive management models could be applied as the first step for a more systematic implementation. This incremental approach could contribute to enhanced stakeholder participation and improved decision-making processes, ultimately leading to a more proactive and effective management of Antarctic tourism, essential for the conservation of the continent.
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34
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Araujo P, Truzzi C, Belghit I, Antonucci M. The impact of seawater warming on fatty acid composition and nutritional quality indices of Trematomus bernacchii from the Antarctic region. Food Chem 2021; 365:130500. [PMID: 34246152 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing interest in exploiting Antarctic fisheries for human consumption. However, information on how the nutritional qualities of these resources will respond to the predicted seawater warming in the region for the next century is poor. The present research investigates changes in various nutritional indices of dietary importance (e.g. the ratio polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids, the atherogenicity index, the thrombogenicity index, the hypo-cholesterolemic to hyper-cholesterolemic index, the health-promoting index, the flesh lipid quality and the ratio omega-3 to omega-6 index) by determining the fatty acid composition in muscle of Trematomus bernacchii (an Antarctic fish species) in its natural habitat (-1.87 °C) and warmer temperatures (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 °C). Comparison of the estimated nutritional indices at -1.87 °C with those at warmer temperatures revealed that seawater warming caused changes in the nutritional indices in the range of -12%<Δ < 30%. The observed changes were not statistically significant and ascribed to biological variability. Therefore, the nutritional values of T. bernacchii muscle were preserved after increasing the temperature of its natural habitat by + 4 °C. The present research is the first report describing the nutritional quality indices for an Antarctic fish species and the consequences of seawater warming on the nutritional value of T. bernacchii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Araujo
- Feed and Nutrition Group, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Cristina Truzzi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Ikram Belghit
- Feed and Nutrition Group, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, Norway
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35
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Grant SM, Waller CL, Morley SA, Barnes DKA, Brasier MJ, Double MC, Griffiths HJ, Hughes KA, Jackson JA, Waluda CM, Constable AJ. Local Drivers of Change in Southern Ocean Ecosystems: Human Activities and Policy Implications. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.624518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Local drivers are human activities or processes that occur in specific locations, and cause physical or ecological change at the local or regional scale. Here, we consider marine and land-derived pollution, non-indigenous species, tourism and other human visits, exploitation of marine resources, recovery of marine mammals, and coastal change as a result of ice loss, in terms of their historic and current extent, and their interactions with the Southern Ocean environment. We summarise projected increases or decreases in the influence of local drivers, and projected changes to their geographic range, concluding that the influence of non-indigenous species, fishing, and the recovery of marine mammals are predicted to increase in the future across the Southern Ocean. Local drivers can be managed regionally, and we identify existing governance frameworks as part of the Antarctic Treaty System and other instruments which may be employed to mitigate or limit their impacts on Southern Ocean ecosystems.
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36
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Parikh P, Diep L, Hofmann P, Tomei J, Campos LC, Teh TH, Mulugetta Y, Milligan B, Lakhanpaul M. Synergies and trade-offs between sanitation and the sustainable development goals. UCL OPEN ENVIRONMENT 2021; 3:e016. [PMID: 37228800 PMCID: PMC10208324 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
To better leverage opportunities arising out of sustainable and inclusive management of sanitation services there is a need for robust and comprehensive evidence of the wide-ranging benefits that sanitation can deliver. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable development broken down into 169 interconnected Targets which are articulated under 17 Goals. Based on a methodology developed at University College London (UCL), this study identifies linkages between sanitation and the 169 Targets corroborated by published evidence. We show that there are synergies between sanitation and all 17 Goals and 130 (77%) of the Targets, and trade-offs for 28 (17%) of the Targets. We identified 83 Targets (49%) that call for action in the sanitation sector. The results demonstrate the far-reaching benefits that can be unlocked from investment in sanitation, which extend beyond health and spread across sectors. The evidence base for the 17 Goals establishes links that can inform cross-sectoral action, collaborations and investment across governance levels for integrated sanitation solutions. The research provides different stakeholders with a framework that can be applied to context-specific cases and projects. We propose a range of recommendations to policy makers, practitioners and researchers who seek to take this study further to help achieve the SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priti Parikh
