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Uni D, Sheffer E, Klein T, Shem-Tov R, Segev N, Winters G. Responses of two Acacia species to drought suggest different water-use strategies, reflecting their topographic distribution. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1154223. [PMID: 37342134 PMCID: PMC10277743 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1154223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Soil water availability is a key factor in the growth of trees. In arid deserts, tree growth is limited by very dry soil and atmosphere conditions. Acacia tree species are distributed in the most arid deserts of the globe, therefore they are well adapted to heat and long droughts. Understanding why some plants do better than others in some environments is a key question in plant science. Methods Here we conducted a greenhouse experiment to continuously and simultaneously track the whole-plant water-balance of two desert Acacia species, in order to unravel their physiological responses to low water availability. Results We found that even under volumetric water content (VWC) of 5-9% in the soil, both species maintained 25% of the control plants, with a peak of canopy activity at noon. Moreover, plants exposed to the low water availability treatment continued growing in this period. A. tortilis applied a more opportunistic strategy than A. raddiana, and showed stomatal responses at a lower VWC (9.8% vs. 13.1%, t4= -4.23, p = 0.006), 2.2-fold higher growth, and faster recovery from drought stress. Discussion Although the experiment was done in milder VPD (~3 kPa) compared to the natural conditions in the field (~5 kPa), the different physiological responses to drought between the two species might explain their different topographic distributions. A. tortilis is more abundant in elevated locations with larger fluctuations in water availability while A. raddiana is more abundant in the main channels with higher and less fluctuating water availability. This work shows a unique and non-trivial water-spending strategy in two Acacia species adapted to hyper-arid conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphna Uni
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Efrat Sheffer
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tamir Klein
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Rachamim Shem-Tov
- Acacia Research Center, The Dead Sea-Arava Science Center, Masada, Israel
| | - Nitzan Segev
- Acacia Research Center, The Dead Sea-Arava Science Center, Masada, Israel
| | - Gidon Winters
- Acacia Research Center, The Dead Sea-Arava Science Center, Masada, Israel
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat, Israel
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Alavi E, Tajadod G, Jafari Marandi S, Arbabian S. Vicia faba seed: a bioindicator of phytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and cytotoxicity of light crude oil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:21043-21051. [PMID: 36264458 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23244-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Crude oil contamination is a serious threat to the environment and human health as it can contaminate food chains. Therefore, it is necessary to find efficient tests to monitor soils for crude oil contamination. The present study investigates the efficacy of Vicia faba seeds for monitoring contaminated soils with light crude oil. Vicia faba seeds were planted in 0 (control), 1, 2, and 4 percentages (weight percentage) light crude oil-contaminated soils. The seed germination and root length were measured to evaluate phytotoxicity, while the mitotic index, chromosome aberrations, and micronucleus formation in the root tip cells were examined for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity tests. The results showed that light crude oil had toxic effects on Vicia faba growth characteristics, even at 1% contamination. The phytotoxicity assay showed that crude oil reduced seed germination and root length by 45% and 61.67%, respectively. In contrast, cellular observations indicated an increase in mitotic index, chromosome aberrations, and micronucleus formation up to 3, 3.59, and 5.6 times, respectively, compared to the control. The light crude oil at 4% induced the simultaneous occurrence of nuclear bud, polyploidy, and micronucleus that may be considered as severe clastogenic and aneugenic effects. Accordingly, Vicia faba can be considered a reliable living system for monitoring light crude oil pollution in soils, even at low concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Alavi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Golnaz Tajadod
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sayeh Jafari Marandi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sedigheh Arbabian
