Effects of secondary metabolites produced by different cyanobacterial populations on the freshwater zooplankters Brachionus calyciflorus and Daphnia pulex

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic water bodies are a worldwide problem. Combined effects of mixtures of secondary metabolites produced by different...     

Influence of environmental factors on the response of a natural population of Daphnia magna (Crustacea: Cladocera) to spinosad and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis in Mediterranean coastal wetlands

The present study was undertaken to assess the impact of a candidate mosquito larvicide, spinosad (8, 17 and 33 μg L⁻¹) on a field population of Daphnia magna under natural variations of water temperature and salinity, using Bti (0.16 and 0.50 μL L⁻¹) as the reference larvicide. Microcosms (125 L) were placed in a shallow temporary marsh where D. magna was naturally present. The peak of salinity observed during the 21-day observation period may have been partly responsible for the decrease of daphnid population density in all the microcosms. It is also probably responsible for the absence of recovery in the microcosms treated with spinosad which caused a sharp decrease of D. magna abundance within the first two days following treatment whereas Bti had no effect. These results suggest that it may be difficult for a field population of daphnids to cope simultaneously with natural (water salinity and temperature) and anthropogenic (larvicides) stressors.     

Population-level effects of the neem insecticide, Neemix, on Daphnia pulex

Although natural insecticides from the neem tree are generally perceived as less harmful to the environment than synthetic insecticides, new evidence indicates that these products may pose a risk to certain nontarget organisms. In this paper, acute and chronic effects of commercial neem insecticides on the aquatic invertebrate, Daphnia pulex were examined. The acute toxicity of two commercial neem insecticides, Neemix, Azatin and the experimental insecticide, RH-9999 to D. pulex was investigated using traditional 48 hr concentration-mortality estimates. Neemix and Azatin were equitoxic with LC50's of 0.68 and 0.57 ppm; RH-9999 was significantly less toxic with an LC50 of 13 ppm. A 10 d population growth study was conducted for Neemix and a Neemix formulation blank (Neemix devoid of the active ingredients) to determine whether the active ingredients of Neemix and/or components of the formulation were responsible for toxicity. D. pulex populations went to extinction after exposure to a Neemix concentration of 0.45 ppm azadirachtin (equivalent to the acute LC7). Neemix No Observable Effect Concentration (NOEC) and Lowest Observable Effect Concentration (LOEC) values for population growth were 0.045 and 0.15 ppm azadirachtin, respectively. The mean number of offspring per surviving female (Ro) declined in a concentration-dependent manner after exposure to Neemix with no offspring being produced after exposure to 0.45 ppm. Neemix NOEC and LOEC values for reproduction were 0.045 and 0.15 ppm, respectively. The formulation blank caused no mortality in the individuals used to start the population growth study but reduced reproduction and population growth accounting for 47% of the toxicity caused by Neemix at a concentration of 0.15 ppm. Thus, the formulation contributes substantially to the toxicity of Neemix but neem components are also toxic to D. pulex. Because the NOEC for population growth and reproduction were higher than the estimated environmental concentration of 0.035 ppm (a measure developed for forest pest mananagement), Neemix should pose little risk to populations of D. pulex.     

毒死蜱对于隆线溞和中华薄壳介混合种群的影响

研究了毒死蜱对隆线溞(Daphnia carinata)和中华薄壳介(Dolerocypris sinensis)混合种群的种群密度、N-乙酰-β-D-氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAGase)比活力和隆线溞游离态几丁质酶免疫可反应蛋白(chitinase-IR)的影响。结果表明,在毒死蜱质量浓度高于0.05μg/L的条件下,毒死蜱对两种生物会有抑制作用,并且基本随暴露浓度的升高而增强。不过,随着水中残留的毒死蜱浓度降低,抑制作用会减弱。计算毒死蜱对隆线溞和中华薄壳介的最高无作用浓度(NOEC)和最低有效浓度(LOEC)发现,中华薄壳介对毒死蜱的敏感性高于隆线溞。在生态风险评估工作中,NOEC或LOEC使用时间加权平均浓度会使评价结果更加准确。     

The initial activity and persistance of an experimental larvicide with a base of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis and a commercial preparation containing the organophosphorus insecticide temephos

The larvicide activity of the experimental preparation SAN 402 I WDC containing B. Thuringiensis var. Israelensis and that of Abate 500 E (44 % temephos) were tested on the larvae of Aedes aegypti. The studies were performed on the following media: distilled water, pure and buffered at pH 9, 7 and 4 and pond water whether or not free from materials in suspension. The activity of both preparations is not influenced by the composition of the media, exception made for the presence of materials in suspension. The persistance varies according to the kind of the media and the concentration level. It is in general rather low. Both preparations behave rather similar, the microbial insecticide however is more influenced by the presence of materials in suspension.     

