1
|
Cobacho SP, Leemans LH, Weideveld STJ, Fu X, van Katwijk MM, Lamers LPM, Smolders AJP, Christianen MJA. Addition of iron does not ameliorate sulfide toxicity by sargassum influx to mangroves but dampens methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 202:116303. [PMID: 38569305 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Sargassum spp. strandings in the tropical Atlantic harm local ecosystems due to toxic sulfide levels. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to test the efficacy of iron(III) (hydr)oxides in (a) mitigating sulfide toxicity in mangroves resulting from Sargassum and (b) reducing potentially enhanced greenhouse gas emissions. Our results show that iron addition failed to prevent mangrove mortality caused by highly toxic sulfide concentrations, which reached up to 15,000 μmol l-1 in 14 days; timely removal may potentially prevent mangrove death. Sargassum-impacted mesocosms significantly increased methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions, producing approximately 1 g CO2-equivalents m-2 h-1 during daylight hours, thereby shifting mangroves from sinks to sources of greenhouse gasses. However, iron addition decreased methane emissions by 62 % and nitrous oxide emissions by 57 %. This research reveals that Sargassum strandings have multiple adverse effects related to chemical and ecological dynamics in mangrove ecosystems, including greenhouse gas emissions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara P Cobacho
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Luuk H Leemans
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan T J Weideveld
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Xitong Fu
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke M van Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Verstijnen YJM, Lucassen ECHET, Wagenvoort AJ, Ketelaars HAM, van der Velde G, Smolders AJP. Trophic Transfer of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, P and Se in Dutch Storage Water Reservoirs. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2024; 86:217-233. [PMID: 38245635 PMCID: PMC11032288 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-023-01041-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Heavy metals are naturally omnipresent in aquatic systems. Excess amounts of heavy metals can accumulate in organisms of pollution impacted systems and transfer across a food web. Analysing the food web structure and metal contents of the organisms can help unravel the pathways of biomagnification or biodilution and gain insight in trophic linkages. We measured heavy metals and other elements in mussel bank detritus and organisms of the Biesbosch reservoirs (the Netherlands) and linked those to stable isotopic signatures. The heavy metal contents (cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc) were often lowest in benthivorous, omnivorous and piscivorous species (mainly fish); whereas, phosphorus contents were lower in the autotrophs. Mussel bank detritus contained the highest amounts of heavy metals. The heavy metals were negatively correlated with δ15N values. For selenium no clear trend was observed. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between fish length and some heavy metals. Based on all 20 analysed elemental contents, similarities between species became apparent, related to niche or habitat. This study confirms that elemental contents of species can differ between feeding guilds and/or species, which can be attributed to metabolic and physiological processes. The organisms in higher trophic levels have adaptations preventing metal accumulation, resulting in lower contents. Within the fish species biodilution occurs, as most metal contents were lowest in bigger fish. Overall, the metals did not seem to biomagnify, but biodilute in the food web. Metal analyses combined with isotopic signatures could thus provide insights in metal transfer and possible trophic linkages within a system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yvon J M Verstijnen
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | - Henk A M Ketelaars
- Evides Water Company, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Rubiconsult, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard van der Velde
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University (RIBES), Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Centre of Expertise On Exotic Species (NEC-E), Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
de Mars H, van Dijk G, van der Weijden B, Grootjans AP, Wołejko L, Farr G, Graham J, Oosterlynck P, Smolders AJP. The threat of groundwater pollution for petrifying springs; defining nutrient threshold values for an endangered bryophyte dominated habitat. Environ Pollut 2024; 344:123324. [PMID: 38237849 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Eutrophication by human activities is increasingly affecting ecosystem functioning and plant community composition. So far, studies mainly focus on the effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition, surface water eutrophication or soil nutrient accumulation. Groundwater pollution of spring habitats, however, has received much less attention, although numerous papers report groundwater nutrient enrichment worldwide. This study presents a survey on groundwater pollution (with emphasis on nitrate and phosphate) and bryophyte composition in 51 ambient petrifying springs in 5 NW European countries, which were compared to published data from 173 other sites in 11 European countries. The reviewed dataset covers a broad range of unpolluted to heavily polluted springs with nitrate concentrations between 0.7 and 3227 μmol l-1. Most petrifying springs in the rural lowlands of NW Europe were found to have elevated concentrations of nitrate and phosphate with the most polluted springs occurring in The Netherlands. The cover of individual characteristic bryophyte species significantly correlates with groundwater nutrient concentrations indicating that nutrient pollution of spring waters affects bryophyte composition. Palustriella commutata, Eucladium verticillatum and Brachythecium rivulare prefer unpolluted petrifying springs whereas Cratoneuron filicinum and Pellia endiviifolia show a much broader tolerance to groundwater pollution. In order to sustain at least the basic conditions for the typical bryophyte composition of petrifying springs habitats, threshold values of 288 μmol (18 mg l-1) NO3- l-1 and 0.42 μmol (0.04 mg l-1) ortho-PO43- l-1 were defined. Data analysis of the spring water composition indicates that the main source for nutrient and nutrient induced base cation enrichment are nitrate losses from intensively used agricultural fields. The anthropogenically induced but regionally different chemical processes in subsoil and aquifers can result in different levels of nutrient pollution in springs. Further regulations for nitrate and phosphate application are required to conserve and restore groundwater fed ecosystems in Europe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hans de Mars
- Royal HaskoningDHV, P.O. Box 302, 6199 ZN, Maastricht-Airport, the Netherlands
| | - Gijs van Dijk
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, P.O. Box 6558, 6503 GB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Bas van der Weijden
- Royal HaskoningDHV, P.O. Box 302, 6199 ZN, Maastricht-Airport, the Netherlands
| | - Ab P Grootjans
- Integrated Research on Energy, Environmental and Society, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh, 6, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lesław Wołejko
- West Pomeranian University of Technology, ul. Slowackiego 17, 71-434, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Gareth Farr
- British Geological Survey, Cardiff University Main Building, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Graham
- 2 Cross Road, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, PE7 1LX, United Kingdom
| | - Patrik Oosterlynck
- Instituut Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Havenlaan 88, P.O. Box 73, 1000 Brussel, Belgium
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, P.O. Box 6558, 6503 GB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
de Boer HC, van Mullekom M, Smolders AJP. Lower nitrate leaching from dairy cattle slurry compared to synthetic fertilizer calcium ammonium nitrate applied to grassland. Environ Pollut 2024; 344:123088. [PMID: 38061433 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate leaching from agriculture can be reduced by the choice of fertilizer and a proper timing of its application. For permanent grassland grown under temperate conditions, nitrate leaching was hypothesized to be lower from dairy cattle slurry (CS) compared to synthetic fertilizer calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), based on differences in chemical composition, consequential effects on nitrogen (N) conversion processes in soil, and resulting differences in synchronization of (nitrate) N availability and plant N uptake. We tested the hypothesis in a two-year field experiment on cut grassland on a leaching-sensitive sandy soil, fertilized each year with 320 kg ha-1 of plant-available N from either 100% top-dressed CAN or a combination of 40% from CAN and 60% from sod-injected CS, and measured effects on grass herbage yield, herbage N uptake, and nitrate concentration in pore water at 1.0 m depth. Our results show a comparable level of herbage N uptake for both treatments, allowing for a proper comparison of nitrate leaching at a similar level of plant-available N. Average nitrate concentration in pore water in the main leaching period (over winter) was after the first (dry) growing season 44% lower for CS + CAN (41 mg l-1) compared to CAN only (73 mg l-1), and after the second (wet) growing season 35% lower for CS + CAN (32 mg l-1) compared to CAN only (49 mg l-1). Nitrogen application increased nitrate concentration at 1.0 m depth not only in winter but also in the growing season. We conclude that for permanent grasslands in temperate regions, nitrate leaching from timely applied CS may be considerably lower than from CAN, which is different from previous assumptions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Herman C de Boer
- Wageningen Livestock Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Mark van Mullekom
- B-WARE Research Centre, Mercator III Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- B-WARE Research Centre, Mercator III Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Temmink RJM, Robroek BJM, van Dijk G, Koks AHW, Käärmelahti SA, Barthelmes A, Wassen MJ, Ziegler R, Steele MN, Giesen W, Joosten H, Fritz C, Lamers LPM, Smolders AJP. Wetscapes provide the physical basis to sustainable peatland livelihoods. Ambio 2024; 53:355-357. [PMID: 38064112 PMCID: PMC10774248 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01967-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J M Temmink
- Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Bjorn J M Robroek
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- School of Biological Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Gijs van Dijk
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Adam H W Koks
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sannimari A Käärmelahti
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Barthelmes
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, Greifswald University, Partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Soldmannstr. 15, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin J Wassen
- Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rafael Ziegler
- Department of Management, HEC Montréal, Édifice Côte-Sainte-Catherine 3000, Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Canada
| | - Magdalena N Steele
- School of Biological Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Surrey Kew, Kew Green, Richmond, TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Wim Giesen
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Joosten
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, Greifswald University, Partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Soldmannstr. 15, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christian Fritz
