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Thomas NE, Hailer F, Bruford MW, Chadwick EA. Country‐wide genetic monitoring over 21 years reveals lag in genetic recovery despite spatial connectivity in an expanding carnivore (Eurasian otter,
Lutra lutra
) population. Evol Appl 2022; 15:2125-2141. [DOI: 10.1111/eva.13505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nia E. Thomas
- Organisms and Environment Research Division, School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff Wales UK
| | - Frank Hailer
- Organisms and Environment Research Division, School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff Wales UK
| | - Michael W. Bruford
- Organisms and Environment Research Division, School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff Wales UK
| | - Elizabeth A. Chadwick
- Organisms and Environment Research Division, School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff Wales UK
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2
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Whelan MJ, Linstead C, Worrall F, Ormerod SJ, Durance I, Johnson AC, Johnson D, Owen M, Wiik E, Howden NJK, Burt TP, Boxall A, Brown CD, Oliver DM, Tickner D. Is water quality in British rivers "better than at any time since the end of the Industrial Revolution"? Sci Total Environ 2022; 843:157014. [PMID: 35772542 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We explore the oft-repeated claim that river water quality in Great Britain is "better now than at any time since the Industrial Revolution". We review available data and ancillary evidence for seven different categories of water pollutants: (i) biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and ammonia; (ii) heavy metals; (iii) sewage-associated organic pollutants (including hormone-like substances, personal care product and pharmaceutical compounds); (iv) macronutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus); (v) pesticides; (vi) acid deposition and (vii) other variables, including natural organic matter and pathogenic micro-organisms. With a few exceptions, observed data are scarce before 1970. However, we can speculate about some of the major water quality pressures which have existed before that. Point-source pollutants are likely to have increased with population growth, increased connection rates to sewerage and industrialisation, although the increased provision of wastewater treatment during the 20th century will have mitigated this to some extent. From 1940 to the 1990s, pressures from nutrients and pesticides associated with agricultural intensification have increased in many areas. In parallel, there was an increase in synthetic organic compounds with a "down-the-drain" disposal pathway. The 1990s saw general reductions in mean concentrations of metals, BOD and ammonia (driven by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive), a levelling out of nitrate concentrations (driven by the EU Nitrate Directive), a decrease in phosphate loads from both point-and diffuse-sources and some recovery from catchment acidification. The current picture is mixed: water quality in many rivers downstream of urban centres has improved in sanitary terms but not with respect to emerging contaminants, while river quality in catchments with intensive agriculture is likely to remain worse now than before the 1960s. Water quality is still unacceptably poor in some water bodies. This is often a consequence of multiple stressors which need to be better-identified and prioritised to enable continued recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Whelan
- University of Leicester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - C Linstead
- WWF-UK, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - F Worrall
- University of Durham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - S J Ormerod
- Cardiff University, Water Research Institute, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - I Durance
- Cardiff University, Water Research Institute, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - A C Johnson
- UKCEH, Wallingford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - D Johnson
- The Rivers Trust, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - M Owen
- Angling Trust, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - E Wiik
- Ronin Institute, United States of America
| | - N J K Howden
- University of Bristol, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - T P Burt
- University of Durham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - A Boxall
- University of York, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - C D Brown
- University of York, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - D M Oliver
- University of Stirling, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - D Tickner
- WWF-UK, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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3
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Tso CHM, Monteith D, Scott T, Watson H, Dodd B, Pereira MG, Henrys P, Hollaway M, Rennie S, Lowther A, Watkins J, Killick R, Blair G. The evolving role of weather types on rainfall chemistry under large reductions in pollutant emissions. Environ Pollut 2022; 299:118905. [PMID: 35091021 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118905] [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: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Long-term change and shorter-term variability in the atmospheric deposition of pollutants and marine salts can have major effects on the biogeochemistry and ecology of soils and surface water ecosystems. In the 1980s, at the time of peak acid deposition in the UK, deposition loads were highly dependent on prevailing weather types, and it was postulated that future pollution recovery trajectories would be partly dependent on any climate change-driven shifts in weather systems. Following three decades of substantial acidic emission reductions, we used monitoring data collected between 1992 and 2015 from four UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) sites in contrasting parts of Great Britain to examine the trends in precipitation chemistry in relation to prevailing weather conditions. Weather systems were classified on the basis of Lamb weather type (LWT) groupings, while emissions inventories and clustering of air mass trajectories were used to interpret the observed patterns. Concentrations of ions showed clear differences between cyclonic-westerly-dominated periods and others, reflecting higher marine and lower anthropogenic contributions in Atlantic air masses. Westerlies were associated with higher rainfall, higher sea salt concentrations, and lower pollutant concentrations at all sites, while air mass paths exerted additional controls. Westerlies therefore have continued to favour higher sea salt fluxes, whereas emission reductions are increasingly leading to positive correlations between westerlies and pollutant fluxes. Our results also suggest a shift from the influence of anthropogenic emissions to natural emissions (e.g., sea salt) and climate forcing as they are transported under relatively cleaner conditions to the UK. Westerlies have been relatively frequent over the ECN monitoring period, but longer-term cyclicity in these weather types suggests that current contributions to precipitation may not be sustained over coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chak-Hau Michael Tso
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Data Science, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK.
