The Experts below are selected from a list of 49416 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Damia Barcelo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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attenuation of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products in a wastewater treatment plant and its receiving River Ecosystem
Water Research, 2016Co-Authors: I Aymerich, Vicenç Acuña, Damia Barcelo, M J Garcia, Mira Petrovic, Manel Poch, Sara RodriguezmozazAbstract:Pharmaceuticals are designed to improve human and animal health, but may also be a threat to freshwater Ecosystems, particularly after receiving urban or wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. Knowledge on the fate and attenuation of pharmaceuticals in engineered and natural Ecosystems is rather fragmented, and comparable methods are needed to facilitate the comprehension of those processes amongst systems. In this study the dynamics of 8 pharmaceuticals (acetaminophen, sulfapyridine, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, venlafaxine, ibuprofen, diclofenac, diazepam) and 11 of their transformation products were investigated in a WWTP and the associated receiving River Ecosystem. During 3 days, concentrations of these compounds were quantified at the influents, effluents, and wastage of the WWTP, and at different distances downstream the effluent at the River. Attenuation (net balance between removal and release from and to the water column) was estimated in both engineered and natural systems using a comparable model-based approach by considering different uncertainty sources (e.g. chemical analysis, sampling, and flow measurements). Results showed that pharmaceuticals load reduction was higher in the WWTP, but attenuation efficiencies (as half-life times) were higher in the River. In particular, the load of only 5 out of the 19 pharmaceuticals was reduced by more than 90% at the WWTP, while the rest were only partially or non-attenuated (or released) and discharged into the receiving River. At the River, only the load of ibuprofen was reduced by more than 50% (out of the 6 parent compounds present in the River), while partial and non-attenuation (or release) was observed for some of their transformation products. Linkages in the routing of some pharmaceuticals (venlafaxine, carbamazepine, ibuprofen and diclofenac) and their corresponding transformation products were also identified at both WWTP and River. Finally, the followed procedure showed that dynamic attenuation in the coupled WWTP-River system could be successfully predicted with simple first order attenuation kinetics for most modeled compounds.
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mixed effects of effluents from a wastewater treatment plant on River Ecosystem metabolism subsidy or stress
Freshwater Biology, 2015Co-Authors: Ibon Aristi, Daniel Von Schiller, Maite Arroita, Damia Barcelo, Lidia Ponsati, Maria Jesus Garciagalan, Sergi Sabater, Arturo ElosegiAbstract:The effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) include a complex mixture of nutrients and pollutants. Nutrients can subsidise autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms, while toxic pollutants can act as stressors, depending, for instance, on their concentration and interactions in the environment. Hence, it is difficult to predict the overall effect of WWTP effluents on River Ecosystem functioning. We assessed the effects of WWTP effluents on River biofilms and Ecosystem metabolism in one River segment upstream from a WWTP and three segments downstream from the WWTP and following a pollution gradient. The photosynthetic capacity and enzymatic activity of biofilms showed no change, with the exception of leucine aminopeptidase, which followed the pollution gradient most likely driven by changes in organic matter availability. The effluent produced mixed effects on Ecosystem-scale metabolism. It promoted respiration (subsidy effect), probably as a consequence of enhanced availability of organic matter. On the other hand, and despite enhanced nutrient concentrations, photosynthesis-irradiance relationships showed that the effluent partly decoupled primary production from light availability, thus suggesting a stress effect. Overall, WWTP effluents can alter the balance between autotrophic and heterotrophic processes and produce spatial discontinuities in Ecosystem functioning along Rivers as a consequence of the mixed contribution of stressors and subsidisers
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perfluoroalkyl substance contamination of the llobregat River Ecosystem mediterranean area ne spain
Science of The Total Environment, 2015Co-Authors: Julian Campo, Damia Barcelo, Francisca Perez, Ana Masia, Yolanda Pico, Marinella FarreAbstract:Abstract The occurrence and sources of 21 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs: C4–C14, C16, C18 carboxylate, C4, C6–C8 and C10 sulfonates and C8 sulfonamide) were determined in water, sediment, and biota of the Llobregat River basin (NE Spain). Analytes were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE) and determined by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC-QqQ-MS). All samples were contaminated with at least one PFAS, being the most frequently found perfluorobutanoate (PFBA), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (L-PFOS). In general, mean PFAS concentrations measured in sediments (0.01–3.67 ng g − 1 ) and biota (0.79–431 μg kg − 1 ) samples were higher than those found in water (0.01–233 ng L − 1 ). L-PFOS presented very high levels in biota and water, particularly in the Anoia River where a maximum concentration of 2.71 μg L − 1 was related to important industrial activities. However, this pollution does not extend down the Llobregat River according to cumulated values. None of the hazard quotients (HQ) calculated indicate potential risk for the different tropic levels considered (algae, Daphnia sp. and fish). According to Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) proposed by the European Commission (L-PFOS) and to Provisional Health Advisory (PHA) values (PFOA, L-PFOS) established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), only two water samples exceeded PHA concentration for L-PFOS.
