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Biological pollutants and biological pollution - An increasing cause for concern
Abstract
There are increasing concerns regarding the delivery, movement and presence of non-indigenous or invasive species into marine and estuarine areas. Such introductions can be on a large scale such as the movement to higher latitudes of species as the result of global warming. Alternatively, such species can be introduced into a marine or estuarine area as the result of small-scale events, such as the liberation from waste-water discharges, aquaculture or ballast-water discharge. However, if such introductions lead to a successful colonisation then they can become a wide-scale problem. This paper considers the introduction of such non-indigenous and invasive species as biological pollution and biological pollutants and it discusses the definitions and concepts used in assessing and managing marine pollution in relation to these terms.
... The above paradigm relates to the principle that contamination is the addition by human activities of materials without the assumption or presumption of biological harm, whereas pollution per se entails the actual biological harm at any level of biological organization, from cells to ecosystems, to either or both the natural and human domains (McLusky and Elliott, 2004). Previously, this distinction has been applied to introduced organisms as biological materials, treating macro-and micro-organisms alike (Elliott 2003). Given the increased and evolving understanding of introduced organisms due to human activities and actions, including climate change , the concepts and paradigm surrounding biological contamination and biological pollution require to be revisited. ...
... Based on the suggested approach (Fig. 1), we propose the following definitions (Box 1), in which "Biopollution" includes all possible negative impacts, thereby expanding on previous definitions (Elliott, 2003;Olenin et al., 2007Olenin et al., , 2010Olenin et al., , 2011. ...
... We suggest that while the biocontamination-biopollution paradigm, as previously described (e.g. Elliott, 2003;Olenin et al. 2007) still holds for NIS and IAS, advancements in knowledge and management strategies, such as exemplified by the EU MSFD, necessitate a refinement of this paradigm. Furthermore, further explanation and clarification of the paradigm has been required during its operationalization as embedded in the MSFD Descriptors, Criteria, indicators and Targets. ...
... ВВЕДЕНИЕ Исследования мезозооопланктона Севастопольской бухты в период с 1976 по 2002 г. показали, что эвтрофирование, влияние токсических веществ, а также инвазия вселенцев приводили к серьезным изменениям структуры сообщества, увеличению амплитуды колебаний численности, а также к исчезновению отдельных видов [2]. Хотя антропогенное воздействие на прибрежные экосистемы имеет разнообразные формы, одной из наиболее серьезных и распространенных в последние десятилетия стала случайная интродукция чужеродных видов [10,12,24,26]. К началу 2000-х годов в зоопланктоне Черного моря было известно три вселенца: Acartia tonsa (начало 1970-х годов), Mnemiopsis leidyi (конец 1980-х) и Beroe ovata (конец 1990-х). ...
... Известно, что чужеродные виды, взаимодействуя с аборигенными, могут приводить к нарушению равновесия популяций аборигенных видов и к значительному снижению их численности [1,12,13]. Можно предположить, что вселение вида, способного к такому стремительному наращиванию численности, приведет к угнетению популяций аборигенных видов. Однако анализ межгодовой численности копепод Севастопольской бухты показал, что сокращения их численности после интродукции O. davisae не наблюдалось. ...
Long-term (20032014) routine observations of zooplankton in Sevastopol Bay (the Black Sea) have allowed the naturalization of the invasive copepod Oithona davisae to be studied in the Black Sea coastal waters. Inter-annual and seasonal variability of the species and their impact on the native copepod community have been analyzed. The invasion of O. davisae and their undoubted dominance in terms of abundance were shown to alter the community structure but, at the same time, the abundances of the native species did not decrease, excepting the Black Sea earlier invader Acartia tonsa. A significant decline in A. tonsa numbers over the stages of O. davisae establishment and naturalization provided evidence of competition between the species. O. davisae have been demonstrated to gain competitive advantage over A. tonsa, that ensured their fast dispersal in the Black Sea, acclimatization in the new habitat and the successful competition over native species.
... It is influenced by various, sometimes opposing, academic, cultural and even political views [e.g. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Key definitions are based on the opposition of categories "native -alien", "spreading -not propagating", "influencing (on local communities, ecosystems, economic activities, etc.) -not influencing", "harmful -harmless" [12 ]. ...
... However, denoting a species to the category "alien" can not be based on a single criterion [8]. Moreover, the exact dates and circumstances of the detection of a species are often difficult to determine, because many early introductions occurred at a time when taxonomic knowledge was incomplete, and records were rarely preserved [9]. Even in recent decades, when interest in biological invasions has grown significantly, biological monitoring is being carried out in many regions and the discovery of "invasions" has become something of a fashion, the appearance of new species often goes unnoticed until their abundance increases many times and they begin to create a problem [14]. ...
The modern theoretical and practical directions of the study of biological invasions are briefly characterized. Differences in the definition of basic concepts and terms such as "naturalness" and "alien species", opposing views on the solution of problems associated with biological invasions are considered. It is shown that one of the most urgent tasks of invasion biology is to learn to objectively evaluate the impact, both adverse and positive, of invasive species on human health, economy, ecosystem functions and environment in order to develop clear criteria for decision making on management of biological invasions.
... The criteria related to invasive species ranked seventh by mean = 3.74 (SD = 0.943; n = 76). According to Elliott (2003), this criteria can help investigators to identify chemical hazards that may cause serious health issues including poisoning, scars, and blindness if the sap gets into the eyes. The results (Table 4) indicated that there is not statistically different in the perceptions of the six professionals, as none of the criteria has its Kruskal-Wallis H test coefficient <0.05. ...
... This criteria is extremely useful because surrounding areas are known by industrial activities, it can be considered as a source of biological contamination, which may migrate to potential receptors. Although the results confirmed the similarity in the perception of professionals about the most appropriate criteria to identify the biological contaminants in brownfield sites, invasive species criteria was underestimated by most of the participants and this contradicts a study conducted by (Elliott 2003) which considered invasive species as biological pollution were, the terms biological pollutants have been used by (Boudouresque and Verlaque 2002) to discuss the problems caused by such invasive species. Therefore, there is a need to enhance the knowledge of professionals concerning the biological hazards of invasive species. ...
Comprehensive risk assessment of brownfield sites requires a broad range of knowledge and multi-disciplinary expertise. Whilst the identification of criteria requirements for preliminary risk assessment has received some attention, there appears to be no studies that have specifically examined professional perspectives relating to these requirements. Yet, variations in professional practitioners’ assessments may have significant consequences for the assessment of risks, and how the criteria are imparted to stakeholders. This study aims to identify the criteria requirements for preliminary risk assessment, using the pollutant linkage model (Source–Pathway–Receptor), and explores cross-disciplinary professional perspectives related to these requirements. To this end, this study commenced with a systematic review to identify various criteria streams required for the preliminary risk assessment of brownfield sites. Thereafter, a questionnaire survey was design and shared with brownfield site professionals. Quantitative analysis of the survey responses ( n = 76) reveals disciplines have markedly different priorities relating to the same hazard. For instance, geophysicists, geochemists, and hydrologists do not raise concerns regarding ground movement that can result from the removal of storage and tanks, whilst the same hazard was considered as having a high importance by other professions (such as geologists and geotechnical engineers). This example, amongst others revealed in the study, underpins potential issues and implications for various stakeholders compiling and/or using preliminary risk assessment criteria. This study clarifies both the key criteria requirements for the preliminary risk assessment of brownfield sites, as well as the importance of recognising how variation in professionals’ perceptions plays in the risk assessment process. Although, specialist knowledge is essential for brownfield site investigation, so is the maintaining a broad-based view of other experts coming from different backgrounds, as this renders holistic risk assessment insights.