- Engineering for International Development Centre, Bartlett School of Construction Project Management, University College London, 1–19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Loan Diep
- Engineering for International Development Centre, Bartlett School of Construction Project Management, University College London, 1–19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Pascale Hofmann
- Environmental and Sustainable Development, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, University College London, 34 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9EZ, UK
| | - Julia Tomei
- Energy, Resources and Development, UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0NN, UK
| | - Luiza C. Campos
- Environmental Engineering, Centre for Urban Sustainability and Resilience, Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, Chadwick Building, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Tse-Hui Teh
- The Bartlett School of Planning, Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0NN, UK
| | - Yacob Mulugetta
- Energy and Development Policy, UCL Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Public Policy (STEaPP), Shropshire House (4th Fl), 11–20 Caper Street, London WC1E 6JA, UK
| | - Ben Milligan
- Sustainable Development Law and Policy, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Monica Lakhanpaul
- Integrated Community Child Health, Population, Policy & Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Whittington NHS Trust, Magdala Ave, London N19 5NF, London, UK
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37
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Palmer TA, Klein AG, Sweet ST, Montagna PA, Hyde LJ, Sericano J, Wade TL, Kennicutt MC, Beseres Pollack J. Long-term changes in contamination and macrobenthic communities adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 764:142798. [PMID: 33077209 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Improved waste management at McMurdo Station, Antarctica beginning in the 1980s has been followed by decreases in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and metal contamination in the adjacent marine sediments. However, determining the effect of the decreased contamination on marine ecological indicators (macrobenthic fauna) is confounded by concurrent changes in climate cycles and other physical forces. Between 2000 and 2013, there was a decrease in concentrations of some contaminants including mercury, copper, organochlorines, and PAHs in marine sediments adjacent to McMurdo Station. PAH concentrations in Winter Quarters Bay decreased an order of magnitude from 2000/2003 to 2012/2013 and were within an order of magnitude of reference area concentrations by 2013. Macrobenthic communities did not indicate any sign of recovery and have not become more similar to reference communities over this same period of time. Temporal changes in macrobenthic community composition during the study period had higher correlations with climatic and sea ice dynamics than with changes in contaminant concentrations. The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation climatic index had the highest correlation with macrobenthic community composition. The Antarctic Oscillation climatic index, maximum ice extent and other natural environmental factors also appear to influence macrobenthic community composition. Despite large improvements in environmental management at McMurdo Station, continuing environmental vigilance is necessary before any noticeable improvement in ecological systems is likely to occur. The effects of climate must be considered when determining temporal changes in anthropogenic effects in Antarctica. Maintaining long-term monitoring of both contaminants and ecological indicators is important for determining the localized and global influences of humans on Antarctica, which will have implications for the whole planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terence A Palmer
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869, USA.
| | - Andrew G Klein
- Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3147, USA
| | - Stephen T Sweet
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3149, USA
| | - Paul A Montagna
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869, USA
| | - Larry J Hyde
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869, USA
| | - Jose Sericano
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3149, USA
| | - Terry L Wade
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3149, USA
| | - Mahlon C Kennicutt
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3148, USA
| | - Jennifer Beseres Pollack
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869, USA
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38
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Corsi I, Bergami E, Caruso G. Special issue plastics in polar regions. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 149:106203. [PMID: 33121740 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.
