Urbanization and Evolution in Aquatic Environments

2020 ◽  
pp. 157-174
Author(s):  
R. Brian Langerhans ◽  
Elizabeth M.A. Kern
Keyword(s):  
Human Impacts ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Ephemeral Pools ◽  
Selection Gene ◽  
Or Gene ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Evolutionary Consequences

Human impacts on freshwater and marine ecosystems have long been of special concern due to water’s essential role in ecosystem functioning and human civilization. Urban development causes a large number of changes in all types of aquatic environments, from small ephemeral pools to rivers to great lakes to expansive coastal habitats. These changes can strongly influence evolution of life in the water by altering selection, gene flow, and genetic drift. Yet our understanding of the evolutionary consequences of urbanization on aquatic organisms is still in early stages. This chapter reviews the impacts of urbanization on aquatic taxa, examining the evolutionary consequences (known or likely) of four major types of urban-induced changes to ecosystems: biotic interactions, physical environment, temperature, and pollution. By drawing connections between literature on ecological and evolutionary impacts in aquatic urban environments, the chapter concludes that (1) several anthropogenic factors seem to commonly drive evolutionary and phenotypic change (organic-compound pollution, altered temperature, and hydrologic shifts), (2) predictability of evolutionary changes are often taxa specific, and may commonly depend on the focal ‘scale’ (e.g., whole-organism performance, morphology, or gene), and (3) there are a few key ‘frontier topics’ (altered biotic interactions, artificial light, sound pollution, and fragmentation) where additional research on phenotypic evolution would be particularly informative.

scholarly journals A Brief Review of the Structure, Cytotoxicity, Synthesis, and Biodegradation of Microcystins

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 2147
Author(s):  
Anjali Krishnan ◽  
Xiaozhen Mou
Keyword(s):  
Health Hazard ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Exposure Pathway ◽  
Environmental Transformation ◽  
Cyclic Heptapeptide ◽  
Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms

Harmful cyanobacterial blooms pose an environmental health hazard due to the release of water-soluble cyanotoxins. One of the most prevalent cyanotoxins in nature is microcystins (MCs), a class of cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxins, and they are produced by several common cyanobacteria in aquatic environments. Once released from cyanobacterial cells, MCs are subjected to physical chemical and biological transformations in natural environments. MCs can also be taken up and accumulated in aquatic organisms and their grazers/predators and induce toxic effects in several organisms, including humans. This brief review aimed to summarize our current understanding on the chemical structure, exposure pathway, cytotoxicity, biosynthesis, and environmental transformation of microcystins.

scholarly journals A Review on Fish Sensory Systems and Amazon Water Types With Implications to Biodiversity

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elio de Almeida Borghezan ◽  
Tiago Henrique da Silva Pires ◽  
Takehide Ikeda ◽  
Jansen Zuanon ◽  
Shiro Kohshima
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Sensory Systems ◽  
Spatial Distance ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Water Types ◽  
Local Adaptations ◽  
Freshwater Organisms ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
Lighting Environment

The Amazon has the highest richness of freshwater organisms in the world, which has led to a multitude of hypotheses on the mechanisms that generated this biodiversity. However, most of these hypotheses focus on the spatial distance of populations, a framework that fails to provide an explicit mechanism of speciation. Ecological conditions in Amazon freshwaters can be strikingly distinct, as it has been recognized since Alfred Russel Wallace’s categorization into black, white, and blue (= clear) waters. Water types reflect differences in turbidity, dissolved organic matter, electrical conductivity, pH, amount of nutrients and lighting environment, characteristics that directly affect the sensory abilities of aquatic organisms. Since natural selection drives evolution of sensory systems to function optimally according to environmental conditions, the sensory systems of Amazon freshwater organisms are expected to vary according to their environment. When differences in sensory systems affect chances of interbreeding between populations, local adaptations may result in speciation. Here, we briefly present the limnologic characteristics of Amazonian water types and how they are expected to influence photo-, chemical-, mechano-, and electro-reception of aquatic organisms, focusing on fish. We put forward that the effect of different water types on the adaptation of sensory systems is an important mechanism that contributed to the evolution of fish diversity. We point toward underexplored research perspectives on how divergent selection may act on sensory systems and thus contribute to the origin and maintenance of the biodiversity of Amazon aquatic environments.