Michael M Douglas - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the wet dry in the wet dry tropics drives River Ecosystem structure and processes in northern australia
Freshwater Biology, 2011Co-Authors: Danielle M Warfe, Neil E Pettit, Peter Davies, Bradley James Pusey, Stephen K Hamilton, Mark J Kennard, Simon A Townsend, Peter Bayliss, Douglas Ward, Michael M DouglasAbstract:Summary 1. Northern Australia is characterised by a tropical wet–dry climate that regulates the distinctive character of River flow regimes across the region. There is marked hydrological seasonality, with most flow occurring over only a few months of the year during the wet season. Flow is also characterised by high variability between years, and in the degree of flow cessation, or intermittency, over the dry season. 2. At present, the relatively low human population density and demand for water in the region means that most Rivers have largely unmodified flow regimes. These Rivers therefore provide a good opportunity to understand the role of natural flow variability in River Ecosystem structure and processes. 3. This review describes the major flow regime classes characterising northern Australian Rivers, from perennial to seasonally intermittent to extremely intermittent, and how these regimes give rise to marked differences in the ecological character of these tropical Rivers, particularly their floodplains. 4. We describe the key features of these flow regimes, namely the wet and dry seasons and the transitions between these seasons, and how they regulate the biophysical heterogeneity, primary productivity and movement of biota in Australia’s wet–dry tropical Rivers. 5. We develop a conceptual model that predicts the likely hydrological and ecological consequences of future increases in water abstraction (e.g. for agriculture), and suggest how such impacts can be managed so that the distinctive ecological character of these Rivers is maintained.
Arturo Elosegi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Forestry affects the abundance of Phormidium-dominated biofilms and the functioning of a New Zealand River Ecosystem
Marine and Freshwater Research, 2017Co-Authors: Ibon Aristi, Vicenç Acuña, Joanne E. Clapcott, Arturo Elosegi, Holly Mills, Susanna A. Wood, Roger G. YoungAbstract:Toxic cyanobacterial proliferations in water bodies can cause serious environmental and public health issues, as well as having economic effects. Increased inputs of nutrients and fine sediment caused by forestry have been hypothesised as possible causes of increased Phormidium-dominated proliferations in New Zealand Rivers. Little is known about the effect of these proliferations on River Ecosystem functioning. In the present study, we evaluated five sites along the Maitai River (New Zealand) differing in pine plantation cover of their catchments. We hypothesised that Phormidium biofilms would trap more sediments and recycle more phosphorus than diatoms, that Phormidium proliferations would increase with forestry cover in the catchment and that the varying abundance of Phormidium would affect River Ecosystem functioning. Phormidium did not trap more sediment or recycle more phosphorus (measured as alkaline phosphate activity) than diatom biofilms. However, the cover of Phormidium did increase with the proportion of forestry in the catchment. Organic matter decomposition rates (measured as loss of tensile strength of standard cotton strips) varied very little among sites, whereas River Ecosystem metabolism increased with the abundance of Phormidium, especially in the lower part of the River. The results of the present study suggest that pine forestry does promote Phormidium biofilm abundance and affect Ecosystem functioning in the Maitai River.
