scholarly journals Muted responses to Ag accumulation by plankton to chronic and pulse exposure to silver nanoparticles in a boreal lake

FACETS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 566-583
Author(s):  
Beth C. Norman ◽  
Paul C. Frost ◽  
Graham C. Blakelock ◽  
Scott N. Higgins ◽  
Md Ehsanul Hoque ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Ecosystem Respiration ◽  
Ecosystem Metabolism ◽  
Lake Ecosystem ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Boreal Lake ◽  
In Situ Investigation ◽  
Dosing Regimens ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
Over Time

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an emerging class of contaminants with the potential to impact ecosystem structure and function. AgNPs are antimicrobial, suggesting that microbe-driven ecosystem functions may be particularly vulnerable to AgNP exposure. Predicting the environmental impacts of AgNPs requires in situ investigation of environmentally relevant dosing regimens over time scales that allow for ecosystem-level responses. We used 3000 L enclosures installed in a boreal lake to expose plankton communities to chronic and pulse AgNP dosing regimens with concentrations mimicking those recorded in natural waters. We compared temporal patterns of plankton responses, Ag accumulation, and ecosystem metabolism (i.e., daily ecosystem respiration, gross primary production, and net ecosystem production) for 6 weeks of chronic dosing and 3 weeks following a pulsed dose. Ag accumulated in microplankton and zooplankton, but carbon-specific Ag was nonlinear over time and generally did not predict plankton response. Ecosystem metabolism did not respond to either AgNP exposure type. This lack of response corresponded with weak microplankton responses in the chronic treatments but did not reflect the stronger microplankton response in the pulse treatment. Our results suggest that lake ecosystem metabolism is somewhat resistant to environmentally relevant concentrations of AgNPs and that organismal responses do not necessarily predict ecosystem-level responses.

scholarly journals Hydromorphological restoration stimulates river ecosystem metabolism

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Kupilas ◽  
Daniel Hering ◽  
Armin W. Lorenz ◽  
Christoph Knuth ◽  
Björn Gücker
Keyword(s):  
Open Channel ◽  
Ecosystem Respiration ◽  
Gross Primary Production ◽  
Ecosystem Metabolism ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Ecosystem Structure And Functioning ◽  
The One ◽  
Substantial Effort

Abstract. Both, ecosystem structure and functioning determine ecosystem status and are important for the provision of goods and services to society. However, there is a paucity of research that couples functional measures with assessments of ecosystem structure. In mid-sized and large rivers, effects of restoration on key ecosystem processes, such as ecosystem metabolism, have rarely been addressed and remain poorly understood. We compared three reaches of the third-order, gravel-bed river Ruhr in Germany: two reaches restored with moderate (R1) and substantial effort (R2) and one upstream degraded reach (D). Hydromorphology, habitat composition and hydrodynamics were assessed. We estimated gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) using the one-station open-channel diel dissolved oxygen change method over a 50-day period at the end of each reach. Values for hydromorphological variables increased with restoration intensity (D 

scholarly journals Hydromorphological restoration stimulates river ecosystem metabolism

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1989-2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Kupilas ◽  
Daniel Hering ◽  
Armin W. Lorenz ◽  
Christoph Knuth ◽  
Björn Gücker
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Open Channel ◽  
Ecosystem Respiration ◽  
Gross Primary Production ◽  
Ecosystem Metabolism ◽  
Transient Storage ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Wetted Area ◽  
Particulate Nutrients

