Bioenergetic responses in green lipped mussels (Perna viridis) as indicators of pollution stress in Xiamen coastal waters, China

Samples of green lipped mussels (Perna viridis) were collected from three sites (Huoshao, I’Maluan and Tong’an) around Xiamen coastal waters, where levels of various trace organic pollutants have been studied. Samples were also collected at a “cleaner” reference site near Dongshan Island for comparison. Clearance rate, absorption efficiency and oxygen consumption of the mussels were measured under controlled laboratory condition; organic pollutants in their tissues were also analyzed. Scope for growth (SFG) was employed as a general biomarker to evaluate the stress of pollutants. Specimens from Tong’an site had the lowest SFG values (1.14 J/h/g); while specimens from the I’Maluan site and Huoshao site had SFG values of 5.01 and 6.72 J/h/g, respectively. Specimens from Dongshan (reference site) had a relatively high SFG value of 10.96 J/h/g. There was a significant negative correlation between the SFG of the different populations of green lipped mussels and the concentration of DDT in their tissues.     

Effects of the pharmaceuticals gemfibrozil and diclofenac on the marine mussel (Mytilus spp.) and their comparison with standardized toxicity tests

Human pharmaceuticals, like the lipid lowering agent gemfibrozil and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac are causing environmental concern. In this study, the marine mussel (Mytilus spp.) was exposed by injection to environmentally relevant and elevated (1 μg/L and 1000 μg/L) concentrations of both compounds and biomarker expression was observed. Gemfibrozil exposure induced biomarkers of stress (glutathione S-transferase and metallothionein) at both concentrations 24 h and 96 h after exposure, respectively. Biomarkers of damage (lipid peroxidation (LPO) and DNA damage) were significantly affected, as well as the biomarker for reproduction, alkali-labile phosphate assay, indicating the potential oxidative stress and endocrine disrupting effect of gemfibrozil. Diclofenac significantly induced LPO after 96 h indicating tissue damage. Additionally standard toxicity tests using the marine species Vibrio fischeri, Skeletonema costatum and Tisbe battagliai showed differences in sensitivity to both drugs in the mg/L range. Results indicate a suite of tests should be used to give accurate information for regulation.     

Numerical simulation of the influence of management alternatives of a projected reservoir on a small alluvial aquifer affected by seawater intrusion (Almuñécar, Spain)

The present study concerns the application of a numerical approach to describe the influence of anthropogenic modifications in surface flows (operation of a projected reservoir) on the freshwater-seawater relationships in a downstream coastal aquifer which has seasonal seawater intrusion problems (River Verde alluvial aquifer, Almuñécar, southern Spain). A steady-state finite element solution to the partial differential equation governing the regional motion of a phreatic surface and the resulting sharp interface between fresh water and salt water was used to predict the regional behavior of the River Verde aquifer under actual surface flow conditions. The present model approximates, with simple triangular elements, the regional behavior of a coastal aquifer under appropriate sinks, sources, Neumann and open boundary conditions. A steady-state solution to this numerical approach has been shown to precisely calculate freshwater heads, saltwater thicknesses, and freshwater discharges along steeply sloping coasts. Hence, the adequate treatment and interpretation of the hydrogeological data which are available for the River Verde aquifer have been of main concern in satisfactorily applying the proposed numerical model. Present simulated conditions consider steady-state yearly averaged amounts of external supplies of fresh water in order to determine the influences of the projected Otívar reservoir on the further behavior of the River Verde coastal aquifer. When recharges occur at the coastline, essentially because of freshwater deficits due to groundwater overexploitation, a hypothesis of mixing for the freshwater-saltwater transition zone is made in order to still allow the model to continue calculating groundwater heads under the sea level, and, as a consequence, the resulting seawater intrusion and recharges of saltwater from the sea. Simulations show that a considerable advance in seawater intrusion would be expected in the coastal aquifer if current rates of groundwater pumping continue and a significant part of the runoff from the River Verde is channeled from the Otívar reservoir for irrigation purposes.     

Oxygen isotope-salinity relation in an Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden): Implications to hydrographic variability

