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Madureira KH, Ferreira V, Callisto M. Rehabilitation of tropical urban streams improves their structure and functioning. Sci Total Environ 2024; 926:171935. [PMID: 38527547 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171935] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Urban streams are affected by a complex combination of stressors, which modify physical habitat structure, flow regime, water quality, biological community composition, and ecosystem processes and services, thereby altering ecosystem structure and functioning. Rehabilitation projects have been undertaken in several countries to rehabilitate urban streams. However, stream rehabilitation is still rarely reported for neotropical regions. In addition, most studies focus on structural aspects, such as water quality, sediment control, and flood events, without considering ecosystem function indicators. Here, we evaluated the structure and functioning of three 15-y old rehabilitated urban stream sites in comparison with three stream sites in the best available ecological condition (reference), three sites with moderate habitat alteration, and three severely degraded sites. Compared to degraded streams, rehabilitated streams had higher habitat diversity, sensitive macroinvertebrate taxa richness, and biotic index scores, and lower biochemical oxygen demand, primary production, sediment deposition, and siltation. However, rehabilitated streams had higher primary production than moderate and reference streams, and lower canopy cover, habitat diversity, sensitive macroinvertebrate taxa richness, and biotic index scores than reference streams. These results indicate that rehabilitated streams have better structural and functional condition than degraded streams, but do not strongly differ from moderately altered streams, nor have they reached reference stream condition. Nonetheless, we conclude that rehabilitation is effective in removing streams from a degraded state by improving ecosystem structure and functioning. Furthermore, the combined use of functional and structural indicators facilitated an integrative assessment of stream ecological condition and distinguished stream conditions beyond those based on water quality indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoline H Madureira
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Laboratório de Ecologia de Bentos, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, CP 486, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Verónica Ferreira
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Marcos Callisto
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Laboratório de Ecologia de Bentos, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, CP 486, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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2
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Juvigny-Khenafou NPD, Burgazzi G, Steiner N, Harvey E, Terui A, Piggott J, Manfrin A, Feckler A, Leese F, Schäfer RB. Effects of flow reduction and artificial light at night (ALAN) on litter decomposition and invertebrate communities in streams: A flume experiment. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:168836. [PMID: 38016568 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168836] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
River ecosystems are heavily impacted by multiple stressors, where effects can cascade downstream of point sources. However, a spatial approach to assess the effects of multiple stressors is missing. We assessed the local and downstream effects on litter decomposition, and associated invertebrate communities of two stressors: flow reduction and artificial light at night (ALAN). We used an 18-flow-through mesocosm system consisting of two tributaries, where we applied the stressors, merging in a downstream section. We assessed the changes in decomposition rate and invertebrate community structure in leaf bags. We found no effect of ALAN or its interaction with flow reduction on the litter decomposition or the invertebrate community in the tributaries. Flow reduction alone led to a 14.8 % reduction in decomposition rate in the tributaries. We recorded no effect of flow reduction on the macroinvertebrates community composition in the litter bags. We also observed no effects of the spatial arrangement of the stressors on the litter decomposition and macroinvertebrate community structure downstream. Overall, our results suggest the impact of stressors on litter decomposition and macroinvertebrate communities remained local in our experiment. Our work thus calls for further studies to identify the mechanisms and the conditions under which spatial effects dominate over local processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noël P D Juvigny-Khenafou
- iES, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany.
| | - Gemma Burgazzi
- iES, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Nikita Steiner
- iES, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Eric Harvey
- Centre de Recherche sur les Interactions Bassins-Versants, Écosystèmes Aquatiques (RIVE) Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada
| | - Akira Terui
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, USA
| | - Jeremy Piggott
- Trinity Centre for the Environment & Discipline of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Alessandro Manfrin
- iES, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Alexander Feckler
- iES, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany; Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Florian Leese
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- iES, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
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Alonso A, Boyero L, Solla A, Ferreira V. Dieback and Replacement of Riparian Trees May Impact Stream Ecosystem Functioning. Microb Ecol 2024; 87:32. [PMID: 38228918 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02343-w] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Alders are nitrogen (N)-fixing riparian trees that promote leaf litter decomposition in streams through their high-nutrient leaf litter inputs. While alders are widespread across Europe, their populations are at risk due to infection by the oomycete Phytophthora ×alni, which causes alder dieback. Moreover, alder death opens a space for the establishment of an aggressive N-fixing invasive species, the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Shifts from riparian vegetation containing healthy to infected alder and, eventually, alder loss and replacement with black locust may alter the key process of leaf litter decomposition and associated microbial decomposer assemblages. We examined this question in a microcosm experiment comparing three types of leaf litter mixtures: one representing an original riparian forest composed of healthy alder (Alnus lusitanica), ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), and poplar (Populus nigra); one with the same species composition where alder had been infected by P. ×alni; and one where alder had been replaced with black locust. The experiment lasted six weeks, and every two weeks, microbially driven decomposition, fungal biomass, reproduction, and assemblage structure were measured. Decomposition was highest in mixtures with infected alder and lowest in mixtures with black locust, reflecting differences in leaf nutrient concentrations. Mixtures with alder showed distinct fungal assemblages and higher sporulation rates than mixtures with black locust. Our results indicate that alder loss and its replacement with black locust may alter key stream ecosystem processes and assemblages, with important changes already occurring during alder infection. This highlights the importance of maintaining heathy riparian forests to preserve proper stream ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Alonso
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain.
| | - Luz Boyero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science, IKERBASQUE, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Alejandro Solla
- Faculty of Forestry, Institute for Dehesa Research (INDEHESA), Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida Virgen del Puerto 2, 10600, Plasencia, Spain
| | - Verónica Ferreira
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Aquatic Research Network (ARNET), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
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Feckler A, Baudy-Groh P, Friedrichs L, Gonçalves S, Lüderwald S, Risse-Buhl U, Bundschuh M. Diatoms Reduce Decomposition of and Fungal Abundance on Less Recalcitrant Leaf Litter via Negative Priming. Microb Ecol 2023; 86:2674-2686. [PMID: 37505287 PMCID: PMC10640500 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02268-w] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Heterotrophic microbial decomposers colonize submerged leaf litter in close spatial proximity to periphytic algae that exude labile organic carbon during photosynthesis. These exudates are conjectured to affect microbial decomposers' abundance, resulting in a stimulated (positive priming) or reduced (negative priming) leaf litter decomposition. Yet, the occurrence, direction, and intensity of priming associated with leaf material of differing recalcitrance remains poorly tested. To assess priming, we submerged leaf litter of differing recalcitrance (Alnus glutinosa [alder; less recalcitrant] and Fagus sylvatica [beech; more recalcitrant]) in microcosms and quantified bacterial, fungal, and diatom abundance as well as leaf litter decomposition over 30 days in absence and presence of light. Diatoms did not affect beech decomposition but reduced alder decomposition by 20% and alder-associated fungal abundance by 40% in the treatments including all microbial groups and light, thus showing negative priming. These results suggest that alder-associated heterotrophs acquired energy from diatom exudates rather than from leaf litter. Moreover, it is suggested that these heterotrophs have channeled energy to alternative (reproductive) pathways that may modify energy and nutrient availability for the remaining food web and result in carbon pools protected from decomposition in light-exposed stream sections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Feckler
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany.