| | - Don Monteith
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Tony Scott
- Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Helen Watson
- James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK
| | - Beverley Dodd
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - M Glória Pereira
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Peter Henrys
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Data Science, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Michael Hollaway
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Data Science, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Susannah Rennie
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Data Science, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Aaron Lowther
- Department of Maths and Statistics, Fylde College, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YF, UK
| | - John Watkins
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Data Science, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Rebecca Killick
- Department of Maths and Statistics, Fylde College, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YF, UK; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Data Science, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Gordon Blair
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK; School of Computing and Communications, InfoLab21, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4WA, UK; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Data Science, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
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4
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Redden D, Trueman BF, Dunnington DW, Anderson LE, Gagnon GA. Chemical recovery and browning of Nova Scotia surface waters in response to declining acid deposition. Environ Sci Process Impacts 2021; 23:446-456. [PMID: 33565526 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00425a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Declining emissions of sulfur and nitrogen have curtailed acid deposition across large areas of North America and Europe. This has allowed many lakes to recover from acidification, with decreases in sulfate, increases in pH, and increases in alkalinity. But reduced acid deposition has not always coincided with chemical lake recovery. Surface waters in Nova Scotia did not exhibit clear evidence of recovery as recently as 2007, due in part to increasing organic acidity and slow replenishment of base cations. In an updated assessment with data collected as recently as 2019, we analyze water chemistry representing 81 lakes and rivers and two precipitation monitoring stations over up to 41 years. We find that Nova Scotia surface waters are now exhibiting signs of chemical recovery. We estimated the linear decrease in precipitation sulfate and nitrate yield at up to 0.31 and 0.18 kg ha-1 year-2, respectively, and the linear increase in precipitation pH at up to 0.014 year-1. Sulfate decreased in 60 of 62 lakes and 14 of 17 rivers (-0.0051 to -0.23 mg L-1 year-1), while pH increased in 55 of 64 lakes and 11 of 17 rivers (0.0015-0.072 year-1). Apparent colour increased in 54 of 62 lakes and 13 of 17 rivers (0.0026-3.9 Pt-Co year-1). We identified increasing aluminum trends in 46 of 61 lakes, and we show using size-exclusion chromatography that binding to organic and iron-based colloids may help to explain these trends. To the extent that increases in apparent colour are explained by chromophoric dissolved organic matter (DOM), they imply greater binding capacity for metals in surface waters, and greater capacity for DOM to stabilize metal (oxyhydr)oxide colloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Redden
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington St., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
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5
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Forsius M, Posch M, Holmberg M, Vuorenmaa J, Kleemola S, Augustaitis A, Beudert B, Bochenek W, Clarke N, de Wit HA, Dirnböck T, Frey J, Grandin U, Hakola H, Kobler J, Krám P, Lindroos AJ, Löfgren S, Pecka T, Rönnback P, Skotak K, Szpikowski J, Ukonmaanaho L, Valinia S, Váňa M. Assessing critical load exceedances and ecosystem impacts of anthropogenic nitrogen and sulphur deposition at unmanaged forested catchments in Europe. Sci Total Environ 2021; 753:141791. [PMID: 32890870 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) compounds and their long-range transport have caused widespread negative impacts on different ecosystems. Critical loads (CLs) are deposition thresholds used to describe the sensitivity of ecosystems to atmospheric deposition. The CL methodology has been a key science-based tool for assessing the environmental consequences of air pollution. We computed CLs for eutrophication and acidification using a European long-term dataset of intensively studied forested ecosystem sites (n = 17) in northern and central Europe. The sites belong to the ICP IM and eLTER networks. The link between the site-specific calculations and time-series of CL exceedances and measured site data was evaluated using long-term measurements (1990-2017) for bulk deposition, throughfall and runoff water chemistry. Novel techniques for presenting exceedances of CLs and their temporal development were also developed. Concentrations and fluxes of sulphate, total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) and acidity in deposition substantially decreased at the sites. Decreases in S deposition resulted in statistically significant decreased concentrations and fluxes of sulphate in runoff and decreasing trends of TIN in runoff were more common than increasing trends. The temporal developments of the exceedance of the CLs indicated the more effective reductions of S deposition compared to N at the sites. There was a relation between calculated exceedance of the CLs and measured runoff water concentrations and fluxes, and most sites with higher CL exceedances showed larger decreases in both TIN and H+ concentrations and fluxes. Sites with higher cumulative exceedance of eutrophication CLs (averaged over 3 and 30 years) generally showed higher TIN concentrations in runoff. The results provided evidence on the link between CL exceedances and empirical impacts, increasing confidence in the methodology used for the European-scale CL calculations. The results also confirm that emission abatement actions are having their intended effects on CL exceedances and ecosystem impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Forsius
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Maximilian Posch
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Maria Holmberg
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jussi Vuorenmaa
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sirpa Kleemola
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Algirdas Augustaitis
- Forest Monitoring Laboratory, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu 13, Kaunas distr. LT-53362, Lithuania
| | - Burkhard Beudert
- Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, D-94481 Grafenau, Germany
| | - Witold Bochenek
- Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of Sciences, Szymbark 430, 38-311 Szymbark, Poland
| | - Nicholas Clarke
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, PO Box 115, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Heleen A de Wit
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Thomas Dirnböck
- Environment Agency Austria, Department for Ecosystem Research and Data Information Management, Spittelauer Lände 5, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jane Frey
- Tartu University, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Vanemuise St. 46, EE-51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ulf Grandin
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7050, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hannele Hakola
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, PO Box 503, FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johannes Kobler
- Environment Agency Austria, Department for Ecosystem Research and Data Information Management, Spittelauer Lände 5, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Pavel Krám
- Czech Geological Survey, Department of Geochemistry, Klárov 3, CZ-118 21 Prague 1, Czech Republic
| | - Antti-Jussi Lindroos
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stefan Löfgren
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7050, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tomasz Pecka
- Institute of Environmental Protection - National Research Institute, ul. Kolektorska 4, 01-692 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pernilla Rönnback
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7050, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Krzysztof Skotak
- Institute of Environmental Protection - National Research Institute, ul. Kolektorska 4, 01-692 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Józef Szpikowski
- Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Storkowo 32, 78-450 Grzmiąca, Poland
| | - Liisa Ukonmaanaho
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Salar Valinia
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Department- Air Unit, SE-106 48 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Milan Váňa
- Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Observatory Košetice, CZ-394 22 Košetice, Czech Republic
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6
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Pilotto F, Kühn I, Adrian R, Alber R, Alignier A, Andrews C, Bäck J, Barbaro L, Beaumont D, Beenaerts N, Benham S, Boukal DS, Bretagnolle V, Camatti E, Canullo R, Cardoso PG, Ens BJ, Everaert G, Evtimova V, Feuchtmayr H, García-González R, Gómez García D, Grandin U, Gutowski JM, Hadar L, Halada L, Halassy M, Hummel H, Huttunen KL, Jaroszewicz B, Jensen TC, Kalivoda H, Schmidt IK, Kröncke I, Leinonen R, Martinho F, Meesenburg H, Meyer J, Minerbi S, Monteith D, Nikolov BP, Oro D, Ozoliņš D, Padedda BM, Pallett D, Pansera M, Pardal MÂ, Petriccione B, Pipan T, Pöyry J, Schäfer SM, Schaub M, Schneider SC, Skuja A, Soetaert K, Spriņģe G, Stanchev R, Stockan JA, Stoll S, Sundqvist L, Thimonier A, Van Hoey G, Van Ryckegem G, Visser ME, Vorhauser S, Haase P. Meta-analysis of multidecadal biodiversity trends in Europe. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3486. [PMID: 32661354 PMCID: PMC7359034 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17171-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Local biodiversity trends over time are likely to be decoupled from global trends, as local processes may compensate or counteract global change. We analyze 161 long-term biological time series (15-91 years) collected across Europe, using a comprehensive dataset comprising ~6,200 marine, freshwater and terrestrial taxa. We test whether (i) local long-term biodiversity trends are consistent among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, and (ii) changes in biodiversity correlate with regional climate and local conditions. Our results reveal that local trends of abundance, richness and diversity differ among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, demonstrating that biodiversity changes at local scale are often complex and cannot be easily generalized. However, we find increases in richness and abundance with increasing temperature and naturalness as well as a clear spatial pattern in changes in community composition (i.e. temporal taxonomic turnover) in most biogeoregions of Northern and Eastern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Pilotto
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.