环境激素对水蚤的影响

存在于环境中的环境激素是以某种方式干扰正常内分泌功能的天然或合成的化合物。地水蚤在水生生态系统及生态风险评价中的重要位置与作用,探讨水蚤暴露于一些常见环境激素时,其受激素调节的生殖和蜕皮过程所受到的影响及相应机理很有必要。     

Bacillus thuringiensis fermentation of hydrolyzed sludge--rheology and formulation studies

Rheology of Bacillus thuringiensis fermentation of hydrolyzed sludge was investigated in bench scale fermenter. Stable liquid formulations were developed and optimized for two-year based studies comprising various physical/chemical (viscosity, particle size, corrosion and suspendibility) and biological (microbial contamination, viable spores and entomotoxicity) parameters at different pHs and temperatures. The hydrolyzed sludge depicted non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic behaviour during fermentation with 90% to 96% confidence of fits into Casson, Power and IPC paste models. Higher values of consistency and flow index during exponential growth and stationary phase, respectively, affected downstream processing. The power law was also followed by stable formulations. Sorbitol, sodium monophosphate and sodium metabisulfite (2.2:1:1) as suspending agents produced suspendibility ranging from 69% to 94%. The stable formulation (FH-4) comprising sorbitol, sodium monophosphate and sodium metabisulfite deteriorated at pHs 6, 6.5 and temperatures, 40 and 50 degrees C, with no signs of corrosion and microbial contamination. The viscosity of FH-4 formulations decreased with shear rate which could improve handling and consequent spraying.     

Bacillus thuringiensis field applications: Effect of nozzle type,drop size,and application timing on efficacy against gypsy moth

Abstract

In a series of recent studies, we evaluated the influence of delivery systems, drop size and application timing on the efficacy of aerially applied Bacillus thuringiensis against gypsy moth infestations. Use of different nozzle systems including Micronair, Flat Fan or Twin Jet, did not appear to result in significant differences in Bt coverage efficiency, foliage protection or population reduction. Nor was there any significant difference in population reduction when Bt was applied at two different drop sizes with volume median diameters of 110 and 163 μm. The efficacy of different formulations on larval populations were similar when used against the younger 1st and 2nd instar but differed when treatment was delayed until the population matured to the 3rd and 4th instar stages.     

Effects of chemical additives on hydrocarbon disappearance and biodegradation in freshwater marsh microcosms

We determined how a cleaner and a dispersant affected hydrocarbon biodegradation in wetland soils dominated by the plant Panicum hemitomon, which occurs throughout North and South America. Microcosms received no hydrocarbons, South Louisiana crude, or diesel; and no additive, a dispersant, or a cleaner. We determined the concentration of four total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) measures and 43 target hydrocarbons in water and sediment fractions 1, 7, 31, and 186 days later. Disappearance was distinguished from biodegradation via hopane-normalization. After 186 days, TPH disappearance ranged from 24% to 97%. There was poor correlation among the four TPH measures, which indicated that each quantified a different suite of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon disappearance and biodegradation were unaltered by these additives under worse-case scenarios. Any use of these additives must generate benefits that outweigh the lack of effect on biodegradation demonstrated in this report, and the increase in toxicity that we reported earlier.     

Alternative low-cost process for large-scale production of Bacillus thuringiensis in a simple and novel culture system

Abstract

An industrial-scale, profitable method for production of the most widely used bioinsecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is challenging because of its widespread application. The aim of this study is to present a strategy to develop a low-cost, large-scale bioprocess to produce Bt H14.

