Selective grazing by protists upon enteric bacteria in an aquatic system.

It is well known that protozoan grazing can be an important agent of mortality for suspended bacteria, both in marine and freshwater environments. Considering that the presence of fecal contamination is a frequent phenomenon in tríese environments, and that Escherichia coli and the genus Enterococcus are indicators of microbiological water quality, the effect of protozoan grazing on E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis in Los Padres Lagoon waters (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 37° 56'30" S, 57° 44'30" W) was herein analyzed. Microcosm assays were carried out, simulating lacustrine conditions, confronting suspensions of autochthonous bacterivorous protozoans with suspensions of autochthonous and collection strains of E. coli and E. faecalis, combined and individually. Daily counts were made for evaluating bacterial survival and the number of ciliates. The results obtained indicate that there is a preferential sequence for bacterial removal in the water, where E. faecalis is more grazing-resistant than E. coli. Moreover, it was noted that the origin of bacterial strains influenced their sensitivity for grazing, at least in the short term (e.g. the collection strains were less affected). We conclude that protozoan grazing can modify the relative abundance of fecal indicator microorganisms, thus altering the results of water quality studies.

Selective grazing by protists upon enteric bacteria in an aquatic system / Predación selectiva de bacterias entéricas por protistas en un ambiente acuático

It is well known that protozoan grazing can be an important agent of mortality for suspended bacteria, both in marine and freshwater environments. Considering that the presence of fecal contamination is a frequent phenomenon in tríese environments, and that Escherichia coli and the genus Enterococcus are indicators of microbiological water quality, the effect of protozoan grazing on E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis in Los Padres Lagoon waters (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 37° 56'30" S, 57° 44'30" W) was herein analyzed. Microcosm assays were carried out, simulating lacustrine conditions, confronting suspensions of autochthonous bacterivorous protozoans with suspensions of autochthonous and collection strains of E. coli and E. faecalis, combined and individually. Daily counts were made for evaluating bacterial survival and the number of ciliates. The results obtained indicate that there is a preferential sequence for bacterial removal in the water, where E. faecalis is more grazing-resistant than E. coli. Moreover, it was noted that the origin of bacterial strains influenced their sensitivity for grazing, at least in the short term (e.g. the collection strains were less affected). We conclude that protozoan grazing can modify the relative abundance of fecal indicator microorganisms, thus altering the results of water quality studies.

Está bien establecido que la predación por protozoos puede ser un factor importante de mortalidad para las bacterias en suspensión, tanto en ambientes marinos como de agua dulce. Considerando que la contaminación fecal es un fenómeno frecuentemente observado en estos ambientes, y que Escherichia coli y miembros del género Enterococcus son indicadores de calidad microbiológica del agua, se analizó el efecto de la predación por protozoos sobre E. coli y Enterococcus faecalis en aguas de la Laguna de los Padres (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 37° 56'30" S, 57° 44'30" W). Se realizaron ensayos a microcosmos, simulando el ambiente lagunar, enfrentando suspensiones de protozoos bacterívoros autóctonos con suspensiones de cepas autóctonas y de colección de E. coli y E. faecalis, en forma individual y combinada. Diariamente se efectuaron los recuentos correspondientes para elaborar las curvas de supervivencia. Los resultados obtenidos indican que existe una secuencia en la eliminación de cepas bacterianas por bacterivoría, siendo E. faecalis más resistente a la predación que E. coli. Además, se observó que el origen de las cepas condiciona su sensibilidad a la predación, ya que las cepas provenientes de los cultivos de colección resultaron menos afectadas. Se concluye que la bacterivoría por protozoos puede modificar la abundancia relativa de los microorganismos indicadores de contaminación y, por ende, los resultados de los estudios de calidad del agua.

Selective grazing by protists upon enteric bacteria in an aquatic system / Predación selectiva de bacterias entéricas por protistas en un ambiente acuático

It is well known that protozoan grazing can be an important agent of mortality for suspended bacteria, both in marine and freshwater environments. Considering that the presence of fecal contamination is a frequent phenomenon in tríese environments, and that Escherichia coli and the genus Enterococcus are indicators of microbiological water quality, the effect of protozoan grazing on E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis in Los Padres Lagoon waters (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 37° 5630" S, 57° 4430" W) was herein analyzed. Microcosm assays were carried out, simulating lacustrine conditions, confronting suspensions of autochthonous bacterivorous protozoans with suspensions of autochthonous and collection strains of E. coli and E. faecalis, combined and individually. Daily counts were made for evaluating bacterial survival and the number of ciliates. The results obtained indicate that there is a preferential sequence for bacterial removal in the water, where E. faecalis is more grazing-resistant than E. coli. Moreover, it was noted that the origin of bacterial strains influenced their sensitivity for grazing, at least in the short term (e.g. the collection strains were less affected). We conclude that protozoan grazing can modify the relative abundance of fecal indicator microorganisms, thus altering the results of water quality studies.(AU)