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Paranaíba JR, Struik Q, Erdociain M, van Dijk G, Smolders AJP, van der Knaap J, Veraart AJ, Kosten S. CO 2, CH 4, and N 2O emissions from dredged material exposed to drying and zeolite addition under field and laboratory conditions. Environ Pollut 2023; 337:122627. [PMID: 37769708 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Dredging, the removal of sediment from water courses, is generally conducted to maintain their navigability and to improve water quality. Recent studies indicate that dredging can significantly reduce aquatic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These studies, however, do not consider the potential emission from the dredged material (sludge) in the depot. In addition, it is unknown if and how GHG emissions from sludge depots can be reduced. Here we present spatiotemporal variations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes, as well as environmental variables from a sludge depot located in the Netherlands. Measurements were conducted monthly from the time the depot was filled until the sludge was dry and the depot was abolished. We also experimentally assessed the GHG mitigation potential of 1) keeping the sludge permanently inundated, and 2) the addition of different amounts of zeolite to increase sludge nitrogen binding capacity to reduce N2O emissions. In the depot and in the laboratory, a decrease in moisture content coincided with increased CO2 and N2O emissions while CH4 emissions decreased. We observed that permanent inundation reduced emissions (∼4 times less CO2-eq than in drying sludge). Adding zeolite lowered N2O fluxes from permanently inundated sludge but did not reduce total GHG emissions. During the depot's operational period, average CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes were 5078, 27, and 5 mg m-2 d-1, respectively. GHG emissions from drying sludge occurred mainly in the form of CO2 (73% of the total CO2-eq emissions), with average GHG emission rates comparable to those reported for ditches and ponds. We estimate that approximately 14 tons of CO2-eq were emitted from the 0.011 km2 depot, which contained ∼20,000 m3 of sludge, during its entire operational period, and we argue that more studies are needed, considering different sludge origins, to expand our understanding of sludge depots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José R Paranaíba
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Quinten Struik
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Maite Erdociain
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Gijs van Dijk
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Judith van der Knaap
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Annelies J Veraart
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sarian Kosten
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Temmink RJM, Robroek BJM, van Dijk G, Koks AHW, Käärmelahti SA, Barthelmes A, Wassen MJ, Ziegler R, Steele MN, Giesen W, Joosten H, Fritz C, Lamers LPM, Smolders AJP. Wetscapes: Restoring and maintaining peatland landscapes for sustainable futures. Ambio 2023; 52:1519-1528. [PMID: 37222914 PMCID: PMC10406990 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01875-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Peatlands are among the world's most carbon-dense ecosystems and hotspots of carbon storage. Although peatland drainage causes strong carbon emissions, land subsidence, fires and biodiversity loss, drainage-based agriculture and forestry on peatland is still expanding on a global scale. To maintain and restore their vital carbon sequestration and storage function and to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, rewetting and restoration of all drained and degraded peatlands is urgently required. However, socio-economic conditions and hydrological constraints hitherto prevent rewetting and restoration on large scale, which calls for rethinking landscape use. We here argue that creating integrated wetscapes (wet peatland landscapes), including nature preserve cores, buffer zones and paludiculture areas (for wet productive land use), will enable sustainable and complementary land-use functions on the landscape level. As such, transforming landscapes into wetscapes presents an inevitable, novel, ecologically and socio-economically sound alternative for drainage-based peatland use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J. M. Temmink
- Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bjorn J. M. Robroek
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- School of Biological Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Gijs van Dijk
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Adam H. W. Koks
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sannimari A. Käärmelahti
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Barthelmes
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, Partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Soldmannstr. 15, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin J. Wassen
- Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rafael Ziegler
- Department of Management, HEC Montréal, Édifice Côte-Sainte-Catherine 3000, Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Canada
| | - Magdalena N. Steele
- School of Biological Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Wim Giesen
- Associate with Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Joosten
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, Partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Soldmannstr. 15, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christian Fritz
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P. M. Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Temmink RJM, Robroek BJM, van Dijk G, Koks AHW, Käärmelahti SA, Barthelmes A, Wassen MJ, Ziegler R, Steele MN, Giesen W, Joosten H, Fritz C, Lamers LPM, Smolders AJP. Correction: Wetscapes: Restoring and maintaining peatland landscapes for sustainable futures. Ambio 2023; 52:1529-1531. [PMID: 37351776 PMCID: PMC10406749 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01890-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J. M. Temmink
- Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bjorn J. M. Robroek
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- School of Biological Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Gijs van Dijk
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Adam H. W. Koks
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sannimari A. Käärmelahti
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Barthelmes
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, Partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Soldmannstr. 15, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin J. Wassen
- Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rafael Ziegler
- Department of Management, HEC Montréal, Édifice Côte-Sainte-Catherine 3000, Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Canada
| | - Magdalena N. Steele
- School of Biological Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Wim Giesen
- Associate with Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Joosten
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, Partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Soldmannstr. 15, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christian Fritz
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P. M. Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hendriks L, Smolders AJP, van den Brink T, Lamers LPM, Veraart AJ. Polishing wastewater effluent using plants: floating plants perform better than submerged plants in both nutrient removal and reduction of greenhouse gas emission. Water Sci Technol 2023; 88:23-34. [PMID: 37452531 PMCID: wst_2023_203 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
While research on aquatic plants used in treatment wetlands is abundant, little is known about the use of plants in hydroponic ecological wastewater treatment, and its simultaneous effect on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Here, we assess the effectiveness of floating and submerged plants in removing nutrients and preventing GHG emissions from wastewater effluent. We grew two species of floating plants, Azolla filiculoides and Lemna minor, and two species of submerged plants, Ceratophyllum demersum and Callitriche platycarpa, on a batch of domestic wastewater effluent without any solid substrate. In these systems, we monitored nitrogen and phosphorus removal and fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O, for 2 weeks. In general, floating plants produced the most biomass, whereas submerged plants were rapidly overgrown by filamentous algae. Floating plants removed nutrients most efficiently; both floating species removed 100% of the phosphate while Lemna also removed 97-100% of the inorganic nitrogen, as opposed to a removal of 81-88% in submerged plants with algae treatments. Moreover, aquaria covered by floating plants had roughly three times higher GHG uptake than the treatments with submerged plants or controls without plants. Thus, effluent polishing by floating plants can be a promising avenue for climate-smart wastewater polishing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne Hendriks
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands E-mail: ;
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Thom van den Brink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Annelies J Veraart
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Legierse A, Struik Q, Smith G, Echeveste Medrano MJ, Weideveld S, van Dijk G, Smolders AJP, Jetten M, Veraart AJ, Welte CU, Glodowska M. Nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (N-DAMO) as a bioremediation strategy for waters affected by agricultural runoff. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2023; 370:fnad041. [PMID: 37170064 PMCID: PMC10214460 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnad041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Agricultural drainage ditches are subjected to high anthropogenic nitrogen input, leading to eutrophication and greenhouse gas emissions. Nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (N-DAMO) could be a promising remediation strategy to remove methane (CH4) and nitrate (NO3-) simultaneously. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the potential of N-DAMO to remove excess NO3- and decrease CH4 release from agricultural drainage ditches. Microcosm experiments were conducted using sediment and surface water collected from three different sites: a sandy-clay ditch (SCD), a freshwater-fed peatland ditch (FPD), and a brackish peatland ditch (BPD). The microcosms were inoculated with an N-DAMO enrichment culture dominated by Candidatus Methanoperedens and Candidatus Methylomirabilis and supplemented with 13CH4 and 15NO3-. A significant decrease in CH4 and NO3- concentration was only observed in the BPD sediment. In freshwater sediments (FPD and SCD), the effect of N-DAMO inoculation on CH4 and NO3- removal was negligible, likely because N-DAMO microorganisms were outcompeted by heterotrophic denitrifiers consuming NO3- much faster. Overall, our results suggest that bioaugmentation with N-DAMO might be a potential strategy for decreasing NO3- concentrations and CH4 emission in brackish ecosystems with increasing agricultural activities where the native microbial community is incapable of efficient denitrification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annabel Legierse
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Quinten Struik
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Garrett Smith
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Gijs van Dijk
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Nijmegen 6525 ED, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Nijmegen 6525 ED, The Netherlands
| | - Mike Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Annelies J Veraart
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelia U Welte
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Martyna Glodowska
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Temmink RJM, Cruijsen PMJM, Smolders AJP, Bouma TJ, Fivash GS, Lengkeek W, Didderen K, Lamers LPM, van der Heide T. Overcoming establishment thresholds for peat mosses in human-made bog pools. Ecol Appl 2021; 31:e02359. [PMID: 33884709 PMCID: PMC8459249 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Globally, peatlands have been affected by drainage and peat extraction, with adverse effects on their functioning and services. To restore peat-forming vegetation, drained bogs are being rewetted on a large scale. Although this practice results in higher groundwater levels, unfortunately it often creates deep lakes in parts where peat was extracted to greater depths than the surroundings. Revegetation of these deeper waters by peat mosses appears to be challenging due to strong abiotic feedbacks that keep these systems in an undesired bare state. In this study, we theoretically explore if a floating peat mat and an open human-made bog lake can be considered two alternative stable states using a simple model, and experimentally test in the field whether stable states are present, and whether a state shift can be accomplished using floating biodegradable structures that mimic buoyant peat. We transplanted two peat moss species into these structures (pioneer sp. Sphagnum cuspidatum and later-successional sp. S. palustre) with and without additional organic substrate. Our model suggests that these open human-made bog lakes and floating peat mats can indeed be regarded as alternative stable states. Natural recovery by spontaneous peat moss growth, i.e., a state shift from open water to floating mats, is only possible when the water table is sufficiently shallow to avoid light limitation (<0.29 m at our site). Our experiment revealed that alternative stable states are present and that the floating structures facilitated the growth of pioneer S. cuspidatum and vascular plants. Organic substrate addition particularly facilitated vascular plant growth, which correlated to higher moss height. The structures remained too wet for the late-successional species S. palustre. We conclude that open water and floating peat mats in human-made bog lakes can be considered two alternative stable states, and that temporary floating establishment structures can induce a state shift from the open water state to peat-forming vegetation state. These findings imply that for successful restoration, there is a clear water depth threshold to enable peat moss growth and there is no need for addition of large amounts of donor-peat substrate. Correct species selection for restoration is crucial for success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J. M. Temmink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental BiologyInstitute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityHeyendaalseweg 135Nijmegen6525 AJthe Netherlands
