Effects of wildfire ash on the fatty acid and sugar profiles of bivalves - A comparative study of a freshwater and a marine species.

Wildfires can impact both freshwater and marine ecosystems through post-fire runoff, but its effects on bivalves, particularly those living in marine habitats, remain largely overlooked. While evidence exists that wildfire ash can alter the fatty acid (FA) and sugar profiles of aquatic biota, its influence on the biochemical profiles of bivalves have not been addressed to date. This study aimed to assess the effects of ash exposure on the FA and sugar profiles of two bivalve species used for human consumption: a freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea) and a marine bivalve (Cerastoderma edule), additionally evaluating potential effects on their nutritional value.

Assessment of extracellular polymeric substances production and antioxidant defences in periphytic communities exposed to effluent contaminants.

Periphyton is frequently used in the evaluation of the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems using diatoms as a proxy. However, periphyton has a particularity, the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which might play a protective role against exposure to harmful environmental contaminants. Effluents originating in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) constitute some of the most complex mixtures of contaminants, to which aquatic ecosystems are frequently exposed, often containing tens to hundreds of different chemicals.

Potential effects of the discharge of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents in benthic communities: evidence from three distinct WWTP systems.

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents can be sources of environmental contamination. In this study, we aimed to understand whether effluents of three different WWTPs may have ecological effects in riverine recipient ecosystems. To achieve this, we assessed benthic phytobenthos and macroinvertebrate communities at three different locations relative to the effluent discharge: immediately upstream, immediately downstream and 500-m downstream the effluent discharge.

Redox Homeostasis Disclosed in the Saltmarsh Plant upon Short Waterborne Exposure to Inorganic Mercury.

The saltmarsh plant was shortly exposed to realistic levels of inorganic mercury (iHg) with the aim of investigating the adaptative processes of the roots and leaves regarding redox homeostasis, physiology, and Hg accumulation. Plants were collected at a contaminated (CONT) and a reference (REF) site to address the interference of contamination backgrounds. The influence of major abiotic variables (i.

Toxicity of two pesticides in binary mixture on survival and enzymatic response of Cerastoderma edule - The warming influence.

Pesticide application increased by about 1 million tonnes in the last 3 decades. Pesticides' overuse, coupled with the need for several pesticides to control different pests in the same crop, and its application many times per year, results in dangerous chemical cocktails that enter in aquatic systems, with impacts to the ecosystems and its communities. Climatic changes are currently another great concern, is predicted by the end of the 21st century, the earth's surface temperature will increase by about 4 °C.

Effects of Inorganic and Organic Pollutants on the Biomarkers' Response of under Temperature Scenarios.

Currently, there is increased chemical pollution, and climate change is a major concern to scientific, political and social communities globally. Marine systems are very susceptible to changes, and considering the ecological and economic roles of bivalve species, like , studies evaluating the effects of both stressors are of great importance. This study intends to (a) determine the toxicity of copper (Cu) and oxyfluorfen at the lethal level, considering the temperature; (b) assess the changes in the antioxidant defence enzymes as a consequence of the simultaneous exposure to chemical and warming pressures; and (c) determine if lipid peroxidation (LPO) and neurotoxic effects occur after the exposure to chemical and temperature stressors.

Ecotoxicological and biochemical effects of a binary mixture of pesticides on the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii in a scenario of global warming.

Under the current scenario of global warming, it is ecologically relevant to understand how increased temperature influences the combined toxicity of pesticides to aquatic species. Hence, this work aims to: a) determine the temperature effect (15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C) on the toxicity of two pesticides (oxyfluorfen and Copper (Cu)), on the growth of Thalassiosira weissflogii; b) assess whether temperature affects the type of toxicity interaction between these chemicals; and c) assess the temperature effect on biochemical responses (fatty acids (FA) and sugar profiles) of the pesticides on T. weissflogii.

The Lethal and Sub-Lethal Effects of Fluorinated and Copper-Based Pesticides-A Review.

In recent decades, pollution levels have increased, mainly as a result of the intensive anthropogenic activities such industrial development, intensive agricultural practices, among others. The impact of metals and organic contaminants is, nowadays, a great concern to the scientific and political communities. Copper compounds are the main sold pesticides in Europe, as well as herbicides, including glyphosate.

Do Freshwater and Marine Bivalves Differ in Their Response to Wildfire Ash? Effects on the Antioxidant Defense System and Metal Body Burden.

Wildfires constitute a source of contamination to both freshwater and marine ecosystems. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant defense response of the freshwater clam and the marine cockle () to wildfire ash exposure and the concomitant metal body burden. Organisms were exposed to different concentrations (0%, 12.

Recommended rates of azoxystrobin and tebuconazole seem to be environmentally safe but ineffective against target fungi.

The use of fungicides in agriculture has been playing a role in the enhancement of agricultural yields through the control of pathogens causing serious diseases in crops. Still, adverse environmental and human health effects resulting from its application have been reported. In this study, the possibility of readjusting the formulation of a commercial product combining azoxystrobin and tebuconazole (active ingredients - AIs; Custodia®) towards environmentally safer alternative(s) was investigated.

Do sediment-bound nickel and lead affect chironomids life-history? Toxicity assessment under environmentally relevant conditions.

Metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems translates into increased concentrations of sediment-bound metals, representing a risk for benthic species. This risk might be enhanced in soft and moderately hard waters, world widely distributed, due to the protective role of hardness against metal toxicity. As lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) are amongst the more abundant metals in aquatic systems, and since their combined effects to benthic species have been overlooked, in this study we aimed to investigate the life-cycle toxicity of Pb and Ni (using spiked sediment) to the benthic species Chironomus riparius, considering both single and mixture exposures, in moderately hard water.

