EthoCRED: a framework to guide reporting and evaluation of the relevance and reliability of behavioural ecotoxicity studies.

Behavioural analysis has been attracting significant attention as a broad indicator of sub-lethal toxicity and has secured a place as an important subdiscipline in ecotoxicology. Among the most notable characteristics of behavioural research, compared to other established approaches in sub-lethal ecotoxicology (e.g.

Multi-genome comparisons reveal gain-and-loss evolution of anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type 2 as a candidate master sex-determining gene in Percidae.

Background: The Percidae family comprises many fish species of major importance for aquaculture and fisheries. Based on three new chromosome-scale assemblies in Perca fluviatilis, Perca schrenkii, and Sander vitreus along with additional percid fish reference genomes, we provide an evolutionary and comparative genomic analysis of their sex-determination systems.

Results: We explored the fate of a duplicated anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type-2 gene (amhr2bY), previously suggested to be the master sex-determining (MSD) gene in P.

A candidate sex determination locus in amphibians which evolved by structural variation between X- and Y-chromosomes.

Most vertebrates develop distinct females and males, where sex is determined by repeatedly evolved environmental or genetic triggers. Undifferentiated sex chromosomes and large genomes have caused major knowledge gaps in amphibians. Only a single master sex-determining gene, the dmrt1-paralogue (dm-w) of female-heterogametic clawed frogs (Xenopus; ZW♀/ZZ♂), is known across >8740 species of amphibians.

Endocrine disruption in teleosts and amphibians is mediated by anthropogenic and natural environmental factors: implications for risk assessment.

Environmental variation in the Anthropocene involves several factors that interfere with endocrine systems of wildlife and humans, presenting a planetary boundary of still unknown dimensions. Here, we focus on chemical compounds and other impacts of anthropogenic and natural origins that are adversely affecting reproduction and development. The main sink of these endocrine disruptors (EDs) is surface waters, where they mostly endanger aquatic vertebrates, like teleost fish and amphibians.

Insect-based fish feed in decoupled aquaponic systems: Effect on lettuce production and resource use.

The utilisation of insect meal-based fish feed as a substitute for conventional fish meal-based fish feed is considered as a promising innovative alternative to boost circularity in aquaculture and aquaponics. Basic research on its use in aquaponics is limited. So far, no reports on the effects of fish waste water, derived from a recirculating aquaculture system using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) meal-based diets, were available on the growth performance of lettuce.

Multi-genome comparisons reveal gain-and-loss evolution of the gene, an old master sex determining gene, in Percidae.

The Percidae family comprises many fish species of major importance for aquaculture and fisheries. Based on three new chromosome-scale assemblies in , and along with additional percid fish reference genomes, we provide an evolutionary and comparative genomic analysis of their sex-determination systems. We explored the fate of a duplicated anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type-2 gene (), previously suggested to be the master sex determining (MSD) gene in .

Modification of the chemically induced inflammation assay reveals the Janus face of a phenol rich fulvic acid.

Inflammation is an essential process as a reaction towards infections or wounding. Exposure to hazardous environmental pollutants can lead to chronic inflammations, where the resolving phase is delayed or blocked. Very contradictory studies have been reported on the pro- and anti-inflammatory effects of humic substances (HSs) leading to significant disagreements between researchers.

Fulvic acid accelerates hatching and stimulates antioxidative protection and the innate immune response in zebrafish larvae.

Aquaculture plays a pivotal role in covering dietary animal protein demands and restocking endangered fish populations. However, high mortality takes place at the earliest life stages: prior and immediately after hatching. Improving growth and health parameters by immunostimulants is widely used in older fish, but rarely studied in larvae.

A 180 Myr-old female-specific genome region in sturgeon reveals the oldest known vertebrate sex determining system with undifferentiated sex chromosomes.

Several hypotheses explain the prevalence of undifferentiated sex chromosomes in poikilothermic vertebrates. Turnovers change the master sex determination gene, the sex chromosome or the sex determination system (e.g.

The Role of Behavioral Ecotoxicology in Environmental Protection.

For decades, we have known that chemicals affect human and wildlife behavior. Moreover, due to recent technological and computational advances, scientists are now increasingly aware that a wide variety of contaminants and other environmental stressors adversely affect organismal behavior and subsequent ecological outcomes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. There is also a groundswell of concern that regulatory ecotoxicology does not adequately consider behavior, primarily due to a lack of standardized toxicity methods.

Misbalance of thyroid hormones after two weeks of exposure to artificial light at night in Eurasian perch .

Artificial light at night (ALAN) can affect the physiology and behavior of animals because it alters the natural rhythm of light and darkness. Thyroid hormones (TH) are partially regulated by the light information of photoperiod and are involved in metabolic adjustments to daily and seasonal changes in the environment, such as larval and juvenile development, somatic growth and reproduction. ALAN can change photoperiodic information and might thereby lead to changes in thyroid metabolism, but so far research on this topic is scarce.

Innate immunity, oxidative stress and body indices of Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis after two weeks of exposure to artificial light at night.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) can disrupt biological rhythms of fish and other vertebrates by changing the light information of the nocturnal environment. Disrupted biorhythms can impair the immune system of vertebrates as it has been shown for conditions with continuous illumination or long-day photoperiod in many vertebrates, including fish. Nonetheless, this has not been shown so far for typical ALAN scenarios with high light intensities during day and low light intensities at night.

Phenol-rich fulvic acid as a water additive enhances growth, reduces stress, and stimulates the immune system of fish in aquaculture.

