Does including physiology improve species distribution model predictions of responses to recent climate change?

Thermal constraints on development are often invoked to predict insect distributions. These constraints tend to be characterized in species distribution models (SDMs) by calculating development time based on a constant lower development temperature (LDT). Here, we assessed whether species-specific estimates of LDT based on laboratory experiments can improve the ability of SDMs to predict the distribution shifts of six U.K. butterflies in response to recent climate warming. We find that species-specific and constant (5 degrees C) LDT degree-day models perform similarly at predicting distributions during the period of 1970-1982. However, when the models for the 1970-1982 period are projected to predict distributions in 1995-1999 and 2000-2004, species-specific LDT degree-day models modestly outperform constant LDT degree-day models. Our results suggest that, while including species-specific physiology in correlative models may enhance predictions of species' distribution responses to climate change, more detailed models may be needed to adequately account for interspecific physiological differences.     

Species' traits predict phenological responses to climate change in butterflies

How do species' traits help identify which species will respond most strongly to future climate change? We examine the relationship between species' traits and phenology in a well-established model system for climate change, the U.K. Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). Most resident U.K. butterfly species have significantly advanced their dates of first appearance during the past 30 years. We show that species with narrower larval diet breadth and more advanced overwintering stages have experienced relatively greater advances in their date of first appearance. In addition, species with smaller range sizes have experienced greater phenological advancement. Our results demonstrate that species' traits can be important predictors of responses to climate change, and they suggest that further investigation of the mechanisms by which these traits influence phenology may aid in understanding species' responses to current and future climate change.     

Die Bedeutung von Lebensmitteln tierischer Herkunft für die Mykotoxinaufnahme beim Menschen

Mycotoxins are a heterogeneous group of secondary fungal metabolites. Their formation in food and feedstuffs is influenced by many factors, including humidity, temperature, pH, oxygen concentration, type of substrate or presence of competitive microflora. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations estimated in 1985 that approximately 25% of the world’s grain supply is contaminated with mycotoxins. There are more than 300 known mycotoxins; however, due to their occurrence and concentrations in food, and their toxic potential, only few of these are relevant with regard to consumer protection. These include the aflatoxins, ochratoxins and trichothecenes like deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins. In Germany, only aflatoxins in food and feedstuffs are subjected to legal regulations. Beside the negative effects of mycotoxins on health and performance of farm animals, it is of importance to consider to what extent mycotoxins might be carried over into edible tissues like meat, milk and eggs when fed to farm animals. The present review shows that the carry over of mycotoxins into edible tissues is relatively low and is dependent on the specific mycotoxin and animal species. For example, due to the microbial decomposition of mycotoxins in the rumen, the carry over of mycotoxins into edible tissues of ruminants is considerably lower compared to monogastric species (pigs, chickens). Furthermore, after a short withdrawal period of 4 to 14 days combined with the feeding of non-contaminated diets, most of the mycotoxins, aside from ochratoxin A, are no longer detectable in any edible tissue. Ochratoxin A has a high binding affinity to specific blood proteins and is reabsorbed in the kidney; these mechanisms delay its elimination and increase the withdrawal period to at least 4 weeks. However, aside from the concentration of these substances in food, the daily intake of contaminated food is important for the risk analysis of mycotoxins to humans. In a recent study, it has been shown that more than 50% of the daily intake of ochratoxin A is derived from cereals and cereal products, and 30% from red wine, coffee and beer. Mear products from pigs and chickens only account for 4% of the total intake, while products from ruminants are considered to be negligible. These results indicate that mycotoxin-contaminated edible tissue, as compared to plant products, only plays a minor role with respect to consumer protection.     