Está bien establecido que la predación por protozoos puede ser un factor importante de mortalidad para las bacterias en suspensión, tanto en ambientes marinos como de agua dulce. Considerando que la contaminación fecal es un fenómeno frecuentemente observado en estos ambientes, y que Escherichia coli y miembros del género Enterococcus son indicadores de calidad microbiológica del agua, se analizó el efecto de la predación por protozoos sobre E. coli y Enterococcus faecalis en aguas de la Laguna de los Padres (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 37° 5630" S, 57° 4430" W). Se realizaron ensayos a microcosmos, simulando el ambiente lagunar, enfrentando suspensiones de protozoos bacterívoros autóctonos con suspensiones de cepas autóctonas y de colección de E. coli y E. faecalis, en forma individual y combinada. Diariamente se efectuaron los recuentos correspondientes para elaborar las curvas de supervivencia. Los resultados obtenidos indican que existe una secuencia en la eliminación de cepas bacterianas por bacterivoría, siendo E. faecalis más resistente a la predación que E. coli. Además, se observó que el origen de las cepas condiciona su sensibilidad a la predación, ya que las cepas provenientes de los cultivos de colección resultaron menos afectadas. Se concluye que la bacterivoría por protozoos puede modificar la abundancia relativa de los microorganismos indicadores de contaminación y, por ende, los resultados de los estudios de calidad del agua.(AU)

Selective grazing by protists upon enteric bacteria in an aquatic system / Predación selectiva de bacterias entéricas por protistas en un ambiente acuático

It is well known that protozoan grazing can be an important agent of mortality for suspended bacteria, both in marine and freshwater environments. Considering that the presence of fecal contamination is a frequent phenomenon in tríese environments, and that Escherichia coli and the genus Enterococcus are indicators of microbiological water quality, the effect of protozoan grazing on E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis in Los Padres Lagoon waters (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 37° 5630" S, 57° 4430" W) was herein analyzed. Microcosm assays were carried out, simulating lacustrine conditions, confronting suspensions of autochthonous bacterivorous protozoans with suspensions of autochthonous and collection strains of E. coli and E. faecalis, combined and individually. Daily counts were made for evaluating bacterial survival and the number of ciliates. The results obtained indicate that there is a preferential sequence for bacterial removal in the water, where E. faecalis is more grazing-resistant than E. coli. Moreover, it was noted that the origin of bacterial strains influenced their sensitivity for grazing, at least in the short term (e.g. the collection strains were less affected). We conclude that protozoan grazing can modify the relative abundance of fecal indicator microorganisms, thus altering the results of water quality studies.(AU)

Está bien establecido que la predación por protozoos puede ser un factor importante de mortalidad para las bacterias en suspensión, tanto en ambientes marinos como de agua dulce. Considerando que la contaminación fecal es un fenómeno frecuentemente observado en estos ambientes, y que Escherichia coli y miembros del género Enterococcus son indicadores de calidad microbiológica del agua, se analizó el efecto de la predación por protozoos sobre E. coli y Enterococcus faecalis en aguas de la Laguna de los Padres (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 37° 5630" S, 57° 4430" W). Se realizaron ensayos a microcosmos, simulando el ambiente lagunar, enfrentando suspensiones de protozoos bacterívoros autóctonos con suspensiones de cepas autóctonas y de colección de E. coli y E. faecalis, en forma individual y combinada. Diariamente se efectuaron los recuentos correspondientes para elaborar las curvas de supervivencia. Los resultados obtenidos indican que existe una secuencia en la eliminación de cepas bacterianas por bacterivoría, siendo E. faecalis más resistente a la predación que E. coli. Además, se observó que el origen de las cepas condiciona su sensibilidad a la predación, ya que las cepas provenientes de los cultivos de colección resultaron menos afectadas. Se concluye que la bacterivoría por protozoos puede modificar la abundancia relativa de los microorganismos indicadores de contaminación y, por ende, los resultados de los estudios de calidad del agua.(AU)

Stakeholder analysis and social-biophysical interdependencies for common pool resource management: La Brava Wetland (Argentina) as a case study.