Aquaculture has become imperative to cover the demands for dietary animal protein. Simultaneously, it has to overcome prejudices from excessive use of antibiotics and environmental impacts. Natural supplements are traditionally applied orally.

Ion-rich potash mining effluents affect sperm motility parameters of European perch, Perca fluviatilis, and impair early development of the common roach, Rutilus rutilus.

Secondary salinization of freshwater ecosystems is of increasing global concern. One of the main causes are the effluents of the potash mining industry containing high concentrations of major ions (Cl, Na, Mg, K). In Germany, the ongoing discharge of effluents into the River Werra led to a strong impoverishment of the biodiversity and abundance of local species.

ERGO: Breaking Down the Wall between Human Health and Environmental Testing of Endocrine Disrupters.

ERGO (EndocRine Guideline Optimization) is the acronym of a European Union-funded research and innovation action, that aims to break down the wall between mammalian and non-mammalian vertebrate regulatory testing of endocrine disruptors (EDs), by identifying, developing and aligning thyroid-related biomarkers and endpoints (B/E) for the linkage of effects between vertebrate classes. To achieve this, an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) network covering various modes of thyroid hormone disruption (THD) in multiple vertebrate classes will be developed. The AOP development will be based on existing and new data from in vitro and in vivo experiments with fish, amphibians and mammals, using a battery of different THDs.

The sterlet sturgeon genome sequence and the mechanisms of segmental rediploidization.

Sturgeons seem to be frozen in time. The archaic characteristics of this ancient fish lineage place it in a key phylogenetic position at the base of the ~30,000 modern teleost fish species. Moreover, sturgeons are notoriously polyploid, providing unique opportunities to investigate the evolution of polyploid genomes.

Can skyglow reduce nocturnal melatonin concentrations in Eurasian perch?

Artificial light at night (ALAN) changes the natural rhythm of light and darkness and can impair the biorhythms of animals, for example the nocturnal melatonin production of vertebrates, which serves as a proxy for daily physiological rhythms. Freshwater fish are exposed to ALAN in large urban and suburban areas in the form of direct light or in the form of skyglow, a diffuse brightening of the night sky through the scattered light reflected by clouds, atmospheric molecules, and particles in the air. However, investigations on the sensitivity of melatonin production of fish towards low intensities of ALAN in the range of typical skyglow are rare.

The potential of VKORC1 polymorphisms in Mustelidae for evolving anticoagulant resistance through selection along the food chain.

In response to strong selection, new mutations can arise quickly and sweep through populations, particularly, if survival and reproduction depend on certain allele copies for adaptation to rapidly changing environments, like resistance against deadly diseases or strong toxins. Since the 1950s, resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in several rodents has emerged through single nucleotide mutations in the vitamin-K-epoxid-reductase-complex-subunit-1 (VKORC1) gene, often located in its exon 3. Detection of high prevalence and concentrations of anticoagulant rodenticides in non-target vertebrates, including carnivorous Mustelidae, let us assume that secondary exposure by feeding on poisoned prey may also cause selection along the food chain and we hypothesized that VKORC1-based resistance might also have evolved in rodents' predators.

Potash mining effluents induce moderate effects on histopathological and physiological endpoints of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Stress in fish can be caused by a variety of factors and has the potential to evoke stress responses leading to a reduction of physical condition and of health. The river Werra (Germany) presents a severe case of secondary salinisation caused by potash mining activities. The model organism Danio rerio was exposed to different ion-concentrations depicting current (HT) and future (LT) threshold values of the Werra, as well as to solutions with single-exceeding ions (Mg + K (KMg), Mg (Mg) and K (K)).

Impacts of the synthetic androgen Trenbolone on gonad differentiation and development - comparisons between three deeply diverged anuran families.

Using a recently developed approach for testing endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDCs) in amphibians, comprising synchronized tadpole exposure plus genetic and histological sexing of metamorphs in a flow-through-system, we tested the effects of 17β-Trenbolone (Tb), a widely used growth promoter in cattle farming, in three deeply diverged anuran families: the amphibian model species Xenopus laevis (Pipidae) and the non-models Bufo(tes) viridis (Bufonidae) and Hyla arborea (Hylidae). Trenbolone was applied in three environmentally and/or physiologically relevant concentrations (0.027 µg/L (10 M), 0.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa, variety Salanova) production in decoupled aquaponic systems: Same yield and similar quality as in conventional hydroponic systems but drastically reduced greenhouse gas emissions by saving inorganic fertilizer.

Decoupled aquaponic systems have the potential to become one of the most effective sustainable production systems for the combined production of animal protein and plant crops. Here, recirculating aquaculture systems for fish production are combined with hydroponics for soilless plant production thereby recycling dissolved nutrients derived from metabolism of the fish. The aim of the present study was to characterize hydroponic lettuce production using conventional nutrient solution in comparison with decoupled aquaponics using the nutrient rich fish water as basis for the nutrient solution being supplemented by missing nutrients.

Potash mining effluents and ion imbalances cause transient stress in adult common roach, Rutilus rutilus.

A present ecological issue causing secondary salinization in different countries is the discharge of effluents by the potash mining industry. In Germany, the River Werra is used as a sink for potash mining discharges containing high concentrations of ions, predominantly Cl, K, Na, and Mg resulting in a strong decline of the biodiversity and abundance of local species. However, hardly anything is known about the acute and chronic physiological effects of high concentrations and imbalances of ions being prevalent in potash mining effluents in fish.

Microplastics Can Change Soil Properties and Affect Plant Performance.

Microplastics can affect biophysical properties of the soil. However, little is known about the cascade of events in fundamental levels of terrestrial ecosystems, i.e.