scholarly journals AQUALIFE Software: A New Tool for a Standardized Ecological Assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Strona ◽  
Simone Fattorini ◽  
Barbara Fiasca ◽  
Tiziana Di Lorenzo ◽  
Mattia Di Cicco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Direct And Indirect Effects ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Tolerance Limits ◽  
Lotic Systems ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Subsurface Zone ◽  
Freshwater Invertebrate ◽  
Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

We introduce a suite of software tools aimed at investigating multiple bio-ecological facets of aquatic Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs). The suite focuses on: (1) threats posed by pollutants to GDE invertebrates (Ecological Risk, ER); (2) threats posed by hydrological and hydromorphological alterations on the subsurface zone of lotic systems and groundwater-fed springs (Hydrological-Hydromorphological Risk, HHR); and (3) the conservation priority of GDE communities (Groundwater Biodiversity Concern index, GBC). The ER is assessed by comparing tolerance limits of invertebrate species to specific pollutants with the maximum observed concentration of the same pollutants at the target site(s). Comparison is based on an original, comprehensive dataset including the most updated information on tolerance to 116 pollutants for 474 freshwater invertebrate species. The HHR is assessed by accounting for the main direct and indirect effects on both the hyporheic zone of lotic systems and groundwater-fed springs, and by scoring each impact according to the potential effect on subsurface invertebrates. Finally, the GBC index is computed on the basis of the taxonomical composition of a target community, and allows the evaluation of its conservation priority in comparison to others.

Toxicity bioassays of cadmium on selected freshwater invertebrates and the interaction of cadmium and zinc on the freshwater shrimp, Paratya tasmaniensis Riek

1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
VJ Thorp ◽  
PS Lake
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Lethal Concentration ◽  
Total Hardness ◽  
Median Lethal Concentration ◽  
Toxic Unit ◽  
Seasonal Differences ◽  
Freshwater Invertebrates ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Freshwater Invertebrate

In acute toxicity bioassays with cadmium sulphate at 15� C in soft water (total hardness 10 mg/l as calcium carbonate), the concentrations fatal to 50 % of the test animals were determined for five freshwater invertebrate species. The 96 hr median lethal concentration (LC50) of cadmium was 0.04 mg/l for the amphipod Austrochiltonia subtenuis Sayce, 0.06 mg/l for the shrimp Paratya tasmaniensis Riek, 0.84 mg/l for the ephemeropteran nymph Atalophlebia australis Walker, 250 mg/l for the zygopteran nymph Ischnura heterosticta (Burmeister) and well over 2000 mg/l for a trichopteran larva of the Leptoceridae. The bioassays on Paratya indicared that there may be seasonal differences in sensitivity to cadmium. The 96 hr LC50 for zinc for Paratya was 1.21 mg/l. Zinc and cadmium appeared to interact less than additively at concentrations below 1 toxic unit. Above this concentration, their interaction was strictly additive.

A new protocol for assessing the conservation priority of groundwater‐dependent ecosystems

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1483-1504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Fattorini ◽  
Barbara Fiasca ◽  
Tiziana Di Lorenzo ◽  
Mattia Di Cicco ◽  
Diana M. P. Galassi
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

Effects of Copper on Gammarus pseudolimnaeus, Physa integra, and Campeloma decisum in Soft Water

1970 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1277-1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Arthur ◽  
Edward N. Leonard
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Copper Concentration ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
Water System ◽  
Soft Water ◽  
Tolerance Limits ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Total Copper ◽  
Gammarus Pseudolimnaeus

Three invertebrate species were subjected to acute (96-hr), followed by long-term (6-week) copper exposures under continuous-flow bioassay conditions. Survival, growth, reproduction, and feeding were the responses used for measuring toxicant effects. The average 96-hr median tolerance limits (TLm) values for Campeloma decisum, Physa integra, and Gammarus pseudolimnaeus were 1.7, 0.039, and 0.020 mg/liter total copper, respectively. The total copper concentration having no effect after 6 weeks exposure for all three species was between 8.0 and 14.8 μg/liter. The newly hatched amphipods obtained from the second 6-week study were exposed to copper for 9 additional weeks, and grew to the adult stage only in copper concentrations ≤ 4.6 μg/liter. After 5 weeks exposure to a water system, survival of newly hatched Gammarus was markedly reduced when copper concentrations were between 12.9 and 6.2 μg/liter.

