Impacts of Plastic-Made Packaging on Marine Key Species: Effects Following Water Acidification and Ecological Implications

This study evaluates the impacts of 16 different leachates of plastic-made packaging on marine species of different trophic levels (bacteria, algae, echinoderms). Standard ecotoxicological endpoints (inhibition of bioluminescence, inhibition of growth, embryo-toxicity) and alterations of ecologically significant parameters (i.e., echinoderms’ body-size) were measured following exposure under different pH water conditions: marine standard (pH 8.1) and two increasingly acidic conditions (pH 7.8 and 7.5) in order to evaluate possible variations induced by ocean acidification. The results obtained in this study evidence that the tested doses are not able to significantly affect bacteria (Vibrio fischeri) and algae (Phaeodactylum tricornutum). On the contrary, Paracentrotus lividus larvae were significantly affected by several packaging types (13 out of 16) with meaningless differences between pH conditions.

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Effects of Glyphosate-Based and Derived Products on Sea Urchin Larval Development

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse8090661 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 661

Author(s):

Davide Asnicar ◽

Costanza Cappelli ◽

Ahmad Safuan Sallehuddin ◽

Nur Atiqah Maznan ◽

Maria Gabriella Marin

Keyword(s):

Larval Development ◽

Sea Urchin ◽

Marine Invertebrates ◽

Parent Compound ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Marine Species ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Aminomethylphosphonic Acid ◽

Main Degradation Product ◽

Herbicide Glyphosate

Despite the widespread use of herbicide glyphosate in cultivation, its extensive runoff into rivers and to coastal areas, and the persistence of this chemical and its main degradation product (aminomethylphosphonic acid, AMPA) in the environment, there is still little information on the potential negative effects of glyphosate, its commercial formulation Roundup® and AMPA on marine species. This study was conducted with the aim of providing a comparative evaluation of the effects of glyphosate-based and its derived chemicals on the larval development of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, thus providing new data to describe the potential ecotoxicity of these contaminants. In particular, the effects on larval development, growth and metabolism were assessed during 48 h of exposure from the time of egg fertilization. The results confirm that AMPA and its parent compound, glyphosate have similar toxicity, as observed in other marine invertebrates. However, interestingly, the Roundup® formulation seemed to be less toxic than the glyphosate alone.

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Decoupled taxonomic and ecological recoveries from the Permo-Triassic extinction

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aat5091 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (10) ◽

pp. eaat5091 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Haijun Song ◽

Paul B. Wignall ◽

Alexander M. Dunhill

Keyword(s):

Time Scales ◽

Carrying Capacity ◽

Mass Extinction ◽

Marine Species ◽

Taxonomic Diversity ◽

Marine Ecosystems ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Ecosystem Structure ◽

Top Down ◽

Structure Building

The Permian-Triassic mass extinction was the worst crisis faced by life; it killed >90% of marine species in less than 0.1 million years (Ma). However, knowledge of its macroecological impact over prolonged time scales is limited. We show that marine ecosystems dominated by non-motile animals shifted to ones dominated by nektonic groups after the extinction. In Triassic oceans, animals at high trophic levels recovered faster than those at lower levels. The top-down rebuilding of marine ecosystems was still underway in the latest Triassic, ~50 Ma after the extinction, and contrasts with the ~5-Ma recovery required for taxonomic diversity. The decoupling between taxonomic and ecological recoveries suggests that a process of vacant niche filling before reaching the maximum environmental carrying capacity is independent of ecosystem structure building.

