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Journal ArticleDOI

Multiple stressors--a challenge for the future.

19 May 2005-Journal of Environmental Monitoring (J Environ Monit)-Vol. 7, Iss: 6, pp 539-539
About: This article is published in Journal of Environmental Monitoring.The article was published on 2005-05-19. It has received 80 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Environmental pollution.
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The need for reconsideration by the ecological community of the interpretation of synergism and antagonism in situations where individual stressor effects oppose each other or where cumulative effects are reversed and enhanced is emphasized.
Abstract: The potential for complex synergistic or antagonistic interactions between multiple stressors presents one of the largest uncertainties when predicting ecological change but, despite common use of the terms in the scientific literature, a consensus on their operational definition is still lacking. The identification of synergism or antagonism is generally straightforward when stressors operate in the same direction, but if individual stressor effects oppose each other, the definition of synergism is paradoxical because what is synergistic to one stressor's effect direction is antagonistic to the others. In their highly cited meta-analysis, Crain et al. (Ecology Letters, 11, 2008: 1304) assumed in situations with opposing individual effects that synergy only occurs when the cumulative effect is more negative than the additive sum of the opposing individual effects. We argue against this and propose a new systematic classification based on an additive effects model that combines the magnitude and response direction of the cumulative effect and the interaction effect. A new class of “mitigating synergism” is identified, where cumulative effects are reversed and enhanced. We applied our directional classification to the dataset compiled by Crain et al. (Ecology Letters, 11, 2008: 1304) to determine the prevalence of synergistic, antagonistic, and additive interactions. Compared to their original analysis, we report differences in the representation of interaction classes by interaction type and we document examples of mitigating synergism, highlighting the importance of incorporating individual stressor effect directions in the determination of synergisms and antagonisms. This is particularly pertinent given a general bias in ecology toward investigating and reporting adverse multiple stressor effects (double negative). We emphasize the need for reconsideration by the ecological community of the interpretation of synergism and antagonism in situations where individual stressor effects oppose each other or where cumulative effects are reversed and enhanced.

440 citations


Cites background from "Multiple stressors--a challenge for..."

  • ...The potential for complex synergistic or antagonistic interactions between multiple stressors presents one of the largest uncertainties when predicting ecological change (Sala et al. 2000; MEA 2005; Mothersill et al. 2007; Darling and Cote 2008)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Overall, although in aggregate a large body of literature examines stressor effects on coral reefs and coral organisms, considerable gaps remain for numerous stressor interactions and effects, and insufficient quantitative evidence exists to suggest that the prevailing type of stressor interaction is synergistic.
Abstract: Concern is growing about the potential effects of interacting multiple stressors, especially as the global climate changes. We provide a comprehensive review of multiple stressor interactions in coral reef ecosystems, which are widely considered to be one of the most sensitive ecosystems to global change. First, we synthesized coral reef studies that examined interactions of two or more stressors, highlighting stressor interactions (where one stressor directly influences another) and potentially synergistic effects on response variables (where two stressors interact to produce an effect that is greater than purely additive). For stressor-stressor interactions, we found 176 studies that examined at least 2 of the 13 stressors of interest. Applying network analysis to analyze relationships between stressors, we found that pathogens were exacerbated by more costressors than any other stressor, with ca. 78% of studies reporting an enhancing effect by another stressor. Sedimentation, storms, and water temperature directly affected the largest number of other stressors. Pathogens, nutrients, and crown-of-thorns starfish were the most-influenced stressors. We found 187 studies that examined the effects of two or more stressors on a third dependent variable. The interaction of irradiance and temperature on corals has been the subject of more research (62 studies, 33% of the total) than any other combination of stressors, with many studies reporting a synergistic effect on coral symbiont photosynthetic performance (n = 19). Second, we performed a quantitative meta-analysis of existing literature on this most-studied interaction (irradiance and temperature). We found that the mean effect size of combined treatments was statistically indistinguishable from a purely additive interaction, although it should be noted that the sample size was relatively small (n = 26). Overall, although in aggregate a large body of literature examines stressor effects on coral reefs and coral organisms, considerable gaps remain for numerous stressor interactions and effects, and insufficient quantitative evidence exists to suggest that the prevailing type of stressor interaction is synergistic.

308 citations


Cites background from "Multiple stressors--a challenge for..."

  • ...…Pacific Marine Science Association) (2012), Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2009; Fisheries & Oceans Canada, 2008; Council on Environmental Quality, 2005; Office of Research & Development, 2005) and researchers (Paine et al., 1998; Vinebrooke et al., 2004; Salbu et al., 2005) alike....

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  • ...Thus, interactions of multiple stressors, and the resulting cumulative impacts, have been identified as a research priority or necessity by management and regulatory bodies (NOAA, 2012; PICES (North Pacific Marine Science Association) (2012), Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2009; Fisheries & Oceans Canada, 2008; Council on Environmental Quality, 2005; Office of Research & Development, 2005) and researchers (Paine et al., 1998; Vinebrooke et al., 2004; Salbu et al., 2005) alike....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying radiation-induced damage in heart tissue and cardiac vasculature will provide novel targets for therapeutic interventions and be valuable for individuals clinically or occupationally exposed to varying doses of ionizing radiation.
Abstract: Heart disease is the leading global cause of death. The risk for this disease is significantly increased in populations exposed to ionizing radiation, but the mechanisms are not fully elucidated yet. This review aims to gather and discuss the latest data about pathological and biological consequences in the radiation-exposed heart in a comprehensive manner. A better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying radiation-induced damage in heart tissue and cardiac vasculature will provide novel targets for therapeutic interventions. These may be valuable for individuals clinically or occupationally exposed to varying doses of ionizing radiation.

122 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The mechanosensory lateral line (LL) system of zebrafish is critically reviewed as a model to screen for chemical effects on neurosensory function of fish in particular and vertebrates in general.

117 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The assessment of public health impacts of DBPs should be viewed as a means of answering real world policy questions relating to drinking water quality, including microbial contaminants; that they should be conducted using the most appropriate and up-to-date data and methods, and that associated uncertainties and limitations should be accounted for using quantitative methods where appropriate.

92 citations


Cites background from "Multiple stressors--a challenge for..."

  • ...ozonation, chloramination) even when the number of excess cancer cases was negligible over the 70-year lifetime for which they were estimated (Aslan and Turkman, 2007; Chowdhury and Champagne, 2009)....

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  • ...…the substitution of current disinfection treatments (chlorination) with alternatives (e.g. ozonation, chloramination) even when the number of excess cancer cases was negligible over the 70-year lifetime for which they were estimated (Aslan and Turkman, 2007; Chowdhury and Champagne, 2009)....

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  • ...One attributable cancer risk assessment reported that the “total cancer risk analysis indicates that Izmir residents could get cancer from the daily intake of water” (Aslan and Turkman, 2007)....

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