Odra River Estuary Research Articles

Metabolomic study on ostracods exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of five pharmaceuticals selected via a novel approach

Pharmaceuticals (PhACs) are increasingly detected in aquatic ecosystems, yet their effects on biota remain largely unknown. The environmentally relevant concentrations of many PhACs may not result in individual-level responses, like mortality or growth inhibition, traditional toxicity endpoints. However, this doesn't imply the absence of negative effects on biota. Metabolomics offers a more sensitive approach, detecting responses at molecular and cellular levels and providing mechanistic understanding of adverse effects. We evaluated bioaccumulation and metabolic alterations in a benthic ostracod, Heterocypris incongruens, exposed to a mixture of five PhACs (carbamazepine, tiapride, tolperisone, propranolol and amlodipine) at environmentally relevant concentrations for 7 days using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The selection of PhACs was based, among other factors, on risk quotient values determined using toxicological data available in the literature and concentrations of PhACs quantified in our previous research in the sediments of the Odra River estuary. This represents a novel approach to PhACs selection for metabolomic studies that considers strictly quantitative data. Amlodipine and tolperisone exhibited the highest bioaccumulation. Significant impacts were observed in Alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, Starch and sucrose metabolism, Arginine biosynthesis, Histidine metabolism, Tryptophan metabolism, Glycerophospholipid metabolism, and Glutathione metabolism pathways. Most of the below-individual-level responses were likely nonspecific and related to dysregulation in energy metabolism and oxidative stress response. Additionally, some pharmaceutical-specific responses were also observed. Therefore, untargeted metabolomics can be used to detect metabolic changes resulting from environmentally relevant concentrations of PhACs in aquatic ecosystems and to understand their underlying mechanism.

Microorganisms’ communities from ballast water transferred into the Odra River estuary

Ballast water is a significant vector for the transport and introduction of aquatic organisms, microorganisms and chemical pollutants which impacts on ecosystems worldwide. In the study, ballast water from short- and long- range vessels with treatment systems was microbiologically evaluated in spring (April 20th) and summer (July 19th) and compared with waters of the main Police Seaport in the Odra River Estuary, southern Baltic Sea. All collected samples were evaluated for their physicochemical properties by standard methods. The number of individual groups of microorganisms was determined using the indirect culture method, according to the technique of inoculation of serial dilutions of samples of the examined waters. The results showed differences in the microorganisms in analysed samples. The phylogenetic analysis of bacteria recorded from the ballast water of short-range ships in spring showed the presence of six species of the genus Bordetella, while in summer four species of the genus Clostridium. In the ballast water of long-range ships, proteolytic bacteria pre-dominated in spring and halophilic bacteria in summer. In the summer period, eight species of bacteria were recorded, of which six belonged to the genus Clostridium. The ballast water treatment processes used on ships influence the composition of bacterial communities through selective recolonisation of water, which may transform bacterial functions as an important element of the marine food web. On the other hand, the presence of pathogenic bacterial species in the tested samples indicates improvement necessity of ballast water treatment systems used on vessels.

The study on contamination of bottom sediments from the Odra River estuary (SW Baltic Sea) by tributyltin using environmetric methods

We present the first comprehensive study on the occurrence of tributyltin (TBT) in the Odra River estuary (SW Baltic Sea) that encompasses both densely populated and urbanized agglomeration Szczecin city, and sparsely populated biosphere reserves “Natura 2000”. Relationship between TBT and physicochemical parameters of bottom sediments such as granulometry total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), As, and metals: Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Mn, Mo, Pb, Sn, and Zn was investigated in 120 samples collected in 2017 and 2018. The highest TBT concentrations were over 3000 ng g−1 (dry weight). They were observed in samples collected in the vicinity of the ship maintenance zones of the Szczecin city. Despite the EU ban on its use since 2003, TBT is still present in the environment. Environmetrics analyses such as correlation, cluster, and principal component analysis of obtained results revealed that the main source of sediments contamination by TBT, metalloids, and metals is likely related to the maritime industry: shipyards, ship maintenance as well as ports and marines. TBT is still present in the bottom sediments because of its emission to the environment with dust and paint chips formed during sandblasting cleaning of ship surfaces. The pollutant is further transported with water current to remote localization in the Szczecin Lagoon. Slow water exchange between the Szczecin Lagoon and the Baltic Sea favors accumulation of pollutants in the lagoon sediments. Therefore, it is necessary to implement environmentally friendly methods into ship maintenance and management of the materials from dredged waterways, harbors, and marinas.

