| 1. |
- Ahrens, Lutz, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and phenolic compounds in Swedish rivers over four different seasons
- 2018
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and phenolic compounds are emerging organic pollutants characterized by their persistency, bioaccumulation and toxicity potential. In this study, 28 PFASs and 10 phenolic compounds were investigated in 10 Swedish rivers over four different seasons (October 2016, January 2017, April 2017 and July 2017). The objective was to investigate the levels, composition profiles, sesonal trends and fluxes for both compound classes. In total, 7 out of 28 PFASs and 9 out of 10 phenolic compounds were detected in surface water from the 10 rivers. The average concentration in all samples was 3.2 ng L-1 for ∑28PFASs (median 2.4 ng L-1, n = 40), while 230 ng L-1 for the sum of the phenolic compounds (median 0 ng L-1, n = 38). Highest average ∑28PFAS concentrations were found in Rönneån with 10 ng L-1 (median 11 ng L-1), followed by Norrström with 9.0 ng L-1 (median 9.1 ng L-1), whereas no PFASs were detected in Umeå älv and Ångermanälven. On the other hand, highest average of the sum of the phenolic compound concentrations were found in Nyköpingsån with 1500 ng L-1 (median 57 ng L-1), while for the other rivers the average ranged between 50 ng L-1 and 140 ng L-1, except for Emån where TBP was only detected in one sample with 0.33 ng L-1. This indicates that PFASs and phenolic compounds origin from different sources. The dominant PFASs were perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS, 38 % of the ∑28PFASs), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, 21 %), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS (branched), 8.9 %), while the dominant phenolic compounds were 4nonylphenol (4-NP, 67 %), 4-tert-nonylphenol-diethoxylate (4-NP-EO2, 20 %), and 2,4,6tribromophenol (TBP, 10 %). The concentrations of PFASs and phenolic compounds were relatively constant during the four investigated seasons which indicates a relatively steady input of these two compound classes into the river systems. The daily fluxes of Σ28PFAS was estimated to be in total 220 g d-1 (81 kg year-1), whereas the daily fluxes of phenolic compounds was estimated to be 16000 g d-1 (5700 kg year-1) for all 10 investigated rivers. The Annual Average Environmental Quality Standard (AA-EQS) of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) was exceeded in 33% (n = 13) of the surface water samples for the sum of linear and branched PFOS and in 13% (n = 5) of the surface water samples for 4NP. This indicates that there is a potential risk for the aquatic environment. The AA-EQS of 4-octylphenol (4-OP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) was not exceeded in any surface water sample.
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| 2. |
- Allen, Craig R., et al.
(författare)
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Quantifying spatial resilience
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 53:3, s. 625-635
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- 1. Anthropogenic stressors affect the ecosystems upon which humanity relies. In some cases when resilience is exceeded, relatively small linear changes in stressors can cause relatively abrupt and nonlinear changes in ecosystems. 2. Ecological regime shifts occur when resilience is exceeded and ecosystems enter a new local equilibrium that differs in its structure and function from the previous state. Ecological resilience, the amount of disturbance that a system can withstand before it shifts into an alternative stability domain, is an important framework for understanding and managing ecological systems subject to collapse and reorganization. 3. Recently, interest in the influence of spatial characteristics of landscapes on resilience has increased. Understanding how spatial structure and variation in relevant variables in landscapes affects resilience to disturbance will assist with resilience quantification, and with local and regional management. 4. Synthesis and applications. We review the history and current status of spatial resilience in the research literature, expand upon existing literature to develop a more operational definition of spatial resilience, introduce additional elements of a spatial analytical approach to understanding resilience, present a framework for resilience operationalization and provide an overview of critical knowledge and technology gaps that should be addressed for the advancement of spatial resilience theory and its applications to management and conservation.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- André, Hampus, 1989
(författare)
-
Resource and Environmental Impacts of Resource-Efficiency Measures Applied to Electronic Products
- 2018
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Natural resources such as ecosystems, land, water and metals underpin the functioning of economies and human well-being, and are becoming increasingly scarce due to growth in population and affluence. Metals are increasingly demanded for their specific properties as modern technology develops. The dependence on metals is of growing concern due to the environmental impacts related, for example, to energy use and local impacts from mining, as well as the scarcity risks posed by socio-economic, geological and geopolitical constraints. Thus, there is a clear need to use metals and other natural resources more efficiently. The vision of a circular economy has been proposed as a way to do this, for example by improving durability, reusing, repairing and recycling. Such so-called resource-efficiency (RE) measures are commonly assumed to be environmentally beneficial, although the evidence is not plentiful. It is plausible that focusing on recirculating products and materials could shift burdens to other environmental impacts or life cycle stages. It has therefore been argued that a life cycle-based approach, such as in life cycle assessment (LCA), is useful to critically assess the environmental implications of RE measures. LCA aims to quantify the environmental impacts of products over their entire life cycles - from cradle to grave - assessing a wide range of impacts such as toxicity, climate change and metal resource use. For metal resource use, however, there are a number of perspectives as to what constitutes the actual environmental problem. These perspectives are represented in a variety of life cycle impact assessment methods (LCIA) which have previously been shown to give diverging results. Electronic products are emblematic of metal resource use challenges since they deploy a broad spectrum of scarce metals. This thesis aims to provide knowledge on the potential for RE measures to reduce the environmental impacts of electronic products, by addressing the following research questions: (1) What resource-efficiency measures result in reduced potential environmental impacts and resource use – for what types of products and under what conditions? (2) How does extended use of electronic products through design for increased technical lifetime, reuse and repair affect environmental impacts, particularly metal resource use? (3) How does the application of different LCIA methods for metal resource use influence interpretations of resource-efficiency measures applied to electronic products? This thesis builds on three appended papers which are all based on comparative assessments of resource efficiency, studied as resource use and environmental impacts per function delivered, using LCA and material flow analysis. The results indicate that extended use of electronic products through increasing technical lifetimes, reusing and repairing, is generally resource-efficient. Exceptions may occur, however, if extended use is insufficient to motivate impacts from producing more durable products or spare parts. Use extension of electronic products leads to resource efficiency in two distinct ways: through the intended use extension and by increasingly steering material flows into recycling. Further resource efficiency could be realised by combining RE measures over the entire life cycles of products. With regards to metal resource use, the choice of LCIA method can influence the interpretation of the results of RE measures for electronic products. Therefore, it is advisable to use several complementary LCIA methods to minimise the risks of overlooking potentially important resources issues. Furthermore, better understanding and transparency of such issues is valuable in order to provide more comprehensive information to decision-makers.
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| 6. |
- Angeler, David
(författare)
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Deathcore, creativity and scientific thinking.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Research Ideas and Outcomes. - : Pensoft Publishers. - 2367-7163. ; 2, s. 2-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Major scientific breakthroughs are generally the result of materializing creative ideas, the result of an inductive process that sometimes spontaneously and unexpectedly generates a link between thoughts and/or objects that did not exist before. Creativity is the cornerstone of scientific thinking, but scientists in academia are judged by metrics of quantification that often leave little room for creative thinking. In many scientific fields, reductionist approaches are rewarded and new ideas viewed skeptically. As a result, scientific inquiry is often confined to narrow but safe disciplinary ivory towers, effectively preventing profoundly creative explorations that could yield unexpected benefits. New information This paper argues how apparently unrelated fields specifically music and belief systems can be combined in a provocative allegory to provide novel perspectives regarding patterns in nature, thereby potentially inspiring innovation in the natural, social and other sciences. The merger between basic human tensions such as those embodied by religion and music, for example the heavy metal genre of deathcore, may be perceived as controversial, challenging, and uncomfortable. However, it is an example of moving the thinking process out of unconsciously established comfort zones, through the connection of apparently unrelated entities. We argue that music, as an auditory art form, has the potential to enlighten and boost creative thinking in science. Metal, as a fast evolving and diversifying extreme form of musical art, may be particularly suitable to trigger surprising associations in scientific inquiry. This may pave the way for dealing with questions about what we don´t know that we don´t know in a fast-changing planet.
