1
|
Gutiérrez-Cánovas C, von Schiller D, Pace G, Gómez-Gener L, Pascoal C. Multiple stressors alter greenhouse gas concentrations in streams through local and distal processes. Glob Chang Biol 2024; 30:e17301. [PMID: 38687496 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Streams are significant contributors of greenhouse gases (GHG) to the atmosphere, and the increasing number of stressors degrading freshwaters may exacerbate this process, posing a threat to climatic stability. However, it is unclear whether the influence of multiple stressors on GHG concentrations in streams results from increases of in-situ metabolism (i.e., local processes) or from changes in upstream and terrestrial GHG production (i.e., distal processes). Here, we hypothesize that the mechanisms controlling multiple stressor effects vary between carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), with the latter being more influenced by changes in local stream metabolism, and the former mainly responding to distal processes. To test this hypothesis, we measured stream metabolism and the concentrations of CO2 (pCO2) and CH4 (pCH4) in 50 stream sites that encompass gradients of nutrient enrichment, oxygen depletion, thermal stress, riparian degradation and discharge. Our results indicate that these stressors had additive effects on stream metabolism and GHG concentrations, with stressor interactions explaining limited variance. Nutrient enrichment was associated with higher stream heterotrophy and pCO2, whereas pCH4 increased with oxygen depletion and water temperature. Discharge was positively linked to primary production, respiration and heterotrophy but correlated negatively with pCO2. Our models indicate that CO2-equivalent concentrations can more than double in streams that experience high nutrient enrichment and oxygen depletion, compared to those with oligotrophic and oxic conditions. Structural equation models revealed that the effects of nutrient enrichment and discharge on pCO2 were related to distal processes rather than local metabolism. In contrast, pCH4 responses to nutrient enrichment, discharge and temperature were related to both local metabolism and distal processes. Collectively, our study illustrates potential climatic feedbacks resulting from freshwater degradation and provides insight into the processes mediating stressor impacts on the production of GHG in streams.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel von Schiller
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals (BEECA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giorgio Pace
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Lluís Gómez-Gener
- Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pimentão AR, Cuco AP, Pascoal C, Cássio F, Castro BB. Current trends and mismatches on fungicide use and assessment of the ecological effects in freshwater ecosystems. Environ Pollut 2024; 347:123678. [PMID: 38447649 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Despite increasing evidence of off-site ecological impacts of pesticides and policy efforts worldwide, pesticide use is still far from being ecologically sustainable. Fungicides are among the most sold classes of pesticides and are crucial to ensure global food supply and security. This study aimed to identify potential gaps of knowledge and mismatches between research and usage data of fungicides by: (i) systematizing the current trends in global sales of fungicides, focusing on the European context in particular (where they are proportionally important); (ii) reviewing the scientific literature on the impacts of synthetic fungicides on non-target freshwater organisms. Sales data revealed important global and regional asymmetries in the relative importance of fungicides and the preferred active ingredients. The literature review on the ecological effects of fungicides disclosed a mismatch between the most studied and the most sold substances, as well as a bias towards the use of single species assays with standard test organisms. To ensure a proper evaluation, risk scenarios should focus on a regional scale, and research agendas must highlight sensitive aquatic ecorreceptors and improve the crosstalk between analytical and sales data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Pimentão
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Aquatic Research Network (ARNET), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), School of Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Patrícia Cuco
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Aquatic Research Network (ARNET), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), School of Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Aquatic Research Network (ARNET), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), School of Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Aquatic Research Network (ARNET), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), School of Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno B Castro
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Aquatic Research Network (ARNET), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), School of Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pace G, Lourenço J, Ribeiro CA, Rodrigues C, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Spatial accumulation of flood-driven riverside litter in two Northern Atlantic Rivers. Environ Pollut 2024; 345:123528. [PMID: 38336138 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123528] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The escalation of litter accumulation in aquatic environments is recognized as an emerging global concern. Although rivers represent the main conduits for land-based waste into the oceans, the spatial dynamics of litter accumulation in these systems remain poorly investigated, especially after hydro-climatic extreme events. Floods have been identified as major drivers of litter mobilization, including macroplastics, within rivers. However, predicting flood-induced litter accumulation along riverbanks is complex due to the cumulative interplay of multiple environmental (geomorphological and riparian) and anthropogenic factors. Using empirical data collected from 14 stream reaches in two Northern Atlantic rivers in Portugal, our study evaluates which factors, among geomorphological, riparian, and anthropogenic descriptors, best drive riverside litter accumulation after floods. Taking into account the longitudinal gradient and the spatial heterogeneity of the studied reaches, our study enhances how the accumulation and characteristics (type, size) of riverside litter vary across a rural-urban continuum. Our model reveals that the combination of the human population density and the stream slope at river reach showed the highest explanatory power for the accumulation of riverside litter. Our findings indicate that litter tends to be retained close to the source, even under flood conditions. We also found that the structure of riparian vegetation showed low explanatory power for litter accumulation. However, riparian trapping could be influenced by litter input (density and type) which varies with anthropogenic activities. This work highlights the importance of gathering field data to identify critical areas of riverside litter accumulation within river basins. Our findings can further support environmental managers in designing and implementing effective cleanup campaigns and implementing plastic recovery strategies at specific areas. Nevertheless, it is crucial to enhance coordinated efforts across the entire value chain to reduce plastic pollution, promote innovative approaches for plastic litter valorization, and establish effective prevention pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Pace
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Landscape Laboratory (LL), Rua da Ponte Romana, Creixomil, 4835-095, Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - J Lourenço
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Landscape Laboratory (LL), Rua da Ponte Romana, Creixomil, 4835-095, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - C A Ribeiro
- Landscape Laboratory (LL), Rua da Ponte Romana, Creixomil, 4835-095, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - C Rodrigues
- Landscape Laboratory (LL), Rua da Ponte Romana, Creixomil, 4835-095, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - C Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - F Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Graça D, Fernandes I, Cássio F, Pascoal C. Eco-physiological Responses of Aquatic Fungi to Three Global Change Stressors Highlight the Importance of Intraspecific Trait Variability. Microb Ecol 2023; 85:1215-1225. [PMID: 35415771 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02007-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic change at a global scale is affecting life on Earth with impacts on freshwaters. Aquatic hyphomycetes are fungi that drive organic matter decomposition in freshwaters and mediate energy transfer to higher trophic levels. Intraspecific trait variability affects ecological processes and can account for species adaptations to environmental change. To ascertain how aquatic hyphomycetes respond to global change related stressors, we selected 20 strains (7 species), based on their co-occurrence in streams and phylogenetic relatedness. We measured fungal growth rates at different temperatures (7 levels), nutrient concentrations (6 levels) and medium moisture (6 levels). Our results indicate that all stressors affected fungal growth, and responses to nutrient enrichment and moisture were strain specific. Fungal responses to the stressors were not explained by their phylogenetic relatedness. In the absence of stressors, interspecific diversity best explained the variance in fungal traits, while the increase in the stress gradient increased the importance of intraspecific diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Graça
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Isabel Fernandes
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lourenço J, Gutiérrez-Cánovas C, Carvalho F, Cássio F, Pascoal C, Pace G. Non-interactive effects drive multiple stressor impacts on the taxonomic and functional diversity of atlantic stream macroinvertebrates. Environ Res 2023; 229:115965. [PMID: 37105281 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Freshwaters are considered among the most endangered ecosystems globally due to multiple stressors, which coincide in time and space. These local stressors typically result from land-use intensification or hydroclimatic alterations, among others. Despite recent advances on multiple stressor effects, current knowledge is still limited to manipulative approaches minimizing biological and abiotic variability. Thus, the assessment of multiple stressor effects in real-world ecosystems is required. Using an extensive survey of 50 stream reaches across North Portugal, we evaluated taxonomic and functional macroinvertebrate responses to multiple stressors, including marked gradients of nutrient enrichment, flow reduction, riparian vegetation structure, thermal stress and dissolved oxygen depletion. We analyzed multiple stressor effects on two taxonomic (taxon richness, Shannon-diversity) and two trait-based diversity indices (functional richness, functional dispersion), as well as changes in trait composition. We found that multiple stressors had additive effects on all diversity metrics, with nutrient enrichment identified as the most important stressor in three out of four metrics, followed by dissolved oxygen depletion and thermal stress. Taxon richness, Shannon-diversity and functional richness responded similarly, whereas functional dispersion was driven by changes in flow velocity and thermal stress. Functional trait composition changed along a major stress gradient determined by nutrient enrichment and oxygen depletion, which was positively correlated with organisms possessing fast-living strategies, aerial respiration, adult phases, and gathering-collector feeding habits. Overall, our results reinforce the need to consider complementary facets of biodiversity to better identify assembly processes in response to multiple stressors. Our data suggest that stressor interactions may be less frequent in real-word streams than predicted by manipulative experiments, which can facilitate mitigation strategies. By combining an extensive field survey with an integrative consideration of multiple biodiversity facets, our study provides new insights that can help to better assess and manage rivers in a global change context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Lourenço