| | - Elisa Bergami
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Gabriella Caruso
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council, Messina 98122, Italy
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39
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Holland O, Shaw J, Stark JS, Wilson KA. Hull fouling marine invasive species pose a very low, but plausible, risk of introduction to East Antarctica in climate change scenarios. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Oakes Holland
- Institute for Future Environments Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Australia
| | - Justine Shaw
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland St. Lucia QLD Australia
- Australian Antarctic Division Kingston TAS Australia
| | | | - Kerrie A. Wilson
- Institute for Future Environments Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Australia
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40
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Zakaria NN, Convey P, Gomez-Fuentes C, Zulkharnain A, Sabri S, Shaharuddin NA, Ahmad SA. Oil Bioremediation in the Marine Environment of Antarctica: A Review and Bibliometric Keyword Cluster Analysis. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020419. [PMID: 33671443 PMCID: PMC7922015 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioremediation of hydrocarbons has received much attention in recent decades, particularly relating to fuel and other oils. While of great relevance globally, there has recently been increasing interest in hydrocarbon bioremediation in the marine environments of Antarctica. To provide an objective assessment of the research interest in this field we used VOSviewer software to analyze publication data obtained from the ScienceDirect database covering the period 1970 to the present, but with a primary focus on the years 2000–2020. A bibliometric analysis of the database allowed identification of the co-occurrence of keywords. There was an increasing trend over time for publications relating to oil bioremediation in maritime Antarctica, including both studies on marine bioremediation and of the metabolic pathways of hydrocarbon degradation. Studies of marine anaerobic degradation remain under-represented compared to those of aerobic degradation. Emerging keywords in recent years included bioprospecting, metagenomic, bioindicator, and giving insight into changing research foci, such as increasing attention to microbial diversity. The study of microbial genomes using metagenomic approaches or whole genome studies is increasing rapidly and is likely to drive emerging fields in future, including rapid expansion of bioprospecting in diverse fields of biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Nadhirah Zakaria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (N.A.S.)
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK;
| | - Claudio Gomez-Fuentes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Magallanes, Avda, Bulnes 01855, Chile;
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda, Bulnes 01855, Chile
| | - Azham Zulkharnain
- Department of Bioscience and Engineering, College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, 307 Fukasaku, Minuma-ku, Saitama 337-8570, Japan;
| | - Suriana Sabri
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Noor Azmi Shaharuddin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (N.A.S.)
| | - Siti Aqlima Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (N.A.S.)
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda, Bulnes 01855, Chile
- National Antarctic Research Centre, B303 Level 3, Block B, IPS Building, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
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41
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Chiang G, Kidd KA, Díaz-Jaramillo M, Espejo W, Bahamonde P, O'Driscoll NJ, Munkittrick KR. Methylmercury biomagnification in coastal aquatic food webs from western Patagonia and western Antarctic Peninsula. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 262:128360. [PMID: 33182080 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant of concern because its organic and more toxic form, methylHg (MeHg), bioaccumulates and biomagnifies through aquatic food webs to levels that affect the health of fish and fish consumers, including humans. Although much is known about trophic transfer of MeHg in aquatic food webs at temperate latitudes in the northern hemisphere, it is unclear whether its fate is similar in biota from coastal zones of the southeastern Pacific. To assess this gap, MeHg, total Hg and food web structure (using δ13C and δ15N) were measured in marine macroinvertebrates, fishes, birds, and mammals from Patagonian fjords and the Antarctic Peninsula. Trophic magnification slopes (TMS; log MeHg versus δ15N) for coastal food webs of Patagonia were high when compared with studies in the northern hemisphere, and significantly higher near freshwater inputs as compared to offshore sites (0.244 vs 0.192). Similarly, in Antarctica, the site closer to glacial inputs had a significantly higher TMS than the one in the Southern Shetland Islands (0.132 vs 0.073). Composition of the food web also had an influence, as the TMS increased when mammals and seabirds were excluded (0.132-0.221) at a coastal site. This study found that both the composition of the food web and the proximity to freshwater outflows are key factors influencing the TMS for MeHg in Patagonian and Antarctic food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Chiang
- CAPES, Center for Applied Ecology & Sustainability, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Karen A Kidd
- Department of Biology and School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, 1280, Main Street W., Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Mauricio Díaz-Jaramillo
- IIMyC, Estresores Múltiples en El Ambiente (EMA), FCEyN UNMdP CONICET, Funes 3350 (B7602AYL), Mar Del Plata, 7600, Argentina
| | - Winfred Espejo
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinarian Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile
| | - Paulina Bahamonde
- Núcleo Milenio INVASAL, Concepción, Chile; HUB AMBIENTAL UPLA - Centro de Estudios Avanzado, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
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42
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Anfuso G, Bolívar-Anillo HJ, Asensio-Montesinos F, Portantiolo Manzolli R, Portz L, Villate Daza DA. Beach litter distribution in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 160:111657. [PMID: 32920252 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the Antarctic Peninsula, most important activities are touristic visits, from the second half of the 20th Century, and scientific investigation linked to 75 research stations. Beach litter content/abundance was investigated at 17 beaches in Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica) and the type of plastic material was determined by Raman spectroscopy. An average value of 0.16 items m-1 was observed. Wood items consisted of processed wood fragments representing 47.27% of the total. Foam represented 21%, hard plastic pieces 9.68% (consisting of polyvinyl chloride or high density polyethylene), metal 3.37%, rubber fragments 2.81%, foamed plastic pieces 2.66% (composed by polystyrene), the rest of categories representing less than 2% of the total. Wood debris and metal are essentially remnant objects of ancient whaling activities and research expeditions, polyurethane and expanded polystyrene materials have different origins and hard plastic, rubber, paper/cardboard and paint fragments seem mostly linked to present research activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Anfuso
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain.