Fit-for-Purpose Assessment of QuEChERS LC-MS/MS Methods for Environmental Monitoring of Organotin Compounds in the Bottom Sediments of the Odra River Estuary.

Organotin compounds (OTCs) are among the most hazardous substances found in the marine environment and can be determined by either the ISO 23161 method based on extraction with non-polar organic solvents and gas chromatography analysis or by the recently developed QuEChERS method coupled to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). To date, the QuEChERS LC/MS and ISO 23161 methods have not been compared in terms of their fit-for-purpose and reliability in the determination of OTCs in bottom sediments. In the case of ISO 23161, due to a large number of interferences gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was not suitable for the determination of OTCs contrary to more selective determination by gas chromatography with an atomic emission detector. Moreover, it has been found that the derivatization of OTCs to volatile compounds, which required prior gas chromatography determination, was strongly affected by the sediments’ matrices. As a result, a large amount of reagent was needed for the complete derivatization of the compounds. Contrary to ISO 23161, the QuEChERS LC-MS/MS method did not require the derivatization of OTC and is less prone to interferences. Highly volatile and toxic solvents were not used in the QuEChERS LC-MS/MS method. This makes the method more environmentally friendly according to the principles of green analytical chemistry. QuEChERS LC-MS/MS is suitable for fast and reliable environmental monitoring of OTCs in bottom sediments from the Odra River estuary. However, determination of di- and monobutyltin by the QuEChERS LC-MS/MS method was not possible due to the constraints of the chromatographic system. Hence, further development of this method is needed for monitoring di- and monobutyltin in bottom sediments.

The assessment of environmental risk related to the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in bottom sediments of the Odra River estuary (SW Baltic Sea)

The occurrence of 130 pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in sediments collected from 70 sampling sites in the Odra River estuary (SW Baltic Sea) was investigated. The highest concentration levels of the compounds were found in the vicinity of effluent discharge from two main Szczecin wastewater treatment plants: “Pomorzany” and “Zdroje”, and nearby the seaport and shipyard. The highest environmental risks (RQ > 1) were observed for pseudoephedrine (RQ = 14.0), clindamycin (RQ = 7.3), nalidixic acid (RQ = 3.8), carbamazepine (RQ = 1.8), fexofenadine (RQ = 1.4), propranolol (RQ = 1.1), and thiabendazole (RQ = 1.1). RQ for each compound varied depending on the sampling sites. High environmental risk was observed in 30 sampling sites for clindamycin, 22 sampling sites for pseudoephedrine, 19 sampling sites for nalidixic acid, 4 sampling sites for carbamazepine, and 3 sampling sites for fexofenadine. The medium environmental risk (0.1 < RQ < 1) was observed for 16 compounds: amisulpride, amitriptyline, amlodipine, atropine, bisoprolol, chlorpromazine, lincomycin, metoprolol, mirtazapine, moclobemide, ofloxacin, oxazepam, tiapride, tolperisone, verapamil, and xylometazoline. Due to the scarcity of toxicological data related to benthic organisms, only an approximate assessment of the environmental risk of PhACs is possible. Nevertheless, the compounds with medium and high risk should be considered as pollutants of high environmental concern whose occurrence in the environment should remain under close scrutiny.

Development and Application of a Novel QuEChERS Method for Monitoring of Tributyltin and Triphenyltin in Bottom Sediments of the Odra River Estuary, North Westernmost Part of Poland.

A Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction method combined with Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for determination of organotin compounds (OTC) has been newly developed. The novel analytical method was validated and the quality of the results was tested by the use of certificate reference material of freshwater sediment BCR 646. The method was applied in determination of OTC concentration in real samples of bottom sediments collected from the Polish part of Odra River Estuary. The samples came from locations with different anthropogenic impact. Additionally, the extraction recovery of OTC and matrix effect on MS signal response was investigated based on those real environmental samples. It was found that organic compounds and anthropogenic contaminations present in bottom sediments may affect extraction efficiency of the organotin compounds (OTC) and change the matrix effect on MS signal response. The highest concentrations of tributyltin were found in bottom sediments collected from locations in vicinity of the Szczecin harbor and shipyards. The presence of triphenyltin above limit of detection (5 ng TPhT/g of sediment) was observed only in two samples and its concentration was several times lower compared to concentration of tributyltin (from 58 ng/g to 5263 ng/g). In spite of the fact that, the application of TBT-based paints on hull of vessel entering EU ports has been banned by European Commission regulation No. 782/2003 since 2008, the OTC compounds are still present in bottom sediment and pose significant threat to the environment. This threat should be taken into account during dredging of waterways and other hydrotechnical works.

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF WATER PUMPING FROM DEPRESSION AREAS ON THE WATER CONDITIONS OF NATURA 2000 PEATBOG “UROCZYSKA W LASACH STEPNICKICH” BASED ON HYDRODYNAMIC MODELLING

Both the lack of a continuously functioning drainage system and the neglect of the drainage infrastructure result in restoration of natural sinking processes in depression areas on the eastern side of the Odra River estuary and the Szczecin Lagoon. Persistent restoration of natural habitats can be observed in these areas. The impact of water pumping at depression areas on the dynamics of the first (shallow) aquifer was analysed in the Natura 2000 site called “Uroczyska w Lasach Stepnickich PLH320033”. Simulation of the impact of water pumping on lowering of groundwater levels based on hydrodynamic modelling shows that the minimum groundwater level variations in the depression range occur only in a small southern part of the area, and the impact is of short-term nature. The basic factor affecting shallow groundwater in the analysed area is the water table level in the Odra River. The threat to natural habitats, especially in the “Uroczysko Święta” reserve, is associated with their progressive flooding, which occurs as a result of a systematic decrease in the amount of water being pumped.

Ducks change wintering patterns due to changing climate in the important wintering waters of the Odra River Estuary.

Some species of birds react to climate change by reducing the distance they travel during migration. The Odra River Estuary in the Baltic Sea is important for wintering waterfowl and is where we investigated how waterbirds respond to freezing surface waters. The most abundant birds here comprise two ecological groups: bottom-feeders and piscivores. Numbers of all bottom-feeders, but not piscivores, were negatively correlated with the presence of ice. With ongoing global warming, this area is increasing in importance for bottom-feeders and decreasing for piscivores. The maximum range of ice cover in the Baltic Sea has a weak and negative effect on both groups of birds. Five of the seven target species are bottom-feeders (Greater Scaup Aythya marila, Tufted Duck A. fuligula, Common Pochard A. ferina, Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula and Eurasian Coot Fulica atra), and two are piscivores (Smew Mergellus albellus and Goosander Mergus merganser). Local changes at the level of particular species vary for different reasons. A local decline of the Common Pochard may simply be a consequence of its global decline. Climate change is responsible for some of the local changes in the study area, disproportionately favoring some duck species while being detrimental to others.

Alien freshwater polychaetesHypania invalida(Grube 1860) andLaonome calidaCapa 2007 in the Upper Odra River (Baltic Sea catchment area)

Two polychaete species, Hypania invalida and Laonome calida , were found in the Upper Odra River in 2016. Both species were recorded close to a natural river bank down to 1 m depths. They inhabited sandy-gravelly and sandy-muddy sediments. H. invalida is an alien invasive Ponto-Caspian species, previously known in Poland from the Odra River estuary only. Our results may indicate a further rapid dispersal of H. invalida upstream the Odra River or an accidental introduction. This study is the first record of L. calida in the Baltic Sea catchment. This Australian species has been recently introduced into Europe. Prior to this study, it had been reported from Dutch rivers only. The present data suggest accidental introduction of the species to European rivers; however, our findings show an urgent need for a close monitoring of the polychaete in Europe.