This study was first focused on the design of a culture medium composed of economical and available components, such as glycerol and lysed Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The production goal of 1200 ITU was achieved using a medium composed of 20:20 g L^?1of glycerol:lysed yeast in batch cultures. Efforts were subsequently focused on the design of an appropriate culture system, and an original two-stage culture system was proposed. First, yeast (the primary component of the culture medium) are cultivated using a minimal mineral medium and lysed, and in the second stage, Bt is cultivated in the same bioreactor using the lysed yeasts as culture medium (supplemented with a feeding pulse of 10 g L^?1 glycerol). This system was called fed batch one pot (FOP). A new inoculation strategy is also presented in this study, since these Bt cultures were inoculated directly with heat pre-treated spores instead of vegetative bacteria to facilitate the bioprocess. This study was developed from the laboratory to production-scale bioreactors (measuring from 500 mL to 2500 L), and the efficiency of the proposed strategy was evident in LD₅₀ tests results, achieving 1796 ITU in large-scale processes. Both the use of non-conventional sources and the process development for biomass production are important for cost-effective production of Bt-based insecticides in mosquito control projects.     

Effects of a herbicide-insecticide mixture in freshwater microcosms: risk assessment and ecological effect chain

Effects of chronic application of a mixture of the herbicide atrazine and the insecticide lindane were studied in indoor freshwater plankton-dominated microcosms. The macroinvertebrate community was seriously affected at all but the lowest treatment levels, the zooplankton community at the three highest treatment levels, with crustaceans, caddisflies and dipterans being the most sensitive groups. Increased abundance of the phytoplankton taxa Cyclotella sp. was found at the highest treatment level. Threshold levels for lindane, both at population and community level, corresponded well with those reported in the literature. Atrazine produced fewer effects than expected, probably due to decreased grazer stress on the algae as a result of the lindane application. The safety factors set by the Uniform Principles for individual compounds were also found to ensure protection against chronic exposure to a mixture of a herbicide and insecticide at community level, though not always at the population level.     

Effects of pH and feeding regime on methylmercury accumulation within aquatic microcosms

The effect of pH (pH 5, 6 or 7) on accumulation of radiolabelled methylmercury was examined using a laboratory microcosm system. Accumulation of labelled mercury at three trophic levels, primary consumers (Daphnia magna), secondary consumers (rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri) and tertiary consumers (walleye, Stizostedion vitreum) was not significantly affected by pH. Our results are in direct contrast with field observations of elevated methylmercury concentrations in fish from low pH water and indicate that the elevated mercury residues observed in the field result from factors other than the direct effects of pH on accumulation of methylmercury by aquatic organisms. Both water and diet were important as sources of the labelled mercury which was accumulated by walleye. Walleye which were fed rainbow trout, that had accumulated labelled mercury from within the experimental microcosms, accumulated almost twice as much labelled mercury as walleye fed non-labelled prey, or walleye which were not fed. Walleye fed non-labelled rainbow trout accumulated slightly more labelled mercury than walleye which were not fed, presumably as a result of the higher metabolic rate of the fish which were fed.     

Effects of invertebrate predators and a pesticide on temporary pond microcosms used for aquatic toxicity testing

The effects of increased trophic complexity, through the addition of predatory notonectids (Anisops deanei), on temporary pond microcosms used for aquatic toxicity testing were studied. Replicate microcosms were established using sediment from a dried temporary pond, and treated with one of four concentrations of the organochlorine pesticide endosulfan (0, 1, 10 or 50 microg/L), in the presence or absence of six A. deanei. The tanks were sampled regularly for nine weeks following the addition of the predators and the entire contents of each tank counted after 12 weeks. Analysis using non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) and non-parametric MANOVA showed that both Anisops and endosulfan at concentrations >10 microg/L significantly altered community structure. However, an interaction between the effects of Anisops and the effects of endosulfan was not detected. The addition of Anisops did not increase the variability of response and thus did not reduce the sensitivity of the test method.     