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Tulkova EG, Savchenko GE, Kabashnikova LF. Degradation of Chlorophyll in the Leaves of Reed Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) under the Action of Volatile Organic Compounds and Benzo(a)pyrene. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s106235902204015x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Gavish-Regev E, Armiach Steinpress I, Salman INA, Segev N, Uzan A, Byun Y, Levy T, Aharon S, Zvik Y, Shtuhin R, Shapira Y, Majer M, Ganem Z, Zonstein S, Magalhaes ILF, Lubin Y. Five-Year Monitoring of a Desert Burrow-Dwelling Spider Following an Environmental Disaster Indicates Long-Term Impacts. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13010101. [PMID: 35055943 PMCID: PMC8780495 DOI: 10.3390/insects13010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Deserts are characterized by unpredictable precipitation, extreme temperatures, and plants and animals that are specialized to live in these habitats. Consequently, desert organisms often recover slowly, if at all, from human-induced environmental disasters. We studied the effects of two nearby oil spills from a broken pipeline, one that occurred in 1975 and another recent one in 2014, on a burrow-dwelling spider in the extreme desert of the ‘Arava valley (Israel). We compared the abundance of spider burrows in plots contaminated by the oil with nearby unaffected plots over a 4-year period. The abundance was significantly lower in plots with oil-contaminated soil, both in the recent (2014) oil spill area and in the area affected by the 1975 spill. In the laboratory, we found that when offered oil-contaminated versus clean desert soil substrates, spiders chose the clean soil substrate. We conclude that the populations of this burrow-dwelling spider were affected negatively by the oil spills and, furthermore, showed long-lasting impacts from a 40-year-old spill. We propose that burrow-dwelling spiders can be used as effective bioindicators of persistent soil pollution in desert habitats. Abstract Deserts are characterized by unpredictable precipitation and extreme temperatures. Their fauna and flora are sensitive to anthropogenic environmental changes, and often recover slowly from environmental disasters. The effects of oil spills on the biota of desert regions, however, have scarcely been studied. We predicted that terrestrial invertebrates suffer long-term negative effects from an oil spill, due to their close association with the substrate. Thus, we investigated the effects of two oil spills that occurred in 1975 and 2014 in the hyper-arid ‘Arava desert (Israel), on a spider that constructs silk-lined nests in burrows in compact, sandy soil in this extreme desert habitat. The spider, Sahastata aravaensis sp. nov. (Filistatidae), is described herein. We assessed spider burrow abundance in plots located in oil-contaminated and nearby uncontaminated clean soil (control) areas over five consecutive years and measured habitat characteristics in these plots. In the laboratory, we determined the preference of individuals for clean vs. oil-contaminated soil as a resting substrate. Finally, as this species was previously undescribed, we added a new species description. The abundance of Sahastata was significantly lower in oil-contaminated plots, and this was the case in the 40-year-old oil spill (1975) as well as in the recent one (2014). In laboratory tests, spiders showed a significant preference for the clean soil substrate over the oil-contaminated substrate. In the field, soil crust hardness and vegetation density did not differ significantly between oil-contaminated and control plots, but these measures were highly variable. The burrows were significantly clustered, suggesting that the young disperse only short distances. In the laboratory adult spiders did not dig burrows, perhaps indicating that adults remain permanently in their natal burrows and that in the field they may use vacant burrows. We conclude that Sahastata populations were affected negatively by the oil spills and these effects were long-lasting. We propose that by monitoring their spatial distribution, burrow-dwelling spiders such as Sahastata can be used as effective bioindicators of soil pollution in desert habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efrat Gavish-Regev
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Igor Armiach Steinpress
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
- The Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Ibrahim N. A. Salman
- French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel;
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel; (M.M.); (Y.L.)
| | - Nitzan Segev
- Dead-Sea & Arava Science Center, Yotvata 8882000, Israel;
| | - Assaf Uzan
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
| | - Yebin Byun
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
| | - Tanya Levy
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
| | - Shlomi Aharon
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
- The Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Yoram Zvik
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
- The Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- The Scorpion Research Lab, Hoopoe Ornithology & Ecology, Yeroham 8051875, Israel
| | - Raisa Shtuhin
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
| | - Yotam Shapira
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
| | - Marija Majer
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel; (M.M.); (Y.L.)
| | - Zeana Ganem
- The National Natural History Collections, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; (I.A.S.); (A.U.); (Y.B.); (T.L.); (S.A.); (Y.Z.); (R.S.); (Y.S.); (Z.G.)
