Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren Negrazis, Karen A. Kidd, Maitane Erdozain, Erik J. S. Emilson, Carl P. J. Mitchell, Michelle A. Gray
Summary: Forest management affects the transport of mercury and its conversion to methylmercury in water systems, which in turn affects the bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of methylmercury in aquatic organisms. The type of disturbance from forestry has an impact on the accumulation of methylmercury and the trophic transfer along the river continuum.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Steven Goodbred, Michael R. Rosen, Reynaldo Patino, David Alvarez, Kathy Echols, Kerensa King, John Umek
Summary: The study assessed the distribution of SOCs in the food web of Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona, USA and found that the introduction of invasive quagga mussels influenced this distribution. It was observed that quagga mussel growth has shifted a considerable portion of the SOC mass from the pelagic to the benthic environments, resulting in increased risk of SOC exposure for benthic species.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
T. A. Johnston, A. D. Ehrman, J. J. Montgomery, H. K. Swanson
Summary: Variation among individuals in stable isotope composition is increasingly utilized as an ecological index of trophic niche size, assuming that most of the observed variation comes from differences in diet. The study found that non-dietary variation in delta C-13 and delta N-15 is usually a small component of the total delta C-13 and delta N-15 variation seen in wild lake trout populations, indicating that current isotopic niche metrics primarily capture dietary variation.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David J. Yurkowski, Elena McCulloch, Wesley R. Ogloff, Kelsey F. Johnson, Remi Amiraux, Niladri Basu, Kyle H. Elliott, Aaron T. Fisk, Steven H. Ferguson, Les N. Harris, Kevin J. Hedges, Kevin Jacobs, Tracey N. Loewen, Cory J. D. Matthews, C. J. Mundy, Andrea Niemi, Bruno Rosenberg, Cortney A. Watt, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: Combining mercury and stable isotope data sets can help determine whether predator's contaminant variation is influenced by diet, habitat use, or environmental factors. We examined 249 individuals from 15 fish and four marine mammal species in coastal Arctic waters to investigate inter-species variation in total Hg concentrations, trophic magnification slope between 815N and THg, and relationships of THg with 813C and 834S. Our findings highlight the significance of employing a multi-isotopic approach, including 834S, when studying trophic Hg dynamics in coastal marine systems.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ri Jin Jiang, Fan Yang, Feng Chen, Rui Yin, Ming Zhi Liu, Wen Bin Zhu, Ai Guo, Lian Wei Liu
Summary: This study analyzed the feeding habits and nutritional interactions among three tuna species in the waters of the Solomon Islands. The results showed differences in feeding habits and stomach fullness among the species, with a specialized feeding tendency. Understanding the feeding ecology of these tuna species is important for the ecosystem and food web structure.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Leticia Morgana Mueller, Renato Kipnis, Mariane Pereira Ferreira, Sara Marzo, Bianca Fiedler, Mary Lucas, Jana Ilgner, Hilton P. Silva, Patrick Roberts
Summary: This study analyzes stable isotopes in human and animal remains from the Volta Grande do Rio Xingu region to investigate the diets of pre-Columbian populations in the Amazon Basin. The results indicate that people in different areas and time periods primarily consumed C-3 plants, wild terrestrial fauna, and aquatic resources, with varying levels of integration of C-4 plants. The study also highlights regional adaptations to local watercourses and forest types in the Amazon Basin, based on a comparison with other datasets.
Article
Ecology
Amandine J. M. Sabadel, Colin D. MacLeod
Summary: Stable isotopes have been used to characterize host-parasite trophic relationships, revealing parasites being N-15 enriched compared to hosts, with their δN-15 values strongly related to feeding behaviors. Broader sample inclusion helped to understand metabolic mechanisms, while carbon stable isotope values and C:N ratios identified lipid requirement of trematode parasites. Parasitic infections should not be ignored as they influence host trophic position significantly, and focusing on specific host and parasite groups reduces variation seen in broader isotope studies.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alethea S. Madgett, Kyari Yates, Lynda Webster, Craig McKenzie, Andrew Brownlow, Colin F. Moffat
Summary: This study investigated the variability of concentrations and distributions of PCB and PBDE congeners in 26 species from different locations around Scotland. The study found clear differences in congener distribution between sample categories and species, influenced by physiological processes and eco-biological parameters. Trophic magnification was observed for the ICES-7 PCBs and BDE47 using the traditional method, with CB52 showing the highest degree of magnification. The unbalanced dataset influenced the calculated trophic magnification factor (TMF) and sometimes the overall conclusions of congener biomagnification. The use of a balanced method is recommended for accurate TMF calculations, particularly in regional comparisons with difficult sampling requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rachel D. Wigginton, Chloe Van Grootheest, Hildie Spautz, J. Letitia Grenier, Christine R. Whitcraft
Summary: This study used stable isotope tools and modeling to demonstrate two mechanisms of isotopic influence by L. latifolium on omnivorous song sparrows. This study can inform site- and species-specific management strategies by demonstrating how changes to the plant community can impact entire trophic systems.
APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dhanya Mohan Lal, Giri Bhavan Sreekanth, Chitra Soman, Anupam Sharma, Zeba Jaffer Abidi
Summary: The food and feeding relationships in the Ulhas River Estuary (URE) were analyzed using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures. The results showed that there were both a phytoplankton-based pelagic food chain and a detritus-based benthic food chain in URE. The ecosystem in URE exhibited a broader food web structure and higher trophic diversity, indicating the influence of anthropogenic activities on nitrogen pollution and trophic disturbance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Danae Guiserix, Emmanuelle Albalat, Henriette Ueckermann, Priyanka Davechand, Linda M. Iaccheri, Grant Bybee, Shaw Badenhorst, Vincent Balter
Summary: Radiogenic strontium isotopes (Sr-87/Sr-86) are a useful tool for investigating migration and landscape use. The study shows that the Sr-88/Sr-86 ratio may reveal unknown dietary and physiological information. Furthermore, the delta Sr-88 values in tooth enamel can differentiate between plants and herbivores, but the distinction between herbivores and carnivores requires further research.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Riikka K. Vainio, Veijo Jormalainen, Rune Dietz, Toni Laaksonen, Ralf Schulz, Christian Sonne, Jens Sondergaard, Jochen P. Zubrod, Igor Eulaers
Summary: This study investigated the trophic dynamics of Hg in the polluted Baltic Archipelago Sea using trophic magnification and biomagnification factors. The results showed overall biomagnification of THg, with higher TMFs in pelagic species compared to benthic species when excluding homeotherm birds. However, when including homeotherm birds, the difference in TMFs between benthic and pelagic species disappeared. The study emphasizes the importance of considering ecological and ecophysiological traits when studying trophic contaminant dynamics.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ronald Amundson, Jennifer V. Mills, Laura N. Lammers, Matti Barthel, Nora Gallarotti, Johan Six, Gerhard Gebauer, Greg E. Maurer
Summary: The stable isotopes of nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) in soil and soil-respired N2O are being measured, but there is a lack of theoretical framework to interpret the data. This study uses a diffusion/reaction model to demonstrate how soil processes influence the profiles and fluxes of soil N2O and its isotopes. The results suggest that the isotope composition of soil N2O flux is dependent on the net flux rate and the difference in isotope composition between the atmosphere and the biological source.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Jennifer N. Leichliter, Tina Ludecke, Alan D. Foreman, Nicolas N. Duprey, Daniela E. Winkler, Emma R. Kast, Hubert Vonhof, Daniel M. Sigman, Gerald H. Haug, Marcus Clauss, Thomas Tutken, Alfredo Martinez-Garcia
Summary: Nitrogen isotope ratios are useful for studying animal dietary and trophic behavior. By applying a novel oxidation-denitrification method, delta N-15 values can now be measured in tooth enamel, providing a new dietary proxy for investigating food webs and trophic ecology.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rongliang Zhang, Hua Zhang, Hui Liu, Jianmin Zhao
Summary: Artificial reefs can support trophic structure and pathways similar to those of natural reefs, although there may be spatial differences in pathway magnitudes. The study shows that the development of artificial reef systems over the years enables them to be comparable to natural reef systems. Future research should focus on comparing specific trophic compartments and combining trophic ecology with community structure to better understand the development of artificial reef systems.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose E. Celis, Winfred Espejo, Janeide de A. Padilha, Karen A. Kidd, Rodrigo Goncalves, Paulo Dorneles, Douglas Oliveira, Olaf Malm, Christopher A. Celis, Gustavo Chiang
Summary: Trace metals bioaccumulate and some biomagnify in aquatic organisms, posing a threat to organisms and human consumers. This study investigated the trophodynamics of trace metals in aquatic food webs from remote coastal zones in the southern hemisphere, revealing the influence of geographic location and species on the fate of these metals.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelli L. Charbonneau, Karen A. Kidd, David P. Kreutzweiser, Paul K. Sibley, Erik J. S. Emilson, Nelson J. O'Driscoll, Michelle A. Gray
Summary: Forest harvesting has impacts on dissolved organic matter (DOM), food web structure, and aqueous mercury inputs in small streams. This study found that while measures of DOM quality and autochthony in caddisflies varied among sites, there were no upstream-to-downstream differences between partially harvested and reference catchments. However, mercury levels in stream water and caddisflies were significantly higher in upstream sites of harvested catchments compared to reference catchments, indicating the impacts of forestry activities on mercury did not manifest at larger spatial scales.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yureidy Cabrera Paez, Consuelo Maria Aguilar Betancourt, Gaspar Gonzalez Sanson, Karen A. Kidd, R. Allen Curry, Daniel Kosonoy Aceves
Summary: Coastal lagoons are important nursery habitats for marine fishes, but human activities can impact their water quality and the fish species that reside there. This study investigated the nutrient uptake and mercury levels in three common fish species in two lagoons on the central Mexican coast. The results showed that the lagoon with high wastewater inputs had higher mercury levels in fish, indicating the impact of human activities on these lagoons.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chelsea Aristone, Hossein Mehdi, Jonathan Hamilton, Kelly L. Bowen, Warren J. S. Currie, Karen A. Kidd, Sigal Balshine