The ecological and evolutionary consequences of systemic racism in urban environments

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 369 (6510) ◽  
pp. eaay4497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Schell ◽  
Karen Dyson ◽  
Tracy L. Fuentes ◽  
Simone Des Roches ◽  
Nyeema C. Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Ecology ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Systemic Racism ◽  
Emergent Structure ◽  
Patterns And Processes ◽  
Social Components ◽  
Evolutionary Consequences

Urban areas are dynamic ecological systems defined by interdependent biological, physical, and social components. The emergent structure and heterogeneity of urban landscapes drives biotic outcomes in these areas, and such spatial patterns are often attributed to the unequal stratification of wealth and power in human societies. Despite these patterns, few studies have effectively considered structural inequalities as drivers of ecological and evolutionary outcomes and have instead focused on indicator variables such as neighborhood wealth. In this analysis, we explicitly integrate ecology, evolution, and social processes to emphasize the relationships that bind social inequities—specifically racism—and biological change in urbanized landscapes. We draw on existing research to link racist practices, including residential segregation, to the heterogeneous patterns of flora and fauna observed by urban ecologists. In the future, urban ecology and evolution researchers must consider how systems of racial oppression affect the environmental factors that drive biological change in cities. Conceptual integration of the social and ecological sciences has amassed considerable scholarship in urban ecology over the past few decades, providing a solid foundation for incorporating environmental justice scholarship into urban ecological and evolutionary research. Such an undertaking is necessary to deconstruct urbanization’s biophysical patterns and processes, inform equitable and anti-racist initiatives promoting justice in urban conservation, and strengthen community resilience to global environmental change.

scholarly journals Polystyrene nanoplastics disrupt glucose metabolism and cortisol levels with a possible link to behavioural changes in larval zebrafish

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadja R. Brun ◽  
Patrick van Hage ◽  
Ellard R. Hunting ◽  
Anna-Pavlina G. Haramis ◽  
Suzanne C. Vink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Emerging Contaminants ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Behavioural Changes ◽  
Larval Zebrafish ◽  
Glucose Homoeostasis

Abstract Plastic nanoparticles originating from weathering plastic waste are emerging contaminants in aquatic environments, with unknown modes of action in aquatic organisms. Recent studies suggest that internalised nanoplastics may disrupt processes related to energy metabolism. Such disruption can be crucial for organisms during development and may ultimately lead to changes in behaviour. Here, we investigated the link between polystyrene nanoplastic (PSNP)-induced signalling events and behavioural changes. Larval zebrafish exhibited PSNP accumulation in the pancreas, which coincided with a decreased glucose level. By using hyperglycemic and glucocorticoid receptor (Gr) mutant larvae, we demonstrate that the PSNP-induced disruption in glucose homoeostasis coincided with increased cortisol secretion and hyperactivity in challenge phases. Our work sheds new light on a potential mechanism underlying nanoplastics toxicity in fish, suggesting that the adverse effect of PSNPs are at least in part mediated by Gr activation in response to disrupted glucose homeostasis, ultimately leading to aberrant locomotor activity.

scholarly journals Variations in the Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Microalgae in Aquatic Environments Associated with an Artificial Weir

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6442
Author(s):  
Suk Min Yun ◽  
Sang Deuk Lee ◽  
Pyo Yun Cho ◽  
Seung Won Nam ◽  
Dae Ryul Kwon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Significant Variation ◽  
Lower Layer ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Water Layer ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Temporal And Spatial Distribution ◽  
Water Layers ◽  
High Turbidity ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
Microalgal Community

The construction of weirs causes changes in the aquatic environment and affects several aquatic organisms. To understand the ecosystem in the Sangju Weir, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, variations in the spatiotemporal distribution and composition of microalgae communities were analyzed. Microalgae were collected fortnightly from April to November 2018 from six sites in the Nakdonggang River. There was significant variation in environmental factors, microalgal community structure, and flora. Microalgae communities were dominated by diatoms (e.g., Fragilariacrotonensis, Ulnariaacus, and Aulacoseiraambigua), green algae (e.g., genera Eudorina and Desmodesmus), cyanobacteria (e.g., genera Anabaena and Microcystis). Multidimensional scaling indicated that species composition and diversity were generally similar among sites but varied between the bottom and the surface and middle water layers. Vertical migration of microalgae was difficult to investigate because of the thermocline in the study area and high turbidity in the lower layer. The distribution of microalgae was little affected by the construction of the weir, but the formation of thermocline changed microalgae communities in the water layer.