- The Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Sergei Zonstein
- Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, 12 Klausner St., Tel Aviv 6139001, Israel;
| | - Ivan L. F. Magalhaes
- División Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”—CONICET. Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina;
| | - Yael Lubin
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel; (M.M.); (Y.L.)
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Ferrante M, Möller D, Möller G, Menares E, Lubin Y, Segoli M. Invertebrate and vertebrate predation rates in a hyperarid ecosystem following an oil spill. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12153-12160. [PMID: 34522367 PMCID: PMC8427564 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme temperatures and scarce precipitation in deserts have led to abiotic factors often being regarded as more important than biotic ones in shaping desert communities. The presumed low biological activity of deserts is also one reason why deserts are often overlooked by conservation programs. We provide the first quantification of predation intensity from a desert ecosystem using artificial sentinel prey emulating caterpillars, a standardized monitoring tool to quantify relative predation pressure by many invertebrate and vertebrate predators. The study was conducted in a protected natural area affected by oil spills in 1975 and 2014; hence, we assessed the potential effects of oil pollution on predation rates. We found that predation was mostly due to invertebrate rather than vertebrate predators, fluctuated throughout the year, was higher at the ground level than in the tree canopy, and was not negatively affected by the oil spills. The mean predation rate per day (12.9%) was within the range found in other ecosystems, suggesting that biotic interactions in deserts ought not to be neglected and that ecologists should adopt standardized tools to track ecological functions and allow for comparisons among ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Ferrante
- Mitrani Department of Desert EcologyBlaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
- Ce3C ‐ Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental ChangesAzorean Biodiversity GroupFaculty of Agricultural Sciences and EnvironmentUniversity of the AzoresAngra do HeroísmoPortugal
| | - Daniella Möller
- Mitrani Department of Desert EcologyBlaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
| | - Gabriella Möller
- Mitrani Department of Desert EcologyBlaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
| | - Esteban Menares
- Mitrani Department of Desert EcologyBlaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
- Department of EcologyBrandenburg University of Technology Cottbus‐SenftenbergCottbusGermany
| | - Yael Lubin
- Mitrani Department of Desert EcologyBlaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
| | - Michal Segoli
- Mitrani Department of Desert EcologyBlaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
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Möller DM, Ferrante M, Möller GM, Rozenberg T, Segoli M. The Impact of Terrestrial Oil Pollution on Parasitoid Wasps Associated With Vachellia (Fabales: Fabaceae) Trees in a Desert Ecosystem, Israel. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:1355-1362. [PMID: 33140833 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Oil is a major pollutant of the environment, and terrestrial oil spills frequently occur in desert areas. Although arthropods account for a large share of animal diversity, the effect of oil pollution on this group is rarely documented. We evaluated the effects of oil pollution on parasitoid wasps associated with Vachellia (formerly Acacia) tortilis (Forssk.) and Vachellia raddiana (Savi) trees in a hyper-arid desert that was affected by two major oil spills (in 1975 and 2014). We sampled the parasitoid populations between 2016 and 2018 in three sampling sites and compared their abundance, diversity, and community composition between oil-polluted and unpolluted trees. Parasitoid abundance in oil-polluted trees was lower in one of the sites affected by the recent oil spill, but not in the site affected by the 1975 oil spill. Oil-polluted trees supported lower parasitoid diversity than unpolluted trees in some sampling site/year combinations; however, such negative effects were inconsistent and pollution explained a small proportion of the variation in parasitoid community composition. Our results indicate that oil pollution may negatively affect parasitoid abundances and diversity, although the magnitude of the effect depends on the tree species, sampling site, and the time since the oil spill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella M Möller
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Marco Ferrante
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Ambiente, Universidade dos Açores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Gabriella M Möller
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Tamir Rozenberg
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Michal Segoli
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