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| 7. |
- Anikin, Andrey, et al.
(författare)
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Human Non-linguistic Vocal Repertoire : Call Types and Their Meaning
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-3653 .- 0191-5886. ; 42:1, s. 53-80
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent research on human nonverbal vocalizations has led to considerable progress in our understanding of vocal communication of emotion. However, in contrast to studies of animal vocalizations, this research has focused mainly on the emotional interpretation of such signals. The repertoire of human nonverbal vocalizations as acoustic types, and the mapping between acoustic and emotional categories, thus remain underexplored. In a cross-linguistic naming task (Experiment 1), verbal categorization of 132 authentic (non-acted) human vocalizations by English-, Swedish- and Russian-speaking participants revealed the same major acoustic types: laugh, cry, scream, moan, and possibly roar and sigh. The association between call type and perceived emotion was systematic but non-redundant: listeners associated every call type with a limited, but in some cases relatively wide, range of emotions. The speed and consistency of naming the call type predicted the speed and consistency of inferring the caller's emotion, suggesting that acoustic and emotional categorizations are closely related. However, participants preferred to name the call type before naming the emotion. Furthermore, nonverbal categorization of the same stimuli in a triad classification task (Experiment 2) was more compatible with classification by call type than by emotion, indicating the former's greater perceptual salience. These results suggest that acoustic categorization may precede attribution of emotion, highlighting the need to distinguish between the overt form of nonverbal signals and their interpretation by the perceiver. Both within- and between-call acoustic variation can then be modeled explicitly, bringing research on human nonverbal vocalizations more in line with the work on animal communication.
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| 8. |
- Axelsson Linkowski, Weronika
(författare)
-
Managing mountains, past and present conditions for traditional summer farming and Sami reindeer husbandry in northern Scandinavia
- 2017
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Traditional land use and conditions for maintenance of biodiversity are often interlinked. When land use changes and ecosystems change as a result, there is a risk to loose both the traditional ecological knowledge and the biodiversity connected to this land use. This thesis focuses on traditional land use, summer farming and Sami reindeer husbandry, in the mountain areas of northern Scandinavia (mainly Sweden), in a historical and contemporary perspective. The overall aim is to contribute to the understanding of the conditions for the traditional land use in the Scandinavian (mainly Swedish) mountains, using the concepts of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and a historical-ecological perspective. Both summer farming and reindeer husbandry are under strong external pressure and face large challenges today. Some of these challenges are shared and some differ between the two types of northern pastoralism. Scandinavian summer farmers experience that different views on their land use from different authorities affect them negatively. The increasing populations of large carnivores also worry the summer farmers. Recent depredation rates are in fact of the same level as historically (around 1900). Interviews showed that traditional knowledge about protective measures had eroded during years without carnivores, but also that farming practices have changed recently and that new knowledge developed. Sami plant use has been studied historically, but information about Sami plant management of Angelica archangelica was not documented. We argue that Sami ecological knowledge should be used to ensure sustainable harvest methods. Today traditional reindeer husbandry faces severe problems due to the reduction of winter grazing land by different encroachments, most importantly from modern forestry. The negative effects are even larger since increasingly difficult winter conditions create a need for a wider range of good grazing areas. Traditional knowledge is essential in the herders´ daily work, but the usability of the knowledge is severely constrained by recent changes. In the future planning of an ecologically and socially sustainable mountain management it is necessary to work with traditional land users and integrate their traditional knowledge.
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| 9. |
- Baird, Emily, et al.
(författare)
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X-ray micro computed-tomography
- 2017
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Ingår i: Current Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-9822. ; 27:8, s. 289-291
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Emily Baird and Gavin Taylor describe how you can make three-dimensional models of biological samples using x-ray micro-computed tomography
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| 10. |
- Berglund, Örjan, et al.
(författare)
-
Land use on organic soils in Sweden – a survey on the land use of organic soils within agriculture and forest lands during 1983-2014
- 2016
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Data from the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU), the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Swedish National Forest Inventory were used in a GIS analysis to evaluate the distribution of organic soils (OS) used for agriculture and forestry in Sweden. The status of agricultural soils and agricultural land use changes were also studied, based on the most recent data available from the SGU. The total surface area of OS in Sweden was estimated to be 6 207 284 ha (15.2% of the land surface area), which is less than reported in previous assessments (Berglund and Berglund, 2008; Berglund et al., 2009). Of the total OS area 98.2% was peat, of which 4.7% was shallow peat and 2.5% 40K peat (peat determined using gamma radiation data). The remaining 1.8% were gyttja soils. Total agricultural area under EU regulations (i.e. on the EU agriculture block map) in Sweden was 3 232 039 ha (7.9% of the land surface area) and most of this was arable land (82.8%). Pasture occupied approx. 16% of the area, the land use on the remaining 1.2% is unknown. Agricultural area on OS (AOS) based on SGU-data and the EU agriculture block map was estimated to be 225 722 ha which is 7% of the total agricultural area based on EU agriculture block maps and 9.0% based on the national maps over agricultural land areas provided by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. More than 50% of AOS was arable land whereas approx. 40% was divided between pasture and unmanaged arable land. The remaining area was wetland, unknown or other land use type. In comparison to previously studies in 2003 (Berglund and Berglund, 2008) and 2008 (Berglund et al., 2009), both the total agricultural area and AOS area have decreased, probably due to structural changes in agriculture. The decline has been sharper for the surface area of AOS than for the total agricultural area. Among the Swedish National Forest Inventory plots, 12.3% were located on OS. Land use changes recorded on the Forest Inventory plots were mostly from arable land to other land uses rather than from other land uses to arable land both in total area and in OS.
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| 11. |
- Bjärstig, Therese, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Implementing collaborative planning in the swedish mountains : The case of Vilhelmina
- 2018
-
Ingår i: WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment. - Southampto : WIT Press. - 9781784662912 ; , s. 781-796, s. 781-795
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Critical appraisals have stressed the need for participation and social learning in spatial planning, and planning is now seen as a process of innovative collaboration by multiple actors. During such ‘collaborative planning’, various parties try to develop new inclusive strategies through dialog. Collaborative planning is a major strand of current planning theory and highlights the need for new methods that involve citizen participation. In Sweden, the realization of collaborative planning in practice remains elusive, and research on the subject is limited, so further studies are needed. Thus, in the project “Green planning: Vilhelmina as a testbed for innovative land use planning in the mountain region”, we tested and implemented methods for involving citizens and other land-use stakeholders in the process of developing Vilhelmina municipality’s comprehensive plan (MCP). This paper presents lessons learned from that process and data obtained from a set of focus groups, a workshop, surveys, and personal communication. From these activities in the Swedish mountain region, we learned that collaborative practices have both pros and cons that must be addressed for practical realization of the widely embraced ideal of collaborative planning.
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| 12. |
- Bodnar, Taras, et al.
(författare)
-
A linear test for the global minimum variance portfolio for small sample and singular covariance
- 2015
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Bodnar and Schmid (2008) derived the distribution of the global minimum variance portfolio weights and obtained the distribution of the test statistics for the general linear hypothesis. Their results are obtained in the case when the number of observations n is bigger or equal than the size of portfolio k. In the present paper, we extend the result by analyzing the portfolio weights in a small sample case of n < k, with the singular covariance matrix. The results are illustrated using actual stock returns. A discussion of practical relevance of the model is presented.
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| 13. |
- Brijs, Jeroen, et al.
