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Reinl KL, Harris TD, Elfferich I, Coker A, Zhan Q, De Senerpont Domis LN, Morales-Williams AM, Bhattacharya R, Grossart HP, North RL, Sweetman JN. The role of organic nutrients in structuring freshwater phytoplankton communities in a rapidly changing world. Water Res 2022; 219:118573. [PMID: 35643062 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are critical macroelements in freshwater systems. Historically, researchers and managers have focused on inorganic forms, based on the premise that the organic pool was not available for direct uptake by phytoplankton. We now know that phytoplankton can tap the organic nutrient pool through a number of mechanisms including direct uptake, enzymatic hydrolysis, mixotrophy, and through symbiotic relationships with microbial communities. In this review, we explore these mechanisms considering current and projected future anthropogenically-driven changes to freshwater systems. In particular, we focus on how naturally- and anthropogenically- derived organic nutrients can influence phytoplankton community structure. We also synthesize knowledge gaps regarding phytoplankton physiology and the potential challenges of nutrient management in an organically dynamic and anthropogenically modified world. Our review provides a basis for exploring these topics and suggests several avenues for future work on the relation between organic nutrients and eutrophication and their ecological implications in freshwater systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin L Reinl
- Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, 14 Marina Drive, Superior, Wisconsin 54880, US; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Center for Limnology, 608 N. Park St., Madison, WI, US; University of Minnesota-Duluth, Large Lakes Observatory, 2205 E. 5th St., Duluth, MN, US.
| | - Ted D Harris
- Kansas Biological Survey and Center for Ecological Research, 2101 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS, US
| | - Inge Elfferich
- Cardiff University, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Main Building, Park Place CF10 3AT, Cardiff, UK
| | - Ayooluwateso Coker
- University of Minnesota-Duluth, Large Lakes Observatory, 2205 E. 5th St., Duluth, MN, US
| | - Qing Zhan
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Dept. of Aquatic Ecology, Droevendaalsesteeg 10, Wageningen, NL
| | | | - Ana M Morales-Williams
- University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, 81 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, US
| | - Ruchi Bhattacharya
- University of Waterloo, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 200 University Ave., N2L 1V6, Waterloo, ON, CA
| | - Hans-Peter Grossart
- Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Dept. Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Zur alten Fischerhuette 2, D-16775 Stechlin, DE; Potsdam University, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Maulbeerallee 2, 14469 Potsdam
| | - Rebecca L North
- University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Natural Resources, 303L Anheuser Busch Natural Resource Building, Columbia, MO, US
| | - Jon N Sweetman
- Pennsylvania State University, Ecological Science and Management, 457 Agriculture Sciences and Industries Building, State College, PA, US
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Stockwell JD, Doubek JP, Adrian R, Anneville O, Carey CC, Carvalho L, De Senerpont Domis LN, Dur G, Frassl MA, Grossart H, Ibelings BW, Lajeunesse MJ, Lewandowska AM, Llames ME, Matsuzaki SS, Nodine ER, Nõges P, Patil VP, Pomati F, Rinke K, Rudstam LG, Rusak JA, Salmaso N, Seltmann CT, Straile D, Thackeray SJ, Thiery W, Urrutia‐Cordero P, Venail P, Verburg P, Woolway RI, Zohary T, Andersen MR, Bhattacharya R, Hejzlar J, Janatian N, Kpodonu ATNK, Williamson TJ, Wilson HL. Storm impacts on phytoplankton community dynamics in lakes. Glob Chang Biol 2020; 26:2756-2784. [PMID: 32133744 PMCID: PMC7216882 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [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: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In many regions across the globe, extreme weather events such as storms have increased in frequency, intensity, and duration due to climate change. Ecological theory predicts that such extreme events should have large impacts on ecosystem structure and function. High winds and precipitation associated with storms can affect lakes via short-term runoff events from watersheds and physical mixing of the water column. In addition, lakes connected to rivers and streams will also experience flushing due to high flow rates. Although we have a well-developed understanding of how wind and precipitation events can alter lake physical processes and some aspects of biogeochemical cycling, our mechanistic understanding of the emergent responses of phytoplankton communities is poor. Here we provide a comprehensive synthesis that identifies how storms interact with lake and watershed attributes and their antecedent conditions to generate changes in lake physical and chemical environments. Such changes can restructure phytoplankton communities and their dynamics, as well as result in altered ecological function (e.g., carbon, nutrient and energy cycling) in the short- and long-term. We summarize the current understanding of storm-induced phytoplankton dynamics, identify knowledge gaps with a systematic review of the literature, and suggest future research directions across a gradient of lake types and environmental conditions.
