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Raoult V, Phillips AA, Nelson J, Niella Y, Skinner C, Tilcock MB, Burke PJ, Szpak P, James WR, Harrod C. Why aquatic scientists should use sulfur stable isotope ratios (ẟ 34S) more often. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 355:141816. [PMID: 38556184 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141816] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, measurements of light stable isotope ratios have been increasingly used to answer questions across physiology, biology, ecology, and archaeology. The vast majority analyse carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes as the 'default' isotopes, omitting sulfur (δ34S) due to time, cost, or perceived lack of benefits and instrumentation capabilities. Using just carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios can produce results that are inconclusive, uncertain, or in the worst cases, even misleading, especially for scientists that are new to the use and interpretation of stable isotope data. Using sulfur isotope values more regularly has the potential to mitigate these issues, especially given recent advancements that have lowered measurement barriers. Here we provide a review documenting case studies with real-world data, re-analysing different biological topics (i.e. niche, physiology, diet, movement and bioarchaeology) with and without sulfur isotopes to highlight the various strengths of this stable isotope for various applications. We also include a preliminary meta-analysis of the trophic discrimination factor (TDF) for sulfur isotopes, which suggest small (mean -0.4 ± 1.7 ‰ SD) but taxa-dependent mean trophic discrimination. Each case study demonstrates how the exclusion of sulfur comes at the detriment of the results, often leading to very different outputs, or missing valuable discoveries entirely. Given that studies relying on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes currently underpin most of our understanding of various ecological processes, this has concerning implications. Collectively, these examples strongly suggest that researchers planning to use carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes for their research should incorporate sulfur where possible, and that the new 'default' isotope systems for aquatic science should now be carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Raoult
- Blue Carbon Lab, School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, VIC, Australia; Marine Ecology Group, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
| | - Alexandra A Phillips
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - James Nelson
- Department of Marine Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Yuri Niella
- Marine Ecology Group, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia
| | - Christina Skinner
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Patrick J Burke
- Marine Ecology Group, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul Szpak
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - W Ryan James
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Chris Harrod
- Instituto Ciencias Naturales Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile; Millennium Nucleus INVASAL, Concepción, Chile; Universidad de Antofagasta Stable Isotope Facility, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
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Ghojoghi A, Ghorbani R, Patimar R, Salmanmahiny A, Naddafi R, Fazel A, Jardine TD. The fate of nitrogen in the Zarin-Gol River receiving trout farm effluent. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21762. [PMID: 38066199 PMCID: PMC10709638 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49243-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the Zarrin-Gol River ecosystem in Iran to trace organic matter in the food web and evaluate the impact of aquaculture farm effluent using stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C). Using a previously-developed model (Islam 2005), we estimated that a trout farm in the vicinity released 1.4 tons of nitrogen into the river. This was comparable to an estimated total nutrient load of 2.1 tons of nitrogen for the six-month fish-rearing period based on a web-based constituent load estimator (LOADEST). A model estimate of river nitrogen concentration at the time of minimum river discharge (100 L/s) was 2.74 mg/L. Despite relatively high nitrogen loading from the farm, isotope data showed typical food web structure. Several biological groups had elevated δ13C or δ15N values, but there was limited evidence for the entry of organic matter from the trout farm into the food web, with sites above and below trout farms having inconsistent patterns in 15N enrichment. By coupling nitrogen load modeling with stable isotope analysis we showed that stable isotopes might not be effective tracers of organic matter into food webs, depending on surrounding land use and other point sources of nutrients. The Zarrin-Gol River ecosystem, like other basins with high human population density, remains vulnerable to eutrophication in part due to trout farm effluent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altin Ghojoghi
- Department of Fisheries, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Rasoul Ghorbani
- Department of Fisheries, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Rahman Patimar
- Department of Fisheries, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran.
| | - Abdolrassoul Salmanmahiny
- Department of Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Rahmat Naddafi
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Abdolazim Fazel
- Inland Waters Aquatic Resources Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Timothy D Jardine
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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Assessment of Aquatic Ecosystem Health with Indices of Biotic Integrity (IBIs) in the Ganjiang River System, China. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14030278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Indices of biotic integrity (IBIs) are widely used to assess aquatic ecosystem health. However, there are few studies on their relationships. Based on fish, macroinvertebrate and plankton survey data collected in the Ganjiang River system from 2016 to 2017, redundancy analysis (RDA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to analyze how the community structures of these organisms respond to environmental variables. The fish IBI (F-IBI), benthic macroinvertebrate IBI (B-IBI), and phytoplankton IBI (P-IBI) were applied to evaluate the health status of the aquatic ecosystem. A Kruskal–Wallis test (p < 0.05) and Spearman’s correlation coefficient analysis were performed to evaluate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the results. Our results suggested that the F-IBI-, B-IBI-, and P-IBI-based assessments indicated good, fair, and healthy Ganjiang River system ecosystem health statuses, respectively, and significant differences existed among these indices (p < 0.05). The main environmental factors affecting F-IBI, B-IBI, and P-IBI were different. At the temporal scale, the F-IBI and B-IBI were stable, while the P-IBI fluctuated obviously. The consistency between the F-IBI and B-IBI results was better than that between each of these indices and the P-IBI results, and the consistency was better on a larger scale. These research results show that comprehensive assessments based on multiple groups rather than a single group can better characterize the impacts of environmental pressures on water ecosystems.