(författare)
-
Exposure to seawater increases intestinal motility in euryhaline rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
- 2017
-
Ingår i: The Journal of experimental biology. - : The Company of Biologists. - 1477-9145 .- 0022-0949. ; 220, s. 2397-2408
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Upon exposure to seawater, euryhaline teleosts need to imbibe and desalinate seawater to allow for intestinal ion and water absorption, as this is essential for maintaining osmotic homeostasis. Despite the potential benefits of increased mixing and transport of imbibed water for increasing the efficiency of absorptive processes, the effect of water salinity on intestinal motility in teleosts remains unexplored. By qualitatively and quantitatively describing in vivo intestinal motility of euryhaline rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), this study demonstrates that in freshwater, the most common motility pattern consisted of clusters of rhythmic, posteriorly propagating contractions that lasted ∼1-2 minutes followed by a period of quiescence lasting ∼4-5 minutes. This pattern closely resembles mammalian migrating motor complexes (MMCs). Following a transition to seawater, imbibed seawater resulted in a significant distension of the intestine and the frequency of MMCs increased two to three-fold with a concomitant reduction in the periods of quiescence. The increased frequency of MMCs was also accompanied by ripple-type contractions occuring every 12 to 60 seconds. These findings demonstrate that intestinal contractile activity of euryhaline teleosts is dramatically increased upon exposure to seawater, which is likely part of the overall response for maintaining osmotic homeostasis as increased drinking and mechanical perturbation of fluids is necessary to optimize intestinal ion and water absorption. Finally, the temporal response of intestinal motility in rainbow trout transitioning from freshwater to seawater coincides with previously documented physiological modifications associated with osmoregulation and may provide further insight on the underlying reasons shaping the migration patterns of salmonids.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
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Acute Toxicity and Environmental Risks of Five Veterinary Pharmaceuticals for Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
- 2016
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Ingår i: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-4861 .- 1432-0800. ; 96, s. 139-143
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Due to the high use of antibiotics and antiparasitics for the treatment of livestock, there is concern about the potential impacts of the release of these compounds into freshwater ecosystems. In this context, the present study quantified the acute toxicity of two antibiotics (sulfadiazine and sulfadimidine), and three antiparasitic agents (flubendazole, fenbendazole, ivermectin) for nine freshwater invertebrate species. These experiments revealed a low degree of toxicity for the sulfonamide antibiotics, with limited implications in the survival of all test species at the highest test concentrations (50 and 100 mg/L). In contrast, all three antiparasitic agents indicated on the basis of their acute toxicity risks for the aquatic environment. Moreover, chronic toxicity data from the literature for antiparasitics, including effects on reproduction in daphnids, support the concern about the integrity of aquatic ecosystems posed by releases of these compounds. Thus, these pharmaceuticals warrant further careful consideration by environmental risk managers.
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| 16. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco, et al.
(författare)
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An ecological and ecotoxicological perspective on fine particulate organic matter in streams
- 2016
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Ingår i: Freshwater Biology. - : Wiley. - 0046-5070 .- 1365-2427. ; 61, s. 2063-2074
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) provides a key longitudinal link within stream networks, and is the predominant food source for filter- and deposit-feeding invertebrates, collectively classified as collectors'. Organisms involved in producing and using FPOM are sensitive to chemical and other anthropogenic stressors, but information on such impacts, and on FPOM dynamics in general, is limited. Here, we review information on the ecological role of FPOM in streams, and discuss potential impacts on FPOM dynamics of organic and inorganic chemical stressors, including metals and pesticides. Emphasis is placed on faecal particles produced within the leaf-litter processing chain. Key biological factors controlling the resource quality of FPOM for collectors include the identity of the invertebrates producing FPOM, and the nutritional quality of their food resources. FPOM nutrient content is also strongly influenced by microbial colonisation and activity, and FPOM processing rates are thus likely to be sensitive to the impacts of stressors affecting microbes, including nutrients and antimicrobial chemicals. The potential for FPOM to bind and subsequently transport chemical stressors is high, particularly for hydrophobic compounds, but the extent of such effects and impacts on collectors consuming contaminated particles has attracted only limited attention. Combining concepts and research approaches from ecotoxicology and basic stream ecology would facilitate development of a common integrated framework for understanding the role of FPOM, and assessing anthropogenic impacts on FPOM dynamics in stream networks.
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| 17. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
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Do titanium dioxide nanoparticles induce food depletion for filter feeding organisms? A case study with Daphnia magna
- 2016
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Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 214, s. 840-846
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although nanoparticles are increasingly investigated, their impact on the availability of food (i.e., algae) at the bottom of food chains remains unclear. It is, however, assumed that algae, which form heteroagglomerates with nanoparticles, sediment quickly limiting the availability of food for primary consumers such as Daphnia magna. As a consequence, it may be hypothesized that this scenario in case of fundamental importance for the nanoparticles impact on primary consumers induces a similar pattern in the life history strategy of daphnids relative to situations of food depletion. To test this hypothesis, the present study compared the life-history strategy of D. magna experiencing different degrees of food limitation as a consequence of variable algal density with daphnids fed with heteroagglomerates composed of algae and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO(2)). In contrast to the hypothesis, daphnids' body length, weight, and reproduction increased when fed with these heteroagglomerates, while the opposite pattern was observed under food limitation scenarios. Moreover, juvenile body mass, and partly length, was affected negatively irrespective of the scenarios. This suggests that daphnids experienced besides a limitation in the food availability additional stress when fed with heteroagglomerates composed of algae and nTiO(2), Potential explanations include modifications in the nutritious quality of algae but also an early exposure of juveniles to nTiO(2). (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 18. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
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Does long-term fungicide exposure affect the reproductive performance of leaf-shredders? A partial life-cycle study using Hyalella azteca
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 222, s. 458-464
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Leaf-shredding amphipods play a critical role in the ecosystem function of leaf litter breakdown, a key process in many low order streams. Fungicides, however, may adversely influence shredders' behavior and the functions they provide, while there is only limited knowledge concerning effects on their reproductive performance. To assess the latter, a semi-static 56-day partial life-cycle bioassay using the model shredder Hyalella azteca (n = 30) was performed applying two environmentally relevant concentrations of a model fungicide mixture (i.e., 5 and 25 mu g/L) composed of five fungicides with different modes of toxic action. Variables related to the food processing (leaf consumption and feces production), growth (body length and dry weight), energy reserves (lipid content), and reproduction (amplexus pairs, number and length of offspring) were determined to understand potential implications in the organisms' energy budget. While the fungicides did not affect leaf consumption, both fungicide treatments significantly reduced amphipods' feces production (similar to 20%) compared to the control. This observation suggests an increased food utilization to counteract the elevated and stress-related energy demand: although growth as well as energy reserves were unaffected, amplexus pairs were less frequently observed in both fungicide treatments (similar to 50-100%) suggesting a tradeoff regarding energy allocation favoring the maintenance of fundamental functions at the organism level over reproduction. As a result, the time to release of first offspring was delayed in both fungicide treatments (7 and 14 days) and the median number of offspring was significantly lower in the 25-mu g/L treatment (100%), whereas offspring length remained unaffected. The results of this study thus indicate that chronic fungicide exposures can negatively impact shredders' reproductive performance. This may translate into lower abundances and thus a reduced contribution to leaf litter breakdown in fungicide-impacted streams with potentially far-reaching consequences for detritus-based food webs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 19. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
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Effects of nanoparticles in fresh waters: risks, mechanisms and interactions
- 2016
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Ingår i: Freshwater Biology. - : Wiley. - 0046-5070 .- 1365-2427. ; 61, s. 2185-2196
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ecotoxicology is often criticised for its simplistic approach, which does not normally consider the complexity of field conditions. Simple laboratory experiments can still be useful, however, especially for assessing effects of emerging stressors such as nanoparticles, which exhibit fates, exposure profiles and modes of action substantially different from those of traditional chemicals. Here we argue that it is important to understand the potential effects of environmental conditions (e.g. UV radiation, dissolved organic matter, chemical stressors) on the fate and ecotoxicological potential of nanoparticles by using simple and well-controlled experiments, while aiming to mimic realistic environmental conditions as closely as possible. The observation that increasingly complex test systems may yield lower effect thresholds for nanoparticles than standardised tests suggests that current approaches require modification. Specifically, research is encouraged on interactions among trophic levels, community composition and ecosystem and evolutionary processes, so that effects observed in complex environmental settings can be explained mechanistically. We highlight recent discoveries in ecotoxicology and ecology that suggest nanoparticle-induced consequences on evolutionary and ecosystem processes as well as their potential transfer across ecosystem boundaries. These insights may encourage further research on nanoparticle effects informed by ecological theory.
