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Redox potential has been adopted as a qualitative parameter for interpreting solubility changes of nutrients and contaminants and the biological activity within wetland systems for several decades. The majority of studies considering the redox geochemistry in sediments used measurements of bulked material and single point measurement of biogeochemical parameters for interpretation, yet it remains questionable whether this information is reliable for environments that are very dynamic, such as wetlands. In this study it is evaluated whether variations in redox potential reflect dynamics of denitrification and overall bacterial respiration using continuous measurements of redox potential in time-series experiments in laboratory microcosms, in which the biogeochemical variation was enhanced by bioturbation. The results presented here suggest that measurements of redox potential have predictive potential in approximating rates of denitrification and overall bacterial respiration in aquatic sediments. The data clearly suggest that, while sediment bulk measurements and measurements of single profiles of redox potential, denitrification and bacterial activity often fail to provide ecological relevant information in dynamic systems, measurements of spatial and temporal redox potential profiles provide a useful parameter that reflects biogeochemical processes and functioning of sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of eutrophication of fluvial ecosystems (caused by increased phosphorus concentrations) on periphyton Cu sensitivity is explored from a multi-scale perspective, going from the field to the laboratory. The study design included three tiers: a field study including the characterization of land use and the ecological state of the corresponding river sections in the Fluviá River watershed, an experimental investigation performed with natural periphyton from the previously studied stream sites in indoor channels, and finally a culture study in the laboratory. Results showed that differences in copper sensitivity of natural periphyton communities followed the gradient of nutrient concentration found in the field. Results from the culture experiments demonstrated that both, P-conditions during growth and P-content in the media are important factors modulating the toxicological response of algae to Cu. The observations from this study indicate that the ecological effects of metal pollution in rivers might be obscured by eutrophication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The numbers of potential neurotoxicants in the environment are raising and pose a great risk for humans and the environment. Currently neurotoxicity assessment is mostly performed to predict and prevent harm to human populations. Despite all the efforts invested in the last years in developing novel in vitro or in silico test systems, in vivo tests with rodents are still the only accepted test for neurotoxicity risk assessment in Europe. Despite an increasing number of reports of species showing altered behaviour, neurotoxicity assessment for species in the environment is not required and therefore mostly not performed. Considering the increasing numbers of environmental contaminants with potential neurotoxic potential, eco-neurotoxicity should be also considered in risk assessment. In order to do so novel test systems are needed that can cope with species differences within ecosystems. In the field, online-biomonitoring systems using behavioural information could be used to detect neurotoxic effects and effect-directed analyses could be applied to identify the neurotoxicants causing the effect. Additionally, toxic pressure calculations in combination with mixture modelling could use environmental chemical monitoring data to predict adverse effects and prioritize pollutants for laboratory testing. Cheminformatics based on computational toxicological data from in vitro and in vivo studies could help to identify potential neurotoxicants. An array of in vitro assays covering different modes of action could be applied to screen compounds for neurotoxicity. The selection of in vitro assays could be guided by AOPs relevant for eco-neurotoxicity. In order to be able to perform risk assessment for eco-neurotoxicity, methods need to focus on the most sensitive species in an ecosystem. A test battery using species from different trophic levels might be the best approach. To implement eco-neurotoxicity assessment into European risk assessment, cheminformatics and in vitro screening tests could be used as first approach to identify eco-neurotoxic pollutants. In a second step, a small species test battery could be applied to assess the risks of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]