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
| | - C Gutiérrez-Cánovas
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Carvalho
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - F Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - C Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - G Pace
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sabater S, Freixa A, Jiménez L, López-Doval J, Pace G, Pascoal C, Perujo N, Craven D, González-Trujillo JD. Extreme weather events threaten biodiversity and functions of river ecosystems: evidence from a meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:450-461. [PMID: 36307907 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12914] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Both gradual and extreme weather changes trigger complex ecological responses in river ecosystems. It is still unclear to what extent trend or event effects alter biodiversity and functioning in river ecosystems, adding considerable uncertainty to predictions of their future dynamics. Using a comprehensive database of 71 published studies, we show that event - but not trend - effects associated with extreme changes in water flow and temperature substantially reduce species richness. Furthermore, event effects - particularly those affecting hydrological dynamics - on biodiversity and primary productivity were twice as high as impacts due to gradual changes. The synthesis of the available evidence reveals that event effects induce regime shifts in river ecosystems, particularly affecting organisms such as invertebrates. Among extreme weather events, dryness associated with flow interruption caused the largest effects on biota and ecosystem functions in rivers. Effects on ecosystem functions (primary production, organic matter decomposition and respiration) were asymmetric, with only primary production exhibiting a negative response to extreme weather events. Our meta-analysis highlights the disproportionate impact of event effects on river biodiversity and ecosystem functions, with implications for the long-term conservation and management of river ecosystems. However, few studies were available from tropical areas, and our conclusions therefore remain largely limited to temperate river systems. Further efforts need to be directed to assemble evidence of extreme events on river biodiversity and functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Sabater
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain
| | - Anna Freixa
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain
| | - Laura Jiménez
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- University of Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - Julio López-Doval
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- University of Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - Giorgio Pace
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Núria Perujo
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- University of Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - Dylan Craven
- Centro de Modelación y Monitoreo de Ecosistemas, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Arias-Real R, Menéndez M, Muñoz I, Pascoal C. Drying shapes the ecological niche of aquatic fungi with implications on ecosystem functioning. Sci Total Environ 2023; 859:160374. [PMID: 36427710 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160374] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fungi are among the most abundant and diverse organisms on Earth and play pivotal roles in global carbon processing, nutrient cycling and food webs. Despite their abundant and functional importance, little is known about the patterns and mechanisms governing their community composition in intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams, which are the most common fluvial ecosystems globally. Thus far, it is known that aquatic fungi have evolved various life-history strategies and functional adaptations to cope with drying. Nevertheless, some of these adaptations have a metabolic cost and trade-offs between growth, reproduction and dispersion that may affect ecosystem functioning. Thus, understanding their ecological strategies along a gradient of drying is crucial to assess how species will respond to global change and to identify meaningful taxa to maintain ecosystem functions. By combining in situ hydrological information with a niche-based approach, we analysed the role of drying in explaining the spatial segregation of fungal species, and we determined their specialization and affinity over a gradient of drying. In addition, we estimated whether species niches are good predictors of two key ecosystem processes: organic matter decomposition and fungal biomass accrual. Overall, we found that annual drying duration and frequency were the most influential variables upon species niche differentiation across the 15 studied streams. Our cluster analysis identified four drying niche-based groups with contrasting distributions and responses over the drying gradient: drying-sensitive, partly tolerant to drying, generalist, and drying-resistant specialist. In addition, we found that species belonging to the drying specialist group showed a weak contribution to both ecosystem processes, suggesting trade-offs between drying resistance strategies and the energy invested in growth. Taken together, our results suggest that increased water scarcity may jeopardise the capacity of aquatic fungi to guarantee ecosystem functioning and to maintain biogeochemical cycles despite their ability to cope with drying.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Arias-Real
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Margarita Menéndez
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Muñoz
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pascoal C, Ferreira I, Teixeira C, Almeida E, Slade A, Brasil S, Francisco R, Ligezka AN, Morava E, Plotkin H, Jaeken J, Videira PA, Barros L, dos Reis Ferreira V. Patient reported outcomes for phosphomannomutase 2 congenital disorder of glycosylation (PMM2-CDG): listening to what matters for the patients and health professionals. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:398. [PMID: 36309700 PMCID: PMC9618201 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02551-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a growing group of rare genetic disorders. The most common CDG is phosphomannomutase 2 (PMM2)-CDG which often has a severe clinical presentation and life-limiting consequences. There are no approved therapies for this condition. Also, there are no validated disease-specific quality of life (QoL) scales to assess the heterogeneous clinical burden of PMM2-CDG which presents a challenge for the assessment of the disease severity and the impact of a certain treatment on the course of the disease. Aim and methods This study aimed to identify the most impactful clinical signs and symptoms of PMM2-CDG, and specific patient and observer reported outcome measures (PROMs and ObsROMs, respectively) that can adequately measure such impact on patients’ QoL. The most burdensome signs and symptoms were identified through input from the CDG community using a survey targeting PMM2-CDG families and experts, followed by family interviews to understand the real burden of these symptoms in daily life. The list of signs and symptoms was then verified and refined by patient representatives and medical experts in the field. Finally, a literature search for PROMs and ObsROMs used in other rare or common diseases with similar signs and symptoms to those of PMM2-CDG was performed. Results Twenty-four signs/symptoms were identified as the most impactful throughout PMM2-CDG patients’ lifetime. We found 239 articles that included tools to measure those community-selected PMM2-CDG symptoms. Among them, we identified 80 QoL scales that address those signs and symptoms and, subsequently, their psychometric quality was analysed. These scales could be applied directly to the PMM2-CDG population or adapted to create the first PMM2-CDG-specific QoL questionnaire. Conclusion Identifying the impactful clinical manifestations of PMM2-CDG, along with the collection of PROMs/ObsROMs assessing QoL using a creative and community-centric methodology are the first step towards the development of a new, tailored, and specific PMM2-CDG QoL questionnaire. These findings can be used to fill a gap in PMM2-CDG clinical development. Importantly, this methodology is transferable to other CDG and rare diseases with multiple signs and symptoms. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13023-022-02551-y.
Collapse
|
9
|
Batista D, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Evidence of micro and macroplastic toxicity along a stream detrital food-chain. J Hazard Mater 2022; 436:129064. [PMID: 35580497 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are subjected to plastic extensive pollution because they are the direct link between plastic wastes and marine ecosystems. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of different sizes of polyethylene plastics (micro: µPs and macroplastics: PBs) on freshwater decomposers of plant litter. We exposed leaf associated microbial assemblages to µPs (0.5 or 1.5 g L-1) and discs of PBs as follows: green plastic bags (PB-G) alone or in mixtures with transparent plastic bags (PB-Mix). Then, we conducted a feeding preference experiment with the invertebrate shredder Limnephilus sp. to assess their capacity to distinguish leaf discs from PB discs of the same size (12 mm). Leaf decomposition, activities of fungal enzymes and sporulation were inhibited by µPs and PB-Mix, and shifts in fungal community composition were observed. The invertebrate shredders preferred to feed on leaves treated with µPs avoiding those exposed to PB-G/PB-Mix. Our results demonstrated that plastics can have a direct effect on stream-dwelling microbial decomposers and an indirect effect on higher trophic levels (shredders), highlighting that trophic transfer is a route of plastic exposure. The plastic properties (size, concentration, colour) appear to influence plastic toxicity to microbes and shredders, indicating the importance of considering physicochemical properties when assessing their risks to freshwater ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Batista
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Trabulo J, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Can microplastics from personal care products affect stream microbial decomposers in the presence of silver nanoparticles? Sci Total Environ 2022; 832:155038. [PMID: 35390375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of great concern due to their abundance and persistence over time in aquatic environments. However, studies on their impacts on freshwater organisms are scarce. In resemblance, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are incorporated into textiles and personal care products and are also classified as emerging contaminants. We used the leaf litter decomposition model system to investigate the effects of MPs from a commercially used personal care product, alone or in mixture with Ag-NPs, on the diversity and activities of freshwater microbial decomposers. We exposed stream microbial communities associated with leaf litter to increasing concentrations of MPs (polyethylene extracted from a personal care product; 100 μg L-1 up to 1 g L-1 5 concentrations plus 1 control) for 27 days in the absence or presence of Ag-NPs (0.1 mg L-1 and 1 mg L-1). The exposure to MPs, alone or in mixture with Ag-NPs, negatively affected fungal diversity and sporulation, with a reduction in leaf litter decomposition (Cohen's d > 1.5; r> 0.8; Bonferroni, P < 0.01). Shifts in community structure of sporulating fungi were observed, and effects were more pronounced in mixtures with Ag-NPs at the highest concentration. Mixtures of MPs with Ag-NPs (at the higher concentration) had the strongest impacts on extracellular enzymatic (β-glucosidase, Cohen's d > 1; r > 0.5; phenol oxidase, Cohen's d > 1; r > 0.4) activities (ANOVAs, P < 0.05). Apart from sporulation rates, observed toxicity in mixtures was lower than that expected based on individual toxicity effects, mainly for higher concentrations (Bonferroni, P < 0.05). Our study provided evidence of the potential harmful effects of MPs, alone or in mixtures with Ag-NPs, on the activities of aquatic fungi and on a key ecosystem process, determinant to organic matter turnover in streams.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Trabulo