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| 20. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
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Effects of salinity on leaf breakdown: Dryland salinity versus salinity from a coalmine
- 2016
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Ingår i: Aquatic Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0166-445X .- 1879-1514. ; 177, s. 425-432
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Salinization of freshwater ecosystems as a result of human activities represents a global threat for ecosystems' integrity. Whether different sources of salinity with their differing ionic compositions lead to variable effects in ecosystem functioning is unknown. Therefore, the present study assessed the impact of dryland- (50 mu S/cm to 11,000 mu S/cm) and coalmine-induced (100 mu S/cm to 2400 mu S/cm) salinization on the leaf litter breakdown, with focus on microorganisms as main decomposer, in two catchments in New South Wales, Australia. The breakdown of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves decreased with increasing salinity by up to a factor of three. Coalmine salinity, which is characterised by a higher share of bicarbonates, had a slightly but consistently higher breakdown rate at a given salinity relative to dry land salinity, which is characterised by ionic proportions similar to sea water. Complementary laboratory experiments supported the stimulatory impact of sodium bicarbonates on leaf breakdown when compared to sodium chloride or artificial sea salt. Furthermore, microbial inoculum from a high salinity site (11,000 mu S/cm) yielded lower leaf breakdown at lower salinity relative to inoculum from a low salinity site (50 mu S/cm). Conversely, inoculum from the high salinity site was less sensitive towards increasing salinity levels relative to inoculum from the low salinity site. The effects of the different inoculum were the same regardless of salt source (sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and artificial sea salt). Finally, the microorganism-mediated leaf litter breakdown was most efficient at intermediate salinity levels (approximate to 500 mu S/cm). The present study thus points to severe implications of increasing salinity intensities on the ecosystem function of leaf litter breakdown, while the underlying processes need further scrutiny. Crown Copyright (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 21. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
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History matters: pre-exposure to wastewater enhances pesticide toxicity in invertebrates
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 51, s. 9280-9287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Disturbance regimes determine communities' structure and functioning. Nonetheless, little effort has been undertaken to understand interactions of press and pulse disturbances. In this context, leaf-shredding macroinvertebrates can be chronically exposed to wastewater treatment plant effluents (i.e., press disturbance) before experiencing pesticide exposure following agricultural runoff (i.e., pulse disturbance). It is assumed that wastewater pre-exposure alters animals' sensitivity to pesticides. To test this hypothesis, we exposed model-populations of the shredder Gammarus fossarum to wastewater at three field-relevant dilution levels (i.e., 0%, 50%, and 100%). After 2, 4, and 6 weeks, survival, leaf consumption, dry weight, and energy reserves were monitored. Additionally, animals were assessed for their sensitivity toward the neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid using their feeding rate as response variable. Both wastewater treatments reduced gammarids' survival, leaf consumption, dry weight, and energy reserves. Moreover, both wastewater pre-exposure scenarios increased animals' sensitivity toward thiacloprid by up to 2.5 times compared to the control. Our results thus demonstrate that press disturbance as posed by wastewater pre-exposure can enhance susceptibility of key players in ecosystem functioning to further (pulse) disturbances. Therefore, applying mitigation measures such as advanced treatment technologies seems sensible to support functional integrity in the multiple-stress situation.
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| 22. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
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Impact of chemical composition of ecotoxicological test media on the stability and aggregation status of silver nanoparticles
- 2016
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Ingår i: Environmental Science: Nano. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2051-8153 .- 2051-8161. ; 3, s. 418-433
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding of the interplay of generally known colloidal transformations under conditions of test media (TM) used during cultivation of organisms and biological effect (=ecotoxicological) studies is still limited, although this knowledge is required for an adequate interpretation of test outcomes and for a comparison among different studies. In this context, we investigated the aggregation and dissolution dynamics of citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) by varying the composition of three TM (ASTM, SAM-5S, and R2A, used during bioassays with Daphnia magna, Gammarus fossarum, and bacterial biofilms, respectively) in the presence and absence of two types of natural organic matter (NOM), namely, Suwanee River humic acid (SRHA) and seaweed extract (SW). Each original test medium induced reaction-limited aggregation of Ag NPs, and aggregation increased from R2A to SAM-5S and ASTM. In addition to the differences in aggregation dynamics, the concentration and speciation of Ag(I) differed between the three TM, whereby SAM-5S and ASTM are comparable with respect to the nature of the aggregation process but clearly differ from the R2A medium. Furthermore, Cl-, mainly present in SAM-5S, induced NP stabilization. The release of silver ions from Ag NPs was controlled by the presence of NOM and organic constituents of TM and by interactions with Cl- and Br-. The degree of aggregation, formation of interparticle cation-NOM bridges or stabilization was larger for Ca2+ than for Mg2+ due to the stronger ability of Ca2+ to interact with citrate or NOM compared to Mg2+. These observations and the dependence of aggregation rates on the particle concentration renders the interpretation of dose-response relationships challenging, but they may open perspectives for targeted ecotoxicological testing by modifications of TM composition.
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| 23. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Impacts of invasive plants on resident animals across ecosystems, taxa, and feeding types: a global assessment
- 2016
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Ingår i: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 22, s. 594-603
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As drivers of global change, biological invasions have fundamental ecological consequences. However, it remains unclear how invasive plant effects on resident animals vary across ecosystems, animal classes, and functional groups. We performed a comprehensive meta-analysis covering 198 field and laboratory studies reporting a total of 3624 observations of invasive plant effects on animals. Invasive plants had reducing (56%) or neutral (44%) effects on animal abundance, diversity, fitness, and ecosystem function across different ecosystems, animal classes, and feeding types while we could not find any increasing effect. Most importantly, we found that invasive plants reduced overall animal abundance, diversity and fitness. However, this significant overall effect was contingent on ecosystems, taxa, and feeding types of animals. Decreasing effects of invasive plants were most evident in riparian ecosystems, possibly because frequent disturbance facilitates more intense plant invasions compared to other ecosystem types. In accordance with their immediate reliance on plants for food, invasive plant effects were strongest on herbivores. Regarding taxonomic groups, birds and insects were most strongly affected. In insects, this may be explained by their high frequency of herbivory, while birds demonstrate that invasive plant effects can also cascade up to secondary consumers. Since data on impacts of invasive plants are rather limited for many animal groups in most ecosystems, we argue for overcoming gaps in knowledge and for a more differentiated discussion on effects of invasive plant on native fauna.