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Birkenthalstraße 13, 76857, Eußerthal, Germany.
| | - Patrick Baudy-Groh
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Lisa Friedrichs
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Sara Gonçalves
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Simon Lüderwald
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Ute Risse-Buhl
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
- Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Brückstraße 3a, 39114, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mirco Bundschuh
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
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Gruppuso L, Receveur JP, Fenoglio S, Bona F, Benbow ME. Hidden Decomposers: the Role of Bacteria and Fungi in Recently Intermittent Alpine Streams Heterotrophic Pathways. Microb Ecol 2023; 86:1499-1512. [PMID: 36646914 PMCID: PMC10497695 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02169-y] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The frequency of flow intermittency and drying events in Alpine rivers is expected to increase due to climate change. These events can have significant consequences for stream ecological communities, though the effects of reduced flow conditions on microbial communities of decomposing allochthonous leaf material require additional research. In this study, we investigated the bacterial and fungal communities associated with the decomposition of two common species of leaf litter, chestnut (Castanea sativa), and oak (Quercus robur). A sampling of experimentally placed leaf bags occurred over six collection dates (up to 126 days after placement) at seven stream sites in the Western Italian Alps with historically different flow conditions. Leaf-associated bacterial and fungal communities were identified using amplicon-based, high-throughput sequencing. Chestnut and oak leaf material harbored distinct bacterial and fungal communities, with a number of taxonomic groups differing in abundance, though bacterial community structure converged later in decomposition. Historical flow conditions (intermittent vs perennial rivers) and observed conditions (normal flow, low flow, ongoing drying event) had weaker effects on bacterial and fungal communities compared to leaf type and collection date (i.e., length of decomposition). Our findings highlight the importance of leaf characteristics (e.g., C:N ratios, recalcitrance) to the in-stream conditioning of leaf litter and a need for additional investigations of drying events in Alpine streams. This study provides new information on the microbial role in leaf litter decomposition with expected flow changes associated with a global change scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gruppuso
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy.
- Centro per lo Studio dei Fiumi Alpini (ALPSTREAM - Alpine Stream Research Center), Ostana, (CN), Italy.
| | - J P Receveur
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - S Fenoglio
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy
- Centro per lo Studio dei Fiumi Alpini (ALPSTREAM - Alpine Stream Research Center), Ostana, (CN), Italy
| | - F Bona
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy
- Centro per lo Studio dei Fiumi Alpini (ALPSTREAM - Alpine Stream Research Center), Ostana, (CN), Italy
| | - M E Benbow
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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Cararo ER, Bernardi JP, Lima-Rezende CA, Magro JD, Rezende RDS. Chemistry Matters: High Leaf Litter Consumption Does Not Represent a Direct Increase in Shredders' Biomass. Neotrop Entomol 2023; 52:452-462. [PMID: 37129841 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-023-01043-3] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Changes in riparian vegetation can alter the input and quality of leaf litter in aquatic ecosystems, but the effects of these changes on litter fragmentation by invertebrate shredder communities in tropical streams remain poorly studied. The caddisfly genus Phylloicus Müller, 1880 (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae) is highly abundant in Neotropical streams, representing a great part of shredder biomass, which uses the allochthonous litter as a food resource and for case-building. We investigated leaf consumption by Phylloicus sp. under different leaf conditioning (leached and unleached) and plant species (Eucalyptus grandis, Erythrina falcata, and Inga uruguensis). The effects of leaf conditioning and plant species were measured using microcosm treatments, with one free Phylloicus sp. larva per 2-l microcosm, and a decomposition control to correct for microbial decomposition. Our study suggests that phosphorus and caloric values of leaf litter are more important than leaf hardness and nitrogen in driving leaf consumption by Phylloicus sp. On the one hand, higher consumption was observed in treatment with unleached leaves than in leached leaf treatment due to higher nutrient concentration and caloric values on unleached leaves. On the other hand, Phylloicus sp. larvae preferred leached leaves for case building over unleached leaves, as leached leaves are less prone to the activity of the decomposing community, thus lowering the need for constant case renewal. Finally, high litter consumption is not necessarily converted into biomass by Phylloicus sp. larvae. In this sense, Phylloicus sp. larvae showed selectivity for resources with high caloric content for consumption and low caloric content for case-building.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel Rampanelli Cararo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Santa Catarina, PR, Brazil.
