Dynamics of cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial toxins and their correlation with environmental parameters in Tri An Reservoir, Vietnam.

This study evaluates the water quality from Tri An Reservoir, a drinking water supply for several million people in southern Vietnam, in terms of cyanobacterial biomass and their potent toxins, microcystins (MCs). Cyanobacteria, their toxins and environmental parameters were monitored monthly for 1 year (April 2008-March 2009) at six stations covering a transect through the reservoir. Dynamics of cyanobacterial abundance in relation to cyanobacterial biomass, toxins and environmental factors were investigated. Environmental variables from Tri An Reservoir favored algal and cyanobacterial development. However, cyanobacterial biomass and proportion varied widely, influenced by physical conditions, available nutrients and nutrient competition among the phytoplankton groups. Cyanobacterial biomass correlated slightly positively to temperature, pH and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), but negatively to total inorganic nitrogen concentrations. During most of the sampling times, MC concentrations in the reservoir were quite low (≤0.07 µg L(-1) MC-LR equivalent), and presented a slight positive correlation to BOD5, total nitrogen:total phosphorus ratio and cyanobacterial biomass. However, in cyanobacterial scum samples, which now and then occurred in the reservoir, MC concentrations reached up to 640 µg g(-1) DW(-1). The occurrence of MC in the reservoir poses a risk to local residents who use the water daily for domestic purposes.

The Plasticene era: Current uncertainties in estimates of the hazards posed by tiny plastic particles on soils and terrestrial invertebrates.

Plastics are ubiquitous in our daily life. Large quantities of plastics leak in the environment where they weather and fragment into micro- and nanoparticles. This potentially releases additives, but rarely leads to a complete mineralization, thus constitutes an environmental hazard. Plastic pollution in agricultural soils currently represents a major challenge: quantitative data of nanoplastics in soils as well as their effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functions need more attention. Plastic accumulation interferes with soil functions, including water dynamics, aeration, microbial activities, and nutrient cycling processes, thus impairing agricultural crop yield. Plastic debris directly affects living organisms but also acts as contaminant vectors in the soils, increasing the effects and the threats on biodiversity. Finally, the effects of plastics on terrestrial invertebrates, representing major taxa in abundance and diversity in the soil compartment, need urgently more investigation from the infra-individual to the ecosystem scales.

Plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems: Current knowledge on impacts of micro and nano fragments on invertebrates.

The increasing accumulation of small plastic particles, in particular microplastics (>1 µm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (< 1 µm), in the environment is a hot topic in our rapidly changing world. Recently, studies were initiated to better understand the behavior of micro- and nanoplastics (MNP) within complex matrices like soil, as well as their characterization, incorporation and potential toxicity to terrestrial biota. However, there remains significant knowledge gaps in our understanding of the wide-extent impacts of MNP on terrestrial invertebrates. We first summarized facts on global plastic pollution and the generation of MNP. Then, we focused on compiling the existing literature examining the consequences of MNP exposure in terrestrial invertebrates. The diversity of investigated biological endpoints (from molecular to individual levels) were compiled to get a better comprehension of the effects of MNP according to different factors such as the shape, the polymer type, the organism, the concentration and the exposure duration. The sublethal effects of MNP are acknowledged in the literature, yet no general conclusion was drawn as their impacts are highly dependent on their characteristic and experimental design. Finally, the synthesis highlighted some research gaps and remediation strategies, as well as a protocol to standardize ecotoxicological studies.

Specific proteomic response of Unio pictorum mussel to a mixture of glyphosate and microcystin-LR.

Cyanobacterial toxins and pesticides regularly impact freshwaters. Microcystin-LR is one of the most toxic and common cyanobacterial toxins whereas glyphosate is the active ingredient of a widely use herbicide. As filter feeders, freshwater mussels are particularly exposed. Like many native bivalve species, Unio pictorum suffers from a continuous decline in Europe. In order to get a deeper insight of its response to contaminants, U. pictorum was exposed to either 10 µg L(-1) of microcystin-LR or 10 µg L(-1) of glyphosate or a mixture of both. Proteins of the digestive glands were extracted and analyzed by DIGE. Gel analysis revealed 103 spots with statistical variations, and the response seems to be less toward glyphosate than to microcystin-LR. Specific spots have variations only when exposed to the mixture, showing that there is an interaction of both contaminants in the responses triggered. The proteins of 30 spots have been identified. They belong mostly to the cytoskeleton family, but proteins of the oxidative pathway, detoxification, and energetic metabolism were affected either by glyphosate or microcystin-LR or by the mixture. These results demonstrate the importance to study contaminants at low concentrations representative of those found in the field and that multicontaminations can lead to different response pathways.

