Microplastics Effects in the Terrestrial Environment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Luís A. Mendes
Keyword(s):  
Terrestrial Environment

Freezing

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Hysteresis ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Cellular Dehydration ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Unicellular Organisms ◽  
Cell Cytosol ◽  
Freezing Temperatures ◽  
Multicellular Organisms

Freezing is a widespread ecological challenge, affecting organisms in over half the terrestrial environment as well as both polar seas. With very few exceptions, if a cell freezes internally, it dies. Polar teleost fish in shallow waters avoid freezing by synthesising a range of protein or glycoprotein antifreezes. Terrestrial organisms are faced with a far greater thermal challenge, and exhibit a more complex array of responses. Unicellular organisms survive freezing temperatures by preventing ice nucleating within the cytosol, and tolerating the cellular dehydration and membrane disruption that follows from ice forming in the external environment. Multicellular organisms survive freezing temperatures by manipulating the composition of the extracellular body fluids. Terrestrial organisms may freeze at high subzero temperatures, often promoted by ice nucleating proteins, and small molecular mass cryoprotectants (often sugars and polyols) moderate the osmotic stress on cells. A range of chaperone proteins (dehydrins, LEA proteins) help maintain the integrity of membranes and macromolecules. Thermal hysteresis (antifreeze) proteins prevent damaging recrystallisation of ice. In some cases arthropods and higher plants prevent freezing in their extracellular fluids and survive by supercooling. Vitrification of extracellular water, or of the cell cytosol, may be a more widespread response to very cold temperatures than recognised to date.

scholarly journals The Effect of Abiotic Factors on Abundance and Photosynthetic Performance of Airborne Cyanobacteria and Microalgae Isolated from the Southern Baltic Sea Region

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Kinga Wiśniewska ◽  
Sylwia Śliwińska-Wilczewska ◽  
Anita Lewandowska ◽  
Marta Konik
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Photosynthetic Performance ◽  
Culture Collection ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Territorial Expansion ◽  
Southern Baltic Sea ◽  
Baltic Sea Region ◽  
Colonization Potential ◽  
Southern Baltic

Cyanobacteria and microalgae present in the aquatic or terrestrial environment may be emitted into the air and transported along with air masses over long distances. As a result of staying in the atmosphere, these organisms may develop a greater tolerance to stressful factors, but this topic is still relatively unknown. The main aim was to show an autecological characteristic of some airborne microalgae and cyanobacteria strains by a factorial laboratory experiment approach, including changes in irradiance, temperature, and salinity conditions. The additional purpose of this work was also to present part of the Culture Collection of Baltic Algae (CCBA) collection, which consists of airborne algae (AA) isolated from the atmospheric air of the southern Baltic Sea region. Altogether, 61 strains of airborne cyanobacteria and microalgae from the southern Baltic Sea region were isolated from May 2018 to August 2020. Selected microorganisms were tested in controlled laboratory conditions to identify their response to different irradiance (10–190 µmol photons m−2 s−1), temperature (13–23 °C), and salinity conditions (0–36 PSU). The highest numbers of cells (above 30 × 105 cell mL−1) were recorded for cyanobacterium Nostoc sp., and for diatoms Nitzschia sp., Amphora sp., and Halamphora sp. We found that for cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. as well as for green alga Coccomyxa sp. the maximum cell concentrations were recorded at the salinity of 0 PSU. Moreover, cyanobacteria Planktolyngbya contorta, Pseudanabaena catenata, Leptolyngbya foveolarum, Gloeocapsa sp., and Rivularia sp. were able to grow only at a salinity of 0 PSU. On the other hand, in the range of 16–24 PSU, the highest cell numbers of examined diatoms have been identified. Our research provided that deposited airborne microalgae and cyanobacteria showed full colonization potential. The present experiment suggests that the adaptive abilities of microorganisms, in particular those producing toxins, may contribute to the spread in the future. Thus, it may increase human exposure to their negative health effects. Any distinctive adaptations of the genera give them an additional competitive advantage and a greater chance for territorial expansion.

