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Buddendorf WB, Wipfler L, Beltman W, Baveco H, Braakhekke MC, Bub S, Gergs A, Schad T. Aquatic Risks at the Landscape Scale: A Case Study for Pyrethroid Use in Pome Fruit Orchards in Belgium. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:15608-15616. [PMID: 37796045 PMCID: PMC10586366 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02716] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Procedures for environmental risk assessment for pesticides are under continuous development and subject to debate, especially at higher tier levels. Spatiotemporal dynamics of both pesticide exposure and effects at the landscape scale are largely ignored, which is a major flaw of the current risk assessment system. Furthermore, concrete guidance on risk assessment at landscape scales in the regulatory context is lacking. In this regard, we present an integrated modular simulation model system that includes spatiotemporally explicit simulation of pesticide application, fate, and effects on aquatic organisms. As a case study, the landscape model was applied to the Rummen, a river catchment in Belgium with a high density of pome fruit orchards. The application of a pyrethroid to pome fruit and the corresponding drift deposition on surface water and fate dynamics were simulated. Risk to aquatic organisms was quantified using a toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic model for individual survival at different levels of spatial aggregation, ranging from the catchment scale to individual stream segments. Although the derivation of landscape-scale risk assessment end points from model outputs is straightforward, a dialogue within the community, building on concrete examples as provided by this case study, is urgently needed in order to decide on the appropriate end points and on the definition of representative landscape scenarios for use in risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem B. Buddendorf
- Wageningen Environmental
Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Louise Wipfler
- Wageningen Environmental
Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wim Beltman
- Wageningen Environmental
Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Baveco
- Wageningen Environmental
Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Sascha Bub
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental
Sciences, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau
(RPTU), Fortstraße 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - André Gergs
- Research
& Development, Crop Science, Environmental Modelling, Bayer AG, 40789 Monheim, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schad
- Research
& Development, Crop Science, Environmental Modelling, Bayer AG, 40789 Monheim, Germany
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2
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Van den Brink PJ, Alix A, Thorbek P, Baveco H, Agatz A, Faber JH, Brown AR, Marshall S, Maltby L. The use of ecological models to assess the effects of a plant protection product on ecosystem services provided by an orchard. Sci Total Environ 2021; 798:149329. [PMID: 34375230 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this case study was to explore the feasibility of using ecological models for applying an ecosystem services-based approach to environmental risk assessment using currently available data and methodologies. For this we used a 5 step approach: 1) selection of environmental scenario, 2) ecosystem service selection, 3) development of logic chains, 4) selection and application of ecological models and 5) detailed ecosystem service assessment. The study system is a European apple orchard managed according to integrated pest management principles. An organophosphate insecticide was used as the case study chemical. Four ecosystem services are included in this case study: soil quality regulation, pest control, pollination and recreation. Logic chains were developed for each ecosystem service and describe the link between toxicant effects on service providing units and ecosystem services delivery. For the soil quality regulation ecosystem service, springtails and earthworms were the service providing units, for the pest control ecosystem service it was ladybirds, for the pollination ecosystem service it was honeybees and for the recreation ecosystem service it was the meadow brown butterfly. All the ecological models addressed the spatio-temporal magnitude of the direct effects of the insecticide on the service providing units and ecological production functions were used to extrapolate these outcomes to the delivery of ecosystem services. For all ecosystem services a decision on the acceptability of the modelled and extrapolated effects on the service providing units could be made using the protection goals as set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Developing quantitative ecological production functions for extrapolation of ecosystem services delivery from population endpoints remains one of the major challenges. We feel that the use of ecological models can greatly add to this development, although the further development of existing ecological models, and of new models, is needed for this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Van den Brink
- Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Anne Alix
- Corteva Agriscience, 3B Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RN, UK
| | - Pernille Thorbek
- BASF SE, APD/EE, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany
| | - Hans Baveco
- Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Annika Agatz
- Ibacon GmbH, Arheilger Weg 17, 64380 Roßdorf, Germany
| | - Jack H Faber
- Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - A Ross Brown
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX44QD, UK
| | | | - Lorraine Maltby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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3