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Food-web modification in the eastern Gulf of Finland after invasion of Marenzelleria arctia (Spionidae, Polychaeta)

NeoBiota ◽

10.3897/neobiota.66.63847 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 66 ◽

pp. 75-94

Author(s):

Sergey Golubkov ◽

Alexei Tiunov ◽

Mikhail Golubkov

Keyword(s):

Food Web ◽

Food Webs ◽

Food Chain ◽

Native Species ◽

Isotope Analysis ◽

Marine Species ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Benthivorous Fish ◽

Neva Estuary ◽

The Baltic

The paucity of data on non-indigenous marine species is a particular challenge for understanding the ecology of invasions and prioritising conservation and research efforts in marine ecosystems. Marenzelleria spp. are amongst the most successful non-native benthic species in the Baltic Sea during recent decades. We used stable isotope analysis (SIA) to test the hypothesis that the dominance of polychaete worm Marenzelleria arctia in the zoobenthos of the Neva Estuary after its invasion in the late 2000s is related to the position of this species in the benthic food webs. The trend towards a gradual decrease in the biomass of Marenzelleria worms was observed during 2014–2020, probably due to significant negative relationships between the biomass of oligochaetes and polychaetes, both of which, according to SIA, primarily use allochthonous organic carbon for their production. The biomass of benthic crustaceans practically did not change and remained very low. The SIA showed that, in contrast to the native crustacean Monoporeia affinis, polychates are practically not consumed either by the main invertebrate predator Saduria entomon, which preys on M. affinis, oligochaetes and larvae of chironomids or by benthivorous fish that prefer native benthic crustaceans. A hypothetical model for the position and functional role of M. arctia in the bottom food web is presented and discussed. According the model, the invasion of M. arctia has created an offshoot food chain in the Estuary food webs. The former dominant food webs, associated with native crustaceans, are now poorly developed. The lack of top-down control obviously contributes to the significant development of the Marenzelleria food chain, which, unlike native food chains, does not provide energy transfer from autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter to the upper trophic levels. The study showed that an alien species, without displacing native species, can significantly change the structure of food webs, creating blind offshoots of the food chain.

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An Inverted Management Strategy for the Fishery of Endangered Marine Species

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.604108 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Hudson T. Pinheiro ◽

Jose A. C. C. Nunes ◽

E. O. C. Coni ◽

E. C. G. Almeida ◽

C. L. S. Sampaio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endangered Species ◽

Management Strategy ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Marine Species ◽

Management Plan ◽

Brazilian Coast ◽

Innovative Strategy ◽

Key Species ◽

The Government ◽

Marine Areas

Overfishing is notorious for triggering population collapses and disrupting marine biological functioning worldwide. To counter such a threat, policy-makers have created and implemented multiple management strategies, but most were incapable to prevent the decline of several key species. Here, we discuss a new management strategy in force since June 2019 in Brazil that aims to deter the overfishing of parrotfish species of the genera Scarus and Sparisoma. This innovative strategy, here referred to as inverted management, allows the capture of endangered parrotfish species inside management areas, such as partially protected marine areas—MPAs, but bans it elsewhere. This initiative is supposed to be built in a partnership among the government, scientists, managers, and fishers. If implemented correctly, endangered species would recover in the much larger area outside MPAs, and fishers would benefit from the conservation-value of the scarce and valued product. However, to succeed, the strategy depends on the adoption of a series of challenging management rules that are not currently being enforced along an extensive coastline. So far, few MPAs have incorporated rules for endangered species in their management plan, and those that have done so have no plans or the means to enforce them. Therefore, fishing of endangered species is currently ongoing without any management or monitoring in the entire Brazilian coast. Concerned with the challenges to develop plans to recover populations of endangered species faced by Brazilian managers, we suggest wide communication and a ban on the fisheries until management plans are implemented. Additionally, we suggest that the effectiveness of the inverted management strategy for parrotfishes should be assessed before it’s applied to other endangered species.