Pathogenic and Compensatory Mechanisms in Epidermis of Sphingomyelin Synthase 2-Deficient Mice

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Shota Sakai ◽  
Asami Makino ◽  
Akihito Nishi ◽  
Takeshi Ichikawa ◽  
Tadashi Yamashita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Lamellar Body ◽  
Lipid Mediator ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Compensatory Mechanisms ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Sphingomyelin Synthase ◽  
Epidermal Permeability Barrier ◽  
Deficient Mice

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a constituent of cellular membranes, while ceramides (Cer) produced from SM on plasma membranes serve as a lipid mediator that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In the skin, SM also is a precursor of Cer, an important constituent of epidermal permeability barrier. We investigated the role of epidermal SM synthase (SMS)2, an isoform of SMS, which modulates SM and Cer levels on plasma membranes. Although SMS2-knockout (SMS2-KO) mice were not neonatal lethal, an ichthyotic phenotype with epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis was evident at birth, which persisted until 2 weeks of age. These mice showed abnormal lamellar body morphology and secretion, and abnormal extracellular lamellar membranes in the stratum corneum. These abnormalities were no longer evident by 4 weeks of age in SMS2-KO mice. Our study suggests that (1) exposure to a dry terrestrial environment initiates compensatory responses, thereby normalizing epidermal ichthyotic abnormalities and (2) that a nonlethal gene abnormality can cause an ichthyotic skin phenotype.

scholarly journals Exploring the impacts of microplastics and associated chemicals in the terrestrial environment – Exposure of soil invertebrates to tire particles

2021 ◽  
pp. 111495
Author(s):  
Salla Selonen ◽  
Andraž Dolar ◽  
Anita Jemec Kokalj ◽  
Lyndon N.A. Sackey ◽  
Tina Skalar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Invertebrates ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Environment Exposure

scholarly journals ANU Radiocarbon Date List VII

Radiocarbon ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
H A Polach ◽  
B G Thom ◽  
G M Bowman ◽  
Stella Wilkie
Keyword(s):  
Age Structure ◽  
Environmental Effect ◽  
Radiocarbon Date ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Depositional Sequences ◽  
Preliminary Attempt

Along SE coast of Australia a variety of Holocene barriers composed of siliceous sand and shell detritus occur within bedrock-confined embayments. On basis of morphostratigraphy 4 barrier types are recognized: prograded, stationary, receded and episodic transgressive dunes. Several subtypes are also distinguished. Composite bay barriers involving partial eolian reworking of a prograded barrier constitute most complex examples of Holocene depositional sequences on this coast. The present list is a preliminary attempt at defining the age structure of a group of such barriers (excepting receded type). Ages are reported in conventional years bp. Text references to ages and age ranges are environmental effect corrected ages bp* and yr* (as recommended by Stuiver and Polach, 1977), using 450 ± 35 yr as postulated by Gillespie and Polach (in press) in order to relate Australian oceanic environment shells to terrestrial environment wood. δ13C errors, where based on measurement, are always ± 0.2% and are not shown in the text; when based on estimated values (Est) the error is given.

The sediment of the Hostivar Reservoir (Prague, Czech Republic) as a memory of 45 years of pollution

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-213
Author(s):  
Lucie Soucková ◽  
Dana Kominkova
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Reservoir Sediment ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sediment Extraction ◽  
History Of ◽  
Us Epa ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the historical pollution of the Hostivar Reservoir (largest reservoir in Prague) sediment by metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and identify the trends in pollution of aquatic environment. Design/methodology/approach Core samples, 140 cm long, recording the 45-year history of the reservoir, were separated to 5 cm width subsamples (approximately 1.5 years of sedimentation) and analyzed for metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Al), PAH and PCB. Following methods were used: US EPA 3051 for metals, US EPA 505 and US EPA 8082 A for PCB, and ISO 18287:2006 for PAH. Findings Most of the contaminants had the highest concentration at the beginning of the existence of the reservoir, suggesting that the contamination results from construction activities. Significant decrease of Pb occurred in the second half of the 1990s. It was caused by termination of the addition of lead as a detonation suppressant to the gasoline. Most concentrations of PAHs, PCBs and metals, except copper do not present eco-toxicological risk. Practical implications The results show the volume of priority pollutants removed from the reservoir by sediment extraction, and point risk to the terrestrial environment due to application of the sediment in the construction of a noise protecting wall. Originality/value The paper presents unique data about historical contamination of the largest reservoir in Prague, the capital of Czech Republic. It shows how the watershed and the construction phase of the dam cause a pollution of the reservoir sediment and possible environmental risk for aquatic biota.

Nanoplastic ingestion induces behavioral disorders in terrestrial snails: trophic transfer effects via vascular plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 975-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yooeun Chae ◽  
Youn-Joo An
Keyword(s):  
Vigna Radiata ◽  
Mung Bean ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Trophic Transfer ◽  
Achatina Fulica ◽  
Transfer Effects ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Terrestrial Snails ◽  
African Giant Snail

This study investigated the transfer of plastic debris in a terrestrial environment from the soil to a plant (the mung bean, Vigna radiata), and then to a consumer (the African giant snail, Achatina fulica).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document