Artificial Food Chains Research Articles

Mosquito control based on Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) interrupts artificial wetland food chains

The biocide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) has become the most commonly used larvicide to control mosquitoes in seasonal wetlands. Although Bti is considered non-toxic to most aquatic organisms, the non-biting chironomids show high susceptibilities towards Bti. As chironomids are a key element in wetland food webs, major declines in their abundance could lead to indirect effects that may be passed through aquatic and terrestrial food chains. We conducted two mesocosm experiments to address this hypothesis by assessing direct and indirect effects of Bti-modified availability of macroinvertebrate and zooplankton food resources on the predatory larvae of palmate and smooth newts (Urodelans: Lissotriton helveticus, Lissotriton vulgaris). We examined newt survival rates and dietary composition by means of stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) analysis in the presence of Bti treatment and a predator (Odonata: Aeshna cyanea). We assessed palmate newts' body size at and time to metamorphosis while developing in Bti treated mesocosms. Chironomid larvae were the most severely affected aquatic invertebrates in all Bti treated food chains and experienced abundance reductions by 50 to 87%. Moreover, stable isotope analysis revealed that chironomids were preferred over other invertebrates and comprised the major part in newts' diet (56%) regardless of their availability. The dragonfly A. cyanea decreased survival of newt larvae by 27% in Bti treated mesocosms showing affected chironomid abundances. Increasing intraguild predation is most likely favored by the Bti-induced reduction of alternative prey such as chironomid larvae. The decreased food availability after Bti treatment led to slightly smaller L. helveticus metamorphs while their developmental time was not affected. Our findings highlight the crucial role of chironomids in the food webs of freshwater ecosystems. We are also emphasizing the importance of reconsidering human-induced indirect effects of mosquito control on valuable wetland ecosystems particularly in the context of worldwide amphibian and insect declines.

Characterizing the Influence of Metabolism on the Halogenated Organic Contaminant Biomagnification in Two Artificial Food Chains Using Compound- and Enantiomer-Specific Stable Carbon Isotope Analysis.

Two artificial food chains, food tiger barb-oscar fish and food tiger barb-redtail catfish, were established in the laboratory. The species-specific biotransformation of ortho, para'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, 12 polychlorinated biphenyl, and five polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners were characterized by measuring the compound- and enantiomer-specific stable carbon isotope composition (δ13C), enantiomeric fraction of the chiral chemicals, and metabolites in the fish. Compound- and enantiomer-specific biotransformations were revealed by the alteration of δ13C and EF in both predator fish species. Significant correlations between the carbon stable isotope signatures and the depuration rates and biomagnification factors (BMF) were observed. Chemicals that exhibited changes in δ13C during the experiment have higher kd and lower BMF values than those with unchanged δ13C. Specifically, the difference between the predicted BMF based on the log Kow and the measured BMF, ΔBMF, was significantly positively and linearly correlated to the change in the δ13C (expressed by Δδ13C/δ13Cinitial, the percentage of Δδ13C: δ13Cending-δ13Cinitial to the initial δ13Cinitial) in both food chains. These results indicated that the impact of metabolism on the bioaccumulation potential of organic contaminants can be predicted by the stable carbon isotope fractionation of chemicals in the fish.