... Coastal areas have been historically served as centers of human activities and host large populations due to their abundant resources, economic opportunities, and natural attractions. However, the rapid demographic increase in coastal regions has brought about a multitude of challenges, the most impactful of which is chemical pollution (e.g., metal and hydrocarbons pollution, municipal waste, plastic pollution) (e.g., Chen and Liao, 2006;Thompson et al., 2004;Wang et al., 2013) together with biological pollution (e.g., Elliott, 2003). In both cases, pollution in coastal areas has led to devastating cascade effects on marine life, including the destruction of habitats, decline in biodiversity, and harmful algal blooms among others (e.g., Barrenechea Angeles et al., 2023;Diaz and Rosenberg, 2008;Sellner et al., 2003). ...
... As a relatively closed basin connected to distinct biogeographic regions, it is sensitive to the pressure of biological invasions (Gerovasileiou et al., 2017;Bazzicalupo et al., 2018). Biological invasions or biological pollution, recognized worldwide as one of the main threats to biodiversity, the economy and human health (Elliott, 2003;Crocetta, 2011), are caused by non-native, alien or exotic species commonly referred as Non-Indigenous Species (NIS). The term NIS refers to any species, subspecies, or lower taxa present outside its natural past or present distribution range; including any part of such species that might survive and subsequently reproduce (European Commission, 2008). ...
... Industries discharge substantial volumes of water pollutants daily, posing severe threats to humans, amphibians, and microorganisms [2,3]. Primary sources of water pollutants include fertilizers [4], microorganisms [5], the application of chemicals and pesticides to soil [6], sewage [7], wastewater, septic tanks, underground reservoirs, and pipe leaks, atmospheric deposition, as well as industrial wastes containing sulfur [8], asbestos, mercury, lead, nitrates, phosphates, textile dyes, oils, and more. The consequences of these water pollutants include aquatic mortality, ecosystem destruction, and other adverse effects. ...
Researchers aim to develop photoactive systems to address critical environmental challenges, presenting a significant ongoing challenge. This study emphasizes the construction of pure metal oxide NPs (ZnO, Mn 3 O 4 , and SnO 2), tellurium-doped metal oxides, and composite materials of graphitic carbon nitride/tellurium-doped metal oxides to enhance photocatalytic performance in methylene blue (MB) degradation under natural sunlight. Various characterization techniques, XRD, EDX, SEM, FTIR and UV-Vis Spectroscopy, were employed to analyze the structure, shape, and optical features of the materials. The photocatalytic degradation order for MB was determined to be pure and doped ZnO > pure & doped SnO 2 > pure & doped Mn 3 O 4. ZnO NPs exhibited the highest photocatalytic degradation at 98 %, accredited to their higher crystallinity, insignificant surface area and reduced particle dimension. Pure and doped ZnO NPs demonstrated the maximum zone of inhibition, reaching 39.5 mm. Consequently, S-g-C 3 N 4 /Te-ZnO emerges as the most promising material, serving as both a photo-catalytic and antibacterial agent.
... Pollution means entering a foreign compound or substance that causes a change in chemical, physical, or biological characteristics. These changes harm the target and other organisms (Elliott 2003;Kuzhaeva and Berlinskii 2018). After the spread of oil pollution in marine ecosystems, depending on the environmental conditions, the type and size of the pollution, part of the pollution is removed by the evaporation of volatile substances (Bhagyashri et al. 2021;Fingas 2015), dissolution in seawater, oxidation by sunlight (Loginova et al. 2022;Ziolli and Jardim 2002), or consumption as a source of energy and carbon by microorganisms. ...
... Non-indigenous species (NIS) are considered a form of biological pollution that is one of the greatest threats to world's oceans (Carlton and Geller 1993;Ruiz et al. 2000;Elliott 2003;Hayes and Sliwa 2003;Occhipinti-Ambrogi 2007). Significant efforts have been made in the last two decades to understand the pathways of introduction and spread of NIS and to develop reliable inventories on marine NIS. ...
A major challenge in invasion science is detecting overlooked introductions, their pathways of introduction and spread. One of the most successful introduced taxa in aquatic ecosystems are peracarid crustaceans. There are a growing number of reports of accidental introductions of peracarids worldwide, mostly related to human transport
hubs (e.g., ports and marinas). Tanaidaceans are especially abundant in these commu-
nities. Most frequently given examples of natural and anthropogenic passive dispersers belong to the family Tanaididae. However, their wide distribution requires confirmation. Most records come from 70–80’ of last century, when identification of the species relied only on morphological characters. The small size and large intraspecific variation of tanaidids generate a high taxonomic uncertainty, as in the case of Zeuxo turkensis. Population of this species was previously known from Turkish, Japanese, and Australian coasts. In the two last places this tanaidid was identified as Hexapleomera sasuke, despite there were some premises that it should be synonymized with Z. turkensis. Here we investigate specimens that resembled both Hexapleomera sasuke and Zeuxo turkensis collected in marinas around the Iberian and Moroccan coasts. Integrating morphological and molecular methods (barcoding) we confirmed: (1) the first record and presence of well-structured populations of Z. turkensis in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, representing the first record of the species for Atlantic waters; (2) the conspecificity between H. sasuke and Z. turkensis, which should be synonymized; and (3) the wide distribution of Z. turkensis associated with human transport hubs (i.e. marinas) in the study area, showing its potential for introduction and spread. Integrated approaches and greater taxonomic support are key to advancing knowledge on the origin and invasion patterns of this and other small and poorly known human-mediated widespread species.
... Freshwater environments are among the most threatened ecosystems on the planet (Stewart et al. 2022). Aquatic organisms in these freshwater environments face numerous threats e.g., habitat degradation, hydrology alterations, pollution, over-exploitation, and invasive species (Dudgeon et al. 2006; Davis Introduction of an exotic organism outside its native range and the problems caused by such invasive (known as biological pollution/biopollution) is unprecedentedly changing the world's natural communities, ecological characteristics, and functions following establishment (Elliott 2003;Santamarina et al. 2019). Due to world globalization, an increase in biological invasions/bioinvasions has proliferated in the last few years, a pattern likely to continue in the future and can be considered a major threat to biodiversity (Barbet-Massin et al. 2018). ...
In the present study, we implemented species distribution models (SDMs) to determine the potential invasive distribution range of a cichlid fish, Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, in a very sensitive inland water system in the southeastern Arabian Peninsula where it is now established and spreading. By using the “Biomod2” package, and the latest CMIP6 climate data, four single species distribution models and EM were built, and the results were evaluated by operating characteristic (ROC) and the true skill statistic (TSS). Based on the relative importance of climate factor analysis the mean diurnal range and precipitation seasonality were useful predictors of habitat suitability for O. niloticus. The response curve analysis indicated that the presence probability of O. niloticus decreased with increasing mean diurnal range and decreasing precipitation seasonality. The suitable distribution ranges for O. niloticus in the studied area were mainly distributed in the northeast of this region. The ensemble model results specified a significant impact of climate change on O. niloticus distribution, so highly suitable areas for this species will be reduced, while areas with low to moderate suitability increase slightly or remain unchanged. Based on the available data, Nile tilapia fulfills all four criteria to be considered as an invasive species: colonization in a new area, direct or indirect impacts of anthropological activity on its distribution range, geographical discontinuity between its native area (Africa) and the Arabian Peninsula (remote dispersal), and finally, its successful breeding in situ without human assistance resulting establishment of this biopollutant. Species distribution modeling provides insights into the factors that can reduce the risks and negative impacts of this biological pollutant on aquatic ecosystems of the southeastern Arabian Peninsula which harbors about 22 recognized fish species in 16 genera, 10 families, seven orders, and a class including 20 natives (seven endemic) species.
