The concentrations of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in aquatic biota are used for compliance, as well as time and spatial trend monitoring in the aqueous environment (European Union water framework directive, OSPAR). Because of trophic magnification in the food chain, the thermodynamic levels of HOCs, for example, polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and brominated diphenyl ether congeners, in higher trophic level (TL) organisms are expected to be strongly elevated above those in water. This work compares lipid-based concentrations at equilibrium with the water phase derived from aqueous passive sampling (CL⇌water) with the lipid-based concentrations in fillet and liver of fish (CL) at different TLs for three water bodies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The CL values of HOCs in fish were near CL⇌water, only after trophic magnification up to TL = 4. For fish at lower TL, CL progressively decreased relative to CL⇌water as KOW of HOCs increased above 106. The CL value decreasing toward the bottom of the food chain suggests nonequilibrium for primary producers (algae), which is in agreement with modeling passive HOC uptake by algae. Because trophic magnification and the resulting CL in fish exhibit large natural variability, CL⇌water is a viable alternative for monitoring HOCs using fish, showing a twofold lower confidence range and requiring less samples.
- MeSH
- Water Pollutants, Chemical * analysis MeSH
- Environmental Monitoring * MeSH
- Food Chain MeSH
- Fishes MeSH
- Fresh Water MeSH
- Water MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
- Slovakia MeSH
Artificial water bodies like ditches, fish ponds, weirs, reservoirs, fish ladders, and irrigation channels are usually constructed and managed to optimize their intended purposes. However, human-made aquatic systems also have unintended consequences on ecosystem services and biogeochemical cycles. Knowledge about their functioning and possible additional ecosystem services is poor, especially compared to natural ecosystems. A GIS analysis indicates that currently only ~ 10% of European surface waters are covered by the European Water Framework directive, and that a considerable fraction of the excluded systems are likely human-made aquatic systems. There is a clear mismatch between the high possible significance of human-made water bodies and their low representation in scientific research and policy. We propose a research agenda to build an inventory of human-made aquatic ecosystems, support and advance research to further our understanding of the role of these systems in local and global biogeochemical cycles as well as to identify other benefits for society. We stress the need for studies that aim to optimize management of human-made aquatic systems considering all their functions and to support programs designed to overcome barriers of the adoption of optimized management strategies.
We report on the synthesis of unique nanocomposites based on graphene oxide (GO) and oxidized single-wall carbon nanotubes (O-SWCNTs) combined with UiO-66-NH2 and UiO-66-COOH metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) decorated onto Co0·5Ni0·5FeCrO4 spinel magnetic nanoparticles (SMNPs). Novel SMNPs of Co0·5Ni0·5FeCrO4, synthesized for the first time by the sol-gel method, exhibited exceptional thermal stability up to 985 °C. To modify the physicochemical properties of the SMNPs and MOFs, hydrophilic Zr-based MOFs were directly decorated onto the SMNP (MOF-d-SMNP) which led to improved dispersion properties and enhanced the catalytic activity of the SMNP by providing additional functional groups and active catalytic sites, along with surface area expansion. The synthesis and decoration were achieved by a hydrothermal process forming covalent bonding of MOFs onto the SMNPs, using O-SWCNTs and GO monolayers as platforms. Such an approach proved to be more effective than direct mixing of nanoparticles with the platforms, as it reduced the aggregation of nanoparticles and improved the dispersion forces of the MOF-d-SMNP. The MOF-d-SMNP/GO and MOF-d-SMNP/O-SWCNT nanocomposite properties were characterized by XRD, SEM-EDS, HRTEM, FTIR, TGA, gravimetric gas sorption and BET techniques. Performed experiments revealed exceptional adsorption capacity and catalytic activity (the reduction of the toxic pollutant 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol). We demonstrated that novel nanocomposite materials MOF-d-SMNP/GO and MOF-d-SMNP/O-SWCNT showed potential for water treatment and gas sorption applications. Exhibited properties make these materials promising candidates for use in applications requiring, for example, catalytic activity at elevated temperatures.
