Disruption and recovery of river planktonic community during and after the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China

During the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, large amounts of anti-coronavirus chemicals, such as antiviral drugs and disinfectants were discharged into the surrounding aquatic ecosystem, causing potential ecological damage. Here, we investigated plankton in the Wuhan reaches of the Yangtze River, before, during, and after COVID-19, with the river reaches of three adjacent cities sampled for comparison. During the COVID-19, planktonic microbial density declined significantly. Correspondingly, the eukaryotic and prokaryotic community compositions and functions shifted markedly, with increasing abundance of chlorine-resistant organisms. Abundance of antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factor genes, and bacteria containing both genes increased by 2.3-, 2.7-, and 7.9-fold, respectively, compared to other periods. After COVID-19, all measured plankton community compositional and functional traits recovered in the Yangtze River.

Distance teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic and school-related well-being of primary school students

Bromeliad phytotelmata: the first scientometric study Bromeliads are plants predominantly found in the Neotropical Region, with high diversity of species and wide distribution. Some representatives of this family have the ability to form phytotelma environments through the accumulation of water and organic matter, serving as substrate and food for a variety of organisms. Here, a scientometric analysis was carried out to show trends in scientific work on bromeliad phytotelmata and the importance of these microcosms for the maintenance of biodiversity. The papers were analyzed using the Thomson Reuters, Scopus and Scielo databases between the years 1970 and 2021. Information was sought on the years of publications, geographic regions, countries, article design (descriptive, predictive, experimental, review), focus (ecological, biological, molecular), and ecological level of study (organism, population, community and ecosystem). South America presented the highest number of works developed with the subject and also with researchers involved. Most studies presented predictive designs focusing on community ecology. Insecta, followed by Crustacea and Anura, were the most studied groups of organisms. The results contribute to a better understanding of biodiversity in bromeliad phytotelmata, pointing out gaps and trends in research directed at these natural microcosms.

COVID-19 Lockdown Pandemic Period Effects in Highly Impacted Aquatic Ecosystems.

Human activities severely affect aquatic ecosystems: the lockdown restrictions due to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) have proved that reducing anthropogenic activities can positively influence the environment and mitigate atmospheric pollution. In addition, studies on aquatic ecosystems have highlighted the decrease in suspended matter and pollutant concentrations associated with reduced marine transport and industrial activities. We evaluated the effects of the reduction of anthropogenic activities in highly impacted water ecosystems. Three of the sampling sites were on the Tiber River's lower stretch close to the urban area of Rome (Italy), and the other two were transitional waters located in the southern Latium region coastal area. These sampling sites have been studied by our research group for at least 20 years. The present study involved analysis of chemical and physicochemical parameters, biological communities, and land use. Microbiological fecal indicators and Salmonella spp. were also analyzed. There were two sampling campaigns, the first one in May 2020 (ID II) at the end of lockdown measures, and the second one a year later, in June 2021 (ID III). The data were compared with our old data, collected from 2002 to 2015 (ID I), to evaluate the potential effects of the restrictive measures. Biotic communities were dominated by pollution-tolerant taxa, indicating eutrophication and organic pollution. Furthermore, the high concentrations of microbiological indicators was mainly due to sewage from the urban area. The results of the research indicated no significant changes from past years (ID I) to 2020 (ID II) and 2021 (ID III). In conclusion, the restrictions adopted in Italy during the pandemic period were not sufficient to mitigate the heavy pressure of urbanization and agriculture that have long affected the studied aquatic ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:966-977. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Deployment and training for end-users of a decision support system for water resources planning and operations for Greater Sydney