| | - João Pedro Bernardi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Santa Catarina, PR, Brazil
| | - Cássia Alves Lima-Rezende
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Santa Catarina, PR, Brazil
| | - Jacir Dal Magro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Santa Catarina, PR, Brazil
| | - Renan de Souza Rezende
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Santa Catarina, PR, Brazil
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Mamidala HP, Ganguly D, Purvaja R, Singh G, Das S, Rao MN, Kazip Ys A, Arumugam K, Ramesh R. Interspecific variations in leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release from tropical mangroves. J Environ Manage 2023; 328:116902. [PMID: 36508978 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Efficient nutrient cycling through decomposition of leaf litter often regulates the high productivity and subsequent carbon sequestration of mangrove ecosystems along the land-ocean boundary. To understand the characteristics and the potentials of mangrove leaf litter in supplying organic carbon and nutrients to the coastal waters, four major mangrove species (A. officinalis, R. mucronata, H. littoralis and S. apetala) of Bhitarkanika mangrove forest, Odisha, India, were examined in controlled environmental conditions. Half-life time (t0.5), estimated for decomposition of those mangrove leaf litter materials ranged from 18 to 52 days. During the incubation experiment, organic carbon from mangrove leaf litter was released primarily through physical processes and was available for heterotrophic respiration. Among the four species, leaf litter of S. apetala with the lowest initial C/N ratios, released organic carbon with low molecular weight (labile substances) that has a relatively higher potential to support the aquatic food web. On the contrary, leaf litter of R. mucronata released organic material with relatively higher molecular weight (humic substances, higher aromaticity), which revealed its superior non-labile characteristics in this unique environment. The mean total heterotrophic bacterial (THB) population in the incubation was around nine-fold higher than the control. THB population growth and Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) spectral data further suggested the rapid release of highly labile and recalcitrant carbon from S. apetala and R. mucronata (between 7th and 21st day of incubation), respectively. The mean litter fall from the Bhitarkanika mangrove forest was estimated to be 11.32 ± 1.57 Mg ha-1 y-1 and its corresponding carbon content was 5.43 ± 0.75 Mg C ha-1. The study revealed the role of leaf litter leachates as an important food source to microbial communities in the adjacent coastal waters, in addition to a potential carbon sequesterer through long-term burial in mangrove soil and export to the deep sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harikrishna Prasad Mamidala
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
| | - D Ganguly
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
| | - R Purvaja
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
| | - Gurmeet Singh
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
| | - Subhajit Das
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
| | - M Nageswar Rao
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
| | - Armoury Kazip Ys
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
| | - K Arumugam
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
| | - R Ramesh
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
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Trabulo J, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Can microplastics from personal care products affect stream microbial decomposers in the presence of silver nanoparticles? Sci Total Environ 2022; 832:155038. [PMID: 35390375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of great concern due to their abundance and persistence over time in aquatic environments. However, studies on their impacts on freshwater organisms are scarce. In resemblance, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are incorporated into textiles and personal care products and are also classified as emerging contaminants. We used the leaf litter decomposition model system to investigate the effects of MPs from a commercially used personal care product, alone or in mixture with Ag-NPs, on the diversity and activities of freshwater microbial decomposers. We exposed stream microbial communities associated with leaf litter to increasing concentrations of MPs (polyethylene extracted from a personal care product; 100 μg L-1 up to 1 g L-1 5 concentrations plus 1 control) for 27 days in the absence or presence of Ag-NPs (0.1 mg L-1 and 1 mg L-1). The exposure to MPs, alone or in mixture with Ag-NPs, negatively affected fungal diversity and sporulation, with a reduction in leaf litter decomposition (Cohen's d > 1.5; r> 0.8; Bonferroni, P < 0.01). Shifts in community structure of sporulating fungi were observed, and effects were more pronounced in mixtures with Ag-NPs at the highest concentration. Mixtures of MPs with Ag-NPs (at the higher concentration) had the strongest impacts on extracellular enzymatic (β-glucosidase, Cohen's d > 1; r > 0.5; phenol oxidase, Cohen's d > 1; r > 0.4) activities (ANOVAs, P < 0.05). Apart from sporulation rates, observed toxicity in mixtures was lower than that expected based on individual toxicity effects, mainly for higher concentrations (Bonferroni, P < 0.05). Our study provided evidence of the potential harmful effects of MPs, alone or in mixtures with Ag-NPs, on the activities of aquatic fungi and on a key ecosystem process, determinant to organic matter turnover in streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Trabulo
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Biology Department, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Biology Department, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Biology Department, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Biology Department, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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Silva CJM, Machado AL, Campos D, Rodrigues ACM, Patrício Silva AL, Soares AMVM, Pestana JLT. Microplastics in freshwater sediments: Effects on benthic invertebrate communities and ecosystem functioning assessed in artificial streams. Sci Total Environ 2022; 804:150118. [PMID: 34798725 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [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: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The high levels of microplastics (MPs) found in freshwaters, particularly in riverine sediments, may impose a threat to the macroinvertebrate communities with possible consequences at ecosystem-level. The present study aimed to assess the effects of a mixture of different sizes of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on the composition and structure of macroinvertebrate communities and key-functions, such as primary production and leaf litter decomposition. MPs were mixed in the sediment at three different concentrations (0.1, 1, and 10 g kg-1) already found in freshwater sediments to enhance the relevance of the work. After eight days of exposure to PE-MPs, the observed changes in macroinvertebrate community structure were mostly due to the reduction in the abundance of deposit-feeders and grazers that were reduced by ca 31-50% and 34-39%, in the two highest MPs concentrations respectively, in comparison with the control treatment after 8 days of exposure. MPs internal concentrations were detected only in organisms exposed to plastic particles within artificial streams with chironomids and mayflies presenting higher MPs internal levels (average of 115 particles/individual found in chironomids, 166/individual for Baetis sp. and 415 particles/individual for Ephemerella sp.) suggesting higher ingestion of plastic microparticles. Nevertheless, the alterations in the community structure did not translate into impairments in the functional endpoints analysed, leaf litter decomposition and primary production, that were expected due to possible sub-lethal effects (e.g., feeding inhibition) on detritivores and grazers. This study represents one of the few assessments of MPs effects on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate community structure and the first that simultaneously considered ecosystem-level functional endpoints. Further research combining different microplastics and longer exposure periods are needed to raise knowledge on potential ecological consequences of MPs to freshwaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J M Silva
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Machado
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Diana Campos
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Andreia C M Rodrigues
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana L Patrício Silva
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
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10
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Batista D, Giling DP, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F, Gessner MO. Importance of exposure route in determining nanosilver impacts on a stream detrital processing chain. Environ Pollut 2021; 290:118088. [PMID: 34523514 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118088] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The commercial use and spread of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in freshwaters have greatly increased over the last decade. Both AgNPs and ionic silver (Ag+) released from nanoparticles are toxic to organisms and compromise ecosystem processes such as leaf litter decomposition. Yet little is known about how AgNPs affect multitrophic systems of interacting species. Furthermore, past work has focused on waterborne exposure with scarce attention given to effects mediated by the consumption of contaminated food. We assessed the importance of direct (via water) and indirect (via diet) AgNP exposure to a processing chain comprising leaf litter, fungi, a shredder (Gammarus pulex) and a collector (Habroleptoides confusa) in microcosms. Direct exposure to contaminated water for 15 days impaired microbial leaf decomposition by ∼50% and leaf-associated fungal biomass by ∼10%. Leaf consumption was reduced by ∼20% but only when G. pulex was exposed to silver via contaminated leaves. There was no effect on FPOM production. Ag + could impose oxidative stress on the shredders and collectors independent of exposure route, as indicated by increased catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities and decreased superoxide dismutase activity. The activity of a neuronal enzyme (cholinesterase) in collectors, but not shredders, also decreased by almost 50% when the animals were indirectly exposed to AgNP. Our results show that AgNPs and Ag+ may disrupt detrital processing chains through direct and indirect exposure routes, even at low concentrations. This highlights the importance of AgNP exposure pathways to interconnected stream biota and ecosystem processes for realistic assessments of risks to freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Batista
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Darren P Giling
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Zur alten Fischerhütte 2, 16775, Stechlin, Germany; Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia; CSIRO Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Mark O Gessner
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Zur alten Fischerhütte 2, 16775, Stechlin, Germany; Department of Ecology, Berlin Institute of Ecology (TU Berlin), Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1, 10587, Berlin, Germany
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11
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Cornejo A, Pérez J, López-Rojo N, García G, Pérez E, Guerra A, Nieto C, Boyero L. Litter decomposition can be reduced by pesticide effects on detritivores and decomposers: Implications for tropical stream functioning. Environ Pollut 2021; 285:117243. [PMID: 33962306 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117243] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Understanding which factors affect the process of leaf litter decomposition is crucial if we are to predict changes in the functioning of stream ecosystems as a result of human activities. One major activity with known consequences on streams is agriculture, which is of particular concern in tropical regions, where forests are being rapidly replaced by crops. While pesticides are potential drivers of reduced decomposition rates observed in agricultural tropical streams, their specific effects on the performance of decomposers and detritivores are mostly unknown. We used a microcosm experiment to examine the individual and joint effects of an insecticide (chlorpyrifos) and a fungicide (chlorothalonil) on survival and growth of detritivores (Anchytarsus, Hyalella and Lepidostoma), aquatic hyphomycetes (AH) sporulation rate, taxon richness, assemblage structure, and leaf litter decomposition rates. Our results revealed detrimental effects on detritivore survival (which were mostly due to the insecticide and strongest for Hyalella), changes in AH assemblage structure, and reduced sporulation rate, taxon richness and microbial decomposition (mostly in response to the fungicide). Total decomposition was reduced especially when the pesticides were combined, suggesting that they operated differently and their effects were additive. Importantly, effects on decomposition were greater for single-species detritivore treatments than for the 3-species mixture, indicating that detritivore species loss may exacerbate the consequences of pesticides of stream ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aydeé Cornejo
- Aquatic Ecology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Zoological Collection Eustorgio Mendez, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, (COZEM-ICGES), Ave. Justo Arosemena and Calle 35, 0816-02593, Panama City, Panama.
