| 11. |
- Eriksson, Martin, 1970, et al.
(author)
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Triclosan changes community composition and selects for specific bacterial taxa in marine periphyton biofilms in low nanomolar concentrations
- 2020
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In: Ecotoxicology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0963-9292 .- 1573-3017. ; 29:7, s. 1083-1094
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The antibacterial agent Triclosan (TCS) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant due to its widespread use. Sensitivity to TCS varies substantially among eu- and pro-karyotic species and its risk for the marine environment remains to be better elucidated. In particular, the effects that TCS causes on marine microbial communities are largely unknown. In this study we therefore used 16S amplicon rDNA sequencing to investigate TCS effects on the bacterial composition in marine periphyton communities that developed under long-term exposure to different TCS concentrations. Exposure to TCS resulted in clear changes in bacterial composition already at concentrations of 1 to 3.16 nM. We conclude that TCS affects the structure of the bacterial part of periphyton communities at concentrations that actually occur in the marine environment. Sensitive taxa, whose abundance decreased significantly with increasing TCS concentrations, include the Rhodobiaceae and Rhodobacteraceae families of Alphaproteobacteria, and unidentified members of the Candidate division Parcubacteria. Tolerant taxa, whose abundance increased significantly with higher TCS concentrations, include the families Erythrobacteraceae (Alphaproteobacteria), Flavobacteriaceae (Bacteroidetes), Bdellovibrionaceae (Deltaproteobacteria), several families of Gammaproteobacteria, and members of the Candidate phylum Gracilibacteria. Our results demonstrate the variability of TCS sensitivity among bacteria, and that TCS can change marine bacterial composition at concentrations that have been detected in the marine environment.
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| 12. |
- Mangan, Rosie, et al.
(author)
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Increasing ecological heterogeneity can constrain biopesticide resistance evolution.
- 2023
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In: Trends in ecology & evolution. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-8383 .- 0169-5347. ; 38:7, s. 605-14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Microbial biopesticides containing living parasites are valuable emerging crop protection technologies against insect pests, but they are vulnerable to resistance evolution. Fortunately, the fitness of alleles that provide resistance, including to parasites used in biopesticides, frequently depends on parasite identity and environmental conditions. This context-specificity suggests a sustainable approach to biopesticide resistance management through landscape diversification. To mitigate resistance risks, we advocate increasing the range of biopesticides available to farmers, whilst simultaneously encouraging other aspects of landscape-wide crop heterogeneity that can generate variable selection on resistance alleles. This approach requires agricultural stakeholders to prioritize diversity as well as efficiency, both within agricultural landscapes and the biocontrol marketplace.
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| 13. |
- Raikova, Sofia, et al.
(author)
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Effect of Geographical Location on the Variation in Products Formed from the Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Ulva intestinalis
- 2020
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In: Energy & Fuels. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-5029 .- 0887-0624. ; 34:1, s. 368-378
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of macroalgae offers a promising route to advanced biofuel production, although the distinct biochemical compositions of different macroalgae species can lead to widely different product yields and compositions. On the basis of this, there is an implicit assumption that there exists a universal optimal feedstock species for a bioenergy-based biorefinery, which could be exploited across a wide region. However, no studies to date have examined the effect of this large geographical variation on a single macroalgae species for biofuel production. In this study, 24 samples of Ulva intestinalis were collected along 1200 km of Swedish coastline and assessed as a feedstock for HTL. Significant variation in composition was observed between samples from Baltic and Atlantic regions, but substantial variation also existed between sites within close proximity. This was reflected in the HTL biocrude oil yields, which varied between 9 and 20% (14-28% dry and ash-free basis) across the sample set. In a number of cases, greater variation was seen for adjacent sites than for sites at opposite ends of the sampling spectrum. Biocrude oil yields in this study also differed substantially from those previously obtained for U. intestinalis from the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Localized environmental conditions affected the HTL product composition significantly, in particular, the elemental distribution within the sample set. The variability observed in this study suggests that no single species will be dominant within a macroalgal biorefinery concept, but rather a species would need to be selected to match the needs of the exact local environment.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Wittorf, Lea, et al.