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Biology Department, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Biology Department, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Biology Department, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Biology Department, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Fenoy E, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Rubio-Ríos J, Batista D, Moyano-López FJ, Cássio F, Casas JJ. Elevated temperature may reduce functional but not taxonomic diversity of fungal assemblages on decomposing leaf litter in streams. Glob Chang Biol 2022; 28:115-127. [PMID: 34651383 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mounting evidence points to a linkage between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (B-EF). Global drivers, such as warming and nutrient enrichment, can alter species richness and composition of aquatic fungal assemblages associated with leaf-litter decomposition, a key ecosystem process in headwater streams. However, effects of biodiversity changes on ecosystem functions might be countered by the presumed high functional redundancy of fungal species. Here, we examined how environmental variables and leaf-litter traits (based on leaf chemistry) affect taxonomic and functional α- and β-diversity of fungal decomposers. We analysed taxonomic diversity (DNA-fingerprinting profiles) and functional diversity (community-level physiological profiles) of fungal communities in four leaf-litter species from four subregions differing in stream-water characteristics and riparian vegetation. We hypothesized that increasing stream-water temperature and nutrients would alter taxonomic diversity more than functional diversity due to the functional redundancy among aquatic fungi. Contrary to our expectations, fungal taxonomic diversity varied little with stream-water characteristics across subregions, and instead taxon replacement occurred. Overall taxonomic β-diversity was fourfold higher than functional diversity, suggesting a high degree of functional redundancy among aquatic fungi. Elevated temperature appeared to boost assemblage uniqueness by increasing β-diversity while the increase in nutrient concentrations appeared to homogenize fungal assemblages. Functional richness showed a negative relationship with temperature. Nonetheless, a positive relationship between leaf-litter decomposition and functional richness suggests higher carbon use efficiency of fungal communities in cold waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Encarnación Fenoy
- Department of Biology and Geology, University of Almería, Almería, Spain
- Andalusian Centre for Assessment and Monitoring of Global Change (CAESCG), Almería, Spain
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Juan Rubio-Ríos
- Department of Biology and Geology, University of Almería, Almería, Spain
- Andalusian Centre for Assessment and Monitoring of Global Change (CAESCG), Almería, Spain
| | - Daniela Batista
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | | | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - J Jesús Casas
- Department of Biology and Geology, University of Almería, Almería, Spain
- Andalusian Centre for Assessment and Monitoring of Global Change (CAESCG), Almería, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Martins N, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Individual and mixed effects of anticancer drugs on freshwater rotifers: A multigenerational approach. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2021; 227:112893. [PMID: 34655884 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Human population growth has led to an increased release of chemical contaminants into aquatic environments. Emerging chemical contaminants (ECCs) are of increasing concern because they can affect non-target organisms in aquatic ecosystems. The application of anticancer drugs is increasing because of enhanced cancer rates and use of chemotherapy. We assessed the impacts of two widely used anticancer drugs known for their distinct modes of action, namely 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and doxorubicin (DOX), on the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus across generations. Rotifer mortality (24 h) and population growth (48 h) were assessed to determine initial lethal and sub-lethal effects. Exposure of rotifers to 5-FU (up to 200 mg L-1) did not cause mortality, while DOX caused mortality at high concentrations (EC50 = 15.6 mg L-1). Effects of 5-FU on population growth rate was higher than DOX (5-FU EC50 =10.49 µg L-1, DOX EC50 = 8.78 mg L-1). The effects of the drugs in binary mixture on population growth rates were dose dependent; significant antagonistic effects were found when 5-FU was present in the mixture at high concentrations. Finally, a transgenerational assay for five generations revealed that rotifers were able to recover their population growth rate after fourth generation when exposed to 5-FU; however, population became non-viable after the second generation of exposure to DOX. At the cellular level, accumulation of reactive oxygen species and plasma membrane damage were observed at EC10 and increased at EC50 for both drugs. After exposure of rotifers to 5-FU across generations, there were signs of oxidative stress recovery, as shown by a decrease in ROS accumulation and plasma membrane damage. Our results showed for the first time that the adverse effects of anticancer drugs on freshwater rotifer populations are drug and dose dependent and can persist or be attenuated along generations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Martins
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute for Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute for Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute for Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute for Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Batista D, Giling DP, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F, Gessner MO. Importance of exposure route in determining nanosilver impacts on a stream detrital processing chain. Environ Pollut 2021; 290:118088. [PMID: 34523514 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The commercial use and spread of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in freshwaters have greatly increased over the last decade. Both AgNPs and ionic silver (Ag+) released from nanoparticles are toxic to organisms and compromise ecosystem processes such as leaf litter decomposition. Yet little is known about how AgNPs affect multitrophic systems of interacting species. Furthermore, past work has focused on waterborne exposure with scarce attention given to effects mediated by the consumption of contaminated food. We assessed the importance of direct (via water) and indirect (via diet) AgNP exposure to a processing chain comprising leaf litter, fungi, a shredder (Gammarus pulex) and a collector (Habroleptoides confusa) in microcosms. Direct exposure to contaminated water for 15 days impaired microbial leaf decomposition by ∼50% and leaf-associated fungal biomass by ∼10%. Leaf consumption was reduced by ∼20% but only when G. pulex was exposed to silver via contaminated leaves. There was no effect on FPOM production. Ag + could impose oxidative stress on the shredders and collectors independent of exposure route, as indicated by increased catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities and decreased superoxide dismutase activity. The activity of a neuronal enzyme (cholinesterase) in collectors, but not shredders, also decreased by almost 50% when the animals were indirectly exposed to AgNP. Our results show that AgNPs and Ag+ may disrupt detrital processing chains through direct and indirect exposure routes, even at low concentrations. This highlights the importance of AgNP exposure pathways to interconnected stream biota and ecosystem processes for realistic assessments of risks to freshwater ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Batista
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Darren P Giling
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Zur alten Fischerhütte 2, 16775, Stechlin, Germany; Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia; CSIRO Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Mark O Gessner
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Zur alten Fischerhütte 2, 16775, Stechlin, Germany; Department of Ecology, Berlin Institute of Ecology (TU Berlin), Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Dunck B, Rodrigues L, Lima-Fernandes E, Cássio F, Pascoal C, Cottenie K. Priority effects of stream eutrophication and assembly history on beta diversity across aquatic consumers, decomposers and producers. Sci Total Environ 2021; 797:149106. [PMID: 34303255 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Priority effects are stochastic processes that consider the influence of the order of arrival of species on community dynamics and structure. We evaluated the short-term effects of stream eutrophication and colonization time in freshwater benthic communities (primary producers - periphytic algae, decomposers - fungi, and consumers - macroinvertebrates) to test whether (i) beta diversity is higher in eutrophic streams due to priority effects driven by stochastic community formation processes (ecological drift or random dispersal), and (ii) in the early stages of colonization, priority effects drive the history of the formation and the initial establishment of the community in the stream, resulting in higher beta diversity. The present study was conducted in situ over 28 days in temperate streams along a trophic gradient, with colonization being evaluated every seven days. The study identified 84 species of alga, 43 families of macroinvertebrates, and 44 species of aquatic fungi. Our results demonstrated that deterministic processes were responsible for the formation of aquatic producers, while priority effects (stochasticity) were more important for the aquatic decomposers and consumers. In the case of the producers, beta diversity was highest in the hypertrophic stream, but did not vary significantly over colonization time. The beta diversity of the decomposers was highest in the hypertrophic stream and in the later stages of succession, due primarily to mechanisms of facilitation. The beta diversity of the consumers was lowest in the hypertrophic stream due primarily to the priority and inhibitory effects of the predominant groups, and highest at seven and 21 days of colonization. As these three taxonomic groups differ in their intrinsic biological characteristics, and in their functional role in the ecosystem, our short-term field study demonstrated that both stochastic and deterministic processes combine to influence the configuration of the community, and that the relative importance of the two processes varies systematically along a trophic gradient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Dunck
- Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia (UFRA), Instituto Socioambiental e dos Recursos Hídricos (ISARH), Avenida Perimetral, 660778-30 Belém, PA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia (PPGECO), Universidade Federal do Pará, 66075-11 Belém, PA, Brazil.