... Biological pollution is generally caused by bacteria, viruses, molds, mites, cockroaches, pollen, and fungi [4]. The pollution caused by human beings impacts terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems [5]. Leather tanning, chrome plating, battery industries, pigment industries, and chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides) used in the agriculture Table 1. ...
Water quality depends on its physicochemical and biological parameters. Changes in parameters such as pH, temperature, and essential and non-essential trace metals in water can render it unfit for human use. Moreover, the characteristics of the local environment, geological processes, geochemistry, and hydrological properties of water sources also affect water quality. Generally, groundwater is utilized for drinking purposes all over the globe. The surface is also utilized for human use and industrial purposes. There are several natural and anthropogenic activities responsible for the heavy metal contamination of water. Industrial sources, including coal washery, steel industry, food processing industry, plastic processing, metallic work, leather tanning, etc., are responsible for heavy metal contamination in water. Domestic and agricultural waste is also responsible for hazardous metallic contamination in water. Contaminated water with heavy metal ions like Cr (VI), Cd (II), Pb (II), As (V and III), Hg (II), Ni (II), and Cu (II) is responsible for several health issues in humans, like liver failure, kidney damage, gastric and skin cancer, mental disorders and harmful effects on the reproductive system. Hence, the evaluation of heavy metal contamination in water and its removal is needed. There are several physicochemical methods that are available for the removal of heavy metals from water, but these methods are expensive and generate large amounts of secondary pollutants. Biological methods are considered cost-effective and eco-friendly methods for the remediation of metallic contaminants from water. In this review, we focused on water contamination with toxic heavy metals and their toxicity and eco-friendly bioremediation approaches.
... The introduction of an exotic organism outside its native range and the problems caused by such invasive species (known as biological pollution/biopollution) can unprecedentedly change the world's natural communities, ecological characteristics, and functions following its establishment [8,9]. Due to world globalization, an increase in biological invasions/bioinvasions has proliferated in the last few years, a pattern likely to continue in the future and can be considered a major threat to biodiversity [10]. ...
Climate change is expected to affect freshwater water bodies worldwide, especially those located in semiarid and arid regions, including the Arabian Peninsula. Species distribution modeling has been widely used to predict the effects of climate changes on aquatic species. Occurrence records of the cichlid fish Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, were geographically mapped, followed by the implementation of species distribution models to delineate its range within the sensitive inland water system of the southeastern Arabian Peninsula. The analysis encompassed the examination of species presence data in the context of environmental variables, leading to the development of an ensemble model for habitat suitability, combining four distinct species distribution models. The findings indicated that the mean diurnal range and precipitation seasonality emerged as the most influential factors in predicting the suitability of habitats for O. niloticus. The response curve analysis indicated that the presence probability of O. niloticus decreased with increasing mean diurnal range and decreasing precipitation seasonality. The suitable distribution ranges for O. niloticus in the studied area were mainly distributed in the northeast of this region, where native/endemic fish diversity is high. The ensemble model results specified a significant impact of climate change on O. niloticus distribution, so highly suitable areas for this species will be reduced, while areas with low to moderate suitability increase slightly or remain unchanged. While O. niloticus is anticipated to display resilience and prosper under the influence of climate change, it remains paradoxical that its habitats are at risk of being compromised by climate-induced alterations. Consequently, even this resilient species stands susceptible to the repercussions of climate change. Due to the worldwide severe impacts of Nile tilapia, regular monitoring of freshwater ecosystems and fish fauna—especially in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula, which has currently been invaded by this alien species—and protecting the region from key anthropogenic stressors are recommended to successfully conserve the freshwater fishes, which include about 22 recognized fish species in 16 genera, 10 families, 7 orders, and a class including 20 natives (7 endemic) species, out of which 13 species co-occur in sympatricity with O. niloticus.
... Despite their significance, freshwater ecosystems account for less than 1% of the earth's surface, making it a relatively small and limited resource in comparison to the vast expanses of the marine ecosystem. Marine and freshwater organisms suffer as a result of contamination of water bodies caused by agricultural, industrial, and urban runoffs and garbage disposal [2,3]. Among them, the primary source of water pollution is wastewater discharge from industries, and the textile industries are one of the top polluters worldwide [4,5]. ...
Functionalization of whole biowaste to develop new value-added materials by applying clean synthetic protocols is emerging as an attractive research area for a sustainable environment. Herein, we report the synthesis and detailed characterization of pine needles-glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (G-PNs), which was accomplished by incorporating quaternized ammonium groups on the surface of pine needles by a polymer analogous reaction. As-synthesized G-PNs were explored as an adsorbent for the selective removal of anionic dyes, namely Congo red (CR) and methyl orange (MO) from their solutions. Adsorption capacity, kinetics, and thermodynamic behaviour of G-PNs with the dyes as a function of time, temperature, pH, and dye concentration were also analyzed. Various kinetic and adsorption isotherm models were used to identify the mechanism of the CR and MO adsorption process. The adsorption studies revealed a significantly high efficiency and selectivity of the adsorbent for anionic dyes with %removal of 94.76% and 93.96% for CR and MO, respectively. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models with a maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of 251.8 mg/g and 263.1 mg/g for CR and MO, respectively. Furthermore, after fifteen adsorption-desorption cycles, the effectiveness of the adsorbent for the dyes remained appreciable. Additionally, dye adsorption studies of G-PNs were also carried out for dye removal from real textile effluent. The use of bio-waste-based G-PNs thus resulted in environmentally friendly, cost-effective, biodegradable, and green material that has good potential for use in real samples to remove anionic dyes from the textile wastewater treatment.
Graphical Abstract
... The problem of biological invasions is one of the most acute environmental problems in many countries of the world. It is recognized as a global threat to biodiversity, functioning of ecosystems, and economic development (Elliott, 2003;Kovac et al., 2010;Bradshaw et al., 2016;Seebens et al., 2018). Globalization, ongoing climate change, and an increase in traffic flows accelerated the rate of introduction of invasive species (IS) to unprecedented levels and allowed them to overcome fundamental biogeographic barriers (Seebens et al., 2017). ...
... The most frequent causes of contamination are associated to plastic debris, sewage and industrial effluents, oil spills, and "no-point sources" (inaccurate sources of pollution that do not originate from a single discrete source and issues widely pervasive environmental elements) (Odeku and Paulos 2017). The accumulation of contaminants over a long period in the coastal marine environment could be quite harmful resulting in devastating consequences for marine life and habitats on which marine organisms depend on (Elliott 2003;Mearns et al. 2020). ...
