Bioaccumulation and Food-Chain Analysis for Evaluating Ecological Risks in Terrestrial and Wetland Habitats: Availability-Transfer Factors (ATFs) in ‘Soil → Soil Macroinvertebrate → Amphibian’ Food Chains

2009 ◽  
pp. 51-51-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Linder ◽  
M Bollman ◽  
C Callahan ◽  
C Gillette ◽  
A Nebeker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Chain ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Ecological Risks ◽  
Transfer Factors ◽  
Chain Analysis ◽  
Wetland Habitats

Value chain analysis: an iterative and relational approach for agri-food chains

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Howieson ◽  
Meredith Lawley ◽  
Kathleen Hastings
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Value Chain Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relational Approach ◽  
Chain Analysis ◽  
Original Contribution

Purpose Value Chain Analysis (VCA) is established as a diagnostic tool. The purpose of this study is to extend existing applications and develop an iterative and relational method. to facilitate the application of VCA to agri-food chains as a strategic process rather than a diagnostic tool. Design/methodology/approach Using a multiple case study design, the new approach to VCA was applied to four Australian prawn fisheries. These fisheries varied in size, location, management structures and marketing arrangements and allowed the general applicability of the approach to be explored. Findings The application of the revised VCA revealed the importance of undertaking a strategic approach, with the outcome for all fisheries being a greater understanding of their consumers and an enhanced realisation of commercial opportunities. Two fisheries completed the revised VCA, and the findings show that a relational approach is crucial in creating value. In addition, it was shown that formalised structures and the informal behaviours of the value chain members have a strong positive impact on the relationship process. Research limitations/implications The research furthers the value chain literature and contributes an iterative approach to the application of VCA. The research also shows that obtaining improvements is not achievable for all chains, and, if the entire chain is not engaged with the process, the value of the results will be compromised. Further research is needed to confirm the validity of findings in other food industries. Originality/value The relational approach is an original contribution to the area of VCA research and provides industry with a blueprint for creating successful value chains. Specifically, the areas of implementation and evaluation make an original contribution to the theoretical and practical knowledge of value chains.

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF SELENIUM ON MERCURY TRANSPORT ALONG THE FOOD CHAIN

AGROFOR ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Primož ZIDAR ◽  
Špela KRŽIŠNIK ◽  
Marta DEBELJAK ◽  
Suzana ŽIŽEK ◽  
Katarina VOGEL MIKUŠ
Keyword(s):  
Food Chain ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Chemical Transformations ◽  
Soil Concentration ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Mercury Transport ◽  
Hg Accumulation

More than 500 years of mercury (Hg) production in Idrija (Slovenia) resulted in aconsiderable pollution of Idrija region with Hg. Although the mine is closed formore than 20 years, the total soil concentration of Hg may still reach up to severalhundred mgkg-1dry weightin local gardens and more that thousand inother urbanregions. Hg in soil undergoesdifferent chemical transformations and in someformsit may enterplants and higher trophic levelsin food chains, also withbiomagnification pattern.The local population is, besides air and dust, thus exposedto mercury also via consumption of locally produced food.Several studies showedthat the increased level of selenium in soil may reduce the uptake of mercury inplants but very few include other trophic levels in a food chain as well.In our pilotstudy we followed an impact of Seon Hg transport from soil to plants(Lactucasativa) and further to soil dwelling animals (Porcellioscaber). Lettuce wasplanted in a contaminated soil from Idrija and in soil with added HgCl2. The leavesof half of the plants weresprayed with Sesolution (5μg L-1)threeand five weeksafter planting.After six weeks plants were analyzed for Hg and Se and offered asfood to terrestrial isopods for two weeks. Our preliminary results revealed thatfoliar treatment of plants with Se may affect Hg accumulation in plants andtherefore further transport of Hg across the food chain.

Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Sediments using Chemical Oxidation Processes

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiu-Wen Chen ◽  
Nguyen Thanh Binh ◽  
Chang-Mao Hung ◽  
Chih-Feng Chen ◽  
Cheng-Di Dong
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Potassium Permanganate ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Chemical Oxidation ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Ecological Risks ◽  
Treatment Efficiency ◽  
Oxidation Processes ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

AbstractThe presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments is a major concern of risks associated with the aquatic ecosystems through bioaccumulation in food chains. To minimize the ecological risks due to contaminated sediments, processes that can degrade the sorbed PAHs are urgently needed. The present study aims at assessing the treatment efficiency of several chemical oxidation processes using potassium permanganate (KMnO

The transfer of65Zn and 59Fe along a Fucus serratus (L.)→ Littorina obtusata (L.) food chain

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Young
Keyword(s):  
Trace Metals ◽  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Littorina Obtusata ◽  
Fucus Serratus ◽  
Marine Food

In marine organisms the fresh-weight concentrations of the trace metals zinc and iron are 102–105 times the concentrations in sea water. Study of the transfer of these metals along marine food chains is of interest because of the possibility of their being pollutants of the marine environment. Also65Zn and 65Fe are released to the marine environment and have been found, in many instances, to be the predominant radionuclides in food chains leading to man (Lowman, Palumbo & South, 1957; Lowman, 1960; Osterberg, Pearcy & Curl, 1964; Preston, 1967). The transfer of these metals along marine food chains is thus of interest also in the context of human radiation exposure.

Measuring chain performance beyond supplier–buyer relationships in agri-food chains

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanita Kataike ◽  
Lusine H. Aramyan ◽  
Oliver Schmidt ◽  
Adrienn Molnár ◽  
Xavier Gellynck
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Performance ◽  
Chain Analysis ◽  
The Individual

Purpose Measuring chain performance which extends beyond supplier–buyer interface is of paramount importance in tracking and tracing the ineffectiveness and inefficiency of the entire chain. In response to chain inefficiencies, key performance indicators need to be assessed at different chain levels. Knowledge amongst chain members and evident research on the chain members’ assessment of the chain partners’ contribution to their individual chain performance is equivocal. The purpose of this study is to investigate perceived performance contribution of bilateral relationships of each chain member to its chain partners’ performance across the dairy sector. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted in a dairy agri-food sector in Uganda. A total of 115 triad chains (three matching chain members) were obtained during the period of January to April 2016. Using simple random sampling, the dairy farmers (first suppliers), the cooperative supply managers (second suppliers) and the processors (buyers) were surveyed. Means and standard deviations presented descriptive findings. Furthermore, Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to assess the differences and similarities of the perceived performance contribution of the individual chain partners. Findings The results revealed that each chain members’ perception of chain performance contribution toward the individual chain performance is relatively high. Further, it was found that there were significant differences between the chain members about the perceived chain performance contributions. However, within the internal chain analysis, no significant differences were observed. Research limitations/implications Although limited to a single agri-food sector within the Ugandan dairy sector, the findings support evidence from similar agri-food chains worldwide. Originality/value Literature shows shortcomings in measuring chain performance at three chain levels. Therefore, this shift from single or dyad to triad chain analysis provides new insights into the field of agri-food chains and supply chain performance in particular. It also provides important empirical results on how each chain member contributes to the chain partners’ performance.

Primary Consumer Body Size and Food-Chain Length in Terrestrial Communities

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoram Ayal ◽  
Elli Groner
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Chain Length ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
Energetic Efficiency ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Food Chain Length ◽  
Primary Consumer ◽  
Size Limitation ◽  
Energy Limitation ◽  
Primary Consumers

Using 21 community food webs, we tested Elton's two hypotheses regarding the main factors limiting food-chain length in terrestrial communities, namely, energy (energy limitation hypothesis—ELH) and body size (size limitation hypothesis—SLH). As predators tend to be larger than their prey, food-chains are size-structured: animal size increases with trophic position. We found a negative correlation between the size of the primary consumer and the length of the chain. Food-chains based on small primary consumers are longer than those based on large primary consumers, and size rather than energetic efficiency is the main contributing factor. We found no correlation between habitat productivity and mean food-chain length. All these findings support the SLH over the ELH. Our results suggest that, as in aquatic communities, a single factor—a predator/prey size-ratio greater than 1—governs the structure of terrestrial communities.

Congener-Specific Accumulation and Food Chain Transfer of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Two Arctic Food Chains

2004 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1667-1674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Wolkers ◽  
Bert van Bavel ◽  
Andrew E. Derocher ◽  
Øystein Wiig ◽  
Kit M. Kovacs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Chain ◽  
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Chain Transfer ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Specific Accumulation ◽  
Food Chain Transfer
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