(author)
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Habitat diversity and type govern potential nitrogen loss by denitrification in coastal sediments and differences in ecosystem-level diversities of disparate N2O reducing communities
- 2020
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In: FEMS Microbiology Ecology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0168-6496 .- 1574-6941. ; 96:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2020 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. In coastal sediments, excess nitrogen is removed primarily by denitrification. However, losses in habitat diversity may reduce the functional diversity of microbial communities that drive this important filter function. We examined how habitat type and habitat diversity affects denitrification and the abundance and diversity of denitrifying and N2O reducing communities in illuminated shallow-water sediments. In a mesocosm experiment, cores from four habitats were incubated in different combinations, representing ecosystems with different habitat diversities. We hypothesized that habitat diversity promotes the diversity of N2O reducing communities and genetic potential for denitrification, thereby influencing denitrification rates. We also hypothesized that this will depend on the identity of the habitats. Habitat diversity positively affected ecosystem-level diversity of clade II N2O reducing communities, however neither clade I nosZ communities nor denitrification activity were affected. The composition of N2O reducing communities was determined by habitat type, and functional gene abundances indicated that silty mud and sandy sediments had higher genetic potentials for denitrification and N2O reduction than cyanobacterial mat and Ruppia maritima meadow sediments. These results indicate that loss of habitat diversity and specific habitats could have negative impacts on denitrification and N2O reduction, which underpin the capacity for nitrogen removal in coastal ecosystems.
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| 16. |
- Aagaard Hagemann, Frederik, et al.
(author)
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Challenges to Implementing the Urban Ecosystem Service Concept in Green Infrastructure Planning: A View from Practitioners in Swedish Municipalities
- 2020
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In: Socio-Ecological Practice Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2524-5279 .- 2524-5287. ; 2, s. 283-296
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In building a sustainable society, numerous ecosystem services have shown to play important roles for the benefit of urban residents. The distinct concept of Urban Ecosystem Services (UES) to accentuate and enhance the value of urban ecosystems has been proposed, primarily in research, with implementation in practice still at an early stage. This study examined challenges to future implementation of the UES concept in municipal planning and management of urban green spaces. Based on interviews in six Swedish municipalities, we identified four overall discourses challenging implementation of UES in municipal practice. These included (i) a need to prioritize UES in municipal planning in order to address the contemporary challenges of e.g., urbanization and biodiversity loss. This in turn creates (ii) a need for increased holistic thinking within the municipal organization, based on (iii) further documentation and standards, which should help (iv) initiate organizational transition and cross-sectorial approaches. These discourses provide interrelated challenges that could also act as opportunities for scientists and practitioners collaborations to advance integration of UES into planning and management, thereby increasing the sustainability of urban environments. This work provides a starting point for introduction of the UES concept into municipal planning.
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| 17. |
- Aastrup, Christian, et al.
(author)
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Size and immune function as predictors of predation risk in nestling and newly fledged jackdaws
- 2023
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In: Animal Behaviour. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-3472. ; 198, s. 73-84
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Prey choice by predators may be based on the potential prey's condition, for example resulting in substandard individuals running a higher risk of being predated. Over 5 years, we studied young jackdaws, Corvus monedula, to determine whether size and innate baseline immune function may predict predation risk by goshawks, Accipiter gentilis, during the nestling and early fledging phases. We measured body mass, wing length, tarsus length and four innate immune indices two to four times when nestlings were 12–29 days old. To determine which individuals had been predated during the nestling phase and shortly after fledging, we searched for metal rings of the jackdaws in the only goshawk territory close to the jackdaw colony. Nestling mortality before 12 days of age was entirely due to starvation, whereas between 12 days of age and fledging, mortality was mainly due to predation. Nestlings with smaller size (mass, wing, tarsus) and low lysis titre and haptoglobin concentrations were at a higher risk of being predated before fledging. Directly after fledging, individuals with short wings were preferentially predated, with no effects of body mass, tarsus length or any of the four immune indices measured at day 29 (i.e. shortly before fledging). That lower immune function and smaller size predict predation risk in nestlings may reflect that these individuals are of poor quality and/or lag behind in development. We hypothesize that hunger makes these nestlings sit closest to the entrance hole and hence become the first to be predated. For fledglings, our results suggest that poor flight ability makes individuals with short wings the easiest targets for avian predators.
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| 18. |
- Abadikhah, Marie, 1992, et al.