Lethal and sub-lethal toxicity of field simulated farm waste episodes to several freshwater invertebrate species

1991 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 661-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.P. McCahon ◽  
M.J. Poulton ◽  
P.C. Thomas ◽  
Q. Xu ◽  
D. Pascoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Lethal Toxicity ◽  
Freshwater Invertebrate ◽  
Farm Waste

scholarly journals Bioaccumulation assessment of nanomaterials using freshwater invertebrate species

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Kuehr ◽  
Verena Kosfeld ◽  
Christian Schlechtriem
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Bioconcentration Factor ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Production Volume ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Test Species ◽  
Suitable Test ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Freshwater Invertebrate ◽  
Test Organisms

Abstract Background The high production volume of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) may lead to high pressure on the environment, and a scientific assessment of ENMs that bioaccumulate in organisms and biomagnify in the food web is necessary. Within the regulation of chemicals in several jurisdictions, such as the European regulation REACH, the bioconcentration factor is the standard endpoint. The bioconcentration factor is mostly determined by flow-through fish tests. However, nanomaterials tend to agglomerate, which may lead to sedimentation in aquatic environments. The bioavailability of the tested nanomaterials may be thus impaired for pelagic species, including fish, in comparison to benthic or filtrating species. Several risk assessment regulations allow the usage of data gained during tests using invertebrates and such data may allow a waiver of further tests using vertebrates. The aim of this study was to elucidate the potential of different freshwater invertebrate species to be used in laboratory bioaccumulation studies on ENMs and to give some guidance for the use of bioaccumulation endpoints derived from studies using aquatic invertebrate species in the risk assessment process for ENMs. Results The existing literature related to the testing of nanomaterial bioaccumulation with freshwater invertebrates was screened and reviewed to find suitable test species with regard to their ecology and physiology, as well as laboratory test systems allowing to investigate the bioavailability/bioaccumulation of nanomaterials with the respective species. Bivalvia, gastropoda, isopoda, amphipoda, and branchiopoda were reviewed and their suitability for bioaccumulation testing was assessed. Amphipods and bivalves represent worst-case scenarios and show clear advantages to be used as test organisms. However, only amphipods allow the examination of two clearly independent exposure pathways (water and diet). Conclusion Amphipods are suitable test organisms for bioaccumulation testing of ENMs. The results from amphipod bioconcentration and biomagnification tests can be included in a tiered assessment suggested at the end of this study allowing a clear grading of the tested nanomaterials as “bioaccumulative” or “non bioaccumulative.” Due to the worst-case scenario of the amphipod test, this approach may allow a waiver of further vertebrate tests.

Do Bio-Insecticides Affect Only Insect Species? Behavior, Regeneration and Sexual Reproduction of A Non-Target Freshwater Planarian

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Cristina Rezende Silva ◽  
Aline Silvestre Pereira Dornelas ◽  
Althiéris de Souza Saraiva ◽  
Carlos Gravato ◽  
João Luís Teixeira Pestana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Lethal Effects ◽  
Environmental Concentration ◽  
Freshwater Planarian ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Fecundity Rate ◽  
Freshwater Organisms ◽  
Freshwater Invertebrate ◽  
Effect Concentration ◽  
Feeding Activities

Abstract Bio-insecticides have been increasingly used worldwide as ecofriendly alternatives to pesticides, but data on their effects in non-target freshwater organisms is still scarce and limited to insects. The aim of this study was to determine the lethal and sub-lethal effects of the bio-insecticides Bac Control (based on Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki - Btk) and Boveril (based on Beauveria bassiana - Bb) on regeneration, behavioral and reproductive endpoints of the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina. The estimated LC50 − 48h were > 800 mg a.i./L for Btk and 60.74 mg a.i./L for Bb. In addition, exposure to Btk significantly decreased locomotion and feeding activities of planarians (lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of 12.5 mg a.i./L Btk) and fecundity rate (LOEC = 3.12 mg a.i./L Btk), whereas exposure to Bb significantly delayed regeneration (LOEC = 0.75 mg a.i./L Bb) and decreased fecundity rate (1.5 mg a.i./L Bb) of planarians. Thus, both bio-insecticides induced deleterious sub-lethal effects on a non-insect freshwater invertebrate species. However, only Bb-based formulation affected the survival, fecundity rate and regeneration at concentrations below the maximum predicted environmental concentration (PEC = 247 mg/L). Thus, care should be taken when using such formulations as alternatives to chemical insecticides near aquatic ecosystems.

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