Insights into the molecular mechanisms of pesticide tolerance in the Aporrectodea caliginosa earthworm.

Diffuse pollution of the environment by pesticides has become a major soil threat to non-target organisms, such as earthworms for which declines have been reported. However some endogeic species are still abundant and persist in intensively cultivated fields, suggesting they become tolerant to long-term anthropogenic pressure. We thus considered the working hypothesis that populations of Aporrectodea caliginosa earthworms from conventionally managed fields developed a tolerance to pesticides compared with those from organically managed fields. To investigate this hypothesis, we studied earthworm populations of the same genetic lineage from soils that were either lowly or highly contaminated by pesticides to detect any constitutive expression of differentially expressed molecular pathways between these populations. Earthworm populations were then experimentally exposed to a fungicide-epoxiconazole-in the laboratory to identify different molecular responses when newly exposed to a pesticide. State-of-the-art omics technology (RNA sequencing) and bioinformatics were used to characterize molecular mechanisms of tolerance in a non-targeted way. Additional physiological traits (respirometry, growth, bioaccumulation) were monitored to assess tolerance at higher levels of biological organization. In the present study, we generated the de novo assembly transcriptome of A. caliginosa consisting of 64,556 contigs with N50 = 2862 pb. In total, 43,569 Gene Ontology terms were identified for 21,593 annotated sequences under the three main ontologies (biological processes, cellular components and molecular functions). Overall, we revealed that two same lineage populations of A. caliginosa earthworms, inhabiting similar pedo-climatic environment, have distinct gene expression pathways after they long-lived in differently managed agricultural soils with a contrasted pesticide exposure history for more than 22 years. The main difference was observed regarding metabolism, with upregulated pathways linked to proteolytic activities and the mitochondrial respiratory chain in the highly exposed population. This study improves our understanding of the long-term impact of chronic exposure of soil engineers to pesticide residues.

Transgenerational effects of microcystin-LR on Daphnia magna.

Anthropogenic and climate factors increase the frequency of problematic cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater. Among other toxins, some cyanobacteria produce microcystins (MCs), which inhibit phosphatases type 1 and type 2A and provokes oxidative stress. Toxic cyanobacteria affect the growth, survival and reproduction of zooplankton, particularly those from the genus Daphnia, which have a central position in pelagic food webs. However, one possibility to ameliorate effects is to biotransform MC via glutathione S transferase (GST) to a less toxic glutathione conjugate. This process was hypothesised to underlie the ability of Daphnia to withstand MC and to explain the enhanced tolerance of the offspring from mothers exposed to toxic cyanobacteria. Thus we conducted multigenerational experiments with D. magna, exposing the parental generation to MC for 1 or 7 days and determining the enzyme-mediated tolerance to MC in their offspring by assessing the acute effect of MC on biotransformation and antioxidant and metabolism enzymes, and through 21 day chronic tests on toxicity and growth. Seven days of exposure of the parental generation to MC induced higher activity of GST and malate dehydrogenase in the offspring and enabled them to increment the catalase activity when challenged with MC, whereas 1 day of exposure of the parental generation did not. Offspring from non-exposed and 1-day-exposed mothers suffered decreased survival when exposed to MC compared with offspring from 7-day-exposed mothers; survival was correlated with the elevated activity of GST, malate dehydrogenase and catalase, suggesting maternal transfer of activation factors. However, increased survival occurred at the expense of individual growth. These results suggest that transgenerational effects are provoked by MC in D. magna, which may explain the observed acquirement of enhanced tolerance over generations.

Adaptation of freshwater mussels to cyanobacterial toxins: response of the biotransformation and antioxidant enzymes.