| | - Liliana Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Ecology of Continental Aquatic Environments, University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Eva Lima-Fernandes
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Environmental Sciences (iES), University Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Karl Cottenie
- College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, 519-824-4120, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Pace G, Gutiérrez-Cánovas C, Henriques R, Boeing F, Cássio F, Pascoal C. Remote sensing depicts riparian vegetation responses to water stress in a humid Atlantic region. Sci Total Environ 2021; 772:145526. [PMID: 33581545 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Riparian areas in the Cantabrian Atlantic ecoregion (northwest Portugal) play a key role in soil formation and conservation, regulation of nutrient and water cycle, creation of landscape aesthetic value and the preservation of biodiversity. The maintenance of their ecological integrity is crucial given the ever increase in multiple anthropogenic (water demand and agriculture) and climatic pressures (droughts and extreme events). We developed a transferable remote sensing approach, taking advantage of the latest freely available technologies (Sentinel-2 and Copernicus Land products), to detect intra-annual and inter-annual changes in riparian vegetation productivity at the river basin scale related to water stress. This study has used the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to investigate riparian vegetation productivity dynamics on three different vegetation types (coniferous, broadleaved and grassland) over the past 5 years (2015-2019). Our results indicated that inter-annual seasonality differed between drier (2017) and wetter (2016) years. We found that intra-annual dynamics of NDVI were influenced by the longitudinal river zonation. Our model ranked first (r2m = 0.73) showed that the productivity of riparian vegetation during the dry season was positively influenced by annual rainfall and by the type of riparian vegetation. The emergent long lags between climatic variation and riparian plant productivity provides opportunities to forecast early warnings of climatically-driven impacts. In addition, the different average productivity levels among vegetation types should be considered when assessing climatic impacts on riparian vegetation. Future applications of Sentinel 2 products could seek to distinguish riparian areas that are likely to be more vulnerable to changes in the annual water balance from those that are more resistant under longer-term changes in climate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Pace
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - C Gutiérrez-Cánovas
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - R Henriques
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Minho, Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT), Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - F Boeing
- Department of Computational Hydrosystems, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
| | - F Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - C Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Pradhan A, Fernandes M, Martins PM, Pascoal C, Lanceros-Méndez S, Cássio F. Can photocatalytic and magnetic nanoparticles be a threat to aquatic detrital food webs? Sci Total Environ 2021; 769:144576. [PMID: 33482552 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Freshwaters are likely to serve as reservoirs for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) due to their accelerated unintentional release, increasing the relevance of assessing their impacts on aquatic biota and the ecosystem processes they drive. Stream-dwelling microbes, particularly fungi, and invertebrate shredders play an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and transfer of energy to higher trophic levels. We assessed the impacts of two photocatalytic (nano-TiO2 and erbium doped nano-TiO2) and one magnetic (nano-CoFe2O4) ENMs on detrital-based food webs in freshwaters by exposing chestnut leaves, colonized by stream-dwelling microbes, to a series of concentrations (0.25-150 mg L-1) of these ENMs. Microbial decomposition and biomass of fungal communities, associated with leaves, were not affected by the ENMs. However, the activities of antioxidant enzymes of microbial decomposers were significantly (P < 0.05) stimulated by ENMs in a concentration-dependent way, suggesting oxidative stress in stream microbial communities. The stronger responses of these stress biomarkers against nano-TiO2 (increase upto 837.5% for catalase, 1546.8% for glutathione peroxidase and 1154.6% for glutathione S-transferase) suggest a higher toxicity of this ENM comparing to the others. To determine whether the effects could be transferred across trophic levels, the invertebrate shredder Sericostoma sp. was exposed to ENMs (1 and 50 mg L-1) for 5 days either via contaminated water or contaminated food (leaf litter). Leaf consumption rate by shredders decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing concentrations of ENMs via food or water; the effects were more pronounced when exposure occurred via contaminated food (up to 99.3%, 90.7% and 90.3% inhibition by nano-Er:TiO2, nano-CoFe2O4 and nano-TiO2, respectively). Overall, the tested photocatalytic and magnetic ENMs can be harmful to microbial decomposers and invertebrate shredders further compromising detrital-based food webs in streams.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Marta Fernandes
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Centre of Physics, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Pedro M Martins
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Centre of Physics, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez
- Centre of Physics, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Basque Center for Materials, Applications, and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, 48940 Leioa, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Barros D, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Transcriptomics reveals the action mechanisms and cellular targets of citrate-coated silver nanoparticles in a ubiquitous aquatic fungus. Environ Pollut 2021; 268:115913. [PMID: 33143973 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are among the major groups of contaminants of emerging concern for aquatic ecosystems. The massive application of AgNPs relies on the antimicrobial properties of Ag, raising concerns about their potential risk to ecologically important freshwater microbes and the processes they drive. Moreover, it is still uncertain whether the effects of AgNPs are driven by the same mechanisms underlying those of Ag ions (Ag+). We employed transcriptomics to better understand AgNP toxicity and disentangle the role of Ag+ in the overall toxicity towards aquatic fungi. To that end, the worldwide-distributed aquatic fungus Articulospora tetracladia, that plays a central role in organic matter turnover in freshwaters, was selected and exposed for 3 days to citrate-coated AgNPs (∼20 nm) and Ag+ at concentrations inhibiting 20% of growth (EC20). Responses revealed 258 up- and 162 down-regulated genes upon exposure to AgNPs and 448 up- and 84 down-regulated genes under exposure to Ag+. Different gene expression patterns were found after exposure to each silver form, suggesting distinct mechanisms of action. Gene ontology (GO) analyses showed that the major cellular targets likely affected by both silver forms were the biological membranes. GO-based biological processes indicated that AgNPs up-regulated the genes involved in transport, nucleobase metabolism and energy production, but down-regulated those associated with redox and carbohydrate metabolism. Ag+ up-regulated the genes involved in carbohydrate and steroid metabolism, whereas genes involved in localization and transport were down-regulated. Our results showed, for the first time, distinct profiles of gene expression in aquatic fungi exposed to AgNPs and Ag+, supporting different modes of toxicity of each silver form. Also, our results suggest that Ag+ had a negligible role in the toxicity induced by AgNPs. Finally, our study highlights the power of transcriptomics in portraying the stress induced by different silver forms in organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Barros
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Barros D, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Reply to the "Letter to the editor, Proteomic responses to silver nanoparticles vary with the fungal ecotype" by Huang et al. Sci Total Environ 2020; 748:142402. [PMID: 33059898 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Barros
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Martins N, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Effects of metal nanoparticles on freshwater rotifers may persist across generations. Aquat Toxicol 2020; 229:105652. [PMID: 33075614 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nanotechnology has become one of the fastest growing industries in the current century because nanomaterials (NMs) are present in an ever-expanding range of consumer products increasing the chance of their release into natural environments. In this study, the impacts of two metal nanoparticles (Ag-NPs and CuO-NPs) and their equivalent ionic forms (Ag+ and Cu2+) were assessed on the lentic freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and on its ability to adapt and recover through generations. In our study, Ag-NPs and CuO-NPs inhibited the rotifer population growth rate and caused mortality at low concentrations (< 100 μg L-1). Ag-NPs and CuO-NPs decreased in the medium when organisms were present (48 h exposure: 51.1 % and 66.9 %, respectively), similarly Ag+ and Cu2+ also decreased from medium in presence of the organisms (48 h: 35.2 % and 47.3 %, respectively); although the metal concentrations removed from the medium were higher for nanoparticles than metal ions, metal ions showed higher effects then their respective nanoparticle forms. Rotifer populations exposed for 4 generations to the toxicants were able to recover the population growth rate, but some rotifers showed developmental delay and inability to reproduce even after the removal of the toxicants. Intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species as well as plasma membrane damage were found in the rotifers at concentrations corresponding to EC10 (Ag-NPs = 1.7 μg L-1, Ag+ = 4.5 μg L-1, CuO-NPs = 46.9 μg L-1, Cu2+ = 35 μg L-1) of the population growth rate. Our results showed, for the first time, that effects of metal nanoparticles and metal ions on rotifer populations may persist along several generations. This should be taken into account when assessing risks of metal nanoparticles in freshwaters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Martins
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Pradhan A, Carvalho F, Abrantes N, Campos I, Keizer JJ, Cássio F, Pascoal C. Biochemical and functional responses of stream invertebrate shredders to post-wildfire contamination. Environ Pollut 2020; 267:115433. [PMID: 32866871 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Forests in Mediterranean Europe including Portugal are highly susceptible to wildfires. Freshwaters are often exposed to post-wildfire contamination that contains several toxic substances, which may impose risk to freshwater organisms and ecosystem functions. However, knowledge on the impacts of post-wildfire runoffs from different origins on freshwater biota is scarce. In forest streams, invertebrate shredders have a major contribution to aquatic detrital-based food webs, by translocating energy and nutrients from plant-litter to higher trophic levels. We investigated the leaf consumption behaviour and the responses of oxidative and neuronal stress enzymatic biomarkers in the freshwater invertebrate shredder Allogamus ligonifer after short-term exposure (96 h) to post-wildfire runoff samples from Pinus and Eucalyptus plantation forests and stream water from a burnt catchment in Portugal. Chemical analyses indicated the presence of various metals and PAHs at considerable concentrations in all samples, although the levels were higher in the runoff samples from forests than in the stream water. The shredding activity was severely inhibited by exposure to increased concentrations of post-wildfire runoff samples from both forests. The dose-response patterns of enzymatic biomarkers suggest oxidative and neuronal stress in the shredders upon exposure to increasing concentrations of post-wildfire runoffs. The impacts were more pronounced for the runoffs from the burnt forests. Moreover, the response patterns suggest that the energy from the feeding activity of shredders might have contributed to alleviate the stress in A. ligonifer. Overall, the outcomes suggest that the post-wildfire contamination can induce sublethal effects on invertebrate shredders with impacts on key ecological processes in streams.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arunava Pradhan
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Francisco Carvalho
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nélson Abrantes
- CESAM - Center for Environment and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Campos
- CESAM - Center for Environment and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jan Jacob Keizer