Litter decomposition is a vital part of the global carbon cycle as it determines not only the amount of carbon to be sequestered, but also how fast carbon re-enters the cycle. Freshwater systems play an active role in the carbon cycle as it receives, and decomposes, terrestrial litter material alongside decomposing aquatic plant litter. Decomposition of organic matter in the aquatic environment is directly controlled by water temperature and nutrient availability, which are continuously affected by global change. We adapted the Tea Bag Index (TBI), a highly standardized methodology for determining soil decomposition, for lakes by incorporating a leaching factor. By placing Lipton pyramid tea bags in the aquatic environment for 3 h, we quantified the period of intense leaching which usually takes place prior to litter (tea) decomposition. Standard TBI methodology was followed after this step to determine how fast decomposition takes place (decomposition rate, k1) and how much of the material cannot be broken down and is thus sequestered (stabilization factor, S). A Citizen Science project was organized to test the aquatic TBI in 40 European lakes located in four climate zones, ranging from oligotrophic to hypereutrophic systems. We expected that warmer and/or eutrophic lakes would have a higher decomposition rate and a more efficient microbial community resulting in less tea material to be sequestered. The overall high decomposition rates (k1) found confirm the active role lakes play in the global carbon cycle. Across climate regions the lakes in the warmer temperate zone displayed a higher decomposition rate (k1) compared to the colder lakes in the continental and polar zones. Across trophic states, decomposition rates were higher in eutrophic lakes compared to oligotrophic lakes. Additionally, the eutrophic lakes showed a higher stabilization (S), thus a less efficient microbial community, compared to the oligotrophic lakes, although the variation within this group was high. Our results clearly show that the TBI can be used to adequately assess the decomposition process in aquatic systems. Using "alien standard litter" such as tea provides a powerful way to compare decomposition across climates, trophic states and ecosystems. By providing standardized protocols, a website, as well as face to face meetings, we also showed that collecting scientifically relevant data can go hand in hand with increasing scientific and environmental literacy in participants. Gathering process-based information about lake ecosystems gives managers the best tools to anticipate and react to future global change. Furthermore, combining this process-based information with citizen science, thus outreach, is in complete agreement with the Water Framework Directive goals as set in 2010.
- MeSH
- Tea MeSH
- Ecosystem * MeSH
- Lakes * MeSH
- Climate MeSH
- Carbon MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Increased levels of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) drive ocean acidification and have been predicted to increase the energy use of marine fishes via physiological and behavioural mechanisms. This notion is based on a theoretical framework suggesting that detrimental effects on energy use are caused by plasma acid-base disruption in response to hypercapnic acidosis, potentially in combination with a malfunction of the gamma aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors in the brain. However, the existing empirical evidence testing these effects primarily stems from studies that exposed fish to elevated CO2 for a few days and measured a small number of traits. We investigated a range of energetic traits in juvenile spiny chromis damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) over 3 months of acclimation to projected end-of-century CO2 levels (~ 1000 µatm). Somatic growth and otolith size and shape were unaffected by the CO2 treatment across 3 months of development in comparison with control fish (~ 420 µatm). Swimming activity during behavioural assays was initially higher in the elevated CO2 group, but this effect dissipated within ~ 25 min following handling. The transient higher activity of fish under elevated CO2 was not associated with a detectable difference in the rate of oxygen uptake nor was it mediated by GABAA neurotransmitter interference because treatment with a GABAA antagonist (gabazine) did not abolish the CO2 treatment effect. These findings contrast with several short-term studies by suggesting that end-of-century levels of CO2 may have negligible direct effects on the energetics of at least some species of fish.
