scholarly journals Knowledge about Microplastic in Mediterranean Tributary River Ecosystems: Lack of Data and Research Needs on Such a Crucial Marine Pollution Source

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana Guerranti ◽  
Guido Perra ◽  
Tania Martellini ◽  
Luisa Giari ◽  
Alessandra Cincinelli
Keyword(s):  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Pollution Source ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Abundance Distribution ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Final Destination ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Freshwater Environments

Plastic debris occurring in freshwater environments, which can either come from the surrounding terrestrial areas or transported from upstream, has been identified as one of the main sources and routes of plastic pollution in marine systems. The ocean is the final destination of land- based microplastic sources, but compared to marine environments, the occurrence and effects of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems remain largely unknown. A thorough examination of scientific literature on abundance, distribution patterns, and characteristics of microplastics in freshwater environments in Mediterranean tributary rivers has shown a substantial lack of information and the need to apply adequate and uniform measurement methods.

Plastic pollution in Swiss surface waters: nature and concentrations, interaction with pollutants

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Faure ◽  
Colin Demars ◽  
Olivier Wieser ◽  
Manuel Kunz ◽  
Luiz Felippe de Alencastro
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Lake Surface ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Chemical Effects ◽  
Beach Sediments ◽  
Respective Contribution ◽  
Freshwater Environments

Environmental contextPlastic, and particularly microplastic, pollution is a growing environmental concern worldwide. Research regarding marine environments has led to a substantial increase in knowledge, yet little is known as regards the situation in freshwater environments. Although the occurrence of microplastics was demonstrated in Lake Geneva in 2012, the present research aims at confirming this pollution and expanding the data set for other lakes and environments of Switzerland. AbstractMarine microplastic (<5mm) water pollution has met growing public and scientific interest in the last few years. The situation in freshwater environments remains largely unknown, although it appears that they play an important role as part of the origin of marine pollution. Apart from the physical impacts on biota, chemical effects are to be expected as well, especially with smaller particles. This study aims at assessing plastic abundance in Lakes Geneva, Constance, Neuchâtel, Maggiore, Zurich and Brienz, and identifying the nature of the particles, potential ingestion by birds and fishes, and the associated pollutants. Lake surface transects and a few rivers were sampled using a floating manta net, and beach sediments were analysed. Plastics were sorted by type (fragments, pellets, cosmetic beads, lines, fibres, films, foams) and composition (polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, etc.); fish and water birds were dissected to assess their potential exposure, and analyses were conducted on the hydrophobic micropollutants adsorbed to the microplastics as well as some potentially toxic additives they contained. Evidence of this pollution is shown for all lakes, microplastics of all types and diverse composition having been found in all samples. Birds and fish are prone to microplastic ingestion, and all the tested chemicals (both adsorbed micropollutants and contained additives) were found above the detection limit, and often the quantification limit. The sources and their respective contribution need to be confirmed and quantified, and the ecotoxicological effects need further investigation. Other questions remain open, including the transport and fate of plastic particles in the environment.

scholarly journals Temporal and Spatial Coexistence of Archaeal and BacterialamoAGenes and Gene Transcripts in Lake Lucerne

Archaea ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth W. Vissers ◽  
Flavio S. Anselmetti ◽  
Paul L. E. Bodelier ◽  
Gerard Muyzer ◽  
Christa Schleper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Water Layer ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Ammonia Oxidizers ◽  
Lake Lucerne ◽  
Ammonia Oxidizing Archaea ◽  
Gene Transcripts ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

Despite their crucial role in the nitrogen cycle, freshwater ecosystems are relatively rarely studied for active ammonia oxidizers (AO). This study of Lake Lucerne determined the abundance of bothamoAgenes and gene transcripts of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) over a period of 16 months, shedding more light on the role of both AO in a deep, alpine lake environment. At the surface, at 42 m water depth, and in the water layer immediately above the sediment, AOA generally outnumbered AOB. However, in the surface water during summer stratification, when both AO were low in abundance, AOB were more numerous than AOA. Temporal distribution patterns of AOA and AOB were comparable. Higher abundances ofamoAgene transcripts were observed at the onset and end of summer stratification. In summer, archaealamoAgenes and transcripts correlated negatively with temperature and conductivity. Concentrations of ammonium and oxygen did not vary enough to explain theamoAgene and transcript dynamics. The observed herbivorous zooplankton may have caused a hidden flux of mineralized ammonium and a change in abundance of genes and transcripts. At the surface, AO might have been repressed during summer stratification due to nutrient limitation caused by active phytoplankton.