- CESAM - Center for Environment and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Batista D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. The Increase in Temperature Overwhelms Silver Nanoparticle Effects on the Aquatic Invertebrate Limnephilus sp. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020; 39:1429-1437. [PMID: 32445252 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been largely explored, but there is still a lack of knowledge on their effects under the predicted changes in temperature as a consequence of climate change. The aim of the present study was to determine how leaf consumption by invertebrate shredders is affected by dietary exposure to AgNPs and AgNO3 and whether changes in temperature alter such effects. Also, responses of antioxidant enzymes were examined. In microcosms, the invertebrate shredder Limnephilus sp. was allowed to feed on alder leaves treated with AgNPs (5, 10, and 25 mg L-1 ) and AgNO3 (1 mg L-1 ) at 10, 16, and 23 °C (6 replicates). After 5 d, the animals were transferred to clean water and allowed to feed on untreated leaves. The higher leaf consumption by the shredder was related to temperature increase and to the contamination of leaves with AgNPs and AgNO3 . Results from enzymatic activities demonstrated that AgNP contamination via food induce oxidative and neuronal stress in the shredder: the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were positively correlated with total Ag accumulated in the animal body. Moreover, glutathione S-transferase activity was strongly associated with higher temperature (23 °C). Overall results indicated that the effects of toxicants on consumption rates and enzymatic activities are modulated by temperature and suggested that increases in temperature changes the AgNP effects on invertebrate shredder performance. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1429-1437. © 2020 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Batista
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Pimentão AR, Pascoal C, Castro BB, Cássio F. Fungistatic effect of agrochemical and pharmaceutical fungicides on non-target aquatic decomposers does not translate into decreased fungi- or invertebrate-mediated decomposition. Sci Total Environ 2020; 712:135676. [PMID: 31787296 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Leaf litter decomposition is a key ecological process in freshwater ecosystems. Fungi, particularly aquatic hyphomycetes, play a major role in organic matter turnover and constitute a pivotal node in detrital food webs. The extensive use of antifungal formulations, which include agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, is a threat to biodiversity and may affect non-target microbial and invertebrate decomposer communities. Using a laboratory approach, we assessed the effects of tebuconazole (agrochemical), clotrimazole and terbinafine (pharmaceuticals) on aquatic communities and on the decomposition of plant litter. Alder leaves were colonized by natural microbiota in a clean stream, and then exposed in microcosms to 8 concentrations of each fungicide (10 to 1280 μg L-1). Fungicides led to shifts in species dominance in all tested concentrations, but no effects on leaf decomposition were observed. In addition, tebuconazole and clotrimazole strongly reduced fungal biomass and reproduction, whilst terbinafine stimulated fungal reproduction at lower concentrations but had no measurable effects on fungal biomass. Subsequently, the indirect effects of the fungicides were assessed on the next trophic level (detritivore invertebrates), by evaluating leaf consumption by a specialist (Allogamus sp.) and a generalist (Chironomus riparius) species, when feeding on fungicide-preconditioned leaves. The feeding activity of C. riparius and Allogamus sp. was not affected, and as expected, specialists were more efficient than generalists in exploring leaves as a dietary resource. However, results indicated that these fungicides have direct negative effects on microbial decomposers, and thus may compromise ecosystem functions on the long term.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Pimentão
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno B Castro
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Barros D, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Proteomic responses to silver nanoparticles vary with the fungal ecotype. Sci Total Environ 2020; 704:135385. [PMID: 31787274 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Enhanced commercial application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is increasing the chance of their release into aquatic environments, potentially putting non-target microorganisms at risk. Impacts of AgNPs and Ag+ on two fungal ecotypes of Articulospora tetracladia, collected from a metal-polluted (At61) and a non-polluted (At72) stream, were assessed based on antioxidant enzymatic and proteomic responses. At61 showed more tolerance to AgNPs than At72 (EC20, 158.9 vs 7.5 µg L-1, respectively). Antioxidant enzyme activities were induced by AgNPs or Ag+ in both fungal ecotypes. Proteomic responses to AgNPs or Ag+ revealed that 41.3% of the total altered proteins were common in At72, while 27.3% were common in At61. In At72, gene ontology enrichment analyses indicated that Ag+ increased mainly the content of proteins involved in proteostasis and decreased the content of those related to vesicle-mediated transport; whereas the key group of proteins induced by AgNPs had functions in DNA repair and energy production. In At61, AgNPs induced proteins involved in energy production and protein biosynthesis, while both Ag forms induced proteins related to cell-redox and protein homeostasis, ascospore formation, fatty acid biosynthesis and nucleic acids metabolism. Both Ag forms induced stress-responsive proteins, and this was consistent with the responses of antioxidant enzymes. The negligible quantity of Ag+ released from AgNPs (<0.2 μg L-1) supported a minor role of dissolved ionic form in AgNP-induced toxicity to both fungal ecotypes. Overall, results unraveled distinct mechanisms of toxicity and cellular targets of nanoparticulate and ionic silver in aquatic fungi with different environmental background, and constitutes a proof of concept that toxicants induce adaptive responses in microbes to face emergent contaminants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Barros
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Carvalho F, Pradhan A, Abrantes N, Campos I, Keizer JJ, Cássio F, Pascoal C. Wildfire impacts on freshwater detrital food webs depend on runoff load, exposure time and burnt forest type. Sci Total Environ 2019; 692:691-700. [PMID: 31539977 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [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: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the last decades, land-use changes have made Mediterranean forests highly susceptible to wildfires, which can cause several impacts not only on burnt areas, but also on adjacent aquatic ecosystems. Post-fire runoff from burnt areas may transport toxic substances to streams by surface runoff, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals, which can be noxious to aquatic organisms. Impacts on aquatic ecosystems can be related to fire severity, forest type and the exposure period; however, these factors have not been investigated in tandem. Here, we used the stream detrital system to determine the impacts of post-fire runoffs and stream water from a burnt catchment on trophic interactions between stream microbial communities and invertebrate shredders involved in leaf litter decomposition. Three distinct types of samples were collected from a burnt catchment: post-fire runoffs from high severity wildfires in Pinus and Eucalyptus forests, and stream water. Microbial decomposer communities (fungi and bacteria) and the invertebrate shredder Allogamus ligonifer were exposed for 10 and 20 days to increasing concentrations (0, 50, 75 and 100%) of runoff extracts. Our results showed that post-fire runoffs from high severity wildfires reduced microbially-driven leaf litter decomposition (up to 79%), invertebrate feeding (up to 75%), fungal biomass (up to 39%) and altered community composition; effects were more severe at the longer exposure time. The impacts varied with the runoff source and were related to the chemical composition in metals and total PAHs. This study emphasizes the importance of assessing the indirect effects of wildfires taking into account the effects of the runoff source, load and exposure time on freshwater biota and their ecological functions. Therefore, best forest management practices should be applied to minimize post-fire runoffs reaching aquatic ecosystems and to reduce the effects of these extreme events on freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Carvalho
- CBMA- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Arunava Pradhan
- CBMA- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Nelson Abrantes
- CESAM- Center for Environment and Marine Studies and Department of Environment, University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Campos
- CESAM- Center for Environment and Marine Studies and Department of Environment, University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jan Jacob Keizer
- CESAM- Center for Environment and Marine Studies and Department of Environment, University of Aveiro, Campus of Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- CBMA- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- CBMA- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Duarte S, Antunes B, Trabulo J, Seena S, Cássio F, Pascoal C. Intraspecific diversity affects stress response and the ecological performance of a cosmopolitan aquatic fungus. FUNGAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
26
|
Francisco R, Marques-da-Silva D, Brasil S, Pascoal C, Dos Reis Ferreira V, Morava E, Jaeken J. The challenge of CDG diagnosis. Mol Genet Metab 2019; 126:1-5. [PMID: 30454869 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a rapidly growing family of genetic diseases that currently includes some 130 different types. CDG diagnosis is a challenge, not only because of this large number but also because of the huge clinical heterogeneity even within a number of CDG. In addition, the classical screening test, serum transferrin isoelectrofocusing, is only positive in about 60% of CDG, and can even become negative in some CDG particularly in PMM2-CDG, the most frequent N-glycosylation defect. In order to facilitate CDG diagnosis, we hereby provide some practical tools: (1) a list of clinical features strongly suggestive of a distinctive CDG; (2) a table of clinical, biochemical and laboratory findings reported in CDG, arranged per organ/system; (3) an overview of the affected organs/systems in each CDG; and (4) a diagnostic decision tree in face of a patient with a suspicion of CDG. Most important is to keep in mind a CDG in any unexplained syndrome, in particular when there is neurological involvement. This mini-review enumerates clinical and biochemical hallmarks of these diseases and the biochemical and genetic testing available, and provides an updated list and information on identified CDG. The main aim is to act as a CDG diagnosis simplified guide for healthcare professionals and, additionally, as an awareness and lobbying tool to help in the effectiveness and promptness of CDG diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Francisco
- UCIBIO, Departamento Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal; Portuguese Association for CDG, Lisboa, Portugal; CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies - PPAIN), Portugal
| | - D Marques-da-Silva
- UCIBIO, Departamento Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal; Portuguese Association for CDG, Lisboa, Portugal; CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies - PPAIN), Portugal
| | - S Brasil
- UCIBIO, Departamento Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal; Portuguese Association for CDG, Lisboa, Portugal; CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies - PPAIN), Portugal
| | - C Pascoal
- UCIBIO, Departamento Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal; Portuguese Association for CDG, Lisboa, Portugal; CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies - PPAIN), Portugal
| | - V Dos Reis Ferreira
- Portuguese Association for CDG, Lisboa, Portugal; CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies - PPAIN), Portugal
| | - E Morava
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies - PPAIN), Portugal; Department of Clinical Genomics, CIM, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - J Jaeken
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies - PPAIN), Portugal; Center for Metabolic Diseases, UZ and KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Mora-Gómez J, Duarte S, Cássio F, Pascoal C, Romaní AM. Microbial decomposition is highly sensitive to leaf litter emersion in a permanent temperate stream. Sci Total Environ 2018; 621:486-496. [PMID: 29195197 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 11/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Drought frequency and intensity in some temperate regions are forecasted to increase under the ongoing global change, which might expose permanent streams to intermittence and have severe repercussions on stream communities and ecosystem processes. In this study, we investigated the effect of drought duration on microbial decomposition of Populus nigra leaf litter in a temperate permanent stream (Oliveira, NW Portugal). Specifically, we measured the response of the structural (assemblage composition, bacterial and fungal biomass) and functional (leaf litter decomposition, extracellular enzyme activities (EEA), and fungal sporulation) parameters of fungal and bacterial communities on leaf litter exposed to emersion during different time periods (7, 14 and 21d). Emersion time affected microbial assemblages and litter decomposition, but the response differed among variables. Leaf decomposition rates and the activity of β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase and phosphatase were gradually reduced with increasing emersion time, while β-xylosidase reduction was similar when emersion last for 7 or more days, and the phenol oxidase reduction was similar at 14 and 21days of leaf emersion. Microbial biomass and fungal sporulation were reduced after 21days of emersion. The structure of microbial assemblages was affected by the duration of the emersion period. The shifts in fungal assemblages were correlated with a decreased microbial capacity to degrade lignin and hemicellulose in leaf litter exposed to emersion. Additionally, some resilience was observed in leaf litter mass loss, bacterial biomass, some enzyme activities and structure of fungal assemblages. Our study shows that drought can strongly alter structural and functional aspects of microbial decomposers. Therefore, the exposure of leaf litter to increasing emersion periods in temperate streams is expected to affect decomposer communities and overall decomposition of plant material by decelerating carbon cycling in streams.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juanita Mora-Gómez
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain.