Freshwater mussels such as the invasive Dreissena polymorpha and the indigenous Unio tumidus nourish by high filtration rates and may accumulate cyanobacteria and their toxins during cyanobacterial blooms. Physiological adaptations to cyanotoxins enable organisms to endure cyanobacterial blooms but may differ between species. Biotransformation and excretion capacities for cyanobacteria and anthropogenic pollutants have been demonstrated for Dreissena polymorpha but less for unionid species. This study compares the activities of biotransformation (glutathione S-transferase, GST) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD and catalase, CAT) in Dreissena polymorpha to Unio tumidus in response to cyanotoxin exposure (10 µg L(-1) and 50 µg L(-1) microcystin-LR, respectively, total microcystin from a cyanobacterial crude extract) for 24 h and 7d exposure duration. Enzyme activities in Dreissena polymorpha were measured in the whole mussel tissue, digestive gland and in gills and in Unio tumidus in the digestive gland, gills, mantle, foot as well as in the remaining tissue. The sGST was elevated for the entire exposure period in the whole mussel tissue of Dreissena polymorpha but despite higher basal activities in digestive gland and gills of Unio tumidus, it was rather inhibited or unaltered in most of their tissues. Elevated SOD activity indicated oxidative stress response in Dreissena polymorpha, but not in Unio tumidus. The CAT activity was barely affected in both species, rather inhibited in Unio tumidus, despite again higher basal activities in digestive gland and remaining tissue. Compared to the indigenous Unio tumidus, the investigated biotransformation and oxidative stress combating enzymes respond stronger in the invasive Dreissena polymorpha.

Thermal plasticity and sensitivity to insecticides in populations of an invasive beetle: Cyfluthrin increases vulnerability to extreme temperature.

Climate change increases average temperatures and the occurrence of extreme weather events, in turn accentuating the risk of organism exposure to temperature stress. When thermal conditions become stressful, the sensitivity of insects toward insecticides can be exacerbated. Likewise, exposure of insects to insecticides can subsequently influence their ability to handle stressful temperatures. Here, we investigated the effects of constant temperature and daily heat spikes, in presence/absence of insecticide treatment (cyfluthrin), on the condition (impairment of mobility) and thermal tolerance to cold (-6 °C) and heat (42.5 °C) of the terrestrial beetle Alphitobius diaperinus. The responses of insects from four populations (three farm-collected populations, one laboratory population) to different durations of extreme temperature exposure were compared. The results showed that the laboratory population was generally more sensitive to extreme cold and heat temperatures, with less than 50% of adults recovering after an exposure at -6 or +42.5 °C for 3h. Significant differences in the level of thermal tolerance were also found among insects from poultry farms. Cyfluthrin exposure incurred detrimental effects to insects' condition in all but one population. For two out of the four populations, mobility impairment was increased when adults were exposed to daily heat spikes (6 h per day at 38 °C) and cyfluthrin simultaneously, compared to cyfluthrin exposure at constant temperatures; yet, no significant interaction between the two stressors was found. Finally, using one farm collected population, effects of pre-exposure to cyfluthrin on extreme temperature tolerance provided another example of the toxicant-induced climate sensitivity in insects.

Is the Cyanobacterial Bloom Composition Shifting Due to Climate Forcing or Nutrient Changes? Example of a Shallow Eutrophic Reservoir.

Cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic freshwater is a global threat to the functioning of ecosystems, human health and the economy. Parties responsible for the ecosystems and human health increasingly demand reliable predictions of cyanobacterial development to support necessary decisions. Long-term data series help with identifying environmental drivers of cyanobacterial developments in the context of climatic and anthropogenic pressure. Here, we analyzed 13 years of eutrophication and climatic data of a shallow temperate reservoir showing a high interannual variability of cyanobacterial development and composition, which is a less occurring and/or less described phenomenon compared to recurrant monospecific blooms. While between 2007-2012 Planktothrix agardhii dominated the cyanobacterial community, it shifted towards Microcystis sp. and then Dolichospermum sp. afterwards (2013-2019). The shift to Microcystis sp. dominance was mainly influenced by generally calmer and warmer conditions. The later shift to Dolichospermum sp. was driven by droughts influencing, amongst others, the N-load, as P remained unchanged over the time period. Both, climatic pressure and N-limitation contributed to the high variability of cyanobacterial blooms and may lead to a new equilibrium. The further reduction of P-load in parallel to the decreasing N-load is important to suppress cyanobacterial blooms and ameliorate ecosystem health.