Abstract. Both ecosystem structure and functioning determine ecosystem status and are important for the provision of goods and services to society. However, there is a paucity of research that couples functional measures with assessments of ecosystem structure. In mid-sized and large rivers, effects of restoration on key ecosystem processes, such as ecosystem metabolism, have rarely been addressed and remain poorly understood. We compared three reaches of the third-order, gravel-bed river Ruhr in Germany: two reaches restored with moderate (R1) and substantial effort (R2) and one upstream degraded reach (D). Hydromorphology, habitat composition, and hydrodynamics were assessed. We estimated gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) using the one-station open-channel diel dissolved oxygen change method over a 50-day period at the end of each reach. Moreover, we estimated metabolic rates of the combined restored reaches (R1 + R2) using the two-station open-channel method. Values for hydromorphological variables increased with restoration intensity (D  <  R1  <  R2). Restored reaches had lower current velocity, higher longitudinal dispersion and larger transient storage zones. However, fractions of median travel time due to transient storage were highest in R1 and lowest in R2, with intermediate values in D. The share of macrophyte cover of total wetted area was highest in R2 and lowest in R1, with intermediate values in D. Station R2 had higher average GPP and ER than R1 and D. The combined restored reaches R1 + R2 also exhibited higher GPP and ER than the degraded upstream river (station D). Restoration increased river autotrophy, as indicated by elevated GPP : ER, and net ecosystem production (NEP) of restored reaches. Temporal patterns of ER closely mirrored those of GPP, pointing to the importance of autochthonous production for ecosystem functioning. In conclusion, high reach-scale restoration effort had considerable effects on river hydrodynamics and ecosystem functioning, which were mainly related to massive stands of macrophytes. High rates of metabolism and the occurrence of dense macrophyte stands may increase the assimilation of dissolved nutrients and the sedimentation of particulate nutrients, thereby positively affecting water quality.

scholarly journals Metabolic plasticity can amplify ecosystem responses to global warming

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Kordas ◽  
Samraat Pawar ◽  
Guy Woodward ◽  
Eoin O'Gorman
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Predictive Models ◽  
Chronic Exposure ◽  
Ecosystem Respiration ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Ecosystem Responses ◽  
Metabolic Plasticity ◽  
Ecosystem Level

Abstract Organisms have the capacity to alter their physiological response to warming through acclimation or adaptation, but empirical evidence for this metabolic plasticity across species within food webs is lacking, and a generalisable framework does not exist for modelling its ecosystem-level consequences. Here we show that the ability of organisms to raise their metabolic rate following chronic exposure to warming decreases with increasing body size. Chronic exposure to higher temperatures also increases the sensitivity of organisms to short-term warming, irrespective of their body size. A mathematical model parameterised with these findings shows that metabolic plasticity could account for an additional 60% of ecosystem energy flux with just +2 °C of warming. This could explain why ecosystem respiration continues to rise in long-term warming experiments and highlights the need to embed metabolic plasticity in predictive models of global warming impacts on ecosystems.

scholarly journals In Situ Investigation of the Formation Kinematics of Plasma-Generated Silver Nanoparticles

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Tasche ◽  
Mirco Weber ◽  
Julia Mrotzek ◽  
Christoph Gerhard ◽  
Stephan Wieneke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Nanoparticle Synthesis ◽  
Atmospheric Pressure Plasma ◽  
Spherical Particles ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Plasma Exposure ◽  
Pressure Plasma ◽  
In Situ Investigation

In this publication, it is shown how to synthesize silver nanoparticles from silver cations out of aqueous solutions by the use of an atmospheric pressure plasma source. The use of an atmospheric pressure plasma leads to a very fast reduction of silver ions in extensive solvent volumes. In order to investigate the nanoparticle synthesis process, ultraviolet/visible (UV/VIS) absorption spectra were recorded in situ. By using transmission electron microscopy and by the analysis of UV/VIS spectra, the kinetics of silver nanoparticle formation by plasma influence can be seen in more detail. For example, there are two different sections visible in the synthesis during the plasma exposure process. The first section of the synthesis is characterized by a linear formation of small spherical particles of nearly constant size. The second section is predominated by saturation effects. Here, particle faults are increasingly formed, induced by changes in the particle shape and the fusion of those particles. The plasma exposure time, therefore, determines the shape and size distribution of the nanoparticles.

scholarly journals Fisheries impacts on lake ecosystem structure in the context of a changing climate and trophic state

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiina Nõges ◽  
Orlane Anneville ◽  
Jean Guillard ◽  
Juta Haberman ◽  
Ain Järvalt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Trophic State ◽  
Scale Effects ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Phosphorus Loading ◽  
Lake Ecosystem ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Lake Basins