Multigenerational DNA methylation responses to copper exposure in Daphnia: Potential targets for epigenetic biomarkers?

Epigenetic mechanisms are moving to the forefront of environmental sciences, as environmentally induced epigenetic changes shape biological responses to chemical contamination. This work focused on Daphnia as a representative of potentially threatened freshwater biota, aiming to gain an insight into the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in their response and eventual adaptation to metal contamination. Copper-induced DNA methylation changes, their potential transgenerational inheritance, and life-history traits were assessed.

Effects of Eucalypt ashes from moderate and high severity wildfires on the skin microbiome of the Iberian frog (Rana iberica).

Forest fires can threaten amphibians because ash-associated contaminants transported by post-fire runoff impact both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Still, the effects of these contaminants on the skin microbiome of amphibians have been overlooked. Thus, the main objective of this study was to assess the effects of ash from different severity wildfires (moderate and high) on the skin microbiome of the Iberian frog (Rana iberica).

Effects of wildfire ash on the growth and biochemical profiles of the aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor.

Wildfires are a social and environmental concern to the world due to their many adverse effects, including risk to the public health and security, economic damages in prevention and fight, ecosystems pollution, land usage sustainability, and biodiversity. In the Mediterranean region, these events have increased in the last years. Although several studies evaluated the impacts of the wildfires on the structure and function of the ecosystems and their communities, there is a lack of information at the biochemical level beyond the toxicological effects to the organisms.

Cyanobacteria as Candidates to Support Mars Colonization: Growth and Biofertilization Potential Using Mars Regolith as a Resource.

Cyanobacteria are indicated as organisms that can possibly support Mars colonization, contributing to the production of oxygen and other commodities therein. In this general context, the aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of three species of cyanobacteria (, and ) and a green microalga () to grow using only the resources existing in Mars, i.e.

Effects of Pine and Eucalypt ashes on bacterial isolates from the skin microbiome of the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra).

Environmental contamination influences the diversity of the resident skin microbial community of amphibians, ultimately affecting the individual's immune system. Wildfires are expected to impact the skin microbiome, since post-fire runoff typically transports hazardous substances, that can affect terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The present study is the first to assess the effects of Eucalypt and Pine wildfire ash on cultivable bacterial isolates from the skin microbiome of amphibians, in particular the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), a common species in fire-prone Mediterranean ecosystems.

Chemical characterization of riverine sediments affected by wastewater treatment plant effluent discharge.

This study was aimed at assessing the contribution of wastewater treatment effluents to the contamination profile of the sediments of receiving waterways. Three wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were addressed, encompassing different population equivalent sizes, urbanization degrees and treatment methods translating differences in expected contamination patterns. Within each WWTP system, the assessment targeted the effluent and sediment samples collected upstream and downstream the effluent discharge point; contaminants belonging to several concerning chemical classes (metals and metalloids; pesticides; pharmaceuticals and personal care products, PPCPs; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) were quantified both in effluent and sediment samples.

Venom of Viperidae: A Perspective of its Antibacterial and Antitumor Potential.

The emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and limitations on cancer treatment represent two important challenges in modern medicine. Biological compounds have been explored with a particular focus on venoms. Although they can be lethal or cause considerable damage to humans, venom is also a source rich in components with high therapeutic potential.

A review on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons distribution in freshwater ecosystems and their toxicity to benthic fauna.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds, found ubiquitously in all environmental compartments. PAHs are considered hazardous pollutants, being of concern to both the environmental and human health. In the aquatic environment, PAHs tend to accumulate in the sediment due to their high hydrophobicity, and thus sediments can be considered their ultimate sink.

The role of spray-drying atmosphere on (bonpl.) L.G. Lohmann standardized extract production for wound healing activity.

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Impacts of wildfires in aquatic organisms: biomarker responses and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities in Gambusia holbrooki exposed in situ.

Wildfires are an environmental concern due to the loss of forest area and biodiversity, but also because their role as drivers of freshwater systems contamination by metals. In this context, the fish Gambusia holbrooki was used as a model, deployed for in situ exposure in watercourses standing within a recently burnt area and further assessment of toxic effects. The fish were exposed during 4 days at four different sites: one upstream and another downstream the burnt area and two within the burnt area.

Sensitivity of a widespread groundwater copepod to different contaminants.

Groundwater is an indispensable resource for humankind and sustainable biomes functioning. Anthropogenic disturbance threatens groundwater ecosystems globally, but to which extent groundwater organisms respond to stressors remains poorly understood. Groundwater animals are rare, with small populations, difficult to find and to breed in the lab, which poses a main challenge to the assessment of their responses to pollutants.

Measurement of the Effects of Metals on Taxis-to-Food Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Chemosensation in nematodes is linked to processes that affect their ability to survive, such as the search for food and the avoidance of toxic substances. Since the 1970s, numerous studies have assessed chemotaxis in the nematode species Caenorhabditis elegans, focusing on a multitude of agents, including bacteria (food), ions, salts, hormones, volatile organic compounds, and, to a lesser extent, metal-contaminated medium/food. The few studies evaluating metal exposure have reported a variety of responses (neutral, attraction, avoidance), which generally appear to be contaminant and/or concentration specific.

Overview of Chemotaxis Behavior Assays in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Environmental pollution related to anthropogenic pressures, and the associated repercussions on public health, represent a worldwide problem. Thus, the study of the effects that environmental contaminants can pose to natural ecosystems and human health is of vital importance. Laboratory model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans have played a significant role in clarifying multilevel effects of those agents.