• Energy Research

This study evaluated how different combinations of air temperature (20 °C and 25 °C) and soil moisture content (50% and 30% of the soil water holding capacity, WHC), reflecting realistic climate change scenarios, affect the bioaccumulation kinetics of Zn and Cd in the earthworm Eisenia andrei. Earthworms were exposed for 21 d to two metal-contaminated soils (uptake phase), followed by 21 d incubation in non-contaminated soil (elimination phase). Body Zn and Cd concentrations were checked in time and metal uptake (k1) and elimination (k2) rate constants determined; metal bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was calculated as k1/k2. Earthworms showed extremely fast uptake and elimination of Zn, regardless of the exposure level. Climate conditions had no major impacts on the bioaccumulation kinetics of Zn, although a tendency towards lower k1 and k2 values was observed at 25 °C + 30% WHC. Earthworm Cd concentrations gradually increased with time upon exposure to metal-contaminated soils, especially at 50% WHC, and remained constant or slowly decreased following transfer to non-contaminated soil. Different combinations of air temperature and soil moisture content changed the bioaccumulation kinetics of Cd, leading to higher k1 and k2 values for earthworms incubated at 25 °C + 50% WHC and slower Cd kinetics at 25 °C + 30% WHC. This resulted in greater BAFs for Cd at warmer and drier environments which could imply higher toxicity risks but also of transfer of Cd within the food chain under the current global warming perspective.

Global environmental changes are nowadays one of the most important issues affecting terrestrial ecosystems. One of its most significant expressions is the increasing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) arising from the human-induced depletion in ozone layer. Therefore, to investigate the effects of UVR on the terrestrial isopod Porcellionides pruinosus a multiple biomarker approach was carried out. Two experiments were performed in order to analyze the importance of the exposure environment and the growth stage on the UV-induced damages. First, adult individuals were exposed to UVR in three exposure environments (soil, soil with leaves, and plaster). Thereafter, three growth stages using soil as the exposure condition were tested. Integrated biomarker responses (IBR) suggested that UV effects were higher in plaster, and mostly identified by changes in acetylcholinesterase and glutathione-S-transferases activities, lipid peroxidation rates, and total energy available. The effects in soil and soil with leaves were not so clear. In the growth stages' experiment, juveniles and pre-adults were found to be more affected than adults, with the greatest differences between irradiated and non-irradiated isopods occurring in energy-related parameters. Our findings suggest that soil surface-living macrofauna may be prone to deleterious effects caused by UVR, highlighting the importance of taking the media of exposure and growth stage in account.

Abstract In the last decades biomarkers have been widely used for the assessment of effects and/or exposure to environmental contaminants, but to our knowledge few data has been published for isopod species. Along with biomarkers the quantification of energy reserves has also been used to evaluate organisms’ energetic budget. Enzymatic biomarkers can also be useful to understand chemicals/stress modes of action. The aim of this study was to obtain information on biomarker basal level activities and energy contents of the isopod Porcellionides pruinosus as little information is available. Results can then be used as foundations for other ecotoxicological or biomonitorization studies and also as control values for evaluating isopod status in laboratory cultures. The cholinesterase (ChE) type of the isopod P. pruinosus was characterized using three substrates (acetylthiocholine iodide, propionylthiocholine iodide, and S -butyrylthiocholine iodide) and three ChE inhibitors (eserine hemisulfate, tetraisopropyl pyrophosphoramide (iso-OMPA) and 1,5-bis(4-allyldimethyl-ammonimphenyl) pentan-3-one dibromide (BW284C51)]. The results showed that this organism has only one cholinesterase form, the acetylcholinesterase with a mean basal level of 113.6 ± 4.7 U/mg protein. Other biomarkers related to oxidative stress or metabolism were assessed, showing activity ranges of 3.0 ± 1.1 U/mg protein for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 6.1 ± 1.1 U/mg protein for catalase (CAT), 2.7 ± 1.1 U/mg protein for glutathione peroxidase (GPx), 34.6 ± 4.7 nmol/mg ww for lipid peroxidation (LPO) and 137.8 ± 7.1 U/mg protein for glutathione S -transferases (GST) (mean ± st. error). The carbohydrates and protein contents were 12290.8 ± 56.4 J/mg organism (org) and 22905 ± 57.5 J/mg org, respectively (mean ± st. error). The mean lipid content was 503.1 ± 12.7 J/mg org. Our results were compared to other previous works with isopod species but also with other species, showing high levels of inter and intraspecific variability. Even tough this study can contribute as foundations for other studies as ChE characterization, optimization of homogenization procedures and basal levels for biomarker activity and energy reserves were described.

This study aimed to assess the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and chemical stress (triclosan-TCS; potassium dichromate-PD; prochloraz-PCZ) on bacterial communities of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos (ZEBC). Embryos were exposed to two UVR intensities and two chemical concentrations not causing mortality or any developmental effect (equivalent to the No-Observed-Effect Concentration-NOEC; NOEC diluted by 10-NOEC/10). Effects on ZEBC were evaluated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and interpreted considering structure, richness and diversity. ZEBC were affected by both stressors even at concentrations/doses not affecting the host-organism (survival/development). Yet, some stress-tolerant bacterial groups were revealed. The structure of the ZEBC was always affected, mainly due to xenobiotic presence. Richness and diversity decreased after exposure to NOEC of PD. Interactive effects occurred for TCS and UVR. Aquatic microbiota imbalance might have repercussions for the host/aquatic system, particularly in a realistic scenario/climate change perspective therefore, future ecotoxicological models should consider xenobiotics interactions with UVR.