First occurrence of thinlip grey mullet, Liza ramada (Risso, 1827) in the Odra River estuary (NW Poland): genetic identification

Summary The presence of exotic fish species in the Baltic Sea and its tributaries poses a serious threat for native ichthyofauna, mainly due to the spread of new pathogens. As the accurate identification of species is essential for an effective assessment of changes related to the appearance of non-native species in an aquatic environment, in this paper we tested the usefulness of biometrics and molecular markers in identifying a specimen from the Mugilidae family found in the Odra estuary. The results demonstrated that unambiguous identification of the specimen using biometric features was impossible due to high morphological similarities shared by grey mullets. Unambiguous identification was possible only due to molecular markers, e.g. rhodopsin gene, which helped to identify the collected fish specimen as Liza ramada (Risso, 1827), the first specimen of this species found in the Odra River estuary. The presence of an L. ramada specimen in the Odra River – which could signal the expansion of non-native species into wider ranges – may be linked to climate change or human activity.

The Importance of Non-Native Prey, the Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha, for the Declining Greater Scaup Aythya marila: A Case Study at a Key European Staging and Wintering Site.

The European population of Greater Scaup Aythya marila has experienced an alarming, ~60% decline in numbers over the last two decades. The brackish lagoons of the Odra River Estuary (ORE) in the south-western Baltic Sea, represent an important area for the species during the non-breeding season in Europe. The lagoons regularly support over 20 000 Scaup, with peaks exceeding 100 000 (38%–70% of the population wintering in NW Europe and the highest number recorded in April 2011–105 700). In the ORE, Scaup feed almost exclusively on the non-native Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha. This mussel was present in the ORE already in the 19th century and continues to be superabundant. Using the results of 22 Scaup censuses (November to April 2002/2003 to 2013/2014) from the whole ORE (523 km2 of water), we show that Scaup flocks follow areas with the greatest area of occurrence and biomass of the Zebra Mussel, while areas with low mussel densities are ignored. The numbers of Scaup in the ORE are primarily related to the area of Zebra Mussel occurrence on the lagoon’s bottom (km2) in a non-linear fashion. Zebra Mussels were absolutely prevalent (97% of biomass) in the digestive tracts of birds unintentionally by-caught in fishing nets (n = 32). We estimate that Scaup alone consume an average of 5 400 tons of Zebra Mussels annually, which represents 5.6% of the total resources of the mussel in the ORE. Our results provide a clear picture of the strong dependence of the declining, migratory duck species on the non-native mussel, its primary food in the ORE. Our findings are particularly important as they can form the basis for the conservation action plan aimed at saving the north-western European populations of Scaup.

SHIP HULL FOULING AS A MEANS OF MAKROZOOBENTHOS DISPERSAL

Hulls of 9 boats operating in inland waterways and coastal Baltic waters along were examined for the presence of fouling organisms. A total of 23 animal taxa were recorded, 8 of them being alien species known to have been earlier introduced into the Baltic Sea basin. The most frequent taxa were: Amphibalanus improvisus, Chironomidae, Dreissena polymorpha, and Gammarus tigrinus. The fi ndings of this study clearly demonstrate the important role potentially played by small crafts in the introduction and spread of alien species not only in the River Odra estuary, but also in the coastal Baltic waters outside of the Odra plume.

Antoxidant enzymes in the liver and gills ofTinca tincafrom various water bodies

Summary The activity of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)] in the liver and gills of tench (Tinca tinca L.) from distinct habitats were studied. Fish were collected in the same season from three different water bodies: a cage culture supplied with cooling water from a power plant; traditional aquaculture in fishponds; and from the Odra River estuary. In all water bodies, the activity of antioxidant enzymes was significantly higher in the liver than in the gills. The highest activities of GST in the liver and GPx in the gills were detected in tench from the Odra River estuary, which may suggest abiotic stress connected with water quality in the estuary.

Fluoride concentrations in the pineal gland, brain and bone of goosander (Mergus merganser) and its prey in Odra River estuary in Poland.

The aim of the study was to investigate fluoride concentrations in bone, brain and pineal gland of goosander Mergus merganser wintering in the Odra estuary (Poland) as well as in fish originating from its digestive tract. The fluoride concentrations were determined with potentiometric method. Medians of concentrations in goosander had the highest and the lowest values in pineal gland and brain (>760 and <190 mg/kg, respectively). Fluoride concentration in the pineal gland was significantly greater than in the bone and the brain of the duck. In fish, the fluoride concentration ranged from 37 to 640 mg/kg and significant correlation was revealed between the fluoride concentration and fish weight and length. Based on own results and data of other authors, a daily fluoride intake by the goosander in the Odra estuary was estimated at 15 mg. So high fluoride concentrations like in the duck have not been found in mammal brains.