Many environmental monitoring works have been carried out using biomarkers as a tool to identify the effects of oil contamination on marine organisms; however, only a few studies have used sea urchin gonadal tissue for this purpose. Within this context, the present work aimed to understand the impact of an oil spill, proposing the use of sea urchin gonadal tissue as a biomarker for environmental contamination by trace metals in the species Paracentrotus lividus. Biometric analysis, quantification analyses of the elements Cd, Pb, Ni, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu, as well as histopathological evaluations were performed in gonads of P. lividus collected from an area affected by hydrocarbons, named as impacted shore (IS) and an area not affected, named reference shore (RS). The results showed that carapace diameter (DC), total wet weight (WW), and Cd concentrations in the gonads were significantly influenced by the interaction between the rocky shores of origin, the months of sampling, and by the sex of the individuals. Moreover, from July until September, the levels of Zn and Cd were significantly lower in male than in female gonads. In July (the month of the oil spill), the indexes of histopathological alterations (IHPA) of membrane dilation were significantly higher in individuals from the IS, compared to the individuals from the RS. In addition, there were significant correlations between biometric variables (wet weight, diameter of carapace, gonadal weight, and gonadosomatic index) and the elements Cd, Cu, Ni, and Mn concentrations. Lastly, a delay in the gametogenic cycle of the sea urchins from IS was also observed. Taken together, these findings suggest that direct exposure to trace metals induces histopathological lesions in P. lividus’ gonads and affects its reproductive cycle.
Graphical Abstract
... Biological pollutants: These pollutants include pollen, microbes, viruses, dust mites, insects, several parasites and pathogens and invasive species documented from various sources. (Elliott M., 2003). ...
Land in industrial areas receives many solid wastes, including heavy metals. Metals taken up by the plants are incorporated into their tissues depending upon their mobility within the plant. The surplus of heavy metals can severely reduce growth and biomass production in plants. To understand the fate of some heavy metals in plants, five heavy metals were chosen for their interactions with Ipomoea carnea jacq. Subsp. fistulosa which is an exotic weed distributed in tropical countries of Asia and America migrated from the American tropics into India. The species is then supposed to have escaped and naturalised elsewhere. As Ipomoea carnea is found growing everywhere including waste dumps. The selected heavy metals were Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). Five concentrations of each of the heavy metals were selected to provide a range and meanwhile, control was also set up. The plants were grown for 6 and 9 weeks period. The concentrations of heavy metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer method (AAS). The study concluded that if plants were grown for a short period or limited period they may help in improving the quality of soil by effectively removing the heavy metal but continued growth leads to a stage of equilibrium between metal concentrations in and out of plant organs. The Potential of Ipomoea carnea to effectively absorb the metals is Zn > Cd; Pb > Cu > Cr and retain them is Cd > Zn; Pb > Cu > Cr.
... These are common waterborne diseases [9]. This type of contamination is also majorly attributed to human and animal waste due to the discharge of pathogenic microorganisms into water bodies [10,11]. ...
The upsurge in the discharge of lead ions (Pb 2+) into the environs resulting from various anthropogenic activities vis-vis its adverse effect on public health is a call for great concern. However, the adsorption technique, amongst other heavy metal removal methods, is regarded as the most promising. The present study synthesized a walnut shell-chitosan composite (WNS-CH) as an efficient biosorbent for Pb 2+ uptake and biofilter of Bacillus subtilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae. WNS-CH was characterized using SEM and FTIR. Furthermore, an intelligent and cost-effective machine learning model, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy model clustered with the grid-partitioning (GP), and fuzzy c-means (FCM) technique were developed to predict the adsorption of Pb 2+ based on relevant input parameters. The batch adsorption was carried out by varying operating parameters such as contact time, temperature, pH, adsorbent dose, and initial adsorbate concentration. The SEM images of WNS-CH showed a homogenous regular hollow ellipsoidal morphologies, while FTIR spectra showed the presence of O-H, N-H, C-N, and CO. Under the conditions of initial pH 10, dosage 45 mg, and temperature of 40 °C, an adsorption efficiency of 94 % was obtained. The thermodynamic parameters, ∆H° and ∆G°, showed an endothermic and spontaneous process for Pb 2+ uptake. Antibacterial activities of the WNS-CH composite showed bioactivity against Bacillus subtilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae with a mean ZI of 5.3±1.16 and 6.0 ±1.00, respectively. The experimental data was best described by Freundlich isotherm (R 2 = 0.9509) and pseudo-first-order kinetic (R 2 = 0.9674) models indicating chemisorption and multilayer adsorption process. The best prediction of Pb 2+ adsorption was obtained with the optimal GP-clustered ANFIS model using a triangular membership function (triMF), giving Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), and correlation determination (R 1) values of 1.217, 0.563, 1.698, and 0.9966 respectively at the testing phase. The GP-ANFIS model shows good agreement with experimental results. This study revealed that WNS-CH composite could be regarded as a promising biosorbent for the remediation of Pb 2+-polluted wastewater. The cost analysis demonstrated that the WNS-CH composite could serve as an alternative to commercial activated carbon.
... Во избежание путаницы к водной токсикологии все-таки лучше относить задачи, связанные с изучением реакции гидробионтов и экосистем на загрязнение водоемов токсическими веществами, тем более что загрязнение такими веществами может приводить к деэвтрофированию водоемов, а реакция биоты на токсические загрязнение в олиготрофных водах часто более значима, чем в эвтрофных. Кроме того, в последние десятилетия все большее значение придается так называемому «биологическому загрязнению», под которым понимается вселение и развитие популяций чужеродных видов [22], которые могут оказывать самое разное влияние на экосистемы водоемов. Поэтому важно не смешивать разные типы загрязнений, изучение влияния которых можно объединять в рамках одного направления, изучающего антропогенные воздействия на водные экосистемы. ...
В предлагаемом в качестве основы для научной дискуссии адаптированном варианте одной из глав монографии Т.Д. Зинченко и Г.С. Розенберга «Гидробиология 20-х годов XX века (ретрохроника)» рассмотрены некоторые направления развития современной гидробиологии, обсуждены проблемы общей (системной, продукционной, этологической гидробиологии, палеогидробиологии) и частной гидробиологии (санитарной, медицинской, токсикологической, радиологической, сельскохозяйственной, рыбохозяйственной, технической, космической), гидробиологического образования. Отмечена необходимость продолжения процесса ее «экологизации», совершенствования научных основ комплексной эксплуатации водных объектов.
... Biological pollutants are mainly living organisms that can pose serious health dangers to humans when present in aquatic and terrestrial environments. [303] These bio-pollutants include bacteria, viruses, molds, and animal dander that cause many diseases such as indoor allergies, foodborne diseases, and bacterial and viral infections. [304] These bioanalytes can be detected as a whole microorganism or specific nucleic acid sequences of a pathogen. ...
Recent years have witnessed an exponential increase in the research on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-based colorimetric sensors to revolutionize point-of-use sensing devices. Hence, this review is compiled focused on current progress in the design and performance parameters of AuNPs-based sensors. The review begins with the characteristics of AuNPs, followed by a brief explanation of synthesis and functionalization methods. Then, the mechanisms of AuNPs-based sensors are comprehensively explained in two broad categories based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) characteristics of AuNPs and their peroxidase-like catalytic properties (nanozyme). SPR-based colorimetric sensors further categorize into aggregation, anti-aggregation, etching, growth-mediated, and accumulation-based methods depending on their sensing mechanisms. On the other hand, peroxidase activity-based colorimetric sensors are divided into two methods based on the expression or inhibition of peroxidase-like activity. Next, the analytes in environmental and food samples are classified as inorganic, organic, and biological pollutants, and recent progress in detection of these analytes are reviewed in detail. Finally, conclusions are provided, and future directions are highlighted. Improving the sensitivity, reproducibility, multiplexing capabilities, and cost-effectiveness for colorimetric detection of various analytes in environment and food matrices will have significant impact on fast testing of hazardous substances, hence reducing the pollution load in environment as well as rendering food contamination to ensure food safety.