Management, operations, and planning in water resources management are required to respond to a multitude of challenging problems that may arise due to rapid change in climate conditions, extreme weather events, frequent and unforeseen incidents or on the other hand, long-term structured management decisions. This paper reports on deployment of a decision support system (DSS) for Greater Sydney supply systems known as the CARM Greater Sydney Project. Development and deployment of the DSS tool currently being undertaken by WaterNSW is based on integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic water quality models. The system architecture of the tool is underpinned by a set of baseline catchment models developed using eWater's Source modelling suite. Catchment modelling outputs are then fed into reservoir models as input which are housed in the AEM3D (a 3-Dimensional coupled Hydrodynamic- Aquatic Ecosystem Model) platform;providing a set of base cases to represent the fundamental catchment/lake conditions. Mike Workbench - an application developed by DHI is used as the DSS tool. Building on the baseline model, users can generate multiple scenarios with varying complexity by manipulating different parameters of the tool specific to a problem at a scale and level of complexity suited to the problem and needs of decision makers via Mike Workbench. Users can also compare the outcomes between different scenarios, facilitating the decision making for increasingly complex water resources management issues. An integral part of the project is to roll out a suit of comprehensive training on using this tool to different groups of users/stakeholders tailored by their needs and interest. The training and deployment of the new system were started during COVID shutdowns. The paper will provide an overview of the new system and how training was developed as part of the project and embedded through the deployment of the new DSS tool in a fully on-line mode. The lessons learned include providing training specific to user needs, time for practice and one on one support, but also cover planning and integration of the training throughout the project development and deployment. © Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, HWRS 2022. All rights reserved.

[The hazards of SARS-COV-2 for aquatic ecosystems]. / Les dangers du SARS-COV-2 pour les écosystèmes aquatiques.

Introduction: The current COVID-19 pandemic is due to a new emerging coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, belonging to the Coronaviridae family and to the Orthocoronavirinae subfamily. This virus was first reported in December 2019 in China. Although reported by several countries in several animal species, COVID-19 is a disease transmitted from human to human. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 virus and its RNA were detected in body excretions besides saliva, such as urine and fecal matter discharged into sewage. Bibliographic review: Within this framework, this article aims to synthesize the bibliographical reviews on SARS-CoV-2 in aquatic environment. It will underline the generalities on SARS-CoV-2, the possible sources of potential contaminations of SARS-CoV-2 in water environment, the viability of SARS-CoV-2 in aquatic environment, the receptive species and the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on the aquatic ecosystems. Conclusion: We compile key information about SARS-CoV-2 that are considered important to remember and highlight the importance of further research in this area in order to assess the hazards of SARS-CoV-2 on aquatic ecosystems.

Technology Development for the Removal of Covid-19 Pharmaceutical Active Compounds from Water and Wastewater: A Review

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has given rise to an inevitable worldwide application of a wide variety of drugs. Some of these pharmaceutical active compounds excreted from the human body pass through water and wastewater treatment processes and appear in treated water, wastewater and biosolids. These have posed potential risks to the water quality of aquatic ecosystems and public health. As a result, the failure to lessen coronavirus drugs’ negative environmental impacts is the subject of criticism. Hence, there is an urgent need for water utilities to upgrade their existing water and wastewater treatment processes to increase the removal efficiencies of these emerging micropollutants from coronavirus drugs, especially endocrine disruptor compounds. This review paper will present different treatment technologies, including physical, chemical, and biological, used in water and wastewater treatment plants to further remove pharmaceutical micropollutants from coronavirus drugs. Also, different classes of these drugs, their occurrence, and risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health have been discussed in the current study. © 2022 ISEIS All rights reserved.

Participatory Approach to Wetland Governance: The Case of The Memorandum of Understanding of the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park

Wetlands are defined as dynamic ecosystems that combine the characteristics of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and are important from ecological as well as social and economic perspectives. In response to the intense degradation and alteration of wetlands, communities have developed various management strategies. One of the ways to achieve more effective participatory wetland management is to introduce the concept of a Wetland Contract, a voluntary agreement that ensures sustainable management and development of wetlands. This study on the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park in Slovenia follows the methodology of the preparation (legal framework, scientific description and stakeholder analysis) and implementation (organization of Territorial Labs, scenario planning and development) stages of the Wetland Contract concept. Of approximately 200 potential stakeholders, 34 participated in the Territorial Labs, and 16 stakeholders signed the less binding type of Wetland Contract, called the Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum of Understanding and its implementation process, which included systematic cross-sectoral participation, successfully overcame conflicts between stakeholders with different interests. The methodology used has shown great potential for further applications in wetlands of common interest.

The Stockholm Moment

[...]he pleaded before the delegations of the UN member states to "lead us out of this mess". [...]the Stockholm+50 Conference remained a low-key affair for a variety of reasons. The remaining five contributions (Bharat Desai, Chris Blakes, Kirk Junker, Shailesh Nayak and Philippe Cullet) look ahead into the future for prospects of addressing various components of the challenge through the instrumentalities such as the repurposed UN Trusteeship Council as a global supervisory organ, working out the nuts and bolts of the circular economy, a reparative regime for climate-induced migration, finding solution for climate change risk to the wetland ecosystem services and some dimensions of the planetary health challenges.