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Seelen LMS, Flaim G, Jennings E, De Senerpont Domis LN. Saving water for the future: Public awareness of water usage and water quality. J Environ Manage 2019; 242:246-257. [PMID: 31048230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.04.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Fresh water is a limited resource under anthropogenic threat. Europeans are using an average of 3550 L per capita per day and this amount is increasing steadily as incomes rise. Water saving options are being actively promoted, but these intensified measures do not yet come close to saving enough water to prevent water shortages that may seriously affect our way of life in the near future. With projected increases in demands for good quality fresh water, educating the public about sustainable personal water use and water quality threats becomes an absolute necessity. One way to achieve this is through engaging citizens in water issues, e.g. through citizen science projects. Using snowball convenience sampling, we distributed a questionnaire among 498 people in 23 countries to investigate whether people were aware of how much water they used, what they perceived as threats to water quality and whether they would like to help improve water quality. Our results showed that the amount of daily water use was greatly underestimated among respondents, especially indirect use of water for the production of goods and services. Furthermore, the effects of climate change and detrimental habits such as feeding ducks were underestimated, presumably because of environmental illiteracy. However, eighty-five percent (85%) of our participants indicated an interest in directly working together with scientists to understand and improve their local water quality. Involving citizens in improving local lake quality promotes both environmental and scientific literacy, and can therefore result in a reduction in daily personal water use. The next iteration of the Water Framework Directive legislation will be launched shortly, requiring water managers to include citizens in their monitoring schemes. Engaging citizens will not only help improve surface water quality, and educate about cause and effect chains in water quality, but will also reduce the personal fresh water usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M S Seelen
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, Wageningen, 6700 AB, Netherlands; Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, Netherlands.
| | - Giovanna Flaim
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM),Via Edmund Mach 1, San Michele all'Adige, 38010, Italy
| | - Eleanor Jennings
- Centre for Environmental and Freshwater Studies, Department of Applied Sciences, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 K584, Ireland
| | - Lisette N De Senerpont Domis
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, Wageningen, 6700 AB, Netherlands; Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, Netherlands
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Van Donk E, Peacor S, Grosser K, De Senerpont Domis LN, Lürling M. Pharmaceuticals May Disrupt Natural Chemical Information Flows and Species Interactions in Aquatic Systems: Ideas and Perspectives on a Hidden Global Change. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 2016; 238:91-105. [PMID: 26572767 DOI: 10.1007/398_2015_5002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals consumption by humans and animals is increasing substantially, leading to unprecedented levels of these compounds in aquatic environments worldwide. Recent findings that concentrations reach levels that can directly have negative effects on organisms are important per se, but also sound an alarm for other potentially more pervasive effects that arise from the interconnected nature of ecological communities. Aquatic organisms use chemical cues to navigate numerous challenges, including the location of mates and food, and the avoidance of natural enemies. Low concentrations of pharmaceuticals can disrupt this "smellscape" of information leading to maladaptive responses. Furthermore, direct effects of pharmaceuticals on the traits and abundance of one species can cascade through a community, indirectly affecting other species. We review mechanisms by which pharmaceuticals in surface waters can disrupt natural chemical information flows and species interactions. Pharmaceuticals form a new class of chemical threats, which could have far-reaching implications for ecosystem functioning and conservation management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Van Donk
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands.
- Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
| | - Scott Peacor
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Katharina Grosser
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lisette N De Senerpont Domis
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology & Water Quality Management Group, Dept. Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Miquel Lürling
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology & Water Quality Management Group, Dept. Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Domis LNDS, Van de Waal DB, Helmsing NR, Van Donk E, Mooij WM. Community stoichiometry in a changing world: combined effects of warming and eutrophication on phytoplankton dynamics. Ecology 2014; 95:1485-95. [PMID: 25039214 DOI: 10.1890/13-1251.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The current changes in our climate will likely have far-reaching consequences for aquatic ecosystems. These changes in the climate, however, do not act alone, and are often accompanied by additional stressors such as eutrophication. Both global warming and eutrophication have been shown to affect the timing and magnitude of phytoplankton blooms. Little is known about the combined effects of rising temperatures and eutrophication on the stoichiometry of entire phytoplankton communities. We exposed a natural phytoplankton spring community to different warming and phosphorus-loading scenarios using a full-factorial design. Our results demonstrate that rising temperatures promote the growth rate of an entire phytoplankton community. Furthermore, both rising temperatures and phosphorus loading stimulated the maximum biomass built up by the phytoplankton community. Rising temperatures led to higher carbon: nutrient stoichiometry of the phytoplankton community under phosphorus-limited conditions. Such a shift towards higher carbon: nutrient ratios, in combination with a higher biomass buildup, suggests a temperature-driven increase in nutrient use efficiency, the phytoplankton community. Importantly, with higher carbon: nutrient stoichiometry, phytoplankton is generally of poorer nutritional value for zooplankton. Thus, although warming may result in higher phytoplankton biomass, this may be accompanied by a stoichiometric mismatch between phytoplankton and their grazers, with possible consequences for the entire aquatic food web.
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