Industry 5.0—The Relevance and Implications of Bionics and Synthetic Biology

Bionics (the imitation or abstraction of the “inventions of nature) and, to an even greater extent, synthetic biology, will be as relevant to engineering development and industry as the silicon chip was over the last 50 years. Chemical industries already use so-called “white biotechnology” for new processes, new raw materials, and more sustainable use of resources. Synthetic biology is also used for the development of second-generation biofuels and for harvesting the sun's energy with the help of tailor-made microorganisms or biometrically designed catalysts. The market potential for bionics in medicine, engineering processes, and DNA storage is huge. “Moonshot” projects are already aggressively focusing on diseases and new materials, and a US-led competition is currently underway with the aim of creating a thousand new molecules. This article describes a timeline that starts with current projects and then moves on to code engineering projects and their implications, artificial DNA, signaling molecules, and biological circuitry. Beyond these projects, one of the next frontiers in bionics is the design of synthetic metabolisms that include artificial food chains and foods, and the bioengineering of raw materials; all of which will lead to new insights into biological principles. Bioengineering will be an innovation motor just as digitalization is today. This article discusses pertinent examples of bioengineering, particularly the use of alternative carbon-based biofuels and the techniques and perils of cell modification. Big data, analytics, and massive storage are important factors in this next frontier. Although synthetic biology will be as pervasive and transformative in the next 50 years as digitization and the Internet are today, its applications and impacts are still in nascent stages. This article provides a general taxonomy in which the development of bioengineering is classified in five stages (DNA analysis, bio-circuits, minimal genomes, protocells, xenobiology) from the familiar to the unknown, with implications for safety and security, industrial development, and the development of bioengineering and biotechnology as an interdisciplinary field. Ethical issues and the importance of a public debate about the consequences of bionics and synthetic biology are discussed.

Transfer of benzo[a]pyrene from microplastics to Artemia nauplii and further to zebrafish via a trophic food web experiment: CYP1A induction and visual tracking of persistent organic pollutants.

The uptake of microplastic particles and the transfer of potential harmful substances along with microplastics has been studied in a variety of organisms, especially invertebrates. However, the potential accumulation of very small microplastic particles along food webs ending with vertebrate models has not been investigated so far. Therefore, a simple artificial food chain with Artemia sp. nauplii and zebrafish (Danio rerio) was established to analyze the transfer of microplastic particles and associated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) between different trophic levels. Very small (1-20 μm) microplastic particles accumulated in Artemia nauplii and were subsequently transferred to fish. Virgin particles not loaded with POPs did not cause any observable physical harm in the intestinal tracts of zebrafish, although parts of the particles were retained within the mucus of intestinal villi and might even have been taken up by epithelial cells. The transfer of associated POPs was tested with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene and an ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay for CYP1A induction in zebrafish liver as well as via fluorescence analyses. Whereas a significant induction in the EROD assay could not be shown, because of high individual variation and low sensitivity regarding substance concentration, the fluorescence tracking of benzo[a]pyrene indicates that food-borne microplastic-associated POPs may actually desorb in the intestine of fish and are thus transferred to the intestinal epithelium and liver. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1656-1666. © 2016 SETAC.

Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis, larvae utilize energy and nutrients of microbial loop

Prey–predator interactions among planktonic organisms in larval tanks of bluefin tuna and red sea bream were investigated quantitatively, and carbon flow models were constructed from the results of feeding experiments. Two different carbon pathways were uncovered in the rearing water of both fish species. One was from autotrophic nano-plankton (ANP) to rotifers to fish larvae (artificial food chain) and the other was from bacteria to heterotrophic nano-plankton (HNP) to heterotrophic micro-plankton (HMP) (a microbial loop). Surprisingly, bluefin tuna selectively consumed HMP, especially dinoflagellates, throughout the experiment. In the bluefin tuna tank, the microbial loop was linked to the artificial food chain. On the other hand, red sea bream larvae did not consume HMP and the pathway in the red sea bream tank was more straightforward than in the bluefin tuna tank. Energy and nutrients transferred to red sea bream larvae via the artificial food chain only, except for 3 days after hatching. Biomass of micro-protozoa were high (3.2–158.4 ng C ml − 1) in the bluefin tuna tank with higher water temperature (26.0–27.6 °C) and low (3.0–4.9 ng C ml − 1 ) in the red sea bream tank with lower temperature (19.8–20.1 °C). The study suggests that difference in water temperature is a significant factor for the microbial loop in rearing tanks of fish larvae. This is the first report suggesting that a microbial loop, established naturally, contributes energy and nutrient gain to bluefin tuna larvae reared in an artificially controlled environment.