Effects of a mixture of tetracyclines to Lemna gibba and Myriophyllum sibiricum evaluated in aquatic microcosms

The impact of a mixture of oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, tetracycline and doxycycline on Myriophyllum sibiricum and Lemna gibba was investigated using fifteen 12,000-L microcosms (k=5, n=3). Significant concentration-response relationships were only found for M. sibiricum, where dry mass was 69, 47, 30, and 7% of controls at respective treatment concentrations of 0.080, 0.218, 0.668, and 2.289 micromol/L. Somatic endpoints were strongly and negatively correlated with percent light transmission, except plant length, which was positively correlated. Treated microcosms experienced a reduction in the percent of surface irradiance penetrating the water column as high as 99.8% at a depth of 70 cm, relative to controls. Position relative to the water column was likely responsible for the differential effects observed between floating (L. gibba) and submerged (M. sibiricum) species of macrophytes. A hazard quotient assessment of the lowest EC10 value indicated significant risk, exceeding the critical HQ value, but not the lowest EC25 value.     

Effects of lindane on Daphnia magna during chronic exposure

Abstract

Acute and chronic toxicity tests with lindane were conducted on Daphnia magna. The 24‐hr static LC50 was 1.64 mgL^‐1. The sublethal effects of 0.16, 0.25, 0.32, 0.60 and 0.80 mgL^‐1 lindane on the survival, reproduction and growth of D. magna were monitored for 21 days. The algae Nannochloris oculata (5 × 10⁵ cellsmL^‐1) was used to feed the daphnids. The parameters used to determined the effect of the pesticide on D. magna were:mean total young per female, mean brood size, days to first brood, intrinsic rate of natural increase (r), growth, and survival. Reproduction as well as survival was significantly reduced at lindane concentrations of 0.25 mgL^‐1 and higher. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) decreased with increasing concentrations of lindane. Growth, as measured by body length, was depressed significantly at 0.25 mgL^‐1 lindane and higher. The chronic data was used to formulate an acute/chronic ratio.     

Fate of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry3Bb1 protein in a soil microcosm

Transgenic crops expressing insecticidal, crystalline (Cry) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins were commercialized in the US in 1996. There is little information in the peer-reviewed literature on the environmental fate of the coleopteran-active Bt Cry3Bb1 protein expressed in event MON863 corn. The exposure characterization of Bt proteins is unique in that the fate of the protein in soil and in crop residue must be considered. To date, the significance of macrodecomposing organisms, such as earthworms, isopods, and springtails, to the dissipation of Bt proteins present in crop residue has not been assessed. In addition, the input of Bt proteins into soil through leaching from post-harvest crop residue has not been examined. Two laboratory microcosm studies were conducted to determine the fate of Bt Cry3Bb1 in decomposing MON863 corn residue and to determine whether Bt proteins can enter soil by leaching from crop residue. In addition, the importance of macrodecomposing organisms to the degradation of Bt proteins in corn residue was assessed. Laboratory microcosms containing MON863 corn leaf, root, and stalk with and without macrodecomposers were used to examine the fate of Bt Cry3Bb1 in post-harvest MON863 corn residue. A half-life of less than five days was found for Bt Cry3Bb1 protein in decomposing MON863 corn residue. There was a trend of increasing half-life of Cry3Bb1 in microcosms containing macrodecomposers, however, this trend was only significant (p<0.05) for Bt Cry3Bb1 in MON863 leaf tissue and this increase is not likely relevant for non-target exposure. The recovery of Bt Cry3Bb1 protein from soil extracts was either below the limit of quantification (9 ng g(-1) soil) or below the limit of detection (0.7 ng mL(-1)) at all time points during the study. Based on the results from this study, Bt protein leaching from post-harvest crop residue is not a significant contributor to Bt protein input into soil.     

