Showing papers in "Biology and Environment-proceedings of The Royal Irish Academy in 2014"
TL;DR: The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifiera (FPM) is a long-lived invertebrate that is found in coarse sand or fine gravel in clean, well-oxygenated, fast-flowing and unpolluted freshwater as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (FPM) is a long-lived invertebrate that is found in coarse sand or fine gravel in clean, well-oxygenated, fast-flowing and unpolluted freshwater (Moorkens 1999; 2000; Skinner et al. 2003). The species has undergone a dramatic decline in the sizes of most meta-populations and in the size of its range over the twentieth century (Young 1991; Reid et al. 2012), with an estimated reduction of over 90% in the FPM population in central Europe over this time (Bauer 1988). The species is in very serious decline throughout its range and is listed in the IUCN red data book as endangered worldwide (Baillie and Groombridge 1996) and in the most recent IUCN Irish Red List of non-marine molluscs as critically endangered (Byrne et al. 2009). Ireland is considered a stronghold for the FPM and is believed to support approximately 46% of FPM individuals in the EU (DAFF 2008). However, the NPWS (2008; 2013) concluded that recruitment levels were insufficient in all Irish FPM populations, resulting in all FPM populations, including the populations in designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), having unfavourable conservation status.
3 citations
TL;DR: The findings signify that while freshwater sponges could, because of their large filtration rate, have a role as sentinel bioaccumulators in monitoring toxic pollution of aquatic ecosystems, the wide tolerances of Spongillidae to waterquality conditions may militate against their use as indicator species to measure ecological integrity.
Abstract: Surveys of southern Irish rivers and streams confirmed the presence of five sponge species: Ephydatia fluviatilis, Racekiela ryderi, Spongilla lacustris, Ephydatia muelleri and Eunapius fragilis, in order of decreasing frequency of occurrence. The putative ‘amphiatlantic’ species R. ryderi, which is largely absent from Europe, was found to be of relatively common occurrence in south-western rivers, at unpolluted sites (Ecological Quality Ratio ≥ 0.7) with soft water, where it largely replaces Ephydatia fluviatilis, the most common species found throughout the whole study area in a wide range of water-quality conditions. Spongilla lacustris, the commonest species in Irish lakes, was found at 16% of Spongillidae river sites, while the uncommon but relatively widely distributed E. muelleri was identified from some 10% of these sites. Identification, by analysis of spicule morphology, was carried out using optical microscopy with SEM performed on some samples, and the identity of the very rare Irish species E. fragilis confirmed by DNA gene sequencing. The findings signify that while freshwater sponges could, because of their large filtration rate, have a role as sentinel bioaccumulators in monitoring toxic pollution of aquatic ecosystems, the wide tolerances of Spongillidae to waterquality conditions may militate against their use as indicator species to measure ecological integrity.
3 citations
TL;DR: This study provides a scientific basis for the potential utilisation of the constructed wetland plant P. crispus and has implications for the management of sustainable constructed wetlands operation.
Abstract: Potamogeton crispus L. is a cosmopolitan aquatic macrophyte that has been deployed in constructed wetland as engineering species for ecological and purification functions. However, the extraordinary rapid vegetative growth of P. crispus requires that the species be harvested at the appropriate time to ensure the effectiveness of pollutant removal and minimise the risk of secondary pollution. The efficiency utilisation of wetland plant resources with a large amount of biomass is important in encouraging the harvest and sustainable self-support management of constructed wetlands. To screen the metabolites of P. crispus for tumor cell cytotoxicity, the total secondary metabolites of P. crispus were extracted and separated into three parts by using petroleum ether, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butyl alcohol. Thereafter, the cytotoxicity assay was conducted by using ES-2 human ovarian cancer and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. Results indicated that the P. crispus EtOAc extract showed anti-tumor activities against MDA-MB-231 cells. Morphological observation, cell cycle, and death analysis were conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic activity. Results showed that the P. crispus EtOAc extract could change the cell morphology and block the MDA-MB-231 cell cycle at the S phase and that the mechanisms of cell death were apoptosis and necrosis. This study provides a scientific basis for the potential utilisation of the constructed wetland plant P. crispus and has implications for the management of sustainable constructed wetland operation.
2 citations