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Fox AD, Stīpniece A. Interactions between stoneworts (Charales) and waterbirds. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:390-408. [PMID: 37866401 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Stoneworts (Charales) are green algae that represent an important food resource for many waterbird species in Europe and elsewhere. Browsing avian herbivores (e.g. swan, goose, duck and coot species) consume Charales plant vegetative parts, by head-dipping, up-ending or diving. A lower fibre content and longer growing season may make Charales as attractive to such herbivores as sympatric submerged higher plant species in some circumstances. Charales respond to environmental stress (e.g. drought) by producing abundant diaspores, in the form of oospores (sexual) and bulbils (asexual), both rich in starch, generating abundant food for waterbirds at critical stages in their annual migratory cycles. Waterbirds feed on these by diving (e.g. common pochard Aythya ferina and red-crested pochard Netta rufina) or by filtering from the water column (e.g. dabbling duck species), ensuring dispersal of sexually produced and vegetative diaspores locally (because of predator swamping) and remotely (through endo- and ectozoochorous dispersal by long-distance migratory waterbirds). Greater invertebrate density and diversity associated with Charales canopies enhances their attractiveness over other submerged macrophyte beds to diving predators [e.g. tufted duck Aythya fuligula, common pochard and Eurasian coot Fulica atra (hereafter coot)]. Fish fry preying on these invertebrates use such vegetation as predator cover, in turn providing prey for avian piscivores such as grebes and cormorants. Abundant Charales contribute to maintaining a transparent water column due to canopy density, nutrient effects, dampening of sedimentation/remobilisation of suspended matter and nutrients and allelopathic effects on other plants (especially phytoplankton). Shallow, relatively eutrophic waters can flip between clear-water high-biodiversity (where Charales thrive) and turbid species-poor depauperate stable states (lacking Charales). Shifts between turbid conditions and rich submerged Charales beds have profound elevating effects on aquatic diversity, to which waterbirds show rapid aggregative responses, making them ideal indicator species of ecological change; in the case of Charales specialists (such as red-crested and common pochard), indicators of the presence and abundance of these plants. Large-bodied colonial nesting birds (e.g. cormorants, gulls, heron and egrets) aggregating along lake shores contribute high N and P loadings to water bodies sensitive to such external and internal inputs and can cause local eutrophication and potential loss of Charales. Despite variation from complete seasonal removal of Charales biomass to undetectable grazing effects by herbivorous birds, evidence suggests little effect of avian grazing on biomass accumulation or the stability of community composition (under otherwise stable conditions), but we urge more research on this under-researched topic. We also lack investigations of the relative foraging profitability of different Charales organs to waterbirds and the degree of viability of gyrogonites (fertilised and calcified oospores), vegetative bulbils and plant fragments after passage through the guts of waterbirds. We especially need to understand better how much the carbonate armour of these organs affects their viability/dispersal via waterbirds and urge more research on these neglected plants and their relationships and interactions with other organisms in the aquatic biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D Fox
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, C. F. Møllers Allé 8, Aarhus, DK-8000, Denmark
| | - Antra Stīpniece
- Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, O. Vācieša iela 4, Rīga, LV-1004, Latvia
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Changes in Growth, Photosynthesis Performance, Pigments, and Toxin Contents of Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria after Exposure to Macroalgal Allelochemicals. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13080589. [PMID: 34437460 PMCID: PMC8402365 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13080589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Macroalgae can directly restrict the growth of various phytoplankton species by releasing allelopathic compounds; therefore, considerable attention should be paid to the allelopathic potential of these organisms against harmful and bloom-forming cyanobacteria. The main aim of this study was to demonstrate for the first time the allelopathic activity of Ulva intestinalis on the growth, the fluorescence parameters: the maximum PSII quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) and the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII), the chlorophyll a (Chl a) and carotenoid (Car) content, and the microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and phenol content of three bloom-forming cyanobacteria, Aphanizomenon sp., Nodularia spumigena, and Nostoc sp. We found both negative and positive allelopathic effects of U. intestinalis on tested cyanobacteria. The study clearly showed that the addition of the filtrate of U. intestinalis significantly inhibited growth, decreased pigment content and Fv/Fm and ΦPSII values of N. spumigena and Nostoc sp., and stimulated Aphanizomenon sp. The addition of different concentrations of aqueous extract also stimulated the cyanobacterial growth. It was also shown that the addition of extract obtained from U. intestinalis caused a significant decrease in the MC-LR content in Nostoc sp. cells. Moreover, it the phenol content in N. spumigena cells was increased. On the other hand, the cell-specific phenol content for Aphanizomenon sp. decreased due to the addition of the filtrate. In this work, we demonstrated that the allelopathic effect of U. intestinalis depends on the target species’ identity as well as the type of allelopathic method used. The study of the allelopathic Baltic macroalgae may help to identify their possible role as a significant biological factor influencing harmful cyanobacterial blooms in brackish ecosystems.