River Odra Estuary (North-West Poland): Assessment of Physical and Chemical Parameters of Water on Basis of European Union Water Framework Directive

River Odra Estuary (North-West Poland): Assessment of Physical and Chemical Parameters of Water on Basis of European Union Water Framework Directive

Studies of Heavy Metal Pollution in Water River Odra Estuary (North-West Poland)

Studies of Heavy Metal Pollution in Water River Odra Estuary (North-West Poland)

Heavy Metals in the Waters of Dąbie Lake (West-Pomeranian Voievodship, North-West Poland)

Heavy metal pollution is an ever increasing problem of our lakes. These toxic heavy metals entering in aquatic environment are adsorbed onto particulate matter, although they can form free metal ions and soluble complexes that are available for uptake by biological organisms. The increase in residue levels of heavy metal content in water, sediments and biota has resulted in decreased productivity and increase in exposure of humans to harmful substances. Many of these metals tend to remain in the ecosystem and eventually move from one compartment to the other within the food chain. Food chain contamination by heavy metals has become a burning issue in recent years because of their potential accumulation in biosystems through contaminated water, soil, sediment and air. Dąbie Lake is an integral part of the River Odra estuary. It is a shallow (2.5 m mean depth) water body with two distinct basins: the large (Dąbie Wielkie) and the small (Dąbie Małe). The aim of the studies, carried out in the years 2008 - 2009, was to determine the content of Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) in the waters of Dąbie Lake, being the internal part of the tertiary Odra estuary.

Heavy Metals in the Waters of Dąbie Lake (West-Pomeranian Voievodship, North-West Poland)

Heavy metal pollution is an ever increasing problem of our lakes. These toxic heavy metals entering in aquatic environment are adsorbed onto particulate matter, although they can form free metal ions and soluble complexes that are available for uptake by biological organisms. The increase in residue levels of heavy metal content in water, sediments and biota has resulted in decreased productivity and increase in exposure of humans to harmful substances. Many of these metals tend to remain in the ecosystem and eventually move from one compartment to the other within the food chain. Food chain contamination by heavy metals has become a burning issue in recent years because of their potential accumulation in biosystems through contaminated water, soil, sediment and air. Dąbie Lake is an integral part of the River Odra estuary. It is a shallow (2.5 m mean depth) water body with two distinct basins: the large (Dąbie Wielkie) and the small (Dąbie Małe). The aim of the studies, carried out in the years 2008 - 2009, was to determine the content of Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) in the waters of Dąbie Lake, being the internal part of the tertiary Odra estuary.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY OF THE SEASONAL SUCCESSION OF MESOZOOPLANKTON IN A BRACKISH WATER ODRA RIVER ESTUARY DURING 2003–2005

The entire estuary water is dominated by the discharge of the River Odra into the Szczecin Lagoon. The water body is brackish and the salinity in the central part ranges 0.5 and 2 PSU. The Lagoon has a long eutrophication history; usually, two phytoplankton biomass peaks are observed: Diatoms in spring and blue-green algae in summer. The recent data on zooplankton is limited. Rotifers and Cladocerans supply the bulk of the zooplankton biomass. The ichtiofauna is composed of fresh and brackish water, migratory and marine species. Zooplankton and water samples were collected during 2003–2005. The results suggest that during 10 season’s climate in Odra River estuary, Cladocera were the dominant group, large impact on the density of mesozooplankton were: Daphnia cucullata and Daphnia longispina, Copepoda played a lesser role in the Odra River estuary than Cladocera. Biomass of mesozooplankton from the Lagoon was significantly higher compared with the biomass of mesozooplankton from Odra River estuary, which could be related to a greater inflow of nutrients into the Lagoon and the increased growth of phytoplankton, which forms an excellent first stage food web for herbivorous and carnivorous zooplankton, and fish and consequently cormorants.

Growth Rate and Condition of Vimba, Vimba Vimba (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), a Species Under Restitution in the Odra River Estuary

Growth Rate and Condition of Vimba, Vimba Vimba (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), a Species Under Restitution in the Odra River Estuary