Global warming is drastically altering the climate conditions of our planet. Soils will be among the most affected components of terrestrial ecosystems, especially in contaminated areas. In this study we investigated if changes in climate conditions (air temperature and soil moisture) affect the toxicity of historically metal(loid)-contaminated soils to the invertebrate Folsomia candida, followed by an assessment of its recovery capacity. Ecotoxicity tests (assessing survival, reproduction) were performed in field soils affected by metal(loid)s under different climate scenarios, simulated by individually changing air temperature or soil moisture conditions. The scenarios tested were: standard conditions (20°C + 50% soil water holding capacity-WHC); increased air temperature (daily fluctuation of 20-30°C + 50% WHC); soil drought (20°C + 25% WHC); soil flood (20°C + 75% WHC). Recovery potential was assessed under standard conditions in clean soil. Increased temperature was the major climate condition negatively affecting collembolans performance (decreased survival and reproduction), regardless of metal(loid) contamination. Drought and flood conditions presented less pronounced effects. When it was possible to move to the recovery phase (enough juveniles in exposure phase), F. candida was apparently able to recover from the exposure to metal(loid) contamination and/or climate alterations. The present study showed that forecasted climate alterations in areas already affected by contamination should be considered to improve environmental risk assessment.

The interplay between metal contamination and climate change may exacerbate the negative impact on the soil microbiome and, consequently, on soil health and ecosystem services. We assessed the response of the microbial community of a heavy metal-contaminated soil when exposed to short-term (48 h) variations in air temperature, soil humidity or ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the absence and presence of Enchytraeus crypticus (soil invertebrate). Each of the climate scenarios simulated significantly altered at least one of the microbial parameters measured. Irrespective of the presence or absence of invertebrates, the effects were particularly marked upon exposure to increased air temperature and alterations in soil moisture levels (drought and flood scenarios). The observed effects can be partly explained by significant alterations in soil properties such as pH, dissolved organic carbon, and water-extractable heavy metals, which were observed for all scenarios in comparison to standard conditions. The occurrence of invertebrates mitigated some of the impacts observed on the soil microbial community, particularly in bacterial abundance, richness, diversity, and metabolic activity. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering the interplay between climate change, anthropogenic pressures, and soil biotic components to assess the impact of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems and to develop and implement effective management strategies.

Abstract The effects of combined exposure to microplastics and contaminants are still not completely understood. To fill this gap, we assessed the effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastic fibers (100 mg/L; 360 µm average length) on the toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs; 32 nm) and silver nitrate (AgNO3; 0.1–10 µg Ag/L) to Daphnia magna. Acute immobilization (median effect concentration [EC50]) and cellular energy allocation (CEA; ratio between available energy and energy consumption) were determined in neonates (<24 h old) and juveniles (7 d old), respectively. The 48-h EC50 for AgNP and AgNO3 (2.6 and 0.67 µg Ag/L, respectively) was not affected by the presence of microplastic fibers (2.2 and 0.85 µg Ag/L, respectively). No decrease in the available energy was observed: lipid, carbohydrate, and protein contents were unaffected. However, a significant increase in energy consumption was observed in animals exposed to AgNO3 (250% compared with control) and to the combination of microplastic fibers with AgNP (170%) and AgNO3 (260%). The exposure to microplastic fibers alone or in combination with both Ag forms decreased the CEA (values were 55–75% of control values). Our results show that after short-term exposure (48 h), microplastic fibers increased Ag toxicity at a subcellular level (i.e., CEA), but not at the individual level (i.e., immobilization). These results highlight the importance of combining different levels of biological organization to fully assess the ecotoxicological effects of plastics in association with environmental contaminants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:896–904. © 2021 SETAC

Climate changes are nowadays an important issue of concern, and it is expected that in the near future it will be intensified, leading to extreme environmental conditions. These changes are expected to originate additional sources of stress; therefore, the exposure of organisms to natural stressors is receiving an increased importance in risk assessment. Organisms tend to avoid extremely environmental conditions looking for optimum conditions. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of natural stressors on the energetic reserves of Daphnia magna using the quantification of lipids, proteins, and sugars.Daphnids were exposed to different temperature regimes (16, 18, 22, 24, and 26°C), food levels (2, 1.5, 1, 0.5, and 0 and 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, and 6 × 10(5) cells/ml Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) and oxygen depletion (2 to 6 mg DO/L) and their energy reserves quantified. Protein, lipid, and sugar contents where compared between daphnids exposed to control conditions and ones exposed to considered stress situations.Significant changes in energy reserves content after a 96-h exposure were observed in temperatures 16, 22, 24, and 26°C. In the exposure to different food levels, daphnids showed significant differences on their energetic reserves when exposed to higher or lower levels of algae when compared with the control. Oxygen depletion did not affect significantly their energy budget.The results from this work demonstrate that the environmental alterations related mainly to temperatures variations and food availability produced changes in D. magna energetic reserves. These changes can be transposed to the population levels as they are a result of changes in the metabolic rate and physiological processes that are related to growth and maturation.