scholarly journals Odonata (Insecta) from Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso, Central Brazil: Information on species distribution and new records

Check List ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenize Batista Calvão ◽  
Paulo De Marco Júnior ◽  
Joana Darc Batista
Keyword(s):  
Species Distribution ◽  
New Records ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Species List ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Central Brazil ◽  
Fixed Area ◽  
Freshwater Environments ◽  
Tropical Freshwater

Odonates are found in all freshwater environments, and are specially species rich in tropical freshwater ecosystems. Currently about 800 odonate species are known to Brazil, but only 29% of the Brazil territory have been surveyed for this group. Here we provide a species list with information on distribution and new records for Odonata in nine streams in Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso, Central Brazil. We used the scan procedure with a fixed area for three days in each stream between 10:00 and 14:00h. We collected 1038 dragonfly specimens belonging to 67 species, which represents 8% of the known Brazil odonate fauna. Additionally, five new records for the study area are presented.

scholarly journals Transforming the Global Plastics Economy: The Role of Economic Policies in the Global Governance of Plastic Pollution

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Diana Barrowclough ◽  
Carolyn Deere Birkbeck
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Global Governance ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
International Policy ◽  
Progressive Development ◽  
Views And Perceptions ◽  
Governance Processes

International policy discussions on plastic pollution are entering a new phase, with more than 100 governments calling for the launch of negotiations for a new global plastics agreement in 2022. This article aims to contribute to efforts to identify effective international policy levers to address plastic pollution. It takes stock of the evolution of views and perceptions on this complex and multi-faceted topic—from concerns about marine pollution and waste management towards new strategic directions that involve the entire plastics life-cycle and include climate and health impacts associated with the proliferation of plastics. It also traces the progressive development of responses—from voluntary approaches invovling multiple stakeholders to national and international approaches focused on regulation. The paper is informed by desk research, a literature review and participation by the authors in informal and formal global governance processes on plastic pollution, the environment and development in the United Nations and World Trade Organization between 2019 and 2021. It also draws on empirical findings from a novel and original database on the life-cycle of plastic trade created by the authors. The paper argues that the important focus on downstream dimensions of plastic pollution—and strategies to address them—needs to be complemented by a broad life-cycle and “upstream” perspective that addresses plastic pollution at its source. It highlights the political economy tensions and inconsistencies at hand, observing that while some countries are taking concerted efforts to reduce pollution (including through bans on certain kinds of plastic and plastic products); to promote more circular plastic economies; and to reduce the carbon footprint of plastics (as part of a wider effort to decarbonize their economies), trade and investment in the plastic industry continues to rise. The paper argues that to reduce plastic pollution, emerging global governance efforts must integrate international environmental law and cooperation with a complementary and enabling global framework that addresses the economic, financial, industrial and trade policies needed to drive the necessary transformation of the plastics sector.

Identifying global hotspots of plastic waste accumulation along river networks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Gomez-Velez ◽  
Stefan Krause
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
River Network ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Trapping Efficiency ◽  
River Networks ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Relative Location ◽  
Plastic Pollution