The global warming leads to a large freshwater influx into the Arctic Ocean, which has adverse implications to the sea-ice dynamics, ocean circulation, and acidification. The relationship between oxygen isotope ratio (δ¹⁸O) and salinity (S) is helpful in exploring various hydrographic processes related to the freshwater influx and is also required to accurately determine past salinity variability using oxygen isotope ratio of the carbonates. In view of this, systematic measurements of δ¹⁸O and salinity of water from an Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden) were carried out during the summer season of 2013. Until now, the relationships between δ¹⁸O and salinity from such fjords were based on a limited number of samples collected during a very short span of time and thus may not accurately represent the long-term conditions prevailing in the fjord. The present study determines a more representative δ¹⁸O–salinity relationship as water samples from different depths and location over a long period were systematically collected. The water samples were collected from four different locations at different depths along the axis of the fjord representing the inner and outer fjords. The inner stations (I-8 and I-6) exhibit lower δ¹⁸O values than the outer stations (I-1 and I-3), which indicate the higher influence of freshwater from glacial melting in the inner stations. The δ¹⁸O–salinity relationship from the inner and outer fjords yield a slope of 0.54 (r² = 0.67, n = 56) and 0.39 (r² = 0.66, n = 68), respectively. The δ¹⁸O of freshwater influx in the fjord is estimated at –18.4‰, which is close to the widely accepted freshwater-δ¹⁸O value of the Arctic basin. The δ¹⁸O of glacial discharge, which is the largest source of freshwater influx to the fjord, is estimated at ca. –21.0‰, which will be useful for future freshwater budget calculations.     

Peridinioid dinoflagellate cysts in a Holocene high-mountain lake deposit in Italy

This paper documents the discovery of peridinioid organic walled dinoflagellate cysts in Holocene sediments of the freshwater, low-alkalinity, high mountain Lake Nero di Cornisello (Adamello mountain range, Trentino, Italy). Among the three main cyst morphotypes found in the samples, the dominant one is acavate, with a smooth and light brown colored wall, with a clear conical shape, elongated with a pointy to rounded end in the antapical-ventral part, with the epicyst broader than the hypocyst and displays a typical peridinioid archeopyle. Comparison with data available in literature, besides pointing out the general scarcity of observations on dinocysts in lakes sediments, suggested a strong morphological similarity with the marine genus Brigantedinium. This finding pinpoints the need for more detailed studies on cysts in freshwater environments offering a new tool for paleoenvironmental interpretations.     

New records of temperate mollusks in two Late Pleistocene terrestrial localities from northeastern Oaxaca,Southern Mexico

The Mixteca Alta Oaxaqueña is in the state of Oaxaca, southern Mexico. This region is characterized by numerous Pleistocene fossiliferous localities. The objective of this study is to describe a diverse assemblage of Late Pleistocene freshwater and terrestrial mollusks in two localities from northeastern Oaxaca, Coixtlahuaca District. We identified 10 taxa of gastropods and one of bivalves. By the sedimentological characteristics and the mollusks assemblage, it is possible to relate the first locality with meandriform river deposits, without vegetation. The second locality was associated with a floodplain with short-lived associated vegetation. Five identified species constitute the most austral records of these taxa in Neartic Realm. In all the taxa, the Late Pleistocene occurrences constitute the last records of the identified mollusks in the study zone.     

Horizontal and seasonal patterns of tropical zooplankton from the eutrophic Prado Reservoir (Colombia)

Zooplankton community analyses can reveal valuable information about the trophic status and secondary production in reservoirs. The zooplankton seasonal distribution and important physical and chemical parameters in Prado Reservoir (Tolima, Central Colombia) were studied in monthly surveys throughout a hydrological cycle (February 2000-January 2001) in order to establish seasonal patterns and the biotic and abiotic relationships for the reservoir. Surface zooplankton collections at 1 m depth were taken at six sampling stations with regard to reservoir morphometry, location of main tributaries and mixing areas of the incoming tributaries. Cladocerans numerically dominated (48.1%) the community throughout the study period followed by Copepoda (32.7%), Rotifera (19.1%), and Diptera larvae (0.01%). Among the cladocerans, there was a greater abundance of Bosmina longirostris (69.8%) than other crustaceans. Among the Rotifera, Brachionus falcatus was the most abundant with 23% and Keratella tropica was least abundant with 8%. The only cyclopoid species found was Thermocyclops decipiens. The phantom midge Chaoborus sp. was also part of the zooplankton community. Based on numbers, cladocerans represented a significant component of the zooplankton in both dry and rainy seasons. Four species (Brachionus spp., K. tropica, Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, Moina sp., and T. decipiens) had never previously been found in the reservoir, but were recorded for other standing Colombian water bodies. The replacement of B. longirostris instead of Daphnia sp. as dominant species was observed. The results of the comparison of the different studies confirmed that the trophic state of this artificial lake may be classified as eutrophic, and in general, physical, and chemical homogeneity were observed both spatially and temporally.     