- MeSH
- Acclimatization MeSH
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration MeSH
- Coral Reefs * MeSH
- Seawater * MeSH
- Carbon Dioxide MeSH
- Fishes MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Measuring the performance of environmentally sustainable supply chains instead of chain constitute has become a challenge despite the convergence of the underlining principles of sustainable supply chain management. This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that supply chains are inherently dynamic and complex and also because multiple measures can be used to characterize performances. By identifying some of the critical issues in the literature regarding performance measurements, this paper contributes to the existing body of literature by adopting an environmental performance measurement approach for economic sectors. It uses economic sectors and evaluates them on a sectoral level in specific countries as well as part of the Global Value Chain based on the established multi-regional input-output (MRIO) modeling framework. The MRIO model has been used to calculate direct and indirect (that is supply chain or upstream) environmental effects such as CO2, SO2, biodiversity, water consumption and pollution to name just a few of the applications. In this paper we use MRIO analysis to calculate emissions and resource consumption intensities and footprints, direct and indirect impacts, and net emission flows between countries. These are exemplified by using carbon emissions, sulphur oxide emissions and water use in two highly polluting industries; Electricity production and Chemical industry in 33 countries, including the EU-27, Brazil, India and China, the USA, Canada and Japan from 1995 to 2009. Some of the highlights include: On average, direct carbon emissions in the electricity sector across all 27 member states of the EU was estimated to be 1368 million tons and indirect carbon emissions to be 470.7 million tons per year representing 25.6% of the EU-27 total carbon emissions related to this sector. It was also observed that from 2004, sulphur oxide emissions intensities in electricity production in India and China have remained relatively constant at about 62.8 gSOx/, respectively, $ and 84.4 gSOx/$ although being higher than in other countries. In terms of water use, the high water use intensity in China (1040.27 L/$) and India (961.63 L/$), which are among the highest in the sector in the electricity sector is exacerbated by both countries being ranked as High Water Stress Risk countries. The paper also highlights many advantages of the MRIO approach including: a 15-year time series study (which provides a measurement of environmental performance of key industries and an opportunity to assess technical and technological change during the investigated time period), a supply chain approach that provides a consistent methodological framework and accounts for all upstream supply chain environmental impacts throughout entire global supply chains. The paper also discusses the implications of the study to environmental sustainability performance measurement in terms of the level of analysis from a value chain hierarchy perspective, methodological issues, performance indicators, environmental exchanges and policy relevance.
European freshwater ecosystems have undergone significant human-induced and environmentally-driven variations in nutrient export from catchments throughout the past five decades, mainly in connection with changes in land-use, agricultural practice, waste water production and treatment, and climatic conditions. We analysed the relations among concentration of total phosphorus (TP) in the Slapy Reservoir (a middle reservoir of the Vltava River Cascade, Czechia), and socio-economic and climatic factors from 1963 to 2015. The study was based on a time series analysis, using conventional statistical tools, and the identification of breaking points, using a segmented regression. Results indicated clear long-term trends and seasonal patterns of TP, with annual average TP increasing up until 1991 and decreasing from 1992 to 2015. Trends in annual, winter and spring average TP concentrations reflected a shift in development of sewerage and sanitary infrastructure, agricultural application of fertilizers, and livestock production in the early 1990s that was associated with changes from the planned to the market economy. No trends were observed for average TP in autumn. The summer average TP has fluctuated with increased amplitude since 1991 in connection with recent climate warming, changes in thermal stratification stability, increased water flow irregularities, and short-circuiting of TP-rich inflow during high flow events. The climate-change-induced processes confound the generally declining trend in lake-water TP concentration and can result in eutrophication despite decreased phosphorus loads from the catchment. Our findings indicate the need of further reduction of phosphorus sources to meet ecological quality standards of the EU Water Framework Directive because the climate change may lead to a greater susceptibility of the aquatic ecosystem to the supply of nutrients.