The 5th Indonesian Society of Limnology (MLI) Congress and International Conference 2021

The 5th Indonesian Society of Limnology (MLI) Congress and International Conference 2021 is a biannual conference organized by the Indonesian Society of Limnology, with the theme is “Building synergies towards sustainable use of inland waters.” This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we hold the event virtually from 2nd to 3rd December. The objectives of this event are to (1) Connect, discuss, share and create a mutual network among communities from different backgrounds who are interested in inland waters ecosystem;(2) Disseminate science & technology and lessen the gap between scientific and common communities through fruitful discussion settings;(3) Underpin sustainable use and management of inland aquatic ecosystems.There were four keynotes speakers, four invited speakers, and 66 general presenters in the conference sessions. In total, 116 participants were registered and joined the conference. The first keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Gadis Sri Haryani from the Research Center for Limnology and Water Resources, National Research and Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BRIN), Indonesia, who presented research about Migratory freshwater fish in Indonesia: Threats and conservation efforts. The second presenter was Dr. Robert Walsh from the Australian Water Life, Australia, who presented research about Discover the world of Micro-invertebrates. The third keynote speaker was Dr. Khamla Inkhavilay from the National University of Laos, Lao PDR, who presented Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wetland of Mekong Basin. The fourth speaker was Dr. Kwanraree Joy Sirikanchana from the Chulabhorn Research Institute, Thailand, who presented Microbial Source Tracking and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Sustainable Water Pollution Management.In addition, the four invited speakers and 66 general presenters split into four rooms for parallel discussions which covered the latest research on inland water ecosystems, including;(1) Biotic resources, biodiversity, and conservation;(2) System Dynamic of inland waters;(3) Applied technology for the management and pollution control;(4) Modelling, system information, decision support tool, disaster risk reduction;(5) Management, policies, regulation, education, social, economy, and culture.We highly appreciate the generous support from Research Centre for Limnology-BRIN (Indonesia), Australian Water Life (Australia), Chulabhorn Research Institute (Thailand), National University of Laos (Lao PDR), Southeast Asian Limnological Network (SEALnet), Advisory Board, Steering and Organizing committee and all presenters and participants.List of Committees, Advisory Board, Steering Committee, Scientific Committee, Organizing Committee, Documentation, all photos are available in this pdf.

The 4th International Conference on Fisheries and Marine Sciences (INCOFIMS) Surabaya Indonesia, 29 September 2021

International conference on fisheries and marine sciences (INCOFIMS) is an annual conference organized by Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia. The main aim is to provide a sharing platform that enables researchers, academics and practitioners from all over the world to share their most recent findings as well as to propose the best strategies to address issues and challenges which we have been currently facing in aquaculture and fisheries practices worldwide. The 1st INCOFIMS was held successfully offline in Surabaya in 2018, the second in 2019 and the third in 2020.The 4th INCOFIMS was previously scheduled offline in Surabaya on 29th September 2021. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and travel restriction for foreigners come into Indonesia as well as traveling within the Indonesian islands, we had the 4th INCOFIMS in a virtual format with ZOOM on 29 September 2021, and hosted from Faculty of Fisheries and marine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya Indonesia. We were unable to postpone the event because INCOFIMS is our annual event and also most of the participants requested to have the conference in the virtual format (online)The theme in the 4th INCOFIMS was “Interprofessional collaboration for enhancing the aquatic ecosystem sectors”. Technically, we had the conference divided into 2 (two) sessions in general: (1) keynote speaker session and (2) guest speaker session. In the keynote session, we had 4 (four) keynote speakers delivering a speech which were Prof Felipe Polivanov Ottoni, Ph.D.;Asst. Prof. Dr. Narongrit Muangmai and Dr. TB. Haeru Rahayu, A.Pi., M.Sc. Each keynote speaker had 1.5 hours for giving a presentation using ZOOM and 30 minutes for discussion in one virtual room. After the keynote speaker session, we proceeded to the guest speaker session in which all participants were divided into 7 (seven) rooms according to our subtopics for oral and poster presentations.