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Bell‐Tilcock M, Jeffres CA, Rypel AL, Sommer TR, Katz JVE, Whitman G, Johnson RC. Advancing diet reconstruction in fish eye lenses. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrew L. Rypel
- Center for Watershed Sciences University of California Davis CA USA
- Department of Wildlife Fish & Conservation Biology University of California Davis CA USA
| | - Ted R. Sommer
- Department of Water Resources West Sacramento CA USA
| | | | - George Whitman
- Center for Watershed Sciences University of California Davis CA USA
| | - Rachel C. Johnson
- Center for Watershed Sciences University of California Davis CA USA
- National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center Santa Cruz CA USA
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Lavoie RA, Kyser TK, Friesen VL, Campbell LM. Tracking overwintering areas of fish-eating birds to identify mercury exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:863-872. [PMID: 25514043 DOI: 10.1021/es502813t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Migration patterns are believed to greatly influence concentrations of contaminants in birds due to accumulation in spatially and temporally distinct ecosystems. Two species of fish-eating birds, the Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) and the Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) breeding in Lake Ontario were chosen to measure the impact of overwintering location on mercury concentrations ([Hg]). We characterized (1) overwintering areas using stable isotopes of hydrogen (δ(2)H) and band recoveries, and (2) overwintering habitats by combining information from stable isotopes of sulfur (δ(34)S), carbon (δ(13)C), nitrogen (δ(15)N), and δ(2)H in feathers grown during the winter. Overall, overwintering location had a significant effect on [Hg]. Both species showed high [Hg] in (13)C-rich habitats. In situ production of Hg (e.g., through sulfate reducing bacteria in sediments) and allochthonous import could explain high [Hg] in birds visiting (13)C-rich habitats. Higher [Hg] were found in birds with high δ(2)H, suggesting that Hg is more bioavailable in southern overwintering locations. Hotspot maps informed that higher [Hg] in birds were found at the limit of their southeastern overwintering range. Mercury concentrations in winter feathers were positively related to predicted spatial pattern of [Hg] in fish using the National Descriptive Model of Mercury in Fish (NDMMF) based on bird spatial assignment (using δ(2)H). This study indicates that the overwintering location greatly influences [Hg].
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Lalonde BA, Garron C, Ernst B, Jackman P. Toxicity testing of freshwater sediment collected near freshwater aquaculture facilities in the Maritimes, Canada. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2013; 48:1318-1324. [PMID: 23705607 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2013.781865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In the Atlantic region of Canada, there are close to 50 land-based freshwater aquaculture facilities, most of which discharge wastewater to freshwater receiving environments. This study was designed to assess the chemical and toxicological characteristics of sediments in those receiving environments. Thirty sediment samples were collected from 3 locations (upstream, outfall and downstream) at seven freshwater aquaculture facilities. Toxicity tests conducted included amphipod growth, amphipod survival and Microtox™. Sediments were also analysed for ammonia/porewater ammonia, redox and sulphide. Porewater ammonia concentration for the amphipod survival test ranged from 0.01 to 42 mg/L at the conclusion of the 14-day survival test. Ammonia concentration in sediment ranged from 0.3-202 μg/g, sulphide concentration ranged from 0.15 to 17.4 μg/g, yet redox ranged from 32 to 594 mV. Microtox™ IC50 values ranged from 108,00 to >164,000 mg/L, yet amphipod survival ranged from 0 to 100%, depending on sampling locations. Amphipod survival was significantly related (P < 0.05) to porewater ammonia (at time = 0 and 14 days) and Microtox™ IC50 was significantly related (P < 0.05) to ammonia, sulphide and redox levels. These results indicate that discharges from some the land-based aquaculture facilities are impacting sediment dwelling benthic invertebrates at the outfall but that impact largely disappears by 100 m downstream. Furthermore those impacts were rarely detected during the early winter season, when biomass production was at the lowest.
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Affiliation(s)
- B A Lalonde
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Tello A, Corner RA, Telfer TC. How do land-based salmonid farms affect stream ecology? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2010; 158:1147-1158. [PMID: 20036452 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2009] [Revised: 11/23/2009] [Accepted: 11/25/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Increasing research is highlighting the fact that streams provide crucial ecosystem services through the biogeochemical and ecological processes they sustain. Freshwater land-based salmonid farms commonly discharge their effluents into low order, headwater streams, partly due to the fact that adequate freshwater resources for production are commonly found in undisturbed areas. We review the effects of salmonid farm effluents on different biological components of stream ecosystems. Relevant considerations related to the temporal and spatial scales of effluent discharge and ecological effects are discussed. These highlight the need to characterize the patterns of stressor discharge when assessing environmental impacts and designing ecological effects studies. The potential role of multiple stressors in disrupting ecosystem structure and function is discussed with an emphasis on aquaculture veterinary medicines. Further research on the effects of veterinary medicines using relevant exposure scenarios would significantly contribute to our understanding of their impact in relation to other effluent stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tello
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK.
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