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Kuzmin P, Bukharina I, Kuzmina A. Biochemical characteristics of urban maple trees. Saudi J Biol Sci 2020; 27:2912-2916. [PMID: 33100846 PMCID: PMC7569143 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The study, which covers the period between 2014 and 2018, was carried out in the city of Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. The aim of the study was to examine the biochemical response of maple trees growing in the anthropogenic environments. Leaf samples from 600 trees (Acer platanoides L. and Acer negundo L.) were collected at monthly intervals from June through August. Sampling was performed early in the morning (11 a.m.) in the middle of the month. The study offers statistical data on the tannin content, determined via permanganometry; the ascorbic acid concentration, found via titration with 2.6-dichlorophenolindophenol; the ascorbate oxidase activity determined by absorbance at 265 nm; and the polyphenol oxidase activity, found by the spectrophotometric method. Relatively higher ascorbate oxidase activity was detected in August among ash-leaved Acer platanoides L. and Acer negundo L. in areas with strong anthropogenic impact. Due to increased air pollution, maple trees were found to exhibit an increase of polyphenol oxidase activities. The condensed tannin content in Norway maple trees dropped over time: by 1.24 in July (avenue); by 0.94 (buffer area) and 0.76 (avenue) in August. The condensed tannin content in the ash-leaved maple trees also decreased: by 0.69 (buffer area) and 0.22 (avenue) in July; by 0.37 (buffer area) and 0.61(avenue) in August.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Kuzmin
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Yelabuga Institute of Kazan Federal University, Kazan str., 89, Yelabuga 423600, Russian Federation
- Corresponding author: Kazan str., 89, Yelabuga 423600, Russian Federation.
| | - Irina Bukharina
- Institute of Civil Protection, Udmurt State University, Universitetskaya str., 1, Izhevsk 426069, Russian Federation
| | - Ajgul Kuzmina
- Department of Forest Management and Ecology, Izhevsk State Agricultural Academy, Student str., 11, Izhevsk 426069, Russian Federation
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Ferrante M, Möller DM, Möller GM, Lubin Y, Segoli M. Seed Predation on Oil-Polluted and Unpolluted Vachellia ( Acacia) Trees in a Hyper-Arid Desert Ecosystem. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11100665. [PMID: 32998405 PMCID: PMC7600291 DOI: 10.3390/insects11100665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Bruchid beetles are the pests of many plant species worldwide. One or more grubs can develop inside a seed by consuming it and impairing its germination. Vachellia trees are important for preserving diverse and healthy arid ecosystems, but they are often threatened by human activities and hostile environmental conditions. Seed predation by bruchid beetles is one of the major causes of the decline in the populations of Vachellia trees in Israel. In a hyper-arid desert ecosystem affected by two major oil spills (in 1975 and 2014), we evaluated whether oil pollution increases seed predation rates of the seeds of Vachellia tortilis and V. raddiana. We recorded remarkably high predation rates for both species, particularly at the ground level, which suggests that conservation measures to reduce repeated infestations on fallen pods may be important to preserve these tree species. However, we found no clear evidence of a negative effect of oil pollution on seed predation, indicating that it did not increase the vulnerability of the seeds to bruchids even in trees affected by the recent oil spill. Abstract Acacia trees are keystone species in many arid environments, supporting high levels of plant and animal diversity. In Israel, the populations of Vachellia (formerly Acacia) tortilis (Forssk.) and V. raddiana (Savi) are declining at an alarming rate. Severe infestations by bruchid beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) are among the major causes of seed mortality, but additional environmental stressors can reduce the defence level of the seeds, exacerbating their susceptibility to predators. In a hyper-arid desert ecosystem affected by two major oil spills (in 1975 and 2014), we quantified seed predation rates caused by insect granivores before and after the pods dropped to the ground. We recorded predation rates of up to 84% for both tree species, and higher predation rates at the ground level than in the canopy, suggesting that repeated infestations occur. These results reinforce the call to protect the populations of large ungulates such as gazelles, which kill the bruchids by feeding upon the pods, and promote seed germination and dispersion. We found no clear evidence of a negative effect of the oil spill on seed predation, indicating that oil pollution did not increase the vulnerability of the seeds to granivores even in trees affected by the recent oil spill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Ferrante
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel; (D.M.M.); (G.M.M.); (Y.L.); (M.S.)