Ontogenetic Transfer of Microplastics in Bloodsucking Mosquitoes Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) Is a Potential Pathway for Particle Distribution in the Environment

The uptake and accumulation of microplastics (MPs) by bloodsucking mosquitoes Aedes aegypti L., carriers of vector-borne diseases, were investigated in the laboratory. In the experimental group, polystyrene (PS) particles were registered in insects of all life stages from larvae to pupae and adults. Ae. aegypti larvae readily ingested MPs with food, accumulating on average 7.3 × 106 items per larva in three days. The content of PS microspheres significantly decreased in mosquitoes from the larval stage to the pupal stage and was passed to the adult stage from the pupal without significant loss. On average, 15.8 items were detected per pupa and 10.9 items per adult individual. The uptake of MPs by Ae. aegypti did not affect their survival, while the average body weight of mosquitoes of all life stages that consumed PS microspheres was higher than that of mosquitoes in the control groups. Our data confirmed that in insects with metamorphosis, MPs can pass from feeding larvae to nonfeeding pupae in aquatic ecosystems and, subsequently, to adults flying to land. Bloodsucking mosquitoes can participate in MP circulation in the environment.

An Overview of Microbial Source Tracking Using Host-Specific Genetic Markers to Identify Origins of Fecal Contamination in Different Water Environments

Fecal contamination of water constitutes a serious health risk to humans and environmental ecosystems. This is mainly due to the fact that fecal material carries a variety of enteropathogens, which can enter and circulate in water bodies through fecal pollution. In this respect, the prompt identification of the polluting source(s) is pivotal to guiding appropriate target-specific remediation actions. Notably, microbial source tracking (MST) is widely applied to determine the host origin(s) contributing to fecal water pollution through the identification of zoogenic and/or anthropogenic sources of fecal environmental DNA (eDNA). A wide array of host-associated molecular markers have been developed and exploited for polluting source attribution in various aquatic ecosystems. This review is intended to provide the most up-to-date overview of genetic marker-based MST studies carried out in different water types, such as freshwaters (including surface and groundwaters) and seawaters (from coasts, beaches, lagoons, and estuaries), as well as drinking water systems. Focusing on the latest scientific progress/achievements, this work aims to gain updated knowledge on the applicability and robustness of using MST for water quality surveillance. Moreover, it also provides a future perspective on advancing MST applications for environmental research.

Dynamical Analysis of Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton Model with Viral Disease in Phytoplankton Species under Atangana-Baleanu-Caputo Derivative

A mathematical model of the nutrient-phytoplankton-zooplankton associated with viral infection in phytoplankton under the Atangana-Baleanu derivative in Caputo sense is investigated in this study. We prove the theoretical results for the existence and uniqueness of the solutions by using Banach’s and Sadovskii’s fixed point theorems. The notion of various Ulam’s stability is used to guarantee the context of the stability analysis. Furthermore, the equilibrium points and the basic reproduction numbers for the proposed model are provided. The Adams type predictor-corrector algorithm has been applied for the theoretical confirmation to establish the approximate solutions. A variety of numerical plots corresponding to various fractional orders between zero and one are presented to describe the dynamical behavior of the fractional model under consideration.

Shallot (Allium cepa L.) Planted In The Ts-of-RAMSAR-Classification Ecosystem Is Still Beneficial In The COVID-19 Treatment

Rich in quercetin, shallot (Allium cepa L.) use is beneficial in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic since effective vaccines and pharmacotherapy are still in development. The study aimed to characterize functional groups of shallot tubers planted in the inorganic soil of the seasonal freshwater-wetland (IS-SFW)/Ts-of-RAMSAR-classification ecosystem. The shallot tubers that grew in IS-SFW for 60 days were manually harvested, sun-dried for seven days, and stored for two months before been pressed to produce sample juices. The peaks of wavenumber resulted from FTIR analysis were compared to the infrared database to determine possibly functional groups. The findings showed spectra changed in the fingerprint but not in the mid-IR other regions, indicated the IS-SFW did not affect functional groups beneficial in the COVID-19 treatment. The study concluded that shallot planted in IS-SFW is still beneficial in the COVID-19 treatment.