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| 24. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Mitigation of fungicide pollution in detention ponds and vegetated ditches within a vine-growing area in Germany
- 2016
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Ingår i: Ecological Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 0925-8574 .- 1872-6992. ; 89, s. 121-130
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Large amounts of fungicides are commonly applied to agricultural fields, particularly vineyards. Following their application, fungicides may accidentally be introduced into agricultural surface waters posing a potential risk for the integrity of aquatic ecosystems. In this context, the present study characterized the aquatic fungicide exposure at base flow and during rainfall-related runoff events in viticulture in Southern Palatinate (SW-Germany) between 2006 and 2009. The mitigation performance of three vegetated ditches (VD) and five vegetated detention ponds (DP) was assessed. The measurements uncovered the presence of 4 to 11 different fungicide compounds in each of the 81 samples. During runoff events, the ecotoxicological potential-expressed as the sum of toxic units calculated based on the acute toxicity towards algae, Daphnia and fish-of some of the mixtures detected at the inlet of the VD or DP exceeded the Uniform Principle threshold set by the European Union. Both the VD and the DP systems reduced the median fungicide concentrations and thus their associated ecotoxicological potential by 56% and 38%, respectively. This fungicide mitigation efficiency was mainly explained by the plant density and size-related properties of the vegetated systems. Although VP and DP are promising tools to mitigate fungicide exposure, a better mechanistic understanding of the factors triggering the remediation potential finally feeding back into policy decision making is required. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 25. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Modeling Remobilization of Neonicotinoid Residues from Tree Foliage in Streams-A Relevant Exposure Pathway in Risk Assessment?
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 51, s. 1785-1794
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systemic neonicotinoid insecticides are increasingly used as a crop protection measure to suppress insect pests on trees. However, senescent foliage falling from treated trees represents a rarely studied pathway through which neonicotinoids may enter nontarget environments, e.g., surface waters. To estimate risk posed by this pathway, neonicotinoid residues were analyzed in foliage from black alder trees treated with one of three neonicotinoid insecticides (imidacloprid, thiacloprid, or acetamiprid) at five concentrations, each ranging from 0.0375-9.6 g active ingredient/cm trunk diameter at breast height (n = 3). Foliar residues measured at the time of leaf fall were used as input parameters for a model predicting imidacloprid water concentrations over a 100-m-long stream stretch as a consequence of remobilization from introduced foliage (input: 600 g foliage/m(2) containing 80 mu g imidacloprid/g). The water concentration (up to,similar to 250 mu g/L) predicted by the model exceeded the recently proposed Maximum Permissible Concentration of 8.3 mu g/L for 15.5 days. Moreover, dietary uptake was identified as an additional exposure route for aquatic organisms. The alternative pathway (i.e., introduction via leaf fall) and exposure route (i.e., dietary uptake) associated with the systemic nature of neonicotinoids should be accounted for during their registration process in order to safeguard ecosystem integrity.
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| 26. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Monitoring the Fate and Transformation of Silver Nanoparticles in Natural Waters
- 2016
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Ingår i: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-4861 .- 1432-0800. ; 97, s. 449-455
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is potential for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to be released into surface waters and thus affect aquatic organisms. However, agglomeration, dissolution, surface modifications and chemical speciation are important transformation processes that control the toxicity of AgNPs. Analytical methods are needed to determine the size distribution, mass and form of AgNPs and other silver species in natural waters. Cloud point extraction, single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) and asymmetric flow field flow fractionation with on-line ICP-MS (AF4-ICP-MS) are analytical techniques that show potential for quantitative analysis of AgNPs in aquatic matrices at environmentally relevant concentrations. In this review, we discuss the fate processes for AgNPs in natural waters and the analytical methods that can be used to determine the distribution of AgNPs and their transformation products.
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| 27. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Multiple exposure routes of a pesticide exacerbate effects on a grazing mayfly
- 2016
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Ingår i: Aquatic Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0166-445X .- 1879-1514. ; 178, s. 190-196
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hydrophobic pesticides such as pyrethroid insecticides tend to occur in their soluble form mainly as transient pulses in streams. In addition, they are regularly detected in significant quantities adsorbed to stream sediments and other organic in-stream structures. Consequently, stream biota is likely subjected to pesticide exposure via multiple routes. In this study we aimed at investigating the influence of exposure routes for the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin on the grazing mayfly Heptagenia sulphurea. Therefore, H. sulphurea was exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin via single- (water or biofilm) or biphasic exposure (water and biofilm) at environmentally realistic concentrations (0, 0.1, 1 mu g L-1) and exposure duration (2 h) in a full factorial design (n = 5). Mortality, moulting frequency, and biofilm accrual (proxy for feeding rate) were recorded subsequent to a 7 d post exposure period. Mortality significantly increased and moulting frequency significantly decreased with increasing concentrations of lambda-cyhalothrin in the water phase whereas exposure via biofilm prompted no significant effects on these endpoints (alpha=0.05). Effect predictions systematically underestimated and overestimated effects for mortality and moulting frequency, respectively. Similarly, mayfly feeding rate was significantly reduced by water phase exposure whereas pre-exposed biofilm did not significantly affect this variable. However, we found a significant but non-systematic interaction between water phase and biofilm exposure on mayfly feeding rate. Our results show that exposure to the same pesticide via multiple exposure routes may increase the magnitude of effects beyond the level predicted from single phase exposures which has clear implications for the aquatic risk assessment of hydrophobic pesticides. However, our results additionally reveal that interactions between pesticide exposure routes may vary between selected dependent variables. We emphasize that unravelling the underlying mechanisms causing these discrepancies in interactive effects between exposure routes is a major aspect that should receive further attention in future research. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 28. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Nanosized titanium dioxide influences copper-induced toxicity during aging as a function of environmental conditions
- 2016
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Wiley. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 35, s. 1766-1774
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) adsorb co-occurring heavy metals in surface waters, modulating their toxicity for freshwater invertebrates. The processes triggering this interaction may be influenced by several environmental parameters; however, their relative importance remains unclear. The present study assessed the implications of aging on the joint acute toxicity of copper (Cu) and TiO2-NPs for Daphnia magna over a duration of up to 72h. The influences of aging duration as well as ionic strength, pH, and presence of different qualities of organic matter during aging were assessed. The results indicated that the presence of TiO2-NPs often reduced the Cu-induced toxicity for daphnids after aging (albeit with varying extent), which was displayed by up to 3-fold higher EC50 (50% effective concentration) values compared to the absence of TiO2-NPs. Moreover, the Cu speciation, influenced by the ionic composition and the pH as well as the presence of organic additives in the medium, strongly modulated the processes during aging, with partly limited implications of the aging duration on the ecotoxicological response of D. magna. Nonetheless, the present study underpins the potential of TiO2-NPs to modify toxicity induced by heavy metals in freshwater ecosystems under various environmental conditions. This pattern, however, needs further verification using heavy metal ions with differing properties in combination with further environmental factors, such as ultraviolet irradiation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1766-1774. (c) 2015 SETAC
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| 29. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Narrow pH Range of Surface Water Bodies Receiving Pesticide Input in Europe
- 2016
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Ingår i: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-4861 .- 1432-0800. ; 96, s. 3-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fate and toxicity of the active ingredients (AI's) of plant protection products in surface waters is often influenced by pH. Although a general range of pH values is reported in literature, an evaluation targeting aquatic ecosystems with documented AI inputs is lacking at the larger scale. Results show 95 % of European surface waters (n = 3075) with a documented history of AI exposure fall within a rather narrow pH range, between 7.0 and 8.5. Spatial and temporal variability in the data may at least be partly explained by the calcareous characteristics of parental rock material, the affiliation of the sampling site to a freshwater ecoregion, and the photosynthetic activity of macrophytes (i.e., higher pH values with photosynthesis). Nonetheless, the documented pH range fits well with the standard pH of most ecotoxicological test guidelines, confirming the fate and ecotoxicity of AIs are usually adequately addressed.
