Effects of municipal wastewater on aquatic ecosystem structure and function in the receiving stream

Englert, Dominic; Zubrod, Jochen P.; Schulz, Ralf; Bundschuh, Mirco

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.025

Cited by 84 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…4 Our experimental design allowed assessing the two important functions provided by aquatic hyphomycetes: i.e., microbial leaf decomposition as well as leaf palatability, which was studied via the food choice of the highly selective amphipod Gammarus fossarum KOCH, 16 a key shredder in many European low order streams. 17 Moreover, to gain a mechanistic understanding of potential implications at the functional level, the leaf-associated microbial communities were characterized. We expected the fungicides to have negative effects on both aquatic hyphomycete community structure and functioning, 11−15 while their mixture effect was hypothesized to meet or exceed reference model predictions as shown for the direct toxicity (i.e., exposure via water phase) of the same fungicide mixture toward G. fossarum.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does the Current Fungicide Risk Assessment Provide Sufficient Protection for Key Drivers in Aquatic Ecosystem Functioning?

Zubrod

Englert

Feckler

et al. 2015

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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The level of protection provided by the present environmental risk assessment (ERA) of fungicides in the European Union for fungi is unknown. Therefore, we assessed the structural and functional implications of five fungicides with different modes of action (azoxystrobin, carbendazim, cyprodinil, quinoxyfen, and tebuconazole) individually and in mixture on communities of aquatic hyphomycetes. This is a polyphyletic group of fungi containing key drivers in the breakdown of leaf litter, governing both microbial leaf decomposition and the palatability of leaves for leaf-shredding macroinvertebrates. All fungicides impaired leaf palatability to the leaf-shredder Gammarus fossarum and caused structural changes in fungal communities. In addition, all compounds except for quinoxyfen altered microbial leaf decomposition. Our results suggest that the European Union's first-tier ERA provides sufficient protection for the tested fungicides, with the exception of tebuconazole and the mixture, while higher-tier ERA does not provide an adequate level of protection for fungicides in general. Therefore, our results show the need to incorporate aquatic fungi as well as their functions into ERA testing schemes to safeguard the integrity of aquatic ecosystems.

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Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does the Current Fungicide Risk Assessment Provide Sufficient Protection for Key Drivers in Aquatic Ecosystem Functioning?

Zubrod

Englert

Feckler

et al. 2015

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Leaf material that was microbially colonized under control conditions or in the presence of fungicides was used to assess two functional endpoints: first, the food choice of Gammarus fossarum Koch (Crustacea, Amphipoda), a key shredder in low‐order streams (Englert et al . ), was utilized to demonstrate fungicide‐induced alterations in micro‐organism‐mediated leaf palatability. Second, microbial leaf decomposition was quantified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inorganic fungicides as routinely applied in organic and conventional agriculture can increase palatability but reduce microbial decomposition of leaf litter

Zubrod

Feckler

Englert

et al. 2015

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary1. The application of fungicides is considered an indispensable measure to secure crop production. These substances, however, may unintentionally enter surface waters via run-off, potentially affecting the microbial community. To assess such risks adequately, authorities recently called for suitable test designs involving relevant aquatic micro-organisms. 2. We assessed the structural and functional responses of leaf-associated microbial communities, which play a key role in the breakdown of allochthonous leaf material in streams, towards the inorganic fungicides copper (Cu) and elemental sulphur (S). These substances are of particular interest as they are authorized for both conventional and organic farming in many countries of the world. We used the food choice of the amphipod shredder Gammarus fossarum (indicative for micro-organism-mediated leaf palatability) as well as microbial leaf decomposition as functional endpoints. Moreover, the leaf-associated microbial communities were characterized by means of bacterial density, fungal biomass and community composition facilitating mechanistic understanding of the observed functional effects. 3. While Gammarus preferred Cu-exposed leaves over unexposed ones, microbial leaf decomposition was reduced by both Cu and S (up to 30%). Furthermore, Cu exposure decreased bacterial densities (up to 60%), stimulated the growth of leaf-associated fungi (up to 100%) and altered fungal community composition, while S did not affect any of the assessed structural endpoints. 4. Synthesis and applications. We observed both structural and functional changes in leafassociated microbial communities at inorganic fungicide concentrations realistic for surface water bodies influenced by conventional and organic farming. Our data hence justify a careful re-evaluation of the environmental safety of the agricultural use of these compounds. Moreover, inclusion of an experimental design similar to the one used in this study in lower tier environmental risk assessments of antimicrobial compounds may aid to safeguard the integrity of aquatic microbial communities and the functions they provide.

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“…The optimized management and treatment of domestic and industrial effluents represents a major environmental stake (WHO 2006a;Panouilleres et al 2007;Englert et al 2013). Disinfection is usually a chemical unit operation in the water treatment process, whose objective is the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms in order to minimize risks of waterborne diseases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicity on aquatic organisms exposed to secondary effluent disinfected with chlorine, peracetic acid, ozone and UV radiation

et al. 2014

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The toxic potential of four disinfectant agents (chlorine, ozone, peracetic acid and UV radiation), used in the disinfection of urban wastewater, was evaluated with respect to four aquatic organisms. Disinfection assays were carried out with wastewater from the city of Araraquara (São Paulo State, Brazil), and subsequently, toxicity bioassays were applied in order to verify possible adverse effects to the cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia silvestrii and Daphnia similis), midge larvae Chironomus xanthus and fish (Danio rerio). Under the experimental conditions tested, all the disinfectants were capable of producing harmful effects on the test organisms, except for C. xanthus. The toxicity of the effluent to C. silvestrii was observed to increase significantly as a result of disinfection using 2.5 mg L(-1) chlorine and 29.9 mg L(-1) ozone. Ozonation and chlorination significantly affected the survival of D. similis and D. rerio, causing mortality of 60 to 100 % in comparison to the non-disinfected effluent. In experiments with effluent treated with peracetic acid (PAA) and UV radiation, a statistically significant decrease in survival was only detected for D. rerio. This investigation suggested that the study of the ideal concentrations of disinfectants is a research need for ecologically safe options for the treatment of wastewater.

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Effects of municipal wastewater on aquatic ecosystem structure and function in the receiving stream

Cited by 84 publications

References 57 publications

Does the Current Fungicide Risk Assessment Provide Sufficient Protection for Key Drivers in Aquatic Ecosystem Functioning?

Does the Current Fungicide Risk Assessment Provide Sufficient Protection for Key Drivers in Aquatic Ecosystem Functioning?

Inorganic fungicides as routinely applied in organic and conventional agriculture can increase palatability but reduce microbial decomposition of leaf litter

Toxicity on aquatic organisms exposed to secondary effluent disinfected with chlorine, peracetic acid, ozone and UV radiation

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