... These introductions are blending human history with natural history, being part of our cultural heritage while also changing the species composition and functioning of recipient coastal waters. Introduced species have been conventionally condemned as a kind of baneful "biological pollution", "biocontamination", "biosecurity risk" and as "threatening" or "degrading" ecosystem services (i.e., Elliott 2003;Olenin et al. 2007Olenin et al. , 2011Arbačiauskas et al. 2008;Essl et al. 2017;Ojaveer et al. 2018;Anton et al. 2019;Pyšek et al. 2020;Tarkan et al. 2021;Collin and Shucksmith 2022) or as "guilty until proven innocent" (Ruesink et al. 1995). In addition to ecological change, health problems and economic costs may arise (i.e., Cuthbert et al. 2021). ...
For about a century, biodiversity in the tidal Wadden Sea (North Sea, European Atlantic) has increased by more than one hundred introduced species from overseas. Most originate from warmer waters and could facilitate the transformation of this coastal ecosystem to comply with climate warming. Some introduced species promote sediment stabilization and mud accretion. This could help tidal flats to keep up with sea level rise. Although some introduced species also entail negative effects, introductions have diversified lower food web levels, and may benefit foraging birds. So far, no resident populations have gone extinct because an introduced species had established. Rather than degrading the ecosystem, the establishment of introduced species seems to have raised the capacity to follow environmental change. We support increasing efforts against introductions to avoid risk. However, once species are integrated, the common condemnation attitude against “non-natives” or “aliens” ought to be reconsidered for tidal ecosystems of low biodiversity.
... Wastewater rich in organic and inorganic matter, deriving from uneaten feed and from the faeces of farmed species, often have a high bacterial load, including pathogenic bacteria. The release of these untreated effluents into surrounding water bodies can alter the balance of habitats, and cause eutrophication, loss of biodiversity and the introduction of diseases into wild species [2], [3]. ...
... The impact of humanity's actions on the quality of the aquatic and terrestrial environment is referred to as biological pollution which can be specifically defined as the introduction of non-native and invasive organisms (Elliott, 2003). It includes the impact of imported, invasive species on an individual (internal biological pollution by parasites or viruses), a population (by genetic alteration), or a community (by expanding or lowering the species complement), as well as the generation of negative economic implications. ...
The Novel Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) struck the world hard in the first half of 2020, forcing numerous countries to put harsh limitations on all human-related activities. The emergence of COVID-19, as an unusual occurrence, has severely harmed world economic growth and had an impact on the environment. To keep the virus from spreading further, governments pose several strict lockdowns, and people were primarily encouraged to quarantine themselves at home. As a result of the lockdown, industrial and vehicle movements were halted, and the rate of contaminants entering the ecosystem was lowered in several places but on the other hand, COVID-19 has a number of disadvantages, including more medical waste, increased hazard utilization, and disposal of disinfectants, masks, and gloves, as well as a huge amount of untreated wastes, are harming the
environment.
We don't have direct confirmation that climate change is causing COVID-19 to spread, but we do know that it has an impact on how humans interact with other creatures on the globe, which has significance for our health and infection risk. So, in this book chapter, we were talk about the impact of COVID-19 on the environment and climate change from both positive and negative perspectives. We will also discuss mitigation strategies to tackle from negative impacts of COVID-19 on the environment.
... Pathogens are viruses, bacteria, and any microorganisms that cause possible severe diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. They contaminate different water bodies through the discharge of urban sewage activates water bodies [30][31][32]. Bioplastic with palm oil has a yellow and transparent color compared to bioplastic without palm oil [33]. Bioplastic with a 1.90%(v/v) palm oil amount has a more homogeneous surface. ...
Water plays a vital role in human life and civilization development, but the development and human multiplicity activities led to water pollution. Various factors cause water pollution like environmental and climate changes, agricultural activities, geological changes, civilization, domestic, and industrial processes. These activities release different types of chemical and biological pollutants with different concentrations. Last decades, the quantity and quality of water are declining at horrible rate due to uncontrolled population growth, growing urbanization, expanding industrialization and increasing non-standard agriculture activities, near the drought that is affecting several countries in the different continents. While most developed countries have installed advanced technologies to treat wastewater, developing countries still suffer from water supply because of the high cost of water treatment or desalination facilities. International organizations such as EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and WHO (World Health Organization) develop standards for controlling water quality in terms of chemical and biological concentrations to preserve human health and protect biodiversity.
... Pathogens are viruses, bacteria, and any microorganisms that cause possible severe diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. They contaminate different water bodies through the discharge of urban sewage activates water bodies [30][31][32]. Bioplastic with palm oil has a yellow and transparent color compared to bioplastic without palm oil [33]. Bioplastic with a 1.90%(v/v) palm oil amount has a more homogeneous surface. ...
Water plays a vital role in human life and civilization development, but the development and human multiplicity activities led to water pollution. Various factors cause water pollution like environmental and climate changes, agricultural activities, geological changes, civilization, domestic, and industrial processes. These activities release different types of chemical and biological pollutants with different concentrations. Last decades, the quantity and quality of water are declining at horrible rate due to uncontrolled population growth, growing urbanization, expanding industrialization and increasing non-standard agriculture activities, near the drought that is affecting several countries in the different continents. While most developed countries have installed advanced technologies to treat wastewater, developing countries still suffer from water supply because of the high cost of water treatment or desalination facilities. International organizations such as EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and WHO (World Health Organization) develop standards for controlling water quality in terms of chemical and biological concentrations to preserve human health and protect biodiversity.
... The negative ecological impacts of alien species, also perceived as biological pollution (Elliott, 2003), are difficult to assess and quantify and require extensive research. A more practical approach for benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages was developed by Arbačiauskas et al. (2008) and is based on the presence of AMS, regardless of their impact, as this represents a shift from the natural state and can be considered as biological contamination. ...
Peracarid crustaceans contribute to the homogenization of macroinvertebrate communities as one of the most important group of aquatic invaders. This study investigated the relationship between alien peracarids and physical and chemical parameters indicative of nutrient and organic pollution, and their contribution to biocontamination of macroinvertebrate assemblages. The impact of alien macroinvertebrates, particularly alien peracarids, on selected biological metrics was examined. Sampling was conducted twice (2015 and 2016/2017) at 46 sites on four major rivers (Danube, Sava, Drava, Mura), accompanied with eight measurements of physical and chemical parameters. Invasive peracarids showed predominantly negative correlations with nutrient pollution, the strongest negative correlations with ammonia, nitrites and orthophosphates. Biocontamination of macroinvertebrate assemblages, calculated as family-level Site-specific Biocontamination Index, was mostly high and severe, whilst the abundance of alien Peracarida mainly determined the biocontamination class. Sites with higher densities of alien Peracarida had lower organic and nutrient pollution and higher biological metrics than sites with lower densities. Biological metrics showed a positive correlation with alien Peracarida densities, whilst their exclusion or exclusion of all alien macroinvertebrates species affected biological metric values. Invasive peracarids can be used as indicators of nutrient and organic pollution and should be included in the calculation of biological metrics for assessing ecological status.