| | - Javier Pérez
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Naiara López-Rojo
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Gabriela García
- Aquatic Ecology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Zoological Collection Eustorgio Mendez, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, (COZEM-ICGES), Ave. Justo Arosemena and Calle 35, 0816-02593, Panama City, Panama
| | - Edgar Pérez
- Aquatic Ecology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Zoological Collection Eustorgio Mendez, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, (COZEM-ICGES), Ave. Justo Arosemena and Calle 35, 0816-02593, Panama City, Panama
| | - Alisson Guerra
- Aquatic Ecology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Zoological Collection Eustorgio Mendez, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, (COZEM-ICGES), Ave. Justo Arosemena and Calle 35, 0816-02593, Panama City, Panama
| | - Carlos Nieto
- Aquatic Ecology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Zoological Collection Eustorgio Mendez, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, (COZEM-ICGES), Ave. Justo Arosemena and Calle 35, 0816-02593, Panama City, Panama
| | - Luz Boyero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Bilbao, Spain
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12
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Baudy P, Zubrod JP, Konschak M, Röder N, Nguyen TH, Schreiner VC, Baschien C, Schulz R, Bundschuh M. Environmentally relevant fungicide levels modify fungal community composition and interactions but not functioning. Environ Pollut 2021; 285:117234. [PMID: 33962304 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic hyphomycetes (AHs), a group of saprotrophic fungi adapted to submerged leaf litter, play key functional roles in stream ecosystems as decomposers and food source for higher trophic levels. Fungicides, controlling fungal pathogens, target evolutionary conserved molecular processes in fungi and contaminate streams via their use in agricultural and urban landscapes. Thus fungicides pose a risk to AHs and the functions they provide. To investigate the impacts of fungicide exposure on the composition and functioning of AH communities, we exposed four AH species in monocultures and mixed cultures to increasing fungicide concentrations (0, 5, 50, 500, and 2500 μg/L). We assessed the biomass of each species via quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, leaf decomposition was investigated. In monocultures, none of the species was affected at environmentally relevant fungicide levels (5 and 50 μg/L). The two most tolerant species were able to colonize and decompose leaves even at very high fungicide levels (≥500 μg/L), although less efficiently. In mixed cultures, changes in leaf decomposition reflected the response pattern of the species most tolerant in monocultures. Accordingly, the decomposition process may be safeguarded by tolerant species in combination with functional redundancy. In all fungicide treatments, however, sensitive species were displaced and interactions between fungi changed from complementarity to competition. As AH community composition determines leaves' nutritional quality for consumers, the data suggest that fungicide exposures rather induce bottom-up effects in food webs than impairments in leaf decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Baudy
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Jochen P Zubrod
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany; Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station, University of Koblenz-Landau, Birkenthalstraße 13, D-76857, Eußerthal, Germany
| | - Marco Konschak
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Nina Röder
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Thu Huyen Nguyen
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Verena C Schreiner
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Christiane Baschien
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Inhoffenstraße 7B, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ralf Schulz
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany; Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station, University of Koblenz-Landau, Birkenthalstraße 13, D-76857, Eußerthal, Germany
| | - Mirco Bundschuh
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829, Landau, Germany; Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lennart Hjelms Väg 9, SWE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
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13
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Bordalo MD, Machado AL, Campos D, Coelho SD, Rodrigues ACM, Lopes I, Pestana JLT. Responses of benthic macroinvertebrate communities to a Bti-based insecticide in artificial microcosm streams. Environ Pollut 2021; 282:117030. [PMID: 33831627 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bioinsecticides based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) are increasingly being applied directly into aquatic compartments to control nuisance mosquitoes and blackflies and are generally considered environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides. Bti-based insecticides are considered highly selective, being Diptera-specific, and supposedly decompose rapidly in the environment. Nevertheless, their safety to non-target species and freshwater ecosystems has been questioned by recent studies, which in fact document possible indirect effects in aquatic food webs such as the decrease of prey availability to predators. This work aimed to evaluate the potential effects of a Bti-based insecticide (VectoBac® 12AS) on a freshwater macroinvertebrate community and on stream ecological functions by using artificial microcosm streams. Artificial microcosm streams were colonized with a macroinvertebrate community plus periphyton collected in a stream together with Alnus glutinosa leaf packs. They were exposed for 7 days to different Bti treatments (0, 12, 120, 1200 μg/L), which are within the recommended concentrations of application in aquatic compartments for blackfly and mosquito control. Besides invertebrate community structure and abundance, effects were evaluated regarding leaf decomposition and primary production as measures of ecosystem functioning. Community structure was significantly altered in all Bti treatments after 7 days of exposure, mostly due to a decline in chironomids, followed by oligochaetes, which both belong to the deposit-feeders' functional group. Direct effects on oligochaetes are surprising and require further research. Also, reductions of leaf decomposition due to Bti-induced sublethal effects on shredders (reduced feeding) or mortality of chironomids (that can also feed on coarse organic matter) observed in our study, represent potential indirect effects of Bti in aquatic ecosystems. Our short-exposure experiment evidenced some negative effects on stream benthic invertebrate communities and on ecosystem functioning that must be considered whenever Bti is used in water bodies for blackfly or mosquito control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D Bordalo
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Ana L Machado
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Diana Campos
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sónia D Coelho
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Andreia C M Rodrigues
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
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14
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Laking AE, Li Z, Goossens E, Miñarro M, Beukema W, Lens L, Bonte D, Verheyen K, Pasmans F, Martel A. Salamander loss alters litter decomposition dynamics. Sci Total Environ 2021; 776:145994. [PMID: 33647642 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss affects ecosystem functioning. Top down effects of amphibian declines on the trophic food web of the forest floor are poorly understood. Here we quantify and explain the effects of disease-driven loss of salamanders on the dynamics of forest leaf litter. Using paired mesocosms, within a Belgian forest, we tested the effect of fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) presence on the trophic cascade that results in the decomposition rate of good quality (maple - Acer pseudoplatanus) and poorer quality (oak - Quercus robur) leaf litter, over an 18 month period. The presence of salamanders reduced decomposition rate of Quercus litter up to 20%. This was associated with a significantly higher predation rate on detritivores, which altered the functional composition of the invertebrate community. Functional composition analysis of the litter microbiome showed less bacteria associated with leaf litter degradation on the Quercus litter in the presence of salamanders. Salamanders thus influence ecosystem functions through trophic cascades and promote the retention of the leaf litter fraction in poorer quality litter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E Laking
- Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Ghent University Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Zhimin Li
- Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Ghent University Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Evy Goossens
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Ghent University Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Marta Miñarro
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Wouter Beukema
- Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Ghent University Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Luc Lens
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Dries Bonte
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090 Gontrode (Melle), Belgium
| | - Frank Pasmans
- Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Ghent University Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - An Martel
- Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Ghent University Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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15
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Bundschuh M, Zubrod JP, Petschick LL, Schulz R. Multiple Stressors in Aquatic Ecosystems: Sublethal Effects of Temperature, Dissolved Organic Matter, Light and a Neonicotinoid Insecticide on Gammarids. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2020; 105:345-350. [PMID: 32642796 PMCID: PMC7497685 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-02926-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Whether and to which extent the effects of chemicals in the environment interact with other factors remains a scientific challenge. Here we assess the combined effects of temperature (16 vs. 20°C), light conditions (darkness vs. 400 lx), dissolved organic matter (DOM; 0 vs. 6 mg/L) and the model insecticide thiacloprid (0 vs. 3 µg/L) in a full-factorial experiment on molting and leaf consumption of Gammarus fossarum. Thiacloprid was the only factor significantly affecting gammarids' molting. While DOM had low effects on leaf consumption, temperature, light and thiacloprid significantly affected this response variable. The various interactions among these factors were not significant suggesting additivity. Only the interaction of the factors temperature and thiacloprid suggested a tendency for antagonism. As most stressors interacted additively, their joint effects may be predictable with available models. However, synergistic interactions are difficult to capture while being central for securing ecosystem integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirco Bundschuh
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany.
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lennart Hjelms väg 9, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Jochen P Zubrod
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
- Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station, University of Koblenz-Landau, Birkenthalstraße 13, 76857, Eußerthal, Germany
| | - Lara L Petschick
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Ralf Schulz
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
- Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station, University of Koblenz-Landau, Birkenthalstraße 13, 76857, Eußerthal, Germany
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16
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Campos D, Machado AL, Cardoso DN, Silva ARR, Silva PV, Rodrigues ACM, Simão FCP, Loureiro S, Grabicová K, Nováková P, Soares AMVM, Pestana JLT. Effects of the organic UV-filter, 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor, on benthic invertebrates and ecosystem function in artificial streams. Environ Pollut 2020; 260:113981. [PMID: 32041008 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113981] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the last decades, the use of organic ultraviolet-filters (UV-filters) has increased worldwide, and these compounds are now considered emerging contaminants of many freshwater ecosystems. The present study aimed to assess the effects of 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor (4-MBC) on a freshwater invertebrate community and on associated ecological functions. For that, artificial streams were used, and a natural invertebrate benthic community was exposed to sediments contaminated with two concentrations of 4-MBC. Effects were evaluated regarding macroinvertebrate abundance and community structure, as well as leaf decomposition and primary production. Results showed that the macroinvertebrate community parameters and leaf decomposition rates were not affected by 4-MBC exposure. On the other hand, primary production was strongly reduced. This study highlights the importance of higher tier ecotoxicity experiments for the assessment of the effects of low concentrations of organic UV-filters on freshwater invertebrate community structure and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Campos
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Ana L Machado
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Diogo N Cardoso
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita R Silva
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Patrícia V Silva
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Andreia C M Rodrigues
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fátima C P Simão
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Susana Loureiro
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Kateřina Grabicová
- University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zatisi 725/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Nováková
- University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zatisi 725/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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17
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Zhang Y, Yin Y, Ma H, Cao X, Ma B, Qv M, Zhang B, Akbar S, Du J. Insight into chronic exposure effects of nanosized titanium dioxide on Typha angustifolia leaf litter decomposition. Chemosphere 2019; 224:680-688. [PMID: 30849629 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.02.191] [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: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Advancement in nanotechnology has increased production of nanoparticles which initiates concerns for freshwater ecosystems. Nanosized TiO2 is one of the most used materials and its ecotoxicity has been extensively studied. Here, a freshwater microcosm experiment was performed to investigate the effects of nanosized (10, 60, and 100 nm) and bulk TiO2 at 1 g L-1 on the alteration in community structure of fungal decomposers and the consequences on litter decomposition of Typha angustifolia leaves. After 209 days of exposure, the decomposition rate was significantly higher in 100 nm TiO2 treatment compared to the control, which was caused by its promotion on fungal biomass and metabolic activity. Therefore, the study provides the multifaceted evidences for different effects of TiO2 with varied sizes on T. angustifolia leaf decomposition and highlights the importance of understanding the potential effects of varying sizes and long-term exposure in nanoparticle risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyan Zhang
- School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Environmental Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuting Yin
- School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hang Ma
- School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinshuai Cao
- School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bingbing Ma
- School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mingxiang Qv
- School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Baozhong Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Siddiq Akbar
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingjing Du
- School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Environmental Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China.