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mixed effects of effluents from a wastewater treatment plant on River Ecosystem metabolism subsidy or stress
Freshwater Biology, 2015Co-Authors: Ibon Aristi, Daniel Von Schiller, Maite Arroita, Damia Barcelo, Lidia Ponsati, Maria Jesus Garciagalan, Sergi Sabater, Arturo ElosegiAbstract:The effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) include a complex mixture of nutrients and pollutants. Nutrients can subsidise autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms, while toxic pollutants can act as stressors, depending, for instance, on their concentration and interactions in the environment. Hence, it is difficult to predict the overall effect of WWTP effluents on River Ecosystem functioning. We assessed the effects of WWTP effluents on River biofilms and Ecosystem metabolism in one River segment upstream from a WWTP and three segments downstream from the WWTP and following a pollution gradient. The photosynthetic capacity and enzymatic activity of biofilms showed no change, with the exception of leucine aminopeptidase, which followed the pollution gradient most likely driven by changes in organic matter availability. The effluent produced mixed effects on Ecosystem-scale metabolism. It promoted respiration (subsidy effect), probably as a consequence of enhanced availability of organic matter. On the other hand, and despite enhanced nutrient concentrations, photosynthesis-irradiance relationships showed that the effluent partly decoupled primary production from light availability, thus suggesting a stress effect. Overall, WWTP effluents can alter the balance between autotrophic and heterotrophic processes and produce spatial discontinuities in Ecosystem functioning along Rivers as a consequence of the mixed contribution of stressors and subsidisers
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Preface: physical template and River Ecosystem functioning: interdisciplinary feedbacks for improving Rivers
Hydrobiologia, 2013Co-Authors: Michael Mutz, Arturo Elosegi, Hervé PiégayAbstract:This special issue in Hydrobiologia comprises papers that were presented in 2011 during an oral and a poster session at the 7th Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences (SEFS) in Girona, Spain, entitled ‘Form and function: channel morphology, hydraulic integrity and River Ecosystem functioning’, as well as selected articles on recent aspects of the subject. The aim of this session was to promote communication between hydrologists, geomorphologists and ecologists to improve the understanding of River forms and processes and associated Ecosystems on the one hand, and to provide knowledge on River restoration as well as on benefiting Ecosystem services on the other. River Ecosystems depend on the dynamic interplay between flow and channel morphology, which together set the physical template for fluvial communities, and ultimately for Ecosystem functioning (Elosegi et al., 2010). There is still a need for research on the significance of hydromorphology on Riverine communities, notably in terms of responses to restoration actions (Palmer et al., 2010). Further, research is needed on the effect of channel morphology and hydraulics on Ecosystem functions, such as the transformation of organic matter or the maintenance of water quality, which are the basis for Ecosystem services and of key importance for the human society (Palmer & Febria, 2012). Most River Ecosystem functions are actually provided by coupled processes, which relate to River form on a wide range of temporal and spatial scales (Malard et al., 2002). Hence, focusing on Ecosystem functions opens the perspective of hydromorphological integrity from a set of standard variables that are commonly assessed in River restoration and monitoring to a complex set of interacting multiple environmental dRivers on these ranges of scales. River scientists are today equipped with a large toolkit of techniques, ideas and approaches to link hydromorphology with River functioning and Ecosystem services, which should be regarded in assessment, management and restoration of Riverine Ecosystems. Rivers change over time, owing to a set of human dRivers (e.g., embankment, damming, landuse change, discharge regulation...) (Kondolf & Piegay, 2003; Brierley & Fryirs, 2005), such that their biological Guest editors: A. Elosegi, M. Mutz & H. Piegay / Form and function: channel form, hydraulic integrity, and River Ecosystem functioning
Xiao Li Liu - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Application of T-S Fuzzy Neural Network in the Assessment of River Ecosystem Health
Advanced Materials Research, 2013Co-Authors: Zhen Chun Hao, Xiao Li LiuAbstract:Healthy River Ecosystem has been acknowledged as the object of River management, which is crucial for the sustainable development of cities. Simple and practical evaluation methods with great precision are necessary for the evaluation of River Ecosystem health. Fuzzy system has been widely used in evaluation and decision making for its simple reasoning and the adoption of experts knowledge. However, much artificial intervention decreases the precision. Neural network has a strong ability of self-leaning while it is not good at expressing rule-based knowledge. The T-S fuzzy neural network model combines the advantages of fuzzy system and neural network. In this paper, the T-S fuzzy neural network model was used to establish a River Ecosystem health evaluation model. Results show that the combination of T-S fuzzy model and neural network eliminates the influences of subjective factors and improve the final precisions efficiently.