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Budzałek G, Śliwińska-Wilczewska S, Wiśniewska K, Wochna A, Bubak I, Latała A, Wiktor JM. Macroalgal Defense against Competitors and Herbivores. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7865. [PMID: 34360628 PMCID: PMC8346039 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Macroalgae are the source of many harmful allelopathic compounds, which are synthesized as a defense strategy against competitors and herbivores. Therefore, it can be predicted that certain species reduce aquaculture performance. Herein, the allelopathic ability of 123 different taxa of green, red, and brown algae have been summarized based on literature reports. Research on macroalgae and their allelopathic effects on other animal organisms was conducted primarily in Australia, Mexico, and the United States. Nevertheless, there are also several scientific reports in this field from South America and Asia; the study areas in the latter continents coincide with areas where aquaculture is highly developed and widely practiced. Therefore, the allelopathic activity of macroalgae on coexisting animals is an issue that is worth careful investigation. In this work, we characterize the distribution of allelopathic macroalgae and compare them with aquaculture locations, describe the methods for the study of macroalgal allelopathy, present the taxonomic position of allelopathic macroalgae and their impact on coexisting aquatic competitors (Cnidaria) and herbivores (Annelida, Echinodermata, Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Chordata), and compile information on allelopathic compounds produced by different macroalgae species. This work gathers the current knowledge on the phenomenon of macroalgal allelopathy and their allelochemicals affecting aquatic animal (competitors and predators) worldwide and it provides future research directions for this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gracjana Budzałek
- Division of Marine Ecosystems Functioning, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, P-81-378 Gdynia, Poland; (G.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Sylwia Śliwińska-Wilczewska
- Division of Marine Ecosystems Functioning, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, P-81-378 Gdynia, Poland; (G.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Kinga Wiśniewska
- Division of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, P-81-378 Gdynia, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Wochna
- GIS Centre, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, P-81-378 Gdynia, Poland;
| | - Iwona Bubak
- Division of Hydrology, Institute of Geography, University of Gdansk, P-80-309 Gdańsk, Poland;
| | - Adam Latała
- Division of Marine Ecosystems Functioning, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, P-81-378 Gdynia, Poland; (G.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Józef Maria Wiktor
- Department of Marine Ecology, Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, P-81-779 Sopot, Poland;
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Fan G, Chen Z, Yan Z, Du B, Pang H, Tang D, Luo J, Lin J. Efficient integration of plasmonic Ag/AgCl with perovskite-type LaFeO 3: Enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity for removal of harmful algae. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 409:125018. [PMID: 33422753 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.125018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A novel plasmonic Ag/AgCl@LaFeO3 (ALFO) photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by a simple in-situ synthesis method with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light for harmful algal blooms (HABs) control. The structure, morphology, chemical states, optical and electrochemical properties of the photocatalyst were systematically investigated using a series of characterization methods. Compared with pure LaFeO3 and Ag/AgCl, ALFO-20% owned a higher light absorption capacity and lower electron-hole recombined rate. Therefore, ALFO-20% had higher photocatalytic activity with a near 100% removal rate of chlorophyll a within 150 min, whose kinetic constant was 15.36 and 9.61 times faster than those of LaFeO3 and Ag/AgCl. In addition, the changes of zeta potential, cell membrane permeability, cell morphology, organic matter, total soluble protein, photosynthetic system and antioxidant enzyme system in Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) were studied to explore the mechanism of M. aeruginosa photocatalytic inactivation. The results showed that ALFO-20% could change the permeability and morphology of the algae cell membrane, as well as destroy the photosynthesis system and antioxidant system of M. aeruginosa. What's more, ALFO could further degrade the organic matters flowed out after algae rupture and die, reducing the secondary pollution and avoiding the recurrence of HABs. Finally, the species of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (mainly •O2- and •OH) produced by ALFO were determined through quenching experiments, and a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. Overall, ALFO can efficiently remove the harmful algae under the visible light, providing a promising method for controlling HABs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gongduan Fan
- College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, 350116 Fujian, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, 350002 Fujian, PR China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage Materials, Fuzhou University, 350002 Fujian, PR China
| | - Zhong Chen
- College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, 350116 Fujian, PR China
| | - Zhongsen Yan
- College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, 350116 Fujian, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, 350002 Fujian, PR China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage Materials, Fuzhou University, 350002 Fujian, PR China.
| | - Banghao Du
- College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, 350116 Fujian, PR China
| | - Heliang Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Dingsheng Tang
- CCCC First Highway Engineering Group Xiamen Co., Ltd., Xiamen 361021, PR China
| | - Jing Luo
- Fujian Jinhuang Environmental Sci-Tech Co. Ltd., 350002, Fujian, PR China
| | - Jiuyang Lin
- Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Rural Waste Recycling Technology, School of Environment and Resources, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, PR China
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Rybak AS. Microencapsulation with the usage of sodium alginate: A promising method for preserving stonewort (Characeae, Charophyta) oospores to support laboratory and field experiments. ALGAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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