- MeSH
- Economics MeSH
- Phosphorus analysis MeSH
- Lakes * MeSH
- Environmental Monitoring MeSH
- Climate * MeSH
- Seasons MeSH
- Fresh Water chemistry MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Recent technological developments have increased the number of variables being monitored in lakes and reservoirs using automatic high frequency monitoring (AHFM). However, design of AHFM systems and posterior data handling and interpretation are currently being developed on a site-by-site and issue-by-issue basis with minimal standardization of protocols or knowledge sharing. As a result, many deployments become short-lived or underutilized, and many new scientific developments that are potentially useful for water management and environmental legislation remain underexplored. This Critical Review bridges scientific uses of AHFM with their applications by providing an overview of the current AHFM capabilities, together with examples of successful applications. We review the use of AHFM for maximizing the provision of ecosystem services supplied by lakes and reservoirs (consumptive and non consumptive uses, food production, and recreation), and for reporting lake status in the EU Water Framework Directive. We also highlight critical issues to enhance the application of AHFM, and suggest the establishment of appropriate networks to facilitate knowledge sharing and technological transfer between potential users. Finally, we give advice on how modern sensor technology can successfully be applied on a larger scale to the management of lakes and reservoirs and maximize the ecosystem services they provide.
- MeSH
- Ecosystem * MeSH
- Lakes * MeSH
- Environmental Monitoring MeSH
- Recreation MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
The release of phosphorus (P) from bed sediments to the overlying water can delay the recovery of lakes for decades following reductions in catchment contributions, preventing water quality targets being met within timeframes set out by environmental legislation (e.g. EU Water Framework Directive: WFD). Therefore supplementary solutions for restoring lakes have been explored, including the capping of sediment P sources using a lanthanum (La)-modified bentonite clay to reduce internal P loading and enhance the recovery process. Here we present results from Loch Flemington where the first long-term field trial documenting responses of phytoplankton community structure and abundance, and the UK WFD phytoplankton metric to a La-bentonite application was performed. A Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) analysis was used to distinguish natural variability from treatment effect and confirmed significant reductions in the magnitude of summer cyanobacterial blooms in Loch Flemington, relative to the control site, following La-bentonite application. However this initial cyanobacterial response was not sustained beyond two years after application, which implied that the reduction in internal P loading was short-lived; several possible explanations for this are discussed. One reason is that this ecological quality indicator is sensitive to inter-annual variability in weather patterns, particularly summer rainfall and water temperature. Over the monitoring period, the phytoplankton community structure of Loch Flemington became less dominated by cyanobacteria and more functionally diverse. This resulted in continual improvements in the phytoplankton compositional and abundance metrics, which were not observed at the control site, and may suggest an ecological response to the sustained reduction in filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP) concentration following La-bentonite application. Overall, phytoplankton classification indicated that the lake moved from poor to moderate ecological status but did not reach the proxy water quality target (i.e. WFD Good Ecological Status) within four years of the application. As for many other shallow lakes, the effective control of internal P loading in Loch Flemington will require further implementation of both in-lake and catchment-based measures. Our work emphasizes the need for appropriate experimental design and long-term monitoring programmes, to ascertain the efficacy of intervention measures in delivering environmental improvements at the field scale.
- MeSH
- Bentonite chemistry MeSH
- Eutrophication MeSH
- Phosphorus MeSH
- Phytoplankton * MeSH
- Lakes chemistry MeSH
- Lanthanum chemistry MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
... Constant -- PANEL 2-1 Chemical Bonds and Groups Commonly Encountered in Biological Molecules -- PANEL 2-2 Water ... ... -- The Proteins at a Replication Fork Cooperate to Form a -- Replication Machine 249 -- A Strand-Directed ... ... of RNA Polymerase at the Start Point of Transcription 386 -- Eukaryotic Transcription Activators Direct ... ... Largest Family of Membrane Proteins -- S AND THE ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF I ES -- -Ve Permeable to Water ... ... - 785 -- 786 -- 787 -- 788 -- 789 -- ED CONTENTS xxix -- Uses a Manganese Cluster to Withdraw From Water ...
Sixth edition xxxiv, 1430 stran v různém stránkování : ilustrace (převážně barevné) ; 29 cm
- MeSH
- Cells * MeSH
- Molecular Biology MeSH
- Conspectus
- Biochemie. Molekulární biologie. Biofyzika
- NML Fields
- molekulární biologie, molekulární medicína
- NML Publication type
- učebnice vysokých škol