Cell free Microcystis aeruginosa spent medium affects Daphnia magna survival and stress response.

Primary consumers in freshwater ecosystems, such as the zooplankton organism Daphnia magna, are highly affected by cyanobacteria, both as they may use it as a food source but also by cyanobacterial metabolites present in the water. Here, we investigate the impacts of cyanobacterial metabolites focussing on the environmental realistic scenario of the naturally released mixture without crushing cyanobacterial cells or their uptake as food. Therefore, D. magna were exposed to two concentrations of cell free cyanobacterial spent medium from Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 to represent higher and lower ecologically-relevant concentrations of cyanobacterial metabolites. Including microcystin-LR, 11 metabolites have been detected of which 5 were quantified. Hypothesising concentration and time dependent negative impact, survival, gene expression marking digestion and metabolism, oxidative stress response, cell cycle and molting as well as activities of detoxification and antioxidant enzymes were followed for 7 days. D. magna suffered from oxidative stress as both catalase and glutathione S-transferase enzyme activities significantly decreased, suggesting enzyme exhaustibility after 3 and 7 days. Moreover, gene-expressions of the 4 stress markers (glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and thioredoxin) were merely downregulated after 7 days of exposure. Energy allocation (expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) was increased after 3 days but decreased as well after 7 days exposure. Cell cycle was impacted time dependently but differently by the two concentrations, along with an increasing downregulation of myosin heavy chain responsible for cell arrangement and muscular movements. Deregulation of nuclear hormone receptor genes indicate that D. magna hormonal steering including molting seemed impaired despite no detection of microviridin J in the extracts. As a consequence of all those responses and presumably of more than investigated molecular and physiological changes, D. magna survival was impaired over time, in a concentration dependent manner. Our results confirm that besides microcystin-LR, other secondary metabolites contribute to negative impact on D. magna survival and stress response.

Aqueous leaf extracts display endocrine activities in vitro and disrupt sexual differentiation of male Xenopus laevis tadpoles in vivo.

The occurrence of natural substances acting as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) in the environment is to date poorly understood. Therefore, (anti)androgenic and (anti)estrogenic activities of three different aqueous leaf extracts (beech, reed and oak) were analyzed in vitro using yeast androgen and estrogen screen. The most potent extract was selected for in vivo exposure of Xenopus laevis tadpoles to analyze the potential effects on development and reproductive biology of amphibians. Tadpoles were exposed from stage 48 to stage 66 (end of metamorphosis) to aqueous oak leaf extracts covering natural occurring environmental concentrations of dissolved organic carbon. Gene expression analyses of selected genes of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad and of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis as well as histological investigation of gonads and thyroid glands were used to evaluate endocrine disrupting effects on the reproductive biology and development. Female tadpoles remained unaffected by the exposure whereas males showed severe significant histological alterations of testes at the two highest oak leaf extract concentrations demonstrated by the occurrence of lacunae and oogonia. In addition, a significant elevation of luteinizing hormone beta mRNA expression with increasing extract concentration in male tadpoles indicates an involvement of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis mainly via antiandrogenic activity. These results suggest that antiandrogenic EDC of oak leaf extract are responsible for inducing the observed effects in male tadpoles. The present study demonstrates for the first time that in surface waters, natural occurring oak leaf compounds at environmentally relevant concentrations display antiandrogenic activities and have considerable effects on the endocrine system of anurans affecting sexual differentiation of male tadpoles.

Impact of microcystin containing diets on physiological performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) concerning stress and growth.