... Instead, significant impacts seem linked to sitespecific contexts, and anthropogenic disturbances (see Refs. [11,12] and references therein). Potential impacts of invasive species such as Undaria and Saccharina include changes to the functioning and quality of the ecosystem through the introduction of parasites or pathogens into the new environment, producing genetic changes in populations due to hybridization with native species, modifying physico-chemical conditions and energy flows and organic matter cycles in the native habitat [13][14][15]. ...
We report for the first time the occurrence of the Japanese kelp Saccharina japonica on the Pacific coast of southern Chile following an illegal introduction for aquaculture purposes. In November 2020, a citizen complaint indicated that the non-native kelp was being illegally farmed in Canal Caicaén. Specimens of the non-native kelp were collected during successive surveys for molecular and morphological analyses, and reproductive viability tests. The species was determined using two mitochondrial molecular markers, COI and trnW-L. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the taxonomic identity of the specimen as S. japonica and revealed a genetic similarity with S. japonica × S. latissima hybrid cultivars Sanhai and Rongfu. In April 2021, several adult specimens became fertile at the farm site and the laboratory and released meiospores were able to develop into embryos after 15–20 days of incubation. These findings underline the risk for this kelp to disperse and colonize in the natural surrounding habitat, with potential impacts on local coastal ecosystems.
... Biological invasions are one of the crucial issues in modern ecology. The negative consequences of the introduction of alien species are often referred to as "biological pollution" (Elliott, 2003). Various invasions of aquatic ecosystems were studied mainly using examples of free-living aquatic organisms (Biologicheskie invazii…, 2004). ...
The paper presents the phenomenology of European smelt Osmerus eperlanus and microsporidium Glugea hertwigi invasion into a new habitat, Lake Syamozero (Karelia), where neither of the species occurred before. The invasion history falls into four phases. The first, latent, phase started with a spontaneous invasion of the lake by smelt and lasted until the first fish showed up in catches (1968–1970). The second phase (from 1971 to 1980) was characterized by the population explosion of the invader. The smelt became the dominant
species in the fish community, while the native plankton feeder, the vendace Coregonus albula, became an endangered species. The third phase (from 1980 to 1991) was marked by the population explosion of the microsporidium Glugea hertwigi and subsequent epizootic development. The fourth phase (from 1991 to present) is distinguished by the decreasing population of the invasive species, the smelt and the microsporidium Glugea hertwigi, and the recovery of the native vendace population.
Keywords: invasion, smelt Osmerus eperlanus (L.), microsporidium Glugea hertwigi, epizootic
DOI: 10.1134/S2075111722010027
... Due to their frequent ecological and economic impacts, the intake of alien species can also be perceived as biological pollution (Elliott, 2003). The negative effects of alien species are difficult to assess and quantify, and require extensive research and great effort, thus a more practical approach is needed to determine the impact of alien species on the ecological status of water bodies (Arbačiauskas et al., 2008). ...
Contribution of alien peracarid crustaceans to the biocontamination of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in Croatian large rivers Peracarid crustaceans (orders Amphipoda, Isopoda and Mysida) are one of the most important groups of invaders in fresh and brackish waters. Although large rivers in Croatia have been heavily invaded by peracarid crustaceans, little is known about their impact on local benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. The main aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of alien Peracarida to the biocontamination of macroinvertebrate assemblages in Croatian large rivers as a proxy measure of their impact. Quantitative sampling was conducted twice (2015 and 2016/2017), at 48 sites on four large rivers (Danube-4, Sava-21, Drava-20, Mura-3). Physicochemical parameters were measured eight times during 2015 and 2016. In total, 16 species were recorded, five native and 11 alien species. The highest number (10 alien species, most from genus Dikerogammarus and Chelicorophium) were found in the Danube River, while subsets of alien species were found in the Sava (5 spp.) and Drava Rivers (6 spp.), and no alien species were found in the Mura River. The most upstream reaches of the Mura, Drava, and Sava Rivers in Croatia have not yet been colonized by invasive peracarids and the native peracarids are still abundant there. In the Drava River, alien Peracarida had the highest densities. Significant negative correlations were established between the number of native taxa and alien Peracarida species. Proportions of alien peracarids in the total density of benthic macroinvertebrates were spatially variable, the highest average values in the Drava River (24.4 %), and lower in the Danube (20 %) and the Sava (17.7 %) Rivers. Alien Peracarida had the most important contribution to the richness and abundance contamination of macro-invertebrate assemblages. The upstream spread of invasive peracarids will increase biocontamination and could cause a decline of native species richness and abundance in the most upstream reaches of the Sava and Drava Rivers. To prevent further upstream spread of alien Peracarida, "check, clean and dry" protocols should be included in the national regulations.
... The evaluation of the environmental quality of sediments and their spatial and temporal changes has been widely discussed in recent years (Li et al., 2018;Wong, 2012) and becomes an emerging priority (Banfalvi, 2011;Elliott, 2003). Today, coastal areas are recognized as environments that are most disturbed by anthropogenic activities (Crossland et al., 2005). ...
The Sepetiba Bay (SB; SE Brazil) has been severely affected by growing of urbanization and industrial activity.
This work aims to analyze the evolution of contamination by metals of sediments in SB. The results show a
marked increasing trend in the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which is consistent with the
rapid populational and industrial growth, mostly since 1970 CE. The remobilization and redistribution of sed-
iments by currents have contributed to the dispersion of metals from the main source of pollutants to relatively
distant regions. “Moderately to strongly polluted” sediments are also recorded in some sites in deeper sedi-
mentary layers (namely in preindustrial periods), probably due to lithologic sources of the sediments. The
concentrations of PTEs in SB are relatively high when compared with those found globally and in other Brazilian
water bodies. Samples of high-resolution sediment cores confirmed that potential ecological risk to the coastal
system is influenced not only through human actions but also by natural causes.
... It is possible to interpret the impacts of exotic species as causing a decline in ecological quality due to changes in the biological, chemical and physical properties of aquatic ecosystems (Elliott, 2003). ...
The main transport vector for exotic-invasive species around the world is ballast water in merchant ships, crossing natural biogeographic barriers. This is one of the main factors responsible for the reduction and homogenization of the global biota. As phytoplankton is the main group transported by these vessels, this study assesses the risk of bioinvasion in the port complex of Itajaí and Navegantes (southern Brazil), using a polyphasic approach, mixing classical taxonomy with molecular biology. Ballast water collections were carried out to analyze the traditional taxonomy and for clonal cultivation in the laboratory. A successful cultivation of 12 local strains and 10-ballast water was successful. In the latter case, some fresh water, contrary to the statement by the commanders of the exchange of water in the deep ocean (> 200 m). Molecular identification was performed by sequencing the complete ITS region, confirming the presence of Thalassiosira minuscula Krasske, 1941, harmful and of public health interest, previously not mentioned for the region. The species Pleurosigma W. Smith, 1852; Asterionellopsis glacialis (Castracane) Round, 1990; Trieres mobiliensis (Bailey) Ashworth and E.C. Theriot, 2013; Thalassiosira minima Gaarder, 1951; Skeletonema pseudocostatum Medlin, 1991; Pectinodesmus holtmannii E. Hegewald, C. Bock and Krienitz, 2013; Neodesmus Hindák, 1976; and Pseudopediastrum boryanum (Turpin) E. Hegewald, 2005, were identified. The results indicate the possibility of growth of the species found in the ballast environment, which may negatively alter the disposal environment. Keywords: exotic species, molecular identification, marine phytoplankton, port complex of Itajaí and Navegantes.