| | - Sofia Duarte
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Anna M Romaní
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Seena S, Carvalho F, Cássio F, Pascoal C. Does the developmental stage and composition of riparian forest stand affect ecosystem functioning in streams? Sci Total Environ 2017; 609:1500-1511. [PMID: 28800692 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A common watershed restoration practice to improve water quality and stream ecosystem functions and services is replanting riparian corridors with plant species that may differ from those of natural communities. This restoration practice may have consequences on the aquatic ecosystem processes because organisms obtain energy from leaf litter inputs of the riparian zones. Leaf litter decomposition in streams is a vital ecosystem-level process, which depends on the activity of microorganisms and invertebrates. In the current study, we examined whether the type and developmental stage of riparian forest affect stream ecosystem functioning. We selected three widespread tree species in the Northwest Portugal, namely alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.), oak (Quercus robur L.) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) and conducted stream litter decomposition experiments with leaf litter from trees differing in developmental stage to assess leaf mass loss, fungal and invertebrate biomass and diversity. Both type and developmental stage of riparian stand significantly affected leaf mass loss, biomass of fungi and benthic invertebrates, sporulation of fungi, and abundance of invertebrates. However, only developmental stage of the riparian stand had an impact on the richness and diversity of fungi, whereas invertebrate diversity and richness was influenced by both stage and type classes. Overall our study provides the novel information that stream ecosystem processes are dictated not only by the composition but also by the developmental stage of the riparian stand. Moreover, this study provides an insight into how by altering riparian forest community composition through restoration practices may have an impact on a key ecosystem process and may have implications for successfully implementing future management strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sahadevan Seena
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-517, Portugal.
| | - Francisco Carvalho
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Batista D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Temperature modulates AgNP impacts on microbial decomposer activity. Sci Total Environ 2017; 601-602:1324-1332. [PMID: 28605851 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNP)s can have toxic effects on aquatic species and compromise important ecosystem processes. AgNP impacts have been the focus of much research, but their effects under different environmental contexts, such as the increase in global temperature are difficult to predict. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interactive effects of AgNPs and temperature on the activity and diversity of microbial decomposers of plant litter in streams. Litter-associated microbial communities were exposed in microcosms to increased concentrations of AgNPs (50 to 75000μgL-1) and AgNO3 (5 to 7500μgL-1) and kept for 21days at 10°C, 16°C and 23°C. Effects of AgNPs and AgNO3 were assessed based on leaf mass loss and litter-associated microbial communities by measuring microbial diversity, the activity of fungal extracellular enzymes, and fungal biomass and reproduction. Increase in temperature stimulated leaf mass loss, but not fungal biomass and reproduction. Increased AgNP and AgNO3 concentrations inhibited fungal reproduction and diversity, particularly at 23°C. Activities of the extracellular enzymes phenol oxidase and β-glucosidase were generally higher at 23°C. Microbial communities were mainly structured by AgNP and AgNO3 concentrations more than by temperature. The negative effects of nano and ionic Ag on microbial activity were more pronounced at 10 and 23°C. The behavior of AgNPs was more related to water physical and chemical characteristics (pH) than to temperature. Results highlight the importance of considering different environmental scenarios when examining NP toxicity to freshwater biota and ecosystem processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Batista
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Duarte S, Mora-Gómez J, Romaní AM, Cássio F, Pascoal C. Responses of microbial decomposers to drought in streams may depend on the environmental context. Environ Microbiol Rep 2017; 9:756-765. [PMID: 28914489 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A consequence of drought in streams is the emersion of decomposing leaf litter, which may alter organic matter recycling. We assessed the effects of emersion on decomposition of black poplar leaves and associated microbes (microbial biomass, extracellular enzyme activities and microbial diversity) in two streams with distinct characteristics, in particular nutrients, temperature and oxygen levels. Leaf decomposition rates, fungal biomass and extracellular enzyme activities were lower in the most impacted stream (high nutrients and temperature, low oxygen). Also, the structure of fungal and bacterial communities differed between streams. Emersion strongly affected all microbial functional measures. Leaf decomposition, fungal biomass and extracellular enzyme activities were more sensitive at the most pristine site, while fungal reproduction and bacterial biomass production were more affected by emersion at the most impacted stream. Microbial community structure was strongly altered after emersion. Although similar effects on leaf-associated microbes were found in both streams, functional responses to emersion differed probably as a consequence of different initial microbial communities with different sensitivity to the drying stress. Our study highlights the need of understanding the effects of drought in streams suffering from different environmental perturbations, since responses to emersion appear to depend on the environmental context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Duarte
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Juanita Mora-Gómez
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain
| | - Anna M Romaní
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
One of the fundamental patterns in macroecology is the increase in the number of observed taxa with size of sampled area. For microbes, the shape of this relationship remains less clear. The current study assessed the diversity of aquatic fungi, by the traditional approach based on conidial morphology (captures reproducing aquatic hyphomycetes) and next generation sequencing (NGS; captures other fungi as well), on graded sizes of alder leaves (0.6 to 13.6 cm2). Leaves were submerged in two streams in geographically distant locations: the Oliveira Stream in Portugal and the Boss Brook in Canada. Decay rates of alder leaves and fungal sporulation rates did not differ between streams. Fungal biomass was higher in Boss Brook than in Oliveira Stream, and in both streams almost 100% of the reads belonged to active fungal taxa. In general, larger leaf areas tended to harbour more fungi, but these findings were not consistent between techniques. Morphospecies-based diversity increased with leaf area in Boss Brook, but not in Oliveira Stream; metabarcoding data showed an opposite trend. The higher resolution of metabarcoding resulted in steeper taxa-accumulation curves than morphospecies-based assessments (fungal conidia morphology). Fungal communities assessed by metabarcoding were spatially structured by leaf area in both streams. Metabarcoding promises greater resolution to assess biodiversity patterns in aquatic fungi and may be more accurate for assessing taxa-area relationships and local to global diversity ratios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Duarte
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- * E-mail:
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Felix Bärlocher
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Crespo D, Grilo TF, Baptista J, Coelho JP, Lillebø AI, Cássio F, Fernandes I, Pascoal C, Pardal MÂ, Dolbeth M. New climatic targets against global warming: will the maximum 2 °C temperature rise affect estuarine benthic communities? Sci Rep 2017; 7:3918. [PMID: 28634416 PMCID: PMC5478632 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04309-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Paris Agreement signed by 195 countries in 2015 sets out a global action plan to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to remain below 2 °C. Under that premise, in situ experiments were run to test the effects of 2 °C temperature increase on the benthic communities in a seagrass bed and adjacent bare sediment, from a temperate European estuary. Temperature was artificially increased in situ and diversity and ecosystem functioning components measured after 10 and 30 days. Despite some warmness effects on the analysed components, significant impacts were not verified on macro and microfauna structure, bioturbation or in the fluxes of nutrients. The effect of site/habitat seemed more important than the effects of the warmness, with the seagrass habitat providing more homogenous results and being less impacted by warmness than the adjacent bare sediment. The results reinforce that most ecological responses to global changes are context dependent and that ecosystem stability depends not only on biological diversity but also on the availability of different habitats and niches, highlighting the role of coastal wetlands. In the context of the Paris Agreement it seems that estuarine benthic ecosystems will be able to cope if global warming remains below 2 °C.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Crespo
- Centre for Functional Ecology - CFE, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Tiago Fernandes Grilo
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia - Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Joana Baptista
- Centre for Functional Ecology - CFE, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Pedro Coelho
- CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Department of Chemistry & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Lillebø
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Isabel Fernandes
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Miguel Ângelo Pardal
- Centre for Functional Ecology - CFE, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marina Dolbeth
- CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Batista D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. How do physicochemical properties influence the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on freshwater decomposers of plant litter in streams? Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2017; 140:148-155. [PMID: 28254725 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
AgNP physicochemical properties may affect AgNP toxicity, but their effects on plant litter decomposition and the species driving this key ecosystem process in freshwaters have been poorly investigated. We assessed the impacts of AgNPs with different size and surface coating (100nm PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone)-dispersant, 50-60nm and 35nm uncoated) on freshwater decomposers of leaf litter by exposing leaf associated microbial assemblages to increasing concentrations of AgNPs (up to 200mgL-1) and of AgNO3 (up to 25mgL-1). We further conducted a feeding preference experiment with a common invertebrate shredder, Limnephilus sp., which was allowed to feed on microbially-colonized leaves previously exposed to AgNPs and AgNO3. Leaf decomposition and microbial activity and diversity were inhibited when exposed to increased concentrations of 100nm AgNPs (≥25mgL-1), while microbial activity was stimulated by exposure to 35nm AgNPs (≥100mgL-1). Invertebrate shredders preferred leaves exposed to 35nm AgNPs (25mgL-1) and avoided leaves exposed to AgNO3 (≥2mgL-1). Results from the characterization of AgNPs by dynamic light scattering revealed that AgNps with PVP-dispersant were more stable than the uncoated AgNPs. Our results highlight the importance of considering the physicochemical properties of NPs when assessing their toxicity to litter decomposers in freshwaters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Batista
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
|
35
|
|
36
|