| | | | - Francisco Asensio-Montesinos
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain.
| | | | - Luana Portz
- Department of Civil and Environmental, Universidad de La Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
| | - Diego Andrés Villate Daza
- Grupo de Investigaciones Marino Costeras GIMAC, Escuela Naval de Suboficiales ARC, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
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43
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Fabri-Ruiz S, Navarro N, Laffont R, Danis B, Saucède T. Diversity of Antarctic Echinoids and Ecoregions of the Southern Ocean. BIOL BULL+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359020060047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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44
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Fabri-Ruiz S, Danis B, Navarro N, Koubbi P, Laffont R, Saucède T. Benthic ecoregionalization based on echinoid fauna of the Southern Ocean supports current proposals of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas under IPCC scenarios of climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:2161-2180. [PMID: 31919925 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Southern Ocean (SO) is among the regions on Earth that are undergoing regionally the fastest environmental changes. The unique ecological features of its marine life make it particularly vulnerable to the multiple effects of climate change. A network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has started to be implemented in the SO to protect marine ecosystems. However, considering future predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the relevance of current, static, MPAs may be questioned under future scenarios. In this context, the ecoregionalization approach can prove promising in identifying well-delimited regions of common species composition and environmental settings. These so-called ecoregions are expected to show similar biotic responses to environmental changes and can be used to define priority areas for the designation of new MPAs and the update of their current delimitation. In the present work, a benthic ecoregionalization of the entire SO is proposed for the first time based on abiotic environmental parameters and the distribution of echinoid fauna, a diversified and common member of Antarctic benthic ecosystems. A novel two-step approach was developed combining species distribution modeling with Random Forest and Gaussian Mixture modeling from species probabilities to define current ecoregions and predict future ecoregions under IPCC scenarios RCP 4.5 and 8.5. The ecological representativity of current and proposed MPAs of the SO is discussed with regard to the modeled benthic ecoregions. In all, 12 benthic ecoregions were determined under present conditions, they are representative of major biogeographic patterns already described. Our results show that the most dramatic changes can be expected along the Antarctic Peninsula, in East Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands under both IPCC scenarios. Our results advocate for a dynamic definition of MPAs, they also argue for improving the representativity of Antarctic ecoregions in proposed MPAs and support current proposals of Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources for the creation of Antarctic MPAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salomé Fabri-Ruiz
- Biogéosciences, UMR CNRS/EPHE 6282, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bruno Danis
- Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Navarro
- Biogéosciences, UMR CNRS/EPHE 6282, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- EPHE, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Koubbi
- UFR 918 Terre Environnement et Biodiversité, Sorbonne Université, Paris Cedex 05, France
- IFREMER, Centre Manche mer du Nord. Laboratoire Halieutique de Manche-Mer du Nord, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
| | - Rémi Laffont
- Biogéosciences, UMR CNRS/EPHE 6282, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Thomas Saucède
- Biogéosciences, UMR CNRS/EPHE 6282, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
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45
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Antibiotic resistance in bacterial isolates from freshwater samples in Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3145. [PMID: 32081909 PMCID: PMC7035346 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60035-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropic activity in Antarctica has been increasing considerably in recent years, which could have an important impact on the local microbiota affecting multiple features, including the bacterial resistome. As such, our study focused on determining the antibiotic-resistance patterns and antibiotic-resistance genes of bacteria recovered from freshwater samples collected in areas of Antarctica under different degrees of human influence. Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing and PCR. The isolates collected from regions of high human intervention were resistant to several antibiotic groups, and were mainly associated with the presence of genes encoding aminoglycosides-modifying enzymes (AMEs) and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). Moreover, these isolates were resistant to synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs, in contrast with those recovered from zones with low human intervention, which resulted highly susceptible to antibiotics. On the other hand, we observed that zone A, under human influence, presented a higher richness and diversity of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in comparison with zones B and C, which have low human activity. Our results suggest that human activity has an impact on the local microbiota, in which strains recovered from zones under anthropic influence were considerably more resistant than those collected from remote regions.