Summary: Treated effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plants has a significant impact on aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate communities. However, the effects during winter have been largely ignored. This study examines the impacts of wastewater effluent on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in two different plants, and finds that the treatment capabilities and receiving environments of the plants dictate the impact on these communities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elise N. Millar, Karen A. Kidd, Michael G. Surette, C. James Bennett, Joseph Salerno, Patricia L. Gillis
Summary: The effluents from wastewater treatment plants can negatively affect the gut microbiome of downstream organisms, as shown in this study on flutedshell mussels. The composition and diversity of the mussel gut microbiome differed between upstream and downstream sites of the wastewater treatment plants, indicating potential health risks for the host organisms and the transport of wastewater-derived bacteria in aquatic ecosystems.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jennifer C. Thera, Karen A. Kidd, A. Robin Stewart, Robert F. Bertolo, Nelson J. O'Driscoll
Summary: The cysteine content is a good predictor of biomagnification of methylmercury across trophic levels and sometimes also of selenium. This provides a potential mechanism for the differences in biomagnification among different ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Zihan Xu, Ying Wang, Fengchang Wu, Chenglian Feng, Yinghao Cheng, Zhaomin Dong, Karen A. Kidd, Bryan W. Brooks, Kenneth M. Y. Leung
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose E. Celis, Winfred Espejo, Gustavo Chiang, Daiki Kitamura, Elvira Vergara, Shosaku Kashiwada, Nelson J. O'Driscoll
Summary: Pinnipeds are found to act as biovector organisms of trace elements and rare earth elements through feces in remote environments. Further studies are needed to explore their actual impacts and long-term fate in the environment.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Molly A. Bradford, Mark L. Mallory, Nelson J. O'Driscoll
Summary: Due to their natural geochemistry, intertidal estuarine ecosystems are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg). Determining MeHg concentrations in intertidal invertebrates is crucial for understanding MeHg exposure in higher trophic level organisms. This paper reviews conceptual models to clarify the complex interactions between geochemical and physical factors that impact MeHg production and bioavailability in intertidal ecosystems.
BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rachel G. Clarke, Sara J. Klapstein, Robert Keenan, Nelson J. O'Driscoll
Summary: This study investigated the effects of salinity on mercury photoreactions in water systems. It found that as salinity increased, the rate of mercury photoreduction decreased while the amount of reducible mercury increased. The study suggests that the interactions between salinity and dissolved organic matter (DOM) play a crucial role in mercury photochemistry.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Heather A. Loomer, Karen A. Kidd, Maitane Erdozain, Glenn A. Benoy, Patricia A. Chambers, Joseph M. Culp
Summary: Agricultural inputs of nutrients can disrupt the diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrate communities in streams, which in turn affects the biological storage of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrew J. Guerin, Karen A. Kidd, Marie-Josee Maltais, Angella Mercer, Heather L. Hunt
Summary: Infaunal invertebrate communities in coastal marine sediments are impacted by human activities, with a focus on harbours and estuaries. However, there is limited research on highly energetic tidal estuaries. This study collected samples from reference sites in Saint John Harbour over a decade to investigate the influence of physical and chemical variables on infaunal invertebrate communities and sediment properties.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Molly A. Bradford, Mark L. Mallory, Nelson J. O'Driscoll
Summary: Studies on mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in coastal invertebrates in eastern Canada are limited, but necessary for assessing the risk of mercury exposure in upper trophic level organisms. Our study in the Minas Basin found that the concentration of methylmercury in invertebrates was below the Canadian guideline for wildlife consumers. Invertebrates at higher trophic positions had higher levels of mercury, indicating biomagnification.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jenni Velichka, Karen A. Kidd, Kelly Munkittrick, Meera Shanmuganathan, Philip Britz-McKibbin, R. Allen Curry
Summary: Damming of a river can alter the accumulation of sediment-bound elements, food web dynamics, and the chemical composition of fish. This study found that the dam altered the uptake of contaminants and nutrients by fish, indicating the importance of location and species when considering the risks and benefits of consuming wild fish from an impacted system.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Karen. A. A. Kidd, Thomas Backhaus, Tomas Brodin, Pedro. A. A. Inostroza, Erin. S. S. McCallum
Summary: Significant progress has been made in assessing the aquatic ecotoxicity of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) mixtures. Studies have shown that mixtures often result in responses that meet the concentration addition model. However, there is a need for longer-term and multispecies assessments, as well as more research on the environmental levels of PPCP mixtures. The use of new approach methodologies, such as omics, is recommended to advance our understanding of mixture effects.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)