Effects of pharmaceuticals on Daphnia survival, growth, and reproduction

Pharmaceuticals have been globally detected in surface waters, and the ecological impacts of these biologically-active, ubiquitous chemicals are largely unknown. To evaluate the aquatic toxicity of individual pharmaceuticals and mixtures, we performed single species laboratory toxicity tests with Daphnia magna, a common freshwater zooplankton. We conducted acute (6-day) and chronic (30-day) exposure pharmaceutical bioassays and evaluated survivorship and morphology of adults and neonates, adult length, resting egg production, brood size (fecundity), and the proportion of male broods produced (sex ratio). In general, exposure to a single pharmaceutical in the 1-100 microg/l range yielded no apparent effects on the normal life processes of Daphnia. However, chronic fluoxetine exposure (36 microg/l) significantly increased Daphnia fecundity, and acute clofibric acid exposure (10 microg/l) significantly increased sex ratio. A mixture of fluoxetine (36 microg/l) and clofibric acid (100 microg/l) caused significant mortality; the same fluoxetine concentration mixed with 10 microg/l clofibric acid resulted in significant deformities, including malformed carapaces and swimming setae. Mixtures of three to five antibiotics (total antibiotic concentration 30-500 microg/l) elicited changes in Daphnia sex ratio. We conclude: (1) individual and mixtures of pharmaceuticals affect normal development and reproduction of Daphnia magna, (2) aquatic toxicity of pharmaceutical mixtures can be unpredictable and complex compared to individual pharmaceutical effects, and (3) timing and duration of pharmaceutical exposure influence aquatic toxicity.     

Quantitative structure-activity relationships for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Correlation between molecular connectivity,physico-chemical properties,bioconcentration and toxicity in Daphnia pulex

High correlation coefficients (r = 0.9444 – 0.9996) were calculated for the linear one-parameter correlation between molecular weight, molecular connectivity indices, HPLC and TLC retention indices, partition coefficients between n-octanol or sediment and water, and bioconcentration factors or lethal concentrations in Daphnia Pulex of unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Effects of the phenylurea herbicide isoproturon on periphytic diatom communities in freshwater indoor microcosms

The toxic effects of the phenylurea herbicide Isoproturon -IPU: (3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea)-were studied on the colonization of periphytic diatom communities, within indoor microcosms consisting of a mixed biotope (water column and natural sediment) and two biological species-rooted macrophyte cuttings (Elodea densa) and benthic bivalve molluscs (Corbicula fluminea). The periphyton, essentially composed of diatoms, was collected on artificial substrata (glass slides) in the upper layers of the water column, after two periods of exposure (34 and 71 days). IPU was initially added in the water or in the sediment compartment, at two nominal concentrations (L1 and L2 levels) for each contamination source-5 and 20 microg litre(-1) and 100 and 400 microg kg(-1) in sediment (w/w) respectively. The effects of IPU on the density and community structure of periphytic diatoms are described. A marked reduction in the diatom density was observed after 34 days exposure to the lower concentration of IPU in the water (5 microg litre(-1)). For the L2 levels, the very small number of live cells present did not permit quantification of the diatom density. After 71 days, recovery in community parameters occurred for the two contamination levels of the sediment and water column sources. Samples collected in the experimental units contaminated with the L2 levels were dominated by heterotrophic and smaller diatom species, such as Sellaphora seminulum. Data treatment based on factorial discriminant analysis enabled us to distinguish the different contamination conditions, with only 11 species from the 130 taxa identified.     

Environmental fate of synthetic pyrethroids during spray drift and field runoff treatments in aquatic microcosms.

The aquatic fate and persistence of synthetic pyrethroids under spray drift and field runoff treatment regimens were determined in outdoor pond microcosms. In this paper, the experimental design and construction of outdoor microcosms is presented, as well as the aquatic fate of tralomethrin and deltamethrin. Tralomethrin is rapidly degraded to deltamethrin, with a half-life of 12.7 hours under spray drift conditions. Degradation profiles of tralomethrin in water indicated rapid conversion of deltamethrin and to less active isomers and then to decamethrinic acid (BR2CA). After 24 hours, the percent radioactivity of tralomethrin was 25% of the test material in the water column. In sediment, tralomethrin was immediately converted to deltamethrin. Deltamethrin is rapidly degraded with a half-life of 8 to 48 hours, depending on mechanisms of introduction into water. Degradation profiles of deltamethrin in water indicated rapid conversion of deltamethrin to decamethrinic acid (BR2CA), comprising approximately 90% of the radioactivity in the aqueous phase at 168 hours. Extraction and analysis of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) after 96 hours revealed that tissue residues contained parent compounds and metabolites alpha-R-deltamethrin, trans-deltamethrin and Br2CA. Fish residues are directly related to aqueous concentrations, thus bioavailability under field runoff regimes were an order of magnitude lower than tissue residues under spray drift conditions. Plant tissue was found to significantly accumulate pyrethroids.