This article gives an account of the implementation of a stakeholder analysis framework at La Brava Wetland Basin, Argentina, in a common-pool resource (CPR) management context. Firstly, the context in which the stakeholder framework was implemented is described. Secondly, a four-step methodology is applied: (1) stakeholder identification, (2) stakeholder differentiation-categorization, (3) investigation of stakeholders' relationships, and (4) analysis of social-biophysical interdependencies. This methodology classifies stakeholders according to their level of influence on the system and their potential in the conservation of natural resources. The main influential stakeholders are La Brava Village residents and tourism-related entrepreneurs who are empowered to make the more important decisions within the planning process of the ecosystem. While these key players are seen as facilitators of change, there are other groups (residents of the inner basin and fishermen) which are seen mainly as key blockers. The applied methodology for the Stakeholder Analysis and the evaluation of social-biophysical interdependencies carried out in this article can be seen as an encouraging example for other experts in natural sciences to learn and use these methods developed in social sciences. Major difficulties and some recommendations of applying this method in the practice by non-experts are discussed.

Polychlorinated biphenyls in different trophic levels from a shallow lake in Argentina.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in a aquatic community from Los Padres Lake, Argentina. Twenty four PCB congeners from tri- to octa-chlorinated isomers were detected and quantified using conventional gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of PCBs in freshwater organisms from a shallow lake of Argentina. Stems of bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus), whole tissues of false loosestrife (Ludwigia sp.) and grass shrimp (Palaemonetes argentinus), and liver, gonads, muscle and mesenteric fat (if present) of fish species (Rhamdia sapo) and (Oligosarcus jenynsi) were analyzed. Two areas were selected to macrophytes sampling: the input area, main PCB source of the lake (Station 1), and the output area, a potential anoxic zone (Station 2). Macrophytes from Station I bioconcentrated higher total PCB levels than Station 2, showing that the former have received PCBs washed down from upstream areas. Penta- and hexa-congeners were enriched relative to other congeners in animal biota and macrophytes from Station 1, consistent with commercial mixture of Aroclor 1254 used in this region. In bulrush from Station 2 a predominance of tri- and tetra-chlorinated congeners was observed. Grass shrimp showed the lowest PCB values among animal biota. PCB concentrations in fish tissues varied with the species and the gonadal development. Mesenteric fat, only present in post-spawning organisms of R. sapo, had the highest values of PCBs relative to other tissues. A clearance of total PCBs in ovaries of post-spawning females of R. sapo was observed, but not in testes. O. jenynsil P. argentinus biomagnification factor (BMF) had a mean value of 18.7. Congeners 44, 52 and 151, showed the highest BMF values, being 64, 66 and 62, respectively. These values would be a consequence of the low depuration rate of 44 and 52 congeners with orthochlorine substitution conducted by O. jenynsi and the high depuration rate of congener 151, which lacks 4 4'- chlorine substitution, carried out by grass shrimp. Although the most of congeners have been biomagnified, they did not clearly displayed a concomitantly increasing with log K(ow).

Agricultural soil as a potential source of input of organochlorine pesticides into a nearby pond.

A study was conducted in the southeastern region of Buenos Aires province, Argentina, to assess an agricultural soil as a potential source of organochlorine (OC) pesticides for the aquatic biota of a nearby pond. We analyzed gamma-HCH (lindane), still in use, and the following banned compounds: DDT, DDE, DDD heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin and endrin in soil, bulrush, grass shrimp and fish using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Among the OC pesticides, lindane was most dominant in the soil (32.6 ng/g dry wt in the upper and 173.9 ng/g dry wt in the lower horizon) and bulrush (1.9 pg/g lipid). Macrophyte also accumulated high levels of heptachlor epoxide (1.5 pg/g lipid). Heptachlor, although present in the soil, was below the detection limit in all aquatic biota studied. Its primary degradation product, heptachlor epoxide, was found in both soil and biota samples. DDT was found at low levels in the surface soil (6.8 ng/g dry wt), but at higher concentrations in fish (3.6 pg/g lipid), although levels were still below permissible levels for human consumption. Since most of the compounds were found in both soil and aquatic biota, our study suggests that agricultural soil could be an important source for OC pesticides in the nearby pond.

Steganoderma (Steganoderma) valchetensis n. sp. (Digenea: Zoogonidae) from the relict fish Gymnocharacinus bergi (Osteichthyes: Characidae) in Argentina.

A new species of Steganoderma (Steganoderma) (Digenea: Zoogonidae) was found in the digestive tract of the southernmost, endemic and scale-less characid, Gymnocharacinus bergi, inhabiting thermal headwaters of the Valcheta Creek in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Steganoderma valchetensis n. sp. is included in the subgenus Steganoderma because of having a sessile ventral sucker and caeca reaching to the testes. This new species can be distinguished from other species of this genus on the basis of body-length, sucker-ratio, the length of the cirrus-sac, the morphology of the seminal vesicle and gonads, and the location of the vitelline follicles and genital pore. The taxonomic status of the species of Steganoderma, parasitising the freshwater fishes of Patagonia, in southern Argentina, and Chile, is also discussed.