- Department Coastal SystemsRoyal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht UniversityLandsdiep 4't Hortje (Texel)1797 SZthe Netherlands
| | - Peter M. J. M. Cruijsen
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental BiologyInstitute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityHeyendaalseweg 135Nijmegen6525 AJthe Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental BiologyInstitute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityHeyendaalseweg 135Nijmegen6525 AJthe Netherlands
- B‐WARE Research CentreToernooiveld 1Nijmegen6525 EDthe Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J. Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta SystemsRoyal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht UniversityKorringaweg 7Yerseke4401 NTthe Netherlands
- Delta Academy Applied Research CentreHZ University of Applied SciencesVlissingenthe Netherlands
- Faculty of GeosciencesDepartment of Physical GeographyUtrecht UniversityPrincetonlaan 8aUtrecht3584 CBthe Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 7Groningen9747 AGthe Netherlands
| | - Gregory S. Fivash
- Department of Estuarine and Delta SystemsRoyal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht UniversityKorringaweg 7Yerseke4401 NTthe Netherlands
| | - Wouter Lengkeek
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental BiologyInstitute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityHeyendaalseweg 135Nijmegen6525 AJthe Netherlands
- Bureau WaardenburgVarkensmarkt 9Culemborg4101 CKthe Netherlands
| | - Karin Didderen
- Bureau WaardenburgVarkensmarkt 9Culemborg4101 CKthe Netherlands
| | - Leon P. M. Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental BiologyInstitute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityHeyendaalseweg 135Nijmegen6525 AJthe Netherlands
- B‐WARE Research CentreToernooiveld 1Nijmegen6525 EDthe Netherlands
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental BiologyInstitute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityHeyendaalseweg 135Nijmegen6525 AJthe Netherlands
- Department Coastal SystemsRoyal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht UniversityLandsdiep 4't Hortje (Texel)1797 SZthe Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 7Groningen9747 AGthe Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kox MAR, Smolders AJP, Speth DR, Lamers LPM, Op den Camp HJM, Jetten MSM, van Kessel MAHJ. A Novel Laboratory-Scale Mesocosm Setup to Study Methane Emission Mitigation by Sphagnum Mosses and Associated Methanotrophs. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:652486. [PMID: 33981290 PMCID: PMC8108401 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.651103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Degraded peatlands are often rewetted to prevent oxidation of the peat, which reduces CO2 emission. However, the created anoxic conditions will boost methane (CH4) production and thus emission. Here, we show that submerged Sphagnum peat mosses in rewetted-submerged peatlands can reduce CH4 emission from peatlands with 93%. We were able to mimic the field situation in the laboratory by using a novel mesocosm set-up. By combining these with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and qPCR analysis of the pmoA and mmoX genes, we showed that submerged Sphagnum mosses act as a niche for CH4 oxidizing bacteria. The tight association between Sphagnum peat mosses and methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB) significantly reduces CH4 emissions by peatlands and can be studied in more detail in the mesocosm setup developed in this study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martine A R Kox
- Department of Microbiology, IWWR, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, IWWR, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, IWWR, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,B-WARE Research Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Daan R Speth
- Department of Microbiology, IWWR, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, IWWR, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Mike S M Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, IWWR, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Vroom RJE, Temmink RJM, van Dijk G, Joosten H, Lamers LPM, Smolders AJP, Krebs M, Gaudig G, Fritz C. Nutrient dynamics of Sphagnum farming on rewetted bog grassland in NW Germany. Sci Total Environ 2020; 726:138470. [PMID: 32315847 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The agricultural use of drained peatlands leads to huge emissions of greenhouse gases and nutrients. A land-use alternative that allows rewetting of drained peatland while maintaining agricultural production is the cultivation of Sphagnum biomass as a renewable substitute for fossil peat in horticultural growing media (Sphagnum farming). We studied Sphagnum productivity and nutrient dynamics during two years in two Sphagnum farming sites in NW Germany, which were established on drained bog grassland by sod removal, rewetting, and the introduction of Sphagnum fragments in 2011 and 2016, respectively. We found a considerable and homogeneous production of Sphagnum biomass (>3.6 ton DW ha--1 yr-1), attributable to the high nutrient levels, low alkalinity, and even distribution of the irrigation water. The ammonium legacy from former drainage-based agriculture rapidly declined after rewetting, while nutrient mobilization was negligible. CH4 concentrations in the rewetted soil quickly decreased to very low levels. The Sphagnum biomass sequestered high loads of nutrients (46.0 and 47.4 kg N, 3.9 and 4.9 kg P, and 9.8 and 16.1 kg K ha-1 yr-1 in the 7.5 y and 2.5 y old sites, respectively), preventing off-site eutrophication. We conclude that Sphagnum farming as an alternative for drainage-based peatland agriculture may contribute effectively to tackling environmental challenges such as local and regional downstream pollution and global climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renske J E Vroom
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ralph J M Temmink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Gijs van Dijk
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Joosten
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Soldmannstraße 15, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Matthias Krebs
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Soldmannstraße 15, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Greta Gaudig
- Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Soldmannstraße 15, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christian Fritz
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Centre for Energy and Environmental Studies, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 6, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Maliaka V, Verstijnen YJM, Faassen EJ, Smolders AJP, Lürling M. Effects of guanotrophication and warming on the abundance of green algae, cyanobacteria and microcystins in Lake Lesser Prespa, Greece. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229148. [PMID: 32160215 PMCID: PMC7065754 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lake Lesser Prespa in Greece is a vital breeding habitat for the Dalmatian and Great White Pelican and a shelter for numerous rare and endemic species. However, eutrophication processes are distressing the lake system and the outbreaks of cyanobacterial blooms during the warm months may pose a threat to aquatic organisms due to the presence of microcystins (MCs). In this study we hypothesize that nutrients (eutrophication), nutrient-rich pelican droppings (guanotrophication) and warming (climate change) can affect the algal growth and MCs production in the water layer of Lake Lesser Prespa. Seston collected from three lake sites was incubated at ambient (20°C) and high (30°C) temperature with or without the addition of nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P)), or pelican droppings. Results showed increased chlorophyll-a at higher temperature (30°C). N addition yielded higher chlorophyll-a levels than the non-treated water or when only P was added. The addition of both N and P as well as the addition of pelican dropping resulted in the highest chlorophyll-a at both temperatures. Notably, in the dropping-treatments, cyanobacteria and MCs were promoted while changes were evoked in the relative contribution of toxic MC-variants. Guanotrophication may thus influence the cyanobacterial dynamics and most likely their toxicity profile at Lesser Prespa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentini Maliaka
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Society for the Protection of Prespa, Agios Germanos, Greece
| | - Yvon J. M. Verstijnen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth J. Faassen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Research Institute RIKILT, BU Contaminants & Toxins, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Miquel Lürling
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Koschorreck M, Downing AS, Hejzlar J, Marcé R, Laas A, Arndt WG, Keller PS, Smolders AJP, van Dijk G, Kosten S. Hidden treasures: Human-made aquatic ecosystems harbour unexplored opportunities. Ambio 2020; 49:531-540. [PMID: 31140158 PMCID: PMC6965596 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01199-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Artificial water bodies like ditches, fish ponds, weirs, reservoirs, fish ladders, and irrigation channels are usually constructed and managed to optimize their intended purposes. However, human-made aquatic systems also have unintended consequences on ecosystem services and biogeochemical cycles. Knowledge about their functioning and possible additional ecosystem services is poor, especially compared to natural ecosystems. A GIS analysis indicates that currently only ~ 10% of European surface waters are covered by the European Water Framework directive, and that a considerable fraction of the excluded systems are likely human-made aquatic systems. There is a clear mismatch between the high possible significance of human-made water bodies and their low representation in scientific research and policy. We propose a research agenda to build an inventory of human-made aquatic ecosystems, support and advance research to further our understanding of the role of these systems in local and global biogeochemical cycles as well as to identify other benefits for society. We stress the need for studies that aim to optimize management of human-made aquatic systems considering all their functions and to support programs designed to overcome barriers of the adoption of optimized management strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Koschorreck
- Department Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Brückstrasse 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Andrea S. Downing
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Josef Hejzlar
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Sádkách 7, 37003 Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Rafael Marcé
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Alo Laas
- Chair of Hydrobiology and Fishery, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5D, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Witold G. Arndt
- Eule GDI, Steinbrede 4, 48163 Münster, Germany
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Heisenbergstraße 2, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Philipp S. Keller
- Department Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Brückstrasse 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
- Eule GDI, Steinbrede 4, 48163 Münster, Germany
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gijs van Dijk
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sarian Kosten