- CE3C-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, PT-9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-926-042-036
| | - Daniella M. Möller
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel; (D.M.M.); (G.M.M.); (Y.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Gabriella M. Möller
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel; (D.M.M.); (G.M.M.); (Y.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Yael Lubin
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel; (D.M.M.); (G.M.M.); (Y.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Michal Segoli
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel; (D.M.M.); (G.M.M.); (Y.L.); (M.S.)
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Shadrin D, Pukalchik M, Kovaleva E, Fedorov M. Artificial intelligence models to predict acute phytotoxicity in petroleum contaminated soils. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 194:110410. [PMID: 32163774 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environment pollutants, especially those from total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), have a highly complex chemical, biological and physical impact on soils. Here we study this influence via modelling the TPH acute phytotoxicity effects on eleven samples of soils from Sakhalin island in greenhouse conditions. The soils were contaminated with crude oil in different doses ranging from the 3.0-100.0 g kg-1. Measuring the Hordeum vulgare root elongation, the crucial ecotoxicity parameter, we have estimated. We have also investigated the contrast effect in different soils. To predict TPH phytotoxicity different machine learning models were used, namely artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM). The models under discussion were proved to be valid using the mean absolute error method (MAE), the root mean square error method (RMSE), and the coefficient of determination (R2). We have shown that ANN and SVR can successfully predict barley response based on soil chemical properties (pH, LOI, N, P, K, clay, TPH). The best achieved accuracy was as following: MAE - 8.44, RMSE -11.05, and R2 -0.80.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii Shadrin
- Center for Computational and Data-Intensive Science and Engineering, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143026, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Mariia Pukalchik
- Center for Computational and Data-Intensive Science and Engineering, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143026, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Ekaterina Kovaleva
- Faculty of Soil Science,Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim Fedorov
- Center for Computational and Data-Intensive Science and Engineering, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143026, Moscow, Russia
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Nguyen HM, Kim M, Ralph PJ, Marín-Guirao L, Pernice M, Procaccini G. Stress Memory in Seagrasses: First Insight Into the Effects of Thermal Priming and the Role of Epigenetic Modifications. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:494. [PMID: 32411166 PMCID: PMC7199800 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
While thermal priming and the relative role of epigenetic modifications have been widely studied in terrestrial plants, their roles remain unexplored in seagrasses so far. Here, we experimentally compared the ability of two different functional types of seagrass species, dominant in the Southern hemisphere, climax species Posidonia australis and pioneer species Zostera muelleri, to acquire thermal-stress memory to better survive successive stressful thermal events. To this end, a two-heatwave experimental design was conducted in a mesocosm setup. Findings across levels of biological organization including the molecular (gene expression), physiological (photosynthetic performances and pigments content) and organismal (growth) levels provided the first evidence of thermal priming in seagrasses. Non-preheated plants suffered a significant reduction in photosynthetic capacity, leaf growth and chlorophyll a content, while preheated plants were able to cope better with the recurrent stressful event. Gene expression results demonstrated significant regulation of methylation-related genes in response to thermal stress, suggesting that epigenetic modifications could play a central role in seagrass thermal stress memory. In addition, we revealed some interspecific differences in thermal responses between the two different functional types of seagrass species. These results provide the first insights into thermal priming and relative epigenetic modifications in seagrasses paving the way for more comprehensive forecasting and management of thermal stress in these marine foundation species in an era of rapid environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mikael Kim
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Murcia, Spain
| | - Peter J. Ralph
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Murcia, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mathieu Pernice
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Murcia, Spain