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van Gils J, Posthuma L, Cousins IT, Brack W, Altenburger R, Baveco H, Focks A, Greskowiak J, Kühne R, Kutsarova S, Lindim C, Markus A, van de Meent D, Munthe J, Schueder R, Schüürmann G, Slobodnik J, de Zwart D, van Wezel A. Computational material flow analysis for thousands of chemicals of emerging concern in European waters. J Hazard Mater 2020; 397:122655. [PMID: 32388089 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of exposure to a wide range of chemicals, and the spatio-temporal variability thereof, is urgently needed in the context of protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems. This paper discusses a computational material flow analysis to predict the occurrence of thousands of man-made organic chemicals on a European scale, based on a novel temporally and spatially resolved modelling framework. The goal was to increase understanding of pressures by emerging chemicals and to complement surface water monitoring data. The ambition was to provide a first step towards a "real-life" mixture exposure situation accounting for as many chemicals as possible. Comparison of simulated concentrations and chemical monitoring data for 226 substance/basin combinations showed that the simulated concentrations were accurate on average. For 65% and 90% of substance/basin combinations the error was within one and two orders of magnitude respectively. An analysis of the relative importance of uncertainties revealed that inaccuracies in use volume or use type information contributed most to the error for individual substances. To resolve this, we suggest better registration of use types of industrial chemicals, investigation of presence/absence of industrial chemicals in wastewater and runoff samples and more scientific information exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jos van Gils
- Deltares, P.O. Box 177, 2600 MH, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Leo Posthuma
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9102, 6500 HC Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ian T Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Werner Brack
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt-Aachen Biology, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Rolf Altenburger
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt-Aachen Biology, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Hans Baveco
- Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Focks
- Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Janek Greskowiak
- Carl Von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, D-26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ralph Kühne
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stela Kutsarova
- Laboratory of Mathematical Chemistry, "Prof. Assen Zlatarov" University, 1 Yakimov Str., Bourgas 8010, Bulgaria
| | - Claudia Lindim
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arjen Markus
- Deltares, P.O. Box 177, 2600 MH, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Dik van de Meent
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9102, 6500 HC Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Mermayde, Harrie Kuijtenweg 1, 1873 HL Groet, The Netherlands; Association of Retired Environmental Scientists ARES, Odijk, The Netherlands
| | - John Munthe
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, P.O. Box 53201, 400 15 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Rudy Schueder
- Deltares, P.O. Box 177, 2600 MH, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Gerrit Schüürmann
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Leipziger Straße 29, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
| | | | - Dick de Zwart
- Mermayde, Harrie Kuijtenweg 1, 1873 HL Groet, The Netherlands; Association of Retired Environmental Scientists ARES, Odijk, The Netherlands
| | - Annemarie van Wezel
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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4
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Van den Berg SJP, Baveco H, Butler E, De Laender F, Focks A, Franco A, Rendal C, Van den Brink PJ. Modeling the Sensitivity of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates to Chemicals Using Traits. Environ Sci Technol 2019; 53:6025-6034. [PMID: 31008596 PMCID: PMC6535724 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b00893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a trait-based macroinvertebrate sensitivity modeling tool is presented that provides two main outcomes: (1) it constructs a macroinvertebrate sensitivity ranking and, subsequently, a predictive trait model for each one of a diverse set of predefined Modes of Action (MOAs) and (2) it reveals data gaps and restrictions, helping with the direction of future research. Besides revealing taxonomic patterns of species sensitivity, we find that there was not one genus, family, or class which was most sensitive to all MOAs and that common test taxa were often not the most sensitive at all. Traits like life cycle duration and feeding mode were identified as important in explaining species sensitivity. For 71% of the species, no or incomplete trait data were available, making the lack of trait data the main obstacle in model construction. Research focus should therefore be on completing trait databases and enhancing them with finer morphological traits, focusing on the toxicodynamics of the chemical (e.g., target site distribution). Further improved sensitivity models can help with the creation of ecological scenarios by predicting the sensitivity of untested species. Through this development, our approach can help reduce animal testing and contribute toward a new predictive ecotoxicology framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne J. P. Van den Berg
- Aquatic
Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department
of Biology, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Hans Baveco
- Wageningen
Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Emma Butler
- Safety
and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook MK441LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Frederik De Laender
- Department
of Biology, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Andreas Focks