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Temmink RJM, Harpenslager SF, Smolders AJP, van Dijk G, Peters RCJH, Lamers LPM, van Kempen MML. Azolla along a phosphorus gradient: biphasic growth response linked to diazotroph traits and phosphorus-induced iron chlorosis. Sci Rep 2018. [PMID: 29535346 PMCID: PMC5849758 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22760-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Azolla spp., a water fern often used for phytoremediation, is a strong phosphorus (P) accumulator due to its high growth rate and N2 fixing symbionts (diazotrophs). It is known that plant growth is stimulated by P, but the nature of the interactive response of both symbionts along a P gradient, and related changes in growth-limiting factors, are unclear. We determined growth, and N and P sequestration rates of Azolla filiculoides in N-free water at different P concentrations. The growth response appeared to be biphasic and highest at levels ≥10 P µmol l−1. Diazotrophic N sequestration increased upon P addition, and rates were three times higher at high P than at low P. At 10 µmol P l−1, N sequestration rates reached its maximum and A. filiculoides growth became saturated. Due to luxury consumption, P sequestration rates increased until 50 µmol P l−1. At higher P concentrations (≥50 µmol l−1), however, chlorosis occurred that seems to be caused by iron- (Fe-), and not by N-deficiency. We demonstrate that traits of the complete symbiosis in relation to P and Fe availability determine plant performance, stressing the role of nutrient stoichiometry. The results are discussed regarding Azolla’s potential use in a bio-based economy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J M Temmink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Sarah F Harpenslager
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University, E1 4NS, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gijs van Dijk
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roy C J H Peters
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Monique M L van Kempen
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Angelini C, Griffin JN, van de Koppel J, Lamers LPM, Smolders AJP, Derksen-Hooijberg M, van der Heide T, Silliman BR. A keystone mutualism underpins resilience of a coastal ecosystem to drought. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12473. [PMID: 27534803 PMCID: PMC4992128 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Droughts are increasing in severity and frequency, yet the mechanisms that strengthen ecosystem resilience to this stress remain poorly understood. Here, we test whether positive interactions in the form of a mutualism between mussels and dominant cordgrass in salt marshes enhance ecosystem resistance to and recovery from drought. Surveys spanning 250 km of southeastern US coastline reveal spatially dispersed mussel mounds increased cordgrass survival during severe drought by 5- to 25-times. Surveys and mussel addition experiments indicate this positive effect of mussels on cordgrass was due to mounds enhancing water storage and reducing soil salinity stress. Observations and models then demonstrate that surviving cordgrass patches associated with mussels function as nuclei for vegetative re-growth and, despite covering only 0.1–12% of die-offs, markedly shorten marsh recovery periods. These results indicate that mutualisms, in supporting stress-resistant patches, can play a disproportionately large, keystone role in enhancing ecosystem resilience to climatic extremes. Intensifying drought has caused massive die-offs in ecosystems worldwide. Here, Angelini et al. use observations, experiments, and models in US salt marshes to show that a key mutualism increases ecosystem resilience by maintaining stress-resistant habitat patches that aid post-drought recovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, PO Box 116580, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - John N Griffin
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Johan van de Koppel
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems (EDS), Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University (NIOZ-Yerseke), Postbus 140, Yerseke 4400 AC, The Netherlands.,Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, Groningen 9700 CC, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalsweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalsweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Marlous Derksen-Hooijberg
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalsweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalsweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Department of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicolas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Angelini C, van der Heide T, Griffin JN, Morton JP, Derksen-Hooijberg M, Lamers LPM, Smolders AJP, Silliman BR. Foundation species' overlap enhances biodiversity and multifunctionality from the patch to landscape scale in southeastern United States salt marshes. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:rspb.2015.0421. [PMID: 26136442 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there is mounting evidence that biodiversity is an important and widespread driver of ecosystem multifunctionality, much of this research has focused on small-scale biodiversity manipulations. Hence, which mechanisms maintain patches of enhanced biodiversity in natural systems and if these patches elevate ecosystem multifunctionality at both local and landscape scales remain outstanding questions. In a 17 month experiment conducted within southeastern United States salt marshes, we found that patches of enhanced biodiversity and multifunctionality arise only where habitat-forming foundation species overlap--i.e. where aggregations of ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa) form around cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) stems. By empirically scaling up our experimental results to the marsh platform at 12 sites, we further show that mussels--despite covering only approximately 1% of the marsh surface--strongly enhance five distinct ecosystem functions, including decomposition, primary production and water infiltration rate, at the landscape scale. Thus, mussels create conditions that support the co-occurrence of high densities of functionally distinct organisms within cordgrass and, in doing so, elevate salt marsh multifunctionality from the patch to landscape scale. Collectively, these findings suggest that patterns in foundation species' overlap drive variation in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning within and across natural ecosystems.We therefore argue that foundation species should be integrated in our conceptual understanding of forces that moderate biodiversity--ecosystem functioning relationships, approaches for conserving species diversity and strategies to improve the multifunctionality of degraded ecosystems.
Collapse
|
19
|
Emsens WJ, Aggenbach CJS, Schoutens K, Smolders AJP, Zak D, van Diggelen R. Soil Iron Content as a Predictor of Carbon and Nutrient Mobilization in Rewetted Fens. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153166. [PMID: 27050837 PMCID: PMC4822970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rewetted, previously drained fens often remain sources rather than sinks for carbon and nutrients. To date, it is poorly understood which soil characteristics stimulate carbon and nutrient mobilization upon rewetting. Here, we assess the hypothesis that a large pool of iron in the soil negatively affects fen restoration success, as flooding-induced iron reduction (Fe3+ to Fe2+) causes a disproportionate breakdown of organic matter that is coupled with a release of inorganic compounds. We collected intact soil cores in two iron-poor and two iron-rich drained fens, half of which were subjected to a rewetting treatment while the other half was kept drained. Prolonged drainage led to the mobilization of nitrate (NO3-, > 1 mmol L-1) in all cores, regardless of soil iron content. In the rewetted iron-rich cores, a sharp increase in pore water iron (Fe) concentrations correlated with concentrations of inorganic carbon (TIC, > 13 mmol L-1) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC, > 16 mmol L-1). Additionally, ammonium (NH4+) accumulated up to phytotoxic concentrations of 1 mmol L-1 in the pore water of the rewetted iron-rich cores. Disproportionate mobilization of Fe, TIC, DOC and NH4+ was absent in the rewetted iron-poor cores, indicating a strong interaction between waterlogging and iron-mediated breakdown of organic matter. Concentrations of dissolved phosphorus (P) rose slightly in all cores upon rewetting, but remained low throughout the experiment. Our results suggest that large pools of iron in the top soil of drained fens can hamper the restoration of the fen’s sink-service for ammonium and carbon upon rewetting. We argue that negative effects of iron should be most apparent in fens with fluctuating water levels, as temporary oxygenation allows frequent regeneration of Fe3+. We conclude that rewetting of iron-poor fens may be more feasible for restoration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Willem-Jan Emsens
- Ecosystem Management Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1C, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Camiel J. S. Aggenbach
- Ecosystem Management Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1C, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Ken Schoutens
- Ecosystem Management Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1C, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135 1, NL-6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Dominik Zak
- Chemical Analytics and Biogeochemistry, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 301, D-12587 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Rudy van Diggelen
- Ecosystem Management Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1C, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
de Fouw J, Govers LL, van de Koppel J, van Belzen J, Dorigo W, Sidi Cheikh MA, Christianen MJA, van der Reijden KJ, van der Geest M, Piersma T, Smolders AJP, Olff H, Lamers LPM, van Gils JA, van der Heide T. Drought, Mutualism Breakdown, and Landscape-Scale Degradation of Seagrass Beds. Curr Biol 2016; 26:1051-6. [PMID: 26972316 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In many marine ecosystems, biodiversity critically depends on foundation species such as corals and seagrasses that engage in mutualistic interactions [1-3]. Concerns grow that environmental disruption of marine mutualisms exacerbates ecosystem degradation, with breakdown of the obligate coral mutualism ("coral bleaching") being an iconic example [2, 4, 5]. However, as these mutualisms are mostly facultative rather than obligate, it remains unclear whether mutualism breakdown is a common risk in marine ecosystems, and thus a potential accelerator of ecosystem degradation. Here, we provide evidence that drought triggered landscape-scale seagrass degradation and show the consequent failure of a facultative mutualistic feedback between seagrass and sulfide-consuming lucinid bivalves that in turn appeared to exacerbate the observed collapse. Local climate and remote sensing analyses revealed seagrass collapse after a summer with intense low-tide drought stress. Potential analysis-a novel approach to detect feedback-mediated state shifts-revealed two attractors (healthy and degraded states) during the collapse, suggesting that the drought disrupted internal feedbacks to cause abrupt, patch-wise degradation. Field measurements comparing degraded patches that were healthy before the collapse with patches that remained healthy demonstrated that bivalves declined dramatically in degrading patches with associated high sediment sulfide concentrations, confirming the breakdown of the mutualistic seagrass-lucinid feedback. Our findings indicate that drought triggered mutualism breakdown, resulting in toxic sulfide concentrations that aggravated seagrass degradation. We conclude that external disturbances can cause sudden breakdown of facultative marine mutualistic feedbacks. As this may amplify ecosystem degradation, we suggest including mutualisms in marine conservation and restoration approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy de Fouw
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands
| | - Laura L Govers
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Johan van de Koppel
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 140, 4400 CA Yerseke, the Netherlands
| | - Jim van Belzen
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 140, 4400 CA Yerseke, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter Dorigo
- Department of Geodesy and Geo-Information, Vienna University of Technology, Gusshausstrasse 27-29, 1040 Vienna, Austria; Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Management, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mohammed A Sidi Cheikh
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Karin J van der Reijden
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Matthijs van der Geest
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands; Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Theunis Piersma
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands; Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Mercator 3, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Han Olff