Pradhan A, Silva CO, Silva C, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Enzymatic biomarkers can portray nanoCuO-induced oxidative and neuronal stress in freshwater shredders. Aquat Toxicol 2016; 180:227-235. [PMID: 27744167 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Commercial applications of nanometal oxides have increased concern about their release into natural waters and consequent risks to aquatic biota and the processes they drive. In forest streams, the invertebrate shredder Allogamus ligonifer plays a key role in detritus food webs by transferring carbon and energy from plant litter to higher trophic levels. We assessed the response profiles of oxidative and neuronal stress enzymatic biomarkers in A. ligonifer after 96h exposure to nanoCuO at concentration ranges <LC30. To better understand the contribution of ionic form in nanoCuO-induced stress, Cu2+ released from nanoCuO was quantified and the enzymatic responses to Cu2+ exposure at similar effective concentrations were compared. The highest activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were observed at concentrations <LC5. The enzymatic activities decreased at effective concentrations between LC10 and LC30. GR activity remained higher than in control at all concentrations. The activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) increased whereas that of catalase (CAT) decreased at concentrations between LC10 and LC30. The response patterns suggested that antioxidant enzymes could prevent oxidative stress at low concentrations (<LC10) of nanoCuO, thereby contributing to the survival of A. ligonifer. At concentrations between LC10 and LC30, effects of nanoparticulate or released ionic copper on enzyme activities were concentration-dependent, and led to oxidative stress and even to animal death. The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was strongly inhibited even at concentrations <LC10, suggesting neuronal stress in A. ligonifer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Carla O Silva
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Carlos Silva
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Novais A, Souza AT, Ilarri M, Pascoal C, Sousa R. Effects of the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) on an estuarine microbial community. Sci Total Environ 2016; 566-567:1168-1175. [PMID: 27265734 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) is well recognized for its invasive behavior and high ecological and economic impacts, being classified as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species (IAS) in Europe. In this study, we performed a manipulative experiment under natural conditions to assess the effects of C. fluminea on sediments biochemistry and on the structure of an estuarine microbial (fungi and bacteria) community. We placed 5 treatments (control, rock, closed, live and open) for 2months in the Minho estuary (NW Iberian Peninsula). No differences were detected between treatments regarding the values of carbon (C), nitrite (NO2(-)), ammonium (NH4(+)), phosphate (PO4(3-)) and calcium (Ca) in the sediments; however, potassium (K) had higher values in the open treatment. Furthermore, we found that the presence of live C. fluminea stimulated fungal biomass (but not diversity) and bacterial diversity. Bioturbation activities by C. fluminea are possibly the main mechanism explaining these results; however, other factors such as the presence of other macroinvertebrate species and/or production of feces and pseudofeces by C. fluminea cannot be excluded. To our knowledge, this is the first manipulative experiment under natural conditions that clearly shows the effects of C. fluminea on an estuarine microbial community. Given the widespread distribution of this IAS and the paucity of quantitative assessments of invasive bivalves' effects on microbial communities, it will be important that future studies further investigate these processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Novais
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Allan T Souza
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Polo dos Açores - Departamento de Biologia da Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Martina Ilarri
- CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS-UP - Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ronaldo Sousa
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Barros D, Oliveira P, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Ethanol and phenanthrene increase the biomass of fungal assemblages and decrease plant litter decomposition in streams. Sci Total Environ 2016; 565:489-495. [PMID: 27186876 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.190] [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: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Fungi, particularly aquatic hyphomycetes, have been recognized as playing a dominant role in microbial decomposition of plant litter in streams. In this study, we used a microcosm experiment with different levels of fungal diversity (species number and identity) using monocultures and combinations with up to five aquatic hyphomycete species (Articulospora tetracladia, Tricladium splendens, Heliscus submersus, Tetrachaetum elegans and Flagellospora curta) to assess the effects of ethanol and phenanthrene on three functional measures: plant litter decomposition, fungal biomass accrual and reproduction. Alder leaves were conditioned by fungi for 7days and then were exposed to phenanthrene (1mgL(-1)) dissolved in ethanol (0.1% final concentration) or ethanol (at the concentration used to solubilise phenanthrene) for further 24days. Exposure to ethanol alone or in combination with phenanthrene decreased leaf decomposition and fungal reproduction, but increased fungal biomass produced. All aspects of fungal activity varied with species number. Fungal activity in polycultures was generally higher than that expected from the sum of the weighted performances of participating species in monoculture, suggesting complementarity between species. However, the activity of fungi in polycultures did not exceed the activity of the most productive species either in the absence or presence of ethanol alone or with phenanthrene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Barros
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Oliveira
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Duarte S, Cássio F, Ferreira V, Canhoto C, Pascoal C. Seasonal Variability May Affect Microbial Decomposers and Leaf Decomposition More Than Warming in Streams. Microb Ecol 2016; 72:263-276. [PMID: 27193000 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-016-0780-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing climate change is expected to affect the diversity and activity of aquatic microbes, which play a key role in plant litter decomposition in forest streams. We used a before-after control-impact (BACI) design to study the effects of warming on a forest stream reach. The stream reach was divided by a longitudinal barrier, and during 1 year (ambient year) both stream halves were at ambient temperature, while in the second year (warmed year) the temperature in one stream half was increased by ca. 3 °C above ambient temperature (experimental half). Fine-mesh bags containing oak (Quercus robur L.) leaves were immersed in both stream halves for up to 60 days in spring and autumn of the ambient and warmed years. We assessed leaf-associated microbial diversity by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and identification of fungal conidial morphotypes and microbial activity by quantifying leaf mass loss and productivity of fungi and bacteria. In the ambient year, no differences were found in leaf decomposition rates and microbial productivities either between seasons or stream halves. In the warmed year, phosphorus concentration in the stream water, leaf decomposition rates, and productivity of bacteria were higher in spring than in autumn. They did not differ between stream halves, except for leaf decomposition, which was higher in the experimental half in spring. Fungal and bacterial communities differed between seasons in both years. Seasonal changes in stream water variables had a greater impact on the activity and diversity of microbial decomposers than a warming regime simulating a predicted global warming scenario.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Duarte
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Verónica Ferreira
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Cristina Canhoto
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Mora-Gómez J, Elosegi A, Duarte S, Cássio F, Pascoal C, Romaní AM. Differences in the sensitivity of fungi and bacteria to season and invertebrates affect leaf litter decomposition in a Mediterranean stream. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw121. [PMID: 27288197 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms are key drivers of leaf litter decomposition; however, the mechanisms underlying the dynamics of different microbial groups are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of seasonal variation and invertebrates on fungal and bacterial dynamics, and on leaf litter decomposition. We followed the decomposition of Populus nigra litter in a Mediterranean stream through an annual cycle, using fine and coarse mesh bags. Irrespective of the season, microbial decomposition followed two stages. Initially, bacterial contribution to total microbial biomass was higher compared to later stages, and it was related to disaccharide and lignin degradation; in a later stage, bacteria were less important and were associated with hemicellulose and cellulose degradation, while fungi were related to lignin decomposition. The relevance of microbial groups in decomposition differed among seasons: fungi were more important in spring, whereas in summer, water quality changes seemed to favour bacteria and slowed down lignin and hemicellulose degradation. Invertebrates influenced litter-associated microbial assemblages (especially bacteria), stimulated enzyme efficiencies and reduced fungal biomass. We conclude that bacterial and fungal assemblages play distinctive roles in microbial decomposition and differ in their sensitivity to environmental changes, ultimately affecting litter decomposition, which might be particularly relevant in highly seasonal ecosystems, such as intermittent streams.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juanita Mora-Gómez
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain
| | - Arturo Elosegi
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, PO Box 644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Sofia Duarte
- CBMA-Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- CBMA-Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- CBMA-Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Anna M Romaní
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Andrade R, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Effects of inter and intraspecific diversity and genetic divergence of aquatic fungal communities on leaf litter decomposition—a microcosm experiment. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw102. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
|
42
|
Fernández D, Tummala M, Schreiner VC, Duarte S, Pascoal C, Winkelmann C, Mewes D, Muñoz K, Schäfer RB. Does nutrient enrichment compensate fungicide effects on litter decomposition and decomposer communities in streams? Aquat Toxicol 2016; 174:169-178. [PMID: 26963520 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2015] [Revised: 02/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient and pesticide pollution are widespread agricultural stressors. Fungicides may affect freshwater fungi, which play an important role in litter decomposition (LD), whereas moderate nutrient enrichment can stimulate LD. We examined potential interaction effects of nutrients and fungicides on decomposer communities and LD in a 14-day two-factorial (fungicide and nutrient treatments) mesocosm experiment. Fungicide exposure was limited to 4days to simulate episodic contamination. Only the microbial community responded significantly to the experimental factors, though non-significant increases >20% were found for invertebrate decomposer weight gain and LD under high-nutrient conditions. Fungal community structure responded more strongly to fungicides than sporulation. Sporulation responded strongest to nutrients. Bacterial community structure was affected by both factors, although only nutrients influenced bacterial density. Our results suggest effects from fungicides at field-relevant levels on the microbial community. Whether these changes propagate to invertebrate communities and LD remains unclear and should be analysed under longer and recurrent fungicide exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diego Fernández
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829 Landau in der Pfalz, Germany.