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Comparison of organics and heavy metals acute toxicities to Vibrio fischeri

Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society ◽

10.2298/jsc151124011y ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 81 (6) ◽

pp. 697-705 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Xuepeng Yang ◽

Yan Ji ◽

Fangfang Wang ◽

Jia Xu ◽

Xiangzhen Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Cell Death ◽

Benzoic Acid ◽

Death Rate ◽

Vibrio Fischeri ◽

Reaction Times ◽

Inhibition Rate ◽

Cell Death Rate ◽

Bioluminescence Inhibition ◽

The Difference

Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition has been widely used to test acute toxicities of metals and organics contaminants. However, the differences of metals and organics acute toxicities to V. fischeri have not been compared. Here, four heavy metals (Zn2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Cr6+) and five organics (phenol, benzoic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, nitro-benzene and benzene) acute toxicities to V. fischeri were investigated. Heavy metals toxicities to V. fischeri were increased along with the reaction time, while the organics toxicities kept the same level in different reaction times. In order to explain the difference, the relative cell death rate of V. fischeri was detected. In metals toxicities tests, the bioluminescence inhibition rate of V. fischeri was found to be significantly higher than the relative cell death rate (P<0.05), while for the organics toxicities tests, the cell death rate was similar to the bioluminescence inhibition rate. These results indicated that organics acute toxicities to V. fischeri could reflect the death of cell, but metals acute toxicities to V. fischeri may not lead to the death of cell, just represent the bioluminescence inhibition.

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A New pH-Dependent Macrocyclic Rhodamine B-Based Fluorescent Probe for Copper Detection in White Wine

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s19204514 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (20) ◽

pp. 4514 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nour Doumani ◽

Elias Bou-Maroun ◽

Jacqueline Maalouly ◽

Maya Tueni ◽

Adrien Dubois ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rhodamine B ◽

White Wine ◽

Green Solvent ◽

Acidic Media ◽

One Pot ◽

Acidic Conditions ◽

Ph Conditions ◽

Ph Dependent ◽

Copper Detection ◽

Color Emission

For efficiently measuring copper (II) ions in the acidic media of white wine, a new chemosensor based on rhodamine B coupled to a tetraazamacrocyclic ring (13aneN4CH2NH2) was designed and synthesized by a one-pot reaction using ethanol as a green solvent. The obtained chemosensor was characterized via NMR, UV and fluorescent spectra. It was marked with no color emission under neutral pH conditions, with a pink color emission under acidic conditions, and a magenta color emission under acidic conditions where copper (II) ions were present. The sensitivity towards copper (II) ions was tested and verified over Ca2+, Ag+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Fe3+, and Mn2+, with a detection limit of 4.38 × 10−8 M in the fluorescence spectrum.

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Reproductive biology of Benthosema pterotum (Teleostei: Myctophidae) in the shelf region of the East China Sea

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315413001318 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 94 (2) ◽

pp. 423-433 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Chiyuki Sassa ◽

Seiji Ohshimo ◽

Hiroshige Tanaka ◽

Youichi Tsukamoto

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Biology ◽

East China Sea ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

East China ◽

Hepatosomatic Index ◽

The East China Sea ◽

Spawning Period ◽

China Sea ◽

Key Species ◽

Shelf Region

Benthosema pterotum is a dominant myctophid in the shelf region of the East China Sea (ECS). They are a key species linking secondary producers and upper trophic levels. We examined the reproductive biology of B. pterotum in the ECS, based on 3065 specimens (10.7–54.8 mm standard length (SL)) sampled during cruises in 1999 and 2004–2009 to enable data over a 12 month cycle to be assessed. Between 14 and 30 mm SL, the ratio of females to males was ~1:1; it increased with SL, and all individuals ≥46 mm SL were females. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) at 50% sexual maturity of females and males was 3.91 and 0.24, respectively. Based on this criterion, females and males can mature at sizes larger than 28 mm and 24 mm SL, respectively. Although mature females having GSI ≥3.91 occurred over nine months (May–January), mean GSI of females peaked sharply during August–September, i.e. the primary spawning period. The hepatosomatic index peaked during April–July, and declined during August–September, indicating storage of materials and energy for reproduction. Based on data from seasonal bottom trawl surveys, small individuals of B. pterotum began to occur abundantly in autumn, and modal body lengths increased progressively during spring–summer, corresponding to the above reproductive seasonality. Oocytes at various sizes were found in mature ovaries, indicating that they are multiple spawners. Egg size at hydration ranged from 0.5 to 0.85 mm. Batch fecundity was positively correlated with SL, and ranged from 253 to 1942 eggs in fish from 30.1–54.8 mm SL.