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan A van Gils
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
van Diggelen JMH, Smolders AJP, Visser EJW, Hicks S, Roelofs JGM, Lamers LPM. Differential responses of two wetland graminoids to high ammonium at different pH values. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2016; 18:307-315. [PMID: 26404423 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Enhanced soil ammonium (NH4+) concentrations in wetlands often lead to graminoid dominance, but species composition is highly variable. Although NH4+ is readily taken up as a nutrient, several wetland species are known to be sensitive to high NH4+ concentrations or even suffer toxicity, particularly at low soil pH. More knowledge about differential graminoid responses to high NH4+ availability in relation to soil pH can help to better understand vegetation changes. The responses of two wetland graminoids, Juncus acutiflorus and Carex disticha, to high (2 mmol·l(-1) ) versus control (20 μmol·l(-1) ) NH4+ concentrations were tested in a controlled hydroponic set up, at two pH values (4 and 6). A high NH4+ concentration did not change total biomass for these species at either pH, but increased C allocation to shoots and increased P uptake, leading to K and Ca limitation, depending on pH treatment. More than 50% of N taken up by C. disticha was invested in N-rich amino acids with decreasing C:N ratio, but only 10% for J. acutiflorus. Although both species appeared to be well adapted to high NH4+ loadings in the short term, C. disticha showed higher classic detoxifying responses that are early warning indicators for decreased tolerance in the long term. In general, the efficient aboveground biomass allocation, P uptake and N detoxification explain the competitive strength of wetland graminoids at the expense of overall biodiversity at high NH4+ loading. In addition, differential responses to enhanced NH4+ affect interspecific competition among graminoids and lead to a shift in vegetation composition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J M H van Diggelen
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - A J P Smolders
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - E J W Visser
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Experimental Plant Ecology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - S Hicks
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - J G M Roelofs
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - L P M Lamers
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Harpenslager SF, Smolders AJP, Kieskamp AAM, Roelofs JGM, Lamers LPM. To Float or Not to Float: How Interactions between Light and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon Species Determine the Buoyancy of Stratiotes aloides. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124026. [PMID: 25909504 PMCID: PMC4409207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural diversity formed by dense, floating Stratiotes aloides stands, generates hotspots of biodiversity of flora and fauna in wetlands. However, only part of the populations become emergent and provide this important facilitation. Since it has been hypothesised that its buoyancy depends on the rates of underwater photosynthesis, we investigated the role of dissolved CO2 availability and PAR on photosynthesis, biomass production and buoyancy in a controlled greenhouse experiment. Photosynthesis and growth were strongly influenced by both PAR and CO2 availability. At low PAR, plants formed less biomass and produced no emergent leaves, even when CO2 was abundant. At low CO2 levels, S. aloides switched to HCO3- use, resulting in a lower photosynthetic O2 production, decreased emergent leaf formation and increased CaCO3 precipitation on its leaves, all of which impaired buoyancy. At high PAR, low CO2 availability resulted in slower colonisation of the water layer, whereas CO2 availability did not influence PAR-limited plants. Our study shows that site conditions, rather than the sole abundance of potentially facilitating species, may strongly determine whether or not they form the structure necessary to act as a facilitator for biodiversity in aquatic environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah F. Harpenslager
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-Ware Research Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ariët A. M. Kieskamp
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan G. M. Roelofs
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P. M. Lamers
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Govers LL, de Brouwer JHF, Suykerbuyk W, Bouma TJ, Lamers LPM, Smolders AJP, van Katwijk MM. Toxic effects of increased sediment nutrient and organic matter loading on the seagrass Zostera noltii. Aquat Toxicol 2014; 155:253-60. [PMID: 25064458 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2014.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Revised: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 07/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
As a result of anthropogenic disturbances and natural stressors, seagrass beds are often patchy and heterogeneous. The effects of high loads of nutrients and organic matter in patch development and expansion in heterogeneous seagrass beds have, however, poorly been studied. We experimentally assessed the in situ effects of sediment quality on seagrass (Zostera noltii) patch dynamics by studying patch (0.35 m diameter) development and expansion for 4 sediment treatments: control, nutrient addition (NPK), organic matter addition (OM) and a combination (NPK+OM). OM addition strongly increased porewater sulfide concentrations whereas NPK increased porewater ammonium, nitrate and phosphate concentrations. As high nitrate concentrations suppressed sulfide production in NPK+OM, this treatment was biogeochemically comparable to NPK. Sulfide and ammonium concentrations differed within treatments, but over a 77 days period, seagrass patch survival and expansion were impaired by all additions compared to the control treatment. Expansion decreased at porewater ammonium concentrations >2,000 μmol L(-1). Mother patch biomass was not affected by high porewater ammonium concentrations as a result of its detoxification by higher seagrass densities. Sulfide concentrations >1,000 μmol L(-1) were toxic to both patch expansion and mother patch. We conclude that patch survival and expansion are constrained at high loads of nutrients or organic matter as a result of porewater ammonium or sulfide toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura L Govers
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty of Science, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Jan H F de Brouwer
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty of Science, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter Suykerbuyk
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty of Science, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Spatial Ecology, NIOZ Yerseke Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J Bouma
- Department of Spatial Ecology, NIOZ Yerseke Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty of Science, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty of Science, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke M van Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty of Science, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Lamers LPM, Vile MA, Grootjans AP, Acreman MC, van Diggelen R, Evans MG, Richardson CJ, Rochefort L, Kooijman AM, Roelofs JGM, Smolders AJP. Ecological restoration of rich fens in Europe and North America: from trial and error to an evidence‐based approach. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2014; 90:182-203. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Revised: 02/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leon P. M. Lamers
- Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen Heyendaalseweg 135 6525 AJ Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Melanie A. Vile
- Department of Biology Villanova University Villanova PA 19085 U.S.A
| | - Ab P. Grootjans
- Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen Heyendaalseweg 135 6525 AJ Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Department of Energy and Environmental Studies Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Mike C. Acreman
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Maclean Building, Benson Lane Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford Oxfordshire OX10 8BB U.K
| | - Rudy van Diggelen
- Department of Biology University of Antwerp Campus Drie Eiken, D.C.124, Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Martin G. Evans
- Upland Environments Research Unit School of Environment and Development, The University of Manchester PO Box 88 Manchester M60 1QD U.K
| | - Curtis J. Richardson
- Duke University Wetland Center Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Box 90333 Durham NC 27708 U.S.A
| | - Line Rochefort
- Département de phytologie Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval 2425, Rue de l'Agriculture Québec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Annemieke M. Kooijman
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics University of Amsterdam Science Park 904 1098 XH Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Jan G. M. Roelofs
- Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen Heyendaalseweg 135 6525 AJ Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen Heyendaalseweg 135 6525 AJ Nijmegen The Netherlands
- B‐Ware Research Centre Toernooiveld 1 6525 ED Nijmegen The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Spierenburg P, Lucassen ECHET, Pulido C, Smolders AJP, Roelofs JGM. Massive uprooting of Littorella uniflora (L.) Asch. during a storm event and its relation to sediment and plant characteristics. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2013; 15:955-962. [PMID: 23252890 DOI: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00707.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
During spring storms massive uprooting of Littorella uniflora occurred in a shallow Dutch softwater lake. The aim of this study was to test whether changes in plant morphology and sediment characteristics could explain the observed phenomenon. Uprooting was expected to occur in plants having a high shoot biomass and low root to shoot ratio (R:S), growing on sediments with a high organic matter content. Normally, uprooting of the relative buoyant L. uniflora is prevented by an extensive root system, expressed as a high R:S. This was studied by sampling floating and still rooted L. uniflora plants, as well as sediment and sediment pore water, along a gradient of increasing sediment organic matter content. Increasing organic matter content was related to increasing L. uniflora shoot biomass and consequently decreasing R:S. Furthermore, the results indicated that uprooting indeed occurred in plants growing on very organic sediments and was related to a low R:S. The increased shoot biomass on more organic sediments could be related to increased sediment pore water total inorganic carbon (TIC; mainly CO2 ) availability. Additionally, increased phosphorus availability could also have played a role. The disappearance of L. uniflora might lead to higher nutrient availability in the sediments. It is suggested that this could eventually promote the expansion of faster-growing macrophytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Spierenburg
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Lamers LPM, Govers LL, Janssen ICJM, Geurts JJM, Van der Welle MEW, Van Katwijk MM, Van der Heide T, Roelofs JGM, Smolders AJP. Sulfide as a soil phytotoxin-a review. Front Plant Sci 2013; 4:268. [PMID: 23885259 PMCID: PMC3717504 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In wetland soils and underwater sediments of marine, brackish and freshwater systems, the strong phytotoxin sulfide may accumulate as a result of microbial reduction of sulfate during anaerobiosis, its level depending on prevailing edaphic conditions. In this review, we compare an extensive body of literature on phytotoxic effects of this reduced sulfur compound in different ecosystem types, and review the effects of sulfide at multiple ecosystem levels: the ecophysiological functioning of individual plants, plant-microbe associations, and community effects including competition and facilitation interactions. Recent publications on multi-species interactions in the rhizosphere show even more complex mechanisms explaining sulfide resistance. It is concluded that sulfide is a potent phytotoxin, profoundly affecting plant fitness and ecosystem functioning in the full range of wetland types including coastal systems, and at several levels. Traditional toxicity testing including hydroponic approaches generally neglect rhizospheric effects, which makes it difficult to extrapolate results to real ecosystem processes. To explain the differential effects of sulfide at the different organizational levels, profound knowledge about the biogeochemical, plant physiological and ecological rhizosphere processes is vital. This information is even more important, as anthropogenic inputs of sulfur into freshwater ecosystems and organic loads into freshwater and marine systems are still much higher than natural levels, and are steeply increasing in Asia. In addition, higher temperatures as a result of global climate change may lead to higher sulfide production rates in shallow waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leon P. M. Lamers