Evaluation of Macrophyte Community Dynamics (2015–2020) in Southern Lake Garda (Italy) from Sentinel-2 Data

Featured ApplicationThe improvement of effective remote sensing-based approaches to map macrophyte features can provide a baseline of adequate spatiotemporal resolution for 21st century monitoring applications equipped to play a prominent role in the context of medium–large-scale management programs of ecological conservation and scientific research.Macrophytes are of fundamental importance to the functioning of lake ecosystems. They provide structure, habitat, and a food source and are a required component in monitoring programs of lake ecological quality. The key aim of this study is to document the variation in spatial extent and density of macrophytes seasonally between 2015 and 2020 of the Sirmione Peninsula (Lake Garda, Italy), using Sentinel-2 imagery. In addition to this, our results were compared to previous data from imaging spectrometry;individual parameters affecting macrophyte communities were tested, and the possible effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on macrophyte colonization was evaluated. Satellite images allowed the mapping of the spatiotemporal dynamics of submerged rooted macrophytes in order to support monitoring of the shallow water ecosystem under study. Substantial changes were found in both spatial extent and density over the period from 2015 to 2020, particularly in 2019 when there was almost a complete absence of dense macrophytes. Variables found to influence the amount of macrophytes included transparency, chlorophyll–a, water level, winter wave height, and grazing by herbivores. A separate analysis focusing on areas associated with boat transit found a recovery in macrophyte coverage during the period of COVID-19 lockdown. The outcome of the study highlights a decline in the density of the macrophytes and a shift towards deeper areas compared to the situation in 1997. The area examined is part of an internationally important site containing the highest abundance and diversity of overwintering water birds in Italy. Exploiting satellite data at high frequency provided an insight to understand the dynamic changes and interactions with herbivorous birds, environmental factors, and anthropogenic pressures, revealing a delicately balanced and threatened ecosystem.

Differential Molecular Responses of Zebrafish Larvae to Fluoxetine and Norfluoxetine

The occurrence of psychopharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems is a growing problem. Fluoxetine (FL) and its metabolite norfluoxetine (NF) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Although they may be potentially harmful to non-target species, available knowledge on the effects of NF is sparse, relative to FL. This study aimed at contributing to the body of knowledge about the modes-of-action (MoA) of these compounds and their underlying mechanisms eliciting hazardous effects during the early development of the teleost model zebrafish (Danio rerio). One hour post-fertilisation (hpf), embryos were exposed up to 80 hpf to these compounds at levels found in surface waters and higher (FL, 0.0015 and 0.05 µM;NF, 0.00006 and 0.0014 µM). Developmental anomalies were observed at 8, 32 and 80 hpf. Larvae were collected at 80 hpf to assess the expression of 34 genes related to FL and NF MoA and metabolism, using qPCR (quantitative reverse transcription PCR). Results showed that both compounds elicited an increased frequency of embryos exhibiting abnormal pigmentation, relative to controls. Gene expression alterations were more pronounced in FL- than in NF-exposed larvae. Cluster Analysis revealed two groups of genes discriminating between the drugs. for their marked opposing responses. Globally, downregulation of gene expression was typical of FL, whilst upregulation or no alteration was found for NF. These clusters identified were linked to the adrenergic pathway and to the retinoid and peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptors. Overall, our data contradict the prevailing notion that NF is more toxic than FL and unveiled the expression levels of genes drd2b, 5-ht2c and abcc2 as possible markers of exposure to FL.

Occurrence and Effects of Antimicrobials Drugs in Aquatic Ecosystems

Currently, thanks to the development of sensitive analytical techniques, the presence of different emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems has been evidenced;however, most of them have not been submitted to any regulation so far. Among emerging contaminants, antimicrobials have received particular attention in recent decades, mainly due to the concerning development of antibiotic resistance observed in bacteria, but little is known about the toxicological and ecological impact that antimicrobials can have on aquatic ecosystems. Their high consumption in human and veterinary medicine, food-producing animals and aquaculture, as well as persistence and poor absorption have caused antimicrobials to be discharged into receiving waters, with or without prior treatment, where they have been detected at ng-mg L−1 levels with the potential to cause effects on the various organisms living within aquatic systems. This review presents the current knowledge on the occurrence of antimicrobials in aquatic ecosystems, emphasizing their occurrence in different environmental matrixes and the effects on aquatic organisms (cyanobacteria, microalgae, invertebrates and vertebrates).