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| 30. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Oxidized Carbo-Iron causes reduced reproduction and lower tolerance of juveniles in the amphipod Hyalella azteca
- 2016
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Ingår i: Aquatic Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0166-445X .- 1879-1514. ; 181, s. 94-103
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For in situ remediation of groundwater contaminated by halogenated hydrocarbons Carbo-Iron, a composite of microscale activated carbon and nano Fe, was developed. Against the background of intended release of Carbo-Iron into the environment in concentrations in the g/L-range, potential ecotoxicological consequences were evaluated in the present study. The nano Fei(0) in Carbo-Iron acts as reducing agent and is oxidized in aqueous systems by chlorinated solvents, groundwater constituents (e.g. dissolved oxygen) and anaerobic corrosion. As Carbo-Iron is generally oxidized rapidly after application into the environment, the oxidized state is environmentally most relevant, and Carbo-Iron was used in its oxidized form in the ecotoxicological tests. The amphipod Hyalella azteca was selected as a surrogate test species for functionally important groundwater crustaceans. Effects of Carbo-Iron on H. azteca were determined in a 10-d acute test, a 7-d feeding activity test and a 42-d chronic test. Additionally, a 56-d life cycle test was performed with a modified design to further evaluate effects of Carbo-Iron on adult H. azteca and their offspring. The size of Carbo-Iron particles in stock and test suspensions was determined via dynamic light scattering. Potential uptake of particles into test organisms was investigated using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. At the termination of the feeding and acute toxicity test (i.e. after 7 and 10 d of exposure, respectively), Carbo-Iron had a significant effect on the weight, length and feeding rate of H. azteca at the highest test concentration of 100 mg/L. While an uptake of Carbo-Iron into the gut was observed, no passage into the surrounding tissue was detected. In both chronic tests, the number of offspring was the most sensitive endpoint and significant effects were recorded at concentrations >= 50 mg/L (42-d experiment) and >= 12.5 mg/L (56-d experiment). Parental exposure to oxidized Carbo-Iron significantly exacerbated the acute effects of the nanocomposite on the subsequent generation of H. azteca by a factor >10. The present study indicates risks for groundwater species at concentrations in the mg/L range. Carbo-Iron may exceed these effect concentrations in treated aquifers, but the presence of the pollutant has most likely impaired the quality of this habitat already. The benefit of remediation has to be regarded against the risk of ecological consequences with special consideration of the observed increasing sensitivity of juvenile H. azteca. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 31. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Prioritizing stream types according to their potential risk to receive crop plant material - A GIS-based procedure to assist in the risk assessment of genetically modified crops and systemic insecticide residues
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 547, s. 226-233
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Crop plant residues may enter aquatic ecosystems via wind deposition or surface runoff. In the case of genetically modified crops or crops treated with systemic pesticides, these materials may contain insecticidal Bt toxins or pesticides that potentially affect aquatic life. However, the particular exposure pattern of aquatic ecosystems (i.e., via plant material) is not properly reflected in current risk assessment schemes, which primarily focus on waterborne toxicity and not on plant material as the route of uptake. To assist in risk assessment, the present study proposes a prioritization procedure of stream types based on the freshwater network and crop-specific cultivation data using maize in Germany as a model system. To identify stream types with a high probability of receiving crop materials, we developed a formalized, criteria-based and thus transparent procedure that considers the exposure-related parameters, ecological status - an estimate of the diversity and potential vulnerability of local communities towards anthropogenic stress - and availability of uncontaminated reference sections. By applying the procedure to maize, ten stream types out of 38 are expected to be the most relevant if the ecological effects from plant-incorporated pesticides need to be evaluated. This information is an important first step to identifying habitats within these stream types with a high probability of receiving crop plant material at a more local scale, including accumulation areas. Moreover, the prioritization procedure developed in the present study may support the selection of aquatic species for ecotoxicological testing based on their probability of occurrence in stream types having a higher chance of exposure. Finally, this procedure can be adapted to any geographical region or crop of interest and is, therefore, a valuable tool for a site-specific risk assessment of crop plants carrying systemic pesticides or novel proteins, such as insecticidal Bt toxins, expressed in genetically modified crops. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 32. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Procedure to select test organisms for environmental risk assessment of genetically modified crops in aquatic systems
- 2017
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Ingår i: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. - : Wiley. - 1551-3777 .- 1551-3793. ; 13, s. 974-979
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For a long time, the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of genetically modified (GM) crops focused mainly on terrestrial ecosystems. This changed when it was scientifically established that aquatic ecosystems are exposed to GM crop residues that may negatively affect aquatic species. To assist the risk assessment process, we present a tool to identify ecologically relevant species usable in tiered testing prior to authorization or for biological monitoring in the field. The tool is derived from a selection procedure for terrestrial ecosystems with substantial but necessary changes to adequately consider the differences in the type of ecosystems. By using available information from the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), the procedure can draw upon existing biological data on aquatic systems. The proposed procedure for aquatic ecosystems was tested for the first time during an expert workshop in 2013, using the cultivation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize as the GM crop and 1 stream type as the receiving environment in the model system. During this workshop, species executing important ecological functions in aquatic environments were identified in a stepwise procedure according to predefined ecological criteria. By doing so, we demonstrated that the procedure is practicable with regard to its goal: From the initial long list of 141 potentially exposed aquatic species, 7 species and 1 genus were identified as the most suitable candidates for nontarget testing programs. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:974-979. (c) 2017 SETAC
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| 33. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Quantity and quality of natural organic matter influence the ecotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles
- 2016
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Ingår i: Nanotoxicology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1743-5390 .- 1743-5404. ; 10, s. 1415-1421
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nanoparticles' fate is amongst other parameters determined by the quantity and quality of natural organic matter (NOM). Consequently, the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles is modified, while only little information is available on the NOM characteristics triggering this interplay. This study systematically examined how NOM quantity and quality influences the acute ecotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO(2)) towards Daphnia magna. Therefore, two nTiO(2) products (A-100 and P25; approximate to 100nm) were investigated in combination with seven NOM types of variable quality at four levels each (up to 4.00mg total organic carbon/L). The results showed that - independent of the applied nTiO(2) product and NOM type - nTiO(2) ecotoxicity decreased up to a factor of>18 with increasing NOM concentration. More importantly, increasing levels of aromaticity and hydrophobicity of the NOM decreased the magnitude of toxic effects caused by nTiO(2), which was again independent of the nTiO(2) product tested. In the light of the ubiquitary presence of NOM, the ecotoxicological risk of nTiO(2) in surface waters with high NOM loads is likely moderate. However, interactions of nTiO(2) and NOM in combination with other natural or chemical stressors are not well-understood but seem to be fundamental for a reliable risk assessment of nanoparticles.
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| 34. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco, et al.