- Wageningen
Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Antonio Franco
- Safety
and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook MK441LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Cecilie Rendal
- Safety
and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook MK441LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J. Van den Brink
- Aquatic
Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen
Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
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5
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Diepens NJ, Koelmans AA, Baveco H, van den Brink PJ, van den Heuvel-Greve MJ, Brock TCM. Prospective Environmental Risk Assessment for Sediment-Bound Organic Chemicals: A Proposal for Tiered Effect Assessment. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 2017; 239:1-77. [PMID: 26684744 DOI: 10.1007/398_2015_5004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A broadly accepted framework for prospective environmental risk assessment (ERA) of sediment-bound organic chemicals is currently lacking. Such a framework requires clear protection goals, evidence-based concepts that link exposure to effects and a transparent tiered-effect assessment. In this paper, we provide a tiered prospective sediment ERA procedure for organic chemicals in sediment, with a focus on the applicable European regulations and the underlying data requirements. Using the ecosystem services concept, we derived specific protection goals for ecosystem service providing units: microorganisms, benthic algae, sediment-rooted macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and benthic vertebrates. Triggers for sediment toxicity testing are discussed.We recommend a tiered approach (Tier 0 through Tier 3). Tier-0 is a cost-effective screening based on chronic water-exposure toxicity data for pelagic species and equilibrium partitioning. Tier-1 is based on spiked sediment laboratory toxicity tests with standard benthic test species and standardised test methods. If comparable chronic toxicity data for both standard and additional benthic test species are available, the Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) approach is a more viable Tier-2 option than the geometric mean approach. This paper includes criteria for accepting results of sediment-spiked single species toxicity tests in prospective ERA, and for the application of the SSD approach. We propose micro/mesocosm experiments with spiked sediment, to study colonisation success by benthic organisms, as a Tier-3 option. Ecological effect models can be used to supplement the experimental tiers. A strategy for unifying information from various tiers by experimental work and exposure-and effect modelling is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noël J Diepens
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Albert A Koelmans
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- IMARES, Institute for Marine Resources & Ecosystem Studies, Wageningen UR, 68, 1970 AB, IJmuiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Baveco
- Environmental Risk Assessment Team, Alterra, 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J van den Brink
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Environmental Risk Assessment Team, Alterra, 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Theo C M Brock
- Environmental Risk Assessment Team, Alterra, 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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6
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De Laender F, Morselli M, Baveco H, Van den Brink PJ, Di Guardo A. Theoretically exploring direct and indirect chemical effects across ecological and exposure scenarios using mechanistic fate and effects modelling. Environ Int 2015; 74:181-90. [PMID: 25454235 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.10.012] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Revised: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Predicting ecosystem response to chemicals is a complex problem in ecotoxicology and a challenge for risk assessors. The variables potentially influencing chemical fate and exposure define the exposure scenario while the variables determining effects at the ecosystem level define the ecological scenario. In absence of any empirical data, the objective of this paper is to present simulations by a fugacity-based fate model and a differential equation-based ecosystem model to theoretically explore how direct and indirect effects on invertebrate shallow pond communities vary with changing ecological and exposure scenarios. These simulations suggest that direct and indirect effects are larger in mesotrophic systems than in oligotrophic systems. In both trophic states, interaction strength (quantified using grazing rates) was suggested a more important driver for the size and recovery from direct and indirect effects than immigration rate. In general, weak interactions led to smaller direct and indirect effects. For chemicals targeting mesozooplankton only, indirect effects were common in (simple) food-chains but rare in (complex) food-webs. For chemicals directly affecting microzooplankton, the dominant zooplankton group in the modelled community, indirect effects occurred both in food-chains and food-webs. We conclude that the choice of the ecological and exposure scenarios in ecotoxicological modelling efforts needs to be justified because of its influence on the prevalence and magnitude of the predicted effects. Overall, more work needs to be done to empirically test the theoretical expectations formulated here.
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Affiliation(s)
- F De Laender
- Namur University, Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Ecology, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium.
| | - M Morselli
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy.
| | - H Baveco
- Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - P J Van den Brink
- Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - A Di Guardo
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy.