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Application of T-S Fuzzy Neural Network in the Assessment of River Ecosystem Health
2012Co-Authors: Zhen Chun Hao, Xiao Li LiuAbstract:Healthy River Ecosystem has been acknowledged as the object of River management, which is crucial for the sustainable development of cities. Simple and practical evaluation method with great precision is necessary for the evaluation of River Ecosystem health. Fuzzy system has been widely used in evaluation and decision making for its simple reasoning and the adoption of experts' knowledge. However, much artificial intervention decreases the precision. Neural network has a strong ability of self-leaning while is not good at expressing rule-based knowledge. The T-S fuzzy neural network model combines the advantages of fuzzy system and neural network. In this paper, the T-S fuzzy neural network model was used to establish a River Ecosystem health evaluation model. Results show that the combination of T-S fuzzy model and neural network eliminates the influences of subjective factors and improve the final precisions efficiently.
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FSKD - Variable evaluation model and its application on the assessment of River Ecosystem health
2011 Eighth International Conference on Fuzzy Systems and Knowledge Discovery (FSKD), 2011Co-Authors: Xiao Li Liu, Zhen Chun HaoAbstract:The evaluation of River Ecosystem health is significant for the sustainable development of cities. In practical application, evaluation criteria are shown in interval pattern. However, in some commonly used methods, evaluation criteria of discrete values are often taken. Furthermore, the simplification of index from interval pattern to the point value form affects the rationality and accuracy of evaluation. The fuzzy variable model can solve this problem by combining with multiple attribute intervals. Based on this method, the Ecosystem health of a River was assessed. Results show that the model is applicable in the assessment of River Ecosystem health with more reliability.
Sergi Sabater - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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mixed effects of effluents from a wastewater treatment plant on River Ecosystem metabolism subsidy or stress
Freshwater Biology, 2015Co-Authors: Ibon Aristi, Daniel Von Schiller, Maite Arroita, Damia Barcelo, Lidia Ponsati, Maria Jesus Garciagalan, Sergi Sabater, Arturo ElosegiAbstract:The effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) include a complex mixture of nutrients and pollutants. Nutrients can subsidise autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms, while toxic pollutants can act as stressors, depending, for instance, on their concentration and interactions in the environment. Hence, it is difficult to predict the overall effect of WWTP effluents on River Ecosystem functioning. We assessed the effects of WWTP effluents on River biofilms and Ecosystem metabolism in one River segment upstream from a WWTP and three segments downstream from the WWTP and following a pollution gradient. The photosynthetic capacity and enzymatic activity of biofilms showed no change, with the exception of leucine aminopeptidase, which followed the pollution gradient most likely driven by changes in organic matter availability. The effluent produced mixed effects on Ecosystem-scale metabolism. It promoted respiration (subsidy effect), probably as a consequence of enhanced availability of organic matter. On the other hand, and despite enhanced nutrient concentrations, photosynthesis-irradiance relationships showed that the effluent partly decoupled primary production from light availability, thus suggesting a stress effect. Overall, WWTP effluents can alter the balance between autotrophic and heterotrophic processes and produce spatial discontinuities in Ecosystem functioning along Rivers as a consequence of the mixed contribution of stressors and subsidisers