(författare)
-
Resilience in ecotoxicology: Toward a multiple equilibrium concept
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. - : Wiley. - 0730-7268 .- 1552-8618. ; 36, s. 2574-2580
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The term resilience describes stress-response patterns across scientific disciplines. In ecology, advances have been made to clearly define resilience based on underlying mechanistic assumptions. Engineering resilience (rebound) is used to describe the ability of organisms to recover from adverse conditions (disturbances), which is termed the rate of recovery. By contrast, the ecological resilience definition considers a systemic change, that is, when ecosystems reorganize into a new regime following disturbance. Under this new regime, structural and functional aspects change considerably relative to the previous regime, without recovery. In this context, resilience is an emergent property of complex systems. In the present study, we argue that both definitions and uses are appropriate in ecotoxicology, and although the differences are subtle, the implications and uses are profoundly different. We discuss resilience concepts in ecotoxicology, where the prevailing view of resilience is engineering resilience from chemical stress. Ecological resilience may also be useful for describing systemic ecological changes because of chemical stress. We present quantitative methods that allow ecotoxicologists and risk managers to assess whether an ecosystem faces an impending regime shift or whether it has already undergone such a shift. We contend that engineering and ecological resilience help to distinguish ecotoxicological responses to chemical stressors mechanistically and thus have implications for theory, policy, and application. (C) 2017 SETAC
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| 35. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Runoff of veterinary pharmaceuticals from arable and grassland-A comparison between predictions from model simulations and experimental studies
- 2016
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Ingår i: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-8809 .- 1873-2305. ; 218, s. 33-39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Veterinary pharmaceuticals (VPs) are routinely used in livestock breeding. As a consequence, high concentrations of such VPs can be found in liquid manure, which is often applied to arable crops and grassland. From the soil, the VPs may enter surface water bodies via edge-of-field runoff, representing a potential risk to aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, the worst-case runoff predictions obtained by the FOCUS step 3 modeling approach, which is recommended for environmental-risk assessment of VPs in Europe, were compared with fate data obtained from experimental plot studies involving both arable and grassland plots. Five VPs were selected comprising three sulfonamides (sulfadiazine, sulfadimidine, sulfamethoxazole) and two benzimidazoles (fiubendazole, fenbendazole). The respective concentrations in runoff were initially estimated using literature data for model parameterization. Subsequently, the scenarios were parameterized specifically for each experimental plot study performed, enabling a direct comparison of the model performance with the close-to-field relevant situation.Generally, substantial variations between the predicted and measured concentrations of VPs in the runoff were uncovered. Although the FOCUS prediction suggested higher concentrations than were actually measured in 65% of the cases, the runoff concentrations of VPs were underestimated in the remaining 35%. This frequent underestimation of runoff concentrations was primarily observed for the grassland plots (85% of the underestimated situations), whereas the FOCUS predictions largely overestimated the measured concentrations for the arable plots. More strikingly, when involving a difference between the measured and predicted concentrations of 10% as a validity criterion for the model, only one (out of a total of 17) runoff concentration among the five VPs (i.e., sulfadimidine) assessed in the seven scenarios fell within this tolerance margin. Thus, these results demonstrate the substantial uncertainties related to the use of the FOCUS surface water modeling approach for the prediction of VPs introduced with manure and their environmental risk. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 36. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Structural and functional effects of a short-term pyrethroid pulse exposure on invertebrates in outdoor stream mesocosms
- 2018
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 610-611, s. 810-819
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Agricultural land-use frequently results in short pulse exposures of insecticides such as pyrethroids in river systems, adversely affecting local invertebrate communities. In order to assess insecticide-induced effects, stream mesocosms are used within higher tier aquatic risk assessment. Regulatory acceptable concentrations (RACs) derived from those studies are often higher compared with tier 1 RACs. Hence, the present mesocosm study evaluates this aspect using a pulse exposure scenario typical for streams and the pyrethroid insecticide etofenprox. A 6-h pulse exposure with measured concentrations of 0.04, 0.3 and 5.3 mu g L-1 etofenprox was used. We considered abundance, drift and emergence of invertebrates as structural endpoints and the in situ-measured feeding rates of the isopod Asellus aquaticus as functional endpoint. Most prominent effects were visible at 5.3 mu g L-1 etofenprox which caused adverse effects of up to 100% at the individual and population level, as well as community structure alterations. Transient effects were observed for invertebrate drift (effect duration <= 24 h) and for the invertebrate community (9 days after exposure) at 0.3 mu g L-1 etofenprox. Furthermore, 0.04 mu g L-1 etofenprox affected the abundance of the mayfly Cloeon simile (decrease by 66%) and the feeding rate of A. aquaticus (decrease by 44%). Thus, implications for the functional endpoint leaf litter breakdown in heterotrophic ecosystems may be expected. A hypothetical RAC derived from the present mesocosm study (0.004 mu g L-1) is in line with the official tier 1 RAC (0.0044 mu g L-1) and thus shows that the present mesocosm study did not result in a higher RAC. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 37. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Synthesis, characterization, and ecotoxicity of CeO2 nanoparticles with differing properties
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Nanoparticle Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1388-0764 .- 1572-896X. ; 18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CeO2 nanoparticles with various characteristics find an increasing number of applications in the electronic, medical, and other industries and are therefore likely released in the environment. This calls for investigations linking the physicochemical properties of these particles with their potential environmental impacts. In this study, CeO2 nanoparticle powders were prepared using three different precursors [Ce(NO3)(3), CeCl3, and Ce(CH3COO)(3)] and annealing temperatures (300, 500, and 700 degrees C). This procedure resulted in nine different types of nanoparticles with differing size (5-90 nm), morphology, surface Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio, and slightly different crystal structures as characterized using transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction measurements with Rietveld refinement. These CeO2 nanoparticles underwent toxicity testing at concentrations up to 64 mg L-1 using Daphnia magna. Toxic effects were observed for three particle types with EC50 values between 5 and 64 mg L-1. No clear correlation was observed between the physicochemical properties (size, shape, oxygen occupancy, Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio) of the nanoparticles and their toxicity. However, toxicity was correlated with the amount of Ce remaining suspended in the test medium after 24 h. This indicated that toxic effects may depend on the colloidal stability of CeO2 nanoparticles during the first day of exposure. Therefore, being readily suspended and remaining stable for several days in the aquatic media increases the likelihood that CeO2 nanoparticles will cause unwanted adverse effects.
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| 38. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco, et al.
(författare)
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The mode of bioturbation triggers pesticide remobilization from aquatic sediments
- 2016
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Ingår i: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. - : Elsevier BV. - 0147-6513 .- 1090-2414. ; 130, s. 171-176
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- After their release into the aquatic environment, contaminants may - depending on the physicochemical properties - adsorb to sediments. From there these contaminants can either be buried or remobilised by abiotic factors (e.g., resuspension) as well as by the bioturbating activity of sediment dwelling invertebrates. Little is, however, know about the effects of bioturbation on the fate of pesticides. Therefore, the present study quantified the impact of the bioturbation mode of benthic invertebrate species (bio-diffusor vs. bio-irrigation), the invertebrate density (i.e. 0-8 individuals per replicate), and the substance inherent properties (i.e. hydrophobicity, water solubility) on the remobilization of sediment-associated pesticides in a laboratory-based set-up over 13 days. We found that both the bioturbation mode (i.e., species identity) and species density, as well as pesticide properties (i.e., hydrophobicity) affected the direction and magnitude of remobilisation of sediment-bound pesticides. The oligochaeta Lumbriculus variegatus showed a density-dependent effect on the remobilization of lindane to the water phase, whereas those with the amphipod Monoporeia affinis and larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius did not. Although these findings show that sediments not per definition are a sink for pesticides, the rates of pesticide remobilization are limited. This observation, thus, suggests that the risk for aquatic communities posed by the remobilization of pesticides from the sediment due to bioturbation is low. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc.