- Environmental Archaeology Lab, Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Ingolf Kühn
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Halle, Germany
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle - Jena - Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rita Adrian
- Department of Ecosystem Research, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries & Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Renate Alber
- Biological Laboratory, Agency for Environment and Climate Protection, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Audrey Alignier
- UMR 0980 BAGAP, INRAE - Institut Agro - ESA, Rennes, France
- LTSER Zone Atelier Armorique, 35042, Rennes, France
| | | | - Jaana Bäck
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth system Research, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Luc Barbaro
- Dynafor, INRAE, University of Toulouse, France & CESCO, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne-Univ, Paris, France & LTSER Zone Atelier Pyrénées Garonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | | | - Natalie Beenaerts
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - David S Boukal
- University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Department of Ecosystem Biology & Soil and Water Research Infrastructure, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vincent Bretagnolle
- CEBC, UMR7372, CNRS & La Rochelle University, 79360, Villiers en bois, France
- LTSER Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre, 79360, Beauvoir sur Niort, France
| | - Elisa Camatti
- Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, Venice, Italy
| | - Roberto Canullo
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, unit Plant Diversity and Ecosystems Management, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Patricia G Cardoso
- CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno J Ens
- Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Vesela Evtimova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Heidrun Feuchtmayr
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, UK
| | | | | | - Ulf Grandin
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jerzy M Gutowski
- Department of Natural Forests, Forest Research Institute, Białowieża, Poland
| | | | - Lubos Halada
- Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS, Branch Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Melinda Halassy
- MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Herman Hummel
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Kaisa-Leena Huttunen
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Oulanka Research Station, University of Oulu Infrastructure Platform, Kuusamo, Finland
| | - Bogdan Jaroszewicz
- Białowieża Geobotanical Station, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Białowieża, Poland
| | | | | | - Inger Kappel Schmidt
- Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ingrid Kröncke
- Senckenberg am Meer, Marine Research Department, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Reima Leinonen
- Kainuu Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Kajaani, Finland
| | - Filipe Martinho
- Centre For Functional Ecology (CFE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Julia Meyer
- Senckenberg am Meer, Marine Research Department, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Stefano Minerbi
- Forest Services, Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Don Monteith
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, UK
| | - Boris P Nikolov
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Daniel Oro
- CEAB (CSIC), 17300, Blanes, Spain
- IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), 07190, Esporles, Spain
| | - Dāvis Ozoliņš
- Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Bachisio M Padedda
- Dipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Marco Pansera
- Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, Venice, Italy
| | - Miguel Ângelo Pardal
- Centre For Functional Ecology (CFE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Bruno Petriccione
- Carabinieri, Biodiversity and Park Protection Department, Castel di Sangro Biodiversity Unit, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Tanja Pipan
- ZRC SAZU Karst Research Institute, Ljubljana & UNESCO Chair on Karst Education University of Nova Gorica, Vipava, Slovenia
| | - Juha Pöyry
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Biodiversity Centre, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Marcus Schaub
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Agnija Skuja
- Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Karline Soetaert
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Gunta Spriņģe
- Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Radoslav Stanchev
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Jenni A Stockan
- Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Stefan Stoll
- University of Applied Sciences Trier, Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, Birkenfeld, Germany
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lisa Sundqvist
- Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anne Thimonier
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Gert Van Hoey
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fishery and Food, Oostende, Belgium
| | | | - Marcel E Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Samuel Vorhauser
- Biological Laboratory, Agency for Environment and Climate Protection, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Peter Haase
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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7
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Iversen LL, Winkel A, Baastrup-Spohr L, Hinke AB, Alahuhta J, Baattrup-Pedersen A, Birk S, Brodersen P, Chambers PA, Ecke F, Feldmann T, Gebler D, Heino J, Jespersen TS, Moe SJ, Riis T, Sass L, Vestergaard O, Maberly SC, Sand-Jensen K, Pedersen O. Catchment properties and the photosynthetic trait composition of freshwater plant communities. Science 2019; 366:878-881. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aay5945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Unlike in land plants, photosynthesis in many aquatic plants relies on bicarbonate in addition to carbon dioxide (CO2) to compensate for the low diffusivity and potential depletion of CO2 in water. Concentrations of bicarbonate and CO2 vary greatly with catchment geology. In this study, we investigate whether there is a link between these concentrations and the frequency of freshwater plants possessing the bicarbonate use trait. We show, globally, that the frequency of plant species with this trait increases with bicarbonate concentration. Regionally, however, the frequency of bicarbonate use is reduced at sites where the CO2 concentration is substantially above the air equilibrium, consistent with this trait being an adaptation to carbon limitation. Future anthropogenic changes of bicarbonate and CO2 concentrations may alter the species compositions of freshwater plant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. L. Iversen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - A. Winkel
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - L. Baastrup-Spohr
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A. B. Hinke
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J. Alahuhta
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - S. Birk
- Aquatic Ecology, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - P. Brodersen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - P. A. Chambers
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - F. Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - T. Feldmann
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - D. Gebler
- Department of Ecology and Environment, Poznán University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - J. Heino
- Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - T. S. Jespersen
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - S. J. Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - T. Riis
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - L. Sass
- Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA
| | | | - S. C. Maberly
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK
| | - K. Sand-Jensen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - O. Pedersen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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8