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Laura L. Govers
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Marieke M. Van Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tjisse Van der Heide
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
- Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of GroningenGroningen, Netherlands
| | - Jan G. M. Roelofs
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Lamers LPM, Govers LL, Janssen ICJM, Geurts JJM, Van der Welle MEW, Van Katwijk MM, Van der Heide T, Roelofs JGM, Smolders AJP. Sulfide as a soil phytotoxin-a review. Front Plant Sci 2013. [PMID: 23885259 DOI: 10.3389/fpls2013.00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In wetland soils and underwater sediments of marine, brackish and freshwater systems, the strong phytotoxin sulfide may accumulate as a result of microbial reduction of sulfate during anaerobiosis, its level depending on prevailing edaphic conditions. In this review, we compare an extensive body of literature on phytotoxic effects of this reduced sulfur compound in different ecosystem types, and review the effects of sulfide at multiple ecosystem levels: the ecophysiological functioning of individual plants, plant-microbe associations, and community effects including competition and facilitation interactions. Recent publications on multi-species interactions in the rhizosphere show even more complex mechanisms explaining sulfide resistance. It is concluded that sulfide is a potent phytotoxin, profoundly affecting plant fitness and ecosystem functioning in the full range of wetland types including coastal systems, and at several levels. Traditional toxicity testing including hydroponic approaches generally neglect rhizospheric effects, which makes it difficult to extrapolate results to real ecosystem processes. To explain the differential effects of sulfide at the different organizational levels, profound knowledge about the biogeochemical, plant physiological and ecological rhizosphere processes is vital. This information is even more important, as anthropogenic inputs of sulfur into freshwater ecosystems and organic loads into freshwater and marine systems are still much higher than natural levels, and are steeply increasing in Asia. In addition, higher temperatures as a result of global climate change may lead to higher sulfide production rates in shallow waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leon P M Lamers
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
van Kempen MML, Smolders AJP, Lamers LPM, Roelofs JGM. Micro-halocline enabled nutrient recycling may explain extreme Azolla event in the Eocene Arctic Ocean. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50159. [PMID: 23166833 PMCID: PMC3500341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to understand the physicochemical mechanisms that could explain the massive growth of Azolla arctica in the Eocene Arctic Ocean, we carried out a laboratory experiment in which we studied the interacting effects of rain and wind on the development of salinity stratification, both in the presence and in the absence of a dense Azolla cover. Additionally, we carried out a mesocosm experiment to get a better understanding of the nutrient cycling within and beneath a dense Azolla cover in both freshwater and brackish water environments. Here we show that Azolla is able to create a windproof, small-scale salinity gradient in brackish waters, which allows for efficient recycling of nutrients. We suggest that this mechanism ensures the maintenance of a large standing biomass in which additional input of nutrients ultimately result in a further expansion of an Azolla cover. As such, it may not only explain the extent of the Azolla event during the Eocene, but also the absence of intact vegetative Azolla remains and the relatively low burial efficiency of organic carbon during this interval.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monique M L van Kempen
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
van der Heide T, Govers LL, de Fouw J, Olff H, van der Geest M, van Katwijk MM, Piersma T, van de Koppel J, Silliman BR, Smolders AJP, van Gils JA. A three-stage symbiosis forms the foundation of seagrass ecosystems. Science 2012; 336:1432-4. [PMID: 22700927 DOI: 10.1126/science.1219973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Seagrasses evolved from terrestrial plants into marine foundation species around 100 million years ago. Their ecological success, however, remains a mystery because natural organic matter accumulation within the beds should result in toxic sediment sulfide levels. Using a meta-analysis, a field study, and a laboratory experiment, we reveal how an ancient three-stage symbiosis between seagrass, lucinid bivalves, and their sulfide-oxidizing gill bacteria reduces sulfide stress for seagrasses. We found that the bivalve-sulfide-oxidizer symbiosis reduced sulfide levels and enhanced seagrass production as measured in biomass. In turn, the bivalves and their endosymbionts profit from organic matter accumulation and radial oxygen release from the seagrass roots. These findings elucidate the long-term success of seagrasses in warm waters and offer new prospects for seagrass ecosystem conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tjisse van der Heide
- Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, Post Office Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Stassen MJM, Preeker NL, Ragas AMJ, van de Ven MWPM, Smolders AJP, Roeleveld N. Metal exposure and reproductive disorders in indigenous communities living along the Pilcomayo River, Bolivia. Sci Total Environ 2012; 427-428:26-34. [PMID: 22575376 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.03.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2011] [Revised: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 03/27/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Pilcomayo River is polluted by tailings and effluents from upstream mining activities, which contain high levels of metals. The Weenhayek live along this river and are likely to have elevated exposure. OBJECTIVES To assess whether the Weenhayek have increased risk of reproductive and developmental disorders related to elevated metal exposure in comparison with a reference population. METHODS We assessed reproductive and developmental outcomes, i.e. fertility, fetal loss, congenital anomalies, and walking onset by means of structured interviews. We sampled hair, water and fish to assess the relative exposure of the Weenhayek. Samples were analyzed for Pb and Cd with ICP-MS techniques. RESULTS The Weenhayek communities studied had a higher prevalence of small families (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-6.0) and delayed walking onset (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4-5.1) than the reference population. Median Pb levels in Weenhayek hair were 2-5 times higher than in the reference population, while Cd levels were not elevated. In water and fish, both Pb and Cd levels were increased in the Weenhayek area. CONCLUSIONS We found indications for increased risks of small families and delayed walking onset among the Weenhayek living along the Pilcomayo River. Lactants form a high risk group for lead exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marinke J M Stassen
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Fritz C, van Dijk G, Smolders AJP, Pancotto VA, Elzenga TJTM, Roelofs JGM, Grootjans AP. Nutrient additions in pristine Patagonian Sphagnum bog vegetation: can phosphorus addition alleviate (the effects of) increased nitrogen loads. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2012; 14:491-499. [PMID: 22221295 DOI: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2011.00527.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Sphagnum-bog ecosystems have a limited capability to retain carbon and nutrients when subjected to increased nitrogen (N) deposition. Although it has been proposed that phosphorus (P) can dilute negative effects of nitrogen by increasing biomass production of Sphagnum mosses, it is still unclear whether P-addition can alleviate physiological N-stress in Sphagnum plants. A 3-year fertilisation experiment was conducted in lawns of a pristine Sphagnum magellanicum bog in Patagonia, where competing vascular plants were practically absent. Background wet deposition of nitrogen was low (≈ 0.1-0.2 g · N · m(-2) · year(-1)). Nitrogen (4 g · N · m(-2) · year(-1)) and phosphorus (1 g · P · m(-2) · year(-1)) were applied, separately and in combination, six times during the growing season. P-addition substantially increased biomass production of Sphagnum. Nitrogen and phosphorus changed the morphology of Sphagnum mosses by enhancing height increment, but lowering moss stem density. In contrast to expectations, phosphorus failed to alleviate physiological stress imposed by excess nitrogen (e.g. amino acid accumulation, N-saturation and decline in photosynthetic rates). We conclude that despite improving growth conditions by P-addition, Sphagnum-bog ecosystems remain highly susceptible to nitrogen additions. Increased susceptibility to desiccation by nutrients may even worsen the negative effects of excess nitrogen especially in windy climates like in Patagonia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Fritz
- Aquatic Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Lamers LPM, van Diggelen JMH, Op den Camp HJM, Visser EJW, Lucassen ECHET, Vile MA, Jetten MSM, Smolders AJP, Roelofs JGM. Microbial transformations of nitrogen, sulfur, and iron dictate vegetation composition in wetlands: a review. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:156. [PMID: 22539932 PMCID: PMC3336091 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2012] [Accepted: 04/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of studies on rhizospheric interactions focus on pathogens, mycorrhizal symbiosis, or carbon transformations. Although the biogeochemical transformations of N, S, and Fe have profound effects on vegetation, these effects have received far less attention. This review, meant for microbiologists, biogeochemists, and plant scientists includes a call for interdisciplinary research by providing a number of challenging topics for future ecosystem research. Firstly, all three elements are plant nutrients, and microbial activity significantly changes their availability. Secondly, microbial oxidation with oxygen supplied by radial oxygen loss from roots in wetlands causes acidification, while reduction using alternative electron acceptors leads to generation of alkalinity, affecting pH in the rhizosphere, and hence plant composition. Thirdly, reduced species of all three elements may become phytotoxic. In addition, Fe cycling is tightly linked to that of S and P. As water level fluctuations are very common in wetlands, rapid changes in the availability of oxygen and alternative terminal electron acceptors will result in strong changes in the prevalent microbial redox reactions, with significant effects on plant growth. Depending on geological and hydrological settings, these interacting microbial transformations change the conditions and resource availability for plants, which are both strong drivers of vegetation development and composition by changing relative competitive strengths. Conversely, microbial composition is strongly driven by vegetation composition. Therefore, the combination of microbiological and plant ecological knowledge is essential to understand the biogeochemical and biological key factors driving heterogeneity and total (i.e., microorganisms and vegetation) community composition at different spatial and temporal scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leon P. M. Lamers
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Huub J. M. Op den Camp
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Eric J. W. Visser
- Department of Experimental Plant Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Esther C. H. E. T. Lucassen
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
- B-Ware Research CenterNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Melanie A. Vile
- Department of Biology, Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA, USA
| | - Mike S. M. Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
- B-Ware Research CenterNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jan G. M. Roelofs