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| 39. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
-
Transient effects following peak exposures towards pesticides - An explanation for the unresponsiveness of in situ measured functional variables
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 231, s. 1393-1397
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Invertebrate-mediated leaf litter decomposition is frequently used to assess stress-related implications in stream ecosystem integrity. In situ measures such as the mass loss from leaf bags or the feeding of caged invertebrates deployed for days or weeks may, however, fail to detect transient effects due to recovery or compensatory mechanisms. We assessed the relevance of transient effects using the peak exposure towards an insecticide (i.e., etofenprox) as a model scenario at three levels of complexity. These were 1) the assessment of the decomposition realised by invertebrate communities in stream mesocosms over 21 days via leaf bags, 2) 7-days lasting in situ bioassays quantifying the leaf consumption of Gammarus fossarum, and 3) a laboratory experiment determining the daily feeding rate of the same species over 7 days. Etofenprox did not trigger a significantly altered decomposition by invertebrate communities during the leaf bag assay, while in situ bioassays detected a significant reduction in gammarids' feeding rate at the highest tested concentration. The laboratory bioassay suggests that observed mismatches might be explained by recovery and post-exposure compensation. As leaf-shredding invertebrates are likely in a vulnerable state following transient effects, biomonitoring for implications of peak exposures and other pulsed stress events must happen at an adequate temporal resolution. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 40. |
- Bundschuh, Mirco
(författare)
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Wastewater treatment plant effluents as source of cosmetic polyethylene microbeads to freshwater
- 2017
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Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier BV. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 188, s. 25-31
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Microplastics in the environment are either a product of the fractionation of larger plastic items or a consequence of the release of microbeads, which are ingredients of cosmetics, through wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. The aim of this study was to estimate the amount of microbeads that may be released by the latter pathways to surface waters using Ljubljana, Slovenia as a case study. For this purpose, microbeads contained in cosmetics were in a first step characterized for their physical properties and particle size distribution. Subsequently, daily emission of microbeads from consumers to the sewerage system, their fate in biological WWTPs and finally their release into surface waters were estimated for Ljubljana. Most of the particles found in cosmetic products were <100 mu m. After application, microbeads are released into sewerage system at an average rate of 15.2 mg per person per day. Experiments using a lab-scale sequencing batch biological WWTP confirmed that on average 52% of microbeads are captured in activated sludge. Particle size analyses of the influent and effluent confirmed that smaller particles (up to 60-70 mu m) are captured within activated sludge while bigger particles were detected in the effluent. Applying these data to the situation in Ljubljana indicates that about 112,500,000 particles may daily be released into the receiving river, resulting in a microbeads concentration of 21 particles/m(3). Since polyethylene particles cannot be degraded and thus likely accumulate, the data raise concerns about potential effects in aquatic ecosystems in future. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 41. |
- Caldenby, Claes, 1946
(författare)
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Session 10-reinventing public institutions
- 2018
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 15th International Docomomo Conference - Metamorphosis: The Continuity of Change, IDC 2018. - 9789899964549 ; 2018, s. 343-344
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)
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| 42. |
- Carlsson, Julia, et al.
(författare)
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Opportunites for Integrated Landscape Planning : the Broker, the Arena, the Tool
- 2017
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Ingår i: Landscape Online. - 1865-1542. ; 55, s. 1-20
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As an integrated social and ecological system, the forest landscape includes multiple values. The need for a landscape approach in land use planning is being increasingly advocated in research, policy and practice. This paper explores how institutional conditions in the forest policy and management sector can be developed to meet demands for a multifunctional landscape perspective. Departing from obstacles recognised in collaborative planning literature, we build an analytical framework which is operationalised in a Swedish context at municipal level. Our case illustrating this is Vilhelmina Model Forest, where actual barriers and opportunities for a multiple-value landscape approach are identified through 32 semi-structured interviews displaying stakeholders’ views on forest values, ownership rights and willingness to consider multiple values, forest policy and management premises, and collaboration. As an opportunity to overcome the barriers, we suggest and discuss three key components by which an integrated landscape planning approach could be realized in forest management planning: the need for a landscape coordinator (broker), the need for a collaborative forum (arena), and the development of the existing forest management plan into an advanced multifunctional landscape plan (tool).
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| 43. |
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| 44. |
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| 45. |
- Davoine, Celine, et al.
(författare)
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Functional metabolomics as a tool to analyze Mediator function and structure in plants
- 2017
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library Science. - 1932-6203. ; 12:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mediator is a multiprotein transcriptional co-regulator complex composed of four modules; Head, Middle, Tail, and Kinase. It conveys signals from promoter-bound transcriptional regulators to RNA polymerase II and thus plays an essential role in eukaryotic gene regulation. We describe subunit localization and activities of Mediator in Arabidopsis through metabolome and transcriptome analyses from a set of Mediator mutants. Functional metabolomic analysis based on the metabolite profiles of Mediator mutants using multivariate statistical analysis and heat-map visualization shows that different subunit mutants display distinct metabolite profiles, which cluster according to the reported localization of the corresponding subunits in yeast. Based on these results, we suggest localization of previously unassigned plant Mediator subunits to specific modules. We also describe novel roles for individual subunits in development, and demonstrate changes in gene expression patterns and specific metabolite levels in med18 and med25, which can explain their phenotypes. We find that med18 displays levels of phytoalexins normally found in wild type plants only after exposure to pathogens. Our results indicate that different Mediator subunits are involved in specific signaling pathways that control developmental processes and tolerance to pathogen infections.
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| 46. |
- de Jong, Johnny, et al.
(författare)
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Impact on species of conservation interest of forest harvesting for bioenergy purposes
- 2017
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Ingår i: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 383, s. 37-48
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Wood harvested from logging residues, pre-commercial and conservation thinnings is increasingly being used as biofuel as a substitute for fossil fuels. Here, we review the additional impact that wood harvesting for energy purposes has on species of conservation interest (SCI) in Swedish forests compared with the effects of conventional management, a perspective that largely has not been taken into consideration. We compiled data from 122 studies of forest fuel extraction with short- and long-term perspectives at the stand and landscape level to examine whether the effects on SCI are due to an additional loss of bio-diversity as a result of cutting old forest or owing to competition from species that are favoured by the habitats formed by clearcutting. We also consider whether forest bioenergy extractions can be used to favour conservation values. The amount of logging residues has, in parallel to the amount of annually harvested trees, doubled during the past 50 years in Sweden and constitutes the major source of dead wood for biodiversity in managed forests. Common wood-inhabiting species, predominantly fungi, beetles and other insects, and to some extent lichens, are the main species affected by wood harvesting for energy purposes. The main cause for the decline of SCI is the impact already imposed by conventional forest management: clearcutting old forest stands with subsequent soil scarification. Few SCI survive clear-felling because these species typically require other types of conditions and substrates than the new dead-wood substrate created after clear-felling. We conclude that the logging residues of conifers could potentially be harvested with small to negligible impacts on SCI. However, owing to the limited number of landscape level analyses that have been performed and the inherent difficulties of assessing the effects of wood harvesting on rare SCI, we suggest that these findings need to be treated with caution and that further studies should be undertaken. Hardwood conservation thinnings and brushwood harvest may improve conservation values. Developing operational guidelines to help to mitigate ecological damage to biodiversity should be based on cautionary principles and requires further large-scale and long-term research. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 47. |
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| 48. |
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| 49. |
- Eggers, Jeannette, et al.
(författare)
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Balancing different forest values: Evaluation of forest management scenarios in a multi-criteria decision analysis framework
- 2019
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Ingår i: Forest Policy and Economics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1389-9341 .- 1872-7050. ; 103, s. 55-69
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Besides traditional timber production, other forest functions, such as biodiversity and recreation, have gained increasing importance during the last few decades. Demands on forests have become more diversified, thus making forest management and planning more complex. To meet these challenges, there is a growing interest in a more diversified silviculture, for which a number of different management options are available. However, it remains unclear how the various management options affect economic, ecological, and social aspects of sustainable forest management. Hence, in this study, we assess the consequences of various management options on different aspects of sustainable forest management through scenario analysis using a forestry decision support system. We evaluate 10 different forest management scenarios for two contrasting municipalities in Sweden, based on expert participation by way of a web-based multi-criteria decision analysis framework. We asked experts in economic, ecological, and social forest values, as well as those in reindeer husbandry, to weigh a number of indicators in their field of expertise against each other, and to create value functions for each indicator. We then determined scenario ranking for different sets of weights for economic, ecological and social forest values. Our results indicate that current management practices are favorable for economic aspects (wood production), while a number of scenarios would be better suited to fulfill the Swedish co-equal forest policy goal of production and consideration of environmental issues, such as scenarios with longer rotation periods, a larger share of set-asides and a higher share of continuous cover forestry. These measures would be beneficial not only for ecological values, but also for social values and for reindeer husbandry. Furthermore, we found that expert participation through the web-tool was a promising alternative to physical meetings that require more commitment in terms of time and resources.
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| 50. |
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