Modelling food web complexity: The consequences of individual-based, spatially explicit behavioural ecology on trophic interactions

We present a prototype simulator that enables one to explore the influence of individual behaviour on the dynamics and structural complexity of food webs. In the simulations, individuals act according to simple, biologically plausible rules in a spatially explicit setting. We present the results of a series of simulation experiments on artificial, tri-trophic level food chains used to calibrate the simulator against real-world systems and to demonstrate the simulator's promise for ecological modelling. Our primary objective was to discover the biological features leading to stability of artificial food chains over ecological time and under different conditions of trophic efficiency. This involved a qualitative analysis of food chains comprised of a plant, a herbivore and a carnivore species. We explored the consequences of allowing individual heterotrophs to make active choices about resource selection (perception and intentional behaviour) under high and low degrees of trophic efficiency. We found that individuals had to adopt realistic behavioural ecological strategies, such as active resource selection, for systems to persist, especially under conditions in which trophic efficiencies were of the magnitude observed in real systems (e.g. 10%). Our results reaffirm previous convictions that a better understanding of food web interactions in real-world systems will require approaches that blend animal behavioural ecology with population and community ecology. However, the evidence comes from a new mathematical perspective.

Potential advantages of frozen algae ( Nannochloropsis sp.) for rotifer ( Brachionus plicatilis) culture

The eustigmatophyte Nannochloropsis is widely used in many aquaculture hatcheries to establish the initial step of an artificial food chain. The advantage of Nannochloropsis over other unicellular algae is primarily its unique fatty acid composition. Rotifers which consume the algae carry these fatty acids to the fish larvae. Cultivation of large quantities of algal biomass to support this food chain is a heavy burden in many hatcheries, and in many other locations it cannot be carried out all year round. In this study we examined the possibility of substituting frozen biomass for fresh Nannochloropsis as a sole food source for rotifer cultures or as an enrichment treatment prior to feeding the rotifers to the larvae. Relatively high reproductive rates were found in rotifers of three strains which were fed frozen Nannochloropsis biomass. Total fatty acid content of these rotifers and fatty acid distribution were related to the chemical composition of the algae. Although seasonal variations in biochemical composition and fatty acid distribution were found in the algal biomass, the quality of the long-term frozen algae was adequate to provide the rotifers with the essential fatty acids almost all year round. No differences were found in the fatty acid composition of rotifers fed with algae stored at − 20 °C or − 70 °C. The thawed algal biomass could be kept at 4 °C for 7 days and be used for rotifer feeding without a significant adverse effect on the fatty acid content and composition in the rotifers. The results of this study suggest that application of frozen Nannochloropsis biomass may promote easier management in biomass production of lipid-enriched rotifers. This provides the artificial food chain with essential fatty acids, which are crucial for the development and cultivation of fish larvae, with a relatively limited effort for algae production on the hatchery site.

Herbicide effects on planktonic systems of different complexity

Bioassays of different complexity were compared with respect to their capability to predict the environmental impact of the herbicide atrazine in aquatic systems. Acute toxicity tests with Daphnia did not yield meaningful results. Sublethal tests with Daphnia (feeding inhibition, reduction of growth and reproduction) were more sensitive, but effective concentrations of atrazine were still rather high (2 mg/L). A relatively complicated ‘artificial food chain’ system that incorporated direct and indirect effects on Daphnia yielded significant reduction of daphnid population growth at 0.1 mg/L. Enclosure experiments with natural communities were by far the most sensitive tools. Community responses could be measured at concentrations as low as 1 µg/L and 0.1 µg atrazine/L. At the lowest concentration, however, communities recovered after three weeks. We conclude that in complex systems indirect effects can be more important than direct effects, so that, contrary to the conditions in simple tests, non-target organisms may be the better indicators of herbicide stress to natural communities.