New insights into the spatial variability of the surface water carbon dioxide in varying sea ice conditions in the Arctic Ocean

In the summer of 2005, continuous surface water measurements of fugacity of CO₂ (fCO₂^sw), salinity and temperature were performed onboard the IB Oden along the Northwest Passage from Cape Farwell (South Greenland) to the Chukchi Sea. The aim was to investigate the importance of sea ice and river runoff on the spatial variability of fCO₂ and the sea–air CO₂ fluxes in the Arctic Ocean. Additional data was obtained from measurements of total alkalinity (A_T) by discrete surface water and water column sampling in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA), on the Mackenzie shelf, and in the Bering Strait. The linear relationship between A_T and salinity was used to evaluate and calculate the relative fractions of sea ice melt water and river runoff along the cruise track. High-frequency fCO₂^sw data showed rapid changes, due to variable sea ice conditions, freshwater addition, physical upwelling and biological processes. The fCO₂^sw varied between 102 and 678 μatm. Under the sea ice in the CAA and the northern Chukchi Sea, fCO₂^sw were largely CO₂ undersaturated of approximately 100 μatm lower than the atmospheric level. This suggested CO₂ uptake by biological production and limited sea–air CO₂ gas exchange due to the ice cover. In open areas, such as the relatively fresh water of the Mackenzie shelf and the Bering Strait, the fCO₂^sw values were close to the atmospheric CO₂ level. Upwelling of saline and relatively warm water at the Cape Bathurst caused a dramatic fCO₂^sw increase of about 100 μatm relative to the values in the CAA. At the southern part of the Chukchi Peninsula we found the highest fCO₂^sw values and the water was CO₂ supersaturated, likely due to upwelling. In the study area, the calculated sea–air CO₂ flux varied between an oceanic CO₂ sink of 140 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ and an oceanic source of 18 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹. However, in the CAA and the northern Chukchi Sea, the sea ice cover prevented gas exchange, and the CO₂ fluxes were probably negligible at this time of the year. Assuming that the water was exposed to the atmosphere by total melting and gas exchange would be the only process, the CO₂ undersaturated water in the ice-covered areas will not have the time to reach the atmospheric CO₂ value, before the formation of new sea ice. This study highlights the value of using high-frequency measurements to gain increased insight into the variable and complex conditions, encountered on the shelves in the Arctic Ocean.     

Effects of sewage discharges on lipid and fatty acid composition of the Patagonian bivalve Diplodon chilensis

Lipid and fatty acid (FA) composition and selected oxidative stress parameters of freshwater clams (Dipolodon chilensis), from a sewage-polluted (SMA) and a clean site, were compared. Trophic markers FA were analyzed in clams and sediment. Saturated FA (SAFA), and bacteria and sewage markers were abundant in SMA sediments, while diatom markers were 50% lower. Proportions of SAFA, branched FA, 20:5n − 3 (EPA) and 22:6n − 3 (DHA) were higher in SMA clams. Chronic exposure of D. chilensis to increasing eutrophication affected its lipid and FA composition. The increase in EPA and DHA proportions could be an adaptive response, which increases stress resistance but could also lead to higher susceptibility to lipid peroxidation TBARS, lipofuscins (20-fold) and GSH concentrations were higher in SMA clams. FA markers indicated terrestrial plant detritus and bacteria are important items in D. chilensis diet. Anthropogenic input in their food could be traced using specific FA as trophic markers.     

Population traits of invasive bleak Alburnus alburnus between different habitats in Iberian fresh waters

The bleak Alburnus alburnus (L.) is a cyprinid native to most of Europe, mainly inhabiting lentic environments. This fish species is a successful invader in the Iberian Peninsula, where it was first introduced to reservoirs as forage fish during the 1990s. Bleaks threaten the highly endemic Iberian fish fauna by means of trophic competition and hybridization. Yet, little is known about the environmental biology of bleaks in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly far from impounded waters. Thus, the aim of this work was to compare seasonal and gender variation of size structure, body condition and reproductive investment of bleaks between different habitats. Only sexually mature bleaks were seasonally collected and examined from the River Gévora and the Sierra Brava Reservoir (southwestern Spain) to assess more in-depth the adaptive capacity at the population level and the subsequent invasiveness. Bleak was an abundant species in the fish assemblages of both habitat types (i.e. river and reservoir). The proportion of smaller mature bleaks was lower in the river than the reservoir during spring and the opposite pattern was observed during winter. Both male and females were larger in the river during the breeding season in the study areas (i.e. spring), as well as with higher body condition and reproductive investment. These findings suggest that bleaks enhance their reproduction rate in the river to compensate for higher mortality in this habitat, where environmental conditions may be harsher due to the winter floods and summer droughts typical of Mediterranean water courses. Overall results highlight the high degree of plasticity in population traits of the bleak in the Iberian Peninsula, which will surely aid its ability to adapt to a wide variety of Mediterranean ecosystems, including lentic and lotic environments. Consequently, this invasive fish may pose a serious risk for the highly valuable fauna of Mediterranean Europe.