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Brophy MJ, Mackie AL, Park Y, Gagnon GA. Exploring the detection of microcystin-LR using polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS). Environ Sci Process Impacts 2019; 21:659-666. [PMID: 30899924 DOI: 10.1039/c8em00569a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were used in this study to explore passive sampling for the detection of microcystin-LR (MC-LR). POCIS were deployed in triplicate for a minimum of 28 days at the inlet and outlet of a 1 km2, 4.2 km long lake in Atlantic Canada. POCIS results were compared to lake water grab sampling and followed a similar trend. Laboratory POCIS studies using lake water spiked with known MC-LR concentrations were used to estimate lake water concentrations over the deployment period by calculating POCIS sampling rate (Rs). The Rs for MC-LR in this lake water was found to be 0.045 (±0.001) and 0.041 (±0.001) L per day for initial concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 μg L-1. Estimated MC-LR concentrations from POCIS were generally higher than grab sampling results, especially at the outlet to the lake from late September to late October. This could possibly give a better picture of MC-LR concentrations in the lake; MC-LR concentrations can fluctuate substantially over short time periods. POCIS were able to detect MC-LR in the water stream when grab sampling resulted in non-detects (i.e., below detection limit of LC-MS/MS). The use of passive sampling for MC-LR could have beneficial implications for public health and toxicity testing by lowering detection limits for this chronically and acutely toxic chemical. The correlation of aqueous MC-LR concentrations to POCIS MC-LR concentrations needs further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Brophy
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Faculty of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
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9
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Brophy MJ, Trueman BF, Park Y, Betts RA, Gagnon GA. Fluorescence Spectra Predict Microcystin-LR and Disinfection Byproduct Formation Potential in Lake Water. Environ Sci Technol 2019; 53:586-594. [PMID: 30561985 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and algal toxins can be expensive to monitor and represent significant potential risks to human health. DBPs, including haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes, are possible or probable human carcinogens. Microcystin-LR-produced by cyanobacteria-is linked with various adverse health effects. Here we show that fluorescence spectra predict both microcystin-LR occurrence and DBP formation potential (DBPfp) in lake water. We compared models with either fluorescence spectra or a suite of water quality predictors as inputs. A regularized logistic regression model with fluorescence spectral inputs correctly classified 94% of test data with respect to microcystin-LR occurrence, with a 96% probability of correctly ranking a detect/nondetect pair. Regularized linear regression predicted DBPfp based on fluorescence inputs with a combined R2 of 0.83 on test data. A gradient-boosted classifier with seven water quality inputs was comparable in detecting microcystin-LR (91% correct), as was UV254 in predicting DBPfp (combined test R2 = 0.84), but no single parameter matched fluorescence spectra over both predictive tasks. Results highlight the potential for multiparameter monitoring via fluorescence spectroscopy, extending previous work on predicting DBPs alone. As a high-frequency monitoring tool, this approach could supplement mass spectrometric methods that may only be applicable at low frequency due to resource limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Brophy
- Department of Civil & Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , B3H 4R2 Canada
| | - Benjamin F Trueman
- Department of Civil & Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , B3H 4R2 Canada
| | - Yuri Park
- Department of Civil & Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , B3H 4R2 Canada
| | - Rebecca A Betts
- Department of Civil & Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , B3H 4R2 Canada
| | - Graham A Gagnon
- Department of Civil & Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , B3H 4R2 Canada
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10
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Beneš F, Horecký J, Senoo T, Kamasová L, Lamačová A, Tátosová J, Hardekopf DW, Stuchlík E. Evidence for responses in water chemistry and macroinvertebrates in a strongly acidified mountain stream. Biologia (Bratisl) 2017. [DOI: 10.1515/biolog-2017-0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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11
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Clapcott JE, Goodwin EO, Harding JS. Identifying Catchment-Scale Predictors of Coal Mining Impacts on New Zealand Stream Communities. Environ Manage 2016; 57:711-721. [PMID: 26467674 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-015-0627-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 05/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Coal mining activities can have severe and long-term impacts on freshwater ecosystems. At the individual stream scale, these impacts have been well studied; however, few attempts have been made to determine the predictors of mine impacts at a regional scale. We investigated whether catchment-scale measures of mining impacts could be used to predict biological responses. We collated data from multiple studies and analyzed algae, benthic invertebrate, and fish community data from 186 stream sites, including un-mined streams, and those associated with 620 mines on the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand. Algal, invertebrate, and fish richness responded to mine impacts and were significantly higher in un-mined compared to mine-impacted streams. Changes in community composition toward more acid- and metal-tolerant species were evident for algae and invertebrates, whereas changes in fish communities were significant and driven by a loss of nonmigratory native species. Consistent catchment-scale predictors of mining activities affecting biota included the time post mining (years), mining density (the number of mines upstream per catchment area), and mining intensity (tons of coal production per catchment area). Mining was associated with a decline in stream biodiversity irrespective of catchment size, and recovery was not evident until at least 30 years after mining activities have ceased. These catchment-scale predictors can provide managers and regulators with practical metrics to focus on management and remediation decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jon S Harding
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
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12
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Gray C, Hildrew A, Lu X, Ma A, McElroy D, Monteith D, O’Gorman E, Shilland E, Woodward G. Recovery and Nonrecovery of Freshwater Food Webs from the Effects of Acidification. ADV ECOL RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2016.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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13
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van Kleef H, Verberk W, Kimenai F, van der Velde G, Leuven R. Natural recovery and restoration of acidified shallow soft-water lakes: Successes and bottlenecks revealed by assessing life-history strategies of chironomid larvae. Basic Appl Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2015.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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14
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Zhou Q, Driscoll CT, Sullivan TJ. Responses of 20 lake-watersheds in the Adirondack region of New York to historical and potential future acidic deposition. Sci Total Environ 2015; 511:186-194. [PMID: 25544337 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.044] [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: 09/14/2014] [Revised: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Critical loads (CLs) and dynamic critical loads (DCLs) are important tools to guide the protection of ecosystems from air pollution. In order to quantify decreases in acidic deposition necessary to protect sensitive aquatic species, we calculated CLs and DCLs of sulfate (SO4(2-))+nitrate (NO3-) for 20 lake-watersheds from the Adirondack region of New York using the dynamic model, PnET-BGC. We evaluated lake water chemistry and fish and total zooplankton species richness in response to historical acidic deposition and under future deposition scenarios. The model performed well in simulating measured chemistry of Adirondack lakes. Current deposition of SO4(2-)+NO3-, calcium (Ca2+) weathering rate and lake acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) in 1850 were related to the extent of historical acidification (1850-2008). Changes in lake Al3+ concentrations since the onset of acidic deposition were also related to Ca2+ weathering rate and ANC in 1850. Lake ANC and fish and total zooplankton species richness were projected to increase under hypothetical decreases in future deposition. However, model projections suggest that lake ecosystems will not achieve complete chemical and biological recovery in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingtao Zhou
- 151 Link Hall, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY 13244, United States.
| | - Charles T Driscoll
- 151 Link Hall, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY 13244, United States.