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Bilska K, Wojciechowska N, Alipour S, Kalemba EM. Ascorbic Acid-The Little-Known Antioxidant in Woody Plants. Antioxidants (Basel) 2019; 8:E645. [PMID: 31847411 PMCID: PMC6943661 DOI: 10.3390/antiox8120645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are constantly produced by metabolically active plant cells. The concentration of ROS may determine their role, e.g., they may participate in signal transduction or cause oxidative damage to various cellular components. To ensure cellular homeostasis and minimize the negative effects of excess ROS, plant cells have evolved a complex antioxidant system, which includes ascorbic acid (AsA). AsA is a multifunctional metabolite with strong reducing properties that allows the neutralization of ROS and the reduction of molecules oxidized by ROS in cooperation with glutathione in the Foyer-Halliwell-Asada cycle. Antioxidant enzymes involved in AsA oxidation and reduction switches evolved uniquely in plants. Most experiments concerning the role of AsA have been performed on herbaceous plants. In addition to extending our understanding of this role in additional taxa, fundamental knowledge of the complex life cycle stages of woody plants, including their development and response to environmental factors, will enhance their breeding and amend their protection. Thus, the role of AsA in woody plants compared to that in nonwoody plants is the focus of this paper. The role of AsA in woody plants has been studied for nearly 20 years. Studies have demonstrated that AsA is important for the growth and development of woody plants. Substantial changes in AsA levels, as well as reduction and oxidation switches, have been reported in various physiological processes and transitions described mainly in leaves, fruits, buds, and seeds. Evidently, AsA exhibits a dual role in the photoprotection of the photosynthetic apparatus in woody plants, which are the most important scavengers of ozone. AsA is associated with proper seed production and, thus, woody plant reproduction. Similarly, an important function of AsA is described under drought, salinity, temperature, light stress, and biotic stress. This report emphasizes the involvement of AsA in the ecological advantages, such as nutrition recycling due to leaf senescence, of trees and shrubs compared to nonwoody plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Bilska
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland; (K.B.); (N.W.); (S.A.)
| | - Natalia Wojciechowska
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland; (K.B.); (N.W.); (S.A.)
- Department of General Botany, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Shirin Alipour
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland; (K.B.); (N.W.); (S.A.)
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Ewa Marzena Kalemba
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland; (K.B.); (N.W.); (S.A.)
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Lassalle G, Credoz A, Hédacq R, Bertoni G, Dubucq D, Fabre S, Elger A. Estimating persistent oil contamination in tropical region using vegetation indices and random forest regression. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 184:109654. [PMID: 31522059 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The persistence of soil contamination after cessation of oil activities remains a major environmental issue in tropical regions. The assessment of the contamination is particularly difficult on vegetated sites, but promising advances in reflectance spectroscopy have recently emerged for this purpose. This study aimed to exploit vegetation reflectance for estimating low concentrations of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in soils. A greenhouse experiment was carried out for 42 days on Cenchrus alopecuroides (L.) under realistic tropical conditions. The species was grown on oil-contaminated mud pit soils from industrial sites, with various concentrations of TPH. After 42 days, a significant decrease in plant growth and leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid contents was observed for plants exposed to 5-19 g kg-1 TPH in comparison to the controls (p < 0.05). Conversely, pigment contents were higher for plants exposed to 1 g kg-1 TPH (hormesis phenomenon). These modifications proportionally affected the reflectance of C. alopecuroides at leaf and plant scales, especially in the visible region around 550 and 700 nm. 33 vegetation indices were used for linking the biochemical and spectral responses of the species to oil using elastic net regressions. The established models indicated that chlorophylls a and b and β-carotene were the main pigments involved in the modifications of reflectance (R2 > 0.7). The same indices also succeeded in estimating the concentrations of TPH using random forest regression, at leaf and plant scales (RMSE = 1.46 and 1.63 g kg-1 and RPD = 5.09 and 4.44, respectively). Four out of the 33 indices contributed the most to the models (>75%). This study opens up encouraging perspectives for monitoring the cessation of oil activities in tropical regions. Further researches will focus on the application of our approach at larger scale, on airborne and satellite imagery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Lassalle
- Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA), Toulouse, France; TOTAL S.A., Pôle d'Études et de Recherches de Lacq, Lacq, France.