Aquacultural approaches to recycling of dissolved nutrients in secondarily treated domestic wastewaters—I Nutrient uptake and release by artificial food chains

Wastewater based artificial food chains composed of sequential monocultures of a suspended unicellular green alga, of an herbivorous cladoceran crustacean, and of an herbivorous or a carnivorous teleost fish and of filamentous green algae were studied in an effort to find efficient, potentially economically viable mechanisms for the biological capture (tertiary treatment) of nutrients (especially nitrate and phosphate) in wastewaters processed by small to medium size two-stage treatment plants that primarily handle domestic and agricultural wastes. All experiments were carried out on laboratory scale systems with a low technology approach to keep apparatus and procedures as simple and reliable as possible. Among all organisms tested as components of the artificial food chains only the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus, the filamentous green algae Cladophora and Ulothrix, the cladoceran crustaceans Daphnia magna and Daphnia pulex, and the teleost fishes Notemigonus crysoleucas, Pimephales promelas and Notropis lutrensis were found to be suitable. Unmodified secondarily treated domestic effluents were both iron deficient and lacking in buffering capacity necessary for optimal algal growth. Additions of both ferrous iron (1 ppm) and carbon dioxide (5%) were required to achieve good quality cultures suitable for feeding cladocerans. Most removal of nutrients occurred in the first algal stage of the food chain. Nitrate removal averaged 78%, phosphate removal 55% in buffered algal cultures. In unbuffered cultures nitrate removal was 30%, phosphate removal 98%. The near complete removal of phosphate in unbuffered algal cultures was probably due to physico-chemical precipitation of phosphate complexes formed as a result of high pH levels (pH > 10) reached within 24 h of culture initiation. Cladoceran and fish stages added nutrients (mostly ammonia and phosphate) back into the effluent. A final stage of Ulothrix and Cladophora algae removed nutrients regenerated by cladocerans and fishes. A 12 h light–12 h dark cycle statistically significantly reduced levels of nutrient removal by both unbuffered and buffered algal cultures below removal rates measured in algae cultured in continuous light. Daily harvesting rates of 25–75% of culture volumes had no significant effect upon removals of nitrate by buffered algal cultures; phosphate removals were inversely proportional to harvesting rates in these cultures. Important theoretical and technical points are discussed.

Aquacultural approaches to recycling of dissolved nutrients in secondarily treated domestic wastewaters-IV conclusions, design and operational considerations for artificial food chains

We have studied nutrient uptake, biological productivity, and heavy metal properties of laboratory scale artificial food chains composed of sequential monocultures of suspended unicellular green algae, herbivorous cladoceran crustaceans or teleost fish, carnivorous teleost fish, and, in some experiments, filamentous green algae. These food chains were grown in fully secondarily treated, chlorinated, then dechlorinated, domestic wastewaters. The later stages in the food chains were fed the products of the just preceding stages. This paper summarizes the results of the entire project, in terms of conclusions, implications for future work on recycling of nutrients in wastewater, and design and operational considerations for functional food chains.

Aquacultural approaches to recycling of dissolved nutrients in secondarily treated domestic wastewaters—III uptake of dissolved heavy metals by artificial food chains

We have studied the concentrations of 15 heavy metals in the successive stages of artificial food chains composed of sequential monocultures of suspended unicellular green algae ( Scenedesmus), herbivorous cladoceran crustaceans ( Daphnia magna and D. pulex), and carnivorous teleost fish ( Notemigonus crysoleucas and Pimephales promelas). These food chains were grown in secondarily treated, chlorinated, then dechlorinated domestic wastewaters. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals occurred mainly in the algae (concentration factors for different metals of 500–30,000). Later stages in the food chains showed lower accumulations than in the algae (concentration factors of 30–6000 for Daphnia, 4–1600 for fish). Algae cultured in unmodified, unbuffered effluent accumulated much more Fe and Zn than they did other metals. Relative abundances of the other metals in the algae were substantially different from their relative abundances in effluent. Supplementation of unbuffered effluent with 3 ppm Fe 2+ (as FeSO 4·7H 2O; containing only trace quantities of the other metals) changed many metal concentrations in the algal cells. Increases occurred for Fe, Mn, Cu, and Mo; Sn decreased; the others were unchanged. Large amounts of Pb and Sr were also accumulated by these cells. Cladocerans demonstrated substantial selectivity in tissue concentrations of heavy metals. Concentrations ranged from 2 to 50% of concentrations in algal cells. Relative abundances of metals differed between the algae and both species of Daphnia, as well as between the two daphnids. Excepting only Cr, concentrations of all elements assayed were either equal in the two species (Co, V) or higher in D. magna than in D. pulex. The two fishes studied successfully excluded from the muscles substantial amounts of the metals accumulated by the Daphnia. Relative abundances of the metals also differed between the two fish species.