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15
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Kitto JA, Gray DP, Greig HS, Niyogi DK, Harding JS. Meta-community theory and stream restoration: evidence that spatial position constrains stream invertebrate communities in a mine impacted landscape. Restor Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin A.J. Kitto
- DairyNZ Ltd, Canterbury Agricultural & Science Centre; Gerald Street Lincoln New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Canterbury; Private Bag 4800 Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
| | - Duncan P. Gray
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Canterbury; Private Bag 4800 Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
- Canterbury Regional Council; PO Box 345 Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
| | - Hamish S. Greig
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Canterbury; Private Bag 4800 Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
- School of Biology and Ecology; University of Maine; Orono ME 04469 U.S.A
| | - Dev K. Niyogi
- Department of Biological Sciences; Missouri University Science & Technology; Rolla MO 65409 U.S.A
| | - Jon S. Harding
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Canterbury; Private Bag 4800 Christchurch, 8140 New Zealand
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16
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Josephson DC, Robinson JM, Chiotti J, Jirka KJ, Kraft CE. Chemical and biological recovery from acid deposition within the Honnedaga Lake watershed, New York, USA. Environ Monit Assess 2014; 186:4391-409. [PMID: 24671614 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-014-3706-9] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Honnedaga Lake in the Adirondack region of New York has sustained a heritage brook trout population despite decades of atmospheric acid deposition. Detrimental impacts from acid deposition were observed from 1920 to 1960 with the sequential loss of acid-sensitive fishes, leaving only brook trout extant in the lake. Open-lake trap net catches of brook trout declined for two decades into the late 1970s, when brook trout were considered extirpated from the lake but persisted in tributary refuges. Amendments to the Clean Air Act in 1990 mandated reductions in sulfate and nitrogen oxide emissions. By 2000, brook trout had re-colonized the lake coincident with reductions in surface-water sulfate, nitrate, and inorganic monomeric aluminum. No changes have been observed in surface-water acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) or calcium concentration. Observed increases in chlorophyll a and decreases in water clarity reflect an increase in phytoplankton abundance. The zooplankton community exhibits low species richness, with a scarcity of acid-sensitive Daphnia and dominance by acid-tolerant copepods. Trap net surveys indicate that relative abundance of adult brook trout population has significantly increased since the 1970s. Brook trout are absent in 65 % of tributaries that are chronically acidified with ANC of <0 μeq/L and toxic aluminum levels (>2 μmol/L). Given the current conditions, a slow recovery of chemistry and biota is expected in Honnedaga Lake and its tributaries. We are exploring the potential to accelerate the recovery of brook trout abundance in Honnedaga Lake through lime applications to chronically and episodically acidified tributaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Josephson
- Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853-3001, USA,
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17
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Andrén CM, Eriksson Wiklund AK. Response of Gammarus pulex and Baetis rhodani to springtime acid episodes in humic brooks. Sci Total Environ 2013; 463-464:690-699. [PMID: 23850659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.06.059] [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: 01/11/2013] [Revised: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 06/13/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
While chronic acidification of water bodies has been steadily decreasing, episodic acidification continues to affect stream biology by temporarily decreasing pH and mobilizing aluminum. These events are becoming more common as climate change renders more frequent and intense storms and flooding. Throughout Scandinavia, the effects of acidification have been mitigated by liming since the 1980s, but remediation efforts can now be reduced. While transient acidity may reduce fish populations, also other species in streams are affected. In this in-stream study, two macro-invertebrates (Gammarus pulex and Baetis rhodani), both known as salmonid prey organisms, were exposed to snowmelt in six humic brooks with a natural gradient of pH and inorganic monomeric Al (Al(i)). We hypothesize that acid toxicity thresholds can be defined using lethal (mortality) and sublethal (changes in body elemental content) metrics. Periodic observations were made of mortality and whole body concentrations of base cations (BC: Ca, Mg, Na and K) and metals (Al, Fe, Zn and Mn). Mortality increased dramatically at pH<6.0 and Al(i)>15 μg/L for G. pulex and at pH<5.7 and Al(i)>20 μg/L for B. rhodani. No accumulation of Al was found. The invertebrate body Na concentration decreased when pH dropped, suggesting that osmoregulation in both species was affected. In contrast to general BC pattern, Ca concentration in G. pulex and Mg concentration in B. rhodani increased when pH decreased. Although Al(i) strongly correlates to pH, the Al composition of soil and bedrock also influences Al availability, potentially contributing to toxic Al(i) episodes. The estimated values calculated in this study can be used to improve water quality criteria and as thresholds to adjust doses of lime compared to old recommendations in ongoing liming programs. Such adjustments may be critical since both Al(i) and pH levels have to be balanced to mitigate damage to recovering stream ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Andrén
- Dept. of Applied Environmental Science, ITM, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
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18
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Poulíčková A, Hájková P, Kintrová K, Bat'ková R, Czudková M, Hájek M. Tracing decadal environmental change in ombrotrophic bogs using diatoms from herbarium collections and transfer functions. Environ Pollut 2013; 179:201-209. [PMID: 23688732 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.04.007] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Revised: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/06/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Central European mountain bogs, among the most valuable and threatened of habitats, were exposed to intensive human impact during the 20th century. We reconstructed the subrecent water chemistry and water-table depths using diatom based transfer functions calibrated from modern sampling. Herbarium Sphagnum specimens collected during the period 1918-1998 were used as a source of historic diatom samples. We classified samples into hummocks and hollows according to the identity of dominant Sphagnum species, to reduce bias caused by uneven sampling of particular microhabitats. Our results provide clear evidence for bog pollution by grazing during the period 1918-1947 and by undocumented aerial liming in the early 90-ies. We advocate use of herbarized epibryon as a source of information on subrecent conditions in recently polluted mires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aloisie Poulíčková
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 11, CZ-78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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19
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Jenkins GB, Woodward G, Hildrew AG. Long-term amelioration of acidity accelerates decomposition in headwater streams. Glob Chang Biol 2013; 19:1100-1106. [PMID: 23504887 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2012] [Accepted: 11/08/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The secondary production of culturally acidified streams is low, with a few species of generalist detritivores dominating invertebrate assemblages, while decomposition processes are impaired. In a series of lowland headwater streams in southern England, we measured the rate of cellulolytic decomposition and compared it with values measured three decades ago, when anthropogenic acidification was at its peak. We hypothesized that, if acidity has indeed ameliorated, the rate of decomposition will have accelerated, thus potentially supporting greater secondary production and the longer food chains that have been observed in some well-studied recovering freshwater systems. We used cellulose Shirley test cloth as a standardized bioassay to measure the rate of cellulolytic decomposition, via loss in tensile strength, for 31 streams in the Ashdown Forest over 7 days in summer 2011 and 49 days in winter 2012. We compared this with data from an otherwise identical study conducted in 1978 and 1979. In a secondary study, we determined whether decomposition followed a linear or logarithmic decay and, as Shirley cloth is no longer available, we tested an alternative in the form of readily available calico. Overall mean pH had increased markedly over the 32 years between the studies (from 6.0 to 6.7). In both the previous and contemporary studies, the relationship between decomposition and pH was strongest in winter, when pH reaches a seasonal minimum. As in the late 1970s, there was no relationship in 2011/2012 between pH and decay rate in summer. As postulated, decomposition in winter was significantly faster in 2011/2012 than in 1978/1979, with an average increase in decay rate of 18.1%. Recovery from acidification, due to decreased acidifying emissions and deposition, has led to an increase in the rate of cellulolytic decomposition. This response in a critical ecosystem process offers a potential explanation of one aspect of the limited biological recovery that has been observed so far, an increase in larger bodied predators including fish, which in turn leads to an increase in the length of food chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth B Jenkins