| | - Anthony Credoz
- TOTAL S.A., Pôle d'Études et de Recherches de Lacq, Lacq, France
| | - Rémy Hédacq
- TOTAL S.A., Pôle d'Études et de Recherches de Lacq, Lacq, France
| | - Georges Bertoni
- DynaFor, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Dominique Dubucq
- TOTAL S.A., Centre Scientifique et Technique Jean-Féger, Pau, France
| | - Sophie Fabre
- Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA), Toulouse, France
| | - Arnaud Elger
- EcoLab, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
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Shen MW, Yan CY, Chen HC, Chen ST. Removal of heavy oil using rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 249:109418. [PMID: 31442910 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The remnant of heavy oil, often expressed as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), in soil and/or sludge is commonly encountered by and often ruins the habitat of some indigenous insects. Recent studies indicate that some of the insects could stand the impact and some not just survived but might serve as an oil degrader. The potential of using indigenous insects in treating oil pollution is of interests in this study. In Asia, the potential oil-exposed rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros, was studied herein due to two major interests: one is its tolerance to heavy oil, and the other its ability to remove the oil. Two sets of the experiments spiked with different amounts of heavy oil were conducted in series, and the results of the larval mortality rate, growth rate, feces production, substrate conversion ratio and percent of oil removal were monitored as performance indicators during these treatments. The obtained results showed that the ingestion of heavy oil at a 5000 mg/kg level significantly deteriorated the survival rate (37% left) of the tested larvae, yet oil-experienced larvae could survive in up to 10,000 mg/kg of heavy oil (100% survived). As for the heavy oil removal via larval ingestion, at a 10,000 mg/kg level of oil in the substrate, the percent of weekly removal of heavy oil by larva ingestion was consistent throughout the second run at 56.4 ± 5.6%. These results demonstrated the potential use of beetle larvae as a bioreactor in pollutant removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Wei Shen
- Ph.D student at the Ph.D Program in Engineering Science and Technology, College of Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yi Yan
- Engineer at Chung Hung Steel Corporation, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | | | - Shyi-Tien Chen
- Associate Professor at the Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
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Haroni NN, Badehian Z, Zarafshar M, Bazot S. The effect of oil sludge contamination on morphological and physiological characteristics of some tree species. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2019; 28:507-519. [PMID: 31025155 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02034-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Although petroleum plays an important part in world economy, its exploitation can bring about a great deal of contamination in soil. To select the tree species being tolerant to soil pollution, a pot experiment has been carried out to assess and compare the growth potential of the seedlings of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), Chinaberry (Melia azedarach L.), Ailantos (Ailanthus altissima Mill.) and Ash (Fraxinus rotundifolia Mill.) in petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated soils. The seeds of the mentioned species were subjected to different oil sludge concentrations (0, 10, 20 and 40%) for a growth season of 240 days and then seedling emergence, growth performance, biomass production, photosynthetic parameters and heavy metal absorption were measured to find the species with higher resistantce. For all the species, seedling emergence was significantly reduced under the soil pollution among which F. rotundifolia exhibited a better performance. Besides, growth and biomass of F. rotundifolia and R. pseudoacacia were seldom influenced by oil sludge. In addition, seedlings of A. altissima accumulated higher percentage of the heavy metals (particularly Ni, Cu, Cd) in their leaves by virtue of their wider leaf surface area. This study provides valuable insights into phytoremediation of sites contaminated by oil sludge, using tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naser Norouzi Haroni
- Forest Science and Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Ziaedin Badehian
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.