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46
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Webb AL, Hughes KA, Grand MM, Lohan MC, Peck LS. Sources of elevated heavy metal concentrations in sediments and benthic marine invertebrates of the western Antarctic Peninsula. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 698:134268. [PMID: 31783446 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Antarctica is one of the least anthropogenically-impacted areas of the world. Metal sources to the marine environment include localised activities of research stations and glacial meltwater containing metals of lithogenic origin. In this study, concentrations of nine metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) were examined in three species of benthic invertebrates collected from four locations near Rothera Research Station on the western Antarctic Peninsula: Laternula elliptica (mudclam, filter feeder), Nacella concinna (limpet, grazer) and Odontaster validus (seastar, predator and scavenger). In addition, metals were evaluated in sediments at the same locations. Metal concentrations in different body tissues of invertebrates were equivalent to values recorded in industrialized non-polar sites and were attributed to natural sources including sediment input resulting from glacial erosion of local granodioritic rocks. Anthropogenic activities at Rothera Research Station appeared to have some impact on metal concentrations in the sampled invertebrates, with concentrations of several metals higher in L. elliptica near the runway and aircraft activities, but this was not a trend that was detected in the other species. Sediment analysis from two sites near the station showed lower metal concentrations than the control site 5 km distant and was attributed to differences in bedrock metal content. Differences in metal concentrations between organisms were attributed to feeding mechanisms and habitat, as well as depuration routes. L. elliptica kidneys showed significantly higher concentrations of eight metals, with some an order of magnitude greater than other organs, and the internal structure of O. validus had significantly higher Ni. This study supports previous assessments of N. concinna and L. elliptica as good biomonitors of metal concentrations and suggests O. validus as an additional biomonitor for use in future Antarctic metal monitoring programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Webb
- Faculty of Science, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
| | - K A Hughes
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
| | - M M Grand
- Faculty of Science, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - M C Lohan
- Faculty of Science, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - L S Peck
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
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Truchet DM, Noceti MB, Villagrán DM, Orazi MM, Medrano MC, Buzzi NS. Fishers' Ecological Knowledge about Marine Pollution: What Can FEK Contribute to Ecological and Conservation Studies of a Southwestern Atlantic Estuary? J ETHNOBIOL 2019. [DOI: 10.2993/0278-0771-39.4.584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M. Truchet
- 1 Área de Oceanografía Química, Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS) – CONICET Bahía Blanca, Camino La Carrindanga km 7, Edificio E1, C.C 804, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - M. Belén Noceti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales del Sur (IIESS), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS) – CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diana M. Villagrán
- 1 Área de Oceanografía Química, Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS) – CONICET Bahía Blanca, Camino La Carrindanga km 7, Edificio E1, C.C 804, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Melina M. Orazi
- 1 Área de Oceanografía Química, Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS) – CONICET Bahía Blanca, Camino La Carrindanga km 7, Edificio E1, C.C 804, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - M. Celeste Medrano
- Instituto de Ciencias Antropológicas, Sección de Etnología y Etnografía. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Buenos Aires (FFyL-UBA) – CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia S. Buzzi
- 1 Área de Oceanografía Química, Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS) – CONICET Bahía Blanca, Camino La Carrindanga km 7, Edificio E1, C.C 804, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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Divergent trophic responses of sympatric penguin species to historic anthropogenic exploitation and recent climate change. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:25721-25727. [PMID: 31792174 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1913093116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Southern Ocean is in an era of significant change. Historic overharvesting of marine mammals and recent climatic warming have cascading impacts on resource availability and, in turn, ecosystem structure and function. We examined trophic responses of sympatric chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins to nearly 100 y of shared environmental change in the Antarctic Peninsula region using compound-specific stable isotope analyses of museum specimens. A century ago, gentoo penguins fed almost exclusively on low-trophic level prey, such as krill, during the peak of historic overexploitation of marine mammals, which was hypothesized to have resulted in a krill surplus. In the last 40 y, gentoo penguin trophic position has increased a full level as krill declined in response to recent climate change, increased competition from recovering marine mammal populations, and the development of a commercial krill fishery. A shifting isotopic baseline supporting gentoo penguins suggests a concurrent increase in coastal productivity over this time. In contrast, chinstrap penguins exhibited no change in trophic position, despite variation in krill availability over the past century. The specialized foraging niche of chinstrap penguins likely renders them more sensitive to changes in krill availability, relative to gentoo penguins, as evinced by their declining population trends in the Antarctic Peninsula over the past 40 y. Over the next century, similarly divergent trophic and population responses are likely to occur among Antarctic krill predators if climate change and other anthropogenic impacts continue to favor generalist over specialist species.