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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20
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Smith P, Ashmore MR, Black HIJ, Burgess PJ, Evans CD, Quine TA, Thomson AM, Hicks K, Orr HG. REVIEW: The role of ecosystems and their management in regulating climate, and soil, water and air quality. J Appl Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pete Smith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences and ClimateXChange; University of Aberdeen; 23 St Machar Drive; Aberdeen; AB24 3UU; UK
| | - Mike R. Ashmore
- Stockholm Environment Institute; University of York; York; YO10 5DD; UK
| | | | - Paul J. Burgess
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology; Cranfield University; Cranfield; Bedfordshire; MK43 0AL; UK
| | - Chris D. Evans
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Environment Centre Wales; Deiniol Road; Bangor; Gwynedd; LL57 2UW; UK
| | - Timothy A. Quine
- Biosciences; College of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Exeter; Prince of Wales Road; Exeter; EX4 4PS; UK
| | - Amanda M. Thomson
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Bush Estate; Penicuik; Midlothian; EH26 0QB; UK
| | - Kevin Hicks
- Stockholm Environment Institute; University of York; York; YO10 5DD; UK
| | - Harriet G. Orr
- Environment Agency; Environment Centre Wales; Deiniol Road; Bangor; LL57 2UW; UK
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek K. Gray
- Department of Biology; Queen's University; Kingston; ON; K7L 3J9; Canada
| | - Shelley E. Arnott
- Department of Biology; Queen's University; Kingston; ON; K7L 3J9; Canada
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22
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Angeler DG, Johnson RK. Temporal scales and patterns of invertebrate biodiversity dynamics in boreal lakes recovering from acidification. Ecol Appl 2012; 22:1172-86. [PMID: 22827126 DOI: 10.1890/11-1474.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite international policy implementation to reduce atmospheric acid deposition and restore natural resources from cultural acidification, evidence of ecological recovery is equivocal. Failure to meet recovery goals means that acidification still threatens biodiversity in many areas of the world. Managers thus need information to manage biodiversity, especially its components that are sensitive to stress (acid-sensitive taxa). We analyzed 20-year time series (1988-2007) of water quality and littoral invertebrates in acidified and circum-neutral lakes across Sweden to evaluate regional biodiversity dynamics and the extent to which changes in water quality affect these dynamics. We used multivariate time series modeling to (1) test how individual species groups within invertebrate communities track changes in the abiotic environment and (2) reveal congruencies of taxon contributions to species group change across lakes. Chemical recovery in the lakes was equivocal, and increases of pH and alkalinity were observed in subsets of acidified and circum-neutral lakes. Time series analyses revealed two different patterns of species groups for invertebrate communities across lakes; the first species group showed monotonic change over time, while the second group showed fluctuating temporal patterns. These independent species groups correlated distinctly with different sets of environmental variables. Recovery of pH and alkalinity status was associated with species group patterns only in a few lakes, highlighting an overall weak recovery of invertebrate species. The sets of species, including acid-sensitive taxa, composing these species groups differed markedly across lakes, highlighting context-specific responses of invertebrates to environmental variation. These results are encouraging because disparate local-scale dynamics maintain the diversity of sensitive invertebrate species on a regional scale, despite persisting acidification problems. Our study can inform and help refine current acidification-related policy focused on sensitive biodiversity elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Angeler
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, P.O. Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
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23
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Birks HJB, Jones VJ. Data-Sets. In: Birks HJB, Lotter AF, Juggins S, Smol JP, editors. Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands; 2012. pp. 93-7. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-2745-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
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24
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Gray DK, Arnott SE. The interplay between environmental conditions and allee effects during the recovery of stressed zooplankton communities. Ecol Appl 2011; 21:2652-2663. [PMID: 22073650 DOI: 10.1890/10-2067.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Many important ecological phenomena depend on the success or failure of small introduced populations. Several factors are thought to influence the fate of small populations, including resource and habitat availability, dispersal levels, interspecific interactions, mate limitation, and demographic stochasticity. Recent field studies suggest that Allee effects resulting from mate limitation can prevent the reestablishment of sexual zooplankton species following a disturbance. In this study, we explore the interplay between Allee effects and local environmental conditions in determining the population growth and establishment of two acid-sensitive zooplankton species that have been impacted by regional anthropogenic acidification. We conducted a factorial design field experiment to test the impact of pH and initial organism densities on the per capita population growth (r) of the sexual copepod Epischura lacustris and the seasonally parthenogenetic cladoceran Daphnia mendotae. In addition, we conducted computer simulations using r values obtained from our experiments to determine the probability of extinction for small populations of acid-sensitive colonists that are in the process of colonizing recovering lakes. The results of our field experiment demonstrated that local environmental conditions can moderate the impacts of Allee effects for E. lacustris: Populations introduced at low densities had a significantly lower r at pH 6 than at pH 7. In contrast, r did not differ between pH 6 and 7 environments when E. lacustris populations were introduced at high densities. D. mendotae was affected by pH levels, but not by initial organism densities. Results from our population growth simulations indicated that E. lacustris populations introduced at low densities to pH 6 conditions had a higher probability of extinction than those introduced at low densities to a pH 7 environment. Our study indicates that environmental conditions and mate limitation can interact to determine the fate of small populations of sexually reproducing zooplankton species. If a more rapid recovery of acid-damaged zooplankton communities is desired, augmentation of dispersal levels may be needed during the early phases of pH recovery in order to increase the probability of establishment for mate-limited zooplankton species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek K Gray
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L3J9, Canada.
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Abstract
The acidification and ongoing pH recovery of lakes in Killarney Provincial Park, Canada, provide a unique opportunity to increase our understanding of the role of dispersal as communities respond to environmental change. Time lags in community recovery following pH increases in acidified lakes have typically been attributed to local factors; however, no studies have been conducted to determine if colonist availability could also play a role. Moreover, the rates and mechanisms of dispersal to recovering lakes are poorly understood. In this study, we sought to determine if dispersal limitation could impede the recovery of zooplankton communities affected by a regional stressor. To achieve this objective, we used a combination of empirical data collection along with spatial modeling and variation partitioning techniques. Data were collected by measuring dispersal to four recovering lakes in Killarney Park. Dispersal traps were placed next to lakes to measure immigration overland, drift nets were used to measure immigration via streams, and in situ emergence traps were used to quantify immigration from historically deposited resting eggs. Documented dispersal levels were then compared with the theoretical critical density required for reproduction (N(c)) to determine if adequate numbers were dispersing to establish populations of acid-sensitive species in recovering lakes. Spatial modeling and variation partitioning were conducted using community and physical/chemical data for 45 park lakes that were collected in 1972-1973, 1990, and 2005. Field data demonstrated that a variety of zooplankton species were dispersing to recovering lakes through streams and the egg bank, but few individuals were collected dispersing overland. Although we identified 24 species of zooplankton dispersing, only six species absent from the communities of our study lakes were identified from our traps, and two of these species did not disperse in high enough numbers to surpass N(c). Local environmental variables explained the largest proportion of the variation in zooplankton communities (18-37%); however, spatial variables were also important (7-18%). The significant spatial patterns we found in the park's zooplankton communities, combined with the low overland dispersal levels we documented, suggest that dispersal limitation may be a more important impediment to recovery than was previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek K Gray
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3J9, Canada.