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Preparation and Characterization of Alginate and Psyllium Beads ContainingLactobacillus acidophilus

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/2012/680108 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Farzaneh Lotfipour ◽

Shahla Mirzaeei ◽

Maryam Maghsoodi

Keyword(s):

Lactobacillus Acidophilus ◽

Encapsulation Efficiency ◽

Alginate Beads ◽

Probiotic Bacteria ◽

Partial Substitution ◽

Narrow Size Distribution ◽

Acidic Conditions ◽

Ph Conditions

This paper describes preparation and characterization of beads of alginate and psyllium containing probiotic bacteria ofLactobacillus acidophilusDMSZ20079. Twelve different formulations containing alginate (ALG) and alginate-psyllium (ALG-PSL) were prepared using extrusion technique. The prepared beads were characterized in terms of size, morphology and surface properties, encapsulation efficiency, viabilities in acid (pH 1.8, 2 hours) and bile (0.5% w/v, 2 hours) conditions, and release in simulated colon pH conditions. The results showed that spherical beads with narrow size distribution ranging from1.59±0.04to1.67±0.09 mm for ALG and from1.61±0.06to1.80±0.07mm for ALG-PSL with encapsulation efficiency higher than 98% were achieved. Furthermore, addition of PSL into ALG enhanced the integrity of prepared beads in comparison with ALG formulations. The results indicated that incorporation of PSL into alginate beads improved viability of the bacteria in acidic conditions as well as bile conditions. Also, stimulating effect of PSL on the probiotic bacteria was observed through 20-hour incubation in simulated colonic pH solution. According to ourin vitrostudies, PSL can be a suitable polymer candidate for partial substitution with ALG for probiotic coating.

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The role of climate and fisheries on the temporal changes in the Bothnian Bay foodweb

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsw032 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 73 (7) ◽

pp. 1739-1749 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zeynep Pekcan-Hekim ◽

Anna Gårdmark ◽

Agnes M. L. Karlson ◽

Pirkko Kauppila ◽

Mikaela Bergenius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Strong Increase ◽

The Baltic Sea ◽

Key Species ◽

Long Term Changes ◽

Spawning Stock ◽

The Baltic ◽

Bothnian Bay

Abstract Climate change, eutrophication, and fishing are main pressures associated with changes in the abiotic and biotic environment in several sub-basins of the Baltic Sea. Identifying the nature of such changes is of relative importance for fisheries and environmental management. The Bothnian Bay is the northernmost sub-basin in the Baltic Sea and the responses of the foodweb to long-term changes in combined pressures have not been investigated. In this study, we explore long-term changes in the Bothnian Bay foodweb, represented by key species across all trophic levels over the past 34 years, and identify potential environmental and anthropogenic drivers. The results indicate that salinity is the most important driver to explain changes in the composition of the offshore biota in the Bothnian Bay. These changes are probably driven by indirect effects of salinity rather than bottom-up effects. A decline in the herring spawning-stock biomass was most plausibly attributed to an increased competition for food due to a parallel increase in vendace, which uses the same food resources (zooplankton and zoobenthos) and may benefit from declining salinity due to its limnic origin. A strong increase in the abundance of grey seal and ringed seal populations was seen in the late 2000s but was not related to any of the pressure variables analysed. Temperature and nutrients were not identified as important drivers of changes in the overall biota. Our study explores correlative relationships between variables and identifies potential interactions in the foodweb to generate hypotheses for further studies.

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