Aquacultural approaches to recycling of dissolved nutrients in secondarily treated domestic wastewaters-II biological productivity of artificial food chains

We have studied the biological productivity, measured as biomass yields, of laboratory scale artificial food chains composed of sequential monocultures of suspended unicellular green algae ( Scenedesmus), herbivorous cladoceran crustaceans ( Daphnia magna), and herbivorous teleost fish ( Hypophthalmichthys). These food chains were grown in minimally modified secondarily treated, chlorinated then dechlorinated, domestic waste waters. Successive stages in the chains were fed the organisms grown in the just preceding stages. Additions of 1 ppm ferrous sulfate and aeration with mixtures of air plus 5% carbon dioxide (buffered cultures) increased yields of Scenedesmus cultures by 52% above yields of air aerated, unsupplemented cultures (unbuffered cultures). Buffered cultures remained stable for long periods (1–2 weeks) and maintained good cell quality (no chlorosis; 90+% of cells present were Scenedesmus). Unbuffered, unsupplemented cultures soon became chlorotic, cells autoflocculated (which greatly reduced yields), and changes occurred in species composition. These latter cultures were unsuitable as food for cladocerans. Three production indices (conversion coefficients, specific production, and production/biomass ratios) showed that better growth occurred in cladoceran cultures fed buffered algal cultures as compared with unbuffered cultures. When fed unbuffered cultures cladocerans showed higher production indices when flocculated but unsettled cultures were used, as compared with supernates from flocculated, settled cultures. Attempts to grow the primarily herbivorous silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) in a two-stage (buffered algae-fish) food chain failed. Ammonia toxicity may have been the cause of fish deaths.

A directly coupled, artificial two-step food chain for long-term experiments with filter-feeders at constant food concentrations

A system is described consisting of a chemostat for culturing algae, a dilution unit and special experimental vessels, allowing long-term experiments with filter feeders at a constant concentration and quality of food. The algal suspension flows continuously from a chemostat, is mixed with sterile filtered water, and pumped directly into the experimental vessels. The flow through the vessels is intensive enough to avoid a significant change in food concentration by sedimentation or grazing. There are two possible arrangements, the first providing many duplicates with exactly the same food concentrations, the second providing a series of graduated food concentrations. Details of construction are given. The application of both arrangements is demonstrated by experiments with Daphnia pulex. Further possibilities of application are suggested.

Toxicological investigations in an artificial ecosystem. A progress report on copper toxicity towards algae and daphniae

1. It is suggested that the toxicological investigation of marine pollution should aim at studying, in long-term experiments, transport and accumulation in food chains and the influence of secondary stress on these phenomena. 2. A laboratory set-up is described with algae, micro-crustaceans and fishes as an artificial food chain kept in continuous-flow systems. 3. Preliminary results with copper as the toxic agent are given withChlorella pyrenoidosa andDaphnia magna as the experimental organisms. 4. It is shown that in toxicity experiments assessed by mortality and generation size, continuous-flow tests are more discriminating and sensitive towardsD. magna than static tests. Reproduction is the more sensitive measure. A concentration of 56 p.p.b. copper is limiting for the development of daphniae. 5. A concentration of about 1000 p.p.b. copper is limiting for the development ofC. pyrenoidosa. Copper is accumulated in its cells about 4000 to 5000 x. 6. If fed with algae cultured in copper-containing media, it is found thatD. magna is inhibited at concentrations of 560 p.p.b. copper in the algal medium. It is concluded that poisoning by way of food in this case appears to be less efficient than poisoning directly by way of dissolved copper in the medium. 7. Provisional calculations, taking into account the rate of feeding, suggest that the actual amount of copper becoming available to the daphniae by way of food is slightly higher than that by direct absorption from the medium.