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Schneider SC. Impact of calcium and TOC on biological acidification assessment in Norwegian rivers. Sci Total Environ 2011; 409:1164-1171. [PMID: 21195457 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.11.019] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2010] [Revised: 11/16/2010] [Accepted: 11/16/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Acidification continues to be a major impact in freshwaters of northern Europe, and the biotic response to chemical recovery from acidification is often not a straightforward process. The focus on biological recovery is relevant within the context of the EU Water Framework Directive, where a biological monitoring system is needed that detects differences in fauna and flora compared to undisturbed reference conditions. In order to verify true reference sites for biological analyses, expected river pH is modeled based on Ca and TOC, and 94% of variability in pH at reference sites is explained by Ca alone, while 98% is explained by a combination of Ca and TOC. Based on 59 samples from 28 reference sites, compared to 547 samples from 285 non-reference sites, the impact of calcium and total organic carbon (TOC) on benthic algae species composition, expressed as acidification index periphyton (AIP), is analyzed. Rivers with a high Ca concentration have a naturally higher AIP, and TOC affects reference AIP only at low Ca concentrations. Four biological river types are needed for assessment of river acidification in Norway based on benthic algae: very calcium-poor, humic rivers (Ca<1 mg/l and TOC>2 mg/l); very calcium-poor, clear rivers (Ca<1 mg/l and TOC<2 mg/l); calcium-poor rivers (Ca between 1 and 4 mg/l); moderately calcium rich rivers (Ca>4 mg/l). A biological assessment system for river acidification in Norway based on benthic algae is presented, following the demands of the Water Framework Directive.
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Friberg N, Bonada N, Bradley DC, Dunbar MJ, Edwards FK, Grey J, Hayes RB, Hildrew AG, Lamouroux N, Trimmer M, Woodward G. Biomonitoring of Human Impacts in Freshwater Ecosystems. ADV ECOL RES 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-374794-5.00001-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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Layer K, Hildrew AG, Jenkins GB, Riede JO, Rossiter SJ, Townsend CR, Woodward G. Long-Term Dynamics of a Well-Characterised Food Web. Elsevier; 2011. pp. 69-117. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-374794-5.00002-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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Johnson RK, Angeler DG. Tracing recovery under changing climate: response of phytoplankton and invertebrate assemblages to decreased acidification. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1899/09-171.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard K. Johnson
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David G. Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
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Erlandsson M, Laudon H, Fölster J. Spatiotemporal patterns of drivers of episodic acidification in Swedish streams and their relationships to hydrometeorological factors. Sci Total Environ 2010; 408:4633-4643. [PMID: 20637494 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2010] [Revised: 06/07/2010] [Accepted: 06/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the spatiotemporal patterns of episodic acidification in 87 weakly buffered streams in Sweden at a monthly sampling frequency during a ten-year study period (1998-2007). Time series of pre-industrial pH (pH(0)) were reconstructed from the acidification model Meta(MAGIC), and the acidification impact was defined by the difference between the pH(0) and the contemporary pH (i.e., DeltapH=pH(0)-pH(t)). Acidification episodes were defined as observations for which the pH(t) was at least 0.4 units lower than average, in combination with a pH at least 0.2 units higher than average. Thus, only occasions in which the stream water was both more acidic and more acidified than average were characterized as acidification episodes. For each observed episode, the primary cause was identified from one of the following five possible drivers: dilution, increase in sulfate, nitrate or organic acids, or sea salt deposition. In total, 258 episodes were observed during the study period. The study showed that streams that were acidified during baseflow (DeltapH>0.4), but not chronically acidic (pH>5.2), were subjected to regular episodic acidification. Dilution was the single most important cause and the main driver for 58% of the identified episodes. Increases in sulfate concentrations were also relatively common (26% of episodes), whereas increases in nitrate and organic acids as well as sea salt deposition were of minor importance. The total number of dilution-related acidification episodes within a year had a significant (p=0.005) positive correlation (r=+0.83) with the average annual precipitation. Occurrences of sulfate episodes were related to droughts during the preceding summers. While the number of streams that are susceptible to episodic acidification will decrease as a consequence of recovery from acidification, the hydrological and meteorological consequences of future climate change may make episodic acidification more common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Erlandsson
- Department of Environmental Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Szkokan-Emilson EJ, Wesolek BE, Gunn JM, Sarrazin-Delay C, Bedore J, Chan F, Garreau D, O'Grady A, Robinson C. Recovery of benthic invertebrate communities from acidification in Killarney Park lakes. Environ Monit Assess 2010; 166:293-302. [PMID: 19479335 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-009-1002-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2008] [Accepted: 05/14/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Using a reference-condition comparison, recovery of benthic invertebrate communities from acidification was assessed in three lakes in Killarney Wilderness Park approximately 40-60 km from the massive metal smelters in Sudbury, Canada. Test site analyses (TSAs) were used to compare the park lakes to 20 reference lakes near Dorset Ontario, 200 km to the east. An extension of a previous survey (1997-2001) of two sensitive mayfly species (Stenonema femoratum and Stenacron interpunctatum) was conducted in one of the lakes. TSA results indicate that the three Killarney lakes remain significantly different from reference condition due primarily to higher abundances of a few acid-tolerant families and the presence of some less abundant sensitive families. Colonization rates differ greatly between the two mayfly species presumably because of competition for available habitat. Overall, this study suggests that early colonizers will gain an advantage to out-compete subsequent arrivals, and these competitive interactions will delay the return of communities to reference condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik J Szkokan-Emilson
- Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit, Biology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada.