... The invasions of alien species are recognized as a global threat [1,2]. Indeed, the invasive organisms can considerably impact biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and economy of invaded regions [3][4][5][6][7]. Nowadays, more and more alien species became known as serious pests in agriculture and forestry in different countries around the world [8], including Russia [9]. ...
The concept of ecological niches plays an important role in predicting the potential distribution of species in the invasive range and developing invasion management strategies. To test the hypothesis, we used models of ecological niches of the 100 most dangerous invasive species of Russia. Our results show that invasive niches occupy a position similar to native niches in the space of predictor variables and there is a very limited expansion of niches. The results generally support the niche conservatism hypothesis. We also found important exceptional cases of rejection of this hypothesis. The key mechanisms governing the persistence of niche increase our confidence in availability species distribution models to predict the response of species in the framework of ongoing of global climate change.
Die Wahrnehmung und das Verständnis von Landschaft sind auf der einen Seite erkenntnistheoretisch und politisch geprägt. Daher wird um das richtige Verständnis und die Interpretation in Diskursen zu Gerechtigkeit des Zugangs, Umgang mit Neophyten und Nachhaltigkeit im Klimawandel gerungen. Auf der anderen Seite ist Vegetation ein wesentliches Merkmal von Landschaft, das in seinen materiellen Eigenschaften nicht beliebig formbar oder politischen Vorstellungen und Absichten zu unterwerfen ist. Sie stellt gewohnte Wahrnehmungen und die Interessen an nachhaltiger Entwicklung bis hinein in die Herstellungsplanung von Vegetation vor Herausforderungen. Die Beiträger*innen dieser Festschrift für Stefan Körner machen die von ihm mitgeprägten Diskurse um Landschaft wie auch um die Erforschung der Vegetationsverwendung und -pflege zugänglich.
Global connectivity is increasing the number of biological invasions. In turn, further anthropogenic stressors including a changing climate are increasing the establishment and impact of invasive alien species (IAS). IAS may provide novel hosts for parasites in the new range. Furthermore, parasites may be co-introduced with their invasive hosts, with opportunities for spillover to new hosts. IAS may themselves be parasites. In this chapter, we explore the effect of global change (climate, pollution, etc.) on biological invasions that are directly associated with invasive, co-invasive or acquired parasitic species (viruses, bacteria, Protozoa, Metazoa, etc.), as well as their role in disease emergence of native parasites. We provide a table of 23 examples from mammalian, avian, reptilian, amphibian, piscine, insect, crustacean, molluscan and plant invasions, which are associated with both global change and parasitism. We demonstrate the impact of climate warming and pollution at each stage of a biological invasion, and ecological and economic consequences for natural and managed populations across terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems.
Marine pollution and bacterial disease outbreaks are two closely related dilemmas that impact marine fish production from fisheries and mariculture. Oil, heavy metals, agrochemicals, sewage, medical wastes, plastics, algal blooms, atmospheric pollutants, mariculture-related pollutants, as well as thermal and noise pollution are the most threatening marine pollutants. The release of these pollutants into the marine aquatic environment leads to significant ecological degradation and a range of non-infectious disorders in fish. Marine pollutants trigger numerous fish bacterial diseases by increasing microbial multiplication in the aquatic environment and suppressing fish immune defense mechanisms. The greater part of these microorganisms is naturally occurring in the aquatic environment. Most disease outbreaks are caused by opportunistic bacterial agents that attack stressed fish. Some infections are more serious and occur in the absence of environmental stressors. Gram-negative bacteria are the most frequent causes of these epizootics, while gram-positive bacterial agents rank second on the critical pathogens list. Vibrio spp., Photobacterium damselae subsp. Piscicida, Tenacibaculum maritimum, Edwardsiella spp., Streptococcus spp., Renibacterium salmoninarum, Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., and Mycobacterium spp. Are the most dangerous pathogens that attack fish in polluted marine aquatic environments. Effective management strategies and stringent regulations are required to prevent or mitigate the impacts of marine pollutants on aquatic animal health. This review will increase stakeholder awareness about marine pollutants and their impacts on aquatic animal health. It will support competent authorities in developing effective management strategies to mitigate marine pollution, promote the sustainability of commercial marine fisheries, and protect aquatic animal health.
La contaminación del aire es un grave problema de nuestro tiempo en el plano ecológico y toxicológico. La problemática de la contaminación del aire se ha
convertido en una constante en muchas ciudades industriales de todo el mundo, lo que ha causado problemas de salud a la población y a los ecosistemas.
El ruido se entiende como cualquier sonido no deseado o potencialmente dañino, produciendo efectos fisiológicos y psicológicos, generados por las actividades
humanas y que deteriora la calidad de vida de las personas. Éste es reconocido en la sociedad actual como una consecuencia de la urbanización, el crecimiento
económico y el tráfico motorizado. En este sentido, ha sido documentado que para la población habitante de un centro urbano el ruido generado por el tráfico
vehicular es la principal causa de molestia (Pacheco, 2009). Dada esta evidencia, instituciones como la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) han definido a la contaminación auditiva como el tercer problema ambiental de mayor relevancia en el mundo. Así mismo, diversos estudios internacionales han asociado efectos adversos en la salud humana con altos niveles de ruido.
The sea urchin, Diadema setosum, is a poisonous species that originates in the Indo- Pacific and the Red Sea. Although this species has been recorded in several areas in the Mediterranean Sea, its habitat selection, density, distribution and ecological impacts have not been comprehensively documented to date. This study combined the diving observations (n= 53 sites) and local ecological knowledge (LEK) of SCUBA divers (n= 100) to provide information on the distribution and density of this invasive sea urchin on the Aegean and Levantine coasts of Turkey between September and October 2020. The results indicated that D. setosum was more prevalent along the southern coast of Turkey compared with the western coast, where it is colder. The highest densities of D. setosum were observed in rocky habitats at a depth range of 0–5 m. Moreover, the densities increased with increasing bottom temperatures (up to 150 ind./100 m2). Recent reports from the Levantine and south Aegean coasts high-lighted that the densities of D. setosum increased dramatically during the past year. The results of the present study suggested that D. setosum provides shelter for a total of four fish species, including Chromis chromis, Gobius sp., Cheilodipterus novemstriatusand Thalassoma pavo. This species of urchin poses a threat due to its potential grazing and bioerosion effects in the Mediterranean. Thus, future studies should focus on the feeding ecology of D. setosum and the competition with native species that share the same habitat to obtain an improved understanding of the ecological impacts of this invasive species. Although the present study provides the first comprehensive data-set on the density and distribution of this invasive sea urchin for Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean region, we suggest that its population should be monitored for long periods using direct observations, LEK and citizen science.