| | - Mallikarjun Tummala
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829 Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Verena C Schreiner
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829 Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Sofia Duarte
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Carola Winkelmann
- Department of Biology, Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Universitätstraße 1, 56070 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Daniela Mewes
- Department of Biology, Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Universitätstraße 1, 56070 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Katherine Muñoz
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829 Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829 Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Azevedo MM, Guimarães-Soares L, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Copper and zinc affect the activity of plasma membrane H+-ATPase and thiol content in aquatic fungi. Microbiology (Reading) 2016; 162:740-747. [PMID: 26916755 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Aquatic hyphomycetes are the major microbial decomposers of plant litter in streams. We selected three aquatic hyphomycete species with different abilities to tolerate, adsorb and accumulate copper and zinc, and we investigated the effects of these metals on H+-ATPase activity as well as on the levels of thiol (SH)-containing compounds. Before metal exposure, the species isolated from a metal-polluted stream (Heliscus submersus and Flagellospora curta) had higher levels of thiol compounds than the species isolated from a clean stream (Varicosporium elodeae). However, V. elodeae rapidly increased the levels of thiols after metal exposure, emphasizing the importance of these compounds in fungal survival under metal stress. The highest amounts of metals adsorbed to fungal mycelia were found in the most tolerant species to each metal, i.e. in H. submersus exposed to copper and in V. elodeae exposed to zinc. Short-term (10 min) exposure to copper completely inhibited the activity of H+-ATPase of H. submersus and V. elodeae, whilst zinc only led to a similar effect on H. submersus. However, at longer exposure times (8 days) the most metal-tolerant species exhibited increased H+-ATPase activities, suggesting that the plasma membrane proton pump may be involved in the acclimation of aquatic hyphomycetes to metals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M M Azevedo
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho,Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga,Portugal.,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto,4200-319 Porto,Portugal.,Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto,4200-319 Porto,Portugal
| | - L Guimarães-Soares
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho,Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga,Portugal
| | - C Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho,Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga,Portugal.,Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho,Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga,Portugal
| | - F Cássio
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho,Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga,Portugal.,Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho,Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga,Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
|
45
|
Carvalho F, Pascoal C, Cássio F, Sousa R. Direct and indirect effects of an invasive omnivore crayfish on leaf litter decomposition. Sci Total Environ 2016; 541:714-720. [PMID: 26437346 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.125] [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: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Invasive alien species (IAS) can disrupt important ecological functions in aquatic ecosystems; however, many of these effects are not quantified and remain speculative. In this study, we assessed the effects of the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) on leaf litter decomposition (a key ecosystem process) and associated invertebrates using laboratory and field manipulative experiments. The crayfish had significant impacts on leaf decomposition due to direct consumption of leaf litter and production of fine particulate organic matter, and indirectly due to consumption of invertebrate shredders. The invertebrate community did not appear to recognize P. clarkii as a predator, at least in the first stages after its introduction in the system; but this situation might change with time. Overall, results suggested that the omnivore invader P. clarkii has the potential to affect detritus-based food webs through consumption of basal resources (leaf litter) and/or consumers. Recognizing that this IAS is widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa, and may attain high density and biomass in aquatic ecosystems, our results are important to develop strategies for improving stream ecosystem functioning and to support management actions aiming to control the invasive omnivore P. clarkii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Carvalho
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ronaldo Sousa
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Novais A, Souza AT, Ilarri M, Pascoal C, Sousa R. From water to land: How an invasive clam may function as a resource pulse to terrestrial invertebrates. Sci Total Environ 2015; 538:664-671. [PMID: 26327634 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Resource pulses are episodes of low frequency, large magnitude and short duration that result in increased resource availability in space and time, with consequences for food web dynamics. Studies assessing the importance of resource pulses by invasive alien species in the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are rare, especially those in the direction from water to land. This study assessed the importance of massive die-offs of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) as a resource pulse to the terrestrial invertebrate community after an extreme climatic event using a manipulative experiment. We used 5 levels of C. fluminea density (0, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000ind·m(-2)), with terrestrial invertebrates being censused 7, 30 and 90days after C. fluminea addition. We also assessed the possible effect of plots position, where plots that delimited the experiment were assigned as edge plots and the remaining as core plots. Clear differences were detected in abundance, biomass, richness and diversity of terrestrial invertebrates depending on the C. fluminea density, time and position. Interestingly, the highest abundance of adult Diptera was observed 7days after C. fluminea addition, whereas that of the other terrestrial invertebrates was on day 30, both with C. fluminea densities higher than 500ind·m(-2) located on the edge of the experimental design. This study highlights the importance of major resource pulses after massive die-offs of invasive bivalves, contributing with remarkable amounts of carrion for adjacent terrestrial systems. Part of this carrion can be consumed directly by a great number of invertebrate species while the remainder can enter the detrital food web. Given the high density and biomass attained by several invasive bivalves worldwide and the predicted increase in the number, intensity and magnitude of extreme climatic events, the ecological importance of this phenomenon should be further investigated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Novais
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campos de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Allan T Souza
- CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
| | - Martina Ilarri
- CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS-UP - Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campos de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ronaldo Sousa
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campos de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Fernandes I, Pereira A, Trabulo J, Pascoal C, Cássio F, Duarte S. Microscopy- or DNA-based analyses: Which methodology gives a truer picture of stream-dwelling decomposer fungal diversity? FUNGAL ECOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2015.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
48
|
Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Natural organic matter alters size-dependent effects of nanoCuO on the feeding behaviour of freshwater invertebrate shredders. Sci Total Environ 2015; 535:94-101. [PMID: 25576408 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticle size and the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) may influence the toxicity of nanoCuO to aquatic biota, but their interactive effects have been poorly investigated. We examined the feeding behaviour of the invertebrate shredder Allogamus ligonifer when exposed to sublethal concentrations of nanoCuO (50 and 100 mg L(-1)) with three particle sizes (12, 50 and 80 nm) in the absence or presence of humic acid (HA, 100 mg L(-1)) as a proxy of NOM. We further examined the ability of invertebrates to recover from the stressors. In the absence of nanoCuO and HA, the feeding rate of shredders was 0.416 mg leaf DM mg(-1 )animal DM day(-1). The exposure to increased nanoCuO concentrations inhibited the feeding rate and effects were stronger as nanoparticle size decreased (up to 83.3% inhibition for 12 nm particles). The exposure to HA alone inhibited the feeding activity by 52.7%. However, the co-exposure to nanoCuO and HA alleviated the inhibitory effects promoted by smaller and medium sized nanoCuO (up to 29.5%). The recovery of feeding activity by the shredders after stress removal was very low; maximum recovery (16.7%) was found for invertebrates rescued from pre-exposure to lower concentration of nanoCuO with larger size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Paulo Geraldes
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Sahadevan Seena
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Dunck B, Lima-Fernandes E, Cássio F, Cunha A, Rodrigues L, Pascoal C. Responses of primary production, leaf litter decomposition and associated communities to stream eutrophication. Environ Pollut 2015; 202:32-40. [PMID: 25797823 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the eutrophication effects on leaf litter decomposition and primary production, and on periphytic algae, fungi and invertebrates. According to the subsidy-stress model, we expected that when algae and decomposers were nutrient limited, their activity and diversity would increase at moderate levels of nutrient enrichment, but decrease at high levels of nutrients, because eutrophication would lead to the presence of other stressors and overwhelm the subsidy effect. Chestnut leaves (Castanea sativa Mill) were enclosed in mesh bags and immersed in five streams of the Ave River basin (northwest Portugal) to assess leaf decomposition and colonization by invertebrates and fungi. In parallel, polyethylene slides were attached to the mesh bags to allow colonization by algae and to assess primary production. Communities of periphytic algae and decomposers discriminated the streams according to the trophic state. Primary production decomposition and biodiversity were lower in streams at both ends of the trophic gradient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Dunck
- Graduate Program in Ecology of Continental Aquatic Environments, University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
| | - Eva Lima-Fernandes
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Cunha
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB, University of Minho Pole), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Liliana Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Ecology of Continental Aquatic Environments, University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil; Department of General Biology and Center of Research in Limnology, Ichthyology and Aquaculture, University of Maringá, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Pradhan A, Seena S, Schlosser D, Gerth K, Helm S, Dobritzsch M, Krauss GJ, Dobritzsch D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. Fungi from metal-polluted streams may have high ability to cope with the oxidative stress induced by copper oxide nanoparticles. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015; 34:923-30. [PMID: 25565283 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 09/14/2014] [Accepted: 01/01/2015] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Increased commercialization of products based on metal oxide nanoparticles increases the likelihood that these nanoparticles will be released into aquatic environments, thus making relevant the assessment of their potential impacts on aquatic biota. Aquatic fungi are distributed worldwide and play a key role in organic matter turnover in freshwater ecosystems. The present study investigated the impacts of copper oxide spherical nanoparticles (CuO-NPs; <50 nm powder, 5 levels ≤200 mg/L) on cellular targets and antioxidant defenses in 5 fungal isolates collected from metal-polluted or nonpolluted streams. The CuO-NPs induced oxidative stress in aquatic fungi, as evidenced by intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and led to plasma membrane damage and DNA strand breaks in a concentration-dependent manner. Effects were more pronounced with a longer exposure time (3 d vs 10 d). Under CuO-NP exposure, mycelia of fungi collected from metal-polluted streams showed less oxidative stress and higher activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase compared with fungi from nonpolluted streams. The latter fungi responded to CuO-NPs with a stronger stimulation of glutathione peroxidase activity. These findings may indicate that fungi isolated from metal-polluted streams had a greater ability to maintain the pool of reduced glutathione than those from nonpolluted streams. Overall, results suggest that populations adapted to metals may develop mechanisms to cope with the oxidative stress induced by metal nanoparticles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arunava Pradhan
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|