<p>Through cascading effects within lake food webs, commercial and recreational fisheries may indirectly affect the abundances of organisms at lower trophic levels, such as phytoplankton, even if they are not directly consumed. So far, interactive effects of fisheries, changing trophic state and climate upon lake ecosystems have been largely overlooked. Here we analyse case studies from five European lake basins of differing trophic states (Lake Võrtsjärv, two basins of Windermere, Lake Geneva and Lake Maggiore) with long-term limnological and fisheries data. Decreasing phosphorus concentrations (re-oligotrophication) and increasing water temperatures have been reported in all five lake basins, while phytoplankton concentration has decreased only slightly or even increased in some cases. To examine possible ecosystem-scale effects of fisheries, we analysed correlations between fish and fisheries data, and other food web components and environmental factors. Re-oligotrophication over different ranges of the trophic scale induced different fish responsesIn the deeper lakes Geneva and Maggiore, we found a stronger link between phytoplankton and planktivorous fish and thus a more important cascading top-down effect than in other lakes. This connection makes careful ecosystem-based fisheries management extremely important for maintaining high water quality in such systems. We also demonstrated that increasing water temperature might favour piscivores at low phosphorus loading, but suppresses them at high phosphorus loading and might thus either enhance or diminish the cascading top-down control over phytoplankton with strong implications for water quality.</p>

scholarly journals White-Rot Fungi Control on Populus spp. Wood by Pressure Treatments with Silver Nanoparticles, Chitosan Oligomers and Propolis

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casado-Sanz ◽  
Silva-Castro ◽  
Ponce-Herrero ◽  
Martín-Ramos ◽  
Martín-Gil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
White Rot Fungi ◽  
Ethanolic Extract ◽  
White Rot ◽  
Wood Preservation ◽  
White Rot Fungus ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Populus Spp ◽  
Over Time

There is growing interest in the development of non-toxic, natural wood preservation agents to replace conventional chemicals. In this paper, the antifungal activities of silver nanoparticles, chitosan oligomers, and propolis ethanolic extract were evaluated against white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd, with a view to protecting Populus spp. wood. In order to create a more realistic in-service type environment, the biocidal products were assessed according to EN:113 European standard, instead of using routine in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods. Wood blocks were impregnated with the aforementioned antifungal agents by the vacuum-pressure method in an autoclave, and their biodeterioration was monitored over 16 weeks. The results showed that treatments based on silver nanoparticles, at concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 ppm, presented high antifungal activity, protecting the wood from fungal attack over time, with weight losses in the range of 8.49% to 8.94% after 16 weeks, versus 24.79% weight loss in the control (untreated) samples. This was confirmed by SEM and optical microscopy images, which showed a noticeably higher cell wall degradation in control samples than in samples treated with silver nanoparticles. On the other hand, the efficacy of the treatments based on chitosan oligomers and propolis gradually decreased over time, which would be a limiting factor for their application as wood preservatives. The nanometal-based approach is thus posed as the preferred choice for the industrial treatment of poplar wood aimed at wood-based engineering products (plywood, laminated veneer lumber, cross-laminated timber, etc.).

scholarly journals Extreme climatic event drives range contraction of a habitat-forming species

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1754) ◽  
pp. 20122829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan A. Smale ◽  
Thomas Wernberg
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Species Distributions ◽  
Ecological Change ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Discrete Events ◽  
Marginal Populations ◽  
Range Contraction ◽  
Range Edge ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Species distributions have shifted in response to global warming in all major ecosystems on the Earth. Despite cogent evidence for these changes, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood and currently imply gradual shifts. Yet there is an increasing appreciation of the role of discrete events in driving ecological change. We show how a marine heat wave (HW) eliminated a prominent habitat-forming seaweed, Scytothalia dorycarpa , at its warm distribution limit, causing a range contraction of approximately 100 km (approx. 5% of its global distribution). Seawater temperatures during the HW exceeded the seaweed's physiological threshold and caused extirpation of marginal populations, which are unlikely to recover owing to life-history traits and oceanographic processes. Scytothalia dorycarpa is an important canopy-forming seaweed in temperate Australia, and loss of the species at its range edge has caused structural changes at the community level and is likely to have ecosystem-level implications. We show that extreme warming events, which are increasing in magnitude and frequency, can force step-wise changes in species distributions in marine ecosystems. As such, return times of these events have major implications for projections of species distributions and ecosystem structure, which have typically been based on gradual warming trends.

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