Diets containing Microcystis with considerable amounts of the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) were fed to determine their impact on the physiological performance of the omnivorous Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with regard to stress and growth performance. Four different diets were prepared based on a commercial diet (control, MC-5% [containing 5% dried Microcystis biomass], MC-20% [containing 20% dried Microcystis biomass], and Arthrospira-20% [containing 20% dried Arthrospira sp. biomass without toxin]) and fed to female Nile tilapia. Blood and tissue samples were taken after 1, 7, and 28 d, and MC-LR was quantified in gills, muscle, and liver by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Only in the liver were moderate concentrations of MC-LR detected. The stress hormone cortisol and glucose were analyzed from plasma, suggesting that all modified diets caused only minor to moderate stress, which was confirmed by analyses of hepatic glycogen. In addition, the effects of the different diets on growth performance were investigated by determining gene expression of hypophyseal growth hormone (GH) and hepatic insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). For all diets, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) demonstrated no significant effect on gene expression of the major endocrine hormones of the growth axis, whereas classical growth data, including growth and feed conversion ratio, displayed slight inhibitory effects of all modified diets independent of their MC-LR content. However, no significant change was found in condition or hepatosomatic index among the various diets, so it seems feasible that dried cyanobacterial biomass might be even used as a component in fish diet for Nile tilapia, which requires further research in more detail.

Impact of microcystin containing diets on physiological performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) concerning detoxification.

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed by diets supplemented with cyanobacteria containing in part the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) to determine the potential impacts on detoxification. Four different diets were prepared based on a commercial diet: (1) control, (2) MC-5% (containing 5% dried Microcystis sp. biomass with 4.92 µg MC-LR g(-1) diet), (3) MC-20% (containing 20% dried Microcystis sp. biomass with 19.54 µg MC-LR g(-1) diet), and (4) Arthr-20% (containing 20% dried Arthrospira sp. biomass without MC-LR). Blood and liver samples were taken after one, 7, and 28 days and protein has been determined in plasma and liver. In the liver, impacts on detoxification were measured by glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and gene expression of multi drug resistance protein (MDRP). Plasma protein did not change between all four diets at any sampling time whereas liver protein was significantly elevated already after one day in Arthr-20% and after 28 days in both, MC-20% and Arthr-20%. Biochemical measurements of GST activities revealed no significant impact at any sampling time. In order to characterize the potential effect of MC-LR on MDRP, RT-qPCR method was established. However, as for GST activities no significant changes in MDRP gene expression have been observed. Thus, in summary, oral exposure of MC-LR containing cyanobacteria to Nile tilapia via feed ingestion did not impact significantly detoxification in liver concerning GST activities and MDRP expression despite biochemical composition concerning liver protein was significantly elevated by the diets containing 20% cyanobacteria biomass, regardless whether they contained MC-LR or not.

Cross talk: Two way allelopathic interactions between toxic Microcystis and Daphnia.

Due to eutrophication, freshwater ecosystems frequently experience cyanobacterial blooms, many of which produce bioactive metabolites that can affect vertebrates and invertebrates life traits. Zooplankton are able to develop tolerance as a physiological response to cyanobacteria and their bioactive compounds, however, this comes with energetic cost that in turn influence Daphnia life traits and may impair populations. Vice versa, it has been suggested that Daphnia are able to reduce cyanobacterial dominance until a certain cyanobacterial density; it remains unclear whether Daphnia metabolites alone influence the physiological state and bioactive metabolites production of cyanobacteria. Hence, this study investigates mutual physiological reactions of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 and Daphnia magna. We hypothesize that a) the presence of D. magna will negatively affect growth, increase stress response and metabolites production in M. aeruginosa PCC7806 and b) the presence of M. aeruginosa PCC7806 will negatively affect physiological responses and life traits in D. magna. In order to test these hypotheses experiments were conducted in a specially designed co-culture chamber that allows exchange of the metabolites without direct contact. A clear mutual impact was evidenced. Cyanobacterial metabolites reduced survival of D. magna and decreased oxidative stress enzyme activity. Simultaneously, presence of D. magna did not affect photosynthetic activity. However, ROS increase and tendencies in cell density decrease were observed on the same day, suggesting possible energy allocation towards anti-oxidative stress enzymes, or other protection mechanisms against Daphnia infochemicals, as the strain managed to recover. Elevated concentration of intracellular and overall extracellular microcystin MC-LR, as well as intracellular concentrations of aerucyclamide A and D in the presence of Daphnia, indicating a potential protective or anti-grazing function. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.

How can interspecific interactions in freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates modify trace element availability from sediment?