scholarly journals Assessing the predation function via quantitative and qualitative interaction components

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Martínez-Núñez ◽  
Pedro J. Rey
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Qualitative Interaction ◽  
Qualitative Component ◽  
Evolutionary Consequences

AbstractInteractions among organisms can be defined by two main features: a quantitative component (i.e. frequency of occurrence) and a qualitative component (i.e. success of the interaction).Measuring properly these two components at the community level, can provide a good estimate of the ecosystem functions mediated by biotic interactions. Although this approach has been frequently applied to evaluate the eco-evolutionary consequences of mutualistic relationships, it has never been extended to the predation function and the associated pest control ecosystem service.Here, we introduce a simple measure that accounts for the quantitative and the qualitative components of predation interactions, and facilitates a precise characterization of this ecosystem function at the community level, while accounting for variations at species and individual levels.This measure arises as a fine indicator of predation pressure, and provides great opportunities to better understand how different components of predation and pest control potential vary across environmental gradients.

scholarly journals Estimating the rates of crossover and gene conversion from individual genomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Setter ◽  
Sam Ebdon ◽  
Ben Jackson ◽  
Konrad Lohse
Keyword(s):  
Linkage Disequilibrium ◽  
Simple Model ◽  
Gene Conversion ◽  
House Mouse ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Composite Likelihood ◽  
Or Gene ◽  
Evolutionary Consequences ◽  
Dependent Probability

Recombination can occur either as a result of crossover or gene conversion events. Population genetic methods for inferring the rate of recombination from patterns of linkage disequilibrium generally assume a simple model of recombination that only involves crossover events and ignore gene conversion. However, distinguishing the two processes is not only necessary for a complete description of recombination, but also essential for understanding the evolutionary consequences of inversions and other genomic partitions in which crossover (but not gene conversion) is reduced. We present heRho, a simple composite likelihood scheme for co-estimating the rate of crossover and gene conversion from individual diploid genomes. The method is based on analytic results for the distance-dependent probability of heterozygous and homozygous states at two loci. We apply heRho to simulations and data from the house mouse Mus musculus castaneus, a well studied model. Our analyses show i) that the rates of crossover and gene conversion can be accurately co-estimated at the level of individual chromosomes and ii) that previous estimates of the population scaled rate of recombination ρ = 4Ner under a pure crossover model are likely biased

scholarly journals Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Carbamazepine on the Release of Chitobiase, Molting, and Reproduction in Daphnia similis

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huihui Chen ◽  
Xiaohong Gu ◽  
Qingfei Zeng ◽  
Zhigang Mao
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Toxicity ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Pharmaceutical Compounds ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Daphnia Similis ◽  
Delayed Reproduction ◽  
Acute And Chronic Toxicity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Median Effective Concentration ◽  
Toxic Responses

As one of the most frequently detected pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic environments, carbamazepine (CBZ) has recently been shown to cause acute and chronic toxicity in a variety of non-target aquatic organisms. However, little is known about the ecotoxicological effects it has on the molting and reproduction of crustaceans. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the acute and chronic toxic responses to CBZ in the crustacean Daphnia similis. After acute exposure (4 days), CBZ did not cause lethal toxicity at the tested concentrations. However, CBZ did inhibit the molting and release of chitobiase at concentrations higher than 6.25 μg/L, with 96 h EC50 (median effective concentration) values of 864.38 and 306.17 μg/L, respectively. The results of chronic exposure showed that the mean number of molts, size of the first brood, mean number of offspring per brood, mean number of broods per female, and total offspring per female decreased significantly with increasing CBZ concentrations. Significant effects of CBZ on the molting or fecundity in D. similis were observed even at concentrations as low as 0.03 μg/L. In conclusion, CBZ can cause inhibition of molting, delayed reproduction, and reduced fecundity in D. similis. CBZ toxicity to D. similis depends on the timing and duration of the exposure. Moreover, our results indicated that CBZ would act as an endocrine disrupter in D. similis, as with vertebrates (e.g., fish).

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