Sammanfattning

Nanoparticle contaminants enter aquatic ecosystems and are transported along the stream network. Here, we demonstrate a novel pathway for the return of nanoparticles from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems via cross-boundary subsidies. During their emergence, trichopteran caddisflies carried titanium dioxide and gold nanoparticles into their terrestrial life stages. Moreover, their emergence was delayed by <= 30 days, and their energy reserves were depleted by <= 25%. Based on worst case estimates, it is suggested that terrestrial predators, such as bats feeding on aquatic prey, may ingest up to three orders of magnitude higher gold levels than anticipated for humans. Additionally, terrestrial predator species may suffer from alterations in the temporal availability and nutritional quality of their prey. Considering the substantial transfer of insect biomass to terrestrial ecosystems, nanoparticles may decouple aquatic and terrestrial food webs with important (meta-)ecosystem level consequences.

Publicerad i

Scientific Reports
2019, Volym: 9, artikelnummer: 15676
Utgivare: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

SLU författare

• Bundschuh, Mirco

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Universität Koblenz-Landau

• Feckler, Alexander

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Universität Koblenz-Landau

UKÄ forskningsämne

Miljövetenskap
Ekologi


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-52096-7

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/102593