Hand in Hand für Interdisziplinarit?t

Ohne Zusammenfassung Dr. rer. nat. Henner Hollert: • Leitung lokales Organisationskomittee SETAC-GLB 2003 • Studium der Biologie und Geographie an der Universit?t Heidelberg von 1990 bis 1997. Februar 1997: Diplom in Biologie, Oktober 1997: Erstes Staatsexamen für das h?here Lehramt in Biologie/Geographie • Von November 1997 bis April 2001: Promotion über die Entwicklung eines kombinierten Untersuchungssystems für die Bewertung der ?kotoxikologischen Belastung von Flie?gew?ssersedimenten und-schwebstoffen • Forschungsaufenthalte 1999 und 2000 an den Universit?ten Uppsala und ?rebro (Schweden) zur Untersuchung der Dioxin-?hnlichen Wirksamkeit von Sedimenten in embryonaler Hühnerleberkultur • In der Lehre seit 2000 als Wissenschaftlicher Angestellter am Zoologischen Institut (Abt. Morphologie/?kologie) mit den Schwerpunkten ?kotoxikologie, ?kologie und Zoologie t?tig • Leitung der Arbeitsgruppe Sediment- und Bodentoxikologie • Forschungsschwerpunkte: Sediment- und Bodentoxikologie, Hochwasseruntersuchunge, Bioassay-dirigierte Fraktionierungstechniken, Statistische Bewertungsmethoden, Integrierte Sedimentuntersuchungen (Kombination aus Makrozoobenthosanalysen, in-vitro-Biotests und chemischer Analytik) • Vizepr?sident der deutschsprachigen Sektion der SETAC-GLB (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) • Organisationskomitee der europ?ischen Jahrestagung der SETAC und des Club of Rome in Hamburg-Harburg 2003 • Seit dem 11. Juni 2003 geh?rt Henner Hollert dem UWSF-Herausgebergremium an     

TNT in Komposten und Flüssigkultur

The formation of aromatic amines was investigated using a summarized test (NEDA-test) during the composting of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) contaminated soil. In this test, the aromatic amines were diazolated and then coupled to N-1-Naphthyl-ethylenediamine-dihydrochloride (NEDA) to yield an azo dye which can be monitored photometrically. The test was calibrated for known TNT-metabolites with an active amine-group. Liquid samples from composting- and liquid-culture-experiments were analyzed by HPLC for these known metabolites. Moreover, the samples were monitored by the NEDA-test and the expected extinction of the TNT-metabolites found with amine function were extrapolated with the help of calibration curves. It was shown that substantial differences are obvious between the monitored and extrapolated values. After separation into polar and non-polar aromatic amines, it became clear that these differences are made by the polar aromatic amines. Polar aromatic amines, which are not detectable by presently available analytical tests, were generated during the composting of TNT-contaminated soils. Contaminated stagnant water, which was generated during anaerobization of a compost prephase, was treated aerobically for 70 days in a biofermenter. During this treatment TNT and its known metabolites were eliminated almost entirely. Simultaneously, the toxicity in the Lumis Tox-test decreased drastically. In striking contrast, the sum of aromatic amines decreased only to a minor extent. Moreover, the percentage of polar compounds from total amount of aromatic amines increased drastically from 48% to more than 95%. At present, the chemical identification of these polar compounds is still missing and is the object for further research.     

Greenhouse Gases in Cold Water Filaments in the Arabian Sea During the Southwest Monsoon

 The distribution of partial pressure of carbon dioxide and the concentrations of nitrous oxide and methane were investigated in a cold water filament near the coastal upwelling region off Oman at the beginning of the southwest monsoon in 1997. The results suggest that such filaments are regions of intense biogeochemical activity which may affect the marine cycling of climatically relevant trace gases. Received: 1 March 1999 / Accepted in revised form: 16 June 1999     

Evaluation of factors influencing soluble microbial product in submerged MBR through hybrid ASM model

In this study, a mathematical model was established to predict the formation of the soluble microbial product (SMP) in a submerged membrane bioreactor. The developed model was calibrated under the reference condition. Simulation results were in good agreement with the measured results under the reference condition. The calibrated model was then used in the scenario studies to evaluate the effect of three chosen operating parameters: hydraulic retention time (HRT), dissolved oxygen concentration, and sludge retention time (SRT). Simulation results revealed that the SMP dominated the soluble organic substances in the supernatant. The scenario studies also revealed that the HRT can be decreased to 1 h without deteriorating the effluent quality; dissolved oxygen concentration in the reactor can be kept at 2–3 mg/L to maintain the effluent quality, reduce the content of SMP, and minimize operating costs; the optimal SRT can be controlled to 10–15 d to achieve complete nitrification process, less membrane fouling potential, and acceptable organic removal efficiency.     