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Vanderhaeghe F, Smolders AJP, Roelofs JGM, Hoffmann M. Selecting predictors for discriminant analysis of species performance: an example from an amphibious softwater plant. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2012; 14:271-277. [PMID: 21973161 DOI: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2011.00497.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Selecting an appropriate variable subset in linear multivariate methods is an important methodological issue for ecologists. Interest often exists in obtaining general predictive capacity or in finding causal inferences from predictor variables. Because of a lack of solid knowledge on a studied phenomenon, scientists explore predictor variables in order to find the most meaningful (i.e. discriminating) ones. As an example, we modelled the response of the amphibious softwater plant Eleocharis multicaulis using canonical discriminant function analysis. We asked how variables can be selected through comparison of several methods: univariate Pearson chi-square screening, principal components analysis (PCA) and step-wise analysis, as well as combinations of some methods. We expected PCA to perform best. The selected methods were evaluated through fit and stability of the resulting discriminant functions and through correlations between these functions and the predictor variables. The chi-square subset, at P < 0.05, followed by a step-wise sub-selection, gave the best results. In contrast to expectations, PCA performed poorly, as so did step-wise analysis. The different chi-square subset methods all yielded ecologically meaningful variables, while probable noise variables were also selected by PCA and step-wise analysis. We advise against the simple use of PCA or step-wise discriminant analysis to obtain an ecologically meaningful variable subset; the former because it does not take into account the response variable, the latter because noise variables are likely to be selected. We suggest that univariate screening techniques are a worthwhile alternative for variable selection in ecology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Vanderhaeghe
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Fritz C, Pancotto VA, Elzenga JTM, Visser EJW, Grootjans AP, Pol A, Iturraspe R, Roelofs JGM, Smolders AJP. Zero methane emission bogs: extreme rhizosphere oxygenation by cushion plants in Patagonia. New Phytol 2011; 190:398-408. [PMID: 21232058 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03604.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
• Vascular wetland plants may substantially increase methane emissions by producing root exudates and easily degradable litter, and by providing a low-resistance diffusion pathway via their aerenchyma. However, model studies have indicated that vascular plants can reduce methane emission when soil oxygen demand is exceeded by oxygen released from roots. Here, we tested whether these conditions occur in bogs dominated by cushion plants. • Root-methane interactions were studied by comparing methane emissions, stock and oxygen availability in depth profiles below lawns of either cushion plants or Sphagnum mosses in Patagonia. • Cushion plants, Astelia pumila and Donatia fascicularis, formed extensive root systems up to 120 cm in depth. The cold soil (< 10°C) and highly decomposed peat resulted in low microbial activity and oxygen consumption. In cushion plant lawns, high soil oxygen coincided with high root densities, but methane emissions were absent. In Sphagnum lawns, methane emissions were substantial. High methane concentrations were only found in soils without cushion plant roots. • This first methane study in Patagonian bog vegetation reveals lower emissions than expected. We conclude that cushion plants are capable of reducing methane emission on an ecosystem scale by thorough soil and methane oxidation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Fritz
- Department of Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research (IWWR), Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Crushell PH, Smolders AJP, Schouten MGC, Robroek BJM, van Wirdum G, Roelofs JGM. Restoration of a Terrestrialized Soak Lake of an Irish Raised Bog: Results of Field Experiments. Restor Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-100x.2009.00576.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
36
|
van der Heide T, van Nes EH, van Katwijk MM, Olff H, Smolders AJP. Positive feedbacks in seagrass ecosystems--evidence from large-scale empirical data. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16504. [PMID: 21283684 PMCID: PMC3025983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2010] [Accepted: 01/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive feedbacks cause a nonlinear response of ecosystems to environmental change and may even cause bistability. Even though the importance of feedback mechanisms has been demonstrated for many types of ecosystems, their identification and quantification is still difficult. Here, we investigated whether positive feedbacks between seagrasses and light conditions are likely in seagrass ecosystems dominated by the temperate seagrass Zostera marina. We applied a combination of multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) on a dataset containing 83 sites scattered across Western Europe. Results confirmed that a positive feedback between sediment conditions, light conditions and seagrass density is likely to exist in seagrass ecosystems. This feedback indicated that seagrasses are able to trap and stabilize suspended sediments, which in turn improves water clarity and seagrass growth conditions. Furthermore, our analyses demonstrated that effects of eutrophication on light conditions, as indicated by surface water total nitrogen, were on average at least as important as sediment conditions. This suggests that in general, eutrophication might be the most important factor controlling seagrasses in sheltered estuaries, while the seagrass-sediment-light feedback is a dominant mechanism in more exposed areas. Our study demonstrates the potentials of SEM to identify and quantify positive feedbacks mechanisms for ecosystems and other complex systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tjisse van der Heide
- Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, Groningen University, Haren, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
van der Heide T, van Nes EH, van Katwijk MM, Scheffer M, Jan Hendriks A, Smolders AJP. Alternative Stable States Driven by Density-Dependent Toxicity. Ecosystems 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-010-9358-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
38
|
Geurts JJM, Smolders AJP, Banach AM, van de Graaf JPM, Roelofs JGM, Lamers LPM. The interaction between decomposition, net N and P mineralization and their mobilization to the surface water in fens. Water Res 2010; 44:3487-3495. [PMID: 20392472 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2009] [Revised: 12/17/2009] [Accepted: 03/23/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, fens and peat lakes that used to be peat-forming systems have become a significant source of C, N and P due to increased peat decomposition. To test the hypothesis that net nutrient mineralization rates may be uncoupled from decomposition rates, we investigated decomposition and net mineralization rates of nutrients in relation to sediment and pore water characteristics. We incubated 28 non-calcareous peat sediments and floating fen soils under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. We also tried to find a simple indicator to estimate the potential nutrient mobilization rates from peat sediments to the water layer by studying their relation with sediment and pore water characteristics in 44 Dutch non-calcareous peat lakes and ditches. Decomposition rates were primarily determined by the organic matter content, and were higher under aerobic conditions. However, highly decomposed peat sediments with low C:P and C:N ratios still showed high net nutrient mineralization rates. At Fe:PO(4) ratios below 1molmol(-1), PO(4) mobilization from the sediment to the water layer was considerable and linearly related to the pore water PO(4) concentration. At higher ratios, there was a strong linear correlation between the Fe:PO(4) ratio and PO(4) mobilization. Hence, measuring Fe and PO(4) in anaerobic sediment pore water provides a powerful tool for a quick assessment of internal PO(4) fluxes. Mobilization of mineral N was largely determined by diffusion. Total sediment Fe:S ratios gave an important indication of the amount of Fe that is available to immobilize PO(4). Pore water Fe concentrations decreased at ratios <1molmol(-1), whereas pore water PO(4) concentrations and PO(4) mobilization to the water layer increased. As PO(4) mobilization rates from the sediment to the water layer contribute to almost half of the total P load in Dutch peat lakes and fens, it is of pivotal importance to examine the magnitude of internal fluxes. Dredging of the nutrient-rich upper sediment layer will only be a useful restoration measure if both the influx of P-rich water and its internal mobilization from the newly exposed, potentially more reactive peat layer are sufficiently low.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen J M Geurts
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, NL-6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Stassen MJM, van de Ven MWPM, van der Heide T, Hiza MAG, van der Velde G, Smolders AJP. Population dynamics of the migratory fish Prochilodus lineatus in a neotropical river: the relationships with river discharge, flood pulse, El Niño and fluvial megafan behaviour. Neotrop ichthyol 2010. [DOI: 10.1590/s1679-62252010005000006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The relative importance of flood pulse dynamics and megafan behaviour for the Sábalo (Prochilodus lineatus) catches in the neotropical Pilcomayo River is studied. The Sábalo catches can mainly be explained by decreased river discharges in the preceding years resulting in smaller inundated areas during rainy season floods and thereby in a decreased area of feeding grounds for the fishes. The decreased river discharges and the related decline of Sábalo catches in the 1990's can be linked to the 90-95 El Niño event. In 2007 the Sábalo catches were comparable to the catches before the "El Niño" event. The connectivity (continuity) between the main river and flood plain areas, which is influenced by sedimentation processes, is also of great importance and very probably plays a more important role since the late 1990's.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marinke J. M. Stassen
- Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Foundation 'Los Amigos del Pilcomayo', Bolivia
| | - Max W. P. M. van de Ven
- Foundation 'Los Amigos del Pilcomayo', Bolivia; Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Gerard van der Velde
- Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands; VIIINational Natural History Museum Naturalis, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. P. Smolders
- Foundation 'Los Amigos del Pilcomayo', Bolivia; Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Ambio Chaco, Bolivia; B-WARE Research Centre, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
van der Heide T, Bouma TJ, van Nes EH, van de Koppel J, Scheffer M, Roelofs JGM, van Katwijk MM, Smolders AJP. Spatial self-organized patterning in seagrasses along a depth gradient of an intertidal ecosystem. Ecology 2010; 91:362-9. [DOI: 10.1890/08-1567.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
41
|
Kleinebecker T, Schmidt SR, Fritz C, Smolders AJP, Hölzel N. Prediction of delta(13)C and delta(15)N in plant tissues with near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. New Phytol 2009; 184:732-739. [PMID: 19691675 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02995.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Isotope measurements associated with critical plant resources, such as carbon and nitrogen, have helped deepen the ecological understanding of plant resource acquisition and plant interactions. In this study, we tested the appropriateness of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy for the estimation of stable isotope ratios for nitrogen and carbon of plant tissues. delta(13)C and delta(15)N, as well as total carbon (Ct) and nitrogen (Nt), in leaf tissues of a heterogeneous set of 72 samples of seven bog species from southern Patagonia were determined. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy calibrations were developed using partial least-squares regressions and tested by a cross-validation procedure. For each variable, three calibrations were calculated: one with nontransformed data and two with transformations (first and second derivative). Ct and Nt, as well as delta(13)C and delta(15)N, were well predicted by our calibration models. The correlation coefficients of predicted vs actual values of the best calibration models were as follows: 0.95 (Ct), 0.99 (Nt), 0.89 (delta(13)C) and 0.99 (delta(15)N). The cross-validation procedure confirmed the high estimation quality of the calibrations. The results obtained underpin the great potential of the near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy technique in ecological studies as an alternative to more expensive and time-consuming standard methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Till Kleinebecker