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49
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Convey P, Peck LS. Antarctic environmental change and biological responses. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaaz0888. [PMID: 31807713 PMCID: PMC6881164 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz0888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean are facing complex environmental change. Their native biota has adapted to the region's extreme conditions over many millions of years. This unique biota is now challenged by environmental change and the direct impacts of human activity. The terrestrial biota is characterized by considerable physiological and ecological flexibility and is expected to show increases in productivity, population sizes and ranges of individual species, and community complexity. However, the establishment of non-native organisms in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems may present an even greater threat than climate change itself. In the marine environment, much more limited response flexibility means that even small levels of warming are threatening. Changing sea ice has large impacts on ecosystem processes, while ocean acidification and coastal freshening are expected to have major impacts.
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50
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Opazo-Capurro A, Higgins PG, Wille J, Seifert H, Cigarroa C, González-Muñoz P, Quezada-Aguiluz M, Domínguez-Yévenes M, Bello-Toledo H, Vergara L, González-Rocha G. Genetic Features of Antarctic Acinetobacter radioresistens Strain A154 Harboring Multiple Antibiotic-Resistance Genes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:328. [PMID: 31608244 PMCID: PMC6755334 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
While antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been detected in extreme environments, including Antarctica, to date there are no reports of Acinetobacter species isolated from this region. Here, we characterized by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) the genetic content of a single antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter spp. isolate (A154) collected in Antarctica. The isolate was recovered in 2013 from soil samples at Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica, and was identified by detection of the intrinsic OXA-23 gene, and confirmed by Tetra Correlation Search (TCS) and WGS. The antibiotic susceptibility profile was determined by disc diffusion, E-test, and broth microdilution methods. From WGS data, the acquired resistome and insertion sequence (IS) content were identified by in silico analyses. Plasmids were studied by the alkaline lysis method followed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and conventional PCR. The A154 isolate was identified as A. radioresistens by WGS analysis and displayed >99.9 of similarity by TCS in relation with the databases. Moreover, it was resistant to ampicillin, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefepime, cefotaxime, streptomycin, and kanamycin. Likewise, in addition to the intrinsic blaOXA−23−like gene, A154 harbored the plasmid-encoded antibiotic-resistance genes blaPER−2, tet(B), aph(3′)-Vla, strA, and strB, as well as a large diversity of ISs. This is the first report of antibiotic-resistant A. radioresistens in Antarctica. Our findings show the presence of several resistance genes which could be either intrinsic or acquired in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Opazo-Capurro
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos (LIAA), Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Paul G Higgins
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Julia Wille
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Harald Seifert
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Camila Cigarroa
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos (LIAA), Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Paulina González-Muñoz
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos (LIAA), Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - Mario Quezada-Aguiluz
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos (LIAA), Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Mariana Domínguez-Yévenes
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos (LIAA), Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Helia Bello-Toledo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos (LIAA), Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Vergara
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - Gerardo González-Rocha
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos (LIAA), Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
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