Towards an inter-disciplinary research agenda on climate change, water and security in Southern Europe and neighboring countries

The Mediterranean and neighboring countries are already experiencing a broad range of natural and man-made threats to water security. According to climate projections, the region is at risk due to its pronounced susceptibility to changes in the hydrological budget and extremes. Such changes are expected to have strong impacts on the management of water resources and on key strategic sectors of regional economies. Related developments have an increased capacity to exacerbate tensions, and even intra- and inter-state conflict among social, political, ecological and economic actors. Thus, effective adaptation and prevention policy measures call for multi-disciplinary analysis and action.This review paper presents the current state-of-the-art on research related to climate change impacts upon water resources and security from an ecological, economic and social angle. It provides perspectives for current and upcoming research needs and describes the challenges and potential of integrating and clustering multi-disciplinary research interests in complex and interwoven human-environment systems and its contribution to the upcoming 5th assessment report of the IPCC.     

Mitigation of agricultural nonpoint-source pesticide pollution in artificial wetland ecosystems

Contamination caused by pesticides in agriculture is a source of environmental poor water quality in some of the European Union countries. Without treatment or targeted mitigation, this pollution is diffused in the environment. Pesticides and some metabolites are of increasing concern because of their potential impacts on the environment, wildlife and human health. Within the context of the European Union (EU) water framework directive context to promote low pesticide-input farming and best management practices, the EU LIFE project ArtWET assessed the efficiency of ecological bioengineering methods using different artificial wetland (AW) prototypes throughout Europe. We optimized physical and biological processes to mitigate agricultural nonpoint-source pesticide pollution in artificial wetland ecosystems. Mitigation solutions were implemented at full-scale demonstration and experimental sites. We tested various bioremediation methods at seven experimental sites. These sites involved (1) experimental prototypes, such as vegetated ditches, a forest microcosm and 12 wetland mesocosms, and (2) demonstration prototypes: vegetated ditches, three detention ponds enhanced with technology of constructed wetlands, an outdoor bioreactor and a biomassbed. This set up provides a variety of hydrologic conditions, with some systems permanently flooded and others temporarily flooded. It also allowed to study the processes both in field and controlled conditions. In order to compare the efficiency of the wetlands, mass balances at the inlet and outlet of the artificial wetland will be used, taking into account the partition of the studied compound in water, sediments, plants, and suspended solids. The literature background necessary to harmonize the interdisciplinary work is reviewed here and the theoretical framework regarding pesticide removal mechanisms in artificial wetland is discussed. The development and the implementation of innovative approaches concerning various water quality sampling strategies for pesticide load estimates during flood, specific biological endpoints, innovative bioprocess applied to herbicide and copper mitigation to enhance the pesticide retention time within the artificial wetland, fate and transport using a 2D mixed hybrid finite element model are introduced. These future results will be useful to optimize hydraulic functioning, e.g., pesticide resident time, and biogeochemical conditions, e.g., dissipation, inside the artificial wetlands. Hydraulic retention times are generally too low to allow an optimized adsorption on sediment and organic materials accumulated in artificial wetlands. Absorption by plants is not either effective. The control of the hydraulic design and the use of adsorbing materials can be useful to increase the pesticides residence time and the contact between pesticides and biocatalyzers. Pesticide fluxes can be reduced by 50–80% when hydraulic pathways in artificial wetlands are optimized by increasing ten times the retention time, by recirculation of water, and by deceleration of the flow. Thus, using a bioremediation method should lead to an almost complete disappearance of pesticides pollution. To retain and treat the agricultural nonpoint-source po a major stake for a sustainable development.