A series of stable nano-Ag-doped NH2-MIL-125(Ti) composites (A/M125) were prepared by two facile successive steps: hydrothermal and photo reduction method. The photocatalytic composites were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD)、scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR)、X-ray photoelectron infrared spectroscopy (XPS)、BET method and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results showed that Ag nanoparticles have been evenly distributed on the surface of NH2-MIL-125(Ti) (M125), which as a whole displays good visible-light absorption ability. Further photocatalytic degradation for Rhodamine B (RhB) in the visible light indicated that the photocatalytic rate of the optimal A/M-125-20 composite is 2.7 times that of pure M125, and the final degradation rate reaches 97.4% within 120 min. The subsequent free radical capture experiment showed ·O2¯ and h⁺ acted as the main reactive species. Moreover, the photocatalytic degradation mechanism was also investigated via electrochemical tests.
Heavy metal contamination is a global concern with the natural environment since it is indestructible and, at high concentrations, most of it is toxic to living organisms. Many heavy metals aren't even biodegradable, so once released into the environment, they continue to circulate. When the concentration of these heavy metals exceeds this threshold, they can cause chronic and fatal illnesses in people, as well as disrupt animal and plant metabolism. Several conventional technologies have already been used for removal, but most are cost efficient and are not able to obtain optimal results. Bioremediation is a more environmentally friendly, safer, and cost-effective method of cleaning up polluted areas. Bioremediation's primary goal is to degrade and convert pollutants into less toxic forms. Ex-situ and in-situ bioremediation are both viable options, depending on a variety of factors such as cost, site characteristics, contaminant nature, and concentration. As a result, the most effective bioremediation method was chosen. Because each bioremediation process has its own specialised application, the benefits and drawbacks of each are unique. This paper provides an overview of heavy metal pollution issues, Sources and effect of heavy metal on plants and human health as well as details about the various mechanisms utilized by microbes for remediation of heavy metal. Furthermore, bioremediation techniques use a variety of agents to treat heavy metal, organic, and inorganic compounds in the atmosphere, including bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae, plants and genetically engineered microbes. It also provides clear information on the role of PGPR in plant growth promotion, phytoremediation acceleration, and toxic metal clearance.
Non‐native fishes are part of estuarine ecosystems worldwide, but especially in temperate regions. In some estuaries, entirely new assemblages of native and non‐native fishes with global origins have arisen. Major findings include: (i) large temperate estuaries heavily modified by human activity are most likely to support non‐native fishes; (ii) most successful non‐native fishes are euryhaline; (iii) there are no taxonomic restrictions as to which euryhaline fish species can invade estuaries as long as they have means and opportunity; (iv) few non‐native fishes have demonstrably done harm to estuarine ecosystems or fish assemblages; (v) most successful non‐native species eventually become naturalized and fit into local assemblages; (vi) most colonization events are not successful. Many estuaries have been modified so thoroughly and rapidly that they are increasingly inhospitable to both native and naturalized species, as demonstrated by the San Francisco Estuary.
The occurrence of lionfish Pterois volitans is reported from the western Atlantic Ocean. Adults were collected off the coasts of North Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and juveniles were collected along the shore of Long Island, New York. They have also been found around Bermuda. Lionfish are indigenous to tropical waters of the western Pacific and their occurrence along the east coast of the United States represents a human-induced introduction. Distribution of adults suggests lionfish are surviving in the western Atlantic and capture of juveniles provides putative evidence of reproduction. The most likely pathway of introduction is aquarium releases, but introduction via ballast water cannot be ruled out. The ecosystem of the southeastern United States continental shelf is already undergoing change: reef fish communities are becoming more tropical and many fish species are overfished. These ongoing changes, along with limited information regarding the biology of P. volitans, make predictions of long-term effects of the introduction difficult. This discovery rep- resents the first, apparently successful introduction, of a marine fish from the western Pacific to Atlantic coastal waters of the United States.
Evidence is provided that warming of the North Atlantic is responsible for the northward extensions of the ranges of warm water fish species, causing increasing numbers of southern immigrant species to appear off the Cornish coast of the UK. The increasing number of immigrant species is significantly correlated with temperature increases in the North Atlantic over the last 40 years.
Cryptic invasions are a largely unrecognized type of biological invasion that lead to underestimation of the total numbers and impacts of invaders because of the difficulty in detecting them. The distribution and abundance of Phragmites australis in North America has increased dramatically over the past 150 years. This research tests the hypothesis that a non-native strain of Phragmites is responsible for the observed spread. Two noncoding chloroplast DNA regions were sequenced for samples collected worldwide, throughout the range of Phragmites. Modern North American populations were compared with historical ones from herbarium collections. Results indicate that an introduction has occurred, and the introduced type has displaced native types as well as expanded to regions previously not known to have Phragmites. Native types apparently have disappeared from New England and, while still present, may be threatened in other parts of North America.
Many recent developments in European marine and estuarine science have been against the demands of European Union legislation. The implementation of certain statutes, the role of scientists and the nature of the data required are discussed using examples from the UK, the Netherlands and Portugal. This includes the implementation of the EU Directives on Urban Waste-water Treatment, the control of Nitrates, the designation of Species and Habitats, the control of Dangerous Substances, the statutory requirement for Environmental Impact Assessments and the recently proposed Water Framework Directive. For these, the integration of physical, chemical and biological monitoring and investigation is discussed in relation to the science dictated by the legislative and administrative requirements. Each of these Directives requires the development of generic guidelines and protocols for implementation and the use of national enabling legislation. This indicates that, in several cases, the science should concentrate on monitoring and assessment in a well-structured and quality-controlled manner. The paper concludes by summarising developments based on similarities in the implementation of present and proposed Directives across Europe.
The authors have listed 85 species of macrophytes that have probably been introduced to the Mediterranean. Among them, nine species can be considered as invasive, i.e., playing a conspicuous role in the recipient ecosystems, taking the place of keystone species and/or being economically harmful: Acrothamnion preissii, Asparagopsis armata, Lophocladia lallemandii, Womersleyella setacea (Rhodophyta), Sargassum muticum, Stypopodium schimperi (Fucophyceae), Caulerpa racemosa, Caulerpa taxifolia and Halophila stipulacea (Plantae). These data fit well the Williamson and Fitter's "tens rule", which states that, on average, 1 out of 10 introduced species becomes invasive. Though some features (e.g. life traits, geographical origin) can increase the likelihood of a successful invasion, the success of invaders is far from being predictable. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the number of introduced species to the Mediterranean has nearly doubled every 20 years. Should these kinetics continue, and according to the tens rule, it can be expected that 5-10 newly introduced macrophytes shall become invasive in the next 20 years.
Despite the rising concern over the economic costs of biological invasions, no general modeling approach of these costs has been developed. The purpose of this note is to develop such a framework, and to demonstrate how conventional bioeconomic models of interspecific competition, such as the predator-prey model are essentially special cases. A model of the economic consequences of the biological invasion must therefore be based on two principles. First, the economic impacts imposed by the invader will depend on the exact nature of the interspecific interaction and secondly the correct measure of these impacts should be based on a comparison of the ex post and ex ante invasion scenarios. An important consideration is determining whether the spread, or dispersal, of the invading species in turn affects the location and movement of the resident species in the pre-existing habitat, or whether the interspecific competition occurs solely in the same habitat area without diffusive movement of either species, or finally, whether both species dispersal and some form of interspecific competition might occur as a result of an invasion.
Biological pollutants in the Great Lakes
- Mills
Mills, E.L., Holeck, K.T., 2001. Biological pollutants in the Great
Lakes. Clearwaters 31 (1). Available from <http://www.nywea.org/
311010.html>.