This study aimed to assess how bioturbation by freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates with different biological traits alone or in combination could modify trace elements (TE) fate between sediment and water, and if water TE concentration and animal TE content impair their body stores. Three macroinvertebrate species were exposed to TE contaminated sediment for 7 days: the omnivorous Echinogammarus berilloni (Amphipoda), the sediment feeding Tubifex tubifex (Oligochaeta) and the filter feeding Pisidium sp. (Bivalvia). Treatments were one without invertebrates (control), two with amphipods or mussels alone, and the combinations amphipod-mussel, and amphipod-mussel-worms. Water TE concentration increased significantly in 2 or 3 species mesocosms, concerning mainly Rare Earth Elements, Cr, U and Pb, known to be associated to the colloidal phase. By contrast, water soluble TE were not affected by animals. For both, amphipods and mussels, TE body content increased with the number of coexisting species. For amphipods, this increase concerned both, soluble and colloid-associated TE, possibly due to intense contact and feeding from sediment and predation on tubificids. TE bioaccumulation in mussel was less important and characterized by soluble TE, with water filtration as most plausible uptake route. Protein, triglyceride and Whole Body Energy Budget increased in amphipods with the number of coexisting species (probably by feeding on mussels' feces and tubificids) whereas triglycerides declined in mussels (presumably filtration was disturbed by amphipods). This study highlights interspecific interactions as key drivers explaining both: TE bioturbation, depending on their water solubility or colloidal association, and the exposure/contamination of species through another species activity.

Transdisciplinary Bioblitz: Rapid biotic and abiotic inventory allows studying environmental changes over 60 years at the Biological Field Station of Paimpont (Brittany, France) and opens new interdisciplinary research opportunities.

BACKGROUND: The Biological Field Station of Paimpont (Station Biologique de Paimpont, SBP), owned by the University of Rennes and located in the Brocéliande Forest of Brittany (France), has been hosting student scientific research and field trips during the last 60 years. The study area of the SBP is a landscape mosaic of 17 ha composed of gorse moors, forests, prairies, ponds and creeks. Land use has evolved over time. Historical surveys by students and researchers focused on insects and birds. With this study, we aimed to increase the range of taxa observations, document changes in species composition and landscape and provide a basis for interdisciplinary research perspectives. We gathered historical data, implemented an all-taxon biodiversity inventory (ATBI) in different habitats of the SBP study area, measured abiotic factors in the air, water and soil and performed a photographical landscape observation during the BioBlitz held in July 2017. NEW INFORMATION: During the 24 h BioBlitz, organised by the SBP and the EcoBio lab from the University of Rennes and the French National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS), different habitats were individually sampled. Seventy-seven experts, accompanied by 120 citizens and 12 young people participating in the European Volunteer Service, observed, identified and databased 660 species covering 5 kingdoms, 8 phyla, 21 classes, 90 orders and 247 families. In total, there were 1819 occurrences including records identified to higher taxon ranks, thereby adding one more kingdom and four more phyla. Historical data collection resulted in 1176 species and 4270 occurrences databased. We also recorded 13 climatic parameters, 10 soil parameters and 18 water parameters during the BioBlitz. Current habitats were mapped and socio-ecological landscape changes were assessed with a diachronic approach using 32 historical photographs and historical maps. The coupling of historical biodiversity data with new biotic and abiotic data and a photographic comparison of landscape changes allows an integrative understanding of how the SBP changed from agriculturally-used land to a managed natural area within the last 60 years. Hence, this BioBlitz represents an important holistic sampling of biodiversity for studies on trophic webs or on trophic interactions or on very diverse, but connected, habitats. The integration of social, biotic and abiotic data opens innovative research opportunities on the evolution of socio-ecosystems and landscapes.

Biotransformation and antioxidant enzymes of Limnoperna fortunei detect site impact in watercourses of Córdoba, Argentina.

The golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei was used as a biomonitor of environmental pollution in the Suquía River basin around Córdoba City (Argentina). The sampling sites along the river were chosen according to their increasing levels of pollutants (e.g. heavy metals) as well as biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). A water quality index (WQI) was constructed from the interaction of several normalized factors that affect the aquatic environment, such as the mentioned pollutants and physico-chemical characteristics of the sampling sites. Activity changes of biotransformation enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT), after exposure to pollutants, served as biomarkers. Membrane bound GST and antioxidant enzymes responded at the most polluted sampling site within 1 day showing increased activities lasting for 4 days. Further sampling was restricted due to no survival of the animals. Antioxidant enzymes GPx, GR and CAT were sensitive responding to the different pollution scenarios, showing good correlation to the chemical characterization.