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18
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Zhang YL, Li HB, Xu L, Pan X, Li WB, Liu J, Jiang YP, Song YB, Dong M. Pond-bottom decomposition of leaf litters canopied by free-floating vegetation. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019; 26:8248-8256. [PMID: 30701469 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04145-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In wetland ecosystems, vegetation can float freely on water surface, forming dense canopy which may play important ecological roles. This is especially true in many urban wetlands in which fluidity is low and nutrient level is high. So far, effects of free-floating vegetation on abiotic and biotic factors of wetlands have been known, while little on wetland ecosystem functions such as litter decomposition. To examine whether the canopy of free-floating vegetation on water surface will influence litter decomposition in wetlands or not, we conducted a 50-day in situ decomposition experiment in a subtropical urban pond wetland, in which litter bags of nine combinations of three mesh sizes and three litter species were put on the bottoms of total 22 ponds which were half with and half without free-floating vegetation canopy on the water surface. The ponds with and without the canopy had different water physicochemical properties. Overall, the canopy, the species identity, and the mesh size significantly decelerated mass loss and carbon loss of leaf litters while slightly on nitrogen loss. Effects of the canopy on leaf litter decomposition also showed species- and mesh size-dependent. Our results suggest that free-floating vegetation on water surface can alter water environmental factors and consequently change ecosystem functioning in wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Lin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Hangzhou City for Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Environmental Research, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hong-Bin Li
- Key Laboratory of Hangzhou City for Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Xu
- Key Laboratory of Hangzhou City for Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xu Pan
- Institute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Bing Li
- Key Laboratory of Hangzhou City for Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Institute of Environmental Research, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yue-Ping Jiang
- Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park Research Centre for Ecological Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yao-Bin Song
- Key Laboratory of Hangzhou City for Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Ming Dong
- Key Laboratory of Hangzhou City for Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Mora-Gómez J, Duarte S, Cássio F, Pascoal C, Romaní AM. Microbial decomposition is highly sensitive to leaf litter emersion in a permanent temperate stream. Sci Total Environ 2018; 621:486-496. [PMID: 29195197 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 11/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Drought frequency and intensity in some temperate regions are forecasted to increase under the ongoing global change, which might expose permanent streams to intermittence and have severe repercussions on stream communities and ecosystem processes. In this study, we investigated the effect of drought duration on microbial decomposition of Populus nigra leaf litter in a temperate permanent stream (Oliveira, NW Portugal). Specifically, we measured the response of the structural (assemblage composition, bacterial and fungal biomass) and functional (leaf litter decomposition, extracellular enzyme activities (EEA), and fungal sporulation) parameters of fungal and bacterial communities on leaf litter exposed to emersion during different time periods (7, 14 and 21d). Emersion time affected microbial assemblages and litter decomposition, but the response differed among variables. Leaf decomposition rates and the activity of β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase and phosphatase were gradually reduced with increasing emersion time, while β-xylosidase reduction was similar when emersion last for 7 or more days, and the phenol oxidase reduction was similar at 14 and 21days of leaf emersion. Microbial biomass and fungal sporulation were reduced after 21days of emersion. The structure of microbial assemblages was affected by the duration of the emersion period. The shifts in fungal assemblages were correlated with a decreased microbial capacity to degrade lignin and hemicellulose in leaf litter exposed to emersion. Additionally, some resilience was observed in leaf litter mass loss, bacterial biomass, some enzyme activities and structure of fungal assemblages. Our study shows that drought can strongly alter structural and functional aspects of microbial decomposers. Therefore, the exposure of leaf litter to increasing emersion periods in temperate streams is expected to affect decomposer communities and overall decomposition of plant material by decelerating carbon cycling in streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanita Mora-Gómez
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain.
| | - Sofia Duarte
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Anna M Romaní
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain
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20
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Batista D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Temperature modulates AgNP impacts on microbial decomposer activity. Sci Total Environ 2017; 601-602:1324-1332. [PMID: 28605851 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNP)s can have toxic effects on aquatic species and compromise important ecosystem processes. AgNP impacts have been the focus of much research, but their effects under different environmental contexts, such as the increase in global temperature are difficult to predict. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interactive effects of AgNPs and temperature on the activity and diversity of microbial decomposers of plant litter in streams. Litter-associated microbial communities were exposed in microcosms to increased concentrations of AgNPs (50 to 75000μgL-1) and AgNO3 (5 to 7500μgL-1) and kept for 21days at 10°C, 16°C and 23°C. Effects of AgNPs and AgNO3 were assessed based on leaf mass loss and litter-associated microbial communities by measuring microbial diversity, the activity of fungal extracellular enzymes, and fungal biomass and reproduction. Increase in temperature stimulated leaf mass loss, but not fungal biomass and reproduction. Increased AgNP and AgNO3 concentrations inhibited fungal reproduction and diversity, particularly at 23°C. Activities of the extracellular enzymes phenol oxidase and β-glucosidase were generally higher at 23°C. Microbial communities were mainly structured by AgNP and AgNO3 concentrations more than by temperature. The negative effects of nano and ionic Ag on microbial activity were more pronounced at 10 and 23°C. The behavior of AgNPs was more related to water physical and chemical characteristics (pH) than to temperature. Results highlight the importance of considering different environmental scenarios when examining NP toxicity to freshwater biota and ecosystem processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Batista
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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21
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Batista D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. How do physicochemical properties influence the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on freshwater decomposers of plant litter in streams? Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2017; 140:148-155. [PMID: 28254725 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
AgNP physicochemical properties may affect AgNP toxicity, but their effects on plant litter decomposition and the species driving this key ecosystem process in freshwaters have been poorly investigated. We assessed the impacts of AgNPs with different size and surface coating (100nm PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone)-dispersant, 50-60nm and 35nm uncoated) on freshwater decomposers of leaf litter by exposing leaf associated microbial assemblages to increasing concentrations of AgNPs (up to 200mgL-1) and of AgNO3 (up to 25mgL-1). We further conducted a feeding preference experiment with a common invertebrate shredder, Limnephilus sp., which was allowed to feed on microbially-colonized leaves previously exposed to AgNPs and AgNO3. Leaf decomposition and microbial activity and diversity were inhibited when exposed to increased concentrations of 100nm AgNPs (≥25mgL-1), while microbial activity was stimulated by exposure to 35nm AgNPs (≥100mgL-1). Invertebrate shredders preferred leaves exposed to 35nm AgNPs (25mgL-1) and avoided leaves exposed to AgNO3 (≥2mgL-1). Results from the characterization of AgNPs by dynamic light scattering revealed that AgNps with PVP-dispersant were more stable than the uncoated AgNPs. Our results highlight the importance of considering the physicochemical properties of NPs when assessing their toxicity to litter decomposers in freshwaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Batista
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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22