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Gagkas Z, Heal KV, Nisbet TR, Stuart N. Comparison of different critical load approaches for assessing streamwater acid-sensitivity to broadleaf woodland expansion. Sci Total Environ 2010; 408:1235-1244. [PMID: 20071010 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2009] [Revised: 11/06/2009] [Accepted: 12/08/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Due to its potential adverse effects on freshwater acidification, risk assessments of the impacts of forest expansion on surface waters are required. The critical load methodology is the standard way of assessing these risks and the two most widely used models are the Steady-State Water Chemistry (SSWC) and First-order Acidity Balance (FAB) models. In the UK the recommended risk assessment procedure for assessing the impact of forest expansion on freshwater acidification uses the SSWC model, whilst the FAB model is used for guiding emission policy. This study compared the two models for assessing the sensitivity of streamwater to acidification in 14 catchments with different proportions of broadleaf woodland cover in acid-sensitive areas in the UK. Both models predicted the exceedance of streamwater critical loads in the same catchments, but the magnitudes of exceedance varied due to the different treatment of nitrogen processes. The FAB model failed to account for high nitrogen leaching to streamwater, attributed to nitrogen deposition and/or fixation of nitrogen by alder trees in some study catchments, while both models underestimated the influence of high seasalt deposition. Critical load exceedance in most catchments was not sensitive to the use of different acid neutralising capacity thresholds or runoff estimates, probably due to the large difference between critical load values and acidic deposition loadings. However, the assessments were more sensitive to differences in calculation procedure in catchments where nitrogen deposition was similar to the availability of base cations from weathering and/or where critical load exceedance values were <1keqH(+)ha(-1)yr(-1). Critical load exceedance values from both models agreed with assessments of acid-sensitivity based on indicator macroinvertebrates sampled from the study catchments. Thus the methodology currently used in the UK appears to be robust for assessing the risk of broadleaf woodland expansion on surface water acidification and ecological status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Gagkas
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, Edinburgh, UK
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Petrin Z, Laudon H, Malmqvist B. Diverging effects of anthropogenic acidification and natural acidity on community structure in Swedish streams. Sci Total Environ 2008; 394:321-330. [PMID: 18299145 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.01.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2007] [Revised: 01/18/2008] [Accepted: 01/31/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic acidification caused by aerial deposition of acidifying substances is known to have detrimental effects on freshwater biota, including reductions in species diversity and ecosystem functioning. However, such impairment is not found in systems acidified to a similar extent by natural processes. A proposed explanation for this difference is that freshwater organisms have had far more time to evolve and adapt to natural than anthropogenic acidification. Thus, where acidity is natural, adaptation may account for diverse and functional communities. Here, we investigated whether adaptations--that were previously implied to occur on small spatial scales--may explain the species richness patterns on a much larger geographical scale, apply to ecological functioning, and are relevant in Sweden, where natural acidity is geologically relatively recent. Therefore, we compared differences in species diversity and ecosystem process rates between 24 acidic and circumneutral streams in northern Sweden, where acidity is natural, and southern Sweden, where acidity is largely anthropogenic. In agreement with our predictions, the difference in macroinvertebrate species richness between acidic and circumneutral streams was threefold larger in the region where acidity was anthropogenic than where it was natural, albeit marginally non-significantly. In contrast, no such trend was found for the rates of decomposition by microbes and leaf-feeding macroinvertebrates, possibly due to functional redundancy. The structure of species assemblages differed between acidic and circumneutral sites and between the regions. Our results agree with the notion that freshwater biota are adapted to natural acidity, but competing explanations including other differences in water chemistry and differences in the biogeographical colonization histories may also account for part of the observed patterns. Since naturally acidic environments similar to those in northern Sweden are widespread, we predict that diverse and functionally efficient freshwater communities that are well adapted to such conditions are more common than currently recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zlatko Petrin
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
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37
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Craine JM, Battersby J, Elmore AJ, Jones AW. Building EDENs: The Rise of Environmentally Distributed Ecological Networks. Bioscience 2007. [DOI: 10.1641/b570108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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Skjelkvåle BL, Stoddard JL, Jeffries DS, Tørseth K, Høgåsen T, Bowman J, Mannio J, Monteith DT, Mosello R, Rogora M, Rzychon D, Vesely J, Wieting J, Wilander A, Worsztynowicz A. Regional scale evidence for improvements in surface water chemistry 1990-2001. Environ Pollut 2005; 137:165-76. [PMID: 15944047 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2004] [Accepted: 12/17/2004] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The main aim of the international UNECE monitoring program ICP Waters under the Convention of Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) is to assess, on a regional basis, the degree and geographical extent of the impact of atmospheric pollution, in particular acidification, on surface waters. Regional trends are calculated for 12 geographical regions in Europe and North America, comprising 189 surface waters sites. From 1990-2001 sulphate concentrations decreased in all but one of the investigated regions. Nitrate increased in only one region, and decreased in three North American regions. Improvements in alkalinity and pH are widely observed. Results from the ICP Waters programme clearly show widespread improvement in surface water acid-base chemistry, in response to emissions controls programs and decreasing acidic deposition. Limited site-specific biological data suggest that continued improvement in the chemical status of acid-sensitive lakes and streams will lead to biological recovery in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- B L Skjelkvåle
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, P.O. Box 173, Kjelsås, N-0411 Oslo, Norway.
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Evans CD, Monteith DT, Cooper DM. Long-term increases in surface water dissolved organic carbon: observations, possible causes and environmental impacts. Environ Pollut 2005; 137:55-71. [PMID: 15944040 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 328] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2004] [Accepted: 12/17/2004] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in 22 UK upland waters have increased by an average of 91% during the last 15 years. Increases have also occurred elsewhere in the UK, northern Europe and North America. A range of potential drivers of these trends are considered, including temperature, rainfall, acid deposition, land-use, nitrogen and CO2 enrichment. From examination of recent environmental changes, spatial patterns in observed trends, and analysis of time series, it is suggested that DOC may be increasing in response to a combination of declining acid deposition and rising temperatures; however it is difficult to isolate mechanisms based on monitoring data alone. Long-term DOC increases may have wide-ranging impacts on freshwater biota, drinking water quality, coastal marine ecosystems and upland carbon balances. Full understanding of the significance of these increases requires further knowledge of the extent of natural long-term variability, and of the natural "reference" state of these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C D Evans
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Orton Building, Deiniol Road, Bangor, LL57 2UP, UK.
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Monteith DT, Evans CD. The United Kingdom Acid Waters Monitoring Network: a review of the first 15 years and introduction to the special issue. Environ Pollut 2005; 137:3-13. [PMID: 15944036 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2004] [Accepted: 12/17/2004] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The United Kingdom Acid Waters Monitoring Network (AWMN) was established in 1988 to determine the ecological impact of acidic emissions control policy on acid-sensitive lakes and streams. AWMN data have been used to explore a range of causal linkages necessary to connect changes in emissions to chemical and, ultimately, biological recovery. Regional scale reductions in sulphur (S) deposition have been found to have had an immediate influence on surface water chemistry, including increases in acid neutralising capacity, pH and alkalinity and declines in aluminium toxicity. These in turn can be linked to changes in the aquatic biota which are consistent with "recovery" responses. A continuation of the current programme is essential in order to better understand apparent non-linearity between nitrogen (N) in deposition and runoff, the substantial rise in organic acid concentrations, and the likely impacts of forecast climate change and other potential constraints on further biological improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- D T Monteith
- Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK.
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Ledger ME, Hildrew AG. The ecology of acidification and recovery: changes in herbivore-algal food web linkages across a stream pH gradient. Environ Pollut 2005; 137:103-18. [PMID: 15944043 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2004] [Accepted: 12/17/2004] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
We examined the effects of acidification on herbivore-algal food web linkages in headwater streams. We determined the structure and abundance of consumer and benthic algal assemblages, and gauged herbivory, in 10 streams along a pH gradient (mean annual pH 4.6-6.4). Biofilm taxonomic composition changed with pH but total abundance did not vary systematically across the gradient. Mayflies and chironomids dominated under circumneutral conditions but declined with increasing acidity and their consumption of algae was strongly reduced. Contrary to expectations, several putative shredder species consumed algae, maintaining the herbivore-algal linkage where specialist grazers could not persist. These shifts in functioning could render the communities of acidified streams resistant to reinvasion when acidity ameliorates and water chemistry is restored to a pre-acidification condition. This hypothesis is discussed in the light of recent trends in the chemistry and biology of the UK Acid Waters Monitoring Network sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Ledger
- Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK.
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