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Straße 26, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sebastian R Schmidt
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Straße 26, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Fritz
- Environmental Biology, Department of Ecology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Environmental Biology, Department of Ecology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Norbert Hölzel
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Straße 26, 48149 Münster, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Speelman EN, Van Kempen MML, Barke J, Brinkhuis H, Reichart GJ, Smolders AJP, Roelofs JGM, Sangiorgi F, de Leeuw JW, Lotter AF, Sinninghe Damsté JS. The Eocene Arctic Azolla bloom: environmental conditions, productivity and carbon drawdown. Geobiology 2009; 7:155-70. [PMID: 19323694 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4669.2009.00195.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Enormous quantities of the free-floating freshwater fern Azolla grew and reproduced in situ in the Arctic Ocean during the middle Eocene, as was demonstrated by microscopic analysis of microlaminated sediments recovered from the Lomonosov Ridge during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 302. The timing of the Azolla phase (approximately 48.5 Ma) coincides with the earliest signs of onset of the transition from a greenhouse towards the modern icehouse Earth. The sustained growth of Azolla, currently ranking among the fastest growing plants on Earth, in a major anoxic oceanic basin may have contributed to decreasing atmospheric pCO2 levels via burial of Azolla-derived organic matter. The consequences of these enormous Azolla blooms for regional and global nutrient and carbon cycles are still largely unknown. Cultivation experiments have been set up to investigate the influence of elevated pCO2 on Azolla growth, showing a marked increase in Azolla productivity under elevated (760 and 1910 ppm) pCO2 conditions. The combined results of organic carbon, sulphur, nitrogen content and 15N and 13C measurements of sediments from the Azolla interval illustrate the potential contribution of nitrogen fixation in a euxinic stratified Eocene Arctic. Flux calculations were used to quantitatively reconstruct the potential storage of carbon (0.9-3.5 10(18) gC) in the Arctic during the Azolla interval. It is estimated that storing 0.9 10(18) to 3.5 10(18) g carbon would result in a 55 to 470 ppm drawdown of pCO2 under Eocene conditions, indicating that the Arctic Azolla blooms may have had a significant effect on global atmospheric pCO2 levels through enhanced burial of organic matter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E N Speelman
- Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Haaijer SCM, Harhangi HR, Meijerink BB, Strous M, Pol A, Smolders AJP, Verwegen K, Jetten MSM, Op den Camp HJM. Bacteria associated with iron seeps in a sulfur-rich, neutral pH, freshwater ecosystem. ISME J 2008; 2:1231-42. [PMID: 18754044 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2008.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The freshwater nature reserve De Bruuk is an iron- and sulfur-rich minerotrophic peatland containing many iron seeps and forms a suitable habitat for iron and sulfur cycle bacteria. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene-based clone libraries showed a striking correlation of the bacterial population of samples from this freshwater ecosystem with the processes of iron reduction (genus Geobacter), iron oxidation (genera Leptothrix and Gallionella) and sulfur oxidation (genus Sulfuricurvum). Results from fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses with a probe specific for the beta-1 subgroup of Proteobacteria, to which the genera Leptothrix and Gallionella belong, and newly developed probes specific for the genera Geobacter and Sulfuricurvum, supported the clone library data. Molecular data suggested members of the epsilonproteobacterial genus Sulfuricurvum as contributors to the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds in the iron seeps of De Bruuk. In an evaluation of anaerobic dimethyl sulfide (DMS)-degrading activity of sediment, incubations with the electron acceptors sulfate, ferric iron and nitrate were performed. The fastest conversion of DMS was observed with nitrate. Further, a DMS-oxidizing, nitrate-reducing enrichment culture was established with sediment material from De Bruuk. This culture was dominated by dimorphic, prosthecate bacteria, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence obtained from this enrichment was closely affiliated with Hyphomicrobium facile, which indicates that the Hyphomicrobium species are capable of both aerobic and nitrate-driven DMS degradation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne C M Haaijer
- Department of Microbiology, IWWR, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Smolders AJP, Lucassen ECHET, van der Aalst M, Lamers LPM, Roelofs JGM. Decreasing the Abundance of Juncus effusus on Former Agricultural Lands with Noncalcareous Sandy Soils: Possible Effects of Liming and Soil Removal. Restor Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-100x.2007.00267.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
45
|
Raghoebarsing AA, Pol A, van de Pas-Schoonen KT, Smolders AJP, Ettwig KF, Rijpstra WIC, Schouten S, Damsté JSS, Op den Camp HJM, Jetten MSM, Strous M. A microbial consortium couples anaerobic methane oxidation to denitrification. Nature 2006; 440:918-21. [PMID: 16612380 DOI: 10.1038/nature04617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 649] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2005] [Accepted: 02/02/2006] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Modern agriculture has accelerated biological methane and nitrogen cycling on a global scale. Freshwater sediments often receive increased downward fluxes of nitrate from agricultural runoff and upward fluxes of methane generated by anaerobic decomposition. In theory, prokaryotes should be capable of using nitrate to oxidize methane anaerobically, but such organisms have neither been observed in nature nor isolated in the laboratory. Microbial oxidation of methane is thus believed to proceed only with oxygen or sulphate. Here we show that the direct, anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to denitrification of nitrate is possible. A microbial consortium, enriched from anoxic sediments, oxidized methane to carbon dioxide coupled to denitrification in the complete absence of oxygen. This consortium consisted of two microorganisms, a bacterium representing a phylum without any cultured species and an archaeon distantly related to marine methanotrophic Archaea. The detection of relatives of these prokaryotes in different freshwater ecosystems worldwide indicates that the reaction presented here may make a substantial contribution to biological methane and nitrogen cycles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashna A Raghoebarsing
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Raghoebarsing AA, Smolders AJP, Schmid MC, Rijpstra WIC, Wolters-Arts M, Derksen J, Jetten MSM, Schouten S, Sinninghe Damsté JS, Lamers LPM, Roelofs JGM, Op den Camp HJM, Strous M. Methanotrophic symbionts provide carbon for photosynthesis in peat bogs. Nature 2005; 436:1153-6. [PMID: 16121180 DOI: 10.1038/nature03802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2004] [Accepted: 05/09/2005] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Wetlands are the largest natural source of atmospheric methane, the second most important greenhouse gas. Methane flux to the atmosphere depends strongly on the climate; however, by far the largest part of the methane formed in wetland ecosystems is recycled and does not reach the atmosphere. The biogeochemical controls on the efficient oxidation of methane are still poorly understood. Here we show that submerged Sphagnum mosses, the dominant plants in some of these habitats, consume methane through symbiosis with partly endophytic methanotrophic bacteria, leading to highly effective in situ methane recycling. Molecular probes revealed the presence of the bacteria in the hyaline cells of the plant and on stem leaves. Incubation with (13)C-methane showed rapid in situ oxidation by these bacteria to carbon dioxide, which was subsequently fixed by Sphagnum, as shown by incorporation of (13)C-methane into plant sterols. In this way, methane acts as a significant (10-15%) carbon source for Sphagnum. The symbiosis explains both the efficient recycling of methane and the high organic carbon burial in these wetland ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashna A Raghoebarsing
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Tomassen HBM, Smolders AJP, Limpens J, Lamers LPM, Roelofs JGM. Expansion of invasive species on ombrotrophic bogs: desiccation or high N deposition? J Appl Ecol 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2004.00870.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
48
|
Smolders AJP, Lock RAC, Van der Velde G, Medina Hoyos RI, Roelofs JGM. Effects of mining activities on heavy metal concentrations in water, sediment, and macroinvertebrates in different reaches of the Pilcomayo River, South America. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2003; 44:314-323. [PMID: 12712290 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-002-2042-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
From 1997 until 1999 the extent and the ecological effects of zinc, copper, lead, and cadmium pollution were studied in different reaches of the South American Pilcomayo River. A comparison of metal concentrations in water, sediment, and chironomid larvae, as well as the diversity of macroinvertebrate species, was made between sites near the origin of the Pilcomayo River, with hardly any mining activities, sites in the Potosí region, with intensive mining, and sites located 500 km or further downstream of Potosí, in the Chaco plain. Samples were also collected in an unpolluted river (Cachi Mayu River) and in the Tarapaya River, which is strongly contaminated by mine tailings (1000 tons a day). The upper parts of the Pilcomayo River are strongly affected by the release of mine tailings from the Potosí mines where mean concentrations of lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc in water, filtered water, sediment, and chironomid larvae were up to a thousand times higher than the local background levels. The diversity of the benthic macroinvertebrate community was strongly reduced in the contaminated parts; 97% of the benthic macroinvertebrates consisted of chironomid larvae. The degree of contamination in the lower reaches of the river, however, was fairly low because of sedimentation processes and the strong dilution of mine tailings with enormous amounts of clean sediment from erosion processes. Analysis of sediment cores from the Ibibobo floodplain, however, reveal an increase of the heavy metal concentrations in the lower reaches since the introduction of the contaminating flotation process in the mine industry in 1985.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A J P Smolders
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Smolders AJP, Tomassen HBM, Lamers LPM, Lomans BP, Roelofs JGM. Peat bog restoration by floating raft formation: the effects of groundwater and peat quality. J Appl Ecol 2002. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00724.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
50
|
Lucassen ECHET, Smolders AJP, Roelofs JGM. Potential sensitivity of mires to drought, acidification and mobilisation of heavy metals: the sediment s/(Ca + Mg) ratio as diagnostic tool. Environ Pollut 2002; 120:635-646. [PMID: 12442787 DOI: 10.1016/s0269-7491(02)00190-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades sulphate concentrations in the ground water in many parts of The Netherlands have increased dramatically resulting in increased production of iron-(di)sulphides in sediments of ecosystems fed by this water. A sediment survey was carried out to study the potential sensitivity of wetlands to drought and subsequent acidification as a consequence of iron-(di)sulphide oxidation. Dessication led to severe acidification and mobilisation of heavy metals when the sediment S/(Ca + Mg) ratio exceeded 2/ 3. A total of 47% of the investigated locations contained S/(Ca + Mg) ratios higher than 2/3 and in 100, 75 and 50% of the locations mobilisation of Zn, Cd and Ni exceeded the Dutch signal value for ground water. Consistent with the sediment survey, lime addition experiments confirmed that increasing the buffer capacity, down to a S/(Ca + Mg) ratio 2/3, led to a drastic inhibition of the acidification and heavy metal percolation from dredged sediments. The performance of the same processes under drained field conditions demonstrates the relevance of these processes during dry summers.
Collapse
|