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7
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Galic N, Ashauer R, Baveco H, Nyman AM, Barsi A, Thorbek P, Bruns E, Van den Brink PJ. Modeling the contribution of toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic processes to the recovery of Gammarus pulex populations after exposure to pesticides. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:1476-1488. [PMID: 24307654 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 05/28/2013] [Revised: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 10/20/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Because aquatic macroinvertebrates may be exposed regularly to pesticides in edge-of-the-field water bodies, an accurate assessment of potential adverse effects and subsequent population recovery is essential. Standard effect risk assessment tools are not able to fully address the complexities arising from multiple exposure patterns, nor can they properly address the population recovery process. In the present study, we developed an individual-based model of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex to evaluate the consequences of exposure to 4 compounds with different modes of action on individual survival and population recovery. Effects on survival were calculated using concentration-effect relationships and the threshold damage model (TDM), which accounts for detailed processes of toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. Delayed effects as calculated by the TDM had a significant impact on individual survival and population recovery. We also evaluated the standard assessment of effects after short-term exposures using the 96-h concentration-effect model and the TDM, which was conservative for very short-term exposure. An integration of a TKTD submodel with a population model can be used to explore the ecological relevance of ecotoxicity endpoints in different exposure environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nika Galic
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands; School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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8
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Focks A, ter Horst M, van den Berg E, Baveco H, van den Brink PJ. Integrating chemical fate and population-level effect models for pesticides at landscape scale: New options for risk assessment. Ecol Modell 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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9
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Galic N, Baveco H, Hengeveld GM, Thorbek P, Bruns E, van den Brink PJ. Simulating population recovery of an aquatic isopod: Effects of timing of stress and landscape structure. Environ Pollut 2012; 163:91-99. [PMID: 22325436 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2011] [Revised: 11/25/2011] [Accepted: 12/13/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In agroecosystems, organisms may regularly be exposed to anthropogenic stressors, e.g. pesticides. Species' sensitivity to stress depends on toxicity, life-history, and landscape structure. We developed an individual-based model of an isopod, Asellus aquaticus, to explore how timing of stress events affects population dynamics in a seasonal environment. Furthermore, we tested the relevance of habitat connectivity and spatial distribution of stress for the recovery of a local and total population. The simulation results indicated that population recovery is mainly driven by reproductive periods. Furthermore, high habitat connectivity led to faster recovery both for local and total populations. However, effects of landscape structure disappeared for homogeneously stressed populations, where local survivors increased recovery rate. Finally, local populations recovered faster, implying that assessing recovery in the field needs careful consideration of spatial scale for sampling. We emphasize the need for a coherent definition of recovery for more relevant ecosystem risk assessment and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nika Galic
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47,6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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10
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Schipper AM, Wijnhoven S, Baveco H, van den Brink NW. Contaminant exposure in relation to spatio-temporal variation in diet composition: A case study of the little owl (Athene noctua). Environ Pollut 2012; 163:109-116. [PMID: 22325438 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2011] [Revised: 12/06/2011] [Accepted: 12/11/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We assessed dietary exposure of the little owl Athene noctua to trace metal contamination in a Dutch Rhine River floodplain area. Diet composition was calculated per month for three habitat types, based on the population densities of six prey types (earthworms, ground beetles and four small mammal species) combined with the little owl's functional response to these prey types. Exposure levels showed a strong positive relationship with the dietary fraction of earthworms, but also depended on the dietary fraction of common voles, with higher common vole fractions resulting in decreasing exposure levels. Spatio-temporal changes in the availability of earthworms and common voles in particular resulted in considerable variation in exposure, with peaks in exposure exceeding a tentative toxicity threshold. These findings imply that wildlife exposure assessments based on a predefined, average diet composition may considerably underestimate local or intermittent peaks in exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aafke M Schipper
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Environmental Science, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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11
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Galic N, Schmolke A, Forbes V, Baveco H, van den Brink PJ. The role of ecological models in linking ecological risk assessment to ecosystem services in agroecosystems. Sci Total Environ 2012; 415:93-100. [PMID: 21802704 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.05.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2011] [Revised: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural practices are essential for sustaining the human population, but at the same time they can directly disrupt ecosystem functioning. Ecological risk assessment (ERA) aims to estimate possible adverse effects of human activities on ecosystems and their parts. Current ERA practices, however, incorporate very little ecology and base the risk estimates on the results of standard tests with several standard species. The main obstacles for a more ecologically relevant ERA are the lack of clear protection goals and the inherent complexity of ecosystems that is hard to approach empirically. In this paper, we argue that the ecosystem services framework offers an opportunity to define clear and ecologically relevant protection goals. At the same time, ecological models provide the tools to address ecological complexity to the degree needed to link measurement endpoints and ecosystem services, and to quantify service provision and possible adverse effects from human activities. We focus on the ecosystem services relevant for agroecosystem functioning, including pollination, biocontrol and eutrophication effects and present modeling studies relevant for quantification of each of the services. The challenges of the ecosystem services approach are discussed as well as the limitations of ecological models in the context of ERA. A broad, multi-stakeholder dialog is necessary to aid the definition of protection goals in terms of services delivered by ecosystems and their parts. The need to capture spatio-temporal dynamics and possible interactions among service providers pose challenges for ecological models as a basis for decision making. However, we argue that both fields are advancing quickly and can prove very valuable in achieving more ecologically relevant ERA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nika Galic
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, Wageningen University and Research centre, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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12
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Vos CC, Berry P, Opdam P, Baveco H, Nijhof B, O’Hanley J, Bell C, Kuipers H. Adapting landscapes to climate change: examples of climate-proof ecosystem networks and priority adaptation zones. J Appl Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01569.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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