| | - Mehrdad Zarafshar
- Natural Resources Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Stéphane Bazot
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, University Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France
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Bęś A, Warmiński K, Adomas B. Long-term responses of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) to the contamination of light soils with diesel oil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:10587-10608. [PMID: 30762180 PMCID: PMC6469826 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04328-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Research into trees plays a very important role in evaluations of soil contamination with diesel oil. Trees are ideal for reclaiming contaminated soils because their large biomass renders them more resistant to higher concentrations of pollutants. In the literature, there is a general scarcity of long-term studies performed on trees, in particular European beeches. The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses of Scots pines and European beeches grown for 8 years on soil contaminated with diesel oil. Selected morphological and physiological parameters of trees were analyzed. The biomass yield of Scots pines was not significantly correlated with increasing concentrations of diesel oil, but it was more than 700% higher than in European beeches. Scots pines were taller and had a larger stem diameter than European beeches during the 8-year study. The diameter of trees grown on the most contaminated soil was reduced 1.5-fold in Scots pines and more than twofold in European beeches. The length of Scots pine needles from the most contaminated treatment decreased by 50% relative to control needles. The shortest needles were heaviest. The fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of needle length was highest in Scots pines grown on the most contaminated soil, whereas the reverse was noted in the FA of needle weight. Diesel oil decreased the concentrations of chlorophylls a and b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids. The Fv/Fm ratio of needles and leaves was influenced by the tested concentrations of diesel oil. The results of the study indicate that the Scots pine better adapts (grows more rapidly and produces higher biomass) to long-term soil contamination with diesel oil than the European beech. In European beeches, growth inhibition and leaf discoloration (a decrease in chlorophyll content) were observed already after the first year of the experiment, which indicates that 1-year-old seedlings of European beech are robust bioindicators of soil contamination with diesel oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Bęś
- Department of Chemistry, Research Group of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Prawocheńskiego 17, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Kazimierz Warmiński
- Department of Chemistry, Research Group of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Prawocheńskiego 17, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Barbara Adomas
- Department of Chemistry, Research Group of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Prawocheńskiego 17, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland
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16
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Xiao F, Huisman QE. Prediction of biopersistence of hydrocarbons using a single parameter. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 213:76-83. [PMID: 30212721 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Revised: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic biodegradation is an important attenuation process for petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) in the natural environment. It has also been frequently used in engineered systems to remediate PHC-contaminated sites. A model such as a quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) that can predict the biodegradation rate of PHCs would be helpful prior to implementing any extensive environmental measurements and bioremediation strategies. Existing QSPRs either have a large number of predictor variables that may cause overfitting or are based on a small dataset of PHCs. The goal of this study is to develop a simple, portable QSPR that has only a few predicator variables but can accurately predict the biodegradation half-lives of a large group of PHCs. To this end, more than 500 molecular variables were screened, and candidate variables were refined by a feature selection method and fitted to biodegradation data of a group of structurally heterogeneous PHCs (n = 173). The model was established by means of hierarchical clustering and classification and regression tree algorithms, which was optimized by an internal validation procedure and validated by an external dataset. The optimal QSPR model, containing only one predictor variable (the number of bonds that do not contain hydrogen), was able to accurately predict biodegradation half-lives for a wide variety of PHCs. The internal validation test indicated an overall prediction accuracy of 93%, and predictions applied to an independent external set of 64 PHCs yielded 95% accuracy. The new model is transparent and easily portable from one user to another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xiao
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8115, United States.
| | - Quinn E Huisman
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8115, United States
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