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Sampaio AC, Mendes RJ, Castro PG, Silva AM. Solid lipid nanoparticles affect microbial colonization and enzymatic activity throughout the decomposition of alder leaves in freshwater microcosms. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2017; 135:375-380. [PMID: 27776303 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.10.020] [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: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are used as carriers for drug delivery, and are high biocompatible and designed to endure in the host organism. Despite its current industrial production is low, many of these substances are available on the market, and much more are in the production pipeline. As a result, many of them will end in aquatic systems raising the question whether they can pose a risk to aquatic biota and the associated ecological processes. Microbial decomposers of plant litter, play a key role in forested streams being responsible for the energy flow between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Here, we investigated the effects of SLNs on alder leaf litter decomposition by aquatic microbes. Alder leaves were immersed in a stream of Northeast Portugal to allow microbial colonization before being exposed in microcosms of two types of SLNs at two concentrations for 42 days. Results showed that rates of leaf decomposition decreased with exposure to SLNs. Bacterial biomass was not inhibited by SLNs, and cultivable fungi densities remained constant (SLN-A) or increased (SLN-C) compared with control microcosms. The type and concentration of SLNs influenced differently the leaf colonization by fungi as well as fungal sporulation rate. These effects were accompanied by changes in the community extraenzymatic profile: the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acidic phosphatase, Naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase (P cycle) and lipases increased in the SLNs microcosms. This study provided the first evidence of the adverse effects of the release of SLNs to streams on leaf litter decomposition. Those effects seem to depend on the composition and concentration of SLNs, as well on the microbial target group, or enzyme. Thus, prior to massive industrial production of these nanomaterials, some measures should be taken to avoid environmental impact affecting the microbial communities responsible for detritus decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Sampaio
- Department of Biology and Environment, University of Trás-os Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta dos Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal; Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Quinta dos Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - R J Mendes
- Department of Biology and Environment, University of Trás-os Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta dos Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - P G Castro
- Department of Biology and Environment, University of Trás-os Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta dos Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - A M Silva
- Department of Biology and Environment, University of Trás-os Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta dos Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal; Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Quinta dos Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
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23
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Lucisine P, Lecerf A, Danger M, Felten V, Aran D, Auclerc A, Gross EM, Huot H, Morel JL, Muller S, Nahmani J, Maunoury-Danger F. Litter chemistry prevails over litter consumers in mediating effects of past steel industry activities on leaf litter decomposition. Sci Total Environ 2015; 537:213-224. [PMID: 26282755 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.112] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Revised: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Soil pollution has adverse effects on the performance and life history traits of microorganisms, plants, and animals, yet evidence indicates that even the most polluted sites can support structurally-complex and dynamic ecosystems. The present study aims at determining whether and how litter decomposition, one of the most important soil ecological processes leaf, is affected in a highly trace-metal polluted site. We postulated that past steel mill activities resulting in soil pollution and associated changes in soil characteristics would influence the rate of litter decomposition through two non-exclusive pathways: altered litter chemistry and responses of decomposers to lethal and sub-lethal toxic stress. We carried out a litter-bag experiment using Populus tremula L. leaf litter collected at, and allowed to decompose in, a trace metal polluted site and in three unpolluted sites used as controls. We designed a fully-factorial transplant experimental design to assess effects of litter origin and exposure site on the rate of litter decomposition. We further determined initial litter chemistry, fungal biomass, mesofauna abundance in litter bags, and the soil macrofauna community. Irrespective of the site of litter exposure, litter originating from the polluted site had a two-fold faster decomposition than litter from the unpolluted sites. Litter chemistry, notably the lignin content, seemed most important in explaining the degradation rate of the leaf litter. Abundance of meso and macro-detritivores was higher at the polluted site than at the unpolluted sites. However, litter decomposition proceeded at similar rates in polluted and unpolluted sites. Our results show that trace metal pollution and associated soil and litter changes do not necessarily weaken consumer control on litter decomposition through lethal and sub-lethal toxic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Lucisine
- Laboratoire interdisciplinaire des environnements continentaux, CNRS UMR 7360, Université de Lorraine, 8, rue du général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
| | - Antoine Lecerf
- Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement, CNRS UMR 5245, Université Toulouse III, 118, route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Michaël Danger
- Laboratoire interdisciplinaire des environnements continentaux, CNRS UMR 7360, Université de Lorraine, 8, rue du général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
| | - Vincent Felten
- Laboratoire interdisciplinaire des environnements continentaux, CNRS UMR 7360, Université de Lorraine, 8, rue du général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
| | - Delphine Aran
- Laboratoire interdisciplinaire des environnements continentaux, CNRS UMR 7360, Université de Lorraine, 8, rue du général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
| | - Apolline Auclerc
- Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, INRA UMR 1120, Université ́de Lorraine, 2, avenue de la Forêt de Haye, 54505, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Elisabeth M Gross
- Laboratoire interdisciplinaire des environnements continentaux, CNRS UMR 7360, Université de Lorraine, 8, rue du général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
| | - Hermine Huot
- Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, INRA UMR 1120, Université ́de Lorraine, 2, avenue de la Forêt de Haye, 54505, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Jean-Louis Morel
- Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, INRA UMR 1120, Université ́de Lorraine, 2, avenue de la Forêt de Haye, 54505, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Serge Muller
- Laboratoire interdisciplinaire des environnements continentaux, CNRS UMR 7360, Université de Lorraine, 8, rue du général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
| | - Johanne Nahmani
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Florence Maunoury-Danger
- Laboratoire interdisciplinaire des environnements continentaux, CNRS UMR 7360, Université de Lorraine, 8, rue du général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France.
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24
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Englert D, Zubrod JP, Schulz R, Bundschuh M. Variability in ecosystem structure and functioning in a low order stream: Implications of land use and season. Sci Total Environ 2015; 538:341-349. [PMID: 26312408 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 07/20/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Human activity can degrade the habitat quality for aquatic communities, which ultimately impacts the functions these communities provide. Disentangling the complex interaction between environmental and anthropogenic parameters as well as their alteration both along the stream channel, over the seasons, and finally their impact in the aquatic ecosystem represents a fundamental challenge for environmental scientists. Therefore, the present study investigates the implications of successive land uses (i.e., vineyard, urban area, highway and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)) on structural and functional endpoints related to the ecosystem process of leaf litter breakdown during a winter and summer season in a five km stretch of a second-order stream in southern Germany. This sequence of the different land uses caused, among others, a downstream decline of the ecological status from "high" to "bad" judged based on the SPEARpesticides index together with significant shifts in the macroinvertebrate community composition, which coincided with substantial impairments (up to 100%) in the macroinvertebrate-mediated leaf decomposition. These effects, seem to be mainly driven by alterations in water quality rather than morphological modifications of the stream's habitat since the key shredder Gammarus was not in direct contact with the local habitat during in situ bioassays but showed similar response patterns than the other endpoints. While the relative effect size for most endpoints deviated considerably (sometimes above 2-fold) among seasons, the general response pattern pointed to reductions in energy supply for local and downstream communities. Although the present study focused on a single low-order stream with the main purpose of describing the impact of different land uses on various levels of biological organization, which limits the direct transferability and thus applicability of results to other stream ecosystems, the findings point to the need to develop adequate management strategies mitigating land use specific exposures during all seasons to protect ecosystem integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Englert
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau Campus, Fortstrasse 7, 76829 Landau, Germany.