Biotransformation and antioxidant enzymes of Dreissena polymorpha for detection of site impact in watercourses of Berlin.

This study investigated whether biotransformation and antioxidant enzymes of an organism tolerant to pollution such as the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha can be employed to evaluate the extent of urban water pollution. Activity changes of soluble and membrane bound glutathione S-transferase (s- and mGST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) to environmental stress were explored in precultured mussels exposed for one day to one week at selected sites with reasonable anthropogenic impact. The enzymatic response of whole mussel tissue was compared to gill tissue. Changes in enzyme activity were accordant with the different pollution scenarios, as charges with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and other pesticides, as well as contamination with metals. Whereas in whole mussel tissue all analyzed enzymes responded with elevation, in gills inhibition took place with the exception of mGST. The results confirm the high sensitivity of gills, nevertheless enzymatic changes measured in whole mussel tissue provided the clearest results. Significant changes in GST, CAT and GPx enzyme activity were only observed at water temperatures above 20 degrees C. SOD activity was not restricted by temperatures and serves for this reason as a biomarker for oxidative stress at lower water temperatures. Discrepancies between biological and chemical evaluation of the sampling sites are presented and biomarker responses appraised.

Daphnia magna Exudates Impact Physiological and Metabolic Changes in Microcystis aeruginosa.

While the intracellular function of many toxic and bioactive cyanobacterial metabolites is not yet known, microcystins have been suggested to have a protective role in the cyanobacterial metabolism, giving advantage to toxic over nontoxic strains under stress conditions. The zooplankton grazer Daphnia reduce cyanobacterial dominance until a certain density, which may be supported by Daphnia exudates, affecting the cyanobacterial physiological state and metabolites' production. Therefore, we hypothesized that D. magna spent medium will impact the production of cyanobacterial bioactive metabolites and affect cyanobacterial photosynthetic activity in the nontoxic, but not the toxic strain. Microcystin (MC-LR and des-MC-LR) producing M. aeruginosa PCC7806 and its non-microcystin producing mutant were exposed to spent media of different D. magna densities and culture durations. D. magna spent medium of the highest density (200/L) cultivated for the shortest time (24 h) provoked the strongest effect. D.magna spent medium negatively impacted the photosynthetic activity of M. aeruginosa PCC7806, as well as the dynamics of intracellular and extracellular cyanobacterial metabolites, while its mutant was unaffected. In the presence of Daphnia medium, microcystin does not appear to have a protective role for the strain. On the contrary, extracellular cyanopeptolin A increased in M. aeruginosa PCC7806 although the potential anti-grazing role of this compound would require further studies.

Multi-xenobiotic-resistance a possible explanation for the insensitivity of bivalves towards cyanobacterial toxins.

Filterfeeders, such as bivalves, are highly affected during toxic cyanobacterial blooms, as they are non-selective and may use the cyanobacteria as main nutrition source. The freshwater mussel Dreissena polymorpha, living in lakes and rivers coexisting with cyanobacteria, was exposed to 100 microg L(-1) microcystin-LR (MC-LR) for up to three days. MC-LR concentration in mussel tissue and surrounding media was quantified by HPLC-PDA during uptake and depuration phase, revealing an immediate, continuous uptake, and release of non-metabolized toxin, and occurrence of reincorporation. The involvement of multi-xenobiotic-resistance protein (P-glycoprotein, P-gp) on the excretion of MC-LR was evidenced by efflux and accumulation version of the Rhodamine Assay as well as on P-gp gene expression. P-gp expression was enhanced after 1 h exposure but no changes were detected after longer (72 h) exposure. P-gp enzyme activity showed a significant increase with exposure time, supporting the hypothesis that P-gp is involved in the excretion of MC-LR. Induction of biotransformation enzyme such as pi-class glutathione S-transferase (piGST) and antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) was immediately inhibited and returned to control values only after more than 72 h expose time. Heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) gene expression was not changed due to the treatment with cyanobacterial toxin MC-LR.