(author)
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Effect of anode material and dispersal limitation on the performance and biofilm community in microbial electrolysis cells
- 2023
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In: Biofilm. - 2590-2075. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), the oxidization of organic compounds is facilitated by an electrogenic biofilm on the anode surface. The biofilm community composition determines the function of the system. Both deterministic and stochastic factors affect the community, but the relative importance of different factors is poorly understood. Anode material is a deterministic factor as materials with different properties may select for different microorganisms. Ecological drift is a stochastic factor, which is amplified by dispersal limitation between communities. Here, we compared the effects of three anode materials (graphene, carbon cloth, and nickel) with the effect of dispersal limitation on the function and biofilm community assembly. Twelve MECs were operated for 56 days in four hydraulically connected loops and shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to analyse the microbial community composition on the anode surfaces at the end of the experiment. The anode material was the most important factor affecting the performance of the MECs, explaining 54–80 % of the variance observed in peak current density, total electric charge generation, and start-up lag time, while dispersal limitation explained 10–16 % of the variance. Carbon cloth anodes had the highest current generation and shortest lag time. However, dispersal limitation was the most important factor affecting microbial community structure, explaining 61–98 % of the variance in community diversity, evenness, and the relative abundance of the most abundant taxa, while anode material explained 0–20 % of the variance. The biofilms contained nine Desulfobacterota metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), which made up 64–89 % of the communities and were likely responsible for electricity generation in the MECs. Different MAGs dominated in different MECs. Particularly two different genotypes related to Geobacter benzoatilyticus competed for dominance on the anodes and reached relative abundances up to 83 %. The winning genotype was the same in all MECs that were hydraulically connected irrespective of anode material used.
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| 19. |
- Abadikhah, Marie, 1992, et al.
(author)
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Evidence of competition between electrogens shaping electroactive microbial communities in microbial electrolysis cells
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Microbiology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-302X. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In single-chamber microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), organic compounds are oxidized at the anode, liberating electrons that are used for hydrogen evolution at the cathode. Microbial communities on the anode and cathode surfaces and in the bulk liquid determine the function of the MEC. The communities are complex, and their assembly processes are poorly understood. We investigated MEC performance and community composition in nine MECs with a carbon cloth anode and a cathode of carbon nanoparticles, titanium, or stainless steel. Differences in lag time during the startup of replicate MECs suggested that the initial colonization by electrogenic bacteria was stochastic. A network analysis revealed negative correlations between different putatively electrogenic Deltaproteobacteria on the anode. Proximity to the conductive anode surface is important for electrogens, so the competition for space could explain the observed negative correlations. The cathode communities were dominated by hydrogen-utilizing taxa such as Methanobacterium and had a much lower proportion of negative correlations than the anodes. This could be explained by the diffusion of hydrogen throughout the cathode biofilms, reducing the need to compete for space.
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| 20. |
- Abadikhah, Marie, 1992
(author)
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Influence of electrode material and stochastic factors on the performance and microbial community assembly in microbial electrochemical systems
- 2022
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are systems with microbial communities in the form of biofilms on electrode surfaces. The electrogenic bacteria in the anode biofilm act as catalysts for the oxidization of organic compounds, leading to release of electrons, generation of electrical current, and production of hydrogen and methane at the cathode. In addition to production of energy carriers, MECs can be used for other applications as well; for example, as biosensors to monitor biochemical oxygen demand or toxicity. The performance of MECs is determined by both deterministic and stochastic factors influencing the microbial communities on the electrode surfaces, most of which as still poorly understood. In this thesis, the effects of electrode materials on microbial community assembly and MEC performance was investigated. Two experiments were carried out. In the first, three cathode materials (carbon nanoparticles, titanium, and steel) were compared. In the second, three anode materials (carbon cloth, graphene, and nickel) were compared. The cathode materials had no significant effect on the performance of the MECs, as opposed to the anode materials where carbon cloth MECs had the highest current density and the shortest lag time during startup. The differences seen in lag time of replicate systems at the start of the experiment indicated a stochastic initial attachment of the electrogenic bacteria on the anode. Different microbial communities develop in the biofilms on the anodes and cathodes. Electrogens from the Desulfobacterota phylum dominated the anode, while various hydrogenotrophic methanogens, e.g., Methanobacterium, were found to dominate on the cathodes. Diversity and null model analysis of the electrode communities highlighted stochasticity and not electrode material as the important factor in the community assembly. Network analysis showed that the cathode communities had fewer negative interactions between taxa in comparison to the anode. Since hydrogen gas generated at the cathode surface can diffuse through the biofilm, all microorganisms on the cathode have access to the substrate, reducing the need for competition between species. In contrast, electrogens require a short distance to the anode to be able to use it as electron acceptor. Limited space on the anode and competition between electrogens shaped the anode communities and explain the higher number of negative interactions observed. Based on the findings in this thesis, it is suggested that stochastic factors have more influence than electrode material on the anode community even though there is a selective pressure for electrogenic bacteria.
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