| | - Jochen P Zubrod
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau Campus, Fortstrasse 7, 76829 Landau, Germany.
| | - Ralf Schulz
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau Campus, Fortstrasse 7, 76829 Landau, Germany.
| | - Mirco Bundschuh
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau Campus, Fortstrasse 7, 76829 Landau, Germany; Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
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25
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Zubrod JP, Baudy P, Schulz R, Bundschuh M. Effects of current-use fungicides and their mixtures on the feeding and survival of the key shredder Gammarus fossarum. Aquat Toxicol 2014; 150:133-143. [PMID: 24674876 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2014.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [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: 09/25/2013] [Revised: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Fungicides are frequently applied in agriculture and are subsequently detected in surface waters in total concentrations of up to several tens of micrograms per liter. These concentrations imply potential effects on aquatic communities and fundamental ecosystem functions such as leaf litter breakdown. In this context, the present study investigates sublethal and lethal effects of organic (azoxystrobin, carbendazim, cyprodinil, quinoxyfen, and tebuconazole) and inorganic (three copper (Cu)-based substances and sulfur) current-use fungicides and their mixtures on the key leaf-shredding invertebrate Gammarus fossarum. The feeding activity of fungicide-exposed gammarids was quantified as sublethal endpoint using a static (organic fungicides; 7 d test duration) or a semi-static (inorganic fungicides; 6 d test duration with a water exchange after 3 d) approach (n=30). EC50-values of organic fungicides were generally observed at concentrations resulting in less than 20% mortality, with the exception of carbendazim. With regard to feeding, quinoxyfen was the most toxic organic fungicide, followed by cyprodinil, carbendazim, azoxystrobin, and tebuconazole. Although all tested organic fungicides have dissimilar (intended) modes of action, a mixture experiment revealed a synergistic effect on gammarids' feeding at high concentrations when using "independent action" as the reference model (∼35% deviation between predicted and observed effect). This may be explained by the presence of a synergizing azole fungicide (i.e. tebuconazole) in this mixture. Furthermore, lethal concentrations of all Cu-based fungicides assessed in this study were comparable amongst one another. However, they differed markedly in their effective concentrations when using feeding activity as the endpoint, with Cu-sulfate being most toxic, followed by Cu-hydroxide and Cu-octanoate. In contrast, sulfur neither affected survival nor the feeding activity of gammarids (up to ∼5 mg/L) but reduced Cu-sulfate's toxicity when applied in a binary mixture. Sulfur-related metabolic processes which reduce the physiological availability of Cu may explain this antagonistic effect. For both fungicide mixtures, the present study thus uncovered deviations from the appropriate reference model, while ecotoxicological effects were observed at field relevant (total) fungicide concentrations. Additionally, for more than half of the tested single substances, a potential risk for Gammarus and thus for the ecological function mediated by these organisms was evident at concentrations measured in agriculturally influenced surface waters. These results suggest that risks to the fundamental ecosystem function of leaf litter breakdown posed by fungicides may not be adequately considered during the regulation of these compounds, which makes further experimental efforts necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Zubrod
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany.
| | - P Baudy
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - R Schulz
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - M Bundschuh
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany; Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lennart Hjelms väg 9, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
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26
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Clivot H, Charmasson F, Felten V, Boudot JP, Guérold F, Danger M. Interactive effects of aluminium and phosphorus on microbial leaf litter processing in acidified streams: a microcosm approach. Environ Pollut 2014; 186:67-74. [PMID: 24361567 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 08/17/2013] [Revised: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Decline in pH, elevated aluminium (Al) concentrations, and base cations depletion often covary in acidified headwater streams. These parameters are considered as the main factors reducing microbial activities involved in detritus processing, but their individual and interactive effects are still unclear. In addition to its direct toxicity, Al can also reduce the bioavailability of phosphorus (P) in ecosystems through the formation of stable chemical complexes. A three week microcosm experiment was carried out in acid conditions to assess the interactive effects of Al (three levels: 0, 200, and 1,000 μg L(-1)) and P (25, 100, and 1,000 μg L(-1)) on alder leaf litter processing by an aquatic hyphomycete consortium. Our results showed that Al alone reduced fungal growth and altered fungal decomposer activities. High P levels, probably through an alleviation of Al-induced P limitation and a reduction of Al toxic forms, suppressed the negative effects of Al on detritus decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugues Clivot
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7360, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), Campus Bridoux, Rue du Général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France.
| | - Faustine Charmasson
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7360, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), Campus Bridoux, Rue du Général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
| | - Vincent Felten
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7360, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), Campus Bridoux, Rue du Général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Boudot
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7360, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), Faculté des Sciences, 54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - François Guérold
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7360, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), Campus Bridoux, Rue du Général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
| | - Michael Danger
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7360, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), Campus Bridoux, Rue du Général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France
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Brandstätter C, Keiblinger K, Wanek W, Zechmeister-Boltenstern S. A closeup study of early beech litter decomposition: potential drivers and microbial interactions on a changing substrate. Plant Soil 2013; 371:139-154. [PMID: 25834287 PMCID: PMC4372839 DOI: 10.1007/s11104-013-1671-7] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Litter decomposition and subsequent nutrient release play a major role in forest carbon and nutrient cycling. To elucidate how soluble or bulk nutrient ratios affect the decomposition process of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) litter, we conducted a microcosm experiment over an 8 week period. Specifically, we investigated leaf-litter from four Austrian forested sites, which varied in elemental composition (C:N:P ratio). Our aim was to gain a mechanistic understanding of early decomposition processes and to determine microbial community changes. METHODS We measured initial litter chemistry, microbial activity in terms of respiration (CO2), litter mass loss, microbial biomass C and N (Cmic and Nmic), non purgeable organic carbon (NPOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), NH4+, NO3- and microbial community composition (phospholipid fatty acids - PLFAs). RESULTS At the beginning of the experiment microbial biomass increased and pools of inorganic nitrogen (N) decreased, followed by an increase in fungal PLFAs. Sites higher in NPOC:TDN (C:N of non purgeable organic C and total dissolved N), K and Mn showed higher respiration. CONCLUSIONS The C:N ratio of the dissolved pool, rather than the quantity of N, was the major driver of decomposition rates. We saw dynamic changes in the microbial community from the beginning through the termination of the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Brandstätter
- BFW – Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Seckendorff-Gudent Weg 8, 1131 Vienna, Austria
- Institute for Water Quality, Resources and Waste Management, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Keiblinger
- Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Wanek
- CHECO – Institute of Chemical Ecology and Ecosystem Research, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern
- Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
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