&lt;p&gt;Global plastic pollution is affecting ecosystems and human health globally. Proposing solutions and coping strategies for this threat requires a clear understanding of the processes controlling the fate and transport of mismanaged plastics at multiple scales, going from watersheds to regions and even continents. River corridors are the primary conveyor and trap for mismanaged plastic produced within the landscape and eventually released to the ocean. New approaches that apply technological sensing innovations for monitoring plastic waste in aquatic environments can improve observations and plastic waste datasets globally. However, our understanding of when, where, and how to target monitoring is limited, reducing the benefit gained. There is therefore a critical demand for predictions of hotspots (as well as hot moments) of plastic accumulation along river networks globally, in order to optimize observational capacity. &amp;#160;&amp;#160;&amp;#160;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here, we present a new global flow and transport model for plastic waste in riverine environments. Our model predicts that only a small fraction (roughly 2.5%) of the global mismanaged plastic that entered rivers since the 1950s has been delivered to the ocean by 2020, with an overwhelming majority sequestered in freshwater ecosystems. Furthermore, we predict the patterns of mismanaged plastic accumulation and its residence time depend on (i) the topology and geometry of the river network, (ii) the relative location of plastic sources, and (ii) the relative location and trapping efficiency of flow regulation structures, primarily large dams. Our results highlight the role of rivers as major sinks for plastic waste and the need for targeted remedial strategies that consider the structure of the river network and anthropogenic regulation when proposing intervention measures and sampling efforts.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Liability and Compensation for Marine Plastic Pollution: Conceptual Issues and Possible Ways Forward

AJIL Unbound ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 206-211
Author(s):  
Sandrine Maljean-Dubois ◽  
Benoît Mayer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Expert Group ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
Conceptual Problems

The UN General Assembly and the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) have expressed concerns about the pollution of the sea by plastics, which adversely impacts ecosystems, some economic activities (e.g., tourism and fishing), and possibly public health (e.g., consumption of contaminated fish). In December 2017, the UNEA decided to establish the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics to examine ways to combat marine plastic pollution. The group met three times in 2018 and 2019, and at least two more meetings are planned. Among potential responses to the issue of marine pollution, the group briefly considered—but eventually dismissed—the possibility of creating a liability or compensation regime. This essay evaluates the prospects for such a regime. As the essay will show, compensation faces significant conceptual problems, not the least of which is the absence of an obvious recipient. However, some form of liability could be imposed on corporations that produce plastic, or on states that fail to regulate them. Such a liability regime, even without financial compensation, could foster the prevention of further marine plastic pollution.

scholarly journals Ubiquity, Diversity, and Genomic Complexity of Cyanophages in Freshwater Environments

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Qi-Ya Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Morphological Observation ◽  
Filamentous Cyanobacterium ◽  
Putative Orfs ◽  
Virus Like Particles ◽  
Blue Green Algae ◽  
Short Tail ◽  
Freshwater Environments

Cyanophages are viruses that infect cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) and are ubiquitious in marine and freshwater environments. In recent years, freshwater cyanophages have attracted more attention because they can affect global freshwater ecosystems. The spatial distribution and morphological diversity of cyanophage populations were examined in Lake Donghu with three trophic regions: hypertrophic, eutrophic, and mesotrophic regions. The surprisingly high viral abundance (ranging from 108 to 109 phage mL−1) and morphological diversity were detected. Most of them have tails and belong to the families Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, and Podoviridae. Various morphotypes were observed, such as prolate-headed virus-like particles and lemon-shaped virus-like particles. In addition, some cyanophages were studied by virological experiments and whole-genome analyses, combined with morphological observation. For example, three cyanophages were isolated and their whole genomes were sequenced. Contractile tail myonophage MaMV-DC infects bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Tailless cyanophage Planktothrix agardhii virus isolated from Lake Donghu (PaV-LD) infects filamentous cyanobacterium. Short-tail podovirus A-4L can infect the model cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. The MaMV-DC genome contains 169,223 bp encoding 170 putative open reading frames (ORFs). The PaV-LD genome posseses 95,299 bp encoding 142 putative ORFs. The genome of short-tail podovirus A-4L has 41,750 bp encoding 38 putative ORFs. There are significant differences in their genomic size and encoded tail proteins, but all three cyanophages contain genes that are not commonly found in phages. By studying the vast biodiversity of viruses in freshwater environments, these novel findings of cyanophages broaden our insights, and allow us to gain more useful knowledge about the global impact of these viruses in freshwater ecosystems.

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